level_0,index,text,label,source,set_label,topic7,topic4,random_label,full_BERT_predictions,random_BERT_predictions,Sarcasm,Sensationalism,Sentiment,Verb
7,7,"Trump will bring Churchill back to the White House after Obama embarrassed himself and our nation by removing the bust and replacing it with a picture of himself on the cover of the radical leftist rag, The New Yorker.Barack Obama removed the Churchill bust from the Oval Office in 2009. This weekend British Ukip leader Nigel Farage told reporters Donald Trump will re-install the bust of Churchill into the Oval Office.Obama replaced the Churchill bust with a photo of himself walking on water.Express.co reported:  has revealed that Donald Trump will re-install a bust of Winston Churchill removed from the Oval Office by Barack Obama   in a clear sign of the friendship the new President wishes to foster with Britain.The interim Ukip leader said Mr Trump has already pushed Britain to the front of the queue for a favourable trade relationship and added that he is the man to forge stronger ties with the  as he flew to visit the business tycoon in his first days as President Elect. The Ukip leader described Donald Trump as an  anglophile  and said his re-installation of the Churchill statue was a clear sign of his appreciation for the historically warm relationship between the allies.-Gateway Pundit ",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,past
19,19,"Lisa Swinton McLaughlin , 56 , gave birth by cesarean section to sons Jordan and Dylan  A new mom died seven days after giving birth to twins following more than 30 years of longing to have children .  Lisa Swinton McLaughlin , 56 , who lived in Baltimore , Maryland , gave birth by cesarean section on December 27 to sons , Jordan and Dylan .  But she died on January 4 from a bowel obstruction she had been in pain , but thought it was the result of the incision .  Her husband Mike McLaughlin , 67 , a retiree , has not only lost his wife , but he must now face raising their two sons alone , reports Omahaweblink .  He says Mrs McLaughlin who was medical director for the American Red Cross in Baltimore , Maryland , had longed for children for the past 30 years .  The couple spent a decade trying different types of fertility treatments and were delighted when Mrs McLaughlin became pregnant last year .  She developed gestational diabetes during the pregnancy , but it was monitored closely by her doctors .  In December she started bed rest because the size of one twin was causing a blood flow problem .  And on December 27 , she gave birth by cesarean section to Jordan , three pounds and three ounces , and Dylan , three pounds .  ' She was just on cloud nine , ' Mr McLaughlin said .  ' That ' s the happiest I ' ve probably seen her in my life . '  ' She wanted what every other woman had , and that ' s children . '  They were premature , but the boys were healthy and thrived in the neonatal intensive care unit .  Although she was in significant pain , Mrs McLaughlin went home on New Year ' s Eve a few days later she died .  ' She held the babies and was able to stroke them and love them , ' her husband said .  Mr McLaughlin is hoping the twins will be able to come home soon they both weigh four pounds .  He has hired a nanny to help take care of them and eventually plans to move home to Nebraska , where his son , other family members and friends can help out .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
30,30,"After scouring northern Colorado by foot and air , frantically chasing a Mylar balloon for miles and repeatedly interviewing his big brother , authorities ended the search for 6 year old Falcon Heene where it began at his house .  6 year old Falcon Heene says he was hiding in a box in the attic while authorities were searching for him .  He was in a box . In the attic . The whole time .  "" I played with my toys and took a nap , "" Falcon told a group of reporters outside his home Thursday afternoon .  "" He says he was hiding in the attic , "" said Falcon ' s father , meteorologist Richard Heene , clutching his son . "" He says it ' s because I yelled at him . ""  "" I ' m sorry I yelled at him , "" added Heene , tearfully hugging the boy .  When asked by his father on air why he didn ' t respond , the boy replied , "" You guys said we did this for the show . ""  Authorities said they believe the case was genuine .  The situation grabbed the nation ' s attention early Thursday afternoon , after authorities reported that the experimental helium balloon was set adrift with the 6 year old apparently riding in it .  Heene said the family was in the early stages of working on the balloon a "" 3D low altitude vehicle "" when the contraption and the boy went missing .  His brother had said he watched Falcon get into the balloon before he untied the tethers , setting it free . Heene later said Falcon was videotaped getting into the vessel by his brother , but "" obviously he got out . ""  Once it was untethered , the saucer like craft flew eastward from the Heenes ' neighborhood , though officials couldn ' t immediately confirm how fast it was going . Watch the balloon float thousands of feet over Colorado  Authorities said the silver balloon , 20 feet long and 5 feet high , at times reached 7 , 000 feet above the ground while adrift . It was found more than 90 minutes later in a field near Colorado Springs .  The story took a turn when  said that Falcon ' s parents , science enthusiasts Richard and Mayumi Heene , were featured on the 100th episode of  ' s prime time program "" Wife Swap "" in March 2009 .  According to the network ' s Web site , the Heene family "" devote ( s ) their time to scientific experiments that include looking for extraterrestrials and building a research gathering flying saucer to send into the eye of the storm . ""  Rescuers from several counties followed the saucer like vessel until it made a soft landing some 90 miles away .  Officials rushed to the scene of the landing , smacking the metallic balloon until it deflated . They looked inside no Falcon .  At that point , there were two possibilities : Either Falcon never got in the balloon , or he fell out .  Authorities began to fear the worst after reports surfaced that a box possibly carrying Falcon may have fallen off the balloon .  A Weld County Sheriff ' s deputy had said he saw an object fall off the balloon somewhere over Platteville , Colorado , which is in the search area . There was no box attached when the balloon landed at 1 : 35 p . m . See map of balloon ' s trip  The widespread worries prompted the Colorado Air National Guard to deploy a  60 Black Hawk helicopter , with plans to launch a second one equipped with night vision if necessary .  The search , which initially focused on Weld County , covered "" the entire flight plan , from the Fort Collins area down to the Denver International Airport area , "" Col . Mark Riccardi said .  But a little while later , Falcon turned up at home .  Larimer County Sheriff James Alderden said it ' s not uncommon for children to seek cover when they realize they ' re the subject of a massive search .  "" They hide because they think they are in trouble , "" he said .  "" What was confusing was the eyewitness who said Falcon climbed into the apparatus , which was not the case , "" Alderden said , referring to the boy ' s brother .  The sheriff said the brother was interviewed several times by investigators and that he was consistent with his story .  Marc Friedland , the family ' s next door neighbor , said he saw Richard Heene working on the giant Mylar balloon in the backyard . Learn more about airborne balloons  "" Basically , the whole family was out there and they were working with it , "" he said . "" When I came back is when I found out that the event happened . ""  He said the aircraft was intended to hover around 20 feet in the air and was not intended to carry people .  "" Obviously , something went wrong with that . ""  Friedland described his neighbors as "" a great family . ""  "" They ' re unusual , yes , of course . He ' s sort of a scientist slash inventor . They ' re storm chasers they go after tornadoes , hurricanes , things like that , "" he said .  "" He ' s a great kid , "" Friedland said of Falcon . "" We see him a lot and they come over and they ' re always friendly . ""  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
31,31,"Wow these sound exactly like the type of people we want living next door to us. It s not so hard to see why so many Americans are enthusiastic about Trump s promise to build the wall   WALL!The Huffington Post has published a photograph (above) of former Mexican president Vicente Fox giving Donald Trump the finger, taken a day before Fox apologized to Trump in an interview with Breitbart News.The photograph was originally shared on social media by Ben Mathis, host of the KickAss Politics podcast, which interviewed Fox last Tuesday. Breitbart News interviewed Fox the following day in Santa Monica, California.Mathis posted the photograph with the message:  Vicente Fox & I have a message for Donald Trump. Listen to a preview of his most controversial interview yet, recorded just one day before his apology to Trump aired on Breitbart. On Twitter, KickAss politics teased the interview as Fox  responding  to Trump   though the two had already responded to each other, with Fox apologizing via Breitbart and Trump accepting the apology the following day.KickAss politics also added the  NeverTrump  hashtag.In most controversial interview yet @VicenteFoxQue responds to @realDonaldTrump weblink #NeverTrump pic.twitter.com/jFRkw5o8I7  Kickass News (@KickassNewsPod) May 9, 2016According to Huffington Post overnight editor Ed Mazza, Fox told Mathis that Trump is an  ugly American  and  hated gringo,  and reiterated that he would not pay for the  fucking wall  on the border, adding:  And please don t take out the  fucking  full word. Mazza adds:In the Kickass Politics conversation, Fox was anything but apologetic. He called the presumptive Republican presidential nominee  crazy  and a  false prophet,  and compared him to Latin American demagogues who  destroy economies.  He also said some of Trump s proposals could lead to war. Don t play around with us,  Fox said.  We can jump walls. We can swim rivers. And we can defend ourselves. The following day, Fox told Breitbart:  I apologize. Forgiveness is one of the greatest qualities that human beings have, is the quality of a compassionate leader. You have to be humble. You have to be compassionate. You have to love thy neighbor. Update: The Huffington Post has attached its mandatory disclaimer on all Trump stories:Editor s note: Donald Trump regularly incites political violence and is a serial liar, rampant xenophobe, racist, misogynist and birther who has repeatedly pledged to ban all Muslims   1.6 billion members of an entire religion   from entering the U.S.For entire story: Breitbart News",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,satire,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
35,35,"Scientists have been planning a human mission to Mars for exploration and habitation for decades . Successful travel to and habitation of Mars would be a monumental accomplishment for science , physics , and huge source of national pride . However , these tremendously costly plans have been scrutinized for their practicality , since billions of dollars put towards this endeavor will not directly benefit society .  Economists , scientists , and hospital administrators have teamed up in the new coalition , "" Discharge to Mars . "" The mission of travel to the red planet takes a drastic turn to a more practical and tangible objective . The basic principle will be to discharge the otherwise complex and difficult patient to a skilled nursing facility , or  , on Mars .  This may include patients without insurance , patients who ' s family is not willing to provide assistance with home care , patients who need long term  antibiotics and therapy , patients who continually readmit to the hospital , patient ' s with incurable and complicated or uninteresting diseases , patients who are allergic to all narcotics other than Dilaudid , and patient ' s who simply don ' t want to be discharged home .  The 5 , 000 bed  would include a state of the art   gym for the 30 min of required daily therapy , Olympic sized swimming pool heated to 294 Kelvin , and licensed physicians available by Mars Skype 24 hours a day , 7 days a week , with only a 36 hour video chat lag .  The new plans have drawn quite a buzz in hospital circles , and physicians have already begun to submit their nominations for pilot patients to the coalition . "" I ' ve been saying we should put Mr Brown on a rocketship to Mars for months ! "" exclaimed neurologist Dr Bruce Greenik about his chronic autoimmune degenerative disease patient .  Hospitalist Dr Elizabeth Burnt nominated 3 of her own patients , one with chronic pancreatitis who bounces from  to home to the  constantly , one patient with  and monthly  admissions , and one uninsured homeless patient admitted for dehydration who has been admitted for 167 days and counting while Medicaid is processing for his discharge .  Some concern has been raised about the one way nature of the flight plans , since a return flight plan does meet the economic standards set by the coalition . Economist John Grey explains that the one way nature of the plans "" increases the statistical likelihood of success , and allows the project to move forward faster . "" Dr Abigail Polzner , a emergency medicine specialist at Henry Ford , endorses the one way plan as a benefit , indicating that the definitive nature of the discharge is "" not just a small step for hospitals and doctors , but a giant leap for the health care system . ""  The first mission ,    , is planned for 2018 . Careful planning and rigorous timetables have been set to accomplish this ambitious launch . Although the projected date is several years in the future , physician ' s are confident their currently nominated patients will still be eligible for the mission in 2018 .  ",satire,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,satire,True,no,no,positive,present
58,58,"As it slowly became clear that quarterback Peyton Manning would not be healthy enough to play for the Indianapolis Colts this season , his teammates embraced the following rallying cry :  "" We ' re not just a one man team , ' ' they would say defensively . "" We ' ve still got Pro Bowl players here . We can still win games . ' '  Most of us bought in . Why wouldn ' t we ? There was a culture of winning a Super Bowl title , another Super Bowl appearance , 12 win seasons as a matter of habit and lots of players remaining who were an integral part of establishing that culture . Look at the remaining roster : Top receiver Reggie Wayne and tight end Dallas Clark . Defensive ends Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis . Top tier center Jeff Saturday .  And then they lost their first 13 games of the 2011 football season , and have a chance to become just the third team in the National Football League ' s modern history to finish the year without a win or a tie . Not a one man team ?  Now we know better .  Manning , the Hall of Fame worthy 35 year old quarterback , firmly established himself as the most irreplaceable player in the game this season , and did it without taking a single snap . Some have even suggested he deserves Most Valuable Player consideration : With him , the Colts are a perennial Super Bowl contender , without him they ' re a laughingstock .  One player can have this kind of understandable impact in the  , where a LeBron James can leave Cleveland Cavaliers and reduce them from a 60 win team to the worst team in the league . In the  , you ' re talking about five players on the court at a time .  Nobody could have imagined this would happen in football , where Manning is one of 11 players , and doesn ' t play defense or special teams .  When the New England Patriots lost Tom Brady for the 2008 season , they still went 11 5 .  The Colts , who two years ago were in the middle of a debate over whether an undefeated season was possible , are now wondering if they will win a single game . We ' ve always known Manning is the face of the franchise ( and , to a certain extent , the entire  ) . Now we ' re finding out he ' s the heart , the soul , the brains . . . everything .  The Colts aren ' t just losing this season they ' re barely competitive , enduring a season that included a nationally televised , 62 7 shellacking by the Saints in New Orleans .  "" I ' m shocked , ' ' Colts guard Ryan Diem said recently . "" How can you not be ? ' '  The Colts entered the season believing that Manning , coming off his second neck surgery , would become available sometime within the first month of the season . But the pain and weakness persisted in Manning ' s shoulder and arm . It was then determined Manning should undergo his third neck surgery in 19 months , a single level anterior fusion .  "" That offense has evolved around a special guy , ' ' Kerry Collins , a veteran quarterback the Colts signed to replace Manning , told the New York Times . "" Peyton has a football  that is off the charts and a physical gift as well . There is no way to go in there and run the offense like he does . ' '  The bottom line is this : The Colts were built around Manning . For more than a decade , that was an understandable approach . The Colts were beacons of enduring excellence , one of the best franchises in the  and all of sports .  But when the foundation is removed , the entire structure crumbles . All the Colts ' best players are reliant on Manning . The receivers , Pierre Garcon , Austin Collie and Wayne . The tight end , Clark . The two pass rushers , Freeney and Mathis , do their best work when their team has a lead , and the Colts aren ' t doing that .  Meanwhile , nobody ' s quite sure when and if Manning will return . He announced two weeks ago that the neck fusion was progressing and he could increase the intensity of his rehabilitation . It remains highly unlikely , though , that he will practice with the team the remaining three weeks of the season .  So now it gets weirdly interesting .  Turns out the Colts picked the perfect year to stink .  If they get the first pick in the draft and they have a two game lead on Minnesota and St . Louis with three games remaining they will be in position to pick Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck , by most accounts the best quarterback prospect to come out of college since Hall of Famer John Elway left Stanford and joined the Denver Broncos in 1983 .  Not a bad deal : The Colts get 13 years of elite quarterbacking from Manning , suffer for one season , then get Luck for another decade or more of elite quarterbacking . But then the question becomes , what do the Colts do with Luck and Manning ?   video on Manning and Luck  Last week , Manning ' s father , former  quarterback Archie Manning , told two different radio shows that Luck and Peyton would not be able to play on the same team . The argument was that both would want to play right away and should play right away . Manning expects to be healthy , and Luck is viewed as the most  ready quarterback to come out of college in years . ( Archie backtracked on those comments one day later ) .  Here ' s the rub : The Colts have to decide whether to give Manning a 28 million option bonus in early March .  The simplest option would be to let Manning leave as a free agent although it ' s never simple when emotions are involved and it involves a transcendent civic icon .  The other option is to pay the money and then figure things out .  But it ' s not as simple as paying the cash and then trading him . The bonus is due in early March . The league year , which would be the first opportunity for the Colts to make a trade , begins March 15 . If the Colts wanted to trade Manning , it would cost them 28 million , plus they would take a 38 million cap hit (  teams have a maximum amount to spend each year on player salaries and bonuses ) . That ' s an enormous number and would not allow them to field a competitive team .  Indianapolis fans would like to keep Manning for a couple of years and then transition to Luck . But that ' s a tough call , too . Luck has not yet addressed the situation , but there ' s reason to believe he would have no interest in sitting behind Manning for two or three years . As a first pick , he would have leverage , and could force the Colts to trade his pick , as was the case with Elway and Eli Manning .  Let ' s say the Colts keep Manning for a year and then deal him : It ' s a 28 million cap hit , still enormous , leaving them short of cap money to surround Luck with talented players .  "" We aren ' t close to making any decisions , ' ' Colts vice chairman Bill Polian said .  More and more , it looks like the Colts will have to make a clean break and move into the Luck Era . The more immediate concern , though , is this :  They just want to win a game .  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
62,62,"Bama ' s Howard delivers huge performance after quiet season  Clemson ' s T . J . Green ( 15 ) knocks Alabama ' s O . J . Howard out of bounds after a catch during the second half of the  college football playoff championship game Monday , Jan . 11 , 2016 , in Glendale , Ariz . David J . Phillip  Photo  Alabama ' s O . J . Howard tries to get past Clemson ' s T . J . Green after a catch during the second half of the  college football playoff championship game Monday , Jan . 11 , 2016 , in Glendale , Ariz . David J . Phillip  Photo  O . J . Howard had been the forgotten man in Alabama ' s offense at times , disappearing behind a barrage of Derrick Henry runs and Calvin Ridley catches .  The Crimson Tide tight end delivered quite a "" remember me "" performance in Monday night ' s 45 40 victory over Clemson in the national championship game , flashing speed and hands to become a surprising hero of the game .  Howard kept sneaking behind the Clemson defenders and finding himself wide open for big plays : touchdowns of 51 and 53 yards and a galloping 63 yarder in the fourth quarter that set up Alabama ' s final touchdown .  Five catches , 208 yards . And offensive  honors .  This from a player who hadn ' t scored a touchdown since sprinting 52 yards on a crossing route against  . In 2013 .  "" O . J . , quite honestly , should have been more involved all year long , "" Tide coach Nick Saban said . "" Sometimes he was open and we didn ' t get him the ball , but I think the last two games have been breakout games for him in terms of what he ' s capable of and what he can do .  "" I would say it ' s bad coaching on my part that he didn ' t have the opportunity to do that all year long , because he is a really good athlete and he ' s improved tremendously as a player this year . ""  Howard also delivered three catches for 59 yards in the semifinal win over Michigan State .  The 6 foot 6 , 242 pounder always had the speed , as evidenced by that eye catching play against  as a freshman . Saban said he ' s improved his blocking , too .  "" He hasn ' t caught a ton of balls , but he does a lot of great things with his blocking , too , "" Tide center Ryan Kelly said . "" You see the speed of him running down the sideline with guys chasing him down . That ' s impressive . He ' s a heck of a tight end . ""  The performance might have made Howard ' s decision about whether to return for his senior season or head to the  easier ? or harder . Howard said he plans to sit down with Saban and family Wednesday and talk about his future plans .  Howard definitely liked hearing his coach talk after the game about getting him the ball more  "" It makes me think about coming back and playing and making plays next season for coach , "" Howard said . "" It ' ll get me more involved in the offense . ""  He came into the game with 394 receiving yards and less than 1 , 000 in nearly three seasons . But Saban said the former five star recruit never complained when the ball wasn ' t coming his way with much frequency . Howard didn ' t catch a pass in several games , including the regular season finale against Auburn and the  championship game against Florida .  "" You can ' t get frustrated when you ' re not getting the ball , "" Howard said . "" I know how that works , you get frustrated , you start messing up plays and then you ' re getting other guys hurt .  "" If you ' re missing a block , you ' re definitely not going to get the ball if you ' re pouting about it . You ' ve just got to be a good team player and play hard every down so that ' s what I continued to do . ""  "" I ' m just glad he finally got to show everybody what he can do , "" quarterback Jake Coker said .  Alabama ' s O . J . Howard kisses the championship trophy after the  college football playoff championship game against Clemson Monday , Jan . 11 , 2016 , in Glendale , Ariz . Alabama won 45 40 . ( David Kadlubowski The Arizona Republic via  )           ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
65,65,"Leave a reply  Mary O’Malley – A friend of mine was gifted a vacation on a river barge through France and Germany. She was really excited because she could never afford to do this on her own. Her itinerary included a flight from Seattle to New York and the next day, she and her cousin would fly to Europe together.  As they were getting ready to go through the international security checkpoint, the  officer would not let my friend through because her passport had expired. At that moment, a feeling of panic came over her when she realized she had grabbed the wrong passport. As the panic began to intensify, she tuned into her body and used her breath to calm herself down and think rationally.  Having done awakening work for some time, she realized that reacting to whatever Life is offering only creates suffering. She said, “Mary, I can’t believe it. If this happened years ago, I would have had a temper tantrum and been in tears all day. Instead, I calmly told my cousin to go on without me and I would have a friend in Seattle overnight my passport so I could take a flight the following day.”  This is the power of accepting whatever Life brings. She added “I did not react or panic when I realized I would have to pay for a new ticket and stay in New York by myself. It all turned out so differently than what I thought, and it was all okay.”  Whenever we are faced with a challenge, whether it is a cut on our finger, a raging boss, or an expired passport, we all react in our own unique ways. One of the core ways we can heal ourselves is by getting to know our own patterns of reaction. Some of the standard modes of reaction are the stoic, the pleaser, the worrier, the rager, the freezer, the rescuer, the victim, the judger and the self-absorbed one. We put these reactive parts of ourselves together into our own particular style.  Our patterns of reaction can bring so much heartache into our lives. My primary mode of reaction was to freeze, and like all patterns of reaction, it would tighten me, isolate me and cut me off from the flow of love that is Life. It got stronger as I got older, and it became much more entrenched when I tried to make it stop. Then I learned how to see it and meet it with understanding and mercy. Only then was I able to free-up this frozen energy and learn how to respond to Life rather than always living in reaction.  This process of seeing, loving and letting go of your patterns of reaction happens in three phases.  First phase: You are caught. You either can’t see your patterns or, if you do, you have little willingness to do anything about them. You also don’t recognize the consequences that come from living out of your repetitive reactions. When you decide you don’t want to live this way anymore, you usually declare war on the pattern, trying to wrestle it to the ground. This only works for a short period of time because you haven’t done the work needed to dissolve the pattern.  When the pattern comes back again, you then get caught in self-judgment (I did it again) and despair (I will never get out of this). You begin to move into the second phase when you see that the price you pay for taking care of yourself in your old ways isn’t worth it, and you understand that trying to wrestle it to the ground doesn’t work.  Second phase: As you come to realize that living out of your old patterns isn’t how you want to live, and trying to get rid of them seems to only empower them, you begin to become curious about what is going on and feel the possibility of living another way.  At the beginning of this phase, when your patterns of reaction are triggered, you will get lost in them most of the time. But slowly, you become more curious and more merciful with yourself. Even when you get completely lost, there comes a time when you can let go of judgment and despair, and simply notice how you are reacting.  This may be right in the middle of the pattern, a few minutes afterwards, or a few days afterwards. You become more curious than controlling and more compassionate than judgmental.  You finally come to the place where you can actually stand with the discomfort of not following your pattern. This almost feels like detox, and it is good to have the support of other people as you learn how to be with your experience rather than running away from it. The more you can be with yourself, the more it opens your heart. And that is really what you have been longing for all along – the ability to live from your own heart.  Third phase: As your ability to see and let go of your old patterns increases, you enter the third phase. This is where your primary relationship with yourself is one of compassion and curiosity. You still may get caught in your patterns, but only for short periods of time, and rather than bringing up judgment or despair, they become an invitation to open back into Life.  The more you can meet yourself exactly as you are, the more you discover how to live from your own truth. You can now let go of the idea that a good life is one where everything is under control. Instead, you learn how to ride the ups and downs of your life, trusting yourself, trusting your life. You then become the awakened heart that heals not only yourself but also the world.  There isn’t a clear delineation with these three phases. On any particular day, you may touch into all three phases. But the more you can be curious and merciful with yourself, the more you will naturally gravitate toward the third phase – the place of truly becoming yourself. This is the greatest gift you can give to yourself and to Life.  Source Mary O’Malley  ",fake,news,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,past
70,70,"It could nearly pass as a plotline from one of her spine chilling books .  Bestselling crime writer Val McDermid found herself the subject of an 18 year grudge which resulted in her being attacked at a book signing .  Her woman assailant disguised herself before covering the author ' s face with ink , shouting obscenities at her and bizarrely likening her to Jimmy Savile .  Sandra Botham told a court she attacked The Wire In The Blood author because of a book she wrote in 1995 .  Revenge attack : Sandra Botham ( left ) threw ink at best selling author Val McDermid ( right ) after holding a 28 year vendetta over a paragraph in one of her books which she thought had likened her to a Michelin man  A Suitable Job For A Woman explores the lives of real life female private eyes in the  and the  , which Botham , 64 , said was critical of herself and her family .  Sunderland magistrates ' court heard how Botham thought one of the case histories , which mentioned a woman called Sandra who was shaped ' like a Michelin Man ' , was referring to her .  The claim has been denied by the author ' s agent , who says the two women never even met before the incident .  However , it is not known whether the case history does in fact refer to Botham , because it was related second hand by a private eye . Bent on revenge , Botham travelled to Sunderland University on December 6 last year , where she knew Miss McDermid would be signing books .  She disguised herself in a blonde wig , trilby hat and glasses and sat at the end of the front row as the author gave a talk about her latest novel , Vanishing Point .  Miss McDermid , 58 , told the court : ' I had noticed a woman sitting on the end of one row . She caught my eye a few times during the lecture because she appeared to be in disguise .  Vendetta : Botham dressed in disguise and threw ink into Ms McDermid ' s mouth during a book signing at Sunderland University on December 6 last year ( incident not pictured )  ' After the lecture , I was giving a book signing and noticed she was at the end of the queue .  ' When she got to the front , she produced a dog eared copy of A Suitable Job For A Woman . '  Best selling author : Val McDermid is famed for her crime novel Wire in the Blood  Botham then asked her to dedicate it to ' Michelin Man San ' which she did , even though she had no idea what it was in reference to .  She also asked her to sign a page of an old Top of the Pops annual with a picture of Jimmy Savile on it .  She said : ' She was quite insistent . I wasn ' t keen , but I get asked to sign all sorts of things so thought it would be easier just to do it . '  It was then that Botham pulled a container of ink from her pocket , throwing it across the author and ruining her clothes .  Miss McDermid added : ' She then said to me something like "" you are my female equivalent of Jimmy Savile "" before walking out the building . '  Cross examining the author , Botham , who was representing herself , stood up and said : ' Hello Val , we meet again . '  Botham told the magistrates ' bench to ' get stuffed ' when they refused to allow her to read paragraphs from the book .  She then told magistrates she was ' closing the case ' and instead would take it ' to the highest court in the land ' .  The pensioner , of Hendon , Sunderland , stormed out of the courtroom and was convicted in her absence of common assault .  Miss McDermid said never in her 25 years as an author had she experienced ' anything like this before ' .  Her 1997 bestseller The Wire In The Blood was turned into an  series in 2002 starring Robson Green .  Last year , she told how she met Jimmy Savile in 1977 when she was a young journalist and he later inspired another character in the book , Jacko Vance , a  celebrity with a secret lust for torture , murder and under age girls .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
74,74,"A Canadian man found a novel way to take in the sights while travelling across country , by taking an rocking chair with him .  Kalman Kallai enjoyed the spectacular Canadian scenery from the comfort of a green chair while journeying from Borden , Ontario to Comox , British Columbia for work purposes .  Calculating that the drive would take him across a colossal 2 , 796 miles ( 4500km ) of land , Mr Kallai believed that his journey would be more interesting if he used it as an opportunity to see more of his country .  The traveller sits before corn , a caf , boats and water , before he is featured rocking and making gestures with his hand  Mr Kallai and a friend mimic the planes that fly past at the beginning of the traveller ' s adventure  After picking up a green rocking chair that he acquired for free from online advertisement site Kijiji , the traveller attached his trailer and set off on the nine day journey .  The video begins with Mr Kallai carrying his chair to a wooded area , before placing it down and taking a seat .  He wears a green hoody , blue jacket and hat clothing items that remain a running theme throughout the course of the video .  Mr Kallai travelled from Borden , Ontario to Comox , British Columbia for work purposes  Sat rocking on his chair watching a number of aeroplanes taking off perhaps at this point wishing he was on one himself the traveller is joined by a friend .  The pair sit and mimic the plane ' s wings before shaking hands and waving goodbye to one another , to allow Mr Kallai to continue his adventure on his own .  The traveller is then sat before corn , a caf , boats and water , before he is featured rocking and making gestures with his hands .  The traveller wears a green hoody , blue jacket and hat in every clip of himself in the video  Mr Kallai takes time to pose precariously on a river bed while journeying across Canada  He momentarily leaves the chair to chase some birds on a beach before making his way through a field and waving at some cows .  Later in the video the traveller is met by his dad , who humorously steals the rocking chair before he is swiftly removed .  Continuing a good portion of the journey together , the pair dance and jump around in front of rapids and tease a number of large statues .  Creature comfort ! Mr Kallai makes a number of hand gestures in the video and even waves at cows  Despite hauling the rocking chair around in a trailer , the traveller is also featured carrying it on his head  Mr Kallai said : ' I brought my dad with me for part of the trek . It was a great bonding experience , as we shared many laughs .  ' I heard some pretty interesting stories about his youth that I hadn ' t heard before , especially since my mother wasn ' t on the trip with us . '  The pair reach Manitoba together before they meet with some people and the traveller ' s father leaves his son to journey on by himself .  Mr Kallai is joined by his dad while journeying across the country and the pair jump around and dance together  The traveller said that he shared many laughs with his dad and that it was a great bonding experience  Hauling the chair around on his head as much as in his trailer , Mr Kallai takes time to pose precariously on a river bed and even a railway track .  Arriving in Alberta the temperature suddenly plummets and a lot more snow features in the following images .  Eventually however , Mr Kallai reaches British Colombia and the video concludes with him carrying his rocking chair into what appears to be his new front room and taking a seat .  Mr Kallai videos himself sitting on a railway track on the chair he acquired from online advertisement site Kijiji  The journey took the traveller nine days to complete and a total of 4500km of land was covered  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
90,90,"Mexico City The United Nations ' cultural organization recognized mariachi music Sunday in a move that Mexican authorities hope will help preserve the well known tradition .  The songs often played on festive occasions by groups of guitar , violin and trumpet performers wearing traditional clothes or wide brimmed hats are sung throughout Mexico , and have become a key part of regional identity , officials said .  "" The community and the family hand down musically their knowledge , history and the pleasure of singing to the nature surrounding them . They consider it their own , "" Mexican officials said in their application to the United Nations Organization for Education , Science and Culture (  ) , which added mariachi music to the organization ' s list of intangible cultural patrimony Sunday .  Putting mariachi on the list could increase awareness of the music ,  said in a statement Sunday .  "" Learning by ear is the main means of transmission of traditional Mariachi , and the skill is usually passed down from fathers to sons and through performance at festive , religious and civil events , "" the statement said .  Mexico ' s application notes that the music "" has crossed borders and become a symbol of Mexico . ""  "" Immigrants , descendants of Mexicans living abroad , as well as Latin Americans , have made the modern mariachi a symbol of community identity , because it is a bond linking them to their roots in spite of the distance , "" the application says .  "" Now including in foreign countries like the United States , Japan and Colombia , there are mariachi schools , mariachi classes , mariachi degrees , "" he said .  Many of Mexico ' s monuments have already been honored by the United Nations ' cultural organization .  Last year  added traditional Mexican food to its intangible cultural patrimony list . In 2008 , the organization recognized Mexico ' s traditional Day of the Dead celebration .  This year  also added 13 other items to its list , including Chinese shadow puppetry , a ritual of transplanting rice in Hiroshima , Japan , and "" poetic dueling "" in Cyprus .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
95,95,"She told stories , flirted outrageously with boys and was constantly changing her hairstyle .  Anne Frank hid with her family in a secret room at her father Otto Frank ' s office in Amsterdam .  It could be the description of almost any young girl growing up in Europe . But this is how Eva Schloss remembers her childhood friend Anne Frank , who had she not died in a Nazi concentration camp , would have celebrated her 80th birthday this week .  Schloss described Frank , whose account of hiding from Jewish persecution in Nazi occupied Amsterdam is one of the world ' s mostly widely read books , as a spunky young schoolgirl with a passion for storytelling that often got her into trouble .  "" She got her diary in 1942 , so obviously her father knew she was interested in writing and I know she told stories , "" said Schloss .  "" She talked a lot and she was called Mrs Quack Quack . Very often she used to write hundreds of lines at school of ' I ' m not going to talk so much , ' and so on but obviously she had a lot to tell . ""  In some ways the two friends lived parallel lives but tragically they had very different outcomes . Watch more about Schloss ' story  Schloss and Frank both came from Jewish families who fled to Holland to escape the wave of anti Semitism spreading across Europe as the Nazis rose to power in Germany ahead of the Second World War .  But while Schloss was more of an introvert , Frank loved the limelight . Schloss said : "" I was actually quite shy and she was the center of attention . We had steps where we sat , and she had a crowd of children around her .  "" She was a big flirt she loved boys . She was always showing us who was her boyfriend at that particular time . She was always interested in her clothes . Her style , she always changed it . Sometimes she had curls , then she had straight hair . ""  Schloss says they were unaware of the full scale of what was going on around them as war escalated across Europe , placing their lives in increasing jeopardy .  "" Our parents really protected us so there was no talk about the horrendous things which happened .  "" You couldn ' t go out anymore after 8 o ' clock , but for a 11 to 12 year old it didn ' t matter so much . Or not going to the cinema we were upset about those little things which we couldn ' t do , but we really didn ' t really take it seriously at that time . ""  Like Frank , Schloss was also forced into hiding when the Nazis took control of Holland .  Frank hid with her family in a secret room at her father Otto Frank ' s office . But Schloss and her family had to split up . Schloss stayed with her mother while her father and brother hid elsewhere . She and her mother moved around , staying in seven different hiding places over a two year period .  Eventually both families were betrayed and were sent to concentration camps , where Frank died at the age of 15 .  Schloss said : "" My father and brother were betrayed by a Dutch nurse who was a double agent , and all four of us were arrested and taken to the headquarters to be interrogated .  "" I didn ' t know anything , which was a good thing . So eventually they realized this and they gave up torturing me . Within two days we were put on a transport to Auschwitz . ""  Of her family , only Schloss and her mother survived Auschwitz , one of the most notorious concentration camps , located in southern Poland .  Today Schloss , who has just celebrated her own 80th birthday , has a husband , three daughters and five grandchildren .  Schloss says it took her decades to rebuild her life , with the help of Frank ' s father Otto , who also survived incarceration in a concentration camp .  She met Otto in August 1945 , when he showed her Frank ' s diary .  Schloss said : "" He read a few passages but he always burst into tears . It took me 20 years . I was really unhappy , but it was Otto who came to our apartment to talk to us , and he helped me a lot . He had lost everybody .  "" Her book , she Frank made people aware of what happened . There are many messages . She believed in the goodness of mankind .  "" People always ask me , what she would have done . I guess we will never know . But I guess she would have gone into politics she was a fighter . It ' s a pity , but also maybe her diary would have never been published . ""  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
108,108,"Almost a year ago , 8 year old Martin Richard wrote four simple words on a sign at school .  "" No more hurting people , "" it said .  For the camera , he held up the bright blue sign decorated with hearts framing the word "" Peace . ""  It ' s a photograph that many find difficult to look at Tuesday as they struggle to comprehend the violence that took Martin ' s life . On Monday , the boy and his family were watching the Boston Marathon near the finish line when two bombs exploded just off Copley Square in the heart of the city .  The grade schooler was killed , authorities said .  Martin ' s mother , Denise , and his sister were grievously injured , The Boston Globe reported .  The boy ' s father , William Richard , is a community leader in the Ashmont section of Dorchester , according to the Globe .  "" My dear son Martin has died from injuries sustained in the attack on Boston , "" Richard said in a statement Tuesday . "" My wife and daughter are both recovering from serious injuries . We thank our family and friends , those we know and those we have never met , for their thoughts and prayers . I ask that you continue to pray for my family as we remember Martin . We also ask for your patience and for privacy as we work to simultaneously grieve and recover . Thank you . ""  At a loss : Comforting grieving parents  Tuesday morning , people arrived at the Richards ' home in the working class neighborhood dotted with large New England style homes . On the stone steps of the Richards ' blue gray house , visitors gingerly laid down flowers . Someone had written "" peace "" at the end of the driveway , according to the Globe .  More than a 1 , 000 people , many holding candles and each other , attended a vigil in Dorchester for Martin and the other two victims Tuesday night .  On Tuesday at the Richard home , a 10 year old girl who went to school with Martin came by with her mother .  Martin attended the Neighborhood House Charter School , according to a school official .  The boy "" was a bright , energetic young boy who had big dreams and high hopes for his future , the school said in a statement . "" We are heartbroken by this loss . ""  "" We are also praying for his mother Denise , our school librarian and sister Jane , another Neighborhood House Charter student , who were seriously injured yesterday , "" the statement said .  The family represent "" the very best this city has to offer , "" it said .  Also killed in Monday ' s attack was Krystle Campbell , who graduated from Medford High School in Massachusetts in 2001 . There were no immediate details about the third victim killed in the bombings . Of the more than 170 people who were treated at hospitals , at least 17 were in critical condition and 41 in serious condition , according to hospital officials .  Martin made his "" peace "" sign in May when his school organized a "" Peace Walk . "" Holding their homemade signs , kids walked around the city making a big statement with a simple act . In bubble letters , one of his classmates wrote , "" No more violence ! ""  Mom posts viral photo of boy killed in blast  In another photo of Martin this one apparently marking what was perhaps his first communion he is smiling , missing a few teeth , handsome and proud in his white suit . He holds a colorful communion banner . On it is a dove that symbolizes the Holy Spirit .  The Richard family was very active in the neighborhood .  "" They are beloved by this community , "" City Councilor at Large Ayanna Pressley told the Globe . Pressley and other devastated residents gathered at Tavolo Restaurant in Dorchester to mourn .  The family contributes "" in many ways , "" she said . "" That ' s why you see this outpouring . It ' s surreal it ' s tragic . ""  Sherman said that the Richard family is a "" typical all American family "" and that Martin and his little brother always loved to play in their yard , no matter the weather .  Neighbor Dan Aguilar told The Boston Globe the same and said he was having a hard time wrapping his mind around the child ' s death .  "" That little boy will never come home again , ' ' he told the paper . "" It ' s still unreal . I have no words . I have no words . ' '  While so much grieving continues , more details are emerging about Monday ' s bombings .  No suspects have been identified in the case , which federal authorities are classifying as an act of terrorism . It was not immediately known whether the origin of the bombings was domestic or foreign .  Nothing is being dismissed this early on , the officials said .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
110,110,"Reuters) - Mexico’s president rebuked Donald Trump as a threat to his country just hours after painting a positive picture of talks the two held on Wednesday to try to defuse tensions over the U.S. presidential hopeful’s anti-Mexican campaign rhetoric. President Enrique Pena Nieto had on Wednesday afternoon hailed as “open and constructive” the impromptu meeting he held with Trump, who later referred to the Mexican leader as his friend and a “wonderful” president. But in a late evening television interview, an angry-looking Pena Nieto sought to defend himself against a broad swathe of criticism for his decision to invite the Republican candidate despite his repeated verbal attacks on Mexico. “His policy stances could represent a huge threat to Mexico, and I am not prepared to keep my arms crossed and do nothing,” Pena Nieto said. “That risk, that threat, must be confronted. I told him that is not the way to build a mutually beneficial relationship for both nations.” Trump’s quick acceptance of an invitation sent last Friday took Mexico’s government by surprise, and his visit to Mexico City came just hours ahead of a keynote speech on immigration as he sought to close the gap on Democratic rival Hillary Clinton. The real estate mogul’s accusations that Mexico sends rapists and drug runners to the United States, and his threats to build a border wall and tear up trade deals, have angered the government but his meeting with Pena Nieto on Wednesday gave him a chance to present himself in a more moderate light. He spoke of Mexican-Americans in glowing terms and stressed the areas of common interest between the two countries even as he stuck to his message that he would put up the wall. Pena Nieto had likened Trump to dictators Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini earlier this year. But his government said Trump understood its concerns at the meeting, making Pena Nieto’s tense appearance on television the more surprising. “What we saw was a respectful attitude and discourse from Donald Trump,” presidential spokesman Eduardo Sanchez had said earlier, arguing that progress was made on the issue of trade after prior threats by Trump to tear up the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). “I think there was an advance in general,” he added. Still, Trump laid out a series of tough policies to tackle illegal immigration when he delivered his speech in Phoenix, Arizona, on Wednesday night. He told a cheering crowd that Mexico would pay for the wall “100 percent” and that if he wins the election anyone living illegally in the United States would be sent back to their home country and made to apply for re-entry.  That would include millions of Mexicans. Opposition politicians in Mexico rounded on Pena Nieto for hosting Trump. “Instead of making him apologize, the government allowed (Trump) to complete the humiliation of the Mexicans,” Ricardo Anaya, leader of the center-right opposition National Action Party, said on Twitter. Some Mexican officials also privately expressed reservations about the meeting with one former diplomat saying Pena Nieto had done Trump’s campaign a favor. During a joint news conference after their meeting, Trump said he and Pena Nieto had not discussed his demand that Mexico pay for the border wall. But Pena Nieto later contradicted Trump, saying he had told the American that Mexico would not foot the bill, and he bristled during his television interview when asked why he had not made that clear at the news conference. Speaking on condition of anonymity, a Mexican government official said the two men spoke English during the meeting and that Pena Nieto clearly explained to Trump the offense his comments had caused. “He’s a candidate that offended a lot of Mexicans, so that’s the chemistry there was (between them),” the official said. ",true,dataset,test,Other news1,US elections,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
111,111,"Washington John Keith rattles each pill bottle and raps it down on the table , 15 in all . "" That ' s what they had me on right there , every day , "" the former sailor says of the prescriptions he received from Veterans Affairs doctors .  Keith , who lives in California , says his case is an example of how government doctors over prescribe for active duty and retired military , with often disastrous results .  On the other side of the country , the Ohio family of Chris Bachus , a decorated Marine who died in his sleep from an accidental drug overdose , also says military doctors are writing too many prescriptions .  "" How could a team of doctors , allegedly working together , prescribe all those things together ? "" Jerry Bachus asks of the doctors who treated his brother with dozens of separate medications .  And the military itself is struggling with demands of its personnel returning from multiple warzone deployments and seeking treatment for a variety of injuries and mental issues .  Navy veteran Keith blames multiple tours in the Persian Gulf , on board the  Kitty Hawk , for a variety of ailments including post traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury .  But he blames government doctors for loading him up on pills .  "" After I was taking the 10 pills and it wasn ' t working , I went back to the  , and they prescribed me five more pills on top of everything else , "" Keith said .  Then came blackouts , and once he tossed furniture out of a friend ' s apartment .  "" I ' d thrown it off the balcony , and I had no recollection whatsoever , "" Keith explained .  "" I called a  doctor and told her what happened . She said , ' Oh , it ' s too strong . Just cut the pills in half and take half . ' I did that , and the next thing I know , I was being arrested by the Dallas police , "" Keith said .  In Ohio , Bachus ' brother questions why the successful Marine gunnery sergeant had his own oversupply of legally prescribed medicines when he died .  "" They were all legitimately prescribed drugs from physicians who had sat right in front of him and evaluated his condition , and whatever he had an issue of , they would either increase the dosage or the potency of the individual pill , "" Jerry Bachus said at his home outside Columbus .  He shows off the Iraqi battle flag that Chris brought back from one of Saddam Hussein ' s palaces after he fought his way through Baghdad . He thumbs through photos , including one of the two brothers visiting Washington . And he tells about how his brother was usually the happiest guy around .  "" He laughed and smiled a lot . He had a great time . He lived life to its fullest . He lived life the way people wished they did , "" Bachus says .  But after multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan and 17 years in the Corps , Chris was just a shadow .  "" He was passive . He was ghostly , "" Jerry Bachus said , describing how he failed to convince his brother that he wasn ' t really fit to serve . But Bachus shipped out again to Iraq in 2007 , coming back early with stress complaints and suspicions of a traumatic brain injury from a roadside bomb .  The cover letter on the official military autopsy for Chris Bachus strongly recommends that family members not read it alone , but with a family friend or minister .  It spells out the 27 prescriptions found near the body in March 2008 , at Camp Geiger in North Carolina . The death was ruled accidental , blamed on "" multi drug toxicity . ""  The list of 27 prescription bottles found at the scene of death takes up most of a page of the autopsy , from topiramate to oxycodone to lorazepam .  Jerry Bachus admits that the military faces enormous demands , countless requests to ease both the physical and mental pain .  "" You ' re gonna give me whatever I need to make me feel better , and you ' re gonna make me go away . . . because there ' s 1 , 000 people standing in line behind me that just came off the bus with me , "" he said .  The armed services have recognized the problem as a reflection of what also is playing out in civilian life as well .  "" I think in some cases yes , certainly , I think there is over reliance , "" said Brig . Gen . Richard Thomas , the Army ' s assistant surgeon general . "" But I think . . . it reflects how we are in society we do have a tendency to rely on prescription meds . ""  Thomas says the Army has implemented rules to limit the number of people who can prescribe medications for an individual patient , as well as new scrutiny of cases in which multiple prescriptions have been written . New prescriptions may carry a time limit , with no refills without a new examination .  "" We have some new policies that are out to address poly pharmacy , multiple medications , to make sure we are prescribing these things in a safe and responsible manner to protect the patient , "" Thomas said . "" Ultimately , because we don ' t want to leave the responsibility for figuring it out in the hands of the patient . ""  And the military is exploring new treatments , without drugs .  "" Whether it be acupuncture or biofeedback or yoga therapy , there is a host of other things we can provide to patients to take care of them right , other than narcotics , "" Thomas said . "" Narcotics may still have a role , but it doesn ' t have as big a role , and there are alternatives , and that ' s the key . ""  Meanwhile , Jerry Bachus keeps asking why doctors , commanders and even fellow Marines didn ' t raise the alarm .  "" Just to say we gave this trooper a bag of pills , that doesn ' t wash , "" he said . "" It just isn ' t good enough . It just isn ' t good enough . ""  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
112,112,"A father of two ordered enough ricin to ' kill hundreds ' from an undercover  agent on the ' dark net ' it is alleged .  Mohammed Ammer Ali , 31 , asked for the chemical to be delivered to his family home hidden in a toy car .  Ali was said to have then searched the internet looking for local pet shops selling rabbits and chinchillas on which he could test the deadly poison .  Hidden : Enough ricin to ' kill hundreds ' was concealed in a toy car  He was arrested in an anti terror raid at his home in Liverpool last week , accused of paying 500 ( 325 ) for 500mg of ricin .  Ali told the  agent , posing as a seller , that he would be a ' good repeat customer ' and would ' need 500mg each month , for the next few months ' , according to investigators .  He is said to have asked if the ricin would be packaged in ' Breaking Bad style ' phials referring to the hit  drama . Terror police , who raided his top floor flat above a restaurant , also allegedly found a ' to do list ' saved on his computer which said ' pay ricin man ' and ' get pet to murder ' . The married  worker appeared at a London court yesterday charged with attempting to obtain a chemical weapon .  Speaking at the hearing in Westminster Magistrates ' Court , prosecutor Mark Dawson said of the amount of ricin ordered : ' Whether inhaled or injected , the chemical would easily be enough to scientifically kill hundreds of people .  ' He believed he was purchasing five fatal doses . '  The poison is 6 , 000 times more deadly than cyanide .  Ali was caught in an  sting , with the help of British counter terrorism police , after he allegedly accessed online marketplaces in the so called ' dark net ' the hard to access parts of the internet used by those engaging in criminal activity . According to investigators , the father had initiated contact with the ' seller ' on January 11 asking for ricin to be sent to the  .  In court : Mohammed Ammer Ali , 31 , of Liverpool , arrived in London and is accused of trying to buy 500 of ricin from a website in the United States using internet currency Bitcoins  When he was given the prices which the  said was 200 ( 130 ) per lethal dose , the buyer , which the prosecutor says is Ali , replied : ' Could you do it a little cheaper if I bought more ? '  Before adding : ' How would one test if it is actually ricin , other than the obvious of course : ) '  Ali then allegedly asked for 500mg for 500 which needed to be split into ' multiple dosages ' and would be ' used indoors ' .  ' I will be a very good repeat customer if you can make this possible and im ( sic ) happy with the results , ' he added , according to a transcript .  After the agent , who described his product as ' some really nasty sh t ' , suggested Ali use a rodent to test a small amount of the ricin on , he allegedly replied : ' I like the rodent test thanks for that . '  Appearance : Ali , wearing a blue jumper and blue trousers in court , spoke in a strong Liverpudlian accent to confirm his name and address . He did not enter plea  He is said to have revealed very little about his alleged targets but inquired about whether or not the ricin would still work if mixed in water or food .  Excited about receiving the toxic chemical in tiny battery sized 100mg phials , he allegedly wrote to the undercover agent asking : ' Are we talking Breaking Bad style ? Let ' s make this happen . '  He is accused of buying the ricin in February using online currency Bitcoin .  Ali , who has two children aged four and six , then allegedly arranged for it to be delivered to his home address in the name ' Dylan Harvey ' .  The  had concealed the five phials containing a harmless powder in the battery compartment of the yellow remote control car .  Ali ' s wife , who is originally from Pakistan , is said to have accepted the delivery on February 10 before armed officers arrested him the following morning during raids of five properties in Liverpool including his home , former home and a local  firm .  No pleas were taken during the hearing in London . Ali was remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on March 13 .  Police have stressed officers have currently uncovered no plan or threat of an imminent attack .  Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article .  ",true,text,test,American football,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
126,126,"Russia Young women in bright miniskirts and high heels line up to sell themselves in the dingy back streets throughout the Russian capital . Moscow ' s illegal flesh markets are flourishing , with up to 30 women at each pickup point , or tochka , standing in order of price for the night .  Russian police acknowledge that human trafficking for sexual exploitation is a major problem .  Customers light up the lines with their car headlights and are asked to pay between 100 and 700 for a woman .  Aid workers for groups fighting for women ' s rights say Moscow is witnessing a surge in prostitution , including forced prostitution , as a result of Russia ' s booming economy .  They say thousands of young women are made to work as sex slaves on the city ' s streets , unable to escape from the ruthless and violent criminal gangs who traffic them . Watch Moscow ' s thriving sex trade  "" It ' s because of the economic boom they are brought here , "" said Afsona Kadyrova of the Angel Coalition aid agency , which rehabilitates trafficked women and children . "" The fast pace of development in Moscow has fueled demand for a range of cheap workers , including prostitutes . ""  "" Take your pick from any of the girls , "" the female organizer said at one location , lines of women all around . "" The expensive ones are on the right , for 600 and 700 a night . The women on the left are 100 . ""  Aid agencies say many of the women working here are tricked into coming to Moscow on the promise of an education or a good job . They say others are simply kidnapped from their hometowns and forced to work as prostitutes in Moscow . Watch one woman describe how her uncle duped her into prostitution  Russian police acknowledge that human trafficking for sexual exploitation is a major problem , saying they do what they can to fight it by raiding brothels suspected of forced prostitution and arresting gang members who run them . But the problem , they say , lies elsewhere .  "" First of all , we have virtually open borders , and badly controlled migration flows from nearby countries , "" said Alexander Krasnov of Russia ' s Interior Ministry Police .  "" Secondly , we still don ' t have a basic law that defines victims ' rights . At the moment , it ' s mostly aid agencies that deal with it . ""  Aid agencies say they are handling a growing number of deeply traumatized victims rescued from brothels and pimps in the Moscow area . One U . N . organization , the International Organization for Migration , recently opened a treatment and rehabilitation center to cope with the large numbers of sexually exploited and trafficked women who come for help .  At this center , Christine , a 27 year old Nigerian woman , tells how she acquired a painful 4 inch scar across her right cheek . She says she was lured to Russia from Nigeria four years ago by her uncle . He promised to give her a college education , she says .  But instead , she says , he sent her to a Moscow brothel . He told her "" the kind of job I ' m going to be doing is prostitution . ""  "" I ask him , ' Why prostitution ? Why not another job to pay the money ? ' He says I didn ' t speak the language . I cannot do any other job . ""  She added , "" It made me feel very bad . I felt that I ' m not going to do it over my dead body . ""  But when she tried to run away , her uncle cut her face , says Christine , who asked that her last name not be used .  "" He made me know that if I don ' t cooperate with him , something bad will happen to me that if I made an attempt to run away , it would end in taking my life . So I was really scared about that , "" she said .  Aid workers say Russia has become a prime destination for trafficked women from Africa , the Far East and former Soviet states . There are no exact figures , but aid agencies estimate that thousands of trafficked women are on Moscow ' s streets .  "" Before , it was just a country of origin for Europe and the U . S . and elsewhere in the world , "" Kadyrova said . "" But right now , we see that Russia has become a destination country also . ""  According to the group ' s Web site , human traffickers "" prey on the dreams of impoverished women seeking employment and opportunities for the future . "" Most women are young and single with little education some are orphans and college students others are married with children .  "" All of them are lured by advertising images of a beautiful life beyond the borders of their homelands making them easy prey to the thousands of traffickers advertising in newspapers , on radio , television , in the metro and on the streets for wonderful work abroad with no experience necessary , "" the group says .  For millions , Russia ' s new economic prosperity has been a blessing . But for those caught up in the sex trade , it ' s a curse .  Christine managed to escape after meeting a woman from a church who helped her . "" I was crying all the time , telling her , ' I don ' t want this kind of job , ' "" she said .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
129,129,"Spain striker Fernando Torres may not be fit for the start of the World Cup , according to his English club Liverpool .  The forward scored 18 goals in 22 games in the Premier League before his season was cut short by a knee injury .  Torres had surgery to repair a torn cartilage in April and is now racing to be fit for Spain ' s opening game at the finals with Switzerland on June 16 .  Peter Brukner , Head of Sports Medicine and Sports Science at Liverpool , says the 26 year old may not have recovered in time to launch his country ' s charge for the trophy .  He told Liverpool ' s official Web site : "" You can ' t be absolutely certain of anything but at this stage , if he continues to progress the way he is , he should be fit to play at some stage during the World Cup .  "" Whether he ' ll be fit for the first game or not is uncertain . We ' re anxious not to hurry him along too much because we want the long term benefit , but we ' re aware he ' s got the short term goal of playing in the World Cup . ""  Meanwhile , Germany coach Joachim Loew has been dealt a double blow ahead of the World Cup after goalkeeper Rene Adler and midfielder Simon Rolfes were ruled out of the tournament through injury .  Adler has been told he needs surgery on a rib injury , aggravated while playing for his club Bayer Leverkusen during their weekend German Bundesliga draw with Hertha Berlin .  He has been the country ' s number one since Robert Enke committed suicide in November 2009 , and has nine caps to his name .  "" This was the hardest decision of my life , "" Adler told the German Football Association ' s Web site . "" The pain is so great that I would not have been able to perform at my best over the longer term both in training and during matches .  "" In such a long and intensive tournament , that is unacceptable . You need players who are totally fit . ""  Rolfes , who also plays for Leverkusen , has been out of action since an operation on a knee injury back in January and will not be adding to his 21 caps at the finals in South Africa .  He said : "" I am very pleased with the healing process but it is now definitively clear that the World Cup finals for me make no sense .  "" My plan is now to look to start the new Bundesliga season fully fit . Missing out on the World Cup is not easy . It only remains for me now to wish the team every success in South Africa . ""  Meanwhile , striker Ruud van Nistelrooy has been left out of Holland ' s provisional World Cup squad , but coach Bert Van Marwijk says it doesn ' t necessarily spell the end of his World Cup dream .  The 33 year old former Manchester United and Real Madrid forward is currently playing for Hamburg in the Bundesliga .  "" As for Ruud , I ' m giving myself until May 11 to decide , "" Van Marwijk was quoted as saying in a story on  ' s Web site . "" I ' m leaving him until that date to convince me that he is sufficiently in shape to take part in the World Cup . ""  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
147,147,"Holy moly! We ve been covering the  agent who was fired for his  anti-Trump tweets but now this BOMBSHELL:The agent is the one who quickly looked over thousands of emails from the Weiner computer and said there was nothing there! You can bet this is now a big problem for the FBI. President Trump is correct when he says the   is in tatters Reddit reported:      ANTI-  AGENT: This is an interesting development in the Mueller investigation because we don t trust the FBI. Is this new news from the New York Times an effort to make Mueller and McCabe appear unbiased? We re not buying it because this guy was the lead investigator in the Hillary email case Really??? Talk about compromised! Please see our previous report below on the  giving  special status  to Hillary s email investigation.Robert Mueller kicked a  top  agent  off the special counsel investigation this summer over potential anti-Trump texts he sent, per a new report today.According to The New York Times, Peter Strzok not only  helped lead  the investigation into Hillary Clinton s emails, but he  played a major role  in the Trump-Russia investigation.But he is no longer on the investigation:Mr. Strzok was reassigned this summer from Mr. Mueller s investigation to the F.B.I. s human resources department, where he has been stationed since. The people briefed on the case said the transfer followed the discovery of text messages in which Mr. Strzok and a colleague reacted to news events, like presidential debates, in ways that could appear anti-Trump. News reported back in August that Strzok had left the investigation, but said at the time  it s unclear why Strzok stepped away from Mueller s team of nearly two dozen lawyers, investigators and administrative staffers. And The Washington Post s report today on Strzok contains some rather, well, personal details:During the Clinton investigation, Strzok was involved in a romantic relationship with  lawyer Lisa Page, who worked for Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, according to the people familiar with the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.The extramarital affair was problematic, these people said, but of greater concern among senior law enforcement officials were text messages the two exchanged during the Clinton investigation and campaign season, in which they expressed anti-Trump sentiments and other comments that appeared to favor Clinton Officials are now reviewing the communications to see if they show evidence of political bias in their work on the cases, a review which could result in a public report, according to people familiar with the matter. Via: mediaiteFBI        HILLARY:Friday on Fox News Channel s  Fox & Friends,  Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) said evidence had been uncovered showing that the  gave the investigation of 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton s improper use of an unauthorized email server while secretary of state a  special status. According to the Florida Republican, who is also a member of the House Judiciary Committee, the process afforded to Clinton was different than it would have been for  any other American. We now have evidence that the  s investigation of Hillary Clinton did not follow normal and standard procedures,  he said.  The current deputy director of the  Andrew McCabe sent emails just weeks before the presidential election saying that the Hillary Clinton investigation would be special   that it would be handled by a small team at headquarters, that it would be given special status.      INVESTIGATION: I am immediately calling for an investigation into the special treatment that the  gave Hillary Clinton. Rep. Gaetz: ""I am immediately calling for an investigation into the special treatment that the  gave Hillary Clinton."" #IngrahamAngle pic.twitter.com/EHkQfyeWDK  Fox News (@FoxNews) November 22, 2017Ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee Goetz is calling for an investigation into why Hillary Clinton s  case was labelled  special  by the  s Andrew McCabe:The Hill reports:Shortly before last year s election,  Deputy Director Andrew McCabe wrote an email on his official government account stating that the Hillary Clinton email probe had been given  special  status, according to documents released Wednesday.McCabe s Oct. 23, 2016, email to press officials in the  said the probe was under the control of a small group of high-ranking people at the  s headquarters in Washington. As I now know the decision was made to investigate it at  with a small team,  McCabe wrote in the email. He said he had no input when the Clinton email investigation started in summer 2015, while he was serving as assistant director in charge of the  s Washington office. [The Washington office] provided some personnel for the effort but it was referred to as a  special  and I was not given any details about it,  he wrote. officials on Wednesday night refused to answer what McCabe meant by calling the Clinton email probe a  special  or why it was restricted to a small team at headquarters when it began. We don t have anything to add to the documents that were released,  bureau spokeswoman Carol Cratty wrote The Hill.The note was contained in more than 70 pages of emails the  released on its public records site known as The Vault.The emails chronicled McCabe s efforts to address a separate controversy involving his wife s 2015 campaign for political office.McCabe s references to a  special  status for the Clinton probe are likely to be used as ammunition by Republican lawmakers critical of former  Director James Comey s handling of the Clinton investigation.Remember that the  s Loretta Lynch also wanted Clinton s case to be called an  incident  and not an investigation. It looks like all intel agencies were doing all they could to protect Clinton. Was it to save themselves from exposure in the Uranium One case or something else?",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
175,175,"The view from above southern Egypt is stunning , a contrast of beige desert valley giving way to green farmland , including fields of sugar cane . Tourists soak in the sight by hiring hot air balloons that have large baskets to carry passengers hundreds of feet above the countryside .  Tuesday morning , as one of the balloons prepared to land , an explosion pierced the air , followed by a spreading billow of smoke .  "" My first thought was that it was sugar cane that was burning , "" said Christopher Michel , a photographer who was a passenger in another balloon at the time .  Smoke from the burning sugar cane painted the ancient city of Luxor below with an eerie haziness .  But the concern shown by the balloon pilot and the blaring sirens from emergency vehicles told Michel that something was wrong . He could not imagine the extent : One of the balloons had exploded , and its 21 passengers and operators plummeted about 1 , 000 feet ( 300 meters ) to the ground .  By Tuesday afternoon , the number of dead had climbed to 19 , making it the world ' s deadliest hot air balloon accident in at least 20 years .  It was an early , dark morning , Michel said , and uneventful for 45 minutes until they started to descend . He was overlooking mud brick buildings and fields , with the Valley of the Kings in the distance , when the explosion shattered the quiet of the morning .  It was a gas explosion , state run EgyNews reported .  Passengers in the balloon included 19 foreign tourists : nine from Hong Kong , four from Japan , three from Britain , two from France and one from Hungary , officials said .  An Egyptian pilot and another Egyptian also were on board , Luxor province spokesman Badawi al Masri said .  Two people a Briton and the pilot are hospitalized .  Balloon rides offering panoramic aerial views of the Nile River and the ancient temples of Karnak and Hatshepsut are a popular tourist attraction in Luxor , about a nine hour drive southeast of Cairo .  Tuesday ' s crash prompted Gov . Izzat Saad of Luxor province to ban all hot air balloon flights until further notice .  Conflicting reports emerged about the company that operated the doomed balloon , Sky Cruise .  The head of the country ' s civil aviation authority said the company was licensed and working legally , EgyNews reported .  The agency has begun an investigation of the incident , Mohammed Ibrahim Sharif said .  According to Sharif , a fire broke out in the balloon while the workers were trying to land it , just feet from the ground . The balloon then shot upwards again , he said .  The balloon ' s basket was divided into four parts , he said , each holding five passengers .  Meanwhile , Luxor ' s chamber of tourism said the company had previous violations , EgyNews reported .  Several balloon companies had terminated contracts with the local meteorological service after the Egyptian revolution , Tharwat Agami , chairman of the chamber of tourism , said .  Sky Cruise and other companies were known to violate safety and security instructions by flying out of East Luxor , instead of the recommended West Luxor , he said .  Comparing it to a previous hot air balloon experience in another country , Michel noted that there was no safety briefing before the Luxor balloons lifted off the ground , but added that he felt safe during the trip .  From what he could tell , the doomed balloon was not overloaded , he said on his Twitter account .  Luxor is among Egypt ' s top tourist draws . Visitors go to see ancient temples and tombs , and travel sites often recommend the hot air balloon trips .  The last hot air balloon accident in Luxor occurred in 2009 , when 16 foreign tourists were injured after a balloon struck a cell phone transmission tower .  Until Tuesday ' s incident , the deadliest accident in recent memory took place in 1989 , when 13 people were killed as two hot air balloons collided in Australia .  Egyptian government spokesman Alaa Hadidi announced that the Cabinet will form a committee from the Ministry of Civil Aviation to investigate Tuesday ' s accident , EgyNews said .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
192,192,"D . C . President Bush launched a  led investigation into Colin Powell , stating that the former secretary of U . S . defense is harboring stolen weapons of mass destruction .  "" I specifically told Powell to strategically place them there weapons in Iraq to make it look like they beloned to Saddam , "" Bush said in a State Of The Union address this morning .  The United Nations will conduct a search of Mr Powell ' s estate beginning next Monday . The former secretary of defense resigned from his cabinet position nearly a month ago . He could not be reached yesterday and has not returned phone calls . A preliminary search of his office in his New Jersey home turned up no evidence of nukes , but federal agents said they found blue pills imprinted with the word "" pfizer "" , along with a bag of white powder . Both were sent to pharmaceutical laboratories at  .  Federal agent Dave Simone said , "" While searching his office we found some disturbing evidence of terrorist activity , including a blow up toy of some sort with a piece of masking tape on the stomach labeled ' Mary Cheney ' along with some blue pills and a bag of white powder . Very disturbing . Possibly ecstasy and anthrax . We won ' t know for sure until the lab results come back . ""  U . N . officials declined to comment on the situation , but a janitor at the New York office said he overheard a chief official talking to President Bush just hours before the accusations . "" Dee man tawlkin ' to de presiedent told Mr Bush ' This better not be another Iraq or your house is next . ' ""  Bush said he is "" ready for an all out battle royale with Powell , if that ' s what has to happen . And it will . "" He then went on to say "" I can ' t believe Colin stole my coke stash ! I mean , I I woulda ' shared it . What I really mean is , folks , what I meant was , I ' m sure Colin has weapons of mass destruction . ""  Mr Bush then continued to dig an even deeper grave for himself . As for Colin Powell , only time will tell .  Condaliza Rice commented on the situation , saying "" Powell is a traitor . Right now our country is kind of like Germany in the 1940s . You stick with what you have , not with what you wish you had . Uh , can this be stricken from the record ? ""  No , Ms . Rice . It can ' t .  ",satire,text,test,US elections,US elections,satire,satire,True,no,no,neutral,past
196,196,"Former  analyst and retired U.S. Army Reserve Lieutenant Colonel Tony Shaffer told Lou Dobbs on Tuesday President Trump needs to understand deep state has declared war against his administration.   He needs to fire top two levels in intelligence to clean house.  STATE:Never in American history has there been a more highly organized group of people, the  deep state , attempting to subvert the will of the American people, in this case, the Trump presidency. Peter Schweizer discusses the efforts of the  deep state , their conspiracy campaign against Donald Trump and its  potential impact on President Trump s administration.",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,present
197,197,"The motto of the  Enterprise , the vessel whose 5 year mission "" to boldly go where no man has gone before "" , seems to have been taken all too literally , after it was announced that  has relieved a  spaceship captain of his command over the production of lewd videos on the ship .  The videos featuring Capt James T . Kirk were apparently made some time ago , and were described by  as "" deeply offensive "" . One has gay slurs , women in the shower together and simulated masturbation . Another has a member of the crew wanking into a Vulcan ' s ear .  Officials said Capt Kirk ' s actions and "" profound lack of judgment "" had put his character and fitness to lead in doubt .  "" Adm John Harvey Jr has relieved Capt Kirk of his command of the  Enterprise , "" said  .  Capt Kirk ' s "" profound lack of good judgment and professionalism while previously serving as executive officer on the Enterprise calls into question his character and completely undermines his credibility to continue to serve effectively in command , "" said a  official in a statement .  Capt Kirk has been reassigned to an administrative role , Adm Harvey told reporters on Tuesday .  He said :  "" The Navy will continue investigating the case to determine which other officers aboard the ship knew about the videos . That Mr Spock obviously knew , as it was his pointy ear that was the recipient of some ' intergalactic love juice ' , but others ' careers are in the balance . That kinky Mr Sulu is one of these . ""  Star Trek fans were shocked at the news . One , Gene BlackenBerry , 109 , said :  "" I ' m shocked at the news . I always thought those tight fitting sexy outfits were just a sign of the progressive fashion styles of the 1960s . It just goes to show you , doesn ' t it ? ""  A lot of other people yawned .  ",satire,text,test,US elections,Sports/Other,true,satire,True,no,no,negative,past
219,219,"All members of a California based band that was to perform at the Paris venue where one of Friday night s deadly attacks occurred are safe and have been accounted for , a  official briefed by the Justice Department said .  The band Eagles of Death Metal was supposed to perform at the Bataclan , a theater located in eastern Paris near the trendy Oberkampf area . People inside were taken hostage .  It was unclear how many were inside but French police say at least 100 people were killed . The death toll is in addition to the 35 people who died in shootings and explosions in multiple sites in the city Friday night .  The  official was not authorized to discuss the briefing publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity .  Earlier Friday , management for the band said they were trying to determine the safety and whereabouts of the band and its crew .  The Atlanta Journal Constitution , quoting the brother of the band s drummer , reported Friday night that all band members escaped the concert hall unharmed . The paper identified the drummer as Atlanta native Julian Dorio .  They saw a man with a machine gun just opening fire , Dorio s brother Michael Dorio told the newspaper . Michael Dorio said his brother told him band members hit the floor when they spotted the gunmen , then ran out a backstage door .  They dashed to a nearby police station , where Julian Dorio borrowed someone s cellphone to call his family in Atlanta , Michael Dorio said .  Josh Homme , one of the founders of the band and the leader of another popular group , Queens of the Stone Age , was not performing in Paris with Eagles of Death Metal , according to a publicist for the Eagles record label .  The band , formed in 1998 in Palm Desert , California , was celebrating the October release of Zipper Down with a European tour . It s their first album in seven years .  The  said Julian Dorio is not a full time member of the band but had joined it on a European tour .  Homme formed Eagles of Death Metal with his best friend , Jesse Hughes . Though their name is Eagles of Death Metal , the band s sound is a mix of blues rock and garage rock .  Their website lists about two dozen dates planned for the year , including stops in Munich , Stockholm , Rome and Barcelona .  In an interview in June with The Associated Press , the band spoke excitedly about releasing new music and heading on tour .  You know , I m telling you the truth , but this is the coolest job in the world , Hughes said , sitting next to Homme . Right now I m sitting in an interview with my best friend in London at Koko s Ballroom talking about myself . It doesn t really get much better than this !  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
233,233,"French journalist Ivan Rioufol is to be prosecuted using 19th century press laws  A French journalist is facing a criminal trial under the country ' s strict press laws for remarks made during a radio debate about the influence of Islam .  Ivan Rioufol , 61 , believes the way he is being treated is an example of how writers are criminalised when the state is able to control the media .  He was summoned to court under strict press laws which date back to the 19th Century following a complaint from a pressure group called the Collective Against Islamophobia in France (  ) .  ' In seeking to undermine liberty of expression , a sacred principle of our civilisation , the Collective against Islamophobia in France (  ) takes the risk of appearing like a menace to democracy , ' said Mr Rioufol .  ' This is essentially what I hope to be able to explain in court , because I will have to appear in a few months before the 17th Criminal Court in Paris . '  Mr Rioufol , who has written for Le Figaro newspaper for almost 28 years , made some allegedly defamatory remarks on November 15th 2012 during an  radio programme called ' We Reshape the World . '  Mr Rioufol particularly objected to a  poster campaign which showed pictures of predominantly bearded and veiled Muslims under the slogan ' We are the Nation ' .  The journalist said that this was against the spirit of France ' s inclusive , secular republic something which  objected to .  Mr Rioufol said that France ' s 1881 Press Law was being used to ' penalise criticism , intimidate journalists , censor the media ' and even ' to reintroduce the offence of blasphemy ' .  We Are The Nation : The poster by the Collective Against Islamophobia In France , which Mr Rioufol referred to in the radio debate  Ivan Rioufol will seek to prove that his words were true , as a defence against the defamation charge  The 1881 law was nominally meant to guarantee the ' freedom of the press ' but in fact criminalised a range of journalistic behaviour .  So called ' press offenses ' ranged from insulting the President of France , to defaming private citizens through comment .  Mr Rioufol said about the case ' s first hearing : ' The judge reminded me that he himself had no opportunity to verify the existence of the alleged offense , the procedure Press Law 1881 leading automatically to court , where the case will be considered on its merits . '  Mr Rioufol said the law was ' easily manipulated ' by those who wanted to persecute journalists .  A spokesman for  said it had a duty to challenge ' Islamophobia ' and the press laws were a logical way of challenging journalism it objected to .  ' Mr Rioufol will in court seek to prove that his words were true one of the defences against defamation . '  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
244,244,"Australia has cemented its position as one of the world ' s fattest nations , a new study has revealed .  The lucky country may not be so lucky coming in as the 25th largest nation in the Global Burden of Disease Study for 2013 , which monitored the weight gain of 188 nations over a 33 year period .  Along with New Zealand , Australia has experienced an 80 per cent increase in obesity rates in the past three decades , and it jumped nearly 40 places on the list , the biggest mover but evidently not in the right way .  The fat country : According to a new study obesity rates in Australia have increased exponentially over the last 33 years  Australia sits ahead of many European nations such as France and Germany , but still trailed the U . S . despite figures that show nearly one in three Aussies are considered obese .  The study revealed that not one single nation decreased its overweight and obesity rates during the time period , a concerning statistic that could put pressure on health systems worldwide .  Professor of Public Health at the University of Melbourne Rob Moodie told the Sydney Morning Herald that Australia had to act now if it wants to combat this obesity crisis .  ' Waiting for a cure is not possible . . . The public health system will be crushed by the obesity crisis and the rise in cancer , heart disease and diabetes . '  ' We have also failed to get anywhere with front of pack labeling , or with food reformulation , because of a huge resistance from the industry to anything that might improve our health , ' Professor Moodie also told the publication .  Put the pressure on : These increased rates will put strain on the public health system  These findings put the strain on the government to cut back on junk food marketing , restore the healthy food star rating system and push companies to cut sugar and fat contents in their products .  The study , which tracked the weight gain of adults and children from 1980 to 2013 , was based on Body Mass Index measurements (  ) which work on the relationship between height and weight to produce a figure .  Anyone with a  of 25 or more is considered overweight , while a rating of 30 or more deems an individual as being obese .  Nearly 30 per cent , or 5 . 2 million Australian adults , are classified as being obese compared with a much lower figure of 16 per cent in 1980 .  The Global Burden of Disease findings also said that more than half of the world ' s obese people now live in developing countries , and around a quarter of children are suffering from obesity .  In the lead : Around 5 . 2 million Australian adults are now considered obese  Another concern in Australia is that cuts in the recent budget could have an impact on fighting this obesity trend thanks to funding being scaled back on programs that target prevention in schools and communities .  Professor of Health Policy at Curtin University , Mike Daube , told the publication that obesity has crept up on Australia as a nation and new co payment scheme may defer people from seeing their  about the issue .  Obesity is linked to major health problems such as heart disease , stroke , high blood pressure and range of cancers .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
268,268,"Chairman of the House Freedom Caucus Rep. Mark Meadows (R. . C.) told Breitbart News on Friday that he will work with moderate Republicans to pass better Obamacare    legislation than the bill offered by Speaker Paul Ryan (R. .)  —   as part of his understanding with President Donald Trump. [“Based on my conversations with the president and the   they want to get it right, and they want to get it done quickly,” said Meadows. “They also want to make sure they reduce premiums for Americans —  and when that happens, we’re in total solidarity with our president and  . ”  The congressman said the American Health Care Act does not have the mechanisms to reduce premiums, nor costs, until further on down the path of replacement of the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare. “I want to applaud the president, having met with him yesterday,” he said. “He’s negotiating in good faith. I committed to him that I would negotiate in good faith,” Meadows said. “The only troubling thing that I continue to hear is that no amendments are going to be going to be allowed to be made in order. Certainly, no amendments were supported by either of the chairmen in either of the committees of jurisdiction. ” As part of his good faith commitment to the president, Meadows said he would work with more moderate Republicans, whose districts are less conservative than his, in order to find common ground. One of the frustrations Capitol Hill conservatives are dealing with is the contrast between the 2o17 repeal effort and the 2015 repeal effort. In December 2015, Republicans in the House and Senate passed an Obamacare repeal bill authored by Rep. Tom Price (R. . ). Price is a physician and now the secretary of Health and Human Services, but in 2o15, he was the chairman of the House Budget Committee. The Price bill was the “root and branch” repeal conservatives demanded from the party. Although it was vetoed by President Barack Obama, conservatives expected the return of the 2015 bill as the opening move, followed by a replacement bill that combined parts of Obamacare that had already become part of the national consensus and a transition period that gave the economy and body politic time to adjust. The RyanCare bill was crafted to be “RepealPlus,” Meadow said. “The 2015 bill that all of us vote on? He doesn’t want to do,” he said. “He is saying that the reason why he doesn’t want to do the 2015 bill is that it won’t pass in the Senate. Well, my encouragement is to send it over to the Senate and let them amend it and then they can send it back to us. ” I support my friends @RandPaul, @SenMikeLee, and @tedcruz. Every tax, every mandate, every regulation of #Obamacare needs to go. weblink  .   —   Mark Meadows (@RepMarkMeadows) February 28, 2017,  Meadows said he does bank on promises of future reform and adjustments. “In Washington, D. C. you have to make the assumption that the only thing that is going to get done is the one thing you are voting on today,” he said. “History shows us that if count on just the thing you are voting on today to get done, that is a more prudent calculation than assuming that you vote on something and assuming you’ll get three or four things that may or may not happen. ” This    between the two chambers is the normal legislative process Ryan and the Republican leadership are hoping to avoid. If the RyanCare bill can progress through the House and Senate unchanged, then there is no need for a conference to reconcile two versions of the same bill. In a conference, the power shifts to the Senate from the House because a senator chairs the conference committee. For Ryan, the additional risk is that a conference committee is free to produce whatever bill they come up with for votes in the House and Senate. There is a suspicion on Capitol Hill that the RyanCare language is frozen because of agreements made between the Republican leadership and insurance company representatives when the bill was written. Certainly, it is strange for a  bill to be touted as the return of “regular order” when it was developed outside the committees, without hearings. It also has not escaped notice among conservatives that not a single Republican member of either the Ways and Means Committee nor the Energy and Commerce Committee offered amendments to the RyanCare bill in their committee markups. Ryan dropped his bill Monday at 6 p. m. as members were coming back to Washington from the weekend recess and with no outreach to conservative media. A leadership staffer familiar with the RyanCare rollout told Breitbart News that the rollout was part of the party’s   plan that takes Capitol Hill Republicans from January through Labor Day. January and February were devoted to confirmations and regulatory relief through the Congressional Review Act, the staffer said. March is devoted to passing leadership’s health care bill, the staffer said. The RyanCare bill is meant to be the first phase of the process, and it is written in such a way as to preserve its status as a privileged motion through the budget reconciliation process. Republicans hold a    majority in the Senate, but for regular legislation, there is a   requirement to close debate and bring up a vote. Because the Republicans do not have the 60 votes required for cloture, they must use the budget track, which means the repeal bill can only address   issues. Further changes to the  legislation are vulnerable to Democratic efforts to extend debate indefinitely as long as they control 41 votes. This maneuver is the filibuster and Republicans are anticipating that once the financial underpinnings of Obamacare are restricted through the budget bill, enough Democrats will participate in the process to pass the additional phases of replacement. As a practical matter, the House Republican Leadership must get to 216 votes, not 218, because there are five vacant House seats. The House Freedom Caucus does not list its members publicly, but during the 2015 fight to     Speaker John Boehner (R. ) it was accepted that the  was solid for 30 votes. With 237 sitting Republicans, 22 defections are enough to kill the RyanCare bill on the floor. In the recent past, so many Republicans have bucked the House  leaders that the Republicans needed Democratic votes to pass leadership’s compromises with Obama and the Democrats. There were 67 Republicans who voted against the Dec. 11, 2014 “Cromnibus” budget deal.   Republicans voted against Ryan’s   budget agreement with Democrats in 2013. In the   fiscal cliff vote Jan. 1, 2013, 151 Republicans voted against the Republican leadership. But these votes were before Ryan took the gavel and Trump moved into the White House. The next hurdle for the American Health Care Act is the House Budget Committee, chaired by Rep. Diane Black (R. . ).",true,news,test,World conflict,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
275,275,"Reuters) - More than 400 U.S. Marines and their artillery are leaving Syria after helping to capture the city of Raqqa from Islamic State, the U.S.-led coalition fighting the militant group said on Thursday.  Last month, U.S.-backed militias declared victory in Raqqa, Islamic State s former headquarters in Syria, after months of fighting with the help of the U.S.-led coalition.  With the city liberated and  on the run, the unit has been ordered home. Its replacements have been called off,  the coalition said in a statement, using an acronym for Islamic State.  We re drawing down combat forces where it makes sense, but still continuing our efforts to help Syrian and Iraqi partners maintain security,  Brigadier General Jonathan Braga, the director of operations for the coalition, said in the statement.  Our remaining forces will continue to work by, with, and through partner forces to defeat remaining ISIS, prevent a re-emergence of ISIS, and set conditions for international governments and NGOs to help local citizens recover from the horrors of   short-lived rule,  he said. Officially, the Pentagon says there are 503 troops in Syria. However, as of last week, U.S. officials said there were closer to 2,000 U.S. troops in the country. The latest announcement would reduce that number. As that campaign against Islamic State winds down, it is unclear how many, if any, U.S. troops will remain in Syria. Most of them are special operations forces, working to train and advise local partner forces, including providing artillery support against Islamic State militants. Separately, Russia said it was already preparing to withdraw its military contingent from Syria, Russian news agencies reported. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
277,277,"ST.   —   Police officers in riot gear clashed with protesters who blocked a major highway here for hours on Saturday night, marking a tense turn for the demonstrations that have continued almost nonstop since a black man, Philando Castile, was fatally shot by a suburban police officer during a traffic stop on Wednesday. The protesters marched from the Minnesota governor’s mansion onto Interstate 94, chanting refrains such as “We’re peaceful, y’all violent” as the police urged them to leave. Officers struggled for more than four hours to disperse the crowd, at times deploying smoke and marking rounds in a standoff that stretched into early Sunday before snowplows cleared debris and the highway was reopened to traffic. The police in St. Paul said at least five officers were injured by fireworks, rocks, bricks and glass bottles that they said were thrown by protesters. None of their injuries were believed to be serious. Officers said they made arrests, but did not provide information about the number of people in custody or the charges they might be facing. The Minnesota protest was among several sizable demonstrations across the country on Saturday expressing outrage at the deaths of Mr. Castile and of Alton Sterling, another black man, who  was killed by the police in Baton Rouge, La. DeRay Mckesson, a   activist with a large Twitter following, was among more than 30 people arrested on Saturday outside the Baton Rouge Police Headquarters. A live stream via Twitter’s Periscope service captured his arrest after a verbal confrontation with an officer who ordered him not to walk onto a street. Protesters also blocked traffic on Saturday in New York, the local  station reported, and The Chicago Tribune said that a series of demonstrations in that city turned tense at times and led to arrests. In Minnesota, the contentious highway shutdown marked a change in tack for the protesters who had occupied the area outside the governor’s mansion for days but had remained almost entirely peaceful. On Friday night, the protest group had been stationary for the most part, listening to music and taking turns at the microphone outside the governor’s residence discussing state laws and calling for changes to police tactics. Earlier on Saturday, a separate group of peaceful protesters had gathered at a park in downtown Minneapolis and prepared to walk through the streets. Nekima   president of the Minneapolis NAACP, said organizers scheduled that march because “people are experiencing trauma after trauma after trauma as a result of what happened. ” Ms.   said many   here had still been coming to terms with the fatal shooting of Jamar Clark by the Minneapolis police in 2015 and the decision not to charge the officers involved. Protesters also blocked traffic on a Minnesota highway after Mr. Clark’s death, and after the fatal shooting of Michael Brown by a Missouri police officer in 2014. As protests continue here, much remains unknown about Mr. Castile’s death. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, which is investigating, has not said why he was pulled over or what happened during the traffic stop. A Facebook Live video of the shooting’s aftermath prompted widespread attention and outrage, with Mr. Castile’s girlfriend suggesting that he had been reaching for his identification when shot by Officer Jeronimo Yanez of the St. Anthony Police. Thomas Kelly, a lawyer for Officer Yanez, said his client had been “reacting to the presence of a gun,” though Mr. Castile’s girlfriend said in the Facebook video that he was licensed to carry a weapon.",true,news,test,Other news1,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
285,285,"director Robert Hannigan is stepping down after only two years as chief of the cyber spy agency for  personal reasons,  the intelligence service has announced. Recall also that Judge Napolitano said three sources told him the British spy agency had something to do with the witch hunt on Trump:   was on  & Friends discussing the Obama administration s efforts to spy on Donald Trump. Three intel sources have disclosed to the network that Obama went to British intelligence to get the goods on Trump, but we may never be able to prove it   NAPOLITANO:  Three intelligence sources have informed  News that President Obama went outside the chain of command. He didn t use the NSA, he didn t use the CIA, he didn t use the  and he didn t use the Department of Justice He used *GCHQ.  * is a British intel agency.@Judgenap: Three intel sources have disclosed that Pres. Obama turned to British spies to get surveillance on Trump pic.twitter.com/IghCFm7qhO   & friends (@foxandfriends) March 14, 2017 Grassley began his investigation after the Washington Post reported on February 28 that the FBI,  a few weeks before the election,  agreed to pay former British spy Christopher Steele to investigate Trump.Prior to that, supporters of the Hillary Clinton presidential campaign had paid Steele to gather intelligence on Clinton s Republican rival. In the end, the  did not pay Steele, the Post reported, after the dossier  became the subject of news stories, congressional inquiries and presidential denials.  It is not clear whether Steele worked under agreement with the  for any period of time before the payment deal fell through. The idea that the  and associates of the Clinton campaign would pay Mr. Steele to investigate the Republican nominee for president in the run-up to the election raises further questions about the  s independence from politics, as well as the Obama administration s use of law enforcement and intelligence agencies for political ends,  Grassley wrote in a letter to Comey dated March 28.       BEFORE:BREAKING:   GOVERNOR, Close Hillary Friend Gave Wife Of  Official Overseeing Hillary Email Investigation $467,500The political organization of Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, an influential Democrat with longstanding ties to Bill and Hillary Clinton, gave nearly $500,000 to the election campaign of the wife of an official at the Federal Bureau of Investigation who later helped oversee the investigation into Mrs. Clinton s email use.Campaign finance records show Mr. McAuliffe s political-action committee donated $467,500 to the 2015 state Senate campaign of Dr. Jill McCabe, who is married to Andrew McCabe, now the deputy director of the FBI.The Virginia Democratic Party, over which Mr. McAuliffe exerts considerable control, donated an additional $207,788 worth of support to Dr. McCabe s campaign in the form of mailers, according to the records. That adds up to slightly more than $675,000 to her candidacy from entities either directly under Mr. McAuliffe s control or strongly influenced by him. The figure represents more than a third of all the campaign funds Dr. McCabe raised in the effort.Mr. McAuliffe and other state party leaders recruited Dr. McCabe to run, according to party officials. She lost the election to incumbent Republican Dick Black.A spokesman for the governor said he  supported Jill McCabe because he believed she would be a good state senator. This is a customary practice for Virginia governors  Any insinuation that his support was tied to anything other than his desire to elect candidates who would help pass his agenda is ridiculous. Among political candidates that year, Dr. McCabe was the third-largest recipient of funds from Common Good VA, the governor s PAC, according to campaign finance records. Dan Gecker received $781,500 from the  and $214,456 from the state party for a campaign that raised $2.9 million, according to records; and Jeremy McPike received $803,500 from the  and $535,162 from the state party, raising more $3.8 million that year for his candidacy.The governor could recall only one meeting with Mr. McCabe when he and other state Democrats met with the couple on March 7, 2015, to urge Dr. McCabe to run, according to the spokesman. Via: Washington Examiner",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,fake,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
300,300,"In what is being hailed as a major breakthrough by the scientific community , a team of researchers announced Monday that they had successfully taught American Sign Language to a 43 year old gorilla suit wearing man .  Scientists at the Oregon National Primate Research Center told reporters that Brian , a western Kansas born gorilla costumed male living in their facility , has already learned well over 250 words in sign language , including all 26 letters of the alphabet , basic greetings , and even several short , simple phrases .  "" It ' s been an extensive process , but it ' s remarkable to see Brian starting to express his thoughts and emotions to us with signing , "" said lead researcher Rebecca Hayes , telling reporters that after just nine months of instruction , the full grown great ape suit wearing man is already capable of stringing his thoughts together into almost complete sentences . "" Not only does he have the ability to tell us when he ' s hungry or thirsty , but he can now use signs to demonstrate feelings of happiness , anger , and even love . ""  "" Of course , Brian ' s vocabulary must expand considerably before we can engage in normal conversation with him , "" Hayes continued . "" But until then , his limited command of sign language is providing a fascinating glimpse inside the mind of an adult gorilla suit wearing human . ""  Despite Brian ' s current success with sign language , researchers told reporters the 180 pound gorilla suit wearing man struggled in his early lessons , and was often unable to use his shaggy , glove covered fingers to form even basic vocabulary words .  "" When we first started communicating to Brian in sign language , he would often spend hours just staring at us with a completely blank expression , "" said assistant researcher Michael Pereira , who works with the middle aged gorilla suit clad man daily in his naturalistic enclosure within the facility . "" But now , the second Brian sees us coming , he excitedly leaps to his molded latex feet and rushes over to our research team to impart information to them with sign language . ""  "" None of this should be considered too surprising , of course , "" added Pereira . "" Our findings show the average gorilla costume wearing individual shares an estimated 100 percent of a human being ' s genetic code . ""  While the work of the Oregon based team has not gone without its criticism , with many saying Brian isn ' t actually learning sign language , but merely mimicking gestures , primatologists training the advanced gorilla suit wearing man claim they have detected more and more signs of comprehension on his latex masked face each and every day .  "" Everyone who has worked with Brian will verify that he really does display a rudimentary understanding of what we are saying to him . "" Hayes told reporters . "" In fact , each of the researchers made a connection with Brian and forged a meaningful bond with him . He is one of the most affectionate and compassionate gorilla suit wearing men I ' ve ever encountered . ""  "" When you look deep into his large , rubber cutout eyeholes , you can tell that he ' s really engrossed in contemplation , "" Hayes added .  In an effort to promote a better understanding of their research , Hayes and her team recently launched The Brian Project , a website filled with video documentation of the remarkable gorilla suit wearing man . Among the released videos , there is footage of the 43 year old ' s first attempt at signing his own name , a clip where he signs "" I love you "" to a female researcher , and a particularly intriguing segment showing a frustrated Brian beating his vinyl chest after failing to understand a sentence and uttering what scientists believe to be a muffled , barely audible "" Goddammit . ""  Zoologists from around the country have already begun expressing their interest in the studies , with several speculating that Brian ' s developments could radically change not just how science views gorilla suit wearing men , but the entire evolution of primate costumed people as we know it .  "" Essentially , we can now say that gorilla suit wearing humans are far smarter and more capable than anyone could have previously anticipated , "" said Princeton University primatologist Jeffrey Harding . "" Hopefully , our research on a specimen like Brian will change the general public ' s preconceived notions and society will eventually learn to look beyond these creatures ' cheap metal zippers and realize that they are actually quite similar to you or me . ""  "" Ultimately , however , I hope this study has the greatest impact on our conservation efforts , "" added Harding . "" If only to help the rapidly dwindling population of gorilla suit wearing men throughout the world . ""  Just two days after Hayes and her team spoke with reporters , members of the Oregon National Primate Research Center issued a solemn statement saying they were forced to euthanize Brian on Wednesday , after the gorilla suit wearing man suddenly felt threatened in his environment and violently attacked a researcher , leaving him in critical condition .  ",satire,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,satire,True,no,no,positive,past
306,306,"Harry Kane was ' remarkable ' as Tottenham secured a north London derby win that Ryan Mason says has the top four contenders abuzz with excitement .  Arsenal made the short journey to White Hart Lane looking for a sixth straight win and got off to the ideal start as Mesut Ozil volleyed home .  Spurs , though , responded manfully , peppering the visitors ' goal before Kane finally beat David Ospina shortly after half time .  Harry Kane celebrates scoring during Tottenham ' s 2 1 victory over Arsenal on Saturday  Kane was praised as ' remarkable ' by his Tottenham team mate Ryan Mason ( right )  Things were to get better still for Mauricio Pochettino ' s men as the in form England Under 21s striker continued his superb recent form , heading home at the death to secure a 2 1 win in his first north London derby .  ' He is remarkable , ' Mason of his friend and team mate . ' He leads the line on his own and does it unbelievably well .  ' You can see the way he is at the moment that he is one fire and can ' t stop scoring . '  Kane now has 22 goals in all competitions this season , with that fine form keeping marquee signings like Roberto Soldado and Emmanuel Adebayor out of the side .  Kane , Mason and team mate Nabil Bentaleb ( right ) took to Twitter after the game to celebrate their win  Kane is mobbed by Mason , Bentaleb and his team mates after scoring his second against Arsenal  They are , though , more than capable back ups , with Spurs boasting a squad depth which makes Mason confident they can qualify for the Champions League .  ' We believe of course we do , ' he said . ' We did the same thing to Chelsea a little while ago and hopefully we can keep doing well and stay up there .  ' It will be difficult ( to make the top four ) but we are confident in ourselves .  ' We ' re on a good run and the team spirit is amazing . Everyone gets on with each other well .  ' It is great to come in off the back of a win and we are buzzing . It ' s a great feeling . '  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
307,307,"It is widely accepted that people with a family history of schizophrenia are more susceptible to the mental health condition .  But the theory that people can develop it after being infected with Toxoplasma gondi a parasite transmitted by soil , undercooked meat and cat faeces , is controversial .  Now , a new study suggests that one fifth of cases of schizophrenia may involve the parasite .  A new study suggests that a fifth of cases of schizophrenia may involve the parasite Toxoplasma gondi , which is transmitted by soil , undercooked meat and cat faeces . A tissue smear containing the parasite is shown  Gary Smith , professor of population biology and epidemiology at the University of Pennsylvania ' s School of Veterinary Medicine is behind the research .  ' Infection with Toxoplasma is very common , so , even if only a small percentage of people suffer adverse consequences , we could be talking about problems that affect thousands and thousands of people , ' he said .  Just over one third of the  population is infected with T . gondii and the vast majority of people aren ' t aware of it , according to the study published in the journal Preventive Veterinary Medicine .  The parasite can be especially dangerous to certain groups of people . For example , if a woman becomes infected for the first time during pregnancy , her foetus can die or suffer serious developmental problems .  The theory that Toxoplasma gondi causes schizophrenia ( illustrated with stock image ) isn ' t new , but now the health risk has been quantified  People with  or other diseases that weaken the immune system are susceptible to a complication of T . gondii infection called toxoplasmic encephalitis , which can be deadly .  While it has long been believed that most healthy people suffer no adverse effects from a T . gondii infection , recent studies have found evidence of worrying impacts , including an association with schizophrenia , because the parasite is found in in the brain as well as in muscles .  Some antipsychotic drugs can stop the parasite from reproducing , but studies in mice , rats and people have also shown that infection with T . gondii triggers changes in behaviour and personality .  To investigate this connection , Professor Smith sought to calculate the population attributable fraction ( Paf ) which experts use to determine how important a risk factor might be .  In this case , the Paf is ' the proportion of schizophrenia diagnoses that would not occur in a population if T . gondii infections were not present , ' he explained .  By taking into account the fact that the proportion of people that are infected with T . gondii increases with age , he worked out the average Paf during the average lifetime to be 21 . 4 per cent .  ' In other words , we ask , if you could stop infections with this parasite , how many cases could you prevent ? "" Professor Smith said .  ' Over a lifetime , we found that you could prevent one fifth of all cases . That , to me , is significant . '  He noted that in some countries , the prevalence of T . gondii infection is much higher than in the  and these countries also have a higher incidence of schizophrenia .  ' By finding out how important a factor T . gondii infection is , this work might inform our attitude to researching the subject , ' Professor Smith said .  ' Instead of ridiculing the idea of a connection between T . gondii and schizophrenia because it seems so extraordinary , we can sit down and consider the evidence . Perhaps then we might be persuaded to look for more ways to reduce the number of people infected with Toxoplasma . '  ' Infection with Toxoplasma is very common , so , even if only a small percentage of people suffer adverse consequences , we could be talking about problems that affect thousands and thousands of people . '  Schizophrenia is a long term mental health condition that causes a range of different psychological symptoms , including :  Doctors often describe schizophrenia as a psychotic illness . This means sometimes a person may not be able to distinguish their own thoughts and ideas from reality , according to  Choices .  The exact cause of schizophrenia is unknown . However , most experts believe the condition is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors .  The theory that it is caused by Toxoplasma gondi is not new , but it is controversial .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,present
313,313,"Rahm Emanuel Offers Rare Apology After Laquan McDonald Shooting  The Chicago mayor said "" nothing can excuse "" the teen ' s death .  12 09 2015 01 : 59 pm  Updated 5 hours ago   Citizens of Chicago on Wednesday morning heard Mayor Rahm Emanuel utter two words he rarely uses : "" I ' m sorry . "" ?  The apology was an unscripted addition to lengthy remarks the mayor delivered before the Chicago City Council . Emanuel summoned the council members for a special session to talk about "" justice , culture and community "" in the wake of the high profile release of a video showing a white police officer shooting Laquan McDonald , a black teenager , 16 times in 2014 . ?  "" The first step in that journey is my step , "" Emanuel said . ? "" I m sorry . ""  "" Nothing , nothing can excuse what happened with Laquan McDonald , "" ? he added . "" Laquan McDonald s death was totally avoidable . ""  Emanuel made his public mea culpa days after he denied his office tried to cover up ? the damning video . ? The Department of Justice on Monday launched a ? civil rights probe into the city ' s police department . ?  The mayor spoke for over 30 minutes , ? largely reiterating information he has discussed publicly over the past few days , including the creation of a police accountability task force , rededication to community policing efforts and a push to end the notorious "" code of silence "" that pervades the city ' s police department . ? ?  Emanuel ' s voice rose to nearly a shout or cracked with emotion on several occasions , including when he said , in another ad libbed remark , "" No citizen is a second class citizen in the city of Chicago . "" ?  Laquan McDonald s death was totally avoidable . Mayor Rahm Emanuel  The mayor didn ' t address racial profiling and discriminatory policing head on , but acknowledged the issue when he said , "" Would the police ever treat me the way they treat young black men ? And the simple answer is no . And that is wrong . "" ? ?  The last time Emanuel issued the city a public apology ? was in 2013 , when he acknowledged that police officers had tortured and falsely accused black men in the city between 1972 and 1991 . ?  The Nov . 24 release of the McDonald tape ignited a firestorm of criticism and calls for Emanuel and other officials to resign . The mayor has ? said he won ' t step down , ? and the city has no law or mechanism to recall him , the Better Government Association notes .  Emanuel fired ? Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy , who he had hand picked for the job , calling for "" fresh eyes and new leadership . "" ? However , ? new reports suggest it was Emanuel ' s city attorney who blocked McCarthy from implementing various department reforms . ?  Chicago made two other dashcam videos public this week . On Monday , just hours after the  announced its investigation , it released footage showing the 2014 fatal shooting of 25 year old Ronald Johnson  . The next day , the city released video from a 2012 incident showing Philip Coleman , who later died in police custody , ? being hit repeatedly with a Taser . ?  City council meetings are typically open to the public . ? But on Wednesday , the main floor of the chambers was primarily reserved for the mayor ' s guests who were on a preapproved list . Most of the members of the general public who attended were sent to an overflow room on the second floor .  Meanwhile , on the 2nd floor of city hall a group of protesters chant : pic . twitterweblink GflJgWxgOk  Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel , right , and Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy discuss gun violence at a news conference Monday , Feb . 11 , 2013 , in Chicago . During the news conference McCarthy , Emanuel , and Cook County State ' s Attorney Anita Alvarez said they will push for state legislation that increases the minimum sentences for those who violate the state ' s gun laws . (  Photo M . Spencer Green )   In this Oct . 27 , 2011 file photo , Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel , right , visits with Brandy Toliver , left , and Mariah Neyland , in their first grade class at the  Washington Park School on Chicago ' s South Side . The Chicago Public Schools extended the school day from 5 hours and 45 minutes to 7 hours in 2012 after a heated offensive by parents . Emanuel , a proponent of longer school days , had originally proposed a 7 1 2 hour school stay , but adjusted his proposal after discussions with parents , some of whom had been critical of the original plan . (  Photo Charles Rex Arbogast , File )  In this photo provided by the office of the mayor and posted to his Twitter account on Friday , Jan . 11 , 2013 , Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel holds a sign asking , "" Any advice for people who shake a ton of hands ? "" The photo was tweeted during a Twitter chat held by the city ' s Department of Health to answer questions . To answer , Dr Julie Morita of the health department replied via Twitter : "" My advice is to wash your hands frequently and have hand sanitizer readily available ! "" (  Photo Courtesy The Mayors Office , Brooke Collins )   This July 9 , 2012 file photo shows Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel answers questions during a news conference in Chicago . Dozens of celebrities , elected officials , and others are blitzing through battleground states in the White House race ? s final days . Their goal : give the presidential campaigns a daily presence in key states even when the men at the top of the ticket ( and their running mates ) pitch for votes elsewhere . (  Photo Sitthixay Ditthavong . File )   demonstrator Medea Benjamin , of Washington D . C . , holds a sign in front of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel ' s home , Saturday , May 19 , 2012 , in Chicago . On Sunday , the start of the two day  summit , thousands of protesters are expected to march to the McCormick Place convention center , where  delegates will be meeting . (  Photo John Minchillo )  Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel listen to lawmakers ask questions while testifying during the House Committee Hearing on Personnel and Pensions at the Illinois State Capitol Tuesday , May 8 , 2012 in Springfield , Ill . Emanuel wants to raise the retirement age , make city employees contribute more to their pension funds and halt cost of living increases for retirees . (  Photo Seth Perlman )  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
317,317,"A healthy Italian woman paid a Swiss right to die clinic to take her life because she was ' unhappy about losing her looks ' .  Oriella Cazzanello , 85 , travelled to a clinic in Basel , Switzerland , where she paid 10 , 000 for an assisted suicide .  The elderly woman , who was in good mental and physical health , disappeared from her home in Arzignano , near Vicenza in northern Italy , without telling her relatives where she was going .  Oriella Cazzanello , 85 , who committed suicide using a Swiss euthanasia centre , because she was depressed about losing her looks . Her family only found out about her death ashes and a death certificate were posted to her lawyer in Italy  Building of the assisted suicide clinic , Dignitas in Pfaeffikon near Zurich , one of the major assisted suicide clinics that exist in Switzerland . Dignitas is the largest non physician assisted suicide group in Switzerland , and is well known because of it ' s involvement in many British euthanasia cases  Her family , who had reported her to the police as missing , only learnt of her death after they received her ashes and death certificate from the clinic .  Mrs Cazzanello chose to end her life because she was ' weighed down by ageing and the inevitable loss of the looks of which she was proud ' the Italian news agency  reported .  The well to do pensioner was also suffering from loneliness .  Her brother and other relatives had not heard from her since the end of January , but were not unduly concerned , as Mrs Cazzanello , was an ' independent ' person who would often take herself on spa weekends .  But as the days went passed they became worried and reported her as missing to the police .  Earlier this week her lawyer received her ashes and death certificate by post and broke the devastating news .  Assisted suicide is legal in Switzerland even if the person requesting it is not terminally ill .  Although legal in Switzerland , assisted suicide is a criminal offence in the  and carries a maximum prison sentence of 14 years .  16 per cent of those who travel to a suicide clinic had no serious health problem , but had become ' weary of life ' , a study by the University of Bern found this week .  More than 200 Brits have died at Swiss suicide clinics in the past decade .  Top orchestral conductor Sir Edward Downes , 85 , and his 74 year old wife Joan died at the Dignitas clinic in 2009 .  Lady Downes had terminal cancer while her husband was nearly blind and becoming increasingly deaf .  Daniel James , 23 , who was paralysed in a rugby accident , became the youngest Briton to die at the clinic in 2010 .  His parents Julie and Mark James said the ex England under 16 rugby player had repeatedly said he wanted to die .  ",true,text,test,American football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
328,328,"Luis Felipe Scolari looked troubled as he held talks with the head of the Brazilian Football Federation on Thursday before injured star Neymar paid a visit to the training ground .  The 65 year old is under increasing pressure after his side were thrashed 7 1 by Germany in the World Cup semi finals on Tuesday night , but was given a warm embrace by the Selecao favourite .  Scolari , who is preparing the host nation for the third place play off against Holland , was spotted deep in conversation with Jose Maria Marin at the training ground .   Scroll down to watch Neymar break down in tears as he admits wheelchair fear  Down : Brazil ' s coach Scolari ( left ) seemed distressed during Brazil ' s training session on Thursday  Talks : Scolari was speaking with the president of the Brazilian Football Confederation Jose Maria Marin   ' Six minutes of nightmares ' Scolari  At one point he was seen gesturing with his hand before he placed it across his face in an act of apparent despair .  The former Chelsea boss refused to quit on Wednesday , saying he will wait until after the tournament to decide his future .  ' We have a deal with the  until the game on Saturday and after that , probably , we will have a conversation to sort some things out , ' he said .  ' The tournament was not all bad . We had a bad defeat . With all the difficulties we reached the semi finals . We are a hard working team , we win together and lose together .  ' The crash was also the coaching staff , the fans , it was overall , no one understood , and the team from Germany , which is good , took the opportunity .  ' I cannot explain , I will not justify . An error occurred and this error was fatal .  Missing : Scolari shares a hug with injured Brazil star Neymar ( centre )  Out : The Brazil squad trained for the first time since their 7 1 World Cup semi final defeat against Germany  ' If I could explain what happened in those six minutes , I would answer . But I do not know .  ' We can lose by one or two but we lost in a way that we had never done before in the history of Brazilian football . '  Earlier on Thursday , Scolari was called ' an old jerk ' and ' repulsive ' by injured star Neymar ' s agent .  Ribeiro produced a list of ' six requirements to be Brazilian coach ' and proceeded to belittle many achievements in Scolari ' s managerial career .  He wrote on his Twitter account : ' One being Portugal Coach and winning nothing . '  Last chance : Brazil will play Holland in the 2014 World Cup third place play off  ' Two going to Chelsea and being sacked the following day . '  ' Three going to coach in Uzbekistan . '  ' Four returning to Brazil , taking over a big team Palmeiras and getting them relegated to the second division . '  Low point : David Luiz will be hoping to get over his poor performance against Germany  ' Five leaving the club 56 days before the end of the Brasileirao season to ' escape ' the relegation .  ' Six being an old jerk , arrogant , repulsive , conceited and ridiculous . '  Ribeiro ' s outburst seemed to echo public opinion after Brazil ' s heavy defeat to Germany .  The final whistle had barely sounded when the media turned on the Selecao .  Main man : Neymar ( left ) joined his team mates out on the training field  Some newspapers said they ' learned what real shame is ' , others told Scolari to ' go to hell ' , and another told their readers to write their own front page .  And their damning analysis of Brazil ' s performance reached the people , too , after every copy of every newspaper sold out at Belo Horizonte airport .  Brazil face Louis van Gaal ' s Holland side in Brasilia on Saturday .  Return : Brazil captain Thiago Silva is available for his team ' s final World Cup match against Holland  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Economy,satire,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
333,333,"Reuters) - More than 90 Republican foreign policy veterans have pledged to oppose Donald Trump, saying his proposals would undermine U.S. security, in the latest sign of fissures between the Republican presidential front-runner and the party establishment. “Mr. Trump’s own statements lead us to conclude that as president, he would use the authority of his office to act in ways that make America less safe, and which would diminish our standing in the world,” the signatories wrote in a open letter on Wednesday. “Furthermore, his expansive view of how presidential power should be wielded against his detractors poses a distinct threat to civil liberty in the United States,” said the letter, which was posted on a blog called War on the Rocks. The signatories include Robert Zoellick, a former World Bank president and deputy secretary of state; former U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff; and Dov Zakheim, a top Pentagon official under President George W. Bush. They represent both centrist Republican foreign policy circles and neoconservatives who favor a robust U.S. international role and wielded clout during Bush’s 2001-2009 presidency. Billionaire businessman Trump won the largest number of states in this week’s Super Tuesday nominating contests, intensifying moves by the party’s establishment wing to derail his path to the nomination. On Thursday, Trump in an interview with  News flatly rejected the criticism in the letter and blasted the nation’s military leaders as ineffective. Bryan McGrath, a retired U.S. Navy officer and adviser to Republican Mitt Romney’s unsuccessful 2012 presidential campaign who helped organize the letter, said at least two people declined to sign because of concerns it would fuel Trump’s campaign theme of being an anti-Washington candidate opposed by the establishment. “This is really drawing a bright moral line and saying that if we’re going to keep our souls, we can’t cross it,” said    Eliot Cohen, who served as counselor to former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and helped spearhead the letter. Rice was asked to sign but chose not to, in keeping with her general practice of not signing on to such group letters, a spokeswoman for the Stanford University professor said. The list of signatures, which numbered 60 when the letter was released on Wednesday night, had grown to 94 by Thursday afternoon. The signatories did not include other several high-profile former officials such as Bush national security adviser Stephen Hadley or former Secretary of State Colin Powell. It was unknown if they were invited to sign. The letter rejects numerous Trump foreign policy statements, including his “hateful, anti-Muslim rhetoric,” his demand that Mexico fund a wall to control illegal immigration across the U.S. border, and his insistence that Japan pay much more for U.S. security assistance. “As committed and loyal Republicans, we are unable to support a Party ticket with Mr. Trump at its head,” the signatories said. “We commit ourselves to working energetically to prevent the election of someone so utterly unfitted to the office.” The War on the Rocks blog calls itself a platform for former diplomats, military and intelligence officers and scholars to comment “through a realist lens” on global affairs.  Trump has alarmed some mainstream Republicans with vows to shred international trade deals. Many fear a Trump presidency would severely strain ties with allies and are concerned about his stated willingness to work more closely with authoritarian Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump also has criticized the Republican Party for its backing of Bush’s 2003 Iraq invasion and has said he supports the practice of waterboarding and other similar interrogation techniques. Max Boot, a foreign policy adviser to Romney’s 2012 campaign and supporter of the Iraq invasion, was among the letter’s signers and said he “would sooner work for (North Korean dictator) Kim Jong Un than for Donald Trump. I think Donald Trump is objectively more dangerous than Kim Jong Un and not as stable.” Kurt Volker, a permanent representative to  under Bush, said he did not sign the letter because of concerns that any letter from “national security intelligentsia” could backfire. “He would actually use it as a bragging right,” said Volker, adding he had no intention of working for Trump but wanted to be free to offer advice to any future president, and that such a letter could prompt Trump to hold a grudge. Several others who declined to sign and asked not to be identified, said they feared it could help Democrat Hillary Clinton win the presidency. Trump told  on Thursday that he would name his foreign policy and national security advisers “in a week or two. ... But ultimately it’s my thought more than anybody else’s.” Those Trump has spoken with on foreign policy include a retired U.S. general and intelligence official, Michael Flynn, who favors closer ties with Russia. Flynn has declined to comment on whether he is advising Trump. Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who won popularity for his response to the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, has said he has been having regular talks with Trump but not in a formal role.  (Additional reporting by Phil Stewart, Arshad Mohammed and Susan Heavey; Editing by David Rohde, Stuart Grudgings, Bill Trott and Peter Cooney) This article was funded in part by SAP. It was independently created by the Reuters editorial staff.  had no editorial involvement in its creation or production.",true,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
334,334,"A Football Association official was forced to ask the England supporters ' band to stop playing during Tuesday night ' s friendly against Scotland in Glasgow after it inadvertently provided background music to anti  singing .  Some of the 5 , 000 away supporters sang foul mouthed anti  songs while the band played Follow England Away a song it regularly performs during England matches during the 3 1 victory for Roy Hodgson ' s side at Celtic Park .  Many England fans sang ' F the  ' on several occasions during the match and , in the first half , an  official contacted the band to ask it to stop playing the song because it was innocently providing the tune for the offensive singing .  Three Lions fans show their support for the England players during their side ' s friendly clash against Scotland there is no suggestion that any of the fans pictured took part in the anti  chanting  5 , 000 England fans made the trip across the border and the Three Lions gave them plenty of reasons to cheer there is no suggestion that any of the fans pictured took part in the anti  chanting  England fans were in buoyant mood before Tuesday ' s friendly match at Celtic Park there is no suggestion that any of the fans pictured took part in the anti  chanting  The band has since come in for severe criticism , but its leader John Hemmingham says he had no idea about the issue until he was notified about it by one of his colleagues .  Hemmingham instead thought the band was providing the tune to a song called ' Follow England Away ' rather than anything to do with the  , and apologised for any offence .  ' We were absolutely not aware of it ( the  chants ) , ' said Hemmingham . ' All the fans around us were singing "" Follow England Away "" .  ' It was only when a band member saw on Twitter that some people were saying we were playing anti  songs that we became aware .  ' Then we immediately stopped and played something else . '  Hemmingham , who formed the England band 21 years ago , added : ' If anyone was offended by what was happening , then obviously we are not very happy about that .  The England supporters ' band , pictured in Ukraine at Euro 2012 , were told to stop playing by a  official  ' The  have apologised and we would go along with that if anyone was offended . '  Hodgson was unaware of the chanting , but apologised for any offence on behalf of the  , who could take further action particularly when England are due to play in Dublin next June .  He said : ' I was aware the crowd were tremendously supportive . I didn ' t have a clue what they were chanting .  ' I don ' t condone it . If anyone was offended , I ' m sure the  would like to apologise to them .  ' All we can do is play our football and be grateful for the support and hopefully they will behave themselves and not get themselves into a situation where their chanting is being criticised . '  Wayne Rooney salutes the travelling support after leading his side to a 3 1 victory against Scotland  England boss Roy Hodgson apologised on behalf of his fans who were chanting anti  songs  England fans had behaved well in the build up to the match , joining in with a minute ' s applause for Scotland supporter Nathan McSeveney , who died from a fall at Celtic Park during the Republic of Ireland match on Friday .  But once the match had begun some Three Lions supporters tainted their reputation when the anti  songs began .  Hodgson admitted that he had long ago stopped listening to what fans are singing during matches .  Asked about the chants on  Radio 5 Live , he said : ' After a long career in football , I learnt long ago that the crowd are either signing or are silent in the background but when they chant or sing most of the time I don ' t have a clue .  ' I thought their support was excellent . I will leave any discussion about any words they have used . '  Police Scotland reported no football related disorder in the immediate aftermath of the match and said they had not received any reports of offensive chants .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
336,336,"MI5 and Scotland Yard were close to arresting hate preacher Abu Hamza four years before the 9 11 terror attacks in 2001 , court papers reveal .  The documents represent a blow to Hamza ' s claims in a New York Court that he had been working with the security services while he was at Finsbury Park Mosque in north London as a force for good .  Hamza was eventually jailed in 2005 for inciting murder and racial hatred .  Hate preacher Abu Hamza spewing his abhorrent message in the streets of Finsbury Park after he was thrown out of the local mosque  Hamza claimed that he was a force for good in his ramblings and worked with the police and security services . MI5 has announced it was close to arresting him in 1997  The 56 year old was extradited to the  nearly two years ago on terror charges .  Recording a meeting with Hamza in October 1997 , an MI5 officer wrote : ' I reasserted the view that over the past few months in particular , he had walked a dangerous tightrope and had come close to being culpable for incitement to violence . . . the Security Service , in particular , took a dim view of those advocating violence , even if the violence was perpetrated overseas . '  Muslim cleric Abu Hamza said that he was helping to keep the streets of Britain safe but still felt the need to have a masked bodyguard  MI5 claims that it was planning to arrest Abu Hamza four years before the terrorist attack on New York on September 11 , 2001  MI5 agent Reda Hassaine , who infiltrated the mosque , said : ' Hamza was able to recruit and brainwash vulnerable young men and raise huge amounts of cash for his contacts overseas .  ' The security services seemed incapable of putting it in its proper al Qaeda context .  ' They continued to view it as a little local skirmish by a clown . '  ",true,text,test,American football,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
349,349,"Sampdoria and Genoa both missed opportunities to move up to third in the Serie A standings as they failed to win their final round fixtures before the winter break .  Sampdoria were held to a 2 2 draw at home to Udinese and still trail third place Napoli on goal difference , while Genoa remain a point further behind after losing 2 1 to Serie A strugglers Torino .  Lazio could move two points ahead of Napoli and Sampdoria if they win at Inter Milan on Sunday evening .  Sampdoria midfielder Pedro Avomo Mba Obiang fires in his side ' s first goal against Udinese in Genoa  Earlier , Chievo Verona defeated city rival Hellas Verona 1 0 in a heated derby match .  Fiorentina , meanwhile , were held to a 1 1 draw by Empoli , while Atalanta fought back from two goals down to draw 3 3 at home to Palermo .  Sampdoria went into their clash in confident mood after holding league leaders Juventus to a 1 1 draw in Turin last weekend and they duly took the lead in the 15th minute .  Udinese goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis could only get a hand to Angelo Palombo ' s cross and when the ball dropped to Pedro Obiang , he fired the ball into the net .  However , the match turned in four minutes as Alexander Geijo scored his first Serie A goal , in his first start for the club , to level matters shortly before Danilo was left unmarked to head Udinese in front .  Sampdoria forward Manolo Gabbiadini fires in the second goal during his side ' s 2 2 draw on Saturday  Manolo Gabbiadini headed Lorenzo Di Silvestri ' s cross into the top right corner on the hour mark in what could have been his last match for Sampdoria before a likely January move to Napoli .  Geijo almost scored a late winner but his header thumped the post .  Udinese were reduced to 10 men two minutes from time when Thomas Heurtaux was sent off following a second yellow card .  Genoa started the day level with Sampdoria and Lazio on 26 points , and last weekend ' s defeat to Roma was their first league loss in more than two months .  Genoa defender Iago Falque ( second right ) scores his side ' s first goal but Torino would reply with a brace  Iago Falque fired Genoa in front shortly before half time but Torino captain Kamil Glik scored twice from close range after the interval .  Fiorentina failed to capitalize on the other weekend ' s results it as they remain in eighth place , three points behind Napoli , after an entertaining Tuscan derby .  Juan Manuel Vargas had given Fiorentina the lead with a fierce strike after Empoli failed to clear a corner but Lorenzo Tonelli escaped his marker to nod in a Mirko Valdifiori corner from six yards .  Empoli ' s Lorenzo Tonelli ( left ) scores against Fiorentina during his team ' s 1 1 draw  Chievo snatched victory in the other derby of the day but replays showed Alberto Paloschi was offside as he headed in Ervin Zukanovic ' s superb cross into the box with nine minutes remaining .  Both sides also had penalty claims turned down .  Nene had gone closest for Verona when he headed a corner just over the crossbar , while Chievo ' s Ivan Radovanovic almost scored a wonder goal but Verona goalkeeper Francesco Benussi was alert to turn the effort from near the halfway line over his bar .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
365,365,"Moored on the waters of San Francisco Bay , just east of Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge , is well , a mystery .  Atop a barge docked at Treasure Island , site of a former Navy base , is a four story structure made from shipping containers . The purpose of the structure remains unknown , but the safe money says Google is up to something on board .  Officials won ' t say exactly what ' s going on there . But some sleuthing by the media in the tech heavy Bay Area has pretty much nailed down that Google , headquartered about 40 miles south in Mountain View , California , is behind the project .  Tech blog  reported as much on Friday , citing lease agreements , Treasure Island locals and "" tracking a contact tied to the project on LinkedIn . ""  News reports say an unknown company has been working on a major project , under tight security , in a hangar on Treasure Island since last year . Witnesses say materials from that hangar were transferred onto the barge .  Google did not respond to a request to comment for this story .  So , even if the suspicions about Google and the barge ' s mysterious cargo are correct , that leaves the obvious question : What are they building in there ?  Early speculation has centered on a data center .  Google has banks of servers stored in warehouses all over the world , and floating data centers aren ' t unheard of . Sitting on that much water would provide an obvious source of cooling , which is a big concern for data centers , and possibly even a source of power . And Google has a patent for such a project .  Google Glass , the company ' s big leap into wearable technology , puts computer capabilities into eyeglasses . The headsets so far have been released only to early testers and are expected to go on sale to consumers in the coming months .  An official with the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission told  that there have been discussions with Google about "" hypothetical operations "" on the bay .  But work on the project suddenly stopped a few weeks ago . One possible reason : An insider close to the commission told  that Google "" can ' t park this barge on the waterfront without a permit , and they don ' t have one . ""  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
368,368,"Stung by flagging album sales and Eminem ' s supplanting him as Middle America ' s worst nightmare , shock rocker Marilyn Manson has embarked on a door to door tour of suburbia in a desperate , last ditch effort to shock and offend average Americans .  Accompanied by bandmates Twiggy Ramirez , Madonna Wayne Gacy , and Zim Zum , Manson kicked off his 50 city "" Boo "" tour Jan . 26 in Overland Park , a conservative , middle class suburb of Kansas City .  "" When we first laid eyes on Overland Park , with its neat little frame houses , immaculately landscaped lawns , and SUVs in the driveways , we couldn ' t wait to swoop down on it like the Black Death , "" said Manson , born Brian Warner in Canton ,  . "" We were like , ' Welcome to our nightmare , you bloated , pustulent pigs . ' ""  Last Friday at 4 p . m . , Mark Wesley , 46 , a resident of Overland Park ' s exclusive Maple Bluff subdivision , heard the sound of "" animal like shrieking "" coming from the vicinity of his front lawn . Upon opening his front door , he was greeted by the sight of a pale and shirtless Manson carving a pentagram into his chest with a razor blade .  "" Look at me , suburban dung , "" Manson told Wesley . "" Does this shock you ? ""  When Wesley replied no , he said Manson became "" petulant . "" Recalled Wesley : "" He started stamping his feet and shaking his fists , saying , ' What do you mean no ? Aren ' t your uptight , puritanical sensibilities offended ? Don ' t you want to censor me so you don ' t have to confront the ugly truth I represent ? ' So I say , ' Well , not particularly . ' Then , after a long pause , he says , ' Well , screw you , jerk ! ' and walks off sulking . ""  That evening , Linda Schmidt was preparing to drive her daughter Alyssa to a Girl Scouts meeting when she found Manson standing on her porch draped in sheep entrails .  "" I knew who he was , but I was kind of busy and didn ' t really have time to chat , "" Schmidt said . "" He just kept standing there staring at me , expecting me to react in some way . ""  Added Schmidt : "" I tried to be nice and humor him a little . I said , ' Yesiree , that sure is some shocking satanic imagery , no doubt about it . And that one eye with no color in the pupil , very disturbing . I ' d sure like to suppress that . ' I mean , what do you say to Marilyn Manson ? ""  A deflated Manson remained on Schmidt ' s porch as she and Alyssa drove off .  Subsequent attempts to provoke outrage were met with equal indifference .  "" Manson was standing at my front door wearing those fake breasts he wore on the cover of Mechanical Animals , "" retiree Judith Hahn said . "" He said , ' My name is Marilyn Manson , and I ' m here to tear your little world apart . ' I thought he was collecting for the Kiwanis food drive , so I gave him some cans of pumpkin pie filling . ""  Undaunted , Manson and his entourage stepped up their assault on mainstream American sensibilities . On Tuesday , they arrived in the tiny Detroit suburb of Grosse Pointe Farms , where stockbroker Glenn Binford answered his doorbell to find Manson hanging upside down on a wooden cross as Ramirez performed fellatio on him .  "" I just stood there thinking , now there ' s a boy who tries way too hard , "" Binford said . "" I mean , come on : Homoerotic sacrilege went out in the late ' 90s . ""  Other provocative acts by Manson including dismembering a chicken , bathing in pig ' s blood , and wearing a three piece suit of human noses failed to arouse anyone ' s ire , instead prompting comments such as "" sophomoric , "" "" trite , "" and "" so Alice Cooper . ""  Manson ' s lone brush with controversy occurred in Edina ,  , a suburb of Minneapolis . An unidentified neighborhood watch volunteer phoned police after seeing a nude , feces smeared Manson being led around on a leash by a dwarf dominatrix . Officers arrived on the scene , but let Manson go with a warning for parading without a city permit .  "" I could have given him a citation , but I figured , how much harm is he really causing ? "" Edina Police Officer Dan Herberger said . "" I mean , he ' s just Marilyn Manson , for the love of Mike . ""  The "" Boo "" tour was dealt a further blow when Manson learned that Eminem ' s The Marshall Mathers  had been banned from all Kmart stores . Manson ' s current album , Holy Wood ( In The Shadow Of The Valley Of Death ) , is still available .  "" Why are all you people outraged by Eminem ? He ' s not scary ! "" Manson said . "" He doesn ' t sport ghoulishly pale skin or wear gender bending make up . He ' s just some regular guy . I ' m the one who people should be terrified by , not him ! Me ! ""  "" If you ban me , "" Manson continued , "" I promise to rail against censorship and hypocrisy . Please ? Pretty , pretty please ? ""  By Monday , the tour appeared to have lost all momentum . Sources close to Manson described him as "" exhausted and discouraged , "" despite not having even completed the first leg of the three month tour . By the time he arrived in Hoffman Estates ,  , Manson had resorted to leaving flaming bags of dog feces on doorsteps and shining a flashlight under his chin to make himself look "" spooky . "" He was ultimately chased from a Hoffman Estates subdivision by a group of bicycle riding teenagers who advised him to "" get his chalk white goblin ass "" out of their neighborhood .  On Friday , Manson is slated to appear in Bethesda ,  , where many believe he will bring his tour to a premature end .  "" Have you people forgotten already ? "" Manson told The Washington Post . "" You all thought I was responsible for Columbine two years ago . Well , I was ! I was ! I know I vehemently denied it at the time , but , really , I personally told those two kids to shoot up the school . I ' m serious . I sent them an e mail . And I told them to worship Satan , too . You hear that , kids ? Marilyn Manson says you should shoot your friends in the head with a gun ! And everyone should eat babies ! And rape their dead grandparents ! And poop on a church ! There , now will someone please be offended ? ""  ",satire,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,satire,True,no,no,negative,past
382,382,"Reuters) - A life-sized nude statue of U.S. Republican presidential contender Donald Trump is going up for auction, with profits from the sale going to an immigrant support group. Julien’s Auctions said on Wednesday that the statue, called “The Emperor Has No Balls,” is expected to fetch $10,000 to $20,000 at the Oct. 22 auction in Los Angeles. The statue is one of a series that appeared unannounced in public spaces in New York and four other U.S. cities earlier in August. The orange-tinted likeness showed Trump with a massive belly, small fingers and some missing genitals. Most were confiscated or destroyed by local authorities and the Los Angeles statue is the only one remaining, Julien’s said. The statues were created by an anonymous artists collective called INDECLINE. A portion of the auction profits will go to the National Immigration Forum, which campaigns for the rights of immigrants. Trump has pledged to build a wall between the U.S. and Mexico to keep immigrants out and to deport the millions of undocumented immigrants in the United States, should he be elected. He is due to give a speech on Wednesday as he seeks to find a balance in his immigration stance. Trump is not the only politician to be represented in the October auction of street and contemporary art. American pop artist Knowledge Bennett’s “Hillary Clinton Cojones,” featuring the Democratic White House hopeful wearing a tuxedo, is expected to fetch up to $15,000, Julien’s said. ",true,dataset,test,US elections,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
389,389,"Spain will have an extra incentive to win their friendly with Holland on Tuesday night , according to Manchester United midfielder Daley Blind .  Blind was part of the Holland side which demolished Spain 5 1 at last summer ' s World Cup , a result which contributed to the holders exiting the competition at the group stage .  Vicente del Bosque ' s men travel to Amsterdam to face Holland again in a game which will be broadcast live on  and Blind believes they will be out for revenge .  Daley Blind believes Spain will be looking for revenge against Holland in their friendly on Tuesday night  Blind attempts to block a shot from Turkey ' s Burak Yilmaz in a Euro 2016 qualifier on Saturday evening  Arjen Robben scores Holland ' s second goal in their 5 1 win against Spain at last summer ' s World Cup  Speaking to  ahead of the game , Blind said : ' It ' s always nice to play against big teams like Spain . We know it will be difficult and a totally different game to the one at the World Cup .  ' I would have some revenge feelings if I lost against a team too ! That wouldn ' t only be after a game at the World Cup though . If you lose against any team you always want to win the next time you play them . So I think they will have those feelings . '  Blind could come up against David de Gea on Tuesday and he is well aware how tough it will be to beat his in form United team mate .  Blind could come up against his Manchester United team mate David de Gea ( left ) on Tuesday  Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas appears dejected after conceding a fifth goal to Holland at the World Cup  ' David is doing a great job here this season . He ' s one of the best keepers in the world at the moment . We ' re very happy that he ' s in the goal and he has made some great saves , ' added Blind .  ' All the credit goes to him . He works very hard and is getting better all the time .  ' His shot stopping is one of his best skills but you also have to look at how he plays with his feet and how he comes for crosses the way he has improved that is very impressive .  ' He has got better in every way . The skills when he is saving goals and also the skills with his feet they make him an all round keeper and that ' s one of the best things about him . '  Daley Blind is set to face David De Gea ' s Spain with the Netherlands tonight . Fans can watch the game exclusively live only on  in the  and Ireland . Coverage from 19 : 30 , kick off 19 : 45 .  broadcasts on Sky channel 418 , Virgin Media channel 528 and  Cable channel 428 . For more info click here .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
394,394,"Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama has ordered intelligence agencies to review cyber attacks and foreign intervention into the 2016 election and deliver a report before he leaves office on Jan. 20, the White House said on Friday. In October, the U.S. government formally accused Russia of a campaign of cyber attacks against Democratic Party organizations ahead of the Nov. 8 presidential election, and Obama has said he warned Russian President Vladimir Putin about consequences for the attacks. The review and its timeline are a signal that Obama wants the issue addressed before he hands power to President-elect Donald Trump, who cast doubt on Russia’s hacking role and praised Putin during the campaign.   Obama’s homeland security adviser, Lisa Monaco, told reporters the report’s results would be shared with lawmakers and others. “The president has directed the intelligence community to conduct a full review of what happened during the 2016 election process ... and to capture lessons learned from that and to report to a range of stakeholders, to include the Congress,” she said during an event hosted by the Christian Science Monitor. White House spokesman Eric Schultz said the review would be a “deep dive” that would look for a pattern of such behavior over several years during election time, dating as far back as the 2008 presidential election.  He noted that Obama wanted the review completed under his watch. “This is a major priority,” Schultz said. During his campaign for the White House, Trump called on Russia to dig up missing emails from his opponent, Hillary Clinton, from her time as secretary of state under Obama, a fellow Democrat. That move prompted critics to accuse him of encouraging foreign actors to conduct espionage. The New York businessman has said he is not convinced Russia was behind the attacks. “I don’t believe they interfered,” Trump told Time magazine about Russia in an interview published this week. “That became a laughing point, not a talking point, a laughing point. Any time I do something, they say, ‘Oh, Russia interfered.’” People Trump has nominated for top national security posts in his new administration have taken a harsher stance toward Moscow. Russian officials have denied all accusations of interference in the U.S. election. Obama has come under pressure from Democratic lawmakers to declassify more intelligence on the alleged hackings. A government source said the review was sparked in part to respond to those demands as well as to determine how much material related to the subject could be made public. “Given President-elect Trump’s disturbing refusal to listen to our intelligence community and accept that the hacking was orchestrated by the Kremlin, there is an added urgency to the need for a thorough review before President Obama leaves office next month,” Rep. Adam Schiff of California, the senior Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said in a statement. Monaco said cyber attacks were not new but might have crossed a “new threshold” this year.  When she was working as a senior Federal Bureau of Investigation official in 2008, she said, the agency alerted the presidential campaigns of then-Senator Obama and Republican Senator John McCain that China had infiltrated their respective systems. “We’ve seen in 2008 and in this last election system malicious cyber activity,” Monaco said. Asked if Trump’s transition team was not concerned enough about Russia’s influence on the election or about other threats to the United States such as infectious disease outbreaks, Monaco said it was too soon to say. She noted that she had not met with her successor because the Trump team had yet to name one. ",true,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
401,401,""" Masterful ! "" said  News ' s Bill O ' Reily . "" Thursday night ' s debate was full of surprises . Who knew Saddam had it in him . He took Bush and Kerry to the cleaners . I have to tell you , I though Saddam was a mad man , but you know what ? He really could win this thing . ""  Saddam ' s performance has taken many voters by surprise as well . His command of the issues and plain speaking style has captured the nations attention . Voters from coast to coast are giving Saddam a closer look as the election nears .  "" People want a strong leader . "" Said White House hatchet man Karl Rove . "" Saddam had a better showing than the President last night . Saddam showed his toughness and unwillingness to change his position , even when everybody knows he is wrong . The public likes that in a leader and that has put Saddam in the drivers seat . He went a long way to proving that he has the blind illogical faith that it takes to lead this nation . ""  The President has his work cut out for himself if he is going to pull this one out . Saddam has taken Bush ' s key strengths , the War in Iraq and crazy stubbornness , as his own . That leaves Bush with a crappy economy and the hatred of gays to run on and that just might not be enough .  Kerry made a decent showing even after Saddam shot him in the shoulder . "" The wound took him off is game a little , but Kerry showed his stuff . "" Said White House spokesmen Ben Lion . "" The fact that he took the hit and kept on debating shows he has got some real moxie . I kind of wish the president had taken one , nothing gets the country united like shooting at the President . Look what it did for Reagan and Kennedy . ""  The latest poll from the highly respected Gallup organization shows Saddam making great gains in several key battle ground states . He has bloodied both Bush and Kerry by taking states that each of them will need for victory . The loss of Texas , Florida and Arizona may well cripple the Presidents chances . Kerry has faired no better losing two huge electoral prizes California and New York .  "" Saddam ' s speaking skills have blown this race wide open . It is going to be a wild and wooly race to the finish . "" Said polling expert Ruy Teixeira , of the web site the Emerging Democratic Majority . "" I ' m going to be glued to my computer watching the polls down to the finish . The one is going to be too close to call until the Supreme Court steps in and gives it to Bush . ""  ",satire,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,satire,True,no,no,positive,past
408,408,"In a statement , Harlingen municipality says the information evening scheduled for Tuesday has been pushed back to next month "" after it became clear that members of the Netherlands People ' s Union wanted to attend . ""  The group , known by its Dutch acronym  , is a minority far right group that is demanding the Netherlands close its borders to all migrants . The group reportedly has been sending members to other towns to protest against the possible arrival of migrants .  Migrants walk through a field after crossing from Croatia , in Rigonce , Slovenia , Monday , Oct . 26 , 2015 . Thousands of people are trying to reach central and northern Europe via the Balkans but often have to wait for days in mud and rain at the Serbian , Croatian and Slovenian borders . (  Photo Darko Bandic ) Photo Credit :   Mayor Roel Sluiter says that "" an evening without intimidation , screaming or insults appears , based on experiences elsewhere , to be impossible in the presence of the  . ""  While many Dutch people are welcoming migrants arriving in the country , anti immigrant political parties are gaining in popularity .  Harlingen is a picturesque port town 115 kilometers ( 70 miles ) northeast of Amsterdam .  Austrian firefighters have rescued two migrants from a river after they apparently tried to swim to neighboring Germany .  Firefighter Klaus Litzlbauer says the two were fished out of the Braunau river Tuesday as they held on to bridge supports to avoid being swept downstream . He said the men were unharmed but were suffering from hypothermia .  Officials say they apparently jumped into the river from a bridge in the Upper Austrian town of Braunau where other migrants were waiting to enter Germany . They say the two were shouting "" more freedom "" and were being cheered on by the crowd on the span .  Croatia ' s prime minister says he expects the refugee flow toward Western Europe to ease after the Nov . 1 parliamentary election in Turkey , the starting point for most migrants ' journeys .  Prime Minister Zoran Milanovic said Tuesday "" in ten days or so , after the vote in Turkey . . . you will see the change , "" according to the state  news agency .  European officials appear to be assuming that Turkish officials will have more time to focus on the refugee crisis when the demands of campaigning are over . Colder weather could also put a damper on number venturing into Europe .  Croatia holds its own parliamentary vote on Nov . 8 . Milanovic ' s leftist government faces a challenge from conservatives , who have criticized its handling of the refugee crisis .  Slovenia ' s foreign minister has hinted that the small country may erect a fence along its border with Croatia to stem the influx of tens of thousands of refugees and other migrants .  Karl Erjavec said Tuesday some 12 , 000 13 , 000 migrants have been arriving daily since Hungary built a fence on the border with Croatia and the flow was redirected to Slovenia earlier this month .  He says "" we don ' t want them ( the migrants ) to be dispersed along the length of the border . Certain impediments need to be set up to prevent that . There are various technical possibilities . ""  Erjavec says he does not want to elaborate what those blockades would be , but added : "" You can guess at what can be used to impede . ""  Around 84 , 000 people have crossed into Slovenia from Croatia since Oct . 16 .  Croatian police say that a 105 year old Afghan woman is among the migrants who have arrived at the country ' s main refugee camp near the border with Serbia .  Police say the woman came to the Opatovac camp around noon Tuesday after crossing from Serbia with a group of migrants . Spokesman Domagoj Dzigumovic says authorities have been checking whether she needs medical attention .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
417,417,"Calvino Inman had just stepped out of the shower one evening in May when a glimpse of his reflection in the mirror caused him to panic . "" I looked up and saw myself , and I thought I was going to die , "" says the 15 year old from Rockwood , Tennessee . His eyes were streaming tears of blood .  Doctors are still searching for a medical reason for Calvino Inman ' s tears of blood .  Inman ' s mother , Tammy Mynatt , says she immediately rushed him to the emergency room , but by the time they arrived , the bleeding had stopped . Doctors couldn ' t see what the family was trying to explain . They returned home completely perplexed . When the bloody tears returned a few days later while Inman was on a camping trip , he was rushed back to the hospital .  Mynatt hoped that once doctors finally witnessed the phenomenon , there would be answers . But that wasn ' t the case . "" The people at the hospital said they had never seen anything like it , "" Mynatt recalls . She says her son underwent an  , a  scan and an ultrasound , but none of the tests had abnormal results . "" ' We don ' t know how to stop it , ' "" Mynatt remembers being told by doctors . "" It just has to run its course . ""  Dr Barrett G . Haik , director of the University of Tennessee ' s Hamilton Eye Institute , says there is an answer , sort of . He says "" crying blood , "" a condition called haemolacria , is common in people who have experienced extreme trauma or who have recently had a serious head injury . But a case such as Inman ' s is still a medical mystery . "" What ' s really rare is to have a child like this , "" Haik says . "" Only once every several years do you see someone with no obvious cause . "" Watch more on the teen who cried blood  Haik and a team of researchers published a 2004 study in the Journal of the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery looking specifically at children who developed unexplained , spontaneous episodes of bloody tears between February 1992 and January 2003 . Only four cases were recorded .  Because of the rarity of the condition , experts anticipate Inman will have multiple tests from a variety of specialists , including hematologists ( blood specialists ) , ophthalmologists ( eye specialists ) and otolaryngologists ( ear , nose and throat specialists ) .  Dr James C . Flemming , also an ophthalmologist at the Hamilton Eye Institute , has been in touch with Mynatt and her son . He is reviewing Inman ' s medical records for possible treatment .  Flemming says complications to look for include blood clots , a growth or tumor near the eye , or even a simple infection . He also says the culprit could be something so tiny that none of the standard tests would pick it up . "" It ' s a very hard thing to estimate , "" Flemming says . "" You may have to watch expectedly for other symptoms to show up . ""  Inman ' s analysis would also include a psychological evaluation to rule out the possibility that the bloody tears were faked . "" When you can ' t find an origin , you can ' t eliminate any of the possibilities "" Haik explains . He says there have been cases where children seeking attention have found creative ways to simulate haemolacriatic symptoms .  And that ' s at least one reassurance Flemming and his team of experts at the Hamilton Eye Institute can offer . "" We get more positive talk now than negative . It really feels like there ' s hope , "" Mynatt says , relieved .  But still , the possibility remains that after endless tests , the underlying cause may never be found . In all four cases Haik examined previously , the bleeding stopped on its own .  "" As physicians , that ' s disconcerting , because we like to have the answers , "" Haik admits . Moreover , he says he knows from previous experience that the toll of not knowing is much worse for patients . "" I could always see the fear in their faces because no matter what we studied , we couldn ' t find an answer . ""  ",true,text,test,American football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
455,455,"Ted Cruz is one of the few  candidates who in unafraid to speak out against government subsidies for energy. Unfortunately, many of the farmers in Iowa are receiving subsidies (money back from the government taxpayers) and are not very interested in supporting politicians who want to prevent those subsidies from coming in the mail.Watch Ted Cruz convert a farmer who s been eating from the Democrat trough, into a voter. He does a brilliant job of explaining to this angry farmer in simple terms, how government is the problem and not the solution. Cruz explains that the government should not be in the business of using taxpayer dollars to pick the winners and losers in the energy business. He goes on to explain that by removing government restrictions and allowing the free market to work, the farmer will actually be better off in the end.weblink",fake,dataset,test,US elections,Economy,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,present
488,488,"Steve Hilton rips the great  geniuses  on foreign policy who are patronizing the way President Trump speaks. He says  are the ones who left the world in a mess! Amen!!!Hilton couldn t be more dead on in his assessment of the globalist attempt at a new world order that Trump just stopped. These leaders are responsible for Korea, Iran and the entire Middle East mess Hello Hillary Clinton! She and her husband have been whoring around the world grabbing up anything they can to amass a fortune off the backs of the American people. Obama did  on foreign policy accept to apologize to our enemies his entire 8 years in office. Remember the  Apology Tour ?The world is in such a mess because of our past leaders who didn t put America first. Thank goodness we have President Trump who will put America first. It s about time! ",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,past
510,510,"Washington The Justice Department remained tightlipped Friday as criticism mounted over the decision to hold the the September 11 terrorist attack trial in a civilian court in lower Manhattan .  Earlier , senior Obama administration officials confirmed that the White House is considering moving the site of the trial if the Justice Department sees fit .  "" Conversations have occurred within the administration to discuss contingency options should the possibility of a trial in lower Manhattan be foreclosed upon by Congress or locally , "" a senior administration official said .  Justice Department officials refused to acknowledge whether they are being pressed to find an alternative location , despite bipartisan concern that holding the trial in Manhattan would be too costly and disruptive .  "" We ' re reviewing our options , "" said Justice Department spokesman Dean Boyd in a statement Friday .  The administration ' s turnabout comes after New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and other politicians expressed great concern over the costs and disruption of holding the trial of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four accomplices at a courthouse near Ground Zero in lower Manhattan .  White House officials said President Obama agrees with Attorney General Eric Holder ' s decision in November to try the suspects in a civilian criminal court in the United States , not a military tribunal .  "" Currently our federal jails hold hundreds of convicted terrorists , and the president ' s opinion has not changed on that , "" White House spokesman Bill Burton said Thursday .  White House officials say the decision about any possible alternate sites to try Mohammed and the others will come from the Justice Department .  One government official close to the case said other New York locations , including a military site on New York Harbor ' s Governor ' s Island , are possibilities . And while Virginia sites also were mentioned as alternatives by former counterterrorism officials , Virginia Sen . Jim Webb , a Democrat , opposed moving the trial to his state .  "" Bringing enemy combatants for detention or trial in Washington , D . C . , or Northern Virginia would unnecessarily burden these communities from both a financial and security perspective , "" Webb said .  New York police estimated the cost to the city would be over 200 million per year in what could be a multi year trial and that over 2 , 000 checkpoints would need to be installed around Lower Manhattan . Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said additional protection would have to be deployed for the city , not just the core area of Manhattan .  Residents like Pat Moore contemplated what it will be like to live through the trial .  "" Those people would virtually be held prisoner in their homes , "" Moore said of New Yorkers who live near the courthouse . "" We ' ve all been traumatized , any of us who were there that day "" referring to September 11 .  Bloomberg initially supported the move , saying "" it is fitting that 9 11 suspects face justice near the World Trade Center site where so many New Yorkers were murdered . ""  But this week he used different rhetoric when asked about a community agency ' s proposal ' s to relocate the trial , saying he would prefer the trial be held elsewhere , perhaps at a military base where it would be easier and cheaper to provide security .  "" It ' s going to cost an awful lot of money and disturb a lot of people , "" Bloomberg said .  On Thursday , a group of New York politicians urged the Obama administration to thoroughly re examine locating the trials in downtown Manhattan .  "" We are concerned that the administration has not fully considered the impact that the trials would have on lower Manhattan in choosing the Moynihan Courthouse in Foley Square , "" U . S . Reps . Jerrold Nadler and Nydia Velazquez , both Democrats , and several state and local officials said in a letter dated Thursday to Holder .  Also , a spokeswoman for Gov . David Paterson cited his "" hesitation "" with the decision , citing the burdens it would pose on city residents . A spokesman for U . S . Sen . Kirsten Gillibrand raised financial concerns , saying her "" single biggest concern is making sure that the federal government cover the hundreds of millions of dollars per year cost to New York City for security during the trials . ""  Julie Menin , chairwoman of a city community advisory agency , proposed four alternative locations for the trial within the Southern District of Manhattan : Governors Island , Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh , the U . S . Military Academy at West Point , and the Bureau of Prisons jail complex at  Otisville .  A West Point spokesman said no one has officially requested a review of demands for such a trial , which would require in depth study of legal and security concerns .  Some U . S . senators including Homeland Security Committee chairman Joe Lieberman , I Connecticut want the detainees tried in military commissions .  A letter from one group of senators said a federal civilian trial would provide militants with "" one of the most visible platforms in the world to exalt their past acts and to rally others in support of further terrorism . ""  One congressman , U . S . Rep . Frank Wolf , R Virginia , is planning to introduce legislation that would cut off funding for the trial and block transfer of the September 11 suspects to New York .  U . S . Attorney ' s Office spokesman Dean Boyd said the Justice Department "" can safely prosecute this case in the Southern District of New York while minimizing disruptions to the community to the greatest extent possible , consistent with security needs . ""  President Obama is "" committed to seeing "" Mohammed , the mastermind of the attacks "" brought to justice , "" Burton said .  "" Khalid Sheikh Mohammed is a murderous thug who has admitted to crimes . . . some of the most heinous crimes ever committed against our country , "" he said .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
518,518,"A North Korean ambassador insisted that his country had nothing to do with the massive computer hack at Sony and called for the United States , which has blamed North Korea , to provide evidence .  The United States hit North Korea with new sanctions this month after the  said the country was behind the attack . Some technology experts say others could be involved , such as former employees of the studio . But the  director has expressed "" not just high confidence , but very high confidence , "" that North Korea was behind the hacking .  In a rare press briefing on Tuesday , An Myong Hun , North Korea ' s deputy U . N . ambassador , emphatically denied his country ' s involvement .  "" My country has nothing to do with the Sony hacking . It is out of sense to do that , and we very want United States to provide evidence , "" An said .  He said that North Korea had offered last week to the United States to "" undertake joint investigation "" into the hacking scandal .  Despite having applauded the hacking "" a righteous deed "" and condemning "" The Interview "" as "" a disgusting movie openly agitating terrorism against a sovereign state , "" North Korea has consistently denied responsibility . At the same time , it has blamed the U . S . government for being behind the making of the Seth Rogen James Franco film . North Korea government has warned the United States that its "" citadels "" will be attacked , dwarfing the hacking attack on Sony .  At a briefing on the subject , Rep . Ed Royce , a California Republican and chairman of the House Foreign Relations Committee , called to "" cut off hard currency "" so North Korea cannot carry out offensive attacks like the cyber attacks .   will lead fight against future hacks  U . S . hits back with sanctions  The attack on Sony Pictures used "" a sophisticated worm to conduct cyber exploitation activities , "" said retired Brigadier Gen . Gregory J . Touhill , who serves as deputy assistant secretary for cybersecurity operations and programs at the Department of Homeland Security . Sony Pictures made "" The Interview , "" a comedy depicting the assassination of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un .  The White House imposed sanctions this month targeting leaders in North Korea ' s government , preventing them from accessing property and entering the United States . The isolated nuclear regime , which has denied involvement in the Sony hack , was already subject to a strict set of U . S . economic restrictions .  "" We have made clear that we will respond to the  ' s misbehavior , "" said Sung Kim , the U . S . special representative for North Korea policy . "" We are under no illusions about the  ' s willingness to abandon its illicit weapons , provocations and human rights abuses on its own . ""  The U . S . Department of Treasury has designated three North Korean entities including the Reconnaissance General Bureau , the Korea Mining Development Trading Corporation and Korean Tangun Trading Corporation and 10 officials based around the world as "" critical North Korean operatives . "" The aim of the sanctions is to isolate North Korea and cut off their entities from being able to use the international financial system , said Daniel Glaser , assistant secretary of the Department of Treasury , during a briefing about the hacking on Tuesday .  Royce , the committee chairman , urged for stronger measures against North Korea .  "" We need to step up and target those financial institutions in Asia and beyond that are supporting the brutal and dangerous North Korean regime , "" he said . "" Such sanctions have crippled North Korea in the past , leaving the regime unable to buy the loyalty of its generals . ""  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
535,535,"You are here : Home Amid Wobbly Syria Talks ,  Triple Blast Kills 45  Amid Wobbly Syria Talks ,  Triple Blast Kills 45  A Western diplomat said that on Sunday  envoy Staffan de Mistura made proposals to a mistrustful  in talks in a Geneva hotel , but that they were still hesitating .  The future of the biggest push to date to end Syria ' s tangled civil war looked highly uncertain Sunday with the main opposition group threatening to walk away before planned peace talks even begin in earnest .  This forced de Mistura who invited the government and opposition umbrella group for "" proximity talks "" in which he would meet each side in separate rooms to set the ball rolling with only the Damascus delegation .  Under intense worldwide pressure to participate in the talks , the opposition said late Friday that it would send a small team of three representatives to discuss their concerns with Mrde Mistura .  The main opposition group , the Saudi backed Higher Negotiations Committee or  , boycotted the session , saying it won ' t take part until preliminary demands are met : the release of detainees , the end of the bombardment of civilians by Russian and Syrian forces , and the lifting of government blockades on rebel held areas .  Ahrar al Sham , one of the most controversial groups in the  because of its ties to al Nusra , was not represented in Geneva ,  spokesman Riad Naasan Agha said .  "" We are here for political negotiations but we can not start those until we have those gestures in place "" , she added .  U . S . Secretary of State John Kerry called the negotiations in Geneva "" a pivotal phase "" in the diplomatic effort to curb the violence in Syria .  The Syrian government described to the attack as evidence that the opposition are terrorists , while opposition figures accused the Syrian government of carrying out the bombings to gain advantage in the negotiations . He said that it would be better if both sides initiated these talks in order to reach an agreement .  A website affiliated with the Islamic State , also known as  or  , said the attacks were carried out by members of the extremist group , which controls large areas in both Syria and Iraq .  The government and the  have accused each other of a lack of "" seriousness "" about ending the war which has taken 250 , 000 lives and driven half of all Syrians from their homes .  The  said it would not begin talks if the United Nations could not stop the bombing and siege tactics used by the Syrian government and its Russian ally .  Their deaths bring to 46 the number who have died of starvation since December , and Doctors Without Borders warned that dozens more people were on the verge of death .  Farah Atassi , another opposition member , said it was too early to say how long the delegation would remain in Geneva .  The blasts , which came as the  ' s Syria envoy struggled to convene fresh peace talks in Geneva from which  is excluded , tore a massive crater in the road , overturning and mangling cars and a bus and shattering windows .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,negative,past
545,545,"Nick Saban , Dabo Swinney call for changes to  draft process  The  championship coaches want draft evaluations delivered after college seasons end .  Nick Saban , Dabo Swinney call for changes to  draft process The  championship coaches want draft evaluations delivered after college seasons end . Check out this story on USATODAYweblink : http : usat . ly 1P05FMq  A link has been sent to your friend ' s email address .  A link has been posted to your Facebook feed .  To find out more about Facebook commenting please read the Conversation Guidelines and FAQs  Nick Saban , Dabo Swinney call for changes to  draft process  Dan Wolken ,   Sports 12 : 19 p . m .  January 10 , 2016  Alabama coach Nick Saban ( left ) and Clemson ' s Dabo Swinney with the College Football Playoff championship trophy on Sunday .    , Ariz . ? Clemson coach Dabo Swinney joined Alabama s Nick Saban in calling for the  to delay delivering draft feedback to underclassmen until after the college football season is complete .  In the final news conference before Monday night s College Football Playoff championship game , Swinney said it s a distraction that all of us have to deal with , echoing a point Saban made at  media days last July .  Several underclassmen for both Alabama and Clemson , including Crimson Tide running back Derrick Henry , are likely going to enter the  Draft shortly after the championship game . Clemson defensive end Shaq Lawson has already said he is turning pro .  Obviously it ' s just two of us left at this point , Swinney said of he and Saban . You get the grades , and some guys , they didn ' t get the grade that they want , so they ' re pouting a little bit , and got to pick themselves up . Then you get the guy that gets the grade he wants , so it ' s just It really should be when the season is over , whenever that is , and they should hold those things .  The man behind Nick Saban and now Dabo Swinney  Saban brought up the issue in discussing Alabama s 42 35 loss to Ohio State in the Playoff semifinals last year , intimating that some players who received draft grades in December might have lost focus on the game .  He said he first tried to raise the issue privately among coaches before going public but didn t get much momentum behind it , largely because it doesn t impact coaches who don t have teams in the Playoff . In fact , some prefer the current system because they know early on who s leaving , allowing them time to recruit a replacement .  The deadline to declare for the  Draft is Jan . 18 .  College football underclassmen declaring for the  draft  The  moved the draft back . I wish they ' d move the declare date back , Saban said . I wish they ' d make a rule that says you can ' t even give a player what his draft status is until they ' ve finished their competition as a college player , so that you don ' t put them and their family in this situation where there ' s a big timing issue relative to competition .  Now , if you finished your season on December 6th , you can make a decision . If you ' re finishing it on January 11th , then you get the information after that , but you have a significant amount of time to make that decision when you finish playing so you can stay focused on what you need to do to play well , because it benefits all these players to play well in the game .  In 2014 , the  consulted with college sports leaders in implementing some changes in the draft feedback system in an attempt to curb the number of underclassmen declaring and then going undrafted .  Schools are now limited to five players requesting an evaluation ( previously there was no limit ) , and feedback is only offered in three categories ( as opposed to five ) : First round , second round and neither .   commissioner Greg Sankey said he hopes the same process will take place now that this issue has been brought front and center .  Nick has been effective in trying to inform and educate , Sankey said . We re really motivated to try to provide the best information available to help young people make decisions . That s really what he ' s talking about as opposed to , let s play a game and have to make a decision within a week that really determines the course of their life .  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
553,553,"Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump waves after speaking during a campaign stop on Wednesday , Jan . 27 , 2016 , in Gilbert , S . C . (  Photo Rainier Ehrhardt ) more  Soon the voters in Iowa will get a little relief from the invasion of candidates , their handlers , and the tsunami of reporters , pundits and assorted wise men who have trudged through snow and ice to make sure that no burp of the body politic goes unheard or unremarked . Iowans will get their state back , and to relish once more the silence of the cornfields .  A veil of calm always descends on the battlefield on election day , or in the case of Iowa , a caucus . The minds of the voters have been made up and mercifully there s not much left for the candidates to say . Attention can be turned to the really important stuff , like the severity of Megyn Kelly s new hairdo that gives her the look of the conscientious small town schoolmarm , ready to show no mercy to the tardy schoolboy who shows up with neither homework nor excuse .  It s a pity that Donald Trump was busy elsewhere in Iowa on debate night , raising money for veterans mistreated by the government that sent them to war . If the Donald thought Miss Kelly was tough when she was America s cable  sweetheart , before she got her new coiffure and killer eyelashes , he ain t seen nothin yet . ( Chris Wallace s new tie is nice , too , and Brett Baier s haircut made the ladies swoon in Dubuque . )  The Republicans in the U . S . Senate are so overwrought with fright that Politico , the political daily , reports they re in the first of the five stages of grief . The prospect that either Donald Trump or Ted Cruz will be nominated in Cleveland will do that to a Republican senator . The senators up for re election this year are not so much disturbed by the prospect of damage to the party as by the prospect of damage to themselves and their own interests .  Ted Cruz is Villain No . 1 and not a single Republican senator has endorsed him . That sounds to the Republican elites like bad news for Mr Cruz , but given the reputation the Republican senators have earned for themselves , maybe it s not . If he doesn t have a single friend in the U . S . Senate maybe he can t be all bad .  A new chapter in the Campaign of 16 opens Tuesday morning , and we can t wait . The perils of Pauline ? the lady tied up on the railroad tracks ? had us on the edge of our seats every Saturday morning at the Bijou , and someone always rescued Pauline as the train roared around the bend . Will there be someone racing to show Hillary the love ?  ",true,text,test,US elections,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
585,585,"After the December 2012 massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown , Connecticut , President Obama and Democrats in Congress launched a concerted effort to strengthen gun control laws . The centerpiece of their legislative agenda was a proposal that would have closed loopholes in the background check system for purchases online and at gun shows , but other measures like limiting the size of ammunition magazines and banning military style semiautomatic assault rifles were offered as well .  The proposals went nowhere . Those that came up for a vote in the Senate were killed , and none were even considered in the House .  Apart from a few executive actions taken by the president , the state of America ' s gun laws today is scarcely different than it was three years ago , despite a daily parade of gun deaths and a number of mass shootings in the intervening time . The three Democratic presidential candidates have put forth proposals to reduce gun violence .  They ' ve tussled with each other over their past records on guns , and they ' ve each offered competing plans to change gun laws . Some have vowed to renew the push for stronger background checks , a ban on assault rifles , and other legislative remedies . Mindful of  opposition , they have also considered the use of robust executive action to curb gun violence .  Here ' s a look at what the three candidates Hillary Clinton , Bernie Sanders , and Martin O ' Malley have proposed .  Hillary Clinton ' s approach would rely on a combination of legislative and executive action . She ' s said that she would renew the push for legislation strengthening background checks of the sort that was voted down in the Senate in 2013 . Her website labels that outcome "" reprehensible , "" and promises , "" Hillary is not giving up . ""  If Congress won ' t act , Clinton has added , she will act on her own to close the loopholes in the background check system that allow people to buy guns online or at gun shows without undergoing any scrutiny . She ' s also said she will close the "" Charleston loophole , "" named after the deadly shooting at a black church in Charleston earlier this year , which allows a gun sale to proceed without a background check if it takes more than three days to finish the check .  She ' s vowed to overturn a 2005 law that absolved gun manufacturers of any legal liability when someone uses their products during the commission of a crime . She ' s used the issue to take a shot at Sanders , who voted in favor of the 2005 law .  "" It wasn ' t that complicated to me , "" Clinton said during the first Democratic debate after Sanders said the law was "" large and complicated . "" "" It was pretty straightforward to me that he was going to give immunity to the only industry in America . Everybody else has to be accountable , but not the gun manufacturers . And we need to stand up and say , ' Enough of that . We ' re not going to let it continue . ' ""  To crack down on illegal gun trafficking and straw purchases , Clinton has said she will increase funding for inspections of gun dealers and revoke the licenses of dealers that repeatedly violate the law . She ' s also said she will make straw purchases in which someone buys a gun on behalf of an individual who would not be allowed to purchase it himself a federal crime .  She would support new legislation to expand the ban on gun sales to domestic abusers in certain instances . And to prevent the mentally ill from acquiring guns , she would push the Bureau of Alcohol , Tobacco , and Firearms to "" finalize its rulemaking to close loopholes in our laws and clarify that people involuntarily committed to outpatient treatment . . . are prohibited from buying guns . ""  Finally , Clinton would support the reinstatement of the ban on military style semiautomatic assault weapons a bill that was originally signed into law in 1994 by her husband , former President Bill Clinton , and lapsed in 2004 .  Sanders has a mixed record on gun control , and he ' s explained his moderation on the issue by pointing out that Vermont is a rural state with a long tradition of hunting and firearm ownership . While he ' s taken some heat from his fellow Democrats for some of his prior votes like his vote against the 1993 Brady Bill , which established the national background check system , and his support for the 2005 bill that granted legal immunity to gun manufacturers he has offered his own plan to reduce gun violence . And he ' s pitched his moderate approach to the issue as the best way to corral the American public behind a solution .  "" Some people want to ban every gun in America and some people believe in nothing at all , "" Sanders said last month . "" I think the vast majority of the American people , as the president indicated , including gun owners and I know that ' s true here in Vermont want sensible gun control legislation and they also believe that we should have more access to mental health facilities and counselors than we presently do . ""  Despite the criticism , Sanders has not disavowed his vote on the 2005 bill that granted immunity to gun manufacturers , but he ' s said he ' s open to adjustments that clarify its intent .  "" Here ' s the reason I voted the way I voted : If you are a gun shop owner in Vermont and you sell somebody a gun and that person flips out and then kills somebody , I don ' t think it ' s really fair to hold that person responsible , the gun shop owner , "" he told  News last month . "" On the other hand , where . . . there is evidence that manufacturers , gun manufacturers , do know that they ' re selling a whole lot of guns in an area that really should not be buying that many guns . That many of those guns are going to other areas , probably for criminal purposes . So can we take another look at that liability issue ? Yes . ""  Many of the legislative measures Martin O ' Malley has offered to reduce gun violence are similar to Clinton ' s proposals , but he has also detailed a number of executive actions he would take in addition to pushing Congress to act .  He would push to repeal the 2005 law that granted immunity to gun manufacturers , and he supports the reinstatement of the assault weapons ban . He also supports raising the minimum age for gun ownership to 21 years . And like Clinton , he would push to ban unmarried domestic abusers and convicted stalkers from purchasing a gun .  To crack down on gun trafficking , O ' Malley would increase  funding to empower the government to inspect gun dealers more frequently revoke the licenses of dealers that violate the law . He would also increase federal penalties for gun trafficking .  One of O ' Malley ' s more ambitious proposals involves the creation of a national firearms registry , which is actually explicitly banned under current law , to make it easier to trace guns involved in crimes back through their chain of ownership . Conservatives and Second Amendment advocates have vehemently opposed the creation of such a system , because they fear it would be a step toward federal confiscation of firearms .  Under O ' Malley ' s proposed executive actions , gun manufacturers seeking federal contracts would be required to make their products safer through design changes , such as assigning hidden serial numbers to firearms that can ' t be defaced . O ' Malley would also ban the manufacture and sale of so called "" cop killer "" ammunition , which is coated and more effectively penetrates hard surfaces .  In order to track those who attempt to buy firearms but don ' t pass required background checks , O ' Malley will also propose creating an electronic alert system which informs local law enforcement agencies of failed sales . The system would then identify individuals who should be prosecuted further .  As the failed push for gun control in the wake of Newtown and the absence of any action in the wake of Charleston attests , getting new gun control measures through Congress is extraordinarily difficult .  The Republican Party , with the support of the powerful National Rifle Association , is almost unanimously opposed to anything that smacks of gun control  candidates have instead emphasized the need expand mental health services in the U . S . to prevent unstable people from obtaining firearms . Where restricting gun ownership is concerned , they don ' t believe we need new laws , they argue we simply need to enforce the laws that are already on the books .  To the extent that the Democrats ' solutions to curb gun violence require legislative action , they should be pressed on how they are going to achieve that . If dead schoolchildren and dead churchgoers did not impel Congress to act , gun control advocates have wondered , what will ? What makes these Democrats think the political landscape will be any friendlier to a push for gun control in 2017 than it was in 2013 ?  And in the case of proposed executive actions , like Clinton ' s proposal to unilaterally close loopholes in the background check system or O ' Malley ' s proposal to force design changes on gun manufacturers , candidates must be pressed on whether the actions will stand up to judicial scrutiny .  Republicans are already up in arms over Mr Obama ' s unilateral moves on immigration , the environment , and other issues , arguing that they ' ve contributed to a lack of trust that makes legislative cooperation unlikely . Is it possible that a Democratic president taking executive action on gun control could poison the political environment and make it even more difficult to force a bill through Congress ?  ? 2015  Interactive Inc . All Rights Reserved .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
601,601,"Sanders Brings Campaign To Duluth , St . Paul Ahead Of Iowa ? Caucus   (  ) ? Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders is making two campaign stops in Minnesota Tuesday , just a week away from the Iowa Caucuses .  Polls show Sen . Sanders is in a very close race with Hillary Clinton in Iowa .  In Minnesota , Sanders will stop at the Saint Paul RiverCentre at 7 p . m . Tuesday where he will host a free rally .  They are calling it the Future to Believe in Rally with Bernie Sanders . Doors open at 6 p . m . , but thousands were lining up to get in hours earlier .  His campaign said Sanders will talk about a wide range of issues , including getting big money out of politics , combating climate change and making college affordable .  Here s what he said Monday night about college at a Democratic presidential town hall in Iowa :  A college degree today is the equivalent of what a high school degree was 50 years ago . People want to criticize me , fine . I believe that every kid in this country who has the ability and the desire should be able to get a higher education regardless of the income of his family . And I will pay for that through a tax on Wall Street speculation , Sanders said .  Sanders said he also wants to raise Americans taxes so that everyone can have health care coverage through a single payer government system . There wouldn t be any co pays or deductibles .  Before coming to St . Paul , Sanders held a rally in Duluth at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center Arena at 3 p . m .  While polls are close in Iowa , they are a bit more clear in other states . The latest  News YouGov Poll has Sanders just one point behind Clinton in Iowa .  In ? New Hampshire , that same poll shows Sanders ahead by 19 points . It s just the opposite in South Carolina , where the  Battleground tracker shows Sanders trailing Clinton by 22 points .  Here in Minnesota , Clinton is ahead of Sanders by 34 points in a new Star Tribune Minnesota poll .  Pat Kessler knows Minnesota politics . He ' s been on the beat longer than any other  reporter in the Twin Cities , covering state government , politics , campaigns and conventions since 1984 . Pat "" pulls back the curtain "" on what ' s happening in . . .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
615,615,"The sometimes violent protests in Ferguson , Missouri , and the law enforcement response has sparked a debate about what some call the "" militarization of police , "" after armored vehicles , stun grenades and high tech weaponry were brought in to calm the violence .  Some of the equipment may be military surplus that came from the federal government through a program from the Defense Department ' s Defense Logistics Agency , which provides military equipment to local police departments across the country .  The  ' s law enforcement support program was created in 1999 . "" This is a program legislated by Congress which allows the secretary to transfer some excess military property to local law enforcements , "" said Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm . John Kirby on Tuesday .  Kirby said since 2007 the Ferguson Police Department has received two Humvees , one generator , and one cargo trailer . Over the same time period , the St . Louis County Police Department received six pistols , 12 rifles , 15 weapon sites , an explosives disposal robot , three helicopters , seven Humvees ( two used by Ferguson Police ) , and two night vision devices .  "" It ' s still up to local law enforcement to determine how and when and where and under what circumstances they use excess military equipment , "" said Kirby , but Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel "" has been mindful of the public debate and discussion about this issue and asked his staff this morning about some additional information about this program . ""  According to Kirby , Hagel has received an information paper with more details on the program , but has yet to order a formal review . Hagel wants a better understanding of the law and regulations governing the transfer program and what parts of that program are the responsibility of the Defense Department .  The program has been in place for several years with little controversy and attention , but has grabbed the national spotlight with the unrest in Ferguson , where police have used what looks like tactical military gear and vehicles , although it ' s not clear what equipment may have actually come from Pentagon inventories .  Complete coverage on Ferguson shooting and protests  Pentagon officials say a key issue for the department is the fact that once the equipment is transferred , the military has no control over how a local agency uses it .  Many police departments also get funding for military style equipment from Homeland Security and the Justice Department , which operate programs aimed at beefing up police capability in the event of a terrorist attack .  President Barack Obama called for a review of the program on Monday . "" I think it ' s probably useful for to us review how the funding has gone , how local law enforcement has used grant dollars to make sure that what they are purchasing is stuff that they actually need . Because there is a big difference between our military and our local law enforcement and we don ' t want those lines blurred , that would be contrary to our traditions and I think that there will be some bipartisan interest in reexamining some of those programs . ""  Sen . Carl Levin , D Michigan , chairman of the Senate Armed Services committee , said his committee would "" review this program to determine if equipment provided by the Defense Department is being used as intended . ""  Magazine : The Aftermath in Ferguson  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
639,639,"The stakes are high for Manchester United as they aim to secure a place in the Champions League next season and Louis van Gaal ' s men showed their gambling instincts of a different kind on Monday .  Fresh from Sunday ' s comfortable 3 0 win over top four rivals Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday , United stars Ashley Young , Juan Mata , Chris Smalling and Phil Jones were present at the club ' s official launch of their bwin casino app .  The quartet were all smiles with club ambassadors Denis Irwin and Bryan Robson as they promoted the new groundbreaking technology at Manchester ' s 235 Casino .  Manchester United launched the world ' s first ever club based real money casino app on Monday  United stars Juan Mata ( left ) , Phil Jones ( centre ) and Chris Smalling were in attendance for the app launch  Club ambassadors Bryan Robson ( centre ) and Denis Irwin ( right ) were also present on Monday afternoon  The Red Devils have been at the forefront of English football for many a year and off the pitch they are trying to follow suit with the launch of the first football club based , real money casino app in the world .  Titled the ' bwin Manchester United Casino ' the specifically designed app gives users a realistic 3D casino environment , set against the backdrop of Old Trafford .  Users are welcomed to the casino lobby by likenesses of United players , complete with voiceovers which guide them through the gameplay .  It is the first of its kind and extends the popular range of services and products that United ' s online gaming and betting partner provides to fans .  Users will see a realistic 3D casino environment , set against the backdrop of Old Trafford as they gamble  Manchester United Group Managing Director , Richard Arnold , said : ' Since Manchester United launched its relationship with bwin in 2012 , we have been impressed by their commitment to setting the standard in their industry and providing dynamic and innovative user experiences , as is clearly demonstrated in the bwin Manchester United casino .  ' The launch of the app is an important milestone in our partnership , and is yet another exciting platform to bring the Club closer to its fans . '  Sam Sadi , Director of bwin Labels , added , ' Our aim is to offer sports fans unique gaming experiences anytime , anywhere . Working with the club , we have used our partnership to create something entirely new and standout in our industry that will appeal to both Manchester United fans and casino players looking for superior graphics and gameplay . '  Users are welcomed to the casino lobby by likenesses of United players complete with voiceovers  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
654,654,"A Southern California couple with a shared passion for Disneyland ended 2012 by completing the remarkable achievement of having visited the tourist attraction every single day of last year .  Jeff Reitz and Tonya Mickesh both started last year out of work , but with annual passes to their favorite theme park given to them as a present from a friend .  The couple , who met in July 2006 and don ' t have children , decided to visit Disneyland on a daily basis as a way to pass the time while they searched for work , but even after finding jobs they decided to keep up their daily pilgrimage .  Disney nuts ! Tonya Mickesh and Jeff Reitz visited Disneyland every day during 2012 after a friend bought them annual passes  During their daily visits Disneyland , Tonya Mickesh ( left ) and Jeff Reitz ( behind her ) enjoyed mugging for the on ride still camera on Space Mountain  ' It was a way to keep ourselves occupied because we didn ' t have jobs , ' Mickesh told the Orange County Register . ' Originally , we thought we ' d get jobs and stop doing it , but we kept it going . '  Most days , the couple had a set routine to their visits . They would arrive early in the morning to beat the crowds and park in the Mickey Friends car park .  Highlights for the couple over the year included spending 24 hours in the park for the 24 hour Leap Day and watching the baby ducks in the park grow up . They also made friendship with the park staff and became known as the ' everyday Disneyland couple . '  Both Jeff and Tonya are big Disney fans who have been visiting to theme park since they were small children , Jeff was only six months old when his parents first took him .  In 2012 , Mickesh ' s favorite attraction was the Pirates of the Caribbean , while for Reitz it was the Matterhorn .  As well as enjoying the rides , the daily trips also provided the couple with plenty of exercise and using a pedometer they worked out that they walked between two and four miles per visit .  Remarkable achievement : Tonya Mickesh and Jeff Reitz have been made honorary citizens of Disneyland after visiting every day for an entire year  Jeff Reitz , right , and Tonya Mickesh hold all their parking stubs for visiting Disneyland every day in 2012  The couple ' s daily visits including a trip to the park on Christmas Day  As the year progressed the daily visits became harder to fit into their schedules as the couple found work .  Mickesh ' s job started in late April and entailed working the second shift , so they would go in the mornings . Then Reitz found a job in September , making it difficult to go together . So during the week they would go at separate times , leaving the weekends for joint trips .  There were also days when they nearly didn ' t make it . One day Reitz got delayed at work and made it to the front gate with only 20 minutes to spare .  During his daily visits to Disneyland Jeff made friends with a number of staff who worked at the park  Both Mickesh and Reitz say they thoroughly enjoyed the experience , but they have no plans to keep up their daily visits in 2013  The couple ' s premium passes cost 649 apiece , include parking , which means that the cost per day per person was 1 . 77 over the 366 days .  To celebrate their remarkable achievement , the couple were made honorary citizens of Disneyland by Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Tom Staggs in a brief ceremony in front of the castle on New Year ' s Eve .  Both Mickesh and Reitz say they thoroughly enjoyed the experience , but they have no plans to keep up their daily visits in 2013 .  Video : Watch Jeff and Tonya ' s 366th consecutive visit to Disneyland  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
664,664,"Nigel Farage today admits his party ' s election prospects have been damaged by its ' Walter Mitty ' characters .  He says  got it wrong in the past and now needs to show greater discipline to secure success at the ballot box .  But he warned against mimicking the command and control ethos of Tony Blair ' s New Labour party machine , when pagers were issued to tell party members what to say at all times .   leader Nigel Farage said his party will clamp down on Walter Mitty characters before next year ' s general election  Ukip is expected to come first in elections to the European Parliament on May 22 .  But Mr Farage ' s party has been rocked by yet more revelations about the views of candidates and councillors which risk undermining his claim to be a mainstream political force .  In the run up to last year ' s council elections , candidates were exposed for wearing a Jimmy Savile mask , blaming the Holocaust on Jews and branding Margaret Thatcher an ' old w ' .  Just this month Mr Farage has had to suspend a councillor who blamed the winter storms on gay marriage .  American humorist James Thurber wrote The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty for the New Yorker magazine in 1939 .  A Walter Mitty character was originally a harmless day dreamer , who disengages from the real world by turning his small everyday failures and humiliations into grandiose fantasies , with himself cast as the hero .  But over the years the name has acquired a more pejorative sense , coming to mean a self deluding , self aggrandising fraudster , who tries to gain respect by pretending to be something he ' s not .  The story has inspired not one film the celebrated 1947 version with Danny Kaye , which propelled the name ' Walter Mitty ' into the English language but two .  Ben Stiller directed , co produced and starred in The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty released last month .  Now the Ukip leader is promising tougher vetting of candidates to weed out people who could cause him embarrassment .  ' It ' s very natural that a newish party will attract all sorts of people , ' he told The Times .  ' Walter Mittys seeking a role in politics in the end they will let down not just us but themselves .  ' I need us to have a disciplined election machine . '  His comments come just a day after it emerged that a senior member of the party , Godfrey Bloom , apparently taunted a disabled student during an Oxford University debate .  Mr Bloom was appearing at the debate last Thursday and asked the young man whether he was Richard  , the medieval king who suffered from a spinal deformity .  Last week the party was again embarrassed by one of its more controversial members , David Silvester , who claimed recent floods were divine punishment for new gay marriage laws .  Mr Farage said he wanted to ' professionalise '  ahead of the European elections in May in which his party are expected to trouble the Conservatives .  He suggested he may wish to curb the eccentricities of individual candidates and said the party must campaign together on similar issues .  But Mr Farage said he did not want  to turn ' into a new Labour outfit where they ' ve all got pagers on their belts and they ' re told what to say and think ' .  Keen to appeal to blue collar people , he  claimed a third of  ' s support derives from former Labour voters . He  immediately risked alienating them , however , by saying that bankers were  entitled to receive large bonuses .  ' The very thought that the bureaucrats in  Brussels now set the limits we can pay the highest earning people in  London is truly astonishing , ' he added .  Mr Farage said the party need to appear more professional if they are to succeed at the ballot box . His comments come as Godfrey Bloom , pictured , appeared to taunt a disabled student during a debate at Oxford University  The stockbroker ' s son said : ' We don ' t need official caps or limits being placed on these things . Don ' t forget that quite a lot of this comes back to people in terms of pension incomes and the rest of it . '  Mr Farage also attacked high public sector pay , especially in local government , saying there were a ' remarkable ' number of people working in local authorities and quangos who were on six figure salaries .  While Labour is facing a growing backlash in the business community as a result of its 50p tax rate plan ,  has been courting big donors as anti Europe sentiment has increased in the City .  However , Mr Farage refused to be drawn on any economic policies , nor would he be drawn into giving a date as to when the  deficit should be cut by .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
665,665,"In the Riverview Gardens apartment complex, roused by the sounds of her neighbors waking, Janet Foy stepped over the    textbook she fell asleep reading and vowed to herself that today would be the day she finally came back to life. That today she could start reclaiming some of the confidence she once felt when she stood onstage at church and sang about forgiveness and redemption and You who make all things new. At 56, Foy was broke, jobless and living with her older sister in public housing in Kansas City, Mo. and she didn’t feel much like singing anymore. Recently, she had been told by a manager at a Victoria’s Secret that there was no need to leave her résumé. But not too long ago, she wanted me to know, she was pulling in $1, 000 a week at a Merle Norman makeup store, helping other people look and feel their best. But then she took in her brother to try to help him overcome an addiction, and soon she was pulled under financially as he spiraled out of control. She would show up to work too overwhelmed and exhausted to make any sales, and had to dip into her savings until that was gone. She begged to borrow against her next paycheck but eventually lost her apartment and moved into a friend’s spare room. How are you holding up? people would ask. I’m good, girl, she would say. Praise the Lord! But inside, she felt like the   movies she had seen in which “a person becomes encapsulated,” suspended between consciousness and oblivion. Finally, on the phone with her sister one night, she broke down: I’m not right, I feel like I am dying. “She was always the steady one,” her sister, Karen Smith Walker, says. “The one who could solve any problem. Always with a book. Always studying. ” But now, after years of living with this desperation, Foy didn’t know how to find her way through it anymore. “I tried to get Obamacare,” Foy recalls. “I called the number, and when the woman told me what it would cost me, I just about dropped the phone. She told me I’d needed to make at least $12, 000 a year for there to be any help to make it something I might be able to afford. Which still doesn’t make a lot of sense to me, even now, that having no money meant I got no help when I really needed it. ” She also learned that she could not expect any help from Medicaid, which in her home state remained available only if you fit the criteria sometimes known by the shorthand “poor and”  —   poor and pregnant, poor and disabled. As a single childless woman, she could forget about it. There was no going to a doctor, even if she felt, as she put it, “like I was falling to pieces inside. ” But then one day she found herself sobbing in front of a nurse and a social worker, members of a team dispatched by the local   clinic to embed themselves in the lives of the uninsured residents of the apartment complex where Foy lived  —   a        effort to reach those who would otherwise, as one resident delicately put it, “remain S. O. L. ” The team, part of a program called   Care, or C3, developed by the Samuel U. Rodgers Clinic of Kansas City in partnership with the Housing Authority of Kansas City and the Truman Medical Center, used their collective expertise to help the uninsured come up with creative interventions for their health concerns, beyond relying on a regimen of studious neglect supplemented with panicked, bankrupting visits to the E. R. Some days that meant knocking on apartment doors and offering      readings. Other days it meant arranging for guest speakers to come and lead   classes about reducing stress or cooking nutritiously with limited ingredients. In Foy’s case, it meant a referral to a therapist, who promptly gave her an explanation for her suffering. “My neurotransmitters were going pphhht,” she told me. “They were just shot, after all that loss and trauma I had been through. ” The therapist treated Foy for depression  —   at no cost. That was a benefit for residents who worked with the C3 team: They received three free visits to the nearby Sam Rodgers Health Center, which they could use for any treatments offered there, including dental work. After her first session with the therapist, Foy started to imagine what it might be like to feel normal again. But after her third visit, sessions would cost $35 modest, she knew, but still more than she could afford. Over the last few years, she learned there was more than one kind of death, like the inability to lift yourself out of a bad place. Now that she had begun to do just that, she dreaded the possibility of losing it all over again. According to the most recent census data, the uninsured portion of the United States population has fallen to 9 percent, with the sharpest drop registered among those living in households with incomes of less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level (which, translated into dollar terms, is the equivalent of an income of $48, 600 a year for a family of four, or $23, 760 for a single person). According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, more than 11 million people have purchased private health insurance plans through the Affordable Care Act exchanges, and a majority report incomes between 100 percent and 250 percent of the federal poverty level. It would seem that   Americans are among the greatest beneficiaries of the A. C. A. ’s reforms. And yet in some states this same population also remains, paradoxically, among the reforms’ greatest losers. This subpopulation is living inside a kind of “dead zone,” as Foy put it to me one day, searching for the right metaphor to describe her predicament. A long and suspended silence, she called it, “like when you can’t receive a single call, a single text. ” How these dead zones formed is a matter of unanticipated consequences. The A. C. A. ’s architects did not predict that the Supreme Court would rule in 2012 that it was up to each state whether to expand Medicaid eligibility, which is how they imagined Americans with the most modest incomes would receive coverage. Even though the federal government would have helped fund the expansion, 19 states opted for ideological reasons not to do so, arguing that they are pushing back against government bloat and the fostering of dependency. A result was that the residents with the lowest incomes in those 19 states were now caught between two nonoptions: They made too much to qualify for Medicaid, or didn’t qualify at all, but they also made too little for publicly subsidized insurance on the exchanges, their income not high enough to trigger the refundable tax credits and   that could make the possibility remotely affordable to someone making just a few dollars above the federal poverty level. This paradox is referred to widely as the coverage gap. Most people in that gap are on the far side of middle age, with about one in eight edging toward 65  —   a time in life when more serious health issues begin to emerge. Almost half are nonwhite. They are almost equally split along gender lines. About a quarter are supporting children, and everyone in the gap is more likely to be working (62 percent) than not (38 percent). Those with jobs work largely for small businesses that employ fewer than 50 people, which aren’t subject to A. C. A. penalties for not offering   coverage. Most people in the gap who have jobs work full time. They are agricultural workers, primarily, or   employees, but some hold jobs in education, health and social services, professional administration or manufacturing. There is little disagreement in the existing literature about the negative effects of being uninsured: You are more likely to receive a diagnosis of   cancer you are more likely to postpone or forgo care, resulting in more severe consequences as treatable illnesses become increasingly complicated with delay. There’s also good, hard evidence from   studies on “the wear and tear that worry and stress has on people who don’t have insurance coverage,” says Genevieve Kenney,   of the Health Policy Center at the Urban Institute, noting one of the most compelling and most cited: a study in Oregon that found that offering Medicaid to the uninsured reduced bad medical debts, decreased the likelihood of choosing to cover medical expenses over other bills, buffered them from catastrophic    payments and significantly reduced depression. And yet the coverage gap is a new enough phenomenon that scant    research exists into the particular and distinct ways that it is playing out in people’s    lives. Already, a scattering of researchers, mostly medical anthropologists, have taken steps to follow communities where significant numbers of people are caught in the coverage gap, in order to gain the kinds of insights “you don’t get from a single snapshot, a   survey,” says Heide Castañeda, an associate professor in the anthropology department at the University of South Florida. Those insights reveal, as she puts it, “not just how vulnerable people are, but how much agency they have, how much initiative they have to try and find a solution when none seems to exist. You can’t code that in a binary way you have to watch it unfold over time. ” In Castañeda’s case, she has been studying the lives of the uninsured in Hidalgo County, Tex. which has one of the highest rates of uninsurance in the nation. She has traced the health of dozens of families over the last four years, simultaneous to the rollout of the A. C. A. documenting how they have responded to illness or chronic disease or accident. What she has seen is that to live in the gap demands a creative, improvisational mode of survival  —   one that often masks the true extent of the disparities to anyone on the outside. “It might be true no one is dying in the streets,” she says. “But the uninsured are dying younger people’s life expectancy is affected, people’s ability to work is affected. These informal types of health care, as important as they are, actually help us not to see that. ” If it can be said that life in the gap tends to inculcate a certain guerrilla thinking among those who have no choice but to consider highly improvisational modes of insurance, then it can also be said that treating the people marooned there requires a similar flexibility of thought. You must manage the strange simultaneity of making someone aware of a grim diagnosis, even as you also know you do not have the means to properly remedy it. My curiosity about this   is what had brought me to Kansas City, and would ultimately draw me into the state of Kansas, covering more than 1, 000 miles in five days. The area had already established something of a reputation in medical and   circles, even before the emergence of the gap, for the innovative ways its providers had adapted to the overwhelming demands of treating the uninsured and medically isolated. Kansas City was, until recently, home to the largest free clinic in the country (before the clinic’s board voted to accept insurance in anticipation of the A. C. A. and the expansion of Medicaid in its state, which then did not happen). And it is currently the home of the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City, which gives away $20 million each year to help fund organizations looking for alternative ways to reach the uninsured and to expand community access to quality medical care  —   the same foundation that supported the efforts of the team embedded at the local housing project where Janet Foy lived. The president and chief executive of the foundation is a   physician named Bridget McCandless, who for 13 years before taking her current position headed a Kansas   free clinic. She is widely considered a thoughtful and measured voice in larger conversations about community health, having served as president of the Metropolitan Medical Society of Greater Kansas City and serving currently as a citizen representative on a Missouri House of Representatives working group devoted to Medicaid reform. McCandless seemed the perfect person to speak to about any unlikely innovations that had emerged to work around the lack of immediate legislative solutions for those in the gap. She told me a story about one of her former patients, a man with a seizure disorder: “He’s well controlled on inexpensive medicine. However, he has to see a doctor to get the prescription. Because he lacks insurance, he inevitably runs out of medication and has a seizure. This means that he can’t drive to work for six months. It’s really hard to work in construction when you have to admit to having a recent seizure  —   preventable or not. He collects cans on the side of the road to support himself now. ” It was hard to be innovative, in other words, when you didn’t have anything to innovate with. A program manager named Rebecca Anderson at the Kansas City  Clinic, which was once the nation’s largest free clinic and which also receives funding from McCandless’s foundation, put it to me this way: When she first started working for the clinic, she did H. I. V. case management, “which feels really heavy. But there are so many resources available to those patients. Then I transferred over to this area”  —   she now oversees a team of community health workers assigned to work one on one with uninsured patients  —   “and this is way harder. These patients really have access to nothing. Absolutely nothing. ” In the case of Kansas, where Gov. Sam Brownback’s experiment in radically reducing government has included not only refusing to expand Medicaid but also on paring back its existing program, the question of what it meant to have access to nothing took on a particular resonance. My first stop was Iola, where the foundation that McCandless heads also funds initiatives for the uninsured. In the parking lot of the local   clinic, nearly every spot was filled. Rich seams of coal, natural gas and zinc fueled huge mining operations in this region during the early part of the 20th century, but by the 1930s the seams were already becoming depleted, leading to less and less work. Today the area is largely defined by entrenched generational poverty, unemployment and poor health. People who live in rural areas are much more likely to fall into the coverage gap than those who live in cities, distance and isolation amplifying the complications associated with the patchwork way they must care for themselves. Cyndy Greenhagen worked out of a converted closet in the Iola clinic, and as the designated patient navigator, she ran the numbers for community members who came in without insurance and looking for assistance. She would tell them whether they fell into the gap. Iola was small enough that she could remember the people she couldn’t help  —   like Suzan Emmons, who lived across town with her two granddaughters, ages 10 and 12. For almost three decades, Emmons, 56, ran her own business cleaning houses. She had become parent to her granddaughters only recently, after seeking their guardianship to remove them from an abusive situation. The girls no longer hoarded food in their room for fear that they would not get another meal, but they were still getting up in the night, sometimes three, four times. The therapist who worked with them told Emmons that the girls were checking to make certain she hadn’t left them. Last year, Emmons made just over $13, 000. She carried private insurance until two years ago, when it became too expensive. But she imagined, when she went to see Greenhagen, that she would now qualify for some kind of assistance. Instead she learned that with the two girls in her household, she fell into the gap. It was the kind of incongruity that Greenhagen regularly experienced in her job. She had said no to people with cancer people who worked three jobs but still didn’t make enough to bump themselves out the gap people who had been laid off and who had made the decision to return to school but now had no income as a result, and so fell beyond the borders of assistance. Another person Greenhagen had recently said no to was Shanette Smith, who lives with her two daughters and her   in the home where her husband was raised, not far from the town of Toronto, on the edge of a state park where some of the oldest trees in Kansas still stand. Her girls ride their bicycles in dizzying loops up and down the same driveway that a police cruiser rolled down in the early hours of a morning four years ago  —   a trooper dispatched to inform her that her husband had been killed in a   accident on a stretch of highway just a few miles away. “After that, things fell apart for a while,” she told me, as we stood together in the dining room, where her    keeps her collection of Pepsi memorabilia in curio cabinets. The girls were debating whether tonight they would be able to go take showers at the state park, for which their grandmother had purchased a yearly pass. Shanette, her    and the girls sometimes went there in the summer to wash up because it offered not only the promise of inexpensive entertainment  —   Do you think we’ll see frogs in the bathrooms again, like we did last time?  —   but, with only one bathroom for all of them at the house, also efficiency, measured in terms of both time and water. Three years ago, at her  ’ invitation, she and the girls moved their things into the two back bedrooms of the house. With her  ’ help, Smith, 28, was able to return to school full time, taking classes at a community college an hour’s drive away. Smith found that she liked school, that she was a good student. She realized that she could finally study to become a nurse, something she considered before her husband’s accident. One by one, she ticked off her required prerequisites, hunted down transcripts and secured letters of recommendation. She was ready, she thought, to turn in her application to a program in September. But then, while attending an informational meeting, she heard of one last requirement she had not anticipated: Students had to prove they had health insurance. Up to that point, she had simply gone without. The school suggested she look into Obamacare. Which, in turn, led her to Greenhagen’s office. Smith had assumed that the $700 a month she received in widow’s benefits and the fact that she was a   student would qualify her for some kind of help she didn’t know about the gap, or that her state was one of the places where it existed. Greenhagen kept looking at her screen, as if she didn’t believe it. “I’m so sorry,” she said. After she left the little closet office, Smith walked to her truck, locked the doors and cried. “It just felt like a huge loss,” she told me. “How could everything I had been planning toward, all the work, how could it all be for nothing?” Smith had been trying not to show her daughters how frightened she felt ever since Greenhagen had delivered the news that insurance was out of her reach  —   and so, therefore, was nursing school. “Shall we get a broom to fight off any frogs we might find in the shower?” she asked them as they prepared to head to the park. But the same thought was repeating over and over: Now what am I going to do? She thought it as she put her daughters to bed, her youngest daughter saying to her through the dark, “I can’t wait to go to school, so I can have homework, too. ” It frightened her that she felt too numb to try to come up with an answer. The day after my visit with Smith and her family, I drove to the town of Pittsburg, to the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, the largest   clinic in the state. The center’s doctors tend to more than 43, 000 patients a year, regardless of their ability to pay  —   “We will never take anyone to collections,” a founding member of the center and its C. E. O. Krista Postai, told me. Many patients here have complicated their medical problems by going for years without seeing a   doctor, fearing a bill they couldn’t afford. “This,” Postai said, gesturing around the building, “is all  . ” The guiding philosophy at the health center has always been to “always simply say yes  —   yes, we can help you, whatever it takes,” Jason Wesco, the clinic’s executive vice president, told me. Sometimes that meant staff members’ volunteering to drive someone to Kansas City in their own cars. In the doctors’ cases, it frequently meant, with their patients’ permission, serving as unofficial specialists  —   reading up, consulting experts and doing as much as they could within the perimeters of their training  —   for those who could not afford to see one. Still, there was only so much a doctor could do for a man with bone cancer, for a woman who required a heart transplant. “It’s very hard to know that because of a lack of resources, someone will die,” Julie Stewart, a physician at the center, told me. “To have to look in a patient’s eyes and say: ‘Your prognosis is different than that of someone who lives in another state. Your prognosis is less because you don’t have access to insurance. ’’u2009” An evangelical Christian, Stewart was featured heavily in state and national news accounts of the coverage gap over the last year, and she spoke with the conviction and eloquence associated with the tradition of religious testimony. “There’s a disconnect between politicians and people’s lives on the ground,” she said. “I’m strongly  . I testified for the   bill because I believe God created life. I’ve said babies can feel the same pain as adults, and that position was applauded, so why, when adults are experiencing the kind of severe debilitating pain that I am seeing because they cannot afford the care they need, are the same people not also working to do something about that?” Currently she had a patient with lupus who was particularly worrying to her. The medications Stewart had tried did not seem to be working. “I keep telling her it’s time to see a specialist”  —   she had arranged for one at Kansas University to see the patient for $200  —   “but she keeps saying no, she can’t possibly afford it. ” Stewart wanted to check up on her, so we drove to her home, in a corner of Kansas that Wesco had told me was, until the center opened a satellite office there, so medically isolated that the doctors were seeing cases they had not seen in their residencies or in medical school. “I’ll take my chances with dying, if that’s what it comes down to,” the patient, Brenda Hannah, told me, sitting in the living room of the home she shared with her husband, Bill. “We have no money. We live on Bill’s disability. ” She had been working at Walmart when the pain first started to become unbearable. She couldn’t stand long enough “to make a sandwich. ” By the time she finally connected with Stewart, she had to quit working, and had already racked up several   bills. “The pain would just become unbearable,” she said. “It got to the point where I told Bill to hide the guns  —   I didn’t want to know where they were. ” Bill, silent, rocked harder in his recliner. Since she started working with Stewart, Hannah rated her pain at about a 5 on a   scale, which Stewart counted as an improvement. But Hannah was still in a lot of pain. “You should really go to that specialist,” she told Hannah, who just shook her head. Bill required dialysis three times a day, which she handled at home. “I’ve sat here and thought, What can I pawn? The house is the only thing we have. We’re behind on bills so bad”  —   she pointed to a table where she had stacked unpaid medical bills and all other bills in two piles, each over an inch thick  —   “and now the car tags are due. ” Next to the front door, Brenda had taped two   Notes at eye level, the last thing she would see on the way out of the house. You are smart (smart ass included). You are fun to talk to. “For my depression,” she explained. “To remind myself of the good things about me. ” Summer gave way to fall. Shanette Smith sent off her application to nursing school, hoping that maybe by the time she heard, something would have changed and Greenhagen would not say no. Suzan Emmons gave a speech at a community forum sponsored by a coalition of organizations working to urge the Kansas state government to expand Medicaid and end the gap. “I have worked my entire adult life,” she said. “For the past 26 years, I have been   as a housekeeper. I make an honest wage. I feel I am doing all the right things to be a good citizen. ” Janet Foy was trying to ignore a painful knot on one of her breasts. She had heard once of a folk remedy involving iodine, and at first she treated herself this way, ingesting three drops each day. The pain stopped, but when she ran into members of the C3 team in one of the common areas, they urged her to attend a free mammogram event at the local health clinic as a precaution. Until she found the knot, Foy had, in fact, been feeling the best she had in months, like she “might have something in the tank after all. ” The therapy sessions she received free through the interventions of the C3 team had proved a turning point, she told me. She spoke of wanting to sing again. And she had finally come up with a plan that she was certain would bring herself back to life: medical billing and coding. She had found an online review course for $20 a month to prepare for the accreditation test. She followed up this news with a trip to Kmart, where she could lease a $200 Chromebook. Next, she placed a folding table and chair in a corner of the apartment, where she planned to do her homework. My little office, she called it. Through contacts in the housing authority, she had recently learned of the possibility of a paid internship in the medical records and billing departments at a local insurance company, and she wanted to do whatever she could to position herself for consideration. “I’ve already researched all the bus lines,” she told me. So she waited for the news from the mammogram technician with particular anticipation. When the woman told her the mass was benign, she felt it was nothing less than permission to believe that things were going to get better, even if she did not yet know how. “I’m doing all I can for now, with what I have,” she says. “Sometimes that’s all you can do. You just have to take your little life, and walk it out. ”",true,news,test,Other news1,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
684,684,"Hashim Amla compiled his first double century after Jacques Kallis again fell short of the landmark as South Africa continued to punish India ' s bowlers on day two of the first cricket Test in Nagpur .  Amla was unbeaten on 253 when the tourists declared on 558 6 in the final session on Sunday , then India safely reached stumps at 25 0 in a clash between the top two teams in the five day format .  It is the highest score made by a South African No . 3 batsman , and the highest by any from his country against India .  Amla extended his third wicket partnership with Kallis to a South African record of 340 before his senior partner fell for 173 , having added just 14 to his overnight tally in a subdued second part of his innings .  It was the first time any pair have put on a triple century in any matches between the two nations .  Kallis edged a delivery from off spinner Harbhajan Singh onto his pads , and Murali Vijay took the catch at short leg to end a 351 ball knock that put the all rounder into third equal on the all time Test century scoring list with 34 .  Amla then added another 108 with A . B . De Villiers , who made a brisk 53 off 88 deliveries , and rode his luck as he was dropped twice on 149 , as they broke South Africa ' s record for the fourth wicket in matches between the two teams .  De Villiers fell to part time bowler Virender Sehwag and then Harbhajan removed J . P . Duminy for just nine to have the Proteas 476 5 , but then Mark Boucher contributed 39 to a stand of 78 with Amla before becoming Zaheer Khan ' s third victim , and captain Graeme Smith called the innings to a close with 40 minutes left in the day .  India openers Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag survived four overs from pace bowlers Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel with some positive batting , and will start Monday ' s play on 12 and nine respectively as they seek to make inroads into a massive first innings deficit .  They will do well to take the lead of Amla , who was steady throughout his 473 ball innings , hitting 22 boundaries and scoring 55 , 45 and 38 in Saturday ' s three sessions .  While India relied heavily on Harbhajan and Amit Mishra , who on a helpful pitch bowled only six maidens between them in 99 overs for combined figures 2 306 , Smith has only one specialist spinner in Paul Harris plus all rounder Duminy , with the medium pace of Kallis backing up Steyn , Morkel and rookie fast bowler Wayne Parnell .  Meanwhile , Australia crushed the West Indies by 113 runs in the opening match of their one day series in Melbourne on Sunday .  Batting first , the hosts reached 256 8 in their 50 overs as opener Shane Watson top scored with 56 in his 100th match , while captain Ricky Ponting made 49 .  All rounder Kieron Pollard took 3 45 for the Windies , while seamer Ravi Rampaul claimed 2 43 .  The tourists then slumped to 143 all out in just 34 . 2 overs as opening bowler Ryan Harris and spinner Nathan Hauritz claimed three wickets each .  Doug Bollinger also snared two early victims , including the key scalp of big hitting captain Chris Gayle , as the West Indies were left reeling on 12 3 .  Pollard , signed for 750 , 000 in the Indian Premier League auctions last month , top scored with 31 from 35 deliveries .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
712,712,"Syed Farook and Tashfeen Malik , once they did connect in 2013 , were quickly discussing jihad and martyrdom , Director James Comey told the Senate Judiciary Committee .  The terrorist couple behind the San Bernardino massacre became Islamic radicals even before they met on the internet two years ago , the head of the  said Wednesday .  U . S . citizen Syed Farook and his Pakistani born bride Tashfeen Malik , once they did connect in 2013 , were quickly discussing jihad and martyrdom , Director James Comey told the Senate Judiciary Committee .  Malik s extremist views went undetected during the vetting process for the visa that allowed her to enter the United States in July 2014 , Comey said .   .          The couple s conversion from suburban parents to terrorist killers was at least in part inspired by  , Comey testified .  We re trying to sort out what other contributions there may have been to their motivation , said Comey .   has claimed responsibility for various terror attacks , including the latest Paris slaughter and the bombing of a Russian tourist flight , along with the beheadings of innocent hostages .  The  director added that it was unclear if the Farook Malik cyber romance was arranged by a terrorist group aware of their inclinations , or if it developed on its own .  It would be a very , very important thing to know , Comey said of that detail .            The married mass murderers , after killing 14 people and wounded another 21 at a holiday gathering , died in a fusillade of police bullets in a wild street shootout with police .  Malik s father told The Associated Press that news of the Dec . 2 rampage involving his rifle toting daughter had left him devastated .  Sad , very sad , said Gulzar Ahmen Malik from his home in Jiddah , Saudi Arabia . I am in such pain that I cannot even describe it .  The married mass murderers , after killing 14 people and wounded another 21 at a holiday gathering , died in a fusillade of police bullets in a wild street shootout with police .  Comey characterized the California couple , parents to a 6 month old child , as homegrown violent extremists . The two amassed a cache of weapons , explosives and ammunition while living quietly in a Redlands , Calif . , townhouse .  The terrorist twosome were already radicalized before their romance began online , and Comey said the two were inspired by foreign terror groups . The couple was married last year .  Farook supposedly conspired with another California bred terrorist on a separate West Coast attack as early as 2012 ? but was possibly rattled by a string of arrests in the area , investigators believe .  They got spooked , one intelligence official told  .  Officials speaking to  said Farook and the unidentified conspirator were studying California sites for a possible attack . It was unclear how far the two men were into the planning before the plot was aborted .  California authorities busted four men in 2012 in a plot to travel overseas , join Al Qaeda and kill Americans . They trained for their mission by firing  47 assault rifles and gun ranges , authorities charged .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
770,770,"A former teacher has been accused of seducing one of her students and engaging in ' touching , fondling and kissing ' during two dates .  Brooke Wilson was charged with child seduction following a police investigation in Goshen , Indiana .  The 27 year old is alleged to have gone on two dates with the student who was aged between 16 and 18 .  Charged : Brooke Wilson , pictured , was charged with child seduction and allegedly went on two dates with a male student who was aged between 16 and 18  A probable cause document filed in Elkhart Superior Court reveals that the Spanish teacher admitted she had ' made out ' with the student .  The document says she and the student had ' two dates that included kissing , fondling and other touching in an intimate manner while at locations in Elkhart County during April and May in 2013 . '  According to the Goshen News the student reported the inappropriate relationship to Wa Nee School Corporation officials in September 2013 .  Wilson was suspended on September 25th and fired from her job at Northwood High School on October 14 .  According to the affidavit , Wilson was interviewed by police and admitted that she had gone on a date and that she and the male student had ' made out ' .  The teacher ' s husband Brant Wilson is an assistant football coach at Goshen High School .  Axed : Wilson was suspended on September 25th and fired from her job at Northwood High School on October 14 . She faces up to three years in jail if convicted with a fine of 10 , 000  When his wife was fired , and banned from entering school grounds , last year he declined to comment .  Wilson had taught at the school since 2012 with her teaching licence valid until the end of 2014 .  School officials told parents about the alleged incident when Wilson was removed from the classroom  Joe Sabo , superintendent of Wa Nee Schools , said : ' From the beginning , our focus is the best interests of our students .  ' We believe that our course of action was fair , reasonable , and appropriate . '  Wilson was charged with child seduction , a class D felony . She was arrested at her home and held on 5 , 000 bond .  She faces up to three years in jail if convicted with a fine of 10 , 000 .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
771,771,"Reuters) - Florida Governor Rick Scott has warned that Hurricane Irma, which was barreling toward Florida on Friday, could be more damaging than 1992 s Hurricane Andrew which caused more than $26 billion in devastation in the state. Following are some facts about hurricanes Irma and Andrew: - In 1992, Hurricane Andrew blasted the southern part of Florida as it moved from east to west, spending about four hours over the state. By comparison, Scott warned this week that Irma was wider than all of Florida and could swamp it from coast to coast, during a northward push through the state.  Remember, Hurricane Andrew is one of the worst storms in the history of Florida,  Scott said at a news conference.  This is much worse and more devastating on its current path.  - Hurricane Irma could hit the Florida Keys as a Category 5, which is the highest ranking for a storm s severity, with sustained winds of 160 miles per hour (258 km per hour). Andrew made landfall as a Category 5 with maximum sustained winds of 145 miles per hour (233 km/h), according to the National Weather Service. - Hurricane Andrew directly caused 15 deaths in Florida and another 29 indirect deaths, from causes such as fires, electrocutions and cleanup accidents, according to the National Weather Service. It directly killed eight people in Louisiana, and indirectly killed nine more in the Southern state. - Andrew damaged or destroyed 126,000 single-family houses and ripped apart 9,000 mobile homes, according to the National Weather Service. It also caused property damage in Louisiana after sweeping through the Gulf of Mexico.     Irma is larger than Andrew and it could leave 100,000 people without shelter, Federal Emergency Management Agency  Administrator Brock Long warned at a news conference. - In Homestead, Hurricane Andrew destroyed 1,167 mobile homes, which amounted to 99 percent of all the mobile homes in that South Florida town, according to the National Weather Service. After Andrew, the federal government imposed more stringent regulations for those types of homes.   ",true,dataset,test,Other news1,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
774,774,"The world ' s population will soar by four billion to reach 11 billion by 2100 , suggests a new study .  Using the latest statistical tools , researchers found that the number of humans on Earth is likely to reach 11 billion by the end of the century around two billion higher than some previous estimates .  The findings includes the most up to date estimates for future world population , as well as a new method for creating such estimates .  Research carried out by Dr Rafferty from Washington University says the world ' s population will increase more than thought ( stock image shown ) . This latest number is around two billion higher than previous estimates . The findings were published online by the journal Science  The study ' s corresponding author Dr Adrian Raftery , a professor of statistics and of sociology at the University of Washington , said : ' The consensus over the past 20 years or so was that world population , which is currently around seven billion , would go up to nine billion and level off or probably decline .  ' We found there ' s a 70 per cent probability the world population will not stabilise this century . Population , which had sort of fallen off the world ' s agenda , remains a very important issue . '  The paper explains the most recent United Nations (  ) population data released in July .  It is the first  population report to use modern statistics , known as Bayesian statistics , that combines all available information to generate better predictions .  Most of the anticipated growth is in Africa where population is projected to quadruple from around one billion today to four billion by the end of the century .  There are about seven billion people living on our planet and this number is set to reach almost 10 billion by 2050 , according to  figures .  This population explosion is largely attributed to better healthcare and farming practices , with some experts arguing that industrialisation in the 18th and 19th centuries was the tipping point that allowed more humans to thrive .  However , one social scientist claims the human population explosion has its roots as far back as 2 , 000 years ago .  Aaron Stutz , an associate professor of anthropology at Emory ' s Oxford College in Georgia created a new model of demographic and archaeological data to show when humans thrived .  In a paper published in the journal   , he claims that political and economic reforms helped to create more stable families , and therefore enabled more people to thrive .  The main reason is that birth rates in sub Saharan Africa have not dropped as fast as had been previously expected .  There is an 80 per cent chance that the population in Africa at the end of the century will be between 3 . 5 and 5 . 1 billion people , according to the study .  However , other regions of the world are projected to see less change .  Asia , now 4 . 4 billion , is projected to peak at around five billion people in 2050 and then begin to decline . Populations in North America , Europe , Latin America and the Caribbean are projected to each stay below one billion .  The study ' s first author Patrick Gerland , a demographer at the  , said the figures largely support the 2013  projections , but add a new dimension .  He said : ' Earlier projections were strictly based on scenarios , so there was no uncertainty .  ' This work provides a more statistically driven assessment that allows us to quantify the predictions , and offer a confidence interval that could be useful in planning . '  Most of the anticipated growth is in Africa ( shown ) where population is projected to quadruple from around one billion today to four billion 2100 . However Asia , now 4 . 4 billion , is projected to peak at around five billion people in 2050 while North America , Europe and Latin America are projected to each stay below one billion  World population projections are based mostly on two things : future life expectancy and fertility rates . Earlier techniques relied largely on expert opinion for how those trends were expected to change .  The newer forecast instead uses statistical methods to combine government data and expert forecasts for such things as mortality rates , fertility rates and international migration .  Earlier reports also represented uncertainty by using scenarios in which women would have 0 . 5 children more or less than the experts ' forecast .  However , Dr Raftery said that method generates too big a range .  He said : ' In a given year and country the fertility rate might be half a child higher , but the probability that it would be half a child higher in all countries in all years in the future is very low . '  The new method uses statistical models to narrow the range , finding an 80 per cent probability that the population in 2100 will be between 9 . 6 billion and 12 . 3 billion .  Dr Raftery added : ' This paper brings together the research from the past seven years , and also brings in recent data .  ' We can answer questions about future population growth using standard principles of statistical inference , which has never really been done before . '  He said rising population could act to exacerbate other world problems such as climate change , infectious disease and poverty while the two things that decrease fertility rates are more access to contraceptives and education of girls and women .  The findings were published online by the journal Science .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
782,782,"Reuters) - Republicans mostly blame the U.S. Congress, and not President Donald Trump or party leaders, for failing to pass their party’s healthcare overhaul, according to a Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll released on Wednesday.  The March 25-28 poll asked who should take responsibility for the failure of the American Health Care Act (AHCA), which Republican leaders pulled from consideration last week without a vote.  Besides Trump, who backed the bill, and House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan, who was expected to shepherd it through Congress, the poll asked if people blamed House Republicans, House Democrats or the media.  Republicans were most likely to blame Congress. Some 26 percent said House Democrats were most responsible and 23 percent blamed House Republicans. Another 13 percent blamed Trump and 10 percent blamed Ryan. Only 8 percent blamed the media.   Their assessment appeared to align with Trump’s criticism of Democratic leaders and the conservative Freedom Caucus, whom he blamed for the bill’s failure.  Overall, nearly one in four Americans, including Democrats and independents, blamed Trump. Ryan, Congress and the media received less criticism.  The Republican reform was widely criticized after estimates by the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office showed 24 million people could lose their health insurance over the next 10 years.  Trump said on Tuesday he still thinks healthcare reform can happen “very quickly” in Washington, but he did not offer any specifics on how it could get done, or what would be changed from the previous bill.  Nearly half of all Americans said they would like to see that happen, though the response was split along party lines. Some 80 percent of Republicans said they would like to see their party take another swing at a bill, compared with only 25 percent of Democrats.  In a separate poll conducted between Jan.7-23, 46 percent of Americans wanted to keep Obamacare, the popular name for President Barack Obama’s healthcare reform, while fixing “problem areas,” and another 8 percent wanted to keep it exactly as it is.  The Reuters/Ipsos poll was conducted online in English in all 50 states. The March 25-28 poll included 1,332 people, including 456 Republicans and 558 Democrats. It has a credibility interval, a measure of accuracy, of 3 percentage points for the entire group and 5 percentage points for Democrats and Republicans.   (Reporting by Chris Kahn, editing by Ross Colvin)  ",true,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
797,797,"Donald Trump might try to tell American voters that he  cherishes  women, but his long, ongoing history of misogyny and oppressive policies prove that the exact opposite is true   and one of his latest moves has just verified this fact even more.The Republican nominee recently made anti-abortion Marjorie Dannenfelser, the president of the Susan B. Anthony List, one of his top domestic policy advisors. Dannenfelser is going to champion Trump s new  pro-life coalition , which Trump just announced while also making several statements about all the misogynistic things he s going to do as President of the United States.While introducing his coalition, Trump also promised that he would get anti-abortion justices into the U.S. Supreme Court, nix funding to Planned Parenthood, promote the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act and make sure that federal funds couldn t go toward abortion.It should be noted that Dannenfelser was absolutely against Trump at first, and in the beginning of the year had begged Iowa voters to vote for anyone but the business mogul. However, once The Donald was nominated and demonstrated how extreme his views were, Dannenfelser was more than happy to make the pro-life case for Trump.  Without a doubt, she was probably tickled pink when Trump said that women should be  punished  for having abortions a few months ago.Dannenfelser s involvement in Trump s campaign should terrify women and anyone who cares about them   she not only holds some of the most extreme views on abortion and women s health, but opposes women getting abortions in case of rape and incest, as well as cases in which a woman s health is at risk in carrying out a pregnancy. Really, you can t get more anti-woman than forcing a woman to die or be constantly reminded of a traumatic, horrifying experience in order to carry out a pregnancy.Dannenfelser is also massively against Planned Parenthood, an organization that provides safe, accessible and affordable healthcare to millions of women. She even believes that the organization is  sexist  because it primarily focuses on women s health. In an interview, she said: I love men! What about men s health? I mean, do we have anything to say about men s health and the particular health problems that men have? Do we ever talk about the  men s gap  when we re moving into an election? She s an absolutely nutcase and should not be allowed to have any effect on policies. To show just how dangerous Dannenfelser is, here are some recordings of her talking about Planned Parenthood and abortion, via Right Wing Watch:Featured image via  Pool and Spencer Platt / Getty Images",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,present
801,801,"November is National Adoption Awareness Month in the U . S . and in many countries around the world . We celebrate every child ' s right to grow up in a loving , permanent family where they can live their lives with dignity .  Adoption is a deep , meaningful way to create families and provide orphaned and vulnerable children a protected , safe and secure environment in which to grow and thrive . By 2005 , there were 23 , 000 international adoptions to the U . S . , from many countries around the world . But unfortunately , over the last six years , the numbers have plummeted to 11 , 000 in 2010 . . . and probably much less by the end of 2011 .  The Hague regulations for inter country adoption were implemented in 2008 in the U . S . and have protected children from trafficking . At the same time , this bureaucracy has paralyzed the process of adoption , making it inefficient and cumbersome .  Millions of children around the globe lose their parents to extreme poverty ,   , tuberculosis , malaria , conflict , war and natural disasters , often forcing family members to relinquish and abandon their children to orphanages . People without education and jobs , and communities without economic strength and social welfare infrastructure , cannot support orphans .  Globally ,  estimates that 153 million of those under the age of 18 have lost one or both parents and are considered orphans 18 million children have lost both parents . Adoption can ensure permanency , but it cannot solve the tragic destiny of millions of children living without parental care in dire circumstances fast enough . The process of change to provide permanency to all these children in need will take decades . We are at a crossroads of urgency .  What happens to the children left behind ? Some are institutionalized , and others are forced to live on the street or in refugee camps or as slaves to other families : for example , restaveks in Haiti . Children are bought and sold as prostitutes or forced into a life of crime , drug dealing and alcoholism , and many are child laborers making up a large part of the major work force of countries abroad . Still others become child soldiers fighting ethnic wars in tyrant run countries .  When families survive , the head of the household may be a child 8 years old or even younger . Girls are forced into very early marriages even before they menstruate , robbing them of educational opportunities and choices about their future . The damage done to children in these circumstances is horrific and has lifelong consequences .  The U . N . Convention on the Rights of the Child states that every child has a right to safety , health and an education , as well as the right to participate fully in family , cultural and social life . The U . S . and the international community must find permanent solutions to address the international orphan crisis . Effective and innovative strategies need to be implemented and more resources must be devoted to preventing child abandonment and helping families to remain intact or to be reunified and reintegrated .  Investment in child welfare systems with trained social workers capable of case management in impoverished countries must be the highest priority to strengthen and support families and communities . Families need economic opportunities to make a viable living and social services to help guide them out of poverty . Access to medical care and psychosocial services and universal , free education must be available for all children and their families .  Without such support services , families are more likely to be torn apart by poverty and become victims of depression and hopelessness , which continues the cycle of relinquishment and abandonment . We must figure out how families and communities survive poverty and adversity . What are the intrinsic cultural mechanisms that work in one country and not in another ?  Children living in orphanages need professionally trained staff members caretakers who are committed and invested in the psychological welfare of each child . Orphans must be reintegrated into their communities by attending local schools so that they are not isolated and stigmatized .  Orphanages should be downsized and be more like group homes , run family style , and foster care ( using the South Korean model ) could be introduced as a better alternative to residential care facilities . Governments need to invest in strategic plans to de institutionalize the care of orphans , making these programs a shared responsibility of society . Attitudes need to be changed about disabled children from ethnic minorities so that there is inclusion of all children into the fabric of life in all developing countries .  I ' ve witnessed orphans living in squalid and tragic conditions . Once they age out of the orphanage , they often leave uneducated and unprepared for life outside the institution they are destined for poor physical and mental health and dependency on welfare systems rather than becoming independent and capable of creating their own families and developing and contributing their own talents to their societies .  Realizing that millions of orphaned children would never be adopted fast enough , I founded Worldwide Orphans Foundation . It is committed to transforming the lives of orphaned children by providing them with medical , developmental and psychosocial care and educational opportunities in their own communities . Our long term holistic programing includes education , health care , sports and recreation , camps , early intervention , special education , youth programs and computer technology to help kids become independent adults who are successful and resilient .  This month , we celebrate the loving , permanent families that are created through adoption . As a pediatrician caring for newly adopted children , I ' ve seen the magic of adoption more than 10 , 000 times .  I , too , am an adoptive parent of two sweet sons from Ethiopia and Vietnam , but adoption is not the solution to the global orphan crisis now . We must be passionate about our efforts to care for the "" children left behind . "" Those of us who advocate for the most vulnerable children in the world cannot wait anymore . The children cannot wait anymore . All children deserve an opportunity to realize their full potential in their country and , indeed , the world .  Orphans graduate high school and college . Orphans are teachers , electricians and plumbers . Orphans are strong and powerful , and they are capable and proud . They are hardy and deserve our respect , our love and our support now . We must act now !  The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Jane Aronson .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
804,804,"Manu Tuilagi faces a battle to be fit for England ' s opening autumn international against the All Blacks after the Leicester centre suffered another groin injury in Saturday ' s victory over Ulster .  He went off after 15 minutes suffering a recurrence of the problem that ruled him out earlier in the season .  Director of rugby Richard Cockerill does not expect Tuilagi to be fit for next weekend ' s trip to the Scarlets , leaving the 23 year old a maximum of one match to prove his fitness for the international series which starts on November 8 .  Graham Kitchener celebrates a first half try for Leicester Tigers in their win over Ulster at Welford Road  Leicester celebrate as Owen Williams scores their first try in the European Rugby Champions Cup clash  Manu Tuilagi faces a race to be fit for England ' s opening autumn international against New Zealand  ' Hopefully it ' s not too much of an issue , but it ' s not right and that ' s a concern for everybody , ' said Cockerill . ' I can ' t comment on how long he ' s going to be out but you ' d imagine it ' s not going to be a one weeker . '  The blow did not stop Leicester silencing their critics in their Champions Cup opener despite Paddy Jackson kicking the visitors to an early 3 0 lead . Owen Williams filled the void left by Tuilagi and he crashed over for the opening try . Freddie Burns added the extras .  Paul Marshall , in for injured Ruan Pienaar , was caught out when Ben Youngs intercepted his pass . The Tigers skipper broke clear and found Graham Kitchener , who slid over for the second try .  Freddie Burns also went over for a try as Leicester started their European campaign with a win  Tommy Bowe scores a try for Ulster , but it was not enough to prevent a defeat for the Irish side in Leicester  Ulster ' s Craig Gilroy of Ulster Rugby is shown a yellow card by referee Romain Poite  Ulster were then down to 14 after Craig Gilroy was sin binned for an aerial tackle on Miles Benjamin . The hosts capitalised as Burns broke through to extend the lead . Williams converted .  Williams and Jackson exchanged further penalties early in the second half , before Ulster closed the gap with a Tommy Bowe try . Paddy Jackson added the conversion .  The visitors set up a gripping finale when Franco van der Merwe dived over for a losing bonus point .  ",true,text,test,American football,Sports/Other,satire,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
831,831,"The bottle , which once contained Prieure des Couleys , will be sold at auction on September 13  A bottle of Cognac drank by Vladimir Komarov and Yuri Gagarin shortly before their deaths will be sold at auction .  The cosmonauts enjoyed the bottle of Prieure des Couleys after learning they would fly pilot and back up respectively on the Soyuz 1 rocket launch in 1967 .  Tragically , Komarov was killed after the aircraft ' s parachutes failed during its descent , while Gagarin died the following year in a plane crash .  Signed by each of the men and dated February 11 1967 , the bottle is now being sold for 2 , 000 at the German auction house , Auctionata .  When chosen for the Soyuz 1 launch , Gagarin had already become the first man to fly into space on Sputnik 1 in 1961 , while Komarov had commanded the first multi person voyage , Vokshod 1 , three years earlier .  The Russians had planned to launch the Soyuz 1 with Komarov inside and send off a second aircraft with two additional cosmonauts the following day .  They would meet in space and dock , with Komarov expected to climb from one to the other as part of the mission to mark the 50th anniversary of the Communist revolution .  Before blast off , several malfunctions were reportedly found within the rocket and its capsule and even Komarov , a father of two , knew he would not make it back alive .  But , in a bid to save his friend , he reportedly told demoted  agent , Venyamin Russayev : ' If I don ' t make this flight , they ' ll send the backup pilot instead . '  He perished trying to descend back to earth when the rocket ' s parachutes failed to open .  Gagarin was banned from space flight following the incident and began training as a fighter pilot but died during a routine flight after training as a fighter pilot the following year .  Viktoria Kisseleva of Auctionata said : ' In 1967 Yuri Gagarin and Vladimir Komarov were selected to be part of the Soyuz 1 mission .  ' Gagarin was a national hero and had wanted to lead the mission but the Soviet government did not want to risk his life .  Vladimir Komarov ( left ) and Yuri Gagarin ( right ) drank the cognac after learning they would fly pilot and back up crew respectively for the doomed Soyuz 1 mission  The cosmonauts were national heroes after Gagarin flew the first rocket in to space in 1961 and Komarov the first multi crew mission in 1964  An image of the Soyuz 1 crash from Russian television shows the charred remains of the aircraft after it plummeted to earth  Komarov ' s charred remains were on view in an open casket during an open funeral for the cosmonaut  ' Instead they named Komarov the mission commander .  ' Despite the Cold War , the Soviet elite were never shut off completely from Western products and Gagarin managed to get hold of a bottle of fine French cognac .  The bottle is signed by both men and dated February 11 1967  ' He drank it on February 11 , 1967 , the day he was named in the back up crew for Soyuz 1 , probably with Komarov and the other cosmonauts chosen for the mission .  ' Gagarin signed and dated the bottle on its label .  ' There are other signatures on it which we presume were those of the other cosmonauts including Komarov but we can ' t say for sure .  ' The bottle is a sad reminder of the tragedy that befell the pair .  ' Komarov died when Soyuz 1 crashed after re entering the Earth ' s atmosphere and six months later Gagarin perished while training to become a fighter pilot .  ' In 1992 , a German artist called Andora went to Russia and met with people who had been involved in the Soyuz mission . One of them had this bottle and sold it to Andora .  ' He has spent the last 20 years compiling a collection of Soviet space flight memorabilia and has now decided to sell it . '  The auction will take place on September 13 .  ",true,text,test,Football,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
846,846,"Christie says he ' ll gladly campaign for nemesis Rand Paul ' s Senate bid  Christie Bids Paul Farewell From 2016 Race Gov . Christie bid Sen . Rand Paul a farewell from the  2016 race , saying he ' d campaign for him in the future .   , N . H . ? Gov . Chris Christie had nothing but nice things to say about rival Rand Paul ' s departure Wednesday from the race for the Republican presidential nomination , signaling a shift in tone from his other public comments about the U . S . senator from Kentucky .  Christie , who has often traded barbs with Paul over the years , complimented the senator for running a substantive campaign .  The governor ? one of nine Republicans still running for president ? said he would even help Paul ' s 2016 Senate re election campaign if asked .  "" I have great respect for Senator Paul , "" he said at a presidential endorsement event in Concord .  "" He stands for a certain point of view in our party , regarding national security issues , and I respect his point of view . I disagree with it , but I respect it , "" Christie said . "" I think Senator Paul , through most of this campaign , conducted himself like a gentleman . ""  Christie lauded Paul for advocating his policy positions in a "" thoughtful way , "" not , Christie said , by "" sloganeering and all the rest like some other folks do . ""  He added : "" ( Paul ) is willing to answer the questions and stand out in front of a group . ""  And if Paul needs any help getting re elected to the Senate this year , Christie is willing to help .  "" I wish him the best of luck with his re election , "" he said . "" If he needs me to come down there and campaign for him , I ' d be happy to do that because he ' s a good guy to have in the United States Senate . ""  Paul and Christie have a history of clashes .  In 2013 , Christie accused Paul of using his name and identity within the Republican Party "" to get attention in the national media . ""  Paul took some serious swipes at Christie over the governor ' s remarks against the National Rifle Association as well as the way Christie championed the 50 . 7 billion Hurricane Sandy aid package .  Paul also jabbed the governor over the Bridgegate controversy during the fifth  debate in December . That hit came when Paul criticized Christie for advocating shooting down Russian planes , which , he argued , could start a new world war .  Matt Arco may be reached at marco njadvancemediaweblink . Follow him on Twitter MatthewArco or on Facebook . Follow NJweblink Politics on Facebook .  From Christie to Booker , get your daily N . J . politics fix .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
848,848,"Oil is still trading about 44 per cent below its price a year ago  London : Oil advanced after Turkey shot down a Russian warplane near the border with Syria , fanning concern that conflict in the region may intensify .  Futures rose as much as 1 . 8 per cent in New York . A Russian Su 24 jet was brought down after being warned it was violating the country s airspace , Turkey s state run Anadolu Agency reported , citing people in the office of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan . Prices rose earlier after Saudi Arabia reiterated on Monday that it s committed to working with Opec members and other producers to stabilise the crude market .  Oil is still trading about 44 per cent below its price a year ago amid signs a global glut will be prolonged as the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries continues to pump above its collective quota . Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh said there isn t a strong intention from some parts of Opec to stabilise the market . The 12 member group meets Dec . 4 to discuss its production target .  The latest escalation of the proxy war in Syria won t have much meaningful impact on oil supply or demand , Richard Mallinson , an analyst at consultants Energy Aspects Ltd . , said by email . But with trading volumes thin before Thanksgiving , we have the conditions for a knee jerk reaction to headlines , all the more so as physical oil markets show positive signs .  West Texas Intermediate for January delivery climbed as much as 77 cents to 42 . 52 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange and was at 42 . 13 as of 11 : 27am . London time . The contract slid 15 cents to 41 . 75 on Monday . The volume of all futures traded was about 17 per cent above the 100 day average .  Brent for January settlement traded for 45 . 34 a barrel on the London based  Futures Europe exchange after rising as much as 80 cents , or 1 . 8 per cent , to 45 . 63 . The European benchmark crude traded at a premium of 3 . 22 to  .  Saudi Arabia strives to cooperate with all oil producers and exporters , from inside and outside of Opec , to preserve the stability of the market and prices , the nation s cabinet said in a statement . Last week , Oil Minister Ali al Naimi said the country is a reliable supplier and the nation cooperates with Opec and countries outside the group to stabilise the market . The kingdom is  s biggest producer .  It looks as if we have hit a price level which is becoming increasingly difficult for Opec , including Saudi Arabia , to digest , Ole Hansen , head of commodity strategy at Saxo Bank A S in Copenhagen , said by email . The statement made yesterday most certainly amounts to verbal intervention .  Opec has pumped above its collective target of 30 million barrels a day for the past 17 months , according to data compiled by Bloomberg . The group , which supplies about 40 per cent of the world s crude , will probably maintain its policy of defending market share at the meeting next week in Vienna , according to all 30 analysts surveyed by Bloomberg .   crude stockpiles probably rose for a ninth week through Nov . 20 , according to a Bloomberg survey before Energy Information Administration data Wednesday . Inventories probably expanded by 1 million barrels , the survey showed . That would be the longest run of gains since April and keep supplies more than 100 million barrels above the five year seasonal average .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
855,855,"Reuters) - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said on Thursday there could be unintended consequences from legislation allowing relatives of Sept. 11 victims to sue Saudi Arabia. “It appears there may be some unintended ramification of that (the law) and I do think it is worth further discussing,” Republican McConnell told reporters. Congress on Wednesday overwhelmingly rejected President Barack Obama’s veto of the legislation. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,US elections,satire,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
857,857,"A harrowing 911 call of a dying women gasping for breath after her husband allegedly poisoned her was played out to a jurors today .  Husband Dr Robert Ferrante , 66 , allegedly killed his wife by mixing cyanide with an energy drink called creatine , which he told her would help them to conceive another child .  Autumn Marie Klein , 41 , collapsed at her Oakland , Pennsylvania home and died on April 20 at  Presbyterian , where she also headed the women ' s neurology department .  Dr Robert Ferrante , center , is escorted by Allegheny County Sheriffs deputies to court . He allegedly killed his wife by mixing cyanide with an energy drink called creatine , which he told her would help them to conceive another child  Dr Robert Ferrante , center , follows his attorneys , William Difenderfer , left , and Wendy Williams , right , to court  The jury listened to a 911 call that Ferrante ( left ) made where he says she has collapsed in the kitchen and jurors could hear Ferrante begging for help and horrific groaning noises from Klein ( right ) in the background  The jury heard the frantic and at times ghastly 911 call from the first witness , an emergency dispatcher .  Ferrante is heard saying his wife has collapsed in the kitchen and jurors could hear him begging for help and horrific groaning noises from Klein in the background .  ' She just got home from work . '  ' Her whole face is flaccid . '  ' Please , please , please , please . She ' s not saying a word . Please , sweetheart ! No ! . '  ' She ' s having so much difficulty breathing . Oh , God . '  ' Oh , Autumn , please , please sweetheart ! . Please . '  ' She just got home from work , ' Mr Ferrante told the dispatcher . ' Her whole face is flaccid . '  Following the calltaker ' s instructions , he asked Klein to raise her arms above her head .  ' Please , please , please , please . She ' s not saying a word . Please , sweetheart ! No ! . '  Later , he continues , ' She ' s having so much difficulty breathing . Oh , God .  ' Oh , Autumn , please , please sweetheart ! . Please . '  The couple have a six year old daughter called Cianna .  Today assistant district attorney Lisa Pellegrini told the jury that Ferrante attempted to obscure his wife ' s death , by insisting she shouldn ' t have an autopsy , reports Pittsburgh Post Gazette .  Autumn Marie Klein , 41 , collapsed at her Oakland , Pennsylvania home and died on April 20 at  Presbyterian  The couple have a six year old daughter together  Despite those instructions , an autopsy was performed , revealing a lethal amount of cyanide in her system .  ' All along , the evidence will show you , this defendant thinks he ' s smarter than everyone else , ' Ms . Pellegrini said .  He was ' one blood test and one phone call . . . away from getting away with the perfect murder . '  According to a criminal complaint obtained by  News , after Ferrante gave her the drink , Klein wrote , ' Will it stimulate egg production too ? '  Ferrante allegedly responded with a smiley face .   News also reported that hours after a police interview following Klein ' s death , Ferrante allegedly performed a Google search , writing , ' Would  or dialysis remove traces of toxins poisons ? '  But defense attorney William Difenderfer told the jurors the  expert did not poison his wife .  He also said medical experts will show she wasn ' t poisoned by anyone and died of unexplained causes .  ' Myself and Dr Ferrante do not accept , and will never accept , that Autumn Klein died from orally ingesting hydrogen cyanide . '  Prosecutors want a first degree murder conviction , punishable by life in prison .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
859,859,"The tragic hot air balloon crash in Luxor on Tuesday comes at a time when Egypt ' s tourism industry has been struggling to prove that the country is still safe to visit in the wake of the 2011 revolution .  Nineteen people died when canisters aboard the balloon exploded over Luxor , a popular destination for tourists visiting its ancient temples and tombs .  Read more : Egypt balloon explosion probe could take two weeks  International tourism has long been a mainstay of the Egyptian economy , with United Nations World Tourism Organization (  ) figures showing it generated 10 . 1B in 2012 .  "" To give you an idea , international tourism generates more income to Egypt that the Suez Canal ( 5 . 1B in 2011 as compared to 8 . 7B from tourism that same year ) , ""  chief of communications Sandra Carvao said . "" In terms of the impact on jobs , tourism employs directly nearly 18 million people . ""  In January two years after the start of the 2011 uprising that overthrew long time Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak protests again took place in Egyptian cities . Official media reported that at least seven people were killed during clashes between anti government protesters and those loyal to new President Mohamed Morsi .  Read more : What ' s behind the latest wave of violence in Egypt ?  Nadejda Popova , senior travel and tourism analyst at market research company Euromonitor International , acknowledged that the ongoing political unrest as well as Europe ' s economic downturn had affected Egyptian tourism .  But she said Egypt remained a key Middle Eastern tourism destination and that there were indications that there had been a slight recovery in 2012 . Euromonitor ' s preliminary figures suggested that there had been a 4 rise on 2011 to 9 . 4 million tourism arrivals as well as signs investors had not given up on Egypt ' s tourism market , she said .  The  ' s 2012 data also pointed to what Carvao described as "" a clear recovery in demand "" , with a 17 increase in tourism arrivals , to 11 . 2 million .  How safe is hot air ballooning ?  However , Popova said numbers were still down , with the political transition "" heavily impacting "" Egyptian tourism .  "" It is far away from the pre crisis levels when we had 12 million , for example , in 2010 tourist arrivals in the country , "" she said . "" The political instability and the continuous uprising have been probably among the biggest threats to this recovery . "" Popova said she expected numbers to return to their pre crisis levels by 2017 .  Read more : Egypt ' s tourism minister Webcams will prove we ' re safe  Popova said the Egyptian authorities were developing strategies to strengthen tourism with a focus on diversifying the market . In 2012 , Russia remained one of the leading countries in terms of arrivals , alongside travelers from the  , Germany and Italy , but the tourism ministry was trying to lure in more travelers from other markets such as Asia and Latin America , she said .  Morsi ' s decision to host Mahmoud Ahmadinejad the first Iranian president to visit Egypt in more than 30 years was potentially another way of diversifying the consumer segment , she said .  Read more : Shoes hurled at Iranian President Ahmadinejad during trip to Cairo  Travel journalist and senior travel editor at Britain ' s The Independent newspaper Simon Calder said an increase in interest from Asia was unfortunately reflected in the list of the dead from the Luxor disaster . Officials said those on board included nine tourists from Hong Kong , four from Japan , three from Britain , two from France and one from Hungary .  The last thing post revolutionary Egypt needed was "" a tragedy of this magnitude , "" Calder said .  "" Even though during the entire two years to my knowledge not a single tourist has been harmed , it gives the impression of a state unraveling where security cannot be guaranteed , "" he said . It ' s a tremendous thing and great tribute to the people in the country that they ' ve managed to protect their guests , however this is possibly going to create a different image . ""  Popova said while she did not expect the crash to have "" major repercussions "" for Egypt ' s tourism industry as a whole , it had tarnished its image .  Egypt ' s temporary ban on balloon flights introduced after the crash was "" an indication the authorities are concerned not only about the safety of the people but also about their image and how people perceive them , "" she said . The disaster was a blow for an industry "" trying everything in their effort to bring people back to the country , "" she said .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
862,862,"Washington A top Republican leader agreed Thursday with President Barack Obama and Democrats that extending the payroll tax cut would help the economy , but the parties remained divided over how to pay for the move .  Later Thursday , the Senate blocked competing Democratic and Republican proposals from moving forward , setting up negotiations on a possible compromise .  The Democratic plan to extend and expand the payroll tax cut set to expire at the end of the year would assess a 3 . 25 tax on income over 1 million to pay the cost of more than 200 billion for the extension . Taxpayers with an income of 50 , 000 would benefit by 1 , 500 a year .  Senate Republicans prevented Democrats from getting the 60 votes needed to proceed on the measure , which was blocked on a 51 49 vote .  President Barack Obama quickly blamed Republicans , saying in a statement that they "" chose to raise taxes on nearly 160 million hardworking Americans because they refused to ask a few hundred thousand millionaires and billionaires to pay their fair share . ""  "" It makes absolutely no sense to raise taxes on the middle class at a time when so many are still trying to get back on their feet , "" Obama said , adding he would "" continue to urge Congress to stop playing politics with the security of millions of American families and small business owners and get this done . ""  A Republican alternative that would freeze discretionary government spending and cut federal jobs , while also raising Medicare costs for Americans with incomes above 750 , 000 a year , also got blocked by opposition from both parties on a 20 78 vote .  Despite the outcome of the votes , a softening of Republican opposition to extending the lower payroll tax rate raised expectations for eventual congressional passage of a compromise plan .   leaders planned a closed door meeting Friday morning to discuss options with rank and file members on how to pay for the extensions .  House Speaker John Boehner , R Ohio , signaled his support for an eventual deal Thursday by telling reporters : "" I don ' t think there ' s any question that the payroll tax relief , in fact , helps the economy . ""  His stance represented a sharp shift from previous opposition by Senate Republicans to extending the payroll tax cut .  On Sunday , conservative Sen . Jon Kyl , R Arizona , said Republicans opposed extending the lower payroll tax rate because it didn ' t provide much help to the economy .  "" The payroll tax holiday has not stimulated job creation , "" Kyl said on "" Fox News Sunday . "" "" We don ' t think that is a good way to do it . ""  The  opposition wavered Wednesday when Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said his party would support an extension of the payroll tax cut , but opposed a tax increase to pay for it .  "" Republicans will put aside their misgivings and support this extension , not because we believe , as the president does , that another short term stimulus will turn this economy around . . . but because we know it will give some relief to struggling workers out there who continue to need it nearly three years into this presidency , "" McConnell said on the Senate floor .  A tax on wealthy Americans to pay for the plan would punish "" the private sector businesses that the American people are counting on to help turn this economy around , "" McConnell said .  The White House and Democrats have pushed back hard against the Republican argument .  Alan Krueger , the new chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers , told reporters this week that the proposed surtax on incomes above 1 million "" would hit very few small businesses . ""  "" The vast majority one figure I saw was 99 of individuals with small business income would not be affected by this , "" Krueger said .  White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said Thursday that the question is whether "" it is worth giving 160 million Americans , taxpayers , a tax break of 1 , 500 by asking 300 , 000 Americans to pay a little more . ""  Both Carney and Democratic Sen . Charles Schumer of New York noted that the issue is turning in their favor , with Republican opposition to the Democratic plan softening .  "" This would ' ve been unheard of even six months ago , "" Schumer said of a possible break from the Republican anti tax orthodoxy . "" But we ' re changing the debate and the public is with us . ""  However , two Democratic senators Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Jon Tester of Montana and independent Sen . Bernie Sanders of Vermont , who caucuses with the Democrats , opposed the party ' s proposal .  The measure would have failed even if all three supported it , due to the near unanimous Republican opposition . Only moderate Republican Sen . Susan Collins of Maine sided with Democrats in backing the proposal .  Boehner ' s comments showed that both parties now publicly acknowledge the benefits of the payroll tax cut . According to the non partisan Center on Budget and Policy Priorities , 121 million families have benefited from the payroll tax break , with an increase in take home pay of 934 for the average worker .  Moody ' s Analytics estimated in August that letting the tax cut expire would reduce growth by as much as 0 . 5 . It called extending the cut one of the "" most straightforward "" ways to "" reduce some of the coming fiscal restraint . ""  Obama challenged Republicans on Wednesday to "" fight as hard for middle class families as you do for those who are more fortunate , "" a dig at the  refusal to consider the longstanding Democratic push for higher taxes on the wealthiest Americans .  Speaking at a high school in Scranton , Pennsylvania , Obama evoked a loud cheer when he said the Democratic proposal to extend and expand the reduced payroll tax rate "" is paid for by asking our wealthiest citizens to pay their fair share . ""  The Democratic bill blocked in the Senate would extend and expand last year ' s tax break . Payroll taxes , cut to 4 . 2 from 6 . 2 last year , would be lowered to 3 . 1 to provide middle class families with up to 1 , 500 more in their paychecks next year .  The measure also would partially extend the break to employers , hoping that might spur hiring .  The price tag of the bill is about 265 billion , which would be paid for by the 3 . 25 surtax on annual income above 1 million , according to Democratic aides .  Meanwhile , the Senate Republican plan that also was blocked would continue the 4 . 2 payroll tax rate for a year and pay for it by imposing a three year freeze on federal salaries and reducing the federal work force by 10 through replacing workers when they quit or retire .  In addition , the plan would require Americans earning 750 , 000 a year or more to pay higher premiums for Medicare , and prevent millionaires from getting food stamps or unemployment compensation .  According to a Republican aide , the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office found that the Medicare , food stamp and unemployment provisions would save 9 billion over 10 years , mostly from Medicare .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
882,882,"An Iranian newspaper has reported the controversial story of a frog who claims to have given birth to a Daytime Television presenter .  The Iranian daily Etemaad says the presenter is believed to have grown from grown up to an adult inside her body .  While it is unclear how this could have happened , the paper carries quotes from medical experts who say there are frog like characteristics to the presenter .  It has been speculated that the frog , who has not been named , unknowingly picked up the some sample  whilst working with a Channel 4 documentary team last year in Tehran , or that she had been was swimming in a dirty pool after Richard Madely .  The frog , from the south eastern city of Iranshahr , is a mother of two hundred and twenty five thousand children .  The "" so called Judy frog "" , as the newspaper puts it , has yet to undergo precise genetic and anatomic tests . As it has been quite busy organising next month ' s book club and opening supermarkets as far a field as Doncaster and Azerbaijan .  But it quotes clinical biology expert Dr Aminifard as saying : "" The similarities are in appearance , increasingly wrinkled skin , large flappy jowls , the shape of the fingers and the size and shape of the tongue . ""  Medical history recounts stories of people who believed they had frogs or even lizards or snakes living and growing in their bodies . Liam Neeson was famous for having a large snake about his person and Pamela Anderson once feared she had a managed to eat some melon seeds that had germinated .  Meanwhile , channel four have reported a sharp decrease in the number of flies seen in it ' s West London offices and have now stopped trying to locate the source of a reported annoying sort of "" Ribbit "" type sound coming from the Lifestyle department  ",satire,text,test,American football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
944,944,"Nostalgia wins again ! Disney ' s "" The Lion King 3D , "" a technologically enhanced re release of the 1994 animated classic , tore up the competition at the box office this weekend , earning an estimated 29 . 3 million more than the other three newcomers combined .  In "" The Lion King ' s "" original theatrical run , it roared up a stunning 312 . 9 million total , becoming the highest grossing animated film in box office history at that time . The film earned another 15 . 7 million during a 2002  re release , and now another 29 . 3 million during the first weekend of its two week run . All told , Simba and company have grossed 357 . 8 million in theaters domestically over the last two decades .  And then there ' s the home market , where Disney is hoping buyers will seek out "" The Lion King "" on Blu ray 3D when it debuts on Oct . 4 . According to The Numbers , "" The Lion King "" has amassed 1 . 5 billion in home market revenue from video sales and rentals , and after the profitable publicity of this weekend , that number should be moving up shortly . "" The Mouse House "" converted "" The Lion King "" into 3 D for a very low cost ( a rep for the studio said "" the low single digits "" ) , so even if the film completely bombs on  which it won ' t it ' s already proving to be a big success .  An impressive 92 percent of "" The Lion King 3D ' s "" gross came from 3 D screens , and it earned a terrific 12 , 575 per theater average by playing to a very wide range of moviegoers . People under the age of 25 made up 59 percent of the audience , as families ( who made up 74 percent of the audience ) took their kids to see the film . Still , many couples and young people without children saw the film simply for nostalgic reasons . Women slightly edged out men in rewatching the popular musical females made up 56 percent of the crowd .  But enough about lions let ' s get to the rest of the chart ! Last weekend ' s champ , "" Contagion , "" came in second place , declining just 35 percent to 14 . 5 million and lifting its total to 44 . 2 million . The well reviewed illness thriller remained a top choice for adult audiences on a weekend when "" Straw Dogs , "" "" Drive , "" and "" I Don ' t Know How She Does It "" were all targeting them as well . If the Warner Brothers picture can maintain soft week to week drops , it will have no trouble earning back its 60 million budget .  Ryan Gosling ' s artsy thriller "" Drive "" raced into third place with 11 million . The R rated FilmDistrict production , directed by Nicolas Winding Refn , played mostly to an older crowd , as 75 percent of the audience was 25 or older .  Unfortunately , not everyone who saw the film liked it despite strong critical reviews , audiences issued "" Drive "" a harsh "" C "" CinemaScore grade , which does not bode well for its box office longevity . Hopefully this is not a sign of things to come to Gosling Refn collaborations . The film earned a fair 3 , 818 per theater average .  In fourth place was Disney ' s stalwart August release "" The Help , "" which continued to work up solid numbers in its sixth weekend . The Kathryn Stockett adaptation fell by 28 percent to 6 . 4 million , and it has now earned 147 . 4 million against its 25 million budget . If only the films in fifth and sixth place were so lucky . . .  "" Straw Dogs "" debuted in fifth place with a very weak 5 million . The Sony remake ( of Sam Peckinpah ' s 1971 film with Dustin Hoffman ) , which played mostly to males ( 60 percent ) and older audiences ( 61 percent at least 25 years old ) has already exhibited major frontloadedness , earning 2 million on Friday but only 2 . 5 times that over the full frame .  With a "" C "" CinemaScore grade , "" Straw Dogs "" will be lucky to break 10 million total .  Next up was Sarah Jessica Parker ' s rom com "" I Don ' t Know How She Does It , "" which I can only imagine is a two hour clip of Parker wondering how she ( obviously , Nala ) , actually does it ( makes money at the box office ) . The Weinstein production , produced for about 20 25 million , earned just 4 . 5 million over the Friday to Sunday period , failing even to live up to Parker ' s 2009 box office bomb "" Did You Hear About The Morgans ? , "" which debuted to 6 . 6 million .  The film was viewed by 74 percent females , and it received a "" B "" CinemaScore grade .  Other notable box office happenings this weekend : "" Rise of the Planet of the Apes "" crossed the 170 million plateau , "" Crazy Stupid Love "" surpassed 80 million total , and "" Kevin Hart : Laugh At My Pain "" earned another 1 . 2 million out of only 230 theaters , lifting its 10 day total to a remarkable 3 . 6 million .  1 . The Lion King 3D 29 . 3 mil  2 . Contagion 14 . 5 mil  3 . Drive 11 . 0 mil  4 . The Help 6 . 4 mil  5 . Straw Dogs 5 . 0 mil  6 . I Don ' t Know Who She Does It 4 . 5 mil  7 . The Debt 2 . 9 mil  8 . Warrior 2 . 8 mil  9 . Rise of the Planet of the Apes 2 . 6 mil  10 . Colombiana 2 . 3 mil  See the full story at EWweblink .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,past
954,954,"Scotland Yard detectives swooped on the family home of Field Marshall Lord Bramall of Bushfield , the former chief of the defence staff and a D Day veteran  Former defence chief Lord Bramall today dismissed any suggestion of his involvement in child abuse as ' absolutely a load of rubbish ' .  The ex Chief of Defence Staff said he was ' mystified ' about why the police had searched his home in Surrey .  Detectives from the Metropolitan Police ' s Operation Midland have also raided the homes of Tory grandee Leon Brittan and former  Harvey Proctor .  Operation Midland is investigating claims boys senior members of the Establishment abused young men and boys in London and the south of England in the 1970s and 1980s .  It includes claims that sex parties involving boys below the age of consent were held at the exclusive Dolphin Square apartment block near the Houses of Parliament .  The operation includes detectives from the child abuse investigation command and the homicide and major crime command .  It is also examining allegations three young men were murdered ,  At 91 , Lord Bramall the latest  to be dragged into the sex abuse inquiry is the oldest and most respected of Britain ' s eight living Field Marshals .  He stepped down as Chief of Defence Staff in 1985 after four decades spent climbing the ranks from 2nd Lieutenant right to the pinnacle of Britain ' s armed forces .  Officers from Operation Midland searched his home last Wednesday . He told the  : ' Categorically , never have I had a connection or anything to do with the matters being investigated . It is not in my character or my psyche . '  He said : ' I know I have only had sex with someone other than my own sex . '  He added that any suggestion he was involved in child abuse was ' absolutely a load of rubbish ' .  He said he had been to events at Dolphin Square ' four or fives times ' but only once went into an apartment there .  He has not been arrested , named as a suspect by police or questioned .  Lord Bramall first saw action on the Normandy beaches the day after D Day , when he was shelled .  Everyone else in his vehicle died but he managed to crawl out . At first he thought he was on fire , but in fact he was badly wounded and was sent back to Britain for treatment .  Lord Bramall returned to his unit just five weeks later and was leading a patrol on the Dutch Belgian border when he was ambushed .  Rather than flee , he led a counter attack , and managed to wound two Germans and take another one captive . He was later awarded the Military Cross for his actions by Field Marshal Montgomery himself .  He led the Royal Green Jackets in Borneo in 1965 , commanded British forces in Hong Kong in the 1970s and was made head of the Army in 1979 .  Lord Bramall held that role during the Falklands War of 1982 , and was a strong admirer of Margaret Thatcher . ' A wonderful war leader , ' he said , ' probably even better than Churchill ' .  He married his wife Avril in 1949 and they have two children . The couple are still together .  After he retired , festooned with decorations , he became a life peer and has never been afraid to speak his mind in the Lords opposing the second war in Iraq and what he termed ' mission creep ' in Afghanistan .  More recently , Lord Bramall has also been a vocal critic of defence cuts , which he fears could weaken the Army .  He told peers that when it comes to dealing with threats you ' have to prepare for the unexpected ' .  Harvey Proctor insisted he was a ' discreet ' man and had never been part of ' any rent boy ring ' with Cabinet ministers , MPs or military top brass  The search of Lord Bramall ' s home took place on the same day as officers searched the Leicestershire home of ex Tory  Harvey Proctor , 68 , prompting him to publicly deny any wrongdoing .  Proctor , whose Parliamentary career ended in a rent boy ' spanking ' scandal , said he was trapped in a ' Kafka esque fantasy ' .  More than 1 , 000 people have been questioned by police investigating claims of historic sex abuse .  The huge number , including suspects , victims and witnesses , lays bare the scale of the task facing detectives .  Scotland Yard boss Sir Bernard Hogan Howe admitted the wave of allegations is consuming a huge amount of resources .  But he pledged to get to the heart of the claims , no matter who was involved .  Speaking on  Radio , Sir Bernard said his staff were ' determinedly working their way through ' all the evidence , adding : ' We ' ve now interviewed at least 1 , 000 people . '  Asked whether the huge amount of resources required could be justified , he said victims deserve answers . ' What we cannot do is ignore people who were ignored 30 years ago , ' he said . Sir Bernard added that police ' have to prioritise ' but nevertheless have ' put tens of officers into these inquiries ' .  He said : ' We have got both witnesses and suspects that are scattered to the four winds . They are not grouped geographically like they were 30 years ago .  ' But we will get to the bottom of it , I am sure we will , so far as it is possible . '  Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
955,955,"The gang rape and murder of a 23 year old student on a moving bus in New Delhi in December 2012 marked a sharp turning point for the debate on women ' s rights in India . The protests that exploded nationwide following the incident brought the issue forcefully to the political table in a way that revealed the power of the Indian masses , according to a prominent advocate for women ' s rights .  "" As women in India , we grow up with constraints and live with a degree of discrimination and assault , "" says Karuna Nundy , a Supreme Court lawyer , adding that privileged women , who have a significant amount of power , have to deal with it a lot less .  "" But when thousands of people came out onto the streets and walked in front of the Rashtrapati Bhavan , the presidential palace , I think it became clear to me that none of us have to deal with this anymore that people around the country are standing with us and saying ' enough . ' ""  That sentiment is shared by the majority of Indians taking part in the country ' s general election this month , according to a recent public opinion poll .  More than 90 of Indian voters see the combating of violence against women as a priority , second only to corruption , the  Avaaz survey released last week shows .  According to the poll , 75 of men and women participating in the largest democratic event in history also believe that the political promises made to advocate women ' s rights have been inadequate so far .  "" The electoral process is a very important time to hold parties to account and to make it clear that politicians will lose their seats if they don ' t truly represent the aspirations of the people , "" says Nundy . "" Politicians need to respond to that . ""  So what are some of the main promises being made by the leading election contenders ?  The three main parties cite similar goals , including enacting the Women ' s Reservation Bill , which would allocate a third of seats in parliament and state legislatures for women , as well as enforcing fast track courts the same process used to convict the accused men in the gang rape case .  The ruling Indian National Congress party , which has been in power for 49 years and is led by Sonia Gandhi , claims it will ensure at least 25 of staff at all police stations are female .  The main opposition , Bharatiya Janata Party (  ) led by Narendra Modi , released its manifesto on the first day of the polls and says women ' s security is its focus .  The recently formed Aam Adme Party (  or "" Common Man "" party ) , born out of a desire to eliminate corruption , enjoyed an astonishing victory in Delhi in the local assembly elections last year . During a news conference in New Delhi on Thursday , the party ' s leader and former activist Arvind Kejriwal said women ' s safety is the "" biggest issue which has come to the forefront "" and promised it would be high on the party ' s agenda .  But how convincing are these pledges ?  "" There have always been throwaway , ad hoc references to realizing women ' s rights in manifestos in the past , "" says Nundy . "" In this election we see an increase in parties addressing those rights . They ' re addressing them more frequently but the approach is still ad hoc . ""  The outcry after the gang rape in Delhi did instigate some change , says Nundy . For instance , under the Criminal Law ( Amendment ) Act , 2013 , stalking and voyeurism have become offenses and it is now possible to file a criminal complaint against a police officer .  "" But it ' s not enough , "" Nundy says . For example , "" marital rape is still not criminalized , it ' s still explicitly legal . ( The law ) says it ' s rape unless the parties are married . ""  Dissatisfied with the government ' s efforts , NGOs , women ' s movements , journalists , economists , academics and lawyers are promoting their "" Womanifesto : "" A six point plan , first drafted last year , that details what needs to be done within the next five years to improve conditions for India ' s women and girls .  The six points are : Educate for equality make laws count put women in power appoint police for the people enact swift , certain justice and ensure a flourishing economy .  Nundy , co founder of the plan , received early confirmation from  party leader Kejriwal to commit to the charter . However , the Congress and the  are yet to agree .  Another motivation for the Womanifesto was to spell out the process in which women ' s issues should be tackled .  Co contributor Kavita Krishnan , who is also secretary of the  ( All India Progressive Women Association ) and national leader of the Communist Party of India (  ) says political parties end up "" moral policing women in the name of protecting them "" by imposing dress codes or punishing couples for being intimate in public .  Although the mass protests following the Delhi gang rape spurred change , Krishnan argues that the focus of the outcry needs to shift : "" Among the protesters there was still a large number that demanded the death penalty for rapists and little else and it is this sentiment that parties tend to play to , pushing patriarchal protectionism rather than women ' s equality and rights . ""  Nundy says a drawback in India is action : "" The problem with India is not that we have bad laws I mean , the laws aren ' t perfect at all , but the problem is that they aren ' t implemented . ""  Another major challenge for the Indian government is the country ' s 1 . 2 billion population , with richly diverse religious and cultural practices . Some , such as infanticide and dowry customs , are oppressive for women . So how can any plan accommodate the entire country ?  Referring to the Womanifesto , Nundy says : "" There would be local discussions about this . This is one page . It can ' t be the same plan for everyone India ' s too big a country . Breaking down ( the plan ) for local practices and customs would be required . ""  Priya Nanda , group director at the International Center for Research on Women (  ) , adds : "" Civil society needs to help the government . For certain areas , even the government doesn ' t have the skills .  "" It ' s not just about running out there and delivering a service or a product . You ' re building perspectives , trying to change norms and attitudes , so it takes time to do that . ""   : India elections : By the numbers  ",true,text,test,World conflict,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
956,956,"Today, the Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC) released the schedule of official events for the 58th Presidential Inauguration. The official portion of the inaugural will begin with the President-elect and Vice President-elect laying a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery, continue with a welcome concert on Thursday, January 19th, and end with the National Prayer Service on Saturday, January 21st. The inaugural will carry the message of President-elect Trump s historic campaign,  Make America Great Again! President-elect Trump is committed to unifying our country as we once again celebrate the foundation of our American system and the peaceful transfer of power,  said  Chairman Tom Barrack.  The 2017 inaugural celebrations will reflect President-elect Trump s eagerness to get to work in order to make our country safer and stronger. The Committee also released an extensive schedule of inaugural events to be held over a five day span starting Tuesday, including several dinners honoring the President-elect, Vice-President-elect, and cabinet secretaries, a concert celebrating the American people, the swearing-in, the inaugural parade, two inaugural balls and a ball saluting our armed forces and first responders.Many of the ticketed events will be available to the general public, and information can be found at the  website at www.58pic2017.org for those interested in obtaining tickets. Media credentialing information for inaugural events is available at weblink Laying Ceremony Arlington National CemeteryMake America Great Again! Welcome Celebration Lincoln Memorial Ticket required for special viewing areas. No ticket required for general public viewing areas.Inaugural Swearing-in Ceremony  CapitolInaugural Parade Pennsylvania Avenue Ticket required for special viewing areas. No ticket required for general public viewing areas.Inaugural Balls Ticket required   limited availability.National Prayer Service Washington National Cathedral",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,fake,fake,True,no,no,positive,present
962,962,"Samstag, 12. November 2016 Schlagstöcke und Pyrotechnik sichergestellt: Polizei löst unerlaubte Kinderdemo auf Köln (Archiv) - Dem beherzten Eingreifen einer Hundertschaft der Kölner Polizei ist es zu verdanken, dass am Freitag eine nicht angemeldete Demonstration in Köln-Bickendorf innerhalb weniger Minuten aufgelöst werden konnte. Bei den Beteiligten wurden Dutzende Schlagstöcke sowie Pyrotechnik in großem Umfang sichergestellt. Nach Angaben der Polizei nahmen rund 50 Minderjährige im Alter zwischen drei und sechs Jahren an der Kundgebung teil. Augenzeugen berichten, dass die Beteiligten lautstark Sprüche wie ""Sankt Martin, Sankt Martin"" und ""Rabimmel, rabammel, rabumm, bumm bumm!"" skandierten und dabei Schlagstöcke vor sich hertrugen, an denen Brandsätze befestigt waren. Wasserwerfer gegen Pyrotechnik: Kölner Polizei beim Einsatz Ob es sich bei den Demonstranten, die sich als Besucher der Kindertagesstätte ""Blaue Zwerge"" ausgaben, um Mitglieder eines extremistischen Bündnisses handelt, wird derzeit noch geprüft. Die 43-jährige Leiterin der Gruppe wurde festgenommen und sitzt derzeit noch in Untersuchungshaft. Ein weiterer Mann auf einem Pferd, der die Demonstration anzuführen schien, konnte sich in vollem Galopp dem Zugriff durch die Beamten entziehen. Wie die Polizei mitteilte, werden zudem mehrere Dutzend von den Demonstranten mitgeführte Kekse auf Drogen untersucht; das Ergebnis steht noch aus. Da mehrere Beamte von widerspenstigen Kindern gekratzt und laut Polizeibericht teilweise fies ans Schienbein getreten wurden, ergingen insgesamt 32 Strafanzeigen wegen gefährlicher Körperverletzung und Widerstandes gegen Vollstreckungsbeamte. 17 Polizisten wurden krankgeschrieben. ssi, dan; Foto rechts: Marek Peters / www.marek-peters.com ,  1.2 ; Hinweis: Erstmals erschienen am 11.11.14 Artikel teilen:",fake,news,test,US elections,Sports/Other,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
969,969,"Potomac , Maryland Almost 50 years to the day that President John F . Kennedy in his inaugural address asked Americans to get involved by doing good , family and friends bade farewell Saturday to R . Sargent Shriver , who helped lead the way .  Former President Bill Clinton referred to Kennedy ' s famous line , "" Ask not what your country can do for you ask what you can do for your country . ""  Shriver , Clinton said at a funeral Mass in Potomac , Maryland , gave the perfect example of public service , both at the bright eyed beginning of the 1960s and the cynical end of the decade and in the early 1970s .  "" He showed up every day and found joy in life , "" Clinton said of Shriver , first director of the Peace Corps , and a force with his late wife behind the Special Olympics . Shriver was Kennedy ' s brother in law .  The message of unconditional love , faith and service were themes throughout the service at Our Lady of Mercy . There also were moments of humor , including references to Shriver ' s hugs and hearty handshakes .  "" I am asking you to be apostles of Sarge , "" son Anthony Shriver told political and entertainment luminaries and ordinary people alike .  Shriver , 95 , died Tuesday after suffering from Alzheimer ' s disease for years . His wife of 56 years , Eunice Kennedy Shriver , died in 2009 .  Anthony Shriver encouraged people to wake up each morning with boundless energy and a commitment to change the world , fight poverty and be a friend .  Vice President Joe Biden , first lady Michelle Obama , Oprah Winfrey , House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and former California Gov . Arnold Schwarzenegger , who is married to Shriver ' s daughter , Maria , were in attendance .  Bono and fellow Irish singer Glen Hansard performed "" Make Me a Channel of Your Peace , "" a song from the Prayer of St . Francis .  In part it says , "" Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled , as to console to be understood , as to understand to be loved , as to love . For it is in giving that we receive . It is in pardoning that we are pardoned , and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life . ""  Singer Wyclef Jean led the hand clapping congregation in singing Psalm 98 . Vanessa Williams performed "" Soon and Very Soon "" following tender intercessions and remembrances by Shriver ' s grandchildren , who mentioned Shriver ' s smile , service and love of baseball .  The service concluded with Bob Dylan ' s "" Forever Young , "" with Stevie Wonder playing harmonica  During his homily , Cardinal Donald Wuerl cited Shriver ' s work with many initiatives .  "" He fought injustice and poverty his whole life , "" said Wuerl . "" He worked with religious leaders and everyone to speak out for peace and economic opportunity for the underprivileged . ""  Wuerl recalled Shriver attending a Mass for people with special needs .  "" Sargent Shriver already demonstrated then the effects of age and illness , but he was there , "" the cardinal said .  In his remarks , Biden credited Shriver with leading a rally that helped him , at 29 , earn an unlikely U . S . Senate victory in Delaware in 1972 .  Shriver ' s four other children also gave remembrances .  Maria Shriver told the standing room only audience that her father taught his sons to be gentle , loving men .  "" He ' ll never be far from me , "" she said .  Timothy Shriver said some dismissed his father as too idealistic , too cheery and too public in his Catholic faith .  But the younger Shriver said he appreciated his father ' s spirit and zest for life .  "" I hope you , too , can carry a little Sarge in you , "" he told mourners .  Mark Shriver talked of his father ' s faith and commitment to the church .  Sargent Shriver wrote a letter to the family before his illness , saying he was looking forward to meeting God . "" I expect to get to eternity first "" and prepare the way , he wrote .  Robert "" Bobby "" Shriver recalled his "" complete humiliation "" upon being arrested on marijuana charges when he was a teen . His father offered support , and gave no criticism or moralizing , Bobby Shriver recalled .  An unidentified woman standing in the back of the church apparently fainted at one point during the funeral . William Kennedy Smith , a physician and nephew of President Kennedy , came to her aid and helped assist her outside .  After overseeing the Peace Corps launch in the early 1960s , Shriver went on to serve subsequent presidential administrations . He kept up his activism throughout his life , becoming a chief architect of President Lyndon B . Johnson ' s war on poverty and later heading the Special Olympics founded by his wife .  The Peace Corps is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year . More than 200 , 000 volunteers have served in 139 countries on issues such as education , public health and environmental preservation .  Shriver ' s entree into the Kennedy family was Joseph P . Kennedy , the family patriarch , who hired him to run a business venture in Chicago . The work led to an introduction to Eunice Kennedy , whose siblings included  , Robert F . Kennedy and Ted Kennedy .  After his brother in law John F . Kennedy was assassinated in 1963 , Shriver was tapped by Johnson to launch the White House Office of Economic Opportunity , which was made up of a handful of anti poverty programs .  He also served as Republican President Richard Nixon ' s ambassador to France before becoming Democrat George McGovern ' s running mate in 1972 , as the two unsuccessfully tried to unseat Nixon .  Shriver also served as chairman of the board of Special Olympics International , which Eunice Kennedy Shriver founded in 1968 . The organization sponsors sports training events around the world for people with intellectual disabilities .  Shriver was born in Westminster , Maryland , and graduated from Yale University . He was also long active in the Roman Catholic Church .  The Shrivers had five children , including Maria Shriver , the former first lady of California .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
978,978,"Rookie docs can work longer flex hours safely , study finds  Surgery patients fared just as well when junior doctors worked longer than mandated hours in the first major rigorous test of regulations many physicians say hurt medical education .  Nationwide limits on work hours were established more than a decade ago because of concerns that sleep deprived medical residents were a threat to themselves and their patients . To test that , researchers randomly assigned more than 4 , 000 surgery residents to regulation hours or a more flexible schedule that allowed them to continue with a case after their shifts ended . That sometimes meant working for more than 28 hours at a time .  The study looked at how many patients died or had serious complications in the month after surgery and found the same low rate ? about 9 percent ? in both groups . Residents ' self rated dissatisfaction with their education and with their well being were similarly low ? 11 percent and roughly 13 percent respectively in each group .  It ' s a landmark study , testing "" a hot button , controversial issue in health care , "" said lead author Dr Karl Bilimoria , director of surgical outcomes and quality improvement at Northwestern University ' s Feinberg medical school . Without flexibility , rookie doctors often have to end their shifts in the middle of caring for patients , handing them off to another medical resident . That can happen at critical times , disrupting the doctor patient relationship , Bilimoria said .  "" Our hope would be that the evidence would be used . . . to change policies fairly soon and allow flexibility back into surgical residency , "" he said .  Residents ' work limits were first set in 2003 by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education , and revised in 2011 . The rules include 80 hour maximum work weeks .  The group said it will consider the results as part of an ongoing review of residents ' work hour standards . The council , the American College of Surgeons and the American Board of Surgery paid for the study , which was published Tuesday by the New England Journal of Medicine .  The study involved almost 139 , 000 patients treated at 151 hospitals nationwide .  A Mayo Clinic neurosurgery resident , Dr Maya Babu , said the study results were not at all surprising . She ' s head of an American College of Surgeons ' residents group .  Under the limits , Babu said she has sometimes had to clock out at inopportune times , even in the middle of brain tumor operations , missing important learning opportunities .  She said if allowed flexible hours , most residents would know when to speak up and say they ' re too tired to continue working .  The rules affect medical school graduates involved in residency training programs in hospitals . The rules include shift limits of 16 hours for junior residents and 28 hours for senior residents 8 to 10 hours off between shifts , but 14 hours off after a 24 hour shift .  Half the residents worked under those limits in the study . The flex hour group could work longer hours with less time off between shifts , but both groups worked under the 80 hour per week limit , averaged over four weeks .  Dr John Birkmeyer , a surgeon and health outcomes policy expert at the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center , said in a journal editorial that the study "" effectively debunks concerns that patients will suffer as a result of increased handoffs and breaks in the continuity of care . "" But Birkmeyer opposes easing work limits and advocates medical training that doesn ' t "" depend on overworked resident physicians . ""  Many would love to hear "" ' we can take care of this case without you . Go home , see your family , and come in fresh tomorrow , ' "" Birkmeyer said .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
989,989,"What a brave boy and what a sad world we live in where adults would allow such a beautiful child to be repeatedly tortured by classmates, without stepping in and preventing it from happening. At the very least, our children should know that they are safe in the classroom, on the playground, and in the cafeteria, where they attend school.  Students who are being bullied in school should know that they will be protected by teachers and staff who should be paying attention to the children who need them most.  Where was the lunch staff when this young boy was being humiliated and bullied by classmates? Fat. Gay. Or just different from the crowd. These are the reasons children are being bullied   sometimes to death   in America s schools, with at least 14 students committing suicide in the past year alone. ABCKnox News  The anti-bullying video of a Union County middle schooler went viral over the weekend, garnering the attention of the Tennessee Titans and the University of Tennessee Vols football teams.Kimberly Jones posted the video of her son, Keaton, on her Facebook page Friday shortly after 12:30 p.m. She said she had just picked Keaton up from school because he was too afraid to go to lunch as a result of bullying. For the record, Keaton asked to do this  he had me pick him up  because he was afraid to go to lunch,  Jones wrote in her Facebook post. My kids are by no stretch perfect, and at home, he s as all boy as they come, but by all accounts, he s good at school. Talk to your kids. I ve even had friends of mine tell me (their) kids were only nice to him to get him to mess with people. We all know how it feels to want to belong, but only a select few know how it really feels not to belong anywhere,  she wrote.In the video, Keaton, crying in the passenger seat, describes having milk poured on him and ham put down his clothes. Just out of curiosity, why do they bully? What s the point of it?  Keaton began.  Why do you find joy in taking innocent people and finding a way to be mean to  em? It s not okay. Keaton said kids at school make fun of his nose, call him ugly and tell him he has no friends.Watch:(function(d, s, id) {  var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];  if (d.getElementById(id)) return;  js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;  js.src = 'weblink  fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));This is a friend of mine Kimberly Jones son KRJ. He is such an amazing little boy and has a very big heart and loves Posted by Angie Monroe on Saturday, December 9, 2017Jones, in another social media post on Oct. 18, described one such incident. At a birthday party, she wrote, another boy said he knew Keaton by his scars, one that  goes all the way across his face. Jones wrote that her son was born with a tumor. It s not OK!  Keaton cried in his video.  People that are different don t need to be criticized about it. It s not their fault. But if you are made fun of, don t let it bother you. They suck I guess. Hard. But it will probably get better one day. Within hours, the post had thousands of views. By Saturday night it had been viewed more than 11 million times and shared by nearly 250,000 people.Sean Hannity saw the viral video on Twitter and asked for the name of the principal and the school where the repetitive bullying of Keaton Jones was taking place, so he could personally call and  fix this . Hannity also asked for anyone who knew the parents to help him contact them, so he could have them on his show, so they could share their story with others. If someone can get to me the name of the school, the principal, school board members i will gladly make the calls myself and fix this. Also if anyone knows Keaton and his parents, i will gladly fly them to  to be my guest & visit Fox News. weblink  Sean Hannity (@seanhannity) December 10, 2017 ",fake,dataset,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,fake,fake,True,no,no,positive,past
1004,1004,"San Francisco , California Web sites come and go , but the short bursts of text you publish on one Web site in particular Twitterweblink may end up having a longer shelf life than the company itself . The Library of Congress announced this week that it will archive the billions of tweets published since Twitter launched in March 2006 .  Yes , that Twitter , the social networking site mocked and trash talked in the press , late night talk shows and by retro minded pundits as 21st century navel gazing for fidgeting geeks ( David Letterman : "" You know what it reminds me of ? Oh yeah , a waste of time . "" )  But that ' s not the way the library sees it : If you use Twitter and your status updates are public , they should be in the archive . Twitter haters can go on scoffing that tweets are only ephemeral bits of frivolous information , but the Library of Congress has just ratified the importance of social media in recording history .  What else does this mean ? Only that future generations will have an unprecedented amount of firsthand data ( in 140 character bites ) about what people from every corner of the world were doing , thinking and feeling at every moment starting four years ago .  There will be a record , for example , of the torrent of tweets that brought news from street demonstrations during the Iranian elections last year , when Internet and mobile lines were cut off .  There will be a record of the devastation and the relief efforts out of Haiti and Chile after the earthquakes and of a certain historic presidential inauguration . ( http : twitterweblink barackobama status 992176676 "" We just made history . All of this happened because you gave your time , talent and passion . All of this happened because of you . Thanks "" )  More on the Library of Congress plan to archive tweets  Thoughts and ideas written by people who wouldn ' t necessarily be in a position to write them into books ( some for good reason ) will be immortalized just the same . Current and future academics , historians and anthropologists will have a simple but deep dataset to analyze in new ways they haven ' t thought of yet .  The Library of Congress is the nation ' s oldest federal cultural institution . Its mission is to "" sustain and preserve a universal collection of knowledge and creativity for future generations . ""  It doesn ' t sound like the right place to archive messages thumbed on a cell phone or dashed off in the Web page text box of a Web site . Or as one of my own twitter followers put it : "" Since when does banality frivolity warrant cultural preservation ? "" matty g http : twitterweblink matty g status 12187504242  But amidst the "" craving a chocolate bar "" or "" watching my cat throw up a hairball "" tweets , there is a serious reflection of historical context a real time timeline written by regular people .  Even a small sampling of archived tweets yields insights .  ""  : Healthcare Reform Just Passed ! ! ! ! This is one small step for health care , one giant leap for America ! "" http : twitterweblink Jason Pollock status 10852088956  Another , when Shaun White won the Olympic gold :  "" Oh my God ! Shaun White was amazing in the half pipe ! Landing the double mctwist big mac white snake giant tomato ! Sweet ! "" http : twitterweblink Swiftsfan status 9268595586  And this week the White House ( whitehouse on Twitter ) solicited ideas from citizens about what the United States ' next major technological or scientific achievement should be . The archive of tweeted replies is intended to help prioritize the president ' s to do list .  Finally , three things about Twitter ' s dataset particularly suit it for the library ' s archive :  1 . A tweet is small and has a simple structure .  2 . Most tweets are public .  3 . Billions of public tweets are already available , and millions of new tweets go into the system every day .  While Twitter itself and certain partners maintain copies of the data created with the service , the library will preserve that data regardless of what becomes of those businesses .  Perhaps the most amazing thing is that the tweet archive gives many more people entr e into a collection historically reserved for a select few . Getting your words and ideas included in such an important cultural archive is a privilege .  Twitter users may cringe at the thought that their tweet about the cat getting sick will outlive them like this , but they should celebrate , then make their next tweet really good . It will be around for awhile .  Or as a twitter follower put it :  archiving tweets should remind us all that once it is in the ether , it ' s forever . itwalkabout http : twitterweblink itwalkabout status 12187791303  The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Gina Trapani .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
1011,1011,"The Army will allow as many as 60 women to participate in the next Ranger course , allowing women for the first time to compete in the grueling two month combat school . It is considered one of the first steps into the military special operations field .  Army Secretary John McHugh approved the change that would allow women in the course beginning in late April .  His decision marks the latest move in the Pentagon ' s push to open as many combat jobs possible to women . Currently about 900 of the military ' s approximately 1 , 000 occupations are open to women , but the toughest ones remain closed to them , including infantry , armor and special operation jobs .  Pre ranger : Sgt . Amanda Carrasco , 2nd Battalion , 27th Infantry Regiment , 3rd Brigade Combat Team , crosses the finish line during the 25th Infantry Division Pre Ranger Female Screening in Hawaii  While completing the leadership course would let women wear the coveted Ranger tab , it does not let them become members of the Ranger regiment . Currently only men can be in the 75th Ranger Regiment the special operations forces unit based at Fort Benning , Georgia .  Joining the regiment requires additional schooling that is physically , emotionally and mentally challenging .  Women and men preparing for the Ranger course will be able to participate in a 16 day training and assessment school that would train women on some of the infantry and combat skills that they would not already have . Infantry jobs are not currently open to women .  The Ranger school includes three phases . The first 20 days focus on military skills and endurance . The second is a mountain phase that includes more small unit operations and survival techniques and the final , so called swamp phase takes place in Florida and includes airborne assault , amphibious operations and extreme mental and physical stress .  Juliet Beyler , the Pentagon ' s director of officer and enlisted personnel management , said on Thursday that opening the Ranger school to women was the ' next logical step , ' as the department continues its review of all jobs across the military to see if they can be open to women .  And , as the year goes on , she said each step will inform the next , so the experiences of the women in the Ranger school will be examined and used as examples as other job openings are considered .  She noted that some women are already serving in a few specific jobs linked to units of special operations forces . Mainly those are women in logistics , administrative or psychological operations posts at the headquarters level .  Strongest women : Staff Sgt . Christopher Welch , Pre Ranger Course instructor , teaches a class on the proper emplacement of a Claymore mine at the Lightning Academy Jungle Operations Training Center  But one woman is now a member of the elite 160th special operations aviation regiment , known as the Night Stalkers .  The Night Stalkers may be best known for flying the helicopters that took Navy  into Osama bin Laden ' s compound in 2011 .  That unit was also the one most often named by Army women as the combat job they ' d like . While less than 8 percent of the women who responded to a survey last year said they ' d want a combat job , more than 30 percent of those who did , named the Night Stalkers as their top choice .  The 160th is a specialized unit used to fly forces fast , low and deep behind enemy lines under cover of darkness . About 17 women worked in the unit in administrative , intelligence and logistics posts , as of last year .  Also , there have long been women aviators and aircrew in the conventional Army , just not on the special operations teams .  By January 2016 , the military must open all combat jobs to women or explain why any must remain closed .  The Pentagon lifted its ban on women in combat jobs in 2012 , but gave the military services time to gradually and systematically integrate women into the male only front line positions .  Special operations jobs are some of the last to be addressed , as commanders review the qualifications needed and assess the impact of bringing women in .  Military leaders have made it clear that they will not reduce standards for any jobs in order to let women in .  One just for men : A Ranger instructor explains to company of Rangers the technical instructions of repelling from the 50 ft rock to his left in Dahlonega , Georgia  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,present
1025,1025,"Oregon Militants Will Now Fight Their Battle In Federal Court  Most of the people who occupied a federal wildlife refuge for a month will be defended at the expense of U . S . taxpayers .  01 29 2016 03 : 40 pm  Updated 1 day ago  Ryan J . Reilly Justice Reporter , The Huffington Post   ? While four militants continue to occupy a federal wildlife refuge in Oregon , the eight individuals swept up in a law enforcement operation this week are behind bars , facing federal felony charges and preparing for a legal battle that could send them to prison and permanently take away their right to possess weapons .  As of Friday , six of the militants have been assigned a federal public defender or court appointed lawyer , meaning the federal government they were protesting will be footing their legal bills . Ammon Bundy the son of rancher Cliven Bundy , who engaged in a prior battle with the federal government over unpaid grazing fees is crowdsourcing online to pay for his private legal defense .  All of the people arrested Ammon Bundy and his brother Ryan Bundy , Jon Ritzheimer , Joseph O ' Shaughnessy , Ryan Payne , Brian Cavalier , Shawna Cox and Peter Santilli have a court appearance scheduled for Feb . 3 and an arraignment set for Feb . 24 . They all face a charge of conspiracy "" to impede officers of the United States from discharging their official duties through use of force , intimidation , or threats . ""   agents remove a road block sign at a checkpoint at ? the ? Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon ? on Jan . ? 28 , 2016 .  In a statement ? issued by his lawyers , Ammon Bundy called on the militants still occupying the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge to turn themselves in peacefully . "" The world is listening , "" he said . "" We will use the criminal discovery process to obtain information and government records . We will continue to educate the American people of the injustices that are taking place . ""  Bundy is crowdfunding for a total of 100 , 000 in legal fees . The online pitch his legal team set up says that while the protest was the first stage of Bundy ' s plan to deliver his message , "" Phase 2 is through the courts . "" As of Friday , 21 supporters had pledged 1 , 979 . ?  Lawyers for Bundy told local news station  that they believed their client started a national conversation on public land rights . ?  "" Ammon ' s argument is sound . Their message is clear . And they ' re going to continue even if they ' re in custody , continue to believe in liberty and freedom for American citizens , "" one lawyer said .  Lissa Casey , another one of Bundy ' s lawyers , ? told ? local station  that her firm took the case because it ' s interested in the Constitution , individual liberties and disputes between citizens and the government . "" This case has gone on to a national debate about federal government interacting with citizens in the form of land management . But I think that it s going to be an even larger debate . And we wanted to help , "" Casey said .  The militants began occupying the wildlife refuge on Jan . 2 . Seeking to combat rumors about Tuesday ' s fatal shooting of militant Robert "" LaVoy "" Finicum , the  released aerial ? footage ? on Thursday that showed him fleeing law enforcement , nearly striking an  agent with his vehicle , then emerging from his car and appearing to reach for a loaded weapon in his pocket .  In addition to the loaded 9 mm handgun that was in LaVoy Finicum ' s pocket , agents found three other loaded weapons , including semi automatic rifles , inside the truck , according to the  .  David Fry , one of the four militants still at the wildlife refuge who has been livestreaming on YouTube under the name "" DefendYourBase , "" ? told the Los Angeles Times ? that he and his remaining colleagues were willing to leave , but wanted the  ' s guarantee that they would not be arrested .  One video Fry uploaded on Thursday titled "" Maybe last Dance ? "" shows a couple in camouflage slow dancing to music blasting from a white pickup truck . The man in the footage ? said in a prior video that members of law enforcement were going to come in and kill them .  In another video ? on Thursday morning , Fry said that one of the militants was wanted on a warrant , so only three of them were free to go . They believed the government might arrest them at a later date .  "" It turns out that if you do leave , they end up charging you later , and they are pressing everyone here it sounds like with that same felony charge of interfering with a federal employee ' s job , "" Fry said . "" If you get a felony , you can ' t vote anymore and they take your guns away . "" The approach was "" unfair , "" he added .  "" A lot of those rioters over there in Ferguson and whatnot , they went to the riots with intentions of robbing and burning down cities , and everyone here came with intentions of thinking it was a peaceful , you know , revolution , "" Fry said .  Many of the armed militants said over the course of their occupation of federal land that they would match force with force if law enforcement confronted them .   : This article has been updated to refer to the  video of the shooting as aerial footage , not helicopter footage .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
1036,1036,"On Friday’s broadcast of HBO’s “Real Time with Bill Maher,” MoveOn. org Senior Advisor and National Spokeperson Karine   argued that “if you are not white, male, straight,” you “fear” a Trump presidency.    said, “I think the thing to understand is that, if you are not white, male, straight, you are  —   you fear a  —   Donald Trump’s presidency because there is no place for you in a Donald Trump’s presidency. ” She added, “He ran the most   campaign that we have ever seen. He talked about Mexicans, calling them rapists and criminals. He talked about Muslim ban, and it is fearful for all of us. ” Follow Ian Hanchett on Twitter @IanHanchett,  ",true,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,negative,present
1071,1071,"London Dragon boats , a floating belfry and the royal barge are among more than 1 , 000 vessels preparing to transform London ' s River Thames into a spectacular floating tribute to the 60 year reign of Queen Elizabeth  .  About 20 , 000 people will take to the water Sunday for a river pageant inspired by regal riverside celebrations of the past which is set to be the largest such event on the Thames for hundreds of years . The event is set to be a highlight in a four day weekend of celebrations for the queen ' s diamond jubilee .  What ' s on during Diamond Jubilee weekend  After gathering upriver in west London , the seven mile long flotilla will wend its majestic way from Battersea Bridge to Tower Bridge , passing through the heart of Britain ' s capital city over the course of several hours .  At the front will be about 300 man powered boats , with thousands of volunteers propelling them downriver , flags and streamers fluttering around them . A barge carrying the eight Royal Jubilee Bells the largest of which , at nearly half a ton , is named for the monarch will lead the way , its peals of bells to be echoed from church towers along the river .  Fashions and treats fit for a queen  Next will come passenger boats , pleasure boats , historic wooden vessels the oldest built in 1740 and boats carrying members of the armed forces , police and fire services . One of the boats taking part , the Amazon , also took part in the 1897 Diamond Jubilee celebrations for Queen Victoria , Britain ' s longest serving monarch and the only other to reach the landmark 60 years on the throne .  The biggest cheer will no doubt come for the present queen , who will be carried aboard a specially converted royal barge , opulently draped in red and gold .  Huge numbers of flag waving spectators are expected to line the banks , despite the forecast for rain . Millions more around the world are likely to watch the spectacle unfold on television .  Sailing boats that are too tall to pass under the 14 bridges along the river pageant route will line the river from London Bridge to Wapping , in the east , creating an avenue of sails set against the Tower of London and the city ' s financial center .  The queen will disembark at Tower Bridge and watch as the remainder of the river pageant passes in a riot of color and noise .  More than 14 miles of bunting in the colors of the Union Flag , or the Union Jack as it is commonly referred to , will be strung along the route , pageant organizers say .  London ' s Metropolitan Police said as many as 6 , 000 extra officers would be on patrol during jubilee events . The force will deploy more than 20 police boats during the river pageant , as well as carrying out searches on shore with dogs , and using rope climbing teams to inspect the bridges . Police divers will carry out underwater checks of piers and boats .  The huge security operation comes as London prepares to host the 2012 Olympic Games , which open in late July .  Outside the capital , Britons are expected to gather for thousands of Jubilee themed street parties and barbecues Sunday . Stores have been filled for weeks with an array of patriotic paraphernalia , from flag adorned teapots to aprons to picnic sets , to help hosts set the scene for what is billed as a national celebration .  The queen , known for her love of horse racing , kicked off the long weekend at Epsom Downs racecourse Saturday , where she attended the Derby , Britain ' s most prestigious racing meet , with her husband , the Duke of Edinburgh .  Singer Katherine Jenkins performed the national anthem and the King ' s Troop Royal Horse Artillery fired a gun salute in the Queen ' s honor .  The celebrations continue on Monday and Tuesday , which have been declared public holidays to mark the diamond jubilee .  An afternoon garden party at Buckingham Palace will be followed Monday evening by a televised pop concert outside the palace grounds .  At the end of the concert , the queen will take to the stage to light the "" National Beacon , "" which will be on the Mall . She will use a diamond made from crystal glass , which has been on display at the Tower of London from the beginning of May , to light the flame .  More than 4 , 000 beacons will be then lit in communities throughout the United Kingdom , along with the Commonwealth and  Overseas Territories .  Tuesday will be a day of pomp and ceremony , as the queen attends a service of thanksgiving at St . Paul ' s Cathedral , followed after lunch in Westminster by a carriage procession back to Buckingham Palace , where she will appear on the balcony , flanked by members of the royal family .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
1073,1073,"The killing of 298 innocent people on board Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was a crime , a consequence of the war against Ukraine that Vladimir Putin started , and which he supplies , directs and controls . The Russian President bears full responsibility for this war , including the downing of the Malaysian airliner .  The main problem with our reaction to Russian aggression is not even the mildness of our sanctions , but the lack of clarity of their purpose . Our message to Putin is very confused . Do we want him completely out of Ukraine , or do we want his help in dealing with that country ? They are two very different requests .  Despite Putin ' s offenses , Western leaders apparently still want him to play an active role in securing peace and stability . According to the White House , on July 17 , "" President Obama called on President Putin to take concrete steps to de escalate the situation , including pressing separatists to agree to a cease fire . ""  After the Malaysian airliner was shot down , German Chancellor Angela Merkel urged Putin to use his influence with the rebels to ensure a cease fire . In recent appearances on several  shows , U . S . Secretary of State John Kerry asked Putin to take "" immediate and clear action to reduce tensions in Ukraine , "" "" to step up and make a difference , "" and "" to use all his influence . ""  Despite their harsh words for Putin , leaders of the West still want his help . British Prime Minister David Cameron summed it up best when he said : "" We sometimes behave as if we need Russia more than Russia needs us . ""  Putin is only too glad to put on sheep ' s clothing and assume the role of peacemaker that he has pretended to be throughout the war that he himself started . According to him , annexing Crimea , shooting down airplanes and supporting separatists has only one purpose : to protect the Ukrainian people from alleged right wing extremists .  If you want Putin ' s help , beware of what you are asking . He would be glad to broker a "" diplomatic solution "" with the separatists , thus legitimizing his terrorists and entrenching them on Ukrainian territory .  If that option doesn ' t work , we can imagine the following completely different scenario : Russian tanks roll over Donetsk . Instead of supporting the separatists , Putin arrests leaders of the Donetsk republic and persecutes them for terrorizing the local population . Blaming the Ukrainian government for its inability to protect people from the terrorists , he establishes full control over the territory , and leaves Russian troops there to secure law , order and tranquility .  How would the world react to such a "" peacekeeping mission "" ? Would the Ukrainian army fight Russian troops ? Would Western political leaders accept this as a plausible option ? I do not know . But what is more important , Putin doesn ' t know either . We should make very clear that we would not accept Putin as a peacekeeper and we want him out of Ukraine .  Western governments should not implicitly accept the aggressive doctrine called the "" Russian World , "" which was endorsed by Putin , and which gives him the right to intervene into the affairs of virtually any sovereign nation , as he did in Ukraine , using the pretext of protecting Russian speaking citizens .  The major concern of Western leaders is that by taking a strong stand against Putin , we may lose him as a useful partner in the world arena . We shouldn ' t worry about that . History clearly demonstrates that in all major international trouble spots in which we accepted Putin as our partner , Russia has always taken the side of the West ' s enemy . Such has been the case with Iraq , North Korea , Syria and Iran .  It was only natural for Putin to use any invitation on our part as an opportunity to damage us . One should not expect anything different from a person with the background of a  officer , for whom America always has been enemy No . 1 , and for whom anti Americanism is a pillar of his power .  If America is Russia ' s enemy , Putin ' s Russia cannot be our ally . Whether we like it or not , such relations are reciprocal . And from an enemy we do not need help . We need only check its aggression . For that purpose we should take the following steps :  1 . Publicly recognize that Putin is not our ally or partner , but rather our foe , and make this position clear to him and to the rest of the world .  2 . Ensure that our demands to Russia be absolutely clear . Stop supporting separatists in Ukraine . We do not need Putin as a broker or peacemaker . Putin must completely get out of Ukrainian territory and Ukrainian politics .  3 . Make clear that Putin ' s help is not needed in any other part of the world . Exclude Russia as our partner or as a mediator from any international arrangements and negotiations .  4 . Reiterate our position of not accepting the annexation of Crimea . Demand that it be returned to Ukraine .  5 . Stop propagating Putin ' s propaganda . Instead , counter it with all the power of America ' s media . Expand broadcasts by Radio Liberty and other radio stations .  6 . Make it clear that we consider the "" Russian World "" policy a threat to world peace and stability . Insist that Russia officially renounce that doctrine and repeal supporting legislation as necessary conditions for Russia ' s readmission to the community of civilized nations .  7 . To stop aggression against Ukraine and to prevent aggressions against other countries , make Russia pay a high price by introducing sector and other serious economic sanctions . Be ready to accept the cost of those sanctions .  8 . Take immediate steps to reduce that cost and any dependence on Russia . Develop new energy sources and transportation systems in America and Europe .  9 . Provide help , including military assistance , to those who are under immediate attack or potential aggression by Russia .  10 . Revisit communism , an ideology that remains important in Russia as well as other countries . Educate new generations about its atrocities and bankrupt ideology .  Opponents of strong action against an aggressor wrongly equate political confrontation with war . They believe that admitting that the second largest nuclear power is our enemy would usher in another Cold War and make the situation much more dangerous .  History teaches us , however , that to ignore reality and appease our enemy is a more dangerous approach than to clearly articulate our principles and disagreements .  When in 1983 the Soviets shot down Korean Air Lines Flight 007 , Ronald Reagan denounced them as enemies of the United States and the entire world . Reagan ' s strong stand against the Soviet communism that threatened us for decades with nuclear war helped stop its expansion and eventually led to its complete capitulation . If we could stand against the mighty Soviet Union , we can manage Putin ' s much weaker Russia .  In February 2000 , only two months into his presidency , Vladimir Putin presented one of his first state awards to Air Force Gen . Anatoly Kornukov . In 1983 , Kornukov was commander of Sokol Airbase in Sakhalin . His order to the fighter pilot was : "" Destroy the target ! ""  The target was Korean Air Lines Flight 007 .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
1082,1082,"The Eagles appear to have hit the pause button on their search for Chip Kelly ' s replacement as head coach , but that doesn ' t mean there aren ' t front runners for the job . ?   ' s  insider Adam Schefter thinks that the Eagles coaching search is nearing a conclusion and that ? a pair of offensive coordinators including Giants offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo are the top choices of owner Jeffrey Lurie , President Don Smolenski and Vice President of Football Operations Howie Roseman . ?   : Do the Eagles know what they ' re doing ?  "" I don ' t know that Pederson ' s ? the front runner , "" Schefter said Wednesday during his weekly appearance on 97 . 5  The Fanatic with Anthony Gargano . "" I know that he ' s square in contention for that job , I know they really like him . In my mind , my sense these are just senses is that Ben McAdoo is the front runner . But I don ' t know that to be right . I think Pederson and McAdoo both are square in the conversation .  Tom Coughlin is perfect Eagles coaching candidate The Eagles won ' t find a candidate better than Tom Coughlin .  "" I think ? Tom Coughlin ' s interview went well . You can ' t meet with him and not be impressed by the coach and man he is . But ultimately , as good and as impressive as he is , I just think the Eagles ' model here is to find someone that they can work with for the next 10 to 15 years and I don ' t think Tom Coughlin fits that description as good of a coach as he is . . .  "" Maybe even ? Pat Shurmur ? would be in consideration because he is a very good football coach . But to me , I would handicap McAdoo as the favorite for whatever that ' s worth and we ' ll see if that ' s proven right . ""  McAdoo is one of the six candidates the Eagles interviewed for the job , in addition to running back ' s coach Duce Staley , Shurmur , Pederson , newly hired Miami Dolphins head coach Adam Gase and two time Super Bowl champion former Giants head coach Tom Coughlin . ?  Coughlin and Lurie also met privately prior to the formal job interview on Tuesday , according to Schefter .  Brian Dawkins on former teammate Doug Pederson ' s chances to be Eagles next coach  Lurie has a penchant for hiring head coaches with a background on offense and McAdoo has worked with the likes of Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Giants two time Super Bowl winning Giants quarterback Eli Manning , which could make him an attractive option for the Eagles given the uncertainty at the position . ?  Multiple reports say the Eagles have no plans to interview any new candidates , which if true , puts McAdoo firmly in the running for the job . ?  Meanwhile , Schefter went on to explain that he doesn ' t believe that Kelly will land an  job this offseason . ?  You can listen to the full interview : here . ?      , Ep . 25 : The Eagles ' coaching search is boring and bland  We sort through a bland coaching search and try to make sense of why the Eagles are interested in certain candidates . Plus , some fireworks as we debate whether Tom Coughlin makes sense in Philly . Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or Stitcher .  Matt Lombardo may be reached at MDLombardo yahooweblink . Follow him on Twitter ? MattLombardo975 . ? Find NJweblink Eagles on Facebook .  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
1083,1083,"The New York Times website was still experiencing some issues late Wednesday and early Thursday following a widespread outage . Evidence continued to mount that it was the result of an attack by the Syrian Electronic Army .  The group , loyal to Syrian President Bashar Al Assad , has been behind multiple attacks on media websites in recent months and , on Twitter , took credit for a sophisticated hack that had hobbled the Times ' news site for roughly 20 hours .  "" The nytimes attack was going to deliver an anti war message but our server couldn ' t last for 3 minutes , "" the group posted on its Twitter feed at about 9 : 40 Wednesday morning .  The attack came as governments in several countries considered military action in light of reports that Al Assad has used chemical weapons against his own people in an effort to quell an uprising calling for his ouster .  "" Our website and domain are now down , but it was worth the attempt , for Syria and world peace , "" the group wrote later .  What is the Syrian Electronic Army ?  The group said their site was taken down because they violated their registration agreement .  People on Twitter began reporting the New York Times site was down as early as 3 p . m .  Tuesday . Some users also reported difficulty accessing the Times ' mobile site and apps .  The newspaper posted a message on its Facebook page about 5 p . m .  that said , "" Many users are having difficulty accessing The New York Times online . We are working to fix the problem . Our initial assessment is the outage is most likely the result of a malicious external attack . ""  New York Times chief information officer Marc Frons sent the same update internally to employees at 4 : 20 p . m . and advised them not to send out sensitive emails "" until this situation is resolved , "" according to a statement from the New York Times . The outage was the result of an attack on the company ' s domain name registrar , Melbourne  .  The hackers gained access to a Melbourne  reseller account using a phishing email and proceeded to change the  records of multiple domains , including NYTimesweblink , according to the company .  "" We are currently reviewing our logs to see if we can obtain information on the identity of the party that has used the reseller credentials , and we will share this information with the reseller and any relevant law enforcement bodies , "" said Melbourne  ' s Tony Smith in a statement .  Twitter also was hampered briefly by a similar attack .  Several Twitter users posted screenshots of a "" Hacked by  "" message they said they received when they went to the New York Times homepage .  Frons said Tuesday ' s attack was more sophisticated than previous  hacks .  "" It ' s sort of like breaking into the local savings and loan versus breaking into Fort Knox . A domain registrar should have extremely tight security because they are holding the security to hundreds if not thousands of Web sites , "" said Frons in the New York Times .  While the site was down , the New York Times continued to post articles at its numerical  address , 170 . 149 . 168 . 130 and at news . nytcoweblink .  Tuesday ' s episode was the Times ' second sustained website outage this month . The newspaper ' s site also went down August 14 for several hours , an outage the newspaper blamed on "" an internal issue . ""  In an update on a company blog , Twitter confirmed that there was a  issue with one of the domains used to host images . "" Viewing of images and photos was sporadically impacted . By 22 : 29  , the original domain record for twimgweblink was restored . No Twitter user information was affected by this incident , "" said the post .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
1089,1089,"This is what Democrats think of people who broke our laws to come to America? Nancy Pelosi thanked a  Dreamer s  parents Wednesday for bringing him to the United States illegally. Pelosi made the remark during a town hall with  s Chris Cuomo where she took a question from  Dreamer  Adrian Reyna. Our Dreamers, they make America dream again,  Pelosi said.  They re so lovely and we, frankly, owe a debt to your parents for bringing you here to be such a brilliant part of our future.  she s happy to let the tax payers foot the bill for these illegals:The swelling population of illegal immigrants and their kids is costing American taxpayers $135 billion a year, the highest ever, driven by free medical care, education and a huge law enforcement bill, according to the the most authoritative report on the issue yet.Dreamers are individuals who were brought illegally to the United States as children. Former president Barack Obama s administration provided cover to Dreamers from possible deportation to their countries of origin with the  (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) executive order in 2012.The Trump administration rescinded the order last month and called on Congress to replace it within six months. Reyna expressed concern about Democrats coming to a deal with President Donald Trump about illegal immigration and Dreamers.Pelosi promised Reyna that a clean  Dream Act  would be passed before December.Pelosi continued to heap praise on Dreamers and their families and laid out Democrats  plan to block the Trump administration and Republicans from taking any kind of potential action against illegal immigration.Read more:  ",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,fake,fake,True,no,no,positive,present
1093,1093,"Many Home Depots once featured several dozen day laborers nearby, but the supply is shriveling as the U. S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) may seek to deport up to 3 million illegal aliens that have criminal records. [Following a presidential executive order, “Border Security and Immigration Enforcement Improvements,” issued on January 25,  raids across the United States detained 680 high priority individuals for deportation, with about 161 detained in California, according to the Washinton Examiner.  But that works out to just o. 07 percent of the 950, 062   aliens with deportation orders on the list as of May 21, 2016. According to updated testimony on May 19 to the Senate Judiciary Committee of testimony by Thomas D. Homan, acting  director, removals of illegal aliens dropped by 41 percent, from 409, 849 during the 2012 election year, to 240, 255 during the 2016 election year. Of the 99. 3 percent of interior removals, 92 percent were priority convicted criminals, and 7. 3 percent were threats to national security, public safety, and border security. Holman told Judiciary Committee Chairman Sen. Chuck Grassley ( ) that although there are 3 million illegal immigrants with criminal records in addition to their illegal status,  only has detained 11, 006 individuals. When asked by Grassley why there were so few in custody, Homan’s answered: “Individuals on ICE’s   docket with final orders of removal are released under conditions designed to ensure their compliance with their immigration obligations. ” With virtually no general purpose interior removals in the last couple of years, the latest Pew Research Center Hispanic Trends survey found that were an estimated 11. 1 million illegal aliens in the U. S. in 2014, down from 12. 2 million in 2007. About 72 percent of illegal aliens are employed, equal to about 5 percent of the entire U. S. workforce. About 33 percent held service jobs such as janitor, child care worker or cook, twice the 17 percent share of U. S.  workers 15 percent hold construction jobs, triple the share of U. S.  workers who hold that type of employment and 13 percent are employed in manufacturing jobs, compared to 10 percent of U. S.  workers. Despite the impression that a high percentage work in agriculture, only 5 percent of illegal aliens are employed in agriculture, versus 2 percent of U. S.  workers.",true,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
1094,1094,"Perugia , Italy Former American student Amanda Knox went back to court Wednesday to appeal her conviction for murdering her British roommate .  She is tense and has lost weight , her lawyer , Luciano Ghirga , told reporters .  And she is facing a difficult legal battle , he said .  Rather than prosecutors having to prove she is guilty , "" we have to prove her innocence , which is more difficult to do , "" Ghirga said .  Her stepfather , Chris Mellas , said she had a "" a very strong appeal "" and there were "" ample grounds for Amanda ' s release . ""  He said he experienced deja vu walking back in the court where she was convicted nearly a year ago and seeing "" a new jury , new judge new judges . Unfortunately the old prosecutor , still , but you can ' t get everything . ""  The hearing lasted about 15 minutes before the judge adjourned it until December 11 because one of the lawyers was not present .  Knox , 23 , was sentenced last December to 26 years in prison for the killing of Meredith Kercher at the villa they shared in Perugia , the central Italian town where both were students .  Kercher , 21 , was found in November 2007 , semi naked with her throat slashed . Knox and her former Italian boyfriend , Raffaele Sollecito , were both found guilty of the murder .  Sollecito is serving a 25 year sentence .  A third person , Rudy Guede , a drifter originally from the Ivory Coast , was tried separately and is serving a 16 year prison sentence .  Kercher ' s family is following the appeal , lawyer Francesco Maresca said .  "" Of course , this is a phase in which they want to remember Meredith and think about Meredith and they hope to be able to just dedicate themselves to her memory without having to deal with trials anymore , "" he said .  Knox ' s family said in April that she is innocent and that no forensic evidence puts her at the crime scene .  "" Meredith was Amanda ' s friend , "" the family said . "" They liked each other and spent time together when not in school . Amanda would not hurt Meredith . ""  The family said the appeal would detail "" a lot of conjecture in these motivations , a number of discrepancies as well as a number of inconsistencies and contradictions as well as conclusions not supported by evidence . ""  Jurors said they believed Knox played a role in the killing but that the death was not premeditated , according to a report released in April by the judges in the case .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
1101,1101,"Media Outlets Pledge Evenhanded Criticism Of Trump, Clinton Over Next 4 Years Close Vol 52 Issue 44 · Politics · News Media · Hillary Clinton · Donald Trump   YORK—Declaring that they would work tirelessly to hold both figures to account, the nation’s media outlets pledged Thursday that they would not relent in providing evenhanded criticism of Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton over the next four years. “We want to assure the American people that throughout the forthcoming presidential term, we will, with equal rigor, hold both Trump’s and Clinton’s feet to the fire on the issues that matter most,” said  president Jeff Zucker, who echoed official statements made by every other cable, print, and online news source across the country by affirming that it was the responsibility of the press to ensure both individuals were made to answer for their misdeeds during the next administration. “While we vow to carefully monitor the decisions and actions of the nation’s next president and expose his and his cabinet’s failings wherever they appear, we also make a solemn promise to provide a balanced critique by refusing to ever let Clinton off the hook. The nation can continue to count on us for fair, equitable reporting on the most important political developments.” At press time, members of the media were already diligently researching what effect Clinton’s email scandal might have on Trump’s foreign policy. Share This Story:      Sign up For The Onion's Newsletter  Give your spam filter something to do. Daily Headlines ",fake,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
1111,1111,"Infection rates are soaring for young gay Latino and black men and social worker Justin Toro is one of the frontline personnel laboring to end the harmful trend . He works in the the Adolescent  Program at The Children ' s Hospital at Montefiore in the Bronx .  It s official ? young gay Latino and black men have the highest  infection rates nationwide , and the trend is hitting New York .  As of June 2014 , men ages 20 29 who have sex with men account for the highest number of new diagnoses documented by the city Health Department . And according to the latest city statistics , 793 ? or 58 . 7 of new cases in the city ? were among men who have sex with men . ?  On the frontlines trying to address this and other challenges posed by the epidemic to young people of all genders in the Bronx are social workers like Justin Toro at the Adolescent  Program (  ) at The Children ' s Hospital at Montefiore .  Toro was 20 when he was diagnosed with  in 2006 . Momentarily devastated , he regrouped and dedicated himself to learning about the virus and sharing the information with friends and peers .  This led me to wanting to work with other young people who were living with  , as well as educating those who were  negative on how to remain negative , Toro explained .  At  , a long established and nationally recognized program , Toro is one of three social workers caring for 170 young clients ages 13 to 24 . This number includes 130 living with  , five of whom are transgender youths .  We provide medical care and anything from monitoring their CD4 levels , their school work , mental health needs , disclosure issues , and help them cope , said Toro . We also help them find support , such as for food and accommodation .  There is also support provided to 40  negative but at risk young clients , ten of whom are transgender . This group is tested and screened regularly and given pre exposure prophylaxis , or PrEP , the prevention option for people who are at high risk of getting  . For transgender clients ,  offers counseling and referral services . ?  Overall , the program takes on 40 new clients every year , while approximately 20 transition to adult care , said Toro .  Data from the Centers for Disease Control highlights the importance of programs like  . The  estimates that 2 , 045 Latinos age 24 and younger were diagnosed with  in the U . S . in 2013 , which represented 20 of all the diagnoses in this age group .  In addition , statistics show more new  infections ( 4 , 800 ) occurred among young ( ages 13 24 ) African American gay and bisexual men than in any other subgroup of gay and bisexual men .  The first such program in the U . S . when it was established in 1987 , notes Toro ,  serves also as a local and national resource . ?  It is one of 15 sites around the country that engages in National Institutes of Health funded clinical , behavioral and community based research on youth and  , as well as community prevention and training of health care providers .  To contact the Adolescent  Program at The Children ' s Hospital at Montefiore , call ( 718 ) 882 0232 or email info adolescentaids . org .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
1115,1115,"November 9, 2016  Satire, an archetype invented by classical Roman poets, has reversed a decision it took in early July and will continue taking charge of the global situation. Satirists, who had hoped to resume control of a vehicle that has now nullified itself by creating real world conditions so ridiculous that it is impossible to send them up, called the decision ‘disappointing but understandable’.  ‘Just to recap,’ said Satire, ‘I actually began all this in the States a year ago so it’s come full circle. The joke seemed to have gone stale after a while, so I switched to Britain. I whipped up an unnecessary referendum, chucked in some grotesque stock characters and got an overgrown blonde child to pretend to be for one side when he had been for the other just months before.’  ‘I encouraged him to do just enough to get an honourable defeat, only to have him win so that his school chum who had been ruling the country had to resign. Then, I arranged for his weird sidekick to stab him in the back, only to get chucked out in turn, then let two demonic female figures fight it out and had one win who thought much the same as the original man about the original problem, which wasn’t really a problem at all and ensured she is bound to win an election on the decision, even though most people regret it.’  At that point, Satire took a back seat, agreeing that the possibility of a fictional orange-skinned character might become the world’s most powerful man after a campaign based on telling obvious lies, losing every debate and winning the evangelical vote by gripping vaginas was just too ridiculous to write about. Now, however, he has decided to make another go of it.  ‘OK, so I’m in my comfort zone now,’ Satire concluded. ‘The world’s leading nation devoting its entire energy to building a wall to stop brown-skinned people coming to do the jobs they won’t do themselves, people protesting against the 1% by voting for the epitome of the 1%, a thin-skinned, twice-bankrupt narcissist making decisions that will affect the whole world for a generation – it’s going to be epic. I mean, seriously, what’s the worst that could happen? … Nuclear war, you say? Hey, that could lead to another satire boom too. Boom – geddit? Did you see what I did there? Oh please yourselves…’ Share this story...  Posted: Nov 9th, 2016 by Oxbridge Click for more article by Oxbridge .. More Stories about: Left Alert 0",fake,news,test,US elections,Sports/Other,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,past
1125,1125,"Independent voter Chris Sullivan went to the polls in Princeton, Texas on Super Tuesday, intending to cast a ballot in the Democratic primary.Sullivan says that a poll worker at Princeton High School, located in Collin County, Texas, instructed him to select any voting machine, saying that it didn t matter if he was voting for a Republican or a Democrat.Once Sullivan had selected a machine, however, he says it locked his vote in for a Republican candidate.As a result of being locked into a republican ballot, Sullivan says he was unable to cast his vote in the primary election.Following the debacle, he took to voice his outrage at having his vote stolen by  cheats.Image credit: screen capture, Chris Sullivan on FacebookAddicting Info spoke to Sullivan on March 2.He clarified what happened further, saying, It wasn t that I was directed to the wrong line  I was specifically told by one of the people at the desk that it didn t matter what party I chose, I could vote for anyone. Sullivan also told us that the poll worker he spoke to was clearly not neutral. I was standing behind a couple and the woman (poll worker) asked if they were voting republican. When they said yes, she replied  good cause I already locked you in. It might be easier to dismiss what happened to Sullivan as an error, as opposed to deliberate cheating, had he not overheard the same worker giving very different instructions to the Republican couple.Sullivan also told us that he felt like  there was a strong push to vote Republican,  from the poll workers.While he s not sure if any other Collin County voters had a similar experience, Sullivan says that he has already contacted attorneys for the Bernie Sanders campaign to report what happened. He also plans to report his experience to the Texas Attorney General s office today.As reported here, Democratic voters in Georgia also may have had their votes stolen, thanks to Republican dirty tricks.Brianna Fleener was one of many Democratic voters who were issued Republican ballots in Lowndes County, GA. I show up, I fill out the paper and I give it to the man at the counter,  Fleener told ValdostaToday.  Next, I was given a card to insert into the machine, and when I pulled up the screen I realized I was given the wrong ballot. Fleener says that several other Democratic voters were also given Republican ballots. As I look around, I notice I m not the only one. Turns out that anyone voting Democrat received a Republican ballot. After making some phone calls, we were told we could fix it, but we were showing up in the system as voted when none of us had casted our ballots. Democrats may not have been the only ones cheated out of their votes by the  on Super Tuesday.Austin s  radio station was flooded with calls claiming that voting machines were flipping votes from Donald Trump to other  candidates.Listen to the vote flipping accusations, reported to KLBJ, via Raw Story on YouTube: Image credit:weblink, photoshop",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
1141,1141,"Nearly 200 million in federal funding will be awarded to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey for repairs after Superstorm Sandy , according to a statement Sunday from U . S . Sen . Chuck Schumer ' s office .  Schumer and Sen . Kirsten Gillibrand , both New York Democrats , announced that the Department of Transportation is providing 195 . 7 million in funds for infrastructure repairs needed after the storm damaged the region ' s rail systems and infrastructure , according to the statement .  An estimated 141 . 5 million of the money will go to the Port Authority Trans Hudson Corporation Commuter Rail , and an estimated 54 . 2 million will go to the World Trade Center Transportation Hub , the statement says .  Damage from Sandy has cost the Port Authority 2 billion to return the agency ' s airports , rail system , bridges and tunnels to service .  Gillibrand said the devastation to the region ' s mass transit and infrastructure was "" unprecedented "" and that the funding is critical to help recover and rebuild .  The  rail system suffered damage from the millions of gallons of saltwater that flooded the tunnels between New York and New Jersey , the statement says . In the storm ' s aftermath ,  trains had to operate on a limited basis .  The World Trade Center also sustained significant damage . That portion of the funding will go to the World Trade Center Transportation Hub , which is set to open in 2015 . It will be home to the  system and will connect 13 subway lines and link pedestrians to the World Financial Center .  The federal funding is part of the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013 , providing relief to communities , families and businesses damaged by Superstorm Sandy .  The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is critical to the region ' s trade and transportation network . It includes America ' s busiest airport system , marine terminals and ports , the  rail transit system , six tunnels and bridges between New York and New Jersey , the Port Authority Bus Terminal in Manhattan and the World Trace Center , according to its website .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
1152,1152,"The new Mike Tyson does not look like the old Mike Tyson .  Gennady Golovkin has a baby face unadorned by menacing warrior tattoos but he is a prize ring assassin just the same .  As the real world middleweight champion he is , naturally , smaller than the youngest man ever to win the world heavyweight title .  Gennady Golovkin is the new Mike Tyson in the ring , but not outside of it  Golovkin ( left ) knocks down Daniel Geale during their   Middleweight bout last July  He is also respectful of his opponents , unfailingly polite to all he meets , rarely if ever swears in any of the four languages he speaks fluently , often dresses like an English country gentleman , regularly takes his son on the school run in his adopted Germany and has a smile like sunshine .  But this is where the dissimilarities end : Outside the ring .  The Kazakh known as  his middle name is a longer version of his first name is the most powerful pound for pound puncher in the world .  Deontay Wilder may be the biggest hitting heavyweight but in terms of comparative size , Golovkin is the most devastating .  It appears that not even the most thunderous of the light heavyweights can live with him .  Sergey Kovalev , the Russian Krusher who flattened Nathan Cleverly and recently ended the long championship reign of Bernard Hopkins , is reported to have withdrawn from sparring with Golovkin because he was getting badly hurt .  Kovalev ' s trainer is in denial about that but the anecdotal evidence is plentiful .  Golovkin has knocked out 28 of his 31 victims in an all win professional career thus far and St Helens ' own Martin Murray is next to climb the scaffold , in Monte Carlo on Saturday night .  Golovkin , dressed like an English country gentleman , during a visit to London to promote his fight  Tyson ( right ) in action against Buster Mathis Jnr in Philadelphia in August 1995  Tyson is pictured in modern day guise , complete with facial tattoos  He has not been taken the distance since an eight rounder all of six years and 18 fights ago .  Nor , since he seems to have a chin as granite as his fists , has he ever been knocked off his own feet . Not for a second .  That charming demeanour evaporates when the first bell rings . Golovkin becomes a destructive monster and if you keep your hands up to protect your head he simply sets about disembowelling you .  Matthew Macklin , the much respected and usually durable Anglo Irish middleweight contender , was crumpled by a single body shot and reports : ' I ' ve never been hit that hard in my life . It ' s scary . '  This man certainly appears to put the wind up even the most accomplished boxers around his weight .  Golovkin has been trying , so far in vain , to secure big name fights against the likes of Sergio Martinez , Miguel Cotto and Julio Cesar Chavez Jnr .  He says : ' I want these major fights but what can I do if they won ' t get in the ring with me . '  Golovkin in action against Curtis Stevens during their  Middleweight Title fight in New York in 2013  It is to Murray ' s enormous credit that he has agreed to venture where others fear to tread despite the lure of Golovkin ' s  and  world titles being at stake .  All the more so since this one man wrecking ball is in his prime at 32 .  Murray freely admits that Felix Sturm and Martinez were somewhat in decline when they inflicted the only minor blemishes on his record , a controversial draw and a disputed defeat in those respective world title challenges .  Not Golovkin , who patiently built the foundation of his career through 350 amateur fights of which he won all but five .  The professional steel which is his backbone now was embedded in boyhood .  Golovkin throws a left jab at Marco Antonio Rubio during the  middleweight title bout last October  Golavkin celebrates after knocking out Geale to defend his   middleweight titles last July  Two of Golovkin ' s four brothers were killed in mysterious action when serving with the Soviet army in the 1990s . But they knew  was the most ferocious of them and when they were growing up together in Kazakhstan they used to challenge grown men to fight the seven year old Gennady in the streets , where he gave them a beating .  The Russian government declined to disclose details of their deaths or permit funerals .  ' It was a very hard time for us , ' says Golovkin . ' Our family was torn apart . '  Now he honours the memory of his late siblings in the ring .  Monte Carlo ' s sumptuous Salle des Etoiles is a world far removed from the grimy town of Karaganda , where his coal miner father and Korean mother struggled to bring them all up .  But the chandeliers of this casino ballroom will glitter down on either Gennady Golovkin hammering out his latest concussive triumph or Martin Murray springing one of boxing ' s bigger surprises .  Golovkin Murray will be live on Channel 5 from 10 pm this Saturday night .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
1161,1161,"There are no employees , no office and no signage to be found there .  Its only presence is the tiny metal box bearing the number of the beast , 666 , and housed at a post office building in the capital Hamilton .  Last week Google ? whose slogan was once Don t be evil ? was slammed over a deal to pay  Revenue Customs A262 million ( ? 130 million ) in back taxes covering the past 10 years , despite profits of A12 billion .  That s a rate of just 3 per cent .  Google says it has no permanent  base despite a string of fancy offices housing 2300 staff .  At the Bermudan government s official Registrar of Companies , Google Bermuda Unlimited and Google Ireland Holdings are registered to the address of Conyers Dill and Pearman , a law firm at Clarenden House , 2 Church St , Hamilton .  The firm specialises in offshore corporate , litigation and private equity matters , and its address is just three blocks from the post office which houses the  box .  Google , which makes most of its money through online advertising , has been moving profits to the tax haven via Ireland and Holland .  In 2013 , it sent A14 billion ( ? 7 . 5 billion ) in global royalties to its Bermuda based subsidiary , according to the company s own accounts .  It is thought this will have risen to more than A16 billion ( ? 8 billion ) for last year .  Yet few people in Bermuda realise the tech giant holds its entire global earnings , excluding the  , on the island ? including those who work at the very building housing the law firm .  Google funnels an estimated 16 ? billion of profits through Bermuda each year . Picture :  Photo Virginia MayoSource :   Derrick Ward , 51 , has delivered mail in the postal department of Conyers Dill Pearman for the past four years .  He had no idea Google s offshore base was on his doorstep .  Derrick said : Google don t have an office in the lawyers building . I m sure we d know about it if they did .  If there was a Google  on Bermuda it would be clear to see . I hear they have football pitches at their offices . I ve never met anyone who works for Google in all my life .  The Sun on Sunday approached a receptionist at the law firm who claimed she had been working there for 35 years .  She also had no idea that Google conducted business dealings on the island , a British overseas territory .  Speaking from the drab looking office , which is decked with plastic ferns , 1980s style furniture and tacky oil paintings , she said : Google doesn t have an office here , they don t employ any staff here .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
1163,1163,"Great Britain and Ecuador remained in a standoff early Friday , following the South American nation ' s decision to grant Julian Assange asylum a decision British authorities are refusing to honor , saying they are committed to extraditing the WikiLeaks founder to Sweden .  According to the official Twitter feed of WikiLeaks a website that ' s published hundreds of thousands of once secret U . S . government documents there were "" over 35 police surrounding the Ecuadorian embassy in London "" soon after 12 : 30 a . m . Friday . Britain ' s foreign ministry , though , earlier countered that there was a larger "" police presence outside the British Embassy in Quito "" than at the Ecuadorian mission in London .  Inside the latter embassy is Assange , the Australian national wanted in Sweden to face questioning over claims of rape and sexual molestation , as he ' s been since first seeking asylum in June .  What ' s next for Assange ' s extradition battle ?  On Thursday , he thanked his "" courageous , independent "" Ecuadorian hosts for protecting him "" from persecution , "" after its Foreign Minister Ricardo Pati o announced his nation was giving asylum to Assange and urged British authorities to let him travel freely to South America .  Outlining why the asylum request was granted , Pati o said his nation has a credible fear Assange who was described as an activist for freedom of the press and freedom of expression will be silenced if sent to Sweden and , perhaps eventually , the United States .  The minister specifically expressed concerns that if Assange were extradited to the United States , he might face charges of treason or espionage and , if convicted , be sentenced to death . In the United States where Assange hasn ' t been charged with anything , for now there are no guarantees Assange would receive a fair trial or that he wouldn ' t be subject to a military or secret tribunal , Pati o said .  "" There are strong indications of retaliation by the country or countries who produced the information divulged by Mr Assange , reprisals that could put at risk his security , integrity and even his life , "" the Ecuadorian government concluded .  Timeline : Assange ' s extradition battle  U . S . Justice Department spokesman Dean Boyd on Thursday offered "" no comment on Julian Assange or the dispute over his asylum between Ecuadorian and  authorities . ""  U . S . Attorney General Eric Holder has said that the Justice Department is conducting an "" active , ongoing criminal investigation "" into the WikiLeaks disclosure of hundreds of thousands of classified U . S . documents relating to the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan and about 250 , 000 U . S . diplomatic cables . Assange and his supporters claim a U . S . grand jury has been empaneled to consider charges against him .  It is unclear if Assange could be charged with treason in the United States or what sentence he ' d face if convicted . Those convicted of treason in the United States may be sentenced to between five years in prison up to death , according to federal law published on the U . S . House of Representatives ' website . But the law only applies to those "" owing allegiance to the United States . ""  A death sentence also can be imposed on those convicted of espionage by communicating certain sensitive information to a "" foreign government "" or other such faction "" with intent or reason "" to harm the United States , according to U . S . federal law . But there are death penalty restrictions for that crime .  Like other left leaning Latin American leaders such as Venezuela ' s Hugo Chavez , Bolivia ' s Evo Morales and Cuba ' s Fidel Castro , Ecuador President Rafael Correa has railed against the United States as an "" imperial power that has to be checked , "" said Robert Amsterdam , a Canadian international lawyer who ' s worked on high profile cases involving Latin America , Russia and Thailand .  Correa , an economist who earned two academic degrees in the United States and is up for re election next February , said in an interview with Assange earlier this year on the activist ' s  show : "" I love and admire the American people a great deal . . . But I will always call a spade a spade . ""  The Ecuadorian president also hasn ' t hesitated to poke Britain , as he did in calling for sanctions in February against that nation over its long running dispute with Argentina over who owns the Falkland Islands .  That  Ecuador dispute is the focal point of the current tension , with both nations appearing firm in their positions .  Assange embassy gamble follows famous precedents  Britain is disappointed by Ecuador ' s decision and will continue to "" carry out ( its ) obligation "" to arrest and extradite Assange to Sweden , with the  Foreign Office saying "" the Ecuadorian government ' s decision this afternoon does not change that . ""  British Foreign Minister William Hague added his nation won ' t provide safe passage for Assange , and that the  had "" painstakingly "" assured the Ecuadorians that his human rights would be protected .  "" It is important to understand that this is not about Mr Assange ' s activities at WikiLeaks or the attitude of the United States of America . He is wanted in Sweden to answer allegations of serious sexual offenses , "" Hagues said .  Assange was arrested in Britain in 2010 because Swedish authorities wanted to question him about the allegations . Two women accused him of sexually assaulting them during an August 2010 visit to Sweden in connection with a WikiLeaks release of internal U . S . military documents . Assange denies the allegations and argues they are in retribution for his organization ' s disclosure of American secrets .  Pati o jabbed British authorities for sending a written notice to Ecuador that they would "" assault "" his country ' s embassy in London if Ecuadorian officials failed to hand over Assange .  The British say one of their laws allow for them to enter the embassy and arrest Assange . Pati o cited a laundry list of international treaties and conventions that he said make it clear that it is illegal to enter another country ' s embassy .  The  , in effect , is saying "" we are going to savagely hit you depending on how you behave , "" Pati o said .  Why Assange needs Ecuador and Ecuador needs Assange  Yet the next confrontation may not be at the embassy , but in court .  "" What the United Kingdom must do is apply the diplomatic obligations of the ( U . N . ) Refugee Convention and let him leave with a safe conduct pass , "" said Baltasar Garzon , a former Spanish judge who said he is working pro bono as coordinator of Assange ' s defense team , by e mail from Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic . "" If not , we will go to the International Court of Justice . ""  Garzon is a well known crusading human rights judge who ordered the arrest of ex Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet in London in 1998 . Spain ' s judicial authority removed him from the bench last February after his conviction in a case in which his home nation ' s Supreme Court determined Garzon had improperly ordered wiretaps while investigating a financial corruption case .  Following Ecuador ' s announcement , Sweden said it took umbrage to the implication it does not guarantee the rights of those in its custody , and called the Ecuadorian ambassador there to a meeting .  Opinion : Assange ' s stubborn grip hurt WikiLeaks  "" Sweden does not extradite individuals who risk facing the death penalty , "" a Swedish Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said , implicitly referring to the possibility Assange could be charged with crimes eligible for the death penalty in the United States , with whom it has an extradition agreement .  The Swedish ministry said on its official Twitter account that this was an "" unacceptable attempt by Ecuador to stop the Swedish judicial process and the European judicial cooperation . ""  Assange sought refuge at the embassy five days after the Supreme Court in Britain dismissed his bid to reopen his appeal of the decision to send him to Sweden , his last option in British courts . He is subject to arrest for breaking the terms of his bail , which required that he spend his nights at the home of a supporter outside London , London ' s Metropolitan Police said the day after he entered the embassy .  Publicly silent since last March , he ' s set to speak at 2 p . m . Sunday two months to the day since he sought asylum according to WikiLeaks official Twitter feed .  That same day , foreign ministers from member states of the Union of South American Nations will convene in Guayaquil , Ecuador , to discuss the situation in London , Peru ' s foreign ministry announced in a statement late Thursday . Ecuador requested the meeting , after which representatives from  member states talked and agreed to meet , the Peruvian ministry said .  Fake New York Times op ed a WikiLeaks hoax  ",true,text,test,US elections,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
1180,1180,"The applications for White House interns just took a sharp nose-dive Former President Bill Clinton could practically serve an unconstitutional third term as president if Hillary Clinton becomes sick in office if elected, given the previous first ladies who acted as presidents on behalf of their sick husbands.Former First Ladies Nancy Reagan, Mamie Eisenhower and Lady Edith Galt Wilson all made presidential decisions while their husbands were ill in office.Galt Wilson in particular acted as the de facto president when President Woodrow Wilson suffered a stroke in 1919 to prevent Vice President Thomas Marshall from assuming the presidency because Marshall was too friendly to Wilson s political rival in Congress. If a President Hillary Clinton s health were to decline, it is a certainty that former President Bill Clinton would emulate Galt and act in his wife s stead as president,  said investigative journalist Wayne Madsen.  Senator Tim Kaine was chosen as Mrs. Clinton s running mate because he, as was Marshall, is a milquetoast politician who would not seek to become acting president of the United States in the event of the incapacitation of the president. For Bill Clinton, serving as the de facto president would be an effective third term as president, something barred by the U.S. Constitution. Additionally, Woodrow Wilson s personal physician concealed the president s stroke from the public, which of course draws comparisons to how the Hillary campaign is downplaying concerns over Hillary s health, despite 71% of doctors stating her problems could be disqualifying. Both physicians and other voters think that health concerns are relevant when choosing a presidential candidate,  stated Jane M. Orient, M.D., the executive director of the Associations of American Physicians and Surgeons.Via: InfoWars",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,past
1184,1184,"Atlanta Fed ' s Lockhart says rate case "" compelling "" ahead of last review   Dec 2 U . S . economic data would have to "" drastically "" alter the nation ' s outlook over the next two weeks to change the "" compelling "" case for an initial hike in interest rates when the Federal Reserve next meets on Dec . 15 16 , Atlanta Fed President Dennis Lockhart said on Wednesday .  "" My staff and I are getting close to a last review of the overall picture suggested by the data , "" Lockhart said of the potentially "" historic "" Fed session later this month that may approve the first interest rate increase in nearly a decade .  The decision would mark a final end of sorts to the economic crisis and recession that rocked the U . S . economy beginning in 2007 , and led the Fed to slash rates to near zero seven years ago .  Given unemployment at five percent , ongoing economic growth , and an expectation that inflation will rise to the Fed ' s two percent target , Lockhart said it would take a major negative turn of events to change his opinion that the Fed ' s extended stay at the zero lower bound should come to an end .  "" Absent information that drastically changes the economic picture and outlook , I feel the case for liftoff is compelling , "" Lockhart told a community group in Fort Lauderdale .  This could well be the week when the Fed cements its case for a rate hike . Fed chair Janet Yellen speaks on the economic outlook later on Wednesday before a Washington economics group , and on Thursday to a joint Congressional committee .  The Labor Department ' s monthly jobs report on Friday will be a key data point , with economists expecting that as many as 200 , 000 additional jobs were created in November .  A Reuters poll of over 80 economists taken after the October jobs data were published found a median 70 percent probability the Fed will raise rates on Dec 16 . That is up from 55 percent in a poll taken the month before , although Reuters polls have been consistently predicting a December rate rise since the Fed took a pass in September  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
1199,1199,"With more and more coming out about Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, it s become abundantly clear that he in no way should be allowed near the Oval Office.Between his racism, sexism, Islamophobia, insulting disabled people as well as Gold Star families, and now the leaked Access Hollywood footage which is leading to women everywhere to reveal they ve been sexually assaulted by Trump, he s not fit to lead anything.Appearing on Late Night with Seth Meyers Vice President Joe Biden laid it all out on the table and told Seth, as well as the world, why Donald Trump isn t fit to lead as well as how absolutely horrible he is to women.Biden said: First of all, what I found astounding, is that he would so publicly, no matter who he was talking to, that he would acknowledge that he engaged in the textbook definition of sexual assault. He didn t say, you know,  I go up and I ask if, I just go up and grab and I can do this    and then I see in the paper today, one of the pageants, I guess Miss Teen America, the teen girls, I guess three, four, five in a room, they were getting dressed, they were naked, he walked in and said  don t worry girls, I ve seen all this    he stood there. I mean, this is absolutely outrageous behavior. Biden then drives the point home: I ve spent most of my career trying to figure out how to begin to change the culture in this country   that we treat women with respect and with dignity. And Biden truly has with his  It s On Us campaign which is leading the effort to combat sexual assault nationwide.What Donald Trump has done to women isn t only outrageous, it s illegal. Unwanted sexual advances is the definition of sexual assault, and Trump needs to be held accountable for his actions.Watch the video here: He engaged in the textbook definition of sexual assault   A stunned Joe Biden on the Trump tape: pic.twitter.com/O9u6rP3AsH  Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) October 13, 2016Featured image via video screen capture",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,present
1201,1201,"Reuters) - President Barack Obama cut short the prison terms of 214 convicts on Wednesday, the largest number of commutations a U.S. leader has granted in single day since at least 1900, the White House said. Obama has now granted a total of 562 commutations during his presidency, more than the number by the past nine presidents combined, it said. In Wednesday’s batch, 67 convicts were serving life sentences. The convicts were serving time for crimes including possession of crack cocaine and methamphetamine, with intent to distribute. Some were imprisoned on charges of gun possession.  One of the convicts, James Wright of Baltimore, Maryland, was serving a 20 year sentence that began in 2006 for possession of crack with intent to distribute. He will be released in December. Obama has worked to reform the U.S. criminal justice system and reduce the number of people serving long sentences for nonviolent drug offences. It is a rare issue on which Obama gets support from Republican lawmakers. For years crack offenders faced stiffer penalties than powder cocaine offenders, even though the substances are similar at the molecular level. Critics have said the disparity has unfairly harmed minority and poor communities.   In 2014, Obama announced the most ambitious clemency program in 40 years, inviting thousands of drug offenders and other convicts to seek early release. But the program has struggled under a flood of unprocessed cases.  “Our work is far from finished,” White House counsel Neil Eggleston said about the commutations. Eggleston urged Congress to take action. “While we continue to work to act on as many clemency applications as possible, only legislation can bring about lasting change to the federal system,” he said. The program automatically expires when Obama leaves office next January and it is uncertain whether the next president would continue with a similar plan. Donald Trump, the Republican candidate in the Nov. 8 election, has championed “law and order” in his campaign. Democrat Hillary Clinton has called for criminal justice reform.  ",true,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
1202,1202,"It ' s an illuminating idea which its creators hope will help drive up energy efficiency and bring down buildings ' carbon emissions .  Mixing the idea of Google ' s Street View with multi spectral thermal camera technology , Massachusetts based startup Essess is building a giant database mapping residential and commercial properties in the U . S .  The project is the idea of Sanjay Sarma , professor of mechanical engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (  ) who wanted to create a way of identifying and remedying inefficiencies in buildings .  Essess currently has a fleet of five cars mounted with thermal cameras that take a matter of seconds to assess an individual building . The brighter the colors , the greater the "" heat leak . ""  Company  , Storm Duncan says they are capturing around two to three million buildings per month at the moment .  "" The purpose of the approach is to provide a snapshot of the energy efficiency . It answers about 20 30 of the problems of your home . "" Duncan said .  "" I consider it a fabulous way to start a broader dialogue about the more comprehensive ( energy ) profile , "" he added .  Essess have also developed computer programs that generate energy reports highlighting specific areas of concern and calculating their cost financially and environmentally .  The beauty of the reporting system ( see gallery ) is its simplicity , says Duncan , with consumers immediately getting a sense of how efficient their homes really are .  The database will also create what he calls "" an eco system around building efficiency "" becoming the cornerstone of a competitive hub where homeowners can link up with specialists who can remedy problems .  Buildings consume around 40 of the U . S . ' s total energy requirements annually , according to the Department of Energy , with over one third of that power going to waste .  The company is evolving a business model which Duncan hopes will mean customers won ' t pay a cent to view information about their home .  Instead , audits will potentially become part of the service provided by real estate databases like Zillow and Trulia , Duncan says .  Essess hope to have covered 10 of the U . S . ' s 125 million properties by the end of the year .  Thermal imaging surveys are nothing new , but widespread access to them is says Stewart Little ,  of British thermal imaging company ,  .  "" Back in the 1980s the cameras cost about 250 , 000 ( 400 , 000 ) . Now they cost around 5 , 000 ( 8 , 000 ) . So the technology ' s moved on lots and lowered the barrier to entry for companies to go and do it . ""   have surveyed around 200 , 000  homes since they were founded in 2002 , and also offer customers quantified thermal images showing the financial and carbon costs of energy leaks .  It ' s a strategy that ' s proved highly successful in motivating people to insulate their homes , Little says .  The  ' s Energy Saving Trust says online surveys and energy monitors can also help homeowners track their energy usage .  They estimate that savings could save up to 380 a year by improving insulation .  "" The challenge is to do something about it , "" says Rob Bell , a energy consultant and former business development with the Energy Saving Trust .  "" With gas and electricity prices only looking like they are going in one direction , the amount you can save is also upwards as well , "" he added .  "" The headline figures around how much you can save could be the catalyst to get you from being aware to doing something about it . ""  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
1218,1218,"Inter Milan boss Jose Mourinho insists he should not have been sacked by Chelsea , stoking the tension ahead of Tuesday night ' s Champions League last 16 tie in London .  Italian champions Inter hold a 2 1 lead after winning the first leg in the San Siro , with Mourinho making an emotional return to the club where he is still adored by fans after winning two English Premier League titles despite his acrimonious departure in 2007 .  The Portuguese coach was axed by Chelsea ' s billionaire Russian owner Roman Abramovich just two months into the season following a disappointing 1 1 draw with Norwegian club Rosenborg in the Champions League .  He led Inter to the Serie A title in his first year in charge and the Nerazzuri top the Italian table again this season , though their lead has been cut to one point following Friday ' s shock defeat by Catania .  Blog : Real Madrid need Mourinho ' s magic  Chelsea , meanwhile , have won only the English  Cup since his departure , with his replacement Avram Grant and then Luiz Felipe Scolari being sacked before current manager Carlo Ancelotti took over from interim boss Guus Hiddink in July 2009 .  "" I feel sorry but I look forward . I feel sorry because , when I look at the big four teams while I was in England , their managers are all there , "" Mourinho told reporters on Monday .  "" Sir Alex Ferguson is here . Arsene Wenger is here . Rafa Benitez is here . I did more than enough to be here . But the decision was made .  "" Chelsea looked forward . I look forward . They move on . I move on . I keep winning important things . They keep winning . . . something . They won an  Cup .  "" The most important thing is the relation we have . No regrets , no big problems . Just respect . In football , coming back to an old team , it ' s important to feel like I feel . It ' s one of the most beautiful things in football . They move on , I move on . ""  However , the 47 year old admitted having one regret about his time at Stamford Bridge he would have preferred to leave on his own terms after winning the  Cup in May 2007 .  "" I would have left the day after the  Cup final after my third season . The timing was wrong . I waited three or four more months more and , after that , I left in September and I didn ' t enjoy my time from then to the day I went to Inter , "" he said .  "" For me , being away from football is too painful . If I had left Chelsea in May , I would have started the next season in a new club and I would not have been without football for six or seven months . ""  Mourinho , who won the Champions League in 2004 before joining Chelsea , said he still wishes to return to England in the future .  "" I have , as I said before , three things to do in my career . One is to come back to English football , another thing is to win the Spanish championship , because no one has won Italian , English and Spanish titles . And another one , when I ' m old , is to coach my national team . But , for now , I would like to keep winning with Inter . ""  Mourinho has had a difficult relationship with the Italian media since taking over from Roberto Mancini , now manager of English club Manchester City , and he has now come under more pressure following his latest falling out with young striker Mario Balotelli .  The 19 year old , who was dropped by Mourinho for a month last season for reportedly not training hard enough , did not make the trip to England after missing the Catania game .  Media reports claimed that the highly rated Balotelli argued with Mourinho following a below par performance in the previous game against Genoa , a 0 0 draw , claiming that he was ill .  "" I don ' t want to talk about him , "" Mourinho said . "" He won ' t be here . He won ' t be at the match .  "" I can explain whey I called up the other 20 players . It ' s more important to talk about the players who will be there , not those that are not . ""  Spanish club Sevilla host  Moscow in Tuesday night ' s other Champions League match .  The two teams drew 1 1 in the first leg in Russia last month .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
1221,1221,"Champions Spain began the defense of their World Cup title with a hard fought 1 0 win against Georgia in Tbilisi on Tuesday .  Playing their first qualifier in Group I , the 2010 World Cup winners had to wait until the 86th minute before striker Roberto Soldado finally broke down a stubborn Georgian side .  For much of the game , the home team , who hit the post early in the second half , defended with 10 men behind the ball against a side who retained their European Championship crown in July .  Goalkeeper Giorgi Loria had proved an immovable barrier but after he was replaced due to injury late in the second half , substitute Cesc Fabregas teed up Soldado to sweep home .  The win maintains Spain ' s two year unbeaten run in competitive matches , which stretches back to their 1 0 loss against Switzerland in their opening game at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa .  Spain are second in their group , three points behind 1998 champions France , who won their second match in four days when overcoming a second half wobble to beat Belarus 3 1 in Paris , with goals from Etienne Capoue , Christophe Jallet and Franck Ribery .  In London , England suffered a scare when trailing Ukraine for long periods before Frank Lampard scored a late penalty to earn a 1 1 draw , after Yevgen Konoplianka had curled home in the first half .  England captain Steven Gerrard was sent off for a second yellow card shortly after Lampard ' s penalty , as a first competitive game at Wembley for coach Roy Hodgson lacked the feelgood factor that has accompanied local sportsmen in London in recent weeks during the Olympics and Paralympics .  Hodgson ' s predecessor Fabio Capello enjoyed a more fruitful evening as his new Russian side won 4 0 in Israel while their next opponents and main Group F rivals Portugal needed late goals from Helder Postiga and Bruno Alves to add gloss to a labored 3 0 win over Azerbaijan in Braga .  Italy , the runners up at this year ' s Euro 2012 , were another leading nation who struggled to overcome less fancied opponents , as a stoppage time own goal helped the four time world champions to a 2 0 win over islanders Malta .  One of Tuesday ' s more intriguing games took place in Lucerne , where hosts Switzerland beat Albania 2 0 to go top of Group E .  Build up to the game had been dominated by the issue of players with Kosovan heritage , with six starting the match for Albania and three more for Switzerland midfield trio Granit Xhaka , Valon Behrami and Swiss star Xherdan Shaqiri .  Born to ethnic Albanian parents from Kosovo , Shaqiri was constantly booed by the sizable away support until the Bayern Munich player silenced them when opening the scoring after 23 minutes .  Elsewhere , big guns Germany maintained their 100 start in Group C when beating Austria 2 1 in Vienna , while Serbia stunned Group A rivals Wales with a 6 1 win in Novi Sad but the night ' s biggest winners were Montenegro , who won 6 0 in San Marino .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
1234,1234,"As a schoolgirl , Emma Lavelle had twin passions politics and horses . Had she chosen to pursue the former , spring 2015 , with an election looming , could well have proved an important time in her life .  But the woman who now runs a 70 box stable in Hampshire is hoping that , having favoured horses over Hansard , the same period definitely turns out to be momentous when she saddles Court By Surprise , her first runner in the 1 million Crabbie ' s Grand National on April 11 .  If the 10 year old wins , Lavelle would be the third female trainer to win Jump racing ' s best known race this century following Venetia Williams , with Mon Mome in 2009 and Sue Smith , with Auroras Encore in 2013 .  Emma Lavelle poses with Court By Surprise , her first runner in the 1 million Crabbie ' s Grand National  And she would also be feted , along with her former jockey husband and assistant Barry Fenton , for executing a long term precision plan .  Court By Surprise has not run since November as Lavelle patiently kept him fresh for the drier spring ground on which he excels .  Lavelle said : ' I did a lot of public speaking and debating at school . Margaret Thatcher was Prime Minister . Love her or hate her , she was a big presence . I loved her .  As a schoolgirl , Lavelle had twin passions politics and horses now she is targeting the Grand National  ' She got me interested in politics . I am opinionated and I like talking . I am not so sure now because it is all so grey but at the time I would have been happy to go down that road . '  Lavelle ' s communication skills with owners and staff have been essential after a devastating setback at the start of the season when she lost two of her best horses .  Timesremembered , who had finished sixth in the Coral Cup at the 2014 Cheltenham Festival , was killed in his first steeplechase , at Aintree in October , and Le Bec , thought capable of contesting top quality steeplechases , suffered a serious tendon injury at Ascot a week later .  Court By Surprise has not run since November as Lavelle patiently kept him fresh for the drier spring ground  Lavelle said : ' It really hit us hard . It was like a football team losing their best two players at the start of the season .  ' It was hard to pick up and get going again . But you have to keep positive , keep going forward and take your team with you . '  Lavelle ' s season has been rebuilt around Grade Two winner Closing Ceremony , much improved Parish Business , exciting Bumper winner See The World and , of course , Court By Surprise , who is owned by Kempton chairman Nick Mustoe .  Lavelle ' s decision to enter racing rather than politics was heavily influenced by the late Toby Balding  Court By Surprise ridden by Aidan Coleman clears the last to win the Best Mate Handicap Steeple Chase  The National entry , who will be ridden at Aintree by Daryl Jacob , won at Exeter in October and was then awarded the Badger Beer Chase at Wincanton after finishing second to fast improving unqualified entry , The Young Master . Subsequent events tell us Court By Surprise faced handicapping Everest that day . For Saturday week , trainer and horse have that essential Aintree ingredient a good story to tell .  Lavelle ' s decision to enter racing rather than politics was heavily influenced by working for the late Toby Balding , who won the Aintree race twice .  Lavelle , who was first invited to spend a week with Balding aged 11 when he trained a horse for her father , said : ' I was so lucky he let me be so involved . I wasn ' t strong enough to carry the water bucket in the morning . I filled it and had to get someone to carry it back to the stable . When I look back I found it staggering that , even having ridden ponies , he let me ride racehorses .  The National entry , who will be ridden at Aintree by Daryl Jacob , won at Exeter in October  ' He was someone you could learn as much as you wanted to off . If you asked the questions , he would give you the answers . He was a big man who enveloped you in everything . '  Court By Surprise , an overpriced 50 1 shot allotted 10st 3lb , has overcome two serious problems a leg injury when falling on his point to point debut and an infected leg which kept him off the course for almost two years and could have ended his career .  Lavelle added : ' Having missed the best part of two years , he has not had much racing but maybe it is a blessing in disguise he is so much stronger . Now , he ' s the best he ' s ever been . '  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
1235,1235,"When the first screenshots of Infinity Blade appeared for iPhone , gamers were quick to dimiss them as fakes .  But not only was the swords and sorcery game real , it went on to become a 10 million selling hit the fastest selling iPhone game ever .  The sequel , Infinity Blade 2 , comes out today for both iPhone and iPad and looks set to accelerate a trend that has seen Sony and Nintendo ' s portable gaming market share plunge from 91 per cent two years ago to just 42 per cent now .  The game will only run on phones with Apple ' s new fast A5 processors found in iPhone 4S and iPad 2  The original Infinity Blade was the fastest selling game ever on Apple ' s IPhone . The sequel adds faster paced , more complex combat  Magic spells are created by ' drawing ' a rune on screen : The game ' s success was at least partially due to the fact it was  for touchscreens , rather than a normal game  The game only works on handsets with the fast A5 processor the iPhone 4S and iPad 2 hence the top end 3D graphics , created by Epic Games , also behind console hits such as Gears of War 3 .  On review aggregator site Metacritic , its average score is 95 per cent .  TouchArcade said , ' We put incredibly powerful devices in our pockets and on our laps daily , but rarely do we see games that utterly embrace this like Infinity Blade has . It ' s a showcase piece a technically and visually gifted game that consistently delivers eye popping stuff . '  Like the first game , it ' s built to be controlled by touchscreen you swipe and parry across the screen , and unleash magical spells by drawing runes .  It ' s also almost certain to be followed by money spinning expansions : the last game had four .  The game is accompanied by a book by fantasy author Brandon Sanderson .  The range of beasts to battle has expanded but the basic combat system is still a simple matter of hitting buttons in time  The game will expand on the plot of the first one which had a rather cryptic ending revealing that the God King who you battled may not be a villain at alll . . .  The game now features a crossbow wielding heroine , Asian locations and an even more cryptic plot .  ' The continuing journey of young Siris unfolds as you delve deeper into the world of the Deathless tyrants and their legion of Titans , ' say the game ' s markers .  ' Can you unlock all the mysteries and successfully wield the power of the Infinity Blade in this timeless adventure of champions and villains ? '  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
1237,1237,"Washington The U . S . Supreme Court will decide whether police can take  samples from criminal suspects following their arrest , a case based on Maryland law with potentially national implications for the use of a popular investigative tool .  Justices will weigh a challenge to the state ' s law by Alonzo King , who was convicted of a 2003 rape on Maryland ' s Eastern Shore with the assistance of genetic material obtained following his arrest three years ago on an unrelated assault charge .  King moved to suppress the use of the  on Fourth Amendment grounds , but was ultimately convicted of the rape offense .  Federal law in 1994 created a national database in which local , state , and federal law enforcement agencies could compare and share information on  matches from convicted felons . But courts have been at odds on just when such samples can be collected and the information distributed .  A divided Maryland Court of Appeals agreed with King , saying suspects under arrest enjoy a higher level of privacy than a convicted felon . This , the court said , outweighed the state ' s law enforcement interests .  The appeals court also said that obtaining King ' s  immediately after arrest was not necessary in identifying him and that the process was more personally invasive than standard fingerprinting .  State officials asked the Supreme Court to intervene , saying the state court ruling "" resulted in the loss of a valuable crime fighting tool . "" They said that from a law enforcement and forensic perspective , there is no difference between fingerprinting and collecting "" biometric information . ""  The Supreme Court allowed the Maryland law to remain in effect in July while appeals from the state were filed , and Chief Justice John Roberts signaled at the time his tentative support for the measure .  "" Collecting  from individuals arrested for violent felonies provides a valuable tool for investigating unsolved crimes and thereby helping to remove violent offenders from the general population , "" Roberts wrote .  "" Crimes for which  evidence is implicated tend to be serious , and serious crimes cause serious injuries . That Maryland may not employ a duly enacted statute to help prevent these injuries constitutes irreparable harm . ""  Roberts said at the time there was a "" fair prospect "" the Supreme Court would ultimately find in favor of the state on the search and seizure questions .  Roberts said the state appeals decision would resonate beyond Maryland because  samples taken on the state level "" may otherwise be eligible "" for the  ' s database . "" The decision , "" Roberts said "" renders the database less effective for other states and the federal government . ""  The Maryland law is set to expire at the end of 2013 . A Supreme Court ruling is expected by June .  The case is Maryland v . King ( 12 207 )  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
1245,1245,"Want to smell like Cheryl ? Now you can , as the popstar and X Factor judge releases the latest scent from her sweet smelling collection .  Mrs Fernandez Versini , 31 , saw sales of her debut scent , StormFlower , break records when she released it last year and now the star has unveiled an Eau de Toilette , too .  Speaking about the 27 spritz , Cheryl said : ' For my next fragrance I wanted to introduce a twist on my original scent but to maintain its simplicity and beauty .  Cheryl Fernandez Versini has unveiled an Eau de Toilette as part of her StormFlower fragrance range and looks flawless in the promotional beauty campaign  The star , who sat front row at the couture shows in Paris recently , has clearly taken note .  She continued : ' I love the spring 2015 seasonal colour trends and these inspired me in the creation of my first Eau de Toilette , a perfect addition to my StormFlower range . '  Her second offering is described as a light , feminine fragrance with fresh citrus top notes mixed with a hint of juicy lemon and sweet bergamot .  Expect floral notes of rose and peony , complemented by base notes of musk and sandalwood .  Cheryl ' s debut scent , right , broke records and now she is hoping for similar success with her new fragrance  Charitable Cheryl , who has long used her status for good , has also pledged to donate 100 , 000 from proceeds to Cheryl ' s Trust , which works with The Prince ' s Trust to improve the lives of young people in England .  After previously fronting The Cheryl Cole Foundation , which had a similar manifesto , this is a new endeavour for the singer , who was inspired by her own success and the knowledge she was lucky to be given life changing opportunities .  The charity ' s website reads : ' Cheryl set up her charitable trust to significantly enhance the support available to young people , inspired by the knowledge of how lucky she was to be given the opportunities she had to succeed . '  Cheryl has also pledged to donate 100 , 000 from proceeds to Cheryl ' s Trust , which works with The Prince ' s Trust to improve the lives of young people in England  Turning her words into action , Cheryl teamed up with youth charity , The Prince ' s Trust , which was set up by Prince Charles , to help fund a new state of the art centre in Newcastle , which supports disadvantaged young people in the North East .  Cheryl has committed to raise 2m to help get the centre up and running . When opened , it will support almost 4 , 000 vulnerable young people in the North East each year to turn their lives around .  Cheryl aims to help the region ' s most at risk young people , including those facing drug and alcohol abuse , homelessness , mental health problems and those leaving care .  Cheryl had previously set up The Cheryl Cole Foundation , in line with The Prince ' s Trust she has long been a staunch supporter of Prince Charles ' youth charity  Speaking at the launch in January , she said : ' My life could have turned out very differently I know how lucky I am . That ' s why I am raising money to open the new centre in Newcastle .  ' I want to give back and help young people who feel like they ' ll never achieve anything reach their dreams and live a happy life . '  Busy Cheryl recently released stills from her new video , Only Human , which has been described by many as ' the best ballad ' that the former Girls Aloud star has ever recorded .  Cheryl herself described it as her ' personal favourite so far ' to be taken from her current album of the same name , and the song drops on 22nd March .  Cheryl Fernandez Versini looked bang on trend as she arrived for Ralph Russo ' s Haute Couture show in Paris at the end of last month  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,present
1250,1250,"Reuters) - Russian hacking of the 2016 U.S. election included sophisticated targeting of state officials responsible for voter rolls and voting procedures, according to a top secret U.S. intelligence document that was leaked and published this week, revealing another potential method of attempted interference in the vote. The month-old National Security Agency document outlined activities including impersonating an election software vendor to send trick emails to more than 100 state election officials. Analysts at the  believed the hackers were working for the Russian military’s General Staff Main Intelligence Directorate, or GRU, according to the document. The document’s publication on Monday by The Intercept, a news outlet that focuses on security issues, received particular attention because an intelligence contractor, Reality Leigh Winner, was charged the same day with leaking it. U.S. intelligence agencies have previously said the Kremlin tried to influence the election outcome in favor of Republican candidate Donald Trump through leaks during the campaign of hacked emails from Democratic Party officials, aimed at discrediting Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. The new revelations suggest that U.S. investigators are also still probing a more direct attempt to attack the election itself, and a federal official confirmed that is the case. However, there is no evidence that hackers were able to manipulate votes, or the vote tally. The document says at least one employee of the software vendor had an account compromised but does not cover whether any of the elections officials were also successfully compromised. If they did compromise the officials, hackers could have planted malicious software, then captured proof of the infection to suggest that there had been fraud on Clinton’s behalf, had she won the Nov. 8 election, experts said. “If your goal is to disrupt an election, you don’t need to pick the winner or actually tamper with tally result,” said Matt Blaze, a University of Pennsylvania computer science professor who has written on the security of voting machines. Simply casting doubt on the legitimacy of the results could achieve the goals of a government-sponsored hacking campaign, he said.  U.S. intelligence officials had previously stated that Russian intelligence had won access to “multiple” election officials but had said that compromised machines were not involved with vote tallies. But they had not said how sophisticated and extensive the effort was or how it worked. Russian President Vladimir Putin has strongly denied Russian government involvement in election hacking, though he said last week that “patriotic” Russians could have been involved. Trump has denied any collusion. SPEAR-    The newly leaked  report said the hackers used so-called “spear-phishing” techniques on election officials, trying to convince targets to click on links in emails that seemed to come from legitimate correspondents. The report describes just one phishing campaign, which hit state officials a week before the election, but does not give any locations or say if it was successful. Although there may have been many others, security experts said one coming so late in the game would be more likely to be about sowing chaos than  trying to alter vote counts.  The report did not say what the hackers were trying to accomplish, and any investigation of the computers of people who were targeted would be the jurisdiction of the FBI. An  spokeswoman declined to comment Tuesday, as did the office of the special counsel Robert Mueller, who is investigating possible collusion between Trump campaign officials and the Russian government. The “bait” used in the spear-phishing campaign involved software for managing voter registration rolls. The hackers might have been considering deleting some records and forcing officials to turn legitimate voters away, said elections technology security expert Alex Halderman, of the University of Michigan. There were no wide reports of mass rejections of voters, so perhaps that plan was abandoned or proved too hard to execute, he said. It is also possible that the idea was to get onto the machines of officials who oversaw both registration and voting software. Elections are run by counties in the United States.  “Depending on the county’s configuration and security practices and what is separated from what, they could have access to potentially every aspect, from lists of registered voters, to voting  machines, to firmware on those machines, to the ballots that are presented, to the software that controls the final tally,” Blaze said. “This is the holy grail of what an attacker would want to compromise.”  Members of Congress said they hoped to learn more about the hacking attempts. “It’s important that the American people understand that the Russian attempts to break into a number of our state voting processes - we talked about this in the fall - was broad-based,” Democrat Mark Warner, vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence committee, told reporters. “It’s my hope in the coming days that we can get more information out about that.” ",true,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
1267,1267,"A second Massachusetts compounding pharmacy surrendered its license after state inspectors found "" significant "" issues that could affect sterility , state health officials said .  The pharmacy , Infusion Resource , was also found to have a center for giving intravenous medications to patients in violation of state regulations , which require a clinic license , Dr Madeleine Biondolillo , director of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Bureau of Healthcare Safety and Quality , said Sunday .  The state Board of Pharmacy immediately issued a cease and desist notice to Infusion Resource after the October 23 inspection revealed the violations , she said . Over the weekend , the Department of Public Health "" secured the voluntary surrender of Infusion ' s pharmacy license . ""  The company , which compounds antibiotic and nutritional  medications for home use , said in a statement it has since recalled all compounded products dispensed in the past month , effecting 38 patients .  "" No issues were cited related to the integrity of our products nor to the quality of our compounding practices , "" said Bernard Lambrese , Infusion Resource  , in a statement .  "" It is correct that Infusion Resource does not have a clinic license from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts . The space in our facility is intended for patient education , validation of patient and caregiver skills , medication counseling , medication education , teaching and training . ""  What is a compounding pharmacy ?  Massachusetts Gov . Deval Patrick said last week the state would immediately begin unannounced inspections of all Massachusetts pharmacies and require that they submit annual reports detailing what they produce and distribute .  That announcement came in the wake of the fungal meningitis outbreak that has caused 25 deaths and 354 illnesses , linked to the Massachusetts based New England Compounding Center . Seven of those illnesses are peripheral joint infections that specifically affect a joint such as a knee , hip , shoulder or elbow .  Infusion Resource is not linked to the outbreak .  The incident began unfolding September 24 , when the department was notified about a cluster of six rare fungal meningitis cases in Tennessee . The patients shared several risk factors , including having received an epidural injection of a steroid methylprednisolone acetate that had been compounded at the  in Framingham .  The department soon learned that the suspect product had been distributed to more than 14 , 000 patients in 23 states .   : Drug maker had internal warnings months before meningitis outbreak  The Department of Public Health has asked two other companies Ameridose and Alaunus Pharmaceutical to cease all pharmacy operations based on their shared ownership and leadership with  .  ""  ' s transparency in dealing with the board since inception in 1998 demonstrates its good faith intention to operate in compliance with the requirements of its license , "" said Paul Cirel , a Boston based lawyer representing the compounder , in a statement last week .  "" Furthermore , the company ' s intention and best efforts at compliance are equally applicable in every other state in which it has been licensed . ""  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
1271,1271,"California Jamiel Shaw was just three doors from his house on March 2 . His father told the 17 year old high school football star to be home before dark . That is exactly what he was trying to do when , just before dusk , gunshots rang out .  Gang members pulled up in a car and asked Shaw if he was in a gang . Shaw didn ' t have time to tell them "" no . "" He was mowed down before he could answer , police say .  His dad heard the shots from inside his house and immediately called his son ' s cell phone to warn him to stay away . But within seconds , the father realized what had happened .  His son was wearing the same shirt his dad had pressed for him that morning . "" He was laying on the ground and his face was so peaceful . I knew he was dead . ""  "" For three hours , I was just completely blacked out walking . ""  More than 7 , 500 miles away , Army Sgt . Anita Shaw was serving her second tour in Iraq . Her commanding officer called her into his office and told her to sit down next to the chaplain . He then informed her that her son had been killed on the streets of Los Angeles .  "" I freaked out , "" she said . "" I wanted to run out of the room . I was screaming and kicking . I was shouting , ' No . ' ""  Anita Shaw is now back in Los Angeles to bury her son .  Police announced Tuesday that an arrest had been made in the shooting . Pedro Espinoza , a 19 year old member of the Hispanic 18th Street Gang , was charged in the killing and could face the death penalty if convicted , the Los Angeles County District Attorney ' s Office said . Espinoza is scheduled to be arraigned March 25 .  Espinoza was released from jail where he was held on a charge of assault with a deadly weapon one day before the incident .  Los Angeles Police Chief William Bratton Tuesday called on the community to help police locate a second suspect who was with Espinoza at the time of the shooting .  Hundreds of family members and friends gathered Tuesday at West Los Angeles Cathedral to remember Shaw , a standout running back and sprinter at Los Angeles High School who had good grades and stayed out of trouble despite his rough neighborhood . Among the schools recruiting him was Stanford University . Watch as family , friends remember Shaw  Blue and white flowers his school colors adorned his casket , and photos of Shaw over the years were displayed at the service . Eric Clapton ' s "" Tears in Heaven "" played as mourners entered the church . "" He was a Christian and I thank God for that because I know he ' s in a better place , "" his mom said , trembling as she sobbed . "" He ' d just try all the time to do the right thing . He was so good . ""  Shaw is one of several innocent victims in a horrifying three week spate of gang related shootings around Los Angeles . A man was gunned down as he held a 2 year old baby in his arms . A 13 year old boy was shot to death last week as he went to pick lemons from a tree . In another incident , a 6 year old boy was critically wounded when he was shot in the head while riding in the car with his family two gang members have been arrested in connection with that shooting , according to police .  "" I think what is particularly unnerving for all of us is just the random nature of these shootings , "" Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said last week .  Bratton and Deputy Chief Kenneth Garner met with community members from the South Side of Los Angeles over the weekend to try to calm tensions between black and Hispanic communities . Among those in attendance were Shaw ' s parents and his younger brother .  Bratton acknowledged some neighborhoods are rife with underlying racial tensions that have "" taken too many young lives . "" He said he is in the process of hiring 1 , 000 new police officers to help combat inner city gang violence . Watch Bratton describe an "" always underlying tension ""  "" There ' s no denying that some of the crime in this city is a direct result of hatred , animosity , racial animosity , ethnic differences , "" Bratton said . "" We must all work to the best of our ability to try to prevent that . ""  "" None of it is right , "" said Garner . "" We can ' t get so incensed that we lose focus that it ' s going on on both sides . ""  He added , "" Wrong is wrong . ""  The killing of Shaw has rallied his neighborhood . Dozens of people gathered outside his home for a vigil last week and placed candles , flowers and blue and white balloons at a makeshift memorial . One sign read , "" We love you ! Jamiel Shaw . ""  On the online social networking site Facebook , more than 100 people have joined a page called "" Good people live in our hearts forever  Jamiel Shaw . ""  "" Loved you lots babyboi ! Still do ! I know many , many , many people who are missing you right  ! ! ! "" wrote Christina Stewart on the Facebook wall .  Another person , Harley Lally , wrote , "" Football will never be the same without you . I miss you every Sunday , and every time I step on that field . ""  Shaw , a junior , carried the ball 74 times for 1 , 052 yards this season , with an average of 14 . 2 yards per carry , according to MaxPreps Web site . The longest of his 10 touchdowns went for 75 yards .  He passed the ball one time all year in the last game of the season the last game of his career . It was a 60 yard touchdown strike . Watch mom ' s Thanksgiving message to son from Iraq  But he will be missed for more than his football . The beloved player with the big smile meant so much more .  The father and son years ago had made a pact : Keep focused , stay away from drugs and gangs , and get into college on an athletic scholarship . In return , the dad promised to do everything for his son , nicknamed "" Jas , "" to make that happen .  Breaking down in tears , the father said , "" I guaranteed ' Jas . ' That ' s why it hurts so much because I told him , ' I promise you , if you sacrifice these years , I ' ll sacrifice with you . ' "" Watch Jamiel Shaw Sr . ask mourners to make a difference  The dad said more must be done to combat gang violence . "" It ' s a gang problem and they have nothing in their heart for people . ""  Shaw ' s mother , the Army sergeant , compares the gang members who killed her son to those she ' s fighting against in Iraq . "" To me , they ' re terrorists . "" E mail to a friend  ",true,text,test,American football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
1281,1281,"Sunderland defender Wes Brown will be tackling questions during an appearance on All Star Family Fortunes to raise money for charity .  The former Manchester United star will take part with his family on the popular  game show in a bid to raise funds for the Beechwood cancer charity ' s Silver Wing Appeal .  The programme has not been aired yet , but Brown ' s wife Leanne offered a sneak preview after posting an Instagram picture of the family accompanied by the caption : ' Looking forward to this week ' s family fortunes ! It ' s the Browns vs the Halpenny ' s ' .  ' The Browns ' will be pitted against actress Jill Halfpenny and her family on the Sunday game show  Brown ' s wife , Leanne ( 2nd left ) , posted an Instagram picture ahead of the show ' s broadcast  The former England defender and his wife will answer questions from Vernon Kay and his ' survey '  Kay waits for an answer from the Browns , although Leanne said she wished they ' could have won more '  Brown and his family have been pitted against actress Jill Halfpenny and her loved ones on the Sunday night show hosted by Vernon Kay .  Brown ' s wife Leanne , who also appears in Real Housewives of Cheshire , told the Manchester Evening News : ' It was a great experience I just wish we could have won more . '  The family chose the Beechwood charity as Brown ' s uncle is currently battling cancer and his wife and grandaughter have been using the charity ' s support services .  The Sunderland defender is raising money for cancer charity Beechwood ' s Silver Wing Appeal  Wes Brown has had his red card rescinded after being wrongly sent off against Manchester United  The former England defender trains with team mates ahead of Sunderland ' s clash with Aston Villa  Angela Gray , fundraising manager at the Stockport charity , said : ' We are thrilled to have been chosen as the charity by Wes and Leanne .  ' Natasha , Wes ' s sister came into Beechwood and really enjoyed having a look at what we do , a really lovely family . '  Sunderland face Aston Villa on Saturday with Brown eligible to play after having his red card against United rescinded when referee Roger East appeared to send the wrong player off .  Clarke Carlisle famously won Countdown on his debut appearance in 2010 , but the former Burnley star is not the only footballer to be seen on  game shows . . .  Peter Shilton , Graeme Le Saux , Geoff Hurst , Lee Dixon , Mark Bright , Steve Bull , and Martin Peters have all appeared in Pointless  Clarke Carlisle won Countdown on his debut appearance in 2010  Sportsmail columinist Jamie Redknapp is team captain on A League Of Their Own , which has featured players including Rio Ferdinand , Joe Hart , Peter Crouch , Robbie Fowler , Gary Neville and Vincent Kompany  John Fashanu , Rodney Marsh , Neil Ruddock and Jimmy Bullard have all been on I ' m a Celebrity , Get Me Out Of Here !  And , Vinnie Jones , Neil Ruddock and Ron Atkinson have starred in Celebrity Big Brother .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
1288,1288,"Freed Americans begin long trek home from Iran  Last Updated Jan 18 , 2016 2 : 00     , Germany President Obama said this weekend ' s prisoner swap with Iran was a victory for American diplomacy .  Americans freed from Iran were arriving in Germany to be reunited with their families . A fifth American , a student , was released separately on Saturday .  Matthew Trevithick , Boston University graduate who ' d been studying the Farsi language in Tehran , arrived back in Boston Sunday evening , The Boston Globe reports .  Following the exchange , the United States and five other world powers lifted economic sanctions on Iran , and freed billions in frozen assets implementing the landmark Nuclear Deal reached last July .  Now that they ' re out of Iranian custody , five Americans released Saturday are beginning their trips back to the U . S . Elizabeth Palmer has details . . .  Arriving in Geneva on a Swiss Air Force plane late on Sunday , the three Americans were safe at last on European soil . A fourth American was freed as part of the exchange , but was not on the same plane as the others .  One of those American ' s was Jason Rezaian , the Tehran reporter for the Washington Post . In Germany , he shook hands with the State Department ' s Brett McGurk who led negotiations for the prisoners ' release .  Rezaian was jailed a year and a half ago . He was charged with spying .  Pastor Saeed Abedini , was arrested in 2012 , alleged to have organized underground Christian churches in Iran .  And Amir Hekmati , a former U . S . Marine , was picked up in 2011 while visiting his grandmother and charged with espionage .   News ' Adriana Diaz caught up with Hekmati ' s sister Sarah just as she boarded a plane to be reunited with her brother .  "" I ' m in a fog , this is like surreal . I ' m still in disbelief and honestly everything just happened so quickly that I don ' t think it ' ll hit me until I ' m hugging him , "" she said .  All three Americans were released from Tehran ' s infamous Evin Prison after 14 months of top secret diplomatic bargaining that started on the sidelines of the nuclear talks .  President Obama waited until they were out of Iranian airspace before saluting them .  "" Today , we ' re united in welcoming home sons and husbands and brothers who , in lonely prison cells , have endured an absolute nightmare , "" Mr Obama said .  Bahram Mecanic and Khosrow Afghahi were also freed . They are two of the seven prisoners the U . S . released from its jails as part of the swap . All were accused of selling technology to Iran in violation of American sanctions .  From left to right , pastor Saeed Abedini , former U . S . Marine Amir Hekmati , Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian and American student Matthew Trevithick are seen in this photo combination .  And finally there ' s a mystery man , the fourth American prisoner who was released along with the others , but apparently stayed behind in Iran . All we know is his name : Nosratollah Khosravi Roosari .  The three other Americans will spend their first night of freedom at the Landstuhl Military Hospital in Germany which has long offered a warm welcome and medical care to U . S . hostages and prisoners on their way home .  ? 2016  Interactive Inc . All Rights Reserved .  ",true,text,test,Football,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
1296,1296,"Reuters) - Brazilian President Michel Temer was charged with obstruction of justice and racketeering on Thursday, according to a statement posted on the prosecutor general s office website, threatening to delay the government s economic reform agenda in Congress.    It is the second set of criminal charges filed against the president based on the plea-bargain testimony of the owners of the world s largest meatpacker,  SA. They accused Temer of taking bribes in return for political favors and of conspiring to buy the silence of a witness who could implicate the leader.  In a statement on Thursday, Temer strongly rejected all allegations of wrongdoing.  Temer s earlier corruption charge, that he took bribes from  officials, was blocked in August by Temer s allies in the lower house of Congress, which has the power to decide whether a president should stand trial by the Supreme Court. Despite the lower house s move to block the charges, they remain valid and can be pursued by prosecutors once Temer leaves office. His term ends on Jan. 1, 2019. Brazil s top public prosecutor Rodrigo Janot has also filed charges against Joesley Batista, the billionaire former chairman of  who implicated Temer. Batista was arrested on Sunday for concealing other crimes in his plea bargain deal. Batista s lawyer Antonio Carlos Kakay rejected the charges brought by Janot, arguing in a statement that the prosecutor had violated the rules of plea bargains by using his client s testimony to incriminate him. On Wednesday, Batista s brother Wesley, the chief executive officer of  SA, was also arrested for alleged insider trading to avoid hefty losses related to the May plea deal. Late on Thursday, Supreme Court Justice Edson Fachin converted Joesley and executive Ricardo Saud s temporary detentions into preventative detention and gave them 10 days to respond before ruling on Janot s request to withdraw their plea deal.   The arrests of the Batista brothers have improved Temer s prospects of surviving the new charges and serving out his term through 2018. Temer and his allies expect the new charges to be voted in the lower house next month with wider support than he obtained in the 263-227 vote last month blocking a trial. Fachin heeded a request from Temer s defense not to deliver the accusation to the lower house until after a supreme court plenary vote on the matter. The vote should be held before Wednesday. The allegations are part of Brazil s sprawling corruption probes that have resulted in ex-President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva s conviction and four pending trials; investigations and charges implicating three former presidents and dozens of members of Congress; and guilty verdicts against well over 100 powerful business and political figures.      Most of the schemes involve political kickbacks in return for contracts at government-run enterprises or cheap loans from Brazil s state development bank.     The racketeering charge against Temer was based on the plea bargain testimony of L cio Funaro, a businessman who accused the president and his closest aides in the ruling  party of operating a criminal organization to collect bribes in exchange for political influence.     The obstruction of justice charge was based on testimony by Joesley Batista that Temer endorsed payments of hush money to try to keep Funaro from talking.     A short legislative agenda ahead of an election year, the absence of public pressure to oust Temer and the lack of any convincing replacement for him are also likely to weigh in the president s favor.      Given the short timetable, the general public apathy and lack of a viable alternative, it is quite possible that Brasilia will continue to punt this down the road,  said Matthew Taylor, a professor at the American University in Washington. ",true,dataset,test,Other news2,Conflict,satire,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
1298,1298,"Rangers boss Ally McCoist praised his players after Saturday ' s triumph over Livingston ensured they have now gone two calendar years without an away league defeat .  The Ibrox outfit have romped to both the Third Division and League One titles since being thrown out of the Scottish Premiership .  And their record on the road has been a vital factor in that , with 32 wins and just four draws at Montrose , Stirling , Dunfermline Athletic and Alloa .  Rangers manager Ally McCoist saw his side extend their unbeaten away spell to two years on Saturday  The Light Blues were last beaten on their travels in a league fixture on October 6 , 2012 when they fell to a shock 1 0 reverse at Stirling Albion in the Third Division .  Rangers rounded off their second year of flawless away results after Lewis Macleod ' s stunning overhead winner handed them a 1 0 win at the Energy Assets Arena .  McCoist relieved to see his side back to winning ways after Monday ' s humiliating home defeat to Hibernian told the official Rangers website : ' It ' s an outstanding record and I ' m delighted with that . Looking at the fact we ' ve won 32 of the 36 games , it says a lot for the players we ' ve got in our dressing room .  Lewis Macleod ( left ) scored the only goal as Rangers earned a 1 0 victory at Livingston  Lewis Macleod ' s stunning overhead kick was enough to secure a Rangers win at the Energy Assets Arena  ' That ' s a great record and we are very proud of them . We ' ve a long way to go through and the most important thing is we ' re in contention at the end of the season . '  Marius Zaliukas , meanwhile , could be a doubt for Lithuania ' s forthcoming Euro 2016 qualifying matches after he was hurt in the early stages of the success at Livingston .  The defender suffered a knee problem and was able to play on until half time before he was replaced by Darren McGregor .  The former Hearts centre back has been selected in the Lithuanian squad for the games against Estonia and Slovenia after helping his country beat San Marino in its opening match .  McCoist added : ' It ' s difficult to gauge and we ' ll take a look at him again in the morning but I ' d be doubtful he ' ll be playing in midweek .  ' It looks a sore one and he ' s sitting there strapped up with an ice pack on it . We ' ll be better placed to know where we are tomorrow . '  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,past
1326,1326,"It is an astonishing animation , letting you travel through the solar system at the speed of light .  Riding Light is a 45 minute short film that attempts to recreate what it would be like to hitch a ride on the back of a photon .  The realtime video allows viewers to travel from the core of the sun to beyond the orbit of Jupiter .  See the full video below  The realtime video allows viewers to travel from the core of the sun to beyond the orbit of Jupiter . Here , the journey begins on the sun ' s surface .  As the journey progresses , users are shown stats about how far they have travelled and when the next planet is coming up , .  ' In our terrestrial view of things , the speed of light seems incredibly fast , ' animator Alphonse Swinehart said .  ' But as soon as you view it against the vast distances of the universe , it ' s unfortunately very slow .  ' This animation illustrates , in realtime , the journey of a photon of light emitted from the sun and traveling across a portion of the solar system . '  Although the video does not address how we would even perceive light and time if we were traveling at the same speed , it does use accurate distances and speeds to convey how big our solar system really is .  ' I ' ve taken liberties with certain things like the alignment of planets and asteroids , but overall I ' ve kept the size and distances of all the objects as accurate as possible , ' said Swinehart .  The animation ends at Jupiter to keep the film under an hour  ' I also decided to end the animation just past Jupiter as I wanted to keep the running length below an hour . '  The upper left corner keeps track of distance traveled and time elapsed since you ' ve been vomited from the sun ' s core and the upper right has a countdown to your next planetary encounter .  Swinehart , a Los Angeles animator who has worked for everyone from Apple to the  , said he got the idea from a book .  ' After nerding out on some astronomy books and documentaries , I wanted to illustrate how slow the speed of light is in relation to the vast size of the universe .  ' This animation shows , in realtime , the journey of a photon of light emitted from the sun and traveling across a portion of the solar system . '  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
1338,1338,"Jury selection is expected to begin Monday in the trial of former Major League pitcher Roger Clemens , nine months after the previous one ended in a mistrial .  Federal prosecutors accuse Clemens of lying to Congress when lawmakers investigated the illicit use of steroids in professional baseball .  The case involving one count of obstruction of Congress , three counts of making false statements and two counts of perjury was declared a mistrial in July after evidence previously ruled inadmissible was shown in court .  It involved a video clip of a televised congressional hearing from 2008 in which a congressman referenced an affidavit from Laura Pettitte about purported steroid use encountered by her husband , former New York Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte , Clemens and other players .  U . S . District Court Judge Reggie Walton ruled in pre trial proceedings that Laura Pettitte ' s testimony about steroid use was uncorroborated and inadmissible . Most of the extended video had played for the jury , however , before the judge realized it included the prohibited discussion .  Prosecutors subsequently asked for a new trial , saying they did not intend to air the clip in question .  "" This was a mistake , a regretful mistake , "" government attorney David Goodhand said in September , urging Walton to reject a defense motion to dismiss the indictment and prevent a new trial .  Walton blasted prosecutors , declaring , "" I would hate to believe they just blatantly disregarded rulings that I made , but it ' s hard for me to reach any other conclusion . ""  Defense attorneys accused prosecutors of showing the clip deliberately and asked Walton to dismiss the six count indictment .  "" No doubt this was a calculated effort to make an end run around this court ' s ruling , "" Clemens defense attorney Michael Attanasio said at the time .  "" The government ' s use of this particular exhibit was premeditated , "" the defense team wrote in a critique given to Walton in August , and was "" not as innocent as the government suggests . ""  The charges stem from Clemens ' 2008 testimony before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform , during which he denied using anabolic steroids .  Clemens has continually denied using performance enhancing drugs during his professional baseball career .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,US elections,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
1353,1353,"Google ' s Parent Company Is Now The World ' s Most Valuable Business  02 01 2016 05 : 18 pm  Updated 3 hours ago  Alphabet , the parent corporation of Google , has supplanted Apple as the world ' s most valuable company .  The tech giant released a stronger than expected fourth quarter earnings report on ? Monday , prompting its stock to spike 9 percent in after hours trading . ? That jump means Alphabet is now worth close to ? 568 billion . Apple , now the second highest valued company , currently hovers at around 535 billion .  A snapshot of Alphabet ' s stock shows a leap in value in after hours trading .  This was the first time Alphabet has split its earnings report into different segments to show the success of its various businesses , including YouTube and the search engine Google , as well as ? "" Other Bets , "" which encompasses ventures like self driving cars , Google Fiber and home products business Nest .  Per Engadget , Alphabet as a whole reported 21 . 3 billion of revenue ( an 18 percent increase in the last year ) , and profits of 4 . 9 billion :  In 2015 as a whole , Google earned 74 . 5 billion in revenue with 23 . 4 billion of operating income , both up over the year before . But "" Other Bets "" was a money loser : the "" Other Bets "" companies made 448 million in revenue over the course of the year but failed to turn a profit . Those companies lost 3 . 6 billion in 2015 .  "" Google takes the crown from Apple today , ""  Financial analyst Colin Gillis told  Today . "" The core business is cranking along and picking up speed . We love it when businesses re accelerate . It ' s also their culture that could get Google to a trillion dollars that we feel is lacking at Apple . They are building a culture of accountability and more . ""  Alphabet is only the 12th company in the history of the S P 500 to be named the index ' s "" most valuable , "" The Wall Street Journal reports . ?  The company ' s ? love of dogs is written into its corporate code of conduct : "" Google s affection for our canine friends is an integral facet of our corporate culture . We like cats , but we re a dog company , so as a general rule we feel cats visiting our offices would be fairly stressed out . ""  The company ' s ? love of dogs is written into its corporate code of conduct : "" Google s affection for our canine friends is an integral facet of our corporate culture . We like cats , but we re a dog company , so as a general rule we feel cats visiting our offices would be fairly stressed out . ""  The first Google Doodle was an "" out of office "" message while Page and Brin went to Burning Man  On August 30 , 1998 , Brin and Page placed the Burning Man stick figure ? on Google ' s logo to let everyone know they ' d be attending the notoriously raucous music festival . Eventually these doodles became a tradition used to celebrate different holidays and events . There have been more than 2 , 000 doodles over the years . ?  Google once went down for a few minutes and wrecked the Internet  Google experienced a 2 minute outage ? in August 2013 , and it caused Internet page views to plummet 40 percent . Now  ' S power . ?  Google was founded in YouTube  Susan Wojcicki ' s garage  Sergey Brin and Larry Page founded Google in Susan Wojcicki ' s garage ? in 1998 . Wojcicki eventually became a Google executive before becoming the  of YouTube in 2014 . It ' s always nice to get in on the ground floor ! ?  A python once got loose in Google ' s New York offices  A Google employee ' s ball python escaped ? in the  office on April 1 , 2007 . Since it was April Fools ' Day , many people thought it was a prank . Unfortunately , it wasn ' t . The python was eventually caught and returned to its owner . ?  As of 2009 , Google has used goats to mow its lawn  In 2009 , Google announced that it had started ? renting goats to graze on its lawn ? instead of using lawn mowers . This way is more environmentally friendly and definitely cuter . ?  Steve Jobs once called up a Google exec to complain about the color of the second "" o "" in Google  Jobs called up Google ' s ? Vic Gundotra in 2008 to tell him that the second "" o "" in the Google logo wasn ' t the right shade of yellow . "" I ' ve been looking at the Google logo on the iPhone and I ' m not happy with the icon . The second O in Google doesn ' t have the right yellow gradient . It ' s just wrong and I ' m going to have Greg fix it tomorrow . Is that okay with you ? "" Jobs told Gundotra , according to a post Gundotra published ? on Google . ? Gundotra said that ? was absolutely  with him .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
1359,1359,"Tony Blair and Gordon Brown were urged to get ' couple ' s counselling ' to repair their relationship , former Number 10 spin chief Alastair Campbell has revealed .  Mr Campbell said he suggested the two Labour heavyweights use professional help to resolve their differences but Mr Blair rejected the idea .  The former Downing Street communications director also claimed every politician in Britain should seek psychiatric help .  Tony Blair and Gordon Brown were urged to get ' couple ' s counselling ' to repair their relationship , it was revealed today  The detail features in Mr Campbell ' s latest book , Winners and How They Succeed , which is being serialised in the Sunday Times .  In it he argues that modern politicians are less effective leaders than senior figures in sport and business , where psychologists are routinely employed to improve performance .  ' If you look at the best of elite sport , it does stuff better than the best of business , and the best of business does it better than the best of politics , ' Mr Campbell said .  He added : ' Sport is predominantly a physical activity , and yet hardly any of these top sports guys go without proper psychological support . And yet politics , which is primarily intellectual , mental , psychological most of them don ' t have any psychological support at all . '  Mr Campbell said politicians were afraid of headlines like ' Cameron has a shrink ' .  But the spin doctor said he hired Andy McCann , a mental skills coach to the Wales rugby team , to help him prepare for his appearance at the Chilcot inquiry into the Iraq War .  Mr Blair meets with Palestinian businessmen in Gaza City today . He is in Gaza for meetings with officials about the reconstruction of the territory which has been devastated by a 50 day summer war between Israel and Hamas militants  Alastair Campbell said all politicians should seek professional psychiatric help to make them better politicians  Mr Campbell said New Labour finally lost power because Blair and Brown failed to pull together . ' We didn ' t do so well on teamship , and I think if we had we ' d still be there , ' he said .  Speaking to the Sunday Times , he revealed that he offered Mr Blair the services of the psychiatrist who was helping him battle depression in the run up to the 2005 election , when the then prime minister was under pressure from Mr Brown to announce when he would stand down .  Mr Blair replied : ' I am prepared to think out of the box . But not that far . '  Mr Campbell said current Labour and Tory frontbenchers lack the necessary determination to win .  ' Can the Cabinet or shadow cabinet really say that they are waking up every day . . . putting in the work and effort needed ? None of the  main parties communicate that sense of absolute focus and determination , ' he said .  Mr Campbell criticised Labour ' s decision to oppose the bombing of Syria in August 2013 , because ' what has followed is in some ways even worse ' .  But he said Miliband had shown ' leadership ' . ' Ed does big , bold things , '  he said . ' The circumstances in which Ed became leader , that was a test of mettle on lots of levels . '  While complaining that Labour should be ' battering ' the Tories , Mr Campbell hit out at ' noises off ' from Blairites such as Alan Milburn and John Hutton who have questioned the party ' s direction .  ' I ' ve said what I ' ve said about the economy , but there is a time and a place . Where we are now in the electoral cycle , across the party everybody ' s got to get out and fight . '  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,satire,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
1363,1363,"Hindu hardliners escalated their tirade against Shah Rukh Khan over his remarks on intolerance with controversial  parliamentarian Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday accusing the Bollywood star of treason and comparing him with Pakistani terrorist Hafiz Saeed .  The  government struggled to keep  MPs and Hindu controversialists on a leash after Khan commented on his 50th birthday on Monday that there was nothing worse than religious intolerance and that it would take India to the dark ages .  Here s who said what on Khan and his intolerance comment :  Kailash Vijayvargiya ,  general secretary : Shah Rukh lives in India , but his soul is in Pakistan . His films make crores here but he thinks India is intolerant . If this is not anti national , then what is it ? India is making a bid to become a permanent member of the United Nations and all anti Indian forces including Pakistan are creating a conspiracy .  Sadhvi Prachi ,  leader : Shah Rukh Khan is an agent of neighbouring country Pakistan as he reflects their ( Pakistan s ) ideology . Such a man should go to Pakistan .  Yogi Adityanath ,   : Shah Rukh Khan should remember that if a huge mass in society would boycot his films , he will also have to wander on streets like a normal Muslim . . . . I am saying these people are speaking in a terrorist language . I think there is no difference between the language of Shah Rukh Khan and Hafiz Saeed .  We welcome that people go there ( Pakistan ) , at least people who defame India will understand their own originality , he added .  Manoj Tiwari ,   : He ( Shah Rukh Khan ) has issued a statement when the Bihar elections are going on . He has always been close to Congress party and his closeness has been seen before as well . I consider his statement as a political comment .  If there was any kind of intolerance in the country , he wouldn t have been one of the top superstars in India . He should keep this fact in his mind that whatever statement he makes , it makes a big impact .  Najma Heptulla , minority affairs minister : Had Shah Rukh Khan not said such things , my party men would not have commented anything . He gave them a point to talk on , they didn t start talking themselves .  I want the world to know that he ( Shah Rukh ) received an Enforcement Directorate (  ) notice on October 26 and India became intolerant on the 1st or 2nd of November .  And , when it comes to intolerance , then probably they are those illiterate people who do not know what the history of the country had been under Congress rule .  He should raise his voice on the anniversary of the 1984 anti Sikh riots and the Mirchpur or Gohana incidents . Several such incidents happened when Congress was in power but then they were mum .  Yoga guru Baba Ramdev : If he is a true patriot , he should return all the money he earned after winning the Padma Shri to the  relief fund , in case he plans to return the award .  Those who spoke in support of Shah Rukh Khan  Nalin Kohli ,  spokesperson : His ( Adityanath ) comments are incorrect and uncalled for . They do not reflect in any way the core belief of  or that of Prime Minister Narendra Modi .  There cannot be any comparison of any law abiding Indian citizen with a terrorist like Hafiz Saeed , certainly not Khan who is a much loved and respected Indian national and artiste .  Sanjay Raut , Shiv Sena  : This country is tolerant and the Muslims are tolerant as well . Shah Rukh Khan should not be targeted only because he is a Muslim .  Shah Rukh Khan is a superstar only because the country is tolerant and has never thought in the name of religion .  First of all Shah Rukh Khan should not have gotten into this debate on tolerance and secondly , out of the people who have returned their awards , the number of Muslims is almost negligible . Also , Shah Rukh spoke on the issue very late .  Ravi Shankar Prasad , telecom minister : Shah Rukh Khan is extraordinary talent as a film artist of versatile genius and is universally applauded by all Indians alike .  M Venkaiah Naidu , Union minister : The party also does not approve of the comments made by a functionary against Shahrukh Khan .  Anand Sharma , Congress spokesperson : Shah Rukh Khan is an icon of cosmopolitan India . He has the right to speak his mind as a citizen of India . The  can t question anyone .  Shah Rukh Khan expressed his concren and independent opinion as a citizen of the country . The general secretary of the  raised questions on his nationality and doubted his patriotism . Whatever was said yesterday , the more we condemn it , less it is . What message are they giving to the people ?  Digvijaya Singh , senior Congress leader : I strongly condemn Kailash Vijavargiya s statement . Modi should personally apologise to Shah Rukh . Shah Rukh don t worry we stand by you .  Kailash Vijavargiya National Gen Secy  "" Shah Rukh Khan is aTraitor "" Do Modi and Amit Shah endorse his opinion ? Would they act against him ?   Chacko , Congress leader : If they ( government ) don t agree with the Congress we have no problem , but the non political people coming out must be heard .  Every kind of intolerance we can see in the society , intolerance against food , intolerance against religion , intolerance against political party , intolerance against the descending opinion . So the country is going towards a disastrous situation .  Anupam Kher , actor : Some members of the  really need to control their tongue and stop talking rubbish about Shah Rukh Khan . He is a national icon and we are proud of him .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
1368,1368,"Ultimate gun control is the end game of Barack Obama and his regime period.On June 1 Breitbart News reported on Obama s Spring 2015  Unified Agenda.  The gun control measures contained therein which were to be passed by executive fiat.Since that time Representatives like Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY)91% (R-KY-4th) have placed riders on a  appropriations bill to stop portions of the executive gun control push in its tracks. Now the NRA- is revealing that the Obama administration is working behind the scenes to stifle reporting on firearms.From the NRA-ILA:Even as news reports have been highlighting the gun control provisions of the Administration s  Unified Agenda  of regulatory objectives, the Obama State Department has been quietly moving ahead with a proposal that could censor online speech related to firearms.How can this happen?Like this: The administration is reworking the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). One of the many things regulated by  are  technical data  tied to  defense articles.  This includes, but is not limited to,  detailed design, development, production or manufacturing information  about ammunition and firearms.More specifically, this kind of  technical data  would be  blueprints, drawings, photographs, plans, instructions or documentation  related to ammunition and firearms.While  and its regulations have not been a concern in the past, as far as constraining or limiting  material posted on publicly available websites,  there are some within the current State Department arguing that  anything published online in a generally-accessible location has essentially been  exported,  simply by virtue of being posted, and is therefore under the purview of ITAR.Moreover, last week the State Department put forth a proposal  clarifying  how to handle releases containing  technical data  which are posted online or otherwise distributed into the  public domain.  Ultimately, the proposal would require those releasing  technical data  on ammunition or firearms to first seek government approval.Here s how the NRA- summed it up:The proposal would institute a massive new prior restraint on free speech. This is because all such releases would require the  authorization  of the government before they occurred. The cumbersome and time-consuming process of obtaining such authorizations, moreover, would make online communication about certain technical aspects of firearms and ammunition essentially impossible.Public comments on the proposed changes to  will be accepted until August 3, 2015. You can submit those comments at regulations.gov or e-mail them to DDTCPublicComments@state.gov with the subject line indicating the comments concern the   Amendment Revisions to Definitions; Data Transmission and Storage. Via: Breitbart News",fake,dataset,test,World conflict,US elections,fake,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
1370,1370,"China led rout Thursday pushed prices to weakest since 2003  Saudi Aramco confirms it ' s studying a potential share sale  Oil traded near a 12 year low as investors focused on the volatility in Chinese markets , after the country sought to quell losses in equities and stabilize its currency .  Futures fell as much as 0 . 4 percent in New York , erasing earlier gains after China suspended a controversial equity  circuit breaker system and its central bank left the yuan s reference rate little changed after an eight day stretch of weaker fixings . Crude slid Thursday to the lowest level since December 2003 as turbulence in the world s biggest energy consumer prompted concerns about the strength of demand .  The turmoil in China is compounding the negative effect of U . S . crude stockpiles , which remain about 100 million barrels above the five year average . Analysts from Nomura Holdings Inc . to   Group  predict oil may fall near 30 a barrel while the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries has effectively discarded output limits ? to defend market share amid a global glut .  The oil market is still oversupplied , Giovanni Staunovo , an analyst at  in Zurich said by e mail . Economic concerns in China have become an additional burden on oil prices , he said .  West Texas Intermediate for February delivery fell as much as 13 cents to 33 . 14 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange and was trading at 33 . 48 at 7 : 11 a . m . local time . The contract slid 2 . 1 percent to 33 . 27 on Thursday , the lowest close since February 2004 . Total volume traded was 36 percent above the 100 day average . Prices are down almost 10 percent this week .  Brent for February settlement gained 23 cents , or 0 . 7 percent , to 33 . 98 a barrel on the London based  Futures Europe exchange . The contract lost 1 . 4 percent to 33 . 75 on Thursday , the lowest close since June 2004 . The European benchmark crude traded at a premium of 56 cents to  , having been at a discount to the U . S . grade as recently as Jan 6 .  Saudi Arabian Oil Co . , the world s largest crude producer ,  confirmed it s studying a potential sale of shares on Friday . The company controls about 260 billion barrels of oil reserves , more than 10 times the amount held by Exxon Mobil Corp . , which has a market value of about 317 billion .  The move would mark an historic shift of the oil industry , said Jason Bordoff , the founding director of the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University . An initial public offering would be a reaffirmation of what we have seen over the past year , that Saudi Arabia plans to let the oil market behave like a market rather than try to control it , he said .  rising tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran , two major Middle East oil producers , following the execution of a prominent Shiite cleric by Riyadh . The dispute prompted the interruption of diplomatic ties between both powers , but oil supplies aren t likely to be disrupted , according to Societe Generale  .  While previously high tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran have stepped up to an even more threatening level , this is not a game changer for the oil markets , Mike Wittner , head of oil market research at Societe Generale , said in a note on Thursday . We don t expect war , or a supply disruption .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
1394,1394,"Reuters) - A Russian defense ministry delegation has arrived in the North Korean capital of Pyongyang, the Interfax news agency cited North Korea s embassy to Russia as saying on Wednesday. No details of the visit were immediately available. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
1410,1410,"Ohio bill to fix small business tax heads to governor ' s desk  A bill that seeks to avert an unintended tax increase on some small businesses cleared the Ohio Legislature on Tuesday and headed to the governor for his expected signature .  The measure comes after an apparent oversight in crafting a tax break during the frenzy of state budget negotiations .  The budget that passed in June allows small business owners to deduct up to 75 percent of their first 250 , 000 of business income this tax year , then 100 percent in 2016 . In both years , a 3 percent flat tax is applied on the remaining net business income .  But lawmakers had intended the flat tax be applied only on business income in excess of 250 , 000 .  That meant for this tax year , some business owners could have paid more on the 25 percent of their income that ' s not deductible , because they typically pay less than a 3 percent rate under the state ' s graduated income tax system .  Supporters of the bill say their revisions ensure that no taxpayer will pay a higher marginal tax rate on business income for the 2015 taxable year than he or she otherwise would have paid if the budget had not been enacted .  The House passed the budget correcting measure on an 84 6 vote Tuesday , followed shortly by the Senate ' s final approval .  Adjusting the tax code will create a revenue loss for the state , according to a legislative analysis of the bill .  The Ohio Legislative Service Commission estimates that the general revenue fund loss is between 75 million and 81 million for fiscal year 2016 , because the state is forgoing the money it would have gotten from the increase . In the fiscal years that follow , the changes could lead to an annual revenue loss ranging from slightly less than 2 million to nearly 8 million , depending on taxpayers ' characteristics .  The state budget remains in balance and will adequately cover the revision , House staff says .  The measure also seeks to restore some money that schools lost in a tax change vetoed from the budget by Gov . John Kasich .  School districts affected by the lost tangible personal property tax reimbursement could see an estimated 44 million .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
1414,1414,"21st Century Wire says.. 1-29-2016 at 01:30PM ET: Due to public pressure and intense speculation about the events of Tuesday brought on by a YouTube recording of the testimony of key eyewitness Victoria Sharp, the  has released the unedited aerial video footage from Tuesday evening s incident which took place along Highway 395. According to the official  statement:  We feel that it is necessary to show the whole thing unedited in the interest of transparency.  The  video entitled,  Complete, Unedited Video of Joint  and  Operation 01/26/2016 , does show the victim Lavoy Finicum exiting the truck awkwardly in at least two feet of snow, and he clearly does not  charge towards  the  team, and his hands are clearly held high above his head as he exits his truck when confronted by a  team, before being shot multiple times by marksmen and falling in the snow. Also, the scale and size of this operation is very evident by the footage, and the apprehension of the protesters was not the result of a mere  traffic stop  as it was wrongly characterized in multiple mainstream media reports.The  has also titled their release as  unedited  which shows a window of 26 min and 29 seconds, but it would be interesting to see any drone footage prior to where their clip begins, to further determine how long the drone was filming the vehicles of Finicum and Bundy. This is important because it would shed further light the premeditated nature of the confrontation that the media and government  sources  have called a  traffic stop . On its own, this  drone footage would appear to support previous government and media claims by CNN, Washington Post and others that the victim was indeed  reaching towards his waistband  which gave federal and state police justification to unleash deadly force. However, it is still not completely clear from this aerial footage whether or not Finicum was holstered (he is said to normally carry a gun on the right hip, but  are claiming he had a 9mm gun in his inside left breast pocket), but also whether or not he lowered his arms before, or after he was shot multiple times. For example, if Finicum had his hands in the air and was then was shot in the abdomen first, then any man s natural reaction would be to then lower his hand(s) and clutch the wound. Additionally, if any shots were fired, even in the vicinity, then confusion could have ensued which might have prompted Finicum to reach for his weapon. Either way, it is impossible to make any such a forensic determination without a corresponding audio track  which would help to determine if any shots were fired before Finicum s hand(s) could be seen lowering.  WARNING: The following images depict violence and death which some readers may find disturbing. Watch:Watch the edited version here:  Finicum appears to temporarily lose his balance in the snow at the very moment he looks to be hit by agents.What is clear however from this video is that armed agents did not shoot to disable their suspect, but shot to kill and even had a laser sight trained on him for many minutes after he was downed. Clearly, multiple  shooters could be seen emerging from the woods. After killing Finicum, police then left the victim to bleed to death laying in the snow and did not check on him for at least another 8 minutes.Flash-bang rounds can be seen around the 14:00 mark of the  s  unedited  version, and the  has said that it fired  gas and  non lethal rounds  (possibly pepper spray rounds, or rubber bullets) are said to have been fired at the truck while the passengers were inside. This begs the question: with nonlethal rounds already in play   why did multiple  shooters use so many deadly rounds against Finicum when he exited the truck with his hands up?     AT: 21st Century Wire Oregon Files",fake,dataset,test,Other news2,Conflict,fake,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
1418,1418,"This is disgraceful and it is an insult to every American who has ever lost a loved one to gun violence.Democrats are sick and tired of Republicans offering nothing more than  thoughts and prayers  instead of doing something substantial to prevent mass shootings, so they took to the House floor on Wednesday to protest  inaction in order to force House Republicans to allow a vote on gun control bills that Senate Republicans rejected on Monday.Led by legendary civil rights icon Rep. John Lewis, Democrats were preparing to hold a sit-in when Texas congressman and  shill Ted Poe called for a recess. We have been too quiet for too long,  Lewis declared.  There comes a time when you have to say something. You have to make a little noise. You have to move your feet. This is the time. Lewis and 60 Democratic colleagues sat on the House floor, recited the Pledge of Allegiance, and chanted,  no bill, no break.  But Republicans called for a break anyway and then they censored the sit-in by literally shutting off the video feed that allows Americans to see what is happening in the people s House.Here s the video via YouTube.Afterwards, Rep. Karen Bass told  that Republicans are running scared because they fear the  more than they fear the voting public. If you are constantly shut down, if if your voice cannot be heard, then it s time to take extraordinary measures,  Bass said of the sit-in.  I think the  s influence is very profound. A lot of times, people think of it as an individual campaign contribution, that s not the issue. The issue is the fact that for a lot of members, if they do not have an  A  from the NRA, they re concerned about the  running campaigns against them, supporting their opponents or running independent expenditure campaigns against them. That s the fear. Indeed, Republicans in the Senate fear the  so much that they literally rejected a measure that would have banned suspected terrorists from legally buying guns. We re not talking about la -abiding citizens who are not being investigated for having ties to terrorist groups. We re talking about people who may have been radicalized and are being looked at by law enforcement. Orlando shooter Omar Mateen was a suspected  sympathizer, but he was able to buy his assault rifle legally because the  was powerless to ban him from doing so because Republicans are apparently just fine with terrorists buying guns in America to kill Americans with.That s outrageous and should rally every voter in the country to throw Republicans out of office. Because the  and their  puppet masters are now just as much a threat to national security as the terrorists.Featured image via screenshot",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
1419,1419,"Ever caught a glimpse of the secretive Iberian lynx ? Or heard the croaking bark of a Mediterranean monk seal ?  Arctic foxes are trapped and skinned for the pelts .  If not , and you want to do so , you had better hurry because pollution and habitat degradation have pushed both species to the brink of extinction .  According to a recent study by the Switzerland based World Conservation Union (  ) human activity is threatening almost one sixth of Europe ' s total land mammal population .  Among marine mammals the situation is even more grave , with some 22 percent of total numbers being pushed towards annihilation .  The  ' s recently published European Mammal Assessment identified 17 European mammal species that are "" vulnerable , "" seven that are "" endangered , "" and six that are "" critically endangered . ""  The Mediterranean monk seal population , for example , has now dwindled to just 350 450 individuals .  The outlook for the Iberian lynx is even worse , with only an estimated 150 still surviving , making it the most endangered cat species on earth .  Other species on the critically endangered list include the Arctic fox , Bavarian pine vole , European mink and North Atlantic Right whale .  "" This new assessment proves that many European mammals are declining at an alarming rate , "" said  Director General Julia Marton Lef vre , a position echoed by the  ' s Environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas .  "" The results of the report highlight the challenge we currently face to halt the loss of Europe ' s biodiversity , "" said Dimas .  "" It is clear that the full implementation of the Habitats Directive ( adopted by the  in 1992 to safeguard Europe ' s endangered wildlife ) is of the utmost importance to protect Europe ' s native mammals . ""  Europe is home to a rich diversity of native mammal species ranging from the small such as shrews and voles , to the large such as wolves and brown bears . to the enormous in the case of the 70 ton North Atlantic Right Whale .  Human activity , however , especially in the form of agriculture , deforestation , hunting and pollution , has reduced the numbers of these species , leaving many of them in danger of vanishing .  The aforementioned Habitats Directive a corollary of the 1979 Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats introduced a range of measures aimed at protecting endangered species ( including plants , birds and fish as well as mammals ) .  That directive has certainly had an effect , with a number of mammals that previously seemed destined to disappear from Europe now enjoying something of a revival .  The Alpine Ibex , for example , was almost hunted out in the 19th century , its population reduced to just a small group of survivors in Italy ' s Gran Paradiso National Park .  Thanks to extensive conservation and protection efforts , however , the species is once again flourishing and has been downgraded to the "" least concern "" category on the  ' s "" Red List . ""  It is the same story for the European bison , which was limited to just a few zoos before re introduction programs across eastern Europe helped re build the population to current levels of around 1 , 800 .  "" The fate of the European bison provides an example of the way in which a species may be brought to the brink of extinction in a very short time , and then saved only through great efforts , "" said Dr Zbigniew Krasinski of Poland ' s Bialowieza National Park .  "" The saving of the bison has been an undoubted success , although further action will continue to be essential . ""  Dr Jean Christophe Vie , Deputy Head of the  ' s Species Program , agrees that significant progress has been made .  "" Both the Alpine Ibex and European bison are recovering well because of appropriate conservation measures .  "" The European beaver is another example . It was persecuted almost to extinction but has now been re introduced and is colonizing all over the continent . ""  While there are positive stories , however , the overall picture remains a disheartening one , as the European Mammal Assessment demonstrates .  Commissioned by the European Commission and a year in the drafting , it is the first such overview of its kind and draws on the work of a Europe wide group of scientists , zoologists and conservationists .  Its findings provide an unequivocal picture of biodiversity loss and species decline .  Habitat destruction , usually due to agricultural practices , is the key driver of that decline , although many other factors are involved , including pollution , disease and the introduction of invasive foreign species .  The case of the European mink , one of the  ' s six critically endangered European mammals , is an example of how different elements can combine to drive a particular species to the brink of destruction .  Once found in great numbers across Europe from Spain to the Urals , the mink population has plummeted in recent years .  While hunting has certainly contributed to this decline , the main causes have been habitat loss and competition from invasive foreign species , according to Vie .  "" The mink is freshwater dependent , "" explains Vie . "" The more you damage its habitat by polluting rivers , or channeling them , or building dams , the more the population declines . ""  The introduction of the American mink into Europe for fur rearing also proved disastrous , with some of those mink escaping from captivity , establishing their own colonies in the wild and setting up direct competition for food and resources with the native population .  The result : an 80 percent decline in that population in the last decade alone ( in 1993 the  only classified it as "" vulnerable "" ) .  But experts say that species loss can be reversed .  "" There is more and more perception across Europe that biodiversity conservation is crucially important , "" says Vie . "" And we are seeing good recoveries in some species .  "" The picture in the mammal world is not nearly as bad as , say , among freshwater fish , where the number of threatened species is far , far higher . ""  At the same time , the latest figures remain a source of considerable concern . At a time when so many conservation initiatives and laws are already in operation , the population of many European mammal species is in apparent free fall .  It is not simply the possibility of losing a particular species that worries experts , but also how the loss will affect the species ' wider ecosystem  "" The food web is extremely complex , "" says Vie . "" If you lose one element that has a very specific role in that web , it has a knock on effect and the whole system is threatened .  "" It is very worrying . Some people think it is a disaster if a famous painting is lost in a fire , but that is just the work of a few weeks or months . These species and systems are the product of millions of years of evolution .  "" I am biased , of course , but I think it would be an absolute tragedy if we lost these native species . "" E mail to a friend  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
1422,1422,"Before Djokovic Murray clash , senior Murray wins Australian Open silverware  Before Djokovic Murray clash , senior Murray wins Australian Open silverware  Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares pose with the Australian Open men ' s doubles trophy ( Getty Images )  Sat , 30 Jan 2016 08 : 35pm , Melbourne , Reuters  Murray and Soares beat Canada ' s Daniel Nestor and Czech Radek Stepanek 2 6 6 4 7 5 in the final that followed Angelique Kerber beating Serena Williams for the women ' s ' title .  Britain ' s Jamie Murray gained an early claim to bragging rights over younger brother Andy when he combined with Brazil ' s Bruno Soares to win the Australian Open men ' s doubles title early on Sunday .  Murray and Soares beat Canada ' s Daniel Nestor and Czech Radek Stepanek 2 6 6 4 7 5 in the final that followed Angelique Kerber beating Serena Williams for the women ' s ' title .  Andy Murray , who turned up for the trophy presentation , will meet five times champion Novak Djokovic in the men ' s singles final later on Sunday . "" Andy you should be in bed . I don ' t know why you ' re here taking photos but we ' ll be there supporting you , "" a tearful Murray said in a court side interview .  You should be in bed , andy murray jokes big brother jamie murray during the men ' s doubles ceremony AusOpen pic . twitterweblink FqJdseMHqL  Welcome to the SleepisfortheWeak crew Andy Murray ! What a great brother you are AusOpen weblink : t . co wNLIpL5Nib  It was the first grand slam title for the Briton and his Brazilian partner , in their first major tournament together . The Murrays are also the first brothers to make the men ' s singles and doubles finals at the same grand slam in the Open era .  Murray actually held a championship point while serving at 5 4 in the deciding set but blew the opportunity , though the Canadian and Czech pairing were unable to consolidate . Soares then gave them a 40 0 advantage in the 12th game and held on to clinch the title two points later . "" We had them on the ropes for a bit in the second set but they came through and that ' s why they ' re grand slam champions , "" Nestor said .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Economy,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
1445,1445,"A band of self described American patriots has taken over the community of Crimea , Louisiana , in order to defend it from Russian invasion .  The eight heavily armed Americans drove into the community on motorcycles and in trucks around 10 : 45 a . m . today and declared it occupied by the United States at around 10 : 52 a . m . , according to witnesses .  The group then replaced the American flag flying over the local community center with a new American flag .  Arkansas resident Woodrow "" Wood Newton , the group ' s leader , said he was prompted to defend the town due to the inaction of the U . S . and world over Crimea , Ukraine a place he was unfamiliar with until a week ago .  "" When I heard the Russians were taking over Crimea and these other cities , I thought it ' s only a matter of time before the Russians decide to come for us , "" he said . "" Obama is just sitting on his hands and not defending these people , so it ' s time for us real Americans to act . Now we ' re here , ready to fight when the Russians show up . ""  The unincorporated community of Crimea , located in Louisiana ' s northeast , is more than 6 , 000 miles from Ukraine ' s Crimean peninsula , whose citizens voted overwhelmingly to become part of Russia .  Newton and his well meaning group were apparently among the five in six Americans who could not locate Ukraine on a map and who strongly favor U . S . intervention in the region .  "" My wife said Crimea was a few hours from our home in Evening Shade , so I called up some of my friends , and we decided to invade first , "" Newton said . "" We planned to get here under the cover of darkness , but my friend Herman Stiles ' truck broke down , so we had to wait for the tow . ""  Errol Childress , a Crimea resident and school groundskeeper , said he was grateful to Newton ' s group .  "" We here in Crimea need all the help we can get , "" he said . "" I had heard the Russians were going to take us over , and not even our damn governor or the damn president were willing to do anything . I never voted to join Russia . ""  Newton said he and his group plan to remain in Crimea until Russian President Vladimir Putin withdraws troops from the region , since the local motel owner gave them a group discount .  "" Everybody in Crimea has been real friendly , "" Newton said . "" I was glad they talk in English instead of Spanish or whatever they talk in Russia . And the cafe here serves a nice key lime pie . Cute waitress , too . ""  Newton ' s group is not alone , as the crisis in Ukraine has prompted a number of other concerned Americans to show support and defend cities from Russian annexation .  According to local reports , a group of U . S . citizens seized the town hall in Sebastopol , Calif . , which shares its name with a Crimean city , and declared it under the protection of the United States .  ",satire,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,satire,True,no,no,neutral,present
1457,1457,"Sit back, relax, and enjoy the left telling their viewers and fans how Donald Trump will never win the presidency.Now watch the same media and Hollywood freaks meltdown over Trump s win that they said would never happen. It s hard to imagine how much hate these poor liberals have in their hearts.So, just how much has President Trump accomplished since he won the election on November 8, 2016?Vice President Mike Pence offers a list of President Trump s accomplishments since he won the election, only one year ago today:Thanks to the president s leadership, the American economy is roaring. Businesses have created nearly 1.5 million new jobs. Manufacturers haven t been this confident in 20 years. The stock market is setting records, creating nearly $5 trillion in wealth for the pension, retirement and savings of the American people. And after eight years of lackluster growth, the economy has already expanded by at least 3% for two quarters in a row.The U.S. economy is making a comeback because President Trump has taken decisive action to spur a new era of opportunity, prosperity and growth.We ve unleashed American energy, approved the Keystone and Dakota pipelines, and under President Trump, the  war on coal  is over.We re appointing originalists to the federal courts, to uphold the Constitution and all our God-given liberties. And President Trump put Justice Neil Gorsuch on the Supreme Court.President Trump has also taken decisive action to ensure the safety and security of the American people, at home and abroad. He has stood without apology with the men and women of law enforcement. We re securing our borders, enforcing our laws and taking the gang members, drug dealers and violent criminals off our streets.The president is putting our veterans first. He signed bills to restore accountability to the Department of Veterans Affairs and give veterans access to the world-class care they deserve.We re rebuilding our military. President Trump has already signed the largest increase in defense spending in nearly 10 years, and we are working with Congress to pass one of the largest investments in the national defense since the days of Ronald Reagan.With renewed American strength, the president is achieving real results on the international stage.Our  allies are contributing more to our common defense.  is on the run, and its caliphate is crumbling. This president reaffirmed the credibility of American power when he enforced a red line against chemical weapons in Syria. He put Iran on notice and made it clear that we cannot certify the Iran nuclear deal. And our administration has brought unprecedented economic and diplomatic pressure to bear on North Korea.It has been a year of accomplishments, and we re just getting started. Before this year is out, we ll pass historic tax cuts for the American people. And with President Trump s leadership, I know: We will Make America Great Again. ",fake,dataset,test,World conflict,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,past
1485,1485,"U. S service members participating in the ongoing offensive to recapture the Iraqi city of Mosul from the Islamic State “have come under fire,” Col. John Dorrian, a spokesman for the U. S.  coalition, told Pentagon reporters. [“They have come under fire at different times, our forces that have been in Mosul and other places around Iraq,” revealed Col. Dorrian.  “What I would tell you, though, is that they are directed to try and be positioned where that is a rarity and unlikely to occur,” he added. Without providing a specific figure, an unnamed U. S. defense official told some news outlets that American forces taking part in the Mosul operation had suffered injuries. U. S. troops have been providing advice and assistance to an alliance of tens of thousands of Iraqi security forces, Kurdish Peshmerga troops, and   Shiite militiamen fighting to push the Islamic State, also known as  and ISIL, out of Mosul. The day after the Mosul offensive began in   Peter Cook,   secretary for the Pentagon, conceded that U. S. troops participating in the operation would be in “harm’s way. ” “Some [U. S. troops] will be closer to the front than others  …     but it’s Iraqis in the lead  …     Americans are in harm’s way as part of this fight  …     They’re playing a support role  …     but they are behind the forward line of troops,” Cook told reporters. “U. S. forces remain in a position to be able to provide advice to them,” he added. “A small number will be in a position to provide that advice on the ground. ” The U. S.  Iraqi forces and their allies have liberated eastern Mosul. On Sunday, the Iraqi alliance began its mission to retake the western side of the city, considered one of ISIS’s last major strongholds in the country. Since 2014,  has held Mosul, Iraq’s   city. An estimated 2, 000 jihadists are believed to be still fighting to keep Mosul under ISIS’s control. The U. S.  Iraqi forces and their allies have recently recaptured Mosul’s airport.",true,news,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
1512,1512,"Reuters) - Warships from eight  countries participated in live-fire self-defense exercises of ship and missile systems near Scotland on Sunday the U.S. Department of Defense said. Ships from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States defended against a medium-range missile as well as three anti-ship cruise missiles. The  Donald Cook successfully intercepted a medium-range missile with a Standard Missile-3 Block  guided missile during the exercise, the Pentagon said.  Three anti-ship cruise missiles were fired upon by Spanish and Dutch ships participating in the  Formidable Shield  exercises in the U.K. Ministry of Defense s Hebrides Range located on the Western Isles of Scotland.  The U.S. Department of Defense said this was the first time  s  smart defense  concept was demonstrated with some ships providing protection to other vessels targeting ballistic missiles. The Formidable Shield exercise began on Sept. 24 and is scheduled to conclude on Wednesday. The Pentagon said the exercise is planned to be a biennial event and is designed to assure allies, deter adversaries and demonstrate U.S.commitment to collective defense of the  alliance. Following the  exercises, the U.S. Missile Defense Agency successfully test-fired a Standard Missile-6 (SM-6) from the  McFaul. The SM-6 test was not part of the Formidable Shield exercise, the Pentagon said. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,present
1514,1514,"Oil Markets Rattled by  Election Uncertainty November 08, 2016 Oil Markets Rattled by  Election Uncertainty  Oil prices eased on Tuesday, paring earlier gains as voting in the U.S. presidential election got underway, in line with a retreat in U.S. stock index futures and a pickup in the dollar. In a swell of investor risk appetite, U.S. stocks racked up their biggest one-day gain since March on Monday, but this boost, which lifted oil, copper and European equities earlier on Tuesday faded. The most recent polls have put Democrat Hillary Clinton ahead of Republican rival Donald Trump in Tuesday's election. Clinton is seen by investors as offering greater certainty and stability. Brent January crude oil futures were down 19 cents at $45.96 a barrel by 1308 GMT, off a session peak of $46.69, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures fell 22 cents to $44.67, after the U.S. dollar pared losses and S&P futures turned negative.  ""Seeing oil coming off today, that's more reflective of the equity futures in the U.S.coming off the highs and European stocks coming off,""  Markets analyst Jasper Lawler said.  The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries forecast demand for its oil will rise in the next three years, suggesting its 2014 decision to let prices fall to curb costlier rival supplies is delivering higher market share. [OPEC/M]  "" raising its forecasts, ordinarily a positive, but we're all obviously election-focussed ... so I don’t think that's driving (oil) as much as it normally would,"" Lawler said.  The group meets on Nov. 30 and has pledged to reach a deal on cutting output to try to erode a two-year-old global surplus. Article by Doc Burkhart , Vice-President, General Manager and co-host of  with Rick Wiles  ",fake,news,test,World conflict,Economy,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,past
1517,1517,"The jury in the Drew Peterson murder trial deliberated for more than eight hours Wednesday before a judge sent them home for the night .  Peterson , a former Chicago area police sergeant , is accused of killing his ex wife , Kathleen Savio , in 2004 .  The seven men and five women began deliberating Wednesday morning and asked during their discussions to hear again from the testimony of a defense witnesses , Harry Smith , who was Savio ' s divorce attorney , and a prosecution witness , Neil Schori , a pastor .  Schori had testified that Peterson ' s fourth wife , Stacy Peterson , told him she woke up alone the night Savio died and Drew Peterson later coached her on how to talk to police about his whereabouts that night .  Smith had testified that Stacy Peterson asked him , "" She wanted to know if , in my opinion , the fact that he ' d killed Kathy could be used against him . ""  After 8 1 2 of deliberations , Judge Edward Burmila sent the jury home for the night .  When Stacey Peterson went missing in October 2007 , investigators said they would look again at Savio ' s death , which was initially ruled a drowning . Stacey Peterson still has not been found and Drew is considered a suspect in the case .  Savio was found dead in her dry , clean bathtub March 1 , 2004 .  Savio ' s death was ruled a homicide in February 2008 , and Peterson was later arrested and indicted on first degree murder .  On Wednesday , the jury also asked for Drew Peterson ' s and Stacy Peterson ' s phone records for the weekend Savio died .  Peterson was married to Savio in 2001 when he had an affair with then 17 year old Stacy Cales , who became his fourth wife . Savio and Peterson filed for divorce in October 2001 and their relationship remained contentious for the next several years .  Bolingbrook police records indicate officers were called to Savio ' s home 18 times to intervene in domestic fights from 2002 to 2004 . Peterson had Savio arrested twice for domestic violence , though she was found not guilty in both cases .  On February 27 , 2004 , Peterson picked up his two sons from Savio ' s home and spent the next two days with them . Prosecutors believe he entered her home again early on February 29 and killed her .  At the time of her death , which authorities initially treated as an accident , a court was mulling how the couple ' s marital assets would be divided , and Savio was set to receive part of Peterson ' s pension and other support .  Follow the complete coverage of the trial  In Session ' s Michael Christian and Graham Winch contributed to this report .  ",true,text,test,American football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
1518,1518,"Washington President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney are neck and neck in national polls , while Obama has an edge in crucial battleground states that will decide Tuesday ' s election .  The dynamic sets up a possible outcome that has happened rarely in American politics and could undermine the credibility of the victor Romney beats Obama in the overall vote , but the president gets reelected by winning the decisive Electoral College .  It would be the fifth time in history that the candidate who got the most overall support didn ' t win the election , and the first time that an incumbent president prevailed without capturing the popular vote .  Explainer : What happens in a electoral tie ?  Analysts acknowledge that such an outcome could happen , especially when the race is so tight , but they called it unlikely .  State results generally follow the national trend , they say , so the chances were remote that Romney ' s victory margin in states he wins will be so much larger than Obama ' s in states the president wins that it would counter the Electoral College result .  "" If the state polls are right , then Mr Obama is not just the favorite in the Electoral College but probably also in the popular vote , "" Nate Silver wrote last week in the New York Times ' FiveThirtyEight blog that analyzes polling data and trends .  Sean Trende , the senior elections analyst at RealClearPoliticsweblink , wrote last month that the chances of a popular electoral vote split were about one in three if the candidates are within one percentage point of each other in the overall count .  Under the Electoral College system , each state is worth a certain number of electoral votes based on population . The winner of the popular vote in each state gets its electoral count , with 270 of the 538 available needed for victory .  Politics : Voting challenges in battleground states could create drama , headaches  The last split between the popular and electoral vote was 2000 , when Democratic Vice President Al Gore outpolled Texas Gov . George W . Bush by more than 543 , 000 votes in the raw count but narrowly lost the electoral tally .  In an outcome decided by a controversial Supreme Court ruling that gave Florida to Bush by 537 votes , the Republican challenger ended up with 271 electoral votes to Gore ' s 266 , while Gore got 48 . 4 of the popular vote to 47 . 9 for Bush .  Prior to that , all previous occurrences were in the 19th Century , when the population was smaller and spread among fewer states . In 1888 , Republican Benjamin Harrison defeated incumbent Democratic President Grover Cleveland by 233 168 in the Electoral College even though Cleveland won 48 . 6 of the popular vote to 47 . 8 for Harrison .  Twelve years earlier , Republican Rutherford B . Hayes defeated Democrat Samuel Tilden by one electoral vote , 185 184 , while Tilden won 50 . 9 of the popular vote to 47 . 9 for Hayes . The result was so contentious that it took a special electoral panel to decide that Hayes was the winner .  Politics : Why Tuesday , why November , why elephants ? Election riddles solved  In 1824 , John Quincy Adams lost both the popular and electoral vote to Andrew Jackson , who failed to get the minimum Electoral College support for victory . The House of Representatives decided the winner and chose Adams , the son of America ' s second president .  Any close election causes raw emotions and the uncertainty from popular electoral vote splits can undermine the legitimacy of the winner , noted Wendy Schiller , a political science professor at Brown University . That would be especially true this time if Obama , the incumbent , claims victory without getting more overall votes , she said .  "" When you look at an incumbent president that can ' t win the popular vote , you look at a guy that ' s very hobbled from the start , "" Schiller said . "" For governing , it creates a much bigger problem than it does for the legitimacy of the election . ""  At the same time , she added , it would be hypocritical of Republicans to cry foul when they benefited from the same situation just 12 years ago , saying : "" If you win that way , you have to be prepared to lose that way . ""  Another factor that could contribute to a popular electoral vote split is devastation from Superstorm Sandy in states like New York and New Jersey , which were expected to provide strong support for Obama . While the president will still win both , his overall vote total could be lower if turnout is reduced in the aftermath of widespread power outages and structural damage from the storm .  Opinion : Obama ' s victory won ' t transform America  Schiller , however , said the election results would clearly demonstrate such a scenario , providing an explanation for what happened that would soften challenges to the legitimacy of an Obama victory via the Electoral College .  "" I don ' t see any legitimate claim by either side that the system isn ' t going to function well , even if you get this distortion , "" she said .  Electoral College voters , called Electors , will meet on December 17 in their respective states and vote for president and vice president on separate ballots .  In the case of a tie between Romney and Obama , the House of Representatives would meet in January to decide the president , with each state getting one vote . The Senate decides the vice president .  With the likelihood of a Republican controlled House and a Democratic led Senate , an Electoral College tie between Obama and Romney would make possible a split administration , with Romney as president and incumbent Joe Biden as vice president .  Share your reaction to the election  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,satire,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
1519,1519,"Hollyjood strikes again ! Quoting: Buck Bundy 73107416 They werent far off. DH3 came out in 1995. 43 was GWB. 44th was Obumbletard. #44 was supposed to be Hitlary, but they knew Obumbletard would cause even more damage so they let him go first. Quoting: Anonymous Coward 73154155 Thats true the more i think more about it = I think they meant because hillary was actually in charge when bill was president - which would make her the 43 rd kinda i guess ? Moulin",fake,news,test,US elections,Sports/Other,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,present
1521,1521,"Q. I’ve been in a lot of restaurants in New York, and I’ve never seen an F in any of those inspection grading cards given out by the health department. Does this mean that all of the restaurants in New York are above average? A. Actually, many of the city’s roughly 24, 000 restaurants do get the worst grades, but the trick is that C, not F, is the lowest one. By now, most New Yorkers are familiar with the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s   system, which was introduced in 2010, and assigns ratings based on a   system that is calculated by the amount of major and minor infractions found by inspectors. The dirtier the restaurant, the more points accumulated, the worse the grade. According to a city database, there are more than 200 restaurants that currently have C ratings. There are more than 800 “grade pending” restaurants, because operators of restaurants are given the choice of displaying a “grade pending” sign or a letter grade while they contest any violations. If this makes you a little queasy, keep in mind that New York is generally a culinarily clean city: The A rating is by far the most common, with more than 21, 500 restaurants claiming that blue card. There are more than 1, 500 B ratings. So if you’re contemplating entering a C restaurant, rest assured that moving a few feet down the street might land you in A territory. The health department does not force any restaurant to close over ratings. Restaurants are closed by the department as a temporary emergency measure when there is an immediate public health hazard, such as a severe pest infestation. A restaurant can also be closed as a result of repeated violations or an extensive number of violations. “Once these issues have been corrected, a restaurant may request a reopening inspection,” Carolina Rodriguez, an assistant press secretary with the health department, said in an email.",true,news,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
1541,1541,"Russian President Vladimir Putin indefinitely halted all Russian flights to Egypt on Friday amid growing concerns a security breach led to the crash of Metrojet Flight 9268 , the Kremlin said .  The grounding will continue until a "" proper level of air service security is ensured with the Egyptians , "" Putin ' s press secretary Dmitry Peskov said .  "" We hope for close cooperation with Egypt , "" Peskov added .  Putin ordered the suspension of all Russian passenger flights to Egypt on Friday until the cause of a deadly plane crash over the weekend was established .  The move appeared to be a startling about face for Putin , but the spokesman stressed it did not mean a terrorist attack was the leading theory as investigators analyze the wreckage .  "" It definitely doesn ' t mean that . Not a single theory can be given priority , since there aren ' t any definite indications to prove it , "" he said .  Still , the grounding was a strong move for the Russian president , who previously resisted any suggestion that Islamic State affiliates or sympathizers played a role in the tragedy .  The move appeared to be a startling about face for Putin , but a Kremlin spokesman stressed it did not mean a terrorist attack was the leading theory as investigators analyze the wreckage .  And sections of the plane already have been transported to Moscow so investigators can test them for possible traces of explosives , Russian news agencies reported Friday .  The Kremlin ' s flight suspensions are expected to affect thousands of Russians already inside the popular vacation destination and devastate Egypt ' s tourism industry .  American and British officials previously said intelligence reports based on internal Islamic State communications point to a strong possibility terrorists somehow gained access to the doomed plane before takeoff and planted a bomb or did something to cause the Airbus to break apart at some 31 , 000 feet .  All 224 people on board ? including many children ? died in the crash in the Sinai Peninsula on Oct . 31 .  The Russian jetliner was carrying people back to St . Petersburg from the Red Sea resort of Sharm el Sheikh .   militants have claimed responsibility for the mass murder , saying it was revenge for Russian airstrikes against  in Syria .  The Kremlin ' s flight suspensions are expected to affect thousands of Russians already inside the popular vacation destination and devastate Egypt ' s tourism industry .  "" We downed it , so die in your rage , "" one  audio message posted online said .  Russia , an ally of Syrian President Bashar al Assad , launched air raids against opposition groups in Syria including  in late September .  The  and Ireland grounded flights to Sharm el Sheikh on Wednesday , and evacuation of stranded tourists has proved difficult .  British and Russian passengers line up to leave the Sharm el Sheikh airport Friday .  London approved the resumption of British flights to Sinai starting Friday and planned a wave of flights to pick up passengers ? but authorities reportedly asked travelers to leave most of their luggage behind for intensive searching and later transport on cargo planes .  The luggage issue reportedly caused chaos at the Sharm el Sheikh airport Friday and led Eyptian officials to scale back the number of British flights sent to retrieve tourists .  A former senior official in Egypt ' s Tourism Ministry , Magdy Salim , told the Associated Press that Egyptian airport security is marred by "" insufficiencies . ""  "" A stray donkey was found in Cairo airport a few months ago , "" he said . "" We understand why people are scared . ""  Air France said in a statement to the  on Friday that it was reinforcing screening in Cairo and monitoring the situation in cooperation with Egyptian authorities .  French officials urged citizens on Friday to avoid Sharm el Sheikh and also the Sinai resort of Taba if possible .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
1557,1557,"Former world player of the year Ronaldinho will return home to Brazil , according to his Italian club  Milan .  The 30 year old has been targeted by the new owners of English Premier League club Blackburn Rovers , but he is now expected to rejoin his hometown club Gremio of Porto Alegre .  "" We are all sorry to lose a player of the quality of Ronaldinho . But he has made a life choice by going to Brazil , ""  Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri told reporters ahead of the resumption of the Serie A program on Thursday .  Ronaldinho is contracted to Milan until June , but is heading back to Rio de Janeiro as the two clubs seek to make a deal , according to Italian media .  Who will be the best deals of the January sales ?  "" If it were up to me , I would already be wearing the shirt of Gremio , even if at the cost of earning less . The problem is not what they offered me , but what Milan are asking for , "" he said in quotes reported by La Gazetta Della Sport .  If Gremio cannot agree a fee , then Brazilian rivals Flamengo will step in to sign Ronaldinho , according to Radio Globo .  He has been unable to resurrect his career since leaving Barcelona in 2008 , losing his regular place this season following the arrival of compatriot Robinho and Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic .  Ronaldinho ' s place in the Milan squad has gone to Italy international Antonio Cassano , but Allegri said the former Sampdoria player was not certain to feature even as a substitute in the league leaders ' trip to Cagliari .  Blackburn chase Ronaldinho and Beckham  The other big story of the January transfer window , David Beckham ' s proposed loan move to English club Tottenham , still remains in doubt .  However , British media widely reported on Wednesday that his American owners the  Galaxy will sanction an off season switch .  Tottenham ' s Premier League rivals Newcastle , who have also been linked with the 35 year old former England captain along with Blackburn , tied up a permanent deal for France international Hatem Ben Arfa .  The 23 year old winger had been on loan from Marseille , but is now contracted until mid 2015 after impressing before the double leg break he suffered in October .  "" During my time out , I have been inundated with messages of support from fans and I want to repay them all with good performances on the pitch later this season , "" he told the club ' s website .  Manchester City ' s long rumored signing of Bosnia striker Edin Dzeko took another step forward as the Wolfsburg player arrived in England for a medical .  City boss Roberto Mancini revealed on Tuesday that the German club had agreed to sell the 24 year old , for a reported fee of around 40 million .  Romania striker Adrian Mutu may be seeking a new club after his Italian side Fiorentina threatened to take action following his training ground walkout on Wednesday .  The club released a statement saying the 31 year old would not play in Thursday ' s match against Bologna , and that he had left himself liable for possible legal action .  Mutu has twice been banned for drug use , while with English club Chelsea in 2004 and last year at Fiorentina .  ",true,text,test,Football,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
1565,1565,"New amateur video shows the Kouachi brothers engaging in a dramatic shoot off with French police on the streets of Paris just moments after they massacred six Charlie Hebdo journalists .  Said and Cherif Kouachi can be seen getting out of the stolen vehicle and using its doors for cover , as they fire expertly at the police car .  The police officers swiftly reverse back down the narrow Parisien street to escape the relentless attack .  Triumphant : The Kouachi brothers ( pictured ) were caught on video chanting : ' We have avenged the Prophet Muhammad . '  Killers : The masked attackers then calmly reloaded their weapons before a dramatic shoot off with police  Getaway : The Kouachi ' s are then confronted by French police as they try to make their getaway  Shoot off : The Kouachi brothers were confronted by French police ( pictured ) as they made their getaway  Terrorists : Cherif Kouachi ( left ) and his brother Said ( right ) eluded police for two days after the Charlie Hebdo massacre , robbing a petrol station , stealing a car and then taking a hostage before being killed in a stand off  Filmed from an upstairs window , the footage begins with the Kouachi ' s chanting ' we have avenged the Prophet Muhammad ' after their brutal attack on the satirical magazine ' s office .  The two masked men , who had just killed six Charlie Hebdo journalists , then place their automatic weapons on the roof of the car and calmly reload them before the terrifying confrontation .  The video shows their getaway halted by an oncoming police car its sirens blazing which forces one of the brothers to lean out of the window and begin shooting .  His accomplice then stops the car and joins the assault on the retreating vehicle .  Once the police car has reversed back to the end of the street , they restart their failed getaway and continue shooting out of the window until they have safely turned the corner .  According to the Telegraph , the man filming the dramatic gun battle is heard saying : ' These are false bullets . '  ' No , they ' re not false bullets . They ' re ricocheting . Look at the cops . Look , look , they ' re reversing . They ' ve smashed the cars . '  A massive manhunt involving tens of thousands of officers was launched but the Kouachis eluded police for the rest of the day before eventually hiding out a print works in Dammartin en Goele , a small town just north of Paris .  After taking a hostage , the two men were finally killed by French special forces in a raid on January 9 .  ",true,text,test,American football,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
1566,1566,"Predicting World Series winner would be easy . . . if it weren ' t so damned hard  Predicting what s going to happen in a best of 7 series between two evenly matched teams is , as every reasonably sentient creature knows by now , largely a fool s errand .  Of course we could talk about matchups and we will later , for just a moment ! but the sad truth is that in a best of 7 series , the little things are swamped by 1 ) the big things , which essentially even out , and 2 ) the randomness that turns Sandy Amoros into an all time hero and Daniel Murphy into Babe Ruth .  You wanna pick the Royals , though ? They finished the season with a slightly better run differential than the Mets , in the slightly better league , and they ve got the home field in Games 1 and 2 , and potentially 6 and 7 . For those reasons , and perhaps others , the Royals have been installed by oddsmakers as the very slightest of favorites .  You wanna pick the Mets , though ? Murphy homers in every game , they ve got three outstanding starting pitchers , and did I mention Daniel Murphy ?  On the  Podcast earlier this week , C . J . Nitkowski asked me for a prediction , and just off the top of my head I said , Mets in six .  What I said on the podcast ? was that the Royals have two huge question marks in their rotation , in Edinson Volquez and especially Johnny Cueto .  Cueto has started three postseason games in 2015 . He was  in the first , quite good in the second , and an unmitigated disaster in the third . Before those , he posted a 6 . 49  in his previous nine starts . This is the No . 2 starter on a favored World Series team ?  Volquez has been shaky , too . This month he s been throwing harder than usual , but ( probably not coincidentally ) his walk rate s been higher than usual , too . He looks like he s just completely given up on pacing himself , which has meant ( and might mean ) faster pitches but earlier exits .  So those two question marks , or question marks in my mind , anyway , are one reason to avoid betting on the Royals but of course the bettors know this stuff , and even better than I . If there s an unusual uncertainty about Cueto and Volquez , it should already be baked into the betting odds .  The second reason I picked the Mets is , I m going to guess , purely emotional . In a couple of ways . As you know , I grew up a Royals fan . Nobody loved the Royals from 1976 through 2002 or 03 more than I did . But at some point all the losses and all the poor ( by my lights ) decisions wore me down enough where I no longer took any pleasure in the occasional victories . I did believe the worm would turn eventually , and wondered how I would feel about that . As it turned out , not much . Now my feelings feel . . . neutral , I would say . Which wouldn t necessarily lead me to picking against them , but certainly doesn t have me favoring them .  There is also a scientific component in some of that , too I think . We re all prone to Confirmation Bias , the tendency to accept information that confirms our prior beliefs while ignoring evidence that s counter to those beliefs .  Now , the nice thing about baseball is that we ve got a hell of a lot of hard data . However much I might have thought Mike Moustakas was a mirage last October , it s impossible to deny the hard fact that he posted a . 353 wOBA this season , and has probably become a fundamentally different and better hitter . It s very difficult to deny the notion that Kendrys Morales wasn t healthy last year but is healthy this year , and is a fine hitter when healthy .  And so forth and so on . Consciously , I understand these things and acknowledge them . But my subconscious , I fear , keeps leading me back to Opening Day , when the Royals seemed to me a . 500 team , give or take . And it s probably my subconscious that keeps looking for ways to turn them back into a . 500 team . And without many other obvious candidates , Johnny Cueto and Edinson Volquez will do just fine .  And finally , a third reason : Ned Yost . This is probably related to the second reason , by which I mean it ' s more about my emotions than my calculations . But when you see a manager who refuses to use pinch hitters in obvious situations , and seems utterly locked into particular , apparently nonsensical bullpen tactics as Yost was in Game 6 against the Blue Jays with Ryan Madson and Wade Davis , which could easily have cost the Royals a trip to the World Series you just wonder how he could lead his team to a championship .  Well , I wonder , anyway . Even though he almost did it just one year ago . Just another example of confirmation bias , probably .  So does that actually mean anything , in a best of 7 series ?  Hell , I don t know . Ask your own subconscious . I m getting sick of mine .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
1583,1583,"He was such a nice boy, from such a nice family .This is a little disturbing. Remember Amed Mohamed and the exploited islamic opportunism with 14-year-old  clock boy  bomb hoax from Irving Texas and how his father was running for political office in Sudan?Well, apparently 29-year-old terrorist Omar Mateen comes from a similarly engaged political family and his father, Seddique Mateen, was/is running for national office in Afghanistan and not happy with the government of Pakistan.  Mateen has his own television show, which broadcasts out of California.It is called the  Durand Jirga Show  and features Mateen discussing Middle Eastern politics. The show is posted on YouTube.According to the Washington post, the show demonstrates the Orlando shooters father s sympathetic views toward the Taliban:In one video, Mateen expresses gratitude toward the Afghan Taliban, while denouncing the Pakistani government. Our brothers in Waziristan, our warrior brothers in [the] Taliban movement and national Afghan Taliban are rising up,  he said.  Inshallah the Durand Line issue will be solved soon.  This April, Mateen was in Washington  doing advocacy work with Congress and the State Department Seddique Mateen is an effusive poster on social media. The following posts from his Facebook describe a trip to Washington  in April. He can be seen posing in front of State Department offices & the Democratic Foreign Services Committee offices.Mr. Mateen is photographed with numerous Washington  Politicians and roaming the halls of Congress:The father of this radical terrorist sure was able to roam freely around the Capitol. Here he is pretending to be Barack Hussein Obama in a mock Presidential Briefing Room:In addition, Got News.Com has discovered the sister of Omar Mateen, Miriam Seddique, purchased Omar s house for $10 in April via a  quit claim deed .  link It would appear the jihadist Omar Mateen was making preparations for this attack for quite some time.Donald Trump was correct again when he called for additional scrutiny in December of 2015. The families of these terrorists need to be a concentrated focus for attention.Mr. Seddique Mateen even incorporated his entities as  The Provisional Government of Afghanistan Corporation  in official records in Florida:Via: Conservative Treehouse",fake,dataset,test,US elections,Conflict,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
1587,1587,"In September 2015, the Sterling Heights,  City Council representing a city of 130,000 people in southeastern Michigan, denied the proposal for a mega-mosque in a residential neighborhood populated largely by Christian refugees who fled Islamic persecution in Iraq.Sterling Heights already has two mosques, but a third, the American Islamic Community Center, applied for a permit and was rejected after it was determined its proposed use was incompatible with the residential area. Too much traffic, too little parking, the city planning commission decided by a 9-0 vote against the mosque in September 2015.But in December, the mosque sued the city and the Obama Justice Department joined in, claiming the real reason the mosque was denied was because the city was caving to anti-Muslim bigotry in the community. A settlement deal was announced last night during a Sterling Heights City Council meeting.As expected, the attorney for the mosque developers claimed the reasons these mostly Christian refugees from Iraq are in opposition to a mosque being built in their residential neighborhood  fake :Sterling Heights,  residents spoke out against the proposed mega-mosque during a planning commission meeting where the residents were given an opportunity to have their views heard by the city council:Many of the Sterling Heights residents who live in the area of the proposed mosque are Christian-Iraqi refugees who fled persecution of Muslims in their native land. The last thing they want is an Islamic mega-mosque erected in their backyards.  Before announcing the decision to go ahead with the proposed plan for building the mega-mosque in a local neighborhood, Sterling Heights City Councilman Doug Skrzyniarz claimed the primary reasons for going ahead with the plans were to avoid costly litigation while allowing officials to have more say in the mosque s layout. We have reduced our financial risk and we ve been able to have input on what the actual development is going to contain,  Councilman Doug Skrzyniarz told the large crowd. But it s what he said next, that s  being reported by local or national news outlets that was even more telling and it happens near the end of the video:",fake,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
1589,1589,"Shawn Helton   21st Century WireWith the United States in the heat of the 2016 presidential election cycle, key questions surrounding the death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia continue to persist  as there s a new conspiratorial twist added to an already suspicious case.Recently, here at 21WIRE, we discussed many of the strange circumstances observed in the aftermath of Justice Scalia s death. The 79-year-old conservative justice was found dead in his hotel room at Cibolo Creek Ranch, a luxury ranch located in Presidio County, Texas.There was no official autopsy made by a medical examiner in Scalia s death, only a controversial pronouncement over the phone by Presidio County Judge Cinderela Guevara.As 21WIRE pointed out in an earlier report regarding Scalia, Guevara appears to have reversed her previous statement claiming that Scalia had died of a  heart attack , revising the cause of death to  natural causes.  Guevara s handling of the death scene of a Supreme Court Justice without being present has drawn sharp criticism from both the media and the public.     Controversial conservative firebrand, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. (Photo illustration 21WIRE)Secret Order, Secret Death?On February 24th, The Washington Post published an article entitled  Justice Scalia spent his last hours with members of this secretive society of elite hunters : When Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia died 12 days ago at a West Texas ranch, he was among high-ranking members of an exclusive fraternity for hunters called the International Order of St. Hubertus, an Austrian society that dates back to the 1600s. Continuing, The Washington Post confirmed that indeed, the  will not be conducting an investigation into Supreme Court Justice Scalia s death. On an interesting note however, the article states that the  was unaware of the secretive international order all together: Law enforcement officials told The Post that they had no knowledge of the International Order of St. Hubertus or its connection to Poindexter and ranch guests. The officials said the  had declined to investigate Scalia s death when they were told by the marshals that he died from natural causes.    &     Members of The International Order of Saint Hubertus, from left: John Kotts, Boysie Bollinger, Vidal Martinez, Reed Morian and John Poindexter. (Photo link chron)The Washington Post article also revealed the identity of Scalia s travel partners:  C. Allen Foster, a prominent Washington lawyer who traveled to the ranch with Scalia by private plane,  and that Cibolo Creek Ranch owner John Poindexter, along with C. Allen Foster, had flown with Scalia to the ranch for the now infamous quail-hunting trip.Also according to the Post, both Poindexter and Foster,  hold leadership positions within the [Saint Hubertus] Order. It is unclear what, if any, official association Scalia had with the group. While the Post acknowledged that many of the 35 guests in attendance at Cibolo Creek Ranch have remained largely unknown to the public eye, they discuss some of the details surrounding the St. Hubertus order, an international brotherhood whose founding member, Count Franz Anton von Sporck , also started a branch of Freemasonry in Bohemia (now the Czech Republic): Members of the worldwide, male-only society wear dark-green robes emblazoned with a large cross and the motto  Deum Diligite Animalia Diligentes,  which means  Honoring God by honoring His creatures,  according to the group s website. The conspiratorial coincidence doesn t end there, it was also revealed that  The society s [Saint Hubertus] U.S. chapter launched in 1966 at the famous Bohemian Club in San Francisco.        What really happened to Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. (Photo link twitter)Magic Bullets Become  Magic Pillows Another bizarre element to this story, was the description and discovery of Scalia s body when it was first found by Cibolo Creek ranch owner, Poindexter. This aspect of the story is illustrated very clearly in a passage from the blog Followship of the Minds: On February 14, 2016, in an article for mySA (MySanAntonio) titled,  Texas Ranch owner recalls Scalia s last hours, reporter John MacCormack quoted Poindexter: We discovered the judge in bed, a pillow over his head.Everything was in perfect order. He was in his pajamas, peacefully, in bed. His bed clothes were unwrinkled. He was lying very restfully. It looked like he had not quite awakened from a nap. On February 17, Poindexter  clarified  his comment to the New York Daily News that  There was a pillow over his head, not over his face. The face was entirely clear. And now, the latest.David Warren reports for the  that according to a Presidio County Sheriff s Office incident report obtained by The Washington Post on Feb. 23, nothing appeared out of place around Scalia s bed. Three pillows were stacked to elevate Scalia s head. A top pillow appeared to have toppled onto his eyes and forehead but didn t appear positioned to impede his breathing.  Scalia s  arms were at his side atop the bed covers, which were pulled up to his chin. The bed covers were smooth and creased and showed no sign of a struggle. That is one magic pillow!First, it was over Scalia s head.Then, it was above Scalia s head, whose face was  entirely clear .Now, the pillow is neither over nor above Scalia s head, but partially covering his face ( toppled onto his eyes and forehead ), although the pillow made sure to position itself so as not to  impede his breathing .         The scenic surroundings of Cibolo Creek Ranch. (Photo link tripadvisor)While you have to wonder about the confusion surrounding Scalia s pillow placement, The Washington Post s recent eye-opening revelations regarding the Order of St. Hubertus   give us some other things to consider Silencing Conspiracy with ConspiracyThe overtly conspiracy-tinged Post piece is a rarity in the mainstream world, one that conjure s many Hollywood or government tales of murder, deception and intrigue throughout history.The acknowledgement of a decadent Eyes Wide Shut-like  secret society  on location at Cibolo Creek Ranch prior to Scalia s death, only enhances the drive by voyeurism witnessed since his passing and in a way, it could undermine any legitimate investigation into his death after the fact.While its true, this compelling new detail will most likely bring its lion s share of political protest, as well as predictable calls for congressional inquiry or a push for a federal investigation (as should be)   the heavily publicized presence of a secretive fraternal order of hunters nearby a suspicious crime scene, will unfortunately fuel more speculation.Put another way: Whether or not the secret group at Cibolo Creek Ranch was involved in Scalia s death, you have to wonder why the mainstream media revealed this latest conspiratorial element in the first place.Media gatekeepers in television, print and radio will have a field day with this new controversial piece, all the while pushing and pulling the population into a particular corner   and by the looks of it, that s already happening.Having said all of this however, there s still much to be concerned with regarding Scalia s highly suspicious death    NO-    The funeral service for Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. Oddly, President Obama elected not to attend. (Photo link detroitnewstime)Big Questions RemainOver the years, Scalia s various political connections and political perspective on important issues earned him a controversial reputation.In 2014, Justice Scalia drew harsh criticism for his views on the  torture debate, when the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee released a report on the interrogation techniques used since the 9/11 attacks.Whether you agreed or disagreed with Scalia, it s important to note once again that the high court has several pending landmark cases on climate, abortion and immigration, all within weeks or months of his death.The  Post s recent article entitled  Scalia could have been poisoned: forensic pathologist, raised even more questions about the state of Scalia s body upon being discovered: Lethal poisoning could have left Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia s body in virtually the same condition in which it was found, a top forensic pathologist [Dr. Michael Baden] told The Post on Wednesday. For the time being, were left to wonder what other secrets lie in Cibolo Creek Ranch regarding the death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia     AT: 21st Century Wire 2016 Files",fake,dataset,test,Other news1,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
1594,1594,"Here s what Politico s headline today looked like:Here s what the leftist anti-American rag Politico had to say about Angela Merkel s visit to the  to meet with our new President Donald Trump: This time the media hype surrounding a White House meeting is no wild exaggeration. When President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel finally get together on Friday, the leaders of the West s two most powerful countries are sure to come off more like an odd couple than two close allies chewing over plans for some joint enterprise. And for good reason. Merkel and Trump are not only polar opposites as people, but they share little in terms of international outlook.Their styles reflect their vastly different backgrounds. Merkel, Germany s first and only female chancellor, was raised by a pastor in communist East Germany, where she earned a doctorate in physical chemistry. Although she is the longest-serving and most powerful leader in Europe, she is unfailingly modest, competent and consensus-oriented. Trump s all-about-me mentality, Queens upbringing and brash, tabloid-and-reality- personality couldn t be more different. Could one even imagine the outrage if a piece like this was published about Barack Obama within his first 60 days in office? The mentality of the unhinged left is on display for every American to see and if they keep this up, even for a few more months, they will never win another election. Here s how Nigel Farage, the British rock star who was behind  Brexit  feels about Merkel s visit to the White House:  weblink",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
1621,1621,"Donald Trump may have been cozying up to Russia during his presidential campaign and the beginning of his presidency, but it looks like the relationship is turning sour thanks to his reckless decision to attack Syria, one of Russia s allies.Russia openly condemned the attack, and even threatened to retaliate against the United States thanks to Trump. However, White House Press Secretary must have not gotten the memo, because he called Russia one of America s allies in reference to Syria during his press briefing on Monday.Not only is that statement false (especially after this Syria fiasco) but Spicer greatly contradicted many people in the Trump administration, and even Trump himself. It s obvious that Russia is a hostile power   not an ally   but Spicer still said that America would work with allies, including Russia, in committing to ensuring that there are places that are free from violence You can watch Spicer make a fool of himself below:To be fair, Trump s administration does seem to be awfully confused about how it feels about Russia. One one hand, Trump has showed Russian leader Vladimir Putin with praise, yet at times insists that he doesn t know Putin at all. Nikki Haley, our United Nations ambassador, has said Russia cannot be trusted. After the attack in Syria, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson insulted Russia and said the country was complicit or incompetent. New National Security Advisor H. R. McMaster considers Russia an adversary.If only the Trump administration could actually send a unified, coherent message  but in an administration this incompetent, chaotic, and corrupt, we shouldn t expect too much. Spicer s reference to Russia as  allies  is embarrassing to the Trump administration, as its own Press Secretary seems clueless about how things are actually unfolding after Trump s disastrous attack on Syria, and the true definition of an ally.Featured image via Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,present
1635,1635,"Iraq Darryl Mathis waits in his Pensacola , Florida , home for the body of his 24 year old son to return home from Iraq . Mathis , a military veteran himself , was seething with anger Thursday as he spoke about the death of Army Staff Sgt . Darris J . Dawson .  An unnamed U . S . soldier is accused of killing Army Staff Sgt . Darris J . Dawson in Iraq on Sunday .  Dawson , and Sgt . Wesley Durbin , 26 , are said to have been shot and killed by another U . S . soldier on Sunday at a base south of Baghdad .  Darryl and his wife , Maxine ( Dawson ' s stepmother ) , say the military has told them nothing about the incident : no details on his death , no information at all .  His voice shakes as he says he believes that the military has let him down .  "" I ' m very disappointed very , "" he said . "" If I would get a straight answer , if they would actually tell me what ' s going on , I would have something to work on but right now , I have nothing to work on . Everything I ' m getting , I ' m getting from the media . ""  His wife sobs as she says her stepson ' s death was foreshadowed by a phone call he made to her from Iraq .  "" He said that he was more shaky sometimes of the soldiers than of the enemy , because of the young guys over there . ""  She said she asked him , "" What in the world do you mean ? You ' re afraid of your own soldiers ? ""  "" ' These kids are trying to fight a war they know nothing about . . . . They ' re jumpy . . . . They ' re more scary than the enemy , ' "" she said he told her .  "" And I said , ' Oh , God , ' "" said Maxine Mathis .  "" A multi national division center soldier died this morning of non combat related causes , "" the first release read . "" The cause of death is under investigation . ""  A second release came later in the day .  "" A second multi national division center soldier died this morning of non combat related causes . The solider died of wounds September 14 at a coalition forces combat Army support hospital , "" it read . "" The incident is under investigation . ""  After naming the two soldiers and giving their rank and unit , it reads , "" A U . S . soldier is in custody in connection with the shooting deaths . He is being held in custody pending review by a military magistrate . The incident continues under investigation . "" The release gives no other details .  The U . S . military is classifying the death of Sgt . Dawson as "" non hostile , "" something Dawson ' s father finds puzzling .  "" I don ' t know . I really don ' t know , "" he said . "" I just can ' t get it together with that . I had never heard that before . ' Non hostile ' in a war zone ? ""  Lt . Col . Paul Swiergosz is a public affairs officer for the area in Iraq where the incident took place . He says the "" non hostile "" death classification was given "" because the deaths were not the result of hostile enemy action . "" But details on what happened remain scarce .  A spokesman at Fort Stewart in Georgia said , "" A soldier has been taken into custody . The incident is under investigation , and that is all I can say . ""  The spokesman would not even confirm information in his commanding general ' s press statement .  Maxine Mathis says she is stunned at how her stepson ' s death has been handled by the military . She says the Army assigned someone to help the family with anything they needed once they found out Darris had been killed , but she and her husband don ' t know how he died .  She said her husband asked the liaison officer whether it was true that Darris had been killed by another U . S . solider . She said the officer denied it , insisting he didn ' t know anything else .  Darryl Mathis continues to express his disappointment in the lack of information from the military about his son , amid rumors his son ' s body could be home by Saturday .  "" I don ' t even know where he ' s at , at this time , "" he said .  Bobby Muller , president of Veterans for America , said he thinks the way the military classifies deaths in Iraq is an attempt to keep the public combat numbers down .  "" There is a clear and long standing record , regarding the classification of causalities in Iraq to minimize combat losses . And we ' re seeing people wounded and killed that would have well been considered casualties from hostile action in previous conflicts . It ' s an attempt to conceal the actual cost of this war in terms of casualties , "" Muller said .  "" The Department of Defense has announced the death of every service member who has given their life in operation Iraqi and Enduring Freedom , "" said a Pentagon spokesman , Col . Gary Keck . "" We have been open and transparent on the numbers of casualties suffered in these operations . ""  Mathis says his son wanted to come home to his wife and four young children and was in the process of applying for a transfer .  "" Last I spoke to him was last week Monday . He called every Monday , and said he was checking his paperwork . He said he was going to call me back once he found out . That was the last I heard from him . ""  Mathis ' wife cannot stop sobbing .  "" We don ' t know why , we don ' t know why , "" she says "" All we know is that our son died a useless , needless death . That ' s all we know . ""  ",true,text,test,American football,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
1646,1646,"Suspected mastermind of Paris attacks killed in raid , says France  The suspected mastermind of the Paris attacks that killed 129 people was questioned by German police at Cologne Bonn airport early a year ago before he boarded a plane to Istanbul , Spiegel magazine reported on Thursday , quoting security officials .  Hundreds of heavily armed officers stormed the apartment complex , triggering a massive firefight and explosions .  France has confirmed that Abdelhamid Abaaoud , the suspected mastermind of last week ' s deadly Paris attacks , was killed during a major police raid on Wednesday .  His body was found in the complex "" riddled with bullets "" , the prosecutor ' s office said on Thursday .  Headlines flashed around the world this week that Aitboulahcen had become Europe ' s first woman suicide bomber , after officials said they believed she had blown herself up at the scene of the raid in a northern Paris suburb . A handbag containing a passport in her name was found in the debris , prosecutors said .  Abaaoud was involved in a planned attack on churchgoers in the Paris suburb of Villejuif and investigations are continuing into his possible involvement in an attempted attack on a Thalys train between Amsterdam and Paris in August , he said .  Mr Abaaoud had not been taken alive , the authorities said , and it now appeared that one of the bodies was his . One said the woman , Hasna Aitboulahcen , is believed to have detonated a suicide vest in the building after a brief conversation with police officers .  "" Yesterday night a female body , whose identity remains unconfirmed , was found at the apartment "" , Molins added , bringing the total number of dead in the Saint Denis raid to three .  In response to the attacks , France has stepped up its airstrikes against the terrorist group at its homebase in Syria , and French military spokesman Col . Gilles Jaron said that military forces have destroyed 35 Islamic State targets in the region .  Meanwhile , Belgian media reports several witnesses have spotted Salah Abdeslam , one of the suspected Paris attacks gunmen , in Brussels .  The move expands powers to allow police to carry out arrests and searches , while authorities can ban the movement of people and vehicles at specific times and places .  "" Abaaoud was implicated in four of them "" , Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve told reporters , shortly after the Islamic State jihadist ' s death was confirmed by French prosecutors ' office .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
1654,1654,"Nicola Sturgeon is behaving like Vladimir Putin by ' stoking division in England ' , a senior Tory warns .  In a provocative intervention , Ben Wallace last night accused Scotland ' s First Minister of trying to break up Britain using the same tactics as the Russian president in the early days of the Ukraine crisis .  Miss Sturgeon will use her keynote speech at the  ' s conference in Glasgow today to insist that she will ' demand an end to slash and burn austerity ' in return for propping up Ed Miliband in Downing Street .  A senior Tory has said Scotland ' s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon ( right ) is behaving like Russia ' s Vladimir Putin ( left ) by ' stoking division in England '  She will claim to be sending a ' message of friendship and solidarity ' to English voters who want an end to spending cuts that ' tear at the very fabric of society ' .  But Mr Wallace , a serving government whip who was once a Member of the Scottish Parliament , last night accused her of masterminding a plot designed to anger English voters and hasten the break up of the  .  ' Nicola Sturgeon is intent on stoking division in England in the same way Putin used it to break apart Ukraine , ' he said . ' I ' m talking about the early days in the Ukraine crisis , before the tanks , when he spread division and fear in order for it to splinter apart .  ' Separatists all over the world use division and nationalism to break up countries . Sturgeon may dress it up as friendliness , but that is what she wants she wants England to tell the Scots to get lost .  ' Labour could stop this if Miliband said he would not proceed with legislation . . . that could not get through without  votes . But if Labour ' s greed for power allows her to succeed , then God help the  . '  Miss Sturgeon has previously provoked anger by saying she would ' lock the Tories out ' of Downing Street in the event of a hung parliament even if they win the most seats .  Miss Sturgeon has said she has no qualms about installing Mr Miliband ( pictured ) in No 10  She said she would have no qualms about installing Mr Miliband in No 10 , despite believing that Scotland should not even be part of the  . But she warned she would push for ' an end to austerity and the non renewal of Trident ' in return .  Treasury figures show the  ' s plans would involve an extra 148billion of spending leading to higher borrowing and taxes . However polls predict the party could win more than 50 of Scotland ' s 59 seats at the election and could potentially prop up a minority Labour government .  Miss Sturgeon will claim today that her party ' s Left wing stance appeals to millions of voters in England . She will tell activists : ' To ordinary people across these islands who feel just as let down by the out of touch Westminster system as we do , I have a very clear message .  ' It is a message of friendship and solidarity . As long as Scotland remains part of the Westminster system , we will be your allies in seeking to reform that outdated system .  ' So to people in England , Wales and Northern Ireland , I make this promise . The  stands ready to work with you . We will demand an alternative to slash and burn austerity . '  Former Tory defence minister Sir Gerald Howarth accused Miss Sturgeon of ' arrogance ' for boasting that she could hand power to Labour even if it loses the election .  He said : ' We have had the Scottish referendum , which she lost , and now she wants to dictate policy to England what arrogance . The  has demonstrated that it is deeply socialist far worse even than Labour . '  He said it would be ' catastrophic ' for the  if the  held the balance of power , as it would lead to ' more spending and borrowing , higher taxes and weaker defences ' .  Fellow Tory Michael Ellis said Labour appeared to have been ' taken hostage ' by the  . ' It is quite clear that Alex Salmond will ride roughshod over Miliband and hold him to ransom for a very high price . '  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
1656,1656,"Washington As you turn on your  and watch the endless controversy over embryonic stem cell research , ask yourself : Should the government spend taxpayer dollars to develop that bulky old cathode ray television you once owned ?  As you install your 79 Blu ray player , what if Uncle Sam was paying millions to develop Betamax videotapes ?  This kind of government waste is what embryonic stem cell researchers are demanding even when science itself , according to scientists such as former  Director Bernadine Healy , has made embryonic stem cell research obsolete .  Yet the Obama Justice Department is appealing a recent federal court ruling that stopped funding of embryonic stem cell research because it was contrary to Congress ' 1995 law that decided to spend tax dollars on projects that produce treatments instead of destroyed embryos . This is a far from baseless ethical concern , as it is tied to the fact that an embryo is a genetically distinct human being from the moment of conception .  In denying the administration ' s request for a stay , the court rightly found , "" Defendants are incorrect about much of their ' parade of horribles ' that will supposedly result from this court ' s preliminary injunction . Congress has mandated that the public interest is served by preventing taxpayer funding of research that entails the destruction of human embryos . ""  Nonetheless , upon being given a short temporary stay by the appeals court while it receives briefs in the case , the National Institutes of Health immediately began spending American taxpayer dollars like a drunken sailor on 24 hour shore leave .  Another view : Court ruling a blow to U . S . science  Human embryonic stem cell research is the 10 , 000 toilet seat of the 21st century . Years ago , science created a cell that appears to be , in the words of an  study published last month , "" virtually identical "" to an embryonic stem cell but is cheaper , promises better compatibility to patients and kills no embryos .  These new induced pluripotent stem cells ( iPSCs ) "" do all the things embryonic stem cells do , "" explains the father of human embryonic stem cells James Thomson . Harvard ' s David Scadden agrees that iPSC technology "" is absolutely changing the field . "" IPSCs "" perhaps even eliminate the need for human embryos as a source of stem cells , "" says Keisuke Kaji of the University of Edinburgh . IPSCs even caused the man who cloned Dolly the sheep to abandon cloning three years ago because "" changing cells from a patient directly into stem cells has got so much more potential . ""  "" The world has changed , "" Thomson told The Boston Globe in 2007 . "" Human embryo stem cell research will be abandoned by more and more labs . ""  But not by people who put politics over science . For some , "" virtually identical "" is just not enough . Although all researchers agree or admit iPSCs are a promising development worthy of ongoing research , embryonic stem cell research advocates still want to take millions of taxpayer dollars away from that more promising research to fuel their less promising research . With the help of Washington politicians , they ' re holding taxpayer dollars hostage to the tune of 300 million spent and pledged in just over a year .  Perhaps that ' s one reason why , during these times of intense economic strain , a new Rasmussen poll shows that only 33 percent of U . S . voters believe that taxpayer money should be spent on embryonic stem cell research . Talking heads promote embryonic cells by alleging a "" potential "" for cures , but money is much better spent on iPSCs .  Stem cell research that destroys human embryos is also taking money away from successful adult stem cell work , in which no embryos are destroyed . Found in people already born , adult stem cells are the only cells with a track record of actually and successfully treating patients .  Adult stem cells have grown new corneas and tracheas , restoring sight and speech . Adult stem cells placed into children have repaired damage from fatal genetic skin diseases . As  News reported on August 2 , adult stem cells appear to have the ability to stimulate tissue repair and to suppress the immune system .  "" That gives adult stem cells really a very interesting and potent quality that embryonic stem cells don ' t have , "" said Rocky Tuan , director of a cellular engineering institute at the University of Pittsburgh .  Meanwhile , embryonic stem cell researchers have produced no treatments at all . Their own technology dates back to the Stone Age in today ' s pace of science , whereas this year ' s prestigious Balzan Prize for biology recently went to iPSC pioneer Shinya Yamanaka .  So , like many failed industries , embryo researchers demand a taxpayer bailout . They claim that they ' re too big to fail , when in fact they ' ve never succeeded .   Director Francis Collins melodramatically announced that the district court ' s injunction against his funding of embryonic stem cell research , in spite of the 1995 law against such funding , "" poured sand into the engine of discovery . "" The problem is that Collins is wasting taxpayer money on "" discovering "" the equivalent of the riverboat steam engine .  Advocates for embryo destructive research respond that the government should fund all research if any money is left over after they get theirs . But American taxpayers are not a bottomless grab bag of cash . They should not be forced to waste precious dollars on partisan science , especially when economic ruin fueled by government waste is a looming specter .  Embryonic stem cell research should go into the dinosaur museum where it belongs . Any funding should be focused on the real , clean promise of iPSCs and on the miracles that are being produced today by adult stem cell treatments . Embryo destruction has sidetracked good stem cell research long enough .  The opinions in this commentary are solely those of Matt Bowman .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
1659,1659,"AJ+ interviewed a group of fifth graders following the most recent republican debate.What these kids had to say about the way the supposed grown-ups behaved on the debate stage says it all. You re adults, you re not children,  one girl says.  I mean  it s crazy,  she continues, before burying her head in her hands, in exasperation.Eleven-year-old Colin Baird pointed out that the candidates are setting a terrible example for kids, saying,  What if kids are seeing that on  or something, thinking  Oh, well, they re doing it, maybe I can. As Addicting Info pointed out here, republican candidates habitually engage in behaviors no decent parent would want their child to imitate, like name-calling and bullying, not to mention arguing about whose penis is bigger.But unlike the  candidates, the kids in this video are clearly smart enough to know right from wrong.They were easily able to spot the bullying behavior they saw the candidates engaging in, and quick to call it out for what it is.When asked what a bully is, eleven-year-old Maura Sammis immediately answered by saying  Donald Trump. Another student responded by saying,  I think a bully is someone who is deliberately trying to hurt somebody in some way, or make them feel bad. Ten-year-old Oliver Andress might have summed it up best when he said,  They all just want to get in the White House.  He added,  They will play dirty. Another student pointed out the differences she noticed between the democratic debates and the republican debates. The democrats, they don t fight,  she said.  All they do is talk about politics. She goes to say,  I don t want to hear about stuff that s about other people. I just want to hear about politics. The students in this video obviously know a lot more about acting like a grown-up than the candidates running for office on the  ticket.Watch the video below, courtesy of AJ+ on Facebook. // < ![CDATA[ // < ![CDATA[ // < ![CDATA[ (function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = ""//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.3""; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk')); // ]]>Fifth Graders Call Trump a Bully You re adults  it s crazy. Fifth graders weigh in on the  presidential candidates.Posted by AJ+ on Saturday, March 5, 2016 Featured image via video screen capture from AJ+ on Facebook",fake,dataset,test,Other news2,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,past
1662,1662,"Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaksat a campaign event in Springfield , Illinois on Monday .  Washington : A winnowed crop of eight candidates takes the stage on Tuesday for the next Republican  presidential debate , with surging outsider Ben Carson s tumultuous backstory under the microscope and Jeb Bush fighting for his political life .  The showdown in Milwaukee , Wisconsin comes two and a half months before the first statewide votes in the primary process to determine which Republican and which Democrat will square off in the November 2016 election that determines who succeeds Barack Obama in the White House .  Amid pressure to narrow the field for the party s fourth debate in the series ? the race two months ago had bulged to 17 contenders ? broadcaster Fox Business Network changed the format from previous Republican clashes , with only eight candidates at the podiums instead of 10 .  Low pollers New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee failed to make the cut . They are relegated to the undercard debate , which begins at 0000  Wednesday and features four back of the pack candidates .  Two others , Senator Lindsey Graham and former New York governor George Pataki , have generated virtually zero support and were bumped from the proceedings altogether .  Republicans Carson and billionaire Donald Trump are riding high in public polls and besting their establishment counterparts , most of whom are struggling to gain traction in a political environment saturated with populist anger .  Carson , a retired neurosurgeon who like Trump has never held elected office , has become the focus of intense scrutiny as  media pore over elements of his undeniably inspirational personal narrative , including his accounts about his violent adolescence , when he says he attempted to kill a classmate .  There s no question I m getting special scrutiny , because there are a lot of people who are very threatened , and then they have seen the recent head to head polling against Hillary ( Clinton ) and how well I do , Carson told  television s Face the Nation programme on Sunday .  Carson , who has detailed the incidents in his autobiography Gifted Hands , as well as an account of being offered a full scholarship to the  Military Academy at West Point , has claimed the media vetting is unfair .  Pal , you ain t seen nothing yet , Huckabee , speaking on  , said of Carson .  We all have to answer for the things that we put in our own books , Huckabee added on Fox News .  People are going to pick them apart , and you d better have your facts right .  Many will be watching whether Jeb Bush , the politically privileged early front runner now languishing in single digit support , will show more spirit and spark in the fourth Republican showdown than he did in the third , when he was bested by Senator Marco Rubio , his former political apprentice .  I know I have to get better , Bush told supporters last week after his lacklustre performance .  That previous debate , hosted by cable business channel  , is remembered for the confrontational tone that moderators took with the candidates , many of whom complained bout being asked gotcha questions .  Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus , who labelled the debate a crap sandwich , said he hoped Tuesday night would be an opportunity to turn the page and address substantive issues .  Fox Business News has vowed to play nice . My goal is to make myself invisible , Neil Cavuto , one of three moderators for the prime time event , told Politico .  We re not the issue , he stressed . The answers to what we re raising become the issue .  Republicans have been in an adversarial relationship with debate moderators for decades , said Ben Voth , a communications professor at Southern Methodist University .  Ever since 1992 , the Republicans have pretty consistently taken the view that the media is hostile and unfair to their arguments , he told  .  The natural media trend ( is ) pressing for conflict in debates , he added .  Trump , who with Carson will be front and Centre , said he is ready for whatever comes his way .  I think it will be very fair questions , unlike the catastrophe of the last debate , he told  s This Week .  Trump s confrontational bluster has been a hallmark of his campaign , and he may seize the opportunity to lash out at his rival .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Economy,satire,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
1667,1667,"Abdullah Bakar , 48 from Croydon who died in a freak car accident while his Vauxhall Zafira was being towed by the   A minicab boss was killed in a freak accident when a car being towed by the  broke free and collided with an oncoming vehicle .  Abdullah Bakar called the emergency breakdown service when his minivan ' s clutch stopped working while he was on his way to work .  Unable to fix the Vauxhall Zafira by the side of the road , the  patrolman began to tow the vehicle using a fixed rigid bar .  This meant Mr Bakar , a father of seven , had to sit in the van and steer .  Witnesses say the car suddenly veered to one side as it was travelling down a straight section of road .  It hit a bank of earth on the verge and became detached from the  vehicle before crashing head on into a car driving the other way .  Mr Bakar , 48 , was taken by ambulance to hospital following the collision in Croydon , South London , but was pronounced dead at St George ' s Hospital in Tooting .  Police are investigating exactly what caused the minivan to break away from the  vehicle .  Mr Bakar came to Britain after fleeing war torn Somalia in the early 1990s .  He worked as a minicab driver and part owned a firm that specialised in taking passengers to airports around London .  Accident scene : The driver of the black Vauxhall Zafira died after it broke free from the  van which was towing it in a freak accident in Croydon , south London  Staff at his company said he had taken more driving roles recently while he studied for ' the Knowledge ' test of London streets so he could become a licensed black cab driver .  Business colleague Usman Patel , 45 , who runs Easy Cars in Battersea , South London , said Mr Bakar was a ' wonderful family man ' .  ' It is a very difficult time for us here as he was a very well loved and respected man .  ' We don ' t even know what has happened as he was a very cautious driver and seems to have been towed at the time .  Wreckage : The driver of the Vauxhall Zafira suffered a heart attack at the wheel and was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at hospital  ' It ' s very upsetting as I think he has seven children and I ' ve met his oldest boy who is 18 . He was a wonderful family man who loved his children very much . '  A post mortem examination held yesterday gave the cause of death as a head injury .  A man travelling in the second car was taken to hospital before being released .  Probe : Police cordoned off the road in south Croydon , London , while an investigation got underway following the crash on Tuesday morning  Naz Dagnell , who heard the crash just after 9am on Tuesday , said : ' It was like a big thunder crash . Then I heard the sirens going up the road and saw the air ambulance .  ' It ' s really sad to hear of something like this happening so close to your doorstep . '  Mr Bakar ' s family , who live in Croydon , were too upset to speak last night .  A Met Police spokesman said : ' It appears the victim was in a black Vauxhall Zafira which was being towed by a recovery vehicle on a rigid bar .  Accident : The driver was being towed when his car broke free and crashed into a second vehicle  ' The car being towed then appeared to swerve before colliding with a bank at the side of the road and breaking free from the towing vehicle .  ' A second vehicle was subsequently in collision with the Vauxhall . '  An  spokesman said : ' Following the tragic incident involving an  member , our thoughts are with the families and friends of those involved .  ' The incident is under investigation so we are unable to comment further . '  ",true,text,test,Football,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
1688,1688,"Mexico Mexican authorities were searching Wednesday for two politicians accused of belonging to the Familia Michoacana drug cartel , which is blamed for killing more than 30 federal police officers in a series of attacks since Saturday .  Drug violence is up in Michoacan state , shown by recent attacks on police in at least a half dozen cities .  Julio Cesar Godoy Toscano , elected July 5 to the lower house of Congress , is accused of being in charge of protection for the cartel , said Monte Alejandro Rubido Garcia , head of the National Public Security Council . Godoy Toscano is half brother to Michoacan ' s governor , Leonel Godoy Rangel , who Wednesday urged his relative to surrender .  Authorities also said they are searching for Saul Solis Solis , alias "" El Lince , "" who lost his bid for a congressional seat this month . He is accused of being in charge of the cartel ' s activities in the Huacana area . Solis is a cousin of Enrique Plancarte Solis , a Familia Michoacana leader , Rubido said .  Both suspects report to Servando Gomez Martinez , known as "" La Tuta , "" Rubido said .  Godoy Toscano was elected as a member of the opposition Democratic Revolutionary Party , known as the  . The party said Wednesday it would not protect Godoy Toscano or any member who has broken the law .  Godoy Rangel , the Michoacan governor , told a radio station there ' s nothing he could do to help his fugitive brother .  "" I cannot protect anyone , not even my children , "" the government run news agency Notimex quoted him as saying .  He said Wednesday that he has no intention of resigning , because he has done nothing wrong , Notimex said .  Solis sought election as a member of the Green Ecological Party of Mexico . The party , commonly called the  , announced Wednesday it had broken relations with Solis .  In recent days , Michoacan , the home state of President Felipe Calderon , has become a flash point for the country ' s war against the drug cartels .  The sudden spike in violence followed the arrest Saturday of Arnoldo Rueda Medina , whom authorities described as a high ranking member of La Familia Michoacana .  Cartel members first attacked the federal police station in Morelia to try to gain freedom for Rueda , authorities said . When that failed , drug gangs attacked federal police installations in at least a half dozen Michoacan cities .  The Michoacan cartel also is accused in the slaying of 12 federal police officers whose bodies were found Tuesday on a remote highway . Video from the scene showed three signs , known as narcomensajes , left by the killers . They all stated the same thing : "" So that you come for another . We will be waiting for you here . ""  Rubido announced the arrest Tuesday of Francisco Javier Frias Lara , known as "" El Chivo , "" in connection with the killings . Frias also is an alleged member of La Familia Michoacana .  Reprisals from drug cartels after major arrests have been reported before , but the intensity of the attacks in Michoacan are unprecedented .  This week ' s violence solidifies the cartel as a major and violent player in Mexico ' s drug wars , said Bruce Bagley , a professor at the University of Miami and an expert on drug trafficking .  An unprecedented wave of violence has washed over Mexico since Calderon declared war on the drug cartels shortly after coming into office in 2006 . More than 10 , 000 people have died in that time span , about 1 , 000 of them police .  This weekend , in the border city of Ciudad Juarez , the toll of drug related deaths for the year topped 1 , 000 , a level the Mexican city did not reach last year until September . At this point last year , the violence plagued city , across the border from El Paso , Texas , had tallied 596 killings , El Universal newspaper said Tuesday , citing figures from the Chihuahua state attorney general ' s office .  Also in Chihuahua state , a mayor was shot and killed Tuesday morning while on his way to work . Ariel Meixequeiro had twice temporarily left his post because he had been threatened by crime gangs , El Universal said .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
1704,1704,"The results of the first round of the French regional elections sound like the manifestation of a terrible political crisis in our country . Indeed , the victories of the far right National Front suggest that this party with its lies , hatred , and the rejection of democracy might end up leading several of France ' s regions .  With the 2017 presidential elections already on the horizon , the dynamic this could create should not be overlooked .  Therefore , the main parties ( the Republicans and the Socialist Party ) must dedicate themselves , where necessary , to sacrificing their own lists in order to block the National Front . The Socialist Party should , despite some positions taken by regional leadership , remove its listings for the second round in Nord Pas de Calais Picardy , Provence Alpes Cote d ' Azur and Alsace Champagne Ardennes Lorraine . The first secretary of the Socialist Party has already announced that the party will drop out of the first two regions , a move that should be welcomed . It would be pointless to add disgrace to defeat . Letting the  take over these regions would open an avenue for hate in the next presidential elections , further endangering democracy and its values .  But beyond these inevitable tactical decisions , the outcome of these regional elections should also induce the Republicans to question their responsibilities .  First , the party ' s refusal to initiate real equality of power and revisit the national project has meant that it failed to seize the momentum and hopes that came out of the 2012 elections . That refusal deprived the left of its ability to support a strong cultural agenda , an agenda against which the National Front now progresses by reaping the fruit of French fears born of the upheavals of globalization and non extinguished passions linked to our colonial past .  Then , the division of the infantile left created a paradoxical situation in which , despite having received a decent number of votes , the left is now in a position to be defeated in several regions . The left must cease to be a divided power that demands its potential allies to match its social liberal agenda those allies who accuse the people in power of having an excessive love for the market . Normally , we would call this behavior childish . In the current circumstances , it can more accurately be described as suicidal .  Obviously , the right has an extremely heavy historical responsibility in this situation . Their frantic race populism has strongly contributed to trivialize the discourse and the proposals of the National Front . It ' s worth remembering that they were once held on the edge of Republican legitimacy . The evil genius of this strategy is Nicolas Sarkozy , who has instilled the French with a hysteria of security concerns , mistrust vis a vis Muslims ( who , in 2007 , were deemed problematic because they slaughtered sheep in their bathtubs ) , a rise of identity madness and sick debates , and , last but not least , his Grenoble speech , which stigmatized the Roma and opened the door to discussions of stripping them of their nationality .  But the picture would not be complete if we did not talk about the media , which , since 2011 , has highlighted the National Front ' s demonization strategies and its racist discourse . The game that the  is playing against the rest of the world has too often been framed by the media , who saw it as a source of suspense , or a way to disseminate , via the words of the  what many of their leaders and journalists were thinking , namely : "" But really , the Arabs are pissing us off , especially since my son was beaten up after school and little Mohamed , with his degrees , can now reach positions of economic , political or social influence . ""  But , despite this buffet of culpability on the part of politicians and the media , the responsibility of voting still lies with the voters , among whom we ' ve seen two problematic trends : abstaining , and voting for the National Front . Both decisions deserve to be questioned . Just weeks after the attacks aimed at injecting the virus of civil war in our country , is it the right decision to retreat into a vote that facilitates the mad nightmare of our enemies , or to abstain altogether , allowing the worst to happen anyway ?  This post first appeared on HuffPost France . It has been translated into English and edited for clarity .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
1710,1710,"Upon discovering a series of inexplicable markings on the regulation basketball being used during his team ' s game against the Nuggets Monday , Suns center Shaquille O ' Neal halted play to decipher the meaning hidden in the ball ' s mysterious symbols and was subsequently called for a 24 second violation .  "" I never saw anything written on the ball before , "" said O ' Neal , adding that he had not considered the possibility of using a basketball as a device to access information . "" In my first glimpse , I had no idea what to make of the bizarre inscriptions I found on the surface , because the referee took the ball away before I could complete a proper analysis . ""  "" I will do whatever it takes to break the code of these intriguing but unintelligible messages , "" the 15 time all star continued . "" I can only believe that encrypted in that seeming gibberish is a deeper meaning , perhaps the ancient secrets of the known universe or even the  itself . ""  O ' Neal , who finished the game with 19 points and three blocked shots , was reportedly aggressive while calling for the ball , jumping for rebounds , and questioning his teammates about the origin of the curious symbols during fast breaks . According to Suns point guard Steve Nash , O ' Neal spent several minutes at the foul line in the fourth quarter speculating aloud as to whether the writings represented a cryptic warning to all  big men or might unlock the ability to manipulate space and time .  "" He kind of freaked out on me when I suggested that it could be an upside down ' S ' connected to a ' P , ' "" Nash said . "" After the ref finally warned him to take his shot or risk a technical , Shaq pulled me aside and said the team ' s cryptographer would probably think differently . ""  Though O ' Neal said it would be irrational to present theories without a solid foundation of research , the 37 year old did claim that the mysterious inscriptions were definitely created by a more advanced basketball civilization with vastly superior technology . While acknowledging that humans have made impressive scientific progress , O ' Neal opined that our culture has not yet developed the sophisticated tools required to embed complex informational structures on the spherical surface of a basketball .  Following the Suns ' 118 115 victory over the Nuggets , O ' Neal was seen hurrying off the court to the locker room , where he conducted a number of tests on a ball . O ' Neal ' s first experiment , which consisted of squeezing a lemon wedge over the ball to draw out any invisible markings hidden on its surface , was inconclusive , and he expressed annoyance when forced to suspend his research for head coach Alvin Gentry ' s postgame talk .  "" Observing the inscription ' s sensitivity to high levels of heat seems like a much better use of my time , "" O ' Neal said . "" I certainly wouldn ' t place his feeble recognition of our success in the same realm as my reality shattering discovery . ""  O ' Neal , who drove to a nearby Sports Authority retail store with the intention of purchasing hundreds of similar basketballs , was distraught when a clerk asked him if he wanted the synthetic version .  "" If all these balls are artificial , mere replicas , then that leads to the question of the existence of the original , what I have termed the One True Ball which may not even exist , "" said O ' Neal , scratching at his face with his fingers . "" And if the One True Ball is a mere mental construct , an ideal of perfection , then by extrapolation it becomes impossible to verify that the  or life as we know it is even real . Perhaps we are all stuck in separate adjacent dimensions and never actually interact with one another . ""  "" Which ultimately means that we are caught in some kind of cosmic lie , "" O ' Neal added . "" All my efforts to create a Shaqtopia were for naught . ""  ",satire,text,test,Other sport,Economy,true,satire,True,no,no,positive,past
1720,1720,"A Canadian woman accused of stalking Alec Baldwin began sending "" a series of annoying and unsolicited communications "" to the actor after having dinner with him in fall 2010 , according to a criminal complaint filed Monday .  Genevieve Sabourin , 40 , was arrested by New York police Sunday on five misdemeanor counts of harassment and stalking after she appeared at Baldwin ' s Manhattan home .  A judge released Sabourin on her own recognizance after a court appearance Monday , but ordered her to return for a May 14 hearing . Until then , she must keep away from Baldwin , 53 , and not send him any e mails or text messages , the judge ordered .  Their encounters , including an incident Friday night , during which she showed up at a Lincoln Center movie screening hosted by Baldwin , has caused him to suffer "" anxiety , annoyance and fear , "" the court filing said .  She sent Baldwin a dozen e mails last week that added to his stress , the complaint said .  "" I       ,     ,             ,  ! "" an April 4 e mail said .  "" I    ,         . I    10      .  I    , "" another message the same day read .  "" I ' M        ,         I      , "" she wrote , according to the court document .  Two days later , Baldwin got this e mail :  "" I  I          . I  I             . . .       .  I    I  ' T      ,    , I       . . .   , I        . I    , I    . ""  A e mail sent to Baldwin Saturday read in part :  ""       I     , I           . I      . ""  The complaint described Baldwin ' s previous relationship with the woman as limited to their meeting "" briefly for dinner in the fall of 2010 . ""  However , she served as a unit publicist for the 2002 Eddie Murphy movie "" The Adventures of Pluto Nash , "" in which Baldwin had a cameo role . It was not immediately clear whether Baldwin and Sabourin met on the set .  Sabourin is described in several media reports as an actress however , her online LinkedIn resume lists her current occupation as a film producer in Montreal . Police confirmed she is from Montreal .  The stalking suspect ' s acting resume is sparse , with a handful of small roles in Canadian  productions , the last in 2007 , according to the Internet Movie Database .  Her biggest film acting credit appears to be in Tom Sizemore ' s "" Swindle , "" a 2002 crime thriller , according to the IMDb .  Baldwin is engaged to marry Hilaria Thomas , a 27 year old yoga instructor .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
1727,1727,"Planet Earth  viewers demand legal system for animals 15-11-16  Earth  viewers have demanded that animals get their own criminal justice system to stop them doing horrible things. After the wildlife documentary showed snakes trying to kill a baby iguana, many Britons now believe animals need their own laws and a police force. Administrator Nikki Hollis said: “These snakes are doing the most horrific things without the slightest fear of being arrested and punished. “Animals need to realise they won’t be safe until they have laws and enforce them. Gorillas could be the police, because they’re massive and won’t put up with any nonsense, and wise animals like owls could be judges. “Criminal animals will soon get the message once a few are sentenced to life for murder. Obviously animals don’t have prisons yet but I’m sure the monkeys could build cages.” Graphic designer Tom Logan said: “After seeing the extent of lawlessness in the animal kingdom I think we need to get the human courts involved. “The conviction rate will be high because most animals make no attempt to hide their crimes, leaving a wealth of  and video evidence. “We also need an emergency rescue service for baby penguins, because that episode of Life in the Freezer made me blub in front of my mates.”  Share:",fake,news,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,past
1741,1741,"host Carol Costello was so fed up with a Trump s supporter s claims of voter fraud that she threatened to cut the interview short and then destroyed her with facts.Crazy Trump supporter Betsey McCaughey made every effort to squeeze in every little claim of voter fraud she could think of during her appearance on  on Thursday. This nation has been victimized by rampant election fraud,  McCaughey declared, citing a Pew report to claim that dead people are voting, forcing Costello to warn her about making claims that are  not true. McCaughey made her claims in defense of Donald Trump s assertion that the election is  rigged  in favor of Hillary Clinton.When Costello and Democratic strategist Sally Kohn ripped into the Republican nominee for refusing to say that he will concede on Election Day if he loses, McCaughey tried to spin it by claiming that Trump didn t say he wouldn t accept the results, only that he would wait until the results come in before he makes a decision.However, her spin is now void because Trump told a crowd in Ohio that he will only accept the results  if I win. When McCaughey continued to falsely claim that there is mass voter fraud in this country, Costello slammed the brakes on the discussion and told McCaughey that if she continues to lie her mic will be cut.COSTELLO:  Stop! Or I m going to have to cut this interview short. McCaughey:  You don t want people to hear the evidence? As McCaughey continued to make her claims, the discussion only became more heated as a frustrated Costello put an end to the discussion and called for a break while producers pulled up some evidence for Costello to hit McCaughey with.Here s the video via YouTube.But McCaughey had no evidence and Costello proved it after the commercial break by playing video of Ohio s Republican Secretary of State Jon Husted saying that Trump s claims are  irresponsible  and that America s system of elections are fair and secure and  we should not question the legitimacy of it. Costello then informed McCaughey that the Pew reports she cited only says that there are dead voters still registered and that the system needs to be updated. It did  say that these dead people are voting.Sally Kohn then pointed out that a comprehensive study found that out of one billion votes cast between 2000 and 2014, there were only 31 possible cases of voter fraud.Here s that video via YouTube.In short, voter fraud is a myth perpetuated by Republicans in order to justify voter  laws designed to suppress voters and as an excuse to explain how Democrats are able to win elections.Donald Trump is using the myth as an excuse to why he would lose to Hillary Clinton and he is making a treasonous mockery of our democratic process by doing so.Featured Image: Screenshot",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
1750,1750,"The chances of a team managed by Jose Mourinho giving up a seven point lead with 14 matches left is as likely as Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert putting Chelsea ' s staff on his Christmas card list .  Mourinho walked off the Villa Park turf a winner for the first time too quickly for Lambert to shake his hand but insisted he would only see Chelsea as champions when the title was sealed .  ' A Jose Mourinho team is a team like the others , ' he said . ' If we have a seven point lead with two matches to go we are champions .  Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho ( right ) and Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert ( right ) shout instructions  Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic celebrates scoring the Blues ' winner at Villa Park on Saturday  Juan Cuadrado ( left ) takes on Villa ' s Cissokho as the Colombian came on for his Premier League debut  Villa ' s run without scoring was the fourth worst in Premier League history .  ' If we have a seven point lead with three matches to go we need two points . And it ' s not three matches , it ' s 14 , so there ' s a long time to go . '  By May , this may well be viewed as a pivotal weekend in the title race , one when the leaders recovered from conceding to the worst attack in English football while Manchester City failed to beat lowly Hull at home .  It can also be seen as another chapter in the fraught relationship between Chelsea and Villa . Lambert was left seething by the behaviour of a Mourinho ally , understood to be Rui Faria a renowned wind up merchant 10 minutes before the interval .  Didier Drogba went down holding his head following an aerial duel with Ciaran Clark , prompting an exchange of words in the technical areas . Lambert removed his coat as if ready for action .  Eden Hazard slides and clenches his fists in celebration after putting Chelsea ahead against Villa on Saturday  Afterwards , Mourinho appeared to criticise Lambert by suggesting Villa should not be struggling near the bottom of the table .  ' If they go down it is not because of the quality of their players , ' said Mourinho . ' I believe they are not going down . This is a big club . '  Asked if it would be Lambert ' s fault if Villa dropped a division , Mourinho replied : ' I am saying nothing . I am saying that ' s football . They have more than enough . '  The pair clashed earlier this season when Mourinho tried to shake Lambert ' s hand before full time in Chelsea ' s 3 0 win at Stamford Bridge .  Mourinho had tongue wedged in cheek when saying Lambert and his then assistant Roy Keane were ' very polite and well educated people ' .  Jores Okore ( right ) of celebrates with Carles Gil after scoring Villa ' s first league goal in exactly 11 hours  Okore and Ciaran Clark run over to the Villa supporters to celebrate scoring the goal which ended the drought  Lambert seemed surprised at any praise coming from the Portuguese . ' Whether he is trying to put pressure on me , I don ' t know , ' said the Scot .  ' Was it genuine ? We ' ll call it genuine ish . I would love to learn from him as a manager but I wouldn ' t like to learn things off the pitch from someone in his dug out . '  Lambert must switch his focus to more important matters . Villa travel to Hull on Tuesday for a game of great significance .  Jores Okore , who scored Villa ' s first Premier League goal in 11 hours , said only victory would do . ' It ' s a really big game against a team who are close to us , ' he said . ' Those are the matches you need to win . '  Eden Hazard and Branislav Ivanovic scored the goals against Villa that increased Chelsea ' s lead over City .  Mourinho called the Serbian one of the club ' s best signings and his winner a half volley to make ' every striker in the world proud ' .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
1754,1754,"Phew ! In a likely turn of the screw , Shayanna Jenkins may turnabout and make it fair play .  The fianc e of Aaron Hernandez has made a deal with the prosecution and it bodes unwell for the former Patriot . Shayanna has gone from Wicked Witch of the East to Glinda , the Good Witch , in a matter of a screw turn .  Even Judge Susan E . Garsh is aboard on this one . She will forgive the perjury charges against Ms Jenkins if she decides to tell all on the stand .  Since she never married the footloose and fancy free Hernandez , what she can reveal may turn the screw several times in both directions .  It is likely she can give evidence about his relationship with murder victim Odin Lloyd and she can reveal whatever the nitwit Patriot told her without the privilege of wedded vows .  Though the two have a daughter in common , that may be the end of any tandem . For the past few weeks , Shayanna has sat behind Hernandez taking copious notes . She may be noting all the discrepancies that she can explain .  In the past Shayanna sat next to Hernandez ' s mother and brother . It now appears she will be sitting on the other side of the aisle , no longer siding with the groom to be .  Turned screws are never pleasant , whether applied to the thumb and another large part of the anatomy . It looks like Hernandez bit off more than he could chew when he counted on his future bride to set him free .  Suddenly Shayanna ' s testimony looks about as riveting as Lee Remick ' s in Anatomy of a Murder . If the prosecution had a witness like Jenkins in the  Simpson trial , history would be facing a different direction . We have reached the Perry Mason moment of the trial .  The electric screwdriver is now in the hands of the prosecution to the ever shock of Hernandez ' s ninja lawyers .  ",satire,text,test,American football,Sports/Other,true,satire,True,no,no,neutral,present
1765,1765,"Prior to the Nov. 8 election, the  was, more or less, Trumpland. They wanted Trump to win. They neither trusted nor approved of Hillary Clinton. And that anti-Hillary attitude led to a number of anti-Hillary leaks to the press from the agency. They were angry with James Comey s decision not to indict Hillary over her emails.Now, though, the  is wracked with shock, anger and grief over Comey s sudden firing. According to the Daily Beast, one agent said his abrupt dismissal was like a death in the family. Another said that they re basically  sitting shiva,  which is a Jewish ritual of mourning just after a funeral.And some of them are doing something very unusual for a situation like this: They re posting pictures of themselves with Comey on social media, and even changing their profile pics to those of Comey. That s a gesture generally reserved for someone who dies.Acting Director Andrew McCabe told the Senate Judiciary Committee that Comey was well-liked and had broad support throughout the bureau. In other words, when Trump said that Comey had lost the trust and respect of his rank and file, he was either not speaking for the majority of the rank and file, or he was flat-out lying.Rank-and-file agents were also very suspicious of the timing of Comey s firing, wondering whether it had anything to do with the Russia probes. Various officials  phones were ringing off the hook.  headquarters in D.C. was more or less locked down and not answering the flood of phone calls coming in.One agent told the Daily Beast that there s likely to be serious distrust of whoever Trump puts into Comey s place: No matter who gets the job, there will be a cloud of suspicion because the President is unpopular with much of the [U.S.]. That bad faith will make it harder to do my job. Trump undermined the public s trust in the  more than Comey ever could. The new director is going to face a tough confirmation, with much of the Senate viewing Trump with suspicion, too. That makes possible picks like Rudy Giuliani out of the question   he s going to have to tread very carefully with Comey s replacement. In the meantime, McCabe has assured the Senate that he ll let them know immediately if the White House tries to interfere with the Russia probes in any way at all.Featured image by Zach Gibson via Getty Images",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,fake,fake,True,no,no,positive,past
1780,1780,"Photos of the Day Photos of the day 01 14  Taken as a whole , there is no denying that Connecticut has had more good days than days like today , said Gov . Malloy . Of course we are disappointed , and we know that many in Connecticut share that frustration . The company has not yet announced how many jobs will be lost in Connecticut as a result of the move . ?  Whereas Gov . Baker had every reason to be positive in his own press release . ?  In addition to adding hundreds of high paying jobs to our state , we look forward to partnering with  to achieve further growth across a spectrum of industries and are confident  will flourish in the Commonwealth s inventive economy , he says . Besides bringing about 800 jobs to the state ,  will serve as a Boston draw for other technology companies . ?  Playing off the historic Boston vs . New York rivalry , the city of Boston can t help but brag a little .  The ecosystem that we have here in Massachusetts to support innovation is what won us this prize , Gov . Baker s secretary of economic development Jay Ash told the Boston Globe .  And Erickson told The Monitor that Boston has the statistics to back up the talk .  And It s more than hometown pride , Jim Rooney , chief executive of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce , told The Boston Globe . Boston is increasingly expanding its global influence , and the talent is already here .  will be able to recruit an innovation workforce that already has a T pass .  But regardless of the technological talent and innovative spirit that Boston has to offer , it s hard to look past the financial incentives as simply one of many contributing factors . ?  The Commonwealth of Boston offered 120 million worth of incentives to the company and up to 25 million in tax savings ? making the overall 45 million deal one of the most expensive in the state s history . ?  Between costs offset by the state of Massachusetts , the city of Boston , and revenue from the sale of the Fairfield corporate compound and offices in New York City at 30 Rockefeller Plaza ,  has confirmed that it will take on no financial impact from the northern move . ?  Boston also pledged transportation improvements in the Seaport area where  plans to relocate , as well as a 5 million innovation center where  employees and Massachusetts innovators , students , and teachers can collaborate on future projects . ?  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
1784,1784,"Forget the immensely powerful car or the wealth of up to the minute gadgets at his disposal , if Felipe Massa drives to Formula One glory this season it ' ll be thanks to his lucky pants .  The Brazilian , who drives for the Ferrari team , came agonizingly close to taking his first ever world title in 2008 but was pipped to the post by Briton Lewis Hamilton on the final lap of the final race of the season .  The following year he was lucky to survive after being hit on the head by a stray suspension spring that had flown from a rival ' s car during qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix .  But in 2011 he is hoping for no more obstacles as he guns for the world crown , with the help of his underwear .  "" I wear them just for the Saturday and Sunday I don ' t wash but , two days , what ' s the problem ? "" Massa replied .  His superstitions don ' t end there . He always lands on his right foot when he gets out of bed in the morning and makes sure the same foot enters his car first before a race .  "" I think the superstition is just something that is inside your brain , "" he explained . "" For sure , you would win because you have the underwear or because you are happy or whatever .  "" You win because you are doing the best job , but inside your brain it is important to have everything clean and everything ready and that ' s why sporting people are superstitious . ""  With some impressive pre season testing sessions under his belt many pundits are tipping Massa to muscle his way into the title reckoning in 2011 , so could this finally be his year ?  "" Yes , I believe in my speed , I believe in the way I drive and I believe I can win many races and the championship . I think that ' s very important to have inside your brain , to be stronger and stronger all the time .  "" And I know if I have all the possibilities and everything that is automatically for my driving style , for the way I drive I can be there . ""  After persistent problems with his car last season Massa thinks the new Pirelli tires to be used in the forthcoming campaign will benefit his racing style .  "" Most of the problems I had last year should be alright for this year because the tires are much softer , to get the temperature in the tires it will be easier , so I expect not to have this problem , but we are a little bit early to say that .  "" I like the tires , for sure . They ' re very different from last year , so maybe we are going to have more pit stops because otherwise after some laps you are struggling a lot on the tires . So it ' s a big change for the championship , it ' s a big strategy change , but I enjoy it , "" he said .  Massa also rejects the oft repeated notion that if he is to clinch a world title he will have to leave Ferrari in order to do so .  "" I don ' t think so , "" he said . "" I think I ' m in a top team , it ' s important to have a top car and if I have that I will fight to the maximum level to be the champion .  "" Ferrari is just the top in motorsport , it is a dream car on the road , for sure it is the most important thing . When you drive for a team like Ferrari it really is a dream come true . ""  Massa showed courage to climb back into a Formula One car just ten weeks after his life threatening crash in Hungary but he insists he never dwells on what might have been .  "" I never dream about the accident , "" he said . "" What is important to say is that it was not my time . I believe in God , I am Catholic , so I ' m sure it was not my time , it was a not the moment to go to a different life .  "" There ' s nothing to say about that . When it ' s not your time , you know , you stay here . ""  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
1789,1789,"Washington A federal court challenge to a new Arizona law aimed at curbing illegal immigration isn ' t out of the question , Attorney General Eric Holder said Tuesday .  Holder said that the Justice Department was working with the Department of Homeland Security to "" decide exactly how we are going to react to it . ""  "" We are considering all possibilities , including the possibility of a court challenge , "" Holder told reporters during questions at a news conference , at which he had announced a settlement with pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca over its marketing of an anti psychotic drug .  "" I think that Arizona ' s law is an unfortunate one , "" he said . "" I think that it is , I fear , subject to potential abuse . And I ' m very concerned about the wedge that it could draw between communities that law enforcement is supposed to serve and those of us in law enforcement . ""  Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano , who served as Arizona ' s governor until she took the position with the Obama administration , told a Senate panel Tuesday that she has "" deep concerns "" with the law .  Napolitano said she fears it would siphon away resources that would otherwise be used to pursue individuals who commit major crimes while in the country illegally .  "" I think these kinds of laws are not value added to law enforcement , "" she told the Senate Judiciary Committee . "" There ' s a reason most law enforcement groups . . . oppose them . ""  They put an "" undue barrier "" between victims of crime and law enforcement officials , she said .  Napolitano , who served as Arizona ' s governor before joining President Obama ' s Cabinet , refused to offer an opinion on the constitutionality of the law .  The new law requires Arizona police to determine whether people are in the United States legally if there is a reason to suspect they aren ' t . Arizona Gov . Jan Brewer , a Republican , signed the controversial legislation into law Friday . Supporters say it is needed to control illegal immigration .  The law , scheduled to go into effect 90 days after the close of the state ' s legislative session , would require immigrants to carry their alien registration documents at all times . Currently , officers can check someone ' s immigration status only if that person is suspected in another crime .  Critics say the law could foster racial profiling and prompt businesses , conventions and tourists to stay away from the state .  The bill has prompted rallies by opponents and supporters , and some prominent politicians in Washington and Arizona have criticized the measure . Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon , a Democrat , has said he ' ll file a lawsuit to block the law .  Last week , Obama called the legislation "" misguided "" and said the federal government must act on the immigration issue .  "" Our failure to act responsible at the federal level will only open the door to irresponsibility by others . That includes , for example , the recent efforts in Arizona , which threaten to undermine basic notions of fairness that we cherish as Americans , as well as the trust between police and their communities that is so crucial to keeping us safe , "" he said .  Napolitano told the Judiciary Committee members that the "" passage of laws like Arizona ' s at the state level indicate the need to move forward with comprehensive immigration reform . ""  But Sen . Lindsey Graham , R South Carolina , blamed federal authorities for undermining the push for comprehensive immigration reform by failing to more effectively secure the Mexican border .  "" Our borders are broken . . . and there ' s a war going on "" with drug cartels in Mexico that is spilling over into the United States , he argued .  "" Good people are so afraid of an out of control border that they had to resort to a law in Arizona that I think is unconstitutional , "" he said . The federal government has to prove "" that we can secure our borders "" before Congress can pass an immigration reform bill .  Over the weekend , Graham withdrew his support for what had been a bipartisan plan to pass climate change legislation because , he claimed , Democrats were trying to ram through a polarizing immigration reform bill .  Some political observers have said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid , D Nevada , is trying to push a reform plan in order to boost his standing among Hispanic voters and bolster his re election prospects in November .  House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer , D Maryland , acknowledged Tuesday that congressional Democrats are divided over how to proceed with an immigration reform bill . He also said House members are expecting the Senate to take the lead in crafting a proposal .  "" In part , of course , what the people of Arizona are saying is that the feds haven ' t done their job . I think they ' re right , "" he said .  But Hoyer criticized the new state law , arguing that it is "" very inconsistent with past practices in America . . . . We don ' t go around asking people for I . D . cards . ""  He said it is "" very difficult to see how that ' s going to be carried out in a way that ' s consistent with the civil liberties of citizens . ""  Napolitano acknowledged that more work has to be done along the southern border , but she also expressed frustration with  arguments on border security . She claimed that the overall situation has improved and questioned whether the goal of "" securing the border "" could ever be fully reached .  Napolitano declined to provide a direct answer when asked whether the Arizona law could negatively impact race relations . But "" if this law goes into effect , "" she warned , "" there are a lot of questions about what the real impact on the street will be . ""  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
1790,1790,"This is the shocking moment a single mother was caught on a hidden camera stealing money from the wallet of her boyfriend ' s frail 89 year old grandfather .  Hayley Adams , 29 , of Barnstaple , Devon , was seen sneaking into William Tanner ' s bedroom and taking cash from his coat , after a  device was put in the room by his daughter Angela Wrenn .  Ms Wrenn , 56 , had earlier expressed concern that his money kept going missing , but was shocked to discover the culprit was a trusted relative and the mother to Mr Tanner ' s great grandchildren .  While Adams admitted to taking about 65 , North Devon Magistrates ' Court was told that the victim ' s relatives suspected the amount stolen in one year was closer to thousands of pounds .  Caught : Hayley Adams ( above ) , 29 , of Barnstaple , Devon , was seen sneaking into William Tanner ' s bedroom and taking cash from his coat , after a  device was put in the room by his daughter Angela Wrenn  The videos were handed to police and have now led to Adams being convicted of three counts of theft although she escaped with a community order , restraining order and a total fine of 175 .  Mr Tanner told the court he was left feeling violated and vulnerable after Adams stole money during several visits to his house in Barnstaple .  Karen Ball , prosecuting , said the victim noticed money going missing from his wallet and thought at first he was being forgetful .  She said he lived with his daughter Ms Wrenn who then became suspicious about Adams ' s behaviour so secretly installed the  .  Adams visited frequently and was overheard telling friends she had no money to go out with them , before she suddenly acquired some . The hidden camera instantly started picking up the offences .  Mrs Ball said Adams had been in a relationship with Mr Tanner ' s grandson with whom she has two children when the thefts took place . The couple have since separated .  Seen on  : The videos were handed to police and have now led to Adams being convicted of three counts of theft although she escaped with a community order , restraining order and a total fine of 175  In a victim impact statement , Mr Tanner said : ' I have been violated . I am feeling very vulnerable and am constantly on my guard . I can ' t trust anybody and it feels like I have had my personal space violated .  ' My room does not feel the same anymore . I have been feeling safer since she has not been allowed in the house . I think it is just knowing that she can ' t get to me . '  Mrs Ball claimed the victim ' s family suspected thousands of pounds were taken in 12 months , but the exact amount was unknown .  Tony Dart , defending Adams , said the idea that thousands was stolen was ' absurd ' and Adams admitted to taking around 65 .  Mr Dart said : ' She is disappointed in herself . The offences took place when she was desperate for money . She is a single mother . She accepts her behaviour was reprehensible . '  Magistrates handed Adams a restraining order , banning her from attending the victim ' s address or contacting him and ordered her to pay him 65 compensation .  She was also handed a six month community order , with six months supervision , and told to attend an Engage Women programme . She was fined 50 and ordered to pay a 60 victim surcharge .  ",true,text,test,American football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
1793,1793,"Epic survival thriller The Revenant and space blockbuster The Martian won big at the Golden Globes on Sunday , boosting their chances for Oscars glory next month .  The Revenant ? the story of 19th century fur trapper Hugh Glass , played by Leonardo DiCaprio ? won three top awards at the star studded gala , for best drama , best actor ( DiCaprio ) and best director ( Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu ) .  The Martian , the tale of an astronaut stranded alone on Mars , won two top prizes ? best comedy film and best actor in a comedy for actor Matt Damon . The two films ? split in separate categories by Globes organizers , meaning they were not competing against each other ? are now in prime position as Hollywood s annual awards season heats up ahead of the Oscars on February 28 .  I cannot say how surprised I am and how proud I am to have survived this movie , Inarritu said , referring to the harsh conditions in which the movie was filmed , mainly in Canada and Argentina . Inarritu s movie Birdman won four Oscars last year including for best picture and best director , and many critics believe the Mexican director could emerge triumphant again this year .  DiCaprio , who got a standing ovation from his Hollywood peers at the first major awards show of the year , said he wanted to share the award with indigenous communities around the world . It is time that we recognize your history and that we protect your indigenous lands from corporate interests and from people that are out there to exploit them , said DiCaprio .  Critics believe the 41 year old actor may finally win his first Oscar for the movie . He went all out for the role , even eating raw bison liver for a scene . A listers Kate Winslet and Sylvester Stallone also took home acting prizes at the ceremony held in Beverly Hills , which is seen as a good indicator of which movies and actors will fight for Oscars glory . Winslet won for best supporting actress in a film for her role in the biopic Steve Jobs , and Stallone won for best supporting actor in Creed , in which he reprised his iconic role of boxer Rocky Balboa .  Spotlight , an early Globes favorite about journalists from The Boston Globe who uncovered abuse in the Catholic Church , went home empty handed despite three nominations . Also snubbed was The Big Short , based on a book about the financial crisis of 2007 2008 . Hosting the glittering gala considered Hollywood s biggest party of the year was British comedian Ricky Gervais , who dished out his trademark raunchy humor , targeting Caitlyn Jenner , Mel Gibson and Sean Penn , among many others .  Shut up , you disgusting , pill popping deviant scum ! he said by way of greeting the champagne guzzling crowd at the event organized by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association . He also poked fun at Bill Cosby , saying he would rather spend an evening in a hotel room with Gibson ? the target of his hosting gags in the past ? than with the disgraced  comedian accused of assault by some 50 women .  In the United States , the event was broadcast with a delay of a few seconds to bleep out Gervais s dirtiest jokes ? and other on air obscenities ? for a primetime audience .  Other films that vied for the best drama prize ? and should figure in the Oscars conversation ? were 1950s lesbian romance Carol , harrowing kidnap tale Room , and the summer action blockbuster Mad Max : Fury Road . Brie Larson won the Globe for best actress in a drama for her portrayal of a young mother held captive with her child in Room , besting Carol co stars Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara .  In the best foreign movie category , Hungarian Holocaust drama Son of Saul was the winner . Unlike the Oscars , the Golden Globes also honors television shows . Mr Robot , about a computer programmer and vigilante hacker , took home the prize for best drama series . Amazon s comedy Mozart In The Jungle took the prize for best comedy series .  Jon Hamm won his second Golden Globe for best actor in a drama for his portrayal of womanizing advertising executive Don Draper in Mad Men , whose finale aired last year . And for best actress in the  drama category , Taraji P . Henson won the Golden Globe for her role in Empire , which looks at the struggle inside the family behind a major hip hop label . The awards are decided by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association , made up of some 90 entertainment editors and writers from 55 countries who report on the industry year round .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
1807,1807,"Friday ' s crash of Virgin Galactic ' s SpaceShip Two , with its tragic loss of life , comes just three days after the failure of Orbital Sciences Corp . ' s Antares re supply mission to the International Space Station .  Launching spaceships is obviously a very difficult business . The payload sits atop a huge amount of fuel , often weighing many times more than the satellite or material being sent into space .  Every physics student knows the rocket problem : You need a lot of fuel to get a heavy spacecraft moving , and the weight of the unburned fuel itself has to be lifted as well .  To increase the weight of the payload a rocket can lift , more fuel is needed , enough to lift the extra payload weight and lift the weight of the extra fuel . It ' s kind of like compound interest . Add more mass to the payload and you have to add a lot more fuel .  The payload carried on the failed Antares rocket was reportedly about 1 as heavy as the spacecraft plus fuel . That means the majority 99 was working hard to lift the 1 dead weight .  Early rocket designers realized the advantage of using two separate lift stages . After the fuel in the first stage has completely burned up , its container can be jettisoned , lightening the total spacecraft weight by much more than the burned fuel . The second stage can then accelerate the payload faster than if the empty fuel tank were still attached .  The first stage has to do the most work because it lifts the full weight of payload plus fuel from a dead stop . The second stage has an easier job since the rocket is already moving and is much lighter without the weight of the first stage fuel plus container .  Another design advance was to operate stages in parallel . That accelerates the rocket faster because at no point are any rocket stages dead weight .  Analysis : Will space accidents deter pioneer tourists ?  The history of rocket development is littered with explosions , back to the first reported rockets in 14th century China and Korea . Even sophisticated systems well along the development path , like  ' s space shuttle , had failures .  Orbital Sciences and Virgin Galactic are still developing their technologies and processes .  ' s long record of mostly successful launches made spaceflight look so routine that we may have forgotten how difficult it is .  Could the modern world do without launching materials and people into space ? Probably not . Satellites and other spacecraft are an integral part of navigation , weather , space science , earth science and ultra fast global communications not to mention robotic and human exploration . Even if we forgo exotic trips to Mars , an awful lot of technology here on Earth won ' t work without space assets .  Launching America into space isn ' t for the faint of heart . But it ' s still the future .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
1827,1827,"Former Premier League footballer Daniel Agger and his family were left ' heartbroken ' after their pet dog was killed during a trip to a dog salon , his wife has revealed .  Sofie Agger , wife of the ex Liverpool star , posted a photograph of Charlie the dog on Instagram , saying that he ' went to the groomer and never came home again ' .  Mrs Agger said workers at the salon , which has not been named , put him in ' some dryer box ' last week and it was unclear whether the machine was faulty or the animal was simply forgotten about .  Salon death : Sofie Agger , wife of footballer Daniel , posted this photograph of Charlie the dog on Instagram  The footballer ' s wife , whom he married in 2010 , said of Charlie on December 6 : ' We lost him today and our family are totally heartbroken . He went to the groomer and never came home again .  ' They put him in some dryer box and we still don ' t know if they forgot him or the machine had a fault . Are such in shock and still can grasp that our dog had pain like that and then died sic .  ' Dearly hope anyone who has a machine like that stop using them . Know it ' s a long shot but as I said we ' re heartbroken . We will miss you Charlie . '  The interior designer , who studied at Liverpool John Moores University , said of the photograph she posted that the dog was pictured ' at his best ' , adding : ' This is how we wanna remember him . '  Couple : Daniel Agger married his wife Sofie in 2010 ( left ) . They are also pictured last year in Liverpool ( right )  Premier League footballer : Daniel Agger , 30 , joined Liverpool in 2006 from Danish Superliga team Brondby  The couple who have two children together , Jamie and Mason married four years ago in the footballer ' s hometown of Hvidovre , Denmark , and their reception took place in Copenhagen .  While he was still playing at Liverpool , the couple lived in a three bedroom house worth 1 . 5million .  The star , aged 30 , joined Liverpool in 2006 from Danish Superliga team Brondby , making 232 appearances for the Merseyside club , before moving back to Brondby in August this year .  Upon his return to Denmark , he said : ' I would like to thank the Liverpool supporters for the incredible backing they have given me in my time here and the warmth and generosity of spirit displayed to my family . '  The defender who won the League Cup in 2012 with Liverpool is also captain of the Danish national team , for whom he has played 66 times and scored 12 goals .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
1830,1830,"A series of car bombs ripped through parts of Baghdad Monday evening , killing at least 28 people and wounding dozens in the latest deadly incident in violence torn Iraq , police said .  Nine car bombs detonated in the Iraqi capital , at least some of them in several Shiite Muslim neighborhoods . In addition to those killed , at least 106 were injured , police said .  Monday ' s violence came after at least 88 people were killed and more than 300 were injured in bombings and other attacks throughout the country on Saturday and Sunday , according to police officials .  The weekend attacks prompted a U . N . envoy to call on the nation ' s leaders to take action to stop the "" accelerated surge in violence and bloodshed . ""  More than 5 , 000 civilians have died and 12 , 000 have been wounded in terrorist attacks and other violence in Iraq in 2013 , the U . N . Mission in Iraq reported last month . The region around Baghdad has been the hardest hit , the agency said .  The United Nations has said 979 Iraqis were killed and 2 , 133 were wounded in acts of terrorism and violence last month alone .  "" In the aftermath of yet another series of bloody attacks that indiscriminately hit pilgrims , schoolchildren , journalists , as well as ordinary citizens trying to go about their daily lives , the special representative of the United Nations secretary general for Iraq , Mr Nickolay Mladenov , called on political , religious and civil leaders to work together with the security forces and take joint action to halt the accelerated surge in violence and bloodshed , "" the U . N . Assistance Mission for Iraq said in a statement issued Sunday .  Iraq has been struggling with deep sectarian divisions between its Shiite and Sunni populations , as well as the ethnic divisions between Arabs and minorities such as Kurds .  Iraq has seen a sharp increase in tension between its Shiite and Sunni populations since April , when security forces raided a site used by Sunni protesters to demonstrate against the Shiite led government .  Sunnis , who represent a minority of Iraqis , have felt politically marginalized since the overthrow of Saddam Hussein in 2003 . Shiites , who make up a majority of Iraqis , now dominate the government .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,negative,past
1834,1834,"Reuters) - President Barack Obama lamented the ease with which extremists can get firearms in the United States as “crazy” and Hillary Clinton said “terrorists” were using assault weapons to kill Americans, as Democrats on Monday renewed an uphill push for gun control after the Orlando massacre. The worst mass shooting in modern U.S. history, in which 49 people at a gay nightclub were killed and 53 wounded, reignited a debate in Washington over what types of guns should not be easily available and what types of buyers ought to be prohibited. The No. 3 Senate Democrat, Chuck Schumer of New York, and other Democrats said they would try as early as this week to get votes on a measure preventing people on “terror watch lists” and other “suspected terrorists” from buying firearms or explosives. Senate Democrats are trying to resurrect a proposal that failed to win backing in December, after a mass shooting in San Bernardino, California, by Islamic State-inspired militants. Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid, asked by a reporter whether he expected Republicans to oppose the legislation again, said: “Except (Senator Mark) Kirk ... one out of 54 I guess is better than nothing.” Kirk was the lone Republican who voted last December with Democrats.         Director James Comey said the gunman in the Florida attack, New York-born Omar Mateen, had been on a terrorism watch list while he was under  investigation for about a year ending in May 2014, but he was taken off when investigators found no incriminating information. The weapons Mateen brought into the packed Orlando club were purchased earlier this month. Speaking to reporters one day after the mass shooting, Obama said the United States was “going to have to make sure that we think about the risks we are willing to take by being so lax in how we make very powerful firearms available to people in this country.” “The fact that we make it this challenging for law enforcement ... is crazy,” the Democratic president said. Clinton, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, weighed in during a campaign rally in Cleveland.  “If the  is watching you for suspected terrorist links, you shouldn’t be able to just go buy a gun with no questions asked,” she said to applause. In a  interview earlier, she said: “Now that we’re seeing terrorists use these assault weapons, that has to be part of the debate.” Rapid-firing “assault” weapons were used by gunmen in shootings over the past year in Orlando, Florida, San Bernardino, California, and Garland, Texas. Efforts in Congress to curb weapons proliferation have gained some steam following past mass shootings, only to die amid opposition from the National Rifle Association gun lobby. An  spokesman did not immediately comment on Monday on the renewed calls for gun curbs. The December 2013 killings of 20 children and six adults at a Connecticut elementary school prompted a push for expanded background checks on gun sellers and banning assault weapons. The initiative collapsed in April 2014, when the legislation failed to get enough votes in the U.S. Senate to clear a procedural hurdle. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump used Sunday’s shooting as an example of why Americans needed guns, and charged that Clinton, his likely opponent in the Nov. 8 election, wanted to leave “only the bad guys and terrorists with guns.” Trump declared in a speech in Manchester, New Hampshire, that he would be meeting with the NRA, which has endorsed him, “to discuss how to ensure Americans have the means to protect themselves in this age of terror.” Mateen, who was shot and killed by police who stormed the club, had been investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation for saying he supported two Islamist groups, a statement he later said he made only to disturb his co-workers. He was questioned again in July 2014 for his connection to an American suicide bomber for al-Nusra, an al Qaeda offshoot, but the inquiry was dropped after the  found only a “casual” relationship between the two men.  U.S. Senator Ron Johnson, a Wisconsin Republican, said additional gun curbs would restrict Americans’ freedoms without necessarily preventing attacks.  “He didn’t commit this terrorist act for a couple years,” after being taken off the watch list, Johnson said on CNN. “The enormous challenge we have, the vexing problem is, what do you do with the not-guilty-yet?” ",true,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,past
1835,1835,"Sustainable salt water battery won't corrode and can power your home for 10 years Nov 14, 2016 0 0  A new home battery has been developed and released that runs off of salt water instead of acid, making for a sustainably created piece of technology that can charge your home for years .  Conventional lead-acid batteries use two lead plates, submerged in a solution of sulfuric acid and water. The sulfuric acid is highly toxic and can burn and damage the environment if the battery leaks. These batteries use a solution of salt water instead of acid and the results are astounding.  As opposed to lead-acid batteries, which can only be discharged to about 50% of their capacity, these salt water batteries can be discharged to 90%, meaning they can utilized 40% more of their energy per charge.  Each battery can handle 3,000 discharges, meaning they can last 3,000 days and nights. They are also stackable, useful for increasing your power needs.  Another awesome feature is that these batteries won’t catch on fire like lead-acid batteries.  If you’re interested in purchasing one, you can, through Aquion’s website . They are sustainably sourced and built and they don’t corrode.  Legit.",fake,news,test,Other news1,Conflict,fake,fake,True,no,no,positive,present
1845,1845,"A Christian Conservative  lawmaker in Kansas has used his position as a Senate Committee chairman to enforce a dress code for female witnesses in courts. The rules govern skirt length and cleavage allowance. There are no equivalent rules for men.Sen. Mitch Holmes is the Republican chairman of the Senate Ethics and Elections Committee in Kansas, and has included his new rules in an 11-point code of conduct. He argues that women in court, and in the Senate, dress provocatively to distract men   and he wants to bring an end to this.Women will not be permitted to give testimony if they do not abide by the rules.He told the Topeka Capital Journal: It s one of those things that s hard to define. Put it out there and let people know we re really looking for you to be addressing the issue rather than trying to distract or bring eyes to yourself. His bizarre rules and comments have prompted withering condemnation from female members of the committee and the Kansas legislature. Topeka Democrat Senator Laura Kelly responded: Oh, for crying out loud, what century is this? Meanwhile, even Republican colleagues were unwilling to defend Holmes.  Senator Vicki Schmidt (Topeka) sighed: Who s going to define low-cut? Does it apply to senators? In total, four of Holmes  female senatorial colleagues (two Republicans and two Democrats) have come forward to publicly condemn his comments, and stress that women should not be subjected to gender-specific dress codes.Another Republican Senator, Carolyn McGinn of Sedgwick, spoke to the fact that men and women in the Senate and our courts should be judged by their contribution, not their clothing, saying: I am more interested in what they have to say about the direction our state should go than what they re wearing that day, It is indeed hugely disappointing to see a lawmaker use his position to implement gender-specific dress codes that enforce his patriarchal religious codes onto the women of the state. This is the very reason the Founding Fathers separated church and state in the U.S. Constitution   because freedom of religion is not merely about the right to practice our own religion (or none) in peace, but to avoid being forced to follow the whims of anyone else s. The women of Kansas just lost that right.Featured Image via Flickr Creative Commons",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
1859,1859,"Charles Ashton , a funeral director , has admitted fondling a woman ' s breasts before the service  An octogenarian funeral director fondled a woman ' s breasts minutes before a service , a court heard .  Charles Ashton , 83 , could face jail for the assault in which he made a series of inappropriate comments about the woman ' s figure before grabbing her .  The incident happened at the family funeral directors business which Ashton runs with his son .  The pensioner , who is a former director and chairman of Castleford Rugby League Football Club , pleaded guilty to sexual assault at Leeds magistrates ' court .  Robert Campbell , prosecuting , told the court : ' There was a funeral about to take place and they were in a room together . . . He put his arm around her , kissed her on two occasions and fondled her breasts . '  Mr Campbell added : ' He had also made inappropriate remarks about the size of her breasts . '  Stephen Swan , mitigating , asked for sentencing to be adjourned so that a report could be prepared into the circumstances of the case .  He added that the assault was out of character for Ashton .  Mr Swan said : ' It is entirely out of character for this man who it ' s fair to say is devastated about what ' s happened . I think it ' s a measure of him that he is so upset about what ' s happened . '  Before leaving the hearing last week Ashton , of Castleford , West Yorkshire , told magistrates : ' I am sorry to have troubled you . '  They warned that he could face jail for the offence .  Earlier this year an undertaker who poured flour over a neighbour ' s Mercedes for blocking in his hearse was jailed .  Funeral director Julian Riley , 39 , and Peter Elliot , 60 , had argued for weeks over parking spaces after property developer Elliot bought a house opposite Riley ' s business , a court heard .  In September 2013 Riley was caught on  emptying a 2lb bag of self raising flour over Mr Elliot ' s black Mercedes E 320 . A court heard it set ' like cement ' in the rain and removing it scratched the car ' s paint . Police arrested Riley after following a line of white powder .  The incident was said to be out of character for 83 year old Ashton who could face jail for the sexual assault  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
1861,1861,"Lost amidst the predictable clutter of the "" will he or won ' t she "" questions about whether Jeb Bush or Hillary Clinton will actually run for the presidency is an unexpected development : a hint of authenticity .  Turns out that political purgatory even if temporary can actually spark a genuine conversation with the public about what it takes to be president , and what goes into deciding whether you want to run .  Here ' s Hillary on herself : "" The job is unforgiving in many ways , so I think you need people around you who will kid you , make fun of you . . . . You can lose touch with what ' s real , what ' s authentic . ""  Here ' s Jeb on his decision : "" Can I do it where the sacrifice to my family is tolerable ? . . . It ' s a pretty ugly business right now . There ' s a level under which I would never subjugate my family because that ' s my organizing principle . That ' s my life . ""  So while Chris Christie won ' t answer questions about immigration and Ted Cruz is threatening to block presidential nominations and Rand Paul is blaming the tragic Eric Garner death on cigarette taxes , there ' s another more personal and revealing conversation going on about the presidency and how to get there , and we ought to pay some attention .  Not just because it ' s coming from Jeb Bush and Hillary Clinton , although that is a part of it . After all , Hillary ' s outside support network is up and running , even if she isn ' t officially yet . And while Jeb has no campaign infrastructure or organization , his closest advisers are having enough meetings with enough operatives to send enough signals that it ' s a very live , real , even likely , possibility . Though Jeb ' s advisers tell me he hasn ' t made a decision , the process over the last six months sure looks like it leads to a presidential campaign .  So all the cheerleaders need is the final hand signal .  Which brings us back to the Jeb and Hillary conversations . They ' re thinking out loud , in a way , which hardly ever happens in politics anymore because it usually gets you into trouble . ( See : Joe Biden . )  But they ' re both doing it because their decisions about running for the presidency come from places of deep family experience . Hillary lived in the White House . Jeb visited his brother and his father there . They get it at all levels . They understand the power and nature of the job . They also understand the "" what it takes "" component to run for it .  And , in a way , they ' ve both got similar problems : They ' re each practiced politicians , but they ' re not the best transactional pols in their families . They each have problems with their party ' s activist base . And they both can seem like old news . It ' s that dynasty thing .  But wait . Maybe all that stuff actually prepares a candidate for the campaign , and maybe even for the job itself . Clinton ' s ruminations about decision making , for instance , are refreshing .  "" Technology connects you around the world instantaneously , so you ' re constantly being asked for opinions , to make decisions that maybe you need some time to think about , "" she told a Boston audience on Thursday .  "" Maybe you need some time to sleep on it . Maybe you need to bring in some people to talk about it . But the pace of demands is so intense that you feel like you ' ve got to respond . "" It ' s the stress , she said . "" Here ' s what I worry about . The stress on anybody in a leadership position , multiplied many times over to be president . The incoming never ends . ""  It ' s a much more honest assessment than talking about the tug of being a grandmother .  As for Jeb Bush , in addition to the personal issues , he ' s given a big hint he gets that he ' s not aligned with the base of his party in some states and that ' s fine . In a recent appearance before a Wall Street Journal  conference , he said the  nominee needs to be willing to "" lose the primary to win the general ( election ) without violating your principles . ""  Could he possibly be talking about Mitt Romney circa 2012 ? Or his own problems with the party base on immigration and school reform ? My guess : Both .  I ' m also guessing this : What we are hearing from both of these politicians are part of the larger conversation they ' re having with themselves . As in : Do I need this ? Can I do this ? Is it worth it to me and important enough to the country for me to spend two years on this ?  These are not wannabes . They ' ve been there , in the heat , in one way or another . So while the subordinates plan , organize and recruit , the actual deciders continue to decide .  It ' s getting down to the wire , and they know it . You can hear it . And it may be the most genuine stuff we hear for the next two years .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
1867,1867,"Showing no signs of slowing down , David Attenborough , has teamed up with Tourism Australia to make a three part documentary aimed at drawing tourists to the Great Barrier Reef .  Nearly 60 years after the wildlife presenter ' s first visit to the continent , the collaboration was announced at the Destination Australia Conference in Sydney , this week .  ' The most exciting natural history experience of my life was the first time I dived on a coral reef in 1957 . Being on the Reef is a revelatory , thrilling and unbeatable experience and with this project we ' re going to be able to share it with millions , ' Attenborough said .  David Attenborough returned to Australia filming a documentary about the world ' s largest coral reef system  The popular naturalist spent three weeks filming on and around the Reef and aboard one of the world ' s most advanced research vessels equipped with the latest technology .  Tourism Australia Managing Director , John O ' Sullivan said : ' It ' s wonderful to welcome David back to the Reef where he will , once again , bring to life the many amazing stories of this magnificent natural wonder in his own unique and inimitable way .  ' David Attenborough is one of the world ' s greatest presenters of natural history content , and the Great Barrier Reef is arguably the world ' s most recognised natural wonder . We couldn ' t ask for a better match . '  Knotted fan coral and soft coral in the Great Barrier Reef , Pacific Ocean , Queensland , Australia  Attenborough spent three weeks on the Reef , on a research vessel equipped with cutting edge technology  Attenborough said diving here in 1957 was the most exciting natural history experience of his life  The Great Barrier Reef already attracts more than 1 . 9 million visitors each year , and 90 per cent of the economic contribution in the region is derived from tourism .  ' We already know from our consumer research that Australia ' s biggest competitive strength is its world class nature , something which is extremely highly regarded from all our key target markets and very much a core part of our global tourism offering , ' Mr O ' Sullivan continued .  The research also revealed that aquatic and coastal experiences were amongst the most popular tourist activities , specifically to Australia where the Great Barrier Reef ranked highly in appeal amongst international visitors .  An aerial shot of Whitehaven Beach , Whitsunday Island , Great Barrier Reef , Queensland , Australia  Six of the world ' s seven species of marine turtle live in Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area  ' The Great Barrier Reef is a huge part of our destination appeal , with consumers in the  ,  , Singapore and Japan actually ranking it as their number one most appealing Australian attraction .  ' It ' s vital that we continue to show the world why our aquatic and coastal experience are so unique , and this film will undoubtedly help tell that story to a truly global audience in an authentic and engaging way , ' Mr O ' Sullivan said .  The Reef is at risk of becoming severely damaged due to the dumping of dredge waste in the World Heritage listed waters , a report commissioned by conservation group  said last month .  Divers on coral cliff admire the marine life , left Reef fish including sea goldies swim among the coral  Reef from above : Aquatic experiences are amongst the greatest drivers of international visitor demand  In January , the Australian government ordered a ban on dumping dredge spoil in the marine park as part of a push to stop the United Nations declaring the site in danger .  Conservationists say dumping waste in reef waters damages it by smothering corals and sea grasses and exposing them to poisons and high levels of nutrients .  The report said port expansions within reef waters , which it noted could see 1 . 8 billion cubic feet of the ocean floor dug up , would have ' devastating impacts ' on the natural wonder .  The Great Barrier Reef is already popular , and often ranks as number one most appealing Australian attraction  The report prepared by the consultancy Dalberg Global Development Advisors said there was no need for coal port expansions along Queensland state ' s coast where the reef is located as the capacity at existing terminals was unused one third of the time .  ' These coal port expansions could increase the total coal port capacity of the region from 267 to 637 million tonnes per year ' , the report added .  Australian authorities are very protective over the Reef . Last year , Foreign Minister , Julie Bishop , sent  President Barack Obama the ' facts ' after he expressed fears it would not be there for future generations .  It ' s hoped that combining technology with science will help audiences understand more about the Reef  Obama voiced his worries that climate change threatened the natural wonder in a speech during the G20 summit in Brisbane .  But Bishop said there was ' an issue ' with his position and that he may have have overlooked Australia ' s commitment to preserving the coral structure which teems with marine life .  She said the federal and state governments spent Aus 180 million ( 105 million ) a year preserving the reef .  ' Australia knows better than anyone the importance of preserving the Great Barrier Reef , ' the minister told Sky News .  ",true,text,test,Football,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
1882,1882,"The killer who bashed a seven month old baby to death has finally been deported from Australia to Papua New Guinea , more than two months after he was granted parole .  It was a condition of his parole that Christopher Hoerler , a  national , would be released from prison straight into the custody of Immigration officials and immediately deported .  However , Hoerler remained in the country after his August 14 prison release and the distressed family of his victim , baby Jordan Anderson Smith , have been desperately trying to locate the criminal .  Hoerler ' s visa , allowing him to stay in Australia , was cancelled in 2011 .  Christopher Hoerler has been deported to Papua New Guinea , more than two months after he was released from prison on August 14 for the brutal murder of baby Jordan . It was a condition of his parole that he would be immediately deported  A photo of baby Jordan Anderson , taken shortly before his death . Christopher Hoerler tortured the seven month old to death in Wagga Wagga on February 25 , 2000 . The Crown prosecutor found that Jordan died from multiple injuries , including bruises and abrasions to his face , a torn lip , liver and bowel damage and crushed toes which were inflicted when Hoerler put his then girlfriend ' s son ' s toes in a clamp .  ' Mr Hoerler was removed from Australia this week . '  After years of distress , the news is a small comfort for Jordan ' s father and his family .  Baby Jordan was tortured and killed after a party at his mother ' s home in Wagga Wagga ,  on February 25 , 2000 .  At the time of Jordan ' s murder , Hoerler was in a relationship with Jordan ' s mother , Louise Anderson . They lived together with Jordan and Jordan ' s two half brothers , who were aged 2 and 4 .  Hoerler was tried for murder but pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter 20 months after Jordan was killed .  The 37 year old ex boxer was sentenced to 14 years and four months in Sydney ' s Long Bay prison , after prosecutors appealed the initial term of 11 years .  His sentence was due to expire in February 2016 but the State Parole Authority granted parole this year , citing Hoerler ' s good prison performance .  Cecil Smith ( left ) , the father of the late baby Jordan , pictured leaving court in 2003 with his brother , Darcy Smith ( right ) , who is acting as the family ' s spokesman . Darcy Smith is appealing to the Minister for Immigration , Scott Morrison to ensure Jordan ' s murderer , Christopher Hoerler , is deported when he is released from prison next week on August 14 , 2014 .  ' The Smith family are extremely disappointed in the decision the parole board has made to release this convicted child killer back into the community , ' Jordan ' s father Cecil Smith wrote at the time .  Hoerler and Ms Anderson had been smoking cannabis and drinking at their home before Jordan ' s horrific , brutal death .  Jordan choked on his own vomit after being beaten and tortured by Hoerler , with injuries including a lacerated liver , a torn lip , facial abrasions and broken ribs .  Jordan ' s toes had been crushed by a clamp and his teeth went through the roof of his mouth .  The forensic pathologist who conducted the post mortem found that the baby ' s ' palate injury was caused by a blow to the jaw , and the abdominal injury by a non penetrating blow or blows of considerable force ' .  Jordan ' s injuries were so extensive that they took four days to document .  Jordan ' s father had contacted the Department of Community Services when he believed Hoerler was showering with Jordan .  Jordan would have turned 15 on July 24 this year .  Jordan ' s mother , Louise Anderson , is pictured leaving her baby ' s murder trial in 2003 . Christopher Hoerler was found guilty of brutally murdering seven month old , Jordan Anderson Smith . Hoerler was Mrs Anderson ' s live in boyfriend at the time of the murder .  The family was not convinced that Hoerler would be immediately deported so launched an online petition in July , calling on immigration minister Scott Morrison to give assurance that Hoerler would be immediately deported .  The Smiths feared Hoerler would appeal the deportation condition of his release because he has biological children living in Australia and could claim that he wanted to be a father to them , Fairfax newspapers said .  ' He is trying to pull a rabbit out of the hat to stay in the country , ' Darcy Smith said on behalf of the family .  ' I hope the minister is smart enough to see through that . '  Previously , Mr Smith has spoken of the family ' s intense and unrelenting grief .  ' We are the ones living with the life sentence . We have to live without Jordan every day . ' They explained that their mother , Jordan ' s paternal grandmother , visits Jordan ' s grave every Sunday .  The Smith family have previously explained that Hoerler had moved into the home only three weeks before he murdered Jordan .  Hoerler met Ms Anderson on New Year ' s Eve in 1999 , but by less than two months later , on February 25 , 2000 , he killed her son .  The baby ' s father had attended school with Hoeler and once considered him a friend .  The Smith family have thanked the Wagga Wagga community for their ongoing care and support .  Louise Anderson ( right ) pictured leaving court in 2003 after giving evidence at her ex boyfriend , Christopher Hoerler ' s trial . Hoerler was found guilty of torturing and Murdering Ms Anderson ' s seven month old son , Jordan . He will be released on August 14 .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
1889,1890,"Due to ever increasing off field demands such as shopping , personal grooming and generally looking pretty for personal endorsement appearances , occasional footballer David Beckham has decided to outsource his football services .  He has placed an advertisement in Football World seeking an experienced attacking midfielder to play the role of David Beckham for the remaining years of his  Galaxy contract . When asked asked how this would work , Beckham was happy to expand .  "" It ' s not like I ' m quitting or the team are replacing me . With just so much going on I had to prioritise , so I thought I would hire someone to play the role of David Beckham for the footballing side of my life . They will still wear the Beckham name on the shirt be listed as David Beckham in the program and licensed to sign David Beckham autographs at the game . ""  "" In essence he will be me for all on field and training activities , he may even play for England under my name if we can sort out some legal issues surrounding citizenship . ""  Beckham apparently had the idea whilst watching the session singers prepare the tape for the Spice Girls reunion tour .  "" When I saw that Victoria and the girls were able to find someone to do their jobs for them I thought what a great idea . After an extensive search the record company was able to find 134 , 256 singers of similar or better quality down the pub on Wednesday ' arvo and next thing you know the girls are back at the motel bitching about one another whilst the lip sync track is being done . ""  The idea is not only expected to give David more time for flouncing around but also the opportunity spend more time encouraging Posh to eat and the possibility of franchising his playing ability around the globe .  "" My management has fallen in love with the idea and we are talking to clubs in Spain , Australia , Japan and Brazil about signing me to supply someone representing me as well . ""   Galaxy management were unavailable for official comment but sources close to the team said that in  everything is fake so there is no big deal .  ",satire,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,satire,satire,True,no,no,neutral,past
1890,1891,"A federal investigation has not found enough evidence to charge Darren Wilson for depriving Michael Brown of his civil rights , according to multiple sources familiar with the probe . This would be the second time the former police officer has avoided standing trial in the black teen ' s fatal shooting last summer in Ferguson , Missouri .  The  joined local officials in interviewing more than 200 people and looked at much the same evidence as a St . Louis County grand jury that decided in November not to indict Wilson , who is white , on any charges in Brown ' s death . That federal law enforcement agency has now completed its investigation into the August shooting and sent its findings to the Justice Department , a law enforcement official and a separate U . S . official said Wednesday .  The New York Times first reported the development Wednesday .  The Justice Department report has not been completed , and Attorney General Eric Holder ultimately will make the final decision whether to press federal civil rights charges against Wilson .  Still , it wouldn ' t be a surprise if Holder doesn ' t call for charges . While he ' s been outspoken on Ferguson , met with Brown ' s family and said he understood African Americans ' mistrust for police after the incident , the attorney general acknowledged in November that "" federal civil rights law imposes a high legal bar in these types of cases . ""  The shooting of the 18 year old Brown stirred months of emotionally charged , widespread and at times violent demonstrations in Ferguson , a few miles northwest of St . Louis . "" Hands up , don ' t shoot "" became a mantra for protesters nationwide decrying what they called undue , unfair police violence against African Americans , resonating even after grand jury testimony disputed whether Brown ever actually raised his arms in surrender .  Those protests bubbled up in the days immediately after the shooting , with anger growing due to what some saw as law enforcement ' s heavy handed response . And they swelled again after the grand jury ' s decision this fall not to indict Wilson on state charges .  If Holder decides , based on prosecutors ' recommendation , not to press federal civil rights charges against Wilson , that could rile things up yet again . Antonio French , a St . Louis city alderman who has been involved in the Ferguson protests , thinks some people will be disappointed , at the least .  "" The community and the family wanted a day in court , an opportunity to see all the evidence laid out , cross examined , "" French said . "" And it looks like that ' s not going to happen . I hope we don ' t have any violence as a result of this . ""  For now , though , Brown ' s family is laying low .  What are the Brown family ' s options ?  The Brown camp deferred comment on Wednesday ' s news reports suggesting there would be no charges .  "" The family of Michael Brown Jr . will wait for official word from the Justice Department regarding whether or not any charges will be filed against the police officer who shot and killed him , "" Crump said in a written statement . "" The family won ' t address speculation from anonymous sources . ""  Even without charges , this story isn ' t over .  It ' s possible that Brown ' s family will file a civil lawsuit against Wilson , who resigned in late November citing security concerns . And the U . S . Justice Department still has another open investigation this one looking at the Ferguson Police Department as a whole .  "" Anecdotal accounts underscore the history of mistrust of law enforcement in Ferguson that has received a good deal of attention , "" Holder said in September . "" Our investigation will assess the police department ' s use of force , including deadly force . It will analyze stops , searches and arrests . And it will examine the treatment of individuals detained at Ferguson ' s city jail . ""  That investigation could lead to significant changes in Ferguson , much as similar federal probes have produced in New Orleans , Los Angeles , Pittsburgh , Cincinnati and elsewhere . But it wouldn ' t mean charges for Wilson , personally , or that anyone would go on trial .  It ' s also possible there could be legislation , policy changes or personnel turnovers not forced by the federal government .  In his State of the State speech on Wednesday , Missouri Gov . Jay Nixon said addressing "" the broader , systemic issues "" raised by the unrest that followed the killing of Brown would demand "" sustained effort . ""  "" The legacy of Ferguson will be determined by what we do next . . . to foster healing and hope . . . and the changes we make to strengthen all of our communities , "" he said .  At the least , French said , he expects more protests to keep up pressure on authorities .  "" That ' s a good thing , "" he said . "" But we want to keep them peaceful , nonviolent because violence makes the situation worse . It divides the community in a time we need to come together and make everyone feel like they can get equal protection . ""  Ultimately , he said , some of the protesters ' goals can be achieved outside the courts .  "" The next steps I think are legislative change , "" French said , "" trying to make sure that in cases like this we get a special prosecutor by law , and to create a new level of civilian oversight over police departments . ""  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
1904,1905,"Obama has rejected Putin s continued support for Assad although there are no good and viable policy alternatives at Obama s disposal  During his speech at the  General Assembly (  ) ,  President Obama suggested that the  work with Russia and even Iran to reign in the war in Syria . This willingness to work with adversaries instead of going it alone is a welcome change in policy is reminiscent of how European leadership operates compared to the disastrous cowboy mentality of what was endured during previous administrations .  As Obama put it , the managed transition is a far cry from the chaos created in Libya and in Iraq before that . The chaos in Libya was the handiwork of Mrs Clinton and nobody has called her out for it so far during the campaign . Is this change of policy coming as a result of the moves Russia has made recently or are we recognising the fact that there are other dynamics at play ? Russia has amassed military personnel , including pilots , trainers and equipment . During Putin s interview with Charlie Rose on  , the Russian president left the door open for troop engagement and boots on the ground . Obama insisted at  that Assad must go : We must recognise that there cannot be , after so much bloodshed , so much carnage , a return to the pre war status quo .  After the disastrous eight years of Nouri Al Maliki when Sunnis were sidelined in the political process , the Sunnis in Iraq had nowhere to go . The persecution and murder of Sunni leadership and civilians continued under the watchful eyes of the western backers of Nouri Al Maliki . The army of Muqtada Al Sadr and Iranian backed militia continued to ethnically cleanse the formerly well integrated neighbourhoods of Iraq , pushing Sunnis out of their well established homes and businesses . Islamic State (  ) was created as a result of the power vacuum and came into being for the protection of the displaced Sunnis in Iraq and later Syria . Had  put on a more humanitarian face and been allowed to consult with western powers it could have been called the Sunni Protection Force (  ) or something similar .  Putin has argued , and he may have a point here , that Assad s military is the most capable force for fighting  or any other extremist group that has carved out strongholds and territory in Syria and Iraq , and therefore needs to be strengthened . The conquering of vast swaths of land does not mean that  has the wherewithal to hold those pieces of barren land where there is no water and nothing can grow . If there is oil beneath that land it will be a dark day in hell before it can be siphoned up for sale for any monetary gains .  Obama has rejected Putin s continued support for Assad although there are no good and viable policy alternatives at Obama s disposal . The  and its allies have struggled to come to a consensus to create a political process that pushes Assad from power . In this entire fiasco , Russia has provided covert and overt support to Assad and his regime . Sometimes that support has worked against the western powers goals and undermined the sanctions that are in place against the Syrian regime . Other times it has helped the rebels and extremists by providing monetary aid and weapons . That is , until now . During the last week or so Russia has been seen deepening its support of Assad , this time much more overtly than in the past . Russia has stationed troops , airplanes and other military equipment in Syria taking up an entire military base , propping up a regime at the brink of collapse .  During his Charlie Rose interview on  60 Minutes programme , Putin seemed clearly focused on his resolve and policy towards Assad s regime . He said : There is no other solution to the Syrian crisis than strengthening effective government structures and rendering them help in fighting terrorism . The terrorism mantra may be coming back to haunt western policymakers .  During his address at  Obama took up much more time than the usual 15 minutes allocated to each leader . It was a refreshingly different and much more conciliatory approach than what the world has come to know of the  and its policymakers . Summing up his approach , in the 43 minute speech , to some of the most difficult problems that his administration has faced , he said that while he would not hesitate to use military force when necessary , the world should not be guided by the philosophy that might makes right . Continuing his emphasis on diplomacy instead of use of force , he highlighted the recently restored ties with Cuba and the much more contentious but far reaching deal concluded with Iran along with other major powers in Western Europe . He noted that Putin and his newly emboldened Russia had partnered with the  to achieve the Iran deal .  Unlike the deal with Iran and restoration of diplomatic ties with Cuba , both highlights of Mr Obama s tenure and legacy making foreign policy achievements , Syria is turning out to be much more challenging to handle . There has been a series of setbacks including a 500 million Pentagon programme that has netted no more than a handful of trained fighters . These fighters were trained to fight extremist elements but the force was seen to unravel and had to turn over equipment and vehicles in return for safe passage . Coupled with a surprise landing of Russian forces and equipment at a base right outside of Damascus this has left very little doubt that the current policy needs a reset . Putin s war of words continues to increase in intensity and volume . He has been sharply and unequivocally critical of  support for Syrian rebels , describing it as not only illegal but counterproductive .  A 500 million Pentagon programme to train and arm moderate rebels to fight  has resulted in just a handful of fighters to bolster airstrikes from a  led coalition . Is there a way out for Obama to salvage his foreign policy legacy ? If the Iran deal sticks and if it passes the next big hurdle without the detractors of that deal undermining it at the international stage his legacy is already cemented along with his diplomatic opening with Cuba and containing Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu . A successful turnaround in the Syrian theatre will be seen as an extraordinary step .  Iraq is the key element . The Haider al Abadi government must be forced diplomatically to stop isolating the Sunni population of Iraq . There was a time , a very short lived window of opportunity , when  could have been contained had the right pressure been applied to protect the Sunni population in both Iraq and later Syria . That opportunity is lost forever .  For the short term , take removing Assad from power off the table . Empower the Syrian forces to take some of the territory back from the rebels , extremists , extortionists and anybody who is using the Syrian and Iraqi population to make money . At the same time , force the Haider al Abadi government to appoint legitimate representatives for Iraq s Sunni population . Compel , under the auspices of the Iran deal , to call back the Shia militia helping the Al Sadr militia in eradicating Sunnis in Iraq . Finally , use all force available to beat back most of the power structure of  . It is difficult but doable .  The author is the host of weekly talk show Current Affairs in the   The colonists in South Africa knew they had to control all forms of dissent and ensure that they . . .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
1919,1920,"But the "" final straw , "" the source said , was that she and the agency did not inform the president about a September 16 breach at the  in Atlanta in which a private contractor who had a concealed gun shared an elevator with President Barack Obama until just before the media reported it on Tuesday afternoon .  "" The problems about the elevator breach were a ) that it happened , b ) that no one told the White House about it in the midst of two weeks of many discussions with them about security and then c ) that the president didn ' t find out till just before the media was about to report it , "" the source said , agreeing that "" final straw "" would be an apt description of that event .  Elaborate video shows entire security breach at White House  That , however , could be explained and understood , the source said , given the "" fog "" of conflicting accounts inherent in such an intense and adrenaline filled event .  There was no such understanding about why , two weeks after the September 16 elevator incident at the  , the President was not informed until just before the Washington Examiner and Washington Post were prepared to share details of that event with the world .  There was no going back she had lost Obama ' s confidence that she was the right person to run the agency .  On Wednesday , Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said he had accepted Pierson ' s resignation and was appointing an independent panel to investigate the White House breach .  Presidents are loath to publicly criticize the Secret Service for fear of straining any relations with the agents who keep them alive and protect their loved ones . So perhaps it was left to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid , who told reporters in Nevada on Wednesday , "" I am just so disappointed in what I ' ve seen . I can ' t imagine being a father of two girls and seeing this happen in my home . I ' ll bet Michelle is just beside herself they are so protective of those two girls . So I can ' t be a cheerleader of the Secret Service today . ""  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
1920,1921,"Royals closer Wade Davis ( 17 ) celebrates with catcher Drew Butera after finishing off their 7 2 win in Game 5 against the Mets last night in New York , which clinched their first World Series championship since 1985 .    ? The Kansas City Royals are World Series champions for the first time since 1985 after coming from behind ? again ? to stun the New York Mets in a 7 2 win in 12 innings last night .  The Royals are a young team , the best team in baseball . They can hit , field , run and pitch . And they aren t going anywhere .  Chances are , they ll be back here again next year , fighting off pitches , refusing to strike out and scoring runs with contact over power as they cause havoc for postseason opponents .  But this World Series could ve ended so much differently . For the second straight night , the Mets blew a late game lead in gut wrenching fashion .  For eight innings , the ball zipped out of Matt Harvey s hand faster than it has in almost two weeks .  He was unbelievable , Royals manager Ned Yost said .  Harvey was in the middle of one of the most overpowering World Series pitching performances in 20 years . He was covering up the Mets flaws , pitching through David Wright s error and Travis d Arnaud s weak throwing arm that let the Royals steal base after base with little concern .  In the Mets dugout after the top of the eighth , after Harvey had carved apart the Royals lineup while striking out nine , he looked like he was told his night was over by pitching coach Dan Warthen ? who he shoved out of the way to get to manager Terry Collins .  No way Harvey would accept that news . He was taking the mound for the ninth .  He just came over and said , I want this game , I want it bad , Collins said . Obviously I let my heart get in the way of my gut . I love my players . And I trust them . And so I said , Go get em out .  But Lorenzo Cain started the ninth by drawing a full count walk , quickly stole second , and scored on Eric Hosmer s double to left . Mets closer Jeurys Familia replaced Harvey , recorded one out and faced Salvador Perez with the infield in .  Perez fisted a ball to the left side of the infield that was fielded by Wright , the third baseman . Hosmer was creeping off third , but the ball was hit softly and Wright had an easy play for the second out . He looked at Hosmer , then threw to first to get Perez . But Hosmer took off for home , and first baseman Lucas Duda unleashed a wild throw as Hosmer slid in with the tying run .  The Mets were stunned again . Just like they were the night before , when second baseman Daniel Murphy let a grounder roll under his glove as the Royals completed yet another comeback .  From the eighth inning on , the Royals outscored foes 51 11 this postseason .  The Royals were the far better team all along , their only weakness was beyond remarkable , too good to be true starting pitching . Pitching that good , it always wins .  That s what the Mets needed from Harvey last night . Had the righty been able to complete the shutout , it would ve been the fourth World Series shutout in 20 years . The Mets would ve finally looked dangerous , with Jacob deGrom set for Game 6 and Noah Syndergaard in Game 7 .  The Royals offense , one that had looked so dominant in Games 1 and 2 , finally looked confused and beaten .  But it never lasts . They re just too good . They find other ways to score .  While the Mets had little speed , the Royals lived off it . They stole eight bases and were never caught . And they ran with confidence , Hosmer s aggressive decision to try to score from third in the ninth saving his team from defeat .  They didn t have much power ? nobody hit more than 22 homers this year ? but they had timely hitting . Christian Colon , who hadn t taken an at bat all postseason , drove in the go ahead run in the 12th inning off Addison Reed .  The five run 12th was started by Perez , who was banged up throughout the series yet went 8 for 22 at the plate to win the Series  Award .  Now I don t feel pain . I don t feel nothing , Perez said .  Alcides Escobar added a  double and Cain cleared the bases with a three double to put the Mets away . Closer Wade Davis locked down the title in the bottom half , striking out the side , including Wilmer Flores looking to end it .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
1932,1933,"Three radio DJs in Kenya are going six days without food while broadcasting non stop to promote peaceful voting in a country that was nearly torn apart after its last election five years ago .  Ghetto Radio presenters Mbusii , Solloo and Essie have been locked inside a "" glass house "" in central Nairobi since Wednesday , as part of the station ' s annual Serious Request Kenya event .  This year ' s theme is "" Vote4Peace Vote4Kenya , "" ahead of the East African country ' s elections on March 4 2013 . The vote will be the first since ethnic violence engulfed the country after disputed elections in December 2007 , leaving more than 1 , 000 people dead and 350 , 000 displaced , according to the Kenya Red Cross .  Read related : Can tech revolutionize African elections ?  Three days into the challenge ,  Solloo is in good spirits despite the lack of food .  "" I ' m a bit hungry , "" he laughingly admits , "" but we have to do this it ' s a pretty good feeling . ""  Solloo , whose real name is Solomon Njoroge , says Kenya cannot afford a return to post election violence . Last time around , he says , he was a victim of the bloody unrest that swept his town of Eldoret , one of the fighting hotspots in Kenya ' s Rift Valley province .  Solloo says that back then he had to spend more than two weeks with limited food supplies while camping at a police station for safety .  "" This country cannot afford to go back to that time , "" says Solloo from the glass house , a few moments before going on air . "" I decided to come here because we have to push for this message to be a part of every Kenyan . It has to be every Kenyan ' s initiative to know that peace is more than just the absence of war . ""  Opinion : What Ghana can teach the rest of Africa about democracy  The radio presenters ' food strike kicked off on December 19 and will run until December 24 . So far , Solloo says , thousands of young people have gathered outside the glass house to show their support and also take part in a host of election related activities , including issuing of  cards , a voter registration program and democracy workshops .  "" The response has just been amazing , "" says the  , who is relying on water and juices to get through the six day period . "" Everyone ' s proactive saying Kenya needs peace . We have to work for Kenya and work for peace . ""  Some of the country ' s best known musicians have also joined the cause by performing live outside the glass house , adding their voice to a growing chorus of Kenyans calling for a peaceful election .  Kenya has had a coalition government following the disputed 2007 elections . In that vote , both Mwai Kibaki , the incumbent , and challenger Raila Odinga claimed to have won . The post election chaos escalated into ethnic violence with members of the president ' s tribe , the Kikuyu , fighting members of Odinga ' s Luo tribe and other groups .  The two later entered into a power sharing agreement , with Odinga named prime minister and Kibaki named president .  Despite some pre election tensions between politicians in the country , Solloo is hopeful that Kenya ' s young population will show the nation ' s leaders that bloodshed should be avoided at all costs .  "" I just want everyone to understand that we need peace , "" he says . "" We cannot afford another post election violence . ""  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
1943,1944,"A predator can also commit noble acts , yet those actions do not eradicate their predatory nature .  This past year we have been beseeched by Cosby fans to acknowledge his contributions to the African American community as countless women continued to come forward against him . Humanity has complications and nuance . A predator can also commit noble acts , yet those actions do not eradicate their predatory nature .  The attempts to humanize Cosby seems eerily similar to how media outlets will do the same for police officers who kill unarmed blacks , or white terrorists involved in mass shootings . Why do I care if they watch sitcoms or come from a broken home if they still committed abhorrent acts of evil . Those that want us to see both sides with Cosby , sing a different tune when asked to do the same for Darren Wilson or Dylann Roof .  Furthermore , I find it convenient that African Americans should rally around Cosby , when he toured the country championing respectability politics and shaming black men at every turn . As if "" pulling up our pants "" would prevent unarmed black men from police brutality and injustice . Cosby can keep his pound cake as far as I ' m concerned .  To insinuate that rape is only legitimate when reported in a timely manner is to disregard statistical evidence , history and the prevalence of misogyny in our society .  The arguments which preach skepticism against the stories of Cosby ' s "" alleged "" victims hinge on the timing of their accusations .  Cosby ' Truthers ' question the validity of these charges given that a majority of these alleged sexual attacks took place over 40 years ago . The narrative formulated from ignorance and blind faith would have us believe that book deals , notoriety and Cosby ' s wealth make him a prime target for opportunistic women .  To insinuate that rape is only legitimate when reported in a timely manner is to disregard statistical evidence , history and the prevalence of misogyny in our society .  Andrea Constand , who accuses Bill Cosby of sexually assaulting her , walks in a park in Toronto , December 30 , 2015 .   Reuters  Some of Cosby ' s alleged victims actually attempted to come forward immediately without support or success , as recent as 2002 . Mainstream interest began to peak when video clips of comedian Hannibal Buress stand up routine about Cosby and rape charges surfaced .  Hell , Cosby even gave us the blueprint for how to drug women for personal benefit ! When you acknowledge that 1 out of every 6 women in America being a victim of an attempted or completed rape , and 68 of rapes going unreported to police , you can see why challenging Bill Cosby at the height of his popularity , or even afterwards would intimidate anyone .  Rapists use sex as a tool to subjugate their victims , and isn ' t always about the sexual act itself . The lack of understanding on this topic permeates the fabric of our society . Actress Reagan Gomez in a discussion on Twitter surrounding Cosby , offered her view on the perpetuation of Rape Culture in America :  We live in a rape culture society . We live in a culture society that tells  of us ( including wmn ) that girls women  u their bodies .  We live in a society that tells us women are inherently prone to be liars . Schemers . That ur entitled to them sexually . From childhood . . .  . . . to adulthood . We live in a society that says if a girl woman is sexually assaulted , it ' s  fault . She should ' ve "" known better . "" . . . .  In the case of children , she was being "" fast "" . She shouldn ' t have been showing . The onus to  be sexually violated is always on . . .  Usually where there ' s smoke , there ' s fire . The law demands that we are innocent until proven guilty , but even the most skeptical individual has to admit that over 55 women accusing a man of rape across 4 decades sounds like a proverbial four alarm blaze .  Bill Cosby portrayed one of the most iconic characters on  as Heathcliff Huxtable on The Cosby Show . His eight season run signified a period of positive African American representation in mainstream television . Whether you saw episodes live or in syndication , you cherished the abundance of life lessons within the humour and family atmosphere . Although art can imitate life , as humans we can become susceptible to projecting the moral compass of fictional characters on the actual actors .  Heathcliff Huxtable is  Bill Cosby , and vice versa . This isn ' t the first time that a mega star ' s celebrity within the African American community illuminates over the darkness of their transgressions .  There ' s no denying R . Kelly ' s place in music , but at what point do fans look past his art and hold him accountable for these morally disgusting acts ?  R Kelly , with a history of settlements due to sexual encounters with underage girls , continues to be supported finally through record sales and sold out concerts . The man who has an illegal marriage to a then 15 year old Aaliyah in 1994 ( Kelly was 25 ) . The man who gave himself the nickname of ' The Pied Piper ' , after the character who lured children away from their parents using his enchanted musical powers .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
1952,1953,"The United States will provide 73 million in aid to Zimbabwe , President Obama announced Friday after meeting with Zimbabwe Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai at the White House .  President Obama ( right ) praised Zimbabwe Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai at the White House on Friday .  "" I obviously have extraordinary admiration for the courage and tenacity that the prime minister has shown in navigating through some very difficult political times in Zimbabwe , "" Obama said .  "" There was a time when Zimbabwe was the breadbasket of Africa , and it continues to have enormous potential . It has gone through a very dark and difficult time politically . ""  Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe "" has not acted oftentimes in the best interest of the Zimbabwean people and has been resistant to the democratic changes that need to take place , "" Obama said . "" We now have a power sharing agreement that shows promise , and we want to do everything we can to encourage the kinds of improvement not only on human rights and rule of law , freedom of the press and democracy that is so necessary , but also on the economic front . ""  The U . S . aid will not be going to the government directly "" because we continue to be concerned about consolidating democracy , human rights and rule of law , "" Obama said . "" But it will be going directly to the people in Zimbabwe . ""  Tsvangirai said he told Obama he would like the United States to use its global influence to assist Zimbabwe in dealing with the challenges it faces .  Tsvangirai said he understood other nations ' reluctance to support the Zimbabwean government , given Mugabe ' s controversial history .  "" I think it ' s fair , "" he said . "" I understand it , given our history , and I ' m not going to defend President Mugabe . "" But , he noted , the two have agreed to work together and help Zimbabwe progress as a nation .  In remarks with Obama , Tsvangirai said progress has been made by the transitional government , but much remains to be done . "" It is the problems of implementation , "" he said . "" . . . even by the standard of our own benchmarks , there are gaps that still exist . "" He said he would continue to strive to meet those benchmarks , not for the international community , but because "" it gives the people of Zimbabwe freedom and opportunity to grow . ""  The power sharing arrangement between Tsvangirai , the leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change , and Mugabe came after contested elections last year .  Asked whether he believes Mugabe should retire , Tsvangirai said "" at the age of 85 , I think one needs to retire . "" But , he said , for his own legacy , it ' s important for him to be thinking about a "" dignified exit . ""  "" I think that the power sharing government provides him with this opportunity , "" Tsvangirai said .  Asked about his relationship with Mugabe , he said , "" We don ' t have to fall in love to work together . But we have accepted that we have made an agreement to have a workable relationship between the two political parties . "" He said there had been acrimony between the two , but they realized it was not helping the Zimbabwean people .  "" We are inspired by people like Nelson Mandela , who had to go for 27 years in jail but still come out and say , ' Let ' s forget about the past ' . . . "" he said . He and Mugabe have chosen the process of dialogue rather than violence , Tsvangirai said . "" Let history judge whether this historic experiment was the right course of action . ""  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
1963,1964,"Three of the Alaska delegates free to support whomever they want as the Democrats ' nominee for president say they still haven ' t made up their mind . The fourth has a preferred candidate , but isn ' t sharing yet .  Nationally , most superdelegates reached by The Associated Press who have a preference said they planned to support former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton at the national convention next year . Superdelegates can support the candidate of their choice regardless of what happens in their states ' primaries or caucuses . Superdelegates are members of Congress and other elected officials , party leaders and members of the Democratic National Committee .  Superdelegates have 712 votes at the national convention and comprise about 30 percent of the 2 , 382 delegates needed to clinch the Democratic nomination .  reporters reached out to all 712 superdelegates during the past two weeks , and heard back from more than 80 percent of them . Of those , 359 planned to support Clinton , eight planned to support Vermont Sen . Bernie Sanders and two planned to support former Maryland Gov . Martin O ' Malley 210 were uncommitted .  Three of Alaska ' s four super delegates , Kim Metcalfe of Juneau Casey Steinau of Big Lake and Ian Olson of Fairbanks said they ' re still uncommitted . The fourth , party chairman Mike Wenstrup , said he has a preferred candidate , but isn ' t publicly endorsing , citing his position within the party and desire to give voters a chance to evaluate the candidates on their own .  Metcalfe said Clinton and Sanders are both very good candidates . "" I want to hang back and see what happens , "" she said . "" I just don ' t want to jump right in . ""  Steinau said Sanders and O ' Malley are both strong leaders with solid records of leadership , which she says Clinton , too , possesses . "" Also , elected leadership , as opposed to anyone who ' s leading on the Republican side , "" she said . Clinton is also a former U . S . senator from New York .  Olson said he ' s divided . When he could first register to vote in 1992 , he did so as a Democrat because he was inspired by Bill Clinton . He feels partial to Hillary Clinton primarily because of her record . But he also sees her ability to become the first female president as an "" undeniable opportunity for America and for the Democratic party , "" he said .  That said he sees Sanders inspiring youth the way that President Barack Obama did in 2008 , and he said he thinks it ' s important to get youth more involved in electoral politics . He said he appreciated O ' Malley ' s push to get the Democratic National Committee leadership to allow for more debates .  He feels he owes it to the party to hear what Democrats have to say before settling on a candidate and said he wants to represent the party membership ' s views .  Steinau expects to end up supporting the person she thinks will represent her as an individual , her community as a Democrat and her position as an American .  She said the Democrats have an "" amazing "" group of candidates . She ' s waiting to see who stands out a bit more than the others and is looking forward to the rest of the debates .  At the national convention , Alaska will have 20 total delegates , 16 of which will be pledged based on the results on the March 26 caucuses and the state convention .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
2009,2010,"Here ' s why Zuckerberg taking paternity leave really matters  Zuckerburg ' s decision to take parental leave has fuelled ongoing debate over the gender gap and how to solve it . Photo Getty  On Friday , with a picture on his Facebook page of a car seat , a stroller and his dog , Mark Zuckerberg announced he ' d be taking two months of parental leave .  It wasn ' t a huge surprise : The first millennial  of a Fortune 500 company , Zuckerberg is part of a generation of men who place more value on work life balance and taking time off with their children .  His company offers four months of paid leave to both male and female employees . His chief operating officer is none other than "" Lean In "" maven Sheryl Sandberg , who not only advocates for more women in leadership but for more dads doing diaper duty . Had Zuck elected not to take substantial time off , it would have sent a mixed message .  Still , it was a huge milestone both in the national discussion about parental leave and in the ongoing debate over the gender gap and how to solve it . To have a male Fortune 500  say he will take two months of paternity leave and tout its benefits for children and families is the sort of leadership by example that ' s necessary , both to get more men to follow suit , and to help female executives feel they can do the same .  Of course , it ' s hard to know exactly what parental leave will look like for Zuckerberg .  He and his wife certainly have the resources for any kind of professional assistance they could need during those first exhausting weeks .  It seems unlikely he ' ll be completely out of touch from Facebook ( though neither are many professional women who step away for a few months to take care of a new child ) . And while his post appears to say he ' ll take two months directly after his daughter is born , Facebook does allow employees to take their four months at any time during the child ' s first year .  According to the Society of Human Resources Management , just 17 percent of companies offered paid paternity leave in 2015 .  But even if Zuckerberg is not taking the full four months ' leave the company offers , two months is vastly longer than many professional men take off after the birth of a child .  Research from Boston College ' s Center for Work Family found in 2011 that 76 percent of fathers are back to work within a week of a child ' s birth or adoption 96 percent return within two weeks . Last year , the same center found that less than 10 percent of fathers took six weeks or more off .  And that ' s among those who actually get it .  Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows that only 13 percent of U . S . full time employees had access to paid family leave in 2012 much of which was likely maternity leave . According to the Society of Human Resources Management , just 17 percent of companies offered paid paternity leave in 2015 .  A few firms are making time off after a baby more gender neutral by giving both mothers and fathers the same amount of leave .  That ' s starting to change , of course , as more companies even those outside the cushy confines of Silicon Valley add more paid leave for fathers or come up with innovative solutions . Goldman Sachs doubled its paid paternity leave to four weeks this summer , and Johnson Johnson now gives new dads eight weeks of paid leave . In addition to adding six weeks of parental leave ( it previously had no paid leave for new dads ) , Amazon recently began letting employees share part of their leave with a spouse who has none at their employers . ( Amazon  Jeff Bezos owns The Washington Post . )  A few firms are also making time off after a baby more gender neutral by giving both mothers and fathers the same amount of leave . Last week , the streaming music service Spotify said it would give both new mothers and fathers who work at the company six months of parental leave , joining companies such as Facebook and Netflix that have equal policies for men and women .  Such benefits serve two functions : They help attract employees , particularly younger ones , who are more interested in sharing parenting responsibilities and improving work life balance . But they also make it possible for men to take the kind of leaves that could help improve the gender gap in both pay and leadership positions .  After all , if there ' s just as much of a risk that a male employee of parenting age could step out of a job for a few months as there is for a female one , it could help balance pay and promotions . Meanwhile , if fathers also have greater access to paid leave , it improves the chances more women will return to the workforce , or return sooner , potentially helping to ease the "" motherhood penalty "" that ' s seen as driving the gender gap in wages .  But all the extra weeks of paid leave in the world will do little if fathers , who still face a stigma when it comes to family leave in the workplace , don ' t see their colleagues or company leaders actually using it . Research has shown that men are more likely to take paternity leave if they see a co worker taking it . As  of Facebook and someone who has already been open about the miscarriages he and his wife have faced Zuckerberg seems perfectly positioned to help .  So bring on the pictures of diaper duty , Zuck . These are Facebook baby pictures the world could stand to see .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Economy,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,present
2038,2039,"President Donald Trump offered the most forthright criticism of Cuba since John F. Kennedy when he addressed a crowd in Miami ahead of signing an executive order reversing the Obama administration’s policy of normalization. [In a speech frequently interrupted by applause, and by cameo appearances from   activists, Trump laid out a moral case against the Castro regime and its policies that few previous presidents have dared to make.  “We will not be silent in the face of communist oppression any longer,” Trump said. He laid out his principles and policies, including regime change: “With God’s help, a free Cuba is what we will soon achieve,” he said, to sustained cheers and chants of “  !” He listed some of the human rights abuses of the Castro regime, acknowledging those in the audience who had suffered the “true and brutal nature of the Castro regime   …     many of you witnessed terrible crimes committed in service of a depraved ideology. ” He mentioned activists in Cuba who were prevented from leaving to attend his speech. He saluted exiles and dissidents present, some of whom had suffered decades of imprisonment in Cuba. Trump declared defiantly  —   in a swipe at his predecessor: “Now that I am president, America will expose the crimes of the Castro regime and stand with the Cuban people in their struggle for freedom. Because we know it is best for America to have freedom in our hemisphere, whether in Cuba or Venezuela, and to have a future where the people of each country can live out their own dreams,” he said. He added: For nearly six decades, the Cuban people have suffered under communist domination. To this day, Cuba is ruled by the same people who killed tens of thousands of their own citizens, who sought to spread their repressive and failed ideology throughout our hemisphere, and who once tried to host enemy nuclear weapons ninety miles from our shores. The Castro regime has shipped arms to North Korea, and fueled chaos in Venezuela. While imprisoning innocents, it has harbored cop killers, hijackers, and terrorists. It has supported human trafficking, forced labor, and exploitation all around the globe. This is the simple truth of the Castro regime. My administration will not hide from it, excuse it, or glamorize it. And we will never, ever be blind to it. We know what’s going on, and we remember what happened. And he declared: The previous administration’s easing of restrictions on travel and trade does not help the Cuban people. They only enrich the Cuban regime. The profits from investment and tourism flow directly to the [Cuban] military. The regime takes the money and owns the industry. The outcome of [the] last administration’s executive action has been only more repression, and a move to crush the peaceful, democratic movement. He later laid out conditions for a new agreement to improve relations, including dramatic improvements in Cuba’s human rights policies, the holding of free elections supervised by international observers, and the “return of the cop killer, Joanne Chesimard. ” (The latter is known as “Assata Shakur” and is still lionized by the American left.) It was all too much for at least one Obama administration adviser. As Trump spoke, former Obama White House official Ben Rhodes, one of the main architects of normalization with Cuba, tweeted furiously in opposition. He declared: “Trump doesn’t care about the human rights of the Cuban people and his policies will do nothing to help them. ” Rhodes also challenged the   in the audience: “The few people in Miami enabling Trump in carrying out this charade should be   held accountable. He could care less about Cubans,” he tweeted. “It’s tragic that some people in Fla are so determined to cling to a failed hardline on Cuba that they’re hitching themselves to Donald Trump,” he later added. Trump left the door open to diplomacy, stating that his new policy will maintain the U. S. embassy in Havana: “Our embassy [in Cuba] remains open in the hope that our countries can forge a stronger and much better path,” he said. “We will respect Cuban sovereignty, but we will never turn our backs on the Cuban people,” he later added. Trump left no doubt that relations would henceforth have to be based on a foundation of truth  —   not lenience toward a regime that secured   concessions from the Obama administration without any domestic political change. Joel B. Pollak is Senior    at Breitbart News. He was named one of the “most influential” people in news media in 2016. He is the   of How Trump Won: The Inside Story of a Revolution, is available from Regnery. Follow him on Twitter at @joelpollak.",true,news,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
2061,2062,"Building on his reputation as a wild card wiling to call out the other candidates on issues where they share the same biases , Bloc Qu b cois leader Gilles Duceppe has demanded the other party leaders give him fifteen dollars .  "" This is an issue none of the other parties want to discuss , "" said Duceppe , during the recent french language debate . "" And it ' s obvious to see why : giving me fifteen dollars is in none of their best interests . ""  While Duceppe was equally willing to go after all three leaders for what he called their ' lack of a principled stance ' on the issue , his special ire was reserved for the Prime Minister .  "" This is something that I was criticizing Mister Harper for in 2011 , 2008 , and 2006 , and we still haven ' t seen any progress from him on this , "" Duceppe said . "" And the situation has only grown more serious since then . ""  "" I very much need to have fifteen dollars . ""  Analysis of the numbers in the spending breakdown of the fifteen dollars that the  provided seems to show that they add up .  "" They ' ve done a very thorough job , "" said financial expert Eleanor Morris . "" The one campaign sign , the secondhand tie from a thrift store , and the ham sandwich for Gilles to eat would seem to add up to exactly fifteen dollars . ""  As of press time , all three frontrunners have continued to hold out on Duceppe ' s demands , as well as on Elizabeth May ' s request to simply be allowed to speak on behalf of her party at debates .  ",satire,text,test,Other news2,US elections,true,satire,True,no,no,neutral,past
2066,2067,"A woman s voice shouts back : He is not my boyfriend ! A bang follows , and then a hail of gunfire . Police will shoot 5 , 000 rounds during the operation , leaving the woman and two men dead , including Abdelhamid Abaaoud , the ringleader behind last Friday s Paris attacks that left 130 people dead .  The woman was Hasna Aitboulahcen , 26 , a French national of Moroccan origin who lived a secular lifestyle , which included heavy drinking and attending nightclubs . She was described by friends as outgoing and a bit clueless .  Aitboulahcen was a relation of Abaaoud , a Belgian radical and Isis militant , and appears to have been radicalised at a similar time . Police initially identified her as the suicide bomber behind the blast in Saint Denis , but said on Friday that the explosives had been set off by a man .  According to court records , Aitboulahcen s Facebook page and local media reports from her home town , she was the daughter of Moroccan immigrants who arrived in France in the early 1970s .  On Friday , President Fran ? ois Hollande would not confirm whether the tip that led to the raid had come from Morocco , but said that intelligence co operation between the two countries was very effective and very useful .  Aitboulahcen in a photo that first appeared on Facebook  Aitboulahcen was born in Clichy , Hauts de Seine , north of Paris , on August 12 1989 and , at the age of 16 , moved to Creutzwald , Moselle , in eastern France , near the German border .  Jean Luc Wozniak , the mayor of Creutzwald , told the Associated Press news agency that she had a sister and two brothers and that the four siblings spent some time in foster care . He said the family moved into an apartment in a housing project in 2006 .  Eventually , she left Creutzwald for Clichy sous Bois , the district in eastern Paris that had been the starting point of the 2005 French riots , where thousands of cars were burnt and hundreds of buildings destroyed as incensed local residents went on the rampage .  Her time as a student remains unclear . Her Facebook page says she went to Paul Verlaine University in Metz , but the school denies any record of her .  However , it is clear that she went on to be the manager of a construction company , Beko Construction , in 2013 . The business was created in Clichy sous Bois in 2011 and transferred to her name in May 2013 ? but for only seven months , according to court records . It was liquidated in 2014 .  Aitboulahcen frequently returned to Creutzwald to visit her father . The town of 13 , 000 people was the subject of a large police operation on Wednesday night , one of more than 790 that have been carried out since Sunday night using new state of emergency powers .  Friends told a local newspaper , R publicain Lorrain , they had not seen her for five years . They said she drank alcohol and was known locally as the cowgirl because she wore a big hat .  It is not clear whether she became radicalised after 2013 . But if true , this would appear to be about the same time 28 year old Abaaoud is thought to have been transformed into a jihadi . He left Brussels and headed for Syria in early 2014 , where he became a high ranking Isis fighter .  Aitboulahcen , who by this point was known to the French authorities , expressed a wish to do the same in a posting on her Facebook page that was seen by the Belgian news site  before it was deleted .  She wrote on June 11 this year : Jver biento aller en syrie inshallah biento depart pour la turkie ( I am soon going to Syria , God willing , leaving soon for Turkey ) .  This story has been updated to reflect the latest information from the Paris prosecutor .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
2075,2076,"In the months after the ship sinking , Titanic survivor Lady Lucy Duff Gordon ' s correspondence to her friend in New York starts , as one might expect , with an appropriate amount of thanks for her concern .  "" How kind of you to send me a cable of sympathy from New York on our safety , "" Duff Gordon writes in a letter that will go up for auction Wednesday in Boston .  The remarks she writes next on her own personal letterhead dated May 27 , 1912 , indicate that not all were pleased with how things turned out .  "" According to the way we ' ve been treated by England on our return we didn ' t seem to have done the right thing in being saved at all ! ! ! ! Isn ' t it disgraceful ? "" Duff Gordon said .  Duff Gordon and her husband , Cosmo , escaped the Titanic ' s tragic end by boarding Lifeboat 1 , which transported 12 passengers despite having capacity for 40 .  The prominent fashion designer and her husband were the only two passengers asked to testify during the British Wreck Commissioner ' s inquiry into the famous ship ' s sinking . Their testimony made them popular fodder for tabloids after allegations that Cosmo had bribed the crew to row away faster , rather than trying to rescue others .  Lifeboat 1 became known as the "" Money Boat . ""  Rumors that the Duff Gordons tried to deter the crew from making other rescues were never corroborated , but Lucy Duff Gordon later said her husband was "" brokenhearted over the negative coverage for the rest of his life , "" according to a release from  Auction , the house responsible for the sale of the letter .  Other artifacts also up for auction with Duff Gordon ' s letter include a teacup from the Titanic that was , according to the auction house , "" destined for the bottom of the Atlantic , "" a guitar belonging to Johnny Ramone of the Ramones , and a three page letter by Civil Rights activist Malcolm X written from a Norfolk prison in 1950 .  In his letter , Malcolm X proclaims his allegiance to "" the Almighty God , Allah , "" whom he credits with "" cleaning our polluted souls . ""  Before converting to Islam in 1948 , Malcolm X lived in Boston , where he befriended musicians at the Roseland State Ballroom where he worked . Though he renounced his former life , saying , "" Without Allah , no wonder we have so longingly turned so often to music for its comforting effects , "" he wrote longingly of his former friends .  A letter by Grateful Dead front man Jerry Garcia sent to a a former Vogue cover model whom he met at a New York party in 1980 will also go up for sale .  The undated letter is postmarked June 22 , 1982 .  Garcia asks the woman for mercy , indicating how rare such a letter is , saying , "" Pardon my handwriting , this is the first letter I ' ve written in years . ""  He includes a sketch of the band ' s first outdoor performance , saying , "" Grateful Dead just played our first outdoor show of the year at a place called the Greek Theatre . ""  The historic Berkeley music venue would become a home base for the band , which would have celebrated its 50th anniversary this summer .  Violin played as Titanic sank sells for 1 . 7 million  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
2254,2255,"Michael Oliver has been handed the Manchester derby on Sunday just months after missing Marouane Fellaini ' s flailing elbow on Pablo Zabaleta .  The Belgian flung an arm in the Manchester City defender ' s direction during United ' s defeat at Old Trafford , but was given a reprieve and stayed on the pitch .  The 29 year old Oliver is , however , one of the best referees in the Premier League and this appointment reflects that .  Referee Michael Oliver ( centre ) has been handed the Manchester derby this weekend  Oliver failed to send Marouane Fellaini off for this elbow on Pablo Zabaleta at Old Trafford in March  United midfielder Fellaini looked shocked as he was handed a yellow card by the 29 year old referee  Oliver talks to Ashley Williams and Wayne Routledge during Swansea ' s game against Stoke       is our new campaign to rid football of the dark arts of the penalty box .  Whether it is wrestling , grappling , shirt pulling or the outrageous headlocks witnessed in the Manchester United vs Chelsea match the area has become a free for all for cheating .  And that means fewer goals in the Barclays Premier League .  For too long , referees have failed to punish players for blatantly stopping opponents from scoring . It ' s time to end that .  So join us in our campaign to say Hands Off In The Box to players and referees .  We ' ll be naming and shaming the cheats and the officials who let them get away with it .  The Premier League have leaned on the youngster for some of its bigger fixtures over the last 12 months .  And this weekend is no different Oliver will lead the teams out at the Etihad Stadium .  He will look to avoid being in the spotlight for missing an incident this time .  He was also criticised by Sportsmail ' s Graham Poll in the aftermath of Chelsea ' s win at Burnley in August after wrongfully cautioning Diego Costa for simulation when the striker had been tripped by goalkeeper Tom Heaton .  Oliver also booked Nacer Chadli for cupping his ear to the home Arsenal supporting during Tottenham ' s 1 1 draw at the Emirates Stadium last month .  And during Swansea ' s recent match at Stoke he correctly gave a penalty to the visitors for Ryan Shawcross wrestling down Wilfried Bony in the area .  Oliver has been talked about as a potential official during the 2018 World Cup in Russia .  Phil Dowd was pilloried for failing to spot serious penalty box grappling by Marcos Rojo and Chris Smalling on Branislav Ivanovic and John Terry during United ' s draw against Chelsea on Sunday .  And Dowd has been given the Monday night game between Crystal Palace and Sunderland at Selhurst Park .  Meanwhile , Mike Jones will take charge of the west London derby between Chelsea and  , with Andre Marriner overseeing Liverpool ' s trip to Newcastle .  Like our Manchester United Facebook page .  Phil Dowd taking charge of Crystal Palace vs Sunderland has been given something of a demotion  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
2267,2268,"A former soldier who was injured by a Taliban explosive in Afghanistan has said he was refused entry to a pub because of scars on his face .  James Dalby , 23 , was serving as a trooper in the Royal Dragoon Guards in 2010 when he was caught in the blast from an improvised explosive device .  The blast left him with third degree burns , a broken leg , a fractured eye socket and shrapnel wounds to his head . The injuries were so serious he had to leave the Army for medical reasons .  Refused entry : James Dalby , who was scarred by a Taliban bomb in 2010 , says a doorman told him his wound ' looks bad ' . He is pictured left training in Dorset before the blast , right today  Mr Dalby and a group of friends were turned away from a Yates ' s pub in York on a night out last Saturday though Yates ' s has claimed it was for breaching their dress code .  The former soldier has described how he was singled out from his party and told he could not come in because his wound ' looks bad ' .  He said : ' I got refused from Yates ' s for something I can ' t control . I was not drunk and I wasn ' t being disorderly , I wasn ' t giving him a reason to target anything .  ' It would be nice to get a public apology and for people to be aware that it goes on . That was my job and it was not my call to make .  ' To be refused for being an ex serviceman with facial scars does anger me . '  Location : Mr Dalby and his friends were turned away from Yates ' s pub in York , pictured  Solidarity : Yates ' s has claimed that the group was denied entry for breaching a dress code , but Matt Rayner ( pictured right with Mr Dalby ) said he was dressed similarly to his friend and allowed inside  Locals in York have reacted angrily to his treatment and threatened to boycott Yates ' s in response . Hundreds of people have signed up to a protest in York planned for April 26 .  Representatives of the pub chain , which has more than 60 locations across the country , said that the entire group was turned away because they failed to meet the dress code , which includes a weekend ban on hoodies and sportswear .  A spokesman claimed that Yates ' s welcomes service personnel and has given substantial amounts to forces charities .  Support : Hundreds of Facebook users voiced their anger , and have signed up to a protest in York later this month  ' Despicable ' : Other soldiers rallied round Mr Dalby after the incident at Yates ' s  But Mr Dalby and his friends have disputed that this was the reason , claiming that the doorman eventually admitted their clothes were not the real reason .  Matt Rayner , 25 , was a member of the group and said : ' Everyone was disgusted by it . Of the group that was out , everyone was allowed in apart from James . He was not dressed any differently to me .  ' James is a quiet lad and is not the most confident , something like this is going to knock his confidence . I just think it ' s wrong . '  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
2282,2283,"For anyone who s sick to death of all the pc (politically correct) talk about who should be allowed in the bathroom, this one s for YOU:This mom is spot on with her common sense approach to what makes a woman a woman etc We love this! ",fake,dataset,test,US elections,Sports/Other,fake,fake,True,no,no,positive,present
2284,2285,"The posters show apparently terrified people running down flights of stairs , cowering in a darkened corner and anxiously talking on their mobile phones  Alarmist posters on what commuters should do in the event of a terror outrage were issued by police yesterday .  Instead of an appeal for calm , the advice is ' run , hide and tell ' in a throwback to notices at the height of nuclear attack hysteria in the 1980s .  The campaign urges commuters to ' stay safe ' during a firearms or weapons attack .  The posters show apparently terrified people running down flights of stairs , cowering in a darkened corner and anxiously talking on their mobile phones .  The flyers tell passengers what to do in the event of a Mumbai style gun attack or bombing at one of the  ' s busy terminals .  They are being distributed by police after Home Secretary Theresa May warned this week that the threat to Britain from home grown Muslim extremists or those returning from fighting with Islamic State in Syria or Iraq is ' greater than ever ' .  The posters instruct : ' If you hear gunfire or a weapons attack , leave the area safely if you can . If this puts you in greater danger , find a safe place to take cover . '  But critics have claimed the posters , handed out around the country as part of Counter Terrorism Awareness Week , are ' scaremongering ' and have been compared the leaflets to the Cold War adverts telling people to ' Duck and Cover ' if caught in a nuclear attack .  Chief Constable Paul Crowther , of the British Transport Police (  ) said : ' For commuters , who make the same journey over and over again , it can be easy to become oblivious to their surroundings .  ' But I would urge them to remain alert , use their instinct and have the confidence to report anything that strikes them as out of place or suspicious .  He added that earlier this month a man was sentenced for terrorism offences after being caught in possession of information about how to make bombs .  University student Andreas Pierides , 22 , narrowly avoided jail after he admitted taking nine distress flares on to a passenger jet at Stansted Airport and possessing a terrorist manual .  Police arrested him as he was about to board a flight after a member of the public saw him reading an electronic publication on a train which appeared to include bomb making instructions .  The flyers tell passengers what to do in the event of a Mumbai style gun attack or bombing at one of the  ' s busy terminals . Pictured , a gunman identified by police as Ajmal Kasab walks through the Chatrapathi Sivaji Terminal railway station in Mumbai , India  He was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment suspended for two years after claiming he was going to set off the flares at a football match . ' This was as a direct result of a rail passenger reporting suspicions to train staff . We need others to follow suit and play their part in keeping the  ' s transport systems safe from terrorists , ' he said .  But transport users took to Twitter to complain about the leaflets , which some said were stoking fear .  Rob Thompson wrote : ' These leaflets are more likely to cause panic than any apparent terrorism .  Chris Irvine , from Rochester , Kent , said : ' I cannot believe that the Association of Chief Police Officers and the Metropolitan Police are putting this out .  ' It ' s totally alarmist . I grew up in Northern Ireland but I have never seen anything like it . Obviously we have to take the threat seriously , but I don ' t see how striking the fear of God into people helps . '  And Michael Earl added : ' Unbelievable ! They might as well just say "" Run like hell and start a panic "" . '  The leaflets were handed out after Mrs May used a keynote speech to reveal that 40 terrorist attacks had been foiled since the July 7 bombings in London in 2005 , which killed 52 commuters .  Yesterday the Home Office published a range of anti terrorism measures aimed at tackling the threat , including stripping would be jihadists of their passports and a legal requirement by schools , prisons and councils to put in place policies to stop would be extremists being radicalised .  In her speech on Monday , Mrs May said : ' We are in the middle of a generational struggle against a deadly terrorist ideology . These powers are essential to keep up with the very serious and rapidly changing threats we face .  ' In an open and free society , we can never entirely eliminate the threat from terrorism . But we must do everything possible in line with our shared values to reduce the risks posed by our enemies . '  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
2285,2286,"She ' s the Perth mum who made a kitchen appliance that costs as much as a week in Bali so popular in Australia .  Former mining consultant Grace Mazur has opened up about how she turned the controversial Thermomix cooking device into a cult success as she announced a 1 million donation to the Murdoch Children ' s Research Institute .  Her company sold 80 , 000 devices in Australia in 2014 despite an angry backlash from customers , upset that the first model released in years , the TM5 , allegedly went to market without warning .  ' It was a bit challenging , ' Ms Mazur , the managing director of Thermomix in Australia , said of the incident .  Perth mum Grace Mazur , left , is the driving force behind Thermomix in Australia . Ms Mazur today donated 1 million to the Murdoch Children ' s Research Institute which Sarah Murdoch is on the board of  The Thermomix , pictured , has an enormous following . But many customers were furious when the company sprung an expensive new model on them without warning  Sunny side up : This was Thermomix in Australia ' s apology to customers last year  The company was rounded upon by consumer group  last year after furious customers said the TM5 model was released without warning .  A Change . org petition garnered more than 2500 signatures and some customers took the issue to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission .  Ms Mazur said it was an ' honour ' that customers were so passionate about Thermomix .  ' It ' s also an honour because we know how passionate our customers and consultants are . . . You learn from every experience , everything in life that you do ' .  She first discovered Thermomix while visiting a friend in her native Poland in the year 2000 , when she was working as a mining consultant in Perth .  ' I went to ( visit ) a friend of mine . . . She wasn ' t expecting me .  ' Her kids cooked the whole dinner instantly . I was impressed , they sold it to me , seeing what they can do . '  The Thermomix is extraordinarily popular and has received positive reviews from  . But the company ' s behaviour has been the target of scathing criticism  A cook , surrounded by all of the products she has made with a Thermomix  After returning to Australia , she then negotiated a deal with Vorwek , the manufacturer of the product , for several months .  ' It took us awhile to convince the German company . They didn ' t think there was a market here in Australia . '  It took years before the product caught on with the company selling 50 , 000 units in its first ten years , but 80 , 000 last year .  The device is popular in Europe Ms Mazur said ' in Italy , the Thermomix is part of a wedding ' and the company has had more than 200 , 000 customers in Australia in total .  Ms Murdoch said today ' s donation from Thermomix would go towards current efforts preventing childhood diseases and ailments , including food allergies , obesity and diabetes .  ' Our mission is to try and re educate people about food , ' she said , adding that Thermomix had a part in that mission .  ' ( Thermomix is ) that easy that your kids can use it , and can be involved in the process about making decisions about what they eat . '  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
2299,2300,"In the late 20th Century, author and attorney Mike Godwin said that  as an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Hitler approaches.  Soon, though,  Godwin s Law  was used to invalidate any mention of Hitler, which effectively worked to white-wash a significant portion of 20th century history.Who knows, that could be why we re seeing a rise in holocaust denial and the election of Donald Trump. Now, a Yale Professor is taking on that very issue, saying that our fear of making Hitler comparisons is making us historically illiterate.Yale history professor, and author of  On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century,  Timothy Snyder isn t going so far to say that Trump is like Hitler, but he is saying that there are a lot of lessons to be learned from Hitler, specifically in how democratic republics fail and that our refusal to even talk about Hitler simply feeds our intellectual laziness.So the way to start the discussion about comparisons is to point out that Americans are extremely lazy about history. I mean that s one way in which were definitely number one among major nations. And one of the ways we re lazy about history is that as soon as anyone suggests that the past might be useful, then we say  but wait it s not exactly the same and therefore I m just going to discard it.  In that way in two or three seconds we give ourselves an excuse not to think about history.Source: Business InsiderHere s the video:var playerParam = {'pcode':'BhdmY6l9g002rBhQ6aEBZiheacDu','playerBrandingId':'6e12e8b3387a44daacfb73afba25a76e','skin': {'config': '//player.ooyala.com/static/v4/stable/latest/skin-plugin/skin.json'} };OO.ready(function() {window.pp = OO.Player.create('container', 'B1MWNzYTE6PYNvENSzDs8rjZyVjOKMu8', playerParam);        });The main reason for studying history, other than the fact that it s fascinating as hell, is to learn from what our forebears got wrong as well as from what they got right. Clearly, a hell of a lot went wrong during the late part of the 19th Century and the first half of the 20th Century. There were the robber barons, there was the Great Depression and there was the rise of fascism that killed millions of people. Perhaps if we weren t so lazy about history, we wouldn t need to talk about income inequality and banks wouldn t be too big to fail. If Mike Godwin hadn t been so wildly misinterpreted, perhaps we would not have have been silenced when comparing Trump s white nationalist following to that of Hitler. Instead, neo-nazis are now an actual voting bloc and the nation s press secretary can conveniently ignore the fact that Hitler gassed six million Jews. Hey, at least Spicer is getting us to talk about history.Featured image via Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
2301,2302,"More than 3 , 000 students are facing an unexpected decision after they received acceptance notices from the University of Florida only to find they would have to spend a year taking online classes .  The 3 , 118 unidentified applicants were presumably delighted when they were accepted as freshmen by the university in Gainesville for the fall after sending in applications for traditional first year slots .  But after reading their congratulations notices , they apparently realized they would need to agree to spend their entire first year taking classes on the Internet in order to attend the public college .  The classes are part of a new program the Pathway to Campus Enrollment ( PaCE ) which started in 2015 and aims to accommodate a higher number of students , The Washington Post reported .  New program : More than 3 , 000 students are facing an unexpected decision after they received acceptance notices from the University of Florida ( pictured ) only to find they would have to take online classes for a year  The students who were accepted to the university on the basis they agreed to undertake online classes for a year had not applied to the program , which will likely help expand enrollment in the university ' s new 15million online undergraduate program , created by state legislators in 2013 .  They were also in addition to the estimated 12 , 000 students offered traditional freshman slots .  Steve Orlando , senior director of  ' s media relations , told the newspaper the move ' allows us to offer admission to additional qualified applicants with academic potential and demonstrated success ' .  Joe Glover , who has been the university ' s Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs since July 2008 , added : ' The market for freshman is by no means clear anywhere in the country .  ' We are trying different things to identify that market . That is one of the motivations . '  On its website ,  says that PaCE helps deal with the ' limited space of campus ' and gives students ' the chance to start their degree online and then transition to campus in order to complete it . '  It adds it ' offers an excellent academic experience , combining online and campus based learning ' .  New iniatitive : The classes are part of a new program the Pathway to Campus Enrollment ( PaCE , pictured ) which started in 2015 and aims to accommodate a higher number of students at the flagship university  Extending space : On its website ,  says that PaCE helps deal with the ' limited space of campus ' and gives students ' the chance to start their degree online and then transition to campus in order to complete it '  It tells students : ' Because of limitations to our freshman enrollment on  ' s residential campus , we are unable to accommodate every capable student who applies to the university .  ' However , because of your demonstrated potential , we are offering you a pathway to  ' s residential campus different from our traditional transfer program . '  With legislators keen to expand online learning at Florida universities ,  ' s online graduate program became available to students in 2014 , with a huge 15million assigned to start up and initial costs .  But PaCE ' didn ' t fully exist ' last fall for the 2016 admissions season , Mr Glover told the newspaper , describing the initiative as ' an experiment ' that some of the 3 , 118 students may not wish to accept .  Provost : Joe Glover ( pictured ) , the university ' s Provost , said : ' The market for freshman is by no means clear anywhere in the country . ' We are trying different things to identify that market . That is one of the motivations '  He admitted that many parents were surprised to find their children had been accepted to  on the condition they took online classes and had bombarded him with calls asking questions about it .  On its website ,  states that to be achieve a degree through the PaCE program , students must be willing to ' enroll for at least two semesters and a minimum of 15 credits through  Online ' .  It adds : ' After earning a total of 60 credits and meeting program requirements , students may submit a transition form to move from online learning to a guaranteed place on the  residential campus . '  The program offers 60 majors in seven colleges , including psychology and telecommunication .  Students in PaCE receive a 25 per cent tuition discount , the website says .  They will also not have to pay some of the fees required for residential students .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
2309,2310,"Idi Diallo started playing soccer when he was 5, living in a small Ivory Coast village, kicking a ball on his family farm through two rocks that served as the goal. Even as he played, he could see troops fighting in the distance and hear gunfire ringing out in the civil wars that raged through his childhood. He practiced every day, dreaming of playing in professional European soccer leagues. He had never seen a soccer game on television  —   played on pristine fields with roaring fans  —   but at 11, he left his family for Abidjan, the country’s largest city, to play for a local team for the next three years. He also joined the Ivory Coast national team and traveled to Ghana, where the team made the semifinals in a tournament of African nations. In 2010, he got a chance to play in Italy for the  Milan Football Academy Camp, a youth program sponsored by the elite Italian football league. But when a relative in Milan was unable to house him, he decided to pursue his dream in the United States. Then 15, Mr. Diallo boarded a plane with a friend of his brother’s and headed to New York. They settled in the Bronx, but when his companion returned to Africa a month later, Mr. Diallo found himself alone on the streets. A practicing Muslim, Mr. Diallo found refuge at the Musa Mosque Islamic Center in the Bronx, where he often slept in the prayer hall. He also informally played soccer with the Fordham University team. “He’d have played me, but I didn’t have a diploma,” Mr. Diallo said of the coach, recalling an interaction on the field. “He said, ‘Where do you come from?’ And I said, ‘You don’t want to know. ’” Then a friend at the university invited him to play in pickup games at Heritage Field, the site of the original Yankee Stadium. That is where Mr. Diallo met Fernando Rodriguez, a   high school basketball coach battling advanced melanoma, who watched the games. Mr. Rodriguez approached Mr. Diallo after a game to compliment his performance. Mr. Diallo spoke little English, but he recognized Mr. Rodriguez’s accent and responded in Spanish  —   the language he had chosen to learn at the soccer academy in Ivory Coast. “So from then, we started talking,” Mr. Diallo said with a smile. “It was a good moment. As time went by, he asked me about my life. I don’t like talking about my problems the past is in the past. But he’d take me to eat at a nearby cafeteria, and he’d ask small questions. He asked where I lived, and I said, ‘No house for me,’ and he invited me to stay with him. ” A month after their initial meeting, Mr. Diallo accepted an invitation for a   dinner and saw Mr. Rodriguez’s spare room. “There was no way I’d find something better than that,” he recalled thinking. Mr. Diallo, then 17, moved in and enrolled at Urban Assembly Media High School in Manhattan, starting as a 10th grader. He took classes to learn English and joined the soccer team, which won the championship in his first year. Mr. Rodriguez became Mr. Diallo’s legal guardian and started filling out paperwork to adopt him. But his health continued to decline, and a year after taking in Mr. Diallo, he was admitted to a hospital. This time, it was Mr. Diallo’s turn to take care of the man who had taken him in. He took warm meals to him and visited him often, updating him on his success at school. Mr. Rodriguez still managed to sponsor Mr. Diallo for his green card and help him apply for legal immigration status. Four months after Mr. Rodriguez died, Mr. Diallo learned that his immigration application had been approved. “When he passed away, it was hard,” Mr. Diallo said, shaking his head. “He’d become my father. ” He played a game the day of Mr. Rodriguez’s funeral. And he continued classes. “I had to stay in school,” he said. “I couldn’t give up on something he’d helped me work toward. ” On a cold November morning, Mr. Diallo sat inside Create Young Adult Residences, a transitional housing program serving men 18 to 25, where he has lived since February 2015. Create is affiliated with Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New York, one of eight organizations supported by The New York Times Neediest Cases Fund. Mr. Diallo, now 20, recalls with pride the life he has lived after his mentor’s death. He graduated from high school in June and was accepted to both the College of Staten Island and LaGuardia Community College. It is a far different future from the one he imagined in Ivory Coast, where he spent few years getting a formal education schools were often closed during the wars. He received a $2, 000 scholarship from the National Association for Education and Homeless Children and Youth. The New York Public Library awarded him a laptop for academic excellence, and Catholic Charities used $350 from The New York Times Neediest Cases Fund to pay for his schoolbooks. Financial aid will cover his academic costs for the first two years at both schools. It will not cover his room and board, but he qualifies for an $800 rental subsidy from the city. In addition to working part time as a waiter, bringing in about $600 a month, he plays midfielder for Boca Juniors   affiliated with Argentina’s premier student soccer league. He travels to Long Island three days a week to practice, and has had tryouts with professional soccer clubs across the country, including the San Francisco Deltas and  Galaxy II. Additional tryouts are scheduled for  Miami City and Orlando City Soccer Club in January. He has also been invited for a return tryout in Los Angeles later in January but is unable to afford the plane fare. He laughed and shook his head, reflecting on the future, hopeful yet unwilling to wish too much. “If God gets me on a team  —   whatever team  —   this year, and I do well . ..,” he said, his words trailing off. “With agents watching those games, you never know. ” He is waiting to choose a college until he hears back from professional soccer teams, and plans to start classes after tryouts conclude in February, studying business accounting or physical therapy. If he makes a team this year, he said, he plans to continue school in that city. Regardless of where the next few months take him, Mr. Diallo said, he will keep working to become a professional soccer player. “I could do without anything  —   live on the street  —   to play soccer,” he said. “And I’ve done that. I’ve been dreaming about this day since I was born. ”",true,news,test,World conflict,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
2316,2317,"Breibart editor Milo Yiannopoulos is the obnoxious little twerp who got banned from Twitter for inciting his fans to viciously attack comedian Leslie Jones in an effort to humiliate her.Now karma has finally turned the tables on Yiannopoulos.During an interview with  s Terry Moran that will air on Nightline this Friday, Yiannopoulos was the one who got humiliated this time as Moran took this asshole who has the maturity of a 12-year-old boy to school.Yiannopoulos began by calling himself a  virtuous troll  who is  doing God s work. If Leslie Jones were right here, would you say,  You look like a dude ?  Moran asked. Yeah, probably,  Yiannopoulos replied. You would say that to her?  a disgusted Moran said.Once again, Yiannopoulos has zero remorse for his ugly attack and said he would do it again, which led to Moran smacking the Breitbart bully down. Then you re an idiot,  Moran told him.Yiannopoulos argued that he is not responsible for what his fans do even though it was his sexism and hate that made Jones a target for harassment in the first place. Does Justin Bieber have an obligation to his fans? I m sorry for being popular. But I am not responsible for what 350,000 people on the Internet say. I m responsible for what I say. Yeah, and what you said incited your fans to attack as if they were your own personal army of Internet trolls. If Justin Beiber launched a Twitter tirade against Selena Gomez that resulted in his fans attacking her, he would be responsible for it. Just like Yiannopoulos is responsible for the attack on Jones.Words have consequences and Yiannopoulos is finding that out the hard way.Moran responded by putting Yiannopoulis in his place with an epic smackdown that is incredibly enjoyable to watch. You re going to go after somebody s body to denigrate their ideas? What grade are you in? Are you a 13-year-old boy? Because somebody doesn t have a weight that you think is proper? That s revolting. And Yiannopoulos responded by being a misogynist asshole. I ll tell you what s revolting. What s revolting is the body positivity movement. What s revolting is this idea now that you can tell women that they ll be healthy at any size. Here s the video via YouTube:Trolls like Yiannopoulos should be banned from using the Internet entirely. He should not have a platform to bully others and spread his hate. And of course, he s a supporter of Donald Trump, which makes him even more of a prick. But you can bet that sexist trolls like Yiannopoulos will become even more emboldened if the Republican nominee should win in November, which makes it even more important that he lose by a humiliating landslide.Featured Image: Screenshot",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
2322,2323,"Earlier this month the tracksuit tycoon Mike Ashley agreed to buy a plot of land in Chelsea from the retailer John Lewis for somewhere in the region of 200million .  The Clearings has been primed for redevelopment , with planning permission for 62 luxury flats , seven townhouses and an agreement to relocate Marlborough Primary School as part of the project .  In five years , when the operation to build the properties is concluded and they have been sold to high end buyers , Ashley will add something in the region of another 1bn to his net worth .  There have been empty seats at St James ' Park recently as fans let their feelings about Mike Ashley be known  The weekend defeat by Swansea was a seventh straight Premier League loss for the Magpies  Toon keeper Tim Krul had to pick the ball out of his net three times against Swansea  Ashley looks after the money , obsessing over the finances at his business empire , which includes SportsDirect , Tesco and his football club in the north east . Last year his group made more than 500m .  In return , he expects his employees , across the board , to deliver .  The biggest motivation in Ashley ' s life is to make money , something reflected in Newcastle United ' s latest accounts , which are showing another decent profit and 34m in the bank .  The money men at Newcastle are already aware that the team could play in an empty stadium when the new television deals crystallise at the start of the 2016 17 season and still turn a profit based on current income and expenditure .  It feels like it could come to that as Newcastle ' s disaffected supporters wonder where to take their grievances to next .  Ashley , the club ' s owner , does not appear to be listening .  He is not a football man , certainly not in the same way as the increasing number of disillusioned supporters at St James ' Park .  After seven straight defeats in the Barclays Premier League under their interim coach John Carver , they have every right to fear for the future . All is not well .  It does not help that Ashley has taken a neanderthal approach to negative criticism , frequently banning journalists from St James ' because they have gone into bat on behalf of the team ' s disaffected supporters .  For such a successful businessman , Ashley ' s sensitivity to criticism is undoubtedly one of his biggest weaknesses .  Ashley ( right ) has never been Mr Popular at St James ' Park but the protests have been ramped up recently  A fan appeared to have a go at interim manager John Carver during the latest loss at St James ' Park  The view from the bench hasn ' t been pretty for Carver and the Newcastle staff during the last few weeks  He should address it because his ability to make money should be one of his most powerful weapons at Newcastle .  In January , after a deal had been concluded to take Alan Pardew to Crystal Palace , the former Newcastle manager gave a momentary insight into the financial strategy at St James ' Park .  ' Newcastle is a big club , it ' s difficult because it is run on an tight financial margin , ' admitted Pardew . ' We had to work hard on transfers , the funds for a club that size makes it difficult to understand that we had to build slowly . '  So what is so wrong with that , especially when the owner of the club still has an interest free loan of 129m marked in the latest Newcastle accounts ?  It is the job of Newcastle ' s chief scout Graham Carr , along with his staff , to identify and recruit the players who can improve this team .  Talent identification is not Ashley ' s area of expertise and he has always made it clear that it is the responsibility of his scouting department to improve the squad .  The natural conclusion when clubs sell their best players , as Newcastle did when Yohan Cabaye moved to Paris Saint Germain in January 2014 and Mathieu Debuchy left for Arsenal last summer , is to lose momentum . It always feels like a lack of ambition .  Then there are teams such as Southampton , who sold four of their best players last summer Dejan Lovren , Adam Lallana , Calum Chambers and Luke Shaw for 88m after finishing eighth in the Premier League .  Newcastle fans held a protest urging fellow supporters to ' show Ashley the red card '  They responded by recruiting Dusan Tadic , Graziano Pelle , Fraser Forster , Florin Gardos , Shane Long and Sadio Mane for an outlay of around 56m .  Under Ronald Koeman , who replaced Mauricio Pochettino last summer after he moved to Tottenham , Southampton could still qualify for the Europa League .  They are a fine example to the teams outside the top four because Southampton ( with an annual income of 90m ) , Swansea ( 84m ) and Newcastle ( 110m ) cannot compete on the same financial terms .  Swansea , who beat Newcastle 3 2 last Saturday , have also had a recent change in management after promoting Garry Monk . He has had an outstanding year in charge .  Toon fans held up the cards during the latest protest against owner Ashley  Even with the loss of Wilfried Bony , sold to Manchester City for 28m in January , they are on course for a top eight finish because of their own financial prudence and some smart recruitment .  Like Southampton , they are not living above their means , but their transfer policy is first class . They are being rewarded for that .  Newcastle are currently 19th in the annual Deloitte report into football ' s rich list , but they do not have the same financial muscle as Manchester United ( 371m ) , Manchester City ( 277m ) , Chelsea ( 277m ) , Arsenal ( 219m ) , Liverpool ( 208m ) and Tottenham ( 153m ) .  This summer Ashley will make some new signings , something they desperately need after a depressing end to the season at St James ' Park .  Without them , the balance sheet will be the only winner .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
2330,2331,"Gareth Southgate has told Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha he still has time to make the England Under 21 squad for Euro 2015 .  Zaha won the last of his 10 Under 21 caps against Finland in November 2013 and has not been considered by the head coach since he pulled out of a qualifier against Wales last May with injury .  Southgate made it clear at the start of the season he would only use players who were fully committed to playing for England and there is no question Zaha would need to show he has matured to stand a chance of going to the Czech Republic in June .  Crystal Palace ace Wilfried Zaha has scored two goals and made one assist in his last six games  Gareth Southgate has told Zaha he still has time to make the England Under 21 squad for Euro 2015  But his form for Palace has not gone unnoticed he has scored two goals and made one assist in his last six games and Southgate intends to visit Zaha to see whether the 22 year old can force himself into the frame .  ' We have always said with Wilf the door is never closed , ' Southgate said . ' Unfortunately for him , his move to Manchester United never worked out , the loan to Cardiff never worked out and we have had other forwards who have been in good form .  ' You always have to look at players who are in form and playing well . It would be foolish to rule anyone out . But we have got Danny Ings , Jesse Lingard coming back , Alex Pritchard has got good numbers in terms of goals and assists . Wilf is going to have to play really well to force his way in . '  Southgate admits it would be foolish to rule anybody out of contention ahead of this summer ' s tournament  Burnley striker Danny Ings has been in fine form during the Premier League season at Turf Moor  Palace boss Alan Pardew said after his side beat Queens Park Rangers earlier this month he intended to speak to Southgate about why the coach would benefit from including Zaha in his plans .  Southgate has not heard from his former Palace team mate but while he would welcome the call , he stressed that Zaha had scored once and made one goal in the 17 games before his burst of form .  ' I said to him ( Pardew ) when he got the job it would be really interesting to see if he could get Wilf back to where he is , ' said Southgate , whose side face Germany at The Riverside Stadium this evening . ' He is playing well but there has to be consistency . One of the biggest parts of my role is to go and watch players . Wilf , now he is playing regularly , will be one I have to see . '  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
2337,2338,"The week of Donald Trump s election, white nationalists celebrated.In the bowels of the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, three blocks from the White House, members of the so-called alt-right movement gathered for what they had supposed would be an autopsy to plot their grim future under a Clinton administration. Instead, they celebrated the unexpected march of their white nationalist ideas toward the mainstream, portraying Mr. Trump s win as validation that the tide had turned in their fight to preserve white culture. It s been an awakening,  Richard B. Spencer, who is credited with coining the term alt-right, said at the gathering on Saturday.  This is what a successful movement looks like. Source:  TimesWhile they still agree with Trump s agenda, or at least what they think Trump s agenda is, they aren t celebrating anymore. They aren t happy with many of Trump s cabinet picks. Right after the election, I think it was euphoria,  says Kevin MacDonald, a retired evolutionary psychology professor at California State, Long Beach and another white nationalist mainstay.  But as we get into it now, there s more trepidation. MacDonald says Trump s appointments also have rattled the movement, especially his propensity for tapping rich Wall Street bankers. These are globalists in general. They love free trade, they love immigration   big red flags for us,  he says.Source: NPRSo odd that a businessman who brags about his international business ventures would hire globalists. Who could have seen that coming? Anyone who paid attention, that s who, but cheer up our neo-nazi brethren, there s hope for you still (just not for the rest of us). Trump still has his (bad pun ahead) Trump card: Jeff Sessions, who s been tapped for Attorney General. They also like Rex Tillerson, Trump s pick for Secretary of State.MacDonald hopes Sessions, Trump s nominee for attorney general, will clamp down on immigration. White nationalists also like the nominee for secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, who s seen as being close to Russian leader Vladimir Putin, a darling of the alt-right.While Trump s cabinet might be a little too globalist for these mouth breathers, there s still plenty for them to love. There s little chance under this Republican government that anyone other than white men will make any sort of advances.Featured image via Drew Angerer/Getty Images",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,past
2338,2339,"After examining the data Reuters used to make their bold prediction, we noticed they hadn t given any consideration to the high probability that Democrats will likely find a way to give illegal aliens the opportunity to cast their ballots in 2016. Illegal alien voters aside, here is Reuters interesting (and somewhat hopeful) study Elections are not mysterious events subject to the whimsy of unpredictable candidates and voters. They re actually highly predictable, with a set of variables that influence outcomes in familiar ways.Because of that, we can say, with reasonable confidence, that a Republican will be moving into the White House in 2017.That conclusion is based on the results of a data model we created, and is primarily the result of two factors, both related to the challenges faced by  successor  candidates   candidates from the same party as the incumbent. First, a Republican will win because voters typically shy away from the party currently in power when an incumbent isn t running. In fact, a successor candidate is three times less likely to win. Second, President Barack Obama s approval ratings are too low to suggest a successor candidate will take the White House.Why are we so confident, especially when opinion poll data now gives Hillary Clinton the edge over most Republican opponents? The simple answer is that we re relying on models, not polls.At this point in the election cycle, poll data asking the  horserace  question ( Who will you vote for in November 2016? ) can be very misleading. This far from Election Day, published poll data is off by an average of 8 percentage points compared with the true election outcome. That s an enormous number when we re used to elections where candidates win by two to three points.Time Before Election Average error of polls (compared to final results)One week 1.7%One month 2.7%Two months 3.8%Three months 4.8%Six months 5.8%Nine months 6.9%Twelve months 7.9%Source: Ipsos analysis of 300 polls across 40 markets from 1980 through currentModeling results is a simple concept: look at past data, identify patterns, and use those patterns to make predictions. So we begin by aggregating data from past U.S. presidential elections, but are immediately hampered by the fact that there aren t very many elections to work from   25 if we go back 100 years.So we created a much larger database of elections by looking beyond the United States to hundreds of presidential and parliamentary elections in democratic countries around the world. This exercise gave us far more data to work with: a sample size of more than 450 elections from 35 countries.The most important finding from our model is the power of incumbency: if you already hold the office you seek, you are far more likely than not to retain it. Our model showed that incumbents have a threefold greater chance of beating their opponent. When no incumbent is running, successor candidates (in this case, Democrats) are three times less likely to win.Our model proves the power of presidential approval ratings. It determines that in order for a successor candidate to have better than even chances of winning, the sitting president must have an approval rating of above 55 percent. Because Barack Obama s average approval rating is now at 45 percent, a successor candidate (i.e. Democrat) is unlikely to win.President (Govt) approval rating  probability of victorySUCCESSOR probability of victory40% 55%6%45% 78%14%50% 90%28%55% 96%49%60% 98%71%Source: Ipsos analysis of over 450 elections since 1938Our model works on the basis of probabilities, and is focused at the party level rather than the candidate level. It seeks only to predict the likelihood of a change to the party in power. It has an 85 percent predictive ability, so it s right most   but not all   of the time. Things that could confound the model include rapid changes to Obama s approval rating, or unusually high or low turnout (which can be driven by  wild card  candidates or other factors).In the coming months, Obama s approval ratings may tick up. But they would have to pass the 55 point mark to give the Democrats even odds of keeping the White House. This is extremely unlikely, given the fact that presidential approval typically declines over time, and Obama s ratings are no exception.Some will argue that Hillary Clinton is special; that her chances are significantly better because, given her popularity and status as a  legacy  candidate, she seems more like an incumbent. But if we go along with that hypothesis and run it through our model, at Obama s current approval ratings, Clinton s chances of winning the general election are still less than half.The Democrats have quite a mountain to summit to retain power past 2016.Via: Reuters",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,present
2339,2340,"Federal agents have determined New York Gov . Eliot Spitzer used a high priced call girl ring at least eight times in recent months , and agents had him under surveillance twice this year , sources familiar with the investigation said Wednesday .  Sources say New York Gov . Eliot Spitzer used a call girl service eight times in recent months .  Spitzer announced his resignation Wednesday , two days after reports of his connection to the Emperors Club  became public .  He has not been charged with a crime .  He told reporters Wednesday , "" I cannot allow my private failings to disrupt the people ' s work . ""  The resignation will take effect Monday . Watch Spitzer say he will resign  The sources said the investigation began when New York ' s North Fork Bank notified the Treasury Department about suspicious transfers of money from Spitzer ' s bank accounts . That investigation led agents to the alleged organizers of the prostitution ring , four of whom were charged in a criminal complaint last week , the sources said .  A grand jury in New York is likely to hear evidence in the case soon , said Kathleen Mullin , an attorney who said she represents one of the ring ' s employees . Mullin would not identify her client , but said she was not the woman identified only as "" Kristen "" linked to Spitzer in court papers .  She said her client and other women who worked for the Emperors Club have been asked to testify before the grand jury .  Asked if her client had any encounters with Spitzer , Mullin said , "" We have no information regarding the governor . ""  Wiretaps on suspected members of the ring , authorized in January , yielded more than 5 , 000 telephone calls and text messages and another 6 , 000 plus e mails , according to court papers . In those intercepts , the organizers told clients how to arrange and pay for their trysts , a federal agent ' s affidavit states .  The affidavit states "" Client 9 "" paid 4 , 300 for 2 hours with a call girl he arranged to meet at Washington ' s Mayflower Hotel , with some of that a deposit on a future session . Court papers state he also paid for train tickets , cab fare , mini bar and room service charges for Kristen a 5 foot 5 , 105 pound brunette he arranged to meet the night of February 13 .  Kristen is a 22 year old would be singer from New Jersey , The New York Times reported Wednesday .  The newspaper said Ashley Youmans now known as Ashley Alexandra Dupre was identified in court documents as Kristen .  Dupre has not been charged with a crime . She made a brief appearance Monday in U . S . Magistrate Court as a witness against four people charged with operating the Emperor ' s Club , the Times said .  In an entry on her MySpace page , Dupre says she left "" a broken family "" and "" abuse "" in 2004 , eventually settling in Manhattan "" to pursue my music career . ""  "" I am all about my music , and my music is all about me , "" she writes on her MySpace page . "" It flows from what I ' ve been through , what I ' ve seen and how I feel . ""  Dupre ' s mother , Carolyn Capalbo , told the Times she and her daughter were close , adding that "" she obviously got involved in something much larger than her . ""  Spitzer , whose squeaky clean image as a corporate corruption buster made him a rising Democratic star , testified to the House Financial Services Committee the next day about the effect of the mortgage meltdown . He took a state plane from Buffalo , New York , to Washington and back to New York , his office confirmed Tuesday .  But in a statement issued after the governor ' s resignation , U . S . Attorney Michael Garcia said no agreement had been reached between his office and the governor "" relating to his resignation or any other matter . ""  The resignation could be a factor in the U . S . presidential race . Spitzer was a superdelegate , one of nearly 800 party leaders and officials who cast their votes at the Democratic National Convention . They are free to vote for any candidate they wish .  Spitzer was a political ally of New York Sen . Hillary Clinton , who is currently in a tight race with Illinois Sen . Barack Obama to win the Democratic nomination .  A candidate must get 2 , 024 delegates to clinch the Democratic nomination . With the race so close , superdelegates could play a larger role in determining the Democratic presidential candidate than in past elections .  Late last year , upon investigating the movement of money that the bank initially reported , the  found that the accounts were connected to Spitzer , the sources said .  The  contacted the  , which joined the case to investigate the possibility of government corruption .  Federal law requires a banking institution to file a suspicious activity report when the institution suspects a transaction is linked to a federal crime . More specifically , banks are required to report to the  any transactions totaling 5 , 000 or more if the transactions "" involve potential money laundering or a violation of the Bank Secrecy Act . ""  The act requires businesses to keep documents that are useful for identifying and investigating money laundering .  After receiving the  report last year , the  Corruption Squad linked the account transfers to a prostitution ring , according to sources . The  criminal division joined the probe to look into the prostitution ring , while the federal corruption team continued its investigation into Spitzer .  Legal experts not involved in the case have said Spitzer could face some type of money laundering charge , such as structuring a financial transaction to evade federal bank reporting requirements by breaking up a large transaction into smaller ones .  "" You are going to have to prove that he withdrew sums of money with the intent to evade the reporting requirements , to conceal the fact that he is withdrawing the money , "" said Smith , the former deputy chief of the Justice Department ' s fraud section .  "" Because if the money was withdrawn , it appears if his lawyers are correct , in a manner that he didn ' t conceal anything , it begs the question whether or not they can prove the reckless intent that he withdrew this money in small sums to avoid the reporting requirement . ""  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
2363,2364,"show title date "" ' Kids ' table ' debate highlights , 11 10 15 , 8 : 22   ""  Electability versus purity in  kids table debate   ? New Jersey Gov . Chris Christie sold himself as the electable savior a combative Louisiana Gov . Bobby Jindal sold himself as the true conservative former Arkansas Gov . Mike Huckabee pitched himself as a blue collar hero and former Pennsylvania Sen . Rick Santorum tried to take a page from all three in a feisty Republican undercard debate on Tuesday .   : ? Mike Huckabee : Place Syrian refugees in encampments abroad  Jindal used his time to take potshots at the other  governors and former governors seeking the presidential nod ? accusing them of insufficient devotion to the conservative cause . In particular , he targeted Christie , who he said had caved in to Obamacare by accepting its Medicaid expansion and had not done enough to cut spending .  I ll give you a ribbon for participation , and a juice box , Jindal said .  Christie , demoted to the lower tier debate for the first time after failing to qualify for the main stage , consistently declined to take the bait and respond to Jindal s taunts . Christie instead worked to refocus the debate on Hillary Clinton and the Democratic field and pitching his ability to win in a blue state .  Senator Lindsey Graham was bumped from Tuesday s  undercard debate , but he won t be silenced . Graham discusses his strategy going forward with  Daily s Chuck Todd .  facebook twitter embed like save share group discuss  She is the real adversary tonight and we better stay focused as Republicans on her , Christie said .  Christie accused Democrats of wanting to raise taxes 70 to 80 to pay for new programs and said Clinton would move us to a single payer system for health care . In fact , the former secretary of state released a health care plan broadly similar to the current Affordable Care Act in her 2008 presidential run , which relies on subsidies for private insurance , and has not proposed any kind of shift to single payer .  The argument between Christie and Jindal highlighted a fundamental split in how Republicans view the general election . Christie argued that the highest priority had to be stopping Clinton , who would present a formidable opponent , so that the party needed a nominee with crossover appeal who could win blue state voters . Jindal argued that Clinton is weak ? he said she was gift wrapping the election to the  ? which meant Republicans could propose more sweeping reforms without fear of political backlash .  There s not much difference between the two parties , Jindal said . The reason we keep losing nationally is we try to be cheaper version of the Democrats .   : ? Five things to watch in Tuesday s  debate  Jindal didn t just target Christie , he also lit into Huckabee , who has clashed with conservative groups like Club For Growth for raising spending and taxes at points as Arkansas governor .  Huckabee defended his record , though he was cut off at one point by the moderators when he tried to respond to Jindal . He used his time to defend government spending on Medicare and Social Security , which he distinguished from welfare spending elsewhere . Huckabee has criticized Christie for proposing changes to Social Security that include raising the retirement age to put it on sounder financial footing .  Those are not entitlements and that s not welfare and by gosh you paid for it and if the government screwed it up you shouldn t have to pay the penalty , Huckabee said .  Santorum tried to position himself as a hybrid of the others , pointing to his victories in Pennsylvania ( and ignoring his double digit defeat in 2006 ) and his credentials with the right .  I ll give you a ribbon for participation , and a juice box .  Chris says we need someone who can win in a blue state Bobby says we need a true conservative , Santorum said . Then he paused and raised his arms .  Breaking from many of his rivals , Santorum defended the Export Immigration Bank , which many conservatives see as a corporate giveaway , as a necessary measure to prop up U . Sweblinkpanies .  How can you come out and say I m for manufacturing when a majority of Republican congressmen and senators supported the Ex Im bank because it means job for American manufacturers ? Santorum said .  While the focus was on the economy and fiscal issues , some national security topics came up . Christie threatened to take a harder line with China over disputed territory in the South China Sea .  I ll fly Air Force One over those islands , they ll know we mean business , Christie said .   : ? Chris Christie vetoes bill to make voting easier  Huckabee , asked whether he would take in refugees from Syria , expressed doubt that many of the people claiming asylum were actually fleeing the country s civil war and warned that they could be  sleeper agents .  Are we going to open our doors give them a place to stay and a good sandwich and medical benefits ? Huckabee said . I mean , my gosh .  Instead he suggested supporting encampments closer to Syria .  The event was the fourth kids table debate to feature lower polling candidates , but the organizer s stricter requirements shook up the lineup . Both Christie and Huckabee were pushed off the main stage while Sen . Lindsey Graham , former New York Gov . George Pataki , and former Virginia Gov . Jim Gilmore missed the cut entirely .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Economy,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,past
2377,2378,"They seethed but acknowledged they were powerless to stop an agreement all but certain to pass with votes from Democrats and a fair number of Republicans . Boehner brushed off their complaints , declaring that he intended to make good on his promise to leave a "" clean barn "" for his successor , Paul Ryan of Wisconsin , who is set to get the  nomination for speaker on Wednesday and win election on the House floor the day after that .  "" I didn ' t want him to walk into a dirty barn full of you know what . So I ' ve done my best to try to clean it up , "" a good humored Boehner told reporters after a closed door gathering of House Republicans , his last such weekly meeting after nearly five years as speaker and a quarter century on Capitol Hill .  Sheriff : Deputy ' s arrest of texting student , now a civil rights case , made him want to vomit   , S . C . (  ) ? A girl who refused to surrender her phone after texting in math class was flipped backward and tossed across the classroom floor by a sheriff ' s deputy , prompting a federal civil rights probe on Tuesday .  The sheriff said the girl "" may have had a rug burn "" but was not injured , and said the teacher and vice principal felt the officer acted appropriately . Still , videos of the confrontation between a white officer and black girl stirred such outrage that he called the  and Justice Department for help .  Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott suspended Senior Deputy Ben Fields without pay , and said what he did at Spring Valley High School in Columbia made him want to "" throw up . ""  "" Literally , it just makes you sick to your stomach when you see that initial video . But again , that ' s a snapshot , "" he said .  Videos taken by students and posted online show Fields warning the girl to leave her seat or be forcibly removed on Monday . The officer then wraps a forearm around her neck , flips her and the desk backward onto the floor , tosses her toward the front of the classroom and handcuffs her .  Your daily look at late breaking news , upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about Wednesday :  1 .         The agreement would end the threat of U . S . government shutdowns and defaults until well after a new president takes office .  Defense secretary :  retooling fight against  , including unilateral ground raids if needed  The U . S . has done special operations raids in Syria and participated in a ground operation to rescue hostages last week in northern Iraq that resulted in the first U . Sweblinkbat death in Iraq since 2011 . Carter did not say under what circumstances the U . S . might conduct more ground action , but said , "" Once we locate them , no target is beyond our reach . ""  "" We won ' t hold back from supporting capable partners in opportunistic attacks against  , or conducting such missions directly , whether by strikes from the air or direct action on the ground , "" Carter said , using an acronym for the militant group .  Carter and Marine Gen . Joseph Dunford , chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff , testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee . Republicans harshly criticized the Obama administration ' s strategy in Syria and Iraq , where  militants have captured large swaths of territory and have largely fought the U . S . led coalition to a stalemate .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
2399,2400,"Liverpool have completed the signing of Belgium striker Divock Origi but the 19 year old will immediately be loaned back to French club Lille for next season .  The youngster impressed at the World Cup but had been on the Reds ' radar long before that , haivng been tracked since he featured for his national team ' s under 15 side .  Origi travelled to join up with Liverpool ' s pre season tour of America so the deal could be completed .   Scroll down to watch Divock Origi gives his first interview as a Liverpool player  Signed : Liverpool have completed a deal for Divock Origi  New signing : But he will return to Lille on loan for the remainder of the coming season  ' I am very , very happy and delighted a club as big as Liverpool showed interest in me . I ' m very excited , ' he told the official club website .  ' I was very happy because I know that Liverpool are a big club . I was very excited and knew this could be something big for me .  ' For me , it was my dream to play for a big club . I know Liverpool is a club with a great history , so for me it was perfect .  ' I always watched Liverpool on the  when I was small and if you see players like Gerrard and Sturridge , it ' s exciting to know that you ' re going to be playing with them .  ' I watched practically every game of Liverpool ' s . They had a great season . You could see there was a great mix of experienced and young players , and a good coach . It was nice to see them play .  ' I am very proud to sign for the club . I ' ll give everything for the club , like I did when I was small and did for Lille . I ' m hoping we can achieve great things together . '  Starlet : The youngster played for Belgium at the World Cup in Brazil  Joy : Origi celebrates after scoring the last minute winner against Russia in Group H   Rodgers relishing Champions League  Pleased as punch : Brendan Rodgers is delighted with securing the youngster ' s signature  And Rodgers spoke of his delight at securing the youngster ' s signature . He joins Rickie Lambert , Adam Lallana , Emre Can , Lazar Markovic and Dejan Lovren on the list of new recruits .  ' For me , he can be one of the most exciting talents in world football . I genuinely believe that , ' he told the Liverpool website .  ' You see a lot of good players , but this kid for 19 years of age he burst onto the scene at the World Cup , but we ' d tracked him before that , we ' d seen him as a young player playing in the youth internationals . He has everything to be world class .  ' He ' s super fast , has a wonderful touch , he ' s a good size and is aggressive . What I like , and what I have in other players , is that humility to work hard .  ' I ' ve seen enough of him over the course of the last couple of seasons to think this is a kid who , coming into the right environment , can genuinely be world class .  ' He will go back to Lille and play there for the season on loan , but by signing him , we ' ll have a wonderful player not only now when he comes in next season , but also in the future .  ' He can light up world football , for sure . '  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
2403,2404,"A teacher at the Sylvia Young Theatre School , whose notable alumni include Amy Winehouse , has been arrested on suspicion of possessing indecent images of children .  Sylvia Young  , 76 , confirmed that a male teacher at the school had been arrested about a month ago and had left the premises with police officers .  She told the Mail that the man had worked at the school for a number of years and taught on the academic side , rather than at the stage school .  A teacher at the Sylvia Young Theatre School ( pictured ) has been arrested on suspicion of possessing indecent images of children  Police arrested the teacher and seized his personal computer from the fee paying school for 10 16 year olds , which has day pupils and boarders .  Notable alumni of the central London school include actor Billie Piper , Spice Girl Emma Bunton , presenter Denise van Outen and X Factor star Leona Lewis .  The teacher is now on police bail and can have no contact with the school or any child under 16 . He has also been suspended from the premises in Marylebone .  The incident happened during term time and came during an unrelated assessment by the Independent Schools Inspectorate .  Sylvia Young  ( pictured ) confirmed that a male teacher at the school had been arrested about a month ago and had left the premises with police officers  Miss Young added that an email would be sent out to parents at the school tomorrow to ' allay their fears ' and said that the teacher had been fully vetted .  ' At the moment , these are still allegations . The person may not even be charged . He might well be innocent .  ' Police came to the office and asked to speak to the person and then he left with them . We had no idea .  ' This person , who has worked here a good few years , was fully vetted .  ' It was very quietly done . There was no big police raid . They just asked to see the gentleman and he left with them .  ' We want to assure parents . We ' ll send an email to parents tomorrow to allay their fears . '  When asked the age of the children he taught , she said ' across the range ' .  She would not confirm what the man taught and what his access to the children at the school was , but said that he was on the academic side .  An education source told the Sun on Sunday that it looked like the police were acting on a tip off .  The Sylvia Young Theatre School is the most famous in Britain and has produced many of today ' s leading celebrities , singers and actrors .  Miss Young is married to Norman Ruffell and the pair have two children , former actresses Frances Ruffelle and Alison Ruffelle . Her granddaughter is pop singer Eliza Doolittle .  Sylvia Young opened the school in 1981 and was appointed  in 2005 .  Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
2406,2407,"Iran to resume gas exports to Turkey soon Fri Oct 28, 2016 12:10PM Energy Iran says it will resume exports of natural gas to Turkey by Monday after an explosion in the Turkish territory halted the supplies on Thursday night.  Iran says its exports of natural gas to Turkey that have been halted reportedly as a result of an explosion inside the Turkish territory will resume within the next few days.  Sadeq Akbarpour, the head of Gas Exports Measurement Facilities at Iran-Turkey Border, told the domestic media that the required coordination is being carried out with the Turkish Botas company to resume Iran’s exports by next Monday.  Akbarpour emphasized that Iran is ready to supply Turkey with its required gas whenever it voices its readiness.  Majid Bojarzadeh, the spokesman of the National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC), also told Iran’s Shana news agency that Ankara had informed Tehran of a problem in the pipeline that carried Iranian gas into Turkey on Thursday night.  Furthermore, Majid Aqababaei, the director general for border affairs of Iran’s Interior Ministry, acknowledged, as reported by Shana, that an explosion near Iran’s border had caused the problem.  Iran is Turkey’s second supplier of gas after Russia, providing one-fifth of the country’s consumption. The current volume of natural gas that Iran is piping to its northwestern neighbor is 30 million cubic meters per day (mcm/d). Officials in Tehran had already emphasized that the Islamic Republic is ready to increase its gas exports to Turkey by 6 mcm/d.  Iran has also for long been working on a plan to export its natural gas to Europe through Turkey. The plan – that was to be carried out though the Nabucco scheme – was eventually put on hold due to a series of technicalities. Nevertheless, officials in Tehran announced last month that the possibility that gas exports to Europe would return to the agenda exist “if the requited agreements with Europeans countries over the plan are reached”. Loading ...",fake,news,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
2448,2449,"Warriors great Chris Mullin is the head basketball coach here now , and he welcomed the defending champs to come visit his practice gym and get some work in on their way to LaGuardia Airport for the quick flight to D . C .  "" Being around greatness , "" said Mullin , his Brooklyn accent thicker than ever , "" is always a thrill . ""  It ' s a thrill a minute these days for the Warriors , who are 44 4 , have their head coach back on the sideline and are an absolute spectacle everywhere they go .  For the dozens gathered here on the sidewalk , the goal was not so much to pay homage to a championship team chasing history , but to catch a glimpse of greatness in the form of Curry .  Before the doors of Madison Square Garden had even opened to the public on Sunday night , dozens of media , season ticket holders and esteemed guests flocked to the baseline to watch No . 30 put on his famous pre game dribbling and shooting exhibition .  If  teams were smarter , they ' d sell three kinds of tickets to Warriors games : one for the game , one for Curry ' s pre game show and one for both . Oh , the money that could be made .  Kerr and Mullin , who both spent time playing and traveling with Michael Jordan , said the nation ' s infatuation with Curry is getting to that place where comparisons are warranted .  "" I was around Michael during the summer of ' 92 , "" Mullin said . "" So yeah , I think it ' s at that level . ""  On Saturday night in Philadelphia , where the Warriors almost lost to the lowly Sixers , something happened that longtime inhabitants of the arena had never seen : a rope lining the court to keep fans at bay as they oohed and aahed and enjoyed Curry ' s pregame show .  Baseball Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson , who once got a 50 , 000 person standing ovation after taking batting practice during the 1977 World Series , even showed up at a Warriors game this month to experience the Steph Show for himself .  "" Michael would just draw crowds everywhere he went , "" Kerr said . "" When we ' d get to a hotel in the middle of the night , there ' d always be 50 100 people waiting out there at 2 a . m . , hoping for an autograph . People come before games to see these guys warm up it happened with Michael , and it happens now with Steph . There ' s sort of a fascination with Steph that reminds me a lot of people ' s infatuation with Michael . ""  Team officials say the biggest pre game crowd they ' ve seen for Curry was earlier this season in Denver literally hundreds of people pressing up against the boundaries of the court . It ' s good to be the  , the golden boy and the object of adulation the world over .  It ' s good to live in Steph Curry ' s world .  Mullin , his  front office career in the rear view mirror , got to orbit it up close on Tuesday . He ' d just been forced out of the Golden State front office during one of many spasms of organizational dysfunction when the Warriors ended up drafting Curry seventh overall in 2009 . Now , here was Curry a champion and defending  standing on Mullin ' s practice court and posing for pictures with his awestruck players .  "" For us as a coaching staff , it ' s good because a lot of this stuff that they just did today , we do every day , "" Mullin said . "" So if they thought we didn ' t know what we ' re doing , they basically saw all of the stuff we ' re trying to do with our guys that the best team in the world a historic team of all time is doing . ""  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
2457,2458,"A police chief ' s profanity laced rant in an online video against those who disagree with him on gun laws has generated controversy online and in a small eastern Pennsylvania town , with at least one elected official calling the behavior "" unacceptable . ""  Gilberton Police Chief Mark Kessler made the comments in videos posted to YouTube in mid July that went viral , generating a heated online debate that appeared to gain renewed traction this week when he posted a backhanded apology .  Now the fallout has reached the halls of government in the small town of just more than 750 people .  The mayoral office was forced to close early Wednesday because of threatening calls , Mayor Mary Lou Hennon said on Thursday .  A meeting is scheduled for next week to discuss personnel and work policy .  "" We may or may not take action against him , "" Hennon said .  In the videos , Kessler rails against liberals for attempting to curb gun rights and Secretary of State John Kerry over his support of a recent U . N . arms treaty . At one point in the video , he dares Kerry to come and take his guns .  "" It wasn ' t a threat . It was , ' if you want them come and take them , ' "" Kessler told the television station by telephone .  Kessler has been the town ' s police chief for 14 years "" without a mark against him , "" Hennon said .  "" Like a lot of other people , I found the video a little vulgar . It was like watching an R rated movie , "" she said .  "" We have no policies regarding people ' s personal use outside of work , and we allow freedom of speech . What people do on their personal time is their business . ""  Kessler , an outspoken gun rights advocate , has a history of making provocative statements . He has been featured in a number of online videos discussing his views , given numerous interviews and helped organize gun rights rallies .  The police chief also has claimed in a number of interviews to be the founder of the Constitutional Security Force , a gun rights advocacy group . In the video , Kessler wears a T shirt with  emblazoned on it .  On the  Web page , Kessler is identified as the group ' s president and is featured in his Gilberton police uniform .  The latest videos have been picked up and copied on YouTube , with titles such as "" America ' s scariest police chief "" and "" Patriot police chief . ""  In Gilberton , northeast of Harrisburg , resident Diane McCarthy told  that she found the videos disturbing .  "" I think that kind of position needs to have respect of the community , "" she said .  "" It ' s pretty difficult to have respect after seeing that . ""  Gilberton Borough Councilman Eric Boxter told the station the videos were "" over the top "" and "" unacceptable "" for a police chief .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,satire,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
2474,2475,"Prehistoric children as young as three were encouraged by adults to make cave art 13 , 000 years ago , new research shows .  The Cambridge University study sheds new light on the lives of children and the ancient art they made during the prehistoric hunter gatherer period in the French caverns at Rouffignac , known as the Cave of a Hundred Mammoths .  While the caverns are famous for their striking drawings of woolly mammoths , bison and horses , the research focused on the thousands of lines made by people running their fingers along the soft clay walls throughout the five mile cavern complex .  Cambridge archaeologists were able to identify the age and gender of the children who made the simple ancient art form known as "" finger fluting "" by measuring the width of the flutings and the profile of the middle three fingers .  "" We have found marks by children aged between three and seven years old and we have been able to identify four individual children by matching up their marks , "" said Cambridge University archaeologist Jess Cooney .  "" The most prolific of the children who made flutings was aged around five and we are almost certain the child in question was a girl . ""  The fact that archaeologists didn ' t find a single place where fluting marks were made by adults alone suggests there were few boundaries between adult and child activities in this prehistoric hunter gatherer culture , according to Cooney .  Not only did the adults make art alongside the children , Cooney says the fact that child sized flutings were found on the ceilings of some cave chambers means adults actively encouraged them to make art , lifting them up to areas they could not reach alone .  "" Some of the children ' s flutings are high up on the walls and on the ceilings , so they must have been held up to make them or have been sitting on someone ' s shoulders , "" she said .  The archaeologists believe one of the caverns is so dominated by children ' s flutings that it may actually have been a "" special place "" set aside for them by the adults .  "" We sometimes think of one chamber as a playpen of sorts , since there are hundreds of children ' s flutings but only a few made by adults , "" said Cooney .  Why people made finger flutings , which also appear in caves in Spain , New Guinea and Australia , is anyone ' s guess .  "" We don ' t know why people made them . We can make guesses like they were for initiation rituals , for training of some kind , or simply something to do on a rainy day , "" said Cooney .  The children weren ' t simply running their hands mindlessly along the cavern walls , however . Research in 2006 revealed children had made hut like shapes called tectiforms the first known instance of prehistoric children engaging in symbolic figure making , according to Cooney .  Cooney says her research shines a light on an aspect of history that is typically ignored in academia .  "" It ' s important to realize that children played a major role in the development of not only art , but what it means to be human , "" she said .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
2500,2501,"England The number of stray and abandoned dogs in the United Kingdom jumped by 11 percent in the past year the biggest surge in a decade possibly because of the financial crisis , a British dog charity said Wednesday .  A dog looks through the door of its kennel at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home in London .  Dogs Trust said local authorities picked up 107 , 228 stray and abandoned dogs from British streets in the past year .  It called on the government to make microchipping compulsory for all dogs to help reunite owners with pets , whether lost or abandoned .  "" The latest stray dog survey is very disappointing , "" said Clarissa Baldwin , chief executive of Dogs Trust . "" Even more tragically is the number of dogs that are being put down , which has gone up from 7 , 000 to just below 10 , 000 , a very worrying trend . "" Has recession hit your pet ? Send us your thoughts  The 11 percent rise is the highest yearly increase since recordkeeping began in 1997 , Dogs Trust said .  The rise may be due to the financial crisis , Dogs Trust said . Some households tighten their belts by giving up the dog .  Another possible reason for the jump : England and Wales last year changed the law to make local councils , not police , responsible for taking in stray dogs , Dogs Trust said .  Cash strapped councils might lack resources to pick up or temporarily shelter dogs .  "" You ' ve got a lot of latchkey dogs that are just left to wander the streets , "" said Natalie Dexter , who works at the education center at Dogs Trust . "" Their homes aren ' t secure , gardens aren ' t secure , and so they ' re just left to wander around . ""  Local authorities handle an average of 12 dogs each hour , Dogs Trust said . Only five are reunited with their owners a number that could increase if more dogs were microchipped , Dogs Trust said .  A microchip is an electronic device , coated in plastic , that is the size of a grain of rice . It is implanted just under a dog ' s skin , beneath its shoulder blades , which causes no harm to the animal and cannot be felt , veterinarians and campaigners say .  The microchip carries the owner ' s information , which can be updated . The information can be read by a scanner that works through a radio frequency .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
2501,2502,"An unusual sight greeted Jerusalem police as they entered one of Christianity ' s holiest sites Sunday morning : dozens of monks punching and kicking each other in a massive brawl .  Israeli police scuffle with an Armenian monk Sunday at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem .  Monks from the Greek Orthodox and Armenian denominations were preparing for a ceremony at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in the Old City when a disagreement led to a full fledged fistfight .  The fight began when Armenian clergy were holding a procession to commemorate the finding of the cross believed to have been used in the crucifixion of Jesus , according to The Associated Press .  The Greek members of the clergy wanted one of their monks present , the  reported , for fear that the procession would undermine their claim to an ancient structure built on what is believed to be the tomb of Jesus .  The two sides could not agree , and when the Armenians tried to begin the procession , the Greek monks stepped in and the fighting began , the  reported .  "" We were keeping resistance so that the procession could not pass through . . . and establish a right that they don ' t have , "" a young Greek Orthodox monk with a cut next to his left eye told the  . See scenes from the brawl  Many among the dozens of monks came away with cuts and bruises , said police spokesman Mickey Rosenfeld .  Officers were called to the scene to break up the brawl . They detained two monks , one from each denomination , Rosenfeld said .  The Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem is thought to be built on the site of Jesus ' crucifixion and resurrection . Rivalries between the different sects that share control of the church often lead to tensions . Watch police subdue the crowd in the church  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
2505,2506,"Foxboro ,  , 01 10 15 ) New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman and Tom Brady bump heads before the first quarter of the  divisional playoff football game against the Baltimore Ravens at Gillette Stadium on Saturday , January 10 , 2015 . Staff Photo by Matt Stone  The Chiefs will come to Foxboro Saturday on what s best described as a Patriot like roll . They re playing the way Bill Belichick usually has his team playing this time of year , having won 11 straight games .  No doubt , Andy Reid s crew will have another dose of confidence to draw from : The last time the Chiefs played Tom Brady Co . , they merely bounced the three time Super Bowl  from the game during a 41 14 blowout win .  It s hard not to fear this team . The Chiefs defense rocks from top to bottom , and their offense is efficient enough to make it all work .  Is it a good matchup for the Patriots ? Probably not as good as those out of control Bengals , who keep finding ways to lose . This was the worst of the three possible teams for the Pats to draw in the division round .  But let s not get too carried away . Sure , the Chiefs crushed the Texans , but Houston quarterback Brian Hoyer didn t exactly put up a fight . With five turnovers ( four picks , one fumble ) , Hoyer was a major contributor to the Chiefs advancing .  As for the Patriots , it s all about what team shows up on Saturday . Are they really the team that went 2 4 the last six games ? Because , if the team from December shows up , a team that had little semblance of offense , couldn t protect Brady , and started leaking on defense , the Chiefs will throttle them , much like they did at Arrowhead last September . Reid s team is that good and won t be intimidated by the Patriots or Gillette Stadium .  But then , the Pats might ultimately prove closer to the team that started out 10 0 .  The defending Super Bowl champs do have a score to settle with the Chiefs . If the bye week proves an opportunity to rest , regroup , and get pivotal players back and healthy ? such as wide receiver Julian Edelman , left tackle Sebastian Vollmer and linebacker Dont a Hightower ? then the Chiefs won t seem quite as scary of a matchup .  Formidable ? Sure . Dangerous ? Absolutely . But the Chiefs are also beatable at Gillette if the Patriots get their act together , which is what you d have to figure they ll do , given the healing time and the Brady Belichick factor this time of year . They just don t lose at home , especially to a team that embarrassed them not too long ago .  We re certainly going to have to prepare and coach the team a lot better than we did that night , Belichick said in reference to that nightmare performance . So that s what we ll try to do .  It s reasonable to assume with a relatively healthy Edelman , Danny Amendola , Rob Gronkowski , and greater usage of third down back James White , the Patriots will be able to go back to their effective quick drop , quick release style offense . That will make it harder for the Chiefs , and their talented pass rushing tandem of Justin Houston and Tamba Hali , to take advantage of a struggling offensive line and get to Brady .  The Chiefs do have a terrific secondary with rookie Marcus Peters ( eight interceptions ) and Sean Smith , along with All Pro safety Eric Berry , who has had a remarkable season since returning from cancer . The unit was second overall in interceptions made ( 22 ) .  When the Pats offense is clicking , however , it really doesn t matter who s on the other side . The Seahawks vaunted defense was powerless in the second half of the Super Bowl once Brady got going .  As for the Chiefs offense , they are primarily a run first outfit , and that s still been the case even after losing top back Jamaal Charles early in the year . They just keep plugging in backs who have been getting the job done , whether it s Spencer Ware or Charcandrick West . The Patriots run defense is much more difficult to budge when Hightower s in the lineup , operating at full capacity . If he s unable to do that because of a balky knee , that would pose a problem .  The Patriots will want to stop the run , and force Smith to beat them through the air . And , the way it looks , Smith might not have top receiver Jeremy Maclin , who suffered a high ankle sprain in the 30 0 rout of the Texans . Even with Maclin , the Chiefs had the 30th ranked passing offense in the league , averaging 203 . 4 yards per game .  Against Houston , Smith ( 17 for 22 , 190 yards , 1  , 1  ) relied on tight end Travis Kelce ( eight catches , 128 yards ) , who has given the Pats problems in the past . It s hard imagining Belichick allowing Kelce to beat him . The Pats defense has done a much better job defending tight ends this year .  Kansas City is a good football team , Belichick said . They re well coached . I d say ( Saturday s ) game was a typical Kansas City game this season ? or over the last three quarters of the season ? a lot of turnovers on defense , no turnovers on offense , capitalized on opponents mistakes and didn t make any . They ve won a lot of games pretty much doing that .  The Chiefs aren t the best matchup for the Pats , that s for sure . And yet , if the Pats can morph back into some semblance of the team we saw in September and October , they should advance . The problem , is that s still a big if .  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
2514,2515,"Toyota ' s recent recall of millions of vehicles for sticking accelerator pedals may get drivers wondering : What should you do if a vehicle is accelerating uncontrollably ?  Accelerator pedals in the 2 . 3 million vehicles that Toyota recalled may , in rare circumstances , become stuck after the pedal mechanisms become worn , the automaker has said .  Toyota says it is shipping reinforcement parts to dealers , and that dealers will start repairs as soon as this weekend . The U . S . Transportation Department urges owners of the recalled vehicles to arrange fixes as soon as possible , though Toyota says the sticking problem is rare and happens gradually , and if no sticking is noticed in a vehicle , it should be safe to drive .  If the pedal starts to feel sticky but isn ' t yet stuck , stop driving and call a dealer to arrange for your vehicle to be picked up , Toyota says . But if the pedal is stuck in a depressed position , here is what the driver can do , according to Omar Panjshiri , a certified Toyota technician at the Chantilly Repair Center in Chantilly , Virginia :  Shift the transmission to neutral  Turn off the ignition switch  Apply the brakes and pull over  With the engine cut off , "" you will lose some power steering assist , but you will still be able to steer the vehicle to a safe stopping position , "" Panjshiri said .  Full coverage : Toyota recall  Some 2009 and 2010 vehicles involved in the recall have buttons for the ignition , rather than keys . In this case , to cut power to the engine , push the button and hold it for more than three seconds , Panjshiri said .  "" Otherwise , you ' ll do the same exact thing : Shift . . . from drive position to neutral , and steer the vehicle safely to a shoulder to come to a complete stop , "" he said .  Vehicles in the recall are : Toyota ' s 2009 2010 RAV4 , Corolla and Matrix 2005 2010 Avalon certain 2007 2010 Camrys 2010 Highlander 2007 2010 Tundra and the 2008 2010 Sequoia . The Camry Hybrid is not included .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
2529,2530,"This is a two-year-old American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT). Her name is Akamara.This is a human baby. His name is Siegmund.Siegmund first met Akamara the day after he was born. We  leave Siegmund alone with Akamara   after all, she s dangerous to him. She might quite literally snuggle him to death! Here s what happens:She gets pretty sad about it, but she s only allowed to put her head near him, and only with eyes on her at all times. He s just too small and she s too insistently snuggly.She really wants to lay on that pillow.Nothing to see here, just a ferocious pit bull trying to cuddle with a two-day-old baby.He s almost two weeks old now, and she s getting pretty impatient about it. Why isn t he petting her? Why will he not play tug?Akamara really can t help but cuddle the baby. It s her instinct! Little known to most people, but American Pit Bull Terriers   one of several breeds commonly referred to under the broad title  pit bulls    are nanny dogs. As the United Kennel Club (UKC), which recognizes and classifies APBTs as a breed, states in their breed standard:  APBTs make excellent family companions and have always been noted for their love of children. They make bad guard dogs, by the way   they re too friendly. Friendlier than you d believe. The American Temperament Test Society rates them higher than many common family breeds, such as golden retrievers! Here s an interesting video by Animalist on pit bulls:// < ![CDATA[ // < ![CDATA[ // < ![CDATA[ (function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = ""//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1""; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk')); // ]]>Dogfighting has existed probably since humans domesticated dogs, and has flourished during the last century as an underground sport. Pit bulls are favored for a number of reasons, but that s not their fault, and it certainly isn t due to their temperament. It s because they bite hard, and when you factor in their size, they bite extremely hard.You can take a territorial, defensive dog   a normal personality type across most breeds, which requires socialization and training as a pup to deter aggression   and turn them into a fighter. It s criminal, but possible. And those dogs, if rescued, may suffer from  or other mental trauma that increases the chances of an attack, especially if rescued by an inexperienced or unprepared owner. But it s not the breed. It s the choice by dog fighters to use the breed. Even if you restrict the breed, they ll find another.If it came down to it, dogfighters would probably pit chihuahuas against each other. It s the sport and the blood. It s the breeders and fighters, not the dogs. We don t put city-wide bans on cars that can go over 50 mph because a few people are souping them up and racing them. We arrest the racers and take their misused cars away.Akamara is a rescue, but a victim of only neglect. I got her at six months old with mange, no inoculations, and a desperate need for attention. Her immune system was extremely deficient due to mange and allergies, and she s struggled with secondary ear infections her entire young life. I would not advise rescuing an adult dog with unknown history in a house with children.Just remember, this isn t what most pit bulls look like:This is:",fake,dataset,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,fake,fake,True,no,no,positive,present
2541,2542,""" I ' m deeply honoured to have been asked by Phillip ' s family to speak today . I am humbled to be in the presence of you , his family , his friends and his community . He was so proud of Macksville and it is easy to see why today .  "" Taken from the game , his family and loved ones at the age of just 25 , he left a mark on our game that needs no embellishment .  "" I don ' t know about you , but I keep looking for him . I know it is crazy but I expect any minute to take a call from him or to see his face pop around the corner . Is this what we call the spirit ? If so , then his spirit is still with me . And I hope it never leaves .  "" I walked to the middle of the Sydney Cricket Ground (  ) on Thursday night , those same blades of grass beneath my feet where he and I and so many of his mates here today have built partnerships , taken chances and lived out the dreams we paint in our heads as boys .  "" The same stands where the crowds rose to their feet to cheer them on and that same fence he sent the ball to time and time again . And it is now forever the place where he fell .  "" I stood there at the wicket , I knelt down and touched the grass , I swear he was with me . Picking me up off my feet to check if I was  .  "" Telling me we just needed to dig in and get through to tea . Telling me off for that loose shot I played . Chatting about what movie we might watch that night . And then passing on a useless fact about cows .  "" I could see him swagger back to the other end , grin at the bowler , and call me through for a run with such a booming voice , a bloke in the car park would hear it .  "" The heart of a man who lived his life for this wonderful game we play , and whose soul enriched not just our sport , but all of our lives .  "" Is this what indigenous Australians believe about a person ' s spirit being connected with the land upon which they walk ? If so , I know they are right about the  .  "" His spirit has touched it and it will be forever be a sacred ground for me . I can feel his presence there and I can see how he has touched so many people around the world . The tributes to him from cricket lovers kept me going .  "" The photos , the words , the prayers and the sense of communion in this loss from people across the globe have shown me his spirit in action .  "" It has sustained me and overwhelmed me in equal measure . And the love of my band of baggy green and gold brothers and sisters have held me upright when I thought I could not proceed .  "" His spirit has brought us closer together something I know must be him at work because it is so consistent with how he played and lived .  "" He always wanted to bring people together and he always wanted to celebrate his love for the game and its people .  "" Is this what we call the spirit of cricket ? From the little girl holding a candlelight tribute to masters of the game like Sachin Tendulkar , Shane Warne and Brian Lara , the spirit of cricket binds us all together .  "" We feel it in the thrill of a cover drive . Or the taking of a screamer at gully , whether by a 12 year old boy or by Brendan McCullum in Dubai .  "" It is in the brilliant five wicket haul , just as significant to the players in a Western Suburbs club game as it is in a Test match .  "" The bonds that lead to cricketers from around the world putting their bats out , that saw people who didn ' t even know Phillip lay flowers and that brought every cricketing nation on earth to make its own heartfelt tribute .  "" The bonds that saw players old and new rush to his bed side . From wherever they heard the news to say their prayers and farewells . This is what makes our game the greatest game in the world .  "" Phillip ' s spirit , which is now part of our game forever , will act as a custodian of the sport we all love .  "" We must listen to it . We must cherish it . We must learn from it . We must dig in and get through to tea . And we must play on . So rest in peace my little brother . I ' ll see you out in the middle . ""  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
2564,2565,"Stoke chairman Peter Coates does not feel Tim Sherwood ' s appointment as Aston Villa manager will suddenly transform the club into winners .  City head to Villa on Saturday for Sherwood ' s first official match in charge following back to back 4 1 defeats to Manchester City and Blackburn in the Barclays Premier League and  Cup respectively .  With manager Mark Hughes ' side also struggling defensively due to a spate of injuries , and with Villa buoyed by their 2 1  Cup win over Leicester which Sherwood watched from the stands , many observers may feel a home victory is on the cards .  Tim Sherwood was unveiled as Aston Villa ' s new manager on Monday following Paul Lambert ' s sacking  Sherwood faces the media for the first time since he was appointed as Villa ' s new boss  Sherwood watches with delight as Villa beat Leicester to progress to the sixth round  Cup  Despite that , speaking to the Evening Sentinel , Coates said : ' The appointment of a new manager doesn ' t mean they have won the game already .  ' The idea the world is suddenly transformed after bringing in a new manager doesn ' t ring true .  ' I think it ' s about 50 50 statistically over whether you win or lose that first match .  ' I remember going to Crystal Palace some years ago and people fearing the worst because Neil Warnock had just been appointed , but we came away with all three points . '  Coates , meanwhile , has defended Hughes ' decision to send defender Robert Huth on loan to Leicester despite the club ' s injury woes .  Huth , only recently returning from his own long term injury problems , joined the Foxes last month for the remainder of the campaign .  Ryan Shawcross ( left ) and Marc Muniesa ( right ) have both suffered injuries at Stoke  Stoke allowed Robert Huth to join Leicester on loan in January but are now short of centre backs  Hughes , however , has suddenly lost Ryan Shawcross , Marc Wilson and Marc Muniesa , with little else available via way of cover .  Coates said : ' Yes , I can understand why supporters would be asking ' why did you let him go ? ' , but equally I can understand the management team ' s reasons for doing so .  ' They wanted to give him games after his long term knee injury and it was felt reserve games weren ' t suitable .  ' We had also brought in Philipp Wollscheid to add to the centre halves we had here .  ' The timing was then very unfortunate with the injuries that followed the decision to let Robert go .  ' Ryan has a wonderful appearance record , for instance , but then came that bad run of injuries which included him , Marc Wilson and now Marc Muniesa . '  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
2573,2574,"Reuters) - Madrid believes Russian-based groups used online social media to heavily promote Catalonia s independence referendum last month in an attempt to destabilize Spain, Spanish ministers said on Monday. Spain s defense and foreign ministers said they had evidence that state and private-sector Russian groups, as well as groups in Venezuela, used Twitter, Facebook and other Internet sites to massively publicize the separatist cause and swing public opinion behind it in the run-up to the Oct. 1 referendum. Catalonia s separatist leaders have denied that Russian interference helped them in the vote.  What we know today is that much of this came from Russian territory,  Spanish Defence Minister Maria Dolores de Cospedal said of Russian-based internet support.   These are groups that, public and private, are trying to influence the situation and create instability in Europe,  she told reporters at a meeting of  foreign and defense ministers in Brussels. Asked if Madrid was certain of the accusations, Spanish  Foreign Minister Alfonso Dastis, also at the meeting, said:  Yes, we have proof.  Dastis said Spain had detected false accounts on social media, half of which were traced back to Russia and another 30 percent to Venezuela, created to amplify the benefits of the separatist cause by re-publishing messages and posts.  Ramon Tremosa, the  lawmaker for the PDeCat party of Catalan separatist leader Carles Puigdemont, repeated on Monday that Russian interference had played no part in the referendum.  Those that say Russia is helping Catalonia are those that have helped the Russian fleet in recent years, despite the  s boycott,  Tremosa tweeted, referring to Spanish media reports that Spain was allowing Russian warships to refuel at its  ports. Those who voted in the referendum opted overwhelmingly for independence. But turnout was only about 43 percent as Catalans who favor remaining part of Spain mainly boycotted the ballot. The separatist vote has plunged Spain, the euro zone s fourth-biggest economy, into its worst constitutional crisis since its return to democracy in the 1970s.  Dastis said he had raised the issue with the Kremlin. Moscow has repeatedly denied any such interference and accuses the West of a campaign to discredit Russia.  believes Moscow is involved in a deliberately ambiguous strategy of information warfare and disinformation to try to divide the West and break its unity over economic sanctions imposed on Russia following its 2014 annexation of Crimea.  U.S. intelligence agencies concluded in January that Russia interfered in the U.S. election to try to help President Donald Trump defeat rival Hillary Clinton by hacking and releasing emails and spreading propaganda via social media.  Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, who attended the  meeting in Brussels, declined to comment on Spain s accusations, but the alliance s top commander said last week that Russian interference was a concern.    s Supreme Allied Commander Gen. Curtis Scaparotti said  Russian malign influence  was trying to sway elections and other decisions in the West, describing it as a  destabilization campaign,  although he did not directly address the Catalonia referendum. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
2585,2586,"Foreign Aid to Starving Syrian Town Won t Be Enough ? Humanitarian Groups  Foreign Aid to Starving Syrian Town Won t Be Enough ? Humanitarian Groups  We have to humiliate ourselves to go to them and beg for food . Our children cry all night , we are unable to find anything to feed them .  She said a door to door assessment was needed in the town of about 40 , 000 people 300 400 people needed special care , a local doctor told her , she said .  I saw a young man killing cats and presenting the meat to members of his family as rabbit . I know other people who collected their food from the trash and others who ate grass , one resident who was not named told  News . It s cold and raining but there is excitement because we are here with some food and blankets .  Stephen O Brien ,  under secretary general and emergency relief coordinator , said around 400 people in Madaya had been identified as requiring urgent evacuation . Or they are in grave peril of losing their lives and dying with either the causes being from malnutrition or for complications for other medical reasons , he said .  The scale of the problem facing the  and aid workers was illustrated by the comments of Syria s  Ambassador , Bashar Ja afari , who has denied anyone is starving .  The first impression is really heartbreaking , said Pawel Krzysiek , spokesman for the International Committee for the Red Cross in Syria who was traveling with the convoy , quoted the Guardian .  Speaking at the  s headquarters in  , he blamed armed terrorist groups for stealing humanitarian aid and reselling it at prohibitive prices .  Aid personnel on the Madaya bound convoy described the situation on the ground as miserable , confirming they had seen severely malnourished children . The U . N . and others say people have died of starvation .  Mr van Bohemen also responded to claims from Syrian officials that there was no starvation in Madaya and the crisis had been fabricated by hostile governments and media .  He said the  , the United Nations and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent were all working on the evacuation process .  As part of the deal , some civilians and wounded fighters will be allowed to leave in a swap between regime held and rebel held towns . It is the first aid to reach Syria since October .  Three Red Cross aid convoys are delivering life saving food , water and healthcare to Syrian people in the beseiged areas of Madaya , Kafraya and Foua .  The Syria conflict , which will enter its sixth year in early 2016 , has left more than 250 , 000 people dead and turned the country into the world s largest source of refugees and displaced persons , according to the  . To relieve the suffering of these tens of thousands of people , there has to be regular access to these areas . The U . N . and Syrian Observatory for Human Rights say people have died of starvation .  Russia , a staunch ally of Assad , began a campaign of air strikes in support of the regime in late September .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
2590,2591,"In a football world dominated by men , one woman has been quietly working in the lower leagues of Italy for a number of years .  Elena Pianigiani , has been the vice president of Italian fourth division side  Poggibonsi since the age of 21 .  Having struggled between the Italian fourth and fifth tier for much of their existence , Poggibonsi , in Tuscany , saw former Siena director Antonello Pianigiani purchase 51 per cent of the club in 2008 .  Elena Pianigiani has been the vice president of Italian Fourth Division side  Poggibonsi since the age of 21  Vice president Elena ( left ) poses for a picture at the  Poggibonsi ground with a shirt  Buying the remaining 49 per cent two years later , Pianigiani soon appointed his daughter as the club ' s vice president .  Speaking to Bleacher Report , Pianigiani revealed she didn ' t hesitate in accepting the position and said : ' In 2010 when my father asked me to join Poggibonsi , I didn ' t think twice .  ' It was unusual because I was only 21 . When you ' re that age , it ' s usual for a father to give his daughter a new bag , not a football team . '  Strictly speaking , Pianigiani ' s role at the club isn ' t her first in football .  ' My passion began as a 10 year old when my Dad was involved at our home town club Siena , ' she said . ' We were promoted to Serie B and I remember the fantastic atmosphere around the city I became the team ' s mascot !  Pianigiani watches on from the stands as her side Poggibonsi battle it out on the field  While Poggibonsi ' s vice president admits football is dominated by males , she is encouraged by the progress women are making in the game and said : ' Calcio is very macho , but something is certainly changing with more women appearing , though I believe purely technical aspects are suitable for only men . I do think women are essential , however , companies are companies and it ' s always good to have a woman , as we can make cold decisions when the case requires it . '  However , Pianigiani isn ' t the only female making her way in the game .  Both Rosella Sensi of Roma and Barbara Berlusconi of  Milan , are two women who hold positions of authority within the Italian top flight .  Poggibonsi fans show their support for their team with a giant banner  As well , back in May , Helena Costa became football ' s first female coach when put in charge of French second division side Clermont Foot .  While Costa ended up leaving the club just a month later without giving a reason for her departure , Pianigiani was pleased with Clermont ' s decision to appoint a female manager and said : ' It was a brave choice . I send big "" Good Luck ! "" to the coach . She is a great woman to manage a dressing room . They have gained a new supporter ! '  A huge football fan , Pianigiani echoes the thoughts of many match going supporters when she says : ' You ' re tense and anxious before and during the game , and your mood depends on the outcome . If you win , you ' re elated and start the working week on the right foot . But if you lose , you want to go straight to bed ! '  Hoping to guide Poggibonsi up the divisions , Pianigiani will be keen for many good starts to the week this season .  Helena Costa made the headlines earlier this year when she was appointed Clermont boss she has since left  ",true,text,test,American football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
2601,2602,"A British football team has vowed to support any criminal action brought against its fans who were filmed as they physically stopped a black man from getting on the Paris metro Tuesday .  The amateur video obtained by The Guardian , and posted on its website , shows the man make multiple attempts to board a train at Richelieu Drouot station , only to be pushed away each time by a group of passengers .  The group , who appear to be Chelsea supporters , can then be heard chanting : "" We ' re racist , we ' re racist and that ' s the way we like it . ""  Chelsea were in France to play Paris Saint Germain in a Champions League first leg tie Europe ' s premier football tournament which finished 1 1 .  "" Such behavior is abhorrent and has no place in football or society , "" said statement released by Chelsea Wednesday .  "" We will support any criminal action against those involved in such behavior , and should evidence point to the involvement of Chelsea season ticket holders or members the club will take the strongest possible action against them including banning orders . ""  Both French and British police have said they will analyze the footage .  "" The police department only found out about this incident once the video was uploaded on the internet .  "" The prefect then wished for the Chelsea supporters to be identified . The Paris prosecutor has opened an investigation and is now in charge . ""  A Metropolitan Police statement added : "" We will , of course , assist French authorities to identify the people involved and support them in any action they choose to take . ""   , the body which governs European football , said it was appalled by the footage , but as it occurred outside of the stadium it could not take any punitive action .  "" The doors were open and I could see and hear that a lot of chanting was going on , "" Nolan told The Guardian . "" It looked like it was quite aggressive so I just took out by phone to record it .  "" He was obviously completely shocked when they pushed him off . I don ' t think he realised who they were . He then tried to get on again and got pushed off a second time . ""  Sepp Blatter , the president of football ' s global governing body  , also took to Twitter to register his disapproval .  "" I also condemn the actions of a small group of Chelsea fans in Paris , "" tweeted Blatter . "" There is no place for racism in football ! ""  This is not the first racism allegation to be leveled against the London club in recent times .  In 2012 , team captain John Terry was banned for four matches and fined 356 , 000 for racially abusing Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand .  Terry was , however , found not guilty of any criminal wrongdoing at Westminster Magistrates ' Court in July of the same year .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
2603,2604,"A Turkish army truck loaded with a self propelled gun heading to the Syrian border near Yayladagi , Turkey . Photo   The key fact is that the Russian plane , by Turkey ' s own admission , was in Turkish airspace for precisely seventeen seconds . That ' s a little less time than it takes to read this paragraph aloud . The Turks shot it down anyway and their allies publicly backed them , as loyal allies must .   Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg declared : "" We stand in solidarity with Turkey and support the territorial integrity of our  ally , Turkey . ""  President Barack Obama called his Turkish counterpart , Recep Tayyip Erdogan , to assure him that the United States supported Turkey ' s right to defend its sovereignty . But privately , they must have been cursing Erdogan . They know what he ' s up to .  This is the first time in more than fifty years that a  plane has shot down a Russian plane , and it happened in very suspicious circumstances .  Even if Turkish radar data is to be believed , the two Russian  24s only crossed the bottom of a very narrow appendix of Turkish territory that dangles down into Syria . As Russian President Vladimir Putin said : "" Our pilots , planes did not threaten Turkish territory in any way . "" What harm could they have done in seventeen seconds ?  According to the Russian radar data , it was the Turkish planes that crossed into Syrian territory . In this version of the story , the Russian planes were following a well established route just south of the Turkish border , probably turning into a bomb run against Syrian rebels in Latakia province . How strange that there was a Turkish  crew in northern Syria , positioned just right to film the incident . ( The Russsian plane crashed 4 km . inside Syria . )  Either way , it seems quite clear that President Erdogan really wanted to shoot down a Russian aircraft , and that the Turkish pilots were under orders to do so if they could find even the slightest pretext . So why would Erdogan want to do that ?  President Putin said bitterly that Erdogan and his colleagues were "" accomplices of terrorists "" . That ' s hard to deny : Erdogan is so eager to see Syria ' s President Bashar al Assad overthrown that he left the Turkish Syrian border open for four years so that recruits and supplies could reach the Syrian rebel groups , notably including Islamic State (  ) .  Putin also observed that "" We have long been recording the movement of a large amount of oil and petroleum products to Turkey from  occupied territories . This explains the significant funding the terrorists are receiving . ""  Black market oil is Islamic State ' s largest source of revenue , and almost all of it goes to Turkey which could not happen without the Turkish government ' s active connivance . And when the Nusra Front , Al Qaeda ' s affiliate in Syria , was driving Assad ' s forces back in northwestern Syria last spring , Turkey jammed the Syrian army ' s telecommunications to help the rebels win .  Erdogan is utterly determined that Assad must go , and he doesn ' t really care if Assad ' s successors are Islamist extremists . But he also wants to ensure that there is no new Kurdish state on Turkey ' s southern border .  That is a problem for him , because that state already exists in embryo . It is called Rojava , a territory that the Syrian Kurds have carved out in the far north of the country along the Turkish border , mainly by fighting Islamic State . Indeed , the Syrian Kurds are the  led coalition ' s only effective ally on the ground against  .  When Erdogan committed the Turkish air force to the Syrian war in July , he explained it to the United States as a decision to fight against Islamic State , but in fact Turkey has made only a token handful of strikes against  . Almost all Erdogan ' s bombs have actually fallen on the Turkish Kurds of the  ( who had been observing a ceasefire with the Turkish government for the past four years ) , and above all on the Syrian Kurds  Erdogan has two goals : to ensure the destruction of Assad ' s regime , and to prevent the creation of a new Kurdish state in Syria . He was making some progress on both objectives and then along came the Russians in September and saved the Syrian army from defeat , at least for the moment .  Worse yet , Putin ' s strategy turns out to quite pragmatic , and even rather attractive to the United States despite all the ritual anti Russian propaganda emitted by Washington . Putin wants a ceasefire in Syria that will leave everybody where they are now except Islamic State , which they can all then concentrate on destroying .  This strategy is now making some headway in the Vienna ceasefire talks , but it is utterly abhorrent to Erdogan because it would leave Assad in power in Damascus , and give the Syrian Kurds time to consolidate their new state . How can he derail this Russian led project ?  Well , he could shoot down a Russian plane , and try to get a confrontation going between Russia and  .  Gwynne Dyer is an independent journalist whose articles are published in 45 countries .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
2607,2608,"Detectives are "" tightening up "" their case against Justin Bieber in his alleged egg attack on a neighbor , an investigator said Tuesday .  The neighbor accused Bieber , 19 , of tossing eggs over a fence and onto the mansion next door on January 9 , causing an estimated 20 , 000 in damage .  A dozen Los Angeles County Sheriff ' s deputies raided Bieber ' s 6 . 5 million home in the exclusive Oaks community in Calabasas , California , two weeks ago , taking the security video system as evidence .  A prosecutor reviewed the security video Monday and asked detectives to do more investigation before a decision is made about charging the pop star with felony vandalism , according to Lt . David Thompson .  Could Justin Bieber be deported ?  Detectives are "" tightening up the case "" this week and will likely meet again with prosecutors in the Los Angeles County District Attorney ' s office next week , Thompson said . The district attorney will then decide if a charge will be filed against Bieber .  Bieber already faces criminal charges in Miami stemming from an early morning traffic stop last week .  Although Breathalyzer tests suggest Bieber was not too drunk to legally drive when he was pulled over by Miami Beach police early Thursday , it could be two or three weeks before tests are back from the lab that should give a more accurate blood alcohol reading and could tell if he was high on pot .  Bieber blew . 011 and . 014 in two Breathalyzer tests given to him at the police station , according to a source with knowledge of the results . Florida ' s legal limit for drivers under the drinking age of 21 is . 02 . The police report said that Bieber failed a field sobriety test given to him at the police station . He admitted to drinking , using marijuana and taking prescription pills , police said .  The Miami prosecutor said no date has been set yet for Bieber to return to court on the  , resisting arrest and expired license charges .  We ' ve seen this bad behavior before  Although Bieber was not charged with speeding , the arresting officer said it was his reason for stopping Bieber and testing his sobriety .  The Breathalyzer tests and the  information could help Bieber lawyer Roy Black in his defense of the singer .  Bieber fled Miami late Friday , boarding a private jet for a flight to Panama City , Panama . Paparazzi photos showed Bieber strolling along a beach on the Pacific Ocean on Saturday , kicking a soccer ball while others kite surfed above the waves .  Bieber has a ' frat house ' amidst millionaire mansions , detective says  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
2636,2637,"First ladies typically avoid getting into public scraps , but Michelle Obama has jumped into perhaps her biggest battle yet .  She ' s fighting a House Republican effort to soften a central part of her prized anti childhood obesity campaign and she says she ' s ready ' to fight until the bitter end . '  Mrs Obama even mocked the  effort in an opinion column and argued her case before her Twitter followers .  Determined : First Lady Michelle Obama , seen here with students at Ron Rosner  in Virginia , is fighting  efforts to downscale elements of her hard won anti obesity campaign  ' Remember a few years ago when Congress declared that the sauce on a slice of pizza should count as a vegetable in school lunches ? ' she wrote in The New York Times . ' You don ' t have to be a nutritionist to know that this doesn ' t make much sense . Yet we ' re seeing the same thing happening again with these new efforts to lower nutrition standards in our schools . ' Mrs Obama lobbied largely behind the scenes four years ago for the Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010 , which requires more fruit , vegetables and whole grains in school meals , along with less sodium , sugar and fat . It was a major achievement , the first update to school lunch rules in decades designed to make school meals more nutritious . The School Nutrition Association , an industry backed group that represents school cafeteria workers and originally supported the standards , has now turned against them . The association says it fully supports getting kids to eat healthier but says many districts are losing money because students aren ' t buying the healthier lunches . More than 1 million fewer students eat lunch at school each day since the first round of standards went into effect in 2012 , following decades of steadily increasing participation , said Diane Pratt Heavner , a spokeswoman for the association . A second round of rules , including standards for school breakfasts , took effect July 1 . ' How can we call these standards a success when they are driving students away from the program ? ' she said .  Pizza sauce is not a vegetable : First lady Michelle Obama , tending the White House garden with the help of school children in 2013 , says she won ' t allow nutrition standards in schools to be lowered  Her group wants more flexibility for districts that are losing money . A House bill to fund the Agriculture Department next year would give districts a chance to apply to skip the requirements for one year .  Rep . Robert Aderholt of Alabama , the Republican author of that measure , said the lunch rules go too far and came too fast for school districts to handle .  ' As well intended as the people in Washington believe themselves to be , the reality is that from a practical standpoint these regulations are just plain not working out in some individual school districts , ' he said after a House panel approved the bill . A vote by the full House is expected after its July Fourth break .  The first lady and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack , whose department runs the school meals program , oppose changing the law .  Critics of the association say the about face is motivated not only by overburdened school officials but also by the food industry . Food companies are some of the association ' s highest paying members and supply schools with most of their food . The industry largely has kept silent through the debate but will spend millions of dollars to reformulate many products to meet the new standards .  ' The last thing that we can afford to do right now is play politics with our kids ' health , especially when we ' re finally starting to see some progress on this issue , ' Mrs Obama said at the White House , where she met with a group of school nutrition experts , all of whom were friendly toward the standards .  Hot potato : Mrs Obama says children ' s health should not become a political issue  The association requested a meeting with Mrs Obama and Vilsack . Instead it was invited to sit down next week with Vilsack and Sam Kass , a White House chef who is executive director of the first lady ' s anti obesity initiative , along with representatives from a dozen other organizations that favor the standards .  The first lady ' s publicly aggressive approach against Congress and the school nutrition association stands in stark contrast to the quiet lobbying she did early on , and to her handling of earlier controversies . Her approach has been to bite her tongue and not comment in the heat of the moment .  ' She very , very strongly believes in the anti obesity initiative , and I think she sees the attempt by Congress to roll back the 2010 legislation as just being anathema after trying very hard to change the culture of what we see going into these institutional lunches , ' said Myra Gutin , who studies first ladies at Rider University .  Mrs Obama says the requirements are based on sound science and that 90 per cent of schools are meeting them . The association says districts are unprepared to meet the newest standards .  ' I ' m going to fight until the bitter end to make sure that every kid in this country continues to have the best nutrition that they can have in our schools , ' the first lady said at a White House event where she showcased elementary school students preparing and then eating a salad lunch using vegetables they had planted in her garden on the South Lawn .  The White House has threatened to veto the House bill . The Senate version does not include the one year waiver .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
2637,2638,"Reuters) - President Donald Trump spoke separately on Tuesday with five Middle East leaders about  potential decisions regarding Jerusalem  amid reports he plans to move the U.S. Embassy to the city, the White House said in a statement. Trump also reaffirmed his commitment to advancing Israeli-Palestinian peace talks in his calls with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Jordan s King Abdullah, Saudi King Salman and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the statement said.        ",true,dataset,test,US elections,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
2645,2646,"Jeremy Clarkson ' s replacement on Top Gear might not be too far away after Zenit St Petersburg manager Andre Villas Boas showed he ' s enough of a petrolhead for the job .  Former Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur boss Villas Boas posted a photograph of himself on Instagram behind the wheel of a 1958  A roadster on Thursday morning .  Villas Boas ' s love of motors is no secret . He first told of his passion when in charge of Chelsea , revealing he owned five bikes and shares 12 vintage cars .  Andre Villas Boas pictured behind the wheel of a 1958  A roadster on Thursday morning  ' It feels fantastic , ' Villas Boas said . ' You feel the need for it . Driving is very adrenaline fuelled and it makes me feel good . We all have our passions and respond in different ways .  ' It has been a lifelong passion . My first bike was a 350cc heavy engine . I took my licence and drove it in a national competition in Portugal then I broke my arm so I was out .  ' I was coaching Porto youth at the time . The first bike was a Yamaha  350 , then I had Hondas then a couple of KTMs . I have a couple of them now . '  Villas Boas also hopes to one day take part in the Dakar Rally which is now held in South America .  ' I have a couple of bikes from the Dakar Rally that I own , ' he added . ' One is for my collection , the other I ride it . I am a bit of a "" crazy head "" so I have enduro bikes as well . I go into mountains with the big rocks and almost kill myself . I have a couple of trials bikes and cars with different owners , because we have an extension collection and split ownership of them . '  Villas Boas ' love of motors is no secret as the former Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur manager collects them  Villas Boas is currently the manager of Zenit St Petersburg who are in the Europa League quarter finals  Villas Boas could have done with going on a long drive following his team ' s 1 0 defeat by Torino in the second leg of their Europa League last 16 tie .  Zenit still qualifed for the quarter finals with a 2 1 win on aggregate , but Villas Boas ' s touchline row with the Torino bench soured the match .  ' I lost my head , ' he told Sport Mediaset . ' I got it completely wrong and I apologise for my behaviour . I was angry with the Torino team manager , but it was not the behaviour of a coach and I am sorry . '  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
2661,2662,"Late in January 2006, Bartolo Colon received the plaque for the American League Cy Young Award. At the time, the   Colon was 32 and playing for the Los Angeles Angels, and the man who presented the award to him was Juan Marichal, the first Dominican player to be selected to baseball’s Hall of Fame. Marichal ended his major league career in 1975 with 243 victories, the most to this day among pitchers from the Dominican Republic. The only Latino pitcher with more wins than Marichal is Dennis Martinez, a Nicaraguan who finished his career with 245. Soon enough, Colon may surpass them both  —   but he will not do it as a member of the Mets. On Friday, Colon’s   tenure with the club ended when he agreed to a   deal with the Atlanta Braves for the 2017 season, according to a person in baseball with direct knowledge of the situation who requested anonymity because the deal is not yet official. The agreement, pending a physical, will be worth $12. 5 million, according to Fox Sports, an   number for a pitcher who is 43 years old and carries 285 pounds on a    frame. The older, and perhaps the heavier, Colon gets, the more he defies logic. With the Mets, he had three solid seasons in which he rarely missed a start and won 15 games, then 14 and then 15 again. And he did so with a pedestrian     fastball that cut and dipped and generally allowed him to outwit opposing hitters. Now, as he heads to Atlanta, Colon has 233 career wins, putting him within reach of Marichal and Martinez. Can an athlete who, these days, does not even look like an athlete still end up with the most victories by any Latino pitcher? It appears likely. “All the records that I can reach are important,” Colon said in Spanish late in his 2016 season with the Mets. “I’m always chasing after myself and pushing myself. ” For Dominican baseball players, Marichal is a significant figure. He was one of the first Dominicans to play in the major leagues and, as a star with the San Francisco Giants, helped pave the way for others. Colon, who lives about 90 minutes from Marichal’s home in the Dominican Republic, said that while growing up, he had not known much about Marichal other than his intense competitiveness. He said that becoming the Dominican pitcher with the most wins would mean a lot to him. Colon’s 2017 season will be his 20th in the majors, setting the record for longevity among   pitchers. His 500 starts are already tops Marichal made 457. Colon said late last season that the 2017 season could very well be his last. He has pitched 3, 172⅓ career innings and may not surpass Marichal’s 3, 507. But if Colon has another season like 2016  —     record, 3. 43 earned run average and an   selection  —   he could surely set the victory mark. “I hope that he stays as healthy and strong as possible so that he can be the one recognized as the winningest of all Latin America,” said the Hall of Fame pitcher Pedro Martinez, who is also Dominican. Martinez finished his   career with 219 wins injuries hampered him late in his career. Colon, too, has sustained shoulder and elbow injuries over the course of his two decades in the majors, and he was suspended for 50 games in 2012 for using   drugs. But over time, he has evolved from a hard thrower to a crafty pitcher, and it is anyone’s guess how long he might keep going. “Even though you see him as chubby, he uses his physical abilities in his favor and works hard,” Martinez said, speaking in Spanish. The Mets wanted to keep Colon around for 2017 because of the mentoring he has provided to younger teammates and the security he would offer for a starting rotation that is highly talented but prone to injuries. But money was clearly a concern. The Mets paid Colon $7. 5 million in 2016, and as they try to find a way to keep Yoenis Cespedes in Queens with a new, expensive   deal, any significant money spent elsewhere  —   such as on Colon  —   could affect that effort. As a result, the Mets knew that Colon might land a better deal elsewhere amid an overall scarcity of reliable starting pitching, and his departure is not a surprise. With Colon gone, the Mets still have seven starters for 2017, at least on paper. That group is led by Noah Syndergaard, who managed to stay relatively healthy last season. Behind him are Jacob deGrom, Matt Harvey, Steven Matz and Zack Wheeler, all of whom are expected to be ready for spring training after dealing with injuries and, in some cases, surgery in 2016. The Mets can also look to Robert Gsellman and Seth Lugo, two unheralded minor leaguers called up last season who were crucial to the team’s successful   bid for a   spot. Still, Colon’s veteran presence will be missed. As will his adventures at the plate, where his sometimes zany   helped make him a folk hero to Mets fans and were worth at least half the price of admission. In all, he managed to get 15 hits as a Met, the most memorable being the home run he hit May 7 in San Diego. That shot made him the oldest player in major league history to hit his first home run. With the Braves, a rebuilding team, Colon will join R. A. Dickey, a    knuckleballer who won the 2012 Cy Young Award with the Mets, moved on to Toronto and signed a   deal with Atlanta on Thursday. Together, they will make the Braves more interesting, particularly if Colon can chase down Marichal and Dennis Martinez.",true,news,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
2667,2668,"Reuters) - Britain s Prince Harry and U.S. actress Meghan Markle announced on Monday they were getting married next year, saying their relationship had blossomed  incredibly quickly  after meeting on a blind date. Harry, 33, Queen Elizabeth s grandson and fifth-in-line to the British throne, and Markle, 36, best known for her role in the U.S.  legal drama  Suits , said they had got engaged in London this month and will wed in the spring next year.   The fact that I fell in love with Meghan so incredibly quickly was confirmation to me that all the stars were aligned, everything was just perfect. This beautiful woman just tripped and fell into my life, I fell into her life,  Harry said in a broadcast interview. [L8N1NX5AE] The queen, who had to give her assent for the union, and her husband Prince Philip were delighted, Buckingham Palace said, while Harry also received the blessing of Markle s parents.  We re thrilled. I hope they will be very happy indeed,  his father, heir-to-the-throne Prince Charles said. Harry and Markle, who is a divorcee, met in July 2016 after they were introduced through a mutual friend, with both knowing little about the other.  I had never watched Suits, I had never heard of Meghan before and I was beautifully surprised when I walked into that room and saw her. I was like I m going to really up my game here,  Harry said. After just two dates, the couple decided to go on holiday together to Botswana but it was only months later that the prince, the younger son of Charles and his first wife Princess Diana, publicly confirmed their relationship in a rebuke to the media over its alleged intrusion into Markle s private life.   I did not have any understanding of just what it would be like,  she said.  Both of us were totally surprised by the reaction,  added Harry, who said they had had a frank conversation about what she was letting herself in for. It was not until September this year that they made their first public appearance together at the Invictus Games in Toronto, a sports event for wounded veterans. Earlier the couple posed for photographs in the grounds of Kensington Palace in central London where the couple will live in a cottage. Asked when he knew Markle was  the one , he replied:  The very first time we met.  Markle showed off a dazzling three-stone ring, designed by Harry himself with at its center a diamond from Botswana surrounded by two diamonds taken from the personal collection of his late mother Diana. Harry said she would have been  thick as thieves  with Markle.  It s so important to me to know that she s a part of this with us,  Markle said. The wedding is likely to attract huge attention across the world, as did the marriage of Harry s elder brother William to  Kate Middleton in 2011.  We are very excited for Harry and Meghan,  William and Kate said in a statement.  It has been wonderful getting to know Meghan and to see how happy she and Harry are together.   In his office s warning to the media, Harry referred to the sexism and racism directed at Markle, whose father is white and  her mother African-American.  We are incredibly happy for Meghan and Harry. Our daughter has always been a kind and loving person,  Markle s parents Thomas Markle and Doria Ragland said in a statement.  To see her union with Harry, who shares the same qualities, is a source of great joy for us as parents. We wish them a lifetime of happiness and are very excited for their future together.  Educated at the exclusive Eton College, Harry s teenage years were overshadowed by negative headlines, fostering an intense dislike which he and his brother harbored because of the way papers hounded their mother. She died in a Paris car crash in 1997 while being chased by paparazzi. Harry was portrayed as a royal wild child and playboy prince, and in 2002 he admitted smoking cannabis and getting drunk when underage in a pub near the royal family s country estate amid suggestions he had fallen in with a bad crowd. He later scuffled with paparazzi outside a London nightclub and drew outrage by dressing as a Nazi officer at a party. But he turned around his image after joining the army, where he spent 10 years and included two tours of duty in Afghanistan. He said it was a role where he felt he could be himself without media scrutiny or any other trappings of his gilded upbringing. Even when he was photographed partying naked and playing billiards in a private room in Las Vegas in 2012, the response was less critical and more understanding. He left the army in 2015 to focus on royal duties and charity work, particularly the welfare of military veterans, and continuing his mother s work helping those with AIDS, and mental health issues. His easy-going manner with the public has made him one of the most popular members of the Windsors. That has put him at the forefront of a rebranding of the monarchy as modern and relevant, a far cry from the perception of a hopelessly out-of-touch institution following the 1997 death of Diana. To coincide with the 20th anniversary of her death this year, Harry opened up about his own trauma at losing his mother at a young age, and was even quoted as saying he wanted out of the royal family altogether. Like William s wife Kate, Meghan will not become a princess in her own right after marrying Harry. However, Harry, like his brother, is likely to be made a duke when he marries, meaning Meghan would become a duchess. Markle was born in Los Angeles in 1981. Her father was a  lighting director for soaps and sitcoms and her mother a clinical therapist. She made her first  appearance in a 2002 episode of medical drama  General Hospital  has appeared in a number of  shows and films, such as  Horrible Bosses , but achieved greatest fame for her starring part as Rachel Zane in the ongoing  Suits  series.  In 2011, she married film producer Trevor Engelson but they divorced two years later. She had her own lifestyle blogweblink, which she recently shut down, and like her future husband has become a prominent humanitarian campaigner. She also criticized U.S. President Donald Trump in a  interview before last year s U.S. election, calling him misogynistic. Britain s royals are traditionally supposed to avoid making any political interventions and Harry said he had confidence that his wife-to-be would be able to handle the pressures her role would bring.  I know the fact that she ll be unbelievably good at the job part as well is obviously a huge relief to me because she ll be able to deal with everything else that comes with it,  he said.  We re a fantastic team. We know we are.  (This story has been refiled to remove extraneous words in lead)  ",true,dataset,test,American football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
2669,2670,"—   Donald J. Trump’s statement that the United States might not come to the defense of  allies that do not foot their share of the bill fueled anxiety on Thursday in a Europe that is already deeply unsettled about Russia’s assertive posture, Britain’s decision to withdraw from the European Union and the rise of   populist and nationalist parties. In an interview with The New York Times, Mr. Trump suggested that if elected president he would use a country’s level of military spending as a factor in deciding whether the United States would honor its commitment to defend any member nation that comes under attack. While President Obama and other American officials have also pressed European countries in recent years to increase military spending in line with their commitments to NATO, Mr. Trump more explicitly linked financial considerations to the strategic response he would order as president in the event of an attack by Russia. His comments left some European officials concerned that the United States under Mr. Trump would edge away from the security guarantees that Washington has provided to the Continent since World War II. But they also stoked the debate over cost sharing after years in which Europe had been slow to meet its commitments on military spending. Jens Stoltenberg, NATO’s secretary general and a former prime minister of Norway, said that he “will not interfere in the U. S. election campaign,” but made clear that he was alarmed by Mr. Trump’s remarks. “Solidarity among allies is a key value for NATO,” he said in a statement. “This is good for European security and good for U. S. security. We defend one another. We have seen this in Afghanistan, where tens of thousands of European, Canadian and   troops have stood shoulder to shoulder with U. S. soldiers. ” He added, “Two world wars have shown that peace in Europe is also important for the security of the United States. ” Article 5 of the 1949 treaty that set up the North Atlantic Treaty Organization obliges any member of the alliance to come to the defense of another member if it comes under attack. The article has been invoked only once  —   after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States. “They have an obligation to make payments,” Mr. Trump said in the interview. “Many  nations are not making payments, are not making what they’re supposed to make. ” Asked whether the United States would come to the aid of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania  —   three Baltic states that were invaded by the Soviet Union in 1940, and joined  in 2004  —   in the event of a Russian invasion, Mr. Trump replied, “I don’t want to tell you what I’d do because I don’t want Putin to know what I’d do,” referring to Russia’s president, Vladimir V. Putin, for whom Mr. Trump has expressed admiration. Reminded that  members are obligated by treaty to come to one another’s defense, Mr. Trump responded: “Have they fulfilled their obligations to us? If they fulfill their obligations to us, the answer is yes. ” Asked on Thursday about Mr. Trump’s comments, Defense Secretary Michael Fallon of Britain snapped: “Article 5 is an absolute commitment. It doesn’t come with conditions or caveats. ” Less than two weeks ago, at a  summit meeting in Warsaw, Mr. Obama reassured America’s allies that “in good times and in bad, Europe can count on the United States  —   always. ” Toomas Hendrik Ilves, the president of Estonia, took to Twitter to emphasize that his country was one of only five  members to meet the target that it spend 2 percent of gross domestic product  —   a broad measure of economic activity  —   on military spending. (The others are the United States, Britain, Poland and Greece.) Mr. Ilves also noted that Estonia contributed troops to the fight in Afghanistan in keeping with Article 5. Artis Pabriks, a former foreign and defense minister of Latvia, which borders Russia and has stepped up military spending, wrote on Twitter: “If Trump doubts  solidarity in the case of Article 5, then his election is dangerous for Baltic security. ” Lithuania’s president, Dalia Grybauskaite, tried to calm her citizens. “Regardless of who becomes the next president of the U. S. we trust America,” she told reporters. “It has always defended nations under attack, and will do so in the future. ” Ms. Grybauskaite added: “Lithuania  —   as well as other Baltic states  —   is doing everything it can. We are modernizing our armed forces, we have reinstituted conscription and our defense spending will reach 2 percent of G. D. P. in 2018. I do not think interpretations of candidate Trump’s remarks are necessary. We know that the U. S. will remain our most important partner. ” In Russia, Mr. Trump’s comments met with approval. Alexei Pushkov, head of the foreign relations committee of the State Duma, the lower house of the Russian Parliament, contrasted Mr. Trump with Hillary Clinton, the presumptive Democratic nominee. “Clinton’s creed: strengthen the U. S.’s   alliances. Trump’s creed: respond only to real threats,” Mr. Pushkov wrote. “Aggressive banality versus common sense. ” NATO’s 28 members pledged at summit meetings in Wales in 2014 and in Warsaw this month to do more to meet the 2 percent of  spending target, and Mr. Stoltenberg has made reaching that goal a priority. Xenia Wickett, the head of the United States and Americas program at Chatham House, a foreign policy think tank based in London, said Mr. Trump was echoing  —   albeit in far less diplomatic terms  —   concerns raised by a succession of American secretaries of defense, including the three who have served Mr. Obama: Robert M. Gates, Leon E. Panetta and Ashton B. Carter. “The U. S. is no longer willing to cover the approximately 75 percent of the  budget that it currently does,” Ms. Wickett wrote in an email. “Trump takes it to the extreme, which is new, but the direction is not new. Trump wants to see a more ‘fair’ division of labor. ” She added, “Unfortunately, his way of expressing it is likely to aid our adversaries rather than assist the alliance. ” Alexandra de Hoop Scheffer, the head of the Paris office of the German Marshall Fund of the United States, a research organization, said too much was being made of Mr. Trump’s remarks. She said the imbalance in  spending “is just not sustainable,” adding, “Trump is taking the   debate to extreme levels, by directly calling into question U. S. responsibility as a  member state to fulfill its obligations under Article 5, in case a  member state got attacked by Russia. ” She added that European leaders needed to persuade their citizens “of the importance of investing in defense to face current and future security challenges. ” But Carl Bildt, a former prime minister and foreign minister of Sweden, said he feared that Mr. Trump’s remarks would embolden autocratic and aggressive powers. “There is certainly a risk that he will encourage states like Russia and China to take the risk that U. S. will not stand up for its allies and its commitments, and that could be extremely dangerous for global stability,” he said. “He’s downplaying not only the defense of common interests, but also the defense of common values. Democracy seems nearly to be a derogatory term for him. ”",true,news,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
2678,2679,"Investigators have found the vehicle of a University of Georgia professor wanted in the killing of three people .  Authorities examine a Jeep belonging to professor George Zinkhan on Friday in Clarke County , Georgia .  Police found George Zinkhan ' s vehicle early Friday in northwestern Clarke County , home to the University of Georgia , the university said in a statement .  Authorities have been looking for a 2005 red Jeep Liberty that Zinkhan was driving when he was last seen six days ago after a shooting left three people dead , including his wife . Last Saturday ' s shootings happened at a community theater group ' s reunion in Athens , Georgia , just off campus .  The university fired Zinkhan from his job as a marketing professor the day after the shootings .  Zinkhan had purchased a plane ticket to the Netherlands for travel on Saturday , said Gregory Jones , special agent in charge of the  ' s Atlanta , Georgia , office , this week . Authorities have said Zinkhan owns a home in Amsterdam , Netherlands .  Police Capt . Clarence Holeman identified the dead as Marie Bruce , 47 , Zinkhan ' s wife and an Athens attorney Tom Tanner , 40 and Ben Teague , 63 .  Holeman said it appeared that Zinkhan "" and his wife were having problems . ""  Police said Zinkhan has relatives in Texas as well as in the Netherlands .  University Police Chief Jimmy Williams said Monday that authorities do not believe Zinkhan remains on campus or in Athens . However , he said , security has been beefed up on campus , including officers on foot patrols carrying semiautomatic weapons .  The victims were all associated with the Town and Gown Players , a theater group that was holding a reunion picnic at the time of the shootings .  "" The three people we lost were a part of the rich 50 year history of this theater and , more than that , were vital members of the Town and Gown family , "" the organization said on its Web site .  The site described Bruce as "" the binding force that held the Town and Gown community together . ""  "" Having worked with Town and Gown for over 20 years , at one time or another she served in every capacity at the theater , artistically and administratively , from leading lady to president of the board to chief cook and bottle washer . ""  Police said Zinkhan arrived while the Town and Gown event was under way . According to Holeman of the Athens police , Zinkhan got into "" a disagreement "" with his wife . He left the scene police believe he went to his car , where the couple ' s children apparently were waiting and returned with two handguns .  The shootings "" only took a few minutes , "" Holeman said . Police found eight shell casings , he said .  After the shootings , Zinkhan left the scene with his children ages 8 and 10 still in the vehicle , police said . He drove to a neighbor ' s house in nearby Bogart , Georgia , where he lived , and left the children there .  The neighbor , Bob Covington , said that Zinkhan arrived at his home shortly after noon Saturday with the two children .  "" He rang the doorbell asked me if I could keep his kids for about an hour , "" Covington said . "" I said sure , and he said there ' d been some type of emergency , and he took off . ""  An hour or so later , Covington said , police arrived and took the children .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
2687,2688,"Reuters) - Poland wants to be sure that Christian traditions are not subject to  ideological censorship  in the European Union, Prime Minister Beata Szydlo said on Thursday, emphasizing her party s opposition to Muslim immigration. Along with Hungary, Poland has refused to take in any of its quota of the wave of refugees from Syria and elsewhere who have come to Europe since 2015, on the grounds that Muslim immigrants are a threat to their national security and stability. Szydlo s eurosceptic Law and Justice (PiS) party appeals directly to the more socially conservative sections of Poland s overwhelmingly Roman Catholic population. In a foreign policy speech marking the midpoint of the parliamentary term, Szydlo said Christians in Europe should not need to feel uncomfortable or ashamed about their faith and traditions.  We are in favor of (an EU) where Christian traditions are not subject to ideological censorship,  she told a conference organized by the Polish Institute of International Affairs. Opinion polls in Poland - one of the most ethnically and religiously homogenous countries in Europe - indicate that about three-quarters of Poles are against accepting refugees.     Apart from refusing its quota, Szydlo s government has triggered a series of disputes with the  executive, the European Commission, over policies that Brussels says undermine democracy and the rule of law. In a veiled criticism of France and Germany, the traditional motors of  integration, Szydlo said that countries such as Poland should be a greater part of the bloc s decision-making process.  The  s principle of respect for the rights of its citizens will cease to be an empty one only when the debate about the future of the European Union takes place with the participation of all concerned, not in three or four capitals,  she said.  Opinion polls suggest up to 80 percent of Poles back  membership, though many are also opposed to deeper  integration and joining the euro currency. Szydlo reiterated that Poland would stay in the EU, but said that growing euroscepticism in several countries was a sign that  some politicians  were unwilling to recognize the problems within the bloc.   It s not enough to stigmatize tens of millions of Europeans in different countries as immature and dangerous populations, or to put Poland in a corner,  Szydlo said. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
2711,2712,"James Davies scored a late try as Scarlets beat Ulster 22 13 at Parc y Scarlets to keep their chances alive of reaching the knockout stages of the Champions Cup .  With Rhys Priestland kicking 17 points Scarlets have gone second in Pool Three with games against Toulon and Leicester remaining in January .  Ulster could only manage a losing bonus point despite a Darren Cave try , two penalties from Ruan Pienaar and a conversion from Ian Humphreys .  James Davies slides in for his late try which secured the win for the Scarlets on Sunday evening  Rhys Priestland kicked 17 points for the home side as they moved second in Pool Three  Scarlets were forced into a late change when Wales lock Jake Ball pulled out with a virus , with George Earle coming into the second row .  For Ulster , centre Luke Marshall returned after recovering from a knee injury sustained playing for the Ulster Ravens in October .  It was Scarlets who made the early inroads on the scoreboard , opening up a 6 0 lead in the opening quarter through two Priestland penalties , the first after Franco van der Merwe was penalised at a line out and another when Ulster hands slowed ball at a ruck .  Another useful attack from the home side forced Van der Merwe offside as Priestland made it three out of three .  And it was 12 0 after 33 minutes as Priestland found the target again after Rory Best handled the ball at a ruck .  Franco van der Merwe runs into the tackle of James Davies , Rhodri Williams and Joe Snyman  Tommy Bowe makes a break but Ulster came up just short at Parc y Scarlets to sit bottom of the pool  Priestland sent a 40 metre attempt wide and was short with another shot but an 11 3 penalty advantage at the break had already taken its toll .  But it took Ulster only 90 seconds after the restart to break their duck , with Luke Marshall and Darren Cave combining effectively twice for Cave to go in under the posts and Humphreys converting .  Scarlets had put themselves under pressure when Rhodri Williams ' box kick had gone straight into touch from just outside the 22 .  Priestland was wayward with another penalty after Ulster continued to struggle at the scrum . Ulster also had a chance to cut the deficit further but Humphreys was wide of the target with his first penalty shot on 55 minutes .  But Scarlets got on the scoreboard next with a Priestland penalty which went over via the help of the right upright to take the home side into a 15 7 lead on 61 minutes .  Darren Cave dives over for Ulster ' s only try but failed to take another golden opportunity as Ulster fell short  Rory Best ( left ) and Luke Marshall ( right ) look dejected as Ulster ' s qualification hopes took a dent  Referee Doyle lost his patience with the Ulster scrum and sin binned tight head prop Declan Fitzpatrick on 65 minutes .  But despite being down to 14 men Tommy Bowe broke through the Scarlets defence before Cave could not hold on to what would have been a try scoring pass .  But Pienaar kicked two penalties , one from close to halfway , in the space of three minutes to cut the deficit to only two points .  However , on 76 minutes Pienaar missed a third penalty which would have given Ulster the lead .  And the contest but was put to bed two minutes from time when flanker Davies intercepted the ball from an Ulster scrum to go over under the posts . Priestland added a drop goal conversion .  ",true,text,test,American football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
2726,2727,"The 43 year old is the first presenter of the  dance contest to be nominated for the awards  When Claudia Winkleman replaced Sir Bruce Forsyth as co host of Strictly Come Dancing , sceptics thought she would struggle to fill his shoes .  Now , she has proved them wrong with a Bafta nomination for her first season on the show .  The 43 year old is the first presenter of the  dance contest to be nominated for the awards , something both Sir Bruce and co host Tess Daly failed to achieve .  It comes even though she was absent for almost a month while daughter Matilda , eight , recovered after her Halloween costume accidentally caught fire .  The mother of three will compete in the entertainment performance category at next month ' s awards with Ant and Dec , Graham Norton and Celebrity Juice host Leigh Francis .  Meanwhile , Sir Bruce , 87 , has said he does not miss his time hosting Strictly , admitting : ' It was never the show I thought it would be . '  The veteran entertainer said he wished he had been allowed to interact more with the celebrities .  Other Bafta hopefuls include Broadchurch star Olivia Colman , 41 , who is nominated in the female performance in a comedy category for her role in BBC2 comedy Rev .  Miss Winkleman ' s nomination has led the programme into its most successful ever year at the Baftas , after it won a total of three nominations , including for Entertainment Show and Audience Choice .  The nominations have been voted for by 4 , 000 Bafta members .  It has again come out on top against  rivals X Factor and Britain ' s Got Talent , both of which have again been snubbed .  The shortlists mark the continuation of a disappointing run for Simon Cowell ' s duo of talent shows .  Both Sir Bruce ( centre ) and co host Tess Daly ( right ) have failed to receive a nomination from the show  X Factor ' s six year run of nominations ended in 2011 and Britain ' s Got Talent has failed to make the cut since 2010 .   bosses were recently reported to be considering dropping Miss Winkleman before Strictly ' s return later this year , describing her first run as a ' trial shift ' . However , with the nomination now in her corner , her case for staying is compelling .  She has won the recognition despite being absent from the show for almost a month while her daughter , Mathilda , eight , recovered from a horrific Halloween accident in which her costume caught fire . In the interim , her post was covered by Zoe Ball , 44 , who fronts Strictly spin off show It Takes Two .  The nominees for this year ' s Baftas : Hopefuls include Broadchurch star Olivia Colman , 41 , who is nominated in the female performance in a comedy category for her role in BBC2 comedy Rev  Before taking on the role she spoke of her nerves at filling such a primetime slot . She said : ' I am going to be Tess and she is going to be Bruce . I just want to be useful . If I am useful . . . it will be fine . '  This is the fifth time Strictly has been nominated in the Entertainment Programme category but it has so far never won the award .  This year it is competing with The Voice , Ant and Dec ' s Saturday Night Takeaway and Dynamo : Magician Impossible .  Its third nomination is for the Audience Choice Award , which is decided by a public vote . The other contenders are The Great British Bake Off , The Missing , Game of Thrones , Eastenders , Sherlock and Cilla .  Strictly has again come out on top against  rivals X Factor and Britain ' s Got Talent , both of which have again been snubbed  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
2739,2740,"Britian ' s royal family attends Spectre premiere with Hollywood stars  The British secret agent James Bond ' s glitzy return to the silver screen was marked by the presence of Britain ' s highest aristocracy order .  Reuters ? ? ? ? ? October 27 , 2015 ? ? posted by Aparna Singh ?  ? 15 : 44   Lea Seydoux , Daniel Craig and Monica Bellucci pose for photographers as they attend the world premiere of the new James Bond 007 film Spectre at the Royal Albert Hall in London . Picture courtesy : Reuters  At the world premiere of James Bond starrer Spectre , the royal brigade including Britain ' s Prince William , his wife Kate and Prince Harry walked the red carpet with the film stars . The British secret agent James Bond ' s glitzy return to the silver screen was marked by the presence of Britain ' s highest aristocracy order .  Bond actor Daniel Craig was greeted by hundreds of fans upon arrival at London ' s Royal Albert Hall , where residents from nearby buildings watched the premiere from their windows .  Also read : ? Watch Spectre : James Bond brings the house down in final trailer  Returning for the fourth time as Agent 007 , Craig said his own excitement at being allowed to continue in the series stemmed from his involvement beyond acting .  "" I ' ve just been allowed to be creatively involved with these films from the very beginning and I ' ve continued to do it with this , "" he said . "" Thankfully we ' ve just got the most amazing team around us and we figure it out . ""  A few months back , Craig was quoted saying that he would rather slit his wrists than play 007 again . Asked how much he knew of his future as Bond , Craig told Reuters : "" I know enough "" .  Also read : Daniel Craig told to shut up after bashing James Bond ?  He was joined on the red carpet by co stars Lea Seydoux and Monica Bellucci , Ralph Fiennes , director Sam Mendes and movie producer Barbara Broccoli . Broccoli also welcomed Prince William , Kate and Harry to the premiere .  Prince William , Catherine , Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry attend The Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund ' s Royal Film Performance 2015 of the new James Bond 007 film Spectre at Royal Albert Hall on October 26 , 2015 in London , England . Picture courtesy : Reuters  "" It ' s incredible how James Bond represents so much , not just in England but all over the world , "" Bellucci said .  Trailers have shown action packed scenes typical of Bond movies as 007 uncovers the shady Spectre organization , and its dark link to villain Franz Oberhauser , played by Oscar winner Christoph Waltz .  Spectre has stood as an acronym for the Special Executive for Counter Intelligence , Terrorism , Revenge and Extortion in past Bond films .  "" It ' s a terrible pressure to be iconic and I practiced it at home secretly , "" Waltz said .  Spectre , the 24th James Bond film , is released in  cinemas on Monday and worldwide in early November .  For news and videos in Hindi , go to AajTak . in . ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? . ? ? ? ? ? ? ? .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
2741,2742,"The march is the latest demonstration in the city since Tuesday , when officials released a video that shows 17 year old Laquan McDonald being shot 16 times and prosecutors charged Officer Jason Van Dyke with first degree murder .  Hundreds of protesters are blocking entrances to stores in Chicago ' s high end shopping district on Black Friday to draw attention to the police shooting of a black teenager .  Some of the demonstrators linked arms to form human chains in front of main entrances to stores on both sides of Michigan Avenue for more than three blocks .  Store employees were directing shoppers to exit from side doors . When one person tried to get through the front door of Saks Fifth Avenue , protesters screamed at him , shouting , "" Shut it down ! Shut it down . ""  Entrances were also blocked at the Disney Store , the Apple Store , Nike , Tiffany Co . , and Neiman Marcus .  Many shoppers seemed to take the disturbance in stride . Some even snapped photos of the crowd .  The release of a video this week showing the fatal shooting in 2014 of 17 year old Laquan McDonald has set off days of largely peaceful protests .  Not all of the groups taking part in the Black Friday protest in Chicago ' s ritziest shopping district are taking the same approach .  The largest is a peaceful group led by the Rev . Jesse Jackson , who is leading a prayer from the steps of Chicago ' s historic Water Tower . The group paused for a moment of silence to remember 17 year old Laquan McDonald , who was shot 16 times by a Chicago police officer last year .  A smaller group , One Chicago , is calling on demonstrators to shut down businesses to protest the city ' s handling of the investigation . Mark Carter , a One Chicago organizer , is exhorting the crowd to , "" Stop watching the show . Shut this down ! Shut this down ! ""  Others are yelling at the police officers lining the route . The officers are not responding .  Hundreds of activists chanting "" 16 shots ! 16 shots ! "" are stopping traffic as a march begins in Chicago ' s Magnificent Mile shopping district .  The demonstration Friday to protest a fatal shooting by police last year has so far been peaceful . A visitor from Fort Dodge , Iowa , 35 year old Monica Rentz , was taking photos to send to friends as she stood outside her hotel on Michigan Avenue . Rentz says she is in the city for a wedding .  She says she shopped at the Disney Store before the march began and that the protesters don ' t bother her . She says it is interesting because she has never seen anything like this in Iowa .  The march is the latest demonstration in the city since Tuesday , when officials released a video that shows 17 year old Laquan McDonald being shot 16 times and prosecutors charged Officer Jason Van Dyke with first degree murder .  A protest march has begun in Chicago ' s shopping district , with the Rev . Jesse Jackson in the middle of a crowd that ' s shouting , "" What do we want ? Justice . When do we want it ? Now ! ""  Several hundred demonstrators have gathered in the drizzling rain , many with umbrellas and plastic wrapped signs .  Among them is 73 year old Frank Chapman of Chicago , who says a video released Tuesday showing the fatal shooting of 17 year old Laquan McDonald by police officer Jason Van Dyke confirms what activists have said for years about Chicago police brutality .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
2748,2749,"Iraq Iraqi firefighters work to extinguish the fire caused by a car bomb explosion at a gas station near the city of Hilla, November 24, 2016.  A car bomb has reportedly exploded south of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, killing around 100 people, mostly Shia pilgrims.  According to security sources, a truck loaded with explosives went off on Thursday at a gas station in the Shomali village in the suburbs of the city of al-Hilla, located 120 kilometers (75 miles) southeast of the capital Baghdad and around 80 kilometers (50 miles) from Karbala.  Reports say most of the victims were Iranian nationals. The photo shows the site of a blast at a gas station near Hilla, south of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, November 24, 2016.  The incident occurred at a time when buses packed with Shia pilgrims were parked at the gas station. The people were returning from Arba’een mourning rituals in the holy city of Karbala.  “At least seven buses with pilgrims were inside the petrol station at the time,” an unnamed police lieutenant colonel told AFP. People carry away the bodies of victims from the site of a bomb attack near Hilla, Iraq, November 24, 2016.   also quoted an unnamed police intelligence source as saying that “those buses were loaded with Iranians, Bahrainis and Iraqis. Ambulances and civil defense are on their way to the site.”  The Takfiri Daesh terrorist group claimed responsibility for the deadly bombing.  In recent weeks, Daesh has resorted to similar acts of violence in areas outside its control in a desperate attempt to undermine a large Iraqi battle aimed at liberating the northern city of Mosul, the terror group’s last remaining foothold in the country.  ‘Iran won’t waver in backing Iraq’  Hours after the incident, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman strongly condemned the fatal terrorist blast, expressing sympathy with the Iraqi government and nation as well as all the families of the victims.  Touching on reports that Iranian citizens were among the victims, Bahram Qassemi said, “The Foreign Ministry and the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Embassy in Baghdad are investigating the issue with seriousness” and will take necessary measures in that regard.  The Iranian official also stressed that such pre-planned and savage assaults emanate from the desperation of the terrorists, who are taking successive blows on the battlefield.  “These brutal and inhumane acts will not affect the Iraqi government and nation’s determination and the Islamic Republic of Iran’s support for the oppressed Iraqi people in the unrelenting fight against terrorism,” Qassemi said. The photo shows the site of a blast at a gas station near Hilla, south of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, November 24, 2016.  ‘Terrorists killing pilgrims will be brought to justice’  In another development, Iraq’s President Fuad Masum strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Hilla, emphasizing that such terrorist crimes would not go unpunished.  Issuing an official statement hours after the terrorist attack, which was claimed by the Daesh Takfiri group, Masum emphasized that terrorists, who target the lives of innocent pilgrims traveling to Iraq from Islamic countries, will be brought to justice.  He also called on Iraq’s security forces to double their efforts and take necessary measures to uproot terrorist groups that endanger the life and safety of the pilgrims visiting Iraq’s holy shrines. Iraqi security forces gather at the site of a truck bomb attack targeting a gas station in the city of Hilla south of Baghdad, Iraq, November 24, 2016. (Photo by REUTERS)  ‘Takfiris spilling blood in the name of religion’  Meanwhile, Lebanon’s resistance movement, Hezbollah, condemned the explosion as a crime committed by the terrorists, who have no conscience and spill the blood of innocents in the name of the religion.  In a statement released on Thursday, Hezbollah extended its condolences to the Iraqi nation over the tragedy, calling for more efforts to root out terror outfits in Iraq and restore security to the country. A man reacts at the site of a truck bomb attack targeting a gas station in the city of Hilla south of Baghdad, Iraq, November 24, 2016. (Photo by REUTERS)  Gruesome violence has plagued the northern and western parts of Iraq ever since Daesh terrorists mounted an offensive there more than two years ago, and took control of portions of Iraqi territory.  Iraqi army soldiers and allied fighters are trying to win back militant-held regions in joint operations.  The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) says a total of 1,792 Iraqis, among them 1,120, lost their lives in acts of terrorism, violence and armed conflict in October. Loading ...",true,news,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
2758,2759,"The men , who have British , Filipino , Taiwanese and Slovak citizenship , were being flown to New York to face charges , according to a source .  Thai authorities announced the arrests after the men were turned over to U . S . authorities . A U . S . law enforcement official said the charges would be made public soon .  The men are part of a broader investigation that federal prosecutors made public in September , filing charges against a group of former U . S . and European ex military men in a murder for hire and drug importation plot .  The Drug Enforcement Administration concocted a sting operation and arrested Joseph Hunter , a former U . S . Army sniper trainer nicknamed Rambo , and four others in the sting case .  The five more recently arrested were expelled by Thai authorities and put on a  plane to New York .  Additional details of the charges couldn ' t be learned because they remain under seal .  Drug trafficking from North Korea has occurred for decades with at least 50 documented incidents . In previous years , North Korea had been linked to shipments of heroin and methamphetamine , according to the  World Factbook .  In 2003 , a North Korean ship , Pong Su which was carrying nearly 300 pounds of heroin , was seized along the eastern coast of Australia after a four day chase .  There isn ' t enough information to determine whether the North Korean government is currently involved in drug trafficking , according to the 2013 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report issued by the U . S . State Department  "" There have been no confirmed reports of large scale drug trafficking involving  ( Democratic People ' s Republic of Korea ) state entities since 2004 , "" it stated . "" This suggests that state sponsored drug trafficking may have ceased or been sharply reduced , or that the  regime has become more adept at concealing state sponsored trafficking of illicit drugs . ""  The report also highlighted that the "" proximity and availability of precursor chemicals in China likely contribute to the production of methamphetamine within North Korea . "" It alluded to reported transactions between North Korean traffickers and organized crime groups .  Corrupt security agents and government officials are likely responsible for transnational drug operations , according to a different report published in North Korean Review in 2010 .  There is great difficulty in collecting data or accurate information regarding drug trafficking because of the secrecy in North Korea .  So the report ' s authors , Minwoo Yun and Eunyoung Kim relied on interviews with 28 North Korean defectors living in China and Thailand as well as various documents . They could not be reached Wednesday for this story .  Their report alleges that in the 1980s , the North Korean state "" deliberately chose various transnational crime businesses including drug trafficking "" during economically troubled times . The North Koreans specialized in heroin trade and kept the drug away from the ordinary population .  Once the economy veered into famine and economic disaster in the 1990s , individuals desperate to survive turned to private drug enterprise , according to Yun and Kim ' s report . Corrupt agents and officials sold drugs to transnational organized crime operations through the North Korea China border , they wrote . Family members also became private drug traffickers , they added .  After poppy production failed due to weather , methamphetamine became more popular , according to a 2007 Drug Trafficking and North Korea report prepared for the U . S . Congress .  One of the interviewees in Yun and Kim ' s report said that the city of Hamhueng is the center of methamphetamine production , because it produces the country ' s chemicals .  Internally , North Koreans started using opium instead of hard to obtain and pricey medication , according to the report . And recreational drug users are more likely wealthy businessmen or members of the Party , according to South Korean media .  More recently , methamphetamine is more widely used in North Korea as stricter China border controls forced drug producers to seek a local market for "" ice , "" according to a report in the Spring 2013 edition of the journal North Korean Review .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
2773,2774,"Executives at Univision, which bought Gawker Media last month for $135 million, voted on Friday to remove six posts previously published by Gawker Media sites. The posts, which were taken down on Saturday, are involved in continuing legal action. In a memo to the staff, John Cook, executive editor of Gawker Media, wrote that two Univision executives, Felipe Holguin and Jay Grant, explained that they had proposed deleting seven posts, which appeared on the Gawker sites Deadspin, Gizmodo or Jezebel, because they were “under active litigation against Gawker Media and that Unimoda had been authorized only to purchase the assets, and not the liabilities, of the company. ” (Unimoda is a subsidiary of Univision.) “Unimoda’s legal analysis was that the continued publication of the posts under the new entity would constitute the adoption of liability, and that Unimoda is therefore obligated to delete them,” Mr. Cook added. The Univision executives voted to remove six posts, while Mr. Cook voted to keep all seven online, he said. One of the seven posts, which contains a photo that is the subject of a copyright complaint, will remain online for now. A decision on whether to remove that post has been postponed pending further legal analysis. In a statement, Univision said, “At this time of transition, the decision was based on a desire to have a clean slate as we look to support and grow the editorial missions of the acquired brands. ” The decision to remove the posts was reported earlier by Gizmodo. Univision’s decision to delete the posts was a clear signal that the company does not want to deal with any of the legal baggage that comes with owning Gawker Media. In March, a Florida jury ruled against Gawker Media in an    lawsuit by the former professional wrestler Hulk Hogan, whose real name is Terry G. Bollea, and awarded him $140 million. Not long after the trial, Peter Thiel, a billionaire Silicon Valley entrepreneur, revealed in an interview with The New York Times that he had secretly funded Mr. Bollea’s case and others against Gawker Media, though he did not say which ones. The judgment, and the threat that Mr. Thiel could keep bankrolling legal actions, proved to be too much for Gawker, and in June, the company filed for bankruptcy and put itself up for sale. Univision won an auction for Gawker Media in August but decided it would not continue to operateweblink, Gawker Media’s flagship site, which had faced perhaps the most criticism of any Gawker Media property. In a memo to staff on Saturday, Isaac Lee, chief news, entertainment and digital officer at Univision, wrote that the decision to remove the posts “does not reflect an editorial judgment about their content. ” He also sought to reassure employees that Univision would stand behind Gawker Media posts going forward. “Should there be threats in the future related to stories published on our Gawker Media Group sites, no matter the date of publication, we will defend them as vigorously as we would defend stories published by Univision News, Fusion, The Root or any of our other properties,” Mr. Lee wrote, adding that the decision to remove the posts was “not a precedent for the future. ” The deleted posts include two that were published by Gizmodo in 2012 about the claim by a man named Shiva Ayyadurai that he had invented email. Mr. Ayyadurai filed a lawsuit this year against Gawker Nick Denton, the company’s founder and two Gawker journalists, Mr. Cook and Sam Biddle, contending that articles that cast doubt on Mr. Ayyadurai’s claims were defamatory. Charles J. Harder, who represented Mr. Bollea in the lawsuit against Gawker, is representing Mr. Ayyadurai in the lawsuit. It is not clear if Mr. Thiel is providing financial support for the case. (Mr. Harder is also representing Roger Ailes, the former chairman of Fox News, in potential litigation against New York magazine, and Melania Trump, the wife of the Republican presidential nominee, Donald J. Trump, in a libel lawsuit against The Daily Mail.) Other Gawker Media posts that have been removed include two about Mitch Williams, a baseball analyst and former major league pitcher one about a conservative blogger and another that called a man acquitted of sexual assault charges a rapist. In place of the posts, a note reads, “This story is no longer available as it is the subject of pending litigation against the prior owners of this site. ” The comments about the original post remain. In his memo, Mr. Cook wrote that the posts would be removed under a provision in Gawker’s collective bargaining agreement that states: “Once a story has been posted, it can only be removed by a majority vote of the executive editor, the C. E. O. and the general counsel, unless required by law. ” The provision was written into the contract between Writers Guild of America, East, and Gawker Media when Gawker Media’s editorial employees unionized, before Gawker put itself up for sale. The guild said in a statement on Saturday that it was “deeply troubled” by the decision to remove the posts. “Though Unimoda has offered assurances that it is committed to robust, fearless journalism, this move seems to belie that claim,” the guild said. “The decision to remove these posts casts a significant pall over Unimoda’s claimed commitment to the core values of our members employed by Unimoda. ” Union members plan to meet next week to discuss “an appropriate response” to Univision’s decision, the guild added. Mr. Cook also wrote that Mr. Holguin, the chief operating officer of the Fusion Media Group, a division of Univision, had been appointed interim chief executive of Gawker Media, and Mr. Grant, the general counsel of Fusion Media, had been named the company’s interim general counsel. The decision to delete the posts was met with anger and indignation on social media by current and former Gawker employees. “This,” Mr. Cook wrote on Twitter shortly after midnight on Saturday, “would have been a good Gawker post. ”",true,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
2786,2787,"Some subjects are just plain hard to talk about . Religion , politics and money maybe sex , too . But try talking about race and then add the emotional context of a death penalty trial , and no one will talk at all .  If you try to broach the subject during jury selection , asking all the racists to please raise their hands is not an option . We , as a nation , have to find a way to face the dirty secret of criminal justice that prejudice often carries the day .  The issue of racial disparity in the administration of the death penalty has been a part of modern law . Starting with Furman v . Georgia and continuing on to McCleskey v . Zant , courts have struggled to come to grips with this issue as have those of us defending the most despised amongst us .  Jury selection is actually a process of elimination : Potential jurors are called for jury duty and are questioned and either seated , excused for a cause or excused by a peremptory challenge from either side . Generally , a challenge for cause involves jurors who have a relationship with a party or witness , have a personal experience that would cause them to be unfair or are legally unable to sit .  In capital cases , the number of potential jurors who can be excluded for cause is much larger because anyone who is against the death penalty can be turned away and minorities are more likely to find problems with the death penalty .  Then there ' s the misuse of peremptory challenges each side gets a certain number of these that it can use to excuse a juror for any reason . The prosecution often uses this strategy to strike as many minorities from serving as jurors as it can .  The problem this creates is obvious . A black or Hispanic defendant facing death is the most likely to have an all , or nearly all , white jury .  To combat this , the U . S . Supreme Court in Batson v . Kentucky held that the defense could object if it believed the prosecution was using its peremptory challenges to limit the number of minority jurors . If the trial judge so ordered , the prosecution would then be obliged to give "" race neutral "" reasons for the exclusions . If the trial court accepted these explanations , the trial would continue . If not , a mistrial would be declared . This procedure was supposed to fix the problem .  It hasn ' t had that effect . Almost any excuse will do a prosecutor can call the juror "" arrogant "" for example , and that is enough .  In one case I tried , the prosecution excused a black woman who was married , a homeowner , had two children and taught elementary school . They kept a white woman who was married , a homeowner , had three children and taught elementary school . His "" race neutral "" explanation ? The black woman wore her dress too tight . No kidding . And the judge accepted that explanation .  Obviously , prosecutors know that this form of discrimination increases their odds of winning , and the desire to win is hard to resist . But a prosecutor is supposed to represent the people of his or her state or the federal government , and that includes not only the victim and his or her family , and public safety , but the accused and the community . Systematic exclusion of a race from jury selection sends an ugly message African Americans and Hispanics need not apply .  In an analysis of Jefferson Parish , the Louisiana Capital Assistance Center found that from 1999 to 2007 , blacks were struck from juries at more than three times the rate of whites .  The Equal Justice Initiative of Alabama has just issued a report , "" Illegal Racial Discrimination Jury Selection : A Continuing Legacy , "" that details racial discrimination in jury selection in eight Southern states . "" Key decision makers in death penalty cases across the country are almost exclusively white , "" the Equal Justice Initiative said .  Confronting racial attitudes in the courtroom is often necessary . The problem is fear . When a lawyer speaks up about these issues , he or she is inviting anger from the prosecution , potentially the judge and maybe even the jury . But we have to talk about this and by "" we "" I mean not only defense lawyers , but all of us and openly .  The courts have to stop glossing over the problem by pretending that "" race neutral "" reasons really exist or are even close to satisfactory . And courts should name the offending parties . The prosecutor who said he didn ' t want the teacher on the jury because of her so called tight dress might have hesitated if he knew his name could be published .  In one case I tried , the complaining witness was white , the defendant black , and race was all over the case . I was afraid to talk about it , but I believed it was a motivating force behind the choice to prosecute at all . So I took a deep breath and spoke .  The jurors acquitted and thanked me for giving them permission to speak about race so they could talk about it and then move on and be able to "" get to the case . "" It ' s time we all did the same .  The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Andrea Lyon .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,satire,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
2835,2836,"The latest North Korean missile test failed on Wednesday, with the rocket exploding “within seconds of launch,” according to the U. S. Pacific Command. [“South Korea and the  are aware of the missile launch and to their knowledge, North Korea’s missile was not successfully launched,” said South Korea’s Ministry of Defense about the North Korean missile test, in a statement relayed by CNN.  Reuters reports the launch was made from “near the city of Wonsan, on North Korea’s east coast, the same place from where it launched several   missiles last year, all but one of which failed. ” A South Korean military official agreed with the U. S. assessment that the missile “may have exploded right after it took off from a launch pad. ” The Washington Post writes that American and South Korean military intelligence services are still analyzing the data they gathered about the launch and are not yet certain precisely what type of missile it was. North Korea tested a rocket engine that dictator Kim   described as technology of “historic significance” over the weekend, but it’s not clear if this failed test involved one of those engines.",true,news,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
2836,2837,"Former  Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Senator Bernie Sanders went head to head in the last Democratic presidential debate late Sunday night , with Sanders hammering Clinton over her relationship with Wall Street , America s financial and business hub .  When asked about the differences between the candidates plans to reign in the financial sector , Sanders responded that the first difference is I don t take money from big banks .  Can you really reform Wall Street when they are spending millions and millions of dollars on campaign contributions and when they are providing speaker fees to individuals ? Sanders said , pointing to 200 , 000 he said Clinton received in 2013 to deliver a speech at investment giant Goldman Sachs .  Sanders said the United States needs a political revolution to rein in the power of big corporations , while accusing Clinton of being in the pocket of Wall Street . I don t get personal speaking fees from Goldman Sachs , he said Sunday night during the fourth and last Democratic debate in Charleston , South Carolina .  You ve received over 600 , 000 in speaking fees from Goldman Sachs in one year , Sanders said , referring to Clinton .  Clinton , meanwhile , tried to frame herself as a natural heir to President Barack Obama on a host of issues and accused the Vermont senator of being disloyal to him .  She said that Sanders criticized President Obama for taking donations from Wall Street . Senator Sanders called Obama weak , disappointing he even in 2011 publicly sought someone to run in a primary against President Obama .  Sanders rebuked the charge , saying that he and the president are friends and worked together on many issues . However , Sanders acknowledged that he wants to move beyond Obama s agenda .  The two candidates also sparred on the issue of gun control , with Clinton attempting to connect Sanders to the gun industry and lobby .  He has voted with the  , with the gun lobby , numerous times . He voted for immunity for gun makers and sellers , Clinton said . There is no industry in America that was given the total pass the gun makers and gun dealers were , and that needs to be reversed .  Sanders accused Clinton of politicizing the issue . This should not be a political issue . What we should be doing is working together , and , by the way , as a senator from a rural state that has virtually no gun control , I believe I am in an excellent position to bring people together .  Former Maryland Governor Martin O Malley , who is trailing Clinton and Sanders in polls , said neither of them has been a leader on gun control . They ve both been inconsistent when it comes to this issue , he said . Hours before the debate , Sanders unveiled a healthcare plan for all American citizens through Medicare for all . The plan would see citizens pay a 2 . 2 percent income based premium towards healthcare , while companies would pay an extra 6 . 2 percent of an employee s income , the senator said .  Clinton said she would continue to build up on the existing healthcare system known as Obamacare .  We have accomplished so much already . I do not to want see the Republicans repeal it , and I don t to want see us start over again with a contentious debate . Clinton leads in most national polls , but Sanders is a threat in key states .   foreign policy , Sanders called for normalizing relations with Iran in light of implementation of the Iran nuclear deal .  Clinton and Sanders both praised the deal . Clinton took credit for imposing sanctions against Iran , which she argued compelled them to come to the negotiating table . Clinton said the United States should proceed with caution when it comes to Iran .  Clinton rejected the idea of deploying ground troops in Syria to combat the Islamic State . She instead supported continued airstrikes , as well as support for the Iraqi and Kurdish armed forces .  Sanders went a step further , slamming Republicans who call for ground troops in Syria . He said the United States should have learned from the Iraq war .  Governor O Malley supported Obama s current strategy in the Middle East , which Sanders and Clinton both mirrored . O Malley also knocked Republicans for using the term boots on the ground , saying it was dehumanizing to American troops .  Sanders said the Islamic State was created by the war in Iraq , and that the United States did not do enough to stabilize the region after the downfall of Saddam Hussein . He called for Middle Eastern countries such as Qatar to foot the bill for combating the Islamic State . In order of priority , he said the destruction of the Islamic State came first , and then deposing Syrian President Bashar al Assad .  O Malley said the United States does not know enough to understand the ramifications of regime change . He called for an increased investment in foreign intelligence .  O Malley said the federal government should get a warrant to compel tech companies to share users data in an investigation . He defended personal privacy in the digital age , calling for the judicial system to catch up to cybersecurity issues .  Sanders echoed sentiments that public policy has not caught up with the digital age . He said Silicon Valley should work with the federal government to target online recruitment from the Islamic State .  Clinton said the key to combating lone wolf extremists was to engage Muslim Americans . She slammed anti Muslim rhetoric by conservative politicians . O Malley echoed those calls , calling Republican presidential front runner Donald Trump a fascist . He said if Trump wants to start a registry of Muslim Americans , that he could put O Malley s name first .  Sanders called for a shift in defence priorities , saying much of America s defense spending focused on the old Cold War .  Clinton said she would consult with her husband on economic policy . Sanders fired back : If you have an administration stacked with Wall Street appointees , you re not going to accomplish much .  Sanders was asked about his previous response to ex President Bill Clinton s extramarital affairs . That question annoys me , Sanders retorted , insisting he wanted to run an issues oriented campaign .  I m going to debate Secretary Clinton and Gov . O Malley on the issues facing this country , not on Bill Clinton s personal behaviour , he said .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,present
2837,2838,"We want to eliminate Isis but we need to understand that there has to be a post conflict resolution .  I am open minded , we want to see what Mr Cameron comes back with . In response to a horrific outrage like the one in Paris , or the one in Beirut , we shouldn t have a hot headed knee jerk response .  But neither should you have the kind of hot headed knee jerk response that Jeremy Corbyn and Alex Salmond have kind of exemplified , which is you mustn t do anything , ever .  I have always said I m very proud of Charles Kennedy leading the fight against the Iraq war , I m equally proud of Paddy Ashdown who called for intervention in Kosovo when nobody else was .  A colleague is hoping one day to nominate Sir Jeremy Heywood , the cabinet secretary and the most powerful unelected person in the country , for a prize for sending out Britain s most boring tweets . Heywood has been showing his form again today , prompted by the defence review .  ? Sir Jeremy Heywood ( HeadUKCivServ ) November 23 , 2015  New National Security Strategy weblink : t . co Q84uWTpWRq Product of great collaborative work across Whitehall leadership of cabinetofficeuk  ? Sir Jeremy Heywood ( HeadUKCivServ ) November 23 , 2015  Chap . 7 highlights important new steps to improve horizon scanning , data analytics , implementation joint working across depts SDSR2015  Tim Farron , the Lib Dem leader , has put out this statement about the defence review .  Only this government could create a rapid reaction force and will take 10 years to react .  The government s strategic defence and security review (  ) has some good points , especially the new maritime patrol boats and extra frigates .  The world is more dangerous and uncertain since the last  and that is why we need more flexible forces and greater coordination with allies in Europe . For all the prime minister s bluster that piece of the jigsaw is sadly missing .  I welcome the  s investments in security defence , the clear conclusion that  will remain at the heart of  defence . SDSR2015  Here is some industry and union reaction to the defence review .  From Terry Scuoler , chief executive of  , the manufacturers organisation  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
2841,2842,"Midfielder Alex Oxlade Chamberlain loves playing in such an attacking Arsenal team but accepts they will always have to work at keeping it tight at the back .  Arsenal recovered from going behind in the north London derby to a breakaway Tottenham goal for Nacer Chadli as Oxlade Chamberlain ' s close range strike secured a 1 1 draw .  Arsene Wenger ' s side , however , had enjoyed plenty of possession and should have been ahead before a lapse in concentration from defensive midfielder Matheiu Flamini allowed Christian Eriksen to snatch the ball and set up a swift counter .  Arsenal ' s Alex Oxlade Chamberlain slots home the equaliser against local rivals Tottenham on Saturday  Oxlade Chamberlain accepts it is a part of Arsenal ' s game which can hurt them , but is worth it for what the Gunners offer going forwards .  ' That is the risk you take when you play the way we play football , ' said England international Oxlade Chamberlain .  ' We try to take control of games , we like to set the tempo , We send a lot of bodies forward in a positive and attacking fashion and you do leave yourself at times a little bit vulnerable to the counter attack .  Oxlade Chamberlain celebrates netting against Tottenham Hotspur in the north London derby at the Emirates  Arsene Wenger ' s side salvaged a point thanks to Oxlade Chamberlain ' s first Gunners goal since February  ' It is just important that when we do , we have got people in the team that are willing to take the responsibility of holding back and being there to stop counter attacks .  ' But , yeah , I do love playing in this team and the style of play that we do , as I think all the players could say .  ' We do , though , need to obviously be careful and make sure we are defending at the same time as when we are attacking .  ' It is something we have always worked on because it is an area I am sure teams look at to try and break us down , so we have got to be ready for that . '  Oxlade Chamberlain handles the ball last season at Chelsea , which resulted in Kieran Gibbs being sent off  Despite attempts to reason with referee Andre Mariner after Kieran Gibbs was sent off at Chelsea last season  Arsenal head to leaders Chelsea next weekend , where they were thumped 6 0 last season , in what was Wenger ' s 1 , 000th match in charge .  Oxlade Chamberlain , though , insisted that result would not make Arsenal any less cavalier .  ' We do understand what happened there last season . Maybe we have got a point to prove there , we know this year we have got to step up in the big games and get some results in them , ' he said .  ' We are really looking forward to that game and we definitely give Chelsea the respect they deserve , but , at the same time , I have belief in my team mates and we do in ourselves to be able to go to a place like Chelsea and set the tempo and hopefully take control of the game .  ' There will be times in the game I am sure when they have a spell , because they are a top team .  ' They are going to have their time , we are going to have ours , we just have to make sure that when we do have our chances we make them count . '  Aaron Ramsey of Arsenal holds his leg as he lies on the pitch after picking up an injury against Tottenham  Arsenal were left counting the cost of injuries against Spurs , with captain Mikel Arteta and Aaron Ramsey limping off in the first half , before Jack Wilshere , who suffered a twisted ankle , was replaced for the final 30 minutes .  Wenger was at a loss to explain why soft tissue injuries continue to dog his squad . ' I don ' t know if we really have to look at it because there is no logic there , ' said the Arsenal manager .  ' It is two players who were not involved in the ( cup ) game in the week . We had quite a light week for them and we have to analyse what happened to them . I don ' t understand . '  Like our Arsenal Facebook page .  Mikel Arteta sits and angrily throws his boot to the ground after injury forced him out of the Tottenham game  Jack Wilshere is a doubt for Wednesday ' s match with Galatasaray after picking up an ankle injury  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
2858,2859,"It ' s fondly remembered as the classic bodice ripper , with millions of television viewers in the 1970s enthralled by scenes of passion and adventure played out against a backdrop of windswept Cornish landscapes .  And now , the  ' s new adaptation of Winston Graham ' s Poldark novels is again set to shock viewers but this time because of a lack of sex scenes and nudity .  Debbie Horsfield , the acclaimed dramatist who has written the new series , said : ' I am always fascinated by the way Poldark is described as a bodice ripper .  ' There don ' t seem to be any bodices being ripped in the original material and this new series is very much an adaptation of the source material . '  Fresh faces : Aidan Turner as the brooding Captain Ross Poldark with Eleanor Tomlinson as Demelza  Horsfield ' s comments might reassure fans of Graham ' s 12 Poldark books but will surprise fans of The Hobbit star Aidan Turner , cast as the brooding Captain Ross Poldark in the 2015 adaptation .  They have welcomed a ' sexy and steamy ' trailer for the show which shows ' a buffed ' Turner topless and then has him swimming naked in the sea . One wrote online : '  , Aidan Turner has made me feel things again ! ' while another added : ' I have Turner fever ! '  But Horsfield , who created the hairdressing drama Cutting It , said the trailer , which has been shown frequently on the  , wasn ' t necessarily typical of the drama to follow .  She said : ' I can ' t comment on what choices are made for a trailer . I don ' t think you will be seeing those sorts of scenes every few seconds . My view is that less is more . '  Topless scenes : A ' sexy and steamy ' trailer for the show shows ' a buffed ' Turner topless , pictured as he prepares for a scene during filming at Dollar Cove  Screen Shot episode one of the new  drama Poldark . . . mos web grab . . 20 02 2015 . . Captain Poldark together with Ellizabeth . Heida Reed in the roles of Demelza and Elizabeth respectively  The Mail on Sunday has seen the first episode of the new adaptation and can confirm there is no actual nudity . The new series will not be short of romance and intrigue , however , as it focuses on an 18th Century love triangle involving Poldark , his former fiancee Elizabeth and the servant girl Demelza whom he eventually marries .  The new series will inevitably be compared with the previous adaptation which caused a sensation when it was broadcast from 1975 to 1977 .  That version , which starred Robin Ellis as Poldark , Jill Townsend as Elizabeth and Angharad Rees as Demelza , proved to be a ratings hit and is still considered one of the best television dramas ever made .  Bodice ripper : The new series will inevitably be compared with the previous adaptation starring Robin Ellis as Ross Poldark and Angharad Rees as Demelza Poldark  But Horsfield said she didn ' t give it a second thought when she started work on her own adaptation , which has Eleanor Tomlinson and Heida Reed in the roles of Demelza and Elizabeth respectively .  She said : ' I know there is a certain generation that watched the 1970s version . I just wanted to convey the complexity of the story telling . I didn ' t think of the earlier version when I was writing it . We are sticking much more closely to the novels . The 1970s adaptation diverged quite considerably . '  The new eight part series , which will be shown on BBC1 on Sunday nights , is based on Graham ' s first two novels . But the  hopes to adapt all 12 books if audiences warm to the story .  The original series only covered the first seven novels although  did adapt the eighth in 1996 .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,past
2867,2868,"Last updated on : December 02 , 2015 1 : 12   Russian Defense Ministry officials on Wednesday presented what they said was proof of Turkish involvement in illegal oil trade with the Islamic State group (  ) , accusing top Turkish officials , including President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and members of his family , of complicity .  Calling  the "" absolute leader "" in international terrorism , Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov said during a briefing in Moscow on Wednesday that terrorists in Syria earn around 2 billion a year from the illegal extraction of oil , which they use to recruit and arm terrorists "" around the world . ""  "" That is why  is so protective of the infrastructure of illegal oil production in Syria and Iraq , "" Antonov said using another name for  . "" The main customers for this oil stolen from its rightful owners Syria and Iraq ? is Turkey . According to information we have received , the highest political leadership of the country President Erdogan and his family are involved in this criminal business . ""  However , no evidence that Erdogan or any member of his family has been involved in trading  oil was presented at the news conference .  Erdogan lashed out at the latest Russian accusations . "" No one has a right to engage in slander against Turkey by saying that Turkey is buying oil from Daesh (  ) , "" he said while on a visit to Qatar .  Turkey ' s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses an audience after receiving an honorary doctorate from Qatar University , in Doha , Qatar , Dec . 2 , 2015 .  The latest Russian claims come amid growing tensions between Moscow and Ankara after Turkey last week shot down a Russian warplane it said violated its airspace from Syria , a charge Russia denies .  The deputy chief of the Russian military ' s General Staff , Sergei Rudskoi , said during Wednesday ' s briefing that there are three main routes for the transport of oil extracted in Syria and Iraq into Turkey . One , he said , goes from Syria westward to Turkish ports on the Mediterranean Sea , the second passes from Syria northward to a oil refinery in Turkey ' s Batman Province , while the third passes from northeastern Syria and northwestern Iraq to a "" major trans shipment base "" in the Turkish town of Cizre .  Rudskoi presented satellite imagery taken at various times over the last several months , each showing hundreds of trucks and , in several shots , what he said were thousands of trucks . ? He said the vehicles were carrying  oil and either crossing into Turkey or headed for Turkey .  According to the Russian Defense Ministry , the illegal oil flow into Turkey does not involve only the Islamic State group . The ministry showed one piece of video at Wednesday ' s briefing that it said was taken of a border crossing at the Turkish town of Reyhanli , adjacent to parts of Syria ' s Aleppo region controlled by Jabhat al Nusra , al Qaida ' s affiliate in Syria .  The video clip shows a long line of large trucks at the border crossing , where a Turkish flag is visible .  A video screen grab from the Russian Defense Ministry ' s YouTube channel shows an image of the ministry ' s presentation of what it says is Turkey ' s involvement in trading Islamic State oil .  Following last week ' s downing of the Russian warplane , President Vladimir Putin said it was shot down by "" accomplices of terrorists "" and claimed  oil was flowing through Turkey .  Erdogan denied the claim and asked Putin to prove it , saying he would resign if such evidence was forthcoming .  On Wednesday , Erdogan again said he would resign if Russia proved its accusation , but added "" those who spread this slander shouldn ' t retain their seats either . ""  "" Turkey has not lost its moral values so as to buy oil from a terrorist organization , "" he added .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
2869,2870,"Share on Facebook Share on Twitter I believe we are in the midst of one of the biggest evolutions in our consciousness we have ever seen. I say this because everywhere you look, things seem to be changing in a very big way. But some back story first.   About 7 years ago, something happened in my life that changed the way I saw myself, my life and the world. I left college for good. I had been through 3 different programs in 3 years trying to figure out what worked for me. I was depressed on and off. I couldn’t believe that life was simply wake up and go to school until you get a degree. Then, wake up and go to a job you don’t truly like to make money to support your life until you’re 60 and then hopefully you can retire. Then, you die. I had to make a change and all along something told me that if I did, everything would be okay. Regardless of what everyone told me my whole life, I knew deeply that I didn’t (just as you don’t) have to live life in the way everyone tells you. 5 years ago Collective Evolution was born. A platform that has touched millions of people in a positive way over its 5 years and has changed my life in a positive way.  likely wouldn’t be around if I didn’t choose to leave school for good. I was invited by Columbia University’s Teacher’s College to give a TEDx talk as they felt I was an agent of change. Below is that talk and it tells my story as well as what I feel is one of the most important things we need to know and internalize: change starts within. This is what I feel is changing our entire world. Follow Your Passion, It’s Important The bottom line is, I believe we need to begin following our passions as a first choice when we are young. If we don’t yet know what our passions are, take the time to enjoy life and figure them out. There is no need to rush into post secondary school so we can get in debt and be stuck in a job for the rest of our lives. This, unfortunately, is a western mentality where we operate under the idea that this is the only way and since people who follow this path are praised and celebrated, many follow the same path.   Even for people who are older and well out of school, it’s never too late to start doing something new and following your passion. Although there may be financial responsibilities at times, make arrangements and plans to transition into doing something you love. It’s always possible and there is a way, we just need to begin trying and putting the steps into place. I believe that the moment we truly choose to begin doing something from our hearts, the world around us begins to conspire to make it happen as a result of our conscious desire to make it happen. Since the thoughts might be building, I want to be clear, I am not saying there is no value in education or post secondary school. I am simply stating my belief that it should only be attended when you  know what you want to do, need the education for it and are passion about it. I believe that the education system is designed the way it is for ulterior purposes more so than simply educating with pure intention. More on that below. Does Education Kill Creativity?  The Sacred Science follows eight people from around the world, with varying physical and psychological illnesses, as they embark on a one-month healing journey into the heart of the Amazon jungle.  You can watch this documentary film  for 10 days by clicking here.  ""If “Survivor” was actually real and had stakes worth caring about, it would be what happens here, and “The Sacred Science” hopefully is merely one in a long line of exciting endeavors from this group."" - Billy Okeefe, McClatchy Tribune",fake,news,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,past
2875,2876,"took my mayor away ? Oklahoma official ' s job in jeopardy after hubby ' s ' prank '  A small town Oklahoma mayor is under fire after her husband and friends donned white robes and hoods to resemble Ku Klux Klan attire as they held crosses around a bonfire in what the mayor called a Halloween "" prank gone bad . ""  A photo that has spread widely on social media shows Cary Sharp , husband of Lahoma mayor Theresa Sharp , standing around a fire on Saturday night with three other men . Two of the figures are wearing white robes with pointed hoods , the traditional clothing of the  .  Cary Sharp said he and his friends decided on the stunt after drinking some beers on Halloween night , though they did not burn the cross , he emphasized .  There was no cross that burned , Cary Sharp ? told the Enid News Eagle , a local newspaper . It was held behind the fire to look like it was burning , but there was no fire . The pictures we ve seen claimed they were burning one , but there was not one burnt .  Oklahoma mayor apologizes for husband ' s  Halloween costume weblink : t . co rVF1WWUSyM pic . twitterweblink q1iVurB29k  A neighbor reported the group to the local authorities , according to the Enid News Eagle .  "" We are a small community , and in no way do I feel this represents our views as a whole , "" said witness Misty Meister . "" It is upsetting due to the fact that we live in a community with families of different ethnic backgrounds , and this is a symbol of hate and intolerance . ""  Garfield County Deputy Aaron Moore approached the group , but told the neighbor that , although the men were acting "" in poor taste , "" he could not make them stop .  Seriously , white people ?  ? The one time that it ' s  to wear  costume is  . weblink : t . co 6zVw8en5At pic . twitterweblink aBFEVIHHvS  I advised the group why I was there , and that although I know it was a joke that they ? save them and myself anymore headaches to not burn anymore crosses , Moore wrote in his report of the incident .  Mayor Theresa Sharp said she was not involved in the stunt .  It was poor judgment on the part of him and his friends , she ? told The Oklahoman . I was not involved . I was trick or treating with my child . Myself and the city ? do not endorse the behavior that was reflected that night .  Cary Sharp expressed remorse over the incident , which has garnered attention far and wide thanks to social media .  I ' m very sorry that this happened , he told The Oklahoman . I have huge regrets , trust me .  No you just got caught . No man at his age would be playing tricks on little kids as  members . weblink : t . co ws6TbXRFuM  Garfield County Sheriff Jerry Niles said the "" Halloween prank gone bad "" showed "" very poor judgment . ""  It was done in very , very poor taste , Niles said . It brings up bad images of things that 99 . 9 percent of Americans , especially Oklahomans , are adamantly against . We re all Americans , born and raised here , and we have a responsibility to honor the Constitution and the rights of others and feelings of others .  Get the blacks out : Racist political fliers show  cop pointing gun at black kid  Mayor Sharp said some in the Lahoma community are pushing for her resignation following the incident .  I know they are calling for my resignation , and I believe that ' s something the board members and myself will probably discuss in the future , "" she told The Oklahoman .  The Garfield County Sheriff ' s Office has not notified higher authorities of any pending investigation of the incident , the local district attorney said . Such a probe could happen if law enforcement deems the gathering a hate group , as it first appeared to be .  Lahoma , a town of 650 people , is about 70 miles northwest of Oklahoma City .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
2876,2877,"He only started his new job two weeks ago . But Prince William confirmed yesterday that he will take his full fortnight of paternity leave when his second child is born later this month .  The future king , 32 , became the most senior member of the royal family to work as an ordinary  employee when he became a pilot for East Anglian Air Ambulance .  According to Kensington Palace , he plans to take time off to be with his wife and new baby , just like he did when his son , Prince George , was born in 2013 .  Dash : Prince William faces a two hour hospital dash to be at his wife ' s side when she goes into labour  The second in line to the throne will be working throughout April in three sites Cambridge , Norwich and Gloucestershire Airport .  The Duchess of Cambridge , meanwhile , will largely be based at their London home Kensington Palace .  Royal staff have already ruled out using a helicopter to transport William back to London , meaning the prince faces a two hour ' blues and twos ' dash back to the capital .  He could even risk missing the birth if their second child arrives more quickly than expected , although aides acknowledge that the scenario is unlikely .  On maternity leave : The Duchess won ' t be seen in public again until she leaves hospital with the new baby  Frenetic : The scenes outside the Lindo Wing at St . Mary ' s Hospital during Prince George ' s birth  There will be no Lindo Wing fervour like there was for George as the Press and public are banned from the street outside .  Sources said the couple , who do not know the baby ' s sex , were ' grateful ' for interest in their new arrival who will be fourth in line to the throne but want to avoid a ' media circus ' .  They have also vowed not to make a public announcement until at least 8am the next day if the baby is born after 10pm , and not before they have informed their families including Prince Harry , who is likely to be in Australia when the baby arrives .  They also made clear that Kate , who has been staying at the couple ' s new country home in Norfolk , Anmer Hall , plans to return to the capital soon and intends to give birth at the Lindo Wing of St Mary ' s Hospital , where a natural birth costs up to 10 , 000 .  Her team will be led by Guy Thorpe Beeston , Surgeon Gynaecologist to the Royal Household .  The doctor , who says he likes to ' keep things simple ' by ' offering honest advice ' , specialises in pre natal diagnosis , deliveries and ultrasound .  He graduated from Cambridge University in 1984 and worked at King ' s Hospital in London before becoming a consultant in foetal medicine at Chelsea and Westminster in 1996 .  Safety first : Contingency plans have been put in place in case Kate is outside of London when labour starts  Crazy : Preparations for a media pen outside the Lindo Wing ahead of the April 25th birth are underway  Not long to go : The Duchess , seen here at events last month , still doesn ' t know the sex of her child  Contingency plans have been put in place at other hospitals Addenbrooke ' s in Cambridge and the Royal Berkshire , close to Kate ' s parents should the Duchess , 33 , go into labour outside of the capital .  Kate , whose public duties ended last month , has not specified how much maternity leave she intends to take .  But sources have told the Mail that she will return to Kensington Palace to recuperate before travelling to Norfolk to set up home at Anmer Hall . An aide said : ' Her focus will be on her family over the summer . '  With an imminent General Election , aides were also asked whether they might time their announcement around the campaign , but one quipped : ' Babies arrive when they arrive ! '  Excited : Prince George is apparently looking forward to the impending birth according to his parents  Delighted : The couple also revealed their delight at receiving warm wishes from around the world  A spokesman for the couple added yesterday they were touched by the public reaction to the birth of their new baby , who will be fourth in line to the throne .  In a statement about the impending royal arrival , he said : ' The Duke and Duchess are hugely grateful for the warm wishes they have received from people throughout the  and indeed around the world over the last few months .  ' They know that people are excited Prince George will soon have a little brother or sister and it means a great deal to them that so many will be celebrating this important moment for their family .  ' They are very appreciative that so many people share their excitement as they await the arrival of their second baby . '  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
2885,2886,"Reuters) - New Jersey Governor Chris Christie ordered a halt to non-essential road, bridge and mass transit projects late Thursday after lawmakers failed to reauthorize the state fund that pays for them. Christie’s executive order calls for the state Department of Transportation and New Jersey Transit to devise a plan before midnight Saturday for the “orderly” shutdown of projects funded by the Transportation Trust Fund. Federally funded projects will continue, Christie said in his executive order.  The state expects to receive an estimated $906 million of federal transportation aid, according to the state treasurer’s annual report. New Jersey’s ability to borrow for new transportation projects ran out on Friday, the start of the new fiscal year. The trust fund already has about $16 billion of outstanding debt for existing road projects. The fund has roughly $80 million left, said Assembly Transportation Committee Chairman John Wisniewski, who called Christie’s executive order “pure theater.”         Without new appropriations or bond proceeds, the authority cannot pay vendors for construction. Projects at any stage - procurement, design and construction - are affected by Christie’s order, the Department of Transportation said. About a month ago, lawmakers discussed issuing grant anticipation revenue bonds, or so-called GARVEEs, as a stop-gap measure, but the idea was never acted upon, Wisniewski told Reuters. The flow of federal money backing those bonds is often uncertain from year to year. “You can’t do an annual capital program on  bonds,” he said. Christie ordered the remaining money in the fund to be held only for the most essential projects “in order to protect the health, safety and welfare” of New Jerseyans, he said. Christie had hatched a late-night deal earlier this week with the Assembly to raise the state gasoline tax by 23 cents to 37.5 cents per gallon to replenish the fund. In exchange, the sales tax rate would shrink 1 percentage point to 6 percent, which could lead to an annual $1.7 billion shortfall in future budgets. But the Senate ended its session on Thursday without replenishing the program, which is expected to run out of money in August.  Senators were pushing their own bill, which would have phased out the estate tax on wealthy residents instead of reducing sales taxes. Christie also stripped several items out of the legislature’s budget on Thursday, signing a reduced $34.5 billion budget for fiscal 2017 that is just 2.1 percent higher than that for fiscal 2016. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
2892,2893,"Medical workers expressed alarm Friday over the increase in hospitalizations and deaths in Haiti ' s cholera outbreak as the earthquake devastated nation ' s already strained health system overflowed with the sick .  On the outskirts of the capital city of Port au Prince in the slum of Cite Soleil , Medecins Sans Frontieres ( Doctors Without Borders ) saw 216 cases of cholera at Choscal Hospital on Thursday . Five days ago , that number was only 30 .  Stefano Zannini , the head of mission for Medecins Sans Frontieres , said his staff was seeing seven times the cases they were seeing three days ago .  "" The trend is extremely , extremely alarming , "" he said . "" We have not reached a peak yet , but it could arrive next week . ""  The U . N . Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs put the death toll Friday at more than 800 , with more than 12 , 000 people hospitalized .  Epidemiologists predict the outbreak could last for months and say the entire nation of almost 10 million people is at risk because they have no immunity to cholera .  The United Nations warned that Haiti is facing one of the most severe outbreaks of the disease in the past 100 years . It appealed to international donors for 164 million in aid and said it anticipates as many as 200 , 000 people to be sickened with cholera over the next six to 12 months .  "" A major effort has already been made , but the sheer quantity of relief items that need to be delivered in the days and weeks ahead is going to require more logistical and financial support for the government by all humanitarian agencies and donors and very close coordination , "" said Nigel Fisher , U . N . humanitarian coordinator in Haiti . "" Without this the epidemic could well outrun our efforts . ""  Of grave concern are cases that originated in the tent cities of Port au Prince , which sprang up to shelter those left homeless by the massive earthquake that killed more than 200 , 000 people last January . Health officials fear that infection could spread quickly in the makeshift cities ' congested , unsanitary conditions and in impoverished neighborhoods where clean drinking water is at a premium .  Symptoms of cholera , an acute , bacterial illness caused by drinking tainted water , can be mild or even non existent . But sometimes they can be severe : profuse watery diarrhea , vomiting , and leg cramps , which can cause rapid loss of body fluids and lead to dehydration , shock and death .  Aid workers in Haiti are scrambling as the nation recovers not only from the earthquake , but from last week ' s hurricane .  "" We are stretched thin , "" said Julie Schindall , a spokeswoman for the humanitarian agency Oxfam .  Zannini reminded the world that cholera is as much a logistical problem as a medical one . It ' s not just a matter of medical donations or more doctors on the ground , he said . Who will supply clean drinking water ? Who will make sure there are proper bathroom facilities ? Who will dispose of the waste ? Or for that matter , the dead bodies ?  "" It ' s not just about donating money , "" Zannini said . "" It ' s about concrete actions . ""  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Conflict,satire,true,True,no,no,negative,past
2894,2895,"Tomas Rosicky is 34 years old . He has been at Arsenal for nine years , but has averaged just 19 Premier League games a season under Arsene Wenger .  Yet , when the ' Little Mozart ' is at his best , Wenger ' s fluid style of play is rarely encapsulated more . His individual masterclass at Brighton in the  Cup on Sunday typified the type of performance Arsenal fans have grown to love , full of energy , pressing on and off the ball and flair .  Phil Neville may want to ' two foot him ' , but really , we must saviour the moments when the Czech star lights up a football pitch with his touch .  Tomas Rosicky gives a ' no look ' pass during the build up to his spectacular goal against Brighton  The Czech midfielder used the same move a number of times during Arsenal ' s 3 2 win against Brighton  ' If you love football , you love Tomas Rosicky , ' Wenger gleamed after the 3 2 victory . Mesut Ozil and Theo Walcott returned for the Gunners , but were dictated by the midfield maestro on the South Coast .  Rosicky is an odd footballing creature , someone who can go missing when he ' s not found his rhythm , someone who is more likely to put in the performance of the season than nail down a position in the starting  .  In fact , he looked set for a January departure before injuries played their part in north London .  Rosicky celebrates his goal while Aaron Ramsey ( centre ) rushes over to congratulate him  Former Fulham goalkeeper David Stockdale dived too late to keep out Rosicky ' s perfectly executed strike  ' The lack of match practice has been absolutely terrible and , naturally , it makes me very sorry that I haven ' t been given a chance yet , ' Rosicky said back in September .  A limp outing in his first start of the campaign against Southampton in the Capital One Cup did nothing for him , and even had some sections of the Emirates Stadium crowd booing . This was not the Rosicky they knew and loved .  But Rosicky is always a man Wenger rates so highly , and is perhaps his most trusted member of the first team squad . Year in , year out , he comes into form when Arsenal need him most , from December to May . The French boss has always been firm with players aged 30 or older when it comes to new deals in the past , but not with Rosicky , who has signed on in March in two of the last three seasons . He will get a testimonial next year if he opts for a contract extension at the club .  Rosicky ( left ) , despite his inconsistent form , is rated very highly by Gunners boss Arsene Wenger  At Manchester City , when Santi Cazorla ran the show , faith was placed in Rosicky to come on for Alex Oxlade Chamberlain and steer the ship home . His knowledge of where to run with the ball when defending a lead , and when to bring out the flicks and tricks , is all so important .  He mixes the experience of a 34 year old with the exuberance of a young teen trying to make a point . You might say it ' s the perfect combination .  Rosicky has had to change his game over the years . A career threatening injury back in 2008 kept him out of action for almost two years . He insists his ' football age ' is 32 because of it , while some call him Peter Pan . Before that hamstring problem , the playmaker was one of the few in the Arsenal squad who seemed keen to pull the trigger , with a ferocious shot from a short back lift .  Rosicky ( left ) was a calming influence from the bench as he helped Arsenal close out a 2 0 against City  Now , his burst of pace from midfield is more evident , his selflessness and weight of pass usually to perfection . At Brighton , we got to see all sides to his game . The ball through to Ozil for the Gunner ' s second goal of the game was effortless , the no look pass and subsequent volley past goalkeeper David Stockdale sublime .  Rosicky earned his ' Little Mozart ' name back in Germany with Borussia Dortmund , but the nickname has never been more suitable than for the man we see today .  The game Wenger tries to play is all about finding angles and avenues in and around the opposition midfield . Different trajectories and speed of pass is ' the Arsenal way ' . In Rosicky , he has a player that will always look for the forward pass , finding miniscule gaps to thread balls through , eager for one twos and runs beyond the defence should they be needed .  Rosicky earned his ' Little Mozart ' nickname during his younger days with Borussia Dortmund  The midfielder has come through a difficult era with Arsenal , often a barren one , to become the player he is today , an intelligent technician to compliment the likes of Cazorla .  The duo , best friends off the pitch , have both been praised in recent weeks , and Ozil , Walcott and Aaron Ramsey will struggle to oust them from the side on current form .  However , Rosicky for one will know the time will come this season when he plays second fiddle once again . Not usually one for the limelight , more one for the highlight reel , there aren ' t many left like the Czech Republic captain .  We should appreciate this conductor while we still can .  The likes of Mesut Ozi ( left ) and Theo Walcott will struggle to oust the in form Rosicky  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
2896,2897,"Celebrity chef Bill Granger is selling his spacious Californian style bungalow for an estimated 3 . 3 million because its time to upsize , less than a month after he opened a brand new beachside restaurant nearby .  The self taught cook and his wife Natalie Elliott bought the house , situated in walking distance from Bronte beach in Sydney , in April 2008 for 2 . 88 million .  His new restaurant , Bills Bondi , opened down the road in September twenty one years after he opened his first restaurant in Darlinghurst at the age of 22 .  An advert for the house boasts that it is ' privately positioned amid established gardens ' and has ocean views .  Celebrity chef Bill Granger ' s house in Bronte , east Sydney , is up for sale less than a month after he opened a brand new beachside restaurant nearby  The beach side home is expected to reach 3 . 3 million when it goes to auction on November 1  The four bedroom home goes up for auction on November 1 with Goodyear Real Estate .  Granger met his wife Natalie through one of his employees while she was working as a film producer . She now helps manage his business and they have three daughters together , named Edie , Ines and Bunny .  The family are currently based in London but plan to move back to Sydney permanently to a bigger house in the eastern suburbs , Property Observer reports .  Granger ( left ) bought the house in 2008 . It is situated amid established gardens on a 590sqm block  The two level Californian bungalow is set on one of Bronte ' s most prized family streets and the kitchen has no doubt seen Granger cook up some tasty meals  The dining area is casual and relaxed with plenty of natural light . The self taught cook opened his first restaurant at the age of 22 in Sydney ' s Darlinghurst  Granger , his wife , and three daughters are currently based in London but plan to move back to Sydney permanently  Inside of their Bronte house , the modern white interiors are complimented by a wealth of original period features , including ornate ceilings .  The casual kitchen , where Granger has no doubt cooked up many delicious meals , looks out on to the garden .  After Bills restaurant opened in Bondi , on the website for his restaurant chain , the 45 year old said : ' It ' s hard to believe that we ' re only just opening in Bondi in 2014 .  ' Bondi beach and Bills go together like surfers and boardshorts , limes and mojitos , and hotcakes and honeycomb butter ? We can ' t wait to welcome you into our newest urban beach house , at the very sunny heart of the fabulous city where it all began . '  The house has well maintained gardens and is a ' short walk to the sand , surf buzzing beachfront caf s '  Granger boasts an international portfolio of businesses now . He has four restaurants in Japan , a couple in London , one in Hawaii and another planned for Seoul  In an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald in September , Granger explained that Bondi was where he wanted to open his first Bills but he was ' too young ' .  ' Bondi felt really right . When the lease was up on Woollahra , the opportunity to do Bondi came up and I thought , "" ohhhh that sounds quite exciting "" . '  ' Bondi has a great new energy about it . It ' s a lovely mixed up crowd too which I really enjoy , ' he said .  Granger moved from Melbourne to Sydney in the late 1980s and worked at the now closed La Passion De Fruit in Surry Hills as a waiter while he studied art .  Granger has been proudly posting pictures from his new Bondi restaurant ( centre , right ) and swims at Bondi Icebergs swimming club ( left ) since being back in Sydney  His passion for food grew and in 1993 , he opened a restaurant his first ' Bills ' restaurant in Sydney ' s Darlinghurst .  Next came Bills Surry Hills , then Bills Woollahra and in 2008 , he opened the first Bills restaurant outside Australia in Japan .  He now has four restaurants in Japan , a couple in London , one in Hawaii and another planned for Seoul .  His huge international business expansion came at the same time he was making a name for himself on  with  cooking shows that were screened around the world .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
2920,2921,"England It is still remembered as one of the worst days in the history of modern sailing .  The Fastnet race still remains one of the biggest events in the yachting calendar .  Yet the Fastnet tragedy of 1979 in which 15 people were killed and ex British leader Edward Heath went missing helped to usher in a new era of improved safety in the sport .  It was 30 years ago today that a freak storm struck over 300 vessels competing in the 600 mile yacht race between England and Ireland .  Mountainous seas and vicious high winds sunk or put out of action 25 boats .  The British rescue attempt turned into an international effort with a Dutch warship and trawlers from France also joining the search .  In spite of the biggest rescue operation launched by the  authorities since the Second World War a total of 15 people died . Some of them drowned and others succumbed to hypothermia . Six of those lost went missing after their safety harnesses broke .  "" Most people in the sailing community at the time knew someone who was involved in one way or another . I had a friend who lost his father . It was devastating . ""  Witt said that in the aftermath of the disaster the rules governing racing were tightened to ensure boats carried more ballast . Improvements were also made to the safety harnesses that tied crewmen to their boats , many of which proved ineffective in the tragedy . It also became mandatory for all yachts to be fitted with radio communication equipment and all competitors were expected to hold sailing qualifications to take part .  At the time of the tragedy the Fastnet race was the last in a series of five races which made up the Admiral ' s Cup competition , the world championship of yacht racing .  Competitors from around the globe attempted the route which sets off from the Isle of Wight , off the English south coast , and rounds the Fastnet rock on the southeast coast of Ireland .  Roger Ware was in charge of handling press for the event on behalf of the organizers , the Royal Ocean Racing Club . Ware said that even today the tragedy "" still spooks me . "" The racers set off on a Saturday but it wasn ' t till three days later that the authorities in the English coastal town of Plymouth realized there was a problem .  The press team was based at the Duke of Cornwall hotel in Plymouth and early Tuesday morning Ware got a call from his superiors to go to the hotel immediately in order to field calls from journalists .  Ware said the worst part for him was fielding calls from concerned relatives . "" The Royal Ocean Racing Club headquarters was overloaded so calls were getting transferred to the press team .  "" I found myself talking to a woman whose husband I knew was in one of the boats where there ' d been fatalities . I couldn ' t give her the information she wanted and to this day I still think about that telephone call . ""  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
2932,2933,"It was intended as a piece of comedy , but it ' s turned into a drama .  A young American living in the United Arab Emirates has been imprisoned since April , his family says , for posting what was intended to be a funny video on the Internet .  Now , the family of Shezanne "" Shez "" Cassim wants to bring attention to his case ahead of a hearing December 16 .  The video in question is a 19 minute short that pokes fun at a clique of Dubai teens who are influenced by hip hop culture . In the 1990s , the label "" Satwa G "" was coined for a group of suburban teens who were known to talk tougher than they really were .  The video depicts a look at a "" combat school "" in the suburb of Satwa , where these "" gangsters "" are trained . The training includes how to throw sandals at targets , using clothing accessories as whips , and how to call on the phone for backup .  Cassim ' s family says Shez , 29 , has been charged with endangering national security , but they ' ve not been told what about the video endangered security .  "" It ' s just a straightforward silly comedy video . And he ' s being treated like some sort of dangerous criminal , high security criminal that they need to keep under maximum security conditions , "" Shervon Cassim told  about his brother .  Cassim , from Woodbury , Minnesota , moved to Dubai in 2006 after graduating college to work for PricewaterhouseCoopers .  Dubai lands Middle East ' s first World Expo  He and some friends made and posted the video online in 2012 . He was arrested in April 2013 .  According to the family , Cassim and eight friends have been charged under a cybercrimes law for endangering public order . This law , the family says , wasn ' t passed until after the video had been released .  Two attempts by Cassim ' s lawyers to get him released on bail have been rejected .  The U . S . State Department is providing consular services to Cassim , a department official said , and has attended all his court hearings .  "" The U . S . Embassy and Consulate General have engaged with  counterparts to urge a fair and expedient trial and judgment , "" the official said .  The Satwa G ' s , the family said in a statement , were known as wanna be gangsters , and that ' s how Cassim portrayed them .  "" These ' gangstas ' were known for their decidedly mild behavior and were seen as the total opposite of actual criminals , "" the statement said . "" The fictional training depicted in the video teaches techniques that include the best way to throw a sandal at a newspaper ( target ) and , ultimately , how to use the mobile phone when in trouble . ""  At the last hearing , the judge in the case asked for an Arabic translation of the video , giving the family some hope that the authorities will realize that it was a parody .  "" I just want my son home for Christmas , "" said Cassim ' s mother , Jean Cassim , in a statement . "" He ' s a good young man with a great career and has never been in trouble . Now he ' s being held for no reason . I ' ve been praying , going to mass and lighting candles , and that ' s what I ' m going to keep doing . ""  An average of about 2 , 500 Americans are jailed abroad every year , and about a third of those arrests are related to illegal drugs , the U . S . State Department says . "" In 2010 alone , consular officers conducted more than 9 , 500 prison visits , and assisted more than 3 , 500 Americans who were arrested abroad , "" the State Department ' s website says .  Advice for U . S . citizens traveling abroad  U . S . travelers in foreign countries are subject to the laws of those countries , and there ' s a limit to how much help they can get from the U . S . Embassy or Consulate there .  U . S . diplomatic corps officials "" cannot represent you in legal proceedings or pay your legal fees or other expenses . But they can perform many vital services such as providing a list of attorneys , assisting in contacting your family , helping your family to send money , and monitoring your health and welfare , "" the State Department says .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
2936,2937,"Print  Of all the weeks to turn in a late Follies post from your  Football Commentary Service.  We’ve already had two outcomes for our Inner Circle (more below, in case you’re still in suspense).  But we’re also in a position to ask the eternal question: if Cal and  play and no one pays attention, did anything happen? (FWIW,  won, 45-24. Another Storied Rivalry settled for 2016. Cal ballcaps back in the closet, folks.)  Next week:  rankings to lampoon.  Tennessee whupped up on Jacksonville Thursday night in the pros. As nature seems to have intended this year. Get a defense, Jags.  Inner circle  The University of Tulsa Golden Hurricane (4-2), which beat Notre Dame 28-27 on 30 October 2010, will be at Memphis Saturday for an American West showdown. The Tigers are giving 6.5, but we think  has a better shot than that. Should be a good game.  Oklahoma, holding steady at #16, hosts Kansas (motto: “What difference, at this point, does it make?”) on Saturday evening, while laying a ridiculous 40.5. Has the betting fraternity been held in isolation for the last six weeks? Kansas isn’t nearly as bad as they were a year ago, and Oklahoma’s defense couldn’t stop a gum-wrapper chain if it were barreling down the field. Anything could happen, but this is just the sort of situation where Oklahoma ends up struggling in the final 2 minutes to stay on top of a 3-point lead. We’ll believe 40 when we see it.  Oklahoma State gets to host #10 West Virginia, pride of the Big 12, in Stillwater early Saturday. As befits a ranked visitor facing a Gundy squad, the Mountaineers are giving, but not a lot – 3.5. That said,  could well find a way to rattle Cowboy  Mason Rudolph. Game by game, the Mountaineers have tended to be a one-trick pony on defense this year, but they keep finding the right trick to get the job done.  New #22 Navy will be squaring off with South Florida at Ray-Jay in Tampa by the time this goes to post. The 6-2 Bulls top the American East at the moment, while 5-1 Navy leads the American West, so there will be a lot of talk about a conference-champ preview. The Bulls scored 35 on Florida State in a wild early-season loss, but just took a bad dive last game against Temple. They’re favored by 6, but Navy’s likely to cover. (Umm. Well, any minute now, Navy’s going to start getting in the same hemisphere as “covering.” Good grief, Navy’s secondary just can’t keep up with these guys.)  Army will be in Winston-Salem to take on Wake Forest Saturday, on the short end of 7. Wake could more than cover, but Army took a drubbing from North Texas last week, and will be out for blood. Key week to see if this year’s Black Knights are for real.  Air Force , also coming off a painful loss to Hawaii, heads to Fresno State Friday evening for the late game. Falcons give 14.5. We think the Bulldogs will cover.  Virginia Tech , back at #25 (for now), knocked off Pitt 39-36 in a rock-‘em-sock-‘em slugfest last night in Pittsburgh. Hard-fought battle with major yardage on both sides, but some intermittently impressive defense poking through as well. See what you can do, Hokies, when you don’t eat yourselves alive with penalties and turnovers?  Nevada , we’re happy to say, has the week off. New #19  is off this week as well, preparing for the rivalry bout with Alabama next week.  For all you offense fans out there,  hosts Texas Tech on Saturday. We, personally, are going to be extremely disappointed if the combined total points clock in anywhere south of 130. Toads give 9.5.  Kansas State is off to Iowa State to see what the Wildcats can do with the 1-6 Cyclones’ bad habit of losing. K-State is 4-3 and a solid shot for a bowl bid – but, still facing OK-State, Baylor, rival KU, and  down the stretch, they really want to add to the “W” column this weekend.  Toledo is our other Thursday night winner, because we just know they had a Great Learning Experience coming in second to Ohio last night (31-26, for those with a thirst for data). Apparently it’s been quite a while since the Bobcats won in Toledo. Seemed to be all anybody could talk about. Rockets go to 6-2; their biggest conference game at division-leader (and #20) Western Michigan will be Thanksgiving week, and when they win that one, they may just get another crack at Ohio for the  crown.  Wyoming hosts #13 Boise State, and it’s a measure of the Cowboys’ improved performance this year that the Broncos are only laying 13.5. It wouldn’t surprise us, exactly, for the Pokes to cover.  Top 10  #1 Alabama is off, preparing as any sensible team would to meet LSU.  New #2 Michigan heads to East Lansing for something they’ve been wanting to do since 2012: win the Paul Bunyan Trophy back from Michigan State. This is the year they can do it. The Wolverines give 24 at the moment. The 2-5 Spartans will play them tough, of course, but we’re figuring on Blue from out here in the cheap seats. And who cares if the trophy looks like a manly man’s Hummel figurine? There’s nothing foofy about, you know, collecting.  In default of better options, Clemson is cycling back through #3, and takes on #12  in Tallahassee, in the marquee slot on Saturday evening. Tigers give only 4, even though the ‘Noles haven’t been all that, recently. The one and only Paul Bunyan Trophy, in play once more. (Image: Wikipedia)  New #4 Washington is at #17 Utah, giving 11.  New #5 Louisville heads to Charlottesville with a gift of 33 for hapless Virginia.  New #6 Ohio State, which owes us all an apology for upsetting the top 10 in this incontinent way, hosts Northwestern, giving 27.5.  New #7 Nebraska will be at #11 Wisconsin, facing the real probability of losing top 10 standing in their Storied Rivalry game, not to mention the Freedom Trophy. Which may be Just A Trophy, but is discreetly attractive at least. Badgers give 9.5. Why they fight. (Image:  Athletic Communications via Fox Sports)  New #8 Baylor is at Texas, giving 3.5, and better watch its six.  #9 Texas A&M hosts New Mexico State, which makes for a meeting of Aggies but doesn’t seem to have a lot of other merits. A&M is laying 43.5.  Best of the rest  We can’t vouch in advance for the football, but it’s always an exciting weekend when Florida (#14) and Georgia meet in their Storied Rivalry to fight for the Okefenokee Oar.  #15 Auburn at Ole Miss might be kind of interesting. Miami at Notre Dame holds possibilities, featuring a tight 1.5-point spread (Arsh) and the usual primo slot on the Notre Dame Broadcasting Channel. The Okefenokee Oar’s glamour shot from its Facebook page.  Other ranks  In FCS, McNeese State hosts Abilene Christian for the Cowboy Homecoming on Saturday evening. Abilene Christian is 1-7 and sucks royally, but they are coming off their one win (over Incarnate Word), and McNeese has whiffed on some softballs this season. But Go Pokes! 70s and clear for the 6  game start.  In Div II, Slippery Rock (5-3) heads to Clarion to take on  rival Clarion U. on Saturday. The Eagles are 2-6 and have already had their obligatory losses to ranked powerhouses California U. (PA) and IUP. We don’t want to say it’s cake for Clarion from here on, but we do suspect  may be a tad more motivated. Little Clarion P-A (pop. 5,000) is northeast of Pittsburgh (and Slippery Rock), and just southwest of the Allegheny National Forest, where it will be in the 60s and clouding up something fierce for the noon kickoff.  In Div III, Rose-Hulman ,  The Bomb, is now 6-2 and perched atop the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference after the epic win over Franklin. The Fightin’ Engineers host Bluffton U. (OH) in Terre Haute on Saturday, in a game that could be a showstopper. The Beavers come in 6-1 (4-1 conference), and although they lost to Franklin, they beat RHIT’s archrival Mt. St. Joe in September. Fight hard, Engineers. 70s and overcast for the 1:30  kickoff.  Christopher Newport , now 5-2 after the owwie at Frostburg State, could do itself some major good hosting Salisbury U. (MD) for Homecoming Saturday night. Salisbury (6-1) is second in the NJAC, behind Frostburg, but also ranked #17 in the Coaches’ Poll. See how easy? Vault Salisbury and Wesley (which  beat a few weeks ago) in the NJAC, and maybe surge back into the top 25. Well, it’s a goal. Topping out at 70, with clear skies, for the 4  game start.  Merchant Marine has the week off.  Pros  Our Redskins lead us off Sunday morning, playing Cincinnati at the ungodly hour of 6:30   because they’ll be at Wembley Stadium in London. Bengals give 3.  New Orleans hosts Seattle (-2.5) in the (godlier) early slot.  San Diego and Denver are going to get right back on that horse in Sports Authority at Mile High, and we’d like to see the Broncos do something with their 4-point give this time. They did wallop the Texans, for what that’s worth.  Dallas has a big one coming up Sunday night, hosting Philly in Arlington. The 5-point Cowboy advantage isn’t completely unjustifiable.  Steelers have the week off.  Monday night gives us Minnesota (-4.5) at Chicago.",fake,news,test,American football,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
2952,2953,"According to the "" Guinness Book of World Records , "" Sherlock Holmes is the most popular role in the movies .  So if Robert Downey Jr . hardly seems like the iconic Sherlock ( he ' s too short and muscular , and strains to suggest the intellectual arrogance that comes so easily to the English ) , he can take his place alongside such oddball castings as Buster Keaton , Charlton Heston and George C . Scott . And he ' s ideally suited to director Guy Ritchie ' s purpose , which is not to dust off your grandfather ' s Conan Doyle , but to juice today ' s kids with a quirky 19th century super sleuth .  What ' s fun about these movies is that the equation works both ways .  Yes , this Holmes is more likely to get physical than his predecessors , he ' s even a bit of a boor , but he ' s still a more cerebral action hero than we find in most blockbusters , and the period trappings ( a seamless blend of  and location work ) help this franchise stand out from the crowd of comic book adaptations .  Ritchie and husband and wife screenwriters Kieran and Michele Mulroney ( "" Paper Man "" ) map out a fast moving if ridiculously digressive Victorian adventure that crisscrosses Europe by horseless carriage , train , boat , and , in Sherlock ' s case , pony .  Just down the road from 221 Baker Street they ' re digging a tunnel for what will become the London Underground . The Industrial Age is beginning to stretch its muscles , while a series of terrorist atrocities are gnawing at the fragile understanding between the great European powers . Holmes detects something other than social unrest behind the bombings : an evil master plan leading inexorably to his nemesis , Professor Moriarty ( Jared Harris ) .  There are big themes there , but the movie doesn ' t take itself remotely seriously . This is a rambunctious romp , even brazenly camp when it ' s poking fun at the always intriguing Holmes Watson relationship . Sometimes it seems like the real motivation behind Moriarty ' s scheme is not to plunge Europe into war so much as to prevent the doctor from consummating his marriage and reunite him with his former roommate , which is where he rightfully belongs .  Nothing if not versatile , Downey dons myriad disguises through the course of the movie ( he even impersonates a bookcase ) , and he does a long , very funny turn in drag . Jude Law is Hardy to his Laurel , always piqued , but somehow affectionate in his aggravation . And Ritchie has the good instincts to let their byplay run the show .  They make such a splendid comic double act , there ' s not much more than a look in for the fairer sex . Sherlock ' s main squeeze , Rachel McAdams ' Irene Adler , scarcely makes it to the opening titles . Watson ' s intended , Kelly Reilly , fares a little better , but her most memorable scene comes when the great detective rudely shoves her out of a moving train .  As for Noomi Rapace , the original "" Girl with a Dragon Tattoo , "" at least she comes along for the ride as a gypsy soothsayer with anarchist tendencies , but the screenwriters ' appear to forget about her existence whenever things start to get exciting .  No matter . The movie has more than its share of good gags , and if Ritchie ' s tic y histrionics with the camera are starting to flag ( I think we ' ve seen the pre rehearsed fisticuffs more than enough now , thanks ) , he ' s a dab hand in the editing suite . Playful and polished , "" Game of Shadows "" is at least as much fun as its predecessor .  "" Who taught you to dance ? "" asks Sherlock , as he waltzes the good doctor through another deadly scrape . "" You did , "" comes the inevitable reply .  They make a lovely couple .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
2969,2970,"Everton boss Roberto Martinez feels the way his side now react to suffering their first back to back Barclays Premier League losses this season will be vital to how their campaign pans out overall .  After being beaten 3 0 at Southampton last Saturday and then 1 0 at home by Stoke on Boxing Day , the Toffees who came fifth last term and had been targeting the Champions League places this time around are 12th in the table , 11 points off the top four .  They have only won one of their last six league games , with four of those ending in defeat , and struggled to create much going forward in what was a physical encounter with the Potters .  Roberto Martinez has demanding a reaction from his players after back to back defeats  Everton lost 1 0 at home to Stoke City on Boxing Day thanks to a Bojan penalty at Goodison Park  Martinez ' s men are next in action on Sunday at Newcastle , another outfit who will be keen to make the most of the opportunity to boost their points tally following a sequence of disappointing results .  And ahead of the trip to St James ' Park , the Spaniard said : ' I don ' t think in general we are lacking confidence , but I think this is a moment of the season that is pivotal for us seeing how we can react .  ' The reaction now has to be that we make sure we know what we are doing . We have a real understanding of how to perform and if we can keep that , the results will come .  ' But football gives you these sorts of challenges , and this is the challenge of the season . We need to make sure we get through this period stronger than ever , and that could really give us a very strong second half of the season . '  Martinez admits Everton have not been ' in a great moment ' of late , but was keen to stress that against Stoke in particular ' nothing that could have gone our way did go in our favour . '  He was critical of referee Lee Mason ' s decisions to only yellow card apparent last man Jonathan Walters for pulling back Leighton Baines in the first half and then award a penalty to the visitors moments later , having adjudged James McCarthy to have fouled Bojan Krkic , who converted the spot kick himself .  Jonathan Walters was only booked for pulling back Leighton Baines in the first half  Bojan won Stoke ' s decisive penalty after he was fouled by James McCarthy ( left )  Everton midfielder Gareth Barry was also surprised Walters was not red carded .  Barry , quoted by the Liverpool Echo , said : ' To me , at the time , it looked as though he ( Baines ) was going through clear on goal .  ' Leighton was making the forward movement and travelling a lot quicker than anybody else . He ( Walters ) was the last man so I expected the red . '  With regard to his side ' s inability to make real inroads against Stoke , Martinez suggested an ' accumulation ' of things had made life difficult for the hosts .  In what seemed a slightly backhanded compliment to the Potters , he said : ' What Stoke wanted to do helped them . They did really well coming here and trying to stop the play , making it difficult to be an open game .  ' I think they defended really well , but I don ' t think we have seen a good spectacle because I don ' t think that was the intention of the opposition . '  Martinez added : ' Also , we have very good , talented young players but they need a bit of direction and I did feel we missed that leadership from Tim Howard and Phil Jagielka in the second half . That was frustrating . '  Gareth Barry ( right ) became the first player to reach 100 bookings in the Premier League  TimHoward had to come off at half time after injuring his calf during the opening 45 minutes  Phil Jagielka ( centre ) winces in pain after going over on his ankle following a collision with Walters  Goalkeeper Howard and skipper Jagielka were forced off at half time due to calf and ankle problems respectively and look likely to miss the Newcastle game .  Additionally , Jagielka ' s fellow centre back John Stones and winger Kevin Mirallas are doubtful due to knocks they picked up in the Boxing Day match .  The fixture also saw forward Steven Naismith receive a fifth Premier League booking of the season , meaning he will be suspended for Sunday ' s encounter .  Newcastle , who are 10th , head into that game off the back of three straight league defeats .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
2988,2989,"In case you were unaware, Sean Spicer has spent much of the week attempting to justify his claim that Adolf Hitler wasn t as bad of a guy as everyone says because he drove people to concentration camps   sorry,  Holocaust centers    rather than just gas them in town like Assad does. We didn t use chemical weapons in World War II,  Spicer, apparently under the impression that Passover needed a little bit of Holocaust denial from the White House press secretary, said Tuesday.  You know, you had someone as despicable as Hitler who didn t even sink to using chemical weapons. I think when you come to sarin gas, he was not using the gas on his own people the same way that Assad is doing,  Spicer later said in an attempt to  clarify  his remarks, forgetting about all those gas chambers in what he calls  Holocaust centers  (or, of course, the mobile execution vans). Spicer continued to apologize throughout the week, but for some inexplicable reason found himself unable to undo the damage he did when he decided that Hitler wasn t such a bad guy after all.Spicer s Hitler week had all the makings of a perfect Saturday Night Live sketch, and Melissa McCarthy did not disappoint. Dressed as Spicer in his Easter Bunny costume (if you didn t know, he played the role of the egg-delivering Easter hero during the Bush years)McCarthy s Spicer admitted that he  finally made a mistake  with the Hitler gaffe.  Everybody was like  boo hoo, well what about the Holocaust centers?' Yeah, I know they re not really called  Holocaust centers    Duh, I know that. I m aware,   Spicer  added.  I clearly meant to say,  concentration clubs,  ok? Let it drop. It would be really great if the nitpickers could try and see the big picture and didn t focus on every little slur and lie I say,  Spicey said.  That d be nice. We won t ruin any more of it for you. Watch it below:Featured image via screengrab",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
2990,2991,"Tottenham are edging closer to agreeing a groundshare with  Dons while work is carried out on their new stadium and are also considering the prospect of playing up to three Premier League games at Wembley .  Spurs have held formal talks with the League One outfit about the possibility of fulfilling their 2017 18 season fixtures in Milton Keynes . The stadium is almost 50 miles away from White Hart Lane but has good road and rail links from London .  Sportsmail understands discussions between club officials were positive as Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy moves nearer to securing a temporary home , when building work means they cannot play at their current ground .  Tottenham are edging closer to agreeing a groundshare with  Dons following positive talks with the club  The north London club will need to move out of their current White Hart Lane stadium for the 2017 18 season  Spurs will be moving 48 . 3 miles away but stadium : mk does have good road and railway links from London  Spurs could also play three matches at Wembley Stadium with a maximum of 37 events allowed per year  Tottenham and  Dons wouldn ' t be the first to find reasonable success with ground sharing .  Fulham and  : The west London clubs shared Loftus Road for two season between 2002 and 2004 while Craven Cottage was being redeveloped .  Crystal Palace and Charlton Crystal Palace and Wimbledon : Crystal Palace shared Selhurst Park with Charlton between 1985 and 1991 before playing hosts to Wimbledon until their extinction in 2003   Milan and Inter : Both called the San Siro home since 1947 in a move that his little impact on the success of either club and the two Milan teams have acquired almost 100 major titles between them .  West Ham made it clear they would not enter into negotiations with their rivals over the use of the Olympic Stadium , and backlash from supporters surrounding a move to Arsenal ' s Emirates Stadium would prove to be too great .  Any deal struck with Wembley would be dependent on the limitations imposed by Brent Council , with a maximum of 37 events per year currently allowed .  Tottenham would have to seek permission from the Premier League if they were to seal a contract with  Dons and the national stadium but there are no rules preventing clubs from playing in two separate locations during a campaign .  The club have confirmed they will move away from their current home for one season when work finally begins on their 56 , 000 capacity ground as part of the Northumberland Development Project .  Christian Eriksen ( left ) and Erik Lamela ( right ) celebrate Eric Dier ' s goal against  earlier this season  White Hart Lane , which has a capacity of 36 , 000 , has been the Premier League side ' s home since 1899  Tottenham were impressed with the facilities during  Dons ' victory against Manchester United in August  Sportsmail ' s Chief Sports Writer gave his opinion on the proposed groundshare in September here  Given stadium : mk holds 30 , 500 just six thousand fewer than White Hart Lane it would represent an agreeable arrangement for Tottenham . The venue will host a Rugby World Cup game next year and Spurs were impressed with the facilities during the televised Capital One Cup win against Manchester United in August .  Levy still remains at loggerheads with a local business in north London Archway Sheet Metal Works over one piece of land on the site for the new stadium . If that is resolved , Tottenham can press ahead with plans to relocate to Milton Keynes .  A Tottenham spokesman said : ' As we have said , we will not be commenting on speculation concerning any individual venues and continue to explore all options . '   Ticket prices rising more than cost of living  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,present
2991,2992,"As Tracy Ocasio ' s 28th birthday came and went last week , her mother remained hopeful that she would soon get answers about the young Florida woman ' s disappearance nearly three months ago .  Tracy Ocasio disappeared after watching a ball game with friends at an Orlando , Florida , sports bar .  Police have a person of interest in custody on unrelated charges , but they still don ' t have the full story , said Detective Mark Olson of the Ocoee Police Department near Orlando .  In honor of Ocasio ' s birthday , her family increased the reward for information on her disappearance to 20 , 000 .  Elizabeth Ocasio said she last spoke with her daughter about 8 : 30 p . m . May 26 . Tracy Ocasio said she planned to come home that night after watching a televised basketball game with friends at the Florida Tap Room , a popular sports bar in Orlando .  When Ocasio didn ' t come home that night , her mother said she assumed she ' d decided to stay at a friend ' s house . She often stayed with the friend when she was too tired to drive home .  At 6 : 30 the next morning , Elizabeth Ocasio sent a text message to her daughter : "" Where are you ? "" She did not receive a response , she said , so she called her daughter ' s cell phone again two hours later . The phone rang a few times and then went to voice mail . She tried calling Ocasio several more times that day , and each time , the call went to voice mail .  "" I was worried , but I still did not imagine that anything terrible could have happened , "" Elizabeth Ocasio said .  Panic set in when she received a call from police on the afternoon of May 27 . They ' d found Tracy Ocasio ' s car in a rundown neighborhood three miles from the Ocasio home . The car was parked on private property , and the residents had called to have it towed .  By 7 p . m . , Tracy Ocasio was officially reported missing and a county wide search was under way . It lasted for weeks . "" We searched bodies of water and heavily wooded areas , "" Olson said , "" and we continue to search based on tips we receive . ""  The investigation led detectives to James Hataway , 28 , who is considered a person of interest because a Tap Room surveillance video shows him leaving the bar with Tracy Ocasio , Olson said . A spokesman said the Orange County Public Defender ' s Office would have no comment .  Police questioned Hataway for 11 hours over two days . He told investigators that Ocasio had given him a ride home from the bar that night , Olson said .  Hataway told police that he didn ' t see Ocasio after she dropped him off . His home was just 200 yards from where Ocasio ' s car was found , police said . During questioning , Hataway took a polygraph test , which police said showed some discrepancies , Olson said .  Police brought bloodhounds to where Ocasio ' s car was found , but the dogs didn ' t hit on her scent , leading police to believe she wasn ' t the one who parked her car there . Police also say no forensic evidence was found to suggest Ocasio was injured or killed inside her car .  Police are holding Hataway on unrelated charges at the Orange County Jail . He is charged with aggravated battery , robbery and false imprisonment stemming from an incident in neighboring Seminole County in August 2008 .  A young woman said she gave him a ride home one night . She said he attacked her and tried to break her neck , but she fought back . She ' d reported the assault when it happened but only later were police able to identify Hataway as the alleged assailant . Hataway remains in custody on those charges with bail set at 250 , 000 . He has not pled .  Shortly after his interrogation in the Ocasio case , the public defender ' s office took Hataway ' s case , and he stopped talking .  Hataway has not been named a suspect and has not been charged in the Ocasio case .  Police and family urge anyone with information that can lead to the arrest of the person responsible for Ocasio ' s disappearance to call the tip line at 1 800 423  . A 20 , 000 reward is offered .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
2994,2995,"In Egypt prominent liberals are now supporting a military backed government overseeing a resurgence of post Mubarak authoritarianism . Since the ouster of President Mohamed Morsy on July 3 , those few remaining true to basic principles have found themselves marginalized as the goals of the 2011 revolution are squandered by the military .  Many of the self identified liberals who filled the streets of downtown Cairo on June 30 demanding Morsy ' s resignation justified their actions by pointing to a broken political system and the absence of democracy . In the eyes of protesters , Morsy used his electoral victory as a free pass to enforce an authoritarian style of government which denied its people basic human rights , supervised an increase in sectarian violence , and prioritized a regional Islamist agenda over the basic needs of the Egyptian people .  Although these same "" liberals "" described their revolution as democracy in action , a considerable number of them have since supported the increasingly authoritarian decisions of the interim government which followed .  The targets of these actions expand beyond the Muslim Brotherhood to a comprehensive swath of Egyptian society as journalists and activists are detained , satirical programs are canceled by private networks , and the constitutional drafting committee proposes laws meant to restrict freedom of expression and  operation .  Egypt ' s armed forces , the driving force behind these events , has simultaneously amended its oath to renounce loyalty to the elected president and sought after immunity for its top leaders .  Egypt ' s liberals have responded to these moves with outward support on numerous occasions . Perhaps most disheartening is the explicit praise and backing coming from leaders of Egypt ' s National Salvation Front (  ) , a liberal left coalition formed in opposition to Morsy ' s authoritarian rule .  Current  leader and former Secretary General of the Arab league , Amr Moussa , presently chairs the same constitutional drafting committee unable to scale back military authority and secure basic civil liberties while Wafd party leader and  stalwart El Sayyid el Badawi , recently stated that the  will endorse General Abdel Fattah el Sisi ' s prospective presidential bid .  Much of  ' s leadership has also supported the interim government ' s violent dispersal of sit ins at Rabaa el Adawiyya and el Nahda , an event which claimed the lives of hundreds of Egyptians . More recently , the same supposed bedrock of Egyptian liberalism failed to condemn a court ruling that disbanded the Muslim Brotherhood and a constitutional provision granting the military immunity .  On the surface , the predicament of liberals seems illogical . What would drive a high ranking , liberal public official to back such a flagrant disregard for civil liberties and transparent government ? The answer lies within the Egyptian electorate . Since January 2011 , liberals have failed to instill their values within the political ideology of Egypt ' s voters .    : Egypt not on a ' proper path to democracy , ' suggests Egypt deputy   In fact , since the revolution , more than two thirds of the votes across parliamentary elections , the constitutional referendum , and the presidential election have gone to representatives of political Islam . Former presidential candidates , Hamdeen Sabahi and Amr Moussa , who captured roughly 20 and 11 of the vote respectively , are now opting for a new strategy : "" If you can ' t beat them , ban them . ""  The Muslim Brotherhood and its allies within political Islam cannot be beat fair and square so liberals are now opportunistically working with the military to efface them from Egyptian life . The result is a man made political landscape handcrafted to undemocratically meet the needs of the country ' s most powerful liberals .  The events following June 30 have rendered Egypt an inoperable landscape for the few citizens pursuing the genuine aims of liberalism . The isolated voices of figures such as Mohamed ElBaradei and Amr Hamzawy , who have spoken out against the interim government ' s authoritarian tactics have been shunned by their "" liberal "" brethren working in concert with the military ' s government .  Consider ElBaradei , former interim vice president and director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency . A strong proponent of liberalism , ElBaradei expressed vehement disagreement with the interim government ' s plan to employ violence to crack down on Brotherhood protesters on August 14 .  Remaining loyal to his principles , ElBaradei resigned from his position when the interim government moved forward with this decision . In the meantime , "" liberals "" backing the government harshly criticized ElBaradei while his own Constitution Party filed a lawsuit against him .  On July 31 , Hamzawy , a prominent political scientist , former member of parliament , and head of the Egypt Freedom party thrashed his fellow "" liberals "" in Egypt ' s daily Al Shorouk for betraying their principles in support of the military .  His article was met with strong criticism and personal attacks . When fabricated headlines told of a relationship with the Muslim Brotherhood and the United States , he responded to rumors on his Twitter account , warning that the current regime was working to silence pro democracy voices .  We are now seeing a brand of liberalism in Egypt which does little to serve its own values and principles . Disenchanted onlookers and advocates of the goals of Egypt ' s 2011 revolution look on as so called liberals work with the military to supervise the resurgence of authoritarianism .  An Egypt which serves the interests of Bread , Freedom , and Social Justice cannot exist without a pluralistic society participating in an inclusive democracy , the principles of which struggle to survive within the minds of a powerless minority .    : Egypt ' s growing militant threat ?  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
2999,3000,"Reuters) - India s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was set to win an election in Prime Minister Narendra Modi s home state on Monday, the vote count showed, but with a reduced margin, which will be a boost for the opposition. A combined opposition led by the Congress party had mounted a tough challenge in the western state of Gujarat, hoping to weaken Modi in his home base by exploiting discontent over a lack of jobs and a national sales tax that hit business. The  won more than 100 seats in the 182-member state assembly, projections by India Today,  News18 and TimesNow showed. A party needs 92 seats to rule the state. Congress, led by Rahul Gandhi, who formally took over as party president at the weekend, was set to win more than 70 seats, far better than it had done in the past. A relieved  said Modi s popularity remained intact.  There is no other leader close,  said Shyam Jaju, party vice president.  The mood in the  headquarters in New Delhi and in Gujarat s main city Ahmedabad was initially tense as early trends showed a close fight.  But later workers gathered to shout slogans and cheer victory.  Modi s party was also ahead in Himachal Pradesh, the Himalayan state in the north also voting for a new state assembly. Modi faces a general election in 2019, but before then, the opposition aims to slow down Modi s momentum in state elections, with two more next year. Businesses across India have been struggling with the poor implementation of a goods and services tax that aims to harmonize an array of state and federal taxes but entangled them in cumbersome procedures. Modi s shock ban of high-value currency notes in November last year, as part of his fight against corruption, also disrupted small business that forms the bedrock of his support base. Indian stock markets opened weaker, with the 50-share  index down almost 2 percent as early trends showed a close contest in Gujarat.  But stocks reversed the losses later - the 50-share  index was trading up 0.7 percent at 0455 GMT. The partially convertible rupee was trading at 64.32/33 to the dollar versus its previous close of 64.04. The rupee had dropped to a low of 64.74 in early trade. Almost all pre-vote and exit polls had predicted a comfortable victory, but the polls have often gone wrong in the past. To ensure his party s prospects, Modi addressed dozens of rallies during his campaign in Gujarat, performed rituals and even waved from a seaplane on his last day on the campaign trail.  If they had lost Gujarat, the  would have collapsed like a pack of cards,  said Congress member Sharmistha Mukherjee.  This is their citadel, they threw everything at it.   In the Congress party office in Ahmedabad, posters of Rahul Gandhi were being pasted on the wall.   Rahul Gandhi s hard work has paid off in the state and it proves that Modi s governance is not making anyone happy,  said a Congress leader, Shaktisinh Gohil.   ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
3020,3021,"Barcelona players were put through their paces as they put the finishing touches to preparations for the Champions League quarter final clash with French giants  . The first leg of the highly anticipated tie will take place at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday .  Speaking to the club ' s official website , defender Adriano warned his team mates ahead of the game they must be at their absolute best if they are to overcome  ' s star studded squad , which includes the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic , Thiago Silva and Lucas Moura .  He said , ' We have to be alert throughout the match . If we make any mistakes , even small ones , they have excellent players that can break the game . '  Xavi Hernandez ( centre ) is challenged by Rafael ( left ) and Javier Mascherano ( right ) during training  Barcelona players are put through their paces ahead of the Champions League quarter final with   Barcelona goalkeeper Marc Andre Ter Stegen ( centre ) in action during the club ' s training session on Monday  Barcelona head coach Luis Enrique watches over his players in training as they prepare to travel to   Barca have already encountered  twice during this year ' s Champions League campaign , as the two sides were drawn together in the group stage .  The Catalans triumphed 3 1 on home soil at the Nou Camp , but were defeated 3 2 in their last trip to the French capital .  Adriano conceded that ' this game will be tricky ' and said Barcelona must brace themselves for  to ' come at us with a lot more intensity ' than they did earlier in the season .  Claudio Bravo ( centre ) enjoys a joke with his team mates during the training session before facing   The full back , who won 17 caps for Brazil between 2003 and 2013 , was also quizzed on the Brazilian players in  ' s squad . Laurent Blanc ' s side boast five Brazil internationals in Silva , Lucas , Marquinhos , Maxwell and David Luiz .  And Adriano was quick to heap praise on his fellow countrymen ' all of them are excellent players ' but noted Lucas in particular as the main threat for the opposition .  ' Lucas we know is a dangerous player . In the games we ' ve seen him , he ' s a player who ' s very difficult to cover . '  Barcelona forward Lionel Messi controls the ball during the training session ahead of the game against   Barcelona striker Neymar ( left ) in action during the training session at the Ciutat Esportiva on Monday  ",true,text,test,Football,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
3028,3029,"He ' s been taking daisies and a few pennies to a bench in Wisconsin every day for the past two years to honor his late wife .  But after snow blanketed the walkway to the seating area in a Fond Du Lac park it looked as though Bud Caldwell , 82 , would have to stop his daily routine .  That was until two kind strangers stepped in and decided to shovel the snow covered walkway .  Love : Bud Caldwell , 82 , has been taking daisies and a few pennies to a bench in Wisconsin every day for years to honor his late wife  Devotion : Caldwell bought and dedicated the bench to his late wife , Betty , after she died two years ago  Marriage : Caldwell and his wife spent nearly 56 years together and he has found comfort in his daily routine since she passed away  Jerrod Ebert and Joe Smaltz , two Fond Du Lac park employees said that they spotted the 82 year old sitting in his car staring at the bench because he could not get to it .  And realizing that he was stranded , they decided to shovel the walkway and keep the path clear all through winter .  The employees said that they did it so that the romantic could visit the spot he bought and dedicated to his late wife , Betty , after she died two years ago .  Ebert said : ' We both commented that we just can ' t have this . We ' ve got to make sure he can get to his bench and talk to his wife . '  ' We did it only because of his love for his wife . He truly misses her . '  Caldwell and his wife spent nearly 56 years together and he has found comfort in his daily routine since she passed away .  Help : Jerrod Ebert , left , and Joe Smaltz , right , two Fond Du Lac park employees decided to shovel the walkway and keep the path clear all through winter  Thanks : Caldwell is truly grateful for the park employees gesture he said it was a ' nice thing for an old man '  He told  58 News : ' A lot of people might think it ' s a dumb thing . But I don ' t . '  In fact it is the best part of his day .  ' Good morning dear , ' he says as he approaches her bench with her picture on it .  And come rain or shine he makes sure that he is there to spend time remembering his dearly departed wife .  The gifts that he leaves the daisies and the pennies are both tributes to songs the couple loved during their years together : ' Daisy a Day , ' and ' Pennies From Heaven . '  So , Caldwell is truly grateful for the park employees gesture .  He said with pride : ' Two young men did such a nice thing for an old man . '  He then ends his daily trip by telling his wife : ' See you later munchkin ' and kisses the picture of Betty as he walks away .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
3030,3031,"Members of the Senate Finance Committee met Tuesday with treasury secretary nominee Tim Geithner over concerns involving his personal taxes and the immigration status of a former housekeeper , transition officials said .  Timothy Geithner has been nominated for the post of treasury secretary in the Obama administration .  The Geithners employed a housekeeper whose employment authorization document expired about three months before she stopped working for them in October 2005 , according to a written statement from the Senate Finance Committee .  Later , the housekeeper , who is married to a U . S . citizen , was granted a green card , transition officials said .  The second concern involves Geithner ' s taxes while he worked for the International Monetary Fund (  ) . According to a statement released by the committee , Geithner failed to pay self employment taxes while the  paid him from 2001 to 2004 .  In 2006 , the Internal Revenue Service audited Geithner for tax years 2003 and 2004 , and he paid 16 , 732 for the taxes and interest for those years , the statement said . After Obama nominated him for treasury secretary , Geithner voluntarily amended his taxes for 2001 and 2002 , paying 25 , 970 for those taxes and interest , the committee said .  The presidential transition team told Finance Committee staff about Geithner ' s taxes early last month , the committee said .  As an international organization , the  does not withhold money from employees ' paychecks to pay Social Security and Medicare . U . S . employees are required to pay them on their own .  Robert Gibbs , the incoming White House spokesman , called Geithner ' s tax issue a "" common mistake . ""  "" The president elect chose Tim Geithner to be his treasury secretary because he ' s the right person to help lead our economic recovery during these challenging times , "" Gibbs said in a written statement . "" He ' s dedicated his career to our country and served with honor , intelligence and distinction . That service should not be tarnished by honest mistakes , which , upon learning of them , he quickly addressed . ""  The Finance Committee said it would continue to review Geithner ' s tax returns and other information ahead of a nomination hearing .  "" When errors or issues of concern are discovered , transparency is vital to allow members of the committee and the entire Senate to fully review and assess the relevant information before hearings and votes occur , "" the committee said .  "" I believe that these errors , although serious , do not rise to the level of disqualification . He is an extremely competent man , "" said committee Chairman Max Baucus , D Montana . "" The errors were , in my judgment , honest mistakes . He did not in any way intentionally make those mistakes . ""  Sen . Charles Schumer , D New York , also said the mistakes were "" not at all disqualifying . ""  "" Tim came to the committee , admitted he had made some mistakes , and was very contrite , "" he said . "" I continue to strongly support his nomination and given the tough economic conditions , hope we can confirm him as quickly as possible . ""  ",true,text,test,World conflict,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
3031,3032,"Los Angeles Authorities on Saturday identified a gunman killed by police after he opened fire at passing vehicles along a downtown street in Hollywood .  But they said they don ' t know why Tyler Brehm , 26 , went on a surreal shooting rampage captured on amateur video Friday .  The video shows Brehm walking down Sunset Boulevard , wielding a handgun and firing at vehicles , seemingly at random . Brehm fired a "" significant number "" of rounds , wounding three , police said .  He then returned to an intersection , where he was confronted by a plainclothes police detective and an off duty police officer working on a nearby movie set , officials said .  Brehm died at a nearby hospital , a police statement said .  Christopher Johns filmed much of the five minute scene from his apartment window and can be heard shouting at Brehm throughout .  "" Why don ' t you come up here ? "" he yelled , later describing that he intended to distract the gunman .  "" I ' m screaming anything I can "" in an effort to disrupt the shooting , Johns said .  At one point , Brehm spoke with Johns , asking him for ammunition and to call an ambulance .  Fierro said it appeared Johns could interact with the suspect without jeopardizing his safety .  "" It appears from the video that he was able to distract the suspect and keep him from shooting at additional people before the police arrived , "" she said .  Police have contacted Brehm ' s family back east and are talking to acquaintances .  Three people were injured during Friday ' s incident , including one man in silver Mercedes Benz sedan who was shot multiple times in the face and upper torso , Fierro said . Two others suffered minor injuries .  The current status of the man in the car was unknown Saturday .  "" We ' re very fortunate that more people weren ' t injured during this incident , "" Fierro said .  Witnesses were stunned by the shooting rampage .  Torgeson said vehicles began "" swerving and braking , "" and she sought cover at a nearby bank .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
3032,3033,"Email   The day after Hillary Clinton testified in front of the House Select Committee on Benghazi last October, John Podesta, the Democrat’s campaign chairman, met for dinner with a small group of well-connected friends, including Peter Kadzik, a top official at the Justice Department.  The dinner arrangement, revealed in hacked Podesta emails released by Wikileaks, is just the latest example of an apparent conflict of interest between the Clinton campaign and the federal agency charged with investigating the former secretary of state’s email practices.  Podesta and Kadzik, the assistant attorney general for legislative affairs, were in frequent contact, other emails show. In one email from January, Kadzik and Podesta, who were classmates at Georgetown Law School in the 1970s, discussed plans to celebrate Podesta’s birthday. And in another sent last May, Kadzik’s son emailed Podesta asking for a job on the Clinton campaign.  The post-Benghazi dinner was attended by Podesta, Kadzik, superlobbyist Vincent Roberti and other well-placed Beltway fixtures.  The exchanges are another example of the Clinton campaign’s “cozy relationship” with the Obama Justice Department, one former U.S. Attorney tells The Daily Caller.",fake,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
3036,3037,"president Sepp Blatter has admitted that he did know about alleged bribe payments made to former  executives , but insists he didn ' t think they were illegal at the time .  "" You can ' t judge the past on the basis of today ' s standards . Otherwise it would end up with moral justice . I can ' t have known about an offense that wasn ' t even one , "" he told the website of football ' s world governing body .  A Swiss court has published its findings following an investigation into alleged illegal payments made by  marketing partner International Sports and Leisure (  ) to former  president Joao Havelange and former executive committee member Ricardo Teixeira .  The report found that Havelange had received at least 1 . 5 million Swiss francs ( 1 . 53 million ) and Ricardo Teixeira was paid at least  12 . 4 million ( 12 . 64 million ) from marketing partner  .  Blatter was  ' s general secretary at the time of the alleged irregularities , and in that role he co signed agreements with the marketing group .  Blatter has confirmed that he is the "" P1 "" character investigators referred to in several key points of the report . The investigators specifically identified "" P1 "" as someone who knew about the illegal payments .  "" It was confirmed by the former chief financial officer of  . . . that a certain payment made to Joao Havelange by the Company 1 amounting to  1 million was mistakenly directly transferred to a  account not only the  had knowledge of this , but also , among others , P1 would also have known about it , "" the report stated .  However , Blatter defended his involvement on the  website in a move that shows the 76 year old is making some effort to keep the promises of greater transparency he made after being re elected in 2011 .  "" Back then , such payments could even be deducted as a business expense , "" he said of  ' s transactions , which were made between 1999 and the company ' s collapse in 2001 .  "" Today , that would be punishable under law . ""  However , one of  ' s critics insists that Blatter should take more responsibility for the ruling body ' s actions .  "" The president is trying to defend acts that would not be tolerated anywhere else . ""   has been keen to point to its active involvement in the case , declaring on Wednesday in a response to the document ' s publication : "" The decision by the Federal Court is in line with what  and the  president have been advocating since 2011 , when world football ' s governing body announced its commitment to the publication of the  non prosecution order . ""  Blatter highlighted the formation of an Ethics Committee , an adjudicatory body and an investigatory body , and told the  website that "" some important steps have already been taken . ""  However , Larkin described  as "" the least qualified people to investigate "" the allegations against it .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Economy,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
3043,3044,"Kaka has seen a lot during his 14 year professional career .  After making his debut for Sao Paulo as an 18 year old in 2001 and being snapped up by  Milan just two years later , the Brazilian has been crowned the best player in the world , won league titles in two countries and conquered the Champions League with the Rossoneri .  Here , Sportsmail takes a look at the highs and a few lows in his astonishing career .  Kaka , pictured in action for Sao Paulo against Atletico Minero in December 2001 , made his debut for the club 10 months earlier  Kaka tries to avoid a tackle from Ancona defender Andrea Sussi during his debut for  Milan on September 1 , 2003  Kaka celebrates with his  Milan team mates after sealing the Serie A title in 2004 with a 1 0 win against Roma at the San Siro  Kaka steps up to score his penalty in the 2005 Champions League final against Liverpool but the Reds would emerge victorious  Kaka scores as Brazil beat Argentina 4 1 in the final of the 2005 Confederations Cup in Germany  Kaka scores a stunning individual goal for  Milan against Manchester United in the Champions League semi finals on April 24 , 2007  Kaka shows off an ' I belong to Jesus ' vest after  Milan ' s Champions League final victory against Liverpool on May 23 , 2007  Kaka grins as he lifts the 2007 Ballon d ' Or trophy at an event in Paris on Decemeber 2 , 2007 , following a fine year for  Milan  Kaka proudly displays his  World Player of the Year award at a gala ceremony in Zurich on December 17 , 2007  Kaka celebrates winning the 2009 Confederations Cup with Brazil and the Golden Ball award for being the top scorer  Kaka smiles as he shows off his No 8 shirt during his official presentation at Real Madrid ' s Bernabeu stadium on June 30 , 2009  Kaka gets away from Deportivo ' s Angel Lafita at the Bernabeu during his La Liga debut for Real Madrid on August 29 , 2009  Kaka ( centre ) is sent off for Brazil during their game against Ivory Coast at the 2010 World Cup  Kaka celebrates becoming the top Brazilian scorer in the Champions League with a goal against Ajax on December 4 , 2012  Kaka celebrates winning La Liga in 2012 with his Real team mates Xabi Alonso , Sergio Ramos , Esteban Granero , Marcelo and Jose Callejon  Kaka shows off a specially made shirt to celebrate scoring his 100th goal for  Milan against Atalanta on January 6 , 2014  Kaka s mobbed by fans as he is presented as s Sao Paulo player during a ceremony in Brazil on July 6 , 2014  Kaka celebrates a goal after returning to his boyhood club Sao Paulo on loan from Orlando City in November , 2014  Kaka leads out Orlando  for their first ever game against fellow new franchise New YorK city  earlier this month  Kaka scores his first goal for Orlando City against New York City on March 8 ( left ) and runs off to celebrate at the Citrus Bowl ( right )  ",true,text,test,Football,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
3044,3045,"Reuters) - Indonesia s military said on Friday it was prepared to take tough measures against rebels who have threatened to  destroy  the mining operations of Freeport-McMoRan Inc in the eastern province of Papua in their independence struggle. Police say an armed separatist group linked to the Free Papua Movement (OPM) is preventing about 1,000 people in five villages from leaving an area near the giant Grasberg copper mine, operated by a unit of the Arizona-based company. A state of emergency has been declared and at least 300 additional security forces have been deployed to the area after a string of shootings since Aug. 17 killed one police officer and wounded six. The group, the West Papua National Liberation Army (TPN-OPM), on Friday denied occupying villages near the mine. Hendrik Wanmang, a representative of TPN-OPM, said none of its more than 2,000 fighters was stationed in the villages.  We cannot mingle with the community,  Wanmang said in a telephone interview.  That would endanger them.  Wanmang also denied police allegations his group had carried out rape and torture of civilians, saying villagers were  continuing to carry out activities as usual . But he warned that Freeport employees and security personnel remained in the area at their own risk.   We are at war against the National Police, Indonesian military and Freeport,  he said.  (TPN-OPM) will continue to fight until the root of this problem - Freeport - is removed,  Wanmang said. A Freeport Indonesia spokesman declined to comment. Papua Police spokesman Suryadi Diaz said the situation in the villages near the town of Tembagapura was  conducive  and the community was functioning  as usual .   They aren t hostage, but if you want to get to these villages you have to get past this armed criminal group,  Diaz said, referring to the OPM. Police were taking  persuasive steps  to resolve the conflict through negotiations and dialogue with community, religious and tribal leaders, he said. Authorities made conflicting statements about the situation. Indonesian military chief Gatot Nurmayanto said the group had taken hostages in the villages and the army would take a  hard  approach if necessary. Tough measures, including armed conflict, would be a last resort if negotiations with the group failed to resolve the issue, Papua military commander George Enaldus Supit said later, clarifying the statement. Wanmang said his group was not interested in negotiating.   If the government wants to send millions of national police and Indonesian military troops to protect the Freeport area, go ahead - they are just trying to protect the deception.  The Grasberg mine has been dogged by security concerns for decades, as pro-independence rebels have waged a low-level conflict in Papua. Between 2009 and 2015, shootings in the mine project area killed 20 people and wounded 59. More recently, Freeport, the world s largest publicly listed copper producer, has been grappling with labor problems at Grasberg and a mine rights dispute with Indonesia. The Freeport dispute is likely to overshadow efforts by President Joko Widodo s government to resolve conflict in Papua, the Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict said.   Any violence in the Freeport area can involve multiple actors with multiple interests,  it said in a recent report.  Even if the  is blamed, Papuans will be asking who else was involved.  ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
3048,3049,"The fallout over U . S . Senate candidate Todd Akin ' s controversial comments on rape jolted Republicans nationally on Monday and threatened longer term consequences for them , potentially reviving the "" war on women "" debate and possibly hurting their campaign to win control of the Senate .  Republican leaders let out a collective groan when Akin claimed in a television interview on Sunday that "" legitimate rape "" rarely resulted in pregnancy , saying that "" the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down . ""  A social conservative congressman , Akin apologized repeatedly as the political uproar intensified and sought to clarify his remarks , saying he misspoke .  Democrats skewered him nevertheless and many top Republicans called for Akin to reconsider his decision to stay in the Missouri race a week before they nominate Mitt Romney for president at their Tampa convention .  Abortion moves front and center  In an interview with the National Review Online , Romney said that Akin ' s comments on rape were "" insulting , inexcusable , and , frankly , wrong . ""  But Democrats sensed a political opening to shift the conversation away from the sluggish economy , saying that Republicans led by Romney and his running mate , Paul Ryan , were pushing policies that were anti women .  Jennifer Duffy , a senior editor at the Cook Political Report , said Akin potentially reignited the "" war on women "" rhetoric that factored prominently in the political debate earlier this year and for a time put Republicans on the defensive .  "" It plays into this Democratic messaging that it is not a party friendly to women , "" Duffy said . "" As the top political story of the day it is going to be something that plays into the larger narrative that Democrats want in order to appeal to women voters . ""  A Republican National Committee member who spoke candidly on the condition of anonymity said the issue is "" is not where ( Governor ) Romney and his ticket want to spend their time "" between now and Election Day .  President Barack Obama handily won over women voters in the 2008 election and holds an edge with that key bloc in his race with Romney , polls show . A recent Gallup survey showed Obama with an 8 lead over his Republican rival among women .  The "" war on women "" label stemmed in part from a fierce political fight in Washington this year over contraception coverage for employees of religiously affiliated institutions . Congress , in addition , waged a partisan fight over updates to the Violence Against Women Act .  The Romney campaign has adopted a message that Democrats are the ones waging a "" war on women . "" For instance , Romney has accused the Obama ' s administration of failing working women .  The potential longer term implications of the Akin controversy also were evident in Republican calls for him to withdraw from his Senate race where incumbent Democrat Claire McCaskill has been trailing in the polls .  Republicans were concerned the flare up would permanently harm their chances of upending McCaskill in November and push them closer to taking control of the Senate .  Ron Bonjean , a veteran  strategist for several congressional leaders and partner at the political communications firm Singer Bonjean Strategies , said Akin ' s comments were "" politically indefensible "" and "" virtually guarantees "" McCaskill would be re elected .  Outside of Missouri , Republican Sen . Scott Brown , locked in a tough fight in Massachusetts , also called for Akin to step aside .  Stuart Rothenberg editor of the Rothenberg Political Report , said he has been told by Republican strategists that Akin is now "" too radioactive . ""  "" There is a lot of national pressure being put on Akin that he ' s not going to be able to raise Republican money and get the party behind him , "" Rothenberg said .  Akin said he plans to remain in the race .  Video of the Akin interview with Missouri television station  was posted online by the liberal super  American Bridge .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
3056,3057,"Warriors improve to 22 0 with blowout win against Nets  Brooklyn took the lead early in the third , but Golden State responded to stay unbeaten .  Warriors improve to 22 0 with blowout win against Nets Brooklyn took the lead early in the third , but Golden State responded to stay unbeaten . Check out this story on USATODAYweblink : http : usat . ly 1QpO3hr  A link has been sent to your friend ' s email address .  A link has been posted to your Facebook feed .  To find out more about Facebook commenting please read the Conversation Guidelines and FAQs  Warriors improve to 22 0 with blowout win against Nets  Howard Megdal , Special for   Sports 5 : 05 p . m .  December 7 , 2015    Sports ' Sam Amick breaks down 22 0 Golden State ' s matchup against 12 7 Indiana .   Sports  Stephen Curry scored game high 28 points for the unbeaten Warriors .   ? The Beatles came to Barclays Center on Sunday night .  For Brooklyn Nets coach Lionel Hollins , the opportunity to play a part in history ? specifically , ending the Golden State Warriors '  record undefeated start ? ? looked to him like an opportunity .  "" Yeah , I do think about it , because I thought we should have beaten them out there , "" ? Hollins said before Sunday night ' s 114 98 loss . "" Of course you want to be a part of history , and upsetting somebody , and just shocking the world . That ' s what this business is all about . Going out there and making big noise . ""  The Warriors , however , are no stranger to raising decibel levels . A largely pro Warriors crowd saw the putative road team race out to a 9 0 lead before the game was three minutes old , part of a 25 8 run to start the game . After one , it was 30 16 .  "" I am sure that we pointed that out to our guys in the film session , that this team definitely believes they can beat us , "" ? Warriors interim coach Luke Walton said . "" And they got us last year , they almost ? got us this year . So that message is out there to the guys . ""  So on a night when Stephen Curry missed his first three free throws ? shaking his head in disbelief shared by the entire arena ? the Warriors still managed to dominate early ? and put this one away quickly after the Nets battled back to take a third quarter lead .  The Warriors were buoyed by a local crowd teeming with blue and gold jerseys adorned with ? Curry ' s name . The cheers that followed , both during introductions and every time he touched the ball , easily drowned out Nets partisans .  Q A : Jerry Colangelo may have tough Olympic decision on Kobe Bryant  "" Steph knows he ' s going to be on the court for most of the game , and he ' s going to have the ball in his hands for most of the game , "" ? Walton said when it was over . "" He can choose when he wants to get aggressive and take over , and when he wants to get his teammates involved . It ' s his job to decide out there , and he does a great job of judging both . ""  Curry rewarded teammates and fans alike , whether with a backdoor cut and finish from a Draymond Green feed in the first , or shaking off his defender and punctuating the rising sound of the crowd with a teardrop finish in the second . He finished with 28 points on 11 of 17 shooting . Green had 22 and Klay Thompson had 21 .  Eddie Johnson breaks down which of these two franchises has been the most dominant .  The Nets , however , made a late run ? throwing Thaddeus Young as the second man in a two man trap of Curry on the perimeter ? and cut the Warriors ' lead to 57 54 at halftime , with Brook Lopez ' s turnaround giving the Nets a 58 57 lead early in the third quarter .  It stayed tight throughout the third . But Curry , who shot an uncharacteristically low six times in the first half , scored on an acrobatic baseline jumper and pull up 3 on consecutive possessions to give the Warriors a 79 76 lead . Then came an alley oop to Festus Ezeli , and an old fashioned three point play he completed as fans chanted ""  ! "" ? A 3 at the end of the quarter by Curry , and suddenly the Warriors led ? 87 80 .  "" It was pretty purposeful , "" ? Curry said of his decision to take over . "" Just see if I could get some room ? and impact the game . And things started to click . ""  From there , the Warriors ' bench salted it away , putting the Warriors ahead 106 89 by the 6 : 58 mark .  The rout was on . History , at least for some Warriors opponent , would have to wait .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Economy,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,past
3072,3073,"Reuters) - Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives will delay the release of tax legislation for a day as lawmakers try to overcome differences involving the treatment of retirement savings accounts and state and local taxes, sources said on Tuesday. Two sources knowledgeable about the discussions said the House Republican tax committee is still expected to begin deliberating on tax legislation at hearings set to start on Monday. The bill was initially expected on Wednesday, but the sources said it would be released on Thursday instead.   ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
3078,3079,"Reuters) - China and Sri Lanka should focus on strengthening cooperation over key investment projects, Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday told his visiting counterpart from Sri Lanka, amid strong local opposition to some major Chinese-invested schemes. In July, Sri Lanka signed a long-delayed $1.1 billion deal to lease its southern Hambantota port to China, ignoring an appeal by opposition parties to debate the pact in parliament. The $1.5-billion port, close to the main shipping route from Asia to Europe and likely to play a key role in China s  Belt and Road  initiative, has been mired in controversy since a Chinese firm agreed to take an 80 percent stake in it. The pact signed last year sparked widespread public anger, as Chinese control of the port, which included a plan for a 99-year lease of 15,000 acres (23 sq miles) to develop an adjacent industrial zone, provoked fears it could be used by Chinese naval vessels. Meeting in Beijing, Wang told Tilak Marapana that the two countries should take this year s 60th anniversary of establishing diplomatic ties as an opportunity, China s foreign ministry said in a statement. Both should  emphasize strengthening traditional friendship and political mutual trust, major infrastructure projects, investment and trade  to  upgrade  their relationship, Wang added. The short statement did not mention any specific projects. As one of the first countries to help in Sri Lanka s post-war reconstruction after the 2009 end of its 26-year civil war, China s ties with Sri Lanka have unnerved India, traditionally the island nation s most important partner.     By 2014, Chinese navy submarines were also docking in Colombo, raising alarm in New Delhi and prompting a push by the administration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to claw back influence in the region. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
3080,3081,"Donald J. Trump explicitly acknowledged for the first time during Sunday’s debate that he used a $916 million loss that he reported on his 1995 income tax returns to avoid paying personal federal income taxes for years. Mr. Trump’s response  —   “Of course I do. Of course I do”  —   was the fullest the wealthy developer had provided since The New York Times reported  that he had declared the loss, and that the tax deduction could have been large enough to allow him to avoid federal income taxes for up to 18 years. Previously he had declined to comment on the documents, issuing a statement that neither challenged nor confirmed the $916 million loss. Asked directly during the debate if he would say how many years he had avoided paying federal income taxes, Mr. Trump responded, “No. ” But at the same time, he asserted that he paid “hundreds of millions of dollars in taxes,” calling it a “simple” thing. “I pay tax, and I pay federal tax, too,” he said. Unless Mr. Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, releases his tax records, it is impossible to determine exactly how he has handled his taxes and what he has paid over the years. If he does not make his taxes public, he will be the first   presidential candidate in four decades not to do so. Though the issue has been overshadowed in recent days by a recording of Mr. Trump’s lewd comments about women, his refusal to release his tax returns  —   and the possibility that he had not paid federal income taxes for years  —   has emerged as a central issue in the campaign. During the debate, Mr. Trump appeared to shed some light on his approach to taxes, saying that he knew more about the tax code than any other presidential candidate in history. “I have a  . A lot of it is depreciation, which is a wonderful charge,” he said. “I love depreciation. ” But as Mr. Trump explained his own tax situation, he tried to make the case that his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, was among those responsible for the tax code that enabled him to get benefits. “She has given it to us,” he said. Mr. Trump also went on to invoke Mrs. Clinton’s wealthy allies. “Many of her friends took bigger deductions,” he said. “Warren Buffett took a massive deduction. ” Mrs. Clinton, though, contended that Mr. Trump provided an example of what needed to change in the tax code  —   saying he was among the people who “paid zero in taxes, zero for our vets, zero for our military, zero for health and education. That is wrong. ” She proposed a tax on people who make more than $5 million, calling it the “Buffett rule. ” In Mr. Trump’s case, what is clear is that he derived remarkable tax benefits from the financial ruin he left behind in the early 1990s through mismanagement of three Atlantic City casinos, his   foray into the airline business and his   purchase of the Plaza Hotel in Manhattan. “Simply put, the organization is in dire financial straits,” New Jersey casino regulators concluded after reviewing his business balance sheet woes in 1990. The 1995 tax documents, which were anonymously mailed to a New York Times reporter, were the first page of a New York State resident income tax return, the first page of a New Jersey nonresident tax return and the first page of a Connecticut nonresident tax return. They did not include any pages from Mr. Trump’s 1995 federal return. Mr. Trump was correct when he said he benefited from a provision that had been used by other wealthy families. Known as net operating loss, it allows an array of deductions, business expenses, real estate depreciation, losses from the sale of business assets and even operating losses to flow from the balance sheets of those partnerships, limited liability companies and S corporations onto the personal tax returns of people like Mr. Trump. In turn, those losses can be used to cancel out an equivalent amount of taxable income. With a $916 million net operating loss in 1995, Mr. Trump could have avoided paying more than $50 million a year in taxable income over 18 years. Mr. Trump appears to have embraced other elements of the tax code. In 1991, he lobbied federal lawmakers to relax tax rules that he claimed had strangled the real estate industry. And in less than two years, as part of a   budget deal, Congress passed a set of provisions sought by developers that could have helped Mr. Trump avoid large tax bills linked to his enormous debt racked up by the early 1990s, while also allowing him to spin other real estate losses into valuable offsets on his future earnings in licensing, television and other ventures. One provision allowed real estate investors with highly leveraged properties to accept forgiveness of their bank loans without paying taxes on the money, in exchange for giving up other tax benefits. Another allowed them to apply some real estate losses against other kinds of income. While details of Mr. Trump’s income taxes and any deductions are scarce, limited details are contained in government filings that have been unearthed during his campaign. For example, Mr. Trump paid more than $71, 000 in federal income taxes on about $218, 000 of taxable income earned from 1975 to 1977, according to a 1981 report assessing his fitness for a casino license. During the next two years, 1978 and 1979, he paid no taxes, the report said. Mr. Trump also avoided paying any federal income taxes in 1984, tax court records show. With his Atlantic City casinos in financial trouble in 1991 and 1993, casino commission reports show that he claimed losses that would have allowed him to avoid paying income taxes in those years. Voters in recent polls have shown interest in Mr. Trump’s taxes. A    York Times poll last month showed that 59 percent of respondents said it was necessary for him to release his tax returns. Mr. Trump has said he will not release his taxes while he is facing an audit from the Internal Revenue Service. “I pay hundreds of millions of dollars in taxes, but, but as soon as my routine audit is finished I’ll release my returns,” he said. “I’ll be very proud to. ”",true,news,test,US elections,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
3088,3089,"Peyton Manning is a Super Bowl underdog for the first time in his career . Photo : Getty  The Carolina Panthers began the season as longshots to win Super Bowl 50 , but they head into the biggest  game of 2016 as decided favorites over the Denver Broncos . The betting line for the contest opened at 3 . 5 points at multiple Las Vegas casinos , and it quickly increased in Carolina s favor .  As of Monday morning , Carolina is ? a four point favorite at some sportsbooks , while others have the Panthers favored by 4 . 5 points , according to vegasinsiderweblink . The Panthers moneyline is 180 , while the Broncos have 160 betting odds to pull off the upset and win outright . The over under is 45 points .  Carolina wasn t favored to represent the  in Super Bowl 50 when the playoffs began , but they ve looked dominant this postseason . After taking a 31 0 lead in their divisional playoff win ? over the Seattle Seahawks , the Panthers beat the Arizona Cardinals by 34 points in the  Championship Game .  Denver was a home underdog in the  Championship Game , but they managed to hold off the New England Patriots and reach the Super Bowl for a second time in three years . The Broncos weren t favored in the  when the postseason began , despite being the No . 1 seed in the conference .  Preseason Super Bowl Champ odds : 10 Broncos 10 1 ( only 5 teams with better odds ) 10 Panthers 60 1 ( only 9 teams with worse odds )  Being the Super Bowl favorite hasn t worked out well for teams in recent years . Last year s game was a pick em at most sportsbooks , though some casinos had ? the Seahawks ? favored by one point over the eventual champs . In the five Super Bowls prior , the underdog won outright every year .  The Broncos find themselves in a very different position from the one they were in two years ago . Peyton Manning and Denver s high powered offense was favored to beat Seattle , who ended up winning by 35 points . This time around , the Broncos are decided underdogs as Manning appears to be in the twilight of his career .  The Panthers made one previous Super Bowl appearance , losing to the Patriots by three points in 2004 as seven point underdogs . Led by  candidate Cam Newton , the No . 1 scoring team in the regular season has 80 points in two playoff games .  It is not expected to be a high scoring game ? as two of the league s best defensive teams go head to head at Levi s Stadium in Santa Clara , California , on Feb . 7 . Arizona had the No . 1 ranked offense in the regular season , but Carolina limited them to 15 points on Sunday while intercepting ? Carson Palmer four times . Denver ranked No . 1 in regular season defense , and they held Tom Brady and the Patriots to just 18 points as they advanced to Super Bowl 50 .  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
3093,3094,"New York A Bronx Supreme Court Judge dismissed on Wednesday the manslaughter indictment against New York Police Officer Richard Haste , who fatally shot an unarmed teenager in 2012 .  Judge Steven Barrett threw out the case based on instructions given by the prosecution to the grand jury regarding communications among officers before the shooting , attorneys on both sides of the case confirmed .  "" The whole defense against Officer Haste is , what his state of mind was prior to discharging his weapon one time , "" said Stuart London , Haste ' s attorney .  The original indictment alleges that Haste acted "" recklessly "" and ultimately killed 18 year old Ramarley Graham while "" acting with intent to cause serious physical injury . . . by shooting him . ""  "" Officer Haste ' s actions were formulated by information given by other officers at the scene who said the individual he was chasing was armed , "" London said . "" So his state of mind was , this person is dangerous . ""  "" My ruling does not end this case , "" the judge added .  After Barrett read his decision , Constance Malcolm , Graham ' s mother , yelled , "" He killed my child ! ""  "" It cannot be said more forcefully that we disagree with the court , "" a statement issued by the Bronx District Attorney ' s Office said .  The district attorney ' s office will now decide whether it will appeal this decision or present the case to the grand jury again .  "" This is a long road and we are certainly gratified that the system is fair , "" London said . "" We are ready to testify again , if the district attorney chooses to represent to the jury , because Officer Haste feels justified in his actions . ""  The charges against Haste stemmed from an incident in the Bronx on February 2 , 2012 , when , police say , investigators observed a young man now believed to be Graham acting suspiciously . When police approached , they say , the man fled , eventually running into a three family home .  Police say investigators pursued the young man into his house , where a struggle occurred . Haste fired one shot and hit Graham in the chest as he barricaded himself in the bathroom .  Graham ' s family said he was shot as his grandmother and his 6 year old brother looked on .  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
3106,3107,"Iraq Edwin Salau knew coming back would be hard . But he had to do it . The retired U . S . Army first lieutenant needed to know that his sacrifice was worth it .  Retired Army 1st Lt . Edwin Salau says he sees progress in Iraq since he left five years ago .  "" I wanted to make sure I didn ' t bleed in vain for the Iraqi people , "" Salau said . "" And what I found is I did not . I see the progress over five years . I see free Iraqis doing what Iraqis want to do in their country , and I see the U . S . taking a back seat . ""  Salau left the battlefield in November 2004 , after being hit by a rocket propelled grenade and small arms fire during an ambush close to the town of Tuz . Those injuries cost him most of his left leg it was amputated above the knee and he now wears a prosthesis .  Recently , he and seven other wounded American veterans returned to Iraq so they could heal emotionally . It was part of a nonprofit pilot program called Operation Proper Exit , an initiative started a little over a year ago by the Troops First Foundation , based in Maryland . The  supports the mission . Watch Salau describe his feelings on returning  Rick Kell , head of Troops First , traveled to Iraq with the soldiers and said the idea came from American troops .  "" After spending much time at Walter Reed and Brooke Army medical centers , inevitably in any conversation , something reminds somebody that they want to go back . And the soldiers don ' t hesitate to tell you that , "" Kell said . "" They are soldiers and they want to come back primarily for several reasons , but they want to come back and let the troops here on the ground know that they are still part of them , they support them , and they would very much like to be with them , although they can ' t . ""  It ' s an emotional journey for the returning veterans , a chance to visit bases where they were stationed , and , in some cases , the sites where they were wounded . Though other programs have allowed wounded American soldiers to return to the scene of their service and sacrifice , this is the first to allow them to do so while a war is still being waged .  All in all , 13 soldiers have participated in the program so far eight this trip and five on a previous trip , which took place in June . The earlier trip was kept quiet because of fears that the experience would be too overwhelming for the participants .  According to Kell , he encounters many soldiers who would like to return , but those who are selected are chosen carefully .  "" Well , first of all , when we come in contact with someone who wants to come back and that ' s somebody who is thriving , that is mentally and physically moving forward in their life , they ' ve demonstrated that they have a plan for what ' s next and they ' ve begun to implement that plan , "" he said . "" So we feel pretty good about this person being squared away . And there are concerns , but it ' s a very personal decision . We only ask for one of three answers : yes , no or not now . ""  Salau , who now works with other wounded soldiers at Camp Lejeune , in North Carolina , thinks he ' s become an ambassador for them . When Salau departed Iraq the first time , he couldn ' t do it on his own . That ' s why this trip was so important to him .  "" My purpose for this trip was for my soldiers to have that last memory of me in Iraq walking out of here on my own power , "" he said . "" And I achieved that and it was closure . ""  Salau and Kell think the program has been a success so far . According to them , the main reason for that is the support they ' ve gotten from the military command in Iraq , particularly Gen . Raymond Odierno , the top U . Sweblinkmander there .  Odierno ' s experiences with his son , who lost his arm in Iraq , helped the general better understand these soldiers ' plight , Kell said .  "" He has insight and perspective that a lot of leaders don ' t , thank goodness , "" Kell said , calling Odierno a very compassionate man .  "" Gen . Odierno is . . . he ' s a soldier ' s general , "" Salau said . "" He understands . It was clear when I met him the first day of our trip that he knew what the results would be at the end of our trip . I thank them for letting us come back . ""  Whether the program will help the wounded soldiers psychologically has yet to be proven . Also in question is whether more soldiers will be able to participate .  Troops First would like to include as many soldiers as possible , Kell said , but U . S . troops will not be in Iraq for much longer .  "" We ' ve got a short window , "" he said . "" We ' ve got a formula down . We can only do six to eight on each trip , so we can make it a very personal experience and have it be meaningful . ""  For Salau , it was extremely meaningful . Now he can go home on his own terms .  "" Today , I packed my stuff and I dressed in a uniform . . . and then I ' m going to undress at home and not Walter Reed , "" he said . "" That feeling , it can ' t completely be put into words . I ' m gonna get greeted at the airport by my wife and children . I ' m not gonna be greeted at Walter Reed . And I ' m gonna keep on living the dream . ""  ",true,text,test,US elections,Conflict,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,past
3112,3113,"Former archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams has spoken of his fears for the global climate  Former archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams has spoken of his fears for the global climate , saying the winter flooding was a portent of what is to come in the future .  He has blamed the lifestyle of Western countries for climate change , which he said is ' pushing the environment towards crisis ' .  He said the floods in Britain and similar weather related catastrophes around the world are the clearest indications yet that predictions of ' accelerated warming of the Earth ' caused by the uncontrolled burning of fossil fuels . . . ' are coming true ' .  His comments come as the  ' s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (  ) prepares to release a major report that is expected to warn of catastrophic consequences to food supplies , livelihoods , health and security across the world if climate change is allowed to continue unchecked .  Leaked versions of the report , published in Japan tomorrow , warn that rising global temperatures , droughts and heat waves will threaten food supplies and human health , while hundreds of millions of people will be affected by coastal flooding .  Climate change will cause economic losses , exacerbate poverty and increase migration and risks from violent conflict as well as causing damage to wildlife and habitats , the study by experts from around the world is expected to warn .  In Europe , heatwaves , droughts and heavy rainstorms will increase and there will be a greater risk of coastal and river flooding , it is expected to say , while heat related deaths will also increase .  The report , which collates work by thousands of scientists from across the planet , is likely to state that global warming has already left its mark on all continents and oceans , and is expected to warn that even a small increase in temperatures could lead to irreversible changes .  Residents struggling to move in the flood water in Shepperton , Surrey , during the floods in February  Energy Secretary Ed Davey has also declared that Britain must spearhead the worldwide battle against global warming .  Climate change is ' hugely threatening ' to life both in the  and globally , Mr Davey told The Observer , saying that not to lead the fight against it would be ' deeply irresponsible ' .  Mr Davey , whose portfolio also involves responsibility for climate change , said more people should be worried about the issue than ever .  Energy Secretary Ed Davey has also declared that Britain must spearhead the worldwide battle against global warming  The Lib Dem  said : ' Climate change is impacting our way of life in the  . . . The impacts on our people could be huge . We could see problems of real devastation from flooding and other severe weather events hitting food and water availability really significant things . '  He added : ' Climate change is hugely threatening to our way of life , in the  , Europe and the world . Not to lead is deeply irresponsible . If you don ' t lead , you will not bring others with you . '  Britain has made recent decisions that put the environmental agenda low on its list of priorities , scrapping green levies from energy bills and defeating efforts in Europe to set renewable energy targets for 2030 for each nation , the newspaper said .  But Mr Davey was adamant that climate change sceptics in the Government had been defeated , saying : ' Those of us who care about climate change and believe it is something we need to lead on have won the argument internally . People don ' t realise that we got a deal across the coalition that puts Britain right at the head , the most ambitious country . '  He added that Britain had agreed to slash emissions by 50 per cent by 2030 as part of a global deal . Dr Williams , who stepped down as leader of the Anglican Church just over a year ago , said tomorrow ' s report puts ' our local problems into a deeply disturbing global context ' .  Writing in his capacity as chairman of Christian Aid , he said : ' We have heard for years the predictions that the uncontrolled burning of fossil fuels will lead to an accelerated warming of the Earth .  ' What is now happening indicates that these predictions are coming true our actions have had consequences that are deeply threatening for many of the poorest communities in the world .  ' Rich , industrialised countries , including our own , have unquestionably contributed most to atmospheric pollution . Both our present lifestyle and the industrial history of how we created such possibilities for ourselves have to bear the responsibility for pushing the environment in which we live towards crisis . '  Sign of what is to come : An aerial view of the River Thames after it burst its banks following bad weather in Weybridge  Campaigners yesterday warned that the world faces a ' bleak future ' without action to tackle climate change and leading environmentalists called on politicians to break the world ' s dependency on fossil fuels .  Friends of the Earth ' s executive director Andy Atkins said : ' We face a bleak future if the world continues to ignore the grim scientific warnings of our failure to tackle global warming .  ' Droughts , floods and famines are just some of the devastating effects that people around the world are already suffering from more frequent extreme weather and , unless we take urgent measure , it will get far worse . '  A man tries to protect his home in Staines , Middlesex , after the River Thames caused flooding earlier this year  Sally Uren , chief executive of Forum for the Future , which advises businesses and governments on sustainability , said : ' The  report should be read as a vital wake up call .  ' It is now more clear than ever that the risk to society from climate change is real and that large scale action is needed now , by all of us , to both cut our carbon emissions , and also to accelerate the pace at which we adapt to a rapidly changing climate . '  Yesterday major landmarks in the  and across the globe switched off their lights for 60 minutes to mark Earth Hour , the World Wildlife Fund campaign to raise environmental awareness .  Big Ben , the Houses of Parliament and Buckingham Palace all went dark , along with Edinburgh Castle , Brighton Pier , the Eiffel Tower and Sydney Opera House .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
3126,3127,"The unexplained beachings of scores of dolphins over the past month along Cape Cod , Massachusetts , is the largest "" single species event "" of its kind on record in the northeastern United States , a marine mammal specialist said Monday .  A total of 129 common dolphins have been found since the animals began stranding themselves in early January , said Katie Moore , marine mammal rescue and research manager for the International Fund for Animal Welfare .  Team members have been able to successfully release 37 of the 54 they were able to recover alive , but 75 others were dead or had to be euthanized on the spot , for a total of 92 dead , Moore told reporters in a conference call .  Specially equipped trailers have been used to treat and transport the living dolphins . The ones that are healthy enough are taken to the outer Cape Cod coast to be released .  Nine of the dolphins have been tagged with satellite tracking devices , Moore said , and most of the six that are still transmitting are north of Cape Cod , "" where dolphins should be . ""  While dolphin strandings are not uncommon on the cape , Moore said this event is extraordinary in its "" protracted "" nature as well as the number of dolphins involved .  "" We ' ve seen see an ( annual ) average of 228 strandings of dolphins and seals over the past 12 years "" in the International Fund ' s Northeast region , which spans from Virginia to Maine , Moore said .  "" There is a large variability year to year , "" she said , but this event represents "" more than half my annual average in a month . ""  Moore said the International Fund staffs a 24 hour hotline , and when they get reports "" from beach goers or anyone who finds an animal , "" they alert one of their 300 trained volunteers and dispatch them to the scene . These responders are able to relay information about the dolphin ' s species , sex and condition .  Once beached , a dolphin is vulnerable to predators and susceptible to organ damage and sunburn . If a dolphin is still alive , the responders get it onto its stomach , if it is not already , for easier breathing , keep away seagulls that would otherwise peck at it , and warm it with blankets or cool it with water as necessary , Moore said .  Necropsies have been performed on nine of the dolphins , and blood and microbial swab samples have been taken from some that were found alive , Moore said , but so far no pattern of disease or trauma has been found that would point to a cause .  Although the winter and early spring are the normal time of year for dolphin strandings to occur , the weather this season has been unusually warm , leading to speculation about climate change and subsequent "" distribution of prey "" as a possible causes .  Last week , Wellfleet harbormaster Michael Flanagan explained that usually , in the winter , "" the harbor ices over and inhibits the animals from coming close to the shore . But now that the water is warmer , we ' re seeing lots more dolphins washing up than ever before . ""  However , the International Fund ' s Moore cautioned , while climate or other external factors such as acoustic disorientation can ' t be ruled out , "" we don ' t have a single answer . ""  "" As time goes on we can put more of the pieces of the puzzle together , "" she said . "" The sad fact in these events is that we often never come up with that answer , and that is incredibly frustrating . ""  She did , however cite the nature of the dolphins and the geology of Cape Cod as two contributing factors in these events , historically :  "" Common dolphins are incredibly social animals and form bonds to forage for food and avoid predators , "" she explained . Those bonds , while they serve the animals greatly in the open ocean they ' re accustomed to , can be devastating when the creatures are brought in contact with Cape Cod ' s gently sloping shallows and convoluted estuaries , which are "" very foreign to these species . ""  Moore said the event , because of its scale and duration , is taking "" a huge toll "" on the resources of the animal rescue and advocacy group , financially and physically .  "" This is very hard labor . These animals can weigh 200 or 300 pounds each , "" she said .  The organization , which gets its funding through donations and grants , has a base operating budget of less than 300 , 000 , and she estimated this event has coast "" at least 50 or 60 thousand dollars , "" not including staff time .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
3142,3143,"Love visual aspect of news ? Enjoy this exclusive slideshows treat !   : The United States has halted the course of the Islamic State group , President Barack Obama said in remarks broadcast Friday , calling for a stepped up drive to "" completely decapitate "" the militants ' operations .  The  News interview was recorded yesterday at the White House , hours after the start of a major operation by Iraqi Kurdish forces , backed by  led strikes , to drive  out of the northern town of Sinjar .  "" I don ' t think they ' re gaining strength , "" said Obama . "" From the start , our goal has been first to contain , and we have contained them . They have not gained ground in Iraq . ""  "" And in Syria they ' ll come in , they ' ll leave . But you don ' t see this systematic march by  across the terrain , "" he said , using an alternate acronym for  .  Obama gave the interview before news broke of a  air strike in Syria targeting "" Jihadi John , "" a masked British militant who appeared in a string of graphic execution videos .   has seized large chunks of territory in Iraq and Syria .  "" What we have not yet been able to do is to completely decapitate their command and control structures . We ' ve made some progress in trying to reduce the flow of foreign fighters , "" Obama said .  "" Part of our goal has to be to recruit more effective Sunni partners in Iraq to really go on offense rather than simply engage in defense . ""  The president warned that regional strife will persist "" until we get the Syria political situation resolved . ""  "" Until Assad is no longer a lightning rod for Sunnis in Syria and that entire region is no longer a proxy war for Shia Sunni conflict , we ' re going to continue to have problems , "" he said .  "" I would distinguish between making sure that the place is perfect that ' s not going to happen anytime soon with making sure that  continues to shrink in its scope of operations until it no longer poses the kind of threat that it does . ""  Stay on top of business news with The Economic Times App . Download it Now !  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
3143,3144,"Stuck last minute trying to figure out a gift for the father who has everything he possibly needs ? Well , these unique gift ideas will let your dad know you ' ve been thinking about him .  Your dad will love sitting around the house on weekends playing this Indian instrument or getting together with his sitar playing friends for a quick bhajan session in the garage .  Give your dad a gift money can ' t buy with a personally written coupon granting him one thorough , 14 hour back massage from you .  Make your dad flip with this temporal vortex granting him full access to the year when the peak of his life and career was still ahead of him , Reagan was president , and you weren ' t born yet .  Not quite sure what dad wants this year ? Well , this gargantuan sack of grade A beef , power tools , and albums from the seminal British rock band will have you covered . Soak the bag with a few cans of Miller Lite for a bonus treat !  There ' s no way you can afford it , but just know that some rich asshole did this for his dad and you didn ' t .  Comes in whatever size is in your father ' s printer right now . You can also sign it with one of the pens on his desk if you want .  Perfect for when your dad just wants to unwind , this bottle opener will , every time he cracks open a beer , play the full four minute long audio of the scene in which Capt . Ross ( Kevin Bacon ) and Lt . Kaffee ( Tom Cruise ) question Cpl . Barnes ( Jack Nicholson ) about "" Code Reds . ""  There ' s nothing your dad really wants this year , but just a good photo of all you kids together for his wallet or office would be nice . You guys are all so far away now and the family is rarely all together . It ' s the least you can do .  Tiny , nondescript bottle of dirt you can make your dad believe was collected from Tiger Stadium before it was demolished , or from the fields of Gettysburg , the shores of Normandy , the old Yankee stadium , or , you know , wherever .  ",satire,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,satire,True,no,no,positive,present
3149,3150,"AP)  —   A German court has convicted a    Iraqi man of raping two Chinese college students in the western city of Bochum. [The dpa news agency reported Tuesday that the court sentenced the man to 11 years in prison.  The defendant, who wasn’t identified by name, acknowledged in court that he assaulted the women in August and November last year.  evidence linked him to both crimes. The defendant came to Germany as an   more than a year ago with his wife and children. The victims, who were 21 and 27 years old at the time, had been studying at Bochum university. The   case was one of several that fanned a national debate in Germany about how to respond to a rise in violent crimes committed by migrants.",true,news,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
3164,3165,"It was special , just like Emilie Parker .  That ' s how Jill Cottle Garrett described Saturday ' s funeral for her 6 year old niece , one of 20 children and six adults killed at a Newtown , Connecticut , school .  The  Rock Cliff Stake Center church in Ogden , Utah , was filled with glitter and pink flowers Emilie ' s favorite color "" fancy "" and effervescent like the little girl herself .  "" Everything was special to Emilie , "" her aunt told reporters outside the church . "" Emilie was an example to not only her little sisters but to her family , to all her little friends . And now she ' s an example to the world about purity . . . tragedy and forgiveness . ""  Emilie had been practicing for a Christmas show , which would have been Sunday . She never got the chance to perform , but the songs "" Angels We Have Heard on High "" and "" Silent Night "" were played during her funeral . Her two little sisters sang along , smiled , danced , even took flowers off Emilie ' s casket and threw them into the air .  "" They were celebrating Emilie and her life today , "" Garrett said .  The girl was one of three Sandy Hook Elementary School students laid to rest Saturday , the last of the victims of the December 14 mass shooting to be buried .   official to face questions on gun control  One was Josephine Gay , who had turned 7 just days before Adam Lanza forced himself into her school and began firing .  A photo of the happy child , wearing a green hat and with glasses on the end of her nose , has been republished widely . On a Facebook memorial page , people remembered Josephine as "" a beautiful little angel . ""  Her funeral took place on a blustery day in Newtown , as strong winds whipped the hairs of emotional mourners outside Saint Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church .  Honoring victims and paying tribute to Newtown  Some who did not go inside the church instead left tributes at a makeshift memorial steps away , which was full of messages and flowers .  Services also were held Saturday for 6 year old Ana Marquez Greene , who is remembered for a singing voice bigger than her size . A representative for her father , the jazz musician Jimmy Greene , described the girl as "" beautiful and vibrant . ""  On a Facebook memorial page , Ana was remembered as a smart and "" sweet caramel princess "" part African American , Puerto Rican , Canadian and Irish who loved math picture problems , arts and crafts , ballet and "" loved people fiercely . ""  Bells toll for shooting victims  "" We , your friends and family , commit to remembering you . . . your loving heart , generous spirit and spunky attitude ! "" one update read . "" We know you are with Jesus and we will tell the world that love wins . ""  After Saturday ' s "" going home celebration "" at The First Cathedral in Bloomfield , Connecticut , her family offered a message of thanks .  "" Overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support , "" the post said . "" Love wins in newtown ! ! ! !  Sunday will mark a new chapter in this horrific saga , as the first full day when U . S . and Connecticut flags will be at full staff since the violence , as directed by Gov . Dannel Malloy .  After that , the quest to understand what happened at Sandy Hook Elementary , and why , as well as how to prevent more such carnage in the future , will continue .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
3171,3172,"Clint Eastwood has just announced that he will be directing Lindsay Lohan and Katrina Darrell aka "" Bikini Girl "" in the Amaretto Monteverdi production of The Lolitas  The film is based on the story by Danielle Sweetwater . The original movie which was actually entitled Las Lolitas came out in 1968 and starred Jane Fonda in the role of "" Bubbles "" Montague and Ann Magret in the role of "" Bubbles "" Landetta .  Lindsay Lohan will assume the role played by Jane Fonda and Kat will be playing the part that Ann Magret played .  The movie is set during World War  in The House of Deep Blue Lights Bordello on Bourbon Street in New Orleans .  The house of ill repute is run by Haddy May Middleditch who will be played by Wynonna Judd . Her husband Corporal Byron Middleditch , played by Billy Bob Thornton speaks perfect Japanese and is serving with the famed 99th Louisiana Infantry Regiment which is based on the unknown Pacific island of Iwo Jima .  Corporal Middleditch ' s duties include shooting Japanese soldiers , planting hedges , and making charcoal drawings of the Iwo Jima sky .  He is also the regiment ' s chief pastry cook which means he is in charge of baking all of the cookies , biscuits , muffins , and wedding cakes .  While her husband is off fighting the Japanese and baking tamales ( tamales ) for the G . I . ' s , Haddy May is home fighting the drunks , derelicts , ne ' er do wells , vagrants , gutterpups , and transients .  Middleditch has a roster of over 70 girls , 43 of which have the middle name Belle . The girls come in all sizes , shapes , colors , ethnic backgrounds , and political affiliations .  The twin Bubbles played by Lindsay Lohan and Katrina Darrell soon become the two most popular floozies in the whole cathouse . The reason that the two become so popular is because both possess certain amazingly erotic talents .  Montague ( Lohan ) can hang from the chandelier and perform any kind of sex act known to man while holding a glass of Singapore Sling in her right hand .  And Landetta ( "" Bikini Girl "" ) can French Kiss better than Brigitte Bardot , Catherine Deneuve , and Joan of Arc all put together .  The two Bubbles become so popular that men from as far away away as Mobile , Alabama and Topeka , Kansas make a weekly trek and come a callin ' .  1940 ' s New Orleans had over 50 houses of ill repute , but Haddy May ' s House of Deep Blue Lights Bordello was considered to be the very best not only in New Orleans , but in the entire south as well . Good Housekeeping Magazine even gave it a five star rating .  A lot of clients attributed Deep Blue ' s popularity to the fact that Haddy had some very strict rules , quidelines , and regulations when it came to her girls . For one , she insisted that the girls bathe on a daily basis , whether they felt that they needed to or not .  Haddy also made it a habit to never hire a girl who had a tattoo (  ' S  : Of course back then , it was virtually unheard of for a woman to have a tattoo , and only the most hardcore of whores had them and then it was a little flower the size of a dime which was on an extremely intimate part of her body , that no one but a ' customer ' would ever see . . . boy oh boy have things changed ) .  Another one of Haddy ' s requirements was that her ' Girls ' had to absolutely keep their underarm hair neatly trimmed at all times . No exceptions !  Film director Clint Eastwood asked several of his friends to appear in cameo roles as ' Customers ' of the brothel and everyone of them agreed .  So appearing in The Lolitas as paying clients will be Brad Pitt , Jack Nicholson , Matthew McConaughey , Bill O ' Reilly , Woody Allen , and Rush Limbaugh .  (  ' S  : Rush Limbaugh plays the part of Elroy Bob Shirtbox , a 400 pound fried okra truck driver from Broken Arrow , Oklahoma . Eastwood said that both Limbaugh and O ' Reilly tested so good in the preliminary screen tests that there is talk that they may be offered their own sit com spinoff ala the likes of the "" Dukes of Hazzard "" to be called the "" Dorks of Des Moines . "" . )  ",satire,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,satire,True,no,no,positive,past
3177,3178,"Model Jerry Hall and media baron Rupert Murdoch began dating in summer  Mr Murdoch proposed over the weekend while in  for Golden Globes  Marriage will be the billionaire businessman ' s fourth and Miss Hall ' s first  Her and Mick Jagger ' s 1990 Hindu ceremony in Bali is not legally binding  Published : 19 : 51  , 11 January 2016 Updated : 08 : 21  , 12 January 2016  Media mogul Rupert Murdoch and former supermodel Jerry Hall have announced their engagement after a whirlwind four month romance .  Mr Murdoch , 84 , the executive chairman of News Corporation , which owns ? The Times , announced the news on the Births , Marriages and Deaths page of the newspaper today . ?  They got engaged in Los Angeles over the weekend , where they attended the Golden Globes awards gala in one of their few public appearances as a couple .  The billionaire ' s new fiancee , Miss Hall , 59 , has four children with former partner Sir Mick Jagger , although the couple were never legally married . ?  Whirlwind romance : Media mogul Rupert Murdoch , 84 , and former supermodel Jerry Hall , 59 , posed arm in arm on the red carpet of the Golden Globe Awards on Sunday night . Mr Murdoch proposed over the weekend  Announcement : Mr Murdoch , the executive chairman of News Corporation , which owns The Times , shared the the news of their upcoming nuptials in an article on the Births , Marriages and Deaths page of the newspaper  Mr Murdoch and Miss Hall started dating in the late summer after being introduced by one of Murdoch ' s sisters and his niece in Australia .  The couple made their relationship public in October when they were seen for the first time together at the Rugby World Cup final at Twickenham in London .  They were next seen walking arm in arm down the red carpet ahead of the Golden Globes awards ceremony on Sunday , although Miss Hall did not appear to be wearing an engagement ring . ?  The classified advertisement announcing their engagement reads : ' Mr Rupert Murdoch , father of Prudence , Elisabeth , Lachlan , James , Grace and Chloe Murdoch , and Miss Jerry Hall , mother of Elizabeth , James , Georgia and Gabriel Jagger , are delighted to announce their engagement . ' ?  A spokesperson for the Murdoch family told MailOnline : ' They have loved these past months together , are thrilled to be getting married and excited about their future . '  No date for their wedding has been given . ? ?  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
3191,3192,"Editor’s note: We’re resurfacing this 2013 magazine article to remind you that tirelessly helping others could be the key to hyperefficiency. Just after noon on a Wednesday in November, Adam Grant wrapped up a lecture at the Wharton School and headed toward his office, a   speed walk away. Several students trailed him, as often happens at conferences, Grant attracts something more like a swarm. Grant chatted calmly with them but kept up the pace. He knew there would be more students waiting outside his office, and he said, more than once, “I really don’t like to keep students waiting. ” Grant, 31, is the   and   professor at Wharton. He is also one of the most prolific academics in his field, organizational psychology, the study of workplace dynamics. Grant took three years to get his Ph. D. and in the seven years since, he has published more papers in his field’s   journals than colleagues who have won   awards. His influence extends beyond academia. He regularly advises companies about how to get the most out of their employees and how to help their employees get the most out of their jobs. It is Grant whom Google calls when “we are thinking about big problems we are trying to solve,” says Prasad Setty, who heads Google’s people analytics group. Plenty of people have made piles of money by promising the secrets to getting things done or working a   week or figuring out what color your parachute is or how to be a brilliant   manager. But in an academic field that is preoccupied with the study of efficiency and productivity, Grant would seem to be the most efficient and productive. When we arrived at Grant’s office on the Philadelphia campus, five students were waiting outside. The first was a student trying to decide between Teach for America and a   job at Google. Grant walked her through some other possibilities, testing her theories about potential outcomes. Although she was aware of the crowd, she seemed to be in no hurry to leave, in part because Grant was so clearly engaged. A second student came in. Then a third. Someone dropped off a bottle of wine to say thank you another asked for a contact (Grant pledges to introduce his students to anyone he knows or has met, and they shop his LinkedIn profile for just that purpose). For every one of them, Grant seemed to have not only relevant but also scientifically tested,   advice: Studies show you shouldn’t move for location, since what you do is more important than where you do it. Studies show that people who take jobs with too rosy a picture get dissatisfied and quit. If you truly can’t make a decision, consider delegating it to someone who knows you well and cares about you. Is there anything else I can help you with? How else can I help? He was like some kind of  . Grant might not seem so different from any number of accessible and devoted professors on any number of campuses, and yet when you witness over time the sheer volume of Grant’s commitments, and the way in which he is able to follow through on all of them, you start to sense that something profoundly different is at work. Helpfulness is Grant’s credo. He is the colleague who is always nominating another for an award or taking the time to offer a thoughtful critique or writing a lengthy letter of recommendation for a student  —   something he does approximately 100 times a year. His largess extends to people he doesn’t even know. A student at Warwick Business School in England recently wrote to express his admiration and to ask Grant how he manages to publish so often, and in such   journals. Grant did not think, upon reading that   I cannot possibly answer in full every such query and still publish so often, and in such   journals. Instead, Grant, who often returns home after a day of teaching to an   of 200   responded, “I’m happy to set up a phone call if you want to discuss!” He attached handouts and slides from the presentation on productivity he gave to the Academy of Management annual conference a few years earlier. For Grant, helping is not the enemy of productivity, a   diversion from the actual work at hand it is the mother lode, the motivator that spurs increased productivity and creativity. In some sense, he has built a career in professional motivation by trying to unpack the puzzle of his own success. He has always helped he has always been productive. How, he has wondered for most of his professional life, does the interplay of those two factors work for everyone else? Organizational psychology has long concerned itself with how to design work so that people will enjoy it and want to keep doing it. Traditionally the thinking has been that employers should appeal to workers’ more obvious forms of  : financial incentives, yes, but also work that is inherently interesting or offers the possibility for career advancement. Grant’s research, which has generated broad interest in the study of relationships at work and will be published for the first time for a popular audience in his new book, “Give and Take,” starts with a premise that turns the thinking behind those theories on its head. The greatest untapped source of motivation, he argues, is a sense of service to others focusing on the contribution of our work to other people’s lives has the potential to make us more productive than thinking about helping ourselves. “Give and Take” incorporates scores of studies and personal case histories that suggest the benefits of an attitude of extreme giving at work. Many of the examples  —   the selfless C. E. O. ’s, the consultants who mentor ceaselessly  —   are inspiring and humbling, even if they are a bit intimidating in their natural expansiveness. These generous professionals look at the world the way Grant does: an   filled with requests is not a task to be dispensed with perfunctorily (or worse, avoided) it’s an opportunity to help people, and therefore it’s an opportunity to feel good about yourself and your work. “I never get much done when I frame the 300   as ‘answering ’ ” Grant told me. “I have to look at it as, How is this task going to benefit the recipient?” Where other people see hassle, he sees bargains, a little work for a lot of gain, including his own. The message sounds terrific: Feel good about your work, and get more of it done, and bask in the appreciation of all the people you help along the way. Nice guys can finish first! (Now there’s research to prove it.) But I couldn’t help wondering, as I watched Grant race through his marathon day (even one of his mentors admitted, “He can be exhausting”) about the cost of all this  . If you are devoted to being available to everyone, all the time, how do you relax? How can you access the kind of creativity that comes from not being on task every waking moment? How do you make time for the more important relationships in your life? As Grant’s office hours came to an end four and a half hours later, he patiently continued offering help until he finally had to close the door and tell a student to try him by phone he would squeeze him in on his commute or by  . But he would not say no. The study of job design in the   and   century focused on how to improve the drudge work of manufacturing: Grant is credited with reviving the field, shifting the thinking toward the more modern conditions of a service and knowledge economy. He first realized that his ideas about giving at work might actually yield quantifiable results when he was a    graduate student at the University of Michigan, and he proposed a study set in a university   call center. Call centers, even on college campuses, are notoriously unsatisfying places to work. The job is repetitive and can be emotionally taxing, as callers absorb verbal abuse while also facing rejection (the rejection rate at that call center was about 93 percent). The manager, Howard Heevner, did not have a lot of faith that Grant would be able to motivate his  . He had already tried, in a previous job at a call center, the usual incentives  —   cash prizes, competitive games  —   and was generally unimpressed with the results. But Grant had a different idea. When he was an undergraduate at Harvard, he took a job selling advertisements for the travel guide series “Let’s Go,” but he was terrible at it. “I was a pushover,” he says in “Give and Take,” “losing revenues for the company and sacrificing my own commission. ” Then he met another undergraduate whose job at “Let’s Go” was helping her pay her way through college. Suddenly the impact of his role became clear to him: without advertising revenues, the company could not make money, which in turn meant it couldn’t provide jobs to students who needed them. With that in mind, he was willing to make a harder sell, to take a tougher line on negotiations. “When I was representing the interests of students, I was willing to fight to protect them,” he writes. It would not be a   psychology book if every anecdote did not have a dramatic ending: Grant eventually sold the largest advertising package in company history and less than a year later, at 19, was promoted to director of advertising sales, overseeing a budget of $1 million. As a psychology major, Grant always hoped to do a study on the “Let’s Go” staff, in which the books’ editors and writers would meet with or read letters by people whose travels had been enhanced by their work. Would knowing how the books benefited others inspire them to work harder? Now, at the call center, Grant proposed a simple,   experiment: given that one of the center’s primary purposes was funding scholarships, Grant brought in a student who had benefited from that  . The callers took a   break as the young man told them how much the scholarship had changed his life and how excited he now was to work as a teacher with Teach for America. The results were surprising even to Grant. A month after the testimonial, the workers were spending 142 percent more time on the phone and bringing in 171 percent more revenue, even though they were using the same script. In a subsequent study, the revenues soared by more than 400 percent. Even simply showing the callers letters from grateful recipients was found to increase their   draws. When Grant went back and talked to the callers about their improvement, many actively discounted the possibility that the brief encounter with a scholarship student helped. “Several of them were stunned,” Grant said. “Their response was, ‘Yeah, I knew I was more effective, but that was because I had more practice,’ or, ‘That was because I had a better alumni pool in that period  —   I got lucky.’ ” Eventually, having replicated the test five times, Grant was confident that he had eliminated other explanations. It was almost as if the good feelings had bypassed the callers’ conscious cognitive processes and gone straight to a more subconscious source of motivation. They were more driven to succeed, even if they could not pinpoint the trigger for that drive. The study quickly raised Grant’s profile in his field, partly because it relied on hard data: dollars, as opposed to manager assessments or  . “I don’t know the last time there was a study in our field that had such striking results,” says Stuart Bunderson, a professor of organizational behavior at Washington University. “In terms of an intervention that has practical significance and moves the needle on employee behavior  —   you don’t see them that often. ” The intervention was also a manager’s dream: fast and practically free. Over the years, Grant has followed up that study with other experiments testing his theories about prosocial motivation  —   the desire to help others, independent of easily foreseeable payback. In one study, Grant put up two different signs at   stations in a hospital. One reminded doctors and nurses, “Hand hygiene prevents you from catching diseases” another read, “Hand hygiene prevents patients from catching diseases. ” Grant measured the amount of soap used at each station. Doctors and nurses at the station where the sign referred to their patients used 45 percent more soap or hand sanitizer. These studies, two of Grant’s best known, focus on typically worthy beneficiaries: needy students and vulnerable patients. But some of his other research makes the case that prosocial behavior is as applicable in corporate America as it is in a hospital or a university. “Think of it this way,” he said. “In corporate America, people do sometimes feel that the work they do isn’t meaningful. And contributing to   can be a substitute for that. ” Take, for example, Grant’s study of workers at Borders who contributed to an   fund managed by the staff, with Borders matching donated funds. The money was set aside for employees in need  —   someone facing a pregnancy that would put a strain on their finances, for example, or the funeral of a loved one. Interestingly, Grant found that it was not the beneficiaries who showed the most significant increase in their commitment to Borders it was the donors, even those who gave just a few dollars a week. Through interviews and questionnaires, Grant determined that “as a result of gratitude to the company for the opportunity to affirm a valued aspect of their identities, they developed stronger affective commitment to the company. ” The study is uplifting and troubling at the same time: even Grant acknowledges the possibility of corporations playing off their employees’ generous impulses, as a sop to compensate for other failings  —   poor pay or demeaning work. (After all, if the employees at Borders had better benefits and pay, they might not have needed the emergency fund.) Jerry Davis, a management professor who taught Grant at the University of Michigan and is generally a fan of his former student’s work, couldn’t help making a pointed critique about its inherent limits when they were on a panel together: “So you think those workers at the Apple factory in China would stop committing suicide if only we showed them someone who was incredibly happy with their iPhone?” Grant’s answer to these questions is academic: he tries to understand how these mechanisms function but does not necessarily advocate implementation. “I am also skeptical about the motivations of corporations,” he said. “My concern is ultimately for the success and   of people in organizations. To the extent that individual and group accomplishments and quality of work life contribute to profits, I’m happy, but that’s not my primary goal. ” For all his general interest in psychology, Grant doesn’t seem interested in digging too deeply into the origins of his own psyche. About his   desire to help, he says simply: “My mother has what she calls the   gene. Maybe I just inherited it. ” He grew up in the suburbs of Detroit, raised by a lawyer, his father, and a teacher, his mother. He was an upbeat boy, though socially awkward and burdened by numerous food allergies and strong aversions  —   to haircuts, to bluejeans, to chocolate. He felt things deeply those aversions were matched by equally consuming passions. An aspiring basketball player, he would not allow himself to go inside until he made 23 consecutive free throws, even if it meant missing dinner. (That he never made the   team is the one failure that still pains him.) On weekends, he played video games for so many consecutive hours  —   10 was not unusual  —   that his mother called the local paper to complain about what the paper called, in the subsequent article, “The Dark Side of Nintendo. ” Grant started significantly losing his hair in his 20s, as if his head were trying to keep pace with his overall precociousness. Now almost entirely bald, he has a striking, monklike look. Though he comes across as charming and agreeable, there are still traces of the awkward boy he says he once was, a hint of discomfort in the smile he gives a student he runs into unexpectedly, a longstanding dread of parties (“unless they like psychology or magic tricks, in which case I’d come alive,” he said). He is aware of his own introverted tendencies, and some of his research involves the strengths of introverts at work. For the most part, Grant has more than compensated for the shyness he felt growing up. Once phobic about speaking in public, he forced himself to lecture as much as he could as a graduate student, handing out feedback forms so he could methodically learn from his weaknesses. He developed strategies for socializing comfortably, even though, he said, “I feel uncomfortable when I’m in a situation and I don’t know what people want or expect of me. ” Giving, he eventually realized, was a reliable way of mediating social interactions. On the day I followed Grant as he hurried to his office hours at Wharton, I read something on his face that registered as more than just busyness he seemed anxious. I wondered whether Grant was driven by the desire to help or a deep fear of disappointing someone. “That is one astute observation!” Grant said when I asked him about that by  . (With Grant, every observation is an astute one.) Grant often starts his research with observations about himself  —   “” they call it in the field  —   and he had conducted a study trying to determine which of those two impulses was more motivating. The answer turned out to be a combination of the two. “Givers motivate themselves to avoid complacency by focusing on the benefits to others if they succeed and worrying about disappointing them if they fail,” Grant wrote. One of Grant’s roommates, he went on, once joked that he had a productive form of O. C. D. “He noticed that when I was anxious about something, I had a habit of throwing myself   into tasks in which I felt responsible to others,” he said. “A few days later, my mentor, Brian Little, sent me an article by Ian McGregor, one of his doctoral students, who studied ‘compensatory conviction’: anxiety in one domain motivates people to dive into passionate pursuit in another. It was one of those crystallizing moments that triggered a ‘Yes, I want to be a psychologist!’ reaction  —   I was fascinated by how closely his theory and findings mapped onto my own experience. ” It’s not hard to imagine a   interpretation of Adam Grant: that his generosity might have its roots in some kind of need  —   maybe a need he feels, even more than the rest of us, to be liked. Or perhaps that he is channeling his extreme ambition into a   form of achievement. Productive and happy, Grant could even be seen as a paradigm of Freud’s definition of mental health: aggression sublimated into work. But he has never put much stock in psychoanalysis  —   if the work is not   he’s skeptical. “I think a lot of it is baggage that goes back to Freud, and Freud would always say that whatever is going on with you can be traced back to something that happened early in childhood with your mother,” he told me, by phone, as he was driving to work one day. “You can either accept that or be in denial. You can’t win!” He would rather simply understand himself as someone who gets a lot out of giving, then harness that feeling, study it and see how the mechanisms involved can inspire others to succeed. One night Grant forwarded me a grateful   from a student whose life, the student said, changed because of some advice Grant gave her. I commented that most people would be thrilled to receive one note like that in a lifetime. “I get several dozen a week,” Grant said. He agreed to send some my way. That evening, at around 8:30, the   started coming  —   Thank you for our conversation the other day and for your genius. . . . I couldn’t have done this without you. . . . I cannot thank you enough for your time and insight. . . . I’m thrilled. And I have you to thank. . . . After the first 10, I was impressed when they kept arriving, I was surprised. On and on, until almost 11, my   kept pinging when I awoke the next morning, I saw that he had forwarded me 41   from the preceding week, each one of them numbered for my convenience. Was this compulsive behavior? “Not really,” Grant said. “I would see it as   and focused. ” He said the question had generated a new research idea for him: “How Prosocial Behavior Can Mitigate O. C. D. Tendencies. ” Grant’s book, incorporating several decades of   research on reciprocity, divides the world into three categories: givers, matchers and takers. Givers give without expectation of immediate gain they never seem too busy to help, share credit actively and mentor generously. Matchers go through life with a master chit list in mind, giving when they can see how they will get something of equal value back and to people who they think can help them. And takers seek to come out ahead in every exchange they manage up and are defensive about their turf. Most people surveyed fall into the matcher category  —   but givers, Grant says, are overrepresented at both ends of the spectrum of success: they are the doormats who go nowhere or burn out, and they are the stars whose giving motivates them or distinguishes them as leaders. Much of Grant’s book sets out to establish the difference between the givers who are exploited and those who end up as models of achievement. The most successful givers, Grant explains, are those who rate high in concern for others but also in  . And they are strategic in their giving  —   they give to other givers and matchers, so that their work has the maximum desired effect they are cautious about giving to takers they give in ways that reinforce their social ties and they consolidate their giving into chunks, so that the impact is intense enough to be gratifying. (Grant incorporates his field’s findings into his own life with methodical rigor: one reason he meets with students four and a half hours in one day rather than spreading it out over the week is that a study found that consolidating giving yields more happiness.) The studies are elaborate, the findings nuanced  —   but it is easy to walk away from the book forgetting the cautionary tales about people who give too much and remembering only the wash of stories about boundless generosity resulting in surprising rewards: a computer programmer who built a Web site at no cost for music fans (one of whom turns out to be an influential figure in Silicon Valley) a financial adviser who travels to take on a client thought to be impoverished (only to find that person sitting on a significant fortune) the writers who start out working free on a project for a friend (and somehow end up among the most successful in Hollywood). I had assumed that Grant, and the other examples of extreme givers in his book, were simply superhuman in one way or another  —   not only in the acute empathy that makes giving so rewarding for them but also in their unusual focus and stamina and   speed, traits that allow them to bend time and squeeze in more generosity than the rest of us. Grant, clearly, has some advantages beyond his propensity to help: more than one of his colleagues told me, for example, that when they cannot find the citation for a particular paper, they simply   Grant directly, who is more reliable than Google and almost as fast (his childhood friends called him Mr. Facts). But Grant believes that in terms of giving, we all have the same muscle it’s just that he and the other givers in his book have exercised it more. In “Give and Take,” he cites a study that found that most people lose physical strength after enduring a test of will, like resisting   cookies when they are hungry. Typically, the study’s subjects could squeeze a handgrip for only 25 seconds after an exercise in willpower. But one group distinguished itself, squeezing the grip for 35 seconds after the test of will. They were people who were on the giving end of the   scale. “By consistently overriding their selfish impulses in order to help others, they had strengthened their psychological muscles, to the point where using willpower for painful tasks was no longer exhausting,” writes Grant of the study, conducted by researchers at Northwestern University. It seems too simple to assume that Grant just happens to be capable of great discipline across all facets of his life all those exercises in will, he would argue, feed each other, with one making the others possible. I like to think I am a typically helpful person, but after reading Grant’s book, I found myself experimenting with being more proactive about it. I started ending   by encouraging people to let me know if I could help them in one way or another. I put more effort into answering random entreaties from students trying to place articles. I encouraged contacts seeking work or connections to see me as a resource. And I did notice that simply avoiding the mental lag of deciding whether to help or not was helpful. At a minimum, Grant’s example presents a   rule: Unless the person on the other end is a proven taker, just do it  —   collaborate, offer up, grant the favor. The first time I exchanged those   I usually felt good after the second exchange on a given topic, I thought perhaps I had done my duty. But I noticed that every offer of help I initiated or granted engendered four or five   at the end of which I sometimes felt surly and behind on my work  —   and then guilty for feeling that way. Worse, those exchanges often even ended with the person on the other end wanting to meet for coffee. Coffee! Now I struggled to find a way to say, gracefully, that there was no way I could meet for coffee  —   not this week or next or the week after that, because there are only so many hours in the day, and if I do not get home in time to make dinner, my children will dine on Pirate’s Booty and Smarties, which would not make me feel helpful or productive or good. Children. It must be said that in the middle of a national debate about flexible hours and telecommuting, there is precious little in Grant’s book about work and family balance. The division of labor in Grant’s own marriage is very traditional his wife, who has a degree in psychiatric nursing, does not work outside the home, devoting her time to the care of their two young daughters and their home. Grant would be an extraordinary giver under any circumstances but it can only help that he doesn’t have to worry about running to the grocery store or renewing the car registration. “Sometimes I tell him, ‘Adam  —   just say no,’ ” his wife, Allison, told me, referring to the hundreds of requests he gets every day. “But he can’t say no. That’s what he is. That’s his way. ” Grant is devoted to his family  —   he has dinner most nights at home and takes his daughter to a preschool activity on many afternoons. But he also works at least one full day on the weekend, as well as six evenings a week, often well past 11. Once, when Grant was asked to give a talk on productivity, he confessed to a mentor that for all his research, he was still not sure what he did that was any different from anyone else. It wasn’t exactly a mystery, his mentor told him: He worked more. “I made a commitment to talk about that more,” Grant said. He did not mean to suggest that everyone should work on weekends he wanted them to be aware that they were making a choice, maybe even one they felt good about. “The way I see it, I have several different roles,” he told me: teacher, scholar, adviser, friend, to name a few. “I’d be concerned if any of those roles took more of my time than my family. ” Grant, of course, has conducted a study investigating whether giving behaviors at work translate into happiness at home. He found that people who felt they had contributed to others’   at work did not always feel great at the end of the workday but they usually did by bedtime, especially if they had reflected about their contribution in the intervening hours. It turns out that bringing your work home with you can be beneficial after all  —   if you’re thinking about it the right way. A skeptic might read Grant’s book and conclude that extreme givers are just matchers who are in it, maybe even subconsciously, for the long run. Eventually, in ways that are predictable and unpredictable, the bounty returns to them. Grant’s giving instincts might be reflexive, but they do clearly contribute to his success. “The entire world feels like it owes him a favor  —   including me,” says Justin Berg, a doctoral candidate who studies creativity at Wharton and who has collaborated with Grant. “People rush at the opportunity to work with him. ” And one round of giving enables another: when Grant calls on a work contact and asks her to meet with an undergraduate seeking work, chances are that contact is more than happy to enable Grant’s favor, because she has already been the beneficiary of more than one from him herself. The path to success is filled with people helping to clear the way. From the point of creativity, Grant’s undiscriminating helpfulness also reaps professional benefits, Berg says. “The best ideas occur to people who are touching multiple worlds and domains. And in our field, he’s at the nexus of a lot of them. ” Because one study found that old friends and connections can be even more valuable as resources than current ones  —   because they intersect with different worlds and therefore have more fresh ideas  —   Grant has a tickler built into his calendar reminding him, once a month, to get in touch with a contact he likes but with whom he has temporarily lost touch. And he is highly efficient about his giving: he virtually never says no to the   favor, something that will help someone out  —   an introduction, a quick suggestion  —   but cost him very little, relative to impact. We were sitting in Grant’s office one afternoon talking about efficiency, when he said: “The truth is, I don’t care how many articles I publish or how many words I write. Productivity is an imperfect way of indexing how much I’m contributing, how I’m using my limited time to make the most difference. ” It wasn’t until I was transcribing the conversation a few days later that I realized that when he referred to his limited time, he wasn’t just talking about a busy schedule there was a more existential tug in the phrase. I brought it up with him by phone. “It’s the kind of thing I almost never talk about,” Grant said. “But my responsibility is to be open. ” Mortality, he said, was the one subject that gave him something like panic attacks. He had always felt that way, since he was a brainy, sensitive kid playing basketball in his driveway, staring at the sun, suddenly terrified of what would happen when it burned out. That was why he first wanted to be a scientist  —   before he realized biology bored him and he would never reinvent physics  —   so he could help figure out how to extend life, or at least design the spacecrafts that he is sure, even now, will take us to safer planets if this one runs dry. Mortality, he said, is “something I can’t fix. I can’t do anything with or about it. ” He can’t let himself think about it too much he has lost days at a time to his anxiety, “to the point that it’s the equivalent of extreme physical pain. ” It struck Grant as odd that no one had ever tried to figure how the awareness of death motivates people’s behavior at work, and in 2009, he published a paper trying to understand the link between mortality and productivity: “The Hot and Cool of Death Awareness at Work: Mortality Cues, Aging and   and Prosocial Motivations. ” The study walks the reader through the fascinating field of death awareness, which measures how people respond to reminders of death, like a news clip about a deadly car crash. When and how, he asked, does the prospect of death become relevant to employees at work? Grant argued that when people’s reactions to reminders of death are “hot”  —   anxious and panicked  —   those workers tend to withdraw. But when they are “cool”  —   more reflective, as in response to chronic reminders, the kinds, for example, firefighters face  —   those workers would be more likely to “reflect on the meaning of life and their potential contributions. ” Grant wrote the paper, in part, to try to sort out his own hot and cool feelings on the subject. Contemplating the meaning of life doesn’t make him want to relax and work less. “I always go back to William James,” he said. “ ‘The greatest use of a life is to spend it on something that will outlast it.’ A big part of it is being remembered. ” Besides, relaxing stresses him out. “For me, in my moments of idleness, I experience the most existential anxiety, so I like that every moment is scheduled, even when it’s having on my calendar that I’m going to watch a television show with my wife. It means my brain is engaged in other things, and it’s not going to be a terrifying evening. ” Grant would be the first to say that he is not purely altruistic  —   that pure altruism, giving without regard for one’s   perhaps does not even exist. When he writes those 100 student recommendations, he says, he gets the satisfaction of helping them succeed. But there are other happy byproducts of that work as well: he might end up the beneficiary of those students’ good will later on and possibly inspire them to try to do right by those who will eventually ask them for help. He will also have kept himself busy enough that he won’t have much time to spend agonizing over what happens when he can’t give anymore. As he left the office after one of our meetings, Grant headed for his car, carrying another gift of gratitude: a twiggy box filled with organic jellies and dried fruit from the Environmental Defense Fund, to which he had recently spoken about how to motivate their  . On the way to the garage, Grant told me the story of a time that someone asked quite a lot from him. “So I got an   out of the blue from a recent Ph. D. who wanted career advice,” Grant said. “And I spoke to him for a while on the phone  —   twice. But then, after that, he asks me if I could give him comments on his dissertation, and he sends me this thing that was like 300 pages long. It was one of those moments  —   yikes!” Grant did not know this academic and was not an expert on the subject. This, I thought, was the   last straw, an occasion when Grant not only said no but also perhaps found the request itself galling. Surely he did not shun his family, his students, his ultimate Frisbee game, his research and his   list of   requests for the hours that it would have taken him to analyze a   dissertation. Even Adam Grant must say no sometimes. Grant said that he rarely feels resentful of such requests. “It’s on me if I want to say no,” he said. “I own my guilt. ” He did decide that in this case, the time it would take to read the paper would be excessive  —   and that indulging the impulse to read it all would be tantamount, in the logic of Grant’s thinking, to letting himself down, flouting his own rules of efficient giving. “So I just skimmed it for the most important parts,” he said, and gave general feedback on those points. The author then reworked the paper completely and sent it back to Grant to read again. Grant, of course, complied. “And guess what?” Grant said, breaking out in a smile. “The paper was great!”",true,news,test,US elections,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
3199,3200,"A Michigan man and woman were convicted Thursday of trying to extort 680 , 000 from "" Full House "" actor John Stamos by threatening to sell compromising photos that prosecutors say were never found .  Scott Edward Sippola , 31 , and Allison Lenore Coss , 24 , could face up to nine years in prison for convictions of conspiracy and interstate communications to extort money , said assistant U . S . Attorney Maarten Vermaat . Sentencing is set for October 8 .  "" The case was made by the fact that these defendants made threats to damage his Stamos ' reputation in order to have him pay them , "" Vermaat said after the verdict in Marquette , Michigan . Jurors deliberated for about five hours Thursday .  Vermaat said the defendants sent about 40 e mails to Stamos threatening to sell the photos .  agents got involved and started monitoring Stamos ' e mail account and "" eventually communicated by cellular telephone with the defendants pretending to be Mr Stamos ' business manager . "" Sippola and Coss were arrested in December 2009 at an airport , a pre arranged drop off spot for the money .  Defense attorney Sarah Henderson alleged at trial that Stamos had a fling with Coss when she was a 17 year old vacationing on spring break in 2004 . Prosecutors said Stamos met Coss during a trip to Disney World in Orlando , Florida . They developed a friendship and the two communicated by e mail occasionally until November 2009 , when the actor turned the photos matter over to the  .  According to  , Coss testified there were several photos depicting Stamos using cocaine . She claimed the actor seemed interested in buying the photos .  The actor testified that nothing inappropriate happened at a 2004 spring break party and , accordingly , he didn ' t believe compromising photos existed .  Stamos said Thursday he wants to get back to work .  "" I would like to thank the court , the  and the U . S . Attorney ' s office for their swift and efficient dealings in connection with this case , "" Stamos said in a statement Thursday afternoon .  "" I am shocked and perplexed how individuals could fabricate so many false stories in an effort to defend a crime . I agreed to be a witness for a federal criminal prosecution and endured countless false accusations about my behavior and appropriateness . The allegations made regarding an inappropriate relationship are completely untrue . These slanderous allegations to smear my reputation were part of their defense to redirect attention away from the federal crime of extortion . There was no hot tub , no drugs , no nudity and nothing sexual in nature involved in my friendship with this woman . They lied about everything from a pregnancy to compromising photos . ""  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
3214,3215,"Editor ' s note : A nationally syndicated columnist , Roland S . Martin is the author of "" Listening to the Spirit Within : 50 Perspectives on Faith "" and "" Speak , Brother ! A Black Man ' s View of America . "" Visit his Web site for more information .  Roland S . Martin says America ' s history with Iran has not been a happy one .  Critics of President Obama , mostly Republicans , have seethed that he has not been more forceful in ripping the theocratic leadership in Iran for their brutal handling of protesters angry with what they see as a stolen election .  In Tuesday ' s press conference , the president toughened his talk , saying , "" The United States and the international community have been appalled and outraged by the threats , beatings and imprisonments of the last few days . ""  Still , Obama ' s measured and calm approach has been right on target , while his critics have been totally off base .  What these shortsighted naysayers should do is pick up a history book , or take a quick trip to Langley , Virginia , and let the  tell them our own sordid past with Iran .  Whenever U . S . relations with Iran are raised , everyone seems to want to refer back to 1979 , when our embassy was overrun by militants and Americans were taken hostage for 444 days . The nation , and the world , was captivated by the drama , and many consider the affair the chief reason why President Carter lost to Ronald Reagan in the 1980 presidential election .  The Iranian revolution of that era is what led to today ' s theocratic rule in Iran , where the clerics hold sway over every facet of the country . They replaced the Shah of Iran , Mohammad Reza Pahlavi , himself a dictator who ruled with an iron fist with the help of his  trained death squads . How did he come to power ? The United States helped overthrow a democratically elected government in Iran .  To understand the hatred of the United States in Iran , we have to go further back than 1979 to 1953 , when Prime Minister Mohammed Mossadegh had the gall to care more about his country than what the British and the United States wanted .  The two superpowers were angry that he nationalized oil interests at the time Anglo Iranian Oil , now known as British Petroleum , was receiving 93 percent of oil proceeds and the Iranians were getting 7 percent .  So with the  leading the charge , along with British intelligence , the United States helped destabilize the country , blocked the importing of goods , spread leaflets around the country blasting Mossadegh for a lack of leadership , and used local goons to lead protests .  It was this effort that led to the installation of the Shah of Iran , who subsequently had Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini exiled . Khomeini was a revolutionary leader who used his voice to label the United States the "" Great Satan "" for its actions .  Nice history lesson , you might say , but what does it have to do with today ? Everything .  Khomeini rose to power by blasting the United States for intervening in the affairs of Iran . It was the younger voices in Iran who responded to his criticism of the United States , and they cast their lot with a revolutionary figure rather than the pro Western Shah of Iran .  One of those young men who cared more about their own country than the interests of the United States ? Mahmoud Ahmadinejad , now the president of Iran ( A fascinating account of our sordid history with Iran is detailed in Stephen Kinzer ' s "" Overthrow : America ' s Century of Regime Change from Hawaii to Iraq "" ) .  President Obama knows that every word uttered by U . S . leaders can be turned right around and used against the protesters who are in the streets . He also understands how deep resentment of the United States is in Iran , and if the clerics can successfully get people to believe that the United States is behind the protests , they have the possibility of using America as the scapegoat .  Isn ' t it ironic that the president ' s conservative critics want him to stand up for democracy in Iran , when it was the United States that chose to destroy democracy and install a dictator we could control more than 50 years ago ?  Folks , democracy can never be imported . It must be homegrown . If we look at our own Civil Rights Movement , the democratic movement in Poland and all of Eastern Europe , they were all driven by the people at the bottom , not the top .  We are seeing a remarkable amount of courage in Iran . The people there are tired of being treated like children , and are putting their lives on the line to demand change in the country .  Instead of inflaming tensions , the United States should continue to issue tempered comments , and allow the people in the streets to drive this issue . This should not become a U . S . vs . Iran discussion .  If the focus remains on those demanding change in the streets of Iran , especially if the beatings and oppression continues remember Selma , Alabama , and Bloody Sunday ? then those who are silent in Iran will be silent no more , and other countries will begin to weigh in on the brutality .  The change we desire in Iran will not happen with a press release or a comment by the president of the United States or even a congressional resolution . We must show support , but from a distance . The United States played a direct role in the mess we see in Iran today . It ' s best that we shut up and allow Iran to determine Iran ' s fate .  The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Roland S . Martin .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
3225,3226,"The justices of the United States Supreme Court confirmed this week that although he has been on the job less than a year , their new agent , Rory McCleft , has already started to help the nine member panel land more high profile cases .  Early in its 2011 2012 term , the nation ' s highest court reportedly began to voice dissatisfaction with longtime agent Jeffrey Muslin , who many justices felt had lost sight of their jurisprudential interests , in particular failing to get them access to "" cream of the crop "" immigration , health care , intellectual property , and search and seizure cases .  "" The truth is , we never would have gotten a case like National Federation of Independent Business v . Sebelius with Jeff , "" said Chief Justice John Roberts , referring to the recent landmark decision upholding the individual mandate of the Affordable Care Act . "" But Rory was all over it . He burned through his Rolodex , called in every favor he had , and made the deal happen . ""  "" He just he gets it , you know ? "" Roberts continued . "" Rory ' s always got his ear to the ground for any circuit court cases that might play to our strengths as a group . He understands what we ' re about , and he ' s very hands on and curious about what we ' re trying to do . He came into the room and just asked us flat out , ' Where do you want to go as a court ? What kind of cases do you want ? Gun control ? You got it . Abortion ? Let ' s do it . ' It was so refreshing after all those years where it felt like we were just treading water . ""  According to legal experts , McCleft , a senior partner at Taggart , Stanley McCleft Representatives and a rising star in judicial talent management , has in a few short years in the business built up an impressive client roster that includes numerous federal district courts , state appellate courts , and even a handful of military tribunals .  Sources said the Supreme Court justices often became frustrated with their former agent when he seemed to place greater priority on his other top client , the New Jersey Superior Court . Their rancor came to a head when Muslin booked Englewood Boat Basin et al . vs . Quartello and Quartello for the New Jersey judges .  "" Any case with substance , his precious Superior Court in Jersey always got the first call , "" Justice Anthony Kennedy said . "" That ' s a talented court , no question , but their success kind of came at the expense of our own , you know ? Jeff ' s a sweet guy , and I respect him , but toward the end there it seemed like we were doing all the heavy lifting just to keep our name out there . Seriously , we had to bring Citizens United to his attention . Can you imagine ? ""  "" At that point it ' s like , what are we even paying this guy for ? "" Kennedy added . "" We just felt it was time to move on . ""  The Supreme Court has had its share of notable agents over the years , including the legendary Saul Rosen , whose savvy negotiations were credited with making the Warren Court the most powerful in Beltway history , and the notorious Frank Tanner , whose backroom dealings allowed the Rehnquist Court to become the first ever to decide an American presidential election . Given the court ' s infamously rigorous demands , McCleft is expected to have his work cut out for him .  "" We ' re hands down the most talented judicial body in the nation , and there ' s no reason we shouldn ' t be landing the top tier shit , "" Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said . "" I can ' t tell you how much it stings to pick up the paper in the morning and read about the Ninth Circuit making some groundbreaking ruling , while we ' re all sitting around with our dicks in our hands . All Rory needs to do is get us in the door on those cases . Pitch it to us , we ' ll knock it out of the park . ""  Although McCleft ' s compensation remains undisclosed , it is assumed he will be given the industry standard rate of 10 percent of all court cases to decide for himself .  ",satire,text,test,Other sport,US elections,true,satire,True,no,no,positive,past
3237,3238,"Detroit Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy on Friday texted two former work colleagues and current  head coaches , Miami ' s Erik Spoelstra and Charlotte ' s Steve Clifford , with essentially this message : If it can happen to David Blatt , it can happen to anyone .  "" We have jobs , maybe , because our front offices aren ' t quite as crazy as theirs , but that ' s about it , "" Van Gundy said .  Blatt ' s firing Friday as head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers , while that team leads the Eastern Conference , is the talk of the  , and Van Gundy talked about it plenty after shootaround today at Pepsi Center , where the Pistons ( 23 20 ) play the Denver Nuggets ( 16 27 ) at 9 : 30 p . m .  ( Fox Sports Detroit ) .  "" We have no idea why it happened , "" Van Gundy said . "" But there ' s no explanation that can include that he didn ' t meet expectations , in terms of winning . There ' s absolutely no way to even make a flimsy case , let alone a solid one , for that . ""  Van Gundy said he reached out to Blatt "" and used a few expletives , and just said , like , ' What the heck ' s going on ? ' ""  "" The only thing more absurd than what just happened would be ( Golden State ' s ) Steve Kerr or ( San Antonio ' s Gregg ) Popovich getting fired , "" Van Gundy said .  Blatt was fired Friday with a 30 11 record , one season after Cavaliers lost the  Finals to the Golden State Warriors .  "" He went to the  Finals , and who knows what would ' ve happened had he had Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving ? And even without them , that was a damn competitive series , "" Van Gundy said . "" He did a hell of a job . Then he comes back this year , and at the halfway point , despite having injuries , and Kyrie missing most of the time , ( Iman ) Shumpert missing time , he ' s on pace to win 60 games , and he ' s on top of the ( conference ) .  "" You can ' t even make a flimsy case for the fact that the guy wasn ' t meeting expectations . So obviously , there ' s something else going on , and that ' s what I ' m saying none of us now has any clue , whatsoever , what the expectations for coaches are . ""  Van Gundy was asked whether part of the job expectations is being satisfactory to superstars . Cavaliers star LeBron James widely is known to have preferred talking through Tyronn Lue the assistant who replaced Blatt as head coach rather than going to Blatt himself .  Blatt was hired before the Cavaliers re signed James and the superstar never gave any endorsement of the coach , even when asked directly .  "" Look , that ' s the stuff we don ' t have any idea about , "" Van Gundy said . "" I ' m not going to throw anybody under the bus on that because we have no idea . But clearly , there were expectations on David Blatt other than to meet , or even exceed expectations , and he did all that . So clearly , there was something else there . ""  Click on the video to see more of Van Gundy unplugged on the Blatt firing .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
3246,3247,"Locked up : David Norris , 51 , was jailed for 20 years for the attempted murder of his estranged wife  A jilted husband who repeatedly stabbed his estranged wife in a graveyard screaming ' Go to sleep with your mum ! ' has been jailed for 20 years .  David Norris ' s wife begged him to think of their children as he launched his vicious attack but he only stopped stabbing her when she ' played dead ' and a member of the public intervened .  Today he was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court after being found guilty of attempted murder .  Norris , 51 , pounced on his wife Dionne in the graveyard of St Nicholas Church in Southfleet , near Gravesend , in Kent , as she was about to lay flowers at the grave of his grandmother on October 11 last year .  The pair , whose marriage had broken down in August of that year , had arranged to meet up to lay flowers first at the grave of the victim ' s mother , then at Norris ' s grandmother ' s , as they did every year .  Norris collected his wife and they visited the first gravesite before they had a conversation about their marriage and whether it could be saved .  She told Norris she did not feel she could forgive him for some of his actions and he told her she had destroyed their family .  Mrs Norris said she did not want to argue and they agreed to carry on to the second graveyard as planned .  While she was unwrapping the bouquet of flowers , Norris lingered at the car boot before walking over to join her .  He said : ' If I can ' t have you , no one can have you . '  He lunged at her , knocking her over and grabbing her round the throat .  Screaming , she managed to struggle free momentarily before he jumped on her again , brandishing a knife .  She begged him to think of their children but Norris stabbed her repeatedly .  A member of the public tried to intervene but Norris threatened him with the knife before turning to stab Mrs Norris again , telling her : ' Go to sleep , go to sleep with your mum . '  He walked away and the member of the public returned and called the police , comforting Mrs Norris until the emergency services arrived .  She had suffered numerous stab wounds to her upper body , arms and hands , as well as a collapsed lung .  Officers immediately began searching for Norris , who had called his sons and an uncle and asked them to meet him as soon as he had left the crime scene .  He met them and they convinced him to hand himself in to police .  Norris and his wife Dionne had visited St Nicholas Church , Southfleet ( pictured ) to lay flowers on his grandmother ' s grave . The 51 year old then began stabbing his wife , screaming ' Go to sleep with your mum ! '  He was arrested at North Kent Police Station in Thames Way and charged with attempted murder .  Senior Investigating Officer , Detective Inspector Gavin Moss , said : ' Norris attacked his estranged wife after she made it clear to him she had no interest in reconciling .  ' He pounced on her when she was having a private moment of reflection in a graveyard and stabbed her repeatedly , ignoring her as she pleaded for her life .  ' When he was arrested , he told officers he was a good man and had never done something so awful before .  ' Kent Police had never received any reports of domestic abuse from either Norris or his victim but the violence and lack of mercy he demonstrated in this vicious assault show that he intended to kill his wife .  ' It is extremely fortunate that she did not suffer any fatal injuries and I would like to take this opportunity to commend her courage and wish her all the best in her continued recovery .  ' Faced with the evidence our officers had built up against Norris , including eyewitness testimony , the jury has convicted him today and handed him a lengthy custodial sentence where he may finally recognise the horrendous ordeal he put his victim through . '  ",true,text,test,American football,Sports/Other,satire,true,True,no,no,negative,past
3261,3262,"Reuters) - The Trump administration has reversed an Obama administration stance and will support Ohio in its bid at the U.S. Supreme Court to revive a state policy of purging people from voter-registration lists if they do not regularly cast ballots. The Justice Department filed legal papers with the high court on Monday staking out the new position in the voting rights case, backing the Republican-led state’s policy to purge inactive voters. Former President Barack Obama’s Justice Department had argued in a lower court that Ohio’s policy violated the 1993 National Voter Registration Act, which Congress passed to make it easier for Americans to register to vote.  Civil liberties advocates who challenged Ohio’s policy have said it illegally erased thousands of voters from registration rolls and can disproportionately impact minorities and poor people who tend to back Democratic candidates. The state on Tuesday welcomed the administration’s action but voting rights advocates opposed it. The League of Women Voters accused the administration of “playing politics with our democracy and threatening the fundamental right to vote” by siding with an Ohio policy it said disenfranchises eligible voters. “Our democracy is stronger when more people have access to the ballot box - not fewer,” the Democratic National Committee added.  The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati last year blocked Ohio’s policy, ruling that it ran afoul of the 1993 law. The state appealed to the Supreme Court, which agreed in May to hear the case.  The legal brief filed by the Justice Department said President Donald Trump’s administration had reconsidered the government’s stance and now supports Ohio. The brief, signed by Acting U.S. Solicitor General Jeffrey Wall, argued that Ohio’s policy is sound because it does not immediately remove voters from the rolls for failing to vote, but only triggers an address-verification procedure.  The American Civil Liberties Union last year sued Ohio Republican Secretary of State Jon Husted over the policy. The suit said the policy led to the removal of tens of thousands of people from the voter rolls in 2015. Husted said in a statement he welcomed the federal government’s support, noting Ohio’s policy “has been in place for more than two decades and administered the same way by both Republican and Democrat secretaries of state.” Under Ohio’s policy, if registered voters miss voting for two years, they are sent registration confirmation notices. If they do not respond and do not vote over the following four years, they are removed from the rolls. Ohio officials argue that canceling inactive voters helps keep voting rolls current, clearing out those who have moved away or died. Democrats have accused Republicans of taking steps at the state level, including laws imposing new requirements on voters such as presenting certain types of government-issued identification, intended to suppress the vote of groups who generally favor Democratic candidates. ",true,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
3266,3267,"Thousands marched in Washington this weekend to call for action to counter climate change .  With organizers estimating 35 , 000 people filling the National Mall , the Forward on Climate Change march was said to be the biggest demonstration thus far in support of this issue .  "" While they were fighting for equality , "" the Rev . Lennox Yearwood told the crowd , comparing them to those who took part in the March on Washington for civil rights in 1963 , "" we are fighting for existence . ""  The protesters have support from President Barack Obama , who announced that he wants to make climate change a major issue in his second term . During his inaugural and State of the Union addresses , the president did not shy away from this controversial subject . But persuading Congress to pass this kind of legislation will be extremely difficult .  Photos : 40 , 000 rally to stop Keystone pipeline  Standing Tuesday before visibly unhappy House Speaker John Boehner , Obama pointed to the recent natural disasters we ' ve seen and spoke about the science of the environment , calling on Congress to act or threatening to do so himself if they refuse :  "" We can choose to believe that Superstorm Sandy , and the most severe drought in decades , and the worst wildfires some states have ever seen were all just a freak coincidence . Or we can choose to believe in the overwhelming judgment of science and act before it ' s too late . "" Democrats applauded . Republicans kept their hands in their pockets .  If Obama can persuade Congress to take action on climate change , it would be one of the biggest accomplishments of his administration . But unlike some of the other issues that he has tackled including health care climate change is extraordinarily difficult since the benefits to voters are not immediate and not necessarily visible .  His mission could be made more difficult if he decides to approve the proposal for the Keystone  pipeline , which would run from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico . Environmental groups that backed the president ' s re election strongly oppose the project .  To break through the gridlock on this issue and to persuade some of the congressional Republicans to start clapping , Obama will need more than crisis and science . The march this weekend must be the first of more organized grass roots protests , not just on the mall in Washington but in the districts and states of key members of Congress .  Most of the biggest policy breakthroughs in recent history have depended on strong grass roots mobilization .  In 1935 , Congress passed the Wagner Act , which created the National Labor Relations Board and legitimated unions . This mobilization of industrial workers who would form the  was pivotal in providing President Franklin Roosevelt with the strength he needed to take on business with enormously controversial legislation .  Several decades later , the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965 only came about because local activists , led by prominent leaders such as Rev . Martin Luther King Jr . , forced the White House and Congress to deal with the issue of racial equality over their deep political reservations .  While both Presidents John F . Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson were concerned about the huge risks that pushing for civil rights posed for the Democrats ' stronghold in the South still the electoral base of the party back then both were finally moved to take action because of the valiant efforts of grass roots activists who placed pressure on them and on uncommitted legislators . The civil rights movement changed public opinion and made inaction politically unacceptable .  Conservatives have also depended on the grass roots to mobilize support for their issues .  President Ronald Reagan ' s drive for deficit inducing tax cuts and deregulation might not have worked if it were not for the grass roots conservative activism of the 1970s that pushed national debate to the right . In the past few years , tea party activists have succeeded in moving the  toward an agenda of deficit reduction even at a moment when the key problem is generating economic growth and lowering unemployment rates .  Environmental organizations have created a vast organizational infrastructure since the 1970s and remain a huge presence in Washington . But in recent years , they have been less effective at developing the same level of grass roots energy as earlier movements , including their own in the 1970s .  Climate change has too often been an issue that is Washington focused rather than grass roots focused . Instead of having former Vice President Al Gore be the face of efforts to counter climate change , Obama needs the images of local protesters gathering to make sure that Congress deals with the issue .  Obama , a former community organizer , knows this as much as anyone . He has seen the profound effect tea party activists have had on the Republican Party , much to his consternation .  As Harvard political scientist Theda Skocpol has written , "" To counter fierce political opposition , reformers will have to build organizational networks across the country , and they will need to orchestrate sustained political efforts that stretch far beyond friendly congressional offices , comfy board rooms and posh retreats . . . insider politics cannot carry the day on its own , apart from a broader movement pressing politicians for change . ""  Skocpol explains convincingly that one of the reasons for the failure of cap and trade legislation was that climate reformers focused their energy on Beltway lobbying rather than mobilizing support in local communities .  Members of Congress know that climate change legislation doesn ' t offer tangible benefits to voters , so they ' re unlikely to act unless they feel pressure from activists in their districts .  Sens . Bernie Sanders , I Vermont , and Barbara Boxer , D California , have taken the lead on the issue by putting forth a bill to impose a tax on the country ' s largest polluters , requiring them to pay 20 per ton of carbon and methane emissions , a sum that would rise over time .  Under their bill , the government would invest the money in developing renewable fuel and more efficient energy policies , including a plan to weatherize more than a million homes .  If the administration is going to build support for a version of this legislation , it will need support from the bottom , not just the top , in swaying and pressuring senators who will be leery about taking on this issue .  The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Julian Zelizer  ",true,text,test,World conflict,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
3270,3271,"Jamie Foxx and his daughter , Miss Golden Globe Corinne Foxx , at the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and InStyle Celebration on Nov . 17 , 2015 in West Hollywood , California . Photo : Getty  The Golden Globes are ? an exciting time of year for Hollywood offspring . Ahead of each year s ceremony , one son or daughter of a well known member of the entertainment industry is named Mr ? or Miss ? Golden Globe . This year ? the Hollywood Foreign Press Association s honor ? duties include helping out during the awards ceremony ? has been bestowed to Corinne Foxx . Before the 2016 awards show airs Sunday , get to know this year s honoree .  1 . Famous Dad ? The last name Foxx should ring a few bells . Corinne s father is "" Django Unchained "" ? star Jamie Foxx . The Oscar winning actor welcomed Corinne , 21 , in 1994 . Foxx has never publicly revealed who Corinne s mother is . ?  2 . Well Behaved ? ? Unlike some Hollywood offspring , Corinne is not known for breaking the rules . She s humble , she s never in trouble , Jamie , now 48 , told Variety in November 2015 after his daughter was named Miss Golden Globe . ?  3 . College Educated ? Corinne has spent the last several years hitting the books . She s a second semester senior at the University of Southern California .  Just landed in  . Final tomorrow at 8am . Haven 39 t started studying . PrayForMe  4 . Modeling ? She may be a smart cookie , but she ? also has model good looks . ? According to her Instagram profile , she ? work for  Models and is represented by  Management . She was featured in the February 2015 issue of Rollercoaster magazine . She also ? recently shot a campaign for The Icing , ? according to Variety .  5 . ? Cultured ? While she ' s based in Los Angeles , Corinne spent five months traveling Europe in 2015 . One year ago today , I packed my bags and left  for one of the biggest adventures of my life , she captioned a shot of her standing in front of London ' s ? Big ? Ben on Instagram Tuesday . I m so thankful everyday to have lived in London and have traveled around Europe  Get to know Corinne more on social media . You can follow her on Twitter Corinnefoxx ? and ? Instagram corinnefoxx .  The 2016 Golden Globes airs Sunday at 8 ? p . m .  on  . ?  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
3275,3276,"A new poll out Tuesday shows Hillary Clinton 41 points ahead of Bernie Sanders in Iowa , the largest lead for Clinton in the state since August .  According to a new Monmouth University Poll , Clinton earns 65 percent of the vote from likely Democratic caucus goers to Sanders ' 24 percent . Martin O ' Malley gets 5 percent and Larry Lessig , who is not often included in early state polls , gets 1 percent .  Clinton on top in Iowa , gains in New Hampshire  "" We now have a two person race , but one of those competitors has just pulled very far ahead , "" said Patrick Murray , director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute , in the poll ' s release .  The poll conducted between October 22 and 24 , is the first poll that captures Democratic caucus goers ' opinions after Clinton ' s appearance before the Select House Committee on Benghazi last week . The marathon day of testimony , which lasted 11 hours , was largely seen as a victory for Clinton over a committee divided on party lines and mired with controversy .  Her performance on Capitol Hill , along with a commanding presence on the debate stage the week before , had Clinton and her supporters on a high as she headed to Iowa over the weekend for the state party ' s annual Jefferson Jackson Dinner .  "" I think the next time she ' ll be up on the Hill will be in January 2017 , "" said Robert Carpenter , a retired computer specialist from Alexandria , Va . who attended a Clinton rally there on the day after her testimony .  The Monmouth poll is also one of the first polls that does not include Vice President Joe Biden , who announced last week that he would not be seeking the Democratic nomination . Earlier polls had shown that Biden pulled support away from Clinton , and this new poll supports that .  ? 2015  Interactive Inc . All Rights Reserved .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
3276,3277,"Fire at Russian mental health clinic in Voronezh region kills 23 Reuters  author ? Crime ? Fire ? Japan ? markets ? Politics ? United States ?   A fire swept through a psychiatric clinic in a village in the Voronezh region south of Moscow late on Saturday killing 23 people , Russia ' s Investigative Committee said on Sunday .  Russia ' s Emergencies Ministry said it had taken more than 270 people and 50 vehicles to deal with the blaze and police investigators said the bodies of 23 people had been recovered after the fire had been put out .  Another 23 people were taken to various medical facilities in the area , police said .  The police said they had begun an investigation into possible negligence and experts from Moscow would be brought in to help out .  "" Investigators will look into every possible version of how the fire started and led to such tragic consequences , "" Russia ' s Investigative Committee said in a statement , saying it considered the incident a crime .  They said they did not know what had started the fire , which broke out late on Saturday at the clinic in the village of Alferovka , around 300 miles ( 482 . 8 km ) south of Moscow .  Seventy patients , some of them bed bound or disabled , and four staff were in part of the building hit by the blaze . State  showed pictures of fire fighters using hoses to pour water on what was left of the roof of a red brick building .  Lax fire safety standards and staff negligence have often been blamed for such episodes . In 2013 , a fire killed 37 people in a psychiatric hospital in a provincial village north of Moscow , the second deadly blaze at such a facility that year alone .  ( Reporting by Andrew Osborn and Katya Golubkova Editing by Jane Merriman )  This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto feed .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,satire,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
3291,3292,"Michael Hoey held off a last round charge from U . S . Open champion Rory McIlroy to claim the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews Sunday .  Hoey , who like McIlroy hails from Northern Ireland , carded a final round 68 to beat his illustrious compatriot by two shots on 22 under 266 .  McIlroy , looking for his first win since claiming his first major in such emphatic style at Congressional , carded a seven under 65 at the home of golf but came up just short as overnight leader Hoey kept his nerve on the closing holes .  Graeme McDowell completed the domination of players from Northern Ireland by claiming joint third on 18 under with George Murray of Scotland after a 69 .  South Africa ' s Louis Oosthuizen , playing his first tournament at St Andrews since his British Open victory on the famous links in 2010 , was in a three strong group a shot further back with Marc Warren and joint halfway leader Tommy Fleetwood .  World No . 1 Luke Donald could not build on his nine under third round 63 and finished in a tie for ninth as he bids to top the money list on the European and  Tours .  But it was Hoey who eventually upstaged the big names , leading after his third successive 66 going into the final day and then maintaining his composure as McIlroy went to the turn in just 30 to mount his expected challenge .  He came to the last with a one shot lead over McIlroy and after a big drive needed just a deft chip and a putt to close with a birdie to seal his triumph .  The 32 year old was claiming his second victory of the year after struggling for so long to break into the big time .  "" It hasn ' t sunk in yet and it won ' t for a while , "" Hoey told the European Tour website .  "" It ' s taken a long time but I supposed in a weird way you enjoy it more because you have struggled through six goes at the qualifying school , "" he added .  McIlroy , who was seven under for his first 11 holes on the final day , was disappointed to miss out on victory .  "" I ' ve been very consistent , which is a good thing , but I want to get wins and that ' s the most important thing .  "" It ' s good to be one , two , three and see all of us boys up there , I ' m just obviously disappointed that it wasn ' t me lifting the trophy . ""  He will now head to play in Korea Open which starts Thursday .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
3299,3300,"Besides chatter about a third term , there ' s even talk of putting Obama ' s image on Mt Rushmore With a few changes of course !  The 32nd President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (  ) , a Democrat , was elected to four terms as president from 1933 to 1945 , through the  great Depression and  years . The 22nd amendment to the  Constitution , ratified in 1951 , limits a  president to two consecutive terms . The 22nd amendment keeps President Obama from running for a third term unless a 2 3 vote in both Houses of Congress and 3 4 of the state legislatures approve a change .  President Obama has endorsed a new not for profit Democratic Political Action Committee (  ) , Organizing for Action (  ) , that asks for donations of 50 , 000 per person and bundling of 500 , 000 in contributions from rich anonymous progressives ( a contradiction in terms ) . The money provides political access to the president and a night in the Lincoln Bedroom . Five dollar email contributions from the "" great unwashed were not good enough for this Democratic president .  Vice President Joe Biden , the shotgun toting kid , with nothing to do the Cleveland poll worker that voted six times for President Obama Reverends Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton the ObamaPhone lady , also from Cleveland Hollywood ' s left wing elitist stars Hugo Chavez ( deceased ) labor unions and the New Black Panther party have been contacted by  . Employing an unlimited budget these activists are to start an email social media campaign , an in your face rally campaign and place Obama 2016 bumper stickers on Prius and Volt automobiles in each of the 50 states . The goal is to convince members of Congress to initiate the repeal of the 22nd Amendment to the  Constitution .  President Obama ' s new political advisors have indicated he should start smoking cigarettes using a long black cigarette holder , buy a Scottish Terrier , name it Fala and Michelle should change her name to Eleanor . Additionally , White House Press Secretary Jay Carney is to announce that Obama has blown out his knees playing golf with Tiger Woods , must use a motorized wheel chair and has bought a house in Warm Springs Georgia . President Obama sees himself as another  , but in reality he is just another failed divisive radical ( fdr ) !  Democratic liberal congresspersons like Nancy Pelosi ( D  ) and her lefty compatriots are having an orgasm over another term for President Obama . However , as Republicans control 28 of the 50 state legislatures the possibility of success is slim to none !  April fool ' s day has been renamed foolish  electorate day !  ",satire,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,satire,True,no,no,positive,present
3300,3301,"New York Three bikers have been indicted in connection with a well publicized clash with a New York  driver , the Manhattan District Attorney ' s office said Friday .  Craig Wright , 29 , and Reginald Chance , 37 , were indicted Friday , according to the district attorney ' s office . A third man , Robert Sims , 35 , was indicted on Thursday , it said .  Authorities say Alexander Lien was chased by bikers after he initially bumped one during a biker rally on September 29 . When his  was surrounded by several bikers , Lien called 9 1 1 , told police he feared for his life and drove off , running over bikers and critically injuring one .  Lien ' s wife and 2 year old daughter were in the vehicle with him . Lien has not been charged .  The chase that followed ended in traffic . Police say Lien ' s windows were smashed he was dragged out of the  and beaten . He was treated and released from a hospital .  Officials did not detail the formal charges against the three men . In New York , charges in an indictment are not announced until defendants have been arraigned and can enter a plea .  Chance was accused of using his helmet to smash the  window , according to police . The lawyer for Chance concedes his client "" overreacted , "" but claims he did not take part in beating the driver .  Authorities arrested Wright for allegedly hitting the  driver through the window of his vehicle .  Sims was accused of stomping on the driver after he was pulled from his  , authorities said .  Wright , Chance and Sims are scheduled to be arraigned on October 30 , according to the district attorney ' s office .  At least seven people have been arrested , including the three who were indicted .  Authorities , who have appealed for the public ' s help in identifying people in photos , haven ' t ruled out more arrests or charges .  Meanwhile , a New York Police officer who works in Internal Affairs joins the ranks of at least two others with the  who waited several days to tell their superiors they were at the rally where the  driver was beaten and kicked , according to the lawyer for the officer .  Bonanno says the officer belongs to a motorcycle club and was riding with hundreds of bikers who participated in the September 29th rally , but insists he didn ' t witness the assault on Lien .  "" He wasn ' t aware of anything of the nature posted on YouTube and he doesn ' t have any firsthand knowledge of what was going on , "" Bonanno said .  "" Once all the videos are reviewed and witnesses interviewed , we ' ll find that my client has no culpability for anything that happened that day . ""  Bonanno offered no explanation as to why the officer waited so long to tell his superiors he was there . "" That will be addressed in an appropriate time and manner , "" he said .   Deputy Commissioner John McCarthy declined comment as did the Manhattan District Attorney ' s office .  At least two other officers are under investigation .  One of them is Detective Wojciech Braszczok , who faces three felony counts including gang assault . Prosecutors say the off duty cop is on video allegedly using his fist to bash in the rear window of Lien ' s  and kick it .  Braszczok ' s lawyer has denied his client did anything wrong and says video will exonerate him .  He is not believed to have witnessed the assault and is not expected to be charged , said the source , who was spoke on condition of anonymity .  Outlaws or stunt artists ?  Watch Piers Morgan Live weeknights 9 p . m .  . For the latest from Piers Morgan click here .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
3313,3314,"For  it is a new dynamic , experts say : demanding high value prisoners in exchange for hostages .  Three of the prisoners  apparently wants back are women a failed suicide bomber , an alleged bomb maker and a woman tied to the head of  . The fourth is a child .  Many countries have a strategy of not negotiating with terrorists .  But this new approach by  is putting governments to the test .  In its most recent demand ,  called for Sajida al Rishawi to be handed over . She is a female Jihadi imprisoned for her role in a 2005 suicide bombing at a wedding reception in Jordan that killed dozens .  If she wasn ' t brought to the Turkish border by sunset Thursday , the militants said , two hostages would die : Japanese journalist Kenji Goto and Jordanian pilot Moaz al Kassasbeh . The deadline has passed but the hostages ' fate is unknown .  "" By negotiating with  , by recognizing them , by even having dialogue with them , it gives them the impression of acting as a state , "" said Sajjan Gohel , international security director at the Asia Pacific Foundation .  Jordanian officials have said they are willing to swap al Rishawi for the pilot . But they have demanded "" proof of life "" to demonstrate that al Kassasbeh , captured in December after his fighter jet crashed in Syria , is still alive .  Former  negotiator Chris Voss said Jordan was absolutely right to do so and that the failure of  so far to provide proof of life was suspicious .  "" It ' s just a natural and ordinary course of bargains in these types of negotiations and they are choosing not to do that at this point , "" he said .  The latest proposal by  is not a prisoner exchange in the usual sense since the militants now want the release of al Rishawi just in order not to kill the two hostages , rather than promising their release .  Voss said entering into this kind of territory with terrorists was dangerous  "" If you engage in that sort of bargain then they can threaten to kill the same person over and over and over again and continue to demand release of hostages or whatever their demands are , "" he said .  "" You can ' t give in to that sort of thing because then it puts you in an endless loop where they have all the power . ""  It ' s important to remember that for  and groups like them , the key factor is gain , Voss said .  "" Kidnappers are in a commodities exchange business . While it ' s a horrifying concept to us , to them it ' s business and it ' s the business  is in and so you have to treat it like that . ""  Besides failed suicide bomber al Rishawi ,  wants two other women an alleged bomb maker and a woman tied to the head of  and a child .  Each of the prisoners is symbolically and strategically important for the terror group .  Al Rishawi is connected to  through her brother , once a ranking member of al Qaeda in Iraq , which spawned  .  In exchange for American journalists James Foley and , later , Steven Sotloff  demanded the release of Aafia Siddiqui , nicknamed "" Lady Al Qaeda "" an imprisoned neuroscientist in the United States , linked to 9 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed .  She was arrested in Afghanistan in 2008 carrying bomb making documents for a "" mass casualty "" chemical and biological weapons attack against American targets including the Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn Bridge .  One high profile prisoner who  has not yet publicly demanded is Saja al Dulaimi . She may be the wife of shadowy  leader Abu Bakr al Baghdadi , who fought with al Qaeda in Iraq , though the Iraqi Interior Ministry has disputed that .  Since their capture in March 2014 , Baghdadi has been calling to get his child released , a regional source said .  In the past , in similar cases , governments have budged .  Last year , the United States traded several Taliban captives for Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl , who was captured by the extremist group almost five years earlier .  Despite claims that Bergdahl may have abandoned his post before being kidnapped , the State Department defended the move , saying it was nothing unusual .  "" It is consistent absolutely with what ' s happened in previous wars including Korea , including Vietnam , "" said State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf , adding that there was "" a long history in the United States of prisoner swaps . ""  During the Cold War , the West also swapped hundreds of spies with Communist bloc countries .  But prisoner swaps with extremist groups remain controversial .  In 2011 , Israel made a major made a major concession to its arch enemy , the Palestinian militant group Hamas , which runs Gaza .  It exchanged more than 1 , 000 Palestinian prisoners in return for the soldier Gilad Shalit , who had been kidnapped in Gaza in 2006 .  Hamas celebrated the deal as a major victory and the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was heavily criticized .  Duncan Bullivant , a  based risk consultant , says swapping prisoners for hostages is still better than paying for release of prisoners , as some European countries do .  "" The payment of cash ransom can been seen as the direct funding of terrorist organizations and for that reason and a few others , is regarded as unacceptable certainly by the U . S . ,  and increasingly other nations , "" he said .  "" There would be nothing unusual about the swapping of combatants and if the Japanese victim is thrown in as part of the deal , then that is a great bonus . ""  It ' s sadly far from certain that Goto and al Kassasbeh will emerge from the current negotiations alive .  But whether they gain the release of al Rishawi or not ,  ' leaders have very clearly achieved one goal : maximum media coverage for their cause .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
3338,3339,"A collection of weird and wonderful postcards dating back to 1900 show the Victorians were not far off in predicting the future of travel in the 21st century .  While most of the ideas remain totally unachievable in the modern world , some of the concepts are not dissimilar to the lives we lead today .  The moving pavement is one that we can credit the Victorians for just about every airport now has travelators , and even a break to the North Pole isn ' t too far from reality , as more and more people begin to venture further afield for a more adventurous holiday .  It may not quite be mainstream yet , but trips to the North Pole are taken on my some explorers as we seek to broaden our knowledge  Ships that can go out to sea and then transform into a wheeled vehicle to carry on land are yet to make an appearance  Travel on boats with glass lookouts that go underwater the nearest we have is submarines  The 12 drawings are based on predictions made in 1900 as to how the world would look 100 years on , and they leave little to the imagination .  Among the warped ideas are moveable houses , undersea ships and even a roofed city , each illustrated with a suitably unrealistic picture of how the idea would play out .  However , a good weather machine remains as much of a pipe dream as it did a century ago , and people seem happier to travel by commercial aeroplane rather than an individual flying machine .  Moveable brick stone houses and buildings might not be quite right , but we do have mobile homes  Hot air balloon rides to travel the world have been somewhat superseded by aeroplanes and trains  The postcards were the idea of Theodore Hildebrand and Son a German chocolate company pictured here is a weather machine  A walled city , as predicted by the Victorians , might not work in this days and age with pollution from fumes being the biggest worry  But , in an era that invented the telephone , the light bulb and even the first ceramic toilet , the Victorians appear to have had a fairly good insight into what the future had to offer .  The postcards were the idea of Theodore Hildebrand and Son a German chocolate company who decided to get in on the future telling business with a crafty marketing campaign .  For a short time , they slipped the colourful cards depicting theoretical life in the year 2000 into boxes of their sweets , predicting how a range of activities would be upgraded for the 21st Century .  This scene is not too dissimilar to us using paragliders and handgliders to get around and explore the landscape  Individual water travel was predicted by the Victorians , but this hasn ' t exactly taken off  Moving walkways to get around were predicted by the Victorians , and these are seen today in many of our airports  The Victorians looked ahead to how our states would be policed as well as how we would travel the world  The postcards predicted what life would be like in the year 2000  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
3339,3340,"presidential hopeful Donald Trump talks to supporters following the Republican presidential debate at Milwaukee Theatre last night .  Republicans clashed on immigration last night as the high stakes fight that could decide the 2016 election , with Ted Cruz saying the party has to avoid acting like Democrats , while Jeb Bush claimed that touting mass deportation is the worst thing the  could do .  The Democrats are laughing , because if Republicans join Democrats as the party of amnesty , we will lose , Texas Sen . Cruz said in the fourth  debate . The politics of it would be very , very different if a bunch of lawyers or bankers were crossing the Rio Grande . Or if a bunch of people with journalism degrees were coming over and driving down the wages in the press .  Citing rule of law , Cruz said , We re tired of being told it s anti immigrant . It s offensive .  But former Florida Gov . Bush insisted deporting as many as 12 million illegal immigrants isn t feasible and campaigning on such a plan would hand the presidential election to the Democrats .  Even having this conversation sends a powerful signal ? they re doing high fives in the Clinton campaign right now when they hear this , said Bush . That s the problem with this . We have to win the presidency . And the way you win the presidency is to have practical plans .  Ohio Gov . John Kasich was more dramatic , trying to paint a picture of what a mass deportation would do across America .  Think about the families , said Kasich . Think about the children . Come on , folks , we all know you can t pick them up and ship them across the border . It s a silly argument .  Donald Trump , who supports mass deportation , said he was so happy about the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals unbelievable decision to block President Obama s executive orders on illegal immigration on Monday .  It was a terrific thing that that happened , said Trump . We are a country of laws . We need borders . We will have a wall . . . If you think walls don t work , all you have to do is ask Israel .  Neurosurgeon Ben Carson sought to cast media scrutiny he s faced over his life story as baseless .  The fact of the matter is we should vet all candidates , said Carson . But he said that reporters hardly applied the same level of examination to Democrat Hillary Clinton over Benghazi : When I look at someone like Hillary Clinton who sits there and tells her daughter and government official this was a terrorist attack and tells everyone else it was a video ? where I come from they call that a lie .  Florida Sen . Marco Rubio was not questioned about the personal finances controversy that has dogged him over the last week , and had one of his strongest moments with a call to avoid raising the minimum wage , even as protesters around the country yesterday called for it to be hiked to 15 .  If you raise the minimum wage , you are going to make people more expensive than machines , said Rubio .  Moderators Neil Cavuto and Maria Bartiromo of Fox Business Network and Gerard Baker , the editor in chief of the Wall Street Journal , were hoping to avoid a repeat of the  debate meltdown last month where the hosts were unprepared and quickly became the target of candidate ridicule .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
3347,3348,"Angela Merkel Suggests China Resolve South China Sea Row in Courts  World Reuters Updated : October 29 , 2015 17 : 54   German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrives for the weekly cabinet meeting at the Chancellery in Berlin , Germany , October 28 , 2015 . ( Reuters )  Beijing , China : ? German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed concern today about a territorial dispute between the Chinese and  navies in the South China Sea , and suggested China go to international courts to resolve the row .  On a two day visit to China , Merkel said it was essential that sea trade routes remain open despite the dispute , which flared up after a  warship challenged China ' s territorial assertions in the disputed waters this week .  "" The territorial dispute in the South China Sea is a serious conflict . I am always a bit surprised why in this case multinational courts should not be an option for a solution , "" Merkel said in speech in Beijing .  "" Nevertheless , we wish that the sea trade routes stay free and safe , because they are important for all . ""  Beijing rebuked Washington for sending a guided missile destroyer within 12 nautical miles of one of China ' s man made islands in the Spratly archipelago on Tuesday , saying it had tracked and warned the  Lassen and called in the  ambassador to protest .  Merkel and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang earlier addressed the situation in Syria , and agreed there must be a political solution to the crisis there .  Russia last month began air strikes on targets in Syria in a dramatic escalation of foreign involvement in the civil war . This has been criticised by the West as an attempt to prop up Syrian President Bashar al Assad , rather than its purported aim of attacking Islamic State militants .  A big focus of Merkel ' s China trip is trade and she keen to shore up German business interests challenged by Volkswagen ' s emissions scandal and the flurry of deals clinched during President Xi Jinping ' s visit to Britain last week .  Her visit paid dividends , with China and Germany signing a deal that will see Chinese airlines buy 130 jets manufactured by European planemaker Airbus Group  .  Merkel also said Germany and China were ready to sign a deal to abstain from industrial spying .  "" We want to sign an agreement that both sides abstain from industrial espionage , "" Merkel said , noting that the United States and Britain already have such accords with China .  "" We want to follow quickly , "" she added . "" We are happy that China is willing to do that . ""  Merkel is making the trip a year after agreeing an innovation partnership deal with China to develop business ties . China would like to make better use of it to tap German know how in technological developments .  Li said China would like to learn from Germany ' s industrial capabilities .  "" The Chinese government will continue to firmly promise to protect intellectual property , and firmly oppose the theft of commercial secrets , "" he said .  "" We both hope and believe that we should start , as soon as possible , a feasibility study on China  free trade area negotiations , and work to establish a China  free trade area , "" Li added .  Story First Published : October 29 , 2015 17 : 51   ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
3348,3349,"One of the brothers suspected of carrying out the Charlie Hebdo attack was mentored by a terrorist linked to London ' s notorious Finsbury Park mosque .  The revelation will raise concerns about British links to this week ' s terrorist atrocity in France .  Cherif Kouachi , 32 , met Djamel Beghal , 50 , who was once accused of being Osama bin Laden ' s main European recruiter , while in prison in Paris .  Mentored : Cherif Kouachi ( left ) , 32 , met Djamel Beghal ( right ) , 50 , who was once accused of being Osama bin Laden ' s main European recruiter , while in prison in Paris  Notorious : Kouachi was mentored by terrorist Beghal , who has links to London ' s Finsbury Park mosque  He maintained his links with the Al Qaeda lynchpin after being released from jail .  Kouachi , who is on the run after Wednesday ' s attack on the Paris satirical magazine , was secretly photographed by French intelligence officers meeting Beghal while he was under house arrest in Murat in central France in April 2010 .  Also present were two other convicted terrorists , jihadi recruiter Ahmed Laidouni and Algerian Armed Islamic Group member Farid Melouk .  Beghal attended hate cleric Abu Qatada ' s prayer meetings in London , and is also said to have been a ' constant presence ' at the Finsbury Park mosque in the late 1990s , when it was Abu Hamza ' s base .  He allegedly recruited the shoe bomber Richard Reid and Zacarias Moussaoui , the ' 20th hijacker ' in the 9 11 attacks , at the London mosque .  Claimed links : Beghal allegedly recruited the shoe bomber Richard Reid ( left ) and Zacarias Moussaoui ( right ) , the ' 20th hijacker ' in the 9 11 attacks , at the London mosque  Radical : Beghal attended the prayer meetings held by hate cleric Abu Qatada ( pictured ) in London  Knowledge : Reda Hassaine ( pictured ) , who worked as a paid MI5 informant inside the Finsbury Park mosque in the late 1990s and early 2000s , said Beghal was a well known figure there in this period  Beghal , who also had links to Leicester , is also said to have met one of Osama bin Laden ' s key deputies at the former Al Qaeda leader ' s base in Afghanistan .  The terror leader spent ten years in prison in France for planning attacks . He was only released in 2010 .  Reda Hassaine , who worked as a paid MI5 informant inside the Finsbury Park mosque in the late 1990s and early 2000s , said Beghal was a well known figure there in this period .  He said Beghal had connections to both Abu Qatada and Abu Hamza , and had been influenced by their teachings .  ' A completely new generation , who have never met these people in London , have learned their ideology indirectly and are now willing to die in jihad . '  ",true,text,test,American football,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
3367,3368,"Russia has moved air defence system into Syria  Germany , U . S . have moved Patriots out of Turkey   , Dec 1  allies sought on Tuesday to strengthen Turkey ' s defences along its Syrian border after the United States withdrew its missile defence battery for modernisation , leaving Ankara exposed as Russia intensifies actions in the area .  Germany has also removed its Patriot battery supporting Turkish air defences on the frontier , leaving Spain as lone  ally with Patriots there , and raising strategy questions at a time when Ankara says it faces Russian airspace violations .  "" We need to support Turkey , "" Canada ' s Foreign Minister Stephane Dion said on arrival in Brussels for meetings with his  peers , as offers of ships and aircraft began to trickle in from allies .  U . S . Secretary of State John Kerry will also push for other  members to do more to protect Turkey as well as to step up actions in the U . S . led coalition against Islamic State militants in Syria , a senior State Department official said .  "" We have a number of allies who are considering increasing their effort to support Turkish sovereignty and security , but also looking at operations in Syria , adding to what the French have been doing over recent weeks , "" the official told reporters . "" The secretary will make the case that we need even more . ""  Foreign ministers are expected to formally agree on Tuesday to send more military hardware to Turkey ' s borders and  Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said he expected a decisions on a package "" within weeks "" .   deployed its Patriot missiles along the border in January 2013 , to shoot down any missiles from Syria ' s conflict fired into Turkish territory . Ankara had appealed to the alliance to maintain the defences even before the flare up of tensions with Russia over airspace violations .  Turkey shot down a Russian bomber in its airspace on Nov . 24 , in the first known incident of its kind since the Cold War .  While the Turkish air force has shown it is capable of intercepting Russian jets on bombing raids in Syria that stray into Turkish airspace , diplomats say sending military support to Turkey is also designed to reassure Ankara and calm tensions .  So far , the United States has moved jets to the Turkish  air base Incirlik , while Britain has said it will also send jets to the region . Germany and Denmark are sending ships to the  fleet in the eastern Mediterranean .  Seeking to engage with Russia to defeat Islamic State ,  ' s Stoltenberg said strengthening the Turkish air defence was not a knee jerk reaction to the Nov . 24 incident .  "" We have decided to address the need to support Turkey before the incident last week , "" he said . "" The focus now should be on how we can de escalate and how we can calm tensions . ""  However , diplomats noted that Islamic State does not have an air force that could confront  ' s anti aircraft deterrents .  Russia has said it will move a modern air defence system that can hit missiles and aircraft from up to 400 kilometres away to its Syrian base at Latakia . ( Reporting by Robin Emmott , Sabine Siebold and Arshad Mohammed Writing by Robin Emmott editing by Ralph Boulton )  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
3373,3374,"Battles for Senate Lead to ‘Precipitous Rise’ in Cloaked Money Spending   Deirdre Fulton / Common Dreams Hey, big spender: The battle for one of Pennsylvania’s seats in the Senate pits Republican incumbent Pat Toomey (pictured) against Democratic opponent Katie McGinty in a race edging close to the record for total spending on a campaign for Congress. (Gage Skidmore / Flickr / CC-BY-SA)  “We have truly crossed a new Rubicon,” one campaign finance expert says in response to new data showing record levels of outside spending pouring into high-stakes Senate races this election cycle.  According to an analysis released Tuesday by the Brennan Center for Justice at  School of Law, outside groups—free from contribution limits and sometimes able to conceal their donors from the public—are outspending both political parties and candidates “in the battle for control of the U.S. Senate.”  In fact, of the $557 million spent so far in 10 key Senate contests, the Brennan Center says such groups are responsible for $282 million, or 51 percent. Further, in each of the four most expensive contests—Nevada, New Hampshire, Ohio, and Pennsylvania—candidates account for 37 percent or less of total spending.  Advertisement Square, Site wide  “This may be a new high for non-party outside spending, although direct comparisons to past cycles are hindered by a lack of available data,” the report states .  Brennan Center  The analysis takes into account “shadow party groups—super PACs and nonprofits run by former top staff of party committees or party leaders and able to mimic party spending strategy—as nonparty outside groups,” the Brennan Center explains. “This is because these groups, despite being controlled to some degree by the parties, take unlimited contributions and sometimes hide their donors. That the parties are increasingly outsourcing their finances to unregulated shadow parties severely weakens the campaign finance system’s protections against corruption and undue influence.”  Among the report’s other notable findings:  ●  winning outside money battle: Nearly 60 percent of the money spent so far in top Senate races supports  candidates, a reversal from 2014. Dark money spending, from groups that conceal their donors, favors  candidates six to one.  ● Dark money spending is highly concentrated: Just three groups, One Nation, with ties to Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell; the Koch network’s Americans for Prosperity; and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, account for 67 percent of all dark money spending.  “The precipitous rise of outside groups is problematic for a few reasons,” said study author Ian Vandewalker, counsel in the Brennan Center’s democracy program.  “Unlike the parties and candidates, they are free to accept donations of unlimited size and can conceal their funders from the public,” he continued. “So the bigger a role they play in an election, the more political power is concentrated in the hands of a few million-dollar funders and professional political operatives, with a consequent loss in power for the millions of Americans who can’t afford jumbo donations. While this problem was created in part by 2010’s Citizens United decision , the 2016 data shows we have truly crossed a new Rubicon.”  To snatch back some of that power, the Brennan Center calls for the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse its damaging decision in Citizens United; for stronger rules against coordination between candidates and outside groups; for improved disclosure and transparency laws; and “most fundamentally” for a public campaign financing system to “provide an alternative to the incentives to chase bigger and bigger checks that currently drive political spending, allowing candidates to fund competitive campaigns without relying on the wealthiest donors.”  Two such public financing systems are on statewide ballots this November. TAGS:",fake,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,past
3395,3396,""" Mississippi Sen . Trent Lott , the Republican leader , said he thought that we need to fish or cut bait ( on a stimulus package ) this coming week ' because there are indications the economy could be recovering . ""  , Dec . 10 , 2001  Partisan Bickering Temporarily Halted to Fend Off Common Threat  Washington , D . C . Concerned over reports the economy could rebound on its own , both houses of Congress on Monday passed legislation that prohibits the economy from recovering until Congress can pass legislation allowing it to recover .  "" We have been fighting for two months to pass an emergency economic stimulus package , and now , when we ' re perhaps only two to four years away from agreement , we cannot allow some rogue economy to unilaterally decide to recover without our involvement , "" said Sen . Harry Reid , D Nev . , who co sponsored the bill .  "" Just imagine the anarchy , "" Reid continued . "" Without oversight , what would this recovery look like ? Who would receive the most benefits ? Would this be a Republican recovery , or a Democratic recovery ? It ' s chilling to consider that these questions would not have answers . ""  Added South Carolina Republican Sen . Strom Thurmond : "" The American people elected me to do a job , and I ' d appreciate it if someone could tell me what it was . ""  As for the penalties that await the economy should it attempt to act without legislative approval , Congressional leaders did not hesitate to wave the big stick : anti trust hearings . "" Up until now , we ' ve allowed the U . S . economy to function as a monopoly , but we could easily change that , maybe open things up to some competing economies , "" said Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott , R Miss . "" Perhaps we could invite the Japanese economy in here . Or the Romanian economy . That wouldn ' t be too pleasant . ""  Meanwhile , Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle , responding to accusations leveled Sunday by temporarily visible Vice President Dick Cheney , denied he was purposefully obstructing the stimulus package to make Republicans appear weak on the economy . Instead , Daschle insisted , the stimulus package is being held up by the Centers for Disease Control .  "" My staff is under strict instructions that any package or parcel that arrives must be cleared by health officials before it is opened , "" Daschle said . "" Until that stimulus package is adequately tested , we simply will not open it . ""  White House spokesman Ari Fleischer , however , said he found it "" suspicious "" that Daschle had so far requested the  conduct 136 , 442 separate tests on the package .  Asked for his response , Vice President Cheney said he would not be corporeal again until Thursday .  Added Sen . Thurmond : "" The American people elected me to do a job , and I think this is Wednesday . ""  ",satire,text,test,World conflict,US elections,satire,satire,True,no,no,neutral,past
3401,3402,"Hillary Clinton , Bernie Sanders and Martin O ' Malley marked Martin Luther King Day on Monday  The candidates noted the removal of the Confederate battle flag last year  Hillary Clinton , Bernie Sanders and Martin O ' Malley marked Martin Luther King Day on Monday by telling a largely black audience on the steps of the South Carolina statehouse that King ' s legacy is alive and well in today ' s civil rights movement .  A day after the candidates squared off in a fiery debate , they came to Columbia , South Carolina , and largely agreed that while King ' s impact can still be felt today , work still needs to be done to guarantee racial equality .  Candidates Martin O ' Malley , Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders take part in the final Democratic presidential debate before the caucuses .  Clinton and Sanders began the evening trading barbs on gun control . Clinton slammed Sanders for voting "" with the  , with the gun lobby numerous times . "" Sanders hit back , arguing that he had a D minus voting rating from the National Rifle Association and rejected her list of charges .  Clinton and Sanders also argued over health care . "" We finally have a path to universal health care , we have accomplished so much already . I do not want to see the Republicans repeal it and I don ' t want us to start all over again with a contentious debate , "" said Clinton .  Sanders angrily rejected Clinton ' s claims that his plans would result in the gutting of Obamacare , saying that he wanted to build on the achievements of the current president , not overturn them . "" No one is tearing this up , we are going to go forward , "" Sanders said , his voice rising in anger . "" That is nonsense . ""  A new  Wall Street Journal national poll on Sunday showed Clinton leading Sanders 59 to 34 , with the third candidate in the race , former Maryland Gov . Martin O ' Malley , at 2 .  Martin O ' Malley delivered a dig at the  candidates , recounting a voter asking him to not refer to her son , who serves in the military , as a pair of boots on the ground . O ' Malley said Republicans use , "" boots on the ground , "" when they ' re "" trying to look all bravado and macho sending other peoples ' kids into combat . ""  "" Yes , the challenges we face are many , but so are the quiet heroes working in every corner of America today doing their part to make our country a better place , "" said the former secretary of state . "" I for one receive much inspiration from that simple fact . ""  There was symbolism in the event organized by the  : In front of a statehouse that flew the Confederate battle flag until it was taken down last year . All three candidates noted the flag being removed .  "" The flag is down but we are still here because that flag was just one piece of something bigger , "" Clinton said . "" Dr King died with his work unfinished and it is up to us to see through . ""   : Democrats outraged at Michigan governor over Flint water crisis  Sanders argued that King is not just a historic figure , but someone whose moral compass should guide people today . Repeating the phrase "" I think if he were here today , "" Sanders argued that if King were alive today , he would be supporting many of his presidential positions .  "" As we celebrate his life it is terribly important to me that we don ' t just look at him as a museum figure , somebody in the past , "" the Vermont senator said . "" It is important to me that we look at his vision , to see the America he wanted to see . ""  Sanders and O ' Malley walked in the  sponsored march before the event , strolling down the streets of Charleston as activists chanted .  O ' Malley , whose birthday is Monday , laughed when asked what he wanted for his birthday , telling reporters that he is hoping for "" beat expectations "" in Iowa for his birthday .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
3408,3409,"He is no stranger to controversy and has made headlines for his views on rape , paedophilia and aborting babies with Down ' s syndrome .  Yesterday Professor Richard Dawkins turned his attention to the subject of people who set fireworks off all year round and the distress they cause animals .  The 73 year old biologist unleashed a furious rant on line after he claimed his beloved dogs were left terrorised by the loud bangs .  Prof Richard Dawkins unleashed a furious rant on line after he claimed his beloved dogs were left terrorised by the loud bangs caused by fireworks  Taking to social network site Twitter , Prof Dawkins told his one million followers the explosions are no longer reserved for specific celebrations : ' It isn ' t Guy Fawkes Day . It isn ' t New Year . It isn ' t even a weekend . Why are there fireworks , terrifying the dogs and other non human animals ? '  Prof Dawkins , who taught at Oxford University until his retirement in 2008 , added in a second Tweet : ' Selfishly , I like fireworks . But I suspect that my dogs ' terror is typical of thousands of animals , tame and wild . Don ' t you care about them ? '  Prof Dawkins , an outspoken atheist , made his comments on Monday night , several days after Diwali , known as the festival of light and celebrated by Hindus and Sikhs , which saw scores of fireworks let off last week .  In theory the next set of rockets should not be expected until November 5 when bonfire night marks Guy Fawkes ' s unsuccessful plot to blow up Parliament in 1605 .  Prof Dawkins takes to twitter to vent his spleen about the letting off of fireworks all year round  According to Prof Dawkins , this is no longer the case . He later tweeted : ' Many replies to my firework tweet say it ' s only 2 or 3 days a year . If only . In Oxford it ' s most weekends and often ( as now ) weekdays too . '  The academic was flooded with support for his comments , made on Monday night , from dog owners across the world who called for firework displays to be restricted or banned .  One wrote : ' We had to lock our dog in the bathroom with a fan running to dull the noise this year . Terrified of sounds for weeks after . ' Another posted : ' My mother ' s dog was diagnosed by the vet with a "" stress reaction "" related to fireworks on July 4 here in the  . '  Others told how their dogs had run away or been injured after being scared by the noise .  And many of Prof Dawkins ' s followers from overseas shared their own nations ' rules on firework use , including in Vancouver British Columbia , Canada , where use of fireworks requires a permit to be obtained . Private displays are also prohibited in most of Australia .  In the  , under the Fireworks Regulations 2004 , anyone over the age of 18 can buy and use fireworks  One Twitter user wrote : ' Believe it or not Prof , but even South Africa has banned private fireworks years ago in consideration to pets and animals . '  In the  , under the Fireworks Regulations 2004 , anyone over the age of 18 can buy and use fireworks . Some shops are only licensed to sell fireworks around special events , such as New Year , but others are licenced all year round .  According to the Dogs ' Trust , 66 per cent of dogs in the  are frightened of fireworks .  A recent survey carried out by the charity found that 80 per cent of pet owners believe fireworks should be restricted to organised official displays .  According to the Dogs ' Trust , 66 per cent of dogs in the  are frightened of fireworks  Describing the distress fireworks can cause , a spokesman for the campaign group Peta said : ' Richard Dawkins is absolutely right fireworks can be a nightmare for animals as , from their perspective , it seems that World War  has suddenly broken out . The booms , bangs , pops and whizzes of Catherine wheels , Roman candles and other fireworks ignite fear , terror and panic in our beloved animal companions as well as in birds and other wildlife . '  Prof Dawkins did not elaborate on the number of dogs he owns during his Twitter discussion but in a photoshoot for a newspaper last year he was pictured clutching his dog Tycho . Another of his dogs called Pamba died five years ago .  Earlier this year the scientist said babies with Down ' s syndrome should be aborted and parents should ' try again ' .  He was also condemned by women and child abuse victims for referring to ' mild date rape ' and ' mild paedophilia ' in a Twitter discussion about ' logical thinking ' .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
3430,3431,"Some Liverpool fans might look down tonight ' s team sheet and wonder who many of the Bournemouth side are . But one name will evoke pain , far more even than was felt during the weekend humbling at Old Trafford .  It ' s five years since Dan Gosling waltzed inside the Park End penalty area at Goodison Park in the dying minutes of extra time to score the winner in a fourth round  Cup Merseyside derby replay .  The goal went down in Everton legend . Then 19 , Gosling became big business overnight but saw a hugely impressive start curtailed by two season ending injuries .  Dan Gosling relaxes in the stands at Dean Court ahead of his side ' s clash with Liverpool  Gosling ( right ) and his Bournemouth side have blazed a trail through this season ' s League Cup competition  With the scores tied 0 0 in the 2009 fourth round replay , Gosling fires a shot just two minutes before full time  Gosling ( right ) watches his strike soar over the Liverpool defence during extra time at Goodison Park  Gosling is mobbed by Leighton Baines ( second left ) and Phil Jagielka ( right ) after his match winning strike  The rest of his Everton team mates arrive to congratulate the Merseyside derby hero  Now , under the watchful eye of Eddie Howe , Gosling and the rest of this small seaside town are ready to have a crack at Brendan Rodgers ' beleaguered Reds in tonight ' s Capital One Cup quarter final .  ' It was a proud moment , one of the greatest of my career so far , ' says Gosling , reflecting on a goal that half the country didn ' t see after television feeds momentarily failed .  ' It flashed back on when I was at the bottom of the pile . It cut off down in Brixton where my mum lives , but they made the Tic Tac advert out of it ( the company recreated the goal ) , so it probably got more exposure than it would ' ve done . It ' d be nice to replicate it tonight . '  Gosling ' s goal was recreated by the Tic Tac ' s company for a humorous  ad  Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe has steered his side to the summit of the Championship table  While the central midfielder is finding it difficult to force his way into the Championship table toppers ' league side , the former Newcastle man has been key in this cup run .  Bournemouth are the top scorers in the country , and a 12 match unbeaten run has propelled them from quirky outsiders to potential New Year league leaders .  Gosling and Howe laughed off suggestions that they are favourites for tonight ' s tie , but the problems sweeping Anfield makes this a tougher result to call than it was when they met in January .  Why the Cherries , whose 12 , 000 capacity Goldsands Stadium would be the smallest ever in the top flight , are performing way above their natural station is no mystery . Howe is the hottest young property in English management .  ' Training ' s very intense , ' says Gosling . ' It gets videoed , so there ' s no slacking off . We video every training session , and the coaching staff watch it every afternoon . '  That has the stamp of Rodgers on it . The two managers are good friends and Howe has observed his methods . But this level of analysis isn ' t even common practice in the Premier League . ' Sometimes you get pulled in the morning after yesterday ' s display , ' Gosling adds . ' When I signed and they told me I was a bit like , "" really ? "" I didn ' t believe it .  Bournemouth ' s Matt Ritchie ( centre ) celebrates scoring during his side ' s 5 3 demolition of Cardiff City  Harry Arter ( right ) celebrates making it 2 0 as Bournemouth took the Welsh club apart  Bournemouth ' s Pugh ( right ) is congratulated by Brett Pitman ( left ) as they warm up for the visit of Liverpool  ' Whether it ' s rain , snow , the cameras are always up . You end up forgetting about it . This is your profession . If you ' re not working hard and not enjoying it there ' s something wrong .  ' Our manager is so young ( 37 ) and so clever tactically . To know all the stuff he does is amazing really .  ' When we do some of the drills how has he thought of them ? Give me a week and I wouldn ' t think of some of the passing drills he does . '  Howe puts his rise down to watching football all week , every week , much like Roberto Martinez or Rodgers . When asked exactly how much he watches , Howe said : ' I would have to lie my wife will see this . '  As for Gosling , he hopes a Bournemouth goal to sink Liverpool will be replayed just as many times as that one back in 2009 .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
3451,3452,"Reuters) - Arab countries and Qatar should enter into direct talks to solve a diplomatic dispute, Russia s foreign minister said on a trip to Saudi Arabia on Sunday, urging all parties to restore regional unity. Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt severed ties with Qatar on June 5, accusing it of supporting terrorist groups - a charge it denies.  We have confirmed our position (that we are) in favor of settling the disagreements by means of negotiations, by directly expressing concerns and achieving solutions which would take into account the concerns and the interests of all parties,  the minister, Sergei Lavrov, told a news conference in Jeddah.   We are interested in all those mediatory efforts that are currently being made producing results and the unity of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) being restored,  he added. Kuwait and the United States have been mediating to reach a breakthrough in the three-month long crisis that has put the whole region on edge, and prompted Turkey to send troops to the wealthy Gulf state in a sign of support.  Last week, Saudi Arabia suspended any dialogue with Qatar, accusing it of  distorting facts , just after a report of a phone call between the leaders of both countries suggested a breakthrough in the Gulf dispute. Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir told the news conference that Qatar needed to show seriousness in finding a solution to the crisis.  We want clarity in the Qatari position, we want seriousness in finding a solution to this crisis that leads to the implementation of principles which all countries support: no supporting terrorism, no welcoming unwanted guests, no spreading hate, no intervention in others  affairs,  Jubeir said.  The two ministers also discussed the planned de-escalation zones in Syria and unification of the Syrian opposition.  The kingdom supports the creation of de-escalation zones and looks forward to starting a political process that will end the Syrian crisis,  Jubeir said. President Bashar al-Assad s negotiators have not met directly with the opposition because there is no unified delegation from the High Negotiations Committee (HNC) and two other groups, known as the Cairo and Moscow platforms, all claim to represent the opposition. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
3481,3482,"SHOCK: 15-Year-Old Document Explodes on Hillary… 21 Children Died Oct 28, 2016 Previous post  It has been suggested that Democrat presidential nominee Hillary Clinton is perfectly  with people dying if it furthers a particular agenda or serves to protect her own vested interests.  By way of example we could easily point to the 2012 Benghazi terrorist attack, in which four Americans under the auspices of Clinton’s State Department were killed, or her staunch support for abortion , which has abruptly ended the lives of millions of innocent babies before they were even born.  Now it has been alleged that Clinton may bear responsibility for the deaths of children who had already been born, 21 of them to be exact, who perished tragically in the massive inferno that enveloped the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas, in 1993, according to David T. Hardy, an attorney and Waco expert writing for The American Thinker .  Those who remember what happened in Waco will recall that there had been a long and intense standoff between dozens of members of a cult and federal authorities over alleged trafficking and possession of illegal firearms.  That standoff ultimately degenerated into an all-out assault on the compound with armored vehicles, heavy weapons and copious amounts of tear gas, eventually starting a massive fire that burned the compound to the ground, killing 74 members of the group, including 21 children.  That tragedy has been largely blamed on then-Attorney General Janet Reno, but there is some evidence to suggest that the order to assault the compound came from the Clinton White House, perhaps even from Hillary herself.  One piece of evidence that may point to that conclusion is the transcript of the FBI’s interview with Lisa Foster following the death of her husband Vince, which was ruled a suicide.  Foster described how troubled",fake,news,test,US elections,US elections,satire,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
3488,3489,"Ohio Early on , Maria Lauterbach knew exactly what she wanted to do in life .  Dressed in her high school soccer uniform , Maria Lauterbach said she wanted to be a Marine , then a cop .  Lauterbach became a Marine , but her dreams were cut short .  Her body was found buried in the backyard of a fellow Marine , Cpl . Cesar Laurean , near Camp Lejeune , North Carolina , in January . Watch Lauterbach talk about her future plans  Mary Lauterbach , Maria ' s mother , wants to know why the Marines didn ' t do more to protect her daughter from Laurean , whom Maria Lauterbach had accused of rape in May 2007 .  Laurean now faces murder charges . He fled the Camp Lejeune area on January 11 . The  says he went to his native Mexico , and a cousin of Laurean ' s reported seeing him in Zapopan , Mexico , in mid January .  Mary Lauterbach has sent a list of more than 30 questions to the commandant of the U . S . Marine Corps , Gen . James Conway , through her congressman .  She says she ' s unconvinced her daughter ' s rape allegation against Laurean was treated seriously .  Maria Lauterbach was 20 years old and eight months pregnant when she was reported missing after she failed to report for duty at Camp Lejeune in mid December .  Her body was found nearly a month later beneath a fire pit in Laurean ' s backyard . It is unclear whether he was the father of her unborn child .  After Maria Lauterbach accused Laurean of rape , she was moved to another office , and military protective orders were issued to keep the accused from the accuser . But Mary Lauterbach and her congressman , Rep . Mike Turner , say the Marines didn ' t do enough to protect her .  "" My daughter wanted to be transferred to another base , "" her mother said . She said her daughter told her in phone conversations that she would occasionally see Laurean at meetings and that it traumatized her .  The questions Turner , an Ohio Republican , sent to Conway include what steps were taken to protect Lauterbach after she accused Laurean of rape why no search was launched immediately after she failed to report for duty whether she requested a transfer to another base before her death and whether Laurean was asked for a  sample after her pregnancy was confirmed .  Merle Wilberding , Lauterbach ' s family attorney , said the military protective order "" really wasn ' t very effective . ""  Wilberding also questions the length of the investigation .  The next step would have been an Article 32 hearing , the military ' s equivalent of a open grand jury proceeding . Lauterbach disappeared in mid December when she failed to show up for work .  "" May 11 to December 14 is a long time for resentment to fester , if that ' s what it was , "" Wilberding says . "" The longer these cases go on , I think the more difficult it is for the victim , "" he adds .  After Maria Lauterbach first leveled her charges , she changed her story but later continued to claim she was raped by Laurean .  "" The problem is when someone has perceived credibility issues , you still must protect the person who is making those claims , "" her mother said .  The Marine Corps has said it reviewed its handling of Lauterbach ' s rape allegations . Turner says a general told him everything was done appropriately .  Laurean denied the rape allegation or any other sexual contact with Lauterbach . In a statement issued after her death , the Marine Corps said Laurean ' s denial "" was believed to significant evidence . ""  During a press briefing after Lauterbach ' s body was found , the Marines described her as a "" solid Marine "" and the fugitive Laurean as a "" stellar Marine . "" Turner called the latter statement "" really unexplainable . ""  "" I don ' t know how you can be a stellar Marine and have another Marine buried in your backyard , "" he said . "" And when that statement was made , those Marines already knew of the tragedy that had befallen Maria . ""  Mary Lauterbach said her daughter would be proud of her persistence : "" I do this totally for her and for the protection of everyone else ' s daughter . "" E mail to a friend  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Economy,fake,true,True,no,no,negative,past
3492,3493,"The  series "" Mad Men "" has been honored for its sharp writing , polished acting and engaging portrayal of life at a New York advertising agency in the early 1960s .  "" Mad Men "" has gotten attention from fashion designers and clothing merchandisers .  It has also been much noticed for something else : its fashion sense .  The series , which features all the looks of that era thin lapeled suits and skinny ties , crinoline puffed dresses and pencil skirts , Peter Pan collars and subdued pinks and greens has attracted attention from fashion designers and clothing merchandisers . Banana Republic , which has placed "" Mad Men "" inspired clothes in its window displays , is even offering a walk on role for the winner of a contest .  "" Mad Men , "" which returns for its third season Sunday , isn ' t the first Hollywood creation to influence fashion trends . For decades , movies and television shows have played a primary role in dictating people ' s fashion choices , whether they ' ve been aware of it or not . Here are a few examples .  1 . In the 1934 film "" It Happened One Night , "" star Clark Gable took off his shirt and showed his bare chest , instead of the standard white undershirt . For decades , an urban legend has maintained that undershirt sales dropped up to 75 percent , not to recover until World War  . Though the mythbusting site Snopesweblink says the truth is uncertain , it ' s testimony to the legend ' s strength that we ' re still talking about it 75 years later .  2 . The 1967 film "" Bonnie and Clyde , "" with its ( somewhat idealized ) Depression era fashion , continues to inspire today ' s designers . Faye Dunaway ' s berets , scarves , trench coats , fitted cardigans and long pencil skirts were a hit at the time and remain so today .  3 . "" Annie Hall "" boldly showed women that the masculine preppy look was attractive . Star Diane Keaton wore baggy pants , dress shirts , a vest and tie in the 1977 Woody Allen film . The film is said to have influenced a spike in tie sales for women .  4 . "" Saturday Night Fever "" rejuvenated a fading disco craze in 1977 and told men it ' s  to wear crotch hugging pants , wide open , chest baring shirts and large medallion jewelry . John Travolta ' s white polyester suit later bought by film critic Gene Siskel at auction became a disco era icon .  5 . The 1983 film "" Flashdance "" made active wear like a ripped sweatshirt off one shoulder , tight leggings and leg warmers sexy for women in the early 1980s . Actor Jennifer Beals is said to have cut the collar off a sweatshirt that had shrunk in order to get it over her head , according to the Internet Movie Database .  6 . The 1980s  series "" Miami Vice , "" with its lightweight fabrics and pastel colors , proved a hit on television and in menswear departments . Star Don Johnson ' s signature look T shirt , suit jacket , linen pants and shoes worn sockless could be seen all over the country . ( He also popularized the unshaven , stubble bearded look . )  7 . "" Sex and the City "" trendsetter Sarah Jessica Parker , who played Carrie , talked about her shoe addiction constantly during the  series , which ran from 1998 to 2004 and spawned a 2008 movie . Soon , stilettos paired with a thrown together look became something the cool crowd of viewers would follow , along with brands such as Manolo Blahnik and Jimmy Choo .  8 . A game show starting a fashion trend ? It happened with "" Who Wants to Be a Millionaire , "" which featured host Regis Philbin sporting a monochromatic shirt and tie look . Later , he launched a line of shirts and ties in the Regis by Van Heusen collection .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,past
3498,3499,"Ian Poulter became the latest brave ( or mad ) star to take up the craze sweeping and freezing professional golf right now : the Ice Bucket Challenge .  The flaymboyant Englishman shared a video of himself pouring a huge bin full of ice and water over his own head in his garden in England on Tuesday , mimicking many of the game ' s biggest names who have already taken up the gauntlet .  After doing so , Poulter immediately challenged his friend and Ryder Cup team mate Justin Rose to follow suit , as well as  Open champion Martin Kaymer and one more player who might prove a little harder to convince . . . Tiger Woods .   Scroll down to watch Ian Poulter and the stars of golf take the Ice Bucket Challenge  Brrrrrrrrr ! Ian Poulter picks up a container full of ice water ( left ) before soaking himself ( right )  Freezing : Poulter emptied an entire bin full of water on himself and looked a little shaken afterwards   Poulter fit to play on Thursday  Woods is known for his often cold demeanor , so whether he needs any further cooling down is a matter for debate .  But if Woods does not accept the dare within 24 hours , in the spirit of the competition he will have to donate 100 to a charity of Poulter ' s choosing .  Are you up to it , Tiger ? Poulter nominated 14 time major winner Woods to repeat the challenge  Brave : Women ' s  Open champion Michelle Wie ( with her trophy , right ) douses herself in ice cold water  Nuts : American rising star Rickie Fowler ( left ) and Swedish star Suzann Pettersson have done their dares  Rose , meanwhile , claimed he would be doing his bit very soon .  ' Got a little work to do today then I guess it ' s IceBucketChallenge time this afternoon ! Thanks for that IanJamesPoulter ' , the former  Open champion said on Twitter .  The craze has become a social media phenomenon in the world of golf over the last few days , with many of the game ' s biggest names enjoying a bit of masochistic fun .  Women ' s  Open champion Michelle Wie shared a video of herself taking on the ice bucket , as did Lydia Ko , Lexi Thompson and Suzann Petterssen , her fellow stars in the women ' s game . Rising American star Rickie Fowler is among the high profile male players to take part so far .  But the world will be on tenterhooks for the next 24 hours waiting to see if Woods rises to the challenge .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
3506,3507,"If you haven t yet heard that Fox News came out on top in ratings during Donald Trump s inauguration, all you need to do is check President Asterisk s Twitter timeline. After a rousing first few days of working toward dismantling Obamacare, endangering the health of women and girls worldwide, and signing our environment away for a few short-term construction jobs, The Donald hopped on Twitter to get right back to what appears to be his real job: attacking news agencies that report unflattering details about him. Congratulations to @FoxNews for being number one in inauguration ratings,  Trump tweeted.  They were many times higher than   @   public is smart! Congratulations to @FoxNews for being number one in inauguration ratings. They were many times higher than   @   public is smart!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 25, 2017Neilson estimates that 30.6 million people tuned in to watch the trainwreck that was Trump s sparsely-attended inauguration   millions fewer than Barack Obama s first swearing-in (maybe that s why he just threatened to send  the feds  to march on Chicago). Trump is correct that more people watched Fox News than any other individual news station, but he is also correct that the public is smart. What he fails to realize is that the majority of the  smart  public didn t watch Fox.Mediaite reported Monday that during the peak coverage block of 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST, Fox News drew 8.77 million viewers. This may seem like a lot, but  brought in 5.90 million people,  attracted 4.90 million,  had about 4.65 million viewers, 2.61 million watched CNN, and 1.38 million tuned in to MSNBC. In other words, the smart people watched different networks than the vapid, meth-addled freaks who enjoyed Trump s victory with the whitest news team on television.Naturally, the Internet wasn t about to tolerate the President* attacking legitimate news agencies:@realDonaldTrump This is beyond sad. Turn off the  and start running the country.  Parker Molloy (@ParkerMolloy) January 25, 2017@realDonaldTrump @FoxNews @ Yes, we are smart. We see you for who you are, you orange huckster.  Ben Berkon (@BenBerkon) January 25, 2017.@realDonaldTrump Well you didn't last a week. Back to insulting people again.  Jordan Uhl (@JordanUhl) January 25, 2017@JordanJamie @JordanUhl @realDonaldTrump His Majesty has spoken. pic.twitter.com/KmvwqFhVxX  Wm Bruce Murdock (@Bruce466177) January 25, 2017@realDonaldTrump @FoxNews @ Nobody intelligent respects Fox News.  Tommy Campbell (@MrTommyCampbell) January 25, 2017@pourmecoffee a very reliable source tells me Fox News'  ratings are fake and they're actually Kenyan ratings.  Jordan Uhl (@JordanUhl) January 25, 2017Just a reminder of something he wants to forget: the Women s March in D.C. alone drew 750,000 (three million nationwide), many times The Donald s sh*tty inauguration numbers. Public is smart!Featured image via Getty Images (Chip Somodevilla)/screengrab",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,fake,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
3515,3516,"The members of the Islamic Center of Fort Pierce had broken their fasts and left the mosque near Florida’s eastern shoreline. In the waning minutes of Sunday, less than an hour later, a surveillance camera recorded a man as he approached the mosque. Then came a flash as flames damaged the house of worship where the man who attacked an Orlando, Fla. nightclub often prayed. The authorities, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, were investigating the fire as a potential hate crime, even as officials cautioned that they remained uncertain about the motive. The blaze occurred on the 15th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and nearly three months after Omar Mateen opened fire at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando. It also happened around the beginning of Eid   a Muslim holiday. “Today was supposed to be a day of this community exchanging gifts with their kids, visiting their family members, having dinners, having lunches,” Wilfredo Ruiz, a spokesman for the mosque, said at a Monday afternoon news conference in Fort Pierce, Fla. “Instead, they needed to go to another place to worship. ” No one was injured in the attack, and the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office sought help identifying the suspect, whom the authorities described as a white or Hispanic male. Video showed the man arriving at the mosque, which is in a former Presbyterian church, about 11:38 p. m. on Sunday, appearing to carry paper and a bottle of some type of liquid. The camera recorded a flash, presumably when the fire ignited, and the man waved his arms, perhaps from a burn, before he fled on a motorcycle. Officials refused to speculate about a connection between the fire and the anniversary of the terrorist attack. A spokesman for the Sheriff’s Office, Bryan Beaty, declined to discuss whether Mr. Mateen’s ties to the mosque might have prompted the fire. With its painted star and crescent, palm trees and occasional protester outside, the Sunni mosque is central to Islamic life in Fort Pierce, a city of around 44, 000 people about an hour’s drive north of Palm Beach. Yet it has also been a hub of controversy, drawing attention twice in recent years as a place where young men who staged attacks had worshiped. In addition to Mr. Mateen, who was killed during the siege at Pulse, which left 49 other people dead, the Islamic Center was a frequent stop for Moner Mohammad Abusalha, who carried out a 2014 suicide bombing in Syria. (The F. B. I. director, James B. Comey, said the men had known each other “casually. ”) In June, the Islamic Center’s imam, Syed Shafeeq Rahman, distanced himself and the mosque from Mr. Mateen and, more generally, from extremist ideology. “There is nothing that he is hearing from me to do killing, to do bloodshed, to do anything, because we never talk like that,” the imam said of Mr. Mateen. The mosque, like many in the United States, has expressed concerns about security and the commitment of the local authorities to protect its members and property. Tensions mounted in July after the authorities arrested a    man they said had repeatedly punched someone who had been at the Islamic Center to pray. The case is pending in the local circuit court, where a prosecutor said in a filing last month that the accused man had “evidenced prejudice” during the attack. Mr. Beaty said deputies had also investigated two suspicious vehicles and a harassing phone call at the mosque since the June 12 attack in Orlando. The fire at the Islamic Center is at least the third suspected arson at a Florida mosque this summer. A Tampa mosque was targeted twice in less than 24 hours last month, and a spokesman for the city’s Fire Department, Jason A. Penny, said Monday that the inquiry there remained active. In Fort Pierce on Monday, people responded to the attack with a mix of outrage and sadness. “An attack on any house of worship is an attack on all houses of worship,” said Ahmed Bedier, a Muslim activist in Florida. “It’s unacceptable. ”",true,news,test,US elections,Conflict,satire,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
3535,3536,"Reuters) - Two Saudi guards were shot dead and three others injured on Saturday morning when a man drove up to the gate of the royal palace in Jeddah and began shooting, the interior ministry said in a statement carried by state news. Royal Guards killed the gunman, who was identified in the statement as Mansour al-Amri, a 28-year-old Saudi national. The attack occurred at a checkpoint outside the western gate to the Peace Palace in Jeddah, where the royal family conducts official business during the summer months. Saudi King Salman is currently outside the kingdom on a state visit to Russia. The statement did not elaborate on the whereabouts of his son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, although recent state news reports have placed him in Jeddah. Security forces seized Kalashnikov rifles and petrol bombs that had been in Amri s possession. Amri did not have a criminal record or any known connection to extremist groups, said Interior Ministry spokesman Mansour al-Turki, speaking by phone to al-Arabiya television. An investigation was underway to determine his motive for the attack, said Turki. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
3551,3552,"House Speaker John Boehner said Tuesday the Rep . Steve Scalise will remain a Republican leader after apologizing for a 2002 speech before a white supremacist group a moment in his career he called ' a mistake I regret . '  Scalise , who confirmed this week that he spoke at a meeting of the European American Unity and Rights Organization (  ) , will remain as third in command among the  leadership of the House of Representatives .  ' Like many of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle , I know Steve to be a man of high integrity and good character . He has my full confidence as our Whip , and he will continue to do great and important work for all Americans . '  Moments earlier , Scalise released a statement distancing himself from the white power group , which was run at the time of his speech by Louisiana Ku Klux Klan founder and former grand wizard David Duke a powerful Pelican State politician .  Duke had threatened to release a list of all his political allies , both Republicans and Democrats , if the  threw Scalise under the bus .   : Louisiana Rep . Steve Scalise spoke at an international convention of white supremacists in 2002 while serving as a member of his state ' s legislature , but House Speaker is letting him stay in leadership    : House Speaker John Boehner ( right ) held a press conference in June to announce the election of Scalise ( left ) as the House Majority Whip and he is standing by him as the racially steeped controversy boils  Scalise said Tuesday that ' twelve years ago , I spoke to many different Louisiana groups as a state representative , trying to build support for legislation that focused on cutting wasteful state spending , eliminating government corruption , and stopping tax hikes . '  ' One of the many groups that I spoke to regarding this critical legislation was a group whose views I wholeheartedly condemn . It was a mistake I regret , and I emphatically oppose the divisive racial and religious views groups like these hold . '  ' I am very disappointed that anyone would try to infer otherwise for political gain , ' he said .  Scalise insisted that his Roman Catholic faith has led him to recognize that  holds ' views that are vehemently opposed to my own personal faith , and I reject that kind of hateful bigotry . '  Rumors had swirled Tuesday around Capitol Hill , speculating about Scalise ' s future .  After Boehner backed the Louisiana lawmaker , House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy , the No . 2 Republican in Congress , also threw his support behind his colleague .  ' Congressman Scalise acknowledged he made a mistake and has condemned the views that organization espouses , ' McCarthy said in a forgiving statement .  Scalise did not address a 1 , 000 campaign contribution he received from top Duke aide Kenny Knight in 2008 six years after his now infamous  speech .  ' Poor Steve Scalise is getting a bad rap , ' Knight said .  ' I don ' t think Steve Scalise would come anywhere near a white hate group . '  Knight recalled that Scalise spoke for 15 minutes during the 2002  meeting .  Duke , among America ' s most notorious white supremacists , was a political kingpin in Louisiana who ran unsuccessfully for governor after holding a statewide legislative seat in a district near where Scalise would later serve before he was elected to Congress .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
3582,3583,"On Monday night , Lionel Messi , Neymar or Cristiano Ronaldo will step on to a stage in Zurich to receive the Ballon d Or trophy and be officially anointed as the best player in the world . ?  It is likely to be the incomparable Messi holding the trophy for the fifth time in seven years while his team mate Neymar offers congratulations , and his old rival Ronaldo wears a fixed grin to hide his annoyance and disappointment .  At the same time , La Liga president Javier Tebas will be somewhere wearing a rather large smile , for this ceremony has also become an annual celebration of the Spanish league as the best in the world in recent years .  Once again , La Liga has greedily dominated the Ballon d Or this year , and the trophy is guaranteed to return to Spain for a seventh consecutive year .  Since 2010 when the original Ballon d Or and the  World Player of the Year award were merged , players from La Liga have occupied 16 of the 18 final three positions , with only Manuel Neuer last year and Franck Ribery in 2013 able to gatecrash them .  At least the Bundesliga has managed to get itself an invite in recent years , whereas each year the Premier League becomes the awkward and uninvited guest to the big party , who discovers they are not as popular as they thought .  The Premier League likes to call itself the best league in the world , but every year the Ballon d Or openly mocks that title and provides an uncomfortable reminder that it still has a long way to go before it earns it .  It is now eight years since the Premier League could boast a Ballon d Or winner when Cristiano Ronaldo claimed it at Manchester United , and it is unlikely this embarrassingly barren run will end any time soon .  Back in October , there was at least a Premier League presence on the original Ballon d Or shortlist , with five of the 23 players plying their trade in England .  However , none of the five ? Sergio Aguero , recent arrival Kevin De Bruyne , Yaya Toure , Eden Hazard and Alexis Sanchez ? were ever potential winners and were merely there to make up the numbers .  England s reigning Footballer of the Year Eden Hazard was a remarkably poor candidate to go forward and compete for the bigger prize of the Ballon d Or .  Since becoming the Footballer of the Year in May last year , the Chelsea man has visibly shrunk and done everything he could to undermine his former manager Jose Mourinho s laughable assertion that he was now better than Ronaldo .  This season , the Belgian playmaker has failed to score in the league as Chelsea have slumped to the edge of the relegation places in the table .  The inescapable truth is the Premier League simply does not have the depth of quality to produce a Ballon d Or winner at the moment .  If Aguero and Sanchez couldn ' t make the final three , this season s most outstanding players ? Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez ? have even less chance .  It remains an anomaly that for all the Premier League s popularity and strength the very best players in the world still opt to play elsewhere .  The lure of those twin monolithic Spanish powers , Barcelona and Real Madrid , remains too great for almost all players to resist , and it is only getting bigger .  As Mourinho declared , per the ? Daily Mail , If you are an attacking player and go to Barcelona or Real Madrid it is easier to score 50 goals than if you re playing in England .  Spain is a comfort zone for these players , offering the best and most compelling stage on which to perform , and above all , a near guarantee of trophies , whereas playing for one of the Premier League s biggest powers carries too much risk .  Just look at the travails of Chelsea this season , or Manchester United since 2013 or Arsenal s now 12 year wait to be champions again .  And even when the Premier League appears to be developing a potential Ballon d Or winner , Barcelona or Real Madrid will swoop in and offer them a safe passage to La Liga , as they did with Gareth Bale in 2013 and Luis Suarez in 2014 .  At the moment , there is probably only one player in the Premier League who could develop in to a Ballon d Or winner : Anthony Martial .  Why do you think Monaco insisted on a clause that they would receive further payments if he won the award when they sold him to Manchester United ?  But the Premier League should not lose hope of finally getting an invite to Zurich as it prepares to be submerged in an unprecedented amount of television money .  The new deal ? worth ? 5 . 14 billion over three years ? takes effect from next season , and it will arm the league s leading clubs with the funds to make a raid on La Liga .  Richer than ever before , Manchester United , Chelsea and Manchester City would all dearly like to purchase a genuine franchise signing this coming summer .  And Tebas is well aware that this new money will make English clubs more powerful than ever before , and embolden them to come calling for some of La Liga s jewels .  Do not be surprised to see an English club break the world transfer record in the next year , and when that happens , they might finally land a Ballon d Or winner as well .  ",true,text,test,Football,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
3584,3585,"Unless you re Bill Belichick , trips to the Super Bowl don t come around all that often . He is 26 , and 13 years and 48 days younger than the Broncos Peyton Manning , the largest age gap between starting quarterbacks in Super Bowl history . As Davis closed on Fells , Fells went airborne and caught Davis awkwardly . We are virtually guaranteed to see the internet turned into a nuclear wasteland of Hot Cam Takes because that s what happens whenever we get something wonderful like Cam Newton in our lives .  With Carolina leading 3 0 , Ginn fielded a punt and weaved through traffic for a 32 yard return to set the Panthers up in Arizona territory .  The only real storyline left is that this will be Peyton Manning s last hurrah ( come on , you know it too ) , so everyone will be hoping that the old Sheriff will go out like the owner of the Broncos once did .  Manning , who had been plagued by injury and questionable form all season , turned in a performance worthy of a five times  Most valuable player , tossing a pair of first half touchdowns to Owen Daniels .  There really wasn t much that came from special teams against the Panthers .  The heart and soul of the Panthers defense isn t wasting any time in his quest to play in the Super Bowl .  Manning is 1 2 in Super Bowls with a rating of 81 . 0 .  Coach Ron Rivera says as gratifying as it is to be  Champs , they still have work to do to win the Super Bowl .  Linebacker Von Miller was the key to the Broncos success on defense , recording two sacks and hitting Brady four times while also somehow finding the time to record an interception . Newton had two before the fourth quarter ? a 1 yard stretch across the goal line and a 12 yard somersault into the end zone .  Capping the barrage was Kuechly , who returned an interception 22 yards for a score .  The Panthers forced Arizona quarterback Carson Palmer into six turnovers ? two fumbles and four interceptions . We re Thieves Avenue , Coleman said .  Cox Getty Images After breaking his arm in the  Championship , Thomas Davis said he ll do everything in his power to play in the Super Bowl .  During the buildup to the  championship game in the Mile High City , the spotlight was fixed on Manning and Brady , the two future Hall of Fame quarterbacks who were meeting for the 17th , and perhaps final time on the gridiron . Panthers safety Roman Harper injured an eye in the first half and didn t return .  He s throwing the ball unbelievable right now and you know what he can do with his legs , Talib said .  This is something that if it comes down to a pain tolerance and playing through it , I will be there . ? New England kicker Stephen Gostkowski , whose first missed extra point in 524 tries played a huge role in the Patriots 20 18 loss to Denver in the  championship game . We re going to live in the moment right now .  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
3588,3589,"What a completely worthless organization, UNESCO. Israel has an undisputed claim to the land. God said so.",fake,news,test,US elections,Conflict,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,present
3602,3603,"Faulty equipment and the crew ' s "" inability to control the aircraft "" caused an AirAsia A320 to crash into the Java Sea last year , killing all 162 people on board , an Indonesian report says .  Flight QZ8501 plunged into the ocean in stormy weather on December 28 , during what was supposed to be a routine flight from the Indonesian city of Surabaya to Singapore .  The crash of the Airbus A320 200 triggered a huge international search , with ships and aircraft from several nations involved in a lengthy hunt that was hampered by strong currents and bad weather .  The bodies of 56 of those who died have never been found .  In their final report into the accident released on Tuesday , Indonesia ' s official National Transportation Safety Committee said poor maintenance and a fault with the system that helps control the rudder ' s movement was a major contributing factor in the crash .  Cracked soldering in the component caused it to malfunction and send repeated warning messages to the pilots , it said .  When they received the fourth warning , the pilots tried to reset a computer system but also turned off the plane ' s autopilot , sending it into a sharp roll from which they were unable to recover .  "" Subsequent flight crew action resulted in inability to control the aircraft , "" said the report . The plane went into a "" prolonged stall condition that was beyond the capability of the crew to recover "" , it said .  The report said the faulty component , the Rudder Travel Limiter , had suffered 23 problems in the past 12 months , citing maintenance records .  It said that maintenance records were "" unable to identify repetitive defects and analyse their consequences "" .  It added the flight data recorders did not indicate the weather had affected the aircraft .  An Airbus spokesman said : "" Airbus has given Indonesian authorities all the support and technical expertise requested , and is studying the detailed contents of the report and its recommendations . ""  A minister previously described how the plane climbed fast and then went into aerodynamic stall , losing lift , before it went down , while an investigator said the warning alarms were "" screaming "" as the pilots desperately tried to stabilise the aircraft .  Investigators had also revealed that the French co pilot , Remi Plesel , was at the controls of the AirAsia plane in the moments before it crashed , rather than the more experienced pilot , Captain Iriyanto , who had around 20 , 000 hours of flying time .  Rescuers faced difficulties in the choppy waters of the Java Sea , but the main body of the plane was eventually located on the seabed by a Singapore navy ship and both black box data recorders were recovered .  Search efforts were finally called off in March after almost three months of hunting .  The crash was one of several aviation disasters in the sprawling archipelago in the past year , and the first major setback for Malaysia based AirAsia group and its flamboyant boss Tony Fernandes after a spectacular run of success .  Originally published as Faulty part , crew cited in AirAsia crash  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
3616,3617,"Madison , Wisconsin A Wisconsin Republican official compared the protests over Gov . Scott Walker ' s attempts to curtail collective bargaining rights for public employees to the Holocaust on Wednesday , a remark he later conceded was "" a bad word "" to use .  Wisconsin Agriculture , Trade and Consumer Protection Secretary Ben Brancel , a Walker appointee , told visiting members of the state Farm Bureau that rookie lawmakers "" got stuck in the middle of the Holocaust "" when pro union demonstrators led rallies and camped out in the Capitol for days .  "" Some of you might have had past relationships with your legislators , because they ' ve been here for a while , "" Brancel said . "" But there ' s a huge number who this is their first time around . They came to town with a lot of ideas and a lot of concepts they could really work on , and they got stuck in the middle of the Holocaust and the horror story that was going on in town as far as people using the building all night long and some shenanigans . ""  Brancel was making off the cuff remarks before the arrival of Walker , who spoke to the farmers Wednesday afternoon and was unaware of his appointee ' s comments . Brancel later told reporters , "" I better go back to English school . ""  "" That was a bad word , "" he said . "" It should have been total confusion in the Capitol . It was not an appropriate word to use in the context of which I used it . ""  Brancel also issued a written apology through his office , apologizing for his "" unfortunate choice of words . "" And Walker "" hopes everyone accepts the apology that was immediately issued , "" Walker ' s office said in a separate statement .  Walker and  lawmakers are trying to close a 137 million budget shortfall with a plan that calls for curbs on public employee union bargaining rights and requires public workers , with the exception of police and firefighters , to cover more of their retirement plans and health care premiums . The proposal ignited fierce opposition from labor leaders and their supporters , and state Senate Democrats have skipped the state to prevent their chamber from advancing the bill .  Public employee unions agreed to financial concessions that they say will help meet the state ' s fiscal needs , but Walker has said the limits on public bargaining are a critical component of his plan .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
3628,3629,"Eman al Obeidy , who grabbed the world ' s attention this spring when she accused Moammar Gadhafi ' s security forces of gang raping her , has been forced back to Libya , which she had fled in fear .  Qatari authorities took her and her parents from a hotel in Doha , the capital , and forced them onto a military plane that left Qatar early Thursday and landed in rebel held Benghazi . Al Obeidy , who has gone into hiding in the city , said the Qataris beat and handcuffed her before forcing her onto the plane .  Al Obeidy told a journalist that officials in the Transitional National Council had pressured the Qataris to expel her .  "" Forcibly returning a refugee who survived gang rape not only violates international law , but is cruel and could trigger further trauma , "" said Bill Frelick , refugee program director at Human Rights Watch . "" All eyes are now on the authorities in eastern Libya , who should allow al Obeidy to leave the country . ""  Human Rights Watch called on the Transitional National Council to allow al Obeidy to leave the country immediately .  added that an  spokesman had told the group that she was free to travel domestically and abroad .  Al Obeidy received worldwide attention on March 26 when she burst into the Rixos Hotel in Tripoli while international journalists staying there were having breakfast . She told reporters she had been taken from a checkpoint east of Tripoli and held against her will for two days while being beaten and raped by 15 men .  She later fled Libya to Tunisia with the help of two defecting Gadhafi army officers and their families . French diplomats drove her from the border and handed her off to rebel officials members of the Transitional National Council who organized her flight to Qatar . She was in Qatar awaiting resettlement as a refugee when she was deported .  The Office of the U . N . High Commissioner for Refugees had prepared papers for her departure from Qatar to begin a new life .  But her deportation to Benghazi puts her in a city that remains unstable . A bomb detonated Wednesday night outside the Tibesti Hotel in Benghazi , which has housed foreign journalists , aid workers and foreign officials since the Libyan conflict began .  In Washington , State Department deputy spokesman Mark Toner said Thursday that the department is "" very concerned "" about al Obeidy ' s safety and had communicated with her . He said officials were working with international organizations to make sure she is safe and finds asylum in "" a third country . ""  A number of nongovernmental organizations said they were making efforts to get al Obeidy out of Benghazi to a destination in Europe in the next few days .  After arriving in Qatar , al Obeidy made public statements saying the Transitional National Council the Libyan rebel leadership was using her . The council denied that , but her presence in Qatar appears to have become an embarrassment to the organization . Qatar ' s government is allied with the rebels .  The  said it was seeking an explanation from Qatari authorities for al Obeidy ' s deportation .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,negative,past
3639,3640,"tourists will have plenty of options for accommodation when they invade Cuba , with Airbnb now allowing American travellers to book rooms on the Caribbean island for the first time .  More than 1 , 000 Cuban properties are listed on the popular home rental website private rooms are available for as little as 12 ( 8 ) a night and the bulk of them are located in the capital of Havana .  Airbnb has plans for rapid growth in Cuba , where its employees have spent the last three months signing up property owners in advance of the expected crush of American visitors .  More than 1 , 000 Cuban properties are listed on Airbnb , with 40 per cent located in the capital of Havana  Kay Kuehne , regional director for Airbnb , told the Associated Press : ' We believe that Cuba could become one of Airbnb ' s biggest markets in Latin America .  ' We are actually plugging into an existing culture of micro enterprise in Cuba . The hosts in Cuba have been doing for decades what we just started doing seven years ago . '  Forty per cent of Airbnb ' s listings in Cuba are in Havana , while the rest are mostly located in tourist hotspots along the coast .  With more than one million private listings , Airbnb ' s ambitious plans for Cuba are being hailed by  has the most significant  business expansion on the island since the old Cold War foes pledged to restore full diplomatic relations and move towards opening trade .  One of the biggest hurdles Airbnb hosts are currently facing is the lack of internet access across the island  Property owners are welcoming the opportunity to make some extra cash in a country with a sluggish state run economy , and they hope it will help to spur a revival on the island as they compete with hotels for business .  Israel Rivero , who owns pre war flat in central Havana and will charge 30 ( 20 ) a night on Airbnb , told  : ' I think this is going to help our business prosper , to definitely improve , not just private business , but everything here . '  Collin Laverty , owner of tour operator Cuba Educational Travel , said property owners have already been investing central air conditioning , improved water pressure and other amenities in order to be able to charge more than 25 ( 16 ) a night for basic service .  He said : ' You ' re starting to see places that can compete with three and four star hotels . '  Tourists leave a privately owned home with rooms for rent in Havana  For the time being non  travellers will not be able to book rooms or flats in Cuba through Airbnb  One of the biggest hurdles Airbnb hosts are currently facing is the lack of internet access across the island , which restricts their ability to check on bookings and respond to questions from potential guests .  They also face challenges when it comes to accepting credit card payments , as they are unable to access much of the international banking system due to  sanctions that haven ' t been lifted .  Mr Kuehne said Cuban and  authorities have welcomed Airbnb ' s expansion . But for the time being non  travellers will not be able to book rooms or flats in Cuba through the website .  With many hotels filled with non  visitors , one of the biggest concerns about the return of American tourists in Cuba is a shortage of suitable accommodation .  While diplomatic talks continue , Americans still can ' t freely travel to the Caribbean nation . Because of restrictions under the  embargo they must meet one of 12  government approved categories for legal travel , including professional research and religious activities .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
3642,3643,"Geneticists at the Johns Hopkins University announced Monday that an estimated seven million people worldwide carry a distinctive genetic marker linking them to a single smooth talking common ancestor .  According to the study , which analyzed blood samples from 4 , 000 participants in 17 countries , the lineage appears to have originated with a highly virile ninth century Welsh nobleman known as Gwilym of Many Conquests .  "" This is one of the largest diasporas known to have descended from a single progenitor , "" said head researcher Lawrence Ghilcrest , adding that  evidence now corroborates stories about the Welshman that historians once dismissed as myth . "" To have propagated his genetic material so effectively , and across so much territory , we can only infer Gwilym was quite the charmer . ""  "" As the poets often wrote , he got ' more arse than a chamber pot , ' "" Ghilcrest added .  According to lore , Gwilym was a persuasive mead house balladeer known for his "" gilded , tunic dropping verse . "" Many texts note his total lack of standards concerning the age , weight , and appearance of the women he bedded , claiming that his silk adorned pallet never lay cold for even a single night after his 17th birthday .  The Johns Hopkins study attempts to trace the flow of Gwilym ' s genes from the British Isles through Europe , North Africa , South America , Asia , and back to South America . Because his  spread so quickly , researchers put credence in stories about Gwilym and his immediate offspring traveling great distances on the mere rumor of a loose handmaiden .  Though little is known of Gwilym ' s life , artists have traditionally depicted the suave nobleman riding an eye catching white mustang and wearing garishly colored linen garments that fall loosely about the chest to reveal a large medallion bearing his family ' s crest . It is remarkable , historians note , that he was able to spread his seed so far and wide before the age of 29 , when he was savagely beaten to death by a neighboring lord known as Dafydd of Nine Cuckolds .  "" Records indicate Gwilym was often accompanied by a retinue of male hangers on , to whom he would occasionally bequeath a female he had already had his way with , "" said Lucas Pearson , a prominent medievalist at Cardiff University . "" A surviving account from one of these men , Emrys the Drought Plagued who described himself as ' saddled by cruel fate with damnable bouts of celibacy ' bitterly derides Gwilym ' s callous , indifferent treatment of his conquests after his seductions were complete . ""  "" You really can ' t blame people for being envious of Gwilym , though , "" Pearson continued . "" I mean , how did this jerk do it ? Unbelievable . ""  According to Johns Hopkins ' Ghilcrest , the genetic marker his team discovered primarily manifests itself in the trait of extreme persistence , often making its carriers completely impervious to rejection .  "" It ' s rare to see one dominant trait express itself so uniformly in a genealogy across time , "" said Ghilcrest , noting that this very trait appears to explain why Gwilym had such success in passing down his  . "" Like his modern descendants , Gwilym would systematically approach every woman in his immediate vicinity and engage in elaborate courtship rituals that sometimes lasted 10 or 12 hours . When every opportunity for coupling was exhausted , he would move on , often covering a great deal of ground in a single evening . ""  Emmanuel Chereskin , a biologist at the University of Rochester , said the genetic marker also produces some unique secondary phenotypes among those who carry it . These include long , flowing hair superior whistling skills and especially muscular arms and shoulders that may facilitate long bouts of casually leaning against walls . Gwilym ' s descendants have also been shown to produce a strong and intoxicating natural musk .  "" These individuals are extremely adept at feigning interest in even the most tedious topics , "" said Chereskin , referring to an experiment in which men who carry the marker were asked to listen to an attractive woman talk at length about plans for her sister ' s upcoming wedding . "" Additionally , when properly cued , they will reflexively spin subtle innuendo from even the most banal phraseology . ""  Chereskin added that theories of genetic expression suggest several well known public figures are likely descendants of Gwilym , including actor Matthew McConaughey and Vice President Joe Biden .  News of these findings have prompted many to undergo testing to determine if they too might be descended from this celebrated medieval Lothario . Reginald Sperino , a 36 year old Henderson ,  waterbed salesman who tested positive for the sequence , said he is proud to come from such a noble line of sweet talkers .  "" I always thought there was something special about me , "" Sperino said . "" I mean , what can I hey , there , beautiful what can I say ? It ' s nice to finally have an explanation for my je ne sais quoi . ""  ",satire,text,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,fake,satire,True,no,no,positive,past
3674,3675,"We just read the blog by an angry black woman . In it she tries to pinpoint the problem of Ryan Lochte . What she failed to recognize is that he ' s a pretty pinhead .  This privileged blogger claimed Lochte was a privileged white male . She built a case that he also had a God complex .  In her estimation , this was a pretty bad crime . What she failed to notice is that Lochte has a head full of chuckle . He is a deadhead partygoer . He is a boy of privilege for sure . We used to call it being a spoiled rich kid .  What else can you call someone whose whole life has been dedicated to a sport with some inane purpose ?  Lochte is most guilty of being a drunken idiot . Alas , abusing alcohol is no longer a moral issue . It means he is suffering from an addiction . And we cannot call him an idiot because we are discriminating against people with brains that are lame .  Lochte has a life in which his perfect body provides a passport to pleasure . He ' s tall and lithe , lean and lovely . The perfect boy for Ipanema . How can we be disappointed when his beautiful body without blemish is on display for the world to pant upon ? In fact , without pants , he remains defiant .  He lives in a world of constant chlorine . He is a walking , bleached whitewash . He is clean as a houndstooth . At least on the outside . Inside his head has been sloshed clean by endless laps .  When the world has the hots for you or at least your body , you will find you are a child of privilege or sex icon .  But let ' s not lose sight of the fact that Ryan Lochte is an imbecile . Gods like Lochte are not complex . What a simpleton .  ",satire,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,satire,True,no,no,neutral,past
3678,3679,"Thursday night, Democrats did what party people do in Brooklyn. They rented out a big space on the waterfront and held a rave. Along with a few rants. The  debate between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders was not, substantively, much different from their previous showdowns. But man, was it louder. Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Sanders, heading into Tuesday’s   New York primary, went at each other hard, sniping, snapping and jockeying for attention like starving customers trying to order the pastrami at Katz’s. It was a   Midtown traffic jam of a debate. The charges were sharp  —   she questioned his command of facts, he condemned her “racist” use of the term “ ” in defense of a 1990s crime bill but the hectoring was sharper. At one point, Wolf Blitzer, one of the moderators, broke in to scold the pair: “If you’re both screaming at each other, the viewers won’t be able to hear either of you. ” Did the candidates realize they had microphones? Any undecided New York voters didn’t need cable to tune in they could probably just open a window. But credit where it’s due: The true cause of political junkies’ lingering headache Friday morning was the audience. Good lord, that audience. It sounded like someone told it the primary was going to be decided by   . From the   audience members made themselves a factor, or an obstacle. The crowd cheered, booed, kibitzed. Someone shouted “Free Palestine!” during an answer on Israel. Mr. Sanders’s section broke into “Bernie! Bernie!” repeatedly, like concert fans calling for an encore. In fairness, we’ve heard competitive hooting at plenty of Republican debates this cycle. And while Mrs. Clinton and Mr. Sanders were especially feisty Thursday, no one defended the proportions of any of their body parts. It would be reasonable if their campaigns had concluded that, if you want to be heard in 2016, you had better bring your own amplifier. Indeed, if this campaign’s debates in both parties have made one persuasive argument, it is this: We should ban debate audiences. They’re tent revivals of the converted, full of staffers and supporters whose huzzahs and boos may be heartfelt but are meaningless all the same. A debate audience’s only real purpose is as a prop. It reflects the candidates like a vanity mirror, howling at the applause lines and hissing at uncomfortable arguments, cueing us how to feel. For the networks, it pumps up the excitement and drama that keep viewers coming back. Debate audiences are the laugh tracks of politics. In the middle of the din, Mr. Blitzer, CNN’s Dana Bash and Errol Louis of the NY1 news channel did a good job following up and pointing out when candidates evaded answering. By this stage in the campaign, though, most of those questions and answers are familiar. Early on, Mr. Blitzer brought up Mr. Sanders’s attacks on Mrs. Clinton’s qualifications later, Ms. Bash raised Mrs. Clinton’s   questioning of Mr. Sanders’s bona fides as a Democrat. In between, it was sparring over banks, guns, the Middle East, once more and with feeling. It’s not as though there are no other topics to cover. Late in the debate (and during the debate from her Twitter account) Mrs. Clinton chided the panel for not asking “one question about a woman’s right to make her own decisions about reproductive health care. ” (Scoring points off the moderators is another tactic we’re more used to seeing at Republican debates.) Much had been made in advance of the location: not just New York City but Brooklyn, where Mr. Sanders was born and where the former New York senator Mrs. Clinton has campaign headquarters. In the end, though, the most New York thing about the debate was the noise. It was set on the same red, white and blue,   stage that you could have dropped in Atlanta or Indianapolis or Sacramento. There is only one place now: Debateland. We have been living there since last summer, and it feels as if we will never get out. But we will: If the blaring of the candidates and their   rooting sections said anything, it was that we’re approaching the finish of the primary and they know it. Did this debate move the needle? Absolutely. It moved the needle all the way into the red.",true,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
3685,3686,"Sepp Blatter is urging England to bid for the next World Cup in Europe , standing firm on Russia and Qatar as hosts for 2018 and 2022 and promising to speed up the introduction of more new technology .  The  president approaches another four year term in office promising to step up the fight against racism , with the imposition of punitive points deductions and expulsion from cup competitions .  He will use the awarding of a women ' s tournament to Jordan as football ' s instrument in the campaign for female equality in the Arab world . He reports , also , on how  is working as a force for reconciliation between Israel and Palestine .   Sepp Blatter discussing Qatar and Russia with Jeff Powell ahead of Soccerex  Outspoken :  president Sepp Blatter ( left ) has given an exclusive interview to Sportsmail ' s Jeff Powell ( right )  Head of the global game : Blatter spoke on a number of crucial issues surrounding world football  All this , and more , emerges from Blatter ' s first major interview since Brazil 2014 .  This exclusive discussion was conducted by me at  headquarters in Zurich for premier screening to thousands of delegates at the opening of the SoccerEx Global Football Convention in Manchester on Monday morning .  Blatter expresses his profound delight at the success of Brazil 2014 , as well as his gratitude to the Brazilian people for justifying his optimism that their love of the Beautiful Game would not let their socio economic protests spoil ' this great World Cup . '  He also reveals the multi billion dollar scale of  ' s income during this four year World Cup cycle and its distribution of a high proportion of that wealth to aid the development of football around the world .  All round success : Blatter was delighted with Brazil for a great World Cup , which was won by Germany  Coming home : Before a World Cup can be held in England it will likely visit Africa , as it did in 2010  Final venue ? Wembley could host just its second World Cup final after 1966 if Blatter is to be believed  Michel Platini , it emerges , advised  ' s president in advance of his decision not to stand against his re election next year , but to remain at the head of  .  Thus Blatter predicts growing unity between the two bodies , totally discounting any possibility of star players with major European clubs ever boycotting the World Cup , ' the high point of their careers . '  That said , he went on to announce that he will formally confirm his candidacy for four more years in the next few weeks .  That may be the worst kept secret in sport . But making it official for the first time enabled him to address the corruption accusations that have been dogging the governing body of the world game .  Brothers in arms : Blatter sees Michel Platini ' s  growing closer to  in the coming years  Friends ? It now looks like Platini will not rival Blatter for the  crown as he goes for re election  In so doing Blatter offers a rare , personal insight into himself as a football loving man , as he admits how deeply hurt he was by allegations in an English newspaper which attempted to connect him to any wrong doing .  His reminder to the world that he has been totally exonerated is passionately delivered , as is his assurance that the independent investigation being led by New York lawyer Michael Garcia will be completely transparent and honest .  He asks only that all such deliberations and any critical discussions are conducted with mutual respect , not the heated discourtesy which he sees as having reflecting poorly on the game .  Experience : Wembley has hosted a Champions League final , an Olympic final and is in line for the big one  European choice : An English held World Cup is possible in 2030 but it might host Euro 2020 ' s final too  On the English question , raised after Greg Dyke ' s outburst against him at a  convention in Brazil , Blatter makes it clear that he ' likes ' the new  chairman , holds no grudge and is sure he will be ' respectful ' next time they meet .  He also urges Dyke to step back from vowing that England will never again bid for the World Cup while he is  president . That statement was born of England ' s angst at their high profile bid team securing only one vote in the ballot for 2018 but Blatter says : ' You have to be prepared to accept losing and of course be ready to bid again . '  However , the earliest England could host the Finals is 2030 .  Beauty : Blatter is determined to bring a World Cup to the Middle East and says Qatar 2022 will go ahead  Stunning vision : The stadiums in Qatar have been unveiled and all feature futuristic designs  Blatter expects that under the rotation system , Qatar will almost certainly be followed in 2026 by either an African contender , a joint staging by Uruguay and Argentina , or the  following the huge  audiences recorded in Ameriica for Brazil 2014 .  Of the Qatar controversy , he explains ' the need to take the World Cup to the Middle East for the first time ' and adds that  are ' totally committed ' to that decision . He confirms that the tournament will be moved to the cool of winter , although the precise timing will not be resolved until after discussions this week about re scheduling the European club season that winter .  Still coming : No world stars , including the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo , will boycott a World Cup , says Blatter  Of the Russia controversy , Blatter says that while  will ' continue to monitor ' the situation in Ukraine ' we are already working with Russia to prepare for that World Cup . '  He also reasserts  ' s principle of resisting the interference of politics in football . Of the call by some  ambassadors for a boycott , he says : ' They never do any good . '  On the issue of racist abuse be it evident in players , team officials or fans he is urging the application of regulations already in place for points to be deducted or offending clubs to be thrown out of even the most important cups . While he admits that identifying offenders in crowds that can be infiltrated by rival fans , he anticipates extra security scrutiny and adds that ' sometimes you have to take a chance ' to make progress .  Changes : Jose Mourinho and other manages could be handed the chance to appeal against referees ' decisions  Blatter sees no risk in the next hi tech step which will follow the success of goal line technology . He is bringing forward trials for managers and coaches to be given two challenges in each half of a game against decisions . Referees will be engaged in the review process , going to the touchline as soon as play is stopped to study the video replays .  That innovation will be in place before the next World Cup .  Of the one just ended , he had ' no doubts ' that Brazil ' s stadia and infrastructure would be ready in time . He thanks all in that country for staying behind the Finals after their team were knocked out . He suspects , also , that the very decisive nature of Germany ' s seven goal victory helped the Brazilians accept that exit without complaint and continue enjoying a magnificent tournament .  Success : Blatter says he had ' no doubts ' that Brazil would be ready in time for the World Cup last summer  That helped boost  ' s income from the World Cup cycle to 2 . 7billion ' of which more than 70 per cent ' will be dispersed to Brazil and the nations in the Finals , or distributed among confederations and associations for the good of the game in all corners of the football world .  And all that is but a taste of a fascinating conversation .  The interview was filmed in one , unbroken take with no pauses for thought and no questions ducked .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Economy,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
3693,3694,"On Friday, Donald Trump attacked  players such as Colin Kaepernick at a rally for Alabama Senate candidate Luther Strange (R). The amateur president called on  owners to fire players for taking a knee rather than standing during the national anthem.  Wouldn t you love to see one of these  owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say,  Get that son of a bitch off the field right now,  Trump said, adding,  He is fired. Colin Kaepernick s mother wasn t having any of it. Do not mess with her son. Guess that makes me a proud bitch!  Teresa Kaepernick tweeted.Guess that makes me a proud bitch!  Teresa Kaepernick (@B4IleaveU) September 23, 2017While Puerto Rico remains devastated by Hurricanes Irma and Maria, the so-called president is busy attacking black athletes.Stephen Curry, a Golden State Warriors guard and two-time  MVP, said that he wasn t interested in visiting the White House to celebrate the team s 2017 championship. He added that he would wait to see how the team feels as a group. Curry said his reasons for not wanting to visit the White House were  that we basically don t stand for what our president has said, and the things he hasn t said at the right time,  according to  Gate. By not going, hopefully, it will inspire some change for what we tolerate in this country and what we stand for, what is accepted and what we turn a blind eye toward. So, Trump tweeted a response.  Going to the White House is considered a great honor for a championship team. Stephen Curry is hesitating, therefore invitation is withdrawn! Going to the White House is considered a great honor for a championship team.Stephen Curry is hesitating,therefore invitation is withdrawn!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 23, 2017That s right, he can t break up with Trump. Trump is breaking up with him first, so there! star LeBron James fired back at Trump over his tweet, calling him a  bum  on Saturday. You bum @StephenCurry30 already said he ain t going! So therefore ain t no invite,  James tweeted.  Going to White House was a great honor until you showed up!  James tweeted.U bum @StephenCurry30 already said he ain't going! So therefore ain't no invite. Going to White House was a great honor until you showed up!  LeBron James (@KingJames) September 23, 2017LeSean McCoy, running back for the Buffalo Bills tweeted,  It s really sad man   our president is a asshole. It's really sad man   our president is a asshole  Lesean McCoy (@CutonDime25) September 23, 2017Mrs. Kaepernick retweeted that.After a backlash, Trump took to his Twitter account. If a player wants the privilege of making millions of dollars in the NFL, or other leagues, he or she should not be allowed to disrespect our Great American Flag (or Country) and should stand for the National Anthem,  he tweeted.  If not,   FIRED. Find something else to do! Welp, if a  president  disrespects our country then he should be fired.Featured image via Chip Somodevilla/Getty images.",fake,dataset,test,American football,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
3713,3714,"Alistair Brownlee claimed Britain ' s first ever medal in the men ' s Olympic triathlon , taking gold ahead of two time world champion Javier Gomez and his brother Jonny , who won bronze despite incurring a 15 second penalty .  It marked Team  ' s 19th gold medal of the London Games , matching the number they landed in Beijing four years ago .  The elder of the two brothers , Alistair , recovered from months out with injury to take his first Olympic gold medal in a grueling event that comprises a 1 . 5km swim , 43km bike ride and a 10km run .  The 24 year old clocked a time of one hour 45 minutes and 23 seconds to edge out Gomez and could afford to grab a Union Jack flag from the crowd and canter through the final 100 meters .  Jonny , 22 , had to receive medical treatment after the race but showed guts and determination to take third after being penalized for mounting his bike too soon after the swim .  All the action from day eleven with our London 2012 live blog  Alistair ' s triumph was soon followed by another as Laura Bechtolsheimer , Carl Hester and Charlotte Dujardin helped Britain win the team dressage event in Greenwich Park .  "" It feels a bit underwhelming in a way because Jonny has collapsed and he ' s not feeling too good , "" Alistair told the host broadcaster after the race .  "" That race was just unbelievable . I felt in control right from the start . And the crowds , I don ' t think I ' ve ever come across anything anywhere near like that and I doubt I ever will again .  "" My ears are still ringing with the noise . It was absolutely amazing . I ' m massively proud . It ' s been talked about so much that Great Britain haven ' t won a triathlon medal so the pressure was stacked up .  "" To get two of us , two British brothers , on the podium you couldn ' t ask for any more . ""  Both brothers finished the end of the swimming leg in the leading pack but Jonny was handed a penalty for mounting his bike too early after leaving Hyde Park ' s Serpentine lake .  At the end of the 43km bike stage both were at the front as British teammate Stuart Hayes played the role of pace setter .  Alistair moved away from the field in the early stages of the 10km run , allowing Jonny to leave enough of a cushion to serve his 15 second penalty and rejoin the race clear in third .  The elder brother ended with a time of 29 minutes and seven seconds in the 10km run just over a minute and a half slower than compatriot Mo Farah who won the 10 , 000 meters on Saturday .  Alsatair said he had purposely ran a fast opening lap to give his brother the best chance to win a medal .  He added : "" We knew he had a penalty early in the bike and I was telling him ' Calm down , you can still easily get on the podium with a 15 second penalty . '  "" I took the first lap of the run out really hard to try and get Jonny as far away from the others as I could . Gomez was having a great race again today so there was not much we could do about that .  "" Jonny is fine , triathlon is a tough sport and we ' ve both been in that position . I think it was deceptively hard today , obviously it was fast but with this humid , muggy day , it dehydrates you and he was right on the edge at the finish . ""  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
3725,3726,"The first shot against  tyranny in Virginia has been fired!Earlier this year, after racist terrorist Dylann Storm Roof was charged with shooting nine black people in a Charleston, South Carolina, church, the media and Democrats across the nation embarked on a crusade to wipe the Confederate flag from society.One of the crusaders, Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe, decided to get rid of license plates containing the Confederate flag altogether and informed those with such license plates that they had until October to hand the license plates over to the Department of Motor Vehicles.Those found driving with the plates will be charged with a misdemeanor.On Friday, local station  reported that the vast majority of citizens with such license plates have refused to comply with the government s flag-recall notice. The  stated that just 187 Virginians had returned their license plates out of 1,600 who had received a recall notice.One of those who has refused to heed the call is Kevin Collier, commander of the Stonewall Camp of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, whose great-great-great-grandfather fought with the Confederacy.  Next thing you know, they re going to say you can t wear blue on Monday  or you can t wear yellow on Thursday,  he told WAVY.  Where s it going to end? The answer: It isn t. In forwarding the regulation, McAuliffe said the Confederate flag was  unnecessarily divisive and hurtful.  He added,  Even its display on state-issued license tags is, in my view, unnecessarily divisive and hurtful to too many of our people.  Apparently, McAuliffe missed the fact that the victims in Charleston did not suffer from hurt feelings thanks to license plates, but from murder at the hands of a racist renegade criminal. But government s job is now to protect feelings rather than lives. Via: Breitbart News",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,past
3731,3732,"If your childhood happened between the mid 1970s and early 80s , you will probably recall a particularly miserable symbol of that era s reduced budgets and shrinking horizons : the broken down , litter strewn park .  Slides would be so caked in mud as to make them unusable roundabouts wouldn t go round grass would go uncut . I grew up in suburban Cheshire , and even there , the same applied : in amid the fag ends , dog shit and broken bottles , a weird sense of times so topsy turvy that places meant to deliver happiness had become a byword for a kind of low level sadness . Is there a more forlorn sight than a broken swing ?  Two weeks ago , I spoke to a mum and dad in Newcastle who were trying to entertain their toddler in a play area with a cracked slide , and talked about other places nearby now covered in graffiti , and rendered all but unusable . The national statistics show how widespread this almost silent crisis is becoming . At the last count , 86 of the people in charge of local parks had seen cuts to their budgets since 2010 and almost half of local councils were considering either selling their parks , or somehow contracting them out . All over the country , in fact , you now see much the same sight : perhaps the most vivid , immediate embodiment of what some people call the public realm , rotting away at speed ? and now set to decline even further , as the Conservatives continue to strip money from councils budgets .  Related : Autumn statement : Osborne isn t fixing the roof , he s eroding the foundations Mariana Mazzucato  But as evidenced by the reaction to George Osborne s autumn statement , in the dizzy heights of the London based media , this is not how the world looks at all . Whatever happened to austerity ? parped the front page of Thursday s Daily Mail , while the Telegraph apparently announced that spending cuts had now finished ( The end of austerity ) . The ever thoughtful Sun ran a front page illustration of three Osbornes lined up on a fruit machine , with the headline Borne lucky and a story announcing nothing less than a ? 27bn jackpot . To judge from the newsstands , the munificent bonanza facilitated by dodgy fiscal forecasts and headed up by the U turn on tax credits had been perfectly timed to coincide with Christmas .  These are truly Orwellian times , but this recasting of want as plenty is particularly surreal . Over the next five years ? and possibly for even longer than that ? the kind of dire , drastic cuts councils have been forced to make since 2010 will be continuing . Indeed , the situation looks more impossible than ever . To quote one very reliable source : Even if councils stop filling in potholes , maintaining parks , closed all children s centres , libraries , museums , leisure centres and turned off every street light , they will not have saved enough money to plug the financial black hole they face by 2020 . Lord Porter said that . He s the chair of the Local Government Association . He s also a Tory .  The chancellor s hopeless offers of assistance extend into the distance  Before the spending review , councils in England and Wales were anxiously modelling cuts to their spending of between 25 and 40 , and worrying about increases in demand for the services they have to provide as a matter of law , which are forecast to add ? 10bn to their costs by 2020 . But between now and then , money that currently goes from central to local government will be cut by more than 50 . On Wednesday , almost no one seemed to notice this , not least in the House Of Commons . But while John McDonnell was quoting Chairman Mao , a lone note of alarm from Yvette Cooper ? remember her ? ? drew attention to what was afoot . Appears to be a 56 cut to Govt funding for local councils did I miss that in Chancellor s speech ? she tweeted .  Appears to be a 56 cut to Govt funding for local councils table 2 . 1 p78  did I miss that in Chancellor ' s speech ? spendingreview  This huge cut will happen , but it is part of a bigger plan . Since 2013 , with some caveats , councils have kept half of the money they get from business rates , and carried on putting the rest into a centrally administered pot . This is then spread around the country according to the current council funding formula ? whose iniquities are a big source of complaint among council leaders , but which at least represents some residual idea of redistribution , not least from south to north . Now , councils are to largely keep all their income from business rates , while the money passed to local authorities from central government will eventually be cut to nothing . How this will be phased in and what any redistributive element might look like is unclear , though it s pretty obvious that a system of top ups and tariffs will be much less redistributive than the current system .  The chancellor s hopeless offers of assistance extend into the distance . He has also come up with the idea of allowing local politicians to somehow protect adult social care ? for elderly people , as far as anyone understands it ? by putting up council tax by up to 2 , and far too much of the media has fallen for the idea that this represents something credible . In Liverpool , the full 2 hike would raise ? 3 . 2m a year , but the city s annual social care bill is ? 172m . Even the government s plans to eventually give councils ? 1 . 5bn for social care via the so called Better Care Fund woefully fail to meet the scale of a mounting problem . The research charity the Health Foundation reckons that Britain s care gap will be ? 6bn by 2020 even if he is lucky , both of Osborne s measures would barely scrape together half that sum .  Related : David Cameron hasn t the faintest idea how deep his cuts go . This letter proves it George Monbiot  Buried in the autumn statement , there was also an announcement that the government intends to completely cut the ? 2 . 6bn a year it gives to councils for public health spending ( which covers areas such as drug and alcohol abuse , sexual health , and teenage pregnancy ) . The idea , apparently , is that the money can be made up thanks to all those business rates . The more likely outcome , of course , is that these things will fall into the same fragile category as libraries , parks , bus subsidies , welfare advice , help for homeless people , transport to school for children with special educational needs , and more : a great roll call of the basics of any halfway civilised society , either under threat , or disappearing fast .  This , then , is Osborne s dystopia ? where newspapers announce that two and two make five , wealth collides with public squalor , and the slides and swings stay broken . One question demands to be asked , which should be addressed to the supposed forces of opposition , as much as the government : ? how long can it last ?  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
3732,3733,"Berkeley , California On a research trip in Nigeria , Dr Laura Stachel watched as physicians performed an emergency cesarean section .  What happened next stunned her .  "" The lights went out , "" Stachel recalled , "" and I said , ' How are they going to finish ? ' ""  She was even more surprised by the nonchalant response .  "" You didn ' t even see people reacting because it was something they were so used to , "" she said .  Fortunately , Stachel had a flashlight with her , and the doctors were able to use it to complete the surgery . But during that two week trip in 2008 , she witnessed countless other times when the lives of mothers and babies were at risk simply because of a lack of reliable electricity . Pregnant women would arrive at the hospital with severe complications , but without adequate light to treat them , procedures had to be compromised or delayed until daylight . Some women were even turned away .  "" I realized that my skills as an obstetrician gynecologist were utterly useless ( without ) something as basic as light and electricity , "" Stachel said .  Stachel said midwives in Nigeria use all kinds of makeshift lighting when they deliver babies : kerosene lanterns , candles , even cell phones .  "" That ' s not adequate light for maternity care , "" she said . "" If somebody is hemorrhaging , if a baby needs resuscitation , you need to have directed light . ""  Nigeria is one of the 10 most dangerous countries in the world for a woman to give birth . In 2010 , an estimated 40 , 000 Nigerian women died in childbirth 14 of all such deaths worldwide , according to the World Health Organization and the United Nations .  Meanwhile , the neonatal mortality rate is also one of the worst in the world . Each year , about 4 of babies in Nigeria die before reaching 28 days old for comparison , the United States rate is only a fraction of this at 0 . 4 .  Stachel said that in her two weeks in Nigeria , she saw more complications than she had in her entire career in the United States .  "" Once I witnessed the things that I saw , "" she said , "" I had to let people know , and I had do something about it . ""  With the help of Hal Aronson , her husband and a solar energy educator , Stachel worked to find a solution . He drew up designs for a solar electric system to provide a free source of power to the state hospital in northern Nigeria where Stachel had conducted her research .  While they raised funds for the project , Stachel returned to Nigeria with a small kit to help show what the system would be able to do : It had a couple of solar panels inside , some lights and walkie talkies to improve communication .  The kit was only meant for demonstration purposes a miniature model of the larger system . But the surgical technicians saw it as something else .  "" They said : "" This is incredible . You have to leave this with us . . . . This could help us save lives right now , ' "" Stachel said .  She did just that , and news of the kit soon spread to other clinics . So each time Stachel would return to Africa , she came with one or two new "" solar suitcases "" assembled by her husband .  Today , the solar suitcase includes two solar panels that are mounted on a clinic ' s roof and connected to high quality  lights . Once fully charged , it can provide light for up to 20 hours . The kit also contains headlamps , a fetal Doppler to monitor a baby ' s heart rate and a cell phone charging unit .  Over time , the solar suitcase has become simpler in design .  "" We got to something that was really rugged , simple to use , portable and that we knew would really work in harsh environments , "" Stachel said .  It also spread to other countries after Stachel and Aronson started a nonprofit , We Care Solar . Since 2009 , the kits have been helping health care workers save lives not only in Nigeria but in facilities throughout Africa , Asia and Central America .  For Stachel , the solar suitcase is only part of a bigger mission to improve maternal health care and lower mortality rates in developing countries .  According to the World Health Organization , about 800 women die every day from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth . And 99 of all maternal deaths occur in developing countries .  "" I really want a world where women can deliver safely and with dignity , and women don ' t have to fear an event that we consider a joy in this country . To see birth associated with death and fear is an outrage , "" Stachel said . "" Before I went to Africa , I knew women were dying at high rates . I just didn ' t know they were run of the mill things we can take care of . ""  In 2009 , We Care Solar completed the solar electric installation that her husband originally designed for the state hospital . Over the next year , the hospital reported that the death rate for women had decreased 70 . Nurses told Stachel they could see what they were doing , they didn ' t have to turn women away , and they had blood for transfusions because the electricity provided power for a blood bank refrigerator .  "" When we saw the impact , that gave me the impetus to provide this fundamental thing for people to do the job they knew how to do , "" Stachel said .  We Care Solar provides its solar suitcase , along with training and installation , to hospitals and clinics for free . Each solar suitcase costs 1 , 500 , which the nonprofit funds through grants and support from partner organizations and sponsors .  Stachel also works with its partners in various countries to identify clinics in need and help engage the community .  "" We often ask them to be involved participating in research studies , giving us feedback and making a commitment to maintain these and to replace parts as they ' re needed , "" Stachel said .  So far , We Care Solar has provided nearly 400 solar suitcases to facilities in 27 countries . They ' re being used in main hospitals as backup systems and in rural clinics as a primary source of electricity .  "" It ' s just shifted the morale of the health care worker , "" Stachel said . "" They ' re now excited to come to work . . . . Mothers are now eager to come to the clinics . ""  Fanny Chathyoka , a midwife at a rural clinic in landlocked Malawi in southern Africa , used to use light from her cell phone when treating patients at night . She said the solar electric kit she received from Stachel last month "" keeps me going . ""  "" This light . . . is going to bring good changes , "" she said . "" We should not lose any women . I will be able to give good deliveries . Suturing will not be a problem for me . Resuscitation of a baby during the night will not be a problem , because of the light . I feel very happy . ""  Ultimately , Stachel hopes her efforts will be part of a movement that makes a dent in a very big problem .  "" We didn ' t set out to transform maternal health care around the world , but it feels like this has grown to something so much bigger than I had ever imagined , "" she said .  "" Communities are celebrating the fact that they have light . And that they now have one more component to help with safe motherhood . It ' s amazing . ""  Want to get involved ? Check out the We Care Solar website at wecaresolar . org and see how to help .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
3744,3745,"David Cameron says it may "" take some time "" to start flying tourists back from Egypt , as security is tightened after the jet crash .  David Cameron has said the downing of a Russian passenger plane in Egypt was "" more likely than not "" caused by a bomb hours after his Foreign Secretary told Sky News there is a "" significant possibility "" that  was responsible .  The Prime Minister has also warned it could "" take some time "" to start flying  tourists back from Sharm ? el Sheikh , as more security is needed at the airport serving the Egyptian resort .  Philip Hammond had earlier told Sky News that British holidaymakers ? could start flying home tomorrow .  It comes after a group linked to Islamic State which operates in the Sinai peninsula claimed responsibility for Saturday ' s crash , which killed 224 people and vowed to tell the world how it carried out the attack .  Speaking to Sky News , Philip Hammond ? said : "" We ' ve looked at the whole information picture , including that claim , but of course lots of other bits of information as well , and concluded that there is a significant possibility . ""  Play video "" We Will Bring Brits Home Safely ""  : : Sharm Travel Advice As 20 , 000 Left Stranded  Both Russian and Egyptian officials have dismissed allegations that the Airbus A321 may have been brought down by a bomb with one Cairo minister saying Saturday ' s crash was "" not a terror act , it was an accident "" .  However , the team investigating the crash will examine whether there was any explosive material on the plane , according to Russian officials , with the first conclusions reached in a few months .  David Cameron is making a phone call to Russian President Vladimir Putin about the plane crash this afternoon .   aviation experts have identified serious security flaws at Sharm el Skeikh International Airport .  : : Live Updates : Latest On Egypt Plane Crash  Additional levels of baggage screening and searches are expected to be implemented on a short term basis , and the Government plans to work with Egyptian authorities on "" long term sustainable measures "" to make the airport safe .  The Foreign Secretary predicted other countries would join the  in suspending flights to and from the region soon with Ireland and the Netherlands launching similar bans so far .  Germany ' s Foreign Ministry has urged travellers to avoid the Sinai peninsula altogether with a "" partial travel warning "" but said its intelligence suggests the cause of Saturday ' s plane crash remains unclear .  His Egyptian counterpart described the travel restrictions as "" premature and unwarranted "" , amid concerns it could seriously damage the country ' s tourism industry .  Nineteen flights that were due to leave  airports for Sharm el Sheikh today have been cancelled causing a knock on effect for thousands of tourists who are scheduled to fly back home .  However , Mr Hammond stressed there is no need for Britons currently in the Egyptian resort to cut short their holidays , as the threat rating for the Sharm area remains unchanged .  The Transport Secretary , Patrick McLoughlin , has made a statement on aviation security in the Commons and told MPs how it was "" necessary to act "" following a review of the information available .  Mr Hammond has warned it could take weeks or months before flights between the  and Sharm return to normal but it is hoped normal services will resume ahead of the Christmas rush .  The Prime Minister has welcomed Egypt ' s president , Abdel Fattah el Sisi , to Downing Street after he arrived in London for a pre planned visit .  Meanwhile , video has emerged of Russian speaking  militants making direct and personal threats to Vladimir Putin .  In the footage , a fighter says : "" I would like to congratulate our brothers from the Sinai peninsula for crashing that plane with those non believers from Russia . ""  The militant also calls Mr Putin ? a "" pig "" in the recording and warns that involving Russian jets in the Syria conflict was a mistake .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
3747,3748,"It ' s as if he came from the Dark Side of the Moon . Few would have predicted that an 18 year old Egyptian , who wasn ' t even born the last time Pink Floyd released an album , would become the cover designer of the British band ' s latest album "" The Endless River "" .  However , Ahmed Emad Eldin was plucked from obscurity when a creative agency working for the band saw his design portfolio on Behance , an online notice board for creative professionals .  Born in Jeddah , Saudi Arabia , Eldin is a self taught digital artist , who says he used the internet as a tutor to hone his skills . The offer to create the images for the band , he says , was "" a total surprise . ""  Featuring a lone figure punting a boat across a sea of clouds , Eldin says the image was created while he was "" thinking about life and nature . ""  Despite his young age , Eldin says he was a fan of the band before they contacted him and is really excited to work with them . He could only hint that he may be working with the band on future releases or projects .  The British band formed in the 1960s but found global fame in the 1970s with progressive rock albums such as "" Wish You Were Here "" and "" Animals . ""  The cover art for "" The Dark Side of the Moon "" , designed by Storm Thorgerson , and "" Animals "" , with a pig floating above Battersea Power Station , remain some of the most recognizable album covers of all time .  "" The Endless River "" will be released in November and is Pink Floyd ' s first album since "" Division Bell "" in 1994 . It is mostly instrumental apart from one song called "" Louder than Words "" and comes from the same sessions that produced the 1994 album .  Last year David Gilmour and Nick Mason from the band revisited the music from those sessions and decided that the tracks should be made available as part of the Pink Floyd repertoire .  The band state that the new album is a tribute to Rick Wright , "" whose keyboards are at the heart of the Pink Floyd sound "" and died in 2008 .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
3749,3750,"Luke Shaw thinks it would be foolish to write Manchester United ' s title chances off just yet .  With nine games gone , United are eighth in the Barclays Premier League , some 10 points off the summit .  Shaw has been encouraged by the team ' s performance in the 1 1 draw against leaders Chelsea though , and he believes he and his team mates are still playing below their potential .  Luke Shaw claimed that Manchester United are still a daunting proposition for other teams  Shaw has struggled to break into the team this season but did start against Chelsea at Old Trafford  The former Southampton player thinks when United hit top gear they will strike fear into the hearts of their opponents and that is why he refuses to give up hope of topping the table come May .  ' Of course we are still in the title race , ' the United defender said .  ' It ' s a long season and we are at the start of it . You don ' t know what will happen during the middle of the season .  ' It will take time but when we are all on form I think we are going to be a scary team to face . '  Although Chelsea top the table , arguably the biggest test for Shaw and his United team mates will come on Sunday when they travel to the Etihad Stadium to take on bitter rivals Manchester City .  The England defender said the Manchester derby was one of the biggest games in the world  The former Southampton man posted a photo of himself after playing crazy golf with friends  If as is expected Radamel Falcao recovers from a leg injury he sustained in training , and Ander Herrera returns to the starting  , United will have six players in their team who have never experienced a Manchester derby before .  Each and every one of them will be acutely aware of what the fixture means to the fans , Shaw says .  ' It ' s pretty obvious what this match means to the fans and the club . I don ' t think I need to be told about it and the other ( new signings ) will be aware too , ' the Surrey born teenager said .  ' I ' ve watched it for the past years and I ' ve seen how much it means to everyone .  ' It ' s one of the biggest occasions in football after the World Cups and Champions League finals .  ' It ' s a massive occasion for everyone involved in it . We need to come out firing on Sunday . '  Shaw picks out United ' s 2 1 victory over City in 2011 as his favourite Manchester derby .  Wayne Rooney is expected to return for the Manchester derby after serving a three game suspension  Colombian forward Radamel Falcao could also return against City after injuring himself in training  That day Wayne Rooney scored the most memorable goal of his career an acrobatic overhead kick which sealed victory for United with 12 minutes left .  Rooney has sat out the last three games due to suspension so Shaw thinks the striker will be itching to put on another match winning display when he returns this weekend .  ' It ' s a massive boost for us to have him back , ' Shaw said .  ' It ' s something I think he ' s looking forward to . Wayne hates sitting on the sidelines watching .  ' That goal ( in 2011 ) was an unbelievable goal in a match that big . It was something special . '  Shaw revealed his father Paul was in the stands at Old Trafford on Sunday to watch the 1 1 stalemate with Chelsea .  Shaw senior used to take his son to Stamford Bridge to watch the Blues , but the Londoner is now very much a red , according to the England full back .  ' My dad is a United fan now . He ' s not Chelsea any more , ' Shaw said with a smile .  ' He is a United fan now and he won ' t be too happy ( with Sunday ' s result ) because he wanted us to win really badly . '  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
3783,3784,"I always thought international football was about the best players from one country pitting themselves against the best players from another country .  But this is a fantastical idealistic notion .  The cosmopolitan nature of the world in general , and the easy , frequent movement of large numbers of people from country to country in modern times has made the globe a smaller place .  At the weekend , Italy ' s equaliser against Bulgaria was scored by a Brazilian , Eder , who first arrived in Italy when he was 16 . He has admitted he doesn ' t know the words to the Italian national anthem . An Argentina born striker , Franco Vasquez , is also in Antonio Conte ' s squad .  Eder , who was born in Brazil , celebrates his goal for Italy in their Euro 2016 qualifier with Bulgaria  Eder , who moved to Italy when he was 16 , has admitted that he doesn ' t know the national anthem  Argentina born Franco Vasquez is also part of Antonio Conte ' s Italy squad  Italy ' s Italian strikers are either too old ( Luca Toni , Antonio di Natale ) or out of form ( Ciro Immobile , Mario Balotelli , Graziano Pelle ) , hence the foreign call ups .  The controversy led to Roberto Mancini saying that ' the Italian national team should be Italian . An Italian player deserves to play for the national team , while someone who wasn ' t born in Italy , even if they have relatives , I don ' t think they deserve to . '  It ' s nothing new for Italy : they won the World Cup in 2006 with Argentinian Mauro Camoranesi in the side .  He moved to Italy at the ripe old age of 23 , didn ' t sing the national anthem , spoke in Spanish after the game when he dedicated the victory in the final in Berlin to the people back in his neighbourhood on the outskirts of Buenos Aires roughly 7 , 000 miles from Rome .  As if more confusion was needed , he now manages in Mexico and his middle name is German .  Italy won the World Cup in 2006 with the Argentinian Mauro Camoranesi in their squad  Roberto Mancini , the former Manchester City manager , said the Italian national team should be Italian only  Italy ' s casual approach to ' Italianness ' when it comes to football stretches back nearly 100 years : midfielder Luis Monti played in a World Cup final for Argentina in 1930 , and then won the 1934 tournament with Italy .  Italy of course are not the only ones . Spain called up Brazilian Diego Costa , and England have done it too : Raheem Sterling was born in Jamaica , but there is a difference . Sterling moved to England aged five .  And this is an important point : Mancini is wrong to believe you have to be born in the country for which you play : there are circumstances which may lead to you being born in one country , but brought up in another . The truth is that Sterling is proud of his Jamaican roots , but feels English .  ' Irish Blood , English Heart ' sang Morrissey , summing up the complexity of identity in four words .  Diego Costa is another high profile player who was born somewhere other than the country he plays for  Raheem Sterling was born in Jamaica but has lived in England since the age of five  There are plenty of English born players who feel Irish because of their family history a father from Ireland perhaps . Would it be wrong to deny them the chance to play for Ireland ? I think so .  Back to Camoranesi , who even after winning the World Cup for Italy , said he felt Argentine .  Italy and Spain are stretching credibility with their foreign internationals . And perhaps the worst of all is Gordon Strachan selecting Matt Ritchie .  The Bournemouth star admitted he had not even been to Scotland before his call up and debut last week . He belted out the national anthem like he was one of The Proclaimers .  No rules were broken because his dad was born in Edinburgh , but how Scottish can Ritchie feel if at the age of 25 he had failed to make the effort to even visit the country of his father ' s birth ?  Good luck to him , but the whole mess raises questions about the nature and future of international football .  Matt Ritchie of Bournemouth had never been to Scotland before making his debut for them last week  Ritchie ' s father was born in Edinburgh , making him eligible to play for Scotland  When one country faces another country on a football pitch , shouldn ' t the main purpose of that match be to see how 11 players from one nation fares against 11 players from a different nation ?  Isn ' t that a fundamental premise and prerequisite of international football ?  If it isn ' t , and the international game has become a free for all involving bending the rules so that it no longer matters where you were born and which nationality makes your heart beat stronger , then what is the point of it .  When I go to see England play against Italy I want to see the best English players play against the best Italian players . Not a few ringers who aren ' t good enough to play for other countries .  Of course , clinging on to a view that footballers should only play for the country in which they were born will these days lead to accusations of xenophobia or discrimination . But those accusations are lazy and unintelligent .  International football should always be about one country against another . There is nothing wrong or racist about that .  But a Brazilian playing for Spain , an Argentine for Italy and several Englishmen playing for Scotland dilutes the passion of the occasion .  It ' s become more about players enhancing their careers when it should be about the passion you feel for your country . And that just isn ' t right .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
3792,3793,"Feast your eyes on the Golden Globes .  The 73rd annual awards show this Sunday isn ' t just about the red carpet and the viral moments . Stars gotta eat , too . And many A listers dine at the venue before the show starts .  This year ' s official Globes menu , designed by The Beverly Hilton ( where the ceremony will be held for the 41st consecutive year ) Executive Chef Troy N . Thompson and Executive Pastry Chef Thomas Henzi , will make you salivate .  So follow along , if you choose . The Beverly Hilton culinary team released the recipes to Mashable , so now you can eat like Leo , Meryl and J . Law .  See also : Jennifer Lawrence says that she hopes Amy Schumer wins the Golden Globe instead of her  The three course menu will be served to nearly 1 , 300 people the night of the awards . Thompson says in a press release , "" We re happy to be able to showcase the talents of our chefs and culinary team members , who look forward to presenting a show stopping menu for the guests of this prestigious star studded event each year .  As for the spread , surf and turf and tiny desserts may sound like standard catering hall fare , but the execution and ingredients in each dish take the menu to star worthy level .  Diners start with a California market salad featuring exotic vegetables like bok choy and daikon ( a type of radish ) in a ginger dressing . The entre ? e choices are an update on surf and turf with slow roasted black garlic steelhead trout for the surf or salt baked heirloom sweet potatoes with creamed corn glaze and a fricassee of winter vegetables . The desserts , a trio of flourless Grand Marnier carmella , lemon mousseline croquantine and California almond cake , are so fancy that you have to put on lipstick just to be seen with them .  The night ' s special cocktail , designed by mixologist Karen Grill and featuring Moe ? t Chandon champagne , is the Moe ? t Ruby Red , which a press release calls "" a modern take on a French 75 cocktail and personal homage to The Wizard of Oz . ""  Just like the jug of wine you have had in your fridge since 2011 , right ?  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
3800,3801,"A man who escaped from an Arkansas jail last week might be headed to a county in the neighboring state of Missouri , a sheriff ' s deputy said Monday .  Derrick Estell and Tamara Upshaw , the woman alleged to have driven a getaway vehicle , may try to go Dallas County a place Estell has visited before , according to Garland County Sheriff ' s Department Deputy Scott Hinojosa .  Tips on Estell ' s whereabouts have run into dead ends and law officers in Dallas County were working to see if he were in that community .  July 28 surveillance video from Sunday shows Estell talking on the phone and then sliding through a 12 by 30 inch reception window at the Garland County Detention Center while another prisoner distracts deputies . He then runs out the front of the jail with a deputy not too far behind him jumps into a waiting car that speeds away .  The getaway car was found , abandoned , just a few minutes away but there was no sign of Estell .  Estell ' s mother was arrested Friday for allegedly helping her son .  Glenda Estell , 54 , was arrested without incident around 10 : 40 a . m . at her home in Hot Springs , Arkansas , according to the arrest report . She is set to appear in court August 13 on one charge of assisting in or furnishing an implement of escape for an inmate .  Upshaw had been staying with Glenda Estell and was with her the day of Derrick ' s escape , according to the affidavit laying out probable cause for Glenda Estell ' s arrest .  The same document details a July 28 phone call between Glenda and Derrick Estell , while the latter was in the detention center ' s booking room , just before the escape .  At the beginning of the conversation , Glenda Estell says "" it ' s all good , "" then asks if his shackles are off and questions "" is there two or three in there ? ""  Previous phone conversations between mother and son that "" all have random mentions of the plan for Derrick to escape custody , just at various intervals between normal conversations , "" the arrest affidavit states .  Derrick Estell has a lengthy rap sheet , which includes charges of aggravated robbery , breaking and entering , and burglary among others .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
3801,3802,"Los Angeles Actress Lindsay Lohan called 911 to ask for police help during an "" incident "" at the Betty Ford Center , her lawyer said Wednesday .  The statement from Shawn Chapman Holley came after the rehab center fired an employee who reportedly leaked details of a tussle with Lohan .  Holley declined to comment on what happened in the incident , but added that "" it should be noted "" that it was Lohan who called the police .  Authorities in the Southern California city of Palm Desert confirmed Tuesday that they are investigating a claim that Lohan assaulted an employee at the center .  Meanwhile , the employee , Dawn Holland , has hired a lawyer with an eye to filing employment and civil rights claims against the center .  Holland was "" targeted , unmercifully interrogated , intimidated and threatened with her livelihood "" by the treatment center , lawyer Keith Davidson said .  The accusations have thrust the actress back into the spotlight .  "" The incident involved Lindsay Lohan and another female adult a staff member at the location and was reported as a suspect in the investigation , "" the Palm Desert Police Department said . "" The victim desires prosecution and the incident is being investigated as a misdemeanor committed not in the presence of a police officer . ""  The employee was fired after information was leaked to the media , the center said Tuesday .  "" When patients come to the center for treatment , they come to a safe place where their identity is protected , where anonymity is safeguarded , "" the center said in a statement .  "" Regrettably , on December 21 , 2010 , one of our employees violated strict confidentiality guidelines and laws by publicly identifying patients in a media interview and by disclosing a privileged document . That employee has been terminated by the Betty Ford Center . ""  The center did not confirm that Holland is the employee in question .  Lohan checked into the Betty Ford Center on September 27 , after it became clear a judge intended to send her to jail because of a failed drug test .  The judge eventually ordered Lohan to stay in the drug rehabilitation program until January 3 instead of going to jail .  If Lohan violates the rules of her rehab program or fails a drug test before her next court date in February , she will be sent to jail for 180 days , a Los Angeles Superior Court has ordered .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
3802,3803,"Rome Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has survived political , corruption and sex scandals over the years , but on Friday , a Milan court sentenced the flamboyant politician to four years in prison for tax evasion .  "" I was convinced that I would get acquitted of an accusation that is far from the truth , "" he said . "" This is a conviction I can easily define as political , incredible and even intolerable . ""  He added : "" I ' m a victim of judicial harassment . ""  His trial , which also involved executives from Berlusconi ' s Mediaset television group and the head of a Swiss bank , concerned the purchase of  rights for films that were then resold within the group at inflated prices .  Prosecutors said the scheme , involving about 3 , 000 American films , allowed those involved to avoid a major tax bill . They may have to pay a fine of up to 10 million ( 12 . 9 million ) if the court ' s ruling is upheld .  Under the Italian legal system , Berlusconi and his fellow defendants have the right to appeal their sentence twice , in the appeals court and a higher court .  Also , because the case dates to July 2006 , the statute of limitations will expire next year , meaning there is a good chance none of the defendants will serve any prison time .  Berlusconi , 76 , resigned as prime minister in November amid his country ' s debt crisis , bringing to an apparent end an 18 year era in which he dominated Italian politics .  Through the years , he was accused of embezzlement , fraud and bribery , but he was never convicted until the tax evasion case .  He also faces trial on charges that he hired an underage prostitute and later tried to pull strings to get her out of jail when she was accused of theft .  The woman involved in the long running case is the Moroccan dancer Karima el Mahroug , nicknamed "" Ruby the Heart stealer . ""  American movie star George Clooney had been expected to appear Friday as a defense witness in that case but did not show up . The actor ' s representative said he would not be serving as a witness for Berlusconi .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
3806,3807,"With the winner of the 2017 Masters golf tournament determined, pro golf is in the news, but the famed green jacket is also in the news for a different reason after an authentic trophy coat was discovered hanging in a thrift store in Canada. [As the   Sergio Garcia finally raced to the top to win his chance to don the green jacket, an authentic 1950s era Masters jacket turned up on an auction site after being bought for $5 at a thrift store. The final price for the sale brought the owner a hefty $139, 000.  This authentic Masters jacket from the 1950s was found in a Toronto thrift store in 1994. Bought for $5, it sold for $139, 349 this morning! pic. twitter.   —   Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) April 9, 2017,  Calling it the Infamous “Thrift Store” Green Jacket, the auction site shows a starting bid of five grand but a final sale price of $139, 348. According to the auction site, the jacket was discovered in a Toronto thrift store in 1994, but the embroidered tag identifying which famed golfer won the piece was torn out. Tournament officials authenticated the piece as a real Master’s trophy jacket from the 1950s  —   one of the earliest in existence  —   but they refused to speculate as to which Masters champion may have originally won it. Authentic Masters Jacket found in Toronto thrift store  bought for $5 being auctioned off tonight by @BidGreenJacket, currently at $31K pic. twitter.   —   Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) April 8, 2017,  Clearly, more detective work needs to be done to find that final piece of the puzzle, but other than missing the tag of its winner’s name it is said to be the finest original jacket of its age in existence. This isn’t the first authentic green jacket that turned up at auction. The Toronto “thrift store jacket” joins another such find from 2015. The earlier sale was of a 1960s era jacket and was sold privately for an undisclosed amount, the New York Daily News reported. Follow Warner Todd Huston on Twitter @warnerthuston or email the author at igcolonel@hotmail.com",true,news,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,past
3812,3813,"Lachlan Mullen was fit and healthy like most 20 year old men his age but in 2012 , he got the shock of his life when he was diagnosed with lung cancer .  Within months of diagnosis , he was so weak he was unable to stand up long enough to have a shower because of his chemotherapy treatment .  But eventually , a drug changed all that and now Mr Mullen is helping the fight to make other ' life changing ' drugs more readily available to other Australians through a Rare Cancers Australia campaign .  Lachlan Mullen was 20 when he was diagnosed with lung cancer  Mr Mullen ' s experience with cancer started with a cough .  Six months later when it did not go away he went to see a doctor and got a chest X ray .  Mr Mullen ' s doctor discovered a tumour growing in his lung and the 20 year old said he went into ' absolute shock ' when he heard the news .  During his chemotherapy , Mr Mullen was so weak he could barely walk  ' I worked 45 hours a week and would go to the gym every day and I pretty much felt invincible . '  Mr Mullen said it took about a week for the reality of his situation to sink in but then he came to a crossroads .  Mr Mullen who is now 22 chose the latter and it was not an easy task .  He started on chemotherapy two months later but by his third cycle he started to struggle .  ' I struggled with it and I was hospitalised for a week , ' Mr Mullen said .  ' I felt my body had shut down , I had to sit in a chair to have a shower because I couldn ' t stand up long enough to have a shower . '  The now 22 year old ( pictured ) had the opportunity to be treated with a ' life changing ' drug worth 90 , 000 for free  Eventually they took him off chemotherapy when his oncologist found out the Adelaide man had a rare anaplastic lymphoma kinase (  ) mutation , which meant his cancer could be treated with a different method .  Mr Mullen ' s oncologist organised for him to be put on Crizotinib , which was a 90 , 000 drug that was not available in Australia in 2013 .  Luckily for him , Mr Mullen did not have to pay for the drug as his specialist appealed for the treatment on ' compassionate grounds ' .  But before he could start treatment , Mr Mullen had to jump two last hurdles having a brain tumour removed and heart surgery to drain fluid from around the organ .  When he eventually started taking Crizotinib , the young man said he felt better within a couple of weeks .  ' I put on weight , I started walking again and within a month or two I was going back to gym and jogging . Before I knew it I was running again , ' Mr Mullen said .  ' I met up with mates in Europe for three weeks and really started to get my quality of life back feeling like a 21 year old again . '  Mr Mullen ( back , second from left ) said he had a better quality of life on the drug and was helping the fight to make it more readily available to others  Mr Mullen said the drug gave him a better quality of life and he wanted others to benefit from it .  So he has teamed up with Rare Cancers Australia to fight for better access to medicines .  The Sick or Treat campaign aims to help Australians get the best cancer care available .  It wants ' empower those patients needing costly medicines with the platform to raise money via online campaigns ' , according tothe campaign ' s website .  ' Crizotinib changed my life and people who have been through what I have , I want to help them , ' Mr Mullen said .  ' If it was six months later , I would have had to pay 90 , 000 .  ' It gave me a better quality of life and more time to find the treatment I needed . '  Even though Mr Mullen stopped responding to Crizotinib after six months , he said it gave him a seven to eight month window to find other treatments .  Now he is part of a clinical trial for another  inhibitor , Alectinib , which has returned his life ' back to normal ' .  Mr Mullen has returned to full time study at university , last month he participated in 12km bay run and he goes boxing five times a week .  And next year he hopes to return to the football field .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
3823,3824,"England ' s new record wicket taker James Anderson has promised there is more to come as he believes he is still improving as a bowler .  Anderson induced an edge from West Indies captain Denesh Ramdin on the final day of the first Test in Antigua for his 384th Test scalp on Friday , breaking Sir Ian Botham ' s record which had stood for 23 years .  Anderson , 32 , broke the record in the same match which saw him collect his landmark 100th cap for England , although there was disappointment as England could not force a victory .  James Anderson races away to celebrate after he claimed his record breaking 384th wicket  Anderson is mobbed by his England team mates after he broke Sir Ian Botham ' s long standing record  Anderson is congratulated by Botham as he leaves the field following the day ' s action in Antigua  In his column in the Sun on Sunday , Anderson wrote : ' I am convinced I can still improve as a bowler and take plenty more wickets for England . '  He added : ' There is no way I am going to rest on my laurels and enter cruise control just because I have the record . I ' m going to work damn hard to try to get better .  ' I can definitely improve , I can learn more tricks . For example , the leg cutter with which I took my record 384th wicket was delivery I learned from Stuart Broad as recently as the World Cup . '  Anderson said he had no intention of setting himself targets in terms of either Tests played or wickets taken for England because ' I don ' t want to put limits on anything ' but said he is learning to pace himself in order to be able to play more regularly .  ' I feel fit enough and strong enough to bowl in the high 80s if I need to but I ' m also sensible enough to realise you can ' t do it all the time , ' he said .  ' I ' m quite relieved the record is out of the way and I can concentrate on doing my job for the rest of the series . '  Botham has a word with Anderson following his bowling feat at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium  Andersons ' parents and his wife Daniella ( centre ) applaud from the stands following his seismic wicket  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
3825,3826,"A decade ago , executives at  Maxx were informed that their bid to open a flagship store at London ' s famous Piccadilly Circus had been denied . At that point , the discount clothing chain wasn ' t deemed ' posh ' enough for such a prestigious location .  Five years later , though ,  Maxx secured a prime position on Kensington High Street and now the firm ' s executives must be patting themselves on their backs .  For they have really hit marketing gold thanks to pictures of Prince Harry leaving the store with his own bag of cut price bargains , which included a hoodie , a T shirt and a mobile phone cover .  Bargain hunter : Prince Harry leaves the High Street Kensington branch of  Maxx with his discount haul  And he ' s not the only one to give the cheap as chips chain the royal seal of approval Kate Middleton has also been spotted in the Kensington branch , as has Harry ' s ex Chelsea Davy . Former model Jodie Kidd and actress Tamsin Egerton have scouted for bargains there , too .  On the surface , a  Maxx store looks a bit like a disorganised jumble sale , but for those in the know , it can be a style mecca .  For the shopper with time , patience and a discerning eye , thousands of designer brands can be found crammed inside .  Savvy customers can snap up this season ' s styles at up to 60 per cent off the normal retail price , if they know what they are looking for and when to look for it .  The stock is diverse , ranging from old pieces from two to three seasons ago ( a lifetime in the fashion world ) to up to the minute excess stock from designer boutiques , from labels such as Chloe , Stella McCartney and Alexander McQueen . Posher High Street favourites like French Connection , All Saints and Reiss can also be picked up at knock down prices .   Maxx also brokers deals to buy up excess factory stock which , while including things that simply didn ' t sell well in High Street or designer stores , also includes gorgeous must have items in one off sizes .  New deliveries arrive at stores around the country every day , with one fifth of the total stock replaced each week .  Fan : The Duchess of Cambridge is known to shop at  Maxx  Discount : Despite her rich family , Chelsy Davy loves a bargain  Fan : Polo player and former model Jodie Kidd loves  Maxx  There are no stock rooms so what you see is what they ' ve got . The daily delivery goes straight out on the shop floor . This is why the smartest shoppers queue patiently outside each morning . And the randomness of what ' s delivered is half of the fun of shopping in these chaotic , brightly lit warehouses .  ' The store managers never know what is coming in until they throw open the doors of the lorry , ' reveals the brand ' s press officer Evelyn Morton .  ' We lay our stores out very differently from other brands , organising everything by department , category and size so a lady looking for a size 14 sundress should go to head for the dress rails and look through the selection of size 14s . '  What she doesn ' t mention is the fact that in the scrum to find a designer bargain , lots of stock ends up scattered all over the place . You have to be tenacious to be a  Maxx shopper .  The stores tend to be located in the less salubrious corners of town centres or on retail parks and have relatively spartan interiors , while separate departments all merge into one chaotic whole , and customer service can leave a lot to be desired .   Maxx languished near the bottom of a recent Which survey on the best and worst customer service at the  ' s major retail stores . But it ' s the no frills experience that helps keep its prices incredibly low .  So how can you make the most of  Maxx ? Turning up for a random rummage really isn ' t going to cut it in  land . First , you have to choose your location wisely .  The stock is tailored to the demographic of the local area only 24 of the 260  stores stock the much coveted Gold Label line , for example .  This includes high priced designer brands such as Alberta Ferretti , Balenciaga and Calvin Klein . Visit the store ' s website ( tkmaxxweblink ) to find out if a store near you stocks it .  Second , be smart about what you buy . Stylist magazine ' s fashion director Alexandra Fullerton , who is a huge fan , snaps up designer denim like True Religion , 7 for all Mankind and James Jeans for 50 a pair they cost around 150 in high end department stores .  Red and white Costume National dress , 349 . 99 , ( saving 1 , 150 ) , pink and black Giuseppe Zanotti patent heels , 149 . 99 , ( saving 216 )  Tweed and Nude Alexander McQueen jumpsuit , 399 . 99 , ( saving 1 , 525 ) , Giuseppe Zanotti nude patent heels , as before  Red Costume National Jacket , 349 . 99 , ( saving 449 ) , Tommy Hilfiger jeans , 39 . 99 , ( saving 60 ) , red Giuseppe Zanotti shoes , 159 . 99 , ( saving 278 )  Gold Diane von Furstenberg gown , 169 . 99 , ( saving 730 ) , black patent Giuseppe Zanotti heels , 159 . 99 , ( saving 253 )  Sunglasses are also a smart buy as they generally have a large array of different brands from Police to Prada at a fraction of their original price .  Childrenswear and the toys section can be a gold mine .  Navigate your way past the gaudy fluorescent tutus and logo heavy kidswear and you can pick up Stella McCartney Kids , Ralph Lauren and Armani pieces , as well as wooden toys from cult brand Melissa Doug , for around 10 .  The store also stocks niche hard to find French brands such as Petit Bateau and Antik Batik and as stock often arrives on its original hangers you can spot these treasures a mile off if you know what you are looking for .  As a  Maxx devotee , I would advise shoppers to avoid the accessories , shoes and leather goods departments , which all seem to be at the cheaper end of the spectrum and offer few designer steals .  But do make a beeline for the beauty department , where luxury shampoos and conditioners are a quarter of the price you ' ll pay in any High Street shop .  The menswear departments have decent offerings , including good sportswear staples from Lacoste and Lyle Scott , and stacks of underwear from Calvin Klein ,  , Pringle and Emporio Armani .  But for many shoppers myself included it ' s the home department that delivers the bargains you ' ll love .  Here , it ' s easy to find fabulous named brands and classic design that will give friends the impression you ' ve lavished thousands on your home . These pieces don ' t date like clothes do , which makes it astonishing to find them so generously discounted .  This week , in an impromptu visit to my local store in Wimbledon , I found crystal wine glasses from Dartington , stacks of Le Creuset roasting dishes and Denby china all at half their normal price .  The store is great for designer bedlinen too . Not all stores have brilliant homes departments but  Maxx has 26 separate HomeSense stores across the  , where home loving bargain hunters can kit out their homes like an interiors magazine .  But it ' s still the womenswear which creates the biggest buzz at  Maxx .  Amanda Bellan , fashion director at InStyle magazine , says she was rewarded for her diligent shopping at  Maxx recently with coats from Kenzo and Jil Sander , both discounted by up to 1 , 000 .  ' You need to shop there regularly to discover the gems as stock changes so quickly , ' she says , adding that the store ' s online shop ( which also updates with new stock every day ) is one way of snapping up a bargain without the slog of shopping in store and is also handy if there ' s not a Gold Label store near you .  One thing all  Maxx fans agree on is that you must buy something when you see it : nothing hangs around for long .  Like sifting for gold , you need time and patience to rummage through the rails , but there are amazing bargains to be found just ask Prince Harry .  All clothes were picked up at the High Street Kensington branch of  Maxx . Styling :   , Pictures : L R , Hair and make up :   , Fashion assistant :   , Model :     ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
3830,3831,"Manny Pacquiao is prepared to treat Floyd Mayweather Jnr as the ' A side ' in an attempt to finalise their 200m mega fight .  After six years of wrangling , an agreement for a fight between two of the best pound for pound boxers in the world has never been closer .  Mayweather visited Pacquiao ' s hotel suite in Miami on Tuesday night , hours after they had exchanged phone numbers during a basketball match .   Scroll down to watch Manny and Floyd finally meet . . . at Miami Heat  These pictures posted on Twitter show Manny Pacquiao ( left ) and Floyd Mayweather meeting in Miami  The pair , pictured together for the first time , spoke and swapped phone numbers at the Heat game  Fight fans will be hoping the exchange leads to the mega bout the world is waiting for  During an hour long conversation , both men showed a desire to stage the fight at the  Grand in Las Vegas on May 2 .  The only outstanding issues raised during the meeting related to the broadcast of the bout . Mayweather is contracted to Showtime while Pacquiao ' s fights are shown on  .  But Pacquiao ' s adviser Michael Konz said those have been resolved and that any announcement about the fight will be made by Mayweather .  A handshake brought an end to the brief encounter between Pacquiao and Mayweather in Miami  Camera crews were all over the unexpected meeting between the two boxing legends  A huge bodyguard can be seen keeping a close eye on events at the American Airlines Arena  All eyes were on Mayweather and Pacquiao despite the cheerleaders strutting their stuff in the background  ' For the most part , it was just Floyd , Manny and I in the room and it was a very good conversation , ' Koncz told Yahoo .  ' I think Floyd is sincere about wanting the fight , I really do . I know Manny has wanted it and he ' s ready to fight and has been for a while . So I ' m very optimistic . I really am .  ' Nobody can stop this . I can ' t stop it . Pacquiao ' s promoter Bob Arum can ' t stop it .  can ' t stop it . Showtime can ' t . Mayweather advisor Al Haymon can ' t . The only ones who can stop it are Floyd and Manny , and right now , they ' re both saying they want the fight .  ' We ' re treating him as the A side in this because we just want to get it done and we want to give the fans what they ' ve been asking for , for years . '  Mayweather has accepted a 60 40 split of the purse in his favour and could break the news over the Super Bowl weekend .  Mayweather and Pacquiao ( centre ) were pictured together for the first time at the  game the man on the right of the shot is the Filipino fighter ' s adviser Michael Koncz  Mayweather and Pacquiao spoke during half time as Miami Heat faced the Milwaukee Bucks game  The pair hugged and swapped phone numbers but there wasn ' t much smiling during the exchange  Mayweather looked happier when he was able to sit and take in the action at the American Airlines Arena  Pacquiao was also all smiles when he wasn ' t face to face with the man he could get in the ring with this year  Pacquiao and Mayweather sat on opposite sides of the court during the action in Miami  The Milwaukee Bucks beat the Miami Heat 109 102 but the game was overshadowed by the boxers  Mayweather won his rematch with Marcos Maidana in September and is due to fight again in May  Mayweather is undefeated in his 47 fight career and considered the best pound for pound boxer on the plane  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
3835,3836,"Elections in Israel always generate much excitement domestically and internationally . However , they hardly produce conclusive results of a clear winner in terms of policies and leadership . No single party has won an absolute majority since the country was founded more than 64 years ago .  Tuesday ' s election leaves Israeli politically more divided than ever : the ruling party Likud Beitenu and its leaders Benjamin Netanyahu and Avigdor Lieberman are injured and badly bruised , but not knocked out .  The party lost around a quarter of their combined seats in the Israeli Knesset . Nevertheless , in the mysterious ways that Israeli politics operate , Netanyahu is still best positioned to form the next government , but just barely and without absolute certainty .  The results will lead to weeks , if not months , of the customary horse trading process of building a coalition that brings together into government politicians who have at times little in common , let alone a coherent agenda .  Israel ' s elections confound critics  Netanyahu ' s triumphant speech to his supporters on Tuesday night , following the declaration of the exit polls , couldn ' t conceal the fact that his party ' s showing in the elections was disappointing , and that the task of forming a stable coalition remains thorny .  The center left bloc did better than predicted . The biggest surprise of the elections was the newly formed Yesh Atid Party ( There is a Future ) , led by Yair Lapid , which gained 19 seats , and the Labor party which also managed to increase its number of seats slightly to 15 .  Following the counting of nearly all the ballots it became clear that Netanyahu ' s gamble on a joint list with former Foreign Minister Lieberman didn ' t pay off .  The joint list lost to the resurgent , more right wing , party Jewish Home , led by Naftali Bennett , and some votes even migrated to the center left , which defied public opinion polls to become almost equal in size to the right bloc .  The election campaigning is over , the billboards on the streets are removed , and the election jingles are silenced . But challenges remain for the new government .  Internationally , the Middle East has changed dramatically , as result of the Arab Spring , posing great strategic challenges .  In Israel , Netanyahu ' s party wins but centrists flex muscle  Iran continues its pursuit of nuclear capability and resolving the conflict with the Palestinians seems to be as remote as ever .  Domestically , disagreement with the ultra orthodox about serving in the army remains a contentious issue dividing the Israeli society , as does the genuine integration of the Arab minority into Israeli society , let alone the recent economic downturn , and the ever growing gaps between rich and poor . And this is only a few of the challenges ahead .  Even if Netanyahu seems to be the one with the most realistic chance to form a coalition , Tuesday ' s results show this is no foregone conclusion .  Even as the ballots were being counted , the parties started informally negotiating the composition of the next government . The next few days and weeks will reveal Netanyahu ' s preferred partners .  Will he opt for a distinctive right wing coalition with which he might feel more ideologically comfortable , but will put him on a course of collision with many of Israel ' s friends around the world ?  If such a government decides to expand the building of West Bank settlements and procrastinate if not block completely any progress on the peace process , it will potentially lead to the isolation of Israel in the international community and to growing tensions with Israel ' s main ally , the United States .  President Barack Obama , who has already questioned the wisdom of Netahyahu ' s policies and how well they serve the Israeli national interest , might take a more assertive approach to Israeli policies which he believes also hinder U . S . national interest in the region .  Free from the need to be re elected and considering Netanyahu ' s support of his opponent in the U . S . presidential elections , Obama might confront the expected Israeli prime minister ' s policies more proactively .  Another option open to Netanyahu is to offer either Yesh Atid or the Labor party to join him though that would risk a rift with his traditional ultra orthodox supporters or even parts of his own party .  Alternatively , he might opt to lure parties from both sides of the political map , but this might prove to be way too complex to form , and extremely divisive to preside over , for the duration of the Knesset .  It will be interesting to observe how the strengthened center left bloc is going to approach coalition negotiations .  Opinion : Time for U . S . to stop shielding Israel  Do they believe they can form a government themselves ? Are they going to operate as a united bloc that will set clear red lines in order to join a Netanyahu government whether on the issue of progress in the peace process or socio economic issues ?  Or will they will jockey for a position and outbid one another for a place around the Cabinet table ?  Working as a bloc and adhering to their pre election promises might either guarantee them a stronger bargaining position in the negotiations to form a government or public credibility , which will pay off in the next elections .  Israeli politicians are not known for such long term calculations and the temptation of government might prove too big .  Over coming weeks , speculation will mount about the nature of the next government , while the process of coalition building will occupy the Israeli political system and its public .  Whatever the outcome of forming a government , the fragmented results of the election might produce a government incapable of giving the answers to the most pressing challenges Israel faces , and in the end might not even remain in power for too long , before a call for fresh elections .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
3868,3869,"Geneva Last week United States senators expressed dismay and outrage to learn that the uniforms for American Olympians were produced in China . But this is not new . For years unrestrained globalization has seen textile and clothing multinationals race to the bottom in the search for cheaper and cheaper production .  The end of the Multi Fiber trade agreement saw the volume of textile imports to the U . S . from China more than double from 2004 to 2011 . The phasing out of quota arrangements has led to the loss of millions of textile and garment jobs in industrialized and developing countries alike . For example , in 1980 West Germany had 4 , 055 textile and clothing manufacturers . Now , Germany as a whole has only 690 . As it is cheaper to manufacture in countries that do not enforce international labour standards or pay workers a living wage , textiles and apparel are most often sourced from low wage countries such as China , India and Vietnam . Developing countries need jobs for their growing populations , but they have to be good jobs , without exploitation by companies from the industrialized world .   : It ' s too late to remake Team  uniforms for London Games  Like with Ralph Lauren for the U . S . Olympic team , a 156 million deal with Adidas makes the company a key sponsor of the London 2012 Olympics . The company is providing sportswear for the British Olympic and Paralympic Associations , and owns exclusive licensing rights for all sportswear sold at London 2012 venues and stores . Like Ralph Lauren , Adidas is not manufacturing the majority of its products in the  , or even in Europe , but is sourcing its Olympic apparel from a range of low wage countries including China , Cambodia , India , Indonesia , Pakistan , the Philippines , Vietnam and Sri Lanka .  What ' s really ' Made in America '  A worldwide alliance of trade unions and NGOs established the Play Fair Campaign in 2003 to demand that the Olympic principles of fairness and respect are extended to workers producing Olympic goods . In May this year the Play Fair campaign published a report on Olympic supplier plants in China , the Philippines and Sri Lanka that found the working conditions fell far short of the expectations of the London 2012 organizing committee (  ) .  Far from being paid a wage sufficient to meet basic needs and provide some discretionary income a requirement for all London 2012 suppliers workers were receiving poverty wages . Half of the workers that spoke with the researchers in the Philippines told us they rely on "" pay day loans "" to get through the month , despite working more than 60 hours a week during busy periods . In Sri Lanka workers earned as little as 79 per month , and estimated this was only about one quarter of a living wage .  Play Fair demands that multinational companies do more than pay lip service to human rights : they need to pay prices that enable suppliers to pay a living wage , they need to make sure that factories have the capacity to meet deadlines without requiring exploitatively long working hours , and they need to go beyond audits and engage workers and their unions in efforts to truly understand what conditions in supplier factories are like .  Everyone wants to be proud of the Olympic athletes representing their country and not squirm in their seats when thinking of how the clothing the teams are wearing was produced . It is not right that workers in Indonesian footwear factories produce dozens of trainers each day , yet it would cost their entire monthly wage of 102 if they were to buy a single pair .  From our readers : U . S . Olympians should go naked  With labor costing as little as 50 cents in the manufacture of a 100 sports shoe in China or Vietnam , paying a living wage would have a negligible impact on retail price . As consumers we need to tell multinational companies and governments loud and clear that we are willing to pay the price for decent conditions of work .  Alternative view : Why  make Olympic uniforms in China ?  The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Jyrki Raina .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
3921,3922,"Bacon is as bad as cigarettes , according to the World Health Organization .  So bacon , ham and sausages now rank alongside cigarettes as a major cause of cancer , according to the World Health Organisation .  As shocking as that statement sounds the report ' s findings are not likely to change my eating habits in a hurry .  The report says each 50g of processed meat a day the equivalent of one sausage , or less than two slices of bacon increases the chance of developing bowel cancer by 18 per cent .  Although processed meats have been classed in the highest risk category , alongside smoking , alcohol , arsenic and asbestos , it does not mean that each are an equal danger , experts have stressed .  The classifications describe the strength of the scientific evidence that a substance causes cancer , rather than the level of risk attached to it .  I remain a bit sceptical about research into many carcinogens .  I do not doubt chemicals like arsenic and asbestos or all the toxins in cigarettes can cause cancer and I avoid them like the plague but the list of things we should avoid has grown to ridiculous lengths .  Even fresh red meat is ranked as a "" probable "" carcinogen .  Our ancestors have been eating sausages , bacon , steak and mince for years and the majority have lived long , healthy lives .  Sure , too much may cause health problems but that can be said of anything . Everything in moderation , I say .  I agree with Beef and Lamb New Zealand spokeswoman Fiona Greig who said : "" Processed meat contributes nutrients to the diets of Kiwis and eliminating it completely is unnecessary . It can be enjoyed in moderate portions with vegetables and as part of an active lifestyle . ""  Few people would eat more than 50g of processed meat a day anyway .  Some days I might have a couple of sausages which would push me over the recommended amount but other days I won ' t go near processed meats .  A slice of shaved ham on your sandwich or some salami will not push you over the limit either .  Before cutting processed or red meat out of your diets consider it carefully and ensure you get your protein , iron , zinc and vitamin B12 another way .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
3923,3924,"Reuters) - Foreigners aiming for temporary jobs at high-tech U.S.companies will undergo a longer visa approval process after the Trump administration announced it will temporarily suspend expedited applications for H-1B visas. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said on Friday that starting April 3 it will suspend “premium processing” for up to six months. Under this expedited procedure, applicants can be eligible for visa approvals within 15 days, instead of a regular review period that can last for up to a few months. The H-1B non-immigrant visa allows U.S.companies to employ graduate-level workers in several specialized fields, including information technology, medicine, engineering and mathematics.  said that during the suspension period, individuals still can request expedited consideration, but must meet certain criteria, such as humanitarian reasons, an emergency situation or the prospect of severe financial loss to a company or individual. The United States currently caps H-1B visas at 65,000 a year, with an additional 20,000 allowed for those who have earned advanced college degrees in the United States. The visa is valid for three years but can be extended for an additional three years. The agency said that suspending premium processing will allow it to reduce a backlog of long-pending visa petitions and thus reduce overall H-1B processing times. The move comes as the Trump administration also has been implementing tougher deportation procedures against illegal immigrants in the United States and has attempted to impose a visa ban on people from seven primarily Muslim countries. That ban was put on hold by a federal court. President Donald Trump campaigned last year on a promise to crack down on immigrants who he said were taking jobs from U.S. citizens. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
3937,3938,"Abdelhamid Abaaoud ' mingled with police during Bataclan attack '  Mohamed Aggad s mother received a text message notifying her that her son had died around 10 days ago . She then ? gave a  sample to police to identify him .  The family s lawyer , Francoise Cotta , said : "" The  message told her that her son had died , saying : He died on November 13 with his brothers .  "" She was instantly struck by the horrific thought that he might have been one of the ? Bataclan ? suicide attackers , "" said Mr Cotta .  Eagles of Death Metal ' s visit to the Bataclan  Eagles of Death Metal ' s visit to the Bataclan  ( L R ) Jesse Hughes , Dave Catching , Matt McJunkins and Julian Dorio , members of Eagles of Death Metal band , mourn in front of the Bataclan concert hall to pay tribute to the shooting victims in Paris . The band Eagles of Death Metal , known as  , was performing at the Bataclan when the deadliest of the Islamic State attacks took place in Paris on 13 November  Jesse Hughes ( R ) , the frontman of the  band Eagles of Death Metal , pays his respects to the victims of the 13 November attacks in front of the Bataclan in Paris  Julian Dorio ( R ) , drummer of the  band Eagles of Death Metal , gives a hug to bassist Matt McJunkins ( L ) as the members of the band pay their respects to the victims of the 13 November Attacks in front of the Bataclan in Paris  Singer of the  rock group Eagles of Death metal Jesse Hughes ( L ) and guitarist Dave Catching pay tribute to the victims of the 13 November Paris terrorist attacks at a makeshift memorial in front of the Bataclan concert hall in Paris  Julian Dorio , drummer of the  band Eagles of Death Metal , pays his respects to the victims of the 13 November Attacks in front of the Bataclan in Paris  Singer of the  rock group Eagles of Death metal Jesse Hughes ( R ) and guitarist Dave Catching pay tribute to the victims of the 13 November Paris terrorist attacks at a makeshift memorial in front of the Bataclan concert hall  Jesse Hughes ( R ) and Julian Dorio , members of Eagles of Death Metal band , mourn in front of the Bataclan concert hall to pay tribute to the shooting victims in Paris  Members of the band Eagles of Death Metal , Jesse Hughes , right , and Julian Dorio pay their respects to 89 victims who died in the 13 November attack at the Bataclan concert hall in Paris  Jesse Hughes reacts as he pays his respects to 89 victims who died at the Bataclan concert hall in Paris  Members of the band Eagles of Death Metal , Jesse Hughes , right , and Julian Dorio pay their respects to 89 victims who died at the Bataclan concert hall in Paris  The other two Bataclan attackers were Frenchmen Omar Ismail Mostefai and Samy Amimour . Together the three men opened fire on the crowd at the Eagles of Death Metal concert .  Two detonated their explosives when police special forces moved in and one was shot by police .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
3956,3957,"Cancer survivor Lance Armstrong ' s inspirational third place Tour de France finish has motivated thousands of patients battling cancer to eventually finish third to their life threatening disease .  "" For years now , Lance has worked tirelessly to portray his life and his racing career as a symbol of inspiration for cancer patients everywhere , and now he ' s succeeded beyond his wildest dreams , "" said Nathan Frist , director of the Stanford Cancer Center , where the entire oncology ward watched Armstrong ' s third place Tour de France finish and proudly raised their hands to display the blue "" Do Not Resuscitate "" medical bracelets they wore to support Armstrong ' s effort . "" By tomorrow , this place will be almost empty . ""  Armstrong ' s third place finish , coupled with his relentless endeavors to raise awareness of himself as a cancer survivor and role model , have taken him almost overnight from one survivor among many to a living symbol of a man who only lets two things beat him . To many cancer patients seeking guidance and inspiration , he has become the new bronze standard .  "" Lance Armstrong has never missed a chance to stand up and tell cancer patients everywhere to follow his example , and seeing him there on the bottom step of the podium sent us all a powerful message , "" 42 year old Brian Goodwood , who was diagnosed with colon cancer last year , said Sunday . "" If third is the best he can do , then I know Lance would want me to do it too . ""  Goodwood succumbed to a combination of cancer and complications from chemotherapy Tuesday morning .  Armstrong has won seven previous Tours de France , all while making every effort to equate those performances to triumphing over cancer . However , his 2009 effort preceded by a Nike sponsored promotional campaign making it clear that Armstrong had made a career comeback specifically for those with cancer sent a new message as Armstrong struggled through the three week , 1 , 500 mile competition . While he refused to give up , Armstrong finished in third behind Andy Schleck and more than five minutes behind winner Alberto Contador , facts that were not lost on those he insisted upon inspiring .  "" I love Lance , and I ' m gonna finish third just like he did ! "" said Karen Monaghan , a 6 year old patient at the Texas Cancer Center recently diagnosed with lymph node cancer and calcifications in her lung tissue , holding up three fingers to symbolize the inspiration she drew from Armstrong .  "" We ' re all gonna come in third to cancer ! "" the children of New York City ' s St . Vincent ' s Cancer Center exclaimed in unison while videotaping a message they will send Armstrong to show him he was making a difference and to thank him for his third place effort .  St . Vincent ' s , which is widely regarded as the city ' s third best hospital for cancer treatment , has announced that it will dedicate an entirely new oncology wing to help cancer patients better deal with their struggles . Hospital administrators said they will appoint a white ribbon panel of experts to help them design and staff the new wing , where defeating cancer will be the tertiary goal .  "" My wife loved Lance . He lifted her spirits when she was diagnosed . Susan hung on his every word . . . . She couldn ' t wait to watch him in his comeback Tour , and I ' ve never seen her more moved than when he finished , "" said St . Vincent ' s Board of Directors chairman Gary James . "" I ' m really going to miss her . ""  Despite having inspired people around the globe , a visibly moved Armstrong held a press conference Wednesday morning to thank his fans and supporters and to explain that he may have sent the wrong message with his third place finish and his starring role in a endless cancer themed promotional campaign .  "" Please , I beg you , if you have cancer , please realize that while I may have more or less set myself up as a heroic personification of the struggle against cancer , well . . . . This is hard for me to say , but I think a lot of cancer patients out there can do better than I just did , "" Armstrong said . "" I mean , I wanted to win . ""  ",satire,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
3974,3975,"Seahawks coach Pete Carroll has a story he likes to share about his first game as an  head coach .  It was back in 1994 , his only season with the New York Jets . Carroll ' s squad went to Buffalo to take on the Bills and came away with a 23 3 win . After the game , instead of getting on the team bus , Carroll walked back into what was then known as Rich Stadium .  "" I was just hanging out , kind of reveling in the moment , first game and all that stuff , "" Carroll recalled earlier this month . "" And on the wall of that stadium , they had the championships on the wall there that they had when Marv Levy , former Bills coach was there . They had gone back and back and back to the Super Bowl and all of that , the division championships , all that stuff .  "" That was the moment that it hit me , that has affected me ever since , that to be really good at something is not to just get there and do it one time . To be really good at something , what really meant something to me was to do it over and over and over and over again so that you can prove who you are and prove what you re worth and prove that you can withstand the changes and adaptations that are there . ""  Carroll ' s quest to get the Seattle Seahawks back to the Super Bowl for the third straight year fell short Sunday afternoon , and that will sting for a while , just as last year ' s loss to the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl was difficult for this team to get over . Carroll will try to figure out why the team got off to such a slow start against the Carolina Panthers . He might question his decision to go for it on fourth and 5 in the second quarter rather than kick the field goal . Perhaps he ' ll revisit the sequence at the end of the first half that resulted in a missed 55 yard field goal by Steven Hauschka .  But before long , Carroll and the organization will turn the page . They ' ll decide on the future of running back Marshawn Lynch and other veterans . They ' ll develop a plan for free agency and start looking ahead to the draft . In about four months , the Seahawks will begin OTAs .  All the planning will focus on one question : How can we get back to the Super Bowl ?  The answer will start with the quarterback . For fans , it will be difficult to acknowledge with Sunday ' s loss still fresh , but the best thing to happen to the Seahawks this season was Russell Wilson taking another step in his development . He led the  in passer rating . He showed he can dissect defenses when given time in the pocket . And he put the team on his back with a 24 touchdown one interception stretch that resulted in the Seahawks earning a wild card berth .  Though the team fell short of reaching a third straight Super Bowl , Russell Wilson had a career year in 2015 . And that is reason for optimism for Seahawks fans . ?  Wilson turned 27 in November . There ' s a good chance he has yet to reach his ceiling , and because of that , the Seahawks will be a legitimate Super Bowl contender again going into the 2016 season .  Consider the  quarterbacks who played this weekend : Wilson , Cam Newton , Carson Palmer and Aaron Rodgers . There are haves and have nots in the league right now . With Wilson , the Seahawks are on the attractive side .  Defensively , cornerback Richard Sherman is 27 safety Earl Thomas is 26 linebackers Bobby Wagner and K . J . Wright are 25 and 26 , respectively . The Seahawks need to figure out a plan for right cornerback and decide whether to bring back linebacker defensive end Bruce Irvin . But the core of a defense that has finished first in points allowed for four straight seasons is in place .  Nothing is guaranteed in the  from one season to the next . Players may voice dissatisfaction with their contracts or suffer offseason injuries . But Carroll and general manager John Schneider wanted to build a roster that could sustain success over an extended time .  That ' s what Carroll saw in Buffalo , and that ' s what he has going in Seattle despite Sunday ' s loss .  "" That s where winning for a long period of time became the essence of what I m working to achieve , "" Carroll said . "" That s why a record that you make in one year , you get the ring and all that stuff , that s great , it s awesome , it s fun . But coming back and doing it again , coming back and showing you re worthy again is the great challenge . That s where I find my greatest inspiration to work and to try to figure things out and try to find ways to be successful . ""  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
3986,3987,"Does your dog object to vacationing in a cage ? Can ' t count on your brother in law to commit to dog sitting for two weeks ? Now there are home stay websites for four legged creatures .  Frustrated with kennels that keep dogs cooped up and charge extra for petting and walks , the founders of DogVacayweblink and Roverweblink are connecting dog lovers who want to earn extra cash with travelers who want dog friendly people to care for their pets close to home while they ' re away .  DogVacayweblink founders Karine and Aaron Hirschhorn loved getting away when they first moved in together but hated taking their dogs to the kennel . "" Every time we traveled , the dogs hated the kennel and came back with kennel cough , "" said Karine . And they paid up to 120 a day for the privilege .  When they took their dogs to a local trainer ' s home instead , the animals came back happy and rested . It was as if the dogs had been on vacation , too . So they decided to host dogs with traveling owners in their home . With Aaron Hirschhorn working at home , he had plenty of time to bike and run with the dogs and keep them company . The couple found an incredible demand for their services , which culminated in the launch of DogVacayweblink last month .  Roverweblink launched in Seattle in November and went national this week , attracting over 10 , 000 people signing up to both host dogs and use the services of dog hosts . Dogvacayweblink launched in March and already has had 6 , 000 people apply to be hosts across the country ( 1700 have been accepted so far ) .  Similar to a dating site or Airbnb rental site , hosts fill out detailed profiles about their canine experience , including training , medical certification and licensing qualifications the size and dog friendliness of their homes and any resident dogs or other animals on site . Some hosts specifically will take puppies that aren ' t ready for their vaccinations yet and others will not take dogs that don ' t like children .  Customers also fill out detailed profiles of their dogs , behavior issues and medical or other special needs . Fees start at around 15 per day for smaller apartments with hosts who are dog lovers to much higher fees for dog trainers with large yards where dogs can roam . Extra services , like a departure day bath , can often be had for an extra fee . Owners can even get photos or videos texts or emails sent to their mobile phones .  Roverweblink  Aaron Easterly , formerly in advertising for Microsoft , would get upset at the thought of Caramel , his 4 pound Pomeranian , getting stressed out before he leaves on a trip .  "" Every time I leave town , I ' m in a frantic rush as to what to do with her , "" said Easterly , who now uses Roverweblink ' s services for Caramel . "" When I see how she behaves even temporarily in a cage at the vet or groomer , I would not take her to a kennel . When I take her to someone else ' s house , she ' s totally excited . The fact I ' m leaving ? She couldn ' t care less . ""  Now he screens the potential hosts listed on Roverweblink near where he lives to pick the best option for his wallet and comfort level . The company also has a bill of rights and a 24 hour hotline ( "" Barkline "" in the company ' s terminology ) . DogVacayweblink offers a 100 guarantee that includes insurance and emergency support .  Both sites try to screen hosts and customers but agree that host and customer alike must vet their counterpart and feel comfortable with the match . Both sites recommend a meet n greet so dog owners and humans and dogs can meet and sniff out the temporary digs .  "" Generally mass murderers and animal lovers don ' t overlap , "" said Karine . "" Part of the phone interview process is making sure this person has truly devoted their life to animals . A lot of our hosts have long histories around animal rescue or trainers or work for shelters . They are known in community as animal lovers . ""  Customers pay through the sites , which company officials said protects the customer in case of a negative experience . Both sites also only allow customers who have paid for a host ' s services to review that host , while Roverweblink also allows testimonials from anyone who wants to recommend the host . Dogvacayweblink allows the hosts to review their canine guests as well . Roverweblink also holds payment for three days after a home stay has ended to allow the customer to make any complaints before payment is made .  A pre stay visit is a good idea , according to veterinarian Kim Hennessy , because you can see if a dog sitter keeps a clean house or has too many animals . Owners also want to make sure the other dogs are current on their vaccinations .  "" You definitely want to take your dog ' s own food with you because a change in food can cause a lot of gastrointestinal distress , "" said Hennessy , a Downingtown , Pennsylvania , veterinarian . "" Make sure the dog sitter is knowledgeable about pets and has a fenced in yard that looks very safe . The main thing would be safety of the dog , not being able to escape and its exposure to other dogs . ""  "" You ' d also want to have a backup vet available . I would actually call the vet and give permission for any major disasters . The vet hospital will ( usually ) write it down in your chart . ""  Roverweblink , which collects 3 15 of the charge depending on the host ' s reviews and other factors , recently announced that it has raised 3 . 4 million from investors . Dogvacayweblink , which collects 3 10 of the charge , just announced 1 million in funding and is on a New York City press tour this week to draw more attention to its New York listings .  Would you hire a dog sitter through a site like Roverweblink or Dogvacayweblink ? Let us know your thoughts below .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
4017,4018,"The International Criminal Court will not prosecute Israel for a 2010 raid on a Gaza bound aid ship that left eight Turks and an American dead , even though there ' s reason to believe war crimes were committed , a prosecutor with the Netherlands based court said Thursday .  While conceding that war crimes may have been committed in the botched raid , the potential cases "" would not be of ' sufficient gravity ' to justify further action by the  , "" prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said .  "" In the final analysis , I have , therefore , concluded that the legal requirements under the Rome Statute to open an investigation have not been met and I am announcing that the preliminary examination has been closed , "" Bensouda said .  The case centers on an attempt by groups including the Cyprus based Free Gaza Movement and a pro Palestinian Turkish charity to deliver goods to the Palestinian territory despite an Israeli blockade in May 2010 .  Activists organized a flotilla and departed Cyprus for Gaza , hoping to raise awareness of what it called Israel ' s "" illegal siege on "" the territory . But Israeli commandos raided one of the ships , the Mavi Marmara , because it violated the Israeli imposed blockade on the Palestinian territory .  Eight Turks and an American citizen of Turkish descent were killed in the raid . Israel said at the time that its troops fired only after they were attacked with knives and other objects after boarding the ship .  The Mavi Marmara raid damaged relations between Turkey and Israel , two close allies of the United States that had previously enjoyed military , economic and intelligence sharing ties .  Last year , U . S . President Barack Obama helped broker a telephone apology for the raid from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to his Turkish counterpart .  Israel imposed the blockade on Gaza in 2007 after the militant group Hamas seized control of the Palestinian territory . It was designed to stop the smuggling of arms into the territory , the Israeli government said .  But activists say Israel ' s embargo of goods into Gaza from land and sea punishes civilians in the tiny and densely populated strip of land along the Mediterranean coast .  Bensouda started examining the case last year at the urging of the Comoros , an island nation off Africa ' s eastern coast . Though the flotilla departed from Cyprus , the Mavi Marmara was registered in the Comoros .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
4034,4035,"Claims firms that try to make money at the public ' s expense will now face fines that could hit millions of pounds .  Ministers announced the penalties yesterday as part of a new regime of rules to crack down on ' unscrupulous ' claims management companies .  Firms found to have broken the rules will be fined up to one fifth of their annual turnover . For the biggest firms , this could run to millions of pounds .  Claims firms that try to make money at the public ' s expense will now face fines that could hit millions of pounds . Ministers announced the penalties yesterday as part of a new regime of rules to crack down on ' unscrupulous ' claims management companies  Claims companies offer to help people get compensation for situations such as injury or mis sold payment protection insurance (  ) .  They pass people ' s details on to legal firms , and then charge customers to act as a middle man .  Breaches of the rules include sending out misleading marketing information and wasting time and money by making ' spurious ' or ' unsubstantiated ' claims .  Claims companies offer to help people get compensation for situations such as injury or mis sold payment protection insurance (  )  Any company that tries to block an investigation by the Claims Management Regulator (  ) , which will impose the fines until the legal ombudsman takes over regulation next month , will also face fines .  Rogue private parking firms are at the centre of a surge in complaints about unfair and extortionate penalty notices .  Complaints to Citizens Advice are up 41 per cent in a year , while the number of people seeking advice via the charity ' s website has tripled to 155 , 000 .   analysed over 700 calls made to its consumer service in July and September this year and found the average private parking charge was 83 .  The parking cowboys , who operate everywhere from hospitals to supermarkets , are aided in the multi million pound rip off by a sweetheart deal with the  .  The  has made almost 25million in five years by selling personal details of millions of motorists to the firms .  Justice minister Lord Faulks said : ' People should not have to have their time wasted by the unscrupulous practices of some claims firms out to make themselves a profit at others ' expense .  We are making sure they will have to pay the price themselves if they engage in this kind of behaviour . '  The growth of claims management firms has coincided with a surge in bogus ' cash for crash ' claims , which cost insurance firms more than 2billion a year and add more than 90 to the average car insurance premium , according to industry experts .  A report by MPs this year found firms offer incentives such as free iPads and shopping vouchers to encourage those involved in road accidents to pursue compensation .  In the first three months of this year , the  issued 126 warnings to firms , and cancelled two companies ' licences to practise .  Kevin Rousell , head of the  , said the new penalties will tackle some firms ' bad behaviour that ' causes serious inconvenience to the public ' , adding : ' Reducing malpractice will also help to improve the reputation of those firms who do adhere to the rules and provide a good service to consumers . '  In October , the Government announced that the threshold of what is considered a spam call or text would be lowered dramatically .  Watchdog the Information Commissioner ' s Office previously had to prove a firm had caused ' substantial harm ' before it could act , but under new plans they only need to prove ' annoyance , inconvenience or anxiety ' .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
4036,4037,"A highly-anticipated declassified  intelligence report, aimed to prove that Russia supported Donald Trump, has turned out to be a huge embarrassment. The annex that contained factual material that was thought to provide evidence of  influencing the American public was compiled in December 2012, right after the reelection of Barack Obama.The report focuses on television shows and interviews that took place four years before Trump was elected, and well before he was even a politician. In Annex A of the report, intelligence agencies claim that  Kremlin s  Seeks To Influence Politics, Fuel Discontent in US.  Buried at the bottom of that page is a note stating,  This annex was originally published on 11 December 2012 by the Open Source Center, now the Open Source Enterprise. The report notes that two  shows, Breaking the Set and Truthseeker, focused on criticism of US. The problem is, both of these shows were off air before the 2016 election season began.The report goes on to detail programming in 2012 about voting booth irregularities, which, again, would have been during Obama s campaign. Despite being an old report, the topic became largely relevant once again during the Democratic primaries when voters found themselves purged from voting rolls, and hundreds of thousands of ballots went uncounted.Perhaps most shocking of all, the dastardly  network dared to host third party debates, as they were not allowed participation in the main debates.  In an effort to highlight the alleged  lack of democracy  in the United States,  broadcast, hosted, and advertised third party candidate debates and ran reporting supportive of the political agenda of these candidates. The  hosts asserted that the  two-party system does not represent the views of at least one-third of the population and is a sham.  Apparently, the intelligence communities do not agree that some of the people they serve may not fit perfectly into the two neat and tidy political boxes of Republicans and Democrats. The report states that the network aired a documentary on Occupy Wall Street, an obviously left-wing movement, in 2012. Again, this was the year Obama was elected, so perhaps the Russians actually won  the presidency. They presented evidence that Russian media often reports on infringements of civil liberties, police brutality, and drone use. While these issues are all popular topics of discussion in left-leaning media,  s reporting in 2012 was clearly part of a long-running plot to elect Trump, right?If the report is true and  the Almighty was swinging votes in 2012, the only beneficiary of the coverage was the now-outgoing president of the United States, who won a landslide victory over Republican Mitt Romney. Four years ago Trump was not thought of as a politician and it remains a mystery how  s 2012 coverage could propel him. A mystery, that even a classified version of the report would have a hard time explaining.    Sputnik news ",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
4045,4046,"The University of California is offering to pay 30 , 000 to each of 21 protesters who were pepper sprayed by a campus policeman last year , according to a proposed out of court lawsuit settlement .  If approved by a federal court , the deal could end the suit by demonstrators at an Occupy Movement encampment who were protesting tuition hikes and university privatization . Plaintiffs said police violated their civil rights and a school report called the spraying "" objectively unreasonable . ""  The campus police officer who pepper sprayed the protesters was no longer working at the school as of late July . The school declined to say whether the officer , Lt . John Pike , quit or was let go .  Video footage of Pike spraying student demonstrators with the irritant at close range went viral , provoking widespread criticism of school authorities and making him a target of Internet ridicule .  Under the pending agreement , which was announced Wednesday , the University of California would also pay 250 , 000 to plaintiffs ' attorneys . It also would set aside a 100 , 000 fund to pay as much as 20 , 000 to each individual who joins the class action suit and can prove he was pepper sprayed or arrested during the protest .  The money would come from the school system ' s general liability risk program , a self insured fund , the president ' s office said .  Opinion : Occupy fizzled , but made 99 a force  During the November 2011 protest , about a dozen demonstrators were seated on a path with their arms interlocked as police moved in to clear out members of the Occupy movement who were camped in the area . Officers forcibly removed the demonstrators after they had been sprayed .  Davis had declared the protest unlawful .  In addition to tuition increases and privatization , the demonstrators were protesting treatment of demonstrators at another campus the University of California at Berkeley , according to the proposed settlement .  The plaintiffs alleged their civil rights were violated by being subjected to unlawful arrest and excessive force , the settlement papers said .  Opinion : My arrest at Occupy Wall Street  U . C . Davis placed Pike , a second officer and Campus Police Chief Annette Spicuzza on administrative leave after the incident .  In addition to calling the spraying an "" objectionably unreasonable "" use of force , a  report on the incident accused Pike of misusing his weapon . The bright red pepper spray canister the officer brandished before spraying was a higher pressure type and "" not an authorized weapon "" under campus police guidelines , the report said .  The canister was designed to be used at a distance of at least 6 feet and "" Lt . Pike did not use it correctly , "" the report found .  The report also blamed members of the U . C . Davis leadership , citing "" systemic and repeated failures "" among campus administrators that "" put officers in the unfortunate situation in which they found themselves . ""  Citizens United new movie ' Occupy Unmasked ' President Bossie on Breitbart ' s last project  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
4060,4061,"Wall Street was slammed again on Tuesday , with the Dow Jones Industrial Average losing 160 points , or 0 . 9 percent , and falling below critical support at its 200 day moving average .  Energy stocks were hit especially hard after oil prices fell to seven year lows . The Energy Select  (  ) touched lows not seen since late September and is down nearly 17 percent from its early November high .  Investors are reacting to Friday ' s decision by  oil ministers , waging a price war with U . S . shale producers , to keep production at 30 million barrels per day , a quota that ' s been in place since 2011 . In early trading , West Texas Intermediate fell to touch 36 . 60 a barrel , a level not seen since early 2009 .  The weakness in energy stocks looks set to continue until  cuts production . Officials from Indonesia warned that an emergency meeting would need to be held if oil prices fell below 30 a barrel . Until then , a change in strategy is unlikely .  Although  ' s official ceiling is around 30 million barrels per day , Oil Market Intelligence reports that cartel members produced at a near record pace of 38 . 8 million bpd in October at the same time non  producers pumped a record 57 . 2 million bpd . Poorer  countries are being forced to pump more oil , despite lower prices , to try to help minimize the overall hit to revenues .  With manufacturing activity slowing globally and in the U . S . , the world is simply awash in too much oil . It ' s simple supply and demand .  And with prices so low , global oil revenue is collapsing , down 56 percent from last year ' s peak , according to Yardeni Research . That will continue to weigh on the earnings of energy companies like Chevron (  ) , in October reported a 37 percent year over year drop in revenue .  Over the horizon , Capital Economics believes oil prices should recovery in 2016 , regardless of what  does , as lower prices continue to weigh on investment in new energy production . The research firm also assumes global oil demand bounces back as economic growth around the world accelerates and the pumped up dollar weakens .  When , and if , that happens , low energy prices will keep weighing on stocks via the impact on energy sector earnings . Already , according to FactSet , fourth quarter S P 500 earnings are expected to decline 4 . 3 percent over last year in what is set to be the third consecutive quarter of declining profits . That hasn ' t happened since 2009 . Energy sector profits are expected to decline 65 percent over last year .  In September , the projected decline in fourth quarter earnings was only 0 . 6 percent . No wonder investors are in a selling mood .  ? 2015  Interactive Inc . . All Rights Reserved .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
4087,4088,"Sebastian Coe gives up role with Nike amid scrutiny  2015 11 26T14 : 51 : 36Z 2015 11 26T17 : 45 : 30Z Sebastian Coe gives up role with Nike amid scrutinyThe Associated Press The Associated Press   In this Nov . 13 , 2015 file photo , a photographer pictures the logo at the  ( International Amateur Athletic Federation ) headquarters in Monaco . A step by step anti doping roadmap that Russia will have to follow to be allowed back into international competition is to be discussed Thursday by track and field ' s governing body . The meeting in Monaco of the  council could throw up difficult questions for its president , Sebastian Coe . (  Photo Lionel Cironneau , File )   (  ) ? Although new to his job , Sebastian Coe has already learned that some battles are simply not worth fighting when you ' re trying to lead a major sport out of crisis .  The head of track and field ' s governing body announced Thursday that he has given up his role as a special adviser to Nike Inc . That relationship was longstanding , dating back to his years as a star middle distance runner , and it was lucrative , reportedly worth 100 , 000 pounds ( 150 , 000 ) to him each year .  But that link has become a millstone around Coe ' s neck since he was elected president of the International Association of Athletics Federations in August , because it left the former Olympic champion open to critics ' accusations that he might put the interests of the sportswear giant before those of his sport .  Coe said Thursday that he still believes it is possible to be both a Nike ambassador and lead the  without it being a conflict of interest . But he said he was giving up the Nike position because discussion about that role is distracting from his No . 1 mission : saving track and field from a crisis of confidence sparked by revelations of widespread doping in Russia , and alleged corruption at the very top of the  under Coe ' s predecessor , Lamine Diack .  "" It is clear that perception and reality have become horribly mangled , "" he said . "" The current noise level about this ambassadorial role is not good for the  and it is not good for Nike . ""  "" Frankly , "" he added , "" it is a distraction to the 18 hour days that I and our teams are working to steady the ship . ""  Coe ' s decision , which he said was taken in recent weeks , shows both a willingness to compromise and that he recognizes that the  has bigger fish to fry at the moment than have to face questions about its president ' s outside business dealings and whether they could cloud his judgement .  Russia , a track and field power , is currently suspended from international competition , possibly including next year ' s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro , for allowing systematic , widespread doping .  French prosecutors are investigating allegations that Diack , his sons and others at the  were involved in corruption and money laundering and an alleged blackmail scheme that squeezed bribes from athletes in return for promises to hide their positive doping tests .  "" I have stepped down from my ambassadorial role with Nike , which dates back 38 years , "" he announced at a news conference in Monaco , having first informed the  ' s ruling council of his decision . "" I felt that I needed to be able to focus unflinchingly on the challenges ahead . ""  Coe is still chairman of sports ' marketing agency  that works in 19 countries . But he said the company , again to ward off any potential conflict of interest questions , has agreed not to work for the  as long as he leads it .  His decision to take a financial hit immediately posed the follow up question of whether the  should start paying its presidents , so they don ' t have to get money from elsewhere .  Frankie Fredericks , an  council member , said the athletes commission he heads would want the president to be paid , because athletes want professional leadership and "" the best services they can get . ""  Football ' s governing body ,  , pays its president , but refuses to say how much . The head of the International Olympic Committee is a paid position , too .  In other business , the  council discussed the doping crisis in Russia and gave a green light to setting up a new integrity unit . It will take the lead in combatting not just doping in track and field but also other forms of cheating , including fixing results and athletes lying about their age .  Earlier Thursday , Coe got a boost when Russia vowed to work "" very actively "" with the  to eradicate the doping culture that led to its blanket ban from international competition . The decision by Russia ' s athletics federation not to contest the  ban and its additional promise to work "" very hard "" to tackle doping represented a modest victory for Coe and suggests that his push to sanction Russia is producing early results .  To be reinstated , Russia will now have to clear numerous hurdles , not only sanctioning athletes and others who doped or were complicit in cheating and cover ups but also carrying out a series of reforms . It will have to satisfy an  inspection commission that it has ticked all the boxes required to be allowed back into the fold . The council meeting discussed those steps in general terms but more work is needed , in consultation with the World Anti Doping Agency , to finalize exactly what they will be .  In a letter to the  , the general secretary of the Russian athletics federation , Mikhail Butov , said : "" We are working very hard now in Russia to change a lot . ""  "" We will cooperate with ( the ) nominated commission very actively , "" Butov said . "" I hope for a positive result after ( a ) certain time and ( a ) full come back to the  family . ""  Copyright 2015 The Associated Press . All rights reserved . This material may not be published , broadcast , rewritten or redistributed .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
4089,4090,"Ex  military intel chief : Washington ' s strategy against  narrow one dimensional  General Michael T . Flynn Former chief of  military intelligence  The civilized world is losing the war against terrorism . Jihadist attacks now take place in the midst of nations , strikes coming unexpectedly . Intelligence forces may be doing their best , but this is a fight in which every mistake , every missed extremist costs human lives . Nations can t seem to work out a coalition to combat Islamic State or put an end to the financing of jihadists and some of America s allies play a double game . Is there a way out ? Will the world come to its senses and extinguish extremism ?  In this special anniversary edition of Sophie Co we talk to the former chief of  military intelligence , General Michael T . Flynn .   : I m gonna jump right in , because I know you ve seen the war inside out , you know how the military politics of America s allies works , so still , until this day , we re kind mind boggled , what s on everyone s mind is why did Turkey shot down Russian plane , what s your take on that ?   : First of all , thank you so much for inviting me and having me here . So , first of all , why did that happen ? That happened because we have failed to understand the dynamics that are occurring in the middle east and the international relationships that we ve had over many many years have not gotten to a point where we are strong enough as an international body to face this very very determined threat that we re facing . I think that we have to understand , there are going to be more of these instances , and I think that the leaders of these nations that are in this so called international coalition have to understand how we re going to deal with this type of extremists because we don t want these incidents that are going to happen , we do not want them to be the cause of something greater that we re already facing .   : But , okay , if we don t these incidents to happen , maybe we should deconstruct this particular one little more and try to understand the real reasons behind . What was behind Turkey s motives to shoot Russia s plane and why would you want to just spoil a perfectly nice friendly relationship with your neighboring country ?   : I just think that to focus on this issue is I think it s important , because the action caused a second , third , fourth order effect , that I don t think that the Turks clearly understood . I ve said this and I believe that Turkey needs to do more against the threat of the movement of foreign fighters in and out across their borders , some of the black market oil that s going across their borders . I also think that there needs to be greater cooperation by this international community along these borders , the sovereign borders that do exist , still exist , but are definitely challenged .   : You ve started a conversation by saying that unfortunately , unless we take care of this , we re going to see more and more incidents like that so when something like that happens , right , Turkey shoots down Russian plane , what are we ought to do ? I mean , does Turkey expect us just to sit back and not retaliate ? I mean , no one wants escalation , but what are we ought to do ? Are we not to react ? What does Turkey expect ?   : I don t know what Turkey expects , I don t know what Russia expects . I know what the contributing nations of the world expect , is that those who are contributing to the greater good of stability , security , prosperity , we have to figure out how to deal with this problem , and I m not one to look back , because I can give you all the history going back many many centuries , if you want , but we have created some of these problems , and I got that . Now we have to figure out how to move forward and in order for us to not move to a greater level of conflict between the great nations of the world , we have to come to grips of how do we work together , how do we take interests , interests that are converging . So we have a whole set of converging interests that we are seeing right now , and unless we understand it , we re going to make mistakes , we re going to make tactical mistakes that are going to lead to strategic consequences .   : From what I understand , we all want  down , right , that is our biggest interest , this is a common threat we re facing , we re in a generational long fight against fundamental Islam , so Turkish links to  and to the oil trade with the terror group have been known , and have been a concern way before this whole thing happened with Russia . So , my question is , could we really expect Turkey who is somewhat of an ally to fight against  when it profits from it ?   : Yeah , I think there s a lot of people profiting from  . I think , number one , we have to collectively , together , we have to clearly define the enemy that we re facing . We have to clearly define our enemy . This is a cancerous form inside of the Islamic religion and people tend to use the phrase radical Islamists , and I think that that s a good definition . I ve heard one word in Arabic , fa hish which means beyond despicable and I think that it s even a better word that we see , this other word that s used Daesh this is an enemy that emanated from this region , Middle East , and it is now geographically dispersed , geographically dispersed here in Russia , it s geographically dispersed in Europe , certainly in the U . S . we have seen all these various attacks just recently , Russia had its own issues in 2002 , in Moscow at the theater , in 2004 in North Ossetia , where the same ideology killed children . I mean , this attack in California recently , it was against social services organisation , I mean , it s just unbelievable .   : The President Obama seems to think that he s containing  .   : Yeah , I know he said that and I disagree with that . I definitely disagree with that . I disagree with the context of how we have said our strategy is working or not working . I do believe that the U . S . must step up into a greater leadership role . One of the big issues , Sophie , and I think that this is important for this audience , that a year ago , before Russia decided , before President Putin decided to take the step that he took into Syria , that the situation was fundamentally different , there was potential there with some of us who are really pushing our Administration to do more , not just militarily , but change the entire economic system that exists in the Middle East and I can talk to that , if you d like . But when , suddenly , Russia shows up , so the stadium , the football stadium , if you will , of the Middle East , Russia put themselves on the field , and that fundamentally changed the dynamics of this very geostrategic game that we re in right now . It s not a game , this is very real . Tactically , what you have to remember is that this is an enemy that doesn t have jets and drones and missiles and all these ships , this is an enemy that gets attacked by bombs from the sky drones or jets , artillery and how do they counter attack ? They show up in downtown Paris , they show up in downtown Moscow , they show up in some place called San Bernardino that s how they counter attack . So , when we think about warfare , and we think about the battlefield , this is not just toe to toe in a place called Raqqa or in a place called Mosul or in Fallujah in Iraq and Syria . This is a global contest and the way this enemy has decided to retaliate , is they are retaliating by instilling fear this is a terror force , this is not a thug force , this is not a cult , this is not a criminal organisation . This is a terrorist organisation , based on a very radical form of Islamism .   : But , General , okay , the problem is that some may think they re smarter than all of us together , because for some reason we can t get anti  front up and running . Lately , this incident with Russian plane being shot down , really hampered the efforts , because Russia and France obviously want a grand coalition of coalitions , but America is saying no , just join the coalition that we re leading is anyone going to budge ? I mean , are we going to just come together and fight it ?   : Let s get real . There s a phrase that I love , it s Truth fears no questions . And , one of the things that I think we have to do is we have to be just brutally , brutally honest with ourselves , about This sort of political correctness of how we are calling a religion out , calling a large segment of society out I mean , the Arab community , Muslim world , the leaders in the Muslim world , the leading Imams and leading clerics in Muslim world must call this enemy out the way that they know . . .   : They have . I don t think it s working .   : They have not in the way that they need to . So , that s a part of it , Sophie . The other part of it is that we have to look at each other , we look at the U . S . , we look at Europe , we look at Russian Federation , and we examine this math problem that we re facing , and this math problem that we re facing is a demographic shift in the world that s happening . And when you begin to look at where that demographic shift is going to occur it s in places like North Africa , it s in places like Central Asia , it s in places like the Middle East , it s in places like South Asia and South East Asia . So , we have to begin to understand that this is not an East West world , folks , that s actually more of a North South world , and we have to decide U . S . , Europe , Russia and other , other countries , countries in South America , maybe and even China and India , how do we want the world to be over the course of the next 10 years , 25 years , 50 years . I mean , this is not about and don t believe for a second that we re going to defeat the Islamic State in 2 years . This has been described as a Hundred Year War . I can t see that far , I can t think that far , but I can certainly think much further than the next 4 years and a presidential election in the U . S .   : I ve got to ask you , because I know you know about this much more than I do : I want specifics . I know that America is , right now , backing Turkey after they shot down the plane , and they ' re saying Oh , it s okay , the oil trade with  and Turkey is insignificant . I know that America is backing Qatar , I know America is backing one of the biggest Salafist nations in the world , and may I add , one of the most backward regimes in the world Saudi Arabia that is arming extremist rebels in Syria . I know that America is actually financing the Kurds , which is a good thing , in Syria , but how come the same Kurds are being bombed by America s biggest ally Turkey ? I mean , unless we sort these things out or get some answers on why this is happening , how can we all fight  together ?   : That s a great question . For those who are paying very close attention , Sophie , in 30 seconds , just describe the incredible complexity of this environment that we are in . What we have to do is to step back ! We re going to have to step back from this thing , instead of diving in with tactical capabilities and trying to think that we re going to solve this by killing more people . Sadly , for all the people that want peace peace is not the normal state , if you look at world history , and that doesn ' t mean I believe in warfare , I just know that in order to you know , the best defence to have is a function of being able to demonstrate that , and I think that we re going to have to demonstrate more of our military capabilities for a period , but what we really have to do is to step back and say , Okay , how do we want this region to be ? because it s not just two countries , it s not just Syria and Iraq . It s not just Lebanon and Jordan and the Saudis it s much greater than that . It stretches all the way over to West Africa , it stretches over . we know the  now exists , they have a component in India , they have a component in Burma , they have a component in Afghanistan , and we have already seen ? threats inside of the Russian Federation , we have seen direct and very active threats inside of Europe and we just had one in the U . S . So , it s an idea that came from afar , this ideology came from afar , but know it is actually being home grown . So , we are going to have to step back .   : I m talking about double standards , while we re fighting  , okay , and double standard meaning , you know , how can you fight  if you re backing people who are arming them . Double standard meaning ignoring your warning , when you were back in office in 2012 about the rise of  , and , maybe , even , you know , think that it s a willful decision to ignore your warnings about rise of  . Is this not double standards ?   : I don t think it s double standards , I think it s not smart .   : Because , as I ve said very publicly , it s a narrative Our political system at the time , it did not fit a narrative for the election , for the national election . I have said , let s be very honest with ourselves here , particularly in the U . S  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
4093,4094,"U . S . backed Syrian rebel group says assault on Islamic State imminent Reuters  China ? Entertainment ? Islam ? markets ? Russia ?   A Syrian rebel group which is part of a new U . S . backed alliance that also includes the Kurdish  militia announced on Thursday plans for an imminent offensive against Islamic State militants in Raqqa province , the jihadists ' stronghold in Syria .  U . S . Defence Secretary Ashton Carter said earlier this week the U . S . led coalition would support local forces as they put pressure on Islamic State in Raqqa and in neighbouring Iraq .  Washington has announced a shake up of its support to the rebels battling the forces of Syrian President Bashar al Assad , ending a programme to train fighters outside Syria and instead providing weapons to groups under U . S . vetted commanders . It has already dropped ammunition to rebels in the north , but has not specified which groups the aid was bound for .  The Raqqa Revolutionaries Front , which made the announcement in an online video statement , is one of several rebel groups that recently formed the alliance . The group said earlier this month U . S . weapons were on their way .  "" We will soon announce zero hour for the beginning of the battle of liberation from oppression and persecution , "" leader Abu Issa said in the video , which was posted on Youtube by an activist group called Raqqa Is Being Slaughtered Silently .  "" It will be an historic battle , for Raqqa first and Syria second , "" Abu Issa said , appealing to the local population .  "" Today we declare Raqqa province in its entirety a military zone . For this reason its people must not go near areas where there are Daesh elements "" for their own safety , he said , using an Arabic acronym for Islamic State .  He did not mention U . S . military aid , nor the name of the wider alliance formed earlier this month , the Democratic Forces of Syria .  The alliance includes the Kurdish  militia and a number of Syrian Arab rebel groups such as the Raqqa Revolutionaries Front , which consists mainly of Arab tribal insurgents drawn from the area .  The Arab groups in the new alliance are operating under the name "" The Syrian Arab Coalition "" .  Carter told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday the U . S . military would intensify air strikes and might carry out more ground attacks against Islamic State .  He said the United States was now supporting Syrian Arab forces already inside the country fighting  rather than trying to train completely new moderate Syrian fighters outside the country , an effort that cost millions of dollars and produced few trained troops .  ( Reporting by John Davison and Naline Malla Editing by Gareth Jones )  This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto feed .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
4098,4099,"San Francisco Arranging to have pizzas delivered to a stranger ' s door is a classic prank .  On the Web , it ' s charity .  Ashley Qualls found that out recently when she posted an offer on the link sharing website called Reddit . The Santa Clarita , California , native was feeling especially charitable one day and asked the site ' s audience of 18 . 8 million visitors how she could donate to people in need .  "" Someone had commented saying , ' Hey , you should take this over to Random Acts of Pizza , ' "" Qualls said .  Surfing to that section , she found people posting their pleas for free pizza . Members are encouraged to place orders for requests they feel especially moved by .  One person said on Thursday that he went out of town and left his wallet at home , and another said he lost his credit card and is sick of eating tortillas . But the true spirit of Random Acts of Pizza , the creators and some members say , involves donating to people who couldn ' t otherwise feed themselves and yet are Web savvy enough to panhandle online .  "" It ' s about helping someone out while they ' re down at the moment , "" Qualls said . She has sent 10 pizzas so far that were delivered to hungry strangers .  Qualls has been active in other charity work , including online donation programs , but Random Acts of Pizza provides "" instant gratification , "" she said . Pizza recipients generally give thanks and sometimes snap a picture of the empty pizza box after the order is placed , in 30 minutes or less .  The section ' s popularity has tipped . It received 226 , 000 visitors in a recent week .  Other charitable efforts on Reddit have taken off . SnackExchange , Food Pantry and Closet Swap all encourage giving to the poor .  Still , the 10 person team that develops Reddit , which itself has grown significantly in the last few months , were surprised to see the program take off . Earlier this month , they pooled their cash and spent 120 on pizzas for the Homeless Youth Alliance in San Francisco .  "" We never would have said , ' Oh , Reddit would be a great platform to give pizza to strangers , ' "" said Erik Martin , Reddit ' s new general manager .  Donors receive the person ' s home address through a private message and can quickly place an order using the many websites designed for food delivery . "" A big factor is just how easy it is , "" said Daniel Rogers , a lawyer from Texas who started the section .  Rogers , along with John Mitchell , a former computer technician in Idaho , are attempting to get Random Acts of Pizza on the radar of a major national pizza chain . Domino ' s Pizza and Little Caesars Pizza have expressed vague interest , Mitchell said . Separately , Reddit , which is owned by publisher Conde Nast , has reached out to the big restaurants .  "" We ' ve heard of the program , but have had no direct contact with Reddit , "" Domino ' s spokesman Tim McIntyre wrote in an e mail .  Random Acts of Pizza sent a request to CashStar , which powers the system that many retailers use for ordering gift cards and which many Random Acts of Pizza donors use to gift meals , asking the site to accept credit cards from outside the United States , Mitchell said . But the process is slow moving . CashStar  David Stone said through a spokeswoman that he had never heard of the group .  The co creators of the pizza giving program have wives and children , and they each lost their jobs during the worst of the economic downturns . Since connecting online ( they ' ve never met ) and improving their fiscal situations , Rogers and Mitchell decided to organize a charitable group online .  But why cheese , sauce and dough ?  "" It was the one food during that time period ( of hardships ) that I didn ' t have a lot of , that I love , "" Rogers said . "" It wasn ' t just about pizza . It ' s about just getting that kind of comfort food and that kind of hope . ""  ",true,text,test,US elections,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
4108,4109,"Cam Newton inspired the Carolina Panthers to victory over Green Bay Packers Getty Images  It s Thanksgiving and that means that the  is in full ? swing to celebrate the holiday . While fans get stuck in to their festive feast of turkey , there will be three games to enjoy on  .  Up first is the Philadelphia Eagles travelling ? to Detroit . The Lions are coming fresh off Sunday s narrow win against the Raiders , while the Eagles suffered a 45 17 hammering against Tampa .  Potentially the highlight of the week is the clash between ? Carolina Panthers and Dallas Cowboys . The Cowboys see the return of Tony Romo after a prolonged injury , and Dallas are undefeated with the quarterback in the starting line up . Carolina , meanwhile , remain undefeated and are looking go 11 0 .  Make the pastry lid for the wildfowl pie by mixing the flour , suet and a pinch of salt in a bowl with a knife  Gradually stir the water into the flour mix , eventually using one hand to pat together into a ball  It might seem a little dry , but wrap in cling film and refrigerate for 30 minutes or more  Roll the chilled pastry on a floured surface to 4mm to 5mm thick and to suit the size and shape of your cooking dish  Trim so that there is a neat 2cm to 3cm overhang  Venison salami and two types of heritage beetroot  Ed serving his pumpkin , gingernut , maple and pecan cheesecake  Rounding off the holiday fixtures will be ? the Green Bay Packers hosting the Chicago Bears . Green Bay has ridden its dip in form while Chicago remains as inconsistent as it does every year Jay Cutler remains under centre . Packers will be strong favourites at Lambeau Field .  Where can I watch the Thanksgiving  games ?  Eagles Lions 12 : 30pm  5 : 30pm  Fox (  ) Sky Sports 1 (  )  Panthers Cowboys 4 : 30pm  9 : 30pm   Sky Sports 1  Bears Packers 8 : 30pm  1 : 30am  ( Friday Nov 27 )  Sky Sports 1  ",true,text,test,American football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
4119,4120,""" Let me tell you a little about me . ""  "" Farouk1986 "" introduced himself to a Muslim online community with these words in February 2005 .  "" My name is Umar but you can call me Farouk , "" the poster continues , detailing biographical information that appears to match the life of Umar Farouk AbdulMutallab , the 23 year old Nigerian man accused of attempting to detonate an explosive on an international flight into Detroit , Michigan , on Christmas Day .  The failed terror plot put airports on high alert and refocused American attention on al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula , which claimed responsibility for the attempted attack .  Internet postings for Farouk1986 apparently a combination of his name and birth year reveal a young man who fought feelings of loneliness and struggled with balancing his life as a Muslim with the temptations of the secular world around him . He wrote about his desire to attend university , possibly in the United States , and his thoughts on love and marriage .  Officials have not confirmed that Internet postings by Farouk1986 were made by AbdulMutallab , but the many detailed biographical points made by the poster match what has been reported about AbdulMutallab ' s life .  "" I will describe myself as very ambitious and determined , especially in the deen , "" Farouk1986 wrote in February 2005 , referring to the Islamic way of life . The poster writes about being in boarding school , with possibilities of attending Stanford University or the University of California Berkeley .  Eventually , AbdulMutallab studied mechanical engineering at University College London .  Besides being ambitious , Farouk1986 also described himself as lonely .  "" First of all , I have no friend s , "" he wrote in another online post with informal , imperfect grammar . "" Not because I do not socialise ( sic ) , etc but because either people do not want to get too close to me as they go partying and stuff while I don ' t . or they are bad people who befriend me and influence me to do bad things .  "" i have no one to speak too , no one to consult , no one to support me and i feel depressed and lonely . i do not know what to do . ""  Somewhere along the way , AbdulMutallab turned toward Islamic extremism .  An  official said AbdulMutallab was included in the U . S . government ' s Terrorist Identities Datamart Environment , or  , after his father warned the U . S . Embassy in Nigeria of his son ' s hard line beliefs and possible ties to militant Islamists . But his name was not pulled from that database and included on lists barring him from U . S . bound aircraft .  Part of the explosive device that failed to take down last week ' s flight from Amsterdam , Netherlands , was sewn into AbdulMutallab ' s underwear , authorities said . A preliminary  analysis found the device contained pentaerythritol tetranitrate , an explosive also known as  .  All 300 passengers and crew onboard the Christmas Day flight have been interviewed by authorities , the source said , adding that he expected no one else to be held or charged in connection with the incident .  Farouk1986 ' s online posts show that as early as 2005 , he had a serious view of his religion . One of his struggles , the poster wrote , was that the "" loneliness leads me to other problems . ""  Farouk1986 said after fasting , "" I felt a shield that prevented evil thoughts coming into my head . I felt closer to Allah . ""  Being lonely awakened sexual desires that he struggled to control , he said , sometimes "" leading to minor sinful activities like not lowering the gaze . "" His religion instructed him to fast to avoid such temptation , but it didn ' t seem to be working , Farouk1986 said .  In another online post soon afterward , though , he took his comment back .  ",true,text,test,American football,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
4138,4139,"Andrew Sadek ' s body turned up last June along the banks of the Red River , which winds between Minnesota and North Dakota , with a gunshot wound to the head .  The 20 year old college student had been cooperating with narcotics task force  , as a confidential informant , but had severed contact with agents shortly before his death .  With the gun that killed her son still missing , Sadek ' s mother believes that force knows more than it is sharing about the events surrounding his death .  More questions : Andrew Sadek , 20 , turned up dead months after walking away from a role as confidential informant for a narcotics task force , who his mother , Tammy , believes pressured him  ' There are more students in danger , ' Tammy Sadek told  after a report was released this week . '  is alive and well , doing what they please . '  She had petitioned the North Dakota Attorney General for an independent review of  , which she has accused of bullying her son into the risky position of being a confidential informant .  According to the five page report , in April 2013 Sadek sold two small quantities of marijuana that together totaled 80 to a  informant on the North Dakota State College of Science campus , where Sadek attended classes .  In November of that year ,  agents searched Sadek ' s dorm room and found a plastic grinder with marijuana residue that Sadek confessed belonged to him .  During an interview at a police station in Wahpeton , the report states , Sadek was told about the charges he was facing and agreed to become a confidential informant in order that the charges be dropped or eliminated .  Between November 2013 and January 2014 , he bought marijuana on three separate occasions under the direction of a  agent .  After the third buy , Sadek stopped communicating with  agents , who tried to push him to make more narcotics purchases , the report says .  Early in May , Sadek was reported missing . In June his body was fished out of the Red River near Breckenridge , Minnesota .  The review , ordered by  ' s Executive Board and conducted by the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation , outlined four minor recommendations .  This included requiring briefings before informants carried out controlled buys and requested an official supervisor be appointed to the task force . It also recommended assigning a North Dakota  agent to  .  Unsolved : Though investigators have not found the weapon or made arrests in Sadek ' s death , his mother Tammy believes he would not have killed himself  Good student : His mother said that there are more students like her son that are being put at risk by   The review found no wrongdoing in the task force ' s conduct and did not give details about the investigation into Sadek ' s death .  The student was last seen leaving Nordgaard Hall at 2 a . m . on May 2 wearing a red and black sweatshirt .  When he turned up dead in June , he was in a jacket that his mother didn ' t recognize . His wallet has yet to be recovered , Twin Cities reports .  The weapon that killed him has also not been found , and though the family says it ' s missing a . 22 caliber pistol , his mother believes his circumstances point to suicide .  ' There was no suicidal tendencies , ' she said back in October . ' There was no note . There was no depression . And his grades were excellent . '  On campus : Colleges have faced scrutiny for allowing police to use students as confidential informants , while Sadek ' s mother has questioned whether officers pressured her son  ' Somebody knows something . They need to have the strength and courage to come forward and speak up . '  The use of confidential informants to conduct buys for law enforcement on college campuses has drawn scrutiny recently .  Earlier this month , UMass Amherst Chancellor announced the end of a controversial UMass police program that worked to turn students arrested for narcotics into informants .  In 2013 , Eric Sinacori , a 20 year old UMass junior who had become an informant after being caught selling Molly and  to an undercover officer , overdosed on heroine in his off campus apartment .  In spite of finding a hypodermic needle during a search , officers did not arrest Sinacori or inform his parents , something that his mother , Francesca , believed had allowed his addiction to fester .  ' If you find a needle on my kid , you have to assume it ' s heroin . And if it ' s heroin , you have to say something , ' she told the Boston Globe .  ",true,text,test,American football,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
4151,4152,"China let its yuan currency slip on Thursday , sending regional currencies and stock markets globally tumbling . The offshore yuan fell to its lowest since trading started in 2010 .  China ' s stock markets were suspended less than half an hour after opening on Thursday after sharp falls triggered a new circuit breaking mechanism for a second time since its introduction this week .  "" Negative sentiment is hurting demand expectations , growth is easing in China and there is a spillover from the inventory build in ( U . S . ) gasoline stocks from yesterday and this is reflected in prices , "" said Hans van Cleef , senior energy economist at  Amro in Amsterdam .  Brent fell more than 5 percent to a low of 32 . 16 before paring some of its losses . It stood down 3 . 4 percent at 33 . 07 at 1230  ( 6 : 30 a . m . Central ) .  U . S . crude futures hit a low of 32 . 10 , their lowest since late 2003 , before bouncing slightly to 32 . 72 .  Prices trimmed early losses , with violence in the Middle East and north Africa offering a measure of support for the market .  A military training center in the Libyan town of Zliten was hit by a truck bomb on Thursday , causing dozens of casualties , witnesses said , while dozens of air strikes hit the Yemeni capital Sanaa .  However , oil ' s rapid fall has made a prediction that Goldman Sachs made last year that crude could fall as low as 20 per barrel seem less outlandish than it then seemed .  On Wednesday , U . S . government data showed a 10 . 6 million barrel surge in gasoline supplies , the biggest weekly build since 1993 .  Analysts said further builds in global inventories are possible , putting more pressure on prices .  "" All looks set for yet higher oil inventories on top of already record high levels , "" said Bjarne Schieldrop , chief commodities analyst at  in Oslo .  "" European crude and product inventories are close to full with Asian inventories moving closer to capacity during Q1 2016 , with global residual surplus most likely having to be stored in the U . S . , resulting in a potentially rapidly rising U . S . oil inventories . ""  Technical analysts also said there was little to stop the price tumbling further .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
4156,4157,"Renee Somerfield , the genetically blessed Australian Model starring in a controversial new weight loss advert , has responded to the backlash against the campaign .  The yellow Protein World ad , currently plastered all over billboards around the London Underground , features a bikini clad Renee next to text reading '      ? '  The sight of the 24 year old ' s toned figure towering above train platforms has caused a stir among some feminists and body image campaigners , with a change . org petition started , general social media outrage and defacing of the posters by bloggers , angry at the perceived insinuation that only women who look like Renee are ready to go to the beach .  Renee Somerfield , the genetically blessed Australian Model starring in a controversial new weight loss advert , has responded to the backlash against the campaign  The sight of the 24 year old ' s curves towering above train platforms caused a stir among some feminists and body image campaigners  Online fitness store Protein World , who claim that the image is entirely unPhotoshopped , have been actively engaging in the furore on social media , strongly defending their campaign with some biting responses to aggrieved Tweeters .  ' We are a nation of sympathisers for fatties , ' a spokesperson for Protein World tweeted to one user after she signed the change . org petition calling for the removal of the advert . ' Why make your insecurities our problem ? '  One critic of the ad has inspired her own hashtag growupharriet as the company responded to her request about whether she , as a normal woman , was allowed on the beach with a collage of fitness magazine covers and the cheeky hashtag .  And now the blonde at the centre of the summer body storm has responded to the ' contradictory ' drama , with a very level headed argument citing the irony of people getting angry about body shaming , whilst body shaming her .  The vegan fitness fanatic told Huffington Post : ' I think nearly every ad campaign you have ever seen is open to interpretation . But saying the ad is body shaming by body shaming the image is very contradictory . Two wrongs don ' t make a right . '  The blonde at the centre of the summer body storm has responded to the ' contradictory ' drama with a very level headed argument citing the irony of people getting angry about body shaming , whilst body shaming her  Renee , who is a strict vegan , said : ' I am a real person behind the image . I work very hard and live a healthy and active lifestyle which is why Protein World chose me for their campaign . '  Renee , who is a strict vegan , said : ' I am a real person behind the image . I work very hard and live a healthy and active lifestyle which is why Protein World chose me for their campaign . I couldn ' t work every day as a full time model by starving myself , dieting or not looking after my body . Nourish your body , be kind to it and it will love you right back , no matter your size .  ' I agree that  bodies are ' beach body ready ' . Skinny , curvy , muscular , petite , tall , short , young and old . Confidence is beautiful no matter what size you are . . . . Your reflection doesn ' t define your worth . '  Fans including hundreds of women were been quick to praise the leggy beauty for her response , posting messages of support to her Twitter and Instagram accounts .  The cover girl has made a career out of sharing sexy bikini clad selfies with her 430 , 000 Instagram followers , and was featured on the cover of Maxim Australia magazine in a shoot titled ' Australia ' s sexiest social media stars ' in 2014  The cover girl has made a career out of sharing sexy bikini clad selfies with her 430 , 000 Instagram followers , and was featured on the cover of Maxim Australia magazine in a shoot titled ' Australia ' s sexiest social media stars ' in 2014 .  She admits to working out four five times per week , including beach running and pilates with weights , and told website Glamour Edition that she has always been on the skinny side : ' My physique is naturally very petite and I am quite tall ( 5 ' 10 ) . Growing up , this felt very awkward but I have grown to love and embrace my body !  Online fitness store Protein World , who claim that the image is entirely unPhotoshopped , have been actively engaging in the furore on social media , strongly defending their campaign with some biting responses to aggrieved Tweeters  Renee ' s thousands of social media fans were quick to applaud her mature and empowering response  ' I work hard to keep my body looking healthy and fit , which means eating 6 times a day and working out with resistance and weights to make sure I maintain lean muscle I don ' t like looking too skinny !  ' Confidence comes from how you feel . I feel my best and my most confident when I am fit and toned . I love moving , being strong and always full of energy . I think there is definitely a noticeable difference between ' skinny toned ' and ' skinny soft ' you know when a girl works for her body ! ' she added .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
4157,4158,"The rolling hills that surround the city of Erbil in northern Iraq once helped the bustling Kurdish capital earn its reputation as the Switzerland of the Middle East .  Beneath the verdant greenery which dominates this ancient landscape , however , lies the source of the region ' s prosperity lots of oil and gas .  These bountiful natural resources combined with the relative stability of northern Iraq have helped fuel a nascent luxury property boom in recent years no mean feat in a country that has been pummeled by three wars , brutal dictatorship and recurring sectarian tensions over the last three decades .  See also : Where are the world ' s most expensive luxury properties ?  "" I don ' t know how to describe it but it is growing and it will still grow , "" explained Dean Michael , chairman of Atconz Group , a Iraqi company behind a series of developments in Erbil ' s luxury property sector .  Michael is overseeing the construction of a vast neighborhood of four bedroom villas spread over 8 million square feet of land to the north of the city at an estimated cost of 550 million .  A 200 square meter villa in 2010 here sold for 350 per square meter ( 32 per sq ft ) . That same unit in 2013 averaged 1 , 250 per square meter ( 116 per sq ft ) , more than tripling in value over three years .  "" I believe that we will be comparable to modern countries and cities in about 10 years time , "" Michael confidently stated .  See also : Mumbai ' s new star on the rise  These ambitions are backed up by the figures . In the last six years alone , the Kurdish regional government says it has attracted 20 billion worth of foreign direct investment with some 2 , 000 companies either investing or setting up shop there .  After three years of oil prices averaging more than 100 a barrel , meanwhile , Iraq ' s fourth largest city is now enjoying a second boom as it welcomes wealthy Syrians , Egyptians and Lebanese fleeing violence and uncertainty in their homelands .  Many end up in the Rotana , Erbil ' s first five star hotel . According to general manager , Thomas Touma , the Rotana is where local business deals have been sealed since the hotel opened its doors three years ago .  See also : Micro homes could have big potential  "" The lobby of the hotel becomes a kitchen where all these business deals are cooked , "" he said . "" Three years ago I remember we had in Erbil around 15 to 19 flights per week . Today there are above 90 . ""  But while business is booming for those at the higher end of the income spectrum , not all is green and pleasant in Erbil . Complaints from old traders about being left behind can still be heard within the ancient walls of the old citadel .  Compared to the chaos and tragedy of the recent past , however , Erbil is a city on the move and a far cry from the days of Saddam Hussein or the violence elsewhere in Iraq .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
4179,4180,"Washington Confronted with recent polling suggesting rising gas prices may already be damaging President Obama ' s political standing ahead of the summer driving season , the president on Thursday reiterated the case that neither he , nor any other politician , has the power to bring down prices in the short term .  "" We are starting to see a lot of politicians talking a lot and not doing much , "" Obama told an enthusiastic crowd at Prince George ' s Community College in Largo , Maryland . "" We ' ve seen this movie before . ""  "" Every time prices start to go up , especially in an election year , politicians dust off their three point plan for 2 . 00 , "" the president continued , deviating from prepared remarks the White House had distributed to reporters before the speech . "" I guess this year they decided they were going to make it 2 . 50 . ""  That was a direct reference to former House Speaker Newt Gingrich , who has pledged of late that he will dramatically lower gas prices to 2 . 50 a gallon if he is elected president . Fellow  presidential candidates Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum have also pledged to bring down the cost of gasoline , though not with same rhetorical flourish as Gingrich .  "" You know better , "" Obama said Monday . "" There ' s no such thing as a quick fix when it comes to high gas prices . There ' s no silver bullet . Anybody who tells you otherwise isn ' t really looking for a solution they ' re probably just looking to ride the political wave of the moment . ""  It ' s the same argument the president made during a recent speech in Miami and at his presidential news conference last week , trying to counter Republican arguments that the president is sitting idle as prices at the pump soar . On Monday , the president ticked through a series of measures his administration had already taken to wean the country off foreign oil in the long term , including opening new lands to domestic drilling , investing in alternative sources of energy , and raising fuel efficiency standards .  Still , both Republicans and the president ' s political advisers recognize such long term arguments bring little solace to Americans who are feeling the pinch of higher gas prices now .  Indeed , a series of recent polls suggest the president ' s approval rating has begun a slide into the mid 40s as gas prices tick up . The same polls show the president losing significant support with lower income earners who report feeling the pain of higher gas prices most acutely .  An  Washington Post poll reported about half of those who make less than 50 , 000 a year consider the higher gas prices a "" serious hardship . "" Of that group , the president ' s approval stood at 44 , down eight points before gas prices began their climb last month . Moreover , a New York Times  poll last week found 54 feel the president does have the ability to control gas prices , compared to 36 who say he does not .  It is poll results like those that led the president in recent weeks to engage in an education mission of sorts over just what drives the prices of gasoline , hoping he doesn ' t become the target of Americans ' frustration if prices continue their march well over 4 . 00 a gallon .  "" Every time there ' s instability in the Middle East , we ' ll feel it at the pump , "" he said . "" As rapidly growing nations like China or India keep adding more cars to the road , the price of gas will rise . That ' s not the future I want for the United States of America . ""  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
4182,4183,"President Barack Obama apologized Thursday to those Americans whose insurance plans are being canceled due to the federal health law he championed even though he said repeatedly they could keep their coverage if they liked .  "" I am sorry that they are finding themselves in this situation based on assurances they got from me , "" he told  News in an exclusive interview .  "" We ' ve got to work hard to make sure that they know we hear them and we are going to do everything we can to deal with folks who find themselves in a tough position as a consequence of this , "" he added .  Obama ' s comments come days after he attempted to clarify what he meant when he assured Americans in previous years that they would be able to keep their plans under the Affordable Care Act , a controversy that is prompting legislation in Congress to address it .  Obama further alters ' you can keep your plan ' pledge  Republicans have hammered Obama over the promise since insurers began discontinuing coverage for some of the 12 million Americans who buy individual policies on the private market that don ' t meet Obamacare requirements for more comprehensive care .   moves past troubled Obamacare website  Insurance companies appear to be doing this for a variety of reasons some are pulling all their plans from certain states where they have fewer subscribers in order to save money .  In many cases , affected policyholders are being squeezed . They either don ' t qualify for subsidies to lower the cost of new premiums or they may have to pay more in the health care exchange marketplace .  When Obama says he ' s looking to fix it , he primarily means steps that can be taken administratively , senior administration officials said .  Some experts suggest one possible approach would be to ask insurers to delay the cancellation of plans and extend them into the New Year so that people are not left without insurance . That has been done , for example , in the state of California .  But House Speaker John Boehner said an Obama apology was in order and said the Republican led House had its own plan in mind .  "" What Americans want to hear is that the President is going to keep his promise . That ' s why the House will vote next week to allow anyone with a health care plan they like to keep it , "" Boehner said . "" If the President is sincerely sorry that he misled the American people , the very least he can do is support this bipartisan effort . Otherwise , this apology doesn ' t amount to anything . ""  The administration eventually knew that many policies would be changed by the insurance carriers after Obamacare was introduced , and the associated political uproar since its October 1 online rollout has also angered Democrats and fueled Republican efforts to extend related controversies onto the campaign trail .  Vulnerable Senate Democrats voice concerns  In 2010 , the Health and Human Services Department estimated that 40 to 67 of individual plans would eventually lose their "" grandfathered "" status , which only was conferred if a plan was purchased before the health care law was approved in 2010 .  Although Obama said the "" buck stops "" with him on Obamacare problems to date including the rocky rollout of the website he still was resolute that his initiative to provide coverage for the uninsured and better coverage for many others would be better for the country .  "" Most of the folks who . . . got these cancellation letters , they ' ll be able to get better care at the same cost or cheaper in these new marketplaces , "" Obama said , also noting that "" we have to make sure "" people do not feel as if they ' ve been betrayed by an effort carried out with their best interests in mind .  "" They ' ll have more choice , they ' ll have more competition . They ' re part of a bigger pool . The insurance companies are going to be hungry for their business . So the majority of folks will end up being better off , "" he said .  Key elements of the health law prohibit discrimination for pre existing conditions and require new plans cover maternity care , mental health and other areas . The program was developed to put comprehensive care within reach of millions of uninsured Americans .  About 95 of legal U . S . residents receive health insurance through private employers or the federal government , the Obama administration says . But more than 48 million Americans don ' t have any coverage .  Debunking 4 Obamacare myths : Both sides get it wrong  Obama ' s apology comes a week after similar refrains were made by Vice President Joe Biden and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius regarding the botched Obamacare online rollout .  Five things we learned from Obamacare records   : Chief tech officer too busy for congressional testimony  Asked if he thinks Americans will be able to trust what he says in the future , Obama said he thinks he ' ll ultimately be "" judged on whether "" Obamacare is better for Americans overall .  "" When you try to do something big like make our health care system better . . . there are going to be problems along the way , even if ultimately what you ' re doing is going to make a whole lot of people better off , and I hope that people will look at the end product and they ' re going to be able to look back and say , you know what , we now have protections we didn ' t have before , "" he said .  In the  interview , Obama reiterated the administration ' s line that he ' s "" confident "" a "" majority of people "" will be able to use the website and apply for insurance by November 30 . But he did not say whether he would push back the March 31 deadline to enroll or the penalty for those who do not purchase insurance .  Obamacare depends on younger , healthier Americans to buy into the program and pay premiums to offset costs for covering older people who need more health care . Those without insurance who do not sign up for a plan face a fine .  What else could go wrong with Obamacare ?  A Gallup poll conducted just over a week ago showed 36 of Americans said they didn ' t think that in the long run the Affordable Care Act would make much of a difference to their family ' s health care situation . Just over a third said the health care law would make matters worse , and one in four said that Obamacare would make things better .  Opinion : Here ' s the truth about Obamacare  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
4192,4193,"A young British holidaymaker was killed by a stray bullet at a New Year ' s beach party in a popular Thai tourist destination .  City trader Stephen Ashton , 22 , was dancing on the sand when he was caught in crossfire following a fight between two groups of Thai men .  Despite frantic efforts by his distraught friends and other revellers , he died soon afterwards at a local hospital .  Victim : Stephen Ashton , seen posing for a photograph for his Facebook page , was shot in the torso whilst celebrating New Year ' s Eve in a bar in Thailand  Mr Ashton , who is understood to have been on holiday with five friends , had travelled to one of the top locations on young Britons ' gap year wishlist Haad Rin beach on Koh Phangan island .  The resort has long been famed for its monthly ' full moon ' parties , as well as its New Year festivities .  Hippy travellers have been followed by growing numbers of affluent young Britons fresh out of school or university , although the Foreign Office warns visitors to take care because of problems with roving criminal gangs .  Mr Ashton , who lived with his mother Diane in a 1million house in Purley , Surrey , was simply enjoying the festivities at the Zoom beach bar when tragedy struck .  According to local reports , 300 tourists were dancing shortly after 4am on New Year ' s Day when two groups of Thai men , each half a dozen strong , began arguing , then fist fighting .  Killed : The 22 year old was shot by a stray bullet after two Thai men started a fight in the bar on Koh Phangan  Tragic : Stephen Ashton was shot as he danced with friends at the the Zoom Bar on Haad Rin Beach ( file photo )  As one of the groups fled the bar , one man turned back and fired a gun , leading to panic .  One bullet struck Mr Ashton in the torso , causing devastating injuries .  After first aid by partygoers failed , he was sent to the Ban Don hospital nearby , which has only elementary surgical facilities , and was later pronounced dead .  Local police officer Lieutenant Colonel Somsak Noorod said : ' He was shot in the side while he was dancing on the beach . '  Thai police named their suspect as Ekkapan Kaewkla , 26 , and arrested him yesterday afternoon in remote hills in the centre of the island .  He is said to have had a home made gun , which was allegedly the weapon used .  Investigation : Thai police speak to holidaymakers about the shooting  Shock : The beach was packed full of people celebrating New Year ' s Eve when the incident happened  Killed : Mr Ashton was at a New Year party on one of Thailand ' s most famous islands  He was reported to have admitted being in the fight , but denied firing the fatal shot .  Colonel Kittakarn Kramothong , head of the island ' s police station , said : ' Stephen was not involved in the fight . The gun used was home made . '  Mr Ashton had been staying at the Pink Bungalow complex nearby with his friends .  Just a fortnight ago he had posted on Facebook a photograph of himself and two companions in a Thai bar .  His father John died suddenly aged around 50 about a year ago .  A childhood friend last night told how he had given up work to nurse his father , who suffered a terminal illness .  Zak Gorman , 22 , said : ' All I can say is Stephen was a top bloke .  ' He was a barrister ' s clerk and then started work in the City trading derivatives , but he quit his job to look after his father . '  He had returned to work last year .  Mrs Ashton , 48 , was on her own New Year holiday abroad and was last night understood to be on her way to formally identify her son ' s body in Thailand .  Other relatives at the family home yesterday were too upset to discuss their loss .  A former neighbour , who did not want to be named , said : ' It is so tragic . It is just Diane and her daughter Emily left now . '  Last night a Foreign Office spokesman said : ' We are aware of the death of a British national in Thailand . We are providing consular assistance to the family . '  Gun crime : A tourist haven and regional base for multinational companies , Thailand has the highest number of guns in civilian hands in Southeast Asia  Haad Rin beach on Koh Phangan island , off the east coast of Thailand , was once a tranquil hippy secret .  Over the last three decades , however , it has gained growing fame for its Full Moon parties which can now take place pretty much any time with blaring Western dance music .  The hedonistic atmosphere of Haad Rin beach is thought to have inspired the hit film The Beach , starring Leonardo Di Caprio and Tilda Swinton , and the original book of the same name by British author Alex Garland .  Revellers at a Full Moon party on Haad Rin beach , the destination thought to have inspired The Beach by Alex Garland  Its backpacker hero leaves a resort similar to Haad Rin for a secret island utopia populated by young Western travellers with access to unlimited marijuana .  In the real Koh Phangan , there are young tourists experimenting with drugs , but many simply head there for the cheap beer and dance music parties .  The Foreign Office has warned of problems at the beach , including sexual assaults , drownings involving swimmers high on drugs and attacks by local gangs .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
4201,4202,"Days after refusing to rule out recommending U . Sweblinkbat troops in Iraq , the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff made an unexpected trip Saturday to the turbulent Middle Eastern nation to talk with officials there about combating  , an official said .  Gen . Martin Dempsey traveled to Iraq "" to confer ( with ) Iraqi political and security officials on next phase of the campaign to defeat (  ) , "" according to a tweet from Brett McGurk , a U . S . diplomat focused on  as well as Iran and Iraq .  Pentagon spokesman Jim Gregory added that Dempsey met with Prime Minister Haider al Abadi , as well as U . S . Ambassador Stuart Jones and U . S . troops and commanders in the country .  Iraqi  : U . S . led campaign welcome if ' they do it right '  "" The primary purpose of his visit is to get a firsthand look at the situation in Iraq , receive briefings , and get better sense of how the campaign is progressing , "" said Gregory .  During the meeting between Dempsey and al Abadi , the two discussed what to do about  , America ' s support for Iraq ' s armed forces , as well as progress made by Iraqi forces , according to a statement from the Prime Minister ' s office .  The troops ' victories are part of a strategic plan for liberating all Iraqi territory , and it will be achieved , al Abadi said .  After his Baghdad stop , Dempsey moved north to Irbil , the capital of Iraq ' s Kurdish region and home to U . S . military advisers and consular personnel . The Joint Chiefs chairman met there with Massoud Barzani , the President of the semi autonomous region , according to Gregory .  Until recently , the Kurdish region had been the most stable in Iraq and a cooperative ally of the United States . But it came under an onslaught earlier this year from  , one that so far , at least it has been able to withstand .  Dempsey ' s entire trip , which wasn ' t announced beforehand , is the first since the U . S . military earlier this year launched Operation Inherent Resolve . That ' s what Washington is calling its military campaign against  , which consists largely of U . S . led airstrikes against the terrorist group as well as support for the Iraqi military .  Christopher Harmer , an analyst with the Institute for the Study of War , said Saturday that it ' s very important for U . S . military leaders such as Dempsey to get away from Washington and see for themselves how this fight is going .  "" I think what General Dempsey is doing here is sending a message both to the U . S . troops that he understands what ' s happening , that he wants to get firsthand knowledge of what ' s happening , "" Harmer said . "" And ( he is ) also sending a message to our allies , the Iraqi government , that he ' s taking this seriously and that we ' re committed to an ultimate victory on their behalf . ""  Dempsey has been one of President Barack Obama administration ' s leading voices on the situation in Iraq , where  which calls itself the Islamic State has taken over wide swaths of territory , reportedly terrorizing citizens in the process .  Obama has made going after  a top priority in recent months , including expanding coalition airstrikes against the Islamist extremist group into neighboring Syria . Yet he has insisted that American combat troops won ' t play a role in Syria or in Iraq , though military advisers have recently been sent to Iraq .  Yet in testimony Thursday to the House Armed Services Committee , Dempsey said he would not rule out asking the President to send U . S . ground troops into Iraq . He told the committee that he could envision scenarios in which a U . S . ground contingent would be necessary there , particularly if the coalition moves to retake Mosul or the western border with Syria .  "" I ' m not predicting at this point that I would recommend that those forces in Mosul and along the border would need to be accompanied by U . S . forces , "" cautioned Dempsey , "" but we ' re certainly considering it . ""  General leaves door open for U . S . ground troops  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
4223,4224,"In a revolutionary breakthrough with the potential to forever alter the way humans defecate , Palo Alto based Internet company Ascent Technologies announced Monday the successful development of the first ever "" e toilet . ""  "" It ' s incredibly exciting , "" said Ascent  Jeff Scoscia , considered by members of the digerati to be the father of the cyberdump . ""  The e toilet will revolutionize on line waste elimination through the democratization of access to high speed electronic bathrooms . ""  "" Of course , rudimentary pee commerce has been around almost as long as the Internet itself , "" Scoscia said , "" but our new e toilet will bring the Internet into the next millennium with real time point , click and shit capability . ""  Scoscia noted that "" Number 2 .  0 , "" as Silicon Valley insiders have dubbed it , will be cross platform compatible and fully 2K Flushes compliant .  In addition , he said , it will feature significantly wider , more comfortable bandwidth to accommodate even the most massive user download .  Though e toilet prototypes have existed for years , the Ascent model ' s flexibility and ease of use make it the first on line shitting system that users are expected to embrace on a mass scale . ""  No more frustrating lock up problems and even the most novice cybershitter can easily mount the e toilet on his or her desktop , "" said Wired associate editor Graham Roehner , whose 25 page special report on the future of cyberdefecation will appear in the magazine ' s November issue . ""  Just log on , log out , and log off .  It ' s that simple . ""  "" In the near future , "" he added , "" everyone will shit on line . ""  According to Roehner , other features of the e toilet include real time urine streaming , the capacity to add Plug Ins , and six months free membership in the popular on line lavatory community eBidet .  In addition , it has full multitasking capability , enabling cybershitters to read on line versions of magazines and newspapers while on the e toilet .  The Advent e toilet also has a decisive edge over previous models in the area of on line security .  "" It used to be that just any netizen could interrupt you while you were downloading on an e toilet , "" said Fast Company technology reporter Warren Dishman . ""  But thanks to this new e toilet ' s advanced 64 bit encraption algorithm , there is a greatly reduced chance of barge in .   users who are used to interruption from the dreaded Instant Message won ' t have to worry about the   conflict any longer .  And up to 24 network users can use a single e toilet without fear of catching a virus , no matter who has used it before them . ""  As proud as e toilet designers are of the "" line after line of fat code "" they laid down while beta testing their new platform , they said they are even prouder of the breakthrough design of its user interface . ""  Early e toilets forced users to keep a lot of windows open , so e dumpers lacked the kind of privacy you want while doing your business , "" said designer Peter Cheng , a self described "" whiz kid "" who has put hundreds of gigaflops through the new e toilet without once encountering the dreaded , bomb emblazoned "" Shit Failed "" message . ""  As a result of all the open windows , many users , feeling uncomfortable and nervous , would ' back up , ' often leading to painful  problems , corrupted cache , and the embarrassment of having to wipe and reformat the entire root directory after a botched download . ""  According to Scoscia , the Ascent e toilet ' s innovative "" Unplug Play "" desktop tiling is cleaner , more customizable and 80 percent less likely to collect "" cookies "" than those of other e toilets . ""  For three years an eternity in this field the story has been , ' Same shit , different data , ' "" Scoscia said . ""  Well , no more .  We ' ve seen the last of computer users sitting at their terminals broken hearted , having paid 99 , but couldn ' t start it . ""  "" With the new Advent e toilet , cutting edge cyberdump technology has finally arrived and is within reach for all Americans , "" said Scoscia , smiling . ""  The question is : Do you want to go today ? ""  ",satire,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,satire,True,no,no,positive,present
4230,4231,"What people are saying about the  Lassen near the Spratly Islands .  Testing China with warship : Opinionline What people are saying about the  Lassen near the Spratly Islands . Check out this story on USATODAYweblink : http : usat . ly 1N6iLLZ  A link has been sent to your friend ' s email address .  A link has been posted to your Facebook feed .  To find out more about Facebook commenting please read the Conversation Guidelines and FAQs  What people are saying about the  Lassen near the Spratly Islands .  Jerry S . Tundag , The ( Philippine ) Freeman : The United States finally made good an earlier promise to test the territorial claim of China over the whole of the South China Sea by sending the  Lassen , a guided missile destroyer , to within 12 nautical miles of one of the man made islands that China has been building . . . . This naturally riled China . But beyond saying it repeatedly warned the U . S . warship and followed it for the duration of the sail through , China did nothing to provoke a real confrontation . So , did the United States win Round 1 in its faceoff with China in the South China Sea ? Not necessarily . The sail through did not really mean anything over and above the battle of words .  The Wall Street Journal , editorial : Beijing s strategy in the South China Sea is to bully its neighbors and achieve regional hegemony through coercive means short of war . Turning peaceful naval patrols into diplomatic hot potatoes is exactly the sort of change Beijing seeks . . . . Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said . . . China will absolutely not permit any country to infringe on China s territorial waters and airspace in the Spratly Islands . . . . Such threats are all the more reason for the U . S . to defend international naval norms , and to make this the beginning of a persistent challenge to China s false claims . ( Former ) Philippines president Fidel Ramos said the Spratly Islands would be a litmus test of whether China as a great power intends to play by international rules , or make its own . Beijing has shown that it scorns those rules .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
4259,4260,"The Israeli military ' s firing of white phosphorus shells over densely populated areas during the Gaza offensive "" was indiscriminate and is evidence of war crimes , "" Human Rights Watch (  ) said in a report on Wednesday .  Human Rights Watch says Israel used white phosphorus shells over populated areas in Gaza .  "" In Gaza , the Israeli military didn ' t just use white phosphorus in open areas as a screen for its troops , "" said Fred Abrahams , a  senior emergencies researcher .  "" It fired white phosphorus repeatedly over densely populated areas , even when its troops weren ' t in the area and safer smoke shells were available . As a result , civilians needlessly suffered and died . ""  Entitled "" Rain of Fire : Israel ' s Unlawful Use of White Phosphorus in Gaza , "" the 71 page report provides "" witness accounts "" and "" presents ballistics evidence , photographs , and satellite imagery , as well as documents from the Israeli military and government . ""   is an independent international organization dedicated to defending and protecting human rights .  The group urged Israel and the United States to investigate the attacks . Israel should prosecute those who carried them out and the U . S . government , which supplied Israel , should look into the issue .   said white phosphorous was a chemical substance dispersed in artillery shells , bombs and rockets , used primarily to obscure military operations .  "" ( While ) it is not considered a chemical weapon and is not banned per se , it ignites and burns on contact with oxygen and creates a smokescreen at night or during the day to mask the visual movement of troops .  "" It also interferes with infra red optics and weapon tracking systems , thus protecting military forces from guided weapons such as anti tank missiles . When  comes into contact with people or objects , though , it creates an intense and persistent burn . It can also be used as a weapon against military targets , "" the group said .  In response , the Israeli military said "" smoke shells are not an incendiary weapon "" and defended its actions .  The Israel Defense Forces said it was close to completing its probe into "" the use of ammunition containing elements of phosphorous . ""  "" ( The invesitgation ) is dealing with the use of ammunition containing elements of phosphorous , including , among others , the 155mm smoke shells which were referred to in the  report . This type of ammunition disperses in the atmosphere and creates an effective smoke screen . It is used by many Western armies .  "" It is already possible to conclude that the  ' s use of smoke shells was in accordance with international law . These shells were used for specific operational needs only and in accord with international humanitarian law . The claim that smoke shells were used indiscriminately , or to threaten the civilian population , is baseless , "" the  said .  It said "" that weapons intended for screening are not classed as incendiary weapons . ""  But Abrahams said past  investigations into allegations of wrongdoing suggest their inquiry would be neither thorough nor impartial .  "" That ' s why an international investigation is required into serious laws of war violations by all parties .  "" For the needless civilian deaths caused by white phosphorus , senior commanders should be held to account , "" Abrahams said .  The report said white phosphorus munitions weren ' t illegal when deployed properly in open areas , but it determined that the  repeatedly used them "" unlawfully over populated neighborhoods , killing and wounding civilians and damaging civilian structures , including a school , a market , a humanitarian aid warehouse and a hospital . ""  "" First , the repeated use of air burst white phosphorus in populated areas until the last days of the operation reveals a pattern or policy of conduct rather than incidental or accidental usage . Second , the  was well aware of the effects of white phosphorus and the dangers it poses to civilians . Third , the  failed to use safer available alternatives for smokescreens , "" the report said .  A medical report prepared during the recent hostilities by the Israeli Health Ministry said that white phosphorus "" can cause serious injury and death when it comes into contact with the skin , is inhaled or is swallowed . "" The report said that the  could have used a non lethal smoke shells produced by an Israeli company if it wanted to provide a "" smokescreen "" for its troops .  Israel launched the offensive in late December to take on militants from Hamas , who had been shelling southern Israeli communities for months from Gaza .  The offensive , called Operation Cast Lead , was launched December 27 and ended January 17 with a cease fire . Of the 1 , 453 people estimated killed in the conflict , 1 , 440 were Palestinian , including 431 children and 114 women , a U . N . report recently said . The 13 Israelis killed included three civilians and six soldiers killed by Hamas , and four soldiers killed by friendly fire , it said .   also said it found no evidence that the Hamas militants Israel was targeting in Gaza were using human shields "" in the vicinity at the time of the attacks . ""  Israel has said Hamas militants used civilians as human shields and fought from civilian locations ,  points out .  "" In some areas Palestinian fighters appear to have been present , but this does not justify the indiscriminate use of white phosphorus in a populated area . ""  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
4262,4263,"Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump’s White House wants to sell half of the nation’s emergency oil stockpile and open the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge to drilling as part of plans to balance the budget over the next 10 years, documents by the administration showed. The White House budget, which will be delivered to Congress on Tuesday, is meant as a proposal and may not take effect in its current form. But it reveals the administration’s policy hopes, which include ramping up American energy output.    The U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve, the world’s largest, holds about 688 million barrels of crude oil in heavily guarded underground caverns in Louisiana and Texas. Congress created it in 1975 after the Arab oil embargo caused fears of long-term motor fuel price spikes that would harm the U.S. economy.  The Trump budget proposes to start selling  oil in fiscal year 2018, which begins on Oct. 1, with sales that would generate $500 million, according to the documents. The sales from the reserve would gradually rise over the following years, peaking at nearly $3.9 billion in 2027, and totaling nearly $16.6 billion from 2018 to 2027. The announcement surprised oil markets, and pulled down U.S. crude prices for immediate delivery to just over $50 per barrel during Asian trading hours. [O/R] Yet the bigger effect, if implemented, would be more long-term as it is planned to last a decade. The Brent forward curve <0#LCO:> shows prices rising toward $55.60 per barrel by April 2018, but then declining toward $53.75 per barrel by late 2018. The White House budget plan, released just after Trump left Saudi Arabia, the defacto leader of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), is seen as undermining OPEC-led plans to tighten global markets by cutting production, and points toward a future of ongoing ample supplies. The Trump budget would also seek to raise $1.8 billion over the coming decade by leasing oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve, the largest protected wilderness in the United States, believed to hold rich reserves of crude. Increased drilling in Alaska would add to rising U.S. oil production which, largely thanks to shale, has jumped over 10 percent since mid-2016 to 9.3 million barrels per day. U.S. politicians have been debating whether to open the reserve in northeastern Alaska to drilling since the 1970s, with opponents citing the risk of spills and the contribution to global climate change. Trump has already moved to expand U.S. offshore drilling, including in parts of the Arctic, as part of his broader effort to support the oil and gas industries. He has also moved to trim  the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, including by proposing a more than 30 percent cut to its funding. Mick Mulvaney, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, told reporters on Monday that the overall budget proposal was part of an effort to help the U.S. economy grow at a rate of 3 percent a year.  “It drives our tax reform policy, our regulatory policy, trade, energy ... everything is keyed toward getting us back to 3 percent,” he said. The White House did not immediately respond to questions about the energy-related budget proposals. Trump’s budget would also restart a nuclear waste fund that would bring in more than $3 billion by 2027.  The Obama administration stopped charging nuclear energy utilities the fee in 2014 after it stopped the licensing process for Nevada’s Yucca Mountain - a waste dump that cost the government billions of dollars but never opened.  The Trump administration proposed reviving Yucca in details of the budget released in March.     ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
4275,4276,"No difference between Shah Rukh and Hafiz Saeed :      Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday compared Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan with Pakistani terrorist Hafiz Saeed after the actor said there was growing intolerance in India .  The hardline  leader said in Gorakhpur that both Shah Rukh Khan and Saeed the mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai terror attack speak the same language .  "" There is no difference in the language Shah Rukh Khan and Saeed speak , "" said Adityanath , who heads the Gorakhpur mutt in eastern Uttar Pradesh and is known for his radical views on issues related to Hinduism .  Adityanath said if Hindus stopped seeing Shah Rukh Khan ' s movies , "" he will be on the streets like an ordinary Muslim "" .  The  ' s comment came a day after a  leader , Kailash Vijayvargiya , called Shah Rukh as the actor is widely known and who turned 50 on Monday a "" deshdrohi "" ( traitor ) .  Vijayvargiya said on Wednesday that his comment had been "" misconstrued "" .  Another Hindutva proponent , Sadhvi Prachi , dubbed the actor a "" Pakistani agent "" .  Shah Rukh Khan had said earlier that there "" is intolerance ( in India ) , there is extreme intolerance . . . there is growing intolerance "" .  Adityanath said "" so called writers and artistes "" had taken an anti India stand by returning their national awards over alleged growing intolerance , and that Shah Rukh Khan had now added his voice to this group .  He said while he was all for a free debate on issues , no one had a right to hurt India ' s international image .  Those who did deserved to be boycotted , the saffron robed  said .  When he was told that Hafiz Saeed had invited Indians to come to Pakistan if they found intolerance in India difficult to cope with , Adityanath said : "" They can go ( to Pakistan ) . We also want them to go . ""  Adityanath has been representing Gorakhpur in the Lok Sabha for the  since 1998 . Also head of the Hindu Yuva Vahini group , he has sparked many controversies with his hardline comments .  In June this year , he declared that those who oppose yoga can leave India .  Adityanath ' s comments drew criticism from both the Shiv Sena and veteran Bollywood actor Anupam Kher .  Shiv Sena spokesman Sanjay Raut said : "" Shah Rukh must not be targeted for being a Muslim . He has the same rights as we do . ""  Kher , a known  supporter , tweeted : "" Some members of the  really need to control their tongue and stop talking rubbish about Shah Rukh . He is a national icon and we are proud of him . ""  But   and popular Bhojpuri singer actor Manoj Tiwari said Shah Rukh Khan had always been close to the Congress and had made his statement amid the ongoing Bihar assembly elections .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,negative,present
4300,4301,"Central African Republic steps up security ahead of pope visit Reuters  author ? Christianity ? Crime ? Europe ? Islam ? Politics ? Turkey ?   French and U . N . armoured vehicles and tanks jostled with ramshackle yellow taxis on the congested streets of Central African Republic ' s capital on Saturday as security was beefed up a day before the arrival of Pope Francis .  The pope ' s visit to the former French colony , racked since 2013 by a conflict that has descended into inter religious bloodshed , has been welcomed by both the majority Christian community and the Muslim minority .  Interim President Catherine Samba Panza said on Saturday that the event could mark a turning point in the fighting , which has pitted neighbours against each other .  "" Central Africans know that the pope is a messenger of peace , and they hope that the message he is going to deliver to them will trigger a national awakening and awareness so that Central Africans learn to live together once again , "" she said .  However , in the days before his scheduled arrival his exact itinerary has been in doubt and there has been speculation that security concerns might force the final leg of the pope ' s first African tour to be called off altogether .  Following months of relative calm , clashes have again flared around Bangui ' s PK5 , an enclave of Muslims , leaving at least 100 people dead since late September , according to Human Rights Watch .  Pope Francis , who arrives in Bangui on Sunday from Uganda , is scheduled to visit a mosque the following day in PK5 , which has been under a blockade by Christian militias for the last two months .  French officials warned the Vatican earlier this month that the trip to Central African Republic could put the pope as well as hundreds of thousands of believers at risk .  Church officials , however , have given assurances that the visit will go ahead .  "" I asked myself , before God , is it true what the French said that they didn ' t have the capacity to secure the pope ' s visit , "" said Arlette Tanga , a volunteer who cares for those wounded in the inter religious conflict . "" But I had faith in God and it worked . ""  Central African Republic ' s U . N . peacekeeping mission ,  , is heading up a massive push to limit the risks in the run down riverside city ahead of the visit .   has received extra soldiers and will deploy between 3 , 000 and 4 , 000 troops . New surveillance drones and observation balloons capable of quickly pinpointing trouble spots anywhere in Bangui hover in the skies above the city .  The Central African government is contributing some 500 police and gendarmes . And France ' s 900 soldiers in the country are also on alert .  In addition to Bangui ' s residents , thousands of Catholics are expected to brave militia and rebel checkpoints and travel there from other parts of Central African Republic to catch a glimpse of the pope .  Others will cross the Ubangi River in small boats from neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo , raising concerns over the capacity to control the massive crowds expected to turn out .  Government spokesman Dominique Said Panguindji , however , said the authorities were doing everything necessary to keep order , including training and deploying thousands of boy and girl scouts to cordon off the pope ' s route through Bangui .  "" Between the government and the Christian community , I think a combined effort will allow us to ensure the security of the Holy Father during this visit . We won ' t be overwhelmed , "" he said .  ( Reporting by Joe Bavier Editing by Richard Balmforth )  This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto feed .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
4336,4337,"American tobacco heiress Doris Duke fell in love with Islamic art and culture during her honeymoon through the Middle East and Asia in 1935 .  So much so that she commissioned a bedroom and bathroom inspired by the Taj Mahal , the mausoleum in India built by a 17th century emperor for his favorite wife .  The marble and mirror lined private living quarters will be opened to the public for the first time this weekend in Hawaii after years of extensive repairs and restoration .  Duke , who died in 1993 , never explained what prompted her to build a house with architectural elements of Syria and India in the oceanfront home she built in Honolulu or to collect items such as 13th century Persian tiles .  Open house : The private living quarters of the Honolulu , Hawaiian mansion owned by the late American tobacco heiress Doris Duke will be open for the first time to the public this weekend  Good taste : Duke nicknamed the oceanfront estate Shangri La and it had it decorated with architectural style elements borrowed from Syria and India  Deborah Pope , executive director of the home that ' s been functioning as a museum of Islamic art since 2002 , said Duke was drawn to cultures different from the elite East Coast society of her youth . She also loved things of beauty .  ' I think she ' s an aesthete , ' Pope said , sitting on a red settee in Duke ' s bedroom .  The bedroom is located at the end of an open air passageway extending from the main courtyard of the home that Duke called Shangri La . A perforated marble door , or jali , made by artisans in India opens to a tiled room . Light pours from more jali doors facing the ocean and garden .  The highlight , however , might be the bathroom lined with marble that ' s been inlaid with precious stones in the shape of tulips , anemone and other flowers .  A different world : Deborah Pope , executive director of the home that ' s been functioning as a museum of Islamic art since 2002 , said Duke was drawn to cultures different from the elite East Coast society of her youth .  Vacation : Duke first fell in love with Islamic art and culture during honeymoon through Middle East and Asia in 1935  The details : She commissioned a bedroom and bathroom at her Hawaii house to look like the Taj Mahal the Indian masoleum built by a 17th century emperor for his favorite wife  Whiteout : The bedroom is located at the end of an open air passageway extending from the main courtyard of the home  Breezy : A perforated marble door , or jali , made by artisans in India opens to a tiled room . Light pours from more jali doors facing the ocean and garden  Ornate : The highlight , however , might be the bathroom lined with marble that ' s been inlaid with precious stones in the shape of tulips , anemone and other flowers  Intricate : The rest of the 14 , 000 square foot house , including the grand foyer and living room , have been open to the public and scholars for more than a decade  Most of the rest of the 14 , 000 square foot house , including the grand foyer and living room , have been open to the public and scholars for more than a decade . But the bedroom and bathroom called the Mughal Suite after the period when Islamic emperors ruled what is today India , Pakistan , Afghanistan and Bangladesh was closed while the roof was repaired .  Sugata Ray , a University of California , Berkeley professor , said the bath is important for scholars studying an early 20th century revival in Mughal arts and craft techniques .  The 18th century earrings and necklaces on display in the suite are unique because few of Duke ' s contemporaries bought and preserved such things .  ' It gives a sense of the diversity of Islamic art , ' said Ray , who specializes in the study of South Asia and Islamic art . ' It ' s not just about masterworks but about everyday objects of the Mughal elite : jewelry , textiles and things that were really not fashionable in the 1930s as a collector ' s item . '  Estate : The bedroom and bathroom called the Mughal Suite after the period when Islamic emperors ruled what is today India , Pakistan , Afghanistan and Bangladesh was closed while the roof was repaired  Grand plans : Duke initially envisioned it as a section of her mother in law ' s estate in Palm Beach , Florida , but decided to build her own place in Hawaii after stopping on the island on the way home  Generous : Duke died at the age of 80 in Los Angeles in 1993 . She established the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art in her will and stipulated that her home be open to the public and scholars .  Ray noted Duke later began buying masterpieces such as a 13th century Persian tile piece called a mihrab as she began to see her home as a center for the study of Islamic art .  Duke commissioned the Mughal Suite while in India during her 10 month honeymoon . She initially envisioned it as a section of her mother in law ' s estate in Palm Beach , Florida , but decided to build her own place in Hawaii after stopping on the island on the way home .  Pope said she wanted the room to capture the moment when Duke , as a 22 year old , has a profound experience in India while traveling outside the U . S . and Europe for the first time . The Shangri La team of curators and conservationists consulted 1930s photographs to restore the rooms to what they looked like when the home was first built .  ' I thought there was something valid in showing what makes this young woman fall in love with the Islamic world at such an early age and undertake a project of this scale , ' Pope said .  Duke died at the age of 80 in Los Angeles . She established the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art in her will and stipulated that her home be open to the public and scholars .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,past
4339,4340,"? After self scouting his team over the bye week , Eagles ? head coach Chip Kelly came away feeling good about his quarterback situation .  "" We feel very comfortable about our quarterback situation , ' ' Kelly said before the team returned to practice on Tuesday . ?  Sam Bradford , the Eagles ' quarterback , has been erratic as best through his first seven games of the season .  Under Kelly , Bradford has completed 62 percent of his passes for 1 , 766 yards with nine touchdowns and 10 interceptions for a quarterback rating of 76 . 4 .  The quarterback has also suffered from , by an unofficial count , 27 dropped passes ? in those seven games .  "" Too many drops , ' ' Kelly said . "" I think we ' re last in the league in drops , or first in the league depending on how you look at it . It really affected our third downs efficiency . We have to do a better job of catching the football . We ' ve had balls hit us in the hands and not catch them . ' '  Kelly put most of the blame on the receivers for the problems in the passing game , absolving Bradford .  "" I think Sam ' s done a nice job . ' ' Kelly said .  Asked if he could go further , Kelly quipped :  Some other notes from Kelly ' s Tuesday press conference as he gets ready to face the Cowboys , Sunday .  Kelly on the improvement of the running game : "" We ' re blocking better . We didn ' t block well at the beginning of the season . We ' re blocking better now . It ' s technique . It ' s fundamentals . ' '  Kelly on Cowboys ' quarterback Matt Cassel : "" The one thing that stands out about ( Cassel ) is his ability to run , he had 40 yards this past Sunday game . He ' s an accurate passer , and he can make things happen with his feet . They don ' t have any designed runs , he ' s not like Cam ( Carolina ' s Newton ) . But if you ' re in man coverage and your back is to him , he ' ll pull it down and run . ' '  Kelly on Cowboys ' pass rusher Greg Hardy : "" He has three sacks , an interception , forced a fumble , he ' s been very impactful in the three games since he ' s been back . You have to know where he is they line him up in multiple spots . ' ' ?  Mark Eckel may be reached at ? mjeck04 verizon . net . Follow him on Twitter ? MarkEckel08 . ? Find ? NJweblink Eagles on Facebook .  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
4340,4341,"Reuters) - The United States will apply ‘extreme vetting’ to up to 1,250 asylum seekers it has agreed to resettle as part of a deal with Australia, a spokesman for President Trump said in the United States on Tuesday. Washington agreed on a deal late last year to resettle asylum seekers, mainly from Afghanistan, Iran and Iraq, held in Australia’s processing centers on remote Pacific islands in Papua New Guinea and Nauru. Under the deal, Australia would in return resettle refugees from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. Providing details of the plan for the first time, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said the deal covered many of the refugees held in the two offshore processing centers, although they must satisfy recently tightened immigration policies. “The deal specifically deals with 1,250 people that are mostly in Papua New Guinea being held,” Spicer told reporters in Washington. “Part of the deal is that they have to be vetted in the same manner that we’re doing now. There will be extreme vetting applied to all of them,” he said. Trump’s executive order last week suspended the U.S. refugee program and restricted entry to the United States from majority-Muslim countries Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen, casting doubt over the deal with Australia. Despite the restrictions, Trump assured Australia on Sunday the United States would honor its agreement to resettle the asylum seekers. Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull dismissed speculation in domestic media that Trump had not yet committed fully to the deal. “The Trump administration has committed to progress with the arrangements to honor the deal,” Turnbull told reporters in Canberra on Wednesday. “That was the assurance the president gave me when we spoke on the weekend,” he said.     Australia’s hardline immigration policy is a contentious issue that has drawn international condemnation from the United Nations and other rights groups, but which remains popular at home and has bipartisan political support. Some 1,161 men, women and children remain in indefinite detention in Manus Island and Nauru as of Nov. 30, the most recent data from Australia’s Department of Immigration shows. Another 1,000 or so people are in detention in Australia, some of them asylum seekers transported from Manus Island and Nauru for medical treatment. It was not clear how many of these would be eligible under the deal with the United States. U.S. Department of Homeland Security officials have begun assessing the asylum seekers, although there is no timeline for resettlement. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
4352,4353,"A    man arrested in Grover Beach on Sunday on suspicion of impersonating a police officer was later held in jail as a female, according to local reports. [Ken Kennon was apprehended by law enforcement after reports that he had pulled over a driver on Friday evening in his Toyota Prius, using the emergency lights system used by police vehicles.  The driver became suspicious after being pulled over by Kennon on the 800 block of N. Oak Park Boulevard, and then followed him to a nearby parking lot where he confronted Kennon and took down his details, before filing a report to the police. Kennon was later arrested by police on Sunday evening and was marked by police as a male, given this was the gender provided on his driving license. “The drivers license said male,” Grover Beach Sgt. Celis Rabena told Cal Coast News. “We did not check and we did not ask. Sometimes, that is a personal question. ” He was then processed into San Luis Obispo County Jail as a male, being charged on separate counts of providing false personal information as well as attempting to impersonate a police officer. However, Kennon then informed jail staff that he was a female, and was consequently placed in a private cell. Cal Coastal News reports that jail staff initially told them that Kennon was a male, before then stating he would have to “check with a supervisor. ” Bail has been set at $20, 000. You can follow Ben Kew on Facebook, on Twitter at @ben_kew, or email him at bkew@breitbart.com",true,news,test,Football,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
4358,4359,"Hit rap trio Migos have been arrested on the first leg of their U . S . tour after police discovered drugs and guns inside their van during a college gig .  Rappers Quavious Marshall , 24 , Kirschnick Ball , 20 , and Kiari Cephus , 23 , were escorted off the Georgia Southern University campus mid performance on Saturday night and taken into custody .  According to  News , all of the band members have been denied bond meaning they might not be able to fulfill their upcoming tour dates .  Migos were next due to perform at the Ksu Convocation Center in Georgia before traveling on to a number of other states including Wisconsin , Ohio , Michigan , Pennsylvania and New York .  From left to right : Hip hop rappers Quavious Marshall , 24 , Kirschnick Ball , 20 , and Kiari Cephus , 23 , have been arrested on the first leg of their U . S . tour after drugs and guns were found in their van  Authorities said that they suspected the music stars were in possession of drugs when ' a very potent smell ' of marijuana was detected coming from their two tour buses .  When Migos left to perform at Georgia Southern University ' s Hanner Fieldhouse arena over the weekend , investigators seized the opportunity to conduct a search .  Multiple guns , marijuana and another undisclosed drug were discovered inside the vehicles , officials said .  They added that the discoveries ' were intensely concerning ' as they had been brought to a university sponsored event where over a thousand students were congregated .  In the spotlight : According to  News , all of the band members have been denied bond meaning they might not fulfill their upcoming tour dates  Bad habits ? Migos pose with friends for a group photo , posted to social media  The three band members best known for their 2013 single Versace and their 2014 track Fight Night were arrested after leaving the stage .  They reportedly face charges of drug possession possession of firearms in a school safety zone and possession of firearms during the commission of a crime .  It wasn ' t known early Monday if they had attorneys . Phone calls and emails to the group ' s management team by the Associated Press were not immediately returned .  About a dozen other suspects all occupants of the two vans were also taken into custody following the concert .  Information about them and the charges they face were not immediately available . The arrests took place during the school ' s annual spring concert .  Migos which formed as a group in 2009 had contracted with Georgia Southern to perform at the event , the sheriff ' s office said .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
4361,4362,"Jarryd Hayne : Where to now for waived San Francisco 49er ?  Jarryd Hayne pictured during happier times of his  experience .  It ' s rather ironic that the eight words that Jarryd Hayne ? tweeted after being waived by the San Francisco ? 49ers ' roster effectively sends the former Parramatta Eels fullback to a place where everything and nothing ? can happen : the waiver wire .  For those who play fantasy football the waiver wire is not a foreign concept . For those new to the  , essentially when a player is waived ( like Hayne was on Saturday ) with less than four years of  action , all other ?  ? teams have 24 hours to place a claim on the player .  Blessed for another test . Thanks for the love  . Wish my guys all the best against the Rams . if nothing happens Ill be back on Tuesday ? ?  The order is the interesting thing . ? For the first three weeks of the season , waiver priority is based on draft order . After that it is based on  standings .  It is a system that gives the team with the worst ? record the first ? chance to pick up a ? player that is waived .  It ' s why Detroit Lions , who ? have the equal worst record this season with just one win and six losses , shape ? as Hayne ' s ? most likely landing spot ? if ? he leaves ? the City by the Bay .  According to sources , the 49ers are hoping the other 31  teams all pass on ? Hayne ? and they can sign him to their practice squad .  Practice squad players train with the team but don ' t play games and don ' t get paid as much , but it ' s a situation the 49ers would use to continue to teach ? Hayne ? the  .  But after ? Hayne ' s incredible performances for the 49ers in the pre season , ? rival teams are likely to take a gamble on the 27 year old undrafted ? rookie .  1 . Detroit : The favourites ? to land Hayne this time last year , ? the Lions were willing to give the rugby league convert a spot on their 90 man roster , only the 49ers put up a financial guarantee in excess of 100 , 000 ? to ensure Hayne ? would call San Francisco home .  2 . Seattle : Similar to Detroit , in they were keen on the rugby league star and Hayne ? even had a ? personal tour of the football powerhouse ? in Washington State last year . They have ? to hope Hayne is bypassed by 13 other teams to get him .  3 . Baltimore : ? The team that jointly owns the  ' s worst record and is on the hunt for new talent .  At 2 5 the question is why are the 49ers waiving a player that half the city is wearing No . ? 38 in a year where they clearly won ' t win the Super Bowl ?  In this case , ? the cut throat world of ?  it appears prompted the 49ers ? to promote running back Kendall Gaskins ? to the active roster from the team ' s practice squad for more immediate results .  Gaskin has had a far more traditional route to the  and ? finished his career second all time in total rushing touchdowns ( 38 ) for the ? University of Richmond . ? The move came after ? the 49ers ' top ? running back Carlos Hyde was ruled out on Friday with a foot stress fracture .  As the  reaches the halfway point , the newcomers to the sport can probably guess that wins are the only form of currency making Hayne ' s ? three punt return fumbles and running back pass protection errors in the first six regular season games not viable to make the 53 man squad .  One thing you can rule out is Hayne returning to the  any time soon . ? As he has stated numerous times he is ? in it for the long haul . ?  Hayne himself ? tweeted , "" Blessed for another test "" suggesting it ' s ? a hurdle , rather than a wall to his  dream .  If Hayne ? is looking for inspiration , he can look to  star ? Jeremy Lin , who ? was waived by not one , but ? two ? separate  teams in the 2012 ? off season before creating Hayne ? Plane type hysteria , leading the New York Knicks ? to five straight wins that sparked ? Linsanity across the  .  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
4364,4365,"In an epic demonstration of showing the that the Democrat Party if full of manure, someone took it upon themselves to dump a truckload of manure in front of the headquarters of the Warren County Democratic Party headquarters in Ohio.  The Washington Post reports :  For those who think this election season can't get crappier, we bring you to Warren County, Ohio, where a large truckload of manure was dumped in front of Warren County Democratic Party headquarters in Lebanon, about 35 miles northeast of Cincinnati.  A sheriff's deputy was the first to notice the pile and alerted office leaders of it about 8 a.m. Saturday, local party officials told The Washington Post.  Amanda Kelley with  tweeted the following picture. Meanwhile today at Warren County Democratic Headquarters someone dumped a pile of manure #wlwt #Election2016 pic.twitter.com/1rYcOzGZjS  — Amanda Kelley (@AmandaWLWT) October 29, 2016  David Pepper commented: When they dump manure, we go high! One of our best performing offices, generating strong D early vote. Lesson: keep organizing while they bs pic.twitter.com/0pbrUEPG1O  — David Pepper (@DavidPepper) October 29, 2016  In 2012, something very similar occurred. A pile of manure was dumped almost in front of the headquarters in identical fashion.  ""At the time, we did not have a camera system, because it kind of caught us by surprise,"" Bethe Goldenfield, chairwoman of the Warren County Democratic Party, said of the 2012 dump. ""We didn't think something like that would happen.""  This time, the act was caught on surveillance video that the Warren County Sheriff's Office is now reviewing, Goldenfield said. She did not want to elaborate on what the cameras captured because it was an open investigation, but she noted that it involved a dump truck.  ""And I'm not going to jump to the conclusion that it was the same person [as in 2012], but of course that crossed my mind,"" Goldenfield said. ""We just need to have a little more specifics, and then hopefully we'll bring the perpetrators to be accountable.""  It appears to me this is something akin to the Boston Tea Party, only in this case whoever dumped the manure probably paid for it to make a political statement, one that we already know to be true and both the crimes of Barack Hussein Obama Soetoro Sobarkah and Hillary Clinton have demonstrated. That statement is that the Democrat Party is the  party and cannot be trusted.   shares",fake,news,test,Other news1,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,past
4365,4366,"Gold can be converted from dead money to an economic force . To leave gold lying as dead money is behaviour not in sync with the modern times , Indian Prime Minster Narendra Modi said on his monthly radio show , Mann ki Baat  As a celebration of the Hindu goddess Lakshmi , Diwali is intrinsically linked with wealth and investment , which the deity is associated with . Accordingly , the festival period is considered an auspicious time to put some money away for the  future , traditionally in gold and precious metals , but more recently in real estate and stocks . But would you be making the right decision ? Here is the outlook on three traditional investment options .  Traditionally considered a safe haven , gold has recently been seeing something of a bear run , and is now moving in line with the  Federal Reserve s stance on interest rates .  As of late October , gold rallied 5 . 2 per cent over September , following weak  jobs data and expectations of low interest rates .  However , the metal dropped to five year lows in July and has yet to recover .  According to the World Gold Council , demand for jewellery has dropped in China , as the economy slows , in India , where extreme weather and currency weakness have dented purchasing power , and in the Middle East , on account of lower oil prices and an increase in  . In fact , demand is only up in the  , which saw a 2 per cent year over year increase thanks to lower prices .  The outlook is muted and even pessimistic . Slowing growth in emerging markets can t help demand interest rates are a constant threat , Adam Laird , an investment manager at Hargreaves Lansdown , told Reuters .  However , for those already holding gold , the bright spot is the Indian government s launch of a gold monetisation scheme , expected just in time for Diwali . As per the plan , consumers holding at least 30g of gold whose purity is above 995 can deposit it with banks in return for interest .  Gold can be converted from dead money to an economic force . To leave gold lying as dead money is behaviour not in sync with the modern times , Indian Prime Minster Narendra Modi said on his monthly radio show , Mann ki Baat .  Real estate is a favoured investment vehicle around Diwali , and while the Indian market sector may just about be beginning to show signs of a revival , Dubai is attracting buyers .  According to Dubai government , Indians were the most prolific foreign investors in the first half of 2015 , with 3 , 017 transactions worth more than 2 billion Dh7 . 3 billion , Sunil Jaiswal , President of Sumansa Exhibitions , told  . Jaiswal s company is the organiser of the property show in India and the  . According to the data , Indians top the foreign property investment chart , a position they have consistently maintained for years , Jaiswal said , adding that ? the lower property rates in Dubai compared to certain cities in India was favourable for investors .  In India , the improving economy following last year s general election has seen the real estate sector warm up to the possibility of a new investment cycle , says Anuj Puri , Chairman and Country Head of  India . On the other hand , barring the  , the global economy continues to remain vulnerable to uncertainties , and this makes India s position more lucrative . The ruling government s action in addressing concerns of stakeholders through reforms ( in the Land Acquisition Act , the Real Estate Regulatory bill , relaxation of  rules , etc . ) is helping sentiments in the realty space , he says .  India s stock market traditionally remains open for about an hour on Diwali day for investor trading , so the New Year may begin on an auspicious note . Overall , though , equities may be a sound investment option . The current global environment of modest growth , accompanied by falling commodity prices and benign liquidity are favourable for India as an investment destination , particularly in relative terms ,  Morgan analysts Bharat Iyer , Bijay Kumar and Adrian Mowat said in a recent India equity strategy report . Our base case remains for Indian equities to deliver returns of about 10 12 per cent through to the end of the fiscal year driven mainly by earnings growth forecast .  Others are chiming in agreement . Global credit ratings agency Moody s last month (  ) reaffirmed the country s credit ratings at Baa3 , pointing out that it is less exposed to external economic shocks thanks to resilient growth and policy reforms .  Following three central bank rate cuts this year , the  expects India s  to grow at 7 . 3 7 . 5 per cent , the fastest rate in the world , over the next 24 months . This also made India the world s top destination for foreign investment in the first half of this year , with inflows of 30 . 8 billion , according to E Y .  New IPOs have been lined up , with a nearly fivefold rise in share offerings so far this year to 1 billion , the best in three years . Coffee Day Enterprises , the nation s largest caf chain , was oversubscribed 1 . 8 times over last month , with similar performance expected for InterGlobe Aviation , owners of IndiGo airlines and fragrance maker  Kelkar and Co .  The probability of the market returns being better in the Hindu year Samvat 2072 than the previous year are high , given the subdued level of investor interest at present , Saravana Kumar ,  ,  Nomura  , said in an interview with the Economic Times newspaper . Having said that , we advise investors to keep their long term asset allocation in mind . Now with economic data turning encouraging , investors should participate in India s growth through well diversified equity investing .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
4367,4368,"On the day Manchester United revealed they continue to explore ways of filling empty European dates with lucrative overseas friendlies , centre forward Robin van Persie claimed it won ' t be long before the club are back in their favourite competition .  United ' s commercial director Richard Arnold said on Monday that manager Louis van Gaal was happy for the club to look at ways of making up for lost Champions League revenue this winter by playing friendly exhibition games .  Van Persie said : ' Our aim this year is to be in the top four . We have a great manager , great staff , great fans .  Robin van Persie has set his sights on a return to the Champions League next season  Robin van Persi ( left ) and Ander Herrera celebrate against West Ham on Saturday  Robin van Persie ( far right ) was talking at the launch of Abengoa on Monday  ' Everything is in place to be up there competing with the very best teams . I think we can do it and we will . '  After a battling 2 1 victory over West Ham on Saturday , Van Persie is convinced that Van Gaal ' s theories are beginning to work .  ' Only me and Daley Blind knew how he works , ' said the Dutch striker . ' He ' s trying to get his philosophy into a lot of new players . It ' s very demanding in a good way as you have to be focused every single day of the sessions or the meeting .  ' He wants players to get involved in the meetings too . That ' s a bit of the Dutch thing , everybody gets involved in the project .  Van Persie ( right ) shares a laugh with David de Gea ( left ) and United managing director Richard Arnold  United manager Louis van Gaal ( left ) and assistant Ryan Giggs watch United ' s warm up ahead of the match against West Ham on Saturday  Van Gaal ( right ) speaks with Van Persie during a Netherlands training session in Brazil in July  ' Some training sessions are incredible and we are showing that in games as well .  ' We had a setback against Leicester ( they lost 5 3 ) but to win in circumstances like the weekend sends a message and shows that even in these difficult games we can win .  ' Now we have to extend that and make at least the top four . '  Van Persie was speaking at the launch of Abengoa , Manchester United ' s first global sustainable technology partner .  Like our Manchester United Facebook page here .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
4371,4372,"Maybe  thoughts and prayers  aren t the remedy following a shooting, after all. At the First United Methodist Church in East Tennessee, about 20 senior citizens gathered around for a holiday meal. After the meal, the group of elderly churchgoers decided to discuss gun safety. There has, after all, been a spate of mass shootings recently   as many as 317 so far this year. They got the idea for the conversation reportedly after a nearby county s sheriff s department held similar seminars at its local churches, according to Tellico Plains Police Chief Russ Parks. Well, I ve got my gun on me,  an 81-year-old member of the church in Tellico Plains said, according to Parks,  The Washington Post reports. The man then pulled out his holster in which he had a .38-caliber Ruger handgun. He promptly removed the magazine for everyone to see, then cleared the chamber and showed the gun to his fellow parishioners.The churchgoers discussed how to safely bring guns to church, then spoke of the deaths with recent mass shootings, like, for example, the recent Texas massacre in which a gunman shot 26 people dead as they sat in church.The 81-year-old man put the magazine back into the gun and put the gun back in the holster, Parks explained, but then later, while parishioners were cleaning up, one church member who had missed the demonstration asked the man to see the firearm   and that s when everything turned chaotic inside the church.The 81-year-old accidentally pulled the trigger without realizing the gun was loaded, then a bullet fired across the palm of the man s hand and toward his 80-year-old wife, who was sitting in a wheelchair next to him, entering her lower left abdomen, then it went out of the right side of her abdomen, into her right forearm and out the backside of her forearm. Following that, the bullet then ricocheted off the wall and landed under his wife s wheelchair, Parks said.That prompted panic in the church because some of the folks thought an active gunman was on the premises. They had their backs to it,  Parks said.  Somebody hollers,  He s been shot! She s been shot! Call 911! Due to a lot of panic during the calls to 911, the dispatcher assumed someone had entered the church and was shooting, so several schools were put on lockdown.The injured husband and wife were flown to the University of Tennessee Medical Center where they are listed critical condition.We re waiting for the  to say,  If only the wife had a gun, she could have protected herself. Image: Ken Wilcox via Flickr, under Creative Commons license 2.0.",fake,dataset,test,Other news2,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
4402,4403,"Philippines Amid the tropical heat of a Philippine prison , convicted murderers , rapists and drug dealers on Saturday paid tribute to Michael Jackson with a reprise of their YouTube dance hit , "" Thriller . ""  Inmates at the prison in Cebu perform their tribute to Michael Jackson Saturday .  A rendition of Jackson ' s 1980s smash hit by prisoners at the Cebu Detention and Rehabilitation Center in the central Philippines garnered more than 24 million views since 2007 , when prison supervisor Byron Garcia first uploaded it to the video sharing Web site .  The prison has since posted other dance videos , including performances to Van Halen ' s "" Jump , "" Queen ' s "" Radio Ga Ga , "" and Phil Oakey and Giorgio Moroder ' s "" Together in Electric Dreams . ""  Jackson , known as the "" King of Pop , "" died Thursday in Los Angeles , less than two weeks shy of the first in a series of comeback concerts in London , England .  When he heard the news , Garcia , himself a fan of the 50 year old pop icon , organized a free tribute performance by inmates for local people in the prison courtyard .  Dancing was introduced at the prison in 2007 , as a means of rehabilitating prisoners at a facility once notorious for its gang problem . Watch the prisoners dance  Every able bodied prisoner must dance . If they refuse , they lose privileges , mostly conjugal visits . According to Garcia , the dancing occupies up to five hours a day . However he rejected claims he ' s abusing the prisoners ' rights by forcing them to dance so many hours a day .  He said it gives them a renewed sense of worth and confidence , breaking them of their violent ways . He is convinced his prison is a model for prison authorities everywhere , an example of how to crack the plague of violent prison gangs .  "" It brought back their self esteem . We have happy inmates now we don ' t want to go back to the old jail where we had mad , sad inmates , "" he said .  In searing temperatures , 1 , 400 men in bright orange tracksuits performed the 15 minute "" Thriller "" routine perfectly . They rehearsed for 10 hours the previous day , finally stopping at 3 a . m . to rest ahead of the show .  The superbly choreographed moves , energy and obvious enthusiasm of the prisoners had the audience swelled by journalists from around the world captivated the audience . Several inmates even invited people from the crowd to dance with them .  "" I never thought I would ever find myself dancing with a prisoner , "" one excited local said .  A local journalist even described the performance as Asia ' s best way of paying tribute to Jackson .  Garcia , who says the prison has witnessed no violence in three years , paid tribute to the performers . "" I ' m so proud of them , "" he said . "" They got the dance exactly right . ""  Although it was "" probably wishful thinking , "" he added that he had actually wanted Michael Jackson to come to Cebu to dance and play the role himself . "" Now it ' s not going to happen , "" he said mournfully .  Convicted robber Mavin Cabido , 23 , said : "" I feel so sad as we idolize him really . The moonwalk is my favorite I like that . ""  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
4411,4412,"? Dallas running back Darren McFadden is questionable for Sunday s game against Miami with a groin injury , and inexperienced backups could lead to some shuffling behind him .  McFadden was a limited participant in practice for the second straight day Friday after he wasn t listed on the first injury report of the week Wednesday .  Owner and general manager Jerry Jones said on his radio show that the team was being cautious with McFadden , whose career as the fourth overall pick by Oakland in 2008 was derailed by a litany of injuries .  He signed with Dallas a day after reigning  rushing champion DeMarco Murray left for Philadelphia in free agency .  We didn t want to push anything , give it as much rest time , Jones said . No need to win it out here these next couple of days .  After the Cowboys released Christine Michael this week , the only backups were undrafted rookies Rod Smith and Trey Williams , with their two combined carries this season .  Smith had both those carries with Seattle before the Seahawks waived him and the Cowboys picked him up . Dallas signed Williams off Washington s practice squad .  Because of that inexperience , the Cowboys ( 2 7 ) might be forced to activate Robert Turbin against the Dolphins ( 4 5 ) even though the fourth year player has only been with the team since Wednesday . Dallas added him about a week after he was released by Cleveland .  He has made a great impression , offensive coordinator Scott Linehan said Thursday . This guy is a veteran . He s played .  Coach Jason Garrett said Turbin went to meetings and practice immediately after arriving and stayed late Wednesday studying the offense . He has 988 career yards without a touchdown . Turbin played all 16 games the past three seasons with Seattle .  Line one is to get him ready to play as quickly as we can , and having said that the other two guys have to take advantage of their opportunity to show that they should be a part of this thing this weekend , Garrett said . It s a good , competitive environment .  McFadden took over as the lead back with the team s first 100 yard rushing game of the season in a Week 7 loss against the New York Giants . After that , the Cowboys waived Joseph Randle , the starter for the first six games . They also lost Lance Dunbar to a season ending knee injury .  He has averaged 24 carries and 91 yards in four games since taking over the lead role when Randle was injured against the Giants . McFadden has 494 yards and two touchdowns for the season .  I feel so strong that McFadden has really got not only comfortable , but he s got comfortable with the offensive line and the nuances of their skills , Jones said . I m really comfortable there , much more so than when we started the season with the way he s playing football .  ( ? Copyright 2015 The Associated Press . All Rights Reserved . This material may not be published , broadcast , rewritten or redistributed . )  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
4430,4431,"Rumors that the  hack was tied to Russia have been swirling for several days, but now, this is no longer just a mere suspicion. Researchers with ThreatConnect, who specialize in cyber security, have traced the hacker back to a Russian internet server.According to the Arlington, Va. based ThreatConnect, Guccifer 2.0, the  Hacker who has described himself/herself as Romanian, has been linked to a Russian internet server and a digital address that has been associated with various Russian online scams. Guccifer 2.0 is not thought to be a sophisticated hacker. Researchers with ThreatCOnnect believe it is more likely that this is propaganda by a group of people working with the Russian government in an effort to take attention off Moscow as the actual force behind the  hack. Now, after further investigation, we can confirm that Guccifer 2.0 is using the Russia-based Elite  service to communicate and leak documents directly with the media. We reached this conclusion by analyzing the infrastructure associated with an email exchange with Guccifer 2.0 shared with ThreatConnect by Vocativ s Senior Privacy and Security reporter Kevin Collier. This discovery strengthens our ongoing assessment that Guccifer 2.0 is a Russian propaganda effort and not an independent actor. The experts with ThreatConnect are the first to trace the self-proclaimed hacker back to Russia.Rich Barger, ThreatConnect s chief intelligence officer, reiterated his believe that the party responsible was not a  sophisticated hacker  when speaking with The Daily Beast. These are bureaucrats, not sophisticated hackers,  he insisted. Barger backed up his assessment up with the following:Republican nominee Donald Trump has had an ongoing bromance with Russian president, Vladimir Putin. Many have said they believe that the  hack and subsequent email dump were an attempt by Putin to help out his billionaire buddy s bid for the presidency.Featured image via Lintao Zhang/Getty Images",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
4434,4435,"Reuters) - Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders on Monday said he opposes a proposed natural gas pipeline between Pennsylvania and New York and called on New York officials to reject the project. “The possibility of methane leaks from the proposed Constitution Pipeline would be catastrophic to our air and our climate — and if this pipeline were approved, eminent domain would be used to seize land from farmers and homeowners,” he said in a statement. U.S. pipeline company Williams has delayed the start up of the pipeline to the second half of 2017 from the fourth quarter of 2016. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
4452,4453,"On this weekend’s broadcast of  “Fox News Sunday,” White House chief of staff Reince Priebus said the Republican Party would “be rewarded” for tackling health care.  Host Chris Wallace said, “House Republicans are right now facing angry voters at town halls this weekend. On Friday, ‘The Cook Political Report,’ which you know well, the kind of unofficial bible assessing House races, shifted its assessment of 20 seats now held by Republicans in the direction of Democrats. I’m not saying they’re going to win them, but that they are more likely for Democrats to win. You could lose your House majority over this. ” Priebus said, “Yeah, these are the same people that said Donald Trump wasn’t going to run and he ran, he couldn’t win the general, he won the general, he couldn’t get health care repeal and replace through the House, he got it through the House. Look, the fact of the matter is there are sometimes in life you have to do what’s right, not what’s politically expedient. We believe this is going to be a better product, and by the time people see the premiums are lower, it’s a better service, more options, more choices, they’re going to reward the Republicans that stood up and said we are not going to see the Obamacare system, which is failing and collapsing continue any longer. We’re going to do something better, and We’re going to do our job as legislators to get this thing done. I think that the Republican Party will be rewarded. ” Follow Pam Key on Twitter @pamkeyNEN,  ",true,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
4470,4471,"A bullet used in  15 rifles that is popular with hunters and sports shooters is set to be banned , according to new plans from the Bureau of Alcohol , Tobacco , Firearms and Explosives this month .  The 5 . 56mm green tip bullets will be re classified as armor piercing ammunition , meaning they can break through bulletproof vests , effectively prohibiting them from being sold or manufactured for civilian use .  However citizens in possession of the bullets will not face criminal prosecution because they are widely available .  The Bureau of Alcohol , Tobacco , Firearms and Explosives plans to ban the 5 . 56mm green tip bullet ( pictured ) from being sold or manufactured for general public use because of its armor piercing capabilities  The sale of armor piercing bullets to the general public was banned under the Law Enforcement Officers Protection Act of 1986 , according to the Idaho State Journal .  The 5 . 56mm bullets were originally exempt under the law because they were not used in handguns which the 1986 act specifically targets .  But , according to the  , there has been a recent surge in  15 style pistols that are capable of firing the bullet .  Unlike the standard 5 . 56mm caliber ammo , the green tip has a steel penetrator that increases penetration when the bullet hits something .  In the proposal , released earlier this month , the  stated the green tip bullet , when loaded into specific cartridges , can be used in a handgun .  The legislation has not yet been brought into effect .  Thirty House of Representatives members have signed a letter created by Virginia Republican Rep . Bob Goodlatte demanding the  explain the ' surprise bullet ban , ' according to the Washington Examiner .  ' Millions upon millions of M855 rounds have been sold and used in the  , yet  has not even alleged much less offered evidence that even one such round has ever been fired from the handgun at a police officer , ' his letter said .  An executive director at the  said the Obama administration was attempting to ban the  15 through ammunition regulation after failing to do so through ' the legislative process '  An  executive director said the Obama administration was attempting to ban the  15 through ammunition regulation after failing to do so through ' the legislative process ' .  The  15 was banned under the Assault Weapons Ban of 1994 , which expired in 2004 .  A number of policymakers have tried to reinstate the ban but have been unsuccessful .  President Obama most recently proposed a renewal of the ban following the Sandy Hook massacre in Newtown , Connecticut , but it failed in the Senate by 20 votes in 2013 .  In December ten families affected by the Sandy Hook shootings sued Bushmaster , the manufacturer of the  15 that was used by Adam Lanza to gun down 20 children and six adults .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
4481,4482,"Istanbul Crowds of mourners gathered Sunday to bury a young man in the southeastern Turkish city of Diyarbakir after clashes the previous day between Kurdish protesters and Turkish security forces turned deadly .  The violence unsettled a peace process between the Turkish government and Kurdish rebels , who have been waging a guerrilla war in the predominantly Kurdish southeast for 30 years .  The Diyarbakir governor ' s office put the blame for the unrest squarely on what it described as "" attackers , "" according to a statement released online Saturday .  "" As a result of an armed attack on security forces ensuring security on the Diyarbakir Bingol road , two attackers were injured . One attacker was airlifted to Dicle University by military helicopter but lost his life despite all efforts , "" the governor ' s office said .  But Sebahat Tuncel , a parliament member from the pro Kurdish Peoples ' Democratic Party , blamed the deaths on the Turkish government .  "" A week ago I was there and what the people there were telling me is ' We don ' t believe they ( the government ) are earnest about the peace process . People who are honest about the peace process would not be building more outposts , ' "" said Tuncel , speaking by phone from the funeral of Ramazan Baran . Baran , 24 , died in Saturday ' s clashes .  For more than a year , the government of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been in negotiations with Abdullah Ocalan , the jailed leader of the Kurdistan Workers ' Party , or  . The Turkish state , as well as the United States and the European Union , have long designated the  a terrorist organization .  The negotiations brought a relative lull to violence that has claimed the lives of more than 30 , 000 people in southeastern Turkey over the last three decades .  The Kurds are Turkey ' s largest ethnic minority . They were long the target of discriminatory policies , which banned the use of the Kurdish language and even Kurdish names .  Since his party was first elected to power in 2002 , Erdogan has implemented a number of reforms , including creating a Kurdish language state  channel , removing the ban on the Kurdish letters "" q , "" "" x "" and "" w , "" and allowing Kurdish language education in some private schools .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
4489,4490,"To find out more about Facebook commenting please read the Conversation Guidelines and FAQs  Armour : Jerry Jones ' enabling and excuses just as bad as Greg Hardy ' s behavior  Nancy Armour ,   Sports 3 : 32 p . m .  October 26 , 2015   Today Sports ' Tom Pelissero breaks down how Greg Hardy ' s most recent antics are an issue in Dallas .   Sports  Cowboys owner Jerry Jones ' behavior is as bad as Greg Hardy ' s .  As appalling as Greg Hardy s behavior is , Jerry Jones isn t any better .  It might be worse , actually , because it is Jones endless excuses and enabling that allow criminals like Hardy to continue acting as if the bounds of good behavior don t apply to them . Hardy will never see how wrong his actions are so long as Jones downplays them at every turn .  Choke your then girlfriend , threaten to kill her and toss her on a bed covered in guns ? Not only will Jones not condemn Hardy , he ll give him a fat , 11 million contract . ( All the better to replenish Hardy s depleted bank account after buying the silence of his ex girlfriend to make that annoying court case go away . )  Show up your teammates , shove at least one of them and go after one of your coaches in a juvenile tantrum that humiliates your team on national  as Hardy did in Sunday night s 27 20 to the New York Giants ?  Matt Cassel can ' t stop Cowboys ' slide against Giants  Why , that s just passion , Jones said , the kind any owner would love to see from a leader .  That s the kind of thing that inspires a football team , "" ? Jones said afterward , appearing to be utterly serious . He ' s just getting guys ready to play , in my view . I don ' t have any issue with him being involved in motivating or pushing in any part of the football team because he plays and walks the walk . ""  Of course Jones doesn t have any issues with Hardy .  Hardy has played all of two games this season and is already tied for the team lead with three sacks . So long as Hardy is anchoring a Dallas defense that s the only thing keeping the Cowboys from being a five alarm dumpster fire , Jones will absolve him of pretty much anything .  And , in the process , make a mockery of the  .  The Harrisons : Colts ' Anthony Castonzo calls self ' ( expletive ) terrible '  That Hardy picked Sunday to remind everyone of his hair trigger and violent temper is pathetically ironic . The Giants , you see , had chosen the game to recognize October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month . In addition to unveiling a new public service announcement featuring its players and management , the Giants had actress and domestic violence activist Mariska Hargitay do the coin flip before the game .  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
4490,4491,"PRAGUE/ (Reuters) - Police and spy chiefs from China to the Middle East, a Ukrainian oligarch and a former president of Panama are among the people a coalition of human rights groups wants targeted for sanctions under an expanded U.S. law aimed at curbing rights abuses and corruption worldwide. The coalition, in documents to be made public on Wednesday, submitted 15 cases to the U.S. State Department and U.S. Treasury, urging them to investigate using the law, called the  Global Magnitsky Act. The law, which then-President Barack Obama signed in December 2016, expands the scope of 2012 legislation that froze the assets of Russian officials and banned them from traveling to the United States because of their links to the 2009 death in prison of a whistleblower, Sergey Magnitsky.  The cases we have elected to highlight come from every region of the world, and involve horrific stories of torture, enforced disappearance, murder, sexual assault, extortion and bribery,  the coalition of 23 groups said in a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. The groups said their information came from first-hand accounts of victims and their attorneys, investigative journalism and reports by non-governmental organizations (NGOs). (here) Police chiefs, public prosecutors and heads of security services in Bahrain, China, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Central Asian countries where prisoners were tortured, executed or died in custody are on the list compiled by the groups, which are coordinated by Washington-based Human Rights First. Among them are Chinese Deputy Minister of Public Security Fu Zhenghua and Beijing s Municipal Public Security Bureau deputy head Tao Jing. The groups accuse the two officials of bearing  command responsibility  for actions of forces under their control in the torture and 2014 death of human rights activist Cao Shunli. Cao s lawyer has said she was denied medical treatment until she was seriously ill, which the Chinese government denies.  Dmitry Firtash, a Ukrainian oligarch indicted by a U.S. court in 2013 on bribery and other charges, is on the list. He denies wrongdoing and is fighting extradition from Austria.  Lanny Davis, an attorney for Firtash, in a statement said the allegations were false and that any sanctions  cannot be justified,  adding:  The constant repetition of false accusations on the Internet doesn t make them true.      Another target is former Panamanian president Ricardo Martinelli, who is jailed in Florida facing extradition to Panama on charges he conducted illegal surveillance and stole state funds while in office. Martinelli has repeatedly denied the charges. President Donald Trump, a Republican who did not stress global human rights as a foreign policy priority during his presidential campaign or early months in office, told Congress in April that he was committed to  robust and thorough implementation  of the Magnitsky law. His administration has yet to impose sanctions or travel bans under it, but an official said the process of identifying potential targets  is both internal and external. We have received nominations from multiple sources including the United States Congress and NGOs.   Evidence permitting, our objective is to leverage the global reach of this authority and pursue geographically diverse  tranches  of targets on an ongoing basis,  said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Acting on the recommendations could pose risks for Trump if targeted governments retaliated. Washington needs Beijing s help in pressuring North Korea to halt its missile and nuclear tests, for example. The original Magnitsky legislation strained relations between Moscow and Washington. Magnitsky, a tax accountant and lawyer, was arrested in 2008 shortly after accusing Russian officials of involvement in fraud, and died in prison nearly a year later while awaiting trial. William Browder, whose Russian hedge fund employed Magnitsky as a lawyer, spearheaded an international campaign to push through the original Magnitsky Act, which now covers 44 Russians. He said travel bans and asset freezes are effective.  It creates a very devastating consequence because people who thought they could act with absolute impunity no longer have that comfort,  Browder said. The human rights coalition also hopes that pressure from politicians such as Republican Senator John McCain and Democratic Senator Ben Cardin, the authors of the original legislation and the update, will spur the Trump administration into action. McCain, in a statement to Reuters, said the role of NGOs is crucial, and envisioned under the new law.  I will continue working to ensure the administration enforces the law and utilizes this powerful tool to advance freedom and justice around the world,  he said. Rob Berschinski, a former Obama administration official who led the efforts at Human Rights First, said,  Our process is designed to assist the government, but also to remove any excuse around whether it has the ability to levy sanctions. Now the question is simply one of political will.  The Global Magnitsky Act requires the Trump administration to report to Congress by Dec. 10 on sanctions it has imposed under the law. ",true,dataset,test,US elections,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
4491,4492,""" I ' m not gonna make it easy on them because I think this is terrible for the country , "" Rand Paul said . Getty  Rand Paul is vowing to filibuster the bipartisan deal to fund the government and raise the debt ceiling .  Unfortunately for him , Mitch McConnell just made that impossible .  Paul said he would filibuster starting Thursday afternoon after speaking to students at University of Colorado Boulder before the  debate .  "" I ' m not gonna make it easy on them because I think this is terrible for the country , "" Paul said at a press conference after the meeting .  But on Wednesday , Senate Majority Mitch McConnell set in motion votes for later this week or early next week to pass the budget agreement . The deal is loathed by conservatives , including Paul and his Senate rivals for the  nomination , Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz .  Paul , Cruz and Rubio all missed budget briefings in Washington this week , declining the opportunity to give McConnell input while they campaigned and prepared for Wednesday s debate . In Colorado , Paul argued that he was right in the middle of , I think , the biggest news story right now in our country , the budget deal .  Republicans have made with this president a rotten to the core deal , Paul said . I ' m going to filibuster , as soon as I get done with this presidential debate thing . I ' m going back to Washington and I will commence filibustering it starting tomorrow afternoon . ""  Live Blog : Follow the  debate as it unfolds  But if Paul really wanted to filibuster the bipartisan deal to fund the government and raise the debt ceiling , he needed to be in Washington to halt McConnell from greasing the procedural skids . It would have been very difficult , physically , for Paul to speak continuously through the weekend to edge the country toward a Nov . 3 default . But after McConnell s action on Wednesday , it ' s impossible .  Alternatively , Paul could marshal 41 votes against the measure to stop it , an incredibly unlikely outcome given bipartisan support for the package . Sergio Gor , a spokesman for Paul , said that McConnell is taking action to end debate because of Paul ' s objections .  "" Senate leadership has filed cloture . The reason that is happening is because Senator Rand Paul is already objecting and forcing them to , "" Gor said .  Paul raised his filibuster plans immediately in Wednesday ' s night ' s debate .  Paul can complain about the deal and may even be able to receive consent to speak for an extended period . But it won ' t have the tangible effect he caused in the spring , when he forced a two day lapse of anti terrorism laws over privacy concerns after he objected to McConnell s attempts to fast track a revival of the law .  If he wants to , McConnell can seek to limit Paul s time to fume against the budget agreement , as he did to Sen . Cruz ( R Texas ) last month . But since McConnell has endorsed Paul , he may treat his Kentucky colleague more gently than Cruz , who has made his war with McConnell a theme in the presidential campaign .  Paul couldn t say exactly how his filibuster would play out . Asked if it would be a "" Rand Paul filibuster "" or a regular filibuster , Paul responded : "" We ' ll see .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
4498,4499,"Malmo is a shopper ' s heaven . Most stores are within walking distance of the city center , and unlike in neighboring Copenhagen , where shops are usually shut all day on Sunday , most department stores and shopping centers are open seven days a week .  Select from modern and classic designs at the shop at the Form Design Center .  Stock up on souvenirs at the stores around Lilla Torg . Hokeriet , an old fashioned general store , sells a variety of collectibles and interesting gifts while hand painted Swedish wooden clogs are a specialty of Toffelmakaren .  Venture into the picturesque Gamla Vaster neighborhood and you ' ll find chic boutiques like Issue ( Stora Nygatan 25a ) which stocks designer labels like Marc by Marc Jacobs and Rag Bone .  Fashion mavens will also want to check out the eclectic label Robert Blad ( Norra Grangesbergsgatan 4 ) , which is known for making well cut clothes in good fabrics . Kit of Elsinore ( Rodergatan 2 ) in the trendy Western Harbor neighborhood is another spot to hit for of the moment style .  If you want the convenience of a big shopping center , you can find just about anything at Hansa ( Malmborgsgatan 6 ) and Triangeln ( Sodra Forstadsgatan 41 ) , which are both centrally located . If you have a weakness for shoes , check out the feminine footwear at Scardia , which recently moved from its flagship store in Master Johannsgatan to Hansa .  Scandinavia is synonymous with good design and you don ' t have to go far in Malmo to find examples to take home . A variety of contemporary and classic designs are on sale in the shop at the Form Design Center in Hedmanska Garden . Also check out Formagruppen ( Engelbrektsgatan 8 ) and Olsson Gerthel ( Engelbrektsgatan 9 ) , which are both located nearby .  Looking to spruce up your home ? David Design ( Skeppsbron 3 ) specializes in sophisticated interior design . Design Torget ( Sodra Vallgatan 3 ) is the perfect place to find a gift for that someone who ' s impossible to buy for . The shop showcases independent designers and sells everything from unique kitchen utensils to quirky toys for kids . New items are added to its shelves every week .  Take a break from your shopping extravaganza at Saluhallen , the covered market on Lilla Torg that is a tourist attraction it is own right . Stalls sell everything from sushi and kebabs to baked potatoes and bagels .  If you ' re into buying green , Drottningtorget is the place for you . Here you ' ll find Morot Annat , which sells everything from organically produced textiles to produce . Nearby Uma Bazaar ( Ostra Forstadsg 13 ) stocks a wide range of fair trade clothing produced by a women ' s collective in India .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Malmo City Guide : Where to stay What to see Where to be seen Where to eat Where to shop  Do you agree with our Malmo picks ? Share your comments and suggestions in the SoundOff below .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
4514,4515,"Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Sen. Cory Booker ( ) commented on Hillary Clinton saying in her commencement speech at Wellesley College that President Donald Trump’s presidency would end in impeachment for obstruction of justice.  Booker praised Clinton’s speech, but said he is not pushing for Trump’s impeachment just yet. “I just wanted to tell you, I’m not going to rush to impeachment,” Booker stated. “I think we need to deal with this in a very sobered way. This can’t be a relitigation of an election that is now past. This has to be about an objective assessment about the facts that are going on right now. ” (  Mediaite) Follow Trent Baker on Twitter @MagnifiTrent",true,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
4515,4516,"Reuters) - Pope Francis strongly defended immigrants at his Christmas Eve Mass on Sunday, comparing them to Mary and Joseph finding no place to stay in Bethlehem and saying faith demands that foreigners be welcomed. Francis, celebrating his fifth Christmas as leader of the world s 1.2 billion Roman Catholics, led a solemn Mass for about 10,000 people in St. Peter s Basilica while many others followed the service from the square outside. Security was stepped up, with participants checked as they approached St. Peter s Square even before going through metal detectors to enter the basilica. The square had been cleared out hours earlier so security procedures could be put in place.  The Gospel reading at the Mass in Christendom s largest church recounted the Biblical story of how Mary and Joseph had to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem to be registered for a census ordered by Roman Emperor Caesar Augustus.  So many other footsteps are hidden in the footsteps of Joseph and Mary. We see the tracks of entire families forced to set out in our own day. We see the tracks of millions of persons who do not choose to go away, but driven from their land, leave behind their dear ones,  Francis said. Even the shepherds who the Bible says were the first to see the child Jesus were  forced to live on the edges of society  and considered dirty, smelly foreigners, he said.  Everything about them generated mistrust. They were men and women to be kept at a distance, to be feared.  Wearing white vestments in the flower-bedecked church, Francis called for a  new social imagination ... in which none have to feel that there is no room for them on this earth.  The 81-year-old pope, who was born of Italian immigrant stock in Argentina, has made defense of migrants a major plank of his papacy, often putting him at odds with politicians. Austria s new chancellor, Sebastian Kurz, has aligned himself with central European neighbors like Hungary and the Czech Republic in opposing German-backed proposals to distribute asylum seekers around  member states. In elections in Germany in September, the far-right and anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) party made significant gains, with electors punishing Chancellor Angela Merkel for her open-door policy and pushing migration policy to the top of the agenda in talks to form a coalition government. Italy s anti-immigrant Northern League, whose leader Matteo Salvini often gives fiery speeches against migrants, is expected to make gains in national elections next year. A law that would give citizenship to children born in Italy to migrant parents is stalled in parliament. In his homily, Francis said,  Our document of citizenship  comes from God, making respect of migrants an integral part of Christianity.  This is the joy that we tonight are called to share, to celebrate and to proclaim. The joy with which God, in his infinite mercy, has embraced us pagans, sinners and foreigners, and demands that we do the same,  Francis said. Francis also condemned human traffickers who make money off desperate migrants as the  Herods of today  with blood on their hands, a reference to the Biblical story of the king who ordered the killing of all newborn male children near Bethlehem because he feared Jesus would one day displace him. More than 14,000 people have died trying to make the perilous crossing of the Mediterranean to Europe in the past four years. On Christmas Day, Francis will deliver his twice-yearly  Urbi et Orbi  (To the City and to the World) blessing and message from the central balcony of St. Peter s Basilica.    (In fourth paragraph, this story corrects to say Mary and Joseph, not Mary and Jesus.) ",true,dataset,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
4516,4517,"Countries , investors pledge billions for clean energy tech  Published : 20 : 43  , 29 November 2015 Updated : 20 : 43  , 29 November 2015  Government and business leaders are banking on clean energy technology to fight global warming , kicking off this week s high stakes climate change negotiations by pledging billions of dollars to research and develop a technical fix to the planet s climate woes .  Microsoft founder and philanthropist Bill Gates , President Barack Obama and French President Francois Hollande will launch a joint initiative on Monday after a diplomatic push in recent weeks ahead of the Paris climate conference .  A key goal is to bring down the cost of cleaner energy . At least 19 governments and 28 leading world investors , including Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg , billionaires George Soros and Saudi Prince Alaweed bin Talal , and Jack Ma of China s Alibaba , have signed on so far .  It s quite a big deal , said Jennifer Morgan , global climate director for the World Resources Institute . It brings a new kind of burst of energy into the conference right at the beginning on something very important .  The U . N . climate summit formally opened Sunday afternoon with a minute of silence for the victims of this month s Paris attacks and vows not to let terrorism derail efforts to slow or stop climate change . A few kilometers ( miles ) away in Paris , police trying to secure the nation against new violence sprayed tear gas on protesters who defied a ban on demonstrations and lobbed projectiles .  A big sticking point at the climate talks will be money how much rich countries should invest help poor countries cope with climate change , how much should be invested in renewable energy , and how much traditional oil and gas producers stand to lose if countries agree to forever reduce emissions .  The new initiative is twofold : a public private project called Mission Innovation , led by governments , and the Gates led investor group called the Breakthrough Energy Initiative .  The governments pledge to double their spending on low or no carbon energy over the next five years , according to Brian Deese , senior adviser to Obama on climate and energy issues . They include leading energy producers and consumers , such as the U . S . China , India , Brazil , Saudi Arabia , Australia , Canada , France and Norway . They currently invest about 10 billion a year total , about half of which comes from the U . S . , Deese told reporters in Washington .  Gates committed 1 billion of his money and was the intellectual architect behind the effort to get investors involved , U . S . Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz said . The business leaders are making their pledges conditional on governments also pledging more money , said a former U . S . government official who is familiar with the plan .  President Barack Obama , who arrived in Paris late Sunday night , wrote on his Facebook page that we ' ll work to mobilize support to help the most vulnerable countries expand clean energy and adapt to the effects of climate change we can no longer avoid .  The money would focus on research and development of technologies such as energy storage , which could make better use of clean power from wind and solar regardless of the vagaries of weather . It will also look at farming and transport .  But a multinational research effort combining the investments of governments , corporations and private individuals could create intellectual property problems .  It also remains to be seen how much of this money will involve repackaging old promises , and whether the future funding will be approved in U . S . or other budgets .  "" The Obama administration recognizes that this is a fundamental competitive advantage for the United States , a former U . S . official said , but getting such funds approved by a Republican controlled Congress could be difficult .  U . S . Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz has traveled to several countries to seek support for the plan . A major driver of the acceleration to work together is climate change , he told reporters in Washington .  Storing electricity is especially crucial for wind and solar power , which can be intermittent because of the weather . Improving batteries is key , and there have been breakthroughs both in technology and production announced this year , including by space and electric car tycoon Elon Musk , whose Gigafactory has begun producing large batteries for home power storage to make solar and wind power more viable .  Only our governments have the mandate to protect the public interest as well as the resources and mechanisms to do this , says a statement released early Monday in Paris by the private investors in the Breakthrough Energy Coalition . However , current governmental funding levels for clean energy are simply insufficient to meet the challenges before us .  The conference center where delegates from more than 190 nations will be meeting for two weeks began to bustle Sunday as lower level negotiators arrived , and U . N . climate chief Christiana Figueres expressed optimism about the outcome .  World leaders were expected to arrive on Monday to discuss commitments to reducing ever rising carbon dioxide emissions from the burning of fossil fuels .  Armed security was noticeable nearly everywhere at the Le Bourget center , and 200 to 300 people violated a national ban on protests under the state of emergency France declared when extremists killed 130 people in Paris . Obama visited the site of the worst massacre soon after arriving .  About 100 protesters found to have projectiles or other suspicious objects were detained after some demonstrations turned violent , said the Paris police chief , Michel Cadot . Thousands of other people joined peaceful demonstrations in other European capitals on Sunday .  Angela Charlton in Paris and Stacey Anderson in Washington contributed to this report .  Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
4523,4524,"An assistant manager at a Northern California Burger King found a backpack loaded with about 100 , 000 in a booth , but so far no one has come forward to claim it .  Assistant manager Sahista Bakawla told  she spotted the blue backpack left in the San Jose eatery early Wednesday .  She said when it was still there by about 3pm that afternoon she called the owner of the store .  The owner took the bag out back and opened it , hoping to find identification or a phone number .  Unassuming : About 100 , 000 was left unattended in this blue backpack ( left ) for hours on Wednesday in the booth of a Burger King in San Jose before being grabbed by assistant manager Sahista Bakawla ( right )  Whopper : Inside the bag was about 100 , 000 , mostly in large notes , plus a small quantity of marijuana  Birthday boy : Owner of the Burger King , Altaf Chaus , said he opened the bag on his birthday and joked that he thought it were a gift  Instead , he found a whopping amount of 100 bills .  ' I said , ' ' Wow ! Today ' s my birthday , this is my birthday gift ' ' , ' the owner , Altaf Chaus , told  .  However Chaus was only joking .  ' I ' ve been in this country 26 years and I worked two jobs for 15 years before I bought this Burger King , ' he said .  ' So I ' m a very hard working man .  ' I don ' t want that money , maybe it belongs to somebody . '  Scene : The bag was found in Burger King on North Bascom Avenue in San Jose on Wednesday  Cops : Police are now trying to find the owner of the backpack and its contents  Officers came to the restaurant and opened the bag , which also contained some candy , a small amount of marijuana and a bank deposit slip .  Police are now working with the bank to find the bag ' s owner .  At least one customer was very happy to see how the store dealt with the situation .  ' I would have done the same thing but to know that someone else did it , really makes me feel good , ' said Mary Teixeira .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
4526,4527,"Kennedy Space Center , Florida The space shuttle Endeavour landed at Kennedy Space Center in Florida early Wednesday , completing its 25th and final mission the next to last mission for  ' s 30 year old space shuttle program .  "" Welcome home , Endeavour , "" Mission Control in Houston said .  The spacecraft touched down at 2 : 34 a . m .  at the end of a nearly 16 day mission to the International Space station .  "" It ' s sad to see her land for the last time , but she really has a great legacy , "" said shuttle commander Mark Kelly after Endeavour rolled to a stop in the darkness of a warm Florida morning  The youngest of the shuttles retires after 25 space flights . During 299 days in space , Endeavour orbited the earth 4 , 671 times and logged almost 122 . 9 million miles ,  said . It first went into service in 1993 .  Endeavour unlocked from the International Space Station late Sunday after spending more than 11 days linked to the orbiting laboratory , where the astronauts installed a cosmic ray detector . The 2 billion , 15 , 000 pound machine is already at work "" gathering information that could improve our understanding of the universe , "" Kelly said .  "" The retirement of Endeavour and the shuttle fleet will not end the human need to explore , "" Kelly said in comments from space that were posted on  ' s website . "" It is and always will be part of who we are . The United States will build other spaceships better than those of today . Even if they are years in the future , they will nevertheless increase our knowledge of the world , generate an enormous benefit to the economy and inspire our children . ""  On July 8 , space shuttle Atlantis is to make  ' s final shuttle flight .  Thousands of people turned out Tuesday night at Kennedy Space Center to watch it make the three mile trip from the Vehicle Assembly Building to the launch pad .  "" Look how majestic it looks rolling out to the launch pad , "" said astronaut Sandy Magnus to reporters . "" Look at that and see what we can do when we put our minds to it . ""  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
4537,4538,"Don t worry the liberal elite always know what s best for the little people.Goldman Sachs Chairman and  Special Representative for Migration Peter Sutherland said yesterday that Britain should take in more migrants in order to avoid creating an environment of  xenophobia and racism .Shocking footage filmed in the French port town of Calais shows desperate migrants attempting to break into delivery trucks heading to the United Kingdom in another illustration of how the country s generous welfare system acts as a beacon for illegal aliens.The clip shows huge gangs of migrants roaming around on a highway attempting to attack vehicles.Police or immigration authorities are nowhere to be seen as migrants rip open the back door of a truck before attempting to pull down its contents to make their way inside, while others try to pull off an underside panel.A tour guide on the bus from where the footage is being filmed tells passengers,  Don t panic guys, we have locked all of the doors. Try not to panic guys. Passengers are heard gasping in shock, with one commenting,  This is what we ve seen on TV. The migrants are keen to reach the  because they can exploit the country s generous welfare system and obtain a much higher standard of living than in France, where they are forced to reside in a makeshift tent village in Calais known as  the jungle .Around 2,500 migrants live in the tent village, with most of them coming from Sudan, Eritrea, Libya and Syria.The situation is so dire that a leading haulage group warned earlier this month that freight carriers could suspend supplies going through Calais altogether, causing food shortages and massive price hikes.Donald Armour, International Affairs Manager at the Freight Transport Association, told the Daily Express that the  supply chain is  in danger of collapsing  as a result of drivers refusing to go through Calais.Last month, Maru International haulage company announced that they were boycotting Calais over fears that  somebody will be killed  by migrants attempting to enter the UK.Via: Info Wars ",fake,dataset,test,Other news2,Conflict,fake,fake,True,no,no,positive,present
4542,4543,"Half of Britons have experienced feelings of depression , a new study shows  Half of us say we have felt the despair of depression twice as many as official statistics suggest .  A survey by a leading charity found that almost one in two Britons report having experienced feelings of depression .  The usual estimate given is one in four . The poll , by the Depression Alliance , asked thousands of adults whether they had ever experienced depression , and 45 per cent said yes .  Almost nine out of ten of these also said they had suffered loneliness as a result of depression , with many struggling to find others to talk to about the condition .  The survey comes amid a major push by the Government to put mental wellbeing on the  map .  Officials have warned that some sufferers of mental illness have the same life expectancy as people living in the 1950s .  Many patients with mental health problems die early because of other physical conditions that are not managed well enough , including heart disease and cancer .  Patients with schizophrenia will , on average , die 14 . 6 years earlier than the general population , while those with bipolar disorder generally die 10 . 1 years earlier .  Yet some of the 40 , 000 deaths among people with serious mental illness each year could be cut if they received the same healthcare checks as the general population , according to  England .  Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said yesterday : ' We are still not doing enough to address the often serious physical health problems of those with mental health difficulties . For example , on average the life expectancy of men with severe mental illness is 20 years less than the rest of the population . For women it ' s 15 years . '  However , the Depression Alliance said many people are still failing to acknowledge their depression , leading to its impact being seriously under estimated .  Its survey of 2 , 000 adults , carried out by pollsters  Research , found just over a third of men ( 37 per cent ) and half of women ( 53 per cent ) said they had been affected by depression at some stage .  But it seems men may be less likely to get help . Separate figures show nearly two thirds of patients seeking treatment for depression are women , with almost 475 , 000 women referred for counselling or behavioural therapy last year , compared to only 274 , 000 men .  Nick Clegg pictured today delivering a speech on mental health . He said not enough was being done about tackling the illness  Figures released last week also showed that women under 50 , and especially those in their 20s , are most likely to seek help using so called ' talking treatments ' .  The charity ' s survey found that seven in ten men who reported suffering from depression found talking to someone close about things was helpful in maintaining their recovery , compared with almost eight in ten women .  But 86 per cent of those who had been depressed said they were often lonely and unable to share their experiences with others .  Emer O ' Neill , the charity ' s chief executive , said : ' This survey clearly demonstrates that to maintain recovery from depression people need to have access to other people with the condition . The loneliness and isolation that come with depression can have a devastating impact on people from all walks of life .  ' This can be a particular problem for men who often do not have the same social support networks that women have . '  Former footballer Stan Collymore , who has helped the charity raise funds for its website and support community Friends in Need , said : ' Depression is a very isolating illness . You can be around friends , you can be around family , and if they don ' t understand exactly what you ' re going through it can actually exacerbate issues and matters and make them worse . '  Mental illness costs the economy more than 105billion every year , with depression and anxiety alone costing 16 . 4billion through  treatment and lost earnings .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
4548,4549,"A Texas appeals court on Thursday overturned a judge ' s ruling that had voided the marriage of a transgender widow whose firefighter husband died battling a blaze .  The 13th Texas Court of Appeals sent the case of Nikki Araguz back to the lower court , saying ' there is a genuine issue of material fact regarding Araguz ' s sex and whether the marriage was a same sex marriage . '  In 2011 , state District Judge Randy Clapp in Wharton County ruled that the marriage between Nikki Araguz and her husband Thomas Araguz was ' void as a matter of law . '  Victory : An appeals court has overturned a decision that voided Nikki Araguz ' s marriage to her first husband Thomas Delgado because she was born male  Thomas Araguz ' s mother and his first wife Heather Delgado had challenged the marriage ' s validity , arguing the fallen firefighter ' s estate should go to his two sons because Nikki Araguz was born a man and Texas does not recognize same sex marriage .  Attorneys for Delgado called the appeals court an ' activist court ' relying on ' junk science ' after the ruling .  Nikki Araguz , 38 , had argued in court she had done everything medically and legally possible to show she is female and was legally married under Texas law and that she ' s entitled to widow ' s benefits .  ' It ' s never been about the money for me . ' Nicki said as she celebrated the court ruling with supporters Thursday night .  ' If I would have stayed quiet , the only narrative anyone would have heard was that I was a trickin ' tranny who lied to my husband . '  Honest and loving : Nikki Araguz says her first husband was fully aware of transgender journey  Marriage : Nikki Araguz pictured with her first husband on their wedding day in 2008  At a press conference Friday , attorney for Delgado Ted Burwell demurred .  ' Whenever someone says it ' s not about the money , you know what it ' s about , ' he said .  The battle is over 635 , 000 in death benefits that the widow of a firefighter is entitled to . However , there is potentially millions more at stake .  A lawsuit alleging a faulty light was responsible for the 2010 blaze which killed Thomas Araguz could result in millions in damages .  Kent Rutter , Nikki Araguz ' s attorney , said his client was very pleased by Thursday ' s ruling .  ' This decision recognizes that transgender Texans have the right to marry the person that they love , ' he said .  Araguz has remarried since her first husband ' s death .  Second time around : Araguz has since remarried , to William Loyd  Attorneys for Simona Longoria , Thomas Araguz ' s mother , and Delgado , his ex wife , did not immediately return phone calls seeking comment .  Longoria and her family have said Thomas Araguz learned of his wife ' s gender history just before his death and had planned to end the marriage .  But Nikki Araguz , who remarried in 2013 , has insisted Thomas Araguz fully supported her through the surgical process to become a woman . She underwent surgery two months after they were married in 2008 .  Thomas Araguz died July 2010 while fighting a fire at an egg farm near Wharton , located 60 miles southwest of Houston . He was 30 .  In its 26 page ruling , the three judge panel of the Corpus Christi based appeals court wrote that Clapp erred by essentially saying in his ruling that Nikki Araguz was a man at the time of her husband ' s death .  Equal love : William Loyd ( left ) escorts fiancee Nikki Araguz and daughter Charlotte Loyd , nine , from Nueces County Courthouse Thursday , September 18 , 2013 after Araguz ' s first hearing . The couple married outside the court minutes later  Marriage equality : Attorneys against Nikki Araguz described the appeals court as an ' activist court ' relying on ' junk science '  ' I fully expect the other side to fight back as hate mongers often do , ' said Nikki Araguz said Thursday . Burwell said that hate was not an issue in the case .  ' To construe that anyone is hate mongering is Nikki is just grandstanding , ' said Burwell .  Attorneys for Longoria and Delgado had argued Nikki Araguz was born with male sex organs and had such organs at the time of her marriage , making it invalid .  Widow : Araguz stands to collect 635 , 000 in benefits and possibly millions more for the death of her firefighter husband  The appeals court said more expert testimony on this issue is needed as the only such testimony presented was an affidavit by one of Nikki Araguz ' s doctors , who wrote that she was medically and psychologically female as a result of her compliance with the standards of care adopted by the World Professional Association of Transgender Health .  The three judge panel also wrote that changes made in 2009 to the Texas Family Code that allowed transgendered people to use proof of their sex change to get a marriage license legislatively overruled a previous court decision that had been used as legal precedent in such cases .  In that 1999 case , a San Antonio woman ' s wrongful death claim brought on behalf of her husband was thrown out , with a court ruling that although the woman had undergone a sex change operation , she was actually a man , based on her original birth certificate .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
4554,4555,"During a Friday  “Real Time” conversation with Sen. Ben Sasse ( ) host Bill Maher joked that he is not a “house n**ga” when the senator suggested he come work in the fields of Nebraska.  Partial transcript as follows: MAHER: Halloween used to be a kid thing. SASSE: It’s not anymore? MAHER: Not out here. Adults dress up for Halloween. They don’t do that in Nebraska? SASSE: It’s frowned upon. Yeah, we don’t do that quite as much. MAHER: I’ve got to get to Nebraska more. SASSE: You’re welcome. We’d love to have you work in the fields for us. MAHER: Work in the fields? Senator, I’m a house nigga [applause]. It’s a joke! Follow Trent Baker on Twitter @MagnifiTrent",true,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
4560,4561,"A company boss whose  firm who has represented the Dalai Lama launched a Willy Wonka style audition to give his business away so he could stay home to look at his children .  Simon Cohen , 35 , said that when his wife , Kate , became pregnant with their second child , he wanted to leave his job to be with his wife and children .  It meant he was left with the difficult decision of what to do with the company he founded 11 years ago , Global Tolerance .  Simon Cohen , 35 , pictured with his wife , Kate , and daughter Seren , has given away his business  He feared that selling it or merging it with another  firm could ' disregard ' the ' vision and values ' of the business .  And so he held a rigorous two month process to find a successor to take over the 1m company that has clients including the Dalai Lama , Princes Charles and the United Nations .  He will hand over 95 per cent of the company , with 10 , 000 , and 11 years ' worth of business contacts .  After a thorough five stage process , he chose Noa Gafni , a World Economic Forum employee and Rosie Warin , a  director from Forster Communications .  After a rigorous five stage process , Rosie Warin ( left ) and Noa Gafni ( right ) were chosen to head the company  Simon Cohen has handed over 95 per cent of the company , with 10 , 000 , and 11 years ' worth of business contacts to Rosie Warin ( left ) and Noa Gafni ( right )  Mr Cohen , who moved to Cornwall from Brighton six months ago , told the MailOnline : ' I am delighted with the decision that has been made . It has been a surreal and scary process and it has been a bit weird .  ' But Rosie and Noa have really reinforced my confidence and commitment that the right decision has been made . They have got that sparkle in their eyes and the determination to make it work and move the business forward for the next decade and beyond .  ' Through Global Tolerance , I ' ve been able to work with people like the Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu . I ' ve had a great ride , but it ' s time to pass on the baton . '  Mr Cohen , who has a 15 month old daughter called Seren and whose wife is due to give birth in November , said he was looking forward to being a ' stay at home Dad ' but was also eager to visit South America .  Simon Cohen left his job to spend more time with his family . His wife , Kate , is due to give birth in November  ' I am just looking forward to being a Dad that is present every day . At some point I would love to go to South America , that would be brilliant , especially the carnival in Rio . But there is still lots to do in the  as well . '  Mr Cohen , who married Kate in August 2011 , will do communications consultancy work one day a week to pay the bills . He will also keep five per cent of the company ' s shares .  He decided to give his business away because he said the vast majority of mergers and acquisitions fail .  He said : ' It ' s amazing to me how many companies express certain values , but when it comes to exit , those values are left at the door . In a world of discerning customers , this is a disaster for brand and customer loyalty and the long term value of the company .  ' For entrepreneurs who believe in their company ' s mission , seeing those values live on is worth more than any amount of cash . '  To land the job , the two successful applicants had to go through a rigorous process . The first stage asked for a tweet about leadership and the second stage asked for an online application form .  This was followed by a Skype interview , where Mr Cohen interviewed 25 separate applicants for 15 minutes each . For the fourth stage , he brought in advisers to help him whittle down the remaining candidates , before a final stage where applicants had to set out their business plan on a boat on the River Thames .  Mr Cohen said it was important the process was thorough as he wanted it to serve as a model for others to follow .  ' I wanted to make sure it was a serious search as I care passionately about it . I also want other businesses to take it seriously and so it can be a model for others who want to make sure their companies keep their values . '  Mr Cohen has worked with clients such as the Dalai Lama and Prince Charles during his 11 year period as the head of  firm , Global Tolerance  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,past
4571,4572,"Around 2 . 6 million years ago , the first stone tools began appearing in the archaeological record .  But now researchers have found that our early ancestors may have had the ability to use stone tools around half a million years earlier .  Far from being the fumbling creatures we believed , a look at fossils of Australopithecus africanus reveals the species had human like hands capable of ' squeeze ' gripping .  Top row from left to right is the thumb of a chimpanzee , a thumb fossil hominins Australopithecus africanus and two speices of early humans . The bottom row shows 3D renderings from the scans of the same specimens , showing a cross section of thetrabecular structure inside  Dr Matthew Skinner and Dr Tracy Kivell from Kent University analysed on the internal spongy structure of bone called trabeculae .  This remodels quickly during a lifetime and can reflect the behaviour of individuals , as well as how they use their hands .  The researchers compared scans of Australopithecus africanus and modern ape hand bones with scans of hand bones from modern species .  This included a 90 , 000 year old Homo sapiens , two roughly 60 , 000 year old Neandertals , Romans and Egyptian Nubians who lived between about 1 , 500 and 2 , 000 years ago .  Researchers have found that our early ancestors may have had the ability to use stone tools more than half a million years earlier . Pictured is an example of a human precision grip , grasping an Australopithecus africanus thumb fossil which is thought to be two to three million years old  Far from being the fumbling creatures , a look at fossils of Australopithecus africanus reveals the species had human like hands capable of ' squeeze ' gripping . Pictured is a pattern of trabecular bone distribution the spongy part of the hand in Australopithecus africanus ( left ) , Neanderthals ( centre ) and Homo sapiens ( right )  Australopithecus africanus was one of the longest lived early human species . So far , paleoanthropologists have uncovered remains from more than 300 individuals in Eastern Africa . Pictured is an artist ' s impression  They found humans and Neanderthals had hands capable of holding items between the thumb and fingertips .  The researchers found that Australopithecus africanus had human like hands that were capable of precision grips .  This would have helped them squeeze small objects , such a stone tools .  These early members of the human family tree also had an opposable thumb .  These hand features may have evolved from earlier human ancestors that hadlong fingers and short thumbs , which climbing trees .  The researchers said it is possible the patterns in the bone were created by handling stone flakes and cutting meat .  It is equally plausible that they could be using it to access various vegetable materials like potatoes , yams , they said .  The Australopithecus africanus fossils , excavated at South Africa ' s Swartkrans Cave , had concentrations of spongy bone at the base of the thumb and in the knuckles of the third and fifth fingers similar to homo sapiens .  Meanwhile , chimpanzees , gorillas , orangutans and gibbons show a different pattern of spongy bone distribution in their hands , caused by tree climbing .  This means that even if Australopithecus africanus had not been considered as toolmakers before , they were at least prepared to handle stone tools with a precision grip .  The researchers said it is possible the patterns in the bone were created by handling stone flakes and cutting meat .  It is equally plausible that they could be using it to access various vegetable materials like potatoes , yams , they said .  Their findings cast doubt on the long standing assumption that Homo habilis was the first hominin toolmaker .  It follows research that emerged last week he first conversation between our ancestors was about  and likely took place between 2 . 5 to 1 . 8 million years ago .  This study found stone tool making drove the evolution of language among our human ancestors in the African savannah .  Researchers found clear differences between humans , who have the ability for precision gripping between thumb and fingers , and chimpanzees , who are unable to do this . Fossils analysis revealed Australopithecus africanus ( second left ) , also had a human like trabecular bone pattern  Australopithecus africanus had ape like face proportions , including a flat nose , a strongly projecting lower jaw  Fossil bones of Australopithecus africanus were previously excavated at South Africa ' s Swartkrans Cave  It suggests communication among our earliest ancestors may have been more complex than previously thought , and that tool making helped drive evolution .  Australopithecus africanus was one of the longest lived early human species . So far , paleoanthropologists have uncovered remains from more than 300 individuals in Eastern Africa .  The species survived for more than 900 , 000 years , which is over four times as humans .  Previous studies into Australopithecus africanus has found that they had a mixture of primitive features and of more advanced features typical of later human species .  Their children grew rapidly after birth and reached adulthood earlier than modern humans .  They had ape like face proportions , including a flat nose , a strongly projecting lower jaw . They are believed to have had small brains , which were a third of the size of a human brain .  Marks ( shown in the green boxes ) suggest the use of the bone fragment for carved sharpening the cutting edges of stone tools  Neanderthals have a reputation for being lumbering , cavemen with low IQs , but a new discovery suggests they may have been more intelligent than we think .  A 60 , 000 year old multi purpose bone tool unearthed in France suggests Neanderthals understood how to use bones to make useful devices .  This skill was previously attributed to our species , Homo sapiens , and casts a new light on evolution 250 , 000 to 28 , 000 years ago .  ' This is the first time a multi purpose bone tool from this period has been discovered , ' said Luc Doyon from the University of Montreal .  ' It was long thought that before Homo sapiens , other species did not have the cognitive ability to produce this type of artefact .  ' This discovery reduces the presumed gap between the two species and prevents us from saying that one was technically superior to the other . '  The tool was uncovered during annual digs at the Grotte du Bison at Arcy sur Cure in Burgundy , France .  Extremely well preserved , the tool comes from the left femur of an adult reindeer and its age is estimated between 55 , 000 and 60 , 000 years old .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
4576,4577,"The stars may finally be aligning for a comprehensive immigration overhaul . Whatever the reasons and there are many it ' s about time .  During my two terms as governor of a border state , there were times when I was hopeful for a breakthrough . But political fear mongering often ruled the day as immigrants and drugs illegally crossed into the United States and weapons flowed to the south . With every border flare up , the American public and their elected leaders put immigration on the back burner .  I am encouraged by the news that a bipartisan group of senators has crafted a plan and is working on building consensus toward a political way forward . The Congressional Hispanic Caucus is also taking an active role and showing leadership on this issue . My hope is that we end up with a truly comprehensive solution that does not tear families apart .  Opinion : Worker visas are the key to immigration reform  A comprehensive plan should create a path to earned citizenship , enforceable border security , a realistic guest worker plan , accountability for employers that hire illegal immigrants and passage of the  Act .  We have a window of opportunity now that didn ' t exist before because immigration is at a low point , and addressing the issue makes more sense politically .  Our struggle to recover from the financial crisis doesn ' t just mean fewer jobs for Americans the lack of work has also deterred many would be immigrants , especially those who come to America to find construction and manufacturing jobs .  The U . S . Census Bureau estimates that we have nearly 1 million fewer illegal immigrants living in America than we did in 2007 . Census officials say the economy is the primary reason for the decline . The aging population and the growing middle class in Mexico may also be factors that explain the new trend .  While nobody is celebrating the poor economy and the lack of jobs , the reality that illegal immigration isn ' t seen as a "" crisis "" at the moment , gives us the opportunity to have a reasoned debate , without the unnecessary rhetoric , and finally enact a comprehensive immigration plan .  With a stable and reasonable immigration system in place , I believe we ' ll have more opportunities for bilateral economic growth and trade between the United States and Mexico . That will mean more jobs on both sides of the border .  Politically , the results of the recent election strongly suggest this is the moment for reform .  First , President Barack Obama is following through on his promise to make an immigration overhaul a priority , using the good will he earned with the Hispanic constituencies , and will announce his proposals Tuesday .  Second , many Republicans in Congress realize that they need a new political strategy if they have any hope of bouncing back from the devastating losses they are experiencing with Hispanic voters .  iReport : Under deportation , above fear  Hispanics of all ethnic backgrounds are embracing Democratic candidates and their message of inclusiveness and opportunity for all . Opposition to immigration overhaul , including the demonization of foreign born families that look to America for opportunity , is hurting Republicans at the polls .  Third , the Supreme Court ruled emphatically that immigration is the responsibility of the federal government , not the states . While I am certainly sympathetic as a former governor with the issues that states must deal with as a result of illegal immigration , the onus is on Congress to pass an immigration plan .  Unless we come to grips with all aspects of the immigration issue , we are going to end up with the same impractical , expensive and ineffective solutions we have had for years .  The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Bill Richardson .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
4580,4581,"Paul Scholes has labelled Louis van Gaal a ' mad genius ' as the Manchester United manager prepares for his first Barclays Premier League game against Swanseaon Saturday .  Scholes says the Dutch coach is prone to ' going off his head ' when his team fail to follow orders during training sessions or matches .  The former United midfielder , also criticised his former club for failing to bid for Toni Kroos , signed by Real Madrid for 20million , or former Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas .   Scroll down to watch Paul Scholes say Schweinsteiger asked for his shirt  Criticism : Man United legend Paul Scholes believes the club should have signed a world class midfielder  Instant respect : Louis van Gaal is a mad genius and is prone to ' going off his head ' , according to Scholes  ' From what I ' ve seen ( Van Gaal ) looks a bit mad . He ' s a bit like a mad genius , a bit crazy . He ' s obviously very good at his job from where he ' s been . I ' ve not seen him work but I have seen clips on the telly and one moment he ' s hugging someone for doing a great pass and the next , if something ' s not right , he ' s going off his head . He ' s brought a bit of fear , which is no bad thing .  ' I played for 20 years for Sir Alex Ferguson and he could be a scary man . Fear can bring performances from you . There ' s no doubt these players need to perform this year . If they don ' t , I don ' t think they ' ll be there for very long .  ' Players will know where they stand , which is what you want . You knew where you stood with Sir Alex from what you ' d done on the Saturday . If you ' d done well , he ' d pat you on the back . If you hadn ' t , you probably wouldn ' t be playing the next week . '  United finished seventh in the Premier League last season and fired manager David Moyes in April after they lost to Everton .  Presence : Scholes compared Van Gaal to former boss Sir Alex Ferguson and said both are ' scary ' managers  Now Scholes believes Champions League qualification will be seen as a success in Van Gaal ' s first season , insisting they have no chance of winning the title .  ' Success will be the Champions League , ' he said . ' It ' s between City and Chelsea ( for the title ) . The next two places are between United , Liverpool and Arsenal .  ' There are a lot of players in that ( United ) team who have won leagues before . They are capable of getting close . We ' ll have to see how good the manager is , and if he can bring a couple more players in , although he might think he has enough as it is . Chelsea and Man City have got stronger squads but in the end , squads don ' t matter it ' s what you do on the field .  ' In May , hopefully United will be proving people like me wrong . '  In the hotseat : Scholes believes Champions League qualification will be seen as a success during Van Gaal ' s first season in charge   Januzaj new no11 , van Gaal chasing Rojo  Scholes was puzzled by United ' s failure to bid for world class players such as Kroos , Bastian Schweinsteiger or former Arsenal midfielder Fabregas .  ' A Fabregas , a Toni Kroos or a Schweinsteiger could add real quality to the team , but that ' s up to the manager , ' Scholes added .  He also claimed confidence was at an all time low at United when he was brought in with Ryan Giggs for the final four games of last season after Moyes ' dismissal .   Sport ' s new pundit has dismissed Arsenal ' s title chances , despite their 3 0 victory over champions Manchester City in the Community Shield last weekend .  ' ( Alexis ) Sanchez is a good signing but is that the type of player they need ? ' he said . ' They needed a top centre half and a strong midfield player . If they had that , they could challenge . '  World class : Scholes believes Real Madrid signing Toni Kroos and Chelsea new boy Cesc Fabregas were the only top level midfielders available this summer  Not needed ? Scholes admites Alexis Sanchez is a good signing but believes Arsenal need a top centre back  Manchester United v Swansea City is one of 38 Barclays Premier League matches exclusively live on  Sport this season along with top games from the  Cup ,  Europa League and live action from more top flight football leagues than any other   provider .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,past
4582,4583,"Is obesity a disability or a self inflicted condition triggered by a lack of willpower and overeating ?  And should people who are overweight be protected by the same discrimination laws that were put in place to shield those who are wheel chair bound , people with learning difficulties , hearing and visual impairments or those with autism spectrum disorders ?  A landmark test case being brought before judges at the European Court of Justice today has sparked a vigorous debate on the issue .  The result of it may mean British companies will have to treat obese workers as ' disabled ' , making allowances for their size by providing larger seats and parking spaces closer to the office .  A landmark test case is being brought before judges at the European Court of Justice today by Karsten Kaltoft , pictured , which could result in obesity being classed as a disability for employers in the   Mr Kaltoft was sacked by his local authority in Denmark for being unable to perform his duties as a childminder because of his 25 stone size  Karsten Kaltoft is taking action after he was sacked by his local authority in Denmark for being unable to perform his duties as a childminder , due to his size .  The council , Billund Kommune , claimed the 25 stone childminder was so fat that he required help from a colleague to tie up children ' s shoelaces .  If successful in redefining obesity as a disability , Mr Kaltoft ' s lawyers could force widespread changes in the way bosses deal with staff .  Currently in the  the law is clear , the Equality Act 2010 refrained from classing obesity as a disability .  Instead the Government definition is that a person is ' disabled under the Equality Act 2010 , if they have a physical or mental impairment that has a ' substantial ' and ' long term ' negative effect on a person ' s ability to do normal daily activities . '  However for many people living with a disability , they self define themselves as such , basing their disability more on the barriers society puts in the way of them leading the life they wish .  For someone bound to a wheelchair steps to a cinema or restaurant , can provide a barrier and as a result a person is likely to class themselves as disabled .  Debating the issue on today ' s Good Morning Britain , writer and broadcaster Carole Malone and journalist Ursula Hirschkorn , explored both sides of the issue .  Ms Hirschkorn said : ' I am not sure it ( obesity ) should be treated as a disabilty .  ' But what he is trying to say is if you are going to have anti discrimination laws , they need to be universal .  ' Should it distinguish between what employees you are going to protect and those you are not going to protect ?  Journalist Ursula Hirschkorn ( left ) and broadcaster and writer Carole Malone ( right ) debated this issue on today ' s Good Morning Britain  ' It is not about saying if I am fat I am disabled , rather it is about if I can ' t do my job because I am fat , I deserve the same protection as someone who can ' t do their job because they are disabled , or pregnant . '  But journalist and writer Ms Malone argued obesity is not a disability , rather a self inflicted condition brought on by people who cannot resist the urge to eat .  When asked whether people should be protected by anti discrimination laws because they are obese , she said : ' Not in the case of people who self inflict their disability .  ' In the case of this Danish guy , he was 25st . All he needed to do was eat less doughnuts and less Danish pastries and he would have been able to bend down and tie the children ' s shoe laces .  Ms Malone argued in ' 95 per cent of cases ' obesity is self inflicted ' by people lacking discipline and self control '  ' But because he didn ' t , he couldn ' t . And clearly is literally not fit enough to look after those kids .  ' If you can ' t bend down to tie your shoe lace you can ' t help them if they fall down , you can ' t react quickly enough if something happens .  ' That man was clearly not suited to that job . '  Challenging Ms Malone ' s suggestion that ' obesity is self inflicted in 95 per cent of cases ' , Ms Hirschkorn branded the statement ' unfair ' .  She said : ' At the end of the day if you are completely drunk and take a dive into a shallow swimming pool and end up disabled , that is self inflicted .  ' I am not saying that person should not be protected but equally you don ' t know why people become fat , the vast majority of people become fat because they have psychological issues or health problems . '  Ms Malone responded : ' That is simply not true . We are both , I would say , a bit overweight ( to which Ms Hirschkorn agreed ) . There is no disability , no psychological problem , I am overweight .  ' The majority of people who are overweight have psychological problems , no they don ' t . The majority of people who are overweight have no discipline and no self control . '  She added : ' The Equality Act 2010 ruled that obesity is not a disability .  ' What is going to happen if this court ruling happens , it is going to punish people who are overweight because employers will not employ fat people , or people they think might get fat .  ' Why should you get special treatment if you have abused your body knowingly that is what a lot of obese people do .  ' People generally get fat , in 95 per cent of cases , because they eat too much . '  Disability charity Scope asked users and supporters for their views on the debate , via Twitter and Facebook , yesterday .  The overwhelming response from members of the public was that obesity should not be classed as a disability .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
4603,4604,7 hours ago 0   warns the American public of a Mainstream media  messaging campaign. GoFundMe Alternative Media Television!     Leave a Reply Login with your Social  Your email address will not be published. Name,fake,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,present
4630,4631,"The biggest near term unintended consequence of the Obama Democrats ' decision to destroy the Senate filibuster will be the repeal of Obamacare .  Under the old Senate rules , a minority could use the filibuster to block undesired change .  It required 60 votes to run over a determined minority .  Even if the Republicans have a good outcome in 2014 and 2016 , there is a pretty good chance they will not win the 15 seats ( one third of their current total membership ) that would have been required to make major changes under the old Senate rules . Winning even 14 seats in the next two elections would have left them one short of a filibuster proof majority ( and that assumes all the Republicans would agree on repeal ) .  Now , with one clever move , the Obama Democrats have lowered the bar from 60 votes to 51 .  The odds of gaining six seats from the current 45 are dramatically better than trying to pick up 15 seats .  For my entire career in the House , including when I was speaker , we were told again and again of the things we couldn ' t pass because they wouldn ' t get through a Senate filibuster . Now that inhibition is gone .  The Democrats will try to say they have only eliminated the filibuster for certain cases involving presidential appointees , not legislation . But what they have really eliminated is a longstanding principle of the Senate .  With a simple majority , Republicans could soon push through dramatic changes like the replacement of Obamacare because a liberal minority would have no tools to stop it .  In 2016 , every Republican candidate for House , Senate , and president will be asked if he or she is committed to replacing Obamacare in the first 100 days . Virtually all of them will pledge to do so .  The opportunity for a breakout from the entire obsolete bureaucratic structure is now enormous . This makes the 2014 and 2016 elections among the highest stakes of any in recent memory .  When Obamacare disappears with a simple majority vote in the Senate , thank President Obama and Senator Reid for the new Senate rules which made it possible . It all started this week . It will end around March 1 , 2017 . The die has been cast .  The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Newt Gingrich .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
4631,4632,"A disgraced Nigerian doctor who killed a British man by injecting him with a massive dose of painkillers is now suing a German author because he mentioned the incident in his book .  Daniel Ubani killed David Gray after giving him ten times the correct amount of diamorphine at his home in Cambridgeshire while he was working a locum .  He is already trying to sue the victim ' s son for branding him a killer despite a coroner ruling the death was manslaughter .  Now he wants judges at Cologne State Court to rule against author Dr Udo Ulfkotte , claiming that no mention should be made again of the incident or that he is Nigerian by birth .  Legal action : Nigerian doctor Daniel Ubani ( left ) is suing German author Dr Udo Ulfkotte ( right ) for mentioning the fact that he killed a British patient by injecting him with ten times the correct dose of painkillers  Dr Ulfkotte , 50 , who currently has a book at number three in the bestselling chart in Germany called ' Bought Journalism ' , is aghast at the lawsuit which he promises to fight ' tooth and nail . '  He said : ' If I was Dr Ubani , I would be ashamed to be involved in this after what he did .  ' At first , my publisher and I laughed when we got his lawyer ' s letter , but he is deadly serious .  ' He thinks no mention should ever be made again of his mistake which caused a man to die . '  Ubani ' s latest attempt to silence anyone who mentions the incident comes at a time when he is still involved in litigation against Dr Rory Gray , son of the man he killed , who also lives in Germany .  Ubani , who lives in the west German industrial town of Witten , went to the  in 2008 as a locum because he wanted extra money .  He was working for an out of hours medical service when he gave 70 year old Mr Gray a fatal injection in Cambridgeshire .  Ubani confused the amount of painkiller he should give renal patient Mr Gray and injected him with ten times the dosage of diamorphine he should have done .  Mr Gray died within minutes at his home in Manea , Cambridgeshire , on 16 February 2008 .  Dr Ubani is seeking tens of thousands of pounds in compensation from Dr Ulfkotte over a passage in his 2011 book called ' Nightmare Migration ' ( above ) which mentions the incident in which he killed David Gray in 2008  Coroner William Morris later ruled his death ' gross negligence and manslaughter ' and issued 11 recommendations to the Department of Health for the improvement of out of hours  services .  An arrest warrant was issued in the  for Ubani to be extradited to stand trial .  But he cut a dubious deal with German prosecutors that allowed him to receive a fine by post together with a nine month suspended jail sentence for causing death by negligence .  His ability to work in Germany was never questioned despite the fact he was struck off by the General Medical Council (  ) in Britain .  He refused to attend the inquest into his victim and the medical hearings which barred him from ever working in Britain again .  The German Doctors Chamber , the equivalent of the  in the  , wanted Ubani struck off .  But they are powerless to force him to go while he still retains the support of the local authority which licenses him .  David Gray ' s sons Dr Stuart Gray , who lives in Kidderminster , Worcestershire , and his brother Rory , who works as a European Space Agency scientist in Darmstadt , have been campaigning to get Ubani struck off in Germany .  Rory Gray is still battling demands from Ubani for compensation after he branded him a killer and a charlatan at a plastic surgery conference he was speaking at five years ago .  Now Dr Ulfkotte , 50 , finds himself enmeshed in litigation , with Ubani seeking tens of thousands of pounds in compensation .  It stems from a passage in a book written by him called ' Nightmare Migration ' in 2011 about the effects of immigration on societies in Europe .  ' Part of this , a very small part , was articles taken from the  and from British newspapers about the Ubani case , ' said Dr Ulfkotte .  ' It mentioned what he did and the death of Dr Gray . It was not racist and never intended to be .  ' It wasn ' t until just recently that myself and my publisher received from Ubani ' s lawyers his complaint that the book violates his human rights and that no mention should be made of his name or this incident , or indeed his race , the fact that he is barred from ever working as a doctor in the  again or the fact that he had ever worked there .  ' It is crazy . It was a very small chapter and it was all true . I do not know how he can carry on like this considering what he did to Mr Gray . '  The hearing against him and his publisher is scheduled for May 20 .  He said : ' I am confident that common sense will prevail but you never know what will happen in a courtroom .  ' Even if he loses , I am sure he will appeal all the way to the European Court of Justice . He thinks he is a supreme medical man who should never be challenged . '  Dr Ubani has not responded to calls requesting comment .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
4635,4636,""" I don ' t consider criminal background checks to be gun control . ""  Republican U . S . Sen . Pat Toomey made this profound statement earlier this week while announcing a bipartisan Senate agreement to expand background checks to almost all gun purchasers .  Toomey is absolutely correct . Background checks are not about gun control , they ' re about human safety . Having checks will make it more difficult for criminals and the insane to obtain guns .  Yet , despite polls showing that over 90 of Americans support universal background checks , it took a "" breakthrough "" deal to get this proposal simply to a vote by the U . S . Senate . What ' s worse , there ' s no guarantee this legislation will pass the Republican controlled House .  The second big issue is the death of Great Britain ' s former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher . Is the fawning over her justified or did her failings outweigh her accomplishments ?  And third , is the new song by country singer Brad Paisley and rapper  Cool J , titled , "" The Accidental Racist , "" racially insensitive , or in today ' s hypersensitive climate is it simply impossible to discuss race without causing an outcry ?  To listen to this episode of "" The Big Three , "" click on the Soundcloud audio player on this page . Or you can find us on iTunes .  Here ' s a brief summary of this week ' s episode :  1 . Gun safety laws  John Avlon discussed the cowardice of the Republican senators who threatened a filibuster to prevent a vote on the proposed universal background check law , a point he also raised in his most recent column . Margaret Hoover a reasonable voice on the right ( almost an oxymoron ) agreed that Republican senators like Ted Cruz could cause the entire  to appear as extremists if they prevented a vote on this proposal via filibuster . I made the case that we need to stop calling these measures "" gun control "" laws and instead label them as "" human safety "" laws because the focus is on saving lives , not grabbing guns .  I also raised the point : Is the second amendment out of date ? It was enacted when we had 13 states , a population of 4 million and muskets . Should we consider revising or repealing the second amendment to bring it up to date with today ' s world so that owning guns is a privilege rather than a right ?  2 . Death of Margaret Thatcher  Margaret Hoover , a big Thatcher fan , shared the thrill of meeting the former prime minister years ago . I refused to speak ill of the recently deceased Thatcher . So instead , I read excerpts from a recent op ed penned by British comedian Russell Brand ( we all know comedians tend to write the best opinion pieces ) . Brand was highly critical of Thatcher ' s reign . John and Margaret both defended Thatcher from Brand ' s allegations that she was an uncaring person who favored the wealthy at the expense of the working class .  3 . ' The Accidental Racist '  Paisley and  Cool J recorded a song in the hopes of easing racial tension and fostering more understanding . Instead , their song was met by almost universal criticism . Some said the lyrics are culturally insensitive , others said it ' s just bad . All three of us agreed that some of the lyrics were ridiculous , such as  Cool J ' s line : "" If you don ' t judge my gold chains I ' ll forget the iron chains . "" Was  really saying that if a White man doesn ' t judge his choice of flashy jewelry , then Black Americans should forget slavery ? But the bigger point we discussed is that it ' s almost impossible to talk about race in America without being attacked by people on both the far left and far right . I also tell a joke about "" White people "" that I had performed last month on a  show that generated an avalanche of angry tweets and e mails . Just shows , we ' ve gone a long way to go .  We hope you will give a listen to this episode of "" The Big Three "" and let us know what you think about the issues we discussed .  The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Dean Obeidallah .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
4648,4649,"AMATRICE, Italy  —   The chaos came in the middle of the night. People were screaming and dying in the darkness across Amatrice, a summer getaway in central Italy famous as the birthplace of a pasta dish made with tomatoes and pork cheeks. It was 3:36 a. m. when the 6. 2 magnitude earthquake hit, followed by a succession of strong aftershocks  —   including one nearly as strong an hour later  —   that flattened houses and buried residents in the rubble. Amatrice was the worst hit by the quake, which also damaged surrounding towns. As of Thursday morning, the deaths totaled 241, officials said. “Half the town no longer exists,” Mayor Sergio Pirozzi of Amatrice told reporters on Wednesday morning. He might have been too optimistic. By midday Amatrice, a quiet mountain town about 100 miles northeast of Rome, felt more like a ghost town. Ambulances raced along windy roads clogged with traffic and rubble as rescue teams searched for survivors. Using picks, shovels and hands, they scrabbled through the dust and debris of crumbled homes. They brought in dogs to sniff for the dead and injured beneath collapsed concrete and stone. A soft white dust was still swirling about the rubble piled   in Amatrice. Stunned survivors  —   some with   cheeks, others still wearing pajamas  —   wandered through the streets, unsure what to do. A father, holding a small child, pushed a wobbly stroller piled with plastic bags of clothing over a rocky path. A young girl sobbed into her mobile phone. “It’s all gone, the bar, the house, everything,” she said. The initial quake was comparable in intensity to one in 2009 in the central Abruzzo region that killed more than 300 people. The quake and aftershocks were felt as far away as Bologna, Rome and Naples. Camps were set up to house hundreds of homeless, and the authorities were also trying to account for an unknown number of tourists. “The number of missing people is undefined at the moment,” Immacolata Postiglione, the head of the emergency unit at Italy’s Civil Protection Agency, said at a news conference in Rome. With a permanent population of about 2, 000, Amatrice is a place where people know one another. Many had ties to Rome in one way or another, working there in the winter, running restaurants, bars and hotels, as food has always been part of the town’s culture. “If you closed the restaurants in Rome run by Amatriciani, you’d close half the restaurants,” said Maria Prassede Perilli, a resident who had been visiting her sister in Rome when the quake struck. Ms. Perilli said she had rushed back after her husband, Giacomo, called in the middle of the night in a frightened voice, telling her, “There’s been a terrible earthquake, you can’t even imagine. ” Her husband survived, she said, but his sisters and niece did not. The couple’s house was crushed. “It’s flat, like a book,” she said. For many residents who worked in Rome, August was the traditional month of rest and relaxation, enjoying Amatrice’s mild climate and fresh air after months of Roman smog. “You had dinners in the piazza, long tables with lots of people, someone would bring out a guitar to sing,” Ms. Perilli said. “It’s the mountain, it’s a good place to be. ” It was especially wrenching for her to bump into shocked friends and acquaintances. “They can’t find Alessandra, they can’t find Alessandra,” one woman who approached said of her niece, buried under the rubble along with her mother. Ms. Perilli commiserated. “I don’t want to listen to anything any more. It’s all: ‘Did you hear that he died, did you know that that entire family was buried wife, husband, child.’ I just can’t take it,” she said, eyes tearing. “I feel as though I am in a dream, and I’m hoping that one moment I’ll wake up. ” Nearby, diggers were lifting rubble into trucks. “Will they ever be able to rebuild this?” Ms. Perilli said. “It seems like the end of an era. ” Rescue teams representing a spectrum of police and armed forces, local civil protection agencies from around the country, as well as medical staff members worked through the day searching for survivors, but more often finding the dead. “This is positive as soon as the earthquake struck, people came from all over to help,” said Riza Sinani, a nurse from the nearby town of Rieti. “That doesn’t happen in every country, this outpouring of humanity and good will. ” Several people in Amatrice said the town had been full of tourists who came for the coming weekend’s annual Sagra dell’Amatriciana festival, which celebrates Amatrice’s native pasta sauce, using cured pork cheek known as guanciale, and grated pecorino cheese. The festival has been canceled. As sympathy and offers of support poured in from around the world, Pope Francis led pilgrims at St. Peter’s Square in praying for the victims, clutching a rosary in his right hand, and Prime Minister Matteo Renzi went to Rieti. Mr. Renzi praised rescue workers and volunteers and vowed to rebuild  —   a promise particularly important for Italians still furious about the long delays in reconstruction after the 2009 quake. The area’s most significant monument, the Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi, was unharmed, as were monuments in the city of Perugia. “We were saved by a miracle,” said Stefania Proietti, the mayor of Assisi, where in 1997 a devastating earthquake caused casualties and extensive damage to the city, destroying frescoes by Giotto and Cimabue in the basilica. For those in Amatrice, the immediate focus was on essentials: who was alive, and who was dead, or missing. Among those awaiting information was Laura Besanzoni, who stood behind a ribbon that cordoned off the main street, the Corso Umberto. A few palazzos still stood along the street, but piles of rubble lined both sides, offering glimpses of bright blue sky. “It’s like being in one of those countries at war,” Ms. Besanzoni said, looking at the devastation. Her family’s palazzo was left standing, she said, but she had no news of an aunt and two cousins. “We don’t know if they are dead or alive,” she said. Makeshift human corridors were created to bring people out. Some were alive, others were not. As one body was passed, wrapped in a plastic cover, one woman wailed: “That looks like Manuela’s hand!” A   convent on the edge of town was virtually destroyed by the quake, the top two floors crushing the bottom. A young nun managed to escape, but said she feared that three nuns and four retirees had been buried. A high school teacher from Rome who vacations here every August said her home on the central Corso Umberto had been severely damaged but had not collapsed. The teacher, who identified herself only by her first name, Ilde, said the quake had struck with a loud bang. The buildings across the street from her and next door were destroyed. “Only the town tower was standing,” she said, describing scenes of panic, her neighbors screaming for help in the dark. “It was Dante’s ‘Inferno,’ it was apocalyptic, I don’t know,” she said. When rescuers came to escort her from her home, she said, she walked on rubble at least 10 to 13 feet high. In one square, families waited for news while diggers began tackling a pile of bricks and stones that had once been a home. One man had lost his father. Another, an uncle. “I can’t think of how many may still be in the rubble,” said one woman whose house withstood the quake while the neighboring ones did not. Amatrice is in an area prone to earthquakes, she said, “but we’ve never felt anything as violent as this. ” In the nearby Marche region, the village of Arquata del Tronto and the hamlet of Pescara del Tronto, also suffered major destruction. “When I arrived at the break of day, I saw a destroyed village, screams, death,” Bishop Giovanni D’Ercole of Ascoli Piceno, who visited Pescara del Tronto, told Vatican Radio. “I went to bless the bodies of two children buried under the rubble. ”",true,news,test,Football,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
4651,4652,"Reuters) - Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said on Thursday he hoped to have a wall along the southern U.S. border with Mexico finished within two years, according to an interview with Fox News. “The wall will be built where it’s needed first, and then it will be filled in. That’s the way I look at it,” Kelly said in the interview. “I really hope to have it done within the next two years.” He added he thought funding from Congress for the massive project would come “relatively quickly.” ",true,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
4672,4673,"A rigorous green certification system is recognizing the next phase of eco design , which its founders describe as "" the world ' s greenest buildings . ""  Founded by Jason F . McLennan in 2006 through the Cascadia Green Building Council , the Living Building Challenge (  ) is a green ratings system for design and construction that judges a building based on its actual performance , not just its projected performance at the design stage .  To date , it has recognized six buildings for their green credentials . Only three have been successful in meeting all its stringent requirements and consequently fully certified as "" living . ""  "" These are the world ' s greenest buildings , "" says McLennan . "" It is a huge leap forward from conventional green construction . These buildings will never get an energy or water bill again . ""  Projects must be in operation for a minimum of 12 months before they become eligible to participate in the challenge and they can only achieve "" living "" status after fulfilling requirements in the categories of site , water , energy , health , materials , equity and beauty .  "" It takes about 14 16 months to go through the certification process and we are a rigorous process so there are not that many buildings fully certified , "" says McLennan .  Read more : The greenest buildings of 2011  He adds : "" The ones that are ( certified ) are game changers because they become more than a building . They create a whole community of changed people around them . ""  The International Living Future Institute , a non profit that was created to take over running the  since its inception , hopes its guidelines will change current green construction philosophy and become as powerful as eco building ratings system Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design , or  as it is better known . But unlike  ,  does not certify new buildings based on measurements of their actual performance .  McLennan says : "" You ' d be surprised no green standards actually go and check if the project is fulfilling what they had planned to do . We knew in reality buildings typically don ' t perform the way they are intended so we wanted to rectify this and base our challenge on reality . ""  The  was created to encourage the creation of living buildings , sites and communities globally as well as educate people about the importance of going green . The non profit has been working closely with projects and regulatory bodies to aid experimental green design construction .  Read more : Solar powered ' supertrees ' breathe life into Singapore ' s urban oasis  It has already been recognized as a credible contender in green building standards by winning global design competition The Buckminster Fuller Challenge earlier this month .  In the official statement , the jurors said the "" Living Building Challenge successfully shows how humans and their built environment can be harmoniously , benignly integrated within ecosystems .  "" Above all , its rigorous standards and daringly innovative , revolutionary approach to building are already having a considerable impact on the thinking of designers and architects around the world , influencing all levels of design and technological approaches , radically pushing forward the field . ""  Read more : ' Vertical farm ' blossoms at meatpacking plant  McLennan seems somewhat surprised by the rapid recognition and success the  has had internationally . He says : "" Without any international marketing budget , we ' ve launched something bigger than ourselves . We have become a meme in a way an idea that develops its own legs and begins to travel . ""  Initially starting with projects in the United States and Canada , the green performance based ratings system now has registered projects in Australia , France , Lebanon , Mexico , and New Zealand , amongst others , and interest from like minded groups in Colombia , Ireland and Romania .  "" We hope to be training certifiers in those countries , "" says McLennan . "" In Australia , we have three projects that are underway . We are in discussions with many leading thinkers about ideas working to create the Australian institute .  "" They would be the governing body for the Living Building project tied into a global network of ambassadors , collaboratives and institutes around the world for the transformation of society . . . It ' s about changing the world and building a network of people . ""  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
4678,4679,"Los Angeles The Los Angeles Police Department can have access to personal tape recordings between Charles Manson follower Charles D . "" Tex "" Watson and his late attorney that investigators believe might hold clues to unsolved killings , a federal judge in Texas ruled Tuesday .  U . S . District Court Judge Richard Schell ruled that Watson waived his right to attorney client privilege in 1976 by allowing his attorney to sell the tapes for 49 , 000 to the man who co authored Watson ' s memoir .   investigators want the decades old recordings between Watson and his attorneys because they believe the tapes could shed light on unsolved killings involving the "" family , "" as Manson ' s followers were called , according to court documents .  "" It is our understanding that there is a 30 day window for appeal , and we will wait for that to time to transpire before we send our detectives to Texas . ""  The news of the judge ' s ruling came the same day that California Department of Corrections authorities said they arrested a Mason follower , accusing him of attempting to smuggle a cell phone to Manson at Corcoran State Prison .  For more than four decades , authorities have speculated the Manson family was responsible for the rampage that left pregnant actress Sharon Tate and six others dead , including Leno and Rosemary LaBianca .  Manson has claimed more people were killed , though he has repeatedly made fantastic claims that later turn out to be false .  Gov . Brown nixes release of former Manson follower  Watson has long maintained there is nothing for authorities to gain with the recordings .  Watson , Manson and three others Susan Atkins , Patricia Krenwinkel and Leslie Van Houten were convicted of murder in the killings .  The gruesome murders were chronicled in the best seller "" Helter Skelter . "" In the court ruling , the judge notes "" Watson expresses concern that the contents of the recordings may be hurtful to the families of his victims in the Tate LaBianca murders . ""  Judge gives tapes to  in ' Manson family ' investigation  The tapes are about eight hours of recordings between Watson and his attorney from 1969 , Bill Boyd of McKinney , Texas , according to court papers . Boyd died in 2009 .  According to court documents , Watson waived his attorney client privilege to the tapes in 1976 , and his attorney received partial payment for his legal fees when he gave a copy of the tapes to Chaplain Raymond G . Hoekstra , who subsequently co authored the book , "" Will You Die for Me : The Man Who Killed for Charles Manson Tells His Own Story . ""  In court filings , Watson requested "" that the Tapes not be turned over to the  , because they are not a creditor to my late attorney Bill Boyd , God rest his soul "" and "" because repercussions of the motion have not been fully considered by all parties concerned .  Added Watson in court documents : "" . . . this case is high notoriety , with much media attention . For this reason , special consideration should be made with who takes possession of The Tapes , so they will not be misused for purposes unintended by the court and that could be hurtful to the families of the victims . ""  Charles Manson denied parole again  Watson , 66 , was convicted of seven counts of first degree murder and has been denied parole 16 times . He will be considered again in 2016 , according to the California Department of Corrections .  2011 : Tex Watson denied parole  2008 : The results of dig at Manson ranch site  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
4735,4736,"Expects 400 Billion Bid for His Baby   , D . C . Vice President Al Gore has put the Internet up for sale on auction site eBay , explaining that while he will miss his creation , he needs money to duel Republican presidential contender George W . Bush in the stretch run to November .  "" It ' s been fun , and I ' m very proud of having invented it , but I think the Internet will do just fine without me at the helm every day , "" said Gore , who has set the minimum bid at 1 , but hopes to make 400 billion on the sale . The auction will last for 10 days .  Bush wasted no time in criticizing the auction , insisting Gore did not create the entire Internet , as the vice president has previously claimed .  "" It is the height of hubris , very high up , very tall , for my opposition to claim dibs on the Internet , "" said Bush , speaking off microphone to running mate Dick Cheney . "" I ' ll tell you right now , he should not be claiming as his part the Texas part . I have been an integrated supporter of the high Texas industry in tech , so that part , that Texas Tech part , of the Internet , that ' s really mine , and , I think , Texas A M too . ""  Bush aides , meanwhile , questioned the sale on "" influence "" grounds , arguing that whoever buys the Internet from Gore will be making what is in essence a massive campaign contribution , and will therefore exert undue control over the vice president .  "" Mr Gore and his bureacRATS in the DemocRATic Party will be beholden to whichever rich plutocRAT or plutocRATS bids the most , "" said Bush spokesman Neil Henley , who insisted his rather peculiar inflection was the result of a sinus infection and that nothing should be read into it . "" We believe the sale by    A RATher questionable thing for the Vice PresiRAT to do . ""  In response , a Gore spokeswoman insisted the Democratic campaign has placed safeguards into the auction to fight accusations of influence . "" The Vice President has personally prayed to Joe Lieberman to watch over the morality of this sale , "" said press aide Andrea Gartner .  ",satire,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,satire,True,no,no,neutral,present
4751,4752,"He might have been best known for his acting career , but Robin Williams , who has died aged 63 , was a cycling fanatic who counted among his friends Lance Armstrong and five time Tour de France winner Eddy Merckx .  When he was once asked how many bikes he owned , Williams quipped "" too many to count "" and he was an avid follower of the professional cycling scene .  British based Team Sky , which has dominated the sport in recent years with Tour de France winners Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome , was quick to pay tribute on its official Twitter feed .  "" RIPRobinWilliams . Thanks for the laughs , we were honoured to have your support . Our thoughts go to family friends , "" it read .  Williams ' interest in the sport appeared to be inspired by Armstrong , who was stripped of his seven Tour de France wins after admitting to using performance enhancing drugs in 2012 .  The Hollywood funnyman took part in the Ride for the Roses charity event in Texas , which was organized by Armstrong ' s foundation and Williams was a regular supporter on the Tour de France .  During a rest day of the 2002 Tour , Williams even rode out with Armstrong and his U . S . Postal team , proudly donning the squad ' s kit .  Through his appearances at cycling ' s most famous race , Williams also got to know Belgium legend Merckx , who dominated the sport in the 1970s with a string of victories in all of the major tours and one day classics .  "" I am shocked at Robin Williams ' death , "" Merckx was quoted on a Belgian radio station  Tuesday .  "" He had a great sense of humor and he was a cycling fanatic . He was above all a big friend of Lance Armstrong , but he knew me and what I had won .  "" If you are a cycling fanatic then you ' ve heard of Merckx . I ' ve cycled with him a few times over in America , "" the 69 year old added .  Armstrong took to Twitter to pay his tribute : ""  Robin . I will always remember you as one hell of a friend . I love you and will miss you terribly , "" he tweeted .  Complete coverage on Robin Williams  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,past
4758,4759,"MotoGP championship leader Casey Stoner claimed his 10th pole position of 2011 on Saturday to boost his bid for a ninth victory this season at the Japan Grand Prix .  After 14 of 18 meetings , the Australian holds a 44 point lead over world champion Jorge Lorenzo , who will start Sunday ' s race second on the grid for Yamaha at Motegi .  He broke Lorenzo ' s 2008 lap record with a time of one minute 45 . 267 seconds to earn his first pole at the circuit , where he won last year ' s race .  Stoner ' s teammate Andrea Dovizioso qualified third ahead of another Honda rider , Dani Pedrosa , while American Ben Spies claimed fifth for Yamaha .  Honda ' s Marco Simoncelli completed the third row for Honda , while fellow Italian and seven time world champion Valentino Rossi was seventh for Ducati .  Hiroshi Aoyama , in 11th , was the highest placed Japanese rider for what will be an emotional day .  Motorcycling ' s top names had initially refused to travel to Motegi due to health fears after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant was damaged during March ' s earthquake and tsunami .  They backed down after MotoGP officials refused to cancel the race , but Stoner arrived late to reduce any exposure to radiation and Lorenzo told reporters that he had been washing with bottled water despite experts insisting the Motegi area is safe from any fallout .  But the riders have helped raise 140 , 000 for the "" We are for Japan "" campaign , with Aoyama to present the check to local officials before the race .  "" Everything has gone very well so far this weekend . We ' ve been fastest in all but one session , so it ' s been fantastic , "" 2007 world champion Stoner told the MotoGP website .  "" We ' ll have to watch the weather as this will affect the set up . There ' s also a chance of rain , so it could get complicated . Jorge has been riding fantastic , as has Dovi and Dani , but there is no doubt that the Honda suits this track . ""  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,past
4787,4788,"Friends have told local media that she was active on Facebook dating groups , but investigators have yet to say , publicly at least , if that was how they met .  The Roanoke Times reported she was a keen user of the groups , with her last message being less than 24 hours before she left home .  In a statement , Blacksburg police would only say they knew each other . But not how .  Based on the evidence collected to date , investigators have determined that Eisenhauer and Nicole were acquainted prior to her disappearance . Eisenhauer used this relationship to his advantage to abduct the 13 year old and then kill her , the statement read .  Keepers then allegedly helped him dispose of Nicole s body .  Blacksburg Police Chief Anthony Wilson gave further hints when he told reporters police had to take apart the life of Nicole in the search for answers .  I m not going to go into all the specific pieces of it , but when the pieces did come together , Mr Eisenhauer was identified .   reported tips and leads about the case were found on social media .  Her mother Tammy Weeks told the Washington Post Nicole had met Eisenhauer online weeks ago , but didn t have anymore details .  Virginia Tech student David Eisenhauer . Picture : Blacksburg Police Department via APSource :   Virginia Tech student Natalie Keepers , who was arrested in connection with the death of Nicole Madison Lovell . Picture : Blacksburg Police Department via APSource :   Blacksburg police Lieutenant Mike Albert , right , listens as Blacksburg Police Chief Anthony Wilson speak during a news conference . Picture : Matt Gentry The Roanoke Times via APSource :   ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
4799,4800,"Manchester United have confirmed that former first team fitness coach Tony Strudwick has moved to a role working predominantly with the club ' s younger players .  Sportsmail revealed on Saturday that Strudwick ' s job in charge of first team fitness work and planning had been taken by manager Louis van Gaal ' s trusted aide Jos van Dijk . This switch was made at the start of the season .  Now United have confirmed the move , revealing that Strudwick ' s new title is head of athletic development .  Manchester United fitness coach Tony Strudwick is no longer working with Louis van Gaal ' s first team stars  United said : ' At the start of this season Tony took on the role of head of athletic development .  ' Tony is now overseeing the athletic development of all players , working with Louis van Gaal for the first team right through to Paul McGuinness in the Academy .  ' Introducing this new role and using Tony ' s invaluable experience in sports science , which spans over 20 years , shows the club ' s commitment on placing greater emphasis on developing players for long term success . '  Strudwick will become Head of Athletic Development at the club , working with the club ' s youth players  Jos van Dijk ( left ) worked with Louis van Gaal for the Netherlands and has taken over first team fitness duties  As reported here on Saturday , Strudwick ' s work with the first team is now restricted to some warm up drills before training at Carrington and some strength work .  He no longer has responsibilities on match day or takes charge of planning fitness programmes for first team stars , the role he had enjoyed at the club since arriving from Blackburn in 2007 .  Strudwick said : ' I am thoroughly enjoying this new role . With increased importance on developing players for the future , the athletic component becomes critical in their advancement and to have the chance to work with the younger players , who are in the early stages of their career , as well as the first team , will give a continuity of progression which is critical to their future success . '  Like our Manchester United Facebook page .  Strudwick , pictured on the far left , travelled to Brazil to work with the England national team  United got back to winning ways at the weekend with a 2 1 win over West Ham at Old Trafford   We fought to the end Van Gaal  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
4803,4804,"When Navy snipers rescued an American cargo ship captain last month from Somali pirates , it sounded like something from a movie .  This shooting game by Games2Winweblink lets players try to rescue a ship captain from Somali pirates .  But in today ' s instant gratification culture , there ' s no need to wait for Hollywood to re enact that dramatic high seas story . Video game developers are already on the case .  Online gaming site Games2Win launched "" Saving Captain Phillips , "" a simple , two dimensional shooting game , within nine days of the actual rescue . Not to be outdone , Kuma Games followed soon afterwards with "" Somali Showdown : Pirates on the High Seas , "" a  multiplayer action game that puts players in the middle of a pirate attack on a cargo ship and even lets them become one of the pirates .  These are just several of many online and cell phone games based on recent news events . "" Hero on the Hudson , "" a primitive Flash game , lets people pretend they ' re pilot Chesley Sullenberger and navigate a plummeting airliner to a safe water landing . A successful attempt brings applause , while a botched landing results in a sinking plane , accompanied by ominous gurgling sounds .  "" Baseball Juiced , "" launched last month with a social message and already played 1 . 4 million times online , forces batters to pick between using steroids or working out in a gym . In "" Swinefighter , "" gamers seek to save the world from the spread of swine flu . And "" Trillion Dollar Bailout "" lets players try to boost the economy by awarding government cash to shady corporate fat cats or struggling homeowners ( well , duh ) .  Such topical , and satirical , games speak to our need for a light hearted break from serious news , said DigitalTrendsweblink publisher Scott Steinberg .  "" So many events in the news are devastating , "" he said . "" These games are a fun escape . They ' re good for a laugh , and nobody gets hurt unlike in the real world . ""  The idea to publish games based on news events was inspired in part by the success of viral videos such as JibJab ' s "" This Land , "" an animated online parody that became an instant sensation during the 2004 presidential election season , said David Williams , who heads up the Nickelodeon Kids and Family Games Group .  "" It went around the world like wildfire , "" said Williams , whose group runs Addicting Games , a teen gaming site that he said had 11 . 7 million unique users last month . The success of "" This Land "" signaled that people who got a kick from watching a topical video spoof online might just as easily spend a few minutes playing a similar game .  Some early examples included "" Cheney ' s Fury , "" inspired by the former U . S . vice president ' s 2006 hunting mishap , and the "" Zidane Head Butt Game , "" which invited players to relive the startling 2006 World Cup moment in which French soccer player Zinedine Zidane went after an Italian player head first .  As several global leaders have discovered , almost any embarrassing episode can be turned into a video game .  Last December ' s incident at a Baghdad news conference , at which an Iraqi journalist hurled his shoes at then U . S . President George W . Bush , inspired several games . Out of the United Kingdom came one hastily published version , "" Sock and Awe , "" which encouraged players to throw shoes at Bush . As of this week , sockandaweweblink reports that more than 94 million virtual size 10 shoes have walloped the former leader of the free world .  And as if viral videos of his dozing off at a Group of Seven news conference in February weren ' t embarrassing enough , former Japanese Finance Minister Shoichi Nakagawa soon had a game to remind him of his slumber blunder .  Translated by a spokesman for the Japanese developer LiveWare Inc . as "" Doze off while answering question ! , "" the Flash game for mobile phones challenges players to keep the minister awake long enough to answer reporters . Gamers win points by having Nakagawa answer journalists ' questions on time , but the game ends if the minister falls asleep while being asked a question .  More recently , Cellufun , a New York based company that fosters mobile communities , launched "" Made Off , "" a game that invites online players to outscam businessman Bernard Madoff , who pleaded guilty to defrauding thousands of investors .  "" Think you ' ve got what it takes to build a better Ponzi scheme than Bernie ? "" the site asks . "" Always wanted to rob , cheat and steal from innocent investors ? Well now ' s your chance ! . . . Play as a slimy Fund Manager , a savvy investor , or both . ""  Some reality based games hit too close to home , however .  Late last month , publisher Konami killed one controversial game before it was even released . "" Six Days in Fallujah "" was billed as a documentary like experience in which players could feel like they were part of the 2004 U . S . campaign against insurgents in the Iraqi city .  A few ambitious game developers such as NewsGamingweblink publish challenging , event inspired online simulations . "" September 12 "" lets players explore the U . S . response to the Sept . 11 , 2001 , terrorist attacks , while "" Madrid "" takes a similar approach to the March 11 , 2004 , attacks in Spain .  "" Traditionally , videogames have focused on fantasy rather than reality , but we believe that they can be a great tool for better understanding our world , "" explains the site . "" We prefer games that encourage critical thinking , even if the player disagrees with our games ' ideas . ""  But most news related games are simple Flash games that are churned out quickly to capitalize on current events . While amusing at first , they lack the complexity to hold gamers ' attention for long , experts say .  "" They ' re not very sophisticated . They ' re pretty much like home brew . . . made by two or three people in their basement for a laugh , "" said DigitalTrends ' Steinberg .  "" They ' re flashes in the pan . They can rack up millions of plays , but three years from now , will anybody still be trying to get the high score on ' Swinefighter ? ' ""  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,present
4808,4809,"A family recently moved out of a Utah home where a woman mysteriously disappeared six years ago , claiming the house is haunted .  The home in West Valley City has been the backdrop of one of Utah ' s most notorious missing persons cases .  Susan Powell lived in the home with her husband Josh and their two young sons when she disappeared without a trace in December 2009 . Her husband Josh later moved out of the home , and committed suicide in February 2012 , killing their two young sons as well in a house fire .  A family that briefly stayed in this Utah home claims it is haunted . This is the same home where Susan Powell went missing in 2009 , in a high profile case  Powell is pictured above with her two young sons . The boys were later killed by their father in a tragic murder suicide three years after their mother ' s disappearance  Joanna Aeosana moved into the house a few months ago with her family , and says she was not informed about the home ' s history . She has since moved out  But mother Joanna Aeosana wasn ' t familiar with the story when she agreed to lease the home from American Homes 4 Rent two months ago .  It was only when a neighbor informed her about the home ' s eerie history that she couldn ' t stand to stay there anymore .  Aeosana and her family experienced several surreal situations while they were in the house , including the garage opening and closing on its own .  ' I hear people crying when I ' m showering , ' she told 2News .  Susan Powell ' s husband Josh Powell ( pictured ) was the only person of interest in his wife ' s appearance . he later committed suicide by starting a house fire in Washington State  Above , the remnants of the home where Powell committed murder suicide , trapping his two young sons in the blaze  She says she also saw her 1 year old son talking to an empty swing in the front yard , saying : ' Go away , leave me alone ' .  Aeosana and her family recently moved out and now they are fighting with the rental company to let them off their lease , and help them find a new place to live .  Real estate companies aren ' t required to disclose details like these to potential renters , but Aeosana believes she should have been informed .  ' I believe they should of , they should have told me , ' she said . ' I just don ' t want to be in there . '  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
4813,4814,"There has been "" no official confirmation or positive identification "" that Bill Henningsgaard and his son were on board , but there is no reason to believe that it was not the two of them , his brother , Blair Henningsgaard , said .  Also feared dead in the crash were two children ages 1 and 13 in one house , East Haven Mayor Joseph Maturo Jr . said . The other house was unoccupied .  National Transportation Safety Board investigators cannot confirm the number of people killed , saying there are reports of four to six people dead .  Connecticut Gov . Dannel Malloy said there could be as many as five people killed in the crash , including up to three people on the plane .  But Blair Henningsgaard said only his brother and his nephew were believed to be on the plane .  Two bodies were seen inside the home but haven ' t been recovered because the home is unstable , East Haven Fire Chief Douglas Jackson said at a press conference Friday afternoon .  Fire consumed both houses , preventing firefighters from searching for victims , Jackson said , and the basement in the home holding at least two victims was filled with water .  Maturo said the children were in one house with their mother when the plane struck shortly before 11 : 30 a . m . The mother escaped , he said .  "" It ' s . . . total devastation in the back of the home , "" Maturo said .  The multi engine Rockwell International Turbo Commander 690B , registered to Bill Henningsgaard , took off from New Jersey ' s Teterboro Airport on Friday morning and crashed while approaching the Tweed New Haven Airport around 11 : 25 a . m . , the Federal Aviation Administration said .  The plane missed its initial approach , which isn ' t uncommon , said Tweed airport manager Lori Hoffman Soares .  But  investigator Robert Gretz told reporters it was possible the plane was on its first approach .  The neighborhood is about a half mile from the airport . One resident said the accident wasn ' t surprising .  The mayor said the airport ' s close proximity to residents isn ' t unusual .  "" It ' s always a concern , but it ' s something that happens in every airport , "" Maturo said .  Neither the pilot ' s identity nor information about how many people were in the plane was immediately available .  The fuselage entered one of the homes , Malloy said . The right wing of the airplane could be seen in the smoldering wreckage of one house , and the left wing was in another house .  Video from affiliate  showed smoke rising from a heavily damaged house in East Haven , and what appeared to be the tail of a plane nearby .   investigators will examine whether the weather played a role in the crash . It was raining at the time of the crash .  Bill Henningsgaard worked for Microsoft for 14 years , beginning in 1988 . He served as vice president of sales for the western United States , Australia and New Zealand .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
4831,4832,"Reuters) - The European Union sounded an alarm on Saturday about moves in the U.S. Congress to step up U.S. sanctions on Russia, urging Washington to keep coordinating with its G7 partners and warning of unintended consequences.  In a statement by a spokeswoman after Republicans and Democrats in the U.S. Congress reached a deal that could see new legislation pass, the European Commission warned of possibly “wide and indiscriminate” “unintended consequences”, notably on the EU’s efforts to diversify energy sources away from Russia. Germany has already warned of possible retaliation if the United States moves to sanction German firms involved with building a new Baltic pipeline for Russian gas.   diplomats are concerned that a German-U.S. row over the Nord Stream 2 pipeline being built by Russia’s state-owned Gazprom could complicate efforts in Brussels to forge an  consensus on negotiating with Russia over the project. “We highly value the unity that is prevailing among international partners in our approach towards Russia’s action in Ukraine and the subsequent sanctions. This unity is the guarantee of the efficiency and credibility of our measures,” the Commission said in its statement. “We understand that the Russia/Iran sanctions bill is driven primarily by domestic considerations,” it went on, referring to a bill passed in the U.S. Senate last month and to which lawmakers said on Saturday they had unblocked further obstacles. “As we have said repeatedly, it is important that any possible new measures are coordinated between international partners to maintain unity among partners on the sanctions that has been underpinning the efforts for full implementation of the Minsk Agreements,” the Commission said, referring to an accord struck with Moscow to try to end the conflicts in Ukraine. “We are concerned the measures discussed in the U.S. Congress could have unintended consequences, not only when it comes to Transatlantic/G7 unity, but also on  economic and energy security interests. This impact could be potentially wide and indiscriminate, including when it comes to energy sources diversification efforts. “Sanctions are at their most effective when they are coordinated. Currently our sanctions regimes are coordinated. As a result their impact on the ground is increased and through coordination we are able to avoid surprises, manage potential impact on our own economic operators and address collectively efforts to circumvent such measures. Unilateral measures would undermine this,” the Commission said.  “We therefore call on the U.S. Congress/authorities to engage with the partners, including the EU, to ensure coordination and to avoid any unintended consequences of the measures discussed.” ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,satire,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
4837,4838,"Atlanta Nearly 700 patients and 100 employees at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta have been exposed to tuberculosis after coming in contact with a hospital employee carrying the disease , a hospital spokesman said Thursday .  The Georgia Department of Community Health and the hospital have identified 680 patients who were exposed to tuberculosis between November and February , said hospital spokesman Lance Skelly .  Patients will begin getting tested for tuberculosis next week , Skelly said . To date , no patients or employees have reported symptoms of tuberculosis , he said .  The hospital and the department began notifying people about the exposure this month , after an Emory employee was diagnosed in April with the infectious disease , he said . The employee did not know he had tuberculosis when he came in contact with employees and patients , the hospital said .  The hospital took extra precautions by contacting patients who were in the hospital for 90 days before the day the employee is known to have developed the disease , Skelly said . "" That is a major reason the numbers are so much higher . ""  All hospital employees are screened for the disease and must receive screenings each year , it added . A hospital statement did not say whether the employee had been screened .  About 11 million people in the United States are infected with latent tuberculosis , which is symptom free and is not contagious .  Of those , 5 to 10 percent go on to develop active tuberculosis , which can be spread to others through the air , such as through coughing or sneezing . It can be fatal if not properly treated .  Symptoms of tuberculosis include chest pain , a bad cough ( possibly with blood ) , weakness and a fever . While tuberculosis usually impacts the lungs , the kidneys , brain and spine may also be affected .  Both the number and rate of tuberculosis cases has been on the decline since 1993 , according to the Atlanta based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  The number of reported deaths nationwide dropped from 644 in 2006 to 544 in 2007 , the most recent year for which such data is available , the  said .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
4853,4854,"Topics : Donald Trump , Ben Carson , Stephen Colbert , late show with stephen colbert , mythbusters , Elections News , Entertainment News , News , Politics News  Donald Trump is freaking out now that he s lost his lead to Ben Carson in the polls , Stephen Colbert said on Friday night s Late Show .  According to a new McClatchy Marist poll , Trump has dropped one percent below Carson , or as Colbert calls the statistic one Santorum . Perhaps voters are leaning Carson because , as Colbert puts it we shouldn t elect someone who shouts crazy things . Maybe we should elect a man who whispers crazy things .  So , Trump is hitting back , even reminding voters that South Carolina senator Lindsey Graham is still in the race . Tough guys don t talk like tough guys a lot of the time the tough guys are the weak ones . Trump told the audience about Graham s recent comments on how he s a tough guy . I m tougher than all of them , believe me .  Colbert helped translate that from Trump to human by saying , Tough guys don t talk tough unless they re talkin tough about other tough guys ? because they talk tough . Which is how you know they re not tough . If you don t like it , tough !  He then said that The Donald took a big Trump on Ben Carson for his bizarre biographic story . Trump made fun of Carson mocking the story and closing with , give me a break . Trump then went on to do what Colbert called a crime scene reenactment . Flexing his belt up and down finally Trump concluded by asking the audience , anybody want to try it on me ?  Colbert laughed while pulling out a giant butcher knife , struggling it away from himself and soothing his eager right hand . Cause , here s the thing , he began . I hate to say this , but Donald Trump actually has a good point . Would a belt buckle really break a knife the way Ben Carson says it did ? Or would it provide no protection like Trump claims ?  Colbert then hilariously asks the Mythbusters for help in testing if Carson s claim is correct . Check out the video below :  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,present
4862,4863,"Australia David Ferrer can be a real buzzkill .  Last week , he sent Lleyton Hewitt into retirement , and Monday , he ended any hopes of an American man winning a Grand Slam title for the 49th straight major with a 6 4 , 6 4 , 7 5 win against No . 10 John Isner in the fourth round of the Australian Open .  The 6 foot 10 Isner , who stands more than a foot taller than his eighth seeded opponent , had won all 54 of his service games heading into the match . But in the third game of this encounter , he already found himself down a break to Ferrer . A single break in the second and third sets was all the Spaniard needed in the 2 hour , 4 minute affair .  The last time an American man won a major was in 2003 , when Andre Agassi took the Australian Open and Andy Roddick captured the  Open .  Ferrer won 40 percent of the points off Isner ' s serves , a massive number against a player who finished this event with 119 aces , 45 more than anyone else through four rounds .  John Isner of the United States reacts after losing the first set against David Ferrer of Spain . ?  At 33 , Ferrer reached his 17th career major quarterfinal , but this is the first time he has made the final eight in Australia without dropping a single set .  "" Every year I try to improve my game and myself , "" Ferrer said . "" I think that I didn ' t have important injuries in my career . My fitness for now , it ' s good . And I am still enjoying playing tennis . ""  Isner ' s mantra all tournament long has been keeppoundig , a tribute to his beloved Carolina Panthers , who on Sunday night advanced to the Super Bowl . But it was Ferrer who out pounded the American all day long .  Afterward , Isner , who has now dropped eight straight matches against top 10 players in Grand Slam play , reflected on his day .  "" Yeah , it was very frustrating , "" Isner said . "" I thought he played well . I mean , I expected him to play well . A guy like that is not going to play a poor match in the round of 16 of a Slam . I just needed to play better than I did . I ' m never going to beat him if I don ' t play very well . It ' s as simple as that . ""  Ferrer is widely regarded as the best current player without a Grand Slam title to his name . He has performed best at Roland Garros , notably reaching the final in 2013 , but there ' s something about the conditions in Melbourne this season .  Through 12 sets , Ferrer has dropped only 42 games ( 3 . 5 per set ) , which is the best of the remaining eight players a good sign heading into his next match against world No . 2 Andy Murray , who beat Aussie Bernard Tomic 6 4 , 6 4 , 7 6 ( 4 ) about an hour after Ferrer walked off the court .  "" He improve his game , I think so , "" Ferrer said of Murray . "" He ' s playing more aggressive . He improve his forehand . So I need to have a good day , play aggressive . Well , if is possible , will be a long match . ""  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Economy,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
4870,4871,"Sounds simple when you put it like that .  To accomplish the feat , the Atlantic Coast Conference champions will have to knock off an Alabama team that has won 11 straight games since a 43 37 loss against  on September 19 . The No . 1 versus No . 2 matchup is the fourth time in the last seven seasons that the Crimson Tide has made an appearance in the national championship game . Defense is the key when it comes to winning championships and this defense is exceptional . Raised in Alabama . Alabama was all he knew growing up .  The ten years directly before Saban was hired were particularly frustrating . On Monday , a caller who bemoaned this mythical disrespect triggered two more calls wondering what that Tide fan could possibly be thinking Tuesday s cry for help solicited a call from a Clemson fan saying his Tigers get no respect .  Saban s first year was not much to get excited about . Clemson s offensive line will have to find ways to get to the second level and get hands on those backers if the running game is going to have any chance of succeeding . We are going to take a look at the Crimson Tide and what they try to do , as well as some players and playmakers for you to keep an eye on Monday night . Swinney later worked for Stallings as an assistant coach .  We ve always been a question mark around here , Tigers center Jay Guillermo said .  McElroy said the true turning point for the program was Alabama s 30 27 victory against Colorado in the Independence Bowl to end 07 .  But by late afternoon we d be watching a game .   : Wide receiver Bralon Addison will skip his final year of eligibility to declare for the National Football League draft . It means a lot to be in the position we re in . Clemson moved the ball well against Oklahoma , but that success had to come a little easier thanks to defensive tackle Charles Walker ( concussion ) getting ruled out before the game and Jordan Evans going down with an injury during the contest .  It was under Ford for more than 11 seasons ( 1978 1989 ) that Clemson began to flourish . It was also just a few months after my Roy died suddenly of a heart attack in October of 1982 .  We re sitting there thinking to ourselves , if that s a top 10 team in the country , well then what are we ?  Clemson safety Travis Blanks piled on Scott s take , noting the Tigers were underdogs in other big games , including Notre Dame , Florida State and Oklahoma in the  semifinals .  Clemson by 14 , Hopkins said via  . I was the one first in my family to get a college degree , and to be able to get it from the University of Alabama was a dream come true for me and for my family , and not only to go down there and really as an 18 year old kid , I left when I was 31 . In nine and a half seasons under Bobby Bowden s son , the Tigers had become so synonymous with inconsistency the term Clemsoning was coined to describe a disappointing and unexpected loss .  If Clemson wins , the 3 , 000 T shirts the company is ordering will be sent back to the vendor and Shoe Station will be out the cost of printing and materials .  Clemson is known for their up tempo , no huddle offense which has been highlighted by great quarterback play over the past five years . Since taking over in Tuscaloosa in 2007 , he has won three national titles . I ve spent the entire year screaming that Clemson is good , but it s not Alabama . They ve been betting the Under hard , which makes sense because that ( opening ) total was too high , Scott Kaminsky , sportsbook director at TheGreekweblink , tells Covers .  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
4872,4873,"—   Some of   Donald J. Trump’s most prominent cabinet nominees  —   with their millions in assets and complex business arrangements  —   are moving unusually slowly through the government’s arduous financial disclosure examinations, threatening the quick start promised for the new administration and raising Democratic concerns that their confirmations could   customary ethical safeguards. On Thursday, the ranking Democrats on all 16 Senate committees released a joint statement saying they would block confirmation votes until each nominee of Mr. Trump had cleared an F. B. I. background check, completed a financial disclosure statement and ethics agreement approved by the federal Office of Government Ethics, and “satisfied reasonable requests for additional information. ” Senator Bob Corker of Tennessee, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, and Senator Ben Cardin of Maryland, that panel’s ranking Democrat, engaged in a public spat over Mr. Cardin’s request for three years of tax returns from Exxon Mobil’s chief executive, Rex Tillerson, who has been picked to be the next secretary of state. “As is   precedent for nominees considered by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the committee has not asked Mr. Tillerson to provide copies of his tax returns,” Mr. Corker said. And Senator Tom Carper of Delaware, the top Democrat on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, sent letters to the top ethics officials at 17 government agencies, asking if they had been in touch with officials of the Trump transition, whether they had received financial disclosure statements, and whether any Trump pick “refused to provide any information that you believe is necessary to conduct a conflicts analysis as required by law. ” “Given the large and complex financial holdings and boundless, serious potential for conflicts of interest,” Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York, said in an email, “these nominees need to turn over all relevant financial and background information so that senators can thoroughly review their record before going forward with any hearings. ” Several of Mr. Trump’s cabinet picks would be among the wealthiest public servants in modern history. That alone presents a significant   challenge to Senate Republicans, who hope to begin confirmation hearings in a few weeks. Mr. Trump’s selection process  —   begun, unlike that of most predecessors, after his election rather than before  —   may have added to the challenge of moving quickly now. “They need to step on the gas and get it done,” said Richard Painter, a law professor at the University of Minnesota who served as chief ethics counsel to President George W. Bush. “They need to tell the Senate what they are going to do with their assets. ” Cabinet nominees undergo rigorous background checks by the F. B. I. and the Office of Government Ethics, as well as a complicated process involving the agencies they are nominated to run. This is to ensure that nominees have no financial conflicts of interest or outstanding tax matters that could later expose them to criminal prosecution. For nominees with extensive financial holdings, preparation for confirmation hearings can take weeks or even months, as was the case with Penny Pritzker, a billionaire who is President Obama’s commerce secretary. Previous new administrations have taken longer to name cabinet picks than Mr. Trump has done, in part because they were doing their own vetting that the Trump transition has largely forgone. Three people who have discussed Mr. Trump’s nominees with officials involved in the screening, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the private deliberations of a highly secretive government agency, were told of the slow pace, which has alarmed Senate Democrats. Mr. McConnell has said he hopes to move ahead on several of Mr. Trump’s nominees “on Day 1. ” Emails to Mr. Trump’s transition team were not returned. Many of Mr. Trump’s nominees come with a complex web of financial interests and investments. They include Mr. Tillerson Steven Mnuchin, a former Goldman Sachs partner picked to head the Treasury the billionaire investor Wilbur L. Ross Jr. chosen as commerce secretary and Betsy DeVos, the  ’s choice to run the Department of Education. Lawmakers have already raised questions about Mr. Tillerson’s seeming reluctance to turn over his personal financial information. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee has tentatively set Jan. 11 for the start of Mr. Tillerson’s confirmation hearing. In keeping with longstanding committee precedent, it has not asked Mr. Tillerson to provide his tax returns, Senator Corker said. “By all accounts, Mr. Tillerson is currently ahead of schedule in providing information to the committee,” he added. “He already has submitted a completed nominee questionnaire and will soon submit an extensive financial disclosure. ” But Mr. Cardin voiced the fears of some Democrats that Mr. Tillerson and other nominees  —   and Republican committee chairmen  —   may take their cues from Mr. Trump’s unusual decision not to release his own tax returns. “I think it is an important part of vetting this candidate because he has never made public disclosures of this type, as he has worked at Exxon Mobil for his entire career and has never been in public service,” Mr. Cardin wrote on Thursday in a letter to committee Democrats. “Mr. Tillerson was actively engaged with many foreign governments that could become relevant if confirmed as secretary of state. The Senate has a responsibility to review all relevant documents during the confirmation process. ” Republicans say the concern is misplaced. Senator Orrin G. Hatch, Republican of Utah, the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, which will hold the hearing for Mr. Mnuchin, has previously said that Mr. Trump’s nominees “will undergo the same bipartisan vetting process as the nominees from previous administrations. ” This includes scrutiny by the Office of Government Ethics, and his committee’s requirement for three years of a nominee’s most recent federal tax returns. A spokeswoman for Mr. Hatch said on Wednesday that the committee would not schedule a hearing before completion of the bipartisan vetting process. Selections made during a transition are more complicated than those of a sitting president because a nomination cannot be officially made until the new president is sworn in. Candidates typically start to put together their prospective cabinet during the campaign the former governor of Massachusetts, Mitt Romney, conducted an extensive vetting process during his failed 2012 White House run. When an incoming president has chosen a nominee, the transition office works immediately to get forms in order for the ethics office and the F. B. I. The F. B. I. does its own significant vetting, which has been the downfall of some nominees, frequently over tax issues or payments to domestic workers. Often this review is done long before the nomination arrives on Capitol Hill. Federal ethics law requires that financial disclosure forms be submitted no later than five days after a formal nomination, or before a nominee’s hearing, whichever is earlier. Generally, if nominees have any financial entanglements that could create real or potential conflicts of interest, they work with an ethics compliance employee to come up with a plan to address those conflicts. In many cases, though not all, a nominee resolves conflicts through divestiture, the use of a blind trust or a formal recusal from certain matters. This practice protects the public interest, but also the nominee. Cabinet members later found to be acting in their own financial interest in their official capacity can be prosecuted. “If you have substantial assets, they want some sort of assets agreement,” Mr. Painter said. “That can take a few weeks, especially with billionaires. ” Democrats insist the process cannot be disregarded. “When you occupy this country’s highest positions of power, you manage trillions of dollars, enforce more than two centuries of law, control the world’s most powerful military and make decisions that are literally matters of life and death,” said Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon, the ranking Democrat on the Finance Committee. “That’s why nominees need a thorough vetting process, not a rubber stamp. ”",true,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
4898,4899,"Let ' s just imagine what would happen if by some dumb luck or alien invasion the Philadelphia 76ers actually succeed .  In this scenario , the 76ers ' horrible commitment to losing to get future high draft picks ( and treating the people they do have as disposable assets instead of human beings ) works out somehow , and an even worse stage arrives .  Gone would be a functional  . Instead , we ' d have scads of clubs intentionally being noncompetitive , refusing to pay for established professionals and making a farce of the league .  And people would copy them , rest assured , because that ' s what happens if anyone succeeds with something ? whether it ' s the Spurs resting their players to the dismay of the league office or taking the shine off the second round with the draft and stash usage of international leagues .  As it stands now , though , the Sixers are just hurting themselves and only their small slice of integrity of the league . Could be a lot worse , I guess .  Then again , if the 76ers somehow succeeded and we saw full out tanking commitments being made by numerous franchises , maybe the  Board of Governors would be moved to eliminate the current draft system . Now that would be a worthwhile silver lining !  Coach Brett Brown has a roster comprised of one player , Carl Landry , with more than three years of  experience .  If the only way we can get rid of the draft lottery that rewards losers is for the Sixers to push it to the nth degree and prove the system is flawed , so be it . The truth is the  is different from other sports leagues because of how tempting it is to tank and turn a five man unit around with just one or two blue chip draftees .  Alas , counting on Philadelphia to succeed in any form ? even if all its distressed investments were to turn into jackpots ? is impossible to fathom .  That ' s because the 76ers are building such a culture of losing that it ' s not something they ' re going to shake anytime or any way soon .  After starting 0 17 last season , they are 0 18 entering a home date with the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night . A loss to the 2 14 Lakers would give Philadelphia the worst start in  history , a dubious honor to be sure , but one the Sixers have a backward reason to pursue .  Via conditional trade , the 76ers get the Lakers ' first round pick as long as the Lakers win enough to stay out of the top three in the draft lottery .  No matter the motivation , in the macro sense , the Sixers aren ' t trying anyway . ( In the micro sense , they sort of try harder than anyone in the league because so many of their players don ' t actually deserve to be in the  and are desperate to show they can contribute in the league . )  General manager Sam Hinkie has overseen a Sixers team that has won a total of 37 games since the start of the 2013 14 season .  The lack of effort is more noticeable this season because the Eastern Conference has stabilized a bit , and elsewhere , other young , bad teams , such as the Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets , are giving more organized efforts now .  That ' s the logical course of action : to grow your talent even with small steps and teach it what winning takes .  Coming along quite nicely on that learning curve are the Utah Jazz .  The Jazz nearly ended the defending champion Golden State Warriors '  record undefeated start in Game 19 on Monday night . Even though the Jazz suffered an injury setback with top draftee Dante Exum and had to ship out another top pick in ill fitting Enes Kanter for future draft possibilities , Utah has been building steadily . ? ?  Jazz coach Quin Snyder said before the 106 103 loss to the Warriors : "" We ' re not there yet . But every time we get to compete , we get to learn . ""  That ' s exactly what the 76ers aren ' t comprehending as they wait for the quick fix and don ' t try to compete . Golden State ' s Stephen Curry saw it similarly , saying of the young Jazz : "" They ' ve been together for a couple of years . Now that they ' ve been together , they know how they want to play . ""  Snyder is actually coaching his guys to get better .  Brown ' s pieces don ' t fit anyway : Nerlens Noel ' s limitations are glaring when he tries to face up to the basket while Jahlil Okafor is doing his post up thing down low ? and who knows about Joel Embiid , who might fit because of his mid range game but is spending a second season sidelined by a foot injury . ?  Joel Embiid has yet to play a game for the Sixers more than a year after being drafted third overall .  The hope was that the Duke polished Okafor would add some legitimacy to the 76ers , but lately all he seems to have added is a string of incidents ? from reported street fights with hecklers to speeding to using a fake  ? more befitting a frustrated kid than a maturing professional . ?  Of course he ' s frustrated . That ' s what the 76ers ' system breeds .  Okafor is not a bad guy , but he has gone from the national title game in the nearly big leagues of Durham , North Carolina , to a Philadelphia Division  school that ' s only fielding a basketball team for the potential revenue .  He ' s just a victim of the 76ers ' cruel experiment that is unfair to him and even more so to Philadelphia basketball fans .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
4915,4916,"JERUSALEM/ (Reuters) - Five projectiles from Syria set off air raid sirens in Israeli towns on Saturday, prompting the Israeli military to say it would step up its response to stray fire from the Syrian war that has repeatedly spilled over the border. The projectiles crossed into the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and the military said it targeted three Syrian artillery guns in response. No damage or injuries were reported in Israel. The Syrian military said it came under attack in Quneitra province, which sits near the Golan Heights territory that Israel captured from Syria in the 1967 Middle East War.   The Israeli enemy assaulted one of our military positions this morning, which led to material damages,  it said. During Syria s more than six-year-old conflict, Israel has returned fire across the border, including stray shells from fighting among Syrian combatants.  The Israeli military statement suggested it may start escalating such retaliations.  Whether errant fire or not, any future occurrences will force the Israel Defense Forces to intensify its response,  it said.  Israel  holds the Syrian regime responsible and won t tolerate any attempt to breach Israeli sovereignty,  it added. Syria s foreign ministry warned of  the grave consequences of such repeated aggressive acts  which it called a flagrant violation in a letter to the United Nations, state media said. The Syrian military said it held Israel responsible.  Israel has also carried out targeted air strikes in Syria during the war, alarmed by the expanding influence of Iran, the Syrian government s ally. The Israeli air force says it has struck arms convoys of the Syrian military and Lebanon s Iran-backed Hezbollah nearly 100 times in recent years. Iran s military chief warned Israel against breaching Syria s airspace and territory on a visit to Damascus this week. The general signed an agreement with his Syrian counterpart to further boost military cooperation, Iranian state news agency  said on Saturday.  Rebel factions fighting the Damascus government in the multi-sided war hold swathes of Quneitra, while the army and allied militias control another part of the province.  Both warring Syrian sides accused each other of prompting the Israeli attack on Saturday.  The army said militants in nearby territory fired mortar rounds into the Golan Heights. A rebel official in Quneitra said pro-government fighters had been shelling insurgent-held parts of the province, when some of the shells fell on the Golan Heights. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
4965,4966,"A British holidaymaker had to be forcibly removed from a Manchester bound plane in Egypt after he allegedly threatened to kill other passengers .  The plane was minutes away from take off at the airport in the Red Sea city of Hurghada when an unruly passenger began causing problems near the back of the plane , a witness said .  Flight TCX2515 was taxiing to the runway at the time , but was forced to return to its stand , where the man was removed by an armed officer .  A witness said the unruly passenger was removed by an armed officer , causing a delay for travellers  Tony Penner , a passenger on the plane , told the Manchester Evening News that the disruptive man punched a bus door and uttered threats as travellers were being driven to the plane on Friday night .  Mr Penner , 53 , said : ' He was with his partner who was also unsteady . He started shouting "" I ' ll kill anybody who gets near me on the plane "" .  ' It was a shocking thing to hear . We felt threatened . Then he started punching the bus door . He wasn ' t a happy chap . '  The man boarded the plane despite the drama on the bus , and he left passengers feeling nervous after causing more problems on board .  The drama unfolded after passengers spent time in the Red Sea tourist resort of Hurghada , Egypt  The captain announced that the plane would return to its stand , and passengers applauded when the man who had a large build and tattoos was removed , said Mr Penner .  He told the Manchester Evening News : ' As soon as the steps went down an officer with a pistol came on board .  ' He and the pilot chucked the guy off . He was complaining that everyone was picking on him . '  Passengers were delayed for 40 minutes before the plane departed for Manchester without the man on board .  A Thomas Cook Airlines spokesperson told MailOnline Travel : ' We have a zero tolerance policy towards any behaviour on board affecting the safety and welfare of our crew and customers .  ' We ' d like to thank those on board for the patience during the short delay to their flight home . '  It was unclear whether the man was detained or charged with a crime , and the airline would not reveal whether the man has been banned from its flights .  Thomas Cook referred media to Egyptian authorities and the Foreign Commonwealth Office . MailOnline Travel has contacted the  for comment .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
4967,4968,"Lizzie Armitstead and Emma Pooley combined for an English one two in a gripping women ' s road race on Sunday when Glasgow threw the worst of its weather at the men ' s race , an event so drenched it became semi aquatic and utterly extraordinary .  Just 12 of 140 men finished their 168km ( 105 mile ) course . For more than two thirds of it , the field was headed by the Isle of Man ' s Peter Kennaugh .  His gutsy ( or borderline insane , delete as applicable ) breakaway with 160km of the race remaining was always likely to be sunk . Indeed it was , drowned even , but Kennaugh was one of the dozen good men and true to cross the finish line .   Scroll down to watch Lizzie Armitstead win gold with Emma Pooley claiming silver  Champion : Lizzie Armitstead won Commonwealth gold for England in the Women ' s Road Race  Golden smile : Armitstead celebrates winning her gold medal on the podium in Glasgow  Instead , seven days after riding down the Champs Elysees in Paris bathed in sunshine at the conclusion of the Tour de France , Wales ' s Geraint Thomas triumphed .  Not that he concluded simply . The 28 year old suffered a puncture with just 6km left that brought him to a halt . For the first few moments of that delay it seemed feasible New Zealand ' s Jack Bauer or England ' s Scott Thwaites might catch him .  That pair and Thomas had reeled in Kennaugh ' s one man breakaway with 49km left , then the Welshman made his own break from the other two on the final lap of 12 around the city .  But Thomas had enough time to change his wheel before being caught and powered away in spray that characterised the entirety of his 4hr 13min 5sec ride .  Bauer and Thwaites summoned energy from somewhere to sprint against each other down the home straight , Bauer crossing millimetres ahead for silver in the same time of 4hr 14min 26sec as Thwaites , who took bronze .  In a race as epically sodden as yesterday ' s it is worth name checking all those who finished . England ' s Russell Downing was fourth , ahead of Mark Renshaw of Australia , a nation that had won this event for four straight Games and never missed the podium before Sunday . Thomas ' s Welsh team mate Luke Rowe was sixth , then Kiwi Gregory Henderson and Kennaugh , supported throughout by injured Manx team mate Mark Cavendish , looking demented at times as he yelled encouragement from a car window .  At long last : Armitstead finished silver in Delhi four years ago as well as in the 2012 London Olympics  Dan Craven ( Namibia ) and Scott Davies ( Wales ) were ninth and 10th ahead of Scotland ' s David Millar in his swansong ride of a long , turbulent and ultimately inspirational career . Ewan Caleb of Australia was 12th and that was it .  ' That was such a grim day , ' said Thomas . ' I felt terrible at the start . I was thinking of just stopping I felt that bad . Everyone else seemed to come down to my level then . I was surprised how easily I went away ( on the final lap ) . When I had the puncture I thought "" What have I got to do ? "" But fortunately I had a decent enough gap to stay in front . '  Third placed Thwaites said : ' Geraint was just so strong . You could tell he had so much more energy left in the tank . '  This was the first Welsh male road cycling gold ever , and the second Welsh road gold after Nicole Cooke ' s road race win in Manchester in 2002 .  Tears of joy : Emma Pooley won silver for England in what was her final race in the sport  Swansong : Pooley finished 25 seconds behind Armitstead and is retiring to compete in endurance triathlons  The women ' s race took in seven laps of the 14km course , and Pooley played a critical support role as her England team leader Armitstead triumphed .  Armitstead , 25 , from Otley in Yorkshire , had spoken before the race about wanting to put a succession of big race silvers behind her , including in the Commonwealth Games four years ago and at London 2012 .  ' I feel like I deserve this , ' said Armitstead . ' I ' ve trained so hard . I ' m always on the podium , I don ' t win that many races . It ' s just a confidence thing .  ' Once you ' ve got a big title you can call yourself a champion finally .  ' I want to say a massive thank you to Emma . Cycling is a beautiful sport and a team sport , which often gets overlooked . So I ' m pleased Emma got a silver medal as well . '  Survival of the fittest : Armistead came out on top of the 98 kilometres event in just over 2 hours and 38 minutes   Glasgow see out ' outstanding ' Commonwealth Games  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
4974,4975,"Saturday night , and it was light entertainment time , with the World Cup version of It ' s A Knockout . This time around , it was the  ' s chance to introduce the boys from Brazil as the opening act after  had the honours on the opening day .  Back then , Auntie had Thierry Henry as one of her main strikers . But he has now lost his place alongside Gary Lineker . With a philosophical gallic shrug which basically said ' I have no idea why the  season is starting up again during the World Cup ? ' he said adieu last week , and went back to training for his club in New York .  Off the bench has come Alan Hansen . Enjoying the kind of finale to a career most of us could only dream of . Three weeks by Copacabana beach being slightly more memorable than some warm wine and nibbles in the office , I ' d venture to suggest .   Scroll down to watch Hilarious Colombian commentator ' s reaction to Rodriguez goal  Cast : Alan Hansen joined Rio Ferdinand and Alan Shearer on the  panel for the start of the last 16  Back to the day job : Henry left the  team to head back to America to resume the  season  For the occasion , he went with a rather sombre black shirt . But this was the only dark note in a quite riveting two hours or so of telly . Even if the last Englishman on the field of play in Brazil very nearly became the big story .  The camera seems to really love Howard Webb . Or perhaps it ' s the other way around ? Either way , his already melodramatic performance suddenly took centre stage when he disallowed Hulk ' s second half goal . Now , if this were domestic coverage of the game , the following few minutes would have forensically picked the moment apart . While also giving us relentless up close and personal looks at Webb and his partner in crime with the flag , Mike Mullarkey .  But just as Guy Mowbray was telling us us on commentary that Brazilian ' heads are turning to monitors ' on the bench to see the damning images , so the world was being shown a substitution rather than the moment of the match . Which can often be par for the course with this kind of international event telly coverage . Because when the pictures are being used by an abundance of broadcasters , the safest option is to provide more neutral pictures , tempered with plenty of surrounding colour . Spectacle over specifics .  Nevertheless , this sense of occasion can actually also make a moment really special . Such as with the epic penalty shoot out . This was truly marvelous sport on the telly . Firstly , because the scatter gun images captured so much tension and emotion . And secondly because the  stuck with those shots , and had the studio provide fabulous voice overed insight ( ' I was next in Moscow ' , shuddered Rio Ferdinand at the thought . ' And my legs had gone ' ) into the intensity and pressure of the situation on the players . Formidable , memorable stuff .  Centre of attention : Howard Webb disallows Hulk ' s goal , which would have put Brazil 2 1 ahead  Later that evening on  , it was the part two of the evening ' s entertainment . And clearly Adrian Chiles and the boys had got all their clothes back from the dry cleaners . Because there they were at the top of the show , by the beach , giving the casual wear a run out .  Ian Wright the only man adding a touch of decorum to the whole sorry shorts ' n ' sandals affair by sporting a splendid panama hat .  While at half time , they were back in the studio , but now dressed like they were all set to hit happy hour as soon as the game finished . Although if the final whistle blew and we came back to them all in pyjamas , I also wouldn ' t have been surprised .  Somewhere in the middle of all this , of course , Columbia had seen off Uruguay with very little effort . And delivered the goal of the tournament so far , in the process . But with that goal came something of a conundrum over at  . All based around the scorer of the goal , Rodriguez .  Soaking up the sun :  began their presentation of Colombia against Uruguay on the beach  Change :  returned to their studio at half time during Colombia ' s win over Uruguay  Stars of the show : Colombia lit up the Maracana as they beat Uruguay to move into the quarter final  In the build up to the game , Wrighty went in hard on the pronouncing of his first name , spelt simply James . Hah mez , said Ian with a real flourish . Which seemed to meet with the approval of both Lee Dixon and Martin O ' Neill alongside him . However , on commentary , Clive Tyldesley was having none of it . Indeed , when Rodriguez rattled in his wonder volley , he even added a fee extra ' a ' s ' to the very familiar pronouncing of James .  Adrian then added fuel to the fire at half time . After Ian said of the goal he could ' watch it all day ' , Adrian suggested he also thought Rodriguez ' calls himself Ham Mez ' . Then added that perhaps after that goal , all the other James ' s out there might want to follow suit ?  In which case , I ' d just like to say to Hah Mez May , Hah Mez Blunt and perhaps even Bond , Hah Mez Bond great stuff so far , isn ' t it ? Even if Clive still thinks you are still all plain old James ' .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
4977,4978,"Marc Champion , ( c ) 2016 , Bloomberg View ( c ) 2016 , Bloomberg View  It isn ' t often that a judge in one country accuses the president of another a superpower , no less of participating in murder . On Thursday , however , the chairman of a lengthy U . K . inquiry into the 2006 poisoning of a former Russian intelligence operative , Alexander Litvinenko , did just that .  The words that Sir Robert Owen used to conclude his report are so extraordinary they ' re worth quoting :  "" Taking full account of all the evidence and analysis available to me , I find that the  operation to kill Mr Litvinenko was probably approved by Mr Patrushev and also by President Putin . ""  Owen was referring , of course , to Russian President Vladimir Putin , as well as to Nikolai Patrushev , then head of the Federal Security Service (  ) and now secretary of the Russian security council . The judge also said he was "" sure "" Litvinenko was killed by the radioactive polonium 210 isotope found in his body , and that this was administered by two ex  colleagues he met for tea in London ' s ritzy Mayfair district .  Litvinenko ' s murder is one of the most publicly investigated in history , so much of what ' s in the report isn ' t new . But to have a recently retired British High Court judge say he is "" sure "" ( for which read "" beyond a reasonable doubt "" ) about the guilt of Andrei Lugovoi and Dmitry Kovtun is a sobering moment for Britain and should be just as serious for Russia . Since the murder , Putin has personally honored Lugovoi , who has been turned into a national hero and senior member of the Russian parliament .  Just as widely accepted outside Russia is the finding that the two men were working on the orders of the  . But to say the hit was "" probably "" ordered by Putin takes quite a leap . It ' s a finding that Owen based on testimony from witnesses he acknowledges to have been biased , and from the historian Robert Service , about the way in which Russia ' s hierarchy works .  There are two things to say on this . The first is that Owen seems to have been more willing than he should to believe everything told him by Litvinenko ' s shady circle of ex  friends . He relies in part on their accounts to establish the Kremlin ' s motive for murder . These include a book about a series of 1999 apartment bombings around Russia that triggered the second Chechen War and helped propel Putin to the presidency . Litvinenko and his friends maintain these weren ' t carried out by Chechen terrorists , as generally believed , but by the  . Much remains unexplained about those bombings , but the case has hardly been proved to a level that could be used in any court of law . Even so , Owen says :  "" On the evidence I heard , the book was more than a political tract it was the product of careful research . Professor Service ' s view was that the two men had ' credibly investigated ' the issue and , although their contentions about it had not been ' proved 100 percent , ' he considered they were more likely than not to be accurate . He said that : ' the Felshtinsky and Litvinenko book piled up the evidence pointing a very damaging finger at the  and its involvement in those explosions . ' ""  The second thing to say is that most people outside Russia will , like the judge , conclude in their gut that Putin approved Litvinenko ' s assassination . It has come to fit their expectations of what Russia and its leader do .  Already , Russia has dismissed the findings as politically motivated and warned of "" serious consequences "" to its relations with the U . K . Yet the only way Putin will persuade the rest of the world to accept his word over Owen ' s is to send Lugovoi and Kovtun to face trial in the U . K . Nothing else will do and nothing is less likely to happen .  Equally , although U . K . Home Secretary Theresa May told parliament on Thursday that Russia would face a tough response , it won ' t . May at first resisted holding an independent inquiry , precisely because it would highlight the U . K . ' s inability to punish Russia for committing murder in the streets of London .  Putin shouldn ' t be too smug , though . The story of the last years has been one of his steady descent from a leader welcomed and even feted around the world , to one whose hand is shaken only reluctantly . The belief is that he is a man who orders assassinations in supposedly friendly nations , sends troops to invadesupposedly fraternal neighbors and denies everything when those troops shoot down a passenger airliner .  These concerns probably won ' t hurt Putin domestically . Yet they are forcing him ever further into the defensive crouch of an ordinary dictator , one who may be popular for now but will never be able to afford the risk of genuine elections because of the retribution he might face on losing office . It is a sad story considering the possibilities Putin had and for a while seemed to grasp when he came to power 16 years ago .  Marc Champion writes editorials on international affairs for Bloomberg View .  For more columns from Bloomberg View , visit http : www . bloombergweblink view  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
4979,4980,"Arturo Vidal has been fined 78 , 400 by Juventus and is set to face further disciplinary action for having a night out ahead of their clash against Roma on Sunday .  The Chile international who saw a move to Manchester United scuppered by his troublesome knee injury was dropped to the bench for Juve ' s 3 2 win over Roma .  Vidal only recently returned from another injury and Juventus are annoyed that ahead of such an important clash against rivals Roma , that the midfielder was out until the early hours of Friday morning .   Scroll down to watch Juve and Roma set for battle  Juventus midfielder Arturo Vidal ( right ) , pictured with Chile team mates Carlos Carmona ( left ) and Gary Medel ( centre ) , has been fined by his club for going on a night out  Medel was dropped to the bench for Juve ' s crucial 3 2 win against Serie A title rivals Roma at the weekend  Defender Leonardo Bonucci ( right ) sealed his side ' s victory with this strike late on at the Juventus Stadium  Photographs of the 27 year old in a Turin bar emerged in the Italian media and Juve have fined the midfielder 100 , 000 .  Juventus  Giuseppe Marotta said : ' Vidal is the typical South American player . The history of football is full of these types of stories . Former Juventus player and Argentina international Omar Sivori was one of them , so was ex Inter Milan and Argentina star Antonio Angelillo and many others .  ' South Americans are like that . They live certain situations in their own way , they have a way to celebrate and to enjoy themselves .  ' We just have to keep him at bay and control him . From a football standpoint , we cannot say anything . A fine of 100 , 000 ? Perhaps it ' s not enough . '  Vidal and his team mates celebrate Bonucci ' s stunning late winner against Roma in Turin  Vidal tussles with Atletico Madrid ' s Mario Mandzukic during a Champions League clash at the Vicente Calderon   Juve and Roma set for battle  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
4980,4981,"A Florida A M University drum major who died after enduring a school hazing ritual aboard a bus decided to go through with the rite in order to earn respect , band members said in court documents released Wednesday .  "" It ' s like a respect thing , "" said defendant Jonathan Boyce , who noted that Robert Champion "" was wanting to do it all season . ""  Champion , 26 , died last year because of "" hemorrhagic shock due to soft tissue hemorrhage , due to blunt force trauma , "" the Orange County medical examiner said .  More than 2 , 000 pages of police interviews with witnesses and defendants who were aboard the bus on the day of Champion ' s death paint a picture of a darkened bus where three band members , including Champion , were hazed .  Multiple witnesses say that Champion was forced to walk , shirtless , from the front of the bus to the back while being beaten with drum sticks , bass drum mallets , punches and kicks .  Champion is thought to have died after taking part in a rite of passage called "" Crossing Bus C , "" in which students "" walk from the front of the bus to the back of the bus backward while the bus is full of other band members . ""  Florida A M band fraternity charter revoked after hazing investigation  "" You get beaten until you get to the back , "" one band member said on the condition of anonymity .  But Champion ' s parents said Wednesday that their son had advocated against hazing .  "" It doesn ' t sound like my son at all , "" Pam Champion told reporters at a news conference in Atlanta . "" He was a stickler for the rules . ""  Boyce and other defendants are only trying to "" save themselves , "" she said , by claiming that Champion wanted to participate in the ritual .  "" It certainly wasn ' t ( just ) hazing , "" she added , describing the incident as a "" brutal assault . ""  As for the future of  ' s Marching 100 , Pam Champion said , "" Until you clean house , you can ' t . . . consider putting that band back on the field . ""  After the incident , Boyce said he asked Champion if he was alright .  Initially , he said "" yeah I ' m  , "" according to Boyce . But later , he said Champion began panicking .  "" He was having trouble breathing , "" noted Boyce , who carried the drum major shortly before he lost consciousness . "" He couldn ' t see , but his eyes were like wide open . ""  Band member Harold Finley , who has been charged in connection with Champion ' s death , and Evan Calhoun , then a second year percussion student who has not been charged , noted that the hazing ritual wasn ' t obligatory .  "" If you want to be there , you ' re there if you ' re not , you ' re not , "" Calhoun said in the deposition . "" Nobody forces you . ""  Band member Kerian Cox , who was a percussion section leader , told investigators that the more intense hazing can come when a student is identified for senior level positions .  "" I guess they know I was going to be like a ( band ) leader in the future , "" Cox said , recalling his own earlier experience with the ritual .  But he noted that the band ' s trombone section had been "" cut in half "" due to suspensions for alleged hazing prior to the November incident .  On the day that Champion died , drum major Keon Hollis told investigators , he had endured the same ritual .  "" I did it for the same reasons everybody else do it , "" he said . "" Get the respect . ""  Hollis who went before Champion said they had to fight their way through a fury of punches and slaps , while other band members swung with sticks and straps .  "" ( Robert ) really didn ' t want to do it , but he was kind of like , I ' m just going to do it , "" said Hollis . "" You know , I told him , I said , if you don ' t want to do it , don ' t do it . ""  Hollis said Champion seemed fine immediately after the ritual .  "" He was fine . . . . He asked me , he ' s like , ' man , I need something to drink . ' And I had a bottle of water and I gave it to him , "" Hollis said in an audio interview with investigators released Wednesday .  Soon afterward , Champion began having trouble breathing , according to witnesses and police reports .  "" He was sitting on the bus at the steps . . . . He said he can ' t breathe , so I checked him , "" said band member Darryl Cearnel , who is not charged in the case . "" He wasn ' t saying anything . He wasn ' t responsive or anything . They was calling his name and ( he ) wasn ' t saying anything . ""  Cearnel told investigators that he performed  until paramedics arrived .  The medical examiner who conducted the autopsy ruled the death a homicide . The autopsy found "" extensive contusions of ( Champion ' s ) chest , arms , shoulder and back , "" as well as "" evidence of crushing of areas of subcutaneous fat , "" the fatty tissue directly under the skin . He did not have any bone fractures or injuries to his internal organs .  There was also no any evidence of "" natural disease except for a slightly enlarged heart , "" nor did toxicology tests reveal signs of drugs or alcohol .  Four students were expelled from the school , and another 30 were dismissed from the band soon after Champion ' s death .  Florida files charges in death of  drum major , hazing of 2 others  A law enforcement investigation resulted in charges being brought against 13 people . Eleven individuals each face one count of third degree felony hazing resulting in death . Each one also is accused of two counts of first degree misdemeanor hazing . State law provides a prison term of up to six years for those facing the more serious charges .  Two people each face a single count of misdemeanor first degree hazing . Sentences in such cases typically call for up to a year in jail .  Champion ' s death brought renewed public scrutiny to hazing , a practice that some say has gone on for years . Other band members had come forward previously with allegations of hazing and some had been hospitalized for injuries allegedly suffered in the practice .   said it has taken steps to eradicate the problem , and after Champion died the university ' s board of trustees approved an anti hazing plan that includes an independent panel of experts to investigate hazing allegations .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
4988,4989,"Reuters) - The U.S. military said on Friday it was identifying new areas where it could work with allies to put pressure on Iran in support of President Donald Trump’s new strategy, which promises a far more confrontational approach to Tehran. Trump struck a blow against the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement on Friday in defiance of other world powers, choosing not to certify that Tehran is complying with the deal and warning he might ultimately terminate it. He also promised to address Iran more broadly, including its support for extremist groups in the Middle East. Major Adrian Rankine-Galloway, a Defense Department spokesman, told Reuters the Pentagon was assessing the positioning of its forces as well as planning but offered few details. “We are identifying new areas where we will work with allies to put pressure on the Iranian regime, neutralize its destabilizing influences, and constrain its aggressive power projection, particularly its support for terrorist groups and militants,” he said. U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said his first goal would to talk with U.S. allies in Europe, the Middle East and elsewhere to gain a shared understanding of Iran’s actions. “Certainly we intend to dissuade them from shipping arms into places like Yemen and explosives into Bahrain and the other things they do with their surrogates, like Lebanese Hezbollah,” Mattis said. The U.S. military has long been a strident critic of Iran, accusing it directly and indirectly of trying to undermine the United States and its allies, including in Iraq, Syria and Yemen. The tensions escalated in recent months in Syria, where American pilots shot down two Iranian-made drones this summer.   Still, a more aggressive approach to Iran could trigger a backlash from Iran’s elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and forces that it backs. That includes in Iraq, where U.S. troops are fighting Islamic State and trying to keep their distance from Shi’ite militia aligned with Iran. “U.S. forces in Iraq are quite exposed, and coalition forces are quite exposed to the risk of attack if Iranian elements so choose,” said Jennifer Cafarella, lead intelligence planner at the Institute for the Study of War, a think-tank in Washington. The U.S. military is analyzing an explosively formed penetrator, or EFP, that killed an American soldier in Iraq this month. The reappearance of the device, which Iran-backed Shi’ite militia routinely used to target American troops in Iraq before their withdrawal in 2011, has startled U.S. officials.  Director Mike Pompeo noted the device was detonated in an area controlled by a militia backed by Tehran. “We do not have evidence of a direct link to Iran, but we are closely examining this tragic incident,” Pompeo said on Wednesday. Cafarella said the killing of the U.S. soldier may have been a warning from Iran. “I think it is possible that the Iranians have been attempting to signal their commitment to retaliate against the U.S. strategy,” she said. Mattis said the United States was watching for any new provocations from Iran. Asked whether he thought Tehran might retaliate, he said: “It would be ill advised for them to attack us.” Reuters has previously reported that options to increase pressure on Iran include more aggressive U.S. interceptions of Iranian arms shipments, such as those to Houthi rebels in Yemen, It could also direct U.S. naval forces to react more forcefully when harassed by armed  speed boats. The Pentagon on Friday detailed a series of major concern about Iran, including its ballistic missile development and cyber attacks against the United States and U.S. allies.  The Pentagon promised to review U.S. security cooperation activities with allies in the region, something that could lead to alterations in U.S. arms sales and military exercises.  It also signaled a willingness to re-examine the positioning of the roughly 70,000 American troops the Pentagon says are stationed in the Middle East. Still, Mattis said: “Right now we are not changing our posture.” ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
4999,5000,"Friends are horrified that we have tuned in to see Empire .  Yet , we are not shocked by our morbid interest , though we seem to be odd bedfellows yet again on the search for something new and intriguing on the boring series route .  This show reminded us of the early days of Dallas , to be honest . It has family intrigue , big money , business machinations , and a few delicious villains .  Terrence Howard is some kind of Jay Z hip hopping power broker in the black music industry . He also is King Lear with three sons ( not daughters ) who must prove their worthiness to be his successor .  And , the sons are from oldest to youngest : a button down business man with no sense of rhythm , a gay disaffected middle child , and a spoiled Justin Bieber type youngest son .  Enter the jailbird mother , Cookie , played with insouciance by Taraji Henson , late of Person of Interest . She is perhaps the only person able to go head to head with her sociopathic ex husband , played by the ageless Terrence Howard .  Since opening episodes are always filled with silly flashbacks and too much exposition , this one introduced the characters in their two dimensional outfits and moved along briskly down the runway to shame .  Along the way , the script is littered with old friendships ended with a bullet , a mysterious disease on the outskirts of series cancellation , and sexual licentiousness as the daily bread of the black music industry . Apparently , the music score will be a big seller with a segment of the audience .  As for us , we will be back for more .  And they said we wouldn ' t like it .  ",satire,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,satire,True,no,no,positive,present
5011,5012,"The Trump campaign is definitely a racist one, because the guy at the helm of the whole thing, Donald Trump, is a flaming racist. After all, as we all know, Donald Trump s first entrance into mainstream American politics was his very public leading of a charge to prove that President Obama was not born in this country. That issue keeps coming up now, during this campaign, because Trump s surrogates have been all over the television airwaves insisting that he is no longer a birther. However, when Trump himself was asked by the Washington Post whether or not he actually believes that the President is an American, he refused to answer, just giving the standard answer that he no longer discusses the issue.Well, seeing that things were about to get ugly surrounding this, Trump s campaign issued a gross, racist statement full of self-congratulations and outright lies, as if Trump s questioning of the president s birth was in any way a service to the country or in any way appropriate. The statement begins by refusing to admit any wrong doing on the part of Trump and his fellow birthers, and instead suggesting that Trump s racist  show me your papers  campaign was somehow the right thing to do: In 2011, Mr. Trump was finally able to bring this ugly incident to its conclusion by successfully compelling President Obama to release his birth certificate. Mr. Trump did a great service to the President and the country by bringing closure to the issue that Hillary Clinton and her team first raised. Then, Trump spokesman Jason Miller, the despicable goon behind this travesty of a statement, closes the whole thing off by acting like the public questioning of the origins of the first black American president is some kind of golf course deal Trump closed: Inarguably, Donald J. Trump is a closer. Having successfully obtained President Obama s birth certificate when others could not, Mr. Trump believes that President Obama was born in the United States. No, you guys aren t getting off this easy, Miller. The only acceptable response here is to have your candidate say,    MOUTH, that he knows that he was wrong, that he is sorry, and that President Obama is an American and a legitimate president. Nothing less will do. Further, you will have to retract this deplorable statement, and admit that everything you have said here is awful, that it was  Hillary Clinton s campaign who started or led the birther movement, and that it was Donald Trump himself who gave it legs.I won t hold my breath on any of that, though. After all, Hillary was right: You folks really are a basket of deplorables   and you just got even deplorable with this statement.Featured image via Alex Wong/Getty Images",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
5023,5024,"In her Saturday “Opening Statement” on Fox News Channel’s “Justice,” Jeanine Pirro reacted to former  Director James Comey’s testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee.  Pirro said Comey is “addicted to drama and center stage,” adding that his downfall was his “hubris. ” “[O]ne thing never leaked [was] that Donald Trump was never under investigation,” Pirro stated. “Why refuse to say the president is not under investigation? You say because maybe one day he will be? That’s your response? Maybe one day Martians will take a seat on the United States Supreme Court. Could it be, Jim that being a team player is not in your DNA, that only center stage will do for you? And you’re pretty damn wily when asked if an  agent has a duty to report a crime. ” She went on to say, “Jim, you are a political operative, you always have been. One that’s addicted to drama and center stage. But, like the main character in all Greek tragedies, your downfall is a consequence of a tragic fall, a major weakness your hubris. ” Follow Trent Baker on Twitter @MagnifiTrent",true,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
5029,5030,"Rebecca MacKinnon : We ' re losing control of our digital privacy  The erosion of privacy rights under the Fourth Amendment , written to protect us against unreasonable search and seizure , began in earnest under President George W . Bush . The Patriot Act , passed overwhelmingly but hastily after 9 11 , allows the  to obtain telecommunication , financial , and credit records without a court order . Moreover , the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act ' s 2008 amendment act grants U . Sweblinkpanies immunity from being sued by their customers when they comply even with blatantly illegal government surveillance requests .  As a presidential candidate in 2008 , Barack Obama pledged to reform the Patriot Act and rescind the  Amendments Act , but as president he reversed his position . The Obama administration has fought bipartisan efforts in Congress to bring the change he once championed .  The result is the "" new normal "" : surveillance , often of questionable legality and sometimes clear illegality , against which Americans have little effective recourse , on the rare occasions that we even know that violations are taking place . Read more . . .  Rebecca MacKinnon is a Bernard L . Schwartz senior fellow at the New America Foundation , co founder of the international bloggers ' network Global Voices Online , and a founding board member of the Global Network Initiative . She is the author of "" Consent of the Networked : The Worldwide Struggle for Internet Freedom . ""  Douglas Rushkoff :  ' s phone snooping a different kind of creepy  I ' m finding it hard to get too worked up over the revelation that the National Security Agency has been authorized by the secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court to collect all our call data from Verizon . Hasn ' t everyone already assumed this ? Everything we do in the digital realm from surfing the Web to sending an e mail to conducting a credit card transaction to , yes , making a phone call creates a data trail . And if that trail exists , chances are someone is using it or will be soon enough . Read more . . .  Bruce Schneier : The Internet is a surveillance state  All of us being watched , all the time , and that data being stored forever . This is what a surveillance state looks like , and it ' s efficient beyond the wildest dreams of George Orwell .  Sure , we can take measures to prevent this . We can limit what we search on Google from our iPhones , and instead use computer web browsers that allow us to delete cookies . We can use an alias on Facebook . We can turn our cell phones off and spend cash . But increasingly , none of it matters .  There are simply too many ways to be tracked . The Internet , e mail , cell phones , web browsers , social networking sites , search engines : these have become necessities , and it ' s fanciful to expect people to simply refuse to use them just because they don ' t like the spying , especially since the full extent of such spying is deliberately hidden from us and there are few alternatives being marketed by companies that don ' t spy .  This isn ' t something the free market can fix . We consumers have no choice in the matter . All the major companies that provide us with Internet services are interested in tracking us . Read more . . .  Bruce Schneier is a security technologist and author of "" Liars and Outliers : Enabling the Trust Society Needs to Survive . ""  Neil M . Richards : Surveillance state no answer to terror  Terror attacks , plane crashes , even school shootings stick in our head out of all proportion to the danger they pose to us as individual citizens precisely because they are extraordinary .  But remember the big picture . How many people do you know who have been the victims of terrorism ? On the other hand , how many people do you know who have suffered from cancer , or obesity , or gun violence ? If we ' re interested in safety , public health and gun control are much more important issues than terrorism . They , not surveillance , should be our safety priority .  We should honor the victims . We should praise the Bostonians , police and private citizens , who helped find the culprits . But we should also rest secure that our system of government is working . We should reject , like Edward Davis did , any call to move further towards a police state . Read more . . .  Neil Richards is a professor of law at Washington University . He tweets about privacy at neilmrichards and is the author of the recent Harvard Law Review article , "" The Dangers of Surveillance . ""  Michael Hayden : Obama administration overreached on leak probes  Intelligence agencies often act on the edges of executive prerogative and move forward based on a narrow base of lawfulness and limited congressional notification "" and these are often sufficient to underpin a one off covert action .  But democracies don ' t get to do anything repeatedly over a long period ( like drone strikes and targeted killings ) without political support "" and political support is the end point of a process that begins with informed debate . Informed debate depends on information , the kind that most journalists seek .  We cannot make public the nation ' s legitimate secrets , but Americans need a broad outline of what is being done on their behalf . Ironically , the public dialogue generated by a free press may be one of the best guarantors that the Republic will , in the future , be able to act boldly ( and occasionally secretly ) in its own defense . Read more . . .  Gen . Michael V . Hayden , who was appointed by President George W . Bush as  director in 2006 and served until February 2009 , is a principal with the Chertoff Group , a security consulting firm . He serves on the boards of several defense firms and is a distinguished visiting professor at George Mason University .  Rand Paul : Don ' t let drones invade our privacy  When assuming office , every government official must take an oath to abide by and uphold our Constitution . Since 2010 , I have made that my mission in Congress . Unfortunately , the Obama administration is not upholding nor abiding by the Constitution in fact , this administration is going to great lengths to continually violate it .  Its most recent transgression involves the use of domestic drones .  These small drones are to be used as a crime fighting tool for law enforcement officials . But is unwarranted and constant surveillance by an aerial eye of Big Government the answer ? Read more . . .  Rand Paul , a Republican , is a U . S . senator from Kentucky .  Frida Ghitis : Google knows too much about you  If Americans or people anywhere decided to take up Google ' s offer to check out its new policy , they would discover something so troubling , so frightening , really , that it would override the national tendency to leave companies alone to make money how they see fit . At least in the case of companies such as Google and now Facebook which know more about us than even our closest friends . Read more . . .  David Frum : Privacy was good while it lasted  To be a politician today is to live in some ways like a citizen of North Korea . A politician must assume that he or she is under 24 hour audio visual surveillance . Any objectionable remark , any untoward joke , any awkward facial expression may be recorded and broadcast . Professional and personal ruin can strike at any moment .  If George Allen ' s "" macaca "" moment didn ' t drive home the point , Scott Prouty ' s 47 video certainly should .  But it ' s not only politicians who live under perpetual surveillance . We all do ! Read more . . .  Amitai Etzioni : Despite Facebook , privacy is far from dead  If you read closely the various alarmist articles about the death of privacy , you soon will note that many deal either with public spaces or with hypotheticals . They claim that police could abuse these tools , might use them to ill effect and so on . The American Civil Liberties Union , for example , criticized the use of drones by law enforcement by arguing that such use "" could eventually eliminate the privacy Americans have traditionally enjoyed in their movements and activities . ""  Facebook has been caught in the same crossfire between strong privacy advocates and the social benefits it generates for hundred of millions who use it to communicate with their families and friends , close and not so close . It improved its privacy settings , though it still takes a considerable amount of effort to set them at the specific level one prefers .  However , if Facebook users choose to ignore the risk to their privacy when they log in to this domain , which is known for its openness , their complaints must be taken with a grain of salt . Read more . . .  Amitai Etzioni is professor of international relations and director of the Institute for Communitarian Policy Studies at George Washington University . He is the author of "" The Limits of Privacy . ""  The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the authors .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,satire,true,True,no,no,negative,past
5032,5033,"All good things must come to an end . Or in the case of  ' s hit series , "" True Blood , "" all bad things must meet the true death .  After seven dark and twisted seasons of the drama , based on Charlaine Harris ' "" Southern Vampire Mysteries , "" fans of the show referred to as "" Trubies "" must say their final goodbyes to Sookie ( Anna Paquin ) , Bill ( Stephen Moyer ) , Eric ( Alexander Skarsg rd ) and the rest of the supernatural creatures of Bon Temps this Sunday .  While some fans have argued the show ' s quality has declined over the years , it doesn ' t mean people have stopped watching . Here are the storylines we ' re absolutely dying to have wrapped up in the final episode :  Will there be a true cure to Hep V ?  Hepatitis V , a disease that infects both humans and vampires and is lethal to the latter , has been the main plot point of season seven . At first , the disease caused bloodsuckers to lose their minds and eat humans at an alarming rate . Midway through the season it began to transform and just weakened the vampires until eventually they withered away .  Yes , Sarah Newlin ' s blood contains the cure to Hep V , but only a select few actually know this and Mr Gus of the Yakonomo Corporation ( Will Yun Lee ) wants to keep it that way . Instead of releasing the real cure to the world , he has teamed up with Eric and Pam ( Kristin Bauer van Straten ) to synthesize a partial antidote . That way , infected vampires will need to take the medicine regularly without ever being fully cured . Smart business move , but no doubt morally corrupt .  Newlin ( Anna Camp ) has spent the last few episodes held captive , but will she finally escape in the series finale ? Or will Eric and Pam turn on Gus and release the cure to the world ? Could this maker progeny duo actually make an ethical decision that doesn ' t also benefit them financially ?  Only time will tell . But as tensions rise between Gus and Eric , fans can definitely expect a showdown . Especially now that Sookie is in Gus ' crosshairs . And everyone knows when it comes to Sookie , Eric does not mess around .  Will our favorite non vampires find happiness ?  Characters such as Sam ( Sam Trammell ) , Lafayette ( Nelsan Ellis ) and Arlene ( Carrie Preston ) may not have a thirst for blood , but they certainly find themselves in consistent danger . So who makes it out ( emotionally ) alive ?  Things are looking pretty good for resident shape shifter Sam Merlotte . He hasn ' t been at the forefront of the action much this year , spending most of his time ignoring his mayoral duties in lieu of protecting his pregnant girlfriend , Nicole ( Jurnee Smollett Bell ) . He even agreed to her demand that they move to raise their unborn child in a safe place . Sam ' s gotten the short end of the stick throughout the series , so here ' s hoping he finally gets that happy ending he deserves .  Lafayette has also suffered a lot of loss , but , like Sam , life is starting to turn around . Everyone ' s favorite cross dressing fry cook might have even found love with Jessica ' s boyfriend , James ( Nathan Parsons ) . Lafayette is a fan favorite and the writers will most likely allow him to ride off into the sunset with this dreamy guitarist .  Then there ' s Arlene . The fiery , redheaded waitress , now owner of Bellefleur ' s Bar and Grill , has suffered the loss of two men in her life : former fianc Rene , who turned out to be a psychopathic murderer and was killed by Sookie and war veteran Terry Bellefleur , who made her happy but was then killed by a hit man . Tough break . But through it all Arlene has been a survivor , always coming out on top . And it looks like she may find love once again this time with ancient vampire Keith ( Riley Smith ) , who is absolutely smitten with her . But who wouldn ' t be ?  Will Jason actually be able to keep his pants on ?  For seven seasons , Jason ( Ryan Kwanten ) has been in trouble dozens of times , all because he is unable to control himself when it comes to members of the opposite sex including Amy ( Lizzy Caplan ) , Sarah Newlin , Crystal ( Lindsay Pulsipher ) , Jessica ( Deborah Ann Woll ) and Violet ( Karolina Wydra ) . The relationships ' ends have often been messy physically so .  But now that Jessica and Hoyt ( Jim Parrack ) have finally rekindled their romance ( rejoice ! ) , this is the perfect time for Jason to re evaluate his life choices . While most fans may cry at the thought of a celibate Jason Stackhouse , it may be for the greater good of Bon Temps that he keep his pants on for at least a little while . Of course , no one says he has to keep his shirt on for the finale . This is "" True Blood , "" after all .  Who will meet the true death ?  Current "" True Blood "" show runner Brian Buckner , who replaced original creator Alan Ball , promised there would be game changing deaths in the final season , and he wasn ' t kidding . Within the first minute of the opening episode , Tara Thornton ( Rutina Wesley ) was staked and killed by a Hep V infected vampire . The death happened off screen , too talk about a cold exit . A few episodes later , Sookie ' s werewolf boyfriend , Alcide ( Joe Manganiello ) , got the ax as well . He died while protecting Sookie , a common theme in the series . But ever since those deaths it has been unusually tame . Which prompts the question , who will bite it in the series finale ?  The obvious choice going in would be Bill Compton . Infected with the Hep V virus ( at an alarming rate due to Sookie ' s faerie blood ) , he refused to drink from Sarah Newlin and cure himself , stating that he had accepted his fate to die . He claims he is making this decision in an attempt to save Sookie from his own "" darkness . "" Kind of seems like an anti climactic way for his character to go out , though .  Early predictions from fans had Eric Northman as a main contender to die and it seemed likely with him contracting the Hep V virus early in the final season . But now that he ' s sampled from the fountain of Sarah Newlin , he is officially cured . Could this be a ploy to fool viewers into thinking he is safe ? It seems rather fitting for his character to go out in a blaze of glory .  And what about Sookie Stackhouse ? Yes , she is the show ' s main character , but crazier things have happened . Besides , some would argue she is partially responsible for all of the terrible things to befall the town of Bon Temps , so maybe a death would be satisfying to some fans . Besides , no one has put themselves in more dangerous situations in the seven season run than Sookie . That girl cannot keep herself out of trouble .  Who will Sookie choose ?  "" True Blood "" began with a love story , and the question still lingers : Who will our heroine , Sookie Stackhouse , end up with ?  First there was Bill Compton , Sookie ' s primary love interest . They broke up occasionally , but Sookie always found her way back to him . ( Possibly because actors Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer are married in real life . ) Then there was Eric Northman . Fangirls everywhere squealed when they got together . But while their chemistry was magnetic , they spent more time against one another than actually coupled .  There was also Warlow ( Robert Kazinsky ) , because who wouldn ' t fall in love with a faerie vampire who is responsible for murdering your parents and hunting you over the years ? And then the doomed relationship with Alcide , the gorgeous werewolf who never stood a chance .  Based on this season , it appears Sookie will end up with Bill . They have spent the majority of the year rekindling their original romance . Sookie has made it very clear that all she wants is for Bill to live . But the idea of Bill still being alive at the end of this season is looking less and less likely . That would leave Eric , which would certainly please the fans . But if it only happens by default after Bill dies , does that cheapen their relationship ?  Here ' s a thought maybe Sookie should end up alone . It ' s almost unheard of in a vampire love story , but something that might need to happen for fans to finally respect her . Each season she has put herself in danger over her inability to stay away from particular men . Maybe she will finally make the right choice , pack up her bags , and leave Bon Temps for good .  It would be a bold move and sure to anger many fans , but hey at least it would be a surprise .  Goodbyes suck , but hopefully this one won ' t .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
5045,5046,"Peter Moores has warned England ' s under achieving one day cricketers that no one ' s place is safe after the series defeat by India and he is considering making key changes just five months before the World Cup .  The crushing 3 1 loss , alleviated slightly by a much improved performance at Headingley on Friday , means England will shuffle their pack ahead of the series in Sri Lanka in November in another attempt to find a winning one day formula .  It remains highly unlikely England will replace Alastair Cook at this stage , even though Moores refused to guarantee that a captain who has spent most of the summer defending his position will lead the side in Australia and New Zealand .  Cuts : Peter Moores is ready to wield the axe and rid England of its under performing players  Yet while Cook probably stays , others who may not make the cut include Ian Bell , Harry Gurney , Gary Ballance and perhaps even Eoin Morgan , who is under pressure when he leads the Twenty20 side against India at Edgbaston today .  England will consider bringing back Ravi Bopara and James Taylor , while Reece Topley has emerged as a left arm alternative to Gurney and Samit Patel , persona non grata under the Andy Flower regime , has support for a return .  It is hardly ideal to still be in a state of flux so close to the most important competition in limited overs cricket but England know changes have to be made even though they displayed a glimpse of their potential in Leeds .  Danger : Ian Bell , Gary Ballance and Eoin Morgan are all in danger of being dropped from the England squad  Moores , who told his squad of his expectations after Friday ' s win , is adamant there is nothing wrong with a game plan that has been derided as outdated by high profile critics such as Graeme Swann and Michael Vaughan but it is the execution of those plans that needs improving .  Bopara was unlucky to be left out of the India series but it has become clear that his omission was far from terminal and he will be given the chance to prove that he can bat in the top six and become England ' s sixth rather than fifth bowler .  It remains a mystery why Taylor , who scored 114 for Notts in the One Day Cup semi final yesterday , has not had many more opportunities in all formats but , like Bopara , he may be handed a chance to show what he can do both today in Birmingham and in the seven match 50 over series in Sri Lanka .  Gurney looks too one dimensional to have a long term future in international cricket and , with Moores wanting a left arm seamer , a late chance could come for Topley ahead of Chris Wood as long as he is fully fit .  World Cup : England need to make major changes if they are to stand any chance at the World Cup  Perhaps the biggest issue facing England is the woeful form of their key one day batsman Morgan , who is in desperate need of a big score today to ease concerns about his form .  It is becoming clear that , when England do decide the time is right to replace Cook as captain , Joe Root is the favourite to take over in all forms of the game , probably usurping Morgan as captain elect in one day as well as Test cricket .  The selectors will consider their options over the next two weeks before naming a squad for Sri Lanka that , barring the injured Stuart Broad , will go on to the World Cup .  ' It ' s been extremely disappointing , ' said Morgan of a barren run that goes back to his brilliant century against Australia in Brisbane in January . ' I ' ve worked incredibly hard this year but I ' ve been light on runs .  Series : England 3 1 defeat to India in their one day series highlighted the need for change  ' I ' ve been finding different ways to get out . I ' ve gone through periods like this and I ' ve always come back so I ' m confident I will this time . '  It will be fascinating to see how the big hitting Jason Roy performs today but he remains a big outsider for a World Cup place , not least because England are conscious of the massive gap between international and county cricket .  It is naive to expect a batsman who can whack the ball in the domestic game to instantly produce the goods at the highest level against two new white balls in international one day cricket .  The difficulties in stepping up have been highlighted by Alex Hales , who was quickly worked out by India ' s bowlers in the one day series and has to counter tactics which have stifled his natural desire to stay leg side of the ball and hit through the off side .  Despite Hales ' s success in international Twenty20 cricket , his example will make England wary of promoting too many county form horses for the World Cup even though they are open to late change .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
5061,5062,"Reuters) - Kosovo s Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj was removed from an international arrest warrant issued by Serbia, lifting an obstacle to him travelling outside the country, the justice minister said on Friday. Early this year Ramush Haradinaj, a former Kosovar guerilla leader who in September took over as prime minister, was arrested in France on an arrest warrant issued by Serbia. He was released after a French court rejected Belgrade s extradition request. Despite many attempts by Pristina, Belgrade refused to remove his name from the Interpol red notice.  Today I was informed that Interpol has removed 18 people from Kosovo that are wanted by Serbia and this list includes also the prime minister,  Abelard Tahiri, Kosovo s Justice Minister told Reuters.  After today s decision all these individuals are free to travel outside the country without any problem.  Haradinaj and others are wanted by Serbia for allegedly committing war crimes. Serbia has charged Haradinaj with murdering Serbs in the late 1990s war. The 1998-99 conflict ended after  bombed the now-defunct Yugoslavia, then comprising Serbia and Montenegro, for 78 days to force a withdrawal of its troops from Kosovo and end a counter-insurgency campaign against ethnic Albanians. Haradinaj, who has twice been tried and acquitted by the United Nations war crimes tribunal in the Hague, denies any wrongdoing. Kosovo declared independence in 2008 but Serbia refused to recognize its former breakaway province. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
5080,5081,"Garry Monk believes referees should be banned for poor performances following two controversial decisions from Anthony Taylor during Swansea ' s 1 1 draw with  on Thursday .  The Swansea boss was incensed after  goalkeeper Rob Green handled outside the box but was not dismissed before Taylor sent off Wayne Routledge for kicking out at Karl Henry .  He said : ' I am losing a bit of faith and so are my players when we continuously have decisions like this .   Scroll down for Garry Monk : Officials should suffer if they make bad decisions  Garry Monk was incensed as he felt the two key decisions went against his side in the draw with   Referee Anthony Taylor failed to send off  goalkeeper Robert Green for  handball outside of his area  Green was not sent off as  went on to claim a point against Swansea in the Premier League  ' I just hope Wayne ' s card gets rescinded . He goes from nearly having a leg broken to being sent off . He ( Routledge ) nudges him ( Henry ) away . No justice whatsoever .  ' With the other one ( Green ' s handball ) it is a half metre outside the box . '  Asked if officials should serve a suspension for game changing errors , Monk added : ' I lose a player and I have to suffer so officials should suffer as well . '  Wayne Routledge was later sent off for kicking out at Karl Henry while the  player was on the floor  Routledge gives Henry a kick as he is on the floor which the Swansea player will later get sent off for  Taylor shows Routledge a red card for his dig after failing to punish Green against the winger earlier  Monk consoles his winger as he walks down the tunnel after being shown the red card on Thursday  Leicester manager Nigel Pearson called for the introduction of video technology after his side fell victim to two terrible penalty decisions in a 2 2 draw at Liverpool .  He said : ' The officials are there to do a job and we could make it much easier if technology was utilised . It takes a couple of seconds . '  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,negative,past
5096,5097,"Reuters) - Russia’s next ambassador to Washington will be Anatoly Antonov, a former defense official who is subject to European sanctions over his role in the conflict in Ukraine, the Kremlin announced on Monday. Antonov takes over from Sergei Kislyak, whose contacts with members of President Donald Trump’s campaign team made him a central figure in the row over Russian influence over the U.S. presidential election. The incoming ambassador, 62, is a diplomat by training and is currently a deputy foreign minister. Between 2011 and 2016, he served as deputy defense minister, a period which coincided with Moscow’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea peninsula. The European Union added him two years ago to its list of officials who are subject to Ukraine-related sanctions, citing his involvement in supporting the deployment of Russian troops to Ukraine. Since becoming deputy foreign minister last year, Antonov has acted as a liaison between the foreign ministry and the military. The armed forces have growing influence over foreign policy, especially since Moscow launched its military operation in Syria. A  person who has dealt with Antonov said that he was a tough, military-style man. The name of outgoing ambassador Kislyak has emerged in relation to several of Trump’s associates as a special counsel and congressional panels investigate Russian meddling and possible ties with the Trump campaign.  U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself in March from matters connected to an investigation by the  following his admission he had talked to the Russian envoy. Michael Flynn, a former White House national security adviser, was forced to resign in February after it became known he had failed to disclose the content of conversations he had with Kislyak and had misled the vice president about their meetings. Jared Kushner, a White House advisor and Trump’s son-in-law, met Kislyak on two occasions in 2016, the White House has disclosed. Kushner also had phone calls with Kislyak between April and November 2016, Reuters reported. Moscow has denied any interference, and Trump has said his campaign did not collude with Russia. ",true,dataset,test,US elections,Conflict,satire,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
5104,5105,"in: Faith , Society ,  News America is never going to be great again until we deal with the wickedness in our own hearts. In recent days I have listened to so many national leaders tell us that Donald Trump is going to win the election and that this will usher in a new golden age of blessing and prosperity for America. Supposedly this is going to happen even though we continue to slaughter babies on an industrial scale, sexually-transmitted diseases are spreading at the fastest pace in decades, the percentage of births out of wedlock is more than 10 times higher than in 1940, and approximately two out of every three Christian men watch pornography on a regular basis. Even though there aren’t any signs of widespread national repentance, we are supposedly going to be showered with wealth, favor, protection and good times for as far as the eye can see. You can believe this if you want, but it doesn’t have any basis in reality. The truth is that we live in a nation where just about every type of evil that you can possibly imagine is spreading like wildfire. Just look at the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. According to the CDC, there are 20 million new cases of sexually-transmitted disease in the United States every year. And last year, cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis grew at a very alarming pace … Cases of sexually transmitted diseases in the United States have reached new highs, including an increase in syphilis not seen since the mid-1990s, federal health officials said in a report this week. There were 1.5 million chlamydia cases in 2015 — the last year that numbers were available — a 6 percent increase from the year before, and about 400,000 infections of gonorrhea, or a 13 percent rise , according to a report by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . But syphilis cases increased to levels unseen since the mid-1990s. There were nearly 24,000 cases of primary and secondary syphilis cases last year, a 19 percent hike compared with 2014. We are a nation that has fully embraced the “free love” philosophy of the 1960s. We have sex with whoever we want, whenever we want, and we don’t seem to care about the consequences. As a result, the nuclear family is rapidly being destroyed. Back in 1940, 3.8 percent of all babies were born to women that were not married. Today, that number is over 40 percent . 2008 (the year Barack Obama was elected) was the very first year in our history when 40 percent of all babies were born to unmarried mothers, and we have now stayed at that level for eight straight years . If we want to make America great again, we can start by not sleeping with people that we are not married to. But of course an increasing number of Americans (especially our young people) are discarding traditional notions of love, marriage and sexuality completely. At one time we were told that the choice was between “gay” and “straight”, but now many people have decided that they want absolutely no limits. Miley Cyrus is among those that are now identifying themselves as “pansexuals”. The following comes from a recent article by Jennifer LeClaire … “My mom is like an ’80s rock chick—big blonde hair. … She loves being a girl,” Cyrus said. “I never felt that way. I know some girls that love getting their nails done. I … hated it … I don’t wax my eyebrows. I never related to loving being a girl. And then, being a boy didn’t sound fun to me. I think the  alphabet could continue forever. But there’s a ‘P’ that should happen, for ‘pansexual.’” According to Google , a “pansexual” is “not limited in sexual choice with regard to biological sex, gender, or gender identity.” Millions of young girls look up to Miley Cyrus as a role model. We knew that this sort of thing was coming in the last days, but it is still hard to grasp how far America has fallen. And if you try to speak out against this wave of evil, you might just lose everything. For instance, the bakery in Oregon that didn’t want to make a wedding cake for a lesbian couple has been forced to close their doors permanently … The Oregon bakery that made news after it refused to make a cake for a lesbian couple’s wedding has closed after legal battles left the business financial devastated, according to a Christian news site. Aaron and Melissa Klein, owners of Sweet Cakes By Melissa, have shut down their bakery, according to the store’s Facebook page. ‘We have closed Sweet Cakes. We appreciate everyone’s continued prayer and support,’ the post said. We live in a nation where the culture has been fundamentally transformed. According to a newly released Pew Research Center survey , an all-time high 57 percent of all Americans believe that marijuana should be legalized and only 37 percent are against it. With that kind of a margin, it is only a matter of time before marijuana is legalized all over the country. We also live in a nation that is absolutely addicted to watching other people have sex. And most Christian men cannot even speak out about this epidemic because they are doing it themselves. According to Charisma News , one survey found that an astounding 68 percent of all Christian men admit that they watch pornography on a regular basis. But even if we turned away from all of the other behaviors that I have just mentioned, there would still be no hope for our nation as long as we continue to murder babies on an industrial scale. Did you see the final debate between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton? During that debate, Clinton made it exceedingly clear that she is in favor of abortion throughout all nine months of pregnancy. The Democratic platform openly calls for taxpayer funding of abortion and a complete repeal of the Hyde Amendment, and Bill and Hillary Clinton have made abortion one of the central pillars of their very long political careers. Their hands are absolutely drenched with the blood of dead children, and the American people are about to reward her by making her the next president of the United States . So no, I don’t buy it when people try to tell me that America is on the verge of a new era of greatness. The truth is that we are a cesspool of wickedness and filth, and unless we repent we are going to reap a very bitter harvest from what we have sown for so many years. Submit your review",fake,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
5107,5108,"Calling it the most ambitious project of its kind ever undertaken , officials from Dubai ' s Department of Economic Development announced Tuesday the emirate ' s plans to construct the world ' s largest human rights violation .  Set to begin later this month , the project , dubbed Saqr Ganzeer , or "" Chained Falcon , "" will reportedly take as long as 10 years to complete and make use of more than 250 , 000 foreign workers from the Indian subcontinent and other parts of Asia . It is expected to easily surpass all previous record holders , towering over every other abuse of rights in the wealthy Middle Eastern city .  "" With this bold new endeavor , we will create the biggest deprivation of basic human dignity the world has ever seen , "" said  deputy director Jamal Al Falasi , who according to reports was selected to oversee the project after successfully managing several of Dubai ' s smaller violations of individuals ' freedoms . "" None of the others will even come close . Once completed , it will be recognized everywhere as a symbol of Dubai and everything our city stands for . ""  "" It really is humbling to be part of an undertaking this historic in scope . ""  Emirati sources expressed confidence that before it is even finished , Saqr Ganzeer will generate a "" huge splash in the international community , easily overshadowing human rights offenses in countries like Sudan , North Korea , Syria , China , and the Democratic Republic of Congo , which they said will look miniscule in comparison .  International observers agreed that as soon as the project is underway , Dubai ' s claim to the title of world ' s greatest human rights infringement will likely be measured and officially certified by several independent organizations .  Bangladeshi laborer Tajuddin Rahman , one of tens of thousands who was lured to the emirate for the monumental exploitation of fundamental liberties , told reporters that while he knows it won ' t be easy toiling for countless hours on the project , he hopes his family back home will be proud of his sacrifice .  "" It really is humbling to be part of an undertaking this historic in scope , "" said Rahman , who explained he ' s eager to begin working on the project , as he needs to start funneling all his wages to his labor contractor for the next several years to pay back the cost of funding his travel to the  . "" It will take many years to complete , so I realize I might not be around long enough to see it finished . ""  "" I only hope that when this is done , people will take notice , "" he added .  ",satire,text,test,US elections,Conflict,true,satire,True,no,no,neutral,past
5111,5112,"A Florida man was hospitalized after he crashed his remote controlled plane this morning .  The unidentified man was flying the radio controlled jet as part of the Florida Jets  Air Show in Lakeland in Polk County .  It crashed into Paradise Field near the runway at Linder Regional Airport .  The remote controlled jet that crashed on Friday in Lakeland , Florida , is ' similar to one of these in size '  The jet crashed into Paradise Field at Linder Regional Airport during the Florida Jets  Air Show this morning  Fog stopped the man from going to Tampa General Hospital so he was was taken to Lakeland Regional Hospital  The man suffered non life threatening injuries , but was severely burned during the crash , according to 10 News .  When the aerial enthusiast ' s three foot , 20 , 000 plane crashed near him , some of its fuel sprayed out and caused the burns .  Polk Fire Rescue originally wanted to fly the injured man to Tampa General Hospital , but there was too much fog for the medical chopper to navigate .  The man was taken to Lakeland Regional Hospital instead .  Although the accident was originally reported as an actual plane crash , that notion was dispelled .  The Florida Jets Air Show is not a competition , but more of a ' fly In , or Jet Together ' , according to its Facebook page from last year .  The page reads : ' Florida Jets is one of the most exciting R C Aviation events on the planet .  '  features the ultimate technology in airframe construction and power plant , and has the highest level of pilot proficiency of any radio control model aviation discipline . '  The Florida Jets Air Show is not a competition , but more of a ' fly In , or Jet Together ' , according to Facebook  There were some initial reports that a plane had crashed , but Sgt Gross quickly cleared up the confusion  Although this mishap might seem out of the ordinary , it is more common than you might think .  Remote controlled planes crash frequently enough that there is a webpage about it .  The No . 1 cause of remote control plane crashes is pilot error , according to R C Airplane World .  According to the site : ' Either the pilot is flying beyond his or her abilities , or flying a plane that ' s too advanced or simply unsuitable for his her level of experience .  ' Or perhaps they make a genuine mistake because of , say , disorientation even experienced rc pilots make the wrong stick movements sometimes !  ' Equipment failure is another reason . In fact pilot error is commonly disguised as equipment failure !  ' Flying surface or control surface failure can also be the guilty culprit in bringing down our planes , especially if the builder did a less than satisfactory job on the hinges !  ' Prevention is better than cure , but sadly it takes a crash to figure out what went wrong and hopefully prevent it happening again in the future . '  ",true,text,test,US elections,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
5122,5123,"Facing a tough reelection against Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth, vulnerable  Senator Mark Kirk of Illinois announced today that he is un-endorsing Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. In a Tweet, Kirk said his military experience helped lead him to make the decision:Given my military experience, Donald Trump does not have the temperament to command our military or our nuclear arsenal.  Mark Kirk (@MarkKirk) June 7, 2016Then, in a statement, Kirk told reporters:  As the presidential campaign progressed, I was hoping the rhetoric would tone down and reflect a campaign that was inclusive, thoughtful and principled. While I oppose the Democratic nominee, Donald Trump s latest statements, in context to past attacks on Hispanics, women, and the disabled like me, make it certain that I cannot and will not support my party s nominee for President regardless of the political impact on my candidacy or the Republican Party. And like that, Kirk became the first Republican to un-endorse Donald Trump. Benn Sasse and Lindsey Graham, Republican Senators from Nebraska and South Carolina, have pledged not to support Trump either, and Trump s former rivals, Senators Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio are still on the fence.Other Republican Senators, such as Kelly Ayotte, Bob Corker, Mitch McConnell, Susan Collins, and Jeff Flake, have all expressed condemnation for Trump s comments about the judge presiding over the University case, but have pledged continued support.Kirk s announcement, coincidentally, comes just one day after his challenger, Duckworth, said Kirk s refusal  silence  equals  betrayal  to the people.Watch Kirk explain to reporters his un-endorsement:  IN: @SenatorKirk talks exclusively to @nbcnews  @HallieJackson RE: him not supporting Trump: pic.twitter.com/OsxSmkwDt0  Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) June 7, 2016Featured image via Gabriella Demczuk",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,past
5124,5125,"Grisly : Police said Chimboza was chewing flesh at the crime scene  A businessman in Africa has admitted to a savage act of cannibalism ripping a man ' s heart out and eating it ' to show he was not gay ' , while the victim was still alive .  Andrew Chimboza , 35 , told Cape Town police in a statement that he killed Mbuyiselo Manona , 62 , in self defence at the home of a client in the township of Gugulethu after being insulted .  Prosecutor Quawnita Geyer read out the statement during a bail hearing at the Athlone Magistrate ' s Court in Cape Town on Wednesday .  He said : ' In your warning statement you say . . . "" I sit upon him and stabbed him on the chest , tore out his heart and took a knife and then sliced his heart and then I ate his heart . ""  "" ' The reason for me to eat the unknown guy ' s heart was to show him that I am not a moffie gay and after I finished eating the heart , I realised he was dead . "" '  Investigating officer Constable Mphumelelo Yengwa attended the autopsy and reported its horrifying conclusion .  According to The Citizen he said : ' It was conducted by Dr Allie . Dr Allie told me that the heart is not present in the deceased ' s body and therefore , when the heart was taken out , he could see that the deceased was still alive . '  Yengwa told the hearing that the officer who arrested Chimboza at the scene found him chewing raw flesh and that Manona ' s neck had been ' half eaten ' . He added that his chest had a gaping hole in the left side .  However , Chimboza , originally from Zimbabwe , is now disputing the veracity of his statement , arguing that it was fabricated after he was assaulted by the police , according to Sowetanliveweblink .  Chimboza , who runs a window tinting business , claims that while he did stab Manona to death , he can ' t remember taking out the heart and eating it .  The brutal attack took place on the evening of June 10 .  Counter argument : Chimboza , who runs a window tinting business , now claims that while he did stab Manona to death , he can ' t remember taking out the heart and eating it  Chimboza confirmed to the hearing that Manona had called him certain names , that they then fought and that he had stabbed him to death .  He said : ' The way I was continuously stabbing , that must have ripped his heart out . Because I was in a shocked state . '  Geyer retorted : ' All the witnesses that were there confirm you killed the deceased , you cut out his heart and ate it . They say there was flesh in your teeth and dry blood on your mouth . '  Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article .  ",true,text,test,Football,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
5131,5132,"U2 ' s Bono calls Paris attack ' first direct hit on music '  Sunday , 15 November 2015 9 : 58am  Place : Paris Agency :   Irish rock band U2 ' s frontman Bono called Paris attack , that killed over 120 people , a first direct hit on music as many young concert goers and fans were targeted .  Irish rock band U2 ' s frontman Bono called Paris attack , that killed over 120 people , a first direct hit on music as many young concert goers and fans were targeted .  The band , whose concert was supposed to take place Saturday night , was called off after series of attacks in the French capital and Bono said the whole incident is very disturbing , reported Variety .  "" Our first thoughts at this point are with the Eagles of Death Metal fans . If you think about it , the majority of victims last night are music fans . This is the first direct hit on music that we ' ve had in this so called War on Terror , or whatever it ' s called . It ' s very upsetting . These are our people . This could be me at a show , you at a show , in that venue . It ' s a very recognisable situation for you and for me and the coldblooded aspect of this slaughter is deeply disturbing and that ' s what I can ' t get out of my head , "" Bono , 55 , said .  He also clarified that the decision to cancel the concert was made by the concerned authorities and not the band .  "" We didn ' t call it off . It was cancelled , honest , and I understand perfectly why . . . It ' s up to the French authorities and the city to decide when we can go back , "" he said .  Following the attacks , the band released a statement yesterday .  "" We are devastated at the loss of life at the Eagles of Death Metal concert and our thoughts and prayers are with the band and their fans . And we hope and pray that all of our fans in Paris are safe , "" the statement read .  During the attack Bono was rehearsing nearby at the Accor Hotels Arena where the group was set to perform on Saturday and Sunday .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
5135,5136,"Passengers in cars and taxis are being exposed to air pollution up to 15 times greater than cyclists and pedestrians on busy city streets , a new study has found .  Travelling inside a vehicle could be much worse than cycling by the kerb or walking on the pavement because emissions are highest in the centre of the carriageway , where vehicles suck in dirty air from those in front , scientists say .  Their shocking findings were revealed following an experiment by a group of five MPs who sit on the Government ' s cross party Environmental Audit Committee (  ) .  People in cars and taxis are being exposed to far more air pollution than those cycling and on foot  Each was provided with a gadget to measure airborne pollution levels , as well as a  tracker device , by scientists from King ' s College London , who analysed where pollution was at its highest during their travels across London and in their constituencies over a week in July .  By far the highest levels of tiny particles of ' black carbon ' or deadly soot breathed in by the MPs was during taxi journeys in cities .  On average each inhaled around 50 million particles per breath while inside a cab in London , around seven times more than the six to seven million particles per breath inhaled while walking around Whitehall or Oxford Street , and 15 times greater than levels recorded outside their eventual destination City Hall where , on leaving the cab , levels fell to three million particles per breath .  London Mayor Boris Johnson ( right ) is expected to announce a new initiative to combat pollution next week in the wake of Joan Walley ( left ) and the rest of the  ' s findings  The findings are worrying because persistent inhalation of air pollution and traffic emissions have been linked to lower life expectancy and serious illnesses , including heart disease and cancer , as well as low birth weights and stunted lung development in children .  Ben Barratt , a lecturer and air quality scientist at King ' s College , said that air pollutants , such as black carbon , nitrogen dioxide and the toxic leftovers of inefficiently burnt fuel , were highest in the middle of a carriageway and in the first two to three feet above the road , dropping off nearer to the kerb and pavement .  ' Travelling in vehicles gave the greatest average exposure , ' Dr Barratt said .  Five MPs carried out the Environmental Audit Committee study in London taxis  ' When you are in a vehicle , nose to tail with those in front , you are right in the middle of the source of the pollution .  ' Vehicles close together suck in each other ' s emissions .  ' The air intakes are in the engine compartment close to road level , so they pick up the fumes emitted by the vehicle in front of them . Open windows are another route . '  Dr Barratt said often dirty air became trapped in cars and taxis , whereas cyclists and pedestrians had a constant ' flow of air ' breezing in from all directions around them .  The MPs who took part in the research were chairwoman of the  Joan Walley , fellow Labour MPs Alan Whitehead and Mike Kane , and Conservatives Caroline Nokes and Matthew Offord .  They are investigating why diesel engines , which are now recognised as some of the worst pollutants , were mistakenly promoted by officials as environmentally friendly .  On Wednesday , London Mayor Boris Johnson will appear before the  to explain why the capital persistently breaches  standards on pollution levels .  Mr Johnson is expected to announce an new initiative Breathe Better Together where commuters will be asked to work from home or use bikes , trains and buses instead of cars and taxis when air pollution levels are highest .  However , it is not just in London where pollution is a problem . Mrs Walley ' s monitor saw her inhale more than 80 million particles per breath during a car journey in her Stoke on Trent North constituency , while Mr Kane was exposed to 20 million particles per breath during a cab ride in Manchester .  Dense smog hangs over London , obscuring buildings like The Shard earlier this year  Mrs Walley said : ' Our monitoring equipment showed that people in vehicles were far more exposed to air pollution than they would be walking .  ' Car makers test exhaust emissions but this raises a question about whether they should also be considering air quality inside vehicles . '  Research suggests that up to 29 , 000 premature deaths are caused each year in Britain by pollution 10 times the number of people killed in road accidents .  Those who live in big cities have a lower life expectancy , studies have found , because of poor air quality . London has by far the worst air pollution problem in the country in 2010 , 3 , 389 people died and 41 , 404 years of life were lost as a result of air pollution in the capital , according to Public Health England .  The biggest concern is the tiny bits of carbon around 30 times smaller than a human hair which are so small they can get into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream , passing through major organs , such as the heart and brain .  They can have immediate effects on people with existing health conditions , triggering asthma attacks , heart attacks and strokes .  But , worryingly , pollution can also cause diseases in healthy individuals , such as heart disease , chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (  ) and even cancer .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
5156,5157,"Treasury, Bank of England and  Brexit forecasts proved wrong Published: October 29, 2016 Source: Express    Treasury, Bank of England and International Monetary Fund (IMF) are among the self-appointed anti-Brexit so-called economics experts who keep getting their forecasts WRONG. The  were among the institutions that forecast an economic disaster if Britain voted to Brexit  Establishment institutions, as well as global investment banks, issued united and terrifying warnings of economic disaster if Britain opted out of the European Union (EU), in an effort to sway the public into voting to Remain.  Yet figures released yesterday showed booming Britain's economy grew by 0.5 per cent in the three months after the vote, providing the crowning piece of unarguable evidence that the vote to leave did not negatively impact the UK.  The Treasury, under the leadership of George Osborne, had predicted Britain would fall into immediate recession after a Brexit vote, with  coming in at -0.1 per cent in the third quarter of 2016.  But yesterday the Treasury admitted the claim had been based on  which turned out to be wholly ill-informed.  Despite the rank amateurism and inaccuracy of almost all forecasts since Brexit a negative report on Britain’s economic competence – and since Brexit they have almost  been negative – risks serious harm to the welfare of the nation.  The  said Brexit could reduce the  economy by as much as 9.5 per cent, and added that Britain could expect ""sizeable"" long-term losses in income.  Head of the  Christine Lagarde had the audacity to say she could not see  positive to come from leaving the  and an exit could have ""particularly severe"" consequences.  Ms Lagarde added that interest rates could also rise sharply in the event of leaving Europe, which would negatively impact on households with high debts.",fake,news,test,World conflict,Economy,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,past
5166,5167,"We can spend the next few years beating ourselves up and debating the proposition that George W . Bush saved Iraq and Barack Obama lost it . Or we can get real and try to sort out what we can do now to protect U . S . interests in a region that ' s melting down .  Iraq was never the U . S . ' s to win . That point along with lowered expectations and focused goals must be the basis of any new approach to the region .  And here are three reasons .  1 . Demography : There are two factors that nations even functional ones ( and Iraq is not ) can ' t alter : What they are their demography and where they are their geography .  Iraq has been dealt an unhappy hand in both departments . There is , to be sure , a sense of Iraq national identity . But at the same time the end of Saddam Hussein ' s cruel rule for which the U . S . is responsible opened up a Pandora ' s box of sectarian tensions and expectations for which the U . S . is partly responsible that have never been adequately addressed .  In essence , the U . S . overturned a brutal minority Sunni rule and enabled Shia majority rule . The ins became the outs , and the outs the ins . And guess what ? Despite several successful elections , 25 billion from the U . S . to train and equip the Iraqi military , and another trillion in support of the Nuri al Maliki government , Iraq never equitably distributed political and economic power .  Sunnis became disenfranchised , angry and vulnerable to jihadi persuasions Shia sought to get even , get ahead and maintain a privileged position and Kurds sought to protect their own interests and effectively create a separate governing authority . Iraq these days isn ' t so much a nation as it is a collection of battling sectarian groups , each seeking advantage at the expense of the Iraqi state .  2 . Geography : Iraq ' s neighbors , particularly Iran and Saudi Arabia , do not share America ' s vision of an equitably balanced and independent polity . Each of them has its own vision . Iraq has become a pawn in a regional competition between Sunnis and Shia and Arabs and Persians . Iran wants a weak , stable Iraq not aligned with the West , under Shia influence . The Saudis want al Maliki out and are happy that the militant group Islamic State in Iraq and Syria may provide that opportunity , even as they fear the jihadists . They want Sunnis empowered and Iran disempowered .  Turkey has made its peace with the Iraqi Kurds and hopes to get them to moderate the radical tendencies of those in Syria , but really has no answer to the  contagion . Jordan is vulnerable to  too , but can ' t exercise much influence in Iraq .  And that leaves Syria . The regime of Bashar al Assad is aligned with both Iran and al Maliki , and likely under Tehran ' s encouragement has begun to use military force against  along the Syria Iraq border . All this regional maneuvering reflects the reality that the neighbors ' interests will continue to trump America ' s by virtue of their proximity , their influence in Iraq , and the reality that Iraq is more vital to them than it is to us .  3 . Syria : Iraq can ' t be stabilized without dealing with Syria . And to date , the U . S . by default the only power that remotely has the capacity to alter the course of the civil war there has been unable and unwilling to do that . The  threat may prompt a review of the Obama administration ' s Syria policy , but we should be under no illusions that Washington is ready to jump in with a comprehensive political , economic , and military strategy to end the conflict .  Indeed , the United States will be faced with some tough choices . It may find itself in the odd position of ramping up support for the more moderate Sunni rebels in Syria but also striking  . That means we will be trying to weaken al Assad on one hand , but indirectly strengthening him on the other by attacking a common enemy . Under no circumstances should the Obama administration commit to trying to put two broken nations back together again . Bottom line is that the real challenge is  , which is likely to remain ensconced in parts of Syria and Iraq .  What should Obama do ?  First let ' s be clear about what he shouldn ' t do . The United States needs to abandon any illusions that it can transform or find an easy way out of the situation . It is stuck in a region that it can ' t fix or leave . There isn ' t a single problem in this region that has a comprehensive or definitive solution . Instead , the U . S . should accept the reality that it will be dealing with outcomes , not happy endings , there . Iraq may never be a unified polity , but it need not necessarily be a failed one .  The question is , can we shape these outcomes to our advantage ? Bush 43 tried to do too much Obama too little . Is there a balance ?  The U . S . needs at least three different but related approaches :  1 . Coordinate with regional partners . Sure , in the case of Iran , it ' s like putting the fox in charge of the chicken coop . But the U . S . can ' t begin to deal with  on its own . Iran is the key external power in Iraq . And Turkey , Jordan and Saudi Arabia have a stake in stopping  ' s advances . The U . S . may have to accept the reality that the evil al Assad is a hedge against  , even though his policies helped to facilitate its rise .  2 . Think diplomacy first , then military force . You need the first to make the second effective . That coordination must try to produce a more acceptable political arrangement in Baghdad , with or without al Maliki . Without the Iraqi government regaining Sunni support ,  will continue to roll . And this means some new and more inclusive political arrangement in Baghdad to share power .  Forget democracy and making Iraq whole . To bring Sunnis around and check  , we may have to not only concede influence to Iran but also to some pretty bad Sunnis , including former Saddam supporters and insurgents .  3 . The U . S . will need to do what it can to buck up the Iraqi military . This could easily lead to sending additional advisers , but under no circumstances should it involve the use of combat forces . We may well have to use airstrikes and drones against  . And this is tricky , because it risks feeding jihadi sentiment . That ' s why a new political arrangement is mandatory .  But even without it , the United States must face the reality that  with money , passports , and a base of operations will emerge as a threat to our friends in the region , to Europe and ultimately to us .  We shouldn ' t run scared .  ' s own ideology will produce a counterreaction among Iraqis who will oppose its harsh , unforgiving ideology . Indeed as the International Crisis Group points out ,  is its own worst enemy .  The region is littered with the remains of failed jihadi efforts , including al Qaeda central . In 2013 , there were 17 , 800 global fatalities as a result of terrorist attacks . Only 16 of those were Americans .  Terror is not a strategic threat to the homeland right now . But it may well require a coordinated counterterror effort with our regional and international partners to prevent it from becoming one .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,satire,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
5168,5169,"Mufti Mohammad Sayeed played significant role in bringing Jammu and Kashmir closer to mainstream politics : Jitendra Singh  Mufti Mohammad Sayeed played significant role in bringing Jammu and Kashmir closer to mainstream politics : Jitendra Singh  Date published : ? Thursday , 7 January 2016 12 : 22pm  Place : New Delhi Agency :   79 year old Sayeed passed away at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (  ) on Thursday morning .  Minister of State in Prime Minister ' s Office (  ) Jitendra Singh on Thursday condoled the death of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed , saying the veteran leader had played a significant role in bringing the state ' s politics closer to the mainstream politics of India .  "" Mufti ji was the last surviving veterans in present time from the first generation of post independence and statesman . It is definitely a big loss . The biggest attribute of his personality was that he had the capacity to rise above the party lines and regardless of different party affiliation and ideology , he used to take everyone along "" .  "" He played a significant role in bringing J K politics closer to the mainstream politics of India , "" said Singh . "" We had a leader who had the capacity to rise above the party lines and also to carry people across the party lines and that is why even in the coalition he had the capacity to agree to disagree on certain contentious issues and yet agree to move ahead for the larger interest of the common masses and the common man , "" he added .  Prime Minister Narendra Modi ? also condoled the death of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed , saying his demise leaves a huge void in the nation and that the leader who provided a healing touch would be missed .  79 year old Sayeed passed away at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (  ) on Thursday morning due to multiple organ failure . He was admitted a private ward in  on December 24 after he complained of fever and chest pain .  He had previously served as Chief Minister from 2002 to 2005 . He was also the Home Minister of India from December 1989 to November 1990 . Sayeed had founded the Jammu and Kashmir People ' s Democratic Party in 1999 . ?  ",true,text,test,World conflict,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
5174,5175,"England Videos of the chaos and horrified reactions after the July 7 , 2005 , London transit bombings were shown to jurors Thursday in the trial of three men charged with conspiracy in the case .  Smoke and dust fill the platform area at Liverpool Street Station on July 7 , 2005 , after a bomb exploded .  One of the videos shows the explosion of a train seconds after it leaves the Liverpool Street Station heading for Aldgate East . As dust and smoke fill the tunnel , people on the platform rush away , and police head toward the blast .  Another shows bystanders running and ducking for cover after one of the bombers detonated his rucksack on the No . 30 bus . Riders on a nearby bus jump from their seats .  Four bombs were detonated on underground trains at Liverpool Street , Russell Square and Edgware Road , and on a double decker bus at Tavistock Square . Fifty two people and the four bombers were killed , and at least 900 people were injured . Watch commuters flee as the bombs explode  Links to the edited videos were posted on the Web site of London ' s Metropolitan Police , and were played in Kingston Crown Court where Mohammed Shakil , 31 , Waheed Ali , 24 , and Sadeer Saleem , 27 , are accused of aiding the bombers  A series of videos show three of the bombers Siddique Khan , Shehzad Tanweer and Jermaine Lindsay practicing their moves in various locations on June 28 , 2005 . The fourth bomber was Hasib Hussain .  One video shows Tanweer and Khan meeting Lindsay outside Luton Station , where the three linger near the ticket counter and one of them stands in line .  Security cameras also captured images of the three men at other blast locations .  Two weeks after the July bombings , an attempted second wave of bombings struck other trains and a bus , but the devices failed to explode properly . More than a dozen people were arrested afterward .  Metropolitan Police said some clips were not released , to protect the identities of members of the public . E mail to a friend  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
5195,5196,"One of the men killed in Monday ' s coal mine explosion in West Virginia knew of the danger but didn ' t let it bother him , his family said Tuesday .  The blast at the Massey Energy Co . mine in Montcoal , West Virginia , killed at least 25 miners four others are unaccounted for , officials say . The cause of the explosion had not been determined as rescuers worked Tuesday to bore ventilation holes into the Upper Big Branch Mine .  "" He loved the Lord , and in church the other day , he thanked the Lord for saving his soul , and he thanked him for watching over him in the mines for over 30 years , and he said , ' If he takes me tomorrow , I ' ve had a good life , ' "" she said .  iReport : Are you there ? Share photos , video  Her brother kept his affairs in order because of the constant risk of death , she said . Still , the accident shocked the family .  "" It ' s scary . It ' s just really , really scary , "" Willingham ' s granddaughter Tiffany Ellis said . "" My stepdad also does this , and this is just a wake up call to me . I ' ve seen it happen before , but I never imagined I ' d be here today , telling my story about it . ""  She said her grandfather stepped in to help raise her after her father walked out on the family years ago .  "" I didn ' t have a dad my grandfather filled them shoes for me , "" she said . "" He spoiled me . Anything I wanted , his little girl got it .  "" He taught me everything , from learning how to tie my shoes to driving , to learning the game about boys . He was always there to listen to my problems , whenever I had them . ""  The families of the victims are not limited to bloodlines , according to Willingham ' s relatives and other local residents .  "" It ' s a good community tight , "" his daughter Michelle McKinney said . "" We look after each other . We support each other . ""  "" If you ' re from here , you ' re part of a coal mining family , "" Grace Lafferty of Harper told the Charleston Gazette newspaper . "" You know a lot of people who work here . It takes your breath away , your heart drops and you have that empty feeling . ""  "" Coal mining gets in your blood , "" Willingham ' s brother in law Bobby said . "" The camaraderie is like a sports team . There ' s no love like the love among workers in coal mines . ""  After hearing news that miners may be trapped , former miner Randy Cox told the Register Herald newspaper in Beckley , "" I just got down on my knees and started praying that they were  . ""  Cox , of Arnett , West Virginia , mined coal for 18 years and now is disabled , the newspaper reported .  "" I never was in a situation like that , but I have seen roof falls , "" Cox said . "" I ' m praying for them , and I hope this turns out  . May God be with them . ""  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
5196,5197,"Liverpool have never conceded a goal to Real Madrid in three previous meetings but can they possibly extend that sequence to a fourth game ?  It is a question Brendan Rodgers will be asking himself over and over again in the countdown to kick off at Anfield , as not many people will give them a chance of preventing Madrid ' s all stars going on a rampage for 90 minutes .  All numbers and logic point to Carlo Ancelotti ' s men picking off Liverpool at will . Real arrive on Merseyside on the back of seven consecutive victories , amassing 32 goals in the process . In four of those games , they have scored five times and plundered eight against Deportivo La Coruna on September 20 .   Scroll down to watch Real Madrid announce their squad . . . minus Gareth Bale  Mario Balotelli ( right ) had another game to forget as Liverpool beat  3 2 at Loftus Road on Sunday  Raheem Sterling ( right ) impressed for the Reds and could start as a central striker against Real Madrid  Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers must formulate a plan to stop Cristiano Ronaldo and Co at Anfield  Sportsmail ' s Dominic King picks his Liverpool   So how will Liverpool , who have looked so frail as a defensive unit and conceded cheaply regularly during this erratic campaign , keep them out ? If Rodgers has learnt anything from his side ' s Champions League adventure so far , it is that mistakes are ruthlessly punished .  Rodgers is a coach who likes his teams to play with flair and imagination but , on Wednesday , he will know the first thing that Liverpool have to be is difficult to beat : they need to play with intensity , relentless energy to take Madrid out of their comfort zone . No passengers can be permitted .  This , then , would be Sportmail ' s line up : ( 4 2 3 1 ) Simon Mignolet Glen Johnson , Dejan Lovren , Martin Skrtel , Alberto Moreno Steven Gerrard , Joe Allen Jordan Henderson , Philippe Coutinho , Adam Lallana Raheem Sterling .  The big call would be taking Mario Balotelli out of the starting line up but he has not shown any glimpse of having blistering pace during his time at Liverpool so far . He won ' t hang on the shoulders of Sergio Ramos and company or set the tone like Luis Suarez did .  Sterling , meanwhile , has often given the impression that he could be a devastating striker . Playing him in that role would also give Rodgers the option of dropping him back to help shore up the midfield if Real began to dominate possession .  Captain Steven Gerrard will anchor Liverpool ' s midfield but the Reds must play with plenty of energy  Sterling ( left ) will bring more pace to Liverpool ' s attack than the out of form Balotelli  Liverpool have won all three previous meetings with Real Madrid .  Liverpool 4 0 Real Madrid ( March 10 , 2009 , Champions League )  Real Madrid 0 1 Liverpool ( February 25 , 2009 , Champions League )  Liverpool 1 0 Real Madrid ( May 27 , 1981 , European Cup final )  Midfield will be the crucial area , as if Toni Kroos and Luka Modric get on the ball , they will begin supplying the ammunition to James Rodriguez , Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema . By packing the engine room , with runners and workers , Liverpool have a better chance of disrupting Real .  Liverpool are never better than when they when push their opponents back and press them high up the pitch . Henderson , Gerrard , Coutinho , Allen and Lallana are all capable of executing that game plan but those five also give Rodgers flexibility , allowing him to switch formations when necessary .  Liverpool will need to stop Cristiano Ronaldo continuing his incredible run of form in front of goal  Gareth Bale ( left ) will miss the game through injury but Toni Kroos has the potential to be a key player  Luka Modric , in action for Real against Levante , will attempt to pull the strings in Real Madrid ' s midfield  More than anything , though , Liverpool need to do the basics right . It might seem an obvious thing to say but they have been vulnerable this season to balls lofted into the area think of the goals they gifted to West Ham and Queens Park Rangers .  Should Liverpool be as generous to Madrid as they have been to others so far , their Champions League ambitions will be in grave danger . It is why Rodgers must find the perfect formula to keep the reigning champions at bay .   Real ready for tough week Ancelotti  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
5204,5205,"Johannesburg , South Africa An elite South African police squad has arrested 19 suspected Congolese rebels in a remote corner of northern South Africa , an official said , in a raid that may have headed off a coup attempt .  "" The grouping ' s objective was to receive specialized military related training to overthrow the current  government , under the leadership of President Joseph Kabila , "" Makhosini Nkosi , a spokesman for the National Prosecuting Authority , said in a statement Tuesday .  Read more : Why the world is ignoring Congo war  The alleged coup plotters were tracked to a remote area of Limpopo province , suggesting long term surveillance by South African law enforcement .  The National Prosecuting Authority said that no South Africans have been linked to the suspects but that further arrests were possible .  Congolese government officials were quick to blame M23 , a rebel group operating in the Democratic Republic of the Congo ' s North Kivu province .  The group embarrassed the Congolese government by briefly seizing the key eastern city of Goma late last year , before withdrawing to positions outside the city .  "" We know very well that these men have links to M23 , "" said Lambert Mende , a  government spokesman .  Why eastern  Congo is ' rape capital of the world '  "" They were planning terrorist attacks in South Africa targeting Congolese officials and in  . Their ultimate aim was to overthrow the regime , "" said Mende , citing internal discussions with South African counterparts .  But the National Prosecuting Authority said that no links have been established between the 19 men arrested Tuesday and the M23 group .  M23 rebel commanders , who are engaged in sporadic peace talks with the Congolese government , were not immediately available for comment .  Mende said the arrested men also had links to former Congolese strongman Mobutu Sese Seko , who ruled the country , then known as Zaire , for more than three decades .  The arrested men will appear in court in Pretoria , South Africa , on Thursday accused of contravening anti mercenary laws .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
5205,5206,"Along with Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiaparelli , she towered high for decades as one of the pillars of French fashion .  Now iconic designer Jeanne Lanvin , who died in 1946 , will be honoured in a new exhibition opening this week at the Paris City Fashion museum at the Palais Galliera .  The show will be inaugurated by Paris ' Mayor Anne Hidalgo and celebrates Lanvin being the oldest fashion house still operating in France , now under the creative direction of Alber Elbaz .  Dresses by Jeanne Lanvin featured in the new exhibition opening this week at the Paris City Fashion museum at the Palais Galliera reveal her love of vibrant colours  Lanvin opened her bridal department in 1909 and her gowns became popular with prestigious customers who favoured her designs , pictured , using ivory silk chiffon embroidered with pearls and gold metallic threads  Lanvin , pictured in Paris in 1938 , used travel diaries , swatches of ethnic fabrics and a vast library of art books to feed her curiosity and inspire her to create different patterns and designs  It ' s a rich legacy has spanned the 19th , 20th and 21st centuries and the new exhibition charts the rise of the company founded by Lanvin after she opened her first store in 1889 .  The designer was born in Paris in 1867 and after training to be a dressmaker , she then became a milliner with dreams of opening her own fashion house .  After she made her dream a reality , she was a pioneering working mother as she established her business whilst caring for daughter , Marguerite .  The displays in the new exhibition , which will run till 23 August , reveal her love of colour and the Asian influences seen in her embroidery and decorative work .  ' My Fair Lady ' from 1939 features a large bias cut ribbon that stands out against the white fabric of the dress  An absinthe green silk satin dress from the twenties , embroidered with glass beads and Swarovski crystals  There are more than one hundred pieces in the exhibition that reveals how Lanvin ' s rich legacy has spanned the 19th , 20th and 21st centuries  It will feature more than a hundred exhibits from the collections of the Palais Galliera and the Lanvin Heritage , revealing how Lanvin could lend her creative talent to children ' s clothes , bridal wear and accessories .  In 1927 , she celebrated her daughter Marguerite ' s thirtieth birthday with the creation of the legendary perfume Arp ge . The famous logo designed by Paul Iribe , depicting the couturi re with Marguerite , is displayed on the round bottle created by Armand Rateau .  The same logo is still featured on Lanvin creations to this day .  Lanvin used travel diaries , swatches of ethnic fabrics and a vast library of art books to feed her curiosity and inspire her to create fabrics , patterns and exclusive colours with her favourite shade a blue that become known as Lanvin blue .  A attendee admires the My Fair Lady gown that was inspired by French 18th century style dresses  By the thirties , Lanvin was championing high waisted dresses with belts like this one for a smart , tailored but still feminine look  Her styles helped set the trends across the decades from ample skirts in the early 20th century to Art Deco designs in the twenties .  Nadja Swarovski , member of the Swarovski executive board who are supporting the exhibition , said : ' We are honoured to partner with the Palais Galliera in supporting the first retrospective dedicated to Jeanne Lanvin , one of the greatest figures of Parisian haute couture .  ' Swarovski was founded in 1895 , just six years after Mme Lanvin established her house , and she used crystals to adorn the luxuriously embellished evening gowns which became her trademark .  ' This inspiring exhibition pays tribute to the skill , inventiveness and creativity of a great artist who captured and expressed the spirit of her time , and celebrates over 125 years of extraordinary fashion heritage which continues to thrive under Alber Elbaz . '  Lanvin had a taste for black and white designs with geometrical effects a trend which dominated the thirties  The exhibition will be open until 23 August and Lanvin ' s current creative director Alber Elbaz hopes people will come away saying "" I love Jeanne Lanvin ""  Elbaz himself commented : ' For this exhibition , we began to look at the clothes , the dresses , the inside of the dresses , and the feelings that we picked up from them . The whole question was to work out how to display them .  ' For many years I ' ve worked on the windows of our boutiques , and I love doing it . But doing an exhibition in a museum is a different kind of undertaking , because it involves a different vocabulary .  ' Never having done an exhibition , I wanted to learn all I could from Olivier Saillard and his team . We had two options : either to be historical and do a very academic retrospective with a succession of dates or to follow our feelings , to love and admire the clothes , touch the visitors ' heart through the sheer beauty of these garments , and finish the exhibition kind of up on a cloud .  ' I think we have managed to create an exhibition around the dream of fashion . What I am hoping for is to hear the visitors say "" I love Jeanne Lanvin "" . '  ",true,text,test,US elections,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
5210,5211,"The Kansas City Chiefs rolled into the divisional round of the playoffs as the hottest team in the  . They ' re limping out as a team that was merely close to being a contender .  Kansas City ended the regular season with 10 consecutive wins and just blew out the Houston Texans 30 0 on Wild Card Weekend . Against the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots , however , the Chiefs simply weren ' t good enough .  Kansas City certainly made the game competitive . Despite lacking an array of playmaking offensive weapons , Alex Smith and Co . managed to overcome a 21 6 deficit and pull within a touchdown late . Unfortunately , some awful clock management by head coach Andy Reid derailed the Chiefs ' comeback chances .  The issues first started in the opening half , when the Chiefs were forced to burn two early timeouts in order to get the offense properly set . In fact , Reid used the first two timeouts on Kansas City ' s opening drive ? a drive that yielded a mere field goal .  This created problems at the end of the first half , when the Chiefs had the ball inside Patriots territory at the two minute warning . Kansas City moved from the New England 46 to the New England 11 in just three plays , but it was forced to take its final timeout there with 40 seconds remaining .  A scramble by Smith , a spiked ball and a couple of incomplete passes forced the Chiefs to settle for another field goal attempt just before the half . Had the Chiefs even had one more timeout , they might have been able to settle the offense and get a better chance of reaching the end zone . ?  Instead of potentially heading into the break down just 14 10 , the Chiefs went in down 14 6 .  Clock management was an even bigger issue late in the second half , when the Chiefs got the football with 6 : 29 remaining and facing a two touchdown deficit . ?  It took nearly four minutes to move the ball near the goal line , but the Chiefs reached a goal to go opportunity from the 1 yard line with three minutes remaining .  Now , it ' s hard to truly criticize the Chiefs for taking a while to get to this point . A banged up Jeremy Maclin was out of the game , and the Patriots were doing an excellent job of limiting star tight end Travis Kelce , who finished with ? just 23 receiving yards .  "" We went hurry up offense , "" Reid said of the drive , per  Media ' s Conor Orr . "" We do that normally when we ' re down by two scores . Time was of the essence . We got down to the one yard line and we end up going backwards . ""  What happened at the 1 yard line was inexcusable .  The Chiefs reached the New England 1 yard line on a 19 yard pass from Smith to Albert Wilson . Wilson didn ' t get out of bounds or into the end zone , and the Chiefs ran just one play between Wilson ' s reception and the two minute warning . That play was a one yard loss on a run by Charcandrick West .  Reid could have called a timeout ( the Chiefs had all three this time ) , called for a spike or even a pass to the end zone to squeeze more plays in before the two minute clock stoppage . He didn ' t , and by the time West finally did find the end zone , there was just 1 : 13 remaining .  Even though the Chiefs ? still ? had all three timeouts , they essentially had no choice but to go for the onside kick after the score . That failed , New England earned a first down , and time ran out .  Even if Kansas City had forced a three and out , they likely would have faced terrible field position after a New England punt . Had they scored on the opposite side of the two minute warning , kicker Cairo Santos could have attempted a traditional kickoff and the Chiefs could have at least been playing for decent field position .  Had the Chiefs scored a touchdown in the first half , they might have even been playing to find field goal range .  The way things unfolded , Kansas City was almost dead in the water when it scored for the last time . The end result was a 27 20 loss and the death of an impressive winning streak .  Now , to be fair , the Chiefs were facing an uphill battle throughout the second half . Yet the culprit for the disappointing finish is definitely Andy Reid .  "" Andy Reid and clock management go together as well as Peyton Manning and cold weather games , "" Chris Chase of ?  Today wrote during the regular season . He isn ' t wrong .  This isn ' t the first time Reid ' s clock management has cost his team , and it probably won ' t be the last . ? The most famous example is easily his mismanagement in Super Bowl  , as Jim Trotter of ESPNweblink was quick to point out :  The lack of urgency and poor clock management reminds me of another time an Andy Reid coached team played the Patriots .  At the end of that game , Reid ' s Philadelphia Eagles wasted nearly four minutes while cutting their deficit from 10 to three points , not leaving enough time to mount a comeback .  A more recent example can be found earlier this season against the Denver Broncos . ?  At the end of that Week 2 matchup , Reid ' s Chiefs were at home in a tied ballgame with just 36 seconds remaining and one timeout . Instead of kneeling to go to overtime or attempting a safe , quick pass that might result in reaching field goal range , Reid called for a run that was destined to go nowhere from the beginning . This was the end result :   ! ! Broncos Win Chiefs lose on a fumble at end of game ! ! ! CSGazetteSports weblink : t . co skWBxX7Pqo  Obviously , Saturday ' s gaffe proved more costly than the Broncos miscue because Kansas City had an opportunity to extend its winning streak and appear in the  title game . It wasn ' t as costly as the mismanagement that cost Reid ' s Eagles a realistic shot at a Lombardi Trophy , but just try telling that to Chiefs fans right about now .  Their team went on one heck of a run and deserve the most sincere of congratulations . It ' s just a shame that Reid ' s boneheadedness caused it to come to such a flat end .  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
5245,5246,"Filed Under : Donald Trump , Iowa Caucuses , Ted Cruz    ,   31 : Republican presidential candidate Sen . Ted Cruz ( R  ) greets Iowa voters before speaking at the Iowa State Fairgrounds January 31 , 2016 in Des Moines , Iowa . The U . S . presidential election kicks off tomorrow with voters taking part in the Iowa Caucus .    , Iowa (  ) ? Ted Cruz sealed a victory in the Republican Iowa caucuses Monday , winning on the strength of his relentless campaigning and support from his party s most conservative wing .  The victory in the first Republican primary contest ensures that Cruz will be a force in the presidential race for weeks to come ? if not longer . The first term Texas senator now heads to New Hampshire as an undisputed favorite of the furthest right voters , a position of strength for drawing in evangelical voters and others who prioritize an abrupt break with President Barack Obama s policies .  Perhaps most importantly , Cruz s win denied Donald Trump a huge opportunity to gain momentum heading into New Hampshire . Trump parlayed his fame as a billionaire real estate mogul and reality television star into large rallies and national poll numbers that before Monday night had established him as the Republican front runner .  But Trump , who campaigned on the concept of being a winner , failed to come in first . He was battling for position with Florida Sen . Marco Rubio , who has worked for a strong enough showing to help cement his status as the favorite of mainstream Republican voters who worry that Cruz and Trump are too caustic to win the November general election .  The Texas senator visited all 99 of Iowa s counties ? and convinced voters that he would deliver on promises to end Obamacare and use extensive aerial bombing campaigns to stop Islamic State militants in the Middle East .  Cruz backer Shane VanderHart , 43 , of Pleasant Hill , Iowa , said he believes Cruz will actually repeal the health insurance program introduced by Obama in 2010 , a longtime pledge by Republican candidates .  When he says he s going to repeal it , I believe him because he s followed through on his campaign promises in the Senate , VanderHart said .  Michael Napuunoa , 25 , an electrician from Des Moines , said he liked Cruz s promise to strengthen the military and fight terrorism .  He may not be as aggressive as Trump , Napuuona said . But I don t want a hothead . I want a man who s going to get the job done and not kill everyone in the process .  The Iowa results have already narrowed an unusually crowded Republican field , with a number of candidates struggling to achieve the turnout needed to continue . Former Arkansas Gov . Mike Huckabee ended his campaign Monday night .   caucus goers were overwhelmingly motivated by their frustration with the government . Nine out of 10 Republican voters said they re angry or dissatisfied with Washington .  Among conservative caucus goers , the entrance poll showed Cruz was the top choice . Trump fared best with moderates . Caucus goers who said they were somewhat conservative were split between Rubio and Trump .  Monday s contest provided hard evidence that Trump could not easily turn the legion of fans drawn to his adversarial populism into voters . The scope of the billionaire s organization in Iowa was a mystery , though Trump himself had intensified his campaign schedule during the final sprint .  Meanwhile , former Florida Gov . Jeb Bush , New Jersey Gov . Chris Christie and Ohio Gov . John Kasich barely register in recent Iowa polls . The governors are banking instead on strong showings in New Hampshire s Feb . 9 primary to jumpstart their White House bids .  ( ? Copyright 2016 The Associated Press . All Rights Reserved . This material may not be published , broadcast , rewritten or redistributed . )  ",true,text,test,US elections,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
5262,5263,"A defector from North Korea is cautioning against underestimating Kim Jong Un when it comes to nuclear weapons   and he says President Donald Trump may be key to stopping him.Song Byeok escaped from the North in 2002 and currently resides in South Korea. In a new interview, he told The Independent the threat of nuclear war is real as long as Kim Jong-un is in power. I think Kim Jong Un could wage nuclear war if his power is threatened and that is why he needs to be removed as soon as possible,  he said.The 48-year-old defector used to create propaganda art for the regime, now he creates protest work.  AoLThese pictures show the inside of Pyongyang s 360ft deep metro system   that will double up as a nuclear bunker if war breaks out between North Korea and the US.Images show commuters using the world s deepest underground train system which includes two lines with a combined length of 18 miles beneath North Korea s capital.Construction work on the Pyongyang Metro started in 1968 and was inaugurated in 1973 by Kim Il Sung, the grandfather of current dictator Kim Jong-un.Watch this fascinating look into North Korea by photographer Andrew McLeod: And while it is usually busy with commuters, the depth of the subway system means citizens could also use it as a shelter should tensions between North Korea and America boil over into full-scale war.The trains are old carriages from Germany which were bought up by North Korea in 1999 as they were heading for the scrap heap. Pyongyang now claims the trains were built in North Korea, but despite attempts to conceal their origin, some old graffiti tags can be seen on the carriages.French photographer Eric Lafforgue captured these images during a trip to the hermit state and said there were only 17 stations on two lines.He said the fare was the equivalent of half a  cent  You have to validate your ticket at one of these automatic machines. But they did not work the day I visited. Instead, a train attendant checked was checking the tickets by hand.For entire story: Daily Mail ",fake,dataset,test,US elections,Conflict,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
5267,5268,"Talks with Pak : That  Sharif , Army and  are on same page is worth nothing , India needs more  by Bikram Vohra ? Jan 9 , 2016 16 : 42   India Pakistan relations ? InMyOpinion ?  ? Jaish e Mohammad ? Narendra Modi ? Nawaz Sharif ? Pathankot attacks ?  Uh oh , there they go again , just as one feared . Pakistan has opted to employ verbal band aids and ointment to sandpaper India ? ? ? s abrasions after Pathankot . ? ? That ? ? ? s all it is and nothing more when we read headlines like Pakistan prime minister , Army chief and  head have all condemned the attack .  It is too much to expect New Delhi to find grand virtue in the fact that the three of them are on the same page .  Condemnation cuts no ice , it is a cheap commodity and you can buy it by the bushel in the political firmament . And this togetherness is of no direct concern to India and , in itself , utterly pointless .  Prime Minister Narendra Modi is received by his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif upon his arrival in Lahore .  Twitter MEAIndia  This was going to be the sticky part when we gave the ultimatum demanding action . ? ? Even that possibly orchestrated ? ? ? flame and fury ? ? ? from the JeM ? ? ? s Maulana Masood Azhar indicting the Sharif government for ? ? ? bowing ? ? ? to India could well be theatrics on order . Where is Nawaz Sharif bowing to India ?  There has to be something more tangible than just agreement that terrorism is a very bad thing .  The next step , if one estimates the direction that Islamabad is taking , is to suggest a meeting of the two national security advisors ( NSAs ) so that the issue can be discussed and a combined operation mooted . That is a nice way of bringing the currently frozen agenda back to life and yet , giving nothing away .  Now , if this collective will is the first of several steps we should keep the door open just a tad , not much , just a chink to see if some light falls in .  Can Nawaz Sharif say ' sorry ' ? It is a simple word but without it there is not even a starting point . Without it being on record India gets no starting point .  There is also a concern , and it is not an idle one , that Pakistan ? ? ? s  machine will try to move the blame onto India . It is your cop who was corrupt . It is your people who aided the terrorists . It is your forces that were inept .  You guard against it . We can conduct our own investigation and shore up the weak spots but let it not put us on the back foot .  The evidence is stark . There can be no surrender on the demand that Pakistan ? ? ? s authorities make an admission . .  And we have to be very clear that without that acknowledgement mere announcements of intent do not have the traction for India to revert to cordiality . There has to be more , much more .  Modi should wait till Monday and then exercise his options and not pander . What Pakistan would want is to create the illusion that it is ready to talk and be accommodating but it is India who is being petulant and sulky and not coming to the negotiating trouble .  Seen in isolation , the fact that Nawaz Sharif ? ? ? s government , the army and the  are on the same page is of no value to India . If this is the only offer , New Delhi must throw away the book and write its own script .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
5289,5290,"Emmanuel Adebayor launched an extraordinary attack on Tottenham supporters this week and claimed the players are no longer made to feel welcome at White Hart Lane .  The striker , who took an extra minute to come on as a substitute in the 2 1 defeat by Stoke because he decided to change his boots when he was waiting to get on , insists the atmosphere is negative .  We asked Dan Kilpatrick , editor of The Tottenham Way , for his views on Adebayor ' s comments .  Emmanuel Adebayor is the worst possible Tottenham player to criticise Spurs fans . But that ' s not to say the striker doesn ' t have a point .  Tottenham striker Emmanuel Adebayor launched a scathing attack on the Spurs supporters this week  Adebayor said players would rather be away from home after fans opted to boo during the defeat to Stoke  The attacked may have a point about the Tottenham support but it ' s not what supporters want to hear  Even when he was scoring under Harry Redknapp and saluting under Tim Sherwood , fans could never fully embrace Adebayor . He scored against Spurs too often for Arsenal and is , unfairly in my opinion , viewed as more of a mercenary than other players in the Tottenham squad .  There ' s also a feeling again unfair and perpetuated by  pundits that a player earning so much cash should always be performing better .  With one or two exceptions , the entire squad has been abysmal under Mauricio Pochettino but Ade is often singled out , slammed for his ' lazy ' , ' feckless ' displays ahead of other more popular players , who are just as deserving of criticism .  It ' s therefore no surprise Ade ' s claim that the squad is afraid to play at home because of the negative atmosphere has ruffled some feathers .  Tottenham have been abysmal under new boss Mauricio Pochettino and were embarrassed by Stoke  Stoke frontman Jon Walters scored the Potters ' second as they clinched all three points in north London  Adebayor tried his luck with a late header against Stoke but it wasn ' t to be for the Tottenham striker  Fans have rightly pointed out that Ade has been rubbish away from home this season , where Spurs arguably have the best fans in the country .  Supporters will not take kindly to criticism from a player who is clearly not performing to the best of his ability but , rightly or wrongly , Adebayor was named vice captain by Pochettino and it ' s now his responsibility to speak on behalf of the squad .  If his comments had come from Younes Kaboul ' s other deputy , Hugo Lloris , or even from one of the young , homegrown players , the reaction would have been different .  Central defender Younes Kaboul leads out his Tottenham team at White Hart Lane ahead of Hugo Lloris  And even some of Adebayor ' s critics will have read his remarks and nodded in resigned agreement .  There is consensus among Spurs fans that the atmosphere at the Lane is on the decline , which is why the wonderful 1882 movement and others are growing in importance .  Fortunately , I didn ' t attend the Stoke match but by all accounts the Lane began as edgy and turned outright poisonous after Stoke ' s opener . Watching on  , there was an obvious absence of Tottenham players showing for the ball and ' afraid ' would be an appropriate way to describe the shambolic performance .  Whether this is primarily a result of Pochettino ' s instructions or the atmosphere is unclear , but negatively from the terraces can hardly have helped the players .  The Tottenham Hotspur players jump in unison during the warm up , but were beaten by the Potters  The Tottenham supporters ( pictured observing a minute ' s silence ) turned up in their droves to watch the defeat  Fans will point out that they have a right to boo Adebayor and Co when they don ' t appear to be giving their all . But Adebayor ' s introduction on Sunday was , disgustingly , booed before he had a chance to kick a ball .  Paying fans have the right to express dissatisfaction in this way but it ' s a bit like the right to freedom of expression we have it , but we shouldn ' t use it to be a total fool .  White Hart Lane remains a fabulous old fashioned football ground and when it ' s rocking , there is nowhere better , for me , in the entire country . The current negativity is undoubtedly a chicken and egg situation and if the players show more , the fans will respond .  But that ' s not to say Spurs fans are entirely blameless for the club ' s current struggles . Adebayor has made a good point . We just don ' t want to hear it from him .  You can follow ' The Tottenham Way ' on Twitter , here .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
5300,5301,"retail giant Amazon is among the seven online food retailers that will soon start accepting food stamps, as part of a pilot program instituted by the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). [The   program, set to launch this summer, will test online ordering and payment methods.  The USDA, which oversees the $74 billion food stamp program, also known as  or the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, says it plans to expand the online program nationwide and eventually add more retailers. Participating retailers include Safeway, ShopRite,   Hart’s Local Grocers, and Dash’s Market, and will serve  food stamps recipients in seven states: Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Washington, Iowa, and Oregon. However, Amazon is by far the largest online food distributor participating in the federal government’s new program. “Amazon is excited to participate in the   online purchasing pilot,” the Seattle,   company said in a press release. “We are committed to making food accessible through online grocery shopping, offering all customers the lowest prices possible. ” For years, government watchdog groups have demanded tighter regulations as food stamp fraud remains a common and costly problem. The USDA, seemingly aware of the risks for fraud, says “online payment presents technical and security challenges that will need to be examined and fully addressed before it is offered nationwide. ” News of the USDA’s pilot program comes as a new report reveals Americans used food stamps to buy more than $600 million worth of “sweetened beverages,” and bought hundreds of millions more of junk food and sugary snacks. Overall, $1. 3 billion in food stamps were spent on “sweetened drinks, desserts, salty snacks, candy, and sugar,” which accounted for about 20 cents of every dollar spent on food items purchased by 26. 5 million households in 2011, according to a recently released report from the USDA. What’s more, the USDA’s plan to allow tens of millions of food stamps recipients to purchase products from Amazon is the latest example of   profiting from poverty. Big banks like J. P. Morgan have made millions providing electronic benefits transaction (EBT) services for state governments and their respective food stamps programs. “Since 2004, 18 of 24 states who contract with J. P. Morgan to provide welfare benefits have contracted to pay $560, 492, 596. 02,” an investigation by the Government Accountability Institute (GAI) found. Christopher Paton, the company’s former managing director of treasury services, told Bloomberg News in 2011: This business is a very important business to  Morgan. It’s an important business in terms of its size and scale. We also regard it as very important in the sense that we are delivering a very useful social function. We are a key part of this benefit delivery mechanism. Right now volumes have gone through the roof in the past couple of years or so   …     The good news from  Morgan’s perspective is the infrastructure that we built has been able to cope with that increase in volume. Walmart, which wasn’t selected to participate in the  pilot program, hopes to be added to the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service online purchasing program in the future. “We look forward to working with  as they continue to explore this opportunity,” the company said,  reports. “We’ve expanded our highly popular online grocery service from five markets to more than 100 markets over the past 18 months in both large and small communities across the country. ” Follow Jerome Hudson on Twitter @jeromeehudson",fake,news,test,US elections,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,present
5305,5306,"Sky News unveiled a data poll suggesting that Britain is “more racist and less happy” than a year ago, with the supposedly worsening mood framed as a direct consequence of the country voting to leave the European Union (EU) last June. [The findings were reported by Sky News by the broadcaster’s Head of Data, Harry Carr, who previously managed the political polling for Ipsos MORI, a polling organisation which suffered a severe blow to its credibility after putting the probability of Britain voting to Remain in the  at 74 per cent.  Carr writes that 57 per cent of respondents believe the  is more racist than it was 12 months ago, immediately after an allusion to Home Office statistics which claim allegations of crimes motivated by racial or religious hatred are up by 41 per cent. This increase in allegations is likely to have been driven by government policy, which is geared towards positively encouraging an increase in hate crime reporting. The Home Office launched a hate crime action plan in July 2016 in which the Home Secretary, Amber Rudd, made it clear the government has been pushing “measures to increase the reporting of hate incidents and crimes”. Past measures have included a scheme launched by the British Transport Police which allows people to register hate crime allegations via text, which logged 32, 500 incidents in its first three years of operation, and the online True Vision portal, which logged 4, 300 hate allegations in  . Assistant Chief Constable of the Essex police force, Maurice Mason, admitted some of these reported incidents reported even include “members of the public complaining about Nigel Farage, or whatever   …     If the person feels it’s a hate crime it will get recorded as a hate crime”. Mason’s comments underline that there is virtually no requirement for evidence of a crime to be presented before a hate incident is logged. The College of Policing’s Hate Crime Operational Guidance manual states that, “For recording purposes, the perception of the victim, or any other person, is the defining factor in determining whether an incident is a hate incident”. The guidance goes on to make it clear that “the victim does not have to justify or provide evidence of their belief, and police officers or staff should not directly challenge this perception. Evidence of the hostility is not required for an incident or crime to be recorded as a hate crime or hate incident. ” The police will take action against false reporting, as when a Muslim woman was fined for lying about being attacked in Birmingham last year, but the guidance is clear that challenging people to substantiate hate crime allegations is generally discouraged. This has not stopped broadcasters and mainstream media outlets such as Sky News from reporting that hate crime has “soared” prominently and repeatedly, which is likely the key factor in the public allegedly perceiving an increase in racism. Another driver for any increase in hate crime, not explored in the Sky News report, is the accelerating pace of mass immigration, with migrants in poorly integrated minority communities harbouring racist attitudes towards the majority population themselves. Police Scotland conceded that white Britons were the most likely victims of racist attacks towards the end of 2015, a widely unreported phenomenon. Sir Peter Fahy, former Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, has been reported as saying that it is “a fact that it [is] harder to get the media interested where murder victims [are] young white men. ” Broadcasters have come under strong criticism for their failure to report such crimes in the past, with the  acknowledging it “underplayed” the murder of Kriss Donald by a Pakistani gang in Scotland’s first ever race hate killing. Biased, negative media coverage following the Brexit vote, such as that uncovered at the  by researchers at News Watch, will also have played a part in any increasing apprehensions about the future. Sky Data did not believe that voters would back Brexit if they thought it would damage the economy before the referendum, which would seem to contradict its new report suggesting most members of the public believe it will. Sky’s previous survey also indicated that “Brits do not think the  will be less respected on the world stage if it leaves the EU” that Britain gets “a raw deal” from the  compared to France and Germany, and that  immigration “undermines British culture and values”.",true,news,test,World conflict,US elections,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
5310,5311,"Three grey men in grey T shirts delivered a grey document on Thursday aimed at redefining the England football team as something a little less bulldog and a little more greyhound .  Billed as ' England  : Evolving . Developing . Winning ' , it is the product of 12 months of hiring and firing and restructuring behind the scenes by Dan Ashworth , the  ' s director of elite development and will involve giving the players memory chip wristbands which they can access back at their clubs so they can remember the work they have done with their country .  Ashworth has kept his profile low since replacing Sir Trevor Brooking in this role , busily putting things in place and this was his coming out party , formalising the power shift behind the scenes .  Dan Ashworth ( right ) , the  ' s director of elite development , pictured with England Under 21 manager Gareth Southgate revealed the ' England  ' blueprint on Thursday  He presented the document with U21 manager Gareth Southgate and head of player and coach development Matt Crocker , recruited from Southampton , where the prolific Academy is under the authority of Les Reed , former technical director of the  , who once worked with Howard Wilkinson to produce a document very like this one .  Ashworth has busily created a new blueprint aimed at redefining the England national team  The irony must have been lost somewhere between Wembley and St George ' s Park , where Ashworth will extend his  vision to 1 , 500 coaches from the  ' s Licensed Coaches ' Club who will gather , over the weekend .  It is simply a collection of commonsense ideas committed to print after thorough research , including studies into how other nations do things six in Europe and three in South America .  It may help coaches at all levels to have a point of reference about what the international teams are striving for , and it may help players of different ages to have a memory stick on a wristband which reminds them of what playing for England is about , should they chose to plug it into their laptop or tablet .  But , in truth , this is another largely underwhelming document trying to be all things to as many people as possible , without causing offence .  Ashworth ' s team want England want to break from the traditional blood and sweat , but not forget about it . They want to work with the clubs , but want more players to be released by clubs to boost experience on an international stage .  If they want the ' golden thread ' to run through the youth ranks to the senior team , the release of players by the clubs is the key . We will see how Southgate gets on when he selects a squad for the U21 Euros next year .  It is hoped the ideas may help coaches at all levels have a point of reference about what the international team is striving for  To increase the number of times a player samples international football , Ashworth has introduced U15 , U18 and U20 age groups . At some expense , the U20s have a full programme of fixtures , but will not play a competitively until 2017 at the earliest , since they have not qualified for next year ' s World Cup in New Zealand .  They want players to be comfortable with the ball and without it . They want them to be tactically aware and flexible and technically adept . They want them to ' intelligently dominate possession ' . They want pride and passion and they want high standards of behaviour . Who doesn ' t ?  The  will provide a clear coaching plan focusing on eight positions on the field and phases of play and the best care and support . They took a teacher with the squad to the U17 Euros in Malta , this year to help four players taking GCSEs . Chelsea ' s Dominic Solanke even stayed in Malta to sit an exam on the day his team mates travelled home .  Chelsea ' s Dominic Solanke stayed in Malta to sit an exam during a trip with the England Under 17 squad  The principles are admirable . Most of it has been heard before in different guises . England boasted they were the best prepared team at the World Cup in Brazil . They were also among the first to leave for home .  Ultimately , what England need to win a World Cup is more and better players . Ashworth admits 90 per cent of player development in England is done by the clubs , which leaves him addressing the final 10 per cent , which adapts them for international football .  The Premier League is two years into their Elite Player Performance Plan , their own pathway to more and better home grown footballers . They all claim to consult closely , but do they , really ?  Clouding the issue further is the commission launched by  chairman Greg Dyke with a view to creating an England team capable of winning the World Cup in 2022 , by recommending feeder clubs .  And a Code of Conduct , introduced by Dyke ' s predecessor David Bernstein , to improve behaviour .  Blueprints we have aplenty . And now we have another . Or is it grey ?  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
5315,5316,"Celtic have turned up the heat ahead of a potentially fraught League Cup final by slamming the  ' s decision to let Dundee United midfielder Calum Butcher play in Sunday ' s Hampden showpiece .  The Englishman escaped a red card after referee Craig Thomson sent off team mate Paul Paton instead in an apparent case of mistaken identity during a stormy Scottish Cup quarter final .  That decision will be the subject of an appeal tribunal on Wednesday , when Celtic will also challenge the red administered to defender Virgil van Dijk following his clash with Butcher last Sunday .  Celtic have slammed the  ' s decision to let Dundee United ' s Calum Butcher play in the League Cup final  Celtic will challenge the red shown to defender Virgil van Dijk following his clash with Butcher last Sunday  United ' s Nadir Ciftci already banned from the Hampden showpiece faces a further two match suspension for violent conduct after kicking out at Parkhead skipper Scott Brown .  But Celtic are furious that Butcher will be free to play in the final , even if Paton is found to be the victim of a miscarriage of justice . A club statement read : ' It seems completely illogical and fundamentally unfair that , in an incident where mistaken identity has been claimed , the Dundee United player now identified as being involved appears to have no case to answer and would be available to play in the League Cup Final and the Scottish Cup replay between the teams while Celtic ' s player ( van Dijk ) may potentially miss both of those matches .  ' Celtic and Virgil van Dijk maintain their position that no red card offence was committed by Virgil . Virgil will appear at Hampden to put his case on Thursday and we will fully support him in this appeal . '  United refused to comment publicly on Tuesday night , but are privately furious at some of Celtic ' s comments .  Brown , meanwhile , has escaped retrospective punishment for his tackle on Ciftci .  The United striker lashed out in retaliation at the Scotland midfielder before van Dijk and United ' s Paton were controversially dismissed by Thomson on the advice of assistant Graham Chambers .  Celtic ' s Scott Brown accused Dundee United forward Nadir Ciftci of ' blatantly ' kicking him in the head  There will be no  action against Tannadice winger Aiden Connolly , however , despite claims by Celtic the youngster dived to win a penalty in the Scottish Cup stalemate .  Expressing relief that Brown has been cleared to play on Sunday , team mate Stefan Johansen said the  had reached the right decision in that regard .  ' I saw the tackle from Broony , ' said the Norwegian . ' It was just a tackle and everything else was just a lot of players around it .  ' He would have been a big loss but I didn ' t think that was going to happen . He is the captain and means a lot to the team . We could see how important he is to the team when he was out at the start of the season . He ' s a great player and a fantastic captain . He gives it out but he takes it back . That is part of his game . It ' s not only him in this league who makes hard tackles . '  The failure to penalise Brown ' s challenge was blamed by United boss Jackie McNamara for sparking the incident which saw Ciftci lash out with his boot .  Offered a fast track two match ban by the  compliance officer , Ciftci has until 3pm today to respond to the complaint .  If he declines , a Fast Track Tribunal will convene tomorrow . Failure to win his appeal would see the striker miss the Scottish Cup replay with Celtic and the subsequent Premiership clash between the sides .  Despite rising tensions , Johansen believes the League Cup final will not go the same way as the Scottish Cup tie which was the first of what will now be four games between the teams in a short period .  ' It was a weird game , with three red cards and two penalties , ' he said . ' It affects the game , of course , but I think it will be different this time . I don ' t think what happened on Sunday will affect the final . It ' s a new game and a trophy is at stake for the winners .  ' I am just focusing on ourselves . If we go out and play the way we can then we have a great chance . '  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,satire,true,True,no,no,negative,past
5322,5323,"Defending Tour de France champion Bradley Wiggins has been forced out of this year ' s race due to an ongoing knee condition , the Briton ' s Sky Pro Cycling team announced on Friday .  Wiggins , the first British rider to win cycling ' s most prestigious event , withdrew from the Giro d ' Italia with a chest infection on May 18 and he was scheduled to rest and train as well as receive treatment on his knee .  But the seven time Olympic medalist , who has also withdrawn from the Criterium du Dauphine and the Tour de Suisse , has now ran out of time to adequately prepare for the Tour de France , which begins on the island of Corsica on June 29 .  "" It ' s a huge disappointment not to make the Tour . I desperately wanted be there , for the team and for all the fans along the way but it ' s not going to happen , "" the 33 year old told Sky Pro Cycling ' s official website .  "" I can ' t train the way I need to train and I ' m not going to be ready . Once you accept that , it ' s almost a relief not having to worry about the injury and the race against time .  "" I ' ve been through this before , when I broke my collarbone , so I know how it works . I ' ll get this sorted , set new goals for this season and focus on those . ""  Team principal Dave Brailsford expressed disappointment at the news , although it had already been confirmed Wiggins would play second fiddle to compatriot Chris Froome at this year ' s Tour .  "" With illness , injury and treatment Brad has gone past the point where he can be ready for the Tour , "" said Brailsford , who is also performance director of British Cycling . "" It ' s a big loss but , given these circumstances , we won ' t consider him for selection .  "" He hasn ' t been able to train hard since the Giro and now he needs further rest . Whilst we all know these things happen in sport , it doesn ' t take away from the fact that this is a huge disappointment for everyone in the team and above all for Brad .  ' "" It ' s incredibly sad to have the reigning champion at Team Sky but not lining up at the Tour . But he ' s a champion , a formidable athlete and will come back winning as he has before . ""  Team doctor Richard Freeman said Wiggins had completely recovered from his chest infection , but his knee was worse than first thought .  "" "" The chest infection that caused his withdrawal from the Giro has responded to treatment and rest . It has completely cleared up , "" explained Freeman .  "" However , further medical investigations on the knee injury that we were managing at the Giro showed the condition was more significant than we thought .  "" It has needed intensive treatment and , whilst it will be fully resolved , Bradley now needs to rest completely for five days before a gradual , return to full training over a period of two to three weeks . ""  Wiggins was set to play a supporting role to Sky ' s lead rider Froome at this year ' s Tour .  Kenyan born Froome finished second in last year ' s race and is one of the favorites to take the yellow jersey in 2013 .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
5327,5328,"The first commercial supply mission by Orbital Sciences Corp . ' s unmanned Cygnus spacecraft has docked at the International Space Station ,  said Sunday .  Crew members on the  will open the hatch Monday and unload 2 , 780 pounds of supplies and experiments , the news release said .  With the mission , Orbital officially joins SpaceX as a resupply carrier to the space station . Orbital successfully tested a spacecraft with a smaller payload in mid September .  "" From the men and women involved in the design , integration and test , to those who launched the Antares ( rocket ) and operated the Cygnus , our whole team has performed at a very high level for our  customer , and I am very proud of their extraordinary efforts , "" said David W . Thompson , president and chief executive officer of Orbital , in a written statement from the company .  The experiments sent up to the six  crew members include one that will study how different fuel samples burn in microgravity , which could help designers select future spacecraft materials .  The ship took off from  ' s Wallops Flight Facility in eastern Virginia on Thursday aboard an Antares rocket . A previous attempt at launch was scrubbed in December because the  crew needed time to conduct spacewalks for repairs .  It took two hours Sunday morning for the crew to grab the spaceship and attach it to the  .  The Cygnus craft will be berthed for 37 days before being loaded with trash and sent back to Earth , Orbital said . It will burn up during re entry over the Pacific Ocean , officials said .  Orbital has a 1 . 9 billion contract with  to make eight flights to the space station under the space agency ' s commercial supply program .   hired Orbital and SpaceX to start making cargo runs to the space station after retiring its fleet of space shuttles and turning much of its focus toward exploring deep into the solar system .  SpaceX has so far made two of its 12 scheduled flights to the  under a 1 . 6 billion contract . According to  ' s 2014 launch calendar , its next flight is due to launch on February 22 from Cape Canaveral in Florida .  Orbital ' s next mission is scheduled for May 1 .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
5345,5346,"California Jay Leno says immediacy is key to his new show , and he should have plenty of it for his prime time premiere Monday , when Kanye West is a musical guest .  Kanye West , center , with girlfriend Amber Rose and actor Tracy Morgan at the 2009  VMAs .  The rapper created a fan and artist uprising Sunday night when he jumped onstage at  ' s Video Music Awards to hijack singer Taylor Swift ' s acceptance speech .  Leno could reprise his 1995 ratings grabbing moment when he asked actor Hugh Grant , "" What were you thinking ? "" Grant had been arrested two weeks earlier for public lewd conduct with a Hollywood hooker .  West placed a written apology on his Web site "" I ' m sooooo sorry "" but "" The Jay Leno Show "" could be the place and time for a more personal and public mea culpa . Watch the details on West ' s appearance  Leno ' s publicist confirmed Monday that West was still booked for the  show , which tapes just three hours before it airs in the eastern United States at 10 p . m .  West was booked by Leno weeks ago to perform with two other hip hop superstars : Rihanna and Jay Z .  Some drama may center around how West and Jay Z get along onstage . Jay Z ' s wife , singer Beyonce Knowles , was perhaps the most embarrassed by his outburst .  Swift , a 19 year old country pop singer , was in the midst of her acceptance speech for the Best Female Video award when West rushed onstage and took her microphone . He then let loose an outburst on behalf of Beyonce , who was one of several artists who lost out to Swift .  Although Beyonce appeared stunned as she watched from the front row , she gracefully recovered near the end of the show , when she was onstage to accept an award of her own .  "" I remember being 17 years old , up for my first  award with Destiny ' s Child , and it was one of the most exciting moments of my life , "" she said , referring to the girl group with which she had her start . "" So I would like for Taylor to come out and have her moment . ""  West ' s online apology appeared soon after .  "" I ' m sooooo sorry to Taylor Swift and her fans and her mom , "" the message said in all caps . "" I spoke to her mother right after and she said the same thing my mother would ' ve said . She is very talented ! . . . I ' m in the wrong for going on stage and taking away from her moment ! ""   said the West Swift incident was not planned , a point it had to stress after a walkout by singer Eminem at last year ' s event turned out to be staged .  Staged or not , apologies from celebrities behaving badly have been good for Leno ' s ratings .  When Grant told Leno "" I did a bad thing , "" it gave Leno ' s "" Tonight Show "" a viewership bump that has been credited with solidifying his lead over rival David Letterman in the late night ratings war .  This is just the kind of "" immediacy "" Leno was talking about in a call with reporters last week .  "" The idea here is that we ' ll tape a new , fresh show every single day , talking about the events that happened that day that night , "" Leno said .  West , Rihanna and Jay Z will debut Leno ' s new approach to musical guests . They will be limited to one song , and most nights they ' ll share the stage with other stars .  "" What we ' re trying to do is put together acts that you don ' t normally see together or don ' t normally perform together , "" Leno said .  Jerry Seinfeld will also appear on Leno ' s premiere Monday .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
5348,5349,"Judge Deals Blow To Bill Cosby In Criminal Case  The first criminal charge against Cosby can now move forward .  02 03 2016 06 : 21 pm  Updated 5 hours ago  A judge on Wednesday , Feb . 3 , 2016 ruled against Bill Cosby ' s plea to have criminal charges against him thrown out . ?  A Pennsylvania judge on Wednesday rejected entertainer Bill Cosby ' s request ? to dismiss the only criminal charge against him and said comments the entertainer once made about an alleged sexual attack can be used by the prosecution in court .  The ruling by Judge Steven O ' Neill in the Philadelphia suburb of Montgomery County was a stinging defeat for Cosby ' s defense to the aggravated indecent assault charge . The case may now go forward , with the next step a preliminary hearing to determine if the prosecution has enough evidence for a trial . ?  Cosby , 78 , was arrested in December on charges he ? drugged and molested then Temple University women ' s basketball assistant Andrea Constand at his suburban Philadelphia home in 2004 . It s the ? only criminal case to result from claims by roughly 50 women who ve said they were sexually violated in some form by Cosby in alleged incidents going back to the 1960s .  A previous district attorney said there wasn ' t enough evidence to prosecute him then . But newly elected Montgomery County  Kevin Steele followed through on a campaign promise to reexamine Constand s accusation .  The hearing over Cosby ' s contested sworn deposition began on Tuesday with seven hours of testimony .  Cosby ' s attorneys argued Steele relied on evidence that shouldn t be admitted in a criminal case , namely , depositions from 2005 and 2006 he gave as part of a civil lawsuit Constand filed against him . Under questioning then , Cosby admitted giving pills to Constand to "" take some of the stress away "" before he lifted her bra and slid a hand into her pants . The depositions conflict with statements Cosby made to authorities when they initially looked into Constand ' s accusation . Constand and Cosby later reached a settlement out of court .  Portions of the depositions became public in July , when a judge unsealed documents from Constand s lawsuit against Cosby .  Cosby ' s deposition shouldn ' t be used , the defense said , because Cosby only agreed to testify in the lawsuit after then District Attorney Bruce Castor said he wouldn ' t prosecute the entertainer . Castor testified on Tuesday as a defense witness .  Castor said he believed that Cosby inappropriately touched Constand , but doubted a jury would convict him . He also testified that he hoped his decision not to press charges against Cosby would encourage him to answer questions in Constand s lawsuit .  An attorney for Cosby testified that he only let Cosby answer questions in the deposition because of oral assurances from Castor that there would be no criminal case .  Those conversations don t amount to an enforceable agreement because they weren t written down and approved by a judge , Steele argued .  Judge O ' Neill sounded skeptical as well , questioning Castor about why the agreement wasn ' t put in writing ,  Philadelphia reported . ?  ",true,text,test,Other news1,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
5356,5357,"Reuters) - President Donald Trump’s proposals to slash federal aid to the poor, the sick and people living in rural areas reflect conservatives’ demands for a smaller federal government but target many of the very people who voted for him last November. In his first detailed budget submission to Congress on Tuesday, Trump requested major reductions to programs that help poor families afford groceries and poor and disabled people get healthcare.  Job training for unemployed coal miners would be threatened and drug treatment programs would face cuts at a time when heroin and prescription pill addictions are tearing at rural America. Subsidies for commercial air travel in rural areas would be cut by more than half. The White House said many of the proposed cuts were aimed at ineffective programs and that the savings were needed to help balance the budget in 10 years and finance increased spending for defense and other programs. Some Republicans in Congress cheered Trump’s budget. Representative Mark Meadows, who heads the House of Representatives’ hard-right Freedom Caucus, called it “a great step forward” for conservatives, adding: “It’s all about economic growth.”  But many other Republican lawmakers, seeing a budget they think will be tough to sell back home, greeted it warily. “These cuts that are being proposed are draconian. They’re not mere savings. They’re really deep, deep cuts,” said Republican Representative Hal Rogers, whose eastern Kentucky  district relies heavily on federal aid. Trump trounced Democrat Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election in Kentucky, 63 percent to 33 percent, winning every region except the urban Louisville and Lexington areas. Rogers, a 36-year congressman, said the Republican president remained popular in his district, but added: “We have not yet had a chance to see how (voters) will react to his budget proposals.” It is unclear if the Republican-controlled House and Senate will be able to pass a budget blueprint for the fiscal year starting on Oct. 1. Democratic votes would also likely be needed to pass the fiscal 2018 spending bills needed to carry out budget priorities. But the proposed reductions could trigger a backlash for Republicans, complicating efforts to keep control of the U.S. Congress in the 2018 midterm elections. Trump’s own base of political support also could be undermined. Republican Representative Tom Cole, who represents an Oklahoma district that the Almanac of American Politics described as “countrified,” predicted “Congress would look at some of those things differently” from the Trump administration’s budget. Cole oversees spending on health and social welfare programs as chairman of a House Appropriations panel and has a medical research facility important to his district that relies on federal funding. “The National Institutes of Health is not likely to be cut. I think  (Centers for Disease Control) is not likely to be cut. I think that is ill-advised personally,” Cole told reporters. Atop Rogers’ list of worries is Trump’s proposed elimination of the $146 million Appalachian Regional Commission that has helped bring projects such as job training to unemployed coal miners, a broadband technology center to Kentucky and high-tech medical equipment to impoverished regions. The food stamp program, which helps low-income and disabled people buy groceries, would be reduced by $200 billion over 10 years. According to U.S. Department of Agriculture figures, bedrock Republican states that Trump won have long food-stamp rolls: 3.8 million people in Texas, 682,077 in Vice President Mike Pence’s home state of Indiana, 815,000 in Alabama and 1.6 million in Georgia, for example. Trump got broad support in last November’s election in counties with high numbers of white voters who receive food stamps. He was victorious in 991 of the 1,093 counties studied by the U.S. Census Bureau where the percentage of white households receiving food stamps exceeds the national average. Overall, according to a Reuters analysis, states would see federal aid shrink under the proposals by 3 percent in the next fiscal year, with cuts falling more heavily on states that voted for Clinton. States that voted for Trump would see federal aid decline by 1.2 percent, while those that supported Clinton would collectively see a drop of 4.8 percent. Liberal California would be hit hardest, with a 9.8 percent drop. Kentucky, a conservative state that signed on to the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion, would also be hit hard, with assistance dropping by 9.7 percent.  Some Republican lawmakers welcomed the budget cuts. “I think we’re way over in the number of people who have been able to qualify for food stamps,” said John Carter, who represents a central Texas district. Trump’s proposed budget cuts would help pay for a 10 percent buildup in defense spending for next year, and help finance a wall on the southwest border that Trump previously had promised would be paid for by Mexico, something the Mexican government has adamantly said it will not do. The Medicaid healthcare plan for the poor is slated for about an $800 billion cut, reversing the expansion that former Democratic President Barack Obama’s signature Affordable Care Act, popularly known as Obamacare, brought to Republican states like West Virginia, Arkansas and Kentucky with large populations of poor people. “Most of the (budget) cuts will focus on programs for low- income folks and public investments,” said Maya MacGuineas, president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, which pushes for long-term fixes to Washington’s debt problems. Levi Russell, spokesman for Americans for Prosperity, the conservative group backed by billionaire Charles Koch, applauded Trump’s call to balance the budget within 10 years, cut taxes and roll back regulations - moves he said would stimulate job growth. “It sends all of the right signals for the first time in nearly a decade - a budget that actually is focused on the best interests of the American taxpayer rather than what’s popular in Washington,” he said. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
5367,5368,"A mine exploded Monday on a road in southern Somalia , killing four people three members of the medical humanitarian group Medecins Sans Frontieres and a journalist .  Ongoing violence in Somalia has devastated the capital Mogadishu .  The incident occurred Monday along a road in Kismayo , the group said .  Victor Okumu , 51 , a Kenyan doctor Damien Lehalle , 27 , a French logistician and a Somali driver named Billan were the  workers who were killed .  Another member of the team was slightly wounded , the group said in a posting on its Web site .  "" The exact circumstances of this fatal incident are not yet clear , "" the posting said .  Also killed was journalist Hassan Kafi Hared , 36 . The remote controlled mine erupted as he was walking to a news conference in Siyad Village in northern Kismayu , said the National Union of Somali Journalists (  ) .  He was working for the government run Somali National News Agency and a Somali Web site called gedonetweblink . He is survived by a wife and three children .  "" This is a targeted attack and we declare that this brutal killing on the journalist and the aid workers is an attack on the society itself , "" said  Secretary General Omar Faruk Osman , in a news release .  "" We demand that transitional government and the authorities in Kismayu to identify the culprits of this crime and bring them to justice "" he said .  The medical humanitarian organization said it was evacuating remaining international members of it staff from Kismayu .  Hared is the second journalist to be killed this year , according to the Committee to Protect Journalists . The first , 38 year old Norwegian reporter Carsten Thomassen , died Jan . 15 in a suicide bomb attack in Kabul .  In a written statement , a representative of U . N . Secretary General Ban Ki Moon said he condemned the killings and "" demands a thorough investigation by the authorities . "" E mail to a friend  ",true,text,test,US elections,Conflict,satire,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
5382,5383,"Tune in to the Alternate Current Radio Network (ACR) for another  broadcast of  The Boiler Room  starting at 6   | 9   every Wednesday. Join us for uncensored, uninterruptible talk radio, custom-made for barfly philosophers, misguided moralists, masochists, street corner evangelists, media-maniacs, savants, political animals and otherwise lovable rascals.Join  hosts Hesher, & Spore along with Randy J of 21Wire, Jay Dyer from Jays Analysis, Branko Malic of Kali Tribune fame and Daniel Spaulding of Soul of the East.  Tonight the Boiler Gang is in celebration mode as we ve hit our one year broadcast anniversary, accolades will be given, classic clips will be played and new analysis will be found on Brussels, Syria, Palmyra We re going over media fakery with Jay Dyer an the crew, be it in Brussels, Paris, Boston or San Bernardino.  If you want to participate, bring something interesting to throw into the boiler Join us in the    chat room.    A   ZONE!           ENJOY!  LINKS:",fake,dataset,test,World conflict,Sports/Other,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,present
5384,5385,"yet another statue of a military hero is reportedly under fire. This figure astride a horse was vandalized with the spray-painted words  Tear It Down .Who was this historical figure? General Lee? Stonewall Jackson? Nathan Bedford Forrest?No, this was a figure who hails from the north.Of France:The phrase  Tear it Down  was hastily sprayed in black paint across the base of the golden Joan of Arc statue on Decatur Street in the French Quarter sometime earlier this week. It has since been removed, with only the vaguest traces of the paint remaining. The  Tear it Down  tag would seem to relate to the debate surrounding the city s ongoing removal of four Confederate monuments. But the statue of Joan of Arc, a 15th-century military leader, martyr and Catholic saint, hasn t been mentioned in the controversy to this point.Amy Kirk Duvoisin, the founder of the annual Joan of Arc parade that ceremonially pauses at the statue on the first day of Carnival season, says she s confused by the vandalism. Surely, people realize she s not related to American history,  she said referring to the French icon.Nah, I wouldn t be so sure.    THIS!According to plaques accompanying the statue, the sculpture of Joan of Arc, who is also known as the Maid of Orleans, was  a gift of the people of France to the citizens of New Orleans  in 1972.On May 1 in Paris, the controversial former right-wing Nationalist Front Party leader Jean-Marie Le Pen, known for his restrictive views on French immigration, led a rally at a duplicate golden statue of Joan of Arc in Paris.The Monumental Task Committee, an organization that describes itself as being devoted to  preserving, restoring and protecting monuments,  is soliciting for donations through its website to restore the Joan of Arc statue.Read more:  ",fake,dataset,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
5398,5399,"At least they re consistent and crooked to the core just like their candidate  Hillary Clinton will be crowned the Democratic presidential candidate in Philadelphia next week at event costing estimated $60 million  Democrats have a $15 million credit line with the city in case their fundraising falls short  Independent journalist is fighting for names of the donors to be made public before convention begins  But host committee tells court hearing that donations should be kept secretThe host committee for the Democratic National Convention wants to keep its donor list under wraps until after the convention even though a state open records agency has ordered its release.A Philadelphia 2016 Host Committee lawyer told a judge Thursday the release of fundraising records could harm the organization s last-minute efforts to seek donations and negotiate vendor contracts.The host committee set out to raise about $60 million from private sources, but secured a $15 million line of credit from the city as a safety net. The committee must therefore file financial updates with the city.Read entire story: Daily Mail",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,present
5409,5410,"Three teenagers and a 4 year old were among the eight deaths in a Virginia shooting , state police said Wednesday .  Christopher Speight , 39 , is being held without bond at the Blue Ridge Regional Jail in Lynchburg , Virginia , after being charged with a single count of first degree murder , police said , adding that further charges are pending .  Speight surrendered peacefully early Wednesday morning after an overnight manhunt left him hiding in the woods surrounded by a several square mile perimeter set up by authorities , Appomattox County Sheriff O . Wilson Staples said .  Speight was wearing a bulletproof vest but had no weapons when he surrendered , Staples said .  State police identified the victims of Tuesday ' s shooting as Ronald I . Scruggs  , 16 Emily A . Quarles , 15 Karen Quarles , 43 Jonathan L . Quarles , 43 Dwayne S . Sipe , 38 Lauralee Sipe , 38 Joshua Sipe , 4 and Morgan L . Dobyns , 15 . All were from Appomattox except Scruggs , who was from Dillwyn , about 25 miles away .  Police did not say how the victims were related nor did they describe a motive for the shootings . Earlier , they said that Speight lived at the Appomattox home where seven of the eight were found , that he co owns it and adjoining land and that he was acquainted with all the victims .  Police were alerted to the incident Tuesday after noon when a person was discovered badly wounded in the middle of Route 703 . That person later died at a hospital .  When police arrived at the scene they heard gunshots , authorities said . Authorities established a perimeter around the area , including dogs and helicopters . One of the helicopters was hit at least four times by bullets but "" was able to make an emergency landing in a field near the scene , "" state police said .  A search turned up the remaining seven bodies in and around the home , which is about 75 miles southwest of Richmond , Virginia ' s capital .  On Wednesday , a search of the home turned up explosive devices , Molinar said . He said authorities were safely detonating the devices but he did not describe them .  ",true,text,test,American football,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
5412,5413,"Downing Street has had some cunning residents over the years , but perhaps none quite as slippery as this cheeky fox , who scampered through this morning .  The creature caused quite a stir when it became trapped in the famous street ahead of a planned appearance by Prime Minister David Cameron .  The Tory leader was due to leave his official home ahead of Prime Minister ' s Questions in the House of Commons at midday today .  But instead of seeing the country ' s leader , photographers , armed police and awaiting aides watched as the fox appeared and ran around the fenced off road looking for an exit .  Police and political aides were given a surprise this morning when a fox trotted down Downing Street  The bold animal ran around in front of waiting photographers shortly before David Cameron made his way to Prime Minister ' s Questions at the House of Commons  The animal is one of hundreds of urban foxes living in the capital , which some say are becoming increasingly bold in their hunt for food .  The creatures are now often seen during the daytime , even in the busiest parts of the city , with reports of them going into people ' s homes .  This fox seemed uninterested in entering the corridors of power however , and soon disappeared into a neighbouring street .  Last month , it was reported that George Osborne ' s cat , Freya , had been banished from his 11 Downing Street residence because it did not get on with the Chancellor ' s dog , Lola .  In 2011 , the sight of the Prime Minister ' s cat , Larry , became well known in Downing Street after it was brought in to deal with a rat problem .  The pet , which has its own spoof Twitter account , was later retired amid claims he wasn ' t catching enough vermin .  A police officer guarding the Prime Minister ' s central London home watched as the fox strolled past  A visitor to Downing Street is confronted by the creature , which became trapped in the gated off road for a few minutes late this morning  After scampering around the famous street for several minutes , the animal disappeared into the capital  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
5431,5432,"I am a student of history so I tend to actually be familiar with many of these episodes that have been mentioned. I am the first one to acknowledge that America s application to concern around human rights has not always been consistent. And, I m certainly mindful that there are dark chapters in our own history in which we have not always observed the principles and ideals upon which the country was founded. Just a few weeks ago I was in Selma, Alabama celebrating the 50th anniversary of a march across a bridge that resulted in horrific violence and the reason I was there and the reason it was a celebration is because it was a triumph of human spirit in which ordinary people without resort to violence were able to overcome systematic segregation. There voices were heard and our country changed. America never makes a claim about being perfect, we do make a claim about being open to change. ",fake,dataset,test,Other sport,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,past
5449,5450,"Op-Ed by Paul A. Philips Ever wondered how Big Pharma has managed to tightly control so many aspects of conventional medicine’s healthcare system, even to the point of imposing limitations on our... ",fake,news,test,US elections,Economy,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,present
5470,5471,"Chinese police are hunting a violent teacher who beat four terrified children with a textbook in his office .  The pupils , the eldest of whom is just seven , were rushed to hospital after being found cowering and covered in blood by another member of staff at the school in Ankang in Shaanxi province .  The art teacher , Lei Mingxing , beat one child so badly he fractured his skull .  Four pupils all aged under seven were found crying and covered in blood after being beaten by the cruel art teacher at their school in Ankanh , Shaanxi Province  One of the children was beaten so horrifically the teacher fractured his skull . The school ' s head teacher described the event as ' totally shocking '  Head teacher Wang Qin said : ' I walked past his office and heard crying .  ' As I went in I saw the pupils on the floor , very distressed and covered in blood . '  ' We ' ve no idea what ' s behind this . He has always been a very good teacher . We are a very small school , only 22 pupils , so this is totally shocking .  ' He has been a good teacher for many years and has never shown any sign of violence before .  ' We are very concerned for the children and will be talking to all of them to see what was behind this . '  One of the little boys who was injured in the horrendous attack . All four children were immediately rushed to hospital after being found by another teacher  The teacher responsible is thought to be hiding in woodlands outside the city . He had worked at the school for ' many years ' before launching his violent attack  The children are among only 22 who attend the school . The teacher ' s office ( right ) was covered in blood following the attack  Investigators believe Mingxing fled on his moped and is now hiding in woodlands outside the city .  Police chief Deng Mingshan said : ' We have found tyre tracks , footprints and empty wine bottles .  ' We have surrounded the woods .  ' We have spoken to the pupils and they say they have no idea why he did it . He just called them into his office and began attacking them . '  ",true,text,test,American football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
5488,5489,"Obama authorizes Special Ops Forces to deploy to Syria  President Obama has authorized sending dozens of Special Operations Forces to Syria to help advise local ground troops and coalition efforts in the fight against the Islamic State , officials said Friday . ?  The decision comes after administration officials earlier this week said they were looking at moving U . S . troops closer to the front lines in the anti  fight , as part of a broader effort to recharge the struggling campaign . ?  The deployment marks the first time U . S . troops will be working openly on the ground in Syria . A senior administration official called it a "" small "" deployment , involving "" fewer than 50 "" Special Ops Forces to northern Syria . ?  Several other steps were also announced Friday , including a new potential deployment to Iraq . ?  According to the official , the administration is working with the Iraqi government to set up a "" Special Operations Force (  ) task force to further enhance our ability to target  leaders and networks . "" The official also says the U . S . will be sending additional aircraft , including F 15 fighters and A 10s , to the Incirlik air base in Turkey . ?  Fox News is told that congressional leaders have been notified of the plans . ?  Obama ' s new tactic in Syria : A response to Russia ?  White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest acknowledged at Friday ' s press briefing the changes might not be a game changer and stressed that a diplomatic solution is ultimately needed . ?  "" This military component of that strategy is an important part , "" he said , while urging a "" political transition "" in Syria . He called this an "" intensification "" of the president ' s already announced strategy , while stressing that U . S . forces still don ' t have a "" combat mission "" in Syria . ?  Defense Secretary Ash Carter hinted at the deployment earlier this week , saying the U . S . was retooling its strategy in Iraq and Syria and would conduct unilateral ground raids if needed to target Islamic State militants . The U . S . has done special operations raids in Syria , and it participated in a ground operation to rescue hostages last week in northern Iraq that resulted in the first U . Sweblinkbat death in that country since 2011 . ?  Reuters first reported that the administration was sending forces to Syria to serve as advisers . ?  Some lawmakers have been urging the Obama administration for months to get more engaged with the anti  campaign , particularly as Russia launches airstrikes which many U . S . officials say are targeting Syrian opposition members . ?  Rep . Mac Thornberry , R Texas , chairman of the House Armed Service Committee , on Friday said a "" more serious effort against  in Syria is long overdue . "" ?  He said in a statement : "" Absent a larger coherent strategy , however , these steps may prove to be too little too late . I do not see a strategy for success , rather it seems the Administration is trying to avoid a disaster while the President runs out the clock . "" ?  The changes come after a U . S . train and equip program to help Syrian rebels was effectively ended . ?  Top military officials testified earlier this week that their goal remains to "" defeat  "" in the end . ?  "" No one is satisfied with our progress to date , "" Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen . Joseph Dunford , Jr . , testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday . ?  At the same hearing , Carter described a changing approach to the fight against  , focusing largely on Raqqa , the Islamic State declared capital in Syria , and Ramadi , the capital of Anbar province in western Iraq . ?  Carter said the U . S . would intensify the air campaign against the Islamic State with additional U . S . and coalition aircraft and heavier airstrikes . ?  The U . S . led effort "" will include more strikes against  high value targets as our intelligence improves , and also its oil enterprise , which is a critical pillar of  ' s financial infrastructure , "" he said . ?  Fox News ' Kevin Corke and Chad Pergram and The Associated Press contributed to this report .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,past
5503,5504,"All India Press Trust of India Updated : November 06 , 2015 01 : 57    Narendra Modi begins a three day visit to the  next Thursday .  London : ? India and the  are set to sign a "" package of deliverables "" during Prime Minister Narendra Modi ' s first visit to London that will also see discussions over cooperation in sectors like nuclear energy and defence .  Describing the India  relationship as "" mature "" , Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond sought to move away from any comparisons being drawn with the multi million pound nuclear deal announced during the recent state visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping .  "" There will be a package of deliverables announced while the Prime Minister is here next week . I suspect that because our relationship is in a sense more mature than some other relationships we have there , it may be that there are rather a lot of medium sized projects rather than one big iconic project , "" he said .  "" Different countries do things in different ways . As the Indian economy has a very large and important private sector , many of the deals will be commercial and private sector deals rather than government to government deals , "" he added .  The senior minister in the  Cabinet narrowed down defence and civil nuclear as an area of focus during the visit and also confirmed that the Make in India aspect of the Hawk trainers will be on the cards .  "" Prime Minister Modi ' s policy approach of seeking to open India up very much facilitates some of the things we would like to do , "" Mr Hammond said .  "" We see scope for example for a much greater government to government relationship in defence equipment , playing into the Make in India programme , where we have significant British defence contractors and British defence  that can be played into that agenda for developing the Indian defence industry to the benefit of both countries . . . Hawk trainers will be one of the subjects within the defence package we will want to talk about , "" Mr Hammond added .  He admitted that discussions over civil nuclear had "" run into problems "" due to the  ' s own system , which has now been cleared up to ensure for a more "" constructive "" civil nuclear relationship .  "" We know that there is a significant role that the  can play in India ' s civil nuclear programme and we are pulling out all the stops to make sure we can codify a collaboration that will allow us to work together in the future . . . we will simply remove the bureaucratic obstacles on both sides and make sure we can see a step change in the way the relationship works , "" he said .   Modi begins a three day visit to the  next Thursday .  Story First Published : November 06 , 2015 01 : 57   ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,present
5505,5506,"Continuing our occasional series on the hotels favoured by the rich and famous , Anne Murray takes a peek at the Abama resort in Tenerife where Penelope Cruz tops up her tan .  Star quality : Penelope Cruz , Javier Bardem , Bill Clinton , Stephen Hawking  Vital statistics : A Moorish palace of excellence in Tenerife , set high on the cliffs , the terracotta walls of the Abama shore up the Canary island ' s most luxurious hotels .  Surrounded by extravagant tropical gardens , you ' ll find nearly 500 suites and rooms amid its shady courtyards .  Pristine position : The Abama resort sits in a secluded spot on the west coast of reliably sunny Tenerife  Its cliff top setting means that you ' ll be whisked down to the beach by a cable car , but if you want to stay put there are nine swimming pools , including an infinity pool at the cliff ' s edge that looks out across to the island of La Gomera .  The Abama ' s unabashed luxury continues with two Michelin starred restaurants .  comes under the supervision of Martin Berasategui , with classic Spanish cuisine .  Kabuki serves Japanese in a sleek red and black interior .  Eight others include Le Mirador , which specialises in seafood and has views of the ocean .  During school holidays , the bankers of Europe descend en masse with their young children .  If you want to escape beautifully dressed eurotots , head to the Tagor villas . The most exclusive ( and expensive ) of all the Abama ' s rooms are reserved for over 18s only , with complimentary drinks and snacks .  Another refuge for adults is the Abama ' s 72 par golf course . Considered to be one of Spain ' s finest , it brings golf minded celebrities including Bill Clinton to the resort .  Recharging her batteries : Penelope Cruz stayed at Abama in July with film star husband Javier Bardem  Other sports facilities include seven tennis courts one with seating for 600 people .  Location report : Tucked away on the west coast , near Playa de San Juan resort , which is a 15 minute walk away along the cliff .  The rest of the island requires a hire car .  Key attraction : Privacy and the sort of luxury you would normally only find in mainland Europe or the Maldives . Reliable short haul winter sun with Ritz Carlton finesse ( Asprey products in the bathrooms ) .  The hotel ' s extensive grounds are meticulously kept , and the beach has imported sand because the local stuff was considered to be a bit dark and gritty for the hotel .  In the news : Cruz and husband Bardem were at the Abama in July .  Good enough for the rest of us ? Technically , the Abama ' s beach is public but access is almost impossible without going via the hotel .  Deliberately isolated , this is a resort that would prefer you to stay close , but your pockets will have to be deep a Coca Cola is 5 .   Luxury Travel ( www . itcluxurytravel . co . uk , 01244 355 550 ) offers seven nights at the Ritz Carlton , Abama ( www . ritzcarltonweblink abama ) including flights , transfers and B B accommodation from 1 , 025 per person .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
5521,5522,"Injury Report : Hall Good To Go , Dalton Unknown For Bengals ? Steelers ? Slugfest  Filed Under : A . J . McCarron , Andy Dalton , Cincinnati Bengals , injury report , Leon Hall ,  Playoffs , Ryan Hewitt    ,   20 : Andy Dalton 14 of the Cincinnati Bengals sits on the bench during their  game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi ' s Stadium on December 20 , 2015 in Santa Clara , California . ( Photo by Ezra Shaw Getty Images )  Unlike most of their counterparts who were busy making coaching changes this week , the teams that have made it to the  post season party cannot get involved with making excuses , especially excuses that involve the injury report . Quite frankly , no one cares how many players you have on the injured reserve list , it is all about advancing to the next game . There are no moral victories , just the quest for The Lombardi Trophy .  With that in mind , no one will see an asterisk next to the outcome of the Steelers ? Bengals playoff match up that states , starting quarterback injured . Thankfully , other than the broken thumb sustained by Andy Dalton in mid December , there do not appear to be any major setbacks for the Bengals this week . ?  One area that has been addressed for the Bengals heading into the Wild Card game on Saturday is defensive tackle Brandon Thompson , who had already been declared out of the contest with a knee injury . The Bengals reported on Thursday ? that Thompson was placed on the injured reserve list , and they signed DeShawn Williams from the practice squad to active roster to replace Thompson .  As for Dalton , he did not practice again on Thursday , further dousing the conspiracy theorists thoughts that coach Marvin Lewis was sending out a smoke screen earlier this week about Dalton . A . J . McCarron will be the starter at quarterback against the Steelers , and he will have a full amount of preparation for whatever the Steel Curtain throws at him . ? ?  According to the Centre Daily Times , Dalton had a wrap on his right hand Thursday and was held out of practice again . He was hoping to be active as a backup for the playoff game , but the Bengals backed him off his workouts after only one day this week , an indication he s not even close to being ready . Keith Wenning , who was promoted from the practice squad Dec . 16 , is McCarron s backup .  Tight end Ryan Hewitt is still nursing a knee injury that kept him out of last week s season finale against the Baltimore Ravens , and he was unable to practice on Wednesday and Thursday . Rookie Tyler Kroft ( Rutgers ) played in all sixteen games for the Bengals this season with six starts , and he got the start last week in place of Hewitt against the Ravens .  Leon Hall shows up on the injury report with a back issue that has plagued him all season , but he also apparently had a concussion at some point . But Hall never showed up in the  concussion protocol after the Ravens game , and he has practiced fully this week .  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,satire,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
5547,5548,"Paul F . Crouch , co founder of the Trinity Broadcasting Network , died Saturday at age 79 , according to his website and the network ' s Facebook page .  "" We are grateful for the life of this amazing servant of God . Please pray for the Crouch family during this time , "" said the announcement .  No further details on the televangelist ' s death were immediately available .  On November 5 ,  said Crouch fell ill and was hospitalized in Texas in late October . He returned to California for treatment of "" his heart and related health issues , "" a network spokesman said . Crouch received a pacemaker in 2012 .   , based in Orange County , California , bills itself as the most watched faith channel in the United States .  Kenneth Thomas , a commenter on the  Facebook page , said of Crouch : "" He was a great blessing to the body of Christ and to the world ! ""  Crouch , a native of St . Joseph , Missouri , began his broadcasting career in the 1950s , working at commercial stations . The pastor worked for the Assemblies of God in Burbank , California , during the early 1960s , operating its  and film production .  In 1973 , he and his wife , Jan , founded  , according to his website biography .  Among the  programs they hosted is "" Praise the Lord , "" known for its ornate sets and diverse programming .  The network has a substantial international following Crouch appeared on the show from Madrid , Spain , in October .  A network tribute posted Saturday afternoon said Crouch was a "" television visionary "" committed to spreading the gospel .   has 84 satellite channels and thousands of television and cable affiliates around the world , according to the website .  "" In a world filled with wars , disasters , plagues , and political turmoil  helps viewers understand major world events , "" it says .  Crouch served on the board of The Holy Land Experience , a biblical museum and experience in Orlando , Florida .  People we ' ve lost in 2013  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
5551,5552,"Share on Twitter  Chloe Lattanzi, actress and daughter of Grammy-winning singer and Hollywood actress, Olivia Newton-John, is talking openly about the body image struggles she had as a teenager—and the things she did to combat her poor self-image. Image Credit: Screenshot/ YouTube  Appearing on Wednesday's episode of “The Doctors,” Lattanzi revealed that she had implants and plastic surgery when she was younger because she suffered from body dysmorphia .  Body dysmorphia is a disorder which makes people obsess over parts of their body.  People with the disorder imagine their bodies to be severely flawed, to the point that it makes it difficult for them to function normally.  Lattanzi spoke about her particular experience with the disorder as a teenager, and the anorexia, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and depression that accompanied it:  “I went through this sort of chubby phase [as a kid]- I ate to comfort myself. I would see comments in magazines about how I was chubby. So around 16 I started to restrict food, exercise more.” Image Credit: Chris Weeks/Getty Images  Over one summer in particular, Lattanzi lost a lot of weight, but her new thinness brought with it problems, too.  She said she turned to plastic surgery and implants:  “When I was in the height of my body dysmorphia, I had a whole bunch of fillers. I’ve had that all removed from my face because I like the way I look naturally.”  Recently, Lattanzi saw some photographs of herself as a teenager and doesn't understand why she thought her appearance was so defective. Image Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images  She says she's never shown the pictures to anyone before, but that they're a valuable tool for providing context to the mental illness from which she was suffering.  Now, having recovered from body dysmorphia and anorexia, the 30-year-old says she regrets making so many changes to her appearance:  “I look back at myself and I as a teenager and I’m like, 'What a beautiful young woman.' What was I thinking? Why was I so insecure?” Image Credit: Screenshot/ YouTube  Lattanzi feels that social media's focus on appearance is a major culprit when it comes to young women struggling with negative self-image:  “I think so many young girls are going through body dysmorphia — we’re constantly told how we’re supposed to look via Instagram and filters. There’s constant pressure for us to look perfect.”  Now, Lattanzi says she's “stable and in a loving relationship,” but she's still plagued by some anxiety.  She says the memory of her illness is a wound that may never completely heal. Image Credit: David Livingston/Getty Images  Body dysmorphia affects about 1.7% to 2.4% of the general population—or one in 50 people.  It is often accompanied by eating disorders, depression, and anxiety disorders, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder.  Surprisingly, according to some studies, cases of body dysmorphia are more often found in men than women.",fake,news,test,US elections,Sports/Other,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,past
5555,5556,"An X ray shows a bullet lodged in a baby ' s head . The image would be chilling enough without knowing the child was still in its mother ' s womb when it became the target of snipers hiding in the shadows in northern Syria .  The mother survived . Her baby didn ' t . And it ' s not the only one .  Volunteer doctor David Nott , a British surgeon who ' s worked in several Syrian hospitals with the charity Syria Relief , says snipers are playing a "" targeting game , "" and heavily pregnant women are on the hit list .  "" Most of the children removed were seven , eight , nine months gestation , which meant it was fairly obvious to anybody that these women were pregnant . ""  Young children are also being targeted , Nott said .  Polio cases suspected in Syria  Nott said 90 of surgeries he performed on any given day were for sniper wounds .  On some days , the wounds were suspiciously similar .  "" After a while we noticed that there were certain trends going on , "" Nott said .  "" We had some days , say , 10 or 15 gunshot wounds of which eight or nine of them were targeted in one particular area . So for example , one day , we received say 15 , 16 gunshot wounds and of that eight to nine were targeted in the left groin only .  "" Then the following day they were targeted in the right groin only . So it seemed to me like there was some of thing going on a game going on between the snipers . ""  Knott said other local doctors he worked with told him they ' d heard snipers were receiving little presents like packets of cigarettes for people they ' d shot during the day .   Foreign Secretary Hague : No role for Bashar al Assad in future Syria  Desperate dash for supplies  They risk their lives because food and provisions are on the rebel side . But their homes and families are on the regime side . Desperate , they make a dash for supplies . Not everyone makes it through .  It is a scene reminiscent of another conflict : Bosnia . Its capital , Sarajevo , was literally under siege from snipers of the Bosnian Serb Army for more than four years .  But during that war in the early 1990s , the United Nations operated humanitarian corridors to ensure that , despite the fighting , aid still got through .  Nott also volunteered in Bosnia and described his relief back then at seeing extra supplies trucked in .  "" It was wonderful to see the lorries coming in with  written on them . And when you saw one of them , you knew that that they were filled with food , provisions and medical aid for the besieged town . ""  He says Syria desperately needs the same .  "" Now is the time to develop a humanitarian corridor to allow health and aid workers to go in , and not feel threatened on the way in and not feel threatened on the way out , "" he said .  "" I felt very scared going in and coming out and this isn ' t right . ""  In northern Syria , rebels use satire as a weapon  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
5558,5559,"More than one dozen attendees of a drapery and window coverings trade show at the local Comfort Inn and Convention Center last weekend reported seeing ghostly manifestations of dental hygienists from conventions long forgotten .  "" Wispy , milky shapes streaking past the veggie platters on the buffet tables , a faint odor of mouthwash , the sound of saliva suction machines coming from seemingly empty rooms very spooky stuff , "" said Rich Vitanza , a Chicago based salesman for Hunter Douglas Window Fashions , on Monday . "" It was enough to chill you to the bone , or at least make you floss regularly . ""  Similar reports have been commonplace at the Spokane Comfort Inn , which began hosting an annual dental hygienists convention in the 1970s . The first instances of supernatural dental hygiene related activity , including the unexplained disappearances of sugary sweets from reception desks and room service breakfasts , began in the early 1980s .  "" Once a week , like clockwork , a guest comes to the concierge desk and says that when he awoke , a new toothbrush was sitting on the edge of the bathroom sink , covered in a fresh coat of toothpaste , "" said desk manager Greg Meacham , who claimed he received phantom dental sealants on two occasions . "" Last month , the words ' Have your teeth cleaned every six months by a licensed oral health professional ' were projected onto the screen in the main ballroom during a luncheon . Thing is , the projector wasn ' t even plugged in at the time . ""  Over the years , guests have seen flickering lights in the hotel ' s stairway exposing what appeared to be X rays of bicuspids , and paper spit cups arranged in elaborate geometrical patterns in the elevators . A few even reported being awoken in the middle of the night by the icy cold touch of a gloved hand on their gums .  "" I was cleaning my face , just about to reach over for my towel , when I heard a voice complaining about the Waterpik being no substitute for brushing , "" said Charlotte ,  resident Linda Matthie , who was a guest at the Comfort Inn during the Christmas holiday . "" Out of the corner of my eye , I saw a woman in a pastel outfit , but when I turned to look at her , she was gone . ""  "" Yes , Evelyn ' s practically an old friend of ours now , "" said desk manager Meacham , referring to one of the most well known ghosts . "" The legend goes that she died of an aneurysm while attending a convention here . She ' s known to roam the halls , her yearning for proper oral hygiene forever unsated . ""  Meacham said he advises all visitors to expect chillingly banal conversations about the weather and children ' s soccer games to echo through the halls , though he reassures guests that the eerie smooth jazz music that often terrifies visitors originates from the hotel ' s public address system .  Paranormal investigator Richard Schmidt said that the hardworking , serious minded hygienists haunting the convention center are merely yearning for the camaraderie and educational opportunities they so treasured in their earthly lives .  "" Dental hygiene meant everything to them , "" Schmidt said . "" Their spirits linger here to learn about advances in tooth whitening technology for all eternity and to remember good times . ""  Recent plastics trade show attendee Jonathan Storff said that a stay at the Comfort Inn need not be a frightening experience .  "" Oh , I don ' t pay much attention to all the fuss , "" Storff said . "" My stay here was pretty uneventful , anyway , but my toothache is gone , my breath tastes minty fresh , and my smile has never been brighter . ""  ",satire,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,satire,True,no,no,neutral,past
5567,5568,"In the past five weeks, you’ve seen America inaugurate a president, march for women’s rights, protest an immigration order and debate a Supreme Court nominee. Even if you’ve only occasionally peeked at the news, the shock of so many updates may have left you reeling. This is the moment for a   vacation, especially one where the focus isn’t on screens. But it sounds easier than it is. “Being so technologically connected all the time, as many of us are, is overwhelming, and a break is a way to show yourself some love,” said Miriam Geiser, a travel consultant with  Travels Worldwide in Chicago who has planned   getaways for clients and has taken several herself. “A   vacation is about slowing down and nurturing yourself so you feel truly mentally and physically rested at the end,” she said. Here is advice on how to take such a trip. D. I. Y. a Digital Detox  You don’t have to camp on a remote island to shed your devices. Leave your laptop and iPad at home, and lock your cellphone in your hotel room safe, using it only for emergencies. Sometimes, just the idea of cutting the cord can lead to anxiety, and the first few hours of such a trip can feel stressful, but Ms. Geiser said that many of her clients who have taken digital detox trips report feeling liberated and peaceful by the second day of their vacation. Suggested destinations: Post Ranch Inn in Big Sur, Calif. and any national park within driving distance. Painting Away the Pressure You don’t have to be Picasso, but a vacation incorporating art can inspire creativity in your everyday life, according to Susan Sparks, a travel adviser at Points of Interest Travel in Aspen, Colo. “Art is a way to express yourself and go beyond your usual spectrum, and that can be very reviving,” she said. Many resorts and spas around the world offer art classes, ranging from a few hours to several days, in painting, sculpture and collage. Suggested destinations: Vik Retreats in Uruguay Ojai Valley Inn  Spa in Ojai, Calif. and Sundance Mountain Resort in Sundance, Utah. Immerse Yourself in Nature There’s nothing more relaxing, according to Ms. Geiser, than being surrounded by nature. Hearing the sound of crashing waves or chirping birds and insects, taking in a beautiful vista on a pristine lake, smelling the flowers of a tropical garden or feeling the warmth of the sunshine on your skin stimulate the senses in a positive way and take you away from the hubbub of your daily life. Spend your days on a   trip, going on hikes, bike rides and walks, or consider kayaking, fishing, horseback riding or snowshoeing. Suggested destinations: Lake Kora in the Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York the Resort at Paws Up in Greenough, Mont. Jade Mountain Resort in St. Lucia Minaret Station on South Island in New Zealand. Savoring Rather Than   Food  —   cooking and eating it  —   can actually be a destressor, Ms. Sparks said. “Cooking, even if you only do it for a few hours, shuts off your brain, and at the end, you have a meal that you put your heart and soul into,” she said. Weeklong cooking holidays abound around the world. Suggested destinations: Mamma Agata, a cooking school on the Amalfi Coast of Italy and Ballymaloe Cookery School in County Cork, Ireland. Many hotels also offer   and   cooking classes. The Wellness Retreat Route The singular focus of these means that they do often work. Some retreats are meant to be a lifestyle overhaul with medical professionals who complete a comprehensive diagnostic analysis and provide a customized road map to improve your health. Other programs are more focused on detoxes or cleanses, and others still are spiritual in nature, offering daily yoga or meditation. No matter the approach, you’ll return refreshed. Suggested destinations: The Ranch at Live Oak in Malibu, Calif. Golden Door in Escondido, Calif. Como Shambala in Bali Chablé Resort  Spa in the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico.",true,news,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
5570,5571,"John Minchillo ?  Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump , left , and Fox News Channel host and moderator Megyn Kelly during the first Republican presidential debate at the Quicken Loans Arena , in Cleveland , August 5 , 2015 .  The long discredited meme was posted by a fan  Donald Trump reposted a fake picture Thursday of  News anchor Megyn Kelly during a morning Twitter rant against the network .  The post shows an altered image of Kelly posing with billionaire Saudi Prince Al Waleed bin Talal and a woman in traditional Islamic garb that is supposedly his sister . The caption on the photo claims the Saudi billionaire is a co owner of  News and ends with the command to   !  ? Donald J . Trump ( realDonaldTrump ) January 28 , 2016  Googling the image brings up several reports that the picture and the caption are false . Fact checking website Politifact notes that though Al Waleed and  News founder Rupert Murdoch have a healthy business relationship , the Saudi only owns 7 of the company . And Snopes debunked the actual photo in August , proving that it was an altered version of a press photo of Kelly ? alone .  This isn t the first time Trump has reposted incendiary material on Twitter . In fact , earlier Thursday he retweeted a user calling Kelly a bimbo .  The Republican frontrunner told  last year that he should not be held responsible for the content of his retweets . There s a big difference between a tweet and a retweet , Trump said . It s for other people . Let them find out if it s correct or not .  Framing the post is the on going feud between Trump and  News . Things came to a head when Trump announced Tuesday that he would be skipping Thursday s Republican debate hosted by  . Trump first took issue with the host after the first Republican debate , when she quizzed him about his attitude towards women .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
5574,5575,"But cries for federal authorities to take a closer look at the potential hazards have been mushrooming after many athletes who played extensively on synthetic fields were diagnosed with cancer . The controversy picked up steam after Environmental Protection Agency head Gina McCarthy refused to answer a reporter s question as to whether the synthetic turf was safe for children .  No study links crumb rubber to cancer , but a study by Yale University found crumb rubber pieces contain 96 different chemicals , and 20 percent of the toxic chemicals present were carcinogens . And that is spreading fear through parents who say the tiny rubber crumbs get everywhere in player s uniforms , hair and cleats . And every time a player slams onto the turf , a black cloud of tire pellets shoot into the air and the granules get into their cuts and scrapes , and into their mouths .  The Synthetic Turf Council argues on its website there is no evidence to support claims that synthetic turf is unsafe . But an in depth study free from special interests is needed to ensure athletes and children are not playing now to pay later . When the head of  refuses to go on record and validate a product s safety to the American people , that should make everyone sit up and take notice . We certainly did and so should the federal government .  We re now in the last year of Barack Obama s presidency . For many in the country , that s something to celebrate . His legacy is already hotly debated , and the November election will have an impact on how much of that legacy is carried forward .  But Obama supporters and Obama detractors should all support the continuation of one small , oft overlooked innovation that the current president brought to life : the United States Digital Service .  This service sprang out of what is arguably one of Obama s biggest failures : the bungled launch of the healthcare . gov website . The site was meant to be a portal for Americans to sign up for health insurance through the exchanges but it was riddled with problems , and Obama ended up calling in a rescue team to fix the site .  The rescue team included many of the best and brightest from the United States technology sector , who put their lives on hold and dedicated thousands of hours to working with officials and contractors to get the health insurance site back on track .  When that task was completed , several members of the team realized they d done something positive for their country . They connected others in technology who were willing to take time out to make government and , by extension , people s lives better . They d also lowered costs the healthcare . gov effort helped replace a 200 million login system that cost 70 million per year to operate with one that cost 4 million to build and less than 4 million per year to operate .  The team wondered if they could do the same by applying their technology skills to other areas of government . The White House was listening , and in mid 2014 , the service was started .  What has happened since ? The  has recruited bright people to apply the lessons of the technology sector throughout government . A sub unit was started , called 18F , that works as a consultancy within the government . It partners with other agencies on specific tasks like improving the customer service portal for the Veterans Administration , reforming the Freedom of Information Act process , and creating a College Scorecard that makes data on college costs and outcomes easily accessible . In the process , they overhaul the partner agency s approach and upgrade their skills . They also leave behind a change in philosophy .  What have they found ? That many of the bureaucrats that are called out by politicians and critics actually want to do better , but are simply trapped by the inertia of the government and limited by the existing technology . They ve found that many of the tech world s best and brightest are highly motivated by the opportunity to help out , and to help the people in need who are served by the government . They ve also found that there is incredible potential to improve the efficiency and quality of government services and they re doing it .  There are several examples in Vermont where state government has attempted a similar effort to improve its own processes . None have focused so exclusively on technology , or leveraged outside resources , to make the effort a forward looking part of the state s  . There were Tiger Teams under Gov . Jim Douglas , and more recently , several groups in the Agency of Natural Resources went through a process called  Six Sigma , which is a set of processes used by industries to examine and improve existing processes and habits .  But there s more that could be done , and it could have a very real and immediate impact on the lives of Vermonters and on the state budget .  As Mikey Dickerson , a founding member of the agency and part of the healthcare . gov team , said , a key element is to make it possible for people who had been part of the problem in the past to change . You have to give them permission to come along and get on the bandwagon . If they get convinced there won t be any place for them in the new world , then ( they will ) dig in and resist what you re doing . You have to be willing to make friends with people you might not have otherwise thought .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
5595,5596,This is the Baltimore State s Attorney Marilyn Mosby s husband   At the 2:37 mark he says he told the police to  back off . His wife is prosecuting the cops in the Freddie Gray case. The accused cops have asked the judge for a change of venue great idea! ,fake,dataset,test,Other sport,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,present
5610,5611,"Reuters) - Former U.S. Republican presidential nominee will endorse Marco Rubio in the race for the party’s presidential nomination, Huffington Post reported on Sunday.  The endorsement came on the heels of Rubio’s second-place finish in Saturday night’s primary in South Carolina, where he edged out rival Ted Cruz for the No. 2 slot, the website reported, citing unidentified Republican sources. Romney will join a list of so-called establishment endorsements to back the first-term U.S. senator from Florida, including South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, who endorsed Rubio days before the state’s primary.  (Reporting by Alana Wise; Editing by Doina Chiacu) This article was funded in part by SAP. It was independently created by the Reuters editorial staff.  had no editorial involvement in its creation or production.",true,dataset,test,US elections,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
5627,5628,"The wife of imprisoned U . S . State Department contractor Alan Gross traveled to Cuba Tuesday as part of her ongoing effort to free her husband .  Last week , Gross ' mother died after a long fight with cancer , Gross ' attorney , Scott Gilbert , said .  The Cuban government refused Gross ' request to travel to the United States to say goodbye to Evelyn Gross before she died . Gross had promised that after seeing his mother he would return to his prison cell at a military hospital in Havana .  "" We would like to convey our heartfelt condolences to his relatives , "" Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs official Josefina Vidal said in a statement . "" It is necessary to clarify that neither the Cuban penitentiary system nor the U . S . penitentiary system provide the possibility for inmates to travel abroad , no matter the reason . ""  Gross , 65 , is serving a 15 year sentence for bringing satellite communications equipment to Cuba as part of his work as a subcontractor for the U . S . Agency for International Development . He was convicted in March 2011 .  U . S . officials said Gross was merely trying to help Cubans bypass the island ' s stringent restrictions on Internet access and have said his imprisonment is one of the major obstacles to improved relations with Cuba .  In April , Gross embarked on a hunger strike to protest his continued imprisonment . He later said he was suspending his hunger strike after his mother pleaded with him to begin eating again .  Since his arrest , Gross has suffered a slew of health problems , his attorney said , and lost more than 100 pounds .  Cuban officials have said they want to negotiate Gross ' case with representatives of the United States in conjunction with the fates of three Cuban intelligence operatives serving lengthy sentences in U . S . prisons .  But U . S . officials have called that effort blackmail and said the cases are separate matters because Gross was not working as a spy in Cuba .  The diplomatic impasse is taking its toll on Gross , Gilbert said .  "" The White House has yet to engage on this issue we need the president to make this a priority . Without that , Alan will die in Cuba , "" Gilbert said .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
5633,5634,"—   From a young age, Brent Thompson pushed the bounds of life so hard that he almost always found a way to get hurt. There was that time as a youngster when he nearly broke his neck playing in a hammock. Or when he wrecked his brother’s Mustang after begging him for the keys. Or the time he broke his arm during motorcycle training for the Police Department. It was his fearlessness and desire to serve his country that led Mr. Thompson to join the Marines and, after returning from deployments in Afghanistan and Iraq, to become a police officer, his longtime pastor, Rick Lamb, said Wednesday. So it came as no surprise to people close to Mr. Thompson, 43, that when gunfire started ringing out during a protest here last Thursday, he was one of the officers running toward the shooting. This time, however, Mr. Thompson suffered the ultimate injury. He and four other officers were killed when a black Army veteran upset over killings by the police across the country opened fire, targeting white officers, the authorities said. The grim process of moving forward from one of America’s deadliest mass shootings of police officers began on Wednesday when Mr. Thompson, who worked for the Dallas Area Rapid Transit Police, and Sr. Cpl. Lorne Ahrens of the Dallas Police Department were given their final   during funerals that were by turns emotional and quippy. A private service was held Wednesday for another Dallas officer, Sgt. Michael J. Smith, and a public memorial is planned on Thursday. Services for the fourth victim, Officer Michael Krol, will be Friday, and the funeral for the fifth victim, Officer Patrick Zamarripa, will be Saturday. Even as mourners, including hundreds of officers who came here from across the country, took tentative steps forward, they acknowledged the cathartic backdrop against which Wednesday’s services took place: in a country rived by a debate over race and policing, upended by vast protests and nationwide soul searching. “Though I’m heartbroken and hurt, I’m going to put on my badge and my uniform and return to the street along with all of my brothers and sisters in blue,” Mr. Thompson’s wife, Emily, who is also a police officer, said with a shaky but steely voice. “To the coward that tried to break me and my brothers and sisters, know your hate made us stronger. ” The couple had married about two weeks before the shooting. Only about 12 hours before Mr. Thompson was shot, his wife had filed their marriage license with government authorities, Mr. Lamb said. About 8:15 that night, the couple spoke on the phone. “My shift’s over in 45 minutes, and then I’ll be home,” Mr. Thompson told his wife, according to Mr. Lamb. “He told her he loved her, and that’s the last time that he ever spoke to her. ” Mr. Thompson leaves behind six children from a previous marriage. He was a music enthusiast who occasionally played guitar and would send his children songs with his cellphone to see if they could recognize the tune. The funeral reflected the nuances of the conversation on race and policing that has enveloped the country. The service was held in the Potter’s House, the West Dallas megachurch where T. D. Jakes is the pastor. A noticeably diverse cast of officers filled the seats. Among them was Emily Thompson’s patrol partner, a black man, who stood next to her as she read her words of remembrance about her husband. As Brenda Lee, who is black and works for the Transit Police, sang “I Can Only Imagine,” her voice resonated with a gospel flair. Several people stood, some raising their arms in worship, when she hit the long notes. And among the final speakers was the chief of the Transit Police, James D. Spiller, who is black. It was a diverse showing in remembrance of a white man from a small town 55 miles south of Dallas. “Brent respected and loved all people, regardless of what color they were, where they came from,” Mr. Lamb said. But the reality was that Wednesday’s services were taking place beneath a cloud of national racial tension, and about 30 miles away from Mr. Thompson’s funeral, F. B. I. agents in camouflage and tactical gear were providing security outside Mr. Ahrens’s service in Plano. Friends and colleagues of Mr. Ahrens, 48, recalled his seemingly quixotic journey from his native Los Angeles to Dallas. He drove here with nothing but his dog and a few possessions stuffed into his Toyota. He slept on the floor of his apartment early in his police training because he had no bed. When a woman named Katrina first approached him, he was too shy to speak. She later became his wife, and they went on to have two children. “Your dad was doing what he was supposed to do,” the Rev. Rick Owen, senior pastor of Mr. Ahrens’s church, Pathway Church in Burleson, Tex. told the fallen officer’s    daughter and    son during the service. The Dallas mayor and police chief sat in attendance as Mr. Ahrens was remembered as a lover of guns and heavy metal music who did not know his own strength. He once bent a police car door on accident during training. “When you were on the radio screaming for help, you could count on Lorne to be the first to be there,” Sr. Cpl. Debbie Taylor said. The funerals drew officers from places as   as South Carolina and Indiana. “At times like this, we feel like we stand alone,” said Rick Keys, a lieutenant with the North Charleston, S. C. Police Department, who drove 15 hours with three of his colleagues to attend Mr. Thompson’s funeral. “It means a lot to the families to see the officers come from so far. ” Robert Parker, the assistant chief of police in Watauga, a city about 30 miles west of Dallas, said he hoped that this could be an opportunity for police departments and the communities they serve to come together. “We have a long way to go before we get where we need to be,” he said after Mr. Thompson’s funeral. “One of the things that I’ve talked to my wife about, and many others, is everybody on all sides of this, whether it’s Black Lives Matter, Blue Lives Matter, All Lives Matter, everyone needs to sit back and gain all the truth and the facts of each case before they pass judgment. If we do that and then we have an open dialogue and sit down and look at each other’s points of view, maybe we can go through this without further violence. ” After Mr. Thompson’s funeral, hundreds of officers lined up outside, saluting his coffin as an honor guard fired off a gun salute. The department then did what is known as a last call. A radio dispatcher, over a loudspeaker, called for Mr. Thompson, by his name and badge number, three times. When he did not answer, she said a final goodbye. “We will miss you, Brent,” she said. “You will never be forgotten. ”",true,news,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
5649,5650,"In a significant discovery that sheds new light on the region ' s history , archaeologists excavating a site on Capitol Hill reportedly unearthed evidence this week suggesting that humans once passed laws there .  The team of researchers from the University of Maryland confirmed that it collected a wealth of writing implements and ancient documents , which appeared to indicate that , in earlier ages , approximately 500 humans assembled at a centralized location and worked as a group , with the apparent goal of creating a system of rules designed to govern behavior .  "" Our finding that early inhabitants used to work toward the common objective of improving society through formal , cooperative efforts completely changes what we knew about the Washington D . C . region , "" said lead archaeologist Peter Douglas , who expressed admiration for the sophisticated , self sufficient civilization that once flourished along the banks of the Potomac River . "" In fact , based on the sheer number of artifacts that we ' ve unearthed , it appears this practice of law crafting may have been their primary livelihood . ""  "" Apparently , these individuals engaged in this unusual behavior every day for years and years it was just a normal , routine part of their lives , "" added Douglas . "" It ' s remarkable to think that , for generations , thousands of laws were passed right where we ' re standing . ""  Archaeologists reportedly recovered more than 2 , 000 artifacts from the scene , including reams of yellowed parchment that bear such enigmatic phrases as "" annual budget , "" "" joint resolution , "" and "" Civil Rights Act . ""  Harvard University ' s Vance Yeager , a paleolinguistics expert who examined the documents and attempted to reconstruct the past ways of life in Washington , told reporters that the evidence points to an extraordinary yet apparently common ritual in which early leaders who held opposing viewpoints engaged in a standardized routine of communicating , offering mutual concessions , and then moving together on an idea called an "" agreement "" that occupied some sort of middle ground between their two initial visions .  "" It ' s truly impressive when you stop and actually imagine that there once existed an entire culture devoted to doing little else aside from passing laws , "" said Yeager , adding that the early regional inhabitants evidently employed their unconventional customs in an effort to improve nearly all aspects of their civilization , from reforming their organizational structures , to upgrading their facilities , to living comfortably within their means . "" What ' s even more striking is that this peculiar activity went on uninterrupted for years without their complex system ever halting or ceasing to function . It ' s nothing short of astonishing . ""  Despite what appear to have been generations of prolific law creation in Washington D . C . , researchers said that the complete lack of any relics from more recent years confirmed that the practice seems to have died out suddenly and without any explanation .  "" Our team has carefully cataloged and studied all of the artifacts that were excavated , but we are still unable to explain why the social structure fell out of favor and disappeared from the area , "" archaeologist Jennifer Bloch said . "" Perhaps the tragic decline of this once common human activity was the result of a major conflict , a radical generational shift , general malaise , or a conquering band that invaded the region and displaced the practitioners of this curious and remarkable lawmaking culture . ""  "" All we can say for certain is that this ancient practice appears to have been lost to the ages , "" Bloch added .  ",satire,text,test,US elections,Conflict,true,satire,True,no,no,positive,past
5665,5666,"Mental health professionals will now be allowed to openly diagnose Donald Trump.For the first time since 1973, a rule that prevents mental health professionals from publicly giving their expert opinion on the mental health of a public figure will no longer be enforced by the American Psychoanalytical Association.The rule was put in place after Barry Goldwater sued Fact Magazine for publishing a poll in which a majority of psychiatrists declared him mentally unfit to be president. Goldwater would go on to lose the presidential election of 1964.But ever since Trump declared his candidacy and began saying and doing insane things in public, many psychiatrists have openly defied the rule in order to inform Americans on his mental state.Fox News pundit Charles Krauthammer, who is also a board-certified psychiatrist, wrote a brutal diagnose of Trump s mental health last August. Trump s hypersensitivity and unedited, untempered Pavlovian responses are, shall we say, unusual in both ferocity and predictability. This is beyond narcissism. I used to think Trump was an 11-year-old, an undeveloped schoolyard bully. I was off by about 10 years. His needs are more primitive, an infantile hunger for approval and praise, a craving that can never be satisfied. He lives in a cocoon of solipsism where the world outside himself has value   indeed exists   only insofar as it sustains and inflates him. In addition, Dr. Drew Pinsky also expressed concerns about Trump s mental health. The question, though, is, are some of the reckless qualities that everyone is getting so disturbed about on the campaign going to be translated into office should he get elected? That s a pretty hard thing to predict. I don t know if this is just somebody playing politics, or is this somebody who really can t contain their impulses? When I hear people that are impulsive with their speech, I worry about hypomania and bipolar types of conditions. At the time, psychiatrists were warned to avoid diagnosing Trump without personally examining him first. But that has all changed.Six months into Trump s presidency, the American Psychoanalytical Association has given permission to their 3,500 members to do just that.And you can bet Trump s head is going to explode.Former  president Dr. Prudence Gourguechon explained the decision to  News. We don t want to prohibit our members from using their knowledge responsibly since Trump s behavior is so different from anything we ve seen before,  Dr. Gouguechon said.Indeed, Americans need this knowledge now more than ever before as Trump continues to lash out at anyone who criticizes him and is even starting to throw members of his own administration under the bus. His emotions and behavior are so unpredictable that it is understandable that people would worry, especially considering that Trump has access to nuclear weapons.It s time for Americans and Congress to demand Trump undergo a mental health exam by a board-certified psychiatrist. Furthermore, it s time to invoke the 25th Amendment and declare Trump unfit to serve. This insanity has gone on long enough. America cannot continue to be led by an unstable narcissist. It s time to make America sane again.Featured image via Ralph Freso/Getty Images",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
5689,5690,"Reuters) - The White House on Tuesday said it not currently considering a value-added tax and a carbon tax as part of a planned tax code overhaul as it searches for ways to fund a major tax cut. The Washington Post had reported the White House was considering the  and carbon tax reforms Tuesday, citing an unidentified administration official and a person briefed on the matter. “The president’s team is hearing input from experts on all sides of the tax reform debate as we formulate what will ultimately be the president’s plan to enact the first significant tax reform since 1986. As of now, neither a carbon tax nor a  are under consideration,” said White House spokeswoman Lindsay Walters. The administration is looking for funding for ways to pay for President Donald Trump’s promised cuts in middle class and corporate taxes. This is the second time the administration has played down the chances of a carbon tax. On Feb. 8, officials met with a group of Republicans who called for a $40 per ton tax on carbon emissions to fend off global climate change. Many Republicans have opposed a carbon tax arguing it would cut jobs and hike energy costs. The Washington Post said the new options reflect the challenges presented by a possible border adjustment tax that Republicans have been considering. A House panel has been working on a plan since mid-2016 that would cut the corporate tax rate to 20 percent from 35 percent, end taxing foreign profits for U.S.-based multinationals and cut other tax rates for businesses and investors. The plan has divided businesses, prompting import-dependent industries to warn of higher prices for consumer goods from clothing and electronics to gasoline. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
5716,5717,"Judges have approved British supermodel Naomi Campbell ' s request to postpone her testimony at the "" blood diamonds "" war crimes trial for a former Liberian president , court officials said Monday .  Campbell was scheduled to appear July 29 at the trial in The Hague , Netherlands , but will now appear on August 5 instead .  Campbell did not want to be involved in the trial but was subpoenaed on July 1 to appear at the tribunal for Charles Taylor , who faces war crimes charges over a brutal conflict in Sierra Leone that was fueled by rough diamonds , also known as blood diamonds or conflict diamonds .  Witnesses have said Taylor gave Campbell a diamond .  Prosecutors had rested their case against Taylor in February 2009 . They asked to reopen it specifically to call Campbell , as well as actress Mia Farrow and a witness named Carole Taylor , court papers show .  Prosecutors said they learned in June 2009 that Taylor had given the supermodel a diamond in South Africa in 1997 . Farrow confirmed it , they said .  When arguing to reopen the case , prosecutors said Campbell ' s testimony would prove that the former president "" used rough diamonds for personal enrichment and arms purchases , "" according to papers filed with the U . N . backed court .  Taylor , 62 , was president of Liberia from 1997 to 2003 . The war crimes charges against him stem from the widespread murder , rape and mutilation that occurred during the bloody civil war in Sierra Leone . It was fought largely by teenagers who were forced to kill , given addictive drugs to provoke violent behavior , and often instructed to rape and plunder .  Taylor is charged with five counts of crimes against humanity , including murder , sexual slavery and violence , and enslavement . He also faces five counts of war crimes , including acts of terrorism and torture , and one count of other serious violations of international humanitarian law .  He has pleaded not guilty to the charges .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
5726,5727,"Union workers for San Francisco ' s transit system ended their four day strike and returned to work Friday , even though contract negotiations aren ' t over .  Bay Area Rapid Transit spokesman Rick Rice said things were running smoothly since service resumed at 3 p . m . ( 6 p . m .  ) .  "" We pretty much have a normal number of cars on the track at this point , "" he said .  After negotiations between  and the unions ended late Thursday , workers returned at 12 : 01 a . m . Friday and worked through the night and morning to have trains running by 3 p . m . , he said .  "" People are glad to be going back to work , and I know the riders are thrilled to be able to have the trains running , "" said Josie Mooney , a spokeswoman for Local 1021 of the Service Employees International Union , one of the two largest union representing the striking workers .  The two sides had three days of negotiations over new contracts , wrangling over the issues of pay and benefits , before deciding Thursday night to allow another 30 days to reach a deal and resume  service in the meantime .  The talks will pick up again next week .  About 400 , 000 people use the service daily . With no trains running ,  ran limited charter bus service to accommodate commuters .   riders said Friday they were relieved the service was back on line .  Commuter Eric Westland told the station he got chills when he learned the trains would be running again .  "" The newspaper this morning said it was still on strike , and when I saw the thing in the bus booth that said trains ( would be ) running at 3 , I got goosebumps , "" he said .  Unions asked for a 21 pay increase .  initially offered to increase salaries by 4 over four years , but later proposed an 8 increase that was on top of a 1 increase scheduled to go into effect at the start of the week .  Mooney said part of the problem was that contract negotiations began much later than normal . That didn ' t allow the two sides a lot of time to reach a deal before the union contract expired June 30 .  The extension agreed to Thursday expires at midnight on August 4 , she said .  "" We hope that we will be able to use the next 30 days to come to a fair and equitable contract for the workers , "" Mooney said . "" Yesterday was spent primarily on extending the ( union ) contract in order that we have more time to deal with what are extremely complicated issues . ""   is the nation ' s fifth largest train system in the United States , with 44 stations in 26 cities that make up the Bay Area , according to the transit authority .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
5741,5742,"Lawrence O Donnell had a really bad night on August 29, 2017. We draw that conclusion based on the clip below showing behind the scenes footage of a furious O Donnell absolutely going bananas in what appear to be breaks in his show.The video, which lasts a full eight minutes, is a collection of clips from one evening given O Donnell s consistent outfit and show the  anchor fuming about earpiece malfunctions, blasting off obscenities and screaming at his staff. We were able to link it back to the August 29 show.After introducing a clip about President Donald Trump, O Donnell pauses, and during what one can presume was the clip going on air, a sudden flush of anger creeps onto his face. What s going on, why am I losing this, why don t I have sound,  he starts, voice rising.  Who s asking for a Labor Day rundown in my ear? God dammit,  he mutters, shaking his head, before bursting into a brief spasm of fury and slamming his fists on the desk.In the next clip, O Donnell finishes up a segment, and declares:  There s insanity in the control room tonight.  He then begins to visibly shake with anger, but manages to hold his tongue, and continues reading from the prompter. You have insanity in my earpiece,  O Donnell then seethes through tightly drawn lips.  Fuckin. The pattern continues in subsequent clips, with O Donnell continuing to complain angrily about someone talking into his earpiece.And then.   HAMMERING!  O Donnell cries suddenly, in response to a knocking sound running faintly in the background.He then stands up and launches into a shouted tirade past the camera.     THERE.  S  A HAMMER?   IT?  S  HAMMER?      FLOOR.        HAMMERING.   HAMMERING. I           IT,      GOING.    GRIFFIN, I  T        CALL.   HAMMERING.              ON. Phil Griffin is the president of MSNBC. Fucking out of control shit,  O Donnell adds.In the next and final wild piece, O Donnell complains about the editing of a clip, wringing a piece of paper into a tight roll and throwing it to the ground. Jesus Christ,  he then says as he adds a pen to the things he chooses to slam on his desk.  Crazy fucking sound coming in my ear, this fucking stupid hammering. It just fucking sucks,  O Donnell laments, staring down at his desk.  It fucking sucks to be out here with this out of control shit. If the  anchor needs a sympathetic ear, his best bet may be an unlikely friend: former anchor titan Bill O Reilly, who boasts the most infamous on-camera meltdown in cable news history.",fake,dataset,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
5742,5743,"Rand Paul drops out of White House race  Sen . Rand Paul responds to a question ? in Des Moines .  Last Updated Feb 3 , 2016 10 : 51    Kentucky Sen . Rand Paul is dropping out of the 2016 presidential race , according to a campaign statement released early Wednesday .   presidential candidate Sen . Rand Paul believes Ted Cruz s presidential eligibility must be decided in the Supreme Court . The Senator says the . . .  "" It ' s been an incredible honor to run a principled campaign for the White House . Today , I will end where I began , ready and willing to fight for the cause of Liberty , "" Paul said in a statement . "" Although , today I will suspend my campaign for President , the fight is far from over . I will continue to carry the torch for Liberty in the United States Senate and I look forward to earning the privilege to represent the people of Kentucky for another term . ""  Paul is the latest candidate to announce his withdrawal from the race after results from Iowa ' s caucuses filtered in Monday . On the Republican side , former Arkansas Gov . Mike Huckabee dropped out Monday night , just two hours after the caucuses began . And on the Democratic side , former Maryland Gov . Martin O ' Malley suspended his campaign as well .  On Monday , Paul finished in fifth place in the Iowa caucuses with just 5 percent of the vote , earning him just one delegate from the state . He trailed Texas Sen . Ted Cruz , Donald Trump , Florida Sen . Marco Rubio , and former neurosurgeon Ben Carson .  In New Hampshire the nation ' s first primary and the next nominating contest in the Republican race to the White House Paul was polling at just three percent , according to  News ' battleground tracker survey released last month .  The Kentucky Republican based his 2016 campaign on libertarian ideals , with criminal justice reform and protections against government surveillance serving as corner stones of his presidential platform .  His father Ron Paul , a former Texas congressman and another staunch libertarian , is credited with helping to spread the tea party movement . The elder Paul also ran as a Republican presidential candidate in 2012 , finishing third in the Iowa caucuses before dropping out of the race in May of that year .  The Kentucky senator "" will not be endorsing anyone at this time , "" a Paul spokesperson told  News .  Rand Paul intends to continue with his U . S . Senate campaign in Kentucky .   News ' Sopan Deb contributed to this report .  ? 2016  Interactive Inc . All Rights Reserved .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
5753,5754,"After watching Bill Belichick ' s performance as Captain Renault in Casablanca , a man who is shocked by gambling in a casino , Tom Brady came to his press conference in full Humphrey Bogart mode .  Like Rick , Tom may tell the Gestapo media , "" I stick my neck out for no one . "" Brady may have hangers on who will deflate footballs , but Tom never mingles with the customers .  After all , Gillette Stadium is Tom ' s Place , and Brady knows a bit more about the usual suspects .  If Brady has the hidden letters of transit about the lost air in the footballs , he has asked Julian to play it again at the Super Bowl .  When Giselle walked into Gillette , Tom delivered his famous line : "" Of all the football joints in all the world , she has to walk into mine . "" No one has accused Giselle of deflating those balls .  Tom repeats his favorite phrase , "" Play it , Julian . Play it . "" And then laughs it off , "" Here ' s looking at you , fans . ""  At his press conference we fully expected Brady to note , "" I ' m no good at being noble , fans . It doesn ' t take much to see that the problems of deflated footballs don ' t amount to a hill of beans in this crazy game of football . Someday the fans will understand that . ""  If you watch the Super Bowl , we know already what the end of the game will be like when Bill Belichick and Tom Brady walk off the field together . Like Rick and Captain Renault , they will muse about where to go next . When Belichick notes that wherever he goes to coach , he wants Tom with him , there will be a spark big enough to inflate a dozen footballs . Then , they will realize , "" This is the beginning of a beautiful friendship . ""  Exeunt Bill and Tom into the media fog .  ",satire,text,test,American football,US elections,true,satire,True,no,no,positive,past
5759,5760,"Mexico City A clandestine mass grave found near Mexico City may hold the answer to what befell 12 youths who were kidnapped from a bar in the capital back in May .  Federal investigators swarmed a ranch east of Mexico City on Thursday , where they confirmed that at least seven bodies had been found , and that two arrests were made near the location .  The apparent kidnapping of the 12 youths from an after hours club called Heavens shocked residents of Mexico City , who for the most part have been spared from the violence seen in other areas .  The lawyer , Ricardo Martinez , said his source told him there were 13 bodies found at the ranch , possibly in two mass graves , one that held the remains of the males , and the other , the females .  Mexico City ' s attorney general on Thursday said there was one grave so far that was being investigated .  Martinez said that a suspect in the disappearance of the youths led authorities to the ranch .  Families of missing haunted by mystery  Mexico City Attorney General Rodolfo Rios said investigators were taking  samples to identify the remains , which could take several days .  The site where the bodies are found is the town of Tlalmanalco , in the state of Mexico , about 30 miles east of Mexico City , the state run Notimex news agency reported .  Local , state and federal police were all at the scene .  A gang was involved in the mass disappearance , officials have said .  The May 26 incident at the after hours bar jolted the capital city , given it took place in daylight on a Sunday morning .  Video footage shows a gang of about 17 people arriving in eight vehicles at the fashionable Zona Rosa district , according to authorities .  The owner of the bar , a co owner and two bar employees have been arrested in the case .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Conflict,satire,true,True,no,no,negative,past
5778,5779,"The three 19 year olds are accused of posting messages on the Yik Yak app threatening to shoot up colleges .  Students stage protests at the University of Missouri this week  Three 19 year old men have been charged with threatening to shoot people at college campuses in Missouri during race protests .  Hunter M Parker , of Lake St Louis , who is alleged to have made threats against students at the University of Missouri , was denied bond on Thursday .  Court documents said he had expressed a "" deep interest "" in a recent shooting massacre at an Oregon school .  Tyler Bradenberg , of St Louis , and Connor Stottlemyre a student at Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville were both charged on Thursday .  Hunter M Park ( L ) and Connor Stottlemyre have been charged  The threats were all made on social media , including the messaging app Yik Yak , in the last three days , according to police .  Park appeared in Boone County Circuit Court on Thursday , days after two of the University of Missouri ' s senior admininstrators resigned following protests over the handling of racial incidents on the main Columbia campus .  Police said threats allegedly made by Park had circulated on social media , with one post tagged "" Columbia "" on Tuesday which read : "" I ' m going to stand my ground tomorrow and shoot every black person I see . ""  Stottlemyre was charged on Thursday ? with making terrorist threats .  According to a criminal complaint , he allegedly posted a threat on Yik Yak on Wednesday which read : "" I ' m gonna shoot any black ppl tomorrow so be ready . ""  A second message read : "" I love evil , I can ' t wait for Northwest to make the news tomorrow . ""  No bond has been set for Stottlemyre , who is set to appear in court next week .  Bradenberg , a former Missouri S T student , was also charged with making a terrorist threat after allegedly posting on Yik Yak on Wednesday : "" I ' m gonna shoot up this school . ""  A statement from S T said the message was posted from St Louis , but technology had been used to make it appear as if it was coming from the college .  The protests have raised tensions on  university campuses , triggering marches and walkouts on Thursday .  Protests have taken place at Yale University , Ithaca College in New York , Smith College in Massachusetts and Claremont ? McKenna College in California .  Messages were also posted online on Thursday threatening to murder students at the historically black college Howard University , in Washington .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,negative,past
5808,5809,"On Friday afternoon of last week , a joint statement from the Federal Trade Commission (  ) that oversees consumer protection , and the Federal Communications Commission (  ) , the official regulatory body for radio , television , cable and the internet , was released with a final ruling as to what officially constitutes a "" celebrity in the American cultural landscape .  After three open hearings and four months of ( sometimes caustic ) public feedback ,  and  officials came to a unanimous decision on how the government will allow broadcasters to interpret , promote and utilize the term "" celebrity in "" any activity expressly intended to be presented to the American public with cultural , artistic or financial considerations primary to their intended use . ""  Studies conducted by an independent monitoring group ( specializing in television advertising ) concluded its report in early 2013 . Using the results of these studies , commissioners opened the discussion with the public with a variety of local hearings throughout the country . Reaction was almost universally critical of the marketing arms of content providers for misleading the public into viewing programming "" deemed less than accurate "" when considering the credentials of its "" all star or "" celebrity casting .  Examples of public commentary offered criticisms such as these :  "" I was watching Celebrity Wife Swap ' a few weeks back , and they mentioned one of the celebrities was man named Coolio . My husband asked who that was , and I couldn ' t tell him . I couldn ' t think of a single thing he had done that made him a celebrity . We ' re pretty up to date with what ' s going on , but when I found out that Coolio did a whole series of shows in which he was simply a celebrity , "" ' I felt like I was being lied to . ""  "" The gossip show  ' likes to show stuff about celebrities getting fat or having plastic surgery so they don ' t look old . I know who Melanie Griffith is . I ' m down with Michael Douglas . When they reported that Linda Hogan was stepping out on the town , "" ' I had no friggin ' idea who she was . None ! Never heard about her , never seen her before . ""  "" I enjoy old time  star autograph shows . I went to one in Louisville recently and I was shocked at who they were trying to pass off as a celebrity ' there . And you had to pay 25 to get in the room . Sure , I was glad to see Mickey Dolenz from The Monkees , and Maureen McCormack from The Brady Bunch . "" ' And I love me some Marla Gibbs from The Jeffersons . "" ' But who are the Gannish Twins ' or The Amazing Mini Marlowe Family ' or Pikey Sherm ' ?  After reading literally thousands of complaints , commissioners came up with these basic rules for defining a "" celebrity :  Commissioners went so far as to identify twenty eight specific "" celebrities and "" non celebrities ( with explanations ) to clarify their definition . Six examples from that 28 :  Jane Goodall : Officially designated ""  Messenger of Peace  . Common ( n e Lonnie Rashid Lynn ) : Oscar winning composer  . Maya Lin : Designer of Vietnam War Memorial   Todd Palin : Husband of former governor   . Tila Tequila : Self defines as "" television personality   . Coolio : Who knows ? ? ?    Offending practitioners should be reported to the  or  effective June 1 , 2015 .  ",satire,text,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,true,satire,True,no,no,neutral,past
5810,5811,"weblink is a screen shot of the letter in a  tweet from  News with a copy of the entire letter (harder to view):#BREAKING: @FloridaGOP & @BlaiseIngoglia alleging ""violations"" by Broward Co. Election Office w/ ballot-by-mail counting. Letter attached: pic.twitter.com/Muu483fIfl  Heather Lacy (@Heather_Lacy1) November 2, 2016",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,present
5821,5822,"Oklahoma ' s in , but here ' s how rest of playoff field will shake out  The ending of Saturday night s Notre Dame Stanford game could not have been more dramatic . But the Cardinal s last second victory coupled with Oklahoma s rout of Oklahoma State could produce a fairly anticlimactic College Football Playoff field .  Clemson tweets Deshaun Watson ' s Heisman resume to voters  With just a handful of Championship Saturday games left to play , the race could ? not be more clean .  Current No . 3 Oklahoma , now officially an 11 1 Big 12 champion , is in . The only question left is whether the Sooners play their semifinal game in Dallas or Miami .  The winner of next week s Big Ten championship game between No . 4 Iowa ( 12 0 ) and No . 5 Michigan State ( 11 1 ) is in . There s half your field .  No . 2 Alabama ( 11 1 ) is in if it wins next week s  championship game against offensive horror show Florida ( 10 2 ) . ? Unless Derrick Henry misses the bus to Atlanta , the Tide are in .  And if No . 1 Clemson ( 12 0 ) beats No . 14 North Carolina ( 11 1 ) at the  title game in Charlotte ? there s your field .  The latter , of course , is hardly a given . So those of you who perennially root for chaos , or want an eight team playoff yesterday ? better root for the Tar Heels . Because the committee s given no indication it would lift Larry Fedora s team into the final four .  In our panel ' s eyes , these four teams are playoff material right now . Check out our full top 10 here .  All of this would have been far more controversial if not for 10 2 Stanford s 45 yard field goal with no time remaining to dash No . 6 Notre Dame s last remaining playoff hopes . Had the 11 1 Irish prevailed , we d be having a much different conversation today .  Notre Dame fans would be endlessly reminding us that Oklahoma lost to 4 7 Texas . Sooners fans would be endlessly reminding us that their team just beat three straight top 20 foes . We d go round and round up until Tuesday night s show , and then whoever the committee ranked lower ( most likely Notre Dame ) would just up its lobbying that much more .  As it is , Oklahoma is already the first team to punch its ticket . So much for the Big 12 needing a championship game .  But what happens if North Carolina wins this week ? Even more intriguing , what if the Tar Heels ? completely dismissed to this point ? come out and blow the No . 1 team off the field ?  It would not be as simple as  takes Clemson s place . Not with that loss to 3 9 South Carolina , those two  opponents on the schedule and zero Top 25 wins to date .  Suddenly No . 8 Ohio State ( 11 1 ) , who most of us penned obits for just a week ago , jumps back into the equation . Ditto No . 9 Stanford if it beats  in the Pac 12 championship game .  There s plenty to be interested in next Saturday . In the meantime , Tuesday s rankings show will be the least suspenseful to date .  Stewart Mandel is a senior college sports columnist for FOXSportsweblink . He covered college football and basketball for 15 years at Sports Illustrated . You can follow him on Twitter ? slmandel ? and ? Facebook . Send emails and Mailbag questions to ? Stewart . Mandel foxweblink .  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
5845,5846,"Reuters) - Catalonia s regional government is not planning to hold a snap election following a disputed independence referendum, the region s foreign affairs chief said.  Elections are not on the table now,  Raul Romeva told a new conference in Brussels on Wednesday. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
5852,5853,"The mother of a three year old boy who was killed when a runaway two tonne trailer mounted the pavement and crushed him to death is being targeted by online trolls who blame her for the incident .  Donna Hussey , 32 , has also been branded a ' bad mum ' by trolls on Facebook over the death of her son Freddie who was killed when a huge portable cabin came loose from a passing Land Rover .  Mrs Hussey , who had just dropped her eight year old son Archie to school , was helpless as the runaway trailer mounted the pavement and crushed young Freddie against a wall in Bedminster , Bristol .  Donna Hussey , 32 ( right ) , has been targeted on Facebook and branded a ' bad mum ' by trolls who blame her for the death of her son Freddie ( left ) who was killed when a runaway trailer crushed him against a wall  A passing lorry driver tried to resuscitate Freddie and paramedics arrived within minutes , but he died shortly afterwards at Bristol Children ' s Hospital .  Police investigators found the trailer had not been correctly attached to the Land Rover but driver Tony Davies avoided prison after admitting causing death by careless driving .  His sentence infuriated Mrs Hussey and Freddie ' s father Scott , 37 , who blasted his punishment of a six month driving ban and 200 hours of community service as a ' joke ' .  Mrs Hussey said her torment has now been worsened further by hateful Facebook trolls who have bombarded her with messages calling her a ' bad mum ' since the tragedy in January last year .  The insurance worker said : ' Something that has been difficult was the reports that Freddie was behind me ( when it happened ) and that was not true .  ' I ' ve had lots of hurtful comments and people Facebooking me , sending abusive messages that I was a bad mum .  ' I see little kids a few steps in front or behind their parents every day .  ' I have to live with what happened .  ' I loved that little boy and I love Archie so much . Those kids were my world and I just never would have put them in harm ' s way .  ' I just want people , before they start making nasty comments , to really think about how they are with their children and how they feel it is right to judge .  ' It has been very hurtful and we have already gone through hell . '  Freddie ( left ) died after being hit by a trailer which cameoff a Land Rover driven by Tony Davies ( pictured outside court last week , right ) . Davies , 38 , was spared jail after admitting causing death by careless driving  A trailer used as a workmen ' s cabin came off Davies ' Land Rover and crushed Freddie to death against a wall  This is the trailer coupling which failed , allowing the trailer cabin to detach from the Land Rover in Bristol  Bristol Crown Court heard last week how the tow hitch between the Land Rover and the trailer was not secure because the position of its handbrake prevented it from being locked down .  Prosecutor Anna Vigars said Freddie had been walking behind his mother , playing in the puddles and laughing and joking when the accident happened .  They had just dropped off his brother at Parson Street Primary School when the portable cabin detached , travelling around 10 or 12 car lengths before mounting the pavement and crushing the toddler against a wall and telegraph pole .  The trailer is used on building sites as an area for workers to relax and contained a kitchen area with a table and basic facilities , as well as a toilet .  Davies , 38 , was spared jail after admitting causing death by careless driving but Freddie ' s family slammed the ' lenient ' sentence and have started a petition to get mandatory safety checks for towing equipment .  When Judge Geoffrey Mercer  handed Davies his sentence , Mr Hussey branded him a ' f joke ' and called Davies a ' f t ' .  Mrs Hussey agreed , calling the sentence ' disgusting , no justice at all ' before shouting at Davies : ' I hope you rot in hell . You are scum . He was a beautiful little boy . '  Mr Hussey revealed how he has suffered panic attacks since the tragedy and lost his  driving job because he cannot get behind the wheel .  Freddie ' s parents Scott and Donna Hussey denounced the sentence of a six month driving ban and 200 hours of community service given to Davies as a ' f joke ' . They have set up a petition calling for tougher rules  Mrs Hussey ( pictured left with her husband Scott ) said she has received ' lots of hurtful messages ' over the death of Freddie ( right ) who was killed in by the runaway trailer in Bedminster , Bristol in January last year  He said : ' If the law can change then that would be great it is not all for nothing , but we also want to get the sentence changed .  ' We feel we have been wronged by the justice system .  ' We thought we would get justice but we are back at day one again . It is hard and it feels the past 14 months have been for nothing . '  His wife added : ' Since the sentencing we feel we are back at day one again , we don ' t want to get out of bed and carry on .  ' We feel like we lost our little boy for nothing .  ' He was giggling at me and then out of nowhere the trailer came , it all happened so fast . I couldn ' t get to him in time and these moments will live with me forever .  ' I saw things no one should ever see . I know we did nothing wrong but still go over what ifs . '  In a moving statement , she earlier described the impact on her family of Freddie ' s death , and said : ' We have all suffered with nightmares and flashbacks and we have had to put Archie to bed most nights crying as he is missing his little brother , his best friend and playmate and cannot comprehend how or why this has happened .  ' Archie doesn ' t want to watch cartoons on Saturday morning any more , as this is something he used to do with Freddie .  ' It is devastating as a parent when you have already lost one child and your other one talks about killing himself so he can be with his brother . He is only eight years old . What can you do or say ?  ' Archie and I have started therapy . I get flashbacks of the incident and events before and after every day . I have woken up at night screaming as I relive what happened in my dreams and it is terrifying . '  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
5855,5856,"Rochelle ,  This last Wednesday , a student at a local interracial high school decided to tell a joke , not just any joke , this joke ' s punchline was literary a punch towards the African American community .  "" I never meant to cause such a problem , I swear ! "" David Foster claimed as he was haled into a police car early Wednesday morning at Wilcox County High School ? located in Rochelle , Georgia .  School had been let out for the day due to the emotional ruckus .  Apparently the problem started at around 11 : 00 am when Foster was in Junior Honors English . The students had been reading and had been analyzing the works of Mark Twain ' s Huckleberry Finn . Foster was trying to pass a piece of paper with the horrid joke written on it to another student near to him when he dropped it on the floor .  That ' s when Yolanda Perkins screamed in agony and fainted .  "" At first no one had any idea what was happening , the teacher rushed out to call an ambulance for Yolanda and I rushed to her side since she sat really close to me . I whispered in her ear "" What is wrong ? "" and she pointed to a crumbled up letter on the ground so I picked it up and read it as well . ""  Katie Johnston , another student in the class admitted : "" I decided to read it out loud since everyone kept going crazy yelling "" What does it say ? Read it Katie ! "" I opened the note and it contained this joke :  Why does Beyonce always sing to the left , to the left ? Because Blacks have no rights .  ' Everyone in the room went dead silent and then the African American students in the class started yelling racial slurs at the white students and the white students returned their harsh words , then all of the sudden people were leaving the classroom , and like an epidemic the joke had spread all around the school . '  ' During this time David ( Foster ) took out his genitals from his pants and started urinating on all the African American students and he kept saying "" What you N s gonna do about it , I can do whatever I want ! "" It was scary , I am pretty sure I got some urine on me myself ! Everyone was rioting so I just ran out of there ! ""  Johnston is almost brought to tears as she tells us her memories of this horrible act .  "" You were either fighting , or laughing , and if you were laughing , it was not for long , the people who laughed got beat up the worst . ""  Dale Herman said as he himself was being put into an ambulance .  The school is closed this week and opens up again on Monday . Foster is being charged with indecent exposure and will spend two months in Juvenile Hall .  Moral : Some jokes aren ' t funny .  ",satire,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,fake,satire,True,no,no,neutral,past
5918,5919,"Studies Examine Racial Bias in Pollution, Devaluation of Black Communities Brian Flood, UIC, November 3, 2016  Present-day racial biases may contribute to the pollution and devaluation of lower- and middle-class black communities, according to new research led by a social psychologist at the University of Illinois at Chicago.  The investigation was based on several studies demonstrating that physical spaces, such as houses or neighborhoods, are targets of racial stereotyping, discrimination, and implicit racial bias.  The researchers found study participants applied negative stereotypes, such as “impoverished,” “crime-ridden,” or “dirty,” in their perceptions of physical spaces associated with black Americans.  “These space-focused stereotypes can make people feel less connected to a space, assume it has low-quality characteristics, monetarily devalue it, and dampen its protection from environmental harms,” said Courtney Bonam,  assistant professor of psychology and the study’s lead author.  “Some of the findings show that space-focused stereotypes figuratively pollute the way observers imagine a target area and their judgment about an existing structure in it, while other work demonstrates how this presumed figurative pollution leads observers to consider literally polluting black space.”  {snip}  One study asked a national sample of over 400 white U.S. citizens to read a proposal to build a potentially hazardous chemical plant near a residential neighborhood. Half of the participants were told the nearby neighborhood is mostly black, while the other half was told that the area is mostly white.  Even though all participants read the same proposal, they were less likely to report opposition to building the chemical plant when the nearby neighborhood was mostly black.  “They assumed it was an industrial area when it was black, which led them to devalue and subsequently pollute the land there,” Bonam said. “Additionally, these findings held when participants were told that the neighborhood had middle-class property values; and when accounting both for participants’ perceptions of the neighborhood’s class level, and their negative attitudes toward black people in general.”  In another study, a national sample of more than 200 white U.S. citizens were given pictures of the same middle-class, suburban house. Half of the people were told the house was in a predominately black neighborhood, while the other segment was informed that it was in a mostly white neighborhood.  Those who thought the house was in a black neighborhood estimated its value at $20,000 less than the other group, and were less likely to say they would live in or buy the house.  {snip}",fake,news,test,Other news2,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,present
5920,5921,"It s no secret that conservatives and Republicans (not all) despise President Obama simply because he is black. After years of insisting he s an  Arab,  from Kenya, a Muslim, or anything else you can name, it s telling that some Americans hold him to a completely different standard simply because he s black.Now take Hillary Clinton, who is on the cusp of making history as the first female President of the United States, just as Barack Obama did as the first African American president. For years, Clinton has been in the public eye as a governor s wife, a First Lady, a senator, a Secretary of State, and now a presidential candidate. But like their hate for President Obama simply because he is black, there are those on the right who hate her simply because she is a woman. Like the dog whistle politics that follow President Obama, conservatives have unleashed their own dog whistle on Clinton   and they are even louder.Whether it be the sound of her voice, her boisterous laugh, her  vagina politics  or making an honest woman  of herself, Hillary Clinton has been besmirched by the right based not on her policies, but by her gender.Don t believe it? The commentary speaks for itself: Throughout her career, the attacks have become worse. But yet here she is, making history (yet again), not brought down by the good old boys  club.This is why Hillary Clinton is the epitome of what it takes to be president: no matter what is thrown her way, she stands tall, and never relents. Unlike another presidential candidate, Clinton also doesn t take it personally, instead focusing on the real issues.Th sexist attacks will continue should Clinton win the presidency, and it may hamper some of her legislative hopes in a Congress that is still disproportionately Republican male. But like President Obama, Clinton will make us proud (should she stick to her campaign promises).Featured image via Justin Sullivan/Getty Images",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
5935,5936,"Reuters) - The wife and mother of detained Taiwanese rights activist Lee Ming-che were due to arrive in China on Sunday to attend his subversion trial on Monday, Taiwan s Mainland Affairs Council said in a statement, calling for Lee s safe return home. Lee, a community college teacher and pro-democracy and human rights activist, went missing during a March visit to China. Authorities later confirmed he had been detained, straining already-tense ties between the mainland and the self-ruling island. Authorities at the Intermediate People s Court of Yueyang city, in the central province of Hunan, said Monday s trial on suspicion of subversion of state power would be an open hearing. Chinese courts have video-streamed or live-blogged increasing numbers of proceedings in recent years as part of a push towards judicial transparency However, rights activists say that in sensitive cases, holding  open  hearings is a tool for authorities to demonstrate state power and that usually the defendant has agreed to an outcome. On Saturday, Lee s wife, Lee Ching-yu, asked during a news conference that supporters forgive her husband if he says something in court which disappoints them, as he might be required to give testimony against his own free will. On Sunday she declined to comment to a large media contingent as she checked into her flight at Taipei Songshan Airport, where she was to fly to Changsha, in Hunan province, via Shanghai.  Taiwan s Mainland Affairs Council said it would do everything in its power to facilitate Lee s safe return.  Our government s approach to this case has been predicated on preserving our country s dignity while ensuring Lee Ming-che s safety,  it said. Lee s case has strained relations between Taipei and Beijing, which have been particularly tense since President Tsai Ing-wen, leader of Taiwan s independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party, took office last year. Beijing regards the island as a breakaway province and it has never renounced the use of force to bring it back under mainland control. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
5956,5957,"While Texas Senator Ted Cruz s outright victory in Iowa puts him in the driving site now for his party s nomination for the White House , it also produced a clear leader among more moderate Republicans , with the emergence of Marco Rubio .  Many in the United States believe that Cruz vastly over performed expectations by claiming 29 pc of Iowa voters , and say it reinforces what the Republicans have long feared ? that the Establishment need not apply .  Former Florida governor Jeb Bush , New Jersey governor Chris Christie and Ohio governor John Kasich , three of the leading establishment choices for the party , took a combined seven pc of the vote .  Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio Credit : Dave Kaup  Even Mike Huckabee , who won the Iowa caucus in 2008 , failed to make a dent . In fact , following last night s results , the former governor of Arkansas officially dropped out of the race .  Cruz s first place finish in Iowa is noteworthy because not a single Senate colleague endorsed his campaign .  Even the Republican governor of Iowa condemned the Texas senator and called on Iowans to vote for anybody but Cruz . ?  Added fuel to the fire , Tea Party favourite Sarah Palin piled on the pressure by endorsing Trump .  The reverse is true for Trump , who was revealed to have smaller base than expected .  Trump had all of the momentum going into Monday night he dominated the press coverage , spent more than any candidate on huge rallies , and was even surging in the final polls .  Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders acknowledging the crowd as he arrives for his caucus night rally in Iowa Credit : Patrick Semansky  But when voters were asked , only 24 pc answered Trump .  Still Cruz will find himself on shakier ground as the race shifts to New Hampshire , where Trump has a sizable lead in the polls and where the dark horse of the night Marco Rubio will fare even better .  While the Florida senator was a clear third to Trump and Cruz , he got much closer to victory than anyone expected basically tying for second with 23 pc of the vote .  For all of Cruz s and Trump s success , the results underscored the threat posed by Rubio , a candidate seen by many as far more moderate than his nomination rivals .  His strong showing in Iowa shows that he compete against Cruz and trump for the conservative based , and while still appealing to moderates .  On the Democratic side , the Iowa caucuses threw out every poll .  Coming in with every possible advantage , Hillary Clinton has found herself deadlocked against a Democratic socialist who , until , no one would have thought stood a chance once voters were asked for their say .  Vermont senator Bernie Sanders came close to an improbable upset ? a virtual tie , he called the result , which saw less than one pc separate between himself and the former Secretary of State .  Still , given the shape of the Democratic electorate , the Vermont senator will need to start doing a lot more than just "" virtually tying "" in order to actually win the party s nomination .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
5965,5966,"Jessica Davis (right) and Susan Oliver (left) (pictured above) are the widows of two Northern California sheriff s deputies who were shot to death in 2014 by a convicted felon who had twice been deported to Mexico.Luis Enrique Monroy Bracamontes tried to plead guilty to the murders of Sacramento County Sheriff s Deputy Danny Oliver and Placer County Sheriff s Deputy Michael Davis Jr. but was ordered to stand trial in October.Jamiel Shaw Sr., the father of a Los Angeles teen who was killed by a gang member who was in the country illegally, will also attend and sit with First Lady Melania Trump. Shaw s son, a standout football player, was shot by Pedro Espinoza as he walked home. Espinoza was sentenced to death in 2012.Shaw strongly supported Trump during the election, speaking during the Republican National Convention and appearing with Trump at a rally in Costa Mesa.      CONVENTION:The other guests invited by the president to the speech are Maureen McCarthy Scalia, the widow of the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia; Megan Crowley, a young woman who was expected to die within a few years of being born; and Kenisha Merriweather, a low-income African-American woman who struggled in school before attending private school on scholarship and becoming the first person in her family to graduate high school and college.    Times ",fake,dataset,test,US elections,Sports/Other,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,past
6013,6014,"Reuters) - U.S. House of Representatives Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy said on Thursday it would be easier to ensure public trust if Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself from investigations into whether Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election. “I just think for any investigation going forward you want to make sure everybody trusts the investigation,” McCarthy told MSNBC. Asked if that meant Sessions should recuse himself from the investigation, McCarthy said: “I think it would be easier from that standpoint, yes.” ",true,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
6015,6016,"Gateway Denies Amnesty Exists Dell Says Just Trying to Help  Round Rock , Texas Dell Computer today said it supports extending the amnesty period for anyone possessing a Gateway computer , arguing Gateway owners should be given "" at least "" two more weeks to hand over their equipment to police without fear of arrest and conviction .  An outraged Gateway  Ted Waitt , however , denied an amnesty program exists , and accused its rival of fabricating the story to scare people into dropping Gateway and buying Dell products . In response , Dell  Michael Dell called Gateway ' s allegation "" truly worrisome . ""  "" If Gateway is correct and there is no amnesty program , that would mean the police can arrest anyone using Gateway products right now , "" said Dell . "" Honestly , they should be warning their customers about this . ""  But Waitt insisted that is not what he meant . "" There is no amnesty program because it is not illegal to own a Gateway computer , so there is no reason to have an amnesty , "" he said . "" Why on Earth would it be illegal to own a Gateway ? ""  Dell said he wondered about that too . "" I ' m not a lawyer , so it would be improper for me to comment on the specific reasons why thousands of Gateway owners have been imprisoned and had their houses and families taken from them . I just heard it ' s been happening . ""  "" That is absolutely ludicrous ! "" said an enraged Waitt .  "" I totally agree , "" said Dell . "" That ' s why we believe the amnesty should be extended , so that this doesn ' t keep happening . I mean , I know Gateway is having revenue problems , but you ' d think they ' d at least want to keep their customers out of prison . ""  "" Some things are just more important than profits , "" Dell added . "" At least that ' s how we see it . ""  A spokesman for San Diego based Gateway later said the company would file a complaint with the California attorney general ' s office , accusing its rival of unscrupulous business practices . Dell , however , said no filing is necessary .  "" Look , we ' re out there supporting a fellow computer maker in its hour of need , but if Gateway doesn ' t want our help , then we ' ll stay out of it , "" said Dell . "" We ' re going to be busy helping  with their exploding ThinkPads anyway . ""  ",satire,text,test,Other news1,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
6017,6018,"Tony Pulis was locked in a crisis meeting with Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish on Thursday night in a row over the club ' s transfer policy .  Pulis , who kept Palace in the Barclays Premier League last season after taking over when they had just four points , threatened to quit .  Although the Palace chief took training as usual on Thursday as he prepared for Saturday ' s opening fixture with Arsenal , Parish called him into a meeting at a central London location .   Scroll down to see two of Pulis ' s targets Sigurdsson and Michu at their new clubs  Crisis talks : Pulis and Parish face the media at the manager ' s unveiling back in November  Plenty to shout about : Tony Pulis is unhappy with the transfer policy at Crystal Palace  Talking tactics : Tony Pulis gives Marouane Chamakh some direction during the friendly against Augsburg  The pair ' s relationship has deteriorated again over the summer over a difference of opinion in the type of players they want to recruit at Selhurst Park .  Pulis took over at Palace last season when the club had just four points , but they staged a remarkable recovery in the second phase of the season to finish 11th .  The former Stoke manager wanted to be backed heavily in the summer transfer window , but Parish has a cautious approach because of the finance involved .  Palace have twice gone into administration under different owners because of a catastrophic transfer policy under former chairman Mark Goldberg and , more recently , under Simon Jordan .  Missed out : Steven Caulker ( left ) was wanted by Palace but joined London rivals   Moving back : Gylfi Sigurdsson ( left ) left Tottenham to resign for old club Swansea  Parish , who is one of four Palace fans who own a 25 per cent share each in the club , does not want to overstretch the budget .  Pulis is convinced he needs new players , but he has become increasingly frustrated over the summer by the failure to land any of his main targets .  He believed he had put together deals for Steven Caulker , Michu and Gylfi Sigurdsson when the season came to an end .  Instead Caulker signed for  , Michu joined Rafa Benitez at Napoli and Sigurdsson returned to Swansea from Tottenham .  Pulis wants total control of the club ' s recruitment policy , but Parish is reluctant to let the manager be in sole charge of player trading .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
6019,6020,"Arsenal transfer news : Edinson Cavani talks , Ben Chilwell deal , Kieran Gibbs considering ? exit  Sean Kearns for Metro . co . uk Monday 1 Feb 2016 8 : 42 am  Arsene Wenger s expecting a busy final day in the transfer market ( Picture : Getty )  Arsene Wenger promised Arsenal fans a busy January transfer window ? and the Frenchman s kept to his word .  The 65 year old moved uncharacteristically quickly to bring Mohamed Elneny to the Emirates at the beginning of the window and deals for Nigerian youngsters Kelechi Nwakali and Samuel Chukwueze are thought to be close to completion .  However , with the Gunners in for a fighting chance of winning the title , Wenger wants to solidify the Gunners challenge with a late signing or two .  With that in mind , here s the latest transfer news from the Emirates :  Wenger was desperate to sign the Uruguayan last summer but it appears the  forward is the more willing for the move to happen this time around .  The former Napoli man is unhappy with being shunned out wide under Laurent Blanc and he instructed his representatives to open talks with the Gunners this week .  The striker is also believed to have been offered to rivals Manchester United but it s thought he d prefer a move to London .  Cavani s representatives have held talks with Arsenal ( Picture : Getty )  Arsenal working hard on Ben Chilwell deal ? report  Wenger s shown consistently over the years that he has an eye for spotting the best young talent and he thinks he s uncovered another gem in Leicester City s Chilwell .  The young defender has made a name for himself under the Foxes and Wenger s received glowing scouting reports on the 18 year old .  Arsenal ideally wanted to wait until the summer to move for the teenager but Chelsea s interest has accelerated the Gunners move and they want it done today .  Nacho Monreal has been in sensational form this season and it s come at a cost to England star Gibbs .  The 26 year old is second choice behind the Spaniard and he s desperate for first team football as he enters his peak years .  Gibbs would rather not leave the Emirates but he s now considering his future with strong interest from a number of Premier League clubs .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
6040,6041,"Like many of his counterparts across the world , Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was quick to stand with France in the wake of the deadly attack on the offices of French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo .  While most people in India were equally disgusted by the events in Paris , others felt it was preventable .  Opposition National Congress Party lawmaker Mani Shankar Aiyar wrote an opinion piece claiming the magazine was "" virtually inviting a reaction week after week . ""  Kiran Bedi , a politician and former senior police officer , tweeted : "" France Terror Shoot Out sends a message : why deliberately provoke or poke ? Be respectful and civil . Don ' t hurt people ' s sensitivities ! ""  But in a post on its Facebook page , the country ' s Aam Aadmi Party , or the "" Common Man ' s Party "" that just swept state elections in Delhi in an unprecedented victory , pointed to an issue much closer to home .  "" A lot of you have expressed shock at the attack on satirists Charlie Hebdo and have shared some of their cartoons as well . But did you know that doing so can get you jailed here in India ? ""  The use of controversial cartoons had reignited a furious debate about freedom of expression in the world ' s most populous democracy .  Take the case of Ambikesh Mahapatra . In 2012 , the chemistry professor was arrested for circulating by email a cartoon that poked fun at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee . The cartoon , which was a parody of a scene in a popular Indian movie , went viral on social media .  He was charged with a range of offenses including defamation , insulting a woman and sending offensive messages from a computer . Mahapatra called the charges a misuse of the law "" in the name of surveillance , to curb democratic rights , freedom of speech and human rights of common people . ""  Cyber law in India stipulates that alleged offenders could face up to three years in jail for posting material that is "" grossly offensive , "" has "" menacing character , "" or perhaps even more ambiguously causes "" annoyance or inconvenience . ""  Delhi went one step further in its digital crackdown in 2011 . The so called "" intermediary guidelines "" implicated web platforms themselves . The rules now require Internet companies to take down any content seen as "" disparaging , "" "" blasphemous , "" or "" defamatory "" within 36 hours of a user submitting a formal request for removal .  Google says that in the last half of 2013 , it removed 540 items from its pages in compliance with orders issued by Indian courts , government agencies , and law enforcement .  It ' s a similar story with Facebook . The social networking site took down nearly 5 , 000 pieces of content reported by the Indian government in the first half of 2014 .  Meanwhile , MouthShutweblink an Indian equivalent of Yelp , which allows online users to write reviews of products and services has taken its case to the country ' s Supreme Court to protect what it says are the rights of Indian citizens and consumers enshrined by the Indian constitution . A number of companies had objected to negative feedback and applied to have comments removed under the guise of "" harmful speech "" in current legislation .  The question marks over India ' s Internet freedom come at a time when Modi is planning to splash out 17 billion to build a fiber optic "" broadband highway "" that will cover the entire country .  If the prime minister ' s ambitious plan bears fruit , more than a billion Indians will be surfing the web for the first time within three years .  But a rapid rise in access to the web potentially exposes millions of ordinary Indians to a new threat .  "" Schemes like this will bring the bulk of Indian communications online and therefore , open to interception , unless we regulate this before we start . Unless we have proper laws , "" said constitutional lawyer Bhairav Acharya .  Ultimately India is an important case study in how developing markets deal with regulating an increasingly connected society .  "" A lot of people don ' t see the relationship between free speech and privacy , "" explained Acharya . "" But when you survey communications and intercept private communications . . . this has a chilling effect on free speech . ""  In 2013 , the Indian government rolled out the Central Monitoring System , a mass surveillance system capable of intercepting all phone and Internet based communications . Human Rights Watch warned of its potential to threaten civilian rights , given the Indian government ' s "" reckless and irresponsible use of the sedition and Internet laws . ""  As of the time of writing , India ' s Telecom Minister had not responded to multiple requests for comment on this issue .  Later this year , an Internet surveillance mechanism called  an acronym for network traffic analysis is expected to go live . Its exact functions haven ' t yet been spelled out by the government , but Acharya pointed to its possible use as a tool for untargeted , dragnet surveillance .  The Defense Research and Development Organization reportedly the architect of  has refused to comment on the project .  Where privacy rules dovetail with Modi ' s digital aspirations is especially troubling . "" If you have Digital India and  hand in hand in effect , what this scheme will become is a large , massive surveillance project , "" warned Acharya .  It ' s not all necessarily bad news for India ' s future Internet users . In the latest Freedom on the Net report , of all 65 countries surveyed , India showed the biggest improvement worldwide where Internet freedom was concerned . Relaxed restrictions on access and content plus a drop in the number of arrests for social media posts pushed India up in the rankings . Behind the gains the country was not , as regularly , calling into action its existing Internet controls .  So , it wasn ' t that policy was being reformed it ' s that these controversial provisions were being called upon with less frequency than in past years .  A more lenient approach was reinforced only last week when Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta India ' s third most senior law officer said posts made "" on any Internet medium which were not grossly offensive would not be treated as a criminal act . "" In effect , that could mean dramatically reduced restrictions over what can be freely said in posts made on social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter .  But ultimately , the government is bound only by its written submissions , so it remains to be seen whether these verbal concessions will find their place in ink in the Indian penal code .  For now , this spate of embroiled cyber legislation is under deliberation in the country ' s highest court .  Cyber security expert , Vijay Mukhi , will be among those looking to see where the anvil falls on digital freedoms . For him , the answer is simple : "" Let society or the legal system decide what must be seen on the Internet , not the state or the police . ""  ",true,text,test,World conflict,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
6041,6042,"It seems everyone except perhaps the die hard  fan agrees that the most important event scheduled for next week is the first presidential debate . I say "" scheduled "" because you never know what the news cycle will kick in . Snickers might have a new chocolate bar . Or something .  The pundits and politicians and the news media and the late night comedians are salivating over the debate . Maybe the football fans should be jealous , because the debate is being "" played "" like a game who will win , and by how much , rather than as a serious exchange of ideas or contrast of visions .  Yes , the debates are important , but the political and economic conditions of the times are probably more important . Some debates have helped decide elections others have just clarified the electoral winds .  Usually , the challenger has the advantage . He ( and perhaps someday she ) can go on the offensive . Being on the same stage with the president , who also has to defend his record , results in an automatic elevation of stature regardless of who ' s taller . Overall , an incumbent president has more to lose .  Still , whether a debate alone can win or lose an election is itself open to debate . Every debate produces a gaffe and a few lines for the late night comedians . Whether that ' s enough to change the momentum of a campaign isn ' t so clear .  Most experts agree that the very first televised debate , that between John F . Kennedy and Richard Nixon in 1960 , did change the momentum and direction of that election .  Opinion : How can President Obama win the first debate ?  Nixon certainly learned his lesson , refusing to debate in 1968 or 1972 .  In the second presidential debate of 1976 , Max Frankel of The New York Times asked President Gerald Ford about the Soviet influence in Eastern Europe . Ford said , "" There is no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe , and there never will be under a Ford administration . "" Astounded , Frankel gave Ford a chance to modify his response , but Ford elaborated , saying , "" I don ' t believe that the Poles consider themselves dominated by the Soviet Union . "" Or the Yugoslavians or Romanians , he added two countries whose rebellions the Soviet Union had crushed .  That was a jaw dropper , and Carter said the debates gave him credibility .  But just two years earlier Nixon resigned in disgrace and the country remained torn by the Vietnam legacy . So perhaps Ford ' s odd declaration only highlighted an inherent political weakness .  In 1980 , Ronald Reagan , thanks to several decades of acting experience , looked presidential , selling himself to the American people as he had earlier sold them 20 Mule Team Borax .  When Carter said Reagan would cut Medicare , Reagan , who ' d been complaining that Carter had been misrepresenting him , quipped , "" There you go again . "" And he ended with the now famous , "" Are you better off than you were four years ago ? ""  But Carter didn ' t help his cause when he ended by saying he ' d asked his teenage daughter , Amy , to tell him the biggest issue of the day ( the answer concerned nuclear weapons ) . And inflation was at 13 . 5 , the country was in an energy crisis and the Iran hostage situation made Carter look weak .  In 1984 , Reagan ' s zinger about own age "" I want you to know that also I will not make age an issue of this campaign . I am not going to exploit , for political purposes , my opponent ' s youth and inexperience "" cost Walter Mondale the election , according to Mondale . But with the economy turning around and Reagan ' s popular "" cowboy "" stance against the Soviet Union apparently restoring American prestige abroad , the president already had a commanding lead in the polls before the debate .  In 1988 , we had Michael Dukakis ' convoluted , wooden response to a hypothetical question about whether he would impose the death penalty if someone raped and murdered his wife . But Dukakis was done in by Reagan ' s legacy , his own  ineptness and a "" dirty tricks "" campaign worthy of Nixon ( see Willie Horton ) .  In 1992 , viewers thought if anybody won the debates , it was third party candidate Ross Perot , but President George H . W . Bush looked detached at times when he looked at his watch . Clinton was more personable .  Opinion : Fox ' s laughable case for Romney  By 1996 , the incumbent Clinton had a commanding lead over the 73 year old war veteran Bob Dole , who looked tired . Youthful vigor won .  Given the disputed results of the 2000 cycle , it ' s hard to say what impact the debates had . But I will never forget the expectations game . Karl Rove , then George W . Bush ' s chief strategist , pronounced that Al Gore was the "" world ' s most pre eminent debater . "" Expectations were exceedingly high for us . Gore was prepared , but perhaps too prepared . He was anxious , and the split screen didn ' t do us any favors . We lost the debate on body language and sighing , not substance . Nixon ' s revenge , I guess .  In 2004 , Bush was a wartime president . While the challenger , Sen . John Kerry , got under his skin in the first debate , Bush still managed to keep his cool under intense rhetorical fire .  In 2008 , revulsion against Bush ' s economic and foreign policies , the Great Recession and the candidacy of Sarah Palin overshadowed the debates between John McCain and Barack Obama .  So a good debate performance or a poor one can make a difference , but conditions in the country and how voters perceive the candidates probably matter more .  The debates this year will certainly have their moments . But both candidates are already so well known , the memorable lines will probably reinforce , rather than change , voters ' perceptions .  The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Donna Brazile .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
6071,6072,"Donald Trump Just Destroyed the Mainstream Media and  Establishment . Again .  Wayne Allyn Root is a bestselling author . His latest book is : The Power of  ! Dubbed by the media as the Capitalist Evangelist , Wayne is a former Libertarian Vice Presidential nominee , international business speaker , serial entrepreneur and conservative media personality ? appearing on over 5 , 000 interviews in the past five years . Wayne s web site : ROOTforAmericaweblink .  He is so much smarter than the mainstream media and the establishment  . He is playing at another level ? like Michael Jordan did years ago , or LeBron James does today . Every time the media , the establishment  , or Donald s critics and opponents for president think he s destroyed himself with outrageous and offensive comments , his ratings go up , and they wind up with egg on their face .  Republican presidential candidate , businessman Donald Trump speaks during a rally at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus , Ohio , Monday , Nov . 23 , 2015 . (  Photo Paul Vernon )  Trump just shocked and outraged the media , critics and the  establishment by recommending a ban on all Muslims entering the U . S . But I m betting Trump goes up in the polls . Anyone want to bet ?  Trump s move was brilliant ? again . His critics are going to have egg on their face ? again . They just don t understand the game he s playing ? he s a man playing chess . They are little boys playing checkers .  This is an exact repeat of what happened this past summer when Trump supposedly called all Mexicans rapists and murderers . Except he didn t say that . What he said was the border is wide open bad people are coming in Mexico is not sending us their best and some of them are rapists and murderers . He never said all of them are criminals . As a matter of fact Trump praised legal immigrants from Mexico . He didn t say it very artfully . He was certainly harsh . But it s clear his intent was not to say all Mexicans are rapists and murderers .  Trump s intent was clear as a bell to millions of Americans ? who agreed that Trump was pointing out a legitimate problem . Only days later a young woman lost her life at the hands of a five time deported illegal alien from Mexico . Trump soared in the polls .  The thing is Trump s comments were harsh but true . There is a crime wave in this country being committed by illegal aliens . Illegal aliens acccount for over 30 percent of murders in several states . Our prisons are filled with foreign nationals ? almost 70 percent of them are from Mexico . Many bad people ? including potential terrorists ? could be coming across that border . But even the peaceful nice illegal aliens pouring across are on welfare , food stamps , Medicaid and other forms of government entitlement checks at a far higher rate than native born Americans . Illegal immigration is leading to the bankruptcy of America .  Back then Trump s supposedly offensive and outrageous comments were all over the news . The mainstream media said , Poor Trump , his political career is over before it began .  Well don t look now , but it s happening all over again .  Donald Trump speaks to the crowd at a Pearl Harbor Day Rally at the U . S . S . Yorktown , December 7 , 2015 . ( Getty Images Sean Rayford )  The media is misquoting Trump just like last time and misunderstanding that what he said is going to be popular with millions of Americans ? again . The more they condemn him the more they talk about him the more they ll spread his message without the need to spend a dime on advertising . Once again , Trump sucks all the oxygen out of the room .  They average American voter has heard of John Kasich . Carly Fiorina has disappeared . Jeb Bush is history ? he can t get to 10 percent in polls anymore . But Donald Trump is on everyone s lips . Love him or hate him , you can t stop talking about him . Trump just became the No . 1 topic at every dinner table in America ? again .  And the media has misunderstood or misrepresented his comments ? again . If Trump said he wanted to ban all Muslims from America permanently , I d disagree strongly . If he said he would not allow Muslim Americans back in this country , I d disagree strongly . If he said that we would deport Muslims out of America , I d disagree strongly . But that s not what he said .  Trump merely proposed a temporary ban until we can get our act together . That s perfectly reasonable . That s worth a national debate .  Trump believes the U . S . government is incompetent . I agree . He doesn t trust the government s ability to keep us safe from terrorism . I agree .  Because of that Trump believes we need to take a time out . We need to pause , breathe deep and analyze whether our government can determine who the bad guys are . This is a  ban on Muslim foreigners only , until our government can get it s act together and insure we re all safe . I agree .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
6073,6074,"Even if President Trump’s      fails over the long run to create jobs or prevent companies from moving offshore, there’s a good chance that it will appear, at first, to be a success. But this is a dangerous illusion, the result of companies responding strategically to the new president’s threats. And it could lead to more bad policy if voters or policy makers draw the wrong conclusions. That’s why it’s important to understand precisely how these new policies are likely to shape the numbers over the next few years. Some simple economics can help. Mr. Trump has taken to Twitter to name and shame manufacturing firms planning to relocate some of their production lines overseas. His attacks on Carrier, on Toyota, on General Motors have made their chief executives squirm and, in some cases, have produced what appear to be results. Carrier, for instance, has promised to keep some of the jobs it had planned to send offshore in the United States. Other companies have recycled old announcements of their domestic expansion plans. At first glance, pressuring a handful of companies seems unlikely to have much impact in an economy as large as that of the United States. Imagine that you are a chief executive of a company that has not been a Trump target there are so many companies in the country that the risk of yours being denounced by the president is tiny. At least that’s what the math shows. But the psychological reality is very different. Research has shown that people often overreact to insignificant risks, especially when the risks are so vivid. Just as it is almost certain that you won’t get eaten by a shark this summer, it is a near certainty that the vast majority of companies won’t end up in Mr. Trump’s cross hairs. Yet the fears persist, and people take greater precautionary measures than the actual threat warrants. Moreover, Mr. Trump is targeting the asset that corporate bosses tend to protect most jealously: their personal reputation. Which makes them edgy. So far, the evidence bears this out. There are plenty of anecdotes suggesting that Mr. Trump has executives running scared. Some are hiring communications and crisis managers. Few have been willing to announce the sort of plant closings that might put them in the harsh glare of the president’s spotlight. But this doesn’t mean that Mr. Trump’s tweets have saved jobs. At least not in a lasting sense. To see why not, put yourself in the shoes of a C. E. O. You’re not just deciding whether to send production offshore you also need to decide when to act. This gives you a relatively cheap way to avoid the president’s ire: Mothball your blueprints for the new overseas factory, but don’t burn them. When the political threat passes  —   and, eventually, it will  —   just dust them off and move. If enough companies follow this script over the next couple of years, the number of factory jobs in the United States should stabilize, or even rise. Mr. Trump’s eventual successor may well inherit a manufacturing sector that is superficially stronger, though it will hide an underlying weakness: thousands of C. E. O.s ready to move production offshore. As soon as Mr. Trump leaves the stage, several years worth of   demand for offshoring may erupt, and as these plans are followed and factory jobs return to more normal levels, expect a sharp drop in manufacturing employment. Now imagine what all this will look like to a future policy wonk. Manufacturing jobs seemed to be scarce before Mr. Trump’s tenure, improved while he was at the helm, and then shrank sharply as soon as he left office. It might seem as though his angry tweets actually caused manufacturing to thrive. But it would be a mistake to infer that businesses really perform better when threatened. Rather, the fluctuating jobs numbers reflect the ease with which cuts can be delayed, not prevented. Sure, a delay is, in itself, good news for factory workers who keep their jobs a little longer, but it doesn’t address their   problems. Indeed, many economists, both Democrat and Republican, fear that Mr. Trump’s policy of naming and shaming will hurt the manufacturing sector in the long run. After all, the point of the exercise is to allocate workers and machines based on presidential diktat, not market forces. He is pushing corporate leaders to please the White House, rather than their customers and shareholders. The cost of hiring crisis managers to deal with Mr. Trump raises the cost of doing business just as surely as a tax hike would. By making it more expensive to leave the market, he also creates a disincentive for foreign companies thinking of building plants in the United States. The difficulty with trying to use the bully pulpit to create a lasting change in corporate behavior is that words  —   even a president’s  —   don’t much alter a company’s bottom line. Corporate decisions are driven by the balance of costs and benefits, and the benefits of offshoring are typically large and enduring. Still, for short periods, even relatively minor incentive shifts can cause large reactions when what is involved is merely a delay, not fundamental change. For example, imagine two people who love Cancún and have decided to vacation there if the cost of a flight rises by $100, they will go anyway, because the cost isn’t enough to deter them. But if the airfare rises by $100 on Sunday, the day they had planned to go, but was to remain at the original price on Monday, the travelers may well decide to wait a day. So fewer people may fly to Mexico on the weekend, when it’s more expensive, yet there will be no   impact on travel. Temporary policies often look as though they have disproportionately large effects, but they aren’t meaningful. That is the odd truth here: Mr. Trump’s approach may appear to have had a big effect precisely because it’s not viewed as a permanent solution. In fact, the more temporary his   industrial policy is thought to be, the more likely it is that chief executives will delay job cuts until the climate changes. Perhaps corporate bosses are currently pliant because they expect that this storm will pass. But bad economics can be good politics. We may see some spectacular   effects, even if Mr. Trump undermines the   competitiveness of America’s factories. The political upside will be obvious in the monthly employment numbers, while the economic downside will be difficult to disentangle from the   trend of declining factory jobs. Yet we shouldn’t be deluded. C. E. O.s will ultimately move jobs abroad if that’s what it takes to churn out profits.",true,news,test,World conflict,Economy,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
6085,6086,"After being fired from the Trump campaign, Trump s former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski is still spreading hate on behalf of his former boss. This time, when asked about why Trump had virtually no African-Americans at a rally where he was talking about African-Americans, Lewandowski answered that it would be too dangerous to have African-Americans in the crowd. As a campaign manager, wouldn t you want your candidate saying some of these things directly to the people he s supposedly addressing?  Anderson Cooper asked. You know what s amazing to me, is no one remembers Donald Trump went to go have a rally in Chicago at the university,  responded Lewandoski. And do you remember what happened? It was so chaotic, and it was so out of control, Secret Service and the Chicago Police Department told him you could not get in and out of that facility safely, and that rally was canceled. And you showed the footage many times of the individuals who attended that rally. Donald Trump had that rally booked,  Lewandowski said. That is a black community. He went to the heart of Chicago to go and give a speech to the University of Chicago in a campus, which is predominantly African-American, to make that argument. And you know what happened? The campus was overrun, and it was not a safe environment,  he said.Source: The HillThe rally Lewandowski was speaking of occurred in Chicago in March   or rather, it didn t occur in Chicago in March because it was shut down over protests. The largely African-American protesters objected to the violence that has been occurring at Trump rallies, but I guess it s okay if white people are violent.Here s the video:Trump, who has a zero percent approval rating with African-Americans, is trying to appear less racist. Lewandowski isn t helping, but to be fair, neither is Trump. His African-American outreach has been nothing but empty, insulting attempts at pandering. It was Trump, not Lewandowski, who appeared on Bill O Reilly to say that he d give Chicago police carte blanche to do whatever it takes to stop black crime.Perhaps Trump should focus on the crimes that are taking place right under his nose, whether that be the violence at his rallies or the alleged crimes taking place right in his offices.Featured image via video screen capture. ",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
6096,6097,"Eagles head coach Andy Reid addressed his recent family turmoil in a press conference today , responding to allegations that he had neglected his paternal duties in order to focus on football with the simple statement "" Red Right 32 Trap . ""  "" This is a crisis we can all get through together , "" said Reid , whose two oldest sons were recently sentenced to nearly two years in jail for multiple drug related offenses and who was chastised by the sentencing judge for not providing a structured , healthy home environment for his children . "" But only by making defenses fear our running game again . Donovan McNabb has had his problems , but I take full responsibility for that . I should have been paying more attention to Brian Westbrook ' s need for the ball . ""  "" Red right 32 trap is not the answer to all our problems , "" Reid added . "" But it ' s a step in the right direction . One day at a time . ""  Reid became the focus of controversy recently when his sons Britt , 22 , and Garrett , 24 , were found to be addicted to and even dealing prescription and illegal drugs , prompting Montgomery County court judge Steven O ' Neill to liken the coach ' s home to "" a drug emporium "" and even say the Reids were "" a family in crisis . ""  "" The last few days have been an eye opener for us all around , "" Reid said . "" To lose to the Cowboys by 21 just shows how deep the problems go . And I can ' t tell you how much worse it is when a disaster like this happens to you at home . Obviously , it ' s time to reevaluate our approach , starting with our running game . ""  "" Don ' t worry , though , I read the papers , "" Reid added . "" I ' ll be taking a long hard look at the defense as well . I ' ll be doing my best to address all our problems , not just the ground game . ""  Although Eagles owner Jeff Lurie has repeatedly said he will stand by his coach , stating that he would use any of the Eagles ' considerable legal and therapeutic resources to help the Reid family through the through the current crisis , Reid has responded by saying that he will handle his predicament in his own fashion .  "" I truly appreciate the support I ' ve received from Eagles team officials , but this is really something I have to handle on my own , "" Reid said . "" I believe the old saying that a football team is like a family , and in any family , you solve your problems yourself through hard work and honesty . Right now , I can ' t ignore the real problem : The Eagles family is 3 5 , we ' re going through a crisis where it ' s becoming hard to trust each other , and while I might not want to admit it , people are unhappy and communications have begun to break down . ""  "" It ' s going to take all my energy to make this right , "" a visibly moved Reid said , brushing at his eyes . "" I certainly didn ' t do anybody any favors when I took that five week leave of absence in the offseason . But this football team has my full attention from now until I get us into the playoffs . ""  Reactions to Reid ' s statements met with mixed reactions in the press , particularly from those Philadelphia area journalists most familiar with the ongoing story of Britt and Garrett Reid .  "" It ' s unconscionable for a coach to prioritize his team over his family to this degree , especially in the supposedly family oriented National Football League , "" said A . J . Daulerio of the Philadelphia Daily Examiner . "" Andy Reid needs to be a father to his sons right now , not fiddling with running trap and misdirection plays with that patchwork Eagles offensive line , which is frankly just asking for trouble . If anything , he should fix the defensive secondary first Sean Considine couldn ' t cover my grandma . ""  ",satire,text,test,American football,US elections,true,satire,True,no,no,positive,past
6098,6099,"A team of system administrators , web developers , and health care professionals reported this week that Craigslist , the free online network of classified advertisements , has contracted the anogenital disease commonly known as  .  The shocking diagnosis , made after an hour long examination of Craigslist ' s main server , marks the first time an Internet site has ever contracted a sexually transmitted virus .  "" No doubt about it , that ' s definitely  , "" said Dr Howard Morrison , a general practitioner who was brought in Tuesday to administer a series of tests on the popular website . "" Looks like it ' s already attacked the central mainframe and several  routers . Pretty severe strain of it , too . One of the worst I ' ve ever seen . ""  "" Knowing what I do about Craigslist , though , I can ' t say that I ' m surprised , "" Morrison added while scanning through lines of infected  code . "" It was only a matter of time before something like this happened . ""  While tests were unable to determine how Craigslist contracted human papillomavirus , the site ' s casual relationships with more than 40 million users nationwide is likely to blame . Internal records revealed that Craigslist routinely allowed complete strangers to sign up on its site , the vast majority of them sexually perverse , morally depraved , and lacking even rudimentary hygiene skills .  "" We tried to ignore the signs , but every day more and more of those weird wart looking things started showing up on our home page , "" said a Craigslist developer who wished to remain anonymous . "" I honestly didn ' t think it was possible , but the cotton swabs confirmed it . Craigslist has  . ""  Founder Craig Newmark said he suspected that the sexually transmitted disease was contracted from the "" Casual Encounters "" section of the website , a popular service used by people looking to engage in consequence free intercourse . Newmark did not rule out other potential sources of infection , however , including the many thousands of listings for "" female help around the house , "" amateur modeling work , and free used mattresses .  "" It could ' ve been anyone , really , "" said Newmark , who estimated that between 90 and 95 percent of the site ' s users are  carriers . "" Especially that landlord who offers rent reduced apartments for certain ' unspecified services , ' or that guy pimpdadder84 from Chicago , who ' s always posting want ads for previously owned underwear . ""  "" Considering the kind of stuff that goes on in here , I ' m relieved  was all we caught , "" Newmark added .  Since the diagnosis , Craigslist administrators have suspended all traffic to the website and started regular treatment for the virus . System analysts have been instructed to apply anti inflammatory cream to affected  hubs , file servers , and other problem areas , as well as wash Craigslist ' s main Ethernet connections in podofilox topical solution three times daily .  Doctors have also recommended the website contact any past partners or clients and ask that they too get checked out for  .  "" How could we have been so stupid ? "" embarrassed Craigslist site officer Michael Sturges said . "" I knew it wasn ' t exactly safe , and that we shouldn ' t be allowing just anyone from anywhere to join . But I wanted for the site to be , you know , popular . ""  Added Sturges , "" I can ' t believe we let those creeps get into our  database . ""  Though worrisome for all involved , this week ' s  diagnosis has reportedly taught the online network a number of valuable lessons . System administrators claimed that if and when the website finally returns , it would do so with a number of new policies .  Future users will be required to disclose their real names when registering with Craigslist , in addition to providing a brief summary of their past sexual history , taking a standard blood test , agreeing to a month long trial period during which both site and user can better get to know each other , and entering a valid e mail address .  Approximately 300 new firewalls will also be installed .  "" You can never be too careful in this day and age , "" Craigslist security and network technician Sheila Wilder said . "" Just look at MySpace . That poor site ' s been knocked up three times in the last year alone . ""  ",satire,text,test,US elections,Sports/Other,satire,satire,True,no,no,negative,past
6100,6101,"Senior Iraqi officials claim they had warned coalition countries of imminent assaults .  Posted : 11 15 2015 01 : 37   Edited : 11 16 2015 11 : 15     (  ) ? Senior Iraqi intelligence officials warned coalition countries of imminent assaults by the Islamic State group just one day before last week ' s deadly attacks in Paris killed 129 people , The Associated Press has learned .  Iraqi intelligence sent a dispatch saying the group ' s leader , Abu Bakr al Baghdadi , had ordered an attack on coalition countries fighting against them in Iraq and Syria , as well as on Iran and Russia , "" through bombings or assassinations or hostage taking in the coming days . ""  The dispatch said the Iraqis had no specific details on when or where the attack would take place , and a senior French security official told the  that French intelligence gets this kind of communication "" all the time "" and "" every day . ""  However , six senior Iraqi officials corroborated the information in the dispatch , a copy of which was obtained by the  , and four of these intelligence officials said they also warned France specifically of a potential attack . Two officials told the  that France was warned beforehand of details that French authorities have yet to make public .  Among them : that the Paris attacks appear to have been planned in Raqqa , Syria ? the Islamic State ' s de facto capital ? where the attackers were trained specifically for this operation and with the intention of sending them to France .  The officials also said a sleeper cell in France then met with the attackers after their training and helped them to execute the plan .  There were 24 people involved in the operation , they said : 19 attackers and five others in charge of logistics and planning .  The officials all spoke anonymously because they are not authorized to discuss the matter publicly .  The Islamic State group claimed responsibility on Saturday for the gun and bomb attacks on a stadium , a concert hall and Paris cafes that also wounded 350 people , 99 of them seriously . Seven of the attackers blew themselves up . Police have been searching intensively for accomplices .  Iraq ' s Foreign Minister Ibrahim al Jaafari , also told journalists in Vienna on Sunday that Iraqi intelligence agencies had obtained information that some countries would be targeted , including France , the United States and Iran , and had shared the intelligence with those countries .  Officials in the French presidential palace would not comment , and U . S . officials didn ' t immediately comment when contacted by The  .  Every night , the head of French counterintelligence goes to bed asking ' why not today ? ' the French security official said .  The Iraqi government has been sharing intelligence with various coalition nations since they launched their airstrike campaign against the Islamic State group last year . In September , the Iraqi government also announced that it was part of an intelligence sharing quartet with Russia , Iran and Syria for the purposes of undermining the militant group ' s ability to make further battlefield gains .  A third of Iraq and Syria are now part of the self styled caliphate declared by the Islamic State group last year . U . S . led coalitions in Iraq and Syria are providing aerial support to allied ground forces in both countries , and they are arming and training Iraqi forces . The U . S . said it is also sending as many as 50 special forces to northern Syria .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
6106,6107,"Even though alleged president Donald Trump s executive order banning seven predominantly Muslim countries from entering the U.S. has caused widespread panic, he told Fox News host Bill O Reilly on Sunday that the move was going  smoothly.  Trump s fake news  facts failed to mention that his poorly worded order sent the world into chaos.When O Reilly asked the man-baby  how the travel ban worked out following the executive order, Trump said,  I think it was very smooth. You had 109 people out of hundreds of thousands of travelers and all we did was vet those people very, very carefully. Actually, that s not true and we re sure you re shocked. 60,000 visas were revoked following his Muslim ban.Press Secretary Sean Spicer also echoed Trump s claims previously that only 109 people were affected by his travel ban on the seven Muslim countries even though that claim was disproved.Facts matter:While  estimates suggest that around 375 travelers who were in transit were stranded or detained, thousands of refugees were put into limbo when Trump scuttled the U.S. refugee program.During the jaw-dropping interview in which even a Fox News host challenged him, Trump insisted multiple times that the executive order was implemented in a  smooth  fashion and only 109 people were affected.In that same interview, Trump was asked by the Fox News host why he respects Vladimir Putin. O Reilly said,  He s a killer  and the host was not lying. Still yet, Trump said,  There are a lot of killers. You think our country s so innocent? Watch:President Trump Bannon also said he s against sanctuary cities.From there, Trump went into the same dangerous territory his team keeps venturing into. He wants to prove he won the popular vote, but he s doing so without proof. O Reilly told him he needs data to back him up his claim that 3 million people voted for in the 2016 U.S. presidential election illegally, Trump insisted that Mike Pence will set up a commission to investigate the widespread voter fraud which has already been debunked.Image via screen capture. ",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
6108,6109,"The Mayor of Calais has demanded that hundreds of migrants in a squalid camp are moved to a comfortable new tented area .  Natacha Bouchart has previously warned that migrants in the town are ' prepared to die ' to reach Britain and its generous benefits .  But there are fears the new campsite close to the port where many try and board lorries heading for Kent will cause more problems for drivers and British border staff . Madame Bouchart called for a camp known as Jungle 2 to be closed so inhabitants can be moved to more comfortable and hygienic conditions . At least 900 migrants live at the rubbish infested site , trying to reach the  .  It is feared the new site , which will be close to the Jules Ferry camp , which opened last month , will encourage even more people into the area  Last night a senior British politician said the move was an example of French authorities ' ' failure ' to deal with the problem and accused them of offering only a ' sticking plaster ' solution .  The tented site will have washing facilities and be close to the Jules Ferry camp , dubbed ' Sangatte 2 ' , which opened last month . That 12 acre centre has beds , showers , toilets , a laundry service and medical facilities for about 2 , 500 migrants .  The new ' Bouchart ' camp will see ' guests ' eat meals prepared by a Michelin chef at Jules Ferry .  Labour ' s immigration spokesman David Hanson  , who last year spoke of seeing ' tents on roundabouts ' and ' bedspreads in bus shelters ' in Calais , said migrants should be stopped from entering France .  He added : ' It is important the French authorities take action to identify who it is who comes to Calais and then determine whether or not they have a legitimate claim for asylum or refugee status or whether they are illegal immigrants This problem won ' t go away till France takes this responsibility seriously and whatever they are doing in providing accommodation is a sticking plaster for a clear French failure . '  The mayor ' s plan will see  bound migrants moved to the new camp on council owned land . From next month women and children will be given priority for overnight accommodation at Jules Ferry while men will sleep in tents at the adjacent site .  Lorry drivers crossing into Britain already have to check their vehicles for stow aways , a desperate migrants try to enter the country illegally  The decision to shut Jungle 2 comes after violent disturbances in August when large numbers began arriving from Eritrea and Ethiopia .  Six months ago a judge approved the removal of hundreds of migrants from the camp , which is on privately owned land . But police failed to close it or move its inhabitants .  Huge piles of rat infested rubbish have since accumulated and migrants hacked down trees for fuel . They also broke into a gymnasium where dozens of families now live .  Announcing the plans earlier this week , Madam Bouchart said : ' The aim is to evacuate the company ' s land and to protect the migrants . '  But the move is likely to cause more problems for lorry drivers who have to check their vehicles for migrants trying to get to Britain . The mayor ' s solution will also anger  border staff trying to stem the tide of migrants arriving via Calais .  Calais residents fear a new camp will encourage a further 1 , 400 people sleeping rough to head for the site and make a huge ' tent city ' within weeks .  It is unclear how much the new camp will cost but Jules Ferry is expected to cost 6million a year to run with half of that bill paid from an  grant partly funded by British taxpayers .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
6125,6126,"Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan will visit Russia s Sochi on November 13, followed by a visit to Kuwait the following day, his office said on Monday. The visit to Sochi comes amid reports of potential sticking points in Turkey s planned purchase of a Russian S-400 surface-to-air missile system, and Turkish objections to the attendance of Syrian Kurdish groups to a Russian-sponsored Syrian peace congress scheduled for Nov. 18. Last week, the two countries took a step toward the solution of an import crisis as Russia lifted restrictions on import of Turkish tomatoes. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,satire,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
6134,6135,"Parents honor terminally ill 5 year old ' s request to die at home  Julianna Snow is only 5 years old , but she has been living with a severe neuromuscular disease all her life . Now , her family has made the difficult decision to honor their daughter ' s wish to no longer seek medical treatment if her condition continues to worsen .  Julianna has a condition known as Charcot Marie Tooth disease , which is an inherited disorder that affects peripheral nerves in the body ( outside the brain and spinal cord ) .  causes foot deformity , loss of muscle in the legs and makes movement , balance , swallowing and breathing difficult for those who suffer from it . Julianna currently uses a breathing mask because of the severity of her condition .  See also : 7 year old with cancer has an inspiring duet with his favorite singer  Back in May , Julianna ' s mother , Michelle Moon , who is a neurologist , posted about her daughter ' s condition in a blog on The Mighty . In her post , she wrote about Julianna ' s struggles , including several respiratory failures , losing the ability to walk and having to enroll in hospice .  A photo posted by Michelle Moon ( julianna . yuri ) on  Moon recounted the difficult conversation she had with Julianna , where her daughter told her that she did not want to continue treatment . Moon wrote in the blog :  : J : I hate  . I hate the hospital .  M : Right . So if you get sick again , you want to stay home . But you know that probably means you will go to heaven , right ?  M : And it probably means that you will go to heaven by yourself , and Mommy will join you later .  M : That s right . You will not be alone .  According to  , Moon and her husband , Julianna ' s father , Steve Snow , were going to take Julianna to the hospital again for more treatments , but have decided to honor their daughter ' s wish to "" go to heaven . ""  "" She made it clear that she doesn ' t want to go through the hospital again . So we had to let go of that plan because it was selfish , "" Moon told  .  A photo posted by Michelle Moon ( julianna . yuri ) on  Not everyone agrees with Moon and Snow ' s decision . While many commended and understood Julianna ' s attitude , some commenters on Moon ' s post on The Mighty accused Moon of asking "" leading "" questions .   bioethicist Art Caplan told  , "" I think there ' s zero chance a 4 year old can understand the concept of death . That kind of thinking doesn ' t really develop until around age 9 or 10 . ""  Julianna ' s parents and her doctors disagree . Unfortunately for a girl with Julianna ' s condition , her quality of life deteriorates as time goes by . "" It makes a lot of sense to listen to her . I have the utmost faith in her mother and father . . . For her , there is no light at the end of the tunnel , "" Dr Danny Hsia , Julianna ' s pulmonologist , told  .  At the moment , Julianna ' s condition remains stable . While she continues her care , her mother and father update people on her condition on Instagram and on Moon ' s personal blog , which she created in hopes of helping other families grappling with an ill child .  Mashable has reached out to Michelle Moon and Steve Snow and will update this post if they respond .  A photo posted by Michelle Moon ( julianna . yuri ) on  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
6149,6150,"Siwa , Egypt The journey to the Siwa Oasis isn ' t enjoyable . Hours are spent in a car covering hundreds of kilometers of flat , barren desert . If you ' re not careful , you can easily fall prey to boredom and passenger ' s fatigue .  The first signs of the approaching oasis are red and white buttes rising from the sand that break the monotony of the landscape .  Entering Siwa is like Dorothy opening her door to Oz .  Two large saltwater lakes fed by fresh water springs dominate the oasis , surrounded by a forest of date and fruit trees .  In photos : Siwa Oasis  Three barren hills home to the Oracle of Siwa , the Mountain of the Dead and the old town loom above the sea of green foliage . Donkey carts seem to outnumber cars on the road in this sleepy part of Egypt .  The only place to stay and truly experience everything the oasis has to offer is at one of the eco lodges .  Getting over the initial impact of living without electricity will be uncomfortable , at first . At Siwa Oasis , you ' ll need to break the addiction of Internet , cellphones , and television . But eventually a primitive human instinct kicks in , and a new level of relaxation takes hold .  Watch : Egypt wants tourists back  We stayed at the Adrere Amellal Ecolodge , which sits on the far west end of the oasis straddling Siwa Lake and the Sahara Desert . Don ' t be fooled into thinking that just because there isn ' t any power you ' ll have to slum it . The rooms are built in the traditional Siwa fashion , but with all the amenities of a five star hotel , including hot water .  Step outside your room and prepare for an adventure . With only three full days I was limited in what I could explore . But I especially enjoyed taking a dip in the pool fed by a natural spring . Then , I floated on the lake that , to my surprise , is just like the Dead Sea . Sturdy horses take travelers into the Sahara to watch the sun rise above the oasis and later that day , sink behind large dunes of the Great Sand Sea .  Speaking of sand : If you ' re interested in sandboarding , make sure to check the boards first . The sandboard I used had an exposed screw on the bottom , which acted like an anchor going down the slopes .  Our desert guide , Abdullah Baghi , was extremely knowledgeable and friendly . While out exploring the fossils , we discovered what Baghi believes are fragments of a meteor . We couldn ' t be sure , seeing neither of us are meteor experts or geologists .  You can enjoy a Siwa sand bath if you ' re brave enough to make the journey in the middle of summer . The average temperature is 38 degrees Celsius ( or 100 degrees Fahrenheit ) . If you take the plunge , you are buried up to your neck in scorching sand , which allegedly helps with rheumatism , high cholesterol , and other ailments . For 10 to 15 minutes the moisture is pulled out of your body , after which they dig you up . Apparently the stench remaining in the pit once someone leaves is pungent .  If you ' re looking for a bit of adventure without a guide , bicycles are available to rent so you can discover the back roads of the enormous oasis . While out discovering its nooks and crannies , you might want to stop off at Cleopatra ' s Spring . Rumor has it , the Egyptian queen visited and swam there but historians dispute this claim .  Back at the hotel , the amazing staff is ready to serve . The meals alone are an event . Every multi course meal is presented at a different location on the lodge ' s grounds . Dinner is under a ceiling of shining stars and illuminated by candlelight . After spending five years in Egypt and dining in most of Cairo ' s restaurants , I can say , without a shadow of a doubt , they serve the best food in the country .  If you ' re lucky , the owner of the lodge , Dr Mounir Neamatalla , will join you for dinner . He ' s a truly enlightened man with incredible knowledge of not only Siwa , but of Egypt as a whole , and makes for great conversation .  Later in the evening , lanterns illuminate the pathways around the grounds , some of which lead to a roaring fire . In my opinion , sitting by the fire with a good drink is the best way to relax and rejuvenate after a long day .  Part of what makes this oasis so magical is the difficulty in traveling there . Only dedicated , serious travelers make the journey not your run of the mill beach bum . If you decide to hop in a car or bus and travel the grueling hours , I can guarantee you will not be disappointed .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
6153,6154,"Daniel Sturridge was 23 years old when the proverbial penny dropped and , in turn , balls started landing in the back of the net .  It took a big money transfer to new surroundings to trigger his devastating improvement .  Similarly , Danny Welbeck is 23 years old and has just completed a 16million move from Manchester United to Arsenal .  On Monday night he scored both goals for England in a 2 0 victory in Switzerland .   Scroll down to watch England players stepped up Hodgson  Easy does it : Danny Welbeck netted both goals in England ' s 2 0 win over Switzerland  Neat finish : Welbeck flourished playing through the middle rather than on the wing  Mobbed : Welbeck is congratulated by team mates after scoring his second goal of the night for England  Sometimes footballers need a change , something different to think about , a new environment to spark an upturn in fortune .  It worked for Sturridge , now 25 . He has 36 goals from 52 outings since swapping Chelsea for Liverpool .  So is Welbeck ready to enjoy a goals glut of his own in North London ?  His  , of course , would suggest not 37 from 178 during the course of his club career equates to one every five games or so .  Team player : Welbeck often sacrificed himself for the good of the team at Manchester United  Club class : Welbeck completed his move from United to Arsenal on transfer deadline day  But goalscorers need to be treated as such , deployed in a central domain with chances carved for their benefit .  Welbeck , at Old Trafford , spent more time on the wing than he did in the penalty box , something which irked the player himself .  Ironically , it was an injury to Sturridge which presented him with his chance in Basle . He responded with a brace , the first poached from six yards and the second a cool finish from 12 . You don ' t score those sorts of goals from the touchline .  You can like our Arsenal Facebook page here  Stepping up : Daniel Sturridge has become a key player for England since his move to Liverpool  Career changing move : Sturridge benefited from his move from Chelsea ( left ) to Liverpool ( right )  At Arsenal he will be used as a centre forward . Chances will be fashioned . Welbeck will have no excuse .  This weekend the Gunners face Manchester City , what better setting for the new boy to prove his worth ?  For ultimately all strikers are judged on the goals they return . Forget Welbeck the team player , the player who sacrificed himself manning a flank for United . It is time for Welbeck to demonstrate a selfish streak , to make himself a certain starter for club and country .  Just the beginning : Welbeck can use his move to Arsenal to kick on and flourish for club and country  His progress will be monitored with trepidation from the North West . For Welbeck was one of their own , an academy graduate whose potential will now be realised at a top flight rival .  Manchester City the club who nurtured Sturridge know the feeling .  Don ' t forget that Welbeck is still only 23 . His double on Monday took his Three Lions tally to 10 . At the same age , Gary Lineker had one cap and no goals . Sturridge , similarly , has only flourished in the past 18 months .  For Welbeck , Arsenal and England , then , this is only the beginning .   England players stepped up Hodgson  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
6157,6158,"—   Even the   special relationship is subject to limits, it seems. With a Republican administration under Donald J. Trump only weeks away, Prime Minister Theresa May of Britain scolded Secretary of State John Kerry on Thursday night for his speech criticizing Israel  —   a public jab that would have been highly unlikely any other time during the Obama administration. In a statement that echoed Mr. Trump’s fierce criticism of the Obama administration, Mrs. May chided Mr. Kerry for, among other things, describing the Israeli government as the “most   in Israeli history, with an agenda driven by the most extreme elements. ” Mrs. May does “not believe that it is appropriate to attack the composition of the democratically elected government of an ally,” a spokesman for the prime minister said, using the department’s customary anonymity. Mr. Kerry’s speech was praised by other European nations, including France and Germany. So the British slap  —   especially after Mrs. May’s government voted last week for a United Nations Security Council resolution condemning Israeli settlement construction  —   was something of a shock to Washington. “We are surprised by the U. K. Prime Minister’s office statement,” the State Department said in a statement, noting that Mr. Kerry’s remarks “were in line with the U. K.’s own longstanding policy and its vote at the United Nations. ” But Mrs. May, who leads a Conservative government, has been trying, with mixed success, to make inroads with the incoming Trump administration. A strong political and trading relationship with the United States has become even more important for Britain after its vote this year to leave the European Union. Ian Black, a visiting senior fellow at the Middle East Center of the London School of Economics, wrote on Twitter that Mrs. May’s remarks were an “alarming early sign of ‘Trump effect’ on fawning Brits desperate to stay ‘special’ in Brexit era. ” So far, there have been some notable hiccups. The British government was vocally unhappy that the first British politician to meet with Mr. Trump after his election victory was not Mrs. May. Instead, it was one of her rivals, Nigel Farage, the former leader of the     U. K. Independence Party. The visit was even memorialized in a photograph of Mr. Farage and Mr. Trump standing in front of gilded doors at Trump Tower in Manhattan. Mr. Trump suggested publicly that Mrs. May appoint Mr. Farage as Britain’s ambassador to the United States, a suggestion Mrs. May firmly rejected. Britain’s relations with the Obama administration have not always been smooth, either, with major disagreements over Syria policy and military spending. But the countries are close, especially when it comes to  and the sharing of intelligence. Mrs. May’s criticism of Mr. Kerry represented an extraordinary public rebuke, even if President Obama is about to exit the scene. But it also offered her a chance to establish common ground with the new American administration. Mr. Trump, a firm defender of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, has publicly disparaged the Obama administration for abstaining  —   rather than using its veto  —   last week in the Security Council vote on Israeli settlements. The   was also critical of Mr. Kerry’s    speech, which defended the   solution for the   conflict, and called for an end to Israeli settlement activity that, he said, undermines that possibility. The British government has been working with Trump aides on an early visit to the White House by Mrs. May, to show the continuing strength of   ties. Kim Darroch, the British ambassador in Washington, has said that Mrs. May and Mr. Trump want to “build on the legacy of Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher. ” In an election night diplomatic message about the Trump victory, leaked to The Sunday Times of London, Mr. Darroch discussed how the inexperienced Mr. Trump might be malleable to British advice and guidance. “The   is above all an outsider and unknown quantity, whose campaign pronouncements may reveal his instincts, but will surely evolve and, particularly, be open to outside influence if pitched right,” Mr. Darroch wrote. “Having, we believe, built better relationships with his team than have the rest of Washington diplomatic corps, we should be well placed to do this,” he continued. But Mr. Trump’s initial discussions with foreign leaders have been haphazard. His first conversation with Mrs. May came after a string of other phone calls, when traditionally it has been the British prime minister who has the first call with an elected president. In an opinion piece in The Guardian newspaper, Azriel Bermant, a lecturer in international relations at Tel Aviv University, suggested that, by criticizing Mr. Kerry and currying favor with both Mr. Trump and Mr. Netanyahu, Mrs. May may be hoping to, as Mr. Darroch suggested, persuade Mr. Trump to act more moderately in the Middle East and support the   solution that Mr. Kerry was defending. “May might have calculated that retaining influence with the Netanyahu government requires her to distance herself from the Obama administration which is not flavor of the month in Jerusalem,” Mr. Bermant wrote. “Britain remains one of Israel’s strongest allies in Europe and May wants to keep it that way. ” The issue Mrs. May took with Mr. Kerry’s remarks was not about the legality of the Israeli settlements. The British government voted in favor of the Security Council resolution because, like other European members of the Council, Britain has long considered settlements beyond the 1967 armistice lines to be illegal. “But we are also clear that the settlements are far from the only problem in this conflict,” Mrs. May’s spokesman said. “In particular, the people of Israel deserve to live free from the threat of terrorism, with which they have had to cope for too long. ” In fact, while Mr. Kerry concentrated on the settlement issue, he also spoke of the need for Israelis to live with security, and he criticized Palestinians as not doing enough to combat terrorism. But with Mr. Trump elected, Britain is moving on.",true,news,test,US elections,Conflict,satire,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
6174,6175,"Dr Ellie Goodmedicine , an attending physician in the Department of Emergency Medicine at New York City Hospital , stunned the department ' s residency program by admitting a patient to the hospitalist service while the residents were attending a noon conference lecture .  "" No attending physician has admitted a patient without substantial resident support and assistance for the last three years since we moved to the electronic medical record system and established a new admitting protocol , explains Chief Resident Dr Handholder . "" The process is actually very complicated and it can take years of practice to successfully maneuver a patient into a hospitalist ' s care . ""  Prior to this incident it was assumed that attending physicians were incapable of admitting their own patients to the hospital , presumably because the mental effort required to juggle unrelated admitting protocols proved to be greater than the satisfaction of completing the admitting process in a timely fashion .  "" I think the attending physicians are happier with the concept of a patient boarding in the  while they wait for the resident to complete a 35 centimeter laceration repair than they are just going through the admission process because it ' s so unbelievably painful , explains intern Dr Ivy Leaguer . "" In fact , I can ' t hardly pull of an admission on my own yet without asking for help . ""  Dr Goodmedicine was observed to complete a disposition note on the electronic medical record with a grin on her face , enter final diagnoses compatible with  10 billing phrasing as her grin became a slightly contemptuous smirk , completed the outpatient medication reconciliation process with a deft snap of the mouse and without a glance at the long list of medications randomly compiled by the triage nurse , contacted the patient ' s primary care physician and two specialty consultation services to ascertain the correct admitting service without shedding a tear , placed the admission order in the computer while updating the patient ' s recorded weight , confirming their gender and noting their code wishes ,  status and isolation requirements , and then signed the patient out to the appropriate hospitalist , placing the handoff note in the electronic medical record with a masterful flourish .  She then collapsed into the only nice swivel chair that hadn ' t been taken by the department ' s clerks and sighed a deep and contented breath of relief and self congratulatory amazement .  Following this event , Dr Goodmedicine was then noted to treat herself to a cappuccino , which she enjoyed at the nurses ' station in observance of the new Joint Commission Recommendations recommending the full and unobstructed caffeination of health care providers .  ",satire,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,satire,True,no,no,neutral,past
6181,6182,"Research could ‘potentially serve as a curative approach for patients with HIV’, scientist says   Scientists have managed to remove  of the  virus from living tissue for the first time in a breakthrough that could lead to an outright cure.  At the moment, treating the disease involves the use of drugs that suppress levels of the virus so the body’s immune system can cope.  Now researchers in the  have revealed they used gene-editing technology to remove  of the commonest HIV-1 strain from several organs of infected mice and rats.   In April, the same team reported that they had successfully eliminated the virus from human cells in the laboratory, but a paper in the journal Nature Gene Editing revealed they had managed to do the same thing in live animals for the first time.  The researchers’ team leader, Professor Kamel Khalili, of Temple University, said: “In a proof-of-concept study, we show[ed] that our gene-editing technology can be effectively delivered to many organs of two small animal models and excise large fragments of viral  from the host cell genome.”  The current antiretroviral drugs for  are not able to eliminate HIV-1 from the infected cells.  And if treatment is interrupted, the virus can start replicating quickly, putting patients of risk of getting full-blow AIDS.  This is because it is able to persist in immune system T-cells and other places where it is not actually active and is unaffected by the current treatments.   The researchers used a specially adapted virus to deliver the gene-editing system into the cells. “The ability of the rAAV delivery system to enter many organs containing the HIV-1 genome and edit the viral  is an important indication that this strategy can also overcome viral reactivation from latently infected cells and potentially serve as a curative approach for patients with HIV,” Professor Khalili said. In a statement, Temple University said the implications of the new study were “far-reaching”. “The gene-editing platform by itself may be able to eradicate HIV-1  from patients, but it is also highly flexible and potentially could be used in combination with existing antiretroviral drugs to further suppress viral RNA. It also could be adapted to target mutated strains of HIV-1,” it added. Professor Khalili said a clinical trial could happen within the next few years, but he first planned to carry out a similar study involving a larger group of animals.   Breaking   ",fake,news,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,present
6204,6205,"The  says it has opened a criminal investigation of the Veterans Affairs Department , which is grappling with a scandal over long waiting lists to provide care and allegations that paperwork was faked to make delays appear shorter .   Director James Comey told a House hearing on Wednesday the bureau ' s Phoenix office has joined an ongoing review by the  inspector general .  The move at least partly satisfies requests from key members of Congress from both parties who have pressed for a full probe by the Justice Department as the scandal accelerated in recent weeks and led to the resignation of  Secretary Eric Shinseki in May .  Officials have said the inspector general is sharing findings with federal prosecutors , and the Justice Department could launch a full blown criminal probe if any of the information meets the standard for doing so .  At Wednesday ' s hearing , Comey would not say whether the investigation would be expanded beyond the initial allegations at the Phoenix medical facility , but said the  was "" working with the   and will follow this wherever the facts take us . ""  IGs are the internal watchdogs of federal agencies and usually conduct administrative audits for fraud or other abuse . Sometimes those reviews result in federal prosecution . Typically , the Justice Department waits for reviews by inspectors general to be completed before deciding whether to jump in .  In this case , a Justice Department spokesman said , "" At the department ' s direction , the  has instructed agents in its Phoenix office to conduct an investigation into the allegations related to the  . Federal prosecutors will be working with these investigators to determine whether there is a basis for criminal charges . ""  Widespread problems at the  ' s health care facilities have persisted for years but questions intensified over the past several months amid fresh media and congressional scrutiny .  An internal Veterans Affairs audit released Monday found that tens of thousands of newly returning veterans wait at least 90 days for medical care , while even more who signed up in the  system over the past 10 years never got an immediate appointment they requested .  The  has acknowledged 23 deaths nationwide due to delayed care .  Despite efforts to address some issues in recent years , including reductions in backlogs for benefits and the number of homeless veterans , the long waits have continued for newly enrolled veterans to get initial appointments for care .  Reasons for the chronic problems include the increasing number of veterans returning from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan , and a bonus system that rewarded managers for meeting goals regarding access to treatment .  Lawmakers for weeks have flocked to  cameras and issued statements to urge the Justice Department to start its own investigation . But there ' s recent precedent for the department to be wary of the political pressure .  The department quickly announced its probe into the  after reports of alleged targeting of conservative political groups . The  investigation continues , but so far investigators haven ' t found proof of a chargeable crime , according to people briefed on the case .  As a result , the department is under fire from Republican lawmakers for not bringing charges .  Separately , the House has unanimously approved legislation to permit veterans experiencing long wait times for medical appointments to seek care at non  facilities at the government ' s expense . A similar measure has been proposed in the Senate , which could act later this week .  Vets could get care outside  under bill passed by House  Audit : More than 120 , 000 veterans waiting or never got care  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
6214,6215,"Paris called a suicide counseling hotline early Wednesday , which lead to a counselor calling 911 to the Jackson home in Calabasas , California , those sources said .  "" Being a sensitive 15 year old is difficult no matter who you are , "" attorney Perry Sanders said Wednesday morning . "" It is especially difficult when you lose the person closest to you . Paris is physically fine and is getting appropriate medical attention . Please respect her privacy and the family ' s privacy . ""  Paris Jackson : Superstar ' s daughter builds own identity in spotlight  Other Jackson sources stopped short of calling the incident a suicide attempt , although one suggested it might be "" a cry for help "" from the teenager .  Paris posted messages to her million plus Twitter followers late Tuesday evening :  "" i wonder why tears are salty ? ""  "" yesterday , all my troubles seemed so far away  "" now it looks as though they ' re here to stay ""  The Los Angeles County Sheriff ' s Department said its deputies "" responded to a medical situation "" at an address that matches the Jacksons ' Calabasas home at 1 : 27 a . m . Wednesday . A patient was taken to a hospital , it said .  Paris , along with her grandmother , Katherine Jackson , and her brothers , Prince and Blanket , are suing  Live for liability in Michael Jackson ' s 2009 drug overdose death .  Paris and Prince are listed as witness in the Los Angeles trial and have been expected to testify in the wrongful death trial later this month .  Jackson trial lawyer Kevin Boyle spoke to reporters outside of court Wednesday afternoon , saying Paris can decide if she will testify during their part of the case , but  Live has subpoenaed her , calling her a key witness .  "" The Jackson family and the Jackson lawyers are putting no pressure on Paris regarding this case at all , "" Boyle said . "" It is  who is putting this case at Paris ' back door . ""  Paris and Prince were questioned separately over two days by  lawyers just before the trial began in April .  "" A grilling of a child regarding the loss of her father is going to create a lot of pressure , "" Boyle said . "" Paris Jackson was asked intimate details about her father and her father ' s death it was a very intense situation . ""   Live lawyer Marvin Putnam denied his team was tough on Paris Jackson in her deposition . "" I don ' t think anybody in the world could call it a grilling . ""  He declined to say he would not call her as a witness if she does not testify during the Jacksons ' case .  "" We have to know what they ' re putting on as a case before we decide what our defense will be , "" Putnam said . "" I have no idea who we ' re going to call . ""  Paris made millions cry four years ago when she spoke up at the end of the public memorial service for her father .  "" Ever since I was born , daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine , "" she said , fighting back tears as relatives consoled her . "" And I just want to say that I love him so much , "" she said as she burst into tears and sought refuge in the embrace of family members .  Paris questioned about dad ' s death in lawsuit  Paris was recently reunited with her mother , who bowed out of her life when she was an infant . She has been spending time with Debbie Rowe on her horse farm .  Rowe issued a statement through her lawyer Wednesday morning : "" We appreciate everyone ' s thoughts for Paris at this time and their respect for the family ' s privacy . ""  ",true,text,test,American football,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
6215,6216,"You probably have to go back to that unforgettable back nine meltdown at the Masters in 2011 to find the last time Rory McIlroy had a 30 minute collapse to rival the one he suffered at the  World Tour Championship on Saturday .  One minute he was making birdies for fun to be tied for the lead with defending champion Henrik Stenson . This brilliant European Tour season looked for all the world like it would get the Sunday showdown between the pair it deserved .  Then came that half hour of madness , as almost unbelievably the world number one followed one double bogey with another . In 30 minutes he had gone from co leader to outside the top ten . Seeing him get one double bogey his first in 220 holes at the Earth Course was shocking enough but two in a row was positively jaw dropping .   Scroll down to watch  World Tour Championship day 3 highlights  Rory McIlroy plays his tee shot on the fourth hole during 2014  World Tour Championship in Dubai  McIlroy tees off at the ninth hole during the final round of the  Tour at the Jumeirah Golf Estates  McIlroy and his caddie  Fitzgerald ( left ) make their way across a footbridge to the 17th green  At the 12th , he three putted and then short sided himself badly with a wild tee shot at the 13th . Trust McIlroy to bounce back from those four dropped shots at the 12th and 13th with a birdie at the 14th and another at the 18th . But those costly lapses have left him with an awful lot to do if he is to end this amazing campaign with one more victory .  The 25 year old had to settle for a 70 and , on another day of low scoring , that ' s left him four shots adrift of the co leaders , Stenson and Rafa Cabrera Bello .  McIlroy made up seven strokes to win the   Championship at Wentworth in May and spark his remarkable summer . But it will be some feat to make up such a sizable deficit against an opponent as formidable as the Swede on a course that suits him to a tee .  Henrik Stenson plays his second shot of the ninth hole from the bunker on day three  Stenson recovered from his troubles in the bunker to lead the course at the end of the third round  ' I ' m obviously a bit frustrated at the minute about those double bogeys but at least the late birdies mean I ' m not out of it , ' said McIlroy . ' The idea on Sunday will be to play aggressively and go at the pins and try to post a low score . '  As for Stenson , he said : ' At the end of the year we always look at trophies and it would mean an awful lot to me to defend this title for my first win this season . '  The one thing that will give McIlroy encouragement is there are only three players ahead of him . Stenson and Cabrera Bello are three shots ahead of Justin Rose on eleven under and then comes McIlroy on ten under , alongside three other players in Frenchman Victor Dubuisson , Dane Thorbjorn Olesen and rising English rookie Tyrrell Hatton .  Stenson hits a shot on the 18th hole against the glorious backdrop of the Dubai course  England ' s Tyrrell Hatton reacts following a missed putt on the 18th green  Stenson will start as clear favourite given he ' s ranked number four in the world and loves this Earth course . But Spaniard Cabrera Bello deserves high credit for a stunning comeback from an opening round of 73 that appeared to rule out any chance of winning .  How he has responded , following a 64 on Friday with a 65 on Saturday . Similarly , Rose has bounced back from being four over par after 10 holes on Thursday to give himself an opportunity to clinch his third victory of the year .  Dubuisson was third in this event last season and again showed his liking for the course with a 67 .  Scotland ' s Richie Ramsay plays a shot on the 17th hole  And how about Hatton ? The 23 year old Englishman appears to have been pipped for the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year prize by exciting American Brooks Koepka , who won the Turkish Airlines Open last week . But that could all change if he can piece together the best round of his career on Sunday .  ' I think I would have to win the event to win the rookie race as well but who knows what might happen if I can hole a few putts on the back nine , ' said Hatton . ' It ' s still a bit weird for me seeing my name next to the likes of Rory and Henrik , so I ' ll have to make sure I keep my emotions in check . '  Scot Marc Warren and Danny Willett from England will start the final round five in arrears after rounds of 65 and 71 respectively .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
6229,6230,"Aviation investigators appear increasingly certain it was a bomb that brought down the airbus A321 last Saturday week , killing 224 people .  British authorities are taking seriously the claims by local Islamic State militants that they were responsible for the crash .  Islamic State ' s Egyptian affiliate ? known as Sinai Province , or Wilayat Sinai ? issued an audio message last week claiming responsibility for the crash and pledging to reveal in its own time how it did so .  It said it had shot the airbus down in response to Russian air strikes that killed hundreds of Muslims in Syria .  Associate Professor Rodger Shanahan from the Australian National Institute and the Lowy Institute in Sydney , believes the Sinai based group would have been acting on instructions from Islamic State in Syria , and would not have launched such an attack on its own .  "" With Russia intervening in Syria they Russia had obviously become a target , "" he said .  "" Wilayat Sinai have been targeting Egyptian security forces , Egyptian judicial figures , the Egyptian government .  "" They haven ' t been focused on foreign entities . . there is no reason for them necessarily to target a Russian plane . ""  Wilayat Sinai is considered the most powerful and dangerous of several Islamist groups that have sprung up in the Sinai region in recent years .  Associate Professor Shanahan said the ousting of former Islamist president Mohamed Morsi and the rise of an autocratic military regime in Egypt has seen extremist groups expand in recent years , especially in the Sinai where impoverished Bedouins and other marginalised groups have morphed into more extremist groups , bound by a common disaffection with the government .  Wilayat Sinai has for several years waged a successful and sophisticated campaign against Egyptian government forces ? carrying out political assassinations and even shooting down a military helicopter with a surface to air missile sourced from Libya .   in particular has shown a desire . . . to try and dominate the media cycle . And there ' s no better way to dominate the media cycle and get back at Russia than to bring down an airliner .  Last year Wilayat Sinai pledged allegiance to Islamic State ' s leadership in Syria .  Associate Professor Shanahan believes the move was strategic as much as ideological , because it would have given the Sinai based group access to finance , manpower and other resources for its own fight .  "" This notion of branding and being part of something bigger sometimes helps your recruiting so . . . you ' re not just going to attract Egyptian volunteers . You may well attract fighters from other areas to support your cause , "" he said .  Associate Professor Shanahan said if Islamic State affiliated militants did bring down the Russian plane , it was most likely on the instructions of  leaders in Syria .  "" You ' d think they ' d be given operational direction to do that , with Russia intervening in Syria , "" he said .  ""  in particular has shown a desire . . . to try and dominate the media cycle . And there ' s no better way to dominate the media cycle and get back at Russia than to bring down an airliner . ""  Local support needed to get bomb on board : Shanahan  ",true,text,test,US elections,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
6237,6238,"Although recently enjoying a true hero ' s departure the epoch making truth of her amazing split personalitied adventures can now finally be revealed to an awestruck world .  Was A Bit Of A ' Special ' Child  Her exact birth date is lost in the mists of time and secretly born to the goddess Hippolyta on the mysterious Isle of Sheppey , Margaret Hilda Roberts showed prodigious talent for leadership , economics and crime solving from an early age .  Thirty Years of Thrill Thirsty Thatch !  This week , the people of Earth celebrate the 30th anniversary of the rise to power of this amazing matriarch who latterly and more famously was to become known as Margaret Thatcher : Iron Lady .  Double Lifed Dame  Though unknown at the time , throughout the 11 years she held power , Mrs Thatcher lead a double life of fighting crime and international vigilantism . Frequently teaming up with other duel identitied leaders of the day , such as the U . S . A ' s ' Ray Gun ' , Iron Lady helped bring to heel such international villains as the three early 80 ' s holders of the title ' Ivan The Terrible ' , and that fiendishly fiendish fiend of faith ' The Pope ' .  Cornholed Some Chump With A Comb Over  Not without her detractors and criticism throughout her double existenced tenure , the Iron Lady ' s darkest hours must have come when she slam dunked the oily South American smarmster : ' General Belgrano ' , shortly before facing off against and humiliating the follically challenged ' Miner Man ' .  Felt Skanked by The Yank  However , the Iron Lady was to go on a few seasons more , yet seemed to loose some measure of conviction after the transatlantic truth seeker ' Ray Gun ' finally hung up his cloak .  Not So Fond Of Bush  Although enjoying what must rank as one of her greatest successes , ' The Calamitous Case of the Collapsing Wall ' , with Ray Gun ' s replacement , ' Wonder Bush ' , the Iron Lady finally slipped off the old red , white and blue for the last time shortly thereafter .  As these are early days and the amazing news of The Iron Lady ' s true identity has only just been revealed to us all , I do hope to shortly be able to share with you more of , what are sure to be amazing tales of munificent Prime Ministerial mayhem !  Rula Nation 2009  ",satire,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,satire,True,no,no,positive,past
6239,6240,"November 10, 2016 Long-term Effects of the Presidential Election  The reverberations from Donald Trump’s election as the 45th president of the United States are being felt around the world. A number of Hollywood’s celebrities are saying they will move out of the country. Many political pundits are decrying the overthrow of the international order that globalists have worked so hard to build since World War II.  On the other hand, one politician from Israel is saying that Trump’s election heralds the coming of the Messiah. One thing is certain. The election of Mr. Trump to lead the world’s greatest nation will definitely change things dramatically. What will the long-term effects of America’s election actually be? We’ll talk about on today’s edition of End of the Age. Join the Conversation",fake,news,test,US elections,US elections,satire,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
6253,6254,"Cruz wins Republican caucuses in Iowa as candidates look to New Hampshire  Posted : Feb 02 , 2016 1 : 11   Last Updated : Feb 02 , 2016 8 : 34    Former president Bill Clinton , left , and Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton acknowledge supporters during a caucus night rally at Drake University in Des Moines . ( Patrick Semansky Associated Press )  The former secretary of state , senator from New York and first lady edged past the Vermont senator in a race the Iowa Democratic Party called the closest in its caucus history .  The Iowa Democratic Party said Tuesday that it would not do any recount of the close results , and a spokesman for the Sanders campaign said it does not intend to challenge the results of the caucuses .  Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders poses for photos during a caucus night rally on Monday , Feb . 1 , 2016 , in Des Moines , Iowa . ( Evan Vucci Associated Press )  Democrats form groups at caucus sites , publicly declaring their support for a candidate . The final numbers are awarded proportionately , based on statewide and congressional district voting , determining Iowa ' s 44 delegates to the national convention .  Clinton ? had been expected to cruise to victory in Iowa and beyond . But Sanders has appealed to the Democrats ' liberal base , especially the young , who are concerned about growing income inequality and the shrinking of the middle class .  Although Clinton said she was "" breathing a big sigh of relief , "" and her campaign said it had won an outright victory , the neck and neck contest was a blow , evoking the setback she faced in 2008 after her upset loss to then senator ? Obama . Given the closeness of the Democratic caucuses , the  did not declare a winner .  Eight years ago , Clinton ' s victory in New Hampshire breathed fresh life into her campaign . But New Hampshire is also familiar territory for Sanders , who represents neighbouring Vermont in the Senate and is well known among the state ' s voters . Sanders ' sizable lead over Clinton in New Hampshire polls has held steady or increased in recent weeks .  Clinton had a big advantage with voters 65 and over , according to polling data , with Sanders able to boast of an even wider disparity ? ? at over 80 per cent support ? ? from voters 30 and under .  Clinton ' s victory in Iowa means she will collect 23 delegates and Sanders will win 21 . With her advantage in superdelegates ? the party officials who can support the candidate of their choice ? Clinton now has a total of 385 delegates . Sanders has 29 .  It takes 2 , 382 delegates to win the Democratic nomination for president .  ? Meanwhile , Republicans and Democrats descended on the tiny New England state of New Hampshire , which votes next Tuesday .  On the Republican Iowa caucuses , Texas Senator ? Ted Cruz , a fiery conservative loathed by his own party ' s leaders , swept to victory on Monday , overcoming billionaire Donald Trump and a stronger than expected showing by Florida Senator ? Marco Rubio .  On the Republican Iowa caucuses , Texas Senator Ted Cruz , a fiery conservative loathed by his own party ' s leaders , swept to victory on Monday . ( Charlie Neibergall Associated Press )  The outcome in the country ' s first nominating contest drew a line under voter dissatisfaction , especially among Republicans , with the way government in Washington operates , with anger over growing income inequality and fears of global turmoil and terrorism .  Cruz ' s victory in Monday ' s caucuses , which drew a record turnout , was a blow to Trump , the real estate mogul who has roiled the Republican field for months with controversial statements about women and minorities .  But Trump still holds a commanding lead in New Hampshire and national polls .  New Hampshire has historically favoured more moderate candidates than Iowa , and more than 40 per cent of the state ' s electorate are not registered in any political party .  Cruz on Tuesday suggested he was focused on New Hampshire but also on South Carolina , which votes 11 days later .  Trump came in second slightly ahead of Rubio , whose stronger than expected finish could help cement his status as the favourite of mainstream Republican voters who worry that Cruz and Trump are too caustic to win the November general election .  Trump vowed to keep up his fight , telling cheering supporters that "" we will go on to easily beat Hillary or Bernie or whoever the hell they throw up . ""  Some of the establishment Republican candidates have been focusing more on New Hampshire than Iowa , including former Florida governor ? Jeb Bush , Ohio Gov . John Kasich and New Jersey Gov . Chris Christie .  The caucuses marked the end of at least two candidates ' White House hopes . Former Maryland governor ? Martin O ' Malley ended his longshot bid for the Democratic nomination , and former Arkansas governor ? Mike Huckabee dropped out of the Republican race .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
6265,6266,"Barack Obama , wiping tears , makes new push to tighten gun rules    : Love visual aspect of news ? Enjoy this exclusive slideshows treat !   : Wiping back tears as he remembered children who died in a mass shooting , President Barack Obama on Tuesday described new steps he is taking to tighten gun rules and urged Americans to vote for candidates willing to do more to prevent gun violence .  As Obama delivered a powerful address in the White House , surrounded by family members of people killed in shootings , his voice rose to a yell as he said the constitutional rights of Americans to bear arms needed to be balanced by the right to worship , gather peacefully and live their lives .  Obama has often said his toughest time in office was grappling with the December 2012 massacre of 20 children and six adults at an elementary school in Newtown , Connecticut .  "" Every time I think about those kids , it gets me mad , "" Obama said , tears rolling down his cheek .  "" That changed me , that day , "" he said , after being introduced by Mark Barden , whose 7 year old son was killed in the shooting . "" My hope earnestly has been that it would change the country . ""  After that tragedy , the Democratic president failed to persuade Congress to toughen U . S . gun laws . He has blamed lawmakers for being in the thrall of the powerful National Rifle Association gun lobby group .  The stocks of gunmakers Smith Wesson Holding Corp and Sturm Ruger Co Inc have climbed since the announcement . On Tuesday , Smith Wesson jumped 12 percent to 26 . 10 a share and Sturm Ruger was up nearly 7 percent at 65 . 62 .  Obama acknowledged that laws won ' t change during his remaining year in office , but said he will continue to raise the issue in the time he has left .  The U . S . Constitution ' s 2nd Amendment gives Americans the right to have arms , a right that is fiercely defended .  Obama laid out executive action he is taking to require more gun sellers to get licenses and more gun buyers to undergo background checks .  Under the changes , the U . S . Bureau of Alcohol , Tobacco , Firearms and Explosives (  ) is issuing guidelines intended to narrow exceptions to a system that requires sellers to check with the Federal Bureau of Investigation to determine whether buyers have criminal records , are charged with crimes or have mental health conditions that would bar them from owning a gun .  The proposal is "" ripe for abuse "" by the government , said Chris Cox , an official with the National Rifle Association in a statement , adding that the powerful gun lobby group will continue to fight to protect Americans ' constitutional rights .  Legal challenges to the changes , which are contained in guidance from the  , are expected .  The crucial question in any direct legal challenge will be whether the  guidance creates new obligations , or merely clarifies existing law .  The more the Obama administration acts as though the guidance has created a new legal requirement , the more legal trouble it might invite , said Lisa Heinzerling , administrative law professor at Georgetown University .  Republican leaders were quick to denounce Obama ' s gun changes , with most Republican candidates for the 2016 presidential race promising to reverse his actions if they win the White House .  Reince Priebus , the head of the Republican National Committee , called the changes "" executive overreach "" that "" is all about burnishing the president ' s legacy and boosting Democrat enthusiasm in a presidential election year . ""  Republicans who control Congress made it clear that they oppose the changes , although some downplayed their significance .  "" Ultimately , this executive ' guidance ' is only a weak gesture a shell of what the president actually wants , "" said Kevin McCarthy , leader of the Republican majority in the House of Representatives .  Stay on top of business news with The Economic Times App . Download it Now !  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
6270,6271,"Largest  producer to discuss all issues at Dec . 4 meeting  Iran letter urges group to cut output in line with target  Saudi Arabia will discuss all issues at the  meeting on Friday and listen to concerns of other members , said the nation s Oil Minister Ali al Naimi .  We have a meeting on Friday , we will discuss all these issues , al Naimi told reporters Tuesday . We will listen and then decide .  Naimi spoke as he arrived in Vienna for a meeting that is  widely expected to ratify the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries decision a year ago to defend market share rather than support prices . Some members including Iran and  Venezuela continue to push for the group to reverse course and curb production .  Oil prices just completed the biggest monthly decline since July as  , which pumps about 40 percent of the world s supply , showed few signs of trimming production . Crude has fallen almost 40 percent the past year as a record surplus persisted while global producers  When asked if Saudi Arabia will stick to its strategy of defending its markets against competing supplies , al Naimi said : Who said we are keeping market share strategy ? Did I ever say ?  Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Namdar Zanganeh sent a letter to  calling for a cut in excess output , Mehr news agency reported Tuesday . The group should reduce current production of 31 . 3 million barrels a day to come back in line with its target of 30 million , Zanganeh said .  Curbs on Iranian oil sales to Europe and Asia will be lifted once the country dismantles atomic equipment in line with the terms of a deal struck with world powers in July . That could happen around the end of the first quarter , Societe Generale  estimates . Iran can expand output by 500 , 000 barrels a day from about 2 . 8 million currently within a week of restrictions being removed , and by 1 million barrels a day within six months , according to state run National Iranian Oil Co .  regardless of the impact on prices , Zanganeh said last month .  Iran s expansion will amplify the market share strategy spearheaded by Saudi Arabia , according to banks including Societe Generale and  Paribas  .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
6281,6282,"The Protestants entered Saturday ' s final regular season week against the Catholics ranked No . 1 in the Western Division for the first time since 1979 , and with the help of closer David Trimble , walked away with a 8 4 win . The Catholics , who are no longer a perennial title contender , entered the final week unranked and without playoff hopes for the first time in five years .  Buddhism and Traditional Chinese continued a see saw battle for dominancy in the Asian Division , the Buddhists , aided by a flawless performance by the Dalal Lama , who pitched a perfect game , defeated the T . C . 2 0 . The Buddhists have extended their divisional lead to 5 games , with a 4 home game series in Tibet commencing Monday .  In other news , United Islam , still reeling from the loss of Hamas designated hitter Abdel Aziz Rantisi against Judaism last April , hammered a heated 8 7 victory over Hinduism , the final game of a 4 0 sweep this week . Pakistani Islamic 1st baseman Choudhary Shujahat Hussain scored 3 runs on 5 at bats with 5  ' s , helped in handing Hindu starter Rao K . Sudarshan his first 4 straight game series loss since 2002 .  Western Division W L Pct  Home Road  Protestant 75 53 . 586 43 21 32 32 Catholic 59 70 . 457 17 36 30 23 40 Pentecostal 49 80 . 380 27 29 50 20 30 Jehovas W . 11 121 . 083 82 11 0 0 121  Middle Eastern Division W L Pct  Home Road  United Islam 85 44 . 689 42 23 43 21 Hinduism 61 67 . 477 18 33 30 28 37 Judaism 41 89 . 315 37 20 45 21 44 Sikism 11 41  Asian Division W L Pct  Home Road  Buddhism 75 54 . 581 39 25 36 29 Chinese trad 71 60 . 542 5 38 29 33 31 Confucinism 55 74 . 426 20 31 35 24 39 Shinto 40 90 . 311 35 20 45 21 44  Independent Division W L Pct  Home Road  Unitarianism 66 63 . 512 33 33 33 30 Scientology 61 67 . 477 4 33 30 28 37 Rastafarianism 60 68 . 469 5 32 31 28 37 Neo Paganism 55 72 . 433 10 30 34 25 38  Games Today :  Catholics vs . Protestants , 1 : 00 P . M . B . Lennon ( 9 4 ) vs . D . Trimble ( 9 1 ) Judaism vs . U . Islam 1 : 00 P . M . A . Sharon ( 4 8 ) vs . S . Hussein ( 7 2 ) : : pstpd : : 4 : 00 P . M . ( car bombing )  Unitarianism vs . Rastafarianism 4 : 00 P . M . W . Sinkford ( 8 8 ) vs . B . Marley ( 1 12 ) Scientology vs . Confucinism 4 : 00 P . M . L . R . Hubbard ( 3 7 ) vs X . Cheng ( 8 0 ) Shinto vs . Neo Paganism cancelled , rain  ",satire,text,test,Football,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
6296,6297,"It is sometimes necessary for men wanting to attract the opposite sex to come out of their shell .  Yet it seems that by often choosing the bolder males , women may be missing out on the best possible mate .  Researchers have found that the shyest males actually have the most to offer a potential lover at least in the world of hermit crabs .  Hermit crabs , like the ones above , borrow the shells from other creatures to keep them safe and new research has shown that those crabs that stay in their shells more often tend to be a better mate for female crabs  Professor Mark Briffa , a marine animal behaviour researcher at Plymouth University , and his colleagues have found that the most timid crabs tend to more high quality sperm making them a better option for females looking for a mate .  This , they say , is because the crabs that spend more time hiding from the world inside their shells , also have invested the most resources in becoming reproductively fit .  Males of a species of hairy chested crab , which has been given a nickname David Hasselhoff , spend their lives largely separate from the females , according to new research .  In a study looking at the private life of the deep sea crab known as the ' Hoff ' have found that the males and females spend separate lives at volcanic vents 1 . 5 miles deep near Antarctica .  This , according to the British research , is because of the conflicting demands of feeding and raising young among the sexes .  In 2010 , a British expedition revealed a ' lost world ' of deep sea animals including the crab named after the Baywatch star thriving on the ocean floor near Antarctica .  Using a deep diving remotely operated vehicle (  ) to examine the distribution , size and sex of these crabs at the vents , Dr Leigh Marsh and colleagues from the University of Southampton have now pieced together their private lives .  The researchers found that large male Hoff crabs live highest on the mineral spires of the deep sea vents , closest to the hot fluids that jet from them .  Smaller males tend to mingle with the females at the base of the mineral spires .  It is an unusual approach in the animal kingdom , where the boldest , bravest and strongest usually win the right to mate .  Indeed , in many species males have to prove their physical fitness with bold and dramatic displays like in peacocks and birds of paradise and even mortal combat in some cases .  Writing in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B , Professor Briffa and his colleagues said : ' It appears that in hermit crabs , high quality individuals that have invested heavily in reproduction , by making large spermatophores , are the most risk averse .  ' Although we did not measure metabolic rate , a key process for the pace of life syndrome , this result seems counter to the idea that the most productive individuals should also be the boldest . '  The researchers examined the ' personality ' of 100 hermit crabs collected from Mount Batten and Hannafore Point in Plymouth .  They did this by testing the ' startle response ' of each crab by removing it from its tank , inverting the crab for five seconds , which caused it to withdraw into its shell , and then returning it back into the tank upright .  The boldest crabs would then poke their heads back out of their shells far faster than the more timid crabs . On average most crabs emerged within 16 seconds .  The researchers then measured the levels of a protein called haemocyanin , which is responsible for carrying oxygen around the crabs bodies .  They found crabs that stayed in their shells longer after being startled tended to have higher levels of this protein .  Hermit crabs , like the one pictured above , hide in their shells when startled , but it also helps them become better mates  This is because when inside their shell , the crabs are unable to access the oxygen rich sea water around them and so higher levels of this protein helps use the oxygen already in their bodies more efficiently .  Next the researchers examined the crustacean ' s gonads and measured the size of the tube shaped bundles of sperm there , called spermatophores .  Again they found in the timid crabs , those that were slower to reemerge from their shells after being frightened , had larger spermatophores and so more high quality sperm stored .  As they grow , hermit crabs like the one above , ' upgrade ' their shells by seeking out larger ones as finding the right home can offer them protection from danger but also give them a way of growing better stores of sperm  Professor Briffa and his colleagues said that hiding in the shell when threatened may allow the crabs to conserve their energy for building up greater sperm reserves .  It also reduces the risk of losing a shell in a fight with another crab , something that can increase the amount of stress a crab is exposed to .  They said that in hermit crabs less reproductively fit individuals may develop boldness to help them compete with the shier more fertile crabs .  They said : ' Low quality males may emerge more quickly in an attempt to maximize their chance of mating , or because they need to return more quickly to foraging , or through a combination of these causes . '  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
6310,6311,"The Philippine Supreme Court postponed the introduction of a controversial law that aims to provide government funded contraception and sex education classes in the mainly Catholic country .  The Southeast Asian nation ' s top court issued an order on Tuesday delaying the implementation of the law for 120 days while it waits to hear arguments from several petitions against the new measures , the official Philippines News Agency (  ) reported .  Lawmakers approved the legislation , named the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act , in December after years of campaigning by public health and women ' s rights activists .  President Benigno Aquino  signed it into law the same month , with his office saying it had closed a divisive chapter in the nation ' s history .  But the Supreme Court decision has reopened the contentious topic , raising the hopes of leaders of the Catholic Church in the Philippines who oppose the measures .  "" For me it ' s a good sign , a victory "" for those who are against the law , said Bishop Arturo Bastes of Sorsogon , according to  .  He said he believed that Pope Francis , who was officially inaugurated on Tuesday , would be happy to hear of the delay .  Despite widespread support for the new measures in the Philippines , the Catholic Church lobbied against the legislation , saying it would undermine marriage and morality . More than 80 of the Philippines ' 96 million citizens are Catholic .  One of the petitions submitted to the court against the law argues that "" the State cannot , as a general principle , routinely invade the privacy of married couples in the exercise of their most intimate rights and duties to their respective spouses , "" according to  .  But supporters of the legislation , like Sen . Miriam Defensor Santiago , say it is necessary to help people in the Philippines "" escape the vicious cycle of poverty by giving them options on how to manage their sexual lives , plan their families and control their procreative activities . ""  ",true,text,test,Other news1,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
6328,6329,"A cure for marijuana abuse could be on the horizon thanks to a new finding .  Researchers found that increasing the levels of a naturally occurring acid in the brain could stop addicts who are trying to give up from relapsing .  The scientists discovered that kynurenic acid reduces the kick monkeys and rats get from  the active ingredient in marijuana .  Researchers found that increasing the levels of a kynurenic acid which occurs naturally in the brain could stop addicts who are trying to give up marijuana from relapsing  The researchers , at the University of Maryland , in the U . S . , explained that drug abuse is controlled by dopamine and that kynurenic acid influences dopamine , LiveScience reports .  The acid is effective because it blocks the receptors that cause the positive feelings inspired by dopamine .   activates dopamine neurones in the brain which causes cells to release dopamine .  Kynurenic acid which can be produced from bananas and turkey is thought to cause fewer side effects than other treatments that have been considered because it occurs naturally in the brain .  To test the effectiveness of the treatment , Robert Schwarcz and his colleagues gave rats and monkeys a drug that increased their levels of the acid while the creatures self administered  .  They found the animals were less interested in the  when they were being given the treatment .  The researchers also tried taking the  animals off the  and then increased their acid levels while giving  them a small amount of  .  Cure for cannabis abuse ? The researchers explained that drug abuse is controlled by dopamine and that kynurenic acid is effective because it blocks the receptors that cause the positive feelings inspired by dopamine  They found that increasing the levels of the acid stopped the rats and monkeys reverting to their previous pattern of drug use .  ' We found that you can reduce dopamine levels and the animals behave differently they don ' t have relapse , and don ' t abuse marijuana , ' Dr Schwarcz told LiveScience .  The findings have not yet been tested in people and it is not known whether the treatment would act on other parts of the brain as well .  ' A medication that would safely and effectively assist in the treat ment of marijuana dependence would be an important step forward in dealing with cannabis use disorders , ' he added , writing in the journal Nature Neuroscience .  ",true,text,test,Football,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
6338,6339,"Jimmy Fallon Donates 10 , 000 To Flint , Asks 10 Friends To Match Him  Other celebrities have also given to the beleaguered city .  Fallon is making waves in a good way !  Jimmy Fallon has a heart as pure as , well , water purifying pills .  As tensions continue to boil over the Flint water crisis , in which lead was found in the Michigan city s drinking supply , Fallon has decided to put his money where his mouth is .  On Sunday , the host of "" The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon "" took to Twitter to announce that he ' s donating 10 , 000 to Community Foundation Greater Flint , a charity that supports the community in Flint .  And he wants others to do the same :  Happy Sunday ! ! I ' m donating 10 , 000 to weblink : t . co JqAiRlCWrS . How about 10 friends match me ? WaterForFlint  Happy Sunday ! ! I m donating 10 , 000 to  . org . How about 10 friends match me ? WaterForFlint , Fallon tweeted to his 34 . 6 million followers .  Fallon is not the only star that is using his celebrity to help the situation in Flint that President Barack Obama has called "" inexplicable and inexcusable . ""  On Jan . 16 , Cher donated nearly 200 , 000 bottles to Flint , while Sean Diddy Combs and Mark Wahlberg are donating 1 million bottles , which are supposed to reach the city by Wednesday . ? Pearl Jam announced last week that the band will donate 300 , 000 to the United Way of Genesee County s Flint Water Fund .  The problem with Flint s drinking water occurred several months ago when the Michigan city switched its water system from the Flint River and failed to use corrosion controls . The result is traces of lead in the drinking supply , which is a huge public health risk . According to ? the World Health Organization ? even low lead exposures in childhood can cause lifelong problems such as intellectual disabilities , lower IQs and serious medical conditions like anemia and kidney dysfunction .  In his State of the State address last week , Gov . Rick Snyder said he let residents down , but that shouldn t dissuade people from trying to bring Flint back up .  There are many ways to help Flint , you can read more here . To make a donation , head to The United Way of Genesee County s website .  Parents and pediatricians have long known that reading has huge benefits for young children , but in 2015 , science offered the first hard proof ? that it actually changes kids ' brains , as well as insights into how , exactly , it all goes down .  Using MRIs , investigators looked into the brains of 3 to 5 year olds and found concrete visual evidence that reading to preschoolers ? activates the parts of their ? brains that help with mental imagery and understanding narrative both of which are essential for the development of language and literacy . Read on !  75 percent of parents face car seats the wrong way .  The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents keep toddlers in rear facing car seats until they either turn 2 or reach the maximum height and weight for their rear facing seat . But researchers found that most parents turn their child ' s car seat around to a front facing position earlier than is recommended , and a quarter of parents turn them around before their children ' s first birthday .  Children with pet dogs are less likely to have anxiety issues .  Parents may not have needed a study to tell them that dogs can do good things for children ' s mental health , but they got one in 2015 nonetheless . An investigation published in the fall ? found that children who live in homes with dogs are less likely to meet clinical thresholds for anxiety and related disorders than children in dog free homes . ?  "" Pet dogs could reduce childhood anxiety , particularly social and separation anxiety , by various mechanisms , "" the study authors wrote .  Yes , it ' s kind of a downer . And yes , it might seem pretty darn obvious . But a study published in 2015 got a lot of attention for showing the extent to which pizza contributes to American kids ' intake of salt , calories and saturated fat . ?  On any given day , about 20 percent of children and teens eat pizza , the researchers found and on those days , children generally tend to eat more salt , calories and saturated fat overall . Parents should really try and limit their kids ' overall pizza intake , the researchers urged , or at least make it healthier when it is on the menu , by adding veggie toppings , for example .   rates are up especially in girls .  Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder , or  , has long been thought of as largely a boy ' s issue . But a new analysis of national data ? released in December found that not only is the overall prevalence of  diagnoses up in the United States ( by 43 percent among school age children , according to their parents ) , there has also been a surprising jump in diagnoses among girls . Between the study period of 2003 and 2011 , diagnoses increased by 55 percent among girls .  Why ? That ' s the big next question , researchers say and they don ' t have an answer yet . It could be that doctors have simply begun to recognize that girls have symptoms other than "" classic "" signs , like impulsivity and an inability to focus . It also may well be that over diagnosis is at play . For now , the study makes it clear that  continues to be common and that parents , teachers and doctors shouldn ' t overlook it as a potential issue among certain subgroups of children who may have been missed in the past .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
6355,6356,"Spanish newspaper Marca has torn into the national side following their 5 1 defeat to Holland , running a predominantly black front page with the blunt headline : '   ' .  The paper also highlights the role Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie played in Holland ' s brilliant dismantling of the reigning world and European champions , as future Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal ' s side struck four times after the break .  But below the picture of Iker Casillas looking distraught , the paper does offer some hope , saying : ' Chile and Australia , two games to demonstrate the talent and football that made us champions . Believe . '  Not impressed : Spanish paper Marca hit out at Spain ' s defeat to Holland  Night to forget : Spain ' s goalkeeper Iker Casillas reacts after Robin van Persie scores his team ' s fourth goal  It also mentioned how Spain conceded more  goals in the match against Holland than they did in the whole of their  successful 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012 campaigns .  Marca say Casillas had a night to forget as Holland ' dominated ' Spain in Salvador .   report that Van Persie and Robben ' destroyed ' the Spanish defence , el Periodico ' s headline reads ' red with shame ' and Mundo Deportivo runs with ' Friday 13 ' with a picture of a forlorn Casillas .  Spain coach Vicente del Bosque admitted to feeling physically sick by the nature of the defeat .  Switzerland upset the eventual winners in the opening game four years ago but the manner of this humbling could be harder to bounce back from .  ' I feel sick , ill at ease , but with the courage a defeat must not sink us , ' he said .  ' It is not a happy moment , but first of all I want to congratulate the Dutch team , who were superior to us . We have been overwhelmed in the second half .  End of the world : Spain ' s night went from bad to worse as they conceded five goals to Holland  Poor day : Diego Costa could not help Spain win their opening game  ' We are a team of good professionals and good lads , everyone hurts , so there was no accusatory glances and that ' s good for the team . There will be time to talk . '  The veteran coach also declined to zero in on the performance of Casillas , who was to blame for two of Holland ' s goals in a shaky performance .  Asked directly about his goalkeeper ' s display , Del Bosque said : ' I insist that it is not the time to blame . The defeats do not come through the performance of a player , but by the weakness of the team . We cannot blame anyone , least of all Iker . '  Spain ' s next group game is against Chile on Wednesday .  ",true,text,test,Football,Economy,satire,true,True,no,no,negative,past
6361,6362,"As his campaign attempts to humanize Donald Trump with appearances by his family , one member , George Robert Trump , is conspicuously absent .  We caught up with the 45 year old "" Boy George "" Trump in Santa Fe , New Mexico , where he ' s lived for the last fifteen years . We met him with his assistant Madeline at Coyote Cafe , an award winning restaurant in the historic downtown district .  Our  reporter didn ' t have to ask Trump about his famous nickname , after exchanging pleasantries , he volunteered : "" I know you ' re going to run some dreadful story about ' Boy George Trump . ' "" Referring to the former pop icon , George R . Trump said , ""  he and I may share a name and a certain style , but you ' ve got to have more of a story than that . ""  When asked why he has been out of the spotlight he replied , "" Oh dear , I think you are finding out now why no one likes to talk to me , I ' m insufferable . I ' m the real truth teller in the family and they don ' t want me saying that my dad just figured out that the state I live in is part of the  . And I find politics and the press annoying , oh , but don ' t worry sweetie , you are going to get a good interview . Alright ? ""  Asked if he supports his fathers candidacy , what followed was one of the most bizarre scenes ever in an interview . George started out "" Oh I think having my dad as president would be . . . "" then he apparently passed out and slumped over not even breathing .  His assistant was immediately at his side lightly slapping his face , "" George , George , wake up ! "" This of course was causing concern among the other restaurant goers . "" Just bring him some water , "" the previously silent assistant ordered the buss girl . Madeline whipped out her phone and told someone "" Narcan , now ! "" A car with another assistant must have been waiting nearby and in 20 seconds a small brunette dressed in black yoga gear handed a small pouch to Madeline and she prepared an injection for the gurgling George Trump .  The shot took effect immediately and George took a deep breath , sat up , and amazingly continued the conversation where he left off , "" faboulous , tremendous , are you getting the sarcasm ? ""  ",satire,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,satire,True,no,no,neutral,past
6364,6365,"Next Syria talks to include Syrians as bloodshed continues  Dozens killed as diplomats seek political solution to end four year civil war .  Next Syria talks to include Syrians as bloodshed continues Dozens killed as diplomats seek political solution to end four year civil war . Check out this story on USATODAYweblink : http : usat . ly 1MmAw4H  A link has been sent to your friend ' s email address .  A link has been posted to your Facebook feed .  To find out more about Facebook commenting please read the Conversation Guidelines and FAQs  Next Syria talks to include Syrians as bloodshed continues  Oren Dorell ,   4 : 32 p . m .  October 30 , 2015  A Syrian walks through a destroyed market place following what local activists say was an airstrike by forces loyal to the al Assad regime in the rebel held area of Douma , outskirts of Damascus , Syria , Oct . 30 , 2015 .  Diplomats seeking a political solution to end the four year Syrian civil war agreed Friday ? to resume talks with the participation of representatives of the Syrian government and opposition groups .  The talks wrapped up as dozens of people ? were killed Friday in a rocket attack on a rebel held suburb of Syria ' s capital Damascus .  A joint statement issued by the 19 countries that participated in the meeting said Syria is to remain unified and its state institutions will remain intact , but did not say ? when or if Syrian President Bashar Assad would leave power . ? The countries agreed to resume talks next week , according to Iran ' s semi official Islamic Republic News Agency .  While the meetings were ongoing Friday , ? Syrian government forces fired more than 11 missiles at a market in Douma , killing at least 40 people and injuring dozens more , according to the Associated Press . The fighting has ? killed more than 250 , 000 people and displaced about half of Syria ' s population of 22 million , contributing to the European migrant crisis .  Secretary of State John Kerry and his Russian counterpart , Sergey Lavrov , spoke cautiously after the talks , which ? also included Turkey , ? Saudi Arabia , and , for the first time in a summit about Syria , ? Iran ? ? ? the most important ally of Syrian President Bashar Assad .  Four and a half years of war , we all believe , has been far too long , Kerry said in a news conference with Lavrov and ? the U . N . special envoy to Syria , Staffan de Mistura .  I did not say that Assad has to go or that Assad has to stay , Lavrov said .  5 things to know about the Syria talks in Vienna  The diplomats seek a cease fire plan , followed by a transitional government that would include Assad and opposition members , according to the State Department . ? ? While many elements of the new plan are similar to one laid out in 2012 , more countries participated in Friday ' s outcome , and all agreed that the Islamic State group , which did not exist in 2012 , must be defeated , said State Department spokesman John Kirby .  Also , Kerry "" made clear the process moving forward ? needs to be Syrian owned and Syrian led , "" Kirby said . "" For this to be successful it can t be pushed on the Syrian people , they have to be part of this . ""  The United States ? does ? not want ? Assad ? to stay in power , and thinks ? his presence motivates his opponents to ? join extremist groups such as ? al Qaeda and the ? Islamic State . The latter ? has seized large swaths of eastern Syria and western Iraq .  In a separate development Friday , the ? White House said it would send "" fewer than 50 "" U . S . special operations forces to work in Syria to assist local forces there . ? It is described as a shift , not a major change , in U . S . policy .  Kerry said the  seeks two goals in Syria , to resolve the civil war and defeat the Islamic State .  Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Amir Abdollahian told Iranian media that Tehran ? may agree to Assad ' s departure . ? "" Iran does not insist on keeping Assad in power forever , "" he said , according to Reuters .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,satire,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
6403,6404,"One million men are now actively choosing to work part time as they become more involved in childcare or retire gradually .  Official figures show there has been a stark 14 per cent rise in the number of men opting to work part time in the last two years .  This compares to a 4 per cent rise in women choosing part time work over the same period , according to the Office for National Statistics .  One million men have chosen to work part time as they become more involved in childcare or are retiring gradually  There are now 1 . 02million men in the  who have opted to work reduced hours , compared to 4 . 58million women who more commonly work part time to care for children or family .  It follows a sharp rise in the number of stay at home fathers , with the latest figures showing a 6 per cent annual rise , compared to a 28 per cent fall in the number of stay at home mothers .  Men now make up one in 10 parents who care for their children or family full time .  But recruitment experts said the rise in part time male workers also signalled an increase in pre tirement a trend where older gradually reduce their hours rather than suddenly retiring .  Out of the 8 . 2million part time workers in the  , 5 . 6million have chosen to work shorter hours , 1 . 35million cannot find full time work , 200 , 000 are ill or disabled and 1 . 02million are students .  Karen Mattison , of Timewise a company which helps people find flexible work said : ' In the past , discussions about flexible work have tended to focus more on women and particularly mothers rather than on men .  ' The challenge we face , is debunking the myth of the outdated perception of what flexible working means and for who .  ' Just as there is ' no one reason ' for needing flexibility , there is no one ' gender ' who needs it either .  ' Out of the 5 . 6 million people now choosing to work part time in the  , the number of men now doing this has now hit the one million mark .  ' This is the future of work as we know it , and it is refreshing . Those who choose to work flexibly be it reducing their hours or increasing their home working are shaking up the status quo for both businesses and employees . '  There are now 1 . 02million men in the  who have decided to reduce their hours compared to 4 . 58million women  Patrick Foley , Lloyds Banking Group ' s chief economist , is one of a growing number of executives opting for part time work .  He is one of the most senior leaders at the group , yet works three days a week .  He said that opting for part time after many years of full time work had enabled him to write a book and compete in Ironman triathlon races .  Mr Foley said : ' Having started working part time , I only wish I had done this earlier . It has brought new balance into my life without impacting my contribution in the office . '  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
6426,6427,"LosAngeles ,  (  ) She ' s been abhorred for years as the most downrated person on the internet , which means aw heck , you know what it means . People love retching over Ann Coulter . What it hasn ' t meant , all these years , though , as all those thousands of disappointed freepers know , is seeing even one picture of this 18th century tossup queen without anything strategically covering her .  No longer .  At 44 , Coulter , who has been scintillating fans with her own brand of historic revisionism , has posed au natural for Playboy . The December issue , with her on the cover , attacks newsstands Friday . The pages of pictures on the inside leave readers scrambling for imagination .  It was for a good cause , Coulter , almost 45 , explained when Associated Press Extraterrestrial caught up with her , fully loathed , at her undisclosed location .  Q : Why now ?  Ann Coulter : My decision to do Playboy is literally one week in the making . I ' ve always chided others for taking their clothes off and posed as the girl next door . I ' m the number one right wing talking head , and for years I ' ve been known as "" The Queen of Slime "" , all while keeping my clothes on , and that ' s taken some real discipline . Every couple of years when Hef would call I would graciously decline , because it would kill that whole androgynous legend that I ' ve got going for me , and I thought that I could maintain the mystery by keeping my clothes on .  But this year , when I got the call from Hef , it was almost my 45th birthday . The Republican party had just received a humpin ' , so I thought , "" Wow at 45 , America doesn ' t want us anymore ? "" And I thought it ' s almost an epiphany like a "" F ' em all ! "" moment . I feel empowered that you can criticize other people ' s morals and yet still be single , with no children , sexy and confident , and then bare all for the world .  Q : So what ' s the story on the androgynous deal ?  Coulter : I feel proud of myself . I work out really hard , and people will just have to decide for themselves . The reason that I wanted to do it the most is because I am posing for a purpose : a portion of the proceeds from each issue sold is going to my charity .  Q : That would be ?  Coulter : I am the celebrity spokesperson for  , the national anti erectile function association . It stands for Whitebread Ideology Less Tumescence . If you think about it , this last midterm election in which the Republican Party received such a humpin ' was all because of this vast priapism of the party over the last six years that resulted in all the scandals . My charity is devoted to wresting control of erections from the parties and putting them back in the hands of voters . Celibacy is not just for Paris Hilton anymore .  ",satire,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,satire,True,no,no,neutral,past
6432,6433,"They are familiar sights around Paris and Rome but love locks , inscribed by couples and attached to bridges , are becoming increasingly popular in New York with hundreds taking over Brooklyn Bridge .  The romantic mementos are increasingly appearing on the 1883 suspension bridge particularly since Valentine ' s Day on Tuesday as couples rush to make a public pledge to one another while taking in the Manhattan skyline .  They are basic , every day padlocks inscribed or doodled on with dates and initials of the couple , who are then supposed to throw their key in the water as a public statement of their ' everlasting love ' .  A ' love lock ' hangs on Brooklyn Bridge . Thousands have appeared on the landmark in recent years  Growing popularity : Individual locks are in place all over Brooklyn Bridge , left , but the practice is yet to reach the heights of that seen on landmarks in Italy and Paris , right  The practice is popular in Europe and has had a boost in recent years from Federico Moccia ' s novel Ho Voglia di Te , which featured a couple doing it in Florence .  It seems it started as a spontaneous practice stumbled upon and copied by romantic couples the world over without any idea who did it first .  But it is now so popular , in some places , tourist stalls are cashing in selling expensive locks to lovers so they can still make a pledge even if they are ill prepared .  Also despite it being a seemingly innocent activity , many cities say they have had to stamp it out to protect old structures and stop it multiplying without limits , something New York may have to consider in the future .  In Florence , Italy , thousands of locks were removed from the world famous Ponte Vecchio as authorities claimed it was damaging the bridge . The same was done in Dublin and to try to reduce the practice in Rome a website was established so that couples could just leave a lock ' virtually ' .  Romance in France : Hundreds of locks are attached to landmarks in Paris as well as cities throughout Italy  The locks are also found in Cologne , Germany , pictured , across the Hohenzollernbruecke Bridge  Engraved : In Brooklyn , left , some locks are engraved while others are daubed in pen , right  Locked : In Europe all sorts of landmarks are targeted , including this statue on the Alexandre  bridge in Paris  In fact Italy ' s capital is one of the most affected cities and in 2007 a lamppost on the Ponte Milvio reportedly collapsed due to the weight of the locks attached to it .  In New York , the practice is officially against city rules but Department for Transportation officials appear to turn a blind eye .  Other cities believe the romantic practice attracts tourists and have even taken steps to promote it .  In Liverpool in the  , a sign on the Albert Docks reads : ' This is a special place for lovers ! Interlock your padlocks on the railings and throw away the key into the Mersey . You will never lose your true love ! '  Among the recent wave of locks which have appeared on Brooklyn Bridge the quality of the endeavor varies massively .  Some couples simply pen their names on novelty locks while others take on a more professional approach with fully engraved or painted designs .  Every odd bit of metal which can be found on the bridge appears to have been targeted including metal parts of the structure , benches , and rusting old hooks in the stonework .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
6441,6442,"Karina Vetrano liked to post photos online of her night life, and spend the morning afterward unpacking her pain and passion as a writer. But running was her release. Ms. Vetrano, 30, had undergone surgery on her legs and defied doctors’ conjecture that she might never run again, a friend, Jackie Hartstein, said. “It just hurts me that this evil person took the one thing that was hers,” said Ms. Hartstein, 28, who lives in Bayside, Queens. “When she was the happiest, that’s where he took her. ” Ms. Hartstein, speaking outside a vigil on Wednesday night for Ms. Vetrano, was referring to an attacker, still at large, who the police say sexually assaulted and strangled Ms. Vetrano as she took one of her daily runs on Tuesday afternoon in the tall weeds of a nature preserve near her home in Howard Beach, Queens. The attack shocked residents of the neighborhood, which is one of New York City’s safest. The police said they had few leads but believed her killing was random. “You feel safe here, because this is a community where nothing ever happens,” said Annette Nocero, who was working at Beach Bum Tanning on Cross Bay Boulevard when she met Ms. Vetrano, a customer. She called Ms. Vetrano a sweetheart. “Not like a runaround girl, nothing like that,” Ms. Nocero said. “A good girl. ” Ms. Vetrano’s many followers on social media were treated to glamorous shots of her partying lifestyle. Many were shocked by the attack in broad daylight in a public park, an episode that seemed to hark back to a more lawless time in the city. And in a safer New York where crime has been declining for decades, even elected and police officials seemed shaken. At a news conference on Thursday at Police Headquarters in Lower Manhattan, officials announced updates on what Robert K. Boyce, the chief of detectives, described as “an extraordinary case of murder. ” The conference was held to announce more reassuring news  —   declines in citywide statistics on murder and shootings  —   but details of the killing made for a gloomy departure, as Chief Boyce spoke of a lack of suspects or substantial leads in the attack. The chief noted Ms. Vetrano was attacked “at a recreational center, in daylight hours, and that’s extraordinarily unusual,” especially because rape by strangers has decreased in the city over all. Police officials announced a $10, 000 reward. “We really need the public’s help with this one,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said at the news conference. Chief Boyce said that detectives were still examining video from security cameras nearby, and that Ms. Vetrano’s phone would be tested for  matches. “We plan to chop down just about every weed in that area, until we are satisfied that we got all the evidence,” he said. On Thursday, investigators continued to hack through the tall reeds in the Gateway National Recreation Area on the edge of Jamaica Bay. The expanse lies south of the Belt Parkway, just to the west of Kennedy International Airport. Nearby, Councilman Eric A. Ulrich, who represents the area, described Ms. Vetrano as “the kind of daughter any parent would want. ” She was a graduate of St. John’s University and recently earned a master’s degree in speech pathology. She worked for years at Central, a lounge in Astoria, Queens, and also at Vetro Restaurant  Wine Bar on Cross Bay Boulevard, where her friends gathered on Wednesday night. Ms. Vetrano had several thousand followers on Instagram and enjoyed posting shots of herself clubbing and traveling, whether poolside on Long Island or in France or Monaco. But her alluring lifestyle had a flip side. As a writer, Ms. Vetrano also chronicled the pain and poignancy of her life. She published on her website,weblink, a variety of introspective and   writing she called “a collection of conversations, contradictions and poetic conflicts. ” “This is my life, through my eyes, and I invite you to take a peek into my world,” she wrote. “It’s chaotic, and unpredictable, but I do believe, that on some days, it’s quite beautiful, in all its poetic little tragedies. ” Ms. Vetrano often ran with her father, Philip Vetrano, 60, a retired firefighter, through the preserve, an expanse of undeveloped wetlands known locally as the Weeds or the Baja. As a shortcut to a path popular with joggers and cyclists, they would cut through the   fire roads. But Mr. Vetrano had recently injured his back. He urged his daughter to avoid the grassy lanes kept for firefighting access, which are remote and frequented by transients, local residents said. “He got very worried, but she said, ‘Don’t worry, Dad, I’ll be right back,’” Mr. Ulrich said. Ms. Vetrano left her house near the edge of the preserve and jogged past the    homes, exchanging chatty text messages with a friend. Near 79th Street, she ran into the refuge via one of the shortcuts. Some 40 yards in, she was attacked. After several calls to her phone went unanswered, Mr. Vetrano contacted a neighbor who is an assistant chief in the Police Department. Within several hours, officers found Ms. Vetrano’s body face down near a trail, with her clothing askew and her fists still clutching the reeds she was dragged into, Mr. Ulrich said. On Thursday, even hardened homeless people nearby expressed surprise that Ms. Vetrano would jog in the area. They described it as a remote place where screams could be drowned out by planes overhead. Mohamed Yasseen, who lives under the Cross Bay Bridge, spoke about an encampment where perhaps a dozen homeless men lived and often drank. He said he would not dare venture there, for fear of being attacked. “I don’t go back there,” he said. “I don’t know who is back there. ”",true,news,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
6442,6443,"Manila , Philippines With memories of last year ' s killer typhoons still fresh , Typhoon Megi roared across the Philippines on Monday , ripping through roofs and cutting off electricity .  The cyclone ' s peak wind speeds decreased as the system moved over the Sierra Madre mountains , but it still packed sustained winds of around 167 kph ( 103 mph ) with gusts up to 204 kph ( 126 mph ) , according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center . This is down from peak sustained winds of 212 kph , with gusts up to 259 kph ( 161 mph ) , over the weekend .  Megi , also known as Typhoon Juan , was expected to pick up steam again as it heads over the South China Sea . Current forecasts from the Joint Typhoon Center show the storm heading toward the southeastern China coast , just west of Hong Kong .  In the Philippines , five people have died in what the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council is billing as the strongest storm of the year , according to Catherine Martin , manager of disaster management services at the Philippine National Red Cross .  Emergency workers pulled the body of Vicente Decena , 53 , from a bloated river a tree fell on the house of Aileen Respicio , 20 , killing her and injuring her child . Five others were injured elsewhere , the disaster council reported .  Even as it weakened , Megi continued to pose a serious threat .  Trees swayed and relentless rains inundated roads . Storm chaser James Cabrera , who was in Luzon , said parts of the Philippines could see 300 to 500 millimeters ( 12 to 20 inches ) of rain .  "" We have learned our lessons from the grim experiences we had during typhoons Ondoy known internationally as Ketsana and Pepeng Parma , "" House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr . said , according to the Philippine News Agency . "" We must all cooperate because nature ' s wrath exempts no one . ""  A year ago , tens of thousands of people were in evacuation centers as four consecutive typhoons drenched the Philippines . About 500 people were reported dead .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
6450,6451,"Spieth and Reed bring out the best in each other  Brandt Snedeker hits from the seventh tee during the first round of the Tournament of Champions golf event Thursday , Jan . 7 , 2016 , at Kapalua Plantation Course in Kapalua , Hawaii . (  Photo Matt York )   , Hawaii (  ) Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed competed each other in junior golf , each beat the other in a playoff on the  Tour , were partners in the Ryder Cup and played in the last group of the U . S . Open on the weekend last year .  They were paired in the final group in the first  Tour event of the year , and the results were predictable .  They were part of a five way tie for the lead in the 18th fairway at Kapalua in the Hyundai Tournament of Champions . But not for long . Reed smashed a 3 wood from 309 yards that trundled onto the front of the green and the grain took it to 15 feet below the hole . He made the putt for an eagle and an 8 under 65 .  Spieth came up short and showed the brilliance of his short game with a high pitch to 4 feet for birdie and a 66 .  ' ' For whatever reason it is , whether we want to feed off each other or we want to beat the crap out of each other , we somehow play well together , ' ' Spieth said . ' ' We still want to outdo each other , even when we ' re teammates . So it ' s a good pairing .  ' ' I still don ' t like losing to him in a round when I play with him . ' '  And now they get to do it again .  Here ' s what else is on tap for the second round from paradise :    : Only two players have won back to back at Kapalua since the Tournament of Champions moved to Maui in 1999 Stuart Appleby ( three times ) and Geoff Ogilvy ( twice ) . One theory was that both those players were competing at home in Australia deep into the previous year .  Australia is about the only place Reed hasn ' t been lately .  In a span of seven weeks , Reed played in Hong Kong , Malaysia , Shanghai ( twice ) , Dubai and The Bahamas . And he never finished out of the top 10 .  ' ' I ' ve always wanted to play on both tours and be a worldwide player , and I had to play that much at the end to keep status on the European Tour , ' ' Reed said .    : On the one hand , Reed had to rally to take the lead in the opening round . He was in the middle of the pack at 2 under par when he holed a 15 foot birdie putt on the 13th , followed with a pair of tap in birdies at the 14th and 15th , hit a great shot over the gorge to 2 feet on the 17th and ended with an eagle .  That made him 6 under over the last six holes .  ' ' Patrick could have shot 13 under today , ' ' Spieth said . ' ' If he had his putter going at the start of the round . . . he missed quite a few short length putts on the front nine . ' '    ,   : Spieth gave a smart answer earlier in the week when asked what he would do for an encore from his 2015 season . His point was an encore usually meant the show was over , and he didn ' t want that to be the case .  And there was another side to that response .  ' ' Any time it ' s mentioned that it ' s a new year , it ' s almost as if the questions that are asked are , How in the world are you going to do what you did last season ? ' Well , I should get a little better each time I go and practice , right ? ' ' he said . ' ' So it almost feels like it ' s negative to think about it as trying to create an encore . ' '  He said Thursday felt like last year . That ' s a good thing for him .   : Brandt Snedeker , J . B . Holmes and Danny Lee were two shots behind at 67 .  Snedeker must feel like a resident at this point . He arrived last Wednesday and spent four days playing the Plantation Course before the tournament week began . He knows Kapalua , but everyone can use a refresher course on the massive greens .  ' ' You get comfortable on greens and be aggressive on putts that you know are fast or slow , ' ' Snedeker said . ' ' You just have to know putts . They ' re hard to read . So that ' s kind of the reason I came over to do that . ' '    : Rickie Fowler rallied with three birdies on his last five holes for a 69 , and all anyone cared about were his high top golf shoes .  ' ' I think on the younger side , it ' s more positive . I think on the traditionalist side , they ' re not too pumped , ' ' Fowler said . ' ' I ' ve kind of been who I am out here . I like kind of pushing the limits , having fun and enjoying myself and that ' s what we ' re doing . ' '  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
6467,6468,"Obama spends a whirlwind day in his hometown , Chicago   (  ) "" President Barack Obama spent a whirlwind Tuesday back in his hometown .  In less than a full day , he spoke to a gathering of police chiefs , raised money for fellow Democrats at back to back fundraisers , sat courtside at the Chicago Bulls ' season opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers , and poked back at those who predicted he ' d be a lame duck during his final two years in office .  Obama was pretty much written off last November when Republicans won control of Congress after trouncing Senate Democrats in the midterm election . He was expected by some not to accomplish much of anything during what he sometimes calls the "" fourth quarter of my presidency . ""  But since then , Obama has achieved some longstanding policy goals , including restoring diplomatic relations with Cuba after decades of animosity , joining other world powers to negotiate a nuclear deal with Iran and , this week , reaching a budget deal with congressional leaders just days before a feared first ever U . S . default .  "" About a year and a half ago , people were saying I was a lame duck , "" Obama noted wryly at a Democratic National Committee fundraiser at the Pump Room restaurant , where about 80 guests had paid up to 33 , 400 each to dine on chicken and polenta in the company of the president .  Instead , he said , "" We ' ve been flapping our wings a lot . ""  From there , the nation ' s No . 1 basketball fan headed to the United Center to watch his favorite team , the Bulls , and one of his favorite players , Cleveland ' s LeBron James .  A tieless Obama arrived on the court for the start of the second quarter , shaking hands with spectators in the front row and waving to others out of his reach . He removed his suit jacket as he took a seat next to longtime pal Marty Nesbitt , a businessman and chairman of the Barack Obama Foundation , which is planning for Obama ' s future presidential library in Chicago .  Obama gave a brief interview to  , thanking the  for supporting his "" My Brother ' s Keeper "" initiative to help boys and young men of color .  "" It ' s a program to make sure that all of us are supporting disadvantaged youth and particularly disadvantaged boys , "" he said . "" The  stepped up , every team in the league is sponsoring mentorship programs . "" He noted that his wife , Michelle , appeared with James in Akron , Ohio , last week to promote his college scholarship program .  "" That kind of character that we see in the  is really making a difference , "" Obama said .  Obama also addressed a 33 , 400 per ticket Senate Democratic fundraiser that was closed to media coverage . He was due back at the White House on Wednesday afternoon .  This story has been automatically published from the Associated Press wire which uses  spellings  Get the news delivered straight to your inbox  Receive the day s news , sport and entertainment in our daily email newsletter  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
6474,6475,"Jabal Akhdar , Oman For centuries , European travelers would tell tales of Oman ' s Jabal Akhdar mountain of its lush gardens filled with grapes and pomegranate surrounded by otherwise parched desert terrain .  Alas , access to the site was shut off in the 1950s amidst internal strife and tribal rebellion . The area remained a tightly controlled military zone for decades after the conflict ended .  Recently , however , all that has started to change .  The Omani government is hoping to make Jabal Akhdar ( Arabic for Green Mountain ) a focal point for showcasing tourism in the interior of the country . A number of resort brands are already building on this opportunity .  The 86 room Alila Jabal Akhdar luxury hotel part of the wider Alila Group which operates throughout India and the Asia Pacific region is one such company . Opened in May 2014 , the project is striving to meet the government ' s vision of preserving the heritage of the region .  "" The design and the architecture of this particular property was very much to make a very traditional Omani house concept using local materials , "" says Jork Bosselaar , general manager of the Alila Jabal Akhdar .  "" Elements of traditional welcomes will stay . We are collaborating with the local farmers to procure the produce and we are getting them involved in the economy . The heart and the soul and the character of the hotel are local people from the mountain who guide the guests into their communities , introducing them to the local customs , "" Bosselaar adds .  Tour guide Ali Al Abri is one of the natives keen to do just that .  He says part of the appeal of Jabal Akhdar is the cooler climate it offers visitors compared to other parts of Oman .  "" While we have high temperatures in cities around the country , we have really moderate temperature here , "" Al Abri says . "" So the closest place in the region here to escape in 1 or 2 days would be the mountain . ""  The tourism ministry of Oman says that the number of tourists to the region has grown by 12 in the past year alone . A similar rise is expected next year .  And with a burgeoning new industry comes greater opportunity for the 10 , 000 people who call Jabal Akhdar home .  Nasser Al Fahdi works at the front desk of The Sahab , the only other established hotel on the mountain right now .  "" It is very important for me because if tourism opens for this mountain , it means more jobs will come for the people here . ""  Since the hotel opened in 2011 , Al Fahdi says room occupancy has risen by as much as 20 .  Next to The Sahab , construction work is underway for two more hotels , including one mammoth project that comes with a 50 million price tag .  Such impressive developments are a far cry from the turmoil of yesteryear .  But a priority for the future of this fertile desert oasis .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,past
6503,6504,"Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Communications Commission said Thursday it will take up a proposal this month to revise its rules to allow law enforcement personnel to identify threatening callers, following a series of threatening calls to Jewish community centers. In March, the  granted an emergency temporary waiver to Jewish community centers and telecommunications carriers that serve them to help track down callers who have made threats by unmasking phone numbers used to call in threats.  rules generally require phone companies to respect a calling party’s request to have caller- information blocked from the party receiving the call. Jewish community centers and schools in at least 13 U.S. states reported receiving bomb threats this year, stoking fears of a resurgence of anti-Semitism. The “episode raised the question of whether we need to make permanent changes to our rules,”  Chairman Ajit Pai said in a blog post Thursday. The  will “consider a proposal to change the rules to ensure that all threatened parties and associated law enforcement personnel have quick access to the information they need to identify and thwart threatening callers,” he added. In April, prosecutors identified an Israeli-American teenager accused of making dozens of bomb threats to Jewish community centers in separate criminal complaints filed in U.S. federal courts in Florida and Georgia that linked him to hundreds of threatening calls in 2015 and 2017. Michael Ron David Kadar, 18, a dual U.S.-Israeli citizen who is Jewish and lives in Israel, made at least 245 threatening telephone calls between Jan. 4 and March 7 this year, many targeting Jewish community centers in the United States, according to the Florida complaint. The  has only rarely granted waivers to access caller information. In 2015, the Middletown School District in New York state was inundated by phone calls making terrorism threats from anonymous numbers. Following the calls, then- Chairman Tom Wheeler approved a special waiver in 2016 to access the caller information of the individuals making the threats. ",true,dataset,test,US elections,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
6505,6506,"Maybe people should use the link I gave and talk to Glen first. It doesn’t cost that much if they talk to Glen. He is giving huge discounts through me on every order. Blessings! weblink and Glen gives his number, several numbers, where he can be reached in the video. Again, huge discounts and it’s not as expensive as what you are seeing there. That is a different link than I gave. Thanks!",fake,news,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,present
6506,6507,"Actress Jane Fonda , liberal Democrat who faced a lifetime of shame after she flirted with North Vietnamese infantry outside of Hanoi in 1968 . Want to bet she still thinks of herself as a patriotic American ?  President Obama hailed hard core communist revolutionary Ho Chi Minh today as a ' pretty open guy ' who was actually inspired by the Founders of the United States .  Obama took a break from his jobs pivot speeches to meet Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang at the White House . The pair held joint remarks in the Oval Office afterward .  Obama said their first bilateral meeting "" represents the steady progression and strengthening of the relationship between our two countries . ""  The visit by Sang , he added , "" signifies the maturing and the next stage of the development between the United States and Vietnam . ""  Obama said Sang concluded the meeting by sharing "" a copy of a letter sent by Ho Chi Minh to Harry Truman . ""  "" And we discussed the fact that Ho Chi Minh was actually inspired by the U . S . Declaration of Independence and Constitution , and the words of Thomas Jefferson . Ho Chi Minh talks about his interest in cooperation with the United States . And President Sang indicated that even if it ' s 67 years later , it ' s good that we ' re still making progress . ""  To set the  record straight over ' Uncle Ho ' here ' s some background information on the North Vietnamese leader Ho Chi Minh . .  From a 1968 Reader ' s Digest piece on the rule of Ho Chi Minh : The terror had its real beginning when Red dictator Ho Chi Minh consolidated his power in the North . More than a year before his 1954 victory over the French , he launched a savage campaign against his own people . In virtually every North Vietnamese village , strong arm squads assembled the populace to witness the "" confessions of landowners . As time went on , businessmen , intellectuals , school teachers , civic leaders all who represented a potential source of future opposition were also rounded up and forced to "" confess to "" errors of thought . "" There followed public "" trials , "" conviction and , in many cases , execution . People were shot , beheaded , beaten to death some were tied up , thrown into open graves and covered with stones until they were crushed to death , Ho has renewed his terror in North Vietnam periodically . Between 50 , 000 and 100 , 000 are believed to have died in these blood baths in a coldly calculated effort to discipline the party and the masses . To be sure , few who escape Ho ' s terror now seem likely to tempt his wrath . During the 1950s , however , he had to quell some sizeable uprisings in North Vietnam most notably one that occurred in early November 1956 , in the An province , which included Ho ' s birthplace village of Nam Dan . So heavily had he taxed the region that the inhabitants finally banded together and refused to meet his price . Ho sent troops to collect , and then sent in an army division , shooting . About 6 , 000 unarmed villagers were killed . The survivors scattered , some escaping to the South . The slaughter went largely unnoticed by a world then preoccupied with the Soviet Union ' s rape of Hungary .  ",satire,text,test,Other news1,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
6511,6512,"Humor Home Leftist Corruption Lady Gaga’s Twitter Attack On Melania Trump Lands Her In Handcuffs When The Two Meet Face To Face Lady Gaga’s Twitter Attack On Melania Trump Lands Her In Handcuffs When The Two Meet Face To Face Stryker Leftist Corruption , Liberals Behaving Like Liberals , Social Justice Warriors 4  After Melania Trump’s brilliant speech about cyberbullying went viral, leftist elites immediately began attacking her. It seems they consider her husband, the next President of the United States, to be a cyber bully himself because he likes to tell the truth on Twitter.  One of those leftists, Lady Gaga, Tweeted an insult at Mrs. Trump that probably deserved some kind of snarky, rude response, but the future First Lady has far too much class for that. She proved it yet again Sunday night when the two came face to face in New York City. Gaga, or GooGoo as she should be called, proved yet again that she has no class, shouting “whore” and “go back to  country” at Melania from across a sidewalk being cleared by the Secret Service.  Mrs. Trump, class act that she is, simply smiled at the overrated pop star, which seemed to enrage the little ball of hate even more. Witnesses say that they saw GooGoo throw something at Mrs. Trump, which is where the Secret Service stepped in.  The New York Post tried to reach out to the  after it was reported that GooGoo was taken away in a black Yukon in handcuffs, but as of yet there’s no record of an arrest. You can rest assured if this incident isn’t prosecuted by the corrupt liberals in the city government that the less-than-lady will be staring down the barrel of a multi-million dollar lawsuit. Join The Resistance And Share This Article Now! 67.9k ",fake,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
6516,6517,"In the sternest papal edict against the endocrine system in over 150 years , Pope John Paul  added the adrenal , pineal and pituitary to the Catholic Church ' s list of condemned glands Monday , decrying them as "" sinful hormone producers which encourage and incite the human body to commit all manner of unholy acts . ""  The edict raised the total number of condemned glands to 25 .  "" It has come to my attention that the adrenal , pineal and pituitary glands perform a great many immoral functions which God could have never foreseen or intended when He created the human body , "" the Pope said . "" In addition to secreting such suspicious sounding fluids as norepinephrine , prolactin and aldosterone , these glands are guilty of working directly with the testes and ovaries in the process of sexual development . ""  While the Pope approved of most of the adrenal glands ' functions , including their regulation of blood glucose levels , heart rate and blood pressure , he strongly took issue with their production of gonadocorticoids sex hormones which influence sperm production in men , as well as the distribution of body hair and menstruation in women .  "" The adrenal glands are surely not the work of God , "" the Pope said . "" God created man in His image , and the Lord does not secrete gonadocorticoids . ""  The Pope then announced his decision to posthumously excommunicate Bartolommeo Eustachius , the Italian anatomist who discovered the adrenal glands in 1564 . He also excommunicated Dr Russell Halloran , chief endocrinologist at  Medical Center , widely considered the world ' s top adrenal specialist .  As with the adrenals , the Pope approved of several of the pituitary gland ' s functions , including its role in the regulation of metabolism and blood vessel contraction , but strongly denounced its other purposes .  "" The pituitary is a most foul and indecent gland , "" the supreme pontiff said . "" While , on the surface , it gives off the air of innocence , regulating various body functions of genuine value and import , behind the scenes this devious gland controls such evils as the secretion of testosterone and estrogen by the testes and ovaries , uterine contraction , and something called spermatogenesis . ""  "" I do not know what spermatogenesis is , but I am certain it is not moral , "" the Pope said .  In addition to his glandular condemnation , the Pope lashed out against hormones , particularly for their involvement with birth control .  "" Hormones are a key component of contraceptive drugs , deceiving the female body into thinking it is pregnant and stopping the sacred ovulation process , "" the Vicar of Christ said . "" This is a great sin . ""  With Monday ' s edict , the only remaining endocrine gland sanctioned by the Holy See are the parathyroids , which increase calcium levels in the blood and decrease phosphate levels . "" As far as we can best judge , there is nothing wrong with the parathyroid glands , "" the Pope said . "" But we will keep a close eye on them . ""  All exocrine glands have been banned since 1764 , when Pope Clement  condemned them for producing such substances as milk , mucus , semen , saliva and sweat .  ",satire,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,satire,True,no,no,negative,past
6525,6526,"In a campaign commercial that ran just before the election, Donald J. Trump’s voice boomed over a series of Wall Street images. He described “a global power structure that is responsible for the economic decisions that have robbed our working class, stripped our country of its wealth, and put that money into the pockets of a handful of large corporations. ” The New York Stock Exchange, the hedge fund billionaire George Soros and the chief executive of the investment bank Goldman Sachs flashed across the screen. Now Mr. Trump has named a former Goldman executive and   with Mr. Soros to spearhead his economic policy. With Wednesday’s nomination of Steven Mnuchin, a Goldman trader turned hedge fund manager and Hollywood financier, to be Treasury secretary, a new economic leadership is taking shape in Washington. Mr. Mnuchin will join Wilbur L. Ross Jr. a billionaire investor in distressed assets, who has been chosen to run the Commerce Department, and Todd Ricketts, owner of the Chicago Cubs, who has been picked to be deputy commerce secretary. All are superwealthy and to be overseen by the first billionaire president in United States history. That two investors  —   Mr. Mnuchin and Mr. Ross  —   will occupy two major economic positions in the new administration is the most powerful signal yet that Mr. Trump plans to emphasize policies friendly to Wall Street, like tax cuts and a relaxation of regulation, in the early days of his administration. While that approach has been cheered by investors (the stocks of Bank of America, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley have been on a tear since the election) it stands in stark contrast to the populist campaign that Mr. Trump ran and the support he received from   voters across the country. Anthony Scaramucci, a hedge fund executive and member of the Trump transition team, insisted on Wednesday that appointing wealthy investors did not contradict the campaign’s populist message. “The   people of the United States, they need a break,” Mr. Scaramucci said. “And we need to switch them from going from the working class into the working poor into what I call the aspirational working class, which my dad was a member of. ” Still, Democrats were quick to attack the latest nomination. “Steve Mnuchin is just another Wall Street insider,” Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts said in a joint statement. “That is not the type of change that Donald Trump promised to bring to Washington  —   that is hypocrisy at its worst. ” So far, none of the nominees who will be shaping economic policy have any significant experience in government. Mr. Mnuchin, 53, and Mr. Ross, 79, are both familiar with buying distressed properties and selling for a profit. But they are political neophytes with scant experience in managing large organizations. They will oversee two government agencies that together employ about 130, 000 people around the world. In the case of Mr. Mnuchin at Treasury, his experience as a principal investor who made large sums of money through     wagers suggests that he will look critically at the thicket of regulations that now constrain the   activities of investment banks. That could mean a reassessment of what has come to be known as the Volcker Rule, part of the   financial overhaul that followed the 2008 financial crisis. The rule forbids banks to make certain speculative investments with their own capital. “I would say the No. 1 problem with the Volcker Rule is it’s too complicated and people don’t know how to interpret it,” Mr. Mnuchin said in an interview with  on Wednesday. “So we’re going to look at what to do with it as we are with all of  . The No. 1 priority is going to be to make sure that banks lend. ” In the interview, Mr. Mnuchin also said he would look to cutting corporate tax rates as a way to increase economic growth. And he said the wealthy would not see a big tax cut. “Any reductions we have in   taxes will be offset by less deductions so that there will be no absolute tax cut for the upper class,” Mr. Mnuchin said in the interview. “There will be a big tax cut for the middle class, but any tax cuts we have for the upper class will be offset by less deductions that pay for it. ” There is a Washington tradition of presidents calling on a Goldman Sachs luminary to take the reins of the economy, including the Democrat Robert E. Rubin in 1995 and Henry M. Paulson Jr. a Republican, in 2006. Mr. Mnuchin’s Goldman pedigree is as good as it gets, given that his father, Robert, was a pioneer in stock trading who spent 35 years at the firm. While the Goldman brand may have initially attracted Mr. Trump, for the broader financial community it is Mr. Mnuchin’s track record at hedge and private equity funds, which is where the real money is made on Wall Street these days, that makes him appealing. “Mnuchin as Treasury secretary is somebody who can speak to bankers  —   Jamie Dimon, Lloyd Blankfein, James Gorman and Brian Moynihan. He can speak their language,” said Gary Kaminsky, a former vice chairman at Morgan Stanley, referring to the chief executives of JPMorgan Chase, Goldman, Morgan Stanley and Bank of America. “He comes from a trading desk, and that’s something that is very strong,” Mr. Kaminsky, who has attended   for Mr. Trump, added. While there is little doubt that Mr. Mnuchin can speak the language of Wall Street, he has had little experience running large, complex bureaucracies. Mr. Rubin and Mr. Paulson had ascended to the top at Goldman, and had many years of experience managing people and organizations under their belt. Mr. Mnuchin did assume a leading role in the restructuring and reinventing of IndyMac, now known as OneWest, a California mortgage giant that collapsed in 2008. He and partners acquired the firm and later made billions. After he moved from New York to the West Coast, Mr. Mnuchin was targeted by protesters who claimed that the bank was too quick to foreclose on struggling homeowners. Last year the bank was sold to the  Group, a   lender run at the time by another Goldman Sachs alumnus, John A. Thain. In a statement announcing his economic appointments, Mr. Trump highlighted the deal. “He purchased IndyMac Bank for $1. 6 billion and ran it very professionally, selling it for $3. 4 billion plus a return of capital,” he said of Mr. Mnuchin. “That’s the kind of people I want in my administration representing our country. ” Mr. Mnuchin has faced other controversies. In 2010, he and his brother, Alan, were sued over their mother’s early investment with Bernard L. Madoff, an investor who was convicted of running a Ponzi scheme. The lawsuit, filed by a trustee for Madoff victims, alleged that $3. 2 million of the money Mr. Mnuchin withdrew from his mother’s account shortly after she died belonged to other victims. The lawsuit was dropped last year because of a time limit. Hollywood has been another reinvention for Mr. Mnuchin. In 2006, he and a partner, Chip Seelig, struck a deal through their company Dune Entertainment to invest $325 million in 28 movies produced by 20th Century Fox. It was a successful partnership Fox delivered hits (made in part with Dune’s money) like “Avatar,” which took in $2. 8 billion worldwide in 2009. After breaking with Mr. Seelig in 2012, Mr. Mnuchin teamed up with a company called RatPac, owned by the rowdy filmmaker Brett Ratner and the Australian billionaire James Packer. Mr. Ratner was then notorious in Hollywood he resigned as a producer of the Academy Awards in 2011 after using an   slur at a public event and making frank remarks about his sex life on Howard Stern’s radio show. (He apologized.) But together the three men formed a vehicle to invest $450 million in an extensive array of Warner Bros. movies. Some have been major hits, like “Gravity,” which took in $723. 2 million. But there have also been money losers, including “Pan” and “In the Heart of the Sea. ” Still, Mr. Mnuchin has clearly enjoyed a Hollywood lifestyle, whether attending   parties at the Hôtel du    during the Cannes Film Festival or going in with a movie industry friend to buy a Dassault Falcon 50 jet (since sold). He can currently be seen in a cameo  —   playing a Merrill Lynch executive  —   in Warren Beatty’s new movie “Rules Don’t Apply. ” Beyond the entertainment industry, there other similarities between Mr. Trump and Mr. Mnuchin. They are both twice divorced, and their third partners are decidedly younger. (Mr. Mnuchin’s fiancée is Louise Linton, a    actress from Scotland.) They also both have a taste for landmark Manhattan real estate: Trump Tower for the   and 740 Park Avenue for Mr. Mnuchin. But there are differences, too. Despite his Hollywood appetites, Mr. Mnuchin is described by people who know him as slightly awkward and not one to command a room. Friends of the two men describe them more as social and professional acquaintances than close friends. The names of flashier prospects had been floated as possible candidates for Treasury, according to a fund manager close to the  ’s economic brain trust. Among them: Henry Kravis of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts  Company, Jonathan Gray of Blackstone, Jamie Dimon, Mitt Romney, and Thomas J. Barrack Jr. of Colony Capital, a Los   real estate investor who has been close to Mr. Trump for decades.",true,news,test,US elections,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
6536,6537,"Jan 17 , 2016 Charlotte ,  ,  Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton ( 1 ) celebrates a touchdown by Jonathan Stewart ( not pictured in the first quarter against the Seattle Seahawks in the  Divisional round playoff game at Bank of America Stadium . Sam Sharpe   . . .  Jan 17 , 2016 Charlotte ,  ,  Carolina Panthers outside linebacker Thomas Davis ( 58 ) and Cam Newton ( 1 ) celebrate Davis ' s onside kick recovery in the fourth quarter during the  Divisional round playoff game at Bank of America Stadium . Bob Donnan   Sports  Jan 17 , 2016 Charlotte ,  ,  Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton ( 1 ) throws the ball under pressure from Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett ( 72 ) and Cassius Marsh ( 91 ) in the third quarter during the  Divisional round playoff game at Bank of America . . .  Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton , who likes to strike a Superman pose after his gridiron feats , will test his powers against the visiting Arizona Cardinals with a Super Bowl berth on the line on Sunday .  The mountain sized Newton , a dual threat with a bazooka arm and bruising running skills , led Carolina to an  best 15 1 mark in the regular season and is considered the favorite for league  honors .  "" He is a monster at the quarterback position , "" Arizona ' s Pro Bowl cornerback Patrick Peterson said ahead of their  title game . "" Being 6 6 , who can run . . . being the physical specimen that he is , brings some special challenges .  "" And he ' s truly grown as a passer and a leader . ""  Arizona has their own top quarterback in veteran Carson Palmer in a match up of well balanced powerhouses that will send the winner to Super Bowl 50 against the survivor of the  title tilt between the New England Patriots and Denver Broncos .  The ebullient Newton , who often shows off his dance moves in the end zone after touchdowns , sent the Panthers to the top of the league ' s scoring charts with the Cardinals and Palmer right behind in averaging over 30 points .  Both teams also feature fierce defenses , ranking in the top six in fewest yards allowed and top eight in points allowed .  Carolina uses a strong running game to open up the field for Newton ' s play action passes .  Running back Jonathan Stewart showed the Panthers ' prowess in their playoff win against Seattle when he got them off to a dazzling start with a 59 yard burst up the middle followed by a four yard touchdown run .  Newton , who this season became the first  player to throw for 340 yards and rush for 100 in a game , executes running plays designed for him as well as improvised escapes when pass protection breaks down .  In contrast , Palmer , like Newton a former number one overall draft pick and Heisman Trophy winner , is a pocket passer with limited mobility who does his damage strictly through the air for Arizona ( 13 3 ) , who had the  ' s second best record .  Palmer has a top flight crew of receivers in Larry Fitzgerald , Michael Floyd and John Brown going against a vulnerable Carolina secondary weakened by injury beyond Pro Bowl cornerback Josh Norman .  But Arizona could have trouble running the ball against a Carolina defense boasting a brilliant one two linebacking punch in Pro Bowlers Luke Kuechly and Tom Davis .  The Cardinals have former longtime offensive coordinator Bruce Arians as head coach , while Carolina is coached by Ron Rivera , who was a young linebacker on the Bears ' vaunted defense that carried them to the 1985 championship .  Both coaches favor aggressive tactics . "" No risk it , no biscuit , "" is one of Arians ' favorite sayings .  The slightly favored Panthers were 8 0 at home this season , but the undaunted Cardinals were 7 1 on the road and eager to avenge last year ' s playoff loss to Carolina when Palmer was sidelined .  Unlike the  showdown between teams full of championship experience , the  clash will advance a team gunning for their first Super Bowl triumph .  Both the Panthers ( in 2003 ) and Cardinals ( 2008 ) have been there once before and lost narrow decisions .  "" I don ' t get nervous , "" said 26 year old Newton . "" I ' ve been playing football for too long for me to get nervous . I used to dream of being in this type of position . ""  ( Reporting by Larry Fine in New York Editing by Steve Keating . )  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
6561,6562,"Reuters) - Thailand s junta has removed the head of the national Buddhism office, the prime minister said on Tuesday, after religious groups called on the government to sack him over his plans to clean up scandal-hit monasteries.  But Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said it wasn t a punishment. Pongporn Pramsaneh, who joined the National Office of Buddhism in February, had vowed to reform Thailand s more than 40,000 temples by forcing them to open their finances to the public. They take billions of dollars in donations every year. The former policeman was appointed amid a standoff between security forces and the influential Dhammakaya temple in February. Authorities wanted to question the temple s chief abbot on money-laundering charges. Pongporn will now move to a lower profile post of inspector-general in Prayuth s office.  He has got some of the jobs done. He came in to solve temple issues,  Prayuth told reporters.  I ll now bring him close to me, to help me work on religious reform... This is not a punishment.  Pongporn told Reuters:  I have done my duties to the best of my ability.  Buddhism is one of the three traditional pillars of Thai society alongside the nation and monarchy. It has largely eluded the junta s control as it has stamped its authority on other aspects of Thai life since a 2014 coup. The National Office of Buddhism is responsible for state administration of the religion followed by 90 percent of Thailand s 67 million people, but religious affairs are handled by a Sangha Supreme Council of elderly monks. Despite high-profile temple scandals over murder, drugs and sex as well as improper financial dealings, Pongporn s call for change had jarred on some monks. A group called the Thailand Buddhists Federation submitted a petition to the prime minister s office this month, calling for Pongporn to be removed to  prevent further damage to monks .   He painted monks as villains in Thai people s eyes,  the group s secretary-general, Korn Meedee, said in a statement on Facebook.  In July, another Buddhist group had called for Pongporn s removal, saying he had damaged the Buddhist institution.  Phra Buddha Issara, a firebrand monk who called for reform of Buddhism, said the junta gave in to pressure too easily given government promises to fight corruption.   Are they still serious about tackling corruption or are they only moving against certain people and groups?  he said, adding that when it came to monks:  No one can touch them.       Reuters reported exclusively in March that the junta was drafting a law which would significantly weaken the Sangha Council. The draft is expected to be brought to parliament this year. Thai security forces besieged the Dhammakaya Temple in February to try to catch its former abbot, wanted for questioning on money laundering. But police failed to catch him and he is still on the run. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
6566,6567,"Trump to Merkel on Obama s wiretapping  at least we have something in common  weblink pic.twitter.com/5BztA5Kx52  WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) March 17, 2017",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,present
6567,6568,"Editor ' s note : What ' s the best advice your father ever gave you ? Please share in the comments section below .  ( RealSimpleweblink ) My father taught me the importance of making my bed every morning . When I was six years old , he showed me how to complete the task Marine Corps style and would inspect my work on a daily basis .  Today my bed is one of the only things in my life that is consistently neat and orderly . ( Sigh . ) Mary Usen , Buffalo , New York  Real Simple : 14 Father ' s Day cards  How important it is to have fun . My dad was never boring : He often stood on his head to impress his three kids . And he made even mundane errands exciting .  For example , he once coaxed us to imagine a trip to the fishmonger ' s ( with its live octopus on display ) as a Jules Verne adventure . My dad taught me that life is better when you have a good time and bring others along for the ride . Monique Citron Stampleman , Larchmont , New York  Many mornings when my dad dropped me off at school , he would repeat the adage "" Don ' t take any wooden nickels . "" He meant it to mean : Don ' t settle for less than you ' re worth .  I ' ve relied on this advice countless times over the years . It has motivated me to end harmful relationships and has kept me from underestimating my abilities at work . Thanks to my father , I don ' t let self doubt keep me from achieving my goals . Hilary Heindl , Salem , Massachusetts  While I was growing up in the late 1950s and early 60s , my dad made sure I knew that I could do anything a man could do . He showed me how to use power tools , climb on the roof to install a radio antenna , and lift a trailer onto a hitch .  He also loved to see me dressed up for dances and even bought me my first lipstick . He wanted me to recognize that I could be feminine and self sufficient . Winifred Norwood , Ellsworth , Maine  Real Simple : Father ' s Day gift ideas  When I first entered the working world , my dad told me that it ' s as important to remember the assistant ' s name as the boss ' s . It ' s good manners , but it ' s also smart business : After all , if you ever need something , you won ' t get to the boss unless you ' re on good terms with the person who handles her schedule .  Having worked as an assistant myself , I know firsthand that he was right . I would make a point to go out of my way to help people who treated me kindly . Carolyn Juris , Astoria , New York  My father says , "" If you want something done , ask a busy person to do it . "" And he should know : He ' s an incredibly industrious doctor who manages to get to know his patients well , play ball with his grandchildren , and pursue countless hobbies .  In my own life , I ' ve discovered that I am more productive when I have more going on . Kim Prywes Bloomberg , Chicago , Illinois  Real Simple : 10 things my father was right about  Before I got married , my father advised me to avoid complaining about my husband to my friends . If you don ' t hash out problems with your spouse , he said , you might start harboring resentment toward him or cause your friends to view him negatively . Because of this sound guidance , my marriage is thriving . Lara Carr Winton , Pinson , Alabama  You don ' t have to answer the phone just because it rings . My dad always felt that if he was with a family member or a friend , that person took precedence over whoever might be calling . He taught me to focus on the people I ' m with , regardless of the situation . After all , they deserve my full attention . Jessica Barr Gabriel , Okotoks , Alberta  Real Simple : 7 gifts for dad  The best advice my father ever gave was passed down from his dad : Never try to solve problems at night , because they always seem worse than they do in the morning . Though I sometimes lack the self control to follow this sage suggestion , I ' ve learned over the years that it ' s true . Darkness can make even the smallest obstacle seem insurmountable . Laura Sinrod , New York , New York  Everything especially when it comes to gardening . Thanks to my dad ' s smarts , I know that I should check the average date for the last frost in my region before I start spring planting . I only hope that one day my backyard will be as enviable as his . Kristin Monaco , Washington , D . C .  Real Simple : Grill like a pro  To avoid the blues , my dad said , you should always have something to look forward to . Now when I ' m in a bad mood , I find myself thinking about that "" something "" a sunny vacation spot , a trip to a caf , or even a good night hug from my boys . Amy Canby , Englewood , Colorado  Real Simple : 20 books for dads  Share your dad ' s best advice in the comment area below .  Get a   issue of Real Simple   !  Copyright 2010 Time Inc . All rights reserved .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
6570,6571,"Open Line 223 Deciding America’s Future  The present presidential election boils down to a decision concerning America’s future. Will we continue down the path to global governance or will we reverse our direction and see the restoration of American sovereignty? Will we return to the Judeo-Christian values upon which this nation was built or will we merge America into a New Secular Order? Some people have expressed that only a miracle can reverse the damage that has been done to the American dream and to return us to the right path. Millions are praying that God will grant to us just such a miracle. Could God send a miracle at this critical time? Eleven days from now, we will all find out. It’s open line today on End of the Age.",fake,news,test,World conflict,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,present
6585,6586,"0  Okay, So I’m just gonna go on ahead and say that the Trumps are an incredible family. Donald is a strong figurehead, his sons are composed, and Ivanka will be the first woman president. Melania just shook the nation with a new, incredible speech (that Michelle Obama cannot claim!) ***Now a new Trump has risen. Earlier today, Melania shook the nation with a new, incredible speech (that Michelle Obama cannot claim!)  She took the stage in Berwyn,  and began with a simple smile. Then, Melania opened up and told a story. A story of a little girl growing up in the Soviet Union and dreaming of someday being an American.  She told how that little girl made it here. She worked hard and got  citizenship. And now, that same little girl is about to become our next 1st lady. She is that little girl. “When I was 10-years-old we learned that a man named Ronald Reagan was elected president of the United States of America. President Reagan’s “morning in America” was not just something in the United States, it began to feel like morning around the world, even in my small country. It was a true inspiration to me.” I think Melania Trump is a true inspiration to American immigrants. She is proof that hard work and dedication can pave the way to success in this country. If you agree and wanna help share this amazing speech out, all you gotta do is send it to all your best Facebook friends who love Trump. We can do this together! ",fake,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,past
6617,6618,"—   President Obama said Wednesday that he planned to leave 8, 400 American troops in Afghanistan until the end of his term, further slowing the drawdown in a   war that Mr. Obama pledged to end on his watch but now seems likely to grind on indefinitely. Acknowledging that the Taliban had retaken territory and were terrorizing the population, Mr. Obama said he was again adjusting his plan to withdraw American forces. The announcement will leave his successor with a substantial military commitment in the country, though far less than the nearly 40, 000 troops deployed there when he took office. “The security situation in Afghanistan remains precarious,” Mr. Obama said from the Roosevelt Room of the White House. “Even as they improve, Afghan security forces are still not as strong as they need to be. ” Those troops, he said, had not been able to quell a string of attacks and suicide bombings, including in the capital, Kabul. The United States has close to 10, 000 soldiers in Afghanistan, where they train and equip Afghan forces, and carry out counterterrorism operations. When he last tinkered with the drawdown schedule, Mr. Obama said he hoped to reduce that number to 5, 500 by early 2017. Now, more than 8, 000 troops will remain, and it will be up to Mr. Obama’s successor to order any further reductions. The president recently loosened the rules of engagement for American troops to give them the ability to fight the Taliban directly, and more flexibility to carry out airstrikes or wage ground combat. Mr. Obama cast his decision as a vote of confidence in Afghanistan’s government, led by President Ashraf Ghani, as well as in the support of  members and other partners, who have contributed 6, 000 troops. But it also underscores the fact that American hopes of building an Afghan force capable of securing the entire country had fallen short. “We have to deal with the realities of the world as it is,” said Mr. Obama, who was flanked by Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr. “It is going to continue to take time to build up military capacity that we sometimes take for granted. Given the enormous challenges they face, the Afghan people will need the partnership of the world, led by the United States, for many years to come. ” Mr. Obama announced the decision a day before leaving for a  summit meeting in Warsaw. Administration officials said the timing was intended to clarify American intentions and demonstrate that the United States was committed to Afghanistan. The president made the decision, which was very closely held, after a lengthy internal debate, and based on a recommendation from the American commander in Afghanistan, Gen. John W. Nicholson Jr. Keeping 8, 400 troops in the field, a senior administration official said, would allow American forces there to advise Afghan commanders “at the   and   level out in the field” over a sustained period, something that would not have been possible at lower troop levels. The number represents a slight decline from the 9, 800 troops currently deployed. “It’s an important and timely shift,” said Daniel F. Feldman, who was Mr. Obama’s special representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan. “I welcome it as a demonstration, not only of the administration’s flexibility in best advancing our national security interests in Afghanistan, but of the   commitment we’ve said we’ve had to Afghanistan, but which was being questioned there. ” Mr. Feldman was among more than a dozen former military commanders and diplomats who had urged Mr. Obama last month in a letter not to cut troop levels. Two prominent Republican senators, John McCain of Arizona and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, added their voices to that call. “If we go to 5, 500, this place will fall apart quickly, quicker than Iraq,” said Mr. Graham, who joined Mr. McCain on a July 4 visit to Afghanistan. “If we keep 9, 800, there is a decent chance we can succeed. ” But Representative Jim McGovern, Democrat of Massachusetts and a critic of the war, said, “We are engaged in what appears to be an endless war, with no strategy about how to end the conflict and disengage our troops. ” Besides fragile security, the decision reflected American worries that Al Qaeda was regrouping in Afghanistan, and that the Islamic State had established a foothold there. Mr. Obama repeated his vow that he would not allow Afghanistan to be used as a safe haven for terrorists. There have been other signs that the United States is preparing for a   counterterrorism campaign. In May, a missile fired from an American drone killed Mullah Akhtar Muhammad Mansour, the head of the Taliban, as he was traveling in Pakistan’s Balochistan Province. The decision to strike him on Pakistani soil, and then to announce it publicly, suggested a new, more aggressive approach by the United States. “We can’t forget what’s at stake in Afghanistan,” Mr. Obama said. “This is where Al Qaeda is trying to regroup. This is where  continues to try to expand is presence,” he said, using the administration’s preferred acronym for the Islamic State. The Afghan government had lobbied privately to keep the troops, American officials said. “We were expecting a decision based on the ground realities, and we welcome President Obama’s decision,” said Haroon Chakhansuri, a spokesman for Mr. Ghani. The government has struggled with security as American soldiers have left, steadily losing territory to Taliban insurgents. They briefly captured Kunduz last year, the first time they had seized a major urban center since the fall of the Taliban regime in 2001. Insurgents claiming affiliation with the Islamic State have also contested districts in eastern Afghanistan, and have remained a persistent threat despite major military operations against them. Despite the assassination of Mullah Mansour, the Taliban have retained their ability to carry out attacks in cities, most recently killing at least 33 people, almost all of them police cadets, in a bombing in Kabul. The deployment, Mr. Obama noted, was a far cry from the 100, 000 combat troops once there. But he acknowledged the frustration people might feel at the inability of the United States to draw this war to a close. “When we first sent our forces into Afghanistan 14 years ago,” he said, “few Americans imagined we’d be there  —   in any capacity  —   this long. ”",true,news,test,World conflict,Conflict,satire,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
6618,6619,"A Florida town has banned people let ' s face it , young people from wearing saggy pants .  A councilwoman for Ocala pushed for passage of the law , but the town ' s Mayor Kent Guinn may ultimately veto the fashion police .  If the law goes into effect , it ' s unclear what measuring tools the Ocala Police Department would use to determine whether citizens ' pants are within the 2 inch legal limit of a theoretical waistline . It ' s even more unclear how they will determine where the waistline actually lies on an individual .  More likely than not , the Ocala  will use the time honored legal standard of "" I know it when I see it "" to eyeball the location of waistlines relative to pants lines . The not too subtle message is : Pull up your pants , because "" 2 inches "" really just means "" too annoying . ""  Why do I suggest it singles out young people ? I ' m not ascribing any evil motive to law enforcement . Rather , as a society , we won ' t expect the police to ticket a plumber crouched over at work , accidentally revealing his tighty whiteys . We ' ll expect them to target teens who show underwear as a fashion statement .  So , the underlying legal question arises : Can the government even outlaw saggy pants in the first place ?  It ' s true that the First Amendment prohibits the government from interfering with our speech which is the right to receive and disseminate ideas and information .  It ' s also true that speech need not be spoken or written . The First Amendment also protects "" expressive conduct . "" The problem is that expressive conduct is hard to identify .  Clothing can certainly be expressive . In 1971 , the Supreme Court overturned one man ' s conviction for wearing a jacket that said "" F k the Draft "" but that ' s not really expressive conduct , because the written words constituted speech . Expressive conduct conveys an idea without words . Wearing a black armband to school to protest a war is an example of expressive conduct , and the Supreme Court has said doing so is protected speech .  Indeed , even offensive clothing , like Nazi uniforms , has been deemed expressive conduct , and the reviled Klansman robe has garnered First Amendment protections .  Clothing can be communicative , but courts require an identifiable , specific message to apply First Amendment protection . Saggy pants proponents would have to show that ( 1 ) displaying your underwear conveys an identifiable message ( 2 ) that the rest of us on the street can understand as an identifiable message .  Well , doesn ' t having one ' s pants on the ground convey ideas about comfort , personal style , and individuality ? Certainly , but those are not specific enough "" messages "" for the courts . When you think about it , all clothing conveys those ideas . In the ' 80s , many of us were conveying strong ideas about acid wash jeans and shoulder pads , and in the ' 90s , our collective message was apparently flannel and work boots . But that ' s just style or lack thereof and it ' s not enough of a message to be protected speech .  During the 2013 trial of George Zimmerman , many took to wearing hooded sweatshirts to show support for Trayvon Martin , who was killed by Zimmerman while wearing a hoodie .  Wearing hoodies satisfies the first prong of having a particularized message , but probably fails the second . Hoodies are so popular that a court might conclude the message of solidarity is indistinguishable on the street from , say , someone wearing a hoodie to the gym . In that sense , hoodies would fail the second test , because they are not understood as speech by others .  The results feel confusing : A court would likely conclude that the clothing of a Klansman or a neo Nazi conveys a particularized message an unpopular , divisive , angry message . That would entitle it to constitutional protection . But saggy pants ? The message is too amorphous , so it cannot be protected speech . And if it ' s not protected speech , the First Amendment will not prevent towns from outlawing those droopy drawers .  Few of us like looking at people ' s skivvies when their jeans hang off them on the subway , but how offensive is it , really ? Our culture ' s mores about clothing are fundamentally illogical . We attempt to outlaw this display of the top half of someone ' s boxers , but have no laws for that old guy at the pool usually the same guy glistening with suntan oil who prances around in nothing but a Speedo all summer . What ' s with that guy , anyway ?  The point is that culturally , we accept nearly complete nudity in one context , but try to regulate mostly clothed conduct in another . There really is no logic to our ideas about clothing . That helps to explain horrible fashion choices from decade to decade , but does little to logically justify clothing regulations . As much as we feel free to express ourselves with apparel , we likely have less freedom of expression than we imagined .  And at least in one town in Florida , no matter how trendy your gear may be , it looks like it ' s time to pull up the pants .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
6622,6623,"Asia Pacific shares fall sharply in wake of Paris attacks and Japanese recession  Global security concerns saw the euro hit a six month low and stocks were sold off around the region as Japan entered a quintuple dip recession  The Japanese economy contracted in the third quarter , marking an official recession . Photograph : Shuji Kajiyama   Stock markets in Asia Pacific have fallen sharply in the wake of the Paris terror attacks and downbeat economic data .  Leading the losers was the Nikkei index in Japan which tumbled nearly 1 . 3 as official figures showed that the country s economy had entered recession for the fifth time in seven years .  Related : Japan ' s ' quintuple dip ' recession delivers a fresh blow to Abenomics  The widely tracked  volatility index or fear gauge was at its highest level since 2 October and bourses in Australia , South Korea and Hong Kong all saw substantial falls of more than 1 in early trading .  In Europe , futures trade pointed to sharp falls in the main markets with the FTSE100 predicted to be down 40 points or around 0 . 6 at the open and the Dax in Germany down 1 .  The French financial markets were due to open as usual on Monday , with extra security measures taken for staff , stock and derivatives , the Euronext exchange said . The CAC40 French bourse was set to open 2 lower on Monday .  With concerns about how European leaders would respond to the Paris attacks , the euro was sold heavily in Asian trading and fell to a six month low of 1 . 071 .  Global security concerns were better news for some commodities , however , as Brent crude oil was up 1 at 44 . 92 a barrel after shedding 1 on Friday .  crude was up about 0 . 54 at 40 . 96 a barrel . Gold added about 0 . 5 to stand at 1 , 091 . 96 an ounce .  Risk aversion is on the rise and we are seeing broad based U . S . dollar strength across the board and this may continue until the year end as recent economic data has also disappointed , said Mitul Kotecha , head of Asian  and rates strategy at Barclays in Singpore .  The Japanese economy contracted by a worse than expected 0 . 8 on an annualised basis in the third quarter .  That followed a revised 0 . 7 contraction in the previous quarter , fulfilling the technical definition of a recession which is two back to back quarterly contractions . It is the fifth time Japan has entered recession since 2008 , a so called quintuple dip .  However , the prospect of more monetary stimulus in Japan on the back of the poor growth figures served to boost traders and the indices climbed back towards positive territory in the afternoon .  The headline was weak , but the market is shifting to expectations for more measures , said Mitsushige Akino , chief fund manager at Ichiyoshi Asset Management .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
6626,6627,"This burger is so hot that it comes to your table on fire . . . and you have to sign a waiver before attempting to eat it .  Made from a slab of beef infused with ghost and cayenne peppers , and pure chili extract , with relish of habaneros and jalapenos , and serrano peppers , the entire thing is then smothered in Hellfire Sauce and a splash of grain alcohol .  The sizzling Hellfire Burger is the creation of Loren Gingrich , owner of Xtreme Smokehouse and Grill in Washington , Iowa .  fire Burger contains six types of chilli and is set alight before being served to diners at Xtreme Smokehouse and Grill in Washington , Iowa  A brave punter downs protective gloves and eyewear before attempting the spicy meal  It ' s so hot that Mr Gingrich has asked the Guinness Book of Records to create a new category for it .  Reportedly clocking in around 1 , 000 , 000 Scoville units ( about half the burn of pepper spray ) , customers have to be over 18 to order the meal .  The burger arrives at the table with protective gloves , eyeswear and a waiver , which mentions the possible loss of life .  ' We actually have a ghost burger , ' said Mr Gingrich said to kcrgweblink . ' We wanted to do something that was hotter .  A relish made from habaneros and jalapenos , and serrano peppers is spread generously ( left ) before the burger is smothered in spicy condiment Hellfire Sauce ( right )  The relish is Mr Gingrich ' s own recipe and contains three types of chillies habaneros and jalapenos , and serrano peppers .  A single jalapeno pepper rates between 2 , 500 and 5 , 000 on the Scoville unit .  Another three types of chillies are then added to the burger ghost peppers , cayenne peppers and pure chilli extract , all of which are infused in the meat .  The burger is then assembled before being generously doused with a ring of hot condiment , Hellfire Sauce .  The final touch is a splash of grain alcohol before the entire snack is set on fire before being served to diners .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
6629,6630,"Liverpool are close to sealing the first big money move of the English close season after agreeing a fee for Sunderland midfielder Jordan Henderson .  The 20 year old already has an England cap to his name , playing for Fabio Capello ' s side in a friendly against France in November last year .  Henderson is regarded as one of the brightest young talents in the English game and is going to cost the Anfield club a reported fee of 32 million , according to the  Press Association , with French striker David Ngog going the other way .  It shows that Liverpool ' s American owners , Fenway Sports Group who also own Major League baseball team the Boston Red Sox are prepared to spend big in the transfer market to try and haul Liverpool back into the English top four .  Who will be football ' s top transfer targets ?  The club missed out on Champions League football in 2010 11 , finishing sixth in the table , and even failed to secure a Europa League place for next season despite an upturn in fortunes after former player Kenny Dalglish returned as manager .  A statement on the club ' s web site read : "" Liverpool have agreed a deal to sign Sunderland midfielder Jordan Henderson .  "" The 20 year old will today discuss personal terms and undergo a medical on Merseyside after a fee was agreed between the two clubs . ""  Sunderland also confirmed the news on their web site , a spokesman saying : "" A fee has been agreed with Liverpool for Jordan Henderson and he travels to Anfield with the club ' s blessing . ""  Henderson came through the ranks at Sunderland and made his debut for the club in the Premier League back in 2008 . He is due to join up with England ' s Under 21 squad Wednesday ahead of the European Championships .  Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn , a former player at the club , said : "" Jordan is a credit to himself , his family and Sunderland ' s Academy and everyone here wishes him the very best for the future , "" he said .  "" I am pleased that we got the deal to a level that we felt was right for our club . ""  Meanwhile , Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has welcomed news that the club have been linked with Blackburn Rovers defender Phil Jones .  The 19 year old is also part of England ' s Under 21 European Championships squad and made his debut for Rovers in the English League Cup in 2009 .  Rooney said on his Twitter site : "" Phil Jones is a good young English player . One of the toughest defenders I played against last season . Can play midfield too . ""  He later added : "" I don ' t know if Phil Jones is signing for us , just saying he is a good player that ' s all . I haven ' t got a clue if he is signing or not . ""  In Germany , Bayern Munich have confirmed the signing of Schalke goalkeeper Manuel Neuer on a five year contract .  "" I ' m very happy in Germany , I ' m the national team goalkeeper , and Bayern Munich is the best club in Germany . That ' s why I wanted to join Bayern , "" Neuer told the club ' s web site .  "" I know exactly what I want . I ' m looking forward to the next five years , and I don ' t know if it ' ll just be the five years . I ' m sure it could be more . ""  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
6633,6634,"A fraudster nicknamed ' Fizzy ' because of his love of champagne has been jailed for eight years for conning vulnerable pensioners out of their life savings .  Frank Onyeachonam ran the  end of global lottery scam that was orchestrated from his native Nigeria for seven years to fund his lavish millionaire ' s lifestyle .  It involved hundreds of perpetrators in several countries , detectives say .  In the  , 38 year old Onyeachonam conned pensioners out of sums from 2 , 000 to 600 , 000 , deliberately targeting his victims because they were potentially vulnerable to his tactics .  Fraudster Frank Onyeachonam who has been jailed for eight years after he conned vulnerable pensioners out of their life savings with a bogus lottery scam to fund his millionaire ' s lifestyle  Ill gotten gains : Onyeachonam , of Canning Town , east London , had so much cash he once spelled his name out in it and posted a picture of it on Facebook  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
6637,6638,"Protesters Converge on Oregon Town After Arrests , Killing  The town of Burns , Oregon , was calm Sunday after dozens of people converged there Saturday night to protest the killing of a militant who had been part of the nearly month long occupation of a federal wildlife refuge .  A car with anti government protesters prepare for a rolling vehicle protest by self proclaimed patriots Saturday in Burns , Oregon . Matt Mills McKnight Getty Images  One came armed with a sign telling the  , which has led the response to the occupation , to "" go home , ""  affiliate  of Bend reported . Another said : "" Entering Nazi Germany . ""  Both U . S . and Confederate flags were seen attached to protesters ' vehicles , the station reported .  The protest came after a "" call to action "" by the Pacific Patriots Network , a group that says it coordinates "" community resources to protect life , liberty , property and the environment . ""  The network ' s partners include local chapters of the Oath Keepers and Three Percenters , which have been described by the Southern Poverty Law Center as advocates of "" extreme anti government doctrines . ""  Arizona rancher LaVoy Finicum speaks to reporters Jan . 9 , near Burns , Oregon . Finicum was killed last week as law enforcement moved in to arrest protesters at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge . Rick Bowmer   In a statement posted on its website Friday , the network condemned the arrest of one of the protesters who occupied the Malhuer National Wildlife Refuge occupation on Jan . 2 , as well as the killing of Robert "" LaVoy "" Finicum , a rancher from Arizona and the occupiers ' de facto spokesman .  Finicum was in one of two vehicles traveling that were pulled over Tuesday about 45 miles from the refuge during what authorities described as a traffic stop . Protest leaders Ammon and Ryan Bundy were arrested along with several others Finicum was shot to death .  Two days later , the  released aerial footage of the killing that the agency says shows that Finicum was reaching for a loaded pistol before he was shot . Some of Finicum ' s supporters have described his death as murder .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
6647,6648,"Kyrgyzstan ' s president signed a bill Friday to close an air base that the U . S . military uses as a route for troops and supplies heading into Afghanistan , the president announced on his Web site .  Manas Air Base in Kyrgyzstan serves as a U . S . supply route for troops and supplies into Afghanistan .  The news came as two other central Asian nations Tajikistan and Uzbekistan reportedly agreed to let U . S . cargo pass through their countries on the way to Afghanistan .  Such deals , if confirmed , could help fill the void left by the closing of the Manas Air Base in Kyrgyzstan .  The Kyrgyz order became effective on Friday when President Kurmanbek Bakiyev reportedly signed legislation that the parliament in Bishkek backed on Thursday , the Pentagon said .  Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said the Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry on Friday officially notified the U . S . Embassy in Bishkek that a 180 day withdrawal process is under way .  "" We do remain in contact with the government of Kyrgyzstan , "" Yerkin said . "" The Manas Air Base continues to operate under existing agreements , as per the coalition ' s efforts in Afghanistan . ""  U . S . Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Friday the United States will continue to work with Kyrgyzstan on keeping the base open . Watch why Kyrgyzstan wants to close the base  "" I continue to believe that this is not a closed issue and that there remains the potential at least to reopen this issue with the Kyrgyz and perhaps reach a new agreement , "" Gates said at a  meeting in Krakow , Poland . "" If we are unable to do that on reasonable terms then , as I have suggested , we are developing alternative methods to get resupply and people into Afghanistan . ""  The Manas Air Base outside Bishkek is the only U . S . base in Central Asia and is a major resupply hub for the war in Afghanistan .  Its closing could deal a significant blow to the U . S . military effort there , especially following President Barack Obama ' s announcement of additional troops to halt a resurgence of the country ' s former Taliban rulers .  The United States pays 17 . 4 million a year to use Manas , a major logistical and refueling center that supports troops in Afghanistan , the Pentagon said . About 15 , 000 troops and 500 tons of cargo reportedly move through Manas monthly , it said .  The air base currently employs more than 1 , 000 servicemen , 95 percent of whom are Americans , Russia ' s Interfax news agency reported .  "" This is an important facility , it has been an important facility , but it ' s not irreplaceable and , if necessary , we will find other options , "" Whitman said . How far is Manas from Afghanistan ? View our map  Tajikistan and Uzbekistan , two other Central Asian nations that border Afghanistan , have agreed to allow U . S . cargo to be transported to Afghanistan through their countries , the Russian news agency Interfax reported Friday .  The agency said Rear Adm . Mark Harnitchek , U . S . transportation command director for strategy , policy , programs and logistics , held a meeting with Tajik Foreign Minister Kharokhon Zarifi , after which he said he had also secured Uzbekistan ' s consent .  If confirmed , success would still depend on how much access the United States would have to those countries for flights and cargo , and even then , it may not totally replace the capacity lost in Kyrgyzstan .  The U . S . military leased a base in Uzbekistan after the September 11 , 2001 , attacks on the United States . But after Uzbek troops were accused of killing at least 150 people during a demonstration in 2005 , the autocratic government of President Islam Karimov came under criticism from Washington and severed most of its military ties with the United States .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
6652,6653,"Reuters) - The regional leader of Catalonia said he already feels like the president of a free country after more than two million Catalans voted to leave Spain in a banned referendum last Sunday.  I already feel as a president of a free country where millions of people have made an important decision,  Carles Puigdemont said in an interview with German newspaper Bild due to be published on Thursday. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
6654,6655,"A maths graduate has been found guilty of murdering his father before dismembering him and placing his body parts in storage boxes which he used as a television stand .  Nathan Robinson used a Stanley knife , a hacksaw and a saw to cut up the body of his father , 48 year old William Spiller , at the flat they shared in Bournemouth , Dorset , in May 2013 .  The court was told that the following day , Robinson travelled to Glasgow to visit friends and gave one of them a boxset of the Saw horror films .  Brutal : Nathan Robinson ( left ) used a Stanley knife , a hacksaw and a saw to cut up the body of his father , William Spiller ( right ) , at the flat they shared in Bournemouth , Dorset , in May 2013  A jury at Winchester Crown Court took just one and a half hours to find Robinson guilty of the murder of the 48 year old taxi driver .  Robinson had denied the charge of murder but admitted manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility .  He also took almost 8 , 000 of his father ' s cash after the murder and tried to clean up the scene with newly purchased cleaning products .  In the following month , he further covered his tracks by using his father ' s mobile phone , sending text messages to his partner , Glenys Molyneaux , and his friends .  When Robinson was arrested on June 18 , a day after Mrs Molyneux reported Mr Spiller missing , he asked police if it was a joke .  The trial has heard that Robinson cut up his father ' s body and placed the parts in storage boxes with a television on top .  Victim : William Spiller ( right ) was killed by his son Nathan Robinson . Mr Spiller is seen with his partner Glenys Molyneaux , who is not Robinson ' s mother  His head was placed in a box and put in a filing cabinet . Robinson tried to clean resulting mess with a specialist steam cleaner he purchased from Homebase , but a neighbour living in the flat below complained of a ' pink liquid ' seeping through the ceiling .  Robinson told the court that he had only limited memories of the killing .  He claimed that he had been abused as a child by his father and by another man on a separate occasion .  He also said his mother , Elaine Robinson , worked as a prostitute and he had found an advertisement which she used to offer her services .  The defendant told the court that he had completed a mathematics degree at Aberystwyth University but had failed to complete a masters degree in bio fuels and managing the environment .  He explained that he completed the taught part of the second degree but did not finish the dissertation after he became ' distracted ' at finding out about his mother ' s activities .  However , Nigel Lickley  , prosecuting , said the likely motive for the killing was financial as Robinson owed his father 36 , 000 .  He also took almost 8 , 000 of Mr Spiller ' s cash , which he used after the killing to go partying with his friends in Scotland and to take his mother to a vegan weekend in Bristol .  Robinson , wearing a grey suit , white shirt and tie , showed no emotion or reaction as the verdict was announced .  The judge , Mr Justice Griffith Williams , thanked the jury and said : ' There is only one sentence I can pass , which is life imprisonment , but I have to determine the minimum term he will serve before the parole board will consider his release . '  Following the verdict , Desmond Duffy , Senior Crown Prosecutor with the Crown Prosecution Service in Wessex , said : ' Nathan Robinson savagely killed his father , William Spiller and then went to great lengths to hide his crime .  Winchester Crown Court , pictured , heard that Nathan Robinson remembered being abused as a child after he saw a flyer featuring his mother offering sexual services in cars in return for payment  ' It was the prosecution case that money may have been a motive for the crime . The 27 year old , who lived with his father , accepted that his financial position was dire at the start of 2013 .  ' An I . O . U recovered from the flat which was dated June 2011 said : "" I Nathan Robinson totally accept that I am indebted to my father to the sum of 36 , 000 ( . . . ) ""  ' The jury at Winchester Crown Court heard how the 27 year old and his father had a history of disputes .  ' On May 16 2013 , they had argument the argument was so loud that it was heard by their downstairs neighbour , who heard the sounds of a struggle and then Mr Spiller asking his son to get him an ambulance .  ' Robinson did not call an ambulance . He admitted stabbing his father to death and cutting his body into pieces and storing the body parts in plastic boxes . He also admitted taking his father ' s money before leaving the flat .  ' It was the prosecution ' s case that the defendant at the time of the killing did not suffer from any abnormality of mental functioning that would have diminished his responsibility for his actions .  ' The jury heard that the way Mr Robinson acted after the killing could only show clarity of mind .  ' Not only did he dismember his father ' s body , he paid the month ' s rent on the flat , purchased two Vax cleaners to remove blood stains from the floor and pretended his father was still alive by sending texts to one of his father ' s best friends and to his father ' s partner , Glenys Molyneaux , who became very worried and alerted the police .  ' Robinson carried on his life as normal , supported by his father ' s money , by going to Scotland , meeting friends and organising a weekend in Bristol . When the police arrested him he asked them if it was a joke .  ' Our thoughts go out to Ms Molyneaux and the rest of Mr Spiller ' s family and friends . '  The case was adjourned for sentencing on a date to be fixed and Robinson was remanded in custody .  ",true,text,test,American football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
6665,6666,"Reuters) - The U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan is investigating Paul Manafort for potential money laundering, according to media reports, adding to other federal and state probes targeting President Donald Trump’s former campaign manager. The U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York launched the probe in conjunction with federal special counsel Robert Mueller, the Wall Street Journal reported late on Tuesday. Bloomberg separately reported that subpoenas had been issued in the case. Representatives for Manafort did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the reports. The Manhattan U.S. attorney’s office, led by acting U.S. attorney Joon Kim, had no comment.      The probe marks the latest investigation of Manafort that comes amid the ongoing larger examination of alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential race and possible collusion by the Trump campaign and associates.  Separate investigations into Manafort’s financial transactions have been launched by New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance, including scrutiny of Manafort’s real estate deals.  U.S. investigators examining Manafort’s financial transactions are seeking to push him into cooperating with their probe into the possible collusion, two sources with direct knowledge of the investigation have said.  Manafort, who headed the Trump campaign for several months before resigning, has not been accused of any wrongdoing. Mueller’s team and congressional investigators are also probing Manafort, whose Virginia apartment was raided by agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in July.  Russia has denied any meddling in the 2016 U.S. election. Trump has denied any collusion by his campaign and has condemned the investigation as a political witch hunt. Reports of the latest probe come as Trump is poised to appoint dozens of new U.S. attorneys across the United States, including in New York after seeking mass resignations earlier this year. Kim took over as the Manhattan U.S. attorney when Trump fired Preet Bharara as part of the wave of resignations in March.  Earlier this month, Politico reported that Trump personally interviewed at least two candidates for the positions in Manhattan and Brooklyn, an unusual move that raised some questions given Trump’s business roots in New York.  The Brooklyn U.S. attorney’s office is examining Kushner Cos, the company owned by the family of Trump’s son-in-law and White House adviser Jared Kushner, according to the Journal. The White House and U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions have defended Trump’s right to talk with potential nominees, Politico said.  The U.S. Senate must approve whomever Trump nominates, a move that could be complicated by the Manafort and other probes. ",true,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
6673,6674,"Reuters) - The U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passed a compromise version of an annual defense policy bill on Thursday without controversial provisions such as requiring women to register for the draft or allowing contractors to make religion-based hiring decisions. Ninety-two senators backed the $618.7 billion National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, and seven opposed it. Because it passed the House of Representatives by a similarly large margin last week, the bill now goes to the White House for President Barack Obama to veto or sign into law. A White House spokesman told a briefing he did not yet have a position on the bill to report. The 2016 bill, the last of Obama’s presidency, includes some Republican-backed initiatives with which he has disagreed in the past. It includes a $3.2 billion increase in military spending, when there has been no similar increase in non-defense funding. The bill also bars closures of military bases, although top Pentagon officials say they have too much capacity, and it blocks planned reductions in active-duty troop numbers. And it continues policies that bar transfers of prisoners to U.S. soil from the detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, which Obama had hoped to close. While his administration has shipped most inmates from the controversial prison, the Democrat is not expected to accomplish his goal of shuttering it before he leaves office Jan. 20. Obama’s successor, Republican Donald Trump, wants to keep Guantanamo open, and expand it. The  passed both chambers in the Republican-led Congress with margins large enough to overcome a veto, and the compromise legislation features many provisions such as a military pay raise and an expansion of a landmark human rights bill, that are extremely popular in Congress. [L1N1E316A] After months of negotiation, the Senate and House Armed Services committees unveiled a compromise version of the  last month that left out the Russell Amendment, a “religious freedom” measure Democrats said would have let federal contractors discriminate against workers on the basis of gender or sexual orientation, overturning Obama’s executive order. Some House Republicans said they hoped to revisit that provision after Trump takes office, when they do not have to worry about a veto threat from a Democratic White House. The bill also excluded a provision that would have required women to register for the military draft, now that Pentagon leaders are moving to allow them into combat. A provision recommending that the U.S. conducts yearly high-level military exchanges with Taiwan, which Beijing sees as a breakaway province, made it into the final bill. China’s defense ministry said in a statement on its official microblog on Friday that it was “firmly opposed” to the move, which would “inevitably damage U.S. interests”.   ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
6679,6680,"Print  If you look at the numbers, there is no way that Hillary Clinton could possibly win the election without the support of a substantial percentage of evangelical Christian voters. In fact, if evangelical Christians stuck together they could pretty much elect whoever they want as president. According to the Pew Research Center, 35 percent of all adults in the United States identify themselves as “evangelical” or “born again”, and it has been estimated that there are 94 million evangelical Christian adults in this country. If evangelical Christians acted as a single voting block they could determine the outcome of every single presidential election. Unfortunately, that simply is not going to happen.  A survey that was recently conducted by LifeWay Research found that only 45 percent of Christian evangelicals plan to vote for Donald Trump and 31 percent of Christian evangelicals plan to vote for Hillary Clinton.  That same survey discovered that moral issues are becoming increasingly unimportant to evangelical voters… Overall, the economy is the top concern for Americans regardless of religious affiliation (30%). National security (17%) and personal character (17%) also are significant issues. Supreme Court nominees (10%), immigration (5%), religious freedom (2%), and abortion (1%) are less important . “For churchgoers and those with evangelical beliefs, their pocketbook and personal safety are paramount,” said McConnell. “Moral issues aren’t a priority for many of them.”  I don’t know how in the world abortion could come in at only 1 percent. Even if you add “Supreme Court nominees” and abortion together, you still only get a total of 11 percent.  This just shows that evangelicals in America have their priorities way out of order.  And unfortunately for Donald Trump, he is getting a lot less support from evangelicals than other recent presidential candidates received. According to the New York Times , previous candidates have generally received about 80 percent support from white evangelical voters, but Donald Trump is only getting about 65 to 70 percent support, and his numbers among non-white evangelicals are absolutely dismal.  If you are an evangelical Christian and you have reservations about Donald Trump, I can respect that. But there will be other names on the ballot and you do not have to vote for Hillary Clinton. As I have said before, a vote for Hillary Clinton is an act of unmitigated wickedness.  Hillary Clinton has made support for abortion one of the central pillars of her long political career. In fact, I don’t know if there is any politician in America that is more associated with abortion than Hillary Clinton. Since Roe v. Wade was decided in 1973, more than 58 million babies have been murdered in the United States, and Hillary Clinton’s hands are drenched with their blood.  If you vote for Hillary Clinton, your hands will be drenched with their blood too.  Needless to say, I am absolutely horrified that so many prominent evangelical leaders have come out in support of Hillary Clinton during this election season. For example, a group that represents over 6,000 Latino evangelical churches has just announced that they are endorsing Hillary Clinton …  An organization representing more than 6,000 Latino evangelical churches in the U.S. is endorsing Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump.  In a statement Thursday, the group   says Clinton has proven her willingness to engage in difficult conversations, listen to contrasting opinions and engage faith leaders.  Meanwhile, 75 evangelical leaders recently signed a petition on Change.org that strongly denounces Donald Trump…  We, undersigned evangelicals, simply will not tolerate the racial, religious, and gender bigotry that Donald Trump has consistently and deliberately fueled, no matter how else we choose to vote or not to vote.  One of the truly alarming trends that we have been seeing this election season is the number of prominent women in the evangelical movement that are openly rejecting Donald Trump and embracing Hillary Clinton. The following is a short excerpt from a recent Washington Post article that examined this phenomenon…  When Jen Hatmaker speaks to stadiums full of Christian women, she regales them with stories about her five children and her garden back in Austin, Tex. — and stays away from politics. But recently she took to Facebook and Instagram to blast Donald J. Trump as a “national disgrace,” and remind her legions of followers that there are other names on the ballot in November.  And Christianity Today recently published an editorial from one of the top female evangelical leaders in the entire country in which she publicly endorsed Hillary Clinton. According to Christianity Today, Deborah Fikes is “the former Permanent Representative to the United Nations for World Evangelical Alliance, which represents a constituency of 650 million with alliance offices in 129 countries.” Fikes says that she stepped down from some of her leadership positions so that she could openly advocate for Clinton … My recent resignations from evangelical leadership positions to endorse Hillary Clinton speaks volumes of how important I believe it is that she is elected in November. The toxic tone and atmosphere that surrounds Mr. Trump and is fueled among his supporters has done irreparable damage to not only our country and the future of the  but also to the public witness of evangelicals in America who are seen as some of his biggest supporters. There is no question in my mind or spirit that with the overwhelming challenges the next American president will face, Hillary Clinton is the most qualified person who has ever run for the Oval Office . On the issues of our national security, economic stability, seeing that healthcare reform continues to move forward, and tackling domestic challenges of poverty, inequality, and racism, we need her to be the person occupying this office.  A lot of these women seem to think that abortion shouldn’t be a major issue in this election, but that is like saying that the Holocaust shouldn’t have been a major issue in Nazi Germany.  Look, you don’t have to vote for Donald Trump or anyone else to be a good Christian.  But if you cast a vote for Hillary Clinton, you are casting a vote for the most evil, wicked and corrupt politician that this nation has possibly ever seen, and you are publicly endorsing the sinful positions that she is proud to stand for.  I know that I have been writing about the election a lot lately , but I feel that it is very important that I do so. Most of the media coverage has focused on Donald Trump , but I feel that this election is far more about Hillary Clinton. The things that her and her husband have done have been well documented, and if the American people willingly choose her they will know exactly what they are doing.  Unfortunately, not even Christians are standing united against the Clintons. The political divide in the evangelical Christian world has grown so deep that it has even reached Liberty University. The following comes from the Atlantic …  That’s why it was such a big deal when, two weeks ago, a group of Liberty students put out a letter explaining why they’re standing against the Republican presidential nominee. Jerry Falwell Jr., who has run the school since his father died in 2007, announced his support for Donald Trump back in January, and he has since spoken on the candidate’s behalf in interviews and at events. “We are Liberty students who are disappointed with President Falwell’s endorsement and are tired of being associated with one of the worst presidential candidates in American history,” the students wrote. “Donald Trump does not represent our values and we want nothing to do with him.”  Thousands of people signed onto the letter, including, the students said, roughly 2,000 students or alumni with liberty.edu email addresses.Dustin Wahl and Alex Forbes, two of the letter’s authors, were featured on  and CNN. They said they received supportive emails and tweets from Russell Moore, the head of the political arm of the Southern Baptist Convention, and Erick Erickson, the conservative radio-show host.  And the support for Clinton is particularly strong among young adult evangelicals. When I read the following paragraph on the website of the New York Times , I was absolutely astounded…  Kate Shellnutt, 30, the online editor of Christianity Today and editor of the  Women section, said she had observed that “the millennial generation has a lot less patience for Trump.” Of the 33 influential millennial evangelicals she profiled for a cover story two years ago, she says she can now find only one, Lila Rose, who is pro-Trump, and even she has been publicly critical of him . Several have been using the hashtag #NeverTrump, Ms. Shellnutt said.  The frightening thing is that this election might be the last chance for evangelical Christians to shape the political direction of this nation, because the truth is that demographics are rapidly shifting, and this includes the demographics of the evangelical community …  As Robert Jones has expertly documented in his recent book The End of White Christian America , the number of older, conservative, white male evangelicals is shrinking each year. Meanwhile, the number of younger evangelicals of all ethnic backgrounds — whose moral and political views extend far beyond positions on gay marriage and abortion — is on the rise.  If you follow my work regularly, then you already know that I have very little hope for the future of America.  But if Hillary Clinton is elected, there will be exactly zero hope.  If evangelical Christians stood united, they could stop her, but at this point it appears that is not going to happen.  Take a look at the future of America: The Beginning of the End and then prepare shares",true,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,present
6714,6715,"Frank Lautenberg grew up in Paterson , New Jersey a tough mill town . Served in World War  , where he scampered up improvised rickety poles to string wire to keep the lines of communication open . Went to Columbia on the  Bill , then made a fortune as co founder of  . He was among the first to see how computers could revolutionize business , and he put the new technology to work processing paychecks .  He made millions in business , but never abandoned his liberal roots . His generous support for progressive causes earned him a spot on Nixon ' s infamous Enemies List . In 1982 he defeated Millicent Fenwick the pipe smoking , progressive Republican who was the inspiration for the Doonesbury character Lacey Davenport and became a senator .  In 1988 I served as Frank ' s press secretary . Few bosses were tougher . He was running for re election against golden boy Pete Dawkins Heisman Trophy winner at West Point , Rhodes scholar , Vietnam vet , Army general , millionaire banker a man so handsome , he was a model in ads for men ' s shirts . Frank was not as glib as Dawkins , so I told the press , "" Frank may not be a great communicator , but he ' s a great legislator . "" That did not go over well . "" I am paying you to say good things about me , "" he thundered . "" I can get people to criticize me for free ! ""  Lautenberg : The last ' swamp dog '  Frank was so cantankerous , so combative , that he often called his 1988 campaign manager , the great James Carville , "" the second opponent . "" But he rose to the occasion , besting Dawkins in a debate and embracing the nickname Dawkins used to dismiss him : "" swamp dog . "" From that day to the last time I saw him , I would always ask Frank how the old swamp dog was doing . He never lost his bite .  As a senator , Lautenberg leaves an impressive legacy . The Lautenberg Amendment helped free Soviet Jews and is still used by oppressed people seeking freedom in America .  If you enjoy flying smoke free , you can thank Frank . Firefighters who now have a right to know the chemicals they face in a fire can thank Frank . Millions who ride Amtrak or use mass transit can thank Frank . If you believe working people deserve a higher minimum wage , you can thank Frank . All of us who support the U . S . Israel relationship can thank Frank .  His brother and sister veterans have lost a friend , and those who support gun safety legislation have lost a powerful ally .  Me ? I have lost an example of toughness and tenacity . In an age of blow dried , prefab , Ken doll politicians , Frank was the real deal : a hard bitten , gut punching , proudly liberal swamp dog .  The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Paul Begala .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
6740,6741,"A Broncos player says Tom Brady whines to referees when he ' s sacked .  Tom Brady might be one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time , but some Broncos players say he ' s also a Super crybaby .  Defensive lineman Antonio Smith said Monday that Brady is constantly trying to get officials to throw their flags any time he is crunched to the turf .  "" I ' ve never seen any quarterback look to the referee right after he gets sacked more than Brady , "" saiddefensive lineman Antonio Smith , who agreed that calling the Patriots signal caller a "" crybaby "" would be an accurate statement when asked by Mile High Sports  .  "" Every time he gets sacked he looks at the ref like , ' You see him sack me ? Was that supposed to happen ? He did it a little hard . Please throw a 15 yard penalty on him . Get him fined . ' "" Smith said .  Oh , baby : The Broncos have cranked up the trash talk ahead of the  Championship clash with the Patriots .  Brady was sacked 38 times during the 2015 regular season . He was not sacked on Saturday during the Patriots 27 20 divisional round victory over the Chiefs in Foxborough . He s only been sacked more in two other seasons during his 16 year career . Brady was sacked 40 times during the 2013 season and a career high 41 times during the 2001 season , which was his second season in the league and his first as the starter , after he took over when Drew Bledsoe was sidelined by a hit from the Jets Mo Lewis .  Smith did add that although the four time Super Bowl champion complains a lot , he isn t fazed by much . He s not going to rattle just because you hit him hard . I ve tried over the years , Smith said . That s what D linemen think : The harder you hit the quarterback , the better it will make it on the secondary .  With Brady , he s a great competitor . You know it s coming . He s going to cry about getting hit , but he s going to take the hit and keep going .  Broncos defensive end Antonio Smith celebrates a sack .  This week , Smith s Broncos teammates ? linebacker Brandon Marshall and cornerback Chris Harris ? took shots at one of Brady s favorite targets : Rob Gronkowski .  Marshall , who also agreed Brady is a crybaby , said on  Sports ' "" Pro Football Talk Live "" radio show Monday that the New England star tight end regularly "" pushes off . ""  "" He gets away with it about 98 percent of the time , "" Marshall said .  While Harris Jr . said on "" SportsCenter "" that the best way to take down Gronkowski was to "" hit him low , "" specifically at "" his knees . ""  Gronkowski suffered a knee injury during the Patriots ' loss to ? who else ? ? the Broncos .  The Broncos and Patriots clash at 3 : 05 p . m . Sunday in the  Championship Game . Denver ended New England s bid for an undefeated season in Week 12 when it won at home in overtime , 30 24 , dropping the Patriots to 10 1 . The Broncos sacked Brady three times on that snowy November night in Denver . No team sacked quarterbacks more this season than the Broncos , who had 52 the Patriots were second with 49 .  Denver sacked a banged up Ben Roethlisberger three times during Sunday s 23 16 victory .  When the Broncos and Patriots squared off in the  title game in Denver two years ago , Brady was sacked twice while Peyton Manning did not get sacked . Manning was sacked once Sunday by the Steelers .  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
6741,6742,"In a special session held Monday evening, Austin Independent School District trustees voted   to adopt a sanctuary policy resolution that strives to “create a safe and caring learning environment so as to foster a culture of trust and respect” for all students “regardless of their immigration status or the status of their parents. ”[The school board’s resolution calls for “schools and classrooms” that are “safe, welcoming and inclusive places, noting “all children are entitled to a public education” based on the 1982 United States Supreme Court ruling, Plyler v. Doe, which protects   illegal immigrant minors from discrimination and requires that U. S. public schools educate these students. The document did not mention the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) which prohibits schools from turning over student immigration status to federal agents, as Breitbart Texas reported.  The resolution states Austin  policy bars “any acts of discrimination or harassment, based on race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expressions, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, and age. ” The district says it embraces equity, diversity, and inclusion, accomplished through named supporting programs like Whole Child, Every Child,” part of the Whole Child approach to “improve each child’s cognitive, physical, social, and emotional development” “No Place for Hate,” an   League (ADL) campaign to combat bigotry and celebrate diversity   behavioral health centers and Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) which promotes the   and   competencies often associated with the public education reform movement. After the unanimous vote, trustee Paul Saldaña told reporters he wished Austin  acted sooner but crafting a resolution was a step in the right direction. He said: “We still have a lot of work to do to reassure our families that coming to school is safe. ” Earlier Monday, Austin  Superintendent Paul Cruz issued a statement: “We are unwavering in our support of students, families, and staff and want to reassure them that the district’s commitments have not changed. ”  reported he said: “I fully support our teachers, our principals and our staff members in creating safe learning environments for all of our students. ” Austin ISD’s online “your rights, immigration, and resources” links to the district’s refugee support office, a “hub for refugee and asylee students and their families currently enrolled” or seeking to be enrolled in the district’s schools. They offer family support services like translation and interpretation, school registration assistance, social and emotional support, plus staff and community training. Reportedly, more than 20, 000 Austin students skipped school last Thursday to protest a “Day without Immigrants. ” Breitbart Texas reported the truant protesters rallied against recent U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids where officials arrested violent criminals and people who sexually assault children. Education Austin, the school district’s labor and teacher union affiliated with the two largest teacher unions in the nation, the National Education Association (NEA) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) plus labor union   called on Austin  to take a stronger stand on behalf of illegal immigrants. They provided 3, 000 of their teacher union members with flyers for students on their rights when faced with dealing with an  agent, according to the Austin  .  Last week, the state’s largest school district, Houston ISD, adopted a sanctuary policy which reaffirmed support for illegal immigrants impacted by any state and federal travel bans, offered a safe haven for students, families, and employees illegally in the United States. In late December, the El Paso border school district declared sanctuary status. San Antonio  inches closer to approving a similar resolution. Follow Merrill Hope, a member of the original Breitbart Texas team, on Twitter.",true,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
6745,6746,"Attacker : The couple , from Upper Milford Township in Pennsylvania , want to get away from Oliver Larry Beck but they claim his presence in the neighborhood has made their property impossible to sell  The family of a young girl sexually abused by a neighbor two years ago is trying to make her attacker buy their home , in a groundbreaking lawsuit .  The couple , from Upper Milford Township in Pennsylvania , want to get away from Oliver Larry Beck but they claim his presence in the neighborhood has made their property impossible to sell .  In the first suit of its kind , the unnamed couple are asking a judge to force the 65 year old , his wife and his mother to buy their residence , at a cost of 235 , 000 , and pay for them to move .  In addition , the family is going after damages for the child ' s pain and suffering caused by the 2011 molestation .  Beck was sentenced to almost two years in jail after he pleaded guilty to indecently assaulting the child . Investigators said he lured the victim into his basement by telling her he wanted to show her a bear ' s head mounted on the wall . After telling the girl to feel the bear , he made her take off her clothes then assaulted her .  The child ' s father found out and called police . The family allege Beck assaulted their daughter , who he used to take on drives , play games and give candy and sweets to , multiple times between 2009 and 2011 .  After Beck was released from prison , he resumed his old address , but the victim ' s family claim in the lawsuit that they ' re ' under duress ' to move house now he ' s back living in the neighborhood .  Legal experts say this is the first time a lawsuit has attempted to force a defendant to buy a home , and many believe a judge wouldn ' t even have the power grant such a request .  ' I have never heard of that and the court may say it has no authority to order that , ' University of Virginia Law School professor Douglas Laycock told The Morning Call .  ' If the house , in fact , lost value , and if the owners are entitled to recover for that , that value can be awarded in damages without transferring ownership of the house .  ' Selling the house to the offender might be a sensible part of a settlement , but it would be odd as a court ordered remedy . '  St . John ' s University associate law professor Anthony Sabino told the newspaper that making Beck buy the home could be deemed unconstitutional under the Eighth Amendment , which forbids cruel and unusual punishment .  Lawsuit : The parents have filed the lawsuit in Lehigh County Court , pictured child molested by a neighbor have taken an unusual step to get away from the man who abused their daughter  But a sexual assault survivor and executive director of the Victim Witness Assistance Program in Harrisburg Jennifer Storm said she thinks the creative request would set a positive precedent .  ' I applaud any effort that a victim can take to ensure their well being , ' Storm told the newspaper . ' I think this could be a good case to potentially set precedent . '  In a court brief filed this month , Beck ' s lawyer Robert Magee said the lawsuit ' s demand for the home purchase is ' not appropriate or authorized under a legal or equitable theory , ' according to the Morning Call .  He said that the family is still able to use and enjoy their home .  Previous cases asking for damages because an undesirable development has made their house difficult to sell have been dismissed , with the Pennsylvania court claiming : ' Any time a property owner engaged in an activity that ostensibly reduced surrounding property values , liability would attach . '  Meanwhile , the lawsuit accuses Beck of sexual assault , negligence and inflicting emotional distress , among other allegations .  Beck ' s wife and mother are accused of negligence in the document , with the family claiming they knew or should have known of Beck ' s attraction to children and the risk he posed to their young neighbors .  The little girl suffered emotional distress , shame and embarrassment and will need indefinite therapy to deal with the abuse , the suit says .  Homeowners selling up are not required to inform potential buyers that a sex offender lives next door , but the family said they would feel obliged to tell the new owners , in case he strikes again .  Research shows , having a listed sex offender in the neighborhood drops home prices by between 4 and 12 per cent .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
6753,6754,"Holder should be making his baseless remarks from behind bars but that s another story Retired Attorney General Eric Holder pushed back on statements made last week by  Director James Comey in which Comey suggested the so-called Ferguson effect might be responsible for a recent rise in crime in cities around the country.In a gathering with reporters Wednesday, Holder told the Huffington Post,  I don t agree with the comments that he s made about, or the connection he s drawn, between the so-called  Ferguson effect  and this rise in crime. The Ferguson effect is a name given to a recent spike in crime in some, but not all, American cities this year. The idea is that police have taken note of the public mood and decided to hold back on more aggressive policing.Eric Holder told the Huffington Post the factors involved in the crime surge would be difficult to tease out,  It s hard for us to understand why crime dropped to historic lows over the last 40 years. I think it s probably equally difficult or even more difficult to explain why crime has gone up in some places, violent crime has gone up in some places, over the past 12 months. But Holder then immediately discounted one possible explanation, saying,  But I don t think it s connected to the so-called Ferguson effect. The comments by Eric Holder are part of an ongoing war of words within the Obama administration, which escalated last Friday when  Director James Comey seemed to endorse the Ferguson effect as an explanation during an address at the University of Chicago Law School.After ticking off a list of possible explanations for the recent crime surge, Director Comey said,  I do have a strong sense that some part of the explanation is a chill wind that has blown through law enforcement over the last year. And that wind is surely changing behavior. Nobody says this on the record. Nobody says this in public,  Comey told his audience last Friday, adding that it was,  the one explanation that, to my mind, explains the calendar and the map.  He was referring to both the widespread increase in crime in cities across the country and the timing of that increase this year.Former  Eric Holder rejected the idea that police were holding back because of the public mood Wednesday, telling the Huffington Post,  I frankly don t think police officers are laying down on the job.  Via: Breitbart News",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
6754,6755,"Reuters) - Former Brazilian senator and environmental minister Marina Silva said on Saturday that she would seek her party s nomination to run for president next year.  Silva announced her plans at a meeting of her Sustainability Network Party, or REDE, which would officially nominate her at its national convention in April. The 59-year-old environmentalist, born into a rubber-tapping community in the Amazon rainforest, was minister under former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. She has run in the previous two presidential elections but never made it to a second-round vote.  Silva said she would seek her party s nomination because  Brazilians want a country free of corruption  and that she had the ethical bearings to deliver on that.  Supporters have praised her as Brazil s most principled politician, which could play a large role in the next election. Since early 2014, Brazilian prosecutors and police have carried out an unprecedented anti-corruption drive that has revealed political graft touching every major party, but not Silva s. Silva has remained committed to fiscal responsibility, inflation targeting and a floating exchange rate, the so-called tripod of economic policies that gave Brazil stability after a period of rampant inflation and erratic growth in the 1990s.   In the latest election survey conducted by the respected Datafolha polling institute and published Saturday on the Folha de S.Paulo newspaper s website, Silva ranked third, with 10 percent of respondents saying they would vote for her.  But that poll included Lula as a possible candidate.  Lula was convicted in a corruption trial in July. If a higher court upholds that conviction before the October election, he could not run.  Without Lula, the Datafolha poll had Silva trailing right-wing candidate Jair Bolsonaro, a federal lawmaker who won 21 percent approval, compared with her 16 percent. Datafolha interviewed 2,765 voters across Brazil on Nov. 29-30. The poll had a two-percentage-point margin of error.  In the 2010 election, Silva, then with the Green Party, took a surprising 20 percent of the first-round vote, but it was not enough to push her into a runoff with eventual winner Dilma Rousseff.  In 2014, she ran for vice president on the Brazilian Socialist Party ticket headed by Eduardo Campos, who died when his campaign plane crashed just two months before the election. Silva took his spot and won 21 percent in the first round, again missing out on a runoff.  ",true,dataset,test,Other news2,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
6761,6762,"Amy Schumer and her boyfriend ? Ben Hanisch ? are winding down from Sunday ' s Golden Globes with a nice walk on the beach .  Hanisch shared a gorgeous photo of the beach at sunset with his comedienne girlfriend walking in front of him . "" There is no place I ' d rather be , "" he captioned the Instagram pic . Awww !  ( Anybody else start singing "" Rather Be "" by ? Jess Glynne and Clean Bandit ? just then ? )  Now that ' s a way to celebrate Schumer ' s awesome appearance at the awards show . Although she and Hanisch have been dating for a little while , the Inside Amy Schumer star waited until the New Year to introduce him to the world , also via Instagram .  We ' ve only just become familiar with the Chicago based furniture maker , but it looks like these two are already getting pretty serious . "" We ' re in love and that ' s really exciting , "" Schumer told People ? ( via JustJared ) while walking the red carpet at the 2016 Golden Globes . She also said she ' s incredibly "" proud "" to share her big moments with him , but couldn ' t help but laugh to hear that the public is so surprised by her plus one status .  "" I ' ve never been dating anyone that the public ' s really known about , "" she continued . "" But , I like that everyone thinks I ' ve been single my whole life . They ' re like , ' She got her first boyfriend ! ' I ' m like , no , I ' ve dated people over the years . ""  Well the two have at least one thing in common ? it was both their first Golden Globes red carpet . Perhaps next year ( if ) when Schumer and Jennifer Lawrence host ? the campaign vying for them began after their joint appearance on stage Sunday ? she ' ll bring him along . Seeing as how happy they are together , we wouldn ' t be surprised if we start seeing them out publicly a lot more often .  Seeing as he already took a trip to the White House with his girlfriend and her family , we have to assume she ' ll be keeping him around for quite some time !  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
6783,6784,"Prosecutors are seeking additional charges against the Cleveland man accused of keeping three women captive in his home for a decade , they told a judge .  At a eight minute hearing Wednesday , Ariel Castro , 52 , kept his head down , often closing his eyes and speaking only to answer "" yes "" or "" no "" to the judge ' s questions .  Prosecutor Timothy McGinty told Cuyahoga County Judge Michael Russo there is a possibility of more charges .  "" We are presenting additional evidence to the grand jury next week and the week after . We expect we are going to request further indictments , "" he said .  Castro faces 329 counts , including one count of aggravated murder for allegedly causing the unlawful termination of a pregnancy .  Castro ' s lawyers have filed a speedy trial motion , which would mean the case would have to be tried by August 4 . However , that deadline could change if Castro ' s attorneys change course and ask for more time to prepare for the case .  Russo set the next pretrial hearing for June 26 and told the prosecution and defense that any plea deal would need to be in writing . The defense has said in the past that it would be open to a plea deal if the death penalty was taken off the table .  This week , Castro entered a not guilty plea to all charges , including 139 counts of rape and 177 counts of kidnapping Michelle Knight , Amanda Berry and Georgina "" Gina "" DeJesus . Castro fathered a daughter with Berry , according to authorities .  Police have alleged Knight was impregnated by Castro five times , but he would punch her in the stomach , resulting in miscarriages and termination of all the pregnancies .  Authorities said last week they are conducting  tests on evidence to determine if additional victims were inside Castro ' s Cleveland home , and the state attorney general ' s office says the crime lab is reviewing additional evidence in the case .  Since the case began , investigators have been looking for evidence of aborted fetuses and evidence of any other girls or women who may have been kidnapped or held captive in the house .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
6791,6792,"An American school founder who young Haitian men once hailed as a savior was sentenced Tuesday to nearly 20 years in prison for sexually abusing them .  Douglas Perlitz , 40 , was sentenced in federal court in New Haven , Connecticut , to 19 years and 7 months behind bars for abusing the Haitian men when they were boys under his care , said Bruce Foucart , special agent in charge of the U . S . Immigration and Customs Enforcement (  ) Office of Homeland Security Investigations in Boston .  "" We ' re very pleased with the sentence , "" he said . "" He was brought to justice and I hope it sends a strong message to people who are doing that or who are even thinking about doing that . ""  Judge Janet Bond Arterton imposed the sentence , which includes 10 years of supervised release .  Perlitz arrived in the northern Haitian city of Cap Haitien in 1997 . There , he opened a charitable school called the Project Pierre Toussaint (  ) . He got homeless boys off the streets and gave them shelter , food and education .  "" When I met Mr Douglas , he appeared to us like Jesus Christ himself come to rescue us , "" said Francilien Jean Charles , who was only 12 when he was plucked by Perlitz and brought to the school .  Over the years ,  grew into a 10 acre compound with dorms , classrooms and a soccer field .  Perlitz frequently flew back to Fairfield , Connecticut , to raise money . According to court documents , from 2002 to 2008 , donors gave more than 2 million to help care for the kids . Perlitz ' s alma mater , Fairfield University , awarded him an honorary degree in 2002 for helping homeless boys in Haiti .  But Perlitz was hardly the man he appeared to be .  "" I thanked God when I met Douglas , "" said Jean Charles . "" But when things started to turn bad , I realized it would have been better if I never came to  . ""  Perlitz wore a watch that lit up and at night , he used it to seek out the boys , they said . Fredlin Legrand said he woke up to see Perlitz next to him .  Finally , in 2007 , some of the boys approached their teachers and other adults . No one believed what they were hearing .  Brian Russell , a donor for the school , said Perlitz was a miracle maker , not a pedophile .  "" There was no way that this man could have committed these things that people were accusing him of . It seemed utterly out of the realm of possibility , "" Russell said . "" There was too much goodness . The heart was too big . ""  The boys grew desperate . They painted graffiti on the outer walls of the school , most of which has been painted over . But one plea for help still exists : "" Welcome , Haitian National Police . ""  The police never came , but journalist Cyrus Sibert noticed the writing on the wall .  "" I told the boys , I will go to the end with you , "" Sibert said . "" Are you ready ? ""  But even after Sibert aired his interviews with the boys , Haitian authorities and American donors still did not believe the accusations .  It was only after an American volunteer at the school relayed accusations of older boys raping younger ones that red flags went up . Russell said the volunteer demanded from the headmaster that something be done immediately .  His response was : "" Well , that ' s really hard because Douglas has been doing this for the last 10 years . ""  Russell felt broken , betrayed .  "" I felt like all the money I had donated , the time that I had given , something that we had worked so hard for was gone . ""  In September 2009 , U . S .  agents picked up the case and arrested Perlitz . He denied the accusations , but in August , Perlitz pleaded guilty to one count of traveling with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct . He also admitted to engaging in sexual conduct with eight minors .  The defense requested a delay in sentencing , contending Haiti ' s January earthquake , cholera outbreak and election related street violence made it impossible to thoroughly review the prosecution ' s claims against Perlitz . The court denied the request .  In addition , the defense maintained that Perlitz himself was a victim of sexual abuse . According to a defense memorandum , while he was at Fairfield University , "" a priest began a relationship with Doug that . . . ultimately took on a dark aspect , both physically and spiritually , that had a significant and long lasting impact on him . ""  The prosecution quickly responded , saying : "" Perlitz ' s sexual abuse of minors , abuse which lasted for a decade or more , shows him to be nothing more than a wolf in sheep ' s clothing an American man who traveled to Haiti purporting to care for homeless children when in reality he preyed upon the desperation of these children so that he could sexually abuse them . ""  Some of the boys , now young men , were in court Tuesday for the sentencing . They faced the man who abused them for years and spoke about their experience , bringing a sense of reality to the courtroom , said Foucart . They testified about how afraid of Perlitz they were and how he threatened to throw them out of the school and back on the streets if they spoke up .  Paul Kendrick , an advocate for victims of abuse familiar with the case , was in court . He said Perlitz apologized to his victims at one point during the proceeding .  "" The judge , I thought , gave a very strong sentence and a very strong message , "" said Kendrick . "" American citizens will be held accountable for their actions with minors no matter where they are in the world . ""  Watch Anderson Cooper 360 weeknights 10pm  . For the latest from AC360 click here .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
6822,6823,"San Diego , California For much of this election season , I saw a lot to admire in Marco Rubio . I liked the independence and courage he showed in going against the Republican Party establishment by challenging Gov . Charlie Crist in the U . S . Senate race in Florida . And when Rubio was viciously and unfairly attacked by presumptuous white liberals for not being authentically Latino , I liked him even more .  And now ? Not so much .  It ' s all because of how Rubio bungled his reaction to an Arizona law that despite supporters ' assurances that it won ' t lead to racial and ethnic profiling is certain to lead to racial and ethnic profiling . In true Kerryesque fashion , Rubio was against the law before he was in favor of it .  As the intelligent , charismatic and well spoken son of Cuban immigrants , Rubio rose through the ranks quickly to become speaker of the Florida Assembly before taking on Crist for the  Senate nomination . Rubio had not only vanquished Crist ' s nomination hopes but , in effect , ran him out of the party . The governor is now running for the Senate as an independent , against both Rubio and presumptive Democratic nominee Kendrick Meek .  In fact , things were going smoothly for Rubio until Arizonans passed a law intended to deputize state and local police officers to act as surrogate immigration agents . The idea behind  1070 is to round up as many illegal immigrants as possible by requiring that police check the immigration status of people with whom they come in contact if officers have "" reasonable suspicion "" to believe that the person is the country illegally whether police want to or not .  Despite the fact that the law is enormously popular with the  base , Rubio rightly opposed it as overly broad and flat out dangerous . Just a few weeks ago , he said in a statement :  "" States certainly have the right to enact policies to protect their citizens , but Arizona ' s policy shows the difficulty and limitations of states trying to act piecemeal to solve what is a serious federal problem . From what I have read in news reports , I do have concerns about this legislation . While I don ' t believe Arizona ' s policy was based on anything other than trying to get a handle on our broken borders , I think aspects of the law , especially that dealing with ' reasonable suspicion , ' are going to put our law enforcement officers in an incredibly difficult position . It could also unreasonably single out people who are here legally , including many American citizens . Throughout American history and throughout this administration we have seen that when government is given an inch it takes a mile . ""  Rubio was right to be concerned .  1070 is such a deeply flawed piece of legislation that it had to be amended a week after it was signed . Supporters say the changes prevent racial and ethnic profiling . Now , police officers can prowl for illegal immigrants only in the course of enforcing some other law or ordinance . In the original version , all that was required was "" lawful contact . ""  Another change is that now , the state attorney general or a county attorney cannot investigate complaints based on a person ' s race , color or national origin . The original law allowed for race , color and national origin to be considered as one of several factors and only prohibited law enforcement from focusing "" solely "" on those characteristics .  That was good enough for Rubio , who now says he backs the controversial law as amended . Apparently , his concerns about racial profiling have been assuaged .  Glad to hear it . Trouble is , now I have concerns about Rubio . He can ' t be that gullible . So he must be in denial .  The amendments are totally cosmetic . In the real world of policing , it ' s impossible for law enforcement officers particularly those who lack the specialized training given to Border Patrol agents to make assumptions about one ' s legal status without taking race and ethnicity into account . We can tell them not to think about race and ethnicity , but that only makes them more likely to think about them . Anyone who claims otherwise is dishonest , disingenuous or delusional .  Besides , there was an additional change in the law that arguably makes it even more dangerous and more divisive . Now , the requirement that a police officer must determine the immigration status of an individual who they have a "" reasonable suspicion "" is in the country illegally extends to those instances where police respond to something as minor as city ordinance violations . That could include loud parties , barking dogs , cars on blocks , overcrowded apartments , etc . One can easily imagine neighbors turning in one another , and an environment that is already poisoned with resentment and fear becoming more so .  Supporters say they changed  1070 . Believe it . They made it worse and more likely to lead to abuse . Anyone who doesn ' t see that must be blind . Of course , ambition has been known to have that effect on people .  The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Ruben Navarrette .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
6837,6838,"They ' re known for their love of sleep , so tit ' s not surprising this koala was far from happy when it was rudely awakened with a drenching from a garden sprinkler .  The furry creature , which rests for up to 18 hours a day , was fast asleep in a tree when it was soaked by a gardener watering his trees .  And as these images show , the koala was more than a little peeved at its unexpected soaking .  A wet wake up call : This koala looks far from happy after being woken up from a nap when a gardener drenched it while watering his trees in Adelaide , Australia  The images were taken by Matt Wilkinson , 39 , in the garden of his home in Adelaide , Australia .  He said : ' There was a particular bad heatwave in Adelaide recently and temperatures reached up to 40C .  ' The koalas hang around in a tree in my garden when it is hot , it ' s on the southern side of the house and relatively cool .  "" We use the sprinklers and garden hose to wet the house and surrounding trees when it ' s hot to avoid a bush fire but when I watered one of the trees , this koala got a bit of a soaking . '  But while the koala may look far from happy about his soaking , Mr Wilkinson said it would have helped it cool off .  He said : ' It was a boiling hot day so I ' m sure it helped the koala cool down .  Cooling off : But Matt Wilkinson , 39 , who took the photographs of the animal , said the koala may have appreciated the soaking as it was an unusually hot day  ' Koalas usually don ' t need to drink , as they get their moisture requirements from gum leaves but on that day , the koala ' s were licking at the trunk of the tree where the water was trickling down . They were quite thirsty . '  After accidentally drenching the animal , Mr Wilkinson quickly grabbed his camera before heading to the end of his garden to take these pictures .  ' I wanted to use my camera to try and get a shot of the koala after wetting it down , so walked down and proceeded to snap away .  ' Either the koala was curious , or wanted to thank me , as it climbed out along the tree branch and stayed at the end of it just looking at me . It even stuck its tongue out which helped me get some great photos . '  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
6842,6843,"Paul Sacco says searching for his daughter feels something like bleeding out . All the hope , heartache and anxiety that go into it leave him feeling diminished .  But the Colorado lawyer and amateur guitarist has managed to bottle up some of that energy , spending hundreds of hours creating what is both a tribute to Aubrey Sacco and a monument to his sorrow : a 14 song album he has published to Internet vendors .  "" Finding Aubrey "" includes 11 songs written and performed by Sacco at his home studio , as well as the last three songs Aubrey herself recorded at home before the 23 year old disappeared in April 2010 while hiking alone in Nepal .  The case is unsolved , and the album for sale on iTunes and other outlets is a fundraiser for an investigation into her disappearance .  "" So many people who know us say , ' What is it like ? ' or ' I can ' t imagine what it ' s like to have your daughter go missing , ' "" Paul Sacco said in a phone interview . "" The album tells the whole story : feeling helpless , feeling like you want to celebrate your daughter , feeling like she may never come back and diminishing yourself as you look for her . ""  Aubrey disappeared toward the end of a five month post college trip in Asia . The 2009 University of Colorado graduate , who had a double major in psychology and art , went to Sri Lanka to teach yoga to vacationers before traveling to India to study yoga and volunteer to help schoolchildren with music and art .  She hoped to do charitable work , perhaps hooking up with a nongovernmental organization abroad , her dad said . But she vanished on the last stop of her trip , in Nepal ' s Langtang National Park , where she hiked for at least two days .  She initially was believed to have made it as far as a particular village on the hike ' s second day , but villagers there changed their stories and said they didn ' t see her after all . Investigators don ' t know what happened to her and have yet to find any physical trace of her .  Paul Sacco , 59 , and his wife Connie have taken trips to Nepal to press the investigation , working with private investigators , Nepali police and the Nepali army to try to determine what happened .  Between his job and his investigation , Sacco found at least three hours a day for more than a year to create the album . Playing all the instruments , supplying all the vocals and recording and mixing the tracks , he grieved through music . He came up with a first version last year before publishing the finished product in April .  "" My counselor said that he felt that was extremely healthy for me as an outlet , because that was how ( Aubrey and I ) related to each other , through music and art , "" Sacco said .  There are songs of tribute and nostalgia . "" Crayons in the Sun "" recalls Aubrey growing up painting , going to a father daughter dance , wearing a homemade dress to graduation .  "" I ' ve written songs since I was 10 years old . I never wrote a song that I was crying onto the paper so much that the pen wouldn ' t write until then , "" Sacco said .  The album also shows moments of determination . In "" The Great Divide , "" Sacco sings of moving heaven and Earth for her .  "" Your pictures all hang in these empty rooms I know you ' ll be here , soon , "" he sings .  In much of the album , though , Sacco works through despair and isolation .  "" Now we ' re the car wreck on the road people turn their heads and drive away from here , "" he sings in "" A . ""  "" Stare into the Darkness "" speaks in part to the investigation ' s magnitude : "" Stare into the darkness and it ' ll stare right back at you from the other side of the world I think it ' s going to run me through . ""  Listeners also get to hear Aubrey , in songs that Sacco asked her to record before she left . They used to play music together , and he knew she was working on a few songs in the months before her trip .  "" The night she was packing for Sri Lanka , I asked her , ' Honey , I really want you to record these songs , ' "" Sacco said . "" She said , ' Why ? ' I said , ' Just in case something happens to you . ' ""  Aubrey ' s songs were rough recordings , not meant to be final products . But Sacco is grateful to have them and says they "" give you a flavor of where she ' s coming from . ""  Sacco believes one of her songs , "" My Heart Knows , "" was an "" accept me for who I am "" sort of song , addressed primarily to a romantic interest but possibly to whoever listens .  "" Please let me be me person you ' re afraid to be but don ' t worry , I know where to go I know , because my heart knows , "" Aubrey sings .  Sacco , who didn ' t particularly want Aubrey traveling alone , said the song offers a good glimpse at his strong willed daughter .  He has sold several hundred copies so far , and that ' s a few hundred dollars more for the family ' s investigation fund . He ' s grateful to have had the chance to explain what he ' s feeling though music .  Sacco hoped the disappearance would be solved by the time the album was done . Since he finished it , he hasn ' t been able to write much . The two relatively new half songs he ' s written still are about Aubrey , but he says he doesn ' t have the energy to complete them .  "" The biggest thing was to bury myself in my work at the law office ( after the album ) , "" he said . "" That seems to be a good place to hide . ""  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
6853,6854,"Atlanta , Georgia The H1N1 virus , also known as swine flu , may have killed as many as 17 , 000 Americans , according to new estimates by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (  ) in Atlanta .  Though 2 , 498 confirmed deaths linked to the H1N1 virus had been reported to the  as of January 30 , the agency estimates that between 8 , 330 and 17 , 160 people actually have died from H1N1 .  The overwhelming majority of the people who died between 6 , 390 and 13 , 170 were 18 to 64 years old , the  estimates . Between 880 and 1 , 810 children 17 years old and younger also died from this flu , according to  estimates .  In comparison , the  says that in a regular flu season , about 36 , 000 people in the United States die from seasonal flu , with 90 percent of the deaths usually occurring in people age 65 and older .  Since this new flu virus emerged in April 2009 , health officials have recognized that the reported numbers of people who have been hospitalized and died provide only a partial picture of the full outbreak . Underreporting of influenza cases and deaths is common , especially in the early weeks or months of an outbreak .  By mid July last year , the World Health Organization (  ) no longer recommended that countries with known H1N1 transmission test everybody who had flulike symptoms , as laboratories were being overwhelmed . Patients were to be diagnosed based on symptoms alone , since nearly all of the circulating flu strains were H1N1 .  Only severe cases of flu , which lead to hospitalization or death , were to be tested . The  adopted these recommendations for the United States , also .  Despite the recommendation that deaths suspected to be from H1N1 be tested , the  is aware that many are not , and in many cases H1N1 might not have been suspected .  According to the report released Friday , the  estimates an average of 57 million people have been infected with H1N1 and an average 257 , 000 cases resulted in hospitalizations .  Health officials continue to urge people who haven ' t received a vaccination to do so .  "" The real tragedy is that people are still getting sick and we have a vaccine that will help prevent illness , "" Quartarone said .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
6854,6855,"21st Century Wire says There is no greater source of so-called  fake news  than the corporate mainstream media, particularly those outlets in the US. On a recent   show, host Patrick Henningsen talks about  Mainstream Media fakery which has taken over Washington DC, exposing the litany of lies and disinformation being cranked-out by  Magazine, CNN,  News, New York Times and the Washington Post. Listen:[soundcloud url= weblink  params= auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true  width= 100%  height= 450  iframe= true  /] .     AT: 21st Century Wire  FilesSUPPORT 21WIRE   &  A  @21WIRE.TV",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,present
6861,6862,"The source of a mysterious maple syrup like smell that has periodically blanketed New York is not a particularly aromatic pancake house but a New Jersey factory involved in the processing of fenugreek seeds , Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced Thursday .  The source of New York ' s sweet aroma has been identified as the New Jersey food flavoring company Frutarom .  The sweet aroma first descended upon Manhattan and northern New Jersey in October 2005 , initially triggering several building evacuations as well as concern the scent was physically harmful . Authorities from the Office of Emergency Management soon concluded it posed no danger to the public .  The odor made several return appearances in subsequent years , each time confounding nostrils before vanishing as perplexingly as it arrived .  Comparing information about local wind speed , wind direction and air humidity against the locations of citizen complaints about the smell , officials from the city ' s Department of Environmental Protection narrowed down the potential source to four factories in northern New Jersey that produce food additives and fragrances . Watch how the mystery was solved  Last week , when several dozen residents of Upper Manhattan called to complain about the smell , the environmental department , having developed a new evidence gathering procedure , gathered air samples from each suspected source in canisters . Tests revealed the pungent perpetrator of that incident was a Hudson County facility owned by Frutarom , a company that develops and manufactures flavors for the food , fragrance and pharmaceutical industries .  The specific chemical agents responsible for the scent are esters , compounds "" created by the reaction between an alcohol and an acid "" during the processing of fenugreek seeds , according to Bloomberg .  Toasted fenugreek seeds are often used in the production of artificial syrups and in the cuisines of a number of cultures .  The mayor said New Jersey officials , who cooperated with New York in the investigation , had concluded that Frutorom had not violated any rules . He said New Yorkers will have to tolerate the syrup smell ' s occasional return , noting that it ' s a relatively benign odor .  "" All things considered I can think of a lot of things worse than maple syrup , "" he said .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
6864,6865,"Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg , recovering from pancreatic cancer surgery , plans to be back on the bench when the Supreme Court resumes oral arguments in 17 days .  Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg also had surgery for colorectal cancer in September 1999 .  Court spokeswoman Kathy Arberg said Friday that the 75 year old justice is expected to be on hand for the next public session February 23 , when the court will hear appeals in two cases .  Ginsburg remains hospitalized at New York ' s Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center a day after undergoing surgery for the disease .  Sources close to Ginsburg say that she continues to do well after surgery and that doctors and family remain cautiously optimistic . Those sources said she was resting comfortably and speaking with her staff about the court ' s upcoming caseload . Watch friends talk about Ginsburg ' s resilience  The justice could be released from the hospital next week . A court statement Thursday said she will probably remain in the hospital for seven to 10 days , according to her attending surgeon , Dr Murray Brennan .  "" Justice Ginsburg had no symptoms prior to the incidental discovery of the lesion during a routine annual check up in late January at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda , Maryland , "" the court said .  The justices are on a month long recess but return for a closed door conference February 20 . There is no word on whether Ginsburg will attend that meeting , among just the nine members of the court , to go over pending appeals .  President Obama was hoping to speak with Ginsburg by phone later Friday , said White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs .  Ginsburg underwent surgery for colorectal cancer in September 1999 . Court sources said she continued to work on pending cases while in her hospital bed and her subsequent recovery .  Less than a month later , she appeared in public to give a speech and said , "" I am still mending but have progressed steadily . "" She never missed a day on the bench .  The Brooklyn , New York , native has been on the federal bench since 1980 , the past 15 on the high court , where she is the he only female justice .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
6865,6866,"The body of former  linebacker Jovan Belcher was exhumed Friday in order to perform tests on his brain , a lawyer for the player ' s family told the Kansas City Star .  Attorney Dirk Vandever told the newspaper that Belcher ' s family hopes tests will provide a clue as to why the four year veteran of the Kansas City Chiefs shot his longtime girlfriend to death then killed himself about a year ago .  Belcher ' s body was exhumed Friday from a cemetery in Long Island , New York , the paper reported . It was not clear where the body was sent for examination .  The family wants to know if chronic traumatic encephalopathy , known as  , or something else played a role in the murder suicide , according to the newspaper .   is a progressive degenerative brain disease found in some athletes with a history of repetitive brain trauma .  The only way to diagnose  is after death by analyzing brain tissue and finding microscopic clumps of an abnormal protein called tau . Tau has been found in the brains of dozens of former  players , including Junior Seau , Dave Duerson , Terry Long and Shane Dronett , who all committed suicide . It was also found in the brain of Mike Webster , who died in 2002 .  Suicide latest in a string among former  players  Omalu said there was a 50 50 chance that the study of the brain would yield results after the body had been buried about a year . He said he had performed two such studies himself .  "" The exhumation and analysis has to be performed by a forensic pathologist who has the experience and expertise , otherwise it has the potential of coming to naught , "" he said .  Scientists are working to identify some common symptoms of the brain disease in living players . Experts say athletes with  often struggle with memory and decision making . Some exhibit mood and behavior problems such as depression and hopelessness , or violent , explosive behavior . A few show no symptoms at all .  In 2002 , Webster , a Hall of Fame center for the Pittsburgh Steelers , was the first former  player to be diagnosed with  . After his retirement , Webster suffered from amnesia , dementia , depression and bone and muscle pain .  Mother screams as baby cries in released Belcher 911 tapes  Other athletes have demonstrated erratic behavior , such as Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Justin Strzelczyk , 36 , who died in a 2004 high speed chase . Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry died at age 26 after falling from the bed of a moving pickup during a fight with his fiancee .  Issues surrounding brain damage , and other potential long term cognitive and emotional consequences of repetitive brain trauma , have become a serious concern for the  .  The league settled a concussion lawsuit for 765 million in August . At the heart of the lawsuit were plaintiffs ' allegations that the  led a deliberate misinformation campaign primarily through its Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Committee to deny scientific data being presented in the medical community about concussion risks .  The deal calls for the  to pay for medical exams , concussion related compensation , medical research for retired  players and their families , and litigation expenses , according to a court document filed in U . S . District Court in Philadelphia .  The agreement involved more than 4 , 500 plaintiffs .  Belcher who was 6 foot 2 and weighed 228 pounds played for the Chiefs from 2009 to 2012 , appearing in 59 games . On December 1 , 2012 , the 25 year old linebacker fatally shot his girlfriend , Kassandra Perkins , in the same home with their 3 month old daughter before heading to the team ' s practice facility , thanking his coaches , and turning his gun on himself .  In an November article on Bleacher Report , a friend of Belcher ' s said the linebacker played through his physical problems .  "" Jovan suffered multiple concussions , "" said Kash Kiefer , a former punter at Maine and one of Belcher ' s closest friends . "" But in football , you don ' t complain . You play . That was Jovan . He played . ""  Belcher was from West Babylon , New York . He played for the University of Maine Black Bears , where he started in all 45 games of his four year career .  Opinion : Manhood , football and suicide  ",true,text,test,American football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
6866,6867,"One potential property owner is a step closer to joining Sydney ' s ' millionaire ' s club ' after the opulent Mediterranean mansion of a former tobacco executive hits the market with an expected price tag of more than 40 million .  87 89 Wolseley Road , Point Piper , looks to challenge the record held for a non waterfront property in the affluent harbourside suburb , drawing both domestic and international attention for it ' s sheer size and panoramic views .  The property was last sold in 2004 to Bill Webb and his wife Marijke , who never thought they would leave after falling in love with the house they carefully renovated to reflect it ' s original architecture , and it being sold by Black Diamondz .  87 89 Wolseley Road , Point Piper , has hit the Sydney property market and is expected to fetch more than 40 million  The stunning three storey residence is set on 1900 square metres , boasting views which run from Sydney Harbour all the way down to Manly , and is one of the few properties left on the market in the close knit suburb of Point Piper .  The trophy house was built in 1954 , commissioned by General Motors dealer Bill Stack , and redesigned in 2004 by architect Michael Suttor .  With interiors by Michael love , ' Mandalay ' has been lovingly constructed to highlight the colonnaded terraces and ornate wrought iron balustrades at the heart of the property , reported Domain .  The house has reportedly been on and off the market for several years , and co agent Bill Malouf from  Hooker Double Bay said that the couple are now ready to downsize after their adult children have found their own homes .  The stunning three storey residence is set on 1900 square metres  The property was last sold in 2004 to Bill Webb and his wife Marijke , who never thought they would leave after falling in love with the house they carefully renovated to reflect it ' s original architecture  The trophy house was built in 1954 , commissioned by General Motors dealer Bill Stack , and redesigned in 2004 by architect Michael Suttor  ' Now that there ' s only two people in the house the couple are ready for something smaller , ' said Mr Malouf .  ' They told me that they would be leaving the property with reservations I sold it to them a number of years ago and they said they couldn ' t see themselves leaving , ' he said .  ' But times change . It ' s such a huge property , just magnificent . '  The 1900 square metre property certainly is generous , with views that run from the Sydney Opera House and Habour down to Manly and Rose Bay a claim that not many properties can make .  The European style villa houses six bedrooms , a five car garage , a wine cellar and heated pool .  The lower level is almost large enough to be considered a separate apartment , and offers a private gymnasium and sauna , as well as a swimming pool and a study .  The large , open plan kitchen boasts a built in butler ' s pantry and additional staff quarters for a maid or nanny  The European style villa houses six bedrooms , a five car garage , a wine cellar and heated pool  The house has reportedly been on and off the market for several years , and co agent Bill Malouf from  Hooker Double Bay said that the couple are now ready to downsize after their adult children have found their own homes  The large , open plan kitchen boasts a built in butler ' s pantry and additional staff quarters .  The house is also divided into the West and East wing , offering an office , a private balcony and palatial walk in wardrobes .  ' The property is pretty unique , and the timing is perfect to have a house like this on the market , especially with the Australian dollar doing so well in Asia , ' said Mr Malouf .  The estate agent said that the house had already garnered significant international attention , including interest from the United States and several Asian clients .  ' All the major trophy properties in Potts Point have sold , so there ' s no competition for a home like this . There ' s nothing like it in the area , ' he said .  The lower level is almost large enough to be considered a separate apartment , and offers a private gymnasium and sauna , as well as a swimming pool and a study  The estate agent said that the house had already garnered significant international attention , including interest from the United States and several Asian clients  The house boasts views from Sydney Harbour down to Manly , and is one of the few properties left on the market in Point Piper  ' I ' m expecting the sale price to be over the 40 million mark , between 45 and 47 million depending on the buying market . '  Point Piper has seen a flurry of sales over the past few months , with another Wolsey Road property selling for a reported 39 million in November to a Chinese billionaire .  Xu Jianyin , chairman of the real estate group Evergrande , is listed as China ' s 15th richest man with 7 billion worth of wealth to his name  The 56 year old is reported to have paid about 39 million for the Villa del Mare mansion at 63 67 Wolseley Rd .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
6867,6868,"New York Afghan President Hamid Karzai has started talks with representatives of the Taliban , a move that analyst Fareed Zakaria says could bring an end to the nine year long war .  Karzai convened a meeting Thursday with the Afghan Peace Council , which was formed to help negotiate with the Taliban . Referring to the militants , Karzai said , "" I call on them once again to use this opportunity and say ' yes ' to this endeavor . I want them to come and bring peace to this land . ""  Fareed Zakaria : I think it ' s about time . If you look at any good study of civil wars , what you find is that most of them end in a negotiated settlement . Maybe because Americans have the memory of our civil war in which the North crushes the South , we somehow think that that ' s how civil wars end . But that ' s actually is very unusual .  Watch an excerpt from Larry King ' s interview with Hamid Karzai  What normally happens is some kind of settlement that is negotiated in which the losers are reintegrated into the political order . Civil wars are unlike normal wars , because the winners and losers are going to have to live with one another .  Zakaria : The Taliban , which is mounting this insurgency , is not a foreign element within the body politic . The Taliban is basically the political representative of the conservative elements of the Pashtun community .  The Pashtuns are 50 percent of Afghanistan . . . . It is a political force in Afghanistan . Coming to terms with it politically and seeing if there ' s some way it can be reintegrated into the political order makes sense . You ' re not going to kill every member of the Taliban . They ' re not going to be exiled to a foreign land . They ' re going to be there at the end of the day so it ' s better to to have them in the tent .  Zakaria : First the very fact that the Taliban are coming to the table in a way they had not been willing to before suggests that they are feeling some pressure .  But I also think you can ' t get too hung up with this idea that you have to negotiate from a position of strength . Ideally we would have them totally prostrate on the floor and that would be the time to negotiate . But the reality is that this is a very mixed military campaign . I don ' t know if it ' s going to be dramatically better one year from now or three years from now .  See more opinion articles  This is a little like somebody who owns a stock , who says , it ' s at six now , I need to sell it , but I ' m going to wait till it goes to eight . Well maybe it will go to eight , maybe it will go to four .  You might as well start talking at this point . First of all you learn a lot in the process of negotiations . And secondly , the military campaign could move in many different directions . If the surge starts succeeding even more , that will be reflected in our negotiating posture .  Zakaria : It seems as though the Taliban demands are that they want all foreign troops out . They don ' t want to accept the Afghan constitution and they don ' t want to lay down their arms .  Now those are obviously their opening demands . Foreign troops aren ' t going to be out , but one could point out that President Obama has said there is going to be a reduction of foreign forces next year .  On the Afghan constitution , there is a compromise there where there could be a few amendments to the constitution . But on laying down their arms , that it seems to me you can ' t really compromise , they would have to lay down their arms . Could some elements be integrated into the militia , or the Afghan national army ? Perhaps that ' s what happened in Iraq .  Zakaria : Yes , it is the kind of society envisioned by the Afghan constitution . But Afghanistan is a fairly conservative society . While the extreme elements of the Taliban have draconian visions which are obviously not supported by the Afghans the polls bear this out it ' s also true that on issues of women ' s rights and some of the more progressive elements of the Afghan constitution , the Karzai government is in a minority and those rights are not popularly supported .  There are clashing visions , but there is probably a reality of Afghanistan which is a lot more progressive and open than the Taliban believe but is still a society that is somewhat conservative , and often tribal , and with very traditional views on something like women ' s rights .  The key is creating a situation where these rights are guaranteed but not fetishizing it . For example , one of the things the Afghan constitution has is a requirement for 25 percent representation of women in parliament . We don ' t have such a requirement either in the U . S . Constitution or in the amendments . Many European countries don ' t .  Is it conceivable that something like that could be compromised ? Perhaps , and that ' s the kind of thing where we ' d have to be creative in coming up with a solution that moderates and some elements of the Taliban could live with .  Zakaria : I think so , and it ' s not really an exit , it ' s a reduction in our forces and in our role . And I think it would be appropriate . We ' ve been there for nine years . It ' s not the only battleground , the only place where al Qaeda operates . There are many more members of al Qaeda in Pakistan than in Afghanistan .  You ' re trying to create a political settlement , and a self sustaining political framework in Afghanistan that can survive the departure of American troops . And finally you ' re leaving enough troops in there where you could still prosecute a fairly vigorous counterterrorism operation against those elements of the Taliban or al Qaeda that continue to plot and plan to do violence to civilians , foreigners , westerners .  And I do think , if we could get this kind of a settlement , it would be an honorable way for the United States to begin reducing its exposure in Afghanistan .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
6869,6870,"As a mother , you send your children off to their first day of kindergarten with pride , anticipation and excitement . But a part of you can ' t shake those nagging questions : Will they make friends ? Have someone to play with at recess ? Be bullied ?  As director of  ' s National Center for Bullying Prevention , and the mother of a child with Down syndrome , those questions don ' t just go away with time . And that worry only intensifies .  My 14 year old son , David , was born with Down syndrome . Before he turned 3 , he had undergone three open heart surgeries and a tracheotomy , and his breathing required a ventilator . Heading into kindergarten , David was nonverbal , had delayed cognitive abilities and received his nutrition from a feeding tube .  There was no doubt about it : My son wasn ' t like his peers . Because of his differences and research showing children tend to single out peers with characteristics like his I feared that David could become a poster child for children expected to be the targets of bullying .  We live in a small community , where David has known all of his classmates since kindergarten and will eventually graduate high school with most of them . They have the same classes , eat lunch at the same time and attend field trips together . For all of these reasons , I decided the best way to address my concerns about David would be to become his advocate not only with adults , but with his peers .  During his first year of school , I started visiting David ' s classroom to talk with his classmates about Down syndrome . I discovered that most children weren ' t concerned about his cognitive issues they were actually more fascinated with why he didn ' t talk . At this time , I also networked with his teachers , his paraprofessionals and even made sure the lunchroom workers knew me . I hoped the more these people felt comfortable with me , the more information they would share .  Now , years later , David has just started the eighth grade . He ' s not bullied , and more than that , he loves school . It ' s the place where his peers give him high fives in the hallway , ask him to sit by them at lunch and best of all genuinely accept him .  I have been David ' s advocate , but I can ' t take all , or even most , of the credit for David ' s acclimating so well to school . That credit belongs to his teachers , school staff and classmates , particularly a group of students who received training in sixth grade on how to prevent bullying and speak out on David ' s behalf . We call them his peer advocates , and if they see bullying , they intervene , ask the bully to stop or report the situation to an adult .  The concept sounds simple , but because my son can ' t tell me what happens during the day , I depend heavily on these peers to act as his voice . Now , what started as four kids in sixth grade has evolved to a schoolwide project with more than 40 students volunteering to become peer advocates so they can help David and other students who are different .  I know all too well that not every parent of a child with a disability has this good fortune . Although I ' ve found that power comes from sharing and being direct , I realize this approach won ' t work in every classroom where bullying exists . But there are always ways that parents , teachers and students can develop strategies and begin to teach young people the importance of inclusion , acceptance and most important respect .  The act of bullying hurts not only the children involved , but the entire community . That ' s why  Center has organized National Bullying Prevention Month in October , a time for communities nationwide to unite and promote bullying prevention through creative resources designed to engage , educate and inspire . Ignoring the problem is not the answer . Instead , our communities can take steps to raise awareness of bullying and start teaching young people that the end of bullying really does begin with them .  Bullying has affected too many for too long . But there is hope . Hope for the teachers who want bullying to end . Hope for the students too afraid to go to school . And hope for the mothers and fathers of children with disabilities that one day , they will drop off their children on the first day of kindergarten without having to worry about whether they will be bullied . Instead , they can expect their children will be included and respected by their peers for everything they are .  The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Julie Hertzog .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
6872,6873,"Plenty of performers have had explosive entrances . Some rise like meteors , soaring to new heights . Others find their moment in the spotlight fleeting .  Few have done all of this at once and quite so literally as Gemma Kirby , the 25 year old human cannonball at Circus Xtreme . She hurtles out of a cannon at up to 66 mph and lands up to 104 feet away in an air bag .  ' It ' s a very intense sensation . Very few human beings get to feel that sensation , except for fighter jet pilots or an astronaut , ' she said by phone recently .  ' It ' s really remarkable to feel it completely untethered to any type of vehicle . '  Daring feat : Gemma Kirby is the human cannonball at Circus Xtreme . The 25 year old , from Minneapolis , Minnesota , flies out of a cannon at up to 66mph and lands 104ft away in an air bag  Kirby will be celebrating a special milestone on Saturday : She ' s expected to notch her 500th total flight in Philadelphia a heart thumping moment on Valentine ' s Day .  ' I can never do this act half awake or not prepared or warmed up , ' she said . ' Every single time is a risk . Every single time is a bit of a mystery . '  Circus Xtreme is a new traveling show from Ringling Bros . and Barnum Bailey Circus that showcases extreme acts acrobats rappelling from a 15 foot towers ,  riders , high wire performers , contortionists and Bengal tigers , to name a few .  It ' s part of what Nicole Feld , executive vice president of Feld Entertainment , Ringling ' s parent company , hopes will ' tap into that edge of your seat , thrill seeking live entertainment experience . '  Kirby , who during her act experiences a G force of seven , about the same as an astronaut re entering the atmosphere , is one of the circus ' highlights , even though her actual flight lasts only about 2 . 4 seconds .  ' Gemma lives and breathes the thrill of being a human cannonball , ' said Feld . ' And there ' s something about her that feels like a fairy tale superhero come to life . '  Extreme goals : Kirby , who has been nicknamed ' The Jet ' , hopes to notch 1 , 000 flights by the time the circus ' s two year tour of the  ends  Kirby , nicknamed ' The Jet , ' hopes to notch 1 , 000 flights by the time the two year tour ends . After Philadelphia , the circus hits states including New York , New Jersey , Alabama , South Carolina , Virginia , Ohio , Rhode Island , Connecticut , Pennsylvania , Nebraska , Missouri and North Carolina .  Born in Minneapolis , Kirby fell in love with performing as a youngster and she danced onstage at age seven . She liked ballet , but began to find it restrictive and not creative enough .  At 13 , she attended aerial classes at the youth orientated Circus Juventasin in Saint Paul and was hooked : ' I knew right away I wanted to be in the air . ' From age 17 22 , Kirby was on the flying trapeze with several circuses .  Last year , while working toward her bachelor ' s degree in psychology from the University of Minnesota , she was contacted about possibly being shot out of a cannon for Circus Xtreme . She ' s a rare woman in a secretive , exclusive world .  ' Everyone in the circus knows the cannon is the most daunting , the most thrilling , the most daring of all the acts , ' she said . ' It ' s just something I never thought in my wildest dream that would be offered to me . '  Kirby and her team are constantly checking the specially designed cannon and calculating the details of her flight , which includes everything from humidity to the arena ' s temperature .  The cannon , whose exact workings Kirby won ' t reveal , is calculated for her body , which means she can ' t gain or lose more than a few pounds . She relies on her aerialist background .  Privilege : Last year , while working toward her bachelor ' s degree in psychology , Kirby was contacted about being shot out of a cannon for Circus Xtreme . She ' s a rare woman in a secretive , exclusive world  ' Being detail oriented and being a creature of habit is really essential in this line of work . Consistency is key and every flight is a little bit different , ' she said .  ' Sometimes I ' ll come out of the barrel and I ' ll realize , ' I ' ve got a little more rotation than is ideal ' and I have to decide in a split second how am I going to stop my rotation so I don ' t over rotate . '  Though her time in the air is brief , Kirby loves to see young women ' s stunned faces as she zooms through the air , a missile in a sparkly silver outfit .  ' I ' m not saying that little girls should necessarily watch me and want to do exactly what I do , but I hope that some of them can see my performance and say , "" That ' s something I didn ' t realize girls could do , "" ' she said . For me , that ' s the most important thing : empower someone to believe in themselves . '  ",true,text,test,American football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
6888,6889,"The International Committee of the Red Cross has been granted access to a detention facility in Syria for the first time since unrest broke out in the country , the committee ' s president said Monday after meeting with Syrian President Bashar al Assad .   President Jakob Kellenberger called the breakthrough "" an important step forward for our humanitarian activities in Syria . ""  Kellenberger ' s meeting with al Assad occurred amid mounting reports of bloodshed by Syrian security forces .  On Monday , security forces killed six people during an ongoing crackdown in the province of Homs , according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights , an opposition group . The group also reported a similar offensive in Idlib province , where security forces entered with seven armored vehicles , nine cars and four buses . Seventy people were arrested in the operation , and dozens of homes were raided , the opposition group said .  Syria has been engulfed in public protest for months , and the regime has been accused internationally of a crackdown on peaceful demonstrators .  The government has maintained it is targeting armed terrorists . But opposition activists say it is a systematic , sustained slaughter .  "" Ensuring that the sick and the wounded have access to medical care will be among the particularly urgent humanitarian challenges to be addressed with the Syrian authorities , "" the Red Cross said in a statement .  The committee will initially be allowed to see only people detained by the Ministry of Interior , Kellenberger said , adding , "" We are hopeful that we will soon be able to visit all detainees . ""  Also Monday , the Arab League announced that its secretary general , Nabil al Araby , will travel to Damascus on Wednesday .  The Arab League last week publicly called for restraint and an end to the violence in Syria .  Kellenberger ' s two day visit kicked off Sunday with meetings with Prime Minister Adel Safar and Foreign Minister Walid Muallem .  The Syrian government said it briefed Kellenberger on the regime ' s efforts to "" restore stability and security to the country . ""  Reports have surfaced of people not being able to access medical care during security operations .  The foreign minister "" stressed that the public hospitals in Syria are constantly ready and provide the required medical services for all the citizens , "" the state run Syrian Arab News Agency reported Monday .  The news agency added that Muallem "" appreciated the humanitarian activities of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent Organization which has played an effective role in providing the humanitarian needs of the citizens during the current crisis . ""  Also Monday , Kellenberger discussed with al Assad "" the rules governing the use of force by security forces . . . and the obligation to respect the physical and psychological well being and human dignity of detainees , "" according to the  .  On Sunday , the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said four people were killed in Idlib province and three others were killed in the village of Tahtaiya by security forces pursuing wanted activists .  The opposition group also said a resident from Suraqib who was detained for 20 days died in detention after being tortured . It also claimed that at least 15 people were wounded in the city of Homs due to heavy gunfire by security forces .  Another opposition activist group , the Local Coordination Committees of Syria , said eight were killed in Idlib , four in Hama province , and one each in the provinces of Homs and Damascus .  Meanwhile , the Syrian news agency reported that six troops and three civilians were killed near the city of Muhardeh in Hama province . The agency said a "" terrorist group "" ambushed a bus carrying troops and civilians , killing nine and injuring 17 .  A security patrol pursued the attackers and killed three of them , wounding a fourth and seizing explosives , guns and medical supplies from their stolen pickup , the news agency said .  Syria has made it difficult for foreign journalists to work in the country since the unrest started , restricting their entry . Officials do not usually comment on opposition allegations concerning the killing or wounding of protesters .  The United Nations has reported more than 2 , 200 people killed in Syria since February , including more than 350 people since security forces stepped up operations against demonstrators during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan .  When Kellenberger visited Syrian officials in June , he reached an understanding that would give the  and the Syrian Arab Red Crescent "" enhanced access to areas of unrest , and negotiations would take place concerning  visits to detainees . ""  He aims to "" review progress made in both these areas , "" the  said , including "" an opportunity to discuss the impending start of  visits to persons detained by the Ministry of the Interior . ""  The agency "" visits detainees in order to assess the conditions in which they are being held and the treatment they receive , "" it said .  This week ' s visit comes on the heels of an Amnesty International report detailing the deaths of at least 88 people in detention and describing widespread abuse of prisoners .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
6913,6914,"For a while now, comedian Scott Rogowsky has been traveling on the New York City subway with books that have fake book covers. The titles are hilarious, and the reaction from travelers on the subway are priceless.Now, Rogowsky seems to be bringing his schtick to a new hilarious level. In a new video, he focuses entirely on Donald Trump, his family, Mike Pence, and some of Trump s top surrogates.Some of the titles included are:All the titles have clearly a satirical take on actual things said either by Trump or surrounding events.It s so important now, more than ever, that we are able to keep our sense of humor in the face of what seems to be absolutely horrifying.Kudos to Rogowsky for making such brilliant fun of what otherwise has been horrific to witness.Watch the hilarious video of Rogowsky s subway ride here:Featured image via video screen capture",fake,dataset,test,Other news2,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,past
6929,6930,"Wladimir Klitschko and actress fiancee Hayden Panettiere became parents for the first time as they welcomed daughter Kaya into the world on Tuesday .  The bouncing baby girl weighed in at a healthy 7 lbs , 14 oz .  Hayden Panettiere and her fiance Wladimir Klitschko welcomed daughter Kaya into the world Tuesday  Wladimir Klitschko ( right ) lands a punch on Kubrat Pulev in an  ,  , and  world heavyweight title fight  Klitschko is due to fight Tyson Fury next after the Brit beat Dereck Chisora in December  Heavyweight world champion boxer Klitschko and the 25 year old actress told People : ' We are over the moon and madly in love ! '  The 38 year old and the Nashville star announced their engagement in October 2013 .  Last month , Panettiere looked like she was ready to pop as she spent the weekend in Hawaii with friends and displayed her huge bump while wearing a mismatched two piece  Ready to pop ! : Last month , the 25 year old star showed off her blossoming baby bump while in Hawaii  In November , Panettiere the former Heroes star told Hello magazine she was excited about having a daughter .  She said : ' I ' m thrilled that I am having a girl first because I feel like I know a lot about raising a strong woman . '  Panettiere also discussed how she expected to gain a little weight when she got pregnant , but did not realise how much she would actually put on .  The Heroes star admitted that she gained almost 40 pounds during her pregnancy , as she was pictured at a fashion event in New York back in May  The blonde beauty said : ' I ' m 5 feet , 2 inches and I started out at 106 pounds and guess how much I weight now ? Around 145 pounds .  ' And the worst part is that my feet are still size five and they ' re going , ' ' What ' s going on with all this weight ? ' ' They ' re about to snap from underneath me with the strain . '  For Halloween , Panettiere took to Twitter to post a photo of her showing off her bump in a racy cheetah costume featuring a string bikini .  On Halloween , the actress showed off her baby bump in her racy cheetah themed costume  Klitschko and Panettiere pictured July 2013 in Germany announced their engagement in October 2013  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
6934,6935,"A top judge has backed a ruling which told the ex wife of a millionaire racehorse surgeon to ' get a job ' because she has no right to be ' supported for life ' at her former husband ' s expense .  Lord Justice Pitchford , sitting in the Royal Courts of Justice in London , has rejected an application by Tracey Susan Wright , 51 , who claimed she should continue to receive maintenance support from her ex husband Ian .  Last year , Mr Wright , 59 , who is one of the country ' s top equine surgeons , went to the High Court to try and reduce the 75 , 000 a year in maintenance and school fees he was ordered to pay his ex wife following their divorce in 2008 .  Tracey Susan Wright was told to ' get a job ' by a High Court judge who rejected her bid to keep receiving 75 , 000 for maintenance and school fees from former husband Ian Wright , a leading equine surgeon  At the time , Judge Lynn Roberts agreed that the payments should come to an end since there was no good reason why Mrs Wright had not taken up any paid work in the six years since the divorce .  Mrs Wright , who lives with the couple ' s two children in Newmarket , Suffolk , challenged the ruling , claiming that having to care for their 10 year old daughter ' was an inherent restriction on her ability to develop any kind of earning capacity in the next five years . '  However , Lord Pitchford has now upheld Judge Roberts ' initial ruling and supported the idea that it is ' imperative that she go out to work and support herself . '  The lengthy court battle began when the couple who married in 1997 divorced in 2008 , having separated in 2006 .  At the time , a judge ruled that they should sell their 1 . 3million seven bedroom home , set in 16 acres of countryside in Suffolk , and split the proceeds .  It meant Mrs Wright a former legal secretary and riding instructor walked away from the divorce with a lump sum which enabled her to buy a 450 , 000 mortgage free house in the heart of Newmarket , Suffolk , plus stabling for her horse and her daughters ' ponies .  Mrs Wright claimed that caring for the couple ' s children restricted her ability to earn enough money to support them . The 51 year old is pictured outside the home she shares with her daughters in Suffolk  As part of the divorce order , she was also handed 75 , 000 yearly payments , of which 33 , 200 was spousal maintenance for her personal upkeep .  She opted to remain a stay at home mother following the split and has so far refused to take up any paid employment .  It prompted Mr Wright , who runs a cutting edge equine hospital in Newmarket which carries out life saving surgery on top class horses , to approach the High Court to seek a reduction in the hefty maintenance bills he was paying his former partner .  Victory : Mr Wright said it was not fair he was expected to support his wife long into retirement when she refused to work  He protested that it was not fair that he was expected to keep supporting his ex wife indefinitely , even after his retirement , while she made ' no effort whatsoever to seek work . '  The court heard that Mr Wright steadfastly made the payments , but was worried that supporting his wife would be unaffordable after he retires at 65 .  Ruling in Mr Wright ' s favour , Judge Roberts agreed last year that there was no good reason why Mrs Wright had not taken up work and criticised her for being ' evasive on the subject of her own earning capacity . '  ' The world of work has innumerable possibilities these day . . . vast numbers of women with children just get on with it and Mrs Wright should have done as well , ' the judge said .  ' I do not think the children will suffer if Mrs Wright has to work , and indeed a working mother at this stage of their lives may well provide them with a good role model .  ' It is possible to find work that fits in with childcare responsibilities . I reject her other reasons relating to responsibilities for animals , or trees , or housekeeping .  ' Mrs Wright has made no effort whatsoever to seek work or to update her skills . . . I am satisfied that she has worked on the basis . . . that she would be supported for life .  ' It is essential . . . that she starts to work now . '  At the time , the judge ruled that the personal maintenance payments from her ex husband must stop , with a gradual tailing off over a five year period leading up to his retirement .  However , Mrs Wright challenged the ruling , claiming that Judge Roberts ' order would cause ' a plummeting in the standard of living ' of the youngest child .  The court heard that the couple ' s daughter is a boarding pupil at a public school .  Mark Johnston , acting on behalf of Mrs Wright , argued that the assets Mrs Wright received in the split ' wouldn ' t come anywhere near allowing the wife to adjust without undue hardship . . . especially with one child still at home . '  Mr Wright runs a cutting edge equine hospital in Newmarket which carries out life saving surgery on top class horses ( pictured ) . His wife , a former legal secretary , has been a stay at home mother since the divorce  Lord Justice Pitchford , sitting in the Royal Courts of Justice in London ( pictured ) , rejected the application by Mrs Wright , which claimed she should continue to receive maintenance support from her ex husband Ian  However , Lord Justice Pitchford , sitting in the Court of Appeal , has now rejected her challenge and upheld the original ruling .  He said : ' The time had come to recognise that , at the time of his retirement , the husband should not be paying spousal maintenance .  ' The wife had done nothing since 2008 to look for work , retrain or to prepare herself for work .  ' Judge Roberts did not accept any of the explanations put forward by the wife for her inactivity and ruled that it was important that she obey the order .  ' She had harsh words for the wife for her complete failure to confront her obligation to contribute financially . She found the wife exaggerated her income needs .  ' There is a general expectation that , once children are in year two , mothers can begin part time work and make a financial contribution . '  Mr Wright had been found to be ' a man of integrity who had done nothing to mislead the court . '  However , the court heard how the judge deemed the wife to be ' an unsatisfactory witness particularly on the subject of her own earning capacity ' .  Lord Justice Pitchford said : ' The judge made it very clear that , within a couple of years , she would be expected to contribute financially .  ' The question is whether there is a real prospect of establishing that the judge gave inadequate reasons for her decision that the husband should provide no spousal maintenance in his retirement . In my view there is no such prospect ' .  He added that ' the order was never intended to provide the wife with an income for life ' and concluded : ' The onus will henceforth be on her . This application is dismissed . '  Mr Wright runs a cutting edge equine hospital in Newmarket where racehorses are treated with expert care  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
6941,6942,"London Greece ' s banking sector is being snubbed by its European peers as the country ' s recession deepens .  And even as immediate fears about the country ' s exit from the eurozone fade on the latest austerity deal , the impact on Greece ' s banking sector deeply intertwined with the fate of the country itself will be long lasting .  But a leading voice in the sector says the country ' s austerity measures are working , and Greece ' s remaining banks will emerge from the crisis in a stronger position .  Read more : Everything you wanted to know about the euro crisis ( but were afraid to ask )  European banks have been offloading Greek subsidiaries as they seek to minimize exposure to the troubled country . Greek banks , knocked by losses imposed as part of the bailouts , are also facing recapitalization demands in return for cash assistance .  Eurozone back in recession  Piraeus Bank , the country ' s fourth largest bank , last month bought Geniki Bank from French bank Societe Generale . The sale price was 1 million euro , with Societe Generale also committing to expenditure of 444 million euros through an advance to Geniki and a subscription to a Piraeus Bank bond . The deal made a 130 million euro dent in Societe Generale ' s third quarter earnings .  Read more : How the euro crisis will affect you  French bank Credit Agricole also offloaded its Greek subsidiary , Emporiki , to Alpha Bank at a loss of 1 . 96 billion euros in October , a deal that then contributed to its third quarter loss of 2 . 85 billion euros .  Read more : Euro crisis : Should I cancel my vacation ?  But Greek banking maintains strong links with its European peers , even as they exit the country , Manos said . "" We will continue to have relationships with other banks , "" he said .  He hopes as the macro risks decrease we "" will eventually see banks coming back to invest in Greece . "" However , he added , "" Societe Generale and Credit Agricole are not coming back to Greece anytime soon . ""  Read more : The pain in Spain that threatens the eurozone  Analysts point to the banks ' exits from Greece as providing both positives and negatives for the country . While the Greek banking sector risks being marooned from its European peers , the exits ease the way for restructurings , they say .  According to Daiwa credit analyst Michael Symonds : "" It is surely a negative that foreign lenders don ' t see a future for them in Greece but their exit will enable a faster and more comprehensive overhaul of the sector . ""  Read more : The eurozone ' s reluctant leader  Elisabeth Afseth , of Investec , agrees . "" It is difficult to have a very positive view on Greek banking consolidation is a positive , foreign flight is not . "" She added : "" Threat of a second sovereign default remains . ""  Manos points to government shareholdings as the greater risk for the Greek banking sector . Piraeus Bank lost 6 . 2 billion euros . pre tax , on so called ""  , "" or cuts made to the value of Greek government debt . The losses pushed the bank toward state aid , an irony which creates a moral hazard , Manos said .  Read more : Finland minister : Bid to stem euro crisis is working  "" The more losses the government imposes on banks , the more it is rewarded with greater control in the banks , "" he said . This needs to be understood as the recapitalization process continues , he added .  However , Manos does support a drive from the troika made up of the European Central Bank , European Union and International Monetary Fund for significant structural reforms . "" The public sector has to be streamlined , "" Manos said . "" Everything that allows the private sector greater share in the economy needs to be implemented . ""  Read more : Euro crisis opens old wounds for Greece , Germany  His comments came as Greece continues to wait on a vital financial lifeline of 31 . 5 billion euros from its international lenders that will allow it to pay short term debts and recapitalize its banks . The country has also been given two more years to meet its fiscal targets .  Manos remains positive about Greece ' s future in the eurozone . He believes the country will stay within the common currency bloc but adds : "" The economy has to reach a point of stability soon . ""  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Economy,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
6960,6961,"Donald Trump postpones Israel trip amid controversy over Muslim ban proposal  U . S . Republican presidential front runner Donald Trump on Thursday postponed his trip to Israel amid a controversy over his proposal to temporarily bar Muslims from entering the United States .  U . S . Republican presidential front runner Donald Trump on Thursday postponed his trip to Israel amid a controversy over his proposal to temporarily bar Muslims from entering the United States .  Trump , who has come under heavy criticism at home and abroad over his plan , said on Twitter that he would meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a later date after I become president of the U . S .  Trump told Fox News he postponed the trip because he did not want to put pressure on Netanyahu , who faced demands from Israeli politicians to call off the planned Dec . 28 meeting . Netanyahu had rejected Trump s proposal on Muslims but said he would still meet with him .  I also did it because I m in the midst of a very powerful campaign that s going very well and it ( the trip ) was not that easy to do , said Trump , a real estate mogul and former reality  star who leads opinion polls in the Republican nominating race for the November 2016 election .  The decision came just days after Trump provoked an international uproar by calling for Muslims , including would be immigrants , students and tourists , to be blocked from entering the country after last week s shootings in California by two Muslims who authorities said were radicalized .  The uproar did not stop the New England Police Benevolent Association , a union that represents 5 , 000 law enforcement officers , from voting to endorse him on Thursday night . Appearing in New Hampshire , the crucial early primary state , Trump thanked the organization , which represents 1 , 000 New Hampshire officers , for their support .  White House spokesman Josh Earnest endorsed Trump s decision to postpone the trip to Israel and said most people are relieved that he would not be visiting such a sensitive region .  The situation in Israel is particularly volatile , and so I think in this case his decision to reconsider that trip is a good outcome for all those involved , Earnest told reporters .  Trump s proposal has been condemned by an array of U . S . and global political leaders and human and civil rights groups , as well as many of Trump s Republican and Democratic rivals for the White House .  But so far his proposal does not seem to have affected his standing in the polls . A Reuters Ipsos poll conducted this week , which includes responses from before and after Trump made his proposal on Monday , shows he still holds a commanding lead in the Republican race .  The Dec . 6 10 online poll showed Trump was supported by 35 percent of the 556 Republicans surveyed ? roughly the same as in the previous five day period and more than twice the level enjoyed by his nearest rivals , including retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson at 13 percent , and U . S . Senator Marco Rubio of Florida at 11 percent .  Reuters will release an expanded poll on Friday that is driven entirely by responses that came after Trump proposed a ban on Muslims .  In Britain , a petition demanding that Trump be banned from visiting the United Kingdom had gained more than 450 , 000 signatures on Thursday and was still growing .  Trump responded on Twitter with a broadside at Britain , saying many people in the U . K agree with me .  The United Kingdom is trying hard to disguise their massive Muslim problem , he said . Everybody is wise to what is happening , very sad ! Be honest .  Peter Westmacott , the British ambassador to the United States , said in a response that we are very proud of the Muslim community in the United Kingdom and what extremist groups were doing did not have anything to do with Islam .  Part of the solution to the recent terrorist attacks is to work with our Muslim communities , not to push them away with divisive or threatening language , he told reporters .  A Dubai real estate firm building a 6 billion golf complex with Trump , who has extensive business dealings in the Middle East , stripped the property of his name and image amid the uproar over the comments .  The firm ,  Properties , initially said it would stand by Trump , even as another of the billionaire s Middle East partners , the Lifestyle chain of department stores , halted sales of his Trump Home line of lamps , mirrors and jewelry boxes in protest . A  spokesman declined to comment on why Trump s image was removed from a billboard outside the project site .  Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar of India , which has more than 170 million Muslims , likened the explosive potential of Trump s comments to a nuclear bomb .  In India , we have equal rights for everyone and we don t look toward communities with suspicion , he told a Washington news conference when asked about Trump . Those who are radicalized , it s a different issue we tackle them separately .  First Published on December 11 , 2015 9 : 12 am  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
6964,6965,""" We will get out of this ordeal , "" the president said in his first address to the nation since the crisis erupted . He pressed the government to put in place a program to address unemployment . About one in three young people remains without work .  "" One cannot speak of dignity without a job , "" he said . "" You can ' t tell people who are hungry . . . to be patient . ""  Tunisia ' s prime minister , Habib Essid , cut short a visit to France to preside over an extraordinary Cabinet meeting on Saturday .  A curfew from 8 p . m . until 5 a . m . was declared because the attacks on public and private property "" represent a danger to the country and its citizens , "" the Interior Ministry said . Weekend sports events were canceled .  The unrest began Sunday in the town of Kasserine in central Tunisia where the young man electrocuted himself ? not far from the town of Sidi Bouzid where a vegetable seller set himself afire in 2011 , triggering Tunisia ' s revolution .  Tunisia ' s unemployment stands around 15 percent , but is 30 percent among youth and in the Tunisian heartland that has long felt ignored by the powers that be in the capital ? despite government promises of change .  On Friday , hundreds of unemployed graduates filed into Kasserine ' s main administrative office demanding jobs . Others screamed from the top of the building before being escorted out by police , and still more held a sit in inside the lobby .  "" We want work , nothing less , nothing more , "" said one of the unemployed youths , Rafik Nasri . "" You see all these people are unemployed , the well read , the intellectual , the non intellectual , the peasant or not , they ' re all demanding work . ""  The overnight curfew was imposed after the violence in Kasserine , about 300 kilometers ( 185 miles ) southwest of Tunis , began spreading to other towns this week . On Friday , roving groups pillaged a bank and looted stores and a warehouse in the working class neighborhood of Ettadhamen outside the capital . Security forces arrested 16 people .  Security forces used tear gas to repel the protesters attacking police stations and other official buildings with stones and Molotov cocktails . A day earlier , a police officer was killed after protesters in the town of Feriana , near Kasserine , flipped over his car , the government said .  Tunisia has been under a state of emergency since a suicide bombing in November killed 12 members of the presidential guard in the heart of Tunis ? an attack that capped an unusually violent year for the country . That bombing , along with deadly attacks against the Bardo museum in Tunis and the resort of Sousse , were claimed by the Islamic State group .  "" Daesh , which is present in Libya at our borders , finds that the moment is opportune to act in Tunisia , "" the president said , using an Arabic acronym for  .  On Thursday , Tunisian authorities said they intercepted four cars with armed men coming from Libya and chased them back across the border . On Friday , a Tunisian man was killed in an exchange of fire between Tunisian soldiers guarding a border post and a group of Libyans and Tunisians the Defense Ministry said were smugglers .  The unrest bred concern that Tunisia ' s bid to become a full fledged democracy may be at risk .  In Paris just before leaving for home , Essid , the prime minister , said the problem was not with democracy , but with the economy .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
6972,6973,"A government inquiry is to be carried out into the impact of migrant children arriving in schools unable to speak English .  Education Secretary Nicky Morgan revealed she has ordered officials to start ' mapping the pressures ' on the state schools system .  It comes less than six months after she told the head of Ofsted it was not ' helpful ' to warn that schools are struggling to cope with an ' influx ' of migrants .  Education Secretary Nicky Morgan revealed she has ordered officials to start ' mapping the pressures ' on the state schools system caused by immigration  Immigration has played a low key role in the Tory election campaign to date , after David Cameron spectacularly to meet his pledge to cut net migration to the tens of thousands .  The Tory leader vowed to cut the number below 100 , 000 ' no ifs , no buts ' , but latest figures show the number hit 298 , 000 in the year to September .  In an interview today Mrs Morgan admitted it is a ' big issue ' for voters and revealed she has asked the Department for Education to examine the impact on schools .  It is expected to look at how migrant children perform in exams and how schools with large immigrant populations cope .  Mrs Morgan told the Sunday Telegraph : ' I think there is pressure in the classrooms in terms of teaching how prepared immigrant children are when they start school .  Ofsted chief inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw last year warned schools had faced an ' influx ' of immigrants  ' It would be wrong to say immigration holds results back or affects overall qualifications ultimately . But at the start of primary school , especially , it means that teachers have to tailor their lessons , to spend longer with pupils who have English as a second language .  ' We are looking at that in the Department exactly mapping the pressures , what teachers have to do , the resources that takes . I am very keen to know . '  She added that she wanted to ensure that migrant children have caught up with other pupils before the end of the Year 1 , aged six or seven .  In October last year , Ofsted chief inspector Sir Michael Wilshaw was challenged about the increased worked of teachers caused by a large number of children who could not speak English .  Sir Michael said : ' Schools need the resources to deal with that .  ' When they ' re faced with an influx of children from other countries , they need the resources and capacity to deal with it , and if those resources aren ' t there , that ' s a big issue for government . That ' s the first thing and we ' ll be producing reports on this fairly soon . '  Net long term migration to the  was estimated to be 298 , 000 in the year ending September 2014 , a major rise on the 210 , 000 figure a year earlier  But a week later Mrs Morgan questioned Sir Michael ' s language and played down the scale of the problem .  ' Obviously Sir Michael Wilshaw has gone round to various schools but no , when I go round schools I see that they have adapted and are doing extremely well with students who do come from abroad .  ' I am not sure that sort of language is always helpful but there are challenges and there are parts of the country where we know that there are higher numbers of students who don ' t speak English as a first language . '  Asked whether Sir Michael should have chosen his words more carefully , Mrs Morgan added : ' This whole area of immigration is an area where we need to be very careful about the language that we use .  ' It isn ' t that it isn ' t a concern to people because it absolutely is but we also need to think about the language and the tone of the debate that we use .  ' We need to tackle the issue in a sensitive way without saying there isn ' t a problem because people are clearly concerned about it . '  Everyone who comes to Britain should know how to speak English , Labour Ed Miliband has warned as he admitted Labour made mistakes on immigration .  The Labour leader admitted that in the past his party had been ' too timid ' about making clear that for communities to live together they must use a shared language .  But the Tories said there was nothing in Mr Miliband ' s plans to act to reduce the number of people moving to Britain , after net migration hit 298 , 000 in a year .  Ed Miliband admitted that in the past his party had been ' too timid ' about making clear that for communities to live together they must use a shared language  Mr Miliband pledged a new crackdown on illegal exploitation of migrant workers , promising a Home Office task force to boost prosecutions and fines on bad employers .  Speaking in Wirral West a marginal seat held by the Tory Employment Minister Esther McVey the Labour leader said exploitation drives low skilled migration and holds down wages for British workers .  His new unit of 100 staff will bring together people from the Gangmasters Licensing Authority and specialist police units , together with additional Home Office enforcement staff .  The unit will be empowered to investigate abuse and be challenged to increase prosecutions and fines levelled against employers who break the rules .  But he also warned that migrants must learn to speak English , especially in key services like the  .  Mr Miliband said : ' Our communities are changing fast but we don ' t cope with change by closing our doors to each other and living our lives in separate worlds . Instead we must find a way to live together across communities .  ' A Britain where people of all backgrounds , all cultures , all religions , can practise their own faiths but also come together to forge a common identity .  ' But we can only build this shared society if we speak the same language . '  He said his own parents had learned to speak English after arriving from Belgium in 1940 .  ' It is why I believe in a simple principle : Everyone in Britain should know how to speak English .  ' Sometimes , we ' ve been too timid about this but it is something we should expect from everyone who comes here .  ' And it is especially important that people who work in public services in public facing roles should be required to speak English . '  He said that ' nowhere is that more true ' than in the health service .  ' We all know the crucial contribution that people from overseas play in our  . Doctors , paramedics , social workers , nurses . Bringing specialist skills that we need .  ' I will never demean or devalue their contribution to our country .  ' But it is vital that people who come to fulfil these roles don ' t just have the right medical skills , but can communicate with those for whom they care .  ' So in the future all healthcare professionals will be required to speak English to a sufficient standard so they can care effectively for patients . '  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
6985,6986,"Bobby Brown spoke for the first time about his daughter Bobbi Kristina in Los Angeles on Saturday night and admitted ' I dunno what I am going through right now , but I am giving it to God and letting him deal with it . '  In an emotional outburst during a concert Bobby appeared close to tears as he referenced his daughter ' s ongoing battle for her life .  The former husband of Whitney Houston looked tired and grief stricken at times during his performance , his first public appearance since Bobbi Kristina fell into a coma .  Bobby Brown spoke for the first time about daughter Bobbi Kristina in Los Angeles on Saturday night and admitted : ' I dunno what I am going through right now , but I am giving it to God and letting him deal with it '  The one time boy band star shied away from talking in detail about his daughter but instead admitted these were ' rough times . '  However , in an odd moment during his 45 minute set , he took time out to promote his kine of  sauces .  Bobby performed a set of his old hits for 4 , 000 fans at the Soul Food Festival in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday after months staying by his daughter Bobbi Kristina ' s side .  Unresponsive : On January 31 , Bobbi Kristina Brown was found unresponsive in her bathtub . She ' s been in a coma ever since  The 46 year old was given the biggest cheer of the night as he took to the stage to play hits like Don ' t Be Cruel and On Our Own .  After his drawn out introduction Bobby , looking tired from performing dance moves , choked up as he said : ' I must tell y ' all . This feels really , really really good .  ' I want to thank all of y ' all for coming out tonight to support me and my family .  ' Rough times are rough times , hard times are hard times I dunno what I am going through right now , but I am giving it to God and letting him deal with it . '  Panting and sounding frustrated : ' There is only one thing I ask of you all tonight and that is enjoy yourselves . '  Smiling he added : ' Don ' t be cruel , come on , ' referring to one of his biggest hits the 80s .  After a few other tunes , Bobby needed a break from the stage to rest while his boyband performed a number .  Bobby needed a towel to wipe his face and often looked out of breath as he relived dance moves from his glory days .  Later he was a little less emotional as fans cheered his performances of hits like Roni and Rock Witcha .  Broke his silence : The former boy bander ' s appearance was booked before Bobbi Kristina fell into a coma . It was also Brown ' s first time discussing the matter in public  Had a booth : Brown told the  crowd , ' Listen I have been doing a lot of things and been working on a lot of projects from Real Husbands Of Hollywood to my own stuff to my new album to my new Edition to Heads Of States and I have been working on my food line actually you all can get some food right there , in my booth '  Looking toward his stand where his Bobby Brown  cooking tent was set up at the festival , he told the crowd : ' Listen I have been doing a lot of things and been working on a lot of projects from Real Husbands Of Hollywood to my own stuff , to my new album , to my new Edition to Heads Of States , and I have been working on my food line . Actually you all can get some food right there , in my booth .  ' I will over there in a little bit later , if you want to buy some barb e cue sauce , seasonings , chicken and a couple of sausages . I don ' t know what my wife is cooking whatever it , is is good . You have got to get the season ing , because the seasoning is off the chain , I must let you know . '  Bobby then asked a bandmate to talk about another brand , but fired back : ' Mine is much better , low in sodium content , low in salt for us folk if , you understand what I am saying .  ' So I made this for us . '  Wiping away sweat from his face , he added : ' I ain ' t done with it yet . I got marinades and all kind of s coming out . '  He then corrected himself : ' Excuse my French baby girl . I didn ' t mean to curse in front of you . And ladies too . '  He then introduced his new R B boy band band ' who can saanng . '  ' You just listen and tell me if you like it . '  Back to work : Brown ' s pregnant wife Alicia Etheredge was also at the food festival , selling Bobby Brown ' s  sauce  Timing : The singer and barbecue entrepreneur was committed to the event before his daughter was hospitalized . He ' s also slated for a tour of Australia  Bobby ' s appearance marks his first time away from Bobbi in months . He had been scheduled to make the appearance before his daughter ' s accident .  Bobbi remains hospitalized and in a coma after being found unconscious and face down in a bathtub on January 31 .  The Soul Food Festival is among a string of appearances Bobby is contractually obligated to fulfill The singer is also scheduled to leave daughter Bobbi to tour in Australia .  Even though he doesn ' t want to go , the promoters are holding the distraught father to his contractual obligation ,  reports .  Bobbi Kristina remains on life support in a long term care center in Atlanta , Georgia , after being treated at the city ' s Emory University Hospital where the ex husband of Whitney Houston visits her regularly .  Reportedly Bobby has the final say as to whether the young woman ' s support system is turned off .  At the Festival 90s rap act Salt ' N ' Pepa had the crowd on their feet with their performance of Push It .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
6990,6991,"A California couple thought to be missing for a month during a trip to Peru have been located aboard a boat and they didn ' t even know their families had been looking for them .  Jamie Neal , 25 , and Garrett Hand , 27 ,  from California ' s Bay Area , left for Peru in December for a South America bike trip , and had not been in contact with friends and relatives since late January .  The couple was found on a boat that was traveling along the Navos River .  Found : Jamie Neal ( right ) , 27 , and her boyfriend Garrett Hand , 25 , had been missing since January 26 in Peru , but have now been located on a boat  The Peruvian Travel Ministry told   that Miss Neal and Mr Hand had no idea they had been reported missing .  They had been updating friends and family about their trip on their Facebook page , but those messages stopped on January 25 , Miss Neal ' s sister Jennifer Neal told FoxNewsweblink on Monday .  Jennifer Neal added that Mr Hand ' s cellphone had been turned off , sparking fears that the two may have been kidnapped .  ' It goes straight to voicemail , ' she told FoxNewsweblink . ' It ' s not like them to be out of touch for this long . '  In love : The couple posted many pictures of their trip on Facebook to being with but haven ' t since January , sparking fears among their families that they were missing  Adventure : The young couple ( pictured at left ) went missing in a region which was under threat of kidnappings  The lapse in communication caused the U . S . State Department to issue a travel warning to any Americans heading to Peru .  The couple disappeared in Peru in an  area where a criminal gang were believed to have been plotting to kidnap  tourists , authorities said this week .  The U . S . State Department issued a poster of the couple from San Francisco who were last seen getting on a bus in the town of Cusco , headed for Lima on January 26 before getting in a cab .  The couple are biking enthusiasts who both work in cycle stores in the Bay Area of San Francisco .  They had customized their bikes especially for the trip which began in December .  They had also traveled to Chile and Argentina before deciding to go to the Amazon instead of Machu Picchu in Peru .  Trip of a lifetime : The couple , who both work in cycle shops in the Bay area of California , were last seen in Peru on January 26  Desperate hunt : The U . S . Embassy had helped in the search for the young couple before they were found this week  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
6999,7000,"Arrested : Ryan Tannenholz has been accused of having sex with a cat  A man who enjoys dressing up as a dog has been arrested for having sex with a cat in Idaho .  Ryan Havens Tannenholz , 28 , is accused of sexually abusing the pet several times over the course of a year .  Police arrested the man from Boise , Idaho , on August 1st , on six felony counts of crimes against nature and one misdemeanor count of cruelty to an animal .  Tannenholz is said to be a ' furry ' the name given to a member of a community of people who dress as animals .  According to Flayrah , a site dedicated to furries , he had a number of animal alter egos including a dog , a wolf , a white husky and a fox .  Photos on a social media site posted by Tannenholz appear to show him in character as a creature called Bubblegum .  He is currently being held in custody in lieu of a 250 , 000 bond and faces up to five years in prison if convicted .  An arrest warrant was issued on July 31 , and he was arrested on August 1 . Police did not specify how the alleged activities came to light .  On Tannenholz ' s Bubblegum Husky website , he describes his interest in cats and reveals his own pet cat named Einstein .  He writes : ' Have you ever been on the internet and seen one of those cat videos ? Bubblegum Husky sure has and man , I ' ll tell you what , they really get me going !  ' Cats are so furry , soft plush and loving . Plus , only Bubblegum Husky can  appreciate how truly great these furry felines truly are . '  In costume : Ryan Tannenholz dressed as his alter ego ' Bubblegum Husky ' ( left ) and his pet cat Einstein ( right )  Bubblegum Husky : Ryan Tannenholz created a website around his love for cats under his alter ego ' s name  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
7009,7010,"Chris Ramsey is now the leading candidate to take the Queens Park Rangers manager ' s job until the end of the season .  Senior figures within the Rangers dressing room believe the caretaker boss will be handed the role .  The move to install Ramsey is yet to be finalised but the club are moving in that direction .  Chris Ramsey is now the leading candidate to take the  manager ' s job until the end of the season  Ramsey and Kevin Bond took charge for the 2 0 defeat of Sunderland in their previous outing  The  players have been impressed with the quality of Ramsey ' s training sessions  Sportsmail revealed on Wednesday that Ramsey had significant backing from senior  players .  Chairman Tony Fernandes is due to jet in to London next week and he will be greeted by glowing references from players , who would now like to see Ramsey alongside coach Kevin Bond put in permanent control until at least the end of the season .  Players have been thoroughly impressed by Ramsey ' s coaching sessions since he assumed control of first team matters last Tuesday .  The quality of his coaching has been compared to that of Steve McClaren who is widely recognised as one of England ' s best coaches .  McClaren spent a spell at Loftus Road under Redknapp last season .  Whether a team of Ramsey and Bond with Les Ferdinand as director of football is the ' dream ' appointment Fernandes alluded to on Twitter remains to be seen .  But Ramsey now looks to have manoeuvred himself into position to become the next  manager .   midfielder Sandro tackles Shaun Maloney of Chicago Fire during a friendly match on Thursday  Former Lyon , West Ham and Marseille midfielder Alou Diarra dribbles away from Adel Taarabt  Mauro Zarate dribbles with the ball while being hounded by Chicago Fire players  Former France international Diarra tries to block a pass made by Taarabt on Thursday  Full back Armand Traore wins a header while being chased by Lovel Palmer  Quincy Amarikwa of Chicago Fire rounds the keeper to make it 1 0 to the  side  Amarikwa celebrates the goal with his team mates on Thursday afternoon  Matthew Watson of Chicago Fire tries to tackle Chilean forward Eduardo Vargas   ' s Michael Petrasso attempts to evade the challenge of Watson  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
7016,7017,"Baghdad , Iraq (  ) A struggling Iraqi President , Nuri al Maliki , made a special television address tonight to the Iraqi people , appealing for patience with his controversial "" absorption "" strategy in the ongoing occupation by the Americans . The special address , was estimated to have been viewed by well over 300 people nationwide with some viewing the 15 minute speech in its entirety before loss of power .  The president appealed for a delay in the shedding of blood of American soldiers until government forces and police could be trained and armed to force the issue of withdrawal of American forces . He urged citizens to comply with relocation and deportation efforts underway to promote a safer and more tolerably segregated Iraq .  Maliki mentioned the loss of a brave tribal sheik in Al Anbar province who was just yesterday murdered in a roadside bombing , presumably by Al Qaeda sympathizers . "" He killed many Americans , and he will be sorely missed , "" stated Maliki .  Maliki quoted facts and figures from the Department of Defense as well as the Iraqi Ministry indicating that Iraqi casualties were down while American casualties remained the same since the implementation of his "" absorption "" strategy . He stated that the deaths were "" a small price to pay for the eventual liberation of Iraq ""  "" I have met with , and you have heard from Muqtada al Sadr "" , stated Maliki , "" and today I will put into place his recommendations for a step down and rotation of forces out of Baghdad . As America steps out , we will step up again . ""  Maliki read a letter from the mother and father of a recent Shia car bomber . The parents thanked Maliki for the opportunity to give their sons life for what they described as the honorable goal of the eventual liberation of Iraq . "" Freedom is not Free "" , the parents were quoted as saying .  Maliki insisted that the war on terrorizers was ongoing and would likely continue for years after his administration , and that there likely would never be a clear victory .  Maliki faces growing discontentment from a population whose recent polling indicates that 80 want America out of Iraq immediately . He has maintained that his controversial absorption strategy is working and just needs more time .  ",satire,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,satire,satire,True,no,no,positive,past
7035,7036,"The popular site Twitter crashed again on Wednesday morning .  The microblogging site was down for about an hour and a half , with service restored at about 8 a . m .  .  During the outage , the site ' s users saw an "" extremely high volume of whales , "" the company said in a blog post . When Twitter breaks , a cartoon whale nicknamed a "" fail whale "" pops up on computer screens instead of the functioning site .  The fail whale has become an iconic symbol for Twitter , and a way for the company to try to embrace and make light of its shortcomings .  "" A sudden failure coupled with problems in switching to a backup system produced a high number of errors for around 90 minutes , "" Twitter wrote in a post to its status blog . "" This made the site largely inaccessible . No data was lost or compromised during this outage . ""  Wednesday ' s down time was the first major outage at Twitter since it and other sites were attacked in early August , according to reports .  "" Reliability has been an ongoing project for Twitter as the service has scaled up to handle growing traffic , "" Rich Miller wrote on the blog Data Center Knowledge .  Mashable ' s Ben Parr wrote that news from Haiti may have contributed .  "" What exactly took down the microblogging service , we don ' t know ( some speculate that a wave of tweets due to this morning ' s 6 . 1 earthquake in Haiti could be partly responsible ) , "" he wrote .  On Twitter , some users made light of the situation after service was restored .  "" BillGates joined the twitterverse , "" one user wrote . "" Rough seas out here , I hope the Fail Whale won ' t eat him : P : D ""  Twitter , a Web site where users post 140 character messages to their public followers , was founded in May 2007 . It grew at breakneck pace last year and experienced a number of outages as a result .  Some online writers have speculated that the Web site ' s traffic has started to slow or decline in recent weeks .  In a Twitter post on January 12 , company  Evan Williams wrote that the site continues to grow .  "" Across all metrics that matter , yesterday was Twitter ' s highest usage day ever . ( And today will be bigger . ) , "" he wrote .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
7039,7040,"A farmer has claimed he has found the remains of a two Chupacabra creatures also known as blood sucking monsters after stumbling across bizarre looking dead animals in Chile .  Goat farmer Javier Prohens was having lunch with friends when terrified farmhand 54 year old Bricio Saldivar alerted them to the bodies of the strange creatures on the outskirts of the small town of Monte Patria in the east central Chilean province Limari .  At first the group thought the remains were those of bats but on closer inspection , they became convinced they are from they mythical creatures .  The remains found by goat farmer Javier Prohens , who believes they could be the bones of a Chupacabra , a mythical blood sucking creature  Mr Prohens , 54 , said : ' He was clearly scared and said he had been up at the old winery and found two strange bodies .  ' When we got there we saw them lying among some hay bales in one of the cellars .  ' At first we thought they might be bats , but when we looked closer , we realised they had to be something else as the heads were too big for bats .  ' And then someone said they looked like Chupacabras . '  Translated into Spanish as ' goat sucker ' Chupacabras are reptile like mythical creatures with leathery and scaly green grey skin with sharp pins and quills running down its back .  They are said to be four foot tall and hop like a kangaroo , while living in Central and South American countries .  The name comes from the monster ' s habit of attacking and drinking the blood of livestock , especially goats .  Local children crowd around the remains found by the goat farmer . The discovery has worried other farmers in the area who are concerned about the safety of their livestock  And now the find has sparked fears among other farmers in the nearby area .  Querubin Lebron , 38 , said : ' Our livelihoods are built on goat farming . There are lots of goats here .  ' Although it ' s said they only attack animals , who knows it is won ' t attack our children too . '  In April last year , a couple from Texas claimed they had captured a Chupacabra in their back garden .  However , after an investigation , it was established that the creature was a raccoon suffering from scabies .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
7042,7043,"Leicester Tigers will play great rivals Northampton Saints away in the Aviva Premiership semi finals next weekend after clinching third place with a bonus point victory over leaders Saracens at Welford Road .  The reigning champions claimed a 31 27 victory after coming out on top in a dramatic 21 minute period either side of half time when six tries were scored , Saracens winger Michael Tagicakibau was sin binned and flanker Justin Melck was sent off for what appeared to be eye gouging .  Over : Manu Tuilagi ( left ) of Leicester Tigers celebrates his try  Reduced : Justin Melck of Saracens is sent off for what appeared to be eye gouging  Leicester hit back from 8 3 to take a 10 8 lead just before half time thanks to a penalty try , while further touch downs from Manu Tuilagi , Blaine Scully and Graham Kitchener ensured they took a bonus point .  Saracens ' tries came from Ben Spencer ( 2 ) , a penalty try and Jack Wilson , with Spencer ' s second four minutes from time earning his side a losing bonus point . They will play Harlequins , who beat Bath , in the other semi final at home .  Both sides were under strength , especially Saracens who rested most of their top 30 players , with a Heineken Cup final and possibly the Premiership final on the horizon .  Lock Hayden Smith made his first start since rejoining Saracens , while England under 20 flanker Maro Itoje made his Premiership debut .  Out of bounds : Blaine Scully of Leicester Tigers attempts to go over for a try  England and Lions flanker Tom Croft made his comeback for Leicester after suffering a knee injury which needed surgery in round one .  Leicester won the first half 10 8 but the small advantage came at a cost as the injuries started to mount with Owen Williams , David Mele , prop Boris Stankovich and lock Geoff Parling all picking up knocks .  Stankovich lasted less than a minute before he trooped off , to be replaced by Marcos Ayerza , after suffering an injury at a ruck .  Things got worse for Leicester a minute later when a lively Saracens team took the lead after some bright play resulted in scrum half Ben Spencer making a break through the front of a ruck . Although he was held short of the line he reached and put the ball down over the line .  Former England fly half Charlie Hodgson missed the conversion on an afternoon when the strong wind made it difficult for the kickers , and three minutes later Williams pulled three points back with a penalty from in front of the posts .  To the heavens : Manu Tuilagi holds up the ball to the sky after scoring a try  Saracens came close to scoring a second in the eighth minute after Hodgson beat Thomas Waldrom on halfway and made a fabulous break . Although the Tigers managed to prevent a try they conceded a penalty , which Hodgson slotted .  Williams missed a long range penalty before he , and then Parling , suffered injuries and were replaced by Dan Bowden and Kitchener .  The loss of Williams meant Toby Flood moved to fly half , with Bowden taking over at centre , and with two minutes of the half left Bowden made a fine break which almost led to a try after great work by Niall Morris , Ayerza and Steve Mafi .  Saracens ' defence , however , held firm and Mele went off , to be replaced by Sam Harrison , after a tackle by Smith near the line . Mele returned for the second half .  Leicester , however , marched Saracens back from the resulting scrum and the referee awarded a penalty try , with Flood adding the extras to give the Tigers a 10 8 half time lead .  Within four minutes of the restart that lead had become 17 8 and Saracens were reduced to 13 men after winger Tagicakibau was sin binned for a tip tackle on Ayerza and flanker Melck sent off for what appeared to be gouging .  Just : Graham Kitchener of Leicester Tigers reaches over for a try  A minute after the yellow card , Leicester ' s forwards rumbled towards the line and Flood put Tuilagi over under the posts .  Four minutes later Leicester got their third try in nine minutes , Morris making a break before passing inside for fellow wing Scully to score , Flood adding the conversion .  Saracens hit back in the 54th minute , the referee awarding them a penalty try after Leicester had collapsed a terrific rolling maul . Ben Spencer converted to make it 24 15 .  Four minutes later , Kitchener scored at the other end , Flood converting , and Croft immediately replaced Mafi .  Croft had hardly got on the field when Saracens winger Wilson scored his side ' s third try . In 20 frantic minutes both sides had scored six tries and Saracens had been shown a yellow and a red card .  With four minutes left Spencer intercepted a pass from Thomas Waldrom and ran 70 yards to score in the right corner before converting , but the Tigers were able to close out the victory .  ",true,text,test,American football,Sports/Other,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,past
7053,7054,"Reuters) - Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko dismissed a Russian proposal to deploy U.N. peacekeepers in eastern Ukraine as an effort to legalize its proxies and freeze the conflict.  Relations between Kiev and Moscow have never been worse since Russia annexed Crimea more than three years ago and Russian-backed separatist fighters subsequently took up arms against Ukrainian government forces in the east of the country. Russian President Vladimir Putin this month suggested armed U.N. peacekeepers be deployed to eastern Ukraine to help protect ceasefire monitors from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and to help end a conflict between Ukrainian troops and Russia-backed separatists, which has killed more than 10,000 people since 2014. Poroshenko used his speech at the annual gathering of world leaders for the United Nations General Assembly to accuse Moscow of not contributing to international security, but of being its  biggest threat.   The latest hybrid peacekeeping proposal from Moscow is yet another example of Russia s real ambition to legalize its proxies and freeze the conflict forever,  he said.  We remain confident that a fully fledged peacekeeping operation is the only viable solution to de-escalate and protect the people of Ukraine.   Putin originally said the peacekeepers should be deployed along the line of contact between Ukrainian government forces and pro-Russian separatists, but later said they could also be deployed in other areas where  inspectors work.    The peacekeepers  mandate should cover the entire occupied area, including the Ukrainian-Russian state border. This is the must. As long as the border is used as the main supply route for manpower and weapons to Donbass there will be no peace in my country,  he said.  Kiev and Western countries accuse Russia of providing military backing to the insurgency in eastern Ukraine. Russia denies any direct role in the conflict. Efforts to broker an end to fighting through the so-called Minsk agreements have so far failed. Violence continues with attempted ceasefires repeatedly broken. Western powers fear peace efforts could unravel.  The key problem in Donbass is that Ukraine and Russia strive for different things,  Poroshenko said.  Ukraine wants peace and restoration of its sovereign territory, but Russia wants control of Ukraine and undermines every effort (to get)  our sovereign control on Ukraine s border.  Ukraine s alternative plan would ban any Russian nationals from taking part in a peacekeeping mission which it wants deployed along the part of its border with Russia which it does not control, an idea Moscow has so far balked at. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
7061,7062,"A mother of three is in a critical condition in hospital after she fell into the path of a van following a row with another woman outside the school gates .  Robyn McHale , 28 , was airlifted to hospital after she fell in front of the van outside Forres Primary School in Hoddeson in Hertfordshire .  Friends and relatives have claimed that Miss McHale , a former beauty queen , had previously complained she was being bullied outside the school gates .  Robyn McHale is in hospital fighting for her life after she fell into the path of a van and suffered head injuries , shortly after being involved in a row with another parent at the gates of Forres Primary School in Hoddesdon  Miss McHale suffered head injuries after the accident and was airlifted to the Royal London Hospital on Monday afternoon .  Police arrested a 38 year old woman and a 15 year old girl at the scene of the crash but the pair were released without charge last night after officers said they had not committed any crime related to the accident .  A family friend of Miss McHale , a former beauty queen , said they were ' shattered ' by the news .  They told The Sun : ' She complained that she was being bullied at the school gates and by one woman in particular . When she complained to the school the woman confronted her outside . '  Dean Patient , chief inspector for Broxbourne , said at the time they had been ' aware of a brief exchange between the injured woman and another woman ' .  He said : ' This will be an extremely difficult time for the woman ' s family and friends and our thoughts are with them .  The former beauty queen fell into the path of a van outside Forres Primary School and suffered head injuries  ' An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident was undertaken and this has now been reviewed by detectives from the Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit .  ' Following this investigation and review , the two people arrested yesterday , a woman and a teenage girl , will face no further action as there is no evidence to suggest that the two arrested have any criminal liability for what happened . '  The accident took place outside Forres Primary  Police said the driver of the van had fully cooperated with inquiries and dispelled rumours that he had failed to stop after the accident .  Parents also commented on social media after the incident .  Nicole Amber wrote on Facebook : ' Was a fight really worth a child potentially losing a parent ? '  Chloe Chapman posted : ' I can ' t believe what I ' ve herd god bless you and the kids , I really hope you pull through Robyn McHale thinking of you all at this terrible time lots of love . '  Ms McHale was previously Hoddeson ' s carnival queen .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
7070,7071,"Simone Matthews felt a tummy tuck was the ' perfect way ' to mark her 50th birthday  With her 50th birthday approaching , Simone Reeves decided that celebrating with a cruise or party wasn ' t going to be enough . Neither was she interested in new clothes or a fancy meal .  Instead the grandmother from Kent treated herself to a new stomach .  The 4 , 800 operation was , she says , the ultimate 50th birthday treat to herself . Simone , who has three grown up children , is one of a growing number of women said to be marking their milestone birthdays with surgery .  And she says the decision to go under the knife just weeks before her 50th was one of the best she has ever made .  Explaining her decision she said : ' A tummy tuck was something I had thought about but the time never seemed right .  ' Then I was facing a new decade , my circumstances had changed dramatically and it seemed not only the perfect time , but also the perfect way to mark the occasion .  ' It was a lot of money to spend on a birthday treat but I felt I deserved it , and because I had divorced and downsized , for the first time in my life I had the money available .  ' Now thanks to my operation I have entered my fifties looking and feeling better than ever . '  Entering her forties had been a very different experience for Simone , who found she was increasingly conscious of what she calls her ' jelly belly . '  After giving birth to Ben , now 34 , Candice , 28 , and Nicholas , 27 , by caesarean , she had always been unhappy with the scar .  Then aged 41 she underwent a hysterectomy and the additional scarring meant her tummy ' never recovered . '  She explains : ' I was left with an apron of saggy skin that I absolutely hated . I knew no amount of exercise would change it .  ' I did my best to hide it in Spanx underwear and always wore shorts over my bikini . I just assumed that at my age it was too late to fix or worth worrying about . '  But that changed when in 2001 Simone separated from her husband Peter after 21 years of marriage .  She says : ' Peter was wonderful and had always accepted my body . It was never a problem for him so I tried to not let it be a problem for me .  ' But I never expected or imagined that I would be single again at my time in life and couldn ' t even imagine dating again with my stomach as it was . '  Approaching her 50th she decided to take action . She said : ' We ' ve all heard the phrase fabulous at fifty but to be honest I felt anything but . '  So she began researching tummy tucks on line and booked a consultation with Transform : ' I was incredibly nervous but the surgeon put me at ease by explaining in great detail how he would perform the operation .  After three children and a hysterectomy Simone ' s stomach was left sagging and throughout her forties the grandmother became more and more conscious of her ' jelly belly '  During her tummy tuck operation surgeons removed 2lb of excess skin leaving it firmer and flatter  ' He wasn ' t at all surprised that I was considering surgery as a birthday gift to myself which made me feel better .  In March 2012 Simone underwent the procedure allowing 12 weeks recovery time ahead of her big day .  During the three hour operation surgeons removed more than 2lb of excess skin from her stomach .  She explains : ' When I came round I felt very sore but despite the bandage I could already feel the difference . It just felt so flat . '  It was six weeks before the dressing was removed . ' I was absolutely amazed . There was a thin scar but the apron had gone . I thought my stomach looked wonderful already , ' she says .  The 50 year old is delighted with her new look , revealing it to friends and family at her birthday party  Over the following weeks she continued to heal and unveiled her new body to family and friends on the evening of her 50th in a figure hugging black dress .  She says : ' I would never have been able to wear it before . I felt wonderful and it truly was a fabulous day and I think having the surgery helped me face my fifties with confidence I might never have had . '  Shami Thomas a spokesperson for Transform who arranged her surgery said she had noted a high number of patients having surgery to mark a milestone birthday like Simone .  ' For many people surgery is a life long wish and they wait until their 21st , 30th , 40th or 50th birthdays to make it a reality , ' she says : ' On average patients spend 4 , 000 on a procedure , which is a large amount of money so having it done for a birthday can help patients see it as a ' treat ' when they might not usually consider spending money on themselves .  ' We see a lot of women having surgery for their 50th birthdays , but most always say they wish they had done it sooner . '  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
7071,7072,"A donkey is missing her annual nativity show for the first time after being stabbed 12 times by a manic in a night time attack .  Cheeky the donkey , who is 22 years old , was due to star in the Christmas show at Greenmeadow Farm in Cwmbran , South Wales , until she was knifed in the night at her farm by a mystery intruder .  Police are today hunting the cruel attacker who attacked the 22 year old just days before the nativity show where she would be cheered by children .  Cheeky the donkey was due to star in the Christmas show until she was knifed in the night by an intruder  Mare Cheeky has been stitched up and will watch the nativity from the wings as she receives treatment for her deep stab wounds .  Workers at the community farm in Cwmbran , South Wales , where Cheeky lives are in shock at the senseless violence .  Manager Elizabeth Burns said : ' It is abhorrent that someone could do this to an innocent animal especially before the nativity .  ' As well as being upset that Cheeky has suffered we are really disturbed .  The nativity is going on in Cheeky ' s absence with an unnamed stand in donkey ( pictured )  Cheeky has been stitched up and is receiving treatment for her deep stab wounds ( pictured )  ' Now our focus is on monitoring Cheeky and nursing her back to health .  ' It is a shame that we are having to hide Cheeky away while she gets better because her appearance could upset the children who visit the farm at this time of year .  ' But the show must go on and all the other animals are performing well without their friend Cheeky . '  Despite sharing a paddock with two other donkeys Cheeky was the only animal injured at Greenmeadow Community Farm .  The farm are working closely with Gwent Police who believe the wounds were deliberately inflicted .  It has now incorporated regular night patrols and the farm has increased their security .  A spokesperson for Gwent Police said : ' We are appealing for information after a donkey was injured .  ' The 22 year old donkey , called Cheeky , received 12 puncture wounds to both hind legs , the abdomen and it ' s neck .  ' She has received treatment from the vet , is back at the farm and her condition is being monitored . '  Cheeky has always been the star at the annual nativity show but this year has been forced to give it a miss  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
7075,7076,"A ginger tabby cat sneaked inside a shipping container in Egypt before embarking on a mammoth 3 , 000 mile trip to Herefordshire without food and water .  The kitten , who has since been named Sinbad , was discovered by puzzled staff at Mediterranean Linens in Moreton on Lugg , Hereford .  They heard meows coming from inside the container , which was carrying laundry linen .  The  was called out to investigate and there they found the exhausted and ravenous eight month old kitten , who had made a bed for himself in one of the boxes .  Sinbad the cat survived a 3 , 000 mile and 17 day journey from Egypt to Hereford in a shipping container  Sinbad with vet Amy Wheelr ( left ) and  inspector Pippa Boyd ( right ) , who was called out by the company to investigate after they heard strange noises coming from the container  Laura Quinn , from the  , described the case as ' unique ' and said it was incredible Sinbad had survived the 17 day journey .  She told MailOnline : ' When we found him , he was really hungry , thirsty and tired but he also looked really friendly and was quite vocal .  ' It ' s really unique , we ' ve not had anything like this before . He had travelled quite some way . The linen company were also shocked by what had happened . '   inspector Pippa Boyd , who was called out to the scene , added : ' The company showed me the paperwork . They have to seal the containers and put a tag on there , which they did when the container left .  They showed me the paperwork and the tag , and it did all match up . We thought maybe at customs someone might have opened it up , but they didn ' t . '  Once found , Sinbad was taken to the Laurels Veterinary Surgery in Whitecross , Hereford , where he was fed a little at a time .  He has now gone into quarantine in Bristol for four months . He will then go to an  centre for checks and it is hoped he will then be re homed .  This map shows the route taken by Sinbad took , from Alexandria Port in Egypt to Moreton on Lugg , Hereford  Sinbad , a ginger tabby , was found in the container where he had made a bed for himself in one of the boxes   inspector Pippa Boyd said it was an incredible feat to have survived the 17 days and hard to believe  His epic journey began at the Nile Linen group in Alexandria port in Egypt on March 8 .  The container got to El Dekheila port on March 9 , Felixstowe in Suffolk on March 24 and then Moreton on Lugg on March 25 .  Graham Monteath , 56 , managing director at Mediterranean Linens , said they could not work out what the noise was when the shipping container arrived .  He said : ' I have never heard a cat meow like that in my life . I would never have thought that was a cat .  ' One of the lads thought it was a baby . I thought it could have been a buzzard trying to get into the warehouse because we do get lots of them around here .  ' I just turned round and thought "" good God ' , what is that ? "" Then this cat ' s head popped out of the door .  ' We checked the seal and it had not been tampered with . It was very odd . The  woman said that she was very surprised how well the cat looked .  ' It had scratched open one of the boxes . There was not much of a mess but we did not use any of the linen by that . '  He added : ' I gave him the beef which was for my lunch . He scoffed it .  ' So he got some good British food for his first meal on English soil . '  Sinbad , the ginger tabby cat , started his epic journey in Alexandria port in Egypt ( pictured ) on March 8  The container carrying the cat got to El Dekheila port on March 9 , Felixstowe in Suffolk ( pictured ) on March 24  After covering 3 , 000 miles and following his 17 day ordeal without food and water , he arrived at the Mediterranean Linens ( pictured ) in Moreton on Lugg , Hereford  The quarantine stay will cost the  almost 2 , 000 , so an appeal page has been set up to cover costs .  Mediterranean Linens has donated 100 . Donations have also been received from Paragon Laundry Clean Linen Services and Fresh Linen .  So far more than 1 , 500 has been raised .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
7103,7104,"Police have released an image of a man in a tweed cap and jacket who they believe , with an Asian woman , helped dupe a 59 year old dementia sufferer out of 10 , 000 in a fake lottery scam  A couple conned a man with dementia into handing over 10 , 000 after a woman said she had won the lottery but was unable to claim her prize .  The 59 year old man was approached by an Asian woman in Birmingham who told him she had won the jackpot , but was unable to claim it because she was an illegal immigrant .  After she asked him for directions they were joined by another man who suggested they could help the woman by buying her ticket .  The couple then took the dementia sufferer to get his details and to a bank and watched him withdraw 10 , 000 before driving off .  West Midlands Police have released an image of a man they believed helped dupe the 59 year old into emptying his bank account .  They said the pair preyed on him because of his vulnerability .  The woman had approached the man in the Jewellery Quarter of Birmingham and told him about the fake win before asking for directions to the nearest solicitors on October 24 .  When the second man approached he claimed to have simply overheard their conversation and suggested they give her 10 , 000 in exchange for the supposed winning ticket .  The pair then took him to his home in Edgbaston , collected his bank details .  They then escorted him to the nearest bank to withdraw the cash .  Detective Constable Michelle Hunt said : ' This has left the victim and his family devastated .  ' These two suspects have picked on the victim because of his vulnerability .  ' They made up the story to deceive him and take advantage of his good nature .  ' They have been driven by greed to take these extraordinary steps and steal a large amount of money .  ' We are keen to trace the pair and urge anyone who recognises the man captured on  , or the descriptions given , to contact us as soon as possible . '  The 59 year old , dressed in a blue headdress , is seen at his home in Edgbaston escorted by the Asian man   images show the victim , dressed in a blue head dress at his home . Footage also captured an image of the man who is suspected of helping to dupe him , wearing a light tweed jacket with a distinctive flat cap and dark rimmed glasses .  Officers said the conman , who was in his late 40s to 50s and Asian , was around 5ft 7ins tall and was also wearing dark trousers and a pale shirt with a brown tie and black shoes .  His partner was described as the same age and height and was wearing traditional Asian female clothing .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
7105,7106,"British space tourists could be blasting off from the  ' s own commercial ' spaceport ' in four years ' time under ambitious Government plans being launched this week .  And Scotland is the favourite to open up the ' final frontier ' and host the new base provided the Scots do not vote for independence later this year .  Six of the eight potential locations to be unveiled on Tuesday are north of the border , The Mail on Sunday understands .  Britain ' s first commercial spaceport could be based in any one of these eight locations , and would act as a hub for flights by Sir Richard Branson ' s Virgin Galactic and  Space Expeditions  At a special event at the Farnborough Air Show this week , Ministers will press ahead with plans to create what they claim will be the first ' commercial ' spaceport outside the  .  The complex , which could act as a European hub for commercial space flights planned by Sir Richard Branson ' s Virgin Galactic and  Space Expeditions , should be up and running by 2018 .  That means tourists could be flying into space from the  in just four years ' time as long as they can afford tickets which will cost tens of thousands of pounds .  The Mail on Sunday has learned that all but two of the possible sites Newquay in Cornwall and Llanbedr airfield in North Wales are in Scotland .  They include  Kinloss on the Moray Firth , Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis , and Glasgow Prestwick .  New figures show that the space industry employs 34 , 000 people and contributes 11billion to economy  Sources said the need for the base to be ' remote ' and secure meant there was more chance it would be on a Scottish site .  Last night , Treasury Chief Secretary Danny Alexander ,  for Inverness , talked up the chances of Scotland leading the  drive to open up ' the final frontier of commercial space travel ' .  He said : ' Scotland has a proud association with space exploration . We celebrated Neil Armstrong ' s Scottish ancestry when he became the first man on the moon and only last week an amazing Scottish company was responsible for building the  Space Agency ' s first satellite . '  But sources also privately made clear it was ' highly unlikely ' the spaceport would ever be built in Scotland if it voted for independence in September ' s referendum .  One said : ' An independent Scotland would be free to bid for this sort of thing but I doubt it would have the resources to do it . '  No figure for the cost of the new spaceport has yet been given by  officials . But the base , which will also act as a launchpad for commercial satellites , could mirror the existing 122million facility in New Mexico ,  , which boasts 10 , 225 sq metres of hangar space as well as a mission control complex .  Last night ,  officials said the space sector already made a ' remarkable contribution ' to the British economy , with new figures showing it was worth 11billion and employed 34 , 000 people .  They unveiled plans for the country to capture 10 per cent of the global space market by 2030 .  Business Secretary Vince Cable , who is unveiling the spaceport bid along with the  Space Agency , hailed the space sector as a point of pride for Britain .  Mr Cable said : ' This week we will announce the next steps for this country ' s space race , outlining how we will take one giant leap towards establishing the first British spaceport by 2018 making the  the place for space . '  Last night , Virgin Galactic and  welcomed the plan .   president Andrew Nelson , whose firm plans to offer space flights at about 58 , 000 a time , said : ' It would be great if we could fly from the  .  ' Britons are very adventurous you guys have been the first to do many things . '  A spokesman for Virgin Galactic said it was interested in ' operating outside of the  at some point ' but was currently ' focused on beginning commercial operations at Spaceport America in New Mexico ' .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
7130,7131,"When people talk about the cinematic geniuses of the 1980s , one name invariably comes up John Hughes . For young people growing up then and even today , the writer director ' s name conjures up memories of unforgettable films .  From "" Sixteen Candles "" ( 1984 ) and "" The Breakfast Club "" ( 1985 ) to "" Pretty in Pink "" ( 1986 ) and "" Ferris Bueller ' s Day Off "" ( 1986 ) , Hughes was responsible for a series of films that openly and honestly explored the exhilaration and tumultuousness of adolescence .  It ' s been nearly three decades since those movies arrived in theaters , but audiences still watch and enjoy them as if they were made yesterday . However , despite the love audiences have shown for his work , Hughes was never nominated for an Academy Award .  Hughes isn ' t alone in being an outstanding filmmaker whose features about people under 30 were overlooked during awards season . It ' s unfortunate but undeniable that award shows and the Oscars in particular have a history of ignoring great movies made for and about young people .  In 2013 alone , several such films received raves from critics , earning spots on "" best of "" lists . "" The Kings of Summer "" and "" The Way , Way Back "" scored approval ratings of 76 and 85 of critics , respectively , on RottenTomatoesweblink , while "" The Spectacular Now , "" written by the duo behind 2009 ' s underappreciated "" ( 500 ) Days of Summer , "" earned the approval of 92 of critics .  "" Short Term 12 "" received a 99 approval on Rotten Tomatoes , a higher ranking than any of this year ' s best picture nominees . "" Spring Breakers , "" starring James Franco and Selena Gomez , may have divided some moviegoers , but the film was also lauded for its provocative depiction of disaffected youth . And it ' s not for nothing that "" The Hunger Games : Catching Fire "" was the top grossing film of 2013 .  Yet not one of these movies earned a single Oscar nomination .  Meanwhile , "" The Wolf of Wall Street which secured a 77 approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes received five Academy Award nods , including ones for best picture and best adapted screenplay .  2014 Oscars nominees list  That ' s not to say that "" Wolf "" didn ' t deserve recognition , but these other movies focused on characters in the early stages of adulthood . From three teenage boys running away from home to build a house in "" The Kings of Summer "" to a couple in their 20s managing a treatment facility for troubled children in "" Short Term 12 , "" these films were about young people finding their way a seeming disadvantage in the academy ' s eyes .  In an e mail interview , Dana Polan , a professor of cinema studies at New York University ' s Tisch School of the Arts , noted that "" Hollywood associates youth with escapist entertainment . ( There ) is the assumption here ( no doubt , a biased one ) that to be important , a theme has to be adult and mature , and youth films just don ' t make it . ""  Over the years , there have been some exceptions to this rule . For example , "" Rebel Without a Cause "" ( 1955 ) received three Oscar nominations , and "" American Graffiti "" ( 1973 ) grabbed five nods though both films ultimately walked away empty handed . "" Juno , "" the 2007 comedy about a pregnant high schooler ( Ellen Page ) , was nominated for four Oscars , including best picture and best director . The film took home the award for best original screenplay a win that one could argue had more to do with the quirkiness of Diablo Cody ' s script than the subject matter itself .  Film critic Nell Minow ( the Movie Mom ) also observed that "" Oscar voters skew older . ""  "" They are more interested in stories about grown ups and more likely to have relationships with actors and filmmakers who are 30 and older , "" Minow said via e mail .  That may be part of the reason why movies such as "" The Perks of Being a Wallflower , "" which delighted critics with one of 2012 ' s best scripts and stellar performances from Logan Lerman and Emma Watson also didn ' t receive any recognition from the academy .  Such snubs seem particularly egregious , partly because the academy often blatantly attempts to appeal to a younger demographic . In 2011 , the Oscars chose James Franco and Anne Hathaway as hosts in hopes of attracting younger viewers . The plan failed , with the ratings dipping and the duo receiving poor reviews .  The intention may have been a noble one , but perhaps a better idea would have been for the academy to begin honoring movies that speak to what it ' s like to be a young person today .  "" The Youth , "" a song performed by  on "" The Kings of Summer "" soundtrack , speaks of the transition between adolescence and adulthood . It includes the following lyrics :  The youth is starting to change .  Are you starting to change ?  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
7160,7161,"A Colorado man is accused of using an Army medical kit to remove a transgender woman’s testicles. [James Lowell Pennington, 57, who does not have a license to practice medicine in Colorado, was arrested Thursday and charged with felony reckless aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury, the Denver Post reported.  Police called Pennington in for an interview, which he agreed to after the victim was taken to a hospital for excessive bleeding. Pennington told investigators that he willingly performed the procedure at the victim’s apartment in Denver,  reported. Detectives said he used an Army surgical kit that contained a scalpel, lidocaine, medical dressing, and other medical equipment. According to a record of the interview, the suspect “used the scalpel and surgically disconnected and removed the victim’s two testicles and then sutured the opening back up. ” The victim’s wife was with the victim throughout the   procedure. Pennington allegedly told them to call 911 if any problems occurred after the procedure. The victim’s wife told police she called 911 after a large amount of blood poured out from the wound when she was changing his dressing. Paramedics called the police. Doctors could not reattach the testicles because of the time that passed between the procedure and the 911 call. The victim suffered serious injuries that run the risk of “permanent disfigurement,” according to the affidavit. Police say Pennington is a licensed pilot, not a medical professional in Colorado.",true,news,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
7163,7164,"Huddersfield chairman Dean Hoyle passed up the opportunity to sign Rickie Lambert for just 750 , 000 in 2009 as his age ' didn ' t represent good value for money ' .  The England international was a target for Huddersfield in 2008 09 before he joined Southampton from Bristol Rovers , which led to a 4million return to his boyhood club Liverpool this summer .  Although the 32 year old is almost certain to be part of England ' s World Cup squad , Hoyle decided not to pursue the club ' s interest in Lambert at the time .   : Scroll down to watch Lambert ' s first interview as a Liverpool player  No regrets ? Huddersfield turned down the chance to sign Rickie Lambert for just 750 , 000 in 2009  Oops ! Dean Hoyles didn ' t sign Lambert from Bristol Rovers because he wasn ' t ' good value for money '  Speaking to the Huddersfield Examiner on July 7 , 2009 , Hoyle said : ' A move for Rickie Lambert is a no no .  ' No disrespect to a very good player , but it ' s a simple matter of economics . Any deal would cost a minimum of 750 , 000 plus add ons for a player who is 27 and who would want a three year contract .  ' Even if he scored 30 goals a season for those three years , by the time the contract is at an end , the player would be 30 , and therefore there would be little or no resale value .  Red alert ! Lambert has since completed a 4million move to his boyhood club Liverpool  ' That means that even before meeting wage demands , the signing would cost 5 , 000 a week , and this club cannot do that kind of business .  ' If Rickie Lambert was 22 or 23 , it would be a different matter , but he ' s not and suggestions that we will sign him are nonsense . '  The Huddersfield chairman may regret those words after seeing Lambert complete his dream move to Liverpool where he will be challenging for the Premier League title while playing in the Champions League next season .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
7168,7169,"Salida , Colorado A rodeo cowboy with a bum shoulder , a middle aged woman who has trouble sleeping and a handful of snowboarders are all crowded around a shiny aluminum trailer on a sunny winter day . Some clutch X rays , others look around nervously hoping a neighbor won ' t spot them as they wait in line for a medical marijuana prescription .  If this all seems a little weird , you probably don ' t live in Colorado , where medical marijuana is the new normal .  State sanctioned marijuana dispensaries now outnumber Starbucks in Colorado . But outside Denver and Boulder , few doctors are comfortable dealing with medical marijuana .  Now , residents in rural Colorado towns like Salida can see a doctor who are willing to prescribe medical marijuana aboard two shiny aluminum vintage airstream trailers , which have been converted into mobile doctors ' offices .  The trailers criss cross the state , providing exams for new patients and access to medical marijuana for those deemed eligible .  It ' s all part of the Medical Marijuana Assistance Program of America , the brainchild of Vincent Palazzotto , a 37 year old entrepreneur .  "" The doctors are the gatekeepers to make sure the patients have access to the medicine , "" he said . "" We want to be sure no patient is left behind and it starts with the rural communities . ""  A doctor must first examine would be patients and , if the physician signs off , the state of Colorado will issue a card allowing these patients to buy marijuana from dispensaries around the state .  An exam costs 100 , but Palazzotto said he operates on a sliding scale for patients who can ' t afford to pay the full price .  "" Right now our doctors will see 10 of our patients for free and we can provide a 30 to 50 discount to disabled veterans as well as other folks in need in programs like Medicaid and Medicare , "" said Palazzotto .  David Faulk , a 52 year old tree cutter , is one of those waiting in line to see if he qualifies for a prescription . He says the ibuprofen he ' s been using to treat his chronic pain just isn ' t enough .  "" I just hope to deaden the pain and help my quality of life , "" he said .  The mobile clinic has saved him a 300 mile round trip drive to Denver , the nearest place where he could find a doctor willing to write a recommendation for medical marijuana .  Ten years ago , Colorado voters passed a constitutional amendment allowing for the medical use of marijuana , but it remains against federal law .  Two years ago , the Obama administration signaled that it would no longer go after medical marijuana in states that have legalized it .  So , like a modern day gold rush , hundreds of marijuana dispensaries have sprung up in storefronts across the state . Once vacant warehouses now house elaborate growing operations .  Medical marijuana is Colorado ' s ' green rush '  Millions of dollars in taxes have been collected and more than 115 , 000 people have received medical marijuana cards .  As the industry grows , Palazzotto a former real estate property manager said he "" felt like the patient was being lost in all this . ""  That sentiment was echoed by Dr Margaret Gedde , one of the doctors with the Medical Marijuana Assistance Program of America who is seeing patients in Salida .  She now works exclusively with medical marijuana patients . After just a year of writing medical marijuana recommendations , she already has 1 , 500 patients .  "" In the last couple of years or so I became aware of what was happening with medical marijuana in Colorado and I looked at marijuana as a medication and was very surprised at how beneficial it was , "" she said .  But moving into this new industry has been risky for established doctors . They face the potential of being shunned in the medical community and many fear running afoul of federal law .  "" It ' s been very difficult talking about it , "" Gedde said . "" I don ' t think my parents even know , so there is a stigma . But I did make a decision that it was important to talk about this so patients have access . ""  She believes the situation is changing quickly , and soon she thinks medical marijuana will be widely accepted across the country .  "" In Colorado it ' s much more accepted and people are learning the benefits . So many people either have a family member or a friend or have heard about it or themselves have a card so there ' s more understanding here . ""  Gedde says marijuana is particularly effective at dealing with chronic pain for patients like Faulk .  After asking him a series of questions about his pain and examining his  , she approves him . He is eager to try some marijuana , and may even try to grown his own .  The tree cutter says hopes the drug will "" help me get through my labor everyday with a little less pain and maybe sleep a little better at night . ""  "" Can ' t hurt , "" he says , as he climbs back into his battered pickup truck and drives off .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,US elections,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,present
7172,7173,"Videos Tensions Rise As Pipeline Construction Nears #NoDAPL Blockade The Oceti Sakowin tribe declared eminent domain on land bought by Dakota Access and set up their new winter camp in the direct path of the pipeline on 1851 treaty land. | October 27, 2016 Be Sociable, Share!  Oceti Sakowin,  – On Sunday, October 23rd , water protectors extended camp beyond the overflow site, just north of the Standing Rock reservation, to the pipeline easement line. The Oceti Sakowin declared eminent domain on land bought by Dakota Access and set up their new winter camp in the direct path of the pipeline on 1851 treaty land.  As the encampment was formed, two blockades were created, one on county road 146 and one north of the new winter camp on Highway 1806. We spoke to various blockaders who stated their goal was to ensure safety of the water protectors as they prepared their camps for winter.  The video below contains interviews with various water protectors at the multiple blockades and camps. The following day, after the new winter camp was established, a no-fly zone was declared by law enforcement.  informed Unicorn Riot that ""only response aircraft in support of law enforcement"" can fly in no-fly zone weblink #NoDAPL pic.twitter.com/nZuNKtbFrb This no-fly zone was created, according to the Morton County Sheriff, to ground all drones being flown by water protectors and journalists. The Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) notice on the FAA’s website lists the North Dakota Tactical Operations Center as responsible for issuing the  .  On October 26th, 2016, the Morton County Sheriff’s Department, and various other agencies working alongside them, erected a concrete blockade just two miles north of the frontline #NoDAPL blockade. The new law enforcement blockade is currently manned by sheriff’s deputies armed with automatic rifles.  We reported live from the frontline as water protectors gathered near the blockades expecting a raid on the camps by police, military and private  security assets.  All day, patrol planes and helicopters flew low over the water protectors, while private security vehicles gathered on the hills west of the frontline camp. This yellow helicopter has been flying low over #NoDAPL water protectors for months- & seems to be exempt from new no-fly zone. pic.twitter.com/xPuq9bNneI  — Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) October 27, 2016  Cass County Sheriff Paul Laney, who has been acting as “Director of Operations” for Morton County Sheriff, came to the new winter camp today with representatives from the National Guard and asked people to leave the new site and return to the main camp, Forum News Service reports. “We’re here telling you this is private property and you have to leave,” Laney told camp coordinator Mekasi Camp-Horinek. “We don’t want a confrontation. Please stand your people down and go back to the main camp.” Mekasi pointed at the road – “our no surrender line,” he said – and then back at the frontline camp standing in the way of the four-state, $3.8 billion oil pipeline – their “no retreat” line. “That’s your final word?” Laney asked. “That’s my final word,” Camp-Horinek said, walking away.  Pipeline construction is less than half a mile from Highway 1806 and we can verify that machines can be heard working from the new frontline camp. Law enforcement in trucks &  security in dune buggies watching Oceti Sakowin front line camp from hills maybe 200 yards away. #NoDAPL pic.twitter.com/NuqlC94gVd  — Unicorn Riot (@UR_Ninja) October 26, 2016 This work (including header image) by Unicorn Riot is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike International License.",fake,news,test,Other news1,Conflict,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,past
7174,7175,"Seattle In an exclusive interview with the Hollywood Inquirer , Kurt Cobain ' s ex wife , Courtney Love , claimed that the frontman of Nirvana did not commit suicide , but was murdered by the  because of his "" anti establishment political views "" .  In an interview with the prestigious Californian tabloid , the well known actress and musician made some surprising comments concerning the death of her ex husband . Ms . Love explains that she had always known that her husband was being followed and tracked by the  . She adds that , for many years , she had believed that the stress caused by the secret service ' s constant harassment had pushed him to commit suicide .  "" When the Nevermind album came out , Kurt was rapidly hailed as "" the spokesman of a generation "" and he gained tremendous influence , "" she said . "" He was almost immediately approached by the Freemasons , the Illuminatis and other secret societies as well as the  and other agencies , because all of them wanted to recruit him . Kurt wanted nothing to do with any of them and he told them to go to hell . That ' s when they began to seriously harass him . They followed him everywhere , made creepy phone calls in the middle of the night It made Kurt very nervous , and he began carrying a gun and using more and more drugs to cope with the stress . I had always thought that he had reached a point where he was no longer able to take it and had decided to kill himself . ""  Some new evidence , which surfaced over the last few months , finally convinced her that he had not killed himself after all , but had actually been murdered by the American government .  "" After the police released some new pictures of the crime scene in April , I began receiving a lot of letters , emails and phone calls from Kurt ' s fans , "" quotes the magazine . "" Among all the fan mail , I received some classified files emanating from the  . I don ' t know who sent them , but I know they are legitimate . They clearly prove that Kurt was being spied upon , and they designate him as a "" target to be eliminated "" . I know they killed him , and I will prove it ! ""  Courtney Love has defended , for many years , the conclusions of the original police investigation , but is now convinced that her husband was assassinated .  On April 8 , 1994 , Cobain was found dead at his home in Seattle , the victim of what was officially ruled a suicide by a self inflicted shotgun wound to the head .  The circumstances of his death at age 27 , have become a lasting topic of public fascination and debate . Over the years , several theories have arisen , presenting various alternate explanations for his death , but this is the first time that Ms Love herself , shows support to any for these theories .  According to her , the  had already tried to eliminate Mr Cobain in Rome a few months earlier , nearly killing him . They would have then hired a professional killer , who shot him and disguised the crime as a suicide .  "" The  had already tried to poison Kurt in March 1994 , while he was in Italy , "" she claimed . "" The press had reported that he was suffering from an overdose induced coma , but he was actually a victim of strychnine poisoning . Kurt refused to make the information public because he was afraid for me and Frances . The papers ta I received , prove that the  was behind the poisoning . The government had been trying to kill him for months , and I think they finally got him . Kurt was murdered , and the  is behind it ! ""  This surprising new claim from Ms . Love has little chance of leading to a new police investigation on the death of her ex husband , since she has refused for the moment , to publish the files on which her theory is based .  Her accusations have already generated an impressive number of reactions on the social media , however . The interview was viewed so many times over the last two days , that the website of the Hollywood Inquirer has suffered some technical difficulties and was periodically unavailable this morning .  ",satire,text,test,American football,Sports/Other,true,satire,True,no,no,neutral,past
7181,7182,"There are no words for these selfish sub-humans Here are a couple of profiles from Twitter of the people tweeting about  being ignored because of Nice terror tragedy. They have both made their Twitter accounts private:We found this sweet self-described  Georgia Peach  listed as a  Fashion Contributor  at company calledweblink Feel free to send a message to her boss on their Facebook page. Click  for link.Here s another pathetic Twitter user: @_nehoda_ who whined about the attention victims of the Nice terror attack were taking from the  movement. She s lists herself as living in London, but calls Egypt  the motherland ?? Hmmm How does a Muslim woman living in London get hooked up with  terrorists in US?And then there s the other Muslim living in London who s a bit more brash with his tweets: Don't #PrayForNice we are fighting a civil war against whites. #  Andre Johnson (@LarryKingfisher) July 15, 2016Here are a few replies to Omar s tweet:Here are a few of this Muslim punk s remarks threatening a caliphate and boasting about how the Muslims have already won the war against the West:Here s real bright guy who s got nothing better to do than take to Twitter complaining about  the plight of black people on the day after a major terror attack that killed over 80 people. Never mind that people just lost their husbands, wives, children, kids, friends, relatives or co-workers.Some white people die in Europe and now the media can ignore the plight of black people being exterminated #blacklivesmatter #NiceAttack  Bob Schmidt (@bobschmidt857) July 15, 2016We tryna rise up for equality n somehow a 'muslim' attacks people? #BlackLivesMatter #FakeShit #NiceAttack  Daye Hazit (@YurBoyDW) July 15, 2016The real tragedy about the #NiceAttack is that it takes the spotlight away from #BlackLivesMatter  TheAltRightProfessor (@NationalistProf) July 14, 2016And finally this guy nails it:Nice job with  #BlackLivesMatter Nothing makes people want to support you like whining about ""getting the limelight stolen"" by #NiceAttack  Pink Snow kitty (@HugoThePinkCat) July 15, 2016",fake,dataset,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,present
7188,7189,"Justin Bieber has said God spoke to him and encouraged him to turn his life around . Photo   Justin Bieber vowed to change his life after God spoke to him .  The 21 year old singer who previously hit the headlines for his wild partying , arrests for motoring offences and egging a neighbour ' s house was feeling "" pretty lost "" and though he isn ' t "" super religious "" , his faith inspired him to take things in a different direction .  ? Art and Matilda take on Shaun and Kayla  He said : "" I am not going to go into detail of what I was doing and where I was at , but I was pretty lost and woke up one day and felt like God was telling me something .  "" I ' m not super religious or anything but I just heard a voice and was like , ' You know what ? I ' m going to change my life around .  I ' m going to switch up some things and put some stuff together ' .  "" I called my manager Scooter and said , ' We need to fix it ' . ""  The Sorry hitmaker who is dating model Hailey Baldwin still enjoys drinking and having a good time and doesn ' t think that is at odds with his religious beliefs .  Speaking on radio programme The Bert Show , he said : "" We ' ve going and celebrating all the time , getting drinks . I am 21 now so I can go out with my friends and be responsible and still have a good time .  "" What ' s weird is I am a Christian , I am a believer , and often people are too conservative and I don ' t think it ' s wrong .  "" I ' m stumbling over my words right now because I don ' t want to offend anybody , but I believe you can go and have a good time , get some drinks and enjoy yourself and can be with girls .  "" I don ' t think you need to be serious about it .  "" Loving God is a separate thing . But I don ' t think you have to love God and not be able to go out and enjoy yourself .  "" As long as it ' s not provocative or intense or mean or evil . If you are living life based on loving God then just keep that in mind . ""  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
7189,7190,"Much of the burden will fall on third baseman and captain David Wright when it comes to getting the team refocused and ready to play in Game 2 , but even he fully realizes the magnitude of the opportunity that slipped away , according to Carig .  "" We were one hit away , one play away from winning that game , "" Wright said .  While the Mets would undoubtedly rather be in Kansas City ' s position , they can hang their hats on the fact that they outplayed the Royals for a large portion of Game 1 .  In addition to that , they look to have a significant advantage on the hill in Game 2 with deGrom going up against the unpredictable Johnny Cueto . Provided deGrom maintains his current form , New York has a great chance to even things up Wednesday night .  Perhaps no team in Major League Baseball is more difficult to put away than the Royals due to their relentlessness at the plate , and that much was clear Tuesday , as they refused to go down regardless of how dire the circumstances looked .  Although they jumped on New York early by virtue of shortstop Alcides Escobar ' s inside the park home run in the first inning , they spent much of the rest of the game playing catch up .  Third baseman Mike Moustakas was among those who came through with a huge , clutch hit , as he tied things up with an  single in the sixth before even more chaos and unpredictability ensued .  Moose was part of last year ' s team that fell to the San Francisco Giants in the World Series , and he is using that defeat as fuel in the 2015 World Series , according to Bob Nightengale of ?  Today :  The only team people remember are the champions . That ' s what made it so tough last year . When you ' re 90 feet of tying that game and lose , it ' s a tough one to swallow . It ' s going to stick with you for a long time , no matter what . ?  Now that we ' re back to the World Series , the only way to get rid of that feeling is to go out and finish the deal . ?  Kansas City certainly has the attitude needed to succeed in the World Series , but it will need more than that to overcome the electric pitching of deGrom in Game 2 .  The Royals came out on top in Game 1 despite being at a perceived starting pitching disadvantage with Edinson Volquez against Matt Harvey . However , the gap may be even wider in Game 2 due to Cueto ' s volatility .  He has a 7 . 88  in the playoffs as opposed to deGrom ' s 1 . 80  , but he is also a player who won 20 games last season and has stuff capable of taking over games .  Because of Cueto ' s ceiling , Royals manager Ned Yost feels comfortable sending him out there for Wednesday ' s Game 2 , per  ?  , via ? ESPNweblink .  "" I feel like he ' s pitched great games here . He really draws on the energy of our fans . And again , I felt like you try to put everybody in a position where they can be successful , "" Yost said . "" He more than anybody else really draws that energy from our fans . We just felt it was the best move . ""  The Royals have far more margin for error than the Mets do Wednesday , but they would still be wise to approach the game with a must win mindset due to the implications involved with taking a 2 0 series lead .  It is understandable why the Royals are underdogs considering deGrom ' s recent dominance , but  has been defying odds for the past two seasons , and it would not be at all surprising to see it do so again in Game 2 .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
7198,7199,"It s not . Eight Celtics finished in double figures in a 105 100 victory over Chicago on Wednesday .  The Warriors take on the Celtics and their genius young coach , Brad Stevens , this Friday in the sixth game of a seven game road trip .  : 7 : 30 p . m .  ,  Bay Area ( Golden State ) ,  New England ( Boston )   : The line and total for this game are now off the board . The way they ve started , the energy from which they play is incredible heck of a challenge nobody s conquered it yet .  The Golden State Warriors are going for their 28th straight regular season win when they face the Boston Celtics on Friday night .  Being constantly poked and prodded by aggressive journalists looking to be the one to finally get the scoop on what keeps the Warriors winning has to become brain numbing after a while .  Well now the Warriors will be without one half of their backcourt , as Thompson will be out against the Celtics on Friday night .  The time off could serve the Warriors and Thompson some good , especially after back to back nights against Boston and Milwaukee . The Celtics are playing decent basketball these days . He had a little bit of pain with some of the movements . The Boston Celtics have won four straight home games . He has been a starter 11 times this season , but has put forth almost the same production whether he is in the first five ( 8 . 3 points , 6 . 3 rebounds , 55 . 6 percent shooting ) or coming off the bench ( 8 . 7 points , 6 . 5 rebounds , 57 . 7 percent shooting ) .  Then came the Warriors , who had the final ingredient to make it all come together : Steph Curry .  The Celtics may not have Stephen Curry , but they do have Isaiah Thomas , and he can flat out ball .  While there are many who can score the ball from 3 point range and make plays out of the post , few have the ability to not only initiate a fast break by handling the ball up court , but also have the court vision to finish it off with an assist . He is also shooting 87 percent from the free throw line . I don t have a problem with it . At least we can relate on something , right ? This man has done a tremendous job so far and should get more recognition .  If Thompson can not play against the Celtics , it is unclear who would start in his place .  Just knowing any given night you don t know who s going to be that guy , that s the strength of this team .  We think we can wear out other teams , Ezeli said .  Obviously one of the best teams I ve ever seen ? certainly that I ve ever coached against , Stevens said .  The Warriors should head into this game with caution . Bbut instead of dwelling on a shortened offseason , or letting the fact that Steve Kerr was not strolling the sidelines create an escape clause that allowed them to lose focus and stumble out the starting blocks , they have come together in pursuit of one common goal ? winning that second ring .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
7211,7212,"A blond girl found in Greece whose birth parents were traced to a Bulgarian Roma village will be cared for by a foster family when she ' s returned to Bulgaria , the government ' s social services agency said  Maria , as the girl was known by the Roma couple with whom she was living in central Greece , was at the center of an international mystery after police discovered her .   tests eventually showed that Saska Ruseva and her husband , Atanas Rusev , were her biological parents .  Maria , now being cared for by Greek children ' s charity Smile of a Child , will instead be cared for by a foster family .  The parents and their nine children have been living in poverty in a tumbledown , one room mud brick house in the village of Nikolaevo , in central Bulgaria .  Bulgaria ' s State Child Protection Agency has yet to say exactly when and how the girl will be brought from Greece , he said . Her interactions with her birth family will be determined by who is named as her legal guardian , he said .  The Agency for Social Assistance is also taking action to care for the Bulgarian parents ' seven underage children .  The two youngest , ages 2 and 3 , will stay with one foster family , said Todorov . Two other children will stay with another foster family , and a 15 year old will stay with family members .  The remaining two , ages 8 and 12 , will be staying at a specialized institution , because no appropriate foster families are available to take them in , he said .  Working with the parents  The placement of the children in foster care is only a temporary stage , Todorov said .  The goal is to give the parents the chance to improve their living conditions in which case they can be reunited with their children . Social services will help the parents find a job , he said .  "" We have to work with both parents , so that they can expand their parental potential , "" said Todorov .  While the children are in foster care , social workers will encourage frequent meetings with their parents , so that the family maintains its emotional connection , he said .  "" We don ' t take away the children , "" he said . "" We count on the collaboration by the whole family to cope with this difficult situation . ""  The Agency for Social Assistance said it had determined the parents had another child too , who was "" abandoned by her parents and raised by a family in another city . ""  Bulgarian police are investigating the Rusevs on suspicion they sold Maria for illegal adoption . A Greek Roma couple Christos Salis and Eleftheria Dimopoulo who were found looking after the girl are in custody , charged with kidnapping .  Daughter given away , says mother  Ruseva says she was so thin she did not realize she was pregnant with Maria . "" I didn ' t know I was pregnant . I didn ' t even have a belly , "" she said .  Maria whom Ruseva originally named Stanka was born in a hospital in the Greek town of Lamia , about 70 kilometers ( 44 miles ) from Farsala and the Roma camp where she was discovered this month .  Ruseva said she cared for Maria for seven months while her husband worked in poorly paying odd jobs , picking fruit and vegetables . They often slept in the streets or nearby olive groves , as they had so little money .  Then one day , when they took a job picking oranges , a woman offered to take care of their daughter and they gave her to the woman because they couldn ' t care for her themselves , Ruseva said . She denies selling the baby , saying she loves her and wants her back .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
7222,7223,"Inside La Liga : Zinedine Zidane savours Real Madrid victory  Real Madrid s first galactico coach got off to a flying start in Saturday s 5 0 win over Deportivo La Coruna at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu .  But it seems clear that incoming boss Zinedine Zidane understands the serious work is just beginning .  Almost a decade after his last game as a Madrid player , Zidane s first as coach brought a straightforward home victory to bring cheer to what had become a very gloomy stadium during recent months under Rafa Benitez .  Once Karim Benzema opened the scoring after 15 minutes , with the opposition appealing for offside , Madrid were always in control .  Gareth Bale soon made it 2 0 , and later completed a hat trick . Benzema completed the rout late on and fans and pundits went home happy .  The Frenchman had an immediate effect on his debut , wrote Jose Samano in El Pais . Real Madrid was liberated ? everyone , its fans and its players .  Zidane clearly wants to have this impact . Previously almost monk like in public , he spent his first week in charge smiling at press conferences , making training more fun for the players , and telling fans what they wanted to hear . The shape of the side did not change much against Depor , but the players looked freed from Benitez s controlling hand . Local favourites Isco and Dani Carvajal returned to the starting side , while the previously underused James Rodriguez and Jese got runs as second half substitutes .  There was a good atmosphere from the first minute , Zidane said . The players attitude was good . Nothing has changed for them , all that has changed is the coach . This was the first game , we must see what happens now . But the idea is to play good football and win games . The fans today were happy .  He will know that beating a smaller team at home is not really the issue though ? Rayo Vallecano , Getafe , and Malmo were hockeyed at the Bernabeu recently even as Benitez headed towards an inevitable early exit . That tends to happen when one of your galactico forwards costs many times more than the entire opposition squad .  Zidane s first big challenge appeared to be with Bale , who was rumoured to be upset at losing his dressing room ally Benitez . But the Welshman looked fine against Depor , scoring his second La Liga hat trick of the season , and embracing his new boss when substituted late on .  Cristiano Ronaldo had a more frustrating evening . While everyone else was enjoying themselves , the Portuguese had 10 shots on goal without seriously troubling Depor keeper German Lux .  Ronaldo s nemesis Lionel Messi also scored a hat trick in Barcelona s 4 0 win over Granada earlier on Saturday . This evening he will watch on as Messi retakes the Ballon D Or crown in Zurich .  During the week , Zidane called Ronaldo the soul of Madridismo , and unlike Benitez he knows the sensitive , soon to turn 31 year old needs careful handling . He knows firsthand all about being a fading galactico , unable to reach former heights while the team around him suffers .  His own past as player did not count any more , Zidane said this week , knowing he would be judged on results . And the situation is not so bad ? Madrid remain right in the running in La Liga ahead of six very winnable domestic games , before next month s Champions League last 16 tie against crisis hit Roma .  Chasing down Barcelona and Atletico Madrid will require an upturn in form , but Zidane seems well aware of this . What I most liked tonight was the attitude of the players , he said on Saturday . From there we must improve in many things . We have time for that . We will improve , I am convinced of that .  Although bigger tests lie ahead , Zidane s first week in charge has gone very well .  ",true,text,test,Football,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
7227,7228,"Tune in to the Alternate Current Radio Network (ACR) for another  broadcast of  The Boiler Room  starting at 6   | 9   every Wednesday. Join us for uncensored, uninterruptible talk radio, custom-made for barfly philosophers, misguided moralists, masochists, street corner evangelists, media-maniacs, savants, political animals and otherwise lovable rascals.Join  hosts Hesher, & Spore along with Randy J of 21Wire, Daniel Spaulding from Soul of the East and Jay Dyer ofweblink. Tonight the Boiler Gang discusses the Clinton  results,  legislature s war against the people on behalf of a tyrannical government gone mad and whatever else floats into our air space during the show!    A   ZONE!           ENJOY! Reference Links:",fake,dataset,test,World conflict,Sports/Other,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,present
7230,7231,"Illegitimate Stock Markets Back Hillary By Daily Bell Staff - November 01, 2016  The Stock Market Has a Favorite in the Election … On the evening of Sept. 26, two interesting things happened. First, Hillary Clinton won a decisive debate victory over Donald Trump in the first presidential debate, as judged by prediction markets (and later, by polls). Second, financial markets abruptly experienced large, abnormal swings. Economists Justin Wolfers and Eric Zitzewitz have documented this extraordinary convergence in a new paper, titled “What do financial markets think of the 2016 election?” – Bloomberg  This Bloomberg article actually questions conclusions regarding stock market support for Hillary, but adds: “So Wolfers and Zitzewitz make a strong case.”  Indeed the study has attracted a lot of attention, though one of the reasons is obviously because it is a pro-Hillary study and apt to be picked up by the mainstream media.  The larger question, of course, is why equity markets would find an anti-freedom, pro-war candidate attractive.  More:  The most likely explanation is that financial markets think a Clinton victory would be good for the economy ….  We saw some of the opposite happen when stock markets plunged on Friday, immediately after an announcement by  Director James Comey that the agency was reviewing new evidence in a probe related to its investigation of Hillary Clinton’s use of a private e-mail server while she was secretary of state.  Why would markets not like Trump? Well, it’s pretty obvious. Trump’s mercurial temperament, unconventional ideas and lack of governing experience would create large doubts about the direction of all sorts of government policy — just the sort of thing that makes investors uneasy.  This really doesn’t make much sense. On almost every front, Bill and Hillary Clinton’s actions over decades have been inimical to freedom. If investing and trade thrive in free-market environments, then markets should not reflect a pro-Clinton bias.  The reason that markets are pro-Clinton is probably because markets – especially stock markets – are not expressions of free markets. That sounds strange because stock markets, especially, are seen as expressions of capitalism.  Of course “capitalism” is not necessarily an appropriate nomenclature but that’s an article for another day.  The point is that corporations and the stocks that offer investment opportunities are not necessarily any more legitimate than central banks. Neither corporations nor central banks are “normal” expressions of a free-market system.  Central banks fix the price and value of “money” via interest rate manipulation. This price fixing has the force of law. If you don’t obey – or agree – you can end up in prison.  Corporations are artificial entities that the founders of the  greatly feared. (See here and here ). Before the Civil War corporations were almost non-existent.  Corporations are also the outcome of government force. They are in existence because of intellectual property laws, corporate personhood, monopoly central banking and regulations that prop them up.  Without significant government support, modern corporations would not exist and neither would their “stocks.”  The titanic nature of modern corporations is the outcome of government manipulation. The “investment” opportunities presented by such quasi-government monopolies would not be viable in a normal free-market environment.  People simply don’t realize how distorted modern economies are. They are entirely artificial creations, dependent on state-enforced central banking and industrial monopolies.  And this is why “stock markets” prefer the Clintons in this election cycle. It’s because large industries depend on government to sustain their artificial competitive advantages.  One can certainly speculate what a real free-market would look like within the context of stock markets. Probably such markets would be a good deal smaller and oriented toward a select clientele rather than a mass audience of “investors.”  Most people would make their living in the trades or in others ways that were directly in demand. Societies would probably be more agrarian-based – as they used to be. Savings would gradually appreciate in value as technology brought down the price of goods and services on a regular basis.  The stampeding of savers into stock markets is surely an unnatural occurrence. It has been promoted because those who control stock markets and their corporations want people to feel that their net worth is tied up in the current system.  Ironically, this system does not provide much wealth to the average individual. Most people in the West are relatively impoverished and times are growing more difficult not less so. Middle classes seem to be shrinking rather than expanding.  Conclusion: Many people in the West and certainly in the  would be glad to see real entrepreneurism flourish in the context of companies aligned with a fully competitive marketplace. Stocks and stock markets would still exist of course, but they would reflect a bias toward freedom rather than fascism.",fake,news,test,US elections,Economy,fake,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
7239,7240,"Texas Senator Ted Cruz refused to endorse Donald Trump during his speaking slot at the Republican National Convention on Wednesday night, and the hall at the Quicken Loans Arena descended into chaos soon after.While Cruz congratulated Trump on winning the primary, he declined to directly endorse the Republican nominee. Instead, he told voters to vote their conscience, and the advice was not well received. The crowd loudly booed Cruz as he finished his speech then walked off the stage.Crowd boos @tedcruz as he declines to endorse @realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/nqLaVey8mp   (@politico) July 21, 2016Video surfaced of former Virginia attorney general Ken Cuccinelli, part of the  Never Trump  movement, escorting Cruz s wife Heidi off the convention floor as Trump supporters yelled insults at her.Angry Ken Cuccinelli escorting Heidi Cruz out as Trump supporters yell at her pic.twitter.com/G6USuhoSx2  Graham Moomaw (@gmoomaw) July 21, 2016Trump and Cruz have had an acrimonious relationship for months as they were the final two viable candidates in the Republican Primary. Cruz and his campaign often out-maneuvered the incompetent Trump team in its fights for delegates, while Trump used the unusual tactic of re-posting a tweet that attacked Cruz s wife Heidi for her looks.Trump took to calling Cruz  Lyin  Ted  and the two men verbally battled with each other for weeks trading insults and attacks.In response to Cruz s non-endorsement, Trump insiders called him  classless  according to Fox News.It is widely believed that Cruz is setting himself up to run for president in 2020 after a likely loss by Trump in this year s elections. While he is unpopular with the Republican establishment who has often criticized him for his outrageous statements and Senate stunts like filibusters that helped to shut the government down, Cruz is popular with the so-called  religious  right, who calls him one of their own. His opposition to issues like abortion and same-sex marriage, as well as his strident opposition to diplomacy in the Middle East, helped him win the Iowa Caucus earlier in the year.Featured image via Twitter",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,fake,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
7259,7260,"A four year old girl has died following an E . coli infection and her five year old friend has suffered kidney failure after they shared a turkey sandwich .  Serena Faith Profitt passed away in Doernbecher Children ' s Hospital in Portland , Oregon on Monday and doctors have since confirmed that she tested positive for E . coli .  Brad Sutton , who remains hospitalized at Mary Bridge Children ' s Hospital in Tacoma , Washington , suffered kidney failure , which is also associated with E . coli , Q13Fox reported .  Their devastated families said they believe they fell ill after sharing a turkey sandwich at Roadhouse 18 Bar and Grill in Otis because it was the only thing the children ate and no one else tasted it .  Tragedy : Serena Faith Profitt , four , passed away on Monday after becoming infected with E . coli last week  Battle : Brad Sutton also became infected after they shared a sandwich and remains in hospital , right  The restaurant ' s owner told  that county health inspectors are investigating the restaurant . Oregon Public Health Division are also investigating the cause .  The children shared the snack at the start of Labor Day weekend and two days later , both started complaining of abdominal pains and fevers , The Oregonian reported . They then started passing bloody diarrhea .  On Wednesday , Serena ' s parents took her to the  , but doctors found nothing alarming so sent her home and told her parents to keep her hydrated but she got worse .  On Saturday , her parents took her to hospital and physicians sent her to Doernbecher Children ' s Hospital , where she was immediately put on dialysis .  Scene : The children had shared a turkey sandwich at the Roadhouse 18 Bar and Grill in Otis , Oregon on Labor Day weekend and both fell ill two days later . Authorities are now investigating the restaurant  Questions : Brad ' s mother Elizabeth , pictured with him in hospital , believes the food was to blame  Just as she showed signs of improving , she suffered a stroke on Sunday , her uncle told The Oregonian . An  scan revealed she had suffered brain damage .  ' It attacked her nervous system , ' the uncle , Travis Hargitt , said . ' Then it moved to her brain . '  Doctors declared her brain dead on Monday morning , and she passed away at 9pm .  Serena ' s parents also lost their first child at birth . They have one other child , a two year old daughter .  Their relatives , who described Serena as a book lover and a great singer , have set up a GoFundMe page to help them pay the hospital bills .  Loved : Four year old Serena was remembered as a smart , joyful little girl who loved books and singing  ' She ' s the most vibrant young girl ever she ' s just sweet , loving and so amazing , so smart , just a heart that is of gold , ' her aunt , Aleahsa Hargitt , told  .  Brad Sutton is stable but doctors have said there is a risk of a stroke or seizures .  Now the families are hoping to find what inflicted such terror on their children ' s bodies .  ' I know in my heart it ' s what they ate because everyone else is just fine , ' Brad ' s mother Elizabeth Sutton told The Oregonian .  E . coli normally lives in the intestines of healthy people and animals and most varieties are harmless or cause brief diarrhea . But a few particularly nasty strains , including E . coli O157 : H7 , can cause severe abdominal cramps , bloody diarrhea and vomiting , according to the Mayo Clinic .  Foods at high risk of carrying E . coli include under cooked meat especially beef spinach , lettuce , sprouts , raw milk and unpasteurized cider . It can also be passed on contact and some major cases have occurred among children who visited petting zoos .  In other incidents , it has been passed in rural waters tainted by human or animal feces . If the water has no disinfecting system and children swim in it , they can become infected .  A few days after exposure to the bacteria , the patient may suffer from diarrhea which is sometimes bloody abdominal cramping and vomiting .  Healthy adults usually recover within a week after being infected by E . coli O157 : H7 , but children and older adults can develop a kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome .  There is no treatment to cure the symptoms and doctors mostly recommend rest and for the patient to fight against dehydration and fatigue . A serious E . coli infection that leads to hospitalization may require  fluids , blood transfusions and dialysis .  Complications from E . coli O157 : H7 have killed 20 people in Oregon where Serena passed away since 1992 , The Oregonian reported . The last child killed by the strain was in 2010 .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
7261,7262,"Reuters) - The collapse of Islamic State s self-proclaimed caliphate has not diminished the militant group s ability to inspire attacks on Western targets via the internet, U.S. national security officials told senators on Wednesday. The Sunni Muslim extremist group has been building its external operations over the past two years and has claimed or been linked to at least 20 attacks against Western interests since January, said Lora Shiao, acting director of intelligence at the National Counterterrorism Center.    Unfortunately, we don t see   loss of territory translating into a corresponding reduction in its inability to inspire attacks,  she told a U.S. Senate committee.    capacity to reach sympathizers around the world through its robust social media capability is unprecedented and gives the group access to large numbers of HVEs,  Shiao said, using the government s acronym for homegrown violent extremists. The U.S.-led coalition fighting Islamic State estimated on Tuesday that fewer than 3,000 fighters belonging to the hardline Sunni militant group remain in Iraq and Syria, where they declared a caliphate in 2014.  was driven out of Raqqa, the Syrian city it called its capital, in October, prompting President Donald Trump to say  the end of the  caliphate is in sight.  Yet  the elimination of the physical caliphate does not mark the end of  or other global terrorist organizations,  said Mark Mitchell, acting assistant defense secretary for special operations/low-intensity conflict. As  loses territory it will become more reliant on virtual connections, he said, and continue to inspire  stray dog  attacks by vulnerable people. Senators questioned the security officials about U.S. efforts to fight online recruitment of potential extremists.  This is the new caliphate - in cyberspace,  said Ron Johnson, the Republican chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. The experts described an evolving threat including   ability to adapt its narrative after territorial losses to portray the struggle as a long-term process. The internet is the primary tool for radicalization and no group has been more successful than  in drawing people into its message, said Nikki Floris, deputy assistant director for counterterrorism at the Federal Bureau of Investigation. In a possible reference to Trump s use of Twitter, Democratic Senator Kamala Harris asked Floris,  Has the  examined the role that social media posts or videos from our own government officials affect the online recruitment tactics used by ISIS?  The answer was no. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
7263,7264,"A Somali terror leader implored his fellow countryman in California to send money ' to finance jihad , "" triggering a chain of events that ended with four convictions .  U . S . government agents recorded dozens of such calls a few years ago , according to the Department of Justice .  And on Friday , a jury found four Somali nationals guilty of supporting terrorism in their native country .  The verdict came after prosecutors played the recordings to jurors in a San Diego federal court during weeks of trial .  The four , who included an imam and a cab driver , had raised 10 , 000 and wired it to the Islamist terrorist group Al Shabaab , according to the original indictment .  Cab driver Basaaly Saeed Moalin had many phone conversations with former Al Shabaab leader Aden Hashi Ayrow , before a U . S . missile strike ended the latter ' s life in May 2008 .  Investigators from the  , Homeland Security and a San Diego anti terror agency recorded dozens of them .  Federal prosecutors filed charges in November 2011 . The group pleaded not guilty . But the recordings convinced the jurors otherwise .  Read the case file ( pdf )  The money wasn ' t coming fast enough for Ayrow , who implored Moalin in at least one recorded call to hurry it up . "" You are running late with the stuff , "" Ayrow told him . "" Send some , and something will happen . ""  Ayrow pushed the cab driver to get his local imam to come up with some funds . Mohamed Mohamed Mohamud ran the City Heights mosque in San Diego , which many in the Somali community attended .  Together with a second cab driver , Ahmed Nasiri Taalil Mohamud , and an employee at a money transfer company , Issa Doreh , they raised the cash and wired it to Al Shabaab , the Justice Department said .  It wasn ' t the only favor Moalin did for the terror group .  Moalin had kept a house in Somalia ' s capital Mogadishu , one of the world ' s most embattled cities at the time . He offered to let the terrorists use it , the Department of Justice said .  "" After you bury your stuff deep in the ground , you would , then , plant trees on top , "" Moalin told Ayrow in a recorded conversation . Prosecutors argued he was "" offering a place to hide weapons . ""  For months , they talked about "" bullets , bombing and Jihad , "" said U . S . Attorney Laura E . Duffy . After hearing the recordings , the jury no longer bought the defendants ' explanation that they "" were actually conversations about their charitable efforts for orphans and schools , "" she said .  Sentencing is scheduled for May 16 .  Al Shabaab is one of about 50 groups that have been designated by the State Department as foreign terrorist organizations .  The Islamist extremists have been waging a war against Somalia ' s government in an effort to implement a stricter form of Islamic law , or sharia .  In recent years , Somali and African Union troops , who have received funding from the U . S . government , have won many battles against the terror group , pushing it back to a handful of strongholds .  For more than 20 years , Somalia did not have a stable government , and fighting between the rebels and government troops added to the impoverished east African nation ' s humanitarian crisis .  In January , the United States granted official recognition to the Somali government in Mogadishu .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
7271,7272,"Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed a record surge in the stock market on Thursday, a day after the Dow blasted through the 21,000 mark for the first time after his speech to Congress. “Since November 8th, Election Day, the Stock Market has posted $3.2 trillion in  and consumer confidence is at a 15 year high. Jobs!” the Republican president wrote on Twitter. In an address to Congress on Tuesday night, Trump said he wanted to boost the U.S. economy with a “massive” tax relief and make a $1 trillion push on infrastructure, bets that have helped Wall Street scale fresh records since the election. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
7287,7288,"She has admitted , much to her irritation , that she is better known for ' getting her kit off ' than her award winning performances on screen and stage .  But it seems Dame Helen Mirren just can ' t help herself .  Nigel Cole , director of the film Calendar Girls in which the actress had a starring role , revealed he had to force her to put her robe back on after shooting her scene because she revelled in strutting around in her birthday suit .  Dame Helen , who stripped for the calendar , admitted in the past : ' I ' m famous for getting my kit off in England . '  Cole said : ' The actors were very supportive of each other : a bottle of champagne would be waiting whenever anyone finished their nude scene .  ' They were all women in their 50s and 60s and were thrilled by roles that recognised their sensuality .  ' After one nude shoot , I recall having to tell Helen Mirren to put her robe back on three or four times . '  The 2003 film , based on the true story of Yorkshire Women ' s Institute members who disrobe for a charity calendar , was a box office hit and earned Dame Helen , now 69 , a Golden Globe nomination .  Performing alongside Dame Helen in the film was Celia Imrie , 62 , who has admitted , unlike the Oscar winning Queen star , she struggled with stripping off but Dame Helen led the way .  ' I can ' t bear taking my clothes off . I have never been a pretty young thing and stripping off is far more daring when you don ' t have a figure to die for .  ' But I love a challenge and there was never any question of us wearing flesh coloured coverings . That would have been a cheat .  ' The real life calendar girls taught all of us in the cast not to take ourselves too seriously and Helen , who was used to disrobing for the camera , led us on .  Celia Imrie said : ' I can ' t bear taking my clothes off . '  ' I was the first . I had first night style nerves beforehand but , given that my character was supposed to be nervous , the anxiety actually helped .  ' And the rest of the cast made a big fuss of me afterwards in my dressing room , where they ' d set out champagne and Twiglets . '  Littered with scenes of tasteful nudity , Cole confesses he struggled to know where to look during filming : ' However strategically we placed vegetables , bits kept showing through and we ' d have to reshoot .  ' Even after we ' d cut the film , there were things popping out that shouldn ' t have been and a young man from digital remastering had to spend four weeks removing the private parts . Although the nude scenes only took a week , it felt like a year .  ' The more you know you shouldn ' t look , the more you want to , and I noticed the film crew keeping very busy , working far harder than they normally do because they didn ' t want to be caught gazing .  ' It was a challenge as a director having to confront veteran actors who were completely naked . I ' ve never made so much eye contact in my life . I ' d offered to strip , so we were all in it together .  ' That might have made it easier for me , but the offer was declined . '  In Cole ' s opinion , the film broke the mould for middle aged actresses but it did not go down well with many male actors at the time .  In his interview with the Guardian , he said : ' It was rare for a film to focus on middle aged women and not just show them as mothers or aunties .  Director Nigel Cole has confessed he struggled to know where to look during the filming for Calendar Girls  ' But this made it harder to cast the male parts : several actors disliked the idea of being subsidiary to women .  ' Also , it was the era of Billy Elliot and The Full Monty , and I was keen to make a film about northern England that was not about poverty and deprivation .  ' I remember waiting at Skipton station to be collected by Helen Mirren ' s real life counterpart . Every time a battered old Ford came along , I thought that must be her .  ' Then a black  roared up blaring rock music and there she was at the wheel . It brought home to me how guilty we all are of stereotyping . '  When interviewed several years ago about her penchant for nudity , Dame Helen , who is married to director Taylor Hackford , said : ' I ' m famous for getting my kit off in England . It did used to get to me but I just kind of ignore it I ' m still doing it ! stripping off '  Dame Helen has appeared naked in at least nine films during her illustrious career : 1969 ' s Age of Consent , 1972 ' s Savage Messiah , then O Lucky Man ! , Calligula , Hussy , Excalbur , the Cook , The Thief , His Wife And Her Lover , Calendar Girls and Love Ranch .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
7289,7290,"It should be time to celebrate key milestones in the fight against  and  . Recently , the United Nations announced that new  infections and  related deaths fell to their lowest levels since the epidemic ' s peak . Today , 6 . 6 million people in low and middle income countries are on life saving antiretroviral therapy , and people with  are living longer .  These gains are significant . But because of the shortsightedness of many wealthy countries , we are once again at risk of losing an opportunity to contain and control this deadly epidemic .  The announcement by the Joint United Nations Programme on   (  ) of these gains was quickly followed by much more sobering news . The Global Fund to Fight  , Tuberculosis and Malaria the main financier of  programs around the world reported deep funding shortfalls as Western countries shrink or skip their promised Global Fund payments .  The Global Fund is freezing expenditures for existing  treatment programs and removing hundreds of millions in funding for new programs . The result ? Fewer people on  treatment , more  , more  , more orphans , more misery , more death .  The world has been on the cusp of a promising new era in combating  before . At the 2005 G8 Summit in Gleneagles , Scotland , the globe ' s most powerful economies committed to fund universal access to  prevention , treatment and care by 2010 . The global community fell short by half . Because of that , there were millions of new preventable  infections , with widespread morbidity and mortality and massive economic and social costs . Tragically , the  pandemic continued to expand .  Earlier this year , at the U . N . , the same players renewed their pledge to fund universal access by 2015 . Yet we now hear news of shrinking resources in the face of massive need .  Let ' s be clear the United States is a leader in funding the fight against  . Since then President George W . Bush ' s Emergency Plan for  Relief (  ) launched in 2003 , U . S . support has provided millions of  infected people with access to antiretroviral therapy .  Today , the U . Sweblinkmitment remains strong , through the Obama administration ' s National   Strategy in America and Global Health Initiative , and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton ' s recent call for an  free generation . Clinton ' s goal hinges on a handful of key initiatives , including the immediate expansion of a program known as "" treatment as prevention "" and a corresponding increase in funding for the Global Fund .  Treatment as prevention , which calls for widespread testing for  and treatment for those testing positive , was pioneered at the  Centre for Excellence in   in British Columbia , Canada .  Effective treatment of a person living with  puts the virus into virtual long term remission and dramatically reduces its transmission , preventing further infections . Leading global health organizations such as the International  Society ,  and the Clinton Foundation support the expansion of "" treatment as prevention "" programs worldwide , calling the preventive benefit of treatment a "" game changer "" in the fight against  .  Further compelling evidence that treatment as prevention works was provided by a U . S . clinical trial ( HPTN052 ) in May 2011 . It found that immediate antiretroviral treatment of an  infected person whose partner does not have  reduced  related morbidity and mortality in the  infected partner by 41 and decreased  transmission to the sexual partner by 96 .  Together , these results were instrumental in persuading the international community to renew the universal access pledge .  says that 12 . 2 million new  infections and 7 . 4 million  related deaths could be averted between 2011 and 2020 if funding is scaled up to 24 billion annually by 2015 . The dollars required are considerable , but considering that the G8 pledged 40 billion virtually on the spot for the Arab Spring fully affordable .  Funding universal access is not just a moral and ethical obligation it is also highly cost effective . China gets it . The world ' s most populous country is implementing a national treatment as prevention strategy to help China meet its goal of bringing  and  under control by 2015 . Under its program , China conducted nearly 67 million  tests in the first 10 months of this year .  The global effort to combat  cannot afford further delays , as the magnitude and impact of the pandemic grow relentlessly . Today , 34 million people live with  and 7 . 6 million people require treatment . We continue to play catch up . For every one person who starts  treatment , two become infected with  .  It is time to fully fund the Global Fund , so we can meet the universal access pledge and realize the goal of an  free generation . Millions of lives depend on it .  The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Julio Montaner .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
7299,7300,"Abidjan , Ivory Coast The broadcast antennae for Ivory Coast ' s state news agency was targeted Saturday night by youths loyal to President elect Alassane Ouattara , according to his representative to South Africa .  Mallet also accused Gbagbo ' s armed youth league , known as the Young Patriots , along with armed forces loyal to Gbagbo , of committing "" gross human rights violations "" over the past week and a half during fighting that has left the commercial capital , Abidjan , in an increasingly lawless situation .  People have been burned alive or gunned down in public because they are supporters of Ouattara , Mallet said . In November , both incumbent Gbagbo and challenger Ouattara claimed victory in the presidential election run off . An independent electoral commission declared Ouattara the winner , but Gbagbo has refused to step aside .  Mallet said other rights abuses include using heavy artillery and rocket launched grenades against protesters , the destruction of mosques , denial of medical care for Ouattara loyalists and the use of rape and sexual assault as a tactic . Gbagbo is also tracking down Ouattara backers on social networks and chat rooms , Mallet said .  The Young Patriots are run by Charles Ble Goude , Gbagbo ' s minister of youth . On Friday , he called on Gbagbo supporters to impede the movement of United Nations forces around the country "" by any means . ""  There have also been clashes between Gbagbo and Ouattara supporters in the central cities , Yamoussoukro and Daoukro , in addition to ongoing fighting in Abidjan .  But Ouattara loyalists have secured the border with Liberia to keep mercenaries out of the country , Mallet said . They have intercepted several groups trying to bring weapons including rocket launchers into the country , according to Mallet .  Violence escalated sharply over the last week , after four African heads of state left Abidjan . They were given a mandate by the African Union to find a "" binding solution "" to the post election crisis in Ivory Coast .  Ouattara is holed up in the Golf hotel in Abidjan under the protection of U . N . peacekeepers .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
7311,7312,"Reuters) - President Barack Obama said on Tuesday he was dismayed about violence and divisiveness on the U.S. presidential campaign trail and, in a reference to Republican front-runner Donald Trump, called on leaders to clean up the tone of the race. “We have heard vulgar and divisive rhetoric aimed at women and minorities, at Americans who don’t look like us or pray like us or vote like we do,” Obama said during an event on Capitol Hill. “We’ve seen misguided attempts to shut down that speech. However offensive it may be, we live in a country where free speech is one of the most important rights that we hold. In response to those attempts, we’ve seen actual violence. And we’ve heard silence from too many of our leaders.” Obama spoke as Americans in five states - Ohio, Florida, Illinois, Missouri and North Carolina - voted in the latest round of primaries to select the Democratic and Republican presidential candidates for the November election. Trump has drawn wide criticism, including from within the Republican establishment, for a campaign that has included calling Mexican immigrants rapists and proposing a temporary ban on Muslims entering the United States. There have been some clashes in recent days at his rallies between his supporters and protesters. Trump, a New York real estate magnate, has dismissed accusations that he has fueled the violent atmosphere. Obama said this year’s campaign cycle was not an accurate reflection of the United States. “It has to stop,” the Democratic president said, describing the atmosphere of the campaign as “vicious,” and adding that the behavior “can undermine our democracy, our society and even our economy.” Mitch McConnell, the Republican Senate Majority Leader, told reporters that Trump had called him on Tuesday. “I took the opportunity to recommend to him that no matter who may be triggering these violent expressions or conflicts that we’ve seen in some of these rallies, it might be a good idea to condemn that and discourage it,” McConnell said. He declined to comment on Trump’s response.  U.S. Senators Ted Cruz of Texas and Marco Rubio of Florida and Ohio Governor John Kasich are challenging Trump for the nomination. “I suspect that all of us can recall some intemperate words that we regret. Certainly I can,” Obama said. “And while some may be more to blame than others for the current climate, all of us are responsible for reversing it.” ",true,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
7314,7315,Baffling the worst terrorist attack in history and you d think American college students would have a clue about why we were attacked. ,fake,dataset,test,Other sport,Conflict,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,present
7326,7327,"Most of us with 401 ( k ) plans watched in horror , as our retirement savings plummeted in the stock market crash of 2008 . That year , the average 401 ( k ) balance dropped by a third , forcing older Americans to delay retirement or cut back on spending . Since then , as the market rebounded , some of our savings have recovered in fits and starts .  The crash showed one serious downside to 401 ( k ) s : their complete exposure to the wild swings of the market . But what you may not realize is that even when the stock market is zooming ahead , hidden fees take an unacceptably high share of your investment return .  If your immediate response is , "" Oh , I know how much my 401 ( k ) is costing me , "" then you ' re one of small numbers of Americans who ' s in the know .  According to a recent  survey , 71 of people with 401 ( k ) s didn ' t even know they were paying fees for their retirement accounts .  So how much do these fees really cost you ?  The answer may shock you . Fees can , on average , reduce your 401 ( k ) balance by up to 30 , regardless of whether you have 1 or 1 million in your retirement account .  You may wonder is 30 a big deal ? Yes .  Let ' s look at a hypothetical model of say , an average two earner household where the combined earnings is between 50 , 000 and 70 , 000 a year over the course of 40 years ( from ages 25 to 65 ) .  This couple , unlike most Americans , consistently saves between 5 to 9 of their salaries each year and puts that money into a 401 ( k ) account , gradually increasing their yearly contribution over time . And atypically , they never have to withdraw from this account . They invest their 401 ( k ) account equally in a stock mutual fund and a bond mutual fund , each of which charges average market fees .  For such a household , 401 ( k ) fees will cost 155 , 000 over a lifetime , which leaves the couple with about 350 , 000 in 401 ( k ) income at retirement . This may sound like a large amount , but if the couple spends this nest egg at the 4 annual rate recommended by financial advisers , they will have a mere 14 , 000 yearly supplement to their Social Security benefits not exactly a king ' s ransom .  However , 350 , 000 is by far more than what most Americans save . According to the Federal Reserve ' s Survey of Consumer Finances , the average household approaching retirement has only 100 , 000 in total retirement savings among all of their accounts .  What are these fees , then , that are taking such a big bite out of your retirement account ? There are four kinds : administrative fees , marketing fees ( sometimes called 12 b1 fees ) , investment management fees and trading costs .  The first three types of fees are shown , as an aggregate total , in each mutual fund ' s expense ratio , and are generally reported in your 401 ( k ) ' s "" summary documents "" as a percentage of assets .  For example , if you had 50 , 000 invested in a mutual fund that has an expense ratio of 1 , it means that you pay 1 , or 500 , of the total balance you have invested in the fund in fees . This 1 is charged each year regardless of the mutual fund ' s performance .  However , the expense ratio does not include the last type of fee trading costs . Despite this omission , rest assured that you are indeed paying this fee as well . Trading costs are pretty complex , but the best way to understand them is to know simply that they rise the more often a mutual fund buys and sells its assets , i . e . , the more it is being "" actively managed . ""  If you knew that 30 of your retirement savings are chipped off , you would probably be outraged . It seems like a steep price to pay for investment management , doesn ' t it ?  But the investment industry disagrees , arguing that such costs are justified because mutual fund expenses are regulated by the competition of the free market , and what consumers are paying is simply the cost of doing business .  The problem with this argument is that it ' s not true .  Index funds , for example , have often outperformed actively managed mutual funds while charging a small fraction of the fees . But investing more in index funds will not come close to fixing the broken , expensive 401 ( k ) system .  There ' s no way around it : the mutual fund system we have can ' t be fixed , and must be replaced . Why ?  Because everything about the 401 ( k ) is too individualized : investment management , risk and fees . We need a new type of retirement account that is somewhere between a traditional pension and a 401 ( k ) that combines some of the best features of each .  To minimize the excessive risks of the stock market and keep down investment management costs , we can invest the funds from all the individual retirement accounts as a pool , mirroring the way that the assets of a traditional pension fund are invested . Pooling maximizes returns for all participants by allowing managers to invest in a more diversified portfolio and over a longer investment horizon .  The government should administer these retirement accounts , making sure that everyone can participate and the pools are as large as possible . However , investment management can and should be bid out to private companies to foster competition .  This is one proposal . It ' s worth exploring . Far too many Americans are paying unnecessary high fees for precious savings meant for retirement . We can ' t let that continue .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
7335,7336,"EWweblink ) The writer James Dickey once described a poet as ' ' someone who stands outside in the rain , hoping to be struck by lightning . ' ' He could ' ve been talking about Taylor Swift .  When the Dean of Tween isn ' t inviting guys to meet her in the pouring rain , she ' s courting danger any other way she can , just for the drama of it all . Her new album is called "" Red "" as in red light or red alert and it finds her singing about walking directly into traffic , wading into quicksand , and flirting with the kinds of jerks Kanye West might toast to . ' ' You look like bad news , ' ' she purrs on ' ' 22 . ' ' ' ' I gotta have you . ' ' One gets the feeling that it ' s not this guy ' s love she ' s after . She ' s just using him for the breakup songs .  This time around , it ' s getting harder to feel sorry for Swift . Whether she ' s plucking her mandolin , belting out U2 inspired arena rock , or harmonizing with Gary Lightbody of Snow Patrol or Ed Sheeran , she never sounds happier than when she ' s getting dumped hard enough to justify a good revenge anthem .  The quotable Taylor Swift  Luckily , she ' s recruited the world ' s greatest boy shaming pop team Max Martin , the Swede behind Kelly Clarkson ' s ' ' Since U Been Gone ' ' and Pink ' s ' ' So What , ' ' and his partner Shellback to produce three of her best tell offs yet . The smash ' ' We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together ' ' is such a sublime explosion of Euro pop glee , robots will still pillow fight to it in 2035 . And between the dubstep lite chorus of ' ' I Knew You Were Trouble ' ' and gooey sweet synths of ' ' 22 , ' ' Red should be required listening at the  Camp for Girls , if such a thing existed . ( In Swift ' s polka dot world , it totally would . )  ' ' 22 ' ' also shows how savvy Swift is about uniting guy haters of all ages . After enlisting her girlfriends to ' ' make fun of our exes , ' ' she invites them to dance ' ' like we ' re 22 . ' ' She is 22 , but this song belongs just as much to the preteens and power moms who pretend to be that age .  At times , Swift sounds too eager to  ify her own life . ' ' Starlight ' ' seems to nod to her recent Kennedy wedding crasher scandal ( ' ' We snuck into a yacht club party Pretending to be a duchess and a prince ' ' ) . And ' ' Treacherous ' ' is nearly  17 . ( When she sighs , ' ' I ' ll do anything you say , if you say it with your hands , ' ' it ' s safe to assume she ' s not dating an  interpreter . ) But the dishiest track is also one of the best . Over plaintive acoustic strumming , ' ' All Too Well ' ' recalls a trip to meet an old boyfriend ' s family ( Thanksgiving with the Gyllenhaals , perhaps ? ) , and goes into heartbreaking detail about nights spent singing to the radio or flipping through photos of her ex as a ' ' little kid with glasses in a twin size bed . ' ' She leaves her scarf at his sister ' s place , and he keeps it long after they ' ve split , which makes you wonder .  "" Red "" might be about flirting with danger , but who ' s risking more here : Swift , or the guy whose baby photos are now public domain ? For him , it ' s not such a fair trade . He walks away with a scarf . And she gets the rights to the memory . B  See the original article at EWweblink    to Try 2   issues of Entertainment Weekly  2011 Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc . All rights reserved .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
7347,7348,"Russian convicted in Taliban attack gets life in prison  A former Russian military tank commander who was convicted of leading an attack on U . S . forces in Afghanistan was sentenced Thursday to life in prison .  Before the judge handed down his sentence , Irek Hamidullin railed against the U . S presence in Afghanistan and accused the government of targeting him in order to send a message to the Russians .  "" You accuse me of terrorism . That is a lie . I am doing what Jesus Christ told us to do , "" said Hamidullin , who appeared pale and thin as he was brought into the federal court in Richmond in a wheelchair . Hamidullin has said he ' s on a hunger strike , but hasn ' t been refusing food completely , a deputy U . S . marshal told The Associated Press last month .  The 55 year old spoke in Russian through a translator and became animated at times , pointing at the judge and slamming his hands on the table throughout a rambling , 15 minute speech before the court .  "" I do not acknowledge your law . I do not acknowledge this court . I despise it , "" he said .  A federal jury in August found Hamidullin guilty of all 15 counts of terror related charges , including providing material support to terrorism , attempting to destroy U . S . aircraft and conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction .  His attorneys said Thursday that they plan to appeal .  Unlike the hundreds of other cases involving terror suspects in the U . S . since the Sept . 11 , 2001 attacks , Hamidullin was a combatant captured on the battlefield , not a financier , recruiter or schemer arrested outside the theater of war .  That raised questions about whether he should be considered a prisoner of war , and prosecuted by a military tribunal instead of a civilian court .  The judge ultimately allowed the case to move forward , arguing that that Hamidullin wasn ' t a lawful combatant because the Taliban and its affiliated groups lack a clearly defined command structure and don ' t adhere to the laws and customs of war .  Prosecutors had asked the judge to impose a life sentence , citing the need to protect the public .  Hamidullin told  agents that as long as Americans forces remained in Afghanistan , "" if he met them or other Americans on the street , he would be obligated by his religion to kill them , "" prosecutors said in court documents .  Assistant U . S . Attorney James Gillis told the judge he believed the harshest sentence could also potentially deter future attacks by terrorist groups .  "" American justice came swiftly in this case and the world watched this , "" Gillis said .  Hamidullin ' s attorneys argued for a 30 year term with supervised release , which they called a "" defacto life sentence "" for the man . They noted that Hamidullin cooperated with investigators and didn ' t target civilians or kill any American troops . They also argued that he didn ' t commit an act of terrorism , but a "" lawful act of war . ""  Defense attorney Paul Gill dismissed the notion that a life sentence would serve as deterrence , saying that Taliban attacks in Afghanistan have continued , and perhaps even intensified , since Hamidullin was captured and prosecuted .  "" This person ' s prosecution has done nothing to the Taliban ' s resolve , "" he said .  Hamidullin is a veteran of the Soviet war in Afghanistan who stayed in the country and joined the Haqqani Network , a Taliban affiliated militant group , U . S . officials said .  He allegedly led three groups of insurgents in a 2009 attack on Afghan border police in Khost province . When U . S . helicopters responded to the attack , the insurgents tried to fire at them with anti aircraft weapons , which malfunctioned , prosecutors say . The insurgents were virtually wiped out , while the coalition forces sustained no casualties .  This story has been corrected to fix the spelling of Khost province .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
7362,7363,"Manchester United have finally received some positive injury news after Marouane Fellaini returned to full training and Ander Herrera expressed his determination to be back in action within a fortnight .  Fellaini and Herrera are among 10 United players who have been sidelined through injury since the beginning of the season , severely hindering the start of Louis van Gaal ' s Old Trafford reign .  The Belgium midfielder has been sidelined for the last five weeks since suffering ligament damage in his left ankle in training after playing in the opening game against Swansea .  Marouane Fellaini has returned to full training after recovering from an ankle injury  The 27 . 5million signing from Everton has resumed training with the first team squad at Carrington this week although it appears unlikely that he will be ready to face his old club at Old Trafford on Sunday .  Fellaini predicted that he would be back at the end of September when he spoke last week about his determination to make a success of his move to United .  ' I have known difficult moments like last season , but you become a stronger player afterwards , ' said the Belgian . ' I have confidence in myself and in my game again .  New signing Ander Herrera is determined to recover from his rib injury within a fortnight  Ander Herrera picked up his rib injury during Manchester United ' s win over West Ham  ' I played a good World Cup and I was also good during pre season . It is unfortunate that this injury has thrown a spanner in the works , but at the end of the month I will be back . '  Herrera fractured a rib in his back in Saturday ' s win over West Ham and was expected to be out of action for up to a month .  United ' s 29m summer signing from Athletic Bilbao is believed to have caught a knee in the back from an opponent in the first half and played on until the 74th minute .  The club offered him the opportunity to have a break while he recovers , but Herrera has made it clear that he can be fit to play again in two weeks after the forthcoming international break .  Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has had to deal with a growing list of injuries so far this season  Darren Fletcher is set to replace Herrera against Everton while Juan Mata is expected to be recalled in place of the suspended Wayne Rooney .  There was more promising news from Van Gaal as it emerged that Michael Carrick and Phil Jones are running outside again , although they are not ready to rejoin the main first team group .  Carrick has yet to play this season after undergoing ankle surgery in July and Jones suffered a hamstring strain in England ' s win over Switzerland three weeks ago .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
7374,7375,"The last weekend in February ended with another four killed and 10 wounded in Chicago. The tally puts the death toll well ahead of the end of the second month last year. [Over a chilly   Chicago again had several incidents with multiple shooting victims per attack with one of those incidents ending with two killed.  Two men were killed early on Saturday morning during an incident in the city’s Woodlawn neighborhood. At about 1  two men in hoodies opened fire on a group of people attending a house party in the 6500 block of South Drexel. A    man took a slug to the head and a    man was hit in the chest. Both died soon after, according to the Chicago  . A list of others wounded during the weekend includes a    girl shot in the backside. She is in stable condition. Thus far this year Chicago has already seen 98 people shot and killed with a total of 512 shot. Another five murders by other means brings the total killed in Chicago to 103. Even as February, being one of the coldest months in Chicago, usually has one of the lower shooting tallies, the number of victims and deaths wracked up in the Windy City has already exceeded that of 2016, a year that ended with more shootings than any year in decades. By the end of February last year 189 had been shot in Chicago compared to this year’s 201 total shooting victims. With 72 shot in 2014 and 75 shot in 2015, that is a 152 percent rise year over year. Follow Warner Todd Huston on Twitter @warnerthuston or email the author at igcolonel@hotmail.com.",true,news,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
7380,7381,"In an ongoing effort to promote nudism , the U . S . Army has forbidden a soldier from reading books by conservative authors while he is in uniform . Corporal ( formerly Master Sergeant ) Nathan Sommers , who has served "" with honor but without distinction "" for a quarter of a century , sees the order as being but another means of persecuting him for having an anti Obama bumper sticker on his military issued  V . However , his commanding officer says he ' s just enforcing the Pentagon ' s new "" politically correct "" Approved Reading List .  An outspoken conservative Christian , Sommers also opposes gay marriage , abortion on demand , open borders , compulsory nudity , and other policies that are near and dear to his commander in chief ' s own values . The only two interests that he and the president share , Sommers said , is their fondness for music . "" I love classical , and he Obama is a fan of hip hop and rap . ""  A member of the U . S . Army band , Sommers plays the bugle , and he "" caught flack for that , too , "" when he was the soloist "" as in the only band member there at the funeral of alcoholic and First Lady Betty Ford . A conservative political group had requested "" full military honors , "" Sommers said , "" but the groups ' request was denied on the grounds that her husband ' s presidency had been "" too conservative to warrant a 21 gun salute or any other military honors . "" When Sommers played taps , anyway , he was demoted to corporal .  In addition , more recently , Sommers has been ordered not to read books by such conservative authors as Bill O ' Reilly , Mark Levin , David Limbaugh , or Sean Hannity while he is in uniform .  "" I can read about homosexuals , infanticide , illegal immigration , and even nudism while in uniform , "" Sommers said , "" but , to read O ' Reilly , Levin , Limbaugh , or Hannity , I have to be stark naked . ""  Forced nudity , he said , is one of the techniques of "" enhanced interrogation "" that the military uses , he said , to "" strip away one ' s identity . ""  During the presidential election , he was also commanded to remove bumper stickers from his  V . The stickers read , "" NoBama "" and "" Political Dissent Is Not Racism . "" He has since discovered that , in the U . S . Army , it ' s "" Yes , Sir , Mr President ! "" and that political dissent ' ' is ' ' most definitely racism . However , Barak Obama and Joe Biden supporters among the troops were allowed to display anti Romney and anti Ryan bumper stickers that read , "" I Wouldn ' t Wipe My Ass With Romney "" and "" Ryan Can Kiss My Ass . ""  Since Sommer ' s political views were "" out of step , "" they created a "" hostile working environment , "" his superior officers maintained , whereas the anti Romney and anti Ryan sentiments were "" boosts to morale . ""  After Sommers hired an attorney who brought his client ' s plight to the attention of Bill O ' Reilly , Mark Levin , David Limbaugh , and Sean Hannity , the Army released the following statement : "" The soldier in question was never prohibited , and shall not be prohibited , from affixing political bumper stickers to his private parts and may read in uniform whenever he likes when he is not on duty , provided that his choice of reading materials is limited to books by sanctioned writers such as Molly Ivins , Mark Crispin Miller , Bill Moyers , Jim Hightower , or Harry Reid . Nudity is required only during full body cavity searches for contraband such as has already been identified to the soldier . ""  ",satire,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,satire,True,no,no,neutral,past
7386,7387,"Although many people think of a heart attack as a painful , sometimes fatal event , there are some heart attacks that go entirely unnoticed .  Some people may have had heart attacks without knowing it , studies show .  Undiagnosed , or "" silent , "" heart attacks affect nearly 200 , 000 people in the United States annually . As many as 40 to 60 percent of all heart attacks are unrecognized , studies show .  By definition , a heart attack usually happens when a clot gets in the way of blood flow from a coronary artery to the heart . This may cause symptoms such as severe chest pain , shortness of breath , fainting and nausea . Anyone who believes that he or she is having a heart attack should seek emergency medical attention .  But sometimes a heart attack is not painful , or the person experiencing it does not recognize the symptoms as heart related , so he or she does not go to a hospital for treatment .  A new study from Duke University Medical Center shows that these silent heart attacks may occur more frequently than physicians thought .  Even if a heart attack occurred in the distant past , it may still leave a signature called a Q wave on an electrocardiogram . But there are silent heart attacks that do not have associated Q waves .  Researchers used a relatively new technique called delayed enhancement cardiovascular magnetic resonance and then followed up with patients after about two years . The study was done on 185 patients who had never had a diagnosed heart attack but were suspected of having coronary artery disease .  The researchers found that 35 percent of patients had evidence of a heart attack and that silent heart attacks without Q waves were three times more common than those that had Q waves .  Patients with non Q wave silent heart attacks also had 11 times higher risk of death from any cause and a 17 fold risk of death from heart problems compared with patients without any heart damage .  But experts do not recommend that people generally be screened for silent heart attacks unless they have other heart related problems .  "" Currently , there has not been a study that has demonstrated that early identification and therapy changes how patients with unrecognized heart attacks do in the future , "" said Dr Han Kim , a cardiologist at Duke University and lead author of the study . "" If you don ' t know when an actual event occurred , it becomes difficult to prescribe therapy . ""  Although the study was done on a relatively small sample of people at risk of coronary artery disease , meaning the results may not apply to the general population , other cardiologists say the study has merit in adding to the knowledge of silent heart attacks .  "" Ultimately , we ' re going to need trials to really establish what treatment works and what doesn ' t , "" said Dr Eric Schelbert , a cardiologist at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine who was not involved in the study .  Treatment for someone who has had a silent heart attack is usually the same for someone who came to the hospital immediately after a heart attack , Kim said .  This may include beta blockers , statin drugs , aspirin or other medications , Schelbert said .  Schelbert said he has seen plenty of patients who have had silent heart attacks in fact , he has treated some of his own colleagues who have experienced them .  "" It ' s an incredibly important thing that the physician scientist community needs to explore further , "" he said .  Researchers noted that patients with non Q wave silent heart attacks were also generally older and were more likely to have diabetes . There needs to be more of a focus on prevention among these risk groups , said Dr David Wiener , a cardiologist at the Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , who was not involved in the study .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
7400,7401,"A further two French suicide attackers have been identified , police said , while the identity of four other assailants , who were all killed , was still under review .  France has been bombing Islamic State positions in Iraq and Syria for months as part of a U . S . led operation . Following Friday ' s mayhem , Paris vowed to destroy the group . Underlining its resolve , French jets on Sunday launched their biggest raids in Syria to date , hitting its stronghold in Raqqa .  "" The raid . . . including 10 fighter jets , was launched simultaneously from the United Arab Emirates and Jordan . Twenty bombs were dropped , "" the Defence Ministry said . Among the targets were a munitions depot and training camp , it said .  There was no word on casualties or the damage inflicted .  The Paris attacks were seen causing a short term sell off in global stock markets and Asian shares fell on Monday , but few strategists expected a prolonged economic impact or change in prevailing market directions .  Credit :   Seven people believed to be involved with the Paris attacks were arrested in Brussels .  The investigation into Friday ' s attacks , the worst atrocity in France since World War Two , led swiftly to Belgium after police discovered two of the cars used by the Islamist militants had been rented in the Brussels region .  Police named the man they were seeking as Salah Abdeslam , saying the 26 year old was "" dangerous "" . Although he was born in Brussels , French authorities said he was a French national .  "" The abject attacks that hit us on Friday were prepared abroad and mobilised a team in Belgium that benefited . . . from help in France , "" French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve told reporters after meeting his Belgian counterpart in Paris .  Stunned by the carnage , thousands of people thronged to makeshift memorials at four of the sites where the attacks took place , laying flowers and lighting candles to remember the dead .  "" We are living a nightmare , "" said Caroline Pallut , whose 37 year old cousin Maud Serrault died when gunmen attacked the Bataclan concert hall , killing at least 89 people the bloodiest single incident on Friday night .  "" It is all so senseless . She had only just got married . ""  The death toll rose to 132 , with three more people dying on Sunday from their wounds . Some 103 have been identified , including many young people and many foreigners , out relaxing on a Friday night in one of the world ' s most visited cities .  In a sign that at least one gunman might have escaped , a source close to the investigation said a Seat car believed to have been used by the attackers had been found in the eastern Paris suburb of Montreuil with three Kalashnikov rifles inside .  Credit :   Neighbors told the media that accused ? French suicide bomber Ismael Omar Mostefai lived with his family here in Chartres until about two years ago .  Police have formally named just one of the attackers : Ismael Omar Mostefai , 29 , from Chartres , southwest of Paris . He was identified by the print from one of his fingers that was severed when his suicide vest exploded .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
7424,7425,"David Bowie , whose incomparable sound and chameleon like ability to reinvent himself made him a pop music fixture for more than four decades , died Sunday , January 10 , after an 18 month battle with cancer . He was 69 .  French fashion designer Andre Courreges , famous for his "" space age "" designs of the 1960s and 1970s , died Thursday , January 7 , his family told  affiliate France 3 . He was 92 .  Pat Harrington , the popular comedian and voice over talent who made a lasting impact as superintendent Dwayne Schneider on the hit  sitcom "" One Day at a Time , "" died Wednesday , January 6 . He was 86 .  Producer Robert Stigwood , the creative force behind "" Saturday Night Fever , "" "" Grease "" and other cultural blockbusters of the 1970s , died January 4 . He was 81 .  Vilmos Zsigmond , the Oscar winning cinematographer whose varied work included "" Close Encounters of the Third Kind , "" "" The Deer Hunter , "" "" McCabe and Mrs Miller "" and "" Deliverance , "" died on January 1 . He was 85 .  Dale Bumpers , a former U . S . senator and Arkansas governor who defended President Bill Clinton during his impeachment trial , died January 1 . He was 90 .  Former U . S . Rep . Mike Oxley co author of a landmark anti corporate fraud law that bears his name died January 1 . He was 71 .  Monte Irvin was regarded as one of the best hitters and all around players in the Negro League  The New York Giants signed Irvin to a contract in 1949 , making him one of the first African Americans to play in the majors  Willie Mays reacts to his death : "" Monte Irvin was a great man . I will miss him . ""  Baseball Hall of Fame outfielder Monte Irvin died Monday night in Houston . He was 96 .  Regarded as one of the best hitters and all around players in the Negro League , Irvin was a sensation for the Newark Eagles , making five All Star teams . In 1946 , he won his second batting title as he helped Newark win the Negro World Series .  Three years later , the New York Giants signed Irvin to a contract , making him one of the first African Americans to play in the majors .  He played a vital role in the Giants ' World Series runs in 1951 and 1954 .  Irvin tied a World Series record with a . 458 series batting average and 11 hits in 1951 his best season when he hit . 312 with 24 home runs and a league high 121 RBIs . Irvin played for the Giants for seven seasons , made the 1952 All Star game and won the World Series in 1954 . He also played a season for the Chicago Cubs .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
7454,7455,"Jihadi John had secret son who is entitled to British citizenship  Exclusive : Mohammed Emwazi , the British jihadist killed in a  drone strike , married and had a son in Syria  Mohammed Emwazi was killed in a  drone strike ?  ? Jihadi John ' dead ' : MI5 on alert amid fears of Isil revenge attack latest updates  Jihadi John , the Isil terrorist killed in a drone strike in Syria , secretly fathered a son who is automatically entitled to British citizenship and could be brought to live in the  , The Daily Telegraph has learnt .  Mohammed Emwazi , the real name of the Briton whose identity was finally confirmed by David Cameron , was evaporated by a Hellfire missile fired from a  Reaper drone after British intelligence analysts located him in the Isil headquarters of Raqqa .  The Prime Minister described the operation as a strike at the heart of Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant , adding that it was an act of self defence and the right thing to do .  A British drone , operated from Lincolnshire , was involved in the  led operation but did not fire the fatal missile . There were unconfirmed reports that a second British jihadi had also been killed in the same attack .  The White House said that the families of Jihadi John ' s victims in Syria were told about the plan before the operation was carried out .  Bethany Haines , whose father David was one of two British hostages beheaded on camera by Emwazi , said she felt an instant sense of relief at being told he was dead , knowing that he wouldn ' t appear in any more horrific videos .  But it has emerged that the Home Office will be powerless to stop Emwazi s Syrian born son coming to live in Britain at some point in the future .  This guy was a human animal and killing him does probably make the world a little bit of a better place  The identity and nationality of the boy s mother is not known , but Home Office rules make it clear that he is already regarded as British , stating : British citizenship may descend to one generation born abroad . So a child born abroad to a parent who is British will automatically be British by descent .  It means he would be entitled to a British passport and could come to live in the  , though his mother , if she is from outside the  , would have to apply for a visa to be allowed into the country .  Emwazi pictured as a schoolboy ten years ago ? Photo : Paul Grover The Telegraph  Although final confirmation of Emwazi s death is still awaited , sources in the  said they were 99 per cent certain he had been killed .  The security services are now on high alert for possible revenge attacks on targets in the  .  Mr Cameron described Emwazi , 27 , as a barbaric murderer who had remained a threat to innocent people , and it will demonstrate to those who would do Britain , our people and our allies harm , we have a long reach , we have an unwavering determination , and we never forget our citizens .  "" Britain and our allies will not rest until we have defeated this evil terrorist death cult . ""  Colonel Steve Warren , the  Army spokesman in Iraq , described Emwazi as a "" human animal "" and added : "" killing him is probably making the world a better place .  The Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn , meanwhile , was mocked by one of his own MPs for saying : It would have been far better for us all if he had been held to account in a court of law .  Ian Austin , Labour  for Dudley North , sarcastically said : It s not as if it s a really dangerous war zone and I m sure he d have come quietly .  Mr Corbyn s comments echoed the response of the controversial human rights group Cage , which had described Emwazi as extremely gentle and kind when he was first named by the media earlier this year .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
7459,7460,"It is hard to find anyone more passionate about the idea of steering public dollars away from traditional public schools than Betsy DeVos, Donald J. Trump’s pick as the cabinet secretary overseeing the nation’s education system. For nearly 30 years, as a philanthropist, activist and Republican   she has pushed to give families taxpayer money in the form of vouchers to attend private and parochial schools, pressed to expand publicly funded but privately run charter schools, and tried to strip teacher unions of their influence. A daughter of privilege, she also married into it her husband, Dick, who ran unsuccessfully for governor of Michigan a decade ago, is heir to the Amway fortune. Like many education philanthropists, she argues that children’s  codes should not confine them to failing schools. But Ms. DeVos’s efforts to expand educational opportunity in her home state of Michigan and across the country have focused little on existing public schools, and almost entirely on establishing newer, more entrepreneurial models to compete with traditional schools for students and money. Her donations and advocacy go almost entirely toward groups seeking to move students and money away from what Mr. Trump calls “failing government schools. ” Conservative school choice activists hailed her on Wednesday as a fellow disrupter, and as someone who would block what they see as federal intrusion on local schools. Former Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida, where Ms. DeVos helped push legislation establishing tax credits for scholarships to private schools, called her an “outstanding pick,” a “passionate change agent to press for a new education vision. ” “Her allegiance is to families, particularly those struggling at the bottom of the economic ladder, not to an outdated public education model that has failed them from one generation to the next,” he wrote on Facebook. Frederick M. Hess, the director of education policy studies for the conservative American Enterprise Institute in Washington, called Ms. DeVos a “smart, principled   conservative who’s experienced in politics and versed in the relevant policy. ” But to teachers’ unions, she is anathema. Randi Weingarten, the president of the American Federation of Teachers, called Ms. DeVos “the most ideological,   education nominee” since the secretary of education was elevated to the cabinet level four decades ago. Even some groups that share her support for charter schools worried that picking someone so closely identified as a champion of vouchers signaled that the Trump administration would try to starve public schools. As a candidate, Mr. Trump proposed steering $20 billion in existing federal money toward vouchers that families could use to help pay for private or parochial schools, perhaps tapping into $15 billion in   Title I money that goes to schools that serve the country’s poorest children. He called school choice “the civil rights issues of our time. ” Amber Arellano, the executive director of the Education   an advocacy group in Michigan that supports charters but has been critical of a Michigan charter school law that Ms. DeVos has spent millions to defend, said the pick had “the potential to undermine the nation’s   progress by diverting resources from the young people who most need them, or by failing to uphold the federal government’s responsibility to protecting the needs and interests of all students  —   especially the most vulnerable. ” Michigan is one of the nation’s biggest school choice laboratories, especially with charter schools. The Detroit, Flint and Grand Rapids school districts have among the nation’s 10 largest shares of students in charters, and the state sends $1 billion in education funding to charters annually. Of those schools, 80 percent are run by   organizations, a far higher share than anywhere else in the nation. The DeVoses, the most prominent name in state Republican politics, have been the biggest financial and political backers of the effort. But if Michigan is a center of school choice, it is also among the worst places to argue that choice has made schools better. As the state embraced and then expanded charters over the past two decades, its rank has fallen on national reading and math tests. Most charter schools perform below the state average. And a federal review in 2015 found “an unreasonably high” percentage of charter schools on the list of the state’s   schools. The number of charter schools on that list had doubled since 2010, after the passage of a law a group financed by Ms. DeVos pushed to expand the schools. The group blocked a provision in that law that would have prevented failing schools from expanding or replicating. Ms. DeVos, 58, got into education advocacy primarily as a backer of vouchers, and has served on the board of several organizations that have campaigned for them across the country. A ballot initiative she led to establish vouchers in Michigan failed in 2000. The next year, she established the Great Lakes Education Project, which became an ardent proponent of charter school expansion, and has donated generously to candidates who have supported it. The Michigan law pushed by Ms. DeVos to establish charter schools 20 years ago allows an unusually large number of organizations to start such schools, yet established little mechanism for oversight. Even Republican supporters of charter schools say the law has allowed failing charter schools to expand or replicate. Last spring, the   group was the chief force behind the defeat of legislation that would have established standards for identifying and closing failing schools, both charter and public, in Detroit, where a flood of charter schools in the past decade has created what even charter school supporters call chaos. Ms. DeVos was born in Western Michigan, the more conservative and religious part of the state, where her father created a successful auto parts company. Her brother is Erik Prince, the founder of Blackwater, the troubled private security contractor that was awarded billions in United States government contracts in the Middle East. Like many conservatives who supported Mr. Trump, she does not support Common Core, the set of standards for what students should know at each grade level that was developed by the National Governors Association and other groups  —   and that has been incorrectly branded as a federal policy. She also had not supported Mr. Trump her family was behind Senator Marco Rubio of Florida in the Republican presidential primary. On Wednesday, she wrote on Twitter: “I am honored to work with the   on his vision to make American education great again. The status quo in ed is not acceptable. ”",true,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
7478,7479,"John Mara s 10 word admission that should worry Giants fans   , Mass . ? Take a good look . Or , if you d prefer , take a good , angry look . For as long as this New England Patriots season lasts , if it ends next week in Denver or here against the Steelers , or if it goes all the way to another stop in the Big Game , in Santa Clara , stop . Pause . Look .  We re never going to see anything like this again .  Yes , yes , yes : Every time a dynasty ends its run , we tend to sing the same refrain . We ll never see another team like the Packers again . We ll never see another team like the Steelers again . We ll never see another team like the Niners again . We ll never see another team like the Cowboys again .  Time didn t stop when Vince Lombardi stepped down , when Terry Bradshaw retired , when Joe Montana got hurt , when Jerry Jones started to outsmart himself in Dallas . Time shouldn t stop when the end arrives for Tom Brady , or when Bill Belichick decides he wants to spend more time on his boat than staring at a projection screen .  This is a hard place to play , Belichick said Saturday night , maybe half an hour after the Patriots had quashed the Chiefs , 27 20 , advancing to their fifth straight  Championship Game and 10th in the last 15 years . We re at over 100 practices now , and that doesn t include walk throughs .  It s definitely a grind but they come in here , this group , every day , pencils sharpened , sitting in their seats , they want to learn , want to know how to get better , want to compete , and they do that on a daily basis year after year .  Fifty years of accumulated , enforced parity was supposed to render it impossible for the Patriots to do what they ve been doing , what they keep doing , what it looks like they ll be doing until and unless they finally grow bored with the grind and take up a new hobby .  If you root for the Jets you can certainly detest them , because you ve had an up close look at this whole run . You can remember a time when the Pats and the Jets weren t all that different , living under similarly crossed stars , cursing similarly egregious fates . That s fine . You re entitled .  If you are a Giants fan you will forever have those two Super Bowls , those two forever days in Arizona and Indiana , and so you will forever have an air of superiority , no matter what the numbers say . That s fine . You re entitled .  And then you tune into another Patriots game on another January weekend . They oppose another team with all kinds of hopes and beliefs ? it s the Chiefs this time it s been the Colts in the past , and the Steelers , and the Jets , and any number of upstarts . Maybe you talk yourself into it again : This is the time . This is the year . This is the end .  Then the Patriots walk onto the field and treat the Chiefs ? who had only won 11 games in a row heading into this one ? like Pop Warner all stars . This is 15 years they ve been doing this now . Lombardi s Packers , they didn t even have a 10 year run . The Montana 49ers , their shelf life was 1981 through 1990 . That was a hell of a decade .  The Pats are on their way to a second dominant decade . With no sign of weakening .  I think we can do a lot better , Brady said , which is a terrifying thing for the rest of the league to ponder .  Years in football are like dog years multiplied by 10 . Yet here they are , 15 years and counting , in another  Championship Game and a few steps away from another Super Bowl ? which would be their seventh ? and a few more from another title , which would be their fifth .  With no sign ? with no trace , with no hint ? of let up .  It s pretty cool , Brady said . It s hard to do . You ve got to grind throughout the whole year , and there s only four teams playing next weekend . And we re one of them .  The people in the stands stood the whole way , and they sang their songs , and they basked in this magnificent , surpassing era . You may hate all of that . You may hate the Patriots . But take a good , hard look around the next few weeks . You won t see their like again . Not anytime soon .  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
7482,7483,"Amsterdam I recently returned to Amsterdam from the latest round of U . N . climate talks in Cancun , Mexico , and found this city of canals covered in snow . It was a beautiful sight . Yet rather than filling me with joy , it caused me concern .  Over the past few years , climate change skeptics have repeatedly used cold snaps as proof that our planet is not heating up .  This argument ignores  ' s recent analysis of 2010 as the warmest year on record and the World Meteorological Organization ' s pronouncement of the first decade of this century as the hottest since records began .  Global warming does not simply mean that temperatures are always climbing . What it does mean is that although our planet is steadily heating up , a delicate set of climatic imbalances creates an increase in extreme weather events .  These may include both dramatic heat spells and powerful snowstorms , such as those that have blanketed parts of Europe not used to seeing such weather as well as the more southerly reaches of the Eastern Seaboard of the U . S .  Most scientists tell us that we must dramatically curb greenhouse gas emissions if we are to avert catastrophic climate change . To do this , it will be necessary to mobilize people around the globe who are not yet concerned about the issue .  But if the scientific evidence can be buried , in the eyes of some , by a single heavy snowfall , then we must have new strategies that generate interest in this complex issue and sustain public and political support for action .  Pulitzer Prize winning cartoonist Joel Pett may have hit upon something with a cartoon he drew for last year ' s climate talks in Copenhagen , Denmark . It shows a scientist addressing a large audience at a climate summit . A spectator at the left side of the panel asks his neighbor : "" What if it ' s a big hoax and we create a better world for nothing ? "" The answer emerges on the right side of the panel where the following list appears on a chalkboard : energy independence , preserve rainforest , sustainability , green jobs , livable cities , renewables , clean water and air , healthy children , etc . , etc .  There is indeed something for almost everyone in climate protection .  A small nonprofit group called the Climate and Energy Project ran with this idea in 2007 . It sponsored a yearlong competition between six towns in Kansas with the goal of getting them to lower carbon emissions . They did this by reducing their energy consumption and accepting renewable sources of energy .  A study had shown that a majority of residents in that region believed either that climate change was a hoax or that recent dramatic weather events were simply the result of natural climate cycles . Organizers decided to highlight the more immediate benefits of cutting carbon emissions , including energy independence , development of the local economy and financial savings . The New York Times reported in October that the project ' s strategy seems to have worked .  In a year , the article read , "" energy use in the towns declined as much as 5 percent relative to other areas a giant step in the world of energy conservation , where a program that yields a 1 . 5 percent decline is considered successful . ""  Most of the world ' s major religions also offer reasons to engage in climate protection . Because taking care of the poor and needy ( often disproportionately affected by climate related disasters ) and protecting God ' s planet are tenets of most of the world ' s major faith based organizations , environmental protection is commonly becoming part of what they preach .  Some Muslim and Hindu groups , for example , are working on special product labeling that would inform consumers about environmental impacts of the items being purchased .  Similarly , around the globe , diverse organizations including trade unions , churches , non governmental organizations and governments are coming together to find solutions to climate change .  In 2010 , the fossil fuel industry offered , albeit by accident , one of the greatest motivations to take action on global warming .  ' s Deepwater Horizon oil spill resulted in the death of 11 rig workers local economies suffered deeply , and wildlife in the region could take decades to recover .  The continued disintegration of public trust in government and business policy and procedures surrounding the disaster will , justifiably , have repercussions for a long time to come .  Speaking with a Dutch friend , I commented that the snow which has caused great travel difficulties around Europe was at least a wonderful thing for children , who are out in force making snowmen . "" Yes , "" he replied , but when I was growing up , winters were so cold the canals would freeze over every year , and we could skate on them . Last year was the first time this happened again in over a decade .  The world is no longer as we knew it . It is not possible to backtrack on climate change . It is , however , still within our power to help preserve our planet for future generations .  The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Kumi Naidoo .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,past
7499,7500,"Thursday could be a key moment in the future of time keeping .  More than 100 countries are due to decide on whether to keep the present method of adding so called leap seconds to the global time system at the Radiocommunications Assembly in Geneva , Switzerland .  Currently , this Co ordinated Universal Time or  is based on a system of extremely accurate atomic clocks . But they are so precise that they do not match the rotation of the Earth which periodically speeds up and slows down due to the action of the tides and changes within the Earth ' s core .  Since 1972 these extra seconds are added or taken away from the timescale to make sure  is synchronized with the Earth ' s rotation .  Fifty years ago , a few seconds difference had less impact but many of our 21st century devices depend on incredible accuracy .  Peter Whibberley , senior research scientist in the Time Group at the  ' s National Physical Laboratory , explains that people like astronomers also rely on this level of precision .  "" There are many applications today that depend on precise time keeping . For example , telecommunications use atomic clocks to keep the networks around the world synchronized precisely together , "" he said . "" Satellite navigation sat navs in our cars and homes depend on signals being sent out from atomic clocks on board satellites . ""  But now many countries , including the U . S . and most European nations , want to abandon the procedure which they say is too cumbersome .  According to Whibberley , precise timing systems can be disrupted by altering them .  The  , Canada and China are pressing to keep the leap seconds when the issue is discussed at the U . N . ' s International Telecommunications Union meeting on Thursday .  "" Without a correction , eventually our clocks would show the middle of the day occurring at night , "" said Whibberley . "" We have to have some means of making a correction but at the moment no one knows how that ' s going to be done . ""  Since 1972 Whibberley said only 24 leap seconds have been used and the rate has slowed because the Earth has been speeding up over the last few decades .  Without the leap seconds adjustment , the precise time measured by atomic clocks and time according to the Earth ' s rotation will start to deviate .  Although the tiniest inaccuracies might play havoc with our smart phones most of us would not notice the changes in our body clock it is estimated it will take more than 200 years to register an hour ' s difference .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,present
7514,7515,"New rail minister : Claire Perry invoked fury when she said commuters enjoy ' fair fares for comfortable commuting ' on the same day they were warned of ticket price increases  Commuters reacted with fury yesterday after the new rail minister declared that they enjoy ' fair fares for comfortable commuting ' on the same day they were warned of another inflation busting rise in ticket prices .  Claire Perry , facing accusations of shocking complacency , also insisted that high prices could be avoided by simply booking ahead .  Yesterday it was revealed that next year ' s increase is likely to be 3 . 5 per cent and some prices could rise by as much as 5 . 5 per cent . Fares have already increased by nearly 25 per cent since David Cameron came to power in May 2010 .  But Miss Perry said : ' What we have got to do is to make sure rail passengers who could be forgiven for saying : "" What on earth am I getting for these rises that I ' ve seen over the last decade ? "" start to realise they are paying fair fares for comfortable commuting . '  If Miss Perry who regularly uses a car to get into work takes the train from her constituency of Devizes , Wiltshire , she is able to claim back the cost of a standard class ticket from her nearest station of Pewsey into London .  Her comments were met with scorn by commuters yesterday .  Phil Guichard , 47 , a marketing director , said : ' I would like to see the minister on the 07 . 45 to Paddington .  ' It ' s not comfortable at all . At peak times I ' m lucky to get a seat . '  Julie Ward , 47 , a nurse from near Maidenhead , said her experience was ' horrendous ' , but still costs 240 a month .  She said : ' I find it unbelievable that they can charge so much and give such awful service .  ' I ' ve actually thought about videoing it and sending it to the minister so she can see what it ' s really like . I don ' t think she ' d call it comfortable then . ' Another commuter , Iain Irvine , 51 , said the transport minister needed ' a reality check ' if she thought the railways offered good value for money .  The company secretary , who gets a 5am train to keep down the 400 a month cost of his commute from Bristol to Paddington , said : ' The only reason I use the trains is because I have no choice . If they want us to pay more they need to improve the services .  Commuters wait to squeeze on to the next train to Victoria Station at Clapham Junction , south London  Rail fares will soar by up to 5 . 5 in January and by an average of 3 . 5 following this morning ' s announcement that  inflation was 2 . 5 in July  ' It ' s just not good enough . If the minister thinks they represent value for money she needs a bit of a reality check . '  The annual increase in train fares is linked to July ' s inflation figure , published yesterday by the Office for National Statistics , plus one percentage point .  With the retail prices index at 2 . 5 per cent last month , this means rail fares will typically rise by 3 . 5 per cent in January 2015 , although some increases could be even bigger .  The Chancellor George Osborne could soften the blow , and he is likely to face growing pressure in the coming months to allow an increase of  but no more . But in a  interview yesterday , Miss Perry dismissed claims that train fares are cripplingly expensive .  Shadow transport secretary Mary Creagh said rail prices would rise by 24 per cent by 2018  When asked whether it was fair that a London to Manchester ticket can cost 160 , she said this was ' only if you don ' t book in advance ' .  In fact , the popular Trainline website yesterday showed a day return ticket before 9am to Manchester Piccadilly costs 164 to travel today .  If booked a fortnight in advance , it is only 23 cheaper to travel at the same times .  Questioned on Radio 4 ' s Today programme yesterday , she insisted : ' People don ' t just rock up to the station , like probably you and I do , and pay the maximum amount . '  The proposed increases are particularly painful because workers have faced six years of pay freezes , minimal rises or even cuts in wages .  For example , the cost of a season ticket to London for commuters from Brighton is expected to jump by around 150 a year to around 4 , 455 , according to the Campaign for Better Transport .  This is the pressure group ' s estimate of what the cost will be although the rail operating companies have not yet published next year ' s fares .  Martin Abrams of the Campaign for Better Transport said : ' If your ticket price is rising four times faster than your salary , or you ' re a part time worker with no choice but to pay for a full time fare , or you ' re stuck with creaking 30 year old diesel trains , or even if you ' d just like a seat in return for your 5 , 000 season ticket , then your fare will seem anything but fair and comfortable . '  Mary Creagh , Labour ' s transport spokesman , said : ' This is shocking complacency from yet another out of touch Tory . Many passengers facing inflation busting fare rises don ' t even get a seat on their train to work , let alone "" comfortable commuting "" .  ' When you go through that every single day , the experience is not a good one . '  Last night , the Department for Transport said no decision has been taken about fare rises for 2015 , but a spokesman added that the department was ' looking closely at the cost of travel as part of our ongoing commitment to help hard working people ' .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
7547,7548,"Lausanne , Switzerland Nuclear talks intensified Sunday between world powers and Iran , but key sticking points remained unresolved as the countries tried to reach a deal to curb Tehran ' s nuclear program ahead of a Tuesday deadline .  As the negotiations entered their fourth day , Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned the agreement coming together is worse than Israel ' s deepest fears .  The talks had hit a snag on Saturday , with diplomats describing Iran as refusing to budge , but as the French , German and Chinese foreign ministers arrived , the mood seemed more optimistic . The British and Russian foreign ministers were expected late Sunday .  U . S . officials and Western diplomats described the negotiations as tough and intense , which was expected as the talks reached the endgame .  They said the contours of a deal are becoming clearer , but they were unsure it could be reached . Two core issues are still unresolved : 1 ) Limits on Iranian research and development on advanced nuclear technology in the end years of the deal and 2 ) The pace of lifting United Nations sanctions .  The U . S . officials stressed all of the elements were interrelated and nothing is agreed to until everything is agreed to , comparing the final deal to a puzzle . But they indicated most of the other elements were solvable if those two major hurdles could be overcome .  The speed of which U . N . sanctions could be lifted remains in dispute . Iran wants them lifted immediately after the deal goes into effect .  While diplomats say Iran could see unilateral sanctions relief in the areas of trade , oil and banking , sanctions adopted by the United Nations are more complicated . Many are related to proliferation and transfer of missile technology and are tied to certification by the U . N . nuclear watchdog , the International Atomic Energy Agency , that Iran ' s nuclear program does not have a military dimension .  On Saturday , Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Zarif made clear the issue of sanctions remains a stumbling block , saying he believes the world powers "" have realized that sanctions , pressure and an agreement will not go together . It ' s only to translate that understanding and realization into the agreement that we are negotiating . ""  U . S . officials said that all sides , including Iran , agree that sanctions would be lifted in phases over time as Iran confirms its compliance to the deal . But they acknowledge there is still disagreement on the actual formula .  Iran also wants the ability to continue to research and develop more advanced centrifuges while the deal is in effect . Those machines can enrich uranium much faster than its current machines .  U . S . and European officials worry that could enable Iran to quickly produce enough uranium for a nuclear weapon .  Diplomats say the first 10 years of the 15 year deal would have the most stringent restrictions , with others being relaxed over the next five .  "" We will see if they are ready to swallow what we proposed , "" a Western diplomat said . "" We are not asking them to do nothing , but they want to do more than we want them to do "" referring to how much research the Iranians want to be able to still undertake .  But the diplomat added , "" after 15 years , they can do what they want . ""  Diplomats said Iran has agreed to a cap of fewer than 6 , 000 centrifuges that it can operate to enrich uranium , a process that can lead to weapons grade material . The figure is down from the 6 , 000 the sides were speaking about when the talks started on Thursday , but substantially more than the several hundred the United States had originally wanted . Iran currently runs about 10 , 000 centrifuges , but it has around 19 , 000 in its stockpile .  U . S . officials maintain the number is abstract , because there will be other restrictions on the levels of enrichment and type of centrifuges Iran can operate , which they believe will extend the time Iran would need to have enough fissile material produce a nuclear weapon known as the "" break out time "" to at least a year .  On Monday , a senior State Department official said negotiators had not yet decided anything about the disposal of fissile material . There had been word previously that Iran might export it to Russia , but an Iranian negotiator , Abbas Araqchi , told journalists Sunday that Iran had not agreed to it .  "" The export of stocks of enriched uranium is not in our program , and we do not intend to them abroad . . . . There is no question of sending the stocks abroad , "" he said .  Netanyahu voiced alarm at the emerging deal . After meeting with visiting Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , a Republican , Netanyahu said , "" this agreement as it evolves is fulfilling our deepest fears and even worse . ""  "" In parallel to the gathering for this dangerous agreement , the proxies of Iran in the Middle East are carrying out a wide occupation of Yemen , "" he said . "" The Iran Lausanne Yemen axis is very dangerous to mankind and needs to be stopped . ""  The parties are seeking agreement on the basic parameters of a deal before March 31 . A comprehensive deal including technical annexes is supposed to be concluded by June 30 .  Tuesday is seen as a critical milestone to the U . S . negotiators , who are trying to thwart a threat from Congress to impose additional sanctions without the framework . That could prompt Iran to withdraw from the talks and scuttle the chances of a deal altogether .  But even if a pact is reached , it is unclear what form it would take . U . S . officials say they will need to publicize something that quantifies Iran ' s commitments before submitting it to Congress . But U . S . and Western diplomats say that Iran is looking simply for an "" understanding "" of what has been agreed to before a formal accord is reached .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
7555,7556,"Los Angeles , California A group of 60 interfaith leaders in California called for Americans "" to rise above the rancorous shouting match "" as they spoke out Friday in favor of a controversial Islamic center near "" ground zero "" in New York .  They called for understanding and tolerance and said religious freedom , one of America ' s most cherished values , is at stake in the controversy that has gathered steam in the past few weeks .  "" Such intolerance , in this country of all places , breaks my heart and I believe it breaks the heart of God , "" said the Rev . Anne Felton Hines of the Unitarian Universalist Church .  She joined voices with Roman Catholics , Jews , Seventh Day Adventists , Muslims and leaders of other faiths at a news conference held at the Islamic Center of Southern California . Among them was Maher Hathout , chairman of the Islamic Shura Council of Southern California .  "" I ' d like to emphasize this is not an issue for the Muslims , "" Hathout said . "" It is an issue for Americans who want America to be the way it was dreamed by its founders . ""  The New York Islamic center ' s leaders say they plan to build the 100 million , 13 story facility called Park51 formerly known as Cordoba House on property it already owns two blocks from the site of the September 11 , 2001 , terror attacks on the World Trade Center .  Developer Sharif El Gamal describes the project as an "" Islamic community center "" that would include a 500 seat performing arts center , a lecture hall , a swimming pool , a gym , a culinary school , a restaurant and a prayer space for Muslims .  The controversy swirling around the proposed center has pitted survivors and families of September 11 victims against each other . Current New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is for it , but a past mayor , Rudy Giuliani is against .  Radio talk shows are abuzz with the topic and blogs have been filled with venomous comments about Muslims .  A new Time magazine cover story on the topic highlights how the controversy has brought new scrutiny to other examples of anti Muslim protests happening around the country . It also discusses a new poll that shows that a growing number of Americans believe President Barack Obama is Muslim . The poll was taken before Obama voiced support for the Islamic center .  "" The rhetoric against Muslim Americans namely , that they are a suspect community , or worse , enemies of the state their religion is uncivilized and anti American they are deceitful and they aim to destroy our culture and our constitution are replicas of attacks against other religious minorities in the past as well as current attacks against ethnic and racial minorities , "" the interfaith coalition said Friday .  "" We Americans , whether Muslim or Christian , whether Jew or Hindu , whether of faith or no faith , were all attacked on 9 11 by terrorists who can only be described as criminals , "" it said .  "" We oppose the exploitation of the pain and suffering of 9 11 by political opportunists . They only divide our country and undermine the principles of pluralism , religious freedom , and security by fostering hate based on fear . ""  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
7556,7557,"Jamie Murray set to beat Andy to world No1 spot after long road to top  ? Murray brothers are both at No2 in the world after Australian Open  ? Leon Smith : It s astonishing , from one family ? an incredible story  Jamie Murray s rise to world No2 in doubles after his Australian Open victory with Bruno Soares is remarkable considering he thought about throwing his rackets away a few years ago . Photograph : Xinhua Barcroft Media  Last modified on Sunday 31 January 2016 19 . 50 ?   When Jamie Murray lands in London on Tuesday he will do so with a grand slam doubles trophy to accompany his bags . He will also be the world No2 and at some stage in the very near future it is likely he could become the world s top ranked doubles player .  Related : Jamie Murray wins Australian Open men s doubles title with Bruno Soares  Murray was back in Rod Laver Arena to watch his brother Andy take on Novak Djokovic in the singles final , just as Andy had been there at the end to celebrate Jamie s triumph in the doubles , when he and Brazil s Bruno Soares beat Daniel Nestor and Radek Stepanek to win the Australian Open .  Beating Andy , who has been in nine grand slam finals , to be the first member of their family to be a world No1 is something the 29 year old probably never thought possible , especially not when he was considering throwing away his rackets a few years ago as the grind of the Tour began to take its toll . With the help of a good partner , in the Australian John Peers , and a reunion with his old coach , Louis Cayer , he dug himself out of the hole he was in . Last year he and Peers reached the Wimbledon and  Open finals before parting ways as Murray joined forces with Soares , and on Saturday night the newly formed pair won their first doubles title together .  Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares win Australian Open men s doubles title ? video highlights  I just think it s amazing that you ve got the two brothers sitting at No2 in the world , the  Davis Cup captain , Leon Smith , said . It s quite astonishing , particularly from the one family to be in that situation , from the one town . It s an incredible story , it has always been an incredible story , it just gets even more incredible when things like that happen . I just think it s astonishing .  For Smith the progress of Andy and Jamie must be even more startling . When Andy was 10 and Jamie 11 , Judy Murray employed Smith as an apprentice , teaching him the ropes as they travelled up and down the country in a van . Smith has the odd flashback when he witnesses the brothers success .  I think we always kind of talk to each other about it , said Smith , who led Britain to their first Davis Cup title since 1936 in November . We talked about it a lot in the Davis Cup , laughing , saying it was actually quite funny that we re walking out there in  tracksuits and you think back to what it was like 15 , 16 years ago .  They were so young . It s amazing ? you never take it for granted ? that journey they ve been on , the way that Judy influenced them all , me as well , the whole programme in Scotland . But it s good to keep reminding yourself about that as well .  Related : Novak Djokovic beats Andy Murray to win the 2016 Australian Open final  Jamie Murray in his victory speech recognised the role his family have played , in particular that of his wife Alejandra , who has enjoyed the highs but also had to put up with the lows .  Murray also singled out Cayer , the Canadian who is regarded as the best doubles coach in the world and who always believed the Scot had the talent to reach the top even if it took Murray time to buy into it .  All the work we ve done together has always been in a process with a view to getting to No1 , Murray said . Whether I believed I could do it I don t know , but he did . I just did what he told me . Almost there . Getting closer .  Smith said Murray deserves every success . The speech Jamie did was really nice , he said . I think that showed a man that s put his heart and soul into trying to get to that point , he s suffered some disappointments along the way , it was nice to see him get there .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
7568,7569,"Bernardino shooter Syed Rizwan Farook may have planned an earlier terrorist attack in California as far back as 2012 with a separate plotter , authorities have said .   reported that two officials said Farook had considered a target in the state but had got cold feet after a round of terror related arrests in the area .  There were no details of how far the plot had developed before it was abandoned or of the identity of his co conspirator .  However , the  on Wednesday added weight to the claims of early radicalisation , saying that Farook and his wife , Tashfeen Malik , had discussed jihad and martyrdom as early as 2013 , one year before they married .  Members of the media crowd into a child ' s room in Syed Farook and Tashfeen Malik s California home . Picture : Chris Carlson APSource :    Director James Comey told the Senate Judiciary Committee that investigators believe that Farook and Malik were radicalized even before they began their online relationship and that Malik held extremist views before she arrived in the  last year .  The disclosure means that Malik s radicalization had already begun when she applied for a visa to come to the  to get married , and that the government s vetting process apparently failed to detect it . Mr Comey said he didn t know enough to say whether weaknesses in the visa process enabled her to enter the  .  Meanwhile , the fate of the couple s daughter is in flux with authorities to decide if it is safe for her to remain with family members .  The girl , whose name is not being released , is in the custody of San Bernardino County Child Protective Services , blissfully unaware of the carnage and misery wrought by her parents last Wednesday . Although experts predicted the baby will not be raised by blood relatives , her aunt and uncle moved to gain custody at a Family Court hearing on Monday .  The family is naturally distraught at the separation and are eagerly awaiting to obtain custody of the 6 month old girl , Council on American Islamic Relations Los Angeles branch said in a statement .  Killers . . . Syed Farook and Tashfeen Malik . Picture : AFPSource :   The New York Post reports that the next hearing is set for January , and the baby will likely be placed with a foster family until then .  lawyer Fatima Dadabhy , who represented the family , said its priority is to ensure the baby is placed with a Muslim foster family .  The Monday hearing was closed to the public , said San Bernardino County spokesman David Wert , citing to confidentiality concerns .  The radical Muslim couple reportedly left the girl at their home with Farook s mother , Rafia Farook , last Wednesday , telling her they were headed to a doctor s appointment . Instead , they drove a rented  to the Inland Regional Centre , a state social services facility in nearby San Bernardino , where Farook s co workers were having a holiday party . Dressed in tactical gear and toting  15 assault rifles , they stormed the building and gunned down his co workers .  Months earlier , Farook s colleagues at the San Bernardino County Health Department had held a baby shower for the young couple .  Court battle . . . Farook s sister Saira Khan wants custody of the child . Picture :   NewsSource : Supplied  In the days following the attack , Farook s sister Saira Khan and her husband , Farhan Khan , expressed horror and shock at his actions . Farook and Saira Khan s mother , Rafia , who appeared in Family Court on Monday with Saira , has not spoken to the press but reportedly told authorities that ? despite living in the home with her son , daughter in law and baby granddaughter ? had no idea of the couple s radical orientation or murderous intentions .  Farhan Khan , who confirmed to FoxNewsweblink that the baby was not released to the family on Monday , said he and his wife have two children of their own . The couple told  News they know that shielding the baby from the knowledge of her parents unspeakable act will one day become impossible .  For the time being , we want her to enjoy her innocence , Saira Khan said . You know , we don t want her to know everything , but I think eventually she will find out probably on her own .  Access all areas . . . Members of the media crowd into a child s room in an apartment shared by San Bernardo shooting rampage suspects Syed Farook and his wife , Tashfeen Malik . Picture : APSource :   Investigators are believed to be dubious of claims of total ignorance by certain family members , and that scepticism could prompt a Family Court judge to decide it is in the best interests of the baby for her to not be raised by blood relatives , said California based criminal defence lawyer Troy Slaten .  Investigators will be closely looking at the grandmother and the rest of the family , Mr Slaten said , but the grandmother will be a particular target given that she resided with them and was probably at least aware of all the preparations they were making .  Family court advocates could use this during family court proceedings to push for custody outside the family circle , he said .  If there is any evidence of even tacit knowledge , involvement or participation , it would certainly give a Family Court judge concern over placing a child in that environment , Mr Slaten said .  Fellow lawyer David Wohl , who has 25 years working on family custody cases , said the idea that the family of terrorists knew nothing about their propensity toward jihad or their plans is absurd .  I doubt very much the child in question will be placed with the family members , he said , adding that thorough background checks and home evaluations are critical before any such placements can occur and that the process could take months as all relatives will need to be evaluated coinciding with the terrorist investigation and who knew what .  The scepticism among officials , locals and the media is growing given that weapons , a stockpile of bomb making materials and thousands of rounds of ammunition were discovered in the couple s home . Also under sharp and evolving scrutiny is that almost 28 , 500 deposited into Farook s bank account weeks before the lethal rampage ? and at least three 5000 transfers to Rafia Farook in the days leading up to the attack , in what a source described to Fox News as a key indicator of premeditation .  Sometimes there is the notion that a son can do no wrong and no one wants to think of their son as ever doing something like that , said a source connected to the Farook family . But more and more there are things that don t add up .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
7582,7583,"Reuters ) Pop singer Britney Spears is waiting to be bailed out of jail after being arrested Tuesday on charges of insurance fraud . Several international insurance companies are cooperating in the investigation against the 23 year old singer . It appears that not only did Britney Spears lie about pre existing injuries to her knee when she applied for insurance coverage , she also neglected to reveal that she had undergone a complete skin transplant to treat a raging acne condition , broke two wrists and a foot in a bar room brawl , and had three botched breast implant procedures . Worst of all , she failed to divulge that she was incapable of singing or dancing without the aid of cables and wires strung from above the stage .  According to the court papers , insurers are alleged to have refused to pay her claim because it was stated on insurance applications that Ms Spears had no pre existing injuries . The documents state that Ms Spears had in fact undergone "" minor orthopedic surgery "" on her left knee four years and 11 months before filling in the form .  Ms Spears ' lawyers refer to the "" failure to recall the injury "" as an "" innocent omission "" that was "" not material "" to the insurers ' decision to provide coverage .  Britney Spears was forced to cancel a whole season of touring after breaking both knees on a trip to the restroom . A team of investigators has as yet been unable to uncover the details of the mishap . "" We are going to get to the bottom of this , "" said New York Detective Andy Sipowicz . "" We got her in the pokey until her lawyers get here to make bail . She ' s one tough broad that Britney Spears . I gave her the yellow legal pad , but she ' s refusing to write a single word . I sent Bobby in there to work a number on her with the good cop ' routine .  Out on the street , hundreds of Britney Spears fans had to be controlled by a squad of riot police .  In London , a well placed man in the insurance industry known simply as "" Lloyd "" said , "" Britney Spears will never get any money from us . ""  ",satire,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,satire,satire,True,no,no,neutral,past
7589,7590,"Silverstone , England Formula One prides itself as the pinnacle of technical innovation and sports cars of the imagination but sometimes the sport needs bringing back down to earth .  So on Wednesday Pirelli showed F1 a possible back to basics vision of the future as it debuted a new 18 inch tire a size fitted to many everyday road cars on the final day of the Silverstone in season test .  The concept tire is five inches taller than the sport ' s current 13 "" wheel and has a lower profile which means it ' s comprised of a larger wheel rim and less rubber .  Lotus test driver Charles Pic trialled the new rubber at the high speed Silverstone circuit , the stage for Lewis Hamilton ' s British Grand Prix victory on Sunday .  A former Marussia and Caterham racer , Pic set a lap time of one minute , 44 . 728 seconds on the new tire nearly 10 seconds off the fastest lap set on 2014 rubber .  "" We weren ' t looking for performance , "" Pirelli motorsport director Paul Hembery told reporters . "" The priority today was to show people what a Formula 1 car would look like with a change in rim .  "" From what I ' ve seen and heard people seem to quite like the idea . Most people said it looked quite modern it didn ' t look strange . ""  Pirelli could roll out the new tires as early as 2016 .  Producing F1 tires , which are the same specification as road car tires , would make it easier to share technology , as well as to reap the commercial benefits of being able to sell its customers replica F1 rubber .  "" We don ' t actually make any 13 "" tires apart from for F1 and the GP2 and GP3 Series , "" explained Hembery .  "" The tire today looks more like the product we sell on a regular basis .  "" Our business is focused on large wheel diameters and 18 "" is almost standard for us , it ' s the sort of thing you get on a sporty road car .  "" Others might say there ' s less advertising space so there is a strange conundrum .  "" Our high end business is in wheels around 20 "" so that ' s the other discussion to have , should we be really going for a much bigger wheel ? Maybe F1 needs to do something more dramatic . ""  Assessing the tires after running on them for just 14 laps , Pic said : "" The overall grip was very low and ( the car ) was five or six seconds off the pace , mainly for the reason that all the aerodynamics and the rest of the car are made for the tire we are running now and not the 18 "" .  "" I think in the philosophy it will be a type of tire that will react quickly , so the reaction you get in the steering wheel is more nervous and each time you get a snap it ' s quicker .  "" If we go one day to this type of tire it will be a big challenge first for the team because they will have to build a completely new car around it and it will also be a challenge for the driver . ""  Pirelli took over from Bridgestone as F1 ' s official tire supplier in 2011 but a series of dangerous blowouts in 2013 left it reeling .  After making substantial changes to its rubber , Pirelli ' s contract was renewed until the end of the 2016 season .  A switch to a more standard 18 "" wheel might be an incentive for other tire manufacturers , such as Michelin , to consider a return to the sport .  But any tire change will have to be agreed by the sport ' s governing body , the  , its commercial rights holder Formula One Management and the teams .  The taller tires which are almost as high as the sidepods of the Lotus chassis will affect the aerodynamic flow , weight and suspension of the cars .  "" We know what 18 "" will mean it ' s a bigger challenge , "" Hembery continued .  "" There will be variations in pressure , there will be sensitivity on the car ' s camber and in F1 you go over the curbs a lot more so you do have an integrity challenge .  "" Today is a first step and it ' s in the hands of the sport to decide what they want to do . ""  After a major rule change , focused on new engine technology , for the 2014 season , the teams might be reluctant to embrace change again .  As one team official whispered in the Silverstone pit lane during Wednesday ' s test : "" Change is fear . ""  Hembery countered : "" Change is expensive , change is challenging and I ' m sure the team engineers will be scratching their heads going ' no , no , no . '  "" But others will be thinking maybe it is one of the aspects that needs to change in F1 to bring a different look and feel to the sport . ""  The  might look more favorably on a tire development that would bring the sport closer to road car technology .  This season ' s new engine regulations were partly designed to align F1 with the "" greener "" hybrid technology now seen as essential to the future of road cars .  The future of the multimillion dollar sport which now only has Mercedes and Ferrari as the two major car manufacturers running teams also relies on its road car relevance for its long term survival .  Could a change of tires be another step towards securing its future ?  It ' s all about the tires : Pirelli plan on hold  Pirelli comes out fighting over Formula One tire chaos  Mercedes and Pirelli face sanctions over F1 tire test  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
7605,7606,"Paris , France This week , France began deporting members of the Roma population as part of what it says is a crackdown on illegal immigration . It has put the focus back on the Roma , who remain widely misunderstood despite being one of Europe ' s largest minorities .  France begins controversial Roma expulsion  Who are the Roma ?  Roma , also called Gypsies or Romany , are a group of people marked by poverty who live mainly in southern and eastern Europe , though they live throughout the continent . They tend to live in camps , caravans , or informal settlements and have been persecuted throughout history .  Some are Christian and some are Muslim , having converted while migrating through Persia and the Balkans , according to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum .  Most Roma speak dialects of a language called Romani , which is based on Sanskrit , the classical language of India , the museum says . The language is largely unwritten , however , because of the high rates of illiteracy in most Roma communities , according to information from Minnesota State University .  Where did the Roma come from ?  Roma originated in the Punjab region of northern India as a nomadic people and entered Europe between the 8th and 10th centuries , according to the Holocaust museum . They were called Gypsies because Europeans mistakenly believed they came from Egypt .  Many Roma traditionally worked as craftsmen and were blacksmiths , cobblers , tinsmiths , horse dealers , and toolmakers , according to the museum . Others were performers like musicians , circus animal trainers , and dancers . By the 1920s , some were also working as shopkeepers or civil servants .  The number of nomadic Roma was on the decline in many places by the early 1900s , though many "" sedentary "" Roma often moved seasonally , depending on their occupations , the museum says .  Where did the Roma go in Europe ?  Roma were living in Spain , France , England , and large parts of what is today Russia and Eastern Europe by the late 1400s . They suffered persecution in those countries ranging from laws against their language and dress to expulsion , according to Minnesota State . In the beginning of the 15th century , many Roma were forced into slavery by Hungarian and Romanian nobles who needed laborers for their large estates , according to the university .  Roma suffered persecution during World War  . The Nazis judged Roma to be "" racially inferior , "" according to the Holocaust museum . "" Their fate in some ways paralleled that of the Jews , "" the museum said . The Nazis subjected Roma to internment , forced labor , and murder .  "" While exact figures or percentages cannot be ascertained , historians estimate that the Germans and their allies killed around 25 percent of all European Roma , "" the museum says . "" Of slightly less than 1 million Roma believed to have been living in Europe before the war , the Germans and their Axis partners killed up to 220 , 000 . ""  What is the situation for Roma in Europe today ?  Many Roma live on the edges of communities or are transient . They suffer massive discrimination throughout Europe , according to Amnesty International , and are often the victims of forced evictions , racist attacks and ill treatment by police , and are often denied their rights to housing , employment , health care and education .  In Slovakia , thousands of Roma children are placed in special schools and classes designed for pupils with "" mild mental disabilities "" or in ethnically segregated mainstream schools and classes that provide a substandard education , Amnesty says .  Human Rights Watch expressed concern last year about a wave of attacks on Roma in Kosovo , and the United Nations pointed to mounting racial violence in Russia in 2008 that targeted Roma and other ethnic and religious minorities .  In June 2009 , there was a series of attacks on Roma families in Northern Ireland , where the Roma had gone for work .  In Bosnia , Roma are barred from running for president or the upper chamber of Parliament .  The Budapest , Hungary based European Roma Rights Center sent a letter of concern to Danish authorities last month about the recent mass arrest and deportation of 23 Roma in Copenhagen . They said Danish officials , including the mayor of Copenhagen and the country ' s justice minister , had made comments blaming the Roma for crimes .  A U . N . report last year cited the cost of deprivation among the Roma . In Bulgaria , it said , their life expectancy is five to six years below the rest of the population and their infant mortality rate is six times the national average . In Hungary , infant mortality among the Roma is nearly four times the country ' s average , and in Romania it is two and a half times greater , according to the report .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
7637,7638,"Just hours before the final Democratic primary debate, Bernie Sanders has finally released his full healthcare plan.On his campaign site, Sanders lays out how important the Affordable Care Act has been. He notes that he, himself, helped contribute to the huge piece of legislation that helped to provide 17 million people with health insurance.But Sanders believes that it is time to move forward with a national healthcare system that provides coverage to all. He writes on his site: All Americans can benefit from increased protections against lifetime coverage limits and exclusion from coverage because of pre-existing conditions, Sanders says. But as we move forward, we must build upon the success of the  to achieve the goal of universal health care. Twenty-nine million Americans today still do not have health insurance and millions more are underinsured and cannot afford the high copayments and deductibles charged by private health insurance companies that put profits before people. There has been some controversy between Democrats this week relating to the issue of Sanders  proposal to implement a universal healthcare system in the United States. Concerns over how this program would be funded have been of particular interest to the public. Sanders lays that out in plain detail for all to read.Most of the health care plan receives its funding from new progressive taxes on the wealthiest Americans. Some people in the middle class might pay a tiny bit more in taxes. According to the campaign website,  A family of four making $50,000 a year taking the standard deduction would only pay $466 this year.  That small increase in taxes isn t anything to what a similar family would save under Sanders  plan. They would save around $5,000 dollars a year. Last year, the average working family paid $4,955 in premiums and $1,318 in deductibles to private health insurance companies. Under this plan, a family of four earning $50,000 would pay just $466 per year to the single-payer program, amounting to a savings of over $5,800 for that family each year,  the site reads.It long past time that the United States join every other industrialized nation in the world and implement a national single-payer healthcare system. That s what the  was presented as a stepping stone towards. Regardless of who is the eventual Democratic nominee, the fight for healthcare as a right need to be at the top of the Democratic platform. Democrats should not have to apologize for wanting to live in a nation where every person can get the healthcare they need.Should a better proposal than Sanders  be presented, it should be adopted. There may be some strategic advantages to wanted to expand the  very gradually, but we are talking about people s lives. But there are some big cracks in the ACA. Cracks that 29 million people have fallen through. It is time that we come together and demand that, no person deserves to be left behind.You can read a full break down of the plan here.Featured Image Credit: Phil Roeder via Flickr ",fake,dataset,test,US elections,Economy,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,present
7639,7640,"Ten things to know about the New England Patriots visiting the Denver Broncos in the  Championship Game on Sunday (  , 3 : 05 p . m .  ) , via  s Stats Information :  1 . With a victory , the Patriots would advance to play in their ninth Super Bowl , which would set an  record . The Patriots are tied with the Cowboys and Steelers , who each went to eight Super Bowls . Furthermore , quarterback Tom Brady would advance to play in his seventh Super Bowl , which also would be a record . He currently is tied with Mike Lodish for the most Super Bowl games played , with six .  2 . The combined age of Brady and Denver s Peyton Manning is 28 , 603 days ( 78 . 4 years ) , which is the highest ever combined age by opposing starting quarterbacks in a playoff game , according to Elias Sports Bureau research . The old record was 27 , 704 combined days ( 75 . 9 years ) , by John Elway and Dan Marino in the 1998  divisional round . Lastly , this will be the fifth meeting between Brady and Manning in the playoffs , which is the most by any two quarterbacks in  history . Brady leads the overall series , 11 5 .  The combination of Tom Brady and Peyton Manning is the oldest pair of quarterbacks ever to meet in the playoffs . ?  3 . Brady is 6 8 in his career against the Broncos ( including playoffs ) , making them the only team against whom Brady has a losing record . He s 0 2 on the road against them in the postseason , which includes the 2013  Championship Game against Manning .  4 . If the Patriots win , it will be Bill Belichick s seventh  championship as head coach , breaking a tie with Don Shula for the most conference titles by a coach in the Super Bowl era ( since 1966 ) .  5 . Manning is playing more under center upon his return from a foot injury . He was under center for 36 snaps last Sunday against the Steelers , which was eight more than in any other game this season . The Broncos have run the ball by design on 50 . 5 percent of plays in the past two games with Manning they had done so 36 . 5 percent of the plays with Manning during his first nine games this season .  6 . The Broncos rushed for 179 yards against the Patriots in Week 12 , which was the highest total given up by New England this season . All three of Denver s rushing touchdowns came outside of the tackles the Patriots gave up 90 rushing yards outside the tackles , which was the most they had allowed in a game over the past two seasons . Specifically , players spoke of defending the crack toss , when receivers block down to the inside part of the field .  View ESPNweblink ' s complete coverage of the 2016  playoffs , from the wild card round through Super Bowl 50 .  7 . Brady was timed getting rid of the ball in an average of 2 . 13 seconds in the divisional round against the Chiefs , which was especially quick and reflected how the offense was back in rhythm with the return of receiver Julian Edelman . Brady ' s average time before pass is considerably shorter when Edelman and tight end Rob Gronkowski are on the field when both are on the field , it s an average of 2 . 14 seconds . When either Edelman or Gronkowski are off the field , it spikes to 2 . 39 .  8 . In Sunday ' s win over the Steelers , Manning completed five of his 11 passes more than 10 yards downfield . His completion percentage has decreased on those throws in each of the past four seasons 56 . 7 percent in 2012 53 . 1 percent in 2013 50 percent in 2014 and 43 . 2 percent in 2015 .  10 . The Broncos led the  in sacks ( 52 ) during the regular season , while the Patriots ranked second ( 49 ) .  research notes that 35 of the Patriots 49 sacks came on the standard four man rush . The 49 sacks are the most for the Patriots under Bill Belichick ( 2000 present ) .  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
7648,7649,"Avram Grant admits he jumped into the deep end taking over Ghana just before the Africa Cup of Nations but after almost a month with his new players reckons he is getting on swimmingly .  The former Chelsea manager saw his team through to the quarter finals in Equatorial Guinea on Tuesday after a storming come from behind win against South Africa in their final group match in Mongomo , where a double substitution midway through the second half was followed by two goals in 10 minutes .  ' Having to learn every day about my team has not been easy but I think I now know enough about all of them , ' he said after the 2 1 victory ensured top spot in Group C and a quarter final in Malabo on Sunday .  Ghana defenders John Boye and Harrison Afful celebrate a 2 1 victory over South Africa at the   Former Stamford Bridge boss Avram Grant ( right ) celebrates after taking Ghana to the quarter finals  Former Sunderland striker Asamoah Gyan reacts to a missed opportunity during the game  ' The Nations Cup is nothing new to me . I ' ve been watching it all my life . Obviously being here is a little different to what I ' ve done before but I did a lot of research and preparation .  ' We had a good training camp and I ' ve had a chance to also see how the players react after losing and after wining . You saw how we bounced back after we lost our first match . '  Grant was under immediate pressure from a skeptical media and public after Ghana let a lead slip and lost to a last gasp goal against Senegal in their opening group game . But they beat Algeria and South Africa to advance .  Ghana , who have a rich history in the tournament , turned to Grant just one month before the finals having taken three months to replace Kwesi Appiah .  Ghana defender Boye races away after scoring in a 10 minute spell that changed the game  Andre Ayew ( left ) drops to his knees after scoring a late winner that assured Ghana top spot in Group C  The Israeli had a month to do his homework before pre tournament training started on New Year ' s Day in Accra , followed by a brief training camp in Spain with some scrimmages against European clubs .  He has tinkered with the team in each of his three games in charge but got it spot on on Tuesday as Ghana totally dominated the second half against South Africa to reach the last eight for a fifth successive tournament .  ' The game was in our hands . I ' m very happy for the players , they showed once again as they did in the previous game their spirit and the determination . We came through the Group of Death , ' Grant added .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
7654,7655,"A top drug lord has been gunned down in Mexico after two days of shootouts between armed forces and members of a criminal organization , a national security spokesman said Friday .  Nazario Moreno Gonzalez , also known as "" El Chayo "" or "" El Doctor "" was killed as part of an operation in the Mexican southwestern state of Michoacan , according to spokesman Alejandro Poire .  Poire also said that members of the federal police , army , air force and navy participated in the joint operation centered in the city of Apatzingan and the surrounding mountainous region .  Moreno was one of the main leaders and founders of the drug cartel known as "" La Familia Michoacana , "" according to Poire .  "" This drug cartel began operations under the name of ' La Empresa ' ( The Enterprise ) around the year 2000 and has terrorized the population in Michoacan ever since , not only trafficking and producing drugs , but also extorting , kidnapping , and murdering people , "" he said .  The national security spokesman said that five federal police officers and three civilians have died during the joint operation , still under way as of Friday afternoon . He also said that three members of La Familia were killed and three others have been captured .  "" During the retreat and escape of these criminals , they have been picking up those members of the criminal group who have been wounded and presumably died , "" said Poire , who said it is too soon to provide an accurate number of deaths and arrests .  "" It ' s time to intensify the pressure on this organization in order to diminish crime in the ( Michoacan ) region in an efficient and permanent way , "" said Poire . He said the Mexican government is sending more armed forces to the conflict zone .  La Familia ' s stronghold is in the state of Michoacan also the home state of Mexican President Felipe Calderon , who sent thousands of federal troops there after declaring a crackdown on cartels at the beginning of his presidency .  Gunfire from high powered weapons greeted police when the operation began Wednesday , Poire said . From there , the violence escalated .  Two minors were killed during the operation , when gunmen shot at civilian cars and later used the vehicles as barricades , Poire said Thursday . Nearby , suspected members of the cartel set trucks and buses ablaze on highways to block approaching federal police .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
7686,7687,"Most wanted : Warwick Spinks , a violent paedophile who was on the run for 15 years , has been arrested at Heathrow Airport after he was found in the Czech Republic  A violent paedophile who was on the run for 15 years has been found in the Czech Republic and arrested after a major international manhunt , a child protection unit has today confirmed .  Warwick Andrew Spinks , 48 , was arrested at Heathrow Airport after he was tracked down by officers from the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre ( Ceop ) .  The 48 year old had used various aliases while on the run , including Willem Van Wijk and William Spinks .  His horrifying back catalogue of abuse led to his nickname ' the Pied Piper of Paedophiles ' after he bragged he could arrange sex with young boys for as little as 10p .  He was convicted in 1995 of a series of sexual offences against boys , including serious sexual assault at knifepoint , taking a child without lawful authority and taking indecent images of children .  He was jailed for seven years but this was reduced to a five year term on appeal .  In 1997 , while on release on licence , Spinks went missing and fled the  .  He now faces serving the remaining 18 months of his sentence .  Ceop chief executive Peter Davies said : ' Ceop officers , in conjunction with officers at the Metropolitan Police Service and Soca ( Serious Organised Crime Agency ) , have worked tirelessly over a number of years to locate and trace a high risk child sexual offender , who believed he could avoid being managed in the  by travelling overseas .  Then and now : Abuser was first investigated in  1992 ( left ) after police suspected he had links with paedophile rings  in the  and Europe . Spinks ( pictured right ) after his arrest on Friday  Finally caught : Spinks , 48 , was arrested at Heathrow Airport after he was tracked down by officers from the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre ( Ceop )  ' I hope this arrest sends a clear message to other missing child sexual offenders that however far you travel to avoid facing the consequences of your actions , we will track you down and bring you to justice . '  The abuser was first investigated in 1992 , after police suspected he had links with paedophile rings in the  and Europe .  He acted as a ' fixer ' in Amsterdam , the Sunday People reports , where he introduced sex tourists looking for underage boys .  He told undercover officers from the Metropolitan and Dutch police he could pick up young boys from German , Prague and Poland for as little as 10p .  He was also caught on secret camera offering to supply a video in which a 10 year old boy was killed and one featuring the horrific abuse of a young boy .  When Spinks was sentenced in 1995 at Lewes Crown Court for a string of offences against under age boys , the court heard how he drugged a 14 year old boy and ' sold him ' to a gay brothel in Amsterdam .  Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article .  ",true,text,test,American football,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
7709,7710,"Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange .  Check out which companies are making headlines before the bell :  Diamond Foods ? The snack maker will be bought by rival Snyder ' s Lance for 1 . 27 billion in cash and stock . Diamond shareholders will get 12 . 50 per share in cash , and 0 . 775 shares of Snyder ' s for every share they now hold .  Anthem ? The health insurer earned an adjusted 2 . 73 per share for the third quarter , 40 cents above estimates , while revenue beat forecasts , as well . Anthem ' s results were helped by increased enrollment in its commercial and government business segments .  Generac ? The maker of generators earned 92 cents per share for its latest quarter , 13 cents above estimates , and revenue was well above analysts ' forecasts . However , Generac did cut its full year outlook , citing fewer than expected power outages and the impact of lower energy prices on certain mobile products .  Hilton Worldwide ? The hotel chain matched Street forecasts with adjusted quarterly profit of 23 cents per share . Hilton did beat on the top line , however , and raised its earnings outlook for the full year . Hilton said demand is especially strong in the United States , where it is substantially outstripping supply .  Starwood Hotels ? Starwood reported adjusted quarterly profit of 74 cents per share , 2 cents above estimates , with revenue essentially in line . Separately , Starwood announced the sale of its vacation ownership unit to Interval Leisure Group . The sale of the unit ? valued at about 1 . 5 billion ? will take place after it is spun off by Starwood .  Northrop Grumman ? The defense contractor won an Air Force contract to build the next generation long range bomber , which could have an ultimate value of up to 80 billion . Separately , the company reported adjusted quarterly profit of 2 . 41 per share , well above estimates of 2 . 19 . Revenue was also above forecasts , and Northrop Grumman also increased its full year guidance .  Hershey ? The chocolate and candy maker earned an adjusted 1 . 17 per share for its latest quarter , 4 cents above estimates , with revenue essentially in line . Hershey said its U . S . sales were less than expected , but it did benefit from expanded profit margins . The company also noted an unfavorable impact from the stronger U . S . dollar .  Rite Aid ? The drug store chain agreed to be bought by Walgreens for 9 . 4 billion , or 9 per share in cash . Rite Aid stock had risen during the regular trading day Tuesday after Dow Jones reported that the two sides were in talks .  Walgreens Boots Alliance ? In addition to the Rite Aid deal , Walgreens also announced quarterly profit of 88 cents per share , 7 cents above estimates , with revenue also beating forecasts .  Boston Scientific ? The medical device maker came in 1 cent above analysts ' estimates with quarterly profit of 24 cents per share . Revenue also beat forecasts , but current quarter guidance is below Street consensus . The company did say it is benefiting from both new product introductions and investments in various companies .  Apple ? Apple reported quarterly profit of 1 . 96 per share , 8 cents above estimates , with revenue slightly above forecasts . Apple sold more than 48 million iPhones during the quarter and nearly doubled its China sales , but it did issue conservative current quarter revenue guidance .  Twitter ? Twitter beat estimates by 5 cents with adjusted quarterly profit of 10 cents per share , and revenue also scored a beat , but the stock is under pressure because of a tepid current quarter revenue forecast .  Gilead Sciences ? Gilead earned an adjusted 3 . 22 per share for its latest quarter , beating estimates of 2 . 87 , while revenue was also well above estimates . However , the drug maker ' s hepatitis C treatments saw flat sales as health insurers show more reluctance to pay for the relatively expensive drugs .  Akamai Technologies ? Akamai beat estimates by 5 cents with adjusted quarterly profit of 62 cents per share , while revenue came in slightly ahead of Street forecasts . The Internet technology provider also gave a current quarter earnings and revenue outlook that fell short of analysts ' projections , however , because of the strong U . S . dollar and slower online traffic growth .  Anadarko Petroleum ? Anadarko lost 72 cents per share for the third quarter , 1 cent smaller than expected , while revenue fell short of estimates . The oil and natural gas producer , like its rivals , is suffering the effects of lower oil prices .  Express Scripts ? The company came in 1 cent above estimates with adjusted quarterly profit of 1 . 45 per share , but revenue was shy of estimates for the pharmacy benefits manager . The company did increase its earnings guidance for the full year .  Hewlett Packard ? Following the split of Hewlett Packard into two separate companies , Hewlett Packard Enterprise and  Inc . will both be added to the S P 500 , while Hudson City Bancorp will be taken out of the index .  Domino ' s Pizza ? The pizza chain announced an 800 million share repurchase program , replacing a previous 200 million authorization .  Panera Bread ? Panera reported adjusted quarterly profit of 1 . 32 per share , a penny above estimates , with the restaurant chain ' s revenue falling shy of analyst forecasts . Panera ' s sales did improve from a year earlier , but it spent more on hiring , equipment , and technology .  Sony ? Sony will buy Toshiba ' s image sensor business for a reported 166 million .   ?  is near an agreement to buy the digital assets of Weather Channel parent Weather Co . , in a deal that could be valued at more than 2 billion . Re code had first reported the talks last week .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
7739,7740,"“Clueless Gamer,” one of Conan O’Brien’s most popular   segments, has been picked up by  as a series all its own. [The Turner Broadcasting System will build on the popularity of Conan O’Brien’s forays into the world of video games, creating a standalone show out of a segment that’s been a solid viewer favorite since it transitioned from a web series to the nightly show in 2012.  Conan typically sits on a couch with various celebrity guests and   pokes fun at whatever they’re playing. Thus far, Grand Theft Auto V, Halo 5: Guardians, Fallout 4, Mario Kart 8, DOOM, Final Fantasy XV, and Battlefield 1 have all been featured on Clueless Gamer, among many others.  There’s just one little change: Conan won’t be on the couch anymore. While O’Brien will serve as an executive producer, the   will feature a new,   unannounced host.  president Kevin Reilly told The Hollywood Reporter that the segment has become popular enough that “we’ve gotten to the point where video game companies are sending us their new product for us to play and make fun of because it’s been such a huge success. ” They’re pinning a lot on the hope that the viral popularity of the segment will survive transport into independent programming, and without the snarky wit of its creator. Follow Nate Church @Get2Church on Twitter for the latest news in gaming and technology, and snarky opinions on both.",true,news,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
7747,7748,"2013 will be a year of harsh change for the tech industry . We ' ve just experienced five years of rapid , messy and disruptive innovation , and smartphones and tablets aren ' t the future any longer they ' re the present .  Powerful mobile devices connected to broadband speed cell networks are now an everyday reality , and it ' s going to take more than a bigger screen or faster processor to make an impact this year . Think of 2013 as the year of refinement and reckoning .  Here are five big developments to keep an eye on :  1 . The future of Microsoft  Microsoft has been very candid about "" missing a generation "" of mobile innovation after Apple introduced the iPhone , and 2012 was all about the results of a furious catch up effort : the company launched the completely rethought Windows 8 for PCs , Windows  for tablets and Windows Phone 8 for smartphones .  Steve Ballmer also repositioned Microsoft as a "" devices and services "" company , and he introduced the Surface and Surface Pro , two tablets designed by Microsoft itself to compete with traditional  companies such as Dell and Sony .  That ' s a lot of bold bets , and they all have to pay off in 2013 . The  era is over , and Microsoft has to show consumers it has something to offer in a world dominated by tablets and smartphones . Windows 8 and Surface sales appear to have been slow so far , so we ' ll see how the company does . There is one all but guaranteed bright spot , though : a new Xbox is due to be announced this year .  Top tech wishes for 2013  2 . Can Apple get its software mojo back ?  Apple found success in 2012 by introducing an iPhone with a bigger screen and an iPad with a smaller screen , but it ' ll have to focus on software in 2013 to stay ahead of the competition .  Apple  Tim Cook has now launched two iPhones since taking over for Steve Jobs , and both of them have come with buggy , incomplete flagship software features the iPhone 4S launched with the charming but not so useful Siri voice assistant , and the iPhone 5 launched with a homegrown Maps app so buggy that Cook was forced to apologize to customers .  In the meantime , archrival Google has begun shipping some of the best iPhone apps around I ' ve replaced most of Apple ' s apps on my iPhone homescreen with Google built replacements such as Gmail , Google Maps , Chrome and YouTube . Most of my peers in the industry have done the same . That ' s not a good sign .  Cook just fired Scott Forstall , the controversial head of iOS development who presided over Siri and Maps . Designer Jony Ive is now in charge of both hardware and software , so we ' ll see if the company can regain its reputation for state of the art software design with the next iPhone and iPad .  3 . Will Amazon go head to head with Apple and Google ?  Amazon  Jeff Bezos was very blunt when he introduced the new Kindle Fire  in September he called it the "" best tablet on the market . "" That was an obvious shot at Apple and the iPad , but Amazon ' s real competitor may well be Google , especially as the market for books , music and movies moves entirely online .  There ' s no way Amazon wants people searching Google to find content and products from multiple sources . Amazon wants to build an ecosystem so robust you never want to leave . Think of what Apple did for music with the iPod and iTunes and then imagine Amazon doing that for everything .  But the Kindle Fire products aren ' t good enough to compete with the iPad yet , and Amazon doesn ' t have all the services it needs to compete with Google either . It needs to offer at least e mail and search , and a social experience wouldn ' t hurt either . That ' s not a small undertaking , but Amazon is one of the few companies with the scale , infrastructure and resources to make it happen . The rumors are getting louder . We ' ll see whether Amazon makes a big move in 2013 .  4 . Can Facebook grow up ?  2013 will be Facebook ' s first year as a public company , and it has to prove that it can be a stable , reliable investment . That ' s no easy task : Facebook figured out how to make money selling ads on its website just as most of its users switched to smartphone and tablet apps .  Selling ads on mobile isn ' t nearly as easy , and Facebook has to figure out how to display relevant ads to smartphone users without crossing the privacy line a line about which users are increasingly worried . But  Mark Zuckerberg has to answer to his investors now , and the pressure to cross that line will increase every day that Facebook isn ' t making money in mobile .  5 . Can Google take Android back from Samsung and the wireless carriers ?  Here ' s the brutal truth of the smartphone market : the only companies that make any money are Apple and Samsung . Every other company , from  to Sony to Google ' s own Motorola , is struggling . And that ' s a huge problem for Google .  Apple obviously writes its own software for the iPhone , but Samsung ' s phones all run a customized version of Google ' s open source Android , and Samsung is so dominant that it could very well split off and start building its own version of Android , just as Amazon did with the Kindle Fire . That would be a huge blow to Google . If the rest of the market can ' t make money using Android soon , it ' ll provide a big opening for Microsoft .  Google also has to find a way to limit the influence of wireless carriers on Android . Companies such as  T and Verizon are all too happy to load up Android devices with unnecessary crapware and bloatware that ruin the user experience while delaying important software updates .  The animosity between Google and the carriers has gotten so deep that Google ' s new Nexus 4 flagship device doesn ' t have an  radio the carriers simply wouldn ' t cooperate .  That ' s in stark contrast to the iPhone experience , which is pristine and controlled by Apple from the start . It ' s a control that irritates power users but offers a sense of support and security to the rest of Apple ' s millions of customers . There ' s a happy balance between the two extremes , and Google needs to find it before Android begins to slip away entirely .  These are just five of the many interesting things to look out for in 2013 , from the future of  to the rise of wearable computing . After several years of rapid change , we ' ve all got computers in our pockets . The next few years will be about what we do with them to make our lives better .  The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Nilay Patel .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
7751,7752,"Dutch authorities have arrested 12 men of Somali origin they believe were about to carry out a terrorist attack , authorities said Saturday .  No weapons or explosives were found , he said . The suspects are in police custody .  "" The attack was said to be imminent so the national police started an investigation which led to the arrest of 12 Somalis later on Friday in Rotterdam , "" de Bruin said . "" We are not sure about what the target was , how they were going to carry out the attack or when . ""  A Dutch counterterrorism office spokeswoman said the immediate threat to the country has been removed and the terror alert level will remain "" limited , "" or relatively low .  "" We are now following the information that comes out of the interrogations with these 12 individuals to see if there still remains a threat from this plot , "" said Judith Sluiter of the National Coordinator for Counterterrorism .  The men , between ages 19 and 48 , were arrested in various locations . Police have searched a pawn shop , four homes and two hotel rooms , de Bruin said .  Six of the suspects live in Rotterdam and one is from Denmark . Some are Dutch citizens . They all are of Somali origin , de Bruin said .  A spokesman for the Danish Security Service said authorities are in "" close contact "" with Dutch police .  War torn Somalia has a virtually powerless central government and is home to several militant groups , including Al Shabaab , which controls much of the country  Al Shabaab has claimed responsibility for several attacks , including a series of bombs that tore through an Ethiopian restaurant and a rugby center in the Ugandan capital of Kampala . Officials said the July 11 blasts , which killed 79 people , were probably set off by suicide bombers .  The United States this year charged several people with trying to funnel money or otherwise assist Somali extremists . Al Shabaab has been linked to al Qaeda .  Somali President Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed in September asked other countries to train Somalia ' s forces to help counter militant groups .  The Netherlands is concerned about threats to Western countries , including itself , said Sluiter . She made a reference to the recent suicide bombing in Stockholm , Sweden .  A 2009 Dutch intelligence report indicated a decreased threat from domestic militant networks .  Domestic militants were becoming more focused on jihad outside the Netherlands , the report said . But it did say the country was seeing more jihadist threats from Somalia and Yemen .  The report noted several cases of Dutch citizens trying to travel to Somalia to join Al Shabaab , including four arrested in 2009 in Kenya .  The arrests in the Netherlands followed an unrelated sweep a few days before in the United Kingdom .  An operation Monday led by the British intelligence service , MI5 , resulted in arrests of 12 suspects ranging in age from 17 to 28 in the cities of London , Stoke and Birmingham , England , as well as Cardiff , Wales .  A senior British official not authorized to speak on the record said the suspects were arrested on suspicion of "" preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism in the  , "" but he also said the suspects were "" aspirational "" rather than equipped and "" ready to go . ""  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
7753,7754,"Exhausted but satisfied leaders from both parties came together Tuesday night to announce that Congress had successfully completed 12 solid hours of nonstop gridlocking , once again going above and beyond to needlessly prevent the nation from moving forward .  In a marathon session that lawmakers proudly called "" one of their least productive ever , "" each of the 535 members of the House and Senate gridlocked deep into the night to ensure that no bipartisan compromise could be reached , no laws intended to aid the American people could be passed , and no sense of national unity or progress could possibly be achieved .  "" There is nothing more satisfying than knowing you ' ve just put in a full day of bringing our nation ' s legislative branch to a complete standstill , "" said House Speaker John Boehner , who like the vast majority of his colleagues worked without break throughout the day and night fostering political disharmony and rejecting the passage of crucial legislation . "" We got a lot of good , quality gridlocking done today . We gridlocked efficiently , we gridlocked passionately , and we gridlocked as best we could for the American people . Now we go home , rest up , and get ready for another full day of gridlocking tomorrow . ""  "" It ' s a great feeling , "" Boehner added . "" Today , everyone realized what it is we ' re here to do , and that ' s put a wrench right into the machinery of democracy . ""  According to Capitol sources , the impassioned gridlocking session was one of the most demanding in recent memory , requiring each and every member of Congress to work in total cooperation to frustrate one another ' s political agendas , and even requiring a number of dedicated lawmakers to stall as many as seven different bills at once .  Legislative leaders said they were enormously pleased with the sustained intensity of gridlocking Tuesday , especially considering the fact that , as early as last week , a number of laws under consideration were thought to have stood a decent chance of being passed .  "" I wasn ' t sure at first if I would have the stamina to not advance a single item on my docket , but my constituents expect me to get in there , roll up my sleeves , and grind things to a halt , so that ' s exactly what I did , "" said Sen . Joe Manchin ( D  ) , who claimed to have gridlocked straight through his lunch hour , despite protestations from concerned aides . "" I think a lot of people out there may not realize just how much gridlocking we do here in Congress . They think we just sit around passing bills and turning the wheels of progress all day . Well , let me tell you , nothing could be further from the truth . We got some great gridlockers here , in both parties , many of whom have been thwarting our democracy for decades . ""  "" This place is like a perfectly un oiled machine , "" Manchin added . "" We don ' t rest until absolutely nothing has been accomplished . ""  According to Boehner , Thursday ' s "" spectacular display of inaction "" was nearly derailed when Sens . John McCain ( R  ) and Bill Nelson ( D  ) briefly attempted to pass crucial and long delayed campaign finance reform , but key committee members acted quickly to weigh the bill down with needless riders before shuttling it off toward a certain death on the floor .  At another point , congressional sources reported , the rate of gridlocking was so intense that the passage of a resolution honoring Southern Sudan ' s recent independence as well as a bill mandating improved  safety regulations were blocked simultaneously in an astonishing 51 second period of time .  While pleased with their failure to do anything even close to what they were elected to do , the men and women of the United States Congress announced after Tuesday ' s session that it wasn ' t praise or recognition they sought , but merely the knowledge that they had done everything in their power to confirm every American ' s worst suspicions about the country ' s legislative system .  "" My reward is the feeling I get when I arrive home at the end of the day , look my family in the eyes , and say , ' We didn ' t do it , ' "" a smiling Sen . Lindsey Graham ( R  ) said . "" That ' s what really matters to me . Obviously we ' re not always going to agree on everything in Congress . But something that every single one of us , to a person , can agree on is that when there is important gridlocking to be done , then it ' s time to set aside the hopes and dreams of the American people and focus on what really matters : our own blind self interest . ""  In response to the 112th Congress ' s solid showing of utter nothingness , President Obama issued a brief statement in recognition of the day ' s gridlocking .  "" Congress truly lived up to its reputation today , "" read the president ' s statement . "" This is exactly the kind of performance we have come to expect from our leaders in the House and Senate , and I for one am confident that we ' ll be seeing much , much more of it in the future . ""  ",satire,text,test,World conflict,US elections,true,satire,True,no,no,negative,past
7765,7766,"Home ›  ›   “    EMAILS”      WEINER’S    “    EMAILS”      WEINER’S  5   [10/29/16] With furious Democrats – and the Clinton Campaign – now openly blasting the FBI’s reopened investigation (as Republicans take delight for once in having a government agency reinforce their side of events), the question turns to just what emails were found on Weiner’s laptop, and how damaging their contents are for the  to take the unprecedented step of “intervening” in a major political event just days before the national election.  We first laid what was the most likely explanation yesterday , when we showed several examples of Huma Abedin emails being sent from her work email account to her personal account at , courtesy of a Judicial Watch  release. Of the more than 160 emails in the latest Judicial Watch release, some 110 emails – two-thirds of the total – were forwarded by Abedin to two personal addresses she controlled. The Washington Times reported in August 2015 that the State Department had admitted to a federal judge that Abedin and Mills used personal email accounts to conduct government business in addition to Clinton’s privateweblink to transact State Department business.  One email from May 15, 2009, was sent by Abedin from her State Department email to her personal email. Abedin was archiving in her personal email account an email Hillary Clinton sent her from Clinton’s private email server at . Abedin was asked to print out attachments to an email Mills sent via a private address the previous day to Clinton involving “timetables and deliverables” for her review via Alec Ross, a technology policy expert who then held the title of senior adviser for innovation to Secretary Clinton. However, while forwarding Hillary’s emails to her personal email server for “convenience” is one thing, what is more troubling is the amount of redaction involved in these emails which migrated to the open email account, which as we now know ended up in Anthony Weiner’s computer: in the above example, the two pages of timetables and deliverables attached to the email were 100 percent redacted, with “ DENIED” stamped across the first redacted page.  An argument can be made that the extensive redaction confirms confidential material was part of the transmission.  This is a nuanced point being pushed by Hillary Clinton supporters such as Newsweek’s Kurt Eichenwald, who in an article yesterday tried to make a case citing “sources” (even though the  said that nobody has seen the content of the Weiner/Abedin emails), that “ no emails being examined by  were to or from Clinton .” Post navigation",fake,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
7777,7778,"Champion trainer Paul Nicholls has said he accepts things will not always run smoothly as young stable jockey Sam Twiston Davies beds into his first season in the high profile role .  The 21 year old came in for some criticism after favourite Zarkandar hit the front in the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday but was ultimately beaten a head by the rallying Reve De Sivola , who was winning the race for the third year .  There was an irony in the outcome as the winner was ridden by Daryl Jacob , who operated as Nicholls ' main jockey last season .  Paul Nicholls has called for patience around jockey Sam Twiston Davies  Twiston Davies was beaten tiding Zarkandar in the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot on Saturday  The win was Jacob ' s most important since deciding to go freelance rather than revert to the No 2 jockey job he had previously held behind former Nicholls ' stable jockey Ruby Walsh .  Nicholls said : ' If Sam rode Zarkandar again , he would do things differently . It is the first time he has ridden him in that situation and you never stop learning . It won ' t be happening next time .  ' He hasn ' t got that much experience riding in those very big races . When you appoint a young jockey you have to accept these things . He is a good lad .  ' We are all competitive and don ' t like giving races away but he will learn from it . Ruby made plenty of mistakes when he was riding .  ' Sometimes these talented horses aren ' t straightforward . Zarkandar wants a more competitive field where he can get a bit of cover . He is a monkey but a very talented monkey . '  Zarkandar will now be freshened up for the Cheltenham Festival .  Nicholls added : ' He will not run before the World Hurdle . That is the only race I am aiming him at . '  Zarkandar is 12 1 for the World Hurdle with sponsors Ladbrokes . The Jonjo O ' Neill trained 7 2 favourite and last season ' s winner More Of That could run in February after undergoing a breathing operation in the aftermath of his disappointing comeback third in Newbury ' s Long Distance Hurdle .  Daryl Jacob ( left ) took Reve De Sivola to victory ahead of Zarkandar at Ascot on Saturday  Jacob was the main jockey under Nicholls last season , before Twiston Davies had the role  Meanwhile , Nicholls has three of the 10 possibles for the William Hill King George at Kempton on Boxing Day with Twiston Davies on Al Ferof and Noel Fehily on favourite and his 2013 winner Silviniaco Conti .  If the going continues to dry , they could be joined by Wonderful Charm ( Nick Scholfield ) .  Jamie Moore says he hopes to be fit to ride Nigel Twiston Davies ' Double Ross . Moore has not ridden since a fall on No Buts in the big handicap chase at Cheltenham on December 13 .  Moore said : ' I have had a history of shoulder problems and I pulled some muscles . I have been having physio and fingers crossed I will be there . '  The six horses who could oppose unbeaten Champion Hurdle favourite Faugheen in the Christmas Hurdle on Boxing Day include Irving , Elite Hurdle winner Purple Bay , A Sign Of A Victory and Sgt Reckless .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
7782,7783,"Manning , Newton Interviews To Be Featured On    ?   Filed Under : Carolina Panthers , Denver Broncos , Jim Nantz ,  , Phil Simms , Super Bowl 50   ,   12 : ( L R ) Host of     James Brown and Analyst Super Bowl 50 Phil Simms speak onstage during the '  Sports ' panel discussion at the  ShowtimeTelevision Group portion of the 2015 Winter  Tour at the Langham Huntington Hotel on January 12 , 2016 in Pasadena , California . ( Photo by Frederick M . Brown Getty Images )  On Sunday , Feb . 7 , 2016 , the Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos will be battling it out to take home the Lombardi Trophy in Super Bowl 50 , but there is a lot more to it . This golden game is a landmark moment for sports and will go down in history as one of the most iconic moments in football .  Everyone hopes that the game will be as competitive and exciting as they re anticipating it to be , and the Broncos and Panthers are surely going to compete to their fullest .  Sports is going to make sure that fans will have no shortage of great shows , talent , and analysis leading up to and on the big day itself .  Jim Nantz Phil Simms , Lead Super Bowl Announce Team  Jim Nantz will be making history when he calls Super Bowl 50 with New York Giants great Phil Simms . It took a moment for him to realize it , but Nantz calling Super Bowl 50 is one for the record books , as he has also called the 50th Masters tournament and was part of the call on the 50th  Final Four .  Phil Simms knows that the teams are evenly matched and that the coaches have their own talents and skills . ? We ve seen the teams , we know what they are about , said Simms . Ron Rivera has an emotional football team and his decision making can sometimes go along those lines . Gary Kubiak his team is tough , controls tempo of the game , and if all goes the way they want , that s how they d like to see the Super Bowl go .   Sports is bringing a pre game show to Super Bowl Sunday that is sure to stand out from those in the past .      features an incredible roundtable of football knowledge for the pre game show , which will be led by the one and only James Brown , and he ll be joined by Coach Bill Cowher , Tony Gonzalez , Bart Scott and Boomer Esiason . They will evaluate both teams and detail their thoughts on who has the advantages and disadvantages in the game .  One of the most intriguing pieces that will be coming during the pre game show was unveiled by Sean McManus , Chairman ,  Sports , and it has to do with the six living men who have called previous Super Bowls . It s quite the list : Jim Nantz , Jack Whitaker , Joe Buck , Dick Enberg , Greg Gumbel and Al Michaels . Learn the history and valor of one of the biggest games in sports as they reveal what it s like to call all of the action time and time again .   Sports     pre game show kicks off at 2  ,  live from Santa Clara , Calif . and will include in depth interviews with Peyton Manning and Cam Newton , and so much more .   Sports broadcasts Super Bowl 50 on Sunday , Feb . 7 ( 6 : 30  ,  ) , live from Levi s Stadium in Santa Clara , Calif . , as the Denver Broncos take on the Carolina Panthers . Nantz and Simms call the action , along with Tracy Wolfson and Evan Washburn reporting .  Danny Cox knows a little something about the  , whether it means letting you know what penalty will come from the flag just thrown on the field or quickly spouting off who the Chicago Bears drafted in the first round of the 1987 draft ( Jim Harbaugh ) . He plans on bringing you the best news , previews , recaps , and anything else that may come along with the exciting world of the National Football League . Danny is a freelance writer covering all things  . His work can be found on Examinerweblink .  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
7784,7785,"Reuters) - Two key U.S. senators on Monday asked Equifax Inc (EFX.N) to answer detailed questions about a breach of information affecting up to 143 million Americans, including whether U.S. government agency records were compromised in the hack. Senator Orrin Hatch, who chairs the Finance Committee, and ranking Democrat Ron Wyden, also demanded that Equifax Chief Executive Rick Smith provide a timeline of the breach and its discovery. They asked for information on when authorities and the company’s board were notified and when three executives who sold stock in the company in August were first told of the data breach.  Equifax did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the letter. It came amid mounting scrutiny of the company’s response to the breach from lawmakers, regulators and security experts, prompting the credit-monitoring services to issue an apology on Friday and pledge to dedicate more resources to helping affected consumers. “The scope and scale of this breach appears to make it one of the largest on record, and the sensitivity of the information compromised may make it the most costly to taxpayers and consumers,” the letter said. Equifax announced last week that it learned on July 29 that hackers had infiltrated its systems in mid-May, pilfering names, birthdays, addresses and Social Security and driver’s license numbers. Cyber security experts said it was among the largest data hacks ever recorded and was particularly troubling due to the richness of the information exposed. Three days after Equifax discovered the breach, three top Equifax executives, including Chief Financial Officer John Gamble and a president of a unit, sold Equifax shares or exercised options to dispose of stock worth about $1.8 million, regulatory filings show. Equifax said in a statement last week that the executives were not aware that an intrusion had occurred when they sold their shares. Hatch and Wyden asked Smith to respond by Sept. 28. Other congressional committees have announced plans to hold hearings investigating the Equifax breach and want answers. The senators want to know if Equifax has a chief information security officer and over the past two years “how many times has Equifax employed third-party cyber security experts to conduct penetration tests of its internal and external systems?” The senators want copies of all Equifax penetration test and audit reports by outside cyber security firms. Separately, a group of 20 Democratic senators asked Equifax to end its use of forced arbitration agreements, which limit the ability of consumers to pursue claims, and not to lobby to reverse a new rule from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to limit the use of forced arbitration in the financial services sector. ",true,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
7786,7787,"Reuters) - New Zealand s two main parties are neck and neck in opinion polls after the appointment of a charismatic leader boosted the opposition Labour Party, threatening the governing National Party s decade-long hold on power. The election is on Sept 23. Below are the main parties  positions on key issues: ECONOMYNew Zealand s once booming economy is facing some capacity constraints. Unemployment is at an eight-year low and a labor shortage, most noticeably in construction, threatens to curb growth. Both main parties plan to be fiscally prudent and maintain a budget surplus, but would differ on monetary policy. National plans to cut net debt to 10-15 percent of  by 2025, while Labour and the Green Party both plan to cut it to 20 percent of  within five years of taking office. Labour proposes adding full employment to the existing inflation mandate of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, which economists say could lead to easier monetary policy and fuel longer-term inflation. To form a government, National may be more dependent on New Zealand First, which favors greater currency intervention - something New Zealand has been reluctant to do in the past. National is planning to adjust tax thresholds, or effectively deliver tax cuts, from April 2018 to boost family income. Labour wants to do away with National s planned tax cuts and boost tax credits and subsidies. New Zealand s house prices have risen more than 50 percent in the past decade as the construction industry failed to keep up with demand from a growing population, fueled by record migration and an increasing number of New Zealanders staying home. Labour criticizes National for leaving the housing crisis unresolved after nine years in government. It wants to ban overseas buyers from purchasing existing homes and build 100,000 affordable homes over 10 years. It also plans to create a housing authority to speed up residential development. National questions Labour s ability to build so many houses while curbing immigration. It plans to make NZ$1 billion available to speed up the development of 60,000 houses. New Zealand First wants to ban foreign non-residents from owning a home in New Zealand, except in particular cases, and to  provide government assistance for first-home buyers. The Green Party wants to provide 10,000 new houses over 10 years for low-income groups through a rent-to-buy scheme. The National Party tightened eligibility criteria this year for immigration and believes current levels of immigration are about right to meet the economy s needs. Labour plans to reduce net immigration by up to 30,000 from record levels of over 70,000 annually and to charge every visitor a NZ$25 fee, which would be ring-fenced for a NZ$75 million infrastructure fund. The Greens want to review immigration policy to make sure migrants match the skills employers need, in line with Labour s policy. New Zealand First wants to curb immigration by ensuring New Zealand workers have the first chance at jobs and by capping the number of older migrants. National wants to expand New Zealand s international trade. Among other plans, it wants to complete the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, launch a free trade deal with the European Union and Britain post-Brexit and upgrade its free trade agreement with China. Labour wants to reconsider New Zealand s role in the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact if provisions on foreign investment are not changed to allow the New Zealand government to restrict investment into the country. New Zealand First wants to renegotiate the TPP. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
7789,7790,"It can easily be said that Donald Trump has absolutely no idea what he is doing in regards to policy both domestic and foreign. He s a blundering fool who belongs nowhere near the Oval Office, and maybe he knows this considering how much time he spends away from it at his resorts.While many are commenting on the order given by Trump to deliver airstrikes on a Syrian airbase, one person who knows probably more than anyone about geopolitics weighed in with their opinion. That person is former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.Clinton actually agreed that action needed to be taken and hours before Trump gave the order, she suggested hitting Syrian airfields. She said: I really believe that we should have and still should take out his air fields and prevent him from being able to use them to bomb innocent people and drop sarin gas on them. However, Trump s strikes were ineffective at stopping anything, and unlike the *president, Clinton actually knows that a plan of follow up action needs to take place. She also knows that Trump can t say he cares about the slaughter of innocent children, but then also deny them refuge in the United States. It s hypocritical, to say the least.While speaking at the Women in the World conference in Texas, Clinton said: I hope this administration will move forward in a way that is both strategic and consistent with our values   And I also hope that they will recognize that we cannot in one breath speak of protecting Syrian babies and in the next close America s doors to them. And she is absolutely correct. Trump s move in Syria was purely symbolic. It was posturing and it did nothing but provide a different narrative for the news to talk about other than Russia helping Trump get elected.It s going to be up to Trump to move forward with an actual plan of action with Syria, but don t hold your breath.Watch Hillary Clinton show what true leadership looks like here:Hillary Clinton:  cannot, in one breath, speak of protecting Syrian babies and close America s doors to them weblink pic.twitter.com/FPNms0NBkQ   (@CNN) April 7, 2017Featured Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
7794,7795,"Ben Carson Surges in Iowa , Runs New Ads in Early States   Shake up for Republicans as Ben Carson Takes Lead in Iowa Polls  On the heels of new polls showing Dr Ben Carson surging in Iowa , his campaign is rolling out two new television ads today in the early primary states of Iowa , New Hampshire , South Carolina and Nevada .  Two new back to back polls show Carson taking the lead over Donald Trump in Iowa . A new Bloomberg Des Moines Register poll this morning shows Carson up 10 points since last August , leading Donald Trump by 9 points . And , according to a Quinnipiac University poll released Thursday , the neurosurgeon climbed to an 8 point lead over the real estate mogul .  The first ad , called "" We the People , "" shows shots of Carson at rallies along with footage of him and his wife sharing Carson s vision for America s future .  People are so concerned about their future . The future for their children , the future of our nation , Carson says in the ad . "" This country was designed around we the people . Of , for and by the people . We need a government that actually understand that and doesn t think that it is the ruler of the people .  Ben Carson Doubts Donald Trump Was Blaming George W . Bush for 9 11  The second ad has a much different feel , with Carson talking directly to the camera , comparing Washington , D . C . , to a swamp .  Did you know Washington is built on a swamp ? Carson asks . "" Massive government debt , stifling regulation , special interest politics , partisan dysfunction . Washington is broken , the political class broke it . Together , we can drain the swamp and protect our children s future .  These are not the first television advertisements run by the Carson campaign , but does represent the beginning of the ad program . The campaign ran television and radio advertisements in the early states of Iowa and New Hampshire following the first Republican debate in Cleveland .  The new 500 , 000 ad buy is scheduled to run for one week . The campaign has been planning this rollout in key early states for about a month . The campaign will run ads in upcoming weeks as well and campaign officials said their future ad buys will not be small .  Get real time updates as this story unfolds . To start , just "" star "" this story in  News ' phone app . Download  News for iPhone here or  News for Android here .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
7795,7796,"Six of the world’s largest and most prestigious marathons  —   in Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York City  —   band together and call themselves the World Marathon Majors. Some people try to run all six in the same year. Dean Bell is among them. He spent last week in Amsterdam attending to his job as a partner at the auditing firm  before flying back to New York to finish his sixth marathon of the year  —   the year he turned 40. He was followed in Central Park on Sunday by a trickle of other   finishers, like the sommelier Brian Cronin, who has completed 42 in all. They came from Italy and Spain, China and Denmark, amounting to 1, 200 runners over all. They were led by Michael Wardian, an ultra runner so prolific that for him, finishing the six majors was akin to a 5K on the local circuit for an ordinary runner. Wardian finished the New York City Marathon in 45th place, and he set a record for average pace running the majors in a calendar year  —   a little less than 2 hours 31 minutes. Sunday’s race was Wardian’s ninth marathon of 2016. He supplemented them with 10 ultra marathons. He is 42. “I know it’s not typical, but with every race I do, I’ve just always wanted to see if it’s possible,” Wardian said. “I’ve never wanted someone else to dictate what I’m capable of. ” If Wardian and Bell are any indication, people who do this kind of thing have some qualities in common  —   a penchant for the extreme being central to all. They archive their races in spreadsheets (Wardian) and résumés (Bell). They get up at 4:45 a. m. and go for their runs in the suburbs (Arlington, Va. for Wardian Greenwich, Conn. for Bell) supplementing them with a lunchtime run at work in the city when they can. Both are in their early 40s, and they balance their running around their families: in this case, wives and two young children. Both issue claims that they are not as unusual as they sound. “Of course I know all the running is, on some level, crazy, but mostly I’m an ordinary guy,” Bell said. “And there are worse vices. ” Wardian also maintains that his lifestyle is largely ordinary, just augmented by a marathon or   every other weekend or so. “I think I’m a pretty normal  —   well, some people would say maybe not  —   but I have a family, a   job, I take my kids to Cub Scouts and soccer practice, I’m part of civic organizations, I do all this stuff normal people do, but at the same time I don’t think we need to be limited by what is considered normal behavior,” Wardian said. “I just have a really incredible interest in establishing about what’s possible for me and then shattering that. ” Certainly, the schedule is unforgiving. A marathon in Berlin in late September. For October, Chicago. And then a month later, the New York City Marathon. All very fast. Bell has been running for only a little over five years. He gave himself a year to plan the logistics around the races but did not change his training. Since he began running marathons in 2011, he has amassed 20, including Sunday’s. He tends to run his races between 3:10 and 3:15, save for a run this year in Berlin with a bad back. For him, it is a call to constantly push the boundaries of his limitations. “You start with ‘I want to run a marathon,’ then you want to run Boston, then it’s ‘I want to run a certain time,’ then I wanted to run the majors,” Bell said. “As we enter this stage of life, we’re missing competition, it’s us against the clock, but that’s the biggest opponent you can have, yourself. ” Wardian ran his first marathon in 1996 so he could qualify for the Boston Marathon, and he quickly moved on to   races from there. When he decided to improve his speed, he qualified for the 2004, 2008 and 2012 men’s Olympic trials, still relishing the day when he led the first 10K of the 2008 trials through Times Square, immortalized in a widely circulated photograph. Now he is focusing on frequency and longer distances. Wardian was a varsity lacrosse player at Michigan State before he began running his junior year. He and his wife, Jennifer, who met at a fraternity party in Maryland, accommodate each other’s training needs. When watching the kids in the morning, he will run on the treadmill at home while she goes to a Jazzercise class. She was fine with his running 48 miles through the Grand Canyon for their 12th anniversary last month  —   but she has her limitations. “She lays the law down,” he said. “I’m not allowed to go do Everest until the kids are 18. ” Despite an unusual gluttony, and talent, for both volume and speed, Wardian has remained largely   for the entirety of his 20 years of running except for August 2012. He developed five stress fractures in his pelvis and five hernias, all at once, and was sidelined for two months. (He attributed the injuries to the time his youngest son developed epilepsy, when he and his wife slept no more than   intervals.) “Normally,” he said, “I sleep four hours, and I’m fine. ” The Wardians take their children to his races around the world  —   they have been to 14 countries on four continents, waiting for their father to finish a   race through the Alps or the Outback. Wardian follows the wholesome lifestyle common to many ultra runners, having refrained from eating chicken since he contracted salmonella poisoning from a   meal in college. From there, he stopped eating fish and then went vegan, aside from a fondness for egg whites and honey. Some friends he met at a race in Japan take a rice steamer with them for prerace meals, and he has taken up the habit of eating white rice and honey for breakfast and, before dinner, visiting sushi restaurants, where he will eat   rolls. He drinks “twice every 18 months” and counts an   maker and a salad company among his sponsors. “I’m one of those guys,” he said. “But I think it helps me in recovery. It’s clean energy. ” Wardian spends his days as an international ship broker, arranging oceangoing transportation for food aid. Some of his   competitors have been on the receiving end of his efforts: At a dinner for Wardian’s clients, the former marathon champion Paul Tergat spoke of how he would receive the shipments while growing up in Kenya and how they changed his life. (Wardian contracted the ship Maersk Alabama, which was hijacked by Somali pirates in 2009, learning the news only when he returned from running the weeklong Marathon Des Sables through the Sahara and regained phone access.) Wardian and Bell finished their streaks Sunday despite the logistical impediments bound to affect races that happen almost every week or month. For Bell, he had managed to run each time under his Boston qualifying standard  —   until Berlin, where he was hampered by a back injury. Wardian’s trips were wrought with timing hurdles: He would continue running after the race back to his lodgings to collect his luggage and go straight to the airport, often still in racing clothes. Bell’s family watched the race at 102nd Street and First Avenue, a block from where they used to live. They celebrated after the race with friends who live in their old building but headed back to the suburbs before it grew too late. He had a 7 a. m. flight to Washington the next day. Wardian said he would go to Las Vegas next weekend. He has another marathon record in mind: running the fastest one ever while dressed as Elvis.",true,news,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
7796,7797,"Dueling official Republican responses to Tuesday ' s State of the Union address meant to highlight the party ' s alternate vision for the nation instead underscored the  ' s deep divide on immigration reform .  One , given in Spanish by Florida Rep . Carlos Curbelo , asked the President to "" cooperate "" with congressional Republicans to make immigration reform happen .  "" We should also work through the appropriate channels to create permanent solutions for our immigration system , to secure our borders , modernize legal immigration , and strengthen our economy , "" Curbelo said in Spanish . "" In the past , the President has expressed support for ideas like these . Now we ask him to cooperate with us to get it done . ""  The other , delivered in English by Iowa Sen . Joni Ernst , made no mention of reform . She gave a folksy pitch for Republican proposals to improve the economy , overhaul the tax code and open up new trade markets abroad .  While Curbelo and Ernst were the two officially sanctioned  responses , a cacophony of Republicans spanning the ideological spectrum gave their own rebuttals throughout the night .  House Republicans had said Curbelo would be delivering a Spanish translation of Ernst ' s speech in a press release that went out last week , but by Wednesday morning , that note had been deleted from the release .  Curbelo told Politico he requested a copy of Ernst ' s prepared remarks and revised them to reflect his own priorities , and that  Leadership had okayed his version of the speech .  "" I did not get any pushback whatsoever , "" he said .  The freshman House Republican said it was "" a shame that Democrats would try to criticize us for each of us having our own priorities and ideas and making them known . ""  "" I think leadership should be commended for encouraging those it selects to talk about their lives , their priorities and their vision , "" he said .  But the clash between the two speeches reflects the broader struggle within the party to expand its appeal beyond base conservatives and into untapped demographic groups , particularly minorities . With America ' s Latino population growing exponentially , Republican leaders have openly admitted they won ' t be able to compete on the national stage if they can ' t figure out how to narrow Democrats ' advantage with that voting bloc .  Many in the party ' s right flank , however , remain staunchly opposed to any reform proposals that include a pathway to citizenship for immigrants here illegally , which conservatives decry as "" amnesty . "" Ernst herself was a loud opponent of a pathway to citizenship during her campaign , and said she would ' ve opposed the 2013 Senate reform bill for that reason .  Curbelo , meanwhile , supported that bill during his campaign and bucked Republicans on a pair of amendments meant to block President Obama ' s executive action on amnesty last week , voting against them .  But both Republicans hail from competitive swing states , and represent voting blocs that could be key to the  ' s hopes of winning the White House in 2016 . Their disconnect on the immigration reform issue suggests the party still has a ways to go in bridging the gulf between the two .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
7818,7819,"It ' s the smile Liverpool have been waiting for since August , but Mario Balotelli ' s delighted post match grin has been one Reds supporters will finally be glad to see .  The Italian scored his first Premier League goal for the club after coming off the bench to dramatically snatch a late winner in the 3 2 win over Tottenham at Anfield .  Balotelli ' s goal came in a pulsating match between the clubs and could yet prove huge at the end of the season with both teams fighting to reach the top four and a Champions League place that goes with it .  Mario Balotelli posted a selfie on Instagram after scoring Liverpool ' s winner against Tottenham , thanking fans for sticking by him following his goal drought for the Reds  Brendan Rodgers ( left ) leaves Anfield early after his Liverpool side defeated Tottenham 3 2  Rodgers left before any of his Liverpool players and was on his way to catch a flight  It ' s been 850 playing minutes since Balotelli ' s last Premier League goal against Wigan on 28 November 2012 .  The striker went 17 games without scoring .  In those 17 games , he fired in 19 shots on target , 17 shots off target and had 14 blocked .  The striker showed little emotion in his celebration after tapping home Adam Lallana ' s cross from close range , and even at the final whistle he refused to acknowledge the Kop and was the first Liverpool player to depart Anfield with manager Brendan Rodgers also leaving early to catch a flight .  Balotelli did later show his delight and gratitude to fans after posting on social media .  ' Great game guys ! ! ! ' , Balotelli said on Instagram . ' This smile is  for those that always believe and support me . Thank you and forza Liverpool . But now head down and keep working hard . Tonight is past . '  Speaking in the absence of manager Brendan Rodgers , who had to catch a flight , assistant boss Colin Pascoe paid tribute to the Italian , who has struggled to settle back in English football since joining Liverpool for 16million last summer .  ' He is immensely happy , ' said Pascoe . ' To get a winner at Anfield , I am sure he is happy .  ' It was great movement from Mario in the six yard box . I hope it can be a springboard , he is training hard . The last couple of weeks he ' s been ill and had gashes on his feet so couldn ' t get his boots on .  Mario Balotelli ( centre ) scored his first Premier League goal for Liverpool as they beat Tottenham 3 2  Balotelli ( left ) pounced from close range to score on 83 minutes and break his Premier League goalscoring duck for Liverpool  The maverick Italy international ( centre ) remains calm as his team mates go wild after his late winner on Tuesday night  Balotelli was introduced on 74 minutes for Sturridge ( left ) as the Reds sought a winner at home to Spurs  Balotelli ( left ) was soon involved in an off the ball clash with Tottenham ' s Eric Dier during his cameo  Balotelli was a late introduction after coming on in the 74th minute before scoring nine minutes later .  His goal came after Mousa Dembele had equalised for Spurs following a second half Steven Gerrard penalty .  Lazar Markovic opened the scoring for the Reds in the first period , with Tottenham ' s in form striker Harry Kane cancelling out the strike .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
7820,7821,"Super Bowl 50 Tickets Headed For An All Time High : What Will It Cost To Snag A Ticket For The Big Game ?  If you re looking to attend this year s Super Bowl , you might want to consider a small business loan to gain access to the event .  Tickets for the February 7th match up between the Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers has hit an average of 6 , 000 per ticket , according to the TiqIQ , a secondary market ticket price aggregator .  Tickets for this year ' s Superbowl are going for more than 5 , 000 each weblink : t . co ZStwc8YvhQ pic . twitterweblink GwzGPe6P6Y  It is the first time in over five years that a single ticket for the Super Bowl is valued at more than 4 , 000 and the fact that the game is being played in Silicon Valley gives reason to believe that the affluent population that resides in the area plays a part in the inflated prices .   has reported that the cheapest ticket at this year s Super Bowl is 3 , 279 . 00 , which is likely to drop as tickets go unpurchased and the event date draws closer .  Still , an event that is meant to be as much for the fans than the players is evolving into a bidding war with the individual holding the fattest wallet ( or purse ) coming out on top . An unfortunate reality for the average fan hoping to catch their favorite team or player in one of the biggest ( if not  biggest ) sporting events of the year .  The highest priced ticket up for grabs right now per these secondary ticket sellers like Stubhub and TiqIQ is listed at more than 26 , 100 , while some luxury suites are selling for more than 500 , 000 . Yeah , that s right , half a million dollars to watch a football game .  Super Bowl tickets are really cheap this year pic . twitterweblink w671OWaX9U  ? Hall of Fame ( HOFSportsTalk ) January 25 , 2016  Fox Business actually reported that after the Denver Broncos defeat of Tom Brady and the New England Patriots this past Sunday in the  championship game , tickets for the February 7th s big game have actually dropped ? Thank you , Peyton Manning !  But high ticket prices for the game won t be the only financial obstacle for fans .  Fox Business also noted on the substantial amount it would cost to book a hotel in the San Francisco Bay area during Super Bowl weekend . TripAdvisor is showing that prices for a room within 10 miles of Levi s Stadium in Santa Clara ( where the Super Bowl is being played ) are nearly 40 percent more expensive than rooms in last year s location , Phoenix Arizona , for Super Bowl 49 .  One way to avoid such inflated prices , according to TripAdvisor s director of communications , Brooke Ferencsik , would be to book a room in a hotel outside of that 10 mile radius . According to Mr Ferencsik s insight , the price for a room reservation at a hotel in Santa Cruz , which sits 30 miles from Super Bowl 50 s Levi Stadium , is 273 compared to those within the 10 miles radius that cost closer to 600 a night .  Football fans looking to score tickets or just get a piece of the action in San Francisco can still find a wide selection of reasonably priced rooms available to book on TripAdvisor , Ferencsik said in a press release . Bargain hunting travelers can save up to 50 percent if they are willing to hike more than 20 miles from the stadium in cities such as Oakland or San Bruno compared to closer destinations like San Jose or Mountain View .  TripAdvisor was also kind enough to set out a guide for those who plan to make their way to the Bay Area for the game this upcoming February on their website .  Super Bowl 50 will be played at Levi s Stadium in Santa Clara ,  on Feb . 7 . , The game will be broadcasted on  at 6 : 30 p . m .  and feature one of the leagues most iconic quarterbacks in Peyton Manning with his Denver Broncos vs .  hopeful Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers . This year s halftime performance will be headlined by Coldplay featuring pop queen Beyonce .  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
7831,7832,"for Trump!!!!        vote  take A friend  friends>>> we want a safe country.Clinton         HOME. do you want Bill to be   in  White House??? Do you remember the last time????Trump will work for  the people instead of his  BOOK, won't that be NICE????    YOU!!!!",fake,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,present
7832,7833,"Talk about projecting! On Fareed Zakaria s  show, former New York Times editor Jill Abramson decries  false equivalency  between Democrats and Republicans, saying Republicans are disproportionately responsible for the divisive political climate. HUH? This angry shrew is showing just how much she is blinded by hate! LUCE: It s very hard to imagine how civility can ensue when people don t even meet each other or live near each other who hold different positions or let their children marry or wish their children to marry people of different views. So that s my concern, there is no public square. ZAKARIA: Jill, you ve written that you think that while all this is true, this is not a situation where both sides are equally at fault. ABRAMSON: I do think that both sides are not equally at fault, and that there s been a bit of a false equivalency at work, especially in the discussion over the past couple of days. I think that in terms of political leadership right now that both President Trump and the congressional leadership on the Republican side are extremely divisive and that they are really benefiting from a kind of rage machine that operates in this country.This woman must have been in a coma for the past couple of years!Does she  remember the horrible attacks on conservatives during the 2016 campaign? Does she not remember the 2016 Inauguration? Oh, how about Berkeley?There are just way too many examples of the left s unhinged violence and rhetoric. From the leaders of the Democrat Party to the George Soros sponsored Antifa thugs, we can say without any hesitation that this woman and all others who refuse to see the problem are seriously delusional and blinded by their hate.",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
7852,7853,"Pressure mounted on Tuesday for Fox News to take action against its   host, Bill O’Reilly, as a series of prominent companies pulled advertising from his show and a leading women’s rights group called for his ouster. Following an investigation by The New York Times over the weekend that revealed multiple settlements over allegations of sexual harassment or other inappropriate behavior by Mr. O’Reilly, the network faced a major advertising revolt as more than a dozen marketers said that they were withdrawing their ads from “The O’Reilly Factor. ” Escalating the tension, the National Organization for Women called for Mr. O’Reilly to be fired and said an independent investigation should be conducted into the culture at Fox News. “Fox News is too big and too influential to simply let this go,” Terry O’Neill, the president of NOW, said in a statement. And inside Fox News, three women who work in the newsroom said that the continued support of Mr. O’Reilly by Fox News and its parent company, 21st Century Fox, led them to question whether the company was committed to maintaining a work environment “based on trust and respect,” as executives had promised last summer after the network’s founding chairman, Roger E. Ailes, was ousted. The employees requested anonymity because they feared retaliation for speaking publicly. The erosion of advertising support, along with pressure from advocacy groups, heightened the sense of uncertainty at Fox News, which for months has been trying to move beyond the sexual harassment scandal that led to the dismissal of Mr. Ailes. It also raised questions about how long 21st Century Fox will stand behind Mr. O’Reilly. Fox News signaled that it was trying to contain the controversy and working to restore relations with the network’s advertisers, noting that companies had reallocated their spending from Mr. O’Reilly’s program to other network shows. “We value our partners and are working with them to address their current concerns about ‘The O’Reilly Factor,’” Paul Rittenberg, the executive vice president for advertising sales at Fox News, said in a statement. “At this time, the ad buys of those clients have been   into other  programs. ” If more advertisers leave the program, Fox News and 21st Century Fox may have to respond. Mr. O’Reilly, 67, is the network’s most visible star, leading a prime time programming slate that draws   ratings with its conservative commentary. “The O’Reilly Factor,” which draws almost 4 million viewers a night, generated more than $446 million in advertising revenue from 2014 through 2016, according to the research firm Kantar Media. A spokesman for Mr. O’Reilly, Mark Fabiani, declined to comment on Tuesday. Mr. O’Reilly has said that the accusations against him are without merit and that his fame has made him a target “for those who would harm me and my employer, the Fox News Channel. ” He did not address the issue on either his Monday night or Tuesday night broadcasts. Mr. O’Reilly’s contract, which was set to expire this year, has been extended by 21st Century Fox, people familiar with the deal said. When the company agreed to the extension, it was aware of multiple settlements that had been reached with women who had complained about his behavior, and it structured the deal to include more leverage over his behavior, according to people familiar with the matter. Mr. O’Reilly earns about $18 million a year. The advertising boycott and the public outcry echo what happened to the radio host Don Imus a decade ago over racially and sexually charged statements he made about the Rutgers University women’s basketball team. After a series of advertisers suspended their ads from his radio and television program, and  called for his ouster, NBCUniversal canceled the simulcast of his show on MSNBC. And at Fox News, the former host Glenn Beck left the network in 2011 after hundreds of advertisers refused to allow their ads on his program. On Tuesday, multiple advocacy groups started campaigns targeting advertisers of “The O’Reilly Factor. ” The Women’s March group posted a message on Twitter, encouraging people to use the term “#DropOReilly” to tell advertisers to pull their ads from the program and also encouraged people to share their own experiences with sexual harassment. The advocacy group Color of Change also started a campaign focusing on the advertisers of the show. “Their money and support is keeping him on the air,” said Rashad Robinson, executive director of the organization. “It is rewarding his actions. It is rewarding the damage he has done to people in their lives and their careers. ” “In essence, these corporations are the ones whose money is paying the settlements,” Mr. Robinson added. Among the companies pulling their ads from Mr. O’Reilly’s show are the car companies   Hyundai,  of North America, Mitsubishi and Lexus the pharmaceutical and health care companies Bayer, GlaxoSmithKline and Sanofi Consumer HealthCare and Allstate, the insurance company. The decisions came after The Times investigation found that five women who had accused Mr. O’Reilly of sexual harassment or inappropriate behavior received settlements totaling about $13 million. “Mitsubishi Motors takes these allegations very seriously, and we have decided that we will pull our advertising at the present time,” Alex Fedorak, a company spokesman, said in a statement. Mitsubishi spent about $2. 1 million for ads on the “The O’Reilly Factor” in 2016, making it the show’s   advertiser, according to iSpot. tv, the  ad analytics firm. Some advertisers have said they will continue to run ads on his show. Cheryl Reed, a spokeswoman for Angie’s List, said, “Just as we trust members to make their own hiring decisions, we trust them to make their own media consumption decisions. ” The weight loss company Jenny Craig was noncommittal, saying: “As an organization, Jenny Craig condemns any and all forms of sexual harassment. As a matter of corporate policy, we do not publicly comment on our advertising strategy. ” An ad for Jenny Craig appeared during Mr. O’Reilly’s show on Monday night. The broader legal troubles for Fox News continued on Tuesday. Monica Douglas, a black Fox News employee, joined a lawsuit that was filed last week against Fox News by two other women, asserting that they were subjected to racial harassment at the network. The suit was filed in State Supreme Court in the Bronx. Fox News dismissed the executive named in the suit, Judith Slater, the longtime controller, on Feb. 28. It said in a statement “there is no place for conduct like this at Fox News, which is why Ms. Slater was fired. ” On Monday, Julie Roginsky, a current Fox News contributor, filed a lawsuit against Mr. Ailes, Fox News and Bill Shine, one of the network’s   asserting that she faced retaliation for rebuffing Mr. Ailes’s sexual advances. Mr. Ailes has denied all the sexual harassment accusations against him.",true,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
7853,7854,"BottleRock Napa lineup : Stevie Wonder , Florence and the Machine , Red Hot Chili Peppers highlight 2016 bill  The Guns N ' Roses reunion is official . . . I think .  Organizers of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival confirmed Monday night via social media this year ' s lineup with a photo of a promotional poster , showing Guns N ' Roses as the headliners on April 16 and April 23 of the two weekend festival in Indio , California .  Rumors have swirled for weeks that co founders Axl Rose and Slash have buried the hatchet and will perform together for the first time in more than two decades . Original bassist Duff McKagen is believed to be on board , as both he and Slash announced the show via Twitter . McKagen has good relations with both men and filled in for bassist Tommy Stinson in recent years when Stinson was touring with The Replacements .  This May 25 , 2008 photo shows Axl Rose , lead singer of Guns N ' Roses , performing at the start of a European tour in Madrid . ( Bru Garcia  Getty Images )  According to Melodicrockweblink , Richard Fortus who has played guitar for the band since 2001 ( no , really , there was a Guns N ' Roses all this time ) will be included , instead of original guitarist Izzy Stradlin . Frank Ferrer , who has played for Guns N ' Roses since 2006 , will continue in that role . Dizzy Reed , who joined the band in 1990 , will continue on keyboards .  There ' s been reports that , after Coachella , the band will do a summer stadium tour in North America . As the band is rumored to be asking for 3 million per show , I wouldn ' t count on tickets being 12 like back when they played the Stone in San Francisco with Jetboy 30 years ago .  Other Coachella headliners include  Soundsystem and Calvin Harris .  Tony Hicks writes celebrity commentary for the Bay Area News Group . Contact him at Facebookweblink BayAreaNewsGroup . TonyHicks or Twitterweblink tonyhicks67  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
7895,7896,"Bill Montag , father of reality star Heidi Montag , has been abandoned by his family following his arrest in Colorado on Thursday night on charges of sexual abuse .  Nobody visited the 67 year old on Sunday at Pitkin County Jail as it ' s feared his wife Terri has fled town , leaving concerned neighbors to take care of their two dogs .  A friend of the family told MailOnline that his ' life is in ruins ' even if he ' s found innocent on charges of sexual assault on a child and incest .  Wearing an orange jumpsuit behind bars Bill cut a lonely figure during visitation , 10 11am , and was seen staring vacantly at the floor in a communal area while making a short phone call , a witness told MailOnline .  ' Abandoned ' : Bill Montag , father of Heidi , cuts a lonely figure in Pitkin County Jail after being charged with child sex abuse . According to neighbors in Glenwood Springs , Colorado , his wife has fled their home  Allegations : Montag , 67 , ( pictured with his reality star daughter ) was accused of abuse by a different relative  The source revealed how Bill is much older the other inmates many of which spent free time in the morning pacing the corridors and stands out like a sore thumb .  A friend of the family , Melody Morris , reveals she spoke to wife Terri Montag on Thursday night by text message .  Terri did not explain the situation but asked Melody to ' look after and feed my dogs , ' without giving any indication how long for or when she plans to return .  Three days have passed and Terri is yet to contact Melody , a manager at a resource engineering company and lives opposite the Montag house , to tell her whereabouts or intentions to come home .  Melody , 52 , said : ' His life is in ruins now . Even if he ' s proven innocent that dark cloud will still loom over him .  ' Fled ' : Neighbors told MailOnline that Montag ' s wife , Terri Montag , has not been home for days  Melody Morris , who is dogsitting for Terri , told MailOnline reporter James Robertson , no idea where she is  ' They are a lovely couple and amazing neighbors so nobody would have seen this coming . We ' re friends so I ' m just concentrating on looking after the dogs .  ' Terri sent me a message asking me to take care of things here , I haven ' t asked her about the case because it ' s so awkward .  ' She hasn ' t told me where she is or when she ' ll be home just that I ' m in charge of making sure her dogs are fed and watered . She could be anywhere .  ' It ' s a difficult situation for me to be in but nobody knows how they ' ll react until it happens to them . I ' m just helping Terri . '  Terri ' s current location is unknown and all three family vehicles are parked on the driveway of their modest detached bungalow that backs on to a freeway in Glenwood Springs .  Bill ' s been suspended from his job after cops arrested him without incident at his place of employment , Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club .  The Aspen Police Department was notified by the  that Bill was skiing at Aspen Highlands , he was arrested when he returned to the  offices , police said .  Bill was picked up on a failure to appear charge for three counts each of sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust and one charge of aggravated incest .  Records claim the abuse lasted for four years . The victim says the abuse began in 1993 and continued until 1998 .  He is torn between two jails in the process of being extradited from Aspen to Arapho and is incarcerated without possibility of bail .  Shocked : According to Morris , the neighborhood was shocked by the news as the Montags are ' lovely '  Suspended from work : Bill has been suspended from his job after cops arrested him without incident at his place of employment , Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club  Capt . Larry Etheridge of the Araphoe County Sheriff ' s office said : ' Allegations were brought forward by a woman , who is now an adult , who had alleged a sexual assault a little more than 15 years ago during a period of time when she was between 14 and 17 . '  Etheridge said Bill ' denied it all ' and ' did not admit guilt ' but refused to go into further details regarding the investigation which launched in June .  According to  9 , ' Due to the statute of limitations , Montag is only eligible to be charged with crimes that occurred after July 1st 1996 , when the victim would have been 16 years old . '  The victim bravely told she is coming forward after more than a decade in silence to protect other possible victims and young girls .  Neither Heidi or sister Holly are considered a victim in the case .   reports Heidi is certain her father with be exonerated and the woman making the allegations ' is determined to destroy the family , ' and had previously stalked her and husband Spencer Pratt .  If convicted , he could face a prison of four to 12 years and a fine of up to 750 , 000 .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
7934,7935,"EVERETT, Washington/ (Reuters) - Republican Donald Trump, who has made his criticism of a pending Pacific trade agreement central to his campaign, on Tuesday visited a Seattle suburb home to a large Boeing Co plane manufacturing facility that depends heavily on Asian sales. Trump vowed at his rally that he would win Washington state, even though the state tends to support Democrats and that party’s nominee, Hillary Clinton, leads by large margins in opinion polls ahead of the Nov. 8 election. The Republican nominee, however, presents a conundrum for the unions that represent workers at Boeing, the world’s largest aerospace company. He has courted manufacturing workers with vows to tear up trade agreements and scrap the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership.  “The destruction that  started will be finished off if the Trans-Pacific Partnership is approved,” Trump said on Tuesday, referring to a separate deal with Canada and Mexico reached in the 1990s. He also has vowed to renegotiate that agreement. Supporters of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) point to Boeing’s aircraft sales to Asia to tout the benefits of the agreement. Secretary of State John Kerry visited a nearby plant earlier this year to rally support for the pact. Manufacturing unions agree with Trump on his opposition to  and the export of jobs overseas, but officials said they find his track record unconvincing. “The fact is that Trump has had the opportunity to bring jobs to Americans, and he’s chosen to outsource them,” said Larry Brown, legislative and political director for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers District Lodge 751, which represents about 32,000 workers in the state, mostly at Boeing. Boeing produces some of its largest planes only miles from where Trump spoke Tuesday night. As they are assembled, the painted tails of the planes show the airlines that ordered them, and many are Asian. Major components of each plane come from overseas: South Korea, China and Europe. Over the next 20 years, Boeing projects that Asian customers will account for 40 percent of the total global jetliner’s market, the company said in a recent report. “Trade is a huge part of the success of manufacturing in Washington,” said Linda Dempsey, vice president of international economic affairs for the National Association of Manufacturers, which Boeing belongs to. “They are exporting $73 billion in manufactured goods.” But Trump offers a more dire outlook, arguing that only he can keep Boeing from moving those high-paying manufacturing jobs from Washington to China. “They’ll start taking your business away, and you won’t have much of Boeing,” Trump told Seattle’s  radio on Monday. Trump has broken with the Republican Party’s traditional embrace of free trade. He has vowed to rip up the  and renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA, an existing deal with Canada and Mexico which he blames for the loss of U.S. jobs. The Republican Party’s support for free trade has put it in sync with large business groups such as the Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers. Tony Fratto, a former official in the administration of Republican George W. Bush, criticized Trump as out of step with the party. “Trump’s policies in this area are really dumb generally, but are particularly dumb for a major exporting company,” said Fratto, who worked on behalf of a coalition of large companies, including Boeing, that were pushing for renewal of the Export-Import Bank. Some voters in Washington state remain divided. Kirk Hoeppner, 53, a business analyst at Boeing who lives in Granite Falls, Washington, said he will vote for Trump and he agrees with his business views. But he was not sure closer ties to other countries would hurt jobs there. “Even if we ally with other countries, we’re still going to sell more airplanes,” Hoeppner said. Corey McNally, 40, of Whidbey Island, Washington, has not decided whom he will vote for. “The union members love Hillary just because they’re supposed to because she’s a liberal,” said McNally. And Trump, whom he called “just kind of a big show,” may be too late to change anything. “This company’s been outsourcing jobs for years,” he said of Boeing. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
7937,7938,"Great Britain ' s Davis Cup team travel to Belgium amid continuing security fears  Great Britain ' s Davis Cup team have delayed travelling to Belgium until Monday amid continuing security fears but are still planning to play in the final .  Great Britain ' s Davis Cup team have delayed travelling to Belgium until Monday amid continuing security fears but are still planning to play in the final .  The terror alert level in Brussels , where the team were due to fly to , was raised to the highest category on Saturday because of a "" serious and imminent "" threat of a Paris style attack .  The search for a man believed to be one of the masterminds of the atrocities in the French capital continues in the Brussels area .  Soldiers are patrolling the streets and the city ' s metro system was shut for a second day on Sunday while several sporting events were cancelled .  Ghent , where the Davis Cup final is being held , is only 35 miles from Brussels and the Foreign Office updated its guidance for the country , advising visitors not to go to places with large numbers of people .  The 13 , 000 seat Flanders Expo is sold out for all three days of the final , which begins on Friday , with more than 1 , 000 British fans due to attend .  International Tennis Federation president David Haggerty said on Saturday he was "" greatly concerned "" by developments but that preparations for the tie would continue .  The change of plans should not affect Britain ' s preparations given they would not have been able to practise on site in Ghent until Monday anyway .  The team instead stayed together in London for a day of practice on clay , with all members understood to be happy to travel to Belgium on Monday .  The alert level in Ghent is category three , the same as London , and sporting events there have been held this weekend including the Ghent Six , a large annual cycling competition .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
7949,7950,"A protester leaps from a wheelchair and runs onto the pitch during the  ' s World Cup clash with Belgium .  The man , an Italian named Mario Ferri with a history of such stunts , stopped the game in the 16th minute when he ran around on the grass wearing a blue Superman t shirt with '    ' and '   ' printed on it .  Ferri had managed to secure a ticket for the match in the disabled section which gave him a front row seat .  Making his move : Mario Ferri gets out of wheelchair in the 16th minute of the game  Sending a message : Mario Ferri stuns players by running around before being escorted off by security  He slipped through the barrier unnoticed before running unimpeded for several seconds , pulling down on his t shirt to better reveal his message . He was eventually escorted off the field by security .  CiroVive was a reference to Ciro Esposito a Napoli fan who was shot in May during fan violence before the Italian Cup final . . He died last week , 50 days after the shooting , at the age of 29 .  Ferri is a repeat offender from Italy , famous invading Serie A and Italy matches wearing a Superman shirt .  Ferri also ran onto the field during a match at the World Cup 2010 with a a vuvuzela , interrupting the semi final match between Germany and Spain .  Ferri ' s antics will prompt new fears over security and also concern that concession seats are being sold on the black market .  Footage taken at the Maracana during match between France and Ecuador last week shows what appears to be a wheel chair bound man walking to his chair .  Dozens of supposedly disabled fans have also been seen standing up in other games .  Easy access : Mario Ferri slips through the barrier and onto the field unnoticed  Game over : Mario Ferri is held by security and taken off the field  ",true,text,test,American football,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
7953,7954,"Wayne Rooney , Mario Balotelli and Frank Lampard are successful footballers because their faces are the optimum shape .  That ' s according to new research , which compared the facial width to height ratios ( FWHRs ) of high ranking footballers to their on pitch record .  It discovered that players with faces that are wider than they are tall are more likely to score goals , but also commit fouls .  Wayne Rooney ( left ) and Mario Balotelli ( right ) are successful footballers because their faces are the optimum shape , claims new research . Experts discovered that players with a high facial width to height ratios ( FWHRs ) are more likely to score goals , but also commit fouls  The Manchester United star , nicknamed Shrek because of the shape of his head , has the features that mark out the best forwards from the rest , claim experts from the University of Colorado at Boulder .  Mr Rooney , who will be awarded with a Golden Cap at Wembley on Saturday to mark his 100th appearance for England , has also received six red cards in his career .  While Italian Mr Balotelli has scored 33 goals in his international career , but has also received 50 yellow cards in his career for fouls and other offences .  Dr Keith Welker from the university analysed 1 , 000 players from 32 countries at the 2010 South Africa World Cup .  Researchers from the University of Colorado at Boulder analysed 1 , 000 players from 32 countries at the 2010 South Africa World Cup . They measured each of the players ' faces on a  chart ( pictured ) .  is the distance between the cheekbones divided by the distance between the mid brow and the upper lip  Footballer Peter Crouch ( left ) has a low ratio face , while Frank Lampard ' s face scores higher on the  scale . Both midfielders and forwards with greater FWHRs were more likely to commit fouls  He measured each of their faces on a  chart . Both midfielders and forwards with greater FWHRs were more likely to commit fouls .  Forwards with higher FWHRs also were more likely to score or lay on goals , according to the findings published in the journal Adaptive Human Behaviour and Physiology .  A recent report found that men with wider faces earn around 1 , 300 more than those with narrow faces when asking for a bonus .  However , researchers from the University of California said this comes with a compromise , as wide faced people fared less well when it came to business negotiations .  A separate study from Singapore Management University found that women are drawn to men with broader faces for short term relationships , but they do not tend to see them as husband material .  This could be because men with wider faces are perceived to be more dominant and aggressive . While this may initially make them appear desirable , they are less appealing traits in a long term partner .  ' Previous research into facial structure of athletes has been primarily in the United States and Canada , ' said Dr Welker .  ' No one had really looked at how facial width to height ratio is associated with athletic performance by comparing people from across the world . '   is the distance between the cheekbones divided by the distance between the mid brow and the upper lip .  Past studies have shown a high  is associated with more aggressive behaviour .  For example , high  is associated with greater antisocial and unethical behaviour , but also greater success among CEOs and achievement drive among  presidents .  A recent report found that men with wider faces earn around 1 , 300 more than those with narrow faces when asking for a bonus .  However , researchers from the University of California said this comes with a compromise , as wide faced people fared less well when it came to business negotiations .  The Colorado based researchers for the latest study chose to look at the World Cup because of the quality and quantity of the data available .  The theory also applies to other sports , such as rugby and cycling . Examples include rugby player James Haskell ( left ) and Olympic medal winner Chris Hoy ( right ) . Scientists have several ideas about how  may be associated with aggression . One possibility is it is related to testosterone exposure earlier in life  Dr Welker said : ' There are a lot of athletic data out there .  ' We were exploring contexts to look at aggressive behaviour and found the World Cup , which quantifies goals , fouls and assists , provides a multinational way of addressing whether facial structure produces this aggressive behaviour and performance . '  The theory also applies to other sports , such as rugby and cycling . Examples include James Haskell and Olympic medal winner Chris Hoy .  Scientists have several ideas about how  may be associated with aggression . One possibility is it is related to testosterone exposure earlier in life .  Testosterone during puberty can affect a variety of physical traits , including bone density , muscle growth and cranial shape , added Dr Welker .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
7958,7959,"Paul Gambaccini : No charges were brought  Men accused of rape and other sex crimes should remain anonymous until they are charged , MPs demand today .  They have urged a shake up of the law after several high profile figures were arrested and named , only to see their cases dropped .  Last year ,  Radio 2  Paul Gambaccini told of the ' 12 months of horror and trauma ' he suffered after his name was dragged through the mud following sexual assault accusations .  Police eventually told him he would not be charged .  In January , Tory  Mark Pritchard called for those accused of rape to be allowed anonymity until they are charged after an accusation against him was dropped by police .  But critics warned the move risked reducing the chance of serial rapists being convicted , and could endanger women who do not know a man has been accused of rape .  They said that if predatory paedophiles such as Rolf Harris and Stuart Hall had been granted anonymity as suspects , other victims may not have come forward to help convict them .  Lifelong anonymity is granted to anyone who complains to police that they have been sexually assaulted .  In May 2010 , the Coalition vowed to reintroduce anonymity for rape suspects after it was dropped in 1988 . But ministers faced huge opposition to the idea and axed it .  In a report today , the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee warned that a man accused of rape can suffer irreparable damage to his life , even if charges are never brought . It concluded that because of the stigma attached to rape accusations , it was unacceptable for suspects to have their identities publicised before they were charged .  The MPs face being accused of trying to curb the freedom of the Press by calling for zero tolerance of police who confirm the names of suspects to journalists other than in ' exceptional cases ' such as public safety . Chairman Keith Vaz said : ' Suspects deserve to remain anonymous until charged . Police use of the "" flypaper "" practice of arresting someone , leaking the details then endlessly re bailing them in the vague hope that other people come forward is unacceptable and must come to an end .  Critics say other victims may not have come forward if predatory paedophiles such as Rolf Harris , pictured left , and Stuart Hall , pictured right , had been granted anonimity  ' It is inexcusable that information about suspects is released to the media in an unattributed way . We have seen how destructive this can be to a person ' s livelihood , causing irreparable reputational damage and enormous financial burden . '  The committee also said police bail should be capped initially at 28 days to end the scandal of officers leaving suspects to languish in legal limbo , sometimes for years .  Around 303 , 000 suspects a year are given police bail while officers investigate a crime . Around 19 , 600 were bailed for more than six months often with curbs on their freedom .  But Chief Constable Chris Eyre , criminal justice spokesman of the Association of Chief Police Officers , said : ' Some cases are complex , involving computers , forensics ,  , interpreters , medical evidence or cross agency work . These processes are time consuming . An initial 28 day time limit would be unhelpful . We are working to ensure all cases are concluded as swiftly , fairly and transparently as possible . '  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
7968,7969,"In the hall of fame of   comic characters, between wax works of W. C. Fields and Larry David, there ought to be a monument to Billy Bob Thornton’s work as Willie, the alcoholic safecracker of “Bad Santa. ” As much as Terry Zwigoff’s 2003 film relied on the spectacle of Mr. Thornton soiling himself in a Santa suit or saying unspeakable things to children, the performance was a master class in timing and sly reaction shots. Only Mr. Thornton could have played the role. Now comes a belated sequel, “Bad Santa 2,” directed by Mark Waters (already a connoisseur of bad behavior from “Mean Girls”) whose pitch meeting seems to have proceeded from two unnecessary questions: What if bad Santa weren’t as bad as all that? And what if he had an estranged mother whose conduct is at least as foul as his? Yet even the profanity has lost its zing in this   retread, which mostly prompts admiration for how far Mr. Zwigoff ran with one joke. When we   Willie (Mr. Thornton, looking resigned to his task) he is working as a valet parking attendant, a job that goes south after he is distracted by a   mother. Following our reunion with Thurman Merman (Brett Kelly)  —   Willie has promised to get the kid deflowered for his 21st birthday, which leads to a mortifying interlude with a prostitute (Octavia Spencer)  —   Willie accompanies his former partner (Tony Cox) to a prospective robbery in Chicago. (Shots of the city may be entirely stock footage, as if the movie crew knew tagging along might be a bad idea.) The target is a charity run by Diane (Christina Hendricks) and by her unfaithful husband (Ryan Hansen) who pockets most of the revenue. Dismayed about ripping off    —   mawkishness is the only aspect in which “Bad Santa 2” outpaces its predecessor  —   Willie is not above beating up a street Santa (Mike Starr) who gets into a dispute with him over a spot to stand. Diane, a target for Willie’s lewd advances, takes up the function of Lauren Graham’s character in the first film. If “Bad Santa 2” has anything new to offer, it’s the spectacle of Kathy Bates as Willie’s mom, whom Willie resents. (He offhandedly mentions having taken the fall for her at age 11.) Her remarks about her careless parenting (“Hell, I didn’t even know I’d given birth until I’d tripped over him”) constitute the movie’s best effort at a running joke, and while Ms. Bates can be a nimble scene stealer, decking her out in tattoos and punk jewelry is not enough to spark an uninspired script. “Bad Santa 2” is rated R (Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian) for Bad S’antics. Running time: 1 hour 32 minutes.",true,news,test,American football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
7972,7973,"Britain ' s counter terror laws are ' no longer fit for purpose ' , leaving spooks and police unable to prevent attacks , a former MI5 chief has warned ,  Lord Evans of Weardale said it is now ' much harder ' than a decade ago for the authorities to access communications between terrorists and criminals , because they are discussing plots on platforms such as Facebook , WhatsApp and Snapchat .  But Deputy  Nick Clegg today again rejected the idea of retaining data about internet and social media use by ' every single man woman and child in this country for a year ' .  Lord Evans of Weardale said it is now ' much harder ' than a decade ago for the authorities to access communications between terrorists and criminals  Pressure for more powers for police and intelligence agencies has grown in the wake of the terror attacks in Paris , in which 17 people were killed .  Coalition tensions have been exposed after David Cameron demanded that social media and messaging sites open up their networks to the security services .  But Mr Clegg has blocked the idea of what he describes as a ' Snooper ' s Charter ' .  In a rare intervention , Lord Evans warned national security depends on greater legal powers .  In an article for the Sunday Telegraph , Lord Evans said : ' The ability of the police and security agencies to do this important work of protecting our society and its vulnerable people is under threat from changing technology .  ' We expect them today not just to follow up a crime or terrorist attack and identify the perpetrators but rather to do all they can to stop the attack or crime from taking place at all .  ' They can only do this if they have the tools to do so and the tools at their disposal are no longer fit for purpose . '  Mr Clegg said he agreed with Lord Evans and the police that the state needs to ' retain the ability to intrude on the privacy ' of such people .  But he said he is ' uncomfortable ' with the idea of retaining data about internet and social media use by ' every single man woman and child in this country for a year ' .  ' It is a blanket approach to the retention of data of people who are innocent of any wrongdoing whatsoever , ' he told  One ' s Andrew Marr show .  ' It is not a very British thing to confer or imply guilt on the whole of the nation by retaining records of every website everyone has visited over the course of a year . '  Deputy  Nick Clegg today again rejected the idea of retaining data about internet and social media use by ' every single man woman and child in this country for a year ' .  Mr Clegg said the Snoopers ' Charter plans were ' unproven , clunky , resource intensive ' .  He went on : ' Lots of experts looked at it and said this is a waste of resources , a waste of time . Why are we keeping records of every man , woman and child across the country when for starters , we tend to know where to look for the people who want to do us harm ? '  The Deputy Prime Minister said the aim was to ' find the needle without inferring guilt on the haystack ' .  ' New powers will need to be put on the statute book in the next parliament , and I will advocate them as much as any chisel faced securocrat , ' he went on .  ' I want to keep us safe . It ' s ludicrous this idea that people who care about our freedom don ' t care about our safety .  ' What I will not do . . . is saying that every single man , woman and child should have data about what they get up to online kept for a year .  On a visit to Washington on Friday David Cameron warned internet firms they must work with security agencies to stop their networks becoming a ' safe haven ' for terrorists .  The Prime Minister used a press conference in the White House to insist the likes of Facebook and and WhatsApp cannot be used as a secret way for extremists to plot atrocities away from the glare of MI5 and the  .  Mr Cameron insists the security agencies must be able to intercept communications between extremists and terror suspects who use encrypted messaging services and social media sites to plot atrocities .  Mr Cameron insists the security agencies must be able to intercept communications between extremists and terror suspects who use encrypted messaging services and social media sites to plot atrocities  He said : ' I take a very simple approach to this , which is ever since we ' ve been sending letters to each other or making telephone calls to each other or mobile phone calls to each other or , indeed , contacting each other on the internet , it has been possible in both our countries in extremis , in my country by signed warrant by the Home Secretary , to potentially listen to a call between two terrorists , to stop them in their activity .  ' We ' re not asking for back doors . We have we believe in very clear front doors through legal processes that should help to keep our country safe .  ' And my only argument is that as technology develops , as the world moves on , we should try to avoid the safe havens that could otherwise be created for terrorists to talk to each other .  ' That ' s the goal that I think is so important . Because I ' m in no doubt as , having been Prime Minister for four and a half years , having seen how our intelligence services work , I know that some of these plots that get prevented , the lives that get saved .  ' There is a very real connection between that and the capabilities that our intelligence services , within the law , use to defend our people . '  But  President Barack Obama struck a more cautious tone , agreeing only that there should be a ' dialogue ' about balancing national security with concerns about the privacy of web users .  Mr Obama said : ' It is useful to have civil libertarians and others tapping us on the shoulder in this process and reminding us that there are values at stake as well .  ' We shouldn ' t feel as if because we ' ve just seen such a horrific attack in Paris , that suddenly everything should be going by the wayside .  ' Unfortunately this has been a constant background and I think will continue to be for every Prime Minister or President for some time to come .  ' We ' ve got to make sure that we don ' t overreact but that we remain vigilant and are serious about our responsibilities . '  ",true,text,test,US elections,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
7999,8000,"—   Portugal’s education minister was robbed at knife point. So was the chief of security for the opening ceremony as he left Olympic Stadium. A police officer was killed when his vehicle was sprayed with gunfire, and an Olympics bus carrying journalists was attacked by people throwing rocks. Even before the armed robbery this weekend of four American swimmers, including the gold medalist Ryan Lochte, a series of crimes had drawn attention to Brazil’s shortcomings in providing security for the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. But for many in this   city, a bigger question remains: What will happen after the Games? To thwart crime around the Olympics, Brazil has mobilized a security juggernaut in Rio twice the size of the one used for the London Games in 2012. Mindful of Rio’s reputation for violent crime, the Brazilians have deployed 85, 000 security personnel. This show of force includes 23, 000 soldiers patrolling the city, some in military vehicles, along with helicopters and warships looming around the city’s most popular beaches. “The city has never felt so safe,” said Gilberto Dias, 50, a hot dog vendor who described how plainclothes officers had sprung to action one morning last week after two muggers accosted a tourist in the upscale Copacabana neighborhood. “They just materialized out of nowhere, which is something I’ve never seen before. ” But even before the Games began, Rio was facing a surge in lawlessness in recent months that had rattled residents and alarmed the authorities. With the economy in turmoil, assaults and robberies on the street jumped by 42 percent in May, with 10, 000 robberies that month. And after years of declining homicides, the number of murders increased by more than 7 percent during the first half of the year, with over 1, 500 people killed. As dread persists over street violence and gun battles rage in Rio’s favelas, some Brazilians worry about what will happen in the aftermath of the Games, when the soldiers are withdrawn and the city is left on its own to grapple with a financial crisis. “The assault on the American athlete is what happens to us in Rio every day,” said Marcello Brito, 51, an architect, referring to Mr. Lochte. Rio’s finances were so bad before the Games that it had declared a “state of calamity. ” Budgets had been gutted, with police officers and firefighters protesting delays in receiving pay by holding signs at the airport telling visitors, “Welcome to hell. ” The federal government responded with an $850 million bailout package to help the state of Rio de Janeiro stay afloat, pay salaries and keep essential services running during the Olympics. But the crisis in Rio’s finances, which are heavily dependent on global oil prices, remains, and the security lapses threaten to undermine ambitions for a resurgence in the city’s fortunes. The authorities invested billions of dollars in sports venues, transit systems and   pacification projects in poor urban areas, arguing that the Olympics would serve as a linchpin in overhauling the city. In the weeks before the Games, Mayor Eduardo Paes even contended that Rio would be “the safest city in the world. ” Many residents have welcomed the increased security. “It’s nice to see soldiers patrolling the streets, at least where I live,” said Cassius Almada, 39, a high school math teacher who lives in Copacabana. “It could be a lot worse. ” But those living beyond the necklace of upscale seafront neighborhoods say the increased security has had little effect in communities that have long been troubled by violence. Maria do Rosário Silva Santos, 54, who was visiting Rio from Brasília, the nation’s capital, said she had been stunned to see young men  —   not police officers  —   toting guns casually in Acari, a   neighborhood in north Rio, where she was staying during the Games. “It was shocking to see,” she said. “As far as I can tell, nothing has changed. ” Some security experts emphasized that considerable risks persisted around the city, especially in favelas, the poor areas that generally emerged as squatter settlements and that are still controlled by drug gangs. Because of Rio’s financial crisis, plans fell apart to establish a network of policing outposts in Maré, one large area of favelas. Julita Lemgruber, the director of the Center for Studies on Public Security and Citizenship at Candido Mendes University in Rio, said it was naïve to expect a drastic drop in crime during the Games. “The government thought a snap of their fingers would bring peace to a city that has lived through so much violence in the past few years,” she said. “It doesn’t do any good to have this show of thousands of extra police unless you tell every Olympic athlete to walk the street with a policeman by his side. ” The Olympics, she said, had actually increased bloodshed  —   but only in the vast favelas, where the police have been battling militias and drug gangs. In Complexo do Alemão, a large group of favelas, a   of gun battles since the start of the Olympics has left at least two residents dead and two police officials wounded. “Police forces are invading the favelas every day and killing people, which is outrageous,” Ms. Lemgruber said. “How can anyone hope to bring peace by spreading violence?” Heder Martins de Oliveira, the vice president of Brazil’s National Association of Police Officers, said that the killing of the officer in Rio last week pointed to the risks that security forces faced daily in the city. Referring to the wave of armed assaults during the Games, he said, “The situation would be even worse, an international disgrace, if dedicated police weren’t doing their job at this time. ” “Of course, there’s more attention to these episodes because they’re taking place when the world is looking at Rio,” Mr. Martins de Oliveira said. “But this is a dilemma that Rio faces on a daily basis. ” The police have also been involved in violent episodes blemishing the Olympics. Over the weekend, an   federal police official opened fire in the direction of a man he was brawling with at Rio Scenarium, a downtown nightclub. It was not clear whether anyone was seriously injured. Amid the surge in lawlessness, many residents have found a measure of solace on social media, where they commiserate about their experiences and document each episode of crime in hopes of spurring the authorities to action. Among dozens of Facebook groups focused on crime is “Where I was robbed,” a   map containing dots that form a road map of brutalization and despair. “Hello, hello, authorities!” one Facebook user, Eliane Cattapan, wrote recently. “With the arrival of all the tourists, I’m much more afraid of the rise in street crime than terrorism. ”",true,news,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
8012,8013,"Wednesday 9 November 2016 Democrats begin search for candidate who knows how to use email  Officials inside the Democrat party have begun a party-wide search for a candidate who knows how to use email.  Party strategists have decided that an inability to use email properly has cost them the White House, and that an aptitude for email will be a real vote winner in 2020.  As one  insider explained, “Trump has won the presidential election off the back of our inability to convince the American public we can set up and use a modern email service.  “If we can just address that one hurdle we can win back the White House in four years time.  “You wouldn’t happen to know anyone who is good with email, would you? Anyone?  “I don’t care about their policy objectives, or political views, or their religion – just promise me they know a blind-copy from a reply-all, and we’ll back them all the way.  “It’s the only reason we lost. Yes, it is, shut up.” Get the best NewsThump stories in your mailbox every Friday, for FREE! There are currently ",fake,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
8016,8017,"Reuters) - Venezuela on Monday accused U.S. President Donald Trump of conducting “political terrorism” through travel restrictions on eight countries including the socialist-run South American nation, which is already at loggerheads with Washington.  Trump on Sunday announced the restrictions on citizens from North Korea, Venezuela and Chad, expanding earlier travel bans that Trump says are necessary to fight terrorism but have been derided by critics and courts. “It is worth pointing out that these types of lists are incompatible with international law, and constitute a form of psychological and political terrorism,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. “Our people are being sanctioned because of their pacifist nature as well as their tolerance and respect for different religions and beliefs,” it added. The statement said Venezuela will “consider all necessary measures to protect national interests and sovereignty,” without providing details on how it would respond. The restrictions related to Venezuela focus on officials who have been determined to have done an inadequate job verifying whether citizens pose national security or public safety threats. Washington this year has issued several rounds of sanctions against Venezuelan officials, partly in response to the creation of a legislative superbody called the Constituent Assembly that critics call the consolidation of a dictatorship. President Nicolas Maduro has called those sanctions a financial blockade against the country, which is grappling with triple-digit inflation and chronic product shortages as its economy unravels. The text of the U.S. travel restrictions released on Sunday mentions officials at agencies including the Interior Ministry, the investigative police known as CICPC, the Saime passport and identification office, as well as the Foreign Ministry.  Interior Minister Nestor Reverol already was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department in July, along with 12 other current or former officials accused of undermining democracy. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
8022,8023,"When Andriy Shevchenko netted the winning penalty to condemn Juventus to defeat in the 2003 Champions League final , they surely would not have envisaged it would take them this long to get back to Europe ' s top table .  That penalty shootout followed a 0 0 draw which saw  Milan crowned European champions in the first all Italian final . Now , after a long journey , Juve are back among the continent ' s elite .  Another goalless draw , this time against Monaco on Wednesday night , was more successful for Turin ' s Old Lady as they reached the Champions League semi finals with Bayern Munich , Real Madrid and Barcelona on the horizon .  Gianluigi Buffon was celebrated reaching the Champions League semi finals , 12 years after final heartbreak  Juventus ' players salute their supporters after the final whistle in Monaco having made it to the last four  Juve have endured a tough few years but they are now back were they belong among the elite of Europe  The 12 year gap between now and that night at Old Trafford has been one of twists and turns : relegations , promotions , league titles , stripped league titles and European failure at the hands of relative minnows like Fulham and Bordeaux .  Captain Gianluigi Buffon said on Wednesday : ' I thought I ' d have to wait less when I was at this stage 12 years ago , but seeing the journey was very difficult , we can enjoy this result even more .  ' We knew it was a great opportunity and after 12 years we wanted to honour the history of Juve . '  Even this season , Bianconeri supporters thought they were as good as out of this tournament as early as late October . A shock defeat by Olympiacos in Athens had them on the brink of exit before they scrambled to a runner up spot in Group A behind Atletico Madrid .  Then Borussia Dortmund gave them a mighty scare in the last 16 before the narrow win over Monaco .  Andriy Shevchenko sent Buffon the wrong way with the winning penalty in the Old Trafford final on 2003  The Juventus players , including Alessandro Del Piero ( centre ) reflect on their defeat in the showpiece final  Back in 2010 , Juventus were downed by Fulham in the Europa League , a side now in the Championship  Pajtim Kasami celebrates after leaving Juve on the brink of exit back in October , but they made it through  Looking back , their group stage progression is not too dissimilar to the club ' s fortunes over the last decade . After finishing third in Serie A the season after the 2003 final , Juventus came back to win the league twice in a row only to be stripped of them both amid Italy ' s match fixing scandal that sent them into the second division .  On promotion , they took four further years to reach the summit of Italy ' s top tier once again but piece by piece , the nation ' s most successful side has rebuilt .  That hasn ' t come easy , particularly with their domestic division being overtaken by England ' s Barclays Premier League , Spain ' s La Liga and the German Bundesliga .  Talent is hard to tempt to Italy as shown by the failings of  Milan , Inter Milan , Lazio and Roma . And when the talent does come , it is usually picked off by the big boys from abroad .  The Italian champions were relegated to Serie B amid Italy ' s matchfixing scandal but soon rose back up  Juventus celebrate their second consecutive Serie A title last season , and they are on track for a fourth now  But not at Juventus . The side celebrating on the Stade Louis  pitch on Wednesday night included household names such as Buffon , Carlos Tevez and Arturo Vidal , while Paul Pogba the most sought after talent in Europe is on his way back from injury .  He could even be ready for the semi finals , something any opponent would dread .  They haven ' t conceded in their last three Champions League games a hallmark of any great Italian side and their comfortable domestic lead gives them all the time in the world to prepare for their final two or three matches in the competition .  Buffon and Carlos Tevez hug on the pitch of the Stade Louis  , and they both have a point to prove  Arturo Vidal is one of the most sought after midfielders in Europe but he has stuck with Juve until now  Paul Pogba could be back in time for their semi final next month and will likely be a key player in any clash  Barca , Real and Bayern should beware : the oldest team left in it have a point to prove , and for some this could be their last shot at European glory .  Tevez has been linked with a return to South America after nine years in Europe . Andrea Pirlo , Patrice Evra and Buffon are not far from the end of their careers , either .  Combine that with the midfield prowess of Pogba and Claudio Marchisio , and the solid defence provided by Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci and they just might do it .  Juve will be the team that everyone wants to draw but nobody will enjoy playing against .  Roberto Pereyra , Andrea Pirlo , Tevez and Fernando Llorente celebrate reaching Europe ' s final four  Pirlo , aged 35 , might be facing his best chance of one last European title with the Bianconeri this season  Vidal had it about right after Wednesday ' s game when he said : ' I am not afraid of anyone .  ' I think all four teams in the semi finals have their qualities and on Friday we ' ll see who we face , but right now I think we ' re on a par with all of them . We play with our heads now and are a mature team , I ' d say . '  The European giants wearing the famous black and white stripes might finally have awoken .  ",true,text,test,Football,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
8025,8026,"Reuters) - Bones, a moldy hot water bottle, a pair of rusty pliers and a pristine pair of women s pants are among the eclectic cast-offs Reuters photographer Stefan Wermuth has found along the River Thames. Wermuth spent two months collecting items along the riverside to give a snapshot of the litter that finds its way into the waterway that runs through the heart of London. For the photo essay, click on: reut.rs/2yyarEZ A gold-plated watch, a letter in Lithuanian in a bottle and a mobile phone were also retrieved from along the shores of the river, which has undergone extensive cleanups since the Natural History Museum declared the Thames biologically dead in 1957.  Today, marine life including seals, porpoises and dolphins have been spotted swimming alongside fish and a hard drive that Wermuth found littering the murky waters.  Pollution remains a problem. In March, Thames Water was handed a record 20 million pound ($26 million) fine for pumping sewage into the river. The water company apologized for its failings and said it was working to improve rivers. London municipal authorities say 4,000 plastic bottles were removed from the river over a one-month period alone last year, demonstrating the scale of the waste problem.  The impact of pollution on marine life in the Thames has in recent years prompted campaigns to encourage Londoners to make sure their rubbish goes in the bin - rather than the water. ",true,dataset,test,Other sport,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
8031,8032,"I m open to do it because I think the rest of our staff deserves it , Lue said . I think the reward for coaching LeBron is you get scrutinized .  The Cavs ranked 29th in the league in pace entering the night and Lue wants to play faster .  Tyronn Lue wants the Cavaliers playing a more up tempo style of basketball , and while James doesn t exactly sound sure as to why ? the Cavaliers played slower under David Blatt and had success with it ? he s going along with it . I think we came out and did that , and then I think we dropped off the map . Would you fire Derek and try to get a better coach such as Mark Jackson who used to play for  I believe in the 1980 s ?  Earlier , Griffin disputed the notion that James was part of the franchise s decision making process regarding Blatt , saying the four time  doesn t run this organization .  Guard Jimmy Butler scored 20 points and grabbed nine rebounds , Taj Gibson had 15 points and eight rebounds for the Bulls and Nikola Mirotic scored 17 off the bench . What we needed was a connectedness to each other that we weren t playing with , Cavs general manager David Griffin said on Saturday . It s a great sign when you come into a place like this that was buzzing . It s one we can build off . We were aggressive on both ends of the floor .  James comments of conformity come less than a week after Blatt was sacked as head coach in a move many speculated was made at James discretion .  Lue s got work to do , but he was mostly pleased with his team s effort . I think the world of David Blatt as a person , Hoiberg said . Guys listened , paid attention , gave me a maximum effort , and we ve just got to continue to have that maximum effort . Which makes the position Tyronn Lue is in so hard . Lue said former Suns assistant Mike Longabardi will be added to Cleveland s staff .  The scoring drought foreshadowed a rough night for the Cavs , who at one point were 2 of 12 on free throws . G F Shabazz Muhammad scored 25 Saturday vs . Memphis , averaging 14 . 8 points over his past 13 games . He had 26 points , 13 rebounds and nine assists but was 11 of 27 from the field .  Anderson scored 23 points and tied a season high with six 3 pointers while leading hot shooting New Orleans to a 116 99 win over the Bucks ( see full recap ) .  Typically if a coach and his team had the duty in the previous season , the job goes to the coach of the second placed team in the conference ? who as of Sunday was Gregg Popovich s San Antonio Spurs .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
8039,8040,"The people who killed three Israeli teenagers have hurt the Israeli people deeply , there ' s no doubt about that . But they have also harmed Palestinians , and they have hurt the cause of peace .  Anyone who fails to condemn this horrific act the murder of students going home from school is contributing to the poison that makes peace so difficult in the Mideast . Anyone who hesitates , who equivocates , is helping to prolong the conflict .  For Palestinians and their supporters around the world , if you remain silent about the killing of Israelis , you are adding to the duration and bitterness of this conflict . Excuse this atrocity , and you condemn the people of this area to remain enemies for the foreseeable future .  That does not mean you cannot criticize Israeli actions , but the cold blooded murder of Israeli children will have the effect of making Israelis less willing to believe they can accept Palestinians as their neighbors and live in peace .  Israelis today are consumed with grief , but they are watching how the world reacts . They are watching how Palestinians react .  I , for one , am convinced that the vast majority of Israelis would strongly support , even advocate and push for a withdrawal from the West Bank if they really believed that they would be safe living alongside a Palestinian state . These attacks undermine their confidence . They provide evidence to back the claim that Palestinians will never let that happen , that what they really want is to destroy Israel .  In the hours after we learned that bodies of the three teens Eyal Yifrach , 19 , Gilad Shaar , 16 and Naftali Frankel , 16 had been found under a pile of rocks in a field near Hebron , reaction has been predictable and often disheartening , just as it was when we found out someone had kidnapped them on June 12 .  Frankel , it ' s worth noting , was an American citizen , which brings up the question of how the United States will respond to his killing . Secretary of State John Kerry said earlier that "" many indications point to Hamas involvement , "" noting that Hamas , designated as a terrorist organization by many countries , has used kidnappings in the past . The  says it has launched an investigation .  The atrocities were swiftly condemned by some countries . On social media , there has been a flurry of accusations against Israel ahead of what is expected to be a strong Israeli reaction against Hamas , which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he is absolutely sure carried out the operation .  But others were slow to comment . It took the European Union ' s foreign policy chief almost a week to condemn the kidnappings . She did it only after Israel complained about European silence .  Days earlier , Israeli forces rushed into the West Bank in an urgent and ultimately unsuccessful effort to find the three before they were killed . The military deployment produced clashes with protesters in which five Palestinians were killed by Israeli soldiers . That received a great deal of attention .  The mothers of the kidnapped students appealed for help at the U . N . Human Rights Council in Geneva , describing "" every mother ' s nightmare . . . waiting and waiting endlessly for her child to come home . "" They described their children , one was an amateur pastry chef . Another "" loves to play guitar and basketball . He ' s a good student and a good boy , "" said a heartbroken Racheli Frankel of her son Neftali .  But the Human Rights Council reacted to her tearful words with chilling indifference .  Many others , including human rights organizations , tempered their criticism of the kidnapping by calling the boys "" settlers . "" The truth is that two of the three did not live on the West Bank . They lived west of the Green Line well inside Israel . The third lived in a settlement called Efrat , in the Gush Etzion area , which was in Jewish hands before the 1967 war , even before the 1948 war , and even Jimmy Carter , a harsh critic of Israeli settlement , agrees it will remain in Israel after a Palestinian state is created . Every peace plan has agreed .  But that ' s hardly relevant . The teens were students , not warriors . Kidnappings are immoral . Murder is inhuman .  For some Palestinians , the kidnapping was cause for celebration . A new three finger salute became popular , marking the capture of three Israelis . The Facebook page for Fatah , the Palestinian Authority ' s main party , had a number of cartoons , including one showing the three teenagers as Jewish rats , wearing yarmulkes , caught on a fishing line .  To his great credit , Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the kidnapping . For that , he came under fierce criticism . Hamas , which is now part of the Palestinian Authority government in a unity deal with Fatah , made no effort to conceal its glee .  Hamas denies it had anything to do with the kidnapping . But earlier , its exiled chief , Khaled Meshal , was ambiguous about responsibility , saying only "" I congratulate the abductors . ""  Opinion : Slain teens call for justice , not escalation  When Israeli authorities named two Hamas members as the perpetrators , the mother of one of the men told Israeli television "" If he did it , I ' ll be proud of him . "" She joins other Palestinian mothers proud of children who commit murder , adding to Israelis ' doubts about future coexistence .  Israelis are watching closely to see what Abbas does about his unity deal with Hamas , an organization that is openly committed to Israel ' s destruction . If Israel can show definitive proof that Hamas was indeed behind the kidnapping and killing , it is inconceivable that Abbas would let the unity deal stand . It is even more inconceivable that the United States and Europe would continue providing millions to support the Palestinian Authority under those conditions .  This killing hurts Israelis and Palestinians who want peace . The only way this tragedy could be turned into a positive step would be if the Palestinians who support reconciliation , who are outraged by what happened , would speak out loudly against it . That would spark a positive reaction and create energy toward reconciliation . Can that happen ? In this atmosphere , we can only hope for a positive surprise .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
8043,8044,"Reuters) - El Salvador on Wednesday launched the first commission to search for persons who went missing during its civil war, 25 years after the end of a conflict that left tens of thousands dead and hundreds of cases unresolved. The commission will seek victims who were killed or kidnapped by the military or rebels in order to help reunite them with families or return their remains People who lost relative have demanded such measures for decades.   With this instrument we reaffirm our deep commitment to pay off the historical debt to the victims of forced disappearances in the country,  said leftist President Salvador Sanchez Ceren, himself a former guerrilla leader.  The 1980-1992 war in El Salvador between the U.S.-backed army and the Marxist guerrillas of the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN), now the ruling party, left 75,000 dead and 8,000 missing.  We hope that this commission gives something to the mothers because what we want is at least for them to tell us what they did with them,  said Sof a Hernandez, 74, who is looking for a daughter, two brothers and four nephews. Last year, the Supreme Court of Justice declared unconstitutional an amnesty law that has prevented since 1993 investigating and prosecuting those accused of war crimes in the impoverished Central American country. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
8047,8048,"Every Chipotle customer knows "" Guacamole is an extra charge , is that okay ? Many customers say yes , others are annoyed by the whole process of getting the burrito the way they want . To lure back customers and satisfy current ones , guacamole will now be free with any burrito or bowl .  Chips and guacamole will still cost extra but customers are thrilled with free guacamole on their burritos . Suzy Thompson of Denver , Colorado is "" super excited and "" definitely going back now . ""  "" I love guacamole but was always angry it cost an extra 1 . 80 . I always get my bowl with guacamole and it was annoying to hear "" it cost extra from the employe . Like I can ' t read the sign . They treat us like idiots . ""  The company will lose a little money on every burrito with guacamole but with sales down 30 , the company is hoping to boost sales and this strategy has great potential to succeed .  "" It will hurt our profit per burrito sold , "" said Chipotle spokesman Joe Marrese . "" But our overall sales should see a tremendous boost in volume and that will make up the loss in the extra cost of the free guac . ""  The free guac ' strategy will help get the struggling franchise back on track after months of declines sales and stock price after several foodborne illnesses devastated the company and some of its customers .  Several stores were accused of spreading e coli and the noro virus and Chipotle has had trouble rebounding from the bad publicity . It ' s noticeable by going to your local Chipotle .  "" When people get sick from eating at your restaurants , it ' s bound to have an impact . We have retrained our staff and increased our safety procedures . But the average consumer won ' t notice that . They will notice a sign saying Free Guacamole , "" ' said  Steve Ells . "" We are back in business , baby . ""  The company ' s stock hopes to get back to 800 mark that it achieved before the food poisoning scandal nearly a year ago .  ",satire,text,test,Other sport,Economy,true,satire,True,no,no,positive,past
8051,8052,"Ted Ligety claimed his second gold of the world skiing championships Monday , lifting the U . S . to the top of the medals table in Austria .  The 28 year old from Salt Lake City produced a masterful performance over the two legged super combined event for an aggregate time of two minutes 56 . 96 seconds .  It left him 1 . 15 seconds faster than Croatian veteran Ivica Kostelic , with Romed Baumann , giving the hosts some rare cheer by taking the final podium spot .  Ligety trailed Baumann by 0 . 72 seconds after the earlier downhill leg , but showed his all round skills on the floodlit Planai slope at Schladming in the slalom .  He edged inside the time set by Kostelic , then watched as a succession of challengers , including two time defending champion Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway , ski out in trying to match his time .  Ligety was already celebrating when Baumann gave Austria just its second bronze of the championships .  "" I surely took all the risks this evening after my great downhill run , I knew I had chance for another podium finish today , "" Ligety told the official championship website .  "" These worlds have been pretty exciting for me so far .  "" Now I ' m looking forward for another great race in the coming giant slalom . ""  Ligety has stepped into the breach after the super G crash which left fellow American Lindsey Vonn with season ending injuries .  Vonn was expected to lead the U . S . medal charge in Austria , but Ligety took the men ' s super G title to compensate for her early exit his first ever major victory in that discipline .  Svindal , the downhill winner , saw his chances go when he straddled a gate in the mid section of a treacherous course , while Kostelic was disappointed he could not capitalize on a storming earlier run in the downhill .  "" I didn ' t ski well at all this evening so I am very happy by that silver medal , "" he said .  "" It ' s a lucky medal . I think I didn ' t deserve be on the podium after such as bad slalom run following that great downhill leg earlier today . ""  Ligety will get a chance for a hat trick of golds in Friday ' s giant slalom he won the title in 2011 in that discipline .  The championships are an important staging post ahead of the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi in a year ' s time .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
8067,8068,"Last updated on : November 19 , 2015 8 : 43   President Barack Obama said Thursday that Islamic State could be defeated only if there was a political agreement in Syria .  "" It ' s going to be a multiyear task and we ' re not going to be able to fully succeed in eliminating their safe havens until we have a political settlement of some sort in Syria , "" the president said at an Asia Pacific conference in the Philippines .  Obama also previewed the soon to be initiated global peace conference on Syria . He said the talks could identify opposition groups that can be part of a transitional government and set out a blueprint for new elections .  The next step , he said , would be "" to initiate a cease fire that may not be observed by everyone , but at least would create pockets of calm that could hopefully grow over time . ""  One thing is for sure in Syria ' s future , Obama said : There can be no place for President Bashar al Assad .  "" It is unimaginable that you can stop the civil war there when the overwhelming majority of people in Syria consider him to be a brutal , murderous dictator , "" the president said . "" He cannot regain legitimacy . ""  The international community has been working for more than three years to find a way to end the fighting in Syria , which has killed at least 250 , 000 people . ? Assad ' s role has divided key members on either side of the conflict .  Obama said Russia and Iran have to decide whether to continue to prop up Assad or work with the international community to save the Syrian state .  Assad told Italian state television that no talks to end the war could begin while "" terrorists "" occupied parts of Syria . He uses the word ? "" terrorists "" to refer to all opposition , from moderates to Islamic State extremists .  Also Thursday , Saudi Arabia announced it would hold a conference next month to try to unite the moderate Syrian opposition groups ahead of the international peace talks . It gave no details .   Men transport a casualty after what activists said were airstrikes by forces loyal to Syria ' s President Bashar al Assad on a busy marketplace in Douma , near Damascus , Syria , Aug . 12 , 2015 .  Deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes told reporters earlier Thursday that Obama was using his overseas trip to build more support for fighting the militant group that has claimed attacks in a number of countries in recent weeks .  "" World leaders understand that this is not something that is distant , this  group has aspirations to attack the entire civilized world , "" Rhodes said , using another acronym for Islamic State . "" So there is a new sense of urgency . We want to take that urgency and make it concrete . ""  The U . S . has been leading a coalition of nations carrying out airstrikes against the militants in Syria and Iraq for more than a year .  Canada has been among those with warplanes bombing targets in both countries , but is now withdrawing from that mission .  Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised during a campaign that brought him to power this month that he would withdraw the six Canadian fighter jets in the region , and reiterated his commitment to that pledge Thursday .  "" We will be doing that in collaboration , coordination with all our allies to ensure that the coalition still has tremendous impact against  , "" he said .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
8103,8104,"As early as last year Abdelhamid Abaaoud was already known to security forces after appearing , laughing , in an Islamic State video .  Paris : ? The Islamic State jihadist suspected of orchestrating the Paris attacks was killed in a major police raid in the French capital , prosecutors confirmed on Thursday , raising troubling questions about a breakdown in intelligence and European border security .  Abdelhamid Abaaoud , a Belgian of Moroccan origin linked to a series of extremist plots in Europe over the past two years , died in Wednesday ' s assault by elite police units on an apartment in northern Paris .  The 28 year old was thought to have been in Syria where he had boasted of planning attacks on the West and his presence in France will renew debate about Europe ' s border controls and monitoring of fighters returning from Syria .  Confirmation that such a high profile figure from the Islamic State (  ) group had managed to slip undetected into France prompted a sharp response from Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve , who demanded Europe step up its response to the terror threat .  He said Paris had received "" no information "" from other European countries about his arrival on the continent .  "" It is urgent that Europe wakes up , organises itself and defends itself against the terrorist threat , "" Cazeneuve told reporters .  Abaaoud was the subject of an international arrest warrant issued by Belgium where a court had in July sentenced him in absentia to 20 years in prison for recruiting jihadists for Syria .  But it was only three days after the Paris bloodbath that "" intelligence services of a country outside Europe indicated they had knowledge of his presence in Greece , "" Cazeneuve said , without specifying which country .  Abaaoud was also checked by police at Cologne Bonn airport on his way to Istanbul in early 2014 , German officials said , but was allowed to go as they had no indication he should be stopped .   interior and justice ministers are to meet in Brussels on Friday where they will tighten checks on all travellers at the external borders of the passport free Schengen zone as an emergency measure .  French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said the bloc ' s cherished policy of passport free travel in the so called Schengen zone would be "" called into question "" if Europe "" doesn ' t live up to its responsibilities . ""  Abaaoud was involved in four out of six attack plots foiled in France this year , Cazeneuve said , including one to attack a church near Paris . Police are also probing links to a thwarted assault on a high speed train from Amsterdam to Paris in August .  As the Paris probe widened to countries across Europe , Belgian police arrested nine people in Brussels , seven in raids linked to a suicide bomber who blew himself up outside the French national stadium in Paris last Friday .  Italy was also hunting five suspects after an  tip off about possible jihadist attacks on landmark sites .  Paris prosecutor Francois Molins said handprint analysis was used to identify Abaaoud ' s body , found riddled with bullets in the rubble of the shattered building in Saint Denis following a seven hour police siege .  Molins said it was not yet clear whether Abaaoud blew himself up . Another body found after the ferocious shootout is thought to be that of Abaaoud ' s 26 year old cousin Hasna Ait Boulahcen , who detonated an explosives vest .  Fresh raids were launched on Thursday on a house northeast of Paris where Boulahcen lived until recently with her mother and siblings .  Her brother said she had become radicalised about six months ago and began wearing a full face veil or niqab .  "" She was unstable , she wasn ' t looking to study religion , I have never seen her open a Koran , "" he told  , saying she had left home three weeks ago .  Eight arrests were made in Wednesday ' s massive raid in Saint Denis , but another key suspect , Salah Abdeslam , remains unaccounted for .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
8106,8107,"Superclubs and fishbowls are being phased out by holiday company Thomson as it launches a new range of holidays aimed at young travellers who want a more classy trip abroad .  Thomson Scene is aimed at 18 35 year olds keen something more sophisticated than boozing up and baking on the beach , and will eventually replace their current 2wenty concept .  ' We are aiming at a young person who is , typically about two years into a new job , perhaps working in London and enthusiastic about trendy hotels , ' said David Burling ,  and Ireland managing director for Thomson ' s parent company Tui  .  Thomson has launched a new brand that offers holidays to young travellers who want more than Magluf  New destinations include Goa in India and Santorini in Greece , though regular party locales will still be offered  The portfolio will be separated into ' Scene Hub ' for the younger end of the spectrum with more affordable hotels in popular destinations , and ' Scene Style ' , for the more cashed up travellers who want more trendy accommodation .  The move is a departure from the large , uniform , all inclusive style hotels that are often offered as part of the company ' s portfolio for younger travellers .  The Club 18 30 concept was actually created by Thomas Cook , but has equivalents at various tour operators , such as the 2wenty concept from Thomson , which is being phased out in favour of Thomson Scene .  Young Britons ' lurid behaviour in resort havens such as Spain ' s Magaluf was highlighted last summer with cheap dorm accommodation and even cheaper alcohol on the menu for most .  Thomson is aiming at the market who wants more from their holiday with their packages now set to include the Greek resorts of Santorini and Mykonos along with Croatia for short haul trips .  Long haul destinations will include Thailand , Goa in India and Cancun in Mexico .  Thomson Scene offers more trendy hotels than those currently included in their holidays  Despite the rebranding Thomson continues to supply holidays for 18 to 35 year olds to party scene hotspots like Ibiza and Corfu and in total is providing breaks in 86 hotels in 34 resorts in 20 destinations .  The company ' s announcement came in the Slovenian capital Ljubljana where travel association Abta is holding its annual convention .  An Abta survey released today showed that three per cent of  men had been on an overseas stag party event , with men preferring city breaks for their stag dos while women opted for beach destinations for their overseas hen parties .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
8109,8110,"Silverstone , England If an unexpected fourth place at the Czech MotoGP two weeks ago had given Marc Marquez ' s rivals cause for hope , Sunday at Britain ' s Silverstone served as a reminder that his talents run deep .  This was Marquez at his imperious best , as well as a fine advertisement for a sport that thrives on white knuckle tension in a scintillating contest , MotoGP ' s youngest ever champion roared back to form .  His victory means only a disaster for the 21 year old Catalan can prevent him lifting his second title well before the end of the season .  Repsol Honda ' s record breaking star began on pole after a typically impressive qualifying session , but quickly found himself playing catch up to an apparently rejuvenated Jorge Lorenzo .  The Movistar Yamaha rider seized his chance in warmer than expected conditions , taking an early lead as a fierce skirmish developed behind him .  Ducati ' s Andrea Dovizioso had gatecrashed the Honda Yamaha power party on the starting grid , and the Italian took his increasing confidence into battle with Dani Pedrosa and Valentino Rossi .  Gradually the front five eased away from the chasing pack , but remained close enough to one another to throw up some heart stopping moments as positions changed lap after lap .  The contest reached an electrifying climax in the final moments , with Marquez and Lorenzo diving into an uncompromising dogfight .  When Lorenzo seized the initiative with just three laps remaining it looked as though the man from Mallorca might be able to hold on for the win .  The two riders knocked fairings as their battle raged , before an audacious and fearless pass from Marquez fired the championship leader back to the front with two laps remaining .  The champion held his lead to cross the line to claim his 11th victory from the 12 Grand Prix this season .  Marquez was delighted with the win , having missed out to Lorenzo at Silverstone last year .  "" With higher temperatures it seems that both Jorge and Valentino took a step forward , "" he said . "" Above all , Jorge , because he had a great pace and we were fighting right to the end .  "" It was important to win , after missing out at Brno . I also had a score to settle from last year , when Jorge beat me on the final corner , so I am happy to be back on the top step of the podium ! ""  Lorenzo , meanwhile , revealed that he had struggled to maintain the same pace as his rival , and blamed their coming together for the loss of valuable momentum .  "" I lost a lot of time when he ( Marquez ) touched me , "" he said . "" I knew that he was going to try to overtake me in this corner in first gear on the right , but I didn ' t let him enter .  "" On the outside I opened the throttle and he touched me . In the next corner he touched me again as he went into the corner and I lost seven tenths of a second . ""  Even so Lorenzo was pleased with his second place .  "" I made a really good start and pushed 100 , more than ever , so I am really proud of my riding , "" he said .  Rossi who set a new outright record of 246 starts in the premier class of Grand Prix racing won the battle behind the leaders to take third from Pedrosa and a disappointed but philosophical Dovizioso .  "" The result confirms the improvements we are making , "" the Italian said . "" Finishing the race less than ten seconds behind the leaders was almost a dream before the start , but instead we did it and we were always in with a fighting chance of finishing on the podium . ""  The home fans were left frustrated as one of their favorites , Tech3 Yamaha ' s Bradley Smith , was knocked out of contention by a cracked rear wheel .  The Briton ' s tyre deflated as a result , forcing him into the pits . When he re joined with a new wheel his chances of a point scoring finish had gone , but he did manage to ride to within a lap of the leaders , to loud cheers from the stands .  "" I tried to stay out and fight through it but it just got too dangerous to ride , "" Smith said .  "" When we changed ( the wheel ) , I proved that I have the pace for sixth . It was a good weekend up until the race and the team did a great job , but these things happen sometimes . ""  Tech3 could , however , console themselves with an outstanding performance from rookie Pol Espargaro , who forced his way into a highly creditable sixth position .  Of the other top British talent , Scott Redding piloted his Open Class Gresini Honda to a solid tenth , but Ducati ' s Cal Crutchlow could only manage twelfth .  The talented Coventry born rider must surely be counting the days until he leaves for his new team ,  Honda , at the end of an intensely trying season .  The championship now takes a two week break before the San Marino MotoGP , with Marquez a titanic 89 points clear of Pedrosa , and Rossi a further 10 points back in third , with only six races remaining this season .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
8111,8112,"This undated photo provided by the California Department of Motor Vehicles shows Syed Rizwan Farook who has been named as the suspect in the San Bernardino , Calif . , shootings . Farook communicated with individuals who were under  scrutiny in connection with . . . more  In a bizarre move that baffled media commentators and confounded police experts , reporters rummaged through the personal belongings of the San Bernardino shooters on live television Friday after gaining access to the California home the couple rented .  Reporters from cable news networks and local newspapers sorted through belongings left behind , including photos , credit cards and personal documents after the landlord who owned the home allowed access . Items including toys and a crib for the couple s 6 month old baby could be seen inside the home .  Syed Rizwan Farook and his wife , Tashfeen Malik , were killed during a firefight with police as they attempted to evade officers hours after they opened fire at a holiday party for the government agency that employed Farook . The couple killed 14 people and injured another 21 during Wednesday s deadly shooting spree .  It was unclear whether the dozens of people who flooded the couples home should have been allowed such unfettered access to a location where just two days before police recovered more than 4 , 000 rounds of ammunition , bomb making devices and 12 pipe bombs .  A spokeswoman for the  s Los Angeles Field Office said she was not aware of any efforts to get reporters out of the Redlands , California , home .  A crib inside the apartment of Syed Farook and Tashfeen Malik , the . . . more ?  We ve finished our search at that locations , said  spokeswoman Lourdes Arocho , adding that officials were expected to address the issue at a press conference later Friday .  The strange event was also sure to stir up scrutiny of media ethics , as reporters broadcast images of documents found inside the home including a driver s license , Social Security card of individuals who were not believed to be either of the deceased suspects . Photos of unidentified children at a birthday party and involved in other day to day activities were also shown on several news broadcasts .  Investigators were still working to determine what motivated Farook and Malik to commit the massacre , but officials were edging closer to the conclusion that the Muslim couple was radicalized by Islamist extremists either in the U . S . or during trips to the Middle East , including Saudi Arabia .  During a press conference Friday shortly after cable networks began to broadcast images from inside the home , White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest referred questions on the matter to the  .  What the White House is focused on is our investigation get two the bottom of what transpired , he said .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
8149,8150,"To hear Nick Saban and Dabo Swinney tell it , Alabama and Clemson are physically and mentally ready for their 15th game , Monday night s College Football Playoff National Championship Presented by  T ( 8 : 30 p . m .  ,  ) . Both coaches addressed the media en masse for the final time before the game on Sunday morning .  I think we ' re in as good a shape as you can be , Swinney said . I think the schedule has set up well for us . We finished the season playing 10 in a row , and the last stretch of that was a challenge because this is obviously a physical game , and it ' s mentally taxing , and the balance of school and all those things , you know , mount up . But our guys did as good a job as they could handling that .  Our guys have done a really good job of sort of using the rest time that they have , Saban said of the Crimson Tide . When we are practicing and preparing , their focus has been good .  Nick Saban and Dabo Swinney on Sunday morning addressed the media en masse for the final time before the Monday night ' s title game . ?  Swinney discussed the health of All American defensive end Shaq Lawson , who said on Saturday that there s a "" very good chance he ll play . Swinney seems to agree with that assessment .  We expect him to play , Swinney said . Hopefully he ' ll be able to perform and play to the level that we all know he can , but you know , if not , I don ' t think Coach Saban is going to cancel the game over there . We ' re going to have to keep playing , so we ' ll put the next guy in there . . . . But we expect him to play , and he looked good Saturday in practice . But again , until you get out there and you ' re playing in a game of this magnitude with the intensity and physicality , you never know . But he ' s done everything that he needs to do to play the game .  For Saban , it will be his last hurrah with defensive coordinator Kirby Smart , who after the game will shift to his new duties as Georgia s head coach .  Well , Kirby has been with me a long time , all the way back to  days , Miami days and the entire time we ' ve been at Alabama , nine years , Saban said . You know , it ' s sort of like you have a son and he ' s moving away , and you want to see him do really , really well because we all go through stations of life where things change , so now someone else will have . . . an opportunity . Kirby will have an opportunity . Somebody will have an opportunity to do what he does , and hopefully we can provide a little leadership and guidance that will help him along the way have a chance to be successful .  The Crimson Tide are seeking their fourth national championship in seven years , so this is familiar territory for Saban Co . For Swinney and the Tigers , it s new ground to cover as Clemson s first title game trip under its current head coach . Clemson ' s last national championship as a program came in 1981 .  That s not lost on Swinney , who said he had the members of his coaching staff who have won a title address his team .  I ' ve got 11 guys on my staff in different capacities that have won national championships , and I ' ve kind of talked to them and got them all up in front of the team , Swinney said . You take a guy like defensive tackles coach Dan Brooks , for example . Dan Brooks has been coaching 42 years and he ' s coached at Florida and Tennessee and North Carolina and Clemson . This guy has been at some great programs and he ' s got one national championship . It ' s really hard to do . . . . Hopefully this won ' t be our first time . Hopefully we can be back . I don ' t know if we can make it four out of the next seven years , but it won ' t be for a lack of effort .  The coaches discussed myriad topics unrelated to the game , including the deadline for underclassmen to declare for early entry into the  draft ( Jan . 15 ) and how it affects their teams at this time of year .  The  moved the draft back . I wish they ' d move the declare date back , Saban said . I wish they ' d make a rule that says you can ' t even give a player what his draft status is from the  draft advisory committee until they ' ve finished their competition as a college player , so that you don ' t put them and their family in this situation where there ' s a big timing issue relative to competition .  Said Swinney : There ' s no doubt , it ' s a distraction that all of us have to deal with . . . . You get the grades and some guys , they didn ' t get the grade that they want , so they ' re pouting a little bit and got to pick themselves up . Then you get the guy that gets the grade he wants , so it ' s just I echo that 100 percent . It really should be when the season is over , whenever that is , and they should hold those things .  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
8153,8154,"Former Queens Park Rangers chairman Gianni Paladini has registered as a director of a new Bradford City holding company in what appears to be the first move towards taking control at Valley Parade .  Paladini has been searching for a way back into football since he left Loftus Road in 2011 and has attempted to buy Birmingham City from Carson Yeung .  The Italian seems to have enjoyed more success in West Yorkshire where he has forged an official link to Bradford , a club which has been one of the great success stories of the season .  Former  chief Gianni Paladini appears to be keen on taking over the reins at League One side Bradford  Bradford ' s most memorable moment of the season came during their shock  Cup win over Chelsea  Phil Parkinson ' s team captured the imagination of fans across the nation when they fought back from 2 0 down to win 4 2 at Chelsea in the  Cup and went on to beat Sunderland before losing in a quarter final replay at Reading .  Those  Cup exploits came against a backdrop of colourful and passionate support . They took 8 , 000 supporters to Stamford Bridge and generated a brilliant atmosphere for the tie at home to Sunderland .  It was a reminder of the club ' s enormous potential , having been led out of the doldrums of League Two and administration by chairmen Julian Rhodes and Mark Lawn , with the help of Parkinson ' s managerial skill .  Lawn has spoken of the need to attract new investment and Paladini is registered as the sole director of Bradford City ( Holdings ) Limited , set up in February .  The company was originally set up with Paladini and Mauro Milanese named as directors but Milanese ' s name has been removed .  Paladini has previously made an attempt to buy Birmingham from Carson Yeung ( pictured )  Milanese is a former centre half who played for several Italian clubs and had one year at  during a long playing career and briefly managed Leyton Orient last year .  Paladini ' s ambitions to return to football are well documented . As well as trying to buy Birmingham , he has been linked possible takeovers at Millwall and Reading .  Bradford were beaten 6 0 at home by Bristol City on Tuesday , which confirmed Bristol City ' s promotion to the Championship and virtually ended Bradford ' s hopes of capping an incredible season by reaching the play offs .  Paladini spent eight years at  , seizing control after a complicated takeover in 2003 and attracting investment from billionaires Lakshmi Mittal and F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone and Flavio Briatore . He left his role at Loftus Road in 2011 following the takeover by Tony Fernandes .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
8185,8186,"After hours of back and forth between members , the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America decided Friday evening to accept noncelibate clergy members and lay leaders who are in "" lifelong "" and "" monogamous "" same sex relationships .  Previous Evangelical Lutheran Church policy allows gay and lesbian clergy , lay people to serve only if celibate .  One of the country ' s largest Protestant denominations , the Lutheran church approved four recommendations to its ministry ' s policies that underscore a new approach to homosexuality .  While the recommendations passed at the weeklong Churchwide Assembly in Minneapolis , Minnesota , do not address recognizing same sex marriage or civil unions , they do allow congregations to support same sex relationships among their members and allow individuals in same sex relationships to hold clergy positions .  The previous policy of the 4 . 6 million member church allowed gay people to serve as members of professional rosters only if they were celibate .  Some members argued prior to the vote that the change would fly in the face of religious teachings .  "" Brothers and sisters , I ask you , before you dig yourselves deeper into this hole , if you are so absolutely certain that these behaviors are not sinful that you are willing to place yourselves and this church at the spiritual risk that comes from encouraging sin , "" said the Rev . Steven Frock of the Western Iowa Synod .  Among those on the other side was Alan Wold of the Northern Illinois Synod . "" If according to some I am going to be in err for supporting this . . . Let me err on the side of mercy , grace , justice , and love of neighbor . Let me err on the side of gospel , which makes all things new . ""  Many feared the emotional debate could tear at the unity of the church . So the members voted to re order their resolutions moving to the top a resolution that the church "" commit itself to bear one another ' s burdens , love thy neighbor , and respect the bound consciences of all . "" It passed with overwhelming support .  Other religious denominations , including Episcopalians and Unitarians , have made moves to accept gay clergy , and Evangelical Lutherans would not be the first to accept those openly in same sex relationships , said David Masci , a senior researcher at the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life . But  would be the largest to make such a move .  The church is the third largest Protestant denomination , representing 2 percent of the U . S . population , according to the Pew Forum .  The battle Friday was the latest in what Masci said many "" socially moderate "" denominations , including those in Judaism , are grappling with : balancing the growing acceptance of same sex relationships with traditional teachings .  As some have moved toward accepting same sex relationships , within those same denominations "" you see more conservative wings that are pushing back against it , "" said Masci .  On hand for Friday ' s debate were hundreds of "" interested parties "" including some people who are not members of the church , said John Brooks ,  spokesman .  When asked whether there had been protests or rallies on either side outside the convention site , he responded , "" Interestingly , no . ""  In the convention hall , Brooks said , "" The debates haven ' t been rancorous or mean spirited in any way . They ' ve been quite civil . But people have been passionate with their feelings . ""  The Rev . Terri Stagner Collier of the Southeastern Synod said a vote in favor of the resolutions would cause members of her own family to leave the church . Her sister "" felt her church was being ripped away from her , "" Stagner Collier said tearfully , adding , I urge you not to do this to all of those people in the pew and in my family . ""  Sara Gross of the Oregon Synod said some "" dear members "" of the church will be lost if the resolution passes . But , she said , "" A vote to reject this recommendation sends a message to the world saying ' not all are welcome . ' ""  In a "" changing world , "" Gross argued , the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America "" needs to be a voice that stands up and says ' yes . ' ""  ",true,text,test,Other news2,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
8186,8187,"While science doesn t quite have the technology to give Donald Trump the ability to read our minds, his justice department is doing the next worst thing. They are asking for  addresses of every single person who visited a website that organized inaugural protests. There s a good chance they re after you and me.The website, which coordinated protests across the nation on Inauguration Day, is hosted by Dreamhost, and thankfully, they are fighting the warrant from Trump s justice department. The request from the [Justice Department] demands that DreamHost hand over 1.3 million visitor  addresses   in addition to contact information, email content, and photos of thousands of people   in an effort to determine who simply visited the website,  DreamHost said in Monday s post [emphasis theirs].  That information could be used to identify any individuals who used this site to exercise and express political speech protected under the Constitution s First Amendment. That should be enough to set alarm bells off in anyone s mind. Source: BuzzfeedThat kind of data mining would have made Joseph McCarthy drool. It s clearly an attempt to gather evidence against Trump s opposition, even if that opposition is just regular citizens.It s not the first time they have tried going after protesters through internet history. 200 people were arrested during the January 20th protests and prosecutors have tried to go through Facebook to get information about those people Federal prosecutors have sought a range of electronic information related to the Jan. 20 arrests, including defendants  social media accounts. In a mostly sealed case that the Electronic Frontier Foundation and other digital rights groups believe is related to the Jan. 20 arrests, Facebook is fighting an order blocking the company from alerting users about search warrants for account information. That case is before the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, the city s highest local court.This is all a disgusting violation of privacy. Visiting a legal website is evidence of nothing, yet it s clear that Trump is gathering a list of people who disagree with him. What he will do with that list is still a mystery, but remember, it wouldn t surprise me if people on that list started seeing letters from the  or one of our law enforcement agencies.At the very least, this as an attempt to control dissent and perhaps make people afraid to organize online, which is by far the most effective way to organize. Just like his attempt to gather voter data from states is an attempt at making people afraid to register to vote.Featured image via Pool/Getty Images.",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,present
8199,8200,"In slap at Obama ,  led House moves to block climate rule  Originally published December 1 , 2015 at 2 : 08 pm  A giant globe displays a video animation during a conference about Antarctic mass change at the U . S . Pavillon during the COP21 , United Nations Climate Change Conference , in Le Bourget , outside Paris , Tuesday , Dec . 1 , 2015 . (  Photo Francois Mori )   (  ) ? As President Barack Obama worked to hammer out a global climate agreement in Paris , Republicans in Congress moved to block his plan to force steep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions from U . S . power plants .  The House passed two resolutions Tuesday disapproving Obama s power plant rules and rendering them inoperative . A measure blocking an Environmental Protection Agency rule for existing power plants was approved 242 180 , while a measure blocking a rule on future power plants was approved 235 188 .  The votes come after the Senate approved identical motions last month under a little used law that allows Congress to block executive actions it considers onerous . The measures now go to the White House , where they face almost certain vetoes . Just four Democrats sided with Republicans to support the measures , which fell far short of the numbers needed to override a veto in both the House and Senate .  Rep . Ed Whitfield , R Ky . , said  lawmakers were forcing a vote on the climate rule to send a message to the climate conference in Paris that in America , there s serious disagreement with the policies of this president .  House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy , R Calif . , said Obama wants to reduce carbon emissions , but his policies will kill jobs , increase electricity costs and decrease the reliability of the U . S . energy supply .  And Rep . Jeff Duncan , R S . C . , said he wished Obama took the threat posed by radical jihadists such as the Islamic State as seriously as he takes what Duncan called a pseudoscientific threat posed by climate change .  Democrats countered that the power plant rules were important steps to slow global climate change that is already causing real harm through increased droughts , wildfires , floods and more severe storms .  Rep . Frank Pallone , D N . J . , said it was regrettable that Republicans were trying to block the power plant rules even as officials from more than 190 nearly countries and many of the world s largest private companies gathered in Paris to work out details of a global agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions .  The global agreement will prevent us from further overheating the earth and causing major disruptions to people s lives , their property and to the global economy , Pallone said . We know that ( climate change ) will endanger our children s future if we don t act now .  The Obama administration s Clean Power Plan requires states to cut carbon emissions by 32 percent by 2030 , based on emissions in 2005 . Each state has a customized target and is responsible for drawing up an effective plan to meet its goal .  The  says it has authority to enact the plan under the Clean Air Act .  Twenty five mostly Republican states , led by Texas and West Virginia , are contesting the plan in court , calling it an unlawful power grab that will kill jobs and drive up electricity costs . Several utilities , the National Mining Association and the nation s largest privately owned coal company also are suing the  .   lawmakers challenged the administration s action under the little used Congressional Review Act , which allows Congress to block executive actions with simple majority votes . The maneuver is subject to a presidential veto and has rarely been successful .  The White House issued a veto threat last month , saying the resolutions undermine public health protections of the Clean Air Act and stop critical U . S . efforts to reduce dangerous carbon pollution from power plants .  Speaking in Paris Tuesday , Obama said parts of a global climate agreement should be legally binding . His declaration was both a boost to climate negotiators seeking a tough accord and a challenge to Republicans in Congress , many of whom reject the idea of global warming .  House Speaker Paul Ryan , R Wis . , said Republicans were in step with the American people , who want jobs and economic growth .  I think when you weigh the costs and the benefits against these so called legally binding obligations they don t add up , Ryan told reporters . I think it s very clear people want jobs .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
8225,8226,"Los Angeles Summer 2013 was blurry for Robin Thicke , according to what the "" Blurred Lines "" singer told lawyers in April .  "" Every day I woke up , I would take a Vicodin to start the day and then I would fill up a water bottle with vodka and drink it before and during my interviews , "" Thicke said in a deposition transcript made public Monday .  Being high and drunk appears to be Thicke ' s defense in a high stakes lawsuit filed by Marvin Gaye ' s family against Thicke , producer Pharrell Williams and hip hop artist "" T . I . "" Clifford Harris Jr .  The lawsuit filed last fall contends Thicke ' s "" Blurred Lines "" is an illegal rip off of Gaye ' s "" Got to Give It Up . ""  "" It is a musical impossibility , "" he said in in the April 23 , 2014 deposition . "" They ' re two complete different syncopations and note choices and different keys . One ' s a minor key and one ' s a major key . ""  Fans , journalists and music experts immediately recognized similarities between Gaye ' s 1977 hit and the 2013 ' s summertime smash , Gaye ' s heirs contend .  New York Times writer Rob Hoerburger wrote that the "" Blurred Lines "" bass line "" came right from "" Gaye ' s song .  Musicologist Judith Finell , an expert hired by the Gaye family lawyers , said she identified a "" constellation of at least eight substantially similar compositional features between the two works . . . . The signature phrase , vocal hook , backup vocal hook , their variations , and the keyboard and bass lines "" are substantially similar and they share "" departures from convention such as the unusual cowbell instrumentation , omission of guitar and use of male falsetto , "" she said .  If it was stolen , Thicke was too high and drunk to do it , his testimony suggested . "" I was high on Vicodin and alcohol when I showed up at the studio , "" Thicke said .  "" I walked in and he Pharrell Williams started singing me some ideas he had and the song happened very quickly , "" he said . "" I jumped right into the booth and started singing whatever he said . ""  Thicke does claim creation of the melody and four part harmonies in the second verse , but otherwise Pharrell Williams "" geniused the whole thing . ""  Several print and video interviews Thicke gave last summer tell a different story of Thicke being thickly involved in creating writing and producing the hit .  "" Pharrell and I were in the studio making a couple records , and then on the third day , I told him I wanted to do something kinda like Marvin Gaye ' s ' Got To Give It Up , ' that kind of feel ' cause it ' s one of my favorite songs of all time , "" Thicke told Billboard Magazine for a story published in July . "" So he started messing with some drums and then he started going ' hey , hey , hey ' and about an hour and a half later we had the whole record finished . ""  Thicke now says he was lying to interviewers , partly blaming drugs and alcohol .  "" With all due respect , I was high and drunk every time I did an interview last year , "" he said in the deposition . "" So there are some quotes I don ' t remember saying , but I do generally remember trying to sell the public on the fact that ' Blurred Lines ' was my idea in some way . ""  His lies were elaborations he "" thought it would help sell records , "" he said .  "" I thought that it being my song my idea would make it more personal because my music has always been so personal , that this was the first time I had a song out that wasn ' t personal and had nothing to do with me , and yet it was my biggest successful , which , you know , was very tough for me . And so I lied in my story so I could at least make it seem like , hey , I ' m the guy who came up with this great idea . ""  Thicke denied the lawsuit ' s contention that he has a "" Marvin Gaye fixation . ""  "" I ' ve been called ' the white Marvin Gaye ' since I got started , "" he said . "" So I think I ' ve embraced that , consider it an honor . ""  Thicke said that he was not drugged or drunk during the April deposition . In fact , he had been sober for the previous two months , he said .  "" I ' ve actually only been sober off the pills , off of Vicodin , "" he later said . "" I still drink . ""  "" When your wife leaves you , it gives you good reason to sober up , "" he said . Thicke and his wife , Paula Patton , publicly announced that they had separated in February .  "" Sorry , "" he told the lawyer . "" That ' s why I ' m starting to feel a little sad , because I had a tough year . ""  Robin Thicke has no idea what he ' s doing  Thicke , who has a 20 writing credit for "" Blurred Lines , "" said he didn ' t know how much money he ' s made off the huge hit , since he let ' s his business manager take care of his finances .  "" Blurred Lines "" stayed at the top of Billboard ' s pop chart for a record 16 weeks this summer and sold more than 6 million copies , according to court documents .  Gaye ' s heirs also accuse Thicke of stealing from their father ' s 1976 hit "" After the Dance "" when he recorded "" Love After War "" in 2011 . Those tunes "" contain substantially similar compositional material in their choruses , including the melodies of their hooks , "" the Gaye filing contends .  AskThicke backfires big time on Robin Thicke  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
8229,8230,"The running back committee that the Titans are employing needs to be narrowed down a bit so that players have a chance to get into a rhythm . ?  Dexter McCluster has done well over the last few games at being that complementary back who comes in on certain packages . ?  If the Titans can wear the Texans down by controlling the line of scrimmage , it should open things up for Mettenberger to find open receivers . Simplifying the offense is key for Mettenberger to gain some confidence .  The Texans are 28th in the  at defending the run , allowing just under 130 yards per game . You better believe Titans head coach Ken Whisenhunt will try to take advantage of those struggles .  It was an outstanding defensive effort against the Falcons that put the Titans in great position to pull off the improbable upset . They held the Falcons to just 10 points , which should ' ve been enough to get them out of the loss column .  Another defensive performance like that against a much shakier offense should lead to a relatively comfortable win .  The Titans need to stick with what ' s working , and what ' s working is remaining aggressive at getting to the quarterback . They don ' t let opposing quarterbacks get comfortable in the pocket , and that props up their young secondary .  Even when they miss out on the sack , they seem to always be hurrying the quarterback in the pocket . Derrick Morgan and Jurrell Casey have led this charge with eight sacks combined .  They will face Brian Hoyer at quarterback , who is not having too bad of a season statistically . He ' s thrown 11 touchdowns to just three interceptions , good for a passer rating of 95 . 7 . These solid numbers haven ' t resulted in wins , and they looked awful last week in the Texans ' blowout loss to the Dolphins .  The key will be to get consistent pressure on Hoyer and force him into decisions that he ' s not ready to make . Hoyer is capable of making great throws when given plenty of time to do so . ?  Keeping the Texans from getting the home run play to the likes of DeAndre Hopkins will be vital . You may remember the Titans have fallen victim to big plays in their losses to the Browns , Colts and Bills . Some of that was remedied against the Falcons , even in the loss .  Titans  Ken Whisenhunt ( left ) and Titans  Zach Mettenberger  This game could end up being a matter of who plays worse . It ' s probably not going to be pretty , but someone has to win .  Mettenberger was so close to breaking through for his first career win as a starter last week , and he ' ll come into this game much more prepared . He also has some experience going up against the Texans defense .  Now that Mettenberger has been confirmed as the starter , it ' s hard to see the Titans being able to manage as many points as they would with Mariota under center . However , the running game will be the calling card for the Titans . Andrews and company will string together a couple of long scoring drives to help take control of the time of possession .  Turnovers from both teams will keep this game close going into the fourth quarter , but the Titans defense will outshine the Texans defense . Tennessee will force more mistakes and create some easy points for the offense .  Mettenberger gets the monkey off of his back by getting a win as an  starter , and the Titans get out of the  South cellar .  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
8231,8232,"Washington Claims that workers associated with Animal Planet ' s "" Call of the Wildman "" show mistreated animals have prompted federal officials to review whether an investigation is warranted .  The accusations were made by the magazine Mother Jones , which alleged that "" Call of the Wildman "" staged animal rescues and said it found "" evidence of a culture that tolerated legally and ethically dubious activities . ""  Those activities include sedating a zebra in violation of federal rules , directing trappers to procure animals so they could be "" caught "" again as part of a script and wrongly completing legal documents .  Animal Planet and Sharp Entertainment , the show ' s production company , have disputed the accusations .   spokeswoman Tanya Espinosa said the Mother Jones article prompted the review .  "" Once we have an opportunity to look into the situation , we will work to determine our next steps . If we determine an investigation is warranted , we will open one , "" Espinosa said .  On Wednesday , People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals , an animal rights group , filed a request with the  asking it to investigate the allegations .  "" Call of the Wildman "" centers on Ernie Brown Jr . , also known as "" Turtleman , "" a Kentucky wildlife rescuer who catches "" nuisance "" animals and releases them back into the wild .  "" The life and welfare of all animals is of paramount importance to Animal Planet . It is core to our ethos that every animal ' s life has value . . . The notion that there is a culture of ' neglect ' at the only network that is devoted to celebrating and protecting animals is absurd .  "" Claims in the ' Mother Jones ' article were brought to the production company ' s attention nearly nine months ago . Where appropriate , Sharp Entertainment promptly instituted changes to further ensure the welfare of animals while filming the series . "" it read .  Dan Adler , senior vice president of Sharp Entertainment , said on New Day Thursday , "" The idea that there is a culture of neglect or abuse on the show is completely false . . . Everyone on the show from staff to talent love animals . ""  "" The idea that animals are killed or drugged on ' Call of the Wildman ' is false , "" he said .  Adler said nuisance animals in Kentucky are customarily euthanized , but the show has given hundreds of animals "" a second lease on life . ""  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
8239,8240,"This weekend , Saturday Night Live (  ) will be hosted by Donald Trump . The billionaire candidate for president has been criticized for his hateful rhetoric throughout his campaign . Most notably , Trump initiated his candidacy for president with the following statement :  "" When Mexico sends its people , they ' re not sending the best . They are sending people that have lots of problems , and they ' re bringing drugs , they ' re bringing crime and they are rapists , and some , I assume are good people . . . ""  Soon after , we saw that such hateful rhetoric has consequences , or so we thought .  Stating that "" respect and dignity for all people are cornerstones of our values , "" NBCUniversal ended its business relationship with Trump . The network announced he would no longer host The Celebrity Apprentice , and canceled the scheduled broadcasts of Miss Universe and Miss  Pageants , which are co owned by Trump .  Donald Trump is not fit to serve in any elected office , much less as President of the United States . His support for the mass deportation of 11 million undocumented people and ending birthright citizenship would have detrimental effects . Trump has used his hateful views regarding the Latino community to win political points with his disconnected base and it seems that some of his more ' passionate ' followers took notice .  We must all remember that hateful rhetoric often leads to hateful conduct . A clear example can be seen in what happened in Boston , Massachusetts . Not long after Trump made his racist remarks , two white males brutally beat and urinated on a Latino man simply because he was Latino . The victim suffered a broken nose and bruises to his head and torso . According to police reports , the perpetrators were "" inspired in part "" by Trump ' s hateful rhetoric .  There has been strong opposition to Trump hosting  this Saturday . Some individuals have suggested that we should not prevent Trump from hosting  but that instead we should voice our opposition by not watching . This view misses the point . Trump has targeted Latinos with his racist and xenophobic remarks and his rhetoric is causing real harm to the Latino community . We cannot allow him the time nor a platform such as  to advance such views . Allowing Trump to host a widely popular program is nothing short of a slap in the face to the more than 50 million Latinos living in the U . S . whose only wish is the opportunity to work hard and provide for their families .  On Wednesday , November 4 , 2015 at 6 : 00 P . M .  , along with other respected Latino organizations , will be holding a protest in front of Rockefeller Center . We urge those who want to help us deliver the message to join us in reminding  and Trump that racism under any guise must be rejected by all Americans .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,satire,true,True,no,no,negative,past
8243,8244,"United Nations Syria ' s U . N . ambassador lashed out Thursday at criticism of his daughter , who was in the news last week after  News ' Barbara Walters expressed regret for having tried to help her .  "" This is an unethical , immoral , baseless , unfounded , animal and brutal approach toward personal issues related to my family , "" Bashar Jaafari told reporters here after being asked to address the issue of his daughter ' s link to Columbia University .  "" Somebody is seeking to get to the Syrian ambassador , "" he continued . "" Since they don ' t have any possibility to get to that , they are trying to attack me through my own daughter . This is why this is an unethical approach and immoral . ""  Walters has said she should not have tried to help Sheherazad Jaafari obtain an internship and admission to Columbia ' s prestigious School of International and Public Affairs . "" In retrospect , I realize that this created a conflict and I regret that , "" Walters said last week in a statement .  Walters said Sheherazad Jaafari contacted her following the reporter ' s return from Syria to the United States after a December  interview with Syrian President Bashar al Assad .  Sheherazad Jaafari had coached al Assad before the interview on how to describe the violence there , according to e mails purportedly from Syrian officials released in February by the hacking group known as Anonymous .  "" Don ' t talk reform , "" she wrote in one e mail . "" American ' s ( sic ) won ' t care , or understand that . . . . American psyche can be easily manipulated when they hear that there are ' mistakes ' done and now we are ' fixing it . ' ""  On her resume , Jaafari said she graduated from college in June 2010 and worked for a year as an account executive at Brown Lloyd James , a public relations firm , in New York .  Sheherazad Jaafari said Wednesday that she had met a number of English speaking journalists during a three month , unpaid internship she undertook late last year in Syria while preparing to return to school to pursue her master ' s degree .  "" Unfounded reports published recently have wrongfully claimed that I was the aide of the President of Syria . I want to make clear that I have never served as a President aid ( sic ) to the President of Syria , "" she continued . ""  She added , "" I am nothing but a victim for some personal agendas . ""  Sheherazad Jaafari said that she gained admission to Columbia based on her own qualifications .  What is occurring in Syria "" and to my people saddens me and breaks my heart . It is in my prayers that peace and stability will prevail . ""  "" I miss ur voice already , "" she wrote al Assad in late December . "" Give me a call whenever u can so I could get some energy from you and tell you how much I misss u ( sic ) . ""  Walters has said that Jaafari was "" looking for a job "" when she contacted her . "" I told her that was a serious conflict of interest and that we would not hire her . I did offer to mention her to contacts at another media organization and in academia . ""  Morgan himself denied having had any contact with Jaafari .  Walters also e mailed a professor at Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism on Jaafari ' s behalf . The professor , former  News executive Richard Wald , is the father of Jonathan Wald .  Walters later sent a follow up e mail to Jonathan Wald , advising him not to bother following up with the college graduate , since she did not have an appropriate U . S . visa .  "" This looks like a bit of a quid pro quo , "" Kurtz said last week . "" This woman was close to Assad , the daughter of the ambassador , helps her arrange the interview , and the next day they ' re on e mail talking about helping her Barbara Walters helping her to either get into an Ivy League school or land a media internship . ""  ",true,text,test,US elections,Conflict,satire,true,True,no,no,negative,past
8253,8254,"This week, liberals have been repeating their frequent claim that voter fraud doesn t exist. A recent Salon article argues that  voter fraud just isn t a problem in Pennsylvania,  despite evidence to the contrary. Another article argues that voter fraud is entirely in the imagination of those who use voter  laws to deny minorities the right to vote.Yet as the election approaches, more and more cases of voter fraud are beginning to surface. In Colorado, multiple instances were found of dead people attempting to vote. Stunningly, a woman named Sara Sosa who died in 2009 cast ballots in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013.  In Virginia, it was found that nearly 20 voter applications were turned in under the names of dead people.In Texas, authorities are investigating criminals who are using the technique of  vote harvesting  to illegally procure votes for their candidates.  Harvesting  is the practice of illegally obtaining the signatures of valid voters in order to vote in their name without their consent for the candidate(s) the criminal supports.These are just some instances of voter fraud we know about. It would be silly to assume cases that have been discovered are the only cases of fraud. Indeed according to a Pew Research report from February 2012, one in eight voter registrations are  significantly inaccurate or no longer valid.  Since there are 146 million Americans registered to vote, this translates to a stunning 18 million invalid voter registrations on the books. Further,  More than 1.8 million deceased individuals are listed as voters, and approximately 2.75 million people have registrations in more than one state.  Numbers of this scale obviously provide ripe opportunity for fraud.Don t Let Data Contradict My Narrative Yet in spite of all this, a report by the Brennan Center at New York University claims voter fraud is a myth. It argues that North Carolina, which passed comprehensive measures to prevent voter fraud,  failed to identify even a single individual who has ever been charged with committing in-person voter fraud in North Carolina.  However, this faulty reasoning does not point to the lack of in-person voter fraud, but rather to lack of enforcement mechanisms to identify and prosecute in-person voter fraud.The science of criminal justice tells us that many crimes go unreported, and the more  victimless  the crime, the more this happens. The fact is, a person attempting to commit voter fraud is very unlikely to be caught, which increases the incentive to commit the crime.The National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) is a sophisticated, comprehensive effort to catalog  the number and types of crimes not reported to law enforcement authorities.  However, it tends to deal mostly in violent crimes. As complex as the  is, gathering accurate data for unreported victimless crimes such as voter fraud is even harder, since 1) outside of the criminal, no one may know a crime has taken place, and 2) there is no direct victim to report the crime in the first place. Yet we are expected to believe that, unlike violent crime, voter fraud is limited only to the cases that are actually reported and prosecuted? This is a senseless position. Further, the Brennan Center report argues that because prosecutor Kris Kobach s review of 84 million votes cast in 22 states found only 14 instances of fraud referred for prosecution (which amounts to a 0.00000017 percent fraud rate), voter fraud is so statistically small that it s a non-issue. Let s follow this logic. Does the fact that 109 people were cited for jaywalking in Seattle in 2009 mean that only 109 people jaywalked in Seattle that year? Does the fact that 103,733 people were cited for driving without a seatbelt in Tennessee in 2015 mean that only that many people were driving without seatbelt in Tennessee in 2015?Absolutely not. This can be proven easily because in 2014, the previous year, only 29,470 people were cited. The disparity is largely due to increased enforcement efforts in 2015. In other words, increasing enforcement of the crime revealed a much larger number of people committing the crime.The exact same is true for voter fraud. We have no reason to believe that the low number of prosecutions means only that exact amount of voter fraud is happening. Rather, it could mean a lack of enforcement is failing to reveal the bulk of the violations that are occurring. Thus, as with many types of crimes, especially victimless crimes, the real number of cases is likely significantly higher than the number reported.How to Effectively Target Voter Fraud So now that we know voter fraud is a serious issue, what are some solutions to this problem? States like Michigan have Poll Challenger programs, where observers from both parties may be present at voter check-in tables at precincts. They check each voter s  against a database of registered voters for that precinct to ensure the person attempting to vote is actually legally qualified to vote in that precinct. If there s a discrepancy, the poll challenger may officially challenge the ballot. Other states should implement similar programs.Read more: FOX",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
8259,8260,"Carolina forced five turnovers that led to 27 points , had five sacks of Kirk Cousins , and established a franchise record by holding the Redskins to 14 yards rushing ( on 12 carries ) .  Between the fumbles and the picks , we had a couple short fields , Olsen said . You ' ve got to take advantage of them . We didn t sit on them . I know we scored a lot of touchdowns , and that s obviously what you re looking for .  Newton threw four  passes in the first half as the Panthers jumped out to a 31 14 lead .  Jonathan Stewart ran for 102 yards on 21 carries and caught a 12 yard touchdown pass .  Olsen , Mike Tolbert , Ted Ginn Jr . , and Devin Funchess also caught  passes .  He has a good command of what we re doing out there , Rivera said of Newton , who has 20  passes this season ? four shy of his career high with six games left to play .  Andre Roberts had a 99 yard kickoff return for a touchdown for the Redskins ( 4 6 ) , who ' ve lost nine straight on the road .  Cousins finished 22 of 30 for 207 yards with one touchdown and one interception . He also fumbled twice on sacks . Running back Alfred Morris left the game early in the first quarter with a rib injury and did not return .  With the game tied at 14 in the second quarter , Newton led an eight play , 92 yard touchdown drive , capping it with a 2 yard  pass to Ginn .  Broncos 17 , Bears 15 ? Brock Osweiler passed for two scores filling in for an injured Peyton Manning , and Denver ( 8 2 ) stopped Jeremy Langford on a 2 point conversion run in the final minute to polish off a win in Chicago .  Langford scored on a 2 yard run with 24 seconds left to cap a 65 yard drive . But the Broncos were ready for the run on the conversion attempt , ending a two game win streak by the Bears ( 4 6 ) .  Osweiler completed 20 of 27 passes for 250 yards in the first start of his four year career , while the five time  stayed back in Denver because of injuries to his foot , ribs and shoulder .  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
8278,8279,"Turkey shot down a Syrian fighter jet Sunday after the warplane strayed into its airspace , Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said .  "" Our F 16s went up in the air and shot that plane down . Why ? Because if you violate my airspace , then from now on , our slap will be hard , "" Erdogan told supporters at a campaign rally .  State run media in Syria called the shoot down an act of "" blatant aggression "" and said the downed plane was over northern Syria at the time .  The pilot ejected and was rescued ,  reported , citing a military source .  The Turkish armed forces website reported that two Syrian planes were spotted and were warned four times about approaching Turkish airspace as they flew north in Syrian airspace .  One plane left the area but the second plane continued , and entered Turkish airspace by approximately 1 kilometer ( six tenths of a mile ) . The plane turned west and continued to fly into Turkish airspace , according to the site .  One of the two Turkish F 16s patrolling the area launched a missile at the Syrian plane and it crashed in the area of the town of Keseb , in Syrian territory near the border , Turkish armed forces said .  Syrian government forces have battled rebel fighters in Syria ' s Latakia province since Friday morning after the opposition launched an offensive in the heavily Alawite populated areas of the country ' s Mediterranean coast .  The province is still under government control despite some pockets of armed resistance .  Warplanes have been striking at the opposition in Latakia , the home province of Syrian President Bashar al Assad , in hopes of preventing a rebel advance .  One of the pitched battles on Friday occurred in Keseb , just 3 kilometers ( 2 miles ) from Turkey . Sunday ' s  report said the Syrian jets were pursuing rebels in the area .  Syria shot down a Turkish plane in 2012 , and the two sides have exchanged artillery fire in the past .  In October 2012 , Turkey fired on Syrian government targets in response to the shelling of a Turkish border town in which five civilians were killed .  Israel retaliates in Syria after bomb attack  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
8290,8291,"According to an urgent report issued today by the White House , a terrified and frantic President Obama is currently trapped inside the healthcare . gov website .  Early reports indicate the president inadvertently became physically enmeshed in the inner workings of the online health insurance exchange at approximately 11 : 48 a . m . this morning , and is at this very moment attempting to find any possible means of escape from the highly unstable and dangerous healthcare . gov internal network .  "" Please , if anyone can hear me , I need help ! "" said Obama , his voice reportedly echoing endlessly in the distance as he carefully stepped along a green grid of individual and family enrollment information . "" Is anyone there ? Can anyone hear me ? I ' m Barack Obama , President of the United States of America ! I need to get out of here ! ""  "" Oh , dear God , there has to be a way out , "" continued Obama , ducking as several lines of text guaranteeing coverage for preexisting conditions flew just inches above his head . "" There has to be . ""  According to reports , Obama has spent the last few hours stranded in a dark , seemingly infinite three dimensional insurance matrix made entirely of programming code , scrolling ones and zeroes , and indecipherable information about government subsidies , and has as yet been unable to locate a safe exit from the digital infrastructure of healthcare . gov itself .  White House sources have confirmed that Obama is both alone and intensely frightened , and that the president may at this moment be endangered by the complicated , twisting data fields of healthcare . gov , as well as the terabytes of random eligibility notifications and policy cost estimations shooting in all directions .  Further reports have warned that any hope of extracting the president from the online marketplace may already be lost .  "" This isn ' t right , "" said Obama , staring as enrollment information for millions of Americans was sucked into a growing cone shaped vacuum in the middle of the healthcare . gov dimensional plane . "" Why is it doing this ? ""  "" The mainframe , "" the president quickly added as hundreds of policy cancellations erupted from the swirling vortex . "" I need to get to the health care exchange mainframe . ""  Reports confirmed that after finally forcing his way past the dense clusters of programming language tangled in the healthcare . gov help page , Obama finally reached a complicated system of virtual pipelines sending information about spouses and dependents directly into a pulsating golden orb . Upon reaching his hand into the orb , the president was said to be transported directly into the heart of healthcare . gov ' s online marketplace .  Obama was then reportedly horrified to find himself inside a crumbling software framework , surrounded by a chaotic array of randomly scattered premiums , out of pocket charges , and collapsed open enrollment architecture .  "" Goddammit , I don ' t know what to do ! "" Obama said , banging his hands in frustration against a wall of binary as the entire healthcare . gov mainframe suddenly froze , forcing all previously flowing lines of code to come to a complete standstill . "" I can ' t fix this ! Get me out of this place ! ""  "" Please ! Just get me out of here ! "" Obama added as the data grid below his feet shattered into millions of infinitesimal pixels and he plummeted into an infinite void of lost health care coverage .  At press time , U . S . Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius had assured reporters that engineers are working around the clock to free the president from the healthcare . gov site by the beginning of December .  ",satire,text,test,US elections,Economy,true,satire,True,no,no,neutral,present
8293,8294,"Irbil , Iraq Iraqi forces are doubling down efforts to retake the city of Tikrit from  , even uniting Sunni and Shiite fighters in the mission .  The Iraqi army , along with Sunni and Shiite militiamen , attacked  strongholds in the area Monday , the state run Iraqiya  reported . Iraqi warplanes and helicopters are also striking targets in and around Tikrit .  It ' s part of a wide scale offensive ordered by Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al Abadi on Sunday .  Tikrit fell to  in June of 2014 , after the group ' s capture of Iraq ' s second largest city , Mosul . Tikrit is best known to Westerners as the birthplace of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein .   , the radical Sunni militant group , has been on a murderous campaign to establish a caliphate across swaths of Iraq and Syria .  Iraqi forces approached Tikrit from several fronts , Iraqiya  reported , engaging with  north of the city at al Alam and south of the city at al Dour .  The element of surprise probably was not a factor , as reports of Iraqi troops amassing near Tikrit were widely shared .  What awaits the Iraqi army is most likely a long , hard slog and not a quick rout . Tikrit is a big city , and the army and its associated militias have had problems recapturing much smaller towns from  .  There have been several failed attempts to recapture Tikrit since the second half of 2014 . While Iraqi forces have gained some territory in the area , it has generally been under  control for the last eight months or so .  The joint Iraqi forces fighting to retake Tikrit include Iraqi troops , members of the Shia al Hashed al Shaabi militia , members of the Sunni Sons of Salahuddin brigades , and other Sunni tribal fighters .  The offensive involves around 30 , 000 fighters in all .  Al Abadi , who is also commander in chief of the armed forces , said on Twitter that he will "" oversee the operation to liberate Tikrit "" from  .  In short , this is the biggest test for an army trying to claw back territory that fell to  last summer after a string of dramatic defeats .  Last June , Tikrit was the scene of the bloodiest massacre ever perpetrated by  militants .  They captured more than a thousand Iraqi soldiers , who laid down their arms and donned civilian clothing in an attempt to flee a base once used by U . S . forces .   subsequently executed as many as 1 , 700 soldiers , and posted the video of the killing online .  There is concern that Iraqi forces , eager for revenge , may kill combatants and civilians alike .  The U . N . ' s envoy to Iraq , Nickolay Mladenov , urged all armed forces in Tikrit to do their utmost to spare civilians .  U . S . and other coalition troops have been conducting a crash course to retrain and upgrade the Iraqi army , and several thousand Iraqi troops have passed through the course .  This offensive will tell whether that training has made a difference .  The offensive also highlights the role played by neighboring Iran in the fight against  .  The semiofficial Iranian  news agency reports that Qassim Sulaimani , the commander of the elite Iranian Al Quds Brigade , is helping oversee the operation to retake Tikrit .  Iran has provided advisers , weapons and ammunition to the Iraqi government .  If the offensive succeeds , it means that retaking Mosul , a city 10 times bigger , is possible .  But Tikrit is almost 200 kilometers ( 124 miles ) south of Mosul , and much of the territory in between is under  control .  Al Abadi has said the immediate goal is to liberate Salah ad Din province , of which Tikrit is the capital , and then focus on adjacent Al Anbar province , a similarly Sunni dominated province . After that , retaking Mosul is an option .  If , however , the Tikrit offensive fails , it could spell disaster for Baghdad .  There will be political recriminations , the already fragile morale of the Iraqi army could collapse , the Kurdish autonomous region could decide to break from Iraq , and it would provide  with a victory it hasn ' t seen since last summer .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
8297,8298,"As the home of the Royal Family for almost a thousand years Windsor Castle has become a symbol of peace and harmony .  But now the tranquility of the Queen ' s Berkshire home is set to be shattered by sound of an extra 1 , 700 night flights which will give royal residents a rude awakening from four o ' clock in the morning .  Plans drawn up by the Department of  Transport could see hundreds of night flights diverted away from the  homes of 110 , 000 residents of the west London .  Queen ' s home : There could be an extra 1 , 700 night flights over Windsor Castle which will begin at 4am  But the price of quieter nights in Richmond , Kew and Hounslow will be more noise for the 15 , 000 people living in the Windsor area , including the Queen .  Disruption : The planes flying overhead are a ' private matter ' for the Queen  And considering 90 per cent of arrivals land between 4 . 30am and 6 . 00am the plans look set to disrupt the Queen ' s peace .  Windsor  Adam Afriyie , has called on residents to resist .  The Conservative  told the Sunday Times : ' I am particularly concerned by this latest proposal , which could have a truly detrimental impact on the quality of life of Windsor residents , and I would urge residents to make their views known . '  The Queen spends most of her private weekends at Windsor Castle as well as taking up official residence there for a month over Easter .  She also spends a week there in June , when she attends Royal Ascot and the service of the Order of the Garter .  The Department of Transport ( DfT ) hopes to divert 1 , 670 flights away from approaching over London and passing over Windsor Castle instead .  Under existing rules Heathrow is allowed 5 , 256 incoming scheduled night flights a year . There are also a small number of unscheduled departures which means Londoners have to put up with nearly 16 planes passing overhead every night .  The majority of incoming night flights 72 per cent approach Heathrow over the built up boroughs of west London , with the remaining 28 per cent passing the Windsor area .  Night flights : More planes used by British Airways and other airlines will fly over Windsor under the proposals  But the ( DfT ) is now considering ordering pilots to approach from the west thereby avoiding the more heavily populated area , unless a tailwind of five knots or more makes this impractical .  This would increase the flights passing over Windsor from about 1 , 470 to about 3 , 150 every year .  The potential winners of this strategy are the 245 , 000 Londoners who claim they are affected by the noise .  She said : ' The government recognises that noise disturbance from aircraft flying at night is the least acceptable impact of airport operation on local residents .  ' At this stage we are gathering evidence on what might be feasible and have taken no decisions yet on our preferences . We will be consulting on specific proposals later this year once we have assessed the evidence received from this consultation . '  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
8299,8300,"Casey Stoner showed he will be a force to be reckoned with at new team Honda by dominating practice for the season opening MotoGP event in Qatar on Friday , but seven time world champion Valentino Rossi struggled as he seeks to replace the Australian at Ducati .  Repsol Honda claimed the three quickest times in the evening session at the Losail International Circuit , with Stoner ' s best of one minute 55 : 035 seconds heading off Spaniard Dani Pedrosa and Italian Andrea Dovizioso .  Yamaha ' s world champion Jorge Lorenzo was fourth fastest as he beat young American teammate Ben Spies for the first time in three sessions this week .  Spanish motorcyclist Hector Barbera , who finished 12th overall last season , was the best of Ducati ' s three riders in sixth place .  Rossi , who ended a seven year stint with Yamaha at the end of a 2010 season marred by injuries , was eighth .  American Nicky Hayden , who also rode with Rossi at Honda earlier in his career , was back in 14th .  "" Today was a bit difficult , because we had hoped to make a bigger improvement , but in the end we didn ' t lower our time enough , "" Rossi told the Ducati website .  "" First of all , my shoulder bothered me a little . I wasn ' t as strong as I was yesterday , and in the end of the session , I could feel it . Also , we still don ' t know this bike perfectly and , as happened to us in the test , we get to a point where it ' s difficult to make a step forward with the set up .  "" We ' re missing half a second with our pace to be in the group where we hope to be Sunday . Anyway , today we tried two set up solutions that were quite different , and we chose one that we ' ll try to refine tomorrow . ""  Stoner , the 2007 world champion in motorcycling ' s elite class , also set the fastest time in windy conditions in Friday ' s opening session of 1 : 55 : 457 as he again headed off Pedrosa , with Spies third .  Lorenzo was fifth despite the Spaniard suffering problems with his bike which limited his time on the track . Rossi was ninth , with Hayden just behind him .  Lorenzo ' s compatriot Alvaro Bautista has been ruled out of Sunday ' s race after the 26 year old Suzuki rider suffered a broken leg when he crashed late in Friday ' s second session .  Qualifying will be held on Saturday evening Qatar time , with Sunday ' s race also at night at 1900  .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
8301,8302,"Nairobi , Kenya President Mwai Kibaki proclaimed Thursday a "" happy end "" as an overwhelming majority of Kenyans voted to adopt a new constitution that is sure to bring big change to the East African country .  "" The historic journey that we began over 20 years ago is now coming to a happy end , "" Kibaki said while addressing the nation .  But he tempered national euphoria by reminding Kenyans that implementing a new constitution will be a difficult task .  "" The journey ahead of national renewal will not be easy , "" he said . "" There will be challenges along the way . But it is important that we look forward with renewed optimism to better days ahead . ""  U . S . President Barack Obama called the vote a "" step forward "" for Kenya and its people , in a statement released by the White House Thursday . He said the electoral process was "" credible "" and "" transparent , "" and that the results show Kenyans ' desire for a stable and prosperous future .  Obama ' s father grew up in a village in western Kenya .  He also applauded the fact that the election came and went without the kind of violence that marred the 2007 presidential vote . Obama called the process a "" testament "" to Kenya ' s people .  The country ' s new constitution would remove power from the presidency and create a more decentralized political system . The constitution would also bring in a bill of rights , allow dual citizenship for Kenyans sure to be popular with Kenya ' s large and loyal diaspora community and allow for land reform .  Results by the Interim Independent Electoral Commission showed "" Yes "" won the referendum with 67 . 2 percent while "" No "" had 30 . 3 percent .  "" I do declare that the proposed constitution is hereby ratified , "" said Ahmed Isaack Hassan , chairman of the electoral commission .  Leading opponents of Kenya ' s proposed constitution conceded defeat earlier Thursday . Higher Education Minister William Ruto , a leader of the "" No "" team , said despite his camp ' s loss , every Kenyan "" is a winner "" in the outcome .  "" It is necessary to create a win win for the country , "" Ruto said flanked by senior members of the "" No "" camp .  Despite the win by the "" Yes "" team , Ruto said , the government should address the complaints of those who rejected the referendum .  "" It is not only necessary , it is mandatory , "" he said .  Many Kenyans were already celebrating before they heard the official results .  The Daily Standard newspaper couldn ' t wait for the announcement . "" Yes it is ! "" rang the headline in the morning paper .  "" Now it ' s time to reunite the country behind the outcome , "" the newspaper said in an editorial .  Kenyans voted against the constitution by a significant majority in the restive Rift Valley , where "" No "" politicians and Christian church leaders focused their campaigning . Churches feared the new constitution would offer abortion on demand and give Muslims special rights .  "" The results do not nullify our concerns , "" said a church statement Thursday .  Others applauded the peaceful vote . After the last presidential election three years ago , political violence claimed several hundred lives and displaced hundreds of thousands of people .  "" We very much welcome reports which indicate that Kenyans were able to vote in a free , fair and peaceful atmosphere , "" said a statement from the Panel of Eminent African Personalities . "" The high voter turnout nationally reflects the strong desire of Kenya ' s people to help shape their country ' s future . ""  ",true,text,test,World conflict,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
8338,8339,"Michelle Runs Her Nasty Mouth At Trump, Then Karma Smacks Her In The Face Posted on October 31, 2016 by Amanda Shea in Politics Share This Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama at Clinton’s campaign stop in North Carolina  Michelle Obama has been hot on the campaign trail to help Hillary Clinton replace her corrupt husband, proving that Democrats care more about power than the American people. After dropping everything for “her girl” Hillary and running to North Carolina to speak on her behalf, Michelle ran her mouth about Donald Trump, but it immediately came back to bite her.  While Trump is capable of doing his own talking and campaigning, Hillary needs a lot of help to make it through this election season, and she’s getting it from a number of Democrats, namely, the Obamas. Both Michelle and Barack Obama have campaigned for the ailing criminal candidate numerous times, including at her North Carlina stop on Thursday where Michelle acted as Hillary’s sorority sister more than her campaign supporter, after completely bashing Trump.  According to the Daily Mail , the two “First Ladies” acted as if the campaign stop was a teenage popularity contest as they stood on stage like a couple of best friends, who are actually enemies. Only able to discuss what makes Hillary so great by trash-talking Hillary’s opponent, Michelle said, “We want a president who takes this job seriously and has the temperament and maturity to do it well. Someone who is steady. Someone who we can trust with the nuclear codes.”  Apparently, Michelle wasn’t paying attention to the presidential debates when her gal pal committed treason by spilling what America’s nuclear response time is. Seemingly forgetting who she was talking about and all that this woman is accused of, sanctimonious Michelle rambled on about what an awesome example Hillary is for our children as if we’re supposed to take parenting advice from a mother who raises her daughters around foul-mouthed rappers.  “We know the influence our president has on our children,” she later added. “They turn on the  and they see the most powerful role model in the world – someone who shows them how to treat others. How to deal with disappointment. Whether to tell the truth. They’re taking it all in.” In making this statement, she didn’t realize she was actually speaking against Hillary, who is the opposite of the honest role model she described. The label is more fitting for Trump.  She closed her speech with a declaration of desperation, pleading with the crowd that if nothing else, choose Hillary because as “First ladies, we rock.” Then, she begged anyone who would listen to keep “working your hearts out for my girl.” This little cheerleading act is very convenient, but it backfired on Michelle when the past came back to haunt her. Hillary isn’t “her girl.” In fact, they’re “frenemies” at best since she was previously recorded talking behind Hillary’s back, saying, “If you can’t run your own house, you can’t run the White House,” in reference to Bill Clinton’s extra-marital affairs.  Like “her girl,” Michelle proved herself as a hypocrite in her statements and got a huge dose of karma the next day for supporting Hillary when the  announced they are re-opening the investigation into the Democratic candidate’s e-mails. Neither one of these two women or their husbands are “powerful role models” who “tell the truth,” and they certainly aren’t people any child should be looking up to.",fake,news,test,US elections,US elections,satire,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
8360,8361,"Washington D . C . Kim Jong Un has further solidified his control over North Korea by reportedly purging his uncle Jang Sung taek , Vice Chairman of the important Nation Defense Commission .  Although Jang was often referred to as the "" second most powerful man in North Korea , "" he may now been ousted from the leadership elite for the third time . He has twice returned to the inner circle of power , but this cat may now have run out of lives .  Kim ' s uncle ' probably ' ousted , S . Korean lawmakers say  What does the move say about the stability of North Korea ? Some experts perceive a weak , embattled Kim feeling forced to fend off challengers . But it is more likely that Kim ' s purge of Jang as well as hundreds of other officials since 2011 shows that the North Korean ruler is firmly in control and confident enough to target even the most senior strata of power . Like his father and grandfather , Kim is playing rivals off against each other to eliminate real or perceived challengers .  Debate rages amongst experts as to why Kim felt it necessary to purge his former mentor and protector . Potential explanations revolve around four Ps power , parity , people and policy . Although a classic struggle for power between the leader and potential contenders is a possible explanation , Jang had seemed content to play the role of minence grise , exercising power behind the throne .  The best chance for Jang to have grabbed the ring of power would have been when Kim was weakest immediately after his father ' s death in 2011 . But even then , the young Kim was immediately presented as the sole ruler and not as a part of a leadership consortium . After Kim acquired each of his father ' s titles affirming control over the government , military , and party , it became increasingly more difficult for potential challengers to oust him .  Kim Jong Un more bellicose than his dad was ?  Then there ' s the issue of parity between the Korean Workers ' Party (  ) and the military . Under Kim Jong Il , power shifted to the military , as the National Defense Commission became the preeminent center of government power . But under his son , the  has regained some power . The  ' s Central Military Commission has now eclipsed the National Defense Commission as the arbiter of North Korean military policies .  Rather than a struggle to wrest power from Kim , the purge may instead result from people fighting for closer access to him . There are widespread rumors that Jang was defeated in a struggle with personal rivals .  The least likely explanation for the purge is a debate over policy . Although Jang was often referred to as a "" reformer "" by the media , there is little evidence that he or any hidden cabal advocated implementing significant economic and political reform or moderating North Korea ' s threatening behavior .  Pyongyang created the perception of factions of hardliners and reformers as part of a "" good cop bad cop "" strategy to elicit benefits during negotiations . As a Korean adage warns , "" The same animal has soft fur and sharp claws . "" When Kim ascended the throne in 2011 , he was erroneously perceived as a reformer simply because he had spent a few years in Switzerland as a teen .  The likely departure of his uncle will have little impact on North Korea policy . Kim has shown himself to be just as inimical to reform and pursuing a less belligerent foreign policy as his predecessors . He showed his willingness to escalate tensions on the Korean Peninsula to dangerous levels earlier this year , threatening nuclear attacks against the United States and South Korea .  The young leader has also made clear he has no intention of abandoning his regime ' s nuclear weapons , even revising the constitution to enshrine North Korea as a nuclear weapons state . Pyongyang declared , "" those who talk about an economic reward in return for the dismantlement of North Korea ' s nuclear weapons would be well advised to awake from their daydream . . . Only fools will entertain the delusion that we will trade our nuclear deterrent for petty economic aid . ""  Rather than seeking an illusory North Korean reformer , Washington and Seoul should instead prepare for the extended rule of yet another member of the Kim family willing to test the resolve of his opponents .  The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of Bruce Klingner .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
8382,8383,"Brutal regime : Guantanamo Bay interrogator Richard Zuley is accused of using brutal methods to extract confessions from suspects during 30 years as a Chicago detective  A Guantanamo Bay interrogator responsible for implementing brutal methods at the prison allegedly used similar tactics to extract murder confessions from non white citizens during his 30 year spell as a Chicago detective .  Richard Zuley is accused of shackling suspects to police precinct walls for hours on end , threatening to harm their families and pressurizing them into implicating themselves and others .  Apparently targeting minority Americans , the detective ' s brutal regime resulted in at least one wrongful conviction and other cases being thrown into doubt following accusations of abuse .  The shocking details , uncovered in an investigation by the Guardian , further damage the reputation of a country still reeling from recent revelations of wartime torture by the  .  Zuley was a detective on Chicago ' s north side from 1977 to 2007 and allegedly spent years engaging in brutal interrogation tactics , which are said to have included threatening subjects with the death penalty if they failed to cooperate .  He was also accused of planting evidence in one high profile murder case where there was pressure to gain a speedy conviction .  As a Navy reserve lieutenant , he also carried out work for the military , telling a Chicago court in the mid 1990s that he did counter terrorism work for Naval intelligence while continuing his role as a detective .  He was recruited to the Guantanamo Bay operation in 2002 with U . S . military commanders believing he was just the man they had been searching for having spent three decades cleaning up the streets of Chicago .  He says he was sent to Cuba as the ' liaison officer for the European Command ' and was assigned to the prison ' s intelligence collection task force .  Recruited : The Navy reserve lieutenant was recruited to the Guantanamo Bay operation in 2002 with  military commanders believing he was just the man they had been looking for to get results  Zuley was said to have made an immediate impression on Major General Geoffrey Miller , who had been given command of Joint Task Force Guantanamo in November 2002 .  The detective took charge of the interrogation of Mohamedou Ould Slahi , described in official government reports and a best selling memoir as one of the most brutal ever conducted at the  prison .  Slahi was seen as a priority interrogation target upon arriving at the wartime jail in August 2002 .  He was a veteran of the anti Soviet jihad in Afghanistan , and  officials suspected he would have information on al Qaida ' s recruitment of the 9 11 hijackers in Europe .  Brutally treated : Zuley took charge of the interrogation of Mohamedou Ould Slahi ( above ) at Guantanamo , described in official government reports as one of the most brutal ever conducted at the  prison  Stuart Couch , a former Marine lieutenant colonel and military commissions prosecutor , described Slahi ' s treatment as ' unconscionable ' .  He said : ' I ' ve never seen anyone stoop to those levels , ' Stuart Couch , a former Marine lieutenant colonel and military commissions prosecutor , said according to the Guardian .  ' It ' s unconscionable , from a perspective of a criminal prosecution or an interrogation , for that matter . '  Memoir : Mohamedou Ould Slahi ' s harrowing account of his treatment as a prisoner of Guantanamo Bay  Mark Fallon , deputy commander of the now shuttered Criminal Investigative Task Force at Guant namo , called Zuley ' s interrogation of Slahi ' illegal , immoral and ineffective ' .  While his methods at Guantanamo soon came to light , his shameful tactics , honed over years behind closed doors in Chicago police stations , have not received the same public scrutiny .  Several people in Illinois say they were wrongly convicted of crimes following coerced confessions extracted by Zuley and his teams .  An investigation into his methods and conviction records was launched following the 2013 state attorney ' s decision to free an innocent man Zuley had helped send to prison for 23 years .  Lathieral Boyd , who was convicted of murder in 1990 , has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against him after spending half his life in prison .  On Tuesday , papers filed in federal court showed that the conviction integrity unit of the Cook County state ' s attorney now wants to look at civilian complaints against Zuley relating to another wrongful conviction case .  Another case highlighted by the Guardian includes that of Benita Johnson and Andre Griggs .  Griggs was a heroin addict and petty criminal who was accused of murder in 1994 after an informant claimed he boasted about it .  Griggs says he was handcuffed to a station wall for ' maybe 30 hours ' an ordeal he claims led him to sign a false confession .  Allegedly coerced : Andre Griggs ( L ) and Benita johnson said they signed false murder confessions in 1994 after Zuley and his colleagues handcuffed them to the wall for up to 30 hours and threatened them  Murder victim : Griggs and Johnson were both convicted for the killing of Ren e Rondeau  Benita Johnson says she was also handcuffed to a precinct wall and implicated herself and former boyfriend Griggs after Zuley and his colleagues threatened to take away her children and seek the death penalty .  Describing her interrogation , Johnson said : ' Basically they just tortured me , mentally , and somewhat physically , with the cuffs , and screamed and hollered . I went through a lot . '  Zuley received praise from Chicago mayor Richard Daley for his successful interrogation of the two suspects .  So far he has not responded to the allegations .  Wrongly jailed : Lathieral Boyd spent 23 years in prison as a result of the faulty police work of Zuley  ",true,text,test,US elections,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
8388,8389,"Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama pledged on Wednesday to work for a smooth transition of power with president-elect Donald Trump, the Republican winner of Tuesday’s election, who has promised to undo Obama’s top domestic and foreign policy initiatives. In brief remarks to reporters in the White House Rose Garden, Obama urged fellow Democrats to put aside their disappointment and tried to strike a positive tone after a devastating electoral defeat. “It is no secret that the president-elect and I have some pretty significant differences,” Obama said with a smile about Trump, who had long questioned whether Obama had been born in the United States and his eligibility for office. “We are now all rooting for his success in uniting and leading the country,” Obama said. Obama and his wife, Michelle, campaigned hard for Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton to defeat Trump, acknowledging that the president’s legacy on healthcare, climate change and financial reforms were on the line. But Obama kept his remarks on Wednesday focused on ensuring a successful transition for Trump, noting that his Republican predecessor, former President George W. Bush, had done the same for him eight years ago. “Everybody is sad when their side loses an election, but the day after we have to remember that we’re actually all on one team,” Obama said. “I want to make sure that handoff is well executed because ultimately we’re all on the same team,” Obama said. ",true,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
8398,8399,"Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Wade Phillips didn t wait for a question from the media Friday . He knew what the center of attention would be .  "" They asked me if I had seen a quarterback like ( the Carolina Panthers ) Cam Newton . There isn t one like him , "" Phillips volunteered .  "" I haven t seen one like him . None of us have . He s a tremendous talent . He s put it all together . I m sure he s going to be  of the league this year . It s another big challenge for us .  "" You go from ( Pittsburgh quarterback Ben ) Roethlisberger to ( New England quarterback ) Tom Brady , think it won t get any tougher and now you re going against Cam Newton . He is a top notch drop back quarterback , but he can run with it better than the rest of them . ""  Phillips , who has been a head coach and a top coordinator in the  for decades , said the closest comparison he could make was when Michael Vick was an elite passer with the Atlanta Falcons . But that doesn t account for Newton s defensive end like size .  Phillips wasn t the only one singing Newton s praises Friday . Broncos linebacker Von Miller , who was chosen second overall in the 2011 draft behind Newton , gushed over both Newton s ability and personality .  "" I don t think there s another quarterback that s ever played the game the way he does , especially the way his personality is on the field , "" Miller said .  "" I m just a big fan of everything that he has going for him . He s a huge role model . If he played defense , he probably would ve gotten 220 million because he can probably rush the passer and drop back and do safety and all that stuff , too . I m a big fan . ""  Indoor practice : While it was a nice day in Denver Friday , coach Gary Kubiak chose to hold practice inside the team s bubble . That was because the wind was blowing hard and Kubiak finds a windy day tends to cut down on his team s energy and chatter at practice .  Three Broncos didn t practice Friday : Safeties Darian Stewart ( knee ) and T . J . Ward ( ankle ) and guard Louis Vasquez ( knee ) . Kubiak said Vasquez likely would have practiced outdoors on grass , but the team thought it best not to subject Vasquez s sore knee to artificial turf .  Eye on offense : Offensive coordinator Rick Dennison reiterated an on going theme this week ? that the Broncos must perform better offensively in the Super Bowl than they did in generating 20 points to beat the New England Patriots in the  Championship Game .  "" I think you said it right , there s always room for improvement . I think we just have so many plays we see that we miss . , "" Dennison said . "" Hey , let s go make them next time . We have to make those . Last week is just like a lot of different weeks . We had too many opportunities that we need to take advantage of . ""  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
8400,8401,"Reuters) - Zimbabwe s President Emmerson Mnangagwa told members of his ruling ZANU- party on Friday they would have to start fixing the economy if they wanted a chance of winning next year s vote. Mnangagwa spoke at a party congress that drew a line under the rule of ousted veteran leader Robert Mugabe by formally expelling his wife Grace and her allies from the organization and by endorsing Mnangagwa as party chief and candidate.  We will only win at the ballot box if we can show signs that we are reviving our economy and at the same time we will only be able to make economic gains if we can secure re-election,  he said. Zimbabwe s economy collapsed in the latter half of Mugabe s rule, especially after violent and chaotic seizures of thousands of white-owned commercial farms.     The southern African nation could hold elections as early as March, Mnangagwa said this week, which would be just five months after the de facto military coup which ended Mugabe s 37-year reign.  Democracy bids that as a political party, ZANU- must always compete for office through pitting itself against opposition parties in elections which must be credible, free, fair and transparent,  Mnangagwa, 75, told the congress in downtown Harare. British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said late last month that financial support for the new government to stabilize its currency system and help it clear World Bank and African Development Bank arrears depended on  democratic progress . In a sign of the military further consolidating its political power, Mnangagwa made three generals members of the party s Russian-styled executive Politburo, the supreme decision-making organ of ZANU-PF. Major General Engelbert Rugeje was appointed political commissar, a job focused on revamping party structures and preparing for elections. Mnangagwa said he would name two deputies in a few days. Defence Forces Commander General Constantino Chiwenga is a strong contender for one of the vice presidency slots as a reward for spearheading the de facto coup that ended Mugabe s rule. Mnangagwa, whose sacking as vice-president set off the chain of events that led to Mugabe s removal, said the ZANU- congress should define a new trajectory - which he did not spell out - and put behind it the victimization of members seen in the past. ",true,dataset,test,Other news1,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
8407,8408,"A brutal raid on the Garissa University College in Kenya has left nearly 150 people dead including students and dozens more wounded .  Gunmen attacked the campus early Thursday as morning prayers were underway , shooting indiscriminately and taking hostages before being killed by security forces , officials said .  The U . S . Embassy in Nairobi said Al Shabaab militants have claimed responsibility .  The harrowing attack comes just months after Al Shabaab militants murdered non Muslim workers in a Kenyan quarry .  The terrorist group has been behind numerous attacks in the region . It has also recruited some Americans , particularly from the Somali American community in Minnesota .  Al Shabaab is a Somali group that the United States designated as a foreign terrorist organization in March 2008 . It wants to turn Somalia into a fundamentalist Islamic state , according to the Council on Foreign Relations .  The group has been blamed for attacks in Somalia that have killed international aid workers , journalists , civilian leaders and African Union peacekeepers .  It has a history of striking abroad , too . Before admitting to the Kenya quarry attack , Al Shabaab claimed responsibility for the July 2010 suicide bombings in Kampala , Uganda , that killed more than 70 people , including a U . S . citizen , who had gathered at different locations to watch the broadcast of the World Cup final soccer match .  The total size of Al Shabaab is not clear .  In 2011 , a U . S . official who declined to be identified because of the sensitivity of the information said the group was estimated to control up to 1 , 000 fighters .  A United Nations report identified one insurgent leader who is believed to command "" an estimated force of between 200 and 500 fighters , "" most of them Kenyans .  And Al Shabaab has links to other organizations . In February 2012 , the group ' s leader , Ahmed Abdi Godane , and al Qaeda leader Ayman al Zawahiri released a video announcing the alliance of the two organizations .  Decades of weak government amid grinding poverty have long made Somalia a target for radical Islamist groups .  Al Shabaab ' s predecessor was al Ittihad al Islami (  ) , which worked to create an Islamist emirate in Somalia . It was partially funded by former al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden , according to the Council on Foreign Relations .   , which the U . S . State Department designated as a terrorist group , strengthened after the fall in 1991 of Siad Barre ' s military regime and during the years of lawlessness that ensued .  In 2003 , a rift erupted between  ' s old guard which was seeking to establish a new political front and its younger members , who wanted to impose fundamental Islamic rule . ( Al Shabaab means "" the youth . "" )  That strife led the younger members to ally with a group of Sharia courts the Islamic Courts Union (  ) that was seeking to impose order over a landscape marked by feuding warlords in the capital city .  Working together , the Islamic Courts Union and Al Shabaab gained control of Mogadishu in 2006 . That sparked fears in neighboring Ethiopia that violence would spill over there , according to the Council on Foreign Relations .  Those fears combined with a request from Somalia ' s transitional government led Ethiopian forces to enter Somalia in December 2006 to remove the  from power .  And that move inflamed Al Shabaab , which then attacked Ethiopian forces and gained control of parts of central and southern Somalia , according to a 2011 case study by Rob Wise , who was then with the Counterterrorism Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies .  In 2011 , after attacks on tourist destinations in northern Kenya blamed on Al Shabaab , the Kenyan government ordered a cross border incursion aimed at creating a security buffer zone in southern Somalia .  Ethiopian troops have also crossed the border and expelled Al Shabaab from Baidoa , a strategic town midway between the Ethiopian border and Mogadishu .  The group then targeted African Union soldiers and government buildings in the capital in suicide attacks . A suicide bombing in March 2012 killed five people at the presidential palace .  Analysts say tension appears to have been growing within Al Shabaab between Somalis and foreign fighters , several hundred of whom are thought to have entered Somalia in recent years to join the group .  The group has a sophisticated public relations arm that includes a Twitter account and video production abilities .  Al Shabaab has even made a video that ' s as slickly produced as a reality  show , complete with a hip hop jihad voice and a startling message :  "" Mortar by mortar , shell by shell , only going to stop when I send them to hell , "" an unidentified voice raps in English .  But Al Shabaab ' s enemies and alliances can shift .  Abu Mansour al Amriki , a former Al Shabaab fighter and prolific English language propagandist for the group , said in a video posted online last year that he had had a fallout with Al Shabaab "" regarding matters of the Sharia and matters of strategy "" and feared for his life .  Finding replacements might not be difficult .  Sheikh Ahmed Matan , a member of Britain ' s Somali community , said he knows of hundreds of young Somali men living in the West who returned to Somalia for terrorist training .  In 2008 , the  launched Operation Rhino , "" a serious effort to crack down on anyone traveling to Somalia to support Al Shabaab , "" Bergen wrote .  The once ragtag al Qaeda affiliate has grown into an economic powerhouse , raising tens of millions of dollars in cash from schemes that have involved extortion , illegal taxation and other "" fees , "" according to the 2011 United Nations report .  The United States believed then that the group was coordinating with al Qaeda groups in Yemen and might have been plotting attacks in the region and abroad .  In 2011 , it was generating "" between 70 million and 100 million per year , from duties and fees levied at airports and seaports , taxes on goods and services , taxes in kind on domestic produce , ' jihad contributions , ' checkpoints and various forms of extortion justified in terms of religious obligation , "" according to the report from the U . N . Monitoring Group on Somalia and Eritrea .  In 2011 , the U . N . declared a famine in the southern Somalia regions of Bakool and Lower Shabelle , and Al Shabaab reversed an earlier pledge to allow aid agencies to provide food in famine stricken areas .  That year , the U . N . Interagency Group for Child Mortality Estimation said Somalia had the highest mortality rate in the world for children ages 4 and younger .  About 258 , 000 Somalis died in the famine between October 2010 and April 2012 , and half the victims were younger than 5 years old , according to a report from the U . N . Food and Agriculture Organization and the  funded Famine Early Warning Systems Network .  The United States has supported U . N . backed African forces fighting Al Shabaab and strengthened its counterterrorism efforts against the group .  It has also donated millions of dollars in aid .  In September 2012 , Somali parliament members selected Hassan Sheikh Mohamud as the new president in a vote that marked a milestone for the nation , which had not had a stable central government since Barre ' s overthrow 21 years earlier .  But that didn ' t mean Al Shabaab was calling it quits . In January 2013 , French forces attempted to rescue a French intelligence commando held hostage in Somalia by the group . The raid left the soldier dead , another soldier missing and 17 Islamist fighters dead .  But there has been political progress in Somalia .  In January 2013 , for the first time in more than two decades , the United States granted official recognition to the Somali government .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
8408,8409,"Senior  executives have met to discuss what to do next about the growing Brian Williams crisis after further examples of his apparent habit of embellishing and exaggerating old stories to make himself look better emerged over the weekend  Williams , who not only hosts  Nightly News but is also managing editor of the country ' s highest rated newscast , announced on Saturday that he was taking a temporary leave of absence after questions arose over his admission to making false on air statements that he was in a helicopter hit by a rocket propelled grenade while in Iraq in 2003 .  But if Williams hoped that move might take the heat of him , he was sorely mistaken after new reports emerged casting doubts on old claims that he had experienced a similar close call in Israel in 2006 and been robbed at gunpoint in the sleepy New Jersey suburb of Red Bank in the 1970s .  NBCUniversal  Steve Burke held a meeting with  News executives at his house on Sunday to discuss what to do next about the growing scandal engulfing news anchor Brian Williams  Former Today show host Katie Couric tweeted on Monday that she had no interest in replacing Williams despite rumors linking her with his job  With much at stake for parent company NBCUniversal ,  Steve Burke is reported to have held a meeting with  News executives at his house on Sunday to discuss what to do , reports Politico .  The network has so far refused to comment on when or whether Williams will return and who will decide his future , although  News announced on Friday that an internal investigation had been launched .  By Sunday night and with the scandal not looking like going away anytime soon the embattled news anchor announced that he was backing out of an appearance on David Letterman ' s Late Show scheduled for Thursday .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
8411,8412,"Much to the dismay of mainstream media journalists, Donald Trump Jr. released all email communication regarding his meeting with Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya today on Twitter. Meanwhile, Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya has told  News that she met with Donald Trump Jr. to discuss sanctions, that she did not have any Kremlin connections, and that she did not hand over information about Hillary s campaign.She confirmed her meeting with Donald Trump Jr. was about Russian adoptions in the US.But is there more to Natalia Veselnitskaya than meets the eye? Who is she? Does she have ties to Obama and the Democratic Party? Was the meeting with Donald Trump Jr. a set up?According to The Gateway Pundit: The law firm where Veselnitskaya is listed as managing partner, Kamerton Consulting, is based in a Moscow suburb and does not even have a website.A staff member at Kamerton told The Associated Press Veselnitskaya was unavailable for comment on Monday.Her office in Moscow may be a shell. There is no working phone, email or website.Russian President Vladimir Putin s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday that the Kremlin is unaware of a meeting between Trump s senior staff and Veselnitskaya and  does not know who that is. Peskov said, No, we don t know who that is and obviously we can t monitor all meetings Russian lawyers hold both in Russia and abroad. Now this Natalia Veselnitskaya was sitting with Obama s Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul during a Foreign Affairs Committee hearing, 8 days after cold-contacting Trump Jr. in Trump Tower.Here s a shot showing who appears to be Natalia Veselnitskaya, sitting behind  from the June 14, 2016 Congressional hearing on Russia and the Ukraine.Natalia Veselnitskaya photo:  That looks like Emin Agalarov sitting next to Natalia Veselnitskaya. He was mentioned in Donald Trump Jr s statement this morning. Emin helped set up the meeting with Veselnitskaya.Veselnitskaya was also connected to Fusion GPS, the  opposition research firm that produced the fraudulent and discredited Trump Dossier.So why was Veselnitskaya hanging out with Obama officials just days after her meeting with Donald Trump Jr.?And why was Veselnitskaya given a privileged seat up front during the Congressional hearing? ",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
8413,8414,"Novak Djokovic stretched his unbeaten run to 16 matches as the World No . 1 was joined in the semifinals in Dubai by five time winner and defending championRoger Federer Thursday .  Djokovic has been in imperious form at the hard court event and was never troubled by quarterfinal opponent Andreas Seppi of Italy , winning 6 0 6 3 in 64 minutes .  Federer was equally impressive against Russian veteran Nikolay Davdenko , dropping just four games in a straight sets romp .  But they face much tougher tests in the last four clashes Friday , with Djokovic playing in form fourth seed Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina and Federer taking on third ranked Tomas Berdych , who beat him in the quarterfinals of the U . S . Open last year .  It is the first time in the history of the 20 year old Dubai Open that all top four seeds have reached the semifinals and del Potro and Berdych were largely untroubled in their last eight clashes .  Del Potro outclassed World No . 97 Daniel Brands 6 4 6 2 while Berdych overpowered Russian wild card Dmitry Tursunov 6 3 6 2 in just over an hour .  Australian Open champion Djokovic ' s streak dates back to November last year , but he knows he will have to be on top of his game against del Potro , who won in Rotterdam earlier this month .  "" Delpo is a very talented player , very powerful from the baseline and with a big service . We know everything about each other , it ' s going to be a tough one and I need to be on top of my game , "" he told the official  website .  World No . 2 Federer knows formidable Czech Berdych will offer a difficult test as he bids fora place in the final and his 77th career title .  "" He ' s obviously a good player . He ' s got amazing power , one of the strongest guys out there on tour . We ' ll see tomorrow how it goes . I haven ' t seen him play at all here this tournament . I need to just focus on my game , "" said the Swiss .  In Federer ' s favor may be the tough schedule of his opponent , who had to fly from Marseille where he lost to Jo Wilfried Tsonga of France in Sunday ' s final .  Tsonga also made the long trip , but exited in the first round to fellow Frenchman Michael Llodra .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
8416,8417,"Tiger Woods has not yet decided if he can play in the  Championship starting on Thursday in Kentucky due to his back problem , according to his agent .  The former world number one withdrew during Sunday ' s final round of the  Bridgestone Invitational because of back pain and returned home to Florida for medical evaluation .  ' Way too early . He has to rest and get treatment and then assess later , ' agent Mark Steinberg said in a text message to  when asked if Woods would play in this week ' s tournament at Valhalla in Louisville , Kentucky , where he won the 2000  Championship crown .  Undecided : Tiger Woods is yet to make a decision over whether he will play at the   Championships  Withdrawal : Woods pulled out during Sunday ' s final round of the  Bridgestone Invitational due to back pain    Bridgestone Invitational Day 4  ' Pointless to make that decision now without proper time to give him best chance . Nothing further today , maybe ( not ) even tomorrow . '  Woods left Firestone Country Club in obvious discomfort on Sunday after hitting his drive on the ninth hole of the final round . He said he was enduring back spasms that had hit him on the second hole .  The former world number one , who has dealt with a string of injuries , was playing his third tournament since being sidelined for three months after having back surgery .  The setback put in jeopardy his chances of playing for the U . S . in September ' s Ryder Cup matches in Gleneagles , Scotland against Europe .  U . S . Ryder Cup captain Tom Watson said it ' doesn ' t bode well right now ' for Woods to be selected as a captain ' s pick for the team .  ' Tiger would be a great addition to our team , ' Watson told  Tour Radio on Monday . ' As I ' ve said all along , I would pick Tiger Woods if he ' s healthy and playing well . This doesn ' t bode well right now .  ' I just hope that maybe it ' s just an isolated problem that he can turn around and possibly play this week at the  . '  Hopeful :  Ryder Cup captain Tom Watson is hoping that Woods will be available for selection  Woods , who has been stuck on 14 major titles since winning the 2008 U . S . Open , has played only six events this season with his best result a tie for 25th at the  Cadillac Championship . He has withdrawn twice from tournaments and missed the cut in another .  Prior to the Bridgestone , the 38 year old Woods finished 69th at the British Open after closing with a 75 for a six over par total of 294 .  ' It concerns me because that ' s an injury that seems like he tried to address before and he ' s come back from that particular injury , ' said Watson .  The U . S . Ryder captain said he sent Woods a text to tell him he was sorry about the injury , and ' I hope you get well soon . '  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
8428,8429,"Lew stresses that new statutory authority needed to stop moves  The U . S . Treasury Department plans to release additional guidance this week aimed at deterring corporate inversions , though it can t stop such tax avoidance moves without new authority from Congress , Secretary Jacob J . Lew said .  Later this week , we intend to issue additional targeted guidance to deter and reduce further the economic benefits of corporate inversions , Lew said in the letter addressed to Oregon Senator Ron Wyden , the ranking Democrat on the Finance Committee . It is important to emphasize , however , that Treasury cannot stop inversions without new statutory authority .  The potential Pfizer Allergan deal would be the drug industry s biggest ever acquisition and shift Pfizer s legal address out of the U . S . to a lower tax jurisdiction . Unless Congress acts , companies will keep moving their residences overseas and avoid paying taxes in the U . S . , Lew wrote .  The Treasury s letter indicates that the new guidance probably won t stop the Pfizer Allergan deal , said Stephen Myrow , managing partner of Beacon Policy Advisors  , a policy research firm in Washington . He expects the rules to address earnings stripping , a maneuver that inverted companies use to effectively shift earnings to lower tax countries and reduce the amount of income taxed at the U . S . rate of 35 percent , the highest in the industrial world .  Douglas Poms , senior counsel in the Treasury s office of the international tax counsel , said on Nov . 4 that the agency continues to consider earnings stripping regulations .  As before , we will continue to review our existing authorities to identify additional ways to address this serious problem , Lew wrote , noting that the department has reviewed a broad range of options for further action since issuing guidance last year .  Tax inversions have been criticized by U . S . lawmakers and presidential candidates . Last year the Treasury Department issued a proposal intended to discourage the moves , which typically only change a company s legal address while the operating headquarters stays in the U . S .  Allergan , for example , is run from New Jersey and has a Dublin tax address .  The fact that American companies , including Pfizer , continue to pursue inversions makes clear that additional steps are needed to stop this trend , ? Sander Levin , the ranking member of the House s tax writing committee , said in a statement Wednesday . I am encouraged that Treasury intends to take additional steps to curb tax inversions , but also recognize that their authority in this area is not unlimited .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Economy,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
8439,8440,"Reuters) - President Donald Trump plans to sign a repeal of Obama-era broadband privacy rules as a bigger fight looms over rules governing the openness of the internet, the White House said on Wednesday. Republicans in Congress on Tuesday narrowly passed the repeal of the privacy rules with no Democratic support and over the strong objections of privacy advocates. The fight over privacy sets the stage for an even larger battle later this year over Republican plans to overturn the net neutrality provisions adopted by the administration of former President Barack Obama in 2015. White House spokesman Sean Spicer said he did not know when Trump would sign the bill. The privacy bill would repeal regulations adopted in October by the Federal Communications Commission under the Obama administration requiring internet service providers to do more to protect customers’ privacy than websites like Alphabet Inc’s Google or Facebook Inc. Under the rules, internet providers would need to obtain consumer consent before using precise geolocation, financial information, health information, children’s information and web browsing history for advertising and marketing. The reversal is a win for AT&T Inc, Comcast Corp and Verizon Communications Inc. Websites are governed by a less restrictive set of privacy rules overseen by the Federal Trade Commission. Republican commissioners have said the rules would unfairly give websites the ability to harvest more data than internet service providers.  Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said in a tweet the vote was “Terrible for American ppl, great for big biz.” Republicans next plan to overturn net neutrality provisions that in 2015 reclassified broadband providers and treated them like a public utility.      Chairman Ajit Pai, a Republican, in December said he believes that net neutrality’s days are numbered. The rules bar internet providers from obstructing or slowing down consumer access to web content and prohibit giving or selling access to speedy internet, essentially a “fast lane” on the web’s information superhighway, to certain internet services. Critics say the rules opened the door to potential government rate regulation, tighter oversight and would provide fewer incentives to invest billions in broadband infrastructure. Pai told Reuters in February be backs “a free and open internet and the only question is what regulatory framework best secures that” but has steadfastly declined to disclose his plans.  Trump has not talked as president about net neutrality but in 2014 tweeted he opposed net neutrality. ",true,dataset,test,US elections,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
8459,8460,"First she was told she had breast cancer . Then doctors explained that the treatment she needed to save her life might rob her of the chance of having children .  For Natasha Eaton , 32 at the time of the diagnosis and desperate to be a mother , the news was devastating .  Natasha Eaton , 38 , was told she might not ever be able to have children when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008  Ms Eaton , from Newcastle , New South Wales , had been prescribed weeks of chemotherapy . While the treatment destroys cancer cells it can also lead to infertility and early menopause in young women .  But she was determined to do anything she could to increase her chances of having children and resorted to an egg retrieval procedure at an clinic in Sydney .   treatment , however , was not necessary . Only six months after finishing chemotherapy , Ms Eaton was ecstatic to find she was naturally pregnant with a healthy baby boy .  Now mother to four year old Jack , she was one of the 256 young women with breast cancer around the world who participated in the Prevention of Early Menopause Study .  The study saw half the participants receive a dose of the drug goserelin alongside their standard chemotherapy treatment , while the other half received their cancer treatment without .  ' I had to have my chemotherapy every three weeks for six rounds . I got to the fourth week and I ' d already had enough , ' Ms Eaton explained .  Now a mother to four year old Jack ( pictured ) , Ms Eaton has the Prevention of Early Menopause Study to thank for her sons miracle birth  Ms Eaton required chemotherapy after removing the lump on her breast through surgery . Chemotherapy not only destroys cancer cells in the body , but also often leads to early menopause in women  ' And then once a month I had the goserelin injections . It was just a like a pellet that went into my tummy and put my ovaries to sleep . '  The goserelin injections were administered in an attempt to stop the women ' s ovaries from producing eggs while they received chemotherapy , according to Professor Fran Boyle , chair of the Breast Cancer Trails Group .  ' What started the study was the idea that if you can switch your ovaries off and put them into resting stage , in theory that should make them less susceptible to chemotherapy , ' professor Boyle said .  ' There are drugs that already do that , but they are used for other purposes . So this study just re purposed a drug used for another reason to see if that ovary resting would help preserve fertility and prevent early menopause . '  Astonishingly , the study proved successful , with only 8 per cent of the women who received the goserelin injections experiencing menopause two years after their cancer treatment . This was compared to the 22 per cent of women who went through early menopause after receiving standard cancer treatment with no injections .  The goserelin recipients were also twice as likely to have normal pregnancies after their cancer treatment , a reality that still astonishes Ms Eaton .  Newborn Jack : The drug trial involved 256 women around the world receiving a monthly injection of goserelin alongside their chemotherapy , which reduced estrogen production , and ' switching off ' their ovaries  Success : Only 8 per cent of the women who received the goserelin injections experiencing menopause two years after their cancer treatment , compared to the 22 per cent of women who didn ' t receive the injections  ' There was never any trying at all , ' she said of her natural conception .  ' I finished in June with the chemo part , but I still had to have radiation therapy . When I had an ultrasound in September , we saw that my ovaries were still shriveled up and asleep and I was panicking .  ' Fran said it was alright and we ' ll just see how we go , but I jokingly asked her "" can I have a baby now ? "" and she just said "" no , no , not yet . ""  ' The next time I saw her , I was pregnant . '  Ms Eaton fell pregnant in December , only six months after finishing her treatment . In February , she found herself experiencing morning sickness , but thought nothing of it until daring to take a home pregnancy test .  ' It was a scary time . The thought went through my mind : "" am I going to have to terminate him ? "" I wasn ' t even sure if I was allowed to have him or if there would be something wrong with him it was a scary lot of mixed emotions , ' she said .  After the initial shock and perfect amniocentesis results , she was over the moon now Ms Eaton can ' t imagine her life without four year old Jack .  ' He ' s an old soul he ' s definitely been here before , ' she said . ' He ' s way above his years and he ' s quite a character . '  Professor Fran Boyle , who ran the trial , said the results showed that goserelin injections could also lead to similar positive results in women with other cancers  Ms Eaton has since had her ovaries removed as a preventative measure and will likely have a double mastectomy , but the proud mother can ' t imagine her life without her new son  Ms Eaton ' s battle with cancer is not over , however . After removing her ovaries in a bid to avoid her high risk of developing ovarian cancer , the proud mother is now looking towards a double mastectomy for similar reasons .  But with her chemotherapy days behind her , and her happy little boy helping her get through it , Ms Eaton said she finally has room to breathe .  Despite the study only being administered in breast cancer patients , Professor Boyle said the results showed that goserelin injections could also lead to similar positive results with other cancers .  ' This is a drug that can be accessed in Australia today , so it can be done , ' she said .  ' It ' s not covered by the  for this purpose though , so people need to buy it , but what we hope is that the company that makes it will now apply to have it funded for this purpose .  ' The benefit of this study is that it will also be able to be used in other kinds of cancer for similar benefits as well , including lymphoma . '  ' One of the other important things , is that although it was run in a large number of countries in the world , it was actually an idea initiated in Australia . By collaborating with researchers in other countries we were able to have found enough young women in this situation we couldn ' t have done it just in Australia . '  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
8480,8481,"Readers share memories of the San Bernardino shooting victims  We are asking ? readers to help us tell the stories of the 14 people killed in Wednesday ' s shooting rampage in San Bernardino .  Their identities ? were released by the coroner as a stark list of names , ages and hometowns . Friends , colleagues and loved ones are remembering them for their compassion , integrity and devotion .  Most were at the Inland Regional Center to attend a ? holiday party with coworkers . All ? were caught in the gunfire when coworker Syed Rizwan Farook , 28 , left the gathering and returned with his wife , Tashfeen Malik , 29 , on a murderous mission . ?  I could tell Bennetta was the best mother she could be to Jolene . They were so sweet . Debbie , who saw Bennetta with her daughter when they visited her place of work , European Wax Center  Damian Meins dressed up as Santa Claus every year for our kids and their Christmas pictures . He never hesitated to put on that suit and create memories for our kids . Laurie Nusbaum , parent of a child who had Meins as a teacher  Harry was one of the smartest people I have ever met . He will be missed greatly . Irene Franco , a co worker  Tio Juan was a hardworking , loyal , honest and strict person but at the same time was a loving leader and advisor . He was someone who we could rely on and tell all our secrets . Zhenia Ponce De Leon , remembering Espinoza ' s role as an uncle  Aurora always had a good attitude and smile on her face even in difficult working conditions . I enjoyed working with her very much . She had so much joy in her . Rhonds Neill  She was an amazing aunt to my niece . Alejandra Chavez , a family friend  My favorite memory was the day we graduated . We had gone through the toughest 4 years of our lives together and we were elated to have finally reached our graduation day . Jacqueline Juarez , a classmate at  Riverside  She had a very calm attitude towards problems . But what made her unique was that she emanated this aurora of positivity regardless of how dire the situations may be . Marcus worked as a resident assistant with Sierra Clayborn , 27 , when both were in school at  Riverside  She always had a smile on her face and enjoyed having conversations with us Baristas . Her laughter and joy was infectious . Melissa Lock who worked at the Starbucks at Big Bear where Clayborn was a regular customer  He loved his co workers , said it was like working for the United Nations and how he had co workers from all over the world . . . . May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace . Toni Arene , who considered Johnson a mentor  I have rarely in my life come across an individual who has stood out to me as such a kind and decent man . Benjamin Vagnozzi who ran a small catering business Johnson inspected  When you see a health inspector , nine times out of 10 you say ' Oh my god . ' I never felt like that when he came . He was great at his job . Susan Wangeman , manager of a restaurant Johnson inspected  She was extremely sweet and one of the most pleasant inspectors . I only met her a few times , but every time I go out to eat in town I see her signature on the letter grades . Ashley Gereau , who said Yvette inspected her employer , Loma Linda University Medical Center  He could make you feel like the aspects that made you feel weak were your superpowers , he turned victims into survivors in one conversation . Tatiana Green , who met Kaufman through Renaissance Faire  I would see Daniel every morning on my way into the office . He always had a kind word , a smile or joke for everyone . You could have a conversation with him that could last forever . Kirstyn Bruno , former coworker  I will miss seeing him wave happily to me as he walked by . Even if we couldn ' t stop to chat , he always made sure to say hello . Miranda Farny , who participated in renaissance fair with Daniel  Daniel never met a stranger . His smile was continuous and his laughter contagious . He was beautiful . Sara ( Bentley ) Randolph , who said that when they were young she and Daniel met at coffee shops to discuss metaphysics and stayed up late to play Dungeons and Dragons  I hope he ' s at skyfaire with the others we ' ve lost over the years , telling good stories and enjoying the afterlife . Rest in peace , good sir . Stephanie riggs , a friend from Renaissance Faire  He would talk about finishing school , his wife and his child . Very kind hearted and funny guy , always had a smile and crazy stories to share . I am honored to have met him . Angel , who works at the county ' s motor pool , got to know the 40 year old father when Adams picked up cars .  She promised that no matter what , she would return to have her wedding there and now we ' re having her funeral . Vanessa Nguyen , mother of Tin Nguyen , on St . Barbara ' s Catholic Church in Santa Ana  He was always laughing and making jokes . He was so easy to get along with . Chris Roberts , a fraternity brother and roommate of Wetzel  ",true,text,test,American football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
8488,8489,"For families looking for a home in which they can create some magical memories , this is surely the property .  This luxury 14th century cottage is in fact than the birthplace of Harry Potter and can be bought by fans of the boy wizard provided they can conjure up 950 , 000 .  The grade I listed building in Lavenham , Suffolk , was used to create the entire fictional village of Godric ' s Hollow , in Harry Potter and Deathly Hallows Part One is now on the market for 950 , 000 .  Various shots of the picturesque house , called de Vere House , were cut up to create the entire village , which was the birthplace of both Harry and Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore .  History book house : The grand cottage is loved by the young wizard ' s fans  A scene from the Harry Potter film ' The Deathly Hallows ' where Harry and Hermione travel to Godric ' s Hollow , Harry ' s birthplace and the place where his parents died  It was also the place Harry ' s parents made their final stand before being slain by Lord Voldemort , immortalising the house as the backdrop where Harry wizard received his characteristic scar .  Astonishingly the home has become the second most photographed doorway in the whole of the  , with only number 10 Downing Street pipping it to the top spot .  The beautiful medieval building includes a reception hall , drawing room , dining room . , kitchen breakfast room , laundry room , three double bedrooms , two bathrooms and an attic room .  The five star self catering wing features a reading room , sitting room , kitchen breakfast room , shower room and two double bedroom suites .  Guests who stay at the house can ' t resist watching clips of the famous Harry Potter movies to help make the magic feel more real .  The cottage appears in this scene from the Harry Potter film The Deathly Hallows where Harry and Hermione travel to Godric ' s Hollow , Harry ' s birthplace  Current owner of the house Jane Ranzetta said : ' It ' s part of Godric ' s Hollow . The house can be seen opposite the graveyard , with a Christmas tree in the window , the lights on and music coming out of it . '  Her husband Tony Ranzetta said : ' It was really quite extraordinary watching both the filming and then the end result on screen .  ' The crew arrived without actors and filmed both the front and the back in the height of summer .  ' They then used parts of the house like pieces of a massive three dimensional jigsaw , cutting and pasting them to form the streets of Godric ' s Hollow  ' They even made the final result a snow scene in the winter , with a Christmas tree in our front window and carol singing coming from within the house . '  De Vere House , which has also been known as the de Vere Hunting Lodge , Oxford House and Oxford Cottages over the years , was owned by the powerful de Vere family from the 14th to 17th centuries .  It also includes the remains of one of the last garde robes to be installed in this country , a rare and original medieval wall painting , and a magnificent front door way .  Jane , a private tutor , said : ' We have been here for 22 or 23 years and it feels like the time has come for us to leave .  ' I never think you own a house like this , you are just custodians and that is an honour . '  House of memories : Harry Potter ' s home De Vere House in Lavenham , Suffolk , is expected to sell for 950 , 000  Once in a lifetime buy : Various shots of the picturesque house were cut up to create the entire village , which was the birth place for Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore  Own a piece of history ( for a mere 950 , 000 ) It has become the second most photographed doorway in the whole  with number 10 Downing Street taking the top spot  The current owners , who have a 15 year old son , first spotted the magical building more than two decades ago during a day trip to Lavenham .  Since they bought it , the Ranzettas have lovingly restored the house and gardens , uncovering ornate decorations , including carvings and mediaeval paintings .  Jane added : ' We had seen the house several times and taken photos and thought , ' What a lovely house , ' but also that it would never come on the market .  ' A few months later we were looking for a property and we were sent details od De Vere House .  ' It sounds cliched but we knew we wanted it as soon as we walked through the door . '  During De Vere House ' s extraordinary past King Henry  visited in 1498 , historians believe .  A scene from the film where Harry ' s parents made their final stand before being slain by Lord Voldemort , immortalising the house as the backdrop where Harry wizard received his characteristic scar  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
8490,8491,"Six cult members have been arrested over the beating death of a woman a McDonald ' s restaurant in eastern China on Wednesday night .  Only known as Miss Wu , the alleged victim was having dinner at the fast food outlet when an unknown man , identified as Mr Zhang , asked for her phone number .  Once she refused , that ' s when a very tragic and violent conflict unfolded over a brief 20 minute period .  The bashing of Miss Wu took place at a McDonald ' s in eastern China after she refused to give a cult member her number  Upon the rejection , Mr Zhang used an iron bar to beat Miss Wu to death right in the middle of the eatery .  Witnesses told thenanfangweblink that Mr Zhang was also having dinner with his friends at Zhaoyuan , in China ' s Shandong province , when an argument broke out with Miss Wu followed by a physical dispute .  The website reported Mr Zhang ' s friends joined in and also beat Miss Wu , kicking her in the head and she was lying on the ground in a pool of her own blood .  They then proceeded to use an iron handled mop to strike her in the head and continued to do so until the handle broke .  Graphic images and a three minute clip of the beating is circulating online .  Mr Zhang was eating dinner with friends before he allegedly beat Ms Wu to death  With Mr Zhang ' s friends joining in on the alleged assault , kicking her in the head , she was left lying in a pool of her own blood on the ground  Another news site , ecns . cn , reported that Mr Zhang was encouraged by a woman shouting ' beat her to death ' .  The accused six were arrested on Saturday and police believe they are part of a religious cult .  Zhaoyuan police said on their microblog that the members , four of which are from the same family , belonged to a group calling itself the ' All powerful spirit ' or ' Almighty God ' and had been collecting numbers in an effort to recruit new people .  The six people allegedly involved in the incident are believed to be cult members and were arrested on Saturday  Emergency crew confirmed that Miss Wu , who has children , died at the scene which occurred between 9 . 10pm to 9 . 30pm .  No one was reported to have tried to help the victim as video footage of the incident caused an uproar as it showed customers watch the woman scream in agony as she was beaten to death .  The McDonald ' s is located across the street from a local police station .  Zhaoyuan is in Shandong province , a traditional hotbed for religious cults . The region gave birth to the violent anti Christian Boxer movement that laid siege to Western interests in Beijing and elsewhere during the waning years of the Qing dynasty in 1900 .  It has been reported no one raised the alarm while Ms Wu was being beaten to death with an iron rod  State broadcaster  said religious material had been found at a location linked to the sect but gave no further details . A clerk who answered the phone at Zhaoyuan police headquarters said no one was available to comment on the case .  Video and images of the attack are circulating the internet where people can see McDonald ' s patrons stood idly by as Ms Wu is heard screaming  It said the group promoted a philosophy based on a distorted reading of the Christian Bible and had been banned as an ' evil cult ' by the government in 1995 , although that could not be immediately confirmed .  Another paper , the Beijing Morning News , said 17 members of the group had been arrested in Beijing in December 2012 for harassing people in a public park with claims that the world was coming to an end .  China has struggled at times to control grassroots religious movements based on Christian or Buddhist ideology , most notably the Falungong meditation movement that attracted millions of adherents before being brutally repressed in 1999 .  Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
8497,8498,"Martin Atkinson ' s refereeing duties have been overlooked this weekend following a number of controversial decisions during Chelsea ' s draw with Burnley last Saturday .  Atkinson will instead be fourth official on the touchline for Manchester United ' s clash with Sunderland at Old Trafford this weekend .  The clash at Stamford Bridge was Atkinson ' s 32nd game as head arbitrator this season following his game in charge of Real Madrid ' s Champions League win at Schalke on Wednesday .  Martin Atkinson , the referee for Chelsea ' s draw with Burnley , will not take charge of any games this weekend  Jose Mourinho did not look happy as he watched on from the sidelines , and later aired his thoughts on   The Chelsea boss appeared on Sky Sports ' Goals on Sunday after Chelsea ' s controversial draw with Burnley  However , Atkinson ' s services will not be needed in the middle of the park this week after his string of contested decisions in west London .  Atkinson will , however , take charge of the match between Southampton and Crystal Palace at St Mary ' s on March 3 .  In the wake of the ill tempered encounter with Sean Dyche ' s side , Blues boss Mourinho made a rare extra curricular television appearance to air his views to the nation on this week ' s instalment of Sky Sports ' Goals on Sunday .  Gracing our screens armed with an arsenal of ammunition , Mourinho brought up certain refereeing decisions that he believes have gone unfairly against his team this season .  Singling out four key incidents from Saturday ' s match during his 27 minute sofa soliloquy , Mourinho laid into Atkinson ' s decision making on the day , including a specific incident between Nemanja Matic and Ashley Barnes , which saw his influential midfielder dismissed for violent retaliation following a dangerous tackle from the Burnley forward .  Barnes will not face retrospective action from the  for his studs up challenge on Matic , which was seen by Atkinson but went unpunished .  Mourinho was upset with this studs up tackle from Ashley Barnes which went unpunished on Saturday  Matic is held back by his Chelsea team mates as Atkinson brandishes a red card  After Chelsea ' s game against Burnley , Jose Mourinho listed four minutes four key incidents that he believed the referee had got wrong . Here , Sportsmail looks at them :  30 Ashley Barnes sends Branislav Ivanovic crashing to the ground in an aerial challenge after a knee in the back . Ivanovic rolls over twice before leaping up when he realises no action is being taken . It should have been a free kick and could have been a yellow card for Barnes .  Barnes catches Ivanovic with his right boot during an aerial challenge in the 30th minute  33 Ivanovic goes for goal but Michael Kightly diverts it with an outstretched arm , as he turns his back to goal . Martin Atkinson waves play on . It should have been a Chelsea penalty .  Ivanovic fires a shot at goal but his effort was blocked by the raised arms of Michael Kightly  43 Diego Costa goes to ground after Jason Shackell leans into him with an oustretched arm . Atkinson waves play on . It could have been a Chelsea penalty but would have been soft .  Diego Costa vents his frustration after being shoved inside the box by Jason Shackell  69 Barnes misses the ball and almost snaps Nemanja Matic ' s left shin with his studs but Atkinson waves play on . An enraged Matic leaps up and pushes Barnes over . Atkinson sends off Matic and books Ivanovic for trying to take red card out of his hand . It was a shocking tackle that merited a red card for Barnes and a Chelsea free kick .  Referee Martin Atkinson shows Matic a straight red card after his altercation with Barnes in the second half  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
8506,8507,"Arsenal supporters are furious that their  Cup quarter final against Manchester United at Old Trafford has been scheduled for a Monday night and have accused the Football Association of damaging the competition .  The scheduling decision , in order to show it live on  One , has left Arsenal fans unable to catch trains back to London after the game , which kicks off at 7 : 45pm on March 9 .  They are angry that the demands of the television companies have been pandered to by the  at their expense .  Olivier Giroud celebrates after scoring Arsenal ' s second goal in their 2 0 win against Middlesbrough  Arsenal fans will hope that a late train service will be provided from Manchester Piccadilly station  Arsenal Supporters ' Trust spokesman Tim Payton said : ' One of the magic things of the  Cup is the large away fan allocation but the Football Association are damaging their own competition . They are sullying the brand of the cup .  ' The football authorities need to explain why with four quarter finals we can ' t play two on Saturday and two on Sunday .  ' This is another example of broadcasters and their money dictating to the inconvenience of fans . Broadcasters should remember , without fans at the ground there would be no atmosphere for them to show . '  Arsenal are working with Virgin Trains , who provide the service between London and Manchester , and exploring their options to help supporters get back after the match .  As it stands , they would have to leave at half time to catch the last train back and could then still find the London Underground services have stopped .  Giroud ( left ) is congratulated by his team mates after scoring a double in the  Cup fifth round on Sunday  Giroud scores his second goal at the Emirates Stadium as Arsenal go through to the  Cup quarter finals  Arsenal Supporters ' Trust are demanding that the club and the  help to cut their costs .  Payton added : ' We are calling on the  and Arsenal to subsidise travel to the game and have reasonably priced match tickets .  ' We are already working with other Arsenal fan groups on the issue of broadcasted games . With 5billion about to flow into football it really is time that fans are put first . '  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,negative,present
8528,8529,"Washington Both sides agree that forced spending cuts set to take effect next week will harm the economy and national security . Both sides have plans for averting the worst impacts .  So why are there no formal negotiations taking place with Congress on break this week as leaders from both parties accuse each other of intransigence ?  Once again , the answer is the Washington blame game .  The same pattern of politically inspired brinksmanship that dominated President Barack Obama ' s first term is continuing in the early days of his second .  Now , the collective weight of Obama ' s re election in November and the subsequent fiscal cliff deal in which Republicans conceded on tax increases makes compromise seem distant , if not impossible , in the short term .  The central issue is the same one that framed last year ' s presidential campaign .  Republicans want to shrink the size of government and the spending needed to run it , while Democrats want to strengthen the safety net of federal programs that help the poor , the elderly , the disabled and other vulnerable communities .  Obama and leaders of both parties warn the pending 85 billion in spending cuts set to kick in on March 1 bode ill for the nation , but the rhetoric so far has focused on blaming the other side .  In an interview on Thursday with the radio program "" Keepin It Real with Al Sharpton , "" Obama said  opposition to any further tax hikes or ending loopholes to raise more tax revenue was "" the thing that binds their party together at this point . ""  "" Unfortunately , I think Republicans have been so dug in on this notion of never raising taxes that it becomes difficult for them to see an obvious answer right in front of them , "" the president said .  "" We continue to reach out to the Republicans and say , ' this is not gonna be good for the economy , it ' s not gonna be good for ordinary people ' but I don ' t know if they are going to move and that ' s what we are going to have to try to keep pushing over the next seven , eight days , "" Obama said .  In an opinion piece published Wednesday in the Wall Street Journal , House Speaker John Boehner labeled the spending cuts "" ugly and dangerous , "" saying they would diminish resources for the military , law enforcement , border security , aviation safety and other programs .  However , the de facto  leader on the issue argued that his party ' s agreement to raise tax rates on top income earners in January ended the discussion on further tax or revenue increases now .  Instead , Boehner said he wanted other cuts to replace the across the board approach of sequestration , accusing Obama and Democrats of ignoring what he called the nation ' s spending problem .  "" The president got his higher taxes "" with no spending cuts in the January deal , he wrote in the op ed , adding that "" no one should be talking about raising taxes "" with examples of rampant government spending such as "" paying people to play video games , giving folks free cell phones and buying 47 , 000 cigarette smoking machines . ""  Voters in November returned Obama to office and gave Democrats a stronger Senate majority while reducing the Republican majority in the House , leading to the January agreement on the fiscal cliff by the outgoing Congress in its final hours .  That deal raised tax rates on families earning more than 450 , 000 and individuals earning above 400 , 000 while maintaining lower rates for everyone else . It also put off until March 1 the mandated spending cuts from a 2011 agreement that increased how much money the Treasury could borrow to meet financial obligations .  Known in Washington jargon as sequestration , the forced spending cuts to the military and other government agencies but not entitlement programs that drive chronic federal deficits were intended to motivate Congress to come up with a comprehensive deficit reduction plan sought by both sides .  Obama more emotional on spending cuts  However , such an agreement proved impossible in the hyper political climate of an election year , and the government wide cuts opposed by both sides now are set to take effect . That would mean 85 billion in cuts for the rest of fiscal year 2013 , which ends September 30 , as part of a 10 year total of about 1 trillion .  Obama and Democrats are offering the same approach to the issue as a central theme of the election , calling for the wealthy to pay more as part of a package of spending cuts and increased revenue to replace the forced cuts of sequestration .  Ratcheting up pressure on Republicans with Congress in recess for Presidents Day week , White House spokesman Jay Carney announced Thursday that Obama had phoned Boehner and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell . He provided no details beyond describing the calls as "" good conversations . ""  Both Boehner and McConnell have complained that Obama refuses to address needed spending cuts and entitlement reforms to bring about substantive deficit reduction , and the timing of the phone calls appeared in response to questions about a lack of formal talks involving the president .  A 110 billion proposal by Senate Democrats , which is similar to a plan by House Democrats , would replace the forced spending cuts for a year by getting more tax revenue from millionaires , stopping some agriculture subsidies and cutting military spending after the end of combat operations in Afghanistan in 2014 .  "" You may not like what we ' ve proposed but at least let us have a vote in the House of Representatives , "" Rep . Chris Van Hollen , D Maryland , said Thursday in criticizing congressional Republicans . "" Come back here , call the Congress into session in the next eight days and let ' s have a vote . If you want to vote no and say you prefer the consequences of the sequester to the alternative . . . that ' s your right . ""  On Tuesday , Obama held a campaign style event at the White House to call for balancing the impact of deficit reduction so that the middle class and vulnerable citizens such as the elderly don ' t get hit too hard .  Speaking in near apocalyptic terms , the president warned of criminals going free , longer security lines at airports , reduced military readiness , fewer border guards , pre schoolers losing access to Head Start programs and other problems if the full brunt of the spending cuts occur .  Where you ' ll feel forced spending cuts   leaders , meanwhile , seek to blame Obama for the forced spending cuts so that any hardships that result , such as predicted job losses and reductions in economic growth , get attributed to the president .  "" The president ' s sequester is the wrong way to reduce the deficit , but it is here to stay until Washington Democrats get serious about cutting spending , "" wrote Boehner , R Ohio , in the op ed . "" The government simply cannot keep delaying the inevitable and spending money it doesn ' t have . So , as the president ' s outrage about the sequester grows in coming days , Republicans have a simple response : Mr President , we agree that your sequester is bad policy . What spending are you willing to cut to replace it ? ""  Congress passive as spending cuts near  By using language such as "" the president ' s sequester , "" Boehner and Republicans want to implant a public perception that the plan was Obama ' s all along .  The White House concedes that it raised the idea of forced budget cuts during the negotiations in 2011 on the debt ceiling deal , but argues Republicans , including Boehner and other House leaders , agreed to making it part of the deal and then voted for it .  Now , Carney says , Republicans acted like they never supported the idea .  He insisted Thursday that Obama has offered the only legitimate compromise proposal for significant deficit reduction , noting the Congressional Budget Office determined the president ' s plan would bring deficits below 3 of gross domestic product by 2015 , which he called an accepted target by economists .  Carney labeled any comparisons between what Obama proposes and the Republican stance as a "" false equivalence , "" arguing the president ' s approach of spending cuts , entitlement reforms and new tax revenue is a compromise from a hard line Democratic position that rejects any benefit reductions in Social Security , Medicare and Medicaid .  "" You come half way and your negotiating partner stays where he or she is , that makes it very difficult to reach a compromise , "" Carney told reporters . "" You need compromise from the other side . ""  In negotiations last December on the fiscal cliff agreement , Obama was willing to include a less generous inflation index for benefits such as Social Security , despite vehement protests from his liberal base , Carney noted .  "" There ' s some responsibility here on the Republican side to do what the president has done , which is to hear what the American people are saying , which is please compromise , please be reasonable , please do not adopt positions that represent a ' my way or the highway ' approach , "" Carney said .  Obama , Republicans clash on forced spending cuts  On Wednesday , Carney defended Obama ' s campaign style approach to generating public support for his stance on the issue , saying such pressure worked in the spending and deficit agreements of the past two years .  "" You know why they happened ? Because the American people supported those positions that the president took , "" Carney said . "" And , in the end , Congress responded to the will of the American people . And we hope that ' s what ' s going to happen again this time . ""  A new poll on Thursday showed a strong majority of Americans want the kind of comprehensive deficit reduction called for by Obama , but support for a stop gap measure on the forced spending cuts was less certain .  Seven of 10 respondents in the Pew Research and  Today survey called major legislation to reduce the deficit the most important priority for Congress , and 76 backed the combination of spending cuts and revenue increases favored by the president and Democrats .  At the same time , 73 want more spending cuts than tax increases while only about 20 say the solution should be spending cuts alone .  If the forced spending cuts go into effect , 49 of respondents would blame Republicans in Congress while 31 would blame Obama , the poll showed . However , 49 said the cuts should be delayed while 40 said they should go into effect .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Economy,satire,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
8580,8581,"Reuters) - The United Nations Security Council is due to vote on Monday on a draft resolution calling for the withdrawal of U.S. President Donald Trump s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, diplomats said, a move likely to face a Washington veto. The one-page Egyptian-drafted text, seen by Reuters, does not specifically mention the United States or Trump. Diplomats say it has broad support among the 15-member council, and while it is unlikely to be adopted, the vote will further isolate Trump on the issue.  To pass, a resolution needs nine votes in favor and no vetoes by the United States, France, Britain, Russia or China. Trump abruptly reversed decades of U.S. policy this month when he recognized Jerusalem as Israel s capital, generating outrage from Palestinians. Trump also plans to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley has praised Trump s decision as  the just and right thing to do.  The U.S. mission to the United Nations was not immediately available to comment on Sunday.  Arab foreign ministers agreed to seek a U.N. Security Council resolution on the issue. The draft U.N. text expresses  deep regret at recent decisions concerning the status of Jerusalem.   It  affirms that any decisions and actions which purport to have altered, the character, status or demographic composition of the Holy City of Jerusalem have no legal effect, are null and void and must be rescinded in compliance with relevant resolutions of the Security Council.  The draft also calls upon all countries to refrain from establishing diplomatic missions in Jerusalem. Israel considers the city its eternal and indivisible capital and wants all embassies based there.   No vote or debate will change the clear reality that Jerusalem  is the capital of Israel, Danny Danon, Israel s ambassador to the United Nations, said in a statement on Saturday.      Palestinians want the capital of an independent Palestinian state to be in the city s eastern sector, which Israel captured in a 1967 war and annexed in a move never recognized internationally.     The draft council resolution  demands that all states comply with Security Council resolutions regarding the Holy City of Jerusalem, and not to recognize any actions or measures contrary to those resolutions.  A U.N. Security Council resolution adopted in December 2016  underlines that it will not recognize any changes to the 4 June 1967 lines, including with regard to Jerusalem, other than those agreed by the parties through negotiations.  That resolution was approved with 14 votes in favor and an abstention by former U.S. President Barack Obama s administration, which defied heavy pressure from longtime ally Israel and Trump, who was then president-elect, for Washington to wield its veto. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
8587,8588,"More than 150 soldiers in Bangladesh were sentenced to death Tuesday for murder , rape and arson during a 2009 mutiny .  "" The convicts will be hanged by the neck until death , "" ruled Mohammad Akhteruzzaman , a senior judge at the Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Court , in pronouncing the sentences for the 152 paramilitary border guards .  Seventy four people , including 57 army officers , were killed in the mutiny at the headquarters of Bangladesh ' s border guards in Dhaka in February 2009 .  Investigators initially brought charges against 850 people , including 23 civilians , but the final judgment was against 846 people . Four suspects died in custody .  The accused troopers were indicted on charges of murder , rape , arson , looting weapons and conspiracy .  "" We had long been waiting for the verdict and it has cleansed the image of the force stained by the massacre , "" said Maj . Gen . Aziz Ahmed , who now leads the border guards .  Several thousand armed soldiers of the Bangladesh Rifles (  ) unit took control of their own headquarters in the capital for two days and massacred scores of people , including officers of the Bangladesh Army who were stationed with the  .  The civilians in the case include a former lawmaker from the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party , Nasiruddin Ahmed Pintu , and an Awami League leader , Torab Ali .  A total of 262 people were sentenced to prison terms ranging from three years to 10 years and 271 were acquitted of the charges against them .  "" We may appeal against those who were acquitted , "" Kazal said .  Shamim Sardar , an attorney for one of those sentenced Tuesday , told reporters justice had not been done and vowed to appeal to a higher court .  The mutiny erupted less than two months after the present Awami League government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina came to power in January 2009 in a landslide victory .  According to the charges , the border guards took up weapons , killed the officers , and held the families of the officers hostage in the staff apartments inside the headquarters compound .  The dead also included the then chief of the border guards , Maj . Gen . Shakil Ahmed , and his wife .  The soldiers demanded better pay and perks , as well as the withdrawal of all army officers from the forces .  The government later renamed the  the Border Guards of Bangladesh . The prime responsibility of the force , which works under the ministry of home affairs , is to guard the country ' s 4 , 000 kilometer ( 2 , 485 mile ) border with India and Myanmar .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
8598,8599,"Exercise can vastly improve the lives of osteoarthritis sufferers , health chiefs said yesterday .  Too many patients believe nothing they do will lessen their discomfort , according to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence .  The institute insists that physical exertion can help the condition and ease pain .  The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has today said exercise should be the principal treatment for those diagnosed with osteoarthritis  Around 8 . 5million people in the  have osteoarthritis , which causes joint pain and stiffness .  Issuing its new guidance , Nice says exercise should be the principal treatment . ' There ' s a common but mistaken belief that osteoarthritis is an inevitable part of ageing and that it will get worse that ' s not the case , ' said Professor Mark Baker , clinical practice chief at Nice .  ' The guidance highlights that the core treatment for osteoarthritis remains exercise this not only helps relieve pain for some but also improves function . '  Nice also called for GPs to refer patients to surgeons for possible joint replacements before they became incapacitated rather than it being a last line of treatment .  The new advice warns doctors that a patient ' s age , sex , smoking history or whether they are obese should not be barriers to referral for joint surgery .  Osteoarthritis should not be considered an ' inevitable part of ageing that will only get worse ' , say Nice  Professor Karen Middleton , of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy , said : ' These guidelines should help challenge the perception that many people often have about osteoarthritis being a normal part of ageing and that nothing can be done .  ' Physiotherapists provide effective treatment for the symptoms of osteoarthritis and deliver expert advice on physical activity and weight management strategies to reduce pain and improve mobility .  ' Nice has recognised how important this is for the day to day management of the condition and the positive impact it has on patients ' quality of life . '  Judi Rhys of Arthritis Care said the charity ' s experts were ' firm believers in the value of appropriate exercise for people with osteoarthritis ' .  Nice said overweight patients should be encouraged to lose weight while drugs such as paracetamol and ibuprofen gel should be considered for pain relief .  Professor Alan Silman , of Arthritis Research  , said : ' It ' s important that people with osteoarthritis find a type of exercise they enjoy doing .  ' Everyone can benefit from some sort of exercise , regardless of their condition .  ' Stretching . strengthening and aerobic exercises are the ideal combination . '  ",true,text,test,US elections,Sports/Other,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,present
8599,8600,"When Tiah Joo Kim arrived at the Manhattan headquarters of the Trump Organization to pitch a hotel and condominium project in Vancouver, British Columbia, he expected the famous company with ventures across the globe to come with capacious offices and a staff of hundreds. Instead, he was led through a mere two floors with what appeared to be no more than a few dozen employees. “Lean,” Mr. Tiah, a young Malaysian developer, remembers thinking as he walked the halls. The first stop was a conference room, where Mr. Tiah was required to sell his vision to the boss’s three oldest children. Only after securing their support did he advance to the inner sanctum, with its sweeping views of Central Park. Mr. Tiah was not sure what to expect from the man whose face was beamed around the world through the reality television show “The Apprentice,” but the conversation that afternoon in 2012 was casual and warm. Donald J. Trump spent more time showing off a Shaquille O’Neal shoe and a Mike Tyson championship belt  —   prize artifacts from his display of sports memorabilia  —   than interrogating Mr. Tiah on the details of his business plan. “You’re a   guy,” Mr. Tiah recalled Mr. Trump telling him as he gave the project his blessing. Then Mr. Trump’s trusted lawyers and other top executives swooped in to play hardball  —   working alongside Donald Trump Jr. to negotiate the confidential agreements that would allow the Vancouver development to be branded with Mr. Trump’s name and managed by his company. The talks consumed   days for nearly a week, Mr. Tiah said, explaining: “It was tiring. They’re tough. ” That is the way business has been done at the Trump Organization, a relatively small company with a big reach and a bigger   that has come under intense scrutiny as its chief prepares to become president of the United States. With extensive entanglements around the world, many packaged in a network of licensing agreements and limited liability companies, the Trump Organization poses a raft of potential conflicts of interest for a   who has long exerted such control over his company that, as he told The New York Times in a recent interview, he is the one who signs the checks. “I like to sign checks so I know what is going on,” he explained. Mr. Trump  —   owner of all but the smallest sliver of the privately held company  —   has said that, while the law does not require it, he is formulating plans to remove himself and his older daughter, Ivanka, from the company’s operations. (Ms. Trump’s husband, Jared Kushner, is likely to have a role in the White House.) His sons Donald Jr. and Eric, along with other executives, will be in charge, the   wrote on Twitter in   adding that “no new deals will be done during my term( s) in office. ” People involved in the planning have said that Mr. Trump intends to keep a stake in the business. But in recent weeks, amid rising pressure, Mr. Trump and his advisers have been intensely debating further measures. Among other things, the   has agreed to shut down his personal foundation, has ended some international development deals and has reviewed a plan for an outside monitor to oversee the Trump Organization. Yet an examination of the company underscores the complex challenges of taking Mr. Trump out of Trump the organization. His company is a distinctly family business fortified with longtime loyalists that operates less on standardized procedures and more on a culture of Trump. Mr. Trump may leave the details of contracts to his deputies, but his name  —   and influence  —   is stamped on every deal the company does. In an interview last spring with The Times, Mr. Trump explained that he approved new ventures based on his personal “feel. ” And while in recent years his three oldest children have taken on more of a leadership role, Mr. Trump has the final say, sometimes weighing in on the most minute design details of planned hotels, golf courses or other properties the company owns or manages. His other top executives  —   many of them natives of Queens, where Mr. Trump grew up, or Brooklyn, where his father, Fred, expanded a housing empire many years ago  —   have secured power not necessarily through fancy pedigrees or impressive credentials, but through decades of devotion to their boss. Allen Weisselberg, the organization’s chief financial officer, started off as an accountant for Mr. Trump’s father. Matthew Calamari, the organization’s chief operating officer, was recruited in 1981 after Mr. Trump saw him eject some hecklers while working security at the United States Open tennis tournament. For some executives, there appears to be little division between their service to the company and their service to the Trumps. “We’re not a publicly traded company. At the end of the day, I work for the Trump family,” Alan Garten, the general counsel, explained in an interview with the legal industry publication Corporate Counsel shortly before the election. “That’s how I view my job. Whether it’s protecting their business interests or protecting their personal interests. I am here to assist them and represent them in any way they need. ” When asked to elaborate in an interview last week with The Times, Mr. Garten said that in any job, “you want to be as helpful as you can,” but that “obviously the interests of the Trumps and the interests of the company are two distinct things. ” The divisions between business and politics were often fuzzy during the presidential race: Mr. Garten became a “liaison” to Mr. Trump’s campaign Michael Cohen, an executive vice president, tirelessly promoted his boss’s bid for the White House on television while battling negative media coverage and Jason Greenblatt, the company’s chief legal officer, began serving as his adviser on Israel. On Friday, it was announced that Mr. Greenblatt would be joining Mr. Trump’s administration as a special representative for international negotiations. After the election, other lines continued to blur as the   and his children met with foreign businessmen with connections to their global ventures and with foreign officials with potential influence over their business dealings. Some   lawyers have warned that unless Mr. Trump fully divests himself from the company and places someone independent of his family in charge, he risks entering the White House in violation of a constitutional clause that forbids him from taking payments or gifts from a foreign government entity. As Mr. Trump assumes the presidency, it is difficult to foresee him walling himself off from the company entirely, said Michael D’Antonio, the author of a critical biography, “The Truth About Trump. ” “I don’t think that he could keep himself from inquiring about the performance of these businesses any more than he can keep himself from tweeting,” Mr. D’Antonio said. “It is just too vital to his identity. Profit is the way he has always measured himself. I don’t see how he can stop. ” Mr. Trump may have business interests around the world, but his power is concentrated at a single Midtown Manhattan address: 725 Fifth Avenue. With a gleaming exterior that shoots to the sky, a lobby decked with marble and a collection of   tenants, Trump Tower is his primary residence as well as his company’s headquarters. To get to work, Mr. Trump steps onto the private elevator in his gilded   penthouse, presses 26 and waits a matter of seconds. When the doors open, he is at his office, surrounded by Mr. Garten, Mr. Weisselberg and other top executives. One floor down are the offices of Donald Jr. Eric and Ivanka Trump, who joined the company in the 2000s and are now his top deputies and advance guard. David Brecher, the chief executive of  Home Loans, visited the Trump Organization about a decade ago to discuss a potential partnership and found the aesthetics telling. “Donald’s floor,” he said, recalling a swirl of gold trim and hues, “is very his style. ” “The kids,” by contrast, “have a very cool floor. Sleek. Marble. ” Photographs of Mr. Trump with the rich and powerful adorn his office walls, and his desk often overflows with papers, evidence of his refusal to communicate by email. When Mr. Trump wants to talk to someone, he calls out to his assistant, Rhona Graff, a Queens native whose office is right outside his door. She has been his gatekeeper for decades. Anyone seeking access to him over the phone has to go through Ms. Graff, sometimes with a secret code. Mr. Trump often boasts of the size of the Trump Organization. “It’s a big company,” he said in the interview last spring. A spokeswoman said the business employed “tens of thousands. ” But industry experts estimate that no more than 4, 000 people work for the Trump Organization worldwide. And executives say that the three floors that make up the headquarters appear to have no more than 150 employees. It is a family business, as everyone involved is quick to explain. And the management structure is informal if not confusing, with deputies constantly buzzing in and out of the boss’s office. “We kind of run a little bit like a    in that sense,” Donald Trump Jr. said in a 2011 deposition for a lawsuit involving a Florida development. “I guess there is an organizational chart, but in theory, there is not too many levels. ” He added: “Could I make one? Yes. Is there one officially? Not that I’m aware of. ” Indeed, the elder Mr. Trump has tended to collect executives and assign duties through personal preference. In 2004, Michelle Carlson was a young lawyer determined to move to California when a friend suggested that she meet with an acquaintance who could prove useful. She entered Mr. Trump’s office hoping to secure a recommendation she could use to find work with real estate developers in Los Angeles, and she encountered a warm welcome. “I heard there was this nice Atlanta girl in the lobby,” she remembered Mr. Trump saying as he offered her a seat. Then came a series of direct questions: What were her responsibilities at her current job? How did she view her own strengths? In what areas did she want to grow?   minutes later, Mr. Trump was convinced: “I’m not going to give you any recommendations in L. A. I’m going to hire you,” Mr. Trump told Ms. Carlson, who went on to spend almost four years as his assistant general counsel, often working   days with a small team of lawyers while taking on other responsibilities in the real estate division. Andrew Weiss, a Romanian immigrant who grew up in Brooklyn, was hired straight out of graduate school in 1981, just as Mr. Trump was starting to make his mark.   years later, having weathered many highs and lows with Mr. Trump, including the spectacular failure of his Atlantic City casinos, Mr. Weiss is still by his side, as executive vice president for development and construction. Mr. Calamari, who started out as a bodyguard, also saw his role expand as he remained committed to his boss. Five years ago, his son Matthew Calamari Jr. joined the Trump Organization as a security guard. Today, he is the director of surveillance. Brian Baudreau, the general manager of the Trump International Hotel Las Vegas, began as a driver for Mr. Trump. “My father knows how to find talent in people,” Eric Trump said, recalling how Mr. Baudreau used to chauffeur him to school. “He’s totally family,” he added. Devotion is rewarded. “To succeed in this company,” Mr. Garten said, “you have to be skilled, highly dedicated and highly loyal. ” Some appear to be hired based on other calculations. For more than a decade, Ronald C. Lieberman oversaw the concession contracts for the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, a post that required him to represent the interests of the city in a variety of deals with Mr. Trump. Then, in 2007, Mr. Lieberman began working for a new employer. In his job as executive vice president for management and development at the Trump Organization, he has helped Mr. Trump win contracts to operate the Central Park carousel and the Ferry Point golf course in the Bronx, the very projects he handled on behalf of the city for years. Ivanka Trump is generally seen as the   powerful person at the Trump Organization, while the 11 other executive vice presidents are all men  —   and all white. There have been other senior female executives, like Cathy Hoffman Glosser, who oversaw the Trump Organization’s expansion into branding deals, part of its shift from building and buying real estate to selling the Trump name. (She left the company last year and did not respond to interview requests. Ms. Carlson said she left by choice to care for her baby, even though Mr. Trump made earnest attempts to keep her.) Mr. Garten said that outside the top executive ranks, “there’s greater diversity in terms of gender and ethnicity,” adding, “I don’t have the numbers in front of me. ” Jill Martin, a vice president and assistant general counsel for litigation and employment, said in an interview last spring that diversity at the company was “less forced” than at the law firms where she previously worked. “With the firms, there was a lot of attention placed on gender and ethnicity and trying to find the balance,” she said. “With the Trump Organization, I just felt like those things really fall by the wayside. What’s important is someone’s individual drive and talent. ” When Mr. Tiah was at Trump Tower to discuss the Vancouver partnership, he could not help noticing that female employees seemed to have something else in common. “You have to be attractive?” he remembers thinking. “Is that a requirement?” It was the   and Phil Ruffin was in search of a partner to develop a combined hotel and condominium tower on the Las Vegas Strip. Mr. Ruffin, a casino tycoon, owned the land, but he needed an investor, a brand name to license and a team to manage the construction and operations of the property. Mr. Trump did not simply say yes to all three, Mr. Ruffin recalled. He threw himself into the details of the deal, pushing a bank to cut the interest rate on a loan by half, insisting that subcontractors lower their prices and requiring that everything about the   tower reflect his taste. “We’d tour, and he’d say, ‘This is wrong this is right,’” Mr. Ruffin said. “The glass shower had to be etched glass because that’s the Trump way, more expensive. He didn’t want just a  in the bathroom it had to be in the mirror so you can watch when you’re shaving. ” Mr. Trump, he said, remained actively involved when the financial crisis hit in 2008, threatening the financial viability of the Las Vegas venture, and the two men flew to Washington to meet with a tax lawyer. As they pulled up chairs in his office, the lawyer encouraged the men to cut their losses and declare bankruptcy. It would provide them with a handsome tax deduction. But Mr. Trump was adamant. “He said: ‘This is not Atlantic City this is Las Vegas. I think it will recover,’” Mr. Ruffin said. Instead, he and Mr. Trump poured more money into the venture and continued to move forward. Mr. Trump’s children have taken on increasing responsibility in recent years they often solicit new projects and are the primary liaisons with partners. Two years ago, Eric Trump became the Trump Organization’s main point of contact for the Las Vegas tower, Mr. Ruffin said. Ivanka Trump initiated the leasing of the old Old Post Office building in Washington, envisioning it as a new Trump hotel. But Mr. Trump has the final say on most deals, especially those involving his own money. He has signed the licensing agreements, the leases  —   and the big checks. And the tangle of limited liability companies used to structure all of his deals revolve around a single point of power: Mr. Trump. As one former executive described it, the company is the “hub of a wheel, and he’s in the middle. ” The company adheres to few formal corporate guidelines or procedures. When determining whether and how to enter business partnerships, nothing is decided by established committee, or through written recommendation by the children, Donald Trump Jr. explained in the 2011 deposition in the Florida case. “Other companies can operate like bureaucrats” Mr. Tiah said. “They’re not like that. ” Even so, the executives are known for playing tough. When seeking $470, 000 in outstanding legal bills from the Trump Organization a decade ago, the lawyer Y. David Scharf accidentally included a single page of a separate legal bill to another client, the business magnate Carl C. Icahn. How did Mr. Weisselberg, Mr. Trump’s chief financial officer, respond? “Mr. Weisselberg threatened to call Mr. Icahn and utilize this inadvertent clerical error in an effort to embarrass Mr. Scharf and my firm  —   unless my firm agreed to a 50 percent discount on the outstanding legal bills,” David A. Piedra, a partner in Mr. Scharf’s firm, Morrison Cohen, wrote in a 2007 letter to a lawyer representing Mr. Trump. “As I am sure you realize,” he wrote, “this threat, which smacks of extortion, is entirely inappropriate. ” Mr. Scharf said in an interview that his firm had resolved the matter and bore no ill will toward Mr. Weisselberg, the Trump Organization or Mr. Trump. At the time of the election, Mr. Trump’s company was party to at least 75 lawsuits across the country, according to a nationwide tally by  Today. Mr. Garten said that not all of the lawsuits were substantial, but acknowledged that “we’re extremely   and meticulous in the legal aspects of the business. ” As their boss advanced in the 2016 presidential race, Mr. Trump’s executives remained fierce and aggressive. When The Daily Beast was preparing to publish an article about Mr. Trump’s first wife, Ivana, alleging in a divorce deposition that he had raped her, Michael Cohen, one of the organization’s executive vice presidents, wrongly insisted it was impossible for a husband to rape his wife and made threats. He warned that if the reporter moved ahead with the article, “I’m going to mess your life up,” according to The Daily Beast’s account. It was just one of the many ways that Mr. Cohen had cultivated the image of a pit bull, a reputation he said was well deserved. “Mr. Trump is more than just a boss to those of us who have been fortunate enough to be close to him, both professionally and personally,” he said in an interview. “He’s more like a patriarch, a mentor. These qualities make him very endearing to me, which is why I am so fiercely loyal to him and committed to protecting him at all costs. ” He was not the only seemingly tireless proponent  —   and protector  —   of Mr. Trump’s political pursuits. Mr. Garten, the general counsel, defended his boss’s record and fought back against allegations that he had groped women and engaged in other sexual misconduct. At points it appeared as if he were threatening legal action on a daily basis against anyone who criticized Mr. Trump, including The Times and other news outlets. Last December, after Mr. Garten dangled the possibility of legal action against a “super PAC” promoting Jeb Bush and sent a    letter to an   group that ran $1 million in ads against Mr. Trump, supporters of Mr. Bush complained to the Federal Election Commission that the Trump Organization was illegally acting as an agent for the Trump campaign. “Trump and his agents have explicitly directed his corporate attorneys at the Organization to do the dirty work for the campaign,” a lawyer wrote in the complaint, which is pending. Six months later, Mr. Garten began to appear in the campaign’s financial reports. In the end, he was compensated by Mr. Trump for about $24, 000 of legal work for the campaign and donated thousands more dollars’ worth of services as an   contribution. Mr. Garten said he saw many of the attacks on Mr. Trump as an attack on the company. It was his job to fight back, he said. The  ’s deliberations over how to separate himself from his company coincided with one of its oldest and most celebrated traditions. Jill Cremer, a former vice president at the Trump Organization, fondly recalls company Christmas parties at the Plaza Hotel, the Pierre or the Rainbow Room. Mr. Trump would hand out prizes  —   airline tickets, luggage, cameras  —   and would pose with employees for photos. “The Christmas party was always the highlight,” Ms. Cremer said. “It was a real family affair. ” This year, the celebration fell on Dec. 14, two nights after Mr. Trump said he would postpone announcing the details of his plan for the stewardship of the company. He was facing a flurry of activity, including making cabinet picks and navigating calls with foreign leaders, but he found the time to stop by the atrium of Trump Tower, where the party has been held in recent years. As hundreds of Trump Organization employees and guests nibbled on steak from Trump Grill and sipped wine from Trump Winery, Mr. Trump thanked the crowd for helping build the company that bears his name. “You could see the love in the room,” Eric Trump said.",true,news,test,US elections,US elections,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
8609,8610,"A student at Transylvania University was injured she was attacked by a man wielding a machete. The attacker, identified as Mitchell Adkins, entered a cafe on campus and started asking people what their political party affiliation was. In addition to the machete, he had a bag that was filled with knives. Mark Barnard, the police chief, said the victim was taken to the hospital and is expected to make a full recovery. Classes at the university were cancelled for the rest of the day.Of the victim, Transylvania University President Seamus Carey said she  is safe and her family is with her at the University of Kentucky Hospital. Adkins, who may be a former student at the school, was also taken to the hospital to be evaluated. A guy came in, banged something, a hatchet or an ax, on the table and said  the day of reckoning has come. He asked somebody what their political affiliation was, they said  Republican  and the guy said  you are safe.  And then I realized what was going on and started getting people out,  said Tristan Reynolds, another student who was in the coffee shop at the time of the attack. He reported that there were between 30 and 40 people in the cafe at the time.  We started to scatter and then very, very quickly campus security was getting everybody sheltered and secure. They were very on it. The cafe is popular with students. They like to go there for breakfast and coffee, according to Reynolds, who is the editor of The Rambler, the Transylvania student paper. One thing that sets this cafe apart is its open floor plan.The coffee shop, which is inside the Glenn Building, has an open floor plan and is a popular spot for students to get coffee and breakfast, Reynolds said. He is the editor-in-chief of the Transylvania student newspaper, The Rambler, and was with other members of the paper s staff at the cafe at time of the attack.Lexington police, along with the security officers for the University of Transylvania, were given active shooter training a few weeks ago. This exercise also went onto how to lock down sites and the best way to keep students, faculty and staff safe. Seamus Carey, the president of the university said,  They ve always been amazing and today they proved their worth again. They were there immediately. They saved what could have been a much more disastrous situation and I d also like to commend the Lexington police for responding immediately as well. Adkins has a history of complaining about discrimination against conservatives. He wrote a letter to the student paper in which he said,  Being a Republican in this school makes me such a minority that I ve had to face discrimination on a daily basis. Transylvania is a predominantly Democratic school. I m always happy to listen to other people s opinions, but as soon as I give my own, I m called a  bigot,  an  a -le,  some even go as far as  fascist Nazi. ",fake,dataset,test,American football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
8611,8612,"Sex is so last year or at least it is according to Amazon ' s annual list of bestselling books .  A year after the S M themed Fifty Shades Of Grey by  James overwhelmed best seller lists , book buyers have been seeking different kinds of thrills .  Dan Brown ' s latest Robert Langdon caper Inferno the fourth in the series made famous by the Da Vinci Code was Amazonweblink ' s No . 1 seller for 2013 , the online retailer announced yesterday .  Changing tastes : Dan Brown ( left ) has topped this year ' s Amazonweblink best seller list with his thriller Inferno  Saucy : Book buyers are seeking a different of thrill a year after the S M themed Fifty Shades Of Grey by  James ( above ) overwhelmed the best seller lists  Khaled Hosseini was second with And The Mountains Echoed , while the best sellers for kids and teenagers were Veronica Roth ' s Allegiant and Rick Riordan ' s The Houses of Hades .  Other major hits on Amazonweblink were The Cuckoo ' s Calling , a crime story  Rowling wrote under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith , and John Grisham ' s Sycamore Row .  Sylvia Day ' s Entwined With You was one of the few works of erotic fiction to place high on Amazon ' s list .  Nonfiction favorites included Sheryl Sandberg ' s Lean In and Things That Matter , an anthology of essays by conservative columnist Charles Krauthammer .  Continued success : Other major hits on Amazonweblink were The Cuckoo ' s Calling , a crime story  Rowling ( left ) wrote under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith  1 . Inferno : Dan Brown2 . And The Mountains Echoed : Khaled Hosseini3 . The Cuckoo ' s Calling : Robert Galbraith (  Rowling ) 4 . The Husband ' s Secret : Liane Moriarty5 . Lean In : Women , Work , and the Will to Lead Sheryl Sandberg6 . The Hit : David Baldacci7 . Sycamore Row : John Grisham8 . Entwined with You : Sylvia Day9 . Never Go Back : Lee Child10 . The Storyteller : Jodi Picoult  1 . Allegiant : Veronica Roth2 . The House of Hades Rick Riordan3 . Diary of a Wimpy Kid : Hard Luck Jeff Kinney4 . Rush Revere and the Brave Pilgrims : Time Travel Adventures with Exceptional Americans Rush Limbaugh5 . Never Too Far : Abbi Glines6 . Out of Breath : Rebecca Donovan7 . Clockwork Princess : Cassandra Clare8 . Forever Too Far : Abbi Glines9 . Twisted Perfection : Abbi Glines10 . The Son of Sobek : Rick Riordan  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
8620,8621,"Analysis : Clinton , Sanders get personal as Democratic race tightens  Susan Page ,   5 : 31 a . m .  January 18 , 2016  Bernie Sanders said that questions about Bill Clinton ' s past are "" annoying "" and went on to say that the debate should be about the issues , not Bill Clinton ' s personal behavior .   Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders field questions from moderators Lester Holt and Andrea Mitchell during the Democratic debate hosted by  News and YouTube on on Jan . 17 , 2016 in Charleston , S . C .  With just two weeks until the voting starts ? and contests in Iowa and New Hampshire that are too close to call ? the days of we can still be friends deference are over for Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders .  At the Democrats final debate before the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary , Clinton portrayed Sanders as a friend of the  and the gun rights lobby , noting their forum in Charleston was taking place just a block from the Emanuel  Church where a mass shooting last year left nine worshipers dead . Sanders accused her of being very disingenuous about his record .  They clashed not only over guns but also on health care , Wall Street regulation and campaign finance . The tone has gotten tougher and the attacks more personal since their first debate last fall , when Sanders had reassured Clinton ? he was sick and tired of hearing about your damn emails and the two shook hands .  Clinton ' pleased ' that Sanders ' reversed ' position on gun issue  Now , some Clinton partisans say she only belatedly has begun hammering the Vermont senator for proposing a health care program she argues would undo the Affordable Care Act .  For his part , Sanders attacked the former secretary of State as beholden to Wall Street interests that have contributed millions to her candidacy , part of a corrupt campaign finance system that he says has contributed to growing economic inequality in America . He accused of her of spreading nonsense about the impact of his proposal for a single payer health insurance plan that he calls Medicare for all .  In some ways , the Democratic campaign is mirroring the Republican one . With a smaller field and two candidates now neck and neck in the early states , Donald Trump and Ted Cruz at the sixth  debate last Thursday dropped their unofficial non aggression pact and began blasting one another on everything from Trump s New York values to Cruz s constitutional eligibility for the presidency .  In the Democratic debate , sponsored by  and YouTube , Clinton was confident and in command of the details , especially when the topic turned to foreign policy . She repeatedly sought to tie herself to President Obama , who has a 90 approval rating among South Carolina Democrats .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
8630,8631,"It ' s the gadget that gives passengers who hate their legroom being invaded by reclining plane seats a chance to fight back .  The Knee Defender billed with the tagline ' Standing up for the right of the tall guy to sit down ' is two pieces of plastic that are clipped on to the seat in front on a flight .  Fastening on to the arms of the tray table , the device , which costs 13 , it locks the chair in front into place , preventing the passenger from reclining .  Guaranteed legroom : The 13 gadget clips on to the tray table arms , preventing the seat in front from reclining  Knee Defender : The gadget was created by a 6ft 2ins American Ira Goldman  The Knee Defender is sold on Gadget Duck along with a note that the buyer can print out , fill in and hand to the passenger in front .  The ' Courtesy Card ' tells the person in front that the gadget is being used , giving an choice of reasons including : ' Unfortunately , my legs are so long that if you recline your seat at all it would immediately bang into my knees . '  It continues to state that it ' may be an inconvenience ' and encourages the passenger to complain to the airline ' to provide enough space between rows so that people can recline their seats without banging into other passengers ' .  Pocket size : The Knee Defender is no bigger than a front door key  Lack of space : The device prevents the seat in front from reclining , guaranteeing your legroom  According to newsweblink . au , one user on Reddit who posted that he had been given the note on board a flight , wrote : ' Guy sitting behind me on the plane handed me this as I was finding my seat before take off ( my seat was up ) .  ' I had no idea what to say . '  The gadget was invented by 6ft 2ins Ira Goldman , from the  .  According to the company ' s site : ' Knee Defenders are specifically designed to be used with your tray table lowered , while your tray table must be up and locked during taxiing , takeoffs or landings .  Courtesy Card : The note is handed to the passenger in front , alerting them to why the gadget is being used  Locked in place : The Knee Defender also comes with a Courtesy Card to alert the passenger in front  ' So , as long as Knee Defenders are being used as they are designed to be used in flight , their use does not violate any  aviation law , rule , or regulation . '  It adds : ' If the airlines will not protect people from being battered , crunched , and immobilized very real problems according to healthcare professionals , medical studies , government agencies , and even some airlines then people need options to protect themselves . '  Although the product does not violate any aviation laws , individual airlines can choose to ban its use on board their flights .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
8638,8639,"A proposal to let rich donors give more money to political parties slipped behind closed doors into a huge government spending bill is the latest in a string of setbacks for restrictions on money in politics and will be a "" disaster for the American people , "" according to good government groups .  Campaign finance reform advocate Fred Wertheimer called the provision a "" great deal "" for millionaires and billionaires who can buy influence through big dollar contributions and for the politicians seeking them .  Related : Congress reaches spending deal  The 1 . 1 trillion spending bill , which would fund most of the government until next September , includes provisions that will allow donors to give a lot more money to Republicans and Democrats to help fund conventions , building projects and legal proceedings like recounts .  Rather than facing the current cap of 32 , 400 , donors would be able to give up to 777 , 600 each year to funds and committees run by the parties or their campaign arms . That means individuals could give 1 , 555 , 200 per two year election cycle and couples could give 3 , 110 , 400 in a cycle , according to several campaign finance groups who have studied the legislative language .  "" If this passes it will be the most corrupting campaign finance provisions ever enacted in the history of the country , "" said Wertheimer , whose non partisan group Democracy 21 has sent a letter to members of Congress urging them to vote against the bill . "" The campaign finance laws have been left in shambles first by the Supreme Court and then potentially by the Congress if this becomes law . ""  Related : Here ' s what ' s tucked in the spending bill  Watchdog groups see the move to chip away at the limits placed on donors as the latest step in a slow unraveling of the campaign finance rules put in place by landmark legislation like the McCain Feingold bill . Known formally as the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 , the legislation , among other things , limited how much individuals and corporations could donate to national parties . But in its April decision in McCutcheon v .  , the Supreme Court struck down limits on the overall campaign contributions individual donors can make to candidates , political parties and political action committees .  That decision followed the court ' s 2010 Citizens United ruling that the First Amendment allowed unlimited independent political expenditures by corporations , labor unions and certain nonprofit advocacy groups . Citizens United opened the floodgates to massive corporate spending in elections and these latest provisions would be a step in that direction when it comes to individual donors .  The fear is that allowing more big money in politics places more power in the hands of big donors , effectively taking it away from individual voters . David Donnelly , the president of the pro campaign finance reform organization Every Voice , said Americans who care about everything from taxes to the high cost of college to clean air and water should care about changes to campaign finance rules , because Congress plays a role in all of those areas .  "" Every single one of those decisions is impacted by money in politics , "" he said . "" It ' s about who does Congress work for and Congress right now is changing the rules so that they are going to work even more than they are today for the wealthy and well connected . ""  Wertheimer said if the language makes it to President Obama ' s desk , he should veto it to avoid enabling the campaign scandals that are sure to follow . Lisa Gilbert , Director of Public Citizen ' s Congress Watch Division , agreed that the administration should make campaign finance reform a veto issue to send a message to the new Congress .  "" This is a pretty scary foreshadowing of what ' s going to be on Sen . Mitch McConnell ' s list of to dos in the next Congress and certainly dismantling the campaign finance system is high on his priority list , "" Gilbert said .  McConnell filed a friend of the court brief in the McCutcheon case that the argued overall limit placed individual contributions "" offends the First Amendment . ""  "" Contribution limits restrict the rights of speech and association of both the contributor and the recipient of the contribution , "" he wrote .  Meredith McGehee , policy director at The Campaign Legal Center , a non partisan organization that analyzes campaign finance laws , said she hopes there are enough provisions in the bill that raise the ire of enough Democrats and Republicans to stop it , otherwise it candidates will now be in the business of asking for even larger donations than they already are . While the new language would not change the limits on contributions to individual candidates , it is often the politicians themselves who solicit donations on behalf of their party committees .  "" What you ' re now doing , if this provision goes into effect , is putting candidates out there soliciting for contributions of 1 million plus and that ' s the nexus for these contributors they want the credit , "" said McGehee . "" They are businessmen . This is a return on investment . ""  The House is expected to vote on the bill Thursday , but Democrats in Congress have already raised alarms about the provision , with Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi saying it "" would work to drown out the voices of the American people and massively expand the role of big money in our elections . "" House Speaker John Boehner argued that these and other provisions were "" worked out in a bipartisan , bicameral fashion or they wouldn ' t be in the bill . ""  One campaign finance reform advocate noted that if these provisions become law , mega donors who would have maxed out on individual contributions will have to hold onto their seats in the face of a flood of new "" asks "" from politicians and parties .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
8645,8646,"One of the craziest things about Trump s Russia fiasco is the fact that to defend his role model, Russian president Vladimir Putin, Trump has gone against multiple U.S. intelligence agencies and all mounting evidence that Russia did in fact meddle in the 2016 election.Trump has continued to deny what has been widely accepted as facts by not only intelligence experts but members of his own Republican Party. Even his own administration is publicly disagreeing with Trump and stating that Russia interfered with the election   and today, Trump s  Ambassador humiliated him on national television over his infamous denial.In an interview with CNN,  Ambassador Nikki Haley stated that  everybody knows  that Russia messed around with the election. What she really should have said was, everyone but Trump. Haley said: Everybody knows that Russia meddled in our elections. Everybody knows that they re not just meddling in the United States  election. They re doing this across multiple continents, and they re doing this in a way that they re trying to cause chaos within the countries. And it s not just going to be us saying this. I think you re going to hear other leaders come out and say, cut it out, we re not going to put up with it. You can watch Haley pretty much agree that Trump is a liar in the video below: Everybody knows that Russia meddled in our elections,  @nikkihaley tells @DanaBashCNN # weblink   (@CNN) July 8, 2017Haley must not be keeping tabs on what her boss is actually saying, because just two days ago Trump refused to say Russia was involved in the election. The dishonest  said: I think it could very well have been Russia, but I think it could well have been other countries. I won t be specific. I think a lot of people interfere. I think it s been happening for a long time. When Trump finds out that Haley contradicted him, sh*t is going to hit the fan. Not only did Haley blast Trump, but she did it on his least favorite network, CNN. We won t be surprised if a Twitter meltdown is soon to follow.Featured image via Sean Gallup  / Getty Images",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,present
8650,8651,"A 22 year old man was found guilty on Monday for suffocating his teen girlfriend to death after she told him she was pregnant and wouldn ' t have an abortion .  The body of 14 year old Shaniesha Forbes was found charred and stuffed in a suitcase that washed up on Brooklyn , New York beach in January 2013 and an autopsy revealed she wasn ' t actually carrying a baby .  Christian Ferdinand , the older boyfriend she met through Facebook , was arrested four months later in Maine and confessed to the crime .  ' He intentionally smothered a 14 year old girl to death and burned her body to get rid of the evidence , ' prosecutor Robert Walsh said during the trial . ' He had a problem that needed solving , he didn ' t want to pay child support , and Shaniesha got in the way . '  Guilty : Christian Ferdinand , 22 ( left ) , was found guilty on Monday for the January 2013 murder of his 14 year old girlfriend Shaniesha Forbes ( right ) . He faces 25 years to life in prison when he is sentenced next month  It took a jury just an hour on Monday to convict Ferdinand with murder , and he now faces between 25 years to life in prison when he is sentenced next month .  Forbes , who was a freshman at the Academy for Young Writers in Williamsburg , allegedly first infuriated her boyfriend when she told him she was pregnant via text message in January 2013 .  Ferdinand responded to the announcement by texting back : ' My n , are you serious ? Kill that s '  Admission : Ferdinand confessed to killing Forbes four months after her body washed up on a Brooklyn , New York beach ( pictured above ) . He told investigators he killed her because she told him he was pregnant  Gruesome : Forbes was suffocated to death with a leather pillow . Ferdinand dumped her body in the ocean . Above , a picture of the scene where Forbes ' body was found  But Forbes made it clear that she would not get an abortion , saying it would hurt her religious mother .  The couple later met at Ferdinand ' s cousin ' s house where Forbes continued to talk about the pregnancy while they were both sitting on the couch .  That ' s when Ferdinand snapped and grabbed a leather pillow to suffocate his girlfriend to death .  Investigators asked Ferdinand if Forbes fought back as he was killing her , and he replied : ' She tried , wasn ' t much of a struggle , she was little . '  After she died , Ferdinand proceeded to douse her body in Axe body spray which he used to set the corpse on fire with a Bic lighter .  He later stuffed her body in a suitcase which he tossed into Gerriston Bay , believing the saltwater would destroy any evidence left on Forbes ' body after the burning . The body was later found when the suitcase washed up on Gerriston Beach .  It was also revealed in the course of the trial , that Ferdinand spoke casually about Forbes ' killing to a friend .  Promising future : Forbes was a freshman at the Academy of Young Writers in Williamsburg at the time of her death  ' It didn ' t deserve to live ' Ferdinand told a friend , according to testimony .  He also booked into a hotel with an ex girlfriend the day after the murder . The unnamed ex allegedly wanted to have sex with Ferdinand but he told her he was too tired .  And when he confessed to the crime in May 2013 , Ferdinand was bold enough to ask for a light sentence .  ' So you think I can get some kind of community service ? ' Ferdinand asked investigators , according to court documents obtained by the New York Post .  When he heard the jury ' s guilty verdict on Monday , Ferdinand lowered his head onto the defense table and appeared to tear up . Brooklyn District Attorney Kenneth Thompson ensured that his office would seek the maximum sentence of life in prison for the crime .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,satire,true,True,no,no,negative,past
8687,8688,"Bobbi Kristina Brown has been taken off her ventilator and her breathing tube removed as her condition remains unchanged at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta , according to a family source .   Today reports that the 21 year old has been given a tracheotomy to help her continue to breathe . The decision to remove her tube does not mean her family has made a decision about her life support , the source told the newspaper .  Family on Thursday said Brown ' s condition is ' still critical ' and that the surgical procedure which opens an airway into the trachea through the neck was a normal one for coma patients .  ' The tracheotomy is a different place for the tube to go , ' the source told  . ' Everything else remains the same . It ' s a waiting game . The family is hoping and waiting . '  According to the source , the procedure will also reduce the risk of infection .  Proceure : Bobbi Kristina Brown has been given a tracheotomy as the 21 year old ' s condition remains unchanged at a Emory University Hospital in Atlanta  ' She is still critical and we don ' t know what the outcome will be , ' the source said . ' No one is giving up on this kid . '  Meanwhile , who that family source is , exactly , remains unclear as Bobbi ' s father Bobbi Brown claims the relatives who have been giving media interviews about her medical condition do not have direct knowledge of her treatment .  Singer Bobby Brown ' s attorney asked media outlets on February 13 to stop speaking with family members unauthorized to discuss the condition of his daughter .  She was found face down and unresponsive in a bathtub at her suburban home last month .  ' She is still critical and we don ' t know what the outcome will be , ' a family source said . ' No one is giving up on this kid . '  Few details about the aspiring 21 year old singer ' s condition have been made public . Family members have said she is fighting for her life .  ' We continue to request privacy in this matter , ' Bobby Brown said in a statement . ' We thank everyone that supports Bobbi Kristina and God is hearing our prayers . '  Bobby Brown ' s attorney said the relatives giving interviews about Bobbi Kristina Brown are not in communication with her doctors , and in particular asked media organizations to disregard cousin , Jerod Brown .  The cousin said in an interview with Atlanta  station  this week that she remained on a ventilator and the family had no plans to remove her from life support .  ' This is a criminal investigation and we do not need this side show , ' attorney Christopher Brown , who is representing Bobbi Kristina ' s father , said in a statement .  Jerod Brown was also involved in disputed reports that Nick Gordon , who calls himself the husband of Bobbi Kristina Brown , cannot visit her at the hospital .  Lawyers for Gordon said the cousin ' s contention that Gordon was pursuing legal action to gain access to Brown was false . They said Gordon , who has kept a low profile since Bobbi Kristina Brown was rushed to a hospital , only wants to see her recover .  ' He remains in constant prayer for his companion and he hopes to be reunited with her soon , ' lawyers Randy Kessler and Joe Habachy said in a statement on Thursday .  Division : Bob Brown , pictured at the weekend after visiting his daughter , has issued a public denial that Nick Gordon was married to his daughter . He also says the family member giving information to the press is not authorized to do so  ' Despite the incredible public interest , we ask and hope that this request can be resolved privately by Mr Gordon and the family . '  Gordon and Bobbi Kristina Brown referred to each other as husband and wife , but Bobby Brown said they never legally married .  Whitney Houston , a six time Grammy Award winner who battled substance abuse , drowned in a hotel bathtub in Beverly Hills , California , in February 2012 . Authorities said cocaine use and heart disease contributed to her death at age 48 .  Police in Roswell , Georgia , are investigating the circumstances leading to Brown ' s discovery in the tub on January 31 .  She had been in a car crash four days earlier , according a police report . The  she was driving spun out of control and hit a car on January 27 , causing extensive damage to both vehicles and sending her passenger and the driver of the other car to the hospital , the report said .  The other driver was listed in critical condition , police said , and one of Brown ' s tires was punctured by a nail and appeared to have blown out .  Critical : Family on Thursday said Brown ' s condition is ' still critical ' and that the surgical procedure which opens an airway into the trachea through the neck was a normal one  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
8689,8690,"In 1933, when Yale University named one of its new residential colleges for the ardently   statesman John C. Calhoun, at least one person was unexcited. “I suppose that I   have bayed at the   the   John C.   I cannot,” the writer Leonard Bacon confessed in a long poem written for the dedication, which went on to note the oddity of honoring the architect of Southern secession in an “abolitionist town” like New Haven. That dissent was mild, compared with the passionate protests against the Calhoun name that swept Yale last year, as part of an outcry on campuses around the world against historic names and symbols associated with slavery, colonialism and other forms of oppression. Those controversies have receded on many campuses. And now Yale, where the renaming ordeal has been unusually drawn out, may finally be getting its own relief. On Friday, the university announced a new procedure for considering the renaming of university buildings, along with an official reconsideration of the controversial decision last spring to keep the Calhoun name. A new  —   and final  —   verdict is expected early next year. That policy requires anyone calling for a renaming to submit a formal application, including a dossier of historical research justifying the renaming according to a set of general principles created by an independent   committee named in August by the university’s president, Peter Salovey, in response to continuing furor over the Calhoun decision. Mr. Salovey, in an email, praised the committee’s report, which he said had shifted his earlier view that changing the Calhoun name, or any other, amounted to “effacing our history. ” The new principles “allow us to consider renaming a building in a way that preserves history, to remember but not to honor,” he said. The report by the committee, which was not charged with making a specific recommendation on Calhoun, grows directly out of the turmoil at Yale. But it is also billed as the first at any university to elaborate general guidelines for evaluating when symbols of the past should, and should not, be altered. The report strikes a generally cautious note, warning against what it calls morally   or even “Orwellian” erasures of the past. But it also cites Yale’s own long history of “creative destruction” of campus names and symbols, while offering a defense of renaming debates at a moment when some on the left and the right are increasingly dismissing them as   distraction. “This isn’t about symbolic politics, but about the mission of the university,” said John Fabian Witt, a historian at Yale Law School and the chairman of the committee. Fostering an inclusive campus, he said, “is the best way to approach the project of research and learning. ” The report acknowledges “a certain exhaustion” with the whole issue. “Change the Name  —   and Quickly,” urged an editorial in The Yale Daily News on Friday lamenting the additional “months of uncertainty” when the report seemed to justify renaming Calhoun. But some historians who have been involved in similar debates elsewhere welcomed the report’s careful parsing of complex questions about history, memory and honor. “They did a very good job fleshing out the issues and creating guideposts on how to deal with a question that is probably going to come up again and again,” said Annette   a historian at Harvard Law School and a member of a committee that voted last year to scrap that school’s seal, which honored a family of   slave owners. David M. Kennedy, a historian at Stanford University and head of a committee that is considering calls to rename entities on that campus honoring Junipero Serra, the   priest who founded the California mission system, said he admired the report’s “humility” in the face of historical judgment, which is never final. “Memory is contested because history is contested,” he said. “Controversy is built into the whole exercise of doing history. ” The Calhoun controversy has sharply divided the Yale community, with support for keeping the name generally running stronger among older alumni. “I think Calhoun became a proxy for a broader feeling about political correctness on campus,” said G. Leonard Baker Jr. a 1964 Yale graduate and Calhoun alumnus who served on the renaming committee. (Calhoun himself graduated from Yale in 1804 but otherwise had little connection with the university, the report notes.) But there was wide agreement across different groups, several committee members said, about the dangers of erasing history. “That was something we heard from everyone, however they felt about renaming,” said Beverly Gage, a history professor who was among the more than 350 faculty members who signed a letter last spring criticizing the decision to keep the Calhoun name. As an example of such erasure, the report cites Yale’s decision in the 1980s to alter a   window in a Calhoun common room, replacing the image of a slave in shackles kneeling at Calhoun’s feet with panes showing clouds. “Calhoun was left in a place of honor,” Mr. Witt said. “But the thing that would allow you to see the honor was   or not deserved, was removed. ” (The entire ensemble of windows was removed this summer, after an incident in which a dining hall worker smashed a pane showing slaves carrying bales of cotton it will be replaced with a new work of art.) Against that kind of “illiberal” alteration, which conceals or distorts the past, the report praises “liberal” ones, which show how values have changed: For example, last spring another Yale college, named for Ezra Stiles, an   president of Yale, installed a plaque memorializing the lives of his slave and two indentured servants. The principles outlined in the report don’t generate automatic solutions but require historical interpretation and argument, starting with disentangling a person’s “principal legacy” from other aspects of his or her life we might revile. (Mahatma Gandhi, the report notes, “held starkly racist views about black Africans,” while Frederick Douglass spoke of what he considered Native Americans’ inferiority to  .) The principles also call for considering a namesake within different  : Why was the person honored, and was that choice controversial at the time? Were actions or attitudes that are now repellent also controversial during the individual’s life, or commonplace in society at the time? As an example of an overly broad policy, Mr. Witt cited guidelines recently adopted at the University of Oregon allowing for potentially renaming buildings honoring anyone who demonstrated “discriminatory, racist, homophobic, or misogynist views that actively promoted systemic oppression” or who “failed to take redemptive action,” among other expansive criteria. “There’s a real risk that would catch up anyone alive before 1950,” Mr. Witt said. Ms. Gage said that whatever the ultimate decision on Calhoun, the debate was valuable as part of “a process of deep engagement with history,” which is always open to reinterpretation. “You want to respect the past,” she said. “But there is room for change, too. ”",true,news,test,Other news1,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
8694,8695,"Reuters) - Uruguay s Vice President Raul Sendic presented his resignation on Saturday amid accusations that he misused public funds while heading state oil company Ancap. He first made the announcement at a special meeting of the Frente Amplio (FA) governing party.    I presented to the plenary of the  my irreversible  resignation from the vice presidency. I also told President Tabare Vazquez,  he wrote in a tweet. The party s ethics committee has ruled that Sendic used his Ancap credit cards to buy personal items including books and furniture. He headed the oil company from 2008 to 2009 and 2010 to 2013. No criminal charges have been filed against Sendic.  ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
8712,8713,"The  is in crisis mode after the massive backlash last weekend against the disrespectful behavior of the players who knelt during our national anthem. Fans burned team merchandise and cancelled  cable from Direct TV. It was so ugly that the  reportedly hired a crisis management person to help deal with the bad feelings from fans. The Steelers were no exception and are backpedaling like crazy We think the Steelers got the memo from their fans After a huge backlash about standing in the tunnel during the national anthem last Sunday, Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey says the team will stand this Sunday: I promise you one thing, this week we will all be standing out there for the national anthem. Trust me. Pouncey says he expects the entire team to be on the field for the anthem. As far as I know it s 100 percent participation,  Pouncey told reporters.  We love this country. It s America. We know there are injustice in this world, but to me, personally, football is football and that s what we need to approach it as. The Steelers decided to remain in the tunnel during the national anthem during their Sunday game against the Chicago Bears. Tackle Alejandro Villanueva was the only Steelers player who stood outside the tunnel.Pouncey says the whole thing was a big misunderstanding. I promise you this week that we ll all be standing out there for the national anthem. Trust me. We respect our flag, and we respect our military and everything that is a part of it,  he said.The Steelers decision didn t sit well with some Steelers fans who took to social media to voice their outrage, and even burn team merchandise. I think this week we are going to show that. We are sorry for all of our fans who are upset about the things that went down, and I think we ll come together and all of this will be out the window,  Pouncey said.Read more:  ",fake,dataset,test,American football,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
8715,8716,"FLORENCE, Italy (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Theresa May is setting out her plan for future ties with the European Union in a speech which she hopes will help spur negotiations over the country s divorce from the bloc. Below are the highlights from her speech and a follow-up question-and-answer session with reporters:  During the implementation period, people will continue to be able to come and live and work in the  but there will be a registration system, an essential preparation for the new regime. As of today, these considerations point to an implementation period of around two years.       Clearly people, businesses and public services should only have to plan for one set of changes in the relationship between the  and the EU. So during the implementation period, access to one another s markets should continue on current terms and Britain also should continue to take part in existing security measures. And I know businesses, in particular, would welcome the certainty this would provide.  MAY,              A  DEAL:  We continue to think that.   Of course we will leave at the end of March 2019 and negotiations will be continuing potentially up quite close to that time.       I do not want our partners to fear that they will need to pay more or receive less over the remainder of the current budget plan as a result of our decision to leave. The  will honour commitments we have made during the period of our membership.  And, as we move forwards, we will also want to continue working together in ways that promote the long-term economic development of our continent. This includes continuing to take part in those specific policies and programmes which are greatly to the  and the  s joint advantage, such as those that promote science, education and culture - and those that promote our mutual security.   Over time ... the rights of  citizens in the UK, and  citizens overseas will diverge. And I want to incorporate our agreement fully into  law, and make sure the  courts can refer directly to it. And when there is uncertainty around underlying  law, I want the  courts to be able to take into account the judgements of the European Court of Justice with a view to ensuring consistent interpretation. And on this basis I hope our teams can reach firm agreement quickly.   Throughout its membership, the United Kingdom has never totally felt at home being in the European Union.  The profound pooling of sovereignty that is a crucial feature of the European Union permits unprecedentedly deep cooperation which brings benefits but it also means that when countries are in the minority they must sometimes accept decisions they do not want, even affecting domestic matters with no market implications beyond their borders.   The British people have decided to leave the  and be a global free-trading nation able to chart our own way in the world. For many, this is an exciting time full of promise. For others it is a worrying one. I look ahead with optimism.   Our commitment to the defence and indeed the advance of our shared values is undimmed. Our determination to defend the stability, security and prosperity of our European neighbours and friends remains steadfast.  ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
8730,8731,"There ' s no discernible reluctance in Denis Law to recall one of the most embarrassing own goals in medical history .  He whisks you back to 2003 and a doctor ' s consulting room . He ' s there at the behest of an anxious wife he ' s experiencing a troublesome ache in the lower abdomen .  The biopsies have been performed and now , three agonising weeks later , the specialist delivers a sombre conclusion . The football legend has prostate cancer .  Law becomes a man in torment . He swoons . Embarrassing , or what ?  Former Manchester United striker Denis Law has opened up about being diagnosed with prostate cancer  He delivers his recollections with a nervous laugh , but if he experienced humiliation that day , the scar is not evident .  ' I think that they thought in there that I ' d had a heart attack . Because , as soon as he told me , I said I didn ' t feel well .  ' Hey , I wasn ' t laughing at the time . I obviously conked out . Fainted . I was completely out . It ' s the Law Family trait that we don ' t like hearing bad news . '  This interview with the Lawman is being filmed courtesy of the Movember campaign . It pursues a certain logic : two Aberdonians , who once lived less than a mile apart , locked into an insidious common denominator one victim of prostate cancer being quizzed by another .  Law is the epitome of punctuality . Right on the appointed hour of noon , he steps into the capacious lounge of the Northenden Golf Club . It ' s a holiday home to him , a place where he can be himself . The last time we met here he was in proletariat mode , demolishing sausage , egg and chips .  Time tends to blur memories , of course , but he ' s far more amenable now . At that time , he was about to launch another autobiography and figured that too much compliance with me would somehow inhibit sales . This time he is generosity itself .  Law ( left ) discusses being diagnosed with prostate cancer with Bryan Cooney ( right )  Now , he finds himself in a penalty box he never infiltrated in his playing days when he scored more than 250 goals , most of them for Manchester United . This one delineates the grey area between life and death . It tends to focus minds .  Let ' s return , for one moment , to that display in the doctor ' s surgery and consider the paradoxes at work here .  In spite of his apparently flimsy body structure , Law was an authentic tough hombre who , for two decades , defied the various malignancies of footballers trying to break him physically and psychologically .  Ignoring the height and physical superiority of his tormentors , he ' d laugh in their faces when he was kicked , mentally consulting his diary and pencilling in a painful retribution . This was rarely delayed .  A few decades later , he keels over at a medical diagnosis . It scarcely equates with reason . Mind you , he has always been two distinct and enigmatic personages .  Away from football , he remains one of the most self effacing men on the planet . Whenever he attends an official function , for instance , he always asks a companion to accompany him to the toilet just in case he is claimed by hero worshiping fans . He doesn ' t favour fuss .  The pair have been treated for prostate cancer and the video encourages men to get involved with Movember  In contrast , on the professional field of his dreams , he seemed to encourage it . Here , the message was all about theatrics and melodrama .  We return to that consulting room . The man has emerged from the swoon , but the landscape is , if anything , grimmer and more industrial as ever .  He is presented with a list of options . Radiotherapy is mooted . The trouble is if this does not demolish the tumour , then he can ' t have the operation known as a radical prostatectomy . So that ' s delete . There ' s another form of treatment that he doesn ' t even wish to talk about . So that ' s discarded .  He opts for an appointment with the knife . ' I ' d rather get rid of whatever I ' ve got , ' he says . You can see he ' s reliving the moment : he ' s wringing his hands so hard that you expect to see water emerge at any time . ' We ' re all cowards , men . '  We return to the emotional front . Certainly , mine were scattered after my operation . One day , in intensive care and attached to myriad tubes , I ' m laughing hysterically at the incongruity of it all the next , I ' m sobbing my heart out after listening to some poignant music . I only stop when I remember the words of an old newspaper boss of mine about never showing emotion .  Manchester United boss Sir Matt Busby pours champagne for Denis Law after winning the First Division title  Busby with Law ( L R ) , Tony Dunne , Billy Foulkes , Bobby Noble , Alex Stepney , David Sadler and George Best  I notice Law ' s eyes are glistening . ' Hey , ( initially ) you think you ' re not going to see the family again the grandchildren . For me , initially , it was the end of the world . Why me ? Then you find out you ' re not alone any more . There are thousands ( like you ) . You put things into perspective .  ' You look at others and know that you ' re not too bad . But , as I say , it ' s not easy to be unemotional , Cancer ? Jesus ! What is this ? '  And what about the possible diminishment of sexual activity ? He brushes this aside as if it were mere dust on the mantelpiece . ' Don ' t forget , I had five children . So things were not in that other part of the world the important thing . The importance had to be to get back into a healthy state and return into a normal life . '  Law and I are at different places with the illness . I ' ve had the surgery and the radiotherapy , and next week I start the hormone treatment . Law , at 74 four years my senior , seems to be managing the disease that bit better . I sincerely hope his situation doesn ' t change .  Legends come . Legends go . Denis Law , hopefully , is going nowhere .    for an extended video of Denis Law discussing prostate cancer  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
8758,8759,"Reuters) - At least 20 people died in a massive wave of wildfires raging across Portugal on Sunday and Monday in the worst such calamity since a blaze killed 64 people in June, state news agency Lusa cited civil protection officials as saying. Initially, officials put the death toll at six and no one was immediately available to confirm the rising death toll. The Portuguese government declared a state of public emergency in all the regions north of the Tagus river, a territory about half the size of continental Portugal. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
8791,8792,"A 39 stone man has left his flat for the first time in three years after firefighters carried him out on a bed sheet .  Hang Hang , 20 , was unable to leave his flat in Shenyang , Liaoning Province , because of his size .  The man , who lives on a diet of sugary foods such as pancakes , left the building for the first time in three years today thanks to the help of Chinese firefighters .  Heavy load : Nine firefighters came to the assistance of Hang Hang , 20 , today lifting the 39 stone man out of his apartment on a bed sheet , pictured . He hadn ' t left the building in three years because of his size  Easy does it : The firefighters struggle to lift the man who was 23 stone by the age of 17 down the stairs of his apartment . His mother says he will eat a stack of pancakes , a big bowl of porridge and vegetables in one sitting  In order to get him outside , Hang was carried on a thick bed sheet down the stairs by 9 firefighters .  Following the success of the tricky maneuver , the man sat outside on a specially reinforced bed enjoying fresh air for the first time in 36 months .  The ' rescue ' was organised by a local newspaper who campaigned for people to help him leave the house so he could enjoy some fresh air .  Hang ' s mother told Chinese media her son had always struggles with his weight and tipped the scales at 23 stone by the ages of 17 .  However , after moving in with his mother three years ago , his weight ballooned and he went from 23 stone to 39 stone leaving him trapped inside the flat .  She told reporters : ' For one meal , he at least eats 10 pancakes , one large bowel of porridge , and vegetables . '  Outside : Hang Hang is propped up by the men once they managed to get him out of the building . The ' rescue ' was organised by a local newspaper which campaigned for people to help the man get out in to the fresh air  Outside : The 20 year old enjoys his time in the fresh air while sitting on a specially reinforced bed  Last month , a Mexican man once listed as the world ' s heaviest human died at the age of 48 .  Manuel Uribe weight 87 stone at the height of his obesity and spent most of his final decade bed ridden on a reinforced mattress .  Uribe had ' slimmed down ' to about 61 stones after he was awarded the title of world ' s fattest human by the Guinness World Record ' s in 2006 .  When he died , his body lying on the same bed was taken to the Serorrey funeral home in Monterry , Mexico aboard a flat bed truck .  Funeral home director Pedro Reyes said Serorrey ' s cremation facility was the only one in the northern city of Monterrey able to handle Uribe ' s body .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
8817,8818,"Zero Hedge reported:If there was a time Hillary needed to make a public appearance in the key battleground state of North Carolina to drum up voter support, it was today, if for no other reason than a just released Elon University poll finding Trump now has a modest 44% advantage among likely voters in the Tar Heel State, with 43% going to Clinton.According to the poll, most voters felt Trump would be better for rich people, white people and men, while most believe Clinton would be better for poor people, women and minorities.  This election is so tight right now, that small swings of a few points should be expected between now and November,  said Jason Husser, assistant professor of political science at Elon and director of the Elon University Poll.  North Carolina has been extremely important over the last several election cycles with very tight election outcomes. These numbers suggest that will continue to be the case, and both campaigns would do well to continue to focus on the Old North State. It s not just the closeness of the poll that makes  so critical; it s also Trump s recent rebound, which as shown in the following chart from Real Clear Politics has him taking the lead for the first time since late June.Which is why we find it surprising that with Hillary s desperately needing to make an appearance, overnight  reported that Clinton campaign officials said that a Tuesday fundraiser in Chapel Hill was postponed.",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,past
8825,8826,"Kabul , Afghanistan The U . S . led war in Afghanistan marked its 10th year Friday having passed two major milestones : The Taliban has been forced out of power and Osama bin Laden is dead .  But there was little observance by U . S . troops in Afghanistan , where a month earlier many participated in commemorations to mark the 10th anniversary of the September 11 , 2001 , terrorist attacks .  "" We really celebrated the 10th anniversary of 9 11 , and we were out here in Afghanistan , "" Marine Corps Maj . Gen . John Toolan Jr . , commanding general of  troops in southern Afghanistan , told reporters during a briefing on Thursday .  "" I think that to us it was a far more significant date than 10 years of fighting in Afghanistan because , really , when you look at the 10 years , you ' re looking at different levels of forces , different levels of attention given to Afghanistan . ""  The U . S . led war in Afghanistan began October 7 , 2011 , with an air campaign that was followed within weeks by a ground invasion . President Barack Obama has called it "" the longest running war in the nation ' s history "" .  The aim was to oust the Taliban and dismantle al Qaeda ' s leadership , though the leaders of both groups Mullah Omar and Osama bin Laden managed to escape capture .  Bin Laden was killed in May during a raid by U . Sweblinkmandos on his hideout in Abbottabad , Pakistan . The whereabouts of Mullah Omar is unknown , and he has not been seen in public in years .  As the United States turned its attention toward Iraq , insurgent violence in Afghanistan flared against Afghan civilians and security forces as well as the U . S . and its coalition partners .  Since the conflict began , the number of casualties has risen by the year , with a significant jump from 2008 to 2009 . At least 296 coalition troops died in 2008 .  It nearly doubled in 2009 when 517 coalition troops were killed . That year , President Barack Obama authorized a surge of 33 , 000 U . S . forces to Afghanistan to combat the violence .  Two years later , the United States outlined its plan to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan , beginning with pulling the 33 , 000 surge troops by the end of 2012 and the remaining 68 , 000 by the end of 2014 .  The move was followed by withdrawal announcements by most of the  nations .  On Thursday , defense ministers from the 49 nations that make up the International Security Assistance Force pledged their support to Afghanistan even as they make plans to withdraw troops by 2014 .  "" Let there be no mistake : transition is not departure . We will not take our leave when the Afghans take the lead , ""  Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen told reporters Thursday in Brussels , Belgium .  The ministers are scheduled to meet again in May in Chicago where Rasmussen said they will "" need to decide what more we will do . ""  While  has insisted that the transition of security for the country to Afghan forces is conditions based rather than calendar driven , the clock is ticking on the withdrawal deadline .  The planned withdrawal has raised a number of questions about the stability of Afghanistan , which has been hit by a wave of high profile attacks in recent months that have jeopardized the peace negotiations .  Last month ' s turban bomb assassination of former Afghan President Burhanuddin Rabbani , revered by many as a father of the Mujahideen movement that ousted the Soviets in the 1980s , appears to have dealt the biggest blow to the peace process .  Rabbani was the chairman of President Hamid Karzai ' s High Council for Peace , which has been trying for a year to foster dialogue with the Taliban a strategy that Karzai publicly abandoned following Rabbani ' s killing .  The war in Afghanistan , once viewed by a majority of Americans as a must , has become widely unpopular as concerns have shifted to the economy and job losses .  In a new Pew Research Center report on war and sacrifice released this week , half of post 9 11 veterans said the Afghanistan war has been worth fighting . Only 44 felt that way about Iraq , and one third said both wars were worth the costs .  Robert Messel is among those veterans who question the war .  Messel , who was a freshman in college and a  student on September 11 , 2001 , said he remembers thinking that the war in Afghanistan would be over before he joined the Army .  But as the war continued , Messel said he began to have mixed feelings .  "" In my opinion , it basically should have been limited to what we initially were going in to do : Hunt down bin Laden and the architects of the attacks . ""  Messel said it is very difficult to look back objectively on the experience .  "" You lost friends and made sacrifices . You don ' t want to ever think that everything that happened was in vain , "" he said .  But Asmatullah Kohistani has a different perspective on the war , which he says gave his family back their home and their livelihoods .  He was 13 when he and his family fled their home in Afghanistan ' s Kapisa province amid a civil war that would see the Taliban take control of the country . Driven out by bombardments and fighting , his family crossed into Pakistan , making their home in Islamabad .  Kohistani , 28 , said "" everything changed "" after the Taliban were forced from power .  Kohistani , who worked for a U . S . business for two years upon his return to Afghanistan , founded media startup Afghan123weblink last year .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
8845,8846,"Known for his outspoken , unapologetic support of migrants in Mexico , the Rev . Alejandro Solalinde is bringing his message to the United States .  The priest is part of a caravan of migrants and their supporters traveling from Los Angeles to Washington to push for immigration reform .  In Mexico , Solalinde has criticized the government , and even the Catholic Church , saying that both can be more compassionate to migrants . His views are shaped by the years he has spent leading a migrant shelter in Oaxaca that offers support to Central Americans who embark on the dangerous route north by clinging to trains .  A number of threats last year led to his leaving his post , located in Ixtepec , in the southern state of Oaxaca , but he has since returned .  Immigration issues must be tackled both at the source and the destination of the migrants , he said .  In the United States , Solalinde says he wants to include more voices in the debate . "" Not just the voice of the north , but the voice of the south , the voice of the poor , the voice of the migrants . ""  The 68 year old , wearing a white button down shirt , cream colored vest , thin glasses and a cross necklace , admits that he believes his opinion will have little sway . With so much money and political interests at play , the voice of a Mexican priest is likely to get drowned out , he said .  But Solalinde is undeterred . The caravan ' s participants are lobbying for a path to citizenship , a stop to the separation of families , and greater attention to the human cost of immigration policies . The priest says he is not advocating a certain policy , but wants to raise consciousness about the issue .  An immigration bill currently pending in the Senate commits additional resources to southern border security and establishes a new system of metrics to measure border control effectiveness , but critics insist the plan is full of holes and will ultimately do little to help stem to the tide of illegal immigration .  While claiming to strengthen the border , the legislation also would create a 13 year path to citizenship for most undocumented immigrants while bringing dramatic change to labor policy on America ' s farms .  U . S . tactics like a border wall and restrictive immigration policies do nothing other than drive up the price that smugglers charge to sneak people across the border , he said .  At the migrant shelter in Oaxaca , Solalinde says he sees constant suffering , but also constant hope in the people who pass by .  During his brief exile from the shelter , Solalinde spent a month in Europe followed by some weeks of reflection in Jalisco state before returning to Oaxaca .  After doing much reading and writing during his time away , the priest said he returned with a deeper commitment for acting now , for helping migrants today , he said .  "" Each day god gives me the grace to be happy , he provides strength , but at the end of the day my heart hurts , it tires emotionally , "" he said .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
8846,8847,"Reuters) - British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, who spearheaded the campaign for Britain to leave the European Union, congratulated Prime Minister Theresa May on agreeing a divorce deal with the  to move Brexit talks on to trade on Friday.  Congratulations to  for her determination in getting today s deal,  he said on Twitter.   We now aim to forge a deep and special partnership with our European friends and allies while remaining true to the referendum result - taking back control of our laws, money and borders for the whole of the UK.  ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
8847,8848,"Brussels remains on high alert as police hunt Paris attack fugitive  A Belgian policeman and a soldier stand guard outside the central station in Brussels on Monday .  A Belgian policeman and a soldier stand guard outside the central station in Brussels on Monday .  Brussels will remain on the highest alert level and maintain security measures that have severely disrupted normal life in the city until at least Monday as it faces an "" imminent "" threat of attack , Belgium ' s prime minister said Monday , urging his population to remain calm .  In France , police said an explosive belt had been found in the southern Paris suburb of Montrouge . A police official , who couldn ' t be named because he wasn ' t authorized to discuss the investigation , said the belt was found without a detonator by a street cleaner in a pile of rubble Monday and was being analyzed by police .  Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel said the country ' s capital , which also houses the headquarters of the European Union and  , faced a "" serious and imminent "" threat of attack , while the rest of the nation would stay at the second highest level . The country ' s crisis center said the alert level would change this week only if a significant breakthrough by investigators warranted it .   : ? Get the day ' s top headlines from Times Editor Davan Maharaj  The increased security measures in the wake of the Nov . 13 Paris attacks that killed 130 people and wounded hundreds have virtually shut down the city , with the subway and shops closed over the weekend and schools remaining shut on Monday . Michel said that despite the alert level , schools and the subway system would reopen progressively as of Wednesday .  "" We are very alert and call for caution , "" Michel said . "" The potential targets remain the same shopping centers and shopping streets and public transport . ""  "" We want to return to a normal way of life as quickly as possible . ""  The unprecedented security measures come as authorities hunt for one or more suspected extremists , including Salah Abdeslam , a fugitive since being named as a suspect in the Paris attacks . He has yet to be found .  Belgian authorities arrested a suspect on terrorism related charges Monday after a series of raids which led to 21 people being detained between Sunday night and midday Monday .  The federal prosecutor said the suspect , who was not identified , was charged with terrorism offenses related to the Paris attacks after authorities detained 16 people Sunday . Three others were charged with similar offenses last week . The other 15 people detained Sunday evening were released .  Earlier in the day , British Prime Minister David Cameron said in Paris that he will ask for parliamentary approval for the U . K . to join airstrikes against Islamic State extremists in Syria . If approved , Britain would join other nations carrying out bombings in Syria , including the U . S . , France and Russia .  See the most read stories this hour Read the story  Cameron and French President Francois Hollande paid a quiet visit to the Bataclan concert venue , which saw the worst of the carnage in Paris . Hollande plans to meet Tuesday with President Obama , then Wednesday with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday in pursuit of a unified strategy in Syria .  France ' s Defense Ministry said it had launched its first airstrikes from the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier , bombing  targets in the Iraqi cities of Ramadi and Mosul in a seven hour operation . The ministry said that four Rafale fighter jets were sent from the carrier on Monday afternoon , with two each flying over each city . France has already carried out strikes against  targets in Syria .  Britain has been carrying out airstrikes in Iraq , but Cameron has long wished for an expanded mandate to include targets in Syria . But having lost a vote once two years ago , his government had been reluctant to even suggest a vote until it could be certain it would win .  The raids in Belgium began late Sunday , capping a tense weekend that saw hundreds of troops patrolling streets .  Frank Foley , lecturer in war studies at King ' s College London and a terrorism expert , said it was difficult to know if what Belgium was doing was justified because authorities have provided so few details about their decision .  The measures intended to avoid attacks similar to the ones that caused devastating carnage in Paris could even be counterproductive if they last too long , he said .  "" If these dramatic measures continue in Brussels , we will be doing the terrorists ' job for them , "" Foley said . "" The government may be unintentionally contributing to the atmosphere of fear . ""  But Henry Willis , director of  Homeland Security and Defense Center , likened the clampdown to the reaction of U . S . authorities after the Boston marathon bombing .  "" They did shut down the city for a couple of days and when they lifted those restrictions , that ' s when they caught the terrorist , "" he said .  Several of the Paris attackers had lived in Brussels , including Abdelhamid Abaaoud , the man who authorities say orchestrated the plot . He was killed Wednesday in a standoff with French police .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
8859,8860,"Miriam Brown has always wanted to visit Cape Cod , but when she recently began to plan a trip and found out she would have to pay 200 or more a night for lodging , her dream vacation seemed out of reach .  Miriam Brown and her husband bartered their services for room and board on Cape Cod .  Brown , who lives in New Orleans , Louisiana , is an accountant . Her husband is a home renovations contractor .  Like many people dealing with a soft real estate market and high food and gas prices , they just don ' t have that kind of extra cash for a trip .  "" I have traveled a lot in prior years , but after Hurricane Katrina , there ' s just no money for traveling , "" Brown said .  So she still plans to go , but she won ' t spend any cash at all on lodging .  Brown has joined the growing ranks of Americans who are bartering trading goods and services without exchanging money as a way to cope with tough economic times .  Brown posted an ad in the barter section of the online community Craigslist last month , offering to trade her accounting skills and her husband ' s knack for home repairs in exchange for room and board on Cape Cod , Massachusetts .  She has lots of company .  There were some 142 , 000 listings in the barter section of Craigslist in July , or almost double the number posted during the same month last year , according to Craigslist spokeswoman Susan MacTavish Best .  "" When the economy turns unfriendly , Craigslist users become far more creative to get their everyday tasks done , "" Best said .  Swapping ' to get by '  Other Web sites that put Americans in touch with like minded people who are willing to trade everything under the sun have also seen a boost in traffic . SwapThing , which lists almost 3 . 5 million "" things "" available for trade , reports its customers are bartering for different reasons than before .  "" I think a few years ago it was more for fun , "" said Jessica Hardwick , SwapThing founder and  .  "" But we ' ve seen a real shift in the last year , and especially an increase in the last few months , where I think people are really doing it to get by . ""  Some of the most popular items to trade for late this summer were school uniforms , which some parents found they could not afford to buy for their children , Hardwick said .  Experts aren ' t surprised Americans are becoming more financially creative during an economic downturn .  "" Historically , when times get tough , you see a 50 percent plus increase in bartering as a way for people to be able to buy things or get things and do it economically , "" said C . Britt Beemer , chairman of America ' s Research Group .  The company talks with thousands of consumers every week to gauge their spending habits and attitudes .  A couple of years ago , many Americans had 500 to spend at the end of the month , but that money has evaporated because of rising prices , Beemer said .  "" We ' ve never had a time , at least in my lifetime , where you have food and fuel going up at the same time . So it isn ' t a question of buying things , it ' s a question of buying nothing , "" Beemer said .  Breast implants and a horse  Businesses have long recognized the benefits of bartering , and there are hundreds of barter networks set up across the country to fill their needs .  They use barter credits as currency , so a plumber in need of a filling doesn ' t need to search for a dentist ' s office with plumbing problems to make a deal . He can fix a leaky pipe for one member of a network and use the credits he earned for that job at any other .  Since all kinds of companies are members , the trades can be all over the map , said Michael Krane , president of Green Apple Barter Services in Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania . His company has brokered everything from breast implants to college tuition to a horse .  "" Really , there are no limits to it . We trade for just about anything you can think of , "" Krane said .  Bartering on this scale is also robust in tough economic times . Krane said his exchange has seen a 20 percent rise in barter transaction volume in the first six months of this year .  A longtime client is Thomas Forrest , an orthodontist in suburban Pittsburgh who barters his services for everything from office improvements to stationery . His practice hasn ' t been affected by the economic downturn , Forrest said , but some of his patients seem glad to be able to visit him under the barter arrangement .  "" I think if you have a business owner who has children in need of braces , I sense a gratitude that that ' s available , "" Forrest said .  Barter exchanges must carefully document all trades , since the Internal Revenue Service considers income from bartering as taxable . However , a barter exchange "" does not include arrangements that provide solely for the informal exchange of similar services on a noncommercial basis , "" according to the  .  In New Orleans , Brown and her husband are getting ready to go to Cape Cod after finding a taker for her bartering offer on Craigslist . The couple will work five hours a day in exchange for staying in "" a beautiful three bedroom house right in the center of it all , "" Brown said .  "" We can do a lot more if we don ' t have to pay for room and board , "" she added .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
8862,8863,"It is known as one of the most beautiful cities in the world , but it seems St Petersburg is also keen to capitalise on its nightlife .  Step in the BarBus Maxi , a converted Ikarus 280 bus that is designed to take groups out for a nocturnal tour of the city , while staging an epic party on board .  The former public transport vehicle has everything that could be expected of a raging nightclub , including dance floor , fully stocked bar ,  screens and even a pole in the centre of the floor .  The BarBus Maxi in St Petersburg , Russia , is a former public transport provider transformed into party central  The BarBus cruises past St Petersburg landmark the Church Of The Savior On Blood  While many party buses are colourful transport or alcohol free , the BarBus is the party destination  A young woman on the BarBus Maxi dances to tunes pumped out by the fully loaded sound system ( right )  While a party bus is hardly a new concept , many places forbid drinking on them while others are simply trumped up transport from one club to another .  But the BarBus is the destination , says Alexander Berest , the entrepreneur who used his engineering skills to create the ultimate in fun on four wheels after being inspired by a night out on a normal bus .  ' We were in a great mood and one of my friends had a guitar which he was playing , ' Berest said .  ' The driver was too young to mind us making loud music and the other passengers got involved and we were all singing and dancing .  ' As the bus drove through the student ' s area more passengers got on and joined the party , and the idea for the Barbus Maxi was born from there . '  BarBus also boasts leather sofas , a smoke machine , air conditioning and a mirrored ceiling .  Inside the BarBus , which boasts high back leather sofas and an elaborate lighting system  The lights appear to be a bit much for this reveller , who protects her eyes with star shaped sunglasses  The fully equipped bar stands alongside the dancefloor where the poles have a dual purpose  A night on the BarBus costs 80 in the week and 110 on the weekend for four hours .  Alexander said : ' It took a year and a half to create but the result was worth it as now BarBus is legendary in St Petersburg . '  Next he plans to extend his fleet of party buses , with a retro bus themed around the Swinging Sixties on the agenda .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
8868,8869,"A Democratic Senator decided to close out 2015 by raising a strong awareness of just how bad America s gun violence problem is. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) made a list of every mass shooting, including the number injured or killed, and posted it to his Twitter account. The list can be paged through, with each entry showing the number of injured and dead.Take a few moments and page through the list below. The tragedy that was 2015 becomes quickly apparent.#   for my year in review I listed out every single mass shooting in 2015. They're all here: weblink  Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) December 31, 2015While paging through the list, the reality of our problem with guns becomes undeniable to even the most backwards, gun-toting, Tea Party patriot. Contrasted with a nation like Japan, which averages less than 1 gun death per 100,000 people most years (sometimes averaging so low the statistic is virtually zero), you can see that we simply do not have to live with this as a reality of our society.Many of the incidents that were included never made it to the mainstream media, because they were just not sensational enough. Let s think about that for a minute. In Japan, there was a year when 22 shootings occurred. It became a national scandal. In America, if we had a year with 22 gun deaths, the only  newsworthy  portion of it would be how America  solved  its problem with gun violence.Senator Murphy added the following comment to his post:In 2015 there were 372 mass shootings   incidents where four or more people where shot, including the shooter. I went through each and every one of them onweblink, and tweeted out the stories. In the face of this carnage, there is no excuse for our inaction.Senator Murphy s context is very important. Only incidents where four or more people were shot made his list. There are far more that did not. The total number of shootings for 2015 so far stands at an astounding 52,339, with 13,296 deaths. To add a bit of context to the total, only 1,935 were able to be deemed  accidental,  which includes most acts of irresponsible use or storage of firearms.Very slowly, things are beginning to change. President Obama has plans, by way of executive order, to increase the requirements for background checks as well as strengthen the requirements for reporting lost or stolen guns. Coupled with California s new initiative allowing state government to seize guns from those deemed a menace to society, 2016 could mark a slight turning point in  dominance over gun safety in America.Featured image via senate.gov",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,present
8870,8871,"If you live in the South , you probably know not to ask for a mustard based  sauce in North Carolina and you ' d never , ever think of using soap on your cast iron skillet . But even if you call some corner of the South "" home , "" you might not know how to properly shuck an oyster , prepare the perfect wedding toast or start a fire .  It won ' t be held against you but bless your heart you might consider picking up a copy of "" The Southerner ' s Handbook , "" a new book from the editors of Garden and Gun magazine .  With a name inspired by a long gone late night club in the magazine ' s hometown of Charleston , South Carolina "" the Studio 54 of the South , "" as editor David DiBenedetto put it Garden and Gun isn ' t just about gardens or guns . Nor is the magazine and its new book directed solely toward Southerners . More than 40 of the magazine ' s readership is based above the Mason Dixon line , he said .  It ' s about the culture , people and places that make the South well Southern , with a strong sense of sophistication the region has earned .  "" The Southerner ' s Handbook "" is billed as a "" guide to living the good life "" and features illustrations , tips and tricks to help readers embrace Southern living .  Yet despite the magazine ' s predilection for all things Dixie , DiBenedetto says transplants to the South no matter where they hail from can benefit from flipping through the handbook ' s pages .  Here ' s what DiBenedetto , a native of Savannah , Georgia , had to say about the book and modern Southern culture .  DiBenedetto : The South is a vast place with pockets of culture that are really different from each other . If you ' re in the low country , you better know how to shuck an oyster . If you ' re in the Appalachian mountains , you better know when to find ramps . When it ' s Mardi Gras , you ' re gonna need to know how to avoid any throw up flying off a balcony .  There are so many nuances to different parts of the South . So many traditions and passions , there are a lot of great skills that get passed down . The South has an unbelievable natural bounty we ' ve developed a set of skills to address that bounty .  DiBenedetto : It means to have pride in place it means to be connected to the land and to understand that land . So much of the book is a bit of tutorial , but it ' s also about telling great stories . It ' s about bringing people to the table , about having conversations . Food is a leveler , and Southern food unites us in so many ways .  DiBenedetto : Around here we call it high and low . A Southerner is at home in a  shack in the middle of nowhere . . . and at the same time dressed in style in a black tie event . The South is these juxtapositions of high and low .  To bridge the gap you have to experience them , you ' ve gotta be open to going to the middle of nowhere to a small  shack in Mississippi . You have to be open to experience , open to listen to the folks that have experience , tradition and skills . If you ' re willing to listen and learn , it ' s all there for you .  DiBenedetto : There is an unbelievable amount of details and information ( in the book . ) If you ' re at a party and there ' s football on , the book addresses great  football rivalries and why they ' re important . You ' ll also learn the difference between mustard and vinegar based  sauces . There ' s a lot to take away  DiBenedetto : I think it lets you get in on the conversation it lets you in on the party . To understand why the Alabama Auburn game , which has been going on since the late 1800s and was postponed for a number of years because the rivalry was so intense , helps you understand how far football goes back in the South and what it means to football fans .  The same way with pepper vinegar versus mustard sauce . It helps understand place , and so much of what the book is about is understanding place and tradition .  DiBenedetto : This being such a vast place in terms of different cultures and geography , there ' s plenty to learn . There ' s so much variety in the South and a variety of skill sets , even a Southerner would find plenty to enjoy in the book .  DiBenedetto : The go to is "" Bless your heart "" and how that can be said with tone or the way someone cuts theirs eyes . A Southern woman can say so much with the way she cuts her eyes when she says something .  There ' s a section of the book where we talk about the proper way to say goodbye . At the end of an evening the host might say "" Well , this has been a fun time . "" It means what it sounds like it ' s been fun , but it ' s over now . While that ' s not very Southern , it ' s the Southern way to say "" Get out of the house . ""  DiBenedetto : Seersucker . There ' s a danger of overdoing seersucker , but if you ' ve gotta look stylin ' you can impart just enough Southern sense of style , and it ' s still good for a hot climate .  DiBenedetto : Bourbon , proper seating and deviled eggs .  DiBenedetto : Food and drink are so important to Southern culture . And understanding why is important . There are great recipes in the book and stories about food . Those two chapters are core .  Southerners love to have a good time , they ' re not afraid to have a good time . A lot of that centers around food and drink . We have parties where you bring out your grandmother ' s pimentos cheese or deviled eggs and it ' s about that tradition . Good food and drink leads to great stories .  To master some of these basics is to be able to be in the conversation . To know what a cat head biscuit is and know how to make it , to understand why we crave and lust after the perfect fried chicken . Knowing that stuff gets you closer to the traditions and the passions and the people and the land .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
8876,8877,"It ' s game over for San Francisco ' s iconic Candlestick Park . Where once Willie Mays , Barry Bonds , Joe Montana and so many more created magic memories for the city ' s sports fans in spite of it ' s famously blustery winds , heavy machinery is now taking the stadium apart piece by piece .  There is no room for sentiment for the demolition crew brought in after a successful public petition against more direct methods , such as dynamite and wrecking balls , extended the wait for the site ' s next incarnation as a 200million ( 130m ) urban outlet mall .  The mall will open some time in 2017 , but the rich history of where it will stand is undeniable . Not just a previous home for the  ' s San Francisco 49ers and briefly the Oakland Raiders , along with baseball ' s Giants after their move from New York , it hosted what would be The Beatles ' last full live concert .   Scroll down to watch Incredible time lapse of San Francisco 49ers new stadium build  Workers demolish a section of stadium seats inside Candlestick Park , San Francisco , once home to San Francisco ' s Giants and 49ers  The ' red zone ' sign remains , for now , as The Stick is demolished in a process that is expected to take up to three months  The  ' s 49ers were the last professional franchise to call the park home having stayed there from 1971 to 2013  Orange chairs the ones not sold to collectors for 649 a pair are ruthlessly ripped from the stands by diggers and the turf torn up in a process that is set to take up to three months to complete .  Developer Lennar Urban , along with partner and mall owner Macerich Corp , have plans in place for a 500 , 000 square foot mall on a site that will also include 6 , 225 homes , 635 , 000 square feet of shops and 220 hotel rooms .  Crew at the stadium wear orange but it ' s no homage to the Giants , just safety vests . The Loma Prieta earthquake measuring 7 . 1 on the Richter Scale on October 17 , 1989 , minutes before game three of the World Series was supposed to start , couldn ' t fell Candlestick Park . The stadium was credited with saving lives that day , with no one inside injured . But massive excavators are making short work of it .  Unimaginative but lasting catch phrases are a lasting legacy of ' The Stick ' , named after its Candlestick Point location in the Bayview Heights area on the west shore of San Francisco Bay  It ' s home to ' The Catch ' , the 1982 heroics of Dwight Clark , who clutched Montana ' s match winning touchdown pass against the Dallas Cowboys to lead the 49ers to their first Super Bowl . It was the first of eight  Championship games there .  The seats that weren ' t sold to collectors for 649 a pair are ruthlessly ripped up during the demolition of Candlestick Park  An orange pile of chairs ready for recycling is crushed by machinery as the site is prepared for a 200m urban outlet mall  Candlestick Park was first opened in 1960 to be the home of San Francisco Giants baseball team after they moved from New York  Two more great plays are remembered as The Catch  and  Terrell Owens ' receipt of a Steve Young pass in the 1998 Wild Card round for a touchdown with eight seconds on the clock to beat the Green Bay Packers and Vernon Davis ' grab from Alex Smith with nine seconds left for the win over the New Orleans Saints in the 2011 Divisional Playoffs .  Originally opened in 1960 , The Stick was built to be the home of Major League Baseball ' s San Francisco Giants and was the first ' modern ' baseball stadium given it was built entirely from concrete .  With then  vice president Richard Nixon throwing out the first pitch on opening day , it was home to two  All Star Games in 1961 and 1984 and the 1962 and 1989 World Series .  The stands are being torn down piece by piece after a community petition fought against the potential impact of dust from more direct methods  A worker wears the orange colour of the Giants but it ' s no homage to the team , just a high visibility safety vest  A pile of stadium seats sits in an empty section inside Candlestick Park on February 4 as the destruction of the stadium continues  A United States flag flops on a pile of broken pallets and trash outside the stadium  Broken stadium seats are bound for recycling after being torn from the venue of The Beatles ' final live concert  The tunnel that visiting  team ' s once entered the arena from is now framed by bald stands after the distinctive seats were removed  While sporting battles were won and lost at the venue , Candlestick Park has never looked as much like a war zone as this  The former playing field of Candlestick Park is also being ripped up as the foundations for the urban outlet mall and apartments are prepared  The Giants stayed until their move to Pacific Bell Park ( now  T Park ) in 2000 , perhaps facing the also former New York based side the  Dodgers in the final baseball game there , leaving the 49ers as The Stick ' s sole occupants .  The 49ers ' time there stretched from 1971 to 2013 , before they went to Levi ' s Stadium in Santa Clara , with their final match there their 36th for Monday Night Football the most of any ground . The 34 24 win over the Atlanta Falcons was dubbed The Pick At The Stick by pundits .  It ' s not been confirmed whether there will be any remnants of The Stick once the development is complete , in the vein of Arsenal ' s former home at Highbury where the facade was retained at the front of apartments , but the memories will live on .  Legendary San Francisco 49ers quarterback Joe Montana runs with the ball during the 1984  Championship Game at Candlestick Park  Montana ( right ) takes a knee to speak with Niners head coach Bill Walsh in the match against the Chicago Bears , which they won 23 0  Superstar outfielder Willie Mays moved with the Giants from New York to San Francisco as they took up residence at The Stick  The scoreboard displays the message ' Tell it Goodbye to Candlestick Park ' after the Giants final match at the stadium against the  Dodgers  ",true,text,test,American football,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
8891,8892,"—   Like many presidents before him, President Trump is pushing a bold budget proposal. But for a business executive used to getting his way, he is likely to find, as his predecessors did, that final budgets often bear little resemblance to the originals after being run through the shredder on Capitol Hill. Here is a look at some of the main issues hanging over the coming budget and spending fight. Taking the ax to the Environmental Protection Agency or to State Department aid programs may excite Mr. Trump’s supporters, but he is unlikely to succeed to the extent he would like. His budget is simply a starting point and any cuts would have to be made through the congressional appropriations process. Though in the minority, Democrats retain significant leverage in crafting that legislation and can block bills they oppose in the Senate. “Enacting appropriations law  —   as opposed to proposing nonbinding budget resolutions  —   will likely require Democratic votes,” Representative Nita Lowey of New York, the senior Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, noted tartly on Monday. It is doubtful cuts of the kind being proposed will fly. Presidential budgets are important as statements of policy and budgetary goals. They stand mainly as political manifestoes of what the White House hopes to achieve  —   and would do if it had its own way. The Trump administration’s budget also serves as a message to those who supported the new president that he intends to follow through on his campaign promises to cut government spending, even while bolstering the military. Mr. Trump can point to his budget as an illustration of what he had wanted to do before Congress got in his way. And while the unveiling of a budget draws a lot of media attention, the failure to meet many of its goals months or years later seldom produces anywhere near as much news coverage. Military spending remains popular and touches every state and most House districts, giving lawmakers ample incentive to support it. President Barack Obama had proposed his own spending increases. But Democrats have insisted that any increase in Pentagon spending must be matched by higher spending on domestic programs that they favor. The Trump budget, instead, seeks to raise military spending and offset the increases with cuts to domestic programs  —   an approach most Democrats and some Republicans will resist. At the same time, some conservative House Republicans have previously balked at Pentagon increases, arguing that they are wasteful. Then there is Senator John McCain, the Arizona Republican who chairs the Armed Services Committee and argues the White House is not seeking enough new money for the military. Some higher Pentagon spending is possible, but it is unclear it will be enough to satisfy Mr. Trump or Republican hawks. And it won’t come easily. Republicans certainly hope so. They will try to keep as much pressure on Democrats as possible. One strategic approach Republicans are likely to embrace is to move first on a Pentagon spending bill with added spending and then dare Senate Democrats to oppose it, attacking them for shortchanging the military. If Democrats relent and approve the bill, they will sacrifice some of their political influence over the rest of the budget. Top Democrats say their success or failure will depend on a willingness to remain united in their budget position. The party did so last year and successfully derailed the appropriations process. But they are worried about their ability to do so again this year with 10 Senate Democrats up for   in 2018 in states won by Mr. Trump. Yes. In recent years, Congress has failed miserably when it comes to passing annual spending bills  —   the most basic responsibility of lawmakers  —   and has instead relied on a series of stopgap measures. Last year, the House and Senate sent Mr. Obama just one of the 12 required annual appropriations measures. The government is now running under a temporary funding bill called a continuing resolution, which expires on April 28. Given the level of budget discord, it is conceivable the government will run the entire fiscal year ending Sept. 30 at last year’s spending level. That possibility illustrates the fundamental problem for Mr. Trump. Budget priorities are enacted through the appropriations bills. Passing appropriations bills requires some level of bipartisan cooperation. As budget details emerge, it appears Mr. Trump’s spending plan will not elicit much Democratic support, severely limiting his chances of success. This fight is more between Mr. Trump and Republicans on Capitol Hill. Mr. Trump promised repeatedly during his campaign to leave those huge programs untouched, reassuring his voters who rely on them. Congressional Republicans, notably Speaker Paul D. Ryan, have in the past proposed significant structural changes to the programs  —   particularly Medicare  —   to win real budget savings. If such entitlement programs are left out of the equation, more dollars have to be squeezed from agency budgets, setting up the fight over federal priorities likely to consume Congress later this year.",true,news,test,World conflict,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
8936,8937,"Pilot of Russian plane downed by Turkey buried with military honours  A Russian pilot killed after his plane was shot down by a Turkish jet last week was buried in the Russian city of Lipetsk on Wednesday with military honours , after being posthumously given the country ' s highest military award .  People lay flowers by the portrait of Oleg Peshkov , a Russian pilot of the downed  24 jet , in Lipetsk , Russia , December 2 , 2015 .  Maxim Zmeyev  The coffin of the pilot killed when Turkey shot down a Russian jet is seen in a Turkish Air Force plane as its carried from Hatay to Ankara , Turkey , November 29 , 2015 .  Turkish Chief of Staff Handout via Reuters   , Russia : A Russian pilot killed after his plane was shot down by a Turkish jet last week was buried in the Russian city of Lipetsk on Wednesday with military honours , after being posthumously given the country ' s highest military award .  The downing of Oleg Peshkov ' s plane on Nov . 24 near the Syrian Turkish border has triggered a tense standoff between Russia and  member Turkey and Moscow has imposed a raft of economic sanctions on Ankara in retaliation .  Russian defence officials said Peshkov managed to eject from his stricken plane only to be killed by ground fire from militants inside Syria . His navigator survived , but a Russian marine was killed during the rescue mission .  Fellow air force officers carried the coffin with Peshkov ' s body to his grave in a snow swept cemetery in Lipetsk , some 450 kilometres ( 279 . 62 miles ) south of Moscow , a Reuters photographer at the funeral reported .  Peshkov ' s family stood by the coffin , which was wrapped in Russia ' s tricolour flag , and paid their final respects . Wreaths were clustered around the grave .  Turkish officials say the Russian Su 24 fighter bomber violated their country ' s air space after being repeatedly warned to change course .  Moscow disputes that strongly , saying the aircraft was over Syria , where Russia is carrying out an air campaign backing Syrian President Bashar al Assad in a protracted civil war .  Peshkov was named a Hero of the Russian Federation after his death and the award was given to his wife during a ceremony on Tuesday .  Lipetsk residents also attended a memorial service for Peshkov on Wednesday and left flowers in his memory at a monument in the city .  ( Reporting by Maxim Zmeev Writing by Alexander Winning Editing by Andrew Osborn )  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
8939,8940,"The world of Formula One may seem an unlikely source of inspiration for a major carbon cutting initiative , but technology used for coordinating pit stops is primed to slash emissions from airports across the globe .  According to Britain ' s National Air Traffic Services (  ) , more than half the planes landing at London ' s Heathrow airport are stuck in circles overhead often for 20 minutes at a time as they wait for its congested runways to clear .   says the carbon cost of this pile up in the sky is an estimated 600 tons a day .  And this is where McLaren , the hugely successful Formula One team behind former world champions Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button , have come in with an unexpected solution .  Over the years the company has developed modeling software to analyze live racing data and visualize a range of potential scenarios allowing pit crews to make strategic decisions in the blink of an eye all in an effort to get their cars back out onto the racetrack milliseconds ahead of their competitors .  It ' s this ground level tracking technology that could hold the key to unlocking congestion , reducing CO2 emissions by streamlining the way aircraft make their own pit stops once they ' ve landed dropping off passengers , refueling and departing again with F1 efficiency .  This similarity between a motor race and an airport runway was first observed by Peter Tomlinson , head of aviation data solutions at  , while attending a workshop on cross industry collaboration at McLaren ' s  technology center three years ago .  "" It became clear that the pit stop in a race track , with cars coming in , changing tyres and refueling and going out again actually is pretty similar to an aircraft arriving at the airport , parking at the gate , passengers getting off , refueling and going out , "" said the air traffic veteran , who has over 30 years experience in the industry .  The beauty of McLaren ' s system is that it reduces the complexity of a racetrack into a circle "" so at the point of decision , presentation of the data is very simple , which allows the engineer in a very stressful environment to make the right strategic decision and also see the data in a very clear , crisp format , "" said Tomlinson .  For the last three years  has been working with McLaren ' s engineers to map Heathrow ' s taxiways and runways much as they do a Formula One track .  But now , says Tomlinson , in place of a race strategist the system is operated by Heathrow ' s air traffic control , and instead of a circle the airport ' s network of runways and taxi lanes are represented by a simple rectangle enabling planes to be guided around the airport with greater ease and accuracy once they ' ve landed .  The collaboration has been "" groundbreaking "" according to Geoff McGrath , managing director of McLaren Applied Technologies the F1 team ' s tech division .  "" To my knowledge this is a first  has invested in this because there is nothing like it available , "" he added .  The system is now in its "" proof of concept "" stage and hopes are high that it will be used by airports around the world within a year .  "" Think in terms of the environmental benefits of that , "" enthused Tomlinson . "" Large airports with about 1300 to 1400 flights a day if you save just one minute of taxi time per flight on average , that equates to one day ' s worth of taxi time and that ' s how much we could save using McLaren ' s technology . ""  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,present
8940,8941,"Donald Trump is again under fire from allegations of misbehavior on the topic of sexual conduct on the set of his reality show, The Apprentice. Trump has increasingly been criticized for his actions with women, as they have come forward one-by-one making claims that the Republican presidential nominee forced himself on them.The latest claim, uncovered by The Daily Beast, involves Trump s failure to act.Oscar nominee Gary Busey allegedly sexually assaulted a female Apprentice employee during his time on the show, five Apprentice employees tell The Daily Beast. Donald Trump knew about the incident, laughed it off, and kept Busey on his  series, these staffers said.Multiple Apprentice employees, including the alleged victim herself, told The Daily Beast that the Academy-Award-nominated actor  grabbed  one of their colleagues  firmly between [the] legs  during the 2011 season of Celebrity Apprentice. Busey also forcibly put the female staffer s hand on the crotch of his pants. The alleged incident, which they say took place during a location shoot in SoHo in New York City, prompted a firestorm among members of the Apprentice crew.The report comes as the Trump campaign has begun a public relations offensive featuring Trump s current wife, Melania. She appeared on several outlets and claimed that the women coming forward to accuse her husband were all lying. Melania Trump also claimed that the audio tape in which Trump joked about sexually assaulting women was simply a matter of the 59-year-old Trump acting like a  boy  and being egged on by Access Hollywood host Billy Bush.Newly released polls show that a majority of woman voters do not take such a charitable view of Trump s actions, and instead are overwhelmingly choosing Hillary Clinton as their candidate. Clinton is even winning a plurality of support with married women, previously a weak spot for Democratic candidates.Featured image via YouTube",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
8947,8948,"Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha has lifted the lid on his difficult time at Manchester Untied .  Zaha , tipped as one of English football ' s brightest prospects at the time , was signed from Palace by former United boss Sir Alex Ferguson in January 2013 for a fee believed to be around 15 million .  But he was loaned straight back to The Eagles for the remainder of the season and did not arrive at Old Trafford until the following summer , by which time Ferguson had retired and been replaced by David Moyes .  Zaha was signed by former Manchester Untied manager Sir Alex Ferguson for around 15m in January 2013  ' Sir Alex obviously saw something in me and that ' s why he brought me to United . But I never got to be coached by him . I signed and by the time I came back ( from the loan spell at Palace ) , he had left . That was weird , ' Zaha told The Sun .  The forward was a peripheral figure under Moyes , used sparingly and sometimes out of position .  And the lack of first team opportunities afforded to him , coupled with the stresses of moving to Manchester alone , proved frustrating for the youngster .  ' I had a lot to deal with living on my own in Manchester . It was lonely . It wasn ' t the best , ' he said , ' If you ' re not playing , you ' re not happy . '  After failing to make an impact under Moyes , Zaha was loaned to Cardiff City for the second half of last season .  Although life off the pitch improved at Cardiff , with one of Zaha ' s brothers making the move to the Welsh capital to keep him company , the forward ' s form did not , as he contributed just one assist in 11 games .  Zaha found first team opportunities hard to come by at United and has been loaned back to Crystal Palace  Zaha returned to Palace again at the start of this season on another loan deal and could yet rejoin The Eagles permanently in the summer .  The 22 year old has been given a new lease of life under Palace boss Alan Pardew and is working hard towards rediscovering the sort of of form that led United to sign him two years ago .  For now , though , Zaha remains focused simply on playing regular , first team football and will leave any decisions on his future until the end of the season .  ' I ' m not ruling anything in or out . I ' m just going to play , ' he said .  The 22 year old forward is working hard to rediscover the form that led Untied to sign him in the first place  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
8955,8956,"Miami State investigators concluded there were "" no safety threats "" at the home of a 10 year old girl two days before she was found dead in her adoptive father ' s pick up truck near her seriously ill twin brother , according to a report released Monday by Florida child welfare authorities .  Both of the twins ' adoptive parents mother Carmen Barahona and father Jorge Barahona are charged with first degree murder in the girl ' s death . They also each face seven counts of aggravated child abuse and seven counts of child neglect , with the mother being so charged Saturday and the father charged on all the counts Monday .  James Loftus , director of the Miami Dade Police Department , told reporters Monday that the girl died and the boy was found only after an extended period of "" systemic long term abuse . ""  "" This is , in my experience , one of the saddest commentaries on the human condition that I ' ve ever seen , "" Loftus said , calling the parents ' alleged behavior "" subhuman . "" "" It ' s depressing , it ' s sickening . ""  Jorge Barahona earlier pleaded not guilty on charges of attempted first degree murder with a weapon and aggravated child abuse with a weapon in the case .  Days before the twins were found , the Florida Department of Children and Families received tips alleging poor treatment of children at the Barahona household in Miami Dade County . Records indicate a 7 year old also lived in the home .  One caller on February 10 claimed that the 10 year old girl and another child had been "" tied by their hands and feet with tape , and made to stay in the bathtub all day and night as a form of punishment , "" with the tape removed only so they could eat , according to a copy of the report released Monday .  Then , on February 12 , authorities began looking into another claim that one of the Barahonas ' children needed stitches after being hurt on the face and lip .  Carmen Barahona applied a bandage but didn ' t take the child to the hospital . The mother said the child fell though the report notes that "" the injury is not consistent with the story . ""  Investigators went to the home and late that night filed a report , in which they did not find any reasons for concern for the children ' s well being .  "" There is no reason to believe that the family is about to flee or refuse access to the children , "" investigator Bridget Moore said in the "" initial in home safety assessment "" report . "" The home was observed , and there were no hazardous conditions . ""  The report concluded with an assessment that the risk to the children was "" moderate , "" with no risk of abuse .  "" There are no concerns for the safety of the children while in the care of the parents , "" the investigator writes .  Two days later , on February 14 , authorities say Jorge Barahona parked his pest control truck alongside I 95 . A roadside ranger said he found Barahona beside the truck and his adopted son ill inside the vehicle , which was filled with toxic chemicals . The boy was taken to a hospital to be treated for severe burns .  The body of the Barahonas ' adopted daughter , Nubia who was the boy ' s twin sister was later discovered in the back of the truck in a plastic bag .  The Florida Department of Children and Families held its fourth of five scheduled meetings Monday afternoon to examine how authorities had handled the case .  In one instance , a caller told Florida authorities that he knew the Barahonas , and he was worried about the couple ' s twins . The contents of that phone call , which was made two days before the twins were found , was released last week by the department .  The caller said he was worried that something sinister had happened to the 10 year old girl because the Barahonas could not explain where the girl was .  "" ( Jorge Barahona ) doesn ' t come out with a straight answer , which is worrying me so much that something might have happened to that little girl , "" said the caller , who was not named .  During Monday ' s press conference , Katherine Fernandez Rundle the state attorney for Miami Dade said the surviving children in the Barahonas ' home "" clearly are key witnesses "" in the case , describing their cooperation with investigators thus far as "" very courageous . ""  Rundle said a decision hasn ' t been made yet on whether prosecutors would seek a death sentence in this case , though she signalled that this scenario appeared likely .  "" If there ever was a case that the death penalty would apply , it would seem to apply to this one , "" she said .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
8965,8966,"The Capitol Theatre in downtown Wheeling ,  , will host a tour de force performance by one of broadcast journalism ' s most polarizing hawk beaked figures in "" An Evening With Nancy Grace As Jan Brady . ""  Grace will relive some of Jan ' s most painful adolescent angst and focuses on how an adult Jan would cope with family , relationships and the voices , oh the tormenting voices , in her head .  "" Most dazzling one person stage performance I ' ve seen since Sir Ian McKellan as Yogi Berra , "" said theater critic Buster Olney of  Broadway .  Feeling victimized is required but applause is optional . Parents are advised not to bring middle children with anxiety issues , and those easily offended by preachy know it alls with rabid personalities should consider waiting in the lobby .  "" This is about victims ' rights . Jan was a victim . She was victimized by her family , her friends , society , her school , creepy cousin Oliver , Peter ' s look a like , and especially her sister Marcia , "" Grace said in a brief telephone interview before heading off to defend herself in a class action libel lawsuit brought by "" a bunch of potato chip eating potheads sitting around on a couch . ""  Good As News was able to obtain a script from a past performance of the show at The Wooden Leg Pub in Stout , Ohio . Some of the monologue includes :  Nancy Jan will recall some of her unpleasant encounters with Sam the butcher when he offered her a popsicle . She will address him directly .  "" I will not allow you to take me into that freezer like you did with Elizabeth Smart and take my dignity away from me , your sick , perverted , old pedophile , "" said Nancy Jan . "" Would you like me to introduce you to this meat cleaver ? ""  A side of beef appears as Sam .  Nancy Jan also will talk about how Peter "" took more than a brotherly interest in me . ""  "" I was pretty sure I was still a virgin , "" she said . "" Peter kept asking me to go to the ' Malt Shop ' with him . Finally , I agreed to go with him and it turned out to be an old , abandoned Dairy Queen , and he said to me , ' Hey babe , let ' s swing . '  "" I immediately refused his advances . I told him , ' I   be used by my brother , or brothers , or cousin Oliver . This is not a Florida trailer park . Incest is not groovy and I plan to obtain an out of court settlement to prove it ! ' ""  Nancy Jan said she never wanted to go to Westdale High , but instead preferred to attend a performing arts school and become the next Goldie Hawn .  "" I was a victim of gender discrimination , "" she said . "" My parents wanted me to grow up to be soft and cuddly , marry some loser , be a stay at home wife and do ' made for  movies ' with Marcia and her husband .  "" I told them ' You will not keep me medicated like The Ultimate Warrior . I will break free of my demons , becoming healthy emotionally and physically ! ' ""  An adult Jan is more confident in herself , more demanding that they do the right thing instead of blaming everything on Jan .  "" Yes , this  my business . Marcia is on drugs , mom , and she is not a fit parent , "" said Nancy Jan , speaking directly to her mother . "" This isn ' t pimple cream we ' re talking about . She ' s swallowing Percocets like Bit O Honeys . She has Casey Anthony written all over her .  "" You need to call children ' s services and have those kids taken away from her right now . I don ' t care if they are in their 30s . ""  A blonde shag wig appears as Carol Brady .  Tickets for the May 29 show are 159 . 95 for middle children , 79 . 95 for adults and 49 . 95 for normal children .  ",satire,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,fake,satire,True,no,no,positive,past
8966,8967,"Andre and Korisha Shipley were still mourning the death of their 17 year old son , Jesse , when two months after his funeral , they received shocking news from students of the same Staten Island , New York , high school Jesse had attended . Members of a forensic science club on a field trip to the morgue couldn ' t believe what they noticed on a cabinet in the medical examiner ' s lab .  "" They saw this jar with a brain in it labeled Jesse Shipley , "" recalls Korisha Shipley , whose daughter Shannon came home in tears that day delivering the news . "" They knew Jesse and he knew them . They were looking at his brain , and his brain was looking right back at them , "" the father adds .  Jesse Shipley died in a car accident in January 2005 , and the family members say that even though they agreed to an autopsy , they thought they were burying their son with all of his organs . To them , the cause of death was obvious blunt trauma resulting from a car accident so there was no reason for authorities to have kept the brain for further review .  The couple are now suing the city for the emotional distress caused by the handling of their son ' s remains .  "" As far as we understand , during an autopsy you cut open the body , you look for the cause of death , you check out the organs and you put them back in . In this case , it was a little more than that , "" Andre Shipley says .  Dr Victor Weedn , a forensic pathologist and a spokesperson for the National Association of Medical Examiners , says determining cause of death is not as simple as people think . He says it is common practice for medical examiners in the U . S . to save the brain and certain other organs when they think it ' s important .  "" To say someone died of a motor vehicle accident , doesn ' t really tell us anything , "" Weedn explains . "" For example , if a passenger in the backseat was epileptic , their fit could have distracted the driver and led to the death . So , from the outside it may not be so obvious why the person actually died . ""  Weedn says the brain is preserved for at least two weeks in a formula that firms the matter enough for the coroner to examine it , a process necessary to rule out suspicion and to maintain evidence for cases when the death is determined to be the result of criminal activity . He says the deceased is often buried within that time period .  "" We have a certain authority to investigate death for public health and public safety reasons . That is a right pitted against the individual right , and sometimes that does upset families , "" he explains .  Others , such as University of Pennsylvania medical ethicist Art Caplan , disagree . He says most people recognize the duty of medical examiners to rule out crime , but that does not justify keeping organs .  "" The state says we ' re going to take this body and examine it to see what might have happened , but we promise you , we ' ll give everything back , "" Caplan says . "" When you don ' t do that , you ' re breaking a basic covenant with society and with families . ""  The College of American Pathologists provides a sample autopsy consent form on its website . According to the form , the consenter authorizes "" the removal , examination , and retention of organs . . . . as the pathologists deem proper for diagnostic , education , quality improvement and research purposes . "" However , the form also states that "" organs and tissues not needed for diagnostic , education , quality improvement , or research purposes will be sent to the funeral home or disposed of appropriately . ""  According to Caplan , the laws are clear about what a medical examiner should do , but there is little oversight in the industry . He says in situations where an autopsy has been performed and a bereaved family is concerned whether all the remains have been returned , it is usually up to the family to ask .  Court documents from the Shipley case indicate that medical examiners have extensive , but not unlimited , discretionary authority . The trial court "" found that questions of fact existed with regard to whether Jesse ' s brain had been lawfully retained for scientific purposes , and whether the defendants unlawfully interfered . . . by failing to advise the family at the time the body was released for burial that the brain had been removed and retained . ""  But , Weedn says approaching the family with this information is an area where even some medical examiners disagree .  "" Some forensic pathologists would say going to the family and asking , ' Can I keep this ? ' would further upset them at a time of grieving , "" he explains . "" But , there are others who say we really should be asking the family every time . ""  Still , Weedn says , in some circumstances it is not beneficial to ask family , because the person of you ask permission could potentially be connected to the cause of death .  "" It ' s all about trust , "" says Rebecca Skloot , author of the book , "" The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks , "" which explores the history of tissue research in the United States . In her opinion , cases such as the Shipleys ' contribute to a growing mistrust in the medical system .  "" People worry things are being done to them without their knowledge , and so they don ' t trust doctors , "" Skloot explains . "" It doesn ' t matter if you take it out and put on your shelf or send it off to do research , it ' s still taking something without people ' s knowledge . ""  Perhaps what ' s most extraordinary in the Jesse Shipley case is that the family did find out through the serendipitous field trip students from Jesse ' s high school took the morgue .  Dr Cyril H . Wecht , a forensic pathologist and attorney who reviews cases like these but is not involved in the Shipley case , says the medical examiner was right to take out the brain for investigation but was wrong to openly display Shipley ' s name on it .  "" You ' re talking about a matter of sensitivity and common sense , "" Wecht says . "" Certainly if you ' re going to have student visitors , then you should not have names and numbers available to see . ""  The Shipleys ' attorney , Marvin Ben Aron , says not only the brain , but parts of the liver and testes were later returned and buried in a small casket with their son ' s body . He says handling the remains was the most traumatizing aspect for the family .  "" For them , whenever they remember their child , part of their memory is holding a jar of organs in their hands that they never should have known existed , "" he explains . He is hoping for a settlement during their October 27 court date .  "" I feel bad for those people who found out in the past and even worse for those who never will , "" Andre Shipley says . "" We buried our son , and then two months after we had chunks of him coming back to us . This is not the way it ' s supposed to be . ""  ",true,text,test,American football,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
8972,8973,"While the United States has as one of its presumptive party nominees a raging bigot who clearly hates Muslim individuals, even going so far as to say that if he were to become president he would ban Muslims from entering the nation, London has just elected a Muslim mayor.Now that Sadiq Khan has been elected mayor of London, he has some very choice words for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.Khan, being the son of Pakistani immigrants himself, is none to pleased with Trump s divisive rhetoric surrounding the Islamic faith. And it s true that if the United States is to embody freedom, especially religious freedom, Trump needs to be educated on what that actually is, and Khan seems more than willing to provide that education.Half joking, Khan said: I ll need to rush to come to America before November, because if Trump wins, I ll be banned from coming. But in an interview with Time magazine, he was much more serious with his remarks. If Donald Trump becomes the president, I ll be stopped from going there by virtue of my faith, which means I can t engage with American mayors and swap ideas. Conservative tacticians thought those sorts of tactics would win London and they were wrong. I m confident that Donald Trump s approach to politics won t win in America. In yet another interview, after hearing Trump congratulated him on his victory, Khan said: My point to Donald Trump is, don t make an exception for me. Reconsider your views on Islam. Driving the point home, also hoping to  educate  Trump, Khan told BBC: This isn t just about me. It s about my friends, my family and everyone who comes from a background similar to mine, anywhere in the world. Imagine if the world were to judge all Americans by the words and actions of Donald Trump. That s exactly what Trump does when he judges an entire religion by an extremist few who claim they are of the Islamic faith, but yet clearly are just sociopaths.Trump s rhetoric is not only bad for the United States, it s bad for the entire world. How is a man, who wants to be leader of the free world, supposed to do so by condemning all people of the world s second largest religion?Watch some of Khan s comments here:Featured image via video screen capture  Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,present
8974,8975,"Solving the mystery of how 900 year old African coins ended up in remote Australia could not only recast the history of foreign contact Down Under , but shed light on Aboriginal rock art .  How the ancient Kilwa coins , believed to date from about 1100 , came to be discovered on the Wessels Islands off the Northern Territory in 1944 has long posed questions about foreign visits to far off Australian shores .  Australian Ian McIntosh , a professor of anthropology at Indiana University Purdue University in the United States , said rock art found on the islands which includes one image which appears to show a type of European sailing vessel could hold some clues .  The Kilwa coins were discovered lying in the sand by Royal Australian Air Force radar operator Maurie Isenberg during World War   Isenberg initially tried to sell the coins but was unsuccessful . He put them away for decades and it wasn ' t until 1979 that he sent them to a museum for identification  ' A big part of the next stage will be documenting , dating and interpreting ( the art ) , together with indigenous peoples , ' McIntosh told  from his home in Indiana .  The Kilwa coins were discovered lying in the sand by Royal Australian Air Force radar operator Maurie Isenberg during World War  when he was stationed on the island as the Pacific conflict raged .  He found nine coins in all , five African copper pieces and four Dutch coins of European origin which are not nearly as old .  Isenberg initially tried to sell the coins but was unsuccessful . He put them away for decades and it wasn ' t until 1979 that he sent them to a museum for identification , along with a map showing where he had found them .  McIntosh said there were several theories on the coins , including that they were washed ashore after a shipwreck .  The coins believed to have originated in the medieval sultanate of Kilwa have led to speculation that parts of northern Australia were visited by other mariners from as far away as the Middle East and Africa  One explanation could be that a known Indonesian , a shipwreck survivor who lived his life on the Wessels Islands , could have brought the coins to the area  European sailors are known to have sailed the coast of Australia in the 1600s , but it wasn ' t until captain James Cook landed in Sydney ' s Botany Bay in 1770 that the British laid claim to the country .  The coins believed to have originated in the medieval sultanate of Kilwa , an area which is now in Tanzania have led to speculation that parts of northern Australia were visited by other mariners from as far away as the Middle East and Africa .  As McIntosh wrote in a recent paper for the journal ' Australian Folklore ' , in terms of the chain of events in the discovery , ' the argument for the involvement of Kilwa traders and also the Portuguese is quite compelling ' .  He notes the sea route from Kilwa in east Africa to Oman and then onto India , Malaysia and Australia ' s close neighbour Indonesia was well established by the 1500s and probably for many hundreds of years before that .  The coins were found on a beach on the Wessel Islands . The islands , pictured here at marker A , are off the coast of the Northern Territory of Australia . They were a key strategic position during the Second World War  Aboriginal Australians are thought to have first arrived on the Australian mainland by boat from the Malay Archipelago between 40 , 000 and 60 , 000 years ago .  However , the first known landing in Australia by Europeans was by Dutch navigator Willem Janszoon in 1606 .  Other Dutch navigators explored the western and southern coasts in the 17th century , and dubbed the continent ' New Holland . '  In 1770 , British explorer Captain James Cook explored the east coast of Australia .  The British penal colony was then first established at Botany Bay in January 1788 .  During the following century , the British established other colonies on the continent .  This reduced the number of indigenous Australians because of conflict with the colonists and new diseases bought over from Europe . Australia fought with the British during both world wars .  McIntosh said a number of his team felt the coins had simply been washed ashore but admitted ' we ' re still toying with a whole bunch of ideas here ' .  The academic said one explanation could be that a known Indonesian , a shipwreck survivor who lived his life on the Wessels Islands , could have brought the coins to the area . The coins , he speculates , may have represented this man ' s ' worldly wealth ' .  McIntosh said an expedition he led in July to the site where the coins were discovered , which involved an intensive search in the harsh terrain , had not uncovered any further coins .  ' Over the past couple of years , we ' ve developed a whole series of hypotheses to explain how those coins might have got from East Africa to northern Australia , ' he said .  ' The whole point of this initial site survey was to try and get enough evidence to push us in particular directions . '  What the researchers did uncover was the Aboriginal rock art and some potential evidence of shipwrecks a not unlikely proposition given the dangerous reefs off the islands in the form of a six foot piece of timber from a boat .  McIntosh said the scientists would work with indigenous people to look at the art and see whether it matches any known ship types , adding that there were multiple stories of interaction in the past with ' different people black and white from somewhere else , not Aboriginal . '  For now the mystery remains .  ' These coins probably remained in circulation for a couple of hundred years but only in the vicinity of East Africa , beyond that they didn ' t have value , ' McIntosh said , adding that other coins of this type had only been found in Zimbabwe and Oman .  ' Nowhere else in the world have they been found , except for northern Australia , "" said McIntosh . "" Very unusual . That ' s had everybody puzzled . '  Australian scientist and professor at Indiana University , Ian McIntosh , points to the location where the copper coins were found  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
8984,8985,"London protesters oppose  airstrikes on  in  In an article for Huffington Post , Mr McCluskey who endorsed Mr Corbyn ' s bid for the leadership but has since criticised his performance made clear that he thought David Cameron ' s plan to extend air strikes from Iraq to Syria was "" illegal and irrational "" .  But he must persuade some sceptical members in his own ruling Conservative Party and others in Labour , which is deeply divided on the subject after its leader , veteran anti war campaigner , Jeremy Corbyn said he was opposed to the strikes .  A survey ordered by Mr Corbyn received 107 , 875 responses , of which 64 , 771 were confirmed as full individual Labour Party members . The remainder included affiliated supporters and registered supporters .  "" We are very much opposed to David Cameron ' s plans to have a vote in Parliament to bomb Syria "" .  "" I do not believe the Prime Minister ' s current proposal for airstrikes in Syria will protect our security and therefore can not support it "" , Corbyn told party colleagues in a letter sent Thursday evening . And the sample itself that the party has chosen to examine is random , not representative .  His Syrian counterpart , Walid Mouallem , welcomed the first statement , while adding that it would mean "" a radical change in the way they ' re tackling the Syrian crisis "" .  But with support for air strikes headed by shadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn and deputy leader Tom Watson and even leadership loyalist John McDonnell calling for a free vote Mr Corbyn appears to have had no choice but to back down .  "" I think public opinion is moving towards us in opposing the rush to war , that ' s why so many right wing newspapers and commentators are opposed to the Syrian airstrikes "" , she said .  The latter risks a furious backlash from some members of his shadow cabinet , says  political correspondent Ben Wright , and could derail the government ' s hopes of holding a vote within days .  The Prime Minister said all MPs would have to make their minds up "" when the choice comes "" .  Wherever the day ends , we will keep you updated with all the latest developments here .  Under the United Kingdom ' s Operation "" Shader "" program , which is the codename for the British participation in the ongoing military campaign against  , the  government has deployed 500 military personnel to train Iraqi government and Kurdish forces .  "" It may be that the shadow cabinet decides to have a free vote on this and allow people to express their views "" , he told  Radio Scotland ' s Good Morning Scotland .  "" There has been no challenge to Jeremy Corbyn ' s leadership "" , a Labour spokesman said in response to the report .  Aavash brought the Leytonstone and Wanstead Labour Party banner to the protest .  A meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party , a large proportion of which is believed to be considering backing military action , will follow the shadow cabinet gathering .  His decision averts the threat of a mass shadow cabinet walkout , while making it clear that his own firmly held opposition to airstrikes is official Labour party policy , backed by the membership .  He has also written to activists asking for their views on military action in Syria sparking accusations that he is trying to use his grassroots powerbase to "" bounce "" the shadow cabinet into submission .  Labour ' s position could on the issue could be crucial because the Government may struggle to gain a majority in Parliament to authorise strikes on account of a bloc of Tory MPs being opposed to action .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
8988,8989,"President Trump referred to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as  Justin from Canada  during his speech to the military at the U.S. Naval Air Station in Sigonella, Italy. I m trying to figure out who s in that helicopter that s coming in It may be Prime Minister Abe. It may be Justin from Canada. Great people. We made a lot of good friends this week. His comment caused a stir on twitter with some tweeting that it sounded like he was referring to the pop singer Justin Bieber: Reporter John Roberts of  News and others tweeted out: ",fake,dataset,test,Other news1,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,present
8994,8995,"If you were to take one line of dialogue in a film of 2013 to represent the year ' s mood , it would be from Chiwetel Ejiofor as Solomon Northup in "" 12 Years a Slave . "" The abducted freeman shackled into bondage is plainspoken and eloquent : "" I don ' t want to survive , I want to live ! ""  "" American Hustle "" may be the title of David O . Russell ' s satire of con artists ( Christian Bale and Amy Adams ) aiding federal agents to carry out the Abscam sting , but it ' s also a dominant theme in American films of 2013 .  If you think hustle in its various meanings the swindler and the determined then just about every character driven film did the hustle .  Occupying the amoral lowlands , there is Leonardo DiCaprio as Jordan Belfort in "" The Wolf of Wall Street "" and the title figure in "" The Great Gatsby , "" living large the mansions ! the boats ! the planes ! by defrauding the little people . There is Alec Baldwin as the Bernard Madoff like ex of husband hunter Cate Blanchett in "" Blue Jasmine , "" both of them delusionary in the belief that they are entitled to other people ' s money . And there is Bale in "" American Hustle , "" who rationalizes , "" People believe what they want to believe , "" indicting the suckers for their faith in his cons .  Up on the moral high ground , there is Ejiofor in "" 12 Years a Slave , "" caught in a double bind . If , as an intellectual and a freeman , he defends himself against racism , he will be hung if he does not , he suffers the humiliations of slavery . Chadwick Boseman as ballplayer Jackie Robinson in "" 42 , "" likewise is doubly bound : advised to repress his righteous anger at racists or he will be brutalized and won ' t be able to play in the big leagues . In "" The Butler , "" Forest Whitaker , who wears one face as a White House domestic and another as a family man , ultimately reconciles his two faces .  Then there is a clutch of films that collectively say forget about living , survival is enough .  Filmmakers purveyed the human hustle in stories of those facing near death challenges and variously hanging onto life by a thread , a fraying rope , a stranded lifeboat , safety tether or not . Think of Robert Redford fighting for his life in "" All is Lost , "" Sandra Bullock clinging to tether in "" Gravity , "" Jaden Smith depending on intelligence from his wrist radio in "" After Earth "" and Tom Hanks facing death in a lifeboat in "" Captain Phillips . "" Also tested in a life and death narrative was Jennifer Lawrence in the Survivor tinged "" The Hunger Games : Catching Fire . ""  Out of breath ? Take a good , deep one . We haven ' t even begun to discuss the year ' s end of the world movies . The apocalypse was nigh not only in action movies like "" Pacific Rim "" and "" Oblivion "" but in comedies like "" This is the End "" and "" The World ' s End . "" On screen the U . S . and British capitals were under terrorist attack in what seemed like an infinite loop of destruction : "" Olympus Has Fallen , "" "" White House Down , "" "" G . I . Joe : Retaliation , "" "" Star Trek : Into Darkness , "" "" Thor : The Dark World . "" Los Angeles and New York also endured attacks and were defended respectively by the mettle of Robert Downey in "" Iron Man 3 "" and Henry Cavill in "" Man of Steel . ""  What does it all mean ? We don ' t need a professional to detect the pervasive anxiety in these Darwinian narratives of survival . Might this reflect Hollywood ' s guilt about its role as con artist fleecing the easily duped ? Or do these films in part show Hollywood ' s unease about its own future in a world where moviegoers are just as likely to download or stream a movie than buy a ticket for one ?  Perhaps this , as much as the real life economy , explains why another theme of 2013 films is economic anxiety . It is symbolized in "" Elysium "" by an underclass living on a polluted and overpopulated Earth and the 1 percent living in the pristine atmosphere above , with controlled climate and top flight health care .  Job insecurity reverberated through a broad swath of the year ' s movies . Consider the Harlem inspirational "" Black Nativity "" and the ' 60s era "" Inside Llewyn Davis , "" where the protagonists have trouble making the rent . Consider the Brooklyn hipsters in "" Frances Ha "" to the Oakland underclass in "" Fruitvale Station "" where protagonists sought work . Even straight out comedies like "" We ' re the Millers , "" in which a drug dealer hires underemployed individuals to pose as his family in order to make it easier to smuggle marijuana over the border , is peripherally about fewer legitimate jobs than those looking for them .  It wasn ' t all about angst , though , even if the laughter at the multiplex was rueful . "" Before Midnight "" and "" The Best Man Holiday , "" two superb sequels , are comic looks at relationships and fidelity . One is sparked by the performances of Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke , the other by an ensemble including Morris Chestnut , Taye Diggs , Sanaa Lathan and Nia Long .  The most moving relationship film of 2013 is "" Her , "" Spike Jonze ' s wistful story of a lovesick writer ( Joaquin Phoenix ) who falls in love with his operating system ( voice of Scarlett Johansson ) , and finds the chasm between human and artificial intelligence is as wide as that between Mars and Venus .  Another slice of dialogue representative of movie romances comes from Julie Delpy , exasperated with life partner Ethan Hawke in "" Before Midnight : "" "" Sometimes , I think I ' m breathing oxygen and you ' re breathing helium . ""  The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Carrie Rickey .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
8997,8998,"Moscow : One of two pilots aboard a Russian warplane shot down by Turkey today was killed by fire from the ground after he ejected from the craft , the Russian military said , citing preliminary information .  Military spokesman General Sergei Rudskoi said a Russian soldier had also been killed in a failed bid to rescue the pilots , whose Su 24 plane crashed in Syrian territory .  Rudskoi said Russia would cease all military contact with Turkey , as international concerns grow that the incident could snowball into a major conflict .  The general said the Su 24 "" fell in Syrian territory , four kilometres from the border "" .  "" The crew ejected , "" the general said . "" According to preliminary information , one of the pilots died after being fired upon from the ground . ""  The fate of the second pilot was not immediately known .  In a statement published on the defence ministry ' s website , Rudskoi said a Russian soldier had been killed when his Mi 8 helicopter was "" damaged by gunfire and had to land "" during a search and rescue operation to retrieve the pair .  The rest of the crew onboard the stricken Mi 8 were evacuated to the Hmeimim air base in Syria ' s northern Latakia province , Rudskoi said , adding that the helicopter was hit by mortar fire coming from territory under rebel control .  The Turkish army said earlier the fighter was shot down by two of its F 16s after it violated Turkish airspace 10 times within a five minute period .  Rudskoi insisted the Su 24 had not strayed within Turkish airspace , and denied that the Turkish army had tried to make either radio or visual contact with its pilots before shooting it down .  He said the plane was shot down within Syrian airspace and condemned it as a "" flagrant violation of international law "" that would have "" the gravest consequences "" .  He said that Russia ' s Moskva guided missile cruiser would be stationed near Latakia .  "" All targets representing a potential threat to us will be destroyed , "" he warned .  Russian bombers , which launched strikes on Syria in defence of President Bashar al Assad on September 30 , will now be escorted by fighters , Rudskoi announced , adding that operations to retrieve the two pilots were continuing . ?  Download the all new Zee News app for Android and iOS to stay up to date with latest headlines and news stories in Politics , Entertainment , Sports , Technology , Business and much more from India and around the world .  First Published : Wednesday , November 25 , 2015 04 : 35  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
9005,9006,"Washington Congress is launching a broad ranging investigation into possible waste , misuse and corruption tied to billions of taxpayer dollars used to support private military contractors in Afghanistan .  Among the questions being raised is whether money provided in a nearly 2 . 2 billion trucking contract in the war torn country went to pay off local warlords and the Taliban .  The investigation comes as the Obama administration begins deploying another 30 , 000 troops to Afghanistan . The White House has requested more than 70 billion to fund the war in fiscal year 2010 , according to a Senate subcommittee memo .  "" Serious allegations have been brought to Congress ' attention that private security providers for U . S . transportation contractors in Afghanistan are regularly paying local warlords and the Taliban for security , "" said Rep . John Tierney , D Massachusetts , who chairs the House National Security and Foreign Affairs Subcommittee .  "" After a preliminary inquiry , it has been determined these reports warrant a full scale . . . investigation . If shown to be true , it would mean that the United States is unintentionally engaged in a vast protection racket and , as such , may be indirectly funding the very insurgents we are trying to fight . ""  Eight companies currently split the Afghan host nation trucking contract , which went into effect in May . The contract , according to Tierney ' s subcommittee , provides ground transportation in Afghanistan for more than 90 percent of supplies for U . S . troops , including food , fuel and ammunition .  Most supplies are shipped overland via Pakistan to Bagram Airfield , the main U . S . base in Afghanistan . They are then distributed to hundreds of other smaller airfields and bases .  In the Senate , an oversight subcommittee headed by Sen . Claire McCaskill , D Missouri , also is looking into how contractor money is being spent .  Federal auditors state that approximately 950 million in "" questioned and unsupported costs "" has been submitted by Pentagon contractors for work in Afghanistan , according to a report prepared for Congress . That amount represents 16 percent of the total contract dollars examined so far .  The U . S . government has spent more than 23 billion on contracts in Afghanistan since 2002 , the report states .  There are currently 104 , 000 Pentagon contractors in Afghanistan a figure that could rise to 160 , 000 to support President Obama ' s planned troop increase , according to the report . Roughly 100 , 000 U . S . troops are slated to be in Afghanistan at the height of the coming surge .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
9006,9007,"After allegedly registering 10,000 Muslims to take place in Germany s  March Against Terror,  the largest Muslim group in Germany refused to show because it would send the wrong message. Say what???A peace march organized by German Muslim groups to condemn terrorism and violence in the name of Islam has been held in Cologne. Organizers had registered 10,000 participants, but actual turnout was much lower.The liberal  The Independent  published a story about the 10,000 Muslims marching for peace before the march ever took place:10,000 Muslims to march against terrorism weblink #NichtMitUns #NotWithUs  Arafatul Islam (@arafatul) June 16, 2017The march, organized by Islamic scholar Lamya Kaddor and peace activist Tarek Mohamad to condemn violence in the name of Islam across the world, was preceded by a heated debate when Germany s biggest Islamic association, the Turkish-Islamic Union (known by its acronym DITIB), refused to take part.  DWTo integration commissioner  zoguz the problem lies in the fact that decision-makers in associations like  have never really settled in Germany,  although for the most part, the members have.In other words, the leaders of the most powerful Muslim group in Germany have no interest in assimilating with Germans, but do have an interest in accepting public funds from German taxpayers to keep their organization up and running.However,  does not seem capable of surviving only off Ankara s support and without help from Germany. After payments to the association were temporarily suspended because of the espionage affair, the money has been flowing into its accounts again. According to the German Ministry of Family Affairs,  It was decided that funding for projects that have already been approved would resume under consideration of all relevant aspects.   has received around 6 million euros ($6.7 million) in funding from the German government since 2012.Number of participants at Muslim peace march in Cologne were far less than expected. Is it because DITIB's absence? #NichtMitUns #NotWithUs pic.twitter.com/93kyvYCll2  Arafatul Islam (@arafatul) June 17, 2017Under gray skies, demonstrators waved banners proclaiming  together against terror  and  terrorism has no religion  on Saturday in the western German city of Cologne.About 500 of the estimated 10,000 Muslims took part in the Cologne, Germany  March Against Terror . ",fake,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,past
9011,9012,"by Yves Smith  Yves here. This is a very important video from the Real News Network , and I wish there were a transcript, so do take the trouble to listen to it.  One of the reasons for the ferocity of the howling from the Democratic Party hackocracy in the wake of the unexpected Trump vicory is that they are effectively cornered animals. As political scientist Tom Ferguson explains, the Democrats can’t get the number of voters they need with their traditional coalition of Big Finance money plus identity politics without delivering tangible benefits to workers, which they have abjectly failed to do. But the power of mone in the Democratic party makes it well nigh impossible for them to devise the sort of populist policies that would appeal to voters that Trump has successfully peeled off.  Ferguson also has some important exit poll and early, granular data that debunks some cherished Democratic party myths. For instance, playing the gender card wasn’t as successful as the media would lead you to believe.  Ferguson, who has been a consistent critic of the Democrats from the left, does not rule out the idea that Trump could deliver on policies that would make him popular, most important, ones that would create more jobs and improve wages. One expert close to the Sanders camp came to the same view separately months ago. So while Trump may be stymied, or may never have been sincere about his battle call to downtrodden workers, it’s a mistake to rule out the possibility that he will continue to succeed despite the odds and his glaring character defects. 0 0 0 0 0 1",fake,news,test,Other news2,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
9026,9027,"Boko Haram extremists are building bombs in iPads and cellphones and leaving them for people to pick up .  Inspector Gen . Solomon E . Arase issued the warning while announcing five suspects were arraigned Thursday in Abuja High Court in connection with twin bombings . . .  Nigeria ' s police chief is warning that Boko Haram extremists are building bombs in iPads and cellphones and leaving them for people to pick up .  Inspector Gen . Solomon E . Arase issued the warning while announcing five suspects were arraigned Thursday in Abuja High Court in connection with twin bombings . . .  Nigeria ' s ? social media buzzed with the news Wednesday . "" The war against Boko Haram under Jonathan was only a money making machine for Sambo Dasuki , service chiefs and defense contractors , "" charged A . S . Aruwa .  "" Beyond corruption , Dasuki should be charged for high treason : Men , women and children died because their armed forces could not defend them , "" added D . Olusegun .  There were also comments about revenge and pay back . Dasuki is said to have arrested Buhari , a former military dictator who seized power from a democratically elected government , when he was ousted in a palace coup in 1985 .  Nigeria ' s ? intelligence agency , the State Security Service , has kept Dasuki under house arrest for more than a week despite a Federal High Court order allowing him to travel abroad for medical care . The court had allowed Dasuki bail after he pleaded innocent to other charges of money laundering , involving more than 423 , 000 found in cash , and illegal possession of arms seized at two of his homes .  Tuesday ' s move could pre empt the court ' s demand for the attorney general to appear before it next week to explain why its order is being flouted . Dasuki also is fighting a prosecution request for his trial to be held in secret , to protect witnesses .  State Security , formerly controlled by Dasuki , said he refused to answer the committee ' s questions about the arms deals but Dasuki said he was never asked .  Dasuki , 60 , had usurped the role of the Ministry of Defense in procuring weapons . He was called before a Senate committee last year to explain South Africa ' s seizure of 9 . 3 million in cash and a 5 . 7 million bank transfer that South Africa blocked , saying it involved an illegal arms deal . Dasuki said the deals were legitimate .  A retired army lieutenant colonel , Dasuki participated in every coup in ? Nigeria ? since the 1980s .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,satire,true,True,no,no,negative,past
9036,9037,"Foreign tourists stabbed slashed in attack on Egyptian resort of Hurghada  Two armed attackers have stormed a hotel in the Red Sea city of Hurghada , one of Egypt s most popular tourist resorts , wounding at least three foreign tourists . The assailants were neutralized by security forces .  The Egyptian Health Ministry said that three foreign tourists ? two Austrians and one Swede ? were stabbed and slashed in the attack , Ahram Online reported .  The attack took place at Bella Vista Hotel on Friday evening . Security sources told ? Reuters that the assailants arrived by sea to carry out the attack .  ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? : ? ? ? ? 3 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? weblink : t . co nL4ijYPSk6 ? ? ? pic . twitterweblink G0ldYP1SuJ  The two terrorists got into the hotel through its restaurant , which has a street entrance , an Interior Ministry statement said . Security forces managed to neutralize the attackers and prevented them from running away . One of them was armed with a cold weapon , the other had a signal gun , according to reports .  Attack hotel in Al Ghardaqa leaves 3 militants dead wounding several foreign tourists Egypt pic . twitterweblink G1Sr9YPBDe  One terrorist was killed , the other was wounded as a result of a standoff with government forces .  Earlier media sources reported that at least one gunman had been wearing an explosive belt and three tourists were killed . However . This information wasn t confirmed by the ministry .  The latest assault comes as shortly after Islamic State (  , formerly   ) claimed responsibility for a Thursday attack on Israeli tourists in Cairo . Last month ,  leader Abu Bakr al Baghdadi called on supporters to target Jews everywhere .  There were no further casualties , Egyptian authorities reported , adding that the assailants had been trying to target security forces , not the tourists . Security sources told Reuters that in fact the tourists were Israeli Arabs .  No group has claimed responsibility for the latest attack so far . However , experts agree that it does bear all the marks of an  attack aimed at the developing state .  Egypt is a target of  . It is a key in the region , working with Russia and other countries to defeat that terrorist enemy that we are all facing , analyst Lawrence Freeman told  . One a larger scale , he believes , the attacks in Egypt are meant to destabilize its strengthening economy , in particular , cutting of its tourist revenue .  That is exactly why  and people running  are targeting that area ? because of their economy , Freeman said .  In October last year , a Russian A321 passenger jet was downed by a bomb over the Sinai peninsula , killing 224 people .  claimed responsibility for the attack .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
9071,9072,"England A series of photographic exhibitions have been organized in Europe and North America this autumn to highlight a campaign by Britain ' s Prince Charles to combat tropical deforestation .  An aerial of Jambi Province , Indonesia showing the destruction of the tropical rainforest .  The photographs were taken by world renowned environment photographer Daniel Beltra who was this year ' s winner of the Prince ' s Rainforest Project Award at the Sony World Photography Awards earlier this year .  The images graphically depict the effects of climate change on the rainforests in the South America , Africa and Indonesia .  Beltra compiled a library of around 40 , 000 images during month long trips to the Amazon Basin , the Congolese Forest and Borneo and Sumatra in Southeast Asia .  When he returned home Beltra produced a shortlist of around 1000 images from which the final exhibition photos were selected .  And that ' s not the only problem Beltra encountered . The very acts of destruction he was documenting often got in the way of his work . Click here to see a selection of images from the exhibition  "" When you are photographing deforestation , you are taking a lot of pictures of logging and fires and the smoke can make it very difficult to shoot . ""  Beltra was born in Spain but is now based in the United States . His work , which includes freelancing for the international environmental group Greenpeace , has taken him to over 50 countries and he is a fellow of the International League of Conservation Photographers .   Prince Charles has long been a passionate defender of the environment and he founded the Prince ' s Rainforest Project (  ) in 2007 .  The  works alongside governments , international businesses , non profit organizations and rainforest nations to find a solution to the deforestation and degradation of the rainforests .  Speaking at the Sony Awards in Cannes , France earlier this year the Prince said : "" Photographic images can tell a compelling story about the truth of the situation , and the truth is that if we lose the fight against tropical deforestation , then we lose the fight against climate change . ""  Beltra hopes that his pictures will raise further awareness of the perils that humans face in the wake of continued rainforest destruction .  "" I think we are all getting more aware but we really need to get our act together because at the moment we are destroying more than we are protecting , "" he said .  The multimedia exhibitions organized by Sony are taking place at the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew in London , the Hotel de Ville , Paris , the Alexa Center , Berlin and the Mercy Corps Action Center , New York .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
9073,9074,"Reuters) - Ketanji Brown Jackson, a federal trial judge in Washington, is being considered to fill the vacancy on the U.S. Supreme Court, the National Law Journal reported on Friday, citing a lawyer who was contacted as part of the vetting process. The unidentified lawyer was contacted this week and was asked about Jackson’s tenure on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in the context of her being a potential nominee for the Supreme Court, the Journal said. The lawyer described the conversation, which lasted less than 30 minutes, as a “preliminary inquiry,” the Journal reported. The White House did not respond immediately to a request for comment on the Journal story. President Barack Obama is expected to announce a nominee in the next several weeks to replace Justice Antonin Scalia, who died on Feb. 13. Scalia’s death left the court with four liberals and four conservatives, and Republican leaders in the Senate have vowed to block anyone Obama nominates. The Senate must confirm the nominee. Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval, a moderate Republican, took himself out of consideration for appointment to the Supreme Court this week after his name surfaced as a possible nominee. If nominated and confirmed Jackson, 45, would be the first African-American woman on the Supreme Court. She was confirmed to the federal district court in Washington in March 2013. During her confirmation hearing, she received support from U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan, who is related to her by marriage, the Journal reported. Jackson’s husband, Patrick Jackson, is the twin brother of Ryan’s brother-in-law William Jackson. Jackson served as a federal public defender in Washington and then at a law firm. In 2010, she was appointed to the U.S. Sentencing Commission. ",true,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
9077,9078,"The man at the center of an immense art find suspected to have been looted during the Nazi period has spoken publicly for the first time , saying he longs for the art to be returned to him .  In an extensive interview with the German magazine , Der Spiegel , published online on Sunday , Cornelius Gurlitt describes how he has never mixed with other people and sees the more than 1 , 400 pictures that he inherited as his only friends .  The son of a Nazi era art dealer talked to Der Spiegel while travelling out of Munich to see his doctor . Since officials entered the 80 year old ' s flat in 2012 and removed his paintings , many of them masterpieces , his life has become even more lonely . "" I am not Boris Becker . I am something very quiet . I only wanted to live with my pictures , "" he says .  The vast stash of paintings found in the apartment by the likes of Picasso , Matisse and Chagall , some previously unknown , others that had been presumed lost forever , is thought to be worth upwards of 1 billion .  His father Hildebrand Gurlitt who was partly Jewish , survived the war as one of only four "" degenerate art "" dealers permitted by Adolf Hitler . Gurlitt Sr . , by all accounts a savvy wheeler and dealer , removed the huge collection from his house in Dresden during the devastating bombing in the final days of World War  , and moved it to what later became West Germany . "" My father knew . . . the Russians were coming closer , "" he tells Der Spiegel .  Gurlitt defends his father ' s war time dealings , saying "" maybe he was offered something privately , but he would not have taken it . It would not have been good for him . ""  Gurlitt Sr . died in a car accident in 1956 , and left all his paintings to his surviving family . His son Cornelius remembers helping his father remove them from the family house in Dresden , and driving them west in a truck . "" I never had anything to do with the acquisition , only with saving them . ""  Cornelius Gurlitt never married , never made friends , and eventually moved to Munich with his mother when he was 27 . Until she and his sister Benita died in recent years , he had never lived alone . He remains cross with Benita for dying ahead of him . "" She could have inherited everything , and she would have known how to deal with everything . Now everything is so miserable , "" he says .  Gurlitt says he has no lawyers , and no one to help him . "" They are portraying everything wrongly . I will not talk to them , and I will not return anything voluntarily , no , no . The prosecutor has enough evidence to exonerate me . ""  For now , Gurlitt lives alone and is isolated once more in his Munich flat . For days after news of the incredible find broke , he was holed up there , with the doorbell ringing nonstop and people putting notes and letters under his front door . But all he wants is the return of his art . "" What kind of state is this that shows my private property ? "" he asks . "" They have to come back to me . ""   : What was ' degenerate art ' ?  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
9092,9093,"Two prisoners have confessed to digging a tunnel that led to the escape of 63 inmates last week , Yemen ' s state run  news agency reported Sunday .  Dozens of suspected al Qaeda militants escaped Wednesday from a jail in the Yemeni city of Mukalla , a senior security official said .  An Interior Ministry official said 63 members of al Qaeda had managed to break out of Almakla prison , according to  . He said three inmates were killed , another two were arrested , and a prison guard was killed . He asked to remain anonymous because he is not authorized to speak to the media .  Some of the escapees had already been convicted others were awaiting trial , the official told  . They escaped through a 35 meter ( 115 foot ) tunnel , he said .  Witnesses said armed militants began attacking the prison at about 8 a . m . and fired heavy artillery before the escape .  The prison warden , his deputy and a number of guards have been suspended for questioning ,  said Sunday .  Mohammed Qahtan , spokesman for Yemen ' s largest opposition bloc , Joint Meetings Parties , said he thinks security officials loyal to the ruling family are responsible for the escape and that the government would create chaos to stay in power .  Yemen has been consumed by unrest for months as protesters have demanded an end to President Ali Abdullah Saleh ' s rule . In recent weeks , government troops have battled both anti government tribal forces and Islamic militants , including al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula .  Saleh and other senior officials were wounded June 3 in an attack on the mosque at the presidential palace and taken to Saudi Arabia for treatment .  Saleh was expected to make a public appearance within the next two days , presidential adviser Ahmed al Soufi said Sunday afternoon . He wouldn ' t say whether Saleh would be making that appearance in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa or in Saudi Arabia , where he has been treated for his injuries .  Al Soufi added that Saleh still has "" light burn marks "" on his face , but denied some reports claiming the president ' s face had been disfigured by the attack .  In recent days , the Yemeni government ' s control has been receding , said Christopher Boucek , an associate in the Middle East program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace . "" There are instances where you can say that the Yemeni government is instigating some of this chaos with the goal to demonstrate to the United States , Saudi Arabia and others that this regime the government of President Saleh is the best to fight al Qaeda . ""  Boucek said the Yemeni government is more concerned with protecting itself from the popular revolt than with going after al Qaeda . As a result , he said , the government has repositioned its counterterrorism forces , retreating from areas such as Abyan province where it had lost ground , and circling the wagons .  However , a Yemeni official briefed on security operations rejected Boucek ' s conclusion . "" What about the blood of 66 soldiers ? "" he said , citing the number of soldiers who he said have died in Abyan province alone in recent weeks . Another 291 soldiers have been wounded in operations there that killed six of the most wanted al Qaeda operatives and 40 other militants , he said .  The United States has been aiding Yemen ' s military in its fight against Islamic militants amid fears that al Qaeda is exploiting the political chaos and leadership vacuum engulfing the unstable and impoverished Arabian Peninsula country .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
9095,9096,"Fans of crime fiction know the names Connelly and Koryta well . Two Mikes . Two generations . Two masters of their craft .  At 56 years old , Michael Connelly is the established veteran . A former reporter for the Los Angeles Times , he ' s won every award given to mystery writers . His books have sold more than 45 million copies worldwide and been translated into 39 languages . Later this year Connelly marks an important milestone in his career . His best known character ,  Detective Harry Bosch , returns in "" The Black Box , "" Connelly ' s 25th novel in 20 years .  The other Mike is Michael Koryta , also an award winning and best selling author . You could call him the future of crime fiction . Koryta has published nine novels since 2004 , and he ' s just shy of 30 years old . His latest , "" The Prophet , "" a tale of faith , football and revenge recently debuted on the New York Times bestseller list and is getting rave reviews from fans and critics .  Koryta : I feel like I ' m exactly a decade behind Michael . He ' s at twenty years in publishing , I ' m at ten . When I came in there were a group of writers who are standard bearers . You look at what they ' re doing and think this is what I have to go chase . The first book I wrote that was published , my editor was telling me go read Michael Connelly . I said "" I am "" and he said , "" Try again . "" Ten years later I ' m still getting that advice from everyone . What Michael ' s been able to sustain for twenty years is almost unprecedented in terms of the quality of the books continuing to improve . It ' s just remarkable . Hopefully my books are improving . One of the ways I find motivation to improve is looking at someone who is already at a high level and continues to get better with each book . That ' s really what you want to emulate .  Connelly : I don ' t think I was one who looked at anniversaries and numbers much , but for some reason this one was significant for me . When you ' re starting out you never believe that you might accomplish writing twenty five books in twenty years . It ' s really bizarre to even contemplate . Twenty years was significant as well because of what happened in Los Angeles in 1992 . My first book was published in January of that year so it was kind of a new world opening up to me . A few months later the city was torn apart by riots after the Rodney King trial . I really did weigh all these anniversaries and years when writing this book . I think it ' s the first time I ever really thought about that . The book ' s about the death of a journalist and during the riots I almost got killed . That ' s something I worked out in a lot of my books . So that all played into it , there ' s a lot of nostalgia , all of it was really important to me and I never really had this kind of stuff inspiring me before .  Connelly : What Koryta has done is remarkable . My first book wasn ' t published until I was 36 . Now he ' s almost thirty and on his ninth book . You know I ' m bragging about how I ' m on book 25 and he ' s probably thinking about 75 . That ' s hard for me to imagine , what he ' s doing . I feel like I ' m making up for lost time . That ' s part of what drives me . For some reason , I don ' t know why I had this idea , maybe because I was 36 when my first book was published , but I wanted to write 36 books before I ' m done . I love the play "" Glengarry Glen Ross . "" In the movie , Alec Baldwin says , "" Always be closing . "" I feel the same way . For me closing is writing , always be doing it .  Koryta : I knew at a young age this is what I wanted to do . I look at the fact that I got an early start that was a real blessing to me because it gave me a greater opportunity to tell more stories , hopefully , and at the end of the day that ' s what I want to do . What I love is the writing , it ' s not having written . I like the process of it .  Koryta : I ' ve always felt an incredible amount of generosity from the time I showed up , people going out of their way to help me who didn ' t have to . It seems like there ' s a really good spirit of brotherhood , especially in crime fiction . In terms of competition , anytime I read a book that I think is really good , like "" The Black Box , "" I love it and I ' m rooting for Michael as a friend but there ' s also a spark of , this is a better book than what I wrote and now I ' ve got to try and catch up with that . For me , that ' s the greatest motivation to improve is to see really good writers continue to get better and continue to pull farther away from you . You ' re always chasing the rabbit , and that ' s a good thing .  Connelly : There ' s always been a good mix of camaraderie and motivation . We ' re lucky in the genre we pursue , it ' s so big . We ' re not worried about , that book is so good it ' s going to take sales away from me . You just don ' t see that . Readers love to read good stuff , so there ' s no reason to really be competitive .  Koryta : What I like about writing a stand alone novel is you ' re starting with a fresh world and fresh characters . Part of what I love about writing is that journey of discovery where it ' s all new to me as well . This is my fourth stand alone in a row and I am beginning to get a little bit of an itch now to take a longer ride with a character , to get to know them a little better . In "" The Prophet "" I really fell in love with those characters , there was an emotional connection there that I don ' t think I ' ve had in a while . It made me think it would be nice to stick with the characters for a little bit and see what happens . My next book will be a stand alone but after that I ' m thinking about trying to take a little bit longer ride .  Connelly : A series character like Bosch can be a trap but it ' s a good trap to be in . This idea that it ' s an unfinished story with more to say . I guess I never write standalones . Even if I come up with a new character , I often bring them back . The last time I introduced a new character was "" The Lincoln Lawyer , "" and now that ' s going on seven or eight years . I ' m already writing my next book and it ' s Mickey Haller , but I kind of feel like creatively I need to come up with something new pretty soon .  Connelly : I would be an esoteric thief . Maybe it ' s the comfort of age but I look at what Michael has done with writing different kinds of genres . I ' ve been more straight laced , straight crime . I ' ve never broken away all my stuff is in the same vein . It takes a certain amount of courage and confidence to pop out a book that ' s going to be compared to Stephen King instead of Raymond Chandler . So I would steal that kind of creative courage .  Koryta : Courage is one word for it . Foolishness might be another . I ' ve been shamelessly stealing from Michael for years . It ' s his ability to say so much with one simple sentence that has what I call layers of depth . It ' s the words beneath the words . He does that every book , time after time after time . He ' ll lay out a beautiful line , Bosch thinking on the surface what is a very simple thought or observation but it has ripples to the past , the present and goes deeper to the core of the character . He has the ability and the confidence to let it ride on top and know that the reader will get it and feel that impact . That ' s an incredible gift and that ' s just great writing .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
9109,9110,"Most of the Kardashian clan is engaged in an all out feud over Rob Kardashian ' s romance with model Blac Chyna ? but rapper Tyga doesn ' t seem too concerned about the new relationship .  The "" Rack City "" artist ? who was once engaged to Chyna and is currently dating Rob ' s half sister Kylie Jenner ? distanced himself from the controversy on Thursday as he weighed in on the situation for the first time .  "" Everybody deserves to be happy , "" he told E ! News .  Tyga ( left ) doesn t seem too concerned that his ex fiance is dating his current girlfriend Kylie Jenner s ( right ) half brother .  Tyga s famous girlfriend , meanwhile , isn ' t quite as indifferent about Kardashian ' s new fling , as People reported earlier in the week that Jenner is "" livid "" and feels "" betrayed "" by her half brother .  Tyga , who has a 3 year old son with Chyna , split with the model in 2014 . Things got contentious between them a few months later when the rapper began dating the then 17 year old Jenner , who has since sparked a feud of her own with Chyna .  Kardashian ' s family is concerned that Chyna is only dating Rob to infuriate Tyga and Jenner , and they fear she is "" preying "" on him during a "" weak time "" in his life , according to E ! News . The 28 year old reality star has disappeared from the public eye in recent years due to weight gain and depression , and he was diagnosed with diabetes late last year .  But the model appears interested in helping Kardashian return back to health , as she recently asked her trainer to come up with a workout and diet regimen for the reclusive reality star , according to Us Weekly .  Kardashian , who is currently staying at Chyna ' s house , has teased his family about the relationship several times on social media the past few days , including on Tuesday when he shared an Instagram photo of Chyna holding a baby carriage .  "" Blac Chyna probably out shopping rite now as she plan to give birth to the only next generation of the Kardashian name , "" the meme read .  Blac Chyna ( left ) and Rob Kardashian ( right ) have the Kardashian Klan up in arms over their new romance .  Other members of the famous family haven ' t seen the humor in things , however , as Khloe Kardashian shared a photo on Wednesday of herself with sisters , Kim and Kourtney , captioned : "" Never go against  family . ""  Rob Kardashian was photographed riding in the car with Blac Chyna on Thursday .  Jenner , meanwhile , is trying not to bring any more publicity to the matter , according to E ! News .  "" Kylie doesn ' t want to give ( Chyna ) the attention she so obviously wants , "" a source told the outlet .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
9110,9111,"Reuters) - Republican presidential candidate Senator Ted Cruz on Wednesday said the Senate should not vote on President Barack Obama’s Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland. “Merrick Garland is exactly the type of Supreme Court nominee you get when you make deals in Washington D.C.,” he said in a statement that also criticized rival Donald Trump, who often boasts of his ability to close deals.   “A so-called ‘moderate’ Democrat nominee is precisely the kind of deal that Donald Trump has told us he would make - someone who would rule along with other liberals on the bench like Justices Ginsburg and Sotomayor.”  ",true,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
9127,9128,"Gay icon and mascot of the 1970s television show 3 2 1 , Dusty Bin , was cruelly assassinated this morning in a revenge attack for the killing of al Qaeda mouthpiece Osama bin Laden .  Al Qaeda has many tapes of  shows from the 70s and the 80s as these are deemed less offensive than modern programming , the 3 2 1 game show being no exception .  According to files discovered in the Pakistan headquarters of Bin Laden , he felt much animosity towards Dusty Bin . Osama had picked up the nickname "" Dusty Bin "" , which he was jokingly referred to as , by the al Qaeda cadets .  In the event of his death , Bin Laden had ordered his most loyal followers to exact revenge on the Western infidels and destroy his most hated of game show mascots .  According to a report carried out by the police and fire services , it is believed that an al Qaeda operative sneaked into the room where Dusty Bin was and placed a bomb inside him while he slept .  "" It was terrible , "" explained a fire officer who was at the scene . "" There were charred signed photos of Ted Rogers all over the place and the remains of several clock radios , teasmades and his and hers mountain bikes .  "" Yeah , really terrible prizes they had on that show , weren ' t they . ""  Fellow game show mascot Mr Chips is believed to have been worried by the events , after police received a picture of him wetting his pants . This conclusion was dismissed , however , by his good friend Roy Walker , who told us , "" They ' re close , but they ' re not right . ""  Police are appealing for witnesses of 3 2 1 to try to erase all memories of that programme from their minds .  ",satire,text,test,American football,Conflict,true,satire,True,no,no,neutral,past
9134,9135,"At least 1 , 000 prisoners are on death row in Iraq , which now has one of the highest rates of execution in the world , the human rights group Amnesty International says in a report being released Tuesday .  Samar Saed Abdullah is one of many facing execution in Iraq . She ' s accused of being an accessory to murders .  The courts that sentence people to death do not meet international standards , the report charged , and Iraqi authorities "" provide very little information on executions , and some have been carried out secretly . ""  It criticizes the Central Criminal Court of Iraq and the Supreme Iraqi Criminal Tribunal , which issue the majority of death sentences in the country .  "" Defendants commonly complain that ' confessions ' were extracted from them under torture , "" the report alleges .  "" Defendants also complain that they are not able to choose their own defense lawyers "" when they appear before the Central Criminal Court of Iraq .  But Iraqi Justice Minister Dara Noor al Deen Bahaa al Deen , who said he says he is in favor of abolishing the death penalty , defended the Iraqi justice system , saying it is fair .  "" As a judge , I assert that these measures take place with every crime that occurs . Of course , every defendant claims innocence and that the trial is unfair , but I am certain and reassured that especially now that any defendant , no matter what the sentence is , receives a fair trial and is given enough time for his testimony , that of the witnesses , "" al Deen said . "" Afterward , the court makes its ruling . If it finds that the evidence is sufficient that he she committed the crime , it hands down the sentence he she deserves . "" Watch more about Amnesty ' s report and a woman on Iraq ' s death row  Trials at the Supreme Iraqi Criminal Tribunal , which tries former Saddam Hussein era officials charged with crimes against humanity and other major offenses , "" have been marred by political interference , "" Amnesty charges . The group says the trial of Hussein himself was subject to such interference , with the government dismissing a judge considered unlikely to support the death sentence against him .  The former Iraqi leader was hanged in December 2006 .  The report says that Iraqi President Jalal Talabani opposes the death penalty but has refused to block executions . And it quotes Prime Minister Nuri al Maliki as "" repeatedly "" defending the death penalty .  Amnesty International opposes it "" in all cases without exception , "" the group says in its report .  The report lists a wide variety of crimes that can result in the death penalty , including murder , crimes compromising state security , attempting to overthrow the government by violent means and damaging public property .  Al Deen said a request by him to waive the death penalty would have no effect .  "" Even if I put in a request , this is a worthless request , because there is a law . As for abolishing the death sentence and replacing it with life imprisonment , that is an amendment of the law , and that has to happen through parliament . And parliament as the representative of the people decides if the punishment changes or doesn ' t , "" he said .  Responding to a reference to "" hasty rulings , "" he said , "" I don ' t think the judiciary rushes to make a ruling , especially a death penalty for a convict . There are many severe sentences that were handed down , and when they reached the appeals court , they were returned back and changed . ""  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
9147,9148,"Incompetent or complicit Egyptian security was probably involved in the Oct . 31 crash of a Russian passenger jet in Egypt s Sinai Peninsula , British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond suggested Tuesday , saying that his government s belief that a bomb was placed aboard the plane had hardened over the past week .  We are acutely aware that terrorists throughout Europe have the capability and intent to place explosives aboard a civilian airliner , Hammond said , but they haven t been able to do it because of strong security restrictions .  Where this points the finger is at the capability of the security on the ground at Sharm el Sheikh , the Sinai seaside resort where the airliner carrying mostly Russian tourists took off , he said . All 224 people aboard were killed when the plane , bound for St . Petersburg , disintegrated in the air shortly after takeoff .  In Egypt , angry talk of Western conspiracy over plane crash  Many countries around the world have the idea that security is about buying some new machines and writing up a manual , Hammond said . That s the key cultural challenge which we ve got to overcome , not just in Egypt but in many systems that will have to look again at the way the people who are doing this security are managed , overseen , incentivized . . . vetted , trained and selected .  Suggestions last week by both British Prime Minister David Cameron and President Obama that the plane possibly was downed by a bomb were initially dismissed by Russia as speculation .  But Russia has since joined Britain in suspending all flights to Egypt , a ban that a senior Russian official said Tuesday would last for several months at the minimum . The two countries are among those sending the most tourists to Egypt both have dispatched special planes to retrieve tens of thousands of their nationals stranded in Sharm el Sheikh .  It is not possible to cardinally change the system of safety , security and checks in a week or even a month , Sergei Ivanov , the Kremlin s chief of staff , told journalists in Helsinki following a meeting with the Finnish president .  Egypt , whose tourism industry is reeling from the crash , has said an investigation is ongoing and has cautioned against speculation as to the cause of the crash . Egypt and Russia , along with France , where the maker of the Airbus A321 200 that went down is headquartered , are participating in the investigation but have released no information as to their initial findings .  Much of Sinai becomes a no go zone  Hammond , speaking with journalists in Washington , said the fact that the Russians decided to evacuate their nationals and suspend flights , along with the fact that they are in possession of the key forensics . . . reinforces our sense that it is more likely than not to have been a bomb .  I don t really think there s anybody left around who doesn t recognize that this is more than likely a bomb , he said .  The Islamic State affiliate in the Sinai has at least twice asserted that it brought down the plane , although there has been no confirmation of whether this is true .  Speculating as to the involvement of the Islamic State , also known as  , Hammond said that there are three tiers of possibility . There s  central in Raqqa , the north central Syrian city considered the militants de ? facto capital , and this could have been a centrally directed plot , planned and directed from Raqqa , he said . It s not likely , but it s possible .  It could have been something that  Sinai , a franchise operation , has put together itself and implemented . Or it could have been a lone wolf operation by self radicalized individuals influenced by Islamic State propaganda , he said .  Even as Egypt and Russia were saying last week that the crash could have been caused by structural defects in the plane , Hammond recalled , we had to make a decision because we had aircraft on the ground waiting to take off and were receiving information , some of which is open source , some of which is intelligence based , which was pointing more and more clearly to the possibility that this could have been an explosive device .  On Wednesday afternoon , Britain decided to suspend its flights . Hammond said the government sent a bunch of experts out to Sharm el Sheikh overnight . . . and got a report back from them at 7 a . m . Thursday morning and , frankly , on the basis of what they were seeing on video surveillance of the search area where the plane crashed and security over the previous several days , decided that we had to stop flying until the Egyptians had sorted it out .  Asked whether Egypt was likely to resist expensive and intrusive new security , Hammond said that they have a choice . If they don t want our tourists spending hundreds of millions of dollars , they have that option .  But it s clear that we will not allow our airlines to fly into airports that we don t think are safe . And the onus is on local authorities to put into place the measures that we require , he said . Tourism composes up to 6 percent of Egypt s gross domestic product , Hammond said , and they really can t afford not to step up to the challenge here .  Now that the Russians have also pulled out of Sharm el Sheikh , there s nowhere for the Egyptians to go , he said . They can t claim this to be some weird British obsession . The Russians have drawn the same conclusion that we have .  Missy Ryan in Washington and Andrew Roth in Moscow contributed to this report .  Karen DeYoung is associate editor and senior national security correspondent for the Washington Post .  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9152,9153,"Should Ulysses S . Grant , the legendary Union general and 18th president of the United States , be bumped from his 96 year stint on the 50 bill ?  Yes , according to one North Carolina Republican .  Rep . Patrick McHenry announced that he will introduce a measure that would replace Grant ' s face with Ronald Reagan ' s , just in time for the 40th president ' s 100th birthday next February .  "" President Reagan was a modern day statesman , whose presidency transformed our nation ' s political and economic thinking , "" McHenry said in a statement . "" Through both his domestic and international policies he renewed America ' s self confidence , defeated the Soviets and taught us that each generation must provide opportunity for the next . ""  McHenry says it ' s only logical for Reagan to replace Grant on the 50 bill because several historians have ranked Reagan as a much better president than Grant . McHenry specifically cites a 2005 Wall Street Journal survey of scholars who placed Reagan at No . 6 and Grant at No . 29 .  "" Every generation needs its own heroes , "" McHenry also said . "" One decade into the 21st century , it ' s time to honor the last great president of the 20th and give President Reagan a place beside Presidents Roosevelt and Kennedy . ""  Franklin Roosevelt ' s face currently appears on the dime while John F . Kennedy ' s image is on the half dollar .  But not so fast , says Dr John Marszalek , the executive director and managing editor of the Ulysses S . Grant Association .  Calling him a "" beacon "" of the 19th century , Marszalek said Grant deserves to keep his prominent spot on America ' s currency .  Marszalek also named a host of other Grant accomplishments , including efforts to promote the rights of freed slaves and native Americans , as well as his post presidency , two year tour of the world during which he negotiated the settlement of a dispute between Japan and China .  But the Grant administration was also beset by major scandals close to a dozen in all which is a primary reason that Grant had difficulty working with Congress and why many modern historians continue to rank the 18th president relatively low .  Still , Marszalek says Grant ' s death in 1885 was a "" national phenomenon "" and is "" still the biggest funeral any American has had to this day . ""  Grant supporters can rest easy for now , though the future of the legislation is highly in doubt . It would first have to clear the House Financial Services Committee where at least one Democrat is already expressing his opposition to the move .  It ' s not the first time Republican lawmakers have sought to immortalize Reagan ' s image on American currency . In 2004 , Rep . Mark Souder introduced legislation to put Reagan on the dime in place of Roosevelt . Souder dropped the move after Nancy Reagan publicly opposed the measure .  In the years since Reagan ' s death ,  lawmakers have also considered , though abandoned , legislation placing Reagan on the 10 bill , in place of Alexander Hamilton , and on the 20 bill , in place of Andrew Jackson .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,US elections,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
9156,9157,"Email  NASA’s space cameras have accidentally filmed another unidentified flying object (UFO) travelling out of earth’s atmosphere. The question is why did the space agency not turn off the live feed or try to cover up, as it usually does with UFOs and aliens?  Via YourNewsWire    A disk-shaped  appears in the video giving support to the theory that extraterrestrial beings and their crafts are continuously visiting earth. Scroll Down For Video Below  Ever since the footage was uploaded to YouTube, it generated great controversy both among those who support the idea that it might be an extraterrestrial object, as among those who are completely skeptical of the subject, and as a joke suggest that “UFO’s that are planning on entering our air space should be registered and pay taxes.”  The truth is that on many occasions only fragments of videos in which these mystery objects are visible are released. However, the fact that  interrupts its live feed transmissions is what arouses more suspicion among those who are eager to find new evidence of the existence of alien life, UFO’s and how we are all part of a massive conspiracy.  One user wrote on YouTube: “The question isn’t “is this an alien spacecraft?”, but actually “Why  didn’t cut or blur this video as they always do with other strange sights?” According to many people, in today’s era, it isn’t a question anymore whether or not UFO’s are real.   In fact, if we look back into the past we will see numerous fascinating statements made by former astronauts, military officials and scientists about Alien life and the existence of UFOs.  Here are only a few:  “Intelligent beings from other star systems have been and are visiting our planet Earth. They are variously referred to as Visitors, Others, Star People, Et’s, etc…They are visiting Earth now; this is not a matter of conjecture or wistful thinking.” – Theodor C. Loder III, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Earth Sciences, University of New Hampshire.  We cannot address the  phenomena without mentioning Dr. Edgar Mitchel, one of the best-known Apollo astronauts and the sixth man to walk on the moon; a retired Captain in the  Navy, aeronautical engineer and founder of the Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS) who had much to say about Alien life:  “I happen to be privileged enough to be in on the fact that we have been visited on this planet, and the  phenomenon is real…Yes, there have been crashed craft, and bodies recovered. We are not alone in the universe; they have been coming here for a long time.”  Franklin Story Musgrave, an American Physician, retired  astronaut who worked on the design and development of the Skylab Program and the only astronaut to have flown missions on all five Space Shuttles had very interesting things to say about life elsewhere in the cosmos:  “Statistically it’s a certainty there are hugely advanced civilizations, intelligence, life forms out there. I believe they’re so advanced that they’re even doing interstellar travel. I believe it’s possible that they even came here. It’s logical to presume the universe must have other life in it and by virtue of association that we could be visited at some point.”",fake,news,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,past
9157,9158,"One crew member has been found dead and three others were rescued after a tugboat sank in icy waters off Fire Island in New York .  The Coast Guard says the tugboat called Sea Bear sank at about 2 p . m . Saturday  Three male crew members in immersion suits were rescued by the Coast Guard from the water a mile off a section of the island known as Fire Island Pines .  Coast Guard officials say the body of the fourth crew member was recovered shortly after 5 p . m . following a search by three Coast Guard boats , a helicopter and two other tugboats .  Coast Guard Command Duty Officer Mark Averill says the victim was not wearing an immersion suit . Averill says the water temperature was 37 degrees .  The victim ' s name was not immediately released .  Rescue : The Coast Guard says the tugboat called Sea Bear sank at about 2 p . m . on Saturday in icy and stormy waters about a mile off Fire Island on New York ' s Long Island  A search was underway for a missing tugboat crew member after three others were rescued Saturday when their boat sank in icy and stormy waters about a mile off Fire Island on New York ' s Long Island , authorities said .  One of the crew members managed to make a cellphone call to the Coast Guard at about 2 p . m . as the tugboat Sea Bear was sinking , said Coast Guard Petty Officer Morgan Gallapis .  She said the man said their boat was sinking and they needed assistance .  ' They had only seconds to let us know before they sank , ' Gallapis said .  Three male crew members in immersion suits were rescued by the Coast Guard from the water a mile off a section of Fire Island known as the Pines , Gallapis said .  But another man was missing as a search continued by three Coast Guard boats , a helicopter , two other tugboats and Suffolk County Police Marine Bureau boats , authorities said . Suffolk officers on the beach assisted in the search .  One dead : Coast Guard boats ( not pictured ) saved three crew members and later found one dead crew member floating in the frigid waters without a protective suit  Gallapis , based in the New Haven , Connecticut Coast Guard station , said the three men who were rescued were treated for hypothermia at the Fire Island Coast Guard station but otherwise had no physical injuries .  She did not know what caused the boat to sink .  The accident occurred during a storm . Suffolk County police said inclement weather prevented their aviation officers from flying and police Marine Bureau boats were hampered by heavy ice in the water .  The petty officer said the tugboat that sank was among three heading back to their New York City base after completing a project on Long Island .  ' This tug was in the back of the line when it sank , ' she said .  ' The other tugs continued without seeing them . They heard the distress call and headed back to assist in the search . '  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
9165,9166,"This pair of pole dancing droids bring a whole new meaning to ' Robot moves ' as they prepare to strut their stuff for visitors at a computer exhibition .  The life size white robots are set to be  among the most popular attractions at the international CeBIT expo in  Hannover , Germany when it opens to the public tomorrow .  With surveillance camera shaped lights for heads the humanoids shimmied around a pair of poles to music provided by another robot acting as  .  Modern dance : A staff member gives a pair of pole dancing robots a quick polish as the models perform for visitors to the CeBIT computer expo in Hanover  And an engineer was on hand to make sure the robots looked their best as they performed , giving one of the pair a quick clean with some police .  The robots first appeared at the expo in 2012 , but proved so popular that they have returned this year among visitors to the trade fair that they were brought back for this year ' s four day event , which will be formally opened tonight by German chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister David Cameron .  The dancers , which cost around 2 , 500 to hire , were made out of old car parts and were designed by British artist Giles Walker , with their sultry moves controlled by a computer .  Other exhibitors preparing for the event included Cornish company RoboThespian , which was also showing off their humanoid robots .  Great Britian is the partner nation for this year ' s CeBIT , which is the world ' s largest technology fair , attracting exhibitors and visitors from across the globe .  Technology : Will Jackson interacts with an humanoid robot at the booth of British company RoboThespian , during preparations for the trade fair  Finishing touches : A worker makes sure the Robothespian robot is working perfectly prior to the show ' s opening  State of the art : The interactive and multilingual Robothespian robot is designed for human interaction in a public environment  Testing : Two woman check the motion control of the life sized robot  Prestige : The four day event will be formally opened tonight by German chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister David Cameron  Joining forces : CeBIT is the world ' s largest technology fair and this year ' s partner nation is Great Britain  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
9173,9174,"Bush admits campaign not going well , vows to ' fight on '  Jeb Bush acknowledged today that his run for the Republican presidential nomination is going poorly but he pledged to "" fight on . ""  "" I have enough self awareness to know that this is the bumpy time of a campaign , "" he said on  ' s "" Meet the Press . ""  Bush , brother and son of former presidents and ex governor of Florida , was once considered the man to beat in the nomination race for the 2016 election .  But his campaign has floundered , in particular last week when he seemingly bombed out in the latest Republican debate among the crowded field of candidates .  He flubbed badly on national television while trying to attack Senator Marco Rubio , a political protege and fellow candidate , for missing Senate votes while campaigning .  Rubio counterattacked saying that Bush ' s strategists had told him to do so . Bush looked flat footed and dumbfounded and failed to offer a meaningful response .  "" This is the process . I totally understand it , and I ' m more than prepared to fight on , "" Bush said in the interview aired today .  He also acknowledged that he has to get better as the debate season continues .  "" I am a grinder . When I see I ' m not doing something well then I reset and get better , "" he added .  Weighing in on another issue , Bush said he felt torn by the death penalty .  He said his Christian faith urges him to be against it , but that he also understands the pain of victims of violent crime and their need for justice and what he called closure .  He also said the death penalty fails to deter crime and clogs up the  court system .  "" We should reform it . If it ' s to be used as a deterrent , it has to be reformed , "" Bush said , referring to the years death row inmates spend mired in the appeals process waiting to know their fate .  "" It can ' t take 25 years , that does no one any good . Neither the victims nor the state is solving this problem with that kind of tangled judicial process .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Economy,fake,true,True,no,no,negative,past
9182,9183,"No . 3 Garbine Muguruza falls , Victoria Azarenka into 4th round  Two time Australian Open champion ? Victoria Azarenka advanced to the fourth round Saturday , but the opponent she expected , No . 3 seed Garbine Muguruza , did not keep her appointment .  Azarenka , the No . 14 seed , dispatched No . 127 ranked qualifier ? Naomi Osaka ? 6 1 , 6 1 in a scant 56 minutes . But Muguruza was stunned earlier in the day by Barbora Strycova 6 3 , 6 2 , joining No . 2 seed Simona Halep as an upset victim .  Azarenka , seen by oddsmakers as the second best bet to win this tournament behind No . 1 seeded Serena Williams , has beaten Strycova in all four of the matches they ' ve played , winning all eight sets .  It was the first time in the Open era at the Australian Open that two of the top three women ' s seeds were eliminated before the fourth round . And yet , it was the fifth time in the past eight majors that two of the top three women ' s seeds failed to reach the round of 16 . The last time that happened on the men ' s side was the 2004 French Open .  Azarenka has dropped only five games in three matches . Osaka , 18 , was one of four teenagers to advance to the third round . She was born in Osaka , Japan , but moved to the United States as a 3 year old and claims dual citizenship . This was her Grand Slam main draw debut .  Azarenka , a 26 year old Belarusian , has now lost only 22 games in her 8 0 run to begin 2016 and is hopeful to advance deep in the draw based on her recent performance .  "" I just try to focus on my execution more , "" Azarenka said . "" I mean , the score doesn ' t really tell say pretty much the whole story sometimes . But I ' m pretty happy with the way I ' m playing . I just , you know , I want to still keep improving from match to match , because it ' s only getting harder from here . ""  She admitted to being caught off guard in the early going against Osaka .  "" She definitely surprised me with her play , "" Azarenka said . "" I think in the first game you could see that I was a little bit off my timing because I was expecting some bombs coming my way and the ball came pretty slow . ""  "" I think she has an interesting game . I think she has a lot of potential , has a lot of power . I ' m sure we will see a lot more of her . ""  At the end of her surprising rally to the third round , Osaka was upbeat and ambitious about her goals .  "" To be the No . 1 and to win a lot of Grand Slams and to play Fed Cup and then to play the Olympics and to be happy , "" Osaka said .  Strycova , 29 , is ranked No . 48 among  players and was only 2 18 versus top five players coming in , but one of those matches came at Wimbledon in 2014 , when she surprised Li Na in the third round . A native of the Czech Republic , Strycova has now won all six sets in Melbourne and has produced her finest effort at the Australian Open .  Muguruza , 22 , was a finalist last year at Wimbledon , one of only five players born in the 1990s to reach a Grand Slam final .  Afterward , Muguruza lasted for only three questions in her postmatch news conference .  "" Clearly not my best , for sure , "" said Muguruza , a Venezuelan born Spaniard . "" I think today is a very bad day , you know , at the office . I think Barbora played good , very good . Also , I didn ' t play good .  "" But , I don ' t know , I think I just couldn ' t find the court , my shots . Yeah . Didn ' t really find my game . ""  Strycova doesn ' t seem concerned about her winless record against Azarenka .  "" Well , I lost also against Garbine in Tokyo pretty easy , and I won today , "" Strycova said . "" So I will go to that match with confidence . I have to play my best tennis and to mix it and try to somehow win and focus on every point .  "" But Victoria is very , very good . I saw her hitting some balls yesterday , and she ' s hitting the ball very well . But we don ' t know how it goes . ""  Angelique Kerber has advanced to the fourth round after beating Madison Brengle 6 1 , 6 3 . No . 7 seeded Kerber ' s win on Saturday makes her the highest ranked player in the bottom half of the draw , following ? Muguruza ' s loss .  Kerber , a two time Grand Slam semifinalist , faces compatriot Annika Beck of Germany in the fourth round .  Sydney born Johanna Konta , who beat Venus Williams last Tuesday , became the first British woman to reach the fourth round at the Australian Open since 1987 when she beat Denisa Allertova 6 2 , 6 2 . Her next match is against 2015 semifinalist Ekaterina Makarova , who had a 6 3 , 6 2 win over No . 9 Karolina Pliskova .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
9188,9189,"A pensioner who shouted ' die you b ' after slitting the throat of his son in law with a steak knife has been jailed for six years .  Rodney Cohen , 68 , had flown over from New Zealand after learning his daughter Jane ' s marriage to her husband ' was on the rocks ' .  Victim Declan Campbell thought Cohen was ' joking ' when he first approached him with the knife and it was only when blood poured out did he realise what had happened .  Mr Campbell said the amount of blood ' was like something out of a Halloween horror film ' and had to hold his jugular together with his fingers to stay alive .  Rodney Cohen ( pictured ) , 68 , crept up behind Declan Campbell and pulled his head back before cutting his neck  Cohen ' s daughter Jane , 43 , sent her husband Declan Campbell ( pictured left ) an email ending their marriage  Mr Campbell was rushed to Luton and Dunstable hospital with two slashed veins and a gaping neck wound  The 41 year old ran from the house to a nearby pub as a laughing Cohen shouted ' die you b ' from a balcony .  He was rushed to hospital with two slashed veins and a gaping neck wound and was unconscious for 24 hours .  St Albans Crown Court heard the attack happened on July 26 after Cohen flew over from New Zealand when his daughter Jane , 43 , sent an email to her husband saying she wanted to end their marriage .  The two men had been to Sainsbury ' s in the town to buy beer and were drinking on the balcony in Harpenden , St Albans , when Cohen suddenly crept up behind his son in law , pulled his head back and cut his neck with the knife .  He narrowly missed his jugular vein and left blood pouring from a 10cm wound .  When Cohen was arrested he told the police : ' I am sorry . I saw the knife and picked it up and sliced it across his throat . '  He told the police the pair had been arguing and accused Mr Campbell of making derogatory comments about his daughter , who was away at the time .  Cohen , who has lived in New Zealand since he was 18 , and pictured here with daugther Jane , admitted wounding with intent at St Albans Crown Court in September and was sentenced to six years in prison  The court heard the couple had only got married in July 2013 after meeting four months earlier  Prosecutor David Stanton said : ' The first thing Mr Campbell knew about it was when the defendant pulled him by the neck .  ' He pulled the skin so it was stretched and he was cutting Mr Campbell with a kitchen knife .  ' At first he thought he was joking . It wasn ' t until blood started pouring from the wound that Mr Campbell realised what had happened and he was scared he was going to die .  ' Mr Campbell ran from his house and heard Mr Cohen laughing as he left . He heard him shouting "" die you b "" ' .  When Cohen was arrested he told the police : ' I am sorry . I saw the knife and picked it up and sliced it across his throat '  Cohen , who has lived in New Zealand since he was 18 , admitted wounding with intent at St Albans Crown Court in September and was sentenced to six years in prison .  Judge Stephen Gullick told him : ' You came over to this country because your daughter ' s marriage was on the rocks . You came here with the intention to go and assist this couple .  ' You and your son in law had been and bought some alcohol . You then got a hold of him by the head and effectively you slit his throat .  ' You cut the skin of his throat but you did not cause any injury to the internal organs which is fortunate but a matter of luck rather than judgement . '  The court heard the couple had only got married in July 2013 after meeting four months earlier .  Mr Campbell was devastated in August this year when his wife sent him an email saying she wanted to end their relationship .  He desperately tried to change her mind but eventually gave up when she told him the marriage was beyond saving .  Speaking outside court Mr Campbell said he has not seen his wife since the attack because she chose to stand by her father .  The engineer said he had the ' perfect life ' with  specialist Jane , 43 , and rejected claims that her father had travelled to the country to help save their marriage .  He added that three days before the attack he and his wife had celebrated their first anniversary in a plush hotel .  Mr Campbell , who still lives in the house where the attack happened , said : ' Jane and I had resolved all our issues back in February . We were just a young married couple very much in love .  ' He came in and poisoned our marriage . He has destroyed the whole lot and I think it is because he was jealous of us .  ' Jane was the love of my life . She gave me butterflies and he took that away from me .  ' We had some arguments but they were about hanging the towel up or about ordering her the wrong meal . There were never any big bust ups . '  He added that he felt the sentence handed down by Judge Gullick was an ' injustice ' and said six years was not enough .  The father of one said : ' The sentence was not my decision to make , but it is not enough and doesn ' t reflect how this has affected me .  ' It is a total injustice as far as I am concerned . I was expecting him to get a lot more . He was trying to kill me , he wanted to murder me .  ' I have had nightmares and the attack will always be in the back of my mind . It has shattered my confidence and I will live with this for the rest of my life .  ' The amount of blood was like something out of a Halloween horror film . I had to hold my jugular together with my fingers to keep me alive .  ' After the attack I secluded myself , I was ashamed and I didn ' t want to talk to anybody . I have gone from sky high to rock bottom just like that . '  ",true,text,test,US elections,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
9192,9193,"Reuters) - The largest U.S. physician group urged President Donald Trump’s administration on Wednesday to protect international doctors and seriously ill patients from an executive order that suspends travel from seven Muslim-majority countries. In a letter addressed to Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly, the American Medical Association warned that the order created barriers to healthcare by preventing international physicians from getting back into the country or obtaining visas. It also wrote that the order should not apply to patients who need timely medical care in the United States.  “The  is concerned that this executive order is negatively impacting patient access to care and creating unintended consequences for our nation’s health care system,” the group said in a letter posted on its web site. “It is vitally important that this process not impact patient access to timely medical treatment.” Last Friday, Trump put a four-month hold on allowing refugees into the United States and temporarily barred travelers from Syria and six other Muslim-majority countries, saying the moves would help protect Americans from terrorist attacks. Reuters reported earlier this week that Trump’s order wreaked panic and uncertainty among refugees in the U.S. pipeline with urgent medical needs, some of whom had prioritized applications. The order could mean as many as 800 people needing medical entry will be denied entry, said Karen Monken of HIAS, a Maryland-based refugee assistance organization formerly known as the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society. Homeland Security said in a statement the executive order “ensures a more rigorous vetting process.” “The Department of Homeland Security will continue to enforce all of President  Trump’s executive orders in a manner that ensures the safety and security of the American people,” the agency said. The  letter also pointed to the importance of international medical graduates, who comprise one out of every four physicians practicing in the United States. They are more likely to work in underserved and poor communities, the group wrote, and fill training positions that face workforce shortages.  Other physician groups, including the Association of American Medical Colleges and American College of Physicians, expressed concern in separate statements earlier this week that the order would create further barriers to care. ",true,dataset,test,US elections,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
9200,9201,"Baghdad , Iraq At least five people were killed and 39 wounded when a car bomb exploded Monday in Basra , an Interior Ministry official said , capping a day in which at least 11 people were killed in blasts in cities with Shiite shrines .  In Baghdad , two mortars or rockets struck the International Zone shortly before 8 p . m . , though there were no reports of casualties .  Car bombings targeting religious pilgrims in two major Shiite cities in Iraq killed 11 people Monday , an Interior Ministry official said .  On a crowded street in the Iraqi city of Karbala a blast killed at least 10 people and wounded 38 others , the official said . The bomb went off at one of the main entrances to the city where buses carrying Iranian pilgrims stop , the official said .  In Najaf , at least one person was killed and 10 others wounded in a bombing , the official said . The parked car bomb targeted buses carrying Iranian pilgrims at the road leading to Najaf ' s old city .  Najaf and Karbala , south of Baghdad , have seen increases in foreign pilgrims in the last two years after a drop in the daily widespread violence .  Iran ' s Fars News Agency said that on any given day , about 1 , 500 pilgrims travel from neighboring Iran to visit Shiite shrines in Iraq , particularly in Najaf and Karbala .  Elsewhere Monday , a roadside bomb detonated outside a busy restaurant in central Baghdad ' s Karrada district , wounding four people . The official said the bomb targeted a police patrol . Two of the wounded were police officers the other two were civilians .  Earlier Monday , a mortar round struck the International Zone , popularly known as the Green Zone , but did not cause damages or casualties . A day earlier , at least two rockets struck the area and on Saturday , three others struck the zone .  The zone is a heavily fortified central Baghdad district housing the U . S . Embassy and Iraqi government offices .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
9230,9231,"King John Henry  is up to his old tricks .  This time Ben Cherington keeps his head , but loses his job . For some reason he did not want to stay on under the new President of Baseball Operations , Dave Dumbowsky , who once worked as  for King John Henry at the Marlins fiefdom .  Now they will be reunited in mediocrity , replacing the nonentities that Cherington brought into the organization through his dartboard process and selection of players .  Cherington will always be remembered as the man who sounded like Theo Epstein and unloaded a quarter of a billion dollars worth of bad baseball contracts , sending them all to Los Angeles for a bag of onion chips .  Lately Ben Cherington has been exhibiting more than his usual smarmy style , having brought to this year ' s team the concept of a "" team ace , "" meaning no pitcher was ready before his time and certainly not ready period .  He also brought aboard two slugs , another Ramirez and a Panda bear . Both seem to have more injuries than Dustin Pedroia . He found a wide range of psychotherapists for Clay Bucholz .  We suppose Cherington did only what he was told by retiring poohba Larry Lucchino and he followed the yellow goldbrick road right out the door to Yawkey Way .  Sox brass praised Cherington as the right man to run the Red Sox when a mad bomber blows up the Boston Marathon . Cherington knew how to make the team part of the Boston Strong public relations juggernaut . Praise , indeed .  If we really cared about the Red Sox this season , we might have followed this fiasco to its inevitable conclusion but we swore off the Sox about four months ago . We make an occasional right decision .  ",satire,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,satire,True,no,no,negative,past
9239,9240,"—   Russia and the United States agreed early Saturday on a new plan to reduce violence in the Syrian conflict that, if successful, could lead for the first time to joint military targeting by the two powers against Islamic jihadists in Syria. The agreement was reached after 10 months of failed attempts to halt the fighting and of suspended efforts to reach a political settlement to an increasingly complex conflict that began more than five years ago. The conflict has left nearly half a million people dead, created the largest refugee crisis since World War  and turned Syria into a prime incubator of recruiting for the Islamic State and the Nusra Front, an affiliate of Al Qaeda. Secretary of State John Kerry and his Russian counterpart, Sergey V. Lavrov, announced the agreement in Geneva after weeks of negotiations that were marred, in President Obama’s words, by deep “mistrust” between the Russians and Americans, who back opposite sides in Syria, but share an antipathy to the Islamic jihadists flourishing there. It came at a time when relations between the United States and Russia, which have worsened throughout much of the Obama administration, have been especially jolted by accusations of Russian hacking and subterfuge in American politics. The tensions have been further exacerbated by the effusive praise for President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia by the Republican presidential nominee, Donald J. Trump. The new arrangement on Syria, set to begin Monday, was greeted with skepticism by Syrians on all sides and carries many risks of failure, which the Pentagon and Mr. Kerry acknowledged. “No one is basing this on trust,” he said. “We are basing it on oversight and compliance. ” The plan starts with a   continuous “genuine reduction of violence,” in Mr. Kerry’s words, and broad, unrestricted humanitarian access to the ravaged northern city of Aleppo and other besieged areas. If that works, the United States and Russia are to establish a Joint Implementation Center, where they will share targeting data, and begin to coordinate bombing of militants of the Nusra Front and the Islamic State. The key element is that Russia must then restrain the forces of President Bashar   of Syria from conducting any air operations over areas held by Nusra and other opposition forces. The United States hopes this will end the indiscriminate dropping of barrel bombs  —   including chlorine gas attacks  —   that have punctuated the conflict. In return, the United States is to persuade the opposition groups it has been supporting to separate themselves from the Nusra forces. Mr. Assad has attacked many of them on the pretense of attacking Nusra fighters. American officials expressed strong reservations about whether this new arrangement would work. Especially skeptical was the Pentagon, long suspicious of Russian intentions in Syria, since the Kremlin first deployed military forces there to help Mr. Assad a year ago. Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter was among Obama administration officials who raised questions over whether either Russia or the Assad government would comply with the terms. Mr. Kerry’s announcement of the deal, Mr. Lavrov at his side, was permeated with caveats. “We believe the plan, if implemented, if followed, has the ability to provide a turning point, a change,” he said. But he sounded far more cautious here than he did in Munich in February when he announced an earlier “cessation of hostilities” that failed. The accord was reached after sharp divisions inside the Obama administration over the wisdom of sharing targeting information with Russia, and accusations that the Russians have used the negotiating period to help Mr. Assad regain control in Aleppo and strike at   opposition groups. For Mr. Obama, who asked Mr. Kerry to keep working on the negotiation after the president failed to reach an accord with Mr. Putin during the Group of 20 summit meeting in China last weekend, the new accord poses considerable risks. For example, if the bombing of Nusra sites kills civilians  —   almost inevitable given the proximity of militant extremist groups and civilians  —   there are bound to be accusations about who is responsible. Pentagon officials are also concerned that Russia will use the targeting data to learn more about how American forces identify and attack targets, at a time when forces from the two countries are often near one another around Europe. Mr. Lavrov took a few shots at the United States even while celebrating the arrangement, denouncing “arrogant sanctions” levied against Russia for its annexation of Crimea two years ago. Late on Friday, he suggested the United States could not decide about the deal, sending pizza and vodka to reporters to ease the wait, and coming by to joke about how long it took Mr. Obama and his team to make decisions. But for Mr. Kerry, reaching this deal has become a personal mission, one that at times put him in conflict with the White House. He has pressed for a stronger military commitment in Syria and support for some opposition groups, along with a series of more aggressive covert actions, according to administration officials. Mr. Obama has been reluctant, as have others in the White House who fear that, even if they could engineer a transition in Syria, it could create a power vacuum that Iran, Russia and militant terrorist groups could exploit. The American skepticism is partly rooted in the failed agreement for a cessation of hostilities reached with the Russians in February. That arrangement collapsed weeks later when Russia moved heavy artillery into the Aleppo area to help Mr. Assad’s forces. Among the Syrians, the latest plan was greeted with wariness, particularly from armed opposition groups and their supporters, who, broadly speaking, have come to believe that the United States has lost interest in ousting Mr. Assad, and is willing to see them wiped out. It is a measure of how little trust the Syrians have in the international community  —   especially after the     in February  —   that initial reactions were lukewarm, even though the deal holds out the possibility of at least a temporary calming of the violence. Armed opposition groups read the deal as ordering them to remove   Nusra fighters from their areas, something they lack the military power to do alone, or else face attack by the United States  —   a country that has provided some of the rebel groups with training and weapons for years. Some government opponents noted that the deal came hours after Syrian military forces  —   with Russian air support  —     their siege of the   sections of Aleppo. While Mr. Kerry began his announcement by noting that Mr. Assad’s airstrikes were, as he put it, “the main driver of civilian casualties and migration flows,” the deal  —   as partly described  —   contains many loopholes that could allow them to continue. And no measures were described that would hold any of the parties to account if they violated the terms of a deal that is being struck at a time when the United States has little leverage over Russia in Syria. The deal allows Syrian government warplanes to continue to fly missions in some areas that are to be defined later. And Russia and the United States will target areas where they both agree Nusra or Islamic State fighters are present. What that really means hinges on how Russia and the United States define legitimate opposition groups that cannot be targeted under the deal, and how they define areas where Nusra is present. The deal also failed to mention anything about the presence of foreign Shiite militias  —   such as Hezbollah, which like Al Qaeda and Islamic State is considered a terrorist group by the United States  —   fighting on the Syrian government’s side. It also said nothing about the tens of thousands of detainees in Syrian government prisons, whose release had long been touted as a possible measure under a deal. And while it spoke of allowing aid deliveries into besieged areas, it said nothing of lifting the sieges and restoring freedom of movement of goods and people.",true,news,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
9244,9245,"Italy ( Reuters ) A new theory that Leonardo ' s "" Last Supper "" might hide within it a depiction of Christ blessing the bread and wine has triggered so much interest that Web sites connected to the picture have crashed .  Speculation over hidden meaning in Leonardo da Vinci ' s famous fresco has crashed several Web sites .  The famous fresco is already the focus of mythical speculation after author Dan Brown based his "" The Da Vinci Code "" book around the painting , arguing in the novel that Jesus married his follower , Mary Magdelene , and fathered a child .  Now Slavisa Pesci , an information technologist and amateur scholar , says superimposing the "" Last Supper "" with its mirror image throws up another picture containing a figure who looks like a Templar knight and another holding a small baby .  "" I came across it by accident , from some of the details you can infer that we are not talking about chance but about a precise calculation , "" Pesci told journalists when he unveiled the theory earlier this week .  Websites www . leonardodavinci . tv , www . codicedavinci . tv , www . cenacolo . biz and www . leonardo2007weblink had 15 million hits on Thursday morning alone , organizers said , adding they were trying to provide a more powerful server for the sites .  In the superimposed version , a figure on Christ ' s left appears to be cradling a baby in its arms , Pesci said , but he made no suggestion this could be Christ ' s child .  Judas , whose imminent betrayal of Christ is the force breaking the right hand line of the original fresco , appears in an empty space on the left in the reverse image version .  And Pesci also suggests that the superimposed version shows a goblet before Christ and illustrates when Christ blessed bread and wine at a supper with his disciples for the first Eucharist .  The original Da Vinci depicts Christ when he predicts that one among them will betray him . E mail to a friend  Copyright 2007 Reuters . All rights reserved . This material may not be published , broadcast , rewritten , or redistributed .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
9258,9259,"A young mother choked to death on her vomit after eating a Kinder Beuno while drowsy on painkillers , an inquest has heard .  Candice Campbell , 25 , who had taken the medicine to help her post natal stomach pain , drifted off to sleep while eating the chocolate bar .  Miss Campbell , mother to one year old son Harrison , then choked as she was sleeping beside her fianc on the couple ' s sofa in Hull .  Doting : Mother of one Candice Campbell , 25 ( pictured left and right with partner Geoffrey Burns ) , choked to death on her own vomit after eating a Kinder Bueno before falling asleep on the sofa , an inquest has heard  Her husband to be Geoffrey Burns , who had also fallen asleep , woke up to find his partner ' s lifeless body slumped onto his knee . Despite him desperately giving  to Miss Campbell , she could not be saved .  Miss Campbell , who did not drink alcohol , had been taking a variety of prescribed medication to ease abdominal pain which she had suffered after giving birth in October 2013 .  At an inquest into her death , Mr Burns told the hearing how he had warned Miss Campbell not to eat the bar , incase she fell asleep .  He told how the pair had both fallen asleep while watching a film , but that he had woken up around 5 . 30am to find Miss Campbell unresponsive .  He said : ' Candice was eating a stick of Kinder Bueno and I told her not to eat chocolate in case she fell asleep because her medication makes her drowsy . I was worried that she may fall asleep eating it .  ' I must have been tired because I fell asleep . I woke up to the dogs barking and Candice ' s head was on my lap . The first thing I remember saying to her was , "" Wake up , let ' s go upstairs "" .  ' I noticed her lips were blue and there was a white foam coming from her nose and food particles at her mouth . '  Mr Burns said when he realised she was not responsive , he began  .  An inquest heard how Miss Campbell was watching a film with her partner at their home in Hull when the pair both drifted off to sleep . Mr Burns told the inquest that he had warned her not to eat the bar ( pictured )  He said : ' I gave her mouth to mouth and pressed down on her chest as I was taught at first aid .  ' I continued to scoop out food from her mouth and I saw there was the Kinder Bueno she was eating before I fell asleep .  ' I tried to resuscitate her . I blew twice into her mouth and did 32 compressions . '  The inquest heard how Mr Burns then ran 12 doors down the street to Miss Campbell ' s parents ' house to get help . Her father , Ian Gibson , also attempted  before they called for an ambulance .  Dr Ian Scott , consultant neuropathologist at the Queens Medical Centre in Nottingham , carried out the post mortem examination .  He said toxicology tests revealed Miss Campbell had taken several different drugs , including diazepam , tramadol , pregabalin and ' possibly ' dihydrocodeine .  He said that although Miss Campbell had not taken a ' fatal ' amount of each drug , the combination had been enough to depress the central nervous system , which left her unable to clear her airways if she vomited .  Dr Scott said : ' I found debris impacted in the trachea and material similar to that which is found in the stomach .  ' Where a patient may vomit and then inhale what ' s been in the stomach it causes asphyxia . The cause of death is asphyxiation due to aspiration of gastric contents . There is no suggestion that this was a deliberate overdose . '  During the hearing , Mr Gibson paid tribute to his daughter .  He told the court : ' She was a good mum and would have done anything for Harrison . She doted on him .  ' She loved being around people , she had a lot of friends , She was also a real family girl who enjoyed spending time with them . '  Senior coroner Professor Paul Marks recorded a verdict of accidental death , calling it a ' tragic case ' .  He said : ' This is a very tragic case where a young mother had been enjoying an evening with her partner and fell asleep .  ' She vomited but was unable to clear her airways . There is not a shred of evidence to suggest Candice took more medication than she should have . '  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
9271,9272,"By Carey Wedler When it comes to brute force, law enforcement and private security currently have the upper hand on the ground in Standing Rock,... ",fake,news,test,Other sport,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,present
9272,9273,"Thousands of people were forced to go through security queues at Stansted Airport twice after an apparent ' mix up ' which confused arriving passengers with those waiting to board flights .  Staff insisted on evacuating the entire international departures lounge when a ' small number ' of passengers who had just landed on a Ryanair flight from Lisbon on Sunday mistakenly entered it through the wrong door .  Huge queues formed throughout the airport , with crowds bemoaning having to wait up to two hours in security queues to be let back through to their gates .  Thousands were delayed and forced to queue for security again after a ' mix up ' at Stansted Airport  The departure ' s lounge was left empty for around 90 minutes , thwarting scores of flights due to take off .  Staff said the confusion came about when passengers on the Lisbon flight walked through the wrong door , leading them to the departures lounge rather than the arrivals gate .  ' The crew of this flight correctly directed disembarking customers to the assigned gate , however they entered the airport through a door which had been left open in error , ' a spokesman for the airline said on Monday .  ' Ryanair fully cooperated with Stansted Airport as it rescreened departing passengers . A number of flights were delayed throughout the day due to earlier issues with deicing facilities .  The incident will be the subject of an investigation , he added .  Disgruntled passengers took to Twitter to complain about the delays which offset scores of journeys  Disgruntled passengers took to social media to share their fury , with some complaining of queues of two hours .  ' Ongoing security "" issue "" at Stansted Airport . Massive queues as no one can get through security . Communication over  has not been great , ' said Duncan McKay .  James Carter added : ' Massive security queues at Stansted , again . Been in line for two hours now . '  A spokesman for Ryanair said the mishap came about when staff left the wrong door open for passengers  Sunday was one of the busiest travelling days of the month , with thousands returning to the  to head back to work after the Christmas break .  Others arriving at Heathrow Airport on Sunday evening reported long queues as they waited for passport control .  One passenger waited for 90 minutes at the airport ' s Terminal 5 , while others complained of flight delays due to severe fog .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
9275,9276,"Wild horses , raging winds and energy sapping heat in the land of Genghis Khan welcome to the Mongolian steppe .  This vast expanse of savannah and grassland is the setting for the world ' s longest horse race the Mongol Derby .  Equestrian ' s toughest test is perhaps the last place you ' d expect to find a teenager from the English county of Hampshire .  But Lara Prior Palmer isn ' t like other teenagers .  The 19 year old is the youngest winner and first female victor in the five year history of this most arduous of contests .  "" It was really dramatic , it would be first degree heat and the horses would be sweating , then suddenly the air would cool with wind blowing super hard .  "" I wanted to do something that was going to put me out of my comfort zone I guess . Mongolia sounded like a really cool country . ""  The race , officially recognized by the Guinness Book of Records in 2011 as the world ' s lengthiest , takes its inspiration from the Mongol Empire ' s pioneering postal service .  The fearsome Genghis Khan , leader of the Mongols between 1162 and 1227 , established and expanded the "" Ortoo . ""  It was a messenger system which saw riders travel on horseback between outposts , stopping to either rest , swap horses or pass the message onto another rider .  Forty horse stations , "" urtuus "" to use the Mongolian name , line the race ' s 1000 kilometer route .  Not that there is a course set out for the 30 competitors , who use anything from a compass ,  or good old fashioned intuition to traverse the landscape between each resting spot .  As the race ' s official website puts it , "" this is no guided tour , or pony trek . ""  Each urtuus is manned by local nomads and furnished with tents , beds and food for man , woman and horse alike . Riders must change horse at each urtuus .  It is the nomadic tribes who provide the horses for the race and equine welfare is one of the organizers ' highest priorities .  A vet is stationed at each urtuus and if the horse ' s heart rate is above a certain level , the rider is given a time penalty .  There is also extensive medical support for the jockeys , half of whom withdrew from the race before the finish line this year .  "" There were 30 at the beginning , but not at the end , "" explains Prior Palmer . "" My body got really cross with me the day I finished , I slept all day .  "" I ' m lucky because I ' m young . Any problems I had were really painful but didn ' t get that bad . I got really swollen ankles , chafing , a few other things , blisters and other stuff .  "" The worst thing is the exhaustion , sitting on a horse may look easy but you ' ve got to keep them cantering . Thirteen hours a day I was on a horse . At lunchtime you ' d want to sleep but you can ' t because there ' s another 120 kilometers to go that day . ""  Prior Palmer ' s determination paid off , although her joy came at the expense of another rider ' s despair .  American Devan Horn was the first rider to finish the race , but her horse failed a post race medical inspection .  A two hour penalty ensued and Prior Palmer was named as the winner .  "" It was a strange way to win and I didn ' t feel very good about it because the other girl was super upset , "" said Prior Palmer . "" It ' s slowly sinking in . ""  So what next for the teenager who made history ?  The answer , it would seem , is more history .  "" I begin university in September , I ' m going to study history in Edinburgh or maybe at Trinity College in Dublin , I haven ' t decided , "" she said .  "" It ' s a terrible future for me because everything else is really boring . I ' ll have to knuckle down with some work . ""  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
9285,9286,"It ' s been a few weeks since I surveyed the Republican presidential field , but recent developments seem to indicate it ' s time to take another look . Mostly this is because the mainstream media all seem to be ignoring an actual story ( even a horserace story ! ) , to instead focus on an artificial narrative imposed by Fox Business Network ( the host of tomorrow night ' s  debate ) . While much attention has been paid to Fox ' s reshuffling of who will appear on which debate stage , virtually nobody ' s talking about the complete collapse of Carly Fiorina ' s polling . She can ' t even now be considered a plausible Republican nominee , when not that long ago she was solidly in third place in the polls . This is a pretty major development , and it has resulted in the field of Republicans with any sort of believable shot at winning the nomination shrinking from six to only five .  Carly ' s collapse was predicted by few , and now that it ' s happening it is also being noticed by few . She became a media darling after solid performances in the first two debates , which pushed her Republican voter support up to 11 . 8 percent ( behind Trump and Carson ) . Since then , however , she failed to make any waves in the third debate and now teeters on the brink of being disinvited to future main stages , standing overall in a three way tie for sixth place , at only 3 . 0 percent in the polls . But again , while her quick rise got a lot of coverage , her "" what goes up , must come down "" fall hasn ' t attracted much media attention .  As before , I ' m going to split the horserace up into four groups , depending on what sort of chance they have of actually winning the Republican nomination , based on their nationwide polling averages ( all data from Real Clear Politics , I should mention ) . I should also mention that my previous column used data from October 19th , so when you see "" since last time "" below , that ' s what I ' m talking about . And , as before , I ' m going to present these groups in ascending order of possibility .  The Fox Business Network set some rather strange guidelines for inclusion into both of their upcoming debates ( for both the main event and the "" kids ' table "" undercard debate ) . I mean , I do applaud them for beginning the winnowing process , but at the same time I wonder why they set both of their inclusion division lines right in the middle of two groups of candidates , instead of in the gaps between the groups ( which would make more sense ) . There are five candidates with virtually no chance of becoming the Republican nominee at this point , but for some reason only three of them were cut from the kids ' table debate . Jim Gilmore didn ' t even get to go to the last undercard debate , so it ' s no surprise he won ' t be appearing this time either . George Pataki and Lindsey Graham also didn ' t make the Fox Business Network cut . Maybe the three of them can get together to watch the debate , and issue angry tweets all the while , or something .  Now , it certainly makes sense to cut Gilmore , Pataki , and Graham . Their campaigns are all , obviously , toast . But it also makes perfect sense to cut Rick Santorum and Bobby Jindal , both of whom are polling at a mere 0 . 8 percent right now . Does anyone in their right mind really think Jindal or Santorum are suddenly going to catch fire and rocket upwards in the polls ? Me neither .  This category was also bizarrely split up , this time between the main debate and the kids ' table debate . The bar for inclusion on the main stage was seemingly designed to be an arbitrary split among a group of candidates whose polling is almost completely identical . The current polling difference between all five of these candidates is only a total of 0 . 8 percent , after all . That ' s a pretty tight range . So why split them up ? All five of these candidates should have been relegated to the undercard ( after booting Jindal and Santorum out completely , to make some room ) .  Chris Christie and Mike Huckabee both got downgraded to the undercard . They ' re polling at 2 . 2 and 2 . 4 percent , respectively . So the undercard will have two candidates ( Santorum and Jindal ) who are at 0 . 8 percent alongside two candidates at 2 . 2 and 2 . 4 percent . Makes no sense to me .  The other three candidates all teetering on the brink of demotion to the kids ' table are all tied for an overall sixth place in the Republican race , at 3 . 0 percent . They include the previously mentioned Carly Fiorina as well as John Kasich and Rand Paul . They ' ll all have at least one final shot in the main debate , so look for all three of these candidates to be absolutely desperate to make some news . That could be a good thing or a bad thing , depending on how they handle it .  Kasich , Paul , Huckabee , and Christie have all been roughly consistent in the polls for the past few months . They slowly jockey for position with each other , rising to as high as 4 . 0 percent at times . Christie , this time around , stayed flat . Paul and Huckabee drifted downwards , Kasich drifted upwards .  The big news , though , was Fiorina ' s dramatic fall . She can ' t even argue it was one bad poll , as the past five polls have all pegged her at exactly three percent support . Her only chance , at this point , is to have a spectacular debate performance which pulls her numbers back up above five percent . It ' s a slim chance , but it ' s probably the best of this bunch , the rest of whom have shown no recent significant movement whatsoever ( up or down ) .  These are the guys in the middle of the Republican pack , far enough forward that they could benefit from a good debate or even from the collapse of a competitor in front of them . There was quite a bit of movement in this category , from the last time I took a look . The range the category covers has widened , as two of the three candidates went up and one went further down . The overall standings didn ' t change at all , but the gaps between them got bigger .  Marco Rubio is the clear winner here , as his poll average went up a solid three points , from 8 . 8 percent to 11 . 8 percent . Rubio is now polling steadily above 10 percent , a feat few Republicans have managed throughout this campaign . He got a big bounce out of the third debate , after besting Jeb Bush on stage . He is now positioned as the top candidate to reap the aftermath , should the two no experience frontrunners ever actually collapse . As such , he ' s now drawing a lot more heat from the other candidates , so he ' ll probably have a pretty big target on him in the upcoming debate .  Ted Cruz is still in fourth place , and he also received a bounce from the last debate , although much smaller than Rubio ' s . Cruz rose from 8 . 4 percent to 9 . 6 percent , and has seen some double digit polling ( though not as consistently as Rubio ) . Cruz , however , continues a slow rise in the polling that has lasted for the past few months . He has always positioned himself to reap the biggest benefit if Trump or Carson ever do fall , by attempting to appeal to the voters who are currently supporting Trump and Carson . Their fall hasn ' t happened yet , but he ' s still got a great shot of corralling their voters ( greater even than Rubio , most likely ) should such a collapse ever actually happen , of course . Cruz has been targeting Rubio of late , so this will be an interesting dynamic to watch in the debate .  While Rubio and Cruz got a debate bounce , Jeb Bush continued to falter . Bush fell from 7 . 0 percent to 6 . 0 percent in the past few weeks , and his trajectory looks downright grim . In fact , he ' s now flirting with following Carly into the ranks of the below four percenters . Two of his latest polls showed Bush at just four percent support , a new low for Jeb . If he does continue his polling slide , it ' s likely his donors will flee when he can ' t even manage to hit the five percent mark . For now , Bush still remains viable he definitely still deserves to be on the main stage but only for now . If he falls much further , he ' ll likely never recover .  Finally , we have the two frontrunners . It ' s been amusing to watch the media ( left , right , and center ) take on the phenomena of Donald Trump and Ben Carson . First , Trump was dismissed out of hand and Carson wasn ' t even mentioned . Then , Trump was ridiculed and the conventional inside the Beltway belief was : "" He ' ll fall hard , and he ' ll fall fast . "" This morphed into : "" He ' s going to fall , it ' s inevitable . "" Then : "" It ' s a summer fling , it ' ll evaporate when voters start paying attention . "" Finally , it dawned on even those inside the Beltway that these predictions were based on nothing more than hopes , and there was no evidence that Trump ' s numbers were going to collapse any time soon . There are still die hards confidently predicting : "" It simply can ' t last , "" but most are slowly beginning to wrap their minds around the possibility that Donald Trump might just become the Republican nominee for the highest office in the land . Ben Carson has received similar treatment , but his storyline has lagged Trump ' s ( as his poll numbers , while rising , also lagged Trump ' s ) .  Sooner or later , the data must be believed , though . There are only two candidates who have caught fire with the Republican base , and they are Trump and Carson . No other candidate has gotten anywhere near where these two have been comfortably polling , for the past month or two . Could one or the other of them stumble badly and see their numbers collapse ? Anything ' s possible . So far , however , neither shows any signs of doing so . Call them the Teflon candidates , because nothing seems to stick to them .  This time around , the race between the two frontrunners closed to a neck and neck statistical tie . Trump fell back a little bit , and Carson surged forward , to meet in the middle . Part of this was due to the last debate , where Trump wasn ' t as bombastic as usual and Carson held his own . Since the last time we took a look at the race , Trump went down 1 . 4 points , from 26 . 2 percent to 24 . 8 percent . Carson rose 3 . 2 points , from 21 . 2 percent to 24 . 2 percent . That ' s a separation between the two of only 0 . 6 percent , but what ' s more significant is that Carson has been beating Trump in some individual polls ( while Trump beats Carson in others , to be fair ) . Carson ' s average even briefly rose above Trump ' s for a few days , and now they are virtually tied . Trump ' s shown a greater willingness to directly attack Carson , so the next debate should be interesting to watch as the two of them struggle for the lead .  The four divisions within the Republican presidential nomination ranks continue to be clear , whether the debate hosts notice it or not . Trump and Carson are way out in front of the pack both men have more than double the third place contender ' s poll numbers . Rubio , Cruz , and Bush occupy the heart of the pack , all polling between six and 12 percent . These are the five who should appear next to each other in the headline debates . There used to be six candidates in these two groups , but the media seem to have missed the utter collapse of Carly ' s numbers .  The third division should be the undercard debate . Fiorina , Paul , Kasich , Huckabee , and Christie are all roughly in the same position below four percent and have roughly the same chances of breaking out and having an actual chance of winning . And , finally , the has been division ( who struggle to even reach a single percent in the polls ) should be shoved off television entirely on debate nights . Santorum and Jindal have precisely the same chance ( zero ) of winning the nomination next year as Pataki , Graham , and Gilmore . They ' ve had their shot , now it ' s time to show them the door .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
9311,9312,"The more familiar something looks , the less threatening it seems . This is why images of funny looking college students marching up Broadway or shirtless boys banging on drums comprise the bulk of the imagery we see of the Occupy Wall Street movement . Stockbrokers look on , police man the barricades and what appears to be a traditional protest movement carries on another day , week or month .  But Occupy is anything but a protest movement . That ' s why it has been so hard for news agencies to express or even discern the "" demands "" of the growing legions of Occupy participants around the nation , and even the world . Just like pretty much everyone else on the planet , occupiers may want many things to happen and other things to stop , but the occupation is not about making demands . They don ' t want anything from you , and there is nothing you can do to make them stop . That ' s what makes Occupy so very scary and so very promising . It is not a protest , but a prototype for a new way of living .  Now don ' t get me wrong . The occupiers are not proposing a world in which we all live outside on pavement and sleep under tarps . Most of us do not have the courage , stamina or fortitude to work as hard as these people are working , anyway . ( Yes , they work hard . ) The urban survival camps they are setting up around the world are a bit more like showpieces , congresses and "" beta "" tests of ideas and behaviors the rest of us may soon be implementing in our communities , and in our own ways .  The occupiers are actually forging a robust micro society of working groups , each one developing new approaches or reviving old approaches to long running problems . In just one example , Occupy ' s General Assembly is a new , highly flexible approach to group discussion and consensus building . Unlike parliamentary rules that promote debate , difference and decision , the General Assembly forges consensus by "" stacking "" ideas and objections much in the fashion that computer programmers "" stack "" features . The whole thing is orchestrated through simple hand gestures ( think commodities exchange ) . Elements in the stack are prioritized , and everyone gets a chance to speak . Even after votes , exceptions and objections are incorporated as amendments .  This is just one reason why occupiers seem incompatible with current ideas about policy demands or right vs . left . They are not interested in debate ( or what Enlightenment philosophers called "" dialectic "" ) but consensus . They are working to upgrade that binary , winner takes all , 13th century political operating system . And like any software developer , they are learning to "" release early and release often . ""  Likewise , occupiers have embraced the Internet access solutions of the Free Network Foundation , who have erected "" Freedom Towers "" at the Occupy sites in New York , Austin and elsewhere through which people can access free , uncensored , authenticated Wi Fi . As this technology scales to our own communities , what happens to corporate Internet service providers is anyone ' s guess .  The occupiers have formed working groups to take on myriad social and economic issues , and their many occupation sites serve to test the approaches they come up with . One group is developing a complementary currency for use , initially , within the network of Occupy communities . Its efficacy will be tested and strengthened by occupiers providing one another with goods and services before it is rolled out to the world at large . Another working group is pushing to have people withdraw their money from large corporate banks on November 5 and move it instead to local banks or cooperatively owned credit unions .  Whether or not we agree that anything at all in modern society needs to be changed , we must at least come to understand that the occupiers are not just another political movement , nor are they simply lazy kids looking for an excuse not to work . Rather , they see the futility of attempting to use the tools of a competitive , winner takes all society for purposes that might better be served through the tools of mutual aid . This is not a game that someone wins , but rather a form of play that is successful the more people get to play , and the longer the game is kept going .  They will succeed to the extent that the various models they are prototyping out on the pavement trickle up to those of us working on solutions from the comfort of our heated homes and offices . For as we come to embrace or even consider options such as local production and commerce , credit unions , unfettered access to communications technology and consensus based democracy , we become occupiers ourselves .  The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Douglas Rushkoff .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
9313,9314,"Scores of copies of Anne Frank ' s diary and other books covering the Holocaust held by public libraries across Tokyo have been vandalized , local government officials said Friday .  Pages have been torn out of at least 167 books most of them versions of "" Anne Frank : The Diary of a Young Girl "" said authorities in the Suginami and Nakano wards of Tokyo .  The diary , which has been read by millions of people around the world , is a Jewish girl ' s account of hiding from the Nazis in Amsterdam during World War  .  Local media in Japan have reported that the recent spate of vandalism of the book in Tokyo is more widespread than the just Suginami and Nakano .  Damage to at least 265 copies of Anne Frank ' s diary has been discovered at 31 libraries since January , the Kyodo news agency reported .  The reports have stoked concern beyond Japan .  The Simon Wiesenthal Center , the Los Angeles based Jewish human rights organization , expressed "" shock "" at the news .  "" The geographic scope of these incidents strongly suggest an organized effort to denigrate the memory of the most famous of the 1 . 5 million Jewish children murdered by the Nazis in the World War  Holocaust , "" Rabbi Abraham Cooper , associate dean of the center , said in a statement .  Anne and her family spent 25 months hiding in cramped quarters in Amsterdam , living in fear of discovery by the Nazis . They were betrayed , arrested and deported in August 1944 . Anne died of typhus in the Bergen Belsen concentration camp just weeks before it was liberated in 1945 .  Cooper said the Simon Wiesenthal Center is "" calling on Japanese authorities to step up efforts to identify and deal with the perpetrators of this hate campaign . ""  The Japanese government said Friday that the police will fully investigate the matter , according to Kyodo .  "" We cannot accept it , "" Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said at a news conference . "" It ' s extremely regrettable and shameful . ""  Authorities in Suginami ward said pages had been torn from at least 119 books about Anne Frank , including her diary , in 11 public libraries . The first case of damage in the ward was reported February 6 .  In Nakano ward , authorities said 54 books from 5 libraries were found to have ripped pages . Most of the books are about Anne Frank , the ward said , but others are about the Auschwitz concentration camp .  Both wards said that so far they had been unable to identify the cause of the vandalism .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
9325,9326,"Alexander Howard Senior Editor for Technology and Society , The Huffington Post  Jeb Bush is not the master of his domain .  While the Republican presidential hopeful ' s campaign owns and operates an official website , ? Jeb2016weblink , it apparently failed to secure ? JebBushweblink . If you try visiting the unofficial domain , ? you ' ll be redirected to DonaldJTrumpweblink , the campaign site for  frontrunner Donald Trump .  ? It ' s not clear whether Trump had anything to do with this , though The Daily Caller has ? implied as much . ?  According to the domain history ? for JebBushweblink , it was first registered in 1997 and updated Oct . 20 , 2015 . ? It ' s ? currently registered to Fabulous  Ltd . , which provides website management tools and ad revenue . ?  reported in April that JebBushweblink was available for 250 , 000 .  Bush isn ' t the first of the competitors for the Republic presidential nomination to experience this flavor of digital tweak : Texas Senator ? Ted Cruz doesn ' t own TedCruzweblink . Former   Carly Fiorina failed to register CarlyFiorina . org ? before someone else snapped it up .  However , ? domain name hijinks are much less likely to influence the outcome of a race than they might have a decade ago , as ? Hunter Schwarz reported at the Washington Post earlier this year . Unless a fake web address gets a huge surge in media attention , inbound links and shares on social media , it ' s unlikely to rank high in Google Search results , which means most people won ' t ever see what ' s on it .  Regardless of the presumed lack of impact on the race , the JebBushweblink episode is a black eye for the former Florida governor ' s presidential campaign , which should have locked up that web address years ago .  Overlooking this detail also supports what a source told Politico in June : Matt Lira , who ' s now ? ? a senior advisor to House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy , felt that the Bush campaign was "" too focused on  advertising and not enough on building a digital presence ? which is what he d planned to do . "" ?  What may be more worrisome to all of the Republican field is some evidence of search engine bias that favors Democrats ? as researchers at the University of Maryland have found .  While it remains a stretch to claim that "" Google is Hillary Clinton ' s ' secret weapon , ' "" as the primaries grown nearer , information searches for candidates will spike in the coming year , putting a premium on search engine optimization from the campaigns . ?  Smart , well financed campaigns won ' t just make sure that their candidate ' s official website and social media accounts rank high : They ' ll also advertise against the search results for other candidate ' s names , getting targeted attack ads on the screens of mobile voters who may no longer be reachable through traditional television ads .  While this kind of redirected interest is inconvenient for the Bush campaign , it could be worse . Just ask former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum about his ? Google problem .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
9338,9339,"North Korea May Provide It’s Own Election Day Bombshell November 07, 2016 North Korea May Provide It's Own Election Day Bombshell  South Korea’s military is on high alert over concerns that North Korea will launch a missile as U.S. voters head to the polls on election day, reports Yonhap News Agency. Military officials suggest that the North may attempt another launch one of its Musudan intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM), a potential threat to U.S. forces in Guam. The American strategic assets stationed in Guam could be used to back up U.S. and South Korean troops on the Korean peninsula were the North to attack its southern neighbor. South Korea’s military noted that Pyongyang may want to present a show of force to demonstrate that it will continue its nuclear and ballistic missile programs despite pressure from the U.S. and the international community.  “Doing a major test would be a way of trying to intimidate the incoming president,” Victor Cha, senior adviser and Korea chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, previously told CNN, “North Korea chooses particular windows that they know will gain maximum attention from the world, and the  in particular.”  North Korea has historically attempted to stir up trouble around U.S. elections,  explained, citing a recent  study on North Korea and its provocations.  “We are closely watching every move by the North Korean military at its Punggye-ri nuclear test site and other possible missile-launching sites. The military is fully prepared to respond to any provocative acts by the North,” an official from South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) revealed to reporters.    Chairman Gen. Lee Sun-jin told troops to arm themselves with a “fight tonight” spirit.   MORE:           U.S. officials have also indicated that the North may attempt another missile launch prior to or during the election. It is unclear, however, whether the North is prepared to carry out such a test.  North Korea has conducted eight Musudan  tests with only one success. The two most recent tests were failures which damaged some of the Korean People’s Army’s launch equipment.  “While there has been speculation of a North Korean satellite launch or nuclear test occurring during the run-up to the  Presidential election, the evidence from commercial satellite imagery of the Sohae Satellite Launching Station and the Punggye-ri nuclear test site suggests it’s possible but unlikely,” 38 North, a blog run by the U.S.-Korea Institute at SAIS, argued.  The U.S.-based think tank did, however, note that there has been some activity around the North Portal at the Punggye-ri nuclear test site and that North Korea could conduct a nuclear test on short notice.  Pyongyang has not made any public threats, but that does not preclude the possibility of an election day surprise from North Korea. Article by Doc Burkhart , Vice-President, General Manager and co-host of  with Rick Wiles Got a news tip? Email us at Help support the ministry of  with your one-time or monthly gift of financial support.   !     APP!  HERE! Donate Today! Support  to help build a global news network that provides a credible source for world news  We believe Christians need and deserve their own global news network to keep the worldwide Church informed, and to offer Christians a positive alternative to the anti-Christian bigotry of the mainstream news media Top Stories",fake,news,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
9346,9347,"Gambling on the Unknowable Trump November 13, 2016  Donald Trump’s victory may have shaken up the System but it also revealed a recklessness (or a desperation) among Americans in handing over such immense power to someone so untested, says Michael Brenner.  By Michael Brenner  At this moment of unprecedented upheaval, it is striking that some things never change. We are being subject to a tidal wave of interpretation and speculation as to what a Trump administration means for American foreign relations in regard to inter alia Russia, Syria, the Iran nuclear deal, the “pivot to Asia,” trans-Atlantic ties and, of course, Mexico.  It is entirely natural for a distraught political elite to wonder what comes next from this unstable, quixotic showman who soon will be sitting in the White House. It is neither natural nor appropriate, though, to make believe that Washington in experiencing a transition of power to be approached in standard terms. The unpalatable truth is that we have no idea as to what Trump will do or not do. President-elect Donald Trump.  Trump’s campaign remarks are the sole evidence available for indications of the direction that he will take. That is an extremely flimsy a basis for forecasting actions abroad. For two reasons. Candidates’ calculated sound bites while running almost never are a reliable guide to their thinking – in its rudimentary form or as it takes shape under the influence of real life conditions and the counsel of advisers.  Consider Barack Obama, a far more thoughtful, sober and intelligent man. Remember the objective of eliminating nuclear weapons (rather than committing $1 trillion to the development of a more “usable” arsenal). Remember closing Guantanamo and reining in electronic surveillance of Americans. Remember ending the engagement of American troops in the “GWOT” (we now are fighting in 38 places by one means or another).  Remember “resetting” relations with Vladimir Putin’s Russia to emphasize dialogue. Remember the stated goal of normalizing relations with the Mullahs in Teheran instead of treating them as inherently hostile to America. Remember promoting democracy as the long-term cure to what ails the Middle East (instead, backing full tilt the Gulf autocracies, including Saudi Arabia’s homicidal war on the Yemeni people; Sisi’s oppressive autocracy in Egypt; and Israel’s increasing brutalization of the Palestinians).  Points of Demagoguery  Second, Trump’s comments about foreign policy were mere points of demagoguery meant, as with everything else he said, to appeal to the primitive instincts of an aroused audience. There is not the slightest sign that he had thought seriously about any of it. Donald Trump finds serious thinking itself an alien mental activity. Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions, one of the few Senate Republicans to support Donald Trump, donning one of Trump’s “Make America Great Again” caps.  Moreover, he has few experienced advisers in his entourage. Apart from some conversations with retired General Michael Flynn, the off-beat former head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, and the chairman of his national security advisory panel, James Woolsey, former Director of the CIA, his “advisers” have been a collection of odd-balls, non-entities and dogmatists. Woolsey himself is an uber-hawk whose views on all matters of consequence align with those of the neocons, the Cheney-like hard nationalists and Hillary Clinton – and are diametrically opposite to Trump’s much publicized iconoclastic remarks.  So what we will be seeing between now and the Inauguration, and afterwards, is a mad rush by a horde of aspirants for the power and access to occupy Donald Trump’s mind – if they can find it.  This is the brutal reality. Since it provides little of substance for the habitual commentators, they are inclined to play a game of make-believe – conjuring supposedly meaningful evidence from what is a kaleidoscope of emotional outbursts and a fantasia of day dreams.  There is good reason to believe that within six months of Trump’s taking office, when his administrations undertakes its first half-baked measures abroad, the think tank crowd will be writing articles and monographs on “The Trump Doctrine.”  In other words, the same mentality that helped get us into this mess. Americans have become committed to a new categorical imperative: I sound off, therefore I am.  If Truth be told, the America we have known and imagined is ended. It never will return. In terms of relations with others, image is of enormous importance. The United States has gained great advantage from being seen as exceptional. From its earliest days, it fascinated and gave inspiration as the first working democracy, as the embodiment of the hope-filled New World, as the land of the common man and common decency.  Later, as it grew into a world power, it held the allure for many as being somehow beyond the world’s pervasive tawdriness. These images held even as contradicted by slavery and racism, by imperial wars of expansion, by signs of hypocrisy. America did tip the balance in favor of the right side in two world wars; it did demonstrate uncommon magnanimity in its support for German and Japanese reconstruction and democracy. Even when playing the game of power politics, it retained a measure of credibility as the one underwriter and arbitrator to whom others might resort.  The resulting “soft power” or “soft influence” has been a unique asset. Already dissipated to a high degree over the decades of the Global War On Terror, it now is destined to fade into a shadow of its former self. A blatantly racist, xenophobic, studiously ignorant, and belligerent country cannot retain the respect of other governments or the high regard of their peoples.  A country so feckless as to choose Trump the buffoon as its President is mocking itself. The negative impact will be compounded as the United States is riven by internal conflicts of all kinds, repressive actions and perhaps another serious economic crisis.  The damage to America’s standing in the world should hardly be a surprise; yet many are inclined to underestimate the effect. One cannot appreciate what we have become by talking to foreign friends on the Washington circuit, or by listening to the polite regrets of those around the world who are interviewed by the media. Walk the streets of cities abroad for unscripted reactions to this historic act of national self-mutilation.  We can expect that whoever winds up in senior policy positions in a Trump administration will downplay these intangibles – if they even acknowledge them. In this, they will be encouraged by the tradition of self-delusion that has become a feature of American thinking about its place in the world.  Think of the Middle East where just about everything that we have been doing since 2001 has been guided by a fantastical view of the region – from Iraq, to Syria, to Yemen, to the Gulf, to Turkey, to Palestine and Israel.  Divorced from Reality  This tendency to divorce ourselves from reality so as to perpetuate myths of American omnipotence and superiority is also witnessed at the operational level. Consider these examples: President George W. Bush in a flight suit after landing on the  Abraham Lincoln to give his “Mission Accomplished” speech about the Iraq War on May 1, 2003  –The U.S. habitually characterizes anybody who resists our use of force against them as evil and criminal. Thus, the insurgents in Iraq are “anti-Iraqi” forces; the Houthis in Yemen are Iranian proxies, the Palestinians are nothing but terrorists, the Russian population in the Donbas region of Ukraine are Russian commandos directed from the Kremlin with the aim of unraveling all of Europe and NATO, etc. etc.  –American policy-makers find it convenient to pursue strategies that entail squaring circles. The outcome is predictable. The outstanding case in point is Syria where for four years they have committed themselves to ousting Assad by force while continuing the fight against violent Islamist groups. That has placed us in the absurd position of allying with Al Qaeda (providing indirect material, and indirect political support) while still fulminating about the grave danger of terrorism.  –We present ourselves as the promoter and well-wisher of democracy while giving unstinting support to oppressive regimes in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and elsewhere while facilitating the ouster of democratically elected reformist leaders in Honduras, Bolivia. Ecuador, Bolivia, Paraguay and Brazil.  These self-delusional practices have prepared the psychological ground for the grand illusion to come in assuming that the America of Trump will continue to draw the world’s admiration and its deference to American leadership.  Normalizing Trump  The inclination to “normalize” the transition in treating Trump, his utterances and his odd-lot entourage as if they somehow could be squeezed into conventional molds is understandable. It is a manifestation of an unwitting coping strategy for coming to terms with the shattering event of his election.  Americans in general are pursuing a similar psychological strategy for the sake of preserving the conception of themselves and their country deeply rooted in their consciousness. Hence, the impulse to minimize the singularity of this revolutionary development without precedent – not only in the United States but anywhere in the democratic world. This is one instance where American “exceptionalism” is not prized.  This is a natural reaction to a brutal Truth about Americans – and its dire consequences. For the choice of Trump reveals most Americans as immature and prone to juvenile behavior. To vote for Trump is the ultimate act of political immaturity.  There are, of course, identifiable reasons why many were drawn to the flamboyant candidate, why his demagoguery resonated, why his exaggerated imagery struck a receptive nerve. However, for that emotional response to translate into the actual selection of this man to be President crosses a critical threshold.  Children – at times – let emotion rule their conduct. Children only weakly feel the imperative to impose logic and a modicum reason on their impulses. Children disregard consequences. Children overlook the downside in their implicit weighing of the balance in giving in to those impulses or not. Grown-ups do not.  Immediate satisfaction – at all and any cost – does not eclipse other considerations for adults. Even a child’s tantrum usually lasts no more than ten minutes or so. The tantrum of Trump voters has lasted 18 months.  That’s pathological – anyway you cut it. Admittedly, some Trump supporters share his perverted view of the world – even if contradicted by his own personal history. Let’s say 12 to 15 percent of the electorate. A larger slice was represented by dyed-in-the-wool Republicans who relished sticking it to the Hillary and the Democrats to such a degree that their thrill at the spectacle overcame their realization that Trump was unfit for the office. Indeed, many probably expected him to lose and, therefore, felt free to go along for the fun of it.  That leaves roughly 10 to 20 percent of the electorate who placed their emotional gratification above their responsibilities as citizens and above the wellbeing of the Republic. That is the difference between the nearly 50 percent he received and what a broad rejection would represent. They constitute the hard core of the culpable juveniles.  What about those who could not stand Hillary, who felt an irresistible impulse to express that feeling somehow? Many options were open to them: abstain, vote for one of the minor candidates, go to the gym and exhaust oneself on an elliptical trainer, get drunk, smoke some weed, pick a fight with one’s spouse. Any of these represents more grown-up behavior than voting for Donald Trump.  By comparison, in France when Jean Marie Le Pen – candidate of the racist far-right party, the Front National – FN, made it into the second round of their presidential election, he and his party were rejected by 82.2 percent of the electorate. In other words, the French rallied together to reject Le Pen. That is what a mature polity does. And Le Pen is sane, albeit a crypto-fascist.  Michael Brenner is a professor of international affairs at the University of Pittsburgh.",fake,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
9357,9358,"When we first make contact with aliens , they won ' t be toothy horrors from beyond the void , obsessed with eating or enslaving the human race , says one of Earth ' s most seasoned alien hunters .  The technological challenges involved in faster than light travel would mean that the aliens were so hi tech they would have no need for slaves , and would probably have their own ways of manufacturing food .  ' Often the aliens of science fiction say more about us than they do about themselves , ' said Jill Tarter , who announced on May 22nd that she was stepping down as Director of the Center for  ( Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence ) Research .  Michael Fassbender in trailer for Ridley Scott movie Prometheus : But when we first make contact with aliens , they won ' t be toothy horrors from beyond the void , obsessed with eating or enslaving the human race , says one of Earth ' s most seasoned alien hunters  Sigourney Weaver confronts the alien in Alien 3 : The technological challenges involved in faster than light travel would mean that the aliens were so hi tech they would be unlikely to view us as food or incubators for their young  Tarter is to continue her research into aliens even after retirement , but she has headed Earth ' s search for radio signals from space for 35 years .  ' While Sir Stephen Hawking warned that alien life might try to conquer or colonize Earth , I respectfully disagree , ' says Tarter .  ' If aliens were able to visit Earth that would mean they would have technological capabilities sophisticated enough not to need slaves , food , or other planets .  ' If aliens were to come here it would be simply to explore . Considering the age of the Universe , we probably wouldn ' t be their first extraterrestrial encounter , either .  ' We should look at movies like ' Men in Black  , ' ' Prometheus ' and ' Battleship ' as great entertainment and metaphors for our own fears , but we should not consider them harbingers of alien visitation . '  War of the Worlds : But the technological challenges of interstellar travel will mean that aliens who meet us would be explorers , rather than conquerors  Aliens are exceptionally well represented at the local multiplex this spring .  Hostile invaders , tipped off by an overly enthusiastic broadcast from Earth , try to sink a lot of naval hardware in ' Battleship ' domestic extraterrestrials give headaches to urbane government agents in ' Men in Black  ' and fans of the ' Alien ' films finally get the back story of Ridley Scott ' s toothy terror in the famous director ' s prequel , ' Prometheus . '   Institute astronomer Seth Shostak has been a consultant on ' Battleship , ' ' Green Hornet , ' and ' The Day the Earth Stood Still , ' as well as other films .  Frequently , the creative folks simply want your help in solving a script problem for example , what sort of weaponry might an alien society commandeer , ' says Shostak . ' On other occasions , they just want some technical corrections to dialog . But the really interesting challenge is to introduce these people to some of the newer ideas in science ideas that aren ' t yet hackneyed . '  ' Ours is the one conference where the public can rub elbows with the innovators and leaders in the quest to find life in the universe , ' said Andrew Fraknoi ,  Institute Trustee and Foothill College Astronomy Professor . ' It ' s where ideas that sounded like science fiction just a few years ago become part of today ' s reality . '  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
9359,9360,"Whether lambasting racial inequity with his trademark eccentricity, or putting on a Jheri curl wig for a   parody of Rick James, Dave Chappelle has long been considered one of the most exciting   in comedy. But he hasn’t issued a special or album since his infamous decision to walk away from the critically acclaimed “Chappelle’s Show” on Comedy Central  —   and a $50 million contract  —   in 2005. [ Read a review of the Netflix specials ] He   in the spotlight in 2013, rekindling his love of   in what one critic called “magnetically compelling” sets in a variety of spaces: comedy clubs, festivals and 10   shows at Radio City Music Hall.   the medium that first made Mr. Chappelle famous, was again his life’s work. On Tuesday he releases two new specials on Netflix, “Deep in the Heart of Texas” and “The Age of Spin,” culled from a 2015 performance in Austin and a 2016 show in Los Angeles. In an interview that touched on the death of Prince and his conflicted feelings about Bill Cosby, Mr. Chappelle spoke by phone on Thursday about his contract with Netflix, his “Saturday Night Live” appearance and how the election of President Trump affects comedy. These are edited excerpts from the conversation. You caught flack for walking away from a lucrative  deal more than a decade ago. Now Netflix is reportedly paying you $60 million to air these two prerecorded   performances and create a   third one. It wasn’t like I made a deal and had to go out and do a lot. [Laughs] I just had to deliver the shows. And you’ll be releasing another   special for Netflix this year as part of the   deal.  Yeah. I’m working on that now. Not a bad deal. Do you have other unreleased shows still in the vault? I have hundreds of hours of   audio recording of shows I did after I quit my television show. And then I [taped] three specials  —   one in Chicago, one in Austin, and one in L. A. Oh, and I also recorded the Radio City shows. These specials showcase a comedian who is reinvigorated by   comedy. I could quit my show, and that’s one kind of difficulty. But quitting doing   would be another. I’m sure everybody gets to a point where they run out of [stuff] to say, and they’ve got to take a knee and recharge and be introspective and live their life. But it’s hard to not ever come back to. Guys might walk away from it and close the door, but they don’t lock it behind. Eddie Murphy always entertains the possibility of doing it again. Even though he doesn’t do it, I’m sure he thinks about it all the time. It’s just one of those things where you’ll do it for 10 years, and then you’ll think about it for the next 30.  Many of your contemporaries are still performing. It kind of reminds me of the ’90s: Chris [Rock] is back out there, I see Jerry [Seinfeld] around, I hear Jon Stewart is around again. All these people who are great comics that stopped doing  . It’s fun to see everybody back. It’s a good time for comedy in that respect. But the whole Trump thing makes it harder for comedians. How so?  He’s so skewed, it’s hard to find an angle that sounds fresh. If you talk about him, it’s almost like you’re part of the chorus and not a soloist. How do you view the dynamic between comedy and bringing truth to power? I think it’s interesting that people perceive us as having a sanctuary. Because I don’t. In fact, I think we’re almost disproportionately taken to task over what we say. “Chappelle’s Show” brought you a level of ubiquity few comedians ever achieve. A lot of times when you’re a famous dude, you don’t really feel like a person is actually looking at you. They’re looking at the phenomenon that you’ve become. Every once in a while, a person will engage with you, and you’ll be like, O. K. this person actually sees me. But I didn’t want the headache or the scrutiny. It was too much for me at that point. I felt like after I quit my show, the crowds could actually see me. The audience recalibrated with me. They listened to me again. And it was great. I started playing clubs again just because I enjoyed it. It was reaffirming a love for [ ]. It was important for me to do that. I needed that. I loved it. In the last few years, I’ve found an altitude I’m comfortable with. You famously parodied Prince on your  show. How did you react when you learned of his passing?  It’s a hard thing to talk about. I looked up to him like everybody did. I didn’t know him that well, but the times that we hung out were fun and very memorable and often funny. He was very generous with his advice, and he was very generous with his access. He let me see some of his process. He fostered a community among artists. He used to have these parties where we would go over to his house, and there would be all these musicians that I admired, and they’d just do these jam sessions in the basement. Everybody at the party was playing something. I think when he died there was the icon dying, but then there was this pillar in the community of people dying. Take me through hosting “Saturday Night Live” last November in the immediate wake of the election. At a certain point [on election night] we were all in the writers’ room, and as the night went on, and Trump was picking up these Electoral [College] votes, everyone stopped writing. And then everyone was just staring at the TV. I saw people tear up sketches they were writing. They’d assumed Hillary was going to win. Now there was essentially no show on Saturday. It was like the wind got knocked out of the writers’ room. I was really worried. And yet you delivered a humorous, poignant monologue reflecting your equal parts hope and fear for the future. The best advice I got was from Louis C. K. I went to a comedy club Friday night [before the show] and saw him. And Louis told me: “[Forget] the rest of the show. The monologue is all that matters. ” I was stressed out all that day. But right before I went onstage, this calm just washed over me. Everything just felt right. As someone who idolized Bill Cosby as a child, it’s surprising you dedicate so much time in both specials to the rape allegations against him. The Bill Cosby thing was tough for me. I’m not saying that to detract from his alleged victims at all. But he was a hero of mine. Is there a mourning process involved? So many bad things happened to our heroes: Muhammad Ali had Parkinson’s Richard Pryor had M. S. Prince died too young. And Bill just looked like one of the guys who was going to get to the finish line and just die of old age. And this happened. Jesus Christ. It’s awful. How do you respond when critics put you in the same conversation as comedy greats like George Carlin, Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy and Chris Rock? I appreciate it, but it’s not a useful thing. I don’t know what to do with that but just be humbled by it. You never feel like you’re better than your heroes. What does life look like moving forward?  I need time to think. I need to have experiences. I have to live in order to get onstage. When I’m sitting there staring into space, that’s the heavy lifting. I’m like everybody: Sometimes I’m wildly optimistic sometimes I feel doom and gloom. We all just keep moving.",true,news,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
9365,9366,"This story is for anyone who thinks King Obama s latest decree isn t reckless and dangerous to ever woman and girl in America A man is accused of choking an 8-year-old girl until she passed out in the bathroom of a restaurant in Chicago s South Loop.The girl was with her mother at the Jason s Deli in the 1200-block of South Canal Street on Saturday, police said. The girl and her mother were inside the restroom separated by stalls around 1:15 p.m.Police say 33-year-old Reese Hartstirn walked in and targeted the girl, choking her and trying to lock her in a stall. The mother heard her daughter scream and grabbed her.Police said other people in the deli helped hold the man until officers arrived.Jason s Deli released a statement Friday regarding the incident: We re blessed to have a wonderful relationship with the Chicago Police Department. Many of them are our customers and because of their connection to our deli, this unfortunate situation was handled very quickly. We re proud of how out team members responded and thankful that we have the kind of customers that are willing to lend a hand in a difficult situation. We continue to work hard every day to make every customer happy. The girl was taken to Comer Children s Hospital, but police did not have information about her condition.Hartstirn, of the 500-block of North Racine Avenue, was charged with aggravated kidnapping of a child, aggravated battery of a child and battery causing bodily harm.Police said he was also charged with aggravated assault of a peace officer because he swung at an officer who booked him at the Central District station. Via: ABC7-Chicago",fake,dataset,test,American football,Sports/Other,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
9398,9399,"The airline whose plane crashed into a Taipei river has cancelled 90 flights over the next three days and it puts its pilots through special training .  The dozens of pilots who operate TransAsia Airways '  propeller jets began proficiency tests on Saturday , three days after one of the carrier ' s ATRs crashed into the Keelung River , killing at least 40 people .  Incredible images emerged of the aircraft clipping an elevated motorway , with one of its wing tips hitting a taxi , before it smashed into the water .  Search and rescue divers continue to look for missing passengers from in the Keelung River today  Firemen in Taipei carry another body from a victim of the TransAsia Airways plane crash  With the famous Taipei 101 building in the background , divers on boats look for missing passengers  Five more bodies were recovered from the water today . At least 40 people died in the crash  TransAsia  72 600 clipping an elevated motorway and hitting a taxi before crashing into the Keelung River  Rescuers have continued to scour the crash site and recovered five more bodies today , according to the Taipei City Fire Department . Three people remain missing .  The airline said it had cancelled dozens of flights to accommodate the requirement by Taiwan ' s Civil Aeronautics Administration that all 71 of its  pilots be retested .  Preliminary investigations indicate the pilots of Wednesday ' s doomed flight shut off a running engine of the  72 after its other engine went idle , a move that aviation experts said was an error .  ' It ' s a mistake , ' said John M . Cox , a former  Airways pilot and now head of a safety consulting company .  ' There are procedures that pilots go through safeguards when you ' re going to shut down an engine , particularly close to the ground . Why that didn ' t occur here , I don ' t know . '  Local prosecutors have said they will look into the possibility of ' professional error . '  Thomas Wang , head of Taiwan ' s Aviation Safety Council , said Saturday that it was too early to reach conclusions about any pilot error .  Pratt Whitney Canada , the plane ' s engine maker , and the safety council have begun to examine both of the aircraft ' s engines , a process that can take four months , Mr Wang said .  The plane crashed with 53 passengers and five crew , killing 38 people and leaving 15 injured and five missing  Divers prepare to get into the Keelung River . TransAsia ' s 71 pilots are currently being retested  Divers on boats are still looking for five missing passengers three days after the horrific crash  Preliminary investigations indicate the pilots of Wednesday ' s doomed flight shut off a running engine of the  72 after its other engine went idle , which was a mistake  Fifteen people were rescued with injuries after the accident , which was captured in a dramatic dashboard camera video that showed the aircraft banking steeply and scraping a highway overpass before it hurtled into the water .  With warmer temperatures , divers on Saturday were able to retrieve more bodies , which were found hundreds of meters downriver from the crash site .  One body turned up near the shore , and others were submerged in mud , said You Chia yi , a command post chief with the fire department .  Family members of those still missing have given up hope , said Lee Hung Shu ying , a Tzu Chi Foundation volunteer who talked to numerous relatives Saturday .  ' They know it ' s not possible ( to survive ) with the weather being so cold , ' she said . ' They just hope the bodies can be found . '  ",true,text,test,Football,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
9400,9401,"In order to forge the new relationship , Xi , in a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the second summit of the Forum on China Africa Cooperation (  ) , called for concerted efforts to strengthen "" five major pillars "" and announced 10 major plans to boost bilateral win win cooperation .  The address , punctuated by rounds of applause , resonated among officials and observers , who say that it will lead the friendship and cooperation between the world ' s largest developing country and the continent that is home to the largest number of developing countries to an even brighter future .  Describing China and Africa as good friends , good partners and good brothers with a common future , Xi said the two sides have always been a community of common destiny , with similar historical experiences having generated a profound friendship between their people .  Under the new circumstances , he pointed out , the two sides need to translate the strengths of their traditional friendship into driving forces to boost solidarity , cooperation and development , so as to deliver more tangible benefits to both peoples .  "" In conducting China ' s relations with Africa , we adhere to the principles of sincerity , practical results , affinity and good faith and uphold the values of friendship , justice and shared interests , "" Xi told the audience , which included dozens of heads of state or government .  He suggested that China and African countries focus on reinforcing "" five major pillars "" in their joint efforts to foster the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership .  In politics , the two sides should remain committed to political equality and mutual trust , said Xi , stressing that China strongly believes that Africa belongs to the African people and African affairs should be handled by the African people .  "" We should respect each other ' s choice of development path and not impose our own will on the other , "" Xi said .  In the economic realm , China and Africa should remain committed to win win cooperation , Xi said , suggesting that the two sides fully leverage the strength of political mutual trust and economic complementarity and focus on cooperation in production capacity , construction of regional transport networks and industrialization .  Meanwhile , China and Africa , which both boast a long and splendid civilization , should learn from each other in culture , and particularly focus on boosting people to people exchanges between the youths , women , think tanks , media organizations and universities , Xi said .  Also , the two sides need to close ranks and help each other in security , said the president , stressing that Beijing supports Africa resolving African problems in African ways and stands ready to help Africa enhance its capacity in safeguarding peace and security .  In addition , Xi called upon the two sides to cement unity and coordination on international affairs and jointly defend their common interests , and pledged that China will continue to support Africa in playing a bigger role on the world stage .  "" China , after reform and opening up of over 30 years , now has the technology , equipment , professional and skilled personnel and capital needed to help Africa realize sustainable self development , "" he said .  "" In particular , China has the strong political commitment to supporting Africa in achieving development and prosperity . China and Africa share mutual needs and complementarities and face a rare historic opportunity in pursuing development through cooperation , "" added the president .  To realize the upgrade to relationship , Xi announced , China will carry out 10 major plans in the next three years to boost its cooperation with Africa .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
9411,9412,"Paris Severe weather continued to disrupt travel across Europe Thursday , as heavy snowfall forced a border closure between France and Luxembourg and stranded thousands of airline passengers in Germany ' s busiest airport .  The relentless snowfall shut down traffic on the A31 , a major highway , which prompted the closing of the border . The severe weather also forced German officials to cancel 239 flights and order a four hour shutdown of the Frankfurt airport .  German ' s second largest airport , in Munich , announced the cancellation of 51 flights , most of them resulting from canceled flights at other airports .  The border closing and flight cancellations come a day after heavy snow paralyzed travel in the Paris region , where officials suspended air traffic at one of Europe ' s busiest airports , closed several highways and shut down the Eiffel Tower .  The tourist attraction reopened Thursday as officials downgraded a weather warning for central France from orange to yellow .  French police urged motorists to avoid driving unless absolutely necessary to get to work . However , G rard Gauzet , director of Paris motorways , said Thursday morning that "" traffic should be back to normal by mid afternoon . ""  The Paris Metro is also running smoothly , but weather continues to delay some bus traffic , which was completely shut down by snow on Wednesday .  At Charles de Gaulle airport , "" air traffic is almost back to normal , "" according to an airport spokeswoman .  "" However , passengers should be prepared for delays and cancellations depending on the airline , "" the spokeswoman said . Snowfall shut down air traffic for several hours in the afternoon Wednesday .  The Wednesday traffic jams in the Parisian metro area set a new record . According to the National Center for Highway Information , snarled traffic lined 420 kilometers of roadways around the capital .  Shelters opened in the region to take in stranded motorists , and many people reported spending the night in their offices after being unable to get home .  Some disruptions were also reported on the region ' s railways Wednesday , with the high speed  trains limited to a speed of 230 kph instead of the usual speeds of up to 320 kph , and several trains were delayed .  "" There ' s an incredible silence , not one noise , "" she said . "" People are leaving their cars and trying to go on foot . I saw one man on skis , who was going to find his wife who was stuck in a traffic jam two kilometers away . He was going to help her get out of her car . ""  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
9416,9417,"Accused : Tracy Marie Barras has been accused of sending naked photos of herself to three students and performing oral sex on one of them  A married teacher has been accused of sending naked photos of herself to three students and performing oral sex on one of them in her classroom .  Tracy Marie Barras was arrested at home after police in Louisiana launched an investigation into the allegations of inappropriate conduct .  Barras , 34 , is alleged to have sent the teens nude photos through , Kik , a text messaging app .  One of the teens told investigators Barras performed oral sex on him in her classroom before a homecoming pep rally .  Barras , a math teachers , worked at Crowley High School in Acadia Parish .  According to her Facebook Page she is married with a six year old son .  Acadia Parish Sheriff Wayne Melancon said investigators with his office were contacted by officials with the Acadia Parish School Board .  School officials had reported possible inappropriate behavior between a teacher and several 16 year old male students .  Following an investigation into the incidents , investigators were able to obtain warrants of arrest for Barras , 34 , of Duson .  The teacher is the latest in the state of Louisiana to face under age sex charges .  Two teachers in a neighboring parish are accused of having a threesome with a 16 year old and making a sex tape .  Shelley Dufresen , 32 , and Rachel Respasss , 24 , are alleged to have romped with the teen and videoed the encounter .  The women , who both worked at Destrehan High School in St Charles Parish , have been suspended from their jobs .  Relationships : Barras , a math teachers , worked at Crowley High School in Acadia Parish  Inappropriate : One of the teens told investigators Barras performed oral sex on him in her classroom  Relationships : Barras , 34 , left , and right , is pictured with an unidentified man , she is alleged to have sent the teens nude photos through , Kik , a text messaging app  The two women were charged with carnal knowledge of a juvenile and indecent behavior .  Barras was released from jail following her arrest after raising bail of 60 , 000 .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
9476,9477,"Samsung is set to start making its own smartphone chips in a bid to move ahead of Apple in the smartphone wars .  The firm will not use Qualcomm Inc ' s processors for the next version of the South Korean technology giant ' s flagship Galaxy S smartphone , Bloomberg claims , citing unidentified sources .  Samsung , the world ' s No . 1 smartphone maker , has been one of the U . Sweblinkpany ' s top customers .  Samsung ' s latest handset , the Galaxy Alpha . The firm is set to use its own chips in new handsets , it has been claimed  Previous leaks from  say the  G925F , the codename believed to be assigned to the Galaxy S6 , will feature a Quad  ( 2560 x 1440 resolution ) 5 . 5inch display .  It will also have an octa core processor , Mali T768 graphics processing unit , and a 16 megapixel rear facing camera .  The handset is expected to be unveiled at Mobile World Congress , a trade show in Barcelona , which takes place from 2 5 March .  However , Qualcomm ' s new Snapdragon 810 chip overheated during Samsung ' s testing , Bloomberg reported .  The South Korean company will use its own processors instead , Bloomberg said .  Such an outcome would be a blow for Qualcomm ' s prospects for 2015 , with the company already having guided for weaker than usual annual revenue growth in a five year outlook issued in November .  A Qualcomm spokesman declined to comment on the report .  A Samsung spokeswoman said the company does not comment on rumours .  Analysts have said the Snapdragon 810 chip has been dealing with a variety of performance issues that may not be corrected in time for the launch of Samsung ' s next Galaxy S smartphone .  The South Korean firm is widely expected to unveil the device on the sidelines of the Mobile World Congress trade show in early March , and according to  Arena it will be unveiled on March 2nd .  Samsung will need to ensure that the phone does not disappoint in order to keep its global market share from slipping further , analysts said .  Samsung has already used its own Exynos processors in flagship devices such as the Galaxy S5 to some extent , though analysts said Qualcomm ' s Snapdragon chips were more widely used .  Greater adoption of Exynos chips in Samsung smartphones would help boost sales for the struggling foundry business .  ' Samsung will likely show off the new Galaxy S phone in about a month and a half , so one would have to assume that the chips have been tested a fair amount in order for them to be used , ' said  Investment analyst Greg Roh .  Apple already designs its own chips some of which are made by Samsung  Successful deployment of Exynos chips in flagship Samsung smartphones will help burnish the company ' s credentials as a chip designer and manufacturer , Roh said .  This could help its foundry business attract more orders from the likes of Apple Inc , he said .  Earlier this week it was claimed Samsung ' s next generation Galaxy handset could have a curved screen that covers both its sides .  The handset , which is expected to have a 5 . 5inch screen , will come in a ' special edition ' version with the curved technology , according to Sammobile .  The Korean giant believes its curved technology could give it an edge over arch rival Apple .  A Samsung Galaxy Note E , the first to use Samsung ' s curved screen . It is claimed the Galaxy S6 could come in a special edition with both sides featuring the technology .  The handset is expected to be unveiled at Mobile World Congress , a trade show in Barcelona , which takes place from 2 5 March .  ' Today , we can confirm that Samsung is indeed developing a Galaxy S6 with two edge displays , one on each side , reports our source , ' said the Sammobile site .  The curved screen has already been used in Samsung ' s Note Edge .  However , S6 Edge will have the ability to work in a left or right handed mode  ' You will have an option to choose favourite contacts and an ability to assign specific colours to them , ' explained Sammobile .  ' So , calls and notifications from important people will show the designated color lighting on the edge area . '  Previous leaks from  say the  G925F the codename believed to be assigned to the Galaxy S6 will feature a Quad  ( 2560 x 1440 resolution ) display , octa core processor , Mali T768 graphics processing unit , and a 16 megapixel rear facing camera .  Earlier this month , in the face of stiff competition , and following a consecutive drop in profits , Samsung announced plans to curb the number of phones it makes each year .  Instead of releasing handset after handset and saturating the market with Samsung devices , the firm has decided it needs to concentrate on making fewer handsets , better .  The South Korean manufacturer is also expected to ramp up production of its remaining models so they can be sold more cheaply .  In the face of stiff competition , and following a consecutive drop in profits , Samsung has announced plans to curb the number of phones it makes each year by between a quarter and a third . Instead of saturating the market with Samsung devices , the firm has decided it needs to concentrate on making fewer handsets , better  The strategy was unveiled during a presentation in New York by Samsung ' s head of investor relations , Robert Yi .  He said the company would reduce the number of smartphone models in 2015 by between a quarter and a third .  In a rare acknowledgement , Mr Yi added that Samsung had lagged behind changing market conditions .  Analysts claim the bigger iPhones ( shown ) will likely take away customers who favoured Samsung Galaxy ' s larger screens . In emerging markets , such as India and China , Samsung ' s smartphone sales have been overtaken by local rivals  The company ' s response ' was not quick enough , ' said Mr Yi .  In emerging markets , such as India and China , Samsung ' s smartphone sales were overtaken by local rivals .  ' Rather than seeking stability , Samsung should seek to distinguish its phones with Galaxy ' s design policies , ' Lee Seung woo , an analyst at  Securities said .  The company moved the launch of the Galaxy Note 4 , a large smartphone with a stylus , to late September from October after Apple unveiled the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus .  It also began sales of the Galaxy Note 4 in China last month , getting an early start in the world ' s most populous country before Apple .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
9478,9479,"Former  pro wrestler Hulk Hogan not only endorses Trump , but he also told  last year he wants to be Trump ' s running mate .  Asked which presidential candidate he most ? wanted to fight , Hogan ? responded , I don t want to be in the ring with any candidates . I want to be Trump s running mate . ?  Did you hear that ? Vice President Hogan ? he added . ?  The  cut ties with Hogan last July after a video of ? him using racial slurs surfaced online .  Aissa Wayne , daughter of movie icon John Wayne , has thrown her support behind Trump ' s presidential bid . She made the ? endorsement at the John Wayne Birthplace Museum in Iowa in front of a life size , gun toting figurine of The Duke .  Aissa Wayne said her father would endorse Trump ? if he were alive .  "" The reason I am here to support Mr Trump is because America needs help , and we need a strong leader , and we need someone like Mr Trump with leadership qualities , someone with courage , someone who is strong like John Wayne , "" she said .  "" And I ' ll tell you what : If John Wayne were around , he ' d be standing right here instead of me , "" she added .  Ethan Wayne , president of John Wayne Enterprises and another child of the actor , ? has since released a statement that ? Aissa was operating independently of the family .  Jerry Lamon Falwell Jr . , the president of Liberty University and the son of late televangelist Jerry Lamon Falwell , endorsed Trump ? days before the pivotal Iowa caucuses . ?  In my opinion , Donald Trump lives a life of loving and helping others as Jesus taught in the great commandment , Falwell said . ? He cannot be bought , he ' s not a puppet on a string like many other candidates . . . who have wealthy donors as their puppet masters . ?  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
9479,9480,"The famous weathervane at the Home of Cricket has been damaged during high winds over the weekend .  Father Time , who sits above the Mound Stand at Lord ' s , has been bent almost 90 degrees by strong wind in London .  Weekend gales in St John ' s Wood have knocked the deathly steel figure parallel to the ground , but mercifully still in his elevated roof top position with scythe and bail on stumps intact .  The Father Time weathervane at Lord ' s has been bent almost 90 degrees by high winds  The famous weathervane has been at Lord ' s since 1926 after it was presented to the   Father Time is one of the famous features at Lord ' s and staff are working to get it back to normal  Staff from Marylebone Cricket Club (  ) , which owns Lord ' s , are working with specialists to restore it to its original position as soon as possible .  Lord ' s is due to host its first game of the season on Sunday , April 12 when Middlesex entertain Nottinghamshire in the  County Championship .  This is not the first time the weathervane has fallen foul of the elements , back in 1992 it was struck by lightning and the subsequent repairs were featured on children ' s  show Blue Peter .  Father Time was given to  in 1926 by the architect of the Lord ' s Grand Stand , Sir Herbert Baker . During World War  , it was wrenched from its original perch when it became entangled in the steel cable of a barrage balloon .  Staff set about trying to repair and restore Father Time to it ' s original glory  Father Time tweeted to say he had been diagnosed with copper damage and will be undergoing treatment  It was reattached to the top of the Grand Stand where it sat until 1996 when it was relocated to the Mound Stand .  The symbolism of the figure derives from Law 16 ( 3 ) of the Laws of Cricket : ' After the call of Time , the bails shall be removed from both wickets . '  But he has , as his name indicates , moved with the times and tweets these days on behalf of Lord ' s Cricket Ground , including an update on his latest mishap .  The two posts read : '  : I ' ve was felled by high winds last night ! Ouch !  ' Apologies for my poor grammar in the previous tweet but I ' m not feeling my best after being damaged last night ! '  Father Time later tweeted : ' I ' ve been diagnosed with copper damage and will be undergoing treatment  . '  ",true,text,test,American football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
9487,9488,"While the U . S . government was recently releasing statistics indicating that illicit drug use was on the rise among baby boomers 50 to 59 and on the decline among young teenagers , Barbara Boomer and her daughter were providing living proof of those same statistics .  Fifteen year old Tara was working on a school assignment when she happened to glance out her bedroom window and was startled to see her 50 year old mom , in full Esther Williams gear , cavorting about in a sinkhole on the front lawn . Tara picked up her cell and called her best friend , Amanda .  "" Hey , she ' s at again , "" was her greeting to Amanda .  "" Uh oh , the marijuana binge continues . She ' s hitting the pot again , huh ? What ' s she up to this time ? ""  "" You know that sinkhole outside that formed a few days ago when they were drilling in the street ? ""  "" Right , the hole that filled up with water from all that rain yesterday . "" Amanda stopped to allow herself a little giggle , and then said , "" What ' s she doing , fishing in it or launching a boat or something ? ""  "" Worse , conducting her own private water ballet . ""  This time Amanda went hysterical laughing . When she got control of herself she said , "" Your mom is so cool . ""  "" You ' re not supposed to be cool at 50 , "" Tara said primly . "" And it ' s gotten a lot worse since her birthday . ""  "" We may have to send her to one of those boot camps , you know one of those for druggies . ""  Tara sighed and answered , "" Good idea , but I think she ' s too old . Aren ' t they mainly for teenagers ? But it might be the best thing for her . Maybe they make exceptions and admit oldies every once in a while . ""  "" Sounds good . Yeah , otherwise they could be sued for age discrimination . ""  Tara and Amanda continued to talk for a few minutes , discussing the details of their history assignment and tomorrow ' s calculus exam . Suddenly , in the midst of their discussion , there was a loud shriek from Tara .  "" What ' s the matter ? Are you okay ? "" Amanda asked .  "" I ' m fine . But the water ballet has escalated . Now she ' s into doing dives and blowing kisses . And a crowd is forming . Gotta go and put an end to the show . "" Tara quickly broke the phone connection .  Amanda looked at the phone , shrugged , and shook her head from side to side . She was thinking , "" Baby boomers . They never did learn to    . ""  ",satire,text,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,true,satire,True,no,no,neutral,past
9493,9494,"A report published by the Conservative pressure group , the 1690 Take No Prisoners Committee , has recommended that state schools should be run even more like businesses in particular restaurants were cited as a suitable model for schools of the future .  At a press conference to launch the report , Danny Shorthouses , committee chairman and former head of the Yorkshire sandwich empire ' We Make Butties ' said , ' if more schools were run like restaurants we wouldn ' t have so much disaffection among young people and truancy rates could be significantly reduced . '  Asked to elaborate Mr Shorthouses said that schools could operate a menu system whereby teachers would prepare at least five lessons for every one they do now so that pupils would have a real choice .  ' If I were to offer just cheese and tomato sandwiches in my shops I ' d go out of business very quickly , ' he said .  Under the new plans teachers could also be required to wear waiters ' uniforms and carry small notebooks and pencils . Shorthouses said the extra preparation involved could be performed by teams of midgets employed at little additional cost thereby sparing teachers an increased workload .  A source close to the government said that the report is expected to be fast tracked and given Cabinet approval by next Thursday .  However , the report has met with a storm of criticism from across the political spectrum . Teachers unions have called for a day of fasting to protest about its possible implementation . Conversely , Labour Education spokesman Philip Chancer thought the report lacked ambition and said that his party would ensure at least ten choices per lesson for all pupils .  Liberal Democrat spokesman Sylvan Glade complained that the proposals hadn ' t been properly costed .  ' We should be very careful before we throw the baby out with the bath water , ' he said .  Patrician Tory Sir Hugh Hunter Gatherer , a stern critic of his own party , said , ' we should let teachers teach , doctors doctor and dentists dentist . '  Prime Minister David Cameron has sought to dampen down the protests by saying that schools would be free to model themselves on any business , not just restaurants or sandwich shops .  ' Some schools may wish to keep an open mind and consider something along the lines of an old style ship yard , ' he said . ' This would have the benefit of enabling teachers to be employed on a completely casual basis whereby they would turn up in the morning on spec in the hope of a day ' s work . In this way schools would become places of innovation and creativity rather than havens of backwardness and restrictive practices . '  When challenged on the use of the term ' backwardness ' the  apologised and said that he had meant ' retardedness ' .  Mr Shorthouses said that in a recession parents did not expect a cordon bleu menu and that many children would be happy with the academic equivalent of chips and egg . However , he guaranteed that the three condiments of salt , pepper and vinegar would always be available in state funded restaurant schools .  Jamie Oliver was said to be confused by the report but is due to fly in by helicopter to meet Mr Shorthouses at one of his weekly surgeries . ( Mr Shorthouses is being treated for psoriasis of the liver ) .  Sir Hugh Hunter Gatherer is available for engagements as an after dinner speaker .  ",satire,text,test,American football,Conflict,fake,satire,True,no,no,neutral,past
9500,9501,"Reuters) - The mayor of a small town in western Germany known for pursuing liberal migrant policies was stabbed in the neck at a kebab shop on Monday evening and seriously hurt in an attack that officials suspected was politically motivated. The conservative mayor of Altena, Andreas Hollstein, appeared at a news conference on Tuesday to describe the attack which left him with a 15 cm long cut on his neck, covered in a white plaster.    I feared for my life,  said the 57-year-old mayor who has received a German integration prize from Chancellor Angela Merkel. He said the attack took place in an atmosphere of growing social tension and hate.  The attacker asked him if he was the mayor, before saying:  You let me die of thirst and let 200 refugees into Altena,  Hollstein recalled. Then the man plunged a 30 cm long kitchen knife into him. Police told reporters that the suspect, identified only as Werner S., had been arrested. They believed his motives were xenophobic and political, although they took it to be a spontaneous attack, adding he had alcohol in his system. The attack comes as Germany struggles to deal with an increasingly fractured society. Many voters are still angry  about the influx of more than 1.6 million people seeking asylum in the two years to the end of 2016.  In a September election, some 13 percent of Germans voted for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) which campaigned hard against Merkel s open-door migrant policy.  It brings us no further forward if we transmit political views with hate,  Hollstein said. He said his wife had warned him about possible attacks due to his policies but he was determined to continue his work.  I will push for refugees and for other people in a weaker social situation,  he vowed, thanking the owner of the shop and his son for probably saving his life.  Under his leadership, the town of Altena, with 17,000 residents and 450 refugees, has taken in more migrants than it was allocated. Politicians including Merkel expressed their shock.  I am horrified by the knife attack on the mayor Andreas Hollstein - and very relieved that he can already be back with his family. Thanks also to those who helped him,  Merkel said via her spokesman on Twitter. The attack is reminiscent of the stabbing two years ago of a candidate for mayor of Cologne, Henriette Reker, in an anti-refugee attack. She was seriously hurt but went on to win the election and become mayor. ",true,dataset,test,US elections,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
9508,9509,"How bad is Trump for the GOP? It seems he s worse than many would have guessed. As his 100th day in office approaches, more people are noticing that he s gotten nothing done. And the party is starting to realize just how much of a problem this could be. Lawmakers who are up for election every two years pretty much never stop campaigning, and the parties are always working on the next election.But the Republican Party is having trouble finding candidates who will commit to running for 2018. According to Politico: Potential  candidates whom party leaders want to recruit are afraid of walking into a buzz saw, uncertain about what kind of political environment they ll be facing by the time the midterms come around   and what Trump s record will look like But interviews with more than a dozen top Republican operatives, donors and officials reveal a growing trepidation about how the initial days of the new political season are unfolding. And they underscore a deep anxiety about how the party will position itself in 2018 as it grapples with the leadership of an unpredictable president still acclimating to Washington. Trump and his mouthpieces keep assuring the press that things are humming along and that he s already accomplished a great deal. If they re talking about all the executive orders, then Zac Petkanas has some harsh words for them. According to him, all those EOs are just theater   a way to look like he s doing something:.@Zac_Petkanas on @  first 100 days:  Most of these executive orders, they re theater It is the perception of activity.  #first100 pic.twitter.com/XwFUxFLrYC  Fox News (@FoxNews) April 24, 2017They re also worried about vacant House seats in deep red states. Jon Ossof, in Georgia, very narrowly lost his special election outright and will proceed to a runoff in June against Republican candidate Karen Handel. In Kansas, the Democratic candidate made it a much closer race than it otherwise should have been.Democrats who don t really vote all that much have been turning out for these elections at a far higher rate than Republicans who don t vote too much. Furthermore, not only is Trump s approval rating at a record low for this point in his administration, but Congress  own approval rating   particularly that of Republicans   has fallen sharply since February, too. A big part of that is their failure to pass their healthcare bill along with the looming shutdown threat.In other words, 2018 is starting to look like a referendum on Trump and his sheer incompetence. And that has Republicans running scared.Good.Featured image by Aude Guerrucci-Pool via Getty Images",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,fake,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
9518,9519,"Pioneering radio and  host Joe Franklin , who gave breaks to the likes of Al Pacino and Bill Cosby on his variety show long before they became famous and who boasted he never missed a broadcast in decades , has died at age 88 .  He died Saturday of cancer , which he had had for a few years , longtime producer and friend Steven Garrin said .  Franklin often is credited with developing the standard  talk show format , sitting behind a desk while interviewing wanna be celebrities , minor celebrities and the occasional bona fide celebrity .  Remembered : Radio and  host Joe Franklin died Saturday of cancer , which he had had for a few years , longtime producer and friend Steven Garrin said . He was 88  Legend : By the early 1990s , Joe Franklin often said , he had chatted with more than 300 , 000 guests , including Marilyn Monroe , Liza Minnelli and Madonna . Franklin is seen here being interviewed by Conan O ' Brien in 1993  The host of ' The Joe Franklin Show ' started in  in 1950 . By the early 1990s , he often said , he had chatted with more than 300 , 000 guests , including Marilyn Monroe , Liza Minnelli and Madonna .  But the notables often had to share air time on his low budget show with a tap dancing dentist or a man who whistled through his nose .  Garrin recalled how Franklin , who was parodied by Billy Crystal on ' Saturday Night Live , ' hired a young Bette Midler as his studio singer and gave a chance on his show to every up and comer trying to make it big : Bruce Springsteen , Woody Allen and Dustin Hoffman among them .  ' He was a wonderful guy , ' Garrin said Sunday . ' He gave everybody an opportunity . '  Garrin said he remembered how Pacino , after he became a Hollywood movie star , told Franklin in a private meeting : ' Joe , why don ' t you interview me now that I ' m somebody ? You interviewed me when I was nobody . '  After Franklin ' s  show ended in 1993 , he worked on his late night radio show .  He continued to work even after he developed cancer , doing celebrity interviews on the Bloomberg Radio Network .  Tuesday was the first scheduled broadcast Franklin had missed in more than 60 years , said Garrin , who worked with him for 20 of those years , booking all his interviews and recording the shows in his studios in Times Square between 1991 and 2010 .  Multiple celebrities offered their condolences on Twitter after Franklin ' s death .  Billy Crystal tweeted ' Joe Franklin was a New York original , I grew up watching Memory Lane and loved imitating him on  . A sad day for all who knew him . '  Meanwhile , actress Martha Plimpton wrote ' All the best things about New York are going away .  Joe Franklin . A true  icon . '  ' Joe Franklin gone ! ! ! ! Damn ! ' actor Harvey Fierstein tweeted . ' He gave me my first  exposure and I certainly wasn ' t alone in that . Ran into him on 8th Avenue last year . '  Chef Andrew Zimmern wrote ' I watched him since I was a kid . A true original . '  Franklin and Betty Hutton are seen together in 1974 . After Franklin ' s  show ended in 1993 , he worked on his late night radio show  Franklin ( seen with Debbie Reynolds in 1978 ) often is credited with developing the standard  talk show format , sitting behind a desk while interviewing guests  ",true,text,test,US elections,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
9530,9531,"Reuters) - A Republican tax bill in the U.S. Senate stalled on a procedural problem late on Thursday, forcing lawmakers to weigh new options to an amendment sought by a leading fiscal hawk to address a projected large expansion of the federal deficit under the measure, senators said. Senator Bob Corker had wanted to add a provision to the bill that would trigger automatic tax increases in years ahead if the tax cuts in the bill failed to boost the economy and generate revenues sufficient to offset the deficit expansion. But the Senate parliamentarian barred Corker’s “trigger” proposal. “We just got the realization from the parliamentarian that that’s probably not going to work,” said Republican Senator David Perdue. In response, Republicans were considering building future tax increases into their bill. “It’s not a threshold anymore. It’s just a tax increase. ... The only thing that’s come off the table is the trigger concept,” Perdue said. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
9547,9548,"Australia Sri Lankan batsman Kumar Sangakkara received lavish praise from Australian captain Ricky Ponting and an apology from umpire Rudi Koertzen after his side ' s 96 run defeat in the second test at Hobart .  Sangakkara trudges off in disbelief after being given out for 192 .  With the Sri Lankans chasing a formidable target of 507 for a win to square the two test series , Sangakkara kept them afloat with a magnificent 192 .  But , with his seventh test double hundred in sight , Sangakkara was given out caught by Ponting off Stuart Clark . Television replays suggested that the ball had in fact deflected off the batsman ' s shoulder .  Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene said Koertzen had apologized to Sangakkara for giving him out .  "" Rudi came and said sorry to him . But that ' s it . Kumar being Kumar was fine with it , "" Jayawardene said .  "" He was very disappointed at the particular moment but when you sit back after half an hour , you know it ' s a mistake made by a human and that ' s it . ""  Sangakkara went onto the field after the fall of the last wicket and put his arm around Koertzen ' s shoulder .  The 30 year old right handed Sangakkara ' s innings was the highest by a Sri lankan in Australia , surpassing Aravinda de Silva ' s 167 in Brisbane in 1989 .  He faced 282 balls and hit 28 boundaries and a six in his 431 minute vigil at the crease .  Jayawardene said : "" Kumar ' s innings was fantastic . One of the best I ' ve seen . He batted the plan we had for him after he got his hundred yesterday , to bat through the day today while the other guys rotate around him so that we can challenge the 500 run total .  "" Unfortunately , the other guys couldn ' t do it . But Kumar batted exceptionally well . The way he handled the situation was brilliant .  "" I was very disappointed the way we got out . He ' s very upset about it , but that ' s how the game goes I guess . ""  Ponting , who led Australia to their 14th consecutive test win , was also full of praise for Sangakkara .  "" He played beautifully today . I thought the way he struck the ball from about 120 onwards was some of the best hitting that you ' ll probably ever see with his back to the wall and running out of partners .  "" It was a terrific knock . He ' s obviously been in great form lately . I read in the paper this morning that ' s six hundreds in his last 12 innings so he ' s in some good touch .  "" He ' s a very , very good player , he ' s one of the best Test batsmen going around . ""  Sangakkara has now scored 5 , 741 runs in 68 Tests at an average of 55 . 73 .  Sri Lanka ' s hopes dipped with the loss of three wickets for seven runs early in the day but they still reached 410 .  Brett Lee gained the big breakthrough with the wicket of the experienced Sanath Jayasuriya 20 minutes into the day and his four for 87 gave him eight wickets for the match , 16 for the series , the man of the match title and the player of the series award . E mail to a friend  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,past
9557,9558,"Kellogg ' s is the latest  owned multinational to be embroiled in the controversy over tax avoidance in Britain  Kellogg ' s is the latest  owned multinational to be embroiled in the controversy over tax avoidance in Britain .  The cereal giant warned shareholders its profits could be hit by government moves to close tax loopholes .  Kellogg ' s , which makes hundreds of millions of pounds each year from sales to British families , uses a complex web of companies to do business here .  Its two main  subsidiaries are owned by an operation based in the Republic of Ireland , where corporation tax is 12 . 5 per cent , compared with the  ' s 20 per cent .  The latest figures show Kellogg ' s effectively paid no corporation tax in Britain in 2013 , as payments to  by some of its offshoots were wiped out by tax credits elsewhere .  These tax manoeuvres are perfectly legal . Kellogg ' s has so far not faced criticism for its tax affairs in Britain , unlike Google , Amazon and Starbucks , which have come under fire for paying a minimal amount to the Exchequer despite huge sales here .  But in its latest annual report the cereal maker , whose worldwide sales last year hit 9 . 8billion , admitted ' contemplated changes in the  and other countries ' to ' long established tax principles ' could have a ' material impact ' on its business .  It added  increases and other changes ' may have an adverse effect on our business ' . Kellogg ' s has produced cereals in the  since 1938 , and says it has several hundred employees here .  It sells in the  through two main subsidiaries owned by Irish based Kellogg Europe Trading Ltd . One is Kellogg Marketing Sales , which distributes breakfast food for Irish and Swiss registered companies , and reported sales of 622million to Britons in 2013 .  The second , Kellogg Company of Great Britain , makes cereals under contract for an Irish based operation .  These two subsidiaries paid corporation tax of 8 . 4million on profits of nearly 50million in 2013 . Kellogg ' s also has six Luxembourg registered companies which collectively paid corporation tax of 210 , 000 on profits of about 57million a rate of 0 . 37 per cent .  But this 210 , 000 and the 8 . 4million were offset by an 11 . 8million tax credit at another  registered operation , Kellogg Group Ltd .  Kellogg ' s said comments in its annual report are not related to Chancellor George Osborne ' s ' diverted profits tax ' which aims to snare companies that shunt profits overseas with the main purpose of saving tax  A Kellogg ' s spokesman confirmed the figures but said some profits through the Luxembourg business would relate to companies outside the  .  He declined to comment on whether Kellogg ' s accepted it had in effect paid zero corporation tax in Britain , but said it is ' a responsible taxpayer ' .  Kellogg ' s said comments in its annual report are not related to Chancellor George Osborne ' s ' diverted profits tax ' which aims to snare companies that shunt profits overseas with the main purpose of saving tax .  Richard Murphy , of Tax Research  , said : ' It looks as if Kellogg ' s is trading in similar fashion to many of the better known tax avoiders . '  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
9587,9588,"President Donald Trump told the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) at their headquarters in Langley, Virginia, on Saturday that he is engaged in “a running war” with the “dishonest media,” noting that their latest lies include misleading reports about the size of the crowd at his   ceremony on Friday.[  “And the reason you’re my first stop is that, as you know, I have a running war with the media. They are among the most dishonest human beings on earth,” Trump said. The approximately 400  employees broke out into applause after Trump said this. In addition to making it seem, falsely, like he was in a feud with the intelligence community, Trump said the media “showed an empty field” during his inauguration. “We had a massive field of people. You saw that, packed,” Trump said. He then noted that when he woke up Saturday morning, he turned on the  and noticed, “I get up this morning, I turn on one of the networks and they show an empty field. I said, wait a minute. I made a speech. I looked out. The field was, it looked like a million  —   a million and a half people. They showed a field where there were practically nobody standing there. And they said, ‘Donald Trump did not draw well. ’”  He added, “We have something that’s amazing because we had it looked  —   honestly, it looked like a million and a half people. Whatever it was, it was. But it went all the way back to the Washington Monument. And I turn on [the tv] and by mistake I get this network, and it showed an empty field. ” “So, we caught them,” he said. “And we caught them in a beauty, and I think they’re going to pay a big price. ”  Trump went on to note yet another lie perpetuated by the media. Specifically, Zeke Miller of Time magazine falsely reported that Trump removed the bust of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. from the Oval Office. The bust of the esteemed, late civil rights leader was never removed. (President Barack Obama had removed the bust of Winston Churchill from the Oval Office shortly after he moved in and replaced it with  Jr. ’s). “In the Oval Office, there’s a beautiful statue of Dr. Martin Luther King,” Trump said. “And, I also happen to like Churchill  …     He doesn’t come from our country, but had a lot do with it. He helped us, real ally. ” Trump had requested that Churchill’s bust be replaced in the Oval Office upon his move into the White House. “But there was a cameraman that was right in front of it. So Zeke, Zeke from Time Magazine” wrote a fake news story, Trump said. “I would never do that. I have great respect for Dr. Martin Luther King. And it was right there. But this is how dishonest the media is. ” Trump added, “I love honesty. I like honest reporting. ”  And finally, he told the CIA, “I love you. I respect you. There’s nobody I respect more. you’re going to do a fantastic job. And we are going to start winning again, and you are going to lead the charge. Thank you. I’ll be back. ” White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer also pointed out the lies perpetuated by the media during his emergency press conference Saturday. “Some members of the media were engaged in deliberately false reporting,” Spicer said. “Photographs of the Inauguration proceeding were intentionally framed in a way to minimize the enormous support it had gathered on the National Mall,” he said.  He noted earlier how Miller of Time magazine “falsely tweeted out that the bust of MLK, Jr. had been removed from the Oval Office. “This was just plain wrong. ”",true,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
9588,9589,"Mexico City , Mexico At least two car bombs exploded Friday near the television studios of Televisa in Ciudad Victoria , the capital of Tamaulipas state in northeastern Mexico , authorities said .  One blast occurred outside the  station while the second happened next to the municipal transit service offices , said the state attorney general ' s office .  No fatalities or injuries were reported . The nearly simultaneous blasts occurred shortly after midnight .  Images of one of the blasts show the carcass of a car , the explosion leaving only the vehicle ' s mangled frame but not causing much damage to nearby buildings or trees . The wreckage lies next to a wooden street pole that is slightly tilted and holds a stop sign .  The car that exploded in front of the television studio was a red Chevrolet Corsica with Texas license plates , the attorney general ' s office said in a news release . The car in front of the transit office was a white Mazda , also with Texas license plates , officials said .  Tamaulipas is the state where authorities discovered 72 bodies this week on a ranch believed to be used by narcotraffickers . Authorities are investigating whether the 58 men and 14 women , who were migrants from Central and South America , were killed by the Zetas cartel .  Televisa previously came under attack August 15 when a grenade damaged apartments near the  station ' s office in the city of Monterrey in neighboring Nuevo Leon state . There were no reports of injuries in that attack .  A similar attack occurred the previous day , when a grenade was launched against the Televisa offices in the city of Matamoros , in Tamaulipas . The building was damaged but there were no reports of injuries .  It was not clear Friday why Televisa is being targeted .  Tamaulipas and Nuevo Leon have become a bloody battleground between the Zetas and the Gulf Cartel , which ended an alliance earlier this year . The Zetas used to be the armed branch of the Gulf Cartel but have split off into a separate drug trafficking organization .  Journalists have come under increasing attack in Mexico , as drug cartels try to limit the information being distributed about their activities .  The Committee to Protect Journalists , an independent , nonprofit organization , criticized this month ' s grenade attacks against Televisa .  "" No journalist is safe in Mexico when criminal groups feel free to wage grenade attacks on a national broadcaster , "" said Carlos Lauria , the organization ' s senior program coordinator for the Americas . "" Drug traffickers are increasingly terrorizing the press and defining what is news and what isn ' t . We urge the Mexican authorities must fully investigate these incidents and bring those responsible to justice . ""  Eight journalists were killed in Mexico in 2009 and another eight have been killed so far this year , the Committee to Protect Journalists said this month .  In total , 54 journalists and media workers have been slain in Mexico since 1992 , the group said .  Car bombings by Mexican cartels are a new phenomena . Among the first was a July 15 explosion in Ciudad Juarez that killed four people .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
9610,9611,"The rainbows and unicorn crowd decided they just had to complain about a gun manufacturer s ad being in the Columbia,  Airport.  Manufacturing s ad made travelers  upset  so it was taken down. Total BS!Columbia Metropolitan Airport has removed a billboard-sized advertisement of a firearms manufacturer from its concourse.The decision comes a day after The State newspaper reported the ad, featuring eight firearms from  Manufacturing, upset some travelers. It touted,  Yeah, we carry. I pulled in the commission, and really, they felt that given the negative feedback that it d probably be better to bring it down,  said Dan Mann, executive director of the airport.The Richland-Lexington Airport District approves all advertisements, including their text, content and graphics, according to the terms and conditions of their advertisement agreements.Two other displays for  will remain up: a different billboard and a promotional video at the escalators.Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin, who spotted the ad while at the airport Friday morning, said the banner with the multiple firearms wasn t appropriate given its location. It was the wrong ad in the wrong place at the wrong time,  Benjamin said.  I could easily see why anyone, including gun owners, which I am, would be seriously alarmed. Benjamin stressed the city has a good relationship with  Manufacturing, which has supplied Columbia Police Department s firearms in the past. He said  is a  good company. S.C. Poet Nikky Finney echoed Benjamin s sentiment concerning the location in which the banner was displayed given  the tenor and the times we live in. I m trying to say that anything that goes up that looks like that and has that kind of attitude should be decided upon by a committee of people that understand that the young man that went to a church, pulled a trigger and took nine lives came from   Columbia,  said Finney, referencing the killing of nine worshipers at Emanuel  in Charleston allegedly at the hands of Dylann Roof in June 2015.Via: The State",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,fake,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
9611,9612,"More than 130 unmarked graves at a former convent discovered in Dublin in 1993 first brought to public consciousness the plight of thousands of women forced to work at Catholic run workhouses in Ireland an ugly legacy that ' s the focus of a new report from the Irish government .  The report , released Tuesday , acknowledges that Ireland ' s government sent thousands of women and girls to "" harsh and physically demanding "" workhouses known as Magdalen Laundries , where they worked and lived without pay , sometimes for years . The laundries operated from 1922 to 1996 .  "" The psychological impact on these girls was undoubtedly traumatic and lasting , "" the Irish government backed investigatory committee found .  The report also said , "" Many of the women who met with the committee and particularly those who entered the Magdalen Laundries as young girls experienced the Laundries as lonely and frightening places . ""  "" For too long , they have been and have felt forgotten . Indeed for many of them , an inability to share their story in the years after their time in a Magdalen Laundry has only added to the confusion and pain they feel about that period in their lives . ""  The committee highlighted the stigma attached to their plight , saying that "" the chronicle of the Magdalen Laundries was for many years characterised primarily by secrecy , silence and shame . ""  As a result , the women admitted there "" have for too long felt the social stigma of what was sometimes cruelly called the ' fallen woman . ' This is a wholly inaccurate characterisation , hurtful to them and their families , that is not borne out by the facts . ""  But contrary to survivors ' testimony published by advocacy groups , the report did not find physical abuse or torture to be a feature of the laundries .  It also found no evidence that women were sexually abused , but acknowledged that it had spoken to only a fraction of those concerned .  The report ' s authors said the four orders of nuns who ran the laundries said they had kept many details quiet out of a desire to protect the women ' s privacy , and that they had sought to provide for the marginalized and disadvantaged , rather than profiting from the laundries .  About 10 , 000 women worked in the so called Magdalen , or Magdalene , Laundries over seven decades and more than a quarter of them were referred there by the state , for various reasons including by the courts as a condition of probation , according to the report .  Others were unmarried mothers , victims of sexual abuse , orphans considered a burden to relatives or the state , or had mental or physical disabilities . Some were simply admitted by the families for reasons not known .  Responding to its findings , Ireland ' s taoiseach , or prime minister , Enda Kenny said he was sorry for the stigma the women had suffered and the conditions they endured in the convent run laundries .  But he did not give the formal apology many of the women have called for .  Survivors ' groups say the women were physically and psychologically abused , denied an education and detained against their will and insist they are owed a formal government apology and compensation . With many now advanced in age , they also want the state to provide pensions for the years they worked without pay .  For years , their situation was shrouded in mystery , with details coming to light only in the past two decades .  The government backed investigatory committee , chaired by Sen . Martin McAleese , was established in response to a call by the U . N . Committee Against Torture . Its findings will be debated by the Irish parliament later this month .  It found "" evidence of direct State involvement "" in numerous aspects of the 10 laundries ' operation .  The report ' s authors spoke to about 100 women who had worked in the laundries between the foundation of the Irish state in 1922 and the closure of the last of the workhouses in 1996 . About 60 of the women spent less than a year there , the committee found .  Advocacy group Magdalene Survivors Together said the women concerned had been "" let down "" by the committee .  One , Mary Smith , said : "" It was worse than any prison , and I ' ll never ever get over it . I ' ll go to my grave with this pain , it was soul destroying , and the pain will never leave me .  "" The government and the religious should stand up and acknowledge what they did to us and the scars that they left , and the pain that will never ever go away . ""  Survivor testimony published by the Justice for Magdalenes campaign group also depicted the workhouses as harsh and exploitative places .  "" In the Magdalene laundry , it was a well known fact that once you went in there you never came out , "" one woman told the group . "" You couldn ' t walk out , because all the locks would be on the doors . You couldn ' t . Unless family of yours took you out . Say somebody claimed you , and took you out . Then that was the only way , or else you ' d go out in a coffin , you know ? You died there . ""  Those who escaped the convent walls have had no easy time either , the group said .  In a 2011 submission to the U . N Committee Against Torture , Justice for Magdalenes highlighted the dire situation in which many of the survivors still find themselves , years later .  "" Their poverty has been exacerbated throughout their lives by the denial of educational opportunity which they suffered while incarcerated in the laundries , as well as the psychological and physical injury caused by the abuse , "" it said .  "" Nor have the women received healthcare or education to assist them in overcoming their trauma and abuse .  "" There is a dearth of personal records of the women , and they continue to feel constrained and silenced by a deep sense of stigma and shame over their incarceration in the Magdalene Laundries , because of the continued denial of justice , lack of inquiry , and lack of acknowledgment that they were not at fault for what they suffered but instead had a grave abuse perpetrated upon them . ""  The lack of personal records has also made it difficult for the adopted children of those locked up in the laundries to trace their mothers .  The last of the Magdalen Laundries closed in 1996 .  An act passed in 2002 addressed abuse and neglect suffered by thousands of Irish children in state licensed residential homes and schools , but omitted those who ' d suffered in the Magdalen Laundries .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
9620,9621,"Maybe they should have learned their lesson from the nationwide mockery of David Cameron .  But MPs have risked the nation ' s laughter anyway by jumping on the Tim Peake bandwagon with a masterful parade of sci fi quotes .  Buzz Lightyear , Star Trek , Star Wars and David Bowie all got a mention in today ' s groanworthy House of Commons debate .  At least our MPs had a good reason to celebrate . Major Tim Peake became Britain ' s first astronaut for 24 years after blasting off at 11 . 03am today .  Once his 305 tonne Soyuz launch rocket docks with the International Space Station , he ' ll be charged with looking after the vast structure where he ' s set to run the London Marathon on a treadmill .  MPs have earned their crust just by talking about him . Here ' s what they had to say .  Business Secretary Sajid Javid showed off his stellar knowledge by quoting Star Wars , Star Trek and Toy Story ' s space travelling hero .  "" Major Tim Peake has successfully blasted into orbit , "" he boasted .  "" Launched a short time ago in a museum that is not far , far away , this policy document shows that there are no limits to the  ' s ambitions in this area .  "" To mix intergalactic metaphors we want to boldly go to infinity and beyond and our new policy will make it so . ""  Han Solo has a bad feeling about his film quotes  It couldn ' t last forever he was exposed by Labour  Iain Wright , who reeled off the classic Star Wars line "" I ' ve got a bad feeling about this "" when talking about red tape .  The line was used by Han Solo and Luke Skywalker in the first Star Wars film and has featured as a running gag since .  Yet the Business Secretary revealed he had not heard the quote , prompting MPs to shout at him : "" it ' s in every film ! "" .  It all started with a David Bowie reference  Space oddity : What would Bowie make of the goings on in Parliament ?  Whose fault was the list of jokes ? Step forward small businesses minister Anna Soubry .  She kicked off proceedings by quoting David Bowie ' s Space Oddity , saying : "" We ' ve heard this great news about the launch today and Major Tim going up into space .  "" Ground control can report that the  space sector has almost doubled to ? 11 . 8 billion . ""  Stellar performance : But Anna Soubry wasn ' t a fan  She was interrupted by a chorus of the 1969 hit from the Labour benches which sadly could hardly be heard on Parliamentary  .  "" I know it ' s the festive season but honourable members opposite are now singing , and it ' s not good , "" she said .  Rebel rebels : John Bercow said the gang were no match for Bowie  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
9622,9623,"Reuters) - The United States has denied suggestions it undermined an investigation into a massive data breach at the Italian cybersecurity firm Hacking Team, saying it did everything it could to help in the case. A Milan magistrate last week recommended shelving an investigation into six people who were suspected of orchestrating the 2015 data theft. A senior judicial source criticized U.S. officials for not handing over a computer belonging to a key suspect, saying it might have contained information vital to the probe.  But in a comment emailed to Reuters, the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington denied the United States was to blame for the case floundering.  The United States assisted Italy to the greatest extent possible and the relevant Italian authorities know that,  a U.S. Department of Justice spokesperson wrote. Magistrates opened their investigation in July 2015 after hackers downloaded 400 gigabytes of data from the firm, which makes software that allows law enforcement and intelligence agencies to tap into the phones and computers of suspects. Much of the data later showed up on the WikiLeaks website. The company said at the time it believed former employees had stolen vital code that gave them access to its systems. It also speculated that a foreign government might have been behind the hacking. The Italian probe led magistrates to a suspect living in Nashville, Tennessee. U.S. authorities raided his house and took the man in for questioning, however a senior judicial source in Milan, with direct knowledge of the case, said his computer was never sent to Italy for technical assessment.  We could not carry out the checks on the computer to see if it contained the evidence that we were looking for because the United States did not give it to us. We did not receive an explanation for this decision,  the source said. ",true,dataset,test,US elections,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
9624,9625,"Suburbs with higher percentages of younger residents will experience a bigger growth in value from having railway constructions , a new study has found .  Onthehouse Research found the suburbs where the median age of residents was below the national average of 37 years showed a stronger relationship between train stations and price growth .  The study picked seven suburbs to keep an eye on based on impending railway constructions that will likely transform their value , reports Property Observer .  A new study has found Suburbs with higher percentages of younger residents will experience a bigger growth in value from having railway constructions  The study picked seven suburbs to keep an eye on based on impending railway constructions that will likely transform their value  The new stations will allow younger residents to access Sydney  , therein generating thousands of jobs .  The seven suburbs to watch out for are Kellyville , Rouse Hill , Bella Vista , Baulkam Hills , Paddington , Randwick and Kingsford .  ' In Kellyville , the building and maintenance of the station , increased dwelling construction and new commercial establishments are expected to create over 3 , 000 jobs in the area , said Eliza Owen , Onthehouse market analyst .  ' Whereas in Kingsford , where one third of the residents fall between 20 29 years old , the light rail is expected to be popular with young people and students travelling to the city for entertainment and work outside of study hours . '  Properties in Kellyville ( L ) and Rouse Hill ( R ) , the top two suburbs set to have their value transformed after impending railway constructions  Properties in Bella Vista ( L ) and Baulkam Hills ( R ) are both set to have new railway infrastructure . The new stations will allow younger residents to access Sydney  , therein generating thousands of jobs  A three bedroom Kellyville house sold for 920 , 000 earlier this month , less than two years after it sold for 580 , 000 in September 2012 , marking a 58 . 6 price growth .  Globally , Sydney is considered the third most expensive property market behind only Hong Kong and Vancouver  It comes after a downtrodden home in south Sydney sold for a colossal 6 million last Saturday . 73 Vista Street in San Souci captured a crowd of 250 , despite its run down , red brick exterior  Properties in Paddinton ( L ) , Randwick ( C ) and Kingsford ( R ) will also experience a transformation in value  ",true,text,test,Football,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
9629,9630,"Open for talks on  , indicates Congress after  Sonia meet   Narendra Modi met former prime minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi at 7 , Race Course Road in New Delhi on Friday . Congress leaders on Saturday said they want to take the negotiations on  Bill forward . (  )  A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met his predecessor Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi to discuss the goods and services tax (  ) bill , the principal Opposition party indicated its key demands are not cast in stone and it wants to take the negotiations forward .  Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi met a few leaders on Saturday , including the party s Lok Sabha leader Mallikarjun Kharge , to take their feedback on the  negotiations . Gandhi will meet some other senior leaders on Sunday before the Congress formally responds to the government s proposals discussed during Friday s meeting at the  s residence .  Asked if there was any meeting ground between the government and the Congress on the  , party leader Anand Sharma said , We are not saying it s non negotiable . Our demand is not at all partisan politics . Let s try to take it forward . We will meet again and we will see what the government comes back to us with .  Read  Modi discusses  with Sonia , Manmohan another meet likely  Asked if there was any meeting ground between the government and the Congress on the  , party leader Anand Sharma said , We are not saying it s non negotiable . Our demand is not at all partisan politics . Let s try to take it forward . We will meet again and we will see what the government comes back to us with .  In this  released handout photograph ,  Narendra Modi ( C ) in a meeting with former  Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi at 7  in New Delhi , in the presence of finance minister Arun Jaitley and Union minister for parliamentary affairs , M Venkaiah Naidu . (  )  Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi met the party s Lok Sabha leader Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday over the  bill . Gandhi will meet more senior leaders on Sunday before the Congress formally responds to the government s proposals on the  .  At Friday s meeting , Sonia Gandhi reportedly demanded tobacco and alcohol taxes be part of the  . The move is seen as a negotiating tool as Congress ruled states such as Kerala and Karnataka might stand to lose if these products are excluded from the states taxation list .  At the  s Diwali Milan function , parliamentary affairs minister Venkaiah Naidu said , The meeting ( between the Congress and the government ) was positive . We will have more talks , indicating the government is bracing for prolonged negotiations with the Congress on  .  Sharma questioned the government s hurry to push the  and pointed out that other important bills are also pending in Parliament .  In the meeting convened by the  , the Congress had pointed out that India s competitors have such tax rates between 14 and 16 . Earlier , in his meeting with the FIIs , Rahul Gandhi had categorically said the  must cater to industries as well as consumers , a source said .  Meanwhile , Rahul Gandhi s key aide Kaushal Vidyarthee took a jibe at the  on Twitter , saying , Dear  Modi , U didn t need 18 months , 3 land ordinances , Bihar defeat , sluggish economy to meet Opposition Leaders .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
9641,9642,"Donald Trump Jr. took to Twitter today to release all email communication with the Kremlin-linked lawyer, revealing that he had hoped to get his hands on information that would damage Hillary Clinton s campaign. Is this really news? Someone who Donald Trump Jr. knew wanted to help him, by revealing some dirt on Hillary, and Trump Jr. agreed to meet with them. Okay? So what? Would Hillary s camp have declined such a meeting? What about Robert Creamer, a felon and Democrat operative who s married to a  Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky of Illinois and had ties to the Hillary campaign and to our sitting President Barack Obama? He was caught red-handed in an undercover video by James O Keefe admitting to inciting violence at Trump rallies as a way to help Hillary win the election against Donald Trump? Why was that story dismissed by the media and this nothingburger story getting wall-to-wall coverage?Here is the tweet from Donald Trump Jr., who was clearly not worried about revealing the contents to the world. Here's my statement and the full email chain pic.twitter.com/x050r5n5LQ  Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) July 11, 2017Here is the statement made by Donald Trump Jr. about the release of the emails:Page 1:Page 2:Page 3:Page 4:The emails offer the first details about how the sitdown with Natalia Veselnitskaya, a Kremlin-linked Russian lawyer, came about.Trump Jr. posted the emails on Twitter shortly after they were first reported by The New York Times.Trump Jr. said in a statement he thought he was receiving opposition research. The information they suggested they had about Hillary Clinton I thought was Political Opposition Research,  Trump Jr. said. Throughout the exchange, he gave no indication that he was concerned about getting information from the Russian government, which the  intelligence community has concluded meddled in the election on his father s behalf.Trump Jr. and his high-powered white collar criminal defense lawyer, Alan Futerfas, insist he did nothing wrong. Media & Dems are extremely invested in the Russia story. If this nonsense meeting is all they have after a yr, I understand the desperation!  he defiantly tweeted Tuesday morning.The White House has said President Trump was unaware of the meeting, and he has not commented on the revelations about his eldest son.  NYPNot only do the emails appear to be another nothingburger for the rabid left and their allies in the media, but Donald Jr. should ve known that if the media didn t care about Hillary giving Russia one-fifth of all uranium production in the Untied States in exchange for donations to the Clinton Foundation (slush fund), they likely wouldn t care much else having to do with Crooked Hillary and the Russians.An April, 2015 article published by The New York Times tells a story of a corrupt Secretary of State who used her position as Secretary of State to gain massive donations to her Clinton Foundation while giving Vladimir Putin control of much of the United States uranium:The headline on the website Pravda trumpeted President Vladimir V. Putin s latest coup, its nationalistic fervor recalling an era when its precursor served as the official mouthpiece of the Kremlin:  Russian Nuclear Energy Conquers the World. The article, in January 2013, detailed how the Russian atomic energy agency, Rosatom, had taken over a Canadian company with uranium-mining stakes stretching from Central Asia to the American West. The deal made Rosatom one of the world s largest uranium producers and brought Mr. Putin closer to his goal of controlling much of the global uranium supply chain.But the untold story behind that story is one that involves not just the Russian president, but also a former American president and a woman who would like to be the next one.At the heart of the tale are several men, leaders of the Canadian mining industry, who have been major donors to the charitable endeavors of former President Bill Clinton and his family. Members of that group built, financed and eventually sold off to the Russians a company that would become known as Uranium One.As the Russians gradually assumed control of Uranium One in three separate transactions from 2009 to 2013, Canadian records show, a flow of cash made its way to the Clinton Foundation. Uranium One s chairman used his family foundation to make four donations totaling $2.35 million. Those contributions were not publicly disclosed by the Clintons, despite an agreement Mrs. Clinton had struck with the Obama White House to publicly identify all donors. Other people with ties to the company made donations as well.And shortly after the Russians announced their intention to acquire a majority stake in Uranium One, Mr. Clinton received $500,000 for a Moscow speech from a Russian investment bank with links to the Kremlin that was promoting Uranium One stock. ",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,present
9652,9653,"YouTube celebrity Adam Saleh has accused Delta Air Lines of kicking him off flight because he spoke Arabic to his mom on the phone before takeoff.In a statement, Delta said:  Two customers were removed from this flight and later rebooked after a disturbance in the cabin resulted in more than 20 customers expressing their discomfort. We re conducting a full review to understand what transpired. We are taking allegations of discrimination very seriously; our culture requires treating others with respect. Saleh has more than 1.6 million subscribers to his TrueStoryASA YouTube channel, and more than 2.2 million subscribers to his Adam Saleh Vlogs YouTube channel. Saleh s YouTube channels are full of prank videos as well as videos about Muslim life, and he is a self-described  professional idiot. He said when he was speaking to his mom, a woman in the seat in front of him turned around and told him he ought to speak English. Saleh said he told her he can speak whatever language he likes, and her husband responded by standing up and screaming at him.Then about 20 people allegedly said they were uncomfortable with Saleh and his Arabic-speaking companion. The pair were approached by the captain, who Saleh said  seemed ashamed and embarassed  when he asked them to leave the plane because of the other passengers  complaints.In one video Saleh posted to Twitter that was retweeted 83,000 times in just 2 hours, Saleh can be seen getting escorted off the plane.   NewsHere is the video Saleh posted to Twitter of he and his buddy being escorted off the plane:We got kicked out of a @Delta airplane because I spoke Arabic to my mom on the phone and with my friend slim   please spread pic.twitter.com/P5dQCE0qos  Adam Saleh (@omgAdamSaleh) December 21, 2016OOOPS! It appears this isn t the first time Saleh has created a disturbance on an airplane. He makes money every time someone clicks on one of his You Tube videos. The more controversial the video the more clicks. But do the passengers on these flights really think a Muslim man who intentionally creates unnecessary drama and attention to himself on their flight is funny? Is it okay for him to make the other customers uncomfortable so he can earn insane amounts of money on You Tube?Here are some previous posts by Saleh shared by Mark Dice on Twitter:It appears this Delta Airlines incident may be the result of another sick prank by the Muslim YouTuber. Look at his track record: pic.twitter.com/r78AleNPty  Mark Dice (@MarkDice) December 21, 2016Watch outrage expressed by You tuber Muslim Adam Saleh Vlog over being checked by a Muslim security officer as he was going through airport security at Heathrow Airport in London. According to Saleh, it s apparently not okay for a  who is working at airport security to check another MUSLIM. Who knew?Crying discrimination isn t anything new to the attention obsessed Saleh who tells his viewers how  worried  he is about our  racist  President-elect Donald J. Trump. It was viewed over 1 million times:",fake,dataset,test,American football,Conflict,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,past
9659,9660,"As a poll challenger who has witnessed unbelievable blatant voter fraud by Democrats, I can only imagine what this poll worker might have done to cross this Democrat chairman.The chairman of the Essex County Democratic Committee in New Jersey is accused of punching a blind Army veteran following an argument at a polling location during East Orange s council primary last month.Video was released purportedly showing Leroy Jones punching 75-year-old Bill Graves, who was volunteering as a poll worker during the incident on primary day, June 2.  I hear this rumbling,  Where the blank is Bill Graves? I m gonna kick his butt!  Mr. Graves told a local  affiliate.  You can see on the tape it was intentional. The suspect, identified by Essex County Prosecutors as Mr. Jones, is seen throwing several punches at Mr. Graves following what appears to be a heated confrontation.Mr. Graves and his friends said Mr. Jones attacked him because he was backing a political candidate that Mr. Jones did not support,  reported.Mr. Jones, however, said he was defending his wife, who was also working at the polls. Mr. Jones said the veteran got aggressive with his wife during an argument, and she called her husband for help, a local  affiliate reported. This man threatened my wife. This man assaulted my wife. This man charged at my wife,  Mr. Jones said.Mr. Jones has been charged with simple assault, reports said. Mr. Graves was not charged.Mr. Graves, who is completely blind in one eye and legally blind in the other, said his vision has gotten worse since the attack. Angry, disgusted, because why should I have to run back and forth to the doctor because someone decided to hit me,  he told ABC.  It s not good, that s all I can say. I m smiling, but I m not laughing. Via: Washington Times",fake,dataset,test,US elections,Sports/Other,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
9669,9670,"Trump senior adviser Stephen Miller told  s This Week host George Stephanopoulos on Sunday that White House press secretary Sean Spicer is always  100 percent correct.  That s kind of weird since he literally fabricated a terrorist attack several times in order to defend Trump s Muslim ban. There is nothing Spicer won t lie about to defend the alleged president.Stephanopoulos said that Spicer mentioned  from the podium  that  the decision by Nordstrom to pull those products of Ivanka Trump was a direct attack on the president s policies  after the retailer pulled her clothing line due to poor sales.The  host noted that Sears and K-Mart decided this week to pull Trump s home furnishing lines from their websites. Is that a direct attack on the president s policies, as well?  Stephanopoulos asked. I m not going make a comment on that. I don t have any information on it,  Miller said.  I do want to say that Sean Spicer, as always, is 100 percent correct and that what he said is true and important. And I agree with it. He just said he has no knowledge of what happened but that Sean Spicer was correct. Welcome to the alternative-facts of the Trump administration. You had a case where somebody was treated unfairly. The president stuck up for a member of his family,  Miller continued.  And the White House counselor made a light-hearted, flippant comment that nobody would interpret as being what has been cast as right now by you and the media and others. The  flippant comment  Miller is referring to belongs to Kellyanne Conway in which she hawked Ivanka Trump s clothing line on the air while sitting in the briefing room.Watch: He also made a baseless claim about voter fraud which has been thoroughly debunked.Miller is trending on Twitter and he s being mocked over this crazy-time comments.I didn t realize Stephen Miller was a 12 year old boy.  SeanScheidt (@SeanScheidt) February 12, 2017 I do want to say that Sean Spicer, as always, is 100% correct. If you listen real close, you can hear Stephen Miller s credibility die.  Ron Asher (@rmasher2) February 12, 2017How kind of Stephen Miller to take time off from managing Bates Motel to lie on all the morning shows.  Laurie Crosswell ? (@lauriecrosswell) February 12, 2017Like most of the alt-right, Stephen Miller is what happens when literally every woman rejects you.  Molly Knight (@molly_knight) February 12, 2017Senior Trump aide Stephen Miller refuses to express confidence in Gen. Flynn. And he lied too. weblink pic.twitter.com/KAH9kyNgXp  John Aravosis (@aravosis) February 12, 2017Honestly, I feel like I need to be sprinkled with holy water after listening to Stephen Miller. #MeetThePress  Laurie Crosswell ? (@lauriecrosswell) February 12, 2017Meet America s new biggest liar, Stephen Miller. pic.twitter.com/GWewpvAzTt  DemsTalk (@DemsTalk) February 12, 2017WOL (weeping out loud) Not @TheOnion  On @ThisWeekABC   Stephen Miller says Sean Spicer is 100% right-& that voter fraud is serious issue  Katrina vandenHeuvel (@KatrinaNation) February 12, 2017we ve learned this morning that Stephen Miller also lies for a living.  Eric Boehlert (@EricBoehlert) February 12, 2017Trump liked Miller s fact-free interview, because of course.Congratulations Stephen Miller- on representing me this morning on the various Sunday morning shows. Great job!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 12, 2017Is there one member of the Trump administration that doesn t have his or her head up their ass?Image via screen capture with added tweet.",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,present
9672,9673,"California Kenny Morrison soaked in life from his beachfront home . A top chef at a trendy L . A . restaurant , he served dinner to the Hollywood stars , including A listers .  Kenny Morrison got hooked on painkillers after getting dental work in 2003 . "" I lost everything , "" he says .  But within a couple years , he lost it all . He got hooked on pain medication after some dental work . His fix was codeine , Vicodin and OxyContin all prescription medications to help him get through the day . At one point , he even had a tooth removed unnecessarily so he could get a prescription for pain medicines .  "" At the height , I was taking probably 20 , 25 a day , "" he says . "" It got to the point where I lost the wife , the house , and I was living in a bad part of L . A . in my truck . And I went from taking a couple of codeine all the way to taking OxyContin . ""  Morrison didn ' t buy his drugs on a street corner or get them from a dope dealer . He got them mostly from dentists he had never met . He says he ' d scroll through the phone book calling dentist after dentist until one would prescribe him pain medication .  "" I kind of found out on my own that a dentist will prescribe you painkillers over the phone , instead of a doctor who you would most likely have to go in and see , "" he says . Watch addicts turn to dentists  Dr Jay Grossman , a dentist in the Los Angeles area , says he routinely gets calls from people seeking painkillers . "" The moment somebody hangs up the phone on me , I know that they ' re literally going down the book . They ' re calling the next one in the Yellow Pages , hoping that someone will write them a prescription , "" he says . "" If you ' re an addict , one of your resources would certainly be a dentist . ""  Grossman sits on a disciplinary committee for the California Dental Association . He says the calls typically come at the end of the day . The user describes pain in his mouth and insists on medication fast . Red flags go up and Grossman says he begins asking a series of questions to "" put it back in their ballpark . ""  When he asks how many pills they need , sometimes the answer is : "" Forty or 50 should do just fine , "" Grossman says . He tries to set up an appointment for the next day , so he can see the patient in person . Most times , they hang up after he grills them .  "" I don ' t think doctors of any sort whether it ' s a dental professional or one of my medical colleagues should be doling out prescriptions in that quantity , like M Ms . That ' s not what it ' s there for , "" he says .  "" I would like to think the vast majority of my colleagues are doing the honest , ethical and moral thing . ""  According to the Drug Enforcement Administration , nearly 7 million Americans are abusing prescription drugs , more than the number who are abusing cocaine , heroin , hallucinogens and ecstasy combined . The number of painkiller addicts has nearly doubled from 2000 , when 3 . 8 million Americans were hooked , the  says .  The misuse of painkillers represents three fourths of the overall problem of prescription drug abuse . The  says addicts get the drugs from "" doctor shopping , "" online pharmacies and other Internet sources , theft from pharmacies and , yes , traditional drug dealers .  "" All  registered practitioners and dentists registered with  must adhere to state laws and regulations as well as federal laws and regulations when dispensing or prescribing a controlled substance , "" says  special agent Gary Boggs .  But the  says only one in every 10 , 000 doctors loses his or her controlled substance registration each year as a result of  investigations into improper prescribing .  James Stillwell , the executive director of Impact Drug and Alcohol Treatment Center in Pasadena , California , says he believes it ' s much more prevalent than authorities realize . He says dentists , doctors and veterinarians all become targets of addicts .  "" It ' s an easy way to get your hands on an opiate based drug , a painkiller , for recreational use , "" Stillwell says . "" If you have an addict that wants to get high , . . . he ' s going to find ways and means to do that . ""  There ' s another troubling aspect of addicts on painkillers prescribed by doctors , he says . These addicts don ' t think they have a problem because they have prescriptions in their hands .  "" It helps you legitimize it not just in terms of family and loved ones , but what your head is saying to you , "" Stillwell says . "" It ' s a way to elude the stigma of being a drug addict . ""  Grossman says the  has done a good job in the last 12 18 months of cracking down on dentists who may be over prescribing pain medicines . According to the  , 38 states have enacted legislation to create a database for physicians and pharmacists to prevent abusers from obtaining multiple prescriptions .  Grossman says the  notifies dentists and questions them when their prescriptions for painkillers reach high numbers . "" They ' re actually following up , "" he says .  But he says for a dentist to come before his local disciplinary board , the board first needs to be notified that a dentist may be acting out of line and a drug abuser typically isn ' t going to turn them in .  Grossman believes the issue has come under scrutiny in the last year because "" of the celebrities that have been passing away due to drug overdose . "" Heath Ledger and Anna Nicole Smith had each taken a lethal combination of prescription drugs .  He said dentists , doctors and pharmacies constantly need to be on alert for people trying to use medical professionals as their drug dealers . "" Just writing a prescription for the pain is not the answer , "" Grossman says . "" There ' s a moral and ethical code that we have to follow . ""  As for Morrison , he says he has been clean for a year after going through Impact ' s program . He ' s now the head chef at the treatment facility that saved his life .  It has been five years since his life fell apart . He ' s trying to repair his relationship with his daughter and his ex wife . He wants others to avoid the painful painkiller path he took .  "" My body craved it , and I lost everything everything , "" Morrison says . "" It ' s hard to understand how big of a problem this is . My message is it ' s a disease and it needs to be addressed . ""  ",true,text,test,US elections,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
9701,9702,"The  Cancer Drugs Fund has done more harm than good by paying too much for new drugs , health economists have warned .  Experts claim that paying over the odds for cancer drugs means the health service is being starved of money to spend on patients with different diseases .  The money spent on expensive drugs would have done five times more good if spent elsewhere in the  , they claim .  New research says the drugs rationing body is also approving drugs that are too expensive for the  to afford despite rejecting dozens of other drugs on grounds of cost .  The research found the ' threshold ' used by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (  ) when gauging the cost effectiveness of new drugs is too high .  Waste : The money spent on expensive drugs cancer would have done five times more good if spent elsewhere in the  , a damning report has claimed  Many believe the high prices of new drugs are justified because pharmaceutical companies need to recoup the cost of years of investment taken to develop them .  But researchers at the Centre for Health Economics at York University say  patients are losing out because the money could be better spent elsewhere , such as filling staff shortages or buying new radiotherapy machines .  Co author Professor Karl Claxton said ' The increasing pressure to approve new drugs more quickly at prices that are too high will only increase the harm done to  patients overall .  ' The political pressure to support a multinational pharmaceutical sector cannot justify the real harm that has and will continue to be done to  patients . '  The research comes as critics argue that cancer drugs have been given unfair priority in a cash strapped  .  The Government ' s aim , which was a Tory election pledge , was to enable  doctors to prescribe any drug if they believed a cancer patient could benefit .  It has led to around 55 , 000 patients in England getting drugs banned by Nice or awaiting approval since April 2011 .  The Cancer Drugs Fund (  ) bill this year will be 280 million .  Patients not being given the expensive drugs are missing out , it has been claimed . Instead , the money could be better spent filling staff shortages or buying new radiotherapy machines ( file image )  However , research by health economists at the University of York has , for the first time , estimated the impact of the drugs fund on other areas of the  .  It found  outcomes would be better if it refused to fund any drug that cost more than 13 , 000 per quality adjusted life year (  ) .  The  is a complex formula used to calculate the cost effectiveness of a drug so called quality adjusted life years (  ) .  This determines the cost of a new treatment by working out how much it improves and extends a life compared with existing treatments .  Nice uses a threshold between 20 , 000 and 30 , 000 per  , but on average it approves drugs that cost 40 , 000 per  and sometimes as high as 50 , 000 , according to the research .  For every 10 million spent on a new drug that costs 40 , 000 per  , 250 QALYs would be gained but 773 lost because the money spent would not be available for other services .  The net harm would be 523 QALYs .  The Cancer Drugs Fund spend this year will buy 4 , 098 QALYs for individual cancer patients but the health lost elsewhere will be 21 , 645 QALYs five times greater , say the researchers .  Professor Claxton said he did not blame drug companies , which were responding to a demand for innovative and expensive therapies , mostly driven by the  market .  Instead he said the  should refuse to pay excessive prices and either cut prices unilaterally or bring in a rebate scheme under which companies would reimburse the  for drugs that cost more than 13 , 000 per  .  Professor Claxton added : ' We need to find a way of setting prices that reflects the real value in the market . The key is to find a mechanism that can allow that to happen .  ' If for political reasons we have to have the Cancer Drugs Fund , at least we should be confronted with the results of that decision , ' he added .  Sir Andrew Dillon , Chief Executive of Nice , said of the issue : ' The question is how to balance investing in the cutting edge of medicine with more routine care '  The research was funded by the National Institute of Health Research and Medical Research Council .  Sir Andrew Dillon , Chief Executive of Nice , said : ' The  has a choice about whether to use some of its money to adopt new things . It always has done .  ' The question is how to balance investing in the cutting edge of medicine with more routine care . '  ' Unless you think that drug companies will be prepared to lower their prices in an unprecedented way , using a threshold of 13 , 000 per  would mean the  closing the door on most new treatments . '  ' At the other end of the spectrum , we obviously can ' t just say yes to anything and everything .  ' We don ' t have enough money and anyway , not everything is worth having .  ' And drug companies need the discipline of a critical market to make sure that price matters . '  The research is published in the Health Technology Assessment journal .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
9703,9704,"An Internal Revenue Service (IRS) attorney based in Washington, D. C. was arrested for allegedly shipping methamphetamine from his apartment to Long Island, New York over the past few years. [Jack Vitayanon, 41, is facing charges of conspiring with others to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, the Washington Examiner reported.  “Selling methamphetamine is a serious crime which is made more egregious when it is committed by a U. S. government attorney assigned to the Office of Professional Responsibility of the IRS,” Angel Melendez, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations New York, said in a statement. Vitayanon, who works in the IRS’ Office of Professional Responsibility, negotiated sales and distribution quantities with undercover  agents and shipped the meth from his D. C. apartment to Long Island through Federal Express. “As alleged, the defendant  —   a federal attorney working for the IRS’s Office of Professional Responsibility  —   broke bad and supplemented his income by selling distribution quantities of methamphetamine,” stated United States Attorney Robert E. Capers for the Eastern District of New York (EDNY). Vitayanon worked with people in Arizona and Long Island to distribute the drug. An undercover agent recorded a conversation with Vitayanon on the Internet on Dec. 15, 2016 and observed him smoking meth from a glass pipe, according to the complaint. When law enforcement searched his apartment, they found suspected methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, packaging material and drug ledgers.",true,news,test,US elections,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
9715,9716,"Glam Prog Space Rockers Muse have explained why they are allowing a song of theirs to go on the soundtrack of the new Twighlight movie .  The Devon trio will be rejigging "" I Belong To You "" to appear in the latest Stephanie Meyer adaptation ""  ! ! ! ! 1111oneoneone These Vampires Sparkle And Only My Chemical Romance Understand Me "" . Drummer Dom Howard said the band had ' no choice ' but to put it on there .  He added : "" We were just hanging out , planning the latest stuff for our tour not to give anything away , but if you like helicopters , interpretive dance and fire , you ' re in for a good night when Matt Bellamy , singer and guitarist started spazzing out , saying the  were after his brain and were trying to control it through the science of something to do with outer space .  "" He said the only way he could stop them was doing something really silly with the song , because it ' s normally pretty sensible , what with the ' She attacks me like a Leo When my heart is split like Rio ' line , the bit in French and the Clarinet solo . ""  Mr Howard ' s bandmate , bassist Chris Wolstenholme , explained that the destruction of credibility was the only way to help Mr Bellamy ' s ' over worked ' brain .  The Cider swilling Chunkmeister added : "" Matt said the cabal of gay Jewish freemasons under the command of the Pope wouldn ' t think it worth bothering with him if he was associated with something really shit . "" Personally , as long as I get some pasties out of it , I reckon it ' s a good idea . ""  Matt Bellamy was unavailable for comment , as he had gone for a lie down and was being visited by that nice doctor who gives him those sweeties that stop the New World Order reading his every thought .  ",satire,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,satire,True,no,no,positive,past
9724,9725,"After postponing its first execution of a woman in 70 years because of "" cloudy "" lethal injection drugs , Georgia has indefinitely postponed at least one other execution until it can analyze the cocktail it uses for the procedures , the state said Tuesday .  Kelly Renee Gissendaner was scheduled to die at 7 p . m .  Monday , but for the second time in less than a week , it was called off . The state postponed the first planned execution because of "" weather and associated scheduling issues , "" department spokeswoman Gwendolyn Hogan said .  "" Prior to the execution , the drugs were sent to an independent lab for testing of potency . The drugs fell within the acceptable testing limits , "" the Georgia Department of Corrections said in a statement .  "" Within the hours leading up to the scheduled execution , the Execution Team performed the necessary checks . At that time , the drugs appeared cloudy . The Department of Corrections immediately consulted with a pharmacist , and in an abundance of caution , Inmate Gissendaner ' s execution has been postponed . ""  Repeating the "" abundance of caution "" wording , the department issued a news release Tuesday , saying , "" The scheduled executions of Kelly Renee Gissendaner and Brian Keith Terrell have been postponed while an analysis is conducted of the drugs planned for use in last night ' s scheduled execution of inmate Gissendaner . ""  Gissendaner , 47 , is condemned to die for a 1997 murder plot in which she conspired with boyfriend Gregory Owen to murder her husband .  Terrell was convicted in the shooting and beating death of a 70 year old friend of his mother ' s after the man called police to say Terrell had stolen checks from him , according to the Georgia attorney general ' s office .  Gissendaner has already requested an extravagant last meal : two Burger King Whoppers with cheese ( with everything ) , two large orders of fries , popcorn , cornbread , a side of buttermilk and a salad with tomatoes , bell peppers , onions , carrots , cheese , boiled eggs and Newman ' s Own buttermilk dressing , the Corrections Department said . She also requested a glass of lemonade and cherry vanilla ice cream for dessert .  Terrell was scheduled to die between March 10 and 17 .  Last year , Oklahoma issued a months long moratorium on executions after murderer and rapist Clayton Lockett convulsed , writhed and lay alive on a gurney for 43 minutes before dying . It was the state ' s first time using a new , three drug cocktail for an execution .  The constitutionality of lethal injection drugs has made headlines since 2013 , when European manufacturers including Denmark based Lundbeck , which manufactures pentobarbital banned U . S . prisons from using their drugs in executions . Thirty two states were left to find new drug protocols .  ",true,text,test,Football,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
9725,9726,"A florist in eastern Washington state fined 1 , 000 for refusing to sell a same sex couple wedding flowers and also facing a consumer protection lawsuit has netted more than 87 , 000 in a crowdfunding campaign .  The Seattle Times reports that nearly half of the money on the gofundmeweblink page set up in February for 70 year old Barronelle Stutzman came in the last several days .  Supporters compare Stutzman ' s benefit page to an Indiana pizza shop that raised more than 800 , 000 after closing when the owner said the shop wouldn ' t cater a gay wedding .  Supporters : An online campaign for Richland , Washington florist Barronelle Stutzman ( pictured ) has raised over 87 , 000 after the florist was fined for refusing to provide a gay couple with flowers for their 2013 wedding  Refused service : Couple Robert Ingersoll ( left ) and Curt Freed ( right ) were longtime customers at Stutzman ' s shop , and while she was fine providing them flowers before , she cited her religious beliefs when declining to service their wedding  Stutzman , owner of Arlene ' s Flowers and Gifts in Richland , Washington , received the fine in Benton County Superior Court in March after refusing to serve same sex couple Robert Ingersoll and Curt Freed in 2013 .  When longtime customer Ingersoll came to Arlene ' s Flowers and asked for the flowers , the devout Southern Baptist told him her ' relationship with Jesus Christ ' wouldn ' t allow her to do the wedding .  After they were refused flowers , Ingersoll and Freed went ahead with a smaller wedding than they had planned . They got married in their home with 11 guests and flowers from another florist .  In a February ruling , Benton County Superior Judge Alexander Ekstrom found that Stutzman ' s refusal to provide flowers because of sexual orientation violated Washington ' s anti discrimination and consumer protection laws . Along with the fine , the judge ' s ruling also requires that everything Arlene ' s Flowers sells to opposite sex couples has to be available at the same price to same sex couples .  Attorney General Bob Ferguson , whose office requested the fine , said in a statement Friday that the ruling is a reminder of the reach of Washington ' s anti discrimination laws .  ' My primary goal has always been to end illegal discrimination , ' Ferguson said . ' I ' m pleased that today ' s ruling clearly prohibits discrimination against same sex couples . '  Before Ferguson ' s office filed the consumer protection lawsuit against Stutzman , it had sent her a letter asking for an agreement to no longer discriminate , which she refused . Ferguson ' s statement Friday said the office would not have sued if Stutzman had accepted the agreement  Breaking the law : In February , a Benton County judge ruled that Stutzman ' s refusal to provide flowers for the ceremony was a violation of anti discrimination and consumer protection laws . Above , Stutzman ' s shop  ",true,text,test,Other sport,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
9726,9727,"Washington Nearly a dozen Republicans who might be considering a run for the  presidential nomination in 2016 are auditioning in front of the Conservative Political Action Conference , which touts itself as the largest and oldest annual gathering of conservatives .  On Friday , Mitt Romney , the 2012 Republican presidential nominee , will speak at  . If Romney is the  ' s past , then Senators Marco Rubio of Florida and Rand Paul of Kentucky are the  ' s future .  Both men , considered leading 2016 Republican White House hopefuls , gave back to back and dueling speeches Thursday . Although different in style and with divergent plans to revitalize a party that ' s lost the last two presidential elections , both men praised the conservative cause .  "" We don ' t need a new idea . There is an idea . The idea is called America , and it still works , "" Rubio said to loud applause .  Paul said that for the Republican Party to win , "" liberty needs to be the backbone of the  . ""  Texas Gov . Rick Perry spoke a few hours later . His 2012 bid for the  nomination crashed and burned , but he is considering another run in 2016 . Perry used his address to criticize Romney and Arizona Sen . John McCain , the 2008 Republican nominee .  "" The popular media narrative is that this country has shifted away from conservative ideals , as evidenced by the last two presidential elections . That ' s what they say , "" Perry said . "" That might be true if Republicans had actually nominated conservative candidates in 2008 and 2012 . ""  On Friday , former Sen . Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania , a conservative favorite who battled Romney deep into last year ' s Republican primary calendar , is scheduled to make several appearances . Santorum could make another run for the White House in 2016 .  Big  surprise : Jeb Bush not on ballot  Later in the afternoon Louisiana Gov . Bobby Jindal , who is also considered a possible presidential hopeful , will address the crowd . So will House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan , the congressman from Wisconsin who was Romney ' s running mate . And Friday night former Florida Gov . Jeb Bush , who lately has openly discussed 2016 , will keynote a  dinner .  Wisconsin Gov . Scott Walker , Sen . Ted Cruz of Texas and former Alaska Gov . Sarah Palin will appear on Saturday . Cruz was born in Canada to an American mother and Cuban father his eligibility for president has been subject to debate .  ""  is where all 2016 candidates need to go to pass the conservative litmus test : Are they for freedom , or for something less , "" said Castellanos , who is spearheading a new super  called the NewRepublican . org to refocus the party ' s messaging and policy goals .  Paul , Rubio provide competing glimpses of a revamped   "" There ' s not many other events where they all accept the invitation and are happy to parade one after the other , modeling in their swimsuits and evening gowns hoping to be amongst the finalists , "" she said .  The conference , which draws tons of attention , has been increasingly critiqued as more political carnival than conference . Regardless , the confab will once again end with its  presidential nomination straw poll , which is considered by many as a key gauge of conservative sentiment and garners much media coverage . But there ' s also been plenty of criticism in recent years that the  straw poll is not the indicator it once was .  "" It ' s a more an anecdotal measurement than an empirical one . Its relevance as a prediction of grassroots strength within the party has waned over the last few years . It can , however , give someone who isn ' t well known a shot of adrenaline so that they ' re more prominently featured in any of the chatter about 2016 , "" said Kevin Madden , a  strategist who served as a senior adviser to Romney in both his 2012 and 2008 presidential campaigns . "" Folks shouldn ' t read too much into the results . Straw polls are kind of like political junk food . You know it ' s all empty calories , but some folks eat it anyway . ""   straw poll list shows wide array of 2016 potential   analyst Rich Galen says the poll means nothing three years out from the election and it represents only part of the party .  "" If we ' ve learned anything from  it ' s that the conference does not represent mainstream  thinking . The poll is routinely hijacked by whomever wants to spend the money to get the eight hours of attention , "" said Galen , who advised actor and former Tennessee Sen . Fred Thompson during his 2008  presidential bid and is author of Mullingsweblink , an online column .  "" Last year we not only did a straw poll but also had a national poll we announced simultaneously , "" said Al Cardenas , chairman of the American Conservative Union , the organization that puts on the conference . "" The outcomes were identical . The same order of top three finishers in the straw poll were the same order as the top three finishers in the national poll , and so to those skeptics who were concerned about the accuracy of the straw poll , the national poll provided empirical evidence that it was a pretty good representative sample of what ' s going on . ""  Romney finished first in both polls , ahead of Santorum and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich .  This time around there are 23 names on the straw poll ballot , including some who were not invited to  .  Among those on the ballot who won ' t be speaking is Chris Christie , the tough talking New Jersey governor who is considered a leading prospect for the 2016 nomination . While popular in his party , Christie angered some on the right after praising President Barack Obama for the federal response to Superstorm Sandy , which devastated parts of the Garden State just days before the November election . Christie also criticized House Republicans for temporarily holding up federal aid following the storm .  Major conservative conference comes at crucial time for   Virginia Gov . Bob McDonnell also may have designs on the White House , but he is not addressing  . Earlier this year he pushed through a transportation plan that included tax increases , considered heresy among fiscal conservatives . Though he doesn ' t have a keynote speaking role , he is part of a panel session at the conference .  Others on the ballot without speaking spots include New Mexico Gov . Susana Martinez former Indiana Gov . Mitch Daniels , who now heads Purdue University and Ohio Sen . Rob Portman , a major Romney surrogate last year .  Neurosurgeon Ben Carson interestingly appears on the poll the only one on the list who ' s never been elected to public office . He generated buzz in conservative circles after he advocated conservative policies on taxes and health care in front of President Obama while keynoting the national prayer breakfast last month .  There ' s one glaring omission from the 23 names on the straw poll ballot : Jeb Bush , who asked not to be on the list .  Christie dismisses lack of  invite  For many conservative activists attending  , the straw poll is fun , but they don ' t take it too seriously .  "" I don ' t put much weight on it . It ' s a fun way of getting to see opinions , but it doesn ' t predict anything , "" said Ryan Robertson of Reston , Virginia .  "" I did it for fun . Why not ? But there ' s so much time between now and then , "" said Shelby Vest , a recent University of Florida graduate and first time straw poll voter .  Teresa Ferguson of Albertville , Alabama , sees a value in the straw poll .  "" We ' ve got to start thinking about someone , don ' t we ? ""  She said the results may reflect the hopes and dreams of some , but added that the straw poll is "" a popularity contest . ""  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
9729,9730,"A woman has lost over 10 stone after a stranger threw a drink at her on a night out and told her she was disgusting .  Steph Hammel , 25 , was devastated when she was humiliated in front of all of her friends and a bar full of strangers after the man threw a drink at her on the stairs of a bar in her hometown of Preston .  It was the turning point Steph needed to finally do something about her 22st 5lb frame .  Steph managed to shed an impressive 10 stone after the eye opening event at a bar in her home town  Now , she weighs just 11st 13lb and is a size 12 and has been crowned Woman of the Year by the Cambridge Weight Plan .  Steph , who is a local government authority officer , said : ' I was never a skinny girl , even when I was younger , but I was never fat either . I danced four times a week and was competing in championships on nearly a weekly basis .  ' I would always be nervous when I went on a night out , but the night it happened I had made the effort with my hair and make up , and worn a dress . I felt really confident which is why it came as such a blow .  ' He walked right up to me , turned round and said , ' Look at the state of you . You ' re disgusting , ' and threw his drink at me .  Although her father made healthy food at home , Steph would buy crisps and sweets with her own money and eat them in secret , causing her weight to balloon  ' Nobody should be made to feel the way that man made me feel , but it finally gave me the push I needed to do something about my weight .  ' If I met him now I ' d shake his hand because without him I never would have done anything about my size . '  Steph started putting on weight when she stopped dancing aged 17 .  Although her father made healthy food at home , she would buy crisps and sweets with her own money and eat them in secret .  Steph said : ' I thought that if no one saw me doing it , then I hadn ' t done it , which is never a good way to be .  The incident on her friends birthday forced Steph to look at the risks associated with her unhealthy lifestyle  ' By the time I realised that my weight was going up , it was too late . By then I was a size 26 . '  Steph ' s diet was always put on the backburner until the turning point came while out for her friend ' s birthday .  She says : ' I went to the toilets on my own and was going back down the stairs to find my friends as this young man was coming up .  ' Luckily , my friend was coming up the stairs as it happened because I was furious . '  But the incident forced Steph to look at the risks associated with her unhealthy lifestyle and she started researching diet plans and which one would be right for her .  Steph says if she met the man who threw the drink now she would thank him  She eventually decided on the Cambridge Weight Plan , which involved rebuilding her relationship with food by first cutting it out completely and replacing it with milkshakes and porridge .  Her incredible weight loss of 10st 7lb led to Steph being crowned Woman of the Year at the Cambridge Weight Plan awards .  Steph said : ' I needed to know that I had set boundaries and wouldn ' t be tempted by even just small amounts of unhealthy foods .  ' A lot of people doubted me when I first started and didn ' t think I would be able to stick to the diet , but when they could see how well I was doing they became more encouraging .  ' Proving people wrong has given me an extra boost of confidence and motivated me to carry on .  ' Now my mum will tell anyone that will listen for long enough about how well I ' ve done .  ' There were times when I would think ' this is it , I ' ve done enough now ' , but my mum and my boyfriend ' s mum spurred me on to keep going and keep losing the weight . '  Since losing the weight , Steph ' s confidence has skyrocketed and she has also met her boyfriend , Neil .  Steph said : I met Neil towards the end of my diet and we ' ve been together about seven months .  ' The relationship wouldn ' t have worked before I don ' t think . I would have constantly been wondering why he was interested in me .  ' I would have been constantly thinking he ' s only with me until something better comes along . Before I was with Neil I didn ' t know what it was like to be with someone who was nice to me all the time . '  Steph has also noticed more subtle changes in her day to day life , including in other people ' s behaviour towards her , especially as a young woman .  Steph has been crowned Woman of the Year by the Cambridge Weight Plan due to her dieting success  She says : ' People used to look at me and judge me . They were looking down on me because I was young and overweight .  ' Now , people will hold a door open for me . It sounds silly but that was something that wouldn ' t have happened before .  ' There are also things that people take for granted , like being able to cross my legs under my desk at work , sitting in an aeroplane seat comfortably and being able to walk between two cars in a car park without worrying you ' d get stuck . '  Seeing herself as a role model , Steph is now feeling the pressure to keep the weight off for good .  ' Losing this much weight , going from a size 26 to a size 12 , is something people in their forties do , not people in their twenties .  ' By doing it , I ' ve proved that it doesn ' t matter how old you are , there shouldn ' t be any excuse for being overweight .  ' I ' m much happier in myself because of how healthy I feel and how much better I feel about myself . '  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
9730,9731,"England ' s experiment of having two coaches fell apart when tension arose between Andy Flower and Ashley Giles over the need to rest the best players from one day matches . Now , things could be different .  There is a strong case for Paul Farbrace , an impressive assistant coach amid the rubble of this World Cup , to be given extra responsibility for limited overs cricket if England are bold and pick a largely different one day team when they move on from this disaster .  The primacy of Test cricket remains an important principle but there is no doubt it has contributed to the worst World Cup showing of them all .  There is a strong case for England assistant coach Paul Farbrace to be given extra responsibility  Farbrace remains a firm believer that England coach Peter Moores ( left ) will get it right  If England are serious about closing a gap which has become a gaping chasm between them and the best one day nations , they need to have completely different personnel to the Test team .  And Farbrace , who guided Sri Lanka to the Asia Cup and World Twenty20 titles last year , has been a calm and sensible presence here . He remains a firm believer that England coach Peter Moores will get it right another reason the pair should be able to share coaching responsibilities .  ' It ' s unfair that Peter is the one in the limelight , ' said Farbrace ahead of this morning ' s dead rubber against Afghanistan .  Farbrace talks with Ravi Bopara as the disastrous World Cup campaign comes to a close  Farbrace guided Sri Lanka to the Asia Cup and World Twenty20 titles last year and is calm and sensible  ' At the last  tournament , I left having been head coach of the team that won it and you take the adulation then . But you also receive the stick when things go badly . We ' re all responsible , not just Pete . '  Farbrace also addressed the controversial subject of statistics , adding : ' When I was with Sri Lanka we had a lot more meetings and looked at stats a lot more than England do . '  England assistant coach Farbrace conducts fielding practice during an England nets session in Sydney  Glenn McGrath has predicted England will suffer another whitewash in this summer ' s Ashes . Australia won all five Tests in the 2013 14 series and their former bowler said : ' I can ' t see England beating them and I ' m more than happy to predict 5 0 . '  Former Australia bowler Glenn McGrath cannot see England winning anything at next summer ' s Ashes  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
9736,9737,"A seven year old girl was left with facial injuries after an armed police officer accidentally fired a gun during a demonstration for winners of a colouring competition .  The incident , which left the girl with a minor injury to her lip , happened at Nottinghamshire Police ' s headquarters while a group of children and parents were being shown around the building in the Arnold area of the city .  The weapon was fired during a lunchtime visit on October 30 but the police force only made a public statement today after details of the incident were leaked .  A seven year old girl was left with facial injuries after an armed police officer accidentally fired a gun during a visit to Nottinghamshire Police ' s headquarters ( pictured )  An investigation has been launched following what a force spokesman described as ' an accidental discharge of a police issued firearm into the ground ' .  The officer , a trained firearms expert , has been taken off firearms duties pending the inquiry ' s outcome .  Assistant Chief Constable Simon Torr , from Nottinghamshire Police , said : ' We are conducting a thorough inquiry to determine exactly how this unfortunate incident happened and have also referred the matter to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (  ) .  The gun was accidentally fired at the ground , injuring the child ( file picture )  ' We have spoken to the parents , who were visiting force headquarters with their children , to explain what happened and have apologised for any distress caused . '  The group were enjoying an escorted tour of Sherwood Lodge , where they were shown ' specialist services ' including dogs , firearms and traffic cars .  After a short talk about the weapons , the gun was accidentally fired at the ground , injuring the child .  A force spokesman added : ' It happened around 12 . 15pm on Thursday , October 30 during an escorted visit to Sherwood Lodge by a group of children and parents who were being shown specialist services including dogs , firearms and traffic cars .  ' At the end of a brief talk from firearms officers there was an accidental discharge of a police issued firearm into the ground .  ' Following the incident a seven year old Nottinghamshire girl , who was part of the visiting group , was found with a minor injury to her lip .  ' The cause of that injury will now form part of the investigation . The officer involved is currently not on firearms duties , pending the outcome of the investigation . '  ",true,text,test,American football,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
9742,9743,"I can t speak for this government . I have nothing to do with their policies , I don t know what s on their mind . Nor can I speak about whether they have pre negotiated or have reason to believe that Pakistan will deliver on their promises . I m talking not just about ( punishing ) 26 11 perpetrators but actually acting against terrorism and the groups that attack us , opening up Wagah to more goods , etc . So if you ask me , honestly , today I cannot say whether the optics will actually result in the substance but it would be very unusual for any government to just do the optics without any assurances . So I am quite happy to be surprised .    : In a speech last year , you had mentioned that India s foreign policy goal was essentially ensuring the transformation of India . This government seems to be concerned with signalling India s power . Do you think , keeping in mind what happened in Myanmar or the very unpleasant situation with Nepal now , there is a danger of power projection overtaking the first objective of building an enabling neighbourhood ?  I see Myanmar and all as part of learning statecraft . It doesn t worry me that much . But I do think that you need much more clarity on your goal . Most governments of India , until this one , have always defined it as eliminating poverty , illiteracy , diseases and making sure that India becomes a modern , socialist country where we solve our own social and economic problems . That is one set of goals . Yes , you have to be a great power to achieve some of those goals . But whether the time now is to concentrate on being a great power , a projecting power , and doing all the other things that go with it or focussing on organic growth from trying to transform India , that is exactly where you get into a grey area . For me , the problem is the lack of a clear strategic vision from the government , which says either we buy into what has always been or we have an alternative . Now India has grown to the stage where we can change our goals . But you need to have a discussion on that rationally and consciously . If you ( decide on the change ) , you need to signal it to the rest of the world as well , especially your neighbours . I am not sure if that has happened in the last few months .    : Has India messed it up in Nepal ? Could the approach have been different , better ?  I don t know . I think there are a whole set of issues in Nepal which are primarily their own business . It is very easy in Nepal to blame India for Nepal s problems . Until they come to some accommodation among themselves , each one will either come to India and ask for help or blame us . Ultimately , we are so closely linked with our open border and in terms of economic interdependence and people that I am confident that it will work out . You could argue that there has been tactical clumsiness over the way it was done in the last few months , but that s not important when it comes to India Nepal relations . ( Khadga Prasad Sharma ) Oli ( Nepal  ) said he will be visiting India . I believe ultimately good sense will prevail , though there will be patchiness in the relations for some time . We also have to lighten up and look at how far Nepal has come from a vicious 12 year insurgency .    : Do you think , in the given circumstances , India should go ahead with the January 15 foreign secretary level talks ?  I don t think calling off the talks is an answer . That is , like I said before , giving the terrorists exactly what they want . I would say go ahead with the talks but use the talks to deal with it and tell Pakistan that now we expect to see you re dealing with these problems and furnish them with evidence . Put them to test .    : What major differences do you see between Manmohan Singh and Narendra Modi in dealing with Pakistan ?  I m not sure I am qualified to answer that . As I said , there is much more public projection . But I find it hard to believe that there are only optics and no assurances . I would assume that taken together , it is still India s policy .    : Some people are advocating that after Pathankot , India should respond in a muscular fashion . After 26 11 , this choice confronted you in a much more traumatic way . Why did you decide not to retaliate ? Was it because General Deepak Kapoor wasn t ready or the Army wasn t ready ?  I don t think that is really the case . Immediately after 26 11 , the Pakistan army started crying wolf that India is about to attack , though we had not done anything . It was clear that they wanted you to ( attack ) . It was a time when three or four things had happened : Lashkar itself had split with Ilyas Kashmiri there were parts of the Lashkar which were saying that why are we sparing the Pakistani government . Pakistan army s stock was very low . It served both their interests to actually get you to react . So , why give them the authenticity ?  Second , what happens if we do and what did happen when we didn t .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
9752,9753,"Video shows what it ' s like to be ' barrel bombed ' by Assad in Syria  Mr Assad , who is backed by both Russia and Iran , ? said : "" Since the beginning of that coalition , if you want to talk about facts , not opinion , since the beginning of that coalition , Isis has expanded and the recruiting from around the world has increased .  "" While since the participation of Russia in the same fight , so called against terrorism , Isis has been shrinking . ""  Western leaders have ? demanded Mr ? Assad step ? down , and are backing rebel groups fighting against his regime . David Cameron and French president Francois Hollande have ? described him as a "" butcher "" of his own people , and responsible for triggering the refugee crisis . ?  Russia , meanwhile , ? has been criticised for targeting moderate rebels ? as well as jihadists .  Syrian citizens check a damaged house that targeted by the coalition airstrikes , in the village of Kfar Derian , a base for the al Qaida linked Nusra Front , a rival of the Isis group , between the northern province of Aleppo and Idlib  A Syrian boy ( L ) looking at a destroyed car that activists say was targeted by the coalition airstrikes , in the village of Kfar Derian , a base for the al Qaida linked Nusra Front , a rival of the Islamic State group , between the northern province of Aleppo and Idlib  Parts of a missile that activists say was fired by coalition airstrikes , in the village of Kfar Derian , a base for the al Qaida linked Nusra Front , a rival of the Isis group , between the northern province of Aleppo and Idlib  Tthe guided missile destroyer  Arleigh Burke (  51 ) launching Tomahawk cruise missiles against Isis targets  The  Arleigh Burke (  51 ) launches a Tomahawk cruise missiles in the Red Sea , to conduct strike missions against Isis group targets in Syria  The guided missile cruiser  Philippine Sea (  58 ) launching a Tomahawk cruise missile against Isis targets in Syria , as seen from the aircraft carrier  George H . W . Bush (  77 ) in the Arabian Gulf   navy sailors standing watch on the bridge while Tomahawk cruise missiles are launched against Isis targets in Syria , aboard the guided missile cruiser  Philippine Sea (  58 ) , in the Arabian Gulf  The  led airstrikes in Syria against Isis targets in and around the city of Raqqa  A fighter from the Isis group holds a piece of what the  is saying is a  drone that crashed into a communications tower in the Syrian city of Raqqa  Fighters from the Isis organisation pray at the spot where the jihadist group said a  drone crashed into a communications tower in the Syrian city of Raqqa  Fighters from the Isis group load a van with parts that they said was a  drone that crashed into a communications tower in the Syrian city of Raqqa  Fighters from the Isis group load a van with parts that they said was a  drone that crashed into a communications tower in Raqqa  Fighters from the Isis group gesture as they load a van with parts that they said was a  drone that crashed into a communications tower in Raqqa . A  led coalition on carried out its first air strikes and missile attacks against jihadist positions in Syria , with Damascus saying it had been informed by Washington before the operation began  A Syrian man rides his bike past a communications tower that was destroyed after a  drone crashed into it , according to fighters with the Isis group , in the Syrian city of Raqqa  People inspect a shop damaged after what Isis militants say was a U . S . drone crashed into a communication station nearby in Raqqa  A man holds the remains of what Isis militants say was a U . S . drone which crashed in Raqqa  Resident gather in the back of a van the remains of what Isis militants say was a drone which crashed in Raqqa  A man inspects the remains of what Isismilitants say was a U . S . drone which crashed into a communication tower in Raqqa  A man inspects the remains of what Isis militants say was a U . S . drone which crashed in Raqqa  According to Sky News , when asked what he thought would end four years of civil war in Syria , in which more than 200 , 000 people have been killed , Mr Assad said : ? "" When those countries that I mentioned France ,  ,  , Saudi Arabia , Qatar and some other stop supporting those terrorists .  "" The situation will be better and in a few months we will have full peace in Syria , definitely . If they stop . ""  It comes as British ? MPs prepare to vote on whether the  should join its allies and launch ? airstrikes in Syria . ?  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
9753,9754,"Sen . Rick Santorum , who is campaigning to become America ' s second Catholic president , disagrees from the bottom of his gut with the first Catholic to hold the office .  In October , he told a Catholic university audience that when he read the 1960 speech in which John F . Kennedy said : "" I believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute , "" he "" almost threw up . "" More recently , he elaborated on his dyspeptic condition in an  television interview , calling  ' s credo "" an absolutist doctrine that was abhorrent at the time of 1960 . ""  But the Baptist ministers who witnessed Kennedy ' s speech surely felt differently . In the 1960s , evangelical leaders were not concerned that Kennedy was too secular they were concerned that he was too Catholic .  For most of American history , the Protestant majority has regarded Catholics with deep suspicion . Many of the 13 colonies banned Catholics from public office and prohibited Catholic rituals . Priests were banished and sometimes executed .  After independence , the Constitution protected Catholics from the worst persecutions of the Colonial period , but discrimination persisted , and anti Catholic paranoia raged with an intensity that would have made Glenn Beck blush . One popular book , "" Foreign Conspiracy Against the Liberties of the United States , "" warned of a secret Jesuit plot to deliver America to the Austrian empire . Its author was Samuel Morse , co inventor of the telegraph .  Such fears diminished as Catholic immigrants assimilated in the 20th century , but many Protestants remained hostile toward Catholic politicians . During  ' s presidential campaign , the Department of Justice documented 144 producers of anti Catholic campaign literature . The pamphlets warned of Vatican influence over American policy and the prospect of state funded Catholic schools . Most of the opposition came from evangelical groups like the National Association of Evangelicals and the Southern Baptist Convention .  In the face of unrelenting hostility , Kennedy decided to address concerns about his religion directly . Speaking to a group of Baptist ministers in Houston , he reassured them :  "" I believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute , where no Catholic prelate would tell the president should he be Catholic how to act , and no Protestant minister would tell his parishioners for whom to vote , where no church or church school is granted any public funds or political preference , and where no man is denied public office merely because his religion differs from the president who might appoint him , or the people who might elect him . ""  Perhaps Rick Santorum ' s father , an Italian immigrant who came to the United States in 1930 , heard these words and understood the prejudice that  struggled against . But Rick Santorum was only 2 years old when they were spoken . If he has any memory of Catholics ' difficult history in this country , he does not publicize it . Nor do other Catholic champions of the religious right in their determination to wash away the old hostilities that divided American Christianity .  Evangelicals and Catholics began collaborating politically in the late 1970s . The architect behind their reconciliation was a political strategist named Paul Weyrich . Frustrated by the Republican Party ' s preoccupation with business interests , Weyrich sought to reorient the party toward religious and cultural issues . To this end , he founded the Heritage Foundation , a conservative think tank , and the Moral Majority , the first organization to represent what we now call the religious right .  Weyrich , a Melkite Greek Catholic , knew that a Catholic leader would not appeal to evangelicals , so he tried to recruit televangelist Pat Robertson to lead his cause . When Robertson turned him down , Weyrich enlisted the Rev . Jerry Falwell .  Falwell would later say that Catholics and evangelicals found common ground in their opposition to abortion , but Weyrich remembered it somewhat differently . He had tried to mobilize evangelicals over abortion and failed . Most Protestants regarded abortion as a "" Catholic issue , "" and many prominent Baptist leaders had even endorsed the Roe v . Wade decision .  What actually brought Catholics and evangelicals together was a common enemy . This imaginary enemy has gone by many names . In the 1970s and ' 80s , it was known as "" secular humanism , "" a fiendish anti religious movement that had supposedly taken over the schools , the courts , the media and the government .  In the 1990s , it was called "" political correctness , "" and rampaged through the universities . When Bill O ' Reilly of Fox News announced that Christmas was under siege in 2004 , he blamed "" secular progressives "" in the media . Meanwhile , Rick Santorum decries "" cultural liberalism "" and warns that the government is trying to destroy religious freedom by forcing Catholic organizations to insure birth control .  Regardless of the name , the supposed enemy ' s goals remain the same : to eradicate Christianity from the public sphere and replace traditional Judeo Christian values with a liberal agenda . Its agents are progressive politicians , journalists , professors and nonprofit organizations . Its creed is the separation of church and state that  once appealed to in his campaign to become the first Catholic president .  The construction of such a villain has been devastatingly effective in uniting the religious right . The same evangelical groups that once attacked  as an agent of the pope have become the foundation of Santorum ' s support in the Republic primary , and his only rival for their vote is fellow Catholic Newt Gingrich . Times have changed .  But should Santorum and his conservative Catholic allies succeed in breaking down the barriers between state and religion , they may reap a bitter fruit . For without the secular menace to distract Protestants from their doctrinal differences with Catholics , the old enmities may rise again . And just as religious right leaders seldom extend their demands for religious freedom to Muslims and other non Christian religions , Catholics might one day find the freedoms that they have come to take for granted are no longer assured .  The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Michael Wolraich .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,satire,true,True,no,no,negative,past
9760,9761,"If you watch  at all you know John Harwood is a  liberal political hack so why the heck is it ok for him to moderate tonight s debate? Couldn t they find anyone else? Look out for lots of jabs and unfair tactics focusing on the two frontrunners. It s fine to ask questions but these liberal animals will hit below the belt. Watch for it  Why in the world is liberal journalist John Harwood moderating Wednesday s Republican debate? And where the heck is his conservative media partner? Wednesday night s debate will be hosted by  at the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado. It will be moderated by Harwood along with  s Carl Quintanilla and Becky Quick and is supposed to focus on economic issues, though previous  debates have strayed far from that topic. Harwood frequently angers conservatives for his partisan takes on the news. I mostly laugh off his predictably liberal views because I don t take him that seriously. But that only leads us back to figuring out why he s moderating this Wednesday s debate. Let s just look at a few examples of how he covers news. The Headlines Below Tell You Most of What You Need to Know: Harwood works for both  and The New York Times. You can get something of a feel for his predictable but conventional liberal takes from the headlines of just his most recent pieces: *On the Economy, Republicans Have a Data ProblemTax *Plans of G.O.P. Favor the Rich Despite Populist Talk *Timing Gives Sanders a Lift in His Quest *Republicans Vow to Erase Obama s Record, but Such *Promises Are Rarely Kept *Outsiders Stir Politics, but Often Fail to Win or Govern Well *Angry Bent of Party Let Trump Rise *Bernie Sanders: A Revolution With an Eye on the Hungry Children Read more: The Federalist",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
9767,9768,"Abu Dhabi , United Arab Emirates A Kuwaiti court sentenced three former members of parliament to three years in prison with hard labor on charges of insulting the nation ' s ruler , a human rights group said Tuesday .  Falah Al Sawagh , Bader Al Dahoum and Khalid Al Tahou are currently out on bail . They will appeal the decision , the Kuwait Society for Human Rights said .  More than 300 people are currently detained in Kuwait on charges of insulting the emir , which is a crime under the national security law , said Mohammed Al Humaidi , director of the human rights group .  Some have faced prison time for what they said on Twitter .  "" We call on the judiciary and the government to create a special law for electronic crimes like in other countries , "" Al Humaidi said . "" Someone sending a text on a mobile or tweeting or commenting on social media should not be tried or convicted in a court of national security . ""  On Sunday , a Kuwaiti court sentenced another man , Mohammed Al Ajmi , to five years of imprisonment for insulting the emir the maximum sentence permissible by law .  Al Humaidi said that sentence will also be appealed . The human rights group director said he did not know the exact nature of Al Ajmi ' s tweet or why his sentence was longer than others .  Kuwait ' s Ministry of Information said anyone accused of a crime gets "" a fair trial with a comprehensive legal defense and open appeals process . ""  "" Kuwait has a long standing proud tradition of open debate and free speech with free , transparent and inclusive elections and the most robust parliament in the region , "" the ministry said in a statement Tuesday . "" We are a country led by the rule of law and our constitution holds our Emir to be inviolable . If our citizens wish to amend the constitution there is a straightforward legal way to do this , but we will not selectively enforce our laws . ""  Al Ajmi is the third Kuwaiti to be sentenced this year for insulting Emir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Jaber Al Sabah on Twitter .  In January , Rashed Al Enezi and Ayad Al Hirbi were each sentenced to two years .  Al Humaidi said Al Enezi ' s tweet implied an opposition member of parliament would do a better job ruling the country than the royal family .  Al Hirbi ' s tweet quoted a line by a dissident poet interpreted as insulting the emir .  "" We call on the Kuwaiti government to abide by international agreements it has signed respecting human rights , "" Al Humaidi said . "" As a nation , Kuwait must work toward broadening freedoms , not limiting them . ""  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
9774,9775,"The so called ' health tourism gap ' between the amount the  collects from  patients and the total hospitals on the continent receive from Britain has soared to almost 700million ( file picture )  Hospitals ' failure to claw back the cost of treating Europeans is costing taxpayers millions of pounds a week , figures suggest .  The so called ' health tourism gap ' between the amount the  collects from  patients and the total hospitals on the continent receive from Britain has soared to almost 700million .  It means the  is now paying out 15 for the healthcare costs of Britons who fall ill abroad for every 1 it gets back for the  treatment of European visitors .  The Prime Minister and Health Secretary have pledged to introduce tough new measures to recoup an extra 500million from foreigners annually by 2017 18 .  Both GPs and hospitals will be given incentives to identify non British users of the  and payment procedures will be made easier .  However , the latest Department of Health statistics indicate there is a long way to go . Released following a Freedom of Information request , they show that in 2013 14 , British taxpayers handed 749 . 8million to European governments to pay for the care of  citizens abroad .  This has risen by 100million from 649 . 3million just a year before .  But in the same period , the  managed to collect only 50 . 3million from European countries to pay for the care of their citizens who needed treatment here .  This is an increase on the 32million total the year before but the number is still dwarfed by money going the other way . Ministers believe part of the problem is that hospitals do not ask enough questions to identify patients who should be paying for treatment .  Figures which emerged at the weekend show the  is still chasing at least 62million of unpaid bills for foreigners ' care .  One London hospital trust alone King ' s College is owed almost 18million from overseas patients .  One single patient at a different trust racked up an unpaid bill of more than 420 , 000 . Others owe more than 100 , 000 for treatments including dialysis , bone marrow transplant and chemotherapy , according to The Sunday Times .  Health minister Dan Poulter was even photographed with a new mother from Zimbabwe who is still being pursued for a 3 , 000 bill .  Two years ago , cancer specialist Professor J Meirion Thomas warned many foreigners were travelling to Britain for expensive treatment and then leaving without paying .  He said the  was also becoming the ' world ' s maternity wing ' .  Last night Andrew Bridgen , Tory  for North West Leicestershire , said : ' We ' re fortunate to have one of the only truly free at the point of need health services in the world .  ' But we are not the International Health Service , it ' s the National Health Service . This is an issue which needs to be addressed . '  Ukip health spokesman Louise Bours said : ' It is clear from these figures that hospitals in this country are way too lax in chasing up payment for health treatment for  citizens . '  Prime Minister David Cameron , left , and Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt , right , have pledged to introduce tough new measures to recoup an extra 500million from foreigners annually by 2017 18  Part of the gap is due to the fact that so many British pensioners retire to the continent .  There may also be more tourists from Britain travelling to mainland Europe than the other way round . But there are more than a million migrant workers from the  here , against far fewer Britons employed in other European countries .  Under  arrangements ,  citizens can be treated by other nations ' health services and the bill is sent back to Britain .  In theory , these European nations should also be billed when their citizens are treated by the  .  In 2013 14 , the  paid Ireland 246million for treating Britons who fell ill there . Only 22million came back the other way . Some 250million was paid to Spain but only 3 . 2million came back .  France received 152million but returned just 7million .  Italy got 6 . 2million and sent back 1 . 1million , while Greece collected 8 . 9million and returned 400 , 000 . A Department of Health spokesman said : ' We want international visitors to feel welcome to use the  , provided they pay for it just as families in the  do through their taxes .  ' Our plans will help recoup up to 500million a year by 2017 18 . '  Jonathan Isaby , chief executive at the TaxPayers ' Alliance , said : ' Emergency medical treatment is one thing , but taxpayers cannot be expected to pick up the bill for expensive longer term treatment for tourists .  ' Our authorities must do better to claw back the amount owed by visitors . '  Zimbabwean born Caroline Nyadzyao , who is being chased for 3 , 000 by the  after giving birth in a Norfolk hospital , meets with health minister Daniel Poulter  Smiling alongside a health minister at a Norfolk maternity unit in 2013 , this new mum is still being chased for the 3 , 000 it cost the  to help her give birth .  Zimbabwe born Caroline Nyadzayo ' s unpaid bill is part of the 62million cost of ' health tourism ' to Britain .  The 34 year old , an advertising executive in Africa , was pictured with health minister Daniel Poulter on his visit to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital when the maternity suite was reopened .  The mum said she complained to Mr Poulter about the charge and said she was under huge pressure to pay it . But Mr Poulter has reportedly said he does not remember being told that .  Miss Nyadzayo , now in Harare , told the Sunday Times it was ' unfair ' she was still being pursued , because the baby ' s father is British .  She said : ' I know the system may believe I travelled to abuse the  benefits , but . . . I just wanted to have my first baby as a family and surely everyone is entitled to that ? '  The couple were questioned about the birth when they entered Britain at Norwich Airport in October 2013 . However , they were released when they agreed they would be paying for it .  Miss Nyadzayo said : ' I was told because I was 31 weeks ' pregnant it was likely I was going to use the  to my advantage . We said we would pay for the birth . But we had no idea how much we ' d be charged . '  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
9778,9779,"Reuters ? ?   Jan 25 , 2016 11 : 08      ( Reuters ) A renewed drop in oil prices due to worries about a global supply glut on Monday hurt U . S . and European stock markets and weighed on the dollar following a rebound in those sectors late last week .  Anxiety about the drag from tumbling energy prices on global economic growth and central bank policies revived safe haven demand for the yen , gold and U . S . government debt .  Crude oil prices fell 4 percent as Iraq announced record high oil production feeding into a heavily oversupplied market , wiping out much of the gains made in one of the biggest ever daily rallies last Friday . O R  "" The news that Iraq has probably hit another record builds on the oversupply sentiment , "" said Hans van Cleef , senior energy economist at  Amro in Amsterdam .  The oil led market turbulence since the start of 2016 has raised hopes of more aid from major central banks .  Last week , European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi signalled the bank was open to more monetary stimulus to combat weak growth and inflation in the euro zone .  Traders have bet the Federal Reserve would seek to soothe financial markets after its two day meeting on U . S . monetary policy that will begin on Tuesday .    Global markets slumped at the start of the year on fears that a slowdown in China would spread to the rest of the world economy , and oil prices sank to 13 year lows .  German business confidence deteriorated to an 11 month low in January , a survey showed , suggesting growing concern among company executives in Europe ' s largest economy .  The Dow Jones industrial average was down 83 . 34 points , or 0 . 52 percent , at 16 , 010 . 17 , the S P 500 was 12 . 71 points , or 0 . 67 percent , lower at 1 , 894 . 19 and the Nasdaq Composite was down 25 . 75 points , or 0 . 56 percent , to 4 , 565 . 43 .  The pan European FTSEurofirst 300 index provisionally closed down 0 . 7 percent , while Tokyo ' s Nikkei ended 0 . 9 percent higher . .  . T  The  world equity index , which tracks shares in 45 nations , fell 1 . 3 points or 0 . 35 percent , to 366 . 67 .  Losses in oil and Wall Street pushed the greenback lower . The dollar index , which tracks the greenback versus a basket of six currencies , slipped 0 . 1 percent , to 99 . 445 .   The yen edged up 0 . 2 percent against the dollar at 118 . 53 yen , and was steady against the euro at 128 . 32 yen .  Brent crude oil futures fell 4 percent to 30 . 89 a barrel while U . S . crude slumped 4 . 7 percent to 30 . 67 .  Iraq ' s oil ministry told Reuters on Monday that oil output reached a record high in December , putting oil prices under renewed pressure .  U . S . 10 year Treasury yields were down 3 basis points at 2 . 02 percent , as the fall in oil prices underpinned support for safe haven debt .   Spot gold rose 0 . 85 percent to 1 , 107 . 19 an ounce .   ( Additional reporting by Dhara Ranasinghe and Patrick Graham in London Editing by Hugh Lawson and James Dalgleish )  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
9782,9783,"Amazon is planning to open its first physical store in Manhattan , it has been claimed .  The firm has signed a lease on a building on 34 Street , opposite the Empire State Building , the Wall Street Journal said .  It would act as a pickup and returns centre for customers , as well as a showroom for the firm ' s Kindle line .  Amazon ' s new store will be opposite the Empire State Building . It will act as a pickup and returns centre for customers , as well as a showroom for the firm ' s Kindle line .  In some locations , instead of delivering a parcel an address , Amazon customers can opt for their purchases to be dropped at a locker location .  This removes the risk of being out when it is delivered in the post .  Once the parcel arrives at the locker , the buyer will get an e mail notification with a unique pick up code and a barcode .  The email will also include details of when the lockers often located in stores are open .  When the customer arrives at the locker , they then enter the pick up code or scan the barcode , releasing the package .  Opening a physical location is ' about marketing the Amazon brand , ' said Matt Nemer , a Wells Fargo analys told the  .  ' Same day delivery , ordering online and picking up in store are ideas that are really catching on . Amazon needs to be at the center of that . '  People familiar with the matter cautioned that Amazon ' s plans could change , and that the store is an experiment and could be deemed unsuccessful .  If it is successful , however , the New York location could presage a rollout to other U . S . cities , it is claimed .  The 12 story building on 34th Street , owned by Vornado Realty Trust , once housed an Ohrbach ' s department store and now has Mango and Express stores at street level .  There are two loading docks at the back of the building , useful for bringing merchandise in and out .  It is believed the location was chosen to take advantage of the footfall of tourists .  The Empire State Building last year attracted 4 . 3 million visitors to its observatory , and Macy ' s flagship store nearby draws more than 20 million annual visitors .  Amazon already offers a locker option in New York .  Instead of delivering a parcel an address , Amazon customers can opt for their purchases to be dropped at a locker location .  Your goods are on aisle 427 : One huge Amazon ' fulfilment centre ' in the  . The firm is now set to open its first store in Manhattan , opposite the Empire state Building  This removes the risk of being out when it is delivered in the post .  Once the parcel arrives at the locker , the buyer will get an e mail notification with a unique pick up code and a barcode .  The email will also include details of when the lockers often located in stores are open .  When the customer arrives at the locker , they then enter the pick up code or scan the barcode , releasing the package .  ",true,text,test,American football,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
9786,9787,"Underworld don Chhota Rajan brought to Delhi , kept in  custody  Underworld don Chhota Rajan arrived at the Air force Station , Palam in New Delhi early morning on Friday . ( Virendra Singh Gosain  Photo )  Underworld don Chhota Rajan was deported to India from Indonesia and reached New Delhi early on Friday , 27 years after he had fled the country in the face of numerous cases of murder , extortion and drug smuggling against him .  After arriving at the Palam airport around 5 : 30am , Rajan was taken to the Central Bureau of Investigation (  ) headquarters , where he has been kept in a lock up and will undergo a medical examination soon , sources said .  All routes leading to the  headquarters have been sealed off by Delhi Police , while Central Industrial Security Force (  ) has increased security .  His deportation was deferred as the international airport in Bali was shut down due to spewing of volcanic ash from a nearby mountain .  After the authorities declared the airport open , the Indian team comprising  , Delhi and Mumbai police officials began the process of deportation of 55 year old Rajan , who had fled India in 1988 for Dubai .  Sources privy to the developments said the underworld don , who was arrested on October 25 after the Australian police tipped off the Bali police about his presence in the Island , was to undergo mandatory health check up before he would emplane a special aircraft for Delhi .  India was keen that the deportation takes place at the earliest and had put in a request to Indonesian authorities immediately after his arrest , the sources said .  Read Indonesia : Chhota Rajan s deportation delayed due to airport closure  Meanwhile , the Maharashtra government announced on Thursday it had handed over all its cases against gangster Chhota Rajan to the  , hours before the fugitive was deported by Indonesian authorities .  The decision effectively means Rajan will never go into the custody of Mumbai Police with the mobster alleging some members of the department were close to his friend turned foe , Dawood Ibrahim , the crime boss he broke away with after the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts .  Maharashtra additional chief secretary  Bakshi told reporters at a hurriedly called press conference that all the cases against 55 year old Rajan were being transferred to the  because of its expertise in handling transnational crimes .  We will provide all necessary help required from the state which includes Mumbai Police , and other districts of Maharashtra , Bakshi said , a day after chief minister Devendra Fadnavis met national security adviser Ajit Doval . The decision has no connection with the allegations made on Mumbai Police by Rajan .  Sources in the security establishment say Rajan first came in contact with central security agencies after breaking away from the Dawood gang as some counter underworld officials in Mumbai Police tried to target him at the behest of his former boss .  Sources added that Rajan and his gang were used as a weapon to target the Dawood syndicate and in the process Rajan claimed to be an intelligence asset in his fight against the anti national alleged conspirator in the 1993 Mumbai blasts .  Read Decks cleared for Chhota Rajan s return , lawyers get ready  Rajan , whose real name is Rajendra Sadashiv Nikalje , is wanted in over 75 crimes ranging from murder , extortion to smuggling and drug trafficking .  Mumbai Police has nearly 70 cases registered against Rajan , including 20 of murder , four cases under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities ( Prevention ) Act , one under Prevention of Terrorism Act and over 20 cases under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act .  Delhi Police has six cases registered against Rajan , who was a close aide of fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim at one point but split before the 1993 Mumbai blasts were conspired .  In 2000 , there was an attempt on Rajan s life when Dawood s men tracked him down to a hotel in Bangkok but he managed a dramatic escape by jumping from the first floor of the hotel .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
9809,9810,"Michael Vick turned himself in to authorities on Monday to get a head start on serving his sentence for running a dogfighting ring , the U . S . Marshals Service said .  Michael Vick leaves court in Richmond , Virginia , in August after pleading guilty to dogfighting charges .  The Atlanta Falcons quarterback is scheduled to be sentenced on December 10 on a federal conspiracy charge of bankrolling the dogfighting operation .  Vick , 27 , voluntarily turned himself in around noon , said Kevin Trevillan of the Marshals Service , and is being held at Northern Neck Regional Jail in Warsaw , Virginia , until the sentencing hearing .  The quarterback , who has been suspended indefinitely by  Commissioner Roger Goodell , faces 12 to 18 months in prison on the charge .  Vick pleaded guilty in August after three associates admitted their own roles in the operation and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors .  "" From the beginning , Mr Vick has accepted responsibility for his actions and his self surrender further demonstrates that acceptance , "" Vick ' s attorney , Billy Martin , said in a statement .  "" Michael wants to again apologize to everyone who has been hurt in this matter and he thanks all of the people who have offered him and his family prayers and support during this time , "" Martin ' s statement said .  On September 25 , a Virginia grand jury indicted Vick and the three co defendants Purnell Peace , 35 , of Virginia Beach , Virginia Quanis Phillips , 28 , of Atlanta , Georgia and Tony Taylor , 34 , of Hampton , Virginia on state charges of running a dogfighting ring at Vick ' s home outside Newport News .  The Surry County grand jury brought two charges against the four men : one count of unlawfully torturing and killing dogs and one of promoting dogfights . Each is a felony charge that could result in a five year prison term .  In addition , Taylor faces three additional counts of unlawful torture and killing of dogs .  A hearing in that case is set for November 27 , but Vick does not have to be in court at that time .  In September , Vick was put under tight restrictions by the federal court after he tested positive for marijuana use .  Vick tested positive for the drug on September 13 , a court document from the Eastern District of Virginia shows .  As a result , U . S . District Judge Henry E . Hudson ordered Vick to "" submit to any method of testing required by the pretrial services officer or the supervising officer for determining whether the defendant is using a prohibited substance . ""  Those methods could include random drug testing , a remote alcohol testing system "" and or any form of prohibited substance screening or testing , "" the order said .  Vick was also ordered to stay home between 10 p . m . and 6 a . m . , "" or as directed by the pretrial services officer or supervising officer , "" the order said . He was to be electronically monitored during that time .  Vick must participate in substance abuse therapy and mental health counseling "" if deemed advisable by the pretrial services officer or supervising officer "" at his own expense , the order said . E mail to a friend  ",true,text,test,Other news1,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
9818,9819,"Georgia Beneath seven flat screen TVs and one large pulldown screen , members of the Racquet Club of the South gathered Monday to watch and celebrate one of their own .  Members of the Racquet Club of the South erupt when Melanie Oudin beats Nadia Petrova .  Melanie Oudin , 17 , of Marietta , Georgia , has taken the tennis world by storm at the U . S . Open .  The 70th ranked female has upset some of the sport ' s biggest female stars , including Russian aces Elena Dementieva ( No . 4 seed ) and Maria Sharapova ( No . 29 seed , who has been ranked No . 1 worldwide in the past ) . And on Monday , she beat 13th seed Nadia Petrova in three sets .  Her latest win makes her the youngest American to make the quarterfinals since Serena Williams in 1999 .  "" It ' s still so surreal , "" said Anne Keeton , player liaison at the club , before the match started . "" She sort of wins no matter what happens . She ' s there going for it and not giving up . ""  At this suburban club , co owned and co directed by Oudin ' s longtime coach , Brian de Villiers , articles about the local tennis phenom dot the walls . In the Grill , on a Bud Light message board above drink specials , are the words "" Congratulations Melanie ! "" And a photo of her mixed in with other young players is posted near a downstairs fitness room .  Blending in with others and not retreating to "" a Melanie court "" is part of what makes her special , Keeton said . When there was a flood on some indoor courts this year , she was down there squeegeeing with everyone else .  "" She so lovely and so accessible , "" Keeton said . "" It couldn ' t happen to a nicer kid . ""  The restaurant buzzed as tables filled with more than 80 onlookers who were courtside in spirit . They feasted on a spread laid out to mark the special occasion as the match started . Watch friends , family cheer Oudin on  When Petrova took the upper hand , and the first set , fans erupted into applause with each of Oudin ' s hard earned points and offered encouragement like "" There we go ! "" When she pumped her fist in celebration , they did the same . And when a play didn ' t go her way , they groaned in unison .  Her skills were apparent from an early age , said Turhan Berne of Norcross , a coach and tournament director who ' s known Oudin since she was 9 . He watched her rake in wins , beating older kids and snagging No . 1 junior rankings in the country and world .  "" But you know when I knew she was going to be something ? "" he said . "" She would play with anybody her coach had her hit with . . . . She always gave back . She ' s very grounded . Her parents and coach did a great job not letting her fame and success change her into a different person . ""  As Oudin came back for the second set , the crowd held its collective breath . With every point she earned , they hooted , hollered and exchanged high fives . They booed when they saw Petrova losing her cool , banging her racquet against the net after losing a big point .  "" C ' mon , Melanie ! "" people screamed as the tiebreaker began in the second set . When Oudin took that set , they rose to their feet , screamed , did happy dances and shared hugs .  "" It ' s awesome , "" said Kathleen Brady of Norcross . "" We are so glad her opponent double faults . ""  "" Bless her heart , "" Lisa Wells chimed in with a laugh , offering the Southern tagline to downplay any insult .  Earlier in the day , John Sklare joked that the young pro learned something from him . Over the winter , the Alpharetta psychologist often played on the indoor court beside her .  "" I knew she was good , but I didn ' t know she was that good and that ' s what we ' re all finding out now , "" he said .  He spoke about what a "" great kid "" Oudin is but then added that what he likes best about her is how quiet she is on the court .  Sklare , a former writer for Atlanta Tennis magazine , said he called Sharapova "" Screamapova . ""  Oudin , on the other hand , is "" like a stealth fighter , "" he said . "" She ' s quiet , but you know she ' s there . ""  Her overall attitude is as inspiring as her play , said Jeannette Latimer of Decatur , Georgia , whose 11 year old daughter , Kelsey , has been playing for five years .  "" She shows the kids not to get upset on the court , "" Latimer said . "" She ' s always so positive . If the kids learn nothing else from her , it ' s her mental toughness . ""  But Kelsey has been more intent on studying Oudin ' s moves on the court . "" I think she has a nice top spin forehand , "" Kelsey said . "" I think it ' s better than mine . ""  With Oudin up 5 2 in the third set , anticipation hung in the air .  "" Both of them are pressing each other , but to see the 70 ranked player outplaying 13 , that takes heart , "" Ernie Jensen of Woodstock said .  Going into the match point , some rose to their feet . Together , the hordes clapped , carrying Oudin to the win . When she took the match , earning her first quarterfinal seat in a Grand Slam , the room exploded .  They stood by and watched , smiling widely and some wiping away tears as Oudin gave her victory speech .  "" It ' s like something so big happening to all of us all at once , "" said Jennifer Silverberg of Alpharetta . "" Watching her , it ' s like watching your own little girl . . . . My heart ' s still going crazy . ""  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
9869,9870,"As the sun sets on the Saharan desert , its colours cast a glow on its vast sand dunes causing rainbow light to dance across the landscape .  And Nasa has captured how this stunning show appears from space using its Landsat 7 satellite .  It shows ' ribbons ' of sand and patterned stripes known as linear dunes in the Erg Chech , a desolate sand sea in southwestern Algeria but the exact cause of these longitudinal structures is not known .  Linear dunes , like these captured by Nasa ' s Landsat 7 satellite , are straight ridges of sand that have been known to measure as long as 99 miles ( 160km ) . This image shows ' ribbons ' of sand and patterned stripes in an area known as the Erg Chech , a desolate sand sea in southwestern Algeria but the exact cause of these longitudinal structures is not known  The image was spotted by io9 and the colours were caused as rays of sunlight hit the sand and were reflected off .  Linear dunes are straight ridges of sand that have been known to measure as long as 99 miles ( 160km ) .  Ridges are categorised as linear when they are significantly longer than they are wide , and they occur on isolated ridges of dunes as well as , more commonly , as sets of parallel ridges separated by miles of sand and gravel .  Linear dunes are straight ridges of sand that have been known to measure as long as 99 miles ( 160km ) .  Ridges are categorised as linear when they are significantly longer than they are wide , and they occur on isolated ridges of dunes as well as , more commonly , as sets of parallel ridges separated by miles of sand , gravel .  The dunes have also been known to merge and form so called ' Y shaped compound dunes ' , and the formation of these patterns are caused by the wind and movement of sand .  But exactly how this wind movement forms the structures is disputed .  The dunes have also been known to merge and form so called ' Y shaped compound dunes ' , and the formation of these patterns are caused by the wind and movement of sand .  But exactly how this wind movement forms the structures is disputed .  One theory , suggested by Steven Hanna in 1969 in his Formation of Longitudinal Sand Dunes by Large Helical Eddies in the Atmosphere paper , is that linear dunes are created by helical roll vortices .  These are long rolls of air that spiral , or rotate one way before rotating another .  They are commonly seen in clouds , creating what ' s known as ' cloud streets ' that appear as cumulus type clouds .  As the wind moves and switches direction it causes the sand to move accordingly and create grooves and ridges in the sand .  ' The dunes are aligned in the direction of the prevailing wind and are spaced 1 . 2 miles ( 2km apart ) ' , explained Professor Hanna .  ' Observations in the atmosphere and in the laboratory indicate that dominant forms of motion in the boundary layer of the atmosphere are counter rotating helical roll vortices aligned along the wind .  ' The necessary conditions for the formation of these roll vortices are fulfilled over large deserts and their spacings agree with the observed spacings of the dunes . '  One theory , suggested by Steven Hanna in 1969 , is that the linear dunes are created by helical roll vortices ( illustrated left ) . These are long rolls of air that spiral , or rotate one way before rotating another . They are commonly seen in clouds , creating what ' s known as ' cloud streets ' that appear as cumulus type clouds align to be parallel to the wind ( illustrated right )  In his book , Geomorphology of Desert Dunes , Nicholas Lancaster from the Desert Research Institute argues that this theory has its flaws .  He said Professor Hanna compared data on the spacing of linear dunes with the expected dimensions of helical roll vortices in subtropical desert areas , concluding their ' probable wavelength was 1 . 9 miles to 3 . 7 miles ( 2km to 6km ) . '  But measured dimensions of roll vortices indicate their wavelength ranges between less than 50 metres and 31 miles ( 15 km ) .  ' The observed scale of helical roll vortices is in many cases much larger than average dune spacing , suggesting that linear dunes are not the product of such atmospheric motions , ' explained Mr Lancaster .  ' Evidence for the existence of helical roll vortices in linear dune landscapes is slight . The theory is attractive but there is little empirical data to support it in dune area . '  Ridges are categorised as linear when they are significantly longer than they are wide , and they occur on isolated ridges of dunes as well as sets of parallel ridges separated by miles of sand and gravel . Linear dunes in the Namib Naukluft National Park , Namibia are shown . The dunes have also been known to merge and form so called ' Y shaped compound dunes ' , and patterns are caused by the wind and movement of sand  Another theory believes Barchan evolution may play a role . ' Barchans ' are crescent shaped sand dunes ( top left ) that form in regions where there is almost unidirectional wind . If windblown sand comes from one direction , a dune will be a crescent shaped barchan but if winds switch direction seasonally they become linear ( pictured left centre and in Morocco right )  While in the ' Formation of the complex linear dunes in the central Taklimakan sand sea , China ' study , Chinese researcher Xunming Wang and his colleagues said that in the case of ' complex ' linear dunes that are a combination of two shapes the theory of Barchan evolution may play a role .  ' Barchans ' are crescent shaped sand dunes that form in regions where there is almost unidirectional wind .  The shapes depend on the wind ' s direction , and if windblown sand comes from one direction , for example , a dune will be a crescent shaped barchan but if winds switch direction seasonally coming from the southwest for half the year and from the southeast for the other half , for instance this dune will be linear .  If wind direction is more varied , star shaped dunes appear .  The Erg Chech features both compound and complex linear , as well as star dunes . Erg ' comes from the Arabic word for ' field of sand dunes '  Mr Wang said : ' Complex linear dune formation is shown to have five stages .  ' Analysis clearly shows that under the control of wind regime , sand supply and other factors , the simple linear dunes move sideways while they evolve .  ' The evolutionary processes of complex linear dunes in the region partly support the theory of ' barchan evolution ' but do not support the ' roll vortex ' and ' bimodal wind regime ' hypotheses . '  The researchers continued that after the complex linear dunes develop , local wind patterns and the amount of sand suggest it is possible for them to maintain their linear shape , rather than evolving into star shapes for example , even as wind direction changes .  The Erg Chech features both compound and complex linear , as well as star dunes .  ",true,text,test,Football,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
9889,9890,"One look at her photo , and you can ' t help but ask : How could someone so young and vibrant die so quickly from an infection ?  Brazilian model Mariana Bridi da Costa died from a sepsis infection .  Brazilian model Mariana Bridi da Costa was a healthy 20 year old when doctors told her she had a urinary tract infection , her family says . The infection spread , and after amputating her feet , doctors thought they had the situation under control , according to a blog run by a family friend .  "" She ' s alive , she will survive , "" Renato Lindgren wrote on the blog on January 20 , before da Costa also had to have her hands amputated , and part of her stomach and both kidneys extracted . "" She can eat well , visit the sea , swim , travel , talk with her friends and family , marry and have a baby . She has a full and beautiful life ahead . ""  Four days later , da Costa was dead .  Sepsis the body ' s inflammatory response to an infection really can kill that quickly , according to Dr Kevin Tracey , author of a book about sepsis called "" Fatal Sequence : The Killer Within . ""  "" This isn ' t a one in a million case , "" says Tracey , chief executive officer of the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research in Manhasset , New York . "" When an infection reaches a certain point , this can happen in a matter of hours . ""  Sepsis usually starts out as an infection in just one part of the body , such as a skin wound or a urinary tract infection , Tracey says . For example , Muppets creator Jim Henson died in 1990 from a case of sepsis that started out as pneumonia , an inflammation of the lungs . He was 53 .  Most of the time , simple , localized infections remain just that : easy to treat and in one part of the body . Why some infections rage out of control and shut down vital organs is a mystery , but experts say it rarely happens in young , healthy people , like da Costa . Watch more on avoiding septicemia  "" You can ask , ' Why her ? ' but really no one knows why her , "" Tracey says . "" It might have something to do with her immune system . It might be about her genetics . ""  The Mayo Clinic sees about 100 cases a year of young , healthy people who develop sepsis , says Dr Priya Sampathkumar , an infectious disease specialist at Mayo . With treatment , which usually involves antibiotics and sometimes draining of the wound , about 75 percent survive .  Sampathkumar says the key is to keep an eye on even such simple infections as a small skin wound . A fever , a dramatic shift in blood pressure , rapid breathing and extreme confusion are all signs that someone needs quick medical help , she says .  "" You need to watch it , "" she says .  Dr Carl Flatley said he had no idea what to watch for when his 23 year old daughter , Erin , developed sepsis in 2002 . He says she went into the hospital for a minor hemorrhoid procedure and five days later was dead from sepsis . "" It ' s a horrible death , "" he says .  Two years later , knowing the signs of sepsis saved his own life , says Flatley , a dentist in Dunedin , Florida . He fell ill , and an emergency room doctor said he had a urinary tract infection and sent him home .  But Flatley said he suspected it was much more than a  . "" I felt very sick . My testicle was sore . I told him I was concerned I had sepsis and I refused to go home . He got very irritated with me , "" Flatley says . But in the end , Flatley was admitted to the hospital , where the infection had become so severe that doctors were forced to remove his right testicle .  Flatley started The Sepsis Alliance to educate others about sepsis , where he tries to walk a fine line . "" You don ' t want to panic people . We all get infections and , thank God , most of them heal , "" he says . "" So this is what I tell people : If you ' re feeling bad all over and have a high temperature and either high or low blood pressure , those are all indications that your whole system has been infected . It could be sepsis . ""  He advises getting medical help immediately , and to specifically mention that you ' re concerned you might have sepsis . "" You don ' t want to take any chances , "" he says .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
9905,9906,"“I am a person of faith. I am a Christian. I am a Methodist. I have been raised Methodist,” she said.  She didn’t fail to bring it to a political point, however.  “My study of the Bible, my many conversations with people of faith, has led me to believe the most important commandment is to love the Lord with all your might and to love your neighbor as yourself, and that is what I think we are commanded by Christ to do, and there is so much more in the Bible about taking care of the poor, visiting the prisoners, taking in the stranger, creating opportunities for others to be lifted up, to find faith themselves that I think there are many different ways of exercising your faith,” she said.  It is not for me or anyone else to question someone’s faith, but that statement and her permitting “under God” to be omitted from a Pledge of Allegiance reference at her rally certainly seem contradictory.  H/T QPolitical  Please share this on Facebook and Twitter and let us know what you think about this omission! What do you think of the omission of ""under God""? Scroll down to comment below! Advertisement Popular Right Now",fake,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,past
9914,9915,"Mississippi Kelly Clarkson , who was the very first American Idol winner , was in Natchez performing at a concert in The When Dem Cotton Balls Get Rotten Convention Center .  And as always the gal from Texas put on quite a performance . She sang all of her hits including "" Since U Been Gone , "" "" Behind These Hazel Eyes , "" and her latest song , "" I Thought I Heard Him Say Suck It , My Bad . ""  After her performance Clarkson was backstage and she was asked what she thought about how Taylor Swift had been criticized because in her duet with Stevie Nicks at the Grammy Award Show she had hit a total of 34 bad notes .  Clarkson asked who had counted them . She was quickly informed that Stevie Nicks had counted them . Clarkson could not believe that Nicks had actually counted Taylor hitting 34 bad notes while she herself was singing .  When informed that she ( Clarkson ) forgets that Stevie Nicks has been singing for almost 50 years Clarkson merely said , "" Oh wow , well I guess that she can sing and count bad notes at the same time huh , my bad . ""  Kelly was then asked what she thought about General Larry Platt and his song "" Pants On The Ground . "" Clarkson laughed and said that she had heard that Larry Platt was not really a general .   ' S  : Well duh , Kelly .  She then went on to say that Platt will never tour . When asked why . She replied because he only has one song . And how the heck can you put on a one hour and 15 minute concert with only one song .  Kelly was then asked about her sudden weight gain . The young gal turned into a Texas tornado . She stood up and got in the reporter ' s face . "" I am not fat ! "" She yelled . "" I am just a little short for my weight . ""  When told that she really wasn ' t all that short she really hit the roof . Literally . The ceiling in her dressing room was only about 6 feet high , apparently there had been some kind of problem with the contractors not getting paid in a timely manner .  Kelly said that she cannot help it if the calories that she eats have a tendency of just hanging around . she said that she has tried all kinds of diets from the Water and Ketchup Diet to the Nine Calories a Day Diet , and even The Eat Whatever You Want But Then Regurgitate It Diet .  Clarkson said that the only thing she can do is that from now on she will solve her weight problem by wearing black . she ' ll wear a black dress and black jeans , black blouse , and even a black bra and panties .  In a developing story . Keira Knightley seems to think that her little bitty size 34  titties are starting to grow a little bit , but her hair stylist Jose of San Jose says , "" Nopers , her chichi ' s are boaf dee same size as dey was jesterday . ""  ",satire,text,test,American football,Sports/Other,true,satire,True,no,no,neutral,past
9915,9916,"Juan Martin Del Potro put on hold Roger Federer ' s hopes of qualifying for the  World Tour Finals by inflicting a second straight defeat on the Swiss maestro in the final of his hometown tournament in Basel .  Third seed Federer needed to win Sunday ' s showdown to seal his place in the end of season showpiece in London next month for the 12th consecutive time , but came up short in a three set encounter .  Top seed Del Potro , who will be a dangerous outsider in the British capital , won 7 6 2 6 6 4 in two hours 20 minutes , denying former World No . 1 Federer his sixth title in the event and repeating his 2012 victory over him in the title match .  The Argentine won a tight first set which saw them exchange breaks before it went to a tiebreaker which Del Potro took 7 3 .  Federer , who recently parted with coach Paul Annacone after a disappointing 2013 , hit back to level the match as two breaks of service gave him the second set .  But he fell an early break down in the decider serving up two double faults in the same game and was unable to retrieve the situation as former U . S . Open champion Del Potro took his fourth title of the season .  "" I ' m sorry again to beat you here , "" he said apologetically at the trophy presentation . "" He ' s the hero here and for me my biggest inspiration .  "" You make history at every tournament you play . I ' m proud to be playing at the same time as you . ""  The 32 year old Federer must now beat South Africa ' s Kevin Anderson or Russian Mikhail Youzhny in his second round match at the Paris Masters next week to reach the finals .  It would enable him to tie Ivan Lendl ' s record for successive appearances in the finale of the men ' s season where he would be bidding for his seventh victory in the event , his last in 2011 with a final loss to Novak Djokovic in 2012 .  Meanwhile , Zouzhny showed he is in fine form heading into Paris with a 6 3 7 5 victory over top seed and three time defending champion David Ferrer of Spain in the final of the  tournament in Valencia .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
9919,9920,"Reuters) - North Korea s foreign minister will arrive in Cuba on Monday, in search of support amid unprecedented pressure from the United States and the international community to cease its nuclear weapons and missile programs. The Cuban foreign ministry, in a brief note on its web page, said Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho would meet with his Cuban counterpart Bruno Rodriguez, among other unspecified activities. North Korea is pursuing nuclear weapon and missile programs in defiance of U.N. Security Council sanctions and has made no secret of its plans to develop a missile capable of hitting the U.S. mainland. It has fired two missiles over Japan. Cuba and North Korea have maintained warm political relations since 1960, despite Havana s often-stated opposition to nuclear weapons. President Donald Trump has also increased pressure on Cuba since taking office, rolling back a fragile detente begun by predecessor Barack Obama and returning to the hostile rhetoric of the Cold War. The visit provides an opportunity for North Korea to demonstrate, just 90 miles from the United States, that it is not completely isolated, and for Cuba that it will not buckle under U.S. pressure. At the same time, diplomats said Cuba was one of the few countries that might be able to convince North Korea to move away from the current showdown with the United States that threatens war.  We often ask the Cubans if they can talk to them,  an Asian diplomat said. The two Communist-run countries are the last in the world to maintain Soviet-style command economies, though under President Raul Castro, the Caribbean nation has taken some small steps toward the more market-oriented communism of China and Vietnam. Cuba maintains an embassy in North Korea, but publicly trades almost exclusively with the South. Last year, trade with the latter was $67 million and with the North just $9 million, according to the Cuban government. However, in 2013, Panama discovered a load of Soviet vintage weapons hidden under 10,000 tonnes of Cuban sugar on a North Korean vessel, in violation of U.N. sanctions and appearing to confirm suspicions that the two countries worked together to circumvent them. Cuba claimed the weapons were going to North Korea for repairs and were to be sent back. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
9929,9930,"They say that your teenage years are supposed to be the best of your life , but Britain ' s over fifties would definitely take issue with that .  The  ' s middle aged population aren ' t slowing down any time soon in fact , new research shows that they are fast becoming the reckless generation .  After years of saving towards pensions , looking after their offspring and taking care of their houses , the fifty pluses are living life for the now , with sexual health and savings the first to take the hit .  In a new survey called the 50 project , 76 per cent of those asked confessed to not using contraception when they have sex , despite rising rates of  ' s across the country .  The  ' s middle aged population aren ' t slowing down any time soon new research shows that they are fast becoming the reckless generation . 76 per cent of 50 plus generation don ' t use contraception when having sex and 67 per cent of parents believe in spending their wealth over saving it for their children ( pictured posed by model )  And despite not using protection , the age group aren ' t slowing down when it comes to activity inside the bedroom .  66 per cent of over fifties believe that a good sex life is important and 38 per cent admit to having sex more than twice a week , on average .  It ' s no surprise that they are staying busy between the sheets though , given that 43 per cent of that age group believe they are a better lover now than ever before .  The reckless behaviour isn ' t just restricted to the bedroom though , our middle aged population are also becoming increasingly carefree with their savings and property portfolios , with less concern for any inheritance to be passed on to their children .  Although 42 per cent revealed they had more disposable income than ever , very few were considering sharing much of that with their sons and daughters .  67 per cent of parents said they believe in spending their wealth over saving it for their children and 24 per cent of parents are planning to leave little or none of their wealth to their children .  The fifty plus generation are spending their wealth on holidays and socialising . Half of the over fifties admit they now go on holiday more now than ever before and 51 per cent also admit to drinking three or more times a week  The figure is even higher for Brits aged between 60 65 , with 71 per cent of them planning on spending their wealth instead of earmarking it for inheritance .  While the younger generation aren ' t doing so well out of their parent ' s swollen bank accounts , the tourism and alcohol and hospitality industries are quids in .  Half of the over fifties admit they now go on holiday more now than ever before , with 53 per cent taking a vacation more than three times a year .  Meanwhile , half of this demographic admit to drinking three or more times a week and 40 per cent also go out socially more than once a week .   presenter Mariella Frostrup , who recently joined the 50 plus ranks and will celebrate her 52nd birthday next month , commissioned the research in her role as editor at large of High50 magazine .  The mother of two says the findings reflect her own attitudes towards life at this age , including how much of her wealth she is planning on sharing with her children .   star Mariella Frostrup , 51 , says  has unhealthy attitude to maturity  Se said : ' The survey naturally reflects some of my concerns and aspirations , as a recent entry to the High50 generation .  ' It ' s a topic I ' ve been talking about for a long time as way before I reached my landmark birthday I felt our attitude to maturity in the  is not a healthy one and these days is leagues behind the reality of who we all are at fifty .  ' It shouldn ' t come as surprise that people over fifty aspire to a healthy sex life , we ' re still human after all and despite the myths around menopause and the rest we still have a beating pulse .  ' Much to my daughters ' horror I still even like to dance , given the right venue , and the right companions !  ' As for leaving money to our children I ' ve seen enough trust fund simpletons to know that educating your kids to their best ability , teaching them how lucky they are to live in a country like ours where a safety net exists and showing them societies where it doesn ' t is far more important to their future than doing their saving for them .  ' I ' d love to be able to give my kids a helping hand with a deposit for a flat or similar , it caused me the most anxiety when I was young .  ' But having managed without a penny of family money myself I hope they ' ll be proud and capable enough to do likewise . '  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,negative,past
9940,9941,"Claim : Supporters of Mayor Lutfur Rahman allegedly handed out lollipops to the children of voters  Voters were promised council houses if they re elected their mayor , a court heard yesterday .  Islamic sections of the electorate were told they should be ' good Muslims ' by voting for Mayor Lutfur Rahman , it was said .  In a further bid to win votes , supporters of Mr Rahman allegedly handed out lollipops to the children of voters in Tower Hamlets , East London .  A petition brought before the High Court claims the re election of the mayor in May was fraudulent ' in a variety of forms ' .  It alleges that council officers were bullied into ' securing a certain number of votes ' and were threatened with the sack if they refused .  Votes were cast in the names of people who were not ' entitled to be on the electoral register ' and numerous postal ballots were filled in by the same person , the court heard .  And false allegations that rival candidate John Biggs was a racist and anti Islamic were circulated .  Mr Rahman , who is serving a second term as the mayor of the borough , won by some 3 , 000 votes .  The petition , brought by residents Andrew Erlam , Debbie Simone , Azmal Hussain and Angela Moffat , claims that supporters of the mayor descended on 41 polling stations at night , ' making it difficult or impossible for voters to get into the stations ' .  Allegations : A petition brought before the High Court ( pictured ) claims the re election of the mayor in May was fraudulent ' in a variety of forms '  The men were ' telling voters that they must vote for Mayor Rahman in an intimidating manner ' , the petition claims .  The statement also cited concerns ' that polling station officials folded the ballot papers in such a way to obscure one of the candidates ' .  James Laddie  , acting for Mr Rahman , said his client denied all the allegations . He asked Mr Justice Supperstone and Mr Justice Spencer to dismiss the petition .  The four petitioners are seeking a trial date so that their petition can be heard in full . The hearing continues .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
9944,9945,"United Nations and  step up fight against  after Paris attacks  Saturday , 21 November 2015 3 : 55pm  Agency :   The attack on Bamako ' s luxury Radisson Blu hotel added to fears about the global jihadist threat a week after attacks in Paris left 130 people dead , although there was no immediate confirmation of a link with  .  The attacks on Paris last week left over 120 people dead . File Photo  photo  The  Security Council urged its members to ramp up their fight against Islamic State jihadists after the Paris attacks , as Europe said it would tighten border checks and Brussels issued its highest terror alert . ? Hours after the  Security Council passed the resolution authorising countries to "" take all necessary measures "" against  , gunmen stormed a luxury hotel in Mali ' s capital , taking more than 100 people hostage in a siege that left at least 27 dead .  The attack on Bamako ' s luxury Radisson Blu hotel added to fears about the global jihadist threat a week after attacks in Paris left 130 people dead , although there was no immediate confirmation of a link with  .  In the European Union , ministers agreed to rush through reforms to the passport free Schengen zone to tighten the bloc ' s borders , and Belgium put out its highest terror alert in its capital , warning of a "" serious and imminent threat "" . Officials declined to add further details until later on today "" in order to allow ongoing judicial investigations to follow their course "" , the  national crisis centre said in a statement .  The 28 year old suspected ringleader of the Paris attacks , Abdelhamid Abaaoud , a Belgian of Moroccan origin , is believed to have travelled to Syria to join  and be trained as an operative in Europe . ? News that he and another attacker were able to slip back into Europe from Syria , despite being the subject of international arrest warrants , has raised fears jihadists are taking advantage of the migrant crisis to carry out attacks . One of the suspected gunmen in the Paris attacks linked to Abaaoud , 26 year old Brussels resident Salah Abdeslam , is still the subject of a huge international manhunt .  In Syria , meanwhile , a monitoring group said at least 36 people were killed in air strikes by Russian and Syrian jets in the  controlled eastern Deir Ezzor province , describing them as the heaviest in the region since the start of the civil war .  At the United Nations , Russia joined Western powers in backing the French drafted text that authorises countries to "" take all necessary measures "" to fight  and other extremist groups linked to Al Qaeda . Describing  as a "" global and unprecedented threat to international peace and security "" , the resolution called for sanctions and urges countries to step up efforts to cut off the flow of foreign fighters to Iraq and Syria .  French President Francois Hollande welcomed the move , even though the text does not provide any legal basis for military action , saying it will "" contribute to mobilising nations to eliminate Daesh "" (  ) .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,past
9946,9947,"In yet another unforced error committed by the Republican Party that hurts America s reputation, the recent surge in discriminatory laws against the  community has caused alarm to the rest of the world. The U.K. even issued a travel alert to its citizens warning them of the risk of vacationing in places like North Carolina and Mississippi, given the new so-called  bathroom laws  and other forms of legislated bigotry. The U.S. is an extremely diverse society and attitudes towards  people differ hugely across the country,  the advisory stated.   travelers may be affected by legislation passed recently in the states of North Carolina and Mississippi. Before traveling please read our general travel advice for the  community. The advisory encouraged travelers to avoid potentially risky situations and  excessive physical shows of affection,  and to  exercise discretion  in rural areas.President Obama, who happens to be in London, was forced yet again to play  only adult in the room  and reassure the international community that Republican laws, while particularly nasty, haven t made the United States a nightmarish hellscape, and that most people, including residents in those states, want absolutely nothing to do with the Republican Party s brash forms of discrimination. I want everybody here in the United Kingdom to know that the people in North Carolina and Mississippi are wonderful people, they are hospitable people, they are beautiful states and you are welcome. You should come and enjoy yourselves. I think you ll be treated with extraordinary hospitality. Taking a moment to get a bit more personal, Obama said that he found the laws to be absurd, hateful and contrary to the values of America. I also think that the laws that have been passed there are wrong and should be overturned and they re in response to politics in part and some strong emotions that are generated by people, some of whom are good people but I just disagree with when it comes to respecting the equal rights of all people. Obama on Miss. & N. Carolina anti- laws:The  laws that have been passed there are wrong  weblink   Now (@CNBCnow) April 22, 2016The  bathroom bills  are in response to fabricated scenarios in which male child predators would dress up as women to gain access to bathrooms with girls in them. This has never once happened. The law, instead, opens up members of the trans community to further harassment, violence, and stigmatization.Most Americans seem aware of this and protests against the bathroom bills have become widespread. In North Carolina, the state is hemorrhaging millions of dollars a month in lost business and boycotts while the Republican governor and legislature stubbornly refuse to concede that this plan was based on little more than ignorance and hate. In South Carolina, a similar bill was quickly killed in a desperate effort to avoid becoming the next North Carolina.Meanwhile, the president is forced to explain and defend America s pathetic treatment of its  community, because his opposition in the Republican Party would rather focus on bullying trans people than address things like climate change, wealth inequality, healthcare reform or immigration.Featured image via Twitter",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
9957,9958,"Police close streets near the Grand Place in Brussels on Sunday , November 22 , 2015 ( Associated Press photo )  Brussels : ? The search for a key suspect in the Paris terror attacks kept the Belgian capital in an unprecedented lockdown that brought business to a standstill as European leaders vowed to tackle the crisis at its roots in Syria .  The clampdown in Brussels continued for a third day on Monday after a series of raids overnight by counter terrorism special forces failed to find Belgium born Salah Abdeslam , one of two brothers believed to have been involved in attacks that killed 130 in Paris on Nov . 13 . Belgium ' s government warned of a continuing , serious threat to the public .  "" What we expect is an attack similar to the one that unfolded in Paris with multiple people who launch offensives in many places at the same time , "" Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel said late Sunday . The threat is "" very serious and imminent . ""  The Belgian capital of around 1 . 2 million people was quiet with schools , shops , banks and the metro system closed as European governments prepare to carry out airstrikes against Islamic State at its bases in Syria . France , where the government extended a state of emergency for three months , put naval forces in position to bomb Syria , while the U . K . offered Britain ' s airbase in Cyprus for the military operations .  "" The U . K . will do all in our power to support our friend and ally France to defeat this evil death cult , "" Prime Minister Cameron told reporters in Paris after meeting with French President Francois Hollande . "" It ' s absolutely right to take decisive action to stop terrorists . ""  The decision to keep Brussels on a heightened state of alert extended the disruption to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the European Union , both of which have their headquarters in the city .  told non essential staff to stay at home , while the  opened with reinforced security .  Groep , Belgium ' s biggest bank , closed its headquarters in the capital on Monday .  "" We are working from home and from our disaster recovery dealing room to avoid public places in Brussels , "" said Piet Lammens , global head of market research at  . "" I hope we ' ll be back in the office tomorrow . We ' ll evaluate the situation later today . I ' m not afraid . ""  Brussels has been on its guard since it emerged that at least three jihadists behind the Paris assaults lived in the city . Abdeslam , who ' s now the focus of an international manhunt , comes from the Molenbeek district of the capital . Counter terrorism officers carried out 22 simultaneous raids in Brussels and the Belgian city of Charleroi , federal prosecutor Eric Van der Sypt told reporters early Monday . They detained 16 people , none of whom was Abdeslam , and didn ' t find any explosives or other armaments , he said .  The center of Brussels was filled with gun toting soldiers , while green army vehicles made their way through snarled traffic outside buildings housing European institutions . Security guards stood outside supermarkets , which reopened after closing over the weekend .  "" Bombs , shooting , Brussels being the center of the world , it ' s strange everyone is scared , "" said Raphael Van Antwerpen , who runs a cafe in the heart of Brussels . "" I ' m most worried about my daughter , "" whose school just outside the capital is open , he said .  At the building housing the European Commission , the  ' s executive arm , police used a mirror on a stick to check under vehicles , while armed soldiers guarded the entrance . Finance ministers from the 19 nations using the euro are going ahead with a scheduled meeting in Brussels on Monday afternoon .  "" A terror alert or any similar situation makes it all the more pressing on the affected state leaders to be seen to be taking charge , "" Maltese Finance Minister Edward Scicluna said in an email . "" The eurogroup finance ministers ' meeting is no exception . ""  After seeing Cameron on Monday , Hollande will meet President Barack Obama in Washington on Tuesday and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Paris on Wednesday . He ' ll travel to see Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Thursday .  Cameron said in Paris that he ' ll present a "" comprehensive strategy "" to the British Parliament this week for tackling  in Syria . He ' s seeking approval from lawmakers to join in airstrikes . French Defense Minister Jean Yves Le Drian told Europe 1 radio that planes from the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle would be ready to carry out strikes beginning Monday .  In Brussels , store owners are wondering how long these extraordinary measures will continue . Michael Raynaekers has run a flower shop near the European Commission for the last 18 years . His clients are mostly the big offices nearby , and he ' s worried : these are normally his three busiest weeks .  "" Business will be less than 50 percent today , "" he said in his store filled with baubles and other Christmas decorations . "" People are scared . Just look at the streets , they are empty . ""  Story First Published : November 23 , 2015 18 : 54   ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
9964,9965,"Mental health professionals have long characterized attempted suicide as a desperate cry for help , the last ditch plea of a wounded soul who , more than anything else , longs to live .  Not so , according to a study released Monday by the National Psychiatric Association .  researchers say those who try to take their own lives are , in fact , crying out for the sweet release of death .  "" People who want to live do not typically engage in such behaviors as wrist slashing and carbon monoxide inhalation , "" said Dr Rachel Leibman Wald , head of the  study . "" To the contrary , this tends to be the behavior of individuals who long to depart this mortal coil and be enveloped in the warm , safe shroud of eternal rest . ""  "" When one is in terrible pain , be it physical or emotional , "" Leibman Wald continued , "" the natural instinct is to end that pain , even if it means ending one ' s life . Sometimes , there is a viable alternative method of ending that pain other than suicide . Sometimes , there is not . ""  Conventional psychiatric wisdom holds that a suicide attempt is the brain ' s subconscious way of telling loved ones that an individual is in need of assistance . "" It now appears , however , "" the  report read , "" that in many cases , the attempted suicide is less a cry for help than simply a message from the brain to the body saying , ' Okay , time to die . ' ""  Because mental health professionals ' ability to provide the help such individuals are "" asking for "" is limited , and many patients are so mired in depression that they are beyond redemption anyway , many see in the study ' s findings a powerful argument for greater societal tolerance of suicidal behavior .  "" We are finally learning that for some , suicide is not an attempt to get treatment , a step , if you will , on the road to healing , "" said noted psychotherapist Dr Eli Wasserbaum . "" In a majority of cases , it is a step into painless oblivion where nothing can hurt you ever again . ""  In examining more than 2 , 500 case studies ,  psychiatrists found that many suicidal patients did not fit the classic profile of someone desperately attempting to make his or her plight known to the outside world . Instead , in many cases , they simply represented horrible failures whose pitiful , ruined lives were unbearable .  "" Many of these individuals were so pathetic , "" the report read , "" that any decent person would have to agree that they would be better off dead . Why prolong their pain ? What point would there be ? ""  With this in mind ,  psychiatrists argued that it is not only erroneous to assume that those who attempt suicide need help , but it may actually be cruel .  "" To deny someone suffering a shattered , miserable existence the simple escape offered by suicide is nothing short of inhumane , "" said Dr Stanley Temple , one of the study ' s co authors . "" If you look at many of these nobodies , you ' d be hard pressed to argue that they would have even a slight chance of ever getting their lives into any semblance of a livable state . For these tortured , far gone souls , it becomes more obvious each day that there is only one way out . Who are we as mental health professionals to deny them this effective way out of their agony ? ""  Temple cited the case of Gregory Fryar , a 49 year old Harwich ,  , man whose six failed marriages , dead end job at a bread factory , lifelong addictions to alcohol and gambling , and two appearances on The Jenny Jones Show with various dysfunctional relatives led him to attempt suicide in March 1995 . Misdiagnosed as a cry for help , the attempt led to years of hospitalization and counseling , which failed to improve his ugly , embarrassing existence .  "" Had Fryar ' s physicians been more tolerant of his heartfelt and entirely justified longing for death , perhaps his agony would have ended five years ago , "" Temple said . "" Instead , this poor excuse for a life continues to this day . Who are we truly helping by giving such patients the ' help ' they neither asked for nor wanted , when they could have easily found peace if left to their own suicidal devices ? ""  Said Leibman Wald : "" There are lots of people out there who don ' t want to die , and for good reason : Their problems simply aren ' t bad enough . Let ' s focus on helping these people , people who have valid reasons to live , instead of wasting all this time and energy trying to help those who have very valid reasons to want to die . ""  Leibman Wald said she hopes the study will help change public perceptions of suicide and usher in a more enlightened climate in which the needs of those who want to die are no longer ignored .  "" Hopefully , someday , suicidal individuals ' right to pursue their goal of death will be recognized and respected by the medical community , "" Leibman Wald said . "" Until then , we are all guilty of allowing these poor , pathetic bastards ' misery to go on far too long . ""  ",satire,text,test,American football,Sports/Other,satire,satire,True,no,no,neutral,past
9969,9970,"National  programme to continue as central scheme : Nadda  Press Trust of India ? ? New Delhi Dec 01 , 2015 08 : 42    Asserting the government ' s commitment towards the fight against  , Union Health Minister J P Nadda today said that the National  Control Programme will continue as a Central Sector Scheme 1 .  "" There had been concerns in some quarters about the ability of some of the states to contribute their share to the programme . These doubts should now be laid to rest . This decision clearly demonstrates the government ' s commitment towards this cause , "" Nadda said at an event to mark the World  Day .  Announcing policy decisions towards strengthening the fight against the epidemic , he said that government has decided to provide third line treatment to  patients and increase the beneficiaries of Anti Retrieval Therapy (  ) .  "" The cut off level for initiation of  will henceforth be a CD4 count of 500 . Till now , people with CD4 count less than 350 were given the treatement .  "" With this decision , an additional 1 lakh persons will start getting benefit of treatment .  has been asked to gear up for these initiatives and we hope to start actual delivery in the coming weeks , "" the Minister said .  Nadda also launched a report by National  Control  According to the report , 21 . 17 lakh people are estimated to be living with  at the end of this year . Among these , around 40 per cent are female , while children ( below 15 years ) account for 6 . 5 per cent .  Eighteen per cent of these people are in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana , followed by 14 per cent in Maharashtra , 9 per cent in Karnataka , 8 per cent in Gujarat and 7 per cent in Bihar .   prevalence among adults aged 15 49 years has fallen from 0 . 34 per cent in 2007 to 0 . 26 per cent in 2015 .  However , there has been increasing trend of  prevalance detected in a number of states and Union territories including Chandigarh , Delhi , Tripura , Punjab , Jharkhand , Haryana and Sikkim .  While decline trend persists in all the high prevalence states of south and north east , the trend has stabilised in many states like Bihar , Gujarat , Mizoram and Uttar Pradesh .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
9971,9972,"Inflation in 2017 Ticking Time Bomb! by  · October 27, 2016",fake,news,test,US elections,Conflict,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,present
9995,9996,"St . Louis Rams wide receiver Tavon Austin reacts as he scores a touchdown during an  football game against the San Francisco 49ers , Sunday , Nov . 1 , 2015 , in St . Louis . ( Chris Lee St . Louis Post Dispatch via  )  St . Louis Rams wide receiver Tavon Austin slips away from a tackle attempt by San Francisco 49ers linebacker Michael Wilhoite as he scores a touchdown during the second half of an  football game Sunday , Nov . 1 , 2015 , in St . Louis . ( Chris Lee St . Louis Post Dispatch via  )  St . Louis Rams running back Todd Gurley celebrates as he runs off the field following an  football game against the San Francisco 49ers , Sunday , Nov . 1 , 2015 , in St . Louis . The Rams won 27 6 . (  Photo Billy Hurst )  St . Louis Rams wide receiver Tavon Austin , left , runs past San Francisco 49ers inside linebacker Michael Wilhoite ( 57 ) after catching a short pass and running it for a 66 yard touchdown during the second half of an  football game Sunday , Nov . 1 , 2015 , in St . Louis . (  Photo Billy Hurst )  St . Louis Rams wide receiver Tavon Austin , left , is congratulated by teammate Stedman Bailey , right , after catching a short pass and running it in for a touchdown during the fourth quarter of an  football game against the San Francisco 49ers , Sunday , Nov . 1 , 2015 , in St . Louis . (  Photo Billy Hurst )  San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Bruce Ellington , right , is stopped by St . Louis Rams cornerback Lamarcus Joyner , left , after catching a pass during the second half of an  football game Sunday , Nov . 1 , 2015 , in St . Louis . (  Photo Billy Hurst )  San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Bruce Ellington , right , is stopped by St . Louis Rams cornerback Lamarcus Joyner , left , after catching a pass during the fourth quarter of an  football game Sunday , Nov . 1 , 2015 , in St . Louis . (  Photo Billy Hurst )  St . Louis Rams running back Tre Mason ( 27 ) runs with the ball as San Francisco 49ers inside linebacker NaVorro Bowman defends during the third quarter of an  football game , Sunday , Nov . 1 , 2015 , in St . Louis . (  Photo Billy Hurst )  St . Louis Rams running back Todd Gurley , left , celebrates after running for a first down as San Francisco 49ers cornerback Kenneth Acker watches during the third quarter of an  football game , Sunday , Nov . 1 , 2015 , in St . Louis . (  Photo Billy Hurst )  St . Louis Rams running back Todd Gurley , right , runs with the ball as San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Aaron Lynch defends during the third quarter of an  football game Sunday , Nov . 1 , 2015 , in St . Louis . (  Photo Tom Gannam )  St . Louis Rams running back Todd Gurley , left , runs for a first down as San Francisco 49ers inside linebacker Michael Wilhoite and outside linebacker Eli Harold ( 58 ) defend during the third quarter of an  football game , Sunday , Nov . 1 , 2015 , in St . Louis . (  Photo Billy Hurst )  St . Louis Rams wide receiver Tavon Austin , right , fumbles the ball as he is tackled by San Francisco 49ers safety Jaquiski Tartt during an  football game Sunday , Nov . 1 , 2015 , in St . Louis . ( Chris Lee St . Louis Post Dispatch via  )           San Francisco 49ers tight end Vernon Davis tries to break free of a tackle by St . Louis Rams safety Maurice Alexander on a reception during an  football game Sunday , Nov . 1 , 2015 , in St . Louis . ( Chris Lee St . Louis Post Dispatch via  )           San Francisco 49ers running back Reggie Bush is carted off the field after being injured during an  football game against the St . Louis Rams , Sunday , Nov . 1 , 2015 , in St . Louis . ( Chris Lee St . Louis Post Dispatch via  )           St . Louis Rams ' Rodney McLeod , cornerback Trumaine Johnson ( 22 ) and linebacker James Laurinaitis converge on a pass but are unable to make an interception during an  football game against the San Francisco 49ers Sunday , Nov . 1 , 2015 , in St . Louis . ( Chris Lee St . Louis Post Dispatch via  )           St . Louis Rams defensive tackle Michael Brockers , left , and linebacker James Laurinaitis tackle San Francisco 49ers running back Mike Davis during an  football game Sunday , Nov . 1 , 2015 , in St . Louis . ( Chris Lee St . Louis Post Dispatch via  )           ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
10049,10050,"Reuters) - Wal-Mart Stores Inc, Target Corp and PepsiCo Inc on Wednesday joined an expanded group of nearly 800 companies calling in a letter for U.S. legislation to protect immigrants brought into the country illegally by their parents from deportation, according to organizer FWD.us. The retailers and other companies asking Congress to pass a permanent replacement for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, reflect broadening pressure on political leaders to find a solution for the roughly 800,000 immigrants known as “Dreamers”.  A group of businesses less than half the size and weighted toward technology companies sent a similar letter in August, before President Donald Trump said he would end the program. The new letter reflects Trump’s decision and asks for a permanent solution to let  recipients remain in the United States. Trump said that  immigrants who have work permits that expire before March can apply to renew them for another two years, if they do so before Oct. 5. Both letters were spearheaded by FWD.us, a pro-immigration group co-founded by Facebook Inc Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg. The very first incarnation of the letter included signatories from major technology companies such as Apple Inc, Microsoft Corp andweblink and Alphabet Inc’s Google. But over the course of several days, a much broader swath of the U.S. economy, from media firm Viacom to private equity firm  signed on. The newer letter adds firms like biotech firm Becton, Dickinson and Co, according to a copy of the letter and signatures seen by Reuters. “That you see business leaders from every major sector of the economy come out and ask Congress to pass a permanent fix for  right away shows that this is a bipartisan issue that has strong support,” Todd Schulte, president of FWD.us, told Reuters. The new letter calls on Congress to “immediately pass the bipartisan  Act - or similar legislation - that gives Dreamers the permanent legislative solution they deserve.” The  Act, first introduced in Congress in 2001, would provide Dreamers with a way to become U.S. citizens after first becoming permanent residents. DACA, a set of executive actions introduced by President Barack Obama in 2012, didn’t include a pathway to citizenship, which would require an act of Congress. Some conservatives in particular object to offering  citizenship to  recipients. Activists including United We Dream also are encouraging  recipients and companies they work for to be public about their situation. Enrique Ramirez was brought to the United States from Mexico when he was two years old. He graduated from Harvard University and is now attending law school at the University of Texas at Austin. “There’s been so much money invested in me by this country, wouldn’t even a conservative person want me to contribute to my community here?” Ramirez said.  shields recipients from deportation and allowed them to work and attend school legally if certain requirements were met. Speaking on  television on Sept. 19, Apple  Tim Cook said he was “encouraged” that leading Democrats and Republican President Trump have said they are near a deal on  legislation. Apple has said it has 250  beneficiaries among its ranks.  “We think it’s essential that we not only let them stay in this country, but welcome them,” Cook said of  recipients. “I am encouraged that Congress will pass a law to make this permanent.” Other tech companies are looking to pair with local groups to help  recipients. Ride-haling firm Uber Technologies Inc [UBER.UL] said that is holding a series of town-hall meetings in 10 cities to answer drivers’ questions about  changes, and that it plans to donate $500,000 to local groups that can help drivers with issues like paperwork and application fees. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
10063,10064,"Los Angeles , California I pitied the other tourists at the car rental lot at the Los Angeles airport : The sight of two Englishmen in their mid 30s sinking uncertainly into a white Mustang convertible is not pleasant .  The car was not a natural fit for us . It was very low to the ground and had a mystifying set of buttons . This meant 20 minutes of painstaking trial and error as we grappled with how to work the roof , as if trying to break the Enigma code .  But as alien as the muscle car was , it was vital to this trip to California , which was essentially to reclaim lost youth in an early midlife crisis . My companion and I had lived in Los Angeles after leaving university and were curious to see how it had changed . We then planned to drive along the coast to San Francisco , taking in some of California ' s wine growing regions . This invited unkind comparisons to the movie "" Sideways , "" which sees aging college friends on a road trip drinking wine and navigating disaster .  L . A . has some features that can deter tourists : It lacks a natural focal point , is dominated by roadways and has an abundance of depressing motels and fast food joints . It also has Venice , a pocket of urban bohemia that has acted as a cultural center for decades .  Developed in 1905 by tobacco millionaire Abbot Kinney , the area derives its name from the canals built to drain off the marshland . It was conceived as a family beach resort but fell into neglect . As real estate prices dropped , the area began to attract an eclectic mix of people . This instilled that bohemian  into Venice , which served as a rallying point for the Beat generation in the 1950s and remains an important artistic center .  10 top road trip apps  Much of Venice has hardly changed . The chaotic beachfront boardwalk is alive and well : Tattoo artists , head shops and fortune tellers hawk their wares to a stream of human traffic , even in winter . We stayed in a free wheeling art deco style hotel that looked like it had not changed in 40 years .  Elsewhere , there are signs of inevitable gentrification .  The memory of Venice ' s developer is preserved in Abbot Kinney Boulevard , a mile long artery and focal point for residents and local businesses . I walked down the palm lined street every day when I lived in Venice and always enjoyed its offbeat charm .  It was a relief to see the hipsterish local coffee bar Abbot ' s Habit was still dosing the population and exhibiting local art . But around it , stylish galleries , boutiques and swanky condos now give the road a feeling of imposing wealth , resembling New York ' s Chelsea district certainly the chic end of Boho chic .  The neighborhood has become safer and cleaner , said Joshua Woollen , owner of Urbanic Paper Boutique . Gang related activity has dropped , and "" what you have now are some of the most influential , creative , progressive and cutting edge people living within a couple mile radius in one small beach community , "" Woollen said .  "" When my wife and I first moved to Venice over 13 years ago , Abbot Kinney felt like a ghost town , "" he said .  Perhaps the most dramatic change was seeing the property where I once lived in harder times . Once a teeming human zoo of chancers and borderline personalities , the three houses have been divided and sold . The rough neighborhood is now transformed into a quiet and sunny residential street . I would happily move back .  Feeling considerably older already , we began the "" Sideways "" leg of the journey .  Channeling the film , the car ' s top was lowered and we took off along the ravishing Pacific Coast Highway . Hugging California ' s coastline for 655 miles , the road offers the serenity and endless vastness of the Pacific Ocean as a backdrop . The terrain changes as you head north , taking in plains , craggy headlands and lush green hills that tumble down into the sea . All our heightened expectations were met and rewarded .  An hour after leaving Los Angeles , we reached Santa Barbara County . Long overshadowed by the Napa region farther north , Santa Barbara was put on the wine tourist ' s map by the release of the Oscar winning film in 2004 . Its influence was immediate .  "" Its timing created a tsunami of interest , "" says Jim Fiolek of the Santa Barbara Vintners Association . "" Recognition in not only Santa Barbara County , but wine in general , more specifically , Pinot Noir , which flourishes in Santa Barbara . ""  With mountain ranges running horizontally across the county , Santa Barbara channels ocean air into its valleys and has a cool climate . This geographical oddity makes it a natural home for Pinot Noir grapes , which can ripen too early in warmer temperatures .  As one "" Sideways "" character explains in loving tones : "" It ' s not a survivor like Cabernet , which can just grow anywhere and uh , thrive even when it ' s neglected . No , Pinot needs constant care and attention . You know ? And in fact it can only grow in these really specific , little , tucked away corners of the world . ""  At first , the region struggled to cope with the surge in interest generated by the film : Tasting rooms were hastily built on vineyards , leading to a jump in sales . By 2008 , wine makers were selling directly to customers some eight times as much as they were selling in 2000 .  Santa Barbara is a natural target for a day trip from Los Angeles and has the inevitable "" Sideways "" tour guide for visitors , which generated geekish excitement . We took in a few gems : The Day ' s Inn motel boasting a looming windmill and mock Tudor facade Ostrich World , which gives you the bizarre opportunity of feeding hungry flocks and a vineyard which features in one memorable scene .  I am far from an oracle on wine , but it ' s not hard to enjoy the distinctly civilized process of tasting .  Visitors to Kalyra Winery gather at a bar featured in the movie and pay 10 to taste eight wines . They can be a mix of red and white and each measure gives the drinker several sips . At the vineyard , we sampled Grenache , Pinot and a blend of Shiraz , Merlot and Cab Franc .  Tastings are also an inducement to buy bottles , which start at around 15 and provide estates with their main source of profit .  Our final destination was on a grander scale altogether : the Napa and Sonoma valleys north of San Francisco . Here , you get the idea of a real industry geared around global exports as much as local sales .  There are some 400 wineries in the region , so the visitor can feel overwhelmed on first arrival . We opted to plan our itinerary on the discerning basis of which vineyards offered two for one tasting deals . Most tourists are not averse to sampling wine in the morning , and our first stop took us to Buena Vista , which claims to be the oldest winery in the region . Revealingly , it has been recently taken over by a French brand .  The scenery around the valleys is reliably lovely year round . In fall , the countryside turns a languid golden color , with neatly ordered rows of vineyards set off by the surrounding hills . Driving slowly in the late autumn sun was almost a religious obligation , despite the ensuing tailbacks .  On my return flight , I resolved to plan a series of similar midlife crises for years to come .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
10074,10075,"Major league catcher Wilson Ramos has been "" found alive , "" two days after he was reported kidnapped by gunmen , Venezuelan state  reported Friday .  Ramos was found by security forces in Montalban , a mountainous region about 60 miles from the north central Venezuelan town where he was last seen , according to a tweet posted late Friday by Communications Minister Andres Izarra .  Ramos was reported by state run  to be healthy and unharmed .  Ramos , a rising star for the Washington Nationals as a rookie this past year , had returned to his native country to play in Venezuela ' s winter league .  But before his first game with the Aragua Tigers , gunmen kidnapped him Wednesday night from his mother ' s home in Santa Ines in Carabobo state , a team spokeswoman said .  On Thursday , authorities said that they had found the  they believe was used in the kidnapping and had created sketches of two of the gunmen .  Prior to his release Friday , news about the federal investigation was tightly guarded .  "" It ' s understandable that everyone wants to know what is happening with Wilson and how the investigation goes , but remember that , in these cases , patience is key , "" Tigers spokeswoman Kathe Vilera said on her Twitter account . She added that keeping the details sealed could help the investigation .  "" It has all the earmarks as a targeted kidnapping : selected victim , selected location , selected time , "" said Chris Voss , a kidnapping specialist for Insite Security who has handled six cases involving Venezuela and who worked for the  for 26 years . "" There ' s an outside possibility that they thought they were grabbing another member of the family , but that ' s extremely unlikely . ""  Kidnapping as an industry has crossed the border from Colombia into Venezuela , Voss said . "" When criminals next door show you a model of how to make money easily and kidnapping is usually pretty easy money then other kidnappers will simply ape it . ""  But targeting athletes and other celebrities can be a mistake , he said . "" It ' s going to bring too much law enforcement scrutiny down on them too much international scrutiny . And media attention and scrutiny from law enforcement worldwide is bad for business . ""  Ramos , 24 , emerged as the Nationals ' top catcher this past season . He had a . 267 batting average with 15 home runs and 52 runs batted in .  Though soccer reigns in most Latin American countries , it is baseball that rules in Venezuela , which routinely feeds players to major league teams in the United States .  That pipeline has been transformed in recent years because of violence .  As Venezuela ' s economy has stagnated in recent years , crimes such as kidnapping and murder have risen . According to the National Institute of Statistics , 16 , 917 people were kidnapped between July 2008 and July 2010 , or about 23 kidnappings a day .  Baseball players who play professionally in the United States , whether in the major or minor leagues , are typically targeted for their money , though Ramos ' case is the first time a player himself has been snatched . Usually , a family member is held for ransom .  "" Government , please do something because Venezuela is crumbling with so much insecurity while you say that Venezuela is safe , "" Venezuelan baseball player Jose Castillo wrote on his Twitter account .  Dorta has played for the Aragua Tigers and is a friend and former teammate of Ramos .  "" Venezuela does have one of the best winter leagues , but it is one of the leagues where the Americans ask before going because of the insecurity and the dangers that one faces , "" he said .  Those dangers have led many American teams to abandon their baseball academies in Venezuela , said Arturo Marcano , a lawyer and sports columnist who co authored a book about the recruitment of players from Venezuela .  When major league teams noticed the talent sitting in places like the Dominican Republic and Venezuela , they increased their investment in the region . Instead of relying on scouts to find players , they instituted the academies to find , train and sign players , Marcano said .  As crime in Venezuela increased , however , operating the academies became dangerous for their managers and scouts .  "" All of a sudden , with these safety issues , teams started to leave , "" Marcano said .  At its peak , about 16 major league teams operated baseball academies in Venezuela , he said . Today , that number is only five or six . Teams have returned to the practice of sending only scouts , and then sending promising players to academies in the Dominican Republic .  Venezuelans who make it to the big leagues in the United States and return home become targets because there is a perception that they all make a lot of money , Marcano said . But for the minor leaguers and nonsuperstars in their first major league years , that is not necessarily the case .  Another aspect that may have influenced the Ramos kidnapping is that players from humble backgrounds who make money in the pros often return to the rough neighborhoods where their families live . Working class families often don ' t want to leave their neighborhoods and their friends they may feel they don ' t belong in middle and upper class neighborhoods . For example , Ramos was kidnapped from the home of his relatives , who had stayed in a tough area despite his success .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
10082,10083,"A student at Georgetown University wrote in an op ed piece that he was ' Not at all ' shocked that a recent mugging he suffered at gunpoint took place .  Student : Oliver Friedfeld , pictured , wrote the opinion piece which sparked a debate among online commenters  Senior Oliver Friedfeld said in his piece , ' I Was Mugged , And I Understand Why , ' that he questioned his own ability to criticize his attackers , citing his ' perch of privilege . '  The op ed was published November 18 in Georgetown ' s student newspaper The Hoya and picked up by several media outlets this week .  As of this writing , Friedfeld ' s piece has 142 comments on the student newspaper ' s website a number of which debate whether or not the author is victim blaming for the crime , while others debate the idea of privilege .  Friedfeld wrote of the encounter ' Last weekend , my housemate and I were mugged at gunpoint while walking home from Dupont Circle . The entire incident lasted under a minute , as I was forced to the floor , handed over my phone and was patted down . '  He continued ' And yet , when a reporter asked whether I was surprised that this happened in Georgetown , I immediately answered : "" Not at all . "" It was so clear to me that we live in the most privileged neighborhood within a city Washington , D . C . that has historically been , and continues to be , harshly unequal . '  Frieden revealed in the op ed that he did not view the muggers as ' bad people ' and that instead of the various opportunities he ' d received in life , wrote that , ' I ' d venture to guess that our attackers have had to experience things I ' ve never dreamed of . '  ' Who am I to stand from my perch of privilege , surrounded by million dollar homes and paying for a 60 , 000 education , to condemn these young men as "" thugs ? "" ' he argued . ' It ' s precisely this kind of "" otherization "" that fuels the problem . '  Friedfeld wrote that though there is always the possibility of choice , ' it ' s a lot easier for me to choose good than it may be for them to . '  The college student also dismissed the idea of an increased police presence being helpful he wrote ' Police protect us by keeping those "" bad people "" out of our neighborhood , and I ' m grateful for it . And yet , I realize it ' s self serving and doesn ' t actually fix anything . '  At the end of his column for The Hoya , Friedfeld argued that people ought to acclimate themselves to crimes taking place .  He wrote , ' As young people , we need to devote real energy to solving what are collective challenges . Until we do so , we should get comfortable with sporadic muggings and break ins . I can hardly blame them . The cards are all in our hands , and we ' re not playing them . '  Friedfeld did not immediately return a request for comment from MailOnline .  Georgetown student Oliver Friedfeld said he and his housemate were the victims of a mugging going home . The university is seen here  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
10083,10084,"The self inflicted wounds of Hillary Rodham Clinton just keep manifesting themselves . She has two serious issues that have arisen in the past week one is political and the other is legal . Both have deception at their root .  Her political problem is one of credibility . We know from her emails that she informed her daughter Chelsea and the then prime minister of Egypt within 12 hours of the murder of the U . S . ambassador to Libya , J . Christopher Stevens , that he had been killed in Benghazi by Al Qaeda . We know from the public record that the Obama administration s narrative blamed the killings of the ambassador and his guards on an anonymous crowd s spontaneous reaction to an anti Mohammad video .  Over this past weekend we learned that her own embassy staff in Tripoli told her senior staff in Washington the day after the killings that the video was not an issue , and very few Libyans had seen it . We also know from her emails that the  informed her within 24 hours of the ambassador s murder that it had been planned by Al Qaeda 12 days before the actual killings .  Nevertheless , she persisted in blaming the video . When she received the bodies of Ambassador Stevens and his three bodyguards at Andrews Air Force base three days after their murders , she told the media and the families of the deceased assembled there that the four Americans had been killed by a spontaneous mob reacting to a cheap 15 minute anti Mohammad video .  It is difficult to believe that the federal prosecutors and  agents investigating Clinton will not recommend that she be indicted .  Clinton s sordid behavior throughout this unhappy affair reveals a cavalier attitude about the truth and a ready willingness to deceive the public for short term political gain . This might not harm her political aspirations with her base in the Democratic Party but it will be a serious political problem for her with independent voters , without whose support she simply cannot be elected .  Yet , her name might not appear on any ballot in 2016 .  That s because , each time she addresses these issues her involvement in Benghazi and her emails her legal problems get worse . We already know that the  has been investigating her for espionage ( the failure to secure state secrets ) , destruction of government property and obstruction of justice ( wiping her computer server clean of governmental emails that were and are the property of the federal government ) , and perjury ( lying to a federal judge about whether she returned all governmental emails to the State Department ) .  Now , she has added new potential perjury and misleading Congress issues because of her deceptive testimony to the House Benghazi committee . In 2011 , when President Obama persuaded  to enact and enforce a no fly zone over Libya , he sent American intelligence agents on the ground . Since they were not military and were not shooting at Libyan government forces , he could plausibly argue that he had not put boots on the ground . Clinton , however , decided that she could accelerate the departure of the Libyan strongman , Col . Muammar ? Qaddafi , by arming some of the Libyan rebel groups that were attempting to oppose him and thus helping them to shoot at government forces .  So , in violation of federal law and the U . N . arms embargo on Libya she authorized the shipment of American arms to Qatar , knowing they d be passed off to Libyan rebels , some of whom were Al Qaeda , a few of whom killed Ambassador Stevens using American made weapons . When asked about this , she said she knew nothing of it . The emails underlying this are in the public domain . Clinton not only knew of the arms to Libyan rebels deal , she authored and authorized it . She lied about this under oath .  After surveying the damage done to his regime and his family by  bombings , Col . Qaddafi made known his wish to negotiate a peaceful departure from Libya . When his wish was presented to Clinton , a source in the room with Clinton has revealed that she silently made the off with his head hand motion by moving her hand quickly across her neck . She could do that because she knew the rebels were well equipped with American arms with which to kill him . She didn t care that many of the rebels were Al Qaeda or that arming them was a felony . She lied about this under oath .  My Fox News colleagues Catherine Herridge and Pamela Browne have scrutinized Clinton s testimony with respect to her friend and adviser Sidney Blumenthal . Recall that President Obama vetoed Clinton s wish to hire him as her State Department senior adviser . So she had the Clinton Foundation pay him a greater salary than the State Department would have , and he became her silent de facto advisor .  They emailed each other hundreds of times during her tenure . He provided intelligence to her , which he obtained from a security company on the ground in Libya in which he had a financial interest . He advised her on how to present herself to the media . He even advocated the parameters of the Libyan no fly zone and she acted upon his recommendations . Yet she told the committee he was just a friend . She was highly deceptive and criminally misleading about this under oath .  When those recommendations are made known , no ballot will bear her name .  Andrew P . Napolitano , a former judge of the Superior Court of New Jersey , is the senior judicial analyst at Fox News Channel . ?  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
10087,10088,"Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Monday he would consider raising the federal tax on gasoline to fund infrastructure development, Bloomberg News reported. “It’s something that I would certainly consider,” Trump told the news agency in an interview on Monday. “The truckers have said that they want me to do something as long as that money is earmarked to highways.” The Trump administration released an outline of a tax plan last week that would slash tax rates for businesses and reduce the number of tax brackets for individuals. The plan, however, was silent on gasoline taxes, a potentially delicate issue given the widespread impact any increase would have on U.S. households. Trump told Bloomberg his tax proposal was just an opening gambit in a negotiation with lawmakers on Capitol Hill. “Everything is a starting point,” he said, according to Bloomberg, adding that he was willing to give up on aspects of his plan. He declined to specify where he would yield. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
10097,10098,"We love this guy! Factory worker Keith Ketzler: For eight horrible years I heard,  We don t have control of the House. We don t have control of the senate. We don t have the presidency and when we get in we got a plan and we re going to change stuff.  Well I tell you what, you re in there now and all I see is infighting. It s very dysfunctional.This guy just said whatever American would like to say to Paul Ryan! Notice how the answer was just more rhetoric blah, blah, blah All talk and  ACTION!Paul Ryan is in the back pocket of the Chamber of Commerce and other special interest groups. He s talking out of both sides of his mouth. He needs to go!            TRUMP: RELEASED: Paul Ryan Caught On Tape:  I am not going to defend Donald Trump not now, not in the future We all know Paul Ryan was no fan of President Donald Trump while he was running for office. Sadly, unlike the Democrats who held their noses and went  all in  for Hillary, our Republican Speaker of the House went out of his way to  support Trump during his highly contentious campaign. Now that a new audio tape has emerged, proving that Ryan went out of his way to make sure his colleagues in the House understood that he would  never  support Trump, this leaves Ryan looking pretty foolish considering the public support Trump has offered Ryan and his increasingly unpopular  Obamacare Lite  proposal.On a never-before-released private October conference call with House Republican members, House Speaker Paul Ryan told his members in the U.S. House of Representatives he was abandoning then- presidential nominee Donald Trump forever and would never defend him ever again. In the Oct. 10, 2016 call, from right after the Access Hollywood tape of Trump was leaked in the weeks leading up to the election, Ryan does not specify that he will never defend Trump on just the Access Hollywood tape he says clearly he is done with Trump altogether. I am not going to defend Donald Trump not now, not in the future,  Ryan says in the audio, obtained by Breitbart News and published here for the first time ever.Now, Ryan still the Speaker has pushed now President Donald Trump to believe his healthcare legislation the American Health Care Act would repeal and replace Obamacare when it does not repeal Obamacare. Ryan has also, according to Trump ally Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), misled President Trump into believing that Ryan s bill can pass Congress. Paul and others believe the bill is dead on arrival in the U.S. Senate since a number of  senators have come out against it, and there are serious questions about whether it can pass the House. This is the first major initiative that Trump has worked on with Ryan and the fact it is going so poorly calls into question whether Speaker Ryan, the  s failed 2012 vice presidential nominee who barely supported Trump at all in 2016, really understands how Trump won and how to win in general.The October conference call apparently was intended only for House Republican members. It s unclear which or how many House Republicans took part in the call, whether the participants knew it was being recorded, who made the recording, or whether a recording exists of the entire call. The remarks on the portion provided to Breitbart News certainly sound like they were coming from Speaker Ryan, who seemed to be abandoning his party s presidential nominee altogether just weeks before the election. He says not only will he not defend the Access Hollywood comments, but he will not campaign with Trump at all between this call on Oct. 10, 2016, and the general election for the presidency on Nov. 8 and that Ryan would not defend Trump on anything generally. For entire story- Matthew Boyle, Breitbart NewsLISTEN:",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,present
10108,10109,"Attorney General , Jeremy Wright  , ( pictured ) referred the case on the basis that the suspended sentence was unduly lenient  Appeal court judges have allowed a rapist who attacked a lesbian after a Halloween party to walk free because they do not want to interfere with his suspended sentence  The 28 year old from Portsmouth preyed on his victim after watching ' A Clockwork Orange ' even though he knew she had no interest in men .  The woman was left deeply traumatised by the attack , but Appeal Court judges have today refused to jail the attacker , describing his case as ' exceptional ' .  The Attorney General , Jeremy Wright  , had referred the case on the basis that the suspended two year prison sentence imposed at Portsmouth Crown Court in October was unduly lenient .  But today , while a panel of three judges headed by Lord Justice Pitchford agreed with that view , they said they did not consider it to be in the public interest that it should be changed .  They heard that the man , who has Tourette ' s syndrome , obsessive compulsive disorder , attention deficit hyperactivity disorder , anxiety and depression , had reported the rape to police himself and if he had not , it would never have come to light .  The man committed the offence after a Halloween party when a friend who he knew had no sexual interest in men , invited him to share her bed which they had done before purely to sleep .  The court heard neither of them anticipated or intended sexual activity but during the night the man began touching her .  The ' obsessive part ' of his personality took over and , despite her struggles , he had sex with the woman .  When he came to his senses and stopped he apologised profusely , ' punched himself in remorse ' and left , while the woman , who made it clear their friendship was ruined , decided she did not want to report the matter to the police .  Two years later , distressed and still feeling guilty , he went to the police , saying he wanted to confess to a sexual assault and that he thought he needed help .  The man was handed a suspended two year prison sentence at Portsmouth Crown Court ( pictured ) in October  The man pleaded guilty to the rape at Portsmouth Crown Court and was handed a suspended two year jail term in October last year .  Lawyers representing the attorney general told the Appeal Court the sentence was far too soft .  Lord Justice Pitchford agreed a suspended sentence was ' unduly lenient ' but said it would be wrong to lock him up now .  He said the man suffered from a litany of mental health problems and both he and his victim were ' vulnerable ' .  The judge , sitting with Mrs Justice Swift and Judge Paul Batty  , ruled it was ' not in the public interest ' to put him behind bars .  What he had done ' caused him distress and an enduring sense of guilt ' , said the judge .  Jocelyn Ledward , for the Attorney General , argued that the man should have been jailed .  But Lord Justice Pitchford described it as ' an exceptionally sensitive and difficult ' case .  He said for all his remorse , there was no doubt that he had done ' a grave wrong ' with serious consequences for his victim .  Lord Justice Pitchford ( pictured ) agreed a suspended sentence was ' unduly lenient ' but said it would be wrong to lock up the man now  Lord Pitchford said that the man had made a fully committed start to his suspended sentence order and had proved himself highly and genuinely motivated to make progress .  He said a rupture of current arrangements could only make more certain serious deterioration in his condition , and put at risk a successful outcome .  He said : ' What sets this case apart is the distress the offender himself suffers from unwelcome thoughts , his feelings of guilt and fear of catastrophe , and his almost inevitable mental deterioration if required to serve a sentence of imprisonment . '  ' There is no statutory standard of exceptionality that must be reached before a court suspends a sentence of imprisonment .  ' It is a matter for the court ' s judgment , usually determined by weighing up the seriousness of the offence , the offender ' s antecedents and his personal circumstances .  ' However , for an offence as serious as rape , a suspended sentence order is , as the recorder acknowledged , almost unheard of . '  He concluded that the man was now responding well to professional help with his mental health problems .  That was the best means of reducing his risk to the public and jailing him , the judge concluded , would not be in the public interest .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
10116,10117,"So many acts of violence and vandalism have been committed against Americans who have voiced their support for Trump, that voters are staying silent about how they plan to vote. That doesn t mean that massive numbers of voters won t be turning out for Trump when it comes to sending in their absentee ballots or showing up to the polls on November 8th.Don t let the media discourage you from getting out to vote for Trump and don t believe the polls! Trump s rallies are a pretty good indication of how strong the momentum for his presidency really is. Trump is doing 2-4 rallies every day across America, while Hillary is either fundraising or resting. For the few rallies Hillary is actually doing, you d think she d be drawing massive crowds, but the truth of the matter is, she can barely fill a high school gym with people who are passionate about her becoming our next President.Listen to what former Governor Mike Huckabee has to say about the silent majority Trump voter:weblink",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,satire,fake,True,no,no,positive,present
10123,10124,"Pope Francis arrived in Kenya ' s capital Wednesday evening for his first trip to Africa , a five day tour that will take him to some of the world ' s poorest communities and to countries facing intractable conflicts .  Francis will visit Kenya , Uganda , and the war torn Central African Republic during the potentially dangerous visit . The trip affords him an opportunity to speak directly to one of the church ' s fastest growing populations and reemphasize central themes of his papacy : global poverty , the problem of climate change , and respect between faiths .  Not long after arriving here , the pontiff invoked some of those issues in a speech to Kenyan political and religious leaders .  "" Violence , conflict , and terrorism feed on fear , mistrust , and the despair born of poverty and frustration , "" he told an audience of 2 , 000 people , who frequently burst into applause .  The pope ' s visit comes as Kenya is embroiled in one of its biggest corruption scandals . Five top ministers were fired Tuesday on suspicion of stealing or mismanaging public funds .  Francis has been outspoken about the ills of corruption , calling it in July "" the gangrene of society . "" Many Kenyans wondered whether Francis would highlight the issue during his visit .  "" The gap between the rich and the poor is growing here , and corruption is a major part of the problem , "" said the Rev . Chrisantus Ndaga , deputy secretary general of the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa , which helped plan the pope ' s visit . "" It ' s the right time for a message of encouragement from the pope . ""  In his speech on Wednesday , Francis urged Kenya ' s leaders to "" work with integrity and transparency for the common good "" and "" promote responsible models of economic development . ""  As the pope landed in Nairobi , he was greeted by throngs of people waving , dancing , and singing "" Karibu Kenya , Papa , "" or "" Welcome to Kenya , Pope "" in Swahili . The highway leading from the airport was lined with posters bearing images of the pontiff .  "" Tears of joy as Pope Francis arrives in Kenya , "" said the lead headline in Kenya ' s Daily Nation newspaper .  Some Kenyans suggested that the country ' s top officials could learn from the pope ' s modest style . He left the airport in a basic Honda sedan "" the type of car ordinarily used by any Kenyan , "" the Daily Nation said .  In introducing the pope , Kenya ' s president , Uhuru Kenyatta , also alluded to the corruption problems plaguing his government , saying that graft "" sacrifices people and our environment in the pursuit of illegal profit . ""  Many wonder whether the pope will speak about sexual or gender rights during his Africa trip , particularly in Uganda , where the government has tried to impose life prison terms for those convicted of "" homosexual acts . "" Although the pope is perceived by some to be more accepting of gay members of the church , experts say Francis is unlikely to discuss those issues at length .  Instead , the pontiff is expected to focus much of his time on interfaith issues , namely the growing tensions between Christian and Muslim populations across Africa . Kenya has been hit particularly hard by al Shabab , the Somali based Islamist extremist group , which has carried out numerous attacks . They include a 2013 attack on Nairobi ' s Westgate Mall that left 67 dead and an assault in April on a university in eastern Kenya in which 147 were killed .  But the focal point of his Africa trip appears to be the Central African Republic , where a war between Christians and Muslims has claimed more than 5 , 000 lives since 2013 . The fighting there remains intense , and some security experts are surprised that the visit has not been canceled .  It is the first time a pope has traveled to an active conflict zone .  In the Central African Republic , Francis is scheduled to meet with Muslims at the central Koudougou mosque in Bangui , the capital . Driving through the city , he is likely to see some of the thousands who have been displaced by the most recent spasm of violence . Even U . N . camps have proven unsafe . This month , rebel fighters entered the Batangafo camp , firing weapons and setting huts on fire . About 5 , 500 people fled the camp to seek shelter elsewhere , according to the U . N . refugee agency .  Asked by reporters during his flight to Kenya whether he was worried about the security situation , he replied : "" I ' m more afraid of the mosquitoes . ""  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
10132,10133,"Ed Miliband ' s set piece speech outlining Labour ' s pledge to tackle immigration lasted just 7 minutes and 43 seconds today sparking fresh criticism that he was not taking the issue seriously .  The Labour leader arrived in the key marginal seat of Great Yarmouth this morning to unveil his election pledge to jail company bosses who exploit cheap foreign workers to undercut British wages .  He also pledged to introduce ' proper ' entry and exit checks , limit on in work benefits for  migrants , and extend the period before which immigrants can claim out of work benefits to two years .  Labour leader Ed Miliband ' s set piece address on immigration lasted just 463 seconds today  But his 463 second address was overshadowed by a leaked party document telling party activists to ' move the conversation on ' from immigration if voters bring it up on the doorstep .  The paper , setting out plans to counter the challenge from Ukip , was sent to dozens of MPs in constituencies where Ukip threatens to rob the opposition of the votes needed to return to power at next May ' s general election .  At the end of his speech on immigration Mr Miliband described the document as ' not very well drafted ' but said there could be no suggestion he was seeking to dodge the issue .  He said : ' I think what matters about our party is what I ' m saying on this stage the pledge we ' re making rather than some not very well drafted language in a briefing document . I don ' t think anybody ' s in any doubt where Labour stands on this . '  Mr Miliband added : ' We ' re very clear about this , that ' s why I ' m standing on this stage with our pledge on immigration . The Labour Party not only takes this seriously , but I ' ve changed Labour ' s approach . '  During his speech , Mr Miliband insisted : ' When people worry about the real impact immigration has , this Labour Party will always respond to those concerns , not dismiss them .  ' It isn ' t prejudiced to worry about immigration , it is understandable . '  During his speech , Mr Miliband insisted that Labour would respond to concerns about the ' real impact immigration '  Mr Miliband has a demonstration on how to mix paint by customer advisor Tim Mobbs , as he meets staff at a B Q  superstore in Great Yarmouth  Mr Miliband said he wants to end an ' epidemic of exploitation ' which has led to ' truly shocking ' examples of migrant workers having their wages withheld and being forced to live in appalling conditions .  ' When people can be exploited for low wages or endangered at work , it drags the whole system down , undercutting the pay and conditions of local workers , ' said the Labour leader .  ' We must end the epidemic of exploitation . We must stop people ' s living standards being undermined by scandalous undercutting . '  Setting out his new proposals , he said : ' We are serving notice on employers who bring workers here under duress or on false terms and pay them significantly lower wages , with worse terms and conditions .  ' We will make it a criminal offence to undercut pay or conditions by exploiting migrant workers . '  Aides said that bringing in foreign labour to undercut the pay and conditions of existing workers will not be sufficient , under Labour ' s plans , to secure a prosecution on its own , but it could be used as a piece of evidence of exploitation .  Mr Miliband ' s speech was overshadowed by a leaked party document  To secure a conviction , evidence will be needed that an abuse of power has occurred and that migrants were employed on significantly different terms to local workers .  Mr Miliband said that , rather than the ' false promises ' to bring down net immigration offered by the Conservatives or Ukip ' s ' false solution ' of quitting the  , Labour will seek to offer ' clear , credible and concrete solutions which help build a country that works for you ' .  Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said she did not sign off the leaked document .  Ms Cooper told Radio 4 ' s The World At One : ' I ' m afraid the document was wrong on this and it doesn ' t reflect what we are actually doing .  ' What Ed is talking about today is making a pledge on immigration the second pledge that we are setting out for our manifesto for the campaign for the general election , because we know that the three things that people have most concerns about are around the economy , around immigration and around our National Health Service .  ' I ' m not taking it too seriously and I don ' t think you should take this document too seriously because it doesn ' t reflect what we are actually doing . '  Labour  Simon Danczuk said he was ' concerned ' about the document , telling The World At One : ' I meet people on the doorstep and they talk about the  being under strain from immigration , they talk about housing and the pressure from immigration . In this part of the world , when people talk about crime , they sometimes mention trafficking , grooming gangs , sham marriages . This is the reality of it .  ' So you can ' t really shine a lot on your other policies without talking about immigration as well . '  Last night a poll revealed strong public support for dramatic curbs on  migrant numbers . Six out of ten people said they wanted a cap on the number of European nationals able to enter the  .  The poll also found opinion on the  appears to have become significantly more hostile , with 42 per cent wanting to leave compared to 31 per cent in favour of staying in .  Tory  Julian Smith criticised Mr Miliband ' s seven minute address .  He said : ' While it ' s true to say that Ed Miliband is all talk and no action on some of the most important issues facing this country , clearly he prefers not to talk at all .  ' Last week Ed gave us a speech on the deficit when he refused to be drawn on spending cuts . Today he ' s offered a paltry 7mins 47 seconds on immigration .  ' Yet again this reinforces that Ed Miliband is a weak leader with no grip over immigration and no long term economic plan , putting the security of British people and their families at risk . '  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
10142,10143,"Due to popular demand J . K . Rowling has succumbed to unexpectedly writing Harry Potter Book Eight .  "" I know I said I had stopped at Book Seven and would never write another . . . and I am sooooo embarrassed , believe me . But my controllers , . . . er . . . backers , "" she explained , "" simply want more money . Isn ' t it ridiculous after all the millions I made for them ? Sadly , I have to comply or the media might start saying bad things about me like they did with Prince Charles ( laughing ) . . . and we have the franchises to protect and future film deals , and the magical royalties , of course , stretching far into the future which are sooooooo lucrative . I don ' t know the exact figure . . . but it is huge . Harry will go on forever like James Bond . By the time I am finished I will have written more words than Leo Tolstoy in a quarter of the time . Isn ' t that soooo amazing ? ""  This time around , the plot focuses on the flaxen haired Hermione Granger . Hermione begins as a humble schoolgirl who daydreams of being a great writer . But her greatest ambition is to save children from poverty and neglect . She knows all about poverty as she once spent a penniless weekend in Edinburgh during a school vacation before her dad , who runs his own business and has many people working for him , managed to wire her some money just in the nick of time .  Hermione dreams of marrying a powerful man who can help her . So , after she graduates with a degree in comparative religion she joins Amnesty International in London ( . . . religion was never mentioned in her home and she was always baffled as to why she chose it . ) and that ' s where she meets Harry Potter and they quickly fall in love . Harry ' s uncle is a publishing agent with great contacts in the children ' s book trade especially Penguin . Indeed , one of his closest drinking buddies is marketing editor there . Harry ' s uncle is known in the trade as "" Mr Big "" . It is said he will employ no female in his firm unless she is tall , beautiful , young and single . A known party animal indeed , Mr Big makes sure his public image is that of a shy , retiring intellectual with a great love for England , literature and professional integrity in that order .  Harry wants more than anything to fulfil his sweetheart ' s dream . One day , he rushes into her office to present her with a well thumbed manuscript in a funny black binder and tells her that "" it made my uncle ' s toes curl when he read it . All you have to do Hermione is change it around a bit and rewrite it in you own fair hand . . . and you will be rich and famous . And then we can save the world together . ""  "" But , isn ' t that . . . p . . . p . . . plagiarism ? "" she protests .  "" You could call it that , "" he replies . "" But the chap who wrote it and sent it to my uncle is an absolute Muggle as my uncle is a rogue and everybody knows it . So , we will have taught him a valuable lesson about the wicked world . ""  "" We would have . . . wouldn ' t we , Harry ? "" she responds . "" I ' ll do it ! You have to have nerve to get on in this world . And that word "" Muggle "" has given me an idea . Can I use it ? ""  "" Be my guest . My uncle and his team have all the ideas you could ever possibly need . You could write as many books as you like , an entire series , seven , eight , ten . . . forever my sweet and be the richest writer who ever lived . ""  "" I ' d like that , Harry . More than anything . The teachers who bullied me at school would sooooo die of envy . ""  Hermione , at this stage , does not know that her boyfriend has magical powers and that his uncle is , in fact , a Grand Wizard of the Freemasons with many powerful friends in politics and the media including the editors of The London Times and The Telegraph . . . not to mention Tony Blair , George W . Bush , Gordon Brown and Peter Mandelson . Soon , she will find out .  She will understand then why they made her rich and famous , so that she can help them take over the world and establish the New World Order that they and their forefathers all the way back to Albert Pike have been dreaming about for many years . And in that way , end the three evils of the world . . . over population , freedom of speech and democracy .  Critics are already saying that this could be the best Harry Potter book of them all . The Times and the Telegraph in particular are already claiming it as a "" masterpiece "" . Only one critic from the Evening Standard has called it "" crap "" but rumour has it that he has since lost his job . Nobody seems to know where he is .  Rowling herself was unavailable for comment as she is busy getting visible proof together that she wrote Book Eight all by herself . . . with no input whatever . . . from anyone , least of all from Mr Big or his team of seasoned writers . An exhibition of her notes etc will soon be on display at Fettes College Edinburgh where her close friend and staunchest supporter Tony Blair was educated .  ",satire,text,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,true,satire,True,no,no,positive,past
10154,10155,"Reuters) - The powerful U.S. gun lobby, the National Rifle Association, said on Sunday it would oppose an outright ban on bump-stock devices that the killer in the Las Vegas massacre of 58 people used to turn rifles into automatic weapons and strafe a crowd with bursts of sustained gunfire. The NRA, which has seldom embraced new firearms-control measures, stunned gun control advocates last week when it issued a statement voicing willingness to support a restriction on bump stocks. On Sunday, the organization said it was open to regulation but opposed any legislation banning the devices. “We don’t believe that bans have ever worked on anything. What we have said has been very clear - that if something transfers a semiautomatic to function like a fully automatic, then it ought to be regulated differently,” Chris Cox, the NRA’s chief lobbyist, said on “Fox News Sunday.” Police said the gunman, Stephen Paddock, 64, fitted 12 of his weapons with  bump-stock devices that allow semi-automatic rifles to operate as if they were fully automatic machine guns, which are otherwise outlawed in the United States. Cox and Wayne LaPierre, the NRA’s chief executive, accused the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives under Democratic former President Barack Obama of paving the way for the use of bump stocks and creating legal confusion about their usage.  Republican President Donald Trump, whose party controls both chambers of the U.S. Congress, was an outspoken advocate of gun rights during his 2016 campaign for the White House. The  spent more than $30 million in support of his candidacy. Several Republican lawmakers suggested last week that they were receptive to legislation to curb the use of bump stocks, including Kevin McCarthy, the No. 2 Republican in the House of Representatives, who said such controls were an area where Congress may be able to act. But House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, a Republican who himself was nearly killed by a gunman earlier this year while at a baseball practice, was cautious on Sunday about potential new legislation. “I do think it’s a little bit early for people to say they know what to do to fix this problem,” he said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”  “A week ago most people didn’t know what a bump stock was so to think that we’re now all experts and know how to write some panacea law, it’s fallacy,” Scalise added. LaPierre lashed out at U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, a Democrat who has pushed for gun-control legislation on Capitol Hill. “I think you want to tell  to do its job. It’s an interpretive issue and they need to get the job done. But not let Dianne Feinstein, which is what she wants to do - turn this all of this into some Christmas tree on the Hill where she brings all of her anti-gun circus she has been trying to do for years into this,” LaPierre said on CBS’s “Face the Nation.” Feinstein said she has garnered some Republican interest, but no support, for the measure. “I have nobody lined up,” she told the  program. Some gun-control advocates praised the  for showing some flexibility. “This is the first time that the gun lobby has shown willingness to come to the table and I think that’s in part because Americans just simply do not accept mass shooting after mass shooting happening and Congress doing absolutely nothing,” Democratic Senator Chris Murphy said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”  But Sunday’s comments from the  representatives suggested nothing may have changed as they castigated calls for gun-control measures in the emotional aftermath of a mass shooting.  “There used to be a common decency in this country where people paused talking about policy. Unfortunately with Dianne Feinstein and Michael Bloomberg, they want to exploit a tragedy from Day One. It’s shameful, but apparently that’s the new normal.” Cox said on the “Fox News Sunday” program. Bloomberg, a billionaire and former mayor of New York, has been an outspoken critic of the National Rifle Association through the group Everytown for Gun Safety. Investigators remain largely in the dark about what drove Paddock, a retired real estate investor and high-stakes gambler, on Oct. 1 to carry out the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history.  ",true,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
10171,10172,"Thousands of patients are dying in hospital each year because of bad handwriting , errors in maths and poor monitoring by nursing , according to a study .  The death rate at two hospitals fell by 15 per cent after nurses were given electronic devices in place of handwritten paper notes to record patients ' heart rates and breathing .  Researchers calculated that 750 deaths were prevented in a year at the two hospitals , Queen Alexandria in Portsmouth and University Hospital in Coventry .  At present , nurses are meant to measure patients ' heart rate , blood pressure , oxygen levels and take certain other readings and note them down on a board at the end of the bed : There is no suggestion that these nurses have illegible handwriting ( File photo )  Across the  , this means 37 , 000 deaths could be avoided if nurses were given the devices rather than relying on traditional handwritten notes from nurses .  At present , nurses are meant to measure patients ' heart rate , blood pressure , oxygen levels and take certain other readings and note them down on a board at the end of the bed .  Often these readings aren ' t taken regularly enough and in some patients there are gaps of between eight and 12 hours between measures .  In other cases , nurses handwriting is illegible or they don ' t note down all the figures meaning it is not clear for their colleagues to monitor patients .  To address the problem of poor handwriting , hand held devices were given to nurses at Queen Alexandra hospital in Portsmouth ( above )  To address the problem , hand held devices were given to nurses at Queen Alexandra hospital in Portsmouth in 2005 and at University Hospitals in Coventry in 2007 .  They were handed either iPhones or iPads small computers installed with an app that takes patients readings and reminds nurses when they are next needed .  An alert flashes up on the screen if patients are deteriorating and in some cases they will urge nurses to summon a doctor .  Researchers compared the death rates for every year from 2004 before the devices were used to 2010 .  They annual death rates fell by 397 at Portsmouth and by 372 deaths at University Hospitals Coventry in 2010 compared to 2004 .  Dr Paul Schmidt of Portsmouth Hospitals  Trust , one of the leaders of the project , said : ' Observing patients and making accurate records provides a safety net to guard against their deterioration .  ' We believed traditional paper charts were not doing the job well enough so we designed an electronic system to support staff . This study shows its introduction was followed by a significant drop in deaths . ""  Dr Duncan Watson of University Hospital Coventry , who also worked on the project , said : ' This technology improves the performance of routine but important tasks and frees up clinical staff to do what only human beings can do care for patients . ""  Many of the deaths avoided would have occurred in the elderly who had developed pneumonia or infections which would otherwise have been spotted too late .  Typically they cost around 500 , 000 to roll out across a medium sized hospital trust and about 40 are now using them in at leat one department .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
10175,10176,"Tragedy : Branson Riley Carlisle suffered a fatal bite from a brown recluse last Sunday at home in Albertsville , Alabama  Three photographs taken by five year old Branson Riley Carlisle ' s mother chart the progress of the fatal spider bite that tragically ended his life the Sunday before Thanksgiving .  The first picture which reveals a noticeable swelling and redness on Branson ' s shoulder blade was taken by Jessica Carlisle just 15 minutes after he was bitten by the brown recluse .  The second photograph was taken just one hour later and reveals the bite has turned into a tender looking welt on the back of the Alberstville , Alabama , boy .  The third photograph was taken in hospital by Branson ' s mother nine hours after he was bitten and shows a rash and painful blotching of the skin .  Branson passed away suddenly from a cardiac arrest five hours later .  Jessica has made the difficult decision to release the images of her dead son in a bid to raise awareness among parents of the dangers of a brown recluse spider bite .  She wants them to know that the minute they suspect their child has been bitten to rush them to medical attention .  The distraught mother also wants her son ' s final wish to be granted to give all his Christmas gifts away to children in Africa .  It was last Sunday that Branson was bitten at around 9am , wearing his new pajamas .  His mother then took him to the doctors office where he started showing symptons .  He told Jessica he had been and showed her the red mark on his shoulder blade .  ' He said something had stung him , ' said Jessica to ALweblink . ' It was a brand new pajama top and this spider was in his shirt . I saw a welt on his back . '  First two bites : Branson was bitten at around 9am last Sunday and showed his mother who took a picture 15 minutes afterwards ( left ) and again one hour after that ( right )  Deterioration : The spider bite is pictured here nine hours after Branson told his mother and tragically , five hours before he passed away  Having been bitten herself by a brown recluse , Jessica knew that bites could turn serious , and decided to take Branson straight away to Marshall Medical Centers South in Boaz and got there within one hour .  While there Branson began running a fever of 100 and doctors were concerned the spider ' s venom was ' going systemic ' which is a rare reaction to the brown recluse bite .  ' They took it very seriously at Marshall . They started him on antibiotics , steroids and Tylenol , ' said Jessica to the Examiner .  ' His vitals were all normal . He was laughing and playing and being a 5 year old boy . The doctor said he was going to send him to Children ' s of Huntsville or Birmingham , whichever one was quicker , but he didn ' t seem to think it was going to get worse .  ' It was just in case anything happened , he would have the best care . '  First off he was taken to by ambulance to Huntsville Hospital for Women Children .  Memory : Jessica Carlisle watched helplessly as her son ' s condition went downhill during the day after he was bitten by the brown recluse spider  Culprit : This is the brown recluse spider that bit Branson and was killed and captured by his mother for the benefit of the doctors  Also known as the fiddleback spider , the violin spider or the brown fiddler , the brown recluse spider has venomous and potentially fatal bite .  They are usually brown or gray in colour and between six to 20 millimeters in length . They typically have markings on the dorsal side of their cephalothorax ,  These markings include a black line coming from the dorsel side that looks like a violin , resulting in the nickname ' fiddleback ' .  The spiders often build their webs in dry , generally undisturbed locations , including sheds , closets , garages , cellars and other similar places .  In America , their range lies roughly south of a line from southeastern Nebraska through to southern Iowa , Illinois and Indiana , to southwestern Ohio .  In the southern states , they are native from central Texas to western Georgia and north to Kentucky .  Brown recluse spiders have the ability to survive starvation and thirst , and the way in which they benefit from the regulated room temperatures of human habitations , make extermination of this species particularly challenging .  Jessica said the bite appeared to get worse there and became black and blue like he had been struck by a baseball .  His condition became too serious for those at Huntsville Hospital for Women Children to handle so Branson was immediately transferred to another hospital Children ' s of Huntsville .  However , once there , Branson began to deteriorate . He developed head and stomach pains and the doctors decided to place him on oxygen and take him to the intensive care unit .  ' He was talking in the elevator on the way to  , arguing with the doctor . The doctor wanted him to open his mouth and he said , ' No , I don ' t want to . ' Just being a 5 year old . ' said Jessica .  Suddenly as Jessica was waiting outside the  at around 11 . 30pm she heard raised voices and the unmistakable sound of panic .  ' Doors started flying open and people started coming running from everywhere . I ' ve never seen so many doctors in one room , ' said Jessica to the Examiner .  ' The nurse came out in the hallway and sat down . They told me his heart had stopped . They shocked him . '  Wish : Branson wanted to give all his Christmas presents to children in Africa who have none and his mother wants anyone who can help to drop them off at Freelife Worship Center in Sardis , Alabama  The doctors told her that their son ' s blood was failing to clot and that his organs were bleeding internally .  ' I was in the room when they shocked him for the 17th time , and I knew there was nothing else in this world that they could do for him . I told them it was time to stop , ' said Jessica .  Stunned , Jessica buried her son on Friday , the day after Thanksgiving .  Trying to turn the tragedy into a triumph , Jessica has decided to fulfull her son ' s wish to give toys to children in Africa who have none .  ' He wanted all the kids in Africa to have toys , ' said Jessica to  . ' I mean , he was going to give his own toys . '  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
10223,10224,"Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday handed a victory to President Donald Trump by allowing his latest travel ban targeting people from six Muslim-majority countries to go into full effect even as legal challenges continue in lower courts. The nine-member court, with two liberal justices dissenting, granted his administration’s request to lift two injunctions imposed by lower courts that had partially blocked the ban, which is the third version of a contentious policy that Trump first sought to implement a week after taking office in January.  The high court’s action means that the ban will now go fully into effect for people from Chad, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen seeking to enter the United States. The Republican president has said the travel ban is needed to protect the United States from terrorism by Islamic militants.  In a statement, Attorney General Jeff Sessions called the Supreme Court’s action “a substantial victory for the safety and security of the American people.” Sessions said the Trump administration was heartened that a clear majority of the justices “allowed the president’s lawful proclamation protecting our country’s national security to go into full effect.” The ban was challenged in separate lawsuits by the state of Hawaii and the American Civil Liberties Union. Both sets of challengers said the latest ban, like the earlier ones, discriminates against Muslims in violation of the U.S. Constitution and is not permissible under immigration laws.  Trump had promised as a candidate to impose “a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States.” Last week he shared on Twitter anti-Muslim videos posted by a far-right British party leader. “President Trump’s anti-Muslim prejudice is no secret - he has repeatedly confirmed it, including just last week on Twitter,”  lawyer Omar Jadwat said. “It’s unfortunate that the full ban can move forward for now, but this order does not address the merits of our claims. We continue to stand for freedom, equality and for those who are unfairly being separated from their loved ones,” Jadwat added. Lower courts had previously limited the scope of the ban to people without either certain family connections to the United States or formal relationships with U.S.-based entities such as universities and resettlement agencies. Trump’s ban also covers people from North Korea and certain government officials from Venezuela, but the lower courts had  already allowed those provisions to go into effect. The high court said in two similar one-page orders that lower court rulings that partly blocked the latest ban should be put on hold while federal appeals courts in San Francisco and Richmond, Virginia weigh the cases. Both courts are due to hear arguments in those cases this week. The Supreme Court said the ban will remain in effect regardless of what the appeals courts rule, at least until the justices ultimately decide whether to take up the issue on the merits, which they are highly likely to do. The court’s order said the appeals courts should decide the cases “with appropriate dispatch.” “We agree a speedy resolution is needed for the sake of our universities, our businesses and most of all, for people marginalized by this unlawful order,” Hawaii Attorney General Douglas Chin said. Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor said they would have denied the administration’s request. Monday’s action sent a strong signal that the court is likely to uphold the ban on the merits when the case likely returns to the justices in the coming months. There are some exceptions to the ban. Certain people from each targeted country can still apply for a visa for tourism, business or education purposes, and any applicant can ask for an individual waiver. The San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will hear arguments on the merits of Hawaii’s challenge on Wednesday in Seattle. The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will arguments on the merits of case spearheaded by the  on Friday in Richmond.  Trump issued his first travel ban targeting several Muslim-majority countries in January, then issued a revised one in March after the first was blocked by federal courts. The second one expired in September after a long court fight and was replaced with the present version. The Trump administration said the president put the latest restrictions in place after a worldwide review of the ability of each country in the world to issue reliable passports and share data with the United States. The administration argues that a president has broad authority to decide who can come into the United States, but detractors say the expanded ban violates a law forbidding the government from discriminating based on nationality when issuing immigrant visas. The administration has said the ban is not discriminatory and pointed out that many Muslim-majority countries are unaffected by it. ",true,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
10246,10247,"System Failure for the Establishment November 11, 2016  Democrats thought the political establishment and mainstream media would assure them victory as they brushed off Bernie Sanders and insisted on Hillary Clinton, ignoring the growing hatred of “the system,” notes Lawrence Davidson.  By Lawrence Davidson  On Election Day, Hillary Clinton, with all her data specialists and poll gurus, came up short. The morning after, they didn’t know what hit them – that is, the unexpected fact that statistical data and real life don’t always coincide. People often tell pollsters what they think the pollsters want to hear, or what media tells them is the expected answer, while clandestinely harboring different opinions that they share only with their family, friends and drinking buddies.  Hillary Clinton and the Democratic leadership, as well as their Republican Party counterparts, represent a well-entrenched political system. That system is responsive to lobbies or interest groups and not disgruntled citizens. What is more, none of the country’s political bosses can see beyond this system and how it relates to their own political needs. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaking with supporters at a campaign rally in Phoenix, Arizona, March 21, 2016. (Photo by Gage Skidmore)  During the 2016 election campaign that near sightedness led to a fatal misinterpretation: that Trump represented only hooligans and “deplorable” people who could not themselves possibly add up to a “silent majority.” Thinking along these lines, Clinton and the overconfident Democratic establishment made a perhaps unconscious decision to let this apparent bozo Trump lose the election, rather than they, the Democrats, going out there and doing what was necessary to win it.  For instance, they apparently did not bother to design a message to compete for the votes of those listening to Trump. They did not take into consideration the historically observable fact that millions of Americans had, over the last 50 years, seemed to give up on politics because they saw the system as unresponsive. The Democrat establishment did not respond to this phenomenon. Indeed, they made sure Bernie Sanders, the only Democratic who was trying to respond, would fail.  A Deep Division  The truth is that the United States is a very deeply divided country, and has been since the 1960s. The division is multifaceted and involves cultural issues that touch on gender, race and lifestyle; and class issues such as job creation and trade treaties. Also, the city mouse/country mouse divide is very real and very deep. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton confronts Sen. Bernie Sanders in Democratic presidential debate on Jan. 17, 2016.  Much of rural white America has various degrees of negative feelings toward African-Americans, Latinos, Asians and anyone else who does not look and talk like them. These are the same sort of people who once hated kids with long hair, afros, and a preference for marijuana over whiskey.  All of these disgruntled ones, like those millions of Christian Fundamentalists out there, have never gone away. They were just waiting – even if some of them didn’t know it. They were waiting for a “hero,” and when he appeared, they elected him president.  So the divisions are real and they are not new. And no one in the political establishment, Democrat or Republican, addressed them. That opened the door for Mr. Trump.  That means Trump’s victory should not properly be seen as a Republican Party victory. Trump just exploited the party label. In truth, he has destroyed the Republican Party as we traditionally knew it. Its future is very uncertain.  What Can We Expect?  Donald Trump has made a fetish out of being unpredictable, which, at the very least, is bad for the stock market. Inevitably, however, there will be signs that give a hint as to what might be expected. The run-down  Theatre sign reads “Vote Trump” on Main Street in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota. July 15, 2016. (Photo by Tony Webster Flickr)  For instance, Trump will have to name a cabinet. Interestingly enough, most of those who will be available, be they private-sector business people or right-wing goofballs like Sarah Palin and Chris Christie, are creatures of the standing political system. They have no real interest in reforming current ways of doing things as against profiting from them – which, of course, is a form of business as usual.  There will be tremendous pressure on Donald Trump to go along with and slot himself into the existing political system in Washington (as did President Obama). At every turn, in Congress and in the bureaucracies, there will be no one to deal with but systems people.  Beyond a limited number of exclusively executive functions, Trump needs standing political arrangements to operate. Thus, if he suddenly turns relatively conventional, no one should be too surprised. What about all that campaign rebel talk? Well, remember, he is unpredictable which, in his case, goes well with also being a consistent liar.  Trump promised a lot during the campaign. He was going to rebuild the inner cities, the military, all of the nation’s bridges, etc. And he would do so while simultaneously lowering taxes. Short of bankrupting the country, this is fiscally impossible.  He promised to remake foreign policy, which, being within the realm of executive power, may be more doable. Will he try to cancel international trade agreements? Will he pull out of NATO? Will he dump the Zionists and the Saudis? Will he ally with the Russians?  These are interesting questions. What about global warming, which he claims not to believe in? How about international law and our relationship to the United Nations? It’s all up for grabs, and that worries a lot of people – very few of whom voted for Trump.  Many of those who did vote for Donald Trump don’t care about any of this. They voted for him because he appeared to stand against the political system they hate. They want the country ethnically cleansed of Mexicans, the government downsized and, culturally, the clock turned back to the 1950s. If he does not do this, he will appear to have become part of that hateful system, and his fans may well end up hating him too.",true,news,test,US elections,US elections,satire,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
10262,10263,"Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a case on Monday that tests the boundaries of presidential powers, confronting the question of whether President Barack Obama exceeded his authority with unilateral action to spare millions of people in the country illegally from deportation. The case, one of the most consequential of the court’s current term that ends in June, pits Obama against 26 states led by Texas that filed suit to block his 2014 immigration plan. The high court is evenly divided with four liberal justices and four conservatives following the February death of conservative Antonin Scalia. That raises the possibility of a 4-4 split that would leave in place a 2015 lower-court ruling that threw out the president’s executive action that bypassed the Republican-led Congress. The arguments in the case come at a time when immigration is a divisive issue in the U.S. presidential campaign, with top Republican contenders advocating deporting all of the estimated 11 million people in the country illegally. Obama took the action after Republicans in the House of Representatives killed bipartisan legislation, billed as the biggest overhaul of U.S. immigration laws in decades and providing a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants, that was passed by the Senate in 2013. Obama’s plan was tailored to let roughly 4 million people - those who have lived illegally in the United States at least since 2010, have no criminal record and have children who are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents - get into a program that shields them from deportation and supplies work permits. Obama’s program was called Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA). Shortly before the plan was to go into effect last year, a federal judge in Texas blocked it after the Republican-governed states filed suit against the Democratic president’s executive action. The New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld that decision in November. The Supreme Court’s ruling is due by the end of June. Obama’s action arose from frustration within the White House and the immigrant community about a lack of action in politically polarized Washington to address the status of people, mostly Hispanics, living in the United States illegally. Obama has drawn Republican ire with his use of executive action to get around Congress on immigration policy and other matters including gun control and healthcare. On the immigration action, the states contend Obama exceeded the powers granted to him by the Constitution by intruding upon the authority of Congress. ",true,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
10263,10264,"Hillary Clinton Makes Her Case : It ' s Me Or The   It ' s not a ""  "" poster , but it ' s something .  01 18 2016 12 : 19 am  Updated 10 hours ago  Ryan Grim Washington Bureau Chief , The Huffington Post   , S . C . Hillary Clinton ' s plan to stem her slide against Bernie Sanders in the presidential primary began to come into clear focus Sunday night in the fourth Democratic debate .  With two weeks to go before Iowa ' s caucuses , the former secretary of state offered several closing arguments :  If you liked Barack Obama , stick with Clinton .  Sanders is too risky , he ' ll jack up your taxes , and what he wants to do can ' t get through Congress anyway .  Clinton is the only seriously electable Democrat in the race , regardless of polls that show otherwise at the moment .  She also went hard at Sanders , a Vermont independent senator , as too conservative on gun control and too radical on health care . With Sanders now tied with Clinton in Iowa , and leading in New Hampshire , her campaign is hoping that although Democratic primary voters may be in love with Sanders , they ' ll ultimately settle down with the pragmatic choice .  "" We ' re at least having a vigorous debate about reining in Wall Street , "" she said , appealing to those Democrats who think she ' s too soft on banks . "" The Republicans want to give them more power and repeal Dodd Frank . That ' s what we need to stop ""  Nobody thinks a Republican Congress is going to allow a system of single payer health care . With huge majorities , a Democratic Congress in 2009 and 2010 couldn ' t even push a weak public health insurance option into Obamacare .  Yet single payer has managed to become a major issue in the Democratic primary ? one that Clinton injected into it . It ' s difficult terrain for Clinton . Democratic primary voters are sympathetic to single payer , and Sanders , who ' s happy to call himself a democratic socialist , eagerly embraces it .  The Clinton campaign s messaging on the issue has been muddled : While it insists that Clinton herself supports the goal of universal health care , Clinton has attacked universal health care from a conservative direction , warning it would require major tax hikes on the middle class without mentioning the cost savings that would come with the elimination of premiums and deductibles . Chelsea Clinton went the furthest , bizarrely claiming Sanders wants to end Medicare , Medicaid and other programs , while throwing "" millions and millions "" off their health insurance .  Even when the Democrats were in charge of the Congress , we couldn t get the votes for a public option , Clinton said . We finally have a path to universal health care . We ve accomplished so much already . I don t want to see us start over again with a contentious debate .  Clinton said she wants to build on the Affordable Care Act and to improve it by decreasing out of pocket costs and capping the amount Americans spend on prescription drugs .  This is such a key axis of disagreement : consolidate  and declare victory or push to expand coverage ?  Two hours before the Democratic debate in Charleston , Sanders finally made good on his promise to release an updated single payer proposal before the Iowa caucuses on Feb . 1 . ( He last released one in 2013 . ) His plan for federally administered health care would be funded by a 2 . 2 percent tax on all Americans which his campaign called a premium , not a tax a new 6 . 2 percent tax on businesses , and increased income and estate taxes on the wealthy .  Clinton suggested more than once that opening up the debate could backfire , a warning that Democrats shouldn ' t go too far .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Economy,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
10270,10271,"England Almost all British troops in Iraq are being pulled out because the agreement that allows them to be there expires on Friday , the British Ministry of Defence said Tuesday .  Nearly all of Britain ' s troops in Iraq will have left by the week ' s end .  The withdrawal marks the first time since the invasion of Iraq more than six years ago that there will be almost no British troops in the country . The only British troops there will be a group of about a dozen helping to train Iraqi police as part of a  mission , the ministry said .  "" The small handful of British military personnel operating in Iraq will be withdrawn to Kuwait after Iraq ' s parliament adjourned without passing a deal that would let them stay , "" the spokesman said .  Iraq must give its permission for foreign troops to be on its soil .  It was a group of Iraqi lawmakers loyal to anti American Shiite cleric Muqtada al Sadr that prevented parliament from approving a new agreement on British troops .  They walked out of parliament as a group on July 11 , depriving the legislature of the minimum number of lawmakers necessary for votes to take place . Parliament is now on summer recess until September 8 .  Fawzi Akram , a lawmaker from the Sadr bloc , confirmed that the bloc reject the Iraqi British security agreement . He said that Iraq does not need the British troops and that Iraqi security forces are ready to handle security on their own .  Britain hopes the Iraqi parliament will eventually approve the security agreement .  "" While this delay is unfortunate , we are continuing to seek a solution with the Iraqi Government that will provide our forces with the sound legal basis they need , "" the ministry said in a written statement .  The British troops who are being pulled out include Royal Navy servicemen who have been helping the Iraqis to protect oil fields around the port town of Umm Qasr , according to the Ministry of Defence spokesman .  There were about 46 , 000 British troops in and around Iraq at the peak of major combat operations in March and April 2003 , according to the Ministry of Defence .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
10272,10273,"It took 18 months to develop , costs an eye watering 800 and has been dubbed the world ' s first Methuselah of beer .  And now the cheekily named Savour Everything In Moderation , the equivalent of eight wine bottles , has arrived in London .  There are only six bottles of the rare Windsor based specialist beer makers Savour Beer in the world and one is on sale at Sourced Market in St Pancras , London .  The six litre bottle of sparkling beer was developed by Windsor brewers Savour Beer . There are only six bottles of the beer in the world and one of them has arrived at Sourced Market in St Pancras , London  The giant bottle was developed to raise the profile of the Champagne style beer , which is brewed using 100 per cent floor malted British barley , hops and three yeast strains .  ' I wanted to raise people ' s expectations and perceptions of beer how it is packaged and how it can be consumed , ' Sandy Kirkpatrick , Founder of Savour Beer told MailOnline Food .  ' The idea came from a trip to Belgium back in 2009 , where I fell in love with the respect and passion people had for beer over there .  Mr Kirkpatrick hopes the Methuselah will raise Britain ' s admiration for fine brews  Brouweij Bosteels DeuS Brut de Flandres  : 11 . 5  A Belgian sour beer tasting of malt , citrus and spice .  Brouwerij De Landtsheer Malheur Biere Brut  : 12  Belgian brew comes through with a fruity flavour with hints of grape before giving way to citrus and spice .  Samuel Adams Weihenstephan Infinium  : 10 . 3  A malty and sweet German beer that would pair well with apple cider , lime juice or pumpkin bitters for beer cocktails .  Cobra Beer Partnership ' s Krait Prestige  : 8  English Champagne style lager with a foamy head and bubbles  Brouwerij Liefman ' s Cuvee Brut  : 6  Red with a pinkish head , this beer has hints of sweet cherry and apple .  ' They drink beer like the French drink wine , and I wanted to bring that attitude towards beer to Britain .  ' The Methuselah will hopefully raise Britain ' s admiration for fine brews . '  Rich and smooth with hints of caramel and honey on the palate , the 10 . 5  beer is highly effervescent , with an intense finish and subtle spices on the nose .  ' I played around with the name for awhile , ' Mr Kirkpatrick said .  ' t ' s a little bit tongue in cheek . Everything in moderation , including moderation . '  Ben O ' Brien , Founder of Sourced Market said : We ' re really lucky to be the host of this extraordinary brew .  ' In terms of taste and how to consume , this beer will take British beer lovers ' experience to the next level .  ' It ' s a mighty beer , and one lucky Briton will soon have the honour of sipping it with their friends  Sparking beer is made using the same method as sparkling wine or Champagne .  After the initial fermentation , the beer is given a second fermentation in the bottle .  The yeast is then removed from the bottle , leaving behind a clear , sparkling liquid ,  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
10282,10283,"A 12 hour stand off with law enforcement involvement took place today at the outpatient pediatric clinic at Texas Children ' s Hospital . In what appears to be a first of sorts in medical news , a first year pediatrics trainee , or intern , refused to return a nose to its rightful 9 year old owner during a medical encounter .  Twenty six year old Dr Thomas Degeneres , was evidently not playing around with new patient , Avery Weaver Parker . Degeneres was in the midst of his newly acquired rapport building routine of catching a patient ' s nose with Avery when things went awry . Avery became agitated , screaming and cursing at Degeneres , while single handedly dismantling the examination room .  Nurses and clinic staff were called in to subdue the irate child while Degeneres held on tightly to the caught nose and placed it out of reach . Avery ' s mother , Jenni Parker , attempted to intervene by pleading with Degeneres to return the nose but the young physician held firm .  Degeneres insisted on keeping it until the child calmed himself down , then reassembled and cleaned the examination room . This did not sit well with Avery who aggressively launched himself towards Degeneres . Law enforcement was then called in to contain the labile confrontation and facilitate negotiations .  Degeneres , visibly shaken and still holding the nose , was able to provide a brief interview : "" As medical providers , we must stand by our principles . This child needed to be taught a lesson that no amount of crying , screaming and aggressive behavior will allow him to get what he wants . I may be a new doctor , but I know a few things about what ' s right and what ' s wrong . ""  The boy ' s mother was able to comment : "" I don ' t know what they ' re teaching these young fools , these days . Give the boy his freakin ' nose back ! Avery ' s always hated that touchy feely tactic and of course he went ballistic ! He ' s a special sensitive child and home schooled for that very reason . We ' ve kept his life as free of confrontation as possible . He ' s delicate and misunderstood . ""  Negotiations between the two sides were mediated by local police and once reason and calm were restored , the nose was relinquished back to Avery . Degeneres has been placed on administrative leave with pay for an undetermined amount of time .  Pediatrics residency director , Dr Barry Tison , released a statement that nose catching will now be de emphasized during training in favor of "" the Claw "" and "" Are you ticklish ? "" rapport building techniques . Avery received no punishment from his parents after the incident and will no longer be seeing Degeneres as a patient . No charges will be filed against either party .  ",satire,text,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,fake,satire,True,no,no,positive,past
10290,10291,"WASHINGTON/  (Reuters) - U.S. cities that refuse to step up efforts to focus on crimes committed by illegal immigrants will not be allowed to participate in a new crime reduction training program unveiled earlier this year by the Justice Department, Attorney General Jeff Sessions said on Thursday. In making the announcement, Sessions singled out four local police departments that had expressed interest in the new Public Safety Partnership Program, saying they first had to answer a list of questions by Aug. 18 confirming they do not have any “sanctuary” policies to shield illegal immigrants from possible deportation by ensuring they will allow federal immigration officials access to local jails. “Cities and states with so-called ‘sanctuary’ policies make all of us less safe,” Sessions said. The four police departments that must respond are Albuquerque, New Mexico; Baltimore, Maryland; and San Bernardino and Stockton, California. “Baltimore is a welcoming city. We do not enforce federal immigration laws,” said Baltimore Police Commissioner Kevin Davis, adding that when cities were initially selected for the program, there was no formal selection process and that Baltimore does not control the local jail. Jarrod Burguan, the police chief of San Bernardino, said his department first expressed interest in a similar program during the Obama administration, and remains interested in participating. He added San Bernardino is not a “sanctuary” city, it does not control the local jail, and he will answer the department’s questions. Representatives from the other two police departments did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Sessions’ announcement reflects part of a broader policy push by President Donald Trump to crack down on illegal immigration.  He has urged Congress to support funding the building of a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, and the administration has moved to dramatically widen the net of illegal immigrants targeted for deportation. The National Public Safety Partnership is a program launched in June that involves a three-year initiative geared toward areas with high rates of violent crime. Twelve cities were selected when it was first launched. Some municipalities have pushed back against the Trump administration’s immigration policies. A U.S. judge last month refused to remove a block on an executive order by Trump that would have withheld federal funds from sanctuary cities, which do not use municipal funds or resources to help advance the enforcement of federal immigration laws. New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and acting Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez on Thursday called on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to stop making arrests in courthouses amid concerns it has a chilling effect on local policing and is sweeping up those with low-level misdemeanor cases. Rachael Yong Yow, an  spokeswoman, said the agency’s arrests are carried out “on a case-by-case basis.” ",true,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
10300,10301,"Afghanistan Our travels in Afghanistan continue .  I feel like the title of this posting should be "" why I had to get power washed in Afghanistan "" or "" the body armor is only heavy until they start shooting at you . ""   , now I will explain .  The Marines are living in some of the toughest terrain there is . It is remote and often raining . That means dust turns to mud , and you find yourself covered in it from head to toe . Stinky , cold , wet , oozy mucky mud .  The good news is , everybody stinks , so you lose any sense of self consciousness about it . But you do dream of getting power washed . So , yes , after a few days a shower was , shall we say , more than essential .  For the Marines , however , it is a seven month tour of duty in mud in the winter and dust in the summer .  It seems very grim , especially when compounded by the fact that the Marines are wearing heavy body armor all the time . Ask them if it ' s heavy to wear , the typical answer goes something like , "" It ' s only heavy to wear until the bad guys start shooting at you . Then it ' s  . ""  The young Marines know exactly how tough the fight they are facing in the coming weeks and months will likely be . Several of them told me security had gotten considerably worse in recent days . Their bases were being repeatedly shelled by insurgents , several roadside bombs had gone off , and local Afghan police had died at the hands of suicide attacks .  Senior commanders usually have a more cheery outlook , but here in southern Afghanistan , everyone is cautious . Almost everyone is a veteran of Iraq and learned the tough lesson there about not declaring victory too soon .  Even Conway , who commanded U . S . forces in Fallujah , picks his words very carefully . He tells me he believes that everyone must be ready for a spike in U . S . casualties as the Marines begin to move into the region in greater numbers this spring .  All of this was rattling around in my head when I saw the Marines riding around in what they call "" a 7 ton truck . "" As the name suggests , it ' s huge and has some armor plating on the sides . But what it doesn ' t make clear is that the truck is open in the back and sides . The Marines insist it is a safe way to transport troops .  For years now , the Army has used fully armored vehicles only in the combat zone . The Marines have a somewhat different view . They believe heavy armor isn ' t everything sometimes being able to get around on the battlefield faster is better .  But then again , when someone starts shooting at you , I think you want all the armor you can get .  Next stop , Iraq . Yeah , there is still a war there , too .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
10302,10303,"The two reporters and two editors were suspended even as most of the online reports had corrected the mistake  December 7 , 2015 Last Updated at 18 : 32   Copy tiny  to save and share articles .  Xi Jinping , left , stands with from left , former Chinese President Jian Zemin , former Chinese President Hu Jintao and China ' s Premier Li Keqiang during a parade commemorating the 70th anniversary of Japan ' s surrender during World War  . Photo :    Communist Party rejig seen as Xi power move Chinese economy facing some problems but functioning well : Xi With long handshake , China and Taiwan affirm better ties Deepak Lal : China ' s cloudy future  Why China ' s leadership has lost considerable credibility  Four journalists of an official Chinese news agency have been suspended after committing a typographical error which suggested President Xi Jinping was resigning , a media report said today .  The two reporters and two editors of China News Service an official service that has a status similar to that of Xinhua were suspended after referring to President Xi Jinping ' s "" speech "" ( zhi ci ) at the China Africa summit in Johannesburg last week as his "" resignation "" ( ci zhi ) .  The four journalists were suspended even as most of the online reports had corrected the mistake .  The original version of a report filed on Friday by the China News Service referred to Xi saying in his "" resignation "" that China and Africa had a shared destiny in their histories , Hong Kong based South China Morning Post reported .  Some news websites failed to notice the mistake and published the report with the error . But by yesterday most of the online reports had corrected the mistake , it said .  Communist Party ' s propaganda department has made it mandatory that major news reports , especially stories involving state leaders , are always published using official news agency reports .  The Hong Kong based Information Centre for Human Rights and Democracy said the journalists had been suspended because of the mistake involving Xi , who is also the general secretary of the ruling Communist Party of China and the Commander in Chief of the People ' s Liberation Army .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
10305,10306,"The husband of a pregnant Texas woman who he says has been brain dead for seven weeks asked a court Tuesday to force a hospital to take her off a respirator , ventilator and other machines , saying her wishes shouldn ' t be disregarded just because she is pregnant .  Erick Munoz filed an emergency motion as well as a complaint against John Peter Smith Hospital , both with the same goal : to have the hospital disconnect the machines so that her family can take her body and give her a proper burial .  "" Marlise Munoz is legally dead , and to further conduct surgical procedures on a deceased body is nothing short of outrageous , "" her husband contends in the motion .  Notably , officials at the Fort Worth , Texas , hospital where 33 year old Marlise Munoz is have not publicly declared her dead ( though they have not disputed her husband ' s assertions either ) . Erick Munoz like his wife , a paramedic by training said the doctors told him Marlise "" had lost all activity in her brain stem , "" and an accompanying chart stated she was "" brain dead , "" according to his lawsuit .  The hospital referred requests for comment to the Tarrant County district attorney ' s office , which said it will defend the medical facility against the lawsuit . It is legal counsel for John Peter Smith Hospital "" in a number of civil areas . ""  Noting it first learned of the legal action just before noon Tuesday , the office said it "" will file a response in due course "" but won ' t have any further comment now "" because litigation is pending . ""  Hospital spokesman J . R . Labbe said last month that doctors were simply trying to obey a Texas law that states that "" you cannot withhold or withdraw life sustaining treatment for a pregnant patient . ""  Munoz ' s husband responds by saying that "" Marlise cannot possibly be a pregnant patient Marlise is dead . "" Furthermore , he argued that her wishes relayed , he said , in conversations but not in writing that she not be on "" life sustaining "" measures when she is brain dead shouldn ' t be treated differently than a man or other woman simply because of her pregnancy .  Mom of pregnant woman on life support : Change the law  "" Marlise has a fundamental right to make medical decisions regarding her own body , "" her husband contended in the motion . "" . . . To take those rights away from Marlise , and force her to be subject to various medical procedures simply because she is pregnant , is a gross violation of her constitutional right . ""  As the lawsuit details , the story began at 2 a . m . on November 26 , when Erick found his wife unconscious on the kitchen floor . At the time , she was 14 weeks ' pregnant with the couple ' s second child .  Soon after that , she was taken to John Peter Smith Hospital , where Erick Munoz claims he was told his wife "" was for all purposes brain dead . "" The family also says the fetus may have been deprived of oxygen .  In the lawsuit , he claims subsequent measures taken at the hospital and , in turn , the state law used to justify them amount "" to nothing more than the cruel and obscene mutilation of a deceased body against the expressed will of the deceased and her family . ""  "" Marlise Munoz ' s death is a horrible and tragic circumstance , but by no means should ( the hospital ) be entitled to continue cutting into her deceased body in front of her husband and family under the guise of ' life sustaining ' treatment , "" according to the lawsuit .  Tom Mayo , a Southern Methodist University law professor who helped write the applicable Texas law , said he believes the hospital is misinterpreting it .  "" She ' s not a patient anymore , "" Mayo said . "" And so I don ' t see how we can use a provision of the law that talks about treating or not treating a patient in a case where we really don ' t have a patient . ""  "" When you have these murky areas , you have to go to court , because courts provide clarity , courts provide direction , "" Hostin said . "" And that ' s why I think the lawsuit is the right thing . . . to jump to the conclusion . ""  When ' life support ' is really ' death support '  ",true,text,test,World conflict,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
10313,10314,"Disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong tweeted Thursday that he ' s handed over the bronze medal he won at the 2000 Summer Games , adding that it should be at International Olympic Committee headquarters in Switzerland "" asap . ""  Earlier this year , the committee stripped Armstrong of the medal he won in Sydney and asked him to return it .  Armstrong after years of heated denials in January admitted to doping throughout his storied career , which included seven Tour de France wins .  Armstrong ' s tweet Thursday included a photo of the medal and said "" the 2000 bronze is back in possession "" of U . S . Olympic officials .  Mark Higgins , a key member of Armstrong ' s camp , did not elaborate on how or why the medal was turned over , beyond saying it was given to the U . S . Olympic Committee .  A spokesman for that committee , Patrick Sandusky , confirmed that it has the bronze medal it asked for and added , "" The  has made arrangements to return the medal to the  . ""  The Texas born Armstrong was a rising star when he was diagnosed in 1996 with testicular cancer at the age of 25 .  After getting treatment , he returned better than ever reeling off his consecutive string of Tour de France victories between 1999 and 2005 . Armstrong left the sport after his last win , only to come back four years later and place third in cycling ' s most prestigious race .  His historic rise came at a time when cycling , generally , was mired in repeated doping scandals . Armstrong himself was not immune to such accusations , but each time he fired back at his critics and vehemently insisted he ' d been clean .  Yet the tide began to turn against Armstrong in June 2012 , when the U . S . Anti Doping Agency said it had opened proceedings against him and five of his former teammates .  The agency , which is designated by Congress as the country ' s official anti doping organization for Olympic sports , announced two months later that it was stripping Armstrong of his Tour de France titles and barring him from future competitions for life .  Armstrong remained defiant until sitting down with Oprah Winfrey last January . Calling himself "" deeply flawed , "" Armstrong admitted that he ' d used an array of performance enhancing drugs and took blood transfusions to excel in the highly competitive , scandal ridden world of professional cycling .  Armstrong admits using performance enhancing drugs  "" This is too late , it ' s too late for probably most people . And that ' s my fault , "" he said . "" ( This was ) one big lie , that I repeated a lot of times . ""  The  asked for Armstrong ' s Olympic medal back the same day the first part of the Winfrey interview aired .  Fast facts : Performance Enhancing Drugs in sports  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
10320,10321,"David Bowie and Tina Turner perform on stage at the  Birmingham . ( Photo by Dave Hogan Getty Images ) . . . E  Lou Reed ( L ) and David Bowie ( R ) attend the opening of Lou Reed  photography exhibit at the Gallery at Hermes on January 19 , 2006 in New York City .  David Bowie at the Kings Hall . 3 12 1995 . Pic Belfast Telegraph archives    1973 . . . Mandatory Credit : Photo by   Rex Features ( 50392a )     1973  Paul Trynka wrote Starman : David Bowie The Definitive Biography  David Bowie Is . . . Victoria And Albert Museum undated handout photo of striped bodysuit designed by Kansai Yamamoto for Aladdin Sane tour ( 1973 ) , part of first museum David Bowie retrospective .   Photo . Issue date : Tuesday September 4 , 2012 . The show , David Bowie Is , opens next spring and will feature Bowie ' s own instruments , sketches , musical scores , diary entries and album artwork . See  story  Bowie . Photo credit should read : V A  Wire    : This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events , things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption . Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder . . . . a  David Bowie with Belfast Telegraph reporter Marie Foy in Belfast on the 6th December 1995 . Pic Belfast Telegraph archives  Photo of David Bowie . . .   1970 : Photo of David Bowie Photo by Michael Ochs Archives Getty Images . . . E  David Bowie at the King ' s Hall , Belfast in December 1995 . Pic Belfast Telegraph archives  David Bowie concert at Slane 12 7 1987 Scanned from the Independent  archive box 21  Turner And Bowie . . . American pop and soul singer Tina Turner with English singer songwriter David Bowie , 1985 . ( Photo by Dave Hogan Hulton Archive Getty Images ) . . . Ent   David Bowie 4 . . . Singer David Bowie performs live in concert as part of The Reality Tour at Wembley Arena in London Tuesday 25 November 2003 .  Photo : Andy Butterton . . . A           . . . British singer David Bowie performs during the first concert of his  tour in Manchester , November 17 , 2003 .  Ian Hodgson . . . E  David Bowie live at the Point last night . Photo : Tony Gavin 22 11 03  David Bowie live at the Point last night . Photo : Tony Gavin 22 11 03          . . . British singer David Bowie performs in a concert during his worldwide tour called "" A Reality Tour "" at T mobile arena in Prague , June 23 , 2004 .  David W Cerny . . . E  David Bowie pix for Eamon Carr piece ( See attached file : David 1 . jpg ) ( See attached file : David 2 . jpg ) Eithne Mooney Press Promotions Sony Music Ireland Embassy House Ballsbridge Dublin 4 Direct line : 353 1 6473404 Fax : 353 1 6473430 Email : eithne mooney ie . sonymusicweblink www . sonymusic . ie   . . . British rock legend David Bowie smiles during a press conference in Tokyo Monday , March 8 , 2004 . The 57 year old singer songwriter is in Japan as part of his world tour for the first time in about eight years . (  Photo Koji Sasahara ) . . . I  Bowie In Concert . . . British singer David Bowie in concert , 1983 . ( Photo by Dave Hogan Hulton Archive Getty Images ) . . . Ent  Bowie The Elephant . . . October 1980 : Rock singer David Bowie takes a break from his current project playing the title role in a broadway play based on the life of John Merrick , the hideously deformed ' Elephant Man ' . Bowie uses mime to convey the character ' s deformity , rather than relying on elaborate make up . The play has opened to critical acclaim , with Bowie ' s performance in particular receiving praise . ( Photo by Keystone Features Getty Images ) . . . I          . . . LON15D :  , 9OCT99 David Bowie performs at NetAid at Wembley Stadium , October 9 . NetAid is putting on concerts simultaneously in New York , Geneva and London and aims to persuade countries to drop Third World debt . as Photo by Paul Hackett  . . . I  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
10342,10343,""" Ride ' em cowboy "" types need not apply .  Rather , the ideal candidate for this part time position must be flexible , mature , a good listener and non confrontational .  Experience , however , is not necessary . ( That might be because so few people would have that kind of experience . )  The state of Florida is advertising for crocodile response agents to handle complaints from residents and , in the relatively rare event it is necessary , to capture and move crocs . Training will be provided .  The addition of more agents comes amid the encouraging rebound of the American crocodile in Florida an estimated 2 , 000 non hatchlings , up from about 300 in the mid 1970s and the accompanying rise in complaint calls .  "" ( The crocodile ) is moving back into places where they have not been seen in decades , "" said Lindsey Hord , crocodile response coordinator for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission . "" That is obviously resulting in conflict . ""  While the vast majority of the crocs are in Everglades National Park , many live in the Florida Keys and along the Atlantic Ocean in Miami Dade and Broward Counties .  The program currently has nine agents who serve as "" eyes and ears "" on the crocodile population , responding to calls and patiently listening to residents unhappy with what they consider reptilian encroachment .  The job pays 25 an hour , including vehicle expenses . "" It is not something you do for the money , "" said Hord , adding the hiring process weeds out those who do not live close to where the work will take them .  Often , the role of the team is to educate residents about not dangling incentives in front of crocodiles , such as having an unfenced dog near water or dumping yummy fish remains into a canal after a day of fishing .  Crocs hunt with sticks , researchers say  Peaceful co existence is the aim  And while some creatures are moved about eight or so out of an estimated 200 complaints in 2013 most remain because they do not meet the criteria for removal . Those that are relocated often return to their capture site .  It is unlawful to kill crocodiles in Florida .  Hord notes the creatures listed as threatened in Florida are increasingly returning to their historic ranges . The commission describes crocodiles as shy and reclusive but potentially dangerous .  Their increasing presence can be a problem when they come close to residents , including newcomers .  "" It is the agency ' s hope that people will co exist with crocodiles , "" said Hord .  "" We have no objective to unilaterally remove crocodiles from anywhere . We strictly react to complaints . We don ' t go out looking for crocodiles , "" he said .  Hord spoke Wednesday with a woman who just rented a home in Broward County . She has small children and a dog . "" She was just now aware there were crocodiles . She was not overly upset but concerned . ""  The coordinator told her there are no documented reports of crocodiles biting humans .  A bigger danger is swimming pool safety for her children . Regarding the pooch , it might be good to have a fence to keep the crocodiles and alligators which number about 1 . 3 million in Florida away .  "" It is about putting things into context , "" Hord said .  ' They . . . sense we are something different '  Calls and complaints generally rise after a dog is killed by a crocodile , such as last year in southeast Miami . Wildlife officials encourage homeowners not to swim in potential danger zones , or allow their dogs in the water .  "" Sometimes , it is hard for people to change , "" Hord said , pointing out Key residents accustomed to swimming and scuba diving just yards from their homes . "" It is not going to go back the way it was 30 years ago . ""  In certain areas , if a complaint comes in and the crocodile is 9 feet long or over , hangs around an area or ends up in a swimming pool , officials move it . On its third capture , an animal will be removed from the wild and placed in a conservation park or similar facility .  Biologists have been studying whether magnets will keep crocs from returning to areas where they are not welcome . The idea is that the magnets will disrupt their sense of the Earth ' s magnetic field , making it harder for them to orient themselves after their release . Results so far are mixed .  Crocs , Hord said , have keen eyesight and hearing .  "" They can learn very quickly to be habituated to people . They learn very quickly that people are not a threat to them if they are not . ""  Interestingly , when it ' s time for a capture , the reptiles often are wary .  "" They seem to be able to sense we are something different , "" Hord said . "" Then they disappear . ""  After 32 years of this type of work , Hord has fond feelings and memories for certain crocodiles .  "" A lot of us were very attached , "" to one tagged Blue No . 9 that was shot and killed last year in Islamorada . She had been moved once after laying 27 eggs that failed to produce viable offspring . A memorial service was held on the beach .  Florida tackles python problem with hunting contest  Final take in Florida snake hunt ? 68 pythons  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
10359,10360,A  watch video!weblink,fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,present
10376,10377,"The jet landed safely , and holidaymakers to the Red Sea resort were not told they had been seconds from disaster .  The revelation comes amid a report by France 2  that the sound of an explosion can be distinctly heard during the flight according to an investigator who had access to the black box of the Metrojet plane that crashed in the Sinai .  France s  accident investigation agency said it could not confirm the France 2  report .  But if it s true the report further supports the belief that there was a bomb on board the flight .  The agency has experts now in Egypt investigating the crash because the Metrojet Airbus A321 200 was made in France .  Dismayed . . . Egypt ' s Prime Minister Sherif Ismail looks at the remains of a Russian airliSource : Supplied  The Department for Transport confirmed the Thomson incident took place on August 23 but said it did not believe the missile was an attempt to target the British plane , instead ascribing the missile seen by the Thomson pilots to Egyptian military manoeuvres , The Guardian reports .  A source quoted in The Daily Mail said : The first officer was in charge at the time but the pilot was in the cockpit and saw the rocket coming towards the plane .  He ordered that the flight turn to the left to avoid the rocket , which was about 1000ft away .  Meanwhile , President Vladimir Putin agreed to suspend all Russian flights to Egypt after a recommendation by his chief of intelligence .  An official said pieces of wreckage from the plane had been brought to Moscow to test for possible traces of explosives .  The suspension came after several days of statements by British and American officials that it was possible a bomb on board had brought down the Russia carrier Metrojet s Airbus A321 200 , which crashed 23 minutes after takeoff from the Sinai resort of Sharm el Sheikh , killing all 224 people on board .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
10378,10379,"Disability campaigners yesterday demanded new laws for wheelchair users after judges ruled they have no legal priority to use reserved areas on a bus .  Appeal judges said that a mother with a baby buggy was within her rights to occupy a bus wheelchair bay , leading to a disabled passenger being left behind at the stop .  The state funded Equality and Human Rights Commission , which had brought the case of disabled passenger Doug Paulley to court , said : ' This judgment means a wheelchair user has no effective legal rights if unable to gain access to a bus because a traveller blocks the designated wheelchair space . '  Bus companies do not have to force parents with pushchairs to make way for wheelchair users on buses , the Court of Appeal has ruled . It comes after an appeal by operator First Group , which had been ordered to pay 5 , 500 damages to wheelchair user Doug Paulley ( pictured )  Mr Paulley was denied access to a bus in February 2012 after a woman with a sleeping baby refused to move  Its disability commissioner Chris Holmes added : ' The Commission will study the judgments before deciding whether to support an appeal for legislative changes to make sure disabled people can use bus travel . ' The case came after Mr Paulley was told he could not board a bus after a woman refused to move her buggy and make room .  A judge at Leeds County Court ruled the bus company , FirstGroup , was in breach of its duty under the Equality Act 2010 to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people , and awarded 5 , 500 damages to Mr Paulley .  But this decision suggested the needs of wheelchair users ' trumped all other considerations ' , one of the appeal judges said yesterday .  Lord Justice Lewison , sitting with Lady Justice Arden and Lord Justice Underhill , said there was no law which says bus companies must force selfish passengers to make space for a wheelchair .  Instead , they ruled that the ' proper remedy ' for wheelchair users to get improvements in such cases is to ask Parliament .  But Lady Justice Arden , sitting with Lord Justice Lewison and Lord Justice Underhill at the Court of Appeal ( pictured ) , unanimously allowed an appeal by First Group  Common decency meant other passengers should move from the wheelchair space ' if that was possible ' , or drivers should instead ' persuade ' passengers to do the right thing .  But , in law , the needs of wheelchair users did not ' trump all other considerations ' .  Lord Justice Lewison said : ' The judge seems to me to have thought that the needs of wheelchair users trumped all other considerations .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
10380,10381,"One thing fans of the  series "" Veronica Mars "" sometimes called "" marshmallows "" hope to see in the movie "" Veronica Mars "" is a resolution to the ongoing debate : Team Logan or Team Piz ?  When last we left the young detective , it seemed Veronica had finally settled down with Piz something that still seems to be the case in the trailer for the movie , which was funded entirely by legions of devoted fans .  "" We give it some resolution in the film , but playing it back and forth is what makes the drama in the show . ""  Logan was never supposed to be coupled with Veronica originally , show creator Rob Thomas revealed at the PaleyFest panel . But he grew on the writers when they saw Dohring ' s chemistry with star Kristen Bell .  "" I think Kristen is amazing , and when she smiles at me I kind of go , ' holy s what do I do ? ' I smile back , and it just comes right back . ""  Meanwhile , Chris Lowell offered "" Team Piz "" fans this hint about his character ' s chances of being the one to end up with Veronica .  "" I think Rob likes to not put a period on the end of every sentence when he finishes something , "" he said . "" The show ended on a cliffhanger note . I believe in a way he did a similar thing here . ""  Thomas said the resolution might still be debated in fan circles even after they see the movie .  "" I think that fans will understand why Veronica makes the decisions she makes , "" he said .  "" It ' s a fun predicament to put Veronica in will she go with her good sense or her passions ? ""  One thing Thomas did make clear is that he made the final call on how things ended up .  Five ways the show made its mark on   "" It was not up for a vote . Certainly I had a way I wanted it to go and that ' s how it went , but we ' ll let the fans decide if they ' re happy with how it ended up . ""  Of course , none of this would have been possible without the crowdfunding from Kickstarter , which gave the movie its budget of well over 5 million .  "" It ' s been a roller coaster ride for me in terms of hope , "" he said .  "" There were moments where I felt optimistic and bullish about our chances , and others where I felt so low , I thought it wouldn ' t happen . Kristen Bell has this confidence and optimism that kept it going . It was like a mini miracle when it came together . ""  "" The next few weeks will tell . If the movie makes money then I think there ' s an opportunity for more movies like ours to be made , "" he said .  "" If we find this model that can support 5 or 10 million , I think Warner Bros . would be thrilled , and I ' d be proud if we got more 5 to 10 million movies based on existing series or properties because of this . ""  So might we get more "" Veronica Mars "" after this ? There ' s already a  Web series based on Ryan Hansen ' s character Dick Casablancas set to shoot in July .  Thomas told the fans at PaleyFest that the idea of a Netflix or Amazon season of "" Veronica Mars "" excites him to no end .  "" I would love to be able to do the R rated version of ' Veronica Mars . ' I would love to tell some darker stories . ""  In the meantime , fans can hope that Thomas '  adaptation of the comic book "" iZombie "" starring Rose McIver ( "" Once Upon a Time , "" "" Masters of Sex "" ) gets picked up by the  .  "" I think we jump off the comic book storylines quite a bit , but we keep the basic idea that our young female zombies have to eat brains to survive , and she gets the memories of the people whose brains she ' s consuming . ""  Well , we can see one big difference right away . So not just "" Veronica Mars "" fans but clearly , "" Walking Dead "" fans might want to check it out , as well .  11 reasons we love Kristen Bell  ",true,text,test,American football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
10389,10390,"It s been a bumpy  ride for United Airlines, but this one really stings.A passenger was traveling on board Flight 1418 from Calgary to Houston when he was stung by a scorpion,  News correspondent Kris Van Kleave confirmed.The scorpion fell onto Richard Bell s head and stung him underneath his fingernail. We were on the plane about an hour, having dinner, and then something fell on my head, so I grabbed it. I was hanging onto it,  Bell said in a Skype interview.  It was lucky that it hit my nail more than my skin I think, so maybe my thumbnail saved me a little bit. United apologized and offered Bell and his wife a credit for a future flight.As a precaution, crews also checked the airplane for a possible infestation. Our crew immediately consulted with a MedLink physician on the ground who provided guidance throughout the incident and assured our crew that it was not a life-threatening matter. Medical personnel met the aircraft after it arrived in Calgary,  United said in a statement.    NewsSadly, this scary incident took place the same day that a passenger was filmed as he was being dragged off a United flight from Chicago to Louisville by the airport police. United took a huge  hit after the video was seen by millions. ",fake,dataset,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
10396,10397,"N . Y . A goldfish belonging to Hillary Clinton was found dead on Aug . 7 , just one week after Victor Thorn , a prominent anti Clinton biographer best known for his investigative trilogy exposing Clinton scandals , died of "" an apparent suicide . ""  The death of the goldfish , named Monty , adds to the latest in a series of mysterious deaths surrounding the Clintons . Monty was reportedly given to Hillary as a good luck charm by a Monsanto executive .  Clinton ' s spokesperson attributed Monty ' s demise to "" natural causes . "" New accounts , however , offer evidence of a sudden , fatal spike in chlorine levels within the goldfish ' s tank .  One source says Monty jumped to his death and was found on an Oriental rug . A conflicting account says he was found floating in his tank by a housekeeper .  For years , conspiracy theorists have tried to pin a series of peculiar deaths on the former first couple . Clinton and her surrogates have long called these accusations part of "" a vast , right wing conspiracy . ""  Donald Trump fired off a series of tweets , accusing Clinton of neglect , charging that her "" terrible , horrible , caretaking shows how she will run the country .  Suicides within the fish world apparently occur often , according to Arkansas ichthyologist Dr Althea Thoone .  "" There are many ways goldfish can kill themselves , "" says Thoone . "" Overeating is one method of ichicide . Just as humans react to stress by binge eating and other compulsive behaviors , so do fish . ""  When asked if emotional turmoil , resulting from witnessing traumatic events , could be a suicide trigger , Thoone demurred , saying , "" Well , that ' s one school of thought . ""  Victor Thorn ' s latest book on the Clintons , Crowning Hillary , Why Hillary Shouldn ' t Be In The White House , examines the Benghazi incident , the e mail scandal , and former President Bill Clinton ' s sexual indignities and the resulting cover ups .  Monty ' s latest activity was adapting to his new home . A larger tank reportedly paid for with taxpayer funds was recently installed to better accommodate the pet goldfish .  One late tweet from Donald Trump , guaranteed to scale up the focus on past scandals , debunks the accidental chlorine spike theory .  ",satire,text,test,US elections,Sports/Other,true,satire,True,no,no,neutral,past
10400,10401,"Hayne travelled home to the Bay Area on a commericial flight and now waits to find out where his  future lies .  Rival teams have until 8am tomorrow (  ) to sign the Australian , otherwise he is likely to stay in San Francisco .  The Dallas Cowboys are expected to discuss signing Hayne , according to team reporter Bryan Broaddus . Hayne had eight carries for 54 yards and returned three punts for 84 yards against the Cowboys in preseason . Dallas has been plagued by problems on special teams recently .  Some of you have asked about Hayne in  . Was told that likely to have some discussions about him Monday .  Hayne s Australian agent Wayne Beavis has insisted his client has no plans to return to the  .  There s no chance of him coming back , none at all , Beavis told  . He is 100 per cent committed to what he is doing over there .  San Francisco coach Jim Tomsula gave his first comments about the decision to cut Hayne in his post match press conference , explaining it was because of a desire to get a heavier back in his gameday squad .  Jarryd Hayne has done everything we asked him to do , Tomsula said . I made the decision to bring up a power back for the game today . We only have 53 spots and I made that decision .  As for the struggles in the running game , Tomsula said : We weren t blocking and we weren t running , we weren t getting it done .  Gaskins , who was elevated from the practice squad yesterday after Hayne was cut , endured a rough start to his first game in the  . He attempted his first carry in the first quarter but slipped after receiving the hand off and was tackled for a two yard loss .  This will not play well in Australia : Gaskins stopped for a two yard loss on his first carry .  Bush started at punt returner for the 49ers but on his second return was pushed out of bounds and slipped and injured his knee .  Reggie Bush injured after slipping and falling in St . Louis : pic . twitterweblink 8yfBLROXB1  The bloopers continued for the 49ers when Davis was tackled in the end zone for a safety . In the first quarter , the 49ers running backs had a combined seven carries for a net total of 3 yards .  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
10401,10402,"Camera Catches Hillary’s Sick Hidden Message To Christian Voters Posted on October 27, 2016 by Prissy Holly in Politics Share This  Democrats are constantly attacking Christianity while making their disdain for anything holy abundantly clear. Evidence of their godless agenda was on full display during the Democratic National convention, when they removed all references to God. It should come as no surprise what Hillary was caught doing at a campaign event, which clearly solidifies the true evil nature of the Democratic Party.  Like it or not, our country was founded on Christian principles. “In God we trust” is not only printed on all of our currency, but references to God are throughout the Constitution, as our Founding Fathers intertwined their faith with our founding documents. Liberals loathe this fact, and many have made it their life mission to erase God from everything in our country, as evidenced by their constant barrage on our faith.  At a Democratic presidential rally in May, one of Hillary’s little evil minions took the stage to introduce Hillary to the crowd. But when the unnamed woman began using lines of our Pledge of Allegiance to weave with her pro-Hillary rhetoric, she decided to omit two little words, as a blatant slap in the face to God.  “Only Hillary can bring us together as one nation… Und… Indivisible, with liberty and justice for all,” the woman said, while partially quoting the  Pledge of Allegiance.  This demented woman intentionally removed “under God” from our nation’s pledge, but how Hillary reacted was even more disturbing, as she immediately begins to nod and smile in agreement of this woman’s omission. Watch her choke on ""Under God""&""indivisible""  — NEEDY💗Latina4Trump (@tteegar) October 25, 2016  How sickening. Liberals will not be fully satisfied until they completely destroy our country with their vile agenda. If Hillary gets elected, we’ll soon have the most godless and corrupt person on the planet driving our country even further down the path of darkness and destruction.  At this point in our nation’s history, it’s imperative that we don’t just sit idly by and allow these things to go on. We have to get loud and aggressively fight back when we see darkness slipping in, whether that be at our children’s schools, in our government, or in our presidential candidates.",fake,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
10418,10419,"Glasgow , Scotland The Roman Catholic Church has not been vigilant enough or fast enough in responding to the problem of sexual abuse by priests , Pope Benedict  said Thursday .  "" These revelations were for me a shock and a great sadness . It is difficult to understand how this perversion of the priestly ministry was possible , "" he told reporters aboard his plane to Scotland . "" How a man who has done this and said this can fall into this perversion is difficult to understand . ""  He added , "" It is also a great sadness that the authorities of the church were not sufficiently vigilant and insufficiently quick and decisive in taking the necessary measures . ""  Critics of the church were quick to pounce on the pope ' s remarks .  "" It ' s disingenuous to say church officials have been slow and insufficiently vigilant in dealing with clergy sex crimes and cover ups . On the contrary , they ' ve been prompt and vigilant , but in concealing , not preventing , these horrors , "" said Joelle Casteix of  , the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests .  Another campaigner took aim at the pontiff personally .  "" The pope affects the stance of a shocked bystander , when in fact he has been for decades the church ' s central handler of sex abuse cases , "" said Terence McKiernan of BishopAccountability , a group that tracks reports of abuse by priests .  The pope made the comments as he arrived for a historic four day state visit to Britain , where the issue of abuse , and the Vatican ' s perceived lack of response to it , has created anger .  But there was a warm welcome for him on a cold afternoon in Glasgow , Scotland , for the first major mass of his visit .  Tens of thousands turned out to hear him preach , with members of the faithful describing it as a "" happy day "" and calling it a "" great honor "" that he had come .  Benedict elaborated in Glasgow on what ' s expected to be a major theme of his visit , the value of religion in a society that he sees as increasingly secular .  "" There are some who now seek to exclude religious belief from public discourse , to privatize it or even to paint it as a threat to equality and liberty , "" he said in his homily . "" Yet religion is in fact a guarantee of authentic liberty and respect . ""  He also urged bishops to look after their priests possibly an oblique reference to the sex abuse scandal and warned young people against the temptations of "" drugs , money , sex , pornography , alcohol which the world tells you will bring you happiness , yet these things are destructive and divisive . ""  Benedict started his visit in Edinburgh , where he held a meeting with the queen and greeted thousands who turned out to see him on the streets of the Scottish city .  Queen Elizabeth  shook hands with the pope at her Scottish residence near Edinburgh , the Palace of Holyroodhouse , before they sat down for a private meeting . A military marching band played the national anthem God Save the Queen , for which the pope removed his white cap .  The pope used relatively strong language in a speech delivered after the meeting , reflecting on the "" sobering lessons of the atheist extremism "" of the 20th century .  He reminded the media of its "" greater responsibility than most "" to promote peace and the spread of human rights , and he reminded the country of its "" deep Christian roots "" that he said are still present in "" every layer "" of British life .  "" Today , the United Kingdom strives to be a modern and multicultural society , "" the pope said . "" In this challenging enterprise , may it always maintain its respect for those traditional values and cultural expressions that more aggressive forms of secularism no longer value or even tolerate . Let it not obscure the Christian foundation that underpins its freedoms . ""  Those comments , too , resulted in "" disappointment "" from the British Humanist Association , which said the notion that atheism "" somehow fuels intolerance in Britain today is a terrible libel against those who do not believe in God . ""  The National Secular Society said British secularism "" is not something to criticize , but to celebrate . ""  "" We have rejected dogmatic religion devoid of compassion , "" the group said in a statement . "" In its place we have embraced and included gay people and given them the right to full equality , given women the right to control their own fertility , given scientists a free hand to seek cures for horrific diseases by the use of stem cell research . ""  Though a pope has visited Britain once before Pope John Paul  in 1982 this is considered the first state visit by a pope to Britain because it comes at the invitation of the queen , not the Catholic Church , as was the case 28 years ago .  Benedict ' s September 16 19 trip is scheduled to include meetings with political leaders , royalty , and bridge building events with Anglican Church officials . It will culminate in the beatification of British Cardinal John Henry Newman , a Catholic convert who died in 1890 and is credited with helping rebuild Britain ' s Catholic community .  Assistant Chief Constable Fiona Taylor , of Scotland ' s Strathclyde Police , said earlier this week that she estimated only 65 , 000 pilgrims would attend the Mass there , short of an initially anticipated 100 , 000 .  There has already been widespread outcry over the estimated 12 million pounds ( 18 . 7 million ) British taxpayers are having to pay for the visit , though Christopher Patten , the prime minister ' s representative for the papal visit , has pointed out that one day of last year ' s G 20 summit in London cost 20 million pounds .  Criticism has also focused on the armed police squads needed to protect a religious figurehead previously targeted by attackers .  Along with anger about the Vatican ' s response to child and sexual abuse , there is criticism over the pope being granted a state visit , given the Catholic Church ' s attitudes towards gender equality and homosexuality .  Catholic leaders and government officials have defended the trip , with Prime Minister David Cameron saying Britain and the Vatican have "" incredibly important work to do together "" in promoting a "" multi faith dialogue . ""  ",true,text,test,Other news2,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
10428,10429,"Google , Railtel to launch public WiFi in Mumbai s  station today  Google in partnership with the Railways telecom wing , RailTel will launch the first public WiFi service at the Mumbai Central railway station as the joint partnership kicks of its project of providing free WiFi across 400 stations in the country (  File Photo )  Google in partnership with the Railways telecom wing , RailTel will launch the first public WiFi service at the Mumbai Central railway station as the joint partnership kicks of its project of providing free WiFi across 400 stations in the country on Friday .  Google had earlier said that the WiFi service will be free and consequently there would be a reduction of speed over continuous usage so as to give equal opportunities to all people accessing the WiFi at the station .  The first hour will be free and then we will limit the speeds so as to give fair access to other passengers , Gulzar Azad , head of Access Programs in India , had said , indicating that users would not be charged for internet usage .  Later , railway ministry sources revealed that only the first hour of internet surfing will be free and after that every user will be charged somewhere between Rs . 25 to Rs . 30 per hour .  A similar model of WiFi usage is in effect across major airports in the country , where users are allowed 30 minutes to an hour of free internet , followed by a pay wall .  In December , India born Pichai had accompanied Google s nine international vice presidents with the firm explaining in detail the deployment of the scheme , its speeds , coverage area and how it would work for all passengers . We are looking at finishing 100 stations by the end of this year with incremental progress every quarter , Sundar Pichai , the  of Google , had said during his keynote address .  Indian Railways in the last week of September had announced it had laid out more than 45 , 000 km of optic fiber network across the country and would be partnering with Google to set up a high speed Wi Fi network at 400 stations .  The free Wi Fi will work on the back of fiber already deployed by RailTel and will provide station wide access instead of closing it down to a particular point , Marian Croak , vice president , access strategy and emerging markets , had told  .  She had also said that the highly reliable and hi speed internet will be open and will allow users to do anything which includes watching  videos seamlessly .  Google had also clarified the speed of the internet will be higher than average internet speeds accessible in the country . The average internet speed in the country was recently revised from 512 Kbps to 2 Mbps after the new government came into power .  As details of the proposed plan still remain hazy , some clarity on recharging , payment gateways and validity might come to fore on Friday as Google makes the announcement some time around 2 pm in the afternoon .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
10433,10434,"The aunt of Kim Jong un has been credited with being the driving force behind the rise of the Supreme Leader of North Korea .  Kim Kyong hui , who is often the only female face on official photographs of ranks of generals and party leaders , has been tasked with transforming her nephew into a figurehead with a reputation for strong military tactics who is able to handle an international crisis .  Miss Kim , who has been a key figure in the family for four decades , and her husband Jang Sung taek , were chosen by Kim Jong il to pull the strings behind the consolidation of his son ' s authority before the old leader died in 2011 , The Telegraph has reported .  Kim Kyong hui ( pictured on an escalator in a Pyongyang supermarket with a group including Kim Jong un and her husband Jang Song taek ) has been described as the driving force behind the Supreme Leader ' s rise to power  Kim Kyong hui ( centre ) has been a key figure in the family , which rules the country , for four decades  The pair , who are both 66 , were seen on either side of Kim Jong un at a central committee session of the Workers ' Party last weekend , where their nephew pledged to maintain nuclear weapons as ' the nation ' s life treasure ' . The following week saw escalating tensions as Mr Kim threatened the  and South Korea .  Miss Kim , daughter of the Eternal President of Kim Il sung , who oversaw the inception of North Korea in 1948 , is the director of the party ' s Organisation and Guidance Department . She is also the sister of the country ' s second leader and now aunt of its third .  Her husband , meanwhile , is vice chairman of the National Defence Commission . He is also the regime ' s key link with China .  According to The Telegraph however , their main role is to help defend the dynasty by pushing the young leader ' s image as a powerful military figure . There are apparently concerns he is not trusted by some of his generals .  The pair were seen on either side of Kim Jong un at a central committee session of the Workers ' Party last weekend  While she disappeared from public view for six years after 2003 , she re emerged to a more powerful role , being made a four star general in 2010 .  She also owns the only burger restaurant in Pyongyang , where the menu offers ' minced meat and bread ' rather than using the American word ' burger ' .  Meanwhile , the third member of the group guiding Mr Kim is Choe Ryong hae , according to the paper , a party bureaucrat who was appointed head of the military .  To increase fear in the Korean Peninsula , Pyongyang released footage of Kim Jong un joining in with some target practice during a military drill  Kim Jong un watching a rocket launched small aircraft blowing up in the sky after being intercepted by anti aircraft missiles  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
10436,10437,"Ben Morgan insists England have to be ready to put their bodies on the line against the South Africa at Twickenham on Saturday , but warns muscle alone will not be enough to underpin a first victory of the autumn .  The Springboks have been described as ' the big green machine ' by England attacking coach Mike Catt , while prop Joe Marler assessed the challenge awaiting in the second  International by stating ' their  is run hard and if that doesn ' t work then run harder ' .  ' We know South Africa are a big , physical team who like to use route one , so we have to use our smarts to move them around and create mismatches , ' the Gloucester No 8 said .  Ben Morgan throws a pass at England training as Stuart Lancaster ' s side prepare for South Africa  The No 8 says England are ready to take on the Springboks ' massive forward pack  ' We want to get South Africa running around the field chasing us . If we can do that and take our opportunities , we ' ll come out on top .  ' If we carry into narrow channels then that ' s exactly what they ' ll want . They ' ll line us up from 10 metres away and come charging at us . But if we can shift the point of attack , it can make the world of difference .  ' Not only does it give you the one on one carries that everyone wants , but it means the defence is always moving around . If you hit them tight then they don ' t really move .  ' But you can ' t get away from the fact you have to carry hard too . You won ' t always be able to put those passes in , you have to front up and go through the line .  ' Taking big hits takes it out of you , but we ' re advanced enough as a team to move around and cope with that sort of stuff .  ' There are quite a few Premiership matches that have ended in a slogging match , so we ' ve gone all though that type of game . We know what we ' re up against this weekend . '  Morgan ' s first exposure to the Springboks was the 2012 summer tour when England were swept aside in the first two Tests before recovering to earn a 14 14 draw in Port Elizabeth .  Lancaster puts England through their paces as he looks to open their Autumn International account  Springboks ' veteran Victor Matfield prepares as his side look to bounce back from defeat by Ireland  The 25 year old has now amassed 24 caps and he can see the progress made since the first trip abroad of Stuart Lancaster ' s reign .  ' For many of us that was our first tour and it was a real learning curve . I was very green back then and I ' ve come a long way since , ' Morgan said .  ' I ' m a lot more experienced and have learnt a lot of lessons through winning and losing . There were also the experience of going through that difficult patch with Gloucester last year .  ' I ' m definitely more rounded and I know what I have to do now . I ' m better defensively , which has changed with experience . '  Morgan is likely to continue in his role as No 8 reinforcement to Billy Vunipola when Lancaster names his starting  on Thursday morning .  Vunipola faded in the 24 21 defeat by New Zealand , but , while there are concerns over his fitness at international level , the 22 year old looks set to profit from Lancaster ' s desire to give the same 23 another chance .  England stretch out in training after their 24 21 loss to New Zealand on Saturday  Billy Vunipola looks set to start again at No 8 , with Morgan to come off the bench with fresh legs  ' Obviously I want to start every game . I don ' t want to be a bench player , but Billy ' s been playing well and if I can make an impact coming off the bench then I want to do that , ' Morgan said .  ' If you start you walk on to the pitch with the intention of playing the 80 minutes , but that doesn ' t mean you leave anything in the tank . Basically you go out there and empty the tank .  ' With the likes of myself and Billy , it ' s good to know someone else can step off the bench and give as much as they can . '  Semesa Rokoduguni has been ruled out with a thigh problem , so Marland Yarde has been drafted into the squad as wing cover and is competing with Anthony Watson to start in the number 14 jersey .  An injury doubt hangs over flanker Tom Wood , who England say is suffering from general soreness after the All Blacks game , so James Haskell is on standby as his replacement .  ",true,text,test,American football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
10446,10447,"Nothing is more repulsive than  representing Gov. John Kasich, who is polling at almost negative numbers, working to take down the  frontrunner. Doesn t it seem kinda futile to attempt a take down of the  frontrunner if their candidate has had several opportunities to do so himself on the debate stage and failed miserably? Watch for a  backlash against the  establishment in 5 4 3 2 1 One has to wonder if the  establishment has anything to do with this coordinated effort to take out Trump? And if they do, is this really about Kasich or is it about keeping Rubio and Bush in the game? Donald Trump s presidential campaign warned the Republican Party on Tuesday about donors pooling funds for attack ads, saying Republicans must treat him fairly if they want to keep him from launching an independent bid.Trump lawyer Michael Cohen told  that if Republican donors backing different presidential candidates come together for an anti-Trump advertising campaign, it would be a  bad, bad decision. The Super  planning the attack is New Day for America, which is supporting Ohio Governor John Kasich s presidential bid. Its spokesman, Matt David, said on Sunday that 10 new donors had pledged money since Thursday when Politico reported the group s plans to attack Trump in New Hampshire.Trump signed a pledge to run as a Republican in the 2016 presidential election, but Cohen indicated the agreement would be invalid if Republicans target the billionaire real estate mogul. If they treat him fairly, he will honor the pledge because he s an honorable guy. If they break that agreement with him, as they say  woe be on them,'  Cohen told CNN.Cohen said the Republican Party may claim it has no control over Super  activities. But he insisted Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Reince Priebus has an obligation to treat Trump fairly. If they don t, this will be a very, very bad thing for the Republican Party,  Cohen said. representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment.Trump is leading in polls of Republican primary voters both nationwide and in early voting states like Iowa and New Hampshire. His numbers have risen despite criticism about his business record and backlash from his contentious statements about immigrants and Muslims, among other things.Via: Reuters",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,fake,fake,True,no,no,negative,present
10450,10451,"In the golden California summers before World War II, Sammy Lee, a   was just one of the “colored” boys in the Pasadena pool on Wednesdays. That was “International Day,” when Asian, black and Latino children were allowed to swim. After they were gone, the pool was drained and refilled with clean water for the white children who came every other day of the week. Years later, fulfilling a vow to his father, he stood on the high diving platform at the Olympic Games in London and looked down at cheering crowds. It was like standing atop a   building. But he had long ago conquered his fear of heights, and of bigotry. He was a doctor and a compact athlete representing the United States. He ran forward and rose majestically into the air. Dr. Sammy Lee, who died of pneumonia on Friday in Newport Beach, Calif. at age 96, faced prejudice growing up, and discrimination when he tried to buy a home in a white community in Southern California. But he also became the first   man to earn Olympic gold, and the first American to win consecutive gold medals in Olympic platform diving. (The   diver Victoria Manalo Draves won a gold medal two days before he did.) The University of Southern California announced his death on its website. Dr. Lee won a gold medal in   platform diving and a bronze in   springboard diving at the 1948 Olympics in London, and a gold in platform diving at the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, Finland. He also won three national diving championships as a collegian in the 1940s and was named America’s outstanding amateur athlete of 1953 by the Amateur Athletic Union. He became an ambassador to the Olympics for Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower, Richard M. Nixon and Ronald Reagan coached Greg Louganis, Bob Webster and other American diving champions, as well as the American diving team at the 1960 Olympics in Rome and was elected to the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1968 and the United States Olympic Hall of Fame in 1990. An ear, nose and throat specialist, Dr. Lee was an Army major and medical officer in the Korean War. But in 1955, as he ended eight years of military service, all his achievements did not spare him from racial discrimination when he tried to buy a home in Garden Grove, a booming postwar community in Orange County, where he wanted to open a medical practice. When turning him away, real estate agents were candid. “I’m sorry, Doctor,” he remembered one telling him, “but I have to eat, and I’d lose my job for selling to a nonwhite. ” Dr. Lee’s wife, Rosalind, then tried to buy a building lot in a development in Anaheim. He recalled, “The agent said the value of the property would drop so badly if he sold to me that he wouldn’t be able to sell the rest of the homes. ” That day, Dr. Lee was at the White House, dining with President Eisenhower. When word got out that he had been a victim of housing discrimination, the news media picked up the story, and it became a national scandal. Protests, apologies and offers of assistance ensued. Housing discrimination has always been common in America, despite laws against it. But Dr. Lee’s status as an Olympian made a difference. Vice President Nixon said he was “shocked” and pledged help. Anaheim’s mayor spoke out. A newspaper offered to pay the Lees’   expenses, and real estate agents jumped to show them homes. The Lees bought one in Garden Grove, and the county gave a welcome party when they moved in. Neighbors came, and politicians gave speeches. “My belief in the American people is substantiated,” Dr. Lee said. He later toured Asia for the State Department. “Whenever I was asked by those people in the Far East how America treated Oriental people, I told them the truth,” he recalled. “I said Americans had their shortcomings, but they had guts enough to advertise them, whereas others try to cover them up. ” Dr. Lee practiced medicine in Orange County for 35 years, retiring in 1990. He later moved to Huntington Beach, Calif. His condominium community had a pool, and even in his 90s he swam a few laps every day. Samuel Lee was born on Aug. 1, 1920, in Fresno, Calif. the youngest of five children of Soonkee Rhee and Eunkee Chun, who married in Korea as children, fulfilling a traditional contract by families. They moved to California in 1905 and settled in Fresno, where they changed their surname and opened a restaurant. Sammy learned to swim in Fresno. After the family moved to Highland Park, in northeast Los Angeles, in the late 1920s, he swam at Brookside Park in nearby Pasadena  —   but only on Wednesdays, because the pool was reserved for whites on other days. The Lees encountered racial abuse from neighbors, who used slurs and urged them to move. Sammy also heard it in school, where distinctions among Japanese, Chinese and other Asians were lost in a blur of angry abuse. Dr. Lee said his father called the bigots misguided, and urged him to be proud of his heritage. Inspired by Americans who took all the diving medals at the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, Dr. Lee promised his father he would someday be an Olympian. He graduated from Benjamin Franklin High School in 1939, Occidental College in 1943 and the University of Southern California medical school in 1947. In 1950, he married Rosalind M. K. Wong. She survives him, as do their two children, Pamela Lee and Sammy Lee II, and three grandchildren. Trained privately, Dr. Lee won the national A. A. U. springboard and platform championships in 1942, and was the national A. A. U. platform champion in 1946. The 1940 and 1944 Olympics were canceled because of World War II, but on Aug. 5, 1948, as the Olympic diving competitions drew to a close in London, he stood on the high platform, as he had vowed. He was lithe and muscled, just over five feet tall, and in recent days had dazzled crowds and judges with dives of balletic precision, with front and back somersaults and elegant pikes and twists. He had already won a bronze for springboard dives, and he led the pack in platform scores. The cheers stopped. He ran forward and rose majestically into the air. He hovered at the peak, his arms reaching for heaven, and curled into a tuck  —   a man wrapped into a tight ball, chin brushing kneecaps, hands grasping shins  —   before rolling forward into the power dive. A blur of speed, he somersaulted three and a half times in a   pinwheeling plunge, coming out of it just in time and opening into a perfect illusion of the vertical body  —   a knife entering the water. He had the gold. And he would do it again four years later.",true,news,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
10487,10488,"When I was growing up in Iraq , math was an everyday part of life .  My parents instilled in me a passion for discovery , and they never made a distinction between science and creativity . We would play with math problems just as we would play with pens and paper to draw math was like sketching .  In my teens , my family would go to London each summer , visiting the many art galleries and museums , including the Science Museum .  I am forever grateful to my parents for introducing me to art and science in a way that drew no boundaries between them .  The teachers who taught sciences in the school I went to as a young girl in Baghdad were all professors from the university , so the standards of science courses were really incredible .  The headmistress was deeply committed to the education of women and understood that  subjects must be taught in a way connects their inherent creativity and relationships with the real world , rather than dry data to be memorized and regurgitated on standardized tests .  There is a definite connection between the logic of math and architecture so much of the work we are doing in our office comes from my fascination with mathematical logic and geometry .  Huge advances in design technology are enabling us to rethink form and space , and the wonderfully fluid surfaces and structures of each project are defined by scientific innovations .  Our design for the new Mathematics Gallery at London ' s Science Museum will convey these seemingly abstract concepts into an inspiring interactive experience for all visitors .  There are many successful women working in  but there are not nearly enough .  Women have made tremendous contributions and we must celebrate their success . When teaching at universities , many of my best students are women , but they sometimes lack confidence .  I believe education at all levels is critical . As a woman , education gives you the confidence to conquer the next step and make exciting new discoveries .  Zaha Hadid is a world renowned Iraqi British architect , and the first woman to win the Pritzker Architecture Prize . Her work includes the London Aquatics Centre , the Sheikh Zayed Bridge and Beijing ' s Galaxy Soho shopping center . Her architectural design firm , Zaha Hadid Architects , is based in London .  Read : Zaha Hadid : ' Would they still call me a diva if I was a man ? '  Discover : Zaha Hadid : ' I wouldn ' t build a prison '  Watch : The women behind Olympic Aquatic Centre  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
10499,10500,"The former London home of a German diplomat which was destroyed by the Nazis during the war has been brought back to life as a 40million mansion .  Lion Lodge is believed to be the first new mansion built in Belgravia in almost 70 years and is thought to be one of the most expensive new homes in Britain .  It has been in built at Eaton Place , on the site of a Thomas Cubitt designed property , which was bombed in 1940 during the Blitz .  The former London home of a German diplomat destroyed by the Nazis during the war has been brought back to life as Lion Lodge , pictured  The stunning seven bedroom home is the first new mansion in Belgravia for almost 70 years and has been put on the market with a guide price of 40million . One of its bathrooms is pictured above  Luxury : Spread over 9 , 135 sq ft , Lion Lodge has a grand entrance hall , three reception rooms , study , guest cloakrooms , passenger lift , media room and leisure complex with private swimming pool ( pictured ) , gym area and changing rooms  The home had been the London residence of Dr Harald Bielfeld , First Secretary of Commerce in the German Embassy , who from 1936 reported to ambassador Joachim Von Ribbentrop , a favourite of Adolf Hitler .  But in 1939 their diplomatic delegation departed and Lion Lodge was left vacant only for the Germans to destroy it during a bomb raid the following year .  After the war , another home was built in its place , but after a long planning battle it was knocked down and replaced by the new Lion Lodge .  The stunning seven bedroom home is the first new mansion in Belgravia for almost 70 years and has been put on the market with a guide price of 40million .  This makes it the most expensive new home in London ' s West End . Stamp duty on a 40million home is 2 . 8million , but council tax is just 2 , 143 per year .  The home had been the London residence of Dr Harald Bielfeld , First Secretary of Commerce in the German Embassy , who from 1936 reported to ambassador Joachim Von Ribbentrop ( right ) , a favourite of Adolf Hitler . Lion Lodge ( left ) has now been built on the site  In 1939 the German diplomatic delegation departed London and Lion Lodge was left vacant only for the Nazis to destroy it during a bomb raid the following year  The property features a number of luxury bathrooms , such as the one pictured , and has been described as a ' magnificent new classical mansion '  Spread over more than 9 , 000 sq ft , Lion Lodge has a grand entrance hall , three reception rooms , study , guest cloakrooms , passenger lift , media room and leisure complex with private swimming pool , gym area and changing rooms . There are seven bedrooms , with the master suite boasting his and hers bathrooms .  Lion Lodge is on the market with Beauchamp Estates , with boss Gary Hersham describing it as a ' magnificent new classical mansion ' .  He said : ' Eaton Place is one of the grandest streets in Belgravia , a highly sought after address by discerning buyers from around the world .  ' The site at Eaton Place has come full circle over its history .  Prime location : After the building was destroyed in the war , another home was built in its place . But after a long planning battle it was knocked down and replaced by the new Lion Lodge ( pictured )  The 40million price tag makes Lion Lodge ( pictured ) the most expensive new home in London ' s West End and one of the most expensive new homes in the   ' Once occupied by Lion Lodge , one of Cubitt ' s elegant "" lost mansions "" , lost to  bombing , it is now the site of a magnificent new classical mansion that Cubitt would have surely been proud to see returned to the property .  ' It is one of the very few examples I believe even the only true example of a completely new mansion to be built in Belgravia since 1945 . '  The original home in Eaton Place was built between 1826 1828 and designed by Thomas Cubitt and his brother Lewis .  It is thought the first occupants were relatives of the Marquess of Londonderry , the Marquess living at nearby No . 76 Eaton Place .  The house was then occupied by various merchants and members of the aristocracy , before it became a residence for German diplomats .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
10513,10514,"Women, especially women in the public eye, are the constant victims of body policing. We re too fat, we re too thin, our breasts are too small, too large, or too fake. Comedian Amy Schumer is one woman who is the constant victim of such comments, specifically those regarding her weight. Schumer may not be a skinny minny, but she is a strong, healthy, beautiful woman who is not ashamed of who she is or how she looks. That never stopped hateful trolls from calling her fat, though. Well, Schumer decided to take those trolls to task via Instagram in the most perfect way   by posting a photo of herself in a swimsuit.The post was captioned: I meant to write  good morning trolls!  I hope you find some joy in your lives today in a human interaction and not just in writing unkind things to a stranger you ve never met who triggers something in you that makes you feel powerless and alone. This is how I look. I feel happy. I think I look strong and healthy and also like miss trunchbull from Matilda. Kisses! Here is the embed of the post:I meant to write  good morning trolls!  I hope you find some joy in your lives today in a human interaction and not just in writing unkind things to a stranger you ve never met who triggers something in you that makes you feel powerless and alone. This is how I look. I feel happy. I think I look strong and healthy and also like miss trunchbull from Matilda. Kisses!A photo posted by @amyschumer on May 24, 2016 at 10:44am PDTKudos to the brilliant Ms. Schumer for her response to people who would dare to shame her for being proud of her body. The world is so unkind to those who are not a size 0, and that is nothing short of shameful.Amy Schumer is an excellent role model for women and girls and how we should deal with people who think they have the right to constantly comment on our bodies.Well done!Featured image via Brian Bedder/Getty Images",fake,dataset,test,US elections,Sports/Other,fake,fake,True,no,no,positive,present
10527,10528,"Scientists say they have created an anti  drug so powerful that it could work as a vaccine .  Macaque monkeys given the drug were able to fend off high , repeated doses of the simian version of the disease .  The protein based drug has been ' astonishingly effective ' at blocking every major strain of  tested , marking a major step towards a cure for  , the researchers claim .  Scientists say they have created an anti  drug so powerful that it could work as a vaccine . Macaque monkeys given the drug were able to fend off high , repeated doses of the simian version of the disease . Pictured is an image of  particles infecting a human cell  When  infects a cell , it targets the CD4 lymphocyte , an integral part of the body ' s immune system .   fuses with the cell and inserts its own genetic material in this case , single stranded  and transforms the host cell into a  manufacturing site .  The prototype drug , called eCD4 Ig , is made up of two imitations of the receptors .  These are the docking points where  latches on to CD4 cells the key defences of the immune cells .  The mimics latch on to the virus , tricking it into prematurely launching the docking procedure .  The virus can only execute the procedure once , rendering it unable to attach to CD4 cells .  The scientists likened the effect to closing the door to an intruder and tossing away the key .  The technique works by using gene therapy to introduce a new section of  inside healthy cells .  ' We show a way to achieve long lived , effective vaccine like protection from  1 ' , said study leader Michael Farzan , a professor at the Scripps Research Institute in Florida .  The prototype drug , called eCD4 Ig , is made up of two imitations of the receptors , or docking points , where  latches on to CD4 cells the key defences of the immune cells .  The mimics latch on to the virus , tricking it into prematurely launching the docking procedure .  The virus can only execute the procedure once , rendering it unable to attach to CD4 cells .  The scientists likened the effect to closing the door to an intruder and tossing away the key .  The drug provides ' very , very strong protection , ' Professor Farzan said who wants to conduct human trials ' soon ' .  The team undertook a 40 week experiment which showed that inoculated animals thrived even after being injected with four times the dose needed to infect macaques in a ' control ' group .  Further research , to be unveiled at a conference in Seattle next week , found that the treated macaques ' continue to be protected from eight times and 16 times the infectious dose , more than a year after inoculation , ' Professor Farzan said .  The search for a vaccine has been one of the most frustrating chapters of the  saga .  Traditional antibody based candidate vaccines have failed to put up more than a partial shield , partly because of mutations in the stealthy virus .  ' This is an exciting new approach , but until the vaccine has been trialled in humans , there ' s no way of knowing how effective it will be , ' said Dr Shaun Griffin , director of External Affairs at Terrence Higgins Trust  The new prototype formula , though , targets sites on the virus ' so called Env entry protein that are ' highly conserved ' a scientific term meaning that these sites do not mutate very much .  Lab dish tests have found that the drug also works on human  , which is very close to simian version of the virus .  ' Of course , we still need to do further safety studies in both macaques and humans , ' before any trials can take place , Professor Farzan stressed .  ' This is an exciting new approach , but until the vaccine has been trialled in humans , there ' s no way of knowing how effective it will be , ' said Dr Shaun Griffin , director of External Affairs at Terrence Higgins Trust .  The team undertook a 40 week experiment which showed that inoculated monkeys thrived even after being injected with four times the dose needed to infect macaques in a ' control ' group  ' Although this vaccine was found to be effective in monkeys ,  is an incredibly complex virus , with many different facets that we are still learning about . '  Since 1981 , about 78 million people have been infected by the  virus which destroys immune cells and leaves the body exposed to tuberculosis , pneumonia and other opportunistic diseases .  Thirty nine million have died , according to  estimates .  Antiretroviral drugs , invented in the mid 1990s , can treat infection , but cannot cure it or prevent it .  Treatment is lifelong and carries side effects . For many health systems , the drugs bill is spiralling , becoming a major burden to budgets .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
10537,10538,"Bayern Munich ' s record breaking run continued Saturday with Werder Bremen crushed 7 0 by Pep Guardiola ' s European Champions who are making Bundesliga history every week .  It was an unprecedented 40th unbeaten league match for last season ' s treble winners and Bayern equaled their own club record of 26 away matches without defeat .  But more than just mere records , it was a graphic demonstration of their goalscoring potential , with the returning Franck Ribery at the heart of the attacking prowess .  The French international has not played for nearly a month in the Bundesliga through a rib injury but in the 21st minute it was his cross which was turned into his own goal by Bremen defender Assani Lukimy .  Belgium defender Daniel van Buyten doubled the lead six minutes later before Ribery scored his first of the afternoon before halftime .  Ribery supplied the assist for the fourth from Mario Mandzukic on the hour and a fine finish from Thomas Mueller made it five .  Ribery ' s second and a Mario Goetze with the seventh with the last kick of the match wrapped up the rout in front of a stunned capacity crowd at the Weserstadion .  Werder continue to hover above the drop zone in a disappointing season , but Bayern have a four point lead over Bayer Leverkusen , who beat third placed Borussia Dortmund in a crunch match later Saturday .  South Korea striker Son Heung Min grabbed the 18th minute winner after a mistake in the Dortmund defense .  Both sides finished with 10 men with Leverkusen losing Bosnia defender Emir Spahic while Dortmund , who trail Bayern by 10 points , had Sokratis dismissed for a second yellow card late on .  Fourth placed Borussia Moenchengladbach kept up their bid for a Champions League place with a 2 1 win at home to Schalke 04 , their sixth in a row .  But it is difficult to see who can stop Bayern , who last lost in the Bundesliga in October 2012 and have scored 39 goals in 15 league games this season under new boss Guardiola .  Ribery ' s display will help press his claim for the  World Footballer of the Year honor , which will be announced next month .  Meanwhile , Atletico Madrid opened their defense of the Copa del Rey with 4 0 win at minnows Sant Andreu .  A double from Arda Turan , flanked by goals from Raul Garcia and David Villa , gave the holders a comfortable advantage ahead of the second leg of the last 32 tie .  Paris Saint Germain went four points clear in France with a 5 0 thrashing of lowly Sochaux as Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored twice and laid on two others .  It was a good response from  , who lost their first league game of the season in midweek to Evian . Lille can close again to within a point if they beat Bordeaux Sunday with third placed Monaco meeting Ajaccio .  In Serie A , Mario Balotelli scored twice to earn  Milan a 2 2 away draw at Livorno .  He put them ahead in the eighth minute before Luca Siligardi equalized for the home side .  Livorno went ahead through Paulinho then Balotelli leveled with a stunning late free kick . The sixth draw of the Italian league campaign left Milan in eighth place ahead of Sunday ' s games .  ",true,text,test,Football,Economy,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
10538,10539,"Perhaps this is the new normal , and apparently the Constitution and a famous speech provide for this protest .  An armed militia in Flint , Michigan , rallied over several days , and the group s demands are simple : government officials should offer answers to the disturbing water crisis or it will force their hands by any means necessary .  Since the public outcry and increased calls for Governor Rick Snyder to resign or be arrested over the state s alleged mishandling of the contaminated water in Flint , rallies have taken place in the beleaguered city . However , not many anticipated the arrival of gun toting citizen protesters . On Sunday , over two dozen members from the Genesee County Volunteer Militia gathered at City Hall , according to the Detroit Free Press .  Led by militia executive director Matthew Krol , the men , donning camouflage and sidearms and waving Don t Tread on Me flags , yelled demands that the government provide transparency and answers over how the water became undrinkable .  We re here to defend this community . We re not going to allow ( the government ) to step on the people of Flint any longer . If it means having to take up arms in defense we will do that as well .  Militias have been around for ages but have only made recent headlines . The Bundy standoff , aka Battle of Bunkerville in southeastern Nevada , and the 2016 Burns , Oregon , standoff over a federal land dispute are two in recent history .  Michigan militia vows to take up arms to defend Flint residents in fight with weblink : t . co 2SWsq3Q5cs UniteBlue pic . twitterweblink J8flwmKAiO  ? The Progressive Mind ( Libertea2012 ) January 25 , 2016  Their actions are supported largely in part by the Second and Fourteenth Amendments , which grant the state ( including citizens ) the right to bear arms and provides equal protection under the law , respectively . The Second Amendment is what is playing out in the Flint water crisis and other recent standoffs .  A well regulated militia , being necessary to the security of a free state , the right of the people to keep and bear arms , shall not be infringed .  Arguably , Krol s words echo President Abraham Lincoln s Gettysburg Address on November 19 , 1863 , with his wish that this nation , under God , shall have a new birth of freedom ? and that government of the people , by the people , for the people , shall not perish from the earth .  Initially , the militia s presence bore the markings of a response against peaceful protesters . And based on the cast of notable surrogates who ve expressed outrage over Flint s dirty water , Matt Damon , Rev . Jesse Jackson , Michael Moore and others , men with sidearms who are staunch  supporters seemed out of place .  Michigan militia backs Michael Moore s push to hold officials accountable for Flint crisis weblink : t . co R4dEKLxSVe pic . twitterweblink zg5mNK72Ui  However , Krol cleared up lingering confusion pretty quickly . Although his group has more in common with the citizen militias in Oregon and Nevada mentioned earlier , the group s presence is clear , according to Krol .  This is not a racial issue , unlike some people last week tried to say . It s a human issue .  Earlier , Rev . Jackson called the city of Flint , Michigan , a crime scene , President Obama said the construction was inexcusable , and the Fahrenheit 9 11 director said leaders in the state purposely lied to the citizenry over the water contaminants , which are reportedly behind 10 Legionnaires disease deaths . According to a Washington Post report , as many as 87 cases have been diagnosed since June , two months after the city switched over its water service provider .  Although officials say the city s water supply shows decreasing levels of lead in the supply pipes , several experts are cautioning against consuming it until the all clear declaration is given . Unfortunately , there is no timetable in place . Meanwhile , the city and third party donors are providing bottled water for local residents .  Still , another militia member said the situation in Flint is a crime and those responsible for the debacle valued money ahead of the welfare of the people they represent .  The only color that was involved is green .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,US elections,satire,fake,True,no,no,positive,past
10549,10550,"Ore . (  ) ? Sacramento forward DeMarcus Cousins , unstoppable in the Kings past two games , found his match Tuesday night in the Portland Trail Blazers defense .  Cousins , coming off games of 56 and 48 points , missed 17 of his 21 shots and scored 17 points against Portland interior defense in the Blazers 112 95 win .  C . J . McCollum scored 18 points , Damian Lillard had 15 points and 13 assists as Portland had seven players score in double figures .  Cousins was coming off a franchise high 56 point performance Monday night against Charlotte , but never got untracked against a Portland defense led by Meyers Leonard and Mason Plumlee .  Cousins missed nine of his first 10 shots and went 1 of 7 during the second half before leaving midway through the fourth quarter with Portland having the game in hand . Cousins also struggled at the free throw line , making 9 of 17 .  He s a very good player , able to score in many ways , but I thought for the most part we did a good job on him , Leonard said . We were really locked in on what we needed to do tonight and it was just a great team effort .  Though Cousins played 46 minutes before fouling out against Charlotte , Sacramento coach George Karl was hesitant to use fatigue as a reason for Cousins sub par outing .  As a coach I don t like that excuse . As a human being , it s probably a justifiable excuse , Karl said . He s been so good I m not going to complain . He s been our horse and we ve ridden him to a lot of good things .  Portland s offensive balance also played a big role in the Blazers win . Seven players scored between 11 and 18 points . Portland reserves Gerald Henderson , Allen Crabbe and Ed Davis were among those in double figures .  Their bench hurt us more and that s a sign of a good team . When you overshoot your emphasis on their No . 1 and 2 strengths , it usually opens up other opportunities . They had some guys jump in and take advantage of that , Karl said .  Rajon Rondo had 15 points and 11 assists for the Kings , who lost in double overtime on Monday night .  Portland ( 21 26 ) moved into a virtual tie with Sacramento ( 20 25 ) for eighth in the Western Conference . The Blazers have won six of their past eight .  Portland led 58 52 at halftime after leading for most of the first half .  The Trail Blazers maintained a narrow margin for much of the third quarter , but momentum eventually moved in their favor after Cousins missed two free throws , then committed an offensive foul . Portland immediately scored seven consecutive points for its largest lead of the game at 81 67 .  Portland led 88 74 after three and continued to pour it on early in the fourth quarter . Crabbe and Henderson hit 3 pointers as the Blazers increased their lead to 100 79 with eight minutes remaining .  Kings : Sacramento forward Rudy Gay , who sustained a left eye injury in Monday s double overtime loss to Charlotte , didn t play against Portland . Karl says he s hopeful Gay can return sometime during the Kings upcoming two game road trip beginning Thursday . The Kings are 2 10 in the second game of back to back situations . Rondo had 11 assists , his 13th consecutive game with at least 10 assists .  Blazers : Of Portland s first 10 baskets , Lillard had seven assists . With the announcement of full All Star game rosters coming Thursday , Karl said Lillard is worthy of a West team berth , with a caveat . He s an All star talent but I don t think there are enough spots for all the All Star talents in the West , Karl said . McCollum , who studied journalism while at Lehigh , is launching a program called  s Press Pass , where he ll mentor journalism students at a Portland high school . Lillard recorded his 10th double double of the season , a career high .  Portland has been able to refresh itself following an East coast road trip because of a seven game home stand with plenty of rest in between games . Since returning from the road trip on Jan . 18 , the Blazers play seven games over 17 days , with two day breaks in between four of the games . Everybody s been able to catch their breath . unusual in January that we ve had this many days off , Stotts said .  Stotts was asked if he could think of a player who compared to Cousins . He pondered the question , and was at a loss . Maybe Charles Barkley in his early days , but ( Cousins ) is bigger and stronger , Stotts said . Cousins had a combined 104 points and 25 rebounds in the two games prior to Tuesday . These are two special games , games we ll remember for a long , long time , Karl said .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
10562,10563,"Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu will boycott the Ballon d ' Or ceremony in protest at the transfer ban imposed upon the Catalan club by  .  The Catalans are not allowed to make any signings in the next two transfer windows because of a breach of rules relating to the signing of international players under the age of 18 .  The Court of Arbitration for Sport (  ) upheld  ' s ruling after the Spanish giants failed with an appeal to overturn the ban , with Barcelona still relentlessly contesting the charge .  Josep Bartomeu ( above ) will not attend the Ballon d ' Or ceremony in wake of transfer ban  Luis Suarez ' s move to Barcelona was allowed while the club appealed against the ban on new signings , which is now in force after the  upheld the original sanction imposed by   Bartomeu has contacted Sepp Blatter to inform the  president of his intended absence from the January 12 award ceremony and insists the club are to sever all ties with the governing body for the duration of the ban .  '  has not told us who made the original charge and during the period of the sanction we will not maintain any institutional relations with them , ' Bartomeu said at a press conference .  ' I have sent a stern letter to Sepp Blatter and I will not be attending the Fifa Ballon d ' Or gala set for January 12 .  Barcelona are not allowed to sign players for the next two transfer windows  Bartomeu said relations with  will cease to exist during the period of the sanction  ' This is not the end of the matter . I foresee the Barca case becoming a watershed in the football world , just like the Bosman case . However long it lasts , we will not lose this case . '  Barcelona forward Lionel Messi is on the three man shortlist for football ' s top individual prize but is expected to lose out to Real Madrid ' s Cristiano Ronaldo .  The club also have a number of players , including Neymar , Luis Suarez , Andres Iniesta and Xavi , who are in the running to be named in the Fifa FIFPro World  .  Lionel Messi ( left ) is on the three man shortlist to be crowned Ballon d ' Or winner on January 12  ",true,text,test,Football,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
10657,10658,"Tune in to the Alternate Current Radio Network (ACR) for another  broadcast of  The Boiler Room  tonight 6:00   | 8:00   | 9:00   for this special broadcast. Join us for uncensored, uninterruptible talk radio, custom-made for bar fly philosophers, misguided moralists, masochists, street corner evangelists, media-maniacs, savants, political animals and otherwise lovable rascals.Join  hosts Hesher and Spore along side  Andy Nowicki (The Nameless One) for the hundred and thirtieth episode of  ROOM. Turn it up, tune in and hang with the  Brain-Trust for this weeks boil downs and analysis and the usual gnashing of the teeth of the political animals in the social reject club.Hesher, Spore, Jay Dyer and Andy Nowicki representing the  Brain-Trust with their continuing analysis of the Mandalay Bay Massacre. The details, the anomalies, opinions, hypotheses and the questions we came up with in the days after the event.Direct Download Episode #130 Please like and share the program and visit our donate page to get involved! Reference Links, for your consideration and research:",fake,dataset,test,World conflict,Sports/Other,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,past
10668,10669,"Jailed bigamist Andrew O ' Clee , 36 , may have been on the prowl for wife number three after a dating profile matching his description was discovered , pictured outside Chichester Crown Court  A bigamist caught out when his wife discovered on Facebook that he had secretly married his mistress may have been searching the internet for wife number three , it emerged yesterday .  A web profile apparently matching that of ' shameless liar ' Andrew O ' Clee , 36 , has been spotted on a dating site , where he claimed to be ' looking for a relationship ' .  O ' Clee led a double life , duping his first wife , Michelle , 39 , into believing he needed to spend periods away from the family home in a ' safe house ' because he was involved in a serious fraud trial .  In reality , the former soldier was living a double life , romancing finance manager Philippa Campbell , 30 , who he eventually married in a lavish wedding .  His first wife uncovered his deception when she came across a Facebook video of the pair completing the ice bucket challenge where people are filmed being drenched in cold water for charity .  The post led her to photos of his second wedding , which she then reported to police .  Michelle , who has been friends with singer Myleene Klass since the pair appeared in a production of Miss Saigon together in 1999 , is currently seeking a divorce from O ' Clee .  She refused to comment yesterday , but friends said she felt ' well and truly betrayed ' by her husband .  And yesterday it emerged that the cheat may even have been looking for more women to romance after a dating profile for an ' andrewoclee ' was uncovered on the Plenty of Fish website .  Although it is unclear when the profile which no longer includes a picture was created , it matches his age and lists the user as living in London , where O ' Clee and Michelle rented a flat .  The profile , which no longer has a picture , describes a blue eyed ' adventurer ' who is ' looking for a relationship '  O ' Clee ( middle ) was jailed for eight months after his first wife Michelle ( pictured left ) exposed him as a cheat who was also married to Philippa Campbell ( right )  Mysteriously the profile , which also matches O ' Clee ' s 6ft 3in height and describes a blue eyed ' adventurer ' who is ' looking for a relationship ' , claims he has never had a relationship that lasted longer than a year .  O ' Clee , of Chiddingfold , Surrey , was jailed for eight months after admitting bigamy on Tuesday .  A judge , sitting at Chichester Crown Court , told business services provider O ' Clee that he had created an ' absurd lie ' which had been ' a selfish act ' .  Michelle , who married O ' Clee in 2008 , told the court she felt ' stupid ' and ' naive ' but had not doubted her husband . She even failed to worry when he turned up five hours late for the birth of their daughter , Amelia .  By then he was already dating Miss Campbell , who he married in August 2013 at St John the Baptist church in Kirdford , West Sussex , near their detached 575 , 000 home . She has vowed to stay with him .  He started the affair with Philippa ( pictured together ) after claiming his first marriage had ended after he caught shopworker Michelle being unfaithful  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
10672,10673,"' Harry Potter ' Fans Raise Their Wands For A Beautiful Goodbye To Alan Rickman  "" One of them was a Slytherin , and he was probably the bravest man I ever knew . ""  01 14 2016 11 : 48 am  Updated 3 hours ago  Cavan Sieczkowski Senior Editor , News Analytics , The Huffington Post  Fans of the "" Harry Potter "" series mourned the death of Alan Rickman , who died at 69 after a battle with cancer . ?  Potterheads took to social media to share images from a particularly powerful scene from the film "" Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince "" where Hogwarts students raise their wands in honor of the late Albus Dumbledore . ?  The genius that was Rickman , who played Severus Snape in the film series , warranted the same tribute . ?  "" We must try not to sink beneath our anguish . . . but battle on "" Raise your wands for Alan Rickman pic . twitterweblink yMRJEcaPMJ  Raise your wands for Alan Rickman ? pic . twitterweblink Sg3IMYl5bB  Alan Rickman died at 69 after a battle with cancer . ? Rickman ' s career spanned decades , including a role in the Harry Potter franchise , 1988 ' s "" Die Hard "" and "" Robin Hood : Prince Of Thieves . ""  Alan Rickman died at 69 after a battle with cancer . ? Rickman ' s career spanned decades , including a role in the Harry Potter franchise , 1988 ' s "" Die Hard "" and "" Robin Hood : Prince Of Thieves . ""  Veteran character actor David Margulies , who was best known for playing the mayor in "" Ghostbusters , "" died on Jan . 11 , 2016 . He was 78 .  David Bowie , legendary singer , artistic chameleon and Grammy winning songwriter , died on Jan . 10 , 2016 . He was 69 .  Former Disney Channel star Michael Galeota , who was best known for playing Nick Lighter on "" The Jersey , "" died on Jan . 10 , 2016 the age of 31 .  Hall of fame rhythm and blues artist Otis Clay , 73 , known as much for his big heart and charitable work as for his singing internationally , died on Jan . 8 , 2016 .  Actor Pat Harrington Jr . , left , who won acclaim as the buttinsky building superintendent who rarely fixed anything on the long running 1970s sitcom , "" One Day at a Time , "" died on Jan . 6 , 2016 . He was 86 .  Pierre Boulez , the former principal conductor the New York Philharmonic and one of the leading figures in modern classical music , died on Jan . 5 , 2016 at age 90 .  Nicholas Caldwell , co founder and singer with the California R B group The Whispers , died on Jan . 5 , 2015 . He was 71 .  Vilmos Zsigmond , winner of an Oscar for his work on Steven Spielberg ' s "" Close Encounters of the Third Kind , "" died at the age of 85 on Jan . 1 , 2016 . ?  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
10676,10677,"Reuters) - Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen encouraged the United States and European Union on Friday to freeze the assets of Cambodian leaders abroad in response to his government s crackdown on the opposition and civil society. Hun Sen, the strongman who has ruled Cambodia for more than three decades, has taken a strident anti-Western line ahead of a 2018 election and has dismissed donor criticism of the dissolution of the main opposition party. The United States and European Union have suspended funding for next year s election and Washington has put visa curbs on some Cambodian leaders. There is no current proposal for asset freezes by either the United States or European Union, but some lawmakers have floated the idea.  I encourage the European Union and United States to freeze the wealth of Cambodian leaders abroad,  Hun Sen told a group of athletes in Phnom Penh, the capital. Hun Sen said he has no money abroad and any actions by the  and the U.S. would not hurt him. The U.S. embassy made no comment.  Ambassador George Edgar said on Friday there had been no decision on further measures by the bloc. The Supreme Court dissolved the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) last month at the request of the government, on the grounds it was plotting to seize power. Hun Sen accused Kem Sokha, the leader of the  of a U.S.-backed anti-government plot. The opposition leader and the United States denied that. China, Cambodia s largest aid donor, has leant its support to Hun Sen, saying it respects Cambodia s right to defend its national security. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
10689,10690,"As special operations military troops prepared for a firefight about 7 , 000 miles away , President Barack Obama entered a room in the Washington area early in the afternoon on Sunday to follow along .  Like a page plucked from a Hollywood screenplay , Obama and other principal coordinators for the mission that killed Osama bin Laden convened in a "" situation room "" to remotely monitor the situation , John Brennan , the U . S . counterterrorism chief , said in a White House news briefing on Monday .  Obama arrived after many of the mission ' s leaders had assembled there , but the president joined before the attack on bin Laden ' s mansion in Abbottabad , Pakistan , began , Brennan said .  "" We were able to monitor on a real time basis the progress of the operation , from its commencement , to its time on target , to the extraction of the remains , "" Brennan said . "" We were able to have regular updates to ensure that we had real time visibility into the progress of the operation . ""  The mood in the room was anxious because the stakes were so high , Brennan said .  "" There were some very tense moments , "" he said . "" We were just saying our prayers that everything would go according to plan . ""  The Los Angeles Times reported that the  had led the bin Laden attack operation , and officials on the 7th floor of the agency ' s Langley , Virginia , headquarters had access to live video of the raid , the report said .  Brennan declined to say whether they had access to a video feed or radio communications . A White House spokesman declined to comment .  Google , Apple and other Internet companies have mastered the process of streaming live video from events to the world . But that task would get much trickier if the cameramen are also carrying rifles and broadcasting from an untested , faraway locale .  After Obama had signed off on the operation ,  Director Leon Panetta gave the official order around midday Sunday for the operation to commence , the Times reported .  "" We have rid the world of the most infamous terrorist of our time , "" Panetta said in a statement Monday . "" We gave President Obama and his team accurate , relevant , timely intelligence providing the information and insight they needed at key points as this mission developed . ""  The  had been tracking bin Laden and provided intelligence to the White House saying the agency was "" confident "" the terrorist leader was inside the Pakistan compound , Brennan said .  "" It was probably one of the most anxiety filled periods of time , I think , in the lives of the people who were assembled here yesterday , "" Brennan said . "" The minutes passed like days , and the president was very concerned about the security of our personnel . That was what was on his mind throughout . ""  Shortly after taking office in 2009 , Obama had directed Panetta "" to make the killing or capture of bin Laden the top priority of our war against al Qaeda , "" the president said in his speech Sunday night . "" We give thanks to the countless intelligence and counterterrorism professionals who ' ve worked tirelessly to achieve this outcome . The American people do not see their work , nor know their names . ""  However , Obama apparently does get to see their work as it ' s being carried out .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
10709,10710,"Baseball ' s League Championship Series ' start Friday with the New York Yankees taking on the Texas Rangers for the American League title . The winner will go to the World Series against the victor in the National League Championship series between the Philadelphia Phillies and San Francisco Giants .  The Phillies Giants series starts Saturday and will be televised on Fox .  This is an edited transcript :  Ron Darling : I think what has been extraordinary is that all the pitchers , whether they came through trades ( Phillies with Roy Halladay and Roy Oswalt Texas with Cliff Lee ) or up through the farm system like the San Francisco Giants , or a free agent like  Sabathia in New York , the great thing about it is they all deliver .  Sometimes the great Braves pitchers would falter during the ' 90s , but none of these guys has faltered . In fact they ' re having some of the greatest games in the history of post season play . Whether it ' s Tim Lincecum ' s 14 strikeouts , Cliff Lee and his ability to throw complete games and strike out hitters without walking anybody , and of course Roy Halladay ' s no hitter .  Darling : I thought it was one of the special moments of the post season . There are a lot of people affected by alcoholism and drug addiction in this country , and a lot of people feel alone in their battle against those two addictions . And to see an entire ball club get behind their player ' s problem and have empathy and sympathy for his problems was just one of the special things .  Remember their manager ( Ron Washington ) tested positive last season ( for cocaine ) . They could have abandoned the manager instead , it brought them closer together . They ' ve been one of the great stories and to know that they wanted one of their best players to celebrate in the clubhouse because they knew he could only do it with ginger ale to me is a just a beautiful gesture .  Darling : I think trying to battle addictions is hard enough if you ' re working 9 5 and you ' ve got a family and you ' re trying to stay out of harm ' s way . When you ' re a young athlete on the road with a lot of free time on your hands , I think it ups it exponentially .  I know Hamilton has a caretaker who helps him out on the road , but I think it ' s taken a lot of stick to itiveness by Josh . You know he ' s had a second chance , had a couple of hiccups , but he ' s made the most of it . Addiction is a sickness we should look at it like that . I think we should welcome what he ' s done . He ' s not only a great player , but he ' s also become a leader on that team and that ' s the most interesting part of that to me .  Darling : In the National League , you have to look at the little guys , Shane Victorino and Placido Polanco , for the Phillies . Sometimes these games allow them to shine when most of the publicity goes to the home run hitters . On San Francisco , Andres Torres , their centerfielder , had a remarkable season . He ' s a player who floundered and later in his career found his role and had a great season .  The Giants closer Brian Wilson had a remarkable year . I know he has the funny hair and funny beard , but there ' s nothing funny about how he gets saves .  The New York Yankees ' Brett Gardner and Curtis Granderson , batting at the bottom of the order , will have a big series . For Texas , the casual fan may not know about Nelson Cruz , but he has about as much pop in his bat as anyone in the game and he ' s a good fielder and throws well . ( The playoffs ) could be a good forum for the country to learn what a good player he is .  Darling : There have been 31 errors so far , and what we should read into it is that the game has changed . You can overlook an error when a lot of home runs are being hit and a lot of runs scored . That ' s not happening as much anymore .  Every play is critical , and if you ' re talking about this being the season of the post season pitcher , every time an error is made , it ' s going to be crucial in determining the game . There have been errors before , but over the last 10 seasons , you could overcome it with offensive output . But when the games are 3 1 every night , you can ' t afford those errors .  And those players that in the past you put in the lineup because of their offensive abilities and you hoped they would catch the ball but figured they ' d make up for it with their offense , those days are gone and those players are gone . If you are in the minor leagues and not working on your fielding , you ' re going to have a hard time getting to the major leagues .  Darling : Watch these series . There ' s going to be lots of steals , bunting and infield hits , all of those things that we saw a lot in the ' 70s and early ' 80s that went away . You ' re still going to have guys hit the ball out of the ballpark . But how many home runs are guys going to hit off Halladay , Lee , Lincecum and Sabathia ? It ' s not gonna happen .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
10710,10711,"It ' s no secret Google wants more control over the design and building of Nexus smartphones , with multiple reports pointing to changes to policies over the years . A report now claims that the Android maker plans to take an Apple like approach with its Nexus branded smartphones , exerting complete control over the design , hardware , and software of the devices .  Google  Sundar Pichai aims to vertically integrate Google ' s phone operations , reports The Information . As of now , Google ' s Nexus partners send a team to Google ' s headquarters for manufacturing the smartphone . The report claims that Google wants a complete say on design and other aspects of development .  Google wants its hardware makers to be "" order takers , "" similar to how Apple handles Foxconn , the contract manufacturer that produces iPhone handsets . Apple designs the smartphone , mandates the SoC and other aspects of the development .  Also , the current batch of Nexus smartphones has "" Nexus "" logo as well as the name and logo of the manufacturer on the back of the smartphone . The report claims that moving forward Nexus smartphones may have Google brand plastered on them . The company reportedly intends to compete with Apple in the high end smartphone market .  Over the months , Google has gotten serious about its hardware . In addition to the Nexus program , at one time , the company also maintained a Google Play Edition lineup , under which many smartphones manufacturer launched a variant of their respective flagship smartphone with stock Android experience .  Earlier reports , Google has also grown interested in designing its own chips . The company was said to be in talks with small SoC manufacturers to have them make its custom designed processors .  Google has in the past designed devices itself , and had them produced by manufacturers , such as its Pixel lineup . The company mandates design and other instructions to its partners for Pixel devices .  The report claims that major OEMs aren ' t happy about the current Nexus program . For instance , it gives Samsung as an example , which hasn ' t produced a Nexus smartphone since 2011 . So Google certainly needs to come up with something new .  Notably ,  is said to be manufacturing both Nexus smartphones this year , earlier reports have claimed .  Download the Gadgets 360 app for Android and iOS to stay up to date with the latest tech news , product reviews , and exclusive deals on the popular mobiles .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
10712,10713,"China Sarah Palin touched on a host of topics including Reaganomics , China and human rights , Tibet , the Asian and U . S . economies , family and moose in Alaska as she delivered a speech to investors Wednesday in Hong Kong , according to audience members .  Sarah Palin ' s speech at  Investors ' Forum appeared to be largely well received .  The former Republican vice presidential candidate was the keynote speaker at the 16th  Investors ' Forum , in what was billed as her first speech outside North America . She recently stepped down as Alaska ' s governor .  Her 90 minute address , which was closed to the media , was heard by 1 , 100 people , according to  head of communications Simone Wheeler .  Those who attended her speech said she did well , though some could be seen leaving early on . A few of those people said they were heading to other forum offerings . Most people declined to speak with the media about the speech .  Would you pay to see Sarah Palin give speech ? Soundoff below  "" I can ' t say I was actually impressed , "" said Mel Goode , a business developer from New York who lives in Hong Kong . "" She speaks well a broad spectrum of what her beliefs are , family views .  "" She didn ' t get ( into ) anything too harsh . . . just kept it , five children , my husband ' s here , we believe in what Asia ' s doing , America has a way to go to get itself back together , Reaganism . "" Watch more about Palin ' s trip  One area she touched on was human rights , calling on Beijing to be more attentive to the issue in Tibet and countries such as Myanmar and North Korea , he added .  Read about the secrecy surrounding Palin ' s speech  Rajesh Kothari , a fund manager , noted that Palin ' s "" address was more geared towards politics and very focused on China . ""  "" She did speak about the political implications of China ' s rise on Asia and the region , and China with America , "" he said . "" I was quite impressed by her knowledge . It seemed like she did her homework now , this time around . ""  Palin also spoke about Alaska , the need for less government and fewer regulations , fiscal responsibility and "" how the U . S . and Asia can be better partners on the global stage , "" said Jasbeena Layman , a fund manager in the United States .  "" I think she is very well spoken , "" she said .  Goode said it appeared Palin had "" learned quite a bit "" from the vice presidential campaign spotlight .  "" I am sure she ' s taken enough criticism where , at this point , she would definitely try to learn a little bit in her mistakes , "" he said .  He said she shied from discussing U . S . politics , though she did say it had been 10 months since Obama took office and Americans were questioning whether he had made significant headway .  Past  keynote speakers include former U . S . President Bill Clinton , former Vice President Al Gore , rocker and activist Bob Geldof , South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu and former U . S . Federal Reserve chief Alan Greenspan , Wheeler said , noting that  does not disclose whether or how much it pays speakers .  "" What we look to do is invite our keynote speakers who we feel are opinion makers , who are newsworthy and who we feel our clients a very broad international client base would be interested in hearing from , "" Wheeler said Monday , noting that  was a politically neutral , independent brokerage .  Chad Tendler , who works in the financial industry , said Palin ' s speech tried "" to tick a lot of boxes , "" touching on domestic and foreign policy , as well as issues that resonate with investors . He said she spoke about the U . S . relationship with China and recent issues , such as a tariff dispute between the two nations involving the sale of tires .  He said her speech was "" very well scripted , "" but a question and answer session afterward "" brought out a bit more color about her as a person "" and reminded everyone of "" the candidate who we all saw campaigning for vice president . ""  She talked about her family , her interests and even Alaskan moose , he said .  "" She said on her way to the airport in Anchorage , there was a moose in the town , "" he said . "" As she arrived in Hong Kong , coming in from the airport , she was surprised not surprised but , very different from the rural setting to an urban setting . ""  Wheeler said Palin would be in Hong Kong only for the speech , adding that it was a short trip . Chinese language media did not give much coverage to her appearance , and some residents and visitors were surprised to learn she was in town .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
10720,10721,"Washington Death sentences plunged this year and the number of executions continued a steady decline as a result of "" growing discomfort "" felt by many Americans on the application of capital punishment .  Only 78 people were sentenced to lethal injection so far this year , the first time that number has dropped below 100 since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976 , according to a study published Thursday by the Death Penalty Information Center .  Death sentences last year were at 112 , and have declined by nearly 75 from 15 years ago , when more than 300 individuals were condemned .  The center ' s annual report also showed only 43 people were executed in 2011 , down three from last year , and a 56 decline from 12 years ago , when nearly a hundred people were put to death .  "" This year , the use of the death penalty continued to decline by almost every measure , "" said Richard Dieter , the executive director of the center , which opposes the death penalty .  He said executions , death sentences , public support and the number of states with the death penalty all dropped from previous years .  "" Whether it ' s concerns about unfairness , executing the innocent , the high costs of the death penalty , or the general feeling that the government just can ' t get it right , Americans moved further away from capital punishment in 2011 . ""  In January , the Illinois legislature voted to repeal the death penalty , replacing it with a sentence of life without parole . In doing so , Illinois became the fourth state in four years to abandon capital punishment . The death penalty has now been abolished in 16 states .  In November , Oregon Gov . John Kitzhaber halted a pending execution and declared that no other executions would occur while he was in office .  "" I am convinced we can find a better solution that keeps society safe , supports the victims of crime and their families and reflects Oregon values , "" he said . "" I refuse to be a part of this compromised and inequitable system any longer . ""  But perhaps the loudest outcry was in Georgia , which executed Troy Davis despite serious doubts about his guilt and an international campaign to save his life . Thursday ' s report said the Davis case exposed the deep concerns over the death penalty .  "" In many ways the death penalty today resembles the system struck down in 1972 , when the ( Supreme ) Court could find no justification for the small number of death sentences and executions chosen arbitrarily from so many eligible cases , "" the report said .  That ' s not to say that Americans want to abolish the death penalty entirely .  The decline in the number who prefer the death penalty as the punishment for murder may be related to the growing number who believe that at least one person in the past five years has been executed for a crime that he or she did not commit .  In 2005 , when a solid majority preferred the death penalty , 59 believed that an innocent person had been executed within the previous five years . Now that figure has risen dramatically , to 72 .  Davis drew widespread support for his claims that an innocent man was being put to death , after federal and state courts had rejected his calls for a new trial .  Since Davis ' conviction in 1991 , seven of the nine witnesses against him recanted their testimony , and no physical evidence was presented linking Davis to the killing of a Savannah police officer . However , a federal judge concluded the death row inmate "" vastly overstates the value of his evidence of innocence . ""  A Texas execution in July also attracted international attention . Mexican national Humberto Leal Garcia was convicted of raping and killing a 16 year old girl . A world court found the state violated his rights by not giving Leal access to his home country ' s consulate upon his arrest in 1994 , as required by an international treaty . U . S . and Mexican officials , along with a variety of human rights groups , urged Texas to delay the execution , but to no avail .  Texas continues to lead the nation as the busiest death penalty state , with 13 executions this year . Alabama was next with six , and Ohio with five . No more are scheduled until next month .  Thirty four states have capital laws , but only 13 states carried out that ultimate punishment in 2011 . In addition , several states with capital punishment laws did not sentence anyone to death in 2011 , including Indiana , Maryland , Missouri and South Carolina .  Another high profile murder convict in Pennsylvania saw his death sentence commuted . Prosecutors decided this month not to give Mumia Abu Jamal a new capital sentencing hearing . He was convicted of murdering Philadelphia police office Daniel Faulkner , but has long claimed his innocence as a victim of what he called a racist criminal justice system . He will spend the rest of his life in prison .  California voters could decide next year whether to abandon the death penalty . That state has the highest death row population 721 people but no one has been executed there since 2006 , when a court ordered moratorium was declared .  But one state that rarely has applied the death penalty could see two notorious killers receive that punishment . Steven Hayes was sentenced to death in Connecticut in December 2010 , and a jury this month recommended the same punishment for Joshua Komisarjevsky . They were found guilty of home invasion killings that left a mother and her two daughters dead . State legislators had contemplated abolishing capital punishment , but these defendants may have caused some rethinking , to allow the practice for only the worst of crimes .  Connecticut and New Hampshire are the only New England states with the death penalty , but only one person has been executed in the region since 1960 .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
10724,10725,"Planning a weekend break ? If so , the chances are you have already wildly underestimated how much your trip will cost .  In fact , a new survey has revealed that British tourists overspend on European city breaks by more than double what they had initially planned .  According to travel search site Skyscanner , Britons typically budget 65 per cent less than the total spend they are likely to need for a weekend break in Europe .  But in some cases such as travelling to Paris or Amsterdam , they blow their budgets by more than double what they had planned .  The study looked at the total cost for a two night break for two people , staying in a four star hotel in ten of Europe ' s top holiday cities .  The survey found that total costs , including flights , ranged from 500 for a trip to Prague to over 900 for a weekend in Paris .  The average cost of a city break was found to be around 700 per couple .  Alarmingly Brits perceived the cost of a trip to Prague to be around 380 , and the price of a trip to Paris 460 .  Brits are also confused as to which cities offer the best value for money , believing Amsterdam to be the cheapest , when in fact the study found it was the third most expensive option .  The survey revealed that the total cost was around 400 more than Brits expected .  The study also found that Milan and Rome were perceived to be the most expensive , when in reality they are the third and fourth cheapest cities in the study .  The new guide from Skyscanner has now calculated the total cost for two people staying in each of the top ten cities , Amsterdam , Prague , Istanbul , London , Munich , Barcelona , Vienna , Paris , Milan , and Rome .  It also breaks down the cost for each element of the trip including flights , accommodation in a four star city centre hotel with breakfast , entrance to a top tourist attraction , sightseeing bus tour , dinner and beer .  The breakdown costs for each city highlights that a cheap flight does not necessarily equal a cheap break .  In some cases , such as Istanbul , taking a slightly more expensive flight is still worth it as the other costs when you get there are so much cheaper .  While Prague offers the cheapest beer , with an average cost of 1 . 14 a bottle , Paris was the most expensive , costing on average 6 . 03 a bottle .  Skyscanner ' s Mary Porter said : ' As our guide shows , a cheap flight does not necessarily guarantee a great value city break two return flights can be under 30 percent of the total cost , as is the case with Paris .  ' It ' s therefore important to consider all your city break costs and we hope that this guide provides clarity for travellers so that planning and budgeting for a weekend is as easy as possible . '  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
10742,10743,"A jogger in Oregon thought he was struck in the head by lightning when he felt sharp pain in his scalp and his hat flew off his head .  Then , it struck again and this time he saw a large pair of wings soar away from his bleeding head .  Experts say Ron Jaecks , of Salem , was likely attacked by an owl a night stalking predator that normally aims its sharp talons at mice , not humans .  Ron Jaecks run every day so he can fit into his spandex Green Bay Packers costume . He was attacked last Tuesday by an owl while on his morning jog  ' It was like a huge electric shock ran through my body , but also like I got hit in the head with a two by four all at the same time . Or maybe a strike of lightning . ' Dr Jaecks , a surgeon , told the Salem Statesman Journal .  David Craig , a biology professor at Willamette University , said Dr Jaecks as likely attacked by either a barred owl or a great horned owl which can grow to have a wingspan of more than five feet .  Their talons can grow up to eight inches long .  Dr Jaecks said the unexpected attack combined with initially having no idea what hit him caused him to run around in circles screaming .  Experts believe a great horned owl , which can grow up to five feet in wingspan with eight inch talons , attacked the hapless jogger ( stock image )  He thought for a moment that he may have been having a stroke or an aneurysm .  Professor Craig says he does not know why the owl decided to attack the innocent jogger .  However , he said that such attacks are not unheard of especially when the owls are nesting and become territorial .  Dr Jaecks says he runs laps around the park every morning to stay into shape so that he can fit into his green and yellow spandex Green Bay Packers jumpsuit .  He ' s never before had problems with being attacked by owls .  Dr Jaecks , a surgeon , said he thought he was having a stroke after getting hit in the head by the mysterious force before realizing it was an owl  ",true,text,test,American football,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
10752,10753,"Alan Rickman : Daniel Radcliffe posts rare social media message to the late actor  From irksome villain to romantic comedy lead , we list five of Alan Rickman ' s remarkable film performances .  On screen they spent six films locked in a passionate hate for one another , as Professor ? Severus Snape and Harry Potter , but in life the bond between the late Alan Rickman and Daniel Radcliffe could not have been stronger .  The death of the revered 69 year old actor ? has sparked an outpouring of shock and grief from fans and celebrities ? around the world .  Alan Rickman as Professor Severus Snape in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban ( 2004 ) . Photo : Warner Brothers  As social media lit up with tributes , Radcliffe , a ? known social media ? introvert , offered a rare insight on the loss of Rickman , who died from ? cancer on Thursday .  "" Alan Rickman is undoubtedly one of the greatest actors I will ever work with . He is also , one of the loyalest ? and most supportive people I ' ve ever met in the film industry , "" Radcliffe said in a post on Google , the only online social network in which he participates .  "" He was so encouraging of me both on set and in the years post Potter . I ' m pretty sure he came and saw everything I ever did on stage both in London and New York . He didn ' t have to do that . ""  Daniel Radcliffe in the cult movie Harry Potter .  Radcliffe spoke of the perceptions created of actors , as a result of the roles they play .  "" It might surprise some people to learn that contrary to some of the sterner ( or downright scary ) characters he played , Alan was extremely kind , generous , self deprecating and funny . And certain things obviously became even funnier when delivered in his unmistakable double bass . ""  Radcliffe was just 10 years old when he made his on screen debut in the first Harry Potter film , Harry Potter and the Philosopher ' s Stone .  For nearly the entire series by author J . K . ? Rowling , Harry Potter ( Radcliffe ) and Severus ? Snape ( Rickman ) have a poisonous relationship , spurred by Snape ' s ? childhood hate for Potter ' s deceased father , who bullied him as a child .  But whatever the storyline , off screen , Radcliffe said his time working with Rickman ? had shaped his career .  Normally a social media introvert , Daniel Radcliffe has used Google to farewell the late Alan Rickman .  "" As an actor , he was one of the first of the adults on Potter to treat me like a peer rather than a child . Working with him at such a formative age was incredibly important and I will carry the lessons he taught me for the rest of my life and career , "" he said .  "" Film sets and theatre stages are all far poorer for the loss of this great actor and man . ? ""  Others from the Harry Potter franchise shared their condolences on social media .  Rowling said her thoughts were with Rickman ' s family .  "" We have lost a great talent . They have lost part of their hearts , "" she said .  In a Facebook post she shared in a picture on Twitter , former co star Emma Watson , who played Hermione Granger , expressed her own sadness at the loss of the actor .  "" I ' m very sad to hear about Alan today . I feel so lucky to have worked and spent time with such a special man and actor . I ' ll really miss our conversations .  Alan . We love you .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
10764,10765,"The total student loan debt held by Americans is estimated to be over 1 . 3 trillion dollars , surpassing even total credit card debt as the largest source of household debt in the country .  To make matters worse , the average cost of a college education has risen sharply in recent years , thanks in large part to the state budget crunches that followed the recession and the 2008 financial crisis . The numbers are striking : A report earlier this year from the left leaning Center on Budget and Policy Priorities found that average annual tuition at public colleges and universities in the U . S . increased by 29 percent between 2008 and 2015 . Some states saw tuition increases of over 60 percent .  The Democrats running for president Hillary Clinton , Bernie Sanders , and Martin O ' Malley have argued that the soaring cost of a college education not only drags on the economy by forcing young workers to pay off debt instead of consuming , it also betrays the American dream by pushing a college degree out of reach for the less affluent .  Identifying the best way to fix the situation , though , depends on which candidate you ask . From reducing the cost of college to providing relief to people currently holding debt , here ' s a look at the candidates ' proposals .  Hillary Clinton ' s "" New College Compact "" is a 350 billion college tuition plan that aims to enable students to attend a four year public college without taking out loans for tuition . Community college would be tuition free .  She would institute a 200 billion federal incentive system to give grants to states that promise to offer no loan tuition at four year public colleges and universities , and free community college tuition .  "" We need to make a quality education affordable and available to anyone who is willing to work for it without saddling them with decades of debt , "" Clinton said when she unveiled the plan in August .  Clinton ' s plan would require students to work 10 hours per week and contribute their wages to their education . And students ' families would also be required to contribute . "" I think it ' s important for everybody to have some part of getting this accomplished , "" she said during the first Democratic debate last month . "" That ' s why I call it a compact . ""  To reduce the burden on people currently saddled with student debt , Clinton would allow them to refinance their loans at lower rates . She would also expand programs that calculate monthly loan payments based on a person ' s income , and she ' s said that nobody should have to fork over more than 10 percent of their income to repay student loans .  Clinton says her plan would be fully paid for by limiting the tax deductions wealthy Americans are allowed to claim , effectively raising taxes on high income households .  Bernie Sanders would go a step further than Clinton : rather than aiming to eliminate the need for students to take out loans to pay tuition , he would eliminate tuition at public colleges and universities altogether . As a senator , he ' s offered a bill to accomplish this plan .  "" This is not a radical idea , "" Sanders ' campaign website declares , citing countries like Germany and Sweden that have taken similar steps . "" If other countries can take this action , so can the United States of America . In fact , it ' s what many of our colleges and universities used to do . ""  And he ' s said colleges and universities must cover 100 percent of the "" financial needs "" of lower income students by allowing them to spend financial aid on living expenses like books and housing .  He ' s criticized Clinton ' s plan , with its incentive programs and work requirements , as too cumbersome .  "" I don ' t think we need a complicated system , which the secretary is talking about . . . the income goes down , if you ' re poor you have to work , and so forth , "" he said last month at the first Democratic debate .  Sanders , like Clinton , would allow people currently repaying their loans to refinance their debt . And he would reduce interest rates , according to his website , by resetting the formula for calculating student loan interest rates "" back to where it was in 2006 . If this plan were in effect today , interest rates on undergraduate loans would drop from 4 . 29 to just 2 . 37 . ""  To pay for his plan , Sanders would impose a tax on high speed trading and other forms of what he ' s described as Wall Street speculation , and he would slash defense spending .  Martin O ' Malley , like Clinton , would aim to reduce the cost of tuition and eliminate the need for students to borrow money , rather than eliminating tuition at public colleges as Sanders proposes .  He ' s outlined a proposal that aims to ensure any student can access a debt free college education at any in state university within five years . His plan calls on states to immediately freeze tuition rates something he did for four years as governor of Maryland , his website notes and it urges states to undo recent cuts to higher education funding by "" leveraging federal dollars through matching grants . ""  Tuition at public four year colleges would be limited to no more than 10 percent of a state ' s median personal income , and it would limit tuition at two year institutions to no more than 5 percent . He would also expand Pell Grants and work study programs .  Free college sounds like a commendable goal , some Republicans have said but who ' s going to pay for it ?   presidential candidate Marco Rubio , in an interview with Fox News in August , said of Clinton ' s college plan , "" She has to figure out who to raise taxes on so this is about making doing business in America even more expensive raising taxes , and then taking all that money and pouring it into an outdated higher education system . ""  Other Republicans have opposed the very idea of giving away a college education for free , arguing that students need to have some skin in the game .  "" I f college graduates are going to reap the greater economic rewards and opportunities of earning a degree , then it seems fair for them to support the cost of the education they ' re receiving , "" Chris Christie , also a  presidential candidate , said in June . "" Earning a degree should actually involve earning it . ""  Given the  ' s philosophical objections , all three Democrats can expect to be pressed on how they hope to enact their plans for debt free college in a combative political environment . Some proposals could be instituted unilaterally , but others , like allowing people repaying their loans to refinance or eliminating college tuition altogether , would require an act of Congress . And that will be hard to secure if Republicans maintain their grip on at least one chamber .  Ditto for Clinton ' s and Sanders ' plan to hike taxes to pay for their proposals is it realistic to believe Republicans would ever support such measures ?  ? 2015  Interactive Inc . All Rights Reserved .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
10782,10783,"California Some lucky Michael Jackson fans got the e mails they were hoping for Sunday , saying they ' ve won two free tickets to Tuesday ' s memorial service .  Some memorial tickets went out to "" friends and family "" on Sunday .  ""     i got tickets to the michael jackson memorial service ! ! ! "" Deka Motanya wrote Sunday afternoon in a Twitter message .  The 8 , 750 fans chosen were summoned to Dodger Stadium Monday to pick up their tickets and have a wristband placed on their arms to prevent them from reselling them .  The Michael Jackson memorial , set for 10 a . m . ( 1 p . m .  ) Tuesday in the Staples Center arena , is expected to be a star studded and emotional tribute to the entertainer , who died June 25 .  Twitterweblink served as a seismograph Sunday as fans anxiously watched their inboxes for an e mail from  Live , the memorial organizer and Staples Center owner . More than five hours after the notifications were to be sent , none had been received .  "" Come on and let me know , Staples . . . did I win tickets to Michael Jackson ' s memorial ? "" read one tweet posted at 3 p . m . , four hours after the e mails were supposed to start flowing .  One woman wrote she "" is checking her e mail anxiously to see if she got tickets to the Michael Jackson memorial at the Staples Center . ""  Just before 5 p . m . ( 8 p . m .  ) , Twitter erupted with messages of excitement :  "" I won the Michael Jackson tickets for Tuesday ! ! ! ! Heading to  tmrw ! ! ! ! "" read one tweet that linked to a photo of an iPhone screen with the e mail . Watch reporters prepare for Tuesday ' s service  "" Apparently my dad ' s friend who hates Michael Jackson , may have won tickets tu the memorial service . . . Step mom ' s freaking out . . ! ""  Other messages came from disappointed fans who did not get the e mails :  "" I guess i didnt make the drawing to win tickets to Michael Jackson Memorial ! ! ! go figure , I ' m sadden and hurt : ( ""  The odds of winning the tickets were long just one of every 182 were chosen . Organizers used a computer to choose 8 , 750 names from 1 . 6 million who registered online since Friday .  Motanya , 27 , works in a doctor ' s office in San Francisco , California . She scrambled Sunday night to line up plane tickets so she and her boyfriend could fly to Los Angeles Monday to claim her tickets .  Each winner gets two tickets , bringing the number awarded in the lottery to 17 , 500 . Just 11 , 000 of those are for seats inside the Staples Center , while the other 6 , 500 are for viewing the memorial telecast across the street at the Nokia Theater . iReportweblink : "" Surreal journey "" to get tickets  Winner must meet other requirements "" in order to avoid the reselling of tickets , "" according to a news release from the Jackson family .  The notification gives them a secret code and instructions to appear at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles between 8 a . m . and 6 p . m . Monday to claim their tickets .  Along with their tickets , they will get the wristbands "" one of which will be placed on their wrist at that time , "" the family statement said .  "" Fans attending the memorial service must have both a valid ticket  a wristband , "" the Jackson family statement said . "" Wristbands that have been ripped , taped or otherwise mutilated will be void . ""  The Jackson family set aside 9 , 000 Staples Center seats to give out to people they choose , according to organizers .  Some people were seen picking up those "" friends and family "" tickets at Dodger Stadium on Sunday afternoon . Two wristbands , one blue and one gold , were given out with each ticket . Ticketholders were instructed that they must wear the wristbands to validate their tickets .  Police have said no one will be allowed near the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles without tickets or media credentials .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
10808,10809,"Vice Media announced on Tuesday that it will begin broadcasting its daily    newscast on Sept. 26. The show, called “Vice News Tonight,” will run weeknights for 48 weeks a year. Josh Tyrangiel, who was previously the editor of Bloomberg Businessweek and chief content officer for Bloomberg Media, was hired by Vice last October to oversee the show. The daily show is part of Vice’s broader ambitions to make its programming available across the media spectrum. The company, which started as a free punk magazine in Montreal in 1994, introduced its own cable channel, called Viceland, this year. It is not clear what size audience the channel attracts, but Vice plans to release ratings for it next month. Vice recently announced an agreement with  to produce and distribute films and other programs. In the last several years, the company has raised hundreds of millions of dollars in financing and signed deals with major media companies including Rogers Communications, a Canadian media conglomerate. It has also pushed to expand its presence internationally, announcing multiplatform deals with the Times of India Group and the Moby Group, a Middle Eastern media group. Vice already produces a weekly newsmagazine show for HBO, called “Vice,” which began in 2013. In a statement, Mr. Tyrangiel said he wanted to make broadcast news more appealing to young viewers. “We’re going to have to earn people’s time and attention with great reporting and original forms of storytelling,” he said. Plans for “Vice News Tonight’’ were first announced in March 2015. At the time, Richard Plepler, chief executive of HBO, said the show would debut that year. A spokesman for Vice Media said in an email that the show was “on schedule. ” Vice has been on an aggressive hiring push in the last year, snapping up dozens of journalists from news organizations including MSNBC, the BBC, The Guardian and The New York Times. Along with Mr. Tyrangiel, the company has hired Nellie Bowles, a technology reporter from The Guardian, and Madeleine Haeringer, an executive producer at  and veteran of  News. Vice promoted Mr. Tyrangiel in May to run all of the company’s news operations as part of a reorganization of the division. It also laid off roughly a dozen employees.",true,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
10818,10819,"Georgia Gregory Maguire absently cleans his glasses with his tie as he talks about pushing someone down the stairs .  "" I use children ' s stories as kind of a snare and temptation and illusion to draw in readers , "" Gregory Maguire says .  "" I wonder if you ' ve ever stood at the top of the stairs behind someone who ' s really annoying and just imagined putting your foot out and planting your boot in somebody ' s objectionable behind ? "" he asks . "" You know , I think that thought is a fairly common human thought . ""  Maybe for the author of "" Wicked , "" who looks more like a college English professor than someone who spends his days writing about the world of Oz . Maguire often imagines evil , and how those without self control respond to it .  Maguire ' s "" Wicked "" series puts a spin on the classic "" The Wonderful Wizard of Oz "" tale , bringing in corruption , political prisoners and war . His first book , "" Wicked , "" has sold more than 2 . 5 million copies , and the musical based on the book reportedly has been seen by more than 3 . 75 million people in New York alone . National tours have been huge successes .  Maguire ' s newest book in the series , "" A Lion Among Men , "" tells the story of the Cowardly Lion the motherless cub defended by Elphaba in "" Wicked . "" Watch Maguire roar about "" Lion ""  Gregory Maguire : I would describe my books as being , not quite allegories , but commentaries on contemporary society and indeed politics to some extent enshrouded in , and disguised by , the guise of children ' s stories .  In other words , I use children ' s stories as kind of a snare and temptation and illusion to draw in readers who say this is going to be easy . . . and it ' s going to be fun . And indeed I hope it is fun . But once I get people involved in the plot , I hope to also communicate some of the questions I have about the way we live our lives in the 21st century .  Maguire : Well , Brrr is the name that I ' ve given to the cowardly lion who is the main character the protagonist in this novel called "" A Lion Among Men . "" And I gave him that name for two reasons : One , because it does sound like a shiver , and he is always slightly spooked by the world and the second reason , because the two letters in it B r r r are both letters from the name of Bert Lahr , who played the Cowardly Lion so famously in the 1939  film .  His character arises in the hollow space in our perceptions between that giant roaring lion at the  logo . . . the ideal lion , and the kind of sad , sacked , out of work , vaudeville performer in lion pajamas that we see when Dorothy actually runs into the lion on the Yellow Brick Road .  In other words , there ' s a huge disconnect between the image we project of ourselves the best we might ever hope to possibly be and the way we feel about ourselves at our absolute worst when we ' re the most down in the dumps . There ' s a huge space in between there . So the novel ' s really in some ways about character and taking control of the destiny of your own character .  Maguire : I had written children ' s books for 14 years before I published "" Wicked . "" And none of them were poorly reviewed , and none of them sold enough for me to be able to buy a bed .  I was the traditional artist in the garret , expecting to live that way or maybe to give up writing soon because I would eventually have to get a job that was going to pay me some kind of retirement package . Silly thought , that , these days .  Maguire : Well , I like to think I ' m a pretty good natured guy and pretty civil and probably not ever truly guilty in any serious way of any legal infractions . But I do seem to have an unconscionable , easy time of thinking about how people might do wrong , of what they might feel like and how they might behave if they had less self control than I do .  And then also , how they would have to deal with the weight of being called evil . If everyone was always calling you a bad name , how much of that would you internalize ? How much of that would you say , all right , go ahead , I ' ll be everything that you call me because I have no capacity to change your minds anyway so why bother . By whose standards should I live ?  In a way , all three of my adult books come down to that question by whose standards should I live ? Can I find my own standards ? Can I recognize them ? Can I value them if I can name them ? And are they good enough , are they strong enough , standards by which to live ?  Maguire : Well , for one thing children are intensely more impatient than adults . So you have to start out active , you have to start out strong and you cannot be , for a moment , self indulgent .  Everything has to be a sound bite or something that the children can visualize as if they ' re running a little Super 8 projector in their mind . Now I date myself with ancient technology , but you know what I mean . . . write the scene that you want Steven Spielberg to film , which means every sentence has to give us something to see . Make it intensely visual and this is , I think , the main rule for writing for children .  But in no way do I make it less thoughtful . I just actually have to work harder . Writing for children is like the difference between writing a sonnet and writing a gossip column . I mean you have a lot more restrictions so you have to work a lot harder .  I ' m not saying that a gossip column can ' t be intensely rewarding , but I dare say it ' s easier to write .  Maguire : I have , but I never seem to get very far . In a way , and I don ' t mean to talk myself down , but sometimes I look at the mysteries of other people and I think , "" How do I know if they think anything like I think ? ""  I can only guess who you might be . You might see the world in a whole different range of colors than I do . You might be super sensitive to nuances of body language or music or . . . I just don ' t know .  So I always feel when I try to write realistic fiction for adults , that maybe I don ' t have enough life experience , even though I ' m 54 . I ' m not sure I trust it .  But when I write something that has a magic base to it , I put in everything I do know about the infinite varieties and subtleties and ambivalences in adult behavior , but nobody can call me out and say , "" You don ' t even know who human beings are "" because I ' ve couched it .  I suppose it ' s a kind of safety net for myself , or a security blanket . If I ' m writing magic , nobody can say I got it wrong because we all know magic doesn ' t exist .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
10826,10827,"Rather than engage in a sectarian conflict , the military campaign is to preserve  s geopolitical interests and counter Iran s hegemony  In March this year , the last elected president of Yemen , Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi , formally asked the Gulf Cooperation Council (  ) to intervene militarily against his country s Al Houthi rebels , after he escaped from a palace where Al Houthis had imprisoned him along with several of his senior aides . At the time , the Yemeni Foreign Minister Riad Yassin warned that the ongoing conflict affected the entire nation , clarifying that Al Houthis wrecked the proposed  peace talks in Riyadh that , presumably , encouraged all Yemenis to rekindle their plans to sabotage the lingering national dialogue .  In time , and after Yemeni authorities concluded that Al Houthis rejected any and all peace initiatives ( those proposed by the  and those brokered by the  Security Council ) , President Hadi formally requested the  s Peninsula Shield Force to intervene and end the Al Houthi expansion across the country . Saudi Arabia s then Foreign Minister , Prince Saud Al Faisal expressed  States sentiment best when he stated : The Al Houthi coup threatens the security and stability of Yemen , the region and the world , and warned that if the Al Houthi coup does not end peacefully , we will take the necessary measures for this crisis to protect the region .  Importantly , and while not a full fledged  alliance member , Yemeni security was inseparable from the preoccupations that mobilised  states , which was the chief reason why Saudi Arabia , Kuwait , Qatar , the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain intervened to protect the Arabian Peninsula . Only Oman refrained though the  secretary general labelled the Al Houthi takeover of parts of Yemen as a terrorist act . Presumably , Muscat signed on to this appellation even if the Sultanate preferred to leave the door ajar for an eventual diplomatic settlement .  Notwithstanding the Omani desire to reduce tensions , few believed that Al Houthi control of the capital city , Sana a , in September 2014 ? along with several northern provinces ? would be allowed to stand , although President Hadi did not formally request military assistance until after his temporary base in the port city of Aden came under attack . The late Saudi King Abdullah and his successor , King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz , displayed incredible patience , waiting for the  Security Council to act after it sanctioned the two top Al Houthi leaders as well as the maverick former Yemeni strongman Ali Abdullah Saleh . In the event , the Iranian backed Al Houthis and military supporters of Saleh made steady advances , captured much of the third largest city of Taiz , as well as its airport , and eventually reached Aden .  What are the objectives of the  states in general , and those of the  in particular , in the war for Yemen ?  To be sure , the first goal of the war was to liberate the country from Al Houthis and bring Hadi back to power , which was partially achieved . Far more important , however , the  and its allies focused on the security and stability of the Arabian Peninsula , which the pro Iranian Al Houthis threatened . That much was a given and , in the words of Dr Anwar Gargash , the  Minister of State for Foreign Affairs , the difficult decision has now become necessary in confronting Al Houthi violence and rebellion and strategic threat to the Gulf through missiles , which pose an unacceptable growing threat .  After what seemed like interminable negotiations , the  agreed to join Saudi Arabia and the other eight coalition members to launch airstrikes against Al Houthi rebels , because it concluded that the Emirates s own security was at risk . At first , the  deployed a few dozen warplanes , though it also put boots on the ground when the battle required it . It took serious casualties under both Operation Decisive Storm ( March 26 April 21 , 2015 ) and Operation Restoring Hope ( April 22 , 2015 present ) , as a total of 70 Emirati soldiers were martyred . This fact alone sealed the  s resolve that would deny Iran , which carried the banner of Al Houthis , any kind of victory .  Senior  leaders , including His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum , Vice President and Prime Minister of the  and Ruler of Dubai , as well as His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan , Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the  Armed Forces , were adamant in their commitments to help the Yemenis overcome Al Houthi onslaught .  Given Al Houthis militant nature , and their reluctance to accept the vast majority of Yemenis who disagreed with their allegiance to Iran , it was difficult to foresee a political solution to the ongoing confrontations .  Interestingly , and whatever differences existed among the twin military pillars of the  , Saudi Arabia and the  , it is fair to state that the war for Yemen has brought the two countries closer together than at any other previous time . In fact ,  countries thwarted Iranian attempts to divide the  even if Oman retained its political distance from core military decisions . What the  wished to achieve was to guarantee the security of Yemen , persuaded that doing so protected the security of the entire Gulf region . Naturally , the preferred option was to reach a peaceful solution to get Yemen out from the dark tunnel that Al Houthis had dug , though the will to intervene militarily became inevitable after all possible political solutions were exhausted .  Of course , the  perceived Iran s hegemony and expansionist strategy in the region with alarm , though limited media coverage of the war skirted Tehran s brazen activities . Coalition members accused Iran of militarily and financially supporting Al Houthis , backed by John Kerry , the  Secretary of State , who recognised that there were obviously supplies that have been coming from Iran even while he and his team were negotiating in earnest with Tehran to reach an agreement over the latter s nuclear programme . In fact , Iran dispatched dozens of flights before hostilities broke , providing Al Houthis with weapons . Not surprisingly , Iran denied these claims , though government troops in Aden said that they captured two officers who belonged to the Iranian Quds Force in early April , presumed military advisers to Al Houthi militias in the city . The claim was not repeated and the officers were kept in abeyance , which buttressed the argument that Al Houthis were not just an Iranian proxy force , even if reliable assertions surfaced that Iran shipped weapons to the Al Houthis between 2009 and 2013 . Whether fresh supplies reached Yemen after 2013 was a hotly debated issue although the over militarised Yemeni society was never shy of arms .  Consequently , and even if Iran did not exert , or only partially wielded , command and control over Al Houthis in Yemen , there was little doubt that Tehran cared deeply about the hapless country and its co religionists there .  In fact , on May 6 , Ayatollah Ali Khamenei , Iran s Supreme Leader , opined that the Americans shamelessly support the killing of the Yemeni population , but they accuse Iran of interfering in that country and of sending weapons when Iran only seeks to provide medical and food aid , something which few believed since media reports affirmed that an Iranian fishing boat loaded with weapons , including rockets and anti tank shells , was intercepted and seized 150 miles southeast of the Omani Port of Salalah on September 26 . Few doubted that Iran was effective in achieving regional prominence . Its presence in the region s failed states , including Lebanon where Hezbollah exerted undue power and , against the will of the majority , unequivocally supported the Bashar Al Assad regime , was well known .  Similarly , Tehran tamed the  backed government in Baghdad , and wished to do likewise with Al Houthis of Yemen . Bahraini and Kuwaiti authorities repeatedly arrested scores of operatives smuggling Iranian arms into their countries . Ironically , by sending weapons , mercenaries and some of its Revolutionary Guards to fight in Syria and elsewhere , Iran justified its various actions under the brilliant manoeuvre of combating both terrorism and Western imperialism .  For its part , the  rejected Iranian pretence of innocence and backed the Saudi led campaign in Yemen for yet another reason , namely the threat to trade were Iran to dominate the strategic straits of Hormuz and Bab Al Mandeb .  Inasmuch as economic and military sanctions imposed on Iran for over two decades seriously damaged the latter s welfare , most observers concluded that Tehran finally accepted the will of the international community over its ongoing nuclear programme , to alleviate what was a serious economic strangulation . To be sure , Iranian negotiators proved their mettle and , it may be safe to state that while Tehran managed to mount counter measures , it reluctantly accepted strict conditions imposed by the P5 1 group . Yet ,  states in general and the  in particular , experienced the Iranian deceptions for decades as Tehran used the trade weapon to discourage several countries from cooperating with sanctions or aligning themselves too closely with the anti Iran camp .  Tehran thus used trade to discourage several  states from forming a united anti Iranian front headed by Saudi Arabia even if the post 2011 Arab uprisings meant that political considerations would determine the direction that conservative Arab monarchies pursued . In late 2011 and early 2012 , Iran called for the joint development of its shared gas fields with Kuwait and Qatar , though it deliberately left out the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , believing that it did not need to bother with its ideological and strategic foe .  In late August this year , it reached an agreement with Oman to build a new 400 km gas pipeline that would carry Iranian natural gas to Sohar on the Sea of Oman in the Indian Ocean . According to press reports , Tehran aimed to export 28 million cubic metres of gas per day to Oman for 15 years that , at current prices could eventually fetch 60 billion . This was a clear example of the method used by Iran to create an economic wedge within the  that , left unchallenged , would have a serious impact on the regional alliance .  It continued to insist that whatever agreements were reached over regional security arrangements must , by definition , receive its approval since it was the leading power in the area , though it was oblivious to its calls for sectarian uprisings in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia that , naturally , irritated both monarchies and further altered perceptions throughout the  realm .  For all its prowess , nevertheless , Iran failed to divide the  alliance and though it blocked imports from the  as a punitive measure in response to the  s support for  sanctions before the P5 1 accord was reached in mid 2015 , its economic co option strategy tumbled after the  joined the Saudi military coalition to fight Al Houthis in Yemen . There were no doubts that the  was 100 per cent aligned with Saudi policy towards Iran , something that the so called economic co option strategy was supposed to prevent , but could not because the  agreed with Riyadh .  If the  was lukewarm towards international sanctions against Iran before 2011 because Emiratis benefited from their economic ties with that country , recent Iranian bravura to close the strategic straits of Hormuz and Bab Al Mandeb , the war in Yemen , and perceived Iranian meddling in  internal affairs ? especially in Bahrain and Kuwait ? essentially removed any lingering doubts .  The war for Yemen provided an opportunity for the  as a whole , and the  in particular , to defend intrinsic interests that , while cognizant of an important Iran as a neighbour , were nevertheless no longer willing to roll over and play dead .  Dr Joseph A . Kechichian is the author of the forthcoming From Alliance To Union : Challenges Facing Gulf Cooperation Council States In The Twenty First Century .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
10827,10828,"Battery life is consistently listed as a major feature customers want from their gadgets and it ' s such a major sticking point , Apple is even said to have delayed launching its smartwatch to get it right .  And while many smartwatches boast a two to seven day battery life , an Illinois based site is selling a design that is said to last for an entire year .  It is also almost half the price of Apple ' s device , at 179 . 95 ( 110 ) , and connects to any Android or iPhone device .  The No Charge watch ( pictured left ) uses one set of batteries for an entire year . It connects to a range of smartphones using Bluetooth Smart technology . When someone calls the connected phone , the watch displays the caller  , as well as texts , emails , social media posts , and calendar appointments ( pictured right )  The 179 . 95 ( 110 ) No Charge uses one set of batteries for a year .  It connects to a range of smartphones using Bluetooth Smart technology .  When someone calls the connected phone , the watch displays the caller  .  It also shows texts , emails , social media posts , and the phone ' s battery status .  Buttons on the side of the bezel let wearers play or pause music playing on the phone , or take a picture .  The water resistant watch has a stainless steel bezel and scratch resistant glass .  The No Charge watch is available from online retailer Hammacher Schlemer .  According to the gadget ' s product page , the watch uses one set of batteries for an entire year .  It connects to a range of smartphones using Bluetooth Smart technology .  This uses a fraction of the energy required by older versions of Bluetooth , claims the firm , ' allowing the batteries to last up to one year and eliminating tedious recharging ' .  When someone calls the connected phone , the watch displays the caller  , and will also reveal the number of missed calls .  Elsewhere , the No Charge watch shows incoming texts , emails , social media posts , calendar invites and appointments , and the phone ' s battery status .  And buttons on the side of the bezel let wearers play or pause music playing on the phone , or take a picture .  The watch has a stainless steel bezel , scratch resistant mineral glass , and a rubber strap . It is also water resistant .  Battery life is consistently listed as a major feature customers want from their gadgets and it ' s such a major sticking point , Apple is even said to have delayed launching its smartwatch ( pictured with chief executive Tim Cook ) to get it right  The closest Mr Cook ( pictured ) came to talking about the battery life for the 349 ( 216 ) Apple Watch , during a launch event last month , was saying that users would ' charge it at night . ' He did , however , spend time talking about the watch ' s charging system , which combines Apple ' s MagSafe technology with inductive charging  By comparison , Samsung ' s Galaxy Gear 2 Neo ( pictured ) claims to have a six day battery life  Apple is said to be unhappy with its own watch ' s battery life , and , as a result , the 349 ( 216 ) device is not expected to ship before February .  Most existing smartwatches on the market , such as the Pebble , tend to last up to a week on a single charge .  Samsung ' s Galaxy Gear 2 Neo claims to have a six day battery life , but , in reality , this is closer to four days .  The closest Apple ' s chief executive Tim Cook came to talking about the battery life for the watch , during a launch event last month , was saying that users would ' charge it at night . '  He did , however , spend some time talking about the watch ' s charging system , which combines Apple ' s MagSafe technology with inductive charging .  Smartwatches have grown in popularity this year .  Samsung recently unveiled its Gear S device , the Moto 360 is set to launch later this month , and O2 has announced it is the only  mobile network to stock the newly launched Pebble and Pebble Steel Smartwatches .  The Pebble Smartwatch costs 99 ( 99 ) , and the Pebble Steel costs 179 . 00 ( 199 ) .  Both models are also available from retailer Firebox .  The Pebble smartwatch is said to last up to a week on a single charge . Earlier this week , O2 announced it is the only  mobile network to stock the newly launched Pebble and Pebble Steel Smartwatches ( pictured left to right ) . The Pebble Smartwatch costs 99 ( 99 ) , and the Pebble Steel costs 179 ( 199 )  ",true,text,test,Football,Economy,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,present
10832,10833,"One of the world ' s largest pulp and paper companies is destroying Indonesia ' s rainforests and taking away the habitat of rare animals , environmental group Greenpeace charged Tuesday .  The Greenpeace report accuses Asia Pulp and Paper of "" relentlessly trashing rainforests , driving species extinction and , if left unchecked , will threaten Indonesia ' s efforts to address climate change . ""   , a division of Sinar Mas , denied the charges levied by Greenpeace , including the alleged expansion of logging operations by 17 million hectares ( 42 million acres ) .  "" The allegations are totally illogical and untrue , Asia Pulp and Paper has no plans for the expansions in question , "" said Aida Greenbury , an  spokeswoman , who said the Indonesian government has publicly announced that their quota for pulp and paper is 10 million hectares ( 25 million acres ) by 2014 .  "" I urged Greenpeace to do a proper research before putting such allegations "" Greenbury added .  Sinar Mas , which also has a palm oil arm , has long be a target of Greenpeace efforts to curb deforestation . The environmental group says the land cleared for palm oil plantations , and for pulp and paper products is doing long term damage to Indonesia ' s rainforests and the environment .  Greenpeace says a 1 billion deal between Norway and Indonesia announced in May to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through a moratorium on logging has a loophole that would allow  to clear sensitive forest and peatlands .  "" Millions of hectares of forests including hundreds of thousands of hectares under Sinar Mas control are not part of the deal with Norway , "" said Bustar Maitar , a Greenpeace Southeast Asia forest campaigner . "" This loophole will undermine all attempts to reduce Indonesia ' s emissions . President ( Susilo Bambang ) Yudhoyono must act immediately by implementing a moratorium on all forest destruction and ensure the protection of peatlands . Only then will we be able to really reduce Indonesia ' s  emissions . ""  Indonesia is one of the world ' s largest emitters of greenhouse gases because of rampant clearing and burning of its forests and peat lands for logging and conversion into palm oil plantations . The country has long been a target of harsh criticisms from environmental groups who have accused the government of failing to enforce its own laws .  Yudhoyono said in May that Indonesia would "" conduct a moratorium for two years where we stop the conversion of peat land and of forest . ""  He was joined by Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg , who said Norway would provide 1 billion to Indonesia to help with the effort to reduce deforestation .  "" Indonesia is a key country in terms of reducing deforestation . Therefore this agreement and Indonesia ' s commitment is a great step forward in achieving large scale reductions in greenhouse gas emissions , "" Stoltenberg said .  Yudhoyono said the halt on new concessions would start in 2010 as part of a broader strategy to reduce the nation ' s greenhouse gas emissions by at least 26 percent by 2020 .  Deforestation accounts for almost a fifth of total greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change . The Indonesia Norway partnership to cut emissions is part of a broader international strategy called Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation , or  , that would make stored carbon dioxide in tropical forests a commodity that can be bought and sold on the global market .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
10837,10838,"California Friday ' s two train collision killed 25 people and injured more than 130 others near Los Angeles after an engineer failed to heed a traffic signal , a spokeswoman for Metrolink commuter trains said .  A commuter rail car lies on its side after a collision Friday near Los Angeles , California .  The engineer was guiding the Metrolink train that slammed head on into a freight train and is not believed to have survived , Metrolink spokeswoman Denise Tyrrell said on Saturday .  "" It was human error , "" Tyrrell said , adding this was Metrolink ' s belief "" barring any new information "" from an investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board .   spokeswoman Kitty Higgins said the agency would "" look at everything before we rule anything in or out . ""  Tyrrell said the engineer , whom she didn ' t identify , was a subcontractor employed by another company . She said she did not have details of his record .  The crash occurred about 4 : 30 p . m .  Friday in Chatsworth , a northwest Los Angeles suburb . The Metrolink train had about 220 passengers and two crew members on board at the time , according to Tyrrell . Watch rescuers search for victims  Forty five of the injured were in critical condition , with 40 flown to hospitals , Tyrrell said . Another 50 had minor injuries , and 40 others were treated at the crash site but transported to hospitals for evaluation .  In the minutes after the crash , passers by joined emergency personnel in an effort to free passengers from the wreckage .  On Saturday afternoon , Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said the search of the wreckage had finished . Earlier in the day , authorities were picking through the wreckage and freeing trapped bodies .  Ed Winter , assistant chief of the Los Angeles County coroner ' s office , told reporters two bodies both of females had yet to be identified . If the females had carried identification , it probably was lost in the crash , he said .  As of 9 a . m .  Saturday , authorities had been able to notify relatives of eight victims , he said .  Gov . Arnold Schwarzenegger visited the crash site on Saturday , telling reporters it was "" one of the worst train accidents in modern history in California . ""  The  will make a final determination of the crash ' s cause . Higgins , the agency ' s spokeswoman , said data recorders have been recovered from both trains , along with a video recorder from the freight train .  Higgins said that out of the trains ' five crew members , four survived . Authorities will interview the surviving crew members , Higgins said .  Tyrrell said a review of "" a number of programs , "" including the signal system , showed the commuter train ' s engineer failed to heed a stop signal , Tyrrell said .  "" We don ' t know how the error happened , but this is what we believe happened , "" Tyrrell said .  The wreck occurred on a curved part of the track where the speed limit is 40 mph , Tyrrell said .  She said that just like road vehicles , trains are subject to signal systems . At the wreck site is a siding where one train can wait while another passes , she said .  "" They receive a signal to stop and they must hold their location until other traffic has passed , "" she said .  Villaraigosa praised police officers and firefighters for working under emotionally draining conditions and treating the victims with respect .  "" This has been a grueling night for them , "" he said .  The crash sparked a fire that impeded firefighters ' s efforts to reach the front commuter car , where most of the injuries occurred , Los Angeles County sheriff ' s spokesman Steve Whitmore said .  The fire eventually was brought under control .  "" We ' ve already found survivors trapped under fatalities , "" Whitmore said late Friday .  Among those killed was Spree Desha , 35 , a Los Angeles police officer on her way home from work , officials said Saturday .  "" It ' s not unusual for us to respond to disasters , "" said Jerry Szymanski , an assistant commander for the  . "" When we got here , we found it was one that hit close to home . ""  Desha had "" mentored and trained a lot of the young officers in the North Hollywood area , "" Szymanski said .  Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca said Friday night a sheriff ' s deputy was in a hospital ' s intensive care unit after collapsing while conducting rescue work .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
10842,10843,"Obama Explains How Climate Change Is Akin to the Problem of Terrorism  President Barack Obama said that the problem of climate change shares similarities with the problem of terrorism and the Islamic State . On both fronts , the president said , the United States must keep going at it , see what works and push away fear .  I m optimistic . I think we re going to solve it . I think the issue is just going to be the pace and how much damage is done before we are able to fully apply the breaks , Obama said of climate change . In some ways , it s akin to the problem of terrorism and  .  Obama took reporters questions Tuesday in Paris , the site of an Islamic State terrorist attack on Nov . 13 , as part of a press conference at COP21 , a U . N . global conference to combat climate change being attended by nearly 200 world leaders .  Shifting from climate change to terrorism , Obama went on to talk about the terror attacks in Paris .  In the immediate aftermath of the terrible attack that happened here in Paris , sometimes it s natural for people to despair . But look at Paris . You can t tear down Paris because of the demented actions of a handful of individuals , Obama said . The beauty , joy , the life , the culture , the people , the diversity . That s going to win out every time .  He then explained the commonalities between the fight against climate change and against terrorism .  But we have to be steady in applying pressure to the problem . We have to keep on going at it , Obama said . We have to see what works . When something doesn t work , we need to change our approach . But most of all we have to push away fear and have confidence that human innovations , our values , our judgment , our solidarity will win out .  The president said other global problems have been solved through international cooperation .  I ve been at this long enough where I have some cause for confidence , Obama said . We went what , a month , a month and a half where people were pretty sure Ebola was going to kill us all . Nobody asks me about it anymore . Although we still see flickers of it in West Africa , we still set up a whole global health security agenda , part of American leadership , to deal not only with Ebola but to deal with the possibility of future pandemics .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
10862,10863,"The anniversary of 9-11 reminds us of the danger we face when foreign terrorists commit crimes against our citizens. Unfortunately, thanks to Obama s war against America, we have a new enemy who may be just as dangerous, as these domestic terrorists driven by hate, act out their crimes in the same cowardly way as the terrorists of 9-11. Since the  refuses to do anything to stop domestic terrorists within the #BlackLivesMatter movement who have publicly called for  open season on crackers and cops,  a national movement called #OPdethrone has just launched in an effort to stop this group, before any more innocent people lose their lives.Over the past several weeks, we have watched in horror as directives from this group have been carried out, as police officers and white people across the nation have been randomly targeted and brutally executed. And now this group is planning another act of terror this coming 9/11. Although the final details of the event are shrouded in mystery, we do know that this group is planning something big on 9/11, and they are directing their followers to bring their guns and convene at Stone Mountain, where they proclaim that  things are about to go down. Although the  has been alerted, it appears that nothing has been done to stop this terror organization. In the meantime, this group continues to gain momentum and supporters. In a last-ditch effort to warn his fellow Americans and beacon the  to intervene, investigator Hannibal fromweblink has compiled a short documentary video highlighting this group s acts of terror. Hopefully this video will help put an end to the group s activities before anymore of their violent calls to action come to fruition.We are asking that everyone watch and share this video, as this is our final attempt to stop this group before they carry out their violent plans on 9/11. It is quite lengthy at over 18 minutes long, but every detail is incredibly important, and vital for telling the full story and making all the connections.Via: Universal Free Press",fake,dataset,test,US elections,Conflict,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,present
10871,10872,"Reuters) - Palestinians seethed with anger and a sense of betrayal over U.S. President Donald Trump s decision to recognize the disputed city of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Many heard the death knell for the long-moribund U.S.-sponsored talks aimed at ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and establishing a Palestinian state alongside Israel. They also said more violence could erupt.  Trump wants to help Israel take over the entire city. Some people may do nothing, but others are ready to fight for Jerusalem,  said Hamad Abu Sbeih, 28, an unemployed resident of the walled Old City.   This decision will ignite a fire in the region. Pressure leads to explosions,  he said. Jerusalem   specifically its eastern Old City, home to important shrines of Judaism, Christianity and Islam   is at the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israeli captured Arab East Jerusalem from Jordan in the 1967 Middle East War then later annexed it in a move not recognized internationally. Palestinians want it to be the capital of a future independent state and resolution of its status is fundamental to any peace-making. Trump is due to announce later on Wednesday that the United States recognizes the city as Israel s capital and will move its embassy there from Tel Aviv, breaking with longtime policy..      This is insane. You are speaking about something fateful. Jerusalem is the capital of the state of Palestine and neither the world nor our people will accept it,  said Samir Al-Asmar, 58, a merchant from the Old City who was a child when it fell to Israel.  It will not change what Jerusalem is. Jerusalem will remain Arab. Such a decision will sabotage things and people will not accept it.  Palestinian newspapers also decried the move.  Trump Defies the World,  thundered Al-Ayyam. Another, Al-Hayat, roared  Jerusalem is the Symbol of Palestinian Endurance  in a red-letter headline over an image of the city s mosque compound flanked by Palestinian flags. Palestinian leaders have also warned the move could have dangerous consequences. Although winter rains dampened protests called for East Jerusalem, the occupied West Bank and Hamas-dominated Gaza Strip, few doubted fresh bloodshed now loomed. Israeli security forces braced for possible unrest but police said the situation in Jerusalem was calm for now.  That could quickly change, given the religious passions that swirl around the Old City, where Al Aqsa Mosque, Islam s third-holiest shrine, abuts the Western Wall prayer plaza, a vestige of two ancient Jewish temples. Palestinians mounted two uprisings, or intifadas, against Israeli occupation from 1987 to 1993 then from 2000 to 2005, the latter ignited by a visit by then-opposition leader Ariel Sharon to the shrine area, known to Jews as Temple Mount.         Violent confrontations also took place in July when Israel installed metal detectors at an entrance to Al-Aqsa compound after Arab gunmen holed up there killed two of its policemen. Four Palestinians and three Israelis died in ensuing violence. In the Palestinian coastal enclave of Gaza, demonstrators  chanted  Death to America ,  Death to Israel  and  Down with Trump . They also burned posters depicting the U.S., British and Israeli flags.  Youssef Mohammad, a 70-year-old resident of a refugee camp, said Trump s move would be a test for Arab leadership at a time of regional chaos and shifting alliances.  Let him do it. Let s see what Arab rulers and kings will do. They will do nothing because they are cowards,  the father of eight said.  The Jerusalem uproar could affect Egyptian-brokered efforts to bring Gaza, which has been under Islamist Hamas control for a decade, back under the authority of U.S.-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who favors negotiation with Israel. Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said Trump s planned moved showed the United States was biased.  The United States was never a neutral mediator in any cause of our people. It has always stood with the occupation (Israel),  he said. He said Abbas  administration should  rid itself of the illusion that rights can be achieved through an American-backed deal . (Corrects Ariel Sharon s title to opposition leader) ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,satire,true,True,no,no,negative,past
10882,10883,"A woman who was overcome by fumes at an industrial cellar died after losing her balance and falling into a giant vat of wine .  Wine specialist Nerea Perez was watching the fermenting process at the cellar in the Spanish village of Salas de los Barrios , in the north west of the country .  It has been reported that the 25 year old was overcome by the fumes given off during the process causing her to lose her balance and fall into the vat .  Nerea Perez died after falling into a vat of wine at an industrial cellar after being overcome by fumes ( file picture )  Emergency services were then called to scene after receiving a call that about an incident at a warehouse .  However , when they reached the cellar , they were unable to save her as she became intoxicated by the gases and could only retrieve her body .  According to InfoBizero , her uncle Raul Perez , a well known winemaker , found her body .  The emergency services also had to give assistance to members of Miss Perez ' s family , who were said to be overcome with grief after the incident .  Tributes have already been paid to Miss Perez , who was also the secretary of the Socialist Youth of Bierzo , in the town of Ponferrada , El Bierzo .  The incident happened at an industrial wine cellar in Salas de los Barrios , pictured , in north west Spain  All campaigning by the group was suspended today as a mark of respect as people took to social media to speak of their shock .  Alvaro Gerarfo Courel , the district secretary of the party told the website : ' We regret the loss of a member of the Bierzo , a companion , which is made more painful by the circumstance and her youth .  ' We will show deepest sympathy and send a big hug to her family , friends and the Socialist Youth of Bierzo . '  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
10883,10884,"Odds are against dismissal of Cosby ' s sex assault case experts    Bill Cosby ' s lawyers may face difficulty in convincing a Pennsylvania judge this week to throw out sexual assault charges in light of what the disgraced comedian ' s defense team characterizes as a decade old non prosecution deal , legal experts said .  Cosby is due back in court in Norristown , Pennsylvania , on Tuesday , after the 78 year old entertainer was charged last month with sex assault in 2004 . The alleged victim says Cosby had plied with alcohol and drugs .  It is the only criminal prosecution that Cosby has ever faced , even though dozens of women have accused him of assault , in some cases decades ago .  The hearing outside Philadelphia will center on the defense ' s argument that the charges violate an agreement struck in 2005 with then Montgomery County District Attorney Bruce Castor . Cosby ' s lawyers say Castor promised not to prosecute the comedian if he agreed to testify in a civil case brought by his accuser , Andrea Constand .  Castor has backed that account in an email sent in September to his successor as district attorney . In that email , Castor said he had reached a binding deal with Cosby ' s lawyers .  The defense has not produced any written agreement , a point made by prosecutors in seeking to undermine Castor ' s story .  "" Cosby had good attorneys , "" said Anne Poulin , a law professor at Villanova University in Pennsylvania . "" If they had negotiated something , I think they would have gotten something in writing . ""  But in court papers filed on Thursday , Cosby ' s lawyers said prosecutors had waited so long to bring charges that evidence verifying the agreement had disappeared .  Cosby ' s former lawyer has since died , and documents that might have corroborated the deal have been lost , they said .  Wesley Oliver , a law professor at Duquesne University in Pennsylvania , said it was highly unlikely that a document as critical as a non prosecution agreement would go missing .  "" This is not like some receipt for his taxes in 1953 , "" he said . "" This is a get out of jail free card . This is something you keep in a safety deposit box in a temperature controlled room . ""  Castor may appear at the hearing to testify that he promised not to prosecute in exchange for Cosby ' s civil testimony . Castor ' s lawyer , Robert Pugh , said he had advised Castor not to comment publicly on the case .  Kevin Steele , who was elected last year as Montgomery County ' s district attorney after vowing during the campaign to work on charging Cosby , cited Cosby ' s recently unsealed testimony as crucial evidence in filing criminal charges last month .  Cosby has portrayed the encounter as consensual but acknowledged giving Constand Benadryl and wine , which she claims incapacitated her .  Cosby ' s lawyers did not return a call for further comment .  Even if Castor ' s claim is taken at face value , prosecutors have argued the deal did not carry formal immunity without a judge ' s approval under state law . In addition , they have said Castor did not have the authority to make such an arrangement .  Poulin , the Villanova professor , said she would be "" shocked "" if a judge found Castor had the power to "" bind his office in perpetuity . ""  She also said that if a non prosecution agreement really existed , Cosby could have sought a formal order of immunity from the judge overseeing the civil case .  That said , some experts said a judge could find that if Cosby relied on Castor ' s promise , it would be unfair for him to suffer the consequences .  Judy Ritter , a law professor at Widener University in Delaware , said the judge was unlikely to dismiss the entire case but could theoretically bar prosecutors from using Cosby ' s civil testimony .  "" That depends on the finding of the facts , "" she said . "" Who promised what , and what was said ? ""  ",true,text,test,Other news1,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
10914,10915,"Modi arrives in Paris to attend the  Climate Change Conference ( COP21 ) which begins tomorrow  Central African Republic Steps Up Security Ahead of Pope Visit  World Reuters Updated : November 29 , 2015 03 : 37   Pope Francis arrives at the House of Charity of Nalucolongo in Kampala , November 28 , 2015 . ( Reuters Photo )  Bangui : ? French and U . N . armoured vehicles and tanks jostled with ramshackle yellow taxis on the congested streets of Central African Republic ' s capital on Saturday as security was beefed up a day before the arrival of Pope Francis .  The pope ' s visit to the former French colony , racked since 2013 by a conflict that has descended into inter religious bloodshed , has been welcomed by both the majority Christian community and the Muslim minority .  Interim President Catherine Samba Panza said on Saturday that the event could mark a turning point in the fighting , which has pitted neighbours against each other .  "" Central Africans know that the pope is a messenger of peace , and they hope that the message he is going to deliver to them will trigger a national awakening and awareness so that Central Africans learn to live together once again , "" she said .  However , in the days before his scheduled arrival his exact itinerary has been in doubt and there has been speculation that security concerns might force the final leg of the pope ' s first African tour to be called off altogether .  Following months of relative calm , clashes have again flared around Bangui ' s PK5 , an enclave of Muslims , leaving at least 100 people dead since late September , according to Human Rights Watch .  Pope Francis , who arrives in Bangui on Sunday from Uganda , is scheduled to visit a mosque the following day in PK5 , which has been under a blockade by Christian militias for the last two months .  French officials warned the Vatican earlier this month that the trip to Central African Republic could put the pope as well as hundreds of thousands of believers at risk .  Church officials , however , have given assurances that the visit will go ahead .  "" I asked myself , before God , is it true what the French said that they didn ' t have the capacity to secure the pope ' s visit , "" said Arlette Tanga , a volunteer who cares for those wounded in the inter religious conflict . "" But I had faith in God and it worked . ""  Central African Republic ' s U . N . peacekeeping mission ,  , is heading up a massive push to limit the risks in the run down riverside city ahead of the visit .   has received extra soldiers and will deploy between 3 , 000 and 4 , 000 troops . New surveillance drones and observation balloons capable of quickly pinpointing trouble spots anywhere in Bangui hover in the skies above the city .  The Central African government is contributing some 500 police and gendarmes . And France ' s 900 soldiers in the country are also on alert .  In addition to Bangui ' s residents , thousands of Catholics are expected to brave militia and rebel checkpoints and travel there from other parts of Central African Republic to catch a glimpse of the pope .  Others will cross the Ubangi River in small boats from neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo , raising concerns over the capacity to control the massive crowds expected to turn out .  Government spokesman Dominique Said Panguindji , however , said the authorities were doing everything necessary to keep order , including training and deploying thousands of boy and girl scouts to cordon off the pope ' s route through Bangui .  "" Between the government and the Christian community , I think a combined effort will allow us to ensure the security of the Holy Father during this visit . We won ' t be overwhelmed , "" he said .  Story First Published : November 29 , 2015 03 : 37   ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
10917,10918,"Japan unlikely to sway  despite higher Aussie  Bank of Japan governor Haruhiko Kuroda sprang a surprise on investors by adopting a negative interest rate strategy to spur banks to lend in the face of a weakening economy .  Extreme monetary ? easing by the Bank of Japan on Friday has ? done little to strengthen the case for the Reserve Bank of Australia to cut the cash rate at Tuesday ' s board meeting , but it is likely to slow any further depreciation ? of the Australian dollar .  In late ? afternoon trade the local unit was fetching US70 . 75 ? , down sharply from a high of US71 . 41 ? after the Bank of Japan on Friday introduced negative interest rates on excess bank reserves .  However , the Aussie still remains well above the almost seven year low ? of US68 . 27 ? logged in mid January , amid renewed market turmoil and commodity price weakness .  Patchy  economic data and signs of a less aggressive tightening cycle by the  Federal Reserve have also held up the Aussie in recent days .  The domestic currency ' s relative resilience against the greenback and those of its ? trade partners ? is likely to be noted in Tuesday ' s  minutes , says ? Nomura chief rate strategist for Australia ? Andrew Ticehurst .  "" The Australian dollar ? against the greenback and the trade weighted index ? ? has ? declined a fraction since the  last met in early December , but only modestly ? ? ? 1 . 2 per cent ? ? and iron ore and many commodity prices are also somewhat lower over this period , "" he ? wrote .  "" We believe that a weaker Australian dollar ? ? as the Fed tightening cycle gets under ? way ? has been a central part of the  ' s thinking , and we are particularly interested in its comments here , wondering quietly whether it is disappointed that the Aussie ? has not declined further . ""  Despite these concerns , ? interest rate futures pricing suggests virtually no chance of a cut to the cash rate on Tuesday , as underlying strength ? in the domestic economy and job market override broader worries ? about global demand and the so called currency wars .  However , some commentators expect governor Glenn Steven ' s accompanying statement to be slightly less upbeat than the outlook offered after December ' s board ? meeting , and in subsequent comments .  Friday ' s Statement on Monetary Policy ( SoMP ) ? could also reflect widening jitters about the Chinese slowdown , weak oil prices , ?  growth ? and global demand , says  economist Scott Haslem .  "" Overall , we expect the  ' s post meeting press release and ? SoMP to embody more dovish tones ? if only as they acknowledge the reality of the recent turmoil in commodity prices and ? some loss of momentum in  growth , "" he said .  Despite this , he does not expect the  to alter its growth or ? inflation forecasts for 2016 .  "" The key risk to our view is that they augment a more dovish tone with modest 0 . 25 percentage point ? cuts to late 2016 17 forecasts . This would support market pricing for a further  rate cut mid 2016 , and add some downside pressure to the Australian dollar , "" he said .  The Bank of Japan on Friday became the fifth central bank to introduce negative interest rates in recent years , following similar moves by monetary policy setters in ? Denmark , Sweden , ? Switzerland and ? the eurozone .  Central banks resort to negative nominal interest rates when conventional monetary policy and other extreme measures such as asset buying have failed to stimulate the economy as much as wanted . ?  Lower rates also make a currency less attractive to investors , fuelling ? speculation on competing units , ? making exports more competitive and fanning ? inflation through higher import ? prices . ?  After being bolstered as a safe haven asset during the market ructions of December and January , the yen lost more than 2 per cent against the greenback after the BoJ ' s surprise move on Friday .  Some commentators pointed to monetary easing by China , and some recent devaluation of the yuan as the BoJ ' s main motive .   Asset Management ' s managing director for foreign exchange strategy , Kathy Lien , says it won ' t be long before the  acknowledges the risk of the Chinese slowdown to its own outlook .  "" With the Chinese economy slowing and commodity prices falling , it may be difficult for the  to maintain a brave face , "" she said .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
10918,10919,"Moscow , Russia The mortality rate in Moscow , Russia , has "" doubled recently "" because of an extended streak of heat and smog , Andrei Seltsovsky , the head of the city health department , told Russian news agencies Monday .  Seltsovsky said that the average daily mortality rate in Moscow is 360 to 380 cases , but "" today the rate is around 700 . ""  Out of 1 , 500 slots in city morgues , 1 , 300 were occupied , he added .  The death toll directly attributed to the country ' s recent spate of wildfires remained at 52 , the Russian Health and Social Development Ministry said on its website Monday . Another 62 people across Russia were in hospitals with wildfire related ailments , and in all , 741 people had sought wildfire related medical assistance , it said .  The ministry said 22 out of the country ' s 83 regions , mostly in central Russia , are affected by wildfires . And no relief is in sight , with temperatures forecast to remain high in central and northwestern Russia through August 20 .  The Russian meteorological service Roshydromet said on its website Monday that the level of air pollution will remain high in and around Moscow in the coming days .  "" The air will remain filled with products burning in forest and peat fires , and with toxic emission coming from motor vehicles and industrial enterprises , "" Roshydromet said .  It asked Moscow ' s industrial businesses to start cutting emissions by 20 to 40 percent from 3 p . m . Monday until 3 p . m . Wednesday to help reduce air pollution .  Alexander Frolov , who heads Roshydromet , appeared live on Russian state  on Monday . He said high levels of pollutants in the Moscow air pose a serious danger to Muscovites ' health .  "" The highest levels were registered on August 7 and 8 , with the concentration of particulate dust exceeding the permitted level by 3 . 4 times . It is very harmful for the human body as it accumulates in it and is virtually not excreted , "" he said .  Frolov said carbon monoxide and ozone levels were significantly higher than the permitted norm .  "" It can be said that we lived through probably the worst time with very high levels of harmful substances caused , firstly , by exhaust from motor vehicles and industries and , secondly , by forest fires , "" he said .  The Moscow region and the majority of the European part of Russia remain in a zone of high fire risk , Frolov said . According to the Russian index of fire risk meteorological indicators , developed by Roshydromet , most of the European part of Russia is in the fifth , or emergency , risk class for wildfire potential . Forests in the southwest , south and southeast of the Moscow region are particularly fire prone , primarily because of peat bogs , he said .  "" As many as 276 wildfires have been extinguished , "" Russia ' s emergency ministry told the state media  Novosti on Sunday . "" Currently , 554 wildfires are raging on an area of over 190 , 000 hectares , "" or more than 730 square miles .  The dire conditions also are wreaking havoc on agriculture in Russia , Frolov said .  "" Unfortunately , the forecast is for virtually no precipitation in August , "" he said . "" Precipitation is crucial as we now need to think when to plant winter crops . The situation in many regions is such that so far there is no reason to start planting winter crops , despite the optimal planting time beginning in some regions . ""  Roshydromet forecasts a 30 percent drop in Russia ' s harvests due to the drought , he said .  Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin announced a ban on grain exports last week that will start on August 15 and could last until December 31 . At Monday ' s government meeting broadcast on state  , Putin said the order was prompted by uncertainty over this year ' s farm production .  A decision on the timeframe for the grain export ban will happen only after the results of the harvest are known , Putin said .  Some regions won ' t be sowing winter grain at all this year , so a swift end to the export ban shouldn ' t be expected , he said .  "" Of course , this is a temporary measure , but we are in an extraordinary situation and we have to worry about our own citizens and our own farmers , "" Putin said . "" The question is what the country will be left with in 2011 . We don ' t know what the harvest will be and how much carry over grain there ' ll be in 2011 . ""  The prime minister said Russia would need 78 million metric tons of grain to support its people this year , but because of the drought , the country might produce only 60 million to 65 million metric tons , forcing it to dip into its "" state intervention fund . ""  "" One can say that neither we nor our ancestors observed or registered anything like it , in terms of heat , within a 1 , 000 year period since the foundation of our country , "" Frolov said Monday . "" This phenomenon is absolutely unique . There is no record of such cases . ""  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
10920,10921,"A 60 year old man has flown more than 6 , 000 miles from Vancouver to Shenzhen , South China and turned himself into a walking billboard in a desperate bid to track down his online ' lover ' .  Canadian Jake Malone met a woman calling herself ' RiLi ' on a social website 11 months ago , who according to her online profile lives in Shenzhen and owns a clothing company .  Bid to find online ' lover ' : Canadian Jake Malone flew more than 6 , 000 miles from Vancouver to Shenzhenand turned himself into a walking billboard in a desperate bid to track down a woman he met online  An infatuated Mr Malone , who fell in love with ' RiLi ' from a photo she sent him , now wanders the streets of the city , which has a population of ten million , with a sign bearing her picture attached to his torso .  Mr Malone claimed it was love at first sight when he saw a photo of ' RiLi ' , who said her real life name is Rebecca during their correspondence .  ' That innocence is what attracted me to her . '  Mr Malone said the website on which he met ' RiLi ' charged 20 30 Yuan ( 2 3 ) to receive and send each email .  The pair have sent each other 396 emails in the last 11 months and Mr Malone claims that he has spent more than 11 , 000 Yuan ( 1 , 100 ) , paying for translators to communicate .  He said : ' Translators block out all personal details in the emails . So Rebecca and I can only communicate through the website . '  Mr Malone mentioned coming to China to look for ' RiLi ' a few times , but she said she feared meeting in person would ruin the relationship .  Despite her uncertainty , the Canadian decided to fly to China anyway emailing ' RiLi ' about his hotel details and arrival times , though these were blocked by translators .  Wild goose chase : Mr Malone has not been able to track down the woman , who calls herself ' RiLi ' , and is unable to contact her after the website they use to communicate was shut down  Unfortunately , the website that the pair met on suddenly shut down when Mr Malone landed in Shenzhen on the April 9 meaning his mailbox was not accessible .  Rebecca once told Mr Malone that she owns a clothing company that has the same name as her internet alias , ' RiLi ' .  After tracking down the company ' s address but finding it had closed down , he started to ask around for his online sweetheart .  He arrived at Donghu hotel and the concierge Miss Zhang made him a sign that says ' your Canadian love is looking for you ' .  Other hotel staff found a telephone number with the limited online information but no one picked up the call .  Mr Malone carries the sign around his neck and walks around Luohu  Mall , a big shopping centre , every day hoping that Rebecca will appear .  He said : ' People in Shenzhen are very friendly . They took photos of me and put them online . I am very thankful for that .  Love at first sight : Mr Malone , 60 , said he fell in love with ' RiLi ' , aka Rebecca , as soon as he saw her photo  Despite some passers by warning him that ' RiLi ' was just looking for someone to talk to , the romantic is adamant their feelings were mutual .  He said : ' No , I believe in her , I can feel from her letters that she loves me . '  He says is willing to give up his life in Vancouver and move to China if he finds her .  Unperturbed by her lack of English , he says he has always been fascinated with Chinese culture and visited the country in 1987 .  Mr Malone is a Buddhist and has been practising Taichi for a long time .  He added : ' I can be an English or Taichi teacher since I have been doing that in Vancouver . '  ",true,text,test,US elections,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
10922,10923,"You are here : Home Facebook posts strong earnings  Facebook Inc . (  :  ) has just reported a record breaking quarter , and announced fourth quarter of fiscal 2015 ( 4QFY15 ) earnings per share (  ) of 0 . 79 , which topped the analysts ' estimates of 0 . 68 .  The company ' s total revenue rose to 5 . 84 billion from 3 . 85 billion a year earlier , with ad revenue increasing 56 . 8 percent to 5 . 64 billion in the holiday shopping period , when spending on advertising typically spikes .  Mobile advertising revenue represented approximately 80 percent of advertising revenue for the fourth quarter of 2015 , up from 69 percent of advertising revenue in the fourth quarter of 2014 .  "" If you ' re an advertiser and you want to reach mass scale , you only have two options : Facebook and Google "" , said James Cakmak , an analyst at Monness Crespi Hardt and Co . These results are encouraging , and we expect that Facebook will continue to account for a larger share of the rapidly growing digital advertising market going forward . "" They ' re providing a very efficient method of distribution for them , they ' re making big investments and evidenced by their quarterly performance it seems to be working "" . Monthly active users increased 14 year over year to a total of 1 . 59 billion , which exceeded expectations of 1 . 58 billion .  Facebook owned Oculus this month began taking orders for much hyped Rift virtual reality head gear , set to begin shipping later this year .  With Apple and eBay both reporting slightly disappointing quarterly results , investors jumped on the good news from Facebook , which saw its shares rise nearly 12 per cent in after hours trading .  The numbers will probably help justify all of the changes that Facebook has made to its platform past year including the introduction of live video and collages , more tailored notifications , the ability to hide from an ex ' s posts and a more powerful search tool . The firm added 46m users in the final three months of past year with which its worldwide users now stands at 1 . 59bn .  "" Even as the world has tended to greater openness over time , in many communities we see greater fear over what a connected world and more progress means for them "" , Zuckerberg said . Monthly active users ( MAUs ) increased by 14 from a year ago to 1 . 59 billion , while mobile MAUs stood at 1 . 44 billion .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
10926,10927,"Tampa , Florida It ' s after midnight , and 100 or so skinny young people in jeans and jackets and wearing anarchy slogans walk down the cobblestone streets of Tampa ' s historic district , dancing and chanting : "" 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 I declare a class war . ""  Dozens of buff sheriff ' s officers trail behind the demonstrators in Ybor City . But they are dressed more for war than protest in their combat boots and tan cargo pants , guns strapped to their thighs . They overlook the comments from the kids at the back who ask each other , "" When are we going to smash some sh ? "" The officers ' eyes are on the menacing looking muscular men with shaved heads , their fists balled up by their sides , walking quietly alongside the chanters .  Peering down from the wrought iron balconies of nearby restaurants and bars are some of the day ' s conventioneers , suited men whose first day passes to the Republican National Convention dangle from red white and blue lanyards .  The men snap photos with cell phones , and their faces grow more serious as the last of the protesters come into view , carrying something high about the crowd ' s heads .  It look likes a scene from the Old Testament : A golden animal is hoisted in the air . It catches the street light as it moves through the crowd . A conventioneer leans over and loudly says to his buddy , "" Look ! It ' s an elephant in chains . Are they protesting us ? ""  In a word : yes . And they ' re clearly glad someone ' s finally noticed .  It ' s a peaceful protest on the first day of the Republican National Convention . It is also illegal .  The city has passed an ordinance that forbids protesters from wearing masks and carrying puppets unless they are inspected by authorities in advance . Police say they are a security risk .  On this night , a bearded man is taking his chances : He balances a papier m ch hammerhead shark face on his head . A shark fin pokes out from his back . He says he ' s portraying a predatory banker .  A 19 year old wearing a bandana on his face is the single protester arrested on Monday . His friends say they don ' t think he heard the police order him to take it off .  "" There is a lot of chaos and confusion in these kinds of protests . What we are trying to do is create more inventive ways to express our issues and to stand out from the crowd , "" says Nathan Pim , the 27 year old founder of the Florida Autonomous Playhouse puppet troupe . He is a man who believes firmly in the effectiveness of protest puppets and doesn ' t want the city pulling protesters ' strings .  "" I can lecture about helping end discrimination against the homeless all the time and no one will listen . If I do it dressed as a panda , for some reason people listen . ""  When Pim and his wife Jillian , also a puppeteer , heard the  convention was coming to Florida , they quit their paying jobs in Fort Lauderdale and moved to Tampa to protest full time .  Pim ' s pet issue is helping the homeless and fighting Florida ' s foreclosure crisis . He is a regular volunteer for Food Not Bombs , which feeds the homeless and the people who come out for protests .  Unsure of the risk , the Autonomous Playhouse puppet troupe held off on bringing their creations to the Monday protests .  "" We didn ' t know if they were really enforcing the ban or not so we were going to wait and see , "" Pim said . "" Plus we had rehearsals for our show "" at the New World Brewery in Ybor City .  The ordinance didn ' t stop Kelly Benjamin , who abided by the letter of the law , got approval and marched wearing a giant Mitt Romney effigy "" Ritt Momney "" bearing a sign that says "" King of the 1 . ""  "" It ' s really ridiculous how much opposition we have had , "" he says . He had his puppet approved by the authorities , he says , but it doesn ' t seem to matter . "" They keep trying to confiscate him and it ' s gotten so bad I now carry the ordinance with me that shows I ' m within the law . ""  Benjamin says he knows the police are just doing their job and that maybe they have a particular paranoia about what might be hiding inside the puppet . He calls it a "" scatological fetish . ""  "" They think all the anarchists will be throwing poop at them . ""  Safe within the boundaries of the brewery , Pim and his fellow performers wait at a back table for the evening ' s performances to start . The opening act is by the activist group Women from Code Pink . They wear bright pink boas and strap on large pink vagina puppets that have bags of fake money on them . They carry signs that say "" read my lips end the war on women . ""  After the dancing vaginas exit the performance area , Autonomous Playhouse sets up its hand painted stage . Ukulele music begins , and up pops a puppet named Momma Nature . She is a tree with a bushy Afro of leaves and a Southern accent . The puppet ' s creator , Haylee Becker , 20 , dropped out of college to work full time with her fellow puppet troupe members . She met them while volunteering for Food Not Bombs back when she was in high school .  "" As just one person I lose my voice too quickly , "" she says , "" but together we sure as hell can make change . ""  Becker says she got involved in feeding the homeless early in life when her parents would write on the invitation to her kiddie parties to bring canned goods rather than gifts .  "" Personally , I wanted the gifts , but as I got older I saw how many people needed help . ""  The tree puppet in this performance , entitled "" Momma Nature vs . the Foreclosure Crisis , "" tells the audience she ' s never missed a mortgage payment . The bank threatens her with foreclosure because of a bad treehouse mortgage . Pim and fellow troop member Nikki Wright introduce the tree to several menacing puppets . A wolf government agent sings "" You ' ve got no value when you ' ve got no worth . "" A tick banker calls Momma Nature a deadbeat and hands her over to an unfeeling panda judge . A puppet cop throws Momma Nature in the slammer .  After her performance , Becker reflects quietly on her mission .  "" I feel obligated to be here and be a part of this protest , "" she says . This is the role she wants to play in the national conversation about politics . She doesn ' t plan to vote in November .  "" Sure , there are things like abortion and health care that could go wrong if the wrong guy gets in office , "" she says . "" But for personal reasons I don ' t think my voice will make that big of a difference .  "" I ' ll vote in other ways : There are other ways to have your voice heard than pushing a button every four years . ""  For now , that voice will be heard through puppets .  Agencies warn of anarchist activity at conventions  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
10941,10942,"Remy escaped the enterprise world and now works as a consultant. Editor-in-Chief for TDWTF.  From : Kirby McCloy Subject : Concerns about  The  project seems to be going down the wrong path. I thought our quarterly goal was for  modernization.  The email carried no specific call to action. It barely had a point, and was little more than bad-natured griping. It also came from Kirby, the CTO. The email triggered a four-alarm underpants fire as every manager on the  project tried to guess what Kirby might possibly mean.  Someplace between the frenzied cries of, “Chris, did you see Kirby’s email? How do we reply?” someone had the bright idea that maybe this was just politics. Maybe Kirby just wanted to feel like he was part of the process, that his input was valued. They could just schedule a little sit-down, with Kirby, the PMs, and a few of the lead developers, and smooth this whole thing over.  Thus, Brittany found herself with an entire Friday afternoon blocked off for a meeting. None of the large conference rooms were available, which meant three PMs, the project coordinator, and four developers had to cram into a small office to review the plan. Thirty minutes into the meeting, they were all huddled around the projector for warmth, and the  was a no-show.  That didn’t dissuade management from trying to keep the meeting on track. “Well, while we wait for Kirby,” Chris said, “we can make sure we’re all on the same page. Let’s review the current plan.”  For the next two hours, the PMs nattered on about critical paths, resource leveling, and project milestones that were already unlikely to bear any resemblance to reality, and would only slip farther with each new bit of overmanagement. Brittany was nearly asleep when Chris called her name. “Why don’t you tell us about the technical side for the web team?”  “Well,” Brittany said, “ is a pretty straightforward  app.” She noticed the vaguely surprised and offended look among some of the PMs and quickly explained, “Create-read-update-delete. A basic data-management tool.” The application needed to be accessible from the corporate office, at manufacturing sites, and at customer locations, and work on mobile devices. “All in all, it’s very similar to apps like RDR, TPM, and PlusPoint, so we’re planning to use the same tech-stack.”  Specifically,  Server for the database, C# for the backend services, and Angular2 and Typescript on the front-end. A good stretch of the project could be scaffolded out with automated tools, and most of the rest could be lifted from other projects. The hard parts- the 10% of the code that’d take 90% of the time to build- were the places where it needed to talk to the  system.  Brittany was in the process of making this explanation when Kirby swept into the room. “Sorry I’m late,” he said, “and I can’t stay long. But I have a few issues I’d like this team to address. First, there are a lot of resources on this project. I want you to be lean. There should be one developer on this project.”  “That’s impossible,” Brittany said.  The  rolled right over her. “It is if you’re using the right tools. Before this meeting, I did a little research, and did you know that Python is the number two programming language in the world? We’re going to use that for this project, which should make our developer more efficient.”  This statement was greeted with silence and a vaguely shell-shocked look. The  took this for agreement, rapped his knuckles on the table, and said. “Great. Good. Get on that. Email me with any questions. Now, if you’ll excuse me…” What a Python might look like  As the door closed behind Kirby, Chris stepped up. “Okay, so you heard what the  suggested. Let’s not go making any big decisions just yet. Scott, Lisa, I need you to write up a clearer picture of the  side of the project, and why we need multiple  developers. Larry, Bob- you do the same for the web team. Brittany, before you leave for the day, I need you to do an alternatives analysis that compares our current tech with Python. Be objective and fair, but… well…”  “Well,” indeed. Brittany had no real opposition to Python as a language, but definitely did not like the idea of making a massive shift just on a CTO’s whims. She focused her analysis on a few key points. First, no one in their organization actually knew Python. Their entire portfolio was some flavor of . and the newer projects had added Angular. Their entire toolchain, build-process, continuous integration process, etc., all were built to support C# and Angular projects. Even beyond that, Python didn’t perform as well as C#, and since the requirements wanted a single-page application, they’d need to use Angular anyway , so there was no getting rid of Angular.  Brittany did her best to be thorough. That was easy. Being polite was harder. She was working late on Friday night to get the document over to Chris, who was also working late. When she hit send, he instantly replied to her with a big “THANKS!”. She went home, and ignored work until Monday.  On Monday, there was an email from Chris. “Got a meeting with Kirby at 11AM. Will follow up after.”  At 11:15, Brittany got an email from Kirby. “Saw your analysis,” he wrote, “but with 1 hour of research, I can disagree with it. Angular and TypeScript is old. Python is new, and Google is writing everything with it. Python is the best practices for development.”  The project was put on hold while everyone tried to talk some sense into Kirby. Kirby was adamant, though: he read that Google used Python, and so Initech also needed to use Python. “If our team still needs to use Angular, just use the Python version,” were his final words on the subject.  Brittany pulled Chris aside. “Chris, does Kirby even know what Python is? He clearly doesn’t know what Angular is. What happens if we just say, ‘Yes, we’ll use Python ,’ and then… don’t?”  And that’s how Brittany completed her first major development project in Python, although it didn’t actually contain a single line of Python code. [Advertisement] Manage  infrastructure as code across all environments with Puppet . Puppet Enterprise now offers more control and insight, with role-based access control, activity logging and all-new Puppet Apps. Start your free trial today!",fake,news,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
10973,10974,"Vile  Senator Tom Cotton made the mistake of facing his constituents on Wednesday, and things could not possibly have gone worse for him   especially after one elderly woman whose healthcare he was trying to take away got ahold of him. We re doing Medicare my way, not your way. My way,  the woman told Cotton, who was one of the Republican Senators who sent a letter vowing to undo Obama s Iran deal.  I ve got a husband dying and we can t afford   let me tell you something, if you can get us better coverage than this go for it.  She then lays out the cost of her and her husband s current care: $29 for him and $39 for her   rates that no  plan (they still have not presented an actual plan) could beat. I have sent you one message after the other, sir, about our family,  she told her Senator, chiding him for responding to her concerns with the same form letter every single time.  I live just down the road a few places from your office, and I have invited you into our home, and not a word, except a classic, regular letter sent. Other attendees hammered Cotton for not taking a tougher stance on Russia and voiced a number of legitimate concerns. While the response to Cotton s presence was largely negative, one woman told him that she thinks the majority in Arkansas support him. She was met with a chorus of boos from the audience   because no one likes Tom Cotton.Watch our heroine wreck Cotton s week below:Voter to @SenTomCotton: My husband is dying. We can't afford health insurance. What kind of insurance do you have? weblink   (@CNN) February 22, 2017Featured image via screengrab",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
10981,10982,"Djokovic equaled Roy Emerson ' s long standing record of six Australian Open titles and increased his career haul to 11 Grand Slam titles , including four of the last five .  Murray became only the second man to lose five finals at one major Ivan Lendl lost five and won three U . S . Open finals in the 1980s .  Five time champion Novak Djokovic has taken a 2 set lead in the Australian Open final against Andy Murray , winning the second set 7 5 after taking the first 6 1 . Djokovic , down three game points in the 11th game , rallied to break Murray , including a point from a 36 shot rally .  Djokovic then held serve , saving one break point , to clinch the second set in 1 hour , 20 minutes . He won the first set in 30 minutes .  Murray held service to lead 2 1 in a near 11 minute game with five deuces which included a time violation warning for taking too long between serves . Right after the warning , he hit an ace to bring the game back to deuce , then also had an ace to clinch it .  The two exchanged service breaks in the seventh and eighth games the first time Murray had broken through in five break point chances to that stage of the match .  Djokovic has never lost a final at the Australian Open , while Murray is 0 4 in finals here .  Five time champion Novak Djokovic has steamrolled Andy Murray 6 1 in a 30 minute first set of the Australian Open men ' s final .  Djokovic took a 2 0 lead when he held his opening service game after saving a break point , then watched as Murray double faulted to give him a break in the next game . He held his service at love in the next game for a 3 0 lead , then broke again when Murray ' s backhand floated long .  It was a disturbing start for Murray , who has lost all four previous finals here , three of them to Djokovic in 2011 , 2013 and 2015 .  Djokovic has won 21 of 30 matches between the two , and has won the title every time he ' s reached the final at Melbourne Park .  Elena Vesnina and Bruno Soares won the last four points of the match tiebreaker to capture the mixed doubles championship at the Australian Open with 6 4 , 4 6 , 10 5 win over Coco Vandeweghe and Hora Tecau . It was Soares ' second doubles title in 18 hours at Melbourne Park he and partner Jamie Murray beat Daniel Nestor and Radek Stepanek 2 6 , 6 4 , 7 5 in a match that ended after midnight Saturday .  Vesnina of Russia and Soares of Brazil fell behind 3 0 in the tiebreaker before coming back to take a 6 3 lead , then 6 5 before taking the last four points of the match .  The official tournament program for Sunday said that American Vandeweghe had to do a computer search for Tecau ' s name when the Romanian approached her coach to see if she wanted to team up for this tournament she didn ' t know much about his playing pedigree .  Tecau won the 2012 mixed doubles title with another American , Bethanie Mattek Sands .  It was Vesnina ' s third final at Melbourne Park after making the 2012 mixed doubles final and 2014 women ' s doubles final . It was her sixth mixed doubles final in a Grand Slam tournament , and her first win .  Australian Open quarterfinalist David Ferrer has moved up to sixth place in projected  rankings effective Monday in a straight switch with Tomas Berdych , who slips down to eighth .  Otherwise , most of the top players haven ' t changed . Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray will remain Nos . 1 and 2 regardless of the result of their Sunday night final at Melbourne Park . Roger Federer , who lost to Djokovic in the semifinals , remains at 3 , Stan Wawrinka at 4 and Rafael Nadal , a first round loser to Fernando Verdasco , rounds out the top 5 .  Following No . 6 Ferrer is Kei Nishikori , unchanged at 7 , and Berdych . Jo Wilfried Tsonga moves to No . 9 , replacing countryman Richard Gasquet who drops down to 10 .  Milos Raonic , who lost in the semifinals here to Andy Murray , was the biggest mover among the top players , improving three places to No . 11 from 14 , followed by John Isner at No 12 .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
11011,11012,"The moral decay continues The Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children at the University of Hawaii is currently recruiting pregnant girls and women to participate in second-trimester abortions to measure their bleeding during the operation, with and without antihemorrhagic drugs. According to the Clinical Trials website, run by the National Institutes of Health, participants must be at least 14 years old and 18-24 weeks pregnant.The controversial study, led by Bliss Kaneshiro,  and Kate Whitehouse, DO, will monitor bleeding during D&E abortions to determine the effects of the drug oxytocin, commonly used to minimize blood loss and decrease the risk of hemorrhage.The clinical trial, called  Effects of Oxytocin on Bleeding Outcomes during Dilation and Evacuation  began in October 2014 and is a collaboration between UH, Society of Family Planning and the University of Washington.The Society of Family Planning funds a number of similar research projects, such as experimenting with the dosage of Misoprostol, a uterine contracting agent, prior to surgical abortions at 13-18 weeks and exploring umbilical cord injections to produce fetal death prior to late-term abortions.In the  study, researchers will carry out a  randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trials,  to determine the effect of oxytocin s use on uterine bleeding, meaning that they will either provide or deny intravenous oxytocin to the women.Reports suggest that some doctors are concerned that withholding oxytocin during surgery may put patients, especially teen girls, at risk. This study is reminiscent of Nazi concentration camp experiments. I pity the poor women who are being treated like lab rats, especially those who are denied the drug to reduce hemorrhaging,  said Troy Newman, President of Operation Rescue.Dilation and evacuation abortions are surgical procedures that involve dismembering the pre-born baby with forceps, scraping the inside of the uterus with a curette to remove any residuals and finally suctioning out the womb to make sure the contents are completely removed.After the abortion, the corpse of the fetus is reassembled and examined to ensure everything was successfully removed and that the abortion was complete.The study is hoping to attract up to 166 test subjects and is expected to conclude in July 2015.Via: Breitbart News",fake,dataset,test,US elections,Sports/Other,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
11024,11025,"Many people will be taking time out today to do something special for their loved one on Valentine ' s .  But for one man , this means spending time with the ' love of his life ' Lila a blow up yellow dragon .  Mark , 20 , has been addicted to his 15 inflatable pool toys for the past six years but claims to be in love with his favourite Lila .  Inflated love : Mark , 20 , is obsessed with inflatables toys and claims to be in love with a blow up yellow dragon called Lila  Time for tea : Mark , 20 , from Redlands , California , sits down to dinner with four inflatable friends who also have servings of food laid out for them  Constant companions : Mark refuses to be separated from his inflatables for more than a day  Confession : Mark talks about his obsession on the  show My Strange Addiction  Mark , from Redlands , California , sleeps with his collection of inflatables and even cooks food fro them so they can sit down for dinner with him .  His favourite is a yellow dragon that he has named Lila and he even sleeps with her lying on top of him .  Mark , who features in the   show My Strange Addiction , says he would even marry Lila because he loves her so much .  He showers her with kisses and can be seen sitting on the couch stroking her during the programme .  Bedtime : Mark also sleeps with his inflatables often cuddling up to them  Six year addiction : Mark believes his addiction began when he was just 14 years old  For better or worse : Mark says he would marry his favourite Lila pictured because he loves her  Quite a collection : Mark has a total of 15 blow up pool toys which are kept inflated at all times at his home  Mark believes his addiction began at the age of 14 when he purchased a whale for his pool and turned to the inflatables for the affection he claims he never got from his mother .  He now refuses to be separated from them for more than a day .  Mark says he loves the inflatables because they are ' soft and cuddly ' and he can talk to them .  Mark agreed to see a psychologist after his friend Josh and cousin Matt stepped in .  After several sessions Mark is now interacting with more people but still has his inflatables at home .  Joined at the hip : Mark takes his inflatables with him when he leaves the house  Splashing around : Mark became obsessed with the blow up toys after he got an inflatable for the swimming pool  Having a whale of a time : Mark kisses his inflatable killer whale before going to sleep  Loving : Mark claims the inflatables are a replacement for the affection he never received from his mother  Bath time : Mark gives all of his inflatables a bath and treats them like his babies  Working progress : Mark has been seeing a psychologist to help with his addiction  Cuddly toys : Mark says he loves the softness of the inflatables because he can cuddle them  Young love : Mark and his inflatable yellow dragon Lila sit on a sofa to watch   Study partner : Mark has his inflatables round him all the time even when he is studying  Mark has started interacting with people again but still won ' t give up his inflatables  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
11032,11033,"Tuesday 8 November 2016 by Gary Stanton Americans given historic opportunity to tell Donald Trump to go fuck himself  Americans are today being given a once in a lifetime opportunity to tell Donald Trump to go fuck himself.  According to experts, today’s vote is less an opportunity to select the leader of the free world, so much as the chance to remind Donald Trump what an arsehole they all think he is.  Democratic countries around the globe are today united in telling Americans they have a unique chance to show the world that they have the ability to guide a leading nation in the direction of societal harmony, equality for all, and telling racists to go fuck themselves.   political expert, Chuck Williams, told us, “Setting the persuasive policy arguments made by the candidates to one side, the United States will wake on Wednesday morning to either of two plausible realities.  “One in which the downcast misogynist billionaire leader has been roundly told to fuck the fuck off, or another in which he enjoys a prolonged, ill-tempered orgasm on the Fox News network.”  Williams urged Americans to imagine a forward-looking country in which Donald Trump isn’t constantly forced to appear on the news in order to defend himself against accusation after inevitable accusation of improper behaviour, both privately and professionally.  He concluded, “You can either offer a number of quiet ‘fuck you’s at him many, many times over the next four years, or you can give him one enormous one today.  “Choose wisely.” Get the best NewsThump stories in your mailbox every Friday, for FREE! There are currently ",fake,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
11036,11037,"Visitors will be able to travel through time when One World Trade Center opens next month .  Those taking the elevator to the observation deck will watch an incredible time lapse video of the growth of Lower Manhattan from the 1500s to the present day as they ascend to the top .  The video , shared by The New York Times on Monday , will play during the 47 seconds it will take visitors to reach the 102nd floor observatory .  At the start of the ascent , the film shows the city as an expanse of wild vegetation and marshes before it was settled by the Dutch in the 1600s .  Houses , churches , markets and bustling ports begin cropping up across Lower Manhattan as the Europeans make the city their home before high rise buildings start jutting into the sky throughout the 1800s . The Brooklyn Bridge can also be seen stretching across the East River to Brooklyn .  But it ' s throughout the 20th century when the skyline begins to change most dramatically , with scores of skyscrapers emerging , including the Woolworth Building and the Singer Building .  From the end of the 1960s , the facade of the doomed south tower of the former trade center begins to appear on the screen before it vanishes less than four seconds later .  David W . Checketts , the chairman of Legends Hospitality , the company operating the three level observatory , said including the tower and a reference to the tragedy on 9 11 seemed necessary .  ' The event is certainly a key part of history , ' he told the Times . ' We did not think you could ignore it .  View : An image shows how the 102nd floor observatory will look when it opens to the public next month  As visitors travel up One World Trade Center , pictured last week , they will see an incredible time lapse video of the growth of the city between the 1500s and the present day , including the construction of the towers  ' Having it appear in the year it did and disappear in the year it did was the respectful way of addressing the fact that it was part of the landscape . '  The final part of the ascent shows scaffolding around the elevator , signifying the developing new building , before the journey ends and visitors step off into the newly finished observatory .  The panoramic images are displayed on three high definition monitors on the sides of the elevators , and on the way down , visitors will watch a different film .  On the video played during the descent , the elevator cab appears to leave the tower and sail around it before re entering through windows that ultimately slide apart , the Times reported .  The observatory opens on May 29 . Tickets went on sale last week .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
11062,11063,"Paul Oliver , a former defensive back for the University of Georgia and the San Diego Chargers , was found dead this week , apparently from a self inflicted gunshot .  His death marks the latest in a string of suicides among former professional football players .  "" Everyone in the Chargers family is sad today after hearing the news about Paul , "" a statement from the  team said . "" He was part of our family for five years . At just 29 years old , he still had a lifetime in front of him . Right now all of our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this most difficult time . ""  A tale of two former  players and their brains  Oliver leaves behind a wife and two children , The Atlanta Journal Constitution reported .  "" We appreciate all the thoughts and prayers , "" Oliver ' s family said in a statement to The San Diego Union Tribune . "" We request privacy in the wake of this tragic loss . ""  Mark Richt , coach of the University of Georgia Bulldogs , called it "" a very sad day . ""  "" I just want to say it ' s been rough , "" he told reporters . "" I just want to tell everybody in his family that we ' re thinking about them and we love them . We ' ll do whatever we can to help . ""  Police found Oliver ' s body Tuesday night at the bottom of a set of stairs in a home in Marietta , Georgia , Cobb County police spokesman Sgt . Dana Pierce said . A family member had called 911 .  The county medical examiner ruled the death a suicide by handgun and gave police authorization to release the cause .  Opinion : Junior Seau was hurting and didn ' t know how to say it  Oliver played for the Chargers from 2007 to 2011 , recording 144 tackles in 57 games .  A former teammate , Eric Weddle , described Oliver as "" charismatic , funny but also quiet and reserved , "" The Union Tribune reported . "" He never said a bad word about anyone . Just a good , genuine guy . ""  Oliver ' s high school coach in Georgia , Bruce Cobleigh , said Oliver was a leader .  Cobleigh said he hadn ' t talked with his former player in recent years as much as when he was in Georgia , but the coach had fielded calls much of Wednesday from former teammates of Oliver who were all surprised by his death .  The circumstances of his apparent suicide were not immediately clear .  Suicides of some other former  players involved brain injuries .  Former  player wants brain studied  Star  linebacker Junior Seau was 43 when he took his own life in May 2012 . The National Institutes of Health later found he suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy , or  , a neurodegenerative brain disease that can follow multiple hits to the head .  A study published in December in the journal Brain looked at brain tissue of 34 professional football players after they died . All but one showed evidence of disease .   Concussions Fast Facts  In April 2012 , former Atlanta Falcons safety Ray Easterling , 62 , committed suicide . An autopsy found signs of  .  In February 2011 , former Chicago Bears defensive back Dave Duerson , 50 , committed suicide with a gunshot to the chest , rather than his head , so his brain could be researched for  . Boston University researchers found the disease in his brain .  In December 2012 , Jovan Belcher of the Kansas City Chiefs killed his girlfriend before taking his own life . His remains were not tested for  , media reports said .  The  launched a crisis support line in July 2012 for players , former players and their families . Called  Life Line , it operates independently from the  and promises to keep all calls confidential .  "" There is no higher priority for the National Football League than the health and wellness of our players , ""  Commissioner Roger Goodell wrote in a letter to personnel and fans at the time .   and ex players reach deal in concussion lawsuit  ",true,text,test,American football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
11065,11066,"According to a groundbreaking new study from the University of Victoria , applying sunscreen drastically increases your chances of looking stupid .  Researchers analyzed data from over 60 adults who were followed over a four month period . Half of them were told to apply  20 or greater on their face and body . The other half were told to use sunscreen at their own discretion , unless they had any interest at all in ever getting laid .  "" Among other things , we found that those who regularly used sunscreen to protect themselves from the sun ' s harmful  radiation ended up with an 85 higher chance of coming across as basement dwelling dweebs , "" said Dr Steven Demelo , a researcher from the University of Victoria .  The findings of the completed study showed that open and widely accepted public mocking was directly correlated with how much sand stuck to somebody ' s back when they lay down at the beach .  "" My shirt always felt really uncomfortable and sticky to put on after a day of wearing sunscreen at the beach , "" said David Richards , a sunscreen wearing participant in the study . "" But at least I used the spray on kind and didn ' t publicly rub myself down with warm cream , like some sort of pervert . ""  Still , some dermatologists maintain that the findings just reinforce what cool people already know and tell their friends or colleagues .  "" If you ask most dermatologists , they ' ll tell you the only thing they recommend for people who really want to avoid looking like idiots in public is , don ' t use sunscreen , "" ' said Dr Laura Chang , from  .  Nevertheless , the researchers hope that the study will raise awareness about how large a percentage of the public are complete dorks .  "" There ' s definitely a sizable chunk of the population who leave a macroscopic filmy residue in the beach water when they go swimming , "" said Demelo . "" It ' s not too much of a leap to assume they also practice other forms of questionable social behaviour , such as tucking their pants into their socks . ""  The study concluded that getting cancer was preferable to using sunscreen , as the risk of premature death was offset by the existence of an actual shot at procreating .  ",satire,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,satire,True,no,no,negative,past
11072,11073,"Inventions from the Wright brother ' s flying machine to Apple ' s iPod are some of the most instantly recognisable in the world and define entire eras .  Now a group of artists have sourced the patents for the game changing gadgets and recreated their designs in a collection of stylish blueprints to celebrate the iconic designs .  They include inventions as simple as the Lego brick and other more complex designs , such as the first typewriter or a Harley Davidson motorcycle .  A group of artists have sourced the patents for iconic objects and recreated their designs in a collection of stylish blueprints . They include the print for Nintendo ' s Game Boy ( pictured ) which together with the later Game Boy Colour , sold almost 119 million units across the world  The designs were the idea of the Florida based art company Oliver Gal Artist Co , whose works feature not only the intricate designs of the objects , but also the history behind each .  The company hopes that in a world where inventions that are becoming ever more complex , the images will stand as a reminder of the thinking that went into each of the classic designs .  The reworked blueprints include some of our favourite toys such as the Lego brick , which was awarded it ' s for U . S . patent for a ' toy building brick ' in 1961 and has now expired meaning that anyone can copy it .  Another design featuring in the series includes the first iPod , which was released on October 23 , 2001 , just over eight months after iTunes was released . It had just 5GB of storage and because it was expensive and only compatible with Macs , sales were pretty slow until 2004  World changing inventions such as the gun and first flying machine are also included in the series of blueprints . One of them ( pictured ) shows the firing mechanism of the revolver handgun , which was patented on December 6 , 1881  Since the Danish company began making its interlocking bricks in 1949 , around 560 billion have been produced .  The blueprints also feature another childhood favourite the Slinky which was patented in 1947 . The toy was invented by naval engineer Richard James in 1943 and was a sell out hit when it launched for 1 two years later . In 60 years it has sold over 300 million units and has been used as a toy , teaching tool , wartime radio antenna and even as a physics experiment by Nasa .  Blueprints of the Rubik ' s Cube go some way as to explain its fiendish difficulty to solve . In a classic Rubik ' s Cube each of the six faces is covered by nine stickers in white , red , blue , yellow , green and orange and an internal pivot mechanism enables each face to turn independently to mix up the colours .  The way we listen to music has changed dramatically over the decades . A re designed blueprint for the phonograph record is pictured left , and another for the tape a symbol of the 1980s is pictured on the right , showing its intricate method of feeding film between rollers  The retractable ballpoint pen is pictured . Ballpoint pens have been around since 1888 and dispense a viscous ink from an internal reservoir through the rolling action of a metal ball at its point . The mechanism was originally developed as a cleaner and reliable alternative to fountain pens and millions are manufactured and sold every day  Sewing machines were invented during the first Industrial Revolution to decrease the amount of manual sewing work performed in clothing companies . Since the invention of the first working sewing machine , generally considered to have been the work of Englishman Thomas Saint in 1790 , there have been many designs , including the Wheeler Dial model ( pictured left ) . The classic and intricate design of the typewriter is pictured on the right  World changing inventions such as the gun and first flying machine are also included in the series of blueprints .  One of them shows the firing mechanism of the revolver handgun , which was patented on December 6 , 1881 .  The ingenious structure of the Wright brothers ' flying machine was patented in 1906 by the two American aviation pioneers who built the world ' s first successful airplane and made the first controlled and powered human flight in a machine heavier than air , in 1903 .  The Slinky was patented in 1947 and was invented by naval engineer Richard James in 1943 . It was a sell out hit when it launched for 1 two years later . In 60 years it has sold over 300million units and has been used as a toy , teaching tool , wartime radio antenna and even as a physics experiment by Nasa  Photographic viewfinder apparatus by H . A . Bing is included in the collection of re worked blueprints , ( pictured left ) along with the design for a compact camera with a zoom , which was awarded a patent in 1932 , pictured right , despite looking more modern than the 1960s design on the left  Blueprints of the Rubik ' s Cube ( pictured ) go some way as to explain its fiendish difficulty to solve . In a classic Rubik ' s Cube each of the six faces is covered by nine stickers in white , red , blue , yellow , green and orange and an internal pivot mechanism enables each face to turn independently to mix up the colours  It is easy to forget that items we take for granted , like the tennis racket , were invented and designed by someone . The method for stringing the racket ( pictured left ) was patented in 1907 and the design of boxing gloves ( pictured right ) was patented in 1923  In more modern times , objects such as the vinyl record , the iPod and Nintendo Game Boy are easily recognisable and are part of the series of artwork based on their original blueprints .  The U . S . patent for Nintendo ' s Game Boy was awarded in 1993 . It was Nintendo ' s second held held games console and together with the Game Boy Colour , sold almost 119million units across the world . The console has been a huge success since its launch , when it sold its entire shipment in the U . S . within a few weeks .  One of the most recognisable guitars in the world , the Gibson Les Paul is a solid body electric guitar that was first sold in 1952 . Versions of the famous model have been played by guitar legends including Jimi Hendrix , Pete Townsend , Jimmy Page , Slash and Eric Clapton . A patent of the boom box , which became a must have of the 1980s and 1990s , is pictured right  The re worked blueprints include some of our favourite toys such as the Lego brick , which was awarded it ' s for U . S . patent for a ' toy building brick ' in 1961 and has now expired meaning that anyone can copy it  While CDs were not widely adapted until the late 1980s , and became the main music format in the 1990s , a patent for the technology ( pictured left ) was filed in 1960 . A patent for the forward lean adjuster mechanism for ski boots is pictured on the right  The iPod might have spawned a hundred imitations , but the original AppleMP3 player was patented as recently as 2008 .  The first iPod was released on October 23 , 2001 , just over eight months after iTunes was released with 5GB of storage but because it was expensive and only compatible with Macs , sales were pretty slow until 2004 . Since then there have been six generations of iPod , the largest of which has 160GB of storage , as well as more compact iPod Minis , Nanos and Shuffles and the iPod Touch , which has a touch screen much like the iPhone .  Berliner Gramophone was an early record label , the first company to produce disc ' gramophone records ' pictured playing on this intricate gramophone ( left ) and a version of the 1887 blueprint for an old camera pictured right  The ingenious structure of the Wright brothers ' flying machine ( pictured ) was patented in 1906 by the two American aviation pioneers who built the world ' s first successful airplane and made the first controlled and powered human flight in a machine heavier than air , in 1903  There have been many tweaks to bicycle design over the years , but this blueprint of the velocipede ( pictured left ) , patented in 1890 still has classic appeal . The yo yo was patented in 1866 and was first made popular in the 1920s but it was first invented in ancient Greece  Harley Davidson Inc was founded in the first decade of the 20th century and was one of two major American motorcycle manufacturers to survive the Great Depression . The motorcycles ( pictured ) are known for the tradition of heavy customisation that gave rise to the ' chopper ' style of motorcycle  It is hard to believe that Apple ' s first personal compute , which was patented in 1983 , ( pictured left ) led to the development of the company ' s super slim offerings like the iPad and MacBook Air today . The blueprint for an elaborate cash register with beautiful art nouveau style detailing is pictured on the right  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
11078,11079,"Super Bowl champions New England Patriots will begin the 2015  season at home to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday , September 10 .  The  released the full schedule for the 2015 campaign on Tuesday night and , as is tradition , the reigning champions will host the opening game of the season .  Week one also features a prime time showdown between the New York Giants and their  East rivals Dallas Cowboys .  Tom Brady ' s New England Patriots will take on the Pittsburgh Steelers in the opening game of the season  Ben Roethlisberger ' s Pittsburgh Steelers will be the visitors to the Gillette Stadium on September 10   will begin their season of Monday Night Football with a double header in week one with the Atlanta Falcons hosting the Philadelphia Eagles and the San Francisco 49ers against the Minnesota Vikings .  Seattle Seahawks , who were beaten by New England Patriots in Arizona in the Super Bowl , will visit the Green Bay Packers in week two in a rematch of their  Championship Game from last season .  Week 12 of the season will see the traditional Thanksgiving triple header take place with the Green Bay Packers taking on divisional rivals the Chicago Bears .  Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys will also host their annual Thanksgiving games against Philadelphia Eagles and Carolina Panthers respectively .   champions Seattle Seahawks will play the St Louis Rams in their opening game of the season  Aaron Rodgers ' Green Bay Packers will take on the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field on Thanksgiving night  This season will also see three games played at Wembley Stadium as part of the  International Series .  The Miami Dolphins and New York Jets will travel to London on October 4 before the Jacksonville Jaguars take on the Buffalo Bills on October 25 , with the Kansas City Chiefs playing the Detroit Lions on November 1 .  Last year ' s game between the Atlanta Falcons and Detroit Lions kicked of at 9 . 30am Eastern Time ( 1 . 30pm  ) , and all three Wembley games this season will follow suit , meaning afternoon starts for  fans .  For the full 2015 season schedule , visit NFLweblink .  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
11079,11080,"Kevin O ' Neil had an unfortunate accident yesterday where he lost his right arm . "" I was reaching into the mower to clear some grass that clogged the mower . "" Kevin told reporters before heading back to surgery .  Wednesday evening Mr O ' Neil was mowing his lawn when he hit a slightly taller patch of grass . As the mower has done a hundred times before , it stopped instantly . Kevin lifted the mower and started to clear the grass so that he could restart it . He was able to remove 2 handfuls until the unexpected happened .  Unfortunately for Kevin , the mower suddenly started up pulling his hand and arm into the mower thus severing it off . Luckily for Kevin ' s quick wits he took his belt and made a quick tourniquet . He ran inside and called 911 .  He was rushed by ambulance to the local hospital but his arm was so mangled that surgeons planed to only stabilize the bleeding . Kevin was then able to have his arm saved at the elbow joint .  "" I don ' t get it , why can ' t my arm be made of the stuff that makes tall grass ? Mr O ' Neil complained . "" I mean my two bones didn ' t stand a chance . If I would have mowed over the Scarecrow , he would have survived but Dorothy ? A gonner . It doesn ' t make no sense . ""  Hearing this from the window the Wicked Witch of the West , who was sitting on the window ledge , hopped on her broom and flew away crackling , "" I ' ll get you , my pretty . "" A nurse saw this and defenestrated a chair , and tried to knock her off her broom . A valiant effort , but unsuccessful due to her entourage of flying monkeys .  "" Uh oh , "" Kevin said after seeing what just transpired , "" I should have kept my dumb mouth shut ! Sorry , Dorothy . ""  ",satire,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,satire,True,no,no,positive,past
11091,11092,"Celtic boss Ronny Deila began preparing for next season by signing Dundee United ' s Gary Mackay Steven on a pre contract agreement .  The Parkhead side confirmed on Friday that the 24 year old Scotland winger will join the Scottish champions this summer .  Mackay Steven , who started his career with Ross County , made his first team debut for United in July 2011 , and has gone on to make almost 130 appearances for the Tayside club .  Celtic boss Ronny Deila has signed Dundee United winger Gary Mackay Steven on a pre contract agreement  United , in a statement , claimed the player had rejected several attempts to extend his contract , ' including an offer that would have made him one of the highest earners at Tannadice ' .  ' He is a player we have been looking at for a long time , ' said Deila as he prepared for the trip to Hamilton on Saturday , where defender Adam Matthews ruled out revenge as motive for Celtic ' s bid for victory .  The Lanarkshire side grabbed the headlines in October when they beat Deila ' s men 1 0 at Parkhead with their first win over the Hoops in 76 years .  Celtic went on an impressive run of nine league wins after that but still have not been able to shake off Accies , who can go level on points with the Parkhead side , albeit the Hoops have two games in hand following their return from the winter break in Gran Canaria .  The 24 year old scores against Hamilton during a Scottish Premiership match  Matthews , who missed the defeat to Hamilton , said : ' You don ' t like to lose to any team . But we ' re not looking for revenge .  ' We go into this game the same we do every game looking to win and play as well as we can .  ' Obviously we were disappointed to lose against them but since that defeat we went on a good run , I think nine games unbeaten . Maybe that was the wake up call we needed .  ' It ' s going to be a tough game but we know what we ' ve got to do and we ' re fully focused on the job ahead .  ' Obviously there ' s a bit more pressure playing catch up but we know if we win our games in hand we go back top . '  The Parkhead side confirmed that the 24 year old Scotland cap will join the Scottish champions this summer  Celtic ' s last outing at Kilmarnock saw them win 2 0 in impressive fashion on Rugby Park ' s artificial surface .  Accies also have a plastic pitch but the Wales international was not for putting two and two together .  He said : ' They are difficult pitches to play on because you don ' t see them every day .  ' We played really well against Kilmarnock . Sometimes the pitch can be sticky so I think the rain helped .  ' We ' ve just go to see what it ' s like when we get there . Hopefully we can play the same as we did against Kilmarnock . if not , we ' ve got to adapt quickly and find a way to win the game . '  Celtic manager Ronny Deila takes training on Thursday afternoon  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
11101,11102,"Luis Suarez has admitted he was moved by Steven Gerrard ' s video tribute last week when he was awarded the Golden Shoe for his 31 goals last season by former manager Kenny Dalglish .  ' For such an important person in football to say that he missed me at Liverpool and to thank me for what I had done there , was emotional , ' said Suarez in a TV3 interview in Barcelona .  ' He was incredible as a team mate for me , and the club treated me so well too . First by having the faith in me to sign me and then by supporting me in the way that they did . That is why I wanted someone important from the club to present me with the award . '   Scroll down to see Steven Gerrard pay tribute to Luis Suarez  Luis Suarez was all smiles during Barcelona ' s training session on Monday and here grins with Neymar ( left )  The striker has not played in a competitive match since June when he lined up for Uruguay against Italy  Suarez looks on in training as Barca trained ahead of Tuesday ' s match against Ajax in the Champions League  The former Liverpool frontman has revealed it was emotional watching Steven Gerrard pay tribute to him  Gerrard ' s tribute was played when Suarez received the Golden Shoe award from Kenny Dalglish last week  The Uruguayan forward makes his point during Barcelona ' s training session on Monday  Suarez admits in the interview he thought he had ' ruined his career ' when his bite on Giorgio Chiellini earned him a four month ban from all football activity .  ' I thought that I had ruined my career , ' he said . ' At the start I didn ' t want to speak to anyone , I hid away behind my family although later I thought about it , I said sorry and I felt relief as a result .  ' When I got the call from my representative I couldn ' t believe the faith that Barcelona were showing in me in this moment after everything that had happened .  ' When the talks began with Barcelona and when ( his agent ) Pere Guardiola phoned me to say that it was all done I started to cry due to the situation that I was in and for the support that Barcelona were offering me .  Suarez ( far right ) has admitted he feared for his career after his bite on Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini  ' I had been worried that Barca would decide against it due to all the repercussions from the situation . '  Suarez makes his debut on Saturday against Real Madrid , although he says he is not taking selection for granted and has been blown away by the level of his new team mates .  The former Liverpool striker said : ' If you are impressed by watching them on television then when you see them up close in training you are left even more impressed .  Lionel Messi looked relaxed in Barca ' s training session as the team prepared to take on Ajax  The Argentina star has scored eight goals in the first 10 games of the season for Barcelona  Messi ' s last Champions League hat trick was against Tuesday ' s opponents Ajax  Veteran midfielder Xavi has had a resurgence this season and scored on Saturday against Eibar  ' You see a team mate with three players around him and he still makes the pass and you just think : ' how did he do that ? '  ' I don ' t want to tempt fate by imagining myself playing against Real , ' he added .  ' It is not my style to tell the trainer to play me in the game . I wouldn ' t dream of saying to Luis Enrique that I want to play in the Bernabeu . If I don ' t play then I won ' t be angry , I want to help my team mates and feel like a footballer again . '  Brazilian superstar Neymar laughs as he goes through his paces in Monday ' s training session  Brazilian Defender Dani Alves ( left ) and manager Luis Enrique enjoy Barca ' s training session   Liverpool an important part of my life Suarez  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
11102,11103,"For a deadline day which ranked as relatively low key in comparison to previous transfer windows , it still managed to throw up all manner of questions and puzzlers .  Here , Sportsmail attempts to answer some of the complexities which emerged and managed to bamboozle us all amid the lack of transfer activity . . .  Right , let ' s start with the ' deadline ' itself when is it ?  It is still 11pm . Domestic transfers , however , can be granted an extension until 1am , and international transfers until midnight .  So if you realise at 11 . 30pm you need a new striker then you can get on the phone ?  West Brom boss Tony Pulis managed to sign Darren Fletcher but was unable to bring in Carlton Cole  No a ' deal sheet ' must be submitted to the Premier League before 11pm . So , in effect , that is still the deadline for all parties agreeing to a transfer and putting their approval to a sheet which says it is going to happen .  If the Premier League has this by 11pm then they will grant an extension to finalise all other paperwork .  Juan Cuadrado completed his big money move to Chelsea from Fiorentina on the transfer deadline day  What is a ' deal sheet ' ?  It is an emergency measure which can only be used after 9pm and no later than 11pm . After that documents such as the contract , the transfer agreement and permission to work in the  must be submitted .  Hull submitted a deal sheet in the case of Dame N ' Doye , who they signed from Lokomotiv Moscow but only confirmed at midnight .  Dame N ' Doye ( left ) signed for Hull City from Lokomotiv Moscow but the Tigers needed the use of a deal sheet  This one is a bit of a head scratcher how many clubs can a player represent in one season ?   rules state that a player can be registered with a maximum of three clubs but can only play for two of those .  Hatem Ben Arfa is the most high profile example of a player who has fallen foul of this . He signed for Nice after being released from his contract at Newcastle but  intervened and prevented him from playing for the Ligue 1 club .  Why ? Well , he had already appeared for Hull during a season long stay which was terminated in January and for Newcastle ' s Under 21s , which is classed as an official fixture by  . Therefore , he was free to sign for Nice but not eligible to play .  Hatem Ben Arfa signed for Nice from Newcastle but was banned because he was registered with three clubs  Is there a way around this for Ben Arfa ?  Yes . He could move to the  because their 2015 season starts in March and  makes allowances for campaigns in different countries overlapping .  Why then has Tom Ince signed for Derby after playing for Hull and Nottingham Forest already this season ?  In England we have the term ' emergency loan ' which is classified as anything up to 93 days and is not subject to the above rules . For the record , ' emergency loan ' is a Football League term and not one which is particularly endorsed by the Premier League .  Anyway , Ince ' s loan stay at Forest was a short term deal and that is why he is free to sign for Derby until the end of the season . It also why , for example , Connor Wickham was able to play for Sunderland , Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds United last season .  Tom Ince was able to sign for Derby because he only joined Nottingham Forest on an ' emergency loan '  Newcastle have sent  players on loan to Rangers ! How ?  In Scotland ( and the English Football League ) you are allowed to loan a maximum of two players from one club . However , under  rules , there is no restriction on cross border loans , hence Rangers being able to bring in five Newcastle players in one hit .  As for the dual interest of Newcastle owner Mike Ashley and his 8 . 9 per cent stake in Rangers , well that raises questions for another topic entirely .  Gael Bigirimana was one of five players who Rangers loaned fom Newcastle United  What happened with Mauro Zarate and Matt Jarvis ?  Zarate signed for  on loan earlier this month from West Ham . Premier League rules state you can only loan one player from another top flight club .   then decided that they didn ' t need Zarate and instead wanted Jarvis from West Ham . No problem , they thought , swap Zarate for Jarvis .  However , Premier League rules also state that a player cannot return to his parent club in the same transfer window in which he has left . The deal , therefore , collapsed and Zarate remained at  , Jarvis at West Ham .  Harry Redknapp tried to swap the loan deals of West Ham ' s Mauro Zarate and Matt Jarvis but was denied  Finally , what happened with Danny Ings ?  For now he remains 100 per cent a Burnley player . A pre contract agreement with Real Sociedad ( which he was eligible to sign with a foreign club because his contract expires in the summer ) never materialised . There was also a suggestion that he could sign for Liverpool and be loaned back immediately to the Clarets .  However , Premier League rule V . 7 . 1 states , ' a temporary transfer to a club may not take place in the transfer window in which the transferor club acquired the player ' s registration ' . Note that this does not apply to deals between Premier League and Football League clubs , hence Spurs were able to loan back Dele Alli to  Dons .  But Ings could still sign what is known as a U8 agreement with Liverpool , which allows contract rights to be passed over at a future date and can be signed outside of the transfer window .  Also , because Ings is under 23 and out of contract in June , a tribunal will set the compensation fee paid to Burnley unless the two clubs can reach an agreement .  Liverpool wanted to buy Danny Ings and loan him back to Burnley but Premier Leagues didn ' t allow it  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
11106,11107,"Wall St drifts higher as tech , energy gain  Crude pares some gains after sharp spike  Indexes up : Dow 0 . 43 pct , S P 0 . 57 pct , Nasdaq 0 . 86 pct ( Updates to early afternoon )  Jan 28 Wall Street was higher after swinging between gains and losses on Thursday as a fall in healthcare stocks capped gains in technology and energy shares .  The S P health sector was the biggest loser , while the Nasdaq biotech index was on track for its biggest monthly fall in 16 years with a 3 percent fall .  Abbott Labs was the biggest drag on the healthcare sector , with an 8 . 8 percent drop .  However , the energy sector was buoyed by the rise in crude oil , which held steady near 34 a barrel , gaining nearly 3 percent . Oil had risen as much as 6 percent earlier on speculation that Saudi Arabia and other  countries would cut output to boost prices .  "" Oil ' s been firmly in control of the market , "" said Kim Forrest , senior equity research analyst at Fort Pitt Capital Group in Pittsburgh .  "" I think what oil has become is a proxy for ' are we going into a recession ? ' , "" she said .  At 12 : 59 p . m .  ( 1759  ) , the Dow Jones industrial average was up 67 . 9 points , or 0 . 43 percent , at 16 , 012 . 36 , the S P 500 was up 10 . 65 points , or 0 . 57 percent , at 1 , 893 . 6 and the Nasdaq Composite index was up 38 . 52 points , or 0 . 86 percent , at 4 , 506 . 69 .  Nine of the 10 major S P sectors were higher , with energy and tech sectors gaining the most .  Facebook surged 12 . 2 percent to 106 . 23 after the world ' s biggest social network reported a 52 percent jump in revenue .  Amazon , which reports after the bell , was up 5 . 5 percent at 615 . 28 .  The two stocks gave the biggest boost to the Nasdaq .  PayPal , which was spun off from eBay last year , was up 7 . 3 percent at 33 . 90 and Under Armour was up 18 . 4 percent at 81 . 26 after revenue at both companies beat estimates .  Among the losers , EBay sank 13 . 5 percent to 22 . 86 after it forecast weaker than expected quarterly revenue and profit .  Advancing issues outnumbered decliners on the  by 2 , 067 to 926 . On the Nasdaq , 1 , 538 issues rose and 1 , 143 fell .  The S P 500 index showed seven new 52 week highs and 21 new lows , while the Nasdaq recorded 12 new highs and 134 new lows . ( Reporting by Abhiram Nandakumar in Bengaluru Editing by Anil D ' Silva )  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
11112,11113,"Violence . The question of whether it ever really solves anything is , of course , nothing new . The value of violence has been fiercely debated , largely without resolution , since time immemorial .  But though violence has never gone entirely out of style , conventional wisdom over the last several decades has held that it is an unacceptable option . Ever since the anti war and civil rights movements of the Vietnam Era , the nation ' s cultural cognoscenti has regarded the human tendency toward violence as a cowardly , barbaric impulse , shunned by members of civilized society in favor of more diplomatic and compromise based problem solving techniques .  Yet , according to recent studies , all that has begun to change .  Increasingly , Americans are turning to violence the use of brute , animal aggression against an opposing force as a viable means of conflict resolution . From the inner city to the suburbs , from the boardroom to the bedroom , violence is making a stunning comeback . And , surveys indicate , more and more Americans are agreeing that it ' s about time .  "" Whoever said that violence never solved anything obviously never met my wife Edith , "" says Nick Petrakis of Chicago . "" For months , her constant nagging about my drinking , the bills , the drapes you name it drove me up the freaking wall . I tried marriage counseling , church , even so called ' quality time , ' but nothing worked . Then , one day , I finally hauled off and whaled her right in the solar plexus as hard as I could . ""  "" And you know what ? "" he adds with a grin . "" I haven ' t heard a peep out of her goddamn fat trap since . ""  The Petrakis case is far from unique , and it points to one of the main reasons behind violence ' s resurgent popularity : pragmatism .  "" Sure , all of those ' talking it out ' solutions look good on paper , but in real life , who has the time ? "" Harvard University sociology professor Dr Hugh Brentley says . "" Reasoned , calm conflict mediation can exact a terrible toll on the patience of those involved . On the other hand , swift , violent action such as the kind Alexander the Great employed in severing the fabled Gordian knot with one swipe of his sword cuts right to the heart of a problem . ""  This direct , results oriented approach is being put into practice every day across America . Children mercilessly beat one another on the playground , achieving instant social standing amongst their peers . In the political sphere , long range bombing has proven an effective means of resolving marital infidelity disputes . And the drug lords of the nation ' s blighted ghettos have long championed the merciless machine gunning of competitors as an expedient solution to the seemingly insoluble dilemmas of urban poverty and racial discrimination .  Critics of violence say that such short term approaches only leave other , greater problems in their wake . But as violence advocates are quick to point out , a great majority of these problems can easily be fixed with more violence . For example , the skyrocketing crime rate can be addressed through either the death penalty or vigilante justice , both of which are effective alternatives to expensive , complex social reform programs that stress prevention over cure .  "" We must also remember , "" psychologist and longtime violence advocate Jane Gelfand notes , "" that emotional violence can , in many cases , be just as effective as actual bodily harm . Breaking a child psychologically , through generous , sustained helpings of verbal abuse , is a far more effective way of handling disobedience and misbehavior than a thousand hours of tedious positive reinforcement . ""  "" Not that simple hitting or kicking should be ruled out , of course , "" Gelfand adds .  But whether hurling chairs at one another on daytime television or stabbing strangers to death in parking ramps for some quick cash , millions of Americans are giving violence a second look as a viable solution to the challenges with which life presents them . And , as savagery and brutality continue to capture the hearts and minds of the American people , one thing is certain : Violence , in all its forms , is no longer confined to the realm of escapist Hollywood dramas or video game space invader shoot ' em ups . Whether we cower in fear behind the walls of gated communities or actively prowl the alleyways looking for rape victims , violence is a major part of our shared American experience , and it isn ' t going away any time soon .  Violence , it would appear , is something we can all rely on .  ",satire,text,test,US elections,Conflict,true,satire,True,no,no,neutral,past
11115,11116,"Twitter has lost its sixteenth leader in the last twelve months in its ongoing slide from chaotic cultural relevance into clean and curated silence. [As Twitter continues its desperate efforts to render its platform wholly antiseptic  —   even going so far as to employ a powerful  moderator  —   another member of its leadership has made for the proverbial lifeboats.  Twitter Head of Asia Pacific Aliza Knox is the latest in a line of   executives to flee the company. She was preceded by China Head Kathy Chen, India and Southeast Asia Head Parminder Singh, and the   Rishi Jaitly, as well as Australia’s Karen Stocks. For anyone keeping track, that makes it a whopping 60% of executives gone in 2016 alone  —   even if you exclude VPs and above. Knox worked almost five years for Twitter after her time at Google, expanding Twitter’s presence to nine offices and more than 100 employees in their Asia Pacific unit. She ended her time with a fond farewell from her coworkers and employees and finished by passing the torch to her replacement, Maya Hari. #Amazing 4. 5 years at @Twitter! Proud to have built a great  team to hand over to @Maya_Hari. Thanks for the farewell! #LoveWhereIWorked pic. twitter.   —   alizaknox (@alizaknox) March 31, 2017,  In a statement released to TechCrunch, Twitter said: We thank Aliza for her contributions and leadership over the past four years and a half years. She pioneered Twitter’s Asia Pacific business (outside of Japan) championed our expansion into new markets and businesses such as Indonesia and China export advertising, set up our Asia Pacific headquarters in Singapore, and led our diversity initiatives across the region. Unfortunately, new blood hasn’t been enough to recover from Twitter’s continual decline. Twitter stock managed a meager 16 cent earning per share in the fourth quarter, missing revenue forecasts once again. It’s less than 1% in revenue growth, disheartening to even the foremost members of the company. Is there any way for Twitter to pull up, or has it already tweeted its last? Aliza Knox, as well as those before her, have made their opinion all too clear. Follow Nate Church @Get2Church on Twitter for the latest news in gaming and technology, and snarky opinions on both.",true,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
11123,11124,"Dr Suda Nim , known for his lack of insight and compassion , states that most patient ' s pain is "" just in their head . ""  Known for years by co workers as "" Numb Nim , "" by his inability to understand anything from the patient ' s point of view , Dr Nim prides himself in his "" nobody ' s going to fool me "" attitude in the  . He currently holds a 27 year record of lowest satisfaction scores in the country . Despite this , Dr Nim maintains he would rather withhold pain meds from someone who needs them than give a "" druggy "" some drugs .  "" Oh sweet mercy , please don ' t make me work another shift with him , "" said one of his  physician partners . "" Seriously , he doesn ' t even go into the rooms any more . We had a patient with fibromyalgia who was literally writhing in pain . He did nothing . I even showed him , in his own medical book out of his briefcase , how debilitating and painful the disease can be . I just went into the room and saw the patient after Dr Nim had dismissed without even going in the room . He needs to just retire or die . "" We tried to speak with other co workers about his behavior , but others were not as positive .  "" That patient was a faker , "" Dr Nim said of the patient he did not see . Despite "" seeing "" over 1 , 700 cases of fibromyalgia over his career , he is yet to give any pain medication to a single one .  "" I can tell , they have a certain look to them , "" he said , even though he never actually saw the patient in the first place .  Shortly after that , a patient with an open tibia fracture was wheeled into another room . The patient thrashed in pain due to the visible bone protruding through his skin . "" Typical . Those fakers will do anything for narcotics .     ! "" he screamed to the man who proceeded to lose consciousness due to his pain .  We tried to contact Dr Nim after his shift for further comment , but were unable to understand him due to the muffled sound he produced from how far his head was up his own ass .  ",satire,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,satire,True,no,no,negative,past
11132,11133,"The liberals find this plan to be disgusting until their neighborhoods become the next victim of violent muslim immigrant gangs of course Anti-immigration campaigners in Gullberg in southern Sweden are plotting to build a pig farm next to an asylum centre in a last-ditch effort to deter would-be Muslim immigrants, who might find the animals offensive.More illegal immigrants on the run in Sweden (03 May 15) Swedish Syrian warms hearts over phone return (08 Apr 15)  It was a long journey and some of my friends died  (30 Mar 15)Plans for a new immigration centre in Gullberg have already been strongly opposed by local residents and on Wednesday it was reported that a group of campaigners had sent a letter to the Swedish Migration Board (Migrationsverket) pledging to breed pigs nearby in order to deter Muslims from seeking asylum in the town.The note, signed by what described itself as the  interest group for Gullberg s survival  said that it was trying to create a  probably impossible situation for some religious people, especially Muslims , according to Sveriges Radio.Local politician Henry Sandahl from Sweden s Countryside Party (Markbygdspartiet) told the broadcaster that he agreed with the sentiment of the letter. You know that Muslims are not friends with pigs,  he said.But Swedish religious experts have been quick to criticize the campaigners. This is nonsense and shows just how very little they know about Islam,  said  ke Sander, Professor of Psychology at the University of Gothenburg. It is one thing when Muslims try to stay away from pork, alcohol or gambling but there is nothing [in the Koran] that says you cannot be near pigs. This is a last-ditch effort when they [the campaigners] have no arguments left,  he told the  news agency.Others turned to social media to voice their disgust at the campaign.Carl G ransson, a lawyer and former Moderate party politician suggested on Twitter that building  a gigantic rubbish dump  next to the asylum centre instead, designed to blow smelly winds in the direction of the angry residents. Monstrous  and a  total fail , wrote Johan Arenius, a political press secretary for the Christian Democrat party based in  rebro in central Sweden.Sweden became the first European country in 2013 to grant automatic residency to Syrian refugees and has since seen asylum requests rise to record levels, which are still expected to reach about 90,000 in 2015.To cope with an increasing flow of refugees, the Swedish Migration Board announced in March that it was more than tripling the maximum number of residents allowed at asylum centres from 200 to 650.Via: The Local seh/t Refugee Resettlement Watch",fake,dataset,test,Other news2,Conflict,fake,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
11133,11134,"A husband and wife were today found guilty of stashing some 50million worth of stolen Picasso art treasures in their garage for almost 40 years .  Pierre Le Guennec , 74 , and Danielle , 73 , were given a suspended prison sentence of two years by a court in the French Riviera town of Grasse .  Both had insisted that they were all ' presents ' from the legendary Spanish artist , but the court found they were ' fraudulently obtained ' and ordered them to be returned to his family .  Pierre Le Guennec ( right ) and his wife Danielle wait for the verdict of their trial . The court today found the couple were found guilty of stashing the ' fraudulently obtained ' artwork  The couple address the media following the verdict , in which they were ordered to return the Picasso treasures and given a suspended prison sentence of two years  It was in November 2010 that 271 lithographs , cubist paintings , notebooks and a watercolour were found at their modest home in Mouans Sartoux , in the South of France .  But six of Picasso ' s descendants accused them of the crime , and will now take charge of the works .  During the trial , all 271 works , created between 1900 and 1932 , were beamed onto a giant screen inside the court .  Le Guennec claimed he was given the collection by the artist and his second wife , Jacqueline , when he was an odd job man at their home in Notre Dame de Vie in Mougins , near Cannes .  Le Guennec , a qualified electrician , installed a burglar alarm at the luxury villa before the artist died in 1973 , and said he accepted them as ' thank you ' gifts .  Referring to Picasso , Mr Le Guennec said he ' often invited me in to have some cake or a coffee . Me and the master talked about all things great and small .  ' One evening , I was leaving my work , when Madame handed me a little package saying : ' This is for you ' .  But Claude Picasso , the artist ' s son , said that his father was noted for his generosity , but that he always dedicated , dated and signed his gifts , as he knew that some recipients might try to sell the works one day .  Two of the newly discovered Picasso drawings , one in a notebook ( above left ) , and the other called ' Nature Morte Verre ' ( Still life Glass )  Jean Jacques Neuer , Claude Picasso ' s barrister , said : ' They don ' t remember whether they received the so called gift in 1970 , 71 or 72 . If you are given 271 Picassos , you remember it .  ' You have to imagine that Picasso kept hold of them for 70 years and suddenly decided to give the lot away . That ' s doesn ' t make sense . '  The only document with the name Le Guennec on is a signed brochure for a Picasso exhibition , said Mr Neuer .  ' When you give a present , you choose something precise that fits the person , ' said Mr Neuer .  ' Picasso here is giving away works that have nothing to do with each other notably extremely precious cubist collages that represent 10 per cent of his production , ' he said .  The couple listen to Judge Jean Christophe Bruyere give the verdict at a court in Grasse , southeast France  Picasso ' s son Claude Ruiz ( left ) and daughter Maya sit in the courtroom today awaiting the verdict  Another Picasso drawing , this time of a horse , from Pierre Le Guennec ' s collection that he kept in his garage  ' But also two notebooks of drawings , work tools that he would never have given away . The issue is not whether Picasso was generous or not . Picasso wasn ' t someone who was careless about his works he didn ' t give work away just for the sake of it . '  Charles Etienne Gudin , lawyer for the couple , said the works came from the artist ' s ' Grands Augustins ' studio on Paris ' s Left Bank .  He said that Mr Le Guennec would never have stolen from the Picasso ' s villa , describing it as a ' fortress ' watched over night and day by security guards .  The trial comes after Marina Picasso , the artist ' s granddaughter , said she was selling of the famous villa , along with a selection of his work , for up to 190m .  Ms Picasso wrote a memoir ' Picasso : My Grandfather ' in 2001 , in which she accused him of destroying her childhood .  Picasso ' s works are the most stolen of any artist in history . He has more than 1 , 000 paintings registered as taken unlawfully , missing or disputed .  A painting of a hand by Picasso that was among 271 undocumented , never before seen works estimated to be worth at least 50million  A painting ' Still life glass sand ' and a drawing ' Nu Assis ( Sitting nude ) ' which feature among the 271 hitherto unseen works by Picasso produced by the artist ' s odd job man  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
11137,11138,"Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump returned to his hometown on Thursday for the first time since taking office, as many New Yorkers took to the streets to protest the politics of the man who built his name and fortune in the city. The presidential motorcade passed hundreds of demonstrators as it arrived at the decommissioned aircraft carrier Intrepid in the early evening for a meeting with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull hours after it was originally scheduled.  Before leaving Washington, Trump held a hastily arranged White House celebration with fellow Republicans from the U.S. House of Representatives who narrowly passed a healthcare bill that would repeal and replace the 2010 Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare. [nL1N1I61UA] If anything, Trump’s role in efforts to scrap the signature domestic achievement of his Democratic predecessor, Barack Obama, further incensed the protesters. Among those on the street were members of the New York State Nurses Association, who chanted: “What do we want? Health care! When do we want it? Now!”  Demonstrators from the Working Families Party spent much of the afternoon rallying and marching near the Intrepid, now a floating museum on Manhattan’s West Side, banging pans, chanting: “Not my president” and carrying signs including one that read: “This village doesn’t want its idiot back!” Rob Adkins, 33, a professional musician from Brooklyn who is insured through Obamacare, said he was alarmed by the Trump-backed Republican healthcare plan that passed the House. “It could cost me my health insurance,” he said, echoing the sentiments of several other protesters. The demonstrations, which included other groups throughout Manhattan, were reminiscent of the weeks after Trump’s Nov. 8 election when frequent protests took place outside his home in the Fifth Avenue tower that bears his name.    The first 100 days since the Jan. 20 inauguration of the businessman-turned-politician brought rollbacks of environmental regulations and crackdowns on immigrants, none of which play well in the liberal Northeast city. Fewer than one in five residents in the United States’ most populous city voted for Trump, even though he comes from its Queens borough, built a real estate brand and other ventures associated with New York, and has been fodder for its tabloid newspapers for decades. Providing security for first lady Melania Trump, who has continued to live in Trump Tower while their 11-year-old son Barron finishes the school year, has been a costly obligation for New York.  After security costs for Trump and his family of about $24 million during the transition and $300,000 a day since then, Congress voted last week to reimburse the city and other local governments for $61 million. Following the events with Turnbull, which include a black-tie dinner on the Intrepid to mark the 75th anniversary of World War Two’s Battle of the Coral Sea, Trump was expected to go to his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, for the weekend. ",true,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
11138,11139,"Soul singer and arranger Isaac Hayes , who won Grammy awards and an Oscar for the theme from the 1971 action film "" Shaft , "" has died , sheriff ' s officials in Memphis , Tennessee , reported Sunday .  Singer Issac Hayes seen performing in the U . K . last year . Hayes was found dead Sunday at age 65 .  Relatives found Hayes , 65 , unconscious in his home next to a still running treadmill , said Steve Shular , a spokesman for the Shelby County Sheriff ' s Department .  Paramedics attempted to revive him and took him to a hospital , where he was pronounced dead shortly after 2 p . m . , the sheriff ' s department said .  No foul play is suspected , the agency said in a written statement .  Hayes was a longtime songwriter and arranger for Stax Records in Memphis , playing in the studio ' s backup band and crafting tunes for artists such as Otis Redding and Sam and Dave in the 1960s . See photos of singer Isaac Hayes  He released his first solo album in 1967 , and his 1969 follow up , "" Hot Buttered Soul , "" became a platinum hit .  In 1971 , the theme from "" Shaft "" topped the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks and won an Academy Award for best original theme song . The song and the movie score also won Grammy awards for best original score and movie theme .  Hayes won a third Grammy for pop instrumental performance with the title track to his 1972 "" Black Moses "" album .  From the late 1990s through 2006 , Hayes provided the voice of "" Chef "" for Comedy Central ' s raunchy animated series "" South Park , "" as well as numerous songs .  The role introduced him to a new generation of fans , but he left after the show lampooned his own religion , the Church of Scientology .  The new generation of popular musicians , he said , "" could use a little more substance like we had in the day . ""  "" They ' re standing on our shoulders . Some of them don ' t realize it because they sample me so much , "" he said .  Hayes credited his role on "" South Park "" with expanding his fan base , and said that he had almost passed on the job .  "" I started to walk out . I thought it was a Disney thing . I had never heard of this thing , "" he said . But his agent persuaded him to tape some episodes .  "" Toward the opening I started having trepidations ' Oh my god , what have I done ? I ' ve ruined my career . ' But when it aired , the ratings went through the roof , "" he said .  A 1992 visit to the royal family in Ghana was a life changing experience for Hayes , he said .  "" I went back on speaking engagements and encouraged African Americans to go to Africa to interact socially , culturally and or economically , "" he said .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
11178,11179,"Starbucks is embroiled in fresh controversy over its tax affairs after it was accused of using a little known British company to avoid paying taxes across Europe .  The U . S . coffee giant is being probed by the European Commission over some of the methods it used to lower its tax bills . It could face millions of pounds in back taxes if they are found to be illegal .  For the first time yesterday , details emerged about the  company at the heart of the probe , which is focusing on sweetheart tax deals between Starbucks and the Dutch government .  Probe : Starbucks ran its European division including the  through the Netherlands , but it paid just 1 . 9million in tax to the Dutch government , from a reported 300million profit  Starbucks ran its European business , including its booming  division , through the Netherlands where it paid almost no tax on its profits .  But it has now emerged that the coffee chain used a defunct British entity to hide potentially millions of pounds from the Dutch taxman .  By registering its Intellectual Property such as its brand and logo in a  company called Alki  , it was able to pay hefty sums from its Netherlands division into Britain .  Its Dutch division paid just 1 . 9million of tax , despite reporting profits of 300million a meagre tax rate of less than 1per cent .  A Wall Street Journal investigation has uncovered previously unknown details about the  entity , including a claim that it had not a single registered employee .  Starbucks has already been called ' immoral ' by MPs for its labyrinthine structure that effectively funnelled money out of the  .  Schemes used by the company include buying its coffee beans in Switzerland and selling them at a 20per cent mark up to the Netherlands , where they are then roasted before being sold on again to Britain .  This means that much of the money it makes from  sales flows into jurisdictions that have lower or less stringent tax regimes .  Revealed : It is now claimed the company , which has previously been in the spotlight for its tax practices , may have used a British company to put hefty sums from its Netherlands branch into the   Between 1998 and 2012 the company paid just 8 . 6million in corporation tax in Britain , despite racking up combined sales of more than 3billion here .  But after its tactics were exposed , the company offered to pay a voluntary 20million in tax to avoid a public boycott .  Now details of a little known tax division have emerged .  A  registered holding business called Alki  was set up to house the branding of the business .  In a bizarre move , Alki appeared to have no employees and was registered at the offices of Starbuck ' s tax lawyers Baker McKenzie .  Compliance : A Starbucks spokesman said the company complies ' with all relevant tax rules , laws , and  guidelines '  But because of the very limited details available , it is impossible to identify how much money the arm received or whether it paid any tax in the  .  Accounts for Starbucks ' Dutch businesses show that they paid several million pounds a year into the division .  But without access to full corporate documents it is impossible to tell whether this remained in the  division or was funnelled straight into another tax haven .  The business , which was closed down last year , has never filed proper accounts at Companies House .  When it was dissolved , Alki was folded into a new company , Starbucks  Holdings though this business has also yet to file any accounts .  This is an aspect that  investigators believe is key to their probe .  Earlier this year the British boss of Starbucks provoked outrage after suggesting the company would not pay ' normal ' levels of tax for years .   managing director Mark Fox said the company needed to get ' its mojo back ' before it would begin to turn a profit .  But he was confounded only weeks later when Starbucks reported its first ever  profit of 1 . 1million despite sales being a bumper 300million .  On this it paid taxes of just 232 , 363 , as well as the sum of 11 . 2million as part of its voluntary 20million tax payment .  A Starbucks spokesman said : ' We comply with all relevant tax rules , laws , and  guidelines and we continue to cooperate with the European Commission ' s state aid investigation in the Netherlands . '  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Economy,fake,true,True,no,no,negative,past
11181,11182,"How refreshing it was to see Danny Welbeck properly celebrate scoring for Arsenal against former club Manchester United on Monday night .  The striker ' s passion was clear to see as he bounded backwards across the Old Trafford turf , letting out a roar of celebration as Alexis Sanchez and Santi Cazorla rushed over to celebrate the moment .  ' The emotion takes over , ' he said afterwards . ' It was difficult to keep it in . ' Quite right too . Welbeck had every reason to celebrate and let all that pent up frustration out .  A pumped up Danny Welbeck celebrates his winner for Arsenal at former club Manchester United  The Arsenal striker celebrates with team mates Alexis Sanchez and Santi Cazorla after scoring  At United since the age of eight , he was booted out the door in the summer by Louis van Gaal , who claimed he wasn ' t good enough to be a first team player at United .  So , on his first return to Old Trafford , Welbeck had a major point to prove and when Antonio Valencia under hit a back pass to goalkeeper David de Gea , he seized his chance .  Skilfully taking the ball around the Spaniard , he passed it into an empty net before celebrating whole heartedly but still with plenty of respect for the United fans .  Welbeck could certainly teach these players , who took the whole not celebrating against a former club thing a little too seriously .  Shaun Wright Phillips ( Chelsea vs  , January 2013 )  Wright Phillips wasn ' t wanted by Chelsea . They spent 21m to sign him and then kept him as a bit part player until finally ditching him three years later having wasted the best years of his career .  So when the winger earned Queens Park Rangers an improbable win at Stamford Bridge during their 2013 relegation struggle , with his first league goal in nearly three years , you ' d expect him to be thrilled .  Nope . Wright Phillips looked downright miserable , an island of indifference as his team mates celebrated jubilantly around him .  Shaun Wright Phillips ( third right ) looked downright miserable after scoring for  at old club Chelsea  Adam Johnson (  vs Manchester City , December 2012 )  Likewise with Johnson , who had great expectations when he joined Manchester City from Middlesbrough in 2010 but was barely given a chance by Roberto Mancini .  Indeed , Johnson revealed when he escaped to Sunderland that he was barely on speaking terms with the Italian manager towards the end , having been dropped without explanation on a number of occasions during a turbulent two and a half years .  So when Johnson gained his revenge by scoring the winner against City a few months after leaving , you ' d expect something a bit more animated than just a raised hand of apology .  Adam Johnson consoles his former team mate Joe Hart after scoring against him in December 2012  Romelu Lukaku ( West Brom vs  , September 2014 )  Opening your account for a new club , especially after a 28m move , should be kind of a big deal .  But Lukaku looked embarassed that his maiden goal for Everton had come at West Brom , the club where he spent the 2012 13 season on loan from Chelsea .  Still , at least he earned an appreciative round of applause from the Hawthorns crowd for his sheepish raised hand ' celebration . '  Lukaku holds his hands up after scoring for Everton against West Brom , where he spent a year on loan  Jonjo Shelvey ( Liverpool vs   , February 2014 )  Shelvey made 47 league appearances for Liverpool over the course of his three seasons there , scoring two goals . Hardly the stuff of Kop folklore .  But the midfielder felt the need to apologise to the Anfield crowd after scoring a lovely 20 yard goal on his return there with Swansea last year .  It did earn him a round of applause from the Liverpool fans though .  Jonjo Shelvey apologised to the Kop after scoring for Swansea at former club Liverpool  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
11185,11186,"Howard Stern: You seem to be pretty conservative. You kinda are.Megyn: I m conservative on some things and not on others and I love that people just make these assumptions about you because you work at FOX.Howard: Well no, I make it [assumption] because I hear the questions and the line of questions. Megyn: But that s my job.That s not all  Megyn seems to be very selective about who can and can t talk about a woman s weight and appearance. It sure sounds like she has no problem talking to Stern about her appearance and how important her good looks and physique are for her job. In fact, it appears as though Megyn actually finds his line of questioning quite amusing.She also spent a considerable amount of time talking about her sex life, her breasts and the size of her husband s penis. Nope nothing seems to offend Megyn in this interview:weblink",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,present
11188,11189,"When Hillary Clinton called about half of Donald Trump s supporters a  basket of deplorables,  she was a bit off-base   not because she insulted them by calling them what they are, but because half is far too generous.Recently, a seven-year-old girl in Aleppo   that s the place Gary Johnson doesn t know about   has been getting quite a bit of attention with her tweets about the horrors of her existence. Bana, like many others, is trapped in the Eastern part of the city with dwindling supplies and a constant fear of death   and her tweets about her daily reality are both horrifying and endearing.Tonight we have no house, it's bombed & I got in rubble. I saw deaths and I almost died.   Bana #Aleppo pic.twitter.com/arGYZaZqjg  Bana Alabed (@AlabedBana) November 27, 2016Under heavy bombardments now. In between death and life now, please keep praying for us. #Aleppo  Bana Alabed (@AlabedBana) November 28, 2016We have no home now. I got minor injury. I didn't sleep since yesterday, I am hungry. I want to live, I don't want to die.   Bana #Aleppo  Bana Alabed (@AlabedBana) November 28, 2016This is our house, My beloved dolls died in the bombing of our house. I am very sad but happy to be alive.- Bana pic.twitter.com/9i0xxJrQtD  Bana Alabed (@AlabedBana) November 29, 2016This is my reading place where I wanted to start reading Harry Potter but it's bombed. I will never forget.   Bana pic.twitter.com/6fXX2Me8ZB  Bana Alabed (@AlabedBana) November 29, 2016On Sunday, the little girl disappeared from social media, leaving an ominous message behind indicating that she is not safe. But fortunately, the  reports that she and her mother, who often tweets on her behalf, managed to escape to an undisclosed location. Bana s story has touched many, including J.K. Rowling, whose Harry Potter series Bana loves, and the world is in awe at the child s bravery   well, aside from  and the American Right. They don t like her too much at all.While many have expressed sympathy for Bana s plight and have left messages of love and hope, the Basket has been relentlessly trolling the little girl because they really aren t joking when they call them selves  Deplorable Dave  and other appropriated insults. They wear the title give to them by the former Secretary of State as a badge of honor.@VivaSyrianAA @AlabedBana Her father won't let her have a good life. Uses her as a Wahhabi terrorist propaganda ploy. Sick  Jewish Russophile (@JewRussophile) December 2, 2016@AlabedBana death is always sad   but looks more like honor killing   muslims r always parading the dead bodies of strap bombs2kids  Laurinda Cole (@apostlelaurinda) November 26, 2016@TheHerbalRose @AlabedBana these r innocent kids that will b used as bombs, human shields & sold in2sexual slavery by parents&islam  Laurinda Cole (@apostlelaurinda) November 28, 2016@BobHenriqurs @AlabedBana Bana you really need to talk to your terrorist mates and get them to stopkilling children  steve wright (@stewrigh) November 26, 2016@AlabedBana         A D (@dm7474) December 5, 2016@AlabedBana what an attention seekerStop pretending you are dying every couple of daysEveryone knows this is a fake psyop account  Chelsea Lopez (@justfake) December 5, 2016@AlabedBana how about you crawl back into the bombed out building you came out to tweet BS.  Blazing Fury (@FuryBlazing) December 5, 2016@AlabedBana your a fake, no child would have climbed this rubble to get a picture like this..your a rebel or isis  Life is illusions (@Bman4101973) November 29, 2016.@AdamNeira @HKX07 Whatever al Qaeda pic.twitter.com/FVXIfSw5C1  Porkchan (@MostPerfectLord) November 30, 2016@AlabedBana What propaganda ! Nice plug for jk rowling who retweets you. How you have internet connection ? New phone ? Clean clothes etc?  DeplorableDave (@ThePhantomPain1) November 29, 2016@AlabedBana Lolololo! I now come here daily for a good laugh. Thinking about having my dog open an acct & 'he'll' Tweet from Mars.  Calamity Jane (@AmandaKavanagh5) November 29, 2016@AlabedBana you are another gay girl in Damascus . A hoax just like this is.  DeplorableDave (@ThePhantomPain1) November 29, 2016@AlabedBana where are you taking these pictures from Bana? You're like 3 floors up.  Trump Supporter (@Trump201611) November 29, 2016@AlabedBana cut the B.S. this is sheer propoganda.  Vanna (@vannanancy) November 29, 2016@AlabedBana I hope you were able to shave your beard  John Smith (@999100cn) November 29, 2016This little girl is suffering, and her plight has been well-documented, but Trump fans don t care. All they know is that she s a Muslim, which means she s not human enough for anything approaching whatever level of compassion of which they are capable.Watch an interview with Bana below:Featured image via Twitter",fake,dataset,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,present
11214,11215,Premier League Match of the Day Soccer Sun 12am   Live Extra  World Cup : Men ' s Slalom Run 1 Olympic Sports Sun 3 : 30am   Live Extra  World Cup : Women ' s Slalom Run 1 Olympic Sports Sun 4 : 30am   Live Extra  Cross Country : Men ' s and Women ' s Sprint Olympic Sports Sun 5am   Live Extra  World Cup : Men ' s Slalom Run 2 Olympic Sports Sun 6 : 30am   Live Extra  World Cup : Four Man Bobsleigh Olympic Sports Sun 7am   Live Extra  World Cup : Women ' s Slalom Run 2 Olympic Sports Sun 7 : 30am    Aston Villa v . Arsenal Premier League Sun 7 : 30am   Live Extra  Ski Jumping : Sunday  134 Olympic Sports Sun 9am   Live Extra Women ' s Freeski Slopestyle Finals Pre Show Olympic Sports Sun 10 : 30am    Liverpool v . West Bromwich Albion Premier League Sun 11am   ,true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
11229,11230,"French jets strike Islamic State as Britain offers help  Published : 13 : 53  , 23 November 2015 Updated : 13 : 53  , 23 November 2015   , Nov 23 ( Reuters ) French jets from the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier struck Islamic State targets in Iraq on Monday while Britain offered France the use of an air base in Cyprus to hit the militants behind the Paris attacks .  French President Francois Hollande met British Prime Minister David Cameron in Paris on Monday as part of efforts to rally support for the fight against Islamic State and Hollande is also due to visit Washington and Moscow this week .  Cameron offered air to air refuelling services and said he was convinced Britain should carry out air strikes alongside France and would be recommending that Britain ' s parliament vote through such measures .  France has intensified its bombings in Syria since the Nov . 13 attacks in Paris claimed by Islamic State that killed 130 people . The group is also being targeted from the air by a U . S . led coalition and Russia .  French jets taking off from the country ' s flagship in the eastern Mediterranean destroyed targets in Ramadi and Mosul in Iraq on Monday in support of Iraqi forces on the ground , the French armed forces said in a statement .  The arrival of the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier in the area following the Paris attacks has tripled the French air force ' s firepower by boosting the number of planes targeting Islamic State to 38 .  "" I firmly support the action that President Hollande has taken to strike  ( Islamic State ) in Syria and it is my firm conviction that Britain should do so too , "" Cameron said at a joint news conference after his meeting with Hollande .  "" Later this week , I will set out in parliament our comprehensive strategy for tackling  , "" Cameron said .  Cameron is eager to avoid a repeat of 2013 when he lost a vote on air strikes against Syrian President Bashar al Assad ' s forces . Britain is already bombing Islamic State in Iraq .  Hollande said France planned to intensify its air strikes on Islamic State in Syria , adding that it would focus on destroying targets that would cause as much damage as possible .  Besides the aircraft carrier , Britain ' s Cyprus Akrotiri air base could offer another option for French jets , which had been using bases in Jordan and the United Arab Emirates until Monday .  On Tuesday , Hollande is due to visit Washington where he hopes to overcome President Barack Obama ' s reluctance to get sucked further into the Syria conflict .  Speaking before Hollande ' s Washington trip , which will be followed by a visit to Russia later in the week , French officials made no secret of their desire to see the United States do more .  In between the two trips , Hollande is due to receive German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday night and Italy ' s President Matteo Renzi on Thursday morning .  "" We all need each other , so we have to find ways to coordinate , "" French Defence Minister Jean Yves Le Drian said on Sunday . "" We can do that without a combined military command structure , we just need to talk to each other . "" ( Editing by Andrew Callus and David Clarke )  Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
11230,11231,"Jeremy Menez scored twice to help beleaguered  Milan beat Cagliari 3 1 in front of a sparse San Siro crowd on Saturday as fans responded to a request to boycott the match in protest at the club ' s leadership .  The Curva Sud section , which usually hosts the hardcore supporters , was almost deserted while banners , written in English , read ' Game Over ' and ' Insert Coin To Save  Milan . '  The Curva Sud had called on fans to stay away because the hierarchy , they say , have undermined coach Filippo Inzaghi with their rudderless leadership and confused transfer policy .  Jeremy Menez ( right ) scored an impressive double at an empty San Siro to help  Milan to victory  Menez put Milan ahead in the 21st minute with a curling shot from the edge of the penalty area .  Diego Farias levelled for relegation candidates Cagliari two minutes after halftime but French defender Philippe Mexes volleyed Milan back in front almost immediately .  Menez completed the win by converting a penalty , controversially awarded after Alessio Cerci appeared to fall under Luca Ceppitelli ' s sliding tackle just outside the area .   Milan fans boycotted the game in protest over the leadership of the Serie A giants this season  The Frenchman took his tally to 15 this season , making him joint Serie A top scorer alongside Argentines Carlos Tevez of Juventus and Mauro Icardi of Inter Milan .  It was only Milan ' s third victory since Christmas and all have been against teams in the bottom three .  Milan moved up to seventh with 38 points from 28 games while Cagliari are joint 18th in the 20 team table .  Earlier , Chievo eased relegation fears by beating Palermo 1 0 to climb to 15th , 11 points clear of the drop zone .  The Frenchman is congratulated by on loan Chelsea midfielder Marco van Ginkel after his second goal  Philippe Mexes ( right ) fires in his goal during  Milan ' s comfortable victory over Cagliari at the San Siro  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
11247,11248,"A friend of Jihadi John , unmasked as Mohammed Emwazi ( pictured ) has used the Human Rights Act to avoid being deported  A friend of Jihadi John accused of organising al Qaeda terror atrocities has used the Human Rights Act to avoid being deported despite being deemed a threat to national security .  The terror suspect , originally from Ethiopia , is believed to be a leading member of al Shabaab , an al Qaeda affiliate based in Somalia .  He was accused of playing a part in the 2005 plot to blow up the London Underground and is an associate of  executioner Jihadi John unmasked this week as Mohammed Emwazi .  But the deportation case against the man , who can only be identified as J1 , collapsed after a five year court battle when a British diplomat admitted the system was not working .  Lawyers argued the man ' s human rights would be breached if he was sent back to Ethiopia , where he could face detention and possible torture .  The terror suspect is now living in London and has also been linked to two al Qaeda extremists killed in  drone attacks in Somalia .  Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said the Government has ' serious questions ' to answer about the case and questioned why he wasn ' t placed under special controls .  She told the Telegraph : ' This man ( J1 ) has been linked to planned terror attacks , associated with known terrorists , and identified as a risk to the  . So why didn ' t Theresa May at least put him on a  in 2013 when he was released from immigration detention ?  ' And what is being done now ? Are they reconsidering TPIMs , deportation assurances or prosecution options ? Or do they no longer believe he is a significant threat ? '  A  is a Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measure which allows authorities to impose a curfew and limit communications on someone they ' reasonably believe ' is involved in terror activities .  The terror suspect has been accused of being a leading member of an al Qaeda affiliate based in Somalia , pictured are hundreds of al Shabaab fighters  He was accused of playing a part in the 2005 plot to blow up the London Underground , pictured is  footage of failed July 21 bomber Hussein Osman ( circled in green ) at Clapham Junction train station  J1 has been accused by the Government of being a senior organiser for al Shabaab .  Court papers disclose that ' on the morning of the failed London bombings of 21 July 2005 , a mobile telephone which the appellant ( J1 ) now accepts was used by him , was in contact with a telephone used by one of the bombers , Hussein Osman ' .  The Government argued he was a threat to national security and should be deported , court papers show .  They claimed he was an associate of Londoners Mohammed Sakr and Bilal Berjawi , both of whom died in  drone strikes in Somalia .  Sakr and Emwazi were friends and Sakr attended Quintin Kynaston academy in St John ' s Wood along with Emwazi .  It was revealed this week that Emwazi was a ' person of interest ' to MI5 as a member of a cell known as The London Boys , which was set up to recruit and raise funds for al Shabab .  MI5 was also aware of Emwazi for six years before he appeared on a hostage video for the first time in August 2014 .  It was revealed that Jihadi John was a ' person of interest ' to MI5 as a member of a cell known as The London Boys , which was set up to recruit and raise funds for al Shabab , pictured with British journalist David Haines  They had a file on Emwazi from at least 2009 , when he was stopped as he arrived in Tanzania .  British agents suspected that he was trying to travel to Somalia to join up with al Shabaab , an accusation that Emwazi denied . He was never charged with a terror offence .  Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said the Government has ' serious questions ' to answer about the case  Michael Adebolajo , convicted of Lee Rigby ' s murder , is also believed to be linked to the Somali group .  The case has heightened calls for the Human Rights Act to be scrapped .  It collapsed when Anthony Layden , the British diplomat in charge of negotiating his deportation , admitted the system was not working .  He is believed to have blamed the Home Office for the failure .  This comes as the Government admitted that hundreds of  extremists like Emwazi have been free to leave Britain because they were not being properly monitored by the security services .  A spokesman for the Home Office said yesterday : ' Control orders were not working and were being struck down by the courts .  ' TPIMs have been endorsed by the courts , counter terrorism reviewers , the police , and the Security Service . Following a review of the powers available to manage the terrorist threat , the range of measures available under the  Act is being extended , including a measure to allow  subjects to be relocated to different parts of the country . '  Michael Adebolajo , convicted of Lee Rigby ' s murder , is also believed to be linked to the Somali group al Shabab  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
11262,11263,"There s been a meme spreading across social media that says  Only in America do we accept weather predictions from a rodent but deny climate change evidence from scientists. Sadly, that meme is more accurate than Punxsutawney Phil could ever hope to be as conservatives continue to deny climate science outright as they flock to see if a groundhog sees his shadow or not to predict an early spring or more winter.Of course, groundhogs are not scientifically accurate at all. It s a complete myth that they can forecast the weather. This is explained particularly well by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, who put together a nice chart comparing Phil s predictions with the actual temperatures that occurred following them. From 1988-2015,  found that,  The table shows no predictive skill for the groundhog during the most recent years of this analysis. While Groundhog Day is a way to have a little fun at mid-winter, climate records and statistics tell us that winter probably isn t over. Climatologically speaking, the three coldest months of the year are December, January, and February, so winter typically still has a bit to go when the groundhog comes out in search of his shadow on February 2. And that s why Bill Maher had a field day on Friday mocking conservative climate science deniers with a hilarious attack ad aimed particularly at Ted Cruz.Maher noted that Groundhog Day fell on the same day as the Iowa caucus vote, and said that because Punxsutawney Phil predicted warmer weather,  naturally, conservatives now think that Punxsutawney Phil is in the tank with the liberals on global warming. They re crazy about this issue,  Maher said, which is why he introduced an ad mocking climate science deniers in which conservatives attack Phil for being just another scientist propped up by liberal media. The ad also took a masterful shot at Iowa winner Ted Cruz.Here s the video via YouTube:Conservatives probably are crazy enough to believe that a groundhog can predict weather and they are certainly crazy enough to attack the groundhog for predicting warmer weather. But not believing actual science is truly crazy and it s the kind of crazy that is dangerous as Republicans continue to ignore that many of our coastal cities are going to be under water if we don t act. Featured image via screenshot",fake,dataset,test,World conflict,Economy,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,present
11265,11266,"A weekend fight allegedly involving nearly every member of the Sarah Palin ' s family was actually started by her daughter ' ex boyfriend , according to a source close to the family .  It had been reported that the drunken brawl erupted when the Palin pack apparently had a run in with Connor Cleary , an ex boyfriend of Willow , 20 , on Saturday night in South Anchorage , Alaska .  But a source from the Palin side is now claiming it began when Cleary ' tried to get in ' to the Hummer limousine after he had engaged in some unspecified ' questionable behavior . '  A weekend fight involving nearly every member of the Sarah Palin ' s ( left ) family was actually started by her daughter ' ex boyfriend Connor Cleary ( right ) according to a source close to the family  It had been reported that the drunken brawl started when the Palin pack apparently had a run in with Connor Cleary , an ex boyfriend of Willow , 20 . Pictured : The Palins in 2007  The former vice presidential candidate has not commented publicly on the episode , but RealClearPolitics spoke with a source close to the Palin family , who wanted to provide their version of the events in question .  The source said oldest son Track , 25 , soon found himself struggling against four men who had ' piled on him . '  That was when father Todd Palin who was celebrating his fiftieth that night , although it was not his party became involved .  Partygoer Eric Thompson told Good Morning America , ' I heard Sarah Palin scream out , "" You know who we are , don ' t you ? "" '  But the source told the website Palin was shouting : ' Don ' t you know who he is ? He ' s a vet ! '  Husband Todd Palin who was celebrating his fiftieth that night although it was not his party became involved in the brawl after his son was allegedly attacked  Her son Track served with the U . S . Army service in the Iraq War .  According to the source , Track left the fight nursing four cracked ribs , while his father suffered a bloody nose .  Several local sources reported on the incident , initially scooped by Alaska political blogger Amanda Coyne .  She wrote : ' Word is that Bristol has a particularly strong right hook , which she employed repeatedly . '  But the source said that Bristol is left handed .  One report suggested host Korey Klingenmeyer was allegedly punched in the face seven times by Bristol when he politely asked her to leave the party .  Another report claimed that Willow and Bristol apparently tried to go after the mother of Willow ' s ex boyfriend .  The fight involved ' roughly 20 people ' and alcohol is believed to have been a factor in the incident , which took place around 11pm on Saturday night , The Anchorage Police Department said .  ' Anchorage police responded to a report of a verbal and physical altercation taking place between multiple subjects outside of a residence , ' police spokesperson Jennifer Castro told Alaska Dispatch News .  Sister sister : Willow ( left ) and Bristol Palin ( right ) apparently tried to go after the mother of Willow ' s ex boyfriend  A victim and a gentleman : Host Korey Klingenmeyer ( above ) was allegedly punched in the face seven times by Bristol when he politely asked her to leave the party  Scene of the crime : The home of Klingenmeyer in Anchorage , Alaska  ' A preliminary investigation by police revealed that a party had been taking place at a nearby residence and a fight had broken out between multiple subjects outside of the residence .  ' At the time of the incident , none of the involved parties wanted to press charges and no arrests were made .  ' Alcohol was believed to have been a factor in the incident . Some of the Palin family members were in attendance at the party . '  Although none of the parties wanted to press charges at the time of the incident , police confirmed that the case is still an active investigation and is being reviewed by  and the Municipal Prosecutors Office .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
11285,11286,"Poll Released 36 Years Ago Today Had Reagan Down by 8… He Won in a Landslide  Most of the money spent on these expensive steak dinners was spent outside Alaska, in an effort to butter up her special-interest friends.  “The cavalier attitude Lisa Murkowski has used in spending contributors’ dollars reflects a Big Government mindset she has employed in spending taxpayers’ hard-earned dollars in Washington, D.C,” Joe Miller said.  She is a typical liberal fat cat who cares more about upholding a failing establishment than spending taxpayer dollars on the issues her constituents voted for her to address. She cares more about keeping her job so she can hang out with her special-interest friends than she does about actually doing her job.    If Alaskans really want a responsible government that is going to work for the people and not for the establishment, it’s time to let Murkowski go.  It’s not just good for Republicans, it’s good for the country, because since Murkowski succeeded her father in the Senate in 2002, the national debt has increased by over $13 trillion. Now she spends nearly a quarter million on eating out.  She is the most liberal Republican up for reelection and has voted with President Barack Obama over 72 percent of the time during the last Senate. With the possibility of Hillary Clinton taking office, do Americans really want Murkowski in that seat?  “The 36-year Murkowski dynasty has led Alaska and helped lead the nation down a dead-end road,” Miller stated. “If we want to change the course of our state and nation, we must change the people we send to Washington, D.C.”  ",fake,news,test,World conflict,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,present
11305,11306,"By Jason Easley on Tue, Nov 1st, 2016 at 9:38 pm The more things change, the more they stay the same. The House Freedom Caucus is planning a secret meeting, which in typical Republican fashion was leaked to the press, to discuss ousting Paul Ryan and demanding more ransom from  leadership. Share on Twitter Print This Post  The more things change, the more they stay the same. The House Freedom Caucus is planning a secret meeting, which in typical Republican fashion was leaked to the press, to discuss ousting Paul Ryan and demanding more ransom from  leadership.  Politico reported , “One of the most pressing questions preoccupying Washington is what the group will do about Paul Ryan. The Wisconsin Republican has said he intends to seek another term as House speaker but has rankled members of the group of several dozen Republican lawmakers that drove John Boehner out of the Speakership last year. The Freedom Caucus is also weighing proposals meant to empower its members, some at the expense of  leadership’s authority.”  There have been early rumblings that Speaker Ryan may be open to making a few deals on policies like tax reform with Hillary Clinton if she wins the election. One of the reasons why these deals may never happen is because of the ability of far right Republicans to cause trouble.  If Ryan’s Republican majority shrinks, he will be an even bigger hostage to the far-right wing of his caucus. The dysfunctional dynamic in the House is going to continue even if Hillary Clinton wins the election. Ryan has run into the same hurdles that John Boehner faced. House Republicans are deeply divided and unable to agree on much of anything.  The fact that the Freedom Caucus is holding a secret meeting is a sign that nothing is going to change. If Paul Ryan doesn’t cave to their demands, they will force Ryan out of the Speaker position.  A group of House Republicans is plotting new ways to keep the House from working properly before a new president has even been elected.  This is a reminder that Washington is fine. It’s the Republican Party that’s broken.",fake,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
11312,11313,"British bobbies were under the spotlight today as it was revealed that the use of Tasers in incidents almost doubles with every release of Call of Duty . The shock trends were uncovered by using the freedom of information act and asking some kids nicking off from school , the data then fed into a spreadsheet then printed out , photocopied five times then studied by scientist type people .  It seems when our proud bobbies helmets are not fitting up people , contaminating evidence and typing out reems of paper work in smoke filled offices speaking in guttural Scottish accents , they unwind by playing call of duty . The rise in the use of the game as a way to deal with the stress of modern policing is slowly seeping into how our Five 0 act on the streets , with many beat bobbies preferring to be called SniPerxxKIll4r in public rather than officer or Pig .  Our journalist was given full access to the police recruit training department in Staffordshire a state of the art laser tag and bowling alley off a non descript side street . Inside , hundreds of up and coming constables of the thin blue line can be seen running around with bright yellow laser guns shouting ""  spotted "" and "" kill streak "" while they camp in the changing rooms rarely moving only to poke their gun barrel round the corner while covering the sensor with their other hand .  Important skills when hiding in the bushes with a speed camera in the real world .  We spoke to an Inspector who wishes to remain anonymous , we will Call him ""  1 "" for the sake of this interview . He had this to say about the use of Tasers .  "" Gentlemen , at 0600 hours you will be inserted by black hawk helicopters to the primary target , an abandoned city in Russia . ""  Refusing to be pushed on anything further we made our excuses and left but not before witnessing a Constable Glitching out of the station by climbing on the photocopier and jumping up and down on a milk crate , until he could climb onto the dropped ceiling were he was impossible to kill .  It seems that this trend of wayward use of Tasers seems likely to continue with the announcement of a new map pack and some different coloured guns being released on Friday . One can only hope that  is postponed until after Christmas , typically the busiest time for the Police with hundreds of games being released .  ",satire,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,satire,True,no,no,neutral,present
11323,11324,"Per Mertesacker says that a frank team meeting between the defenders has sorted out the problems that bedevilled Arsenal ' s first leg of their Champions League tie against Monaco .  The Gunners face Monaco on Tuesday night knowing they must score at least three times after their 3 1 defeat at the Emirates Stadium last month .  But Mertesacker , the Arsenal vice captain claims that the response of the team since that result with four straight wins , including the  Cup sixth round victory at Manchester United , and in conceding just two goals since then is an indication that the team is ready to overturn the two goal deficit and produce an extraordinary comeback .  Per Mertesacker speaks to the assembled media ahead of Arsenal ' s Champions League tie in Monaco  The World Cup winner shares a joke with Mesut Ozil as the Gunners prepare for their second leg clash  ' We speak a lot to each other , even when we win , ' said Mertesacker . ' We need to learn after defeat and winning . We always try to improve as a defensive unit . It ' s always a topic to analyse things that went right and things went wrong .  ' After that game lot of things didn ' t go well . That is a mental thing for tomorrow . We know mentally that we weren ' t really up for it and at times we could feel there was a bit of pressure and we couldn ' t really cope with that .  ' But we feel after the game we moved on from that and that ' s why we ' re confident we can beat any team in the world .  ' We ' re coming out of great week with two important wins and a good level of confidence . There is always a good mood in the squad and during the season we ' ve responded well . But we have to face truth and show a different face tomorrow . We need to embrace the challenge . '  Mertesacker tangles with Ashley Young during Arsenal ' s  Cup victory at Manchester United  Mertesacker celebrates in front of the Arsenal fans at United after their impressive Cup win  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
11333,11334,"Brazil Corruption Probe Nets  Pactual  Esteves  Esteves became youngest self made billionaire with  deal   Pactual names Arida as interim chief as shares tumble  Andre Esteves , ? the brash banker who once joked his firm s name , Grupo  Pactual , stood for better than Goldman , became the latest high profile executive dragged into Brazil s widening corruption scandal .  The 47 year old billionaire was arrested Wednesday in Rio de Janeiro , ? along with Senator Delcidio Amaral , police said . ? Esteves allegedly sought an agreement with Amaral to interfere with testimony from ? a jailed former executive of oil producer Petroleo Brasileiro  , according to a court document .  Esteves made a splash on the international financial stage and became Brazil s youngest self made billionaire when he sold Pactual to  for 2 . 6 billion in 2006 . ? He and partners bought it back three years later and set off on an expansion , snapping up businesses including the Swiss private banking unit of Assicurazioni Generali SpA . The firm sold shares to the public in 2012 .  He epitomizes the idea of a private , successful , entrepreneurial generation of Brazilian bankers that s what he represents , ? said Felipe Monteiro , a professor of strategy at Insead in France . His alleged involvement with the most classic type of old politics is somehow strange .  The risk to the firm is that Andre Esteves is the firm , said Mark Williams , author of Uncontrolled Risk , a book on the rise and collapse of Lehman Brothers . There is not a charismatic number 2 executive groomed and ready to lead .   Pactual said it appointed Persio Arida , a former governor of Brazil s central bank and  s managing partner , as interim chief executive officer . The firm said in an e mailed statement it s cooperating with the investigation , declining to comment on the question of succession .  Esteves lawyer , Antonio Carlos de Almeida Castro , said in a phone interview that Esteves isn t guilty and wasn t involved in the actions he s accused of .  Esteves was born in Rio , in the middle class Tijuca neighborhood . An only child whose main interests were reading , studying and playing soccer , ? as a teenager he became fascinated ? by computers , he said in a 2007 interview . He went on to study computer science at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro .  He started his career fixing computers at Pactual in 1989 . ? Within two years , ? the bank s founder , Luiz Cezar Fernandes , had assigned him accounting and administrative jobs in the back office of the trading desk . Fernandes , in an interview in 2007 , said he took a liking to Esteves early on because both men came from middle class families and had no financial education or ties to Brazil s traditional , family owned banking community .  Esteves later teamed up with three partners to engineer a boardroom maneuver that toppled his mentor . I was surprised when they turned against me , Fernandes said . But nobody could argue with a guy who was making a lot of money for the bank .  Making money was something Esteves said he excelled at , and enjoyed . ? He oversaw the fixed income team at Pactual from 1993 to 1996 , and became a managing partner in 2002 . ? Less than a year after  bought the firm , it put Esteves in charge of global fixed income sales and trading . He moved to London and oversaw more than 1 , 000 people .  I like making money , Esteves said after he was appointed to that job . I m good at making money . It s exciting to create wealth .  Before long the financial crisis swept across the globe , crippling  with more than 50 billion of losses and writedowns and spurring a government rescue . After quitting to form  , Esteves joined up with ? some of his former partners to buy Pactual for 2 . 5 billion .  He s built the firm into Latin America s largest independent investment bank . It was the leading arranger of stock sales in the region in 2013 , and again so far this year , data compiled by Bloomberg show .  Esteves donated an undisclosed sum to Harvard Business School in 2013 to renovate Baker Hall . A residence facility used by visiting executives , it was renamed Esteves Hall .  Esteves personal fortune has been falling , however , not rising . His riches peaked at 4 . 9 billion in September of 2014 . He s now less than half as wealthy , as his net worth dipped below 2 billion on Wednesday , ? according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index . He shed hundreds of millions of dollars in value earlier this year as his firm was dragged down by loans and investments with companies embroiled in the Petrobras scandal .  Esteves has been involved in deals with the oil giant over the years , most notably involving Sete Brasil Participacoes  .  Pactual teamed up with Petrobras and other partners in 2010 to create the oil rig supplier , whose former operating chief admitted in plea bargains to crimes of corruption . Sete Brasil is in talks to renegotiate its supply contract with Petrobras , while  had to book impairments on its investment in the second and third quarters .  He was the key guy , and now it s a kingdom without its king , ? Ray Zucaro , chief investment officer at  Asset Management in Miami , said in an e mail . As an outside investor it does give me pause , I just don t know where the next shoe will drop .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
11361,11362,"Baghdad , Iraq The Iraqi government Friday demanded the withdrawal of an Iranian "" armed group "" that it says seized an oil well in southern Iraq on Thursday night .  Iran is denying any takeover took place .  The Iraqi government issued a strong statement deploring the act after Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al Maliki headed an emergency meeting of Iraq ' s National Security Council to discuss the situation .  "" The council stressed that such incidents would be considered a violation of the border and violated Iraq ' s sovereignty and its territories and calls upon Iran to pull out the group from well No . 4 and take down the Iranian flag from the tower of the well immediately , "" Iraqi government spokesman Ali al Dabbagh said in the statement .  Senior Iraqi government sources initially referred to the Iranians as "" security forces , "" but the official Iraqi government statement later called them an "" armed group . ""  Drilled in 1979 , the well is in Iraq ' s Maysan province , east of Amara , near the Iranian border . It is within the province ' s Fakka oil field , the Iraqi government said .  Al Dabbagh said in the statement that the Iraqi government had summoned the Iranian ambassador in Baghdad , Hassan Kazemi Qomi , to inform him officially about the incident and asked him to provide a note to Iran ' s Foreign Affairs Ministry "" to address such a violation . ""  The statement said the Iraqi government called upon Iran "" to resolve all border problems through diplomatic dialogue and avoid the use of military force in order to preserve our common security and bilateral relations between the two countries . ""  An official at the Iranian Embassy in Baghdad had said earlier that Iraqi authorities had not yet contacted them .  Iraq and Iran share a long border , and high ranking committees from both countries handle all border matters , an Iranian Embassy official said .  Iraq and Iran fought a bloody eight year war that ended in 1988 in a cease fire with no clear victor and parts of the border under dispute .  But political , economic , cultural and religious ties between Iran , a predominantly Shiite Muslim nation , and Iraq , a majority Shiite Muslim nation , greatly improved after the overthrow of the Saddam Hussein regime in 2003 . At the same time , there has been widespread concern among Iraqi and U . S . officials that Iran has been providing Iraqi insurgents with material for roadside bombs during the Iraq war .  The report of the oil well incident comes several days after the Oil Ministry ' s two day auction of oil fields . Aimed at increasing Iraqi oil production , deals were struck for seven of the 15 fields offered . There also had been oil bidding in June .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
11381,11382,"In a warehouse about the size of four football fields , more than a million units of online retail items are housed .  It is essential that all inventory is organized and easy to find , in order to get these items to their final destinations on time that is , unless the inventory needed can be summoned on demand .  That is exactly what happens at the 25 , 500 square meter Quiet Logistics fulfillment center , in Massachusetts , where 200 robots help workers prepare 10 , 000 to 20 , 000 orders for delivery every day . It uses a system designed by Amazon subsidiary Kiva that keeps track of all inventory so the robots know exactly what is on each storage unit .  "" The robots job is really to move inventory from storage to the work station , "" said Brian Lemerise  of third party fulfillment at Quiet Logistics . "" Anytime someone places an order . . . the robot is dispatched to the storage location that has that unit and brings it to our associates to pick . ""  Kiva robots have a reported accuracy rate of 99 . 99 , so human error is practically eliminated in this phase of the process .  With names like Bot Mobile , Jack in the Bot , and Betty Bot , each robot is given its own identity and its own assignments . Like a choreographed routine they move autonomously up and down the aisles of the warehouse at about 10 kilometers per hour never missing a step , and always hitting their mark . This is made possible by the bar codes they drive over and the cameras on the bottom of the drive units , which together communicate where the bot is driving to .  They are designed to operate in tight quarters and at just 76 cm long , 64cm wide and 41 cm high , the robots are small enough to travel under the storage units , yet strong enough to lift almost a metric ton of merchandise . They can even find the charging station when their power is running low .  What keeps this mechanical workforce performing with such precision and from crashing into each other is the software that commands it .  "" We think of the software as being a giant air traffic control system , "" says Al Dekin , Senior  of sales and marketing at Quiet Logistics . "" The software will allocate a certain number of spots to a specific robot that ' s what keeps the robots from hitting each other ""  He adds : "" In terms of overall productivity , the use of the robotics tend to be around anywhere between three and a half to upwards of five times more productive , so we ' d have to have that many more people to actually get the same amount of work done . ""  But the human touch is still necessary to get the products out the door . Quiet Logistics has 400 people working on fulfillment at the Massachusetts facility alone , so these smart machines are not yet ready to replace living workers . But they do make it easier to get the job done .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
11412,11413,"Davis Cup team delay travel to Belgium amid Brussels security fears  ? Terror alert in Brussels was raised to highest category on Saturday  ? Ghent , where Davis Cup final is to be held , is second highest category  Andy Murray and the rest of  s Davis Cup team have delayed travelling to Belgium amid security fears . Photograph : Ella Ling   Shutterstock  Last modified on Sunday 22 November 2015 19 . 50 ?   Anxiety and uncertainty remain high around Great Britain s journey to Ghent this week in pursuit of their first Davis Cup in 79 years following Belgium s decision on Sunday night to retain security in Brussels at the highest level .  The five man squad , led by Andy Murray and the team captain , Leon Smith , along with Lawn Tennis Association back up staff and security operatives , have delayed their departure until Monday , although they are keeping secret the time and the route . They hope to arrive in Ghent in time to practise on the match court at the Flanders Expo .  Ghent ? just 35 miles from Brussels , which is still in virtual lockdown , with the metro and schools shut as a full scale manhunt for several terrorists continues ? is rated a level three security threat , one below the capital .  The  , responsible for the safety of the British players , and the International Tennis Federation , the organisers of the tournament along with the host governing body in consultation with government and security forces , are monitoring the situation by the hour .  However , the decision on Sunday night by the Belgian prime minister , Charles Michel , and his government not to reduce the Brussels alert from four to three is a cause for continued concern and vigilance .  The former British No1 and Davis Cup stalwart Tim Henman said he did not expect the players to be adversely affected but admitted he had cancelled plans to attend the final .  There is uncertainty with the shutdown over there , he said . Only time will tell . But fingers crossed it will continue as normal ? because , if it doesn t , it s a very difficult scenario . I was going to go but I am not going any more . I was going to take the three girls , I was going to go with my family . With the train and the going over there , I just thought : Is it really worth the hassle for them ?  However , Mary Pope , chair of the British Association of Tennis Supporters , said night that their travel group of up to 150 supporters still intended to go .  I ve only heard from one person who is definitely not going , she said . People are definitely concerned but we haven t cancelled our plans at this stage and are hoping to go . I think everyone is keeping an eye on the situation and there is some concern about travelling through Brussels . It s a case of wait and see but we hope it goes ahead .  Henman , who played in the Davis Cup 54 times for Great Britain ? including a dangerous expedition to Ecuador weeks after the 9 11 attack in New York ? expects the players will handle the unique psychological pressure .  I remember Ecuador away in 2001 but I think they were slightly different circumstances . I was flying to the training camp when we were meant to be meeting in Miami and got diverted to Bermuda and spent 24 hours there and then came back . I then went round through Europe and direct to South America .  Once we got to South America I didn t feel as if we were under immediate threat . I felt like the issues were elsewhere , whereas I think circumstances are different in Belgium . It s obvious there s been so much going on there in the last few days . I m sure they will be relying on a lot of information from outside sources . But hopefully they can travel there on Monday and the event is going to continue .  He said he expected Murray would lead by example in difficult circumstances . Pressure is self inflicted . It s what your mind tells you . When you have the sort of mind set Andy has had his whole career you do a good job of controlling things that you can control : his preparation and performance . I m sure the team will be talking to the  and the embassy to make sure everything is in place . That is something the rest of the team will take care of so Andy can concentrate on his job on the court . I don t envisage it having an impact .  The Murray brothers mother , Judy , shares Henman s optimism . We have been following what has been going on and we have discussed it , she told La Derni re Heure , the French language daily newspaper published in Brussels . Molenbeek the suburb at the centre of the most intense police attention isn t far from Ghent but that shouldn t stop us . We trust the security that has been organised . Everyone will be vigilant and we hope that the event will be a great success .  On Murray s concerns about his Davis Cup preparation after leaving the  World Tour Finals in London , she said : I find it shameful that such events are so close together . He cannot totally focus on the final and he only has a few days to change from hardcourt to clay . He could work a bit on this surface but the tournaments at the end of the year are all played on hardcourts . He will have to quickly turn the dial and get on with it .  The Belgian team trained on Sunday at Merelbeke , about 20 minutes from Ghent . Led by the clay specialist David Goffin , they will be keen for the final to go ahead if possible , and the  says no consideration has been given to a postponement , cancellation or even allowing both finalists to share the title .  Tim Henman will play Tie Break Tens a night of 10 point tie breaks at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday 5 December  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
11430,11431,"Modi invites Congress chief Sonia Gandhi , former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to discuss  Bill : sources  American and Russian Militaries Don ' t Agree About Much in Syria  World Karen DeYoung , The Washington Post Updated : November 26 , 2015 18 : 44   The  and Russian militaries have lobbed a steady stream of verbal brickbats at each other since Russian operations in Syria began . ( Representational photo )  During a two day period early this week , the United States reported that coalition aircraft had conducted 23 strikes in Syria , destroying about three dozen Islamic State vehicles , buildings and tactical units .  During the same two days , Russia said its aircraft had hit 472 "" terrorist objectives "" in Syria , including an Islamic State oil depot , an "" oil production plant "" and 80 tank trucks .  The numbers were fairly typical of descriptions separately released nearly every day by the U . S . led coalition and the Russian Defense Ministry . In the eight weeks since Russia began air operations in Syria , its military claims to have flown many more missions than the United States , and destroyed thousands of targets .  Russia ' s efforts , Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al Moualem said in Moscow on Wednesday , have been "" 100 times greater than what is being done by the United States of America and their allies against terrorism . ""  Beneath public presidential statements and diplomatic exchanges , the U . S . and Russian militaries have lobbed a steady stream of verbal brickbats at each other since Russian operations in Syria began on Sept . 30 . They have repeatedly criticized each other ' s tactics , munitions and goals .  The U . S . military says that Russia has consistently exaggerated both its activities and successes in Syria , and that the vast majority of its attacks have not even been aimed at the Islamic State but have targeted coalition backed opponents of its ally , Syrian President Bashar Assad .  In response , Russia has accused the United States of sour grapes and said the Americans are lying about what Russian planes are hitting . "" These statements are . . . made without presenting any proofs , with no specific facts , and citing unspecified sources , "" the Defense Ministry said this week , and Russia can back up all its reported operations with "" objective control data . ""  Most recently , the U . S . led coalition command ridiculed a Russian claim to have destroyed 500 Islamic State oil tankers in one operation , just after the Americans said U . S . planes had wiped out 116 tank trucks .  "" We didn ' t go through the effort . . . to do a detailed battle damage assessment "" of the Russian strikes , Col . Steve Warren , the Baghdad based coalition spokesman , said Wednesday . After looking at a Russian released video , he said , "" unless the Russians are counting , you know , flattened tires and chipped paint , it ' s simply impossible that they were able to destroy 500 trucks , particularly using the imprecise and , you know , dumb bombs , dumb munitions that they used . ""  "" My guess is it ' s probably on an order of magnitude of an exaggeration , "" Warren said . "" Under 100 , I would posit . ""  On Monday , the Russian Defense Ministry upped the ante , saying that over a five day period , Russian aircraft had "" destroyed over 1 , 000 petrol tank vehicles , which carried out transportation of crude oil to the plants controlled "" by the Islamic State .  The United States has also claimed that Russia has caused numerous civilian casualties with unguided munitions : gravity bombs dropped from the sky . Warren said that tallies by unnamed human rights groups of "" upwards of 1 , 000 civilian casualties . . . including over 100 kids "" are "" probably fairly accurate . ""  "" This is sloppy military work , "" Warren said . "" This is the reckless and irresponsible , imprecise and frankly uncaring approach to operations in Syria that the Russians have taken on . ""  In a report issued late last week , the Britain based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said it had documented 403 civilians , including 166 women and children , killed in Russian airstrikes , more than the 381 fighters from both rebel and terrorist forces it said had been killed .  The U . S . military has acknowledged two instances in which airstrikes against the Islamic State resulted in civilian deaths .  Striking oil tankers , most of which are driven by civilians , is a particular problem , Warren said , but "" our assessment is that we have not caused a single civilian casualty . ""  To avoid them in the operation that destroyed the 116 vehicles , he said , U . S . F 15s dropped leaflets over the trucks , which are usually lined up beside Islamic State oil installations , warning drivers that "" we ' re about to blow them up "" and telling them to run away .  Thirty minutes later , the U . S . jets "" flew right over , near ground level , to scare the crap out of them , "" Warren said . "" Just for good measure , they then did strafing runs off to the side "" of the trucks , "" as an attention getter . . . just in case one or two really stubborn guys "" didn ' t get the message .  "" We saw them flash their lights at one another , jump out of the trucks and run away . That whole process took about 45 minutes , then we blew them up . "" The Russians , he said , provided no such warning .  The two militaries carefully study each other ' s released videos and counter each other ' s charges in detail .  In response to American charges that Russian warplanes were again striking opposition forces in northwestern Syria , a Defense Ministry statement Monday said that "" most terrorist units in these areas have left their positions without permission despite their leaders ' threats . They discarded their Islamic State ( and other terrorist groups ) clothes and insignia to blend in with the local population . ""  "" In connection with a large scale operation on simultaneous destruction of terrorists ' infrastructure all over the territory of Syria , "" the statement said , "" the so called fake ' human rights observatories ' and other propaganda organizations were expected to issue another batch of stovepiping in the Western media . ""  Western media , it said , appeared to have become more "" careful in their statements "" following terrorist attacks in Paris , Egypt and Mali , the statement said .  "" On the other hand , statements by certain alleged military experts ( such as the official representative of the U . S . Armed Forces Central Command , who has made a statement saying that ' most Russian airstrikes are aimed against moderate Syrian opposition ' ) remain the same . ""  Story First Published : November 26 , 2015 18 : 44   ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
11438,11439,"Rosa Parks works as a seamstress , shortly after the beginning of the Montgomery bus boycott in Montgomery , Alabama . Don Cravens Getty  Tuesday marks 60 years since Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on a segregated bus in Montgomery , Alabama . ? Her ? arrest on December 1 , 1955 sparked the 381 day Montgomery bus boycott . ?  President Barack Obama said that Parks ' lifetime of activism continues to inspire Americans today .  Rosa Parks held no elected office . ? She was not born into wealth or power . ? Yet sixty years ago today , Rosa Parks changed America . ? Refusing to give up a seat on a segregated bus was the simplest of gestures , but her grace , dignity , and refusal to tolerate injustice helped spark a Civil Rights Movement that spread across America , the president said in a statement on Tuesday . ?  "" Because Rosa Parks kept her seat , thousands of ordinary commuters walked instead of rode . ? Because they walked , countless other quiet heroes marched . ? Because they marched , our union is more perfect . ? Today , we remember their heroism . ? Most of all , we recommit ourselves to continuing their march . "" ?  Rosa Parks seated toward the front of the bus in Montgomery , Alabama in 1956 . ? Underwood Archives Getty Images  Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton is traveling to Montgomery on Tuesday to deliver a keynote speech at the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church , where Martin Luther King served as the pastor . The speech will headline a two day event organized by the National Bar Association .  We are going to be recognizing these older foot soldiers and the people s shoulders that we all stand on today , Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange told Reuters . We want to make sure that as many as possible get their moment .  Jeanne Theoharis , ? political science professor at Brooklyn College and author of the newly published ? The Rebellious Life of Mrs Rosa Parks ? told  that ? Parks ' frustration with the American justice system is ? the same frustration that motivates ? Black Lives Matter movement in present day .  We fall back on stock images . We fall back on the ways we re comfortable with her , as a quiet seamstress in a movement that was long ago , "" she said . ? But Rosa Parks at the end of her life was saying there s still more work to be done .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,US elections,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,past
11465,11466,"producer Tim Robinson who is suing Marks and Spencer after wrongly being accused of shoplifting from one of their stores  A former   producer is to sue Marks and Spencer for 100 , 000 after he was wrongly accused of shoplifting and marched through one of their stores in handcuffs .  Award winning Tim Robinson , 51 , who has worked on programmes such as Timewatch and Digging for Britain , was then locked in a police cell for six hours as police investigated claims he had stolen pork chops .  Now the Oxford graduate , who was released without charge , is claiming compensation of 100 , 000 for false imprisonment , defamation , emotional distress and mental suffering .  He is also claiming back all the money he believes he spent at the store close to his home over the past 13 years , together with 20 , 000 in interest .  Private security guards approached Mr Robinson as he shopped at the Camden Town branch of Marks and Spencer in North London in May .  He was then taken to the stairwell in front of neighbours where he claims two ' threatening and rude ' security staff accused him of stealing 60 worth of peppered steak and a barrel of pork over two weeks previously .  They then called the police and allegedly claimed Mr Robinson was being ' physically threatening ' .  But it was only when police compared his photo from security cameras with the meat thief that they spotted the blunder .  Mr Robinson today said : ' I feel appalled at how I was treated . I was just wandering through the shop it ' s very close to my house . A security guard came up to me and said could he have have a word with me .  ' He showed me a still of myself and said is this you ? He said to come to the back of the shop and we ' ll talk about it . His manner was threatening .  ' They said I had stolen food from the shop . I said I had no idea what they were talking about . They had an array of stills with them but they only showed me two of myself taken on a different date .  ' They had these stills of the criminal with different coloured hair and at least fifteen years younger . The only similarity is that we ' re both male , white and slim . It ' s unbelievable . What on earth were they doing putting photographs of me and mixing them up with photographs of a criminal ? '  He added : ' They didn ' t even have the decency to take me somewhere private . They said I would have time to look at the photographs later . They were very threatening and very rude .  ' The first thing the policeman said was "" why did you tell me this is an emergency ? He isn ' t physically threatening "" .  ' The police said I could have an interview there and then but I said I wasn ' t prepared to say anything until a solicitor was there .  ' I was handcuffed and marched through the shop in front of everyone , in front of my neighbours . I was made to get into the police van on Camden High Street .  ' I was put into the back of the police van with the grille , all my belongings taken . And then they took a mug shot . '  Mr Robinson says he shopped in the Camden Town branch of Marks and Spencer for over 12 years and is also claiming back all of the money he claims he has spent at the store  Mr Robinson ' s partner , who is a City lawyer then turned up at the police station where he was told he had been identified as a shoplifter .  He explained : ' I was really shocked , I actually burst into tears when I spoke to the duty solicitor .  ' She said that the police told her they had incontrovertible evidence that I committed this crime . She was saying that it would be better to admit to the crime . I thought I was having some kind of memory lapse . I thought I was bonkers . '  But he added he was only let go when officers re examined the photos of him and the thief and realised they had the wrong man and said : ' The police didn ' t look carefully enough at the photographs . It clearly wasn ' t me .  ' She apologised afterwards after it and said that she had never seen anything like this .  ' The writ is composed of three main parts , defamation , false imprisonment , and basically an abuse of trust .  ' I ' m an Oxford graduate , I ' m in a very fortunate position . Just imagine what could have happened to a person without these sorts of advantages .  ' I ' m just determined this doesn ' t happen to someone else . I want M S to change the way they operate . '  A spokeswoman for Marks and Spencer said : ' As this is part of ongoing legal proceedings , it would be inappropriate for M S to provide any comment at this time . '  A Camden Police spokesman confirmed they were called to the shop on May 19 after staff reported they had found believed responsible for thefts on May 2 .  The spokesman added : ' A 51 year old man was taken to a north London police station where he was interviewed under caution . No further action was taken on the man . '  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
11470,11471,"Oslo , Norway Norway mass killer Anders Breivik should be considered sane and acquitted for the attacks that left 77 people dead , his lawyer said in closing arguments Friday .  Breivik has admitted carrying out the July 22 attack on a Labour Party youth camp on Utoya Island that killed 69 people and a bombing targeting government workers in Oslo that killed eight .  But Breivik , who boasts of being an ultranationalist who killed his victims to fight multiculturalism in Norway , says he acted out of "" necessity . ""  Defense lawyer Geir Lippestad argued that Breivik should be fully acquitted on the charges of voluntary homicide and committing acts of terror in Norway and that this should be on the grounds of necessity , not insanity .  If Breivik is not acquitted , he should be given the lightest possible sentence , Lippestad said as he wrapped up his closing arguments .  He asked the judges to discount the claim by prosecutors that Breivik is mentally ill and should be transferred to a psychiatric institution .  Many friends and relatives of the victims left the courtroom in protest as Breivik rose to give his own closing argument , the last one heard before the trial concluded .  He described his actions on July 22 as "" barbaric "" but said that only two of more than 30 experts who have evaluated him consider him insane . Some in the courtroom laughed as he made points criticizing Norway ' s multicultural society and moral values .  The court ruled that his speech could not be broadcast .  After Breivik ' s statement , the judges said the verdict would be delivered August 24 .  Several outcomes are possible . Prosecutors have asked that Breivik be acquitted on the grounds of insanity , in which case he would be held in a secure mental health unit . If he is fully acquitted on the grounds of "" necessity , "" as urged by his defense , he could go free . If he is ruled sane and found guilty of some or all the charges , he would be sentenced to prison time .  Earlier , applause greeted the accounts of survivors and relatives of those killed when they addressed the court . The judges and prosecutors were among those displaying emotion as they listened , with some moved to tears .  Outside the courtroom , one of the survivors of the Utoya attack , Tore Sinding Bekkedal , said he was "" very relieved this trial has been as dignified , thorough , proper as it has been . ""  Seeing the legal system treat it like any other criminal case has been the best show of strength possible , the 24 year old said .  Bekkedal , a youth politician in Oslo , said the case had highlighted the danger of Islamophobia in Norwegian society and the need to fight it .  Hearing fellow survivors testify about the attacks on Utoya had been less difficult than seeing their impact on the relatives of those killed , he said .  "" You meet people who have lost relatives and children , sisters and brothers , and it ' s a much more profound bereavement than losing friends , even though I did lose some very good friends and role models , "" he said .  The issue of Breivik ' s sanity has been at the heart of the case .  If he is not found to be mentally ill , prosecutors will ask for a prison sentence of 21 years , a spokeswoman for the prosecutor ' s office said .  Giving his closing arguments Friday , Lippestad sought to argue that his client ' s past did not point to a history of violent acts but rather to political activism .  "" The central criterion for insanity is that the ability of realistic assessment of one ' s relationship to the outside world is largely abolished , "" he said . "" Is it violent fantasy that is the mother of these actions , or is it his political opinion ? ""  The lawyer outlined Breivik ' s political life and activity as heard by the court , from the early days when he was member of a party to the extreme political arguments he posted online .  Lippestad also recalled how Breivik ' s mother and his friends said he was intense when he talked about politics but never said he was intense about violence .  He questioned an initial psychiatric report given to the court that said his client had been acting under a delusion , saying Breivik ' s radicalization had developed through his engagement with extremist communities online .  The lawyer cited Breivik ' s active stock trading , social life and preparations for the attacks as examples of how he did not meet the criteria to be considered insane .  Under those criteria , he should be disinterested , aimless , inactive , self centered and socially withdrawn , Lippestad said . "" That he has been aimless is certainly the last thing I would call this man , "" he said .  Lippestad also argued that Breivik had chosen his targets politically , noting that he didn ' t attack nonpolitical people like the captain on the boat to Utoya and the youngest children on the island .  "" Breivik knew that killing was wrong , but it ' s what any classic terrorist does , "" he said .  The lawyer told the court he shared the prosecutor ' s view that the attacks , which he called "" a cruel act of terrorism , "" were almost too horrible to be true .  But , he said , the key question for his client was whether he acted under the legal principle of "" necessity . ""  Lippestad has previously said it is important to Breivik that people see him as sane so they don ' t dismiss his views .  Last month , Breivik promised that he would not appeal if a court finds him sane and guilty .  Bjorn Ihler , a survivor of the Utoya attack , said it is down to the court to deliver a "" good and fair judgment "" on Breivik , in accordance with Norway ' s longstanding principles of justice .  Its ruling on whether he is sane matters less than the fact that Breivik ' s extremist views are shared by other people , he said .  However , listening to Breivik in court had made him appear as less of a "" scary monster , "" Ihler said . "" Now it ' s just a pathetic man sitting there . ""  Asked what his personal message to the court would be , he said , "" I am still alive . I ' m a survivor , not a victim , and I will live on and fight on to work against future extremist acts . ""  The issues thrown up by Breivik ' s trial have led the Norwegian authorities to re evaluate the country ' s provision for holding dangerous criminals who are found to be insane .  The government proposed amendments to the Norwegian Mental Health Care Act in May , aiming "" to strengthen the security measures relating to a small group of particularly dangerous patients . ""  The current law allows "" too great a risk for escape , hostage taking and severe violence against patients and staff "" in the health institutions where such patients are currently housed , a statement from the Ministry of Health and Care Services said .  The new legislation would strengthen security measures and allow for a high security unit to be based within a prison , opening the possibility that Breivik could be held in a secure unit in the same Ila Prison where he has been detained for almost a year .  The amendments will come into force July 1 .  In the course of the trial , which started in mid April , the court has heard grueling testimony from the survivors of the July 22 attacks .  Survivors and relatives of those killed and injured have also been present in the courtroom to hear Breivik give his account of the events of that day and the motivation for his acts .  In his testimony early in the trial , Breivik claimed to represent a "" European resistance movement "" and "" Europeans who don ' t want our ethnic rights to be taken away . ""  The shocking attacks prompted Norwegians to reassert their commitment to multiculturalism and tolerance at a series of mass public tributes .  ",true,text,test,Football,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
11492,11493,"Cruz tops Trump , Clinton pushed hard in Iowa caucuses  Ted Cruz has edged his Republican rivals to win the Iowa Caucus with 28 per cent of the vote . Donald Trump polled 24 per cent , while Marco Rubio took 23 per cent of the vote . ?    : Ted Cruz felled long time Republican frontrunner Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton was battled into a virtual tie with rival Bernie Sanders on Monday ( Feb 1 ) , as Iowans held the inaugural vote of the 2016 White House race .  Republicans in the rural midwestern state backed the ultraconservative Cruz for their party ' s nomination , leaving a humbled Trump in second place just ahead of Senator Marco Rubio , according to nearly complete results given by the party .  Iowans flocked to churches , gymnasiums and libraries to be the first voices officially heard in the boisterous months long nominating process that leads to Election Day on Nov 8 .  "" To God be the glory ! "" exclaimed Cruz , claiming victory with 27 . 7 per cent of the vote and staking his claim to be the new standard bearer of the right .  "" Tonight is a victory for courageous conservatives across Iowa and all across this great nation , "" he said , clearly pleased that his heavy investment in campaigning in the deeply conservative state had paid off .  For Trump , a modest vote tally just above 24 per cent raised deep questions about whether showmanship can take him all the way to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue .  The real estate mogul who has centered his campaign around being a "" winner "" tried to brush off the steep loss , saying he had been given no chance to win Iowa at the outset . "" I was told by everybody , ' Do not go to Iowa . You couldn ' t finish in the top ten ' , "" he told supporters . "" I said ' I have to do it ' . ""  Rubio , whose star has risen in recent weeks , tried to capitalize on a strong showing and his status as the top mainstream Republican . He earned more than 23 per cent , according to the nearly complete party results .  "" Tonight here in Iowa , the people of this great state sent a very clear message , "" he said , training his fire on Democrats . "" Tonight we have taken the first step but an important step towards winning this election . ""  Iowa Democrats also showed their doubt in their party frontrunner , with Clinton in a dead heat with Sanders , who has railed against Wall Street and money in politics .  With more than 95 percent of precincts reported , Clinton was on 49 . 9 per cent and Sanders 49 . 6 per cent . "" What Iowa has begun tonight is a political revolution , "" said Sanders , a Vermont senator , as he focused on building a movement around campaign finance reform and a more equitable society .  "" So you guys ready for a radical idea ? Well , so is America , "" Sanders said to cheers . "" We are going to create an economy that works for working families not just the billionaire class . ""  Clinton had been looking to lay to rest the demons of 2008 , when she lost in Iowa to now President Barack Obama , and pursue her quest for history by dealing a solid blow to her upstart challenger . But she now faces another tough battle in Sanders ' backyard , New Hampshire .  The former first lady signaled that would be a bruising battle . "" It is rare that we have the opportunity we do now , to have a real contest of ideas to really think hard about what the Democratic Party stands for and what we want the future of our country to look like , "" she said .  Experts had predicted that high turnout would benefit political outsiders , who have dominated the 2016 race so far . And so it proved .  "" This is very chaotic but I ' m happy that so many people showed up , "" said Aaron Menick , a 21 year old at a Democratic caucus at Drake University .  Activists in one Des Moines precinct reported turnout was three times higher than expected . Armies of campaign volunteers have fanned out through the state in recent days , knocking on doors or manning phone banks to get out the vote , while candidates dominated the air waves with talk show appearances and a relentless barrage of campaign ads .  For many long shot candidates , Iowa has spelled the end of the road .  Republican Mick Huckabee announced he was dropping out of the race , and sources close to Democrat Martin O ' Malley said he would follow suit . Even as votes came in , fourth place Ben Carson was forced to deny reports he was dropping out of the race .  "" Contrary to false media reports , Dr Ben Carson is not suspending his presidential campaign , which is stronger than ever , "" said campaign spokesman Larry Ross .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
11497,11498,"Phoenix , Arizona Sue Schwartz says she ' s been called a racist so many times she doesn ' t mind the label anymore . If wanting immigrants to enter the country legally , like her great grandparents from Mexico , and obey the laws of the land makes her racist , then so be it , she says firmly .  "" I ' m getting to the point I wear it with pride , "" says Schwartz , a lifelong Arizonan who has warily watched the growth of the illegal immigrant population in the state over the course of her life .  About 500 , 000 unauthorized immigrants were believed to live in Arizona in 2008 , and 11 . 9 million nationwide , up from 3 . 5 million nationwide in 1990 , according to a Pew Hispanic Center report published in 2009 .  This year , the tide is finally turning in her favor , she says , with the passage of  1070 , aimed at cracking down on illegal immigration .  The new law requires immigrants to carry their alien registration documents at all times and requires police to question people if there is reason to suspect they ' re in the United States illegally .  Read the full text of Senate Bill 1070 (  )  "" I hope it makes a lot of them leave on their own , self deportation . Hopefully that ' ll open up more jobs . There ' s a lot of people here who will do menial jobs maybe not pick lettuce , but these people aren ' t just picking lettuce any more , "" says Schwartz .  The new law also targets those who hire illegal immigrant day laborers or knowingly transport them .  What will Arizona immigration law do ?  Schwartz , a retired  worker , says undocumented workers are taking jobs from citizens like her teenage granddaughter , who hasn ' t been able to find a job since she began looking after she turned 15 .  "" She can ' t even work at the Hometown Buffet if she doesn ' t speak Spanish . How fair is that ? "" she said .  Of equal concern to her friend , Martha Payan , is how she claims illegal immigrants "" fleece "" government coffers by collecting welfare on multiple children , or vanish without a trace after an arrest or a hospital visit .  The two women , who became acquainted through various demonstrations in the metro Phoenix area , met Thursday to discuss their views outside the Maricopa County Municipal building , as more backlash against the controversial immigration law continued to flood the city .  Latin pop star Shakira arrived in town Thursday to discuss  1070 with Mayor Phil Gordon , who has vowed to fight the law . This comes a day after Mexico urged its citizens not to travel to Arizona .  Sporting a white baseball cap that that reads , "" 100 American Citizen , "" Schwartz says she believes that  1070 came about because law enforcement in Phoenix was fed up over not being able to ask suspects about their immigration status .  "" Any time an American does something wrong or breaks the law they ' re going to pay the consequences . Whenever an illegal does something wrong they get a new  and become a new person , "" she says . "" I want the laws same for everybody here , not bent for them . ""  The 59 year old mother of four adult children says her Mexican parents and grandparents taught her a respect for the law at an early age . Her grandmother , who lived in Juarez , Mexico , after being kicked out of the United States for smuggling drugs , encouraged her to get a good education and speak English , her second language , outside of the home .  "" If I entered another country illegally I ' d go to jail , yet they ' re demanding better treatment than their government would give us , "" she says .  iReport : Share your thoughts on immigration policy  Anna Gaines , a Mexican born U . S . citizen , says she took up the fight against illegal immigration after becoming disillusioned by the attitudes of immigrant families that she witnessed as a teacher in the Paradise Valley School District in Paradise , Arizona .  "" Many of these families were having one child after another just to earn a paycheck from the U . S . government and they didn ' t care about their children ' s education , "" says Gaines , the controversial founder of American Citizens United , a grass roots organization known for its extreme views on immigration enforcement . "" They didn ' t want to contribute , just take . ""  Gaines , who came to the United States as a nurse on a work visa during the Vietnam War and met her current husband , says she thinks immigrants have changed over the years .  "" There used to be a level of dignity and self respect . They were hard working people who wanted to contribute to American society because it was better than where they came from , "" says Gaines , a petite woman in her 70s . "" But our government has been giving them handouts for so long that now they expect them . ""  Gaines says  1070 mirrors federal law on fortifying the borders , allowing local officials to enforce immigration law in a manner that the federal government should have been doing all along .  "" We as Americans have the right to defend this country ' s laws . There ' s nothing racist about protecting the country , "" she says .  Payan , originally from Puerto Rico , hopes the law will deter future illegal immigration .  "" I hope it stops trespassers and lets people know the law is the law and you cross that border illegally , it ' s a crime , "" she says .  Payan has also been called "" traidora , "" or traitor , by neighbors in her primarily Hispanic neighborhood who know how she feels about illegal immigrants .  "" They know how I feel . I don ' t hide my feeling , "" she says . "" I ' ve already had by apartment broken into and had my car hit by an illegal . What more do I have to lose ? ""  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,past
11532,11533,"A number of McDonald ' s restaurants have been slammed for advertising their fast food directly to young children and offering them free food products .  The Advertising Standards Board (  ) heard that the fast food chain issued vouchers to children aged 10 years and under who were participating in the University of Sunshine Coast Basketball Club Competition in late September .  Forming part of the Team Spirit Award handed to the children , the voucher was redeemable for a ' small cheeseburger meal ' or ' seared snack wrap , apple bag and small orange juice ' at eight McDonald ' s restaurants in the Sunshine Coast , Queensland .  McDonald ' s restaurants in Victoria and the Sunshine Coast have been caught advertising fast food to children under the age of 14  The  upheld the complaint , finding that McDonald ' s had breached the Quick Service Restaurant Initiative for Responsible Advertising to Children (  ) as the products advertised did not meet the nutritional criteria .  The complainant claimed that the fast food chain had ' little concern for the dietary health of Australian children ' due to repeatedly breaching the  .  The comment referred to an earlier instance in July when McDonald ' s stores were found to have breached the code after handing out vouchers at a playground in Victoria .  Picturing Ronald McDonald standing with a group of people on one side with the words ' play money ' , the other side of the voucher had an image of McDonald ' s chips next to the words ' free small fries with any purchase ' .  The most recent complaint regarded a voucher redeemable for a small cheeseburger meal ' or ' seared snack wrap , apple bag and small orange juice ' that was handed out as an award for children participating in the University of Sunshine Coast Basketball Club Competition in late September  The vouchers were redeemable at five different McDonald ' s restaurants in Victoria .  McDonald ' s responded to the complaint by saying that the vouchers were withdrawn and made no longer available once it became aware of the breach .  ' We believe this Complaint to be an isolated incident concerning the Nominated Restaurants only , ' the chain restaurant wrote to the  .  ' McDonald ' s is a business with over 920 restaurants and whilst we have strict controls in place to ensure compliance with the  the Voucher was unfortunately not passed through our standard internal review and approval process . '  The  upheld the complaints , finding that McDonald ' s had breached the Quick Service Restaurant Initiative for Responsible Advertising to Children (  )  Following the second incident , McDonald ' s responded again by saying the Awards had been withdrawn and made no longer available .  ' In light of this complaint McDonald ' s has updated its guidelines in consultation with the  in relation to its compliance requirements when providing food or beverage vouchers to children under 14 years of age , ' it wrote in response to the complaint .  ' All members of the McDonald ' s system will be reminded of their responsibilities under the  to ensure that only food and beverages that represent healthier choices are promoted to children .  ' We have also reaffirmed our standard advertising review protocol which requires advertising to be approved through appropriate channels . Training has and will continue to be undertaken with relevant McDonald ' s team members to improve understanding in these areas . '  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
11545,11546,"For Heather Neroy , it used to be a tedious process : Whenever she came across an interesting arts and crafts project or recipe on the Internet , she would save it for later by copying the link , pasting it into an e mail and sending it to herself .  After that Neroy , a stay at home mom from Southern California , would file the e mail in a folder for future reference . It wasn ' t exactly the most efficient system .  Then last year , during one of her browsing sessions , she read a blog post that gushed about a new website called Pinterest . The virtual pinboard , where users can pin and organize images onto individual "" boards , "" didn ' t pique Neroy ' s interest at first , but she quickly changed her mind .  "" Someone described it as an online filing system , and I thought , ' That ' s exactly what I need , ' "" she said .  Soon Neroy was pinning away and , like many Pinterest users , got quickly hooked . She first started with a Halloween board where she pinned costume ideas . Next , Neroy created a shared color board for redecorating her daughter ' s bedroom that she and her husband could add to .  Pinterest also allows other users to follow each other ' s boards and "" re pin "" another person ' s images . In no time Neroy was sharing other people ' s pins and following users with similar tastes .  "" It ' s been really neat to see what other moms are pinning , "" she said . "" Some days you run out of ideas and you don ' t know what to do to fill the time before bedtime . I thought it was going to be just me organizing , but it ' s really a community sharing all these different ideas that I didn ' t even know existed . ""  Think of Pinterest as a way of cataloging your passions . Members have used the website to plan weddings and holidays . Others have pinned images of clothes , recipes , architecture , art , crafts , cars and even technology . Thanks to media reports and the devotion of users like Neroy , there ' s been a lot of buzz around Pinterest in recent months .  In October , TechCrunch confirmed that Pinterest had received 27 million of funding from the venture capital firm Andreessen Horowtiz . The pinboard website has been covered and praised extensively by media like Time magazine , and Mashable , which called it "" addictive . ""  Pinterest co founder Ben Silbermann declined to cite specifics about the invite only site ' s growth . But Experian Hitwise , an Internet analytics firm , estimates that Pinterest received nearly 11 million total visits during the week ending December 17 , 2011 almost 40 times the number of visits six months earlier .  Silbermann said what ' s most exciting about his website is how it helps you find new influences for things that you like and in turn lets other people with shared interests provide feedback on your pins .  The appeal of content curation  Marshall Kirkpatrick , a senior writer at ReadWriteWeb , is not surprised by Pinterest ' s success . In an analysis of the website in September , he wrote that Pinterest ' s "" clean retro visual design "" and our fundamental need to collect and organize are part of its appeal .  "" Content curation is a timeless problem that a lot of people have tried to solve , "" Kirkpatrick said . "" Pinterest brings a lot of high design to doing it and a lot of user experience . And with a larger group of people then there ' s a never ending supply of content to enjoy . ""  Yet the concept of content curation is hardly new .  FFFFound , vi . sualize . us , We Heart It , Image Spark and Tumblr are among the other websites that offer visual bookmarking with a few clicks and have been doing so for a while . But Elad Gil , director of corporate strategy at Twitter , pointed out in a blog post a few weeks ago that Pinterest takes this further by giving structure to "" push button content generation . ""  Here ' s what he means : Clicking Pinterest ' s "" Pin It "" button , which can be added to your browser ' s bookmarks toolbar , will automatically grab the picture you want from the website you are on . What is different is that it immediately adds it to any of your Pinterest boards , allowing you to categorize your content then and there . The boards each have a separate page and can be easily accessed , shared and viewed on a sort of mother board on your Pinterest profile .  "" Importantly , it was easy for new users to consume these sets of content visually as structured sets , and to share these sets with others , "" Gil wrote . "" This next wave of social curation will fundamentally change how users find and interact with content over time . ""  Users : Defining ' your own aesthetic '  Blogger Jonathan Lo , creative director of J3 Productions , a design and marketing agency , often pins using the Pinterest mobile app . He calls using the website "" instinctual . "" Lo first started with home and graphic design pins related to his blog and then eventually created a board for his personal taste in fashion .  "" It helps you define your own aesthetic , "" said Lo , who lives in Irvine , California . "" I noticed patterns and recurring themes , so I got a stronger sense of what style I have . I wouldn ' t have necessarily been able to see that earlier . It ' s nice to be able to put a sense of order to all the things you like . ""  Business owners also are flocking to the website to lead new audiences to their products .  Jeanine Hays , the creative director and founder of AphroChic , an interior design company and blog , says she uses Pinterest to find inspiration for her business . As a designer , she uses Pinterest as a virtual mood board to develop concepts , and is often up till midnight just pinning .  "" Pinterest is a great tool for designers looking for new and different content , "" said Hays , who lives in Philadelphia . "" And it is a way to get into the mind of the designer and the brand of the company . My readers can actually see what the next trend is going to look like . ""  Silbermann believes Pinterest is different from other social networks because users are using the website to catalog their day to day activities .  "" I think it ' s really cool that people are pinning the most important projects in their lives . "" he said . "" I think it ' s a service that can really make your offline life more interesting . ""  Neroy is one such user . She is determined to use Pinterest for more offline purposes .  "" I want to spend more time doing than pinning , to encourage time with my kids so that mom ' s not just sitting at the computer , "" she said .  In fact , Neroy went as far as to start a blog called Pinfluence to make sure of that . The blog chronicles her Pinterest exploits , in which she picks interesting do it yourself pins , tries them out for herself and writes about the results .  At present , Neroy has blogged about more than 30 pins , from cleaning her ceiling fans with a pillowcase to an unsuccessful crock pot lasagna recipe to dressing her daughters in her wedding dress , which has been her most popular post to date .  "" I thought it would be interesting to other moms to see me putting my own spin on it and sharing my success and failures , "" she said . "" I want to show that if I could do it , they could do it as well . ""  Neroy added : "" What I tell my friends is , they are not just pinning but creating . And that ' s really where they ' ll find the benefit from Pinterest . ""  ",true,text,test,Other news2,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
11562,11563,"Tributes are flowing for Scottish author Iain Banks , who has died aged 59 after a short battle with cancer just days before the release of his final novel .  The prolific writer , best known for his 1984 debut "" The Wasp Factory "" and 1992 ' s "" The Crow Road , "" was noted as an author of darkly humorous literary and science fiction , the latter of which was published under the name Iain M . Banks .  His wife , Adele , said he died in the early hours of the morning and that "" his death was calm and without pain . ""  Banks released a statement in April revealing he had been diagnosed with late stage cancer of the gall bladder , after suffering what he believed was a back strain .  Writing that it was "" extremely unlikely "" he would live beyond a year , he announced that he had asked his long term partner "" if she will do me the honor of becoming my widow , "" adding that "" we find ghoulish humor helps . ""  The couple were married in the Scottish Highlands and honeymooned in Venice and Paris , before Banks was hospitalized in Scotland on their return .  Banks asked his publishers to bring forward the release of his final novel , "" The Quarry , "" so he could see its publication . The book , to be released June 20 , details the final weeks of a 40 something protagonist , Guy , in his own fight against cancer .  His publishers , Little , Brown , said the author had been presented with a finished copy of the book three weeks ago . "" Banks ' ability to combine the most fertile of imaginations with his own highly distinctive brand of gothic humor made him unique , "" the company said in a statement . "" He is an irreplaceable part of the literary world . ""  The rapid passing of the writer , known for his love of malt whisky and strong political views he tore up his passport in 2003 in protest at the Iraq War drew an outpouring of grief from fellow authors and fans alike .  The English writer Neil Gaiman tweeted : "" I ' m crying in an empty house . A good man and a friend for almost 30 years . ""  Referencing the expression for death used in one of Banks ' most celebrated novels , the Scottish author Ian Rankin tweeted that his friend was "" away the crow road far too soon . "" He added : "" Right now I ' d like to kick cancer in its sniggering head , but instead I ' ll take a single malt . ""  Fellow Scot Irvine Welsh , the author of "" Trainspotting , "" called Banks "" one of the finest writers and greatest imaginations ever , "" and said his debut novel "" was one of those books that changed my life ( and ) made me want to be a writer . ""  Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond described Banks as "" one of Scotland ' s literary greats who always approached life with extraordinary vitality . ""  In 2008 ,  newspaper The Times named Banks one of "" the 50 greatest British writers since 1945 . ""  People we lost in 2013 : The lives they lost  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
11571,11572,"Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) held a town hall earlier this week and it did not go well for him. The Republican congressman told his constituents that taxpayers don t pay his salary and saying otherwise is  bullcrap. You say you pay for me to do this? That s bullcrap,  video shows Mullin saying. I pay for myself. I paid enough taxes before I got here and continue to through my company to pay my own salary. This is a service. No one here pays me to go,  he added.Go figure, no one was impressed with his remarks. When his constituents pushed back, Mullin tried to spin his comments, saying,  this is a service for me, not a career, and I thank God this is not how I make my living. Amy Lawrence, Mullin s spokeswoman, told the press that he was just trying to say that he doesn t want to be a  career politician,  that s all. The congressman reiterates in the video that his work as the representative of the Second District of Oklahoma is a service,  Lawrence said. His aspiration is to be a career legislator and not a career politician. He is not, nor does he ever aspire to be, a career politician. His priority will always be to serve his constituents to the best of his ability. Mullins owns Mullin Plumbing, a lucrative company with multiple smaller subsidiaries. But comprehending exactly how this negates the salary he earns as a congressman requires a special type of mental gymnastics. For the record, base pay for a U. S. congressman is $174,000.The good news for Mullin is that after telling his constituents that they don t pay his salary, he probably won t have to worry about the possibility of becoming a career politician.You can watch Mullin sabotage his career below: Featured image via Wikipedia",fake,dataset,test,Other news1,US elections,satire,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
11583,11584,"Liverpool ' s dramatic week ended in disappointment as Everton claimed a 2 0 victory in the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park on Sunday to leave their rivals second from bottom of the Premier League table .  Roy Hodgson ' s Liverpool side came into the match on the back of a tumultuous last seven days which saw the club finally sold to the owners of the Boston Red Sox baseball team .  And all the disruption off the pitch continues to transmit into poor results on the pitch , as goals either side of half time from Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta gave Everton a deserved win .  Both teams came into the match struggling near the foot of the table , with Everton 17th and Liverpool 18th in the 20 team division .  However , the home side dominated throughout and took a deserved lead when Tim Cahill thundered home a shot after good work on the right from Seamus Coleman .  And the points were secured five minutes after the interval when Spanish midfielder Arteta was given too much space on the edge of the area to fire home through a crowd of players .  The result lifts Everton up to 11th place but only goal difference now separates Liverpool from lying bottom of the table , their lowest ever Premier League position .  Meanwhile , Manchester City are up to second place in the table after a hard fought 3 2 win at newly promoted Blackpool .  After a goalless first half , City took the lead whan captain Carlos Tevez flicked home a cross from substitute David Silva .  Blackpool levelled when Marlon Harewood glanced home a Charlie Adam free kick , but City immediately went down the other end and Tevez fired home a deflected shot to restore the visitors ' lead .  Silva then scored a delightful third goal , skipping past a couple of challenges before curling home a superb strike , before the home side pulled one back in injury time through Gary Taylor Fletcher to set up a nervy final two minutes .  Chelsea continue to lead the table with 19 points from their eight games , but big spending City are now just two points behind the defending champions on 17 points .  Arsenal , Manchester United and Tottenham are all level in third place on 14 points , with the Gunners ahead on goal difference .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
11591,11592,"South Africa started their Rugby Championship campaign with an edgy victory against Argentina in difficult conditions at the Loftus Versfield Stadium .  The Springboks hammered the South Americans by 60 points when they met in the competition last year , but Saturday ' s affair was a much closer affair as the hosts triumphed by just seven points .  South Africa scrum half Ruan Pienaar scored the only try , in the second minute of a game played on a drenched pitch in Pretoria .  Sodden : Nicolas Sanchez of Argentina runs through some puddles at the Loftus Versfield Stadium  Not ideal : Sanchez fights for the ball against South Africa players Francois Louw , left , and Handre Pollard , right  You shall not pass : Gonzalez Iglesias is tackled by Damien de Alleende , left , and Marcell Coetzee , right  The home side led 10 3 at the break but conditions in South Africa were so bad that just two penalties were scored after the interval .  Handling errors and testy exchanges dominated the rest of the game as the converted try proved the difference with Handre Pollard and his replacement Morne Steyn both contributing a penalty while Nicolas Sanchez slotted over two of his own for the Pumas .  Argentina had three good chances in the last five minutes to force a possible draw but defeat by seven points ensured some consolation in the form of a bonus point .  Tough conditions : Mariano Glarza of Argentina , top right , vies for the ball with South Africa ' s Lood de Jager  Raining pumas and Springboks : South Africa recorded a narrow victory against Argentia in Pretoria  Soaked fans : People attend the Rugby Championship despite heavy rain at the Loftus Versfield Stadium  Dodging a tackle : Argentina ' s point scorer Nicolas Sanchez sprints past South Africa try scorer Ruan Pienaar  South Africa go top of the table with four points , with Australia and New Zealand , who drew in Sydney earlier on Saturday , in second and third with two points . Argentina are bottom of the pile with a single point .  Next week New Zealand face Australia and Argentina play today ' s opponents South Africa on home soil in Salta .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
11614,11615,"YORK/ (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department on Wednesday said it is barring legal settlements in federal investigations that include donating funds to community organizations or other third-party groups, rather than paying those directly harmed by the wrongdoing or involved in the cases. U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a statement that settlement payments must be directed to victims impacted by the defendants’ actions and then to the federal government.  The change could impact banks and other corporations, and marks the latest action by the Republican Trump administration to end policies from the previous Democratic Obama administration. Such agreements were a feature of several U.S. settlements with banks following the 2008 financial crisis. Under former President Barack Obama, the Justice Department aimed to hold banks accountable for shoddy securities that contributed to the U.S. housing market collapse. From 2013 to 2016, the department reached $46 billion in settlements with U.S. banks that in part directed funds to approved housing aid and other related groups. In Obama’s final weeks in office, the department sued Barclays  (BARC.L) over similar claims. “In recent years the Department of Justice has sometimes required or encouraged defendants to make these payments to third parties as a condition of settlement,” Sessions said a statement. “We are ending this practice and ensuring that settlement funds are only used to compensate victims, redress harm, and punish and deter unlawful conduct.” The change could impact banks still under federal investigation over mortgage issues such as Credit Suisse Group  (CSGN.S), Royal Bank of Scotland Group  (RBS.L), Wells Fargo & Co (WFC.N),  Group  (UBSG.S) and  (HSBA.L). Representatives for the banks could not be immediately reached.     Sessions, in a one-page memo dated Monday, told the nation’s 94 U.S. attorneys they could not make any agreements in civil or criminal cases “that directs or provides for a payment or loan to any non-governmental person or entity that is not a party to the dispute.” Sessions’ new policy “is ill-advised and ignores the tens of thousands of families who were helped by housing service providers across the country in the wake of the financial crisis,” said Amy Spitalnick, a spokeswoman for New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman. Schneiderman was co-chair of a working group that investigated misconduct in the pooling and sale of mortgage securities in the run-up to the financial crisis. Sessions cited three exceptions to the new policy: payments or loans that directly aim to address harm such as to the environment or official corruption; legal or other professional services from the case; and restitution, forfeiture and other payments required by law. While the policy affects future deals, it would have impacted cases like the Environmental Protection Agency’s diesel emissions settlement with Volkswagen  (VOWG_p.DE) that required the German automaker to invest $2 billion in zero-emission vehicle efforts over 10 years. Eric Schaeffer, executive director of the Environmental Integrity Project and a former  civil enforcement director, said the new ban could prevent a similar settlement after the Justice Department sued Fiat Chrysler Automobiles  (FCHA.MI) last month over excess diesel emissions. The memo could ensure “violators won’t be required to support development of low emission vehicles to compensate for illegal pollution from the dirty engines they designed,” he said. The change could still affect a proposed $12 million Justice Department settlement with Harley-Davidson Inc (HOG.N) that was announced in August but not finalized that includes $3 million to reduce air pollution through a project to replace conventional woodstoves.    ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
11616,11617,"A fearless daredevil has risked his life by climbing an industrial chimney and balancing on a beam above a sheer drop without safety equipment .  Flaviu Cernescu scaled the abandoned structure in Pitesti , Romania , using a disconnected electrical cable to hoist himself for the first 70ft of the climb .  The 32 year old then walked across a rusted railing which runs across the summit of the hollow 920ft structure .  Flaviu Cernescu scaled the abandoned structure in Pitesti , Romania  Some of the scenes in the video are sure to leave many viewers gasping in fear  Despite the long drop , Cernescu , who captured the footage using a GoPro camera , said he felt calm and confident for most of the stunt .  But Mr Cernescu has a warning for anyone who may want to copy his stunt .  Mr Cernescu doesn ' t underestimate the danger of the chimney climb as he warns viewers of the video  For the first 70ft Mr Cernescu had to use a disused electrical cable to climb the chimney  ' Please understand that by climbing this chimney you put yourself and others in danger , ' said the fearless Romanian .  ' Don ' t try it unless you really know what you are doing . Take care and enjoy life . '  And people who have viewed the incredible video on YouTube are impressed , if not a little shocked at the extremity of the challenge .  Don ' t look down : Flaviu Cernescu tells viewers : ' Don ' t try it unless you really know what you are doing '  Once at the top , the daredevil walked over a rickety old frame in a heartstopping scene  A YouTube user named KnowHope wrote : ' The part where he walks on the chimney rim and across the beam on the chimney is enough to give anyone vertigo even if you are in an office sitting on a chair . '  S Powers added : ' My head is spinning watching this . Must blow up full screen and watch in  . '  Rhys Burns writes : ' My palms are sweating and my heart racing just from watching that ! That was awesome ! '  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
11622,11623,"Her viral post won her the title of  racist of the week. June Pridmore somehow got a job working as the vice-president of loan operations at a Regions Bank in Alabama, but after investigating a recent Facebook post she wrote, Pridmore no longer has a job.In an atrocious, incoherent, and racist post featuring multiple misspellings and poor grammar that make one wonder how the bank picked her for the job in the first place, Pridmore ranted about her support of Donald Trump and trashed President Obama and his wife First Lady Michelle Obama. I voted him in,  Pridmore began in reference to Trump.  I like him. He has a beautiful wife unlike the ugly and embarrassing woman (for lack of a better word), in the White House now. Ms. Trump s face would make Michele (sic) O Bama (sic) a Sunday face. Seriously, does this women not have spellcheck? I m certainly glad [Trump] he has a lot of money because she he (sic) won t be bought out like Barack (sic), socialist Muslim O Bama (sic) or his wife or all those host of relatives they have in the whitehouse (sic) for  to support. Oh, you mean his two kids and mother-in-law? That s only three people, and two of them really didn t have a choice since they are kids. On the other hand, Donald Trump s family is way bigger and they ve all made a mint mooching off the government and taxpayer dollars. Plus, it is costing taxpayers $1 million a day to protect Trump in his New York Trump Tower apartment.But Primore still wasn t done. She ranted about President Obama s vacations, which are less than the number of vacations President Bush and President Reagan took during their presidencies. And Trump has already expressed his desire to be a part-time president who spends most days at his golden tower or on the golf course instead of in the White House working.And then she said this: If any idiot out there thinks that is justified, you deserved him as president. I prefer a man who can buy Michele (sic) and Barack and sell them several times over. Yep, she went there. A definite reference to slavery.And she went on to bitch about people who are unemployed, calling them  lazy non-working takers. Here s an image of the post via Facebook.This post was too much for Regions Bank, who fired Pridmore after receiving many complaints.Bank spokesman Jeremy King announced the canning in a statement. We appreciate the concerns shared about offensive social media comments that were made through an associate s personal Facebook account. We want you to know that we share those concerns. Those comments do not reflect our values as a company or the way we do business. The associate is no longer an employee of the company. So now Pridmore is unemployed and has the new title,  Racist of the Week.  Of course that title won t pay the bills unless Donald Trump has position open for another ignorant racist. Maybe she can use Jeff Sessions as a reference.Featured Image: Facebook",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,present
11624,11625,"Volume of Islamic State oil sold to Turkey insignificant ?  official  The amount of oil smuggled into Turkey by Islamic State militants from territories under their control in Syria and Iraq is economically insignificant ,  coordinator for international energy affairs Amos Hochstein claimed following Russia s revelations .  In response to Moscow accusations that Turkey is involved in oil trade with the Islamic State (  , formerly   ) terrorist group ,  officials claimed that the volume of oil smuggled from  controlled territories is too insignificant to interest government officials .  At the same time , the  confirmed that oil trade between Islamic State and some buyers on Turkish territory does exist , as its officials admitted that small amounts of oil could , in fact , be crossing the Turkish Syrian border in tanker trucks , though they claimed the volume is of no significance .  Iran ready to present proof of Turkey s oil trade with  ? Tehran official weblink : t . co QNhyYDs1oN pic . twitterweblink TGpPosfnO7  The amount of oil being smuggled is extremely low and has decreased over time and is of no significance from a volume perspective ? both volume of oil and volume of revenue , said Hochstein , as quoted by  .  I don ' t believe that there is significant smuggling , between  controlled areas and Turkey of oil in any significance in volume , he added .  On Wednesday , the Russian Defense Ministry presented evidence showing the main oil routes leading from eastern Syria into Turkey , including photos taken from satellites , drones , and aircrafts . According to the ministry , Islamic State oil is transported to Turkey with hundreds of oil trucks and heavy vehicles moving both to and from the Turkish border , as ministry spokesman Lieutenant General Sergey Rudskoy said during the presentation .  So far , neither Turkey nor any other country or international organization has contested the authenticity of Russia s areal footage showing Islamic State oil trucks heading towards the Turkish border .  On the other hand ,  officials have accused the Syrian government of indirectly buying oil from Islamic State in times of shortage by using middlemen smuggling oil across the Syrian frontlines ,  reported .  Additionally , the  has claimed that coalition air strikes in Syria and Iraq have done significant damage to the terrorists oil infrastructure , insisting that most crude oil produced on  controlled territories is refined in ad hoc desert pit facilities and sold on the black market within the war zones in Syria and Iraq .  Map , images from Russian military show main routes of  oil smuggling to Turkey weblink : t . co 3g1MQxzfNF pic . twitterweblink LSlBFUlgqc  According to the  led coalition s estimates , Islamic State gets 1 1 . 5 million per day from its oil trade .  However , Russia says as much as 200 , 000 barrels of oil per day is smuggled to Turkey by Islamic State , which equals the average daily oil export of Gabon in 2014 or Australia in 2013 , according to an  annual statistical bulletin . In terms of revenue , this volume could generate 8 . 6 million per day ? eight times higher than the estimates given by the  led coalition .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
11627,11628,"England and Northampton hooker Dylan Hartley ' s latest Rugby Football Union disciplinary hearing will take place in London on Tuesday .  Northampton look set to mount a robust defence of their captain after he was sent off for elbowing Leicester centre Matt Smith in the face at Franklin ' s Gardens two days ago .   Scroll down to see Dylan Hartley meeting his inspirational childhood coach  England international Dylan Hartley seems perplexed at why he has been sent off at Franklin ' s Garden  Hartley could miss at least the start of England ' s  6 Nations campaign following the latest episode in a career scarred by repeated disciplinary episodes .  In a statement , the  said : ' Dylan Hartley ( Northampton Saints ) will have his case heard by an  disciplinary judicial officer on Tuesday , December 23 .  ' Hartley was sent off in the Aviva Premiership match between Northampton Saints and Leicester Tigers for striking Matt Smith with his elbow , contrary to Law 10 . 4 ( a ) .  ' The case will be heard tomorrow evening in London by Jeremy Summers sitting as a sole judicial officer at a time to be confirmed . '  Hartley ( right ) was adjudged to elbow Leicester ' s Matt Smith ( left ) before the pair had to be separated  Hartley cuts a dejected figure trudging off the pitch after his sending off as his disciplinary woes continue  April 2007 : Banned for 26 weeks after gouging Wasps ' James Haskell and Jonny O ' Connor .  March 2010 : Claims of gouging versus Scotland dropped when alleged victim , Ross Ford , chose not to complain .  March 2012 : Banned for eight weeks for biting Ireland flanker Stephen Ferris during Six Nations Test .  June 2012 : Sin binned against South Africa in first game as England captain .  December 2012 : Given a two week ban for striking Ulster ' s Rory Best .  May 2013 : Eleven week ban after being sent off for swearing .  December 2014 : Sent off for elbowing Leicester ' s Matt Smith .  Hartley was handed a 26 week ban for eye gouging in 2007 , and an 11 week suspension for verbally abusing referee Wayne Barnes during the 2013 Aviva Premiership final against Leicester .  That latter ban led to him missing the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia , and the  could easily take a dim view of his latest indiscretion .  It happened after just 17 minutes of a titanic east midlands derby that Northampton won 23 19 .  Referee J P Doyle initially seemed happy to award Hartley a yellow card , but television match official Sean Davey urged Doyle to watch further replays , and he responded by sending 61 times capped Hartley off .  ' It was disappointing , ' Northampton rugby director Jim Mallinder said , speaking directly after the game .  ' Dylan has got to keep his arms down , but he was being held and I don ' t know there was any malice in it .  ' The nature of the game didn ' t justify a red card . I think Smith went down pretty easily , to be honest , which was disappointing .  Vereniki Goneva touches down his second try during the 23 19 defeat at Northampton on Saturday  Ben Foden of Northampton plays the ball out of the ruck as the Saints prevailed 23 19 winners  England international Luther Burrell attempts to avoid the tackle of Owen Williams on Saturday afternoon  ' It is a tough game . That 80 minutes of rugby was hard , physical with some great tackles , but I don ' t think there was any malice in that . I think  ' s initial reaction of the yellow card would have been the correct decision . '  England open their Six Nations campaign against Wales in Cardiff on February 6 , and given Hartley ' s poor record biting and punching offences also appear on his charge sheet another lengthy suspension appears likely .  ' It ' s a tough game , and Dylan plays to the edge . You wouldn ' t change Dylan . He is competitive , ' Mallinder added .  ' It is a difficult one . I think he should have kept his arms down we are not saying that what he did was right but what I am probably saying is that the opposition made it a lot easier , and a yellow card was sufficient .  ",true,text,test,American football,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
11631,11632,"Tune in to the Alternate Current Radio Network (ACR) for another  broadcast of  The Boiler Room  starting at 6   | 9   every Wednesday. Join us for uncensored, uninterruptible talk radio, custom-made for barfly philosophers, misguided moralists, masochists, street corner evangelists, media-maniacs, savants, political animals and otherwise lovable rascals.Join  hosts Hesher, & Spore along with Randy J of 21Wire, Andy Nowicki from Alt Right Blogspot and Daniel Spaulding of Soul of the East and Jay Dyer from Jays Analysis  Tonight the Boiler Gang brings the internet show with more twists and turns than Space Mountain! We ll be covering the disturbing concept of men so brainwashed that they think the have  man-stral cycles,  Michael Moore s  moobs,  Jay versus atomistic materialist philosophy peddlers, the Panama Papers psyop, the smoke screen of the so called classified 28 pages of the 9/11 report, the university organized reproduction of the temple of Baal being recreated after  destroyed the original site in Palmyra Syria,  Tragedy and Hope   how bankers  revolutionaries, and what to make of occult symbolism being paraded in the faces of that alternative media and Robert Dinero s response to the documentary film, Vaxxed being removed from the Tribeca Film Festival.  Listen in as we discuss a plethora of media and current events in a  un- fashion . If you want to participate, bring something interesting to throw into the boiler Join us in the    chat room.    A   ZONE!           ENJOY!  LINKS:",fake,dataset,test,World conflict,Sports/Other,fake,fake,True,no,no,neutral,present
11633,11634,"Laura Bates is the founder of The Everyday Sexism Project and the author of the forthcoming book , Everyday Sexism .  "" This is the relentless misogynistic abuse of a high profile woman doing her job ""  Amber Rose : How I Learned To Stop Caring What People Think Barbie s Problem Is Far Beyond Skin Deep Viola Davis : We ve Been Fed a Whole Slew of Lies About Women  As Donald Trump boycotts Thursday night s Fox News Republican debate , news sites are awash with speculation about his reasons for pulling out . Headlines have referred to the Donald Trump ? Megyn Kelly feud ,  shows are debating why Donald Trump and Megyn Kelly are currently quibbling , and the situation has been described as a spat and a drama .  These characterizations suggest a two sided war of words , with escalation and attacks from both parties . The reality couldn t be more different .  Trump s animosity towards Kelly first arose when she challenged him over his misogynistic comments about women at the first Republican primary debate in August , saying : You ve called women you don t like fat pigs , dogs , slobs and disgusting animals , and asking : Does that sound to you like the temperament of a man we should elect as president ? It was a tough question , but one well within the realm of relevance , especially , as Kelly pointed out , in the context of Hillary Clinton s candidacy .  Since then , Trump has repeatedly , childishly and abusively taunted Kelly , making high profile public comments about her professionalism and performance , retweeting sexist and critical tweets about her and repeatedly reviving the issue . Asked about Kelly on  after the August debate , Trump said : you could see there was blood coming out of her eyes , blood coming out of her wherever , a comment he later denied was a reference to menstruation .  He has also repeatedly cast aspersions about Kelly s journalistic prowess , calling her a lightweight and saying : I just don t respect her as a journalist , I have no respect for her , I don t think she s very good , I think she s highly overrated .  Later in August , Trump launched a fusillade of critical tweets at Kelly during her  show The Kelly File , including a quote from another Twitter user that read : The bimbo back in town . I hope not for long . On another occasion , Trump tweeted : I refuse to call Megyn Kelly a bimbo , because that would not be politically correct . Instead I will only call her a lightweight reporter !  Early Thursday morning , Trump followed up with a new line of attack , retweeting a pair of images from a photoshoot Kelly did for  magazine and the message : And this is the bimbo that s asking presidential questions ? The images were captioned : Criticizes Trump for objectifying women . Poses like this in  magazine .  In a statement rightly supporting Kelly , Fox News claimed that Trump s campaign manager Corey Lewandowski threatened Kelly in a telephone call with a  News executive . It read : Lewandowski stated that Megyn had a rough couple of days after that last debate and he would hate to have her go through that again .  Trump s behavior isn t doing him any favors with female voters either . Countless women are using the EverydaySexism hashtag , the name of my forthcoming book , to call out his misogyny , describing his attacks on women as low , gross and ignorant . One asked : Can we just all agree that anything Trump says is automatically EverydaySexism ?  Another wrote : Megyn Kelly posed for  in 2010 . Conservatives slut shaming the hell out of her because Trump . everydaysexism  Kelly , meanwhile , has maintained a dignified and professional composure . She has refused to apologize , saying I shall continue doing my job without fear or favor , and has rarely responded to his aggressive tweets .  This is not a spat , a drama , a feud or a quibble . This is the relentless misogynistic abuse of a high profile woman doing her job .  The problem with a woman being attacked in such a way on a national stage is that it tends to have a ripple effect , causing her also to experience a range of other sexist repercussions . For example , while commenting on the issue , Doug Gross , an Iowa Republican strategist unaffiliated with any particular campaign said : It s the only Republican debate in our state and he s not even going to show up because he s afraid of a woman reporter ? What kind of a wimp is this ? Trump s chief rival , Texas senator Ted Cruz seemed to jump on the same bandwagon , albeit more subtly , offering to debate Trump one on one ? If Donald is afraid of Megyn Kelly . The mocking of Trump for being afraid of Kelly undermines her professional status by suggesting that a female reporter is a less formidable interviewer than her male peers .  Other criticisms of Trump similarly dealt Kelly backhanded sexist implications , like The View commentator Joy Behar s suggestion that : This is the first gorgeous blonde that he can t wrap around his finger .  Meanwhile , Trump s sexist attitude towards Kelly has also had a more predictable knock on effect in spurring many of his more than 5 . 8 million Twitter followers to bombard her with misogynistic abuse , a phenomenon for which he should take at least some responsibility given his own repeated attacks on her using the platform . It has been reported that in the time since Trump announced his withdrawal from the debate , his supporters have tweeted the word bitch at her 432 times , the word bimbo 404 , whore 88 times and c ? nt 34 . This is not the standard response that male journalists have to contend with simply for doing their job .  This is just the most recent high profile example of the deeply misogynistic abuse , double standards and sexist attacks that women in the public eye experience on a daily basis . To correlate Kelly s question about Trump s misogynistic comments with a completely unrelated photo shoot is to try and suggest that a woman who dares to be photographed or care about her appearance automatically forfeits the right to challenge sexism . To ridicule Trump for refusing to enter into a debate with Kelly as moderator is to suggest that female journalists in general , and Kelly in particular , are lightweight pushovers ? playing into Trump s own sexist rhetoric . To bombard Kelly with misogynistic online abuse is to admit that there are no logical arguments with which to challenge her , as she has acted entirely professionally throughout .  But perhaps worst of all , to characterize this ugly display of misogyny as a feud or a spat is to hide the real truth . This is sexism . Nasty , cowardly , unprofessional sexism . It deserves to be seen for exactly what it is .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
11656,11657,"October 26, 2016 Trump Has Hissy Fit After Reporter Points Out Pausing Campaign To Open Hotel Is Really Dumb (VIDEO)    Don’t bother pointing out how incredibly dim-witted it is to pause a losing campaign just days away from Election Day to open up a luxury hotel to the Republican nominee, Trump doesn’t want to hear it.  After inexplicably spending a day participating in an opening ceremony for a new Trump Hotel in Washington DC, its namesake was in no mood to discuss his failing campaign. CNN’s Dana Bash learned that the hard way when she asked the question on everyone’s mind: What were you thinking?  Rather than answer, Trump threw a hissy fit.  “I say the following: You have been covering me for the last — long time. I did yesterday eight stops and three major speeches, and I’ve been doing this for weeks straight,” Trump said.  “For you to ask me that question is actually very insulting because Hillary Clinton does one stop and then she goes home and sleeps. And yet you’ll ask me that question. I think that’s a very rude question, to be honest with you.” Dana Bash: Is your  hotel opening free advertising? Donald Trump: “No, not at all” weblink weblink  —  Politics (@CNNPolitics) October 26, 2016  For those keeping score that short answer checks a lot of boxes: Whining about the media Flagrant conspiracy theory about Hillary Clinton’s health Groundless accusation that asking a simple question is “rude” No answer whatsoever  Trump may be testy due to his slow realization that his campaign is under water, he has no practical way forward, and it would take a miracle to win.  Instead of even trying, he seems to be retreating to the things he knows will make him money after the election. His campaign recently launched the prototype to “Trump TV,” a daily live stream filled with confused campaign staffers, shameless opportunists and Rudy Giuliani. He also seems desperate to salvage his failing properties, something that may not be possible after running a campaign that offended practically every group in America.  Already there are signs that Trump’s hotels have taken a hit. Yahoo explains : Rates for rooms at Trump’s new D.C. hotel are being slashed as travelers weigh their options, and smartphone data suggest fewer people are visiting his properties compared to rival venues nearby. The Republican nominee for president is in danger of losing not just the election, but something dear to a man who claims the marketing value of his name alone is worth $3 billion: the many customers, mostly wealthy, who have stayed at his hotels, played a round at his golf courses or held galas at his oceanside resorts.  Trump may find that his bigotry has cost him not only the election, but the fortune he valued more than his reputation as well.  Featured image via Twitter",fake,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
11660,11661,"In a shockingly selfish pattern of behavior that has occurred repeatedly over the past six months , local 8 year old and whiny brat Sean Cooper has continued his habit of interrupting his parents with his pleas for them to stop screaming at each other , sources reported Thursday .  Sean , who has an extensive history of not minding his own business , apparently cannot display the common courtesy of keeping his mouth shut as his parents , Robert and Karen Cooper , loudly discuss Robert ' s short temper and Karen ' s controlling nature at the family dinner table , or in the middle of the living room late at night when Sean is supposed to be in bed sleeping .  "" I wish Mommy and Daddy would be nice to each other , "" the wantonly disrespectful second grader told reporters , seemingly unaware of the total lack of gratitude he exhibits toward his parents on a nearly daily basis by constantly interjecting tearful pleas for them to stop arguing . "" They used to be happy and now they fight all the time . I just want things to be how they used to be . ""  "" I wish I could make them not fight anymore , "" he continued , perhaps too self absorbed to realize that whatever his parents happen to be discussing from moment to moment is absolutely none of his concern , and that children should never , under any circumstances , try to involve themselves in the business of adults . "" I hope they don ' t get a divorce . ""  According to sources , despite the fact that no one cares what his opinion is because he ' s only 8 years old , Sean once again subjected his parents to his rampaging ego late Wednesday night when he knocked on their bedroom door at 1 a . m . and tearfully informed them that he could hear them yelling mean things at each other through his wall .  While clutching his stuffed animal and staring morosely at his feet like some sort of sulking , grade school prima donna , Sean then reportedly proceeded to take up another 45 seconds of his parents ' valuable time explaining in needlessly long winded detail that it made him sad when they fought , never once stopping to take note of how utterly self indulgent he was sounding , or how his outburst might be construed as utterly inappropriate given the fact that his parents had been in the midst of a private conversation concerning their marriage .  "" They told me it was very late and they were having a grown up talk and I should go back to my room , "" said the child , who was quite rightly put in his place in that instance , and really should have known better than to interrupt in the first place . "" Then later I heard Daddy slam their door and go downstairs to his car . ""  After trying to present his parents with a rather condescending and manipulative colored pencil drawing he had made of the three of them standing outside their house with big smiles on their crudely rendered faces , Sean told reporters in a trembling voice that can only be described as immensely irritating that he didn ' t "" know who to talk to "" about the situation with his parents , as though blabbing his mouth off about the lives of others were ever a wise idea .  "" Why is this happening ? "" whined the little shit for what felt like the 5 , 000th time this week , his pouty voice reaching levels of annoyance that would make even the most levelheaded adult want to pick up a chair and throw it across the room in sheer exasperation . "" Is it my fault ? ""  "" I should just run away , "" added Sean , positing his first sensible thought in years . "" Maybe that would make everything better . ""  At press time , Sean was most likely feeling sorry for himself and finding a way to make everything all about him , just as he always does .  ",satire,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,fake,satire,True,no,no,negative,past
11697,11698,"The son of former Liberian President Charles Taylor Sr . was sentenced Friday to 97 years in prison for charges including torture and conspiracy , according to a federal court in Florida .  The U . S . born son of Charles Taylor Sr . , pictured , moved to Liberia when his father became president .  U . S . District Judge Cecilia M . Altonaga sentenced Charles "" Chuckie "" Taylor Jr . , 31 , in a Friday morning session that lasted four hours , according to a court document .  Altonaga cited Taylor ' s "" sadistic , cruel and atrocious past , "" saying it "" constituted unacceptable , universally condemned torture , "" The Miami Herald reported .  "" The lengthy prison term handed down today justly reflects the horror and torture that Taylor Jr . visited upon his victims , "" said Matthew Friedrich , acting assistant attorney general of the criminal division .  Taylor , also known as Charles McArthur Emmanuel , was convicted October 30 of torture , conspiracy to commit torture and firearm charges .  His case , tried in Miami , was the first brought under a 1994 U . S . law saying those accused of committing torturous acts overseas can be tried in a U . S . federal court , as long as the person is a U . S . national or is present in the United States , regardless of nationality .  Calls to Taylor ' s defense attorneys were not immediately returned .  Prosecutors had asked for Taylor to be sentenced to 147 years .  Taylor was born in Boston , Massachusetts , but he moved to Liberia when his father was named president .  Prosecutors said Taylor became the leader of the Anti Terrorist Unit and the Liberian National Police while his father was president . The two groups are accused of abducting , torturing and killing people .  From 1999 to 2002 , Taylor committed torture and allowed others to commit torture , prosecutors said .  Taylor and his associated burned victims with molten plastic , lighted cigarettes , candle wax and an iron . Some were severely beaten with firearms , cut and stabbed and shocked with an electric device , prosecutors said in an indictment that superseded the initial indictment from 2006 .  In the initial indictment , Taylor was charged with one count of torture , one count of conspiracy to torture and one count of using a firearm during the commission of a violent crime .  The superseding September 2007 indictment which incorporated the initial charges included five counts of torture , one count of conspiracy to torture , one count of using a firearm during the commission of a violent crime and one count of conspiracy to use a firearm during the commission of a violent crime .  The defense had said the U . S . government had little or no evidence to back up its claims .  Also Friday , the World Organization for Human Rights  filed a civil class action suit against Taylor on behalf of a group of people who are said to have been subjected to torture and other human rights abuses by Taylor or his subordinates , according to the organization .  The suit seeks declaratory relief and general , compensatory and punitive damages , the organization said in a written statement .  "" This civil suit aims to address Defendant Taylor ' s wrongs on a much greater scale "" than the criminal trial , the organization said .  Taylor ' s father , Charles Taylor Sr . , is standing trial in The Hague , Netherlands , on war crimes charges .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
11699,11700,"Reuters) - The chief of the U.N. atomic watchdog reiterated on Friday that Iran was under the world s  most robust nuclear verification regime  after U.S. President Donald Trump struck a blow against a 2015 Iran nuclear deal, in defiance of other world powers.      The nuclear-related commitments undertaken by Iran under the  are being implemented,  Yukiya Amano, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency said. He referred to the Iran nuclear by its proper name, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
11702,11703,"has terminated its relationship with Kathy Griffin after the comedian posed for a photograph while holding a fake, bloodied decapitated head meant to resemble the head of President Donald Trump. [“ has terminated our agreement with Kathy Griffin to appear on our New Year’s Eve program,” the network’s communications department tweeted Wednesday morning.   has terminated our agreement with Kathy Griffin to appear on our New Year’s Eve program.  —    Communications (@CNNPR) May 31, 2017,  Griffin had   CNN’s New Year’s Eve Live broadcast each January since 2007 alongside the network’s lead anchor, Anderson Cooper. Cooper took to Twitter late Tuesday night to say he was “appalled” by his  ’s photo. “For the record, I am appalled by the photo shoot Kathy Griffin took part in,” the Anderson Cooper 360 host wrote. “It is clearly disgusting and completely inappropriate. ” The shocking photograph, first published by  Tuesday morning, was taken during a photo shoot conducted by the    My Life on the   comedian and Los   artist and photographer Tyler Shields, who is reportedly known for his provocative work. The photo caused a firestorm online, where it quickly circulated and led to calls for a boycott of Griffin’s work, including her current   comedy tour. The comedian apologized in a brief video posted to her Twitter account Tuesday, saying she had “crossed the line” and that the image had gone “too far. ” CNN’s termination of its relationship with Griffin is the latest in the continuing fallout over the image. On Wednesday,   —   the largest home security company in North America  —   announced it would pull its advertising from  over the photo, while the Route 66 Casino in Albuquerque, New Mexico announced it had cancelled Griffin’s upcoming performance, which had been scheduled for June 16. The U. S. Secret Service is also reportedly investigating the circumstances surrounding the photo shoot. President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump responded to the image Wednesday, with the president saying in a message on his Twitter account that the photograph and its resultant coverage has been particularly hard on his    son, Barron. The First Lady called the photograph “very disturbing” and “simply wrong” in a separate statement.   Follow Daniel Nussbaum on Twitter: @dznussbaum",fake,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
11704,11705,"to read Matt Lawton assessment of Roy Keane ' s explosive press conference .  The explosive opinions and revelations contained in Roy Keane ' s new book have captured the headlines all week yet a Tesco store in Ireland has still found a novel way to boost sales of the autobiography .  The franchise in Wilton , Cork , has taken the rather amusing way of publicising the sale of the book by offering a free prawn sandwich to any person who purchases The Second Half .  A sign , positioned next to the books in the store , reads : ' Free Prawn Sandwich with every copy of the Roy Keane Book , The Second Half . Just take your receipt to the deli counter for your free sandwich . '   Scroll down to watch . . .  A Tesco store in Wilton , Cork , is offering a free prawn sandwich with every purchase of Roy Keane ' s new book  The former Ireland midfielder officially released his second autobiography titled The Second Half on Thursday  Keane ( left ) argues with Fabian Barthez during Manchester United ' s clash with Dynamo Kiev in November 2000  This references the former Republic of Ireland midfielder ' s famous interview in November 2000 when he referred to Manchester United fans at Old Trafford as eating ' prawn sandwiches ' and being unaware of the action on the pitch .  Keane ' s rant directed at fans who voiced their disapproval during United ' s Champions League home match with Dynamo Kiev infamously became linked with the term ' the prawn sandwich brigade ' .  During the interview , Keane said : ' Away from home our fans are fantastic , I ' d call them the hardcore fans .  The Champions League clash with Kiev was the match which prompted Keane ' s ' prawn sandwich ' rant  Keane argued that United ' s fans were too busy eating prawn sandwiches than watching the football  Keane pictured with his book at Dublin ' s Aviva Stadium on Thursday , the location for autobiography ' s launch  ' But at home they have a few drinks and probably the prawn sandwiches , and they don ' t realise what ' s going on out on the pitch . '  The ex United , Nottingham Forest and Celtic midfielder ' s new book was launched during a press conference at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Thursday .  In The Second Half , among other revelations , the Aston Villa and Ireland assistant manager explains his disdain for Sir Alex Ferguson ' s criticism of former United players , he talks through the bitter row which led to his exit from Old Trafford , and how he does not regret his horror challenge on Alf Inge Haaland .  He also says he knew Cristiano Ronaldo would be one of the world ' s best players when he left John O ' Shea needing medical attention due to dizziness while playing for Sporting Lisbon in a friendly .  Keane ( right ) added fire to his spat with Sir Alex Ferguson ( left ) saying he may never be able to forgive him  Keane , pictured putting in a horror challenge on former Alf Inge Haaland , was known as United ' s tough man  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
11710,11711,"For the 135th straight year since Gen . Robert E . Lee ' s surrender at Appomattox , representatives for the South announced Monday that the region has postponed plans to rise again .  "" Make no mistake , the South shall rise again , "" said Knox Pritchard , president of the Huntsville based Alliance Of Confederate States . "" But we ' re just not quite ready to do it now . Hopefully , we ' ll be able to rise again real soon , maybe even in 2001 . ""  Pritchard ' s fellow Southerners shared his confidence .  "" Yes , sir . The South will rise again , and when it does , I ' ll be right up front waving the Stars and Bars , "" said Dock Mullins of Decatur ,  . "" But first , I gotta get my truck fixed and get that rusty old stove out of my yard . ""  "" Lord willing , and the creek don ' t rise , we gonna rise again , "" said Sumter ,  , radiator technician Hap Slidell , who describes himself as "" Southern by the grace of God . "" "" I don ' t know exactly when we ' re gonna do it , but one of these days , we ' re gonna show them Yankees how it ' s done . ""  "" Save your Confederate dollars , "" Slidell added . "" You can bet on that . ""  The Deep South states of Alabama , Georgia , Mississippi , South Carolina , Louisiana , and Tennessee consistently rank at the bottom of the nation in a wide variety of statistical categories , including literacy , infant mortality , hospital beds , toilet paper sales , and shoe usage . Even so , some experts believe the region could be poised for a renaissance .  "" The way things stand , things in the Deep South almost have to get better . Otherwise , the people who live there will devolve into preverbal , overall wearing sub morons within a century , "" said Professor Dennis Lassiter of Princeton University . "" Either Southerners will start improving themselves , or they ' ll be sold to middle class Asians as pets . ""  "" My constituents are decent , hard working folk , "" said Sen . Jesse Helms ( R  ) , despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary , in his 22nd annual "" Next Year , By God ! "" speech on the steps of North Carolina ' s capitol building . "" We are a proud people who mayn ' t have all that much fancy pants book learnin ' , but we live and die with pride in our proud heritage and the dignity of our forebears . ""  Helms ' speech was met with nearly 25 minutes of enthusiastic hoots and rebel yells by the 15 , 000 drunk , unemployed tobacco pickers in attendance .  Though Southerners are overwhelmingly in favor of rising again , few were able to provide specific details of the rising again process .  "" I don ' t know , I reckon we ' ll build us a bunch of big , fancy buildins and pave us up a whole mess of roads , "" said Bobby Lee Fuller of Greenville ,  . "" I ain ' t exactly sure where we ' re gonna get the money for that , but when Johnny Reb sets his mind to something , you best get out of his way . ""  "" Oh , it ' ll happen , sure as the sun come up in the morning , "" said Buford Comstock , 26 , a student at Over ' N ' Back Diesel Driving School in Union City ,  . "" The South is gonna rise up , just as soon as we get together and get all our shit back in one sock . Then , look out , Northerners ! ""  "" Yesiree , "" Comstock added , "" one day soon , the Mason Dixon Line will be the boundary between a great nation and one whose time done passed . ""  ",satire,text,test,American football,Sports/Other,true,satire,True,no,no,neutral,past
11726,11727,"manuals offering tips to help spies maintain their cover while using false documents as they crossed international borders have been released by Wikleaks .  The two documents , dating from 2011 and 2012 , are marked classified and '  , ' which means they were not meant to be shared with allied intelligence agencies , WikiLeaks said .  The documents outline a number of strategies for agents to avoid secondary screening at airports and borders .   manuals offering tips to help spies maintain their cover while using false documents as they crossed international borders have been released by Wikleaks  Some are obvious don ' t buy a one way ticket with cash the day before flying , although others are less so don ' t look scruffy while traveling on a diplomatic passport .  The manual states : ' Mental preparation almost certainly helps travelers pass secondary scrutiny . '  The guide states that travelers who attract attention and appear suspicious qualify sentence meanings with ' words like "" typically , "" "" normally , "" "" often , "" "" maybe , "" or "" almost "" or phrases like "" to be honest , "" "" the truth is , "" or "" swear to God . '  There is a section devoted to baggage and lists reasons for detection including :  Baggage or contents inconsistent with the passenger ' s appearance , profession , or ticket class  An unexplained lack of baggage probably would raise suspicions .  Multiple new items , such as alarm clocks or notebooks , in baggage .  Carelessly packed baggage when passenger is purportedly an experienced business traveler .  Unopened and unmarked maps , guidebooks , or other literature .  Maps of unrelated cities in baggage for a purported tourist traveler .  Camera quality not matching the traveler ' s profile or camera memory card insufficient for a lengthy tourist trip .  The documents outline a number of strategies for agents to avoid secondary screening at airports and borders  The guide lists countries which look for certain types of travelers for example it states Japanese customs officials pay attention to single , Western travelers ' because they may be drug couriers . '  Similarly it states that in Tel Aviv , officials are on the look out for ' military aged males traveling alone with backpacks . . . regardless of their nationality or skin color .  In one incident during transit of a European airport in the early morning , security officials selected a  officer for secondary screening , ' one of the documents reads .  ' Although the officials gave no reason , overly casual dress inconsistent with being a diplomatic passport holder may have prompted the referral . '  The  agent involved went on to have his bag swabbed for explosives and it tested positive .  Despite extensive questioning , he stuck to his cover story that he had been involved in counterterrorism training in the United States , and eventually was allowed to continue his journey .  ' Consistent , well rehearsed , and plausible cover is important for avoiding secondary selection and critical for surviving it , ' the  wrote .  WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange said in a statement : ' The  has carried out kidnappings from European Union states , including Italy and Sweden , during the Bush administration '  In a statement , WikiLeaks said this example ' begs the question : if the training that supposedly explained the explosives was only a cover story , what was a  officer really doing passing through ( a European Union ) airport with traces of explosives on him , and why was he allowed to continue ? '  One of the  documents , called ' Schengen Overview , ' reveals that the  is very concerned about  nations introducing biometric security measures for people traveling on  passports and that new systems pose an increased ' identity threat ' in other words , making it harder for agents to travel on false documents .  The document focuses on the  ' s Schengen area , a chunk of Europe in which travelers between 22  countries are no longer required to show passports .  The  expressed concerns that a new  security system will potentially make life harder for  agents .  WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange said in a statement : ' The  has carried out kidnappings from European Union states , including Italy and Sweden , during the Bush administration .  These manuals show that under the Obama administration the  is still intent on infiltrating European Union borders and conducting clandestine operations in  member states . '  Sunday ' s release is the second in a series of  releases from WikiLeaks .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
11727,11728,Live Extra  Nordic Combined Olympic Sports 3am   Live Extra  Cross Country Olympic Sports 4am   Live Extra  World Cup Olympic Sports 5am   Live Extra  Cross Country Olympic Sports 5 : 20am    Stoke City v . Manchester City Premier League 7am   Live Extra  Nordic Combined Olympic Sports 8am   Live Extra  World Cup Olympic Sports 8 : 15am    Arsenal v . Sunderland Premier League 10am    Manchester United v . West Ham United Premier League 10am   Live Extra Southampton v . Aston Villa Premier League 10am   Live Extra Swansea City v . Leicester City Premier League 10am   Live Extra Watford v . Norwich City Premier League 10am   Live Extra West Bromwich Albion v . Tottenham Hotspur Premier League 10am   Live Extra  Ski Jumping Olympic Sports 10 : 45am   Golf Channel Hero World Challenge Third Round Golf 12pm    Sports Chelsea v . Bournemouth Premier League 12 : 30pm     Birds of Prey Olympic Sports 1pm   Live Extra  World Cup : Lake Louise Women ' s Downhill Olympic Sports 2 : 30pm    Sports Hero World Challenge Third Round Golf 2 : 30pm    Ole Miss vs . UMass General 4pm    UMass vs . Notre Dame Notre Dame 6pm   Live Extra  Track Cycling World Cup Olympic Sports 11pm    Premier League Match of the Day Soccer 11pm   Live Extra  Nordic Combined Olympic Sports Sun 3am   Live Extra  Cross Country Olympic Sports Sun 4am   Live Extra  Cross Country Olympic Sports Sun 5 : 50am   ,true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
11745,11746,"A computer manipulated talking cat in a commercial for Fresh Step cat litter thoroughly delighted Ottumwa resident Sheila Dagenhardt Monday .  "" Honey , you ' ve got to come in here and see this ad ! "" Dagenhardt called out to husband Dale , who was in the kitchen making a bowl of microwave popcorn at the time . "" It ' s so adorable ! ""  Dale , who missed a majority of the 30 second spot , managed to race back to the living room in time to see the cat ' s owner hold out a bag of Fresh Step cat litter , to which the sass talking feline responded , "" Meow you ' re talking ! ""  The ad then ended with an announcer delivering a warning to viewers to "" get your cat Fresh Step , before your cat gets fresh with you . ""  "" That was just about the cutest commercial I ' ve ever seen , "" Dagenhardt said . "" When the lady tried to fill the cat ' s box with a brand of litter that wasn ' t Fresh Step , the cat got all mad and put out its arm and said , ' Talk to the paw ! ' ""  Dagenhardt enjoyed the computer generated cat so much , later that evening she phoned her sister in Des Moines to ask if she had seen the commercial .  "" Yeah , I saw that one during Judging Amy ! It really looks like the cat ' s talking ! "" sister Deborah Sayner said . "" How do they make it do that ? ""  "" Don ' t go there ! "" added Sayner , repeating the part of the commercial in which the sharp tongued tabby warns its owner not to reach for a bargain brand litter .  After a lengthy discussion , the sisters came to the conclusion that the Fresh Step commercial was the best talking animal ad they had seen since the one in which a group of brown bears sing "" P E P S I "" to the tune of ""  . "" They did note , however , that even though the antics of the Fresh Step cat are funnier , the Snuggle bear is cuter .  According to Fresh Step spokeswoman Roberta Alt , the Dagenhardts are not alone in their positive response to the new ad . In extensive focus group testing , it scored 45 percent higher than last year ' s Fresh Step campaign , in which a large cat , heartbroken over his owner ' s litter choice , wakes up the neighbors by mournfully singing "" O Sole Meow . ""  "" Last year ' s ' Luciano Paw varotti ' spot was popular , but this one is even bigger , "" Alt said . "" People really seem to love Fresh Step ' s new ' frank feline . ' The cat ' s got attitude . Or , as we like to say , ' cattitude . ' ""  Created by the San Francisco based computer animation firm Ocean 1 , the ad ' s special effects cost 200 , 000 . Total project expenditures for the funny cat commercial were 245 , 000 , but television air time outlays are expected to bring the total cost of the campaign to 4 . 5 million , a sum Alt called "" well worth it in gains to brand name recognition . ""  "" We ' re currently developing other cheeky ads that humorously illustrate what might happen if you don ' t provide your pet with a premium cat litter like Fresh Step , "" Alt said . "" Imagine a cat who rebels against his owner ' s cheap litter by donning a leather jacket , sunglasses and mohawk ! ""  Though Fresh Step ' s in house creative team is still working on the new computer generated cat ' s dialogue , Alt did confirm that the feline will utter the catchphrase , "" Are you talking to me ow ? ""  ",satire,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,satire,True,no,no,positive,past
11753,11754,"After the publication of a Truth and Reconciliation commission report calling the Residential Schools a cultural genocide , Prime Minister Harper has sent an apologetic email to Canada ' s First Nations .  "" Hey , sorry you felt genocided , "" said the email . "" Oh well , it ' s all water under the bridge now . ""  Sources in the Prime Minister ' s Office say that the email , whose subject line just read , sup ' , took the Head of State in excess of five minutes to compose .  "" He almost never spends that much time on something other than poisoning our system of parliamentary democracy , "" said one aide . "" So you can tell that he takes this seriously . ""  While some conservatives have taken the Prime Minister to task for being too apologetic ' , others are just glad that it ' s over with ' .  "" I thought the whole sorry ' phrase was overstating things a bit , but at least we don ' t have to worry about it any more , "" said Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Minister Bernard Valcourt . "" They lived through decades upon decades of dehumanization , torture , and sexual abuse , we said we ' re sorry , everything ' s square now . ""  Members of the  say that this email is literally the nicest thing the Canadian government has ever done for the First Nations .  "" No , really , "" said Perry Bellegarde , President of the Association of First Nations . "" This is even less bad than the text message he sent us about the missing and murdered aboriginal women . ""  ",satire,text,test,Other news1,US elections,true,satire,True,no,no,positive,past
11765,11766,"A study recently released by the Self Center for American Psychology noted a sharp divide among losers regarding the effectiveness of the positive self statements known as "" affirmations "" winners , however , had little to say on the subject .  According to the Self Center report , some losers avow that affirmations and positive thinking are enormously effective and are guaranteed to eventually , on some level bring them professional success , joy , and rewarding relationships , provided they believe devoutly enough to attract the right sort of energy . Other losers , however , dismiss affirmations as an utter waste of time , serving only to fool losers more gullible themselves into a false sense of hope that their lives might , someday , become marginally better .  Two participants in the study , New York City losers Geoffrey Alsup and Denise Bennett , are ( former ) friends whose difference of opinion regarding affirmations caused a seemingly unbridgeable rift in their relationship , such as it was .  Denise , at five foot two and 287 pounds , proclaims that the use of affirmations over a five year period has profoundly improved her self esteem , personal energy , and overall health .  Explained Denise , "" Every morning , when I first wake up and my mind is at its most suggestible , I affirm to myself that I am lithe , lean , sensual , and sexy . I am getting better and better in every way , and so is my life . ""  Inarguably powerful statements but have they effected tangible positive change in Denise ' s health and well being ? She claims that they have .  "" I ' ve lost four pounds in just the last nine months , "" Denise reported . "" The physical changes have been slow , but steady . And I know that the only reason they haven ' t happened more quickly is that sometimes , when I ' ve spoken the affirmative statements out loud or written them down on a piece of paper , a part of me was doubting what I was saying . That doubt is what ' s prevented my affirmations from manifesting as effectively as they otherwise would . ""  In fact , Denise admitted that on one occasion , when she uttered the positive phrases , her posture was less than fully upright . "" Obviously , the universe can ' t really do much for me when I ' m slouching , "" she acknowledged .  From loser Geoffrey ' s perspective , however , Denise ' s and other people ' s use of affirmations is but a foolish , delusional waste of time , proving that she ' s dumber and more na ve than intellectuals like himself . At a tubby six foot six , 38 year old Geoffrey is socially awkward and has been unemployed for almost a year .  "" Nothing ever goes my way , and nothing ever will , "" stated Geoffrey . "" We live in an impossible economy , and the system ' s stacked against us . In other words , life is tough , and it ' s only going to keep getting tougher . And I ' d be an idiot to try and fool myself into thinking that that will ever change . ""  Another intractable personal situation , said Geoffrey , is his unhappily single state . "" Women care only about money and how they look , "" he noted . "" They just want some super buff dude with five Hummers who ' ll pay for their Botox . I ' m not that guy , and affirmations will never change that . ""  As a former friend who still wants the best for him and for everyone , Denise despairs over Geoffrey ' s negativity and only hopes that her own positive example will inspire him to watch an Abraham Hicks video on the law of attraction .  Admittedly , that seems unlikely . According to Denise , perhaps the final nail in the coffin of her and Geoffrey ' s friendship was his casual remark that despite her commitment to daily affirmations , she is still fat .  Denise said that Geoffrey was entirely unswayed by her response that her body is becoming more toned and supple every moment of every day , and he was similarly unimpressed by her assertion that the only reason her weight loss hasn ' t proceeded more quickly is her own lack of faith , which , on occasion , has caused the affirmations to backfire , resulting in actual weightgain .  According to Denise , her protestation , "" It ' s not the affirmations ' fault , it ' s mine ! "" fell on deaf ears with her former friend .  The Self Center Study found that , like Denise and Geoffrey , nearly all of the losers interviewed expressed extremely vehement opinions as to the effectiveness , or lack thereof , of affirmations . At the same time , researchers found it surprisingly difficult to locate any winners with strong views on the subject . Eventually , however , they did manage to press two winners into offering their relatively neutral opinions on affirmations .  Winner Theresa Hummel , who operates a wildly popular vegan bakery in Manhattan ' s SoHo , shrugged offhandedly when asked what she thought of the effectiveness of affirmations and positive thinking . "" Affirmations ? Sure , why not ? They probably help , at least a little bit . And even if they don ' t , who really cares ? There ' s not much to lose in trying them . ""  Another winner , Mick Cosgrove , who is blissfully married and recently launched a hyper successful multi million dollar solar energy business , was a bit more skeptical , pointing to his own achievements as evidence that affirmations and positive thinking are not crucial to personal or professional success .  "" I mean , look at me , "" said Mick . "" I ' m naturally , even ridiculously , lucky . Windfalls and pleasant surprises constantly come my way . At any given moment , I find just what I need , and more . I ' m almost fifty now , and just when I think things can ' t possibly get any better , they do ! And I ' ve never done an affirmation in my life . ""  With the debate over the effectiveness of positive thinking expected to rage on for the foreseeable future , affirmation curious folks are left in bit of a quandary . To affirm , or not to affirm ? That , it seems , is the question for modern day American losers .  Fortunately , Self Center psychologists concluded , there are significant advantage to both approaches . For naturally optimistic losers like Denise , they found , affirmations can offer increased hope that their lives will improve , despite all evidence to the contrary . And for determinedly defeatist losers like Geoffrey , the self perceived boost in intellectual superiority that they gain from refraining from positive thinking can , in many cases , do more to improve their overall mood than any affirmation could ever hope to accomplish .  When asked whether he found it encouraging that , regardless of whether they choose to use affirmations and positive thinking or avoid them altogether , losers literally can ' t go wrong , Geoffrey responded , "" No , I don ' t find that encouraging at all . In fact , it sounds suspiciously like an affirmation . ""  ",satire,text,test,World conflict,Sports/Other,true,satire,True,no,no,neutral,past
11766,11767,"When they go low we go high.    Michelle Obama famously used this quote to explain the difference between Democrats and Republicans at the  convention. Sadly, the Democrat Party has proven time and time again, that nothing could be further from the truth.Television writer Jen Statsky tweeted Saturday the people who support President Trump should have their children taken away.light reminder that being president of the  means nothing anymore, if you support Trump you should have your children taken away, etc etc  Jen Statsky (@jenstatsky) October 1, 2017Yesterday s tweet by the woman who writes for the Parks and Rec show as well as The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, was not the first time she ventured into the bowels of humanity to come up with a vile comment in order to satisfy her angry and vile base of leftist supporters. Here are a couple of examples, starting with the time she thought touring the country looking for fistfights with  people who voted for Trump  might be a  good use  of her time.A tour of the country where I fistfight people who voted for Donald Trump, is that a good use of my time?  Jen Statsky (@jenstatsky) January 10, 2017To which, one of her fans replied with an image of a boxing glove lined with barbed wire. How very tolerant. This tweet only confirms what we already know, using violence to fight anyone who disagrees with them is one of the first tenants of being a Democrat:Only if you wear these pic.twitter.com/JXVaR0PMGb  Drew Brown (@brewdrown) January 10, 2017In this tweet, Statsky wishes cancer on Donald Trump, husband, father of 5 and grandfather to 9 grandchildren, and oh yeah, the man most of America chose as their leader.I know things seem grim right now, but let's remain optimistic: maybe Trump will get cancer?  Jen Statsky (@jenstatsky) July 25, 2016Once again, Statsky s classy followers didn t disappoint with their responses:The most luxurious tumors you've ever seen.  Cod dependence (@geoffglaab) July 25, 2016In this tweet, Statsky suggests that  if you voted for Trump, you should drink bleach .quick reminder that if you voted for Trump you should drink bleach  Jen Statsky (@jenstatsky) May 15, 2017This classy fan suggests Trump supporters could follow up the bleach with a  draino chaser . For anyone who didn t catch it, Drano is spelled incorrectly, but we re pretty sure you already knew anyone who would respond in such a manner isn t the sharpest knife in the drawer anyhow.With a draino chaser  emmalu (@emmalu) May 15, 2017And one last ignorant response from the guy who uses the disgraced pedophile Democrat Anthony Weiner as his profile pic, who just wants to clarify that Statsky is, in fact, wanting  us   to put bleach in their drinks for them, right?  He goes on to call it what it is,  poison terrorism  suggesting they could poison Trump supporters at  those fly-over Old Country Buffets.  One has to wonder  if this guy shouldn t be getting a visit from law enforcement:u want us to put bleach in their drinks for them, right? Inciting poison terrorism at those fly-over country Old Country Buffets  SuperSparky (@SuperSparky101) October 1, 2017h/t Daily Caller ",fake,dataset,test,US elections,Sports/Other,fake,fake,True,no,no,negative,present
11767,11768,"Los Angeles A southern California woman convicted of cutting off the penis of her then husband and throwing it into a garbage disposal was given a life sentence Friday with the possibility of parole after seven years , authorities said .  Catherine Kieu , 50 , of Garden Grove , California , and her husband were going through a divorce at the time of the July 2011 incident . The couple married in December 2009 , but in May 2011 the husband filed for divorce , which was granted in August 2011 , according to Orange County court records .  Kieu laced her husband ' s dinner with the sleep medication Ambien after they had an argument over a friend possibly staying with them at a later date , the Orange County district attorney ' s office said in a statement Friday .  When the husband went to sleep , Kieu tied his legs and arms to the four corners of the bed , and when he awoke , she pulled down his pants and severed his penis with a knife , prosecutors charged .  Kieu then threw the severed penis into the garbage disposal , turned it on and mutilated it , prosecutors alleged . Kieu then called 911 about how her husband was bleeding , and he was taken to the hospital for emergency surgery , authorities said .  The victim ' s name has not been made public because he is a victim of spousal abuse , police said .  The ex husband , 60 , described the trauma in an impact statement during Friday ' s sentencing , according to a statement by the prosecutor ' s office .  "" The convicted ( person ) viciously deprived me of part of my life and identity , "" the ex husband told the court . "" Then , as is routine in cases of violence that involve something sexual , the victim must endure , at the hands of the defense , a second attack . This was a cruel and calculated violation of a person ' s body and mind . I now struggle with what is before me . She has torn off my identity as a man . She has caused doubt in my belief in good . She has betrayed my trust in people . ""  On April 29 , a jury convicted Kieu of one felony count of torture , one felony count of aggravated mayhem , and a sentencing enhancement for the personal use of a knife , prosecutors said .  The Vietnam born Kieu is also known as Que Anh Tran , court papers said . She and her ex husband had no children , divorce papers said .  During the trial , Kieu ' s attorney said she suffered mental health issues , including depression , and the lawyer argued she shouldn ' t be found guilty , the prosecutor ' s office said .  The Orange County case was widely compared to the1993 attack against John Wayne Bobbitt by his then wife , Lorena , who cut off his penis with an 8 inch carving knife while he slept .  Lorena Bobbitt then drove away , tossing the penis out her car window . The penis was eventually found and surgically reattached .  Lorena Bobbitt was later found innocent by reason of insanity . During her testimony , she tearfully described her life at the hands of what she described as her abusive husband .  In a separate trial , John Wayne Bobbitt was acquitted of sexually assaulting his wife . He later made adult films .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
11768,11769,"—   The board of Uber is confident in its chief executive, Travis Kalanick, board member Arianna Huffington said on Tuesday, providing a show of support as the embattled   company seeks to repair its reputation. Ms. Huffington made her remarks in a conference call with reporters that Uber announced only hours before. During the roughly   call, executives also laid out a multipart plan to get the reeling company back on track after a series of revelations about its business practices and internal unrest that have damaged its image. Of paramount importance, the company stressed, is Uber’s search for a chief operating officer to help Mr. Kalanick. In addition, Uber is overhauling its human resources department, improving its relationships with drivers, and soliciting feedback from concerned employees. The company also plans to release a report on the diversity of its work force this month, and will conclude an investigation into its workplace culture by the end of April. “The board is confident in Travis, and we are proceeding ahead with the search for the C. O. O. ,” Ms. Huffington said during the call. “Put very simply, change starts at the top. ” Because Uber rarely puts together such calls for the news media, the one on Tuesday reflects how the company is working to seize control of its image after a rough start to the year. In recent weeks, Uber’s reputation was badly damaged after a former employee published a scathing blog post detailing what she said was a history of sexual harassment and systemic issues in the company’s human resources department. Separately, Uber faced criticism for its program to deliberately deceive law enforcement using a software tool called Greyball, The New York Times reported. Mr. Kalanick, who helped found Uber in 2009, also came under fire for how he had influenced the culture of the company. After a video of Mr. Kalanick arguing with an Uber driver recently leaked on the internet, Mr. Kalanick apologized and said he would seek leadership assistance. Several executives, including president Jeff Jones, have since left the company. Mr. Kalanick was not present during the conference call. Ms. Huffington, who joined Uber’s board last year, was joined on the call by Liane Hornsey, the recently hired head of human resources, and Rachel Holt, the head of Uber’s   business in the United States and Canada. In the call, Uber said it expected that Mr. Kalanick would be highly collaborative with any executive hires. Bill Gurley, a venture capitalist and longtime Uber board member, is helping to lead the executive search for the chief operating officer, as is Ms. Huffington. Asked whether Mr. Kalanick would be willing to step down if asked, Ms. Huffington said the company’s leadership has not discussed the “hypothetical” situation. “It’s clear that both Uber and the entire   industry would not be where we are today without Travis,” Ms. Huffington said. Beyond providing assistance to Mr. Kalanick, Uber said it had significant work to do to repair what appears to be a culture badly damaged by infighting and harassment. Ms. Hornsey said Uber had held more than 100 “listening sessions” with employees across the company, and had set up a hotline for anonymous complaints from employees for sensitive subjects. She also noted the recent hiring of a global head of diversity, Bernard C. Coleman III. Uber plans to publish its first diversity report breaking down the gender and ethnic makeup of its work force by the end of March. Uber also is working to change its feedback system in human resources, which many current and former employees had criticized as unfair and opaque. “Too much time is spent looking backward rather than forward,” Ms. Hornsey said of the system. “We need to change it. ” A companywide investigation into Uber’s workplace practices, which is being conducted by Eric H. Holder Jr. the former United States attorney general, is expected to conclude by the end of April. Ms. Huffington said the company would honor the results of the investigation and abide by any changes recommended. Despite Uber’s culture problems, Ms. Holt said the company’s business remains healthy. Last week in the United States, riders took more trips with Uber than in any previous week, she said. “In our most mature country, we’ve grown faster in the first 10 weeks of 2017 than in the first 10 weeks of 2016,” Ms. Holt said during the call. “Looking at less mature regions like Latin America, trips were up 600 percent in February, year on year. ” Uber, which has raised billions of dollars in capital, is privately valued at close to $70 billion. Employees and investors were shaken early this year when a   campaign to delete the app sprung up, following concerns that Uber was trying to capitalize on a New York taxi work stoppage. About half a million people requested deleting their Uber accounts over the course of that week, according to three people familiar with the company’s internal metrics who asked not to be named because the numbers are confidential. Those deletions have slowed drastically in recent weeks, and the company continues to add new users on a weekly basis, one of the people said. Aside from internal changes, Uber said it would continue to work on improving relationships with drivers, who are freelancers that the company does not employ  . “We need to bring more humanity to the way we interact with drivers,” Ms. Holt said, noting changes in how Uber would treat rider feedback and how the company considers a driver’s history on the platform.",true,news,test,US elections,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
11770,11771,"Reuters) - Global warming helped fuel the hottest year on record in 2016, with greenhouse gas concentrations reaching a new high, a U.S. government report released on Thursday said. The report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration also cited a strong El Nino cycle as a factor behind the third consecutive year of record global warmth. ",true,dataset,test,Football,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
11790,11791,"Children in Russia gave been banned from buying fizzy drinks ' in a bid to protect their health ' .  The local parliament banned the sale of fizzy caffeinated drinks to minors in the country ' s Vologda region .  The ban includes carbonated drinks containing caffeine or plant extracts , which applies to Western soft drinks , including Coca Cola , Dr Pepper and Mountain Dew , as well as domestic products such as Baikal .  Russian children have been banned from buying fizzy drinks ' in a bid to protect their health ' . Pictured , bottles of Coca Cola , Sprite and Fanta in a Dixy supermarket in Moscow , Russia  But tea and coffee is not restricted , according to The Moscow Times .  The restrictions came into effect on January 1 .  An overview of the law on the regional legislative assembly ' s website states stores will have to ask for identification when selling certain soft drinks to young people .  In addition to the outright ban on sales of carbonated caffeine drinks to minors , the law also prohibits their sale in ' children ' s , educational and medical institutions , as well as cultural and sports centers . '  Yevgeny Korotkov , chair of the parliament ' s committee on economic policy and property , said the ban has been put in place to protect the health of minors .  He said : ' We received an expert opinion on the effects of these drinks on the body of children and adolescents , and they have a very negative impact . '  It comes as Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov told the World Economic Forum in Davos , Switzerland , that Russians are prepared to ' eat less ' for President Vladimir Putin .  Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos today , he warned the West against trying to topple Putin and said that Russians are ready to sacrifice their wealth in support .  Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov told the World Economic Forum in Davos , Switzerland , today that Russians are ready to ' eat less ' in support of Putin  Russia has been sliding into recession for the past year amid a slump in its energy export prices as well as Western sanctions against Moscow ' s role in the conflict in Ukraine .  Shuvalov , who is believed to be one of the richest men in the government , said that what he considers the West ' s attempts to oust Putin will only unite the nation further .  He said : ' When a Russian feels any foreign pressure , he will never give up his leader .  ' Never . We will survive any hardship in the country eat less food , use less electricity . '  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
11803,11804,"Friday ' s launch of the iPhone 3GS could usher in an innovative and lucrative new era for those who create applications for the popular device , developers and industry observers say .  This woman in an iPhone costume was among the crowd outside an Apple Store in New York City on Friday .  The phone ' s upgraded hardware , combined with a new operating system , will allow developers to design apps that wouldn ' t have worked on previous models of the iPhone .  For example , developers said , the iPhone 3GS is the first iPhone with a video camera , which could inspire apps that edit or mix video clips . Other developers are eyeing the new phone ' s built in compass or its "" push notification "" feature , which pings users with messages even if its instant message application is not open .  "" Apple has given us all these new tools , "" said William Kasel , founder and  of Jumpfox , a San Francisco , California based company that makes mobile apps . "" And I can ' t wait to see what developers come out with in the next six months . The new features really take the phone to a whole new level . ""  Apple fans in the United States and seven other countries lined up Friday morning to be among the first to get their hands on the new iPhone 3GS , billed as the fastest , most feature laden iPhone yet . iReport : Buying an iPhone 3GS ?  Lines outside Apple ' s 211 retail stores in the United States were generally shorter than for last July ' s debut of the iPhone 3G , probably because owners of that phone balked at paying upgrade fees to wireless carrier  T or could simply update their devices by downloading the iPhone ' s new 3 . 0 operating system .  The buying process also seemed smoother than last summer ' s iPhone launch , which was marred by slow moving lines and a flood of customers trying to activate their phones at once . According to reports on Twitter , many iPhone 3GS buyers were able to activate their phones faster and more smoothly than last year .  The new iPhone contains a processor that Apple claims is more than twice as fast as its 3G model , plus a video camera , voice control , longer battery life and a built in compass . It comes with an upgraded operating system which Apple released Wednesday for download onto older iPhones with 100 new functions , including the ability to copy and paste text .  But the phone ' s biggest game changer , observers say , may be new software that allows iPhone users to make purchases within applications .  On previous versions of the iPhone , applications linked users to Web sites where they could buy consumer goods or other items . With the new iPhone 3 . 0 operating system , users can shop entirely within apps designed specially for the phone , which promises to make for smoother transactions .  App developers love this new function . Until now , they earned money only when people bought applications through Apple ' s App Store , or from selling ads within the apps themselves . But now , for example , a game developer could charge users a few extra dollars to access higher levels of a video game . Other apps could allow users to locate the nearest movie theater , and then buy tickets .  "" It ' s a whole new revenue stream , "" said Brian X . Chen , who writes about consumer technology for Wiredweblink . Chen believes the new feature could help iPhone app developers achieve long term profits instead of hoping for an App Store "" one hit wonder "" that sells well and then disappears .  "" This could be absolutely huge for a lot of people , "" agreed  Siegler , who writes for TechCrunch , a popular technology blog . "" There ' s a lot of money to be made there , I think . ""  Siegler believes another bonus of the iPhone 3GS ' s new software is its ability to interact with special accessories via Bluetooth and the phone ' s dock connector . To cite one example that Apple showcased at a recent 3 . 0 event , a diabetes app could hook up with an insulin meter , allowing a diabetes patient to check his or her glucose levels .  Developers already are customizing apps for the new iPhone . Jumpfox is hoping to launch BuzzBuy , its PayPal like e commerce widget , as an iPhone 3GS app this summer . And ScrollMotion plans to introduce an upgraded version of its Iceberg reader , which will allow iPhone users to download more than 50 magazines , 170 newspapers and 1 million books to their devices for reading on the go .  "" We love the new 3 . 0 functionality , "" said Josh Koppel , a ScrollMotion co founder , who also believes the phone ' s copy and paste feature will help students and other readers get more use from the Iceberg app . "" A new way to monetize on this magical device . . . is the best thing we could have asked for . ""  The popular phone went on sale Friday in the U . S . and Canada plus six European countries : France , Germany , Italy , Spain , Switzerland and the United Kingdom . Watch iPhone buyers lined up in London  About 300 people stood outside the flagship Apple Store on New York ' s Fifth Avenue waiting for the doors to open Friday morning . In Atlanta , Georgia , more than 100 people were in line early Friday outside an Apple Store at Lenox Square mall .  "" It doesn ' t seem like it ' s the Apple fanatics this time . It ' s moms and dads , "" said Robin Cutshaw , 51 , who lined up for previous iPhone launches in 2007 and 2008 .  An  specialist , Cutshaw said he travels everywhere with his iPhone and once even used it to work remotely from a beach in Brazil . "" It doesn ' t go in the shower with me , but that ' s about it , "" he said .  Some who had preordered phones were frustrated by how slowly their line moved outside the Atlanta store . But Marc Kagan , 31 , said that buying his new phone took him about three hours , much less than the 10 hours it took last year .  Customers encountered problems activating their new phones last July because demand overwhelmed Apple ' s iTunes servers . But on Friday , Kagan said it took Apple employees about 15 minutes to activate his phone in the store .  "" It went pretty smooth . I think they ' re a little more organized this year , "" he said .   T stores , Best Buy and Wal Mart also are selling the iPhone 3GS , although preorders through  T and Best Buy sold out before Friday . Advance buzz about the iPhone 3GS has been largely positive . In a review ,  gave it a four star , or excellent , rating . Compare the iPhone 3GS to three other smartphones  An iPhone 3GS with 16 gigabytes of storage sells for 199 with a new two year  T contract one with 32G capacity will cost 299 . Since June 8 Apple has been selling the iPhone 3G model for 99 half its original price .  Apple has sold more than 17 million iPhones since the iconic device hit the market in 2007 . Apple ' s phones are the second best selling consumer smartphones in the United States , according to the  Group , an online market research firm . See a chart tracking iPhone sales The launch comes less than a week after rival Palm unveiled its much ballyhooed Pre smartphone on the Sprint network and Research In Motion announced it will debut the new BlackBerry Tour on Sprint and Verizon in the coming months .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
11818,11819,"Tim Howard joined Everton in the Community ' s Medicash powered wheelchair football team for a training session at Croxteth Sports Centre last week .  The Toffees goalkeeper met players from the team currently sitting third In the  National League in the Championship Division and was provided with his own wheelchair .  The U . S international joined in with some short skills and shooting practice with the team before taking his place in goal for a short game .  Tim Howard joined Everton in the Community ' s powered wheelchair football team for a training session  The Everton goalkeeper was provided with his own wheelchair and joined in with some shooting practice  Speaking after the visit , Howard said : ' I ' ve really enjoyed myself , the guys were great with me and were really helping me along as it was my first time in a motorised wheelchair . They were giving me tips and encouragement when it came to dribbling , passing and shooting . It was a good time .  ' There are a lot of talented players in this team and it goes to show that practice makes perfect and hopefully they ' ll have me back so I can slowly but surely perfect my skills .  ' It ' s been great for me to come out and see not just what Everton in the Community does but to also be a part of it and lend a helping hand . Our charity means everything to this club and our local community and that ' s why us players are always so eager to get involved and be a part of Everton in the Community because we know what it means to everyone . '  Everton in the Community Disability Manager Steve Johnson added , ' Tim has been absolutely superb with us today and his skills in the chair were very impressive given that this was his first time . He mixed in well with the team and pulled off some great saves at the end .  Howard poses with the Everton in the Community team after the session at Croxteth Sports Centre  ' It ' s great to have the club ' s involvement and support Tim is a hero and role model to many of our players here today and to have him come down and get involved today with our session is something that they will talk about for weeks on end . '  Everton in the Community ' s disability empowerment programme provides football and physical opportunities for thousands of disabled children and adults each year .  The programme is all inclusive and currently runs 13 disability teams available to those with any disability whether that be learning , physical , reduced stature , autism , cerebral palsy , deaf or partially sighted .  For more information visit http : community . evertonfcweblink  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
11819,11820,"Reuters) - The Obama administration said on Wednesday that $400 million in cash paid to Iran soon after the release of five Americans detained by Tehran was not ransom as some Republicans have charged. The five, including Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian, were released on Jan. 16 in exchange for seven Iranians held in the United States for sanctions violations. The prisoner deal coincided with the lifting of international sanctions against Tehran. At the time, the United States said it had settled a longstanding Iranian claim at the Iran-U.S. Claims Tribunal in The Hague, releasing $400 million in funds frozen since 1981, plus $1.3 billion in interest that was owed to Iran. The funds were part of a trust fund Iran used before its 1979 Islamic Revolution to buy U.S. military equipment that was tied up for decades in litigation at the tribunal. Representative Jason Chaffetz, chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, on Wednesday sent a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry asking him to appear at a future committee hearing to discuss the payment.  White House spokesman Josh Earnest rejected suggestions the money transfer to Iran was ransom or a secret.     “The United States, under President Obama, has not paid a ransom to secure the release of Americans unjustly detained in Iran and we’re not going to pay a ransom,” he said in response to a Wall Street Journal article that said Washington secretly organized the cash airlift.     Earnest said Republicans, who have long opposed the Iran nuclear deal, are seizing on how the money was paid to Iran as a way to undermine the deal. “They’re struggling to justify their opposition to our engagement with Iran,” he told a briefing. While there have long been questions about the timing of the payment, one Iranian concern was that the Obama administration could face too much domestic political criticism if it delayed acting on the tribunal’s decision. Due to international sanctions against Iran, the payment, made in euros, Swiss francs and other currencies, had to be made in cash, U.S. officials argue. One U.S. official said the $1.3 billion in interest was paid to Iran through the U.S. Treasury-administered Judgment Fund, which is used to pay awards against the United States. Senior officials at the Justice Department had objected to sending cash on a plane to Iran at the same time that Iran was releasing four imprisoned Americans (the fifth American was released separately) but were overruled by the State Department, The Wall Street Journal reported in a separate story on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the discussions. “People knew what it was going to look like, and there was concern the Iranians probably did consider it a ransom payment,” the newspaper quoted one of the people as saying. Justice Department prosecutors were also concerned that the United States would release too many Iranian convicts and drop too many pending criminal cases against people suspected of violating sanctions laws, the second Wall Street Journal report said. Reuters was unable to independently verify the report. In response to the report, a Department of Justice spokesman said in a statement: “The Department of Justice fully supported the ultimate outcome of the Administration’s resolution of several issues with Iran, including Hague settlement efforts, as well as the return of U.S. citizens detained in Iran. We will not comment further on internal interagency deliberations.” A senior State Department official also responded by saying that the payment had been fully an interagency decision and that any idea that the State Department had the power to overrule was false. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump blamed his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, who was secretary of state during Obama’s first term, for launching the talks with Iran. “Our incompetent Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, was the one who started talks to give 400 million dollars, in cash, to Iran. Scandal!” Trump said in a Twitter post. The chairman of the Republican National Committee, Reince Priebus, also weighed in. “The Obama-Clinton foreign policy not only means cutting a dangerous nuclear deal with the world’s number one state sponsor of terrorism, it also means paying them a secret ransom with cargo planes full of cash,” he said. House Speaker Paul Ryan was more measured, saying, “If true, this report confirms our longstanding suspicion that the administration paid a ransom in exchange for Americans unjustly detained in Iran.” ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
11829,11830,"As the fallout from Gretchen Carlson s sexual harassment lawsuit continues, people are stepping forward and offering their two cents (or less) on the issue. It s only natural that former employees would want to weigh in on this as well, and some who are weighing in are really disgusting about it. Former Fox Business executive Ray Hennessey, for instance, threw his totally worthless cents into the ring when he decided to tweet this absolutely sexist crap:There will be lots of piling on Roger Ailes today, but I find the charges hard to believe, except in the context of his sense of humor. 1/2  Ray Hennessey (@Hennesseyedit) July 6, 2016 I can t see Ailes, who is overall a great manager of people, demanding a sexual relationship from any employee. Lawsuit distorts reality 2/2  Ray Hennessey (@Hennesseyedit) July 6, 2016Except Ailes has a history of this that goes back decades. We suppose all those allegations were distortions too, because Ailes was just joking and why can t women take a joke? Or a compliment? Or or or or This is really disgusting. Carlson not only has to endure the strain of the suit itself, but she gets to deal with having her name publicly dragged through the mud as a man-hating feminazi who wants to destroy Ailes  career and life because he fired her.Or anything else along those lines.Hennesey could stand to do a little Googling on the issue before going off. Several sources from Fox News have come forward confirming Carlson s allegations and saying sexual harassment was a regular thing for him. One woman said he d ask her to  turn around so he can see my ass.  Another said Ailes told her she could only wear dresses on the air. That source also dropped this bomb: He always brags to people about how he doesn t do polling or testing when he chooses his on-air talent. He told me that if he was thinking of hiring a woman, he d ask himself if he would fuck her, and if he would, then he d hire her to be on-camera. Ailes also hated Carlson and called her a  crazy, vindictive bitch,  according to these sources. It s very telling that they requested anonymity for fear of retaliation.In other words, there are a lot of people at Fox News who know he s a disgusting, dirty little old man who can t keep his pants zipped. Hennessey made a fool of himself, along with putting himself into that same, sexist  women are all vindictive bitches looking to ruin men s lives  corner.Featured image by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,present
11830,11831,"posted by Eddie It seems that the long wait to receive a signal from outer space has finally paid off because after years of silence two astronomers from the Laval University in Quebec claim to have found 234 signals from alien civilizations. Ermanno Borra and his graduate student Eric Trottier, the astronomers we mentioned, begun analyzing stars and galaxies in search of light emitted at regular intervals. After analyzing 2.5 million of them they found what they were looking for in234 stars which resemble our Sun in size. According to the researchers, the signals are emitted by alien civilizations. The team was focused on the light spectrum’s Fourier Transform (FT). For the uninformed, an  is a mathematical device that helps scientists to find the origin of the signal’s components and how they came to be. For example, if the light is a muffin, using the  formula will reveal the recipe, couldn’t be simpler than that. The  analysis revealed periodic modulated components which the scientists believe are a result of the super quick light pulses (less than a trillionth of a second) sent by Extraterrestrial Intelligence (ETI). Their paper is published in the Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific and it reveals that the scientists discard any other possible explanation like instrumental effects, rotation of molecules, rapid stellar pulsations, and peculiar chemistry. They write: “ We find that the detected signals have exactly the shape of an  signal predicted in the previous publication and are therefore in agreement with this hypothesis . The fact that they are only found in a very small fraction of stars within a narrow spectral range centered near the spectral type of the Sun is also in agreement with the  hypothesis .” Only extremely powerful lasers, such as the one found at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory , could generate these superfast pulses. Furthermore, Ermanno Borra has previously published articles where he states that this is the least explored area of astronomy. An inevitable question then arises: Why would these aliens choose such a complex and energy-consuming way to communicate? Surely they could have figured out a better way, after all they’re supposed to be millions of light years ahead of us in terms of technology and science. Although the team believes that the most logical explanation would be that aliens are trying to communicate with us, they are aware that further research is needed to confirm their findings. Breakthrough Listen , a Stephen Hawking-backed project will take up the task of further analyzing the 234 stars the team found, but the  Berkeley team (the project’s science program base) encourages people to be skeptical regarding the findings, until further proof is available. The Breakthrough Listen team released a statement saying: “ The one in 10,000 objects with unusual spectra seen by Borra and Trottier are certainly worthy of additional study. However, extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. It is too early to unequivocally attribute these purported signals to the activities of extraterrestrial civilizations .” Source:",fake,news,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,past
11837,11838,"Is this why we worked so hard to get a  majority in the House and Senate? Spineless weasels Republican House members blasted their  leadership Wednesday for caving to Democratic leaders  demand that they abandon the House s bipartisan bill to tighten screening of refugee applicants from Syria and Iraq. The bill to bolster the Syrian and Iraqi [refugee] vetting process passed with a veto-proof majority and is supported by a vast majority of Americans,  said Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC)57% , who is one of the two co-authors of the original House bill that  leaders are now abandoning. It would be a shame to bow to the wishes of Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) and the White House, leaving our country vulnerable to foreign terrorism,  he told Breitbart News exclusively.After the Paris attacks that killed over 120 people, the House passed a bill   with a huge bipartisan majority   that would implement tough screening requirements for refugees. The bill was criticized by Democrats and President Obama, who vowed to veto the legislation and suggested that Republicans work with them to tighten oversight of visas given to legal visitors.Now, House Republican leaders are reportedly planning to abandon their original idea to tighten screening of refugees and are instead caving to Democrats who want to only fix security gaps in the legal-visitor visa program.Republican House leadership is backing away from the refugee problem because they fear their fix will be rejected by Democrats and lead to a partial government shut-down.Rep. Mo Brooks (R-AL) also told Breitbart News exclusively that he isn t  surprised  that Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) is following in the steps of former House Speaker Rep. John Boehner (R-OH)32% by bowing to Democrats, rather than putting up a fight.He called the original vote  a show vote  that was arranged by the leaders, and told Breitbart News that the entire refugee program needs to be stripped of its funding.Rep. Brian Babin (R-TX) told Breitbart News exclusively that  House leadership should fix both problems.  This should not be an either or question,  Babin said.  Both should be addressed in a timely manner. We should concern ourselves first and foremost with the safety and security of the American people. Babin recently released a letter, signed by more than 70 of his colleagues, calling on House leadership to include language in the must-pass omnibus spending bill that would defund the refugee resettlement program. More than 70 of my colleagues joined me in calling for an immediate suspension in the refugee program to give us time to put in place security measures that the Administration has failed to implement  Babin told Breitbart News. We must restore Congressional authority and ensure that Congress has a final sign-off on any Administration proposed Security measures. Congress has until December 11th to pass the omnibus bill.Via: Breitbart News",fake,dataset,test,World conflict,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
11839,11840,"Athens , Greece Greece swore in a new Cabinet on Thursday , putting an elected government in charge of the country for the first time in 224 days .  The new governing coalition is made up of three parties : the center right New Democracy , which placed first in Sunday ' s vote Pasok and the Democratic Party of the Left .  Prime Minister Antonis Samaras appointed Vassilis Rapanos , chairman of the Greek National Bank , to the key finance minister post .  Dimitris Avramopoulos becomes foreign minister , while Panagiotis Panagiotopoulos takes the role of defense minister , and Evripidis Stylianidis heads up the interior ministry .  New Democracy lawmakers dominate the 38 member government , with only a handful of representatives coming from Pasok and the Democratic Left .  Samaras , who heads New Democracy , met with the heads of his two coalition partners , Evangelos Venizelos of Pasok and Fotis Kouvelis of the Democratic Party of the Left , earlier Thursday , the broadcaster reported .  The new governing coalition , which has pledged to push for a renegotiation of some of the painful austerity measures imposed under the terms of an international bailout , will face significant challenges .  The country is struggling to get out of the political and financial mire that threatens to drag down Europe ' s common currency and spark a new global financial crisis .  "" Greece has a government . . . . That is the message that we need to send abroad , "" Venizelos said as he announced the deal in a televised statement Wednesday .  Vassilis Monastiriotis of enic Observatory at the London School of Economics predicted that the international community will show patience with the new Greek government at least until September , not least because any alternative would be far more radical and anti European .  But , he said , "" There ' s no decision about how ( they ) actually deal with the immediate problems of acute poverty in parts of society and problems of tax collection . ""  Greece will go to a summit of European leaders in Brussels , Belgium , next week , determined to push them to renegotiate the terms of Greece ' s unpopular international bailout , most likely by extending the timetable for certain elements .  While few specifics are known , all three parties are keen to renegotiate a provision under which Greece ' s current minimum wage of 750 euros a month ( about 950 ) would be cut by 22 , Monastiriotis said .  What will Greek elections mean for the country ' s future ?  While Samaras has been rather narrow in his views , Monastiriotis said , the politician has shown some leadership in recent days in making concessions to form the coalition .  "" The Democratic Left is insisting that this platform will contain commitments that will ensure the removal of measures that have gravely affected the Greek society , "" Kouvelis said .  The leftist party has supported bailouts from international lenders while seeking to renegotiate the terms .  The party with the second highest number of votes , the leftist Syriza , which is against austerity measures , has declined to be a part of the government .  The future of Europe : 3 scenarios  International bailouts have kept Greece from defaulting in the face of an ongoing recession and low tax revenue , but lenders have demanded hugely unpopular government budget cuts in exchange .  Some observers had predicted that efforts to renegotiate the bailout could lead to a run on Greek banks and deeper misery .  The country must identify additional budget cuts by the end of June to be considered compliant with the terms of its bailout . After five years of recession , unemployment is running at about 22 , taxes are going up and many of those with jobs are suffering cuts to wages .  German Chancellor Angela Merkel , Europe ' s powerful advocate for balancing budgets to build a strong basis for economic growth , had urged Greeks not to walk away from the international loan deals . Resentment of Germany has run high in Greece during the course of austerity ' s implementation .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
11841,11842,"A 100 , 000 signature petition demanding that Welsh cancer sufferers get the same access to treatment as English patients was handed over by campaigners yesterday .  They called on the Welsh government which is run by Labour to create a special fund to pay for advanced but expensive new drugs .  Cancer victims in Wales have been forced to use their own savings or move to England to get cutting edge medication recommended by their doctors .  Professor John Wagstaff , from the South West Wales Cancer Institute in Swansea , pictured , said the lack of a Cancer Drugs Fund in Wales was a ' serious issue  If they do try to get the treatment in their own country , they must make bureaucratic ' individual patient funding requests ' which are frequently rejected .  By contrast , English sufferers have access to 71 types of pioneering cancer treatment for free on the  .  They are available through the 200million a year Cancer Drugs Fund , which was set up in 2010 .  The petition of 98 , 230 names was handed to Conservative members of the Welsh Assembly in Cardiff yesterday .  It was started by Julie McGowan after her friend Ann Wilkinson , a 76 year old bowel cancer sufferer from Monmouthshire , was initially denied funding for the life extending drug Avastin .  Mrs McGowan said : ' We are all part of the National Health Service and I believe Welsh patients should have the same access to these drugs . '  Professor John Wagstaff , from the South West Wales Cancer Institute in Swansea , said the lack of a Cancer Drugs Fund in Wales was a ' serious issue ' .  He added that his own success rate for getting drugs approved through the independent request scheme was just 15 per cent .  By contrast , English sufferers have access to 71 types of pioneering cancer treatment for free on the   In 2011 the Rarer Cancers Foundation estimated that setting up a Cancer Drugs Fund for Wales would cost around 3 . 3million a year , depending on which treatments it included .  The charity ' s chief executive Andrew Wilson described the inequality in access to treatment as ' devastating ' for patients .  Stephen Crabb , the Tory Welsh Secretary , added : ' Welsh Labour ' s continued refusal to adopt the scheme is pure politicking . The Labour Government in Cardiff need to start putting the needs of Welsh people above desire to save face on their own poor policy choices . '  But a spokesman for the Welsh government said : ' We are proud in Wales that patients have access to proven and cost effective treatments for all conditions , not just cancer .  ' We will not be replacing our system with a cancer drugs fund the chair of the Cancer Drugs Fund in England has admitted it provides funding for drugs which have "" no impact on survival "" and "" uncertainty "" about whether quality of life is improved or not .  ' Research published in the British Journal of Cancer earlier this year concluded that Wales had a faster uptake of medicines most recently launched and subsequently recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence than England .  ' We spend more per head on cancer care than in England and we do not agree with spending millions of pounds on non approved medicines . '  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
11846,11847,"This weekend, Tim Kaine and his wife, Anne Holton, are expected to step off the campaign trail for a beach vacation with their extended family at the Virginia shore. It is an annual tradition, as is Ms. Holton’s practice of making the adults hand over all their grocery store receipts. She ensures that every household, factoring in the number of children, has paid not a dollar more or less than its fair share. “She is not the accountant, she’s the judge,” said her brother Dwight Holton, a former United States attorney in Oregon. “No one has ever questioned her Solomonic wisdom. ” The daughter of a governor who grew up to marry a man who became governor, senator and now   nominee, Ms. Holton has lived since childhood in a world of politics and power. But relatives and friends describe her as being uncommonly unimpressed by the trappings of privilege and instead driven by an almost religious sense of fairness, an aversion to idleness and a   commitment to service that has helped elevate her into   of Virginia’s most famous power couple. As a child, Ms. Holton, 58, had a symbolic role in helping integrate Virginia’s public schools before graduating from Princeton and meeting Mr. Kaine at Harvard Law School. As he rose up Virginia’s political ladder, she achieved renown in her own right as a legal aid lawyer, family court judge and Virginia’s secretary of education, a job she resigned once her husband was chosen as Hillary Clinton’s running mate. In some ways, Ms. Holton, who has been mentioned as a possible replacement for her husband in the Senate, represents Mrs. Clinton’s road not taken, continuing to pursue her career throughout her husband’s ascent rather than waiting her turn. But now those roads have converged on the presidential campaign trail, with Ms. Holton sharing stages with the Clintons and amplifying her husband’s high school teacher vibe with her Everywoman appeal. In a backstage holding room after Mrs. Clinton’s acceptance speech last Thursday, Mr. Kaine broke out his harmonica, one of his hobbies, and goaded his wife into one of hers, clog dancing. On the trail, Ms. Holton is a staple at her husband’s side, monitoring his speeches, giving him encouraging smiles and offering remarks in her lilting accent. “She has been around politics a looong time,” said Tom Wolf, Mr. Kaine’s former law partner and a friend of the family. “And she knows what it’s about and knows what needs to be done. ” Ms. Holton, who declined to be interviewed, first moved into the Virginia executive mansion in 1970 as the    daughter of Gov. A. Linwood Holton Jr. a Republican, and his wife, Virginia, known as Jinks. She enrolled at a prestigious grade school recommended to her parents by their   friends. Many children at school wanted to attach themselves to her because of who her father was. “She called them ‘Buggy Friends,’” recalled her brother Woody, because they were constantly bugging her to visit the mansion. Status seeking, he said, was not a value instilled by their father. Instead, the children were roused from their comfortable beds every morning with refrains of “It’s opportunity time! Let’s go get ’em. ” A Presbyterian, he gave each of his four children Bibles with underlined passages about the good Samaritan. The lessons stuck. When a lightning strike in 1968 killed the daughter of the sitting governor, Ms. Holton started the Becky Godwin Club in the girl’s honor. The club specialized in good Samaritan deeds, like playing with and raising money for a developmentally disabled girl down the block. When a federal judge ordered the desegregation of Virginia schools, Governor Holton sent his children to Mosby Middle, an   public school. He also made sure to alert the news media. “Dad is like Tim in this way,” said Woody Holton, a historian at the University of South Carolina and the author of an acclaimed biography of the first lady Abigail Adams. “They both are really good social justice people, but they also understand that you better call reporters. ” A photograph of Anne’s older sister, Tayloe, being escorted into the school by her father became an iconic image, though Woody Holton said she “was mad because Tayloe was becoming famous wearing Anne’s dress. ” At Mosby, Ms. Holton, then 12, showed a middle child’s talent for getting along with people, starting a cheerleading squad and making friends. She also gave a tour of the mansion to   Slaughter, another    who would go on to be a foreign policy adviser to Mrs. Clinton, and whose best friend was the daughter of the Democrat that Linwood Holton beat in the governor’s race. “She was very gracious,” Ms. Slaughter said. The Holton children entertained themselves by roller skating in the basement, and while Donald J. Trump has criticized “Corrupt Kaine,” as he calls him, for accepting gifts as governor  —   it was legal  —   the Holton children were themselves awash in presents. “When Dad was governor, the gifts just flowed,” Woody Holton said. “This is all before Watergate. Nobody thought how it might be corrupting. So one of the gifts we got was a golf cart, and we drove it all around the Capitol grounds. ” Ms. Holton later enrolled in Open High School, which allowed students to create their own curriculum and did not give grades. When asked to pick an activity for physical education, she took up clogging. When assigned to research her family’s ancestry, she presented not the names of distant gentry, but the names of slaves owned by her  . At Harvard Law, she met Mr. Kaine in a legal assistance program that focused on civil rights protections for inmates, and she worked for the Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee, interviewing the criminally insane about the conditions of their imprisonment. “She handled the case of a serial killer,” Woody Holton said. As the couple decided where to live, Mr. Kaine’s family, who lived in the Kansas City area, wooed her by taking her to barbecue meccas. But for ambitious young lawyers, Richmond had its advantages. “He told us that Anne’s dad was the former governor of Virginia,” said Pat Kaine, Tim’s younger brother. Ms. Holton came home first, looking for a church to marry in. She was attending services at a Quaker meeting house at the time, but she knocked on the door of St. Elizabeth’s, a predominantly black Roman Catholic church (her husband is Catholic). She gave her name to the priest. “I tried to play it a little cool  —   we all deal with hierarchy all the time,” recalled the Rev. Michael Schmied, who said they had talked about wedding details for an hour. Then he looked up and remarked: “‘Wow. You are the real Anne Holton. ’” Ms. Holton began clerking for Robert R. Merhige Jr. the federal judge who had issued the desegregation order. As Mr. Kaine became a successful lawyer, a City Council member and mayor, Ms. Holton made a name for herself as a lawyer for   families and foster children, and then as chief judge on Richmond’s juvenile court. Ms. Holton was sometimes so busy that she dropped her three children off at day care in their pajamas. In 2002, she conducted the   ceremony when her husband became lieutenant governor. But before he ran for the office, she had to assuage his concerns about whether they could give a normal life to their three children: Nat, now a Marine Woody, an artist and Annella, who is studying to be an actress. “You’d see Anne tacking up posters to advertise the elementary school and middle school plays,” said Pierce Homer, a former secretary of transportation under Mr. Kaine and a neighbor. The couple live in a modest house and drive sensible cars. Their friends talk about the autoharp Ms. Holton bought Mr. Kaine for his birthday (she plays the violin) and their unapologetic public displays of affection: kissing on stages, holding hands in the park. When Mr. Kaine was elected governor in 2005, Ms. Holton resigned from the bench and returned to her childhood home, where as first lady she concentrated on foster care programs that helped keep older children with permanent families and extend their education. Mr. Kaine won his Senate seat in 2012. When Terry McAuliffe was elected governor a year later, he surprised many people by appointing Ms. Holton as secretary of education, a position she at first declined because of her lack of education background, according to Mr. Wolf, the family friend. “She knew everybody and had a real opportunity to bring people together,” Mr. McAuliffe explained. As for filling Mr. Kaine’s seat in the Senate should he and Mrs. Clinton win, Mr. McAuliffe said, “It will be a little hard since he presides over the Senate. ” (The vice president serves as president of the Senate.) Ms. Holton is clearly at ease among the most exclusive club in Washington. At a retreat at his Virginia farm last month, Senator Mark Warner said, senators were singing along to Mr. Kaine’s harmonica playing when Ms. Holton jumped into the middle of the room and started clog dancing. “Our jaws dropped,” Mr. Warner said. Mr. Kaine told Virginia delegates at a Democratic National Convention breakfast last week that his wife was “my political partner, my most astute critic, my most energetic enthusiast, my lover, my girlfriend, my wife of 32 years, the great mother of our great three children. ” He then kissed her on the lips and relayed to the crowd what the Clinton campaign told him about his wife: “We want every last minute that she can give us. ”",true,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
11848,11849,"Novak Djokovic ' s reign as king of the Australian Open is over .  The world No . 2 , a winner at Melbourne Park in each of the last three years , was beaten in a grueling five set contest by eighth seed Stanislas Wawrinka .  At the end of a marathon four hour encounter , it was Switzerland ' s Wawrinka who converted his first match point to seal a 2 6 6 4 6 2 3 6 9 7 win over the six time grand slam champion .  Wawrinka will play Tomas Berdych for a place in Sunday ' s final , after the Czech upset third seed David Ferrer in Tuesday ' s earlier quarterfinal .  Energy sapping duels between Wawrinka and Djokovic have become the norm over the past 12 months , with the Serb emerging on top until now .  At the 2012 Australian Open , Djokovic edged a fourth round match 12 10 in the fifth while the two once again went the distance in their U . S . Open semifinal .  Djokovic won that match and he was protecting an unbeaten run which stretched back to his defeat by Rafael Nadal in the final in New York .  "" He ' s in a great form , "" Djokovic told reporters when asked about Wawrinka . "" In the last 15 months he ' s had the best results . He ' s established now in top 10 . He ' s been winning against top players in big tournaments .  "" So he knows how to play now on the big stage . You could feel that with his game . He ' s really taking to the opponent and stepping in . When you ' re playing like this , the only thing I can say is congratulations . ""  Berdych is into the semifinals of the season ' s first grand slam for the first time after falling at the quarterfinal stage in each of the past three tournaments .  The seventh seed will play in the last four of a major for the first time since the 2012 U . S . Open .  "" There were some special moments which went well together in this match , making it for the first time here in the Aussie Open to the semis , winning my first match on Rod Laver after all those years , "" said the Czech .  "" That ' s been a very special match to me . I ' m extremely happy to go through . ""  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Economy,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,past
11850,11851,"As King ' s Cross reopened today , disgruntled passengers forced to cancel their journeys yesterday were outraged when crammed services were held outside the station for up to an hour due to signal failure .  Scores took to social media to share their fury after being held outside Finsbury Park station where hundreds flocked after King ' s Cross closed yesterday because of the technical fault .  After waiting outside the north London train station for up to an hour , passengers were then not allowed to disembark as trains were shunted onto another line to make their way to Kings Cross .  Elsewhere those travelling on cross country services had to stand in carriage aisles for up to five hours after losing seat reservations in yesterday ' s disruption .  Engineers were forced to use red and yellow flags to signal trains in and out of the station today as the chaos at King ' s Cross station continued  Passengers complained of being held outside King ' s Cross at Finsbury Park for up to an hour today  The Office of Rail Regulation has launched an investigation into why engineers were able to continue working on the tracks yesterday , cancelling the journeys of hundreds of passengers .  Trains were leaving Kings Cross today again as planned , though several others were held for up to an hour at nearby Finsbury Park while waiting to arrive at the central London station .  Engineers were forced to use red and yellow flags to manually wave trains in and out of the station this evening as tensions flared .  East Coast trains told customers to expect delays of up to 20minutes , though passengers said delays were closer to an hour .  ' So close and yet so far . . . 10 mins away but now in a queue to get in to King ' s Cross due to signal failure at Finsbury Park , ' said one Twitter user , while another angered : ' Now stuck at Finsbury Park , waiting for our train to be shunted onto another track . 45 minutes , and counting . '  ",true,text,test,American football,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,negative,past
11862,11863,"China signs deal with Germany for 130 Airbus jets  Airbus ' s company logo is pictured at the Airbus headquarters in Toulouse , December 4 , 2014 .   China and Germany signed a deal on Thursday that will see Chinese airlines buy 130 jets manufactured by Airbus Group  (  .  ) , sending shares in the European planemaker higher .  The order , valued at 17 billion , was announced after Germany ' s Chancellor Angela Merkel met China ' s Premier Li Keqiang in Beijing .  Airbus is battling its U . S . rival for dominance of the Chinese market , which Boeing estimates is worth 1 trillion over the next two decades .  Air China Ltd ( 0753 .  ) and other Chinese carriers are expanding fleets as the number of passengers traveling within China and overseas is set to triple over the next two decades .  To help secure more orders in China Airbus agreed in July to build a 150 million euro completion center for A330 wide body jets in Tianjin where it has already been assembling A320 narrow body planes sold mostly to Chinese airlines .  Thursday ' s deal includes a firm order for 30 A330 jets , on which China had already taken an option in June .  The order allays fears that production of the wide body jet , which faces competition from Boeing ' s newer 787 Dreamliner , may have to be cut again while Airbus prepares to introduce an upgraded model with new engines to boost sales .  "" It is obviously good news , notably for the A330 . This announcement will be a relief for investors as the risk of further cuts will move away once and for all , "" a Paris based stock market trader said .  The order also includes 100 of the company ' s best selling A320 family of medium haul jets .  Both types of aircraft are a key source of cash for Airbus .  In September Boeing also signed a cooperation document with Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China ( Comac ) to build a completion center for its 737 jets in China .  The deal was seen as a boost for Comac , which has been struggling to build its C919 , a narrow body jet it is developing to compete with the 737 and A320 .  ( Writing by Matthew Miller and Fang Yan , Additional reporting by Tim Hepher , Alexandre Boksenbaum Granier Editing by Greg Mahlich )  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
11895,11896,"The end of the 50 year freeze in diplomatic relations with Cuba will mean many more U . S . travelers could be on their way to the neighbor island , only 90 miles from Key West , Florida .  But the days of Havana as a glamorous destination for U . S . tourists as it was before the Cuban revolution ended legal U . S . travel there aren ' t returning quite yet . And while American visitors who do make it to Cuba will be able to return with rum and cigars , exporting them for sale in the United States still isn ' t in the works .  Historic thaw in U . S . Cuba standoff  Americans already travel to Cuba in large numbers nearly 100 , 000 per year , according to Cuban government statistics . The numbers rose after Obama ' s 2009 easing on some of the restrictions on travel to Cuba , including making it easier for Americans to visit family members there , and a subsequent 2011 announcement allowing for certain types of other trips .  Now Obama is easing up restrictions for other kinds of visitors . Administration officials listed a host traveler types the federal government will now allow to visit : government officials , journalists , professional researchers , educators , religious officials , performers planning public presentations , humanitarians , emissaries of private foundations , and importers or exporters .  Officials say all legitimate applications received by the Treasury Department ' s Office of Foreign Asset Control the body that dispenses licenses to for Cuban travel will be approved .  When they visit , Americans will be able to use their credit or debit cards on the island , a convenience previously banned . Agencies inside the United States will be permitted to organize trips . And American telecom equipment will now be allowed into Cuba , making communication with Americans easier .  But the day when Americans can log online to book a vacation in Cuba hasn ' t yet arrived . U . S . officials say the ban on tourism in Cuba is still in place the overall ban on travel to Cuba can ' t disappear without congressional changes to the law .  "" The ban has to be lifted by Congress , "" a senior administration official said . "" But the President is doing everything that he can with his authority to facilitate travel within the limitations of the law , and we believe that that will lead to a significant increase in travel . ""  Americans have long found ways around the travel ban to Cuba . U . S . citizens have been known to get around travel restrictions by stopping first in a country with flights to the island . Cuban customs officials are familiar enough with the practice to not stamp American passports when they cross their desks .  9 questions you were embarrassed to ask about Cuban embargo  U . S . visitors will now be able to return to the U . S . with Cuban cigars , coveted for their quality . Cuban rum is also allowed Americans will be allowed to return with up to 100 worth of alcohol or tobacco . Those imports are only allowed for personal use , though , not resale .  But with the latest crack in the long standing travel ban , American travel companies were optimistic a new vacation market could soon be open to tourists .  "" We look forward to the day hopefully soon when all Americans have the opportunity to travel to Cuba , "" said Barney Harford , the  of travel booking website Orbitz . "" There are numerous economic , social and cultural benefits that will flow from free and open access and our customers are eager to visit Cuba . ""   eyes U . S . Cuba opening  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
11920,11921,"West Bromwich Albion have opened the door to the sale of Saido Berahino this month as Tony Pulis looks to shape his squad for the battle against relegation .  Chairman Jeremy Peace has previously insisted the England Under 21 striker would not leave the Hawthorns but with the arrival of Pulis technical director Terry Burton revealed a softer stance .  Liverpool and Tottenham are monitoring the situation but yet to make a bid , with Burton insisting it would take a much greater fee than 20million .   Scroll down to see Berahino score an outrageous goal in training  West Brom could be tempted to accept an offer for striker Saido Berahino if it matches their valuation  Technical director Terry Burton suggested the Baggies could be ready to cash in for Berahino  Burton was talking as West Brom unveiled Tony Pulis as their new head coach on Friday  ' Tony is a totally realistic football manager , ' said Burton . ' He will do and work whatever way is best for the football club .  ' He tries to win football matches and if he needs to sell somebody to do something else he will sell them .  ' He will do whatever is best to get results for the club and that could involve any aspect of the policy .  ' Whatever he wants we will work our hardest to make happen . Tony is in total charge . ' It was suggested a 20m bid might test the waters . ' I don ' t think he would take that small amount of money , ' Burton replied . ' He is worth what some club would pay for him .  ' If a club want a player bad enough and they are top quality players and if they have the finances the try and do that . ' Burton confirmed West Brom have halted negotiations over a new deal for Berahino .  ' Yes the club have just put that on hold for now . He had quite a lot going on at one time and they have just put it on hold to let things settle down and see where we go . '  The situation of Berahino ( pictured scoring against West Ham ) is being monitored by Liverpool and Spurs  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
11923,11924,"Want to get this briefing by email? Here’s the  .) Good evening. Here’s the latest. 1. Democrats seemed relieved and pleased a day after Hillary Clinton used a major speech to ridicule Donald J. Trump. Some Republicans fretted that Mr. Trump might not be up to the task of repelling such attacks. “I thought it was one of the most important speeches Secretary Clinton has made throughout this campaign,” said Leon Panetta, the former defense secretary under President Obama and chief of staff for Bill Clinton. _____ 2. The judge hearing a   lawsuit by former students of Trump University is a cool customer, his friends say. That temperament is said to be helping the judge, Gonzalo Curiel, weather unusual public criticism by Mr. Trump. His attacks on Judge Curiel, including calling out his Mexican heritage, are part of a pattern of behavior that has led some scholars to question Mr. Trump’s respect for the rule of law. _____ 3. Officials in Chicago released videos and other materials from 101 cases in which police officers had shot or otherwise injured civilians. The officials said many of the videos were not illuminating, but the disclosure was unusual for a city whose police department has a reputation for secrecy. The head of the investigative agency behind the release said it represented “an important step” toward increased transparency. _____ 4. As flooding in Paris threatened the Louvre, staff members and volunteers worked to remove  art from harm’s way. Nearly 160, 000 works were moved to higher floors from storage areas and galleries. Rain has lifted the Seine River to its highest levels since 1982. _____ 5. The U. S. economic recovery isn’t quite as robust as analysts had hoped: Employers added just 38, 000 workers in May, the lowest monthly growth since September 2010. But the numbers aren’t as foreboding as they seem, our analyst writes. Averaging job growth over the past three months shows a more modest slowdown. _____ 6. Nest, a digital device maker  Google bought for $3. 2 billion in 2014, drew comparisons to Apple with its innovative approach to bringing unglamorous household devices like thermostats into sync with a digital world. Its   Tony Fadell said Friday that he was leaving because Nest was in “maintenance mode. ” But the departure came after reports that Nest had a harsh corporate culture and Mr. Fadell an abrasive style. _____ 7. It’s a big weekend in sports, kicking off tonight at 9:30 Eastern time with the first game of the Copa América soccer tournament, pitting the United States against Colombia. On Saturday, Serena Williams goes for her 22nd major championship in the French Open final, and the Pittsburgh Penguins shoot for a   lead over the San Jose Sharks in the Stanley Cup finals. Sunday brings Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray competing in the French Open final, while the Cleveland Cavaliers, down   to the Golden State Warriors in the N. B. A. finals, try to tie the series. _____ 8. If you’re looking for a movie to watch this weekend, our critics say the mockumentary “Popstar: Never Stop Stopping” is one of your best bets. It features Andy Samberg as a Justin   pop idol, and “takes aim at everything that is artificial and plastic in contemporary pop in a spirit of love rather than spite,” A. O. Scott writes. Ostensibly more serious fare: “Me Before You” is the story of a romance between a paralyzed aristocrat and the woman hired to keep him company. But Mr. Scott finds it to be ridiculous. _____ 9. Most West African capitals are scenes of sartorial flair, but the bright patterns adorning skirts and dresses worn by women there are more than just eye candy. Messages ranging from the playful to the political are encoded within the prints. During election season, clothes sporting the face of a politician can signify support  —   although that depends on where the face is placed. _____ 10. A    Japanese boy survived six nights alone on the   island of Hokkaido. He had wandered off after being left on the side of the road by his parents as a disciplinary measure, and was found by soldiers on a military base about three miles away. “I’m full of gratitude. From now on, I’m going to take better care of him as he grows up,” the boy’s father said. _____ 11. In other rescue news, a    Florida fisherman who fell out of his boat without a life jacket was saved by the Coast Guard after 20 exhausting hours treading water, a local news channel reported. The man, William Durden, said the night was an ordeal but when the sun came up, he felt a surge of optimism. He felt fish hitting his legs, but his fears that a shark “would come out and decide to have me for dinner” went unrealized. Your Evening Briefing is posted at 6 p. m. Eastern. And don’t miss Your Morning Briefing, posted weekdays at 6 a. m. Eastern, and Your Weekend Briefing, posted at 6 a. m. Sundays. Want to look back? Here’s last night’s briefing. What did you like? What do you want to see here? Let us know at briefing@nytimes.com.",true,news,test,Other sport,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
11934,11935,"No good deed goes unpunished and one man had to learn that lesson the hard way earlier this month when he was stabbed nine times after asking a man to stop catcalling his girlfriend .  Ben Schwartz , 31 , of San Francisco was brutally stabbed nine times while walking home from a party with his girlfriend Miyoko Moody and another friend . He is now recovering from the attack and is in stable condition .  Schwartz ' s friend , Daniela Saavedra , said that Schwartz asked a man who had been catcalling his girlfriend to stop after he made passes at her at least two times , reports The San Francisco Chronicle .  Stabbed : Ben Schwartz was brutally stabbed after he told a man to stop catcalling his girlfriend Miyoko Moody  In recovery : The suspect stabbed Schwartz nine times in the back , face , neck and arms , puncturing a lung and just missing his spine but Schwartz is on the steady road to recovery  ' All he said was , "" Can you please just stop ? "" ' Saavedra said .  ' The man then sort of trailed behind them , and that ' s when he attacked , ' she continued .  Schwartz was brutally stabbed in the back , face , arms neck , and even had a punctured lung .  The suspect just nearly missed Schwartz ' s spinal cord before jumping into a silver sedan .  Police are still on the lookout for the man who ruthlessly stabbed a Good Samaritan .  ' He definitely sticks up for women , for anyone really , ' Saavedra said .  ' If you ' re his friend , you ' re his friend for life , and I ' ve watched him just support many friends through many hard times . He ' s just so kind hearted , and you can see that in everything that he does . '  Helps others : Not only did Ben Schwartz defend his girlfriend , he helped to return a stolen bicycle in February  For love : Ben Schwartz told the suspect to stop catcalling his beautiful girlfriend Miyoko Moody several times  This isn ' t the first time Schwartz has made the news for helping someone . ,  The San Francisco Chronicle did a story on Schwartz back in February when he bought a bicycle on the street he guessed was stolen then did whatever he could to get it back to its original owner .  The owner of the bike happened to be a freelance photographer for the San Francisco Chronicle .  ' I ' ve had friends get their cars broken into , smashed in windows , stolen laptops , stolen cell phone there ' s nothing I can do a lot of those times ' Schwartz said in February .  ' But this way , it was easy . It was safe , and it got him his bike back . . . . I just wanted to do somebody a solid for once . '  Those wishing to help Schwartz in his recovery can donate to his GoFundeMe page .  So far they have raised 17 , 000 out of their 25 , 000 goal .  "" Street harassment is definitely more dangerous than people think it is , ' Saavedra said .  ' A point my fianc brought up was you know this isn ' t the first time this man has stabbed someone , or acted out in this way . To be that angry and aggressive and mentally unstable , that is just terrifying to think about . '  There are currently no leads on a suspect responsible brutal attack but those with any information are asked to call ( 415 ) 553 0123 .  Help him out : Those wishing to donate money to Ben Schwartz so he can pay his medical bills can donate online to his GoFundMe page set up by friends  ",true,text,test,American football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
11938,11939,"Reuters) - The top Democrat in the U.S. Senate called on President Donald Trump on Tuesday to block some Chinese investments in the United States to pressure China “to help rein in North Korea’s threatening and destabilizing behavior.” In a letter to Trump, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer urged him to use his authority through the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, or CFIUS, to pressure Beijing by suspending approval of “all mergers and acquisitions in the U.S. by Chinese entities.” Schumer’s request comes amid concern about North Korea, which fired a missile Friday that experts said was capable of hitting Los Angeles. Trump has repeatedly urged China to rein in its ally North Korea, and Schumer agreed. “It is my assessment that China will not deter North Korea unless the United States exacts greater economic pressure on China,” Schumer wrote to Trump, a Republican. “The U.S. must send a clear message to China’s government.” Senator John Cornyn, a Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee, was unconvinced that  was the right tool. “That’s not specifically the purpose of CFIUS.  is a national security vehicle to try to make sure that high-tech investments by foreign countries don’t steal our cutting-edge technology,” Cornyn said outside his Senate office.  “I’m happy to work with Senator Schumer to figure out what his concerns are,” added Cornyn, who has urged changes at  because of China. His worry, however, was not North Korea but that China would close the technology gap between the U.S. and Chinese militaries. Led by the U.S. Department of Treasury,  reviews foreign acquisitions of U.S.companies on national security grounds and can take action on its own or refer cases to the president. In an interview with Reuters Friday, the top U.S. counter-intelligence official suggested the Trump administration was already working on a plan to toughen CFIUS. “We’re making significant progress on that, working with both sides of Pennsylvania Avenue,” said William Evanina, National Counterintelligence Executive, referring to the White House and Congress. “I think it’s going to look a lot different than it does now.” Evanina, whose office oversees U.S. government efforts to counter spying and industrial espionage, declined to be more specific but noted that China’s direct investment in the United States quadrupled from 2015 to 2016, to $48 billion annually. China’s  ambassador, on the other hand, has said that it was up to Washington and Pyongyang to work toward talks on North Korea’s weapons programs. “(The United States and North Korea) hold the primary responsibility to keep things moving, to start moving in the right direction, not China,” China’s U.N. Ambassador Liu Jieyi told reporters on Monday. “No matter how capable China is, China’s efforts will not yield practical results.” While China worries about North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs, and the U.S. reaction to them, its overriding concern, U.S. officials say, is to avoid a North Korean collapse, which could send millions of refugees fleeing toward China and lead to a reunified Korea allied with Washington. Schumer’s plan to prohibit  from approving Chinese deals would be technically legal but would stretch CFIUS’  mandate,  experts said. “What sounds like effectively a bar on Chinese investment that is being suggested is probably legal but quite different than the case-by-case process that  has used in the past,” said Stephen Heifetz of the law firm Steptoe & Johnson  who represents clients before CFIUS. “The U.S. government should consider the potential for a Chinese response.” The task force this year faces what could well be a record number of deals, many of them controversial as Chinese firms scout U.S. targets as varied as hotels and film studios to hedge against a weaker yuan CNY=. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
11959,11960,"Usain Bolt ensured the world athletics championships in Daegu ended on a high by leading Jamaica to a stunning world record in the final of the men ' s 4x100m relay on Sunday .  Exactly a week after Bolt ' s shock disqualification from the final of the 100 meters , the sprint superstar once again underlined his superiority as he carried the baton home in a time of 37 . 04 seconds , bettering the Jamaican squad ' s previous world record set in the final of the 2008 Beijing Olympics .  The quartet of Nesta Carter , Michael Frater , new 100m champion Yohan Blake and Bolt were pressed three quarters of the way by a strong United States team .  Dominant Bolt claims 200m gold in Daegu  However , a bizarre incident on the final changeover saw American third leg runner Darvis Patton crash to the ground after colliding with Harry Aikines Aryeetey who was running the Great Britain anchor leg ruling out both teams .  This meant Bolt was out on his own as powered down the finishing straight , with France claiming a distant silver medal and the tiny Caribbean nation of St Kitts and Nevis winning an unexpected bronze medal .  Bolt , who was celebrating his second gold in 24 hours after retaining his world 200m title , normally runs the third leg for the Jamaican team , but Asafa Powell ' s injury forced him to miss the championships , meaning he was switched to the anchor leg .  "" I enjoyed being the anchor but for me it was just to go out there and be fast , "" Bolt told reporters .  "" We did just that . I am proud of my team and I ' m very happy with myself , "" added the 25 year old , who celebrated in his own unique style by leading his teammates through a series of dance moves in front of a delighted crowd .  But there was some consolation for the United States sprinters as the women ' s squad took gold ahead of Jamaica in the women ' s 4x100m relay , with Ukraine taking the bronze medal .  There was a surprise result in the men ' s triple jump where American Christian Taylor recorded the fourth largest jump of all time to pip Britain ' s defending champion Phillips Idowu .  The 21 year old recorded 17 . 96 meters with his fourth attempt to leave Idowu in second place on 17 . 77m . Another American , Will Claye , claimed bronze .  There was a thrilling finish in the final of the men ' s 5 , 000m where Britain ' s Mo Farah made up for the disappointment of being caught on the line in the 10 , 000m by securing his first ever gold medal in a major championships .  Farah was pushed hard by 2007 champion Bernard Lagat , but he held on to finish 0 . 28 seconds ahead of the American .  Ethiopia ' s Dejen Gebremeskel took bronze after his compatriot Imane Merga was disqualified for stepping inside the curb .  Russia ' s Mariya Savinova denied South African Caster Semenya a second consecutive women ' s 800m title , with a devastating finishing kick .  Savinova , the reigning world indoor and European champion , was the favorite coming into the event , and she justified that tag by coming from near the back of the pack at the 600m mark to clinch the gold medal in a time of one minute 55 . 87 seconds .  Semenya took silver with Kenya ' s 2007 champion Janeth Jepkosgei claiming bronze .  The men ' s marathon title went to Kenya ' s Abel Kirui , who finished nearly two and a half minutes ahead of his team mate Vincent Kipruto the biggest winning margin in world championship history . Ethiopia ' s Feyisa Lilesa took bronze .  The final day of competition confirmed the United States at the top of the medal table with 12 golds , ahead of Russia with nine and Kenya on seven .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
11961,11962,"The day my daughter Marley was born , I went straight to the nursery and held her for well over two hours . I just held her and cried because I had never experienced such a love for anyone or anything in my life .  I think the nurses thought I was crazy because eventually they told me I needed to go be with my wife . Three days later , before we left the hospital , the pediatric doctor told us she thought Marley might have Down syndrome .  My reaction : Are you freaking kidding me ?  I immediately had a panic attack and was taken to the emergency room . Thoughts were racing through my mind : How could my perfect daughter have Down syndrome ? How could they not know for sure ? How could the general ultrasound , which said we had a 1 in 18 , 000 chance of having a child with Down syndrome , be wrong ? Why was God punishing me ? How could I live with a daughter that was going to be rejected by everyone . . . including myself ?  I entered into a deep depression for the first year of Marley ' s life . My wife became concerned about me , so I started taking antidepressants and seeing a counselor . I contemplated leaving my wife , or giving my daughter up for adoption , and suicide .  I would lie awake at night thinking about my future , and searching for a reason to live . I believed all the negative things the world told me about Down syndrome , and viewed it as a curse on my family . The entire time , I couldn ' t stop thinking about how this would change my life !  But the truth is , I felt badly about myself . At one point , I wrote a letter to myself asking why things had to be this way . I prayed for God to take my worthless life in exchange for removing Marley ' s extra chromosome . I would even quietly lie awake at night contemplating how I would feel if she suddenly stopped breathing while she slept . Finally , one Saturday morning , when Marley was about 2 months old , I got up and told my wife I was going for a walk .  I had no intention of coming back . I was going to leave my wife and daughter .  I couldn ' t do it anymore . But then , after I left , I started having second thoughts , and that ' s when I remembered that my wife had signed up for an online support group . I ended up spending the next two hours talking on the phone about my daughter and family with a man I had never met . He had a 2 year old with Down syndrome .  I cannot explain it , but after talking to him for two hours I had the strength to go home and face another day . For the next six months , I got up and faced one day at a time .  Years ago , my father said to me , "" If you want to fix a problem , then do something about it . ""  I followed his advice . First , I tried to gain as much knowledge as I could about raising a child with Down syndrome . Next , I started calling every family I could find that had a child with Down syndrome . I owe a great deal to these families because they were willing to talk to me despite the 12 hour time difference between Bangkok and the States .  I also started forcing myself to interact with my daughter . She was desperate for me to start loving her , and she continued loving me until I broke down and did the same . I was scared to accept my daughter because that would mean accepting her disability . But the reality was the only thing keeping me from loving my daughter was my own ignorance .  Once I overcame my own selfish expectations for my daughter , I slowly began to see the beautiful girl that would change my life forever .  Mom : Down syndrome doesn ' t change my dreams  And finally , I talked to God . I talked to Him just like He was sitting in a chair beside me because that was the true barrier in my life . I was honest with God throughout the entire process , and that is when I started finding peace .  Healing is a process and a journey . I would have never experienced this life changing transformation if Marley had not been born .  It is true , there are difficult times having a daughter with Down syndrome . But it also true that she is very much like any other child . Marley smiles , laughs , plays , is able to meet many developmental milestones ( albeit her own pace , with her own style ) , makes mistakes , and , most importantly , completes our family .  She literally brightens my day every time I see her . She ' s now 2 years old , and at this age all children develop at different rates . Marley can walk swim sign and speak words throw and kick a ball follow simple directions and throw tantrums . She also knows how to manipulate her grandparents .  But she has not learned how to run or jump . She is taking thyroid medication and has a small heart defect .  The key is , she is very similar to most toddlers her age and every child with Down syndrome is different just like every child is different .  Before our summer break , she passed an entrance exam to start at a British preschool in September with her peers who are not labeled as "" special needs children . "" In my opinion , these limitations we put on children with Down syndrome are outdated and lead to a lack of acceptance in our society .  The medical community focuses on so many of the challenges associated with Down syndrome that we develop an unnecessary fear but these are only differences . The truth is , I am a better person today because of my daughter , my daughter who has Down syndrome . I am thankful for a wife that was willing to push me to change , and support me when I struggled .  Want to respond , or got a story to share ? Write a personal essay  Mostly , I thank God for Marley . I remember praying while waiting those first two weeks to get her confirmed diagnosis : "" God , if you heal my daughter , then I will give up my own salvation . ""  God didn ' t need my salvation that was a gift from him to me , just like Marley is a gift to us .  The reality is that I am still saddened that Marley has Down syndrome , but I am beginning to realize that God can bless us regardless of our circumstances . I will never be able to fully understand why Marley has Down syndrome , but I do know she has made a difference in my life , my wife ' s life , and in the lives of so many in our community .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
11985,11986,"Hong Kong The leading contenders in Japan ' s upcoming national election kicked off their 12 day campaign Tuesday near the seaside prefecture that was at the heart of last year ' s nuclear disaster "" and is now a powerful symbol of Japan ' s deepening economic woes .  The man polls suggest will become the country ' s next leader appealed for votes in Fukushima City , some 50 kilometers ( 30 miles ) from the site of last year ' s nuclear meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant .  Shinzo Abe , leader of the opposition Liberal Democrat Party (  ) , has said that , if elected , he ' ll decide within three years whether to restart the nuclear plants that were shut down after an earthquake and tsunami triggered nuclear devastation in March 2011 .  He ' s a former prime minister who stepped down in 2007 after just one year in power citing health reasons .  In his first official campaign speech Tuesday , Abe focused on economic arguments , saying he will act to counter deflation , weaken the yen and promote economic stability .  "" We ' ll regain economic power in Japan , "" he said .  Nearly two years after the nuclear meltdown , hundreds of thousands of people remain in temporary homes as the government , led by the Democratic Party of Japan (  ) , sees its support slip away . The economy is weakening , and policymakers are under enormous pressure to restore communities affected by the disaster .  Since assuming power in September 2011 , current Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda has faced fierce resistance to his plan to raise government revenue by doubling the 5 sales tax by October 2015 . He ' s dealing with an economy that ' s contracting by 3 . 5 between July and September after years of economic malaise . If  continues to shrink this quarter , the country will officially enter another recession .  "" Any prime minister who has seriously taken up the cause of instituting or increasing an existing consumption tax rate if they succeeded or failed has lost power , so in that sense you have to give Noda his dues , "" said Keith Henry , founder of consultancy Asia Strategy .  Last month , Noda agreed to dissolve the lower house of parliament , clearing the way for an election on December 16 , as part of a deal to secure support for a crucial financial bill from the  . It was a risky move , and one that a poll released on Monday suggested would lead to Noda ' s removal from power , just one year after assuming office .  The poll , conducted by Asahi Shimbun last weekend , suggests the  retained a 5 lead over the  . Twenty percent of respondents said they ' d vote for the  if the lower house election was held now , compared to 15 who ' d vote for Noda ' s  .  Noda also launched his re election campaign in Fukushima prefecture , at the Iwaki station , where he told supporters they faced a clear choice . "" The question in this lower house election is whether we can move forward with what we should do or whether we turn back to the old politics , "" he said .  He has promised to phase out nuclear power by 2040 , seizing on a popular backlash against the energy source since last year ' s nuclear disaster . It ' s a policy pledged by other smaller parties vying for votes in an election that ' s expected to see 1 , 500 candidates compete for 480 lower house seats .  According to the polls , neither party is expected to win a majority , although Asia Strategy says a survey of polls shows that the  is on track for a coalition win , with its traditional ally the New Komeito Party .  Amid flagging support for the major players , smaller parties have proliferated including The Japan Restoration Party , led by Shintaro Ishihara .  The controversial former governor of Tokyo is perhaps best known outside the country for triggering a diplomatic spat with China over his move to buy disputed islands in the East China Sea . Earlier this year , he urged residents to donate cash to fund the purchase of the islands Japan calls Senkaku and China refers to as Diaoyu . The Japanese government eventually stepped in to buy the islands from private owners , provoking a sharp rebuke from Beijing and anti Japanese protests across China .  In the Asahi poll , 9 of respondents said they ' d vote for Ishihara ' s  , the same proportion who said they ' d give him their vote last week , indicating that his rising popularity may have stalled .  Henry said that it ' s unlikely that this election will give marginal parties enough votes to influence the parliament .  "" I ' m convinced that these minor parties are going to remain minor parties , "" he said . "" They grab the attention of the media , they ' re old style curmudgeons but they won ' t gain any political influence . ""  Whether the combined leadership of the  and the New Komeito Party is able to introduce policies to contend with Japan ' s major structural challenges remains to be seen , Henry said . If it can ' t , more political waves could be made when the upper house votes in an scheduled election next year , he said .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
11995,11996,"Maria Sharapova set up a U . S . Open semifinal clash with world No . 1 Victoria Azarenka after battling past French 11th seed Marion Bartoli on Wednesday .  Third seed Sharapova was taken to three sets by the 2007 Wimbledon finalist , who had raced to a 4 0 lead in the first set when their quarterfinal match was halted by rain on Tuesday .  Bartoli duly closed out the opener , but Sharapova fought back to claim the match 3 6 6 3 6 4 after two and a half hours .  She has now won 12 successive times in matches that have gone to three sets since her third round defeat in New York last year , and 24 out of 25 since the start of 2011 .  "" I think the rain delay gave me some time to think about things , "" the French Open champion said . "" I came out so flat yesterday , and she was playing so well . I just played a bad four games , but I knew the match wasn ' t over and had a chance to come back and turn things around . ""  Sharapova will be seeking revenge for her thrashing by Azarenka in the final of the opening grand slam of the season in Australia , but has lost four successive matches in straight sets to the Belorussian on hard courts .  "" Tough challenge , "" she admitted . "" She beat me in Australia quite easily and I would love to get my revenge at a grand slam . ""  The Russian reached the last four at Flushing Meadows for the first time since 2006 , when she claimed the second of her four grand slam successes .  In June she beat Sara Errani in the final at Roland Garros to complete a full set of the majors , and she could potentially face the Italian again in a title match in New York .  However , the 10th seed must get past the imposing figure of Serena Williams , who needed less than an hour to dispose of fellow former world No . 1 Ana Ivanovic in the closing quarterfinal .  The American , seeking her fourth U . S . Open title but first since 2008 , demolished the Serbian 6 1 6 3 .  "" I felt much better moving , "" said the Wimbledon and Olympic champion after winning 26 of her 29 first serve points and firing 12 aces . "" I was excited I ' m moving faster . Feels good . I felt solid .  "" I feel like I ' m going to get more focused and serious and start playing ' Serena tennis ' in the next couple of rounds , if I get to play two rounds . That ' s my goal . ""  Errani has lost all three meetings with the 14 time grand slam champion , with two of those on hard courts in 2009 .  She became the first Italian to reach a grand slam semifinal outside of the French Open after beating compatriot , best friend and doubles partner Roberta Vinci 6 2 6 4 .  "" A quarterfinal with your best friend is difficult , "" Errani said . "" There was a lot of tension . We know each other very well and have played together many times .  "" Normally when we walk out on the court we go together and we speak today was a bit strange , especially to see her on the other side of the net . ""  They have reached the semifinals of the doubles event in New York , and next week Errani will be ranked as the format ' s top player for the first time , with Vinci No . 2 .  "" It ' s the best year of my life . I ' m playing very well and my ranking is very high , "" said the 25 year old , who has won four singles titles in 2012 .  "" I just go on the court , fight the best I can and that ' s it and by winning more matches I get more confidence , and with that you go on the court thinking you can win more than before . ""  Meanwhile , 12th seed Ivanovic was able to take positives from her defeat , having reached the last eight of a grand slam for the first time since her breakthrough victory at the 2008 French Open .  "" Overall I ' m very satisfied , "" said the Serbian , who had never before featured in the New York quarterfinals and who at one stage dropped out of the top 50 .  "" I played some really good tennis to get into this position , and even tonight I felt I was striking the ball so nicely on both sides . That ' s something I ' ve worked hard for . It ' s a big step for me . ""  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
12015,12016,"Store Oct 26 2016 Always under fire from designated terrorist group CAIR, former  agent and counter-terrorism expert, John Guandolo, is the go-to person for training law enforcement officers about the growing threat Islam poses to America Every time Guandolo is scheduled to give a speech or a training session,  thugs try to shut him down in advance. At the recent Breaking the Silence ” conference in Colorado Springs, Guandolo warned that Muslims in America are getting jobs at airports, hotels, convenience stores and cab companies as part of a growing “insurgency” and an “intentional plan” to “occupy the land.” “Why are they building huge, $100 million mosques in areas where there are like 100 or 90 Muslims?” he asked. “Because, when they build a mosque they’re claiming territory, now all they have to do is occupy it. So they’re calling Muslims to occupy the land. All of this, they have an intentional plan and it’s based in Islamic doctrine and they’re putting it to work through what they’re doing.” CAIR’s relentless harassment of John Guandolo:",fake,news,test,World conflict,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,past
12025,12026,"Tottenham ' s imminent hiring of Southampton ' s head of recruitment Paul Mitchell could hasten the demise of Spurs ' s technical director Franco Baldini .  But Spurs have been warned that instead of operating a revolving door policy for staff and attempting a ' short cut route ' to success by poaching people from better run clubs , they need a coherent plan , boardroom consistency and to back a single manager long term to achieve the progress their fans crave .  Mitchell , 33 , a former defender and midfielder at Wigan and  Dons , has been at St Mary ' s since 2012 and is credited with a key role in the scouting and hiring set up that helped Saints emerge from a troubled summer with an upgraded squad and a 37million profit to boot .  Tottenham sold Gareth Bale to La Liga giants Real Madrid for 86million in 2013  Paul Mitchell ' s task is to overhaul Tottenham ' s scouting system and have the success he did at Southampton  Tottenham technical director Franco Baldini could be heading for the White Hart Lane exit door  Roberto Soldado Spanish , 29 , F , 26 . 4m  Verdict : Underwhelming . Six goals and six assists in 33 Premier League games is a costly return .  Erik Lamela Argentinian , 22 ,  , 25 . 7m  Verdict : Nearly man . Lavish talent but no goals in 20  games .  Paulinho Brazilian , 26 , M , 17 . 4m  Verdict : Miss . Far from the best midfielder in north London , let alone Brazil .  Etienne Capoue French , 26 , M , 9 . 7m  Verdict : Jury out . Patchy form and injuries have disrupted his season .  Christian Eriksen Danish , 22 , M , 11 . 5m  Verdict : Mercurial . Brilliant last season , less so this . 10  goals , eight assists .  Ben Davies Welsh , 21 , D , 10m  Verdict : Miss . One  game is a poor return .  Vlad Chiriches Romanian , 25 , D , 8 . 5m  Verdict : Middling at best . Solid early but unreliable .  Federico Fazio Argentinian , 27 , D 8m  Verdict : Miss . Error prone , two red cards already .  Nacer Chadli Belgian , 25 ,  , 7 . 2m  Verdict : Hit . Best value of all ,  goals ( seven ) and assists ( four ) .  Eric Dier English , 20 , D , 4m  Verdict : Promising . Early goals ( two in  ) and shows potential .  Ben Stambouli , French , 24 , M , 4 . 7m  Verdict : Miss . Just one sub  appearance .  DeAndre Yedlin (  , 21 , 2 . 5m ) Michel Vorm ( Dutch , 31 , 5m ) Yedlin on loan . Vorm yet to play in  .  Tottenham lured manager Mauricio Pochettino from Southampton in the summer , will add Mitchell when his notice period expires in the new year and have coveted Saints players included Jay Rodriguez and Morgan Schneiderlin .  Baldini , 54 , has been in his job since summer last year and oversaw player departures including Spurs ' best player and talisman Gareth Bale for a world record 86m .  But the jury has been out on many of the 13 faces brought in partly with the cash raised , from Paulinho to Roberto Soldado to Erik Lamela and , more recently , Federico Fazio and Ben Stambouli .  ' Franco is pretty relaxed about the situation but he knows in football that people come and go and that he ' ll be moving on at some point , whenever that is , ' said a source .  Another insider familiar with the workings at both White Hart Lane and St Mary ' s said of Spurs : ' It doesn ' t appear that they have a strategy of any ilk , it seems to be a case of seeing Southampton do things well so let ' s take a short cut and hire their people .  ' It will work sometimes and others won ' t go near them but ultimately it ' s a naive approach . Sustainable success is not about individuals , it ' s about a culture . '  Many fans believe Spurs ' managerial merry go round has hurt the club , with Pochettino the fifth permanent boss in seven years since Juande Ramos joined in 2007 .  The turnover of players has exacerbated the situation and Pochettino has been left with a squad that cannot or will not function in the high tempo pressing system he used to such effect at Southampton .  Results have suffered , with Spurs losing three of their last four league games before Sunday ' s trip to Hull .  The home capitulation to Stoke last time out has been described as the worst performance many have seen in a long time .  Tottenham fan Martin Cloake , an author , whose latest book Taking Our Ball Back looks at discontent within the wider game .  ' It ' s clear that there has been too much change in personnel recently , ' he says of Spurs ' dilemma . ' There ' s not much sense of team spirit evident when we play and no real leaders stand out .  Paulinho and Roberto Soldado are among the players who have failed to impress since joining the club  Tottenham ' s Harry Kane has said his team mates need time to adapt to Mauricio Pochettino ' s style  ' There are lots of players with potential flair , perhaps fewer of the type who will dig in and help to hold a team together therefore letting the flair players express themselves .  ' Off the pitch , the phrase ' I ' ve never felt so disconnected from the club I support ' keeps coming up . That ' s partly because of the discontent with the top level of football in this country but it ' s also because those running the club too often come across as aloof and as treating the fans as cash cows .  ' Fixing things on the pitch will take time and the vast majority of fans want Pochettino to be given time . There has been too much chopping , changing and blaming . Off the pitch the club just needs to show goodwill , talk to the fans more , resolve some of the uncertainties around the stadium and generally demonstrate that we ' re seen as supporters and not just customers . '  Striker Harry Kane acknowledges a lengthy transition period could lie ahead . ' We haven ' t won as much as we ' d have liked . ' he said . ' But there is a long way to go . We are adapting to the manager ' s style each game and we are learning . Hopefully we can pick up some momentum and then who knows ?  ' The manager has come in with his style and it has only been four months . That ' s not long when you are changing the way you want to play . We are getting used to it and we will only get better . '  Tottenham go into their fixture against Hull in 12th spot having started slowly under Pochettino  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
12046,12047,"It was announced that the latest theme park will be built in Washington , D . C . Washington was chosen because there is already a strong sense of living in a fantasy world there .  Spokesman Goofieson stated "" We feel that people in the D . C . area are already living in a state of artificial reality , a world where terrorists are around every corner and  ' s are everywhere and where the good guys wear white hats and always win . This is especially true around the White House , a replica of which will be replacing the castle as the main building of the park . ""  "" A lot of the retiring Bush administration have signed on as characters in the park . Dick Cheney is going to play either Captain Hook or Grumpy , depending on his mood of the day . Condleeza Rice will be the evil witch from Snow White . Karl Rove will play the Big Bad Wolf who blows the piggies houses down . George W will be playing himself because none of the characters we have could match his authenticity . He is very enthusiastic about it because he will be living in our White House and will feel as though he is still President . ""  Other possibilities we are considering for characters are Woody Allen as Wall E , the robot , Al Gore as Doc , Mrs Bush as Mary Poppins , and Ann Coulter as the evil witch from Sleeping Beauty ( the nice thing being she won ' t need makeup ) . Bernie Madeoff will be introduced playing a new dwarf called ' Sleazy ' and Rob Blagojevich ' s hair will play Aladdin ' s carpet . For a special feature we will be introducing Sarah Palin as Xena , the Princess Warrior .  To give the park a genuine D . C . feel , several special attractions will be added such as ' A Ride Through a Scary Neighborhood ' and ' Pork Barrel Land ' . New characters such as Crack Whore , Mr M . the Drug Dealer and The Lobbyist will add to the warm , familiar faces kids already know and love .  When asked why they chose D . C . specifically Mr Goofieson said "" D . C . gives the impression of being a feudal state surrounded by vast lands of lesser beings which matches the way we in the Disneylands feel . Plus they have control of everything in the country and total control is something that has always appealed . The U . S . Government also has no competition , and a lack of competition we like a lot . Remember when Pixar was beating our butt ? Not any more . ""  Construction will begin as soon as incidentals such as the Washington Monument , the Lincoln Memorial and the Smithsonian Museum can be demolished to make room and the ground cleared .  ",satire,text,test,American football,Sports/Other,true,satire,True,no,no,positive,past
12058,12059,"While many on the left continue to accuse President Trump and his administration of colluding with the Russians, one well-known progressive thinker said such actions hurt their cause. Author Max Blumenthal said he s skeptical of the Russia narrative, remarking that  Rachel Maddow s dots may never connect. Blumenthal called Trump the  apotheosis of a failed political establishment,  saying the Russia story is simply a cover for establishment Republicans and progressive Democrats to be able to avoid  do[ing] anything progressive. He accused both parties of  scandal-mongering  and criticized the left for abandoning their anti-war ideology just to attack the president. He and Tucker Carlson discussed how some Democrats have advocated supporting insurgent elements in Syria for the sake of irritating Vladimir Putin. Blumenthal, the son of former Clinton adviser Sid Blumenthal, warned such behavior on-the-whole will have  long-term consequences for the left in this country. Max Blumenthal is a known progressive who s calling out his own party for the constant Russia-Trump bashing. He confronts Rep. Jamie Raskin on the Russia scandal:Max Blumenthal Grilled a Maryland Democrat on Lies About Russia Scam In Epic Interview:  I think we should tell the people the truth  [Video]This is hysterical! Blumenthal is awesome even though he s a leftist A rarity! Note at the end of the video that he calls out Raskin for saying  Trump is a Russian hoax Earlier in July he proposed a panel to oust President Trump: Pointing to the outcry over President Donald Trump s latest controversial tweets, freshman Rep. Jamie Raskin is urging his colleagues to get behind a bill that could potentially oust the President if he was mentally or physically unfit.The Maryland Democrat wants to create an 11-member commission made up of mostly physicians and psychiatrists   more formally called the  Oversight Commission on Presidential Capacity.  The panel would carry out a medical examination and determine whether the President was physically or mentally able to do the job. Two of the commission s members would also be former high ranking officials, such as presidents, vice presidents, attorneys general or secretaries of state. It s a provocative and long-shot effort, but Raskin is citing as his legal backup the 25th Amendment of the Constitution, which was adopted in 1967 after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy to establish procedure in the case a president is incapacitated. About two dozen Democrats have signed on to the effort as of Thursday. Raskin is zeroing in on one section of that constitutional amendment, which allows the vice president to assume powers if either the majority of the Cabinet or  such other body as Congress  finds that the President is  unable to discharge the powers and duties of office.  (The vice president would also have to agree to the assessment of the President s abilities.) Raskin is proposing his commission to serve as that  body. Raskin is a freshman in Congress Let s hope the people of Maryland kick him out after one term. It s obvious he s a liar and doesn t respect the office of POTUS. ",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,past
12067,12068,"Quantico , Virginia If you like spy thrillers , Sudoku and the daily crossword puzzle , you might want to try this : help the  crack a secret code .  It could solve a suspected murder .  Ricky McCormick ' s decomposing body was found in a field near St . Louis , Missouri , in 1999 . It wasn ' t clear how the 41 year old unemployed McCormick had died , but law enforcement believed he was murdered . Their best clue : two pages of encrypted notes written by McCormick and found in his pocket .  They might tell investigators where McCormick had been , what he had been doing and who might have wanted him dead . But they couldn ' t break the code .  In 2001 , local law enforcement turned to the  Cryptanalysis and Racketeering Records Unit for help . Its analysts , statisticians and mathematicians have puzzled over the two pages of numbers and letters intermittently for 10 years trying to figure out what they mean , but they haven ' t found the key .  "" We ' re beat , "" says the head of the unit , Dan Olson .  On March 29 , the  asked the public for ideas . In just a week and half more than 2 , 300 tips have flooded in . They are still being processed , but so far none of the theories or leads has solved the mystery .  Go to  site , see if you can help crack code  Could the notes be gibberish ?  Olson says they definitely are not . "" We have patterns . We have very consistent character repeating sequences . There are almost rules to whatever language this is . This is not random . This is not just letters put down . ""  McCormick had dabbled with ciphers since he was a child and although he wasn ' t well educated , Olson says , his code is unlike anything he has ever seen unique and idiosyncratic . He hopes a member of the public might connect it with a hobby , a game or a line of work .  The  unit often cracks codes in just a couple of hours . It has deciphered secret communications about murder , drug transactions , illegal gambling and human trafficking .  One of the toughest cases involved a note composed by Brian Patrick Regan , a former Air Force master sergeant convicted of attempted espionage in 2003 .  The note identified seven locations in a Maryland ' s Patapsco Valley State Park where Regan allegedly dropped documents stolen from the National Reconnaissance Office . The office builds and operates satellites for government agencies like the Central Intelligence Agency .  While in prison , Regan worked with the  to decipher the complex code , which he had created but , ironically , had forgotten . Eventually , they were able to associate a sequence of code with the letter "" F . "" The key that unlocked it was the name Frank , handwritten under a gag photograph of a masked classmate in Regan ' s middle school yearbook .  Olson says computers aren ' t much use in his line of work . "" These are codes that are made by humans and they ' re best broken by humans , "" he says .  A simple whiteboard , however , is an important tool . Olson and his team use one to dissect a segment of code , looking for patterns and logic in what appears to be a jumble of symbols . It is collaborative work where creative ideas and unusual insights are encouraged and exchanged .  Olson says a good crpytanalyst needs tenacity and high self esteem . He or she can not be easily discouraged , Olson says , but sometimes needs to recognize that there is a time to step away .  Do they ever quit working on a code altogether ?  It doesn ' t look that way . In the  office is a board holding copies of the  ' s "" Top 10 "" uncracked coded communications . Over the years , some have been solved and removed . Right now , in the top slot , is a note from the "" Zodiac Killer , "" who murdered five people in California ' s Bay Area in 1968 and 1969 .  The notes found in Ricky McCormick ' s pocket are posted in position No . 3 . Olson is hopeful that sometime soon , with the public ' s help , they too will come down from the board and questions about McCormick ' s death will finally be answered .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
12094,12095,"The name Kuti belongs to a musical dynasty . But Femi Kuti is by no means living in his father ' s shadow and is much more than just the son of Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti .  For 26 years , Femi has been making his own music . He has crossed over to a global audience , recording with the likes of Mos Def and Macy Gray , and even providing a cameo voice over in video game Grand Theft Auto  .  But his career has not been about ignoring his past , but building on his father ' s legacy .  "" I just wanted my own music so I was not really running away from that fact or trying to find my own identity as such , "" Kuti said . "" I just wanted to play good music and be happy playing good music . ""  His father , Nigerian multi instrumentalist Fela , was an international superstar and is credited with inventing the Afrobeat genre .  However , it wasn ' t just his music that made Fela famous but his views as well . He preached for democracy over dictatorship and his music gave a voice to millions in Nigeria who were powerless in politics .  "" He was truthful , he stood his ground , he never compromised , even at the risk of his life , and I think that ' s really what people admire , "" Kuti explained . "" He never for one second thought of compromising or selling out his ideas .  "" I saw him many times stand in front of the soldiers and say ' shoot me , kill me ' and we all feared for his life many times , and I thought ' wow , will I ever be this brave in my life ? ' So I admired him , "" he continued .  But Fela ' s son has become a star in his own right . At 48 , Femi has already spent a lifetime in music and grew up playing in his father ' s band .  In 1985 he assembled his own band called "" The Positive Force "" and through it he discovered his own style and his own voice . But he says watching his father stand up for himself gave him the strength to never compromise . "" I ' ve witnessed a lot in my life , in his life , and I think all this is part of what gives me the courage myself to stand firm , "" he said .  Like his father ' s , Femi ' s voice is political , his cause is human rights . He says that a political message in his music is more important than singing about love .  Inside Africa : Maurice Kirya Ugandan soul music  "" I couldn ' t see myself possibly doing anything else when I see poverty so blatant in front of me I don ' t see myself , I don ' t see the love story that could overwhelm my mind than singing about deprived people or children for instance , "" he said .  "" I see that in a country so rich as Nigeria people can ' t afford a good education , we still have no electricity , the politicians keep giving us all their excuses , "" he added . "" We ' re 12 years now in a new democratic era and we ' re still fighting the same story that my father fought when I was 15 . ""  In his latest work Femi has not turned his back on his father ' s Afrobeat style he ' s redefined , it adding worldwide influence into the music .  He recorded new album "" Africa for Africa "" in the same studio where he produced his first recordings with his father . The comparisons with Fela remain and the message is the same as it ' s always been .  The recording itself has no superfluous production on it Femi says he wanted this one to sound raw by making this the least produced album he ' s ever made .  "" We thought nobody will like the album and then immediately from Europe everyone was like ' oh this is real raw , oh we love it , ' "" he said .  "" We all got excited so that gave me the extra energy to want to play it on stage and continue I think there is nothing more terrible than you walk out and nobody likes it . You are so depressed it ' s like being sick and you cannot find what is wrong with you "" he continued .  But his live shows are always acclaimed . On stage , it ' s easy to see Femi Kuti ' s connection to his craft . But after so many years of performing , he says it ' s the chance to make people smile , feel happy and be inspired that still drives him today .  "" You might play to 5 , 000 people and one person might come up and tell you ' wow , thank you for a wonderful night , ' and you go to bed and it rings in your head , "" he explained .  He says that most importantly , when people think about his music he doesn ' t want them to think about him .  "" I want them to think about what I ' m saying the importance of Africa , the future of Africa , "" he said . "" I don ' t want them to think about Femi and Fela Kuti . It ' s beyond me , it wasn ' t about my father , it was about the African people it was about a greater place to be . ""  ",true,text,test,US elections,Sports/Other,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,past
12099,12100,"Costa Rica The official count of confirmed deaths grew to 15 Friday afternoon , one day after a 6 . 1 magnitude earthquake shook north central Costa Rica , a government emergency official said .  iReporter Leonardo Diaz photographed the damage in Plaza Mayor Shopping Center in San Jose .  Reinaldo Carballo , a spokesman for the federal Commission for National Emergencies , said the updated death toll came from information given to the agency by Costa Rica Vice President Rodrigo Arias .  In addition , Carballo said , rescuers were trying to reach 300 tourists stranded in a hotel in Varablanca . Carballo said he did not know the tourists ' nationalities or the name of the hotel .  There were conflicting reports on the number of dead from Thursday ' s earthquake . The Commission for National Emergencies had issued a news release earlier Friday saying the quake had killed four people .  The discrepancy may result from the fact that the Commission for National Emergencies reports only deaths it has confirmed , Carballo said . About 32 people were injured , he said .  On Friday , the U . S . government dispatched a team of 34 U . S . military personnel and four helicopters from Honduras based Joint Task Force Bravo to Costa Rica to assist .  Survivors described the suddenness and brutality of the quake . Landslides , tumbling rocks and collapsed buildings caused widespread devastation and death .  A sobbing Vilma Cambronero was asked what happened to her family .  "" Some are well , "" she said . "" Others are buried . ""  An unidentified woman told Teletica , "" Everything started to move and everything fell on top of us . It was a miracle we got out . ""  More than 1 , 200 people were stranded , without a way to get out of towns or homes , Chaverri said . Another 1 , 000 people were living in shelters , he said . iReportweblink : Are you there ? Send photos , video  "" Many people were injured , many buildings were damaged and landslides blocked roads in the area , "" the U . S . Geological Survey said .  The dead included three young girls , officials said Friday .  Costa Rican President Oscar Arias Sanchez was scheduled to tour the affected area Friday . On Thursday , he appealed for calm .  The remote area near Alajuela , where the quake hit strongest , is difficult to reach , and officials said they were having to rely on helicopters for medical evacuations and to airlift supplies .  Randall Picado , a government rescue official , said many residents were without water and other necessities .  About 400 volunteers and Red Cross personnel were giving aid in 15 communities , Chaverri said .  The temblor was felt throughout Costa Rica and in southern and central Nicaragua , the U . S . Geological Survey reported on its Web site .  About 2 , 000 aftershocks have been felt in San Jose , the capital , and other cities throughout the nation , Red Cross spokeswoman Vilca said .  The Geological Survey placed the earthquake ' s epicenter at 20 miles ( 32 kilometers ) north northwest of San Jose at a depth of 2 . 8 miles ( 4 . 5 kilometers ) .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
12129,12130,"Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie married over the weekend in France , a representative for Jolie confirmed Thursday .  The couple , who are the parents of six children , have been together for almost a decade . They got married Saturday in a small , private ceremony in a chapel at Ch teau Miraval in the village of Correns .  Pitt and Jolie have been the source of speculation about their relationship almost since the beginning . Tongues first started wagging after the pair met on the set of "" Mr Mrs Smith "" in the summer of 2004 , when Pitt was still married to actress Jennifer Aniston .  Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt to co star in ' By the Sea '  In January 2005 , Pitt and Aniston announced that they were splitting . Aniston filed for divorce in March 2005 .  The following month , photos surfaced of Pitt , Jolie and her adopted son Maddox together in Kenya . Jolie later adopted daughter Zahara from an orphanage in Ethiopia and in early 2006 she announced that she and Pitt were expecting a baby . Shortly thereafter , Pitt was granted the right to legally adopt Maddox and Zahara .  Their daughter Shiloh was born in May 2006 and son Pax was adopted from an orphanage in Vietnam in March 2007 . Jolie gave birth to twins Vivienne and Knox in July 2008 .  The couple announced their engagement in 2012 .  Pitt and Jolie recently told People that the wedding would be a family affair .  "" We are discussing it with the children and how they imagine it might be , "" Jolie said . "" Which is verging on hysterical , how kids envision a wedding . . . They will , in a way , be the wedding planner . It ' s going to be Disney or paintball one or the other ! ""  According to a statement from the family "" Angelina was walked down the aisle by her eldest sons Maddox and Pax . Zahara and Vivienne threw petals , gathered from the garden . Shiloh and Knox were the ring bearers . ""  "" In the days before coming to France , and as citizens of California , Brad and Angelina filled out their paperwork and obtained a marriage licence from a local judge , who also travelled to France to conduct the ceremony at Chateau Miraval , "" the statement said . "" They are therefore married under Californian law . ""  Brad Pitt : Angelina is ' sexy as ever '  The uniting of Pitt and Jolie in matrimony has been one of the most anticipated marriages in Hollywood . In 2006 Pitt told Esquire magazine that he and Jolie would not marry until "" everyone else in the country who wants to be married is legally able . "" He reaffirmed their commitment to marriage equality in a 2011 interview with People .  "" Thanks to the tireless work of so many , someday soon this discrimination will end and every American will be able to enjoy their equal right to marriage , "" Pitt said in a statement to the magazine following the legalization of same sex marriage in New York State .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
12145,12146,"On January 9 , 2014 , residents of Charleston , West Virginia woke to the sweet smell of licorice in the air . The sweetness quickly turned sour when they discovered that the odor was the result of a chemical spill from the Freedom Industries facility on the Elk River . Up to 7 , 500 gallons of the highly toxic chemical crude  leaked from an aboveground tank , contaminating the property and the local watershed . While residents and businesses have lost a year ' s sleep over the long term effects of exposure to the contaminated water , Valence Aerosols has given them a reason to sleep better .  Valence Aerosols was founded in 2008 by Gary Whetstone , a mercurial chemistry major at Penn State . He was inspired by a scene from the movie The Crow in which one of the bad guys says , "" You know Lake Erie actually caught on fire once from all the crap floating around in it . I wish I could have seen that . ""  Whetstone says , "" I didn ' t think too much about that line , other than it was a pretty bad assed line . But then I went out to dinner with my girlfriend at one of those Greek restaurants , and we ordered the Saganaki you know the flaming cheese . When they lit that shit up I immediately thought of that burning water . It was like an epiphany . Then I thought , ' There ' s gotta be a way to commercialize that . ""  Valence had its first big success in 2003 with Methanizer , an air freshener derived from captured landfill gas . It originally had a military application in Afghanistan . The  sprayed the aerosolized methane into caves used by the Taliban and al Qaeda . The intent was to either drive them out into the open with the odor or accumulate enough gas in the enclosed space to make it explode with minimal ignition . When the tactic proved ineffective , Valence had to find success in the civilian market place .  It wasn ' t long before Valence found a niche market of what they refer to as "" subversion consumers , "" or consumers who purchase goods and services for the express purpose of with other people . "" I was three months behind on my rent , "" says Valence Customer Tamara Steffenfrau . "" All I had to do was spray Methanizer all over my apartment , smack myself in the nose to make it bloody , and then call the health department and report sick building syndrome . I got comped for four months . ""  They found further success with an industrial solvent scented car freshener , and a shampoo partially scented with by product vinyl chloride from  manufacturing . Having established themselves on the discount shelves , Valence decided to make a play for the high end retail market . That ' s what brought them to the Elk River .  Valence has collected contaminated water directly from the river and from the taps of residents and businesses all over Charleston . Mixing this contaminated water with other compounds has given them their latest product , "" Anise Allure . "" It provides a sharp licorice aroma with hints of cinnamon and coffee . What was a major liability and health hazard is now a 300 a bottle luxury scent that is already flying off the shelves . The Charleston residents are given a share of the sales .  While some residents of the Charleston have misgivings about selling polluted water for commercial use , others take a more favorable view . "" I don ' t like the idea of making money of selling poison to people . But if I ' m selling it to those assholes on Wall Street who make money exploiting us , and those assholes in Hollywood who make money making fun of us , I ' m all for it . It ' d be nice for me to count some extra cash while they ' re wondering why they ' re getting these strange headaches all the time . ""  Gary Whetstone agrees . "" I ' m one of the one percent and I believe in giving back Robin Hood style . When asked about the high price tag for his Anise Allure he said , "" No one said class warfare can ' t be profitable . ""  ",satire,text,test,Other news1,Conflict,true,satire,True,no,no,positive,past
12148,12149,"Jeopardy ! Host Alex Trebek is making his feelings known for the game show ' s current champion , software engineer Ken Jennings from Salt Lake City , Utah .  "" I wish he ' d just lose , "" Trebek was quoted as saying to a make up artist before a taping of the quiz show . "" He ' s getting a little cocky , and I want to slap him badly . ""  Jennings , who as of this writing has won 1 , 246 , 660 , has been on the show for 37 days and shows no signs of slowing down . In fact , he recently purchased a double wide trailer and parked it outside the Sony Studios so he can stay closer to the action .  His winning streak has also hindered the search for quality contestants , which may explain why it remains intact . Turnouts for Jeopardy ! auditions are at an all time low , and producers are pointing their collective finger at the nerdy champion .  "" People are just not willing to take him on , "" says one producer . "" There ' s only so many places that we can hunt for good contestants . Some of the more recent contestants were actually homeless people that we made up for the show . ""  But what makes Trebek and the producers most livid ?  The single day record for winnings is 52 , 000 , which Jennings has reached twice . In Final Jeopardy , he intentionally risks an amount that , if he wins , will take make his final winnings equal 52 , 000 and nothing more .  "" That ' s asinine , "" Trebek spouts . "" Just risk it all or risk nothing . The show ' s turning into a expletive joke , and I ' m tired of it . He needs his expletive expletive kicked and hard . ""  The 30 year old Jennings , who collects Hot Wheels , comic books and Strawberry Shortcake figurines , remains committed to making the show pay for lifting their 5 day limit on champions .  "" Why should I stop ? I ' m smart and I know it , "" Jennings says of his time on the show . "" Alex needs to lighten up a bit because I ' m going to be here longer than he thinks . ""  So get comfy , Alex . The ride isn ' t over yet .  ",satire,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,satire,True,no,no,positive,past
12151,12152,"A church will hold its Maundy Thursday service today instead of tomorrow to allow a weekly drop in session for prostitutes to go ahead .  All Saints Church in Wolverhampton re scheduled the service , which marks the start of Easter celebrations , so that vulnerable women can attend their regular Thursday sessions tomorrow .  The decision comes after prostitutes were left disappointed when the drop in sessions were cancelled on Christmas Day and New Year ' s Day because they both fell on a Thursday .  Outreach : All Saints Church in Wolverhampton , pictured , re scheduled the service , which marks the start of Easter celebrations , so that vulnerable women can attend their regular Thursday sessions tomorrow  Religious leaders have praised the initiative , which has been running since last August , as reflecting the core values of Christianity .  All Saints Church , which is in the middle of Wolverhampton ' s red light district , is the only place where prostitutes can receive the support offered by the sessions , Reverend Sarah Schofield said .  The programme is run alongside national charities Changing Lives and the Terrence Higgins Trust .  Service : All Saints Church is the only place where prostitutes can receive the support offered by the sessions , Reverend Sarah Schofield , pictured , said  Reverend Schofield , team vicar at All Saints Church , said : ' We throw open our doors and offer support as well as going out on the streets with hot drinks to invite women in .  ' We want to be a reliable , safe and loving place for women , it is important to honour our promise and it has had a real impact on the whole church here .  ' There is conversation , there is advice if any woman wants advice about employment or health or other issues .  ' It is well received and it is appreciated . Christmas and New Year were on Thursday and we know we had disappointed people by cancelling the session for services .  ' We had to take a vote in the congregation in January and it was 100 per cent in favour of moving the service .  ' The story of Maundy Thursday is Jesus meeting with a number of people and he meets with women who are outcasts .  ' One of the stories we tell on Maundy Thursday is about Jesus being anointed by a woman of low status and it felt wrong to cancel it . '  The Bishop of Wolverhampton , Reverend Clive Gregory , said the decision to move the religious event forward was made by the church council and people should go elsewhere for a traditional Thursday service .  He said : ' This decision wasn ' t taken lightly and there are other churches very close by where people can go to worship . It doesn ' t come across as strange to me that All Saints would do this .  ' I am very well aware of this project for street workers , it has been a great success in the last six months .  ' It performs a very important service for vulnerable women and is exactly what Christian churches should be doing to help their community . '  Reverend Graham Smith of The Good Shepherd Church in Low Hill , added : ' It is a long standing tradition to have a Maundy Thursday ceremony and an important part of the Christian calendar .  ' On the other hand , if we remember what Jesus was all about , he would always remember the outcasts in society .  ' For some of these drop in sessions it can be quite hard to let people know what is going on if there is a change .  ' So if people turn up to see it isn ' t on one week , they may not come again . '  Custom : The Queen hands out Maundy money during last year ' s Maundy Thursday service in Blackburn  Maundy Thursday , also known as Easter Thursday , is the beginning of the three day celebration of Easter .  The original version of the Maundy Service involved the sovereign giving money to the poor and washing their feet , a tradition which ended with James  in the 18th century .  The custom of washing feet is an an ancient one and commemorates the last supper of Jesus with the Apostles , echoing the story of Christ washing the extremities of his disciples shortly before his death .  Although foot washing is no longer part of the ceremony , the tradition of giving ' alms ' continues , albeit symbolically .  The Maundy gift , which the Queen hands to members of the congregation at a church service , is made up of two purses , one red and one white .  Many Christians commemorate the Last Supper in a special Eucharist . In some churches , they may wash each other ' s feet .  Some Christians may hold an all night vigil in church , remembering Christ ' s time in the Garden of Gethsemane .  ",true,text,test,American football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
12152,12153,"Reuters) - Raw feelings and mistrust could pose an obstacle to President Donald Trump and hard-line conservative lawmakers in his Republican Party as they seek to rebound from defeat on healthcare legislation by launching into an overhaul of the U.S. tax code. Trump has accused the Freedom Caucus lawmakers of snatching a “defeat from the jaws of victory” with their rejection of the White House-backed healthcare bill to replace President Barack Obama’s 2010 healthcare reform bill. In interviews with 10 of the roughly three dozen House Freedom Caucus members, the lawmakers said they were eager to put aside tensions over the healthcare debacle and seek common ground on tax reform. But there is no consensus, even within the conservative faction, on details of a tax-reform bill, with some members open to discussing ideas such as the border tax plan supported by House leaders and others opposed to it. Representative Warren Davidson, a Freedom Caucus member from Ohio, said Republicans should leave aside the blame game and work through their policy differences before launching tax reform legislation. “Some people are still in that hurt-feelings and frustration” stage, Davidson said. “I do think it’s smart to take the time to get it right.” Republican Representative David Schweikert of Arizona, a Freedom Caucus lawmaker who sits on the tax-writing House of Representative Ways and Means Committee, could emerge as a bridge between the conservative faction and House leaders. The panel will work closely with House leadership on the tax bill. Schweikert said he planned to consult with rank-and-file members to discuss plans and listen to their priorities. He said giving companies incentives to invest in plants and equipment was one of the items on his own wish list. “My personal fixation is very simple: What maximizes economic growth?” Schweikert said. Representative Mark Meadows, chairman of the Freedom Caucus, said the group has “no formal position” on the structure of tax reform legislation. But Meadows listed the top priorities on his own wish list: “Lower taxes, lower taxes and lower taxes.” A 35-page blueprint developed by House Republican leaders, known as a “Better Way,” will serve as a starting point for the tax-reform discussions. The plan calls for streamlining the income tax system and cutting the corporate income tax rate to 20 percent from 35 percent. It would exclude export revenue from taxable income and impose a 20 percent tax on imports.  The border tax proposal has divided the business community and is a top flashpoint for lawmakers. Big exporters such as General Electric Co say the tax would boost manufacturing and jobs. But retailers like Target Corp have said the border tax would hike consumer prices and hurt the economy. Trump, a businessman who had never been in public office until he took over at the White House on Jan. 20, has at times praised the border tax idea but at other times has been noncommittal. Virginia Congressman Dave Brat said he would insist that the tax bill not add to the deficit, while Meadows said he would not necessarily insist on that. Other conservatives said they needed more information about the tax bill to form an opinion - and some space from the contentious health care debate. “We just had a major battle on a Republican welfare plan and that has consumed to a large degree my time and mental effort,” said Alabama Representative Mo Brooks. “When we have a tax reform bill I can evaluate, that’s when I’ll start voting on it,” Brooks said. As a sign of tensions that have lingered after the collapse of the healthcare bill, Freedom Caucus lawmakers faced tough questioning from their colleagues during a closed-door meeting of House Republicans on Tuesday, said Representative Randy Weber of Texas. But Weber said some of the friction eased by the end of the meeting, prompting House Speaker Paul Ryan to say that more give and take might have been useful in the healthcare effort. “Ryan said: ‘This is what we should have been doing,’” Weber told Reuters. Republican Representative Ken Buck of Colorado, a member of the Freedom Caucus, said he thinks lawmakers learned lessons from the healthcare defeat that could apply to tax reform. “I think people are going to work harder to get to ‘yes’ this next piece of legislation,” Buck said. A Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll released on Wednesday showed Republicans mostly blame Congress, and not Trump or party leaders, for failing to pass the healthcare overhaul.                        ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
12198,12199,"Your forecast for the next century : Hotter , drier and hungrier , and the chance to turn down the thermostat is slipping away .  That ' s the latest conclusion from the United Nations , which urged governments to address the "" increasingly clear "" threats posed by a warming climate before some options are closed off for good . The latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change concluded that taking steps to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions blamed for rising temperatures could buy more time to adjust to a warmer world .  Cutting emissions now "" increases the time available for adaptation to a particular level of climate change , "" the report states . But it adds , "" Delaying mitigation actions may reduce options for climate resilient pathways in the future . ""  "" In many cases , we are not prepared for the climate related risks that we already face , "" Vicente Barros , the co chaiman of the  working group behind the document , said in a statement accompanying the report . "" Investments in better preparation can pay dividends both for the present and for the future . ""  The summary for policymakers was released Monday morning in Yokohama , Japan . It ' s the second part of the  ' s benchmark assessment of climate change , a document released every six years with the input of nearly 1 , 000 scientists . Without checks on emissions , the impacts of climate change will be more severe , more likely , and possibly irreversible , it concludes .  Monday ' s report underscores "" that we have committed to a certain amount of warming , "" said Kelly Levin , an energy and climate expert at the U . S . based World Resources Institute .  "" Over the next few decades , we are going to lock ourselves into a climate change commitment that is going to paint a very different world , depending on what we choose today , "" Levin said . "" The choices we make today are going to affect the risks we face through the rest of the century . ""  As a result , "" Adaptation is emerging as central area in climate change research , "" Levin said . But adaptation steps such as building sea walls , conserving water and designing cities for warmer climates has its limits , she said .  "" The report suggests some options are going to be too resource intensive or too expensive , "" she said .  An increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide and other emissions have driven average temperatures up by about 0 . 6 degrees Celsius ( 1 degree Fahrenheit ) since 1950 , the  says . The first part of its report , released in September , concluded that even a best case scenario would result in an increase in global average temperatures of 1 . 6 C the worst case scenario estimates a rise of 3 . 7 degrees Celsius ( 6 . 6 Fahrenheit ) .  The idea that carbon emissions are changing the Earth ' s climate is politically controversial , but generally accepted as fact by the overwhelming majority of scientists . And as emissions continue to rise , driving up CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere , the impacts will be more severe , more likely and possibly irreversible , Monday ' s report states .  The summary of the full document which is more than 1 , 000 pages will be the premiere guide for lawmakers . It breaks down the expected impacts by continent and by categories such as marine life , agriculture and flood risks . And by diving into the specifics of the report , policymakers will be able to see what risks their specific locations face , as well as what adaptation and mitigation techniques could prove fruitful .  "" The real highlight is how many impacts there are , how widespread they are and how pervasive they are around the world , "" said Heather McGray , who studies adaptation at  .  In most cases , climate change will exacerbate existing problems , such as the availability of fresh water in sub Saharan Africa . The authors conclude that glaciers will continue to shrink "" almost worldwide , "" affecting water supplies downstream .  Animals have begun shifting their habitats in response to a warming world , and key crops have been affected already , they wrote . Colder climates may see increases in crop yields from longer growing seasons and milder temperatures , but the negative effects are expected to outweigh the positive , the report states .  "" In this report , the finding is the impacts of climate change are already widespread and consequential , "" McGray said .  The impacts won ' t be the same for everyone , and as usual , the world ' s poor are more likely to be hurt .  "" Climate related hazards affect poor people ' s lives directly through impacts on livelihoods , reductions in crop yields or destruction of homes and indirectly through , for example , increased food prices and food insecurity , "" the report states . Positive effects on the impoverished "" are limited and often indirect . ""  For those people , the effects "" will be catastrophic "" unless emissions can be reduced , McGray said .  Carbon dioxide benchmark hits new heights , worries scientists  Opinion : Is it time for international agreements to recognize national laws ?  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
12203,12204,"The rise of Trumpmania has left many sane people questioning how on earth the republicans could elect such a alien from the shallow end of the pool to their presidential nomination . This reporter has the scoop on recently leaked e mails of his top secret internal election meetings , hacked recently by social activists .  Presidential hopeful Trump was working out what his advisors termed a "" weapons of mass hysteria "" (  ) campaign . He vowed to take down anyone he had to in his war against archaic standards of decency and was alarmed by the rise of rational debate in the presidential race . "" Of course our main secret weapon is populist reactionary rhetoric and large group hysteria "" , he is quoted as saying . He was pleased with the performance of his spin doctors so far who had successfully staged a number of outrageous spectacles that had given him lots of good press space . "" Americans don ' t care what you are saying , as long as you shout loudly and feed them lots of hysterical emotions and impossible promises "" , he said .  Next he planned to vehemently attack anyone who spoke out about his vanity grand standing by twittering them to death . "" I can beat anybody in under 128 letters "" he was heard to say and that "" Americans like their philosophies to fit on micro social media "" . He was intending to start a crowding campaign that would "" crowd out "" reason from having influence on the election outcome . "" Rational dialogue really comes from an ancient time , these days it ' s the glitter that matters "" , he was quoted as saying , "" I will get the latest cool smart phone to send out nasty barren social media and people will be so impressed by my phone they will ignore the content "" .  Once becoming President he had a number of minor conservative policy changes to make .  Firstly he would ramp up Muslims favourite holiday destination , Guantanamo Bay . "" We will entice our fellow Muslim Americans there with incentive schemes like roaming death squads "" he was heard to brag . Once there we will focus on water board education as the pillar of personal sovereignty extermination program . This will help them to see they are not really Americans . To help them re settle after 10 years of so in the bay to the Arizona desert we will buddy them with released psychopath prisoners whose motivational approach , whilst it could be seen as tough love was really good for them . In appreciation they will offer all their assets to their esteemed incarcerators .  Next he plans to dissolve the  . This is because he sees them as a threat to his world domination plans and he also wants the  building for his private parties . Such agencies as the  , Climate Change and  where operating a huge global conspiracy he said further adding that "" there is nothing wrong with the weather , as its always nice in my mansions "" .  Next minority trouble groups that may potentially contemplate civil disorder or worst still , standing up for their natural human rights will be targeted by the thought police . If you think bad about my regime he said we will know and you can expect the special forces team to drop in your lounge room . "" Free speech was a true American value , but only if they agreed with my whimsical unhinged notions it seems . He was heard to shout at a election strategy meeting that , "" It is important that citizens know that America is a free country and having a personal opinion is  as long as you don ' t disagree with me "" .  He told his campaign advisors that it wouldn ' t be long before everyone saw through his smoke and mirrors tactics and it was vital that they use the  during this stage of the campaign . If that didn ' t work he would have to call in the russians as they are the only ones patriotic enough to help out . As for Hillary he had a special role for her once she lost for saying all those nasty things about him . He also said it would be better for America if Obamas name was taken out of the white history books and he would start a doublespeak agency to rewrite history and finance it from disbanding welfare . When asked why welfare he replied "" because they smelt funny and didn ' t look right to him and a lot of them are muslims and everyone knows all muslims are terrorists "" . When asked about the other minority groups receiving welfare he answered "" that he didn ' t ask them to come here and they can go home if they don ' t like his policies "" .  When asked about his foreign policies he replied on micro social media format that he would launch pre emptive raids against anyone he didn ' t like including those arrogant old crusties of the "" old world "" , Europe . We should have colonised it after WW2 , after all we saved it and their continued ungratefulness annoys me . "" Rogue states would be nuked immediately someone informs me they exist , locating them is up to the Department of Geography as I am too important for small issues like who we nuke , nuke all of them then we will be safe "" he stated . He also stated that "" having all these nukes and not using them is bad for the economy "" and "" it would be a waste of American innovation to not use them before their expiry date "" .  His domestic policy on climate change would be to order a complete news blackout in any storm affected areas . Such national emergencies would no longer be sanctioned by the president and God had better get it . Any of the embedded journalists who breaks ranks in press briefings will be Fired . Anyone else reporting them will be labelled a Muslim terrorist and deported to Guantanamo bay he said . "" Whilst I fully support freedom of the press they just can ' t print anything they want "" he said , "" especially alarmist storm reports that depress the insurance industry stock price "" .  His industrial relations policy was a micro social media special Your Fired !  As the Khans had annoyed him during the campaign he would be stopping all veterans benefits , not as a petty act of retribution but to show them who is boss . "" After all what ' s the point of being President if you can ' t do whatever you feel like "" he exclaimed . When asked about the consequences to many hard up vets , many homeless he said that "" his spin doctors had told him that , as they were war veterans they were used to being collateral damage and he didn ' t think it would be a big problem "" .  When asked about not supplying his tax returns for public scrutiny he denounced it as a Muslim terrorist plot to destabilise the business community and to protect corporate America in the future he would be dismissing this laborious process and change it to a "" pay what you feel is right "" approach . He was very confident that corporate America would do the right thing and make a fair contribution to public governance budgets .  He has also received intelligence information from the highest sources that the light at the end of the tunnel is in fact a terrorist plot to lure Americans to their doom and to protect people it will be turned off as soon as he is elected .  When the devil was interviewed in Diablo Monthly about Trumpmania he seemed quite jealous and rather admiring of the extent to which , he had duped America thus far . Certainly when he wins , it will pave the way for my return , finally . When asked if Trump was his trump card in the game of world domination he took up a poker player face and said maybe . The devil would also like to thank all his supporters for sticking by him during these last tough years of rational regression , but assured everyone that thanks to Trumpmania his plans for world domination now looked to be back on track . Diablo stocks were trading higher this morning based on this mid year corporate profit reporting and press releases .  Paul Reynolds is a Jungian Research Psychologist working with  Vets in the Amazon .  ",satire,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,satire,True,no,no,negative,past
12233,12234,"China ' s central bank guided the yuan lower on Thursday at the fastest pace since its shock devaluation in August , prompting a shuttering of mainland stocks and roiling markets elsewhere .  The People ' s Bank of China (  ) set the yuan reference rate at 6 . 5646 against the dollar , down 0 . 51 percent from Wednesday ' s fix , and the lowest mid point since 2011 . That represents the largest daily change in the fix since August 13 , according to Reuters data . The yuan had finished at 6 . 5554 on Wednesday .  China ' s central bank lets the yuan spot rate rise or fall a maximum of 2 percent against the dollar , relative to the official fixing rate .  The currency moves have revived a litany of concerns in financial markets , from the health of the Chinese economy that is growing at its slowest pace since the financial crisis to the impact of a weaker yuan on capital outflows , which have accelerated in recent months .  The more stocks fall on cues from a lower yuan , the more investors may be encouraged to yank funds out of China and park them overseas , in turn exerting further pressure on the yuan .  "" The  said the fix will be based on the previous day ' s close and a softer fix is therefore not inconsistent with market forces , "" said Vishnu Varathan , head of economics and markets strategy at Mizuho Bank ' s Singapore office .  "" There is a sense in the market that the offshore market is getting carried away though and the  would want to rein in excessively aggressive one way bets , "" he said .    : Yuan , not  , is the big China risk  Thursday ' s fix jolted markets , with the more freely traded offshore yuan plunging to a record low of 6 . 7511 against the dollar before recovering to 6 . 6910 on suspected intervention . The onshore yuan rate fell to as much as 6 . 5941 , a five year low and was at 6 . 5920 in late trading .  Emerging market currencies also dived , with analysts expecting China ' s export rivals to let their currencies weaken to maintain competitiveness . The malaise wasn ' t restricted to just developing countries either . Australia , a big beneficiary of Chinese demand for commodities , also saw a fall in its currency .  Equity markets in the region tumbled , with Chinese stocks closing for the day after the  300 index fell more than 7 percent , triggering a circuit breaker .  Economists believe that Thursday ' s fix largely reflects the willingness of the central bank to establish a more flexible exchange rate regime , although there are also benefits from a weaker currency .  "" From a macroeconomic perspective , a weaker exchange rate is also consistent with monetary policy easing , ""  economists Li Gang Liu and Raymond Yeung said in a research note .  "" A weaker exchange rate can help induce some import inflation as the down trend of crude prices intensifies . China is the largest net oil importer , "" they said .  John Silvia , Wells Fargo Securities chief economist , provides his take on China ' s slowdown and discusses where he is seeing investment opportunities around the world .  Given some of the drivers of the yuan ' s weakness ? strong capital outflows as well as strength in the dollar , which has gained following an interest rate increase from the U . S . Federal Reserve ? are still play , the currency looks poised for further falls , although the  is expected to cushion the drop .  "" The  is unlikely to allow uncontrolled yuan depreciation and they have the firepower to manage the pace and magnitude of weakness , but it is clear that a more flexible and market determined exchange rate regime is quickly evolving , "" said Jason Daw , head of Asian foreign exchange strategy at Societe Generale .  Daw expects the onshore dollar yuan rate to reach 6 . 80 by the final quarter of 2016 .  Follow  International on Twitter and Facebook .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
12236,12237,"Alan Pardew returned one of his self labelled ' death stares ' when Sportsmail dared to suggest this week that his chances of managing England had passed .  He did , in fairness , kill the query with a smile kind of but his wider point was : ' Why has my chance gone ? ' He very quickly left the room .  A parallel with Sam Allardyce was the subtext of the question English managers once touted for the national job but no longer in the running , at least according to bookmakers ' markets and popular opinion , which has the likes of Gary Neville and Gareth Southgate as the heir apparents even Nigel Adkins is quoted at shorter odds .  Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has his side in sparkling Premier League form with six wins on the spin  Sam Allardyce has surprised many as West Ham make a charge towards the top flight ' s top four  Roy Hodgson , of course , is safe until after England cruise through qualifying and flop at Euro 2016 .  And so the search will begin . Were we , however , to employ the yardsticks of performance and experience in determining the favourites , Pardew and Allardyce would lead the way .  The pair meet at Upton Park on Saturday afternoon , Pardew ' s Magpies flying high in fifth with Allardyce ' s West Ham in their slipstream .  They are the two longest serving Englishmen in the Premier League Pardew 12 days short of four years , Allardyce just six months behind . In total , their time in the dugout amounts to nearly 40 years .  Yet the notion of them one day being employed by the Football Association appears to be dead . Allardyce with his stock at its highest in 2006 lost out to Steve McClaren for the England post and has long since been critical of foreign appointments .  Argentine striker Mauro Zarate celebrates after scoring for the Hammers away at Everton last weekend  Moussa Sissoko runs towards Pardew after netting a late winner against  at St James ' Park  Pardew , meanwhile , has muddied his own  during the course of touchline confrontations with Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini and Hull midfielder David Meyler , not to mention shoving an assistant referee .  Does all of that , though , not make their case all the stronger ? They have dealt with adversity a guaranteed circumstance with England and survived their longevity is unrivalled .  Indeed , in the past 12 months both have been that ' beleaguered boss ' at which the media takes aim , ultimately riding the storm to emerge in far more cordial climes .  Pardew , from the position of comfort which six wins on the spin affords , addressed the issue this week .  ' In the Premier League you come under pressure from time to time , ' he said . ' You have to be big enough to handle that . Some of it gets personal and you have to deal with that , you might not like it .  ' Sam has more experience of the Premier League than I do . He knows what it takes to win and he ' s adaptable .  Gary Neville ( second left ) has more of a chance of landing Roy Hodgson ' s job than Pardew or Allardyce  Even Reading boss Nigel Adkins is fancied more for the role than the two in form Englishmen  ' You have to keep your message consistent and not lose faith in yourself and what you ' re doing . '  Are Allardyce and Pardew , then , simply better suited to the club management environment in which they have thrived for so long ?  Pardew , it seems , still fancies a shot at England . Don ' t forget , he was  and Premier League Manager of the Year in 2012 and part of the thinking behind his unprecedented eight year contract with Newcastle was to inflate any compensation package should the  come calling .  But Team England have moved on . Rather , it is the Nevilles and the Southgates who are the future and a new ' promote from within ' ethos .  Pardew and Allardyce , meanwhile , are very much on the outside . Just don ' t mention that to their face .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
12243,12244,"Kamaishi , Japan Ikuo Fujiwara stops in front of the wreckage of the Buddhist temple , brings his hands together and prays .  The monk bursts into tears , an involuntary act , as he asks heaven what he can do to comfort his destroyed hometown and begin to rebuild his house of worship .  Fujiwara needs heaven to speak to him , for he must preside over Kamaishi ' s first mass burials in memory . Behind his temple , the sound of heavy machinery digging giant ditches for unmarked coffins echoes through the shattered remains of the 300 year old building .  "" We don ' t have enough places to cremate the bodies , "" says Fujiwara . "" So temporarily , we ' re burying the bodies here . ""  The ditches sit within 50 meters of the Buddhist burial plots , where cremated remains lie underneath grey headstones . This is a sacred practice that every Japanese person expects at death , explains Fujiwara . A Japanese funeral is elaborate , formal , and ritualized in the Buddhist faith .  So the wide ditches and the coffins , which will eventually lie in them side by side , are an unbearable insult in the minds of ordinary Japanese citizens .  But ordinary expectations have been abandoned in Japan ' s tsunami zone , where entire towns were decimated by a wall of water that struck in the wake of a magnitude 9 . 0 earthquake March 11 .  "" I feel very sad about this , "" says Fujiwara , adding that the mass graves are only one component of the overwhelming pain felt throughout Kamaishi . "" My friends and my temple members , I don ' t know yet how many of them I lost . And the town is destroyed . I ' m concerned if we can rebuild . ""  Fujiwara doesn ' t look like the monk of this temple , wearing a fisherman ' s boots and winter coat . The tsunami destroyed all of his robes . Like many of the tsunami victims mourning the dead , he can ' t dress in proper funeral attire .  Fujiwara says he will still try to administer the most respectful service he can offer to the survivors who will line the ditches . But he knows in the minds of many of those families , it will never replace a proper Japanese Buddhist ceremony .  However , city health leaders say they have no choice but to bury the dead in mass graves . Thousands of bodies pulled from the rubble have been stored in school gymnasiums turned morgues .  About 17 , 000 people remain missing , so officials believe more bodies will be recovered . Even if they can be identified , the crematoriums on Japan ' s northern coastline are either damaged from the tsunami or already full . A shortage of gas has meant bodies can ' t be taken to other parts of the country for cremation .  Stressing the burials will be temporary , cities have begun the process of placing bodies in mass graves to prevent disease outbreak .  Tadaharu Kinoshita , searching through Kamaishi ' s morgues for his brother , says it hurts his heart to think of his kin lying in a mass grave .  But there is a greater indignity , he says .  "" My one hope is to find his body , "" says Kinoshita . "" If he remains missing , we ' ll never really know . Even if he ' s in a mass grave , at least then , we ' ll know . ""  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
12247,12248,"London , England A British man who strangled his wife in his sleep while dreaming that she was an intruder walked free from court Friday after the case against him was withdrawn , prosecutors said .  The  ' s Crown Prosecution Service requested that the case against Brian Thomas , who killed wife Christine while they were on vacation in 2008 , be dropped due to a "" unique set of circumstances . ""  Thomas , 59 , of Neath , South Wales , had been on trial for murder at Swansea Crown Court , with prosecutors seeking a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity that would have resulted in psychiatric custody .  But they said a closer study of evidence led them to believe the defendant should be released without further action .  "" We have duty to keep cases under continuous review , and following expert evidence from a psychiatrist it was suggested no useful purpose would be served by Mr Thomas being detained and treated in a psychiatric hospital , "" prosecutor Iwan Jenkins said in a statement .  Jenkins said that there had never been any doubt that Thomas caused his wife ' s death , but the prosecution accepted evidence from experts on sleep disorders that indicated he should not be convicted of murder or manslaughter .  "" We therefore have offered no further evidence and asked the jury to return a simple verdict of not guilty . ""  The court erupted in shouts of "" yes "" as family members greeted the outcome with jubilation , according to the  Press Association .  "" The death of Christine Thomas was thoroughly investigated by Dyfed Powys Police . Investigations continued after Mr Thomas was charged and involved the instruction of experts in several fields , "" Jenkins said .  "" I must emphasize that the circumstances of this case are almost unique in the  and there have been fewer than 50 instances recorded worldwide . It is only because of highly sophisticated tests carried out by sleep experts that Mr Thomas ' s condition could be confirmed .  "" Our thoughts remain with the family of Brian and Christine Thomas , who have remained dignified throughout this difficult time . ""  The brief trial , which opened Tuesday , heard that Thomas killed his wife while the pair were taking a camper van vacation in western Wales ,  reported .  One night , Thomas who experts said may have been suffering worsening dreams due to withdrawal from anti depressants experienced a violent nightmare in which he attacked and fought an intruder and got him in a headlock , only to wake and find he had strangled his wife .  Dismissing the charges , High Court Judge Justice Davis described Thomas as a "" decent man and devoted husband "" who bore no responsibility for his wife ' s death ,  reported .  Thomas ' s brother Raymond Thomas said the family were "" delighted "" by the outcome , the news agency said .  "" He has always been a loving husband and a family man , "" he said . "" This was a tragic , tragic episode and we are all very emotional . ""  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
12273,12274,"Reuters) - An Egyptian court sentenced top Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohamed Badie to another life term in prison on Thursday in the latest example of a crackdown against Islamists since the army overthrew President Mohamed Mursi.       The sentence relates to violence that broke out in 2013 after the army toppled Mursi in the wake of mass demonstrations against him. General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi led the military at that time and was elected president the following year. Authorities outlawed the Brotherhood after Mursi was ousted and arrested thousands of its supporters. They also dissolved its Freedom and Justice Party, which Mursi led. Mass life and death sentences have been common since then in what rights groups call an unprecedented crackdown.  Fifteen others were sentenced to life in prison in the same case on Thursday while 77 were given 15-year sentences with hard labor. Only 38 of those sentenced on Thursday were present at court while the rest were sentenced in absentia.  The judgment can be appealed in a higher court within the next 60 days.  Those sentenced were charged with inciting terrorism, leading an outlawed group, raiding and vandalizing government facilities among other crimes related to clashes in Beni Suef, south of Egypt in August 2013. The clashes took place the same day security forces dispersed two Islamist sit-ins in central Cairo and killed hundreds of Mursi s supporters.     Those sentenced on Thursday included former members of parliament and members of the Freedom and Justice Party.  Badie was sentenced to life in jail in 2014 after being convicted of murder and inciting violence during clashes that took place during the same period. ",true,dataset,test,US elections,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
12275,12276,"Royals win the  : 12 things to know about the Game 6 win  The Kansas City Royals are going back to the World Series . Friday night the Royals beat the Blue Jays 4 3 ( box score ) in Game 6 of the  to clinch the  pennant . They won the best of seven series four games to two .  The Royals will take on the Mets in the 2015 World Series , which doesn ' t begin until next Tuesday . The Fall Classic will begin in Kansas City because the  won the All Star Game back in July . Here are a dozen things to know about Game 6 of the  .  1 . The 2 1 call to Revere changed  . . .  Let ' s skip to the top of the ninth : the Blue Jays , trailing 4 3 , had the game tying run on third base with no outs . Russell Martin started the inning with a single , then pinch runner Dalton Pompey stole second and third .  Wade Davis rebounded to strike out Dioner Navarro for the first out , then , with Ben Revere staring at a 2 1 count , Davis got a gift call from home plate up Jeff Nelson to even the count 2 2 . Here ' s the strike zone plot via Brooks Baseball :  That is from the catcher ' s perspective . Pitch No . 4 is the pitch in question . It ' s clearly off the plate and it changed the at bat dramatically . Revere should have had a 3 1 count . Instead it was a 2 2 count . Huge difference . Davis struck him out for the second out , then Josh Donaldson grounded out to end the  .  2 . . . . but it ' s not the reason the Blue Jays lost either .  Nelson ' s call on the 2 1 pitch to Revere was very bad and it hurt the Blue Jays big time . It ' s also not the reason they lost . They had the tying run at third base with no outs , so they had three chances to get him in , and they failed all three times . Also , Toronto went 0 for 12 with runners in scoring position in Game 6 . 0 for 12 ! They had chances earlier in the game in addition to that ninth inning . Nelson ' s call was bad . The Blue Jays ' situational hitting was way worse .  3 . The rain delay came at a bad time for the Royals .  Game 6 was interrupted by a 45 minute rain delay between the top and bottom of the eighth inning . Royals skipper Ned Yost acknowledged the rain affected his bullpen usage . Here ' s what he told Erin Andrews during an interview with Fox Sports 1 during the rain delay :  "" They hit it pretty well on the nose . They said it was going to come down at about 9 : 55 to 10 o ' clock and it would last about 10 : 15 to 10 : 20 . They said it was a small cell and it should pass quick . ""  "" We ' ll see how long it takes . Wade ' s upstairs staying loose . You know , this is what I was kind of hoping to stay away from , getting Wade in the ballgame and then raining , but , you know , it was at a point where we had to do it , so Wade will come in . He ' s upstairs . Got a heat wrap on his arm in the weight room staying loose . ""  Rather than go to Davis for a six out save , Yost went to Ryan Madson to face the top of the order in the eighth , and Madson allowed the game tying two run home run to Jose Bautista . It wasn ' t a terrible pitch either a fastball up and out of the zone . Bautista turned it around in a hurry though ( video ) :  So rather than go to Davis for the six out save Davis closed out Game 4 of the  with a six out save , and he hadn ' t pitched since Saturday , so he was well rested Yost went to Madson because he didn ' t want to lose Davis during a rain delay . In the end , Madson blew the lead and Yost ended up using Davis n the inning anyway .  Of course , it didn ' t matter in the end . The Royals took the lead immediately after the rain delay and Davis remained in the game to close it out anyway . He wasn ' t particularly sharp in that ninth inning but still got the job done .  3a . Also , this is noteworthy . Bautista did stuff a Blue Jays player had never done before in October :  Also , if you haven ' t already heard , Jose Bautista is the first Blue Jay ever to hit 2HR in one playoff game 4HR in a single postseason .  Bautista had a monster postseason . He went 12 for 41 ( . 293 ) with four home runs , 11  and more walks ( eight ) than strikeouts ( seven ) in 11 playoff games .  That said , Bautista made an ill advised throw on Eric Hosmer ' s single in the eighth inning , allowing Lorenzo Cain to score what proved to be the game winning run all the way from first . Hosmer ripped a single to right , Bautista ran it down , spun around and threw blindly towards second base , and Cain took advantage . Bautista didn ' t necessarily miss the cutoff man , he threw to the wrong base entirely . He ' s got to get the ball to the cutoff man near first base for the best chance to get Cain at the plate . His throw went to the second base bag and that opened the door for Cain to score . The play at the plate wasn ' t even close .  5 . The Royals hit Price really hard in the first few innings .  The Royals jumped on David Price for two home runs in the first two innings Ben Zobrist hit a solo shot in the first , and Mike Moustakas hit a controversial solo shot in the second . Both ball were well struck , obviously . There ' s also this :  The Royals did not hit multiple HRs by the end of the 2nd in a home game all year . Zobrist and Moustakas have already homered in Game 6 .  ?  Stats Info ( ESPNStatsInfo ) October 24 , 2015  Early on every ball in play was well struck against Price . Statcast does not make exit velocity available for every ball in play live during the game , so here ' s the data we have for the first time through Kansas City ' s order :  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
12282,12283,"The  team delayed travel to Belgium because of the security alert in the capital Brussels   coverage : Watch on  television , the  Sport website , Connected TVs , tablets , mobiles and app . Full details .  Great Britain ' s Davis Cup team , including Andy Murray , have arrived in Belgium amid heightened security for this weekend ' s final against the Belgian side in Ghent .  The capital Brussels , 35 miles away , is in its third day of a security lockdown and on the highest level of alert over fears of a Paris style attack .  Extra security measures have been put in place for the three day final .  The  team delayed travelling to Belgium because of the security alert .  Britain ' s squad of Murray , his brother Jamie , Kyle Edmund , Dominic Inglot and James Ward arrived on Monday after postponing their Sunday flight , and practised for the first time in the afternoon . They will have very tight security as they travel between the court and their hotel .  Belgian police arrested 16 people in anti terror raids during Sunday ' s lockdown and a further five subsequently , but a suspected gunman from the Paris attacks , Salah Abdeslam , remains at large .  Soldiers were patrolling Brussels ' streets on Monday and many businesses and public services remained closed .  The sport ' s governing body , the International Tennis Federation , said it was "" closely monitoring the situation in Belgium and specifically in Ghent "" , where the final will take place at the 13 , 000 seat Flanders Expo .  For security reasons , Thursday ' s draw will now take place at the Flanders Expo instead of a music venue in Ghent city centre .  Gijs Kooken , chief executive of the Flemish Tennis Federation (  ) , which is staging the event , told  Sport he was in regular contact with the Belgian government and had "" not yet had a signal that it ' s not safe to organise the event "" .  Having earlier flown in by private jet to nearby Flanders Airport , the  team , who last won the event in 1936 , practised for three hours on Monday afternoon at the venue .  Dan Evans has joined the squad as a hitting partner , and initial reports are that the team are pleased with the quality of the indoor clay court ,  tennis correspondent Russell Fuller said .  The final , which runs from Friday to Sunday , is expected to attract more than 1 , 000 visiting British fans .  Spectators have been warned entry into the arena will take longer than usual and they will not be allowed to take in food or drink .  Sniffer dogs and explosive experts will be patrolling the venue , and spectators who may be body searched will have to leave all bags in lockers outside the entrance .  Great Britain reached their first Davis Cup final since 1978 with victory over Australia , while Belgium are competing in their first final in 111 years after beating Argentina .  Flanders Airport tweets about the arrival of Great Britain ' s Davis Cup team  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
12288,12289,"The Supreme Court has agreed to review a civil liberties dispute over the government ' s power to criminalize "" support "" of a terrorist organization .  The Supreme Court will review a key provision of the 2001 Patriot Act .  The justices on Wednesday accepted review of a key provision of the 2001 Patriot Act , and whether it threatens free speech rights of those who would assist non violent activities of designated groups .  Since the September 11 , 2001 , terrorist attacks against the United States , federal prosecutors have pursued "" material support "" cases against at least 120 individuals or organizations , winning convictions in about half of those cases . Nearly every such domestic terrorism related prosecution has included that charge as part of the indictment .  At issue is whether the congressional law allows prosecution of those with knowledge of "" any service , training , expert advice or assistance "" to a foreign terrorist organization , as designated by the U . S . government .  A federal appeals court in San Francisco , California , struck down several parts of the legislation , finding them too vague to satisfy the Constitution . The government then asked the high court to intervene and uphold the law .  Among those charged under the "" material support "" provision : John Walker Lindh , an American Muslim captured on the battlefield in Afghanistan the "" Lackawanna Six , "" men from Buffalo , New York , who attended an al Qaeda training camp several men in Portland , Oregon , who allegedly sought to travel to Afghanistan to fight on behalf of the Taliban a group of young Virginia individuals who allegedly tried to assist a Kashmir terror group and James Ujaama , an African American activist in Seattle , Washington .  The key plaintiff in the current appeal is the Humanitarian Law Project , a Los Angeles , California based non profit that says its mission is to advocate "" for the peaceful resolution of armed conflicts and for worldwide compliance with humanitarian law and human rights law . ""  sought to help the Kurdistan Workers ' Party , a group active in Turkey . Known as  , the party was founded in the mid 1970s and has been labeled a terror organization by the United States and the European Union . Its leaders have previously called for militancy to create a separate Kurdish state in parts of Turkey , Iraq , Syria and Iran , where Kurds comprise a population majority .  In its appeal to the high court , the government noted that "" since its inception , the organization has waged a violent insurgency that has claimed over 22 , 000 lives . ""   claimed it wanted to advocate on behalf of the  before the United Nations Commission on Human Rights , and conduct other advisory sessions and public awareness campaigns .  Another plaintiff is an American physician who wanted to help ethnic Tamils in his native Sri Lanka . Much of the island nation is controlled by the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam , which has also fought for decades to carve an independent state . The government claims the Tamil Tigers have "" used suicide bombings and political assassinations in its campaign for independence , killing hundreds of civilians in the process . ""   and a group of Tamil doctors say they merely wanted "" to provide their expert medical advice on how to address the shortage of medical facilities and trained physicians "" in the region but "" they are afraid to do so because they fear prosecution for providing material support . ""  The Patriot Act was passed six weeks after the 9 11 terrorism attacks . It included amending a previous anti terror law to strengthen the "" expert advice and assistance "" provision , making it a crime punishable by a 10 to 15 year prison sentence .  The Justice Department calls the material support provision "" a vital part of the nation ' s effort to fight international terrorism . "" Officials told the justices the law is constitutional since "" the statute in question regulates conduct , not speech , and does not violate the First Amendment in any of its applications . "" And the government argues lawmakers properly used their authority to address a pressing problem .  "" Congress has banned a broad range of material support regardless of whether the terrorist group claims to engage in otherwise lawful activities , and regardless of whether the support is ostensibly given to assist those supposedly lawful activities , "" said the administration ' s brief .  The case is Holder v . Humanitarian Law Project ( 08 1498 ) . Oral arguments will be held early next year , with a decision expected by the spring .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
12302,12303,"' s Deep Blue , the chess supercomputer that recently contended with world chess champion Gary Kasparov , was beaten up Monday by a Macintosh Performa 6400CD , one of the most popular home computers on the market .  The attack occured at approximately 3 p . m . , shortly after a 60 Minutes piece on Deep Blue finished taping at  headquarters . The Performa reportedly entered Deep Blue ' s work station and pounded aggressively at the cabinet housing the chess computer ' s logic board , spilled coffee on its keyboard and inserted several paper clips into its ventilation slots . Deep Blue was not badly damaged .  Deep Blue ' s programmers expressed outrage over the incident . "" This kind of thing makes me furious , as Deep Blue is extremely sensitive to teasing from more popular computers , "" said programmer David Wembley . "" Almost as sensitive as it is to Capablanca gambits . ""  Added Wembley : "" We are currently coding a subroutine into Deep Blue explaining to it that when you ' re the best at something , other computers sometimes have difficulty with that and feel they have to take you down a notch . ""  Macintosh spokesman Guy Kawasaki described the beating as "" unfortunate , "" but added that "" when you ' re as powerful and popular as the 6400 , with its huge 2 . 4GB hard drive , lightning quick 200MHz PowerPC 603e processor and sales topping 150 million in the past three months alone , sometimes you wind up stepping on some toes . ""  Some industry observers believe the Performa ' s bullying is motivated by and indicative of deep personal insecurities .  "" The Performa , one of the most popular home computers in the history of the industry , has much to be proud of , "" Mac World columnist and licensed therapist Mitch Gallagher said . "" But for all of its success , I believe the Performa still harbors a lot of nagging self doubt , because no matter what it does , its sales figures still always seem to lag behind those of its  compatible peers . ""  "" Sometimes , "" continued Gallagher , "" all the storage capacity in the world isn ' t enough to make a computer feel good about itself . ""  It is also rumored that things have not been going well at Apple headquarters , leading some to believe that the Performa may be under a good deal of stress . "" Financial losses and layoffs at Apple have probably made the Performa feel as though its world has been turned upside down , "" Wired ' s Ted Fraschilla said . "" When that happens , a computer can feel as though it has no control over its environment . This may have caused the Performa to commit what amounts to exercising control over Deep Blue . ""  Employees laid off in recent months include key members of the Performa ' s development team , programmers the  had known all its life .  If the Performa is involved in more misbehavior , the Federal Trade Commission may mandate a recall . Apple has urged the  that such an action would only make things worse for the Performa instead of better .  The last thing Performa needs right now is to be told that it is a bad computer , "" Apple president Gilbert Amelio said . "" A recall would in effect do that . We are sure that Performa owners will be pleased in the future by the performance of their  , both in its ability to perform assigned tasks and in how it gets along with other machines . ""  ",satire,text,test,Football,Economy,satire,satire,True,no,no,neutral,past
12313,12314,"Is it possible the curtain has been pulled back, and the truth about the intolerant Democrat Party is out there for the whole world to see? Will  Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz take the utlitmate hit to keep Bernie fans under control? When will the media expose Hillary s involvement in the  and media s coordinated take down of Bernie Sanders?Bernie Sanders campaign manager Jeff Weaver said his team was  disappointed  by the emails from the Democratic National Committee leaked through WikiLeaks, which seemed to reveal staff in the party working to support Hillary Clinton. Someone does have to be held accountable,  Weaver said during an interview with  News.  We spent 48 hours of public attention worrying about who in the [Donald] Trump campaign was going to be held responsible for the fact that some lines of Mrs. Obama s speech were taken by Mrs. Trump. Someone in the  needs to be held at least as accountable as the Trump campaign. We have an electoral process. The DNC, by its charter, is required to be neutral among the candidates. Clearly it was not,  Weaver said, responding for the first time to the growing controversy.  We had obviously pointed that out in a number of instances prior to this, and these emails just bear that out. Another member of Sanders  staff, Rania Batrice put it this way:  Everything our fans have been saying   and they were beaten down for and called conspiracy theorists   and now it s in black and white. One of the newest leaks is an email thread about Sanders faith. Sanders, who is Jewish, did not bring up his religious faith much during the campaign trail and some  staffers were hoping he would. But the email itself does not mention Sanders by name, so readers are to infer that it may have been him. But it remains to be seen if these leaked emails are fakes.  Brad Marshall sent an email, with the blunt subject line  No Sh*t,  to  communications director Luis Miranda,  Amy Dacey, and deputy communications director Mark Paustenbach, discussing if Sanders would be bringing up his faith during the Kentucky and West Virginia primaries: It might may no difference, but for  and  can we get someone to ask his belief. Does he believe in a God. He had skated on saying he has a Jewish heritage. I think I read he is an atheist. This could make several points difference with my peeps. My Southern Baptist peeps would draw a big difference between a Jew and an atheist. Dacey replied with a simple  Amen  about the topic. Sanders had discussed his Jewish heritage in the past, but has remained mum on all other religious aspects of his life. Marshall told The Intercept he did not recall writing this email and it wasn t necessarily geared toward Sanders.  Uproxx Via: Slate And InterceptThe email dump comes at a crucial time, just days before the party s national convention in Philadelphia, with thousands of delegates representing both campaigns gathering from across the country. Weaver and several other members of the Sanders staff have said they are worried the news could disrupt the goals of the convention.Weaver said the emails showed misconduct at the highest level of the staff within the party and that he believed there would be more emails leaked, which would  reinforce  that the party had  its fingers on the scale. Everybody is disappointed that much of what we felt was happening at the  was in fact happening, that you had in this case a clear example of the  taking sides and looking to place negative information into the political process.   NewsDEMOCRATS          Blabbermouth Schutlz from speaking at the  but will that be enough?Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz will not speak at or preside over the party s convention this week, a decision reached by party officials Saturday after emails surfaced that raised questions about the committee s impartiality during the Democratic primary.The  Rules Committee on Saturday named Rep. Marcia Fudge, D-Ohio, as permanent chair of the convention, according to a  source. She will gavel each session to order and will gavel each session closed. She s been quarantined,  another top Democrat said of Wasserman Schultz, following a meeting Saturday night.The Democrat familiar with the decision said it was done in hopes of preventing chaos on the convention floor among Sanders supporters. Via:  ",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
12342,12343,"There s a legit report . All hands on deck .  How is it any more legit that the Patriots injury report ? ? Probable is just as ambiguous as questionable .  They should have to list players as either out or in , or better yet , just do away with the injury report altogether .  Looking forward to watching the  Bomb throw several picks against the Pats broken down , second rate D . Brady will be fine against that elite , healthy Denver D . These two QBs are no longer anywhere near comparable in their on field abilities .  The Pats are notorious for this kind of trickery on their injury report , granted , but what about Manning ?  Pipe down  fan , I think I hear the stadium alarm alerting you sheeple to get back to your seats and stomp around like fools so Papa Manning doesn t have to pump in fake noise .  Except Manning s delivery of  got caught up in the blizzard this week so Brockenheimer will be in halfway through the 3rd Qtr , after FrankenManning has thrown 3 picks and a mystery injury appears  To every N . E . fan moaning about how fair they are you are the laughing stock throughout American sports .  The Patriots are great and with a great hc no doubt , but he cheats !  The Pats lose a first round pick because they cheat .  Brady should have been suspended to star this season because they cheat .  They look for ever edge including skirting the rules .  The Denver D is at full strength at home ?  After about 5 minutes of laughter , I now type .  Not saying that the Denver D isn t raw or that the Broncos have no chance  But Brady going to get smoked ? Sounds like somebody has been smoking that Denver kush .  healthy on paper . Chris Harris will be very limited .  Chris Harris goes from playing with one arm to probable in the space of 5 days , and Donk fan accuses Belichick of cheating on the injury report ? ? ? ? ?  We Donk Fans do not limit what is said known about Belicheat to the injury report . .  He has cheated and has gotten caught too many times in too many ways . How about that !  Maybe you posses the same integrity issues as your team .  Well , the arrogant and belligerent Seahawk fans got bumped last week . This week it s the even more ( if that s possible ) arrogant and belligerent Patriot fans who get the bump . Thank God , save the Super Bowl week for the adults .  The Denver D is at full strength at home ?  Tom Brady is going to smoke a victory cigar .  You must be logged in to leave a comment . Not a member ? Register now !  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,negative,present
12378,12379,"Alejandro Sabella has emerged as a shock contender to become the new manager at Leeds .  Sabella , who quit as Argentina manager following their defeat by Germany in this summer ' s World Cup Final , is on Elland Road owner Massimo Cellino ' s wishlist after caretaker Neil Redfearn was ruled out of the running to replace the sacked Dave Hockaday .  Sabella , 59 , is considering a return to Elland Road 33 years after ending a nightmare 19 month spell with them as a player .  Alejandro Sabella led Argentina to the World Cup final before suffering a 1 0 defeat to Germany at Brazil 2014  He made just 23 appearances for Leeds after joining as a 400 , 000 signing from Sheffield United in 1980 before being sold on to Estudiantes .  Argentina media spoke to Sabella last night and he said : ' The Leeds situation is intriguing , and I feel I have unfinished business with that club . '  Cellino initially said he would prefer a British coach and former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler is among those to have expressed an interest , however , persuading Sabella would represent a major coup for the club .  Leeds are monitoring Sabella who has experience of working with stars including Lionel Messi  Sabella claims he has unfinished business at Elland Road following a 19 month playing spell in the early 1980s where he failed to sparkle following a 400 , 000 move from Sheffield United  Speaking to the Yorkshire Evening Post , Cellino said : ' Neil Redfearn s very busy with the academy and I need him in that job .  ' He s an outstanding coach , a guy who knows how good teams should play , but it would do too much damage to the academy if he stays as ( head ) coach .  ' He ll be coach at Bournemouth , 100 per cent , and maybe on Saturday as well . But I ve got ideas about what I ll do . I m thinking about a foreign coach , an international coach who I can work with . We need to meet and talk but I think he could be good for us . '  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
12419,12420,"Ubisoft has done it again ! It is time for the next installment in the epic Assassin ' s Creed franchise . Gamers have enjoyed playing master assassins across various periods of time from Italy to the Caribbean , and to Renaissance France . This time , gamers are fast forwarded into the medical  of an academic hospital .  Players will take control of Dr Sanjay Patel , a new medical intern rotating in the  with a dark and mysterious past . Early in the game , Sanjay discovers that he descends from the fabled order of the assassins who have been battling templars for centuries . Without revealing the entire story , Sanjay uncovers a plot to bring down the assassins lurking in his very hospital . Sanjay must identify which patients are secretly templars and discretely eliminate them . As he progresses through residency , his death dealing skills increase . Ubisoft has leaked some teaser abilities new to this installment .  Intern assassin abilities : Ignoring multiple pages from nurses and other services Sleeping through codes Causing a pneumothorax during subclavian lines Skewering the carotid during internal jugular lines Forgetting  protocol Not intubating declining patients Send patients to radiology for extubation  Ubisoft has also leaked some more senior level abilities available to those who pre order  :  .  Senior abilities : Capping the service whenever you damn well please Deferring all questions to the other team on call Distracting other health care providers with long family meetings in hard to find locations Sending patients to the floor too early Consulting neurosurgery to finish the job on difficult cases  Being an assassin isn ' t easy . Sanjay will have to take down enough "" templars to save his order , but can ' t exceed the normal  murder rate (  ) else he be fired . Have no fear , exceeding the normal  is assuredly hard to do states Ubisoft .  "" We want players to get a real feel of what it ' s like to run an  fresh out of medical school , "" stated Tom Chesterfield , Ubisoft designer . "" Players will be given the options of whether or not to return pages , call for backup , study , listen or disregard seasoned  nurse advice , or turn the pager off , say it and grab a sandwich . We tried really hard to give people those same tough decisions faced by  residents every day . ""  Preliminary reviews have been great to say the least .  "" It ' s so realistic . "" exclaimed Judy Waters . "" In the game , I could go to teaching conference while several patients , uh I mean templars , "" ' were circling the drain . I selected the I ' m unavailable for the next 4 hours ' response when the nurses called and threw my pager in the trash ! When I returned , 3 out of 4 had already expired and my  warning meter was still in the green . I got enough experience points from that one to level up to  2 . ""  "" These games are fun , but usually a breeze even on harder difficulties , "" shrugged veteran gamer Brian Teaworth . "" Not true for  :  . On this one mission , I had a 92 year old templar who was   . She had a massive subdural hematoma but was doing alright and getting close to discharge back to Sunset Hills . "" ' I knew I had to act fast . I consulted neurosurgery who convinced her children to do a massive craniotomy ! She survived the massive whack but ain ' t coming off that vent any time soon . It ' s long missions like this one that keep me coming back to this great game . ""  Release is scheduled for Summer 2015 with the first downloadable character , Dr Chet Broseidon , ortho intern , already announced .  ",satire,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,present
12423,12424,"COLUMBUS, Ind.  —   Gov. Mike Pence of Indiana, the Republican   nominee, suggested Saturday that he might release his tax returns before Election Day, even as his running mate has shown no inclination of doing the same. Breaking with campaign custom, the Republican presidential nominee, Donald J. Trump, has refused to release his returns. On Friday, the Democratic presidential nominee, Hillary Clinton, and her running mate, Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia, made public their own 2015 returns, while pointedly noting that Mr. Trump had not. On Saturday morning, at a campaign stop in his hometown, Columbus, Ind. Mr. Pence ignored questions from reporters about whether he would release his returns. But in an interview with Rita Cosby of  Radio that aired on Saturday, he hinted, though he did not promise, that his returns could become public. “When my forms are filed and when my tax returns are released it’s going to be a quick read, Rita,” Mr. Pence said. His answer suggested he had not yet filed his 2015 return the Internal Revenue Service allows taxpayers to apply for a   extension from the April filing deadline. His campaign did not respond Saturday evening to requests for more details. If he were to release his returns before Mr. Trump did, it would not be the first time he broke with the top of the ticket. The governor is a markedly different candidate from Mr. Trump, maintaining his balanced demeanor and even disagreeing with the volatile Mr. Trump at times, creating an unusual pairing that both men seem comfortable with for now. Mr. Trump has said he would not release his tax returns because they are being audited. Democrats have suggested he does not want to show them because they might reveal he is not as wealthy as he claims to be, or perhaps that he pays little in federal taxes because of breaks for real estate developers. When Mrs. Clinton released her returns on Friday  —   showing that she and her husband had earned an adjusted gross income of $10. 6 million last year, mostly from books and speeches  —   Mrs. Clinton made a point to note that she had paid a third of her income in federal taxes. Mr. Kaine and his wife, Anne Holton, who was Virginia’s secretary of education until she stepped down last month, reported income of $313, 441 for 2015. At a rally in New Hampshire on Saturday, Mr. Kaine assailed Mr. Trump for keeping his tax returns under wraps. “Even Richard Nixon released his tax returns to the public when he was running for president,” Mr. Kaine said. (In fact, President Nixon did not release his taxes until 1973, a year after his last campaign. Other than Gerald Ford, who released a summary of his return, every presidential candidate since then has made their recent returns public.) “He says the rules that apply to everybody else do not apply to Donald J. Trump,” Mr. Kaine said. In his radio interview, Mr. Pence noted that he had not become wealthy over his past 16 years as a congressman and governor, and took a shot of his own at Mrs. Clinton. “All of this class warfare talk that we heard coming out of her speech yesterday rings a little bit hollow,” he said. “What you have, you know, what you have in the Clintons is an extremely prosperous family that’s made tens of millions of dollars related to and derivative of their time in and around public service, and the American people now know that clearly from that release. ”",true,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
12468,12469,"The death of Davy Jones on Wednesday from a massive heart attack at age 66 elicited all the standard commentary about the Monkees , the band that made him a star : The Monkees were a made for  boy band . They recorded tunes written not by them , but by reputable songwriters like Neil Diamond ( "" I ' m a Believer "" ) , Harry Nilsson ( "" Cuddly Toy "" ) , and the team of Carole King and Gerry Goffin ( "" Pleasant Valley Sunday "" ) . They were Beatles knockoffs and teen idols .  Those points are all valid , but they miss two essential aspects of the Monkees ' story . The first is fairly simple : Despite their undoubtedly contrived origins , they turned out to be one of pop ' s finest bands , arguably the most underrated in rock history . The second is deeper : Their ongoing lack of critical respect speaks to struggles within the music world authenticity vs . artifice , pop vs . rock that continue to this day , more than 45 years after the launch of their short lived sitcom .  It ' s unlikely that anyone , least of all the Monkees themselves , thought there was anything serious about the project when their  series debuted in fall 1966 .  and creators Bert Schneider and Bob Rafelson were in search of actors to play a fictional band modeled after the Beatles in "" A Hard Day ' s Night "" and "" Help ! "" After many auditions , they chose two young show biz professionals ( Jones , the sole Brit , and Micky Dolenz ) and two folk rockers who knew how to sing and play ( Peter Tork and Mike Nesmith ) .  From the start , the Monkees had little control over their music and even album covers . Sparkling early hits like "" I ' m a Believer "" and "" Last Train to Clarksville "" were written by outside tunesmiths and played by studio musicians .  Fairly soon after the show ' s launch , the Monkees , Nesmith especially , began to chafe at their artistic constraints . In what  Guide called "" The Great Revolt of ' 67 , "" they demanded control over their records , and out went Don Kirshner , the venerable publisher who had overseen their early releases . This period , what we could call Monkees 2 . 0 , resulted in "" Daydream Believer , "" "" Pleasant Valley Sunday , "" and many other songs on which the Monkees were far more involved ( producing and playing many of the instruments themselves ) .  No matter the period or who was behind the console , the Monkees could make magical records , as I was reminded when , by strange coincidence , I plowed through their "" Music Box "" boxed set just last weekend . The collection ' s four discs reaffirm the largely high quality of their material and multihued variety of the arrangements .  They could do credible garage rock ( "" I ' m Not Your Steppin ' Stone , "" "" Words , "" "" She "" ) , exquisite ballad centric pop ( "" Sometime in the Morning , "" "" I Wanna Be Free "" ) , and quasi psychedelia ( "" Daily Nightly , "" which features one of the first appearance on record of a synthesizer ) .  Songs that Nesmith wrote or sang "" The Door into Summer , "" "" I Don ' t Think You Know Me "" wouldn ' t have been out of place on more highly regarded Byrds albums of the same ' 66 ' 70 period . "" For Pete ' s Sake , "" the snappy "" . . . in this generation "" song heard over the closing credits of each episode of their show , was written by Tork . The Sex Pistols and Run  both covered songs made famous by the Monkees : "" Steppin ' Stone "" and "" Mary , Mary , "" respectively .  Share your memories of Jones and the Monkees  Jones , who had proven his stage chops before the Monkees by starring in a British production of "" Oliver ! "" , was more than just their eternally cherubic , always on singer and maracas player . He could caress the hits ( "" Daydream Believer "" ) , invest a song with suitable snideness ( the groupie song "" Star Collector "" ) and even co write a very credible pop reverie ( "" Dream World "" ) .  Yet for all that musical breadth , the Monkees still don ' t quite get the credit they should , which gets to the issues of credibility that swirl around them and anything considered too Top 40 . By the time their show launched and became an immediate hit , it was becoming de rigueur for pop and rock bands to write their own songs , to express themselves . The Monkees did this on later albums like "" The Birds , The Bees and the Monkees , "" but they never recovered from being seen as puppets .  They were the right band at the wrong time , and unfairly so . Iron Butterfly wrote its own material , too , but I dare anyone beyond the most devout "" In a Gadda Da Vida "" nostalgist to make it through any of their albums in 2012 .  These issues , especially in an era when indie signifies authenticity , still linger . Whenever I tell a friend I ' m a fan of Lady Gaga , I receive the same puzzled , "" Are you serious ? "" looks I used to get when I told my teenage friends that I ' d bought the Monkees ' "" Greatest Hits "" long after they broke up .  Whatever one thinks of her wardrobe or bombastic , disappointing "" Born This Way "" album , Gaga has genuine talent : She can sing , write songs and play various keyboards . Yet something about her still makes some people squirm in the way they don ' t when someone mentions an intentionally grating indie band like Sleigh Bells . The music is seen as too polished and produced , and therefore not credible enough .  The Monkees may always be tarnished , and perhaps there ' s a weird badge of honor in that : so disreputable that they ' re reputable ! Davy Jones didn ' t die for our integrity sins , but the Monkees ' reputation has suffered plenty for them .  The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of David Browne  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
12479,12480,"Creator of anti Planned Parenthood videos faces felony charge  A grand jury investigating undercover footage of a Planned Parenthood clinic in Houston found no wrongdoing on Jan . 25 , 2016 , by the abortion provider , and instead indicted anti abortion activists involved in making the videos .  A grand jury investigating undercover footage of a Planned Parenthood clinic in Houston found no wrongdoing on Jan . 25 , 2016 , by the abortion provider , and instead indicted anti abortion activists involved in making the videos .  A Houston grand jury that was investigating accusations of criminal misconduct against Planned Parenthood on Monday instead indicted the leader of an anti abortion group that recorded covert videos of the organization ' s employees .  Harris County District Attorney Devon Anderson said David Daleiden , the director of the Center for Medical Progress , faces a felony charge of tampering with a governmental record and a misdemeanor count related to buying human tissue .  Sandra Merritt , one of Daleiden ' s employees , was also indicted on a charge of tampering with a governmental record .  The grand jury cleared Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast of any wrongdoing .  "" We were called upon to investigate allegations of criminal conduct by Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast , "" Anderson said in a statement . "" As I stated at the outset of this investigation , we must go where the evidence leads us . All the evidence uncovered in the course of this investigation was presented to the grand jury . I respect their decision on this difficult case . ""  Texas Gov . Greg Abbott said , however , that the inspector general of the state ' s Health and Human Services Commission and the Texas attorney general ' s office would continue to investigate Planned Parenthood ' s actions . "" Nothing about today ' s announcement in Harris County impacts the state ' s ongoing investigation , "" Abbott said in a statement . "" The State of Texas will continue to protect life , and I will continue to support legislation prohibiting the sale or transfer of fetal tissue . ""  David Daleiden , an anti abortion activist , ? was indicted on a felony charge of tampering with a governmental record and a misdemeanor count related to purchasing human organs .  David Daleiden , an anti abortion activist , ? was indicted on a felony charge of tampering with a governmental record and a misdemeanor count related to purchasing human organs .  The indictment did not reveal how the Center for Medical Process manipulated documents . But earlier this month , Planned Parenthood filed a federal lawsuit against the video creators , asserting the group broke several federal laws in its campaign to defame the health care centers with mail fraud , invasion of privacy , illegal secret recording and trespassing .  A warrant for Daleiden was issued Monday evening , according to the Harris County District Clerk ' s website . ?  In a statement issued Monday evening , the Center for Medical Progress said it "" uses the same undercover techniques that investigative journalists have used for decades in exercising our First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and of the press , and follows all applicable laws . We respect the processes of the Harris County District Attorney , and note that buying fetal tissue requires a seller as well . Planned Parenthood still cannot deny the admissions from their leadership about fetal organ sales captured on video for all the world to see . ""  Last year , Daleiden ' s group released videos of Planned Parenthood officials discussing the transfer of tissue from aborted fetuses to research laboratories . The organization apologized for the candid language used by staffers but insisted it did not break any laws .  Peddling human fetal tissue is illegal in the United States . Federal regulations also prohibits changing the timing or method of an abortion for the sole purpose of using the tissue in research . Donating the tissue , though , is legal with a woman ' s consent .  Daleiden , who went undercover to slip into clinics and shoot the footage , claimed Planned Parenthood sold the tissue for profit a charge the organization denied . Other activists posed as biotech employees to build relationships with Planned Parenthood employees .  "" These anti abortion extremists spent three years creating a fake company , creating fake identities , lying , and breaking the law , "" said Eric Ferrero , vice president of communications for Planned Parenthood Federation of America . "" When they couldn ' t find any improper or illegal activity , they made it up . ""  Texas Lt . Gov . Dan Patrick ordered the investigation after an undercover video shot inside a Planned Parenthood clinic in Houston was released . State health officials cited the footage in an October open letter to the organization ' s Texas affiliates as a reason to cut them off the state ' s Medicaid program . Planned Parenthood sued the state over the attempt to block its funding .  The videos reignited a long standing debate over the use of fetal tissue collected through abortions , fueled efforts seeking to ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy , re energized arguments over whether public money should support Planned Parenthood and became the subject of a Republican led investigation on Capitol Hill .  The footage , which collectively stretched more than 10 hours , also emerged in Republican presidential debates , with candidate Carly Fiorina describing her memory of a scene as "" a fully formed fetus on the table , its heart beating , its legs kicking while someone says we have to keep it alive to harvest its brain . ""  In November , authorities said Robert Dear , the gunman who admitted killing three people at a Colorado Planned Parenthood clinic , explained his actions with the phrase , "" No more baby parts . ""  After the first video surfaced in July 2015 and garnered millions of views , Planned Parenthood officials accused Daleiden of leading a crusade similar to those by other groups in years past that tried to mount "" stings "" targeting Planned Parenthood .  "" As we ' ve known all along , David Daleiden is the one who broke the law , not abortion providers , "" Vicki Saporta , president of the National Abortion Federation , said in a statement . "" In order to launch his smear campaign , Daleiden engaged in a long running illegal conspiracy and he should be held accountable for his actions , which have put abortion providers at risk . ""  Some disagreed with the move to clear Planned Parenthood , including Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee .  "" Harvesting human organs is beyond barbaric , it ' s unimaginably grotesque and evil , "" he said . "" And it ' s a sick day in America when our government punishes those who expose evil with a smartphone while accommodating those who perform it with a scalpel . ""  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
12485,12486,"Don t think for a minute this union-style Black Lives Matter/Occupy type  sit-in  wasn t orchestrated in our Oval Office by our Community Organizer in Chief. Obama is desperate to pass gun control legislation before he leaves office. The Democrats who are occupying our House floor are only acting as puppets for his radical agenda. As California Democrat Rep. Brad Sherman spoke Wednesday evening during an unprecedented  sit-in  on Capitol Hill to demand a vote on gun control, Rep. Louis Gohmert (R-TX) interrupted him, shouting:  Radical Islam killed these people!  Sherman, a moderate Democrat from the San Fernando Valley, had joined several dozen of his party colleagues in a protest against House Republicans  refusal to allow votes on several gun regulations   all of which had already failed in the Senate.Though the bills have no chance of becoming law, Democrats hope to win at least one of the votes, which would enable them to argue that by voting Democrat this November, Americans could help them retake the Senate and pass new gun restrictions.The protest was led by Rep. John Lewis (D-GA), who has long drawn on his history in the civil rights movement for partisan purposes, and who hinted last weekend during a Southern California visit that Democrats would  do something  big on guns.The protest was also timed to coincide with, and drown out, a speech in New York by presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. Trump responded to rival Hillary Clinton s attack earlier this week by criticizing Clinton for alleged corruption at the State Department and for her foreign policy record, while laying out his own alternative economic policies.Rep. Gohmert began heckling Rep. Sherman during his speech   which was broadcast via Periscope by another Californian, Rep. Scott Peters of San Diego, in violation of House rules. At roughly 4:24 in the video below, Gohmert points to a poster of the victims of the June 12 terrorist attack and insists that radical Islam killed them   not the lack of gun control regulations.Via: Breitbart News",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,fake,fake,True,no,no,negative,present
12496,12497,"Chelsea fans are no strangers to watching their team ' s young talents get farmed out on loan to various corners of the world , but the curious case of Gael Kakuta is one that has left the Blues faithful with a few raised eyebrows .  Once labelled the next Zinedine Zidane , Kakuta was so sought after in 2007 that Chelsea risked a  transfer ban to acquire the Frenchman ' s signature .  The west London club were close to being banned from signing new players for two transfer windows in 2009 after  Lens claimed Chelsea illegally induced the French youth team player to join Chelsea .  Journeyman : Gael Kakuta has been loaned out to six different clubs in during his time at Chelsea  Bright start : Kakuta celebrates scoring against Manchester City during the  Youth Cup final first leg in 2008  Luckily for the Blues , Lens agreed to drop the complaint after being paid a fee of around 1million for Kakuta .  It ' s now been three years and eight months since Kakuta has made a senior appearance for Chelsea to add to his just six Premier League showings in a blue shirt , which is a figure that looks less and less likely to increase as the former Lens youngster embarks on his sixth loan move .  The 23 year old has now been shipped out to Fulham , Bolton , Dijon , Vitesse , Lazio and Rayo Vallecano but not one club has been impressed enough to enquire about a long term deal for Kakuta .  Rare : The French youngster celebrates with Michael Essien during a Champions League match in 2009  Risk : Kakuta signed for Chelsea in 2007 from Lens in a move that was shrouded in controversy  Former Leeds United prodigies Tom Taiwo and Michael Woods are further example of Chelsea ' s youth development system going awry .  The pair moved to the Blues in 2006 in another highly controversial transfer after former Chelsea chairman Ken Bates accused his old side of ' tapping up ' the talented duo .  Chelsea were eventually ordered to pay 5million in compensation to the Yorkshire outfit for two players that failed to make the grade having been given little chance to impress .  Taiwo didn ' t make a single appearance for the Chelsea first team while Woods made a handful of substitute appearances before moving on .  Although Chelsea ' s managerial merry go round over the last six years won ' t have helped Kakuta ' s cause , there is clearly underlying issues whether its his attitude or lack of attitude at the top level .  Kakuta isn ' t the first and is unlikely to be the last promising youngster to fall foul of Chelsea ' s loan system , with 26 players currently plying their trade away from Stamford Bridge .  21 year old midfielder Josh McEachran looks to be another Blues youngster that has failed to fit in after a bright start in the Chelsea first team set up .  Shipped out : The 23 year old hasn ' t played a competitive game for Chelsea in five years  Out : The 23 year old has now been shipped out to Fulham , Bolton , Dijon , Vitesse , Lazio and Rayo Vallecano  McEachran blossomed under Carlo Ancelotti in 2010 , but failed to gain similar trust from other Chelsea managers since the Italian ' s sacking in 2011 .  If he could have his time again , Kakuta may wish that he could start again with Jose Mourinho at a time in which the Chelsea boss looks keen to give opportunities to the current crop of Stamford Bridge youngsters .  The Frenchman may have been over land and sea in an attempt to prove himself in different colours , but his time at Chelsea looks all but over .  Blue : Kakuta is consoled by Henrique Hilario after his penalty was saved against Blackburn in 2009  Off again : The French winger signed a season long loan deal with Rayo Vallecano this summer  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
12499,12500,"A man who allegedly set off a small bomb at a Starbucks coffee shop was arrested after he made the mistake of bragging about his exploit to friends , police said Wednesday .  An  officer stands guard outside a Starbucks where a bomb went off on Memorial Day .  New York City Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly told reporters that Kyle Shaw , 17 , was arrested Tuesday night at his Manhattan apartment after a police investigation revealed that he bragged to his friends about planting the explosive outside an Upper East Side Starbucks on May 25 .  Shaw allegedly told his friends prior to the explosion that "" Project Mayhem "" was about to begin , Kelly said , and that they should watch the news on Memorial Day .  Shaw was a fan of the movie "" Fight Club "" and imitated Brad Pitt ' s character from the film , the police commissioner said although he apparently failed to adhere to Pitt ' s famous line in the film : "" The first rule of Fight Club is , you do not talk about Fight Club . "" The movie , released in 1999 , also includes a scene in which a Starbucks is destroyed .  Kelly said there is no evidence at this time to suggest that Shaw was behind other recent small explosions in the city , such as the bombings at the Times Square Army recruiting center and the Mexican consulate .  Shaw made the small explosive out of a plastic bottle , firework powder , a metal cap and electrical tape , Kelly said .  The blast , at 3 : 30 a . m . on Memorial Day , damaged a nearby bench and shattered the store ' s windows , the commissioner said .  No one was injured in the explosion , but the bomb was powerful enough to have caused serious injuries if anyone had been nearby , Kelly said .  Shaw has been charged with arson , criminal possession of a weapon and criminal mischief , he added .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
12516,12517,"Faced with a deluge of opposition that included pressure from lawmakers and internal dissent , one of America ' s leading breast cancer advocacy groups on Friday reversed itself on a decision that would have cut off funding to some Planned Parenthood projects .  "" We want to apologize to the American public for recent decisions that cast doubt upon our commitment to our mission of saving women ' s lives , "" the Susan G . Komen for the Cure Foundation said in a statement . "" We will continue to fund existing grants , including those of Planned Parenthood , and preserve their eligibility to apply for future grants , while maintaining the ability of our affiliates to make funding decisions that meet the needs of their communities . ""  The group ' s earlier decision not to renew part of its longstanding partnership with Planned Parenthood , which operates hundreds of family clinics that perform abortions , triggered strong emotions across the country . It provoked objection even from some of its own affiliates .  Planned Parenthood said funding from the Komen foundation has largely paid for breast exams at local centers . In the last five years , grants from the group have directly supported 170 , 000 screenings , making up about 4 of the total exams performed at Planned Parenthood health centers nationwide .  In Washington , 26 Senate Democrats had signed a letter calling on Komen to reconsider . New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg , a longtime Planned Parenthood supporter , pledged 250 , 000 in matching grants to help make up for the loss in funding .  "" Politics have no place in health care , "" the mayor said . "" Breast cancer screening saves lives , and hundreds of thousands of women rely on Planned Parenthood for access to care . We should be helping women access that care , not placing barriers in their way . ""  Bloomberg ' s gift came on top of 400 , 000 that Planned Parenthood reported raising online from 6 , 000 donors the first 24 hours after the initial announcement .  By Friday , the group had raised more than 3 million .  "" It ' s a testament to America ' s compassion and sincerity , "" said Barbara Zdravecky ,  of Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida .  Addressing the controversy , Zdravecky said only about 3 of the group ' s services provide for abortions , a hot button issue in presidential politics , while the majority of the group ' s work is based on prevention , screening and family planning .  An anonymous donor had also offered 300 , 000 in matching grant money earlier this week , Zdravecky said .  "" Today , the interests of women ' s health prevailed over partisan politics , "" said Sen . Frank R . Lautenberg ( D New Jersey ) . "" The Komen Foundation did the right thing . ""  Other lawmakers expressed outrage over Friday ' s announcement .  Republican Rep . Renee Ellmers added that the group ' s "" original stance to stop funding pending an important congressional investigation was an act of courage and prudence , making their sudden reversal today appear hollow and weak . ""  Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum said he was "" deeply disappointed "" in the decision .   , which describes itself as the largest corporate donor to Planned Parenthood , said Thursday that 250 , 000 of its members had signed a petition urging the Komen Foundation to reverse its decision .  "" The ( earlier ) move is clearly connected to attempts by Republicans in Congress to defund Planned Parenthood , "" the organization said in a statement . "" In responding to questions about its decision , the foundation cited as its rationale a sham ' investigation ' into Planned Parenthood launched by Republican Rep . Cliff Stearns , "" who the group called "" one of the most militant anti choice members of Congress . ""  In September , the House Committee on Energy and Commerce , on which the Florida congressman sits , began an investigation into Planned Parenthood over the organization ' s "" compliance with federal restrictions on funding abortions . ""  The group said Tuesday that the Komen Foundation had "" succumbed to political pressure "" by cutting its funding for breast cancer screenings amid increased scrutiny by Congress over how Planned Parenthood provides abortion services .  But the American Life League said in a statement that the foundation ' s decision was justified .  Planned Parenthood "" is currently the focus of a congressional investigation , and multiple affiliates are under state investigations , "" it said . "" Planned Parenthood operatives are lashing out at Komen across the Internet and throughout the media , in what appears to be a coordinated effort to paint Komen ' s policy as cowardly and politically motivated . ""  The Komen Foundation had also denied that its decision stemmed from politics .  "" We ' ve always had the right to cancel contracts for organizations that came under investigation for potential wrongdoing , "" said Nancy Brinker ,  and founder of the group . In all , grants were not renewed to 16 of 19 Planned Parenthood clinics , she said . "" We don ' t base our funding decisions on emotions or politics or whether one side or another will be pleased . ""  Brinker was a political appointee of the George W . Bush administration , in which she served as U . S . ambassador to Hungary and as chief of protocol . Susan G . Komen was Brinker ' s sister .  Komen Foundation President Liz Thompson said the funds would have been redirected "" to other programs in our communities that can provide these services more directly . ""  She said there was "" amazing consensus "" among foundation board members about the decision , which was made "" over the better part of two years . ""  That consensus did not include Dr Kathy Plesser , a member of the foundation ' s medical advisory board in New York , who had pledged to resign if the decision was not overturned .  "" I cannot as a physician and advocate for women ' s health continue to be a part of the organization if it continues in this direction , "" Plesser said . "" A big part of what Komen does is reach underserved communities of women . With this ( earlier ) decision , they ' re not living up to this mission . ""  Mollie Williams , the group ' s managing director of community health programs , left Komen this month .  "" It was an honor to oversee and expand their public health efforts during my six years there , "" Williams said . "" At the same time , I respect the work of Planned Parenthood , including their lifesaving efforts to detect cancer in its earliest stages . The divide between these two very important organizations saddens me . ""  It wasn ' t immediately clear whether she had resigned . Thompson said it ' s policy not to release information about employees other than start and end dates .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
12518,12519,"LeBron James joins Oscar Robertson in Top 25 of points , assists  LeBron James now ranks 25th in  history for assists and 19th in scoring , joining Oscar "" Big O "" Robertson as the only two players in history to be in the Top 25 of both categories . (  ) ( Tony Dejak )  LeBron James joined Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson as the only players in  history to rank in the Top 25 in points and assists .  With his fifth assist Monday night against Orlando , James pulled into the elite company of Robertson , the legendary "" Big O , "" who finished with 26 , 710 points and 9 , 887 assists . James entered the game needing 21 points to pass Reggie Miller ( 25 , 279 ) for 18th on the career scoring list . Robertson is 11th .  James reached the milestone with 5 : 00 left in the second quarter . The Cavaliers ' star drove the lane , jumped and made a quick pass into the corner to Kevin Love , who knocked down a 3 pointer . It moved James past Norm Nixon ( 6 , 386 ) for 25th on the assist list .  Before the game , Magic coach Scott Skiles , who holds the  record with 30 assists in a game , said James is more like Robertson and Magic Johnson than Michael Jordan , the player with whom he is most often compared .  "" Every time there ' s a young great player everybody talks about Michael , but to me he ' s always been more like a Magic ( Johnson ) or an Oscar type player because of his vision , "" Skiles said . "" That ' s what makes it so difficult . If you think you ' re going to give him a steady diet of running and double teaming him , he ' s going to carve you up . He ' s going to find everybody , find the open man . ""  Skiles marvels at how James can take over any game .  "" The really great players play at the pace they want to play at in the game , "" Skiles said . "" It could be fast for a while . It could be kind of slow for a while . It could be they ' re in the post . It could be they run pick and rolls . It ' s very , very difficult to get them out of their pace . There are a lot of talented guys that can ' t go all the way into that upper echelon because they haven ' t quite got that part mastered ? but he does .  "" He ' s going to play the game the way he wants to play it , but his vision certainly sets him apart from a lot of the great players . ""  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
12527,12528,"CASETTA, Italy  —   Romano Camassi, a seismologist, picked up a   speck as he surveyed the damage from this week’s earthquake on the green mountain crest where the village of Casetta, now ruins, once perched. “This is just ground, soil,” he said, sadly. “In so many buildings in this area, that was the material used to keep together the irregular stones found in the surroundings which people used to build their homes. ” Experts like Mr. Camassi, who was part of the first team from Italy’s Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology to arrive at the quake zone in central Italy, say the destruction was amplified by vulnerable buildings whose upgrades to   codes were deemed too costly for many Italians to carry out, too complicated to finance and too cumbersome to get approved. Italy is beloved for its rich architectural history. But that beauty comes at a steep price: both the lives lost when nature reminds its borrowers who is boss, and the money required in the attempt to even the scales. The country has spent an average of 3. 5 billion euros a year, or $3. 9 billion, for the past 50 years to fix earthquake damage, according to the Italian Association of Builders. And, in the aftermath of Wednesday’s quake, Prime Minister Matteo Renzi announced yet another plan to rebuild and buttress Italy’s ancient infrastructure. Many experts maintain that Italy has among the world’s best   standards already  —   at least on paper. But the problems in executing them are legion: money, corruption, tangled bureaucracy, shoddy construction and a lack of enforcement of national regulations at the local level. This quake, like many in the past, already seems likely to expose corners that were cut, contributing to the 280 or more deaths in about 80 villages in the area along the Apennines, Italy’s fragile spinal cord, where the 6.  quake struck. Prosecutors quickly announced an investigation into why a school in Amatrice, the town of about 2, 600 where the most deaths occurred, and the bell tower in nearby Accumoli collapsed. The bell tower, which had recently been refurbished, killed an entire family when it fell. The school, built in the 1930s and renovated in 2012, was supposedly built to new   standards. “You can have the best rules, but if the weak link is the human factor then it’s all over,” said Gianpaolo Rosati, a professor of structural engineering at the Polytechnic University of Milan. “Unfortunately, we find ourselves always protesting about the same things. ” Perhaps the most central, and inescapable, problem is that Italy is old. About 60 percent of its buildings are estimated to be more than 100 years old. That means that most of the country’s architectural heritage was built before any of the modern   standards were instituted. “You can’t ask that an ancient structure adhere to norms designed for modern structures, but you can try to improve them, that’s the path to take with the objective to save human lives,” said Donatella Guzzoni, an engineer and an expert in the preservation of historic buildings. “Italy has the best technologies to do this,” she added. “But it does come down to money. ” Casetta, a hamlet of about two dozen homes, sat on the hill north of Amatrice on the east side of the Tronto River that cuts this valley between two mountain chains. The area was among the most devastated by the quake for a combination of historical, economic and cultural reasons, Mr. Camassi said. “In many cases, they used rounded river stones, put next to one another by someone who ignored even the most ancient best construction practices,” he said. He pointed to a long cement beam hanging perilously from the debris of a   house. “When residents decided to reinforce the buildings, they often substituted the light wooden roofs with cement beams and bricks like that, which only worsened the impact of the quake because they burdened the otherwise frail structure,” he said. Mr. Camassi and other experts pointed out that certifying an existing building to   standards was difficult and often too expensive for most people. Just having a technical expert determine a building’s vulnerability has a price, Mr. Rosati said, estimating it would cost around 10, 000 euros to evaluate a small house. “The cost of reinforcing a building to meet   standards can be around 300 euro per square meter, which means the owner of a largish apartment faces a cost of some 300, 000 euro,” he said, sometimes more than the apartment is worth. And it is not enough for just one homeowner to want to sleep a little easier. “The entire apartment building has to agree to do the same,” he added, and if the palazzos or apartment buildings are connected, the whole neighborhood must agree. Villages like Amatrice and Accumoli are loved for the charm of their narrow streets and spaces, where houses were built cheek to cheek over the centuries to use prime land, often atop narrow peaks. In those tightly packed places, the entire block must be reinforced or the buildings “interact” in an earthquake and can topple like dominoes, Mr. Rosati said. That is precisely the dynamic Mr. Camassi found in Casetta. “Neighbors built in different periods, different buildings with different materials, but adjacent,” he said. “So even those that would have resisted the quake were damaged or even taken down by the others. ” Farther up the mountain is Cossito, an idyllic village of little houses with red geraniums on the terraces. One narrow street divides a recently restored building from the town square, where almost all homes collapsed, killing at least three people. The village had only four families, Mr. Camassi said, and they all lost a member or a close friend. “We thought we did all we needed, but now we simply need to erase this house,” said Roberto Paganelli, a former police officer in the Carabinieri, who was retrieving items from his    mother’s home. The building dates to 1864, he said, and was reinforced in the 1960s. The costs of evaluating and retrofitting old structures are prohibitive for many in this corner of Italy, an easy drive from Rome. Many of these homes were used only in the summer and were not primary residences worth a huge investment. In many cases, the residents are old, living on a pension and barely getting by. The state cannot oblige homeowners to upgrade their buildings unless there are obvious reasons to intervene. “We have    norms, but they only apply to new buildings or important restorations,” said Luca Ferrari, the president of Italy’s Association of Seismic Engineers. “For the vast majority of buildings, we don’t have an   classification, so no one knows whether they are dangerous or not during a quake. ” With a   group of experts, Mr. Ferrari drafted guidelines to classify buildings, with parameters similar to the energy efficiency of a building. This work finished in April 2015, but the government campaign  —   and its fiscal incentives  —   to reinforce existing buildings were still lacking, he said. “This area is at very high seismic danger, and we know that in these small towns of the Apennine Mountains, there are vulnerable buildings,” said Filippo Bernardini, a geologist who worked on Mr. Camassi’s team. “Unless we build better, we offer no hope for the future. ” The alternative  —   razing ancient buildings to construct modern,    palazzos  —   is hardly an option. “In other countries there is greater renewal of the architectural patrimony. They don’t think much about knocking something down to rebuild to different standards,” said Sergio Lagomarsino, an engineering professor at the University of Genoa. But, as Mr. Lagomarsino pointed out, Italy has a more conservative approach and is aware that preserving its heritage has value for the country. “In the face of an important building you can’t demolish a historic center and rebuild it with fake stones,” he said. “It would ‘denaturalize’ Italy. ”",true,news,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
12533,12534,"Reuters) - The head of the House of Representatives’ tax-writing committee said on Sunday he would not accept elimination of a federal deduction for state and local taxes, opposing a proposal from Senate Republicans that would hike taxes for some middle class Americans. House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady said he guaranteed the deduction would not be entirely scrapped in a  final tax bill that emerges from dueling plans already unveiled by Republicans in the House and the Senate. Asked on “Fox News Sunday” if House Republicans would reject a bid by Senate Republicans to do away with the deduction entirely, Brady said: “That’s what I’m saying.” The deduction for state and local taxes, known as SALT, has been one of the most hotly contested issues as Republicans seek to achieve a significant overhaul of the U.S. tax code and hand President Donald Trump his first major legislative victory. It is a chief concern for a group of House Republicans who face re-election battles next year in high-tax, typically Democratic-leaning states such as California, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts. Other sticking points include a proposal by the Senate to delay implementation of a cut in the corporate tax rate and a House plan to eliminate the estate tax on inheritances. Republicans control both the House and the Senate. Lawmakers will debate their respective plans this week before heading home for the Thanksgiving Day holiday. Republicans hope to resolve their differences in time to reach their goal of enacting the legislation by the end of the year. The Senate tax blueprint introduced on Thursday would repeal the  deduction entirely. The House bill would repeal it only for state and local income and sales taxes, but preserve it for property tax up to $10,000 a year. Brady said there were many similarities in the rival tax proposals. “I know that everyone’s stressing the differences - there are some - but there’s far more common ground,” he said. Both the House and Senate plans would add $1.5 trillion over 10 years to the budget deficit and national debt, an increase that has worried some fiscally conservative Republicans. Both plans also call for deep tax cuts for high-earners and businesses and would reshape how the United States taxes multinational corporations. They are both widely seen as a boon for business. Congressional Democrats have criticized the Republican plans as lopsided, favoring wealthy Americans and corporate interests. “Both the House and the Senate bills would raise taxes on millions of middle-class families, particularly in the suburbs, while providing a huge giveaway to corporations and the wealthy,” Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said. “Republicans should go back to the drawing board and fully restore the  deduction,” he said in a statement. Some analyses show that some Americans would see a tax increase under both plans. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin acknowledged that on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday, although he said most middle-class families would be better off. “For most people - and, again, it may not be 100 percent, but by far the majority - both the House and Senate version provide middle-income tax relief,” he said. White House economic adviser Gary Cohn said both plans adhere to Trump’s two main objectives in overhauling the tax code: a tax cut for middle-income Americans and a deep reduction in the corporate tax rate to make U.S. businesses competitive. “That’s how we’re going to grow the economy. That’s how we’re going to pay for the tax bill,” Cohn said on Fox’s “Sunday Morning Futures.” A report by Congress’ Joint Committee on Taxation estimated earlier this month that the House bill could raise taxes on as many as 38 million people who earn between $20,000 and $40,000 per year, beginning in 2023. Republican Representative Peter King has fiercely opposed the elimination of the  deduction, saying many in his home state of New York earning $300,000 a year were hardworking, two-income families facing a very high cost of living. “They’re not hedge fund people,” King said on “Sunday Morning Futures.” “These are hardworking people and they’re going to get screwed by this bill.” ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
12549,12550,"Imagine if Dear Abby had been a Cuban feminist living in New York ' s Spanish Harlem .  Imagine she was a lesbian with gravitas , an immigrant rights activist with spunk , sass and a wickedly mischievous sense of humor and you have Dolores Prida , an advice columnist widely known and beloved in the Latino community .  She died this weekend , at 69 , and her dignified and elegant persona , her significance in New York ' s theater world , its artistic community , Hispanic life , and journalism cannot be overstated , even if you ' ve never heard of her .  An oldest of three children , Ms . Prida , who was born in a Cabairi n , Cuba , came to New York City in 1961 with her siblings and parents , and before long worked in the theater .  She would go on to be a playwright , and among the most important plays she wrote was "" Beautiful Se oritas , "" a searing exploration of the role of women in society . It was written two decades ago , but many of the issues that plagued women then , particularly immigrant women , are still being negotiated today : how to balance the desire for a meaningful career with being a mother and wife when you ' re stuck in traditional , strict , and suffocating gender roles .  She also taught classes at several colleges and wrote political columns for the New York Daily News and El Diario .  But it was in her role as the voice behind Latina magazine ' s advice column , Dolores Dice , ( Dolores Says ) where Ms . Prida ' s generous spirit , lyrical eloquence and playful wit would find its glory .  I had the pleasure of hiring her when I was Latina ' s editor in chief 15 years ago . Though the column name was a sweet coincidence a play on the Spanish verb for pain , dolor once Ms . Prida took it over in the spring of 1998 , it took fabulous form . This was the Hispanic woman ' s answer to Dear Abby . Ms . Prida gave the column guts and grit .  In one of her last responses , published in the current issue of Latina , a woman from Texas who described herself as being "" white and Puerto Rican "" longed to be proud of her heritage .  News : Dolores Prida , "" Latina Dear Abby , "" dies  Ms . Prida ' s response : "" When you say you can pass for either , ' depending on how I dress , wear make up and do my hair , ' you are stereotyping yourself based on an imagined cultural identity centered on looks and behaviors . Latinas do not wear their hair or behave in any particular way . We come in every shape and form . Be yourself . "" The zinger ? "" And stop hanging out with people who judge you based on your hairstyle or outburst of sassiness . Let them think whatever . ""  In a 1998 column that was vintage Dolores , a reader sought advice : "" I ' m married , but I ' ve fallen in love with the young man who works at the corner store . He doesn ' t know it yet . I don ' t know what to do . Iris . ""  The answer ? "" Dear Iris : Do your shopping elsewhere . Pronto ! "" Dolores ""  Ms . Prida ' s work as an advice columnist was remarkable because of the many lenses through which she viewed life , among them : immigrant , Cuban exile , poet , community activist , sister , friend , mentor , immigrant rights advocate , lesbian , cook , smartass a candid soul filled with wisdom and fully lived experiences . She ' d been born in 1943 and she delivered good old fashioned wisdom for women of the 21st century .  It ' s almost a poetic irony that a woman whose name in Spanish means many pains brought so many of us so much joy and light .  Hours before dying of a heart attack , Ms . Prida celebrated the 20th anniversary of  , "" Latinas In Power , Sort Of , "" a women ' s group that we are both part of . But there is nothing "" sort of "" about this unofficial group of gals . Among its members are a publisher of a large metro newspaper , several Emmy and Pulitzer winners , writers , lawyers , producers .  There ' s even a Justice in the group , as in Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor , who decided to pay a surprise visit that night to toast our enduring friendships .  Near midnight Ms . Prida complained of a slight stomachache and left quietly , as if not to disturb the flow . She did not say goodbye , but earlier in the evening she ' d revealed to the group that she would be 70 this year . She could hardly believe it herself . Neither could we . She looked radiant and bursting with energy and ideas . A few blocks from her house , we later learned , she called her sister and asked her to pick her up , as she was not feeling well . Her sister found her .  During the ride to the hospital , the paramedics asked her name , and Ms . Prida instead of repeating her information , responded by telling them that she was just at a party and she was dancing that she was dancing for joy . She died several hours later at Mount Sinai Hospital , surrounded by her two sisters and niece .  She ' d been working on a book , "" How to Become an American in 100 Films "" and told me that finishing was a challenge because she wasn ' t sure she wanted to include modern flicks . She didn ' t care much for them she loved the black and white classics . Of course she did : Classic , like her .  The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Sandra Guzman  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
12566,12567,"What do they want, you ask?  More.  All they ever want is more.  And they’re not going to stop until we stop them.  Physically.    :  The inbound upper level of the George Washington Bridge was closed by an immigrant rights protest on Wednesday morning, snarling traffic on one of the region’s most important crossings at the height of rush hour.  Delays at the bridge for traffic heading into New York from New Jersey were up to nearly 90 minutes; traffic cameras showed bumper-to-bumper traffic barely inching along.  The protesters apparently chained themselves across the roadway to block traffic, unfurling large banners in an attempt to spread their message. One banner appeared to read “Resist, Organized, Act Up!”  Drivers were clashing with the protesters in an effort to get the bridge open, according to witnesses. Police quickly detained the small group and traffic began moving again about 15 minutes.  The Port Authority said 10 people who were blocking the eastbound lanes were arrested. No injuries were reported. The agency said it is investigating.",fake,news,test,Other news1,Conflict,fake,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
12567,12568,"MUMBAI, India  —   Three years before the 2008 global financial crisis, an Indian economist named Raghuram G. Rajan presciently warned a skeptical audience of top economic thinkers that excessive risk threatened the entire global financial system. As Mr. Rajan stepped down on Sunday as India’s top central banker, following intense criticism at home, he offered a new warning: Low interest rates globally could distort markets and would be difficult to abandon. Countries around the world, including the United States and Europe, have kept interest rates low as a way to encourage growth. But countries could become “trapped” by fear that when they eventually raised rates, they “would see growth slow down,” he said. Low interest rates should not be a substitute for “other instruments of policy” and “various kinds of reforms” that are needed to encourage growth, Mr. Rajan said in a recent interview with The New York Times. “Often when monetary policy is really easy, it becomes the residual policy of choice,” he said, when deeper reforms are needed. His warning comes at a time when the world’s central banks appear to be at a loss about how to get global growth moving again. A growing number of voices say that low rates are not doing the job and that governments must take other, more politically difficult steps to reinvigorate growth. The warning by Mr. Rajan, now 53, came as he stepped down from a position that had helped make him something of a rock star  —   albeit a controversial one  —   in India. He disputed the view that his tight monetary policies had cost him the support of the government, and he said that his departure was based on his inability to reach an agreement with the government on serving longer but not serving another full   term. Mr. Rajan is a celebrity in a country where taxi drivers and vegetable sellers are as likely as business owners and bankers to be immersed in debate on the local economy. A blunt speaker who has laid out the case for tighter monetary policies in more than 30 public speeches over the last three years, he was called “the Ranbir Kapoor of banking,” a reference to a Bollywood superstar, by one of the country’s   columnists. Mr. Rajan, whose term expired on Sunday, is credited with helping stabilize the Indian economy. It was fighting   inflation, a weakening of its currency and a plunging stock market when he took the job in 2013. But he also leaves bruised after a barrage of public attacks from the political base of conservatives and   interests of India’s governing Bharatiya Janata Party. They complained that he choked business by keeping interest rates high and requiring banks to clean up bad debts, which made credit expensive and hard to come by. The attacks turned vicious and personal in the weeks before Mr. Rajan announced in June that he would not continue for a second term, with a B. J. P. lawmaker declaring that Mr. Rajan was “mentally not fully Indian,” in part because he holds a United States green card, allowing him to work and live there. Narendra Modi, India’s prime minister, later denounced the attacks, but only after Mr. Rajan said he was leaving the job. With Mr. Modi preparing for contentious local elections, some observers have said the government did not want Mr. Rajan to stay because it needed a looser monetary policy to bolster growth. India has the   large economy in the world, at an annual rate of 7. 1 percent for the most recent quarter, but that is still far slower than the rate of a decade ago and not fast enough to create jobs for the more than one million people who enter the work force each month. Mr. Modi won election in 2014 promising economic growth and jobs. Mr. Rajan, leaning back in his chair and laughing at times during the interview, disputed that claim. “I don’t think it’s fair to say that it’s because of tight policy that the government wanted to move on,” he said. He cited the government’s move after he announced his departure to set a low inflation target of 4 percent for the next five years. He said his successor, Urjit Patel, a central bank deputy governor who takes over this week, played an important role in setting the country’s tough inflation targets. Mr. Modi has said little in public about Mr. Rajan’s departure except to defend him as “someone who loves his country” and “will continue to serve it. ” Mr. Modi’s spokesman declined in a telephone interview on Sunday to explain why Mr. Rajan was leaving, other than to say: “There is a tenure and the tenure has ended. Why should the prime minister of India even be brought into this discussion?” Mr. Rajan said his tight monetary policy had helped bring India’s rate of inflation  —   currently about 6 percent  —   down to the upper end of the government’s target range. “I think we’ve done exactly what was needed,” he said. Mr. Rajan said the central bank should continue to prioritize low inflation. He said he hoped the country would finish “the process of bank cleanup which is underway. ” Under Mr. Rajan, India’s banks, after decades of loose lending to corporations, had to own up to bad debts. The restriction was intended to shore up the   stability of banks, but in the short term it has reduced the pace of lending to businesses. In discussing the Indian economy in the interview, Mr. Rajan offered a    endorsement of the government’s emphasis on manufacturing in India  —   what the prime minister has called his Make in India campaign. Mr. Rajan said he did not support the view of critics that it was too late in world economic history for India to become a manufacturing hub. But he also said that he would not focus exclusively on manufacturing as the solution to joblessness. If India improves infrastructure and reduces government regulations, manufacturing might take off in a big way, but it “could also be services. It could be   agriculture also. ” Although China’s economy has overshadowed India’s in recent decades, Mr. Rajan said he was still a believer in democracy as the better system to create   growth. “India’s strengths to some extent comes also from its democracy,” he said. “Things can get bad in India, but not beyond a certain point, because the democratic process asserts itself. And we have a change in government. ” Mr. Rajan, who served as chief economist of the International Monetary Fund from 2003 to 2006, will return to his longtime job as a professor at the University of Chicago’s business school. He grew momentarily wistful when comparing the job of central bank governor with his past positions, which were more advisory. “So better to be a doer than an adviser. Of course being an adviser sometimes has effects, important effects, but you don’t see it as much immediately. Here you can see what you’re doing and in the years to come. ”",true,news,test,World conflict,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
12590,12591,"The  is under investigation after a worker at the famous Elstree Studios fell 30ft from a ceiling .  He had to be rushed to hospital after being found seriously injured on the floor . It is understood the man , said to be in his mid 30s , was working alone when the incident took place .  He was rushed from the independently run studios in Borehamwood , Herfordshire , to St Mary ' s Hospital in Paddington , London , for specialist treatment on his ' multiple injuries ' .  The  is under investigation after a worker at the famous studios in Elstree fell than 30ft from a ceiling  The Health and Safety Executive is now investigating how the drama unfolded .  Elstree Studios is home to some of the biggest shows on British television , including the  ' s Strictly Come Dancing , The Voice , Never Mind The Buzzcocks and Celebrity Juice .  The site is also known as the birthplace of Star Wars and has also played host to films including Indiana Jones , The King ' s Speech and new release Paddington .  The incident took place three weeks ago , on November 18 . Emergency services were unable to say what the man ' s current condition was but he was understood to have been severely injured in the fall .  The  refused to comment when any questions were put to them about the incident .  Instead , in a statement they said : ' Our thoughts are with the individual and his family , friends and colleagues working on the site . The circumstances of the incident are currently under investigation . '  The spokesman refused to confirm or deny whether the man had been working alone and at height when he fell .  It is understood the man , said to be in his mid 30s , was working alone when the incident took place  Hertfordshire police said they were called to the site in Shenley Road at around 10 . 40pm on November 18 following reports of a man being injured .  A Hertfordshire Police spokesman said : ' It appears the man , who is in his mid 30s and was working at the studios , may have fallen from a significant height .  ' An ambulance was called to the scene and the man was taken to hospital in a serious condition .  ' The Health and Safety Executive were notified . Police are not currently treating the incident as suspicious . '  The East of England Ambulance Service sent two rapid response vehicles , one ambulance crew and a doctor in a car to the scene .  The  said it was aware of an incident and was making inquiries .  A spokesman said : ' The issue for us is whether correct health and safety procedure was followed or not followed . '  Elstree Studios declined to go into details on the incident , with a spokesman saying : ' You would need to speak to the  . It is being investigated . '  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
12594,12595,"Reuters) - A rebel former governor of Aden who is leading a movement for southern Yemen s secession has said an independence referendum would be announced soon and a parliamentary body set up to administer the territory.  Aidaroos al-Zubaidi, who was sacked as Aden governor by  President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, set out his secessionist plans to thousands of supporters gathered on Saturday in Yemen s main southern city to mark 54 years since the October 1963 uprising against the British.  Zubaidi, who has previously declared a council that seeks secession for southern Yemen, said in a television interview late on Friday that an independence referendum would be held soon. Speaking to supporters on Saturday, Zubaidi said a new 303-member parliamentary body, the National Association, would act like a small parliament to represent Yemenis from all areas of the south.  Zubaidi announced in May a new council formed by senior tribal, military and political figures. The council seeks the secession of southern Yemen and is looking to establish a political leadership under his presidency that would administer the south.  The move threatens more turmoil in the impoverished Arabian Peninsular country where the internationally-recognized government is forced to sit in Aden because Houthi rebels control the capital Sanaa.  The council was born out of a power struggle between the southerners and President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi that has undermined regional power Saudi Arabia s efforts to coordinate a military campaign against the Tehran-supported Houthis.  Hadi s government has rejected the formation of the council, saying it would deepen divisions and play into the hands of the Houthi rebels.  Many southerners feel that officials in the north have exploited their resources and cut them off from jobs and influence. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
12612,12613,"A mother of two is desperately trying to raise 6 , 000 for medical treatment to stop her nine year old daughter ' s constant hiccups .  Trudi Veremu ' s daughter Eden , aged nine , from Brixton in South London , began suffering from a bout of ' super charged hiccups ' in November last year and she has not stopped hiccuping since .  Eden is believed to be one of only 50 people in the world to suffer from diaphragm disorder Mycolonus Diaphramatic Flutter , which is also known as ' Belly Dancer ' s Syndrome ' .  Mother of two Trudi Veremu ' s daughter Eden , aged nine , ( pictured ) from Brixton in South London , began suffering from a bout of ' super charged hiccups ' last year and she has not stopped hiccuping since  The hiccups are so strong that it makes Eden ' s speech vibrate and causes an involuntary punctuation in each word she speaks .  The condition means she suffers from quick fire spasms in the lungs and throat causing sharp intakes of breath .  However , she has not yet been formally diagnosed and her worried family want to take her to see a specialist in the United States for diagnosis and treatment .  ' We are 99 per cent sure she has it , but it ' s matter of confirming that , ' her mother told MailOnline .  Now Ms Veremu , 37 , is campaigning to raise 6 , 000 so Eden can be taken to Colorado Children ' s Hospital in an attempt to beat the debilitating condition .  Her mother says she needs to be treated as quickly as possible before the illness becomes life threatening .  If Eden is diagnosed with the illness she will be the first person in Britain to have it .  Trudi Veremu ( centre ) has launched a fundraiser to pay for her daughter Eden ' s ( left ) treatment in the U . S  Ms Veremu said : ' It has been relentless and I am so worried for my girl .  ' The attacks came out of the blue and have not stopped for months .  ' When they are most severe , she is in excruciating agony and unable to talk at all . '  Ms Veremu , who runs a music management company , added : ' The pain , stress and migraines it causes knocks her out for days only for the same to happen again .  ' The  have been great but we do not have time on our side and given how rare this disorder is , we have to go to where it ' s known best . '  Eden is due to travel to the United States in March for treatment at Colorado Children ' s Hospital .  Children from Eden ' s primary school in Kennington are among the hundreds of well wishers who have so far raised more than 2 , 630 towards the total 6 , 000 needed for the trip .  To donate visit the Go Fund Me page .  Mycolonus diaphragmatic flutter or Belly Dancer ' s Syndrome is very rare .  Only about 50 people in the world have been diagnosed with it .  It was first discovered by Antony van Leeuwenhoek in 1723 .  The condition sounds like a short breathed hiccup .  These muscle spasms can recur dozens of times per day .  The rate of diaphragmatic contraction ranges between 35 and 480 contractions per minute , with the an average rate of 150 .  No single treatment has proven effective , but most involve the blocking or crushing of the phrenic nerve .  One notable case is Chaz Moore of Colorado Springs , Colorado he tried several medications , but says only medical marijuana worked .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
12621,12622,"Abe Vigoda , the film and television actor famous for his long , hangdog face and his history of being declared dead long before his time was up , has died . He was 94 .  He died in his sleep on Tuesday morning at the Woodland Park , New Jersey , home of his daughter , Carol Vigoda Fuchs , according to the Associated Press .  His most prominent roles were as one of Don Corleone ' s soldiers in 1972 ' s The Godfather and as Detective Phil Fish on  ' s Barney Miller . His work on the show earned him Emmy nominations in 1976 , 1977 and 1978 , as well as a short lived spinoff , Fish . He embraced the decades long legend of his premature demise , which stemmed from the 1982 wrap party to commemorate the final episode of Barney Miller .  Vigoda , whose character had already been spun off , missed the event because he was acting in a play in Calgary . People magazine , in its account of the party , referred to "" the late Abe Vigoda "" .  The label stuck . "" My wife keeps getting condolence cards from people who believe I died , "" Vigoda told the Toronto Star in 1988 . "" Many are producers . I ' m sure there are many who may have thought about me for a role but said , ' No , he ' s dead . ' ""  Other media outlets repeated the "" late Abe Vigoda "" error in later years .  He often told the story of his agent getting a call from a producer seeking "" an Abe Vigoda type "" , unaware that the original was still around and available .  At a 2004 Friars Club roast of developer Donald Trump , Vigoda was introduced with the words , "" If Abe Vigoda were alive today . "" In recent years , Vigoda made appearances on the late night shows of David Letterman and Conan O ' Brien . H R Block , in a  commercial about death and taxes that ran during the Super Bowl in February 2009 , cast Vigoda to play the character of death .  Abraham Charles Vigoda was born on Feb 24 , 1921 , in New York and was the son of a tailor on Manhattan ' s Lower East Side .  He acted mostly in theatre for the first 20 years of his career .  His break came when film director Francis Ford Coppola cast him in The Godfather as Salvatore Tessio , the gangster who is caught arranging the murder of boss Michael Corleone .  In a famous scene , Vigoda ' s Tessio explains his betrayal as "" only business "" and pleads with Robert Duvall ' s character , Tom Hagen , to "" get me off the hook for old times ' sake "" . Instead , Tessio is led off for his own execution .  Vigoda said the movie was his crowning achievement . "" Brando , Caan , Pacino , De Niro you can imagine how I felt , "" he told the New York Times in 2001 . "" The Godfather changed my life . ""  The role was a stretch for Vigoda , a stage actor and a descendant of Russian Jews . He said Coppola persuaded him to try .  "" Francis said , ' I want to look at the Mafia not as thugs and gangsters but like royalty in Rome , ' "" Vigoda recalled in an interview with Vanity Fair for a 2009 article . "" And he saw something in me that fit Tessio as one would look at the classics in Rome . ""  Vigoda immersed himself in the role . He told Vanity Fair he "" practically lived in Little Italy during the shoot "" . He also appeared in flashback scenes in The Godfather : Part  ( 1974 ) .  On Barney Miller , Vigoda ' s Detective Fish was grouchy , hemorrhoid afflicted and nearing retirement . The spinoff series , which ran 14 episodes in 1977 1978 , revolved around him and his wife becoming foster parents .  Vigoda ' s wife , Beatrice , died in 1992 . He is survived by his daughter .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
12632,12633,"WASHINGTON, D. C.  —   In a stunning rebuke to House Speaker Paul Ryan, House Appropriations Committee chairman Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen ( ) announced his public opposition to Obamacare 2. 0 on Friday morning. [“Seven years after enactment of Obamacare, I wanted to support legislation that made positive changes to rescue healthcare in America,” Frelinhguysen, who has been lauded as the Garden State’s most powerful congressman, wrote in a Facebook post.  Unfortunately, the legislation before the House today is currently unacceptable as it would place significant new costs and barriers to care on my constituents in New Jersey. In addition to the loss of Medicaid coverage for so many people in my   state, the denial of essential health benefits in the individual market raise serious coverage and cost issues. I remain hopeful that the American Health Care Act will be further modified. We need to get this right for all Americans. The House Speaker almost never loses the Appropriations Chairman on major pieces of legislation. The fact Frelinghuysen is against the bill calls into question Ryan’s ability to lead the conference —  including his own committee chairs —  in the future on other pieces of legislation. It shows just how unpopular this legislation really is   and further demonstrates Ryan’s inability to bring together the different factions of the House Republican conference. Many more Republicans are expected to vote against Speaker Ryan’s bill, the American Health Care Act —  or “Obamacare 2. 0” or “Obamacare Lite” or “RyanCare” or “ ” —  as it has become known. Other Republicans who are expected to vote against the revised version of the Affordable Healthcare Act include Rep. Mark Amodei ( ) Rep. Tom Budd ( ) Rep. David Brat ( ) Rep. Mark Meadows ( ) Rep. Mo Brooks ( ) and Rep. Louie Gohmert ( ). Now that Ryan has lost Frelinghuysen —  the chairman of a powerful committee that controls government spending —  it is highly unlikely Ryan will be able to deliver the votes on this. That means Ryan is delivering a loss to President Trump, after failing to control his members. Follow Adelle Nazarian on Facebook and Twitter @AdelleNaz",true,news,test,World conflict,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
12635,12636,"Editor ' s note : Joseph E . Stiglitz , professor at Columbia University , was awarded the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 2001 for his work on the economics of information . Stiglitz was chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers during the Clinton administration before joining the World Bank as chief economist .  Economist Joseph E . Stiglitz says the strategy followed by the architects of the bank bailout was flawed .  America ' s recession is moving into its second year , with the situation only worsening .  The hope that President Obama will be able to get us out of the mess is tempered by the reality that throwing hundreds of billions of dollars at the banks has failed to restore them to health , or even to resuscitate the flow of lending .  Every day brings further evidence that the losses are greater than had been expected and more and more money will be required .  The question is at last being raised : Perhaps the entire strategy is flawed ? Perhaps what is needed is a fundamental rethinking . The Paulson Bernanke Geithner strategy was based on the realization that maintaining the flow of credit was essential for the economy . But it was also based on a failure to grasp some of the fundamental changes in our financial sector since the Great Depression , and even in the last two decades .  For a while , there was hope that simply lowering interest rates enough , flooding the economy with money , would suffice but three quarters of a century ago , Keynes explained why , in a downturn such as this , monetary policy is likely to be ineffective . It is like pushing on a string .  Then there was the hope that if the government stood ready to help the banks with enough money and enough was a lot confidence would be restored , and with the restoration of confidence , asset prices would increase and lending would be restored .  Remarkably , Bush administration Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and company simply didn ' t understand that the banks had made bad loans and engaged in reckless gambling . There had been a bubble , and the bubble had broken . No amount of talking would change these realities .  It soon became clear that just saying that we were ready to spend the money would not suffice . We actually had to get it into the banks . The question was how . At first , the architects of the bailout argued ( with complete and utter confidence ) that the best way to do this was buying the toxic assets ( those in the financial market didn ' t like the pejorative term , so they used the term "" troubled assets "" ) the assets that no one in the private sector would touch with a 10 foot pole .  It should have been obvious that this could not be done in a quick way it took a few weeks for this crushing reality to dawn on them . Besides , there was a fundamental problem : how to value the assets . And if we valued them correctly , it was clear that there would still be a big hole in banks ' balance sheets , impeding their ability to lend .  Then came the idea of equity injection , without strings , so that as we poured money into the banks , they poured out money , to their executives in the form of bonuses , to their shareholders in the form of dividends .  Some of what they had left over they used to buy other banks to pursue strategic goals for which they could not have found private finance . The last thing in their mind was to restart lending .  The underlying problem is simple : Even in the heyday of finance , there was a huge gap between private rewards and social returns . The bank managers have taken home huge paychecks , even though , over the past five years , the net profits of many of the banks have ( in total ) been negative .  And the social returns have even been less the financial sector is supposed to allocate capital and manage risk , and it did neither well . Our economy is paying the price for these failures to the tune of hundreds of billions of dollars .  But this ever present problem has now grown worse . In effect , the American taxpayers are the major provider of finance to the banks . In some cases , the value of our equity injection , guarantees , and other forms of assistance dwarf the value of the "" private "" sector ' s equity contribution yet we have no voice in how the banks are run .  This helps us understand the reason why banks have not started to lend again . Put yourself in the position of a bank manager , trying to get through this mess . At this juncture , in spite of the massive government cash injections , he sees his equity dwindling . The banks who prided themselves on being risk managers finally , and a little too late seem to have recognized the risk that they have taken on in the past five years .  Leverage , or borrowing , gives big returns when things are going well , but when things turn sour , it is a recipe for disaster . It was not unusual for investment banks to "" leverage "" themselves by borrowing amounts equal to 25 or 30 times their equity .  At "" just "" 25 to 1 leverage , a 4 percent fall in the price of assets wipes out a bank ' s net worth and we have seen far more precipitous falls in asset prices . Putting another 20 billion in a bank with 2 trillion of assets will be wiped out with just a 1 percent fall in asset prices . What ' s the point ?  It seems that some of our government officials have finally gotten around to doing some of this elementary arithmetic . So they have come up with another strategy : We ' ll "" insure "" the banks , i . e . , take the downside risk off of them .  The problem is similar to that confronting the original "" cash for trash "" initiative : How do we determine the right price for the insurance ? And almost surely , if we charge the right price , these institutions are bankrupt . They will need massive equity injections and insurance .  There is a slight variant version of this , much like the original Paulson proposal : Buy the bad assets , but this time , not on a one by one basis , but in large bundles . Again , the problem is how do we value the bundles of toxic waste we take off the banks ? The suspicion is that the banks have a simple answer : Don ' t worry about the details . Just give us a big wad of cash .  This variant adds another twist of the kind of financial alchemy that got the country into the mess . Somehow , there is a notion that by moving the assets around , putting the bad assets in an aggregator bank run by the government , things will get better .  Is the rationale that the government is better at disposing of garbage , while the private sector is better at making loans ? The record of our financial system in assessing credit worthiness evidenced not just by this bailout , but by the repeated bailouts over the past 25 years provides little convincing evidence .  But even were we to do all this with uncertain risks to our future national debt there is still no assurance of a resumption of lending . For the reality is we are in a recession , and risks are high in a recession . Having been burned once , many bankers are staying away from the fire .  Besides , many of the problems that afflict the financial sector are more pervasive . General Motors and  both got into the finance business , and both showed that banks had no monopoly on bad risk management .  Many a bank may decide that the better strategy is a conservative one : Hoard one ' s cash , wait until things settle down , hope that you are among the few surviving banks and then start lending . Of course , if all the banks reason so , the recession will be longer and deeper than it otherwise would be .  What ' s the alternative ? Sweden ( and several other countries ) have shown that there is an alternative the government takes over those banks that cannot assemble enough capital through private sources to survive without government assistance .  It is standard practice to shut down banks failing to meet basic requirements on capital , but we almost certainly have been too gentle in enforcing these requirements . ( There has been too little transparency in this and every other aspect of government intervention in the financial system . )  To be sure , shareholders and bondholders will lose out , but their gains under the current regime come at the expense of taxpayers . In the good years , they were rewarded for their risk taking . Ownership cannot be a one sided bet .  Of course , most of the employees will remain , and even much of the management . What then is the difference ? The difference is that now , the incentives of the banks can be aligned better with those of the country . And it is in the national interest that prudent lending be restarted .  There are several other marked advantages . One of the problems today is that the banks potentially owe large amounts to each other ( through complicated derivatives ) . With government owning many of the banks , sorting through those obligations ( "" netting them out , "" in the jargon ) will be far easier .  Inevitably , American taxpayers are going to pick up much of the tab for the banks ' failures . The question facing us is , to what extent do we participate in the upside return ?  Eventually , America ' s economy will recover . Eventually , our financial sector will be functioning and profitable once again , though hopefully , it will focus its attention more on doing what it is supposed to do . When things turn around , we can once again privatize the now failed banks , and the returns we get can help write down the massive increase in the national debt that has been brought upon us by our financial markets .  We are moving in unchartered waters . No one can be sure what will work . But long standing economic principles can help guide us . Incentives matter . The long run fiscal position of the U . S . matters . And it is important to restart prudent lending as fast as possible .  Most of the ways currently being discussed for squaring this circle fail to do so . There is an alternative . We should begin to consider it .  The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Joseph E . Stiglitz .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
12636,12637,"Clare Atkinson , 29 , was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer one and a half weeks ago  Clare Atkinson was in high spirits when she visited her local  with stomach cramps , having just returned from a nine month trip around Australia with her partner .  But the remainder of the 29 year old ' s travel plans were instantly cut short only three weeks ago , after a couple of blood tests led to the detection of a growth in her liver .  Ms Atkinson , who formerly worked as a journalist for the  in Sydney , was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer within weeks of the discovery .  With doctors unable to predict how much time she has left , Ms Atkinson is determined to make the most of her life , proposing to her partner of four and a half years , Lewis , 28 .  ' If I hadn ' t been diagnosed I ' m not sure we would have gotten married yet because we had other things that we wanted to do first like travelling and buying an apartment .  ' It ' s one of those things that I always thought I ' d be able to do and because the doctors don ' t know what kind of time frame they ' re looking at , it was something that I could do when other things had been taken away from me .  ' It will be a nice distraction , something to look forward to and think about instead of thinking about the chemotherapy It ' s an opportunity for us to celebrate our life together and just forget about it for one night . '  The former  journalist , who displayed no symptoms other than stomach cramps , proposed to her partner of four and a half years , Lewis ( left ) , whom she plans to wed in January next year  Amelia Freelander ( left ) , set up a donations page where 9000 has already been raised for Ms Atkinson ' s wedding since the page was set up four days ago  A donation page for the couple ' s January wedding , which was secretly set up by Ms Atkinson ' s close friend Amelia Freelander to help them as they direct their savings to medical costs , has already raised almost 9000 since it was set up four days ago .  But Ms Atkinson , who still shows no symptoms of her cancer other than occasional mild stomach pain , has also taken it upon herself to use her story as an example and encourage others to undertake regular blood analyses .  ' If I hadn ' t happened to go in and get a blood test I never would ' ve have found it and I ' d be living in ignorance until it really was too late . It could be the thing to save your life or give you a bit more time , ' Ms Atkinson said .  Ms Freelander ( right ) with Ms Atkinson and George Negus at a Christmas party said she set up the donations page for her friend after their mutual friends kept asking how they could help  ' If I hadn ' t happened to go in and get a blood test I never would ' ve have found it and I ' d be living in ignorance until it really was too late . It could be the thing to save your life or give you a bit more time , ' Ms Atkinson , who lives a healthy lifestyle , said  ' I never really realised something was wrong , I just went to my  with stomach cramps I ' d had and I went in thinking I had indigestion problems or something minor . '  But two blood tests revealed the journalist had poor liver results , leading to a  scan that showed a huge growth in the vital organ .  ' That was the first time that we knew something was wrong , but at that point not even my doctor realised how bad it was and still thought it could be a benign tumour or a weird growth . It just snowballed from there , ' Ms Atkinson said .  Ms Atkinson ' s first indication of a problem came after two blood tests showed poor liver function  A  scan then showed a huge growth in her liver . Soon after , she underwent keyhole surgery in order to send a sample of her tissue to a lab for testing . A laparoscopy , in which a camera was inserted into her stomach , finally confirmed she had terminal liver cancer  She was immediately admitted to hospital where she underwent numerous  scans and MRIs as well as keyhole surgery in order to send a sample of her tissue to a lab for testing . A laparoscopy , in which a camera was inserted into her stomach , finally confirmed she had terminal liver cancer .  ' But it ' s a secondary liver cancer which means it ' s starting somewhere else and spreading to my liver , ' Ms Atkinson explained .  ' But they don ' t know where the source is yet or whether they ' ll ever know . If they know the source the chemotherapy can be more targeted and there ' s more chance of it helping or being successful . '  Despite only learning of her exact diagnosis one and a half weeks ago and preparing to undergo six weeks of chemotherapy next Monday , Ms Atkinson says she can ' t help but feel somewhat grateful .  She will undergo six weeks of chemotherapy next week , however doctors have been unable to determine how much time she has left  ' As you ' d expect the first few days after being diagnosed were pretty emotional , but there are mixed emotions .  ' You feel a sense of despair that you can ' t describe , but there ' s also an element of gratefulness that you have time to do more things it ' s not like I ' m in pain or had any symptoms or anything , which is why it has come as such a shock .  ' I feel as normal as I ever did , I just have it in the back of my mind now that this is growing inside of me . '  Ms Atkinson encourages anyone affected by cancer who is seeking counselling , support or even financial assistance , to contact the Cancer Council .  To donate towards Ms Atkinson ' s wedding , click here .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
12640,12641,"K pop , handbags and democracy : South Korean payback for North ' s nuclear test   , South Korea South Korea ' s initial retaliation to the North ' s latest nuclear test was a mix of K pop , scathing commentary on its nuclear programme and derision of the ruling family ' s penchant for costly clothes and luxury handbags .  Over the hills by Gimpo city bordering the North , broadcasts from one of 11 banks of high power speakers set up along the border spared no criticism of leader Kim Jong Un , who was believed to have turned 33 on Friday .  "" Clothes for Kim Jong Un and Ri Sol Ju cost tens of thousands dollars each and her purse is worth thousands of dollars too , "" a male announcer said . Ri is Kim ' s wife .  The broadcast can travel 24 km ( 15 miles ) at night and 10 km in daylight , far enough to reach beyond soldiers at the border to civilians to the north .  To the outside world , the idea that broadcasts that also showcase freedom and democracy , and how people are allowed to enjoy love and life , can anger a country enough to risk going to war might seem preposterous .  But North Korea sees them as an attack on the dignity of its leader and political system , and was provoked enough the last time the South used a tactic the North calls "" an open act of war "" , in August , to launch an artillery strike across the border .  South Korean officials said stopping the broadcasts was the main reason the North agreed at that time to end an armed standoff and express regret over a landmine explosion that injured South Korean soldiers .  The South Korean military ' s psychological department produces content for the  radio station Voice of Freedom , which from noon ( 0300  ) on Friday was channelled to the speakers randomly for up to six hours a day .  Early in the broadcast , the South criticised the North ' s claim on Wednesday to have conducted its first hydrogen bomb test . The U . S . government and other experts doubt that the North has achieved such a technological advance since its last nuclear test in 2013 .  "" The nuclear test is making North Korea more isolated and turning it into the land of death , "" an announcer said . Another said Kim ' s signature policy of jointly boosting the economy and nuclear capability "" has no realistic value "" .  North Korean defectors have said the broadcasts had left a lasting impression that there were songs without an ideological message , that spoke only of love .  Commentary , news and weather from around the world are mixed in with such K pop hits as "" Let us love each other "" and South Korean boy band  ' s megahit "" Bang Bang Bang "" .  ( Additional reporting and writing by Ju min Park Editing by Jack Kim , Robert Birsel )  A South Korean soldier stands guard next to loudspeakers , just south of the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas , in Yeoncheon , South Korea , January 8 , 2016 .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
12648,12649,"They arrived in full dinner suits , glittery all in one numbers and the latest in jacket fashions but this is not Paris Fashion Week .  It is day three of Crufts 2015 where the preened and pampered of the canine world gather to compete in the world ' s biggest dog breed competition .  From Afghans in headdresses , to a terrier in a pram , day three of the event at the  arena in Birmingham has seen some incredible sights .  Colourful : This Afghan hound looks to have been inspired by Paris fashion week with its all in one ensemble , headgear and tassles at day three of Crufts in Birmingham  Fine coats : These miniature dogs have turned up on the green carpet wearing eye catching outfits but the judges will be looking at the coats underneath  Top dog : And the best dressed dog award goes to . . . This dog has come in a full doggy dinner suit and is certain to impress the judges  Easy ride : These pampered pooches hitch a ride in a metal cage as they arrive on day three of the competition at the  in Birmingham  Today is the turn of Hounds and Terriers to take centre stage with breeds ranging from West Highland White ' s to shaggy looking Komondor ' s all on show .  The four day event is the world ' s largest dog show with beloved pets competing in categories include agility , heelwork to music and the ever popular flyball final .  There were various displays from groups including the the West Midlands Police and the Southern Golden Retriever display team  Barking : This dog is careful to avoid a bad hair day with its white bonnet as well as wearing protective boots to protect its paws  Shaggy dog story : Comedian Bill Bailey shares a joke with Fodey the Komondor . But Crufts was a serious business for competitors on Saturday  On show : This flowing Afghan hound was at todays show where dogs were tested in various categories including heelwork , agility and obedience  On parade : A Cairn Terrier trots around the ring in front of the clapping crowds at today ' s show at Crufts  Thursday saw the Gundogs do their thing , yesterday featured the Working and Pastoral categories and tomorrow will mark the finale of the competition with the Toy and Utility dogs .  There are also a number of events solely for children and their dogs  It has changed in ways that couldn ' t possibly have been imagined when the show was set up in Victorian times by the late Charles Cruft . Although it was a very different event in 1891 Charles Cruft was a great showman and would surely have enjoyed the size and scope of the event today , which is an essential date in any dog lover ' s calendar .  puppy love : One dog reaches in for a kiss from its owner at the biggest dog show on earth happening in Birmingham this weekend  All creatures great . . . Owner Laura Barclay arrives with her Irish Wolfounds . It looks like her four dogs are taking her for a walk  And small : Miniature Daschunds take tiny strides towards the crufts arena on their leads with their owners on Saturday  On your marks : These greyhounds keep warm in their colourful checkered coats but look ready to compete at any second at Crufts this weekend  Pristine pooches : These American Eskimos look white than white as they trot along to the Crufts arena in Birmingham on Saturday  Beard trim : This terrier has its coat trimmed to ensure it ' s in tip top condition for the judges on day three of the world famous canine competition  Getting ready : An owner applies the finishing touches to her beautiful hound while things start to get underway in Birmingham  Close shave : A Bedlington terrier is clipped as its owner ensures it is looking its best for today ' s terrier category at Crufts  Although there is a packed schedule of contests for the dogs to take part in , for much of the time they left waiting around for their event to start .  Each animals is assigned a sleeping area , which many of the owners decorate with cushions , pictures and rosettes from previous competitions .  The dog show is still an important part of the event , celebrating the unique relationship that dogs share with their owners . Judges are trained to ensure that only healthy dogs win prizes , which in turn encourages the breeding of healthy dogs . But the event is now about so much more besides .  Star quality : The dogs get celebrity treatment for the day , and also celebrity attention , as Bill Bailey arrived to give poodles Cedric ( left ) and Walter a cuddle  Snazzy jackets : These hounds show off their slim waistlines with their colourful coats on their way to perform in the Terrier and Hound day  No walkies : A Maltese named Buttons looks out from his pushchair during day three of Crufts 2015 at the  , Birmingham  This way : An English Bull Terrier shows his strength and enthusiasm for the esteemed dog show as he pulls on his leash  Crufts is ultimately a celebration of all dogs . It celebrates working dogs , such as those in the Gamekeeper classes or which line up for the Police Dog Team Operational and Humanitarian Action of the Year award .  The dogs compete in various events to test their obedience and agility in order to be named Best In Show .  Proud : A West Highland White stands on a Union flag ( left ) while two standard Poodles wait patiently on day three at the   Happy hound : This Afghan Hound is all smiles while waiting for its turn at the largest dog breeds show in the world  Do your ears hang low ? This bloodhound is drooling with excitement as he gets ready to be part of the biggest dog show there is  Why the long face ? Because it ' s the terrier and hound category at Crufts 2015 in Birmingham . This dog relaxes on his mat before show time  All smiles : This little dog lover clutches on to a couple of soft dog cuddly toys while bling collars are also on show  Picture perfect : This wise looking Afghan hound is immaculately groomed and ready for judgement day  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
12661,12662,"White House ' Super Heroes ' await the  outcome in Chicago .  The Barack Obama White House , issued a revealing statement at a hastily organized recent press conference . Reporters were mesmerized as the White House press secretary related the actions of the ' Super Teams ' part in capturing a Unidentified Flying Object , and the arrest of Transformer ' s Megatron .  Obama and his team of newly named ' super heroes ' team described an action that occurred last week in Chicago when Obama was visiting . The story according to Obama , and confirmed later by Reverend Wright , concerned a late night  visit to Obama ' s Chicago home while Obama was up late preparing an egg omelette .  "" Strange lights appeared outside my window . I immediately thought it was someone like Karl Rove playing a trick on me to keep me from eating my omelette . "" The reporters hushed as the drama was building , but Obama continued , "" I opened the window and this strange dwarfy looking creature jumps in and waves his red tipped finger at me ! I could tell he was a Tea Bagger at first glance ! ""  Jaws dropped as Obama ' s face showed real memory of past fear . "" I quickly reached for the frying pan and cold konked the little guy in the head ! Then , I tied him up and called the Navy  , and the police . ""  Police officials at first denied the action ever took place and showed an actual Chicago police log for that night that showed officers showed up at Obama ' s home to break up a ' pot party ' , but later changed their story after a 100 million dollar Homeland sercurity grant to the  was announced .  Shocked staffers lead the babbling President away as reporters packed up their equipment and staff assistants picked up campaign slogan posters . Onlookers moved their hands from unbelieving faces as the President was pulled away from the microphone , but not before he was heard how ' those little E . T ' s wanted to collect his precious bodily fluids ' .  The Megatron incident was slapped with a ' Top Secret ' coding and no one would speak about it .  The White House press secretary Jim Carney released a photo of White House senior officials dressed in their super heroes costumes .  ",satire,text,test,American football,US elections,true,satire,True,no,no,positive,past
12685,12686,"Reuters) - Republican lawmakers launched the next round in their fight against federal regulation on Wednesday, helped by at least one Democrat, as the U.S. Senate began work on legislation to change nearly every step agencies take in creating and applying new rules. Republicans have said they deem lightening federal regulation, which they consider costly and burdensome, as much a priority as overhauling healthcare and rewriting the tax code.  For most of President Donald Trump’s first 100 days, the Republican-led Congress attacked regulation by passing resolutions to wipe some of former Democratic President Barack Obama’s rules off the books under the Congressional Review Act. Trump also ordered agencies to scrap two existing rules every time they enact a new one. Just before Trump’s January inauguration, the House of Representatives passed the “Regulatory Accountability Act,” combining a half dozen bills to radically change government regulation. On Wednesday, Senator Rob Portman, a Ohio Republican, and Senator Heidi Heitkamp, a North Dakota Democrat, introduced a version of the act for that chamber. If it passes, the bill will be combined with the House version for Trump to sign into law. The bill would bring “our outdated federal regulatory process into the 21st Century by requiring agencies to use the best scientific and economic data available, strengthening checks and balances, and giving the public a voice in the process,” Portman said in a statement. It requires stricter cost-benefit analysis, use of the “best available science” to craft rules, and reviews of regulations, according to a summary. The bill diverges from the House version on what is known as the “Chevron Deference,” based on a Supreme Court ruling that courts should defer to agencies’ interpretations of statutes governing their rulemaking. The House legislation eliminates the Chevron Deference, while the Senate one creates a judicial review process where courts can decide if agencies comply with the law and then remand non-compliant rules to agencies. Courts would also review factual determinations used in drafting rules costing more than $1 billion annually. Environmental and labor groups said the Senate bill could block needed new regulations and weaken existing ones.  “This bill would tilt the scales in favor of polluters at the public’s expense,” said Scott Slesinger, legislative director of the Natural Resources Defense Council. “It would make it virtually impossible to safeguard the public from dirty air, unsafe drinking water and other health threats.”  ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,US elections,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
12688,12689,"Team Grades : Roethlisberger Rusty In Return , Steelers Fall To ? Bengals  Filed Under : Antwon Blake , Ben Roethlisberger , Cam Heyward , Cincinnati Bengals , Le ' Veon Bell , Pittsburgh Steelers   ,   01 : Ben Roethlisberger 7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers scambles in the pocket during the 4th quarter of the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Heinz Field on November 1 , 2015 in Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania . ( Photo by Justin K . Aller Getty Images )  The Pittsburgh Steelers looked primed to truly challenge the unbeaten  North leading Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday at Heinz Field with an early touchdown from quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to Antonio Brown . On a day that saw the offense and Big Ben turn into a train wreck , the Steelers defense was what came up big . Running back Le Veon Bell suffered a right leg injury and despite overcoming costly , unnecessary penalties with solid defensive play and two interceptions . Pittsburgh falls to an even record in Week 8  The return of Roethlisberger was supposed to be as big as the next Star Wars movie . Unfortunately , after looking strong early , Roethlisberger struggled behind an offensive line that collapsed around him frequently enough to keep him shuffling the best he could with his leg in a brace for the first time in his career . Frustrated , Roethlisberger forced passes and overthrew targets , leading to a three interception day and a miserable performance in front of the home crowd . He completed just 28 of 45 passes for a single touchdown as his offense could not put points on the board .  Bell s injury is concerning for several reasons , but the biggest may not be the play of DeAngelo Williams . Brown , Martavis Bryant and Markus Wheaton were not sharp in this game . Heath Miller led the team in receptions with ten for 105 yards . The Steelers were only able to create 356 yards of total offense and six points after they watched their teammates on defense go get them the ball .  Antwon Blake had the defensive play of the game after Cam Heyward came up big to block a Nugent field goal . Reading Dalton , Blake jumped the route in the end zone and scampered along the sideline for a 42 yard interception and return . On the next Bengals possession , Mike Mitchell was the benefactor of a ball tipped by Green after a nice hit by Ross Cockrell . Unfortunately , every defensive edge was translated into zero points on the scoreboard .  The only reason the special teams did not earn a higher grade was because kickoff returner Dri Archer exited the end zone twice on kickoffs when he should have just allowed to be touchbacks . Heyward s field goal block was accentuated by a solid performance by placekicker Chris Boswell .  There is no excuse . Mike Tomlin didn t get Roethlisberger to calm down and relax in this game , instead asking his veteran to come out and generate offense with a team that really looks a bit like a deer in the headlights right now . There is no one area that can be patched right up . The coaching staff once again wasted an opportunity to call a timeout before the two minute warning at the end of the game , a call Tomlin said was because he felt a later timeout was more important . It cost the Steelers 28 seconds on the clock , time that may have given Roethlisberger at least one more last ditch opportunity .  This is a Steelers team that can t get itself righted when things , like big defensive turnovers , fall in their laps . It has been a theme with this team in 2015 . The Steelers host the Oakland Raiders in Week 9 . The only way to right the ship in Pittsburgh is for the Steelers to avoid the trap game situation and dominate Oakland .  Christina Rivers has covered the Pittsburgh Steelers and National Football League professionally as a journalist and photographer for over a decade . Rivers studied Exercise Physiology and Sports Psychology at Brigham Young University as a student athlete . Christina is a freelance writer covering all things  as well as a published author . Her work can be found on  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
12702,12703,"The television news anchor who misreported the names of the four pilots who were aboard Asiana Airlines Flight 214 when it crash landed last week in San Francisco apologized Saturday for the screwup .  The bogus names phonetically spelled out phrases such as "" Something Wrong "" and "" We Too Low . ""  Campbell ' s apology followed by one day an apology by the National Transportation Safety Board for the "" inaccurate and offensive "" names that were erroneously confirmed by a summer intern .  "" Earlier today , in response to an inquiry from a media outlet , a summer intern acted outside the scope of his authority when he erroneously confirmed the names of the flight crew on the aircraft , "" the  said Friday in a statement .  Opinion : How to save your life in a plane crash  Campbell read the names during  ' s noon broadcast on Friday , after which the news station apologized on air and on its website .  "" Nothing is more important to us than having the highest level of accuracy and integrity , and we are reviewing our procedures to ensure this type of error does not happen again , ""  posted on its website .  The station said the names were confirmed by an  official in Washington prior to air .  It was not immediately clear who produced the fake names , but the  said it was not the intern .  "" The names were presented by the station , to the intern for confirmation , "" said  spokeswoman Kelly Nantel . "" The intern did not make up the names and provide them to the station . ""  The  said it does not release or confirm the identities of crew members or people involved in transportation accidents .  "" We work hard to ensure that only appropriate factual information regarding an investigation is released and deeply regret today ' s incident , "" the  statement said .  The  did not identify the intern , but said , "" Appropriate actions will be taken to ensure that such a serious error is not repeated . ""  Asiana Airlines has identified the pilot flying the Boeing 777 that crashed at San Francisco International Airport as Lee Kang Kuk .  Did Asiana pilot have enough 777 experience ?  Asiana Flight 214 was carrying 291 passengers and 16 crew members when it crash landed Saturday on the runway after striking a seawall .  Three passengers died , including a girl who died of her injuries Friday morning . More than 180 others were injured .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
12716,12717,"Calls for Oscars boycott over all white acting nominations  Film maker Spike Lee and actor Jada Pinkett Smith say they will not attend this year ' s lily white ceremony  In a video posted to her official Facebook account , actor Jada Pinkett Smith reveals why she will be boycotting this year ' s Oscars ceremony . Video : Jada Pinkett Smith  Spike Lee , in a post on Instagram , said he cannot support the lily white Academy Awards this year . Photograph : Dimitrios Kambouris Getty Images  Calls for a boycott of the Academy Awards are growing over the Oscars second straight year of all white acting nominees , as Spike Lee and Jada Pinkett Smith each said they will not attend this year s ceremony .  In a lengthy Instagram post , Lee said he cannot support the lily white Oscars .  Noting that he was writing on Martin Luther King Jr Day , Lee ? who in November was given an honorary Oscar at the Governors Awards ? said he was fed up : Forty white actors in two years and no flava at all , he wrote . We can t act ? !  A photo posted by Spike Lee ( officialspikelee ) on  In a video message on Facebook , Pinkett Smith also said she would not attend or watch the Oscars in February . Pinkett Smith , whose husband Will Smith was not nominated for his performance in the  head trauma drama Concussion , said it was time to disregard the Academy Awards .  Begging for acknowledgement , or even asking , diminishes dignity and diminishes power , she said . And we are a dignified people and we are powerful .  She added : Let s let the academy do them , with all grace and love . And let s do us differently .  Last year s all white acting nominees also drew calls for a boycott , though not from such prominent individuals as Lee and Pinkett Smith . Whether it had any impact or not , the audience for the broadcast , hosted by Neil Patrick Harris , was down 16 per cent from the year prior , a six year low .  This year , Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences president Cheryl Boone Isaacs has made a point of presenting a more inclusive show . The February 28th broadcast will be hosted by Chris Rock and produced by Django Unchained producer Reginald Hudlin and David Hill . On Saturday , Rock , unveiling a new promotion for the broadcast , called the ceremony The White  Awards .  When Oscar nominations were announced on Thursday , Ms Isaacs acknowledged she was disappointed that all 20 acting nominees were again white . Isaacs has worked to diversify membership for the academy , which a 2012 study by the Los Angeles Times found is overwhelmingly white and male .  Nominations were widely predicted for Idris Elba of Beasts Of No Nation and Benicio Del Toro for Sicario . The  biopic Straight Outta Compton also failed to earn a best picture nomination , despite some predictions it would . Ryan Coogler s acclaimed Rocky sequel Creed scored a nomination only for Sylvester Stallone . Lee s own movie , the Chicago gang violence hip hop musical Chi Raq ? celebrated by some and scorned by others ? also went unnoticed .  The hashtag OscarsSoWhite , created last year , was quickly resurrected online following the nominations .  Rev Al Sharpton ? who last year met with former Sony head Amy Pascal following leaked emails that some viewed as racist ? on Friday lambasted the academy .  Hollywood is like the Rocky Mountains , the higher up you get the whiter it gets and this year s Academy Awards will be yet another Rocky Mountain Oscar , said Sharpton .  In his post , Lee made it clear the Academy Awards is only part of the problem in an industry with deep rooted diversity issues . In his Governors Awards speech , Lee said : It s easier to be the president of the United States as a black person than be the head of a studio .  The Academy Awards is not where the real battle is , wrote Lee on Tuesday . It s in the executive office of the Hollywood studios and  and cable networks . This is where the gate keepers decide what gets made and what gets jettisoned to turnaround or scrap heap . This is what s important . The gate keepers . Those with the green light vote .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,negative,present
12732,12733,"In the movie "" Back to the Future , "" the year is 1955 when Marty McFly introduces the song "" Johnny B . Goode "" to a high school dance . That was three years before this tune was actually written , but McFly knows it well because he ' s from the future .  It would stand to reason that in real life , time travelers from a future era or who had at least visited the future might give themselves away by mentioning events that haven ' t yet occurred . They might even do so online .  I mean , you ' d obviously take to social media to broadcast your foreknowledge of world events , right ?  Scientists at Michigan Technological University wanted to see if they could catch any such slips by residents of the future . So Robert Nemiroff , professor of physics , and graduate student Teresa Wilson conducted a whimsical study in hopes of identifying accurate predictions of future events . They are presenting their study at the American Astronomical Society Meeting on Monday .  The online platform that allowed them to look most comprehensively for prescient posts was Twitter , because the social network doesn ' t allow back dating . Facebook users can alter timestamps on posts , and the popular search engines Google and Bing were not as helpful as Twitter in looking for "" prescient information , "" the authors found .  Study authors focused on two major search terms they believe will have lasting significance for years to come : Comet  and Pope Francis . They looked for mentions of these from January 2006 to September 2013 .  Before the identification of comet  in 2012 , there were no mentions that the researchers could find of this icy space rock . Similarly , before Jorge Bergoglio took on his papal name in 2013 , the phrase "" Pope Francis "" did not appear in the researchers ' search results , except for one person ' s blog , which appears to have been speculating not remembering something from the future .  It appears that no one posted about his or her neighbor or acquaintance declaring the name Pope Francis early , either .  "" It ' s not proof , but it ' s an indication to me that it ' s not possible , "" Nemiroff said , referring to time travel .  There are , of course , several reasons why this technique might not detect any time travelers . Nemiroff and Wilson may have missed them by using the wrong search terms . Temporal adventurers might avoid posting to social media altogether , or even using the Internet , for fear of being found out .  Or , you know , it might be physically impossible to travel to the past .  "" It ' s the largest database ever searched for that kind of information . It ( evidence of time travel ) might have been there , "" Nemiroff said .  The idea for the study came about in discussions during poker games with his students , he said . Don ' t worry , that ' s not all they ' re doing Nemiroff studies other more substantial topics such as gamma ray bursts , and helped create  ' s Astronomy Picture of the Day website .  Others have tried in the past to lure time travelers into exposing themselves , Nemiroff and Wilson note in their paper .  A convention for time travelers was held in May 2005 by then graduate student Amal Dorai at  , but no one living among us from the future showed up , although the event attracted 450 guests , according to Nature .  Renowned physicist Stephen Hawking , similarly , said in a July 2012 interview that he had thrown a party for time travelers , sending out invitations after the party occurred . Sadly , no one came .  Similarly , no one answered the study authors ' calls to tweet on or before August 2013 using the hashtags ICanChangeThePast2 or ICannotChangeThePast2 , indicating whether the time travelers believed they could alter history .  Sean Carroll , a physicist at California Institute of Technology who was not involved in the study , said physicists who have studied the question of time travel into the past taking into account Einstein ' s theory of general relativity have concluded that we can imagine time travel , but it ' s probably not possible in real life .  "" We don ' t have an airtight proof , but at the very least it would involve manipulating astrophysically significant amounts of matter and energy in unheard of ways , "" he said in an e mail . "" And even if you built a ' time machine , ' it would let travelers from the future go back to the moment you built it , but you wouldn ' t ever be able to visit any moments before you built it . Since we don ' t think anyone has built one already , I think we ' re safe from time travelers for the time being . ""  Still , Carroll said , Nemiroff ' s paper represents a fun , clever idea .  "" To be clear , there was essentially zero reason to believe that they were going to find any evidence for time travelers , but since it didn ' t exactly cost a lot of money to perform the study I ' m all in favor of it , "" Carroll said .  So , if you are from the future and reading this , you secret is probably still safe for now .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
12734,12735,"Judge Refuses To Toss Sex Assault Charge Against Bill ? Cosby  Filed Under : bill cosby , Sex Assault , Steve Kastenbaum  Bill Cosby is led into court in Elkins Park , Pennsylvania on sexual assault charges . ( Credit : CBS2 )   , Pa . ( CBSNewYork  ) ? A Pennsylvania judge has refused to throw out the sexual assault case against Bill Cosby , despite claims that a previous district attorney had granted the comedian immunity from prosecution a decade ago .  Current ? Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele had testified during the two say proceedings that there was no non prosecution agreement in writing , and if anything was agreed to in conversation it wasn t legally binding , 1010  Steve Kastenbaum reported .  The decision on Wednesday means the case will ? move to a March 8 ? preliminary hearing to see if prosecutors have enough evidence to prove Cosby assaulted the accuser at his Philadelphia area home more than a decade ago .  The case was reopened last year based on ? Cosby s newly released deposition in the accuser s lawsuit and similar accusations raised by dozens of other women . ? It s the first time Cosby has faced charges despite years of similar accusations .  In the deposition , Cosby stated ? he obtained quaaludes to give to women he wanted to have sex with and gave the accuser three pills at his home .  Judge Steven T . O Neill also refused a defense request to ? disqualify the prosecutor from the case .  Cosby s lawyers were ? hoping to disqualify Steele because the Cosby case was an issue in last fall s hotly contested  s race against Bruce Castor .  Steele ran ads criticizing Castor for not prosecuting Cosby when he had the chance  During the two day proceeding , Cosby showed little emotion . During the ruling , he held his head in his hands but later smiled at his lawyers .  Cosby is charged with ? aggravated indecent assault ? in the case .  The alleged incident happened in 2004 , when Cosby supposedly invited Andrea Constand ? a former athlete and administrator at Cosby s alma mater ? Temple University ? ? to his 2 million home .  According to a 23 page complaint , Cosby gave Constand three blue pills that he claimed were herbal . Within a half hour , Constand experienced blurred vision and difficulty speaking , the complaint said .  Cosby s attorney said her client and the alleged victim had a consensual relationship and she s confident he ll be cleared of any wrongdoing .  If convicted , Cosby faces up to 10 years in prison .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
12735,12736,"A survey of Muslim voters in six states has found one surprising result : Donald Trump was the most popular Republican presidential candidate , despite his calls for tighter surveillance of Muslims and limits on Muslim immigration .  The poll , not unexpectedly , found that 67 percent of the respondents support the Democratic Party and 51 percent of them plan to vote for Hillary Clinton . Sen . Bernie Sanders trailed with 22 percent .  But of the 15 percent who said they intended to vote for Republicans , Trump was the first choice , with more than 7 percent of the total .  The survey , which was commissioned by the Council on American Islamic Relations and carried out Jan . 26 , comprised interviews with 2 , 000 registered Muslim voters in California , Florida , Illinois , New York , Texas and Virginia ? the states with the largest Muslim populations in the United States .  The council did not identify the independent automated call service provider that undertook the survey .  Robert McCaw , the council s government affairs manager , suggested that the increase in respondents who said they planned to vote was likely driven , at least in part , by concern over the rise in anti Muslim rhetoric since terrorist attacks late last year in Paris and San Bernardino , California .  About 30 percent of the respondents said Islamaphobia was their No . 1 concern . The economy and health care ranked No . 2 and No . 3 .  Despite the concern over anti Muslim feelings , Trump was the most popular of the Republicans among the respondents ? even with his calls for closing down mosques , monitoring Muslims and barring them from immigrating to the United States .  Support for other Republicans was negligible : Ted Cruz received 2 percent , Jeb Bush 1 . 57 percent and Rand Paul , Ben Carson , Chris Christie and Carly Fiorina each received less than 1 percent .  Ibrahim Hooper , the council s director of communications , called the Trump result puzzling .  It is not unusual to find Muslim Republicans , because the two are similarly socially conservative , he said . But at a time when anti Muslim rhetoric and bigotry is being spewed by Republicans , it is rather unusual .  Hooper , however , said it was possible that the Trump supporters were unaware of the candidate s anti Islam stands . He noted that former Maryland Gov . Martin O Malley , a Democrat who became the first presidential candidate to visit a mosque in December , was favored by just 0 . 98 percent of the respondents .  This is what makes me think that this result could be more about the recognition of Donald Trump s name than anything , he said . People probably do not know of a Martin O Malley , but they surely know of Donald Trump by default .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
12744,12745,"For one father , trying to make the best of his daughter ' s eye problem is as simple as being creative with a marker pen .  Layla Grubb , 11 months , was born with a cataract in her right eye so she must wear a patch on her left eye for two hours a day to strengthen it .  So her father Geoffrey Grubb , 31 , from the Midwest ,  , simply draws a new design on her patch every day ' to make it fun ' and takes a picture .  Little Layla Grubb , 11 months , must wear a patch for two hours a day to help strengthen her right eye  Creative father Geoffrey Grubb draws fun designs such as a flower , left , or a bug , on Layla ' s eye patches  Layla gets half a pair of spectacles just like her father Geoffrey Grubb , who took the enchanting snaps  The adorable baby was born with a small cataract that affects the sight in her right eye so in order to help the injured eye develop properly , she has worn a patch over her stronger eye for two months .  She won ' t need surgery and the family hope patching will be enough but she will continue to have to wear one until she ' s four or five years old .  Stay at home father Geoffrey said he quickly came up with the idea to decorate them .  ' We bought some patches for her and they were a little weird to look at , so I started drawing on them the next day to make it more fun for both of us , ' he said .  ' She ' s too young to really know what ' s going on but I always show her the pictures before I put it on . She likes the pictures but she ' s much happier when it ' s time to take it off . '  The adorable baby was born with a cataract in her right eye , so the patch helps her vision develop correctly  When it ' s cold , Layla gets a patch decorated with a snowman complete with top hat and carrot nose  Seeing out of one eye doesn ' t slow Layla down . She looks playful with cartoon characters on her patch  In the pictures , Layla certainly seems a very sunny baby and always has a big smile .  Geoffrey takes pictures of Layla every day and sends them to his family .  He has drawn a range of designs on her skin coloured patches including eyes inspired by Spider Man , Bishop from X Men , Catwoman , as well as a heart and a floating balloon .  And so far he has come up with original drawing every day .  He said : ' The designs are mostly pop culture things that I think will be funny or cute . I haven ' t repeated any yet and I snap a picture with my iPhone every day .  It even doubles as a name badge ! Geoffrey writes his daughter ' s name in block capitals and colours them red  Layla channels Long John Silver with this traditional black patch drawn on the skin coloured medical one  Bishop from X Men provides inspiration for this design which isn ' t interfering in Layla ' s story time one bit  Babies and toddlers wear patches to help the eye send correct messages to the brain to prevent a lazy eye from developing .  This occurs when the vision in one eye doesn ' t fully develop during childhood and can ' t necessarily be corrected with glasses in later life .  Geoffrey posted the pictures and Layla ' s predicament on the social media website Reddit , noting that she often rubs her patch and gets irritable .  His fellow users offered messages of support about their own experiences of wearing eye patches and some invaluable advice .  Geoffrey said : ' The best advice I received was to put a little Vaseline on her eyebrow so the patch doesn ' t rip her hair out when I take it off . I thought that was genius . '  A trip round the supermarket is given some comic book cool with a Layla ' s Catwoman eye patch  Layla ' s clearly a little star , so naturally dad Geoffrey drew a yellow five point star with a face on her patch  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
12748,12749,"Hillary Clinton,  and the Real November Surprise By Pepe Escobar ""As bad as it is the folks above the President make the decisions. They may have decided on Trump. These things do not happen by accident."" "" Sputnik "" - Thus spoke a high-level  business mover and shaker with secure transit in rarified Masters of the Universe-related circles, amidst the utter political chaos provoked by head of the  James Comey’s latest bombshell. It’s virtually established by now that  Attorney General Loretta Lynch told Comey not to release his letter to Congress. But Comey did it anyway. If he had not, and a scandal would – inevitably – spring up after the  presidential election, Lynch would be perfectly positioned to deny she knew anything, and Comey would be on the firing line. Lynch is a certified Clinton machine asset. In 1999 then-President Bill Clinton appointed her to run the Brooklyn  Attorney’s office. She left in 2002, taking the private practice revolving door. She was back to the Brooklyn office in 2010, urged by Obama. Five years later she became the 83rd  Attorney General, replacing the dodgy Eric Holder. A plausible case has been made that Comey took his fateful decision based on a serious internal revolt at the  – led by key people he trust — as well as being egged-on by his wife. Yet one of the key questions that refuse to go away is why the  waited until 11 days before the  presidential election to supposedly ""find"" an email trove on certified sexting pervert Anthony Weiner’s laptop. A Deal With Donald? The business source, although unsympathetic to the Clinton machine, especially in foreign policy, is a realpolitik practitioner, not a conspiracy theorist. He is adamant that, “the  reversal could not have happened without orders above the President. If the Masters [of the Universe] have changed their mind, then they will destroy Hillary.” He adds, “they can make a deal with Donald just like anyone else; Donald wins; the Masters win; the people think that their voice has been heard. And then there will be some sort of (controlled) change.” What’s paramount in the whole soap opera is the faith in the  political system — as corrupt as it may be — must endure. That mirrors the faith in the  dollar; if confidence in the  dollar fails, the  as a hegemonic financial power is no more. The source is equally adamant that, “it is almost unprecedented to see a cover-up as extensive as Hillary’s. A secret meeting between Bill Clinton and the Attorney General; the  ignoring all evidence and initially clearing Hillary to near rebellion of the whole of the FBI, attested to by Rudolf Giuliani whose reputation as a federal prosecutor is unquestioned; the Clinton “pay for play” foundation. The Masters are troubled that this is getting out of hand.” The record shows that “the Masters do not usually have to go to such lengths to protect their own. They did manage to save Bill Clinton from the Monica Lewinsky perjury and keep him in the presidency. The Masters were not attacked in this case. They even got away with the 1987 cash settlement crash and the theft surrounding the Lehman debacle. In all these cases there were no overarching challenges to their control, as we see now open to the public by Trump. They antagonized and insulted the wrong man.” All Aboard the Huma Train Hillary Clinton is not at the center of Comey’s jaw-dropping October Surprise; it’s actually her right-hand woman and ersatz “daughter” Huma Abedin. This early January essay on Huma Abedin contains plenty of nuggets out and about – some of them positively eyebrow raising. In case Hillary Clinton becomes the next President of the United States (POTUS), Abedin, alternatively known as Princess of Saudi Arabia, will most likely become Hillary’s chief of staff – the power behind running all White House operations. A glimpse of the FBI-Huma Abedin connection is available here . Abedin was granted Top Secret security clearance for the first time in 2009, when Hillary named her deputy chief of staff for operations. Abedin later said she “did not remember” being read into any Special Access Programs (SAPs). It’s crucial to remember that one of Abedin’s emails was huma@clintonemail.com. Crucial translation: she was the only high-level State Dept. aide whose emails were hosted by the notorious Subterranean Clinton Email Server – which she claimed she didn’t know existed until she heard about it in the news. Abedin swore under oath in a lawsuit brought against the State Dept. by Judicial Watch that she had handed over all of her laptops and smart phones that could host emails relevant to the Subterranean Email Server investigation. That may not have been the case. The laptop at the center of Comey’s bombshell was shared by Abedin and her husband Wiener before they split. If Abedin lied, she could face up to five years in jail for perjury. As if the whole illegal email-cum-sexting saga was not sordid enough, the “climax” now seems to have turned into a mixed wrestling match between the former couple, with the big “prize” being the slammer. The  has finally obtained a warrant and is now frantically searching no less than 650,000 Abedin emails found on sexting freak Wiener’s laptop; the objective is to exactly determine which ones came from the Subterranean Email Server. As if this was not demeaning enough, the  continues to conduct an investigation on the Clinton Foundation. As former Assistant Director of the  Tom Fuentes said , “The  has an intensive investigation ongoing into the Clinton Foundation the investigation would go forward as a comprehensive unified case and be coordinated, so that investigation is ongoing and Huma Abedin and her role and activities concerning Secretary of State in the nature of the foundation and possible ‘pay to play’, that’s still being looked at now.” Whatever happens until election day,  voters will have to consider the startling fact they may choose a next  that is the subject of a wide-ranging “comprehensive unified”  investigation. A Rotten, Rigged System? A former federal public corruption prosecutor volunteers a plausible take on Comey’s action. In a nutshell,  agents investigating Weiner’s sexting – and they are a different set of agents investigating Emailgate — saw evidence of State Dept emails on his laptop. Comey knew he needed a search warrant to comb the emails at Wiener’s computer. So he pre-empted the – inevitable – subsequent hype by “sending out a vague letter to the Hill” that in the end left everyone even more confused. That interpretation though may be only scratching the surface. Deeper and deeper, it seems that Comey’s decision was really precipitated by the senior  agents’ insurgence – fed up with the “extreme carelessness” Hillary cover-up. They’ve got to have some surefire material on the Clinton (cash) machine that never saw the light. Comey could have just waited to say something after the election; after all the  maintains they had checked all Clinton emails, including deleted ones, not to mention the Podesta emails. So the emails on sexting Wiener’s laptop may be no more than a limited hangout. A much more plausible explanation is that Comey had to do it not only because of the  internal revolt (or because he had an urge to upstage WikiLeaks?) He had to do it because the rot goes way beyond the Clinton “pay to play” racket and involves virtually the whole system, from the deep recesses of the Obama administration to the War Party scam, the Department of Justice, the  and the  itself. What next? Brace for impact; it may well be the ultimate November Surprise.",fake,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
12763,12764,"Welcome to another draft season . I ' ve been ranking this class officially on the site since May , but I know many of you don ' t consider draft season officially underway until mock drafts start popping up .  A few reminders at this ( very ) early stage in the game . For one ,  personnel folks are still really early in their evaluations . Nobody has a draft board yet , and we still have postseason all star games , combine testing , medicals and individual workouts to get through . Drafting for need isn ' t a great idea in most cases GMs really do mean it most of the time when they say , "" We took the best player available "" and I ' m especially leery of making need the big issue here . Every team has at least a dozen roster moves to make ( and for some , twice that ) , and there ' s also free agency . "" Need "" isn ' t a clear term yet . Lastly , there could still be an underclassmen or two who decides to jump into the draft . That said , off we go .  A player with an asterisk next to his name has a year of eligibility remaining . Two asterisks implies two years .  Getting the best defensive lineman in any draft really transcends need . Every team wants great D linemen , and Bosa has the upside of a star . He ' s a dominant pass rusher who piled up 51 . 0 tackles for loss over three seasons despite running into a steady supply of double teams , and he ' s also outstanding against the run . You can move him around on the line at will . The son of a former first round pick , he comes in ready to contribute .  It goes without saying the Browns need to take a hard look at quarterbacks , and Hue Jackson should have the chance to start fresh with someone other than Johnny Manziel . Goff has tremendous talent and upside . He has shown off an  arm since he arrived at Cal and has a great mind for the game . He has also shown how resilient he can be , growing with and leading that team at Cal , which would be a great trait in Cleveland .  Ken Whisenhunt is back at offensive coordinator for the Chargers , and the immediate need for this team is going to be figuring out a way to keep Philip Rivers upright . Injuries have decimated the Chargers ' offensive line , and adding Tunsil means they get an immediate starter . This kid is a flat out gifted left tackle prospect , the kind of player who could go No . 1 overall to Tennessee . Get him here and you ' ll be pleased .  It ' s rare to find a team picking No . 4 overall that can genuinely say , "" We ' re in win now mode . "" But the Cowboys get a healthy Tony Romo back , so that ' s a fair statement . If Greg Hardy isn ' t back , Buckner is a great fit . You get a 6 foot 7 , 290 pound defensive end who can put a tackle on skates right into his own quarterback . The No . 1 thing you love about Buckner : major motor . He plays hard . He could have been taken relatively early last year , but came back and put an exclamation point on it .  The best player available here , Ramsey is a great corner or a great safety , a fit in any secondary given his skill set and incredible athleticism . Those athlete credentials ? Well , consider that he ' s long jumping at roughly an Olympic level in , essentially , a second sport that he really can ' t commit to full time . A worthy top five talent in the secondary .  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
12783,12784,"The comic book author and screenwriter Marc Andreyko felt unfathomable horror when he heard the news of the June 12 mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla. Feeling compelled to help, he posted on Facebook a suggestion to create a comic book that would benefit the victims. The result is “Love Is Love,” a   anthology filled with original work by contributors both familiar and unexpected. The book, which will be available Dec. 28, includes pages from the documentarian Morgan Spurlock, the actor Matt Bomer, the comedians Patton Oswalt and Taran Killam, and other entertainers. “I went through my Rolodex  —   to use a word for something that doesn’t even exist anymore  —   and looked for people who I’m friends with and had name value,” Mr. Andreyko said. “I want this book to be in as many hands as possible. ” Proceeds from the book, which will cost $9. 99 and be available in comic stores and for download online (with additional pages) will benefit Equality Florida, which has set up a fund for the victims of the Pulse shooting and their families. Mr. Andreyko, 46, said the inspiration for the book could be traced to his childhood. He fondly recalled the musical acts that came together for benefit concerts such as Band Aid and Live Aid and the song “We Are the World. ” He noted that the format of the book  —   no story is over two pages long  —   had been chosen to help lure contributors who had tight schedules. But Mr. Andreyko found the biggest motivator was the act of expression. “It was therapeutic,’’ he said. “By doing the art, it was purging for us. ” The offerings are diverse: There are stories that directly address the victims, some pinups, wistful ruminations and more. Brian Michael Bendis, one of Marvel’s most prolific writers, teamed up with his oldest daughter, Olivia, to capture a glimmer of a moment from the shooting at Pulse. They came up with a   spread of revelrous dancers and a lone person in shadow looking upon them. “The idea that someone could stand in the middle of that club full of joy and fun and be drowning in madness was something we couldn’t get past,” Mr. Bendis said. Michael Avon Oeming drew the artwork, and Taki Soma colored it. Mr. Spurlock, who is working on a documentary about superheroes for the History Channel, wrote a   story, with art by Kieron Dwyer, in support of the nation’s dedicated police officers. Mr. Spurlock said officers were sometimes tarnished as a group because of the actions of a few. “These guys still have to show up and do their jobs,” he said. One of the most unusual contributions comes by way of J. K. Rowling, who allowed the use of a quote from “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. ” It serves as a caption to an image of Harry and his friends drawn by Jim Lee, a   of  Comics. The pairing seemed only natural, Mr. Andreyko said. “If we get the   author on the planet, we need the biggest artist,” Mr. Andreyko said. Mark Chiarello, a senior vice president of art and design at DC, added a watercolor rainbow flag to the drawing. The quote is by Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster of Harry’s school, who Ms. Rowling has said is gay, and drives home the point of the anthology: “Differences of habit and language are nothing at all if our aims are identical and our hearts are open. ”",true,news,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
12790,12791,"Malware and phishing scams are the scourge of the web .  Social networks and sites each have their own way of tackling the problem but from today , Facebook is hoping to pool this expertise into a single site .  It has set up a mini social network designed for security and cyber experts where they can share and learn about the latest threats facing their users .  ThreatExchange ( pictured ) builds on Facebook ' s existing ThreatData tools currently used to discover and tackle scams and cybercrime . Partners will use it to share clues about malware and phishing scams . Early participants include Bitly , Dropbox , Pinterest , Tumblr , Twitter , and Yahoo  Called ThreatExchange , the site builds on Facebook ' s existing ThreatData tools currently used to discover and tackle scams and cybercrime .  ' ThreatExchange enables security professionals anywhere to share threat information more easily , learn from each other ' s discoveries , and make their own systems safer , ' explained the site .  ' Threats like malware and phishing typically go after multiple targets , and a successful attack at one place usually makes it easier to take over systems elsewhere . We share in each other ' s fate . '  It added that to ' be stronger together ' , companies need a more open approach to security to protect people ' s accounts and get rid of viruses .  ThreatExchange builds on Facebook ' s existing ThreatData tools currently used to discover and tackle scams and cybercrime .  It is built on the existing Facebook platform , but the site added layers to the service to let partners search through available threat information more easily .  These firms can also post threat information and discoveries to other partners .  Threat data includes typically freely available information such as domain names sending out spam , or examples of malware , but Facebook has also built privacy tools into the system .  This means if a company only wants to share certain information with select companies known to be experiencing the same issues , they can limit who this data is shared with .  Early partners include Bitly , Dropbox , Pinterest , Tumblr , Twitter , and Yahoo and Facebook said it expects new partners to join as the platform grows .  ThreatExchange is built on the existing Facebook platform , but the site added layers to the service to let partners search through available threat information more easily .  These firms can also post threat information and discoveries to other partners .  Threat data includes typically freely available information such as domain names sending out spam , or examples of malware , but Facebook has also built privacy tools into the system .  This means if a company only wants to share certain information with select companies known to be experiencing the same issues , they can limit who this data is shared with .  Mark Hammell , manager of the Threat Infrastructure team at Facebook said : ' A little over a year ago , a group of technology companies came together to discuss a botnet that was spreading a malware based spam attack on all of our services .  ' We quickly learnt that sharing with one another was key to beating the botnet because parts of it were hosted on our respective services and none of us had the complete picture .  Facebook said threats like malware and phishing ( example of a tagging scam is pictured ) typically go after multiple targets , and a successful attack at one place makes it easier to take over systems elsewhere . ' We share in each other ' s fate . When one company gets stronger , so do the rest of us ' explained the site  ' During our discussions , it became clear that what we needed was a better model for threat sharing .  ' We have a vested interest in making the internet safer and giving people better ways to connect and share .  ' After working with a number of our peer companies to refine the structure and implementation , we are ready to introduce ThreatExchange and see what we can learn from each other . '  ",true,text,test,US elections,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
12805,12806,"If ever there was a reminder that Sen. Ted Cruz is  the Republican Party s reasonable  alternative to Donald Trump, it s in his response to the Brussels terror attacks. Losing badly to Trump, Cruz is clearly feeling the pressure to capitalize on the tragedy to win some crucial votes   so he s gone all in on xenophobia, totalitarianism, and religious persecution. A hate cocktail sure to fire up his base.In a statement he released on Facebook, Cruz calls for the establishment of ghettos where America s Muslims can be contained and watched over by a specialized law enforcement group meant to police them. If that sounds a little to  Nazi-esque  for you, Cruz preemptively accused his critics of just being too  politically correct  to agree with him.Here s Cruz s terrifying vision for his presidency:We need to immediately halt the flow of refugees from countries with a significant al Qaida or  presence.We need to empower law enforcement to patrol and secure Muslim neighborhoods before they become radicalized.We need to secure the southern border to prevent terrorist infiltration.And we need to execute a coherent campaign to utterly destroy ISIS.In other words, Cruz is plagiarizing Trump s  ban all Muslims  position, but adding that the Muslims already in the country should be  secured  in specific neighborhoods  before they become radicalized.  He doesn t bother clarifying how he would hope to accomplish this. Nor does he mention how he could legally target Muslims who had done nothing wrong just because his prejudice tells him they might some day.Being  Lying Ted  Cruz, he also couldn t help but spread a little misinformation about President Obama as well. Using the president s historic trip to Cuba as a strawman, Cruz bashed him for being on a diplomatic trip while Brussels was attacked, adding that Obama never visited Paris after the terror attacks there. It was an egregious lie, so shameless that a simple picture could debunk it.#COP21 Paying respect : President Obama & French President Hollande lay flowers at Bataclan concert hall in Paris. pic.twitter.com/YEMy7ZUDvk  Catherine Field (@CatherineField) November 30, 2015Needless to say, Muslim activist groups, who have watched in horror as hate crimes directed at Muslim Americans has steadily grown thanks to people like Cruz, were not amused by this latest call to trounce the Constitution based on hate and fear. It s really beyond belief that you have one of the leading presidential candidates calling for law enforcement to target religious communities totally based on the fact that they are of a particular faith,   spokesman Ibrahim Hooper said by phone.  In normal times, this would be the sort of thing that would disqualify someone from running for dogcatcher, much less president of the United States. We call on voters to reject this.Undoubtedly, terrorism is a serious problem. But the solutions to it need to be much more mature than the Republicans seem to want to believe. Totalitarianism doesn t work   and never has. Discriminating against innocent Muslims because of a twisted death cult based in the Middle East is not only doomed to fail, but could backfire in ways that Cruz and Trump can t fathom from their  build a wall  childish ideology.Between Ted Cruz and Donald Trump, it s hard to say who the bigger xenophobic bigot is. Both are consumed by a hatred towards scapegoated groups they hope to exploit in order to ensure people vote for them. At this point in the race, the two Republican frontrunners aren t just mirroring each other s disgusting policies, but actually driving one another to make them more abhorrent. A nuclear arms race of bigotry in a crucial moment in America s history.Featured image via screenshot",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
12808,12809,""" We re still going to deal with what s going on for the next lifetime , "" says Flint Journal photographer Jake May  Until January of 2015 , Jake May , chief photographer at the Flint Journal , drank Flint tap water . Eight months earlier , the Michigan city had made the decision to start pumping its water from the Flint River , unaware , at first , that the liquid s higher acidity would cause an unprecedented lead contamination .  Now , Flint has been thrust onto the national spotlight , after the true extent of its water crisis was finally revealed . But the story is not news to May : for the last 22 months , with the help of two interns , he has been following the story , and living it too . His coverage started with the celebratory press conferences the city organized when it made the decision to switch water sources . But even that media friendly events showed signs of the conflict that was to come . Already , a couple dozen people were publicly opposing the move . They have been there from the start , May says . They ve always said : There s something wrong with the water . They didn t know what it was . But they knew it was wrong . They could tell by the smell and the taste .  In 2014 , these protesters were often written off as crazy , says May . But around January 2015 , they enlisted Virginia Tech University professor Marc Edwards , who had years earlier uncovered unsafe levels of lead in Washington , D . C . s water supply . Asked by the people of Flint to test the water , he brought back results that won the attention and respect of a worried populace . It was , says May , the switching point .  For the photographer , it was important to document this issue not only because he s in the middle of it ? I still bathe in the water daily , he says ? but also because it will continue to affect the community for years to come . This is not something that will be done and over when the national spotlight gets off of Flint in a couple of weeks , he says . We re still going to deal with what s going on for the next lifetime .  Right now , however , that spotlight is shining full force : Gov . Rick Snyder apologized for the crisis and pledged financial support , while President Obama allocated 5 million of federal assistance . The wide attention inspires May even more , to tell the story of the community while he has the eyes of the world watching .  To achieve that goal , May has been sharing his photographs on Instagram ( jakemayphoto ) in an effort to reach a wider audience beyond Michigan . This is , honestly , a story about the voice of the people , he says . The city of Flint s residents wanted to be heard , and they were relentless .  Jake May is the chief photographer at the Flint Journal . Follow him on Instagram jakemayphoto .  Myles Little , who edited this photo essay , is a senior photo editor at  .  Olivier Laurent is the editor of  LightBox . Follow him on Twitter and Instagram olivierclaurent  ",true,text,test,Other news1,US elections,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
12826,12827,"Secrets of the  Election: Assange Talks to Pilger November 5, 2016  WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange denies the Russian government was the source of leaked emails about Hillary Clinton and says her “neo-McCarthy” Russia-bashing is just part of a cover-up, in an interview with John Pilger.  By John Pilger  This interview was filmed in the Embassy of Ecuador in London – where Julian Assange is a political refugee – and broadcast on Nov. 5, 2016  John Pilger: What’s the significance of the FBI’s intervention in these last days of the U.S. election campaign, in the case against Hillary Clinton? WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. (Photo credit: Espen Moe)  Julian Assange : If you look at the history of the FBI, it has become effectively America’s political police. The  demonstrated this by taking down the former head of the  [General David Petraeus] over classified information given to his mistress. Almost no one is untouchable. The  is always trying to demonstrate that no one can resist us. But Hillary Clinton very conspicuously resisted the FBI’s investigation, so there’s anger within the  because it made the  look weak. We’ve published about 33,000 of Clinton’s emails when she was Secretary of State. They come from a batch of just over 60,000 emails, [of which] Clinton has kept about half – 30,000 — to herself, and we’ve published about half. Then there are the Podesta emails we’ve been publishing. [John] Podesta is Hillary Clinton’s primary campaign manager, so there’s a thread that runs through all these emails; there are quite a lot of pay-for-play, as they call it, giving access in exchange for money to states, individuals and corporations. [These emails are] combined with the cover-up of the Hillary Clinton emails when she was Secretary of State, [which] has led to an environment where the pressure on the  increases.  John Pilger: The Clinton campaign has said that Russia is behind all of this, that Russia has manipulated the campaign and is the source for WikiLeaks and its emails.  Julian Assange : The Clinton camp has been able to project that kind of neo-McCarthy hysteria: that Russia is responsible for everything. Hilary Clinton stated multiple times, falsely, that 17   had assessed that Russia was the source of our publications. That is false; we can say that the Russian government is not the source.  WikiLeaks has been publishing for ten years, and in those ten years, we have published ten million documents, several thousand individual publications, several thousand different sources, and we have never got it wrong.  John Pilger : The emails that give evidence of access for money and how Hillary Clinton herself benefited from this and how she is benefitting politically, are quite extraordinary. I’m thinking of when the Qatari representative was given five minutes with Bill Clinton for a million dollar cheque.  Julian Assange : And twelve million dollars from Morocco …  John Pilger: Twelve million from Morocco yeah.  Julian Assange : For Hillary Clinton to attend [a party].  John Pilger: In terms of the foreign policy of the United States, that’s where the emails are most revealing, where they show the direct connection between Hillary Clinton and the foundation of jihadism, of ISIL, in the Middle East. Can you talk about how the emails demonstrate the connection between those who are meant to be fighting the jihadists of ISIL, are actually those who have helped create it.   speaking with supporters at a campaign rally at Carl Hayden High School in Phoenix, Arizona,   by Gage Skidmore)  Julian Assange : There’s an early 2014 email from Hillary Clinton, not so long after she left the State Department, to her campaign manager John Podesta that states  is funded by the governments of Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Now this is   email in the whole collection, and perhaps because Saudi and Qatari money is spread all over the Clinton Foundation. Even the U.S. government agrees that some Saudi figures have been supporting ISIL, or ISIS. But the dodge has always been that, well it’s just some rogue Princes, using their cut of the oil money to do whatever they like, but actually the government disapproves. But that email says that no, it is the governments of Saudi and Qatar that have been funding ISIS.  John Pilger: The Saudis, the Qataris, the Moroccans, the Bahrainis, particularly the Saudis and the Qataris, are giving all this money to the Clinton Foundation while Hilary Clinton is Secretary of State and the State Department is approving massive arms sales, particularly to Saudi Arabia.  Julian Assange: Under Hillary Clinton, the world’s largest ever arms deal was made with Saudi Arabia, [worth] more than $80 billion. In fact, during her tenure as Secretary of State, total arms exports from the United States in terms of the dollar value, doubled.  John Pilger : Of course the consequence of that is that the notorious terrorist group called  or  is created largely with money from the very people who are giving money to the Clinton Foundation.  Julian Assange : Yes.  John Pilger: That’s extraordinary.  Julian Assange : I actually feel quite sorry for Hillary Clinton as a person because I see someone who is eaten alive by their ambitions, tormented literally to the point where they become sick; they faint as a result of [the reaction] to their ambitions. She represents a whole network of people and a network of relationships with particular states. The question is how does Hilary Clinton fit in this broader network? She’s a centralizing cog. You’ve got a lot of different gears in operation from the big banks like Goldman Sachs and major elements of Wall Street, and Intelligence and people in the State Department and the Saudis.  She’s the centralizer that inter-connects all these different cogs. She’s the smooth central representation of all that, and ‘all that’ is more or less what is in power now in the United States. It’s what we call the establishment or the  consensus. One of the more significant Podesta emails that we released was about how the Obama cabinet was formed and how half the Obama cabinet was basically nominated by a representative from Citibank. This is quite amazing.  John Pilger: Didn’t Citibank supply a list …. ?  Julian Assange : Yes.  John Pilger: … which turned out to be most of the Obama cabinet.  Julian Assange : Yes.  John Pilger: So Wall Street decides the cabinet of the President of the United States?  Julian Assange: If you were following the Obama campaign back then, closely, you could see it had become very close to banking interests.  Julian Assange : So I think you can’t properly understand Hillary Clinton’s foreign policy without understanding Saudi Arabia. The connections with Saudi Arabia are so intimate. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton meets with Saudi King Abdullah in Riyadh on March 30, 2012. [State Department photo] John Pilger : Why was she so demonstrably enthusiastic about the destruction of Libya? Can you talk a little about just what the emails have told us, told you about what happened there, because Libya is such a source for so much of the mayhem now in Syria, the  jihadism and so on, and it was almost Hillary Clinton’s invasion. What do the emails tell us about that? Julian Assange : Libya, more than anyone else’s war, was Hillary Clinton’s war. Barak Obama initially opposed it. Who was the person championing it? Hillary Clinton. That’s documented throughout her emails. She had put her favored agent, Sidney Blumenthal, on to that; there’s more than 1,700 emails out of the 33,000 Hillary Clinton emails that we’ve published, just about Libya. It’s not that Libya has cheap oil. She perceived the removal of Gaddafi and the overthrow of the Libyan state — something that she would use in her run-up to the general election for President.  So in late 2011 there is an internal document called the Libya Tick Tock that was produced for Hillary Clinton, and it’s the chronological description of how she was the central figure in the destruction of the Libyan state, which resulted in around 40,000 deaths within Libya; jihadists moved in,  moved in, leading to the European refugee and migrant crisis.  Not only did you have people fleeing Libya, people fleeing Syria, the destabilization of other African countries as a result of arms flows, but the Libyan state itself was no longer able to control the movement of people through it. Libya faces along to the Mediterranean and had been effectively the cork in the bottle of Africa. So all problems, economic problems and civil war in Africa — previously people fleeing those problems didn’t end up in Europe because Libya policed the Mediterranean. That was said explicitly at the time, back in early 2011 by Gaddafi: ‘What do these Europeans think they’re doing, trying to bomb and destroy the Libyan State? There’s going to be floods of migrants out of Africa and jihadists into Europe,’ and this is exactly what happened.  John Pilger: You get complaints from people saying, ‘What is WikiLeaks doing? Are they trying to put Trump in the White House?’  Julian Assange: My answer is that Trump would not be permitted to win. Why do I say that? Because he’s had every establishment off side; Trump doesn’t have one establishment, maybe with the exception of the Evangelicals, if you can call them an establishment, but banks, intelligence [agencies], arms companies … big foreign money … are all united behind Hillary Clinton, and the media as well, media owners and even journalists themselves.  J ohn Pilger : There is the accusation that WikiLeaks is in league with the Russians. Some people say, ‘Well, why doesn’t WikiLeaks investigate and publish emails on Russia?’  Julian Assange: We have published about 800,000 documents of various kinds that relate to Russia. Most of those are critical; and a great many books have come out of our publications about Russia, most of which are critical. Our [Russia] documents have gone on to be used in quite a number of court cases: refugee cases of people fleeing some kind of claimed political persecution in Russia, which they use our documents to back up.  John Pilger : Do you yourself take a view of the U.S. election? Do you have a preference for Clinton or Trump? Donald Trump speaking with supporters at a campaign rally at the Arizona State Fairgrounds in Phoenix, Arizona. June 18, 2016. (Photo by Gage Skidmore)  Julian Assange: [Let’s talk about] Donald Trump. What does he represent in the American mind and in the European mind? He represents American white trash, [which Hillary Clinton called] ‘deplorable and irredeemable’. It means from an establishment or educated cosmopolitan, urbane perspective, these people are like the red necks, and you can never deal with them. Because he so clearly — through his words and actions and the type of people that turn up at his rallies — represents people who are not the middle, not the upper-middle educated class, there is a fear of seeming to be associated in any way with them, a social fear that lowers the class status of anyone who can be accused of somehow assisting Trump in any way, including any criticism of Hillary Clinton. If you look at how the middle class gains its economic and social power, that makes absolute sense.  John Pilger: I’d like to talk about Ecuador, the small country that has given you refuge and [political asylum] in this embassy in London. Now Ecuador has cut off the Internet from here where we’re doing this interview, in the Embassy, for the clearly obvious reason that they are concerned about appearing to intervene in the U.S. election campaign. Can you talk about why they would take that action and your own views on Ecuador’s support for you?  Julian Assange : Let’s let go back four years. I made an asylum application to Ecuador in this embassy, because of the U.S. extradition case, and the result was that after a month, I was successful in my asylum application. The embassy since then has been surrounded by police: quite an expensive police operation which the British government admits to spending more than £12.6 million. They admitted that over a year ago. Now there’s undercover police and there are robot surveillance cameras of various kinds — so that there has been quite a serious conflict right here in the heart of London between Ecuador, a country of 16 million people, and the United Kingdom, and the Americans who have been helping on the side. So that was a brave and principled thing for Ecuador to do. Now we have the U.S. election [campaign], the Ecuadorian election is in February next year, and you have the White House feeling the political heat as a result of the true information that we have been publishing.  WikiLeaks does not publish from the jurisdiction of Ecuador, from this embassy or in the territory of Ecuador; we publish from France, we publish from, from Germany, we publish from The Netherlands and from a number of other countries, so that the attempted squeeze on WikiLeaks is through my refugee status; and this is, this is really intolerable. [It means] that [they] are trying to get at a publishing organization; [they] try and prevent it from publishing true information that is of intense interest to the American people and others about an election. Ecuadoran President Rafael Correa.  John Pilger: Tell us what would happen if you walked out of this embassy.  Julian Assange : I would be immediately arrested by the British police and I would then be extradited either immediately   or to Sweden. In Sweden I am not charged, I have already been previously cleared [by the Senior Stockholm Prosecutor Eva Finne]. We were not certain exactly what would happen there, but then we know that the Swedish government has refused to say that they will not extradite me   we know they have extradited 100 per cent of people whom the U.S. has requested since at least 2000. So over the last 15 years, every single person the U.S. has tried to extradite from Sweden has been extradited, and they refuse to provide a guarantee [that won’t happen].  John Pilger: People often ask me how you cope with the isolation in here.  Julian Assange: Look, one of the best attributes of human beings is that they’re adaptable; one of the worst attributes of human beings is they are adaptable. They adapt and start to tolerate abuses, they adapt to being involved themselves in abuses, they adapt to adversity and they continue on. So in my situation, frankly, I’m a bit institutionalized — this [the embassy] is the world … it’s visually the world [for me].  John Pilger: It’s the world without sunlight, for one thing, isn’t it?  Julian Assange: It’s the world without sunlight, but I haven’t seen sunlight in so long, I don’t remember it.  John Pilger : Yes.  Julian Assange: So, yes, you adapt. The one real irritant is that my young children — they also adapt. They adapt to being without their father. That’s a hard, hard adaption which they didn’t ask for.  John Pilger: Do you worry about them?  Julian Assange : Yes, I worry about them; I worry about their mother.  John Pilger: Some people would say, ‘Well, why don’t you end it and simply walk out the door and allow yourself to be extradited to Sweden?’  Julian Assange : The U.N. [the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention] has looked into this whole situation. They spent 18 months in formal, adversarial litigation. [So it’s] me and the U.N. versus Sweden and the U.K. Who’s right? The U.N. made a conclusion that I am being arbitrarily detained illegally, deprived of my freedom and that what has occurred has not occurred within the laws that the United Kingdom and Sweden, and that [those countries] must obey. It is an illegal abuse. It is the United Nations formally asking, ‘What’s going on here? What is your legal explanation for this? [Assange] says that you should recognize his asylum.’ [And here is]  Sweden formally writing back to the United Nations to say, ‘No, we’re not going to [recognize the  ruling],’ so leaving open their ability to extradite.  I just find it absolutely amazing that the narrative about this situation is not put out publicly in the press, because it doesn’t suit the Western establishment narrative — that yes, the West has political prisoners, it’s a reality, it’s not just me, there’s a bunch of other people as well. The West has political prisoners. Of course, no state accepts [that it should call] the people it is imprisoning or detaining for political reasons, political prisoners. They don’t call them political prisoners in China, they don’t call them political prisoners in Azerbaijan and they don’t call them political prisoners in the United States, U.K. or Sweden; it is absolutely intolerable to have that kind of self-perception.  Julian Assange : Here we have a case, the Swedish case, where I have never been charged with a crime, where I have already been cleared [by the Stockholm prosecutor] and found to be innocent, where the woman herself said that the police made it up, where the United Nations formally said the whole thing is illegal, where the State of Ecuador also investigated and found that I should be given asylum. Those are the facts, but what is the rhetoric?  John Pilger: Yes, it’s different.  Julian Assange : The rhetoric is pretending, constantly pretending that I have been charged with a crime, and never mentioning that I have been already previously cleared, never mentioning that the woman herself says that the police made it up.  [The rhetoric] is trying to avoid [the truth that] the U.N. formally found that the whole thing is illegal, never even mentioning that Ecuador made a formal assessment through its formal processes and found that yes, I am subject to persecution by the United States.  John Pilger is an Australian-British journalist based in London. Pilger’s Web site is: www.johnpilger.com . To support Julian Assange, go to: weblink",fake,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,present
12828,12829,"Stoke , under the management of Tony Pulis , became the team everyone hated and everyone hated to play against .  But if there is something worse than being hated , it is being ignored and that is where we are with Mark Hughes ' Stoke side now .  While the physical nature of the team Pulis built brought incendiary headlines , critical comment and damning statistics I was the captain of his team in the Championship from 2004 2007 the progress made by Hughes has been overlooked .  Stoke stars Mame Diouf , Jon Walters and Steven Nzonzi celebrate during the Potters ' 2 0 win over Everton in the Barclays Premier League on Wednesday which lifted them to eighth in the table  Stoke have collected 23 points from a possible 33 since Boxing Day . Only Liverpool and Arsenal have picked up more , so why isn ' t there more attention to their achievements ?  When Stoke beat Everton this week to rise to eighth place in the Barclays Premier League , the aftermath wasn ' t about how well Stoke are doing but instead about the struggling Roberto Martinez and Everton .  Stoke are the team who are above Garry Monk ' s Swansea recently championed after their defeat of Manchester United West Ham , Newcastle and the rest of the bottom ten .  Southampton have exceeded everyone ' s expectations this season and receive weekly reviews as the nation ' s romance story neutrals want them to do well , to upset the normal order of the top four .  But what is it about Stoke City Football Club , who are as high as they can probably ever wish to be , that generates such little media attention or positive write ups ?  Stoke , as a city , finds itself situated between the bigger and more glamorous cities of Manchester and Birmingham , but it has a lot to offer .  Stoke ' s Michael Duberry tracks Wigan striker Nathan Ellington during a Championship match at the Britannia Stadium in November 2004 , which was the defender ' s first season at the club  Crystal Palace striker Andy Johnson tries to take evasive action as Duberry jumps across to make a tackle during Stoke ' s 3 1 home defeat by the Eagles in March 2006  Duberry stands all smiles at the Britannia Stadium during his time as a Stoke player . It was a period in the defender ' s career where he admits he felt wanted by the club in his three year spell which ended in 2007  When I moved to Stoke from Leeds , the city didn ' t have a Harvey Nichols or some of the swanky restaurants I left in Leeds , but it didn ' t matter . The club gave me a home and a place . I felt wanted I didn ' t want anything else .  I moved near the training ground in nearby Newcastle Under Lyme and was very happy . I had Trentham Gardens , Hanley Shopping centre and Alton Towers was on my doorstep too .  Back when I was a Stoke player the club always seemed to have a power struggle going on upstairs . There was a lack of a clear vision as to who was in charge and the direction in which they wanted to take the club . Then Peter Coates took over in 2006 and the vision became clear .  A Stoke boy and self made millionaire , Mr Coates has the club at heart and never hides that love . He has made some wise appointments to manage the football team .  Stoke were promoted to the Premier League under the management of Tony Pulis , with Duberry playing under the now West Brom boss while at the Potters in the Championship  Pulis arranges a training drill at Stoke ' s training ground in 2012 . Duberry described the sessions as regimented and boring , but admits it made the team play better on match days  Since Mark Hughes has taken over , the club have only spent 10m in the transfer market , which is a tremendous job in the current climate of spending .  Stoke have become quite successful in finding players to fit the mold , with Hughes and his staff working with head of recruitment Mark Cartwright . They don ' t overspend and yet they have created and established a Premier League team .  Finishing 12th , 11th , 14th and 13th twice since coming into the Premier League , last season was their highest ever . with a 9th place finish . But now they are one place higher and playing a more attractive passing style .  During my first spell under Tony Pulis , we were very direct , often going back to front in less than two passes . Training was regimented , often just walking through team shape and then doing set pieces . I didn ' t like it and found it boring but it made us better on match days and I loved the feeling of a clean sheet .  Stoke attracted criticism for their direct style of play after being promoted to the Premier League in 2008 , with teams forced into having to form defensive tactics against long Rory Delap throw ins  Mark Hughes gives advice to Stoke ' s Glenn Whelan during a league game against Liverpool , and Duberry claims the Potters have improved their style of play having spent little money under the Welshman  The next season under Johan Boskamp , everything was totally different . The Dutch manager had a pure footballing philosophy and every training session was 100 per cent football . I loved everything from the training , to the games and to the way he spoke football  When Pulis came back the following season , it reverted back to the old regime of pattern of play and set pieces in training . It was very frustrating  It ' s a different club now with a different manager and a different footballing ethos .  You never see Mark Hughes in the technical area signaling to his players to pass from back to front , but instead he is gesturing to pass the ball and it looks as if the players are enjoying the experience .  I believe they deserve more credit and exposure .  But if that doesn ' t happen , then I ' m sure the loud choruses of ' Delilah ' from the fans will drown out any negative , stereotypical opinions outside .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
12829,12830,"Few travel pleasures match checking into a room few others have stayed in .  From Rhode Island to Santa Barbara , South Beach to Kauai , new hotels just steps from the beach are marking their first summer it ' s not over yet ! in business .  Amenities like loaner golf clubs ( good ones , too ) and morning yoga on a rooftop make these new beach hotels worth an extended stay .  The Break ( Narragansett , Rhode Island )  As ' Gansett ' s first boutique hotel , The Break expects to close out summer with a bang after its in mid August opening .  Crisp , colorful hues highlight each of the 16 rooms , including coral motif pillows and nightstands the color of tangerines that provide a mid century , surf chic vibe .  The Break , 1208 Ocean Road , Narragansett , Rhode Island 1 401 363 9800 rates not available  Vintro Hotel Kitchen ( Miami Beach , Florida )  As if South Beach isn ' t already stylish , Vintro Hotel Kitchen joined the crop in July .  The 50 room hotel with a freshwater plunge pool on its rooftop ( where morning yoga is hosted ) borders the newly renovated Collins Canal .  Guests can borrow bicycles and golf clubs .  A beach club is two blocks away .  Vintro Hotel Kitchen , 2216 Park Ave . , Miami Beach , Florida 1 305 674 9200 rooms from 190 per night  21 Broad ( Nantucket , Massachusetts )  This new hotel is decked out in colors that evoke citrus fruits and the decor has an urban bent .  There ' s a turntable in the lobby and an outdoor courtyard with a fire pit .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,present
12831,12832,"May Hamdy , a Muslim American woman from South Carolina , holds a protest sign across the street before Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump ' s event at the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts on January 7 , 2016 in Burlington , Vermont . Robert Nickelsberg ? Getty Images  But Donald Trump is the Republican candidate with the most support  About 74 of Muslim American surveyed in a recent poll said they will turn out to vote in presidential nominating contests , with many citing a growing Islamaphobia as the driving force behind their vote .  The Council on American Islamic Relations released the results of a survey of almost 2 , 000 registered Muslim voters in the six states with the highest Muslim populations ( California , Illinois , Virginia , New York , Florida , and Texas ) on Monday , hours before the the Iowa caucuses kick off voting in the 2016 presidential election .  The increase in the number of Muslim voters who say they will go to the polls in their primary elections indicates a high level of civic participation that may be driven at least in part by concern over the rise in Islamophobia nationwide ,  Government Affairs Manager Robert McCaw said in a statement .  About 30 of the Muslims surveyed said they think Islamaphobia is the most important issue going into 2016 . Sixty seven percent of those surveyed identified as Democrats and 15 said they are Republican .  The results show that while the majority of Muslim voters identify as Democrats and over half plan on supporting Hillary Clinton in the election , Donald Trump is the Republican candidate with the most support among Muslim Americans . The support is a mere 7 . 4 , but it s 5 points ahead of Trump s chief Republican rival Sen . Ted Cruz .  The results are striking given Trump s insistence that as president he would institute a temporary ban on Muslims entering the United States .  , the largest Muslim advocacy organization in the country , has condemned the statements and linked Trump and other Republican candidates rhetoric to a spike in anti Islamic activity .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
12839,12840,"The Washington Post reported :  Donald Trump raised just $29 million for his presidential campaign committee in the first 19 days of October, about half as much as his Democratic rival, putting him at a severe financial disadvantage in the crucial final days of the White House contest, new campaign finance reports filed Thursday night showed.  The  presidential nominee had just $16 million left in his campaign coffers on Oct. 19, compared to Hillary Clinton’s $62 million. When the cash reserves of their joint fundraising committees are included, Clinton’s war chest grew to $153 million, while Trump’s totaled $68 million.  Trump’s total fundraising dropped 39% in the first 19 days of October. $29 million is close to nothing for a national presidential campaign in the closing weeks of the race. At a time when Trump needs boots on the ground to get out the Republican vote, his presidential campaign is broke, and in debt to the tune of $2 million. There isn’t going to be a last-minute ad blitz for Trump, or a reservation of television time so that the Republican nominee can speak directly to voters before election day.  The plan for Trump is for the campaign to continue to limp along with lots of rallies, which are good for Trump’s ego, but not effective in getting voters to the polls. Trump promised to donate $100 million to his campaign but has only given $56 million . The billionaire who promised to self-finance has run his presidential campaign into the ground. Trump took ten times more money out of his campaign in reimbursements to his own businesses than he gave in October.  Fundraising is an indicator of expected election outcomes. The money tends to go towards the winner at the end of an election. Hillary Clinton is having no trouble raising money, which suggests that enthusiasm is high among her supporters. Trump’s cash crush points to a depressed base that doesn’t expect him to win.  Trump has done what he does best. He talked a big game while bankrupting the Republican Party for his own personal gain. Convincing Republicans to give him their nomination may go down in history as Trump’s biggest con of all.",fake,news,test,US elections,Economy,fake,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
12842,12843,"Ruling : Liberal Democrats said blind or partially sighted pedestrians would be vulnerable  Silent but potentially deadly electric cars will have to be fitted with artificial ' sound generators ' so blind and partially sighted pedestrians can hear them coming , the European Parliament voted today .  It is part of new  legislation which will also require conventional cars and lorries with petrol and diesel engines to make 25 per cent less noise .  The MEPs voted to introduce mandatory ' acoustic vehicle alerting systems ' (  ) sounding like a conventional engine to all new electric and hybrid cars to protect vulnerable road users .  It follows lobbying from British MEPs and campaign groups including Guide Dogs for the Blind .  Electric cars and plug in hybrid cars such as the all electric BMWi3 or the Toyota Prius currently emit very little sound when running on electric power only .  Campaigners say this particularly dangerous for partially sighted and blind pedestrians .  Earlier proposals from the European Commission called for the installation of an artificial sound system to be done on a voluntary basis only .  But Liberal Democrat MEPs successfully introduced an amendment making this a mandatory requirement for all electric and hybrid vehicles .  Following the vote manufacturers in the  will have five years to comply with the new rules .  The European Parliament reported that ' it is important to provide protection to blind and other vulnerable people through the installation of appropriate vehicle alerting systems in electric vehicles . '  It noted : ' The Parliament and Council have agreed that such systems should be mandatory . '  Clean energy : Electric cars are being used more as councils install charging points such as this one in London  The European Commission said : ' So called "" Acoustic Vehicle Alerting Systems "" requirements shall ensure that only adequate sound generating devices are used .  ' The fitting as such will be mandatory for all electric and hybrid electric vehicles after a transitional period of five years .  ' This will increase road safety and undoubtedly help avoiding road accident injuries . '  Liberal Democrat European environment spokesman Chris Davies said : ' Quiet electric cars could become a common sight on our roads in years to come but we have to ensure that this doesn ' t jeopardise the safety of blind and partially sighted people .  ' The acoustic warning devices will make a sound very similar to that of cars with a regular combustion engine so that people will be able to clearly hear these vehicles , allowing them to judge how safe a road is to cross .  Silent : Models such as the Toyota Prius currently make almost no noise when running on electric power alone  ' Installing sound generators will ensure that all pedestrians are able to hear these vehicles and cross the road safely .  ' By working at an  level we have been able to place this requirement on all car manufacturers and prevent needless accidents in future . '  The introduction of artificial engine noise to silent electric cars came as the European Parliament voted to decrease noise by four decibels for conventional passenger cars , vans , buses and coaches , and by three decibels for trucks .  The European Commission said : ' Altogether , these measures will reduce vehicle noise nuisance by some 25 per cent . '  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
12847,12848,"Reuters) - U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton will release her 2015 tax returns and her running mate, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine and his wife, Anne Holton, will release the last 10 years of their tax returns within days, according to a source close to Clinton. The returns will show Clinton paid an effective tax rate of 35 percent and gave about 10 percent to charity,  reported. The release comes as Republican Donald Trump is facing criticism for not releasing his tax returns - a political practice that is not required by law but has been done by every White House nominee since 1973. “He refuses to do what every other presidential candidate in decades has done and release his tax returns,” Clinton said on Thursday in an economic speech in Michigan.   Clinton’s campaign has already released tax returns going back to 2007. In addition, tax returns are publicly available for the eight years her husband, former President Bill Clinton, was in the White House. Prior years were released by his campaign. Tax returns filed by the Clintons have been made public, in some form, for every year back to 1977. Trump, a New York businessman, has refused to release his tax returns, saying they are under audit by the Internal Revenue Service. He has said he is unlikely to do so before the Nov. 8 presidential election.  Critics, including 2012 Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, have blasted Trump for failing to disclose his tax rate and raised questions about what his returns say about his net worth and various business ties, particularly in Russia.     Asked in a television interview in May what tax rate he pays, Trump replied “It’s none of your business.” The  has said Trump can release his tax returns even while under audit. Besides showing sources and amounts of income, tax returns show what percentage tax rate a person ultimately pays, as well as how much they claimed in deductions and the amounts given to charities.   Earlier this month, at a Clinton rally in Omaha, Nebraska, billionaire investor Warren Buffett, whose Berkshire Hathaway (BRKa.N) conglomerate is based there, challenged Trump to make his returns public. “I’m under audit, too, and I would be delighted to meet him anyplace, anytime, before the election,” Buffett said. “I’ll bring my tax return, he can bring his tax return ... and let people ask us questions.” Trump has declined to do so.  ",true,dataset,test,US elections,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
12871,12872,"President Obama insists his executive action on gun violence is "" not a plot to take away everyone ' s guns , "" but Republicans say otherwise .  The presidential campaign website for Texas Senator Ted Cruz boasts a warning that "" Obama wants your guns , "" alongside a mock up of the president in military garb .  Cruz ' s fellow candidate Marco Rubio called the president ' s plan unconstitutional saying , "" Barack Obama is obsessed with undermining the Second Amendment . ""  House Speaker Paul Ryan accused Mr Obama of a "" dangerous level of executive overreach . ""  As President Obama unveils his executive actions on gun control , many candidates have slammed the commander in chief ' s plan to curb gun violence . . . .  And Texas Republican John Culberson , whose subcommittee controls funding for the Department of Justice , threatened to cut the purse strings .  "" If the the president through these orders has over stepped his authority , I will take immediate action to restrain him . I ' m not going to wait for a court order . I ' m not going to wait for a lawsuit . Our Second Amendment right rights are too precious , "" said Culberson .  The National Rifle Association reacted to the president ' s remarks with a hail of tweets in real time .  "" President Obama ' s executive orders will do nothing to protect public safety , "" the group insisted . The deep pocketed group also issued a warning to any lawmakers thinking of siding with the president :   : All  grades are subject to change . . . 2A Obamapresser  "" Sadly , it ' s what I ' ve come to expect now , "" said Congresswoman Elizabeth Esty , a Democrat whose Connecticut district includes Sandy Hook Elementary , where 20 children and six adults were gunned down in 2012 .  "" It ' s not good enough say ' I don ' t like what you ' re proposing . ' Then bring forward your own proposals , but for God ' s sake , do something , "" Esty continued .  Many Congressional Democrats applauded President Obama , but they don ' t control congress . The president can ' t get funding for new  agents unless he can win over Republican , something that seems unlikely right now .  ? 2016  Interactive Inc . All Rights Reserved .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
12883,12884,"Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai plans a quick repeal of the controversial net neutrality order and wants to replace it with lighter regulations intended to preserve an open internet. [Chairman Pai, a Republican appointed by President Donald Trump, met with telecommunications groups on Tuesday to discuss his plans .  The net neutrality order, created by former  Chairman Tom Wheeler back in early 2015, regulates the internet similar to a public monopoly. Net neutrality prohibited telecommunications companies from creating internet “fast lanes” that would ensure consistent Skype video chat, and   Netflix streaming. At the meeting, Pai suggested that internet service providers voluntarily agree to certain practices preserving an open internet. The Federal Trade Commission would then enforce compliance of these rules. Industry sources state that the  will unveil its plan to eliminate net neutrality as early as late April, a vote could come in May or June. Internet providers such as  and Verizon argued that net neutrality made it harder to manage web traffic and curtailed broadband investment. Net neutrality advocates worry that internet service providers might unfairly discriminate content. In December, Chairman Pai stated that net neutrality’s days were numbered. He said that he believes “in a free and open internet and the only question is what regulatory framework best secures that. ”",fake,news,test,US elections,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
12899,12900,"Seoul , South Korea An international medical group has cleared a South Korean biopharmaceutical company in the deaths of two patients following stem cell procedures in other countries .  "" It is not our conclusion that stem cells killed these patients , "" David Audley , the executive director of the International Cellular Medicine Society (  ) , said in a news conference in Seoul Tuesday .  The South Korean media reported last month that two patients who had received stem cell procedures in Japan and China had died , and cited allegations that  Bio had lured clients to clinics overseas to skirt domestic laws banning stem cell treatment .  The  refuted the charges , citing forensic evidence it had gathered from  Bio , medical records and interviews from Japan and China .  "" It is very important that we distinguish the words cause and correlation , "" said bioethicist Glenn McGee , who participated in the  investigation . He explained that the dangers of the medical procedures undertaken in the treatments does not mean the stem cells used in the therapy are dangerous .  The  is the largest multinational group of physicians studying the use of adult stem cells and tracks the cases of about 700 patients around the world who receive treatment . Potential dangers cited in the media about carcinogenic cell growth pertain only to embryonic stem cells and is unrelated to the treatment with adult stem cells that is cited in the investigation , according to the group .  No deaths have been reported in the cases registered with the society , according to Audley . The two patients from  were not registered with the  , although the bio company does participate in patient registry with the group .  In the first of the two cases , a 61 year old man traveled to China for treatment with stem cells provided by  for diabetes and other ailments . He died two months later . His cause of death has not been determined , but it is "" unlikely "" the result of the stem cell procedure , according to the  .  The death of a 73 year old former surgeon , who died on the same day he was treated in Japan , "" was due to a pre existing blood clot that traveled to the lungs , and may have been precipitated by the procedure used to infuse the stem cells , or less probably , from a clot formed by the cells , "" according to the  findings published on the group ' s website .  Stem cell banking is allowed in clinics such as  Bio , which specializes in extracting , cultivating and storing adult stem cells obtained from fatty tissue of patients .  Patients are only able to receive treatment with these stored cells overseas , and  Bio regularly refers patients to clinics in other countries that are determined capable of using their stem cells .  No financial exchanges are made for these referrals , according to Kim Ju sun , the company ' s public relations director . The  also concluded in its report that no financial transaction could be traced to  Bio from the clinics that conducted the stem cell treatments .  Under South Korean regulations , stem cell treatments are not authorized and can only be used in clinical trials approved by the Korea Food and Drug Administration (  ) .  The  and the Ministry of Welfare announced they will conduct an investigation into the potential dangers of unauthorized stem cell treatment in the country and create countermeasures , according to a statement from the  .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
12900,12901,"A mother of three repeatedly knifed in the head by her violent boyfriend has revealed how she begged him to put her to bed so she didn ' t die on the floor .  Joanne Bolton told how she thought she was going to die at the hands of Steven Young during the ' brutal and merciless ' seven hour long ordeal .  The 35 year old was stabbed over 14 times before being knocked out with a mental bar after being held captive in her own home .  Joanne Bolton , pictured in hospital , did not believe she was going to survive the horrific attack that saw her knifed more than 14 times  Such was the force of the attack , that the blade of a knife being used to stab her in the head broke .  But this did not end the nightmare , instead Young chose a bigger weapon and continued his violent onslaught .  ' I didn ' t think I was going to survive and I asked him to put me to bed because I didn ' t want to die on the floor , ' said Miss Bolton of New Kyo , Stanley , County Durham .  ' I felt euphoric , I stopped feeling the cold and had no strength left . I knew I didn ' t have long left . '  Miss Bolton was already fleeing from a violent relationship when she met Young and jumped at the chance to move in with him after staying in a refuge .  But soon after he became possessive and violent and started using her a punchbag as he fought his own insecurities .  Steven Young , pictured right , was jailed for 18 years by a judge at Newcastle Crown Court after he admitted attempted murder of Miss Bolton , pictured left , shortly after the seven hour ordeal  Miss Bolton , a former support worker , says he was using drugs and was on prescribed methadone which led to paranoia at times .  But in May he exploded after she had posted a photo and message on Facebook saying she was unhappy .  ' He would wind himself up to breaking point . He would say I was cheating on him but it was him cheating on me , ' she said .  ' But on that day I had been outside fixing my car and had been talking to a young lad who collects scrap metal .  ' He Young was upset because of the Facebook message . I went into the kitchen and opened a tin of tuna and he stuck a six inch knife in my head .  ' The blade was sticking in my head and I thought ' oh my God , I ' m going to die ' . I couldn ' t pull it out but he did .  ' He pulled it so hard it gave me whiplash and the blade snapped on the way out and fell on the floor . He went for another big knife and he stabbed me in the back and it punctured my kidney .  ' He then stabbed me twice in the chest once in the breast and once in the lung . My lung was filling with blood , I knew I was in trouble and I was coughing up blood .  The mother of three has been left scarred for life and needed more than 100 stitches to her face , arms and body  ' I didn ' t feel the stabs , it just felt like punches , I feel more pain in my dreams now .  ' He kept telling me I was going to die and was trying to stab me in the eyes and kept lunging and stabbing me in the head and face , over and over and over again . I put my arm up to protect myself .  ' He cut through the nerves , tendons , veins and ligaments above my wrist , blood spurted out .  ' From my wrist it was hanging off . He then stabbed me in the thumb , I needed over 100 stitches in total . '  Young pleaded guilty to attempted murder and was given an 18 year sentence in February at Newcastle Crown Court .  Jailing him , Judge Paul Sloan told him : ' During the attack Miss Bolton truly believed she was going to die and she has suffered profound physical and mental suffering .  ' This was a particularly brutal , merciless and sustained attack that must have been truly terrifying for the victim .  ' There is a significant risk to members of the public , particularly partners and former partners , of serious harm by you . '  Mum of three Joanne added : ' I was left in my own pool of blood and I was very cold .  ' I was there for hours and then I crawled towards the fire to get warm .  ' When I was on my hands and knees he took a power bar and played golf with my head . He hit me in the forehead which flung me backwards then hit me on the shoulder which fractured the bones in my shoulder blade . '  Thinking of a way out , gasping for breath , Miss Bolton persuaded Young to put her on the bed and said she had 20 for him to uy drugs .  Miss Bolton now suffers with mild brain damage and is often scared to leave the house  On his return she begged him to call an ambulance , saying she would blame her injuries on someone else .  She was in intensive care on a ventilator and was in surgery for six hours .  ' I had been sterilised when I was 22 because I had real problems during my three births but somehow was pregnant during this , ' said Joanne . ' I miscarried after my shoulder operation but that plays heavy on my mind now .  ' I never expected to be pregnant again , that was not supposed to happen , but I was and it survived those weeks while this was happening '  The frenzied attack has left Joanne with mild brain damage , she struggles to detect smell , has short time memory problems and is often too scared to leave the house .  But now new boyfriend Brett Ritchie , 40 , of South Stanley , is helping her through her nightmare .  ' Brett is different , he is patient , caring and would go to the end of the world and back for me .  ' I genuinely feel I am with someone for the right reasons . '  Dad of six Brett said : ' She has got a lot of trust to gain back and that takes time , but I ' m willing to wait because I love her . '  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
12901,12902,"Reuters) - President Donald Trump will announce next week his choice for who will lead the Federal Reserve, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders told reporters on Friday. ",true,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
12902,12903,"Other Plots Tied to Abdelhamid Abaaoud , Alleged Mastermind of Paris Attacks   Paris Mastermind Killed in Raid , Prosecutor Says  The alleged mastermind of last week s Paris terror attacks had been involved in planning several other would be attacks in recent months , officials say .  Abdelhamid Abaaoud was killed during a police raid on a home in the Parisian suburb of Saint Denis Wednesday morning and police identified him using his fingerprints .  Abaaoud was a Moroccan born Belgian citizen , and officials have confirmed that he traveled to Syria in 2014 .  Authorities Seeking 9th Suspect in Paris Attacks , French Official Says  French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve today said Abaaoud seems to have been involved in at least four of six terror plots that have been thwarted since this spring .  He was confirmed to have had connections to two jihadists who had been detained by French authorities . The first was detained in June after a trip to Turkey and another confirmed to officials in August that he had been trained and commissioned by Abaaoud to commit violent acts in France or elsewhere .  Officials are also investigating a possible connection between Abaaoud and a jihadist who was detained in July en route to Prague with a false Swedish passport and unspecified plans to commit a terrorist attack , Cazeneuve said .  Beyond those personal connections , French officials say they have also established that Abaaoud had a role in an attack in April that left one woman dead .  This undated image taken from a Militant Website on Monday , Nov . 16 , 2015 , shows Belgian Abdelhamid Abaaoud .  That incident involved Sid Ahmed Glham , a 24 year old Algerian who moved to France in 2009 . Glham is believed to have killed a French woman in her car , but then did not continue the rest of his alleged plan after he contacted authorities to call for an ambulance because he had injured himself .  "" Documents were also found and they prove , without any ambiguity , that the individual was preparing an imminent attack , in all probability , against one or two churches , "" Cazeneuve said at the time .  Abaaoud ' s specific role in the April attack has not been publicly disclosed .  Officials are still working to see whether Abaaoud was connected in any way to the attempted shooting on a Thalys train that ended after U . S . passengers helped subdue the assailant in August .  Get real time updates as this story unfolds . To start , just "" star "" this story in  News ' phone app . Download  News for iPhone here or  News for Android here .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
12928,12929,"It is awfully ironic how the liberals are bashing President Trump for placing blame on both sides for the violence in the Charlottesville incident and not condemning just the white supremacists, considering they conveniently overlooked Hillary and Obama s close friendship with former  member, Robert Byrd.Following the Charlottesville incident involving a car crashing into a crowd of people, President Trump seemed to be one of the only figures in the country condemning both sides for their displays of violence and bigotry. It was not clear who, exactly, was behind the attack, or which group was responsible.Trump waited until the dust settled and condemned both sides, as both sides warrant condemnation in this situation: from the white supremacists to the black supremacists, to the Communists, to Antifa, the situation was hardly one-sided.David Duke attempted to link Trump to the bigotry and hatred that was present in Charlottesville, however, it would be a far cry to say that the President is in any way happy with or affiliated with Duke or those he associates with, and to say so is to insult the President and his supporters.However, President Trump, back when he was dropping out of the Reform Party primary in 2000, condemned David Duke.When pressed by Matt Lauer on why he saw the Reform Party as self-destructing, Trump commented: Well, you ve got David Duke just joined, a bigot, a racist, a problem, I mean, this is not exactly the people you want in your party.   Gateway PunditWatch Trump s 2000 interview with Lauer here:Despite mounting criticism for Donald Trump s failure to disavow former Ku Klux Klan grand wizard David Duke s support, Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton once heaped praise for late Klan leader Sen. Robert Byrd.In a video uploaded to the State Department s official YouTube page on June 28, 2010, Clinton commemorated late Sen. Byrd by saying,  Today our country has lost a true American original, my friend and mentor Robert C. Byrd. Via: Daily CallerAnd when the former  member, Senator Robert Byrd died, Barack Obama gave the eulogy:President Obama lauded the late Sen. Robert C. Byrd today for keeping faith with his family, his state of West Virginia and his beloved U.S. Constitution. He was a Senate icon, he was a party leader, he was an elder statesman, and he was my friend,  Obama told thousands who gathered for Byrd s funeral on the steps of the golden-domed West Virginia statehouse.  That s how I ll remember him. ",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,past
12929,12930,"Norman Ollestad remembers the tree limb .  The book ' s jacket features a picture of a 1 year old Norman clinging to his father ' s back on a surfboard .  He was 11 years old , riding in a Cessna in a blizzard through California ' s San Gabriel Mountains in 1979 , on his way to pick up a trophy he won in a skiing competition .  "" The gray clouds were just pressing against the windows it didn ' t even seem like we were moving , "" he recalls . "" Then , there ' s a limb reaching out of that fog and disappearing . Then another one and another one .  "" Then realizing we were in the trees . ""  The plane crash that followed killed his father and the pilot and badly wounded his father ' s girlfriend , who with young Norman was tossed violently onto the top of an 8 , 600 foot mountain in the freezing , February chill .  "" I felt three thuds . The third one must have knocked me cold , "" says Ollestad , now 41 . "" I remember feeling those thuds in my spine a clear memory of that . Then I woke up who knows how long after . ""  The ensuing nine hour , life or death descent in the end , he was the only survivor is the topic of "" Crazy for the Storm : A Memoir of Survival . "" Watch the press conference that followed his survival  But the book is about more than a plane crash , namely his relationship with an adrenaline junkie father who basked in the wild life of Malibu in the 1970s and relentlessly pushed his "" Boy Wonder "" to excel from the ski slopes of northern California to the crashing surf off the Mexican coast .  "" It ' s actually 100 percent about my relationship with my father , "" Ollestad said . "" That relationship was present on the mountain with me , even though he was dead . ""  "" An engrossing story of adventure , survival and psychological exploration , "" wrote the journal Kirkus Reviews .  In the book , Ollestad cuts back and forth between the crash and journey down the mountain and the years leading up to that moment .  Included are memories of life in Malibu , where he grew up the son of divorced parents in a cottage on the beach . There are surfers and skate rats , musicians and nudists and memories of smoking weed and spying on his neighbors ' most intimate moments .  But mostly there ' s his father , Norman Ollestad Sr . , an athlete , actor , lawyer , musician and former  agent . From the age of 3 , Norman was groomed for competitive "" extreme sports "" by his father and pushed to be the best .  The book ' s jacket features a picture of a 1 year old Norman clinging to his father ' s back as he steers a surfboard atop the waves of California ' s Topanga State Beach .  He acknowledges that many times , when his father was cooking up a new adventure for the two of them , he would rather have been "" riding my bike or eating chocolate cake . ""  "" At first a lot of people are , ' Wow . . I had a lot of trouble with some of the stuff your dad was doing , ' "" says Ollestad , who studied creative writing at  and attended  ' s film school . "" But then it turned out that a lot of that stuff was really beautiful . ""  And he believes it saved his life .  The skiing made him aware of how steep the mountain ' s slope was and what it would take to get down it without falling . The skiing and surfing gave him control of his body and awareness of the exact movements required to work his way out of the descent ' s most treacherous spots .  "" Some of it was sort of eerily , specifically perfect for the situation , "" he says . "" Forty five degree pitch , blizzard with ice , well , I ' ve been here for eight years doing this . It was familiar to me . ""  The book has had another , unexpected result for Ollestad , who now lives in Venice , California . He says he ' s been shocked at the e mail from readers .  "" Nobody ' s even written about the plane crash , "" he says . "" They say ' it reminds me of some of the things I did with my dad or some of the things I didn ' t get to do . '  "" In every e mail , whether it ' s a woman or a man , they talk about . . . their relationship with their father or mother . It touches something in there where they want to talk about it . ""  Now , for Ollestad , the story has followed him all the way around . He ' s the father of an 8 year old , Noah , and seeks to walk the line between responsible parenting and teaching his child the lessons he says saved his life .  "" Those were different times , "" he tells the boy in the book ' s epilogue . "" My dad made me do lots of things that I ' d get arrested for making you do . ""  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
12931,12932,"If Andy Murray is going to win his first French Open title , he ' s going to have to do it the hard way .  The Wimbledon champion , seeded seventh , has been placed in the same half of the draw as the undoubted king of clay and eight time winner at Roland Garros , Rafael Nadal and they could meet at the semi final stage .  Australian Open title holder Stanislas Wawrinka is also a potential quarter final opponent .  Potential opponents : Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal could meet in the French Open semi finals  Focused : Murray chats to training partner Dani Vallverdu during practice at Roland Garros  Andy missed the French Open last year because of back problems that eventually saw him undergo surgery last September .  His title bid kicks off against Kazakhstan ' s Andrey Golubev in the first round .  Murray and Golubev have only met once before in a tour event , in the final in St Petersburg in 2008 , which the Scot won 6 1 , 6 1 .  Golubev , 26 , is ranked 55 but has been as high as 33 and beat Wawrinka in Davis Cup in April .  Should Murray get past the Kazakh , he will play either Australia ' s Marinko Matosevic or German Jamaican Dustin Brown , while talented German Philipp Kohlschreiber is the first seed he could face in round three .  Ready for action : Andy Murray shakes hands with Bulgaria ' s Grigor Dimitrov during practice session  The man to beat : Nadal is hoping to win a record ninth French Open title  Defending champion Nadal , who is aiming for a record ninth French Open title , will play American wild card Robby Ginepri first up , and could meet exciting young Austrian Dominic Thiem in the second round .  In the bottom half , second seed Novak Djokovic meets Joao Sousa of Portugal while Roger Federer , his potential semi final opponent , plays Lukas Lacko .  In the women ' s draw , reigning champion Serena Williams plays France ' s Alize Lim , her friend from Patrick Mouratoglou ' s academy not that the American realised the significance .  2013 finalists : Serena Williams poses with her winning trophy alongside runner up Maria Sharapova  Lim wrote on Twitter : ' So 5 minutes ago I was in the locker room speaking to Serena , asked her "" oh did you make the draw , who do I play ? ! "" She told me no I don ' t look at the draw . '  Williams could play sister Venus in the third round but she has a very tricky opener against 17 year old Swiss Belinda Bencic , last year ' s junior champion .  Serena is also seeded to face a rematch with Maria Sharapova , who she beat in last year ' s final , in the last eight .  The women ' s second seed is Australian Open champion Li Na , who meets Frenchwoman Kristina Mladenovic in round one .  Play at the second grand slam of the year begins at Roland Garros on Sunday .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
12942,12943,"Only one in 25 homes sold last month exceeded the asking price .  The figure , released yesterday by the National Association of Estate Agents , adds to evidence that the property market is finally cooling .  It found that just 4 per cent of buyers had to pay over the odds in July compared with 20 per cent in both March and May . Two thirds of owners did not receive the advertised price .  Just 4 per cent of buyers paid more than the asking price for a house in July , while website Rightmove has revealed house prices had their biggest ever August fall , dropping 2 . 9 per cent  The website Rightmove has already said asking prices have had their biggest ever August fall dropping 2 . 9 per cent on July .  More than 520 estate agents were interviewed by the  , and nine out of ten said stamp duty was harming the market and needed reform .  A third agreed with the statement that the tax , which is paid on homes sold for more than 125 , 000 , ' frequently deters house buyers from moving to their ideal house ' .  Until 1997 , stamp duty was charged at just 1 per cent on all homes sold for 60 , 000 or more .  Today it is charged at that rate only on properties between 125 , 000 and 250 , 000 . The rate is then 3 per cent up to 500 , 000 , with rates continuing to rise to a maximum of 7 per cent on homes over 2million .  Mark Hayward , managing director of the  , said there was growing evidence that house prices are ' on the decline ' .  He said : ' A significant number of homes being sold are going for less than the asking price .  ' This not only signals an appetite for movement in the market , but is also positive news for current house buyers , especially when faced with the prospect of potentially having to pay higher rates of stamp duty for higher priced houses . '  Savills predicts house prices will continue to rise for the next five years across the  , jumping by nearly 26 per cent by the end of 2018 .  But it says the rate of annual growth will slow down significantly . Prices will supposedly rise by 9 . 5 per cent this year , but by only 4 per cent in 2015 , slowing down to 3 . 5 per cent in both 2016 and 2017 and finally to 3 per cent in 2018 .  Nine out of ten estate agents interviewed by the  said stamp duty was hurting the property market and needed to be reformed  Lucian Cook ,  head of residential research at the estate agency , said : ' These extraordinary rates of house price growth cannot continue in the current , more regulated mortgage environment , particularly in the face of likely interest rate rises . '  Around three million working parents in England are cutting back on buying food in order to be able to pay their rent or mortgage , according to the housing charity Shelter .  Its report , published today , warns that the budgets of many ordinary working families are ' stretched to breaking point by high housing costs ' .  They are at risk of losing their homes when the Bank of England raises the base rate from its historic low of 0 . 5 per cent .  Campbell Robb , chief executive of Shelter , said : ' No parent should be forced to choose between putting food on the table and paying for the roof over their children ' s heads .  ' These shocking figures show that millions of us are having to make these kind of agonising choices every day . '  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Economy,fake,true,True,no,no,negative,past
12975,12976,"Ronnie O ' Sullivan retained his Champion of Champions title in Coventry by seeing off Judd Trump in a high class battle .  The five time world champion looked to be cruising at 8 3 ahead before Trump roared back to 8 7 in the first to 10 contest at the Ricoh Arena .  But O ' Sullivan had enough about him to get to the line first and take a 10 7 win and a 100 , 000 cheque .  Ronnie O ' Sullivan has a taste for victory and retained his Champion of Champions title against Judd Trump  Judd Trump didnt go down without a fight , but it was O ' Sullivan who emerged victorious in Coventry  Age is serving to make O ' Sullivan better , with the Essex man , who turns 39 next month , retaining the consistency that so often eluded him in his early days .  His numbers against Trump were simply stunning , compiling breaks of 137 , 78 , 80 , 87 , 134 , 139 , 70 , 70 and 109 , but a rot stopping 63 to go out to 9 7 proved to be the most valuable .  Trump who made 102 and 100 himself was rampant at that point but O ' Sullivan gave himself a chance with the knock made without use of the blue or black . Even then Trump was not done and had a chance to clear on the colours to force a re spot but went in off the green .  Trump decided he had nothing to lose after that and took on a long red at the start of the 17th . He got nowhere near and O ' Sullivan slammed in a fourth century of the match and a seventh of the week . Four of the top five breaks also have his name next to them .  The 38 year old has been working on reigniting his passion for the sport with psychiatrist Dr Steve Peters  O ' Sullivan has rediscovered the scintillating form he regularly showed in the early stages of his career  ' I just played as well as I could , ' O ' Sullivan told ITV4 afterwards .  ' I would like to say well done to Judd as he had a great tournament . He pots so well and doesn ' t get worried that I didn ' t know what to do today . '  The revival of O ' Sullivan ' s career is charted back to him starting working with renowned psychiatrist Dr Steve Peters .  Since the two teamed up , O ' Sullivan has rekindled a previously absent passion for a sport in which he is considered to be the greatest of all time .  ' If I ' d have lost I ' d have said the same thing , you can ' t ask for more than that and you want to keep playing , ' he added .  ' I was happy to be involved in one of the best matches you ' ll see .  Speaking openly with ITV4 O ' Sullivan admitted that his work with Dr Peters helped him get back to his best  ' I was playing like this when I was 15 , 16 and then I played rubbish for 16 years but I hung in because I ' m stubborn . Since I ' ve been working with Steve Peters I have found the form I was always capable of .  ' I ' m enjoying it , I hope it lasts , but when it ends , it ends . '  Trump admitted there was little he could do to stop the force of O ' Sullivan .  ' I take a lot of positives because the way Ronnie played is the best anyone has played . I marvelled at him making it look so easy and that ' s one of the best performances I ' ve seen from anyone in any sport . '  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
12981,12982,"A Mercedes more than a half century old and driven by one of Formula One ' s most famous racers , Juan Manuel Fangio , became the most expensive car ever sold at an auction , according to the auctioneer .  The 1954 Mercedes Benz W196R fetched 29 . 65 million Friday at the auction in southern England , said Bonhams , with the identity of the buyer not disclosed .  That figure beat the previous record a 1957 Ferrari was purchased in 2011 by about 13 million , added Bonhams .  "" I have handled some of the world ' s most desirable and important motor cars during a motoring auction career spanning five decades , but I have reached a peak with this legendary grand prix car , "" Robert Brooks , the Bonhams chairman , said .  "" It was a personal privilege to preside over the sale of this vehicle , which is not only one of the most significant motor cars of the 20th century but also the most important historic grand prix racing car ever offered for sale , "" he added .  Argentina ' s Fangio used the car en route to winning the second of his five world titles . Soon after it was placed in a museum .  Fangio won a record 45 percent of the grand prix he entered and started nearly 60 percent of his races from pole position reigning Formula One king Sebastian Vettel doesn ' t come close to matching that .  He won the championship with four different teams the only man to achieve the feat and is also the oldest Formula One champion , claiming the title in 1957 at the age of 46 .  "" If he were here today Fangio would shake his head and smile his slow smile , "" Doug Nye , a racing historian , told Bonhams ' website . "" He was a humble man , originally a mechanic from a potato town in Argentina and never forgot his roots .  "" As a driver he was simply a genius . ""  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
13002,13003,"Poll : Cruz and Trump in dead heat among California Republicans  A limousine is decorated with pictures of Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump before he speaks at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum on January 2 , 2016 in Biloxi , Mississippi . ( Photo by Spencer Platt Getty Images ) ( Spencer Platt )  Ted Cruz has surged to the top of the pack of Republican presidential candidates in California , a new Field Poll shows , mirroring the Texas senator ' s rapid rise in early primary states across the nation .  Cruz and Donald Trump are now knotted in a statistical dead heat for top support among California ' s likely  voters five months before the state ' s primary .  The poll may mark the end of the blustery billionaire businessman ' s dominance in California . It shows Cruz probably has room to grow his Golden State support even further , while Trump ' s already might be maxed out .  Republican presidential candidate Sen . Ted Cruz , R Texas arrives to speak at Charlie ' s Steakhouse at the Carrollton Inn in Carroll , Iowa , Monday , Jan . 4 , 2016 . (  Photo Andrew Harnik ) ( Andrew Harnik )  "" Cruz is probably the chief beneficiary of the declines of two other candidates who were doing much better in our last poll , in October : Ben Carson and Carly Fiorina , "" Field Poll director Mark DiCamillo said Monday . "" And he ' s positioning himself very adroitly to benefit from the departure of other candidates . ""  Cruz is the top choice of 25 percent of Republican likely voters , while Trump is the first pick of 23 percent , a lead that ' s within the 5 . 6 percentage point margin of error for the poll of 325  voters conducted Dec . 16 through Sunday . Three months ago , Cruz trailed Trump by 11 percentage points and was in sixth place in Field ' s California poll .  The latest poll finds Florida Sen . Marco Rubio in third place with 13 percent support . Carson the neurosurgeon who placed second behind Trump in October ' s Field Poll is now at 9 percent . Fiorina , the ex Hewlett Packard  and former Los Altos Hills resident , has fallen 10 points since October and now has 3 percent support , tied for seventh place with New Jersey Gov . Chris Christie .  Despite the narrow gap between Cruz and Trump , other poll results show Trump might be in a weaker position than either Cruz or Rubio . Only 11 percent of likely  voters name Trump as their second choice pick , while twice as many 22 percent say so about Cruz , and 14 percent name Rubio as their second choice .  Also , 45 percent of California Republican primary voters have an unfavorable view of Trump , while only 20 percent say so of Cruz and 26 percent say so of Rubio . And 43 percent of  voters say they would be dissatisfied or upset if Trump winds up the nominee , while only 21 percent say so of Cruz and 24 percent say so of Rubio .  Cruz ' s fundraisers in Beverly Hills and Newport Beach made Dec . 16 the campaign ' s most lucrative day so far , said Ron Nehring , a former state  chairman who heads Cruz ' s California campaign . Volunteers from all over the state converged on Los Angeles to see Cruz at an organizing meeting during that same visit denoting Cruz ' s support by big donors and grass roots alike . Cruz raised almost 20 million nationwide in 2015 ' s final quarter , on top of the 26 million he had reported raising by the end of September .  "" That has been a consistent , central part of our approach to unite conservatives behind a single , well funded candidate , "" Nehring said .  DiCamillo said the new poll left him surprised by "" the weakness of Jeb Bush within his own party . "" Bush is now in sixth place as the first choice of 4 percent of California ' s likely Republican voters , down from 8 percent support in October , 11 percent last May and 16 percent last February .  The former Florida governor ' s efforts to break out of his downward spiral have failed , and for a guy who had started out as a presumed frontrunner , "" he really has not played that role very well , "" DiCamillo said .  Nationally , Trump still tops the surging Cruz by 16 percentage points , according to an average of recent polls compiled by Real Clear Politics . But Cruz leads Trump by four points in Iowa , while in New Hampshire , Trump leads second place Rubio by 13 points and Cruz by 14 .  Dakin Sundeen , an Oakland Republican , said he told the poll Rubio is his first choice , and Cruz is his second because of "" their charisma . ""  "" Rubio is a very charismatic guy , a great public speaker . . . with ability to express our ideas and package them in a way that ' s palatable to a lot more independent voters , "" said Sundeen , 29 , an information technology systems administrator who ran unsuccessfully against Democratic Rep . Barbara Lee in 2014 . "" And with Cruz , I think he captures the Donald Trump ism , for lack of a better term , in a better way than Trump himself . . . kind of a maverick type thing . ""  But Steven Moore , of San Jose , told the poll he ' s so steadfast in his support of Trump that his only second choice is . . . himself .  "" I ' m a businessman , and this country needs to be run like a business now we can ' t tolerate any more of the bull , "" said Moore , 65 , a general contractor .  As for Cruz , he said , "" I don ' t believe in him at all he ' s too much of a politician . ""  Josh Richman covers politics . Follow him at Twitterweblink Josh Richman . Read the Political Blotter at IBAbuzzweblink politics .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
13037,13038,"Reuters) - An Alabama state court on Friday rejected Governor Robert Bentley’s request to block a legislative committee from releasing evidence about wrongdoing stemming from his relationship with a former aide to be used for impeachment proceedings. A Montgomery County State Court judge was still hearing arguments on Friday evening over the governor’s motion to halt impeachment proceedings in the Alabama House of Representatives. The House Judiciary Committee is scheduled to begin the process on Monday. Bentley, who is accused of using state resources for personal use, has denied any wrongdoing and has refused to step down, as demanded by top political leaders. Bentley’s troubles began last year when recordings surfaced of him making suggestive remarks to a former senior adviser, Rebekah Mason, before his wife of 50 years filed for divorce in August 2015. Bentley has denied having a physical affair with Mason, who is married. She resigned as questions about the pair’s relationship began to dominate Alabama politics. On Wednesday, the Alabama Ethics Commission found that Bentley probably violated ethics and campaign finance laws.     The Judiciary Committee’s report on Friday accused Bentley of ordering state law enforcement officers to track down copies of an embarrassing recording that suggested an affair with the Mason. It also accused him of retaliating against an official who discovered the relationship. The committee plans to begin its impeachment process on Monday. The panel’s process would lead to a recommendation to the full House on whether to impeach.    Bentley remained defiant at news conference on Friday. “Once again, let me say, I do not plan to resign,” he told reporters without taking questions. “I have done nothing illegal. If the people want to know if I misused state resources, the answer is simply no, I have not.”  The Ethics Commission on Wednesday said it found that Bentley had accepted a contribution and made a loan to his campaign outside the legal time frame, and that he used campaign funds to pay the legal fees of Mason, local media reported.  The commission has declined to disclose the evidence of its finding because it was referring it to the Montgomery district attorney’s office, which could bring criminal charges against the governor.  ",true,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
13041,13042,"Gael Clichy has become Manchester City ' s first signing of the transfer window after the French international defender completed his switch from Arsenal .  Clichy , 25 , will cost Roberto Mancini ' s side 11 . 2 million and has signed a four year contract at the City of Manchester Stadium .  The former Cannes left back spent eight years with Arsenal and becomes the final member of Arsenal ' s "" invincibles "" the team of 2003 04 who won the English Premier League without losing a game to leave the Emirates Stadium .  "" I ' m really happy to be joining such a great club , "" Clichy told Manchester City ' s official web site .  "" I hope I can add to the quality we already have here because we have a fantastic squad who I believe will continue to get better . I can ' t wait to get started and I think anything is possible with this team . ""  As a member of the Gunners ' last title winning squad , Clichy became the youngest player to receive a Premier League title medal and his compatriot and former manager Arsene Wenger thanked him for his services .  "" We would like to thank Gael for eight years of terrific service to Arsenal , during which time he gave absolutely everything for the club . . . Gael leaves with our respect and best wishes . We wish him the very best for his future career . ""  Clichy will be reunited with former teammates Kolo Toure and Patrick Vieira at City , and the Toulouse native is looking forward to working with his old friends .  "" When I first came to England , it was Kolo Toure and Patrick Vieira who took me under their wing and really looked after me .  "" Kolo would pick me up and drop me at home and his wife used to cook meals for me . Patrick was always there to offer me advice so it ' s wonderful to be back and at the same club they are at . ""  Clichy has won 10 international caps for Les Bleus and was a member of the France squad which was eliminated from the 2010 World Cup in the opening round .   Cup winners City finished third in England ' s top flight last season to qualify for their first ever Champions League campaign .  Clichy made 45 appearances in Europe ' s premier club competition during his time with Arsenal .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
13048,13049,"World Agence France Presse Updated : February 01 , 2016 04 : 27   Britain ' s Prime Minister David Cameron is seen speaking on the  ' s Andrew Marr Show in this photograph received via the  in London , Britain on January 10 , 2016 . ( Reuters File photo )  London , United Kingdom : ? British Prime Minister David Cameron on Sunday began talks pressing  president Donald Tusk to allow the  to immediately restrict benefits to  migrants if Britain votes to stay in the bloc .  The pair shook hands outside Cameron ' s Downing Street office before heading inside to thrash out the details over a meal of salmon , beef and pear and apple crumble .  If the British people voted to stay in the  in a referendum , Cameron ' s proposed "" emergency brake "" would come into force immediately after the vote and exclude migrants from other  countries from claiming benefits such as income top ups for low paid workers until they had paid into the British system .  "" The Prime Minister will tell Tusk tonight that an emergency brake on in work benefits would have to apply immediately if it is to form part of a deal on the  renegotiation , "" the senior government source said .  "" A deal will only be possible if a brake would apply to current levels of  migration to Britain , could be triggered immediately after the referendum and would apply long enough to resolve the underlying problem . ""  The government says it wants to limit in work benefits as it considers it a "" pull factor "" encouraging large numbers of Europeans to come to the  in search of work .  The number of European job seekers has become a hot political issue in Britain and key driver of anti  sentiment .  Yet Cameron is under increasing pressure from his own centre right Conservative party , which has a strong eurosceptic contingent , to come back with a robust deal .  Opinion polls currently suggest that Britons would vote to leave the  in a so called "" Brexit "" by a small margin .  Cameron has set out four areas in which he wants reform migrant benefits , safeguards against more political integration in the  , protection of countries such as Britain which do not use the euro currency and boosting economic competitiveness .  Tusk announced on Twitter that all four would be discussed , and that if progress were made he would "" table my proposal to  countries tomorrow "" ( Monday ) .  An  source told  that Tusk was accompanied by his full negotiation team .  "" I don ' t expect Tusk to offer future treaty change on free movement "" of people , the source said .  The main sticking point has been Cameron ' s insistence that  migrants employed in Britain must wait four years before claiming certain welfare payments , which could require a treaty change .  "" The Prime Minister intends to leave Tusk in no doubt that he will not do a deal at any price , "" added the source .  British officials hope that a final deal can be nailed down at a Brussels summit being held on February 18 and 19 , which Cameron would then use to campaign for Britain to remain in the 28 member bloc .  An agreement at that time would open the door to a referendum in June , but Cameron insists he is willing to hold out for as long as it takes to secure the right package of reforms , if necessary delaying the referendum until September or even next year .  Tusk ' s visit comes after Cameron held a hastily arranged meeting with European Commission chief Jean Claude Juncker on Friday to try to resolve the British leader ' s main concern reducing the number of  migrants coming to Britain .  Cameron emerged from the talks with Juncker saying that , while there had been "" progress "" , the proposal on the table was "" not good enough "" .  "" Reflecting domestic pressure on Cameron , the co chair of the anti  Conservatives for Britain group dismissed the talks as "" synthetic "" and a "" farce "" .  "" It is not going to answer the concerns of the British people . We need the power in our own parliament to determine what our migration policy is , "" he told Sky News .  Story First Published : February 01 , 2016 04 : 27   ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
13059,13060,"Julian Assange , the only man in this world that has guts enough to expose corruption and evil doers is now being framed by a female spy who was hired to bring false charges against him and Sweden is behind the abuse . Assange lets people around the world know what evil doers are planning behind their backs .  Julian Assange is the voice of the free world and he went to Sweden to seek protection against those who wanted to silence him , but little did he suspect that those same persecutors would use two female double agents as a method to imprison him . His persecutors knew that Julian Assange was not a criminal and they could never entrap him , so they used the operatives to make false accusations which can ' t be proven , but which can land a man in jail or prison . The persecution of Assange is the persecution of every man in this world who could get framed by a feminist or a female operative , even though a man has committed no physical crime against such women . Assange is not alone because 70 percent of the male population around the world is behind him 100 percent because they understand his plight and the lies that women tell .  Interpol the political puppet of world governments is now intent on violating the sovereignty of other countries by hunting down a man who is suppose to be a low priority suspect . What ' s next for Interpol ? Will they go to America to hunt down candy thieves , drug users , gay prostitutes , and pimps ? No , Interpol is to scared to step foot in America if America is financing their police operations and the U . S . carries the big stick when dealing with Interpol .  The judge , who claims he molested his little sister when he was seven years old because he didn ' t have a girlfriend and who said he committed a sexual offensive against his wife on two occasions when she was not ready for sex , said the case is about serious sexual offenses that allegedly occurred on three occasions with two women . The judge said , if Assange were a royal prince he would not be held in such high contempt by the court house because he would have royal immunity from such a case .  The hypocrisy is outrages because the female double agents claim they were offended on three occasions . Why would a woman go back to the same man if she claims she was offended the first time then say she was offended a second time . By the first time they should have figured out something was wrong or they were enjoying the sex so much that they went back for more , a second time . The female double agent that engaged Assange , figured in her mind that the more contact she had with him the more culpable he would look without realizing that someone might bring up the issue of consent by desire because she returned a second time to him .  Interpol has issued an international warrant at the request of a Swedish court for the arrest of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in connection with alleged sex crimes that can ' t be proven . Its easy for a female spy to make up a story and frame a man , any woman can do that . What ' s hard is gaining the loyalty of intelligent men because only people at the bottom of the evolutionary scale would be dumb enough to advance science for those that persecute them using laws that the persecutors themselves never obey .  There are thousands of men who are accused of being involved in problems with women who are living in other countries and Interpol has not gone after those men . Why is one single individual , whose criminal charges were dropped because the charges were discovered not to be true and is now in a double jeopardy case , being sought by Interpol . And why are the charges being reintroduced right after a mega distribution of secret files ? Because Interpol is a political tool used by foreign countries to hunt down people they consider political prisoners .  Julian Assange is grossly underweight . He doesn ' t have the strength or stamina to defend himself in a fist fight or a physical struggle . Those Swedish women could have easily attacked him if they didn ' t want to have sex . They could have scratched his face , yet his face looks normal . They could have easily walked out of the room yet they decided to stay and have sex . They could have screamed yet they decided to moan from the pleasure . They could have easily called the police from the room yet they decided to keep quite and come back for seconds . Why did they wait such a long time to report the issue and demand more sex from him . Did someone approach the two women and offer them money to change their minds about the sex ? It ' s these same feminist lairs that have been putting the lives of every living man on this earth in mortal danger and producing in each of these men fears of being falsely accused of something they never did .  Julian Assange is protected by freedom of the press and he did not take information from a secured place , the information was given to him for printing . The people who engaged in those communications are responsible for the leak because if a person has nothing good to say , then they should say nothing at all .  ",satire,text,test,US elections,US elections,fake,satire,True,no,no,positive,past
13064,13065,"Reuters) - President Donald Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., agreed to meet with a Kremlin-linked lawyer during the 2016 election campaign after being promised damaging information about Hillary Clinton, the New York Times reported on Sunday, citing three advisers to the White House. Trump’s then-campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, also attended the meeting at Trump Tower on June 9, 2016, two weeks after Trump won the Republican nomination, the Times reported.   In a statement quoted by the Times and later made available to Reuters and other media outlets, Donald Trump Jr.  acknowledged meeting with Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya.       “After pleasantries were exchanged, the woman stated that she had information that individuals connected to Russia were funding the Democratic National Committee and supporting Ms. Clinton,” the statement said. Clinton was the 2016 Democratic presidential nominee.  “Her statements were vague, ambiguous and made no sense. No details or supporting information was provided or even offered. It quickly became clear that she had no meaningful information.” Trump Jr. said Veselnitskaya then turned the conversation to the adoption of Russian children and a U.S. law blackisting Russians linked to alleged human-rights abuses. President Trump was “not aware of and did not attend” the meeting, Mark Corallo, a spokesman for Trump’s legal team, said in an emailed statement. Trump Jr. said he was asked to attend the meeting “with an individual who I was told might have information helpful to the campaign” at the request of an acquaintance he knew from the 2013 Miss Universe pageant.  “I asked Jared and Paul to attend, but told them nothing of the substance,” he said.  “The meeting lasted approximately 20 to 30 minutes,” he said. “As it ended, my acquaintance apologized for taking up our time. That was the end of it and there was no further contact or follow-up of any kind. My father knew nothing of the meeting or these events.”  The New York Times report said Trump Jr. was promised damaging information about Clinton before agreeing to meet with the lawyer. It cited three advisers to the White House briefed on the meeting and two others with knowledge of it. The Times first reported on the meeting on Saturday, after which Trump Jr. issued a statement confirming that it took place, but made no mention of the Clinton aspect. Representatives for Manafort and Kushner did not respond to requests for comment. Allegations of the Trump campaign’s ties to Russia have cast a shadow over Donald Trump’s first five months in office. A federal special counsel and several congressional committees are investigating possible contacts between the campaign and Russian representatives as part of a larger probe into allegations that Moscow meddled in the election. The June meeting was the first confirmed private meeting between members of the president’s inner circle and a Russian national, the Times reported, citing confidential government records and interviews with people familiar with the documents. The revelations come after President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the allegations of election meddling during the summit of leaders from the Group of 20 major economies in Hamburg, Germany. The Kremlin has denied U.S. intelligence agencies’ conclusion that Moscow tried to tilt the election in Trump’s favor, using such means as hacking into the emails of senior Democrats.  Trump has repeatedly denied any collusion. ",true,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
13070,13071,"Reuters) - Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton pivoted to a general election match-up against Republican candidate Donald Trump on Thursday, saying he is dangerously unpredictable and not qualified to be president. Confident that she is finally close to defeating U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont for the Democratic nomination, Clinton turned heavy fire on Trump, who has been running about even with her in national polls of voters looking ahead to the Nov. 8 presidential election. On the Republican side, Trump promoted top aide Paul Manafort to serve as campaign manager and chief strategist, the Trump campaign said. Corey Lewandowski, the Trump aide who has been campaign manager, retains that title and will continue to oversee day-to-day operations, the campaign said. In addition, Trump has hired veteran Republican lawyer A.B. Culvahouse to help vet potential vice presidential running mates, a source close to the campaign said. In a  interview, Clinton used the example of the apparent downing of an EgyptAir plane from Paris to Cairo to say that Trump would lack the skills to bring together U.S. allies to respond to global threats. “I know how hard this job is and I know we need steadiness, as well as strength and smarts in it, and I have concluded that he is not qualified to be president of the United States,” Clinton said. Trump, the Republicans’ presumptive presidential nominee, has been intensifying his criticism of Clinton by lobbing personal attacks at her and her husband, former President Bill Clinton.  Clinton, a former U.S. secretary of state, said she would resolutely refuse to respond to Trump’s goading. “He can say whatever he wants,” she said. But she said the EgyptAir crash reinforces the need for American leadership and that Trump’s proposed temporary ban on Muslims entering the United States has sent the wrong signal to countries that Washington will need to work with in the fight against Islamic militants. “He says a lot of things that are provocative, that actually make the important task of building this coalition, bringing everybody to the table and defeating terrorism more difficult,” she said. “It sends a message of disrespect and it sends a message that makes the situation inside those countries more difficult.” Clinton suggested the Democratic race was over because of her nearly insurmountable lead in delegates to the nominating convention, despite Sanders’ insistence on staying in the race. “I will be the nominee for my party,” she said. “That is already done, in effect. There is no way that I won’t be.” She said Sanders will have to eventually help her unify the Democratic Party after the prolonged nomination fight. “I am absolutely committed to doing my part, more than my part. But Senator Sanders has to do his part,” she said. The Sanders campaign rebuffed Clinton’s nudge to get out of the race, pointing to his recent victories. “In the past three weeks voters in Indiana, West Virginia and Oregon respectfully disagreed with Secretary Clinton. We expect voters in the remaining eight contests also will disagree,” Sanders spokesman Michael Briggs said. Trump stepped up efforts to rally Republican loyalists behind his campaign after winning a divisive primary fight that left the party ruptured. On Capitol Hill, Manafort and other Trump aides met with conservatives in the House of Representatives who are members of the Freedom Caucus group and canvassed them for policy ideas. “Manafort was reaching out for ideas” on policy, and several Freedom Caucus members made suggestions, said Republican Representative Scott DesJarlais of Tennessee. “It went very well, it was encouraging. I think the Trump team recognizes the relevance of the Freedom Caucus, and the influence they have. I think actually, despite some early skepticism by some members, I think the (Freedom Caucus) board received Manafort and his representation of Trump very well,” DesJarlais said. Manafort also met with U.S. Senator Mike Lee of Utah, a Tea Party Republican who was a big backer of U.S. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas for president. Lee has expressed some concerns about Trump’s candidacy.  A spokesman for Lee said U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama, a key Trump adviser, was also at the meeting. ",true,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
13082,13083,"Sectors Mon Nov 2 , 2015 8 : 15am    2 Former U . S . senator , actor Fred Thompson dies  ( Confirms report of death adds details , byline , dateline )   , Tenn . Nov 1 ( Reuters ) Fred Thompson , a former Republican U . S . senator from Tennessee who briefly ran for president and straddled the world of politics and entertainment with a prolific television and film acting career , died of cancer on Sunday at age 73 .  Thompson , a onetime real life federal prosecutor best known to prime time  audiences for his role as a district attorney on  ' s hit show "" Law Order , "" died from a recurrence of lymphoma , said Brent Leatherwood , executive director of the Tennessee Republican Party .  The actor politician , who first made a name for himself in Washington as a Watergate investigator , was in hospice care at the time of his death , Leatherwood said .  "" It is with a heavy heart and a deep sense of grief that we share the passing of our brother , husband , father , and grandfather , who died peacefully in Nashville surrounded by his family , "" relatives said in a statement published by the Nashville Tennessean newspaper .  The tall , imposing Thompson was elected to the Senate in 1994 and served for two terms before retiring in 2003 .  He announced his bid for the Republican presidential nomination on  ' s "" The Tonight Show with Jay Leno "" in September 2007 but dropped out of the race in January after garnering little support .  Born in Sheffield , Alabama , Thompson earned a law degree from Vanderbilt University , became a federal prosecutor and went to work for longtime Tennessee Republican Senator Howard Baker .  It was Baker who secured him a job as minority legal counsel for the special Senate Watergate Committee investigating the 1972 burglary at the Democratic Party headquarters in Washington .  Thompson has been credited with helping Baker craft the famous question that framed the panel ' s inquiry "" What did the president know , and when did he know it ? ""  During a nationally televised hearing in July 1973 , Thompson asked the question that led to the public disclosure by White House aide Alexander Butterfield of a secret Oval Office tape recording system .  The existence of the tapes played a pivotal role in the investigation of the Watergate cover up and the 1974 resignation of President Richard Nixon .  Moving between politics and entertainment , Thompson played supporting roles in numerous films , including "" No Way Out , "" "" The Hunt for Red October , "" "" Days of Thunder , "" "" Die Hard 2 "" and "" In the Line of Fire . ""  His most notable  role was as the no nonsense New York D . A . Arthur Branch in the long running "" Law Order "" series , in which he appeared from 2002 to 2007 . ( Additional reporting by Peter Cooney in Washington Writing by Steve Gorman Editing by Andrew Hay and Eric Walsh )  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
13084,13085,"Manama , Bahrain Thousands of joyous Bahrainis retook a major square in the heart of the island nation ' s capital Saturday a dramatic turn of events two days after security forces ousted demonstrators from the spot in a deadly attack .  The sight of citizens streaming into Pearl Roundabout came as the Bahrain royal family made moves designed to end a turbulent week of unrest capped by calls from world leaders to talk with opposition leaders with an eye to reform .  "" We have , under the leadership of his majesty , decided that the best way to handle the situation without any further loss of life or injuries is through dialogue , "" he said .  The crown prince said he was deeply sorry for the deaths of protesters . An investigation will be launched and those responsible will be held accountable , he said .  "" This is a terrible tragedy for our nation , "" he said .  Salman also said the government will be embracing talks with all parties , a sign that the government is stepping back from confrontation and embracing dialogue .  "" All political parties in the country deserve a voice at the table , "" he said .  Bahrain ' s military withdrew from the square after issuing a statement saying it "" successfully completed "" its mission of "" safeguarding vital areas in the center of the capital . "" Police were placed in charge but withdrew from the roundabout on the heels of the military .  Thousands of people streamed into the roundabout , the focal point of protests in central Manama , waving flags , praying , dancing and honking horns .  "" I ' m feeling freedom , "" one protester said moments after soldiers and police retreated . "" It ' s the beginning , the beginning of our freedom . ""  While there was anger in the crowd over longstanding grievances , it was a sharp contrast to deadly confrontations early Thursday and Friday evening .  Many of the protesters are Shiite Muslims , who make up 70 percent of the residents of the island kingdom and have long harbored deep political and economic grievances against the Sunni ruling family .  Bahrain is one of several countries in the Middle East and North Africa to face a surge of dissent following the revolts that toppled longtime autocrats in Tunisia and Egypt .  This week ' s ferment upended the kingdom , a tiny but strategically critical country that ' s a key U . S . ally and home to the U . S . Navy ' s Fifith Fleet , and left 10 dead and many injured .  Two protesters were killed early this week . Four people died after security forces stormed the Pearl Roundabout early Thursday , ousting an encampment of sleeping demonstrators and taking control of the location .  Four others died on Friday evening after demonstrators attempted to approach the square and the security forces fired bullets and tear gas at them .  World leaders have urged the Bahrain government to open talks with protest leaders .  As international condemnation rolled in over the military ' s use of force against peaceful demonstrators , the royal family urged a dialogue with all sectors of the society to resolve the situation .  In a nationally televised address Friday , Salman offered his condolences , cautioned citizens and security forces to restrain themselves , and said the country wants a nation where neither Sunni or Shiites are favored .  After Salman ' s  appearance , King Hamad announced that the crown prince is to lead a dialogue "" with all parties and sections of Bahrain , without exception . ""  The crown prince ordered the military Saturday to withdraw from Bahrain ' s streets and left the police in charge to "" oversee law and order . "" He appealed for calm and said "" the situation is going back to normal . ""  "" We are starting a new stage , a stage that we will discuss all our issues with all honesty and integrity , "" he said .  "" To all the citizens of Bahrain , I hope that we be shoulder to shoulder , collaborate with each other , and communicate with all the political forces . ""  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,past
13095,13096,"By Everett Numbers The Pentagon and Congress are both promising quick fixes to the scandal surrounding excessive National Guard bonus payments to soldiers. However, the... ",fake,news,test,World conflict,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
13119,13120,"Theo Walcott believes the Arsenal forward line could turn out to be the best in the club ' s history but they must prove exactly how good they are by winning plenty of silverware .  The 25 year old , who missed the vast majority of 2014 through injury , believes the current crop which includes Alexis Sanchez , Olivier Giroud , Santi Cazorla and Alex Oxlade Chamberlain can top that of the Invincibles ' line up which included most notably Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp .  Walcott told Arsenal player : ' When I came here , it was Robert Pires and Freddie Ljungberg , Bergkamp , Thierry and Jose Reyes that ' s some attacking force as well .  Theo Walcott in action for Arsenal during their  Cup win over Hull at the beginning of January  The 25 year old had an injury hit 2014 after suffering a knee ligament injury against Tottenham last January  Thierry Henry ( right ) and Dennis Bergkamp embrace after the former scored his 100th goal for the Gunners  Thierry Henry : 228 goals in 376 games  Dennis Bergkamp : 122 goals in 425 games  Robert Pires : 84 goals in 284 games  Freddie Ljungberg : 72 goals in 328 games  Alexis Sanchez : 18 goals in 30 games  Olivier Giroud : 46 goals in 112 games  Santi Cazorla : 25 goals in 126 games  Danny Welbeck : 7 goals in 20 games  ' I think this squad probably does beat it , but we need to prove it first .  ' When we go and achieve a little bit more than winning the  Cup , then I think we can stand up and say this is the best attacking line up we ' ve ever had . '  After a below par beginning to the season by their standards , Arsene Wenger ' s side have been much improved of late , losing just once in eight previous outings .  And that was clear for all to see on Sunday as they produced a sterling display at the home of the champions , Manchester City , running out 2 0 winners .  Walcott has also lavished praise on Arsenal ' s star performer so far this term , that being Chilean forward Sanchez .  The Arsenal Invincibles squad celebrate winning the Premier League title at White Hart Lane in April 2004  He added : ' You see somebody working so hard and it makes you want to try to back him up .  ' When you see what he does off the pitch , behind the scenes at the training ground , and how much work he puts in , all the players just stand up and think : Yeah , I need to do a bit more as well then . '  Next up for the Gunners is a trip to Brighton in the  Cup fourth round on Sunday , before returning to Premier League action at home to Aston Villa the following week .  Olivier Giroud ( right ) nods the ball past Joe Hart in the Manchester City goal to double Arsenal ' s advantage  Alexis Sanchez ( left ) has scored 18 goals for Arsenal since joining from Barcelona last summer  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
13123,13124,"As bystanders gawped in horror at 144 years of history going up in flames in Eastbourne last week , one art student saw the opportunity for a classic photo .  Clutching a bottle of cider and dressed in just a leopard print bikini , Louisa Foley draped herself pin up style across a wooden breakwater as behind her the town ' s pier went up in smoke .  Now , after the provocative picture spread like wildfire across the Internet , she has spoken out to defend it from critics appalled by her ' irreverence ' .  Irreverent : Louisa Foley poses pin up style in the photo in front of burning Eastbourne pier which has gone viral  The Leeds College of Art student described the controversy surrounding the picture as ' ridiculous ' and ' hilarious ' . She says she plans to frame the photo and give it to her parents .  Eastbourne pier was engulfed in flames on Wednesday after a fire started in its domed amusement hall .  ' My friend was visiting Eastbourne , where I ' m from , so we decided to pop down to the beach , ' Miss Foley told Leeds student newspaper The Tab .  ' We were drinking and enjoying the sun when she asked me if the pier usually has smoke coming from it .  ' That ' s when we realised it was on fire and saw it as a great photo opportunity it ' s not exactly something you see every day . '  The photograph was posted onto Imgur , an image sharing website , where in five days it has attracted nearly 1 . 3million views and hundreds of mostly admiring comments .  But some responding on the website were angry at what they perceived as a lack of respect .  ' Really wish people would stop taking pictures of my town ' s historic landmark burning . So many memories on that pier , ' wrote one Eastbourne local .  Another said : ' Uh . . . isn ' t that just a liiiiiitle bit insensitive ? ' while a third wrote : ' This actually seems kind of messed up ' .  A fourth bitterly wrote : ' So fashionable to enjoy destruction and human suffering . . . '  Another opined : ' If it were in America or any patriotic country she would be confronted . No one has respect in my town . '  Others were more appreciative of the picture ' s artistic merit . ' She ' s smoking , ' quipped the top rated comment , while others compared her to Betty Page or Katy Perry .  Miss Foley said of her critics : ' It ' s ridiculous . It ' s a great shame that it ' s happened as the pier ' s obviously a great landmark in Eastbourne but at the end of the day there ' s all kinds of photos throughout history of similar events .  ' I think it ' s hilarious how some people are making assumptions of how I ' m a tourist or on my day off from work why do they care ?  ' They ' re making assumptions about my life and who I am , which is none of their business .  ' It was literally just two girls on a beach , and we decided to take a few photos .  ' Of course the burning pier is the main part of the picture but it ' s a historic event and we wanted to capture it . It ' s not like we were the only ones taking photos . '  She said that her friends and family had found the furore ' funny ' , adding : ' Might frame it for my parents . '  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
13124,13125,"Atletico Madrid overcame struggling Elche at the Vincente Calderon on Friday and moved a step closer to the club ' s first La Liga title in 18 years .  Brazillian defender Joao Miranda rose at the far post to power home a header midway through the second half before Diego Costa scored an injury time penalty to seal a closely fought 2 0 victory .  Atletico now requires three wins from its remaining four fixtures to claim the La Liga title .  "" It was a very open and dangerous match , "" Atletico manager , Diego Simeone , told reporters in his post match press conference .  "" We could not find space in the first half and they took chances on the break to create danger . Our attitude changed in the second half , the intensity increased and from persistence came the prize . ""  While pleased with the result , the Argentine coach will hope for a more convincing performance in his side ' s next fixture against Chelsea in the semifinal of the Champions League on Tuesday .  Atleti struggled to break down their well organized opponents all night and had to withstand a period of Elche pressure before Costa sealed victory in the 90th minute .  A pedestrian first half produced few chances for either side with Atletico failing to register a single shot on target .  At the other end , Atletico goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois had to be alert to make a smart save from Elche defender Cristian Sapunaru ' s header .  Atleti brought on midfielder Raul Garcia at the start of the second period to offer an aerial threat going forward and the tactic almost paid immediate dividends .  Garcia was brought down as he attacked a high ball into the Elche box by the retreating Sapunaru .  Referee Carlos Clos Gomez pointed to the spot but David Villa couldn ' t convert as he fired weakly at Elche keeper Manu Herrera .  Ateltico didn ' t let the penalty miss effect them and kept pressing their opponents with a greater intensity than they had done in the first period .  The breakthrough came in the 71st minute as Miranda climbed highest at the back post , directing a header back across goal and beyond Herrera who stood rooted to the spot .  Elche , themselves seeking points as they attempt to move away from the relegation area , pressed forward in search of an equalizer but were caught on the break in injury time .  Diego Costa burst through and was nudged in the back as he was about to shoot by Sapunaru who gave away his second penalty of the game and was shown a straight red card for denying a goal scoring opportunity .  Costa stepped up to take the spot kick and sent the diving Herrera the wrong way .  Atletico now stand atop the La Liga table on 85 points , six ahead of second placed Real Madrid and seven clear of reigning champions Barcelona .  The Catalans can close the gap at the top of the table to four points with victory at home to fourth placed Athletic Bilbao on Sunday .  They will have to do so without the services of Neymar , however , after the Brazilian striker was ruled out for at least four weeks with a metatarsal injury on Friday .  Barcelona have suffered a dreadful few weeks , exiting the Champions League at the quarter final stage for the first time in six seasons , losing ground in La Liga after defeat at Granada and falling to defeat at the hands Real Madrid in the Copa Del Rey final on Wednesday .  Real Madrid do not play this weekend after taking the option to postpone their match against Real Vallodolid in order to prepare for Wednesday ' s Champions League semifinal first leg clash with Bayern Munich .  ",true,text,test,Football,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
13128,13129,"Reuters) - The nearly man of South African politics, deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa, took a big step towards the top job on Monday when he was elected by a whisker as head of the ruling African National Congress (ANC). Ramaphosa s ability has been apparent for decades. Whenever Nelson Mandela needed a breakthrough in talks to end apartheid, he turned to the then-trade union leader with a reputation as a tenacious negotiator. Using skills honed in pay disputes with mining bosses, Ramaphosa steered those talks to a successful conclusion, allowing Mandela to sweep to power in 1994 as head of the victorious  after South Africa s first democratic vote. Mandela wanted Ramaphosa to be his heir but was pressured into picking Thabo Mbeki by a group of  leaders who had fought apartheid from exile. It has taken more than two decades for Ramaphosa to get another chance to run the country. Monday s party vote, which handed him victory by less than 200 of nearly 5,000 ballots, puts that goal firmly within the 65-year-old s grasp. The rand surged as much as 4 percent, suggesting approval of the business community.  Ramaphosa s ambition for the presidency has been clear through his whole adult life. He was quite clearly wounded by his materialization in the Mbeki period,  said Anthony Butler, a politics professor who has written a biography of Ramaphosa. The choice of Ramaphosa over his main rival for the  s top job, former cabinet minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, is likely to chart a reformist course for South Africa, which has lost its lustre under President Jacob Zuma.  A lawyer with an easygoing manner, Ramaphosa has vowed to fight corruption and revitalize an economy that has slowed to a near-standstill under Zuma s scandal-plagued leadership. His message went down well with foreign investors and  members who thought Zuma s handling of the economy could cost the party dearly in 2019 parliamentary elections. Dlamini-Zuma promised a radical brand of wealth redistribution popular with poorer  voters who are angry at racial inequality.  While Ramaphosa has backed calls for  radical economic transformation , an  plan to tackle inequality, he tends to couch his policy pronouncements in more cautious terms. Unlike Zuma or Dlamini-Zuma, Ramaphosa was not driven into exile for opposing apartheid, which some of the party s more hardline members hold against him. He fought the injustices of white minority rule from within South Africa, most prominently by defending the rights of black miners as leader of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM). A member of the relatively small Venda ethnic group, Ramaphosa was able to overcome divisions that sometimes constrained members of the larger Zulu and Xhosa groups. A massive miners  strike led by Ramaphosa s  in 1987 taught business that  Cyril was a force to be reckoned with,  said Michael Spicer, a former executive at Anglo American.  He has a shrewd understanding of men and power and knows how to get what he wants from a situation,  Spicer said. The importance of Ramaphosa s contribution to the talks to end apartheid is such that commentators have referred to them in two distinct stages:  and AC, Before Cyril and After Cyril.  Ramaphosa also played an important role in the drafting of South Africa s post-apartheid constitution.  After missing out on becoming Mandela s deputy, Ramaphosa withdrew from active political life, switching focus to business. His investment vehicle Shanduka - Venda for  change  - grew rapidly and acquired stakes in mining firms, mobile operator  (MTNJ.J) and McDonald s South African franchise. Phuti Mahanyele, a former chief executive at Shanduka, recalled that Ramaphosa was a passionate leader who required staff to contribute to charitable projects aimed at improving access to education for the underprivileged. By the time Ramaphosa sold out of Shanduka in 2014, the firm was worth more than 8 billion rand ($584 million in today s money), making Ramaphosa one of South Africa s 20 richest people. To his supporters, Ramaphosa s business success makes him well-suited to the task of turning around an economy grappling with 28 percent unemployment and credit rating downgrades. In the Johannesburg township of Soweto last month, Ramaphosa called for a  new deal  between business and government to spur economic growth. Pravin Gordhan, a respected former finance minister, told Reuters that if Ramaphosa was elected  leader,  the whole narrative about South Africa s economy would change for the better within three months . But Ramaphosa has his detractors too. He was a non-executive director at Lonmin (LMI.L) (LONJ.J) when negotiations to halt a violent wildcat strike at its Marikana platinum mine in 2012 ended in police shooting 34 strikers dead.    An inquiry subsequently absolved Ramaphosa of guilt. But some families of the victims still blame him for urging the authorities to intervene.   My conscience is that I participated in trying to stop further deaths from happening,  Ramaphosa said about the deaths.    Others are unconvinced that Ramaphosa, who has been deputy president since 2014, will be as tough on corruption as his campaign rhetoric suggests. Bantu Holomisa, an opposition politician and former  member who worked closely with him in the 1990s, said he was by nature cautious.  Cyril has been part of the machinery and has not acted on corruption so far,  Holomisa said.  It is not clear whether he will if he gets elected.   ($1 = 13.6947 rand) ",true,dataset,test,Other news1,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
13144,13145,"A video grab from footage broadcast by the  Parliaments Parliamentary Recording Unit (  ) shows British prime minister David Cameron speaking in the House of Commons during the debate on a motion to join air strikes on Islamic State targets in Syria . Photograph : Getty  Britain joined  led air strikes against Islamic State in Syria on Thursday , but Russian president Vladimir Putin issued bitter new denunciations of Turkey for shooting down a Russian plane , demonstrating the limits to international solidarity .  British Tornado jets took off from the Royal Air Force base at Akrotiri in Cyprus before dawn , hours after parliament in London voted 397 223 to support Prime Minister David Cameron s plan to extend air strikes from Iraq to Syria .  Britain said they struck oil fields used to fund Islamic State , also known as Isis or Isil . There are plenty more of these targets throughout eastern , northern Syria which we hope to be striking in the next few days and weeks , British defence secretary Michael Fallon said .  Britain would send eight more warplanes to Cyprus to join the missions . The British contribution forms only a tiny part of  led Operation Inherent Resolve , which has been bombing Islamic State in Iraq and Syria for more than a year with hundreds of aircraft . Previously , the small British contingent participated in strikes on Iraq but not Syria .  The strikes have so far failed to dislodge the militants from a swathe of territory where they have proclaimed a Caliphate to rule over all Muslims , although Washington and its allies say they have helped halt the fighters advance .  The operation to degrade Islamic State will require patience and persistence , Mr Cameron has warned .  Mr Cameron said that he welcomed the strong support across parliament with MPs from six different parties backing this necessary action .  We are going to need to be patient and persistent . This is going to take time . It is complex , it is difficult what we are asking our pilots to do , and our thoughts should be with them and their families , he said .  Washington has announced it will deploy more special forces to conduct raids in both Iraq and Syria and help locate targets for air strikes .   president Barack Obama said in an interview this did not mean a large scale ground assault like the 2003  invasion of Iraq with battalions that are moving across the desert .  But what I ve been very clear about is that we are going to systematically squeeze and ultimately destroy Isil and that requires us having a military component to that , he told  .  Although the British vote adds negligible new military capability to the coalition , it took on outsized political and diplomatic significance since gunmen and bombers killed 130 people last month in Paris .  France had called for solidarity from Europe s other main military power in expanding military action , and Mr Cameron argued that refusing would be a dereliction of responsibility . Most of the world s powers are now flying combat missions over Iraq and Syria against Islamic State .  But any consensus on how to proceed has been thwarted by opposing policies over the four year old civil war in Syria , which has killed 250 , 000 people , driven 11 million from their homes , left swathes of territory in the hands of jihadist fighters and defied all diplomatic efforts at a solution . Russia is bombing Syria outside the  led coalition .  Moscow and Tehran support Syrian President Bashar al Assad , while the  and its European , Arab and Turkish allies want him gone and back his enemies .  After Islamic State claimed responsibility for both the attacks on Paris and the bombing of a Russian airliner last month , world leaders have striven to bury differences and unite the separate campaigns against the militants . But the quest for unity was dealt a sharp blow last week when Nato member Turkey shot down a Russian warplane .  The pilot was killed and another Russian service member died rescuing the plane s navigator .  It appears that Allah decided to punish the ruling clique of Turkey by depriving them of wisdom and judgment , Mr Putin said on Thursday during the Russian president s annual state of the nation speech .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
13145,13146,"Reuters) - An election-year fight over addressing the spreading Zika virus intensified in the U.S. Congress as the Senate on Thursday approved $1.1 billion in emergency money one day after the House of Representatives voted $622.1 million financed through cuts to existing programs. The two chambers would have to reach agreement on a spending level before they can send it to President Barack Obama, who in February requested $1.9 billion. The White House has called the House measure “woefully inadequate” and has threatened to veto it. Democratic Senator Patty Murray of Washington State urged Congress to act quickly, saying, “This is a public health emergency and Congress should treat it like one.”  The Senate will enter negotiations with the House with a strong hand: a bipartisan 68-30 vote in favor of the emergency funds to battle Zika, a virus that has been spreading rapidly through the Americas, with more than 100 confirmed cases in the U.S. state of Florida. However, the conservative group Heritage Action is lobbying against any Zika funding bill that is not paid for with an equal amount of spending cuts. The Senate’s funding was attached to an unrelated transportation and housing appropriations bill that also passed the chamber on Thursday. U.S. health officials have concluded that Zika infections in pregnant women can cause microcephaly, a birth defect marked by small head size that can lead to severe developmental problems in babies. The World Health Organization has said there is strong scientific consensus that Zika can also cause Guillain-Barre, a rare neurological syndrome that causes temporary paralysis in adults.     Conservative Republican Senator Mike Lee of Utah tried unsuccessfully to kill the Senate funding, saying the Obama administration already had enough money to deal with Zika. “What we should not do, however, is allow the Zika virus to be yet another excuse to run up the national debt,” Lee said. But Senator Susan Collins of Maine, a moderate Republican, countered that U.S. debt problems were rooted in the rapid growth in the cost of huge programs such as Social Security and Medicare and not so-called “discretionary” spending like on Zika. ",true,dataset,test,Other news2,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
13153,13154,"Reuters reports:The United States expelled 35 Russian diplomats and closed two Russian compounds in New York and Maryland in response to a campaign of harassment against American diplomats in Moscow, a senior U.S. official said on Thursday.The move against the diplomats from the Russian embassy in Washington and consulate in San Francisco is part of a series of actions announced on Thursday to punish Russia for a campaign of intimidation of American diplomats in Moscow and interference in the U.S. election.In fact, this morning The Hill wrote that the Obama administration is  under intense pressure to release evidence confirming Russian interference in the presidential election before leaving office. The administration has provided exactly zero documentation, but that has not stopped the media machine from parroting the claims and repeating it ad nauseam, in hopes the emotional appeals through repetition will make it factual.Just as bad, the Hill also writes that nor has Obama  corroborated subsequent leaks from anonymous officials contending that the  believes the campaign was an attempt by Russian President Vladimir Putin to ensure Donald Trump s victory. ",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
13154,13155,"A Pizza Hut job advert which said it was looking for ' decent , good looking girls ' to work a part time reception role in its Leatherhead store has been pulled following complaints it is ' sexist '  A Pizza Hut job advert which said it was looking for ' decent , good looking girls ' to work in one of its stores has been pulled after complaints it is sexist .  The advert for the chain ' s Leatherhead eaterie was posted on website Gumtree but was removed after it was reported to Pizza Hut ' s head office .  The advert said : ' Pizza Hut Leatherhead looking for full and part time drivers . Need to have your own car .  ' We are also looking for a decent good looking girls for Reception . That role is just part time . '  Jackie Quinn , Leatherhead ' s Chamber of Commerce president , slammed the advert ' s wording .  She said : ' It is clearly sexist and it ' s just not acceptable to be sexist .  ' I ' m sure it ' s a one off error , someone ' s done it without thinking but it doesn ' t make it right .  ' I think it ' s a shame , the company has let itself down .  ' They ' re in the wrong and they should never have done it .  ' As a woman in business I ' ve had this sort of thing happen to me and you do get used to it but it doesn ' t make it right and in a professional company it shouldn ' t be allowed to happen .  ' Realistically I do think they have to let that person go .  ' I don ' t think it ' s acceptable and a national company of that size should have trained their staff well enough not to do that .  The Pizza Hut franchise in Leatherhead has been slammed for posting this ' sexist ' job advert ( pictured left ) . Jackie Quinn ( right ) the town ' s Chamber of Commerce president , slammed the advert ' s ' sexist ' wording  Speaking to the Dorking and Leatherhead Advertiser , she added : ' I would like to see their head on a block and they should be made an example of because , in this day and age , it ' s unacceptable and the company should have procedures in place to have kept that from happening . '  A spokesman for the Leatherhead franchise would not comment except to say ' It has been dealt with and taken down . '  A spokesman for Pizza Hut said : ' We do not condone this advertisement , which goes against the guidelines , policies and practices of Pizza Hut .  ' It was an individual error of judgment from an employee , which was quickly taken down , and the issue is now being managed internally .  ' We do not tolerate any discrimination of any kind and are committed to creating equal opportunities in a safe working environment . '  ",true,text,test,US elections,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
13163,13164,"Mayor Rahm Emanuel , under heavy criticism for his handling of a police shooting that resulted in the death of a black teen , gave an emotional apology on Wednesday hours before angry street crowds demanded his resignation .  In a special address to the City Council , the mayor said "" I ' m sorry "" and promised "" complete and total reform of the system . ""  Emanuel ' s speech was met with applause from the City Council , but protesters said the city ' s actions do not go far enough .  High profile killings of black men by mainly white police officers in U . S . cities have prompted a national debate and protests about the use of excessive force by police .  With his voice occasionally breaking , the mayor of the nation ' s third largest city reiterated reform steps he has already promised . These include setting up a task force to review police accountability , the appointment of a new head of the agency that investigates police misconduct and searching for a new police superintendent .  Among the systemic problems with police , Emanuel aimed particular criticism at the "" code of silence "" that keeps police officers from reporting misconduct by fellow officers . He also has criticized the agency that investigates police misconduct for finding almost all police shootings justified .  His speech comes after two weeks of protests in Chicago following the release of a 2014 police squad car dashboard video showing police officer Jason Van Dyke shooting 17 year old Laquan McDonald 16 times . Van Dyke , who is white , was charged with first degree murder late last month .  Protesters outside City Hall on Wednesday chanted "" 16 shots and a cover up , "" and called for the resignation of Cook County State ' s Attorney Anita Alvarez , who has been criticized for taking more than a year to charge Van Dyke . One activist was arrested .  Said protester Rosemary Vega : "" Today , we ' re here because we want to see Rahm resign . ""  Another recently released video shows a man in custody being tasered by police .  The U . S . Justice Department said on Monday it will launch a civil rights investigation into the city ' s police department , examining its use of force , including deadly force , among other issues .  Also on Wednesday , a federal judge said he would rule by Jan . 14 , 2016 , on whether to release video in the shooting death of another black teen . The mother of Cedrick Chatman , 17 , has sued the city over Chatman ' s death on Jan . 7 , 2013 . The city has opposed release of video in the case .  ( Additional reporting by Renita Young and Justin Madden in Chicago Editing by Matthew Lewis )  Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel listens to remarks at a news conference in Chicago , Illinois , United States , December 7 , 2015 .  Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel ( L ) and interim Chicago Police Superintendent John Escalante hold a news conference in Chicago , Illinois , United States , December 7 , 2015 .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
13172,13173,"Lawrence O ' Donnell Blasts  Media For Not Calling Donald Trump A Liar  And he praised publications that have called out the candidate for evading the truth .   host Lawrence O ' Donnell tore into television journalists on Tuesday for not calling Donald Trump a liar when he makes false claims on their programs .  "" Donald Trump lies because he knows he can get away with it , "" O ' Donnell said on "" The Last Word , "" highlighting the interviewing techniques of anchors on Sunday morning news programs . "" The most impolite candidate in American political history relies on the politeness of his interviewers to get away with lying . ""  O ' Donnell then showed a clip of  News ' "" This Week "" in which host George Stephanopoulos pressed Trump over his claims that he saw "" thousands and thousands "" of Arabs cheering in New Jersey after the World Trade Center collapsed on 9 11 , but fell just short of calling Trump ' s assertion a lie .  "" Donald Trump knows that George can ' t tell his audience that Trump is lying there , because the industry convention of Sunday political chat is that they never call a lie a lie , "" O ' Donnell said . "" That ' s just too impolite for Sunday mornings and Trump exploits that politeness . ""  Politeness isn ' t the only reason interviewers go easy on Trump , he added .  "" Donald Trump gets good ratings on these shows , "" he said . "" If one of the hosts tells Trump he ' s lying in the middle of an interview , that host will never get another chance to interview Donald Trump again . But his competitors will . ""  While he criticized the way some programs have handled of Trump ' s false claims , he praised The Washington Post and The New York Times for publishing damning editorials about Trump this week .  The Washington Post called Trump ' s lying and bullying "" dangerous . ""  "" The growing ugliness of Donald Trump s campaign poses a challenge to us all , "" the paper ' s editorial board wrote . "" We have seen the likes of him before , in the United States and elsewhere : narcissistic bullies who rise to prominence by spreading lies , appealing to fears and stoking hatred . Such people are dangerous . ""  The New York Times took on Trump ' s many egregious claims . ?  "" In the Republican field , Mr Trump has distinguished himself as fastest to dive to the bottom , "" its editorial board wrote . ? "" If it s a lie too vile to utter aloud , count on Mr Trump to say it , often . ""  O ' Donnell issued a warning to journalists who will cover Trump in the future .  "" The time has come for Donald Trump s  interviewers to tell him that he is lying as soon as he floats his next lie on  , "" he said . "" If they don t , they risk becoming accomplices of a lying demagogue . ""  9 Outrageous Things Donald Trump Has Said About Latinos  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
13190,13191,"Ankara terror attack ' ordered by Isis to cause political instability and delay elections ' , Turkish prosecutors say  The Turkish President previously claimed that Isis had been working with Kurdish rebel groups  Isis ordered the suicide bombings that killed more than 100 people in the Turkish capital , prosecutors have said .  ( It aimed at ) disrupting political stability by sabotaging upcoming elections and complicating forming of a government in any way upon the political picture that would emerge after the elections , the Ankara Chief Prosecutor s Office said in a written statement , quoted by Hurriyet Daily News .  Data found on digital materials reportedly indicated that the attack was organised by a cell based in the south eastern province of ? Gaziantep , and aimed to postpone the vote on 1 November .  Turkey names Ankara suicide bomber and alleges  link  Two suicide bombers detonated their vests at a peace rally in Ankara on 10 October in Turkey s deadliest ever terrorist attack .   tests reveal Ankara suicide bombers link to Isis  Politicians initially blamed a cocktail of terror groups after one of the bombers was revealed to have links to Isis , with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan s claiming that Isis and Kurdish rebels were working together .  But analysts said co operation was impossible when the groups were at war in Syria , while noting ? that many of the victims were Kurds or supporters of the ethnic group  Family members of Korkmaz Tedik , a victim of bomb blastsin Ankara , mourn over his coffin during a funeral ceremony  Women carry the coffin of Sarigul Tuylu who was killed in a blast in Ankara during a funeral in Istanbul  Police use tear gas and water cannon to disperse people marching to protest the double suicide bombing in Ankara  The father of Sarigul Tuylu , 35 , a mother of two that was killed in bombing attacks in Ankara , Turkey , is carried away after he fainted during her funeral in Istanbul  A man lowers the body of Sarigul Tuylu , 35 , a mother of two that was killed in bombing attacks in Ankara , Turkey , during her funeral in Istanbul  Mourners chant slogans as they escort a vehicle carrying the coffin of Sarigul Tuylu , 35 , a mother of two that was killed in bombing attacks in Ankara , Turkey , during her funeral in Istanbul  Victims lie on the street as the scene of the explosion is cordoned off following an explosion at the main train station in Turkey ' s capital Ankara , on October 10 , 2015 .  An injured man holds another casualty after the blasts in Ankara  An injured woman being helped following the explosion on Saturday morning .  An injured person is comforted as she lies on a rally banner following an explosion at the main train station in Turkey ' s capital Ankara , on October 10 , 2015 .  Bodies of victims are covered with flags and banners as police officers secure the area after an explosion in Ankara , Turkey , Saturday , Oct . 10 , 2015 .  Blood covered flags are seen at the blast scene after an explosion during a peace march in Ankara , October 10 , 2015 Turkey .  An injured person is lifted away using a rally banner following an explosion at the main train station in Turkey ' s capital Ankara , on October 10 , 2015 .  Victims at the blast scene after an explosion during a peace march in Ankara , October 10 , 2015 in Ankara , Turkey  Paramedics and police work outside Ankara Central Station after multiple explosions in Turkey , 10 October 2015 .  Turkish police detained 30 more suspected Isis militants yesterday , a day after another wave of raids left two officers and seven alleged extremists dead .  A woman was among the suspects being questioned after police stormed buildings in the city of Konya and the nearby town of Cumra in pre dawn operations , state media reported .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
13202,13203,"The United States Mint will release a commemorative gold coin in April that will feature Lady Liberty as a black woman, marking the first time that she has been depicted as anything other than white on the nation’s currency. The coin, with a $100 face value, will commemorate the 225th anniversary of the Mint’s coin production, the Mint and the Treasury Department announced on Thursday. Going on sale April 6, it will be 24 karats and weigh about an ounce. It is part of a series of commemorative coins that will be released every two years. Future ones will show Lady Liberty as Asian, Hispanic and Indian “to reflect the cultural and ethnic diversity of the United States,” the Mint said in a statement. The announcement comes at a pivotal cultural moment for the United States, a week away from a transfer of power, following a bruising election dominated by debates about immigration, race and political correctness. And Lady Liberty is among the most potent of American symbols. Her   depiction, a gift from France in 1886, stands in New York Harbor, a giant statue of a woman with white European features beckoning with a lamp to the refugees of the world. “Part of our intent was to honor our tradition and heritage,” Rhett Jeppson, the principal deputy director of the Mint, said in a phone interview on Friday. “But we also think it’s always worthwhile to have a conversation about liberty, and we certainly have started that conversation. ” Do not expect to see anyone spending the coins at the store. Coins like this do not circulate for everyday use, but are minted for collectors in limited quantities. There will be 100, 000 of them with the black Lady Liberty. They will sell for far more than face value, depending on the value of gold, currently more than $1, 000 an ounce. “As we as a nation continue to evolve, so does Liberty’s representation,” Elisa Basnight, the chief of staff at the Mint, said at a presentation on Thursday in Washington. The coin’s head (what the Mint calls the obverse) was designed by Justin Kunz and engraved by Phebe Hemphill, and it shows a profile of Lady Liberty with a crown of stars that holds back her hair. The tail (the reverse, in Mint lingo) shows an eagle in flight. Mr. Jeppson said that several women had approached him after seeing the coin and told him, “she looks like me when I was younger. ” “I saw real value in that,” he said. “That we see ourselves in the images in our coins. ” The Mint is expecting the coin to sell well, Mr. Jeppson said. Any profit the Mint generates from the sale of its coins is returned to the Treasury. Last year, the Mint sent about $600 million back to the federal government, Mr. Jeppson said. In addition to the 100, 000 gold coins  —   more than is typical for this sort of commemorative coin  —   that will be printed at West Point, the Mint will also produce 100, 000 of what it calls medals, silver reproductions of the image that will sell for around $40 to $50. “The silver medals will be done at Philadelphia, because that is the birthplace of the Mint,” Mr. Jeppson said. The Coinage Act of 1792 established the Mint, and it also mandated that any coins produced include an image of “liberty” as well as an inscription of the word. Since then, the idea has appeared in many forms on American currency, both circulated and collectible, most often as the feminine Lady Liberty. “When you look at the very first coins that we produced, they had a   Liberty on there,” Mr. Jeppson said. These coins are already in production. The next ones in the series are in the planning stage. Rough guidelines are given to sets of artists and sculptors, some of whom are staff at the mint and others who are part of a pool, as Mr. Kunz was. Their work is then shared with the members of two commissions  —   one a group of citizen advisers and one a fine arts commission  —   who make recommendations on the final design for the coin. “It’s difficult for us to say what future coins will look like until we get there,” Mr. Jeppson said. All American coins embody the idea of liberty, in keeping with the Mint’s   mandate. But the new coin is what Mr. Jeppson called an “allegorical liberty,” meaning Lady Liberty does not represent a specific figure from history. Women, in generic depictions or historic ones, have been underrepresented on American currency. The suffrage leader Susan B. Anthony appeared on $1 coins from 1979 to 1981, and Helen Keller, the author and activist, appeared on the reverse image of the Alabama state quarter in 2003. Sacagawea, the Shoshone guide who led Lewis and Clark to the West Coast, appeared on a $1 coin that has been minted since 2000. Last year, after a public campaign to put a woman on the $10 bill, the Treasury secretary, Jacob J. Lew, announced a broad remaking of the nation’s paper currency  —   the bills that, unlike a $100 coin, circulate among many Americans every day. Harriet Tubman, the abolitionist and former slave, will appear on the $20 bill, and women and civil rights leaders will be added to the $5 and $10 bills. Collectors expect the black Lady Liberty coin to be popular. Whenever the Mint does something new, it creates buzz, said Gilles Bransbourg, a curator with the American Numismatic Society and a research associate at New York University. “It’s departing from any of the coins that have been produced so far,” he said. “It sends a strong message that the Mint is departing from the tradition that will be perceived as very white. ” The Mint’s recent commemorative productions have occasionally featured nonwhite characters, he said, pointing to a 2006 gold series that revived the popular “Indian head” nickel of the early 20th century. It shows an American Indian whose face is believed to be a combination of three different men who sat for its designer. Symbolism aside, the new Lady Liberty coin is “really beautiful,” said Jeff Garrett, the president of the American Numismatic Association, who saw the coin several months ago in Washington. “It’s struck in high relief, which means the high points are much higher than circulating coinage. ” “I’ll buy one for sure,” he said. “I’ll probably buy several. ”",true,news,test,World conflict,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
13214,13215,"Washington U . S . officials say terrorists could try to use small aircraft in attacks , but have no specific information that such a plot is in the works , according to a new notice distributed by federal officials .  "" Violent extremists with knowledge of general aviation and access to small planes pose a significant potential threat to the Homeland , "" according to an intelligence bulletin issued by the Department of Homeland Security and the  .  But according to the alert , U . S . officials "" do not have current , credible information or intelligence of an imminent attack being planned against aviation "" by al Qaeda or its affiliates .  The bulletin was issued to state and local law enforcement agencies on Friday , a little over a week before the 10th anniversary of the September 11 , 2001 , attacks on New York and Washington . Al Qaeda operatives killed nearly 3 , 000 people in those attacks by hijacking four commercial airliners and turning them into missiles , and some of the terrorists had received flight training in the United States .  Matthew Chandler , a spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security , said although there is no specific intelligence about a plot , alerts are regularly shared with law enforcement partners on "" evolving tactics that could be used by violent extremists to carry out attacks against the United States . "" He noted al Qaeda and others have targeted aviation since the 1990s and persist in seeking aviation training .  Chandler said the bulletin is intended to "" highlight the need for continued awareness and vigilance . ""  U . S . officials including President Barack Obama have expressed concerns about so called lone wolf attackers who do not belong to terror organizations and have no co conspirators , but believe in a radical ideology . The intelligence alert says a lone wolf who engaged in an aviation attack would be particularly hard to detect , because "" their plans to misuse or steal small aircraft would be difficult to monitor and predict . ""  In the past , some members of Congress , including West Virginia Sen . Jay Rockefeller have expressed concern about possible security vulnerabilities in the general aviation sector .  The bulletin lists several instances in which small planes had been stolen , including the 2002 case of a 15 year old boy in Florida who crashed a Cessna into a Bank of America tower in Tampa . The teen , Charles Bishop , left behind a note indicating that he supported al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and that the act was deliberate , "" but there are no indications the boy had connections with terrorist organizations , "" the bulletin states .  In addition , a man with an apparent grudge against the Internal Revenue Service crashed his own single engine Piper Cherokee into a building that houses an  office in Austin , Texas , in 2010 , killing himself and a worker in the building . That incident was not included in the most recent bulletin .  The alert issued Friday lists several suggestions to prevent misuse of small planes such as securing aircraft to prevent misuse , verifying the identities of crew members and passengers , being aware of and reporting anyone who could be masquerading as a pilot , and reporting any planes that have been modified in an unusual or unauthorized way .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
13234,13235,"Copiapo , Chile For one trapped miner in a collapsed mine in Chile , "" Hope "" weighs only 7 pounds .  Esperanza , which means hope in Spanish , is the name of Ariel Ticona ' s baby girl . She is also believed to be the first child born to any of the 33 miners during their nightmarish weeks buried underground .  Esperanza was born Tuesday in a hospital about an hour ' s drive down a winding mountain road from the mine where her father is trapped .  Ticona and his wife , Elizabeth Segovia , learned they were having a girl the day before the mine cave in . They had planned to call her Carolina .  The girl ' s birth was not just a celebration for Ticona , his father said .  "" Immediately it gave all the miners there a lot of excitement , "" Hector Ticona said . "" They were all very happy about her birth and that she will be called Esperanza . ""  The day after the birth , Hector Ticona carried Chilean newspapers he was saving for his son with front page photos of Elizabeth holding the new baby . The story of the baby ' s birth has been reported as far away as New Zealand , Germany and Singapore , and Esperanza has become a symbol that life continues for the miners despite their underground imprisonment .  Photos released from their hospital room showed a tiny baby , her eyes shut tight and with no idea that she is already famous at birth .  The decision to change her name arrived to Ticona in the mine ' s depths . That all the miners had survived the cave in and then the 17 days it took rescuers to drill the holes that found them was already miraculous . But their continued physical and mental well being was far from assured .  Faced with the fact that he and his fellow workers were about to experience an isolating darkness that no one had ever endured before , Ticona put pen to paper . The letter he wrote reached his family through what the Chileans call "" palomas , "" metal tubes that carry food , supplies and messages to the trapped men .  "" He said , ' What if we call her Hope ? ' "" Hector Ticona recalled . "" Hope for the camp backing us , hope for getting us out of here , hope to keep fighting for my daughter , hope to unite my family . ' ""  Ticona ' s wife agreed to the new name . For her , though , the experience would be a tug of war between worrying for her unborn child and for her trapped husband .  Before the mine collapse , Ticona promised Segovia he would be in the room when she gave birth . He had not been present for the births of their two sons , one time because he wanted to watch a beloved soccer team play and the other time because of "" squeamishness , "" Segovia said .  Segovia decided to have the birth of their daughter videotaped . But videotaping a natural birth was against hospital policy . So , to get around the policy , she had a Caesarean section on camera .  Family members say mother and daughter have been released from the hospital and are doing fine .  Over a video conference system that is one of their links to the outside world , Ticona was shown the birth of his daughter , deep in the mine .  "" We sent the video and Ariel was very happy , "" engineer Rene Aguilar said . "" It was a very beautiful moment for them . ""  Around Camp Hope , the encampment that runs up the entrance to the mine where many families have moved to wait out the miners ' rescue , word of Esperanza ' s birth brought joy .  As she sat in a light blue tent at Camp Hope , Nelly Burgue o said it is a joy she hopes to experience herself soon . Her son , trapped miner Victor Zamora , and his wife also are expecting a daughter .  When the girl is born in six months ' time , Burgue o said , the couple has decided to call her Paz Victoria , or Peace Victory .  "" I am going to be a father , "" Burgue o said her son wrote her . "" I am happiest man in the world even though I am in the depths of the earth . I want to share this happiness with everyone in the world , with you , Mom , and my brothers . ""  Burgue o said her son has been "" reborn . ""  "" He wrote me , "" she said , "" that even in the deepest part of the earth there shines light . ""  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
13239,13240,"David Cameron is preparing to warn German Chancellor Angela Merkel that he is prepared to take Britain out of the  without major reform .  The Prime Minister will use talks in London tomorrow to set out his ' red lines ' for renegotiation of  membership , warning that without big changes he will rule nothing out .  They will tour the British Museum before meeting in Downing Street , when Mr Cameron will demand new safeguards for the single market , an end to ever closer union between member states , new ' red card ' powers to veto Brussels rules and a major package of welfare curbs .  German Chancellor Angela Merkel will arrive in London tomorrow morning for talks with David Cameron which are likely to focus on his demands for  reform  Mr Cameron has promised that if he is still  after May ' s general election he will renegotiate Britain ' s membership of the  before staging an in out referendum before the end of 2017 .  He has made clear that he thinks his plan will succeed , and he will then recommend staying in the  .  If he fails he admits he will ' rule nothing out ' , raising the prospect that he will recommend exit from the 28 nation bloc .  However , Mrs Merkel has insisted that she will not support any moves to alter the fundamental principle of freedom of movement .  She wants Britain to remain in the  , but senior figures in Berlin have repeatedly said they will not seek to do so at any cost .  The German chancellor will arrive in the  tomorrow morning and they visit the British Museum to see an exhibition on the history of her country .  The museum ' s Germany : Memories Of A Nation exhibition traces 600 years of the history , with exhibits including works of art and a Volkswagen Beetle .  Downing Street said that the pair ' s talks would focus on the German presidency of the G7 .  However Mr Cameron will reiterate his warning that if he fails to secure the reforms he could back Britain ' s exit .  ' If I don ' t get what I want I rule nothing out . Ruling nothing out means just that , ' Mr Cameron said at the weekend .  The leaders will tour the British Museum in central London . The Germany : Memories Of A Nation exhibition traces 600 years of the history , with exhibits including works of art and a Volkswagen Beetle  He used a major in November to set out key demands on banning  nationals from claiming in work benefits or social housing in Britain for four years , deporting jobless migrants if they do not get work for six months and refusing to allow other countries to join the  without imposing controls on the movement of their workers until their economies have reached  levels .  He said : '  migrants should have a job offer before they come here .  taxpayers will not support them if they don ' t . '  However , today there were reports that the European Commission was preparing to block the move .  The Guardian said the commission is preparing to let Number 10 know that the proposal would be unworkable because it would be impossible to distinguish between  jobseekers and tourists entering the  .  Ahead of the visit , Ukip leader Nigel Farage said : ' Germany is facing its own problems at the moment and would not want Britain to start turning away  jobseekers , potentially redirecting them to seek work there .  ' If Chancellor Merkel agreed that  can close the door on  jobseekers she would also have to recognise that a great many that were Britain bound would instead seek work in Germany as the continent ' s biggest economy , and that is a risk she is likely to be unwilling to take . '  Labour ' s shadow Europe minister Pat McFadden said Chancellor Merkel would not be driven by ' the need to pander to the eurosceptics inside today ' s Conservative Party ' .  He added : ' Even once her visit is over , the gap between what David Cameron ' s eurosceptic backbenchers are demanding and what European allies such as Germany will accept , remains unbridgeable .  ' Europe does need to change , but the tragedy for Britain is that since being elected , David Cameron has spent more time negotiating with his backbenchers than with other  leaders . '  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
13260,13261,"Why would someone allegedly steal a pickup truck and guns in Montana and then go to the University of Washington area with Molotov cocktails and a bullet resistant vest ?  Police say they ' re trying to figure that out .  University officers arrested Justin Miles Jasper , a 21 year old Nevada man , on Wednesday night after finding him near the Seattle school in a truck that had been reported stolen recently from a Butte , Montana , residence , campus police Chief John Vinson said Thursday .  Investigators found Molotov cocktails , a ballistic vest and two allegedly stolen guns a scoped rifle and a shotgun in the truck ' s bed after getting consent to search it , Vinson told reporters .  Vinson said he believed no ammunition was found . Investigators were trying to get a warrant to search the truck ' s cab Thursday , university police said .  "" We have no idea what his intentions were , "" Vinson said . "" . . . We don ' t have any information that would suggest any type of attack , but this is an active , ongoing investigation . ""  Police said Jasper is not a University of Washington student and that they ' re trying to figure out whether he has any connections to the area , and why he was in Seattle .  Police initially found him sleeping in the truck on campus on Tuesday , a day before the arrest , Vinson said . At the time , a check of the plate found nothing , so they sent him on his way .  But on Wednesday , "" the vehicle was entered as stolen from Montana , "" so officers looked for the vehicle and stopped it not far from campus at about 10 : 30 p . m . , Vinson said .  Police arrested the man on suspicion of driving a stolen vehicle .  Vinson said he had no reason to believe the university which he said had few students or staff heading into the Fourth of July is under any threat . But police still have questions .  "" Anytime that you have someone who has body armor . . . long guns and also incendiary devices , that ' s a significant concern , "" said Jim Pugel , interim chief of the Seattle Police Department , which is helping university police in the case .  The  also is assisting the probe , Vinson said .  ",true,text,test,American football,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
13261,13262,"? When you score 49 points in an  game , you did some things right . When you allow 52 points , you did plenty wrong . ?  That ' s the case with the Giants ? after they fell 52 49 in excruciating fashion ? to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday at the Superdome . Their offense did plenty of things well . They received a plethora of quality performances . The defense did plenty of things wrong . ? They received too many really poor performances . ?   Eli Manning ? ? ? This was Manning ' s best game of the year , maybe even his career . If you rate it solely on touchdown passes , it was the top performance of Manning ' s illustrious career . He completed 30 of 41 passes for 350 yards with six touchdown passes . He didn ' t throw an interception . He finished with a 138 . 2  rating . He picked apart the Saints defense , was in total control and put the Giants in position to win . Heck , the offense produced 42 points . That should be enough . That almost always is enough . Manning couldn ' t do much more on Sunday . ?   Odell Beckham ? ? ? For the first time in three weeks , Beckham looked healthy . He was explosive and uncoverable , dominating his 1 on 1 matchup with Saints cornerback Delvin Breaux . The star wide receiver produced plays of 50 and 38 yards . The 50 yarder went for a touchdown . Beckham scored three touchdowns and caught eight of the nine passes thrown in his direction . And this time he was a force in the first and second halves . That ' s the way to do a homecoming . ?   : Odell Beckham catches 50 yard bomb for    Robert Ayers ? ? ? When going over the tape of this loss , one of the concerns for the Giants will be the lack of pressure they had on Saints quarterback Drew Brees . It wasn ' t because of Ayers though . He was the only Giant getting consistent pressure . Even though he didn ' t record a sack , he was credited with two quarterback hits and was constantly in the Saints ' defensive backfield . Ayers dominated his matchup with Saints right tackle Zach Strief . ?  Honorable Mention :  Dominique Rodgers Cromartie , Dwayne Harris , Justin Pugh   Trevin Wade ? ? ? It was a struggle for the young cornerback . He played some in the slot and some on the outside . He had issues at both spots . Filling in for Rodgers Cromartie for one play he lost contact with Saints wide receiver Brandon Cooks on a slant pattern . Cooks raced past him for a 24 yard touchdown . Wade struggled badly on Sunday .  S Landon Collins and Brandon Meriweather ? ? ? Wade wasn ' t the only one in the secondary to struggle . The Giants safeties were out of position with regularity throughout the contest , and Meriweather was close to invisible . He had one tackle in the contest . Collins , meanwhile , bit on the flea flicker touchdown to Willie Snead ? in the first half and struggled in coverage . And somebody ( either Collins or Meriweather ) badly blew a coverage on Marques Colston ' s touchdown too . The middle of the field was completely vacated on the play and nobody was within 15 yards of Colston . ?   Will Tye ? ? ? The Giants have put their trust in Tye . He was one of two tight ends on the gameday roster . And when Larry Donnell went down ? with a neck injury , Tye was the only tight end available . The Giants can ' t have their only tight end available fumbling the football as Tye did when he was stripped in the third quarter . The Stony Brook product now has a fumble and a drop in five games . Not exactly the best way to earn the coaches ' trust .  Jordan Raanan may be reached at jraanan njadvancemediaweblink . Follow him on Twitter JordanRaanan . Find NJweblink Giants on Facebook .  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
13262,13263,"Two sisters have been arrested in Cambodia for taking naked photos of each other inside the country ' s holy Angkor temple .  Lindsey Adams , 22 , and her 20 year old sister Leslie , from Prescott , Arizona , were discovered taking ' nude pictures ' inside the Preah Khan temple at the world heritage site on Friday .  Local police said the women ' lowered their pants to their knees and took pictures of their buttocks . '  The pair have been fined 1 million riel ( 250 ) each , given six month suspended jail sentences and are currently being deported by bus to Thailand , reports claim .  They have been banned from returning to Cambodia for four years .  Arrested : Lindsey Adams , 22 , ( pictured in an earlier holiday photo ) and her sister Leslie , 20 , were detained for taking naked pictures at Cambodia ' s sacred Angkor temple  Questions : Lindsay ( left ) and Leslie ( right ) from Prescott , Arizona , looked sullen as they spoke to police  Happier times : The sisters pulled funny faces and smiled in one of their more modest tourist snaps  A world heritage site , Angkor contains the remains of the different capitals of the Khmer Empire , dating from the 9th to the 15th centuries , and is Cambodia ' s most popular tourist destination .  Chau Sun Kerya , a spokeswoman for the Apsara Authority , said the women ' s actions were offensive because Angkor is considered sacred ground .  According to Cambodia Expats Online the pair were charged with indecent trafficking pornography and exposing sexual organs .  Awaiting further action : Officials are debating what action to take and what charges to level against the girls  Accusations : A police officer said they were spotted pulling their pants to their ankles at the temple  Admitted their mistake : The girls apologized to officials and said they realized it was wrong , police said  Scene of the incident : They were taking nude photos inside the Preah Khan temple , one of Cambodia ' s oldest  ' Perhaps they did not know Angkor is a holy site . But their inappropriate activities affect the sanctity of the place , ' she told  .  ' The two tourists admitted that they really made a mistake by taking nude photos . '  It is the second time in the last fortnight that tourists visiting the sprawling temple complex have been caught without their clothes .  Three French tourists were deported last weekend after they pleaded guilty to taking nude pictures of each other inside another temple within the complex .  The three deported French men received a suspended six month prison sentence on two charges public exposure and making pornography and will be banned from re entering Cambodia for four years .  The trio were caught just days after a series of photos of Asian women posing nude at ancient Cambodian temples went viral online and outraged officials who vowed to step up efforts to prevent similar stunts .  On holiday : Here the girls pose in front of another traditional building in Cambodia  A trip to remember : Lindsey smiles as she poses in a tree house before heading to the temple  ",true,text,test,US elections,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
13269,13270,"Actor Robert Davi electrified the Conservative Political Action Conference Thursday with a brief speech in which he described how President Donald Trump is the “force of nature” America needs to move on from the past three decades of its adherence to globalist policies and principles. [The veteran actor and Breitbart News contributor began his speech by asking how many  attendees were Trump supporters from the very first day he announced  —   a few raised their hands. When he asked how many were Trump supporters now, the room exploded in cheers.  “I’m thrilled to be here with all of you, and I have to say how moved I am to see how many young people are engaged,” Davi began. “You are the future of this country. And you’ve gotta be engaged, and you have to understand how important this moment of your history is, because this nation belongs to you. ” The   “Bond    host” continued by referring to a Breitbart News article he had written on June 16, 2015, the day that Trump announced his bid for the presidency. Davi said that former President George H. W. Bush’s 1988 campaign marked the beginning of a “shift” toward what became a   era of globalist policies that ultimately weakened the country. Davi argued that Bush’s campaign slogan, “A kinder, gentler nation,” was not the kind of message the United States needed after eight years of President Ronald Reagan’s bold reforms. “George Bush is a good man. But that was the globalist flag [being] put in the ground. That was the beginning of it all,” he said. “After Reagan we’ve had Bush, Clinton, Bush Two, Obama. We needed a force of nature to take the ship back. ” Later in his speech, Davi criticized the news media, which he said he had seen been manipulated for years. “There are good people. I respect everyone’s living, everyone’s point of view, that’s what America is about,” he said. “But I understand when I see the vitriol, and the continued misrepresentation of certain things, or the exaggeration of certain things, carried to a point that they shouldn’t be  —   and that’s what we see happening now. ” “Every media outlet is saying, ‘The first hundred days  …   ’” he added. “Well, he’s only been in office   days. It’s not a hundred days! And look what’s been accomplished! Look what the future is going to be. ” Davi concluded his speech by quoting the late Red Skelton’s commentary on the Pledge of Allegiance, suggesting that young people and unassimilated immigrants today lack the patriotism that was so vital in building the country. “‘Indivisible’  —   incapable of being divided. ‘With liberty,’ which is freedom, the right to live one’s own life without threats, fear or some form of retaliation,” Davi said. “‘Justice’  —   the principle equality of dealing fairly with others. ‘For all,’ which means boys and girls it’s as much your country as it is mine. ” He then led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. Watch the full speech above.   Follow Daniel Nussbaum on Twitter: @dznussbaum",true,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
13275,13276,"As you can imagine , college life can be very eventful . Balancing classes , internships , and a life away from home is enough to keep anyone busy . As a 20 year old living with a chronic illness , I have skillfully learned the balancing act of college life . My name is Marquita Gaines , and I have sickle cell disease .  I was first diagnosed at birth . The doctors performed a newborn screening test and when I was 10 days old they called to inform my mom . Because she and my father both have the sickle cell trait , she was aware that I may have the disease . At the age of 8 months I began having fevers over 101 consistently for a year .  When I was 5 years old , I was riding the new bike I had just gotten for Christmas when I fell off and the handle bars hit me in the ribcage . That night I began having difficulty breathing . I was rushed to the local hospital and within hours I had stopped breathing . I was moved to intensive care , revived , and placed on a respirator . The critical care doctors and the hematologist worked day and night to figure out what was happening to me .  My health continued to decline , and my parents were told to go pray because if I continued to not receive enough oxygen I would only have two hours to live . Around the seventh day , my condition stabilized and it was learned that I was suffering from an acute chest syndrome , a condition common among sickle cell patients .  Shooting survivor says blood donations saved her life  Sickle cell disease is a genetic blood disorder affecting the red blood cells . It causes the cells to lose oxygen very easily , turning them from round shapes to crescent shapes that cause painful episodes known as pain crises .  At first glance , no one would know that I am a patient living with sickle cell disease . On any given day I can feel great , but I never know when the pain will come or how long it will last .  A pain crisis can cause severe pain in my joints , my bones and my muscles . Sometimes it lasts for hours or even for days . At my worst it is difficult to walk and I have to use a wheelchair . To help reduce the number and severity of these episodes , I take daily medications and , with the help of the American Red Cross , I receive red blood cell transfusions every six weeks .  The first time I received donor blood from the American Red Cross , I was in the 11th grade . I arrived on an outpatient basis , and a trained nurse from the American Red Cross came to administer the procedure . I was nervous , but the possibility of having little to no pain was exciting .  First , my blood was typed and cross matched with donor blood . Then , with my family by my side , the transfusion began . A machine filtered out my sickled red blood cells in exchange for roughly 10 pints of normal red blood cells . The American Red Cross nurse administering the transfusion was very knowledgeable and friendly , which helped me remain calm .  Everything was a success , and within a week and a half I felt like a brand new person ! My bones no longer ached and I was able to stop taking the heavy pain medication . Once my senior year began , I was able to attend school more often . I also was able to run the mile in eight minutes with the rest of the gym class and I wasn ' t the last person to finish !  Cancer survivor ' s challenge : Give the gift of life this season  Now in my junior year at Howard University , I am still managing school work and my illness . I am involved in campus life as a member of student government and other organizations . I am young and full of life , with many goals and aspirations . The American Red Cross provides the opportunity for me to feel better more often . Transfusions allow me to have an easier , pain free life .  During this holiday season , my hope is that everyone will realize the importance of being a blood donor . For people like me who need regular transfusions , blood is often best matched among people of the same ethnic group , so donations from anyone who is a minority or has a rare blood type such as U or Fy ( a b ) are especially important . You could help someone like me live a healthier , happier , pain free life . I am a testament to the importance of blood donation and the services that the American Red Cross provides on a daily basis . Without both I wouldn ' t be able to be a happy and successful young lady .  I realize that sickle cell disease is a part of me , but it will never define who I am . With treatments like this and a strong support system , which I have from my family and the American Red Cross , there is no excuse not to succeed with this disease .  To learn more about becoming a blood donor or to make a donation appointment with the American Red Cross , visit RedCrossBlood . org .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
13286,13287,"Reuters) - On a rooftop overlooking the walls of Jerusalem’s Old City, around 200 American-Israeli fans of Donald Trump gathered to proclaim their support for the Republican candidate, convinced he will be Israel’s best friend if elected. Wearing “Make America Great Again” baseball caps, the small crowd, ranging from Holocaust survivors in their 80s to grinning teenagers in Trump t-shirts, said they didn’t care about the sexual assault allegations against the candidate or the online anti-Semitism of some of his supporters. “Trump will let Israel be itself and make its own decisions, that’s what I like,” David Weissman, a 35-year-old from Queens, New York, who moved to Israel three years ago, said at the event late on Wednesday. “He’s not a saint, but look at his achievements. He’s not afraid to identify the enemy as radical Islam, and he’s not going to support the two-state solution,” he said, referring to long-standing efforts to forge peace with the Palestinians. Trump has said that the women who have accused him of sexual misconduct fabricated their stories to damage his campaign. Others at the rally said they liked the fact that Trump was promising to move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, officially recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, and would not berate Israel for building Jewish settlements in occupied territory. “It’s very important that he becomes president,” said Connie Gordner, 82, who moved to Israel from Jacksonville, Florida, 21 years ago. “If Hillary Clinton becomes president, we’re dead.” The rally was organized by Republicans Overseas Israel, which estimates that there are 300,000 U.S. citizens living in Israel or in Jewish settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, which the Palestinians seek for their own state. Even if only a third of those cast absentee ballots, organizers believe it could have an impact in some swing states, come Nov. 8. Marc Zell, co-chairman of the non-profit group, believes around three-quarters of American-Israelis support the Republican party and its candidate. In an impassioned speech to the small crowd, David Friedman, Trump’s adviser on Israel, heaped criticism on Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton for her decisions as secretary of state and said Trump was Israel’s greatest hope. “Under Trump, the United States will never pressure Israel into accepting a two-state solution or any other solution that is against the wishes of the Israeli people,” he said, to whoops, cheers and a few shouts of “Crooked Hillary”. While the motley crowd was unabashed in its Trumpian fervor, polls indicate that most Jewish Israelis favor Clinton over Trump, by 40 percent to 31 percent. The critical element is American-Israelis who retain the right to vote in U.S. elections. Some estimates suggest more than a quarter of them live in settlements, which tend to have a more conservative, national-religious outlook. Trump’s messages have been designed to appeal to their sentiments. On Wednesday, he delivered a minute-long video to the rally, playing up his connections to Judaism through his daughter’s marriage, saying it enhanced his respect for the faith. “My administration will stand side-by-side with the Jewish people and Israel’s leaders to continue strengthening the bridges that connect not only Jewish Americans and Israelis but also all Americans and Israelis,” he said. “Together we will make America and Israel safe again.” ",true,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
13303,13304,"Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova look to be on a collision course for another high profile meeting in the quarterfinals of the 2016 Australian Open . Both women will be in action in the fourth round on Sunday , and wins by the No . 1 and No . 5 seed , respectively , will set up a 21st career meeting between the two .  Williams has breezed through the first three rounds , and she faces unseeded Russian ? Margarita Gasparyan . Per the tournament ' s Twitter account , no player has won more matches in Melbourne :    : serenawilliams ausopen win loss record now stands at 71 9 . No player has won more matches here . pic . twitterweblink DrhkrM3y9K  Sharapova has a much more difficult draw on paper . She must defeat No . 12 seed ? Belinda Bencic . The two have never played before , and it ' s unclear whether the lack of familiarity will favor Sharapova on Sunday . If she and Williams both win , there won ' t be a lack of familiarity in the fourth round . ?  Williams has dominated the career series against Sharapova , winning 18 of the 20 matches . ?  Here ' s a look at the schedule and predictions for all of the singles matches on tap for Sunday in Melbourne .  7 p . m .  ( Saturday ) 11 a . m . ( Sunday ) Local  No . 12 Belinda Bencic vs . No . 5 Maria Sharapova  No . 1 Novak Djokovic vs . No . 14 Gilles Simon  No . 24 Roberto Bautista Agut vs . No . 6 Tomas Berdych  No . 9 Jo Wilfried Tsonga vs . No . 7 Kei Nishikori  3 a . m .  ( Sunday ) 7 p . m . ( Sunday ) Local  No . 10 Carla Suarez Navarro vs . Daria Gavrilova  No . 3 Roger Federer vs . No . 15 David Goffin  You can see the entire schedule here . ?  Tsonga vs . Nishikori is Potential Match of the Day  If there ' s one match on Sunday ' s schedule that is a must see , it ' s the Jo Wilfried Tsonga vs . Kei Nishikori tilt . The two men have played six times in their careers , with Nishikori winning four of those matches . One of the meetings was a five set battle at the 2012 Australian Open .  They also met at the 2015 French Open . This , too , ended in five sets , but it was the Frenchman Tsonga who was victorious on his own home soil . While Tsonga will almost always put up a valiant effort , Nishikori seems to have his number when the match isn ' t being played on clay .  Nishikori is 4 1 against Tsonga on every other surface . Expect another five set battle , but Nishikori will prevail .  Novak Djokovic was made to work for his spot in the third round by No . 28 Andreas Seppi . Ultimately , the top seed advanced 6 1 , 7 5 , 7 6 ( 8 6 ) . He talked about the tough match with Seppi ? specifically the third round tiebreaker , per the tournament ' s Twitter account :  Novak Djokovic is very happy to move through to the 4th round of the AusOpen weblink : t . co 2tLSCeSeRZ  Seppi was able to give Djokovic a few issues , but it should be business as usual against Giles Simon .  The head to head series between No . 1 seed Djokovic and No . 9 seed Simon is approaching Williams vs . Sharapova status . The two men have played a total of 10 times , and like Williams over Sharapova , Djokovic has dominated Simon .  Djokovic has a 9 1 record against Simon , but this is the first time he will have played him at the Australian Open . In fact , this is only Djokovic and Simon ' s second meeting in a Grand Slam event .  The only previous match in one of the big four tournaments came in 2014 when Djokovic handed Simon a straight sets defeat ? ( 6 4 , 6 2 , 6 4 ) at Wimbledon . The only time Simon has beaten Djokovic was in 2008 at the Open 13 in Marseille .  Obviously , quite a bit has changed with Djokovic ' s game since then . Look for another straight sets win as Djokovic marches into the quarterfinals .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
13304,13305,"It ' s outrage time again .  This time it ' s over a "" Saturday Night Live "" commercial parody that aired over the weekend . The subject ( take a deep breath and prepare to be shocked ) :  . Yes , that barbaric terrorist group was ridiculed in a parody of a Toyota Camry commercial .  The original Toyota ad depicted a father driving his daughter to the airport . He then tearfully says goodbye as his daughter heads off to join the U . S . Army .  In the ""  "" parody , the daughter is played by Dakota Johnson , star of the hugely successful S M film "" 50 Shades of Grey . "" ( Good to see America has gotten over being offended by the mainstreaming of S M . ) As the parody commercial ends , however , it ' s revealed that the daughter is not joining the Army , but  .  We then see a pickup filled with  fighters drive up as a worried Dad comments to his daughter : "" You be careful ,  ? "" Johnson replies reassuringly : "" Dad ! It ' s just  . "" The father then turns to an  fighter and says , with emotion , "" Take care of her . ""  In reply , the militant whispers : "" Death to America . ""  And . . . cue the outrage ! ! Twitter lit up instantly .  Twitter user ematrudo called  and ""  "" "" Tasteless Scum ! ""  And Steve Bucci of conservative think tank the Heritage Foundation even went as far as to tweet : ""   skit also draws a moral equivalence between  murderers and the U . S . Military ( based on the spoofed commercial ) , that is wrong . ""  Some , apparently in the minority if the media coverage is any indication , also praised ""  "" :  But my favorite tweet was this one :  kmorrison is 100 correct . The sketch mocked  and on some level those who would fall for its sales pitch , like , perhaps , the three young British girls who reportedly headed to join them .  Comically skewering  is exactly the right thing to do it should be done even more . In fact , in Lebanon , the United Arab Emirates and even in Iraq , where  is slaughtering people , brave Muslim comedians are ridiculing  on  , in YouTube videos and in cartoons . And I can assure you that if  were to catch these comedians , it wouldn ' t just tweet about its outrage , it would kill them .  So why do these comedians take the chance ? Because , they say , it undermines  , and also , for many , it is cathartic to laugh at the terrorists , as opposed to shivering in fear about them .  This is the same reason Mel Brooks featured "" Springtime for Hitler "" in his hit musical comedy , "" The Producers "" : It was a way of using comedy as revenge . Brooks saw it as a way to rob Hitler of his power ( even if posthumously ) by causing audiences to laugh at him .  What ' s more , the ""  "" parody makes an important but subtle point . On the side of the  pickup , the Arabic writing does not state a religious expression . Rather it says , "" I love cats . ""  As someone who worked at ""  "" for eight years , I can assure you this was not happenstance , but rather was by design . To me , the "" I love cats "" line shows that ""  "" grasps what many on the right refuse to . As I heard firsthand when I attended the White House Summit on Countering Violent Extremism two weeks ago ,  will despicably use any means to recruit people . Consequently , as ludicrous as it may seem , saying "" we love cats "" to young girls is not beyond  .  When I look at the outrage over this ""  "" political parody , I have to wonder : Weren ' t we all "" Je suis Charlie Hebdo "" just a few weeks ago ? Remember when we stood firmly with political satirists . Well , apparently that sentiment ended for some as soon as they saw political satire they didn ' t like .  I understand that some will be offended by political comedy with which they don ' t agree . But in a time when freedom of expression is under attack , if you are offended by political satire on  , then change the channel .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
13315,13316,"Páginas Libres ¡Conducta ilegal y producto ilegítimo en BCRP! Socios | 1ro de noviembre de 2016 por Guillermo Olivera Díaz* 1-11-2016 La conducta es la pluralidad de actos realizados que exteriorizan una voluntad; y el producto es el resultado conseguido con esa conducta. ¡Los congresistas, mayormente fujimoristas, que designaron a José Chlimper, Rafael Rey y Elmer Cuba, para integrar el directorio del Banco Central de Reserva del Perú (BCRP), violaron la Constitución Política y la Ley Orgánica de dicho Banco! Cuando tales parlamentarios producen actos administrativos, como es designar miembros del directorio del BCRP, o integrantes de otros organismos, están obligados a respetar las normas constitucionales y las legales de todo tipo y no zurrarse en ellas sin incurrir en responsabilidad. Su designio es respetar las normas preexistentes. La Ley Orgánica del Banco Central de Reserva del Perú, en su artículo 11°, obliga que se designe como miembros del directorio del Banco a quienes tienen ""reconocida solvencia moral"" y además ""amplia competencia y experiencia en economía y finanzas"", requisitos que son hechos macizos, que deben ser reales y acreditados con los documentos respectivos. El congresista que vota por alguien propuesto no puede crear estos hechos en su cabeza, deducirlos de meros dichos o inferirlos por consigna partidaria. Viola la ley si desoye este mandato legal; comete, pues, una ilegalidad, una arbitrariedad. Del mismo modo, todo parlamentario debe ""velar por el respeto de la Constitución y de las leyes"", porque así lo establece el Artículo 102°, inciso 2, de la Constitución Política. Hasta podríamos aseverar que deben dar el ejemplo en acatar la Constitución y lo que dispone toda norma legal. Este precepto constitucional fue desacatado por todos aquellos congresistas que designaron con su voto a Chlimper, Rey y Cuba, como miembros del BCRP, sin que estén acreditadas las situaciones de hecho que la citada Ley Orgánica ha previsto. Violaron, por ende, esa norma constitucional que les obliga a respetar las leyes en general y la del  en particular. ¡Produjeron una infracción constitucional! Una acción judicial (proceso de amparo) debería anular el ilegal acto administrativo que surgió sobre la base de dicha ilegalidad e inconstitucionalidad y hacer efectiva la responsabilidad de los infractores si no está cubierta por la inviolabilidad de votos y opiniones. Tomado de weblink [email protected]",fake,news,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
13325,13326,"Russia fully suspended from world athletics after accepting an indefinite ban from the sport  All Russia Athletics Federation ( Araf ) choose not to contest sanction and will co operate with  in hope of being reinstated for Rio  Russia ' s Rio 2016 hopes currently hang by a thread ? Photo : Reuters  Russia has been fully suspended from world athletics after accepting an indefinite ban from the sport .  The All Russia Athletics Federation ( Araf ) chose not to contest such a sanction at what would have been a hearing into the matter next month .  ? Russian doping Wada report : The 10 key points  Russia had already been provisionally suspended by the International Association of Athletics Federations over sport s worst drugs scandal .  Faced with a fully fledged ban that would see Russian athletes kicked out of next year s World Indoor Championships , Araf decided to co operate with the  in the hope of regaining membership of the  in time for the Olympics .  The  said in a statement issued during its council meeting in Monaco :  council were today informed that written confirmation has been received yesterday from Araf accepting their full suspension without requesting a hearing , as was their constitutional right .  Araf confirmed they understood that council would only accept their reinstatement as an  member following the recommendation of the  inspection team , who will decide if the verification criteria have been fulfilled .  The  have imposed a provisional ban on Russia ' s track team ? Photo :  File  Araf confirmed they will cooperate fully and actively with the team .  The  was expected to announce later today what Russia would have to do in order to regain membership .  But the governing body has already confirmed the earliest it could do so would be after March s world indoors in Portland .  Russia was provisionally suspended almost two weeks ago at an emergency  council meeting after being found guilty of state sponsored doping that sabotaged London 2012 by an independent World Anti Doping Agency commission .  German state broadcaster  airs "" Secret doping dossier : How Russia produces its winners "" a damning 60 minute documentary alleging systematic state sponsored doping in Russian athletics .  Russian athletics chief and  treasurer Valentin Balakhnichev , and  marketing consultant Pape Massata Diack , son of the then  president Lamine Diack , step down while corruption and doping allegations are investigated by  ' s ethics commission .  World Anti Doping Agency ( Wada ) sets up a three person independent commission to investigate claims headed by its former chief , Canadian Dick Pound .   airs second documentary "" Doping top secret : The shadowy world of athletics "" , featuring new accusations aimed at Russian and Kenyan athletes .  and The Sunday Times said they were leaked a database belonging to athletics ' governing body with details of 12 , 000 blood tests from 5 , 000 competitors which revealed "" extraordinary "" levels of doping .  accused of failing to follow up suspicious tests by hundreds of athletes including world champions and Olympic medal winners .  British track legend Sebastian Coe who had called the allegations a "" declaration of war "" on athletics is elected to succeed Lamine Diack as  president  French police in Paris charge Diack with corruption on suspicion of accepting bribes to cover up doping cases . Diack also charged with money laundering and conspiracy . His legal advisor Habib Cisse and former  anti doping doctor Gabriel Dolle charged with corruption .   opens disciplinary proceedings against Pape Massata Diack , Balakhnichev , Alexei Melnikov , former chief coach of Russia ' s long distance walkers and runners , and Dolle .  Wada publishes its report into the scandal , claiming that Russia had been guilty of state sponsored doping on an industrial scale and that there had been a cover up at the highest levels of the  which had effectively ' sabotaged ' the London 2012 Olympics . They call on Russian athletes to be banned from all competition .  Russia ' s sport minister Vitaly Mutko responds angrily to the claims . You can t just go on like this , "" he says . "" You need to understand our sentiment . Sometimes it is just offensive . The country has done so much to provide support for sports and still all the time we have to prove something to someone . ""  Russian president Vladimir Putin promises action against anyone found guilty of abetting a doping programme and orders an internal investigation .  The  has announced it has provisionally suspended the All Russia Athletic Federation (  ) as a member with immediate effect .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
13332,13333,"London The  has apologized to Britain ' s Queen Elizabeth  after a reporter revealed the monarch was "" pretty upset "" that British officials had failed to arrest radical Muslim cleric Abu Hamza al Masri .  Usually private conversations with members of Britain ' s royal family remain private . But in an extraordinary breach of this convention on  Radio 4 , security correspondent Frank Gardner said the queen told him she had asked a government official why Hamza remained at large during his days as the imam of a mosque in London .  Who is Abu Hamza ?  The revelation that the queen had personally lobbied a government official over Hamza , convicted in Britain for soliciting murder and inciting hatred in 2006 , came as Gardner was discussing Hamza ' s probable extradition to the U . S . on terror charges .  Speaking to Today program host James Naughtie , Gardner said : "" Actually , I can tell you that the queen was pretty upset that he was , this man was , there was no way to arrest him . She couldn ' t understand why surely there must have been some law he must have broken . Well in the end , sure enough there was . He was eventually convicted and sentenced for 7 years for soliciting murder and inciting racial hatred . ""  Naughtie , clearly taken aback by Gardner ' s revelation of a private conversation he ' d had with the queen , called the disclosure a "" corker "" and said , "" That ' s a fascinating piece of information , Frank . "" Gardner replied : "" Yes , I thought I ' d drop that in she told me . ""  Gardner said : "" She spoke to the home secretary at the time and said , ' surely this man must have broken some laws , why is he still at large ? ' ""  The queen rarely expresses her opinions let alone political views in public . Her role is to stay above politics , so Gardner ' s disclosure is a rare insight into how she privately engaged with Britain ' s government on a specific subject .  In a statement on its website , the  wrote : "" This morning on the Today programme our correspondent Frank Gardner revealed details of a private conversation which took place some years ago with the Queen . ""  "" The conversation should have remained private and the  and Frank deeply regret this breach of confidence . It was wholly inappropriate . Frank is extremely sorry for the embarrassment caused and has apologised to the Palace . ""  More : Court clears way for Hamza ' s extradition  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
13355,13356,"San Juan , Puerto Rico Investigators don ' t know if the massive fire at a fuel storage facility near San Juan was deliberately started or was an accident , the agent in charge of the  ' s San Juan office said Monday .  The blaze , which started with an explosion at the Caribbean Petroleum Corp . facility in Bayamon municipality early Friday , was extinguished Sunday , firefighters said . Some of the tanks continued to smolder and crews stood ready to fight any flare up .  "" We don ' t know if it ' s a crime scene , "" said  Special Agent Luis Fraticelli . "" We don ' t know if it ' s an accident , so we ' re not making any determinations at this point until our experts do their work , do their analysis and then provide input to us as to what they feel happened here . ""  Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States .  The  is investigating graffiti found on two San Juan tunnels that referred to a fire , Special Agent Harry Rodriguez said Friday . A spray painted message on the tunnels , less than three miles apart , said : "" Boom , fire ,  , Gulf , Soul ,  . "" Caribbean Petroleum owns the Gulf Oil brand , but Rodriguez said he did not know what  referred to .  Hundreds of firefighters battled the blaze , which began with an explosion early Friday morning . That explosion shook the ground with the force of a 2 . 8 magnitude earthquake , authorities said . Flames shot into the air while plumes of thick , black smoke hovered over the region .  Agents from the  and the U . S . Bureau of Alcohol , Tobacco , Firearms and Explosives were investigating to determine whether the explosion was an act of sabotage or an accident .  Seventeen tanks were destroyed by flames and the initial explosion .  Puerto Rico ' s governor , Luis Fortuno , said the main priority of his government is to counter any long term effects of air and water pollution caused by the disaster . Representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency have been checking air quality near the fire .  "" We ' re not finding levels that would be of concern , "" said Bonnie Bellow ,  spokeswoman . She said the fire had been so intense because it was "" burning off chemicals that are part of the fuel . ""  About 600 displaced people stayed in shelters on Sunday night , but many were being sent home . Dr Lorenzo Gonzalez , Puerto Rico ' s health secretary , tests conducted on the air and water showed no reason for concern .  Because they were placed in close proximity in the facilities , everyone in the shelters and all the emergency personnel were vaccinated against the H1N1 flu virus as a precaution , Gonzalez said .  President Obama declared an emergency in Puerto Rico , which frees up federal aid .  Fortuno said the blaze has cost the island at least 6 . 4 million .  The governor sought to allay fears over gasoline supplies . Caribbean Petroleum owns 200 gas stations in the island and several inland distribution facilities , and supplies much of the island ' s fuel .  Puerto Rico will receive 3 . 6 million gallons of regular gasoline , more than 1 million gallons of premium gasoline and more than 1 million gallons of diesel fuel to help make up for what may have been lost , Fortuno said .  The company has been cited for violations of the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act , the main law in the United States that deals with the disposal of solid and hazardous wastes , according to  spokeswoman Bellow . Caribbean Petroleum is under a corrective action plan , she said .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
13361,13362,"On Tuesday , the state of Michigan , the birthplace of the  and the nation ' s organized labor movement , became the country ' s 24th right to work state . Michigan joins Indiana , which passed right to work legislation in February , to become the second right to work state in the heavily unionized Midwest .  The legislation marks a monumental shift away from union power to "" open shop "" free labor . Right to work laws prohibit workers from being forced to contribute mandatory dues to labor unions in order to gain employment , regardless of whether or not they are members of a union , and prohibit employers from firing workers if they don ' t join a union . With workers no longer obligated to pay union dues , union membership , revenue , and strength decline .  Predictably , there was no shortage of outrage from union workers this week as they stormed the capital building in Lansing to protest . Teachers walked out of schools and Democratic state senators even walked out on the final vote to approve the initial bills . Union workers and their Democratic allies realize that the transition from a "" closed shop "" state to a right to work state is the second in near fatal blows to Michigan ' s entrenched union interests .  The first blow came this past November when unions spent tens of millions of dollars in Michigan pushing Proposal 2 , a ballot initiative that would have written collective bargaining into the state constitution and in essence outlawed a right to work law and limits on union power . Michigan voters defeated the proposal 58 to 42 .  Proposal 2 was defeated because the unions had overreached their hand . Decades ago , unions were important to workers because America ' s emerging labor markets were less predictable and less safe . But much of the American public now realizes that labor unions are no longer needed in the way they once were , and they don ' t need to be enshrined in state constitutions .  What ' s the ' right to work ' battle all about ?  What ' s more , many unions have deviated from their original purpose and warped into powerful special interests rather than true representatives of workers ' rights .  There is a growing public consensus , seen most recently in Wisconsin , Indiana and now Michigan , that non right to work states can stifle private labor competition and give too much power , politically and financially , to the unions . What right to work states have found is that , if given the choice , some , or even many , workers will chose not to join the union . In other words , many workers themselves no longer see the need for mandatory dues and labor union representation .  On Monday , President Obama pushed back and blasted right to work laws during a visit to Michigan . He said , "" These so called right to work laws , they don ' t have to do with economics they have everything to do with politics . What they ' re really doing is trying to talk about the right to work for less money . ""  Video : ' Unions are the problem '  Despite the protests by the labor unions and their Democratic allies , it should be noted that Michigan ' s legislation does not end collective bargaining nor does it increase pension contributions or health care benefit payments from union workers .  And contrary to President Obama ' s thinking , right to work laws are directly related to economics . Right to work laws give employers the freedom to hire non union workers and negotiate contracts with more than one party . For this reason , right to work states are more attractive to private business than non right to work , and could increase private sector wages .  For example , on  ' s annual list of the best states for business , nine of the top 10 states are right to work states . It ' s no coincidence that foreign automobile manufacturers often build new plants in right to work states like Tennessee and Alabama , rather than Detroit the "" Motor City . ""  Analysis : Why America ' s unions are losing power  Perhaps Michigan ' s new right to work status will unlock employers from burdensome union contracts and attract new private enterprise to Detroit , which is predicted to go bankrupt by the end of this year . After all , Gov . Scott Walker ' s union reforms in neighboring Wisconsin helped eliminate the state ' s budget shortfall .  Twenty , 10 , or even five years ago , few people would have predicted that Michigan would become a right to work state . Adding Michigan to the expanding list of right to work states only hastens to a close the days of labor union monopolies over state governement and businesses . Could California , New York , or Illinois be next ? The question doesn ' t seem so farfetched now .  The opinions in this commentary are solely those of William J . Bennett .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
13373,13374,"Norman , Oklahoma On Tuesday morning , the residents of Moore , Oklahoma , woke again to another nightmare .  In the past 14 years , Moore and its nearby neighbors have been subjected to devastation from three major tornado events .  The latest chapter in this nearly unimaginable history was the EF5 tornado that claimed the lives of 24 people and injured hundreds . But how unusual is this tornado in context ?  While the frequency is unusual , especially over such a short period , the actual tornado is less of an anomaly . Over the same 14 years , there were a number of similar events .  The Joplin , Missouri , tornado of May 22 , 2011 , destroyed 25 of the town and killed 158 people . The path length for the Joplin tornado was similar in length and width , about 20 miles long and 1 . 5 miles wide .  The "" original "" Moore tornado on May 3 , 1999 , was rated F5 (  now uses the enhanced Fujita scale , called the ""  "" scale ) . It killed 36 people in Moore and had a similar path length .  On April 27 , 2011 , fifteen EF4 and EF5 tornadoes tracked across Mississippi and Alabama many having damage tracks that extended for dozens of miles .  So while horrible and sad , this extreme class of tornado occurs regularly in the United States . And when these tornadoes travel across populated areas , we see their awesome power at its worst .  So what do we know about the conditions that cause these violent storms ?  First , the atmosphere must be what is called potentially unstable . Potentially means the atmosphere must first build up heat and moisture near the ground , like fueling the gas tank of your car for a long trip .  Unstable means that if an imaginary balloon filled with air from near the ground were to be lifted upward , colliding with some weather feature such as a cold front , the "" balloon "" would become warmer than the surrounding air at that level . The initial "" push "" upward by the cold front on that balloon filled with surface air is like a child letting a helium filled balloon go it just keeps rising .  The difference is that on these violent tornado days , the balloon does not just rise in a leisurely way . It slingshots upward , especially when the air inside cools enough to condense all the water vapor it carries .  It ' s the extra heat released when the water vapor condenses that is like a driver flooring a car ' s accelerator . The balloon of surface air quickly reaches speeds of 100 to 150 mph going straight up !  Our "" balloons "" meteorologists call them "" updrafts "" are the engines of the storm . The energy released in the updrafts then interacts with our second ingredient needed for violent tornadoes , the change of the wind direction and speed at you go upward from the ground .  Anyone who has flown knows that the wind speed increases with height . These violent storms almost always require that the wind speeds increase from 20 mph on the ground to more than 100 mph ( horizontally ) aloft .  Spin in the storm ' s updraft is enhanced when the air entering the base of the updraft is from the south , while the winds further aloft are flowing from west to east . This is the so called jet stream , the fast river of air that helps drive our weather , which interacts with the storm ' s updrafts to create a spinning column of air .  It is this updraft spin , or mesocyclone , that creates the tornado .  When the updrafts are strong and the wind shear large , the spin inside the mesocyclone becomes very fast . And in the most extreme cases , a violent tornado is born beneath that spinning white cloud of updraft that meteorologists call the supercell thunderstorm .  So how well can we predict these storms ?  Tornado deaths during the past 50 years have declined considerably , indicating our forecasting and warning skill has improved considerably .  The deployment of the Doppler radar system in the early 1990s by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration extended tornado warning lead times from five minutes to their now annual average of 12 to 14 minutes . But other factors have improved warnings as well since then .  During the past 20 years , supercell thunderstorms have been the focus of intense academic and government research to understand how they work and how they produce tornadoes .  Two major field programs have studied these storms using dozens of mobile weather stations , aircraft and Doppler radars . The result from all these years of research and training was displayed Monday . Forecasters from the National Weather Service Office in Norman , Oklahoma , were very aware that the atmosphere in and around central Oklahoma had all the ingredients for significant tornadoes .  Knowing that the atmosphere could produce a strong tornado , they immediately issued the tornado warning as soon as the Doppler radar started to show low level rotation within the storm .  This warning was 16 minutes before the touchdown of the Moore tornado outside of Newcastle , Oklahoma , and nearly an hour before the end of the tornado some 20 miles away .  Undoubtedly , the long lead time saved countless lives . I ' m one of a number of researchers at  who are working on ways to combine all of the environmental , radar and other weather data into a computer model that will attempt to predict when the tornado will develop and how strong it will be as much as an hour in advance .  This "" Warn on Forecast "" concept , while showing promise , is still years away from being a reality .  So until then , when you hear the tornado sirens or tornado warning , take cover immediately . Like the people in Moore , your life may depend on it .  The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Louis Wicker .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
13399,13400,"?  Getty Images Demonstrators protest for freedom of opinion in China during the opening day of the CeBIT technology fair in Hanover , central Germany , on March 16 , 2015  Beijing ' s Great Firewall employs hundreds of thousands of censors  China , the world s most populous country , is used to superlative status . But a global study on Internet usage put the country in an unfamiliar position : last place . The Freedom on the Net 2015 report by American watchdog Freedom House found that even Internet users in Syria , Iran and Cuba had more unfettered online access than Chinese did . ( North Korea wasn t included in the ranking . )  Around half of Chinese are hooked up online ? the world s largest online population ? but their Internet is very different from the one accessed by most other people in the world . A censorship apparatus that employs hundreds of thousands blocks content that is deemed politically or socially sensitive . Google , Facebook , YouTube , Twitter , Instagram and a host of major political and media websites are regularly banned within China s borders . A recent crackdown on political debate has resulted in a neutered online space ? who wants to download an activist tract or forward a political joke when it could get you detained ?  Over the past year the Chinese government has also pushed foreign ( and domestic ) tech companies to essentially allow for official surveillance of their users online data and actions . At the same time , online research groups have traced cyberattacks on Western media and tech freedom sites to China , meaning that Beijing appears intent to export overseas its cloistered Internet . All these factors led to China dropping three places from last year s Freedom House survey to this year s dead last position .  The bad news documented by Freedom House is only half of the story . Chinese tech companies have thrived in recent years , their stock market valuations sometimes rivaling those of their Western counterparts . In part because some foreign tech firms are blocked from operating in China , local companies have gobbled up market share . They have also created innovative , user friendly products and platforms that have transformed China into a center of ecommerce . Taobao , WeChat , Baidu ? these are major tech forces .  Still , it s hard for China to fully integrate globally if its Internet is cleaved from the rest of the world s . This story , written from Shanghai , could not be loaded onto WordPress , even when using a virtual private network (  ) , an often costly tech tool used to try to vault the Great Firewall . On occasion , Chinese factory owners cannot access their overseas orders because Gmail accounts don t load . Chinese who once studied abroad cannot connect with foreign friends because Western social media is banned . At a time when China wants to accelerate its economy by promoting innovation , these online shackles and blinders are bad for business . And , as Freedom House documents , China s online sphere is moving further away from the global ideal . The world s most restrictive Internet nation : that s one superlative China shouldn t want to win .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
13406,13407,"Reuters) - Spain s King Felipe  said on Tuesday he was committed to the unity of Spain as he accused Catalan leaders, who staged a banned independence referendum on Sunday, of shattering democratic principles and of dividing Catalan society. In a televised address to the nation, the king said the  irresponsible behavior  of the Catalan leaders had undermined social harmony in Catalonia.  Today Catalan society is fractured and in conflict,  he said. He said the Spanish crown was strongly committed to the Spanish constitution and to democracy and underlined his commitment as king  to the unity and permanence of Spain.  ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
13409,13410,"It is another chance for Benfica to stare down the curse of Bela Guttmann .  Seven times they have been European finalists since their former manager laid down his hex in 1962 , and seven times they have lost .  Refused a pay rise after leading Benfica to a second successive European Cup triumph , the Jewish Hungarian declared the club would not succeed on the continent for 100 years .  It has held firm ever since , but perhaps on May 14 , the spell will finally be laid to rest .  Benfica ' s modern stars battled and scrapped their way to a 0 0 draw at Juventus to book a Europa League final at the same venue next month with Spanish side Sevilla , who held off a valiant fightback from Valencia .  Perhaps it is Juventus who will now feel cursed .  The Old Lady were supposed to book a European coronation at their own footballing fortress , and while they remain unbeaten there all season that will come as little consolation .  Trailing 2 1 from the first leg in Lisbon , the best chance of a tight first half fell to Arturo Vidal , whose back post header was looping into the net before an intervention from Benfica center back Luisao .  Juventus piled on the pressure in the second half , veteran midfielder Andrea Pirlo forcing Benfica goalkeeper Jan Oblak into a fine save .  The Old Lady ' s task got a tad easier with a little over 20 minutes to go when Enzo Perez picked up a second yellow card in the space of six minutes and was dismissed .  Two more red cards were shown , to unused Juventus substitute Mirko Vucinic and Benfica ' s Lazar Markovic , who had not long been replaced , as tempers flared on the bench .  Juve continued to pile forward but Benfica held on , Oblak denying former Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez , while Daniel Osvaldo had a goal rightly ruled out for offside .  After seven long minutes of injury time the final whistle sounded and Benfica booked their final berth for a second successive season .  The Guttmann curse reared its head again in 2013 when they lost the final to a header from Chelsea ' s Branislav Ivanovic with practically the last touch of the match .  That heartbreak was added to a long list of losing finals in 1963 , 1965 , 1968 , 1983 , 1988 and 1990 .  But on May 14 , it can be laid to rest once and for all .  Sevilla will have plenty to say about that though , after they booked their place in a nerve shredding encounter with La Liga cousins Valencia .  Valencia wiped out their 2 0 deficit from the first leg inside 25 minutes at the famous Mestalla stadium .  Sofiane Feghouli ' s slaloming run ended with a powerful shot that deflected past Sevilla goalkeeper Beto and into the net with just 14 minutes on the clock .  Less than 10 minutes later , Jonas ' bullet header from a left wing cross hit the bar but bounced in off the unfortunate Beto .  Stung into action , Sevilla hit back , former Arsenal striker Jose Reyes forcing Valencia goalkeeper Diego Alves into a point blank save when it looked easier to score .  Valencia maintained the same high pitched pace of attack in the second half and got their reward with 20 minutes to go as defender J r my Mathieu stabbed a corner into the roof of the net .  But with seconds remaining , Stephane Mbia on loan from English second tier club Queens Park Rangers nodded home to spark wild scenes of celebration .  Sevilla won successive titles in the  Cup , the forerunner of the Europa League , in 2006 and 2007 and only got their place in this year ' s competition after Malaga and Rayo Vallecano were forbidden from taking part .  It is now their task to ensure the curse of Bela Guttman lives on .  ",true,text,test,Football,Economy,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
13410,13411,"Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter makes his last scheduled trip to Asia next week, and he will try to sooth anxieties caused by Donald Trump’s election, U.S. officials said. The Obama administration made Asia and U.S. alliances there a priority. While details of Trump’s approach to the region remain scant, his calls for allies to pay more to sustain U.S. forces or face their possible withdrawal have alarmed Japan and South Korea.  In Tokyo, Carter will emphasize the importance of the U.S.-Japanese alliance and the presence of some 50,000 U.S. troops there, given China’s rise and the increasing threat from nuclear-armed North Korea, a U.S. defense official said. But the soothing effect of anything Carter has to say will be limited because he is a “lame-duck”, and does not represent Trump’s still-undefined policies. A source who has advised the incoming president’s transition team downplayed concerns about a dramatic break with the past or  possibly allowing Japan and South Korea to develop nuclear weapons rather than relying on the U.S. nuclear umbrella. Trump wants the allies to shoulder a greater share of defense costs, but this would be a matter for negotiation, the source said. “It’s not an ultimatum; it’s not saying ‘Let’s crush the alliance,’” he said. “It will be a negotiation like we always have,” the source said. Trump caused alarm during his campaign by suggesting that Japan and South Korea could acquire nuclear weapons to defend themselves, although he has not repeated those remarks since his election.  “As president-elect, there has never been any question other than supporting the existing (nuclear) umbrella and the existing non-proliferation regime,” he said. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was the first foreign leader to meet Trump after the election, and said afterwards that alliances must be based on trust and that he saw the future president as a “trustworthy leader.” However, Trump plans to quit the trans-Pacific trade pact that was the economic pillar of Obama’s “pivot” to Asia, which had Japan as its main partner.  “Regardless of what (Carter) conveys, the reverberations caused by Trump’s election have made many countries envisage a future where a robust U.S. presence may not be a certainty,” said Reed Foster, a defense analyst for  Jane’s. Carter will also visit India. Trump pledged in his campaign that the United States and India would be “best friends” and would boost intelligence-sharing against Islamist militants. In August, the two countries reached a deal on using each other’s military bases for repairs, and they have been cooperating on an Indian aircraft carrier project. A senior U.S. defense official said two pacts that would allow secure communications and the exchange of nautical and other data would not be sealed before Obama leaves office. India is pushing for faster movement on a request to buy U.S. Predator drone aircraft. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
13412,13413,"Moscow The computer contractor who exposed details of U . S . surveillance programs was on the run late Sunday , seeking asylum in Ecuador with the aid of the anti secrecy group WikiLeaks , the organization and Ecuador ' s Foreign Ministry announced .  Edward Snowden left Hong Kong after Washington sought his extradition on espionage charges , according to WikiLeaks , which facilitates the publication of classified information .  Ecuador has already given WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange refuge in its embassy in London for a year after he unsuccessfully fought extradition to Sweden in British courts .  The Justice Department said it was "" disappointed "" in the decision by Hong Kong authorities to allow Snowden to leave the semi autonomous Chinese territory , arguing it had followed the proper legal steps to have him held and sent back to the United States . U . S . and Hong Kong officials had "" repeated engagements "" over the case , and Attorney General Eric Holder discussed the matter with his counterpart in Hong Kong last week , the department said .  "" At no point , in all of our discussions through Friday , did the authorities in Hong Kong raise any issues regarding the sufficiency of the U . S . ' s provisional arrest request , "" a statement from the department said . "" In light of this , we find their decision to be particularly troubling . ""  State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said it was routine to revoke the passports of people charged with felonies . She would not comment specifically on the status of Snowden ' s passport but said anyone wanted on a felony charge , "" such as Mr Snowden , "" should be stopped from "" any further international travel , other than is necessary to return him to the United States . ""  Among those accompanying Snowden is former Spanish judge Baltasar Garzon , now the lawyer for WikiLeaks and Assange , according to a statement from the organization .  "" The WikiLeaks legal team and I are interested in preserving Mr Snowden ' s rights and protecting him as a person , "" Garzon said . "" What is being done to Mr Snowden and to Mr Julian Assange for making or facilitating disclosures in the public interest is an assault against the people . ""  Garzon added in a statement Monday that Snowden has sought his legal advice . Garzon said he has not yet decided whether to represent Snowden .  Assange sought asylum in June 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden , where he is wanted for questioning over allegations that he raped one woman and sexually molested another . He has repeatedly said the allegations are politically motivated and that he fears Sweden would transfer him to the United States .  There are no charges pending against Assange in the United States . But a U . S . Army private who military prosecutors say leaked a vast cache of classified documents to WikiLeaks is now being court martialed on charges of aiding the enemy , and he faces life in prison if convicted .  Snowden has admitted he was the source who leaked classified documents about the  ' s surveillance programs to the British newspaper the Guardian and to The Washington Post . The documents revealed the existence of programs that collect records of domestic telephone calls in the United States and monitor the Internet activity of overseas residents .   chief : Snowden ' betrayed ' our trust  Snowden gave up a comfortable life "" in order to bring to light what he believed was serious wrongdoing on the part of our political officials , "" said Glenn Greenwald , the Guardian columnist who co authored the stories . "" And he ' s now at best going to spend the rest of his life on the run from the most powerful government on Earth . ""  The disclosures rocked the Obama administration and U . S . intelligence , raising questions about whether the  was infringing on American civil liberties . Snowden told the Guardian that he exposed the surveillance programs because they posed a threat to democracy , but administration officials said the programs are vital to preventing terrorist attacks and are overseen by all three branches of government .  "" We have not in a single case had a place where a government official engaged in willful effort to circumvent or violate the law . Zero times have we done that , "" Gen . Keith Alexander , the  ' s director , told  ' s "" This Week . ""  Snowden was a Hawaii based computer network administrator for Booz Allen Hamilton , an  contractor . Alexander said Snowden "" betrayed the trust and confidence we had in him "" and is "" not acting , in my opinion , with noble intent . ""  "" This was an individual with top secret clearance , whose duty it was to administer these networks , "" Alexander said . "" He betrayed that confidence and stole some of our secrets . ""  He said the super secret communications intelligence agency has changed passwords and procedures since Snowden ' s disclosures "" But at the end of the day , we have to trust that our people are going to do the right thing . ""  Greenwald said Snowden has been extremely judicious about what he has revealed .  Hong Kong : Extradition request didn ' t comply with requirements  Snowden left Hong Kong "" through a lawful and normal channel , "" the government of the semi autonomous Chinese territory said Sunday . The U . S . government announced Friday that it was charging Snowden with espionage and theft of government property and asked Hong Kong to hold him for extradition proceedings .  In a statement Sunday , Justice Department spokeswoman Nanda Chitre said Hong Kong authorities had informed U . S . officials of Snowden ' s departure .  "" We will continue to discuss this matter with Hong Kong and pursue relevant law enforcement cooperation with other countries where Mr Snowden may be attempting to travel , "" she said .  Hong Kong said the American request for a provisional arrest warrant "" did not fully comply with the legal requirements under Hong Kong law "" so it asked for additional information . Because Hong Kong didn ' t have enough information , "" there is no legal basis to restrict Mr Snowden from leaving Hong Kong , "" the government said .  But a Justice Department official said Sunday that the United States had met requirements and disputed the assertion from Hong Kong ' s government .  "" They came back to us with a few questions late Friday and we were in the process of answering those questions , "" the official said . "" We believe we were meeting those requirements . As far as the relationship with Hong Kong goes , this raises questions and we will continue to discuss with authorities there . ""  Hong Kong ' s lack of intervention came after Snowden told the South China Morning Post that U . S . intelligence agents have been hacking computer networks in Hong Kong and mainland China for years . The territory ' s government said it has requested "" clarification "" about that in order "" to protect the legal rights of the people of Hong Kong . ""  Snowden ' told the truth in the name of privacy , ' Paul says  President Barack Obama , top legislators and national security officials defend the surveillance programs Snowden detailed as necessary to combat terrorism and argue that some privacy must be sacrificed in a balanced approach . In a chat session moderated by the Guardian last week , Snowden said he went ahead with the leak because Obama worsened "" abusive "" practices instead of curtailing them as he promised as a candidate .  But Snowden ' s revelations also sparked criticism from U . S . spy chief James Clapper , who told the Senate Intelligence Committee in March that the  didn ' t "" wittingly "" collect data on millions of Americans . After Snowden ' s revelations , Clapper told  that he answered "" in what I thought was the most truthful , or least untruthful manner "" to the question from Sen . Ron Wyden , D Oregon .  "" Mr Clapper lied in Congress , in defiance of the law , in the name of security . Mr Snowden told the truth in the name of privacy , "" said Paul , the son of former Libertarian turned Republican presidential hopeful Ron Paul .  Paul said that unlike civil rights protesters who broke the law and submitted to the courts to make a statement , Snowden faces a "" disproportionate "" penalty . But he added that Snowden ' s actions may be judged more harshly if he "" cozies up "" to an oppressive government overseas .  "" If he goes to an independent third country like Iceland and if he refuses to talk to any sort of formal government about this , I think there ' s a chance that he ' ll be seen as an advocate of privacy , "" Paul said . "" If he cozies up to either the Russian government , the Chinese government , or any of these governments that are perceived still as enemies of ours , I think that that will be a real problem for him in history . ""  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
13414,13415,"If his name was Michael Brown if he robbed a local convenience store and roughed up the store manager if he tried to take a gun from the cop who confronted him and was killed by it in the struggle, the media might have covered it. But this was just an innocent 17 year old boy minding his own business when he was faced with the awful decision of whether to risk his own life and save the life of a total stranger or stand back and watch an elderly woman be killed. This hero chose to sacrifice his own life. If we lived in a world where real heroism is not celebrated because it s not controversial. In a good and decent world, Raekwon Juaquay Brown s name would be more of a household name than that of thug Michael Brown. But we live in a world where the Left celebrates victimhood and real or imagined, a good victim can always be used to prop up a cause. # Raekwon Juaquay Brown you are a hero. Seventeen-year-old Raekwon Juaquay Brown sacrificed his life when he pushed an elderly woman out of the way of gunfire before he was slain in Wednesday s daylight shooting near Jeremiah E. Burke High School, the grief-stricken lady told the Herald just hours before a vigil honoring the young hero. He saved my life   I have a new life,  the woman, 67, said in Spanish yesterday while tears streamed down her face. He was only 17. I ve lived here 10 years, I ve never seen anything like this. There needs to be more police here,  she said, showing a wound to her right ankle, where police say she was grazed.The woman was one of four people struck by gunfire in the 1:15 p.m. ambush that left Brown, a Burke High junior, dead. Her name is being withheld by the Herald because she is a witness to the murder.She explained she was in an alley by a pizza shop when the shooting broke out. The teen, who was sitting down eating a hamburger, got up and pushed her to the side by a car, she claimed.Last night hundreds of people, including at least a dozen family members, crowded in front of the market on Washington Street less than a block from the school where Brown fell.Some men turned and walked away in tears while several women dabbed their eyes with tissues from a box that was being passed around. Brown s mother, Wanda Graddy, supported by several relatives, walked toward a memorial for her son, where she cried,  My boy, my boy. The Rev. William Dickerson of the Greater Love Tabernacle Church spoke first and called for the killer to step forward and for witnesses to name him. We pray that justice will come in the midst of this terrible reality,  Dickerson said.Family members said they hope that whoever pulled the trigger will surrender. Stop being cowards,  said Raekwon s older brother, John Brown.  Stand up like a man. Take your consequences. Beside him was the slain teen s godmother, Jacqueline Cane. I just want you to know, whoever did it, turn yourself in,  she said.  You re not going to sleep until you turn yourself in. That was a good guy here. This was my God-baby. Seventeen years old, you took his life. Turn yourself in or you will never rest. Mourners said another prayer and then hugged as they departed.Burke school staff also took time out from the day to recall Brown as a selfless teen. Raekwon was probably one of the most loving and caring students I have ever had in the Sophomore Academy,  said Cheryl Windle, leader for the academy.  He actually had this warmth about him that I really believe captures his true essence. He will truly be missed by all of us here at the Burke community. Lindsa McIntyre, headmaster of Burke, said students and staff will miss Brown dearly.  He came to us as a vibrant, struggling, middle school student, looking for fun and full of vim and vigor. But as he grew in his high school career, he became a metamorphosis for what a real Burke student looks like. Via: Boston Herald",fake,dataset,test,American football,Sports/Other,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,past
13429,13430,"Ulster’s Democratic Unionist Party, which is expected to prop up Theresa May’s minority government over the coming months, has spurned Tory Remainers who hoped they would force the Prime Minister to ask the  for a   ‘Soft Brexit’. [According to ITV’s Robert Peston, a source within the  “was very keen to be quoted” as saying that his party “completely backs [May’s] vision of Brexit”  —   and not that of her Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond.  While both May and Hammond campaigned for a Remain vote during the  referendum, the Prime Minister has subsequently endorsed what supporters call a “Clean Brexit“ taking Britain out of the bloc’s Single Market and its associated Free Movement regime, as well as the Customs Union which precludes   from conducting an independent trade policy. Remain diehards, who want a ‘Soft Brexit’ in which Britain would remain party to the Single Market and Customs Union in order to maintain the closest possible links to the European Union, term this a “Hard” or “Extreme” Brexit. Hammond’s team at  Treasury  —   the engine room of the Remain campaign’s ‘Project Fear‘ under his predecessor George Osborne  —   are said to have entered “  mode” as he canvasses support for such a deal.  backs Theresa May’s vision of Brexit, not Philip Hammond’s  —    News weblink  .   —   Robert Peston (@Peston) June 15, 2017,  If Peston’s source is reliable, however, it seems the ‘Soft Brexit’ faction have lost crucial leverage. It had been claimed that the DUP, which is keen to see a minimum of economic friction between Ulster and the Irish Republic after Brexit, would at least back their calls for Britain to stay in the Customs Union. The  presenter has been led to believe that the  is “100 per cent committed to the  leaving the Single Market  the Customs Union”  —   having preferred to use its bargaining power to press for plans to introduce   for the winter fuel allowance and scrap the pensions triple lock to be dropped. Leavers within the Government are predicting ferocious resistance to Brexit from without the Cabinet as well as within, with one minister predicting  “utterly bitter, trench warfare” as opposition politicians and Tory rebels “fight us line by line, in committees, on the floor and in the Lords, for months and months on end. ”",true,news,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,past
13442,13443,"I  Haven t Had an Abortion, But I Wish I Had     DUNHAMActress Lena Dunham says she has never had an abortion, but wishes she had because it s a sign of  bravery  and  self-knowledge.   I always thought that I myself didn t stigmatize abortion,  Dunham says in the most recent episode of her podcast, titled  Choice. I m a   uh abortion rights activist, it s a huge part of who I am,  she added, but then said she had distanced herself from the issue of abortion in the past.She continued:But one day, when I was visiting a Planned Parenthood in Texas a few years ago, a young girl walked up to me and asked me if I d like to be a part of her project in which women share their stories of abortions. I sort of jumped.  I haven t had an abortion,  I told her. I wanted to make it really clear to her that as much as I was going out and fighting for other women s options, I myself had never had an abortion.And I realized then that even I was carrying within myself stigma around this issue. Even I, the woman who cares as much as anybody about a woman s right to choose, felt it was important that people know I was unblemished in this department. So many people I love   my mother, my best friends   have had to have abortions for all kinds of reasons,  Dunham said.  I feel so proud of them for their bravery, for their self-knowledge, and it was a really important moment for me then to realize I had internalized some of what society was throwing at us and I had to put it in the garbage. Now I can say that I still haven t had an abortion, but I wish I had,  she said.As Newsbusters notes, Dunham has now become an avid supporter of abortion.Read more: Breitbart",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,satire,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
13450,13451,"According to the police report , the mother of Randle ' s son said Randle broke a car window in an argument and threatened her with a gun with their son nearby . In April , the charges were dropped , but although he ' s legally in the clear , Randle faced sanctions from the  .  It was the second time in four months Randle had been arrested .  Last October , he was arrested at a Frisco , Texas , mall and charged with shoplifting . He was attempting to steal underwear and a tester bottle of cologne . The Cowboys fined Randle an undisclosed amount , and he later apologized . In July , he was given six months ' probation for the incident .  On Wednesday , Randle left the Cowboys ' facility , but sources indicated the absence was about more than just losing his starting job to ? Darren McFadden .  Coach Jason Garrett said Thursday it is due to a personal issue and not related to losing his starting spot . Garrett would not discuss whether the absence had to do with potential  discipline . Randle was at the team ' s facility briefly Thursday morning , but Garrett said he did not meet with the running back . He spoke with Randle on a few occasions Wednesday during the day and after the player left the facility .  Randle did not practice Wednesday because of a strained oblique he suffered after two carries in Sunday ' s loss to the New York Giants . Initially , Randle was considered probable to return to the game . However , he was downgraded to doubtful and never returned . While he did not practice Wednesday , he went through rehab in full pads .  Garrett ruled Randle out for Sunday ' s game against the Seattle Seahawks . McFadden , who rushed for 152 yards and a touchdown on 29 carries against the Giants , will start .  Asked whether he considered Randle a viable option at running back going forward , Garrett said : "" Don ' t really want to get into that situation very much . The biggest issue with Joe is take care of the injury , get himself healthy and hopefully work though some of these personal issues . ""  Randle started the first six games and has 315 yards and four touchdowns on 76 carries . The Cowboys previously lost running back Lance Dunbar to a torn  on Oct . 4 against the New Orleans Saints .  Christine Michael and Rod Smith are the only tailbacks on the roster behind McFadden . Michael has played in three games . Smith , who was claimed off waivers from Seattle on Oct . 14 , is just starting to learn the Cowboys ' offense . They will serve as backups to McFadden on Sunday .  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
13462,13463,"Radio Free Europe Tue, 25 Oct 2016 20:50  Azem Syla is a former member of parliament and prominent politician in President Hashim Thaci's (pictured) ruling Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK). An international prosecutor has charged an ally of Kosovo's President Hashim Thaci with leading a crime ring responsible for a multimillion-dollar land scam and money laundering. The European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) made the charges against Azem Syla and 38 associates on October 25. Syla is a former member of parliament and prominent politician in Thaci's ruling Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK). In a statement, Kosovo prosecutor's office said Syla's crime syndicate was involved in illegally acquiring public property in Kosovo worth around $33 million. The prosecutor's office added that the 39 defendants cooperated ""to deprive Kosovo of socially owned properties through criminal activities including the falsification of verdicts and of other official documents, fraud and corrupt behavior."" Prosecutors said the criminal gang had been operating since 2006. Syla, 65, was arrested in April after he surrendered to authorities. He was a top commander of the Kosovo Liberation Army during the Kosovo War.",fake,news,test,World conflict,Conflict,fake,fake,True,no,no,positive,past
13469,13470,"Hail Mary helps Packers close in on  North lead  2015 12 04T03 : 31 : 42Z Hail Mary helps Packers close in on  North leadThe Associated Press The Associated Press  Detroit Lions defensive end Devin Taylor ( 98 ) reaches in on Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers ( 12 ) and is called for a face mask during the second half of an  football game , Thursday , Dec . 3 , 2015 , in Detroit . (  Photo Melanie Maxwell The Ann Arbor News Mliveweblink via  )   (  ) ? It ' s a play Mike McCarthy says the Packers practice every Saturday ? because they ' ve been victimized by this type of desperation heave in the past and want their defense to be prepared to stop it .  "" I ' m not real happy when the offense gets the ball , "" the Green Bay coach said .  But McCarthy needed the Hail Mary to work this time , and the Detroit Lions gave Richard Rodgers a bit too much room in the front of the end zone .  Rodgers came down with the 61 yard toss from Aaron Rodgers for a touchdown with no time on the clock Thursday night , giving the Packers a 27 23 victory . Detroit appeared to have the game won when Aaron Rodgers was tackled about 75 yards from the end zone , but Lions defensive end Devin Taylor was called for a facemask , giving the Packers one more chance from their own 39 .  "" It ' s written in the playbook that my job is to box out and Davante ( Adams ) is supposed to jump and I ' m supposed to wait for a tip , "" Rodgers said .  After the touchdown , the Packers took a knee rather than kick an extra point .  Green Bay ( 8 4 ) is now only a half game behind first place Minnesota in the  North . The Lions ( 4 8 ) had a three game winning streak snapped .  There were 6 seconds left when Green Bay snapped the ball from its own 21 . Aaron Rodgers threw to James Jones about 20 yards downfield , then the Packers began lateraling . The ball got all the way back to Aaron Rodgers near the original line of scrimmage , and for a split second , the game appeared over when the Lions closed in on him .  Taylor , however , was flagged for a facemask , giving Green Bay an untimed down .  Here are a few things we learned from Green Bay ' s dramatic victory :    : Richard Rodgers ' father played a role in another famous game winning touchdown . Richard Rodgers Sr . threw two laterals on the final play of the Cal Stanford game in 1982 , when the Golden Bears went through the Stanford band and reached the end zone .  The younger Richard Rodgers ? and Aaron Rodgers ? both went to Cal as well .    : Green Bay ' s banged up offensive line is in rough shape . Taylor had two sacks as part of a Detroit front that was overwhelming at times .  "" It appeared that he was a force out there for an extended period of time , "" Lions coach Jim Caldwell said .  Green Bay guard T . J . Lang ( shoulder ) and tackle Bryan Bulaga ( ankle ) were inactive for the game , and center Corey Linsley left in the first half with an ankle injury .   : Caldwell disputed the facemask call . A replay appeared to show contact , but it wasn ' t excessively violent .  "" It was called , so therefore it is and we ' ve just got to find a way to make the play , "" Caldwell said .    : The end of the fourth quarter wasn ' t the only point when fortune smiled on the Packers . Their first touchdown of the game came when Green Bay running back James Starks fumbled into the end zone , and receiver Randall Cobb fell on the ball for a  .    : The Lions looked out of sorts defensively on a crucial scramble by Rodgers . He ran for a 17 yard touchdown on third and long to make the score 23 21 Detroit with 3 : 04 remaining .  Copyright 2015 The Associated Press . All rights reserved . This material may not be published , broadcast , rewritten or redistributed .  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
13482,13483,"A leading anti racism group has applauded  ' s decision to appeal against sanctions handed out to the Serbian Football Association for "" improper conduct "" following allegations of racist chanting .  The European governing body has confirmed it will appeal against all punishments following the under 21 qualifying game between Serbia and England in Krusevac on October 16 .  While  president Michel Platini had hinted at seeking tougher sanctions , the news of an appeal came following a statement in which "" the  disciplinary inspector felt it necessary to immediately confirm his intention to appeal on  ' s behalf . ""   a network of anti discrimination and inclusion groups which tackles racism , xenophobia and homophobia across European football , says the latest developments are hugely encouraging  ""  ' s decision to appeal is very welcome , "" executive director Piara Powar told the English Press Association .  "" We had been lobbying for it and like a lot of other people within  felt this was the right thing to do . ""  Serbia was ordered to play one under 21 match behind closed doors was fined 105 , 000 .  The team ' s assistant coach Predrag Katic and fitness coach Andreja Milunovic were also banned from football for two years .  In addition , four Serbia players were suspended with Goran Causic banned for four games , Ognjen Mudrinski and Filip Malbasic for three and Nikola Ninkovic for two .   will also challenge the decision to hand England duo Steven Caulker and Tom Ince two and one match bans .  The pair were caught up in a brawl during the playoff game , which was sparked following allegations of racist abuse directed at England ' s Danny Rose .   ' s Serbia fine heavily criticized  Critics of  have accused accusing the organization of failing to find a suitable punishment .  During the 2012 European Championship finals , Denmark ' s Nicklas Bendtner was fined 125 , 800 for exposing boxer shorts with the logo of an online betting company  Earlier this year , Manchester City officials were infuriated after the club was fined 40 , 000 by  for taking to the pitch late for a Europa League game which was 13 , 000 more than  Porto ' s sanction for fans ' racist abuse during a game against the English team .  Powar added : ""  now have an opportunity to send out a message and it takes a lot of honesty and self reflection to admit that one arm of the organisation got it wrong .  "" It ' s a good lead for other national associations to follow if they issue a sanction that on reflection doesn ' t get the right message across , such as the ( English )  in a certain case earlier this year . ""  Racism row shines light on Serbian football  Tottenham ' s Rose , who is currently on loan at Sunderland , was shown a red card after the final whistle for kicking the ball away in anger after complaining he had been subjected to monkey chants throughout the contest .  "" As per the  disciplinary regulations , the  disciplinary inspector has the right to open disciplinary investigations and to lodge appeals against decisions taken by the control and disciplinary body , "" read a statement on  ' s website .  "" Having reviewed the motivated decisions for the sanctions imposed in this specific case , which have also been provided to all parties , the  disciplinary inspector felt it necessary to immediately confirm his intention to appeal on  ' s behalf . ""  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
13484,13485,"Florida Samuel Fahrer and Sidney Lipson shake hands and smile . It ' s the first time the men have seen each other in 64 years . They were U . S . soldiers back on a forced death march in Nazi Germany in April 1945 .  Sidney Lispson , left , and Samuel Fahrer meet for the first time in 64 years . They were in a Nazi slave labor camp .  "" How you doing ? "" Fahrer says .  It ' s a subdued moment for the two men . There are no tears , no pats on the back . The men have endured years of contained emotions from what happened six decades ago when they were prisoners of war and held as slaves inside Germany .  They have come to a hotel in Orlando to be honored by the Army this weekend for the first time . Watch slave camp survivors reunite  Fahrer and Lipson were among 350 soldiers held at the slave labor camp called Berga an der Elster , a largely forgotten legacy of the war and a subcamp of Buchenwald where soldiers were beaten , starved and forced to work in tunnels to hide German equipment .  More than 100 soldiers died at the camp and on the death march . Buchenwald was one of the largest and first concentration camps on German soil . See photos inside Berga  "" These soldiers endured extreme hardships of forced labor , beatings , poor living conditions , and ultimately a forced march of over 250 kilometers about 155 miles prior to liberation by advancing U . S . Armed Forces , "" Army Secretary Peter Geren said at the conclusion of the review .  "" The survivors of Berga certainly deserve both our thanks and recognition for their service and sacrifice . ""  Geren is sending Maj . Gen . Vincent Boles to honor the survivors on Saturday . Six of the 22 Berga survivors will be at the event most of those still living could not make it because of declining health .  Those here look forward to what the general has to say . They want desperately to know why the U . S . government commuted the death sentences of the two Berga commanders , Erwin Metz and his superior , Hauptmann Ludwig Merz .  Both were tried for war crimes and initially sentenced to die by hanging until their commutations in 1948 .  "" I ' m very happy the Army is sending a general to see us , "" Fahrer says . "" But they should ' ve sent the general to see us a long time ago when some of the fellas were still alive . We ' re only 20 fellas left . ""  Fahrer was one of the primary survivors after the war who fought to get the government to carry out the death sentences for Metz and Merz .  In a letter to survivors in January 1949 , he wrote , "" Things are beginning to break our way . A little enthusiasm , a little more cooperation , a little more action , will accomplish a great , great deal now . "" Now , 60 years later , he may finally get some answers .  "" Let ' s see what the general has to say when he gets here , "" Fahrer says .  His comrade , Morton Brooks , says , "" I never wanted revenge , but I did think retribution would be proper . And I think they should ' ve suffered a little bit longer for what they did . . . . They wouldn ' t kick a dog , but they did that to us . "" Watch Morton Brooks describe the Germans ' "" work to death "" program  The two men finally hugged . "" I ' m glad to see you , "" Fahrer says .  Some of the Berga soldiers were killed in cold blood , such as Morton Goldstein , shot through the head and then machine gunned . His bullet riddled body was placed in front of the barracks for all to see .  Bernard Vogel and Izzy Cohen were forced to stand without food and water for days , pushed to their deaths .  Cohen was a 32 year old father of two young children . When he left for war , he kissed his family goodbye at a train station in California . He looked at his wife , Florence , and said , "" Whatever happens happens . "" It was the last words he ever spoke to her .  Vogel ' s last words at Berga were : "" I want to die ! I want to die ! "" Hear Martin Vogel finally learn about his brother ' s final minutes  "" They killed us slowly , "" Fahrer says . "" They didn ' t feed us , they didn ' t give us anything , they didn ' t do anything . ""  The memories are so terrible , so horrific that Sid Lipson doesn ' t remember much of anything about his captivity . "" I don ' t remember a damn thing from the march , "" he says .  Brooks says , "" I think it ' s best . "" Brooks weighed 75 pounds when he was finally freed Fahrer weighed 90 .  "" The United States government did not acknowledge the fact that we were put in this slave labor camp , "" Fahrer says , shaking his head . "" We went through all these things and nobody wants to give us any help . And finally , now . . . ""  Brooks went on to become a psychologist . He says his time in captivity was a "" 1 million experience that I wouldn ' t want to repeat for 2 million . ""  His message to the world about the whole ordeal :  "" We have to learn to talk to one another and live together . It ' s not necessary to go kill people for no reason . ""  Acevedo ' s wife , Loline , is too ill . He doesn ' t want to leave her side . "" The love of my life , "" he says .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
13509,13510,"Chelsea will be boosted by the return of Cesc Fabregas against Everton on Wednesday , with the Spanish midfielder returning to full training .  Fabregas , 27 , picked up a hamstring injury during the Capital One Cup win over Liverpool and missed the games against Manchester City and Aston Villa .  But he was pictured at the Cobham training base on Tuesday morning with his team mates , including new signing Juan Cuadrado .  Cesc Fabregas has returned to Chelsea training and will be in the squad for the visit of Everton on Wednesday night  The Spanish midfielder passes the ball at Cobham ahead of the Premier League clash at Stamford Bridge  Eden Hazard seems to be enjoying himself along with Nemanja Matic ( left ) and Nathan Ake ( right )  ' We coped with the situation but to have him back is important , ' manager Jose Mourinho said .  Ramires has filled in for the playmaker in recent weeks , as Mourinho ' s side stretched their lead at the top of the Premier League over City to seven points with a draw and a victory , most recently at Villa Park .  Diego Costa and John Obi Mikel are the only absentees for Chelsea , with the Portuguese boss still cursing his luck that his star striker was out .  In fact , he still refuses to say his name in press conferences .  ' We don ' t have the player that is suspended so we have to stick with Didier ( Drogba ) and ( Loic ) Remy again , '  ' We need the suspended player , but we have coped without him . '  New signing from Fiorentina Juan Cuadrado holds off Hazard and Filipe Luis during a training session on Tuesday  Didier Drogba could start against Everton with Diego Costa still out suspended for the Blues  Loic Remy , pictured along with Andreas Christensen and Filipe Luis , is also in the frame to start  Costa ( right ) sits next to Cesc Fabregas at Stamford Bridge after being banned for three matches  Mourinho voiced his clear displeasure with the  during the press conference , and gestured with an elbow in a clear reference to Van Persie ' s challenge on West Ham defender James Tomkins in Sunday ' s draw .  The Van Persie incident was dealt with by the match officials at Upton Park , so there is no scope for retrospective punishment for the United striker .  ' I know that if it was one of mine , I know , ' Mourinho added .  ' Last season happened the same thing , when Ramires was suspended ( for elbowing Sunderland ' s Sebastian Larsson ) .  ' It was exactly the same thing . A Manchester City player kicked a player on the floor at Norwich and nothing happened . '  That was a reference to Yaya Toure ' s challenge on Ricky van Wolswinkel , which went unpunished .  Jose Mourinho makes an elbow gesture as he discusses why Robin van Persie should have face action for his elbow on James Tomkins  Manchester United striker Van Persie catches Tomkins in the face during the 1 1 draw against West Ham  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
13517,13518,"Everyday, more and more information surfaces about Benghazi.  A critical email that just surfaced shows that the Pentagon offered to act immediately in Benghazi.  Here are the details:   Allen B West  The ugly truth about Benghazi continues to trickle out. Like this critical email that shows the Pentagon urgently offering help to the unfolding attack in Benghazi on September 11, 2012. And although it came after the first wave of the attack at the consulate, it occurred before a mortar strike on the  annex killed Ty Woods and Glenn Doherty.  As Judicial Watch notes, the email ‘leaves no doubt military assets were offered and ready to go, and awaiting State Department signoff, which did not come.”  In other words, the Pentagon was offering military assets that potentially could have saved the lives of American citizens — if only the State Department had signed off.  Of course, we all remember who was leading the State Department at that time. Everyone’s favorite leading Democrat candidate for president, Hillary Clinton.  Via The Right Scoop :  An email recently obtained by Judicial Watch shows that the Pentagon was demanding Hillary allow them to send help to Benghazi during the 2012 attack. This would completely contradict the claim from Hillary and Leon Panetta that no forces were available and within reach to provide help to the compound that was under siege.  From Fox News:  As the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi was unfolding, a high-ranking Pentagon official urgently messaged Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s top deputies to offer military help, according to an email obtained by Judicial Watch.  The revelation appears to contradict testimony Defense Secretary Leon Panetta gave lawmakers in 2013, when he said there was no time to get forces to the scene in Libya, where four Americans were killed, including U.S. Ambassador to Libya Christopher Stevens.  “I just tried you on the phone but you were all in with S [apparent reference to then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton],” reads the email, from Panetta’s chief of staff Jeremy Bash. “After consulting with General Dempsey, General Ham and the Joint Staff, we have identified the forces that could move to Benghazi. They are spinning up as we speak.”  Ironically, Hillary Clinton and her minions were concerned with spinning the story instead of gearing up the military forces.  Here’s the email: More:  The email was sent out at 7:19 p.m.  on Sept. 11, 2012, in the early stages of the eight-hour siege that also claimed the lives of Foreign Service Information Management Officer Sean Smith and two former Navy SEALs, Ty Woods and Glen Doherty, private  contractors who raced to the aid of embattled State Department workers.  Although the email came after the first wave of the attack at the consulate, it occurred before a mortar strike on the  annex killed Woods and Doherty.  “This leaves no doubt military assets were offered and ready to go, and awaiting State Department signoff, which did not come,” Judicial Watch, a nonprofit government watchdog said in a statement.  Parts of the email from Bash were redacted before release, including details on what military forces were available.  So there it is. Panetta and Hillary  to the American public over and over, and the media never pressed them enough to demand answers.  The clincher? This information has been available since a month after the attack. But as Judicial Watch notes:  The Obama administration and Clinton officials hid this compelling Benghazi email for years,” said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. “The email makes readily apparent that the military was prepared to launch immediate assistance that could have made a difference, at least at the  Annex. The fact that the Obama Administration withheld this email for so long only worsens the scandal of Benghazi. ",fake,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
13525,13526,"Filed Under : Death Dying Misc . Divorce Heart , Stroke Related Misc . Marriage Surgery Misc . Survival   , Oct . 28 , 2015 ( HealthDay News ) Married people who have cardiac surgery may fare better after the operation than those who are divorced , separated or widowed , according to new research .  In the study , people who were not married as opposed to never married had about a 40 percent greater risk of either dying or developing a new disability during the first two years after the surgery , the researchers found .  "" People who were married had fewer decreases in functional status compared to people who were widowed , divorced or separated , "" said lead study author Dr Mark Neuman . Neuman is an assistant professor of anesthesiology and critical care at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia .  While other research has linked better survival odds after cardiac surgery to marriage , few researchers have looked at any link between marital status and surgical recovery , Neuman said .  For this study , the investigators gathered data from more than 1 , 500 men and women enrolled in the University of Michigan Health and Retirement study , which has been ongoing since 1998 . Every two years , participants answer questions about health , disabilities and family structure .  The study , published online Oct . 28 in  Surgery , focused on the participants who had undergone cardiac surgery . Neuman noted that no information was available on the types of cardiac surgery .  The researchers evaluated how well the patients could fend for themselves after the surgery , including performing activities of daily living , such as dressing , eating and taking showers without help .  Among the study patients , 65 percent were married , 12 percent were divorced or separated , 21 percent were widowed and 2 percent never married .  The findings showed that marital status was significantly associated with the risk of death or a new functional disability within two years after surgery . Neuman cautioned , however , that the study only found an association , not a cause and effect relationship .  And he pointed out that those in the never married group had results similar to the married group , but their numbers were so small that he hesitated to draw any firm conclusions about those patients .  So , why do married people seem to fare better ? While Newman can ' t say for sure , he suggested that married patients may receive more social support from spouses to get through recovery .  The findings are consistent with other research on marital status and health , said Hiu ( Cathy ) Liu , an associate professor of sociology at Michigan State University , who has researched the topic .  "" This adds to the general picture of the advantages of married people relative to the unmarried people , especially the divorced separated and widowed , by extending to a more specific health outcome , a postoperative functional recovery , "" Liu said .  "" Married people may enjoy the support , assistance and regulation of health behaviors from their spouse , which are generally not accessible to the unmarried people . This may explain some of the differences , "" she suggested .  Liu also pointed out that the similarities between married and never married in the study "" is also consistent with previous studies , which suggest that the previously married ( divorced , widowed ) are the most disadvantaged , while the never married are more similar to the married . ""  She said that "" it is probably due to the process of dissolution of the marriage ( which is stressful and has many negative effects ) rather than marriage per se that explain the differences . ""  The researchers also didn ' t have information about how happy the marriages were , which would have been valuable , Liu added .  "" The marriage link to health outcomes really depends on the quality of the marriage . A good quality of marriage provides support , care and assistance , which are good for health . A bad quality of marriage increases exposure to conflict and stress , which would hurt health . One of my recent studies actually showed that negative marital quality is associated with more types of cardiovascular risk than is positive marital quality , "" Liu said .  For more on marital status and health , visit Harvard University .   : Mark Neuman , M . D . , assistant professor of anesthesiology and critical care , Perelman School of Medicine , University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia Hui Liu , Ph . D . , associate professor of sociology , Michigan State University , East Lansing Oct . 28 , 2015 ,  Surgery , online  Copyright ? 2015 HealthDay . All rights reserved .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Sports/Other,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,past
13526,13527,"The victims and heirs of U . S . experiments involving sexually transmitted diseases and human subjects in Guatemala between 1946 and 1948 will appeal following the dismissal of their lawsuit against the U . S . government .  U . S . rejects Guatemalans '  lawsuit , offers aid  U . S . District Judge Reggie Walton ruled this week that the Guatemalans could not sue the United States for grievances that happened overseas . The judge also dismissed claims against current Obama Administration health officials , including Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius , because they were not personally involved in the experiments .  The studies on unknowing Guatemalan subjects "" is a deeply troubling chapter in our nation ' s history , "" Walton wrote in his decision . But , he said , under federal law , the court can not do anything for them .  "" Their plea are more appropriately directed to the political branches of our government , who , if they choose , have the ability to grant some modicum of relief to those affected by the Guatemalan study , "" the decision states .  The United States has apologized for the study , and President Barack Obama asked the Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues to look into the details of the research and to assure him that current rules protect people from unethical treatment .  The controversy centers on the U . S . Public Health Service Sexually Transmitted Disease Inoculation Study of 1946 1948 , which was conducted to determine the effectiveness of penicillin in treating or preventing syphilis after subjects were exposed to the disease . Gonorrhea and chancres were also studied . Penicillin was a relatively new drug at the time .  Researchers infected Guatemalans with STDs , commission affirms  The tests were carried out on female commercial sex workers , prisoners in the national penitentiary , patients in the national mental hospital and soldiers . According to the study , more than 1 , 600 people were infected : 696 with syphilis , 772 with gonorrhea and 142 with chancres . The lawsuit filed by the Guatemalan victims and their heirs compared the project to the Tuskegee syphilis experiment in Alabama .  "" Naturally , we are disappointed by the decision and strongly disagree that these doctrines of immunity apply under the extreme circumstances of this case , "" said Terrence Collingsworth , attorney for the plaintiffs , in a statement . "" We plan to appeal and will continue to seek justice for the victims of these atrocious human rights violations committed by the U . S . Government . ""  The government successfully argued that because the harm was suffered in a foreign country , and because the Guatemalans have not exhausted other administrative solutions , the United States has sovereign immunity under the Federal Tort Claims Act ,  ",true,text,test,US elections,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
13529,13530,"Washington With the architect of the September 11 , 2001 , attacks dead , U . Sweblinkmandos in Osama bin Laden ' s Pakistan compound quickly came upon another prize : A trove of hard drives , DVDs and thumb drives that might provide evidence of other al Qaeda operations .  Those materials , seized after bin Laden and four others were killed , have provided the first specific alert to come out of Monday ' s raid .  The U . S . Department of Homeland Security released a notice tied to rail security Thursday .  The unclassified notice to "" federal , state , local and tribal partners "" says that , in February 2010 , al Qaeda members discussed a plan to derail trains in the United States by placing obstructions on tracks , according to a law enforcement source who received the notice .  Pakistan reacts angrily to tone of U . S . questions  Although a U . S . official cautioned that the information doesn ' t appear to suggest an imminent plot against U . S rail systems , the discovery may be the tip of the iceberg of potential plots .  The haul included "" lots "" of paper documents , 10 hard drives , five computers and more than 100 storage devices , such as disks , DVDs and thumb drives , a senior U . S . official said Wednesday .  Since Monday , intelligence experts and others have pored over the find .  A task force was set up at the  to comb through the evidence seized in the raid , according to a senior intelligence official who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity .  More details emerge about the raid  At a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing Wednesday , U . S . Attorney General Eric Holder said of evidence taken from the residence , "" As we glean information from that material , we will make appropriate decisions with regard to who might we add to the terrorist watch list , the no fly list , all those things . ""  The U . S . official who spoke Thursday of the data said , "" We take every possible threat seriously , so we are running all of this to ground . ""  When asked if there were any indications that bin Laden had signed off on the rail operation , the official said , "" There is no information to suggest that there was some kind of ' blessed operation ' attached to U . S transportation systems . ""  The same U . S . official says the al Qaeda scheme , which included derailing trains over bridges and valleys , "" doesn ' t appear to be anything more than an idea on paper at this point . ""  Material also indicated that al Qaeda was particularly interested in targeting cities Washington , New York , Los Angeles and Chicago , the official said . Authorities sifting through the material learned al Qaeda has considered striking on significant dates such as July 4 , Christmas and the opening day of the United Nations , according to the official .  Osama ' s wife : We lived there 5 years  Department of Homeland Security spokesman Matt Chandler echoed the belief that there was no imminent threat to the rail system . But officials "" wanted to make our partners aware of the alleged plotting , "" he said . "" We want to stress that this alleged al Qaeda plotting is based on initial reporting , which is often misleading or inaccurate and subject to change . ""  Since Sunday , Chandler said , the department and other agencies have reviewed potential terror targets and deployed additional officers to nonsecured areas at U . S . airports .  Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano told federal lawmakers Wednesday a "" number of actions "" have been taken in response to the killing of bin Laden , among them "" surging some resources "" to U . S . ports , airports and borders .  "" These include issuing advisories to fusion center directors , Homeland Security advisers , major city chief intelligence commanders , private sector critical infrastructure owners and operators and other law enforcement entities , "" she said at a Senate hearing .  "" We are and have been reviewing all open cases of potential al Qaeda core ,  ( al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula ) and  ( al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb ) operatives possibly in the U . S . in conjunction with the  , "" she added .  Sen . Joe Lieberman , the Connecticut independent who is chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee , asked Napolitano about the data removed by the Navy SEALs from the bin Laden compound . "" I assume that as this material is gone over , anything related to Homeland Security will be shared immediately with your department ? "" he asked .  Napolitano responded , "" It is being shared ( already ) . ""  "" Keep in mind this is a network , not a hierarchy , "" Hayden said . "" So you ' ve got still very active , very talented cells around the world . ""  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
13543,13544,"He who controls the spice controls the universe.    Frank Herbert,  from the Dune seriesShawn Helton   21st Century WireOver the past week, much of the  s cyber hacking capabilities were allegedly laid bare by the Wikileaks  Vault 7  publication. According to the transparency seeking website, they ve published less than 1% of the intelligence regarding their Vault 7 series under the moniker Year Zero. All in all, the Wikileaks Vault 7 release is said to be the largest publication of classified intelligence in history. While there are still many unknowns associated with this latest  centered leak, there are a quite a few things to consider.Let s explore some of what we know to date and how it relates to other suspicious tech related stories over the past few years             Wikileaks discloses the  s cyber hacking capabilities   still no official comment from the intelligence agency. (Photo Illustration 21WIRE s Shawn Helton)Wikileaks  Vault 7 In 21WIRE s first report regarding the new revelations concerning Wikileaks Vault 7, we discussed how some of the content exposed in part one of Year Zero revealed what many in new media and other investigative fields have thought technologically possible for years.Here s a portion from the 21WIRE news alert mentioned above that describes the latest controversial publication by Wikileaks: WikiLeaks has released its largest ever publication of confidential documents on the Central Intelligence Agency. Entitled  Vault 7  and containing a password that echoed the alleged  quote  splinter the  into a thousand pieces and scatter it into the winds,  this leak comprises 8,761 documents and files from an isolated, high-security network situated inside the  s Center for Cyber Intelligence in Langley, Virginia. Year Zero , which is part one of the leak and conveniently named after a  zero day  exploit used by intelligence agencies, was gathered throughout 2016 and is said to be the  largest intelligence publication in history .Whilst a lot of the information and methodology outlined in  Year Zero  is of no surprise to security analysts and researchers since the Edward Snowden (image, left) revelations, once again the public has explicit confirmation of how one of the most powerful intelligence agencies in the world, aided by their international counterparts like GCHQ, have been infiltrating and scooping vast quantities of private information from Apple and Android devices right up to Samsung  Smart   technology where false  stand-by  modes and live microphones can be executed to record information and send it back to the appropriate servers. The  Year Zero  leaks a simple but cleaver play on the term zero day   something which is defined on Wikipedia as an undisclosed computer-software vulnerability that hackers can exploit to adversely affect computer programs, data, additional computers or a network. A zero day, zero hour exploit is said to leave a software author without the necessary time to correct coding or  workaround  actions of a particular hack or intrusive malware damage. (Image Source: daily express)According to Wikileaks and its editor-in-chief  Julian Assange, their most recent  treasure trove  of confidential files were obtained by a current or former  contractor, a story similar in scope and impact to the collection of documents dropped by former CIA/ contractor Edward Snowden but are said to be much larger.This time, the public has been given a glance inside the prism of the  s cyber hacking potential and data mining efforts similar to the NSA.In May of 2013, Snowden revealed information displaying that American citizens as well as other foreign nations throughout the world were subject to unprecedented levels of spying at the behest of the NSA. Massive data mining via XKeyScore and other similar applications proved to be very controversial particularly in America   as it seemed to be in direct contradiction to the  Constitution s 4th Amendment.Over the past decade other aspects of  spying activities were revealed under the George W Bush administration in 2005 and further brought to light by Mark Klein, a former AT&T technician who exposed how the multinational telecommunications company was working with the intelligence community to collect the public s data.In 2011, Gadgets and Gizmos reported the following: The recent Web 2.0 2011 conference in San Francisco saw the issue made public and now the worry is that private information could be obtained by third parties using this secretly stored data.Once the data is accessed it can even be downloaded onto an interactive map which shows where the owner of the device has been lately. So far the best way to avoid this causing a problem is to go into the settings menu and turn of the location services all together. The newly leaked Vault 7 documents identify specific cyber weapons, hacking systems, viruses and malware created by the  that can be used on just about anyone or any entity. This most assuredly will cause other countries to become more critical of the agency s cyber capabilities. By the looks of it, this is something that appears to be happening in Germany, as the Wikileaks docu-dump exposed an apparent  spy-hub in Frankfurt.Zero Hedge reports: The consulate was the focus of a German investigation into  intelligence capabilities following the 2013 revelation that  agents had tapped Chancellor Angela Merkel s phone.German daily  S ddeutsche Zeitung  reported the building was known to be home to a vast network of intelligence personnel including  agents,  spies, military secret service personnel, Department of Homeland Security employees and Secret Service employees. It reported the Americans had also established a dense network of outposts and shell companies in Frankfurt. Germany s reaction could prove to be more theatrical than that of true concern   only time will tell.If Vault 7 is to be accepted wholesale, it also reveals that since the 9/11 attacks the  has gained political and budgetary preeminence over the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA). The  found itself building not just its now infamous drone fleet, but a very different type of covert, globe-spanning force   its own substantial fleet of hackers.  Part and parcel to this, Wikileaks contends that  hackers have developed cyber weaponry to spy on people through cell phones, computers and smart TVs.According to  Year Zero  part one of the Wikileaks Vault 7 release: The increasing sophistication of surveillance techniques has drawn comparisons with George Orwell s 1984, but  Weeping Angel , developed by the  s Embedded Devices Branch (EDB), which infests smart TVs, transforming them into covert microphones, is surely its most emblematic realization.The attack against Samsung smart TVs was developed in cooperation with the United Kingdom s MI5/BTSS. After infestation, Weeping Angel places the target  in a  Fake-Off  mode, so that the owner falsely believes the  is off when it is on. In  Fake-Off  mode the  operates as a bug, recording conversations in the room and sending them over the Internet to a covert  server. Interestingly, Wikileaks published a batch of classified  spy/hacking documents that not only include the privacy invading  Weeping Angel  developed by the clandestine agency to listen on microphones covertly but also ways the  has sought to remotely infect and control Microsoft Windows,  with viruses like  Hammer Drill  as well as automated infestation and control of  malware, such as  Assassin  and  Medusa. According to security analysts, the  has designed the covert methods listed above for hostile foreign actors. However, since the intelligence service has had a propensity of going rogue, these technological leaps made by the secretive agency should be a major concern to the general public.Over the past few decades there have been other spoken critics of intelligence services such as well-known journalist James Bamford and former high-ranking  official William Binney, both who have come forward to share the inner workings of the security world. The screenshot above from Wikileaks Vault 7 discusses  s techniques that can be used to frame other entities for a malware attack.Framing the Big Bear?One of the more curious details contained in Vault 7 were the revelations concerning the  s ability to mask any hacking  fingerprints that could potentially implicate the agency. Additionally, the secretive agency could also leave behind potential evidence that a cyber attack was carried out by a foreign body or nation. Here s another passage from the Wikileaks publication on the matter: Tradecraft  s and  Ts  contains  rules on how its malware should be written to avoid fingerprints implicating the  CIA,  government, or its witting partner companies  in  forensic review . QUESTION: Is it possible that the  could use its highly specialized malware to frame a foreign country for violating  national security?Zero Hedge reported the following Wikileaks information concerning the  s ability to bypass device encryption before it can be applied as well as mask itself from forensic review via its own entity, the Center For Cyber Inteliigence (CCI):Among the more notable disclosures which, if confirmed,  would rock the technology world , the  had managed to bypass encryption on popular phone and messaging services such as Signal, WhatsApp and Telegram. According to the statement from WikiLeaks, government hackers can penetrate Android phones and collect  audio and message traffic before encryption is applied. Another profound revelation is that the  can engage in  false flag  cyberattacks which portray Russia as the assailant. Discussing the  s Remote Devices Branch s  group, Wikileaks  source notes that it  collects and maintains a substantial library of attack techniques  stolen  from malware produced in other states including the Russian Federation. Here s an image originally published by Wikileaks Vault 7 that displays the  s Center For Cyber Intelligence apparatus With claims of alleged Russian hacking at the forefront of Western intelligence, let s take another look at how that meme started Prior to the 2016  presidential race taking place the mainstream media along with the White House, set the stage for a massive  push implicating Russia as a disrupting force for democracy   allegedly through Kremlin-sponsored hacking of  democratic institutions and through  sophisticated Russian propaganda. In August, the western media s claims against Russia began to hit overdrive, when the  New York Times s Moscow bureau was the target of an attempted cyber attack this month. But so far, there is no evidence that the hackers, believed to be Russian, were successful. Flash forward to September here and here, as well as early October in the lead up to President Obama s Russian Hack decree, the Clinton-friendly outlet, the  Times, had all but solidified the Russian cyber-hack claims   but once again, without any definitive evidence or proof.Throw in another American  October surprise  in the form distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks, renewed calls for the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) internet, led to so-called cyber experts blaming the largest  hack on America  because of the inability to pass    in effect, reigniting the previously stalled  in Washington DC, along with all of its draconian copyright law positions   all perfectly timed as mainstream reports regarding  fake news suddenly became all the rage across all forms of media.Will Vault 7 prove to shed light on other  related activities?The screenshot above from Wikileaks Vault 7 discusses the  S  multi-platform software control system.DDoS AttacksIn October of 2016, I noted some of the suspicious activity surrounding America s biggest distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack that was said to be caused by the malware Mirai. Given that there was a  hardcoded blacklist  of certain government entities and major multinational companies/defense contractors from being attacked   its seems more likely that the attack was  government created: Interestingly, according to Bradley Barth, a senior reporter for the  security online magazine SC, the Mirai (supposedly leaked on September 30th) contains a very unique subset of characteristics that will not attack certain  addresses such as the Department of Defense (DoD), the  Postal Service and consumer giant General Electric (GE) due to its coding: An Imperva analysis of the source code revealed several unique traits, including a hardcoded blacklist of IPs that the adversary did not want to attack, perhaps in order to keep a low profile. Some of these IPs belonged to the Department of Defense, the U.S. Postal Service and General Electric (GE). Though  claims that the makers of Mirai may have been trying to keep a low profile, the recent DDoS attack attributed to the malware was as high-profile as you can get   so this begs the question, what was the real reason the malware creators put an  blockade on the DoD, the Postal Service and GE? Is it possible that the DDoS attack originated from whitehat hackers associated with the  government, a major  defense contractor like  or some other intelligence service, possibly the CIA?  HACKED?    Michael Hastings death sparked a wave of controversial theories. (Image source: pinterest) Hacking Tools Upon closer inspection of the Wikileaks Vault 7 release, we see that in addition to the public s privacy apparently being invaded through the  s ability to bypass encryption on Android and iOS phones, computers and smart TVs   there was also the Wikileaks revelations exposing the agency s development of vehicular control.Wikileaks Vault 7 stated the following stunning revelation: As of October 2014 the  was also looking at infecting the vehicle control systems used by modern cars and trucks. The purpose of such control is not specified, but it would permit the  to engage in nearly undetectable assassinations. It is this part of Year Zero that has revived the conspiracy surrounding the death of investigative reporter and war veteran Michael Hastings, who died after his Mercedes C250 coupe supposedly burst into a giant fireball in the early hours of June 18 2013. According to eyewitness accounts, Hastings was going at a high rate of speed as  sparks and flames  were seen before his fiery automobile crashed.The  s Sun recently revisited the Hastings tragedy. Here s a passage of that report: Hastings   a vocal critic of government mass surveillance   had sent an email to colleagues and friends just 12 hours earlier, telling them he was onto a  big story  and was under investigation.The Buzzfeed and Rolling Stone contributor, 33, wrote: The Feds are interviewing my  close friends and associates . May be wise to immediately request legal counsel before any conversations or interviews about our news-gathering practices. I m onto a big story and need to go off the radar for a bit. WikiLeaks also tweeted after the crash to say Hastings had contacted its lawyer Jennifer Robinson just before his death, claiming the  was investigating him.The  took a  departure from normal policy  to deny that Hastings had ever been under investigation after receiving a barrage of calls about his death. The  has failed to confirm or deny the authenticity of the Vault 7 release, only deepening the mystery surrounding the death of Hastings.The question of  control over cars and trucks naturally leads us to what was revealed regarding high-tech avionics in recent years  (Photo Illustration 21WIRE s Shawn Helton)Uninterruptible Flight ControlIn my article entitled   CONTROL: Boeing s  Uninterruptible Autopilot System , Drones & Remote Hijacking, I noted the  s involvement in certain advancements in flight technology. Lets revisit a portion of that article describing the agency s involvement: On December 4th of 2006, it was announced that Boeing had won a patent on an uninterruptible autopilot system for use in commercial aircraft. This was the first public acknowledgment by Boeing about the existence of such an autopilot system.The new autopilot patent was reported by John Croft for Flight Global, with the news piece subsequently linked by a Homeland Security News Wire and other British publications around the same time. According to the  release, it was disclosed that  dedicated electrical circuits  within an onboard flight system could control a plane without the need of pilots, stating that the advanced avionics would fly the aircraft remotely, independently of those operating the plane: The  uninterruptible  autopilot would be activated   either by pilots, by onboard sensors, or even remotely via radio or satellite links by government agencies like the Central Intelligence Agency, if terrorists attempt to gain control of a flight deck. Continuing, I outlined the suspicious nature of both the MH370 disaster and that of MH17. Since then there have been a number of strange airline catastrophes including Germanwings 9525 and EygptAir MS804. Following the apparent  vanishing act  of Malaysian Airlines flight MH370, many investigators and researchers began to question the likelihood of such an event happening in today s high-tech world.At 21WIRE, we ve also looked into the unprecedented disappearance of MH370 and the subsequent downing of MH17, as certain details came to light regarding the history of the remote autopilot function installed within Boeing commercial airliners (a subject which also opens the door to the events of 9/11).The Boeing 777 along with other Boeing models, can in fact be flown remotely through the use of independent embedded software and satellite communication. Once this advanced system is engaged, it can disallow any pilot or potential hijacker from controlling a plane, as the rooted setup uses digital signals that communicate with air traffic control, satellite links, as well as other government entities for the remainder of a flight s journey.This technology is known as the Boeing Honeywell  Uninterruptible  Autopilot System. Has the  had the ability to remotely hack vehicles for much longer than we think?The Wikileaks release once again opens questions about 9/11, the deep state and what intelligence agencies have control over in the War on Terror era.      What other blueprints will Wikileaks provide regarding the  s capabilities? (Image Source: offgraun)Public Privacy Vs. the  Deep State In an article detailing the encryption saga between Apple and the FBI, we stated that there are no guarantees in the security world, especially if a digital master-key were to be created, as this would potentially make it easier for invaders (either the government, or various hackers) mining for data moving forward into the future.If the  has been secretly data mining just like the NSA, they have unquestionably violated the public s constitutional rights and trust.Is this really what the  has been up too?In a 2016 the Guardian interviewed some of those involved in the technology and security sector. These individuals offered their thoughts regarding the government s continued encroachment on individual privacy. here s another look at that passage:Dan Kaminsky, the security expert who made his name with the discovery that one of the most basic parts of the internet, the domain name system, was vulnerable to fraud   disagrees:  Feds want final authority on engineering decisions, and their interests don t even align with fighting the vast bulk of real-world crime. Continuing, The Guardian interviewed former  agent Michael German, currently the Brennan Center, a judicial think-tank. The following is a part of that interview: After 9/11, you had this concept of total information awareness. The intelligence community was very enamoured of the idea that all information was available. Much like the NSA, they wanted to see it all, collect it all, and analyse it all. Western political leaders and their media arms often discuss the dangers of so-called terror sleeper cells residing in a nation near you, but none of them acknowledge or attempt to explain the historical fact that for decades, they themselves have helped to harbor, grow, foment and radicalize individuals through their own clandestine  counter-terrorism  operations.Many of these operations have directly implicated security agencies (and military alliances) such as the FBI, CIA, MI5, MI6 and    in the production of real terror.While most of these counter intelligence operations have fallen under the umbrella of the so-called War On Terror era, they have also largely served to obfuscate the nature of various government programs that some critics suggest is the work of a  deep state  apparatus.QUESTION: Will there be a large public outcry regarding the lack of oversight over the  s spying and hacking capabilities?Watch below as 21WIRE s Patrick Henningsen discusses the  NSA-like body  of the  on Peter Lavelle s Cross Talk show on  In Summary The timely release of Vault 7 comes amid a flurry of wiretapping claims from President Donald Trump, while a review of  cyber capabilities and vulnerabilities is currently underway.Additionally, the Wikileaks Vault 7 publication revealed the following stunning information concerning the scope of the  s cyber capabilities previously unknown to the public: By the end of 2016, the  s hacking division, which formally falls under the agency s Center for Cyber Intelligence (CCI), had over 5000 registered users and had produced more than a thousand hacking systems, trojans, viruses, and other  weaponized  malware. Such is the scale of the  s undertaking that by 2016, its hackers had utilized more code than that used to run Facebook. The  had created, in effect, its  own   with even less accountability and without publicly answering the question as to whether such a massive budgetary spend on duplicating the capacities of a rival agency could be justified. In 2012, then  Director David Petraeus, mused about the emergence of an  Internet of Things    that is, wired devices   at a summit for In-Q-Tel, the  s venture capital firm. The Wired magazine article continued, disclosing that the future of spying hinged on smart devices and a smart home: All those new online devices are a treasure trove of data if you re a  person of interest  to the spy community. Once upon a time, spies had to place a bug in your chandelier to hear your conversation. With the rise of the  smart home,  you d be sending tagged, geolocated data that a spy agency can intercept in real time when you use the lighting app on your phone to adjust your living room s ambiance. The public has long been prepped for the surreal level of surveillance we are only just beginning to understand, whether through books, film or tech magazines or by the government itself   the warning signs of lost privacy and protection have been hidden in plain sight for decades.Even still, Wikileaks Vault 7 shocks the avid researcher, writer and pundit as it gives further insight into the  s multi-pronged ability to distort the perception of the public, while vacuuming up all kinds of data.*** Author Shawn Helton is Associate Editor of 21st Century Wire, as well as an independent media forensic analyst specializing in criminal investigations and media coverage from war theaters.     AT: 21st Century Wire WikiLeaks FilesSUPPORT     &  A  @21WIRE. ",fake,dataset,test,US elections,Conflict,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
13557,13558,"German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble says the eurozone ' s problems are not solved , but "" we are in a much better shape than we used to be some years ago . "" Asked whether he foresaw any further bailouts coming , he replied : "" No , no I don ' t see . ""  In a rare interview , conducted in English , he said : "" If Chancellor Merkel ( is ) reelected I am confident that we will continue to work for a stronger Europe that ' s our general position . We don ' t want a German Europe but we want a strong Europe and that means every member state including Germany has to increase its competitiveness , "" Schaeuble said .  "" A stronger Europe means that everyone has to do its duty and not to ask for more money by others that ' s the wrong way to get a strong Europe , that ' s the wrong incentive . ""  His comments come ahead of the September 22 election , as Merkel faces a German electorate weary of Europe ' s largest economy helping to bail out troubled eurozone nations , whose debt woes have threatened the stability of the currency .  Greece , along with three other eurozone countries Portugal , Ireland and Cyprus remain dependent on rescue loans from the  and International Monetary Fund (  ) .  The 17 nation eurozone has emerged from its longest ever recession , growing 0 . 3 in the second quarter after 18 months of contraction . Unemployment rates remain high , but worries that the debt crisis could spread to larger economies such as Spain and Italy which both saw borrowing costs climb dangerously high last year have abated .  "" You can see if you look at the rates for sovereign debts they are stable . Markets have confidence in the stability of the eurozone as a whole . And economies are recovering in the whole of the eurozone and the average deficit has been halved in all member states of the eurozone in the last three years . ""  Schaeuble acknowledged that Greece will need further assistance , but said there will be no further "" hair cuts "" such as 100 billion euros in losses Greek debt holders were forced to incur last year for Greece or any other eurozone nation .  Schaeuble : Enthusiastic and on campaign trail  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
13563,13564,"Under the water : Hock Ma , 84 , was discovered in a rooftop hot tub by a patron of a New York spa  A woman climbing into a hot tub at a high class spa found a man ' s body underneath her feet .  Hock Ma , 84 , was submerged in warm water at the rooftop pool of the Spa Castle center in Queens , New York and went undiscovered until the unnamed patron felt him underneath her .  It is unclear how Ma , who was later declared dead , ended up slipping beneath the water unnoticed on Sunday evening .  The woman ran out of the pool , screaming for help after making the macabre discovery , according to NBC4 New York .  Staff gave emergency aid to the man while medics were called but Ma was later declared dead in hospital .  A friend of the woman who found Ma ' s body said : ' She was actually walking into the water and felt something by her feet It was the gentleman . He went under and no one noticed him . '  New York City regulations demand frequent monitoring of spa pools by officials . It is not clear why nobody had noticed Ma .  However , small print on the website of one Spa Castle location emphasizes that guests have to use ' caution ' around the pools and that it will not be responsible for any injuries caused by people swimming , running or diving around the water .  Ma ' s son , James , demanded an investigation into the death . He said : ' It does warrant a closer look so this doesn ' t happen to someone else and it ' s a shame it happened to my father , ' .  Unnoticed : Ma was in the warm pool on the roof of Spa Castle ' s Queens location , pictured  The New York City Health Department is understood to be looking into the incident .  ' On Sunday evening a guest visiting Spa Castle with his family was pulled unconscious from one of the Bade pools a shallow spa pool .  '  was initiated by a certified manager and the patron was taken by ambulance to a local hospital . '  ' Safety precautions are clearly posted in our facilities and the staff in the area is  certified . Our thoughts are with the family at this time . '  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
13564,13565,"Second seed Maria Sharapova dropped just four games on Friday as she swept aside six time grand slam winner Venus Williams 6 1 6 3 in the third round of the Australian Open .  The win continued Sharapova ' s imperious recent of form . The Russian , a winner of the Melbourne event in 2008 , became the first woman to not concede a single game in her first two matches at a grand slam since 1985 .  Sharapova lost to world No . 1 Victoria Azarenka in last year ' s final , but she already looks well placed to go one better in 2013 ahead of a fourth round encounter with Belgium ' s Kirsten Flipkens .  Former world No . 1 Williams has endured a tough time since winning her most recent grand slam title in 2008 . She was forced to withdraw from the 2011 U . S . Open having been diagnosed with the auto immune disorder Sjogren ' s syndrome .  "" I was a really determined player out there because I knew the tennis she ' s capable of producing and playing , "" Sharapova told reporters .  "" Despite what she ' s ranked or seeded , it doesn ' t matter when you go out on the court . She ' s been there .  "" She ' s experienced enough to know no matter if you ' re playing the third round , the quarters or the final , you have to be ready .  "" I certainly was . Since the draw came out , I was really looking forward to that match up . ""  It was a good day for the top seeds in the women ' s draw , with Chinese No . 6 seed Li Na easing past Romanian No . 27 Sorana Cirstea 6 4 6 1 .  Li , who became Asia ' s first grand slam singles champion when she triumphed at the 2011 French Open , remains on course for a semifinal meeting with Sharapova , provided she can progress from her round four match with 18th seed Julia Goerges .  Fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska was rarely troubled as she beat British No . 1 Heather Watson 6 3 6 1 . The 2012 Wimbledon runner up will now play former world No . 1 Ana Ivanovic , who advanced from an all Serbian encounter with Jelena Jankovic .  German Angelique Kerber ended U . S . rookie Madison Keys ' run at her first grand slam . The fifth seed progressed courtesy of a 6 2 7 5 success .  In the men ' s draw , top seed Novak Djokovic was made to work on his way to a 6 4 6 3 7 5 win against Czech Radek Stepanek .  Next up for the defending champion is Switzerland Stanislas Wawrinka after the No . 15 got the better of American Sam Querrey .  "" I wasn ' t expecting an easy match coming into the third round and playing a seeded player , "" Djokovic told a post match press conference , on the same day he also condemned former seven time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong .  "" ( Stepanek ) loves the big stage . You saw how much fun he had . I also had a lot of fun playing . It was a very entertaining match . ""  Djokovic ' s fellow Serb Janko Tipsarevic was made to work for his spot in round four .  The world No . 8 came from two sets to one down to win 3 6 6 4 2 6 6 4 6 3 in a match which lasted three and a half hours .  Fourth seed David Ferrer and No . 5 Tomas Berdych both continued their strong starts to the tournament .  Spain ' s Ferrer recorded a 6 4 6 2 6 3 win over 2006 finalist Marcos Baghdatis , while Berdych of the Czech Republic eased to a 6 3 6 2 6 2 success against Austrian Jurgen Melzer .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
13571,13572,"Lionel Messi heavy favourite to win fifth Ballon d ' Or today  Lionel Messi heavy favourite to win fifth Ballon d ' Or today  Mon , 11 Jan 2016 09 : 19am , Zurich ,   Messi and Neymar , along with overlooked Uruguay star Luis Suarez , formed a formidable front three that propelled Barca to five trophies in 2015 .  Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi is targeting an unprecedented fifth  Ballon d ' Or award in Zurich on Monday , with the Argentine heavily favoured to reclaim the prize from three time winner Cristiano Ronaldo .  Brazil striker Neymar , who plays alongside Messi at Barca , is also in the running to be crowned world player of the year after he was included on the three man shortlist for the first time .  Messi and Neymar , along with overlooked Uruguay star Luis Suarez , formed a formidable front three that propelled Barca to five trophies in 2015 , including a second Champions League , La Liga and Copa del Rey treble in six seasons .  Messi , who won the award four times in a row from 2009 2012 , scored 48 goals for Barca in 2015 as the Catalan giants reclaimed their status as the world ' s top club side , easily overcoming South American champions River Plate in the Club World Cup in Japan last month .  Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu , who unlike coach Luis Enrique will be in Zurich for the ceremony , has little doubt as to who he thinks should win the award . "" If I had to vote , I would vote for Leo Messi of course . He is the best player in the world and I hope he wins it , "" Bartomeu told Canal Plus .  Enrique , who is up for coach of the year alongside Bayern Munich ' s Pep Guardiola and Jorge Sampaoli the mastermind behind Chile ' s Copa America triumph added : "" It is the personality that a world number one has . ( Messi ) is a unique and unrepeatable player . ""  Neymar may appear an outsider for the award this time , but the 23 year old Brazilian is emerging as the main threat to end the Messi Ronaldo Ballon d ' Or stranglehold Kaka in 2007 was the last player other than the dominant duo to claim the prize after transforming his prodigious talent into 42 goals of his own this past year .  ",true,text,test,Football,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
13579,13580,"April, known as the month of deluges, is certainly flooding New York’s theater landscape. There are 14  —   count ’em 14  —   shows opening on Broadway, with more   forms of entertainment cropping up like wild crocuses all over the rest of the city. Audience members can submerge themselves in everything from the brassy manipulations of a little old matchmaker named Dolly (embodied by a little old diva named Bette) to the more recessive mysteries of humanity according to American theater’s patron saint of the inarticulate, Annie Baker. “Hello, Dolly!” Jerry Herman’s   whinnying war horse from 1964 returns after a   absence from Broadway, in a feverishly awaited production directed by Jerry Zaks and featuring David Hyde Pierce as the curmudgeonly tycoon Horace Vandergelder. The show also includes a staircase made for one really grand entrance, a slew of singing waiters and, in their midst (in the title role) she whom the patrons of louche bathhouses in the 1970s hailed as the Divine Miss M. If you don’t know that’s Bette Midler, don’t bother joining the queue for   cancellations. Tickets:weblink “Oslo” You probably already know the   outcome of this intricately wrought drama about the Middle East peace talks of 1993. (Spoiler: they’re still fighting.) But that doesn’t keep J. T. Rogers’s portrait of the backdoor diplomacy that led to the Oslo Accords from being a nail biter, or from inspiring hope. Vividly directed by Bartlett Sher, and starring Jefferson Mays and Jennifer Ehle as a    pair of married diplomats, this   tale moves from downstairs (where it opened last summer at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater) to upstairs (at the more commodious Vivian Beaumont) just in time to become a   for the Tony Awards. Tickets: lct.      “The Antipodes” Nobody’s saying what this latest offering from Signature Theater is about, exactly. But the fact that it was written by Annie Baker, the hugely influential Pulitzer   author of “The Flick,” automatically makes it a   for students of contemporary American drama  —   and for those of us who just like to hear Ms. Baker’s fumbling characters talk about nothing and everything. The director, auspiciously, is Lila Neugebauer, whose energizing production of Sarah DeLappe’s “The Wolves,” a   study of a girls’ soccer team, was a knockout. Tickets: signaturetheatre. org “Groundhog Day” Andy Karl is not playing the   mammal of the title. But his performance in this musical adaptation of the 1993 movie seems guaranteed to confirm his status as an    star. Mr. Karl (who took a lickin’ but kept on tickin’ on Broadway as “Rocky” in 2014) portrays a   cynical news reporter, and when I saw the show at the Old Vic in London last year, he was dazzling (and original) enough to make me forget what’   Bill Murray, who created the part on film. Danny Rubin adapted his original screenplay and Tim Minchin, the man who gave us the blissfully naughty score of “Matilda the Musical,” wrote the music. Matthew Warchus, another talented “Matilda” alumnus, directs. Tickets:weblink “Six Degrees of Separation” John Guare’s masterwork, about a world in which   is an   passkey, is one of the best plays ever written about New York society and its more liberal denizens. It returns to Broadway 26 years after it didn’t win (but should have) the Tony Award for best play, with a cast that includes Allison Janney (back onstage after many   years of being winningly waspish on television) and John Benjamin Hickey. They portray a sophisticated but    husband and wife Corey Hawkins (“24: Legacy,” “Straight Outta Compton”) is the seductive young man who (another spoiler) is probably not Sidney Poitier’s son. Tickets:weblink",true,news,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
13593,13594,"After two years of claiming that his views were "" evolving , "" President Obama said on Wednesday that he has finally reached a conclusion and supports same sex marriage . Obama ' s public endorsement is an important step in the right direction , but it does not undo the fact that he has a mixed record on gay rights .  This defining moment came only after the issue was pushed to the headlines by Vice President Joe Biden ' s open support for same sex couples .  When Obama first took office , many had high hopes . After all , six months in , a press release was sent out entitled : "" President Obama Announces Benefits for Gay Partners of Federal Employees . "" It seemed like a momentous occasion , the fulfillment of a promise by the candidate who had vowed to become a "" fierce advocate "" of gay rights .  Instead , what followed was mostly a charade , and a very successful one .  At the time , almost everyone thought Obama was extending equal rights to same sex employees in the government . Why wouldn ' t they ? There was a White House ceremony , seen around the world , that showed the president signing some sort of impressive sounding document regarding federal benefits and nondiscrimination .  Give the Obama team credit for a successful political maneuver . But the discrimination against same sex federal employees did not end . Not even close .  Benefits for gay federal employees are much closer to those of their heterosexual colleagues , if they are posted abroad . So if you want the federal government to stop discriminating , you basically have to leave the country .  It also turned out that federal employees cannot sign up their partners even their legally married ones for benefits as basic as health insurance . Obama ' s highly touted memorandum gives partners of same sex federal employees the ability to apply for private long term care insurance , with no discernible advantage over what they would find elsewhere .  Let ' s be clear it ' s not Obama ' s fault that Congress passed and Bill Clinton signed the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act , which says marriage refers only to heterosexual couples . Obama has said that he opposes the legislation .  But the Obama administration has gone out of its way to create an impression that it has done much more for gay people than it actually has . In fact , Obama ' s Justice Department actively defended the anti gay Defense of Marriage Act in court until last year . When Karen Golinski , a federal lawyer , managed a rare victory in obtaining coverage by the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program for the woman she legally married , the Obama administration made sure the benefits would not extend to anyone else .  In light of these contradictory almost deceptive moves by his administration , it ' s no wonder that Obama has found himself swirling in turbulence over his wobbly position on gay rights .  Comparatively , discrimination on employee benefits is not controversial and it requires much less ammunition than fighting against other forms of discrimination . Americans reject it decisively . Several years ago , two thirds of Americans told Gallup that "" gay and lesbian domestic partners should have access to health insurance and other employee benefits . "" And that was before support for gay marriage became broader .  The president can only gain from taking a strong position against same sex discrimination . It will energize his base and help him look like an advocate for fairness and not just another cynical politician . The people who strongly oppose equality in employee benefits would never vote for him anyway . Everyone else would probably find it refreshing to see a politician march out of the morass of ambiguity and double talk and for once take a clear strong position .  Ironically , Obama has mocked Mitt Romney for flip flopping on gay rights . In fact , both of them have tried to play all sides of this issue , coldly calculating political advantage .  Some have thought that Obama ' s personal experience as the African American son of a mixed race couple would make him into a fierce advocate of equality and justice . Instead , many in the gay community have derided him for his "" cowardice . ""  But the president ' s record hasn ' t been all misses . He achieved an important victory when he had don ' t ask , don ' t tell overturned . But until he seemed to have no choice , he remained extraordinarily quiet on gay issues , even though he continues to collect millions of dollars in donations from gay activists .  He has spoken out only when absolutely necessary and sometimes not even then . Gay leaders implored Obama to lend support before a close vote on gay rights in Maine . They blamed him partly for the loss . On the recent North Carolina constitutional amendment banning same sex marriage , Obama issued a statement against the amendment through a spokesman , and declared that he was disappointed only after it passed .  Obama ' s claims that he cares about equality for gays have not seemed sincere . Now that he has emphatically stated that same sex marriage should be legal , he ought to make passage of the Employment Non Discrimination Act a priority . He should take a stand personally , not through press releases and spokesmen , against discrimination . He should support the bill that calls for the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act . Now he should follow up his landmark statement with actions that will have practical , not just symbolic impact  As country after country removes barriers to equality for gay couples , the United States should take a lesson . Same sex marriage , one of the highest hurdles , is already recognized legally in places as different as Canada , Argentina , Israel , South Africa and Spain , among others . Nondiscrimination in employee benefits is far more common , not just for reasons of fairness but also because it allows organizations to compete for the best talent .  The decision to at long last finish the evolution and come out in support of gay marriage is a major step . But , Mr President , when it comes to fighting discrimination , there are principles to defend , promises to keep and miles to go before you sleep .  The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Frida Ghitis .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
13598,13599,"Washington Radiation from airport body scanners penetrates organs beneath the skin but at low doses that meet national standards , according to a study by Marquette University ' s Department of Biomedical Engineering .  But the study ' s author , professor Taly Gilat Schmidt , said the research does not answer the biggest question on travelers ' minds : Are scanners safe ? She said more independent research is needed .  The Marquette study subjected government and vendor data to sophisticated computer modeling to estimate the radiation doses travelers receive when they are scanned by backscatter machines , one of two types of imagers used to detect weapons at security checkpoints .  The Transportation Security Administration has maintained that the machines are safe , exposing travelers to about the same radiation they receive by flying about two minutes at cruising altitude . A passenger would have to receive more than 17 , 000 screenings in a year about 47 screenings a day , 365 days a year to exceed government standards , the  says .  The Marquette study says that the backscatter dose is "" comparable "" to one minute of exposure to cosmic radiation and considerably lower than radiation levels of other X ray procedures , such as a mammogram . But it balks at calling the exposures safe , saying cosmic and backscatter radiation are different and that both the risks and benefits of backscatter need to be quantified .  Experts : Body scanning ' woefully inadequate ' abroad  John Sedat , a University of California , San Francisco , professor of biochemistry and biophysics , is against the  ' s use of backscatter technology . He criticized the Marquette report , saying it was based on  data instead of independent testing of machines .  "" It ' s a valid criticism , "" responded Gilat Schmidt . "" I think that ' s valid , and we put that criticism ( in the paper ) . But that ' s how research is . It ' s not the whole enchilada . It ' s one step not the whole step . ""  "" I think it ' s very important to have independent studies , "" she said .  Gilat Schmidt said that she goes through backscatter X ray machines , but "" I don ' t feel comfortable putting my kids through them . ""  "" That ' s because in the medical imaging community , it ' s always stressed that the ( radiation ) dosage should be as low as possible . And in this case , the lowest possible is not going through them . There ' s an alternative technology out there , "" she said . Two options are millimeter wave machines , which use radio waves , and physical pat downs .  The Marquette paper will be published in the June issue of Medical Physics , an international journal of medical physics research and practice , produced by the American Association of Physicists in Medicine .  The research was conducted by Marquette student Michael Hoppe with Gilat Schmidt ' s assistance .  A  spokesman said the agency was aware of the Marquette study but had not yet done a thorough analysis of it .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
13606,13607,"Reuters) - A Japanese cosmetics firm has apologized for a sign banning entry for Chinese people posted in one of its outlets, highlighting lingering hostility to foreign visitors from some in Japan as it strives to extend a shopping-driven tourism boom. Pola, a unit of Pola Orbis Holdings Inc, said on Saturday that images of an  inappropriate  poster were shared on Chinese social media sites on Friday, without specifying the   contents or location of the offending item.  Photos of a sign handwritten in Japanese saying  Entry by Chinese people prohibited  in a shop window were trending on Chinese and Taiwanese social media on Sunday. Pola, which has around 4,600 stores across Japan, apologized for causing  unpleasant feelings and inconvenience to many people  and said it had removed the sign.  As soon as we confirm the facts, we will suspend operations at the store and implement strict punishment,  it said in a statement posted at the top of its homepage in both Japanese and Chinese. Pola s mea culpa comes as Japan looks to boost a Chinese-powered inbound tourism boom ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics - a policy championed by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe s government. Japan is weighing looser visa rules for tourists from China, sources told Reuters earlier this year, as it looks to widen a tourism boom and lend support to consumer spending. Some 23.8 million visited Japan in the year to October, setting it on course for an annual record. Visitors from China - the No.1 source - climbed 13 percent from a year earlier to 6.2 million during the period, government data shows. Many Chinese tourists have taken advantage of a weaker yen and easier entry rules to visit Japan for shopping sprees dubbed  explosive buying . Cosmetics are among the most popular items for Chinese shoppers. The Pola incident is not the first time this year a Japanese firm has offended China. Tokyo-based hotel and real estate developer  Group came under fire this year over books placed in its hotels that contained essays denying the 1937 massacre by Japanese troops in the Chinese city of Nanjing. Following street protests and calls for a boycott of the chain by China s tourism administration,  in June temporarily removed the books from hotels hosting athletes for a sports event - but said it would not do the same during the 2020 Olympics. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
13616,13617,"Tiger Woods has revealed his wrist bone popped out after he swung and hit a tree root during the final round of the Masters on Sunday .  The 39 year old was on the ninth hole when he found himself 470 yards away from the pin with the ball nestled in pine straws .  However when he followed through , the four time champion at Augusta slammed the club into a root , causing him to wince and grab his hand in agony .  It forced the joint out of place , but Woods shunned medical attention and simply pushed it back in himself .  Tiger Woods looks in agony after his club came into contact with a tree root on the ninth hole at Augusta . He later revealed his wrist bone had ' popped out ' of place  The 39 year old is clearly in agony as he is forced to drop his club on the follow through  He then grabs his wrist and winces . After finishing his round he revealed that his wrist bone had popped out so he was forced to put it back in  His reaction prompted concerns he may have suffered another injury setback . However he managed to shake off the scare and finish his round .  Woods , playing in his 20th Masters tournament , ended up at 5 under par on 283 , tied for 17th .  ' It hurts it definitely hurts , ' Woods said . ' I didn ' t know there was a tree root there . I drilled the club straight into it . It didn ' t move , but my body kept moving .  ' There ' s a little joint that popped out , and I was able to somehow put it back in , which didn ' t feel very good .  ' At least I got it back in I could move my hand again . It ' s sore . I ' m not going to be lifting any weights for a while . '  He also admitted that he may not return to the course for a while .  Despite finishing 13 strokes behind 21 year old winner Jordan Spieth , this was Woods ' best finish in a tournament in over a year .  Spieth became the youngest winner since Woods when he was given the coveted green jacket on Sunday .  After his final putt he went an embraced his tearful childhood sweetheart Annie Verret .  The Texan native , whose life long dream has been to win the Masters , was undoubtedly being watched on television at home by his youngest sibling , Ellie , who was born with a neurological disorder that places her on the autism spectrum . Ellie has helped to keep Spieth grounded , according to their mother .  Speaking after his win , Spieth said : ' It was very nerve wracking today . I didn ' t sleep all last night . Just got out here and got in a little rhythm . With two major champions right behind , I couldn ' t let up . It was the most incredible week of my life . This is as great as it gets in our sport . It was remarkable .  He added : ' I saw my family and friends right behind the green there , and knew it was going to be a done deal . I ' m still kind of in shock a little bit . '  Spieth ' s victory comes a year after he lost a bid to become the youngest player to win the Masters . This year , he did not let anyone get closer to him than three shots following his record start . He closed with a 2 under 70 , missing a 5 foot par putt on the final hole that would have set another record .  The four time Masters champion managed to shake off the injury to finish the competition at 5 under par  21 year old Jordan Spieth ( centre ) celebrates his first Masters victory with his girlfriend Annie Verret on Sunday  Spieth led from start to finish at Augusta , the first time that feat has been achieved in 39 years  Masters defending champion Bubba Watson ( left ) places the Green Jacket on 2015 winner Spieth ( right )  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
13632,13633,"A career criminal who sold a set of power tools on eBay to the former special constable they were stolen from avoided jail today .  Jonny Shaw was upset when police told him they would not investigate the 4 , 000 theft from his van so he surfed the internet until he found them and bought them back .  Mr Shaw then agreed to meet with seller Julian Morris to collect the tools , but also tipped off Lancashire Police who came with him to arrest the suspect , who later admitted handling stolen goods .  But despite trying to sell the stolen collection of electric saws , screwdrivers , drills and other maintenance tools , he was given a suspended prison sentence at Burnley Crown Court .  Caught : Julian Morris , left , was arrested after 4 , 000 of stolen tools he was selling on eBay were tracked down by the owner Jonny Shaw , right , who then called in the police  Detective work : The former special constable was upset when police failed to properly investigate so traced the tools himself  This was because he insisted he had nothing to do with the thefts themselves and bought the tools at a car boot sale .  The theft occurred last April after Mr Shaw left the work equipment in his Ford Transit van . His wallet containing 275 cash plus his sat nav were also stolen .  Describing what happened next Mr Shaw told the court : ' I reported it to the police but they weren ' t doing anything about it and were just giving me a crime reference number although an officer did come out to see me .  Initiative : Mr Shaw told police he was meeting Morris to collect the stolen tools , and they arrested him  ' I was mad . I ' ve had my tools stolen before and had to buy them again . I was going mad , this was my livelihood and a lot of people were let down because of it .  ' I have 10 men working for me and we were having to hire tools in for three or four days . The lads couldn ' t work that day , it had a big effect for three or four days . It was an absolute nightmare . :  ' I thought the tools would probably be sold on the internet so I had a look . I couldn ' t believe he had put them on so soon . I got robbed on a Tuesday and by the Thursday they were on Ebay . I kept a watch on them on the site and two days later he put some more on .  ' I was zooming in on the pictures and the serial numbers ' I thought ' they are definitely mine ' and I thought ' I ' ve got to win them ' .  Mr Shaw successfully won the auction and contacted the seller to get his address , telling him he could come and collect them .  He added : ' I rang the ( police ) inspector and said that I knew they were mine straight away . He was really good and said he ' d meet me round the corner of the address .  ' On the day of the pick up I had my mate . This guy came out of the house and he had my tools . He kept coming to the door with everything else that had been robbed . I identified all the tools . I said to my mate that if I start coughing that means they are my tools .  ' As soon as he came out I started coughing . The police came flying around the corner in a van and a car and started running up the drive . He had his back to them so he didn ' t know what was going on and they pinned him . Just before , I had said ' they are my tools ' . He didn ' t know what to do , he said ' let me say sorry to my wife ' . His wife and kids were there , I felt awkward because she was crying .  ' I had all the receipts on me . All my tools are insured because of last time but works tools are not insured unless they are in a vault .  ' When I found the tools the Burnley police were brilliant .  ' After the inspector was saying ' good work ' . It felt good . It felt good that I got it back , it was a relief . I always wanted to be in the police but when I did it I didn ' t like it it was too much paperwork .  Sentencing : Morris , who also admitted possessing cannabis , was given eight weeks in jail , suspended for two years , with 100 hours unpaid work and must pay 85 costs and an 80 victim surcharge  Morris ' s address was searched and officers returned further tools to Mr Shaw . Six items which had been stolen were not recovered including the wallet and 275 cash . Police also found a hand written list of power tools . Morris ' van was searched and four snap bags cannabis were found .  In interview Morris said he got the tools from somebody he knew who helped him on car boot sales but refused to name . When questioned he added : ' I have done it because we are skint . Somebody said to me they had a load of drills to sell and offered me 20 per cent . I asked if they were dodgy and they said they weren ' t . ' He had 14 offences on his record .  Morris who was also admitted possessing cannabis was given eight weeks in jail , suspended for two years , with 100 hours unpaid work and must pay 85 costs and an 80 victim surcharge .  In mitigation defence lawyer Miss Sara Lyle , defending , said : ' He does a bit of everything , usually house maintenance . Work was scarce , he was offered the opportunity to sell the goods by a mate and foolishly took up that opportunity . He says he knew there was something dodgy about it but had absolutely nothing to do with the theft .  ' He certainly doesn ' t know where the wallet and other personal items are . There is absolutely nothing sophisticated about this . He used his own name , his own eBay account and his own address . '  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
13639,13640,"Carly Fleischmann lived most of her childhood trapped in a body that could not communicate clearly with the outside world .  She couldn ' t speak and had few fine motor skills . She ' d been diagnosed with severe autism at age 2 .  Even with the progress that has been made with therapy techniques and medication , Fleischmann was still a mystery to her own family . Who was she ? What would her voice be like if she could speak ? These were all questions that would go unanswered until Fleischmann began to type .  One day , during a session with one of her therapists , Fleischmann began to feel sick . Unable to speak to convey her condition , Fleischmann went out on a limb and took the keyboard . She typed "" Help teeth hurt . "" This would be the breakthrough that eventually allowed Fleischmann to communicate with the outside world .  A life without smartphones and other mobile devices would be hard to imagine for those of us who are phone clutching , tablet wielding mobile device addicts . How would we be able to live without Facebook or Instagram always in our pockets ? How could I check my bank account balance while I ' m out shopping ?  But for Fleischmann and many others like her these devices give so much more : a voice .  The first generation iPad was released in the U . S just after Fleischmann ' s 15th birthday . Her family immediately drove from their home in Toronto to purchase one . They knew that the iPad would be a turning point for her to have freedom and the ability to communicate like never before .  Fleischmann began to type on a desktop computer at age 10 , but it was a difficult and slow progress , one letter at a time .  "" She finds typing extremely frustrating , "" said her father , Arthur Fleischmann . "" She wants a voice more than anything else . In her case , it ' s even worse , because she has very severe  , and she gets anxious , and when she gets anxious , she freezes . It ' s still frustrating that she can ' t get her thoughts and feelings out . ""  As Fleischmann began to type more , her family and her therapists got to know her . She was a sharp witted , bright girl who knew pop culture . She cracked jokes and poked fun at her brother , complaining about his teenage boy smell . She had her own sense of style . But most important , Fleischmann was tenacious . She made it clear that she was willing to fight to achieve her goals .  Before the iPad , she tried several mobile communication devices . These tools had text to speak functionality , but she didn ' t really take to them .  "" She rejected her early communication devices like the Lightwriter and the DynaVox because she felt they made her look disabled , "" her parents said . "" She doesn ' t think of herself as disabled she thinks of herself as a kid with autism . But she doesn ' t want that to define her . ""  For most people , the iPad opened a whole new way to send and receive information . It let us learn , communicate and socialize in a way we never had before .  For Fleischmann , the iPad was a game changer for a much different reason .  It gave her independence , and the apps made it easy to communicate her thoughts without painstakingly typing each letter on a computer . And because it was deemed "" cool , "" it was enticing to her . It did not make her feel different .  As with any other teenager , Fleischmann ' s "" cool "" points went up , and it helped her fit in .  "" It looked totally cool to be walking around with an iPad , and she much prefers that , "" her father said .  Fleischmann says she loves her iPad and says , "" thanks to it , I participate in class in a whole new way . ""  Fleischmann now has two iPads and a laptop she uses regularly . The app she uses most is the fully customizable ProLoQuo2Go . When Fleischmann goes to camp , for example , she can pre load photos and words associated with camp to more efficiently communicate with her peers . The app comes at a steep price of 189 . 99 . But the freedom and ease with which she can communicate clearly make it worthwhile .  Fleischmann and her father have written a book detailing her struggles and triumphs with autism . She has garnered the attention of celebrities and autism advocates like Ellen DeGeneres , Sen . John Kerry , Larry King and Temple Grandin .  Recently , she joined Kerry on a panel to discuss how important technology is to those with autism .  "" Technology has allowed me to communicate , learn social skills , implement relaxing techniques and played a crucial part in helping me how to spell , "" she said . "" To me , technology is the key to unlocking autism . ""  Watch : Carly Fleischmann speaks with Sen . John Kerry  Facebook , Twitter and blogging also play a big part in Fleischmann ' s ability to communicate with the world . She continues to amaze her family every day .  Her assistant , Howard , found a dialer attachment , and using that , ProLoQuo2Go and a speakerphone , Fleischmann can call friends .  Follow Carly on Facebook  Her dad says that while Fleischmann may not have the fine motor function to do things like tie her shoes , he hopes she will be able to attain more independence through technology .  Fleischmann says her next goal is to attend university . She has her eye on  and says she wants to get her bachelor ' s or her doctorate like her idol , Temple Grandin .  Find out more about Carly Fleischmann ' s story here .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,US elections,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
13641,13642,"Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta , better known as Lady Gaga , remembers when she was bullied in high school . She returned from gym class and discovered profanity scrawled across her locker . "" It sticks with you and it hurts . And I went home and cried . I didn ' t want to go to school , "" she said . Her story isn ' t unique . On any given day , 160 , 000 students opt to stay home because they are afraid of being bullied .  Today , at the Harvard Graduate School of Education , Lady Gaga is officially launching her Born This Way Foundation , which will inspire bravery and kindness in young people . As one of the best selling recording artists of all time , Lady Gaga has repeatedly encouraged her fans to "" be someone that nurtures . "" With her new foundation , she is poised to do much more .  Bullying is pervasive in and out of school . Each year , 20 of high school students report being bullied physically , emotionally , or socially . The results can be tragic , as the recent suicides of Phoebe Prince , Jamey Rodemeyer and Carl Joseph Walker Hoover have taught us .  Victims seldom report bullying incidents to their parents or their teachers because they are embarrassed , fear retaliation , worry that adults will make things worse , or resigned to the belief that nothing can be done . The humiliation of being bullied can haunt people their entire lives . As Secretary of Education Arne Duncan put it , "" Bullying is insidious , it tends to get enveloped in a code of silence and shame . ""  Contrary to conventional views , bullying is not simply a result of troubled kids or peer pressure . The stark reality is that bullying has deep roots in adult behaviors and attitudes .  What would you do if you witnessed three high school students berating another student for being smart , gay , learning disabled , quiet or just different ? Research has demonstrated that most of us would do nothing . We tend to be bystanders because we believe bullying is just kids being kids or we may not know how to intervene effectively .  Our failure to act has large costs to our communities . When adults are bystanders , they inadvertently reinforce the bad behaviors of bullies and the passivity of students . However , bullying goes down when students stand up for victims .  Bullying is not a rite of passage it is a human rights issue . Fortunately for kids everywhere , bullying is not an intractable problem .  There are a number of ways to combat bullying . We can start by giving educators important tools . Teacher education programs typically do not include techniques on how to create a caring and safe environment in the classroom or strategies on how to handle peer conflicts . These programs often fail to provide basic knowledge of child development in the curriculum . This has to change .  At the same time , educators can utilize proven anti bullying programs . For example , the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program has resulted in a 50 decrease in bullying behavior in Norway .  In addition , educators can play their part by breaking down the high wall that often separates the cultures of adults and students . When adults are able to gain the trust and respect of the students , they have more credibility in resolving conflicts . Strong teacher student relationships have numerous academic , emotional , social and moral benefits for students .  Students should be enlisted in prevention efforts . They tend to be a lot smarter about their social environment than adults , and they are far more likely to adhere to community standards if they are involved in creating and monitoring those standards .  Finally , it is up to the adults in all communities to step up . Nothing short of a full blown media campaign is required to change people ' s attitudes and behaviors . This kind of social movement is not without precedence . The best example is the designated driver campaign , which saved at least 50 , 000 lives in the United States alone . Imagine a world in which adults and children view bullying to be just as stupid and dangerous as drunk driving , and know how to stop it in its tracks .  People will need guidelines on how to confront bullies , when to ask a target if he or she is  , how to enlist the help of others , and when to call 911 . We can provide adults and children with the skills and confidence to act when they encounter bullying at bus stops , on playgrounds or online .  We are at a moment of great opportunity . In 2010 , the Department of Education hosted the first summit on bullying prevention , and 48 states have now enacted anti bullying legislation . Many schools and districts are working to create more caring communities . And Lady Gaga is speaking loud and clear at Harvard . Let ' s not let this moment pass . Let ' s translate this energy into concrete actions that will not only prevent bullying , but also help adults raise children who care about a more just and kind world .  The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Kathleen McCartney and Richard Weissbourd .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
13682,13683,"Growing up , Heather Davis wasn ' t the kind of kid people would have called fat or even chubby .  Heather Davis weighed 250 pounds and wore a size 22 at her heaviest . She lost 110 pounds and wears a size 4 .  Like many children , Heather studied hard , did her homework and played sports after school . During elementary school , she remembers being thin but things started to change as she approached adolescence .  "" My bad eating habits began during my ' latchkey kid ' years , "" says Davis . "" In high school and middle school , I played sports , but with a diet of Doritos and soda for lunch . . . large family dinners . . . I became overweight . ""  During her senior year in high school , Davis , who is 5 feet 9 inches tall , weighed 200 pounds .  "" We had a meat and potatoes family . We had dessert every night and I was a member of the ' clean your plate club , ' remembers Davis . "" It caught up with me . ""  By the time she was 22 and attending graduate school , Davis ' weight had ballooned to 250 pounds . Davis says her weight gain was caused by major life transitions triggered by emotional eating , a junk food diet and lack of exercise .  Davis dreaded shopping for clothes and said she found it hard to find stylish , age appropriate clothing for her bigger body . She says it was a struggle to look neat and put together as most of her shirts "" hugged every roll . "" Looser fitting clothing , she says , made her feel as if she were wearing a tent .  The additional weight also began to take a physical toll . Everyday tasks such as walking up stairs or in the shopping mall started to become difficult . Davis says she was constantly hot and any physical exertion would cause her to sweat , even in below freezing temperatures .  Life became a constant struggle .  "" I would get hot a lot because of the extra weight I was carrying . Picture yourself with a 100 pound backpack on , "" says Davis . "" That was what it was like climbing the escalator . My knees hurt . My back and shoulders hurt a lot . ""  Davis , who lives in Washington , says she had tried everything to lose weight , such as low carb and low fat diets and even starvation . But one day , something clicked .  "" I was on the campus shuttle and saw the Gold ' s Gym , "" Davis says , "" And , I said ' I can go down into the Metro and go home and eat my Ben Jerry ' s ice cream . Or , I can go over there and really do this . Just do this ! ' "" Watch Davis ' dramatic weight loss transformation  Davis remembered her grandmother with whom she ' d been extremely close who had died from heart failure brought on by years of unhealthy eating and lack of exercise .  "" She will never get to see my wedding , children or experience other joys in her life , "" Davis says .  Davis says there wasn ' t any defining experience or "" lightbulb "" moment that forced her to make a change . It was the realization that after years of failed diets and the physical toll of obesity , she ' d had enough .  During her first visit to the gym , Davis says she could barely handle 15 minutes on the treadmill . But she stayed on track by reminding herself that weight loss was going to be hard work and there was no easy way out .  She did cardio exercise for two weeks and began modifying her diet by cutting out starches , ice cream and pizza . Within the first two weeks , she had lost 8 pounds . She was motivated by the positive results and gradually increased her cardio , incorporated weight training and continued to change her diet .  Davis remained determined , and over the next 12 months , with the support of her family and regular check ins with a gym trainer , she lost 110 pounds .  She went from wearing a plus size 22 to wearing a size 4 or 6 . The weight loss and healthier lifestyle boosted the 31 year old ' s self confidence and gave her access to a richer , fuller life .  "" My days of treating my body badly are over , "" says Davis . "" I focus on things I enjoy such as European travel , language classes and beach vacations . ""  Staying healthy for Davis means eating in moderation and incorporating fun forms of exercise into her daily life . She no longer owns a vehicle and enjoys long walks in downtown Washington .  She ' s also set another goal for herself a second graduate degree which she hopes will allow her to help others .  "" I ' m working on my master ' s in public health because all of this health awareness has made me want to help other people , "" Davis says . "" Obesity is reaching epidemic proportions and I will take pleasure using both experience and scientific knowledge toward planning and evaluating programs designed to help people incorporate healthy behaviors into their lives . ""  Davis is training to run a half marathon and is running up to 6 miles . She says even though she ' s lost 110 pounds , she ' s still the same person outgoing , and more importantly happy .  She ' s also become an inspiration for people who desperately want to lose weight .  "" If I can do it , anybody can do it , "" says Davis . iReportweblink : Have you lost weight ? Send your story , photos and video E mail to a friend  Matt Sloane contributed to this report .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
13693,13694,"President Hollande placed the whole of France under a state of emergency and announced that the country ' s borders had been closed . It followed confirmation that the death toll had risen to 42 people and a statement from Barack Obama , who said : "" We stand together with them in the fight against terrorism and extremism . ""  Around 20 minutes later , French police confirmed two suicide attacks and one bombing near the Stade de France stadium . At least three people were believed to have died in those attacks near the stadium . Soon after that , there were reports of shots and explosions at the Bataclan theatre .  As the French military were photographed making their way into the centre of Paris , the police outside the Bataclan theatre stormed the building shortly after 11 . 30pm . Police officials confirmed the security forces had launched an assault on the theatre and two attackers had been killed .  One official described "" carnage "" inside the building , saying the attackers had thrown explosives at the hostages , and it was confirmed that at least 100 people were killed inside the Bataclan theatre . That number was later reported to be 80 .  Reports that commandos have killed two terrorists at the Bataclan centre and the siege is over  Paris police confirm attackers at the Bataclan , who were wearing suicide belts , blew themselves up as police raided the venue . Before entering the concert hall and taking those inside hostage they had sprayed the cafes outside the hall with gunfire .  Police said they believed all the attackers involved in the string of attacks were dead . They added that a hunt was underway for possible accomplices .  3am : Hollande says France will ' lead the fight '  President Hollande visited the Bataclan . Speaking about the fight against those responsible for attacking the country he said : "" We will lead the fight . We will be merciless . ""  The Paris prosecutor ' s office said eight attackers had been killed , seven of them in suicide bombings . A spokeswoman added that it is possible there are terrorists still at large .  President Obama called President Hollande to offer condolences on behalf of the American people , and reiterate the country ' s support for the investigation into what happened .  Downing Street said David Cameron would chair a meeting of the Government ' s emergency Cobra committee .  6 . 40am Iranian President cancels visit to France and Italy  Hassan Rouhani cancelled his visit to Italy and France following attacks , Iran s foreign minister confirmed to state news agency ,  . He condemned the incident as an inhumane crime .  We condemn ( it ) in the most radical way together with the pope and all those who love peace , Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said in a statement .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
13714,13715,"Sony said the Internet security breach targeting its networks was more extensive than originally thought .  Hackers also gained access to databases containing subscriber information for Sony Online Entertainment , a San Diego subsidiary that makes online multiplayer games for computers and the PlayStation 3 . The Sony division took its Web services offline Monday .  That shutdown came 12 days after Sony Computer Entertainment disconnected the PlayStation console game network and Sony Network Entertainment shut down Qriocity media streaming services . Sony said last week that it expected to start restoring some services this week , but they remain offline .  Sony disclosed the first breach on April 22 , and then on April 27 , the company announced that personal info and perhaps credit card numbers had been stolen for as many as 77 million accounts .  With the  game network also compromised , Sony adds 24 . 6 million accounts to the pot . Some popular games maintained by Sony ' s online division include "" EverQuest , "" ""  Universe Online "" and "" Free Realms . ""  This additional network was targeted on April 16 and April 17 , the same days the other networks were hacked . While the infrastructures are separate , "" There ' s a degree of architecture that overlaps "" among Sony ' s many networks , said Michele Sturdivant , a spokeswoman for Sony Online Entertainment .  "" Initially , we believed that data was not stolen , "" she said , but then the company uncovered evidence to the contrary during its ongoing investigation . "" They used very sophisticated means to access the data , and they used sophisticated means to cover their tracks . ""  The information hackers took from Sony Online Entertainment ' s system included users ' names , home addresses , e mail addresses , phone numbers , login names , encrypted passwords , birth dates and genders . Unlike the last breach , hackers didn ' t get the answers to security questions or have access to most people ' s financial information .  However , information from an additional 12 , 700 users stored on a database that was retired in 2007 was also compromised , Sony said . The data there included credit and debit card numbers and expiration dates , but not security codes , for non United States residents , as well as direct debit banking records for some customers in Austria , Germany , the Netherlands and Spain .  Sony apologized for the security lapse and outages on Sunday . The company plans to offer PlayStation account holders a 30 day voucher for the PlayStation Plus service , which lets gamers download free and exclusive games . Current Plus subscribers will get an extra 30 days added to their accounts .  Similarly , Sony Online Entertainment will add 30 days to customers ' accounts , along with additional play time for each day the service is down . The company also says it is in the process of outlining how it will recompense gamers who own its PlayStation 3 games . Additionally , Sony will offer complimentary assistance for customers who want to enroll in identity theft protection programs .  Sony says it ' s working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation to make sense of the security breach . On Monday , PlayStation spokesman Patrick Seybold denied a report that said the hacker group offered to sell Sony a list of credit card numbers stolen from its systems .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
13721,13722,"One of the greatest strategies to gain and hold power over a large population is to pit groups against one another. Divide and conquer. It s a strategy that has been used since the beginning of time as the wealthy elites, knowing they are few in numbers, but large in political sway, can manipulate a populace to their liking so that they remain in power. It s a strategy still being used to this very day, and can be seen in full swing within the Donald Trump campaign.Donald Trump has been using this us vs. them strategy since the start of his campaign. He s made a group of working and middle class blue-collar folks think that the problems in this nation stem from  the other.  The people who aren t just like them. That if those people weren t around, all of their problems would disappear. It s a mind game played by the wealthy and powerful to make groups of people do their bidding for them.This strategy is especially successful when dealing with a group of people who somehow sees themselves as better than another group. And in the video you re about to watch below, author and activist Tim Wise explains this strategy perfectly. He points out that this has been a strategy used on working class whites, especially in the South for as long as one could possibly remember. The wealthy purchased black slaves, stopped hiring the poor working class white workers because they would need to get paid, and then blamed the problems of the poor working class white workers, including lack of jobs or income, on the black slaves. However, whose fault is it? Certainly not the slaves. However, this skillful manipulation to make it so black slaves would get blamed got the poor working class whites to utterly despise black people. It got them to join militias to suppress slave insurrections. It was the ultimate scam. Divide and conquer. Wise also explains that the Civil War was about states rights, sure, the rights for individuals in states to own slaves.Trump is using this same strategy blaming Mexicans and Muslims to rile up a base of poorly educated working class white folks who really just don t know any better. They ve had a rough go in life and Trump is successfully shifting blame from those on top who manipulate the system to  the other  yet again. He s giving these working class angry white people a reason to feel superior even though they are totally being manipulated. It gives them a sense of power and entitlement that is, in all honesty, a ruse.It s the ultimate in white privilege. When you can get people to believe that they are superior and deserve better and more just for being white, and if something is bad, blame the people who aren t white, or aren t Christian, or aren t heterosexual, or aren t Republican.Tim Wise, even recently, posted about how Donald Trump his encouraging hatred. He said in a Facebook post, regarding a story of a man who killed three people for not speaking English: This is the fault of nativist bigots like Donald Trump, encouraging hatred for anyone seen as insufficiently  American  (even someone who, as with one of these victims, was Puerto Rican and thus an American citizen   something probably neither the killer here nor Trump knows). This is the kind of America we re in store for, on a much larger level, if the Trump movement is not defeated resoundingly Quite honestly, you can watch this video ten times in a row and still want to watch it again. Wise hits the nail on the head. Bravo. // < ![CDATA[ // < ![CDATA[ // < ![CDATA[ // < ![CDATA[ // < ![CDATA[ // < ![CDATA[ // < ![CDATA[ (function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = ""//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.3""; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk')); // ]]>Tim Wise Schools Audience On White PrivilegedTim Wise Schools Audience On White PrivilegedPosted by Reggie Hood on Friday, September 4, 2015Featured image via Max Goldberg (flickr)",fake,dataset,test,Other news2,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
13731,13732,"Cam Newton on his  superfriend : ' Steph Curry is special , man '  Stephen Curry ( left ) and Cam Newton are transcendent talents changing their respective sports .  Nathaniel S . Butler  via Getty Images Ronald Martinez Getty Images  Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry has shouted out Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers on several occasions this season , and now Newton is returning the favor .  While at a Super Bowl 50 media session in San Jose ? on Monday night , Newton was sure to heap praise on No . 30 and put himself in the good graces of the Bay Area region :  Steph Curry is special , man , Newton said . He does things that you only see on video games .  Newton is spot on . Curry is unlike anything we ' ve ever seen the human embodiment of a character on fire from ""  Jam . ""  Who should have the ball late in the game ?  The superstar friends have grown close since 2012 , when Curry , a diehard Panthers fan , attended training camp and the two clicked . Since then , Curry and Newton attend each other ' s games when possible , and ? have even ? worn ? jerseys ? supporting each other ( in Newton ' s case , he wore Curry ' s father Dell ' s jersey , which is close enough ) .  Both are transcendent talents that are changing the way we view their respective positions of point guard and quarterback . Both have led their team to historic seasons . And both are the respective favorites to win  in their sport . They ' re each The Guy ? right now . ?  The lone difference may be the way they ' re viewed in the public eye , with Curry primarily receiving positive coverage from the media , and Newton being criticized and even villainized ? at times . ?  Newton offered further perspective on Curry ' s season , saying he ' s changed the perception of 3 point shooting and undersized guards for the better :  He s transcending the game upwardly , giving opportunity to not only guys who can really shoot , but undersized guys , Newton said of Curry . You got to respect that .  Curry will be in attendance at Super Bowl 50 , wearing his custom No . 30 Panthers jersey at Levi s Stadium , but he won ' t be the only "" special "" player rocking Carolina colors .  Jovan Buha covers the  for  Sports . Follow him on Twitter at jovanbuha .  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,present
13732,13733,"As the 2015 16  season zooms past the midway point , this is typically the time when everyone bites into a juicy  debate . Because of Stephen Curry , hoops fiends instead must settle for discussing All Star Game  candidates .  The Eastern Conference has made considerable strides this season , adding some zest to Feb . 14 ' s exhibition bout . All eight projected playoff participants sport winning records , which hasn ' t happened since the lockout shortened 2011 12 campaign .  However , the Western Conference still holds a demonstrable edge in star power . ? After all , its roster had no room for Dirk Nowitzki and Damian Lillard .  Despite such overwhelming depth , the player with the worst credentials is the front runner to secure  honors , which tend to go to a high volume scorer from the winning side . This would bode well for the league ' s top superstar , but a departing legend is poised to steal the spotlight .  The current iteration of Kobe Bryant is nowhere near All Star level . In fact , the ball stopping veteran has become a major detriment to the Los Angeles Lakers ' development , which actually could help them preserve their top three protected first round pick . ?  He ' s not here on recent merit , so what makes anybody think he also can ' t get handed  honors as part of the  ' s going away gift ?  The Black Mamba has already notched four All Star MVPs , and one more trophy would break the tie with Bob Pettit atop the leaderboard . An aggressive scorer with no half speed will own a glorified pickup game , and participating every year certainly bolsters his chances .  As noted by NBAweblink Stats , Lakers rookie D ' Angelo Russell was in diapers during the last All Star Game without Bryant :  His last hurrah will dominate the weekend ' s news cycle , and Bryant is too much of a competitor to take any contest lightly . Although he ' s now playing with superstars rather than a sinking franchise , his upgraded teammates will still likely defer to a legend whom most of them grew up watching .  And it ' s not like Dwyane Wade is going to play tight defense in Toronto .  It ' s the sappy , sentimental choice founded more on narrative than reality , but that ' s perfectly fine when deciding the most valuable member of an exhibition contest .  When Russell Westbrook won the  last year , he became the first reserve to emerge victorious since Shaquille O ' Neal shared the recognition with Bryant in 2009 . Guards tend to post more appetizing lines in a high scoring game devoid of defense , so West starters Westbrook and Curry are the most logical choices to fend off Bryant .  Nobody has won the  in back to back years since Pettit in 1958 59 , so Curry gets the edge . A game where nobody plays defense also works well for the world ' s best offensive player .  The Golden State Warriors guard plays every game like an All Star Game . No shot is too far from the basket , and that ' s with opponents exerting maximum energy to take away those shooting opportunities . Curry and Klay Thompson will transfer the three point contest to the actual game .  What ' s so terrifying about Curry is his deadly efficiency draining difficult shots . He takes more threes per game ( 10 . 7 ) than anyone by a mile , but his 45 . 1 percentage still rates fourth .  As displayed by  Stats Info , he ' s far more than a flashy volume scorer :  Stephen Curry ( warriors ) : 31 . 9  so far this season , on pace to be the highest in  history : pic . twitterweblink 3jnUqHccaw  ?  Stats Info ( ESPNStatsInfo ) February 1 , 2016  Since last season ' s midseason exhibition , Curry has taken over the basketball world . After capturing the  title last year , Curry has led the Warriors to a 44 4 mark , putting them on pace to challenge the 1995 96 Chicago Bulls ' record setting 72 wins .  For every fan wanting to pay his or her respects to Bryant , another will watch solely in hopes of Curry catching fire and putting on a show .  If he lets if fly , the West could flirt with 200 points .  He ' s LeBron James . Don ' t ever count out LeBron James .  He ranks fourth in player efficiency rating (  ) and fifth in win shares .  Since joining the Miami Heat in 2010 , James has traveled to the All Star Game with at least one teammate . That ' s not the case this year . Kevin Love got shunned due to a limited role and lack of defense , and the fans rightfully pushed Kyle Lowry ahead of Kyrie Irving at the last moment .  James discussed going solo to Toronto with ? Clevelandweblink ' s Chris Fedor :  It ' s definitely a kick in the rear end for our team for sure , knowing all the work we put into it , and knowing the two other guys . You know , Kyrie ' s games being limited like that I figured the coaches wouldn ' t give him the nod , but you know he ' s an All Star . And then with Kev , I think Kev has played great basketball for the first half of the season . He could ' ve been awarded , but hopefully those guys use it as motivation for the rest of the season and the team will as well .  Toronto Raptors guards Lowry and DeMar DeRozan draw home town favoritism , but they ' re also long shots to stand out among  superstars . John Wall and Jimmy Butler represent better sleepers to steal the grand stage , but all roads lead through the King .  The East will need a huge showing from James to prevail .  After hearing so much talk about him taking a backseat to Curry and other burgeoning young stars , the 31 year old can use the All Star Game to prove this league still belongs to him .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
13752,13753,"Republicans hoping to use Benghazi as a cudgel against Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton if she runs for President in 2016 may be out of luck , a new Fox News poll suggests .  Released Wednesday , the poll asks respondents a number of questions about Clinton , including whether they think she is responsible for deaths of four Americans killed in the September 11 , 2012 Benghazi terrorist attack . It also asks if they think Clinton is ' honest and trustworthy . '  Despite the negative attention Clinton received throughout last year for her role in the administration ' s failure to prevent the deaths and it ' s subsequent botched response to the attack , Clinton ' s favorability ratings outpace those of her main 2016 rivals .  Hillary Clinton gets favorable marks from Americans despite her association with the Benghazi terrorist attacks  Just over a year ago , Clinton resigned from her cabinet level position amidst Congressional hearings into Benghazi . As if the physical attack on Benghazi wasn ' t bad enough , Clinton floundered in the face of Congress , shouting out the now infamous line ' what difference at this point does it make ' when pressed about the cause of the attack .  ' The fact is we had four dead Americans ! Was it because of a protest or was it because of guys out for a walk one night who decided they ' d go kill some Americans ? What difference at this point does it make ? ' Clinton said while testifying at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on January 23 , 2013 .  ' What difference at this point does it make ? ' U . S . Secretary of State Hillary Clinton infamously shouted at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing in Washington , D . C . on Jan . 23 , 2013  Not much , it would seem .  Clinton ' s outburst has lost much of its initial sting , based on respondent ' s answers to Fox ' s poll .  While respondents do not think the Obama administration is being ' open and transparent ' about the Benghazi , when directly asked if they blame Clinton for what happened , responses were mixed , with only a combined total of 55 percent of respondents placing any blame whatsoever on her .  Fox ' s recent poll is not an anomaly . The news company ' s polls show that furor over Benghazi has steadily declined in the last year .  During a Q and A earlier this year , Clinton acknowledged Benghazi as her ' biggest regret ' during her tenure as Secretary of State , and she is expected to discuss the scandal in further detail in her upcoming memoir , Hard Choices .  The book , the title of which was just released today , will hit the shelves on June 10 .  ' The hard questions are not , "" Do you want to be president ? "" "" Can you win ? "" ' Clinton said during a recent speech . ' The hard questions are , "" Why ?  Why would you want to do this ? "" and "" What ? What could you offer that could make a difference ? "" '  Republicans have continued to make Benghazi an issue . On Thursday , Georgia Rep . Lynn Westmoreland told a blogger for United Liberty that a group of nine House Republicans , including himself , have been reviewing congressional testimony on the attacks from various witnesses to look for ' any contradictions in testimonies . '  While not expressly named by Westmoreland , Clinton ' s testimony is undoubtedly on the group ' s list to review .  ' Benghazi happened on her watch , so she will always have a connection to the attack , ' a former spokesperson for Clinton at state , told The Washington Times last week . ' There have been some efforts to make it about her , which I suspect will continue despite the lack of evidence . '  In Fox ' s poll , a majority of respondents said they thought Congress should continue investigatating the Obama administration ' s roll in the Benghazi terrorist attack , and 61 percent said they still believe the Obama administration is engaged in a cover up .  The percentage of Americans who believe the administration is lying about Benghazi remains steadfast , but the percentage who believe Congress should continue its investigation has significantly decreased since June of last year . Then , 73 percent of respondents wanted Congress to continue ' until lawmakers feel they know the truth . ' Now , only 60 percent say the same thing .  The poll surveyed roughly the same number of Republicans and Democrats and it contained similar percentages of both compared to previous Fox News polls on these issues .  In a potential match up against New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush , two politicians who ranked highest on Republican respondents ' 2016 wish list , Clinton would beat both by a solid eight to nine points , the poll found .  On the issue of trust , 54 percent said Clinton was ' honest and trustworthy ' compared with Christie , who has taken a public relations flogging in recent months over the Bridgegate scandal , whom only 41 percent said they trusted . Jeb Bush didn ' t fare much better , with only 49 percent giving him positive marks in the trust category .  Clinton ' s favorability rating is at its lowest point since 2008 , but she she outpaced President Barack Obama , Jeb Bush and high profile Senators Rand Paul and Ted Cruz , two more likely 2016 candidates .  ' Polls don ' t matter much at all right now what ' s most important is that there are millions of Americans in all corners of the country who are ready to help her win if she decides to run , ' Ready for Hillary communications director Seth Bringman told MailOnline in an email . ' Poll numbers could change , but the enthusiasm of her supporters and the list of grassroots supporters can only grow . '  While it ' s still early to be making blanket statements about the 2016 presidential election , it ' s clear that Benghazi won ' t have the thrust Republicans hoped it would . Should Clinton decide to run , Republicans will need to find a fresh angle on the issue to attack Clinton from or dig up new dirt .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
13754,13755,"There was a standing ovation for her son as he arrived on Centre Court as the first British man to defend a Wimbledon singles title for 77 years .  But up in the stands yesterday , Andy Murray ' s mother Judy was getting ready to become the star of the show herself .  Mrs Murray is said to be in the ' advanced stage ' of talks to appear in the next series of Strictly Come Dancing .  Murray is said to be in the ' advanced stage ' of talks to appear in the next series of Strictly Come Dancing  The 54 year old is a big fan of the  programme and often posts saucy comments about its male performers on her Twitter account . A source said : ' The final line up is due to be announced in four weeks ' time and Judy is a long way down in talks to appear on it . '  Her friend and former British tennis number one Andrew Castle , who appeared on Strictly in 2008 , has described Mrs Murray as a ' Strictly nut ' who would jump at the chance of appearing on the programme .  But he fears her 27 year old son will be left squirming with embarrassment at his mother ' s antics on screen and would be better off watching the show ' through his fingers ' .  Mrs Murray was vocal about her admiration for the male dancers on the programme last year after watching the Strictly Confidential stage spin off in Glasgow .  She posed for a picture with topless Russian star Artem Chigvintsev and posted it on Twitter with the comment : ' Check this girls . Strictly Confidential but life may well be complete now . '  Judy Murray posing with Russian dancer Artem Chigvintsev , as he was stripped to the waist  A year earlier , she also posted cringe inducing commentary about the celebrity performers at Strictly Come Dancing ' s Live  Tour at the  in Glasgow .  Former footballer Robbie Savage and Olympic swimmer Mark Foster received most of the attention , with Mrs Murray writing on Twitter : ' I ' ll need a lie down after this . Ooooh Rob . You have perfected the pelvic thrust . '  Then , when Foster took the stage , she posted : ' Mark Foster says he will dance his Speedos if he wins Strictly tonight . Ooh er . Get voting . '  Her son was also left aghast in 2011 when Mrs Murray posted a series of tweets praising the good looks of his Spanish Wimbledon opponent Feliciano Lopez .  In a rare outburst , Murray declared : ' I think it ' s about time that she stopped that nonsense . It ' s making me throw up . It ' s disgusting . '  If his mother does appear in this autumn ' s Strictly , she will have to fit it around her duties as captain of the Great Britain Fed Cup Team .  Mrs Murray trained Andy and his older brother Jamie now a successful doubles player on public courts in their home town of Dunblane .  Mrs Murray entertains fans by playing with a rubber chicken at Wimbledon yesterday  She is credited with passing on her competitive spirit to her sons , and is often seen in the crowd fist pumping and making faces during big points .  Mrs Murray who once received vile hate mail accusing her of being a pushy parent was greeted by embraces from friends and adoring fans alike as she watched her son sail into second round yesterday in a straight sets win over Belgian David Goffin . And if she had felt any parental anxiety ahead of the clash , she hid it well , laughing and joking with fans queuing outside Centre Court .  Dressed casually in a loose fitting lemon jumper and patterned black and yellow trousers , Mrs Murray was seen attempting to rally with a spectator playing with purple novelty tennis racquets and a rubber chicken instead of a ball .  She was joined by her son ' s girlfriend Kim Sears and his new coach Am lie Mauresmo to watch him defeat Goffin , 23 , who is ranked 105 in the world .  Prior to the match , Judy tweeted a photograph of Mauresmo and Murray in matching T shirts and nicknamed the duo ' Murresmo ' .  Last week she told of her ' survivor ' s guilt ' over the Dunblane massacre in 1996 , when 16 children and a teacher were killed at the school attended by her sons .  Mrs Murray , who is divorced from her children ' s father Willie , said she still becomes emotional when she revisits the town to talk about ' everything that Andy and Jamie have achieved ' .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
13765,13766,"The Arab world ' s relationship with media is like the region itself complicated and often contradictory and one that has been changing rapidly since the Arab Spring .  While social media as emerged as a powerful new means of communication and news , two new surveys on media in the region have revealed its rise has not necessarily led to the demise of older , more established media .   is the most popular ( but not most trusted ) news source  Last month ,  ' A Burson Marsteller published their fifth annual Arab Youth Survey . The survey was the result of 3 , 000 face to face interviews with men and women aged 18 24 across 15 different countries in the Middle East and North Africa .  While 72 of those polled listed  as their main source of news , only 40 listed it as a trusted source of information down from 60 in 2011 .  "" There ' s a big family market in the Middle East . You sit in a living room with your parents or peers and watch  . During Ramadan , it ' s the biggest activity . But that doesn ' t mean you trust it , "" notes Sunil John , the  of  ' A Burson Marsteller .  According to John ,  is continuing to lose credibility , particularly as the region ' s two biggest broadcasters Al Jazeera and Al Arabiya have each taken notably strong stances on Egypt ' s political climate Al Jazeera allegedly pro the ousted Muslim Brotherhood president Mohamed Morsy and Al Arabiya in the anti camp .  Read more : Iran ' s political cartoonists push boundaries  "" Most Arabic  has been questioned in terms of its editorial stance . That two of the region ' s most prominent stations are taking a pro and anti stance in countries such as Egypt is one of the most discussed issues on the ' Arab street , ' "" he says .  Matt Duffy , a former journalism professor at the  ' s Zayed University , said he wasn ' t surprised by the findings .  "" I think more youths are noticing that information is different depending on what media outlet you ' re turned into , "" he says . "" Also , the students were far more connected to social media . They were checking their BlackBerry devices far more than turning on the  . ""  Social media has changed the landscape considerably . In 2011 , nobody polled listed social media as a trusted source of news and only 11 rated online media . This year , 26 said they trust websites , and 22 social media .  For Duffy the increased trust in these outlets isn ' t necessarily a good thing .  "" I found many of my students had trust in anything : Twitter , blogs , newspapers , Tumblr ,  . Many would see a tweet and just assume it must be true . ""  Internet freedom is valued , but so is regulation  Northwestern University in Qatar also published a survey last month , focusing primarily on media usage in the region . The survey polled 10 , 000 individuals across eight countries on their media views , and found that , for the most part , Arabs believe in freedom of expression online 61 of those polled in the region agreed with the statement "" It is okay for people to express their ideas on the internet , even if they are unpopular . ""  Saudi Arabian citizens voiced this view most strongly , with 76 agreeing with the statement . Conversely , Saudis were also the biggest proponents of curbing internet freedom 62 agreed that the internet should be more tightly regulated in their country . Across the region , half of those polled agreed .  "" There ' s an enormous inconsistency there , "" says Everette Dennis , the Dean and  of Northwestern University in Qatar , and one of the survey ' s authors . Dennis attributes the discrepancy to the region ' s acceptance of constraints on freedom of speech .  Read more : Arab youth find comic relief with stand up  "" Whether people see it that way or not , the idea of blasphemy is alive and well in the Middle East . It ' s blasphemous to have anti Islam material online , and there ' s a general acceptance in monarchies that one does not criticize the leader . You can criticize the head of state , but not the emir . I gather there ' s this acceptance that it ' s the way it is . ""  A free media does not equal a trusted media  Some countries Dennis surveyed were predictably cautious of their media . In Egypt and Tunisia , only around one quarter of those polled agreed that news media in their country was credible .  Other countries , however showed less predictable results . In Saudi Arabia , for example , where media is tightly controlled , 74 believed their news was trustworthy . In Lebanon , which has more freedom of press , only 25 agreed .  "" It ' s counter intuitive , "" admits Dennis . He believes that , in fact , increased access to media , coupled with diversity , have a hand in shaping the results .  "" There ' s limited access to media in Saudi there ' s almost a sense of gratitude for having web access at all . That could be one factor . Lebanon is also much more diverse , so you get more viewpoints , and with it , more controversy . ""  ",true,text,test,US elections,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
13795,13796,"EWweblink ) What ' s the appropriate soundtrack for kids killing kids ?  That ' s one of many tough questions that Grammy winning producer T Bone Burnett had to answer while overseeing this set of songs inspired by the movie adaptation of Suzanne Collins ' best selling novel about tweens and teens forced to fight to the death .  Fans of the book might imagine its bow hunting heroine , Katniss Everdeen , slinging arrows to the strains of something decidedly punk rock . Personally , I ' d like to think of her blasting Bikini Kill ' s ' ' Rebel Girl ' ' while she takes out Cato , Clove , Glimmer , and anyone else who underestimates her talent for ripping out tender teenage hearts and entrails .  But what puts Burnett in the mood for some good old fashioned child sacrificing , apparently , is . . . folk . Or rather , as Taylor Swift recently told  , ' ' Appalachian music 300 years from now what Americana and bluegrass music would sound like in the future . ' '  With everyone from Arcade Fire to Maroon 5 on "" The Hunger Games "" Soundtrack , that ' s a tall order though certainly Swift ' s sweet lullaby ' ' Safe Sound , ' ' backed by breakout Nashville duo the Civil Wars , fits the ' ' Americana ' ' part . When she sings to an unlucky fighter , ' ' Just close your eyes You ' ll be alright , ' ' she sounds like she ' s finally broken out of fairy tale princess territory to real adulthood .  Elsewhere , the Decemberists ' furious ' ' One Engine ' ' and Punch Brothers ' pretty ' ' Dark Days ' ' carry on the mournful fingerpicking . They ' re lovely songs , but all that semi acoustic brooding makes you wonder if ' ' Appalachian music 300 years from now ' ' is the same as it ever was .  Far more engaging are the artists who imagine they ' ve seen Katniss ' future , and all they can say is ' ' Go back . ' ' Haunted by gorgeously sad Southern belle harmonies from Miranda Lambert and her fellow shotgun toting Pistol Annies , ' ' Run Daddy Run ' ' is deeply ominous , a song to sing when ' ' you hear the devil drawin ' near . ' '  Best of all is Kid Cudi ' s gothic rap rock epic ' ' The Ruler and the Killer , ' ' which feels every bit as dystopian as Collins ' book . With chest pounding military drums and a menacing Big Brother refrain ( ' ' You don ' t talk You ' ll say nothing , okay ? ' ' ) , it doesn ' t sound anything like Burnett ' s kinder , gentler vision for the soundtrack .  And maybe that ' s why it totally captures the spirit of the film : If there ' s one thing that the warriors of District 12 hate just as much as the regular kids who love "" The Hunger Games , "" it ' s respecting authority . B  See the full article at EWweblink .    to Try 2   issues of Entertainment Weekly  2011 Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc . All rights reserved .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
13799,13800,"Abdullah ? calan , the head of the  , in 1993 . He has been imprisoned since 1999 . Photograph : Joseph Barrak  Getty Images  ? calan is a tyrannical leader whose hold over his followers is hard for outsiders , including myself , to comprehend . The best explanation is probably a negative one . Were it not for the  , which ? calan launched with the murder of two Turkish soldiers in 1984 , it is possible that the forced assimilation of the Kurds into mainstream Turkish society would have advanced much further , and the epiphanies of Demirta ? and others may not have happened .  Demirta ? s relationship with ? calan is crucial , given ? calan s unchallenged position as a kind of father of the Kurdish nation . It is also highly ambiguous . Demirta ? is one of a number of Kurdish non combatants who have been allowed to visit the guerrilla leader at his island prison , and the formation of the  as a party promoting democracy for all citizens is said to have been ? calan s idea .  Demirta ? insists that ? calan should be freed and allowed to take his place in the Kurdish political sphere , but that would lead to rivalry between the two men . It would certainly have an impact on the  s attempts to attract non Kurds ? ? calan s long association with violence makes him beyond the pale even for liberal Turks . Although he wouldn t say it , it is probably better for Demirta ? s political project that ? calan remain on his island .  Erdo ? an gradually removed the army s baleful influence over civilian politics , which had manifested itself in no fewer than three coups since 1950 . He also opened negotiations to restore diplomatic relations with the old enemy , Armenia , and enacted pro democracy reforms that were designed to bring Turkey into the European Union . Just as Demirta ? is the current darling of the western ambassadors , so Erdo ? an was a decade ago the ambassadors took it upon themselves to smooth his plebeian edges and refine his worldview .  But at the first sign that his popularity was waning , as his Syria policy began to fail , the pluralist Erdo ? an became the majoritarian Erdo ? an . He abandoned his pro democracy projects and began promoting a binding Turkish Sunni identity that regards minorities such as the Kurds , the Alevis ( a quasi Shia community numbering perhaps 13 million people ) and indeed any liberal or non believer as a menace . His view of the Armenians has soured to such an extent that before mentioning them in an interview last year he deployed the Turkish equivalent of pardon my French .  The first indication that Demirta ? s recipe of peace and federalism might present a threat to Erdo ? an s tarnished leadership came in the 2014 presidential election , when Demirta ? , running as the  candidate , scored a creditable 10 . The  s 13 in this June s election ended the  s 13 year absolute majority in parliament and scotched Erdo ? an s ambitions to increase the powers of the presidency . To a standing ovation from his fellow MPs , in May Demirta ? publicly ruled out a deal whereby the  would approve enhanced presidential powers for Erdo ? an in return for devolution and Kurdish rights . There would , he said , be no dirty bargaining we will not allow you to be an executive president .  For Erdo ? an , the threat posed by Demirta ? lies in the almost one million non Kurdish votes he picked up in July  For Erdo ? an , the threat posed by Demirta ? lies less in the almost blanket support he enjoys among Kurdish voters , which is naturally finite , than the almost one million non Kurdish votes he picked up in June , which could go up . Alevis , as well as members of the country s Shia , Christian and small regional minorities , have noted the  s pledge to release the country from the monopolistic understanding of the country as a Turkish Sunni nation , and from a president whose appetite for power is clearly undimmed . Then there are the liberals who took part in the brave but ultimately futile demonstrations against Erdo ? an in Istanbul two years ago , women attracted to Demirta ? s message of equality of opportunity and zero tolerance of domestic violence ( 31 of the party s MPs are women ) , and gay people , hitherto neglected by most of the Turkish body politic , but who receive lavish attention in the party programme . Its inclusivity is what marks the  out from the earlier Kurdish nationalist parties it has replaced , and while the idea was approved by ? calan , it is Demirta ? who implemented it .  Together these groups represent a potentially vast reservoir of  voters , whose inherent squeamishness about favouring a Kurdish nationalist party Demirta ? hopes in time to surmount .  But to do this he needs peace , and Erdo ? an has taken the country in the opposite direction . He clearly believes that a climate of chaos best suits his design of winning back votes for the  . Since the Suru ? bombing in July , Turkey has been consumed in a fireball of violence that is reminiscent of the war s zenith in the 1990s . According to Turkey s Human Rights Association , the death toll for the first nine months of this year was 407 ( the overwhelming majority of these deaths came after Suru ? ) , while 3 , 500 people were arrested . As documented recently by Human Rights Watch , beatings and other abuses are being administered against detainees , a scourge that Turkey appeared to have put behind it a decade ago .  At the same time , the state has been diligently undermining the  s ability to fight an election campaign , with Turkish nationalist mobs torching party offices around the country ( the perpetrators are never caught ) , a de facto embargo observed by much of the media , and dozens of local Kurdish administrators removed from their posts .  Although the  returned to its fighting ways after Suru ? ? its first operation was to plant a car bomb that killed two soldiers ? its commanders had clearly not anticipated Erdo ? an s willingness to wage total war in the runup to November s election . In October , they were spooked into announcing a unilateral ceasefire under which they pledged only to return fire . Since then , however , Turkish soldiers and the  have continued to clash , with deaths on both sides . The soldiers funerals are given blanket coverage on the news bulletins every night , complete with close ups of devastated widows and orphans . It all reinforces Erdo ? an s electoral message : sans moi , le deluge .  The recent violence reached new heights with the suicide bombs that ripped through the Ankara peace march of 10 October . The government had taken few measures to protect the marchers what security personnel were on hand contented themselves with teargassing the survivors . Since then it has emerged that the families of the two men accused of the Ankara bombing ( one of whom was the brother of the Suru ? bomber ) had alerted the authorities to the fact that their relatives had joined Isis . Despite being officially pursued by police , the bombers were able to travel hundreds of kilometres to Ankara before breakfasting in a cafe and going by taxi to the station .  The polls suggest that the  vote will hold up in spite of the violence and intimidation , and that the party will clear the 10 threshold required for parliamentary representation . That would mean another hung parliament . If that happens , it is hard to see how Erdo ? an ? short of mounting a civilian coup ? could prevent the formation of a coalition that would signify the end of his unchallenged dominance of public life , and probably revive a peace process between Turkey and the  that , for all its imperfections , offers all sides the best chance of a decent future .  At sundown on 20 October , Selahattin Demirta ? was sitting at one end of a crowded meeting hall belonging to one of Istanbul s associations of Alevis , while his host made a speech in welcome . He stared out at the cameramen and reporters , and behind them at the long tables , at which several hundred Alevis were also seated , preparing to break their fast .  Campaigning before the June election Demirta ? had been full of mischief , needling Erdo ? an , making fun of the  s gaffes . In one speech he brought the house down when he introduced his party s Armenian candidate , Garo Paylan , as pardon my French .  In the Alevi association , in this subdued but defiant campaign , Demirta ? looked past the cameras , his gaze static and distant , and seemed not to be there . He had spent much of the previous 10 days travelling around the country , attending the funerals of victims of the Ankara bombing . He repeated his allegations of government involvement in the bombing .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
13803,13804,"Reuters) - Six Russian Tu-22M3 long-range bombers struck Islamic State targets near the town of Abu Kemal in Syria on Thursday,  news agency reported, citing Russia s Defense Ministry. Command centers and weapon depots were among the targets hit in the air strike, Russia s military said, according to RIA. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
13808,13809,"The band issued a new statement on its Facebook page  The members of Eagles of Death Metal , the American band that was performing in Paris when terrorists opened fire on the crowd during a series of attacks Friday , say they are still in shock from last week s violence and have put all scheduled shows on hold .  While the band is now home safe , we are horrified and still trying to come to terms with what happened in France , the band wrote in a statement on its Facebook page . Our thoughts and hearts are first and foremost with our brother Nick Alexander , our record company comrades Thomas Ayad , Marie Mosser , and Manu Perez , and all the friends and fans whose lives were taken in Paris , as well as their friends , families , and loved ones .  Within a few hours of the coordinated attacks that killed more than 120 people , the band posted a statement saying they were still trying to confirm the safety and whereabouts of each member and their crew . Eagles of Death Metal s management confirmed that all the band members were safe , but some associates of the band ? such as Alexander , who had been selling merchandise at the show ? were later confirmed to have been killed in the attacks at the La Bataclan concert hall .  Although bonded in grief with the victims , the fans , the families , the citizens of Paris , and all those affected by terrorism , we are proud to stand together , with our new family , now united by a common goal of love and compassion , the band wrote .  Read their full statement below or on the band s Facebook page :  While the band is now home safe , we are horrified and still trying to come to terms with what happened in France . Our thoughts and hearts are first and foremost with our brother Nick Alexander , our record company comrades Thomas Ayad , Marie Mosser , and Manu Perez , and all the friends and fans whose lives were taken in Paris , as well as their friends , families , and loved ones .  Although bonded in grief with the victims , the fans , the families , the citizens of Paris , and all those affected by terrorism , we are proud to stand together , with our new family , now united by a common goal of love and compassion .  We would like to thank the French police , the  , the U . S . and French State Departments , and especially all those at ground zero with us who helped each other as best they could during this unimaginable ordeal , proving once again that love overshadows evil .  All  shows are on hold until further notice .  Vive la musique , vive la libert , vive la France , and vive  .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
13823,13824,"Boston Whisked to Boston to face dozens of charges , including murder and racketeering , captured fugitive James "" Whitey "" Bulger made a court appearance Friday and said he could afford a lawyer "" if you give me my money back . ""  Bulger , 81 , appeared before two federal magistrate judges because he faces two 100 plus page indictments featuring a litany of allegations dating back to the early 1970s .  The accused mobster , who authorities said was the leader of the Winter Hill Gang , "" looks forward to facing the charges against him , "" his provisional attorney , Peter Krupp , said after the proceedings .  Bulger , arrested after being on the lam 16 years , was transported from California in a private jet , along with his longtime girlfriend , Catherine Elizabeth Greig . They were quickly driven to the courthouse .  Bulger , Greig lived good life in Santa Monica  Relatives of some of Bulger ' s alleged victims were in the packed courtroom .  Bulger , shackled when he entered court , did not seek bail or enter a plea Friday . He may ask for bail later .  "" He ' s a murderer and a destroyer of families , "" said Tom Donahue , who said Bulger is responsible for the death of his father , Michael . Donahue and his mother , Patricia Donahue , said the  should have found Bulger before this week .  "" ( Bulger ) seemed like a very meek man , spoke very softly , was more concerned about what he had , rather than what ' s going on in his life , "" Patricia Donohue told reporters .  Bulger told a judge he has the money to pay for a lawyer "" if you give me my money back . "" The  said it found more than 800 , 000 in cash at the suspect ' s California apartment .  Assistant U . S . Attorney Brian Kelly said that , based on a conversation with Greig , prosecutors believe Massachusetts political figure William Bulger will help pay for his brother ' s defense .  The prosecutor said he believes the reputed mob boss has significant resources . "" He didn ' t earn 800 , 000 working a paper route along the Santa Monica Boulevard , "" Kelly said .  William Bulger , former president of the Massachusetts State Senate , smiled at his brother during the proceedings . William Bulger had no substantive comment when he left the courthouse .  Bulger vanished in 1995 into lore and became the inspiration for the 2006 Martin Scorsese film "" The Departed . "" He was nabbed by the  on Wednesday night in Southern California .  Bulger was arrested with Greig , who is accused of harboring a fugitive . She made an initial appearance before a judge in a separate hearing in Boston on Friday . Greig will have a hearing for counsel Tuesday .  Bulger faces 19 counts of murder , along with conspiracy to commit murder , extortion , narcotics distribution and money laundering charges , the  said . He could receive a life sentence if convicted on the more serious charges .  Bulger had been living in a Santa Monica apartment and was arrested outside it , the  said .  Neither he nor Greig put up a fight , authorities said . After the arrests , members of the Fugitive Task Force , which included the  and police , searched the apartment . In addition to the cash , 30 firearms and fake IDs were found , the  said .  A neighbor of the couple , Catalina Schlank , said Greig once confided in her that Bulger was in the early stages of Alzheimer ' s .  A general manager at Michael ' s , a Santa Monica restaurant , said the pair had dined there a few times .  They made their reservations under the name of "" Mr Gasko "" through an Internet reservation service , Andrew Turner said .  In September 2009 , Bulger and Greig allegedly ordered two Grey Goose vodka cocktails , two Chardonnays and foie gras as an appetizer . For an entree , Bulger ate a 10 ounce , 28 day aged New York strip streak , and Greig ate lobster , Turner said .  The bill : 192 , plus tip , Turner said .  "" They were pleasant but they kind of kept to themselves and certainly did not have , as far as I can tell , any interaction with any other guests , "" the manager added .  The fugitives ' run from the law ended Wednesday .  A tipster called the  ' s Los Angeles office on Tuesday , and the information led authorities to the apartment , said Steven Martinez ,  assistant director in charge in Los Angeles . He would not divulge the city from which the call came .  The end of the manhunt came within days of the  launching a publicity campaign , airing ads about Greig in 14 markets across the country where the couple was known to have ties , authorities said . The arrests were a "" direct result "" of the media campaign , authorities said .  But some law enforcement officials outside the  say that the media campaign explanation could be a cover for something else .  These non  sources said it seems too easy that after so many years on the run and so much exposure , suddenly a public service announcement that doesn ' t even appear in Los Angeles leads to a tip . They hinted that maybe the explanation was a smokescreen to protect the real tipster from any harm .  The version that Fuentes heard from investigators in the case and others is that "" the person that called in the tip did not see the direct announcement but saw the media coverage that the  had done an announcement on one of the cable network channels , and they wouldn ' t tell me which one . ""  A law enforcement official with knowledge of the case verified that version of events . A "" tipster was watching national coverage of the  campaign , went to fbi . gov , where they saw additional photos , then called the  with the tip , "" the official said .  The Boston  officially buttressed that assertion Friday .  "" Any claim that the  knew Mr Bulger ' s whereabouts prior to the  ' s publicity efforts this week are completely unfounded , ""  Special Agent Richard DesLauriers said in a statement . "" When we learned his location , he was arrested promptly . ""  Carmen Ortiz , U . S . attorney for the District of Massachusetts , said she believes the death penalty is not an option in the federal charges Bulger faces in her district , but that she believes he could face the death penalty for two cases outside the district in Florida and Oklahoma .  Dick Lehr , who wrote a book about Bulger , described him as a cold blooded killer whose gang went to lengths to avoid detection .  "" When they killed someone this is pre  they pulled the teeth out , cut the fingers off , tried to make it so the victims , if they were discovered from their graves , couldn ' t be identified . There ' s just no bottom . It doesn ' t get much uglier than someone like Whitey Bulger , "" Lehr told Cooper .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
13828,13829,"Bart , the veteran black bear who figures prominently in Leonardo DiCaprio ' s latest film , The Revenant , will not attend this year ' s Oscars , joining the growing list of performers who will boycott the Feb . 28 award ceremony .  The issue of diversity in Hollywood was reignited after actress Jada Pinkett Smith , wife of actor Will Smith , announced her boycott of the Oscars because no African American actors most notably her husband were nominated for any of the major awards .  The issue of diversity also extends to the animal industry . The Academy ' s anti animal stance , or as Bart ' s handler calls it , "" the Bear Clause , "" is nothing new .  In the 1930 ' s , "" Rin Tin Tin , "" known as "" America ' s Greatest Canine Superstar , "" saved Warner Bros . studios from financial collapse during The Great Depression . He never received an Oscar nod .  "" Toto , "" the dog portrayed by canine star Terry the Terrier in The Wizard of Oz , was snubbed in 1939 , as was the most famous contemporary dog star , "" Lassie . ""  This is not Bart ' s first time at the rodeo . As the featured bear in 1994 ' s Legends of the Fall , he famously handed an awards envelope to Oscar host Billy Crystal during the 70th Annual Academy Awards ceremony in 1998 . Crystal responded , "" I just soiled myself . ""  When reminded that the American Humane Association created a film and television award for animals called the  award ( "" Picture Animal Top Star of the Year "" ) , Bart ' s trainer took a swipe at the questioning reporter and growled , "" That ' s no better than throwing a dog a bone ! ""  Will Bart ' s boycott positively affect the way animal actors are represented in film , and recognized by the Academy ?  Will Bart , nearing retirement age , finally receive his due before the annual "" memorial "" segment flashes his grizzled picture across the screen one last time ? Will he receive an honorary Oscar , or even the Gene Hersholt Humanitarian Award ? Will there be no honey for this bear ?  Whatever the outcome , Bart ' s message is loud and clear : "" I am bear . Hear me roar . ""  ",satire,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
13844,13845,"Tom Brady : Chiefs ' force you into a lot of bad football '  Tom Brady credits the Chiefs for their "" winning formula . ""  The last time the New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs met was in 2014 Sept . 29 of that year , to be exact . It ' s a game that the Patriots probably wish never happened , seeing as it resulted in a 41 14 loss and a 2 2 record at the time . Of course , they would go on to win the Super Bowl , losing just two games from that point forward .  That game comes to mind for every player set to take the field when the teams square off again on Saturday , particularly for Tom Brady . The future Hall of Famer had an abysmal game , throwing two picks and totaling just 159 yards through the air . He hopes to play differently this time around .  Brady discussed the Chiefs a bit on  ' s "" Dennis and Callahan "" Monday morning , and credited them for their "" winning formula . ""  I think exactly what I just described is how we played them last year , Brady said . Exactly how they won against Houston is exactly how they beat us . They just force you into a lot of bad football , and they ve got guys offensively that they can control the clock , they run the ball a lot , they have a very good quarterback who plays very efficiently . That s what they did to us , that s kind of a winning formula for them . That s been a winning formula for a long time . ""  The main reason for their success in the past 11 weeks has been because of their defense , led by safety Eric Berry .  They play very good defense . They rush the quarterback . They get ahead , they play on their terms , "" Brady said . "" They do a lot of things effectually schematic wise that present problems for an offense . And then if you get a little hesitant back there as a quarterback , they force you into mistakes . And they ve got a lot of playmakers on defense . Derrick Johnson s one of the best linebackers in the league , Eric Berry s one of the best safeties , Marcus Peters is one of the best corners , Tamba Hali and Justin Houston , along with the guys on the inside , they re all real playmakers . ""  The chances of the Patriots losing in blowout fashion once again aren ' t very good , but last year ' s game is likely in the back of their minds . The Chiefs are one of the hottest teams in football , while the Patriots have lost four of six entering the playoffs .  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
13854,13855,"Mr Obama ' s hallmark "" don ' t do stupid stuff "" policy from a few years back is currently being upgraded to "" unless it involves Syria . ""  Yesterday the  dropped 50 tons of ammunition near Raqqa to a Syria Arab brigade fighting   , the leader of which has been "" fully vetted "" according to a  Central Command spokesperson .  This means the ammunition will not ( at this time ) be passed along to al Nusra and  as previously in a regularly occurring transfer phenomenon from "" moderates "" to the extremists .  Being re considered is whether abandoning the  ' s half billion training program to develop moderates , which yielded four ( 4 ) combatants , was a good idea or not .  Designated "" stupid stuff "" three days ago , this train up the moderates program is possibly "" still feasible "" according to new thinking .  The State Department suggests that adding in a few moderates here and there might lead to their being targeted by the Russians , which could assist arguing points in complaining about Russia ' s current actions .  Meanwhile , not cooperating with Russia while maintaining the "" Assad must go "" position is still in place to maintain policy consistency .  With  defeated , the question of who will lead Syria will be pursued in negotiations between Russia , Iran , Israel , Saudi Arabia , Turkey , and the  .  The Syrian people ' s views will be considered as long as they do not add to regional tensions .  Assad will be offered a palatial estate in the Indian Ocean near the Chagos Islands .  His removal to retirement paradise will be protected by Saudi Arabian and Turkish air force fighter jets to make sure he arrives on the ground properly .  ",satire,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,satire,True,no,no,neutral,past
13882,13883,"Here kitty kitty  Their 12 year affair made Gennifer Flowers one of the most high profile though reluctant mistresses in America . Now , two decades after they split amid scandal , the former news reporter from Little Rock , Arkansas wants to sit down and talk ' with Bill Clinton .  In an exclusive interview with MailOnline , Gennifer has spoken of her deep regret at turning down Clinton ' s pleas to talk some eight years ago and revealed her belief that they would still be together today , were it not the birth of Clinton ' s daughter , Chelsea .  . . . Clinton , now 67 , also shared a lot of intimacies regarding his marriage to Hillary .  They left Gennifer in no doubt that the union is far from traditional . "" '  She said : What they have is very strong .  It obviously worked for them but I ' ve never considered theirs a traditional marriage . "" '  When rumours surfaced recently of an affair between Hillary Clinton and her transition office chief , Huma Abedin , 37 , Gennifer was not surprised .  The rumours concerning Huma , wife of disgraced former Mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner , 49 , emerged as she stood by her husband in the wake of his recent sexting ' scandal .  Revelations that he had sent intimate pictures of himself and steamy messages to 23 year old Sydney Leathers a girl he had only ever met ' online finally did for his New York Mayoral campaign last week .  The scandal broke almost exactly a year after the shamed congressman suffered a public mauling for the same behaviour . Then , as recently , his wife Huma Abedin stood by him .  This time round Huma ' s loyalty raised eyebrows and questions over why a woman of such accomplishment would stick by a man so apparently incapable of change .  Gennifer said : I don ' t know Huma or the Weiners . I just know what Bill told me and that was that he was aware that Hillary was bisexual and he didn ' t care . He should know .  He said Hillary had eaten more pussy than he had . "" '  ",satire,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,satire,True,no,no,positive,past
13898,13899,"The fire that engulfed a limousine on a bridge over the San Francisco Bay in May killing five members of a bachelorette party , including the bride to be was the result of friction between the car ' s drive shaft and the rear floor board , investigators said Monday .  They ruled the fire an accident and said no criminal charges will be filed .  Nine passengers were traveling in the limousine as it crossed the San Mateo Hayward Bridge on night of May 4 , including 31 year old Neriza Fojas , who was celebrating her upcoming wedding .  He thought she was asking to smoke a cigarette , he said , so he told her to wait just a few minutes because smoking wasn ' t allowed inside the vehicle .  After 30 seconds , she knocked again , Brown said . That ' s when he smelled smoke and pulled over .  Cell phone video shot by another driver shows the limo at the side of the bridge , the back engulfed in flames and the front in smoke .  A "" catastrophic failure "" of the limousine ' s rear suspension system allowed the rapidly spinning drive shaft to come into contact with the floor pan , Capt . Mike Maskarich of the California Highway Patrol ' s Redwood City office said .  As the fire grew , it ignited the back seat , creating black smoke and flames that filled the passenger compartment , Foster City Fire Chief Michael Keefe said . The smoke and fire blocked access to the rear doors , leaving passengers with only one exit the small opening into the driver ' s compartment , he said .  San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said Monday his office looked for anything that could have constituted a crime but found nothing .  "" We ' ve explored all possibilities , and the conclusion is that this is a horrific tragedy , "" he said .  Whatever went wrong with the suspension system happened after the limo started crossing the bridge , investigators said . Video of the vehicle going through the bridge ' s toll plaza does not show it riding low to the ground .  The investigation showed , however , that the limousine was carrying two more people than allowed . It was rated for seven passengers but was carrying nine .  The owner of the limousine company will be fined 7 , 500 for failing to operate safely , because there weren ' t enough seat belts for all nine passengers , said Brig . Gen . Jack Hagan , director of the safety and enforcement division of the California Public Utilities Commission , which oversees passenger carriers like limousines .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
13913,13914,"San Francisco residents will not be voting on whether male circumcisions should be banned in the city this fall .  A Superior Court judge ordered Thursday that the proposed measure , which had initially made it onto the November 8 city ballot , be removed entirely .  The measure proposed banning male circumcisions with the penalty of jail time or a 1 , 000 fine . It would not have granted religious exemptions .  From the beginning , the controversial ballot measure faced strong resistance from medical , religious and civil liberties groups .  Should teens make circumcision decision ?  Superior Court Judge Loretta Giorgi wrote that male circumcision is "" a widely practiced medical procedure "" and that medical services are left to the regulation of the state , not individual cities .  The judge ' s ruling was hailed by the Jewish Community Relations Council , the Anti Defamation League and others who had sued to remove the measure from the ballot .  ' Inactivists ' to San Francisco : Ban circumcision  "" While we are confident that the overwhelming majority of San Franciscans would have voted to defeat this extreme measure and are grateful for the outpouring of support from every sector of the community , we believe the right decision was made in the right venue , "" said Abby Michelson Porth , associate director of Jewish Community Relations Council .  The plaintiff ' s efforts were also supported by the American Civil Liberties Union and San Francisco ' s Medical Society . And even the San Francisco City Attorney ' s office expressed concerns about whether the measure was constitutional .  San Francisco ' s proposed circumcision ban galvanizes religious opposition  "" It ' s unusual for a judge to order an initiative off the ballot , but the proposed circumcision ban presented that rare case where the court should block an election on an initiative , "" said  Northern California staff attorney Margaret Crosby in a released statement . "" Not only is the ban patently illegal , it also threatened family privacy and religious freedom . The court ' s order protects fundamental constitutional values in San Francisco . ""  Anti circumcision advocates who had gathered more than 7 , 000 signatures to put the measure on the ballot expressed disappointment and said they would appeal .  Circumcising our son how do we decide ?  "" To remove an initiative before it comes on ballot is an extraordinarily irregular thing to do , "" said Lloyd Schofield , who is part of a Bay Area advocacy group that says the surgery violates human rights and likens it to "" male genital mutilation . ""  "" To go to this length to have it struck from the ballot is undemocratic , "" he said . "" It ' s very , very unfortunate . ""  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
13926,13927,"Suicide Attack Targets Pakistan Consulate In Afghanistan ' s Jalalabad  World Agencies Updated : January 13 , 2016 16 : 44   The attack took place 200 meters from the Indian consulate , in an area where there are many foreign missions .  Jalalabad : ? Afghan security forces exchanged fire with gunmen barricaded in a house near the Pakistan consulate in the eastern city of Jalalabad after a suicide bomber blew himself up today , officials said .  Nine people , including seven security personnel , were killed and 12 were wounded in the suicide attack and subsequent fighting , they said . Five of the attackers were also killed .  The attack on the consulate , which comes amid efforts to restart the stalled peace process with the Taliban and ease diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan , resembled an attack on the Indian consulate in the northern city of Mazar i Sharif on January 3 .  Witnesses in Jalalabad , the main trade gateway to the Khyber Pass and Pakistan , said heavy gunfire and a series of explosions could be heard and residents and children from a nearby school had been evacuated .  Attaullah Khogyani , a spokesman for the provincial governor , said a suicide bomber had tried to join a queue of people seeking visas to Pakistan and blew himself up after being prevented from entering the building .  Two policemen were killed in the blast , the interior ministry said in a statement .  Last week , a group of attackers barricaded themselves in a house and resisted security forces for about 24 hours after a suicide attack on the Indian consulate in Mazar i Sharif .  The group responsible for that attack has not been identified but the incident fuelled suspicion in India about terrorists sponsored from Pakistan and it cast a shadow over the latest effort to improve relations between the two neighbours .  A senior Afghan police officer said on Tuesday that Pakistan army officers were behind the attack on the Indian consulate in Mazar i Sharif . "" We saw with our own eyes and I can say 99 percent that those attackers were from Pakistani military and used special tactics while conducting their operation , "" Sayed Kamal Sadat , police chief of Afghanistan ' s northern Balkh province , was quoted as saying .  Tension between India and Pakistan has risen since the attack on its consulate and on an air base in Punjab ' s Pathankot that martyred seven security personnel . India has blamed the attacks on Pakistan based terrorists .  A rare meeting between the foreign secretaries of both countries had been tentatively scheduled for later this week , but it is unclear if it would still happen after the attacks .  Delegates from Afghanistan , Pakistan , China and the United States also met this week to try to resurrect efforts to end nearly 15 years of bloodshed in Afghanistan , even as fighting with the Taliban intensifies .  Pakistan says many Pakistani Taliban terrorists , who are separate from but allied with the Afghan Taliban , and are fighting to bring down the Pakistani state , have sought refuge in Afghanistan from a Pakistani army offensive .  At least 14 people were killed in a blast near a polio vaccination centre in the southwestern city of Quetta in Pakistan today .  Story First Published : January 13 , 2016 10 : 25   ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
13943,13944,"We all know the road to hell is paved with good intentions .  Julian Edelman is now on the  truck with tar on his hands .  If you think Edelman is an untouchable on the Patriots team because of his extraordinary development into the new Wes Welker , you need only ask Wes Welker how important that is .  Welker made a few foot jokes at the expense of podiatrist loving Rex Ryan and it was the beginning of his New England curtain call . When he made choice comments in regard to his Machiavellian coach , he was toast . They did not want him back .  Edelman is stepping into those discarded shoes of Wes Welker . His interview with loathsome  may be on the verge of treason in the fiefdom of Foxboro .  The slot man gives a dead on impersonation of Bill Belichick in his full dyspepsia mode , telling players , "" There are players at Foxboro High School who can play better . "" Even a moment after he did his public version of a Saturday Night Live skit , he knew it was less than a good idea .  That did not stop him from imitating Tom Brady in full octave higher mode , sounding like a harpie . Hmm , there goes four years of hard work trying to be Tom ' s best buddy . Gronk ' s take on it is that Julian is a toady of the highest order . Jules recounts his four year effort to become Tom ' s jock sniffing lackey .  Of course , Edelman ' s piece of resistance may center on the Gaza strip tease he did . When asked if he were Jewish , Edelman put the emphasis on "" ish . "" Hmm , we doubt that won him any friends at B ' nai B ' rith .  The entire idea to do an in season interview on the network that had most blown up the Deflategate contretemps seems ill advised at best . Whether Julian Edelman turns out to be the hero of the Patriots , or another cast off , only the cognoscenti can say . And , we aren ' t talking .  ",satire,text,test,American football,US elections,true,satire,True,no,no,neutral,past
13951,13952,"Reuters) - Hundreds of thousands of Catalan independence supporters clogged one of Barcelona s main avenues on Saturday to demand the release of separatist leaders held in prison for their roles in the region s banned drive to split from Spain. Wearing yellow ribbons on their lapels to signify support, they filled the length of the Avenue Marina that runs from the beach to Barcelona s iconic Sagrada Familia church, while the jailed leaders  families made speeches. Catalonia s two main grassroots independence groups called the march, under the slogan  Freedom for the political prisoners,  after their leaders were remanded in custody on charges of sedition last month. The protest is seen as a test of how the independence movement s support has fared since the Catalan government declared independence on Oct. 27, prompting Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to fire its members, dissolve the regional parliament and call new elections for December. An opinion poll this week showed that pro-independence parties would win the largest share of the vote, though a majority was not assured and question marks remain over ousted regional head Carles Puigdemont s leadership of the separatist cause.   Look at all the people here,  said 63-year-old Pep Morales.  The independence movement is still going strong.  Barcelona police said about 750,000 people had attended, many from across Catalonia. The protesters carried photos with the faces of those in prison, waved the red-and-yellow striped Catalan independence flag and shone lights from their phones. The Spanish High Court has jailed eight former Catalan government members, along with the leaders of the Catalan National Assembly (ANC) and Omnium Cultural, while investigations continue. The High Court last week issued arrest warrants on charges of rebellion and sedition for Puigdemont, who flew to Brussels after being deposed, and four other former government members who went with him.  Your light reaches us in Brussels and illuminates the path we must keep following,  Puigdemont tweeted during the protest. On Thursday, the Supreme Court ruled to release on bail the Catalan parliament s speaker Carme Forcadell and four other lawmakers, who enabled the declaration of independence by overseeing a parliamentary vote. Another lawmaker was released without bail. Forcadell left jail on Friday after agreeing to renounce any political activity that went against the Spanish constitution, in effect banning her from campaigning for independence in the December election. Those terms threaten to undermine the independence movement just as cracks are starting to appear and tensions rise between the grassroots and their leaders. Puigdemont s PDeCAT party has failed to agree on a united ticket to contest the election with another secessionist party, the ERC, denting the pro-independence camp s hopes of pressing ahead after the election. On Saturday, the  said its leader, jailed former Catalan vice-president Oriol Junqueras, would be its candidate in December and he would campaign from behind bars. Pepita Sole, a 61-year-old pensioner in the crowd on Saturday, said she understood the Oct. 27 declaration was symbolic but now wanted the real thing.  They better understand that we re not faking.  ",true,dataset,test,Other news1,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
13952,13953,"Ronald Reagan is rolling in his grave.Donald Trump s campaign is guilty of colluding with Russia and that became even clearer on Friday morning when  revealed that a fifth person attended Trump Jr s meeting with a Russian lawyer.In addition to Paul Manafort, Jared Kushner, Trump Jr., and Kremlin-liked attorney Natalia Veselnitskya, the meeting at Trump Tower also included Rinat Akhmetshin, a former Soviet Army counterintelligence officer who may still have connections with Russian intelligence.That s right. Trump s campaign worked with a Soviet spy in an effort to win the 2016 Election.Here s the report via TwitterNBC EXCLUSIVE: A Russian-American lobbyist a fmr Soviet counter-intel officer was also in Don Jr./Russian lawyer mtg pic.twitter.com/6EmikNzsh0  Steve Kopack (@SteveKopack) July 14, 2017If this isn t enough to oust Trump and his goons and put them all in prison, the Republican Party has truly lost all sense of patriotism and duty.This is proof that Trump s campaign colluded with Russia to win the 2016 Election, and Americans across the country should be outraged enough to demand immediate consequences.Trump Jr. didn t do himself any favors either by lying about how many Russians he met with during an interview with Sean Hannity. Trump Jr. claimed that the emails he released contained  everything  on his meetings with Russians. Trump s top propaganda dog took Trump Jr. at his word, only to be humiliated this morning by the breaking news.Trump and his team have repeatedly tried to sweep this scandal under the rug for days now, but more bombshells continue to drop, damaging any shred of credibility the White House has left.Let s keep in mind that the Soviet Union wanted nothing more than to destroy the United States and our democracy for several decades. Both Republicans and Democrats worked to prevent that from happening. But only the Republicans are just fine with Russian meddling in the present day. If this had happened thirty years ago, Republicans would have had Trump Jr. arrested by now. The only reason they continue to protect Trump and his crime family is because they don t want to hurt their own power. They have literally chosen power and party over country and the Constitution they swore to defend.And Russia and Vladimir Putin couldn t be happier about it.Featured Image: John Moore/Getty Images",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
13957,13958,"Washington The Federal Aviation Administration has fired two air traffic controllers , one of whom worked in Knoxville , Tennessee , and the other in Miami , Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said Wednesday .  Both were fired for sleeping incidents , according to the Transportation Department .  The firings followed a spate of incidents in which controllers in various cities were reported to be sleeping while on duty .  The controllers fired Wednesday were not identified , but one such sleeping incident at the Miami Air Route Traffic Control Center was among the most recently reported , with the  suspending a unidentified controller there last Saturday .  In February , a controller was found sleeping while on duty in the radar room at the McGhee Tyson Airport in Knoxville . The  said earlier this month it was taking steps to fire that controller .  Aside from Miami and Knoxville , cases of sleeping controllers have been reported in Washington Seattle , and Reno , Nevada . There have been two suspected cases in Lubbock , Texas .  All the incidents occurred during controllers ' midnight shifts . Most though not all of the lapses occurred at local control towers .  In at least one incident , the  has said the controller deliberately went to sleep , while some of the others appear to have been accidental .  In response to the reports , top officials from the  and the air traffic controllers ' union began a cross country tour of air traffic control facilities this week to hold a series of meetings about safety and professionalism .  And federal officials announced a series of new regulations Saturday aimed at preventing air traffic controllers from falling asleep while on duty .  Among other things , controllers now must have a minimum of nine hours off between shifts , instead of the current minimum of eight hours , LaHood said . In addition , controllers can no longer be put on an unscheduled midnight shift following a day off .   managers also will schedule their own shifts so as to ensure greater coverage in the early morning and late night hours , the secretary added .  LaHood said the  and the air traffic controllers ' union agreed to implement changes immediately following the series of recent incidents involving sleeping air traffic controllers .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
13976,13977,"Iran ' s supreme leader has said that his country ' s struggle will only end when it defeats U . S . led oppression .  Ayatollah Ali Khamenei told members of parliament in Tehran that Iran must be armed and ' have the capability to defend itself ' in a ' world full of thieves ' .  His comments came as negotiations with the international community over Iran ' s nuclear programme ran into a stalemate , with Tehran saying world powers were ' demanding too much ' .  ' Battle and jihad are endless ' : Ayatollah Ali Khamenei , pictured in 2009 . He yesterday told MPs in Tehran that ' battle will only end when society can get rid of the oppressors ' front with America at the head '  ' This battle will only end when the society can get rid of the oppressors ' front with America at the head of it , which has expanded its claws on human mind , body and thought .  ' This requires a difficult and lengthy struggle and need for great strides . '  Khamenei ' s address to Parliament on Sunday continued with veiled references to the actions of the West and Arab states as he justified Iran ' s continued defiance of international sanctions against its nuclear programme .  ' Logic and reason command that for Iran , in order to pass through a region full of pirates , needs to arm itself and must have the capability to defend itself , ' he said .  ' They should stop demanding too much ' : Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif , who says the impasse in nuclear talks is not his fault  ' Today ' s world is full of thieves and plunderers of human honour , dignity and morality who are equipped with knowledge , wealth and power , and under the pretense of humanity easily commit crimes and betray human ideals and start wars in different parts of the world . '  There has been little progress in the latest round of nuclear talks between Tehran and the U . S . , Russia , France , Britain , China the five permanent members of the  Security Council and Germany .  Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif , speaking in Tehran today before a visit to Turkey for talks with European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton , laid the blame for the impasse at the feet of the six powers .  ' They should stop demanding too much . We have our red line , and they too want assurances that our nuclear programme will always remain peaceful . We believe these two add up , ' he was quoted as saying by state news agency  .  ' I feel the realism awakened from the last round of talks will bring us closer to conclusion . We may be able to remove one of two of the previous hurdles , or rather face new ones . In any case , we should make an effort to pass through this phase . '  Iran considers the right to enrich uranium for nuclear energy a red line but that levels of enrichment are negotiable .  Enriched uranium provides fuel for nuclear generating stations but it is also , if refined to a high level , the key ingredient for atomic bombs .  Western powers claim Iran ' s declared civilian nuclear energy programme is a facade for seeking a weapons capability . Iran denies this but it has a history of hiding activity from U . N . nuclear inspectors .  The powers want Iran to agree to scale back enrichment and other nuclear activity and accept tougher U . N . inspections to prove it can ' t quickly build atomic bombs , in exchange for an end to economic sanctions .  But Mr Zarif said world powers should refrain from additional pressure on the Islamic Republic to force it into concessions .  ' Sanctions haven ' t served them any purpose , only led to our making 19 , 000 centrifuges , ' he said , according to  , referring to the machines that enrich uranium .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
13986,13987,"Neymar struck twice as Barcelona came from behind to seal a 3 2 victory over nine man Atletico Madrid and reach the Copa del Rey semi final 4 2 on aggregate on Wednesday .  Fernando Torres put Atletico ahead inside the first minute with a precise strike from the edge of the area but Barca have clicked into form recently and hit back quickly through Neymar .  Atletico were awarded a penalty when Javier Mascherano was adjudged to have fouled Juanfran Torres on the half hour mark , though television replays appeared to show the incident occurred outside the area .  The Barcelona players pose for the camera shortly after their Copa del Rey win against Atletico Madrid  Spanish striker Torres opened the scoring at the Vicente Calderon after just 40 seconds on Wednesday night  It started so well for then hosts , having scored in the opening 40 seconds through Fernando Torres  Former Chelsea forward Fernando Torres kisses the ground having opened the scoring for his boyhood club in the Copa del Rey  Neymar with a clinical finish within 10 minutes to level the scores at 1 1 in the Copa del Rey quarter final clash  Raul Garcia made no mistake from the spot to restore Atletico ' s advantage .  Miranda put the ball into his own net as he attempted to clear a corner which had been flicked on by Sergio Busquets and in a lightning attack from Barca , Jordi Alba found Neymar in the area and the Brazilian finished clinically .  There were heated exchanges throughout the match with plenty at stake and it boiled over at half time with Atletico midfielder Gabi Fernandez sent off following a confrontation in the tunnel .  Mario Suarez was also dismissed six minutes from the end after receiving his second yellow card .  Atletico boss Diego Simeone said after the match that he told his side to ease up in the second half .  ' I think we started well but we gave up on the second half and then how we played was my decision not to take risks conceding goals and without aspirations to score any , ' Simeone told reporters .  The Argentine was also full of praise for Barcelona , who he feels are improving as the season progresses .  ' Barcelona are much more intense in their play , ' Simeone said . ' The arrival of Luis Suarez has empowered the squad , as has those of Bravo and Ter Stegen . They ' re in a very good moment .  Neymar ( left ) in celebration with Luis Suarez ( right ) after scoring the away side ' s first at the Vicente Calderon  Simeone was proud of his players efforts and said he told them to show restraint in the second half  Neymar and Messi roar in celebration as Luis Enrique ' s side manage to score three times in the first half  ' In the second half , we had to opt for a game that was more convenient for us against them . '  The Atletico players were angry with the performance of the referee but Busquets felt that neither side benefited from his decisions .  ' I ' ve also been told that the penalty conceded by Mascherano shouldn ' t have been given . There were mistakes made against both teams , ' he told reporters .  ' There was little control in the game in the first half . It was a good half for the fans and we took advantage of the openings that we had . '  Despite the fact they were chasing the game , Atletico coach Simeone said he asked his players to show more restraint at half time .  Sergio Busquets ( right ) believes that the refereeing decisions hindered both teams during the game  Brazilian star Neymar was presented with an easy chance to fire Barcelona 3 2 ahead on the night  ' I told them not to take risks and concentrate on not conceding goals , ' he told a news conference .  ' I thought it was the best decision for the team and the club after the way the first half went . '  Barca will face the winners of Getafe and Villarreal who play on Thursday with the latter leading 1 0 from the first leg .  Athletic Bilbao are at home to Malaga having drawn 0 0 in the first leg and Espanyol travel to Sevilla leading 3 1 .  ",true,text,test,Football,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
14006,14007,"They say karma s a bi*ch. It appears that at least two serious contenders for the Republican nomination for the presidency may not be eligible to be president according to birthers. Ted Cruz was born in Canada and Marco Rubio is being challenged as well. This week, Rubio sought to have a Florida complaint on his eligibility thrown out saying the argument  would jeopardize centuries of precedent and deem at least six former presidents ineligible for office. Rubio was born in Florida in 1971. However, Rubio s Cuban immigrant parents did not become U.S. citizens until 1975. That, according to birthers, means he s disqualified from becoming  president under Article 2 of the Constitution, which states that  no person except a natural born citizen   shall be eligible to the Office of President.  This is despite the fact that Rubio was born in the United States. Here is the birther argument about Rubio:  Birthers rely on various passages to back up their argument. One is the treatise The Law of Nations by Swiss philosopher Emer de Vattel, which they say influenced the founding fathers. The natives, or natural-born citizens, are those born in the country, of parents who are citizens.   They also cite the U.S. Supreme Court, which in the 1875 case Minor vs. Happersett, used the term  natural born citizen  in reference to persons who were born in the United States, of U.S.-citizen parents. Birthers argue that since his parents were not citizens when he was born, that disqualifies him from becoming president. Rubio filed a motion to dismiss on Jan. 11. The 34-page filing shows that Rubio s legal team spent considerable time researching the issue. The report concludes the following: Senator Rubio is a natural born citizen of the United States and he is eligible to be President of the United States. Is it karma that the Republicans are now reeling from the prospect of two of their leading candidates being ineligible for the presidency?  Throughout President Obama s seven years in the White House, many Republicans have floated the idea that he was not born in the United States. In fact, they propagated the idea so much that 53% of Republicans believe this nonsense today.Now, it s the Republicans that are destroying any credibility they have left. It s not just Rubio. Trump is after Cruz, saying he s disqualified from being president because he was born in Canada. Trump even plays Born in the USA, by Bruce Springsteen, at all his rallies as a shot at Cruz.The birther movement, which consists of many Republicans, has attacked and tried to discredit the president for years. Now, that same movement is after the very same institution, the Republican Party, that propagated it in the first place.Featured Image: Flickr",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,fake,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
14007,14008,"It is no secret that President Donald Trump likes to call any press coverage that he does not like  fake.  This weekend he upped the ante a bit when he did an interview with John Dickerson for  s Face the Nation. Trump took the opportunity to bash the show to the show s host.After Dickerson called Trump out on some of his policy reversals over the course of the first 100 days of his presidency, this exchange happened: It s always a challenge like life itself is a challenge. It s very funny when the fake media goes out   which we call the mainstream media, which sometimes, I must say is you,  said Trump. You mean, me personally?  asked Dickerson Your show, I love your show. I call it  Deface the Nation , but your show is sometimes not exactly correct,  said Trump. Featured image via CBS.",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
14009,14010,"Saudi Arabia poised to be reelected to  Human Rights Council   Source:   As the death toll in Yemen surpasses 10,000, Saudi Arabia, one of the principal parties in the conflict, is poised to be reelected to the  human rights body. Saudi airstrikes are responsible for the majority of the nearly 4,000 civilian deaths in Yemen.  A secret ballot vote at the  General Assembly on Friday will select the 14 members of the  Human Rights Council (UNHRC), or a third of its 47 members. Saudi Arabia, Iraq, China, and Japan are running for the four seats from the Asia-Pacific region, and are all expected to secure seats.  Riyadh’s term at the  would be the third in a row, and its presence at the body has been increasingly puzzling to human rights groups, given its record of twisting arms at the  to hush up its rights abuses.  In June,  Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon publicly admitted that Saudi Arabia threatened to withdraw funding from numerous programs due to an upcoming report on violations of children’s rights. The report would list the Arab kingdom among violators over the toll its military campaign and blockade of Yemen has taken on children. The threat resulted in Saudi Arabia’s removal from the blacklist, even though Riyadh’s tactics had been exposed.  “The report describes horrors no child should have to face,” Ban Ki-moon told reporters at the time. “At the same time, I also had to consider the very real prospect that millions of other children would suffer grievously if, as was suggested to me, countries would defund many  programs.”  “It is unacceptable for  member states to exert undue pressure,” the secretary-general added, pledging to review the removal of the Saudis from the list.  This incident of Saudi Arabia working against  human rights efforts is far from being isolated. In Yemen, the kingdom used control of air traffic to prevent foreign journalists, employees of international aid organizations, and  officials from visiting the war-torn country and reporting on the situation there.  In September, it used diplomatic pressure against the Netherlands after it introduced a resolution at the  that would launch an independent investigation into airstrikes on Yemen. The Dutch proposal failed and an Arab version was passed, one which entrusted the probe to the exiled Yemeni government, which the Saudis want to put back into power through its military actions.  Domestically, Riyadh’s policies often run against those of the  human rights body. Seven petitions to allow special rapporteurs for the  High Commissioner on Human Rights to investigate abuses in Saudi Arabia remain pending , some for over a decade.  The kingdom was also reported to persecute its own subjects who cooperate with  investigations. For instance, human rights defender Mohammed al-Qahtani, who contributed to several  reports, was accused of things like “distorting the reputation of the country” and “provoking international organizations to adopt stances against the kingdom.” He is currently serving a lengthy prison term.  While far from being the only authoritarian regime with a seat at the UNHRC, Saudi Arabia maintains some of the most restrictive domestic policies. Homosexuality and conversion from Islam to another religion are punishable by death. Sentences include corporal punishment, as highlighted by the case of blogger Raif Badawi who is to be flogged 1,000 times while serving a 10-year sentence for “insulting Islam.”  Saudi Arabia is also one of the world’s most enthusiastic executors. The number of beheadings spiked under King Salman with 157 executions reported in 2015, and 124 between January and September 2016. Share This Article...",fake,news,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
14016,14017,"Reuters) - A Spanish judge ordered nine Catalan secessionist leaders to be held in custody on Thursday pending a potential trial over the region s independence push. The lawyer for ousted Catalan President Carles Puigdemont said a warrant had also been issued for his client s arrest - though the statement was dismissed by a senior official in Spain s High Court. The reason for the differing accounts was not immediately clear. In an short address broadcast by Catalan regional television TV3, Puigdemont called for the release of  the legitimate government of Catalonia , a call echoed by hundreds of people gathered outside the Catalan parliament. Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy sacked Puigdemont and his government last week, hours after the Catalan parliament made a unilateral declaration of independence - a vote boycotted by the opposition and declared illegal by Spanish courts. Puigdemont later traveled to Belgium with four associates and ignored an order to appear before the High Court to answer charges of rebellion, sedition and misuse of public funds relating to the region s secessionist drive.  Mr. Puigdemont will stay here. He has said that he will fully cooperate with Belgian authorities during the procedure,  lawyer Paul Bekaert told Belgian state broadcaster VRT.  He said Puigdemont had told him a European arrest warrant has been issued, though the court source said that would most likely happen on Friday. The detention of the secessionist leaders and Puigdemont s flight to Belgium make it difficult for leading figures from the independence movement to stand in a snap election in the wealthy region called by the Spanish government for Dec. 21. Puigdemont said on Tuesday he would go back to Spain only if given unspecified guarantees by the Spanish government. His flight appears to have cost some support for his cause at home.  President, enough is enough,  the influential Catalan newspaper el Peridico, which has been skeptical of the case for independence, said on its front page on Wednesday. Ebelio Ramos, a pensioner from the pro-independence town of Berga said:  I don t know what they re thinking about but when someone does what he did and declares independence and then flees... A president has to fulfill the law and if he doesn t, it is better that he stays calm, because if he starts doing something outside the law, he is going to lose everything.  Following a tumultuous month, attention is gradually turning to the December vote. Protests taking place in central Barcelona on Thursday to support secessionist leaders as they testified in Madrid failed to attract a big crowd. Several hundred people took part in another protest called after the nine leaders were ordered held in custody, many fewer than the hundreds of thousands who staged several demonstrations for independence over the last two months.  Cracks have appeared within the pro-independence coalition of center-right and far-left parties as well as inside Puigdemont s own PdeCat (Democratic Catalan Party) where some of his allies are now pushing for a negotiated solution with the central government. The struggle has divided Catalonia itself and caused deep resentment across the rest of Spain. In Madrid, 20 secessionist leaders had been summoned by two separate courts to testify over their role in holding a banned Oct. 1 referendum on secession and later proclaiming independence from Spain. With Puigdemont and four others in Belgium, only 15 turned up. All the members of the dismissed Catalan cabinet but one declined to answer questions from the state prosecutor and the High Court judge, who opened an investigation that could take several years before any potential trial.  The defendants have played an active role by propelling the carefully designed secessionist process and overcoming all kinds of obstacles that could make them deviate from their final objective,  the judge said in the ruling that sent the defendants to jail. She said the defendants, who could face jail sentences of up to 50 years, must be held in custody because they were a flight risk and could destroy evidence. One of them, Santi Vila, who stepped down from the Catalan cabinet before a unilateral declaration of independence last Friday and has since then been pushing for a negotiated solution with the government, was granted bail of 50,000 euros ($58,300). A lawyer for several of the jailed Catalan leaders said they would appeal against the judge s decision.  The decision to hold them in custody is absolutely disproportionate as we consider the charges of rebellion and sedition lack any ground, no matter how much the prosecution insists on affirming it,  lawyer Jaume Alonso-Cuevillas said. Five senior regional lawmakers and the speaker of the Catalan parliament, Carme Forcadell, were summoned by the Supreme Court, which handles the cases of people who enjoy parliamentary immunity. The Supreme Court agreed on Thursday to give one more week to Forcadell and the Catalan lawmakers to prepare their defense and a new hearing will take place on Nov. 9. The courts have already told the Catalan secessionist leaders to deposit 6.2 million euros ($7.2 million) by Friday to cover potential liabilities. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
14032,14033,"Wimbledon champion Serena Williams recovered from an awful start to beat Tsvetana Pironkova in the opening round at the Eastbourne grass court event , her first match since victory at the All England Club last year .  The American lost the opening five games to her Bulgarian opponent , but gradually found her form to secure a 1 6 6 3 6 4 victory in just over two hours .  The 13 time grand slam champion , who has been off the court for nearly a year because of a long standing foot injury , before developing a blood clot in her lungs , will now face top seed Vera Zvonareva in a repeat of last year ' s Wimbledon final .  Serena : ' I came back from death bed '  Williams told reporters : "" It wasn ' t an easy match but more than anything , I wanted to win .  "" She ' s an unbelievable player and beat Venus at Wimbledon last year . When I saw the draw I thought ' Oh my god . ' I ' m a little rusty but I enjoy being back on the grass . ""  Russian Zvonareva secured her place in the second round with a 6 3 6 3 victory over Briton Heather Watson .  Serena ' s win followed on from older sister Venus knocking out eighth seed Andrea Petkovic in her comeback match on Monday .  Fourth seed and former French Open champion Francesca Schiavone is also through after a 7 6 6 1 win over Kaia Kanepi of Estonia , while another former Roland Garros winner , Ana Ivanovic of Serbia , saw off up and coming German Julia Goerges 6 4 6 3 .  Ivanovic told reporters that she is starting to find her form again after a dismal last couple of years .  "" In the last few weeks I ' m starting to gain more confidence again and there are things that I have to work on during matches , "" she added .  British number one Elena Baltacha , who is now up to 61st in the world , gave the home crowd some cheer with a 6 2 6 1 thumping of Frenchwoman Aravane Rezai , while holder Ekaterina Makarova of Russia struggled past Croatian qualifier Mirjana Lucic 6 1 3 6 6 4 .  In the men ' s section , South African sixth seed Kevin Anderson defeated British qualifier Alexander Slabinsky 7 5 6 3 , but fifth seed Sergiy Stakhovsky suffered a shock 6 3 6 2 defeat at the hands of former Wimbledon semifinalist Rainer Schuettler .  Later in the afternoon , Queen ' s Club runner up and top seed Jo Wilfried Tsonga enjoyed a comfortable 6 2 7 5 victory over Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan .  Meanwhile , there was a major shock in the  Open in s ' Hertogenbosch with top seed Kim Clijsters crashing out in the second round .  Clijsters , the reigning U . S . Open and Australian Open champion , was beaten 7 6 6 3 by Swiss born Italian qualifier Romina Oprandi , ranked 82nd in the world .  Clijsters later told reporters she would undergo more tests on the right ankle that she hurt while dancing at a cousin ' s wedding earlier this year .  "" I ' m going to have some more tests and then I ' ll be able to give a more specific answer about the situation , "" said Clijsters .  "" I feel like I was hitting the ball very well in practice . I was moving well . I wasn ' t really worried too much , "" she added .  Oprandi will next face Kimiko Date Krumm after the Japanese veteran beat Lourdes Dominguez Lino 7 6 6 0 .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
14068,14069,"Before she was taken hostage during a brazen bank robbery this month , Misty Holt Singh worried about one thing , says a woman inside the bank with her .  The three heavily armed men forced Holt Singh and two female bank employees into a Ford Expedition and sped away , police in Stockton , California , said . About 50 law enforcement vehicles chased the  for an hour during a high speed gunbattle .  The chase ended with three deaths two suspects and Holt Singh , who was used as a human shield , police said . Authorities don ' t know if the police or the suspects fired the bullets that killed her .  Martinez , the first victim to talk about the robbery , said she and other customers were inside the bank July 16 when the three armed men entered and demanded money . They tied up a security guard . Holt Singh ' s 12 year old daughter was sitting in the car in the parking lot .  "" They had guns , and it was happening so fast , "" Martinez said . "" When they found out the police officers were there , they said we ' re going to take hostages . They just grabbed Misty . ""  Police chased the  on surface streets and interstates through Lodi to Acampo , then 20 miles back to Stockton . Gunfire from a semiautomatic ""  47 type assault rifle "" and other weapons struck 14 of the squad cars that gave chase , police said .  The two bank employees either jumped or were pushed out of the  and will recover , police said .  When the chase ended , Holt Singh was dead , along with two suspects , ages 27 and 30 . Police said they were members of the Norte os street gang .  Police arrested Jaime Ramos , 19 , of Stockton and charged him with murder and other offenses .  Authorities have offered a 50 , 000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of a fourth suspect ,  reported . Police said they think he dropped off the three men at Stockton ' s Bank of the West  Suspect in fatal Illinois bank robbery charged with firearms violation   nabs serial bank robbery suspect  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
14075,14076,"Between 1969 and 1993 , all 11 justices confirmed to the Supreme Court were named by Republican presidents . Now the re election of President Barack Obama promises to continue reshifting the balance of federal courts toward a more progressive stage , a legacy of judicial power that may be felt for decades .  Obama has already named two justices to the top bench Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan and it is possible he might name two or more in his second term .  "" With the president re elected , I think it ' s very likely that Ruth ( Bader ) Ginsburg , the justice who ' s the oldest ( at age 79 ) , will retire within the third year of a second term , leaving the president time to get another nominee in there , "" said Thomas Goldstein , a top appellate attorney and SCOTUSblogweblink publisher . "" Other than retirement , I think absent health problems the justices are not too anxious to leave . They all really like their jobs , it ' s a good job , and they all seem to be in great shape . ""  Opinion : Where Obama , and America , go from here  Federal judges serve for life , giving the president the political opportunity to shape a legacy that will long outlive his or her public service .  Besides Ginsburg , three other justices are in their 70s : fellow liberal Stephen Breyer , who is 74 and Republican appointees Antonin Scalia and Anthony Kennedy , both 76 .  Many conservative court watchers predict Obama will not dramatically alter his criteria for selecting judges , an approach driven in large part by political reality .  "" As the president himself said , he ' ll have a lot more ' flexibility , ' so he could appoint someone who ' s more of a hard left , "" said Carrie Severino , chief counsel of the Judicial Crisis Network , a conservative legal advocacy group . "" Frankly , he has already appointed a very solid , intelligent , articulate liberal in Elena Kagan . Justice Kagan , I think , in many ways is sort of a left Scalia . She ' s by no means in the center . She votes lock step with Justice Ginsburg . ""  While Democrats control the Senate the body that must confirm all nominees the Republican minority has been successful blocking two Obama appeals court picks deemed to be "" activist "" and "" radical "" by the right Californian Goodwin Liu and New Yorker Caitlin Halligan .  For its part , the current conservative majority high court has not been shy in adding some of the hottest political and social issues onto its docket . This year alone , the justices tackled immigration reform , affirmative action and the blockbuster health care reform law a late June majority ruling giving the president a major victory .  And the justices in coming days are set to decide whether to hear pending appeals on same sex marriage and voting rights enforcement by the federal government .  15 Supreme Court cases that changed America  "" The Supreme Court and its ideological divide is really placing the Constitution and the country in many ways at a crossroads , "" said Elizabeth Wydra , chief counsel of the liberal Constitutional Accountability Center . "" Where President Obama could have a big impact on the court is if one of the more conservative justices , like swing vote Anthony Kennedy or Justice Anton Scalia if they retired , then President Obama could replace a conservative or a right leaning moderate with a liberal justice and that would really shape the outcome of Supreme Court rulings for quite a while . ""  Some liberal groups have criticized the Obama White House for being less than aggressive in his first term naming proven progressives to the federal courts including district , and appeals vacancies . The number of judicial nominations by the current president has lagged by the dozens behind recent chief executives , and those nominees have on average been four years older than those named by President George W . Bush , according to Russell Wheeler , a Brookings Institution expert on judicial nominations .  But publicly , liberals say they are encouraged the courts will receive greater political attention over the next four years .  "" We look forward to working with the president on a robust justice agenda , "" said Nan Aron , president of the Alliance for Justice . "" That agenda must include a renewed commitment to civil liberties and leaving a legacy of judicial appointments that support our values of fairness and equal justice under law . ""  White House sources have acknowledged privately that Obama put judicial picks on a lower political priority in his first term , for the most part choosing what they characterize as moderate , non ideological , non controversial and confirmable slates of judges .  Those sources said the strategy reflected the president ' s own personal views that judges should not bring sharp partisanship to their jobs , but also political reality : Obama did not want to be sidelined fighting culture wars over judges with Republicans , while trying to repair the ailing economy and push health care reform .  Photos : Justice Roberts on the high court  His supporters also blame Senate Republicans for opposing many of the president ' s choices , even ones Democrats deemed well within the mainstream . Both sides of the aisle blame the other for abandoning an unofficial 2005 Senate agreement that allowed filibusters of judicial nominees only in extreme cases .  Republicans for their part say they cannot be criticized for the president being slow to bring judicial nominees to the Senate , and have said the rates of confirmation are consistent with previous administrations .  White House officials have emphasized diversity of the bench over hard numbers . Obama has successfully placed 72 women in the federal courts , the most ever in a single presidential term . It matches the number Bush named in his eight years from 2001 09 .  President Clinton named 111 female judges in his two terms .  From 1993 to 2017 Democratic presidents will have served 16 of those 24 years , approaching in judicial impact what Presidents Nixon , Ford , Reagan , and George H . W Bush did in their terms .  "" I think filling the lower court benches is going to be key , "" said Severino . "" That ' s something , much to my relief , actually , ( that ) President Obama hasn ' t focused on as much this past term . He did get his two Supreme Court nominations , which is huge , and has a great impact . But there ' s also the long term impact of filling the district court and the circuit court spots , and that ' s what is going to provide a deeper bench later on .  "" So we ' ll see if President Obama decides to switch his emphasis and fill more of those judicial vacancies or continues to embrace that as a lower priority . ""  Of more immediate concern to the rank and file federal courts : the pending 7 trillion "" fiscal cliff "" of mandatory federal tax increases and spending cuts if a budget deal is not reached by early January . Economists fear another journey back to a recession if things are left unchanged .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
14098,14099,"Following reports of rowdiness and alcohol consumption at last year ' s event , Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has volunteered to chaperone the White House State Dinner .  "" Listen , I know that a lot of these major political leaders and dignitaries are at an age where their hormones are doing most of the thinking , "" said Trudeau . "" So there have to be some ground rules if everyone is going to have a safe and fun time . ""  Trudeau ' s role as chaperone comes as a bit of a surprise to Canadians who had expected the Prime Minister to use this dinner as an opportunity to strengthen  Canadian relationships . Trudeau believes he can do both .  "" I think a man like President Obama will respect someone who ' s willing to play the bad guy , "" said Trudeau , pointing to himself . "" Somebody has to do it . By the way , there will be no straddling legs , no bending over , and no hands anywhere but the waist or shoulders . Think of it like church and state . It ' s fine if you attend together , but there needs to be some separation . ""  Trudeau then excused himself to confiscate a champagne flute from Bernie Sanders .  President Obama was hesitant to clarify Trudeau ' s role : "" In respect to my allied head of state , I am refraining from , uh commenting on his uh . chaperoning one of the nation ' s most prestigious and definitely grown up political events . ""  Despite Obama ' s reticence , Democratic senator Elizabeth Warren challenged Trudeau ' s chaperone candidacy . "" Um he knows we ' re adults , right ? I mean like someone told him ?  Trudeau responded to critics , by assuring them that even though rules need to be enforced , he promises to bring a great playlist made from radio edits of popular hip hop songs .  As of 12 : 36pm , Trudeau ' s rules included no fighting , no unapproved guests , and no seventh graders . There will be no dress restrictions for female attendees "" since it ' s 2016 . ""  Celebrity guest Rachel McAdams shrugged off the announcement , stating that Trudeau ' s stance on pot means he ' d probably be chill with everyone doing a little  , "" y ' know , as long he doesn ' t see it . "" '  ",satire,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,satire,True,no,no,neutral,present
14114,14115,"He didn ' t look like much when I first saw him strolling up to me at a campsite in Harriman State Park , New York , exactly two years ago .  His hair was stringy and unkempt , his thin face unshaven . A smudged shirt and dirt covered pants hung from his wiry , 50 year old frame .  I was leaving the communal bathroom , having just plugged my drained cell phone into the outlet by the sink , when I saw him . He nodded warmly as we passed and I found myself suddenly wondering if I had just seen the last of my phone . . .  When he saw me again , he said with incredible glee , "" Isn ' t this the most beautiful morning ? "" I nodded and then went back into the bathroom to find my cell phone right where I left it . Needless to say , I felt more than a little guilty about being so judgmental .  And that ' s how I met Ralph Benitez , the man who would eventually become the heart of my fatherhood documentary , "" The Evolution of Dad . ""  A short time later , I was washing some silverware at the campground sink when Ralph appeared with his own dishes . As we scrubbed , he told me how his sons had brought him camping trip and how lucky he felt to be with them .  "" You know , fatherhood saved my life . It did . I wouldn ' t be alive now if I hadn ' t become a dad , "" he confessed , explaining that before his three sons and one daughter were born , his life had been all about "" sex , drugs and rock ' n roll . ""  As we finished the dishes , Ralph talked about his kids . He said one of his sons was gay and how , despite his cultural background , he accepted his son unconditionally . He told me about his 4 year old granddaughter , for whom he was now a surrogate dad . I was startled and a little chastened . Here was this guy , who , minutes earlier , I had worried would steal my phone , and who I now realized completely personified everything that was noble about fatherhood .  He lived in the Bronx with his family , didn ' t have a computer and sometimes he didn ' t even have phone service . There was a great divide between this man from an inner city Latino community and me , a white Jewish guy from the affluent suburbs . But the differences in our backgrounds dissolved as we quickly forged a friendship .  I visited Ralph and his family several times that summer , filming as much as I could of this dad who spoke for so many fathers . Witnessing Ralph with his granddaughter , Kayla , as he lovingly took her to the park or for a stroll to the corner deli , was inspiring . Kayla ' s biological father wasn ' t in the picture and Ralph had dutifully stepped into the role .  And then there were the kids in the neighborhood who all looked up to him , many lacking dads of their own . Ralph called his two bedroom apartment "" the safe house "" because , in this particularly tough area of the Bronx , it was a place that friends and family and neighborhood kids could come and always feel secure .  For Ralph , the world was a horn of plenty . "" You see ? "" he would often say to his wife , "" If you have faith , God will provide . "" His wife Vilma , always the anchor to his exuberance , would roll her eyes with a "" Yeah , yeah , yeah , "" and although they occasionally squabbled , the love they shared with each other and everyone else in this safe haven was always tangible . If wealth could be only measured in love , then Bill Gates would ' ve had nothing on Ralph .  Sadly , there was a sense of urgency to film Ralph as quickly as possible because his health was rapidly deteriorating Ralph had full blown  . Miraculously , he had managed to survive for more than 10 years with the virus because he had volunteered himself as a test subject for any of the experimental drugs that Sloan Kettering was trying . He was even among the first to take "" the cocktail . "" As we sat together in his driveway one day , he told me that the doctors had recently told him that his medicine was becoming increasingly less effective and there was nothing more to do .  Still , we continued to spend time together and Ralph remained upbeat and hopeful . One of my best memories of Ralph occurred while taking a break from shooting , sitting with him in his driveway . In the heat radiating from the pavement , we ate plantains that Vilma had graciously cooked for us and talked about what was going on in the world , about our families , about anything . It was like we had known each other our whole lives .  As the summer slid away , so did Ralph ' s health . His family became less interested in being filmed , and Ralph explained that they were having a hard time coping with the fact that he wouldn ' t be around much longer .  Ralph Benitez passed away one snowy day in December 2008 . Even though his passing wasn ' t a shock , it took a while for me to get over it . I ' d never had a film subject die before , let alone a friend .  Ralph agreed to be in the film because he wanted to be remembered and because of how important he understood fatherhood to be in the lives of our kids .  I wish he could ' ve seen the finished film . But even though he didn ' t , I think he felt lucky to know that a part of him would live on in this way . For me , I just felt incredibly blessed to have met such an astonishingly wonderful man and a remarkable dad .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
14118,14119,"—   A federal judge on Friday ordered Hillary Clinton to provide written testimony under oath about why she set up a private computer server to send and receive emails while secretary of state, ensuring that the issue will continue to dog her presidential campaign until the eve of the election. In a brief ruling issued on Friday afternoon, the judge, Emmet G. Sullivan of Federal District Court in Washington, approved a motion by the conservative advocacy organization Judicial Watch to pursue its vigorous campaign to expose Mrs. Clinton’s use of the private server. In addition to requiring her testimony in writing, the judge allowed the group to depose a senior State Department aide who had warned two subordinates not to question her email practices. Only six weeks ago, the director of the F. B. I. James B. Comey Jr. declined to recommend prosecuting Mrs. Clinton, saying that while her actions had been careless, they did not amount to a crime. Yet the controversy refuses to dissipate. This week, the bureau turned over to Congress the documents it compiled in the case, including a     hour interview with Mrs. Clinton, even as Republicans in Congress pressed their public case for her to be charged with perjury. Judge Sullivan’s ruling opened another front in a fight Mrs. Clinton’s campaign certainly hoped to put behind her. Although he declined to order her to answer questions in person, his ruling underscored the legal complications that Mrs. Clinton faces even as she enters the homestretch of her campaign. A spokesman for Mrs. Clinton’s campaign, Brian Fallon, sharply criticized Judicial Watch’s legal campaign, saying it was “a   organization that has been attacking the Clintons since the 1990s. ” “This is just another lawsuit intended to try to hurt Hillary Clinton’s campaign,” he said. Judge Sullivan gave Judicial Watch until Oct. 14 to submit questions to Mrs. Clinton  —   three and a half weeks before Election Day on Nov. 8. Significantly, perhaps, he ordered Mrs. Clinton to submit her answers within 30 days of that deadline, meaning she could delay her answers until after the election. The deposition of the senior aide, however, will take place by Oct. 31. The aide, John Bentel, a career foreign service officer who has since retired, was one of the officials in the State Department who seemed to be aware of Mrs. Clinton’s use of the server. At the time, he headed the part of her executive staff in charge of information management, including the preservation of emails and other records. According to the department’s inspector general, he rebuffed concerns raised in 2010 by two officials in the   division about whether her emails were being preserved for the record, instructing them “never to speak of the secretary’s personal email system again. ” Mr. Bentel has declined several requests through his lawyer to comment, but he will now be compelled to testify in person and under oath. Judicial Watch, which dogged Bill Clinton during his presidency, has brought several lawsuits seeking records from the State Department under the Freedom of Information of Act about various aspects of Mrs. Clinton’s tenure, including the employment status of her close aide Huma Abedin. Judge Sullivan, who has at times appeared sympathetic to the group’s demands for information, has compelled testimony from a number of department officials, including Ms. Abedin and Mrs. Clinton’s former chief of staff, Cheryl D. Mills. The group’s president, Tom Fitton, expressed pleasure at the latest successful challenge, although the order fell short of the personal interview he may have wanted. “The decision is a reminder that Hillary Clinton is not above the law,” he said in a statement.",true,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
14145,14146,"The mere rumor of a downgrade by the major ratings agencies is enough to send world markets into a tailspin , wiping billions off the values of global stocks .  So what do ratings agencies do , and why are they so important ?  Who are the credit ratings agencies ?  The "" Big Three "" are Standard ' s Poor ' s , Moody ' s Investor Services and Fitch Ratings . All originated in the United States , although Fitch has dual headquarters in New York and London .  What do they do ?  Before you can get a credit card , banks run a credit check on you . Similarly , the ratings agencies run credit checks on companies , countries and financial products .  Countries are rated on a sliding scale : Germany for example , has a top rating (  ) which allows it to borrow cash at cheap interest rates . The lower the rating grade , however , the higher interest payments a nation must pay to attract investors to buy its bonds . Anything that slips to junk status as Ireland , Portugal and Greek government bonds are rated is considered a "" highly speculative "" investment . Furthermore , the pool of eligible investors is reduced many institutional investors , such as government pension funds , are forbidden to invest in junk rated bonds .  Why do they wield such power ?  Investors across the world look to credit rating agencies to judge where to place their bets in the market . For governments , the ratings agencies have a lot of power over the popularity of bonds : cash given to governments by investors that , over time , will pay a return on the original investment unless the government defaults .  What does a debt rating downgrade mean ?  The decisions of the "" Big Three "" catalyze market moves in often unpredictable ways , creating a strong ripple effect . In the wake of the Greece downgrade last year , for example , investors across the globe started rethinking investment in other governments ' bonds and began selling off more risky investments throwing the  into crisis and depressing the value of the euro .  When the U . S . was downgraded from a top rating to a step below best investment grade last August , the market reaction was fierce . At the start of August , the Dow was trading at 12 , 000 by August 10 , days after the downgrade , the Dow dipped below 10 , 800 . There was a similar psychological ripple through the markets after Moody ' s downgrades of Ireland and Portugal .  How are ratings agencies paid ?  Historically , they were created to give investors an unbiased assessment of investments and investors paid for access to the ratings . In the 1970s , however , credit rating agencies started charging the issuers of new investments fees for ratings . In 1975 , U . S . legislators fearing a proliferation of unscrupulous ratings agencies designated Standard Poor ' s , Moody ' s and Fitch as the only ratings organizations banks and brokers could use to evaluate the credit worthiness of their products .  What are the complaints against the firms ?  Critics complain the agencies have lost their ability to independently judge the risk on certain investments . Credit ratings agencies had a starring role in the financial crisis , after the firms blessed mortgage backed securities with  ratings the safest rating possible and fed the global mania for these risky investments .  Critics also note that the agencies are paid by the very entities they rate , raising questions about their trustworthiness .  There are moves afoot in Europe to have more stringent regulation on credit ratings agencies . And the agencies were dealt a blow in a U . S . court last month when a U . S . District Judge James Browning in Albuquerque , New Mexico , rejected "" free speech "" as an argument in a case against the Big Three credit ratings agencies brought by investors who lost investment in mortgage backed securities . The ratings agencies often invoke First Amendment right regarding questions about their ratings they are simply stating an opinion . It ' s up to the markets to decide for themselves what to do with that information .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
14147,14148,"Alaskans are demanding that Snoop Dogg keep his promise to perform in the state known as the ' last frontier ' after voters choose to legalize pot last Tuesday .  The rapper and marijuana enthusiast made a promise back in September that he would perform a concert in Alaska if the state voted to legalize the recreational use of marijuana in the midterm elections .  ' If we get y ' all to vote yes on Proposition 2 , Snoop Dogg is coming to Alaska to do a concert , a wellness retreat concert , and I ' m bringing some of that California with me to celebrate , ' said the hip hop star during an episode of his Double G News webcast .  Snoop Dogg had promised that he would perform a concert in Alaska if the state voted to legalize the recreational use of marijuana in the mid term elections  The rapper re tweeted a Washington Post story about Alaskans demanding that he perform a concert in the state following Tuesday ' s vote to legalize marijuana  On Tuesday , Alaskans voted to legalize marijuana and tax and regulate it just like alcohol and many celebrated by playing Snoop hits like Gin And Juice and Drop It Like It ' s Hot .  Many also took to Twitter to remind the rapper about his promise .  ' Will you be playing a show in Fairbanks on your upcoming Alaska tour ? ' tweeted Weston Morrow .  ' Sooooooo . . . bout that SnoopDogg concert in Alaska ? ' asked  .  User D ice tweeted : ' Sounds like its concert time for SnoopDogg in Alaska ' .  On Wednesday morning the hip hop star even re tweeted a Washington Post story about his promise , although he has yet to make any comment on if and when a show might take place .  He has a little time however as the new law will not take effect until 90 days after the election .  The initiative allows adults 21 years of age and older to possess up to one ounce of marijuana and grow limited amounts in private .  On Tuesday , Alaskans voted to legalize marijuana and took to Twitter to remind the rapper about his promise  Alaskans voted to legalize marijuana and tax and regulate it just like alcohol and many celebrated on Tuesday night by playing Snoop hits like Gin And Juice and Drop It Like It ' s Hot  Marijuana will also be cultivated , tested , and sold by licensed , taxpaying businesses that require proof of age instead of criminal enterprises in the underground market .  Alaska voters approved a ballot measure to end marijuana prohibition on Tuesday , capping off a historic election year for marijuana policy reform .  Voters in Oregon also adopted a similar measure , making it the third state in the nation to end marijuana prohibition , following Colorado and Washington .  Measure 91 in Oregon and Ballot Measure 2 in Alaska make possession of marijuana legal for adults 21 years of age and older , and they establish systems in which marijuana is regulated and taxed similarly to alcohol .  A less far reaching proposal was voted in in the District of Columbia to allow marijuana possession but not retail sales .  Alaskans are demanding that Snoop Dogg keep his promise to perform in the state known as the ' last frontier ' after voters choose to legalize pot last Tuesday  ",true,text,test,Other news2,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
14160,14161,"If laughter is the best medicine then Patrick "" Salvado "" Idringi should be Uganda ' s chief doctor .  The comedian ' s blend of laugh out loud humor and cheeky charm has brought him widespread following in his home country and abroad , and even landed him inside the pages of Vogue .  However , he has followed an unorthodox path to success , having spent years working as a switch engineer for one of Uganda ' s biggest telecoms companies . It was only when he entered a comedy competition on the encouragement of his sisters and came second that he realized he could make a living out of his funnyman persona .  "" I left my job in 2011 because I was making unserious money by being serious . I realized you can make serious money from being unserious , "" Salvado says .  But leaving secure employment with a regular monthly paycheck had been far from easy , and the comedian had to quickly learn the ropes of being a freelance performer . Some gigs would offer beer instead of payment , but Salvado soon realized that that wasn ' t going to help him pay his rent .  "" Leaving my job was one of the hardest moments of my life , especially the first month , because I wasn ' t sure how I was going to make ends meet , "" he says . He even entertained the idea of returning to his old job , but in the end stuck with his new profession .  "" I was patient , because deep down in my heart I knew it was going to work . I didn ' t know how long it would take , but I definitely knew it was going to work , "" he says .  Salvado mines his own personal experience for his show material , and attributes his success to his openness to talk about subjects that some comedians in Uganda might avoid , such as sex , love and death .  He says that , while he loved engineering , he always felt something was missing , and that he wasn ' t using his full potential , but that comedy has helped him grow as a person .  "" When you do a joke today , there ' s no way you ' re going to do it tomorrow . So you ' re challenged to do something better , you ' re challenged to use your head , to use your mind , to use every part of your body to the best of your ability , "" Salvado says .  "" It has helped me actually exploit most of the things that I didn ' t know I could do . So I should say comedy has changed my life . ""  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
14187,14188,"U . S . Immigration and Customs Enforcement (  ) officials are finalizing plans for a new strategy aimed at resolving the out of control illegal immigration dilemma plaguing America ' s workforce , economy and way of life .  The plan is so simple , so economical , and so diabolical it ' s bound to work . Judging from the lack of progress to date , anything is better than  legislators ' efforts on the issue . And the added benefits far outshine skeptics mired in logic whose only argument is that it ' s never been tried before . Not only will illegal immigrants cease to enter the United States illegally but those already in our midst will be willing and eager to vacate our premises once "" Operation Switcheroo "" is put in place .  Since most of the illegal immigrants sponging off  taxpayers are Hispanics from "" Old May he co "" to our south who refuse to learn to read , write and speak English , they are expected t o remain totally oblivious to the unleashing of this act of pure genius upon them . The only obstacle to guaranteed success is a logistical one . But volunteers are beating the doors down to participate in an agenda that ' s genuine American ingenuity .  What "" Operation Switcheroo "" consists of is merely turning the signs around along the borders that separate the  from its southern and northern borders . So , if you ' re in the  and are facing south , you ' d see signs saying things like "" Limite de Los Estados Unidos de America "" ( ""  Border "" ) or "" Bienvenidos a los  "" ( "" Welcome to the United States "" ) . This takes care of Part 1 of the plan : getting the illegals out of the country . Not only will they leave willingly they ' ll be virtually impossible to stop , once they "" realize "" they hadn ' t actually made it all the way into the United States after all . And who are we to stop them , once they are on their way to what they are tricked into believing is the  .  Part 2 of the plan has a two fold benefit . First , when would be illegal immigrants from Mexico heading north see signs saying things like "" Mexican Border "" or "" Welcome to Mexico "" They ' ll stop and "" realize "" they are already in the  after all , and they ' ll stay put . Second , and equally important , all those  criminals who routinely seek refuge in Mexico to escape American justice will , before they realize they ' ve been had , unwittingly rush into the waiting arms of  law enforcement officials .  "" Operation Switcheroo "" has a similar application for the  Canadian border , but without the same kind of language barrier . Signs facing Canada would say things like "" Cheaper Health Care Straight Ahead "" and "" Come to the land of the  Dollar "" to lure northern illegals back from whence they came . Conversely , signs facing south toward the  would say things like "" Now Entering Canada "" and "" Come Visit Us , eh ! "" This will keep unwanted Canadians where they belong and compel would be draft dodgers and fleeing drug dealers to rush into the clutches of stood up military recruiters and anxiously awaiting narcocops .  Once in full swing , "" Operation Switcheroo "" will become totally self perpetuating , thus freeing Border Patrol agents from their previously overburdening responsibilities of attempting to locate and capture illegals attempting to sneak across our borders . Their principle occupation will become that of watchdogs to ensure no one pulls a "" switchback "" on "" Operation Switcheroo . ""  ",satire,text,test,World conflict,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
14205,14206,"One week after the Colts upset the Green Bay Packers in his honor , leukemia stricken head coach Chuck Pagano was reportedly annoyed after they lost 35 9 to the New York Jets on Sunday , expressing frustration over his team failing to win a second game for him .  "" That win last week was one of the proudest moments of my coaching career , "" a visibly weakened Pagano said from his bed at Indiana University ' s Simon Cancer Center . "" But , I mean , was that it ? One game ? It ' s not like my cancer went away after one unexpectedly strong showing . It would have been really inspiring the second time . ""  "" This is cancer we ' re talking about , "" he added . "" Shouldn ' t they be trying to win five or six games for me ? It ' s not like I ' m out with the flu . ""  Pagano , who confirmed he watched the game from his hospital room , expressed disappointment that his team wasn ' t playing harder for him , and said that by the way they were running around the field , it seemed as if they had assumed that only one win for a cancer stricken coach was enough . Medical personnel attending Pagano said he was dismayed that his sickness had not galvanized players to win "" just one more measly game . ""  "" Mr Pagano kept saying he kind of thought his cancer might inspire his team to go on a four or five game winning streak that got more and more uplifting with every game , "" said nurse Theresa Hernandez , urging reporters to give the Colts coach some time to rest because he ' s been very morose this week . "" I can ' t say I blame him . I mean , your coach is battling a life threatening disease , and you go out and throw two picks and get sacked four times ? C ' mon , Andrew Luck , try and tell me he ' s in your thoughts and prayers with a performance like that . ""  Hospital officials said Pagano is receiving the best care possible from some of the nation ' s finest oncologists , adding that it ' s "" more than we can say he is receiving from a defensive line that ' s supposed to be the strength of this Colts team . ""  Overall , doctors said , the prognosis for Pagano remains relatively positive , but the coach ' s mood turned grim while pondering how the Colts defense could allow 252 rushing yards against the Jets at a time when his "" white blood cell count is through the roof . ""  "" The doctors say I ' m responding well to treatments , but what I ' m not responding well to is Shonn Greene looking like a Pro Bowler against my defense , "" said Pagano , pausing to calm himself down and regain his strength . "" A little chemo I can handle just fine , but Mark Sanchez posting a 109  rating ? You want to talk about things that make me sick , well , there you go . ""  "" It was Mark Sanchez , for Christ sake , "" Pagano added .  Pagano has stated on numerous occasions that the Green Bay win only encouraged him to fight harder and work his way back to coaching , but just one week later , much of that progress has reportedly been undone , leaving Pagano to question what he ' s fighting for . With 1 5 Cleveland coming into town , the Colts have a chance to send their coach a message that hopefully gets him eating and communicating more than he has been during the past week .  "" I don ' t know , "" Pagano said while staring out his hospital window , showing signs of dejection on his face . "" Those guys just rolled over so easily against an opponent that everybody said was beatable . Did they forget that I have cancer or something ? Is that why they played with such lack of heart ? ""  "" It just gets you thinking , I guess , "" Pagano added . "" Maybe that ' s easier . ""  ",satire,text,test,American football,US elections,true,satire,True,no,no,negative,past
14216,14217,"Reuters) - British Prime Minister Theresa May said the person who wrote reports containing details of compromising material Russia allegedly collected on U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has not worked for the British government for years.  “It is absolutely clear that the individual who produced this dossier has not worked for the  government for years,” May said at a news conference on Friday. The author of the dossier has been named as Christopher Steele, a former MI6 officer who once worked under diplomatic cover in Russia. Steele has so far not commented.  ",true,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
14218,14219,"You ' ve been with your boyfriend a year . You think he ' s pretty swell . He asks you to move in with him . You say ' sure , what the heck ' . But you ' re not totally convinced he ' s the one . . . so what do you do with all the duplicate belongings you ' ll now have ? The toasters , the teapots , the wine racks , the hoovers ?  Do you sell them ? Do you store them in the attic and risk a tiff about your commitment to the relationship ? Or do you squirrel them away in secret , ready to collect when the inevitable happens and you go your separate ways ?  Now there ' s an easy way to do just that , thanks to a British storage facility offering a ' break up protection service ' for newly cohabiting couples .  Don ' t think he ' s The One ? Use Lovespace ' s clandestine storage facility to stash away your duplicate possessions so you can reclaim them if you do break up  Storage by the box provider Lovespace will secretly store duplicate items for uncertain cohabiters who might wish to keep hold of the second washing machine and spare set of tea cosies , should the relationship fail .  Since 29 per cent of  households consist of only one person , when two people decide to live together they often have two of everything , such as kettles , toasters , linen , crockery and other personal effects that there isn ' t space for in their new house .  Cohabiting couples are twice as likely to break up as married partners , according to research , so if throw away all of your household and personal items before moving in , you could be left with an expensive shopping trip to re establish your independence if you do break up .  Steve Folwell , managing director of Lovespace , said : ' We wanted to help the biggest commitment phobes move in with their partners .  ' Openly keeping hold of things that you identify with your single life isn ' t exactly a recipe for happily ever after , so we decided to offer apprehensive cohabiters a secret service where they can keep a box of their past life . '  Doubled up : Since 29 per cent of  households consist of only one person , when two people decide to live together they often have two of everything  Lovespace is trialling the service initially and will gauge customer reaction before rolling out permanently .  For a limited period on a first come , first served basis ,  is offering the Secret Storage Service free for a whole year .  People can register their interest by emailing info lovespace . co . uk  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
14234,14235,"You may soon be able to use your iPad in direct sunlight if Apple goes ahead with rumoured plans for an anti glare screen .  Reports claim Apple suppliers have begun manufacturing the new range of iPads ahead of an October launch .  And sources believe the devices will have anti reflective laminated displays to make it easier to use in bright light , and outside compared to current , reflective models .  Reports claim Apple ' s suppliers have begun manufacturing the new range of iPads , and they may feature anti glare displays . This would make the devices easier to use outside . The refreshed tablet range is expected to launch in October . Last year ' s iPad Air ( left ) and iPad mini with Retina display ( right ) are pictured  By comparison , the Kindle Fire  tablet already has a polarising filter and uses anti glare technology .  According to Bloomberg , two unnamed people familiar with plans said mass production of the 9 . 7 inch iPad Air 2 has started , and a refreshed 7 . 9 inch iPad mini will be manufactured soon .  Apple is hoping to boost iPad sales with its new range , after they slumped 9 per cent in the last quarter .  The iPhone maker reported sales of 37 . 4 billion ( 21 . 9 billion ) in its third quarter ending June , falling short of expectations for about 38 billion ( 22 . 3 billion ) .  The Cupertino based company also revealed that only 13 . 2 million iPads were sold in the last quarter , compared to 16 . 3 million in the previous quarter .  The results have triggered fears that iPad sales are set to get worse once Apple launches its rumoured , large screen iPhone this autumn .  Last year , Apple launched its iPhone 5S and 5C at a September event , followed by new iPads in October .  If the firm follows suit this year and Apple launches its iPhone 6 at a rumoured event on 9 September it ' s likely the iPads will be released on 21 October .  Apple is hoping to boost iPad sales after they slumped 9 per cent in the last quarter .  The iPhone maker reported sales of 37 . 4 billion ( 21 . 9 billion ) in its third quarter ending June , falling short of expectations for about 38 billion ( 22 . 3 billion ) .  The Cupertino based company also revealed that only 13 . 2 million iPads were sold in the last quarter , compared to 16 . 3 million in the previous quarter .  The results have triggered fears that iPad sales are set to get worse once Apple launches its rumoured , large screen iPhone this autumn .  At the start of August , leaked images of what is purported to be the casing for the next generation iPad Air ( pictured ) appeared online . It is not known whether the images are of a real iPad or whether they are just a designer ' s musing on what Apple ' s next offering will be  Last year , Apple launched its iPhone 5S and 5C at a September event , followed by new iPads in October . If the firm follows suit this year and Apple launches its iPhone 6 ( leaked images pictured ) at a rumoured event on 9 September it ' s likely the iPads will be released on 21 October  The Kindle Fire  tablet ( pictured ) already has a polarising filter and uses anti glare technology  At the start of August , leaked images of what is purported to be the casing for the next generation iPad Air appeared online .  It is not known whether the images are of a real iPad or whether they are just a designer ' s musing on what Apple ' s next offering will be .  Two images show what the casing may look like from a distance , while a close up image reveals the case ' s depth .  In the image that shows the exterior of the rear case , the camera lens is pictured in the top left hand corner with a small hole next to it .  This hole , purported to be for the rear microphone , is similar to those seen on the rear of the iPhone 5S and 5C .  By comparison , the current microphone on the iPad Air is positioned in the centre , at the top of the rear case .  On the leaked image of the case ' s interior , two holes along the top right hand side of the case are believed to be where the volume controls will sit .  The controls on the current iPad Air are raised , but these holes suggest the next generation controls will be built flush with the case .  Aside from these minor tweaks , the size and thickness of the case appears to be the same .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
14235,14236,"Reuters) - Honduran center-left candidate Salvador Nasralla said on Sunday it was clear there had been fraud  before, during and after  a bitterly contested Nov. 26 presidential election and that he was headed to Washington to meet with U.S. and other officials. Nasralla s comments, made in a video posted on Facebook, followed a decision by the nation s electoral tribunal to declare conservative President Juan Orlando Hernandez the official winner of the vote. The announcement sparked calls for renewed street protests. Nasralla said he had meetings planned with the U.S. State Department and the Organization of American States. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,US elections,satire,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
14260,14261,"Russia, Cina e Arabia Saudita domano l’egemonia del dollaro di Ariel Noyola Rodríguez  Gli Stati Uniti aumentano gli ostacoli tentando di mantenere l’egemonia del dollaro come valuta di riserva mondiale. Negli ultimi mesi, i Paesi emergenti hanno venduto un molti buoni del tesoro degli USA, principalmente Russia e Cina, ma anche Arabia Saudita. Inoltre, per proteggersi dalle violente fluttuazioni del dollaro, le banche centrali di diversi Paesi acquistano enormi quantità di oro per diversificare le riserve valutarie. In breve, l’offensiva globale nei confronti del dollaro è esplosa attraverso la vendita massiccia di debito degli Stati Uniti e, in parallelo, l’acquisto colossale di metalli preziosi. Rete Voltaire | Città del Messico (Messico) | 5 novembre 2016 français Español  La supremazia di Washington nel sistema finanziario globale ha subito un colpo tremendo ad agosto: Russia, Cina e Arabia Saudita vendevamo titoli del Tesoro degli Stati Uniti per 37,9 miliardi di dollari, secondo l’ultimo aggiornamento dei dati ufficiali pubblicato da pochi giorni [ 1 ]. Dal punto di vista generale, gli investimenti globali nel debito pubblico degli Stati Uniti sono al livello minimo dal luglio 2012. Chiaramente, il ruolo del dollaro a valuta di riserva mondiale è ancora messo in discussione.  Nel 2010, l’ammiraglio Michael Mullen, presidente del Joint Chiefs of Staff statunitense, avvertì che il debito era la principale minaccia alla sicurezza nazionale [ 2 ]. A mio avviso, non è tanto l’alto debito pubblico (oltre i 19 000 miliardi [ 3 ]) ad ostacolare l’economia degli Stati Uniti, ma per Washington è di fondamentale importanza garantirsi un enorme flusso di risorse estere ogni giorno, per coprire i deficit gemelli (commercio e bilancio); cioè per il dipartimento del Tesoro è questione di vita o di morte vendere titoli di debito nel mondo e così finanziare le spese degli USA.  Si ricordi che dal fallimento di Lehman Brothers nel settembre 2008, Bank of China ha subito forti pressioni da Ben Bernanke, allora presidente della Federal Reserve (FED), a non vendere i titoli del debito degli Stati Uniti. In un primo momento, i cinesi decisero di mantenere il dollaro. Tuttavia, da allora, per due volte, la PBoC evitava di acquistare altri titoli degli Stati Uniti e, allo stesso tempo, avviava un piano per diversificare le riserve valutarie.  Pechino acquista oro in maniera massiccia negli ultimi anni, e lo stesso fa la banca centrale della Russia. Nel secondo trimestre del 2016, le riserve auree della Banca di Cina hanno raggiunto le 1 823 tonnellate contro le 1 762 tonnellate registrate nell’ultimo trimestre del 2015. La Federazione Russa ha aumentato le riserve auree di circa 290 tonnellate tra dicembre 2014 e giugno 2016, chiudendo il secondo trimestre di quest’anno con un totale di 1 500 tonnellate.  Di fronte ai brutali scossoni del dollaro è fondamentale acquistare asset più sicuri come l’oro che, in tempi di grave instabilità finanziaria, agisce da rifugio sicuro. Quindi la strategia di Mosca e Pechino nel vendere titoli del Tesoro degli  e comprare oro, viene seguita da molti Paesi. Come stimato dal Fondo monetario internazionale (FMI), le riserve auree delle banche centrali nel mondo hanno già raggiunto il massimo degli ultimi 15 anni, registrando ai primi di ottobre un volume di circa 33 000 tonnellate [ 4 ].  La geopolitica fa la sua parte nel plasmare il nuovo ordine finanziario mondiale. Dopo l’imposizione delle sanzioni economiche al Cremlino, a partire dal 2014, il rapporto con la Cina ha avuto grande rilevanza per i russi. Da allora, le due potenze hanno approfondito i legami in tutti i settori, dall’economia e finanza alla cooperazione militare. Inoltre, assicurando la fornitura di gas alla Cina per i prossimi tre decenni, il Presidente Vladimir Putin ha costruito con l’omologo Xi Jinping una potente alleanza finanziaria che cerca di porre fine una volta per tutte al dominio della moneta statunitense.  Attualmente, gli idrocarburi che Mosca vende a Pechino sono pagati in yuan, non dollari. Così, la “moneta del popolo” (‘renminbi’ in cinese) emerge gradualmente nel mercato mondiale degli idrocarburi con il commercio tra Russia e Cina, Paesi che, a mio parere, guidano la costruzione del sistema monetario multipolare.  La grande novità è che alla corsa per la dedollarizzazione dell’economia globale si è unita l’Arabia Saudita, Paese per decenni fedele alleato della politica estera di Washington. Sorprendentemente, negli ultimi 12 mesi Riad s’è sbarazzata di più di 19 miliardi di dollari investiti in titoli del Tesoro degli Stati Uniti, divenendo insieme alla Cina uno dei principali venditori di debito degli Stati Uniti [ 5 ]. A peggiorare le cose, il regno saudita si accanisce sempre più con la Casa Bianca.  A fine settembre, il Congresso degli Stati Uniti approvava l’eliminazione del veto del presidente Barack Obama ad una legge che impediva negli  di denunciare l’Arabia Saudita in tribunale per il presunto coinvolgimento negli attentati dell’11 settembre 2001 [ 6 ]. Insieme, l’Organizzazione dei Paesi Esportatori del Petrolio (OPEC) ha raggiunto un accordo storico con la Russia per ridurre la produzione di petrolio e quindi promuovere l’aumento dei prezzi [ 7 ].  E’ anche sorprendente che giusto oggi Pechino abbia aperto allo scambio diretto tra yuan e riyal saudita attraverso il Trading System Foreign Exchange della Cina (CFETS, nell’acronimo inglese) per le transazioni tra le due valute senza passare dal dollaro. Di conseguenza, è molto probabile che, più prima che poi, la compagnia petrolifera Saudi Aramco accetti pagamenti in yuan invece che dollari [ 8 ]. Se si accadesse, la Casa dei Saud punterebbe tutto sul petroyuan [ 9 ]. Il mondo cambia davanti ai nostri occhi…",fake,news,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
14264,14265,"actor Matthew McConaughey sent a sobering message to celebrities and the cultural elites protesting Donald Trump’s election and his new administration: get over it. [During an interview with ChannelFi to promote his new film, Gold, McConaughey was asked if he thinks Hollywood had given Trump a chance to govern.  “Well, they don’t have a choice now. He’s our president,” the Oscar winner said. “And, it’s very dynamic and as divisive of an Inauguration and time as we’ve had. At the same time, it’s time for us to embrace and shake hands with this fact. And be constructive with him over the next four years. ” Even if you have strong disagreements with Trump, McConaughey says, it’s worth waiting to see what he actually does in his first term in office. “So anyone, even those who may strongly disagree with his principles or things he’s said and done  —   and that’s another thing, we’ll see what he does compares to what he has said  —   no matter how much you even disagreed along the way, it’s time to think about how constructive can you be,” he said.  Some of the entertainment industry’s biggest stars have spent months protesting Trump’s stunning Election Night victory over Hillary Clinton, and have caused outrage over his Cabinet appointments, his executive orders, and even his pick for the Supreme Court. Celebrities have even gone so far as to launch personal attacks against Trump’s    son. But McConaughey says it’s past time Trump’s detractors stop protesting Trump for the sake of protesting. “‘Cause he’s our president for the next four years, at least,” McConaughey said, “the President of the United States. ” McConaughey’s new thriller Gold, in which he plays a prospector in Indonesia, opened in theaters on Jan. 27 and is directed by Stephen Gaghan. Follow Jerome Hudson on Twitter @jeromeehudson",fake,news,test,Other sport,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
14279,14280,"declares end of Ebola outbreak in west Africa  Virus killed more than 11 , 000 after first case recorded in Guinea village two years ago  Rick Brennan ,  director of emergency risk assessment and humanitarian response , speaks during a press conference at the European headquarters of the United Nations on Thursday . Photograph : Martial Trezzini Keystone via   The World Health Organisation has declared the end of the Ebola endemic in west Africa , with all known chains of transmission of the virus stopped .  The announcement comes two years after the first case in a small rural village in Guinea , 42 days after the last patient tested negative in Liberia and almost two months after the last case in Sierra Leone .  The virus , which can kill within five days of infection , devastated the region s economies and ripped through communities , killing more than 11 , 000 people and infecting more than 28 , 500 .  The  , which admitted it had failed to respond quickly enough when the virus was spreading in the summer of 2014 , said the battle was not over yet .  Dr Margaret Chan ,  director general , said : Detecting and breaking every chain of transmission has been a monumental achievement .  So much was needed and so much was accomplished by national authorities , heroic health workers , civil society , local and international organisations and generous partners . But our work is not done and vigilance is necessary to prevent new outbreaks , she added .  Liberia had been declared Ebola free in May of 2014 but was hit again months later because of the latency of the virus .  While Ebola clears from the blood relatively quickly in survivors , it can remain in some male survivors for up to a year , causing a risk of sexual transmission . Virologists discovered last year that the virus can also linger in the spinal fluid , after the Scottish nurse Pauline Cafferkey developed meningitis caused by the virus nine months after she had received the all clear .  The case of American doctor Ian Crozier also demonstrated that the virus can also linger in ocular fluid after one of his eyes became damaged and changed colour .  On Wednesday , a report from a group of international health experts convened in the wake of the crisis warned that infectious diseases represent a threat matched only by wars and natural disasters when it comes to endangering life and disrupting societies .  But despite the scale of the menace , the Commission on Creating a Global Health Risk Framework for the Future found that efforts to prepare for pandemics have been chronically underfunded . It says a global investment of ? 3 billion each year ? or 40p a person ? would go a long way to reducing the threat posed by infectious diseases .  The report recommends strengthening health systems in low income countries as a first line of defence , establishing a permanent  health emergency centre to lead and coordinate defences and action , and stepping up research and development into infectious diseases through an annual investment of at least ? 686 million .  The  has faced fierce and sustained criticism over its handling of the crisis : the delay in sounding the alarm slowed the deployment of medical personnel , protective gear and medicines ? and prompt calls for the organisation to be stripped of its role in declaring disease outbreaks as international emergencies ? and the  was found to have toned down its own admissions of failure .  In April last year , the  secretary general , Ban Ki moon , appointed a high level panel to study the lessons of the Ebola crisis and improve the world s response to health crises .  A  spokesman said it had learned much from the outbreak and had already embarked on a profound shift towards becoming a fully operational emergency organisation .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
14300,14301,"Watch as she s speaking to a crowd in Tampa, Florida in September and makes this hilarious and outrageous claim: When it comes to protecting our country against natural disasters and the threat of climate change, once again, Donald Trump is totally unfit and unqualified . - CLINTON:  Another threat to our country is climate change. 2015 was the hottest year on record and the science is clear: it s real, it s wreaking havoc on communities across America. Last week s hurricane was another reminder of the devastation that extreme weather can cause and I send my thoughts and prayers to everyone affected by Hermine. But, this is not the last one that s going to hit Florida given what s happening in the climate. [ ] If it affects people who lose their homes or their businesses that took a lifetime to build, it doesn t matter to him. When it comes to protecting our country against natural disasters and the threat of climate change, once again, Donald Trump is totally unfit and unqualified to be our President.      PHONY: Read more: Climate Depot",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,present
14306,14307,"Reuters) - The wealthiest Americans would benefit the most from President Donald Trump’s proposed tax cuts while many upper middle-income people would face higher taxes, independent experts said on Friday in the first detailed analysis of the plan. A U.S. Senate panel took Trump’s proposal, announced on Wednesday, a step forward by unveiling a budget plan for the coming fiscal year that acknowledges lost revenues from tax cuts, while Trump pressed ahead with selling the plan to the public. A report from the non-profit Washington-based Tax Policy Center found that in 2018, about 12 percent of taxpayers would face a tax increase of roughly $1,800 on average.  That includes more than a third of taxpayers making between about $150,000 and $300,000, mainly because most itemized deductions would be repealed including for state and local taxes, it said. Its analysis showed that the Republican tax proposal would fuel the growing federal deficit, providing $5.99 trillion in tax cuts while reducing federal revenues by a net $2.4 trillion in the next 10 years. Trump, who promised major tax cuts as a candidate, has called his proposal “a miracle for the middle class,” but the report concluded it would provide middle-income taxpayers uneven tax relief. In 2018, all income groups would see their average taxes fall, but some taxpayers in each group would face tax increases, it found. Taxpayers in the top 1 percent of incomes - above $730,000 - would receive about 50 percent of the total tax benefit from the tax overhaul, with their after-tax income forecast to increase an average of 8.5 percent, the group said. “The biggest share of people with increased taxes will be ... people who might be considered upper-middle-income people, high-income professionals, people whose income is between $150,000 and $300,000 in a year in 2017,” Tax Policy Center co-director Eric Toder said. The bottom 95 percent of taxpayers could expect a tax cut of 0.5 to 1.2 percent, according to the analysis.  The proposed tax cuts for corporations and small businesses would reduce federal revenue by $2.6 trillion over a decade and largely would benefit high-income taxpayers, it said. Trump, a real estate mogul-turned-politician, had pledged that the tax plan would not benefit the rich, himself included. The budget resolution released by the Senate Budget Committee, which would pave the way for Republicans to avoid potential Democratic procedural moves to block it, builds in $1.5 trillion in reduced revenue from tax cuts over the next decade. The White House and Republicans in Congress aim to have the tax proposal passed by the end of the year. Republicans control the White House, the Senate and both chambers of Congress. The resolution is vital to plans by the Republicans to move tax legislation through the Senate, which they control by a slim 52-48 majority, using a parliamentary process that lets them pass legislation without a customary 60-vote threshold that would necessitate some Democratic support. The proposal calls for slashing the corporate tax rate to 20 percent from 35 percent, the small business rate to 25 percent from 39.6 percent and the top individual rate to 35 percent from 39.6 percent. Democrats call the tax plan a giveaway to the rich and corporations that would balloon the federal deficit. “The Senate Republican budget is the clearest sign yet that Republicans are intent on pursuing a tax plan that would blow a huge hole in the deficit and stack up debt, leading to cuts in programs that middle-class Americans rely on,” Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement.  Trump talked up the tax proposal during a speech on Friday to the National Association of Manufacturers business lobbying group in Washington, calling it “a giant, beautiful, massive — the biggest ever in our country — tax cut.” “The biggest winners will be everyday working families, as jobs start pouring into our country,” Trump said. The U.S. national debt stands at about $20 trillion and the proposal provided few details on how to offset the federal revenues that would be lost with the tax cuts. Trump has failed to secure passage of any major legislation since taking office in January, with a healthcare overhaul collapsing in the Senate, money to build his promised wall along the border with Mexico failing to materialize and infrastructure spending legislation never getting off the ground.         ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
14307,14308,"The majority of Hungarians support the government’s legislation which would force foreign universities, such as the George   Central European University (CEU) to adhere to new regulations. [According to MTI, a poll conducted by think tank the Századvég Foundation found 70 per cent of Hungarians support amendments to the higher education act which would see foreign universities issuing degrees in Hungary be obliged to observe Hungarian regulations.  Over 1, 000 adults were surveyed by telephone between Friday and Tuesday last week. Of those polled, 86 per cent of respondents were aware of the legislation and related protests. The survey also showed 72 per cent of people do not consider it necessary to hold a referendum on the changes that affect  and other foreign universities operating in Hungary. MPs in the   unicameral parliament, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s conservative Fidesz party, voted 123 in favour and 38 against the legislation. The bill was then signed into law by President János Áder on Monday. The new amendments will ban institutions from outside the European Union from awarding degree certificates without an agreement between national governments. Foreign universities will also be required to have a campus and faculties in their home country  —   conditions not currently met by the American CEU. The university, founded by progressive open borders financier and Hungarian native George Soros, alleges Orbán’s government is deliberating targeting CEU. The government maintains the law ensures transparency, prevents foreign universities from having an unfair advantage over Hungarian universities, and does not target  specifically. Government officials have said that  is capable of fulfilling its conditions within the timeframe and that the institution does not face immediate closure. The law was written following a review of 28   universities in the country 27 were found to have problems with operational licences, course accreditation, and state cooperation. Only one university, the liberal, American McDaniel College, was cleared. János Lázár, the Minister heading the Prime Minister’s Office, has called reactions to the domestic law by international press and foreign governments as “hysterical, political hype”. Mr. Lázár also said that   lobbyists are agitating against the   government, putting pressure on the governments in Brussels, Washington, D. C. and Berlin. “There is ongoing lobbying against Hungary” the minister said, adding the “Soros network will most probably continue to apply pressure” to interfere in Hungary’s “right of sovereignty [to] regulate the foundation and operation of universities”. The U. S. State Department has expressed concerns over the legislation, and the executive branch of the  has launched an investigation. On Sunday, a protest in Budapest saw a reported 70, 000 people protest in support of Soros’s university. Media attention on Hungary’s education law has been given intense focus by establishment and left wing newspapers such as The Guardian, The Washington Post, The New York Times, and the Financial Times.",true,news,test,World conflict,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
14309,14310,"I am Shane Stanford . To my family , I am a husband of 20 years and the boastful father of three .  To my congregation of nearly 5 , 000 , I am a pastor .  To my readers , I am the author of nine Christian books .  To my friends , I am one of the guys .  And , to so many over the years who have known my story , I am a man in a race a race against illness , against fear , against discrimination . A race against my own body . A race against time .  A hemophiliac since birth , I discovered my  status at 16 . It was life changing news , the result of a contaminated blood supply .  And , so , the race began .  It has included many twists and turns : from the joy of marrying my high school sweetheart to the sorrow of being rejected by the first church to which I was appointed as pastor .  Certainly , the race has never been easy . It is often long and difficult .  However , the race now impacts me in so many ways . And , oddly enough , I would not trade it with anyone . Instead , the journey affords me a glimpse into the best of what each of us can become . The race has made me a student , and no day goes by that it doesn ' t teach me a lesson .  About time : A privilege afforded to us to make a difference in this world .  About relationships : The most important things we do are not done alone .  About simplicity : More , bigger , nicer , pale in comparison to gifts like sunsets and the laughter of children at play .  About real meaning . . . and about myself : Life is more a mosaic than a measurable frame of joys and sorrows , laughter and tears . Real meaning is discovered through the composition of life ' s diversity . No color can adequately define a mosaic , any more than one hardship , failure or achievement can define a person ' s life . The diversity of these images brought together unveil who I really am . No matter how I try to describe myself , I am more than the sum of what I can say .  So , I run . . . for those I love and , even , for those I have never met . I run to make life matter , seeking more than the right way to go , but actually going there and watching the race mean something .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
14322,14323,"Home Science Sparks company gets  contract for shuttle   estimates the maximum potential value of all contracts from 2016 through 2024 at 14 billion .  The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (  ) in the United States has confirmed three cargo supply contracts to private companies , which include South African born Elon Musk ' s company , SpaceX .  Company spokeswoman Brooke Salkoff says the contract will open the door for Sierra Nevada to do more commercial initiatives . But that is exactly what is happening , "" said  administrator Charles Bolden .  "" Nasa is on a journey to Mars and a new consensus is emerging around our plan , vision and timetable for sending American astronauts to the Red Planet in the 2030s "" , Bolden said in a statement on Thursday .  Kirk Shireman ,  program manager at  ' s Johnson Space Center in Houston , said that this would be the second generation of commercial cargo services .  The  space agency will make a total of six selections from each menu of mission options at fixed prices , as needed . Each task order has milestones with specified amounts and performance dates .  Since the first SpaceX Dragon commercial resupply mission to deliver cargo to the  in October 2012 and Orbital  ' s first Cygnus mission in January 2014 , American companies have delivered cargo to the  that enables astronauts to work on scientific research and technology demonstrations aboard the  . Concerns cited included a less extensive test of a launch abort system planned from Cape Canaveral late changes to Orion ' s heat shield and flying the capsule ' s life support system for the first time with a crew on board . "" These missions will be vital for delivering the experiments and investigations that will enable  and our partners to continue this important research "" .  Further , the three different companies will ensure  has at its disposal variety of launch options and mission types , providing  with a robust portfolio of cargo services enabling the space agency to maximize the utility of the station . "" These Commercial Resupply Services 2 (  2 ) contracts will not only expand  users ' access to greater cargo capability , but also provide increased schedule certainty and mission flexibility to ensure the fullest possible utilization of the  ' s revolutionary capabilities , while creating resupply capacity for future private sector stations in  as well "" .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
14333,14334,"Paris Citing "" unsanitary and unsecure living conditions , "" French Interior Minister Manuel Valls ordered police early Monday to dismantle a Roma camp set up along suburban railway tracks in Evry , south of Paris , and expel 72 inhabitants , including 19 children .  It is a controversial decision for President Francois Hollande ' s Socialist Party , which attacked former President Nicolas Sarkozy when his party dismantled Roma camps around France in 2010 . Since the beginning of August , five camps have been dismantled under Valls ' directive .  "" I cannot support not just as interior minister , but as a citizen , as a militant member of the left these shantytowns , these huts where people live in conditions that are totally unbearable , "" Valls said in an interview with Europe1 radio .  Without giving details , he said the people will be housed elsewhere and will not be deported . However , he rejected the idea of housing all the Roma inhabitants in one building .  "" It is necessary to fight against these mafias , these networks who maintain delinquency , who maintain also a criminality notably through the exploitation of minors , "" he said of the Roma , who also are called Gypsies .  "" We ' re talking about putting them in the care of the Red Cross . But after one week or two weeks , what happens to them ? They return to the streets ? Those who had a job will be unemployed , and children who were in school will no longer be educated , "" he said .  "" It is unacceptable that in this country , human rights are not respected , "" he said , lamenting the "" incapacity of those elected to see Roma as humans and not objects . ""  During his presidential campaign this year , Hollande sent a letter to Roma support groups saying that when camps were dismantled , alternative solutions would be proposed .  The European Commission investigated Sarkozy ' s government for abuses after the dismantling and destruction of Roma camps in 2010 . At the time , Roma who voluntarily left France were given 300 euros in cash per adult and 150 euros per child .  Last week , the government sought to appease criticism by easing up on work restrictions for Romanian and Bulgarian nationals .  Valls said he will accompany the French minister for European affairs to Romania and Bulgaria to address the question of the Roma encampments in mid September .  Roma are a group of people who live mainly in southern and eastern Europe , often in poverty . They tend to live in camps , caravans or informal settlements and have been the target of persecution throughout history .  According to the nonprofit organization Doctors of the World , or Medecins du Monde , around 15 , 000 Roma people live in makeshift camps across France .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
14342,14343,"Although President elect Barack Obama will become the next commander in chief in just two weeks , several key issues remain to be resolved regarding the drawdown of U . S . troops in Iraq and the buildup of U . S . forces in Afghanistan .  A U . S . soldier patrols in a village north of Kabul , Afghanistan , last month .  In addition , a review of the Afghanistan war strategy being conducted by Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm . Michael Mullen is also incomplete and has not been approved by the Joint Chiefs . That review , according to one official , will not be finished until the Obama administration is in office .  The Monday meeting was polite , one official said , but also interesting and intense . A second official described the discussion as lively and said it ranged further than originally anticipated .  The session was held in the "" tank , "" a secure meeting room inside the Pentagon reserved for some of the most sensitive and classified conversations by top officials .  It was called to discuss yet again how the drawdown of troops in Iraq could be scheduled so that more troops could be sent to Afghanistan an issue that the chiefs have struggled to resolve for months .  According to the officials , a 10 page plan from the U . S . Central Command calls for a very gradual drawdown between now and the end of 2011 , when all U . S . troops are supposed to be out of Iraq under the terms of a recent agreement between the two countries .  But Petraeus and other top U . Sweblinkmanders in Iraq are reluctant to agree to any specific drawdowns of units more than six months ahead of time because of the uncertain security situation and the upcoming elections in Iraq , according to a second official .  "" The real debate is over the timing and risk of drawing down troops in Iraq , "" the second official said .  That decision is considered a vital first step . Military officials have long said the Pentagon needs to have some assurance of drawdowns over the next year in order to free up enough troops to send more units to Afghanistan , where commanders are asking for up to 30 , 000 additional troops .  The Marine Corps is continuing to press its position that several thousand Marines could be withdrawn from Iraq in the coming months , with their replacements going to Afghanistan instead .  The current calculation is that the full complement of troops for Afghanistan could not be completely sent until sometime next year or in 2011 . Some commanders in Afghanistan say that ' s too late , given the deteriorating security situation there .  Once in office , Obama is expected to ask commanders to develop a plan for a 16 month drawdown , as he promised during his campaign for the White House . It ' s not clear if the Joint Chiefs and Petraeus will recommend that there is unacceptable risk in the quicker drawdown option .  The second official also emphasized that even though Washington and Baghdad have agreed that all U . S . troops would leave Iraq by 2011 , there is a general private understanding by both sides that some U . S . troops could remain there or in neighboring Kuwait to provide help in key areas such as training , securing borders and providing airlift capabilities . Obama has also said he wants a residual force to remain in Iraq .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
14345,14346,"Brazilian scientists have discovered a protein in coffee that gives people a buzz similar to the pain reliever morphine .  The ' previously unknown protein fragments ' had morphine like effects that also had ' mildly tranquilising ' qualities , the scientists said .  Morphine is a drug that acts directly on the central nervous system to relieve pain . It also has a high potential for addiction .  Scientists have discovered a protein in coffee that gives people a buzz similar to the pain reliever morphine  Tests on laboratory mice showed that the opioid peptides , which are naturally occurring biological molecules , appeared to have a longer lasting effect on the mice than morphine itself .  The state owned Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation , Embrapa , along with University of Brasilia said the discovery has ' biotechnological potential ' for the health foods industry .  It could also help to alleviate stress in animals bound for the slaughterhouse , they claim .  The discovery came when the two organisations were collaborating on how to improve the quality of coffee grains by combining coffee genes in new ways .  Tests on laboratory mice showed that the opioid peptides , which are naturally occurring biological molecules , appeared to have a longer lasting effect on the mice than morphine itself  They studied the coffee ' s genome sequence and uncovered proteins that shared properties with those in humans .  ' This genetic library has been extremely important for our research and we are already looking for other results with different public and private partners , ' said Vinecky ' s research supervisor Carlos Bloch Jr .  The work is the culmination of ten year ' s worth of research by the teams .  It was originally patented in 2006 and published in the journal Plos One in 2012 .  The team have now applied to the Brazilian government for patents for the seven proteins they have identified .  For millions a strong coffee is the perfect start to the day .  But in November , new research suggested coffee could also protect against dementia .  Drinking between three and five cups a day could cut the chance of developing Alzheimer ' s disease by up to 20 per cent , scientists said .  Nutrition can play an important role in preserving memory and thinking skills , especially during the phase of Alzheimer ' s disease before symptoms of dementia occur .  This is according to a report published by the Institute for Scientific Information on Coffee , who are funded by major European coffee companies such as illycaffe , Nestl and  Master Blenders .  However , experts from leading charities Alzheimer ' s Research  and Alzheimer ' s society today warned the research does not conclusively prove drinking coffee can prevent Alzheimer ' s , because no clinical trials have been carried out .  The number of cases of dementia is set to triple by 2050 , totalling 115 . 4 million worldwide , and Alzheimer ' s disease will make up the majority of these cases , according to World Health Organisation predictions .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
14348,14349,"Posted : Jan 11 , 2016 2 : 09   Last Updated : Jan 11 , 2016 10 : 09    David Bowie , the iconic musician , actor and performer who profoundly shaped popular culture and fashion after launching a singing ? career that saw him rocket to fame in the 1970s , has died after an 18 month cancer battle .  Representative Steve Martin said early Monday that Bowie died "" peacefully "" and was surrounded by family .  "" While many of you will share in this loss , we ask that you respect the family ' s privacy during their time of grief , "" the statement read . No more details were provided .  Bowie ' s son , Duncan Jones , from his first wife Angela , confirmed the death on Twitter with a picture with his father in the 1970s , saying , "" Very sorry and sad to say it ' s true . ""  Bowie married model Iman in ? 1992 . Their ? daughter Alexandria was ? born ? 2000 .  Bowie , born Jan . 8 , 1947 , in Brixton , England , performed in a series of bands as a teen . He cut sides in the mid 1960s under Davy Jones , his given name , before changing his persona , in no small part because of the success of the Monkees ' ? singer of the same name .  He first gained prominence as David Bowie with Space Oddity , a top five hit in the U . K . in 1969 with its memorable opening , "" Ground control to Major Tom . "" The song became a hit again on both sides of the Atlantic in the mid 1970s , and was famously performed by Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield in space in 2014 .  Throughout the 1970s , Bowie would provoke and entertain in a number of styles , no more so than as Ziggy Stardust , his controversial androgynous image shocking some commentators and parents .  It came on the heels of Bowie describing himself as gay to Melody Maker in 1972 , a shocking declaration given that he had been married to his Angela ( given name Barnett ) , ? for two years , and ? the couple had a young son .  David Bowie , shown performing on stage during a concert in Hamburg , Germany in October 2003 , died Sunday after a battle with cancer . ( Maurizio Gambarini  )  Bowie had enjoyed modest success with The Man Who Sold the World and Aladdin Sane , but the album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars in 1972 took his career to the next level , fanned by his provocative image and statements . Bowie was considered a pioneer of glam rock , his songs served by the metallic riffs of then ? guitarist Mick Ronson .  The character took on a life of its own , Bowie would tell interviewers Flo and Eddie of The Turtles on the  show 90 Minutes Live a few years later .  Philip Glass on rehearsing with David Bowie : ' That was really intense ' ?  "" Ziggy was for me a simplistic thing , "" Bowie said in the interview . "" It was , what it seemed to be , an alien rock star and for performance value , I dressed him and acted him out . I left it at that , but other people re read him and contributed more information about Ziggy than I had put into him . ""  Flowers already being laid at the spot where David Bowie took the cover photo for iconic Ziggy Stardust album  pic . twitterweblink sgtoFzfXFV  Bowie was a restless performer , however , and in a span of a few short years , began incorporating soul , new wave , electronic and ambient styles in his music . Ziggy gave way to personas such as Aladdin Sane and The Thin White Duke .  "" It was still very hard for anybody to realize that a rock artist can go onstage and be a different person every time he goes on stage , "" said Bowie . "" Nobody was doing that . ""  A consistent chart presence in the U . K . , Bowie broke through in a big way in the U . S . in 1975 . Young Americans , which featured future star Luther Vandross on backing vocals , was his first top 40 hit there . Fame , co written by John Lennon and Bowie ' s longtime guitarist Carlos Alomar , reached No . 1 , and ? Golden Years soon followed as a hit .     : "" David s friendship was the light of my life . I never met such a brilliant person . He was the best there is . Iggy Pop ""  Meanwhile , earlier songs like Rebel Rebel , Changes and Starman were  radio staples .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
14368,14369,"Hillary Clinton is the last person you want placing a target on your back the list of people who ve paid a heavy price for betraying her is pretty long Julian Assange announced Sunday he was cancelling his much anticipated announcement on leaked Clinton documents. Assange said he was cancelling the planned speech due to security concerns.To Silence Wikileaks, #HillaryClinton Proposed Drone Strike on Julian Assange   report weblink  WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) October 3, 2016Assange was going to make the announcement on Tuesday. Obviously, Julian Assange is concerned about his safety.Julian Assange announced in August: The  Most Interesting and Serious  Wikileaks Info On Hillary Clinton Yet to Be ReleasedNow this  Wikileaks posted a document this morning that reportedly shows Hillary wanted to drone bomb Julian Assange.Via: Gateway Pundit",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,present
14372,14373,"They are a spooky mistake , revealing how Google is capturing the world ' s museums for its Street View project .  A Spanish artist has tracked down pictures of the bizarre blanket clad camera Google is using to capture special high resolution 360 degree images and itself .  Mario Santamar a tracked down selfies of the robocam captured in the many mirrors of the museums it was photographing .  Scroll down for video of the robocam in action  Mario Santamar a tracked down selfies of the robocam captured in the many mirrors of the museums it was photographing .  Google ' s camera is often shrouded in a silver sheet to minimise reflactions making it appear ghostlike .  A specially designed Street View ' trolley ' took 360 degree images of the interior of selected galleries which were then stitched together , enabling smooth navigation of over 385 rooms within the museums .  ' Trolley is outfitted with a few components that are key to collecting indoor imagery : a panoramic camera to collect 360 degree views , lasers to capture distances to walls , motion sensors to track Trolley ' s position , a hard drive to store data , and a laptop to operate the system , ' Google said .  The results are a bizarre ' behind the curtain ' looks at Google ' s project , Santamar a said .  Google ' s Art Project was launched three years ago as a sort of Street View for museums and art galleries .  Using panoramic cameras mounted on trolleys , Google captures the artwork and rooms of museums around the world , from the Louvre to the British Museum .  Santamar a hasn ' t reveled where his pictures are taken .  The images form part of Google ' s cultural institute , which has been putting galleries and museums online .  The Art Project is a unique collaboration with some of the world ' s most acclaimed art institutions to enable people to discover and view artworks online in extraordinary detail .  Working with over 250 institutions , Google has put tens of thousands of works of art from more than 6 , 000 artists online .  Using panoramic cameras mounted on trolleys , Google captures the artwork and rooms of museums around the world , from the Louvre to the British Museum .  A specially designed Street View trolley took 360 degree images of the interior of selected galleries which were then stitched together , enabling smooth navigation of over 385 rooms within the museums .  ' This involved taking a selection of super high resolution images of famous artworks , as well as collating more than thirty thousand other images into one plac , ' Google said .  A specially designed Street View ' trolley ' took 360 degree images of the interior of selected galleries which were then stitched together , enabling smooth navigation of over 385 rooms within the museums .  ' Trolley is outfitted with a few components that are key to collecting indoor imagery : a panoramic camera to collect 360 degree views , lasers to capture distances to walls , motion sensors to track Trolley ' s position , a hard drive to store data , and a laptop to operate the system , ' Google said .  The gallery interiors can also be explored directly from within Street View in Google Maps .  Google s Art Project was launched three years ago as a sort of Street View for museums and art galleries .  Working with over 250 institutions , Google has put tens of thousands of works of art from more than 6 , 000 artists online .  ' It also included building 360 degree tours of individual galleries using Street View ' indoor ' technology .  Street View images now cover over 60 museums , with more on the way .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
14388,14389,"A hitch hiker is ' lucky to be alive ' after a van driver who picked her up sped straight into a train on a level crossing .  Martina Jankowska , 26 , got the lift in Radom , Poland , but within minutes the driver accelerated towards the tracks where the van was hit by a freight train .  Police in the city in the centre of Poland are now searching for the driver , who fled after the crash .  Police said Martina Jankowska is ' lucky to be alive ' after a driver who picked her up drove straight into an oncoming train  The driver in Radom , Poland , fled after the crash and is now being hunted by police  Investigators said they were amazed to find Ms Jankowska conscious in the passenger seat of the damaged van .  She told police afterwards : ' I saw the train coming and thought he ' d stop any minute . But he didn ' t he just kept going . '  Ms Jankowska told investigators she did not think the driver had been drinking .  The vehicle was shunted off the tracks by the oncoming train .  The van ' s hood was completely crushed and the windscreen was smashed .  Ms Jankowska was taken to hospital with a broken leg , bruising and suffering from shock .  One of the witnesses at the scene said : ' We had been driving behind the  van and the crossing was clearly signposted stating that there were no  barriers and that drivers should be careful .  ' But instead of slowing down to check if it was safe to cross , this driver seemed to speed up .  ' Luckily the train was a cargo train and going at a fairly slow speed ,  otherwise I dread to think what would have happened . '  Rescuers found Ms Jankowska conscious in the passenger seat of the van after it was hit by the freight train  Another witness said : ' We saw the car two ahead of us hit by the train . It was terrifying .  ' We jumped out to go and help when the driver leapt out and sprinted off across a field .  ' We found a passenger inside who was in shock .  ' We phoned the police and an ambulance straight away . '  Police are now trying to trace the driver through the van ' s number plate or forensic clues left by the motorist .  Police spokesman Andrzej Lewicki said : ' The driver had fled on foot . His passenger was taken to hospital and is lucky to be alive .  ' We don ' t know why he drove onto the tracks nor why he then ran off , but according to the passenger he was sober .  ' We didn ' t find any documents in the vehicle but hopefully something will turn up on our database .  ' Failing that , the van will be examined for fingerprints and other bits  of evidence that can help identify the man . '  ",true,text,test,American football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
14398,14399,"Real Madrid 1 0 Liverpool Click here to read Martin Samuel ' s match report from the Bernabeu  The timing is not perfect , considering Jose Mourinho ' s rare  gaffe with Chelsea fans this week , but Wednesday night is the time supporters from all over England should lend their allegiance to the one Premier League club who are still a Champions League threat .  Ouch . On two levels . First , asking a fan to back another team tends to be a wince inducing request in any circumstances . Second , it shows how our clubs have turned into European lightweights .  Tuesday night just about summed up how far the self labelled ' best League in the world ' is skidding off the map .  Chelsea forward Eden Hazard puts his side 5 0 ahead against Maribor in their last Champions League game  Anderlecht ' s Aleksandar Mitrovic ( right ) heads a dramatic late equaliser for his side against Arsenal  Karim Benzema ( right ) celebrates after scoring the winner against Liverpool at the Bernabeu on Tuesday  Manchester City skipper Vincent Kompany looks glum after conceding a late equaliser to  Moscow  Arsenal 3 3 Anderlecht Click here to read Neil Ashton ' s match report from the Emirates  The Premier League marketing men may still swear by the ' product ' but over in  land , English clubs are struggling with quality control .  It does not help when Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers sticks two fingers up at what is supposed to be the blue riband of club football by playing his reserves at Real Madrid .  Instant excuse in the event of a landslide , but at what price ? Rodgers , supposedly one of the young managerial visionaries , may yet pay for a remarkably short sighted decision .  Then there is Arsenal . Oh , Arsene Wenger , why does it always happen to you ? Three goals up and cruising . Final score 3 3 . At home . To Anderlecht . No wonder the urbane Frenchman was uber grumpy after that one .  Chelsea players celebrate a goal during their 6 0 thrashing of Maribor at Stamford Bridge  Brendan Rodgers rested seven players against Real Madrid including Steven Gerrard , Glen Johnson and Jordan Henderson ( left to right )  Manchester United ' s players could play a lucrative friendly abroad with no European football to worry about  Manchester City ' s continuing battle to make it out of the group stages has been well documented so no one ( apart from those wearing blue tinted spectacles ) is expecting much from that quarter . They have managed to reach the knock out phase once in three attempts .  Stop tittering at the back , Manchester United fans . No European football for you but , hey , a long flight to a meaningless friendly in the Middle East after Christmas .  So , thank goodness for Chelsea , then . Things are going so splendidly for Mourinho that the only thing he can moan about is the atmosphere at Stamford Bridge , which is probably not the most sensible complaint he has ever made .  Library or not , the Premier League leaders are looking just the ticket in the Champions League too .  England is overdue some joy in that competition . In 2014 it was Spain ' s turn with Atletico and Real Madrid contesting the final . La Decima went to Cristiano Ronaldo and the galacticos .  The year before that it was Borussia Dortmund v Bayern Munich , a Teutonic battle settled by Arjen Robben at Wembley .  Joe Hart fails to stop Jerome Boateng ' s strike as Manchester City lose 1 0 to Bayern Munich at the Allianz  Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic ( right ) celebrates after scoring the winner against Sporting Lisbon  Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho has experience of winning the Champions League with Porto and Inter Milan  Ronaldo , ex Manchester United . Robben , once of Chelsea . Wembley , home of football . Our Champions League success is by association , only .  Think back to 2009 when United , Arsenal , Chelsea and Barcelona , sadly reached the semi finals . Ronaldo ' s 40 yard free kick contributed to a 4 1 aggregate win over the Gunners . United , bidding to become the first club to successfully defend their title , went on to lose 2 0 to Barca .  Liverpool and Chelsea enjoyed their own ding dong series , admittedly spiced up beautifully by the fact that Mourinho and Rafa Benitez cannot stand each other .  In 2008 Didier Drogba ' s double capped an amazing 4 3 semi final win over Liverpool during a halcyon period for Premier League clubs . England was represented in successive finals from 2005 2009 .  In 2012 Roberto Di Matteo oversaw a penalty shoot out victory over Bayern Munich while the year before that United went to Wembley only to lose to Lionel Messi inspired Barca in the final .  Arsenal players ( from left to right ) Wojciech Szczesny , Per Mertesacker and Nacho Monreal look dejected  Roberto Di Matteo lifts the Champions League trophy in May , 2012 after leading Chelsea to European glory  City goalkeeper Hart hangs his head during his side ' s 1 1 home draw with Roma in the Champions League  The memory of those golden days is fading fast so , Chelsea , it is time to take up the challenge on behalf of the Premier League .  To those who shudder at the thought , consider this . Once upon a time clubs like United , Arsenal , Liverpool and Chelsea could tempt the best players in the world with a realistic promise of Champions League success to go with domestic honours .  The further English clubs drop off the radar , the harder it will be to attract the world ' s top talent . There could well be an unwanted exodus too .  Think Gareth Bale , think Ronaldo . Think about the bigger picture . C ' mon Chelsea .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
14399,14400,"Attorneys are racing to the defense of a child after the little girl was detained by airport security because of the Muslim ban signed by Donald Trump.On Saturday, Trump told the press that his executive order banning Muslims from entering the United was  working out very nicely  amid the mass chaos that has ensued ever since he issued the order. It s not a Muslim ban, but we re totally prepared,  Trump claimed.  It s working out very nicely. You see it at the airports, you see it all over. It s working out very nicely and we re gonna have a very, very strict ban and we re going to have extreme vetting, which we should have had in this country for many years. Except that it s   working very nicely  at all.Thousands of people are finding themselves stranded or detained at airports because of the order. Even holders of green cards are being prevented from entering the United States despite being citizens of this nation. Protests against Trump s order have also been popping up at airports across the country.And things got even worse on Saturday evening when security at Dulles International Airport detained a five-year-old girl and refused to let her mother see her.Seriously, how in the hell is a five-year-old girl even considered a terror threat in this country?Former Governor Howard Dean posted the news on Twitter and pleaded for an attorney to go to the scene to rescue the girl as soon as possible.This is now a violation of a federal court order. A lawyer is needed at Dulles. weblink  Howard Dean (@GovHowardDean) January 29, 2017Indeed, a federal judge issued an emergency stay against Trump s executive order earlier on Saturday which prevents the government from sending people out of the country if they have visas allowing them entry.So a scared little girl is literally being detained and kept from her mother because Donald Trump is an asshole. He needs to be sued into oblivion for this, or better yet, chased out of this country and banned from ever returning. Because his policies are turning America into a disaster.Featured image via Pixabay",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
14408,14409,"The great escapes of a paratrooper who survived a firing squad , escaped from a prisoner of war camp and was shot four times in battle have emerged after his medals were put up for auction .  Lieutenant Percy ' Clem ' Clements became one of the most highly decorated soldiers of the Second World War for his heroics and acts of bravery .  Now the Nottingham born soldier ' s medals , along with a map he used to escape from the Italian camp , a diary he kept while on the run and a memo written as he lay injured in the 1944 Battle of the Bulge have been put up for sale by his family , with the awards expected to sell for 40 , 000 .  Great escapes : Second World War Paratrooper Lieutenant Percy ' Clem ' Clements survived a firing squad , escaped from a prisoner of war camp and was shot four times in battle  Medal haul : Lt Clements became one of the most highly decorated soldiers of the Second World War for his heroics and acts of bravery , receiving the Distinguished Conduct Medal , Military Cross and Military Medal  Lt Clements was a founding member of the airborne  and was involved in the very first British paratroop drop over Italy in 1941 .  A group of 35 men , including Lt Clements , were captured after the successful mission to blow up an aquaduct . They were stripped and lined up against a wall in front of 20 irate civilians armed with shotguns .  However , just as the order to fire was about to be given , an Italian army officer arrived on horseback and put a stop to the summary execution that would have been in breach of the Geneva Convention .  Lt Clements then spent two and a half years in a PoW camp during which time he established clandestine communications between fellow captured officers and the War Office .  He managed to escape in 1943 and spent 22 days walking more than 100 miles to reach the advancing Allied forces in Italy .  Troop : Clements is pictured in the back row , immediately to the right of the parachute hole , alongside his comrades from Xi Troop , 11  Battallion at Tatton Park in Cheshire before their deployment  Lt Clements rejoined his battalion and went into the Ardennes Forest in Belgium during the infamous Battle of the Bulge in December 1944 .  Heavily outnumbered and facing German Tiger tanks in one action , he led his men in a fighting withdrawal and was shot four times , in the stomach , arm and leg .  His two stretcher bearers were killed as they carried him but he continued to direct the retreat while lying down until he passed out from blood loss .  Lt Clements won the prestigious Distinguished Conduct Medal , Military Cross and Military Medal for his bravery , with the medal group being sold at London auction house Spinks later this month .  Tools : A tiny Escaper ' s Compass , used by Lt Clements during his escape from the prisoner of war camp  Being auctioned alongside it is a tiny compass in the form of a button , a covert map he used during his escape in Italy and the diary documenting his escape .  There is also an incredible note Lt Clements started to write as he lay wounded in the Ardennes . The message was to summon an ambulance for injured comrades but he passed out before he could finish it .  ' Clem Clements ' medals are very rare group , quite possibly unique in terms of the combination of gallantry awards , ' said Mark Quayle from Spinks .  ' He was one of the most decorated airborne troops of the Second World War who never knew when he was beaten . He kept coming back for more up until the point he was wounded four times on the same occasion .  ' The fact that he survived a fire squad tells you just how remarkable his story of survival was . '  Lt Clements , from Nottingham , joined the army in 1928 and following the outbreak of the Second World War volunteered for special service .  The British airborne unit was formed at the behest of Winston Churchill and carried out Operation Colossus in February 1941 .  After blowing up the Tragino Aqueduct , the group were sent to meet up with a Royal Navy submarine off the coast 80 miles away .  But they were hunted down by a mob of 250 civilians , and a member of the raiding party shot and killed two Italians before the soldiers surrendered .  Lt Clements said in an interview later : ' We were marched over to a bare patch where the bodies lay and a very hysterical civilian with two pistols assumed charge of a firing squad of 12 civilians armed with some ancient double and single barrel shotguns . '  One ringleader incited the crowd to avenge the death of the two locals and show no mercy to the British troops . He reached the point of raising his arm to command the firing squad to take aim .  ' What saved us was the fact the hysterical chap liked to hear himself talk and while he was still raving a W . O of the carabinieri came up and took over , ' Lt Clements wrote .  After his escape and march to freedom while being pursued by the Germans , Lt Clements was awarded the  for his ' gallant and distinguished service ' as a PoW and subsequent escape .  Prisoners : ' X ' troop prisoners at Sulmona Camp , where Lt Clements was held for two and a half years , during which time he established clandestine communications between fellow captured officers and the War Office . He managed to escape in 1943  He was commissioned into the 12th Parachute Regiment in August 1944 and four months later was sent in to Belgium .  His platoon were ordered to occupy a hill overlooking the town of Bure but found themselves virtually surrounded by German forces .  Lt Clements gave orders to withdraw but was shot in the stomach . Despite the severity of his wound he continued to give orders and successfully extracted his men before he was hit three more times and eventually passed out .  He was awarded the Military Cross for leading his men with distinction against heavy armour and was later awarded the Military Medal for his outstanding leadership .  After the war , Lt Clements took up a civilian post with the Ministry of Defence in Shropshire , where he moved with wife Eileen . He died in 1998 .  His son is Brigadier David Clements who served in Iraq as deputy to American general David Patraeus .  ' His wounds ( which he only survived because of his exceptional fitness ) meant that he had to leave the Army after his recovery and he then worked until his retirement as a Civil Servant in the Ministry of Defence , ' wrote Brig Clements in a piece for historical website ParaData .  ' Clem Clements was a modest man and was embarrassed to be regarded as one of the most highly decorated members of the airborne forces he helped found .  ' All who served with him paid tribute to his courage , determination and inspirational leadership . Younger men on the parachute raid , and later in the  Camp , came to value his advice , assistance and irrepressible humour . All agree that he was indeed "" a man among men "" and one of the great fighting soldiers of the British Army . '  The auction takes place in London on November 20 .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
14410,14411,"—   The acknowledged culprit behind the closing of traffic lanes leading to the George Washington Bridge in September 2013 was “protected by Chris Christie,” the executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey agreed during court testimony on Thursday. That culprit, David Wildstein, is now the prosecution’s star witness against two former top officials in the administration of Mr. Christie, the governor of New Jersey. The officials are accused of closing access lanes at the bridge to punish the mayor of Fort Lee, N. J. for refusing to endorse the governor’s   bid, then covering the plot up. While Mr. Christie is not charged, prosecutors have said he knew about the lane closings as they were happening, contrary to what the governor has said in the three years since. The closed lanes caused gridlock in the town, stymying ambulances, commuters and schoolchildren for four days. Lawyers for the two defendants have argued that their clients are scapegoats in a political game involving players with far more power. Testimony on Thursday morning by Patrick J. Foye, the executive director of the Port Authority, which operates the bridge, described a frenzied effort to cover up the punitive purpose of the closings in the three months afterward. Mr. Christie won a broad   that fall, becoming a   for the Republican nomination for the presidency and prompting more interest, and more questions from reporters, about the events. Mr. Foye testified that he conducted an internal review of the closings, talking to just three people at the Port Authority. But he could not ask Mr. Wildstein, a top official at the agency and a close ally of Mr. Christie’s, even a single question, he testified. “Because you couldn’t?” asked Michael Critchley, a lawyer for one of the defendants, Bridget Anne Kelly, who was a deputy chief of staff to Mr. Christie. “He was protected by Chris Christie, correct?” “Yes,” Mr. Foye said. A Port Authority board member appointed by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, Democrat of New York, had wanted to fire Mr. Wildstein for a year, Mr. Foye testified. Mr. Wildstein was “abusive and untrustworthy,” he said, and “hated by hundreds, thousands of people at the Port Authority. ” But Mr. Wildstein could not be terminated, Mr. Foye said, because it was “complicated. ” Mr. Wildstein ultimately resigned in December 2013, amid increasing scrutiny of the lane closings and the Christie administration’s involvement. Mr. Christie personally edited the public statement announcing his resignation, adding praise for his service. Mr. Wildstein then refused to give up his Port Authority cellphone and iPad, Mr. Foye testified. Mr. Foye sent an email asking David Samson, a confidant of Mr. Christie’s who was chairman of the Port Authority board, for help getting them back. “Because you are closest to him,” Mr. Foye wrote. Mr. Wildstein pleaded guilty in 2015 to masterminding the lane closings, and is now cooperating with prosecutors against Ms. Kelly and Bill Baroni, Mr. Christie’s top staff appointee at the Port Authority. Mr. Foye, who was appointed to his position by Mr. Cuomo, described a toxic relationship between the two states at the Port Authority that only got worse after the lane closings. He told Mr. Samson that he should recuse himself from an investigation into Mr. Wildstein’s conduct because, as he wrote in an email to the chairman, “you have substantial and irreconcilable conflicts. ” And Mr. Foye complained to a colleague that Mr. Christie’s office wanted him to “step back on the matter,” referring to the closed lanes. To which Mr. Critchley added, “And you said that your hands were tied and it was driving you crazy. ” (Mr. Foye said he could not recall this, but agreed that his colleague had no reason to lie.) Mr. Foye said he knew that Mr. Christie’s administration had long wanted him fired. Still, Mr. Foye wrote to a colleague that he had “no reason to believe that Bill Baroni had knowledge of Wildstein’s troubling and aberrant behavior” in closing the lanes. Throughout the days that the lanes were closed, Mr. Baroni refused to return increasingly agitated calls from the mayor of Fort Lee, Mark Sokolich, a Democrat, warning him of the threats to public safety presented by the lane closings. An aide to Mr. Baroni in charge of dealing with local towns testified that this was highly unusual for her boss. When the aide, Tina Lado, emailed him to ask if she should return the mayor’s calls, Mr. Baroni called her up, she said, and was “rather curt and very short on the phone, not his usual demeanor. ” He advised her that there were concerns that her department had been racking up high phone charges for calls to local municipalities “and we needed to be careful and not make any outgoing calls. ” “What I took from that was that we would not call back Fort Lee. ” Never before or since then, she added, had anyone raised concerns about high telephone costs. Three months later, Mr. Baroni had testified before the New Jersey Legislature about the lane closings, insisting they were part of a legitimate traffic study. Mr. Baroni’s   believed this to be false. But Mr. Christie’s office was reportedly happy with his performance. John Ma, Mr. Foye’s chief of staff, testified that he bumped into Mr. Baroni soon after and said something about it being “some hearing. ” Mr. Baroni replied that he had “showed them up,” Mr. Ma said. “I would describe him as really pumped up about it. ”",true,news,test,World conflict,US elections,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
14423,14424,"On the surface , the newsroom of local  affiliate  appears to be quite serious . But that doesn ' t mean the Live At Five news team doesn ' t know how to have some fun from time to time , as viewers learned Monday night .  According to computer graphic designer Dan Janney , the news broadcast team nearly lost its composure Monday , when his irreverent weather map graphic went live during a segment by Channel 4 meteorologist Grant Johnson .  "" It ' s more my style to stay behind the scenes , "" Janney said . "" But every once in a while , I have to admit , it ' s fun to push the envelope . ""  Janney added : "" I like to give the crew a good laugh . ""  In the graphic , which he designed for the five day extended forecast chart that concludes the weather segment , Janney replaced the network ' s "" sun in sunshades "" graphic with the head of veteran  sports anchor Bob Barry Sr . wearing sunshades and surrounded by a halo of golden rays .  "" I had the idea , and I told my assistant Jennifer Sabin about it , and she thought it was hysterical , so we spent about 10 minutes putting it together on our lunch break , "" Janney said . "" To our good fortune , the weekend portion of the chart forecasted sunny weather , so the gag got high visibility . ""  Janney added : "" It had the guys in the control room in stitches before air time . I begged newscast director Jim Underwood not to tell Grant about it , and thankfully he agreed . He knows how to play a joke . ""  Underwood , who has directed local  programming for 18 years and produces the Sunday morning current events roundtable Think About It With Neil Clover , enthusiastically agreed to televise Janney ' s graphic , calling it "" an amusing change of pace . "" He even authorized camera operator Mike Bethke to capture the reaction of lead anchor Chuck Bartlett in a highly unusual cutaway from the forecast graphic .  "" The usual ' sun wearing the shades ' graphic is cute we still get letters about it from viewers , "" Underwood said . "" But replacing that sun with Bob Barry ? That was a hoot . ""  Underwood added : "" Live At Five has a reputation for having an offbeat sense of humor , and that ' s a part of its appeal . ""  According to Janney , Johnston does not normally look at the monitor while introducing the extended forecast and was initially confused by the titters coming from the camera operators . When he saw the monitor , he broke into a wide grin , chuckled , and said , "" And there ' s Bob Barry ,  ' s original golden boy . ""  "" It was a wonderful ad lib , "" Sabin said . "" I ' ll bet most of the home audience thought he was in on the joke from the start . But he wasn ' t . He ' s that good . ""  Said Janney : "" The killer part was when Grant threw to Chuck , and Chuck sang a couple of bars of ' You Are The Sunshine Of My Life . ' Practically everyone in the studio was dying . But Grant didn ' t miss a beat . He comes right back with , ' Aw , Chuck , I didn ' t know you cared . ' By that point , everybody on set was in stitches . ""  Janney has received positive feedback for his shenanigan , including e mails of praise from viewers . Yet , when asked about doing something similar in the future , Janney became coy .  "" If we did something silly every day , we ' d risk losing our edge , "" he said . "" But who knows when something like that will happen again . You ' ll just have to keep watching Live At Five to find out . ""  ",satire,text,test,American football,Sports/Other,true,satire,True,no,no,positive,present
14453,14454,"TALLADEGA, Ala.  —   For a band at a tiny,   historically black college, it seems in some ways to be the gig of a lifetime: a chance to march and perform at the Jan. 20 presidential inaugural parade in Washington. Some of the musicians at Talladega College have been excited to see the capital for the first time. But because the   is Donald J. Trump, the school has become the subject of an impassioned national outcry, with online petitions, threats to end donations and a flurry of    from alumni who feel that performing in the parade would betray the values of an institution founded by newly freed slaves 150 years ago. On Thursday, after days of speculation that the college administration might bow to the pressure and remove the band from the parade roster, the president of Talladega College, Billy Hawkins, issued a statement confirming the participation of the band, the Marching Tornadoes, and argued, in essence, that the 58th presidential inauguration is about something bigger than Mr. Trump. “We respect and appreciate how our students and alumni feel about our participation in this parade,” Dr. Hawkins said. “As many of those who chose to participate in the parade have said, we feel the inauguration of a new president is not a political event but a civil ceremony celebrating the transfer of power. ” Similar issues have been raised about other entertainers scheduled to perform, among them the Radio City Rockettes and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. But because of Talladega’s history, the issues have been especially intense here, with calls for the college to reverse its decision to take part in the festivities. And beyond Talladega, the controversies raise tough questions for Mr. Trump’s most ardent critics as his presidency dawns: What is the proper response to a president as polarizing as Mr. Trump? Should the office of the president be honored, no matter who fills it? Or should there be four years of pure rejection and defiance? And if Mr. Trump’s opponents refuse to participate in his presidency, can critics on the right do the same thing to some other   in the future? To a number of Talladega alumni, the Dec. 30 announcement that the band would march in the parade was an insult to the very principles of the college, which was established two years after the end of the Civil War. The school is affiliated with the United Church of Christ, a liberal Protestant denomination that was deeply involved in the civil rights movement, and for decades it served as an incubator for theories and practices of social justice. Nikky Finney, a poet and Talladega graduate who is now a professor at the University of South Carolina, said in a statement this week that the band should not help celebrate Mr. Trump, who, she said, has maligned women and Mexican immigrants and has proposed barring all Muslims from entering the country. In an interview on Thursday, Ms. Finney, channeling a James Brown lyric, said the college had “sold out the history of Talladega College for chicken change” and “maybe a tin star on a hatemonger’s parade route. ” As of Thursday afternoon, an online petition calling for the band to withdraw from the inaugural parade had attracted more than 1, 900 signers, some of them supporters of the college who have threatened to withhold future contributions. But a second petition, which had nearly 300 supporters, argued that the parade was not about politics but “about seeing firsthand the process of a transition” and giving the students a chance to be a part of history. “We are not   thinkers and believe everyone is entitled” to their own beliefs, it stated. “However, we are in support of the United States of America. ” As the debate heated up this week in online forums for students and alumni, the leadership at the private,   college hunkered down to consider how best to proceed. The campus police ordered reporters off the   campus. Brief interviews with a few band members on Tuesday evening revealed a group divided. Jerome Haynes, 18, a freshman who plays the snare drum, said he hoped politics would not get in the way of an exciting opportunity for the band. In contrast, Ronald Peterson, 21, a sophomore who plays cymbals, said he was going to talk to the director about staying home. “I feel that those who are not Republicans should not have to play for it,” he said. On Thursday afternoon, some students said the administration had done the right thing, despite the protests from alumni. Antonio Phillips, 24, a senior and a drum major, welcomed the exposure. “We’re musicians, so this is a good platform for us to showcase our talent in front of the world,” he said. His friend Ken Randolph, 20, a junior who is not in the band, said the concerns of alumni like Ms. Finney “weigh heavily on the students of Talladega. ” But he said Mr. Trump might benefit from the exposure to a black art form. “This is a part of our culture,” Mr. Randolph said. “With it being on his front doorstep, he might be able to apprehend the vibe and the culture. ” That drama in Talladega, a city of 15, 000 about an hour’s drive east of Birmingham, played out as black activists, including the N. A. A. C. P. president, Cornell William Brooks, were arrested on Tuesday in Mobile in a   action at the office of Senator Jeff Sessions, the Alabama Republican nominated to be attorney general in the Trump administration. Mr. Sessions, who is white, was rejected by the Senate for a federal judgeship in 1986 after he was accused of making racially insensitive statements. To some Talladega alumni, the possibility that policies long opposed by   could now be enacted by a   Congress and executive branch was what made the notion of a black band marching for Mr. Trump seem so distasteful. “There’s a great deal of fear in this country that the Voting Rights Act is going to be abolished, that the Affordable Care Act is going to be abolished, that Planned Parenthood is going to be cut off from funding, that Medicaid is going be cut off from funding,” said J. Mason Davis, a Birmingham lawyer who graduated from the college in 1956. “Don’t you understand why we have a fear of the man?” Donavon Jackson, 24, a former trumpet player in the band who graduated last year, said performing as part of the inauguration would be particularly special for a college of about 1, 000 students whose band program is only about five years old. The school does not have a football team, which makes parade invitations all the more important. “I’m honored to go to a school that can say they marched in an inauguration parade,” said Mr. Jackson, who received a chemistry degree and now lives in Houston. “Not necessarily for the person  —   and that’s not necessarily saying he’s a bad person. ” In the statement on Thursday, school officials said they still faced the “challenge” of raising more than $60, 000 to cover expenses for the trip. The population of the city of Talladega is divided about evenly between blacks and whites, and to a visitor, it can feel like a place where racial harmony and discord coexist on seemingly parallel planes. Whites speak with pride about the historic black college downtown  —   though one white person was overheard on Wednesday warning of a liberal plot to foment a “race war” so that President Obama might declare martial law before the inauguration. While some residents said the band should stay home, and others said it should attend the event in Washington, a few spoke harshly of Mr. Trump while hoping the inauguration would help the band get noticed  —   something the city, which was bypassed by the interstate highway system, has struggled with in recent decades. Bonquita McClellan, 26, manages her father’s restaurant, Big Mac’s Open Pit BBQ, near campus. Ms. McClellan, who is black, said the disdain for Mr. Trump among her   peers was universal. “If anybody would have had us in concentration camps,” she said, “it’d be him. ” But she also said the band should go and make a name for itself in the nation’s capital. “How often,” she asked, “does Talladega College get a chance to play for the president?” Up the street at a real estate office near the   courthouse, Randy and Heather Roberts, a white couple who voted for Mr. Trump, raved about the Talladega College band and its performance at the Dec. 5 Christmas parade. Ms. Roberts showed a video of the band on her phone. “They were phenomenal,” Ms. Roberts said. Ms. Roberts, 41, said she grew up with black and white friends. Mr. Roberts, 48, said he and his wife were pleased to cater to their multiracial clientele. But when they spoke about politics, the couple sounded like people who knew something was broken but did not know how it might be fixed. “It is not going to be pleasant for the next four years,” Ms. Roberts said. “It is going to be a battle. ”",true,news,test,Other news1,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
14457,14458,"Washington If you ' re expecting last minute action from Congress to avoid the March 1 spending cut deadline , think again .  Congress isn ' t even in session this week , and lawmakers and aides from both parties say they don ' t expect anything to pass anytime soon .  Why the lack of urgency ?  The cuts can be phased in over time , and leaders on both sides of the aisle know they can act after March 1 to undo any reductions in the months to come . Also , some Democrats and Republicans aren ' t totally unhappy with many of the cuts , 85 billion of which will be split between Pentagon and non defense programs this year .  Many of the most popular domestic programs , including Medicare and Medicaid benefits , are off the table .  Obama ,  clash on forced spending cuts  With no sharp , irreversible deadline in the offing , all you ' re likely to get over the next 10 days is an extended version of the partisan blame game . True to form , President Barack Obama and  leaders ratcheted up their rhetoric on Tuesday .  "" Republicans in Congress face a simple choice , "" Obama said at a White House event with first responders . "" Are they willing to compromise , to protect vital investments in education and healthcare and national security and all the jobs that depend on them ? Or would they rather put hundreds of thousands of jobs and our entire economy at risk just to protect a few special interest tax loopholes that benefit only the wealthiest Americans and biggest corporations ? ""  Obama more emotional on spending cuts  Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid , D Nevada , urged Republicans to "" listen to the overwhelming majority of Americans and work with Democrats to forge a balanced approach "" to deficit reduction that includes new tax hikes on the wealthy .  House Speaker John Boehner , R Ohio , responded to barbs from Democrats with a written statement placing the blame squarely on the president .  Blind budget cuts , explained  "" The House has twice passed legislation to replace it with commonsense cuts and reforms that won ' t threaten public safety , national security , or our economy , "" the speaker said , referring to measures passed by the  controlled chamber last year .  "" But once again , the president ( has ) offered no credible plan that can pass Congress only more calls for higher taxes , "" Boehner said .  Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell , R Kentucky , said Obama "" prefers campaign events to common sense , bipartisan action . ""  By the Numbers : Automatic spending cuts  Republicans argue they ' ve already ceded on higher taxes by allowing Bush era tax cuts to expire on the wealthiest Americans as part of the New Year ' s Eve "" fiscal cliff "" deal .   leaders insist that any package replacing this year ' s planned 85 billion in cuts part of 1 . 2 trillion in savings over 10 years must be comprised entirely of alternative spending reductions , including entitlement reform .  Republicans are particularly concerned about the looming defense cuts .  Senate Democrats and Republicans are expected to propose alternative bills next week to replace the automatic cuts .  Neither plan is likely to get the 60 votes necessary for approval in the 100 member chamber thereby setting the stage for more serious talks after March 1 .  The real impact of automatic spending cuts  "" There won ' t be any easy off ramps on this one , "" McConnell said last week . "" The days of 11th hour negotiations are over . ""  Brown University political scientist Wendy Schiller , who studies presidential and congressional politics , noted that March 27 the date when the current government funding authority expires is an ideal point for Congress to alter its current spending plans .  Ultimately , she predicted , Congress will be "" the big loser . . . . If history tells us anything about showdowns between Congress and the president , it tells us the president wins . And only one branch will face the voters again Congress . ""  Borger : Obama can ' t kick his legacy down the road  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
14473,14474,"Euro on shaky ground , stocks up on talk of aggressive  easing  Published : 14 : 59  , 26 November 2015 Updated : 14 : 59  , 26 November 2015    , Nov 26 ( Reuters ) The euro slipped towards seven month lows , bond yields fell and European shares rallied on Thursday on growing talk of aggressive stimulus from the European Central Bank next week .  The pan European FTSEurofirst 300 index settled 0 . 9 percent higher , adding to Wednesday ' s 1 . 4 percent gain , while the Euro  50 index added 1 . 1 percent .  Canada ' s main stock index rose 0 . 25 percent , led by gains for its heavyweight financial sector and some of its biggest miners . Wall Street was closed for Thanksgiving , a day after shares closed flat in a pre holiday lull .  Overnight , Asian stocks closed modestly higher .  ' s broadest index of Asia Pacific shares outside Japan rose 0 . 2 percent .  "" Expectations surrounding the  are running very high and this is driving European markets higher , weakening the euro and helping them do better than U . S . stocks , "" said Marco Vailati , head of research and investment at Italy ' s Cassa Lombarda .  "" I think and hope the  will not disappoint but I realise that it won ' t be that easy , "" he said .  Euro zone central bank officials are considering options such as staggered charges on banks hoarding cash and buying more debt ahead of next week ' s  meeting , Reuters reported on Wednesday .  That fueled talk that the central bank is preparing aggressive measures to lift inflation and economic growth in the 19 member euro zone .  This view kept the euro under pressure , and it dipped to 1 . 0605 , a day after it tumbled as low as 1 . 0565 , its lowest since mid April . Against the yen , the euro fell 0 . 2 percent to 130 . 12 yen , a day after hitting a seven month low of 129 . 77 .  Market activity was thin due to the U . S . holiday , with the greenback trading in a tight range .  "" Ultimately , I think the  will be aggressive and that divergence in policy with the United States must imply a weaker euro , "" said Chris Scicluna , head of economic research at Daiwa Capital Markets in London .  "" The question now is how far can we go , and as the Fed tightens , euro dollar parity is looking likely by the second quarter of next year . ""  Euro zone lending expanded in October at its fastest rate in nearly four years , while a broader measure of money circulating grew well ahead of expectations ,  data showed .  Still , banks continue to park around 160 billion euros in overnight deposits with the  , as negative rates and extraordinary stimulus have yet to unblock lending channels .  Short term euro zone interest rates fell to record lows as markets braced for an aggressive cut due to an  debate about two tier deposit rates .  German five year government bond yields fell to a record low of 0 . 189 percent , while two year yields hovered just above lows at 0 . 409 percent .  U . S . economic data on Wednesday cemented expectations that U . S . interest rates will rise soon , helping push the gap between short dated bond yields in the U . S . and Germany to their widest since 2006 and underpinning the dollar .  Oil prices fell after six days of gains , as investors grew less worried that violence in the Middle East would disrupt supply , and returned their focus to the global supply glut .  Brent crude oil futures fell 1 . 2 percent to 45 . 62 a barrel .  Spot gold was little changed at 1 , 071 . 50 an ounce , close to its lowest in nearly six years on a firmer dollar and expectations for higher U . S . interest rates .  Copper prices bounced to their highest in nearly two weeks , then pared gains . A strong dollar has slammed that metal in recent weeks .  Turkish assets remained under pressure as Russia threatened economic retaliation over its downed jet , but other emerging equities edged up , snapping a three day losing streak .  Emerging stocks were last up 0 . 16 percent . ( Additional reporting by Alastair Sharp in Toronto and Danilo Masoni Editing by Dominic Evans )  Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
14501,14502,"Washington Republicans in Washington say they are breathing a sigh of relief now that the Kansas secretary of state has ruled that the Democratic Senate candidate will stay on the ballot in November even though he dropped out .  It ' s a case of political whiplash for national Republicans , who just hours earlier scrambled to send strategists to Kansas when it suddenly became a head to head race between incumbent Republican Pat Roberts and an independent candidate with libertarian views , who would likely pull  votes from Roberts .  The matchup appeared to make it harder for the  to seize the Senate majority .  The source called it just the first move to try to help bolster Roberts ' campaign , which national Republicans worry is lackluster and ill equipped to run an unexpectedly competitive campaign .  The Senate race in Kansas just got more interesting  5 Senate races to watch in 2014  Republicans were moving fast because of the national importance of the race in the  quest to regain control of the Senate in November . The  has to pick up six seats to take over the Senate . Their advantage has been that they are only playing defense in two states : Kentucky and Georgia . Adding Kansas to the list has many implications , most immediately with money .  After 30 years in Senate , McConnell tries to run as ' candidate of change '  Republican resources are already spread thin because there are so many neck and neck races where they are spending campaign cash mostly where they are playing offense trying to pick up Democratic seats everywhere from Louisiana to Alaska to North Carolina and New Hampshire and beyond .  When Roberts narrowly won a  primary race earlier this year , Republicans thought he would have relatively smooth sailing towards re election . Kansas is so conservative , it has only been represented by Republican senators for three quarters of a century .  U . S . Chamber ramps up efforts in key N . C . Senate race  But then Orman began to climb in the polls . The three way race was already making things tougher for Roberts , but on Wednesday night , Taylor abruptly withdrew , paving the way for a head to head matchup between Roberts and Orman , an independent running on a libertarian platform .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
14524,14525,"Reuters) - Congressional intelligence committee Democrats said on Tuesday they would soon be allowed to view documents at the center of a political firestorm surrounding the investigation of possible links between President Donald Trump’s campaign and Russia. Representative Adam Schiff, the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee’s ranking Democrat, said documents that officials at the White House provided to the panel’s chairman, Republican Devin Nunes, would be made available to all the members of his committee and their Senate counterparts. “This action is long overdue and follows an inexplicable series of events in which the White House played a role in selectively and surreptitiously providing the documents to our chairman,” Schiff said in a statement. “If the White House had any concerns over these documents, or any other documents, they should have provided them to our committee weeks ago,” he said. Congressional committees and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are investigating what U.S. intelligence has  concluded were attempts by Moscow to influence the U.S. election in Trump’s favor.  They are also looking at links between Russia and Trump. Russia denies such allegations. Trump and his allies have mounted an aggressive defense. Most recently, they have focused on unsubstantiated reports that Susan Rice, former President Barack Obama’s national security adviser, disclosed the names of Trump aides swept up by surveillance of foreign targets. Rice dismissed the reports as “absolutely false” in an interview with MSNBC. The day after  Director James Comey confirmed the  investigation of potential ties between Russia and the Trump campaign last month, Nunes announced to reporters that the communications of members of Trump’s transition team were caught up in the surveillance. He said the information came from documents obtained from a source he would not identify. Nunes, a close Trump political ally, discussed the matter with the Republican president before consulting committee Democrats. After reports Nunes got the documents from White House aides, Schiff called for him to recuse himself from the inquiry, saying his actions compromised the panel’s ability to complete a credible, bipartisan investigation.  Republican Senator Richard Burr, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, whose leaders have insisted they can conduct a bipartisan investigation, said on Tuesday he was open to looking into the Rice allegations, if they proved true. Democrats underscored the gravity of the investigation. “I wouldn’t be surprised after all of this is said and done that some people end up in jail,” Representative Joaquin Castro, a House Intelligence member, told CNN. ",true,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
14533,14534,"Alex Ferguson was too angry to talk to the press after Manchester United ' s Champions League exit , and Roberto Mancini was feeling very much the same way after a shock defeat surely ended his side ' s English title defense on Saturday .  Manchester City crashed 2 0 at Everton , which allowed United to march 15 points clear with just nine games to play following a functional 1 0 win over second bottom Reading .  Mancini ' s ire was raised not only by a controversial refereeing decision late in the match mirroring Ferguson ' s frustration after Nani ' s red card against Real Madrid but also by his team ' s capitulation against a side thrashed by struggling Wigan last time out in the  Cup .  Everton even had Steven Pienaar sent off with half an hour to play , but the key moment came when Marouane Fellaini ' s handball inside the area was penalized with a freekick outside of it as City trailed 1 0 with four minutes left .  "" He is a bit angry , as you can imagine , "" Mancini ' s assistant David Platt said after the match .  "" He is just taking stock of the situation and calming down . He doesn ' t want to come out here and say anything that might get him in trouble . ""  Platt later told City ' s website : "" From where I was down on the touchline I didn ' t know if it was inside or not , but we quickly had a message come through to us that it was inside having now seen it myself , it was well inside the box , but it ' s not gone for us .  "" But even then we probably created enough decent chances to get something out of the game . ""  Everton also had an appeal for a penalty turned down when Fellaini fell , and Kevin Mirallas had an effort ruled out for offside .  Even so , goals from midfielder Leon Osman and substitute Nikica Jelavic kept David Moyes ' team in sixth place , three points ahead of city rivals Liverpool with a game in hand as the club ' s manager celebrated 11 years in charge .  More importantly in terms of the Premier League title race , it left United in pole position to claim a record extending 20th English crown at the expense of their bitter rivals .  Ferguson made eight changes following last weekend ' s  Cup draw with Chelsea , but it was two of the players who retained their places that made the difference against managerless Reading .  Center back Rio Ferdinand charged upfield and directed the ball towards Wayne Rooney , who teed the ball up and then saw his volley balloon over goalkeeper Stuart Taylor after taking a big deflection .  That 21st minute effort Rooney ' s 12th goal in the league this season and 16th overall was enough to see off a visiting team which had sacked manager Brian McDermott last Monday .  Ferdinand has been called up into the England squad for the first time since 2011 , and Ferguson confirmed that the 34 year old would be available for this month ' s World Cup qualifiers against San Marino and Montenegro despite earlier expressing fears about his fitness .  Ferdinand was omitted by Roy Hodgson for Euro 2012 as the coach cited "" footballing reasons "" though it was widely reported that the United defender missed out due to the fallout from his younger brother Anton ' s racism case against John Terry , who was selected for the tournament in Poland and Ukraine .  "" It wasn ' t a great performance but where we are now is not down to today , but the last six months , "" Ferguson said .  "" The team has shown great consistency and played a lot of great football . Our goal difference is big over City now 13 goals .  "" The problem I ' ve got is a lot of players are away on international duty and play two games . They come back and then we ' ve got a lunchtime game against Sunderland on Saturday ( March 30 ) and then it ' s lunchtime again against Chelsea on the Monday . We have a squad to use it and that ' s what we did today . ""  Fifth placed Arsenal bounced back from the club ' s midweek Champions League exit with a 2 0 win at Swansea .  Left back Nacho Monreal scored his first goal since leaving Spanish side Malaga on January ' s transfer deadline day , and Ivory Coast forward Gervinho also netted as Arsene Wenger ' s team moved to within two points of fourth placed Chelsea who host London rivals West Ham on Sunday .  Seventh placed Liverpool crashed 3 1 at Southampton , who moved seven points clear of the relegation zone .  West Brom could have climbed above Brendan Rodgers ' former European champions , but drew 0 0 at midtable Stoke .  Aston Villa won for the second match in a row to establish a six point buffer over the teams in the relegation zone , beating bottom club Queens Park Rangers 3 2 .  In Sunday ' s other matches , third placed Tottenham will look to bounce back from successive defeats against Liverpool and Inter Milan in the London derby at home to Fulham .  Third bottom Wigan host Newcastle , while Sunderland will seek to halt a slide down the table at home to 14th placed Norwich .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
14535,14536,"Nuclear war may break out for reasons that no one speaks about 01.11.2016 Print version Font Size Scientists from the United Nations University named a place in the world, where a nuclear conflict may break out already in the near future.""The Indus river basin may be seen as a water time bomb, which may go off any time with increasing water scarcity, variability and progressively changing climate. There are similar water-related accumulating tensions and issues in other major river basins and UNU- has embarked on the scrupulous analysis of those to ensure peaceful and sustainable trajectory of river basin developments,"" UNU- Director Vladimir Smakhtin said. It goes about two warring countries, both being nuclear powers - India and Pakistan .A month ago, India announced the termination of the work of the bilateral Indus River Commission. The commission had been in charge of water relations between India and Pakistan since 1960, when the countries signed the Indus Waters Treaty. Islamabad, in turn, declared it a hostile action on the part of New Delhi and said that such a move of the Indian government would be regarded as ""an act of declaration of war.""The problem remains serious not only because of the irreconcilable hostility between India and Pakistan, but also because of the growing consumption of water in China and Afghanistan - the adjacent countries to India and Pakistan.The Indian subcontinent already has water supplies problems, and the further increase of the shortage of water resources may give rise to internal political instability in the country. The instability will in turn push the country's leadership to a move to ""solve all problems at once."" In March of 2016, former Minister for Foreign Affairs of Russia (in 1998-2004), Igor Ivanov, said that the danger of a nuclear war in Europe was higher than it was in the 1980s.Ivanov, who now heads the Russian Council for International Affairs, noted a high risk of confrontation with the use of nuclear weapons in Europe. According to the Stockholm Peace Research Institute, Russia and the United States currently own fewer nuclear weapons than they did during the Cold War. However, even though both Russia and the  have 7,000 warheads each, the countries still own approximately 90% of all nuclear weapons in the world.The former minister, speaking in Brussels to foreign ministers of Ukraine and Poland and a  congressman, said: ""We now have fewer nuclear warheads , but the risk that they will be used, is increasing.""He also accused the United States and Europe of raising such risks by deploying the European missile defense system. A part of the nuclear shield is being built on one of the bases in Poland. The missile defense system will be deployed in 2018, which is particularly sensitive for the Kremlin, as the  missile defense system will be taken very close to Russia's borders. Pravda.Ru Read article on the Russian version of Pravda.Ru  gets ready for nuclear war?",fake,news,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
14564,14565,"The father of missing child Haleigh Cummings ' married his 17 year old girlfriend , who was the last one known to have seen the child alive , the girl ' s grandmother told Nancy Grace producers .  Ronald Cummings proposes to Misty Croslin Sunday at a local Chili ' s restaurant .  On Sunday Ronald Cummings asked his teenage girlfriend , Misty Croslin , for her hand in marriage at a local Chili ' s restaurant . While he was with several family members , Cummings got down on one knee , asked Croslin to marry him and gave her Haleigh ' s grandmother ' s diamond ring .  Because Croslin is only 17 years old , her mother filled out the paperwork so the two could be married .  On Thursday , the pair tied the knot , after the three day waiting period required by Florida law .  Croslin said she wanted to be together as a family , just as Haleigh would have wanted .  "" Everybody is probably going to take this marriage thing the wrong way , "" Croslin told  . "" This is what Haleigh wanted . She has always talked about it , and even if she ' s not with us , she is still with us . ""  Croslin told police she tucked Haleigh and her 4 year old brother into bed about 8 p . m . February 9 in their Satsuma , Florida , home . She said she went to sleep herself about 10 p . m . but woke at 3 a . m . to find Haleigh missing and a back door propped open by bricks .  Police are still actively searching for the girl , with a new search happening this week , and investigators Wednesday took the back door that was found propped open .  In the middle of the search for the girl , the newlyweds will fly to New York Thursday night for their honeymoon and an exclusive appearance on the Today show .  Haleigh ' s grandmother , Teresa Neves , also acknowledged the timing might seem "" unusual . ""  "" Well , it is unusual for some onlookers , but those people didn ' t live with my two grandchildren , "" she told Nancy Grace . "" My grandchildren , both Haleigh and Junior , have very often said that they would love for their daddy to marry Misty and that they wanted Misty to be their mommy . And so I feel like they are just trying to fulfill a wish for Haleigh so that when she comes home she will have that extra happiness to come home to . ""  "" It ' s an event that Haleigh really should be at , but when she comes home , we ' ll have a great big wedding so she can be the flower girl and see it all again , "" Neves said .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
14567,14568,"Jay Sekulow, Chief Counsel of the American Center for Law and Justice joined Breitbart News Daily SiriusXM host Raheem Kassam on Wednesday to discuss the coming testimony of former  Director James Comey and the case of Reality Winner, who was arrested for leaking secrets from the National Security Agency. [Said Sekulow on Comey, “He’s not exactly a credible witness,” while pointing out several previous issues with testimony he’s given that has to be corrected later.  As for what to expect now, said Sekulow, “You don’t want to be left alone with the President of the United States? Well, that’s why you’re not the  director. Grow up and act like an adult. ” “It’s going to be whining testimony,” added Sekulow, saying he’s not sure what the intelligence community is even going to gain from the testimony. Comey is already leaking parts of his testimony and is said to not believe Trump tried to obstruct justice. Breitbart News Daily airs on SiriusXM Patriot 125 weekdays from 6:00 a. m. to 9:00 a. m. Eastern. LISTEN: ",true,news,test,US elections,US elections,satire,true,True,no,no,negative,past
14576,14577,"Reuters) - A powerful U.S. Senate committee will hold a hearing on the latest proposed healthcare bill to overhaul Obamacare next week, the first public hearing all year on any Republican effort to gut the healthcare law.  Orrin Hatch, the Republican chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, said on Monday the hearing would take place on Sept. 25 to “examine the details of the Graham-Cassidy proposal.” The Senate must vote on the bill by Sept. 30 to be able to pass it with a simple majority of 51 votes.  ",true,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
14609,14610,"Wimbledon will refuse to cash in on their dream  Cup tie against Liverpool with a decision taken to fix ticket prices at League Two levels , between 4 and 25 .  It is a refreshing change in the world where prices at the elite level have smashed through the 100 barrier and adheres to the true spirit of the competition , in keeping with a fixture that will evoke memories of the 1988 final .  Wimbledon are exploring the possibility of installing temporary seating at Kingsmeadow ground but there is very little scope to boost the capacity of 4 , 720 . It means gate receipts after  will be around 60 , 000 , which has to be shared with Liverpool and the  .  Goalscorer Sean Rigg ( right ) and George Francomb celebrate after beating Wycombe in round two  Rigg scored the only goal of the game at Adams Park to clinch a glamour tie with Premier League Liverpool  They will bank 144 , 000 if the game , to be played on or just after the weekend of January 3 4 , is among the five selected for live  broadcast .  But more than the cash windfall , which will boost their transfer and wage budget of 1 . 1million , the tie marks an emotional step in the rebirth of a club lost when the  sanctioned the former owners ' plan to move to Milton Keynes and rebrand as  Dons .  ' It is a significant milestone in the development of the club , ' said executive Erik Samuelson . ' You can look back to the time of our first trials on Wimbledon Common when we had no players or kit . When you think of where we ' ve come from it makes the hairs on your neck stand up .   Wimbledon ' s Kingsmeadow home has a capacity of less than 5 , 000  Liverpool fan Adebayo Akinfenwa helped Wimbledon win at  Dons in the  back in October  ' There was the first competitive game and our first game in the  Vase , playing a Football League team in the  Cup , promotion to the Conference , getting our own ground and getting back into the Football League and winning in Buckinghamshire . '  This is a reference to  Dons . The relationship remains prickly , even after recent cup ties .  The patrimony of the 1988  Cup win initially went to Milton Keynes with the team but has since been passed to Merton Borough Council , following a campaign by the Wimbledon Independent Supporters Club . A miniature replica of the famous trophy resides in a library .  Wimbledon fans spilled onto the pitch after Jack Midson ' s goal at  Dons back in 2012  Occasionally it is loaned to  Wimbledon , who are attempting to move back into Merton . There are several hoops to get through but they hope to be there for the 2017 18 season .  ' This will be the first time we have had a competitive game against a Premier League team , ' added Samuelson .  ' It ' s another tick in another box except emotionally , it ' s much more than that . It is a significant step . It has huge resonance because of 1988 , when a massive number of our fans would have been at Wembley or watching on television .  Lawrie Sanchez scored the winner as Wimbledon stunned Liverpool in the 1988 final at Wembley  The Dons celebrate a famous win on the hallowed Wembley turf  ' Isn ' t that great ? To complete the circle would be to beat them , but this fixture alone puts the club into the spotlight and reminds everyone who we are . It ' s what the  Cup is all about . '  This sentiment is the main factor in the club ' s determination not to fleece fans over tickets , even though they could sell perhaps 10 times the capacity .  Adult prices will start at 16 for the terraces , up to 25 in the main stand , with 10 for concessions and 4 for U18s .  ' We will look into the possibility of expanding the capacity with temporary seats but the design of the ground makes it difficult , ' said Samuelson . ' It is a challenge on and off the pitch . What we really need is a new stadium , somewhere in Merton . Wouldn ' t that be nice ? '   Wimbledon chief executive Erik Samuelson is relishing the meeting with Liverpool  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,present
14624,14625,"A key Democratic lawmaker called Tuesday for the resignation of American International Group ' s  after the troubled insurer held a financial planners conference last week at a posh Arizona resort .  Edward Liddy ,  chief executive , said the conference educated external financial planners .  The company responded that the event cost  very little and was aimed at boosting income .   had come under sharp criticism for sending executives on a lavish English partridge hunt and a weeklong retreat at a California resort after accepting an 85 billion bailout since grown to 150 billion from the federal government in September .  "" They came to us basically saying ' we are on the critical list , and we need a respirator , ' and we bail them out , and the next thing we know , we turn around and they are going out partying and spending the taxpayers ' dollars . And it ' s kind of it ' s very upsetting . "" Watch Cummings criticize   Cummings , a senior member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform , called for the resignation of   Edward Liddy , who joined the company only a few weeks ago as part of the bailout plan .  And  has said that although the event cost 343 , 000 ,  had to pay only 23 , 000 of it . Watch Liddy explain event ' s purpose  "" Ninety percent of the conference was paid for by the participants who were there and our partners at this conference , "" Liddy told King .  Liddy said  was "" tightening the belt "" and has cut more than 160 conferences or other events in the past seven weeks . But he said some training events for external financial planners are needed "" so they understand the product , all of its features , and they know what to sell to whom . ""  "" We don ' t want a variable annuity sold to a 85 year old widow , "" Liddy said .  Liddy said the company will pay off the 150 billion government loan plus interest . Watch Liddy say  will pay back the loan  "" We appreciate what the taxpayer and the federal government has done for us . . . . We intend to pay back every penny we ' ve borrowed , "" Liddy said .  Earlier ,  spokesman Nicholas Ashooh also defended the conference , saying Cummings was "" responding to an incomplete picture . ""  "" This was a legit meeting . It was really for independent advisers at very little cost to  . "" Watch  ' s  explain the retreat at a Arizona resort  Ashooh also said  canceled a speech by former  quarterback Terry Bradshaw at the conference .  The conference , Ashooh said , was one "" that any insurance company has to do "" and not a "" junket for  top executives . ""  Undercover footage shot by  shows top  executives , including Larry Roth , president and  of  Advisor Group , sitting poolside and drinking coffee while conference goers attended meetings . Another executive Art Tambaro , head of  subsidiary Royal Alliance stayed in one of the resort ' s two story villas .  The footage also shows a few executives being shuttled in a luxury Lincoln Town Car one night and enjoying dinner and drinks at a McCormick Schmick ' s seafood restaurant , where they spent more than 400 ,  reported .  Ashooh insisted that the conference was legitimate .  "" We ' ve certainly done some things in the past that have been worthy of criticism , but this one ' s really been mischaracterized , "" he said .  Ashooh said  indeed tried to keep the event low profile "" because everything has been subject to so much criticism . ""  "" But it wasn ' t an effort to disguise it . It was an effort to minimize costs and to keep the profile down , because we don ' t even want to do anything that would even be perceived as expensive , "" he said .  The U . S . government agreed to an 85 billion loan in September to stave off  ' s immediate collapse . On Monday , the Federal Reserve and the Treasury Department modified the original loan into a 150 billion deal with a lower interest rate and used another 40 billion to buy preferred stock .  The dealings have left the federal government owning 80 percent of  .  But  ran into criticism almost from the start . There was a 440 , 000 retreat at St . Regis Resort in Monarch Beach , California , and an 86 , 000 partridge hunt at an English manor . Last week ' s conference was held at the Hilton Squaw Peak Hotel in Phoenix , Arizona .  Under an agreement with New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo , the company agreed to freeze 19 million in payments to its former  , Martin Sullivan , and block distributions from a 600 million deferred compensation and bonus pool for the company ' s financial products subsidiary . The company also withheld a 10 million severance payment to its former chief financial officer .  Sullivan was replaced in June by Robert Willumstad , who in turn was replaced by Liddy as part of the bailout . Willumstad voluntarily gave up a 22 million severance package .   reported a 24 . 5 billion loss in the third quarter .  ",true,text,test,Football,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
14632,14633,"A new 30million academy has opened directly opposite a seedy sex club , complete with leather clad clientele , a mock torture wheel and a fully equipped dungeon .  North Durham Academy , which opened this month in Stanley , county Durham , boasts of its state of the art design , with classrooms kitted out with projectors , interactive whiteboards and brand new science labs .  But its prospectus fails to mention the business just opposite Clubf which describes itself as the best sex club in the north east .  Contrast : Newly opened North Durham Academy , left , is just across the road from the Spa Hotel , which houses swingers ' joint Clubf  The club , which appears from the outside to be ' The Spa Hotel ' was subject to vigorous resistance from local residence when its true intentions became apparent in 2004 .  The addition of a school just cross the road has intensified the protests .  The website which does not openly disclose the club ' s location lists the club ' s facilities , including a dance floor complete with pole , a sauna and steam room , a ' public play area ' .  The underground dungeon is also shown , featuring leather and chains , padded tables and a man sized wheel to which guests can be strapped .  The club , which opens from 8pm most evenings , urges its visitors to be discreet , but locals still campaign against the establishment , which they say is ' unsuitable ' for the location , and creates disturbances .  Ann Hilde , a member of a local residents ' campaign , said said : ' From day one we feared this would happen . What started out as an event on a Saturday night at the spa has become a series of party nights on Wednesdays , Fridays , Saturdays and Sundays .  State of the art : Clubf is just around the corner from the 30million North Durham Academy  Unassuming : Clubf does not openly display itself , and urges customer to be discreet  ' There are problems with cars parking in the area and visitors leaving in the early hours of the morning are causing a noise disturbance .  When the windows are open I can hear all sorts . '  Retired factory worker , 66 year old grandmother Edith Errington , has lived nearby for the past 26 years has noted the exotic visitors to the site .  She said : ' Sometimes the people are dressed up in skirts up to here , both men and women , or  or as tarts and vicars but other times you just see them carrying a plastic bag in with them .  Campign : John and Edith Errington have said that Clubf ' s presence is ' unsuitable ' in light of the new academy  ' Some of them look sheepish but others aren ' t bothered . You hear all kinds of stories . '  Her husband John said : ' It should be shifted . It is one thing if it is on a trading estate in the middle of nowhere , but it shouldn ' t be right next to people ' s homes , on a high street and opposite a school . '  The club has made efforts to downplay the disruption it causes members must pay a subscription fee and be over 25 , and the website asks visitors to ' appreciate we wish to stay at the club for the long term and not everyone is as open minded as we all are . '  The premesis needs no special license , as it does not sell alcohol and also the services it offers do not classify as ' sexual entertainment ' which means the police and council have no reason to intervene .  A spokesman for Durham County Council said : ' We are not aware of licensing issues surrounding this premises . It doesn ' t have an alcohol license or a sexual entertainment licence that we are aware of . '  A spokeswoman from Durham Police said : ' It ' s a hotel with themed rooms , bring your own booze policy so it does not need a licence under the licensing act .  ' The county council licensing enforcement people visit regularly to ensure compliance and it fully complies with current legislation . '  Nobody wished to comment from the club .  A spokeswoman for North Durham Academy said they did not wish to comment .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
14657,14658,"Formula One has to consider bringing in enclosed cockpits to improve driver safety following the serious accident involving Jules Bianchi , says Williams deputy team principal Claire Williams .  Autosport magazine claimed F1 ' s top teams rejected a move by the  last year to introduce closed cockpits because they felt the structures would make cars look ugly .  Williams refused to confirm if that had been rejected but said the enclosed cockpits now had to be looked at .  The idea of closed cockpits has been raised in light of Jules Bianchi ' s crash at the Japan Grand Prix  Speaking at the Leaders in Sport conference in London , she said : ' I can ' t talk about what we discussed in our strategy group meetings . But safety is always on the agenda in Formula One .  ' Enclosed cockpits aren ' t easy technically for us to integrate into a Formula One car and of course they change the very nature of what a Formula One car looks like .  ' We have to look at all the options available to us whether it ' s an enclosed cockpit or not , but I think those conversations need to go on behind the scenes .  Claire Williams , deputy team principal of the Williams F1 team , said drivers safety was of paramount importance  ' Safety is always paramount so we have to find ways to ensure our drivers are as protected as possible and I don ' t think the aesthetics of a Formula One car yes they are important , they are the very fibre and  of Formula One and what cars look like is important , but safety has to be paramount . '  Bianchi remains in a ' critical but stable ' condition after he suffered a traumatic brain injury during a crash in last Sunday ' s Japanese Grand Prix .  The 25 year old Frenchman , who drives for Marussia , remains on the intensive care unit at Mie General Medical Center in Japan .  Marussia driver Bianchi spun off the road in treacherously wet conditions in Japan , and is still in hospital  Williams said safety in Formula One had moved on hugely since the death of Ayrton Senna 20 years ago .  She added : ' Our sport is dangerous at times , but a lot of work has been done behind the scenes in the past 20 years since Ayrton died at Imola in ' 94 .  ' You see a lot of accidents in Formula One where you don ' t necessarily expect drivers to walk away and certainly prior to 20 years ago they wouldn ' t necessarily have done so . But a lot of work has been done and they do walk away in most scenarios now .  ' The  and the event organisers need to do a full analysis into the accident that happened on Sunday and I think everyone ' s concern in our sport at the moment is with Jules and his recovery . '  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Economy,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
14663,14664,"BRIDGEWATER, N.J. (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump spoke to Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Sunday and discussed the threat posed by North Korea, the White House said. “Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to a denuclearized Korean Peninsula. President Trump reiterated his determination to seek more balanced trade relations with America’s trading partners,” the White House said of Trump’s call with Xi. Trump has become increasingly frustrated with China’s inability to rein in North Korea. Trump and Abe, in their call, reiterated their commitment to increase pressure on North Korea. “They reaffirmed that the United States-Japan Alliance stands ready to defend and respond to any threat or action taken by North Korea,” the White House said in a statement. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
14698,14699,"After  drew its highest ratings in decades during its coverage of the Boston Marathon terrorist attacks , the network ' s new president is saying a different approach to covering the news might bring in more viewers .  President Jeff Zucker cited  ' s high ratings as evidence that viewers tune in when the network is covering important breaking news , according to a recent memo he sent to network executives and newsroom editors , which was leaked to the news media .  Zucker , 48 , took over the network in January after a troublesome run with  Universal . He claimed he would focus on "" redefining what the definition of news is in order to boost  ' s ratings , which have declined over the years .  "" During our coverage of the Boston Marathon bombings we averaged about 2 . 9 million viewers , including many people in the under age 30 crowd , "" Zucker wrote in the memo . "" It turns out that our viewers actually like it when we cover important , breaking news stories with reporters in the field asking questions and providing useful information .  "" Although we earned widespread criticism because we ran a few erroneous reports , such as saying a suspect had been arrested or that President Obama had resigned , we still had the eyes and ears of many Americans who apparently wanted to know what was going on in Boston .  "" Maybe if we continue to cover important news like this ,  could soon average as many as 4 or 5 million viewers a day , far surpassing our competition at Fox News and  . We might even beat reruns of Seinfeld ' and The Office ' if we keep up the good work . ""  Zucker ,  executives and journalists declined to comment on the leaked memo . However , the memo indicates that Zucker may reevaluate his prior approach to introducing light hearted soft news shows and imitating Fox News programs .  Whatever Zucker decides to do , media critics say changes are needed to bring in more viewers to  , which pioneered 24 7 cable news and once billed itself as "" The Worldwide Leader in News . ""  Since taking over , Zucker has brought in anchors like Jake Tapper and Chris Cuomo while getting rid of Soledad O ' Brien has introduced new shows hosted by Anthony Bourdain and Morgan Spurlock and has proposed reviving "" Crossfire , "" a panel show in which conservatives and liberals yelled at each other .  He also brought in a prime time show , "" ( Get to ) The Point , "" in which five commentators discussed soft news and banal topics such as bacon and airplane toilet seats . The show had low ratings and was canceled after a week .  Zucker wrote that viewers have given him some indication on what they want to watch .  "" We conducted surveys with viewers following our Boston Marathon coverage , "" Zucker wrote in his memo , "" and many said they appreciated being informed about the events from a source other than the  ,  or  .  "" We asked people if we could improve our coverage by bringing in more political pundits or through flashy graphics like the kind we use in the virtual room , and the answer was surprising . They said , No , not really . Those graphics are really stupid and cheesy . "" ' Nobody has ever said that to us before .  "" They also told us that they don ' t get their news from partisan bickering among Democrats and Republicans , which almost contradicts everything we ' ve believed .  "" Perhaps this means we should consider covering more important news . By comparison , our coverage of unimportant news like the Jodi Arias trial , the Florida sinkhole or ( pop star ) Beyonce ' s news conferences didn ' t bring in high ratings , surprisingly . ""  Zucker ' s memo could have wide ranging implications for the future of the 24 hour cable news business , media analysts say .  "" We have long assumed and believed that most Americans are only interested in soft news and banal chatter from partisan hacks , "" says Kent Brockman , a journalism professor at the University of Oregon . "" But it turns out that viewers occasionally tune in when important news is being covered .  "" It will be interesting to see if  actually started doing what it used to do back in the 1980s when it had international bureaus and investigative reports on a regular basis , "" Brockman says . "" At least , they ' d better do something big before Al Jazeera comes in and steals their thunder . ""  ",satire,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
14708,14709,"Atlanta The widow of a man gunned down outside his son ' s suburban Atlanta day care center plotted his death with her cash strapped lover for nearly 3 million in insurance and other assets , prosecutors alleged Thursday .  A grand jury indicted Andrea Sneiderman on murder , racketeering , perjury and other charges Thursday morning , DeKalb County , Georgia , District Attorney Robert James announced . According to the indictment , she and her then boss , Hemy Neuman , had been having an affair for about seven months before husband Rusty Sneiderman was killed in November 2010 .  The Sneidermans were having marriage problems at the time , while Neuman and his wife were in similar straits and facing bankruptcy , according to the charges .  Georgia man gets life in day care murder  "" Neuman and Andrea Sneiderman conspired together to murder Rusty Sneiderman so that they could enjoy a life together , eliminate Neuman ' s debt problems and fully benefit from the assets the Sneidermans had acquired , as well as the proceeds of Rusty Sneiderman ' s life insurance policies , "" the indictment states .  Rusty and Andrea Sneiderman had two small children and about 960 , 000 in the bank , according to the charges . Rusty Sneiderman ' s life insurance policy paid out 2 million plus interest , prosecutors allege .  But in a written statement to reporters , Sneiderman ' s defense team said they "" categorically deny each and every one of the charges that were filed against Andrea today . ""  "" We are looking forward to a vigorous and complete defense to ensure that Andrea is fully exonerated of these false accusations , "" said J . Tom Morgan , a former DeKalb County district attorney . "" We are confident that , when an unbiased jury hears the facts of this case , it will be clear that Andrea is innocent . ""  Neuman already is serving a sentence of life in prison without parole in the killing . During his trial , both prosecutors and defense lawyers accused Sneiderman of having an affair with him an allegation she denied under oath .  A jury found Neuman guilty but mentally ill in March . Neuman ' s lawyers argued that Sneiderman had "" manipulated "" him into killing her husband , and said Thursday ' s indictment could boost his chances of a successful appeal .  "" The indictment today is clear confirmation of exactly what our defense was , "" said Doug Peters , one of Neuman ' s attorneys . "" Andrea was an adulterer , liar , and master manipulator . ""  Sneiderman was arrested at her parents ' home in Putnam County , about 80 miles east of Atlanta , after a grand jury returned the indictment Thursday morning , James said . Her attorneys accused James of turning the arrest into a "" media circus , "" saying they had already offered to surrender Sneiderman if charges were brought .  James said prosecutors won ' t seek the death penalty against Sneiderman . In a statement released through their attorneys , Rusty Sneiderman ' s family said the charges were "" another important step in the pursuit of justice "" for him , but the arrest of their in law "" brings us no joy . ""  In Session ' s Nancy Leung and Lena Jakobsson contributed to this report .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
14711,14712,"Brazil Former presidents of Mexico , Colombia and Brazil called Wednesday for the decriminalization of marijuana for personal use and a change in tactics on the war on drugs , a Spanish news agency said .  People march in support of legalized marijuana in late January in Belem , northern Brazil .  Ex presidents Ernesto Zedillo of Mexico , Cesar Gaviria of Colombia and Fernando Henrique Cardoso of Brazil made their announcement at a meeting in Brazil of the Latin American Commission on Drugs and Democracy , the  news agency said .  "" The problem is that current policies are based on prejudices and fears and not on results , "" Gaviria said at a news conference in which the commission ' s recommendations were presented .  The 17 member panel worked on the report for a year and will forward it to all Latin American governments as well as the United States and the European Union ,  said . Gaviria said the time is right to start a debate on the subject , particularly with the pragmatic openings provided by the election of President Barack Obama in the United States .  "" In many states in the United States , as is the case in California , they have begun to change federal policies with regard to tolerating marijuana for therapeutic purposes . And in Washington there ' s some consensus that the current policy is failing , ""  quotes Gaviria as saying .  Decriminalization should be accompanied by treatment for addicts and public service campaigns on abuse prevention , the commission said .  "" If you don ' t help those who are dependent , you are half way there because they are going to commit crime to get money and pay for the drug , "" Gaviria said .  Cardoso said the group called for only the decriminalization of marijuana and not other illicit drugs because "" you have to start somewhere "" and it would have been unrealistic to ask the same for all drugs ,  said .  Marijuana was chosen because it is grown in all countries in the region and because it is "" less harmful . ""  The decades old criminalization of personal consumption has failed to stop the plant ' s cultivation and distribution , the group said .  The commission urged that all current criminal prosecution be aimed at drug cartels and organized crime and not marijuana smokers ,  said .  Zedillo did not attend the news conference but worked on the report , Cardoso said .  Wednesday ' s recommendation was the second time in less than a week that a Latin American government official called for decriminalization .  A mayor in Peru suggested Friday that the federal government legalize illicit drugs and administer them through the national health ministry .  Gusto Sierra , the mayor of the Surquillo district in Lima , said a federal drug law is hypocritical because it allows maximum legally allowed quantities for some drugs and plants but doesn ' t say where to acquire them , the Peru 21 newspaper reported in a front page story headlined "" Say yes to drugs ? ""  Sierra said he will take the matter up with the nation ' s executive branch .  Zedillo served as president of Mexico from 1994 2000 . Gaviria was president of Colombia from 1990 94 . And Cardoso led Brazil from 1995 2002 .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
14713,14714,"Earlier this year , Matt Keller sat down with officials in Afghanistan not to discuss troop deployments , suicide bombings or opium traffickers . He was there to talk about getting laptop computers into the hands of little girls .  Girls in India take a seat on the floor and get to work on their new laptops .  As Taliban insurgents continue to crack down on girls who go to school and women who dare to teach them , Keller was awestruck by the Afghan government ' s determination to educate all children , even if it means finding tools that allow them to intellectually grow in the privacy of their own homes .  "" For them to propose this was astounding , "" said Keller , who works for One Laptop per Child , a Cambridge , Massachusetts , nonprofit committed to creating and distributing affordable , durable and solar powered laptops to the world ' s poorest children . "" That hunger for knowledge , that desire to learn , is pretty profound . ""  From Uruguay , Haiti and Mexico to Mongolia , Ghana and the small Polynesian island of Niue , at least 750 , 000 kids a number that will double by June , Chairman Nicholas Negroponte said are tapping away on One Laptop per Child produced  laptop keyboards .  They ' re exploring mathematics , composing music and art , learning new languages , designing animation , collecting data , collaborating with peers across borders and accessing learning tools ( including textbooks ) that they would never see otherwise .  Targeting current and historic conflict zones , including Iraq , Rwanda and most recently the Gaza Strip , not only fulfills the group ' s mission to offer equal access education to the most isolated children , it may also promote world peace , Keller said .  By putting laptops "" into the hands of kids who would otherwise be indoctrinated , "" he explained , "" we can make the case pretty successfully that doing this is a long term solution to root causes . ""  When the laptops , which incorporate free wireless Internet connectivity and open source programming , first rolled out in 2007 , they cost 205 each . Now , they ' re down to 180 .  The price is higher than Negroponte ' s original goal of 100 a pop , but it ' s a figure he believes will keep going down as One Laptop per Child finds ways to engineer the product with fewer components .  The hope is that with corporate sponsorships and donations , collected through a program called Give One Get One , the computers can be delivered to kids at no cost to the poorest host country governments .  The laptops allow students to engage in learning differently , enjoy a customized approach and hone critical thinking skills , explained David Cavallo , One Laptop per Child ' s vice president of learning . And their mere existence , he said , keeps kids coming to school .  Cavallo spoke of a school in Rwanda that lacks electricity and traditionally had a 50 percent attendance rate . It is now drawing 1 , 000 more students than its previous full capacity , he said , and is even attracting kids who in turn are teaching their parents and grandparents on weekends .  "" Rwanda is recovering from genocide , "" he said . This is a "" real engagement of a society directing itself to a different future . ""  And the kids , no matter their previous exposure to technology , immediately gravitate to the machines . Keller , the group ' s director for Europe , the Middle East and Africa , recalled a visit to rural Ethiopia .  As he passed out the laptops , he kept one eye on the children , the other on his watch . Seven seconds was all it took for an 8 year old boy to flip open the never seen before computer , find and then hit the power button .  Within two weeks , that boy and his classmates would be programming . Meanwhile , the nearby adults stared at the oddball objects and flashed the international look of , "" What is this thing ? "" Keller said . "" Kids are technology natives , and adults are technology immigrants . ""  Despite its ongoing successes , the downturn in the economy has taken a toll on the nonprofit . The last Give One Get One promotion brought in 2 . 5 million , while the first incarnation brought in 37 . 5 million , Negroponte said . And corporate sponsors fell from 11 to three in the span of 30 days , he added . Early this year , the organization laid off half of its staff , bringing the total on payroll to just 32 .  These economic realities , though disappointing , won ' t impede the mission , said Negroponte , who created One Laptop per Child with others from the  Media Lab . Thousands of volunteers around the world offer technical support and training , and serve as translators and programmers .  "" If we could get all the children in the world 1 . 2 billion of them between 6 and 12 to have a connected laptop , that would be success , "" Negroponte said . "" Roughly half of those children have no electricity at home or school . The poverty is so extreme , and the environmental conditions are so extreme , we have to focus on them . ""  The push has been to reach out to developing nations , but that hasn ' t precluded the group from serving American communities that can pursue the program at a scale that makes sense financially .  Birmingham City Schools in Alabama , for example , now has 14 , 000 of the group ' s laptops in students ' hands .  Michael Wilson , principal of Glen Iris Elementary School in Birmingham , opened his building ' s doors last year as the district ' s pilot school for the free laptop program .  "" It ' s been an overwhelming success at our school , "" which has a poverty rate of 83 percent , Wilson said . Through professional development and a summer camp for kids , the school is learning how to best utilize the computers . And the students , who own their laptops , are learning about responsibility .  They ' re "" totally engaged in what they ' re doing , "" Wilson said . "" I have kids getting out of cars in the morning with their laptops open . ""  One of those kids might be Amicah Bitten , a fourth grader who is using the computer on her own time to learn Spanish with her mother , Kamonia Bates .  "" It gets me more interested because she ' s interested . . . . She doesn ' t put it down , "" said Bates , who used to take her daughter to the library when she needed a computer .  "" I like it because people can learn stuff , "" Amicah , 9 , said after school . "" You can listen to music . You can take pictures . You can also learn how to make different things . I can learn Spanish . I can learn French . I can learn how to use the keyboard . . . . Yes ma ' am , my laptop can do many things . ""  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
14717,14718,"Hollywood has issued dire predictions and hysterical warnings about Donald Trump ever since the Republican businessman first announced his candidacy for the presidency in June 2015. [But the level of vitriol and violent rhetoric against   Trump has increased substantially in recent weeks, from comedian Kathy Griffin’s   shock “beheading” photograph to Shakespeare in the Park’s     “assassination” of Trump on a stage in New York City’s Central Park.  Unfortunately, Griffin and the director of Julius Caesar are not anomalies in Hollywood actors, writers, directors, and other celebrities have fantasized about using violence against Trump, his supporters, and other  lawmakers for at least the past 18 months. Below are 15 examples of celebrities who have used pointed, violent rhetoric to attack the president and other Republicans.   1. Kathy Griffin ‘Beheads’ Trump in Graphic Photo, The    My Life on the   star sparked a firestorm (and a U. S. Secret Service investigation) when she was photographed holding the fake, bloodied, decapitated head of the president in an image that critics said was reminiscent of Islamic State propaganda. Griffin was fired from her job on CNN’s New Year’s Eve broadcasts and saw the cancellation of at least five of her scheduled performances, but remained defiant in an emotional press conference, blaming the backlash on sexism and vowing to continue to “make fun” of the president. 2. Madonna  —   “I’ve thought a lot about blowing up the White House. ” The pop singer became heated during the   Women’s March on Washington in January, where she addressed an audience of thousands. “Yes, I’m angry. Yes, I’m outraged. Yes, I have thought an awful lot about blowing up the White House, but I know that this won’t change anything,” she told the crowd to roaring applause. “Are you ready to shake up the world?” Madonna asked. “Welcome to the revolution of love, to the rebellion, to our refusal as women to accept this new age of tyranny, where not just women are in danger but all regionalized people. Where being uniquely different, right now, might truly be considered a crime. ” The singer later said her remarks were taken out of context. 3. Snoop Dogg “Shoots” Trump in the Head in Music Video, The California rapper pointed a gun at the president (dressed to look like a circus clown) and pulled the trigger in a music video for his song “Lavender” earlier this year  —   though the gun is shown to be a prop gun, with a “Bang!” flag popping out of the barrel. Still, the imagery was unmistakable. “I feel like it’s a lot of people making cool records, having fun, partying, but nobody’s dealing with the real issue with this f*cking clown as president, and the sh*t that we dealing with out here, so I wanted to take time out to push pause on a party record and make one of these records for the time being,” the rapper told Billboard. 4. Robert De Niro: “I’d Like to Punch Him in the Face” The   actor participated in a voter registration  during the 2016 presidential race, but was filmed going off on Trump in a monologue during an outtake. “He’s a punk, he’s a dog, he’s a pig, he’s a con, he’s a bullsh*t artist, a mutt who doesn’t know what he’s talking about, doesn’t do his homework, doesn’t care, thinks he’s gaming society, doesn’t pay his taxes,” the    Godfather star said in the clip. “He’s an embarrassment to this country,” he added. “He talks [about] how he wants to punch people in the face  …     I’d like to punch him in the face. ” 5. Joss Whedon: “I Want a Rhino to F*ck Paul Ryan to Death” The    Avengers director  —   who released a    in support of Hillary Clinton during the 2016 race  —   took to Twitter in January to wish an untimely and unfortunate end to House Speaker Paul Ryan ( ). “Violence solves nothing. I want a rhino to f*ck @SpeakerRyan to death with its horn because it’s FUNNY, not because he’s a #GOPmurderbro,” Whedon tweeted. Shortly after the November 8 election, the director tweeted that Trump “ be allowed a term in office. ” 6. Shakespeare in the Park Stabs ‘Trump’ to Death in Performance of ‘Julius Caesar’ New York City’s Public Theater staged a production of Julius Caesar during its 2017 summer program, but with a twist on the classic play  —   Caesar looked just like Donald Trump, with a business suit and tie and a familiar blond  . As happens in the play, the   Caesar is eventually brutally stabbed to death by his associates in the Senate. The character’s similarity to Trump sparked outrage, and sponsors Bank of America and Delta Air Lines pulled their funding from the theater. The theater stood by the production. 7. David Simon: “Pick Up a G*ddamn Brick” if Trump Fires Robert Mueller, The creator of the  crime drama The Wire reacted to rumors that the president had considered firing the special counsel appointed to oversee the Russia investigation, Robert Mueller, by suggesting that Americans “pick up a goddamn brick” if the president followed through. “If Donald Trump fires Robert Mueller and is allowed to do so, pick up a goddamn brick. That’s all that’s left to you,” Simon tweeted June 12. The   later denied his tweet was an incitement to violence. 8. Mickey Rourke Threatens to Beat Trump with Baseball Bat: “He Can Suck My F*cking D*ck” The Wrestler actor went on a   tirade against Trump in April 2016, when he had not yet won the Republican nomination for president. “Donald Trump can go f*ck himself,” Rourke told TMZ. “His wife said, ‘Oh, he’s a tough guy.’ He’s not a tough guy, he’s a bully and a b*tch and he can suck my f*cking d*ck. I’ll meet him in a hotel room any motherf*cking day of the week and give him a Louisville slugger. Kiss my motherf*cking ass you b*tch punk c***sucker. ” 9. Actress Lea DeLaria Threatens to ‘Take Out’ Republicans and Independents with Baseball Bat after Trump Win, Just a couple days after the November election, the Orange is the New Black star responded to a meme about dealing with violence through music by adding her own suggestion. “[O]r pick up a baseball bat and take out every f*cking republican and independent I see,” DeLaria wrote, adding the hashtags “#f*cktrump,” “#f*cktheGOP,” #f*ckstraightwhiteamerica” and “#f*ckyourprivilege. ” Some of the cast of the hit Netflix show had previously appeared in a campaign ad for Hillary Clinton. 10. Rapper  Threatens Trump with “F*ck Donald Trump” Song, Rappers  and Nipsy Hussle released a song during the 2016 presidential campaign called “F*ck Donald Trump,” with lyrics that contained several threats toward the  . “I like white folks, but I don’t like   the n*ggas in the hood wanna fight   El Chapo ain’t tried to snipe   the Nation of Islam ain’t tried to find   a rally out in L. A. we gon’ f*ck it up,”  raps in the song. “You vote Trump then you’re prolly on   if your ass do win, you gon’ prolly get smoked,” adds Hussle.  later complained that his record label had been contacted by the Secret Service. 11. Marilyn Manson Kills ‘Trump’ in Music Video, In a music video for his song “Say10″ released right around Election Day, the shock rocker stands over the lifeless body of a man resembling Donald Trump while ripping pages out of a Bible. In a flash, a man wearing a suit and a red tie  —   a    allusion to Trump  —   is seen decapitated on the ground in a pool of blood. “It’s about the desperate acts of people who believe something that is preached by an unbeliever,” Manson told the Daily Beast of the explicit visuals in the video. 12. Rapper Everlast Warns Trump: “I Will Punch You in Your F*cking Face” The rapper and former House of Pain frontman went off on Trump in an interview with Billboard in April 2016. “F*ck that dude. I’ll smack that f*cker’s   right off his f*cking scalp,” he said. “Like, for real, if I met Donald Trump, I’d punch him in his f*cking face. And that’s not a joke. Even if he did become president  —   watch out, Donald Trump, because I will punch you in your f*cking face if I ever meet you. Secret Service had better just f*cking be on it. Don’t let me anywhere within a block. This is horrible. ” 13. Larry Wilmore Jokes About Suffocating Trump with ‘Pillow They Used to Kill Scalia’ Former   host and Daily Show contributor Larry Wilmore joked about suffocating Trump during a segment on his Comedy Central show The Nightly Show. “Anyway, since we’re talking about bigotry, we have to mention Donald Trump,” Wilmore said. “Sorry everyone, I don’t wont to give him any more oxygen. That’s not a euphemism by the way I mean it literally. Somebody get me the pillow they used to kill Scalia, and I’ll do it. I’ll do it!” Wilmore then proceeded to demonstrate what suffocating Trump to death might look like, before adding: “I could get in trouble for that, actually!” 14. Stephen Colbert’s Late Show Puts Stephen Miller’s Head on a Spike, In February, Colbert’s Late Show on  featured a segment that depicted Trump aide Stephen Miller being attacked in different scenes from cable  shows. The segment included Miller being beaten by The Walking Dead‘s Negan and his spiked bat, and ended with the Trump aide’s head superimposed onto a spike in a parody of HBO’s Game of Thrones. Colbert has upped his   rhetoric since January, and it has done wonders for his ratings. The   host came under fire in May when he said during his show that Trump’s mouth is only good for being Vladimir Putin’s “c*ck holster. ” 15. Sarah Silverman Suggests Military Could Help Overthrow Trump, In a tweet in February, the comedian and vocal leftist activist suggested the U. S. military could join the   “resistance” and help overthrow the president. “     RESISTANCE.     W    OVERTHROWN.        BYE,” Silverman tweeted. Silverman, who was one of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders’ earliest celebrity supporters, previously compared Trump’s victory to the Great Depression.   Follow Daniel Nussbaum on Twitter: @dznussbaum, Follow Jerome Hudson on Twitter: @JeromeEHudson",true,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
14724,14725,"Before Cruz ? took the stage , his campaign rolled out seven speakers to introduce him , including his wife , Heidi , Family Leader  Bob Vander Plaats and Iowa based conservative radio host Steve Deace .  All got up to prop up various sides of Cruz s personality or resume while encouraging Iowans to caucus for him Monday night .  Ted Cruz speaks during a campaign event at the Iowa State Fairgrounds on Jan . 31 , 2016 .  Holding up a spoon , Iowa Rep . Steve King said he finally figured out how to understand Cruz .  I learned from Ted , he was spoon fed the Bible and the Constitution at the kitchen table , King said .  Cruz s allies also took snipes at two of his main rivals in Iowa : Donald Trump and Marco Rubio .  Deace said there are only three Republican candidates capable of winning the nomination , alluding to Cruz , Trump and Rubio .  If you want to know what separates the three it s judgement , Deace said . A 70 year old man who tweets like he s on Bieber fever is not a president of the United States , folks .  Cruz s own speech played out similar to the hundreds he s made before Sunday s rally . He told the crowd his plans should he make it to the White House . Cruz also urged that conservatives have to unite behind a single candidate in 2016 as they did during the Reagan Revolution .  We have faced the abyss before and the American people rose up , came together and pulled this country back . We have done it before and I tell you this , if we stand together tomorrow night we can do it again and we can restore that last best hope for mankind , that shining city on a hill that is the United States of America , Cruz said .  At one point , fire marshals shut down access to the rally ? citing safety concerns and overcrowding . A few handfuls of Iowans were left outside .  The rally also had its interruptions . As Cruz took the stage , a man in the crowd shouted I don t feel so good . Ted Cruz looks so weird , following it up with fake vomiting noises .  As the man was escorted out , Cruz jokingly asked whether Trump was yelling at him from the back of the room .       very toned down Donald Trump explains his Iowa loss 00 : 46  ",true,text,test,US elections,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
14740,14741,"The training wheels are coming off in  daily fantasy , as the 2015 16 season is inching out of its infancy and heading full steam ahead toward Tuesday ' s jam packed slate of games .  A majority of the league is in action throughout Tuesday ' s schedule , with 10 matchups involving many of the most formidable attacking squads . Thus , the DraftKings slate is ripe with favorable options to boost your chance of winning .  Let ' s dive right in and take a look at the best players to target for Tuesday on DraftKings .  Ducks center Ryan Getzlaf has struggled mightily so far in this young season with just one point in seven games , but he ' s bound to find his stride Tuesday against the Dallas Stars . The Stars rank a lowly 27th against opposing centers and gave up six goals the last time out to Florida ? three to Panthers centers .  There isn ' t a hotter forward at the moment at a better value than Devils winger Adam Henrique , who has seven points ( four goals ) in his last four games . On the heels of an 11 point  performance at Buffalo , he ' ll continue that against a Columbus Blue Jackets squad that has conceded nine more goals than any other team in the league .  The Stars have exploded on offense to start the season , putting up 27 goals so far in eight games . New acquisition Patrick Sharp has settled in lately with three points in his last four outings , and he should help Dallas take it to an Anaheim squad that ranks 28th against left wingers .  The Minnesota Wild have quietly entered the top 10 in the league in scoring , riding a balanced offensive attack to big games . Center Mikko Koivu is a central cog in that effort , and you can expect his ridiculous six game points streak to continue in a matchup against the Edmonton Oilers ( 24th against centers ) .  Saying Hurricanes defenseman Justin Faulk has enjoyed a hot start to the season would be a disservice to the numbers he ' s putting up . Three goals and two assists in eight games alone is strong for his position , but his 33 shots on goal further indicate his value . He ' ll continue that against a Detroit Red Wings crew ranking 30th against defensemen .  Goaltender Carey Price is tearing it up at a rate that leaves  players no choice but to peg him as the goaltender for any lineup . Not only has he won each of his seven games , but he ' s surpassed the double digit  plateau twice and made a whopping 49 saves the last time out against the Toronto Maple Leafs . Tuesday ' s opponents , the Vancouver Canucks , rank 19th in the league in scoring .  Follow Steven Cook on Twitter for more  analysis .  Enter the ? DraftKings ? 50 , 000 Sniper Contest ? for Tuesday ' s action . Use Promo Code   when you sign up .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
14746,14747,"Reuters) - Democratic presidential contender Bernie Sanders easily won nominating contests in Alaska, Washington and Hawaii on Saturday, chipping away at front-runner Hillary Clinton’s commanding lead in the race to pick the party’s candidate for the White House. Sanders still faces a steep climb to overtake Clinton but the big victories in the West generated more momentum for his upstart campaign and could stave off calls from Democratic leaders that he should wrap up his bid in the name of party unity. Sanders appeared headed to victory margins of more than 50 percentage points in both Alaska and Washington, and led by about 40 points in Hawaii with some 90 percent of the results tallied there. “We are making significant inroads in Secretary Clinton’s lead and ... we have a path to victory,” Sanders told cheering, chanting supporters in Madison, Wisconsin. “It is hard for anybody to deny that our campaign has the momentum.” Clinton, the former secretary of state, has increasingly turned her attention toward a potential Nov. 8 general election showdown against Republican front-runner Donald Trump, claiming she is on the path to wrapping up the nomination. Heading into Saturday, she led Sanders by about 300 pledged delegates in the race for the 2,382 delegates needed to be nominated at the party’s July convention in Philadelphia. Adding in the support of superdelegates - party leaders who are free to back any candidate - she has 1,690 delegates to 946 for Sanders. Sanders, a U.S. senator from Vermont, needs to win up to two-thirds of the remaining delegates to catch Clinton, who will keep piling up delegates even when she loses under a Democratic Party system that awards them proportionally in all states. “These wins will help him raise more funds for the next few weeks but I don’t think it changes the overall equation,” said Democratic strategist Jim Manley, a Clinton supporter. “Hillary Clinton has too big a lead.” But Sanders has repeatedly said he is staying in the race until the convention, pointing to big crowds at his rallies and high turnout among young and first-time voters as proof of his viability. After raising $140 million, he has the money to fight on as long as he wants. He has energized the party’s liberal base and young voters with his calls to rein in Wall Street and fight income inequality, a message that resonated in liberal Washington and other Western states. Sanders won in Utah and Idaho this week. “Don’t let anybody tell you we can’t win the nomination or the general election,” Sanders told supporters in Wisconsin, which holds the next contest on April 5. “We are going to do both.” All three contests on Saturday were caucuses, a format that has favored Sanders because it requires more commitment from voters. They also were in states with fewer of the black and Hispanic voters who have helped fuel Clinton’s lead. “He was just more aligned with my values. I am young and I never knew there could be someone like him in politics,” said Samantha Burton of Seattle, who said Sanders was the first candidate who had inspired her to make a donation. Jocelyn Alt, a birthing assistant at a Seattle hospital, said she backed Clinton because she believed the times called for someone who could get things done. “She knows how to make things happen,” she said. “I think Hillary is more likely to win against a Republican.” After Wisconsin, the Democratic race moves to contests in New York on April 19 and a bloc of five states in the Northeast, led by Pennsylvania, on April 26. There were no contests on Saturday in the Republican race featuring Trump and rivals U.S. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas and Ohio Governor John Kasich. On Saturday, the New York Times published a lengthy foreign policy-focused interview with Trump. The New York billionaire told the newspaper he might stop oil purchases from Saudi Arabia unless they provide troops to fight the Islamic State. Trump also told the Times he was willing to rethink traditional U.S. alliances should he become president. ",true,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
14748,14749,"What will the world be like post-Donald Trump? A new hashtag, #AfterTrumpImplodes, is working its way through Twitter, carrying people s predictions about what such a world will be like. This is especially on target right now because Trump is, in fact, imploding, and he s taking the  with him. That s inevitably good for a strong social media lashing.Of course, there are predictions about what will happen to the GOP:#AfterTrumpImplodes I ll sell the leftover scraps of the  on eBay.  JohnyActionSpacePunk (@JohnyAction) August 6, 2016 #AfterTrumpImplodes The resulting black hole will swallow the Republican Party.  Mama Says No (@Mamasaysnonono) August 6, 2016#AfterTrumpImplodes He ll leave behind a noxious green globule, which will get the  nod.  Crutnacker (@Crutnacker) August 6, 2016There are tweets making fun of Trump s blatantly unworkable Mexican border wall: #AfterTrumpImplodes this will be the only wall with his name on it. pic.twitter.com/5bTiGaFGIP  Linda Childers (@LindaChilders1) August 5, 2016#AfterTrumpImplodes he s gonna build a wall, a beautiful wall, around his asylum, and he s gonna make the voices in his head pay for it.  Richard Jeter (@MilesToGo13) August 5, 2016 maybe we can build a wall around them #AfterTrumpimplodes weblink  Kimanne123 (@kimanne123) August 6, 2016And tweets mocking his penchant for touting his own greatness and blaming everyone but himself when the media reports otherwise:He and his followers will blame it on everyone and everything but he and his followers. #AfterTrumpImplodes  Lizbuddie (@lizbuddie) August 6, 2016 #AfterTrumpImplodes he ll claim that his mind was rigged, by people with small hands.  Token White Karim (@KarimKovacevic) August 6, 2016#AfterTrumpImplodes tries to sue Hitler  Mussolini for flawed campaign strategies as taught at Hitler University  Andrew Brodie (@andrewbrodie331) August 6, 2016There s an attack on something that just came to light about Trump s campaign   the fact that people with recurring donations can t cancel them: You  be able to cancel your recurring campaign donation #AfterTrumpImplodes.Then again, maybe not. weblink  Sue Jensen (@suedinym) August 5, 2016And there s the general mocking that always goes along with a hashtag like this:#aftertrumpimplodes Wikileaks will leak the long awatied TrumpTax Returns, we will see he has paid no taxes for the last 12 yrs  Michael (@griffbos) August 6, 2016 We all have to lick that orange dust off our fingers for a year. #AfterTrumpImplodes  Dean Lopata (@DLoIndustries) August 6, 2016#AfterTrumpImplodes Americans can travel to Europen without pretending to be Canadians  (((katesavage))) (@katesavage) August 6, 2016 #aftertrumpimplodes He ll demand to have the codes to  Implosions .  AEGreallive (@AEGreallive) August 6, 2016It s pretty clear what people think of a Trump implosion. There are some Trumpkins trying to fight the onslaught by saying that he won t implode, that it s Hillary who s imploded, and blah blah blabbity blabbity blah   the typical delusional ranting from that crowd. They re mostly being drowned out by people who see Trump for who he really is.Featured image by Spencer Platt/Getty Images",fake,dataset,test,Other news1,US elections,fake,fake,True,no,no,positive,past
14764,14765,"Downing of Russian jet by Turkey could push us back to ' darkest hour ' of Cold War  Russian President Vladimir Putin has called the downing of a Russian jet a stab in the back  The shooting down of a Russian fighter jet on the Turkey Syria border is a grave development that could push the world back towards the darkest hour of the Cold War , a foreign policy expert has warned .  There are early signs that Russia will respond to the incident aggressively , rather than diplomatically , warned analyst ? Lukasz ? Kulesa .  Kulesa , London based research director at the European Leadership Network , has been tracking rising tensions between Nato and Russia for the last two years .  U . S . President Obama and French President Francois Hollande agree it is important for Turkey and Russia to avoid further escalation , after Turkey shot down a Russian plane  His group observed a tripling of close encounters between the Russian and Nato militaries since the annexation of Crimea in 2014 .  Nato countries have repeatedly scrambled to intercept Russian bombers , fighter jets and tanker aircraft set on provocative flight paths close to Nato nations ' airspace .  ? "" Unfortunately this ( shooting down of the Su 24 ) is not terribly surprising , "" Kulesa said .   President Barack Obama said Turkey had a right to defend its airspace .  Turkey warned in October it would not tolerate any more Russian incursions into its airspace .  "" This is a very sad confirmation of a problem that was there before . ""  The situation was still very dynamic , and a lot would depend on emerging evidence of the plane ' s precise flight path and location .  French President Francois Hollande has called for unity between Turkey and Russia .  However "" this is getting us back to the darkest hour of the Cold War with the Soviet Union "" , Kulesa said .  "" The situation is very grave , it can develop to even more dangerous crisis than it already is . ""  The initial reaction from Russian president Vladimir Putin was "" menacing "" , he said .  A radar image released by Turkish military shows the Russian jet over Turkish airspace before being shot down .  "" Instead of trying to de escalate tensions and trying to work to resolve them , he accused Turkey of helping terrorists , and almost of working with  .  "" This is a very dangerous approach to take . It can very easily escalate further , if they decide to retaliate . ""  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
14782,14783,"How they could steal the election from Trump even if he is announced the winner next Tuesday October 31, 2016 at 2:13 am  How they could steal the election from Trump even if he is announced the winner next Tuesday  By Dr. Patrick Slattery — There has been a great deal of talk recently about the “rigging” of elections. Trump talks about it, and then the media accuses him of being a threat to democracy by refusing to accept the will of the voters. Nobody asks Hillary if she will accept the will of the voters…  Of course, we know that our electoral system is unfair, biased, and even rigged at a variety of levels. Without going into detail, the media, which plays an absolutely crucial role in staging our elections, has abandoned even the pretense of neutrality. Ballot access is unfair. Campaign finance is corrupt. Electronic voting machines are vulnerable. Voting by foreigners and dead people exists, as does multiple voting by individuals.  But one massive threat has so far gone completely unmentioned: the vulnerability of the electoral college to post-election shenanigans.  What people are not aware of is that, under the Constitution, the president is not elected on November 8. The Tuesday after the first Monday in November is designated for Congressional elections. It just so happens that over the years all the states decided to have their electors to the Electoral College selected by the voters on that day. In the early days of the Republic, it was actually more common for state legislatures to select the electors, and the Constitution allows the state legislatures to determine how the electors are selected.  It is actually the Electoral College that elects the president, and that happens on the Monday after the second Wednesday in December, which this year will be December 19. On this day, the electors will meet in their respective state capitals to cast their ballots, which will then be sent to Washington to be opened by Vice President Biden before a joint session of Congress on January 6 of next year. Some of you may remember the scene from Michael Moore’s Fahrenheit 911 showing Vice President Gore reading votes that elected President Bush, ironically denying the objections raised by some Congressmen to Florida’s electoral votes, which Bush won over Gore amidst the greatest of controversy.  So if this system is enshrined in the Constitution, what could possibly go wrong? Plenty.  Unless Hillary goes into complete meltdown over the next week, a Trump victory on November 8 will likely be a narrow one in terms of the electoral college map. One very plausible scenario has Trump losing Pennsylvania but winning the rest of the main battleground states plus one of Maine’s congressional districts. (Maine, along with Nebraska, allow for electors to be elected on a congressional district basis rather than winner-take-all.) Under this scenario, 270 Republican electors would be elected, a bare majority, while 268 Democrat electors would be elected.  Notice I did not say “Trump would get 270 electoral votes,” which is what we are used to hearing. The fact is that the electoral votes are not cast until December 19, and there is no guarantee that every single one of the 270 Republican electors would actually vote for Trump. Do you remember a few months ago how alarmed we were at the prospect of supposed Trump delegates to the Republican National Convention deserting Trump and voting for Cruz? It was only that Trump piled up such large victories in the final primaries that he had big enough majority of delegates to cause the Never Trump people in the Republican establishment to give up on rigging the convention.  So who are these electors? Just as the method of electing the electors is left up to the states, the method for nominating the candidates for the electoral college is also left up to the states. Some states allow the presidential candidates to nominate their own slate of electors. Presumably, these people could be counted on to be loyal. But in other states the party’s slate of electors is chosen at state party conventions and even electoral district conventions.  As a young man I attended one such convention and had my name put into nomination as a Democratic elector. Myself and the other three contenders then made short speeches to the convention. The other three talked about being precinct captains or hard-working party volunteers. Then I gave a speech calling for the direct election of the president and the abolition of the electoral college. I got a huge round of applause. I would have easily won, but as a matter of principle I withdrew my name from nomination.  The point of the story is that most of the electors are unknown to the public, typically cogs in the party apparatus, and not even necessarily high-level ones, and some of them may even be smooth-talking slicksters like me, unknown to the party itself.  So how likely is it that one or more Republican electors would betray Trump? Such a person is known as a “faithless elector,” and while faithless electors have never ultimately altered the outcome of a presidential election, there have been 179 faithless electors in our history. In fact, faithless electors caused the Congress to have to decide the 1836 election for Vice President.  It is true that about half the states have laws punishing faithless voters, but in all but a few states the votes of faithless electors would still count.  The nightmare situation would be after a close election the Hillary people, or the Never Trump people, could bribe or pressure Republican electors, some of whom may not like Trump anyway, not to vote for Trump. They could vote for Hillary, they could vote for Pence, they could vote for anyone else, or they could even abstain from voting.  Then what happens? If enough Republican electors are cajoled into voting for Hillary (in the above 270-268 scenario, it would only require two), then Hillary gets inaugurated on January 20. If it’s a tie, then the House of Representatives breaks the tie. Obviously, there have been Republican members of the House that say they won’t vote for Trump for president in November, so there is no reason to assume they would vote for him in January.  However, not only are Republicans likely to retain a significant majority in the House, but the voting for president by the House is not one vote for each representative, but one vote per state. This means that California, which currently has 39 Democratic representatives, would get only one vote, while Alaska’s single representative, who is a Republican, would also get one vote. This heavily favors the Republicans and means that if Hillary cannot flip enough Republican electors to herself to win a majority of the electoral votes, she is finished. There is no real prospect of the House of Representative electing Hillary.  But what if enough Republican electors vote for other people, Paul Ryan for example, so that no candidate gets a majority? Then the House of Representatives gets to choose between the top three vote finishers in the electoral college vote. You could get a coalition between Democrats and Republican defectors that would deny Trump the presidency and give it to someone like Ryan. (The same applies in the case that Mormon ex- operative and never-Trump independent presidential candidate Evan McMullen wins Utah , which some polls predict is possible.)  While none of the above scenarios may come to pass, we do have to face the fact that the establishment has so far stopped at nothing to try to defeat Trump, and so it is not too far fetched to think that they would try these tactics, especially if the November 8 voting produces a very narrow victory for Trump. The media could start inventing more reasons why Trump is uniquely unfit to become president and claim that the Constitution allows for these scenarios (which is the case), and that this in fact was why the framers of the Constitution created the Electoral College (which is not the case).  It would then be incumbent on us to make it clear to the members of the Electoral College and the Congress that any violation of the people’s will would not be tolerated.",fake,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
14788,14789,"A woman who admitted she lured a University of New Hampshire student to her apartment as a sex offering for her domineering boyfriend and then helped dispose of the woman ' s body after he killed and raped her has been denied parole today .  Parole was denied on Thursday for 21 year old Kathryn McDonough who was sentenced in July 2013 to 18 months to three years in prison for lying to police .  She was sentenced after her boyfriend Seth Mazzaglia strangled and raped 19 year old Elizabeth ' Lizzi ' Marriott , of Westborough , Massachusetts , at the couple ' s Dover apartment in October 2012 .  McDonough told jurors that Mazzaglia , 32 , was angry at her when she left him home for two nearly weeks without a sex partner and demanded that she bring him another woman to join in their sexual escapades , which included bondage and discipline .  Kathryn McDonough , of Portsmouth , New Hampshire , pictured in an undated police mugshot . She was denied parole today after being sentenced for luring a 19 year old University of New Hampshire student Elizabeth Marriott to her death as a sex offering for her domineering boyfriend  Lizzi was just 19 years old in October 2012 when she was murdered by Mazzaglia for refusing his sexual advances . Pictured above with her parents  Seth Mazzaglia , pictured in August , was convicted of murder and is serving a life sentence without possibility of parole  When Marriott twice rejected his sexual advances , Mazzaglia strangled her and raped her lifeless body .  The couple dumped her body off Portsmouth ' s Peirce Island . It has never been recovered .  McDonough for months told investigators that Marriott died during consensual rough sex between the two women that involved restraints .  She admitted she helped dispose of Marriott ' s body then testified against Mazzaglia this summer as part of her deal for a lighter sentence .  Members of Marriott ' s family were expected to attend Thursday ' s parole hearing .  Mazzaglia was convicted of murder and is serving a life sentence without possibility of parole .  Members of Marriott ' s family spoke scathingly of McDonough when she was sentenced , calling her a cold , calculating woman who betrayed her friend ' s trust .  But 13 months later , after Mazzaglia was sentenced in August , Marriott ' s father said he had conflicted feelings about her .  ' I have a lot of reason to very much dislike her and her involvement in what happened to my daughter , ' Bob Marriott said .  ' I also have a lot of sympathy for the situation she was in and what she was put through by that person we just sent to jail . '  Bob Marriott said during McDonough ' s sentencing that he and his family grudgingly accepted the plea deal with McDonough to further Mazzaglia ' s prosecution .  McDonough ( right ) admitted she helped dispose of Marriott ' s body ( the teenager is pictured left ) then testified against Mazzaglia this summer as part of her deal for a lighter sentence  The mother of murdered 19 year old Elizabeth ' Lizzi ' Marriott , Melissa Marriott ( pictured ) , confronted her daughter ' s killer in court in August , telling the murderer that she ' unequivocally hated him '  ",true,text,test,US elections,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
14808,14809,"A teenager is to receive an award after going through his entire school career without having a single day off sick .  Thomas Kent , 16 , of Salendine Nook , in Huddersfield , West Yorkshire , never missed a day through primary or secondary school .  And not even a broken arm he once suffered , and needed an overnight stay in a hospital , could keep Thomas from his classes it conveniently happened during his school holidays .  Thomas , aged 6 left , and now , right , said he hadn ' t been aware he had never missed a day throughout school  The teenager said of the award : ' I ' m delighted .  ' It is something of which I can be proud forever .  ' I was conscious of it as I went through school but never realised it would stretch from reception class to college ' .  Proud mother Karen , 48 , also a teacher , said : ' It ' s great he is receiving some recognition . To have a 100 attendance record over 12 years is a fantastic achievement . '  Thomas was a pupil at Reinwood Infant and Junior School before moving up to Salendine Nook High School .  He left in the summer with a perfect record and the praise of teachers ringing in his ears .  Now studying for A levels in maths , physics , chemistry and medieval history at Greenhead College , Thomas will return to Salendine Nook next week for the school ' s annual awards night .  Thomas , pictured right aged 6 , in the early days of school and , left , in final days with 100 attendance record  Thomas deputy head boy last year will receive two awards : one for his 100 attendance record and the other for Outstanding Contribution to School Life .  Mrs Kent , a supply teacher at Reinwood , said Thomas had always been fit and healthy despite being born prematurely and weighing just 4lb 6oz .  ' He was very small and born at just 32 weeks , ' said Mrs Kent . ' He was in the special care baby unit for three weeks but it never held him back .  ' He ' s had the odd cough and sneeze but we ' ve always dosed him with Calpol and sent him off to school telling him to see how it goes . Fortunately , he ' s always stuck it out . '  Thomas caught chickenpox from his sister Emma , before starting school and when he had an accident on a zip wire and broke his arm two years ago he managed to maintain his record .  ' It was Spring Bank week so even then he didn ' t miss any schooling , ' said Mrs Kent .  Thomas , who is a young leader with Oakes Cubs and Beavers and also an Explorer Scout with Northern Stars at Salendine Nook , hopes to go onto university but doesn ' t know what career he wants to pursue yet .  Ahead of next week ' s awards ceremony , former teachers have lined up to pay tribute .  Karen Butler , head at Reinwood Infants , said : ' I do remember his attendance and attitude towards learning was fantastic and he was presented with a 100 attendance award whilst in year two .  ' He was a delightful young man and I ' m sure his thirst for knowledge and enthusiasm for learning spurred him on to attending every day ! '  Nathan Kirby , head of year at Salendine Nook , said : ' From Thomas ' s first day to his last he was a model pupil . He will be a student I will hold up as an example to others for years to come . '  His form tutor at Salendine Nook , Ken Moore , added : ' Tom was brilliant . For me he was the go to guy .  ' If ever I needed to know what was going on regarding school life , and by that I mean stuff I was supposed to know being a form tutor I went to him and he knew !  ' A model pupil . If they were all like Tom the job would be worth doing for free . '  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
14839,14840,"Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama did in Latin America what he tried to do in Europe: tell worried citizens not to draw negative conclusions about the man he once called unfit to serve in the White House, President-elect Donald Trump. In the last stop of an international farewell tour that included visits to Greece and Germany, Obama continued his efforts to calm anxieties since Republican businessman Trump beat Democratic rival and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the U.S. presidential race. “My main message to you ... and the message I delivered in Europe is don’t just assume the worst,” Obama told a group of young people during a question-and-answer session in Peru on Saturday. “Wait until the administration is in place, it’s actually putting its policies together, and then you can make your judgments as to whether or not it’s consistent with the international community’s interest in living in peace and prosperity together.” Trump won the election after promising to build a wall on the U.S. border with Mexico, rip up trade deals and ban Muslims temporarily from entering the United States. Obama has sought to soothe fears by pledging to ensure a smooth transition of power and expressing optimism that the president-elect would shift away from inflammatory campaign rhetoric once he faced the realities of the job. “It will be important for everybody around the world to not make immediate judgments but give this new president-elect a chance to put their team together, to examine the issues, to determine what their policies will be, because as I’ve always said, how you campaign isn’t always the same as how you govern,” Obama said. But Obama has couched his assurances largely in hopeful language that Trump’s team would see the merits of policies that Democrats championed despite Trump’s pledged to dismantle them, from the Iran nuclear deal to an international pact to fight climate change. And the president, who campaigned vigorously for Clinton and showed visible disdain for Trump before his victory, has offset his words of reassurance with subtle digs at his successor by emphasizing themes of democratic values in Europe and Peru that Trump has been criticized for ignoring.  “You’re seeing some countries that are going backwards rather than forwards in terms of freedom of the press, in terms of freedom of the Internet, in terms of respecting political opposition and civil society,” Obama said on Saturday. Trump barred some news organizations from covering events during his campaign and threatened during a televised debate to jail Clinton for her use of a private email server while secretary of state. Though Obama came on his trip able to assure European countries that Trump would respect U.S.commitments to NATO, his other assurances, including for Latin American policy, seemed based more on optimism than knowledge of Trump’s plans. “With respect to Latin America, I don’t anticipate major changes in policy from the new administration,” he said, citing trade as a key exception. Trump announced hawkish picks for attorney general, national security adviser, and  director on Friday that suggest he is setting up his administration to take a hard line confronting Islamist militancy and curbing illegal immigration. ",true,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
14859,14860,"Isn t it great when the day after a major terror attack in France, citizens can wake up in America, and fear more organized chaos and violence in cities across the nation? A group claiming to be the hacktivist group Anonymous, along with a number of other radical activist groups, is calling for a nationwide day of protesting on Friday, July 15th. Day of Rage protests are being planned by various groups in dozens of major cities throughout the country and police are gearing up for some major problems.   Off Grid SurvivalScott Air Force Base has posted a warning to Facebook about a possible protest this Friday at the St. Louis Arch. The  Day of Rage  protests are planned at the same time in cities across the United States. A group calling itself part of  Anonymous  is planning protests on Friday, July 15th to stand with the Black Lives Matter movement. Other members of Anonymous say the planned protests are not going to happen.Scott Air Force Base origionally posted this message to Facebook at around 10am Thursday: Please be advised that the Air Force Office of Special Investigations has posted a safety warning not to be at the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, at 6 p.m. on Friday, July 15 due to potential protests and criminal activity. Please be safe and avoid this area during that time. They have updated the post since it went viral with this message:The potential protests are in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement and the victims of police brutality. It is a reaction to last week s officer involved shootings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile. Anonymous posted a YouTube warning on Saturday: We are calling on a collective day of rage. A day of action centered around civil disobedience and the right to protest.To police departments across the United States. We are not your enemy. However, it is in your hands if you want us to stay that way or not. We will not be silenced and we will not be intimidated.To the St. Anthony and the Baton Rouge Police Departments, we ve already launched attacks on your virtual infrastructure. We are prepared to release every single piece of evidence that will expose your corruption and blatant disregard for human life.Once again we are calling upon the citizens of the United States, in conjunction with the Black Lives Matter movement as well as other civil rights activists, to participate in a day of action against the injustices of corrupt officers. On Friday, July 15th, we will all flood the streets at strategic locations in order to maximize our voice. The locations and times will be located in the description below. Tell your family, tell your friends. We will change the world together. Our freedom depends on it.   Fox2NowHere is the list of cities where the #DayOfRage is supposedly planned:Please be careful if you live in these cities, and you may want to consider getting out of town on Friday:Phoenix: 5:00PM ( PARK, 1549 E Jefferson St , Phoenix,  85034) Tuscon: 5:00PM ( PARK, 900 N 4th Avenue, Tucson,  85705) Little Rock: 6:00PM (   BUILDING, Dr Martin Luther King Jr Dr., Little Rock,  72201) San Francisco: 4:00PM (  PLAZA, 355 Mcallister St, San Francisco, California 94102) Oakland: 4:00PM (  PLAZA, 1 Frank H Ogawa Plaza, Oakland,  94612) Los Angeles: 4:00PM (  PARK, 4395 Leimert Blvd., Los Angeles,  90008) Denver: 5:00PM (  PARK, 100 W 14th Ave Pkwy, Denver, Colorado 80204) Washington DC: 7:00PM (  HOUSE, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington,  20500) Atlanta: 7:00PM (  COURTHOUSE, 101 E Court Sq, Decatur,  30030) Tampa: 7:00PM (  COURTHOUSE, 800 E Twiggs St, Tampa, FL) Orlando: 7:00PM (  PARK, 195 N Rosalind Ave, Orlando, Florida 32801) Miami: 7:00PM (  PARK,  71 St., Miami, Florida, 33147) Chicago: 6:00PM ( J  CENTER, 50 W Washington St, Chicago, Illinois 60602) Des Moines: 6:00PM (  CAPITOL, 1007 E Grand Ave, Des Moines,  50319) New Orleans: 6:00PM ( SQUARE, New Orleans,  70130) Baltimore: 7:00PM (201 E Pratt St, Baltimore,  21202) Boston: 7:00PM (  HOUSE, 24 Beacon St, Boston,  01233) Detroit: 7:00PM (Campus Martius Park, Detroit, Michigan 48226) Lansing: 7:00PM (  BUILDING, Capitol Avenue at Michigan Avenue, Lansing,  48933) Ann Arbor: 7:00PM ( DIAG, Burns Park, Ann Arbor,  48109) Minneapolis: 6:00PM (  LEAGUE, 2100 Plymouth Ave N, Minneapolis,  55411 St. Louis: 6:00PM ( ARCH, St. Louis 63102) Carson City: 4:00PM (   BUILDING, 101 N Carson St, Carson City, Nevada 89701) Manhattan, NY: 7:00PM ( SQUARE, Manhattan, NY, 10036) Newark: 7:00PM (  HALL, 920 Broad Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102) Durham: 7:00PM (200 E. Main St. Durham, North Carolina) Columbus: 7:00PM ( PARK, Columbus, Ohio 43215) Cleveland: 7:00PM (  LIBRARY, 325 Superior Ave E, Cleveland, Ohio 44114) Portland: 4:00PM (  SQUARE, 701  6th Ave, Portland, Oregon 97204) Philadelphia: 7:00PM ( PARK, 1599 John F Kennedy Blvd, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102) Pittsburgh: 7:00PM ( CITY- BUILDING, 414 Grant St, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219) Nashville: 6:00PM (801 Broadway Nashville,  37203 Estes Kefauver Federal Building) Memphis: 6:00PM (Health Sciences Park Memphis, TN) Austin: 6:00PM (  CAPITOL, Outside South Gate-11th and Congress Ave.) Salt Lake City: 5:00PM (    COLLEGE, 4600 S Redwood Rd, Salt Lake City, Utah 84123) Seattle: 4:00PM (   CHURCH, 2011 1st Ave N, Seattle, Washington 98109) Milwaukee: 5:00PM ( PARK, Milwaukee, Wisconsin)h/t Off Grid Survival ",fake,dataset,test,Other sport,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,present
14860,14861,"Nani has not spoken to Louis van Gaal since his loan move to Sporting Lisbon .  Manchester United ' s outcast Portugese winger says only executive vice chairman Ed Woodward has been in touch with him following his season long switch but added he would love to return to the club .  Nani also revealed to Sportsmail the reason behind his tearful celebration of last weekend ' s wonderstrike and failed to rule out a move to Everton when his stint at Sporting comes to an end .  Manchester United outcast Nani has revealed he is keen to return following his Sporting Lisbon loan spell  Nani has not spoken to Louis van Gaal but has received texts from executive vice chairman Ed Woodward  Nani has revealed the reason behind his tearful celebration of last weekend ' s wonderstrike for Sporting  Nani celebrates with goalscorer Wayne Rooney on the opening day of the season before his move to Portugal  The Portugal international returned to his first club in August following Van Gaal ' s arrival at United .  He capped a returned to form following a miserable campaign last year by thumping a sensational 30 yard volley against Gil Vicente but when asked if the Dutchman had contacted him to monitor his progress he said : ' No . '  ' I receive some texts from Ed Woodward , ' Nani added . ' He texted me about the goal and the great season I am having here . '  It would appear that Van Gaal is not the only one to lose touch , with Nani admitting he now rarely speaks to his United teammates .  ' I used to speak to Antonio Valencia but I changed my number so it ' s difficult , ' he said .  Nani rarely speaks to his Man United team mates , including Antonio Valencia , after changing his number  The talented winger , pictured third left , signed a five year contract extenstion with the club back in 2013  Nani , who signed a five year contract extension at Old Trafford in 2013 , says he made the decision to leave United because he thought playing time would be limited under Van Gaal .  ' I knew with the new manager it would be more difficult because of the new system and my position in it , ' he explained .  ' I knew it would be hard to play . I decided to go to Sporting because it was an opportunity to come home , feel comfortable , get games and feel strong again . '  Nani decided to leave Man United because he thought playing time would be limited under Louis Van Gaal  He has done just that , although a video clip of him reduced to tears following Sunday ' s goal went viral .  ' The game before against Wolfsburg I couldn ' t do my best , ' he said .  ' I ended the game wishing I could have done more . I prepared myself to do my best and after the goal I thanked God who helped me be my best . '  Nani was emotional and dropped to the floor after scoring a stunnining 30 yard strike for Sporting on Sunday  Nani , pictured punching the air as his eyes started to fill up , says he thanked God for helping him play better  Nani admits he ' couldn ' t do his best ' for the Portuguese side against Wolfsburg in the Europa League  Nani is expecting to return to United at the end of his loan spell but admitted his future , with Everton known admirers , was uncertain .  ' At the moment I just focus on my job here , ' he said . ' I ' ll do my best and get in the best condition I can , then come back as strong as possible and see what the manager or the club want from me .  ' I love Man United . I love the club . The only decision I made to go away was to play more and be me again because I lost a lot of things there last season because of injuries and the change of the manager . The new manager didn ' t know me well and a lot of things changed . I needed to play regularly to be happy .  ' You never know the future . It depends on a lot of things . If Man United want me to stay then , with different mentality I think we can work well next season but it ' s a lot of things to discuss and see . '  Nani revealed ' lots of things changed ' for him last season after David Moyes took over at Old Trafford  Nani is greeted by Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho when Sporting faced the Blues in the Champions League  Nani , speaking on behalf of  Sport ahead of Porto v Sporting which is live on  this Sunday , is not surprised that United have struggled to adapt to life under Van Gaal but added that he thinks they will qualify for the Champions League .  ' It ' s normal when a lot of things change , ' he said . ' The results are always different . We know it is just a moment and everything will be  . We ' ll be the number one of England again . '  United have been linked with a move for Nani ' s Sporting teammate , William Carvalho .  And he thinks the tough tackling defensive midfielder would be a hit at Old Trafford .  ' He is a great player , ' said Nani .  ' He has a lot of quality . I think at the end of this season he will be prepared to play in the Premier League . I think if Manchester United are interested it ' s a good chance . '  William Carvalho , previously linked with a move to Man United , is a great player according to compatriot Nani   Sport brings fans multiple live games from Portugal ' s Primeira Liga every week as part of a continental European football line up including  Europa League , Germany ' s Bundesliga , France ' s Ligue 1 and Italy ' s Serie A , alongside top flight British football from the Barclays Premier League and the  Cup .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
14862,14863,"Home World Explosion rocks Kabul on first day of the new year  Explosion rocks Kabul on first day of the new year  Loud blast hits Afghanistan capital Kabul Date published ? Friday 1 January 2016 6 : 57pm  Place Kabul Agency Reuters  Another 15 people were injured in the vehicle bomb attack on the Le Jardin restaurant , Kabul Criminal Investigation Department head Faraidoon Ubaidi told the  .  Shahood quoted a senior interior ministry official as confirming that a suicide auto bomber detonated his explosives outside the restaurant , frequented by Westerners and some Afghan officials . Police had detained one suspect and were preparing to conduct a sweep of the restaurant , Sediqqi said .   XRG106 : Afghan security forces inspect the site of an explosion in Kabul , Afghanistan , Friday , Jan . 1 , 2016 .  "" The explosion happened in Qala e Fathullah neighbourhood of Kabul city "" .  Zabiullah Mujahid , Taliban spokesman , claimed on Twitter that several foreigners had been killed and wounded in the suicide attack .  The attack comes as Afghanistan and Pakistan try to lay the ground for peace negotiations with the Taliban .  A previous peace effort by Afghanistan and Pakistan last summer collapsed after the Taliban opted out and instead waged a series of bloody attacks around the country .  Kabul ' s expat workers became more circumspect in their movements after 21 people were massacred in an audacious militant attack on a Lebanese restaurant in January 2014 .  The assault came a day after both Afghanistan and Pakistan announced a four way meeting with the United States and China would take place in mid January to proceed with the Afghan peace process .  Pakistan earlier brokered the first ever face to face talks in early July and the second round was cancelled after the death of the Taliban leader Mullah Omar was revealed in late July .  The Taliban didn ' t wait long into to the new year for their first attack , launching a suicide bombing at a French restaurant in Kabul , before other fighters had a shootout with police .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,negative,past
14867,14868,"Reuters) - The United Nations is seeking to marshal international support this week for a new push to break a political stalemate in Libya and end the turmoil that followed the country s 2011 uprising. The world body s Libya envoy, Ghassan Salame, is expected to set out an  action plan  on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York on Wednesday that will propose amending a 2015 peace deal that quickly stalled. The U.N.-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) set up under the December 2015 deal has never fully established itself in Tripoli, leaving Libya with three competing governments aligned with rival armed alliances. Hamstrung by internal splits in its nine-member leadership, or Presidency Council, the  has been unable to tackle Libya s acute liquidity crisis, save collapsing public services or bring powerful militias to heel. Though oil production has partially recovered and local forces ousted Islamic State from their North African stronghold of Sirte last year, security vacuums in central and southern Libya persist and armed groups control the informal economy. Eastern-based commander Khalifa Haftar has gradually strengthened his position on the ground, with support from Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. Lauded by allies for his anti-Islamist stance, Haftar is accused by foes of seeking to reimpose military rule that they fought to overthrow when they toppled veteran ruler Muammar Gaddafi six years ago.   The most important thing is to convince Haftar that a peaceful solution is better than a military one,  said Karim Mezran of the Atlantic Council, a U.S. think-tank.  You have to convince the Egyptians and the Emiratis who are his main supporters to reduce that support.  Salame, who took up his post in August, is expected to propose reducing the unwieldy  Presidency Council to three members and it would then nominate a new transitional government, diplomats and analysts say. But securing changes to the 2015 deal would need the approval of a barely functional eastern-based parliament. The European Union and the United States have imposed sanctions on the head of that parliament, Agila Saleh, accusing him of stalling Libya s political process.  A delegation from the eastern parliament is expected to start negotiating with members of its Tripoli-based rival assembly. They are under pressure to reach an agreement before Dec. 17, when opponents of the 2015 deal say it expires. Salame must also balance calls for new elections with the need to prepare a legal framework in which they can take place, diplomats say. Before elections  you need a timetable to do the necessary preparation ... but at the same time you need a government that can govern and unify the political, economic and social and military institutions of the country and deliver services in that interim period,  said a senior Western diplomat. Some armed groups have cemented their positions since 2015, while political factions across Libya have become even more splintered.  Now the problem is that those factions have fragmented internally,  said Claudia Gazzini, a senior analyst for the International Crisis Group.  It s even more difficult to solicit representative views.  Elections would require an electoral law, and possibly a referendum to endorse a new constitution. In 2014, elections were challenged, leading to a major escalation of conflict and the division of Libya s key institutions.  Of course it s not going to be easy, and once (Salame) makes the announcement there ll be some who will not see advantage out of it,  said the Western diplomat. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
14869,14870,"The new Rangers regime have suspended Derek Llambias , Barry Leach and Sandy Easdale from the club ' s football board pending an investigation .  The move against the last remnants of the old order at Ibrox came four days after Dave King and his allies swept to power with an emphatic  victory .  That shareholder vote saw chief executive Llambias and finance director Leach associates of Mike Ashley removed from the  board . Sandy Easdale was not a  director but had been chairman of the football board . It ' s understood all three are no longer welcome to visit Ibrox .  Chief executive Derek Llambias ( left ) has been suspended by Rangers ' pending an investigation '  Details of the investigation under way have not been disclosed , but King pledged last Friday to take a thorough look into how the business had previously been run and to examine contracts already in place .  Leach was last month criticised after a disparaging remark about the Three Bears consortium who made a rival funding offer to Ashley ' s 10million loan appeared in leaked minutes of a meeting with the Rangers Fans Board .  The consortium then called for Leach to ' become subject to his employers disciplinary processes and ultimately dismissed for gross misconduct ' , adding that ' it is our view that he has brought the club into disrepute ' .  A statement from Rangers yesterday confirmed the suspensions and the new make up of the football board .  Dave King ' s new era post Mike Ashley ( left ) has started with direct action to the board of directors  ' Rangers Football Club announce today that Derek Llambias , Barry Leach and Sandy Easdale have been suspended from their duties pending an investigation , ' it said .  ' It is also noted that Mr Llambias and Mr Leach , along with Sandy Easdale , have been advised that a resolution to remove them as directors of the Company has been received by the Company . A meeting may be required for this purpose but it is hoped that this will not prove necessary .  ' Acting Chairman Paul Murray , fellow directors Douglas Park and John Gilligan , and the Club ' s Head of Football Administration Andrew Dickson have been appointed to the Board of the Company . '  In response , Easdale ' s spokesman insisted they were ' surprised ' at the announcement , adding : ' We also note that they talk about an investigation . Sandy Easdale welcomes that as he has absolutely nothing to fear . '  The development came as Rangers beefed up their new look  board , with the appointment of London based financial businessman John Bennett once a member of the Blue Knights consortium and Rangers Supporters Trust spokesman Chris Graham as non executive directors .  Solicitor James Blair of Rangers First has also been announced as company secretary to further recognise the work done by the two main fan ownership groups .  Kyle Hutton ( right ) challenges for the ball during Rangers ' disappointing 0 0 draw at Cowdenbeath  Bennett and Graham join Murray , Gilligan and Park on the  board . King has delayed his own appointment but intends to become chairman subject to gaining ' fit and proper ' approval from both the financial authorities and the  .  Sandy Easdale ' s brother James was previously a  director but resigned along with chairman David Somers prior to last week ' s  .  Llambias and Leach still have executive contracts with Rangers and were viewed by King and his allies as being Ashley ' s representatives on the board .  The Newcastle United owner fined 7 , 500 by the  earlier this month for breaching ' dual interest ' rules retains a grip on the Ibrox club ' s retail operations via his Sports Direct firm .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
14886,14887,"North Carolina Authorities in North Carolina have jailed a suspect in the slaying of one of five women whose bodies have been found since 2005 in remote areas outside Rocky Mount , the Edgecombe County sheriff said Tuesday .  Jackie Nikelia Thorpe ' s body was found along Seven Bridges Road in August 2007 .  Sheriff James Knight said Antwan Maurice Pittman , 31 , was charged with first degree murder in the death of Taraha Shenice Nicholson , whose remains were found in a wooded area on March 7 .  Nicholson was 29 when she was reported missing on February 22 , Knight said at a news conference in Tarboro . Pittman , of Rocky Point , was being held without bond .  All five of the slain women were African American , and authorities said they were from an area frequented by prostitutes . Four of them lived in Rocky Mount , which is about 55 miles northeast of the state capital , Raleigh .  "" Just the fact that the bodies have been found close together would really argue for a serial killer , "" Teague said . He also said he believes the killer is someone with a lot in common with his victims .  "" Their economic level , their background , the same race . So I think it ' s someone who would fit very easily within the environment , "" the psychologist said .  The body of the first woman was discovered in May 2005 . All the remains were found near the Seven Bridges Road , which snakes northeast from Rocky Mount into rural Edgecombe County .  The probe into the deaths of the other four women is ongoing , said Knight , who is leading a joint investigative task force of his deputies , Rocky Mount police and the state Bureau of Investigation . Representatives from the other two groups also attended the news conference .  "" The investigators with the task force have worked countless hours , days and nights in order to bring this case to the point where it is now , "" said Renee Robinson , special agent with  . "" We are following up on leads as they develop . ""  Rocky Mount Police Chief John Manley Jr . said the task force also was investigating the cases of three other missing women and a death in Rocky Mount .  Manley identified the four women whose bodies were found as :  Melody Wiggins , 29 , whose body was found May 29 , 2005 .  Jackie Nikelia Thorpe , 35 , whose body was found August 17 , 2007 , behind a house on Seven Bridges Road .  Ernestine Battle , 50 , whose remains were found in a wooded area along the road on March 13 , 2008 .  Jarneice Latonya Hargrove , 31 , whose skeletal remains were found June 29 , 2009 in woods off the road .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
14890,14891,"56 year old Michael Finnerly has been volunteering his services to the local medical school ' s standardized patient program for several years . Last week he was diagnosed with prostate cancer when he visited his local physician for a routine check up and was told the mass had been slow growing and present for at least 5 years .  Finnerly was caught completely off guard . "" I have provided practice prostate exams to the medical school for over 3 years now , "" said Finnerly . "" Every year I end up receiving 3 4 hundred prostate checks depending upon the number of medical students . ""  Doing the math , Finnerly has received approximately 1200 prostate exam checks in the past 3 years . Finnerly asked , "" You are telling me that not one of those med students felt any abnormalities ? I ' m suing them ! ""  In a surprise twist of fate , the medical school is counter suing Mr Finnerly . A school spokesman said , "" We are upset that one of our standardized patients have taught hundreds of our students to feel an abnormal prostate and lead them to believe that it was a normal prostate . Think about all the patients who were misdiagnosed from this one patient . ""  The local medical school has decided to actually start screening standardized patients first , to insure that they are normal before letting them start their jobs .  Dean of the school , Dr Janet Robbins , said , "" We just can ' t let patients with prostate or breast cancer into our standardized program anymore . We have them sign a form that clearly states that they are only to participate in our program if they are normal . Mr Finnerly obviously broke the contract . ""  She went on to say , "" I think it is selfish , greedy , and rude for people to try to slip through the system as a standardized patient , when in fact they are carrying disease . Once again , patients just thinking about themselves . ""  ",satire,text,test,US elections,Sports/Other,true,satire,True,no,no,neutral,past
14895,14896,"31 Views November 07, 2016  ,  King World News  As investors await the outcome of tomorrow’s election, a former associate of George Soros just warned King World News about what is going “to send the world into total chaos .”  Victor Sperandeo manages over $3 billion, has been in the business 45 years, and has worked with famous individuals such as Leon Cooperman and George Soros. Below is what Sperandeo had to say .  Victor Sperandeo: “The days of low interest rates are over. This is very important for people to understand, Eric. There will be no more lowering of interest rates and QEs… IMPORTANT: To find out which company the richest man in China has invested in, one that Rick Rule and Sprott Asset Management are pounding the table on that is quickly being recognized as one of the greatest investment opportunities in the world –    BELOW: Sponsored  Victor Sperandeo continues: “There is still some leftover QE. England and the  still have some but once that is over, that’s it. That game is finished. It didn’t work. So they are now going to fiscal policy and infrastructure spending because they believe this will keep them in power.  With that said, last week Larry Summers said the Fed has to give up their independence. He said the Treasury has to effectively sell to the Fed and the Fed will print the money and return it to the Treasury. And so he backed up what Rosenberg was saying about the multi-trillion dollar scheme. Eric, this is pure printing of money, but t he theory is that because people don’t directly get that money, it won’t create hyperinflation. But when this begins, this will be the beginning of when serious inflation will come back.  The Beginning Of The End Of The U.S. Dollar I don’t believe this will work in the United States if Trump wins. If Hillary wins it is 100 percent guaranteed that it is going to be implemented. If this does happen you will get a huge amount of government spending that is going to juice the economy. But it will be the prelude to hyperinflation. So that is going to be the coming world event that will be the beginning of the end for the U.S. dollar.  And if you remember, gold was the hedge against serious inflation in the 1970s (see remarkable chart below).  In fact, from 1970 to 1980 gold compounded at a staggering 31.5 percent a year! I have never seen anything compound over a 10-year period at that rate. That’s astronomical. Just to put that in perspective, if gold went to $10,000 today it would only have compounded 22 percent over that same time frame.  A World In Total Chaos And yet when you look at what is happening today, we have a global depression with the banking system blowing up. Look at Deutsche Bank, it has $46 trillion in derivatives and the bank is only valued at $18 billion. That is insane (laughter). Regardless, gold will act as a hedge and the price of gold will skyrocket because paper will be printed to the point where it’s worthless. And as the hyperinflation unfolds, it will send the world into total chaos and people need to be prepared for that.”    Look At What Is Unfolding In China And Other Key Regions Right Now  ",fake,news,test,World conflict,Economy,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,past
14900,14901,"Mary Beale , the bank worker captured on  depositing a cat in a wheelie bin , defended her actions today by insisting that it was simply a prank . ' It was meant to be a laugh ' , she insisted earlier , ' I thought the cat would simply see the funny side and wriggle out . I really don ' t know what all the fuss is about . That ' s the trouble with cats . . . . no sense of humour ! '  Another Coventry resident who fails to see what all the fuss is about is unemployed labourer Kevin Grimeswood ( 59 ) , who has been living in a wheelie bin for the last 21 years .  ' It ' s bloody typical ' , he said earlier today . ' A cat , not three streets from here gets stuck in a wheelie bin for a paltry 15 hours and people are up in arms on the internet . I was evicted from my council house in 1989 and have been living in a wheelie bin since then and no one gives a stuff ! '  Mr Grimeswood ' s residence is a basic , but deceptively spacious 240 litre wheelie bin , custom painted in a striking pillar box red colour .  ' The one good thing is that I can move it about and so I can wake up to a different view every morning ' , he said cheerfully .  Mr Grimeswood has many anecdotes relating to his life in a bin , such as the times he ' s ended up in the back of a dust bin cart , the times his bin has been set alight and the lucky escape he had when his bin was wheeled onto the nearby railway track by local yobs .  ' I could write a book about my experiences ' , he concluded , ' if only I could write ! '  ",satire,text,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
14922,14923,"It sounds like the punchline to a horrible joke , but dozens of people who attended a summit on food safety certainly weren ' t laughing when they fell ill after consuming a meal served at the event .  In a suspected case of food poisoning , more than 100 people reported getting sick at the Food Safety Summit held at the Baltimore Convention Center from April 8 10 .  Officials won ' t yet confirm that food poisoning was the culprit , but they ' re dealing with an outbreak of gastroenteritis that has caused many attendees to report symptoms like diarrhea and nausea .  More than 100 people have now reported they got sick with suspected food poisoning at a national Food Safety Summit held earlier this month in Baltimore  One in four people interviewed after the summit reported getting sick from a meal served during the event  About 1 , 300 people attended the conference and of the 400 who have spoken to health officials so far more than 100 were sick prompting concerns that many more people may be affected ,  News reports .  ' We are working on evaluating possible exposures and doing testing at the Maryland state public health laboratory to attempt to identify an agent , ' read a letter from the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene sent to summit guests .  Ironically , among those affected were members of the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .  ' A couple of our folks indicated that they had experienced symptoms associated with food poisoning after the summit , ' said  spokeswoman Juli Putnam .  Peggy Daidakis , who runs the Convention Center , told  she was determined to get to the bottom of it .  ' We ' re not trying to hide anything , ' she said .  ' If there is something , we ' ll take the corrective measures .  ' None of us are very happy when we hear these things . '  ",true,text,test,US elections,Conflict,satire,true,True,no,no,negative,past
14933,14934,"A couple that started a candy business from their kitchen have caught the eye of national retailers by making treats that look almost too good to eat .  The delicacies , including candy mushrooms , buttons keys , have been put together by Andie and Jason Moore in their home in Dallas , Texas . It started out as a hobby , but a huge number of orders have meant that to them , it has become a full time job .  Martha Stewart , Lonny , and Apartmenty Therapy have started selling Andie ' s Speciality Sweets online . So many requests have come in that the pair now plans to expand their business .  Despite their success , the pair have never had any professional culinary training .  The products available on Etsy range from 37 . 50 for a 50 piece set of realistic , peppermint infused candy buttons , to 360 for a collection of 100 psilocybin mushrooms .  Breaking out of their shells : Andie and Jason Moore from Dallas , Texas , started Andie ' s Speciality Sweets as a shop on Etsy . Their unique technique to create the delicacies , such as these vanilla infused shells , has caught the eye of top food retailers  Mushrooms : The incredibly crafted sweets , such as these colorful fungi put together for St Patrick ' s Day , are completed at their home  Colorful variety : The couple , who dropped out of art school and have four kids together , make an assortment of shapes including owls , keys and buttons  Tree like treats : These edible candy leaves fetch 150 . 00 for every 60 and were designed for Halloween  Similarities : Included are these white and brown chocolate bears , complete with textured skin  Secretive : In an interview with Yahoo Food , Andie wouldn ' t fully reveal her candy making process but said they use complicated molds  Detail : On their website they say each product is ' hand sculpted , hand molded , hand poured , and given a special artistic tinkering '  Realistic : These edible feathers go for 59 . 00 for a dozen . They featured in the winter edition of Brides Magazine in 2013  Mixture : One of the quirkier items are candy mushrooms , which are packaged in bow tied boxes  Gold rush : A 15 piece box set of Chocolate Gold Druzys sell for 42 . 50 . They are made with real , fair trade , 70 dark chocolate , vanilla , and sea salt  Neatly presented : The sweets are packaged up in boxes and distributed around the United States from their base in Dallas  Production line : The pieces are made on a table that was set up during ' nap time ' when their four children were asleep but they are now looking to expand their sweet making business  Mentality : The pair ' s philosophy is : ' To Give Treats Unto Others As We Would Want Treats Given Unto Us '  Pricing : This set of 50 peppermint candy buttons is on sale online for 37 . 50  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
14991,14992,"Press Trust of India ? ? Washington Oct 29 , 2015 12 : 32    Democratic presidential front runner Hillary Clinton was slammed by Republican presidential aspirants who also criticised the mainstream media alleging that they act as a lobbying group for the former First Lady who is now eyeing to be the first woman president of the  .  "" We can ' t afford another four years of that ( the Obama Administration ) . Which is what we ' re gonna get if we elect a big government liberal like Hillary Clinton to the White House , "" Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio said .  In response to a question , the Florida Senator alleged that the mainstream media is acting as a lobbyist for Clinton .  "" I ' m running for president because there is no way we can elect Clinton to continue the policies of Barack Obama , "" he said .  "" Last week , Clinton went before a committee . She admitted she had sent e mails to her family saying , ' Hey , this attack at Benghazi was caused by al Qaeda like elements ' . She spent over a week telling the families of those victims and the American people that it was because of a video . And yet the mainstream media is going around saying it was the greatest week in Clinton ' s campaign , "" Rubio said .  "" It was the week she got exposed as a liar . . . But she has her super  helping her out , the American mainstream media , "" Rubio said amidst huge applause from the audience .  "" Let me tell you , Donald Trump would be a president every day of the week and twice on Sunday , rather than Hillary . I ' ve spent a lifetime in politics fighting the Clinton machine , "" said Mike Huckabee , another Republican presidential candidate .  "" You want to talk about what we ' re going to be up against next year ? . . . Well , let me tell you one thing that I am the only guy that has consistently fought the Clinton machine every election I was ever in over the past 26 years . And not only did I fight them , but I beat them , "" he said .  New Jersey Governor Chris Christie said , "" I know who the pessimist is . It ' s Hillary Clinton . And you put me on that stage against her next September , she won ' t get within 10 miles of the White House . Take it to the bank . ""  "" I may not be your dream candidate just yet , but I can assure you I am Hillary Clinton ' s worst nightmare . And in your heart of hearts , you cannot wait to see a debate between Hillary Clinton and Carly Fiorina . I will tell you this , I will beat Hillary Clinton , "" Carly Florina said in her remarks .  Clinton responded through a statement that she would win the presidential elections .  "" We ' re not going to let them demean women , deport immigrants , and destabilise our economy . We ' re going to fight for our families and our country and if we do our jobs right , we ' re going to win this election , "" she said .   candidates also slammed the questions being asked to them by the host of the debate the anchors from  .  "" The questions that have been asked so far in this debate illustrate why the American people don ' t trust the media , "" Ted Cruz said amidst applause .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
15000,15001,"Brazil ' s economic powerhouse was once thought of as the ugly sister to Rio de Janeiro ' s beach fronted glamour .  S o Paulo , the world ' s fifth largest city , is the fashion capital of Brazil .  But , over the past few years , S o Paulo ' s fashion , music and design scenes have gained such momentum that it ' s tipped by some as a cooler destination than more touristy Rio .  True , S o Paulo doesn ' t have a beach , nor does it go out of its way to cater to foreign visitors , but hidden in the sprawl is a trove of hip hotels and restaurants , modernist architecture and some of the best shopping south of the Equator .  It would take a lot longer than a day to discover everything S o Paulo has to offer , but our guide should help visitors short on time to navigate the city ' s immense grid of skyscrapers and traffic jams to find an entirely different Brazilian experience .  Watch the sun come up over the world ' s fifth largest urban area like many of its mega wealthy inhabitants with a helicopter ride over the city .  Tourist rides normally leave from Campo de Marte Airport and take in aerial views of city landmarks such as Ibirapuera Park and Avenida Paulista .  You may have worked up an appetite by now , so head back into town for breakfast on Rua Oscar Freire , S o Paulo ' s answer to Rodeo Drive .  Eat delicious cheese bread known as p o de queijo , fruit , yoghurt and granola , and wash it down with a freshly squeezed juice or coffee at Oscar Cafe .  The prosperous , tree lined avenues of the surrounding area , known as Jardims , are perfect for a bit of shopping . Look out for Clube Chocolate , where you can buy upscale designerwear in divine surroundings ( Rua Oscar Freire 913 ) and Endossa , a collaborative shop filled with cubes of shelving where entrepreneurs can rent a cubby hole to sell their wares .  From here it ' s possible to walk to Avenida Paulista , S o Paulo ' s financial district , and there you can mill past some of the most expensive real estate in South America with the Paulistano businessfolk on your way to take in some culture at  , also known as S o Paulo Museum of Art .  Once you ' ve had your fill of high culture , take in some of S o Paulo ' s famous street art on Beco de Batman , which translates as "" Batman Alley . "" Every inch of this street in the super hip Vila Madalena area is covered in graffiti , much of it by well known local artists .  Recharge your batteries with a beer and snack on empadas , delicious miniature pies with a variety of fillings like palm hearts , Portuguese salted fish and cheese at Empanadas ( Rua Wisard 489 , Vila Madalena ) .  Otherwise , why not hop in a cab and head over to Liberdade to check out the home of the biggest Japanese community anywhere in the world outside Japan ?  Check out the Buddhist temple ( Rua S o Joaquim ) , karaoke bars and sushi restaurants one of the best of which is Tak ( Rua da Gl ria 746 , Liberdade ) .  With its green copper facade , the Hotel Unique is just one example of S o Paulo ' s stunning modern architecture .  The highlight of this area , if you happen to be lucky enough to be there at the right time , is the anything goes weekend market Feira da Liberdade ( Pra a da Liberdade ) , and if you ' re even luckier you might catch one of the sumo competitions held there from time to time .  After all these hours in the concrete jungle you may be longing for a bit of green , which you can find in ample supply in the enormous Ibirapuera Park .  As you wander the tree lined walkways , dodging throngs of body conscious Paulistanos exercising along the way , you will encounter one masterpiece of modernist architecture after another mostly designed by the father of Brazilian modernism Oscar Niemeyer .  Look out for the beautiful sci fi dome , Oca , and the Grande Marquise , an extraordinary white pavilion that houses  ( Museu de Arte Moderna ) and features expanses of covered concrete which attract many of the city ' s skateboarders .  No visit to S o Paulo , or indeed any part of Brazil , is complete without trying a caipirinha a winning combination of the local firewater , cacha a , smashed limes , sugar and ice .  If spirits are a bit much for you , try a divine and very Paulistano twist on the original with squished kiwi fruit and sake .  You could combine a few cocktails with catching the final rays of the day on the rooftop of another of S o Paulo ' s modernist masterpieces , Edif cio It lia ( Terraza Italia Restaurant , Avenida Ipiranga 344 ) .  Here you can enjoy a breathtaking panorama , with another Niemeyer masterpiece the wavy fa aded Edif cio Copan in full view .  It ' s got to be dinner time by now . In S o Paulo your options are almost unlimited . With huge populations of Japanese , Italians and even Lebanese , the problem is not where to eat but how to choose .  A highlight of S o Paulo ' s dining scene has to be Restaurante Figueira Rubaiyat , where you can eat awesome steaks and very good seafood in a dining room that has been built around an enormous fig tree .  If you ' re still rearing to go after that little lot , S o Paulo ' s nightlife options are almost endless . You can shake your moneymaker with the best of them at one of the city ' s clubland stalwarts Love Story , or if you are looking for something a little more low key , then why not round off the day on the rooftop terrace of the Skye Bar at Hotel Unique . The hotel ' s space age green copper fa ade is indeed unique , and it is also a good bet for a bed for the night in really special surroundings .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
15024,15025,"Want to get this briefing by email? Here’s the  .) Good evening. We’re providing unlimited access to all New York Times digital platforms through Wednesday. Here’s the latest. 1. On the eve of Election Day, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump scrambled around the country, urging voters to see the decision as having almost apocalyptic significance. Mrs. Clinton was set to join Bruce Springsteen and the Obamas for a final rally in Philadelphia. Mr. Trump stayed on the attack, faulting the F. B. I. for clearing Mrs. Clinton a second time over her use of a private email server. Polls show a tight race nationally and in swing states, though early voting data indicates increased Hispanic turnout, which bodes well for Mrs. Clinton. ____ 2. So what time will the race be called? It’s a complicated question, and   projections can be a roller coaster. Our latest election forecast suggests that Mrs. Clinton could reach the critical number of electoral votes by 9 p. m. or Mr. Trump by 10 p. m.  networks have huge operations to crunch numbers, but like all mainstream news media, face intense public distrust. “The pain of getting it wrong in this environment would be very ” said the president of  News. Here are our most insightful stories about the race over the past year. ____ 3. Janet Reno, the first woman to serve as U. S. attorney general, died at her home in Florida of complications from Parkinson’s disease. She was 78. Her eight years in office put her in the middle of some of the most divisive episodes of Bill Clinton’s presidency: the raid on a cult in Waco, Tex. the seizing of little Elián González and the Monica Lewinsky and Whitewater scandals. ____ 4. The sprawling Indian city of Delhi is choking. The most dangerous particulate pollution has soared to more than 16 times the level considered safe by the World Health Organization. Sustained exposure is the equivalent of smoking more than 40 cigarettes a day. Schools are closed, but the acrid,   air travels indoors, too. Changing weather is likely to disperse the dense smog over the next few days. ____ 5. Australia will not legalize   marriage any time soon. A bill that would have allowed for a plebiscite on the issue was shot down in Parliament over the $140 million cost and concerns that it would become a platform for hate speech. Polls show around 70 percent of Australians want marriage equality. Above, a rally last year. ____ 6. China blocked two young   activists, above, from taking their seats in Hong Kong’s legislature. The semiautonomous territory is bracing for protests against Beijing’s new power play. On the mainland, a new law gives the authorities far greater control over the internet as of next summer. ____ 7. A Chinese Paralympic champion was nowhere to be seen at the finish of the New York City Marathon. Turned out her wheelchair had blown a tire at Mile 13  —   so three people, aided by a translation app, stepped in to help. “It really was a cool New York moment,” one said. ____ 8. The chopped cheese  —   a sandwich made of ground beef, onions and cheese  —   is making its way from New York City’s delis to upscale restaurants. It comes with a side of controversy about race, class, cultural appropriation and gentrification. ____ 9. Finally, we leave you with tips on how to be mindful as you go to vote Tuesday. Our meditation expert says to take a few slow, deep breaths when you reach the booth. Be aware of your body and stand still as you listen to the sounds around you. Let go of all the controversy, vitriol and scandals. And leave wearing your I  sticker as a badge of courage. Your Evening Briefing is posted at 6 p. m. Eastern. And don’t miss Your Morning Briefing, posted weekdays at 6 a. m. Eastern, and Your Weekend Briefing, posted at 6 a. m. Sundays. Want to look back? Here’s Friday’s briefing. What did you like? What do you want to see here? Let us know at briefing@nytimes.com.",true,news,test,US elections,US elections,satire,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
15032,15033,"Reuters) - Aides to U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday attacked the credibility of the nonpartisan agency that will analyze the costs of a replacement for Obamacare, as the White House sought to quell opposition from many conservative Republicans. The Congressional Budget Office, which provides official estimates of the budget impact of proposed legislation, is expected to issue a report as soon as Monday that will assess the healthcare legislation put forward by Republican House of Representatives leaders. The report could influence sentiment toward a bill already under fire from Democrats and some Republicans, especially if it suggests the legislation would reduce the number of Americans with health coverage or worsen U.S. budget deficits. Republicans have long opposed Obamacare, formally called the Affordable Care Act, on the grounds it was government overreach and led to higher insurance premiums. The 2010 law, Democratic President Barack Obama’s signature legislation, provided 20 million previously uninsured Americans with health coverage. Trump has called Obamacare a “disaster” and made its repeal and replacement a key campaign pledge. Several Republican lawmakers said on Sunday the replacement bill was unacceptable in its current form, including  conservative Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas, who said the plan could not pass the Senate and could put the Republican House majority at risk in 2018 congressional elections. “I believe it would have adverse consequences for millions of Americans and it wouldn’t deliver on our promises to reduce the cost of health insurance for Americans,” Cotton said. In a series of television interviews, White House budget director Mick Mulvaney and top White House economic adviser    Gary Cohn said the  was focusing on the wrong metrics with the estimates it will provide on the number of people who are insured. Cohn and Mulvaney said the  should instead should analyze whether patients can actually afford to go to a doctor. “I love the folks at the CBO, they work really hard, they do, but sometimes we ask them to do stuff they’re not capable of doing, and estimating the impact of a bill of this size probably isn’t the - isn’t the best use of their time,” Mulvaney told ABC’s “This Week” program. Speaking on Fox News, Gary Cohn, director of the White House National Economic Council, said: “We will see what the score is, in fact in the past, the  score has really been meaningless.”  “They’ve said that many more people will be insured than are actually insured. But when we get the  score, we’ll deal with that,” Cohn said. The Trump administration’s criticisms of the  are unusual. Prior administrations, both Republican and Democratic, steered clear of attacking the credibility of the agency, which many lawmakers regard as a neutral arbiter. The CBO’s current director, Keith Hall, was appointed by Republicans in 2015. The credit rating agency Standard & Poor’s has estimated 6 million to 10 million people could lose health insurance coverage under the Republican plan. Senator Bernie Sanders, who ran for president in 2016 as a Democrat, said it was “cowardly” for Republicans to proceed with a healthcare bill without  estimates, telling CBS’ Face the Nation show: “This is a disgrace.” In recent weeks, Trump administration officials and Republican lawmakers have criticized what they said were overly optimistic estimates from the  of the number of Americans who would sign up for health insurance on government-run exchanges. The  estimated in 2013 that 22 million people would be purchasing insurance through the exchanges in 2016. Only 10.4 million were signed up for those plans by the middle of last year, according to Department of Health and Human Services data. The House Republican legislation would scrap tax penalties for Americans without health insurance, roll back an expansion of Medicaid insurance for the poor, and replace Obamacare’s income-based subsidies with a system of fixed tax credits to help people buy private insurance on the open market. Cohn also disputed the notion that millions of people on  Medicaid would become uninsured as Obamacare’s expansion of the program is rolled back over a period of years. He said many of these people would be transitioned into new private and employer-sponsored plans that would become more affordable under the Republican plan. House Speaker Paul Ryan, the Republican plan’s top backer in Congress, said he was “certain” the  would show a reduction in the number of Americans with coverage. “You know why? Because this isn’t a government mandate,” Ryan told NBC’s Meet the Press. Conservative Republicans said, however, they could not support the plan without significant changes. Republican Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio, a founder of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, said it did not go far enough to meet Republicans’ promise to kill Obamacare. “We told them we were going to replace it with something that would bring down the cost of insurance. That’s what we told them,” Jordan told Fox News Sunday. “This legislation that the speaker’s brought forward doesn’t do that.” ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Economy,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
15034,15035,"Changes : Pastor Terry Sartain said he was upset by the new rules  Volunteer chaplains in North Carolina ' s Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department have been told not to use Jesus ' name in prayers at public events held on government property .  Pastor Terry Sartain of Horizon Christian Fellowship told  News Radio he was informed of the change by his superior major just before he was about to give a invocation at a promotion ceremony .  ' I was told chaplains can no longer invoke the name of Jesus on government property , ' Mr Sartain said .  ' He said if I could refrain from that during the invocation he would appreciate that . '  Mr Sartain said he was upset by the new rules .  ' I ' m very sad about it , ' he continued .  ' I ' m a pastor and Jesus is the only thing I have to offer to bless  people his life and his person . '  He said that he had used the name of Jesus in the past at police events and not had run into any barriers then .  He told the news station that he was informed the police department said he could still pray but they wanted chaplains to deliver a ' secular prayer . '  Rules : Volunteer chaplains in North Carolina ' s Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department have been told not to use Jesus ' name in prayers at public events held on government property  Major John Diggs , who oversees the chaplain program , told  that the new policy is a ' matter of respecting that people may have different faiths and that it is not aimed at any one religion or denomination . '  In reaction to the news , Mr Sartain has told the police department he does not want to be considered for any for future public prayers .  American Civil Liberties Union member Jim Gronquist told  .  ' It ' s improper to mix up religion with the function of state agents , and as long as they ' re state agents , they should not be able to do that . '  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
15056,15057,"A tenacious Tunisia broke the deadlock in Group B to put one foot in the quarterfinals of the Africa Cup of Nations .  The 2004 champions were the first team to win a match in the so called "" Group of Draw "" with a 2 1 victory over Zambia .  The second qualifying place from Group B is still up for grabs , however , after Cape Verde and the Democratic Republic of Congo played out a goalless draw in the late game .  That result will cheer the free flowing Zambians , who had created the best chances as dusk began to settle around the tree fringed Estadio De Ebebiyin .  Captain Rainford Kalaba and Emmanuel Mayuka fed off one another up front but shot after shot failed to find its target .  The 2012 champions who had not lost an  match since 2010 had to wait until the 59th minute for Mayuka to fire them into a deserved lead .  Kalaba darted through the Tunisia defense to set up Mayuka , who buried the ball deep into the net and celebrated with a series of back flips .  The striker ' s acrobatics proved more painful just minutes later .  As he stretched to reach another cross from Kalaba , his legs split wide and he was eventually carried off the field .  The untimely injury to the talismanic striker , who is on the books of English Premier League side Southampton , was the turning point of the match .  While he was being treated on the sidelines , Tunisia spied a chance to take a run at 10 man Zambia .  The equalizer , a tap in by Ahmed Akaichi , came all too easily .  As darkness fell on the town of Ebebiyin , in the north east corner of host nation Equatorial Guinea , the crowd raised its voice , urging on a winner .  The decisive goal came from Tunisia captain Yassine Chikhaoui in the 89th minute when the  Zurich player rose clear , heading the ball into the net .  "" That was not the Zambia I know , "" the team captain Kalaba told reporters . "" I don ' t know what came into the mind of my colleagues after we scored . I was shocked to see the way they played . ""  Tunisia now leads Group B on four points ahead of Cape Verde and  Congo on two points and Zambia , which has a single point .  The second match at the lively Estadio De Ebebiyin saw Cape Verde and  Congo play out a physical , often scrappy , draw .  Cape Verde represent the smallest country at  the island territory stretches to just 1 . 5 square miles but the ' Blue Sharks ' have big ambitions .  At its tournament debut in the 2013 edition of  , the islanders reached the quarter finals and Rui Aguas ' men came close to joining Tunisia on the cusp of the last eight again , Thursday .  The ball was inches from the line when defender Admilson Barros known as Gege attempted to bundle it into the net only to be denied by the swift fingers of Robert Kidiaba .  The Congo  keeper then stooped low to brilliantly deny Heldon Ramos when he had wriggled his way clear on goal .  The Leopards ' threat was blunted early in the match when West Bromwich Albion midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu limped off .  Cedrick Mabwati emerged as Congo  ' s target man but there was ultimately no breakthrough for either side .  The "" Group of Draw "" may be no more but Zambia , Congo  and Cape Verde are all hunting an elusive win in Monday ' s decisive Group B matches .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
15058,15059,"Adventure Among the Obsessive Sommeliers, Big Bottle Hunters, and Rogue Scientists Who Taught Me to Live for TasteBy Bianca Bosker329 pages. Penguin Books. $17. Some people shuffle paper for their jobs. Sommeliers lick rocks. Well, not all sommeliers. But a number of them do, if they’re desperate enough to want to know the difference between the taste of blue slate and that of red. Some forgo brushing their teeth in the morning, or drinking hot beverages, or using perfume, scented laundry detergent, extra salt. Their palates  —   and their noses  —   are their instruments. Who would risk blistering or blunting them? Would a violinist leave her Stradivarius in a locked trunk on a sweltering day? She would not. Bianca Bosker’s “Cork Dork: A   Adventure Among the Obsessive Sommeliers, Big Bottle Hunters, and Rogue Scientists Who Taught Me to Live for Taste” is a compendium of bewitching and sometimes disgusting facts. (There’s an art to spitting, apparently.) Do ignore the subtitle, which is filled with about as many additives as your average plonk, and every bit as cloying. It’s deceptive. Bosker’s journey into this sodden universe is thrilling, and she tells her story with gonzo élan. I’m not one to let blurbers, often   into service by authors or publishers, do my work. But when the sommelier and blogger Madeline Puckette writes that this book is the “Kitchen Confidential” of the wine world, she’s not wrong, though Bill Buford’s “Heat” is probably a shade closer to this book’s sensibility and heart. “Cork Dork” is likely to find a large audience. The real miracle is that Bosker was sober enough to write it. “Most days,” she explains, “I was drunk by noon, hung over by 2 p. m. and, around 4 in the afternoon, deeply regretting the burger I’d devoured for lunch. ” Bosker was the technology editor of The Huffington Post when she heard about the World’s Best Sommelier Competition. She   videos. She marveled. She decided to change her life. For 18 months, she shadowed renowned wine fanatics, hoping to understand their obsession and to become a certified sommelier herself. The goal was more foolhardy than she knew. Sommeliers, at least in her hometown (New York) are a diehard lot. They’re best described as punctilious sybarites  —   “the most masochistic hedonists I’d ever met,” as Bosker writes. They spend evenings on their feet. During the day, they practice the arcane rituals of wine service, ingest a magnum of wine esoterica and, if they’re aspiring to become master sommeliers, sample more than 20, 000 kinds of wine so that they can make such blind declarations as: “This is a   blend from the right bank of Bordeaux from the village of   in the 2010 vintage of Grand Cru Classé quality. ” That’s a direct quote, by the way. It comes from Bosker’s friend  —   and Sherpa  —   Morgan Harris, a precocious, brassily opinionated sommelier at New York’s Aureole. He and other expert tasters are expected to become the Alan Turings of wine, deciphering flavors as if the Battle of the Atlantic depended on it. Bosker had exactly no experience in this field. But because she’s possessed of a jolly hubris, she manages to wheedle and bluff her way into a series of jobs for which she isn’t remotely qualified, and then to muscle her way into the most elite   group in Manhattan  —   which would be like me deciding I wanted to brush up on my baseball skills by joining the Yankees for spring training. She gets a quick, boozy education, and so do we. About how to decant properly, which is as difficult as sinking a hole in one. About how to serve, which involves more rules than cricket. (Whatever you do, do not show customers the back of your hand.) She gives great gossip. While trailing a “somm” at Marea, an upscale Manhattan restaurant, Bosker learns that management keeps SparkNotes on its 1 percenter clientele. They’re a confetti of acronyms, the most devastating of which is HWC, or “Handle With Care. ” (At other restaurants, it’s SOE, or “Sense of Entitlement. ” Ow.) Readers also get a feel for restaurant economics from “Cork Dork,” and this much is clear: Sommeliers are secret weapons, capable of adding extra zeros to the bottom line. They’ve mastered the fine art of the upsell, sometimes based on the semiotics of customer clothing and accessories alone. Is Dad wearing a $50, 000 Patek Philippe watch? Do not give him a bottle of Pinot Grigio if the most expensive one on your list is only $80. “   ALLOWED,” Harris booms. (Steer him toward a $270 bottle of Chablis grand cru instead.) I’d say that Harris deserves his own reality show, but in a sense, he already has one, as do some of the other somms that Bosker follows. They’re on the Esquire Network’s “Uncorked. ” It felt a bit dishonest of the author not to reveal it. And while I appreciated her bravado, I grew similarly queasy, as time wore on, with how she would congratulate herself for   her way into an event she had no business attending. Did she promise the organizers publicity in her book? A magazine article? Too often, she doesn’t say. On occasion, Bosker radiates youthful   maybe a touch of naïveté. But she is, in the main, great company as a narrator  —   witty, generous, democratic. She devotes many pages to singing the praises of taste and smell, which philosophers throughout the ages have considered the baser senses, and shows how just about any of us can sharpen them. She’s suspicious, as any good journalist should be, of cant  —   she’s a decanter!  —   and interrogates at length whether the florid language of the sommelier (“notes of vanilla, cassis and saddle leather”) is useful or even authentic. She shows up at one of her fancy tasting groups with a plastic cup of chervil and asks everyone to give it a sniff. They can’t identify it  —   even though they regularly claim to detect hints of the herb in what they drink. Eventually, she interrogates the entire notion of wine expertise, which in turn raises the biggest question of all: What does make a wine great? Especially if, as one damning study found, most judges in a California wine competition gave contradictory ratings to the same bottle of wine every time they tasted it? And if a wine economist explains that there’s little correlation between quality and cost once a bottle exceeds $50 or $60? (“After that,” Bosker writes, “brand, reputation and scarcity start to nudge up a bottle’s cost. ”) Bosker ultimately arrives at her own kind of homespun answer to what makes a wine special. It accommodates tastes high and low, and she’s still certainly capable of enjoying three different vintages of the fabled Château d’Yquem. “It tasted like the sun,” she writes. “It tasted like an experience that would never repeat itself. ”",true,news,test,World conflict,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
15064,15065,"Philippines authorities Tuesday started evacuating about 50 , 000 people living around the island nation ' s most active volcano after it oozed fiery lava and belched clouds of ash .  A large scale eruption was forecast as imminent .  The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology raised the alert level up a notch on Monday night to level 3 . Scientist Alex Baloloy told the Philippine News Agency (  ) that under level 3 , "" a full blown eruption is expected to take place within weeks to days . ""  He said seismic instruments detected 83 volcanic quakes , a majority of which were tremors associated with rockfalls .  People in Albay province , about 466 kilometers ( 290 miles ) south of the capital , Manila , flocked to town centers to catch a glimpse of glowing lava cascading down the slopes of Mayon . The volcanic mountain soars 2 , 464 meters ( 8 , 077 feet ) into the sky and has erupted 49 times since the first documented eruption in 1616 .  Ash fell on the town of Guinabatan , prompting its mayor to predict an unwanted sort of white Christmas ,  said .  Provincial Gov . Joey Salceda ordered mandatory evacuation for residents of 45 towns and cities within a radius of 6 kilometers ( 3 . 7 miles ) around Mayon , including Legazpi , Ligao , Tabaco , Daraga , Camalig , Guinobatan , Malilipot and Santo Domingo .  The Albay Public Safety Emergency and Management Office said 9 , 946 families or 47 , 285 people were expected to be moved to safer ground within 72 hours ,  reported .  Salceda , who canceled a planned trip to Denmark for the global climate conference in Copenhagen , said he will meet with the provincial disaster coordinating council Tuesday to discuss emergency measures in case of an eruption , according to  .  The Philippines is situated in the so called Ring of Fire , an arc of fault lines circling the Pacific Basin that is prone to frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions . Mayon ' s most violent eruption , in 1814 , killed more than 1 , 200 people and devastated several towns . Its last major eruption was in 1993 .  Since then , it has emitted ash and spewed lava but remained restless .  ",true,text,test,American football,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
15087,15088,"Arrested : Veteran William Snyder , 34 , has been charged in connection with the disappearance and death of his wife , Kelley Jo Snyder , 34  The husband of a Pennsylvania mother of three has been charged with abuse of a corpse and evidence tampering after the discovery of her body over the weekend .  Army veteran William Snyder , 34 , was charged hours after the body of his wife , Kelley Jo Snyder , 34 , was found in a river near to their home on Saturday . She was last seen alive on Easter Sunday .  Police in Renovo say that Snyder has admitted moving the body from their home and also having fabricated a ransom note seeking 60 , 000 for his wife ' s safe return .  Coroner Zachary Hanna said the cause and manner of death are pending results of toxicology tests .  State police have said they expect more charges to be filed after the results are published .  Snyder is currently in the Clinton County Correctional Facility on 500 , 000 bail and was arrested at a motel in the small town of Horseheads on Friday in New York after presumably fleeing last week .  He was returned across the state border and charged the next day .  A police affidavit seen by PennLiveweblink claims that Snyder , who uses the name  , has admitted removing his wife ' s body from their home and taking it to the Halls Run river .  Recovered : The body of Shelley Jo Snyder was found in a river near to where she lived with her husband  Day out : William and Shelley Jo Snyder with their son on a day out to the Met Life stadium in New Jersey  He is the alleged to have sent a ransom note to a local restaurant , himself and an email to police demanding money for her safe return .  Snyder first reported his wife missing at 12 . 01 on the Monday following Easter Sunday sparking a huge search of the local area .  Snyder and her three children said they had last seen Kelly Jo leave the family home at at around 5 . 45pm right before they sat down to eat their Easter dinner .  She is supposed to have left the home to pick up sweet potatoes , but police claim she never made it the store .  Police said they spoke to her 14 year old son and he told them she had taken her wallet , bank card and identification with her .  Family affair : Shelley Jo was last seen at just before 6 . 00pm on Easter Sunday when she told her family she was going to buy some sweet potatoes  On Wednesday , during the search of the neighborhood ,  ' s sister , T . T . Wertz found her sister in laws waller near to her house even though the area had been thoroughly searched .  On Tuesday , Snyder spoke to Newswatch 16 before his wife ' s body was discovered .  ' We just hope if she is out there and can see this or someone sees this and has any info to get a hold of us , ' said Snyder to the local news station .  In court papers , Snyder has admitted to sending the ransom note to his own address and to a local restaurant and an email to police before he was arrested .  Neighbors of the pair have expressed disbelief at the turn of events .  ' I think they are wrong . I don ' t think it was him , so I think they need to do a little more investigating other than pinning on the husband , ' said Faith Marr , a neighbor to Newswatch 16 .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
15088,15089,"Tune in to the Alternate Current Radio Network (ACR) for another  broadcast of  The Boiler Room  starting at 6   | 9   every Wednesday. Join us for uncensored, uninterruptible talk radio, custom-made for barfly philosophers, misguided moralists, masochists, street corner evangelists, media-maniacs, savants, political animals and otherwise lovable rascals.Join  hosts Hesher, & Spore along with Randy J of 21Wire, Andy Nowicki from Alt Right Blog Spot and Jay Dyer ofweblink. Tonight the Boiler Gang discusses Brexit, Orlando Shooting, Istanbul Airport Bombing, gang vs counter-gang political shenanigans in Sacramento  and whatever else floats into our air space during the show!    A   ZONE!           ENJOY! Reference Links: ",fake,dataset,test,World conflict,Sports/Other,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,present
15111,15112,"Washington When Chris Christie praises President Barack Obama as "" outstanding "" and "" incredibly supportive , "" you know something extraordinary has occurred .  Obama updated on Sandy praised by Christie  In this case , it was once in a lifetime Superstorm Sandy , which caused the outspoken Republican governor of New Jersey to declare a state of emergency and seek federal help for widespread devastation .  Obama has "" been outstanding to deal with on this and I look forward to seeing him tomorrow so he can see for himself what this hurricane has done to my state , "" Christie said Tuesday night .  Such effusive praise from a frequent Obama critic and strong supporter of Republican presidential challenger Mitt Romney put the campaign magnifying glass on a key election issue the role of the federal government a week before the November 6 vote .  Photos : Aftermath of Superstorm Sandy  It also focused attention on how Romney would handle such a disaster if he were to defeat Obama in what is expected to be a very close election .  On Tuesday , the  candidate showed little inclination to address the matter . At a campaign event changed to a storm relief effort in Ohio , Romney ignored shouted questions by reporters on whether he supported the Federal Emergency Management Agency ' s role in disaster relief .  Instead , he focused his remarks to supporters who donated relief supplies for storm victims on how such efforts contribute to meeting the overall need .  "" We won ' t be able to solve all the problems with our effort this morning , "" Romney said , adding "" one of the things you learn in life is you make the difference you can , and you can ' t always solve all the problems yourself . ""  Romney on storm aftermath : ' People are hurting '  Democratic critics of Romney and his running mate conservative House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan of Wisconsin argue their proposals to cut government spending and provide broad tax cuts without generating more government revenue will end up harming the economy and increasing the federal deficit .  Photos : New York recovers from Sandy  In particular , the Obama campaign challenges Romney ' s contention that increased economic growth from the tax cuts combined with shifting current federal responsibilities to states , the private sector and humanitarian agencies and charities can balance the budget .  Last year , Romney argued at a Republican presidential debate in New Hampshire that cutting federal spending should be based on prioritizing what is absolutely necessary and shedding the rest .  "" Instead of thinking in the federal budget , what we should cut we should ask ourselves the opposite question . What should we keep ? "" Romney added . "" We should take all of what we ' re doing at the federal level and say , what are the things we ' re doing that we don ' t have to do ? And those things we ' ve got to stop doing , because we ' re borrowing 1 . 6 trillion more this year than we ' re taking in . ""  King cut in to ask if Romney was referring specifically to disaster relief , a topic in the news at the time following a deadly Joplin , Missouri , tornado , and Romney continued : "" We cannot afford to do those things without jeopardizing the future for our kids . It is simply immoral , in my view , for us to continue to rack up larger and larger debts and pass them on to our kids , knowing full well that we ' ll all be dead and gone before it ' s paid off . It makes no sense at all . ""  Romney : States should handle emergency management  With then Hurricane Sandy bearing down on the East Coast on Monday , Romney ' s debate comments from 16 months earlier became a topic of political discussion , and the Romney campaign issued a statement in response .  Sandy reminds us of climate change and other forgotten campaign issues  "" Gov . Romney believes that states should be in charge of emergency management in responding to storms and other natural disasters in their jurisdictions , "" said the statement by spokeswoman Amanda Henneberg . "" As the first responders , states are in the best position to aid affected individuals and communities , and to direct resources and assistance to where they are needed most . This includes help from the federal government and  . ""  Henneberg added another sentence to the statement Tuesday , saying that "" a Romney Ryan administration will always ensure that disaster funding is there for those in need . Period . ""  Opinion : Sandy shows why we need   Craig Fugate , administrator of the emergency management agency , told reporters Tuesday that the agency had 3 . 6 billion remaining in its disaster relief fund . The agency works with state and local authorities as well as the American Red Cross and other agencies to help disaster victims rent temporary housing , repair their homes , get loans to cover small business and farm losses , as well as assisting in cleaning up storm debris including hazardous materials .  Vice President Joe Biden , meanwhile , said Tuesday that the federal response to Sandy was "" working like it ' s supposed to , "" and he highlighted to reporters in Ohio what he described as unprecedented cooperation between city , state and federal authorities and agencies .  A White House statement also emphasized such cooperation , noting Obama spoke by phone with a host of Republican and Democratic governors and mayors from states affected by the storm .  Sandy ' s impact : State by state  Romney has made political dysfunction in Washington a target of his campaign , blaming Obama for what he calls failed leadership in being unable to forge a deficit reduction deal with Republicans .  Democrats blame Republicans for what they contend has been an unwillingness to compromise , and the focus on cooperation Tuesday by Obama and Biden appeared to be aimed in part at demonstrating the administration ' s ability to get things done .  The question of the size and scope of the federal government is at the heart of both campaigns .  Obama and Democrats argue that entitlement programs such as Social Security , Medicare and Medicaid are vital to the social contract to provide contributing citizens with basic needs , and that government also has a role to play in education and technological development while providing services such as national defense and disaster relief .  Opinion : Sandy debunks ' nanny state '  Republicans , driven by the party ' s conservative wing , call for immediate steps to erase the chronic budget deficits and mounting federal debt that they say imperil national security and stability . They want to shrink the size of government and reduce taxes while reforming entitlements by partial privatization , reducing and delaying some benefits and other steps .  Sensitive issues such as disaster relief generally play to the advantage of Democrats and their support for government benefits , especially in a time of crisis when images of suffering victims dominate the airwaves .  Superstorm Sandy breaks records  Obama has avoided any direct political talk in recent days as the huge storm approached the Eastern seaboard , canceling campaign events and focusing his attention on the administration ' s response . In statements Monday and Tuesday on the storm and its aftermath , he emphasized the need for a collective response while also making sure to point out the federal role in relief efforts .  "" We ' ve been able to get over 1 , 000  officials in place , pre positioned , "" the president said . "" We ' ve been able to get supplies , food , medicine , water , emergency generators , to ensure that hospitals and law enforcement offices are able to stay up and running as they are out there responding . ""  He also sounded a main campaign theme by ensuring those hit hardest by the storm that his administration and the entire nation were with them .  "" This is a tough time for millions of folks across the Eastern seaboard , but America is tougher and we are tougher because we pull together , we don ' t leave anybody behind , we make sure that we respond as a nation , "" Obama said .  Obama visits Red Cross : ' Storm is not yet over '  At about the same time he spoke , the White House announced that Obama will travel to New Jersey on Wednesday "" where he will join Gov . Christie in viewing the storm damage , talking with citizens who are recovering from the storm and thanking first responders who put their lives at risk to protect their communities . ""  While the president and one of Romney ' s top supporters will be photographed together responding to disaster , Romney is scheduled to be in Florida for three campaign events .  How to help after the superstorm  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
15136,15137,"Donald Trump is too lazy to take a proper Christmas photo to share with the American people.Instead, he merely took a screenshot of himself raising his small fist in front of a Christmas tree and photoshopped the words  Merry Christmas  on it.#MerryChristmas pic.twitter.com/5GgDmJrGMS  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 25, 2016You know, because taking a picture with his wife and kids is too much work.Well, Twitter didn t let Trump get away with it and promptly took the time on Christmas morning to tell him to go f*ck himself.@tonyposnanski @realDonaldTrump only Donald would send a Christmas card reminding us of our impending doom.  Jen Dent (@JentotheDen) December 25, 2016@JentotheDen @tonyposnanski @realDonaldTrump I also love that it s just him, no family, no warmth, just a tiny fist and a tree.  BreadBitch (@mary_olliff) December 25, 2016@mary_olliff @JentotheDen @tonyposnanski @realDonaldTrump I m glad I m not the only one who found the tiny fist an odd gesture. ?  Robin Johnson (@robinbird52) December 25, 2016@robinbird52 @mary_olliff @JentotheDen @realDonaldTrump The whole thing is odd. Yesterday him and Melaina wished people a Happy #Hanukkah. Today it is just him with a fist in the air at a rally.  Tony Posnanski (@tonyposnanski) December 25, 2016@realDonaldTrump you love seeing your own face don t ya  Matt Shore (@mattshore) December 25, 2016.@realDonaldTrump Oh Donald I know you think that looks handsome, but do one without the smug look and fist in the air.  Bess Kalb (@bessbell) December 25, 2016@bessbell @realDonaldTrump Nothing celebrates Jesus  birth like a balled fist.  Mary Wooten (@mfwooten1) December 25, 2016@realDonaldTrump Your message is insincere after expressing bigotry toward so many people. You are unfit to lead. pic.twitter.com/DDE87xKF1d  Jeffrey Guterman (@JeffreyGuterman) December 25, 2016.@realDonaldTrump Based on pic, seems your endgame to ending War on Christmas was to make yourself God?  Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) December 25, 2016@realDonaldTrump Remember, you re one of the most hated people to have ever lived.  Big Lee ?? (@RejectTrump) December 25, 2016Unlike Trump, President Obama knows what Christmas is all about and shared this wonderful picture of himself with his wife and two daughters with a nice Christmas message to the American people.The best part of the holidays is the time we share with those we love. On behalf of Michelle, Malia, and Sasha, Merry Christmas everyone. pic.twitter.com/EznGyxluS8  President Obama (@POTUS) December 25, 2016Yet, Republicans claim Trump is the one who has family values.Two hours after Obama s tweet, Trump posted this bullshit.Merry Christmas and a very, very, very , very Happy New Year to everyone!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 25, 2016It s going to be a long four years if Trump can t even get Christmas right.Featured image via screenshot",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
15139,15140,"Jonathan ' Rossy ' Woss today sparked fresh controversy when he was thrown off a bus for making obscene phone calls .  The mischievous funny man was removed from the 23 bus taking him to  Television Centre after passengers complained about the disturbance .  Disgusted pensioner Agnis Mead , 76 witnessed Ross ' s latest prank .  "" It ' s a disgrace "" she said .  "" I was with my two grandchildren and they shouldn ' t have to listen to that filth . ""  This leaves the star in hot water , since Transport for London announced that Ross would be banned from all London buses for six months .  Actor and prank phone call expert Andrew Sachs was quick to comment on Ross ' s possible demise .  "" With no way of getting to work , the lisping , shit stirring little wanker will have to give up the show . I ' m available on Fridays by the way , and I ' ve got a freedom pass . ""  Bus driver Reg Plate had the enviable task of removing Mr Ross from the bus .  "" I heard his call to Jeff Stelling , in which he claimed to have seen Mrs Stelling ' s anus . So I just slammed on the brakes and told him to either shut up or get off . I will not have the good name of any Countdown presenter besmirched on my bus . ""  Nervous  executives are said to be in hurried talks with a number of possible replacements for Ross to take over the Friday night spot before he gets them in any more shit .  Ladbrokes are offering odds of 4 1 on ' Friday Night with Andrew Sachs ' hitting our screens by mid 2009 .  ",satire,text,test,American football,Sports/Other,true,satire,True,no,no,negative,past
15143,15144,"This interview contains spoilers for Sunday’s episode of “Game of Thrones. ” The beginning of Season 5 of “Game of Thrones” was a time of great excitement for Arya Stark, the fiery young woman, played by Maisie Williams, who is on a mission to right the many wrongs done to her and her tormented family. After finally leaving the hostile Westeros countryside behind, she was on a boat to Braavos, exploring a new world with dreams of a vengeful, exciting life as a highly trained assassin. Sunday’s Season 6 premiere illustrated how badly Arya miscalculated her prospects. After running afoul in last season’s finale of the rules of the Faceless Men, the religious order training her, she is now freshly blind, and spent Sunday’s episode begging in the streets when she wasn’t being whacked with a stick by a girl called the Waif (Faye Marsay). [ Recap: “Game of Thrones” Season 6 premiere ] “If she doesn’t learn to fight without her eyes, she’s getting hit,” Ms. Williams said recently. “The Waif, she’s evil. ” Ms. Williams discussed fighting blind, impatient Arya fans and what Season 6 holds for the youngest Stark daughter. These are edited excerpts from the conversation. Q. Where do things stand with Arya now? A. You can’t comprehend being without your eyes, and you have to put your faith and trust in the people around you, who are also the ones who put you in that position. She has no other choice. So that’s a really interesting position to see her in, because she’s never had to trust someone. It’s a very vulnerable place for her to be at the beginning of the series, but things will turn around. How does this fit into her overall evolution? Because she’s gonna use it all again  —   these are all skills that she’s gonna take with her. A lot of people found Arya’s Season 5 really boring. They were like, “Why is she sweeping floors? Why is she getting hit on the hands?” But this is about a process that she’s going through and its ultimately going to be the best weapon. And when that day comes, when she uses all of this, everyone’s gonna be like, “Wow, that’s so cool!” Which is great, but it wouldn’t have been as cool if you hadn’t seen her go through that process. No one becomes a [warrior] overnight, guys. Give her a break. Is it hard to act blind? For a lot of the   I had contact lenses that were opaque, so I couldn’t see anything anyway. For the fight scenes, I had contact lenses I could see through. But that was more of a health and safety thing, because I was wielding a stick and poor Faye didn’t want to get hit in the face. But she still did. Did she really? Not in the face. We just clipped each other a couple of times. So that was you in the fight scene in the premiere, not a stunt double? That one was all me. There’s stuff later on that we had girls help us with. There’s a shot in the trailer of you taking a flying leap. Yeah that gets a lot more technical. There were two wonderful stunt doubles. How has Arya’s perspective changed since last season? Arya was quite shallow. “I’m gonna be a sick killer and then have my list, and I’m gonna go back and avenge my family. ” It was such a childish way of thinking about it. Then she got there and realized this isn’t a joke this isn’t like a holiday camp your parents send you off to. I know you can’t get into plot details  …     I’m giving you really good hints. [Laughs.] I feel like I’m selling this season really well. But can you speak more broadly about what Season 6 is about for her? It’s her second chance. She’s learning to fight blind, and at the beginning people are going to have that same opinion of, “God, this is so boring. Why isn’t Arya the [warrior] she used to be?” O. K. let’s take away your sight and see how you do without it. There are episodes when it’s going to be really difficult to watch. Arya, who we’ve always loved, is getting pulled apart. But she will ultimately use it to her advantage, just as she always does. She takes every negative and uses it as a positive, and that happens in a big way this year.",true,news,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
15151,15152,"A tense thriller and a family friendly sequel bumped "" Guardians of the Galaxy "" from the top of the weekend ' s box office .  "" No Good Deed , "" starring Idris Elba and Taraji P . Henson , stormed to victory in its opening weekend , grossing an estimated 24 . 5 million at domestic theaters . That ' s nearly twice what the thriller cost to make .  Elba plays an escaped murderer who arrives at Henson ' s doorstep while her husband ' s away and she ' s taking care of her small children . A psychological and physical faceoff ensues in the first big screen pairing of these two well established actors .  "" Dolphin Tale 2 , "" which also debuted over the weekend , continued this year ' s trend of family oriented sequels failing to perform as well as their predecessors . The latest "" Dolphin "" installment opened in second place with an estimated 16 . 6 million more than 13 off the first film ' s opening in 2011 . Harry Connick Jr . , Ashley Judd and Morgan Freeman all returned for the second helping of feel good fare .  Meanwhile , "" Guardians of the Galaxy "" arrived in third place with an estimated 8 million . The latest Marvel movie has led the box office four of the past six weekends and has crossed 300 million on both the domestic and international charts .  Down the chart , the comedy "" Let ' s Be Cops "" continues to be a winner for Fox : Its domestic haul of nearly 73 million is more than four times its production budget .  And a surprise in moderate release , "" The Drop "" made an estimated 4 . 2 million after opening in just 809 theaters over the weekend , giving the drama starring Tom Hardy and the late James Gandolfini the highest per screen average in the top 10 except for "" No Good Deed . ""  Domestic weekend box office estimates are from Exhibitor Relations Co . ( final numbers available Monday afternoon ) :  1 . "" No Good Deed "" 24 . 5 million ( debut )  2 . "" Dolphin Tale 2 "" 16 . 5 million ( debut )  3 . "" Guardians of the Galaxy "" 8 million ( 306 million total )  4 . "" Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles "" 4 . 8 million ( 181 million total )  5 . "" Let ' s Be Cops "" 4 . 3 million ( 73 million total )  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
15157,15158,"After being pronounced "" fit for duty "" by his doctors after his annual checkup on Saturday , President Bush was quickly recruited by military officers for "" immediate duty "" in Iraq .  "" The doctors say he ' s fit for duty , and that ' s good enough for us , "" said Master Sergeant Tim Reeger , "" because Lord knows there ' s plenty of duty here for him . ""  Reeger said that the military ordinarily does not employ the services of 58 year old men on the battlefield , but that they would make an exception for Bush due to his "" exceptional physical health "" and prior "" failure to serve "" .  "" He sat out in Vietnam , so the way we figure it , he owes us one , "" Reeger explained . "" Plus he ' s so healthy , you ' d almost never guess he used to be an alcoholic , although as a precaution we ' re not letting him near the booze . ""  Reeger added that Bush ' s good health is the primary reason why Vice President Dick Cheney , who is estimated to have died over seven years ago , will not be serving .  But why send a serving President to war ? It ' s all part of the military ' s initiative to attempt to avoid the draft as long as possible , as per Bush ' s campaign promise .  "" We ' ve extended the active tours of duty of the men we have , we ' ve enlisted the help of over five Iraqi soldiers pretty much anything possible to try not to draft people , which we desperately need to do because apparently there ' s supposed to be some kind of election here soon , "" Reeger said . "" Now the only thing left to do is start getting some government officials over here and fight the war they were so willing to begin on paper . ""  When asked if getting U . N . assistance is a viable alternative solution to the problem , Reeger laughed for over ten minutes .  "" But seriously , "" he said , wiping his eyes . "" What ' s the U . N . ? ""  Some critics say that without a President serving domestically , the United States will be perceived as vulnerable to attack . But Reeger dismissed these concerns , suggesting that a President ' s duties actually "" don ' t amount to all that much "" .  "" Come on we have a Senate and a House for a reason , "" he said . "" The President could go missing for months without anyone noticing . Hell , one time he did . We had to use Will Ferrell as a stand in for public appearances . Later we found the real President in a ditch in Wisconsin , sniffing ether from a rag and drawing ' weapons of mass destruction ' in the dirt for later use against Iran . ""  In related news , Former New York Police Commissioner Bernard Kerik , who announced Saturday that he was withdrawing his name for nomination for Homeland Security secretary due to employing over nine thousand illegal immigrants , will also now be shipped to Iraq in order to provide Homeland Security there , which means , bizarrely , that he will immediately begin attacking American forces .  Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani was briefly suspected as a possible replacement for Kerik , but he declined due to "" continuing obligations of doing nothing "" .  "" Dude , I have a lot of like , shit going on right now , "" Giuliani said exasperatedly , laying motionless on a recliner in his home in a sweatsuit covered with over seven days ' worth of food . "" Besides , I freaking saved New York from terrorists . Let me have a little rest . ""  Meanwhile , current Homeland Security head Tom Ridge , who submitted his resignation on November 30th but was told "" Nope , not yet , "" by Bush , burst into tears .  "" Let me out , "" he sobbed . "" Jesus Christ , just let me out . ""  ",satire,text,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,true,satire,True,no,no,negative,past
15172,15173,"England London police said Thursday they are planning one of the largest and most complex operations in their history as the city gears up to host the G 20 summit next week .  Police divers carry out security checks near the site of next week ' s G 20 summit in London .  London ' s three police forces are being brought under a single umbrella for the G 20 security plan , dubbed Operation Glencoe , said Cmdr . Simon O ' Brien of London ' s Metropolitan Police .  Police forces from surrounding counties like Essex and Sussex are also assisting with security , he said .  Officers will be protecting the summit venue , delegates , their hotels , their official engagements , as well as monitoring protests around the capital , O ' Brien said .  "" This is one of the largest , one of the most challenging , and one of the most complicated operations that we ' ve ever delivered , "" he told reporters Thursday .  The Met Police has canceled all staff leave for April 1 and 2 . The summit takes place April 2 . Watch security preparations for the G 20 meeting  O ' Brien would not say how many police officers would be on duty , but he said there were 10 , 500 police shifts being scheduled between March 24 and April 2 .  The total cost of the security operation is 7 . 2 million ( 10 . 4 million ) , he said .  The G 20 summit brings together heads of state and financial leaders from the top 20 industrialized and emerging economies . Leaders from non G 20 nations will also be represented , along with hundreds of other officials including the heads of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank .  The one day summit is already attracting a "" significant amount of interest "" from protest groups , O ' Brien said . "" Old faces on the protest circuit "" have started to reappear ahead of the event , he said , although he gave no names .  "" Some see the G 20 as an opportunity to galvanize support "" for their various other causes , he said .  The first big protest is expected to take place Saturday in Central London . Police expect some 20 , 000 people to turn out , O ' Brien said .  Though organized by trade unions , some 120 different groups are taking part in the "" Put People First "" march , which will start at Victoria Station , wind through Trafalgar Square , and end in a demonstration at Hyde Park .  Heavy rain is predicted for Saturday .  April 1 , the day before the summit , will see various smaller demonstrations in central London . Protesters are calling it "" Financial Fools Day , "" a play on April Fools Day and the anger surrounding the current economic crisis .  An "" Alternative G 20 Summit "" will also taking place near the summit venue , the ExCeL convention center in east London .  Police have been developing intelligence about all the demonstrations and a policing plan for each one , O ' Brien said .  There will be no special laws under which officers can arrest protesters who break the law , he said , and counter terrorism measures will only be used when they apply .  Asked about reports that some protesters may be planning violence similar to the recent riots in Greece , O ' Brien said simply that police have "" well rehearsed tactics "" and an experienced team on hand to deal with it .  "" We will not tolerate any people breaking the law , attacking buildings , people , or our officers , "" he said .  There have also been reports that protesters may be planning to storm important buildings like the Bank of England . O ' Brien said only that police were prepared for a "" range of instances . ""  The ExCeL venue is in East London , 10 minutes from the financial district of Canary Wharf , and there are concerns that protesters angry about the economy could target workers in the area .  The London Chamber of Commerce said many firms are advising their staff to take precautionary measures , including wearing more casual clothing , hiding any company logos , canceling unnecessary meetings , and keeping movement in and out of the building to a minimum .  "" The vast majority of firms will have robust security arrangements in place , "" said the Chamber ' s chief executive , Colin Stanbridge . "" Canceling unnecessary meetings may have to be considered , but people shouldn ' t feel as though they can ' t travel in London to conduct important business . ""   , which has offices in the financial district , would not confirm any specific measures but said the company was prepared .  O ' Brien called the precautionary measures "" common sense "" but said police would work to ensure that companies face no disruption next week .  "" This is a very complex operation with some really experienced public order commanders , "" he said . "" We ' re up for it and we ' re up to it . ""  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
15173,15174,"Maracaibo , Venezuela It all started when Jose Augusto Montiel couldn ' t find any milk for his daily cafe con leche .  The 21 year old Venezuelan student didn ' t have a solution for widespread goods shortages in his country . But he had an idea , using lessons he ' d learned about developing apps for smart phones .  A month later , Abasteceme was born . The free mobile application ' s name is Spanish for "" supply me . "" It allows users to enter data when they ' ve spotted scarce goods on store shelves in the South American country .  See the Abasteceme app  Opening the app shows a list of products . With the flick of a finger , maps show places to purchase cooking oil , sugar , flour , powdered milk and toilet paper , in addition to how much the items cost .  "" For example , with oil it tells me that there isn ' t any within one kilometer , but we can increase it to 100 , and then it shows me that yes , there is oil , "" Montiel explained , pointing at his phone . "" When I click , it tells me the price , the distance and the date , and if I click gain , I find the shortest route from my location . ""  Developing applications isn ' t a career path Montiel is planning to pursue . The university student plays violin in a symphony and is working on his chemical engineering thesis . He says he learned to develop apps when he was trying to find a way to buy a tablet computer .  And now , he says , he ' s just trying to do his part .  "" The only thing I did was add a grain of sand with what I have , "" he said . "" I think if we all put in a grain of sand and we give 100 of what we can give , we are going to have the country we want . ""  More than 14 , 000 people have downloaded the smart phone application so far .  Its development comes as Venezuelans deal with widely reported goods shortages .  Facing a toilet paper shortage last month , the country ' s government announced plans to import 50 million rolls to meet demand for the product .  Toilet paper is just one of the basic goods and foodstuffs that have been disappearing from store shelves over the past few months , as the government and private companies blame each other for the scarcity .  Businesses and the political opposition say government policies , including price controls on basic goods and tight restrictions on foreign currency , are to blame .  Last month , Venezuelan Minister of Commerce Alejandro Fleming blamed the media for provoking fear in consumers , who in turn begin hoarding items .  But Venezuelans say the shortages are very real .  Even as she beams about her son ' s success and describes how he developed the application , Igia de Montiel Uribarri said there ' s only so much a smartphone can do .  "" Right now , again I don ' t have any milk , and I said to him , ' Have you seen them say where there ' s milk ? ' He says , ' No , mommy , I haven ' t seen that . ' That is to say , nothing has changed . This is not a cure . It only eases the situation , "" she says . "" It gives you some help . ""  Venezuela says it foiled plot to assassinate President Maduro  Venezuela frees , expels U . S . filmmaker  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
15186,15187,Jazz y Chistes #05: Muerte en otoño     Este sitio web utiliza cookies para analizar cómo es utilizado el sitio. Las cookies no te pueden identificar. Si continuas navegando supone la aceptación de la Política de Cookies. Estoy de acuerdo. Más info.,fake,news,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,present
15195,15196,"Russian President Vladimir Putin shrugged off repeated questions about the impact of Western sanctions on his nation during a nationally broadcast annual Q A session .  "" Sanctions are sanctions , "" he said . "" As far as sanctions are concerned . . . . ( they ' re ) about the need to constrain our development , "" not just about Ukraine and Crimea .  Western sanctions were implemented after Moscow annexed Crimea and pro Russian separatists battled Ukrainian government forces in the nation ' s east .  Putin predicted the sanctions would not end soon .  On the Middle East , the Russian leader defended lifting a ban on the sale of a sophisticated air defense system to Iran .  "" We need to encourage our Iranian partners , "" Putin said , referring to a preliminary deal to limit Iran ' s nuclear program .  Sanctions against Iran have had a dramatic impact on the nation ' s economy .  On Israeli and Western fears that such a system would embolden Iran , Putin scoffed .  "" Iran is not a threat to Israel at all , "" he said . "" It is a defense weapon . ""  Putin ' s annual exercise is fascinating for ordinary Russians , who normally get him in closely managed doses on state run television . These sessions are live and can go on and on .  Last year , he spoke for three hours and 55 minutes . In 2013 , it was a record setting four hours and 47 minutes .  Organizers said public interest was especially strong this year , with 2 . 4 million questions submitted .  Of course , critics of the Kremlin slam the entire event as Russia ' s imitation of democracy in action . It ' s hard to imagine a truly critical question , they say , getting aired on national television there . In fact , it ' s best not to look at this event as an opportunity for Russians to question their leader at all .  Instead , it is more like a highly produced , highly choreographed chance for their leader to speak to them , and to the world .  Last year , there was a "" surprise "" appearance by  whistle blower Edward Snowden , who was granted asylum in Russia . He addressed Putin by video link , quizzing Putin about Moscow ' s own surveillance practices .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
15202,15203,"While the United States sits on the edge of its collective seat as Donald Trump gains an electoral vote majority in his bid for the White House, its neighbor to the north seems to be getting a little cheeky.  Via Unilad   Reminding America of the Great White North’s cultural acceptance and freedom, the country’s official Twitter account wrote on Tuesday evening: “In Canada, immigrants are encouraged to bring their cultural traditions with them and share them with fellow citizens.” In Canada, immigrants are encouraged to bring their cultural traditions with them and share them with their fellow citizens. pic.twitter.com/MOuStZbSX7  — Canada (@Canada) November 9, 2016   As a Canadian, I can attest to this. It’s a stark contrast to much of what Trump has proposed in the last 16 months: A border wall between the U.S. and Mexico, a ban on Muslims entering the country, and racial profiling. But it looks like most Americans are taking it as an invitation:  @JasonABowman Maybe they meant that as an invitation to join them, just in case? — Jaimie Michelle (@JaimieMichelle) November 9, 2016  @Canada do you mean Americans too? — Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) November 9, 2016  "" @Canada : In Canada, immigrants are encouraged to bring their cultural traditions with them and share them with their fellow citizens."" pic.twitter.com/162lvBnKaN  — bonafiedhoe (@pettyyonceh) November 9, 2016  "" @Canada : In Canada, immigrants are encouraged to bring their cultural traditions with them and share them with their fellow citizens."" pic.twitter.com/162lvBnKaN  — bonafiedhoe (@pettyyonceh) November 9, 2016   The tweet comes just after Canada’a immigration site crashed in light of the now-looking-very-likely possibility of a Trump win. This is what it used to look like:   And this is what it looked like Tuesday night, as the  election results rolled in, with Donald Trump in the lead:   Searches of ‘how to move to Canada’ surged starting at 6 p.m., according to Google Trends. And Quartz published a list of jobs in Canada that would be easy for Americans to apply for if they wished to relocate, Oregon Live reports. Looks like Canada’s population is going to double soon… ",fake,news,test,Football,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,present
15210,15211,"Reuters) - Five suspected al Qaeda militants were killed in drone strikes on two villages in Yemen s al Baida governorate on Saturday, a local official and residents said.   The strikes targeted two villages where al Qaeda is known to be active,  a local official said, adding that a total of five were killed in the strikes in central Yemen. Residents said two suspected militants were killed when a drone targeted the car they were traveling in.  Three people were injured in the strikes, they said. Yemen s al Qaeda branch, known as Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), has taken advantage of a more than two-year-old civil war between the Iran-aligned Houthi group and President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi s Saudi-backed government to strengthen its position in the impoverished country. The United States has repeatedly attacked  with aircraft and unmanned drones in what U.S. officials say is a campaign to wear down the group s ability to coordinate attacks abroad. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
15213,15214,"At half time on Sky Sports coverage of the Tyne Wear derby from Newcastle , we were shown a small bronze bust of one of the City ' s favourite sons , Sir Bobby Robson .  It appeared to capture almost perfectly the benign countenance that seemed to sum up his approach to football and his life . Although whether he would actually be looking quite so philosophical after losing at home to his deadly rivals , Sunderland , is likely another matter entirely .  The reason we were being shown his statue was because that evening the channel premiered a new documentary that let us into the life and times of one our greatest managers , ' Once More For Bobby ' .  The statue of Sir Bobby Robson outside St James ' Park captures perfectly his approach to life  It did this whilst also recounting the dogged two wheeled journey undertaken by one of his former players , Robbie Elliott , to honour Sir Bobby ' s Foundation and raise money for other cancer charities .  Along with his friend , triathlete Phil Gray , Robbie set out on a 3 , 500 mile bike ride that took in the clubs Sir Bobby managed across England and mainland Europe .  And it was a journey that also worked perfectly as a metaphor for the years of endurance and triumph Sir Bobby put into both his work and also his very survival .  Sir Bobby Robson is greeted by Alan Shearer , and applauded by the St James ' faithful , soon before his death  Because for Robbie and Phil , across their 25 day vigil , there was plenty of flogging uphill , cruising down hill and lots of rocky roads along the way .  In terms of the ride itself , it quickly became clear that this was never going to be a walk in the park , as it were . Perfectly illustrated one day in France when they encountered the freakish annual phenomenon of the ' black wind ' .  To wax lyrical once again , the boys may have been pulling up trees for their cause , but so was the mistral that swiped across the countryside through which they rode . As Elliot put it , ' we could have pushed the bikes faster ' .  Robson referred to his successful period as England manager as ' national service '  Elliot , too , had his own personal issues and at one point had gone four days without being able to keep down food or water . He eventually found a doctor who was prepared to put down his pizza long enough to pump the former Newcastle defender with as many IVs as he could find lying around his surgery .  In spite of rough conditions and ill health , the two still managed to complete their journey . And some of the most engaging images were seen during the final leg , on their return to home soil .  All of which climaxed with an emotional appearance at St James Park , where earlier in the documentary we had also seen Sir Bobby being greeted by a packed house of Geordies and two teams of retired stars , just five days before he died .  Narrated by actor and arch fan Tim Healy , ' Once More For Bobby ' isn ' t just a road movie , though . It also contains interviews with men who had first hand knowledge of Sir Bobby . And all of them couldn ' t have been more grateful for that fact .  The best moments from the show are insights into the manager ' s relationships , including with wife Elsie  Paul Gascoigne said ' he was like a second dad to us ' . At Camp Nou , former Barcelona player Ramon Alfonseda spoke strongly of his ' values ' .  Andre Villas Boas explained how as a seventeen year old , Sir Bobby invited him to meet him the following morning , after a chance encounter , so that he could go to training with him .  Both Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker suggested they owed their playing careers to him . His surgeon Huw Davies observed ' short of chaining him to a bed ' he couldn ' t have stopped Sir Bobby working during his horrible illnesses because he had ' so much drive ' .  Journalist and patron of the Foundation George Caulkin spoke of his incredible success as an English manager abroad : ' How many ( achieved ) at the level he did ? Well , none ' .  Paul Gascoigne cries during a memorial service for the manager who had such an impact on those he met  But the most important words came from Robson himself , taken from his autobiography and spoken by actor Stephen Tompkinson .  They provided lovely little insights into such things as his life with his beloved wife Elsie , his relationships with various players and clubs and colleagues ( ' ( Jose Mourinho ) was under my wing for six years he was exceptionally loyal and watched my back ' ) , his ' eight seasons of national service ' as England manager , and how , on being asked to manager Newcastle , ' the North East was calling me back . I was on my way home ' .  Not that the film always hits the target . Perhaps because of logistical or financial restraints , we didn ' t have the opportunity to see Robbie , in particular , interact with any of the contributors , or indeed fans at the various locations along the way , something that would have given the documentary a warmer , more personal touch and not make it feel quite so compartmentalized .  Five years after his death , the new documentary is a fiiting tribute to one of football ' s greatest men  At times , too , there was just too much cycling to music , and not enough interaction between the friends .  But really , their effort , coupled with both the cause and the story behind it is enough to make this a most engaging piece of television indeed .  And five years on from his passing , it provides a timely reminder that this most affable and down to earth of football men really did know , and love , his business .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
15248,15249,"special on being part of that great Invincibles side  Graham Poll : Invincibles had it all ( including a bit of backchat ! )  It was another victory , another game undefeated , another match cemented into the history of English football .  On this very day a decade ago , a 3 1 win against Aston Villa took Arsenal to 49 games unbeaten . It ' s a feat that ' s never been bettered , an achievement that ' s unlikely to be matched . They are the greatest team of the Premier League era .  Jose Mourinho ' s Chelsea came close in 2005 , but fell nine games short . Manchester United ' s famous Treble winning side could manage only 29 games without defeat . Brian Clough ' s Nottingham Forest held the record with 42 matches before Arsenal bettered it and then surpassed it by seven games .  Thierry Henry ( left ) , Patrick Viera ( centre ) and Arsene Wenger ( right ) celebrate Arsenal ' s 2004 title triumph  Arsenal fans crowd the streets of Islington to congratulate their team during a victory parade in north London  Henry shows off the Premier League trophy after helping Arsenal go the entire season unbeaten  And to think it all could have ended after just six matches .  The Gunners were losing 1 0 at home against Portsmouth before a dubious penalty won by Robert Pires and converted by Thierry Henry ( who was forced by the referee to take and score it twice ) saw them salvage a draw . ' I did not cheat , I ' m not a diver , ' Pires said , although the evidence would point to the contrary .  Henry and Pires jog back to the centre circle after the former ' s equaliser against Portsmouth , whose keeper Shaka Hislop looks dejected  Eight days later the Gunners travelled to Manchester United . There wasn ' t a better fixture on the calendar than the meeting of Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson , Patrick Vieira and Roy Keane , the Arsenal defence and Ruud van Nistelrooy .  The game was poised to end in a goalless draw the Gunners were down to 10 men after Vieira was sent off before Martin Keown was adjudged to have fouled Van Nistelrooy in the area .  The Dutchman stepped up to take the penalty , and the rest is history , and messy , too . United ' s striker rattled Jens Lehmann ' s crossbar before the Arsenal defence rattled him , in an iconic , albeit distasteful moment .  Van Nistelrooy would act revenge 13 months later , but for now Arsenal ' s streak , which began with an emphatic 6 1 win against Southampton following hat tricks from Pires and Jermaine Pennant on a late spring evening at Highbury , remained intact . Just .  Fines and bans were awarded to five Arsenal players after the ' Battle at Old Trafford ' ( not to be confused with the following year ' s Battle of the Buffet ) but their squad , spearheaded by Henry , went from strength to strength . The imperious Frenchman , who played in all but one of the unbeaten matches , scored 38 times and teed up 19 goals over the run .  Martin Keown , now a Sportsmail columnist , taunts Ruud van Nistelrooy for missing a penalty at Old Trafford  Things get ugly during the goalless draw as Arsenal defender Lauren ( right ) grabs Phil Neville by the throat  Patrick Vieira ( left ) points the finger at Van Nistelrooy after the Arsenal captain was sent off  Back to back victories at Anfield and against Chelsea at Highbury followed . Wenger ' s men then beat the Blues away to complete the league double over their title rivals . This was an era when Chelsea feared their London rivals . Ten years on and the boot is firmly on the other foot .  Vieira and Edu were on target at Stamford Bridge to extend their lead at the top to seven points . The title was all but won in February .  Good Friday provided Arsenal with the toughest test of their unbeaten run . After crashing out of the  Cup to United and Champions League to Chelsea in just six days , Wenger ' s men hosted Liverpool .  Dreams of a Treble were over , and their bid to become the only team to go through a top flight English campaign without defeat appeared in ruins , too . Michael Owen had helped Liverpool take a 2 1 lead at Highbury into the interval , and the mood at a sun laden Highbury was bleak .  Bergkamp ( left ) Arsenal scores against Chelsea at Highbury with Marcel Desailly and William Gallas helpless  But Henry single handedly pulled Arsenal from the abyss with one of the finest performances ever seen in the Premier League . Pires levelled for the Gunners four minutes after half time before the brilliant Henry gave the host the leads moments later .  Picking up the ball just inside the Liverpool half he terrorised and taunted the visiting defence before slotting past Jerzy Dudek and celebrating in front of the west stand . Cue wild scenes at Highbury . Panic over . Henry completed his treble with 12 minutes left .  Henry slots the ball past Liverpool goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek during the magnificent 4 2 victory on Good Friday  Henry celebrates his hat trick in a virtuoso performance that saw off one of Arsenal ' s toughest tests  The scoreboard says it all as Henry reflects on his masterclass in seeing off Liverpool almost single handedly  Arsenal secured the league with four games to spare at the home of bitter rivals Tottenham with a 2 2 draw before completing the campaign undefeated at home to Leicester . Paul Dickov gave the visitors a surprise lead , but Arsenal won 2 1 . History was made .  A 3 0 win at home to Blackburn near the beginning of the ensuing campaign saw Wenger ' s side surpass Forest ' s record with their 43rd undefeated match . ' We are unbeatable , ' the Arsenal faithful would sing , and they were right .  Jermaine Pennant ( left ) , Gilberto and Robert Pires ( right ) enjoy the win against Blackburn that broke the record  That was until they faced United at Old Trafford on October 26 , 2004 . Wayne Rooney , celebrating his 19th birthday , went down under a challenge from Sol Campbell . A dive ? Probably .  Van Nistelrooy exorcised his demons from 12 months previous , slotting home from the spot before Rooney converted from close range to secure a 2 0 win .  It was 49 and out for Wenger ' s side , and the end of a glorious run .  Wayne Rooney pounces to score past Jens Lehmann and seal the end of Arsenal ' s 49 game unbeaten run  Tempers flared during the clash at Old Trafford , which became known as the Battle of the Buffet  Arsenal ' s players argue with referee Mike Riley after his award of a penalty to Manchester United  ' When I look back now and see the quality of each player , that ' s when you realise it was exceptional , ' said Wenger on Thursday when asked about his Invincibles on the 10 year anniversary of the record being set . Indeed his team oozed pace , power , quality , team spirit and an excellent defence , too . They really did have it all .  Thirty three players contributed to obtaining 121 points from a possible 147 in a 77 week unbeaten stretch .  Go down to the Arsenal today , and they ' ll remind you of the feat : ' Forty nine , 49 undefeated , 49 , 49 , I say , 49 , 49 undefeated , playing football the Arsenal way . '  Living in the past ? Perhaps . But what a glorious past to re live .  Arsenal celebrate winning the Premier League title at the home of their bitter rivals , White Hart Lane  The glorious unbeaten run in numbers : Arsenal shared this infographic containing details of their record breaking 49 games   Monaco speculation taints Wenger ' s "" Invincibles "" anniversary  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
15255,15256,"New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady argues his point with line judge Mike Spanier ( 90 ) during the first half of an  football game against the New York Jets .  Foxborough , United States : Tom Brady and the New England Patriots brought the Miami Dolphins back to earth with a thud Thursday with a 36 7  victory that moved the Pats to 7 0 for the season .  Brady threw four touchdown passes , two of them to Julian Edelman , and Stephen Gostkowski kicked three field goals as the Patriots handed the Dolphins their first defeat since interim coach Dan Campbell took the helm .  Gostkowski has now booted 27 straight regular season field goals , breaking Adam Vinatieri s team record of 25 .  The Patriots scored in every quarter for the sixth straight game .  In addition to his two scoring throws to wide receiver Edelman , Brady connected with touchdown passes to tight end Rob Gronkowski and running back Dion Lewis , who delivered a strong performance in his return from an abdominal injury .  Brady connected on 26 of 38 passing attempts for 356 yards . It was his 69th 300 yard game and his 24th with four or more touchdown throws both ranking him third all time .  His 19th career game with at least four TDs and no interceptions was an  record .  Lewis ran for just 19 yards on five carries , but he caught six passes for 93 yards and the touchdown .  Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill was coming off a two game stretch that saw him complete an  record 25 straight passes .  But the Patriots defense was a different animal than those fielded by the Tennessee Titans or Houston Texans .  Tannehill was sacked five times , his Miami offense converting on just two of 11 third down attempts . Tannehill connected on 28 of 44 passes for 300 yards , but also threw two interceptions .  New England led 19 0 at halftime and Patriots running back Lamar Miller scored from a yard out to cap an 80 yard drive that opened the second half .  To make things worse for Miami , the Dolphins lost offensive tackle Ja Wuan James and defensive end Cameron Wake to injury . Wake was helped off the field and then taken by cart to the locker room after suffering an Achilles injury .  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
15260,15261,"A young woman with Asperger ' s syndrome has beaten the bullies to bag a place as a  finalist for the Miss Universe beauty crown .  Lauren Lovejoy , 24 , faced daily taunts that she was ' ugly and weird ' and was even pushed to suicidal thoughts .  But now she is one of 38 women competing to become the Great Britain representative for the Miss Universe title .  Lauren ( left aged 13 ) suffered horrendous bullying throughout her childhood but now feels she has proved her tormentors wrong by reaching the final of Great Britain Miss Universe competition ( right , Lauren today )  Lauren said : ' I never thought I ' d make it there was a point when I believed every bad word the bullies threw at me .  ' They broke my nose and shattered my confidence . In my lowest moments I thought I wanted to end my life .  ' I thought that I really was as ugly and bad as they said . '  Lauren , from Nottingham , entered the Miss Universe competition last year after seeing an advert online .  Following an interview she was over the moon to discover she had been selected as a finalist .  She said : ' The new opportunities I have been given through Miss Universe have opened my eyes now I feel fantastic .  The symptoms of Lauren ' s Asperger ' s syndrome made her a target for bullies at school ( left , age 9 , right , 10 )  ' When I ' m on stage it ' s like I take on a different role and I am this confident and sassy young woman .  ' I love to joke and laugh and I wanted that side of me to show .  ' So when I was selected I really felt a sense of achievement that they picked me because they must have really liked me . '  Model Lauren struggles to work in a conventional role due to Asperger ' s syndrome , which causes difficulties in social interaction and obsessive behaviour .  But finds the unstructured nature of modelling and singing a creative release from her symptoms of anxiety and stress .  Lauren said : ' I am very sensitive to sound and some smells too .  ' I can take things that people say the wrong way too and that can make me very distressed .  ' I like to have the right people around me who understand my needs and who I trust .  Lauren is now focusing all her efforts on preparing for the  heat of Miss Universe later this month  ' I ' ve had jobs before but they ' ve been a disaster . I never last very long .  ' But Miss Universe have been so supportive of my needs and I feel my confidence building all the time . '  Lauren lives with her partner Phil Brown , 43 , in the flat they share in Gamston , Nottingham .  He said : ' I ' m so proud of everything that Lauren has achieved so far .  ' She has a lot of people behind her and I really believe she ' s going places .  ' We want to properly launch her music career soon too . '  Lauren is now focusing all her efforts on preparing for the  heat of Miss Universe later this month in Cardiff .  Lauren says she finds the unstructured nature of modelling and singing a creative release from her symptoms of anxiety and stress  She is also an ambassador for the children ' s charity , Strong Bones .  She said : ' I want to help other children to achieve as much as they can after the finish school .  ' I want them to see me doing well after suffering terrible bullying and be inspired . '  Paula Abbandonato , National Director of Miss Universe  , said : ' Lauren ' s been a fantastic part of the line up this year .  ' She is a real character and we ' ve really enjoyed having her involved .  ' The work she does to raise awareness for Asperger ' s sufferers is a great thing  ' She encourages other girls not to let their insecurities or conditions define them . She ' s a real inspiration . '  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
15287,15288,"MELBOURNE, Fla.  —   Never let it be said that President Trump waits until the last minute. With just 1, 354 days until the next presidential election, Mr. Trump kicked off his   campaign here on Saturday with a boisterous,        rally that lacked only an opponent for him to run against. Gathering thousands of cheering supporters inside an airport hangar, Mr. Trump put aside the stress of Washington governing and returned to the campaign trail, where he reprised many of his   themes and lines from last year and drank in the adulation of the crowd. Buoyant and energized, he invited one fan onto the stage for a hug and even briefly turned over the microphone. “You’re all part of this incredible movement, this movement that we talk about so much, that’s been written about on the cover of every magazine all over the world,” Mr. Trump said in this Space Coast town 115 miles north of his    getaway. “It’s a moment that’s just sweeping, it’s sweeping across our country. It’s sweeping, frankly, across the globe. ” “People want to take back control of their countries,” he added, “and they want to take back control of their lives. ” With no Democratic challengers on the horizon  —   or anywhere near it  —   only a month after he took office, Mr. Trump focused instead on another favorite target, the news media, blaming journalists for any perception that his opening days in office have been less than smooth. “They have their own agenda, and their agenda is not your agenda,” he told the appreciative audience. “They could not defeat us in the primaries, and they could not defeat us in the general election, and we will continue to expose them for what they are, and most important, we will continue to win, win, win. ” He also assailed the appeals court judges who blocked his temporary travel ban, reading from a law granting the president wide discretion in setting immigration rules and chastising the court for not addressing it. He slammed Democrats for opposing his cabinet nominations vowed again to “drain the swamp” of Washington and promoted his   plans for overhauling the tax code, repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act, and building roads and bridges. “This will be change for the ages, change like never before, to pursue real peace, real stability and real prosperity,” he said. “We want to secure our borders and protect our workers, to rebuild our military and our infrastructure, to fix our schools and restore safety to our neighborhoods. ” He boasted about the soaring stock market and said a new spirit was evident in the country. “It’s going to be a new day in America,” he said. “You’re going to be proud again. Jobs are already starting to pour back in. ” For anyone who has missed the buzz of the campaign trail, including, almost certainly, the victorious candidate, it was a blast from the    past. Vendors sold the signature “Make America Great Again” red baseball caps. Supporters cheerfully chanted “ sucks” and “drain the swamp. ” Familiar rally songs by Elton John, the Rolling Stones and other artists were blasted over the loudspeakers. Mr. Trump talked about winning and assured the crowd that they could “believe me. ” This time, though, he came with an extra prop  —   Air Force One. The power and prestige of the presidency is unmatched, and when the    plane rolled up next to the hangar to the theme song from the Harrison Ford movie “Air Force One,” the crowd, estimated by the local police to have numbered about 9, 000, exploded. The president and Melania Trump  —   who later introduced her husband with the Lord’s Prayer  —   emerged from the plane to Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the U. S. A. ” Never mind that an administration official had told The Washington Post two days earlier that Air Force One would not be “used in the background as a prop. ” Mr. Trump was hardly the first president to do so. The difference is that most presidents are eager to appear to remain above politics for as long as possible. Mr. Trump, by contrast, filed his   papers on Inauguration Day. Asked by reporters on Air Force One as he flew here whether it was a little early to get back into campaign mode, he said: “Life is a campaign. Making our country great again is a campaign. For me, it’s a campaign to make America great again is absolutely a campaign. ” The fan Mr. Trump called onstage was Gene Huber, 47, of Boynton Beach, Fla. He was sitting directly in front of Mr. Trump, who said he had seen Mr. Huber speaking in support of him on television. At Mr. Trump’s invitation, Mr. Huber spoke at the lectern for about 40 seconds. In an interview on Saturday night, Mr. Huber, who grew up in Lake Ronkonkoma, on Long Island, said when Mr. Trump called him to the stage, “I was like, ‘Holy mackerel, this is happening. ’” Mr. Huber, a Republican who arrived for the rally at 4 a. m. said of Mr. Trump, “Everything he says, I know he’s going to do. ” It was clearly an energizing moment for a president who has shaken up Washington with a flurry of action on his campaign promises while absorbing significant setbacks. For all the enthusiasm in the hangar, Mr. Trump is struggling to win over the wider public. As of Friday, the Gallup poll put his approval rating at 38 percent, the lowest of any modern president so early in his tenure. Near the hangar, protesters yelled slogans and waved signs. At the end of his speech, Mr. Trump was clearly reading from prepared text as he talked about unity. “Let us move past the differences of party and find a new loyalty rooted deeply in our country,” he said. But he was at his most animated when in competitive mode. “We’re going to start winning again,” he said. “Believe me. ”",true,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
15291,15292,"New York City that great melting pot of diversity has an equally diverse set of opinions on Donald Trump, and asweblink discovered while walking through the city, there exists a strain of New Yorker who gasp! actually admires the man. Interview by Jeffrey Tousey; Audio by William Pierce; Director of Photography: Jeremy Elkin. Read more: Live Leak",fake,dataset,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,present
15296,15297,"With polished silverware still in the kitchen drawers and outdated toiletries sitting on a dusty dressing table , these incredible photographs show a perfectly preserved home that was abandoned by its owners decades ago .  From the retro patterned wallpaper to the well out of date food in the pantry , the dilapidated home in Ontario , Canada , is a remarkable time capsule .  An urban explorer called Dave made the stunning discovery while he was looking at abandoned properties in his home province and documented his findings on his website Freaktography .  ' The sight upon entering this house was eerie , breath taking and weird , ' he said . ' There is the usual smell of decay and years of abandonment that one comes to expect in this hobby . '  Dave found musical instruments , including a gramophone and a stereo system that would have been state of the art at the time , books and family photographs offering a tantalizing glimpse into the lives of the former occupants .  ' This family loved music ' : Dave found it ' unsettling ' to see so many personal possessions left behind in the living room . An acoustic guitar remains in its case on the coffee table , several record players sit atop an old lift top record player as well as a stack of vinyl records  The worst decayed room , pictured , in the abandoned house in Ontario , Canada , featured a red couch and two plush chairs . Dave says he keeps the locations of his finds secret so they can remain preserved  Dave found an acoustic guitar in the living room as well as a multitude of other music paraphernalia . ' Between the guitar , piano , recorder , harmonicas and the record players and eight tracks that I found , I could see music was obviously a huge part of this family ' s life , ' he said  A tiny television sits in the corner of one of the rooms , as well as a wooden bureau and display cabinet full of objects . Dave said : ' Very few of the abandoned houses you will encounter have all of the previous occupant ' s belongings '  A clock sits atop the desk , permanently stopped at 3 . 43 and other trinkets include mugs and candles . A china cabinet , left , is stocked with the essentials for entertaining guests with shelves full of plates , bowls , glasses and decorative teacups  Inside the drawers of the desk are two sets of still polished silver , but some drawers on the cabinets would not open after years of remaining closed . ' The sight upon entering this house was eerie , breath taking and weird , ' said Dave  Glasses and floral teacups ( one complete with a knitted tea cosy ) remain stacked on their shelves ready to be used . Dave discovered the perfectly preserved home while he was surveying abandoned homes in his home state  A shaving kit , once used by the man of the house , remains intact on a dirty dressing table , as well as shoe shine polish and jewelry cleaner  A fully stocked pantry , left , gives a glimpse into the eating habits of the family , with several packets of Jell O on the top shelf as well as cooking ingredients , including spices and baking powder and right , a china cat sits on a shelf in the kitchen  The main room in the house is dominated by the dining table , still with its table cloth and chairs in place and near it is a hutch with the cabinet and desk stocked with crockery and cutlery  Another living room , with paint and wallpaper starting to peel away , features a piano and a small table and chair set near the windows  In a bedroom , Dave found a dresser , inside which were lots of family albums . On top there with a photo of a small child in an old frame , a comb and a hairbrush . He said : ' It was an interesting scene that I really wanted to capture '  He also found a box stuffed with hats , jewelry , pictured , and photo albums . He said : ' I opened some but others I left over time when things stay in one place , they become a part of that place so moving a photo album meant ruining that photo album '  An open drawer shows illustrates tins and a pile of newspapers . Dave said : ' It was as though every single newspaper ever delivered to the house had been kept and placed into a box '  Dave said he found the bedroom almost impossible to shoot as it was so full of possessions . The family who lived in the house were clearly well read as shelves were piled high and in every nook of the house  Dave said : ' Each room upstairs is full of books , books on addiction , books about Jesus , books about war , books about peace and magazines , and then even more newspapers . ' Pictured , a woman ' s handbook on gynecology and one called ' Pornographics '  The study is packed wall to wall with books , papers and trinkets . ' In and around this desk were stacks of magazines and files and binders stacked to the ceiling , ' Dave said . ' Underneath and on either side were filing cabinets packed full of paperwork and bills and medical files '  A book about coping with death , left , sits on the bed , and right , the gramophone was concealed in a wooden box with a doily draped on it  Dave was amazed to discover an early 20th century gramophone , complete with a turn crank on the side , replacement needles and wipes to clean the records . He said : ' I was so taken aback that I didn ' t even think to drop the needle , turn the crank and let the music play from her speakers one more time this is my biggest regret '  A view from the top of the staircase leading into a bedroom , which contains a small  , and leads into another bedroom . In one of the bedrooms , Dave said he opened a dresser drawer to find it packed with neatly organized fur scarves and cuffs for coats  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
15300,15301,"Reuters) - An explosion at a textile factory in northwestern Turkey killed five people and wounded 16 others on Wednesday, the labor minister said, in what seemed to have been caused by a boiler, according to state media. The force of the explosion in the paint shop of the building caused the roof of the factory to collapse and left extensive damage to some nearby vehicles, footage from the scene, in the Gursu district of the northwestern Bursa province, showed. The state-run Anadolu news agency said a boiler caused the explosion, and officials were investigating what happened.  Initial reports from the area show that five workers have lost their lives and 16 people, including citizens who were in the factory s vicinity during the blast, were wounded,  Labour Minister Julide Sarieroglu said. She said the wounded were transferred to regional hospitals and that their conditions were not critical.  There are no risks at the moment, but it was a very big explosion that damaged the area,  Deputy Prime Minister Hakan Cavusoglu said. Sarieroglu said her ministry had started an investigation into the blast, assigning a delegation to evaluate the explosion.  ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,past
15310,15311,"Ferrari technical director James Allison believes Mercedes are again likely to lead the way in China this weekend .  Fears of another season of domination from Mercedes were blown away by a shock , yet deserved victory for Sebastian Vettel last time out in Malaysia .  It was the Maranello marque ' s first success for almost two years and at least offered hope to neutrals that reigning champion Lewis Hamilton and team mate Nico Rosberg will not have it all their own way .  Sebastian Vettel won the second race of the season with victory in Malaysia last month  Vettel saw off the challenge from Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg in Malaysia  In searing heat and high track temperatures the Ferraris of Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen were far kinder on their tyres , stopping only twice compared to the three trips to the pits for Hamilton and Rosberg .  This weekend ' s race at the Shanghai International Circuit , however , should favour Mercedes given the cooler climes than that of Sepang .  Allison is certainly not expecting back to back Ferrari wins and said : ' Our car has a pretty decent cooling package .  ' That allowed us to operate in the fierce temperatures like we experienced in Malaysia without having to open up the car .  ' The track was also rough and hot , which is hard for tyres , and we ' re fortunate the car goes well on its tyres .  Hamilton celebrates his win in Australia  ' Quite what problems were going on in Merc land I don ' t know .  ' But I ' m fairly sure we will have our work cut out in China to do as impressive a job as we did in Malaysia . '  As to whether Ferrari can stay the course with Mercedes and provide a season long challenge , for now that is too difficult to determine .  ' I don ' t know about that . I ' ll tell you at the end of the season , ' remarked Allison with a smile .  ' In Melbourne ( the season opening Australian Grand Prix ) Mercedes were very , very dominant , and we were better than we looked .  ' Even in free air we wouldn ' t have held a candle to them there .  ' There is a lot of work for us to do before we can head into every race weekend confident we can hunt for the victory from the first session of that weekend .  ' But we do have a fairly exciting development plan , and we ' ve a lot of performance to bring .  ' It should at least be an interesting season to see if we can close that gap so we are genuine contenders at any weekend . '  Crucially , and what may yet be a determining factor , Allison added : ' Normally over the course of a season being kind to your tyres is the best thing you can be . '  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
15319,15320,"Reuters) - Iraq s top Sunni Muslim politician said on Wednesday he would back Shi ite Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi for a new term as long as conditions such as bringing Shi ite militias under state control and balancing relations with other countries are fulfilled. Osama al-Nujaifi, Baghdad s Sunni Vice President, was in Washington for talks with senior State Department and congressional officials to discuss issues facing Iraq as the battle against Islamic State winds down. Iraq will hold parliamentary elections on May 15. Abadi, who has not yet said whether he would seek a second term, took over the premiership in 2014 from Nuri al-Maliki, a close ally of Iran. Abadi is credited with quickly rebuilding the army and defeating Islamic State in its main Iraqi stronghold, Mosul, last July, with strong assistance from a U.S.-led coalition. Asked whether he would ally with Abadi, Nujaifi told Reuters in an interview:  This is very possible ... We may be able to ally with him but that hasn t happened yet ... We need talks, but his (politics) are the closest to us in the next elections.  Nujaifi said Abadi had to  determine his position,  given that he belonged to the Dawa party, a Shi ite group with close ties to Iran.  He has to leave this umbrella and embrace the national umbrella and he can get lots of support,  Nujaifi said.  We support him but not without conditions. There must be political agreement based on mutual interests of Iraqis, an exit from sectarian politics ... controlling the weapons, and the balance in relationship with countries ... If we agree on these things, we can be together.  Nujaifi singled out the Iran-backed Shi ite militia forces known as Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMFs) as one of the biggest challenges in post-Islamic State Iraq, and said it would be impossible to hold elections if their weaponry was not brought under government control. Iranian-backed militia groups were formed after Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani called on Iraqis to defend their country days after Islamic State seized control of the northern city of Mosul. They played a major role in protecting Baghdad and pushing back Islamic State. But the militias have also created headaches for the government. Many of them have ties to Iran and have amassed vast military and political influence. Abadi has promised to rein in the militias but it is a daunting task and Iraqi and Western officials say he is too weak to take on the militias directly. Parliament approved a law late last year that will transform PMFs into a legal and separate military corps.  This of course shapes a threat to stability in Iraq if these weapons are not controlled and melded with the armed forces. If there s any political disagreement, it could turn into armed confrontations ... The only correct way is to meld these forces with the armed forces and to control them.   It is unreasonable to run the elections under the shadow of the spread of all these weapons or with the displacement of millions of people ... This will distort these elections.  Asked whether the Baghdad government had the will to remove them from Iraqi cities, he said:  I think that is natural, but they (PMFs) have influence in Baghdad .... Their role and their influence on the state is very big. It s not easy for the prime minister to force them to do something outside their attitudes,  Nujaifi said. Abadi declared victory over Islamic State in Mosul in the summer after a months-long battle, three years after the militants seized the city and made it the stronghold of a  caliphate  they said would take over the world. Nujaifi said Mosul would need at least $30 billion to rebuild the city and its infrastructure.  Estimates indicate that 70 percent of the city was destroyed or largely destroyed. The infrastructure, all aspects of life, water, energy, the hospitals are all destroyed.  ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
15337,15338,"Aaron ( Ross Marquand ) and the other Alexandria residents will face trouble inside and outside the safe haven in Season 6 , episode 5 of "" The Walking Dead . ""   Can Alexandria recover ? That s the question at hand when Season 6 , episode 5 of The Walking Dead airs on Sunday . Although episode 4 took  viewers a step back to explain Morgan s ( Lennie James ) backstory , fans will be thrown right back into the chaos of Alexandria in episode 5 , titled Now .  According to the synopsis , there is trouble inside and outside the gate . That seems like a direct hint at the horde making its way towards the community , however , the Alexandrians could have more on their plate . We already know that Morgan is holding one of the Wolves in a cell , but it s unclear if any more of them are hiding out ? or if there is a traitor in the group . And viewers can t forget about the dead bodies lining the streets . If the dead were not stabbed in the head then Alexandria could be dealing with walkers already within their walls .  Meanwhile , a second synopsis teases that the mood in Alexandria grows grim for the sheltered citizens . A sneak peek video of episode 5 enforces that .  In the video , Deanna ( Tovah Feldshuh ) climbs a ladder to a look out post that was marked by her late husband , Reg ( Steve Coulter ) . She appears to still be grieving the death of Reg while the rest of the community attempts to clean up after the attack . Deanna watches as some member load up bodies on a stretcher , but a conversation between Michonne ( Danai Gurira ) and Maggie ( Lauren Cohan ) distracts her .  She overhears Michonne telling Maggie about Glenn s ( Steven Yeun ) plan to split and start a fire to distract the horde . Michonne says that the fire never got lit .  We had to keep going , she confesses to Maggie . I m sorry . He said if he got stuck he d find some way to send us a signal .  Will Walking Dead fans finally find out what happened to Glenn in episode 5 ? Catch Now when it airs on  on Sunday , Nov . 8 at 9 p . m .  .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
15346,15347,"Thank you, President Trump, for those words of comfort and for denouncing those who promote violence and hatred  -Susan Bro, mother of Charlottesville attack victim Heather Heyer.Susan Bro, mother of Charlottesville attack victim Heather Heyer, thanks Pres. Trump for  denouncing those who promote violence and hatred  pic.twitter.com/E46OnwE5fW   News (@NBCNews) August 14, 2017PRESIDENT           SIDES! To anyone who acted criminally in this weekend s racist violence you will be held fully accountable. Justice will be delivered.     pic.twitter.com/AGjrt4Xnfr   This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) August 14, 2017SUSAN  S  isn t what the left wants The woman who lost her daughter is behaving better than those who are calling for more violence in the streets. Yes, the groups on the left are using Charlottesville as a launching point for even more violence and chaos Can you believe it?The Daily Caller reports: Far-left agitators are calling for an escalation in tactics following this weekend s violence at a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville.Many of the same groups that have organized violent demonstrations in Berkeley, California and elsewhere are now calling for an aggressive response to the violence in Charlottesville. Far-left  anti-fascist  (or antifa) figures are advising agitators to do the job that police won t: shutting down  fascists  and prevent them from organizing.Radical left-wingers have for months justified violence as a way to fight back against  fascism  and  racism    terms that they have applied not just to white nationalist fringe groups but to prominent figures on the right as well.A    A   (SOROS)               THEM:NOTE: The signs say  RefuseFascism.org Please go to this link to see what they re planning:   Charlottesville is just the beginning. If the alt-right can get away with murder there, none of us will be safe. We have to stand up to white supremacists, we have to shut down and chase out these bigots every time they try to organize, or else they will kill more people,  reads one poster created by anarchist group CrimethInc, a self-described  international network of aspiring revolutionaries. ",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,past
15355,15356,"Barcelona coach Luis Enrique believes the club ' s transfer ban is an ' invitation ' for players from their famed youth academy to push for a place in the first team .  The Catalan club have been renowned for their development of young talent through the ' Masia ' since the arrival in the late 1980s of coach Johan Cruyff , who put a special emphasis on nurturing home grown players .  Now they will have to rely on youth to replenish the first team after losing an appeal on Tuesday against a  sanction for an alleged breach of rules on the transfer of foreign under 18 players .  Barcelona boss Luis Enrique is welcoming the opportunity for youth team players like Munir ( left ) to impress  Xavi ( left ) has blasted the Court of Arbitration for Sport ' s decision to uphold a transfer ban on Barcelona  Luis Suarez was one of five players to move to Barcelona in the summer , but they now cannot sign any more  Thomas Vermaelen followed the former Liverpool striker to the Nou Camp after leaving Arsenal in the summer  That means they are unable to buy during the coming two transfer windows .  ' The decision didn ' t surprise us as it seemed likely , we would have preferred it to be different but that ' s the way it is , ' Luis Enrique told a news conference .  ' The squad though is sufficiently strong and this is a stimulus for the youth players . It is an invitation for them to show what they can do .  ' We are a club that likes to make use of the youth system although we do supplement it by buying players and now we can take advantage of this .  ' Barca B is set up to feed the first team with players and I am happy with the way things are going and what they are offering us . '  Barcelona lie second in La Liga , a point behind Real Madrid , who have played a game fewer . They face a difficult test on Sunday away to David Moyes ' Real Sociedad , to kick off a hectic month .  Enrique complimented the attitude of the Real Sociedad players following the arrival of manager David Moyes  ' We will go there looking for three points and with plenty of determination . We have drawn against them twice and lost three times in recent years so we know what we are up against , ' said Luis Enrique .  ' They are now showing more drive ( under Moyes ) although he has only been there for a few games . They are battling and pressing more and they are looking like they can start moving up the table .  ' We have four league games and four in the ( King ' s ) cup if we beat Elche so we are where we want to be at the moment . We are used to playing twice a week and we can do that now . It is important to be physically and mentally prepared after the break . '  ",true,text,test,Football,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
15369,15370,"Police from several forces have joined together to urge people to be on the lookout for a gang of crooks after a spate of robberies , thefts and other crimes which have left thousands of people penniless and terrorized many others .  Throughout the country people are noticing that they have less money in their bank accounts , some are being lured into ' dodgy ' business transactions which force them into mounting debt and even cause them to lose their homes .  Police believe that part of the gang target sick and disabled people . Numerous victims have reported being lured to offices for bogus medical examinations after which they have been robbed and left penniless .  Det Chief Insp . John Nicks claimed that the gang appear to be becoming more daring in their methods and diversifying their crimes and choice of victims . ' We have reports that families with children are being targeted and we fear that they may end up preying on the elderly too . '  Police believe that the gang are operating from a base in Westminster , London but may have contacts in the City , and are working to release details of various members of the gang who are identified by various first names .  They include ' Dave ' who appears to be the ringleader and who is believed to have various connections in Europe . ' George ' is believed to be assisting ' Dave ' and is good at siphoning off financial assets from bank accounts . There is also ' Iain ' who is believed to be preying on the disabled and police also believe he targets people who use Jobcentres .  Police also believe that there is also ' Boris ' described as around 6ft tall , blonde , who rides a bicycle and who has been known to attack black cab drivers . Detectives believe ' Boris ' has plans to become a ringleader and have warned members of the public not to approach him as he is considered highly dangerous .  Police are appealing for witnesses and any information but unfortunately don ' t have the funds to offer much of a reward .  ",satire,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,satire,True,no,no,negative,past
15370,15371,"Claims : Sexual allegations about 81  staff have been reported since the Jimmy Savile scandal came to light  Sexual allegations about 81  staff have been reported since the Jimmy Savile scandal came to light with almost half still working for the corporation .  New figures show that 40 of the people whose names have come up since October 3 are either current staff or contributors to the organisation .  The remainder have either died or no longer work for the  .  Data released as a result of a Freedom Of Information request shows that just ten of the cases involving present staff or contributors are still ongoing with investigations by the police or the   Of the 81 people about whom allegations have been made , 54 are physical with 23 still involved with the corporation .  The remainder relate to verbal and ' non physical ' incidents .  In all there have been 152 sexual allegations made about  staff and contributors , with 52 of those still involved with the organisation .  The Savile scandal erupted last year and sent the  into crisis over its handling of the issue .  Director general George Entwistle resigned as a result of the fall out only 54 days into the job .  Earlier this month the  and radio presenter Stuart Hall admitted indecent assaults on girls as young as nine and will be sentenced for his crimes next month .  Revealed : New figures show that 40 of the people whose names have come up since October 3 are either current staff or contributors to the organisation  The 83 year old was described as an ' opportunistic predator ' .  The  published a report earlier this month which revealed there had been 37 formal complaints of sexual harassment over the past six years out of a total workforce of 22 , 000 staff and 60 , 000 freelancers .  As part of the report being published the corporation also revealed that it will now drop gagging orders from all  contracts in the future .  There has been deep concern in the past that the  has been able prevent people speaking out about their treatment at the corporation as a result of these clauses in their contracts .  The Savile scandal sent the  into crisis over its handling of the issue . Director general George Entwistle resigned as a result of the fall out only 54 days into the job . Earlier this month the  and radio presenter Stuart Hall admitted indecent assaults on girls as young as nine and will be sentenced for his crimes next month  While the report said sexual  harassment was much less common than bullying , it did admit there was  evidence that some individuals working at the  had made ' unwanted and  inappropriate sexual advances ' to their colleagues or staff .  In some cases people had been given warnings about their behaviour but then gone on to repeat their harassment of the person .  Of the 40 current staff and  contributors , 25 have been reported to police with allegations against  15 of them not deemed to be criminal .  A  spokesman said the corporation had been ' appalled ' by the allegations of harassment and abuse that have emerged .  He went on : ' We have launched a series of reviews that aim to understand if there are any issues with the current culture of the  or the historic culture and practices from as far back as 1965 to see what lessons can be learned to prevent this happening again .  ' As part of these reviews the  is conducting extensive searches of its records and has asked  staff and contributors past and present to share any information that might be useful . Their contributions are vital and we are grateful for them . '  ",true,text,test,Other news1,US elections,satire,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
15389,15390,"This video image shows a gunman ? firing on a police car in West Philadelphia on Thursday night . ?  This video image shows a gunman ? firing on a police car in West Philadelphia on Thursday night . ?  A Muslim man who allegedly shot and wounded a Philadelphia police officer in a late night ambush told investigators he pledged his allegiance to Islamic State and carried out the attack in the name of Islam , police said .  Officer Jesse Hartnett , who chased and shot Edward Archer , the suspected gunman , even after being wounded , is expected to survive . Officials said the shooting was carried out with a stolen police gun .  The  is assisting in the investigation of the Thursday night attack , which comes at a time of heightened anxiety for law enforcement officials after terrorist attacks in Paris and San Bernardino . On Friday , White House officials launched the Countering Violent Extremism Task Force to focus on preventing such attacks .  Officers investigate after a police officer was injured in an ambush in Philadelphia .  Officers investigate after a police officer was injured in an ambush in Philadelphia .  The shooting ' s purported connection to the terrorist group Islamic State quickly raised fears among public officials .  This individual and any who would advocate similar acts are not representative of any religion ? they are thugs , and criminals , Sen . Bob Casey ( D Pa . ) said in a statement after the shooting . We have to take every appropriate step to safeguard our communities and ensure safety , while also targeting and destroying terrorists .  Rep . Ed Royce ( R Fullerton ) , chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee , cited the shooting in calling for a stronger plan from the Obama administration to destroy Islamic State .  As we saw in San Bernardino and now in Philadelphia , terrorists are using safe havens in places like Syria to plan and inspire strikes against the United States , Royce said .  Evidence is marked at the scene in Philadelphia where a gunman attacked a police officer . ?  Evidence is marked at the scene in Philadelphia where a gunman attacked a police officer . ?  But Philadelphia police said Friday that they didn ' t know whether Archer , 30 , of Yeadon , Pa . , who was wounded in the attack , had acted with any help .  The suspect ' s mother told news reporters that he had recently shown signs of mental illness .  Philadelphia ' s top police official said Archer doesn ' t appear to be a stupid individual , just an extremely violent one .  According to him , he believed the police defend laws that are contrary to the teaching of Islam , Police Commissioner Richard Ross said in a Friday news conference where officials showed still photos of the attack captured by a surveillance camera .  Hartnett ' s police cruiser was rolling down a street in West Philadelphia late Thursday night when Archer , who appeared to be wearing a long , light colored robe , started shooting from across the street , according to police .  An officer sits next to a displayed image of Officer Jessie Hartnett before a news conference in Philadelphia on Friday . Hartnett is expected to survive the Thursday night attack . ?  An officer sits next to a displayed image of Officer Jessie Hartnett before a news conference in Philadelphia on Friday . Hartnett is expected to survive the Thursday night attack . ?  Muzzle flashes apparently from the gunman ' s weapon could be seen in a surveillance video . Archer rushed toward the 33 year old officer ' s car , firing at least 11 shots with a 9 millimeter handgun at close range , Ross said .  My God , the way he ' s got his arm inside that vehicle . . . . He was trying to assassinate this police officer , Ross said .  Hartnett was shot three times in the arm , after which he got out of his car and pursued the gunman , shooting him in the buttocks as he ran away , Ross said .  I ' m absolutely amazed that Officer Hartnett is here with us today . . . . We ask that everyone keep him in your prayers , Ross said .  Hartnett is a Coast Guard veteran , the Philadelphia Inquirer reported .  ",true,text,test,American football,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
15408,15409,"Reuters) - Republican Senator Rand Paul said on Monday he will vote for a tax bill headed to the U.S. Senate floor for debate this week, settling questions about his support for the measure, although several other senators’ positions on it were still uncertain. President Donald Trump and Republican leaders in Congress want to pass tax legislation by the end of 2017. The House of Representatives has approved its own bill. Republicans control the Senate by a 52-48 margin, leaving little room for defections. Here is a list of Republicans whose votes could be pivotal to the bill’s fate. Paul, a fiscal hawk with a libertarian streak who sometimes strays from the party line, said on Monday he planned to vote for the tax bill, which was headed soon to the Senate floor. In a Fox News online opinion piece, Paul said the bill was not perfect and he would “prefer a larger cut,” but that he planned to back it because it achieved some of his goals and he could push for more changes next year. “I plan to vote for this bill as it stands right now,” wrote Paul, of Kentucky. Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin surprised colleagues earlier this month by becoming the first Republican to announce opposition to the tax plan. That earned him a telephone call from Trump. Johnson, formerly chief executive of a polyester and plastics manufacturer, said the legislation unfairly helps corporations over small businesses. But he has said he hopes changes could be made to win his support. Susan Collins, a moderate Maine Republican, has said she has qualms about Senate leaders’ plan to include repeal of the Obamacare individual mandate in the tax bill. The mandate requires people to buy health insurance or face a penalty. Collins said her staff’s research showed that for some middle-class Americans, higher insurance costs stemming from repeal of the individual mandate would outweigh the benefits of the tax cuts they would receive. She was among three Republicans who voted in July to block a Republican attempt to dismantle Obamacare, former Democratic President Barack Obama’s signature healthcare law. Senator Bob Corker, a Trump critic who has decided not to run for re-election, has not taken a position on the tax bill. As a deficit hawk, Corker’s main concern is red ink - the tax bill is expected to add $1.5 trillion to the national debt over 10 years. Corker and Trump have openly feuded in recent weeks, with Corker calling the White House an “adult day care center” after Trump attacked Corker repeatedly on Twitter.     Senator John McCain of Arizona, a maverick and former presidential nominee, says he will wait for the final version of the tax-cut bill before announcing his position. The war hero infuriated Trump when he joined Collins and Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska in voting against the Senate bill last summer to repeal Obamacare. McCain, who is still working after a diagnosis of brain cancer, has said he has almost no working relationship with  Trump and has criticized the administration. Murkowski of Alaska chairs the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and wants to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, or ANWR, to oil and gas drilling. That provides an enticement for her to support the tax bill. Her committee has passed legislation to open the refuge to oil drilling, and the measure is expected to be attached to the tax bill. But Murkowski voted against three attempts to dismantle Obamacare in the summer, so the combination of the tax bill with a repeal of the Obamacare individual mandate may give her pause. Senator Jeff Flake of Arizona, a vocal Trump critic who is not seeking re-election in 2018, has issued a statement saying he appreciated the effort to fix the tax code but was worried about the impact on the national debt. Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma, is a conservative Republican, like Flake. Lankford has been in talks with Flake and others about opposing the tax plan on the grounds that it would balloon the national deficit, Time magazine has reported. ",true,dataset,test,US elections,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
15409,15410,"Chemicals in make up , perfume and plastic containers could be behind a surge in the incidence of asthma in children , researchers warned yesterday .  Scientists have found that babies exposed to high levels of phthalates while in the womb are up to 78 per cent more at risk of the condition .  They think the chemicals may be causing foetuses ' airways to become more sensitive , making them susceptible to asthma in their childhood years .  The study says it is also worth considering cutting back on using any scented products cosmetics , perfumes , air fresheners and detergents ( File photos )  The academics are urging parents to reduce the risk by avoiding using plastic containers , perfume and heavily scented washing detergents .  Asthma rates in children in the  have increased by between two and three times since the 1950s and a similar trend has been noticed in other Western countries .  Researchers at the University of Columbia in New York measured the level of two types of phthalates butylbenzyl and di n butyl in the urine of 300 pregnant women .  The mothers were then given questionnaires when their children were aged five , six , seven , nine and 11 to determine if they had asthma symptoms .  The study , published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives , found that children born to women with the highest levels of butylbenzyl phthalate were 72 per cent more likely to develop asthma .  ' There are some simple steps families can take . Avoid using plastic containers and as much as you can store your food in glass jars in the fridge '  Those with the highest levels of di n butyl phthalate were 78 per cent more at risk compared to women with low levels . Dr Robin Whyatt , of Columbia University , said : ' These chemicals are very widely used in very high volume and they are not generally listed on labels .  ' There are some simple steps families can take . Avoid using plastic containers and as much as you can store your food in glass jars in the fridge .  ' Never microwave in plastic . It is also worth considering cutting back on using any scented products cosmetics , perfumes , air fresheners and detergents . '  She also suggested women check their make up on the internet for phthalates .  Around 5 . 4million Britons have asthma , including 1 . 1million children , and it causes up to 1 , 250 deaths a year .  Dr Samantha Walker , director of research and policy at the charity Asthma  , said : ' It is a complex condition and these new research findings need to be explored in much more detail . '  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
15424,15425,"Former Rangers manager Walter Smith has praised Stuart McCall for making an impact at Ibrox but he maintains Ally McCoist was given little chance of succeeding .  McCall has put Rangers in the driving seat for second place in the Scottish Championship and a place in the semi finals of the play offs after taking over from reluctant caretaker Kenny McDowall .  McCoist was put on gardening leave just before Christmas after handing in his notice following three and a half difficult seasons in charge under the chaotic reigns of the likes of Craig Whyte and then Charles Green and his allies . But his failure to win a cup competition and his team ' s style of play drew serious criticism .  Walter Smith ( right ) spent two spells in charge as manager of Rangers and has hailed Stuart McCall ' s impact  Smith ( right ) attended a John Hartson Foundation golf day to raise money for testicular cancer awareness  Smith was chairman for some of that period after accepting Green ' s offer to join the board a decision he soon regretted and insists the club was too badly run to ensure true success on the park .  Smith , who was attending a John Hartson Foundation golf day to help raise money for testicular cancer awareness , said : ' The guys worked with me for four and a half years there and did a great job for the club , and I was hoping they would get a good opportunity .  ' I got great support from Sir David Murray but it ' s not turned out that they have had the same support from the people who have been running the club . So it has been very difficult for them to show what they can do .  ' That ' s the crux of the matter , it ' s the circumstances they have been in that have caused them as much trouble as anything else .  ' I ' d be very surprised if anybody could show me a club that isn ' t well run , that are doing really well .  ' The problems have been well documented and now they have got to concentrate on doing what they do , and that ' s Rangers getting back to the Premiership first and foremost and then trying to settle into a position where they can get back to being a winning team . '  McCall played under Smith for seven seasons , winning six titles in the process , and the 67 year old was pleased to see the former Motherwell boss take over , despite his pain at the exits of former assistants McCoist and McDowall .  McCall was appointed Rangers manager in March until the summer as a replacement for Kenny McDowall  ' I ' m not happy to see it because it cost friends of mine their job , ' he said .  ' But that happens in football and when other people take over I am obviously pleased to see Stuart take over and I hope he does really well .  ' He has been brave enough to take the job until the end of the season . If he gets promotion , he will put himself in a very good position to get the job on a more permanent basis .  ' He has gone in there and got a reaction . That happens in football . It has happened to me and a whole load of other managers , when you leave and someone else comes in , they get a reaction .  Rangers have won five out of nine Scottish Championship matches since McCall ' s arrival at Ibrox  ' Performances have been brighter and hopefully he will keep that going until the end of the season . '  However , Smith has warned that Rangers fans might have to be patient in their desire to see the club competing at the very top of Scottish football , despite power now lying in the hands of the likes of Paul Murray and Dave King following last month ' s general meeting .  ' I ' m obviously happy to see everything at the club settling down , ' the former Scotland boss said . ' The lack of headlines would indicate that ' s the case .  ' The people that are running the club are just getting their feet under the table and finding out what they have to do to move the club forward . I think that ' s to be expected at this stage .  Smith did , however , open up about Ally McCoist ' s departure and admitted it wasn ' t easy to see  ' It will obviously take a bit of time but they will be able to handle that aspect of it . Everyone who is there now is there for the football club and that ' s a big , big thing .  ' To be fair , when I was involved on the Rangers board , it would have been different from any other boardroom never mind anything else .  ' I have been fortunate enough to be at Rangers for a long time and be there at successful times and it ' s not a period I can look back on with any great pleasure . '  ",true,text,test,American football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
15434,15435,"Las Vegas Declaring victory in Nevada ' s Republican presidential caucuses on Saturday , Mitt Romney again turned away from his  rivals and toward President Barack Obama .  With 71 of the votes counted , Romney held about 48 of the vote , while former House Speaker Newt Gingrich had 23 and Rep . Ron Paul had 18 . Former Pennsylvania Sen . Rick Santorum , who had largely bypassed the state , had 11 of the vote . Those numbers were gathered from vote counters at caucus sites across the state and the state ' s Republican Party .  See full Nevada results  Romney thanked supporters at his campaign headquarters in Las Vegas , telling them , "" This isn ' t the first time you gave me your vote of confidence , but this time I ' m going to take it to the White House , "" alluding to his win in Nevada in 2008 .  But then he turned his attention to Obama , saying Nevada has had enough of his kind of help in fixing its home mortgage crisis and that he failed at bringing down unemployment .  Entering the race as front runner , Romney had largely ignored his Republican rivals and focused on Obama . But as Gingrich rose to challenge him in polls , he was forced to address the other candidates in the race .  His victory speech was a one on one with Obama .  "" This president began his presidency by apologizing for America . He should now be apologizing to America , "" Romney told cheering supporters .  The only allusion to  opponents Romney made was when he told supporters that he was the only one who could fix the economy , "" unlike other people running for president . ""  Rather than the traditional post vote speech , Gingrich held a news conference in which he accused the Romney campaign of spreading rumors that he would drop out of the race , calling it "" their greatest fantasy . ""  Gingrich reaffirmed his commitment to stay in the race , saying , "" We will continue all the way to Tampa , "" where the Republican National Convention will be held in August .  Gingrich aides had said that he would outline a new campaign strategy that would be more positive . But while his tone with reporters was cordial , the message wasn ' t .  Although he called his opponent a "" Massachusetts moderate "" instead of a "" Massachusetts liberal "" as he has in the past , Gingrich said he believed he was the alternative to Romney , "" who has in his career been pro abortion , pro gun control , pro tax increase , and who ranks third from the bottom in creating jobs in the four years he was governor . ""  Gingrich downplayed the Nevada results , pointing out that Romney , a Mormon , did well in "" a very heavily Mormon state , a state which he carried in 2008 . ""  He said Paul has a "" substantial advantage "" in any caucus state because of his organization .  Gingrich said he wanted to run a more positive campaign , but that negative attacks were part of the game .  "" I stayed relentlessly positive in Iowa , and I lost by 22 points , "" he said . "" I think it ' s terrible the American system is reduced to negative ads , some of them false . ""  "" But it ' s a fact , if you ' re not willing to stand and fight , you have to get out of the race . ""  Gingrich said he intends to compete for the  nomination in every state and will be matching Romney in the polls by the Texas primary on April 3 .  "" In a few more weeks I ' ll be ahead in Gallup again , "" Gingrich predicted .  Romney ' s Nevada win makes him the first  candidate in this cycle to score back to back wins . The former Massachusetts governor appeared to win in the Iowa caucuses , but the contest was later awarded to Santorum when the vote was certified . Romney scored a big win in New Hampshire but was then stunned in South Carolina by Gingrich . Romney scored a 14 point victory over Gingrich and the rest of the field in Tuesday ' s Florida primary and entered Saturday ' s contest with a sizable lead in polls .  The caucuses were open only to the state ' s more than 470 , 000 registered Republicans . Nevada ' s 28 delegates will be awarded proportionately based on the statewide vote .  Polls leading up to the vote had shown Gingrich trailing far behind Romney . At one point , in the wake of his poor showing in the Florida primary , Gingrich advisers said he would concede the state and look down the road to more friendly states that vote in the March 6 Super Tuesday contests . But ultimately he chose to campaign in Nevada and didn ' t appear to make up much ground on Romney .  As the votes were being counted , a leading Romney backer in Nevada was calling for Gingrich to drop out of the race instead of continuing to divide the party .  Nevada Rep . Joe Heck , who has been closely allied with Romney since his 2008 presidential bid , said the results of the caucuses should be a wake up call for Gingrich .  "" I hope he takes the message that it ' s time to withdraw gracefully and not continue to divide the party , "" Heck told reporters in Las Vegas , shortly before the first caucus results were announced .  While Romney ' s campaign and his network of supporters have voiced concerns about Gingrich ' s threat to remain in the race for the long haul , there has not yet been a chorus of Republican leaders publicly asking him to drop out .  Heck was not as insistent , however , when asked if Paul should also bow out for the good of the party .  Paul should quit when it becomes apparent that there is "" enough critical mass in terms of delegates , "" he said , probably sometime after Super Tuesday .  Establishment Republicans fear that the longer the campaign goes on , the more the vitriol between Gingrich and Romney will result in a damaged nominee and give Democrats ammunition from Republicans themselves .  Gingrich isn ' t expected to do well in the contests in February , but he could rebound on Super Tuesday , where he ' ll find friendlier voters in contests in Georgia , which he represented in Congress , Tennessee , and Oklahoma .  The former House speaker ' s stunning victory in the South Carolina primary in which he erased Romney ' s double digit lead in polls two weeks before the vote to win by double digits propelled Gingrich to the lead in national polls . But Romney and groups that support him bombarded Gingrich with negative ads and attack stump speeches , questioning everything from his ethics to his mental stability , and toppled him going into Florida .  Asked Saturday night about the Romney campaign ' s tactics , Romney ' s son Josh said there were no regrets within the campaign about Romney ' s criticism of his rival .  Politics is "" a tough sport , "" Josh Romney said .  While Romney and Gingrich spent caucus night in Nevada , both Paul and Santorum are looking ahead to Tuesday caucus states Paul to Minnesota and Santorum to Colorado . Missouri also votes in a nonbinding primary on Tuesday .  Asked about how long his campaign could run , Paul said even if he wanted to drop out of the race ahead of the convention , he couldn ' t because there would be a "" strong rebellion with my friends . ""  "" But we ' re doing so well there ' s no reason to think about that , "" Paul added .  "" I expect to win the nomination , "" Santorum said . "" I feel very good about how it is going . This race is a long way from being over . ""  The Silver State could almost be considered home field advantage for Romney . He won the caucuses here four years ago in his first bid for the  nomination , grabbing 51 of the vote , far ahead of Paul , who was in second place at 14 .  Romney won the endorsement Thursday of real estate mogul and reality  star Donald Trump , who last year flirted with his own bid for the White House . Trump is a well known figure in Las Vegas and his outspoken criticism of Obama has made him popular with some tea party activists and grass roots conservatives .  The state ' s strong tea party movement should have been Gingrich ' s trump card in Nevada , but supporters seemed divided between Gingrich , Paul and Santorum who landed the endorsement of Sharron Angle , the tea party supported Republican Senate nominee who came close to unseating Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid in the 2010 midterm elections . The division of tea party supporters only helps Romney .  Gingrich started up operations in Nevada much later than Romney and has been playing catch up since . He does have some major allies in the state , including billionaire casino magnate Sheldon Adelson , who along with his family has contributed millions of dollars to an independent pro Gingrich super  .  The Silver State won ' t be in the rearview mirror of presidential politics for too long . Nevada is a battleground state in the general election , having voted for the winning presidential candidate 10 out of the last 11 elections . Obama beat McCain by 12 points here in 2008 .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
15444,15445,"You are here: Home / political cartoon / How  Staff Is Preparing For A Possible Hillary Presidency [Cartoon] How  Staff Is Preparing For A Possible Hillary Presidency [Cartoon] October 26, 2016  Robert Gehl asks if you remember back in 2001, when the Clinton’s backed a U-Haul truck to the rear-end of the White House and took off with a bunch of publicly owned furniture and other treasures?  Yeah… that was pretty embarrassing. Probably something you wouldn’t want to repeat.  But then again, you’re not Hillary Clinton.  According to another recently unclassified  interview, Clinton and her staff were seen removing furniture and lamps from the State Department offices early in 2009 as soon as she took office as secretary. Hillary was Secretary of State from 2009 to 2013.  The agent – who is now an investigator with the Department of Homeland Security – said he had no idea whether or not the items were ever returned to the taxpayers.  Back in 2001, after The Washington Post broke the story, the Clintons said they would reimburse the taxpayers $86,000 for the items they stole that were actually government property, LifeZette reports .  They also returned another $28,000 worth of furniture a few days later.  In addition to stealing all that furniture back in 2001, you’ll recall they even removed the “W”s from all the keyboards in a juvenile and childish stunt to upset the incoming administration of George “W.” Bush.  Theft of taxpayer items from the State Department were not the only revelations in the  interview, The Washington Examiner is reporting .  In its notes, the  writes: “Prior to Clinton’s tenure, being an agent on the Secretary of State’s protective detail was seen as an honor and a privilege reserved for senior agents. However, by the end of Clinton’s tenure it was staffed largely with new agents because it was difficult to find senior agents willing to work for her.”",fake,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
15447,15448,"Following 35 years of unplanned pregnancies , drunk driving , stabbings , suicides , gonorrhea outbreaks , and one student dropping acid and then falling off a bridge and suffering permanent brain damage , the Toronto District School Board has decided to close and demolish the Degrassi Community School , effective immediately .  "" Given the bleak , and often biblically tragic events that have befallen generations of Degrassi students , we cannot in good conscience keep this school open any longer , "" said Toronto superintendent Marilyn Chambers . "" For decades this school has taken bright young children and proceeded to put them through an unrelenting crucible of ' ripped from the headlines ' punishment . The cycle ends here . ""  Chambers went on to cite instances of school violence , various forms of assault , and teacher student "" banging "" all exponentially higher than the national averages . "" Degrassi has 375 more unexplained fires than all other Toronto schools put together , "" she added .  Degrassi principal Archie "" Snake "" Simpson agreed that the school had consistently produced poor to tragic academic outcomes for its pupils . "" Our current student council president was hazed , saw his transgendered brother killed in a car crash , was party to a murder , developed  , then became an underground cage fighter . And he ' s not even graduated yet ! ""  "" Burn this school down , "" he added solemnly . "" Burn it with fire . ""  Over the years , Degrassi students have tested off the charts for depression , anxiety , alcohol abuse , gambling addiction , and credit card fraud . "" The students at this school are seriously messed up , "" related Craig Manning , former student and recovering cocaine addict . "" The most popular song to ever come out of Degrassi ' s forsaken alumni is the Zit Remedy song whose main lyric is everybody wants something , they ' ll take your money , and never give up . "" ' Like , how depressing is that ?  Reached for comment , several other former students applauded the decision to demolish the school . "" I started from the bottom , now I ' m here , "" said Degrassi graduate Jimmy Brooks , 28 . "" ' Here ' being ' confined to a wheelchair ' , thanks to a relentlessly bullied former classmate who shot me in the spine . I ' m glad they ' re tearing down that dump . ""  Other former Degrassi survivors shared personal stories of tragedy including bullying , cyber bullying , eating disorders , STDs , and infidelity . Eyewitnesses even related tales of a former student , forced to walk naked through the cafeteria with only a fedora over his genitals , just so that he could raise enough money to purchase a used car .  At press time , Degrassi preschool was forced to expand capacity , in order to take care of the children of Degrassi high school students  ",satire,text,test,US elections,Sports/Other,true,satire,True,no,no,negative,past
15454,15455,"Reuters) - Republican lawmakers should follow their conscience on whether to support Donald Trump in November’s presidential election, U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan has said in an interview, reflecting the party’s unease over its White House candidate.  “The last thing I would do is tell anybody to do something that’s contrary to their conscience. Of course I wouldn’t do that,” the Republicans’ most senior elected official said in excerpts released on Friday of an  interview set to air on Sunday.  Some Republican leaders and lawmakers in the House of Representatives are struggling to get behind the New York businessman, who last month became the party’s presumptive nominee for the Nov. 8 election. After an initial delay, Ryan has said he will back Trump but he has also acknowledged deep differences with him. He denounced as textbook racism Trump’s criticism of a Mexican-American judge and has also criticized Trump’s proposal - reiterated after the  massacre of 49 people in a gay bar in Orlando on Sunday - to temporarily bar Muslims from the United States. As Republicans seek to keep control of both chambers of Congress, Trump’s comments on such issues have also worried some lawmakers concerned about their own election prospects, particularly in close races. All 247 House Republican seats are up for grabs in the election. Trump, who has welcomed support from Ryan, this week fired back at Republican leaders, telling them to stop speaking out against him or else risk him potentially running “by myself.” Ryan said earlier this week at his weekly press conference that he does not plan to withdraw his support of Trump, although they disagree on some key issues.  “I feel as a responsibility institutionally as the speaker of the House that I should not be leading some chasm in the middle of our party. Because you know what I know that’ll do? That’ll definitely knock us out of the White House,” Ryan said in the interview for NBC’s “Meet the Press” program. Trump’s embrace this week of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and potential gun control measures, in contrast to general Republican orthodoxy have also thrown conservative lawmakers.  Still, Republican leaders have to reconcile their unease with the fact that primary Republican voters opted for Trump. He has never held elected office before but won more than enough delegates to secure the party’s nomination at the Republican convention in July.  ",true,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
15458,15459,"Claudio Ranieri keeps pressure off Jamie Vardy ahead of crunch clash  Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri thinks comparisons between Jamie Vardy and Sergio Aguero are unfair as the two strikers go head to head in the top of table clash at Manchester City .  Vardy s exploits in front of goal this season ? he has 18 Premier League goals ? have been pivotal to Leicester s surprise title challenge and the 29 year old is in talks about a new improved contract to keep him at the King Power Stadium until 2019 . His existing deal expires in 2018 .  He heads to the Etihad Stadium top of the scoring charts , a position Aguero has often occupied since his arrival in England from Atletico Madrid four and a half years ago .  Ranieri said : Sergio Aguero , every year . Jamie just one . I hope he does it next season , next season , next season for us .    Troy Deeney blasts pathetic Paredes play act  Jamie is playing very well and he links very well with his team mates but he must improve .  Asked if there was any progress with Vardy s new contract , the Italian said : I don t ask . He trains well every day and this is okay .  This is normal , the strikers in every team earn more . Both Vardy and Aguero were on target again in midweek as Leicester maintained their three point cushion over City at the Premier League summit .  Vardy s two goals against Liverpool , the first a stunning 35 yard volley from the right side of the penalty area , gave Leicester successive wins for the first time since the week before Christmas , while Aguero netted in a 1 0 victory at Sunderland .  Ranieri reckons Vardy s opener ranks alongside Marco van Basten s stunning volley for Holland against  in the 1988 European Championship final .  He said : It s incredible what Vardy did . He watched the ball , watched the opponent and watched the keeper . It s amazing , fantastic .  I can put him with Van Basten when he makes a fantastic goal . I don t know if you watched ( Francesco ) Totti when he scored against Sampdoria ( in 2006 ) . They are amazing goals .  Tomorrow s clash at the Etihad Stadium sees the team with the best home record take on the team with the best away record and Ranieri , who could have recent signing Daniel Amartey available for the first time against City , is expecting an open game .  Both teams want to win , he said . They have to win , we have to win and enjoy . It is two different tasks . But I think it will be ( an open match ) .  City captain Vincent Kompany has stepped up his comeback from injury after returning to training with the rest of the squad .  The influential Belgium defender has been hampered by all too familiar calf problems this season and has not featured since an abortive comeback attempt against Sunderland on St Stephen s Day .  Kompany managed just nine minutes in that 4 1 Barclays Premier League victory at the Etihad Stadium ? his only action in City s last 19 matches .  Pellegrini is likely to give an update as he holds a press conference today .  That will come just four days after Pellegrini revealed he will be leaving City at the end of the season and the club announced he will be replaced by the highly coveted Pep Guardiola .  That dramatic development points to an exciting future for the club but there is still much to look forward to this season with Pellegrini s men still in contention in four competitions .  The club are hoping the early announcement of the changes will galvanise the side as they bid to wrap up this season in glorious fashion .  Football administration officer Brian Marwood told Sky Sports News : We are focusing on supporting Manuel and the team for the remainder of the season .  We have a lot of high profile games coming up and they come thick and fast in all competitions .  It is an exciting time also for the club and we want to focus on the now and we will leave the later for some time else .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
15466,15467,"admits it erred on play that gave Wizards crucial 3 pointer vs . Heat  The  on Tuesday acknowledged an officiating mistake on the play that ended with the Washington Wizards converting a crucial 3 pointer late in Monday ' s victory over the Miami Heat .  On the play in question , Wizards guard Bradley Beal appeared to travel before making a pass to teammate Gary Neal for a 3 pointer that gave the Wizards a 108 103 lead with 67 seconds remaining in what turned into a 114 103 Heat loss .  The officiating crew went to video review on the play , but only to see if Neal had released the shot in advance of the expiration of the 24 second clock , which he did . A potential traveling call is not subject to review or reversal in such a situation .  However , the  , in its nightly "" Last Two Minute Report "" issued Tuesday cited the referees for an ""  "" ( incorrect no call ) noting , "" Beal (  ) loses the ball while in the air without a defender making contact with the ball and catches it upon landing . ""  It was the only call in the final two minutes of the game that the  deemed incorrect .  Anger over the play , and what he later believed was an erroneous five second inbounding violation on teammate Tyler Johnson , resulted in two technical fouls and an ejection for Heat forward Chris Bosh with 28 . 1 seconds remaining .  "" It ' s obvious to me it was a missed call , "" Bosh reiterated after Tuesday ' s practice . "" You can ' t travel . It ' s part of the game . ""  Teams often send video of such plays to the league for clarification beyond what is publicly issued in the last two minute reports .  "" On very rare occasions do we , "" coach Erik Spoelstra said . "" We try to build a no excuse attitude . I ' m not saying we never have . And I ' m not saying we won ' t on this one .  "" I mean , clearly , it was a mistake . I was more focused on things we could have done better to get ourselves in a better position to win going down the stretch . ""  On the review of the Beal Neal play , the  ' s ruling was , "" After communicating with the Replay Center , the ruling on the court that the shot by Neal (  ) occurred prior to the shot clock expiring , was upheld . ""  As for the five second call against Johnson with 32 . 4 seconds remaining , Spoelstra said he did not attempt to initially signal for a timeout because it was clear to him that Johnson had made such a gesture in advance of the five second limit to inbound .  "" I trust that Tyler was making that motion , "" Spoelstra said . "" It was very loud . From my vantage point , it looked like Tyler was calling it . He was well aware of the timeout situation . ""  The  ruled the five second call was correct , without noting an attempt by Johnson to signal timeout .  "" ( Detectable with stop watch ) Johnson (  ) does not inbound the ball within 5 seconds , "" was the  ' s official comment .  Bosh was adamant about that play , as well .  Of Bosh ' s two technical fouls and his ejection , the league listed in each case , "" All Technical Fouls are reviewed by Basketball Operations and the League Office . ""  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
15472,15473,"Serena Williams shrugged off injury concerns to win her first match of the new  season in convincing fashion in Brisbane Sunday .  The 15 time grand slam champion pulled out of an exhibition tournament in Thailand last week but showed she had fully recovered from a recent foot surgery with a 6 2 6 1 win over fellow American Varvara Lepchenko 6 2 6 1 .  "" My foot didn ' t hurt today , "" a Williams told the official Brisbane International website .  "" I was a little nervous , but I was completely fine . ""  Williams finished 2012 in ominous form , winning Wimbledon , the U . S . Open and the season ending  Championship , as well as taking double Olympic gold in London .  It was a return to her very best after an 18 month layoff through injury and illness , but she is only third in the world rankings due to previous inactivity and results .  The two women above , top seed Victoria Azarenka of Belarus and Russia ' s Maria Sharapova , have both received first round byes for the tournament on the Gold Coast , which also hosts an  Tour event .  In other action Sunday , former Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova made an impressive start with a 6 3 6 4 win over Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro .  Poland ' s Urszula Radwanska beat Tamira Paszek of Austria 2 6 6 0 6 2 , while home hope Jarmila Gajdosova shocked world number 16 Roberta Vinci of Italy 4 6 6 1 6 3 to set up a clash with second seed Sharapova .  Meanwhile , the elder sister of Serena Williams , seven time grand slam winner Venus Williams , played a key role in a 2 1 win for the United States over South Africa in Perth .  Williams , who has battled injuries and illness , came from a set down to beat Chanelle Scheepers 4 6 6 2 6 3 in the opening rubber .  Kevin Anderson beat John Isner in straight sets to draw the South Africans level before the concluding mixed doubles .  Williams and Isner combined to Anderson and Scheepers 6 3 6 2 to secure victory in the mixed team event .  In the other match on the second day of competition , Spain beat France 2 1 .  Jo Wilfried Tsonga put France ahead as he beat Fernando Verdasco 7 5 6 3 , but Anabel Medina Garrigues leveled it for Spain with a 6 3 6 2 win over Mathilde Johansson .  Once again the mixed doubles proved the decider and Medina Garrigues and Verdasco paired to see off Johansson and Tsonga (  ) 6 3 6 3 .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Economy,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,past
15502,15503,"Chart Of The Day: Ratio Of Household Net Worth To Disposable Income At Pre-Crisis High By David Stockman. Posted On Thursday, November 3rd, 2016    David Stockman's Contra Corner is the only place where mainstream delusions and cant about the Warfare State, the Bailout State, Bubble Finance and Beltway Banditry are ripped, refuted and rebuked. Subscribe now to receive David Stockman’s latest posts by email each day as well as his model portfolio, Lee Adler’s Daily Data Dive and David’s personally curated insights and analysis from leading contrarian thinkers.",fake,news,test,Other news2,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
15505,15506,"A Georgetown University associate professor had a month-long meltdown after a Muslim woman explained why she voted for President-elect Donald Trump.Asra Q. Nomani, a former Georgetown journalism professor and Wall Street Journal reporter, wrote an op-ed in The Washington Post Nov. 10 explaining why she, as a Muslim woman and  long-time liberal,  voted for Trump.  I support the Democratic Party s position on abortion, same-sex marriage and climate change,  Nomani wrote.  But I am a single mother who can t afford health insurance under Obamacare. Here is a portion of Nomani s op-ed explaining why she s supporting Trump:A lot is being said now about the  silent secret Trump supporters. This is my confession   and explanation: I   a 51-year-old, a Muslim, an immigrant woman  of color    am one of those silent voters for Donald Trump. And I m not a  bigot,   racist,   chauvinist  or  white supremacist,  as Trump voters are being called, nor part of some  whitelash. In the winter of 2008, as a lifelong liberal and proud daughter of West Virginia, a state born on the correct side of history on slavery, I moved to historically conservative Virginia only because the state had helped elect Barack Obama as the first African American president of the United States.But, then, for much of this past year, I have kept my electoral preference secret: I was leaning toward Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.Tuesday evening, just minutes before the polls closed at Forestville Elementary School in mostly Democratic Fairfax County, I slipped between the cardboard partitions in the polling booth, a pen balanced carefully between my fingers, to mark my ballot for president, coloring in the circle beside the names of Trump and his running mate, Mike Pence.  WPJust prior to the election Nomani explains why she s voting for Trump:C. Christine Fair, a previously  friendly colleague,  went on a 31-day screed against Nomani spanning across Twitter and Facebook. According to Nomani s Dec. 23 follow-up complaint to the university, the  Peace and Security Studies  professor called her a  wretch,   clueless dolt  and a fame-monger.Fair also compared Trump to Adolf Hitler and asserted that Nomani s vote for Trump  helped normalize Nazis in DC.  She didn t clarify if she was referring to Trump supporters or actual Nazis marching the streets.She again attacked Nomani Dec. 6 with  an open letter  on Facebook, in which Fair told her to  f*ck off  and    HELL. It s unclear why Fair announces that she s  a slut. Nomani told The Daily Caller News Foundation that Georgetown professor Bruce Hoffman replied to her original Dec. 2 complaint on Dec. 3. He told her he forwarded her complaint to professor Irfan Nooruddin. Nooruddin is the faculty chair of Georgetown s School of Foreign Service.Nooruddin told Nomani in a Dec. 4 email that,  I shall follow up directly with Professor Fair.  Fair posted her Facebook rant about Nomani two days after Nooruddin said he would speak with her. Additionally, she threatened Nomani in an email Dec. 6 with  legal action.   Your attempt to silence my opinion or force a dialogue by involving my employer is unacceptable and any further action on your part to involve Georgetown will be met with legal action,  Fair wrote.  Your social media and email appeal to my employer with the intent or threat of damaging my employment status is a form of cyber bullying, which will not be tolerated.   Daily Caller ",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
15550,15551,"Email   Wednesday on 800  radio’s “The Tom Roten Morning Show,” Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) said polls showing Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton with a lead over Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump were “designed to suppress turnout.”  Paul said “You know, I think sometimes polling is done to dampen election turnout. So when Trump says the thing’s rigged, I’m not sure exactly what he means and I’m not sure I always agree with him. But I do think that when we say over and over someone can’t win, that is a form of rigging in the sense that it is designed to suppress turnout.”  He added, “The polls are put out, you know to make it either look closer than it is or to make it look like Democrats have a better chance. And I think it’s done by design to try to dampen turnout.”",fake,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,present
15556,15557,"Washington A famous French painting stolen during World War I by the German Army was returned to the government of France by U . S . officials on Thursday . The 1876 Jules Breton work is called "" A Fisherman ' s Daughter Mender of Nets "" or to the people of France it ' s "" Une Fille de Pecheur Raccommodeuses de Filets . ""  In 1918 the German army confiscated that painting and others from the Musee de Douai in the city of Douai and transported them to Belgium . The following year the Belgium government went to return all the French works of art , but the "" Fisherman ' s Daughter Mender of Nets "" was missing .  Spring forward to 2010 and French officials alerted Interpol that the painting might have been imported by a gallery in New York City . U . S . Immigration and Customs Enforcement investigators worked the case , concluded the painting in New York was the same one stolen from France more than 90 years ago and seized it .  The painting , which is worth an estimated 150 , 000 dollars , was handed over to the French ambassador to the United States during a repatriation ceremony in Washington .  did not provide details about how the painting reached the gallery in New York or where it might have been in the decades since it was stolen .  "" Returning a painting to a museum is a significant contribution to the celebration of our cultural heritage and a gift to all future visitors who will enjoy the work of art , but it is also yet another symbol of Franco American cooperation , "" said French Ambassador Fran ois Delattre in a written statement . "" We are celebrating today a gesture of friendship by the United States toward the French Republic . ""  The U . S . Attorney ' s Office for the Southern District of New York worked on the case . "" One of the very few ways that we are able to redress the awful legacy of war is to return stolen art to its rightful owners so it can be shared and enjoyed , "" said U . S . Attorney Preet Bharara . "" In this case , it took nearly a century , but it is nonetheless extremely gratifying .   does numerous investigations into stolen art or cultural artifacts and has helped repatriate many other items to various nations . "" We remain committed to combating cultural heritage crimes , which are one of the oldest forms of organized cross border illicit activity , "" said  Director John Morton .  ",true,text,test,American football,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
15558,15559,"Let this sink in The word has been out for some time now that the  borders are open. Now we have the President of Panama giving an even bigger free pass to   to come to America. We are going to be Europe soon Obama is making sure of it Panama promised to help hundreds of migrants who have crossed its jungle border from Colombia to carry on toward the United States.President Juan Carlos Varela on Tuesday said Panama would make an exception to its immigration restrictions for migrants who have recently crossed into Panama s Darien jungle. The border will remain closed to irregular migrants, but those that are using these points to cross and have already reached our territory will be given humanitarian assistance so they can continue on their way,  he said. Panama will not allow anyone who has crossed into our country to die on our territory,  he added, in a public speech.Around 800 US-bound migrants, most of them from Haiti, Africa, Asia and Cuba, are in dense jungle on the Panama-Colombia border, Varela said Friday.He described it as  another migration crisis. A further 2,500 are stranded in Panama s northern neighbor, Costa Rica, since the next country on the trail, Nicaragua, has tightened immigration controls.Colombian authorities say they have deported thousands of migrants trying to reach Panama from its northern territory.Varela said last week that many of the migrants were Haitians who had gone to Brazil after a 2010 earthquake devastated their country.Brazil s current deep recession has driven them to try to get to the United States through Central America. Via: france24",fake,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,fake,fake,True,no,no,positive,present
15570,15571,"Qatar ' s government says it ' s investigating complaints that sprinklers and alarms weren ' t working during a fire at an upscale Doha shopping mall that killed 19 people , most of them children in a nursery .  The fatalities at the Villaggio shopping mall included seven girls , six boys , four teachers , and two other adults , the Persian Gulf monarchy ' s interior ministry said Monday . Rescuers were unable to reach the nursery from the inside and had to break into it from the rooftop , Health Minister Abdullah bin Khalid Al Qahtani told the state news agency  .  The government has set up a committee to investigate "" the causes and circumstances "" of the blaze ,  announced Monday night . The agency quoted Brig . Gen . Othman al Duhaimi , the operations chief for Qatar ' s civil defense agency , as saying alarms went off in some shops , and that some of the pipes that carried water for the sprinklers may have been leaking and that those issues would be addressed in the investigation .  "" When I got a little bit closer , I realized the smoke was just increasing and people were still shopping . And the smoke kept getting heavier and heavier , "" Wigton said . She said she left when the smoke became "" too much . ""  "" There were no sprinklers , and there was nothing that would tell somebody that something was wrong , "" she said .  Built in 2006 , the mall advertises itself as "" the newest and the largest entertainment center in Doha . "" The Venice themed complex features gondola rides down an indoor canal , an artificial sky , a 13 screen movie theater , a theme park , skating rink and a bowling alley .  Qatar ' s interior minister , Sheikh Abdullah Bin Nasser Bin Khalifa Al Thani , said the civil defense office reviews safety standards for commercial buildings before they grant a license .  "" The investigation will clarify all the circumstances of the incident and find out the shortcomings and question those who are responsible in order to tackle the matter in the future , "" he said in remarks carried by  .  Along with the children and teachers , two would be rescuers died in the blaze , Interior Minister Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani said in a statement posted on the ministry ' s Facebook page . Another 17 people were injured , including four children , but most of them were firefighters , he said .  Several of the dead were from Qatar ' s expatriate community . Four were Spanish nationals , a spokeswoman for Spain ' s Foreign Ministry said Monday .  A three year old French child died in the blaze , France ' s foreign affairs ministry said .  And New Zealand Prime Minister John Key said it was "" likely "" that three of the dead were triplets , estimated at between two and three years of age , from "" a New Zealand family . ""  Key said a consular official based in the Saudi capital Riyadh would soon go to Qatar "" to support the family , "" while the children ' s grandparents were also heading there as well .  "" Obviously , there are some very serious questions that will need to be answered , "" said Key , who did not identify the children or their parents . "" But at the moment , we ' re really just trying to wrap around all the support we can for a family that will be grieving . ""  Al Thani said everyone was believed to have been accounted for late Monday .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
15572,15573,"The gentle town of  was confronted with a most Worrisome and Shocking sight the day before last , one owing to the sudden appearance of Wyfe and Child Bearer   from the Interior of her Home .  Defying all Reason ,  was observ ' d to exit into the Open Air , though no Man had instruct ' d her to do so , no Domestik Task required her to be out of doors , and no sign of Suffocating Fire had surfaced from her modest Dwelling .  On lookers , their Scalps scratch ' d raw by the confusion , said that  set forth unaccompanied into Towne , as if that were an entirely Natural act , and in no way Suspicious or   .  Upon reaching the center of Towne ,  ' s behavior only grew more troubl ' ng , once meeting the gaze of a Butcher as though he were an Equal , twice stopping to read a Windowe Notice , and four times allowing her countenance to rise upward and express an emotion that could only be described as Satisfaction .  It is also fear ' d that during her Journey , the Mischievous Woman , paused hither and thither , and in a manner suit able only to those of the masculine persuasion , began to make pointed Observations and formulate Opinions of Her Own Mind !  More ominous than her quiet reflection , however , was the manner in which  seemed to carry her own Bodily Person .  The Head and Chin were rais ' d in a fashion that which lent her an air of Confidence and Guilt less Comfort , while profane    were permitt ' d to accumulate about the upper lip and the back of the Neck .   was also witness ' d  to be Heavy With Child at the time of her excursion , an offense that left many a passer by unable to extract the very Words from their Tongue .  It is still not known what Nefarious Force drove this once respect able Woman from her Home and into the    , but those with the grave misfortune to have crossed her foot path say she is capable of almost anything , and perhaps even Logic .    was Reprimanded , Disowned and Hang ' d until Dead after returning to her place of Residence .  ",satire,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,fake,satire,True,no,no,neutral,past
15576,15577,"After scathing criticism from the son of slain Sen . Robert F . Kennedy , police in Los Angeles , California , have apologized for including the clothes the senator was wearing when killed in an exhibit of high profile homicide cases .  The clothing a shirt , tie and jacket , with what appears to be bloodstains on the shirt was removed from the exhibit , "" Behind The Scenes : The  Homicide Experience , "" at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas , Nevada .  In addition , Los Angeles District Attorney Steve Cooley and Police Chief Charlie Beck , in an open letter Thursday , apologized to any other victims ' family members who might have been offended by the other items in the exhibit , running Tuesday through Thursday at the California Homicide Investigators Association ' s 2010 conference .  "" Based on the feedback we have received , it is now clear that a few of the items on display have offended some crime victims ' families , "" the letter said . "" We have both been to hundreds of murder scenes in our law enforcement career and we have consoled many family members . It was never our intent to cause grief to victims of crime or their families . ""  In a statement issued last month , the  had billed the exhibit as "" a glimpse into some of the most notable homicides and critical incidents that occurred in Los Angeles over the past 100 years . ""  "" This is an opportunity for homicide investigators from all over the country to get together , to share ideas , to share best practices and to talk about some of the most famous cases in Los Angeles history , as well as their current cases . ""  But in an opinion piece in Wednesday ' s Los Angeles Times newspaper , Maxwell Taylor Kennedy , son of the late senator , called the display of his father ' s clothing "" a cheap bid for attention . ""  "" The chief of police and the district attorney took my father ' s blood soaked clothing and displayed it , as part of a macabre publicity stunt , "" he wrote . "" It is almost incomprehensible to imagine what circumstances would have led to a decision to transport these items across state lines to be gawked at by gamblers and tourists . It is demeaning to my family , but just as important , it is demeaning to the trust that citizens place in their law enforcement officers . ""  The exhibit also features evidence associated with the death of Marilyn Monroe , the 1963 "" onion field "" case in which  Officer Ian Campbell was slain , the O . J . Simpson and Charles Manson cases , and the so called "" Black Dahlia "" murder , according to the  statement announcing it .  Family members of some victims in those cases told "" Larry King Live "" the  should have notified them about the exhibit .  "" From my perspective , it ' s very disturbing , "" said Debra Tate , sister of actress Sharon Tate , slain along with six others in 1969 by the Manson family killers . "" Number 1 , I didn ' t get any notice that this was going to occur . But these are very personal artifacts to me . These are things that bring back horrible memories , not only for myself , but other Manson family victims . ""  The items include ropes used in the murders of Tate and others , and a fork used to stab one of the victims , said retired  Sgt . Glynn Martin , the curator of the exhibit .  "" We certainly try to concern ourselves with the thoughts and concerns of victims , and certainly our hearts go out to them , "" Martin told King . "" . . . Likewise , we have an obligation , both as a museum and then the bigger one as the police department , to train , educate and inform officers and the public about people that do this particular job of investigating people that have lost their lives . ""  Debra Tate said she can see the educational value , and might consider seeing the exhibit , but "" I think a little bit of notice for people to prepare themselves would have been very , very nice . ""  Also featured are the bloody gloves from the Simpson trial and a watch cap collected as evidence , Martin said . Simpson was acquitted in 1995 of killing his ex wife , Nicole Brown Simpson , and her friend Ron Goldman .  "" Had we been given a little bit of notice , it would have been easier to avert your eyes , "" Goldman ' s sister , Kim , told "" Larry King Live . "" "" . . . I think there is an educational value , and I understand that . "" But , she said , "" it just comes back to sensitivity . ""  "" If we ' ve offended anybody , certainly we extend our apologies to them , "" Martin said . "" But the intent here is to inform and educate , with the idea that we ' re going to serve a greater public good . ""  The exhibit opened to the public Wednesday , and "" thousands of guests have stood in lines for up to two hours to glimpse Los Angeles ' history , "" said the letter from Cooley and Beck .  "" A number of the exhibits show evidence that was collected during various well known incidents , and they were carefully designed so visitors would gain a better appreciation for the tragedy of murder and the difficult jobs law enforcement detectives have in solving often very complicated cases , "" the letter said . "" Murder is the absolute worst thing one human being can do to another and the displays were designed to provide a unique insight into the sacrifice of victims and their families as well as the emotional toll murder takes on homicide detectives and the district attorneys who prosecute the cases . ""  "" Homicide is by nature horrific , but the entertainment media often portrays it as sterile and benign , "" the letter said . "" When people see the reality of murder , it becomes an unthinkable act . ""  The exhibit "" was designed to be educational and show the public how murder cases are very carefully investigated , "" the letter said .  Kennedy was a New York senator running for president when he was shot to death in June 1968 at Los Angeles ' Ambassador Hotel , shortly after declaring victory in California ' s Democratic presidential primary . His killer , Sirhan Sirhan , is serving a life sentence at a California prison .  In his op ed , Maxwell Kennedy said that he had contacted Beck and that he was pleased the chief had agreed to remove the items .  "" When I called to express my surprise and disappointment , the chief maintained to me that hanging my dad ' s bloody shirt from a mannequin in a casino was part of an effort to train detectives , "" he wrote . "" Perhaps he believes that , but to me it seems like a cheap bid for attention . It is almost like a traffic cop inviting motorists to slow down and take a good look as they go past a tragedy . ""  The California Constitution guarantees crime victims and their families will be treated with dignity and respect , he wrote . And as a former assistant district attorney , Maxwell Kennedy said , "" I understand that proper storage of property and legal evidence is a critical part of the judicial process . ""  He said he requested the return of his father ' s clothing nearly 10 years ago , and the district attorney ' s office refused , but he was promised the items would be treated with care and kept out of the public view .  Beck , he wrote , should remember that "" such items are personal property , entrusted to the state ' s care , not to be exploited . He relies on crime victims to prosecute virtually every criminal . He cannot long succeed if he continues to put victims ' pain on display for publicity . ""  ",true,text,test,US elections,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
15579,15580,"For a man who had never used a computer until last year , Dan McIntosh has blazed an extraordinary path to becoming a Facebook sensation all for his stunning photography showing off life in rural Australia .  The outback cook has now launched a book titled ' Outback Stations ' detailing what ' real ' life is like in Australia , featuring photographs from the people who work and live in some of the toughest conditions in the country .  Dan , known affectionately as ' Cookie ' , has been feeding hungry workers in woolsheds and mustering camps for the past 30 years , and has spent much of his life as a wanderer in the Northern Territory .  The rural cook has now launched a book titled ' Outback Stations ' detailing what ' real ' life is like in Australia  Dan , known affectionately as ' Cookie ' , has been feeding hungry workers in woolsheds and mustering camps for the past 30 years  His colourful and earthy life was something he was keen to share with his family and friends , and so the well loved foodie started a Facebook page to post photographs of his life to .  ' Never in a million years would you think that it would become a book . Just incredible . It ' s hard to believe , ' said Dan .  ' I ' ve been a cook for nearly 36 years , ' said Dan .  ' It all started when I was 15 . I was working in Queensland at a property called Kiagara . The old cook went out for a big night , got locked up in the jailhouse and never came back , '  ' So the job was in . I was only 15 . '  His colourful and earthy life was something he was keen to share with his family and friends , and so the well loved foodie started a Facebook page to post photographs of his life to .  The page quickly took off , surprising and delighting Dan as more and more people were keen to share their own photos and experiences of living in the outback .  ' I had 1000 followers after a week , 40 , 000 after three months . I have 114 , 863 followers at the moment from all over the world , ' he said .  ' City people also wouldn ' t have any idea what it ' s like living in the country . We live under a tin roof and sleep on the ground . '  The beautiful and raw photographs quickly drew the eye of Sydney based publisher Brigitta Doyle , who was instantly riveted by the images on the Facebook page .  ' It ' s incredible , so many Australians don ' t know what it looks like . City people often don ' t recognise that the photos are of Australia if you don ' t tell them what it ' s like , ' said Dan  ' I go out to rodeos and race meets and photograph the real people from the country . '  More than 32 million people have now viewed the site . Dan believes that part of the attraction is the fact that the page shows ' the true outback ' .  ' It ' s incredible , so many Australians don ' t know what it looks like . City people often don ' t recognise that the photos are of Australia if you don ' t tell them what it ' s like , '  ' City people also wouldn ' t have any idea what it ' s like living in the country . We live under a tin roof and sleep on the ground . '  Thousands of others began adding their own photographs to the Facebook page , detailing what everyday life was like for them .  The beautiful and raw photographs quickly drew the eye of Sydney based publisher Brigitta Doyle , who was instantly riveted by the images on the Facebook page .  ' They ' re just people sharing the parts of their day that make them happy or make them sad . And I think that ' s really powerful . I just thought Dan ' s really special , and what he is creating is really special , ' she told  Landline .  ' They ' re just people sharing the parts of their day that make them happy or make them sad . And I think that ' s really powerful , ' said Brigitta Doyle , the book ' s publisher  Outback Stations was released in September , and has taken off , with many Australians responding to the reality of outback Australian life as shown through the lens of those who live there .  As a pictorial celebration of the real outback , Dan said that he was determined not to edit the pictures digitally .  ' I don ' t like doing all that photoshop stuff , I want to see the true photo . I don ' t think photoshop can be better than the real thing , ' he said .  ' I ' ve had no photography training . Even the big camera I have now , I wouldn ' t know what half the buttons do , '  ' I press a button and if the photo has taken properly then I ' m lucky ! '  ' I go out to rodeos and race meets and photograph the real people from the country . '  Dan said that one of the hardest part of putting the book together was choosing the right photographs to be included .  ' We made a competition for people to send photos in of their properties , so we could show off stations all around Australia ' s outback , ' said Dan .  For the hardworking cook , it has been a long road but an astoundingly quick success .  ' Never in a million years would you think that it would become a book . Just incredible . It ' s hard to believe , ' said Dan .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
15590,15591,"Doha has been awarded the right to host the 2019 World Championships after beating off competition from Eugene and Barcelona .  The  council voted in favour of Doha following final presentations from all three cities at the Fairmont Hotel in Monaco . It is a case of second time lucky for the capital city of Qatar after it was edged out by London to host the 2017 event .  Athletes compete in the men ' s 3 , 000m steeplechase at a Diamond League meeting in Doha in May  Doha will now stage the World Championships three years before the country is set to host the football World Cup in 2022 .   ' s decision to stage the World Cup in Qatar has drawn considerable controversy , with a recent report clearing both the Arab country ' s bid for 2022 and Russia ' s plans for 2018 being questioned by chief ethics investigator Michael Garcia , who announced he would appeal against the ruling last week .  One of the major sticking points over Qatar staging football ' s biggest showpiece have been the high temperatures in the region , but the Qatar Olympic Committee ' s senior advisor Aphrodite Moschoudi reassured the council during Doha ' s presentation that this will not be a problem for the World Championships .   last week controversially upheld their decision to award the 2022 World Cup to Qatar  Moschoudi , who explained the championships would be staged from September 28 to October 6 in 2019 , said : ' There are two great things about these dates . First the temperature in Doha at this time of year is no different to several recent World Championships .  ' Average temperature at that time of the year is even lower than temperatures we have at our Diamond League meeting every May .  ' Second , it would allow us to introduce the innovation of staging the championships as a fantastic grand finale to the season , which we know is something you often discuss . '  Moschoudi also highlighted that the refurbished Khalifa International Stadium , which is central to both the plans for 2019 and the 2022 World Cup , will give organisers the opportunity to use cooling technology if necessary , adding : ' But we don ' t think you will need it . '  An aerial view of the Qatari capital of Doha where the 2019 World Championships will be held   Qatar World Cup situation ' ludicrous ' Auclair  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
15611,15612,"Well , it ' s not often that a humble country road sign gets mentioned on the floor of the House of Commons . But one particular example has been drawn to the attention of no less grand a figure than the Rt Hon William Hague  .  On the face of it , the story reported in the Mail the other day about a Somerset road sign , which , thanks to mad council bureaucracy , has remained hidden in the undergrowth alongside the A38 for two years , looked as though it could be a candidate for Red Tape Lunacy of the Year .  As the sign ' s owner , Somerset County Council , limply explained , it couldn ' t send anyone out to restore the sign to its proper position because the council would first have had to consult nearly two dozen ' statutory consultees ' for permission to do so .  When tackled on the issue by a Somerset  , Mr Hague , the Leader of the House of Commons , agreed this was plain daft . He told Tessa Munt ( Lib Dem  for Wells ) , the council ' s attitude did seem ' fairly barmy ' .  A Somerset road sign has remained hidden in the undergrowth alongside the A38 for two years thanks to mad council bureaucracy  But the more one looks into this sorry story , it seems Mr Hague didn ' t appreciate the half of it . The fact is that the word ' barmy ' doesn ' t begin to do justice to the idiocy of what has been going on in the county in which I happen to live and which , undoubtedly , is also happening all over Britain .  For a start , the sign if one could see it where it lies , hidden in the bushes is one of some importance .  It was originally put up to warn traffic of a potentially dangerous turning from a minor side road into the busy main A38 between Bristol and Taunton .  There had been several serious accidents along this stretch of road , and the purpose of erecting the sign was to alert drivers to the turn off to two small villages and make sure they watched out for vehicles emerging from the side road into the flow of traffic .  When the sign fell off its metal posts two years ago , it should have been a very simple matter to put it back in place .  As Ms Munt observed after being told of the problem by locals and visiting the site herself : ' All it needed was for someone to hoick the sign out of the undergrowth where it had fallen off its posts and use four clips to pin it back up . '  But , inevitably , in a country increasingly dragged down by jobsworths and bureaucracy , such common sense was not taken into consideration by the dead hand of officialdom .  The council ' s response was that it couldn ' t dream of carrying out such a simple task until it had been given the go ahead by a long list of ' consultees ' the various public and private bodies deemed by law to have a potential interest in the matter .  It claims it has to do this under a combination of you ' ve guessed it ' health and safety ' legislation , and rules laid down in the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 .  But when the council sent Ms Munt a full list of the ' consultees ' , she could scarcely believe her eyes . They included a whole range of major utilities , from Bristol Water and Wessex Water to  Power ( based 100 miles away in Basingstoke ) .  House of Commons leader William Hague ( left ) called the situation ' barmy ' after Tessa Munt , Liberal Democrat  for Wells , raised the issue in the House of Commons  There were two separate departments of National Grid : one for electricity , the other for gas . Also included on the list were  Openreach , Vodafone and Orange two separate departments of Network Rail Tata Communications , based in Watford and Virgin Media , based in Birmingham . What on earth was going on here ?  Of course , one can understand the need to consult such bodies whenever it is necessary to dig a hole that might interfere with their pipes or wires .  Indeed , that is precisely what the New Roads and Street Works Act covers with respect to works requiring the digging of holes more than ' 77 mm ' deep .  But what , for heaven ' s sake , could the lifting of a roadside sign out of a Somerset hedgerow have to do with the organisation in charge of our national railway network let alone mighty international corporations based as far away as Birmingham and Watford ?  It seems that the council ' s ' Street Works Department ' took upon itself the task of drawing up its own list of organisations that it thought were necessary to consult .  It then lamely conceded that it did not actually have to consult every single one of those 22 organisations before putting up that road sign again .  ' On average , ' it said , ' we only have to consult 12 or 14 . '  Even so , the hassle involved in contacting all 22 firms was enough for Somerset County Council officials to put the case of the ' Incredible Vanishing Sign ' firmly at the back of their ' pending tray ' .  In fact , as a Somerset council taxpayer along with my neighbours I have long known that our council ' s highways department is notorious for its reluctance to keep its road signs in good order .  For years , the main signpost in our little village was allowed to become so rust covered that its lettering became illegible .  In the end , my son , Alex , who lives in London , took matters into his own hands during a visit and went out with some paint and a brush to make it look good as new again .  The council isn ' t always so pathetically slow to act , though . A few years back , the residents of many Somerset villages were amazed to see teams of workmen plastering every conceivable roadside and lane with spanking new 30 mph speed limit signs .  As a result , one village reported it now had 30 signs along just 200 yards of road .  Our own village was decorated with 22 of them , including two on such a sharp zig zag bend in the centre of the village that not even Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton could have got round it at more than 5 mph .  But when I asked the council how much all this sign mania was costing at a time when it had raised our taxes by twice the rate of inflation they were strangely coy .  I was firmly told by the ' portfolio holder ' of the ' Environment and Transport Department ' that we couldn ' t be allowed to know how much they were pouring into this scheme as ' there is a degree of commercial sensitivity with regard to this information ' .  In other words , the council is quite happy to take our money , but refuses to tell us how it is spending it .  Since then , it seems little has changed with our local county council ' s casual approach to the hard earned cash they extract from those of us who live here .  In August , it was revealed that Somerset ' s director of children ' s services , Peter Lewis , was being paid 318 , 000 a year for working just a four day week , making him the highest paid council official in the country .  He had come to work in Somerset from the North London borough of Haringey , where he had replaced the disgraced Sharon Shoesmith , who was sacked after presiding over the Baby P scandal , only to be awarded 600 , 000 in compensation .  Last month , we learned that Mr Lewis himself has now been sacked by Somerset County Council , in advance of an Ofsted report giving his department its lowest possible rating ' inadequate ' for the second year running .  Much the same charge might be levelled at the feeble officials of Somerset ' s highways department for their hopeless attitude to the maintenance of road signs an incompetence that is , sadly , so typical of clipboard carrying municipal jobsworths all over the country .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,past
15616,15617,"The liberal billionaire donor just called out Donald Trump for being a  con artist  who threatens democracy.Conservatives fear George Soros. For decades they have painted him as the bad guy who somehow controls the government behind the scenes.It s a right-wing tall tale, of course, meant to scare other conservatives into staying in line rather than using their brains to decide who to vote for.It s not often that Soros speaks out, but when he does it is powerful because his experience as a Jewish child in Nazi-occupied Hungary continues to resonate. I am an 86-year-old Hungarian Jew who became a  citizen after the end of World War II,  Soros wrote in an op-ed on Wednesday.  I learned at an early age how important it is what kind of political regime prevails. The formative experience of my life was the occupation of Hungary by Hitler s Germany in 1944. I probably would have perished had my father not understood the gravity of the situation. He arranged false identities for his family and for many other Jews; with his help, most survived. Soros  story is especially important now as countries across Europe move to the extreme right-wing as white nationalists once again aim to grab absolute power. They ve even managed to grab power in the United States through Donald Trump. And Soros warns that democracy is in danger.I find the current moment in history very painful. Open societies are in crisis, and various forms of closed societies   from fascist dictatorships to mafia states   are on the rise Democracy is now in crisis. Even the US, the world s leading democracy, elected a con artist and would-be dictator as its president. Although Trump has toned down his rhetoric since he was elected, he has changed neither his behavior nor his advisers. His cabinet comprises incompetent extremists and retired generals.He then predicted what the United States faces under Trump s regime.[T]he  will be preoccupied with internal struggles in the near future, and targeted minorities will suffer. The  will be unable to protect and promote democracy in the rest of the world. On the contrary, Trump will have greater affinity with dictators. That will allow some of them to reach an accommodation with the US, and others to carry on without interference. Trump will prefer making deals to defending principles. Unfortunately, that will be popular with his core constituency.In short, dictators around the world, especially Vladimir Putin, will have more freedom to pursue their evil agendas without being challenged by America. Our leadership on the world stage will be greatly diminished as nations like Russia and China take advantage of Trump s ineptness.America faces a four-year long disaster that could become permanent if Republicans have their way.Of course, conservatives are lashing out at Soros in response because his name is a trigger for them.@georgesoros Jan 20th comes around the search warrant is going to be issued & enjoy Russia & Putin dick in your mouth @realDonaldTrump  Jimmy Taouil (@JimmyTaouil) December 28, 2016@georgesoros @OpenSociety happy to see your petulant rant! Hope Trump is the nail in the coffin for your failed socialist globalist  pic.twitter.com/8t0fJdKbGo   (@OurtownU) December 29, 2016@georgesoros Ha! How dare you post anything! You are a criminal,a hater,an enemy of freedom,democracy!! And we in the republic of the   antony donavan (@donavan_antony) December 25, 2016@georgesoros @OpenSociety Everything George Soros says he means the opposite he s the definition of evil and he s proud of it.  Who s Next (@ThomasYarduk) December 29, 2016@georgesoros @OpenSociety Just go to a hospice home, George. We are onto your one world govt plans. #  Jon #MAGA? (@jgriner7) December 29, 2016@georgesoros @OpenSociety Finally Soros will get what he deserves from Trump Admin. Jail for you George.  Ben Dover (@BKossucare) December 29, 2016Clearly, Soros hit paranoid conspiracy theory-obsessed conservatives with the truth where it hurts the most so they are now whining about it. Now we only have to wait for Donald trump to throw a tantrum.Featured Image: Wikimedia",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,past
15619,15620,"Saying she ' d just heard her husband "" pleading for his life , "" the wife of Alan Henning delivered her own plea to  on Tuesday , as well as a slap at the extremist group for threatening to kill the British aid worker who ' d only gone to Syria to "" help his Muslim friends . ""  In a message released by the British foreign office , Barbara Henning said that she had received an audio file with her husband ' s voice , but hasn ' t been able to contact those holding him .  "" Islamic State continue to ignore our pleas to open dialogue , "" she said .  So without the chance to talk to his captors confidentially Barbara Henning instead made made another public pitch for her husband ' s life .  Barbara Henning noted the widespread sentiment voiced by Muslim leaders around the world calling for Alan ' s release . They include Shaykh Haitham Al Haddad , a judge on the Shariah Council in London , who has said that "" whatever your grievance with American or British foreign policy , executing this man is not the answer . ""  "" I have seen Muslims across the globe question Islamic State over Alan ' s fate , "" Barbara Henning said . "" The voices of the people have spoken out loud and clear . ""  How many more Western captives is  holding ?  Similar to what she ' d said in a message Saturday , Barbara Henning said that Alan had gone to the region not to join one side or the other , or to spy for a certain group but to do what he could to improve the lives of people in the region .  A taxi driver from near Manchester , England , Alan Henning was part of a team of volunteers that traveled to Syria in December to deliver food and water to people affected by the Middle Eastern country ' s devastating civil war . He was abducted the day after Christmas by masked gunmen , according to other people in the aid convoy .  "" He was working with Muslims to help the most vulnerable within Syria . Nothing has changed , "" Barbara Henning said . "" He went to Syria to help his Muslim friends deliver much needed aid . ""  Henning ' s friends plead with  to let him go  Barbara Henning said she ' d been told that a Sharia or Islamic law court had found Alan Henning "" innocent of being a spy and declared ( him ) to be no threat . "" Why , then , would  not "" abide by the decisions of their own justice system ? "" she asked .  "" We are at a loss why those leading Islamic State cannot open their hearts and minds to the facts surrounding Alan ' s imprisonment and why they continue to threaten his life , "" she said . "" Please release Alan . ""  Yet  hasn ' t shown any mercy yet to its captives , at least the ones it has trotted out before cameras .  This summer , the group beheaded American journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff gruesomely showing their killings in videos posted online .  then claimed its first British victim , aid worker David Haines , according to video that appeared online on September 13 .  Henning appeared kneeling in that last video , with an  militant standing menacingly by his side .  The families of Foley , Sotloff and Haines all issued public pleas for their loved ones ' lives , but to no avail .  Barbara Henning on Tuesday voiced her frustration that her husband ' s captors won ' t even allow her to make a case to them directly . She noted that she and her representatives have tried reaching "" out to those holding Alan , "" but they haven ' t gotten a response .  Wife of captive Alan Henning begs  to let him go  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
15629,15630,"Washington President Obama announced Thursday that the federal government will spend 8 billion developing a nationwide high speed train system an investment the White House says is needed to help spur long term economic growth .  The investment , to be made through a series of state grants , will be funded through the government ' s 862 billion economic stimulus package .  Overall , projects and planning involving the rail corridors will take place in 31 states , according to a White House statement .  The program "" will help accelerate job growth in an economy that is already beginning to grow , "" Obama said at a town hall at the University of Tampa in Florida .  "" There is no reason why other countries can build high speed rail lines and we can ' t , "" Obama said .  More than 30 rail manufacturers have agreed to establish or expand U . S . operations if they are hired to work on the high speed rail network , the administration said .  The president first mentioned the program in his State of the Union speech Wednesday night . The administration initially released an outline for a national high speed rail network last April .  Each of the corridors identified by the administration last year are between 100 and 600 miles long .  The program is "" a long term venture in which states will need to plan projects , purchase and lay track , build and assemble equipment , and construct or upgrade train stations , tunnels and bridges , "" the statement said .  In addition to the 8 billion mentioned by Obama , the plan also includes 1 billion a year for five years in the federal budget "" as a down payment to jump start the program , "" the White House said .  Train corridors in the program include :  San Diego Los Angeles San Luis Obispo in California  Oakland Sacramento in California  Portland Eugene in Oregon  Seattle Portland in Washington and Oregon  Chicago St . Louis in Illinois and Missouri  St . Louis Kansas City in Missouri  Minneapolis St . Paul Madison in Minnesota and Wisconsin  Madison Milwaukee in Wisconsin  Milwaukee Chicago in Wisconsin and Illinois  Cleveland Columbus Cincinnati in Ohio  Detroit Pontiac Chicago in Michigan , Indiana and Illinois  Tampa Orlando in Florida  Raleigh Charlotte in North Carolina  Washington Richmond in the District of Columbia and Virginia  Raleigh Richmond in North Carolina and Virginia  New York City Albany Buffalo in New York  New York City Montreal in New York and Quebec , Canada .  Boston New York Washington in Massachusetts , Rhode Island , Connecticut , New York , New Jersey , Delaware , Maryland , and the District of Columbia  Brunswick Portland in Maine  Philadelphia Harrisburg Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania  Springfield East Northfield in Massachusetts  New Haven Springfield in Connecticut and Massachusetts  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
15648,15649,"Nawaz , army chief head to Saudi , Iran to mend rift , was a news headline from yesterday that ought to be music to Pakistani ears for more reasons than one . The two are off to Saudi Arabia on Monday and then onward to Iran on Tuesday in an effort to diffuse heightened tensions between the two rivals after Saudi Arabia executed Nimri and the Saudi consulate in Tehran was stormed by the Iranian public in response . The rivalry for the leadership of the Islamic world and dominance of the region between the two ideological states , one Sunni and the other Shia , has already caused many fault lines to open with resultant death and destruction in several countries including Syria , Iraq and Yemen etc .  The fact that Pakistan s civil and military leaderships avoided becoming embroiled in Yemen after the Saudis put tremendous pressure on Pakistan , despite ministers from the  also hurling twitter threats at Pakistan at the time in support of their  senior partner , was a huge confidence inspiring development for Pakistanis . Once again , the recent unilateral announcement by Saudi Arabia of Pakistan being one of the 34 or 36 country coalition against terror took Pakistan by surprise , such is Saudi Arabia s arrogance . But once again , Pakistan s military and civil leaderships navigated the choppy waters skillfully whilst remaining on the same page , and got away with bog standard diplomatic language without any new military commitment . It goes without saying that sharing intelligence etc . where Daesh is concerned is common sense and should not inspire suspicion or fear , even if it is being done with Saudi Arabia .  But the two Sharifs travelling together in an attempt at rapprochement between  and Iran is good news , not just because two good Samaritans are off to do a good deed such that sectarian strife may be doused and further spread of Sunni Shia conflict may be contained . The real joy for the Pakistani polity lies in the fact that this is the umpteenth example of the military and civil leaderships being on the same page and being willing to work together in harmony .  A few weeks ago just after  Modi s visit to Lahore , I had asserted in these pages that the controversy in the media surrounding Mr Modi s visit was not necessarily the  s work , and that one needed to widen the traditional lens through which one looks at civil military relations that there were reasons to believe that General Sharif was on board and driving the peace wagon with  Sharif that the military was not a monolith and that boyzes within the boyzes could be trying to sabotage something they didn t agree with .  Then Pathankot happened and most observers declared the talks and bonhomie between India and Pakistan were as good over ? that Pakistan , as a state , was back to its old tricks . I made a categorical judgment : that Pakistan would do something different this time , because there is something different this time because  really has turned direction , even if it cannot control all its erstwhile proxies that talks will not necessarily derail .  Within days Pakistan government made some arrests of Jaish e Mohammed leaders and sealed their madrassas . The response from India was positive in the extreme , at least when compared with knee jerk reactions of the past . Ministry of External Affairs of India (  ) gave out a series of statements welcoming measures taken by Pakistan and reposing confidence and hope in Pakistan government s intent to bring perpetrators to account . The looming Foreign Secretaries level talks scheduled for Friday January 15 were not cancelled abruptly .  Instead , Pakistan and India decided to announce rescheduling of  level talks at the same time and in similar language , signaling great diplomacy and great messaging : the message being there s no acrimony , we are working and deciding things together , not firing salvos at each other .  One of the most constructive comments of the  was that a possible reason India Pakistan FSs had rescheduled talks was possibly to move beyond the shadow of Pathankot . But the most telling aspect of India s reaction was reflected in  spokesperson s words , Jab miya biwi razi , tau kya kare ga qazi in reference to the plan for the foreign secretaries of the two countries to meet in the very near future by mutual consent and desire . This roughly translates to mean that if two parties are agreed upon something , third persons really don t matter .  Meanwhile , the National Security Advisors of both countries are said to have been in almost daily contact since the Pathankot attack , and they were said to have met on Thursday , a day before the  talks were to have taken place to work out a plan to carry forward a dialogue in face of not only Pathankot , but several other attacks since relations began to improve . Both countries consulates in Afghanistan were attacked subsequent to the Pathankot attack ( supposedly by their respective boyzes ) , and an attack on a polio prevention center in Quetta was also being alleged to have the Indian hand in it .  However , this was the first time in living history that leaderships of both countries stayed the course of talks instead of letting recriminations fly immediately accompanied with calling off the dialogue and peace process .  What bigger evidence could there be of the  supporting the peace initiative with India in letter and spirit , than India s faith in Pakistan s sincerity to curb terrorism against her from its own soil ? India has never given any weight to a Pakistani civilian government s commitments because it believes the military to be in charge . If now India is willing to go along with Pakistan s promises and commitments , it means she believes the Pakistan military to be on board .  It is another matter , and was a focus of much mirth on twitter , as to what or who India was pointing at when the  spokesperson spoke of the Qazi ( third person ) . My guess is it s the militants who are growing distracted with the increasing cooperation between the two countries and hence increasing their attacks to somehow derail the peace process . If India really thought  was the Qazi , it wouldn t be displaying such warmth , reasonability and bonhomie .  And this is what brings one back to the joy over the joint visit to the  and Iran . It is but another affirmation of the  being supportive of the foreign policy initiatives of the government , not only in letter but also in spirit .  The writer is a human rights worker and freelance columnist . She can be contacted at ? gulnbukhari gmailweblink . Follow her on Twitter ?  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
15653,15654,"Copy this code to your website or blog  Hillary Clinton on Friday dismissed as "" pathetic "" a threat from a conservative lawmaker to impeach her on her first day as president if elected , a view she said must be "" good politics with the most intense , extreme part of Republican base . ""  The Democratic presidential front runner was also forced to defend her husband ' s record on civil liberties issues including same sex marriage in a wide ranging , exclusive interview with  ' s Rachel Maddow . The interview was set to air Friday evening at 9 p . m .  on  .  Clinton laughed when Maddow confronted her with the threat from Alabama Republican Rep . Mo Brooks to try to depose Clinton on "" day one "" of her hypothetical presidency .  "" Isn ' t that pathetic ? "" the former secretary of state said with a smile . "" It ' s just laughable , it ' s so totally ridiculous . "" She characterized it as one of many  efforts to win over "" the most intense , extreme part of their base . ""  Maddow questioned Clinton on several fronts , including Syria policy , the future of the Veterans Administration , and what Maddow described as a personal concern that the Clintons have surrounded themselves with too many old friends who would want to "" fight your wars again . ""  Maddow ' s toughest questions addressed Bill Clinton ' s legacy on civil rights and civil liberties . Many of President Obama ' s accomplishments on those issues , Maddow argued , involved "" undoing things from the Clinton administration . "" In particular , Maddow cited Clinton ' s embrace of the Defense of Marriage Act and the Don ' t Ask , Don ' t Tell policy blocking gays from serving openly in the military .  The Defense of Marriage Act , legislation Bill Clinton signed that defined marriage legally as between one man and one woman , was "" a defensive action "" to stymie what the Clintons believed was enough political momentum to amend the constitution to effectively bar gay marriage , Hillary Clinton said .  The tough on crime bill that her husband signed into law was a reaction to the "" horrific crime rates of the 1980s , "" the former first lady added .  "" There was just a consensus across every community that something had to be done , "" she said .  Clinton noted that she has since disavowed the law and was committed to reforming criminal justice policies . But Clinton framed her overall governing philosophy as one based on pragmatism , a realization that sometimes it ' s necessary to choose the lesser evil .  "" I think that sometimes as a leader in Democracy you are confronted with two bad choices . It is not an easy position to be in , and you have to try to think what is the least bad choice , and how do I try to cabin this off from having worse consequences ? "" she said .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,past
15667,15668,"A taxi driver who killed a talented teenager while acting like he ' owned the road ' as he carried out an aggressive overtaking manoeuvre already had a string of previous motoring convictions for dangerous driving , a court heard .  Sarah Jane Burke , 17 , suffered catastrophic injuries when she was struck by David Baillie ' s Volvo as she crossed the road on her way home from college in Sunderland , Tyne and Wear on September 17 last year .  The talented teenager , who was excelling on an art and design course at Sunderland College , suffered multiple fractures and brain trauma after she was thrown into the air before landing on her head 20 metres away .  Sarah Jane Burke , 17 , ( left ) suffered catastrophic injuries when she was struck by David Baillie ' s ( right ) Volvo as she crossed the road on her way home from college in Sunderland , Tyne and Wear in September last year  She died from her injuries five days later , leaving behind her parents and sister who are devastated by her death .  Taxi driver Baillie , 39 , who was off duty when he hit Miss Burke , denied causing her death by dangerous driving but was found guilty by a jury after just over an hour of deliberations at Newcastle Crown Court .  After the unanimous guilty verdict was returned , Baillie ' s string of previous motoring convictions which include two for dangerous driving were revealed in court .  Prosecutor Nick Dry said : ' He has around ten for theft of motor vehicles and taking without consent , five for driving while disqualified and five for having no insurance . '  The court heard how Baillie has even served time in prison in the past for his poor driving .  Miss Burke ' s devastated mother and father attended court for the entirety of the trial , and are expected to return tomorrow to see Baillie who has been remanded in custody sentenced .  Judge Paul Sloan  warned him : ' You must understand , a substantial sentence of imprisonment is inevitable in the circumstances of this case . '  Prosecutors said Baillie was ' consumed by a determination to overtake at all costs ' when he ploughed into the teenager .  Miss Burke had been crossing the road on her way home from college when she was hit by Baillie , who had a woman and small child with him in the car , as he tried to dangerously overtake a Vauxhall Corsa .  Taxi driver Baillie , 39 , ( pictured outside Newcastle Crown Court ) was off duty when he hit Miss Burke and denied causing death by dangerous driving but was found guilty by a jury after just over an hour of deliberations  Witnesses claimed Baillie had been ' tailgating ' the other vehicle and had hit the popular teenager in his desperate effort to get in front .  One motorist said he thought Baillie was a ' road rage ' driver while another said he thought Baillie ' s Volvo must be either stolen or being chased .  Another witness said : ' It was as if the driver owned the road and no one else was there . '  Baillie , of Sunderland , had pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving but denied his behaviour was dangerous .  Jurors were shown footage which was picked up by a passing bus and showed Miss Burke making her way home along the city ' s Ormonde Street .  A second set of footage , picked up by a camera on another bus , showed the aftermath of the tragedy which included the teenager lying on the road injured after being knocked down .  Mr Dry told the court : ' Witnesses watched in horror as she was struck and thrown into the air before coming to the ground , head first .  ' Paramedics were on the scene within minutes and did what they could to stabilise Sarah Burke , who had clearly suffered multiple fractures and serious head injury .  Miss Burke had been crossing Ormonde Street in Sunderland ( above ) when she was hit by Baillie as he tried to dangerously overtake a Vauxhall Corsa . The 17 year old suffered fatal injuries and died five days later  ' She was taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle by air ambulance . Sadly , she died of her injuries five days later . '  The court heard how Baillie initially blamed the Corsa driver for causing the crash but went on to admit in a police interview that his driving had been dangerous as he had been paying more attention to the other motorist than to the road ahead .  Mr Dry said : ' He conceded his driving was dangerous , particularly the action to overtake on a busy , 30mph street with blind junctions , approaching traffic lights at a time when he was not focused on the road ahead . '  However , Mr Dry said that after Miss Burke died , Baillie ' changed his mind ' and instead started to claim his driving was careless not dangerous .  Mr Dry added : ' We have a defendant driving dangerously from the traffic lights at Barnes Park Road until the point of impact with Sarah Burke .  ' Driving fuelled by rage and failing to get ahead of the Corsa , therefore consumed by a determination to overtake at all costs , culminating in the collision which cost a 17 year old girl her life . '  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
15678,15679,"Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt met with eleven Western Governors at a breakfast on Sunday, honoring a promise he made during his confirmation hearings and at  on Sunday to reach out to state governments to   trust. [“There’s distrust right now that exists between the states and Washington, D. C. as it relates to the environment,” Pruitt told the crowd at  on Saturday.  “We need to do what we can to restore trust. I’m going to be spending time   …     with the state governors and the executive branches of [state] government   …     I’m going to send a message. Let’s join    to do what’s important for the environment,” Pruitt said. Less than   hours later, Pruitt held the meeting with Western Governors, who appeared to welcome the dialogue. The governors of nineteen western states are members of the Western Governors Association. “The Western Governors Association wants a better state and federal partnership,” Governor Steve Bullock of Montana, current chairman of the group, said in a statement released by the EPA. “I look forward to working together with the Western Governors on issues unique to the Western States and with each of these Governors on issues important to their individual states,”  Administrator Pruitt said. “These Governors and their states are great stewards of their natural resources. They want to protect their water and air and grow their economies. The Environmental Protection Agency is going to help them do that,” he added. “In his first week on the job as  Administrator, Scott Pruitt has now met with 18 Governors and Lieutenant Governors, putting into action his promise of an open door policy and a new beginning of partnership with the states,” the  said in its statement. Last week, the Western Governors Association sent a letter to the EPA’s Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery, “reiterat[ing] concerns” over a propsed rule, Financial Responsbility Requirements under  for Classes of Facilities in the Hardrock Mining Industry. “Many western states rely on the hardrock mining industry for economic development and employment,” the governors wrote: These states have staff dedicated to mine permitting and compliance. Such staff are committed to ensuring hardrock mining facilities are designed, constructed and operated in a manner that minimizes risks to the environment and ensures proper site reclamation. “The EPA’s proposed rule   …     will negatively affect state economies,” they continued. “It may also hamper existing, effective state financial assurance programs,” they added. Pruitt’s meeting with the governors on Sunday is the kind of reaching out he intends to conduct with state governments across the country to address and respond to their concerns. Twelve members of the group met with Pruitt on Sunday. Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper did not participate in the breakfast, but was in attendance in other meetings. Of the twelve members of the Western Governors Association who met with  Administrator Pruitt, seven are Republicans ( Governor Doug Burgum (N. D.) Governor Butch Otter (Idaho)  Governor Mary Fallin (Okla.)  Governor Brian Sandoval (Nev.) Governor Gary Herbert (Utah) Governor Dennis Daugaard (S. D.)  Governor Matt Mead (Wyo.) ). Four are Democrats ( Governor John Hickenlooper (Colo.) Governor Kate Brown (Ore.) Governor Steve Bullock (Mont.) and Governor David Ige (Hawaii) ) and one member, Governor Bill Walker (Alaska) is an independent. The seven members of the Western Governors Association who missed the meeting with Pruitt included five Republicans (Governor Doug Ducey (Arizona) Governor Sam Brownback (Kansas) Governor Pete Ricketts (Nebraska) Governor Susanna Martinez (New Mexico) and Governor Greg Abbot (Texas) ) and two Democrats (Governor Jerry Brown (California) and Governor Jay Inslee (Washington).",fake,news,test,World conflict,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
15682,15683,"Former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn will invoke his Fifth Amendment protection against   on Monday, in a decision not to comply with a subpoena seeking documents, according to a report. [The decision, reported by the Associated Press, comes in response to a subpoena by the Senate Intelligence committee less than two weeks ago, as part of its investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 elections.  Legal experts have said Flynn was unlikely to turn over the personal documents without immunity because he would be waiving some of his constitutional protections by doing so, according to the AP. Flynn previously sought immunity from “unfair prosecution” to cooperate with the committee. His attorneys said in a letter sent to the committee that a daily “escalating frenzy against him,” and the appointment of a special prosecutor for the Justice Department’s investigation have created a legally dangerous environment for him.",true,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
15696,15697,"A century old waterfront cottage on Sydney ' s northern beaches that had been handed down through the generations of one family has sold for a record price of 2 . 2 million .  Set on 367 square metres of land , the Carrington Parade property in Freshwater was last built in 1913 after the land was bought seven years earlier for 50 pounds and five shillings .  A 101 year old beach front cottage in Freshwater , New South Wales , was bought at auction for 2 . 2 million on Saturday  Set on 367 square metres of land , the property was last bought in 1906 for 50 pounds and five shillings  ' You always get homes where it has been the same families living there for generations , ' Mr Smyth , from Smyth Estate Agents said . ' I ' ve had one that ' s stayed in the family for 75 years .  ' But this one had been in the one family , handed down from mother to daughter and then again to the most recent owner , for more than 101 years . '  ' There was a very small cottage put on it that took two years to be built , which was erected in 1913 , and it ' s effectively the same one that is on there today . '  The property was put up for sale only after its former owner , Rita Edwards , died three weeks shy of her 100th birthday recently .  Rita , a German , was married twice before she moved in to the property with her third husband David Edwards , whose mother was the original owner .  Rita was married to a Latvian who died in  before she migrated to Australia in 1948 with her second husband Janis , before he died from stomach cancer just two months after they moved .  Rita ' s long time neighbour Gabriella Lang said this left Rita stranded in Australia ' without anything . '  ' She had no money , no family , nothing , ' Mrs Lang said .  Rita Edwards was broke , with no family or money , before she met David Edwards and the pair moved into the Carrington Parade property  Ms Edwards was ' a local character ' who was ' a little wild in her older age ' , and very well loved in the community  Rita as pictured shortly after migrating to Australia , and later on in the garden of her property  But fortunately for Rita she married again for a third time , in 1951 , and moved into the Carrington Parade property two years later with her husband David Edwards after his mother died .  ' David inherited the home after his mother died , ' she said .  Ms Edwards was ' a local character ' who was ' a little wild in her older age ' , and very well loved in the community , Mr Smyth said .  ' Everyone was always aware of and checking in on her . She used to walk to Freshwater village on a daily basis for her 10 : 25am cup of tea and half a sausage roll , ' he said .  Mrs Lang said she was a stubborn woman up until the day she died , refusing to move out of the water front home until last year when she was placed into a nursing home .  ' Rita insisted on living there , she wasn ' t prepared to go in to a nursing home . '  But she eventually did , and it was at this point Ms Lang took legal responsibility of the property ' s affairs .  ' She couldn ' t continue to live alone , so I officially managed her affairs when she went into the Austral house nursing home . '  The property was put on the market soon after its former owner , Rita Edwards , died recently a few weeks short of her 100th birthday  The  Art Union Prize Home Lottery bought the property , and plans to redevelop it before offering it as a prize , the agent said  Rita died exactly a year to the day the property went to Auction on September 6 , and had she had been alive , she would have been 100 years old .  The rustic home , featuring an outdoor toilet , was bought by the  Art Union Prize Home Lottery , a charity organisation that buys properties and offers them as lottery prizes in support of Australian war veterans .  ' And I am pleased that the  bought it , ' Mrs Lang said , keeping the land in the hands of a ' strong returned services connection . '  Laura and her husband were both in  , and Rita , being a German , lived through the second world war before she migrated to Australia .  The organisation plans to knock down the cottage and build a designer home in its place that will be offered as the first prize in a lottery to be held in the next 12 to 18 months , Mr Smyth said .  The perks of the property ' s cliff top location were revealed to the eight registered bidders at Saturday ' s auction when they were distracted by the panoramic marine views and some local marine wildlife .  ' Right in the middle of the action there was a pod of five dolphins cruising right out the front of the house , ' he said .  The sight of the dolphins distracted the whole crowd , including the auctioneer , who struggled to redirect people ' s attention back to the sale . '  The redeveloped property will be offered as a lottery prize in the next 12 18 months , the agent said  The auction was interrupted part way through when a pod of dolphins swam by , catching the attention of the crowd  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
15698,15699,"A New Jersey nuclear plant is on alert as flood waters from Hurricane Sandy threatens the cooling of its spent uranium fuel rods .  Exelon said that a further rise in water levels could force operators at its New Jersey Oyster Creek nuclear power plant to use emergency water supplies from a fire hose to cool the spent rods .  The alert the second lowest of four Nuclear Regulatory Commission action levels came after water levels at the plant rose by more than 6 . 5 feet , potentially affecting the pumps that circulate water through the plant from Barnegat Bay , an  spokesman said .  Concern : Floodwaters could submerge the pump that is used to cool the water in the spent uranium pool at Oyster Creek ( pictured )  Those pumps are not essential since the plant is shut for planned refueling at the moment . However a further rise to 7 feet could submerge the service water pump motor that is used to cool the water in the spent fuel pool .  If cooling ceased , the pool would take 25 hours to reach boiling point .  The spokesman said the company could use water from a fire hose to cool the pool if necessary . The used uranium rods in the pool could cause the water to boil without additional coolant : in an extreme scenario the rods could overheat , risking the eventual release of radiation .  The  said in a statement that it expected water levels would begin to abate within the next several hours .  Sandy made landfall last night as the most powerful Atlantic storm to hit the United States , bringing a storm surge of more than 13 feet .  There have been about a dozen instances of alert level nuclear incidents in the past four years , according to  press releases .  An alert level incident means there is a ' potential substantial degradation in the level of safety ' at a reactor .  Nuclear fears : The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in northeastern Japan last year . Helicopters and hoses were used to keep the uranium fuel rods cool  The concerns over the status of the spent fuel pool at Oyster Creek were reminiscent of the fears that followed the Fukushima disaster in Japan last year , when helicopters and fire hoses were enlisted to ensure the pools remained filled with fresh , cool water .  The nuclear industry has said that the spent fuel rods at Fukushima were never exposed to the air .  Oyster Creek is a single unit boiling water reactor that began operation in 1969 . It was the first large scale commercial nuclear power plant in the  and is scheduled to be retired at the end of 2019 .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
15725,15726,"With their exit from the  Cup against Arsenal , Manchester United ' s attention now rests solely on their Premier League campaign .  Supporters won ' t expect Louis van Gaal to be winning any silverware this season , but a top four finish is a must for a club that invested heavily in the summer .  Is that now a realistic possibility , though ? United haven ' t beaten a side currently in the top half of the Premier League since their home win against Liverpool in mid December last year .  Manchester United face a testing final 10 games in the Premier League , they ' ll play all of their rivals  Louis van Gaal has won less than half of his games against side ' s in the top six of the Premier League  To make matters worse , they now face the prospect of playing four of the top six in their next five games ( and all of them before the end of the season ) .  With Liverpool just a point behind United in the league , and Tottenham a further two points behind them , Van Gaal knows he can ' t afford to slip up .  His record against the top six , though , is not especially encouraging . A fortuitous win at Arsenal and comfortable victory against an out of form Liverpool are the only notable moments .  Monday ' s  Cup tie proves the Gunners will be no pushover and Liverpool are unbeaten in the league since their loss at Old Trafford in 2014 .  With just 10 games to go until the end of the campaign half are away from home and half are against direct rivals Van Gaal and his side will need to show considerably better form to secure Champions League football next season .  After Angel di Maria ' s red card against Arsenal , United will be without their record signing for the next match  United will have to stop the league ' s most in form striker when they face Tottenham in their next game  Tottenham ( H ) Sunday March 15  These two sides drew 0 0 at White Hart Lane earlier in the season but with the Premier League ' s most in form striker among Spurs ' ranks this will be a stern test for United , who will be without the suspended Angel di Maria .  Liverpool ( A ) Sunday March 22  A formidable proposition for Van Gaal . Liverpool haven ' t lost in the league in three months and have won nine of their last 11 matches .  Aston Villa ( H ) Saturday April 4  A month ago United fans would have considered this an easy win but Tim Sherwood has reinvigorated Villa , who have now won their last two games in all competitions .  Liverpool have not lost a Premier League game since they were beaten by United in December 2014  United still have to host their fiercest rivals , and Premier League champions , Manchester City  Manchester City ( H ) Sunday April 12  United lost to their rivals 1 0 at the Etihad Stadium , City aren ' t in the most convincing spell of form but they are the Premier League champions nonetheless .  Chelsea ( A ) Saturday April 18  Away at the league leaders . This isn ' t a match Van Gaal can rely on getting anything from .  Everton ( A ) Sunday April 26  Everton have struggled this season but Goodison Park is always a difficult place to go , as United know well from recent history .  A trip to league leaders Chelsea will be arguably the most difficult challenge of United ' s season  Arsenal ' s win at Old Trafford in the  Cup quarter final suggests this will be a difficult match for hosts  West Brom ( H ) Saturday May 2  Arguably the easiest of their remaining games , but Tony Pulis will make sure West Brom don ' t go down without a fight .  Crystal Palace ( A ) Saturday May 9  Alan Pardew ' s Palace are a force to be reckoned with at Selhurst Park . Arsenal can testify to that the Gunners were fortunate to escape with three points when they visited and so will United .  Arsenal ( H ) Saturday May 16  Arsene Wenger ' s side are in fine form and their win at Old Trafford in the  Cup quarter final suggests this will be a difficult match for hosts .  Hull City ( A ) Sunday May 24  After an abysmal start to the season , Steve Bruce ' s side are finally finding some form and have only lost once in their last five matches .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
15731,15732,"Pathankot attack : Jaish e Mohammad ridicules Indian defence forces , hails terrorists in audio clip  Pathankot attack : Jaish e Mohammad ridicules Indian defence forces , hails terrorists in audio clip  Date published : ? Saturday , 9 January 2016 11 : 38am  Agency : dna webdesk  At several places the clip talks about how the men "" fired at Indian tanks , military cars and helicopters . "" The clip has also been transcribed in Urdu in a newspaper in Maulana Masood Azhar ' s hometown Bahawalpur .  Pakistan based terror outfit Jaish e Mohammad has ridiculed the Indian defence agencies for being ' unable to tackle six mujahideen ' , according to a report in an English daily . ?  In a 13 minute audio clip uploaded on the website www . alqalamionlineweblink , the speaker warns the Pakistan government not to accept Indian evidence against JeM . "" Pakistan ke ilaam India ke ilzaam ke saamne kyon jhukte hein ? Kyon sharmate hein ? ( Why do Pakistan ' s leaders bow before India ' s allegations ? Why do they shame us ? ) , "" he asks .  At several places the clip talks about how the men "" fired at Indian tanks , military cars and helicopters . "" The clip has also been transcribed in Urdu in a newspaper in Maulana Masood Azhar ' s hometown Bahawalpur .  Related Read : ? Pathankot attack :  Narendra Modi to visit air base station today , security tightened  In the clip , the speaker also demeans the martyrdom of Lt Col Niranjan Kumar and ace shooter Fateh Singh . He talks about the confusion over the number of attackers . "" Buri tarah mare gaye . First , they said there were six mujahideen , then they said five , then four . Such a big country is in tears . They are pointing an accusing finger like cowards , "" he says .  "" Four mujahideen attacked India ' s Pathankot airbase . It was the night after Friday at around 3 am , a time when the sly is closest to earth they entered into the Indian airbase . Kya kafiyat hogi , kya jazbe honge , kya manzar honge , "" he adds . Finally , the speaker praises the jihadists for battling against Indian forces for over two days without rest , food or water .  ",true,text,test,American football,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,negative,past
15738,15739,"Fort Belvoir , Virginia Charges against the Army officer who refused deployment to Afghanistan because he says President Barack Obama doesn ' t have the authority to send him , should be thrown out says his attorney , Paul Jensen .  Lt . Col . Terrence Lakin went before a military judge and a standing room only courtroom in Virginia on Friday to face three charges of disobeying a lawful order , one count of missing movement ( not deploying with his unit ) and one count of dereliction of duty .  He did not enter a plea at the arraignment hearing , and Jensen asked to defer any plea until after the court could consider a motion to dismiss the case .  Judge Denise Lind , an Army colonel who was wearing basic camouflage fatigues under her black robes , agreed to the request and gave Lakin ' s attorneys until August 20 to file a motion to dismiss . Both the prosecution and the defense will then have until August 27 to formulate and send written responses to the motion . Hearings on the motion will follow on September 2 and September 14 . Future hearings in the case will be at Fort Meade , Maryland .  If the charges are not dismissed , court martial proceedings will begin on October 13 .  Lakin and his legal team Jensen , Jensen ' s assistant and Lakin ' s free of cost military attorney arrived 15 minutes late , then the lawyers went into a meeting with Lind . The colonel remained in the 34 seat courtroom , which was full of soldiers , primarily officers , all wearing basic camouflage fatigues .  Lakin smiled once while talking with Jensen ' s assistant but otherwise didn ' t convey much emotion or say much except "" Yes , ma ' am , "" and "" No , ma ' am "" to the judge .  In addition to pushing back his plea , Lakin waived the opportunity to choose whether a judge or jury would decide his fate .  Lakin is a decorated Army doctor and an 18 year veteran who is now facing court martial for disobeying orders to ship out for another tour of duty in Afghanistan . He specializes as a primary care physician and flight surgeon . Doctors in those positions often fly in medevac helicopters in the war zone .  Lakin says the orders are illegal because , he claims , Obama the commander in chief has not proven he was born in this country and is therefore ineligible to be president . Lakin wants Obama to produce his birth certificate .  Two newspapers in Honolulu , Hawaii , published announcements of Obama ' s birth there in August , 1961 . The Republican governor of Hawaii , Linda Lingle , has recently certified Obama ' s birth certificate as legitimate .  "" I had my health director , who is a physician by background , go personally view the birth certificate in the birth records of the Department of Health , "" Lingle recently told  . "" The president was in fact born at Kapi ' olani Hospital in Honolulu , Hawaii . And that ' s just a fact . ""  "" It ' s been established he was born here , "" the governor continued . "" I can understand why people want to make certain that the constitutional requirement of being a natural born American citizen . . . but the question has been asked and answered . And I think just we should all move on now . ""  Despite the evidence , roughly a quarter of Americans remains skeptical , including Lakin and other so called "" birthers . ""  Birthers have argued that Obama was not born in Hawaii , or that if he was , his citizenship was invalidated by living overseas as a child .  Lakin has been steadfast in his own defense .  "" I am not guilty of these charges , and will plead ' not guilty ' to them because of my conviction that our commander in chief may be ineligible under the United States Constitution to serve in that highest of all offices , "" Lakin said in a news release issued this week by the American Patriot Foundation a group that has established a fund for his legal defense .  "" The truth matters . The Constitution matters , "" he said . "" If President Obama is a natural born citizen , then the American people deserve to see proof , and if he is not , then I believe the orders in this case were illegal . ""  ",true,text,test,Other news2,US elections,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,past
15739,15740,"Hi tech : Ian Hopkins , pictured , of Greater Manchester Police , has suggested that the public should start reporting crimes using web services such as Skype  The days of reporting crimes by walking into a police station or dialling 999 could soon be over , as one of Britain ' s top officers has predicted that the public will start using Skype to contact police instead .  Ian Hopkins , deputy chief constable of Greater Manchester Police , argues that modern technology such as social networks can make the police more responsive to the demands of the public .  However , he also admitted that it would help the force save money in a time of squeezed budgets which is likely to lead to a reduction in the number of officers .  Critics have spoken out against the idea of reporting crimes online , arguing that it is no substitute for face to face contact and expressing concern that the online phone service could compromise crime victims ' privacy .  But Mr Hopkins said today that he would consider setting up Skype conversations between police and victims or witnesses of crimes .  While it is not exactly clear how the proposal would work , it is possible that 999 callers would be able to leave their details with an operator and get a Skype call back from a duty officer .  Mr Hopkins said it was ' paramount ' to ensure that the public could speak to an officer directly , but argued that Skype is as good a way of doing that as meeting in person .  He added : ' For instance in Boston they have an app where people can report graffiti when they see on the street and that goes straight through to someone in the works department to do something about it .  ' It takes a whole lot of cost out and obviously those sorts of opportunities exist for us in the police as well . '  Bobbies on the beat : But budget cuts are likely to reduce the number of officers in most forces  Similarly , insurance firm Aviva allows customers to register mobile phone thefts online and make a claim for a replacement within minutes .  The policy would be a drastic change from current practice Greater Manchester Police , like most other forces , explicitly tells the public not to report crimes via Twitter and other online media .  However , some have suggested that police could be using technology to lessen the impact of budget cuts for example , Greater Manchester Police faces a 25 per cent cut to its funding over the next few years .  In response to a similar scheme mooted by Bedfordshire Police last year , the Police Federation claimed that the plans could be a ' substitute ' for rigorous policing .  ' When police forces embrace new technology it should not be as a means of coping with the effects of budgetary cuts , ' vice chairman Steve White said .  Adam Pemberton , assistant chief executive of the charity Victim Support , told MailOnline : ' Anything that makes it easier for a crime victim to make a report to the police is welcome , as long as victims can be sure they are transmitting information confidentially and there is no assumption that they all have the technology or want to make a report this way .  ' Reporting a crime remotely is one thing , but cannot replace a "" scene of crime "" investigation . If the police don ' t do a thorough investigation , there is a big risk that critical evidence could be missed and that would mean criminals are more likely to get away with it . '  However , a spokesman for Greater Manchester Police emphasised that Mr Hopkins ' s remarks do not represent the force ' s official policy , and there are no immediate plans to start accepting calls via Skype .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
15740,15741,"World Agence France Presse Updated : December 11 , 2015 23 : 24    Secretary of State John Kerry speaks to reporters at the  21 United Nations conference on climate change , on December 11 , 2015 in Le Bourget , on the outskirts of Paris . (  )  Paris : ?  Secretary of State John Kerry will head to Moscow on Tuesday for talks with President Vladimir Putin on the Syrian crisis and the fight against the  , the State Department said .  "" They will discuss ongoing efforts to achieve a political transition in Syria , "" spokesman Mark Toner said today on the sidelines of the  climate summit in Paris .  The talks will also cover differences in the parallel Russian and  approaches to the fight against the  terrorists group in Iraq and Syria .  The  envoy will also bring up the ongoing stand off in eastern Ukraine , where Moscow stands accused of supporting pro Russian separatist rebels , Toner said .  Kerry will also meet his counterpart Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov .  He arrives overnight from Paris for a day of high level dialogue before flying back to Washington .  The United States and Russia are the key sponsors of the international bid to mediate an end to the Syrian civil war through the International Syrian Support Group .  This 17 nation contact group had been planning to meet in New York under United Nations auspices on December 18 to push forward plans for a negotiated ceasefire .  But Moscow and Washington were awaiting the results of a meeting between Syria ' s splintered opposition and rebel movements before confirming the date of meeting .  The rebels met on Thursday in Saudi Arabia and afterwards announced the composition of their team to open negotiations with the government of President Bashar al Assad .  But they also insisted that Assad must step down immediately at the start of the political transition process , which has a January 1 target date .  This insistence may be a sticking point for Assad ' s allies in Moscow , and Kerry confirmed today he was working with the Saudis to iron out some "" kinks "" in the rebel plan .  Story First Published : December 11 , 2015 20 : 57   ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,present
15759,15760,"A small aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing on a snowy highway in New Jersey this afternoon due to a suspected mechanical failure .  Christopher Okechukwu , 51 , a doctor and father of three from Paramus , was traveling solo to Lincoln Park Airport when the incident occurred .  Despite icy conditions , the pilot of 15 years managed to make a safe landing on the tarmac below and no injuries were reported .  He decided to go with the flow of traffic and touched down on a clear stretch of road behind a truck and car .  The Federal Aviation Administration said Okechukwu ' s Cessna C150 built in 1976 landed on Route 23 in West Milford .  He took the decision to dock it after he heard a ' sputtering ' noise in flight .  No vehicles were hit by the plane and the aircraft did not appear to sustain any major damage .  It landed around 1pm and was removed from the highway via a flatbed truck around 2 : 30pm .  Emergency landing : Christopher Okechukwu , 51 , a doctor and father of three from Paramus , was traveling solo to Lincoln Park Airport when the incident occurred  Skilled pilot : No vehicles were hit by the plane and the aircraft did not appear to sustain any major damage  All lanes are now reopened .  One driver , Andrew May , told   that the pilot glided to the highway and it was a ' miracle ' he didn ' t crash into signs or overhanging wires .  He added : ' The plane just came up , and it almost felt like the plane hit us . That ' s how close it was . Thank God it didn ' t . '  Okechukwu ' s wife Susan told The Record that he is an emergency room physician at Newton Memorial Hospital in Sussex County so is used to handling stressful situations ,  She said he appeared to be ' fine ' and a ' bit shaken ' after talking with him on the phone earlier today .  The Federal Aviation Administration said it will investigate the cause of the incident .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
15776,15777,"I ' m sick of all these privileged bigots who are demeaning and denigrating Hillary . So I am here to educate you on why you  stop this .  Here are the ignorant fools who need to check their privilege .  1 . Iraqi orphans .  Iraqi orphans have orphan privilege . Merely because they don ' t have parents , people feel sorry for them , and so they give their unreasonable and irrational opinions undue credence that they do not deserve  It just doesn ' t get any more privileged than this !  2 . Libyan mothers .  Libyan mothers may well be women , but they aren ' t really proper women , are they ? I mean , a lot of them don ' t support my right to choose , so clearly they are sellouts . Also , the prevalence of homophobia in their country , which they are    , is disgraceful . They simply don ' t think about how they are complicit with evil .  It just doesn ' t get any more privileged than this !  3 . Syrian men .  Uh . . . they are men ! Well hey , buddy ! A man is a man is a man is a male thing ! Ohhh , they might as well be straight white guy Christian pastors from Texas , for all I care !  It just doesn ' t get any more privileged than this !  From the above , the logic is clear .  Those who claim Clinton ' s opponents are ' sexist ' are actually trivializing the consequences of her foreign policy .  There is nothing privileged about opposing the violent tendencies in international relations that this ' Blue Neocon ' or ' Hawkfem ' represents .  To say , or even to imply , that all criticisms of Clinton stem from ' privilege ' is a serious error .  ",satire,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,satire,True,no,no,negative,present
15788,15789,"If watching Katherine Heigl ' s romantic comedies made you want to swear off movies , you ' ve got company : the actress herself .  The former "" Grey ' s Anatomy "" star , who went from "" 27 Dresses "" to "" The Ugly Truth "" to "" Life as We Know It "" to "" New Year ' s Eve , "" admits she indulged a little too heavily in the frothy films enough to make her consider quitting acting .  "" I had an amazing time . I love romantic comedies , "" the actress , 35 , told Marie Claire  in its August issue . "" But maybe I hit it a little too hard . I couldn ' t say no . I stopped challenging myself . ""  It got so bad , Heigl said , that she took time on a Utah ranch to contemplate a different career .  "" I had a moment where , I don ' t know , I was thinking , ' Maybe open a knitting store , get my money out of retirement accounts and live off that , live off the land . ' I had my moment where it all seemed so complicated and all I wanted to do was simplify , "" she told the magazine .  Of course , Heigl has had ups and downs even without the film choices . She told Marie Claire that her best friend "" turned on "" her , and she ' s made some enemies in Hollywood with her blunt talk , criticizing "" Grey ' s Anatomy "" plotlines and knocking "" Knocked Up , "" the hit film she starred in , as "" a little sexist . ""  Heigl is returning to television in November as the star of  ' s "" State of Affairs , "" a drama about a  analyst who advises the president . She ' s ready for the new challenge , she told Marie Claire .  "" There ' s a part of me that ' s a Hollywood animal as well . I can ' t wait to get into the writer ' s room and see how we do this , "" she said . "" I feel like I ' m finally rolling into the next phase of my adulthood . ""  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
15796,15797,"England Nearly 150 , 000 homes were without drinking water Monday after the worst floodwaters in 60 years swamped large areas of western England .  Flooding has caused widespread disruption across the country with further regions braced for more floods .  British military and rescue workers battled to save a major electricity substation on the outskirts of Gloucester , England , that serves about 500 , 000 homes .  About 1 , 000 Royal Navy personnel were building an emergency barrier to keep the Walham substation from flooding .  Their efforts have been successful so far , the Gloucestershire Constabulary Emergency Services said Monday evening .  Some 50 , 000 homes were already without electricity before the substation was threatened .  Two major rivers the Thames and the Severn are well above their normal levels and may burst their banks , according to authorities . Watch as Britons brace for more flooding  Britain ' s Environment Agency warned water levels could rise further to a "" critical level "" and issued nine severe flood warnings across the country .  The worst affected areas are the counties of Gloucestershire , Herefordshire , Worcestershire and Oxfordshire , which had more than 5 inches ( 12 . 5 cm ) of rain in barely 24 hours .  More rain is forecast , and the risk of flooding is increasing as floodwaters work their way into the river system .  In the historic city of Gloucester , the River Severn is expected to burst its banks later Monday . The river is already nearly 15 feet ( 5 meters ) above its normal level for this time of year and close to breaching its banks . See residents walk through flooded streets and homes  Electricity and water supplies in and around the city are already cut to many residents , after a water treatment plant and electricity sub station were flooded . The city of Tewkesbury is also flooded video from the area showed dozens of cars and homes under several feet of water .  Officials said it would be at least 48 hours before they could gain access to the Mythe Water Pumping Station in Tewkesbury to return water supply to 70 , 000 customers in Tewkesbury , Gloucester and Cheltenham .  "" There is no doubt this unprecedented situation has been testing for each and every one of the emergency services and our partner agencies , "" said Gloucestershire Chief Constable Timothy Brain .  "" I must pay tribute to the marathon effort being made to prevent the situation from worsening and to support those affected by the flooding , loss of power , loss of water and other consequences of this extreme situation , "" he said .  Hundreds of people in the worst affected areas have been plucked to safety by helicopters of the Royal Air Force and boats . Further north in Evesham , the River Severn is more than twice its normal width .  So far this month England has had nearly two and a half times its normal rainfall .  Prime Minister Gordon Brown visited Gloucester and promised to mobilize resources from across the country . He also announced increased funding for flood and coastal defenses across the country .  "" Like every advanced industrialized country , we are coming to terms with the issues surrounding climate change , "" he said .  The prime minister described the flooding as unprecedented , and brushed aside criticism of his government for the quality of flood defenses and a slow response to the crisis .  "" I think the emergency services have done a great job , "" he said . "" I am satisfied people are doing everything they can . ""  The wet weather for much of June and July across England and Wales has also affected crops . Farmers are predicting low yields and higher prices with several crops due to be harvested in the next month . Insurance companies are expecting claims worth hundreds of millions of dollars because of flood damage .  More than 2 , 000 people spent Sunday night in emergency accommodation and the Royal Air Force and coastguard helicopters airlifted hundreds to safety in one of Britain ' s largest peacetime rescue operations .  "" I ' m afraid to say that I don ' t think we have seen the peak yet , "" John Harman , of the Environment Agency , told  radio .  "" All this water that we have seen . . . is now into the river system . Even though the rain has eased off a bit . . . it ' s the water in the rivers now that constitutes a threat . "" E mail to a friend  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
15800,15801,"Immersive experience comes with sets and special effects designed to emulate the fear and chaos of the zombie television show  Dakota Bourdon rounds the corner to be greeted by a zombie at the Apocalypse Zombie Experience at The Walker SImage Credit :   Walker Stalker Con attendees Lawton Chu and Ashely Dalow pose for a selfie before entering the "" Walking Dead EImage Credit :   Organisers of a convention devoted to The Walking Dead unveiled an immersive attraction meant to make fans feel like they are in the fictional world of the hit television show .  The production premiered on Friday at the 2015 Walker Stalker Con at the Georgia World Congress Centre in downtown Atlanta .  The Walking Dead Experience Chapter 1 drops small groups of audience members into more than 930 square metres of sets and special effects designed to emulate the fear and chaos of the  television show , organisers say .  Tickets start at 60 ( Dh220 ) plus fees , and participants can pay more for professional makeup or prosthetics and roam the set as a walker .  The production follows the show s story lines , beginning the night the outbreak hits .  We ve heard the fans desire for more immersive and terrifying experiences at our events . The Walking Dead Experience Chapter 1 is the response to that desire , said James Frazier , the executive producer of the project .  Visual artist Michael Counts , a pioneer of immersive theatre , created the production .  The attraction is the scariest and most fully transportive production of this type ever made , Counts said in a statement .  After last weekend s convention , The Walking Dead Experience Chapter 1 is scheduled to move to a nearby Atlanta location for a four week run before a national tour .  Future productions can incorporate different elements of The Walking Dead storyline .  Though the experience is designed so that each episode can stand alone , the structure of the concept follows the expanding story framework of The Walking Dead comic books ,  show and video game series , the convention planners said in a statement .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,present
15801,15802,"—   Former Secretary of State Colin L. Powell has long been one of the high priests of the Washington establishment, staying quiet in this year’s raucous presidential campaign while tending to his reputation as a thoughtful officer and diplomat. But a hack of Mr. Powell’s email this week has ripped away the diplomatic jargon and political niceties to reveal his unvarnished disdain of Donald J. Trump as a “national disgrace,” his personal peeves with Hillary Clinton and his lingering, but still very raw, anger with the Republican colleagues with whom he so often clashed a decade ago. There has been an expectation that Mr. Powell, who waited until the final weeks to endorse Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012, would do the same for Mrs. Clinton this year. But in one 2014 email released online, Mr. Powell lamented that while he respected Mrs. Clinton, he would “rather not have to vote for her,” describing the Democratic presidential nominee as having “a long track record, unbridled ambition, greedy, not transformational. ” The emails make clear that if Mr. Powell endorses Mrs. Clinton, he will be motivated by intense feelings about Mr. Trump, whom he also called an “international pariah. ” In the email messages, which an aide to Mr. Powell confirmed were authentic, the retired   general who served as President George W. Bush’s top diplomat also accuses Mr. Trump, the Republican nominee for president, of having embraced what Mr. Powell called a “racist” movement when he aggressively questioned the validity of Mr. Obama’s birth certificate and his legitimacy to serve as the country’s top elected official. But the emails, many of which were sent in recent weeks, also reveal Mr. Powell’s disapproval of Mrs. Clinton’s handling of her email scandal and expose his sometimes unflattering observations of the Democratic presidential nominee and her husband. In a series of exchanges, Mr. Powell lamented efforts by Mrs. Clinton’s “minions” to drag him into the controversy surrounding her use of a private email server by claiming he had advised her on the issue. “H. R. C. could have killed this two years ago by merely telling everyone honestly what she had done and not tie me into it,” Mr. Powell wrote late last month, referring to Mrs. Clinton by her initials. “I told her staff three times not to try that gambit. I had to throw a   at a Hamptons party to get their attention. She keeps tripping into these ‘character’ minefields. ” In the 2014 email, Mr. Powell, though offering no independent knowledge, alluded in graphic language to coverage in The New York Post suggesting that Bill Clinton had continued to cheat on his wife. The emails, some of which were first reported by BuzzFeed News, also show Mr. Powell venting about some members of Mr. Bush’s administration. In one reference to Donald H. Rumsfeld, the former defense secretary, he accuses “the idiot Rummy” of being disloyal to both President Bushes. In another email, Mr. Powell calls Dick Cheney, the former vice president, and his daughter Liz Cheney “idiots and a spent force peddling a book that ain’t going nowhere. ” Mr. Powell appeared to be angry that  proposed that he appear on “Meet the Press” with Mr. Cheney and his daughter, who were promoting a book they wrote together. In the email, Mr. Powell said the network agreed to invite the Cheneys at a later date. Mr. Powell’s emails appeared on a website calledweblink, which had previously posted documents that the site had obtained after hacks into the accounts of prominent Democrats and some Republicans, including Gen. Philip M. Breedlove, the former commander of  forces in Europe, and George Soros, a wealthy backer of liberal causes. It is unclear who operatesweblink. Peggy Cifrino, an aide to Mr. Powell, responded Wednesday morning to an inquiry about the emails: “We are confirming that General Powell has been hacked and that they are his emails. We have no further comment at this time. ” Mr. Powell did not respond to an email sent directly to his personal account. In several emails, Mr. Powell suggested that speaking out against Mr. Trump would only add to the attention the Republican nominee was getting from the news media. Responding to a reporter asking for comment, Mr. Powell wrote last month that Mr. Trump is “his own best enemy” and added: “I will speak out when I feel it appropriate and not after every idiot thing he says. ” But the emails make clear that Mr. Powell, who also served as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has no intention of supporting Mr. Trump. In one    with a former aide, Mr. Powell insisted that Mr. Trump should not be elected president. “No need to debate it with you now, but Trump is a national disgrace and an international pariah,” Mr. Powell wrote in June, noting the criticism of Mr. Trump by several prominent conservatives. “He is in the process of destroying himself, no need for Dems to attack him. ” Mr. Powell also made clear in a series of exchanges how much he was offended by Mr. Trump’s attacks on the issue of Mr. Obama’s birth. “Yup, the whole birther movement was racist,” Mr. Powell wrote. “That’s what the 99% believe. When Trump couldn’t keep that up he said he also wanted to see if the certificate noted that he was a Muslim. As I have said before, ‘What if he was?’ Muslims are born as Americans everyday. ” Mr. Powell dismissed as completely ineffective Mr. Trump’s recent attempts to reach out to black voters, saying that the Republican nominee “takes us for idiots. ” Mr. Powell said that nothing Mr. Trump could say to black voters would improve his standing, in part because of the things he said about Mr. Obama. “He can never overcome what he tried to do to Obama with his search for the birth certificate hoping to force Obama out of the presidency,” Mr. Powell wrote, saying to his aide, “You don’t fall for his false sincerity, I hope. ” In the emails, Mr. Powell blamed the news media for helping fuel Mr. Trump’s candidacy. In December 2015, he turned down a request from CNN’s Fareed Zakaria to discuss Mr. Trump. “It is time to start ignoring him. You guys are playing his game, you are his oxygen,” Mr. Powell responded. In August 2015, Mr. Powell predicted that Mr. Trump would “take it to the convention” in part because news networks were chasing ratings. “He appeals to the worst angels of the G. O. P. nature and poor white folks,” Mr. Powell said in the email.’ ”In that email, Mr. Powell in part defended Mrs. Clinton’s actions in the attack on the American diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya, in 2012.” ’In December 2015, he told Condoleezza Rice, his successor at the State Department, that the Republican political attacks on Benghazi were “a stupid witch hunt” and wrote that “basic fault falls on a courageous ambassador who thought Libyans now love me and I am O. K. in this very vulnerable place. ” He added that “blame also rests on his leaders and supporters back here,” including Mrs. Clinton. A few months later, in a discussion about Mrs. Clinton’s email scandal, Mr. Powell lamented that “everything H. R. C. touches she kind of screws up with hubris. ” He then related a story about “the gig I lost at a university” when the institution said it could no longer afford his speaking fees after paying Mrs. Clinton. “I should send her a bill. ”",true,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
15814,15815,"Gene Robinson , the first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal Church , said Saturday that death threats and continued worldwide controversy about his selection contributed to his decision to retire in January 2013 .  Robinson ' s announced retirement surprised many of those attending the annual diocesan convention in Concord , New Hampshire .  The bishop , who has served in the post in New Hampshire since early 2004 , said he is energized about his next two years of ministry and support of clergy and congregations as the process of naming his successor moves forward .  But turning 66 in 2013 and the "" constant strain "" from the church schism were factors in his decision , Robinson said in prepared remarks . The bishop said he is in his fifth year of sobriety after receiving treatment for alcohol abuse .  "" The fact is , the last seven years have taken their toll on me , my family , and you , "" he told those attending the convention . "" While I believe that these attitudes , mostly outside the Diocese , have not distracted me from my service to you , I would be less than honest if I didn ' t say that they have certainly added a burden and certain anxiety to my episcopate . ""  Conservative factions in the Anglican Communion , a 77 million member denomination worldwide that includes the Episcopal Church , have opposed the ordination of gay bishops . Robinson ' s appointment prompted a semi official moratorium on naming new gay bishops , but they revoked that ban last year .  In May , the Episcopal Church consecrated its first openly lesbian bishop in the face of objections from some conservative Anglicans .  A number of Episcopal dioceses broke with the official church structure , forming the breakaway Anglican Church in North America in protest of the church ' s stance on homosexuality .  "" The only thing that is sort of weighing on my heart is knowing this is very difficult for many people in our church , and for those people for whom this is confusing or disturbing , "" he said . "" I ' m very sorry about that . But I am feeling very calm about moving forward , that this is in fact what God wants for me .  Although he has often spoken about his sexual orientation , the bishop told the audience Saturday that he doesn ' t always wanted to be identified with it .  "" New Hampshire is always the place I remain , simply , ' the Bishop , ' "" he said . "" This is the one place on earth where I am not ' the gay Bishop . ' I believe that you elected me because you believed me to be the right person to lead you at this time . The world has sometimes questioned that , but I hope you never did . ""  Robinson , who is in a same sex relationship , said he has evangelized gay and lesbian people in order to "" make the case for God and God ' s Church . ""  He also made reference Saturday to the recently publicized suicides of gay and lesbian teenagers .  "" They have taken their own lives because religion tells them they are an abomination before God and who believe their lives are doomed to despair and unhappiness , "" the bishop said . "" I go tell them a different story . ""  ",true,text,test,Other news1,US elections,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
15825,15826,"Reuters) - Republicans in Congress are planning a light legislative agenda as they return from their long summer break on Tuesday, a strategy some say is designed in part to bog down Hillary Clinton if she becomes president.  It is not uncommon for the Congress to take it slow in an election year and legislative delays could work in Republicans’ favor if their nominee Donald Trump takes the White House in November. But the strategy will also pay dividends if it is Clinton who takes office on Jan. 20. She will be forced to deal with old baggage rather than focus on her agenda of infrastructure investments and immigration and Wall Street reforms. “If Hillary wins, we force her to waste time, resources, momentum, early good will and political capital - all on cleanup duty,” said a senior aide to one Republican senator. If all goes as expected this autumn, a U.S. Supreme Court seat, vacant since Feb. 13, will remain unfilled until sometime next year. A sweeping Pacific free-trade deal negotiated by President Barack Obama will be on hold, if not doomed. And if many conservative Republicans get their way, government agencies will run on stop-gap funding from Oct. 1 until sometime in February or March. That means that the next president would have to negotiate a longer-term deal or face the prospect of government shutdowns in the early days of a new administration. Senior congressional aides have told Reuters their agenda for the coming months include bills to keep the government funded, combat the spreading Zika virus and renewing laws guarding the nation’s water resources. Other items would help the majority Republicans score political points with key constituencies before the November elections, even though they have no chance of becoming law. These include scolding the Obama administration for a $400 million payment to Iran in January after Tehran released American prisoners, anti-abortion measures and, once again, proposals to repeal Obama’s landmark healthcare law. Ron Bonjean, a Republican strategist and former aide to Republican leaders in Congress, acknowledged that public opinion polling is trending in Clinton’s direction. If Clinton wins, Bonjean added, “The whole mindset (among Republican leaders in Congress) would shift to taking care of the most important business to help Republicans and unloading the more difficult, tense issues for a Clinton administration to deal with.” Clinton has maintained a lead in most polls since Republican and Democratic conventions, but some surveys showed that lead narrowing. A Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Sept. 2 showed Trump effectively pulling even with the Democratic nominee. Yet one veteran Republican congressional aide said more and more Republicans in Congress brace for the White House to stay in Democratic hands for the next four years, even if their party manages to maintain control of Congress. Trump’s trouble in appealing to important groups of voters, such as Hispanics, African-Americans and Asians, and self-inflicted wounds “have made it pretty clear he’s highly unlikely to get there,” he said. Leaving the Supreme Court nomination and other high-profile disagreements for 2017 “does bog down” a new administration, “no question about it,” the aide said. Some election years mean a slow autumn in Congress, but this is not always the case. In 2012 for example, lawmakers dramatically labored all the way through New Year’s Eve addressing a “fiscal cliff” of expiring tax and spending laws.  Not all of the delays in passing legislation are purely on Republican shoulders though. While Trump has blasted free-trade deals, leading Democrats, including Clinton, also have criticized Obama’s Trans-Pacific Partnership pact that would create a free-trade zone ranging from Japan to Chile. Stephen Hess, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, downplayed the challenges Clinton might face early on. “She knows how to deal with Congress. She’s been there,” he said referring to Clinton’s years as a senator representing New York. Besides, he added, if Trump loses, Republicans will be busy dealing with their own problems.  “They’ll have to think seriously about how they got themselves in the trouble that they’re in.” ",true,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
15826,15827,"Sen . Hillary Clinton was in the White House on multiple occasions when her husband had sexual encounters with Monica Lewinsky , according to newly released documents .  The National Archives released 11 , 000 pages of Hillary Clinton ' s schedule as first lady .  The National Archives on Wednesday released more than 11 , 000 pages of Clinton ' s schedule when she was first lady .  Sen . Barack Obama ' s campaign pushed for the documents ' release , arguing that their review is necessary to make a full evaluation of Clinton ' s experience as first lady .  But the documents also provide a glimpse into Clinton ' s life during her husband ' s publicized affair .  The scandal involving former president Bill Clinton and Lewinsky , first broke in the national media on January 21 , 1998 .  According to the documents , Hillary Clinton started that day at a private meeting in the White House .  She later made an appearance at a college in Baltimore , Maryland , and stayed there until late in the afternoon before returning to the White House for a black tie dinner . Watch where Hillary Clinton was during the scandal  The schedules reveal where Clinton was , but provide no indication of how she dealt with the controversy .  Carl Bernstein , who wrote a biography of Hillary Clinton , said there was much more going on behind the scenes .  "" She was on the telephone with her aides , she was trying to learn more about what the press was doing , she did not want to give the impression of a firestorm that was raging outside , "" he said .  On the day her husband made his first public admission August 16 , 1998 she was on a trip to Martha ' s Vineyard .  She had no public schedule for the days that followed . And on December 19 , 1998 the day the House voted to impeach her husband the calendar shows a holiday party .  A dance between the president and first lady is listed as "" optional . ""  The papers show Hillary Clinton had no public schedule on the day independent counsel Kenneth Starr was appointed to investigate Bill Clinton ' s affair with Monica Lewinsky , or on the day Bill Clinton was deposed in the case .  On the day the affair began November 15 , 1995 , according to Starr ' s report Hillary Clinton had a private meeting and a meet and greet with then Vice President Al Gore and Nobel Prize winners .  Lewinsky said she and the president had an encounter in the bathroom outside the Oval Office study on January 7 , 1996 . This is the same day the president and his wife had a small dinner gathering at the White House , according to the documents .  The president and Lewinsky also had a sexual encounter on February 4 , 1996 , according to Lewinsky . On this day , the president and Hillary Clinton went to the National Governors Association annual dinner .  Hillary Clinton kept up a busy schedule as the affair spiraled into impeachment .  Thousands of pages are marked by redactions blacked out information like the names of people who attended meetings .  "" This is not about someone who is eager to shine a light on her full record . That ' s the point . And at the same time , some of this is understandable when you ' re running for office , the slightest thing can be misinterpreted , "" Bernstein said .  But the schedules also show her involvement in policy she dove into health care reform just three days after her husband ' s inauguration in 1993 , and dozens of related events followed .  Despite her efforts , the Clinton health care reform foundered in Congress .  Tom Fitton , president of Judicial Watch , said the trove of documents "" shows she was a co president , "" revealing an "" extraordinary extent of meetings for an unelected official to be meeting with cabinet officials . ""  The documents cover nearly 2 , 900 days . An additional 27 days will be posted in the near future , the archives said .  The documents are among those at the center of a legal battle between the archives and Judicial Watch , a conservative public interest group that has long urged a speedier release of files from the Clinton White House years .  In a court motion this month , the archives promised to release the schedules by the end of the month but said it will need "" one to two years "" to process remaining documents , including more than 20 , 000 pages of call logs well after the November 4 presidential election .  A Clinton spokesman said the lawsuit had nothing to do with the release , and the Clinton team had nothing to do with the redactions . A key aide to the Clintons actually fought to un redact some parts , the spokesman said .  According to the archives statement , 4 , 746 of the schedules have redactions that largely relate to privacy concerns including Social Security and telephone numbers and home addresses .  "" We ' ll look them over , and may ask the court for relief if it looks like something important is missing , "" Fitton said of the redacted information . He said Judicial Watch continues to demand phone logs from Clinton ' s time in the White House .  The documents are from the files of Patti Solis Doyle , director of Clinton ' s scheduling as first lady , the archives said in a statement .  Doyle stepped down as Clinton ' s presidential campaign manager in February after a string of poor showings in primaries .  "" Arranged chronologically , these records document in detail the activities of the first lady , including meetings , trips , speaking engagements and social activities for the eight years of the Clinton administration , "" the archives said .  The records were simultaneously released on   at the William J . Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock , Arkansas , and at the archives in Washington .  The documents are also available for view on the Clinton Library ' s Web site . E mail to a friend  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
15828,15829,"Image caption Both Ms Chan and Mr Zuckerberg are taking parental leave  Meanwhile , his site ' s valuation continues to soar . In business matters , he ' s made several shrewd acquisitions . Instagram , WhatsApp , and virtual reality firm Oculus Rift all purchases that cemented Facebook ' s longevity , even if the site itself isn ' t cool with the kids anymore .  All this while embodying something quite rare in Silicon Valley a healthy work life balance .  Following Mark Zuckerberg on Facebook is like watching a friend on a gap year . Barely a day passes without Zuckerberg reflecting on the meaning of life while taking pictures of the Taj Mahal .  And with the birth of his daughter , Max , Zuckerberg will be taking the unusual step ( in the  at least ) of taking two months paternity leave .  He joins a recent trend of  tech companies taking the family needs of staff seriously . It might just kick start a change in mood across the entire country paid paternity and maternity leave is a given in much of the development world , but not in the  .  Image caption Zuckerberg is following in the footsteps of Bill Gates  Yet the big announcement today for the rest of us , at least is about the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative .  Following in the footsteps of Bill and Melinda Gates , whose foundation has backed various charitable efforts for more than 15 years , the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative says it seeks to back programs that promote "" equality , education and advancing human capability "" .  It will be funded by Zuckerberg ' s shares . He says he plans to give away 99 of his stock over the course of his lifetime , at a rate of around 1bn worth each year .  What will it do ? That ' s to be seen , although in making the announcement Facebook was keen to point out that Zuckerberg ' s previous charitable endeavours included multi million dollar donations to schools and hospitals , and money towards preventing the spread of Ebola .  But it ' s not a flawless record , by any means . Many will question Zuckerberg ' s sincerity when , while donating to schools on one hand , his company is paying miniscule taxes in some of its biggest markets . Take the  , for example , where in its last financial year the company paid just ? 4 , 327 ( 6 , 643 ) in corporation tax .  In the information pack about the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative , it notes that the money will be used for "" funding non profit organizations , making private investments and participating in policy debates , in each case with the goal of generating positive impact in areas of great need "" .  Silicon Valley ' s definition of "" great need "" may differ greatly to what the rest of the world thinks needs to be done , while "" participating in policy debates "" is another way of saying "" lobbying "" , of course .  And we may never be told what those "" private investments "" are .  Mark Zuckerberg ' s internet . org project , which is about bringing internet connectivity to the next billion people , has been caught up in controversy . Small businesses in the developing world say internet . org is little more than a thinly veiled way for Facebook to rapidly grow their user base .  Still , Mark Zuckerberg is 31 . Priscilla Chan is 30 . Max is merely days old . The Chan Zuckerberg story still has decades in which to shape itself .  Some will take a dim view of a data collection company expanding its influence into new , highly political territories .  Others will applaud a very rich , young couple for taking some of technology ' s billions out from the Valley and into needy causes .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
15829,15830,"Reuters) - Oklahoma’s highest court on Tuesday struck down a law imposing restrictions on abortion providers, including a requirement that they take samples of fetal tissue from patients younger than 14 and preserve them for state investigators. The law also set new criminal penalties for providers who violate abortion-related statutes as well as individuals who help a minor evade the requirement to obtain parental consent. In addition, the bill created a new, stricter inspection system for abortion clinics. Legislators had said the fetal tissue section was aimed at capturing child rapists and that the law would protect women’s health. But the New York-based Center for Reproductive Rights, which challenged the law in court, said it unfairly targeted facilities that perform abortions. In a unanimous opinion, the nine-member Oklahoma Supreme Court found the law violated the state constitution’s requirement that each legislative bill must address only “one subject.”  The rule, the court said, is designed to prevent legislators from including provisions that would not normally pass in otherwise popular bills. The state unsuccessfully asserted that each part of the law addressed a single subject: women’s reproductive health. “We reject defendants’ arguments and find this legislation violates the single subject rule as each of these sections is so unrelated and misleading that a legislator voting on this matter could have been left with an unpalatable all-or-nothing choice,” Justice Joseph Watt wrote for the court. In a concurring opinion, four judges said they also would have struck down the law as an unconstitutional burden on a woman’s right to have an abortion. Lincoln Ferguson, a spokesman for the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office, called the decision “disappointing.” “This law would have given law enforcement the ability to more easily prosecute sexual assaults of children that are discovered when a child under 14 has an abortion,” he said.  “The Attorney General’s Office remains committed to defending laws aimed at protecting the safety and well-being of Oklahoma women.” In a statement, Center for Reproductive Rights President Nancy Northup said the law was “nothing but a cynical attack on women’s health and rights by unjustly targeting their trusted health care providers.” Oklahoma’s Republican-dominated government has joined several socially conservative states in enacting abortion restrictions in recent years, drawing court challenges. In June, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a Texas law imposing strict regulations on facilities that perform abortions. A similar law is on hold in Oklahoma while the state Supreme Court considers its legality. ",true,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
15836,15837,"Fashion season is once again upon us . Celebrities , trendsetters and buyers across the world will adorn the front rows of countless runways as the sartorially elite reveal their style edicts for the season ahead .  Who is Liya Kebede ?  Born in Addis Ababa , Ethiopia in 1978 , Kebede had been attending the French Lycee when she was scouted by a French film director and so began her rise to the top . Upon finishing her education , she joined a Parisian modeling agency before moving to Chicago and then New York . When she hit the Big Apple , there was no turning back .  In the fall of 2000 , the multi talented designer and future director Tom Ford handpicked Kebede to walk the catwalk for his autumn winter Gucci collection . It was the big break Kebede had been waiting for . A year later , she would sit for prolific photographer Patrick Demarchelier for Harper ' s Bazaar , feature as cover girl on numerous fashionista bibles including Vogue and tread the runways for Chanel , Dolce and Gabbana , Burberry and Fendi , to name a few .  Despite the supermodel success , Kebede has never forgotten where she came from . When an opportunity arose to launch her own fashion line , Lemlem meaning "" to flourish or bloom "" in Amharic in 2007 , Kebede drew inspiration from her native land . She embraced the traditional hand woven style from back home , in the hope of offering employment and business opportunities for the country ' s long established weavers , and incorporated it into her collections .  Returning to her roots  Kebede also works tirelessly to put a spotlight on the needs of millions of mothers and newborns in Ethiopia through her philanthropy , The Liya Kebede Foundation , launched in 2005 alongside her appointment as a World Health Organization goodwill ambassador , a role she held until 2011 . The Foundation supports training , and education about safe birth delivery services with the aim to substantially reduce preventable deaths in communities like the ones she grew up near . . As a mother of two , it ' s a cause close to her heart .  A supermodel , businesswoman , philanthropist , activist and mother that ' s a lot of hats and Kebede will show us just how she manages to do it all .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
15839,15840,"Pinterest  Despite the multiple attempts to throw Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump off his game and into the gauntlet, he has proved resilient and potentially victorious.  The Clinton campaign has left no stone unturned in an attempt to destroy Trump and create distractions from her criminal activity.  However, one of the most reliable formulas is predicting a Trump victory.  According to the New York Post :  A data-crunching artificial intelligence system that’s correctly predicted the last three  presidential elections is picking Donald Trump to be the next commander in chief.  The  system, called MogIA, crunches 20 million data points from sites such as Google, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to spew out its predictions,  reported.  It shows that Trump has overtaken the social media engagement numbers of Barack Obama’s peak in 2008 — by 25 percent.  And that’s important, because the candidate in each election who led in engagement data ended up winning the presidency, according to MogIA creator Sanjiv Rai, founder of an Indian startup company called Genic.ai  Now, some of you may be raising an eyebrow to this “engagement data” since Trump is talked about a lot on social media–the good, the bad, and the ugly.  How does the data sort out positive and negative comments? Trump supporters talking about Trump, versus Hillary supporters criticizing Trump?  It turns out that doesn’t matter.  This same system–relying on engagement data–also successfully predicted Trump’s win in the Republican primaries.  Democratic presidential candidate should not get too comfortable in her alleged lead.  Ultimately, Trump supporters and Trump haters are extreme. But, ultimately, it appears no news is bad news.  As the founder of this artificial intelligence system stated, “If Trump loses, it will defy the data trend for the first time in the last 12 years since internet engagement began in full earnest,” Rai told CNBC.  Hopefully, come November, anyone possessing a modicum of human intelligence will vote this artificial intelligence prediction into reality.",fake,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,past
15847,15848,"Donald Trump and called out Hillary Clinton for her many lies.  ""I bet if Donald Trump had a brick for every lie Hillary has told he could build two walls,"" she told the enthusiastic crowd in attendance.  ""As a thirteen year old even I know Hillary Clinton is working for her own success and ways to control my life, my family’s life and your lives… She wants to make it Hillary’s America… not The Peoples’ America,"" she added.  Indeed, Hillary Clinton has told about as many whoppers in her lifetime as her husband Bill, whose famous lie was ""I did not have sex with that woman, not one time."" Her lies also compete in close proximity to those of Barack Hussein Obama Soetoro Sobarkah .  There is definitely a great joke here that two walls could be built if Hillary's lies were combined, but the sadder reality is that she's even being considered for the White House. In fact, it's amazing that she can get any support. Oh wait, perhaps the only support she actually has come from people she pays to support her, and even that seems to be with reluctance .   shares",fake,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
15861,15862,"Fed up : Calais mayor Natacha Bouchart said she would block the port if it was legal to do so  The mayor of Calais today threatened to shut down the port unless Britain sorts out the illegal migrant problem .  Natacha Bouchart said she was sick of the numbers queuing up in northern France to try and sneak across the Channel .  ' I could take the decision to block the port , ' she said , following a meeting with Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve in Paris .  ' I could bring pressure to bear . It would be illegal , but today I want to make a strong gesture towards the British . '  She said that the  ' is considered an Eldorado ' by migrants , because of its generous benefits culture .  Ms Bouchart also attacked the British for not contributing enough money to security at Calais port .  She said she had not discussed the possibility of blocking the port with Mr Cazeneuve , because she knew he could not legally back the measure .  ' But I told him that I hoped he would have some strong negotiations with the British ' , said Ms Bouchart .  Earlier Cazeneuve ignored the pleas of Bouchart for a hostel for those determined to get to the  as a solution to the immigration crisis blighting the port .  Mme Bouchart blames Britain ' s generous welfare and asylum systems for attracting a stream of migrants from Africa , Asia and the Middle East which have brought havoc to the streets of Calais .  M Cazeneuve dismissed the call for a base for the migrants likened to the notorious Red Cross camp at Sangatte used by thousands as a launch pad to Britain before it was closed in 2002  Authorities are struggling to maintain order with up to 2 , 000  bound migrants living in makeshift camps and squats around the town .  Armed gangs fight for control of the best vantage point from which to break into trucks boarding ferries to Dover on Saturday alone police found 300 stowaways hidden in lorries .  But M Cazeneuve dismissed the call for a base for the migrants likened to the notorious Red Cross camp at Sangatte used by thousands as a launch pad to Britain before it was closed in 2002 even before a meeting with Mme Bouchart in Paris began . He said : ' I don ' t want to create a shelter that would be a hub for migrants .  The French minister has called on Britain and other  members , to do more to tackle the growing problem of illegal immigration ( above )  Interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve ignored the pleas of Calais mayor Natacha Bouchart for a hostel for those determined to get to the  as a solution to the immigration crisis blighting the port  ' I don ' t want to dismantle an illegal immigration network while at the same time putting the conditions in place for the trafficking to continue . '  The French minister has called on Britain and other  members , to do more to tackle the growing problem of illegal immigration .  And last night the creation of ' welcome centres ' offering advice to the thousands of migrants who pass through France as they head for the  moved a step closer with calls for them to be funded by the British Government .  Calais  Yann Capet said : ' There is no question of the British washing their hands of this problem . '  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
15865,15866,"A notebook revealing Alan Turing ' s mind boggling calculations as he battled to crack the Enigma code during the Second World War is expected to fetch 600 , 000 at auction  A notebook revealing Alan Turing ' s mind boggling calculations as he battled to crack the Enigma code during the Second World War is expected to fetch 600 , 000 at auction .  The book which has never been seen in public before dates from 1942 when he was working at Bletchley Park to break the Nazi code .  It contains 56 pages of handwritten workings and provides a remarkable insight into the thought process of a genius .  In the pad , bought in Cambridge , Mr Turing writes about how extremely difficult it is to understand the Leibniz notation .  He wrote : ' The Leibniz notation I find extremely difficult to understand in spite of it having been the one I understood the best once ! It certainly implies that some relation between x and y has been laid down eg , y x2 3x ? '  The colourful covered notebook is made up of complicated mathematical workings and is split into three parts with the first two sections consisting of Mr Turing ' s maths notes .  The third part belongs to Robin Gandy , a friend and fellow mathematician , who was handed the notebook by Mr Turing .  Mr Gandy , who donated most of Mr Turing ' s papers to the archive at King ' s College , Cambridge , kept the notebook and wrote deeply personal dream sequences in it at the request of his psychiatrist .  The notebook ' s now anonymous owner has decided to sell the notebook on April 13 at Bonhams ' Fine Books and Manuscripts sale in New York .  The book which has never been seen in public before dates from 1942 when he was working at Bletchley Park to break the Nazi code pictured above is an Enigma machine displayed at Bletchley Park museum  In the pad Mr Turing writes about how extremely difficult it is to understand the Leibniz notation  The colourful covered notebook is made up of complicated mathematical workings and is split into three parts with the first two sections consisting of Mr Turing ' s maths notes the third part belongs to Robin Gandy , a friend and fellow mathematician , who was handed the notebook by Mr Turing  It is expected to fetch a staggering 620 , 000 . A portion of the proceeds will go to charity .  Andrew Hodges , a leading Turing scholar , said : ' Alan Turing was parsimonious with his words and everything from his pen has special value .  ' This notebook shines extra light on how , even when he was enmeshed in great world events , he remained committed to free thinking work in pure mathematics . '  Mr Turing is regarded by many as one of Britain ' s most talented mathematicians .  But despite playing a starring role in the Second World War he was later treated as a pariah .  In 1952 , he was prosecuted for homosexual acts and , to avoid jail and ' cure ' his homosexuality , he was chemically castrated .  A biopic on the tragic genius called The Imitation Game was last week nominated for eight Oscars with Benedict Cumberbatch , pictured above , in the running for the Best Actor gong  As a result of his conviction , Mr Turing lost his security clearance so could no longer continue his code breaking .  He committed suicide two years later and it wasn ' t until 2013 that he was pardoned .  A biopic on the tragic genius was last week nominated for eight Oscars with Benedict Cumberbatch in the running for the Best Actor gong .  Cassandra Hatton , senior specialist in Fine Books and Manuscripts and the History of Science at Bonhams , said : ' This manuscript dates from the time when Turing was engaged in the crucial task of breaking the Enigma Code .  ' Its mathematical content gives an extraordinary insight into the working mind of one of the greatest luminaries of the 20th century .  ' This is quite simply one of the most extraordinary pieces I have ever had the privilege to handle . '  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
15867,15868,"Reuters) - U.S. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said on Sunday he was willing to bring healthcare legislation up for a vote but was waiting for the go-ahead from President Donald Trump, who sent mixed signals last week about a bipartisan bill that would shore up insurance markets. The Republican president said on Oct. 12 that his administration would stop paying billions of dollars in subsidies that help insurers give discounts to low-income households under the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare. Last week, he praised and then dismissed a bipartisan bill to reinstate the subsidies for two years, until a broader replacement to Obamacare can be negotiated. That legislation, introduced by Republican Senator Lamar Alexander and Democratic Senator Patty Murray, has drawn support from several Republican senators.  Asked if he would put it up for a vote this week, McConnell, the Senate majority leader, punted to Trump. “What I’m waiting for is to hear from President Trump what kind of healthcare bill he might sign,” McConnell said on CNN’s “State of the Union.” “If there’s a need for some kind of interim step here to stabilize the market, we need a bill the president will actually sign,” he said. “I’m not certain yet what the president is looking for here, but I’ll be happy to bring a bill to the floor if I know President Trump would sign it.” McConnell said he believed Trump had not made up his mind about short-term legislation that would fall short of his promise for a full repeal and replacement of Obamacare. Trump promised during his presidential campaign to get rid of Obamacare, the signature healthcare law of his predecessor, Democrat Barack Obama. However, his fellow Republicans, who control Congress, have failed to do so because of deep party divisions.  House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan, the top Republican in Congress, opposes the Alexander-Murray bill. With Trump waffling, its chances appeared to dim. Democrats, meanwhile, pushed McConnell to bring the bill to the floor, saying the legislation would prevent insurance premiums from rising sharply.  “The president holds the key to preventing premiums from going up. Now that Leader McConnell has made it clear he will put the Murray-Alexander bill on the floor as soon as the president supports it, the president should say that he does,” Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement. Schumer told NBC’s “Meet the Press” all 48 Democrats in the Senate back the bill. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
15868,15869,"Meanwhile, back at  Russia Russia Russia!The White House payroll is an excellent example of Trump s commitment to shrink government and save taxpayers money. The White House released the report of Trump s staffers  salaries in a 16-page report on Friday, resulting in projected four-year savings of more than $22 million. Not only is President Trump refusing to take his $400,000 salary, but also eliminating czars (which Obama came under fire for hiring starting in 2009), expensive  fellowships , and spending on  staff.Here are some key findings:Some special initiative czars that worked for President Obama include Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change Carol Browner ($172,000), Director of the Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships Joshua DuBois ($98,000), White House Director of Urban Affairs Adolfo Carrion Jr ($158,500), and Director of the White House Office of Health Reform Nancy-Ann DeParle ($158,500).The reports also confirm only 5 staffers dedicated to First Lady Melania Trump, compared to Michelle Obama s outrageous 24 staffers.Trump also eliminated positions in the White House Leadership Development program which was instituted by President Obama in 2015. Positions included that of Elaine Ho at a salary of $158,700 who was in charge of working with the Office of the First Lady to implement her  Let Girls Learn  initiative. Two  Directors  whose positions were also eliminated from the payroll include Pamela Coleman ($120,000) and Katherine Pielemeier ($60,876).Gary Cohn, president of Goldman Sachs and current Director of the White House National Economic Council, and Christopher Liddell, Director of Strategic Initiatives in the White House and a former Microsoft Chief Financial Officer, are serving with reduced salaries of $30,000.President Trump donated his first quarter paycheck to the Dept. of Interior for construction and repair needs in military cemeteries.  Forbes",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,past
15894,15895,"In response to a rash of harsh criticism leveled against a gown worn by actress Charlize Theron at a recent Hollywood charity event , millions of Americans across the country have risen up this week to show their support for the publicly ridiculed garment , sources nationwide confirmed .  Rallying against vicious critiques from celebrity news magazines , fashion blogs , and entertainment pundits , men and women from coast to coast are reportedly rushing to the defense of the widely derided sleeveless knee length dress , with members of the growing grassroots movement issuing vocal statements condemning the item of clothing ' s savage treatment by the media and attempting to restore its sullied reputation .  "" What those people have said about the gown is just plain wrong , "" said visibly distraught Cincinnati resident Margaret Feinberg , referring to remarks from professional fashion critics who described the dress as "" shapeless , "" "" unflattering , "" and "" not a good look for Ms . Theron , not at all . "" "" Some of the comments that I ' ve read about the gown are not just uncalled for , but deeply offensive to anyone with a conscience . This beautiful piece of clothing needs our support , and we won ' t rest until our voices are heard by every style columnist and celebrity tabloid editor in Hollywood . ""  "" Enough is enough , "" Feinberg continued , pausing momentarily to wipe a tear from her cheek . "" The gown deserves better . ""  The popular movement against the embattled garment ' s detractors has reportedly led to widespread boycotts against the entertainment news programs Access Hollywood and Entertainment Tonight , which each referred to the dress as a "" fashion flop . "" Additionally , in the wake of their assertions that the outfit resembled "" an oversized sack , "" celebrity gossip websites such as  and PerezHiltonweblink are facing emphatic calls to retract their inflammatory comments and issue formal apologies to the gown .  According to a recent Reuters poll , the vast majority of Americans are staunchly backing the green colorblock dress with black leather detailing , with 72 percent of respondents saying that the media never gave the gown the fair treatment it deserves , while a full four fifths of those surveyed expressed outrage in particular over a recent post on StarStyleweblink that described the article of clothing as something "" straight off the nightmare rack . ""  "" I stayed quiet when these animals went after Anne Hathaway ' s backless Prada ensemble after the 2013 Oscars , but I won ' t stand by idly and watch them shamelessly slander yet another innocent dress , "" said Syracuse ,  resident Joshua Chen , whose online petition calling for the censure and termination of anyone who referred to the apparel as a "" train wreck "" had at press time drawn upwards of 400 , 000 signatures . "" It just makes me sick to hear them say these awful things about a perfectly nice dress that never did them a bit of harm . Well , no more . ""  "" These people ought to be deeply ashamed of themselves , "" Chen added .  Sources confirmed that many of the publications that criticized the evening wear have already felt repercussions from the popular backlash , with numerous websites and magazines having lost millions of dollars in advertising deals from sponsors that do not want to be associated with such bitter sartorial attacks . Notably , Us Weekly , which reportedly described the gown as "" just plain blah "" and placed the article of clothing in a "" Worst Dressed "" photo collage , saw longtime ad buyer Kraft Foods sever its relationship with the publication earlier this week , with the conglomerate issuing a statement saying that the company "" is proud to stand alongside the gown . ""  However , despite their achievements thus far , supporters of the maligned dress emphasized they would not discontinue their efforts until the gown ' s good standing is fully restored .  "" These people need to realize they can ' t mock a nice , respectable piece of clothing and expect to get away with it , "" said Bismarck ,  resident Jenna Davies , wearing a custom printed T shirt bearing the phrase "" We Are All The Gown . "" "" From now on , Hollywood ' s fashion commentators will think twice before going after a dress as lovely as that again . That ' s what this movement is all about . ""  "" Though , they can say whatever they want about that hideous , frumpy set of drapes that Angelina Jolie wore to the Academy Awards , "" added Davies . "" Seriously , she should shoot her stylist in the face after that . ""  ",satire,text,test,US elections,Sports/Other,true,satire,True,no,no,positive,past
15896,15897,"How Easy-to-hack Voting Machines Endanger Democracy   Source: Who What Why  Since the “Help America Vote Act” in 2002, tallying votes in our elections has become dependent on machines that sometimes leave no paper trail. Manufacturers have “proprietary” programs and will not let any public officials or independent experts examine them.  On a cold winter day in 2007, Andrew Appel, a Princeton computer professor and election specialist, changed the outcome on one of these machines in seven minutes. He proved something that should alarm everyone: in effect, it took seven minutes per machine to steal an election.  In testimony to a House of Representatives Technology Committee on September 28, 2016, which is now suddenly paying attention because of the fear of “Russian” hacking, Appel noted:  “Installing new software in a voting machine is not really much different from installing new software in any other kind of computer. Installing new software is how you hack a voting machine to cheat. In 2009, in the courtroom of the Superior Court of New Jersey, I demonstrated how to hack a voting machine. I wrote a vote-stealing computer program that shifts votes from one candidate to another. Installing that vote-stealing program in a voting machine takes seven minutes, per machine, with a screwdriver.”  Machines were initially adopted for vote counting over a century ago,because they promised speed and convenience. They can tally results more quickly than a more reliable and re-checkable hand count.  From the beginning, there were ways to corrupt non-computerized machines, Appel said. One such ploy was the “pencil shaving trick.” Putting shavings on the lever of an opposition party would choke off counting ballots until the shavings came loose and fell free.  While this left a tell-tale discrepancy between the counted results and the number of voters who signed in at that polling place to vote, the scam worked if no one checked. Latest Computers Easier to Hack .  You might think the advent of computerized voting machines, starting around 2002, would have made it harder to corrupt vote counting. In fact, even the latest generation of such machines are much easier to hack without leaving a trace.  These machines are big money-makers for private corporations, which lobbied legislators about their supposed advantages. But they also pose a serious threat to the integrity of our elections.   Direct-Recording Electronic or “touchscreen” voting machines that leave no paper trail will be mainly used by voters in 14 states, according to the Brennan Center,. Those states include Georgia, and Pennsylvania — which are in play this year. Even large regions of Ohio, Virginia, North Carolina and many other states still use them. Among the brand names are Shouptronic ,  Advantage , AccuVote  , Optech- Eagle .  Most of these machines are over 10 years old, and the local authorities have no manuals for maintenance and repair. Claiming a lack of funds, state legislatures have refused to replace them.  In 14 states, either computer error or Appel-like reprogramming could distort results. Without a paper trail, the only way to check the tally is through “initial” exit polling conducted throughout the full span of voting hours and ending when the polls close.  Voting machines: Danaher Shouptronic 1242, Sequoia (Dominion)  Advantage, Premier/Diebold (Dominion) AccuVote  and Optech IIIP-Eagle. Photo credit: Verified Voting  Touchscreen machines were widely used in Ohio in the 2004 Kerry-Bush election, the only one of 154 American contests that year in which initial exit polling, which is ordinarily reliable, was markedly out of sync with the officially announced total. Those who know about computers have long been skeptical of this result.  As Appel has demonstrated, tt takes no super-hacking skills to alter voting counts: “I did this in a secure facility and I’m confident my program has not leaked out to affect real elections, but really the software I built was not rocket science — any computer programmer could write the same code. Once it’s installed, it could steal elections without detection for years to come.”   But if computer experts can hack every variety of touchscreen machine, what about foreign governments or domestic organizations?  “Other computer scientists have demonstrated similar hacks on many models of machine,” Appel added. “This is not just one glitch in one manufacturer’s machine, it’s the very nature of computers.”  In late July and early August, columns by Hiawatha Bray in the Boston Globe, and Zeynep Tufekci of The New York Times questioned for the first time whether voting in American elections is secure from such hacking — with suspicion directed, though without evidence, primarily at Russia. Suddenly, the disorganization and lack of transparency of American vote counting had become a National Security Issue.  In late September, the  House of Representatives Subcommittee on Information Technology held hearings on “ Cybersecurity: Ensuring the Integrity of the Ballot Box.”  Weighing in on the issue, President Barack Obama pointed out that most American elections are local or state, done under diverse procedures and laws, and involving a large number of voters. Even if particular computers, or a system of computers connected to the Internet, could be hacked from the outside, it would be hard for a foreign or domestic outlaw to falsify the results of a national election.  On the surface, this is a heartening thought. But consider a close election like 2004. A targeted hack — say, altering one candidate’s vote by an algorithm that kicks in as precincts increase in size — might alter the outcome in certain key counties in a swing state  In addition, voter registration lists are centralized and kept on the Internet. During the Arizona and New York primaries, many Democrats, often younger ones, reported that their registration was changed without their knowledge. They were listed as a Republican or Independent or with no year of registration indicated; as a result, they couldn’t vote in their party’s primary.  This turned out to have been done by election officials “by accident,” and perhaps also by hackers via Internet access. Bones to Pick with Bipartisan Watchdogs .  Now elections are watched over by bipartisan committees in which Appel has some confidence. At least, he points out, such supervision does not depend on a single powerful party or leader:  “When we elect our government officials, sometimes we are voting for or against the very person or political party who is in office right now, running that very election! How can we trust that this person is running the election fairly? The answer is, we organize our elections so we don’t have to trust any single person or party.  “That’s why, when you go to the polls in most places, there are typically two poll-workers there, often (by law) from different political parties; and there are poll-watchers, representing the parties to make sure everything is done right. That’s why recounts are done in the presence of witnesses from both parties. We run our elections transparently so the parties can watch each other, and the result is that even the losing candidate can trust that the election was run fairly. “  But there are two problems here. So-called bipartisanship means that third parties, such as the Green Party and the Libertarian Party, are by definition excluded.  In addition, many aspects of the process end up in the hands of a single individual. Chief Clerk of Elections Diane Haslett-Rudiano arbitrarily stripped 123,000 people from the Brooklyn voter rolls in this year’s New York Democratic primary. She was later fired by the Board of Elections — after the.election was over . Systemic Weak Points .  But Appel is even more worried about a systemic weak point in the electoral process.  “Voting machines are often delivered to polling places several days before the election — to elementary schools, churches, firehouses. In these locations anyone could gain access to a voting machine for 10 minutes. Between elections the machines are routinely opened up for maintenance by county employees or private contractors. Let’s assume they have the utmost integrity, but still, in the  we try to run our elections so that we can trust the election results without relying on any one individual.” The Necessity of Recountable Paper Ballots .  The only sure way to run a fair election, Appel says, is to use and keep paper ballots. In 2009, Germany adopted a system in which an initial exit poll is announced immediately after voting closes — this determines a range of plausible results within a margin of error — and then paper ballots are counted by hand. They have, since that time, had no major controversies about electoral fairness.  Appel testified that newer, optical screen voting machines can be equally secure if paper ballots are kept and checked. Premier Optical Scan with Automark is used, in parts of California, Colorado, and since 2008, under Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, in parts of Ohio. Often, these involve entering your vote, and leaving a record, which you see in the machine, on a paper tape, of how your ballot was cast.  But there are two striking problems with even these somewhat better machines. First, in 2014, the Environmental Protection Agency discovered that Volkswagens had an internal computer program which had long passed  emission tests, but polluted forty times more on the road . The cars were able to recognize when they were being tested (and had to keep the emission controls switched on) and when they were on the road and could pollute at will without fear of being caught. As Barbara Simons of Verified Voting aptly put it, we do not want “VW-style elections.”  Appel’s mantra is: “any computer can be hacked.”  Separating paper ballots physically from a computerized tape and keeping them in a different location, many computer experts believe, would provide further insurance against hacking even on optical scan machines.  Second, challenging the results, particularly in a presidential election and even starting from an automatic recount, as Al Gore did in Florida in 2000, is very difficult. It would take a long time to recount the votes, even if the party in power were not trying to sabotage it…  So the most important thing, as in Germany, is to get each election right in the first place. Why, we might ask, have officials sold public elections and the equal right to vote — again, the most important public feature of our democracy — to private, profit-making corporations? Once again, these corporations, claiming their programs are “proprietary” secrets, do not allow any independent check of how they operate .  A few states like New Mexico have adopted, Appel says, a model procedure for close or controversial elections:  *Immediately conduct a random recount of part of the paper ballots.  *If there is an error, do a full recount.  *Do not certify an election until both are done.”  Appel and nine other experts, including Lawrence Norden from the Democracy Program of the Brennan Center at the New York University Law School and John McCarthy of the Verified Voting Foundation, offered 10 suggestions for securing existing machines and registration lists. For instance, they underline that “without voter-verified paper ballots, effective audits are impossible; they recommend checking samples from the voting system with hand counts of matched sets of paper ballots, recruiting technical experts to help with such tests, and publicizing the results, before certification of the election.  They also recommend a new, detailed ballot accounting by each polling center and reconciliation with the number of those who signed in to vote there. Still, to put these procedures into practice would probably require sustained pressure from the voting public.  Moreover, anyone familiar with vote counting in precincts across the country knows that many computer checking and security measures these experts recommend are far too sophisticated for most poll-watchers to implement before the November 8 election. Further, all Secretaries of State, who are often unabashed political partisans, would have to have good intentions — an assumption hard to reconcile with the actions of Kenneth Blackwell in Ohio in 2004 or Katherine Harris in Florida in 2000.  In contrast, consider the record of Dana Debeauvoir, election clerk in Travis County which includes the University of Texas (Austin). She has worked with critics and computer experts, to propose a new type of encryption plus a paper record (it will not be ready, unfortunately, until the 2020 election).  A federal law requiring oversight of elections by politically independent or neutral state officials would vastly improve the security of the American electoral process. But Appel is not optimistic about the prospect of Congressionally mandated reforms. For the upcoming election, some of the recommended measures will be in place in some jurisdictions across the country.  After this election, however, with a strong democratic push from below, it might be possible to outlaw the highly insecure DREs ( touch-screen machines), provide adequate funding as well as training for election officials nationwide, and ensure an independent paper trail on optical scan machines.  In fact, it might even be possible to go to a paper ballot backed up by an initial exit poll. In contrast to this November 8 — when, at best, only the large scale of the election makes likely a trustworthy result — such reforms would ensure that our elections are, both in appearance and in reality, fair. Share This Article...",true,news,test,US elections,US elections,fake,fake,True,no,no,positive,past
15902,15903,"Sarah Sanders announced during the White House press briefing Tuesday that President Trump would visit Mississippi this weekend. On his trip, Trump will participate in the grand opening of the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum. Sanders was asked later in the briefing if Trump s visit to the civil rights museum was a good idea. American Urban Radio reporter April Ryan asked about various members of the  and black ministers who are protesting the visit. .@PressSec on @POTUS's statement regarding Charlottesville violence in August: ""I think @ got his statement very clear when he condemned all forms of racism, bigotry, and violence. There's no gray area there "" pic.twitter.com/1OCs4W48Pq  Fox News (@FoxNews) December 5, 2017 There are comments from people from the  from black ministers who are planning on protesting and boycotting this weekend for the president s visit to the Civil Rights Museum. What say you?  Ryan asked.Sanders called the planned protests to Trump s visit  sad,  saying:I think that would be honestly very sad. I think this is something that should bring the country together, to celebrate the opening of this museum and highlighting civil rights movement and the progress that we ve made and I would hope those individuals join in instead of protesting. Ryan continued her questioning, asking if Trump s statement on the riots in Charlottesville would be seen as an  insult  to those in attendance. Ryan said  They take it as an insult that he s coming. As we ve had issues of Charlottesville. The president didn t get his statement straight on Charlottesville Sanders cut Ryan off, slamming the door on the line of questioning:I think he s statement was very clear. He made it very clear. He s against violence and bigotry.After the riots in Charlottesville, Trump said:We condemn in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides.VIA:   ",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,past
15909,15910,"Police have so far tracked 48 ' Facebook murders ' in which killers used social media to hunt their prey or brag about sordid fantasies .  Now  scientists have identified six personality types that fit into this category in the first ever study on how the social networking site can affect criminal behaviour .  They believe each killer fits into the profile of either reactor , informer , antagonist , fantasist , predator or imposter .   scientists have identified six personality types that fit into this category in the first ever study on how the social networking site can affect criminal behaviour . They believe each killer fits into the profile of either reactor , informer , antagonist , fantasist , predator or imposter  A reactor is the most common type of killer , responsible for 27 . 1 per cent of Facebook murders .  It describes someone who sees comments or photos that enrage them on Facebook , and they react violently with deadly force .  An example is Wayne Forrester , who killed his wife Emma in 2008 after reading her Facebook posts , claiming that they had separated .  An informer uses Facebook to tell others they intend to kill the victim , that they have killed the victim , or both .  An antagonist engages in hostile exchanges on Facebook that escalate into face to face fatal violence . This occured in April when best friends Jordan Means , 16 , pictured left , and Anthony Bankhead , 18 , pictured right , were both found shot dead in an apartment basement in Chicago after a Facebook exchange  Experts believe they use Facebook as a way of demonstrating their control over the victim and the situation .  LaShanda Armstrong is an example of an informer after she asked for forgiveness on her Facebook page following an argument with her partner .  Shortly after , she drove into the Hudson river , killing herself and her three children . She wrote : ' I ' m sorry everyone forgive me please for what I ' m gonna do This is it ! ! ! '  Reactor ( 27 . 1 per cent of Facebook murders )  A reactor responds to content posted on Facebook by attacking the victim face to face . This may be immediately after viewing the content that makes them angry or there may be a time delay in which they revisit the content and ruminate over its meaning .  Informer ( 22 . 9 per cent of Facebook murders )  Uses Facebook to inform others that they intend to kill the victim , that they have killed the victim , or both . Informers use Facebook as a way of demonstrating their control over the victim and the situation .  Antagonist ( 16 . 7 per cent of Facebook murders )  An antagonist engages in hostile exchanges on Facebook that escalate into face to face fatal violence . Antagonists may seek to introduce a physical advantage when the conflict goes offline through arming themselves with weapons .  Fantasist ( 12 . 5 per cent of Facebook murders )  These type of murderers use Facebook to perform or indulge in a fantasy . For fantasists , the line between fantasy and reality has become increasingly blurred and the homicide may be a way of maintaining the fantasy or preventing others from discovering the deception .  Predator ( 12 . 5 per cent of Facebook murders )  Creates and maintains a fake profile to lure a victim and meet them offline . May draw upon the information available on the victim ' s profile to identify and exploit vulnerabilities to establish grounds upon which to develop a relationship .  Imposter ( 8 . 3 per cent of Facebook murders )  Posts in the name of someone else . This could be the victim in order to create the illusion they are still alive or another person to gain access to and monitor the victim ' s profile .  An antagonist engages in hostile exchanges on Facebook that escalate into face to face fatal violence .  They often try to gain a physical advantage when the conflict goes offline through arming themselves with weapons .  This occurred in April when two teenage boys in Chicago were shot dead after getting into an argument on Facebook over a stolen powercord .  Best friends Jordan Means , 16 , and Anthony Bankhead , 18 , were found dead in an apartment basement .  LaShanda Armstrong ( left ) is an example of an informer after she asked for forgiveness on her Facebook page following an argument with her partner ( right )  At the time , Jordan ' s mother , Camille Cochran , claimed her son had got into an argument with his killer just the night before on the social network .  For fantasists , the line between make believe and reality becomes blurred and murder may be a way of maintaining the fantasy or preventing others from discovering the deception .  Meanwhile , a predator creates and maintains a fake profile to lure a victim and meet them offline and an imposter posts in the name of someone else .  This could be the victim in order to create the illusion they are still alive or another person to gain access to and monitor the victim ' s profile .  Dr Elizabeth Yardley and Professor David Wilson from Birmingham University looked at examples from across the world .  The study found that 26 out of the 48 Facebook murders had occurred in Britain .  Scientists wanted to see whether murders in which Facebook was reported to have been involved were different to other homicides such as the recently committed by British banker Rurik Jutting ( pictured left )  Dr Yardley said she wanted to see whether murders in which Facebook was reported to have been involved were any different to other homicides .  They found that that victims knew their killers in most cases , and the crimes echoed what we already know about this type of crime .  However , they did find that the age profile of victims relatively low , the proportion of murder suicides as high and women were over represented as victims .  Dr Yardley urged that social networking sites should not be blamed for these crimes .  ' Social networking sites like Facebook have become part and parcel of our everyday lives and it ' s important to stress that there is nothing inherently bad about them .  ' Facebook is no more to blame for these homicides than a knife is to blame for a stabbing it ' s the intentions of the people using these tools that we need to focus upon . '  ",true,text,test,US elections,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
15939,15940,"Rancho Valencia Resort Spa took the top U . S . spot in U . S . News World Report ' s fifth annual "" Best Hotels of 2015 "" list .  The first place Rancho Santa Fe , California , resort was followed by the Lodge at Sea Island in Georgia in second place the Inn at Palmetto Bluff in South Carolina ( third place ) The Allison Inn Spa in Oregon ( fourth place ) and Four Seasons Hotel Seattle in Washington ( fifth place ) .  The magazine ' s annual rankings list more than 2 , 500 hotels across the United States , Caribbean , Mexico and Canada .  "" We ' re taking the guesswork out of finding a great hotel , "" said Erin Shields , travel editor for U . S . News , in a press statement . "" The Best Hotels of 2015 represent the top properties recognized by experts . ""  California also took the top spot with the most ranked hotels in the United States , while New York City had the highest concentration of ranked hotels among U . S . cities .  The rest of the top hotels in the United States are The Langham , Chicago The Grand Del Mar in California , The Canyon Suites at The Phoenician in Arizona Four Seasons Hotel Chicago and The Jefferson in Washington , D . C . Of the bottom half of the top 10 , all of the hotels except the Grand Del Mar are new to the list .  The best hotel in the Caribbean is Eden Roc at Cap Cana in Punta Cana , Dominican Republic Mexico ' s top hotel is Las Ventanas al Paraiso and the Ritz Carlton , Montreal , is the top Canadian hotel .  The U . S . News Best Hotels rankings are developed using the company ' s methodology , which combines expert and guest reviews , industry awards and other ratings .  1 . Rancho Valencia Resort Spa , California  2 . The Lodge at Sea Island , Georgia  3 . The Inn at Palmetto Bluff , a Montage Resort , South Carolina  4 . The Allison Inn Spa , Oregon  5 . Four Seasons Hotel Seattle  6 . The Langham , Chicago  7 . The Grand Del Mar , California  8 . The Canyon Suites at The Phoenician , Arizona  9 . Four Seasons Hotel Chicago  10 . The Jefferson , Washington , D . C .  ",true,text,test,Football,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
15961,15962,"Brazilian World Cup hero Ronaldo says he is to retire from football at the end of next year .  Ronaldo , who was a member of the Brazil squad which won the 1994 World Cup and scored twice in the final in 2002 as they beat Germany , has been playing for Corinthians in his native country .  The 33 year old told the club ' s official Web site www . corinthiansweblink that he would see out his two year contract which ends in 2011 before hanging up his boots .  "" I renewed for two more years and those will be the last ones , "" he said after morning training on Monday .  Ronaldo has enjoyed a glittering international career with Brazil , scoring 62 goals in 97 appearances , setting a new World Cup record with his 15th in the 2006 finals where they were knocked out in the quarterfinals .  Despite his advancing years and with a string of injuries behind him , Ronaldo still holds out hopes of taking part in this year ' s finals in South Africa but admitted he faces a tough task in persuading Brazil coach Dunga to pick him .  "" It ' s a thing that can still happen to me , "" he believes .  But for now he has targeted South America ' s Libertadores Cup , having already helped Corinthians to the Paulista Championship in Brazil , scoring 12 goals in 20 appearances to show he still retains his scoring touch .  "" I am determined . I want to give my best , have fun and I hope to finish by winning the Libertadores , "" he said .  When he finally retires , Ronaldo will be remembered as one of the greatest footballers of all time , with a scoring rate of approaching a goal a game while plying his trade with top European club sides  Eindhoven , Barcelona , Real Madrid and both Internazionale and  Milan .  He is a three time  World Footballer of the Year .  Ronaldo began his career in Brazil with Cruzeiro and returned to turn out for Corinthians after another serious knee injury while playing for Milan appeared to signal his playing days were over .  But he has defied his critics , and after initially training with Flamengo , settled on the Corinthians and is set to act as an ambassador at the Parque San Jorge after he quits .  ",true,text,test,Football,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
15978,15979,"Los Angeles George Clooney and Meryl Streep appear to be main contenders in the 2012 Hollywood award season after Sunday night ' s Golden Globes . But the winners of the best film drama actor honors face competition from a silent film star and an actress who brought Marilyn Monroe back to life .  Clooney ' s "" The Descendants "" won for best drama film , while Clooney received the best actor in a drama film award .  "" The Artist , "" a black and white silent movie , was chosen best comedy or musical film , while its lead Jean Dujardin won best actor in a comedy or musical movie . The movie ' s music also won for best original film score .  The Globes set the stage for a Meryl Streep versus Michelle Williams best actress showdown at the Academy Awards in six weeks by handing both women best actress honors .  Streep won the drama film best actress Globe for her portrayal of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in "" Iron Lady , "" while Williams carried home the comedy or musical film Globe for playing movie legend Marilyn Monroe in "" My Week With Marilyn . ""  Since the Globes separates dramas from comedies unlike the Academy Awards Williams , Streep , Clooney and Dujardin were not competing against each other in the 69th annual Golden Globes award show .  "" Thank you to the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for putting in my hand the same award that Marilyn Monroe herself won over 50 years ago , "" Williams said in her acceptance speech .  Oscar nominations will be revealed later this month and the Academy Awards follows at the end of February .  Other films expected to be Oscar contenders also got a share of the Globes spotlight .  Woody Allen ' s "" Midnight In Paris "" lost out to "" The Artist , "" but Allen did win for best film screenplay .  The 3 D family movie "" Hugo "" was also passed up , but Martin Scosese got the best director award for making the film .  Who ruled the red carpet ?  The civil rights era movie "" The Help "" claimed the best supporting actress award for Octavia Spencer .  Spencer , who played a maid in the movie , quoted Dr Martin Luther King Jr . in her acceptance : "" All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance . ""  Although the "" Help "" characters are fictional "" they represent scores of real people , "" she said .  "" The narrative itself is part of our fabric , "" Spencer said backstage . "" It ' s important to keep the younger generation abreast of how far we ' ve come , because this is really foreign to them . ""  Christopher Plummer won the Golden Globe for best supporting actor in a film for his role in "" Beginners . ""  Steven Spielberg ' s "" The Adventures Of Tintin "" won the Golden Globe for best animated feature film .  The best foreign language film honor was awarded to the Iranian film "" A Separation . ""  Pop icon Madonna took home a Golden Globe for writing the best original song in a movie . Her "" Masterpiece "" was written for "" W . E . ""  She offered fitness advice to reporters backstage . "" The best thing for your bum is dancing , "" the Material Girl said .  Early in the broadcast , host Ricky Gervais took quick aim at the Hollywood Press Association , the group that hired him to perform hosting duties for a third year .  Gervais , in his opening monologue , compared the Golden Globes to the Oscars , "" but without all that esteem . ""  The Globes are to the Oscars "" what Kim Kardashian is to Kate Middleton . A bit louder , a bit drunker and more easily bought , "" he joked .  The group of about 85 writers invited Gervais to host the telecast again this year despite or because of the controversy stirred last year by his take no prisoners jokes .  Unlike the Oscars , the Globes also honors television shows with 11 categories .  Showtime ' s "" Homeland "" was the only  show to win two Globes . It won best drama series , while Claire Danes won the best actress in a drama series award .  Kelsey Grammer ' s Golden Globe may not be the biggest award given out Sunday night , but the actor may have been the happiest backstage where he revealed his wife is expecting twins .  Grammer won for best actor in a television drama series for his role as a corrupt Chicago mayor in the Starz series "" Boss . ""  In the television comedy or musical series categories ,  ' s "" Modern Family "" won best series , while Laura Dern won best actress for her work in  ' s "" Enlightened "" and Matt LeBlanc won best actor for Showtime ' s "" Episodes . ""   ' s "" Downton Abbey "" won for best made for  movie or mini series .  Kate Winslet won the Golden Globe for best actress in a made for  movie or mini series for her role in  ' s "" Mildred Pierce . "" It was Winslet ' s third Globe . She won two in 2009 , for "" Revolutionary Road "" and "" The Reader . ""  Winslet was asked backstage her opinion of reports that Lindsay Lohan was in negotiations to portray the late Elizabeth Taylor in a film .  "" I ' m not going to go there , dude , "" Winslet said . "" It ' s kind of a hot zone . ""  British actor Idris Elba won best actor in a made for  movie or mini series for "" Luther . "" Backstage , he acknowledged that he ' s talked to producers about possibly becoming the next James Bond .  "" Of course , I would be honored to play the part if it comes along , "" Elba said .  The  best supporting actor and actress awards went to Peter Dinklage for  ' s "" Game of Thrones "" and Jessica Lange in "" American Horror Story "" on  , respectively .  Sidney Poitier led a tribute to actor Morgan Freeman , who was presented the Golden Globe ' s "" Cecil B . DeMille Award . ""  "" You illuminate your presence , you infuse the characters you play with a real life three dimensional aura , "" Poitier said . "" You become the character , the character becomes you . So begins a process that captivates your audience . ""  Freeman , speaking backstage , said it was watching Poitier as a teenager that steered his path .  "" Most of us need something to guide ourselves and Sidney has been my beacon , my guiding star , "" he said .  Click here for a full list of all of the winners .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
15988,15989,"The biggest sporting event on the globe may be taking place in Brazil at the World Cup , but try telling that to Royal Ascot .  The Royal Meeting kicked off today in typically grandiose style , amid a flurry of hats and horses .  The traditional curtain raiser is the Group One Queen Anne Stakes , a race won so memorably in recent years by Frankel .  This year saw an international field which would not have looked out of the place in Brazil , with runners hailing from France , South Africa and the United States as well as the  and Ireland .  The race was won by hot favorite Toronado , giving trainer Richard Hannon Jr . his first Royal Ascot winner in his first season with a license having taken over from his father over the winter .  In the Coventry Stakes , Frankie Dettori secured his 48th victory at Ascot by riding The Wow Signal home his first win at the course for two years .  "" It ' s important to start the meeting well , it ' s been a few years since my last winner here , but I ' m getting close to 50 now , "" he told reporters .  Elsewhere , Sole Power sprinted to a second consecutive victory in the King ' s Stand Stakes .  The seven year old , ridden by Richard Hughes , claimed a comfortable victory to underline his class .  The day ' s feature race , the St James ' s Palace Stakes , was billed as a rematch between the John Gosden trained Kingman , at one time regarded as a worthy successor to Frankel for owner Khalid Abdullah , and surprise 2 , 000 Guineas winner Night of Thunder .  In the event , the race did not disappoint , with Kingman reversing the Guineas result with a devastating victory under James Doyle a suitably regal victory on the opening day of a meeting as recognized for its pomp off the track as the racing on it .  This meeting traces its ancestry back to 1711 , when Sir William Wyndham , Master of the Royal Buckhounds , was ordered by his monarch to clear Ascot Heath in preparation for a horse race .  The bond between this racecourse and royalty runs deep : the Queen herself typically attends all five days , arriving by horse drawn carriage from Windsor Castle .  The Queen ' s arrival is the subject of as much fascination as the racing itself , with bookies taking bets on the color of her hat .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
16046,16047,"For the first time in weeks , in their 27 20 home win over the Chiefs to advance to the  championship game , the Patriots featured a passing game that proved at times indefensible . Tom Brady crossed the 300 yard threshold for just the second time since Week 10 , finding a steady supply of open receivers in completing 28 of 42 passes for 302 yards .  In retrospect , there s an obvious cause to the sudden halt of Brady s steady diet of sub 300 yard performances after that Week 10 win over the Giants . It was in that game that the Patriots lost their quickest , most elusive offensive weapon in Julian Edelman .  To that point , armed with both Edelman and Rob Gronkowski , Brady was amidst perhaps the second best season of his career , behind only his epic 2007 performance . Through nine games , all wins , he averaged 338 yards a contest with a total of 24 touchdowns , three interceptions , and a colossal 111 . 1 rating .  Edelman , as usual , had represented Brady s most frequent target to that point . He led the team with 61 catches and 88 targets thanks to his incredible ability to create space off the line of scrimmage and create a quick option for his quarterback .  Without Edelman , both the Patriots and their offense stalled . After averaging 34 points a game through nine contests , the team saw that mark drop by a touchdown and field goal to 24 points a game in Edelman s absence . Opponents felt free to focus considerably greater coverage to Gronkowski , resulting in a less explosive passing game .  Brady averaged 247 yards a game ? a massive 27 percent drop from the first nine contests ? with 12 touchdowns , four interceptions , and an 89 . 1 rating during the season s last seven games . Defenses proved capable of shutting down New England .  On Saturday , however , a good Chiefs defense could do little but shake its head at the inability to handle both the slippery Edelman and the beastly Gronkowski . In particular , Edelman s ability to create space off the line of scrimmage , which in turn let Brady get rid of the ball before Kansas City s linemen could get in his face . That rendered powerless one of the most ferocious pass rushes in the  .  Huge for them , right ? Chiefs linebacker Tamba Hali said of Edelman s return . If you can get rid of the ball ? Peyton Manning does it all the time ? if you can get rid of the ball and never get touches on the quarterback , it s 7 on 7 . It s huge .  The rush wasn t getting there . The ball was coming out , added Hali . When the ball s coming out within one or two seconds , there s not much you can do .  Brady targeted Edelman early and often ? including on three straight plays on the first drive of the game and on seven first quarter passes ? even as the receiver appeared to be trying to clear some cobwebs from his time away and regain his timing . Despite the drops , Brady kept going to his foremost security blanket , targeting him on 16 of his 42 passes ( 38 percent ) , connecting for 10 catches and 100 yards .  The impact of Edelman s return appeared to be felt most powerfully by Gronkowski , who was able to find favorable matchups from a number of positions on the field en route to a seven catch , 83 yard , two touchdown effort while hauling in seven of his eight targets . That 88 percent completion rate to the tight end stood in marked contrast to what happened in the prior seven games without Edelman on the field , when Brady and Gronkowski connected on just 23 of 45 throws ( 51 percent ) .  The Patriots offense , while perhaps somewhat short of peak efficiency , was operating far closer to it than it had in weeks , a product of the coverage challenges presented by the Gronkowski Edelman dynamic . The options presented to a Hall of Fame quarterback by a pair of players who create matchup nightmares while running both inside and outside routes can appear limitless at times .  It changes everything , special teams captain Matthew Slater said of having Edelman and Gronkowski on the field . Julian Edelman is a very unique player in this league and the things that he s able to do , inside and outside route running wise , poses a lot of problems . And you re maybe looking at the tight end of , definitely his generation , but maybe the best tight end that s ever laced them up .  It s worth noting that , since Edelman effectively replaced Wes Welker at the start of the 2013 season , the Patriots have yet to lose a playoff game when both the slot receiver and Gronkowski have been on the field . Brady has posted a 99 or better rating in each of his four playoff games with the tandem dating to last year .  How the Patriots ' passing offense has fared with , and without , both Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman the last three seasons .  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
16068,16069,"During a campaign event in Iowa Falls, Iowa on Monday, Bernie Sanders asked the people in the crowd to hear their experiences on what it is like to live on a $12,000 dollar a year income. The response from one woman is both chilling and powerful.Here is part of one woman s response: It s so hard to do anything to pay your bills, you re ashamed all the time when you can t buy presents for your children it s really, really, really hard   and I work 3, 4, 5 jobs sometimes, always minimum wage, I have a degree, divorced and it s just I m waiting for disability to come through so my parents have to support me   it s just hard. Bernie Sanders responds, saying: It is not easy for people to stand up and say that but the truth is that until millions of people who are experiencing what you re experiencing do say that we don t make change. You can watch the entire exchange below:The right-wing has done everything in their power to make poverty shaming as acceptable as racism has historically been. Currently, the default attack on the poor is to claim that they only want free stuff. It s a slightly more de-racialized way of calling people welfare queens.That s why it can be extremely hard for poor people to come forward with stories of their personal struggles. They have been subjected to the dogma of homo economicus their entire lives. They have a tendency to see themselves as failures, rather than the people living in an economic system that was built for them to survive, not for them to prosper.In the same way that the movement during the queer liberation movement was largely successful because it encouraged people to come out of the closest and make some noise, so to the poor must tell their stories of struggle. They must demand that their existence and struggle be heard, and to refuse to allow themselves to be dehumanized by the forces that wish to exploit them.Featured Image Credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr ",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,fake,fake,True,no,no,positive,past
16069,16070,"PORTLAND, Ore.  —   It has been a difficult few months for the Bundys. Ten months after two brothers from this country’s most notorious ranching family staged an audacious, armed occupation of a wildlife sanctuary in eastern Oregon, their call to shift federal land to local control has softened to a whisper. Some of their allies have abandoned them, and almost a dozen fellow occupiers have pleaded guilty to federal charges. Outside the downtown courthouse where the brothers, Ammon and Ryan Bundy, and five others are on trial for conspiracy, their supporters have dwindled to a handful of   patriots carrying pocket Constitutions and lamenting their shrunken ranks. “I had hoped there would be hundreds of people here, but there’s not,” said Jason Patrick, 44, tugging on a cigarette not far from a Black Lives Matter rally that had more than 100 participants. “Why wouldn’t you come to the most pressing court case of your time?” It is a long way down the mountain from the weeks in January when the Bundys drove around the   refuge in cowboy hats, leading daily news conferences for an international audience, ripping out government fences and propagating a vision of a West in which the federal authorities owned little of the land. As he sits facing an American flag in a federal courthouse, Ammon Bundy, 41, is choosing to wear    prison scrubs and depict himself as a political prisoner. Judge Anna J. Brown, however, has repeatedly rejected his lawyer’s attempts to turn the trial into a referendum on land control, chiding the lawyer, Marcus R. Mumford, each time he strays from the central question: Did the occupiers conspire to prevent federal workers from doing their jobs? “The ownership of the refuge is not up for discussion,” Judge Brown told Mr. Mumford last week, when he asked a refuge employee on the witness stand about land acquisition. “Please move on. ” The Bundys and their   face up to six years in prison. Eleven other occupiers have pleaded guilty, and most are in custody pending a sentencing hearing. Seven others will go to trial in February. And those who have not been indicted are scattered around the country, wondering when their turn will come. “They’re probably going to arrest me,” said one of them, Case Fisher, 33, a former machine operator who joined the occupation after learning about it from internet videos. He said he has bounced from state to state since the end of the takeover, finding work off the books and avoiding putting his name on a lease. “You’re always looking over your shoulder,” he said, adding a note of defiance. “We’ll never be defeated. You can’t defeat an idea and a cause. ” The Bundys became antigovernment sensations in 2014 after federal agents attempted to seize cattle that the government says their father, Cliven, had been grazing illegally on public acres. Hundreds of supporters came to the family’s aid, some taking sniper positions on a highway bridge near the family’s Nevada ranch. The authorities, fearing bloodshed, eventually backed away. The episode  —   and the fact that the Bundys were not arrested  —   emboldened activists in pockets of the West where anger at the federal government has long run deep, and it helped give rise to the Oregon takeover. But some of the militia groups who came to the Bundys’ side in 2014 have criticized the family’s actions this year. The first standoff was about defending their lives and property, the logic goes. In the second case, they sought out trouble far from home, a provocation that ended in their arrests and the death of a charismatic leader, LaVoy Finicum. “Ammon Bundy and his father basically handed their heads on the platter to the federal government,” said Stewart Rhodes, 51, the founder of a militia group called the Oath Keepers that claims to have 35, 000 members across the country. The Oath Keepers were active in Nevada, he said, but he instructed members to stick to the sidelines in Oregon. “It was an ‘Alice in Wonderland’ viewpoint: ‘This land is ours, now that we occupy it. ’” The Oregon occupation has also complicated the political landscape for state leaders who have attempted to use legitimate means to acquire federal land. The   land transfer movement has gained traction among some conservatives because federal acres contain rich troves of timber, ore and grazing grass, and certain state officials believe they should be able to decide what happens to those resources. “What the Bundys did was draw attention to that,” said Jennifer Fielder, a Republican state senator from Montana who heads a   group called the American Lands Council. “But in some ways, it was very negative attention, unfortunately. The majority of us are committed to a civil process that is going to be peaceful and isn’t going to get anybody killed. ” The Republican Party platform calls on Congress to “convey certain federally controlled public lands to states. ” But neither major presidential nominee has shown interest in such a transfer. Critics say the idea would be prohibitively expensive, saddling states with the responsibility of hiring hundreds of rangers to care for mountainsides and   forests. And they worry that legislatures would simply start auctioning off the country’s most striking landscapes. “I don’t like the idea,” Donald J. Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, told Field  Stream magazine in January, “because I want to keep the lands great, and you don’t know what the state is going to do. I mean, are they going to sell if they get into a little bit of trouble? And I don’t think it’s something that should be sold. ” A new legal analysis written by a group of Western attorneys general also places major doubts on arguments Utah lawmakers have made for the transfer of lands to state control. The report was produced by seven Republicans, three Democrats and one independent. In a twist, the Oregon occupation seems to have encouraged a revolt the Bundy brothers never expected: In recent months, counties around the West have begun passing resolutions specifically affirming their support for keeping federal lands from being turned over to the state. Some of them have been helped by the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, a group that supports the rights of hunters and fishermen. “It was backlash against this notion that all Westerners don’t like the federal government owning public land,” said Whit Fosburgh, the organization’s president. “The whole Bundy invasion probably set back the transfer movement significantly. Because it displayed this movement as a bunch of kooks. ” Commissioners in at least 21 places from New Mexico to Wyoming have signed   lands resolutions. In interviews, several said they had become concerned that their state leaders, if given control of federal lands, would start selling the ski slopes, river rapids and trekking trails that drive their communities’ economies and souls. “We all utilize those public lands for hiking and biking and motorcycle riding, floating the rivers,” said Bill Leake, a commissioner in Teton County, Idaho, who sign a   lands resolution in July. “I don’t see myself as a rebel  —   I just see myself as an informed county commissioner. ”",true,news,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
16083,16084,"An Idaho State University assistant professor accidentally shot himself in the foot during class with a semiautomatic handgun he was carrying inside his pocket , police said on Wednesday .  Shot : Byron Bennett shot himself in the foot during class  Byron Bennett was giving a lecture to 20 students when his small caliber pistol discharged in the Physical Science Complex just before 4pm , according to Pocatello Police Lieutenant Paul Manning .  The injured teacher was was treated and released from a local hospital , and possessed a so called enhanced concealed carry permit that allowed him to carry a hidden gun on campus under a state law that went into effect on July 1 .  Bennett has taught at the school since 2007 and earned his doctorate in organometallic chemistry at the University of Wyoming in 1997 .  The highly qualified chemist has 24 publications to his credit and has collaborated with 37 co authors between 1995 and 2010 .  Bennett has also been cited by 159 authors , according to Academic Search writes the Idaho State Journal .  He has declined to comment about the accident .  An investigation is underway to determine if he will be charged with a misdemeanor for discharging a firearm within city limits , the Idaho State Journal reports .  Idaho ' s Republican led legislature passed the law allowing guns on university grounds earlier this year over the objection of the presidents of the state ' s leading universities , including Idaho State , which was routinely ranked as one of the safest campuses in the United States .  In response to the new law , the university for the first time dispatched public safety officers armed with semiautomatic pistols to patrol the university ' s southeastern Idaho campus this summer to safeguard students and staff .  Investigation : Idaho State University have said this is the first time a professor has shot himself in the foot during class  Those officers and Pocatello police responded to Tuesday ' s shooting , which college spokeswoman Adrienne King said did not pose an imminent threat to the school of 14 , 000 students nor require a lockdown or evacuations .  An examination of records dating to 1997 showed no other reports of an accidental shooting on campus , she said .  Manning said authorities are investigating why the small caliber weapon discharged , whether it was fitted with a safety device and if the device was engaged at the time of the incident .  Guns are banned in areas of the physical science complex where there is nuclear research but are allowed under the new law in the chemistry lab where the firearm went off , King said .  Twenty students are enrolled in the chemistry course but it was unclear how many were on hand when the incident took place , King said .  ' Idaho State University is in compliance with the Idaho gun law . Yesterday ' s incident was an unfortunate accident , ' university President Arthur Vailas said in a statement .  The university is likely to conduct an administrative review of the incident after a probe by Pocatello police , officials said .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
16086,16087,"A signed photograph of Adolf Hitler that was salvaged from the ruins of his Berlin bunker in the final days of World War Two has emerged for sale for 18 , 000 .  The portrait was found among the rubble by late British newspaperman William Forrest , the first war correspondent at the scene days after the Fuhrer and his mistress Eva Braun committed suicide in 1945 .  The photo of Hitler was taken in 1929 after his release from prison where he served five years for high treason for an attempted government coup in Bavaria .  A signed photograph ( in the bottom left of the portrait ) of Adolf Hitler that was salvaged from his Berlin bunker in the final days of World War Two has emerged for sale for 18 , 000  It is thought the 16ins tall picture was on display in the bunker as a reminder of his perceived struggle .  Hitler took up residency in the bunker built beneath the Reich Chancellery in January 1945 and married Braun there on April 29 , 1945 as the Russian army rapidly closed in .  Mr Forrest , the chief war correspondent of the News Chronicle , was embedded with British troops when they arrived in Berlin at the end of the war .  He spotted the photograph on the floor and took it as a souvenir of the war .  A close up of Adolf Hitler ' s signature on his portrait that was found by British journalist , William Forrest  In a letter from Mr Forrest that will be sold alongside the photo , he said : ' Throughout World War  , I was the chief war correspondent of the News Chronicle . In that capacity I went into Berlin at the end of the war with the first British troops .  ' My reports from Berlin at that time can be seen in the files of the News Chronicle at the British Museum ' s Newspaper Library at Colindale , London .  ' This signed photograph of Hitler was discovered by me in the ruins of the bunker and has been in my possession ever since . '  The items are tipped to fetch 18 , 000 when they go under the hammer at The Auction Centre in Runcorn , Cheshire .  The signed photograph was found by journalist William Forrest who left this letter that will be sold alongside the photo at the auction on September 13  Auctioneer Michael Bain said : ' William Forrest was one of the most respected war correspondents of his time and arrived in Berlin with the first British troops after the Red Army had taken Berlin .  ' Among the ruins of Hitler ' s bunker he spotted this photograph of Hitler which had been signed and dated ' Landsberg 1925 ' .  ' It was taken the year after Hitler ' s release from Landsberg prison where he famously wrote Mein Kampf .  ' It ' s likely that Hitler had kept the photo to remind himself of the struggle he felt he had gone through .  ' The fact that Hitler had it with him in the bunker in the final days of the war suggests it was close to his heart .  ' Before he died , William Forrest wrote a letter explaining how the photograph had come to be in his possession .  ' He passed both on to our current vendor in the early 1990s and he has had it ever since .  ' This is a hugely important historical item with a provenance as good as they come .  ' Anything related to World War  is desirable to collectors and we are expecting a huge amount of interest in this photograph . '  William Forrest started his journalism career in 1917 aged 15 as a copy runner at the Glasgow Herald but due to a shortage of reporters he was quickly promoted to the sub editors ' desk .  He went on to become one of the greatest war correspondents of the 20th century , covering Guernica in the Spanish Civil War in 1937 , Germany ' s invasion of Poland in 1939 , the Dunkirk evacuation and D Day .  Mr Forrest was awarded an  for his journalism in 1946 and continued working right up until the 1980s . He died in 1996 aged 94 .  The auction will take place on September 13 .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
16087,16088,"Bernie Sanders still doesn ' t want to talk about Hillary Clinton ' s emails .  Sanders says in a Friday statement that there is a "" legal process in place which should proceed and not be politicized , "" regarding questions about Clinton ' s use of a private email server during her time as secretary of state .  The Associated Press reported earlier that the State Department is withholding the release of more than 20 emails from Clinton ' s correspondence because they contain information deemed "" top secret . ""  Clinton ' s campaign has questioned the secrecy of the messages and called for their release . She ' s insisted she never sent or received information on her personal email account that was classified at the time .  During the first Democratic debate last year , Sanders famously dismissed the issue by saying "" the American people are sick and tired of hearing about your damn emails ! ""  Former Florida Gov . Jeb Bush says answering a question about combating illegal drug use is "" a little harder than normal "" with his daughter in the audience ? acknowledging that she had battled a pain pill addiction while he was in office .  An audience member at a western Iowa campaign event mentioned the addiction Friday while asking Bush ' s stance on illegal drug use in the U . S .  Bush responded by first pointing to his daughter , Noelle , in the seats behind him , saying , "" I ' ve not done this in front of her , so this will be a little harder than normal . ""  Bush says there must be a focus on treating drug addiction , including more prevention programs , addiction research , and drug courts looking more at recovery than punishment .  But he also supports "" putting away the people on the streets who are selling this poison . ""  Former President Bill Clinton is offering a detailed biographical sketch of his wife as the couple embarks on a series of joint appearances in the final days of campaigning before the Iowa caucuses .  Bill Clinton is walking voters through a list of Hillary Clinton ' s accomplishments as secretary of state , U . S . senator , first lady and as a young lawyer in Arkansas .  Bill Clinton says his wife has "" never touched a thing she didn ' t make better . ""  Taking the stage after her husband , Hillary Clinton promised he wouldn ' t disappear should she win the White House ? telling voters "" he will be a really good adviser . ""  Hillary Clinton is accusing rival Bernie Sanders of leveling negative attacks ? breaking one of his core campaign pledges .  Clinton said during a Friday appearance on  ' s Nightly News that Sanders is trying to "" insinuate "" she has a weaker plan to reign in Wall Street abuses .  She says he ' s "" trying to divert attention , "" which she calls "" a time worn politician ' s tactic . ""  The two Democratic presidential candidates are locked in a close race in Iowa , just days before the first round of primary voting .  Clinton acknowledged Sanders ' lead in the contest after Iowa , saying New Hampshire always favors candidates from neighboring states .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
16098,16099,"1 Pacific trade pact details could be released this week source  ( Corrects second paragraph to say deal reached Oct . 5 , not Nov . 5 )   Nov 4 ( Reuters ) Pacific trading partners are working towards releasing details of a sweeping free trade pact , designed to free up exports of goods ranging from medicines to milk , as early as the end of this week , a person familiar with the text said on Wednesday .  Officials were working on the final aspects of the Trans Pacific Partnership (  ) text , the person said , after negotiators reached a deal on Oct . 5 in Atlanta .  The trade pact is the most ambitious in a generation and a landmark achievement for U . S . President Barack Obama , who hopes it will cement U . S . influence in the Asia Pacific region and help counter the rise of China .  But it is opposed by unions and many of Obama ' s fellow Democrats , including presidential candidate Hillary Clinton , who initially backed the developing deal when she was secretary of state during Obama ' s first term .  Some pro trade Republicans have also been wary of supporting the agreement until the whole document is released and many business groups are keen to see the fine print .  New Zealand is the official depository for the agreement , meaning it is responsible for circulating the text and related documents and notifications . Auckland is 18 hours ahead of Washington .  Release of the text may also start the clock ticking on the 12 member countries ' domestic processes for ratifying the deal .  In the United States , Obama must notify Congress 90 days before signing the deal and make the text public for at least 60 days before signing . Release this week would extend the period the text is available for public scrutiny before signing .  Under the timeline laid out by Congress , the pact will not come before lawmakers for consideration before March .  The deal will take effect within 60 days of all countries finishing the necessary implementation work , or once six countries accounting for 85 percent of the bloc ' s economic output have ratified the agreement , if not all are ready after two years .  Recent U . S . trade agreements have taken from 12 days , in the case of Oman , to 113 days , for Chile , between the conclusion of negotiations and the release of the text . That makes an average of 43 days .  ( Reporting by Krista Hughes Editing by Bill Rigby )  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
16134,16135,"Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump, speaking shortly after arriving in Israel on Monday, urged regional leaders to work together for peace and said his trip to Saudi Arabia had brought him new hope for that prospect. “We have before us a rare opportunity to bring security and stability and peace to this region and to its people,” Trump said during a welcoming ceremony after Air Force One touched down. “But we can only get there working together. There is no other way.” ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
16138,16139,"Reuters) - Six people were believed to have been injured on Saturday after a group of males reportedly sprayed a noxious substance in a number of attacks in an area around a shopping center in east London, police said. The incident was not being treated as terror-related, a police spokesman said. The attacks occurred near the Stratford Centre, in Stratford, police said. Earlier they had said the incident took place around the bigger Westfield shopping center which is nearby.  A number of people have been reported injured at different locations - believed to be six people. We await further details,  London s Metropolitan Police said in a statement. One male was arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm, the statement said. The incident occurred around 8 p.m. (1900 GMT), it said. Photographs posted online showed police officers crouching over an apparent victim of the attack as they treated him. The number of acid attacks has increased in Britain in recent years, linked to robberies and gang-related violence. The government said in July it would look at tougher punishments for people who attack others using acid. ",true,dataset,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
16141,16142,"Jason Moran is a jazz musician who has one foot in the past , one in the future and a career grounded in the present . From the past , Moran has built on the tradition of Thelonious Monk and other jazz greats . For the future , Moran looks to a new crop of musicians , teaching the next group of performers . In the present , there is his new album , ""  . "" Moran shares where he has been and why "" knowing when to ' shut up ' is extremely important . ""  Who are you ? How do you define yourself ? I am Jason Moran , son of Mary and Andrew Moran , brother of Yuri and Tai Moran , husband of Alicia Hall Moran , father of Jonas and Malcolm Moran . I define myself as an American jazz pianist , father and teacher . Music is my livelihood and art is my life . My fatherhood is contribution to the earth , and my music is my contribution to the function of humans .  What is something that everyone should know about you ? I ' m a jazz pianist that makes a living by composing teaching performing music . I compose music for my band , for film and in collaboration with artists of all genres . From Simon Schama to Kara Walker . I am currently on faculty at the New England Conservatory . I ' ve been teaching since 1998 . I was a student to a lot of great teachers , and now I enjoy sharing my experience with the younger musicians coming up the jazz ladder . I perform about 130 concerts per year around the world . Music is my life .  What prepared you for where you are now ? The village that raised me in Houston , Texas , prepared me for where I am now . The village is my aunts , uncles , cousins , grandparents , brothers . . . . The values I learned as a young boy in Houston are what have been integral to my success . Southern hospitality is a serious characteristic . Knowing when to "" shut up "" is extremely important . Knowing how to show respect to older people musicians is a major factor as well . I work with people from 20 to 80 , and each musician is different . Having older musicians tell me early on , sometimes very bluntly , what they liked or didn ' t like in my playing also helped . There is a jazz village that raises its young jazz musician s . The jazz village has helped my career tremendously , and prepared me for the climate today as a contemporary musician .  What is the biggest obstacle you ' ve ever had to overcome ? How did you get there ? Deciding to be a jazz musician was the largest obstacle , because I did not understand how to make a living as one . I figured it out once I began working and touring . I got there by studying vigorously , and asking questions of myself and my peers . I studied and conceptualized ideas so much that when the big opportunity arose , performing with then Blue Note artist Greg Osby , I took the music by the reins and began to run wild with it .  What would you tell your younger self about who you are now ? How would you advise your younger self about how to get to where you are now ? I wouldn ' t tell my younger self anything . All of the good and bad things that happened to me on my journey all inform me of how to live as a contemporary artist musician . And I cannot complain about where I am .  What are your guilty pleasures ? My guilty pleasure is buying contemporary art . An expensive habit I usually cannot afford .  What do you believe in ? I believe that music can heal .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
16154,16155,"He ' s one of the best basketball players in the country , and he led his team to victory in Monday night ' s  championship game . But the University of Connecticut ' s Shabazz Napier recently told reporters he sometimes goes to bed "" starving "" because he can ' t afford food , despite that UConn ' s student athlete guidelines include provisions for meal plans .  The remark got the attention of state lawmakers in Connecticut , who are now exploring legislative ways to allow athletes at UConn , a state institution , to unionize much like athletes are attempting at Northwestern University .  Rep . Matthew Lesser said he and other state lawmakers are considering legislation . Unlike at Northwestern , a private institution governed by the National Labor Relations Board , Connecticut law governs whether employees at a public institution can unionize .  "" He says he ' s going to bed hungry at a time when millions of dollars are being made off of him . It ' s obscene , "" Lesser said . "" This isn ' t a Connecticut problem . This is an  problem , and I want to make sure we ' re putting pressure on them to treat athletes well . ""  Napier recently called the Northwestern union ruling "" kind of great "" and said that although he appreciates his basketball scholarship , it doesn ' t cover all of his expenses .  "" I don ' t feel student athletes should get hundreds of thousands of dollars , but like I said , there are hungry nights that I go to bed and I ' m starving , "" he said .  Asked whether he felt like an employee a key distinction cited in the labor board ' s Northwestern ruling the Huskies point guard responded , "" I just feel like a student athlete , and sometimes , like I said , there ' s hungry nights and I ' m not able to eat and I still got to play up to my capabilities . . . . When you see your jersey getting sold it may not have your last name on it but when you see your jersey getting sold and things like that , you feel like you want something in return . ""  The Huskies played the University of Kentucky Wildcats in the  men ' s basketball finals in Arlington , Texas , on Monday night . Connecticut won 60 54 , fueled by a game  performance from Napier , who had 22 points , six rebounds and three assists .  UConn ' s student athlete handbook lays out provisions for dining and says athletes can eat in any residence hall between 7 a . m . and 7 : 15 p . m .  "" If you live off campus and your grant in aid includes meals , you may use your stipend to purchase an on campus meal plan . . . . This will entitle you to eat in any of the facilities , "" the handbook states (  ) .  The comments come after a flurry of chatter about Northwestern football players challenging the long established  amateur model .  Last month , the National Labor Relations Board ruled that Northwestern football players should be considered employees because of the hours they put in , the control the university has over them and the revenue they generate .  But reaction was mixed , even among those who support  reform .  On Saturday , for the first time , two leaders on the Northwestern team said after a spring practice that they won ' t vote to unionize , and head coach Pat Fitzgerald said he told his players he didn ' t believe a union was in their best interest .  Hours later ,  President Mark Emmert called the idea "" grossly inappropriate . ""  "" It would blow up everything about the collegiate model of athletics , "" he said .  The players at Northwestern , led by former quarterback Kain Colter and Ramogi Huma , founder of the National College Players Association and the College Athletes Players Association , say they want better medical coverage , concussion testing , four year scholarships that cover the entire cost of attendance and the possibility of being paid .  Northwestern is appealing the ruling to the National Labor Relations Board national office and maintains that student athletes are not university employees but "" students , first and foremost . ""  Huma has said the Northwestern ruling would have national implications , but he would not talk about whether other schools ' teams were planning to hold union votes .  At private schools like Duke and Stanford , the process would be similar to the path taken by Northwestern ' s players . There have been indications that officials at those schools are closely monitoring what happens at Northwestern .  However , at public schools , the process would vary from state to state .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Economy,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,present
16160,16161,"WASHINGTON, D. C. —  How a U. S. Border Patrol argent’s use of lethal force at the U.  border implicates constitutional rights and foreign affairs dominated arguments at the U. S. Supreme Court on Tuesday in Hernandez v. Mesa. The lawyer arguing that the agent should be held liable had a rough day in front of the justices. [Both sides agree that while standing on American soil at the border on June 7, 2010, Border Patrol Agent Jesus Mesa fatally shot Sergio Hernandez, a    Mexican national standing on the Mexican side. But then the factual accounts diverge.  According to Hernandez’s family, the teenager was playing with his friends near the border opposite El Paso, Texas, where the border runs through the middle of a concrete culvert. There is a fence on the U. S. side of the culvert. According to Mesa and the federal government, Mesa was detaining one of Hernandez’s companions on the U. S. side of the border, when Hernandez and the other teenagers started throwing rocks at Hernandez. Mesa claims that the rocks posed a danger to his safety. He repeatedly ordered then to stop and back away, but they persisted. Finally Mesa fired in what he claims is   fatally striking Hernandez. Hernandez’s family sued, and Mesa filed a motion to dismiss. Under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, when considering a motion to dismiss, a federal court must consider the plaintiff’s allegations as true when deciding whether to throw out the lawsuit versus letting it continue. The parties later present evidence to prove their version of the facts if the lawsuit goes forward, but when deciding whether to end the case before it gets started, judges must consider only plaintiff’s version. The justices must decide three issues in this case. First, whether someone on foreign soil can raise a Fourth Amendment claim here, where the agent’s action of pulling the trigger took place on U. S. soil but the alleged constitutional injury occurred on Mexican soil when the bullet struck Hernandez. Second, whether Mesa is entitled to qualified immunity here when certain keys facts were unknowable at the time of the incident. And third, whether the family can sue Mesa personally under a contested Supreme Court precedent called Bivens, going after his personal assets such as his home and retirement. Chief Justice John Roberts led the tough questioning of Hernadez’s lawyer, who seemed out of his depth in the High Court. “It seems to me that the principles you’re arguing for can’t be narrowly confined,” said Roberts, expressing concern that the plaintiff’s argument could be used against the U. S. military acting overseas. “How do you analyze the case of a drone strike in Iraq where the plane is piloted from Nevada? Why wouldn’t the same analysis apply in that case?” Justice Stephen Breyer —  a   justice appointed by Bill Clinton —  agreed. “What words do we write so that this opinion doesn’t affect the drone strike? ,” he asked. Justice Samuel Alito likewise pressed the lawyer, peppering him with questions such as if Hernandez were 19 instead of 15, or armed but with his hands up instead of unarmed, or 200 yards inside Mexico instead of at the literal border, or if the U. S. officer stepped across the border into Mexico instead of being on U. S. soil, asking each time where the line would be drawn for this newfound constitutional claim. “You’ve indicated that there’s a problem all along the border,” added Justice Anthony Kennedy, expressing concern about whether the courts should be deciding these things. “Why doesn’t that counsel us that this is one of the most sensitive areas of foreign affairs where the political branches should discuss with Mexico what the solution ought to be?” The more liberal justices asked tough questions of all the lawyers and did not clearly indicate which way they would rule. The more conservative justices seemed to favor the federal government’s position. A decision is expected by late June. Hernandez v. Mesa is No.   on the Supreme Court docket. Ken Klukowski is senior legal editor for Breitbart News. Follow him on Twitter @kenklukowski.",true,news,test,World conflict,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
16197,16198,"New Mexico homeowners who were evacuated more than a week ago will be allowed to return home Tuesday , fire officials said .  "" Homeowners will be driven to their homes in government vehicles to stay , "" said Reynaldo Rivera , public information officer for the Los Conchas fire .  Thousands of families in Cochiti Mesa were forced from their homes shortly after the massive fire began June 26 .  On Monday , more than 2 , 100 firefighters were battling the wildfire that was still threatening hundreds of buildings and ancient sites on Indian lands in northern New Mexico .  The Las Conchas fire has scorched more than 123 , 000 acres and destroyed more than 100 buildings , including 63 homes , according to InciWeb , an online interagency database that keeps track of natural disasters such as fires and floods . The fire was 27 percent contained , the website stated .  "" We are not out of the woods yet , "" said Brad Pitassi , an incident management team spokesman . "" This will take a long time to contain . ""  The fire was threatening a number of ancient American Indian sites . It had burned thousands of acres on the Santa Clara Indian Reservation and had spread onto the Bandelier National Monument , home to ancient Pueblo homes , rock paintings and petroglyphs , fire officials said .  Federal agencies also warned that heavy smoke and ash was making air quality unhealthy as far away as Albuquerque , Santa Fe and Taos , and they warned the elderly , children and those with heart or lung problems to stay indoors , according to a news release from federal agencies associated with the firefight .  Since starting last week , the Las Conchas fire quickly expanded into the Santa Fe National Forest and Jemez Ranger District . It spread rapidly because of strong winds , high temperatures and dry conditions that have similarly fueled dozens of other fires around the region .  Despite continued challenges , firefighters made some significant progress over the weekend .  Most notably , Los Alamos County Police Chief Wayne Torpy announced that a majority of roadblocks across the county were being lifted , allowing roughly 10 , 000 residents to return home .  Investigators determined that the fire was sparked after an aspen tree knocked down by strong winds struck a power line and caught fire , said New Mexico State Forester Tony Delfin . The tree then hit the ground and sparked nearby vegetation , he said .  The fire has engulfed much of the Santa Fe National Forest , the Valles Caldera National Preserve and Bandelier National Park .  It also prompted the closure of Los Alamos National Laboratory . On Saturday , the state of emergency for the lab was lifted , and the lab announced that it will reopen to employees Wednesday . At no time were nuclear or hazardous materials on site threatened , the laboratory said in a statement , adding that it was moving into an "" operational recovery mode . ""  About 20 archaeologists are also part of the firefighting effort , charged with identifying and helping minimize damage from spreading fires or suppression efforts .  At least one is assigned to each bulldozer and road grader , one of a host of measures taken to protect archaeological sites , according to the Incident Management Team . The fire already burned over many such sites in the area , which is known for its Native American history .  The Las Conchas fire is just one of dozens still burning in the United States , especially in the Southwest . Several of those are also in New Mexico , including the 100 , 831 acre Donaldson fire , about 10 miles south of Hondo , and the 10 , 250 acre Pacheco fire , about nine miles north of Santa Fe .  Pitassi said that a combination of "" extremely dry fuels , "" rugged terrain , strong winds and high temperatures have led to a "" record breaking year "" for wildfires in the United States and one that still has no clear end in sight .  "" We ' ve had almost a perfect storm scenario , "" he said .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
16205,16206,"The countries which contain the heaviest and lightest citizens can be revealed today .  This extraordinary graphic shows the average body mass index values for adults around the globe with some surprising results .  With its wealthy society and love of fast food outlets , many would place the U . S . at the top of the list .  Big : The countries which contain the heaviest and lightest citizens can be revealed today . This graphic shows the countries which have the highest averages of body mass index  Large : Many people may be surprised to learn that Kuwait has the highest average rates of body mass index in the world . This is a file picture of Kuwait city  But it is pipped to first place in the body mass index chart by Kuwait . The Arab state has an average body mass index of 27 . 5 for men and 31 . 4 for women .  This beats America in second place which averages 26 . 5 for men and 29 for women .  Adults who have an average body weight of between 18 . 5 and 24 . 9 are generally considered to have the ideal body weight for their height .  The  which has worrying rising obesity levels , particularly among children , is 26th in the list . The average  for men is 27 while for women it is 26 . 9 .  Slim : Adults who have an average body weight of between 18 . 5 and 24 . 9 are generally considered to have the ideal body weight for their height  Weight problems : The  which has rising obesity levels , particularly among children , is 26th in the list . Perhaps surprisingly , Australia is higher . This is a file picture  Other countries which appear to be heavier than the  include Germany , Greece and Argentina .  Despite its reputation as a sport crazy outdoor country , Australia is also higher than the  featuring 11th on the list , which was complied by Visual . ly .  It is unsurprising that some of the world ' s poorest countries in Asia and Africa feature as the countries with the lowest  .  Interesting : It may be surprising for many that France is quite low down in the list , despite is reputation as being a food loving nation  People from Bangladesh have the lowest  with men at 20 . 5 and women at 19 . 8 .  Other countries close to the bottom include some which have been riven by war and famine including Ethiopia , Rwanda , Kenya and Eritrea .  Some countries also have wide discrepancies between men and women .  In Jamaica , the average  for a man is 24 . 8 while for women it is 29 . 8 . Similar trends are also noticeable in Lesotho , Trinidad and Tobago , Jamaica and Haiti .  Light : These are the countries with the lowest  , many of which are among the poorest nations in the world . Bangladesh is bottom of the list  Worrying : People from Bangladesh have the lowest  with men at 20 . 5 and women at 19 . 8 . This is a file picture  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
16208,16209,"New York Friends remember Ellen Brody , a mother of three , as someone who wasn ' t careless or put others at risk .  But the Mercedes Benz  she was driving Tuesday evening suddenly moved into the path of Metro North train , triggering the deadliest crash in the history of the New York commuter railroad , a safety official said .  The engineer saw the  and applied the emergency brake as the train traveled at 58 mph , just under the speed limit of 60 , National Transportation Safety Board member Robert Sumwalt said Thursday .  It was 6 : 26 p . m .  The train sounded its horn appropriately . The flashing lights and gates at the crossing functioned properly , officials said .  The eight car train stopped 950 feet after the brake was applied , Sumwalt said . That ' s about the distance that the  was dragged . Brody and five train passengers were killed .  A witness who was driving a car behind the  told the  that the vehicle stopped at the crossing Tuesday night . The  driver came out of her vehicle after her rear window was struck by a gate .  The warning lights activated 39 seconds before the collision , the  said . The gates came down a few seconds later leaving the  in the train ' s path about half a minute .  The witness told investigators that he saw flashing lights that signaled the approaching train . He said he backed up slightly and gestured at Brody to back up away from the gate .  She returned to the vehicle and , in what seemed like "" enough time to put on a seat belt , "" suddenly moved the  forward into the train ' s path , Sumwalt said .  "" What we have here is . . . a mosaic , "" Sumwalt said . "" We ' re going to take different pieces of information . . . assemble it and see what that picture looks like . ""  The goal , he said , is to construct "" a timeline so we know exactly what happened and when . ""  Steven Harrod , a railroad expert and former professor at University of Dayton in Ohio , said oncoming trains rarely can stop in time for vehicles on tracks .  "" It is a physical reality , "" he said . "" The train ' s ' failure to stop ' is not a surprise or a cause of the accident . . . This accident was unfortunate bad luck . . . It is a constant battle against vehicles on road crossings . ""  The  driver and other motorists had been diverted to the area of the rail crossing after another unrelated accident on a nearby parkway , according to the  .  More than a dozen other people were injured in the crash .  It ' s not known why the  stopped on the tracks in Valhalla , about 30 miles north of New York City , the  said . Sumwalt said he believed Brody had owned the  a short period of time .  ' She had just a beautiful soul '  "" This was a tragic accident and you wonder why it happened , but certainly this it was not her , "" said Paul Feiner , Brody ' s longtime friend . "" She was not a careless person . She would not ever do anything that would put anybody at risk . ""  A mother of three girls , Brody , 49 , worked at a jewelry store for 10 years , according to friends . She had just left the store when she was killed .  "" Her girls really adore her , "" said Benjy Silverman , Rabbi at Chabad of the Rivertowns . "" Her husband and her were very close . It ' s really just a beautiful family unit . ""  Virginia Shasha , a co worker at the store , said : "" In one word . . . she just had a beautiful soul . She looked for the good in others . She was , she looked for the good . ""  Brody ' s actions behind the wheel moments before the crash are a focus of the investigation , officials said .  "" There are two big questions here : Why was the car on the train tracks ? "" Sumwalt asked . "" And what caused this accident to be fatal for occupants of the train ? ""  Sumwalt said the  is also examining the train ' s exits , the "" crashworthiness "" of the rail cars , and the intensity of the fire which may have been fueled by the  ' s gas tank .  Some 400 feet of the electrified third rail perforated the first rail car and part of the second in 80 foot sections "" breaking apart section by section , just basically piling up "" in the cars , according to the  .  Brody was killed in the collision along with train passengers Walter Liedtke , European paintings curator at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Eric Vandercar , a senior managing director for Mesirow Financial Robert Dirks , a scientist with D . E . Shaw Research and Joseph Nadol and Aditya Tomar of J . P . Morgan .  Brody ' s husband , Alan , on Facebook expressed his gratitude to those who have reached out .  "" Thank you to those who shared their condolences for the terrible tragedy that took my beloved wife , Ellen , whom so many of you knew . We will be saying goodbye to her on Friday Feb . 6th , 10 am at 303 Broadway , Dobbs Ferry ,  . ""  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
16213,16214,"New York The boyfriend of a swimsuit designer found dead in a bathtub at a chic New York hotel was convicted of her murder Thursday and faces up to 25 years in prison , the Manhattan District Attorney ' s office said .  A jury convicted Nicholas Brooks , son of "" You Light Up My Life "" composer Joseph Brooks , in New York Supreme Court for strangling and drowning Sylvie Cachay in December 2010 , the office said in a statement .  "" Domestic violence victims all too frequently become homicide victims , "" District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr . said . "" Sylvie Cachay suffered a terrible death at the hands of a man who claimed to love her . ""  Cachay ' s bruised body was found submerged in water in an overflowing bathtub at the Soho House club and hotel on December 9 , 2010 , police said .  A guest staying on a lower floor of the hotel reported to hotel management that water was leaking through the ceiling of that guest ' s room , according to court documents .  A hotel employee investigating the source of the leak entered Cachay ' s room and discovered her body , the documents say .  Her death was later ruled a homicide .  Authorities said they relied on interviews with hotel employees and surveillance videos from the location to charge Brooks .  Cachay ' s body had bruising on the neck and bite marks , police said . An autopsy indicated the designer suffered injuries consistent with neck compression , court records show .  Cachay had internal hemorrhaging , injuries to her scalp and cuts to her lips and mouth , the documents say .  Brooks is expected to be sentenced in court July 26 and could face up to 25 years to life in prison .  Calls to his attorney , Jeffrey Hoffman , were not immediately returned Thursday .  "" Sylvie Cachay was one of those rare individuals who truly sparkled when she spoke , "" said publicist Kate Godici . "" She will be deeply and painfully missed , yet celebrated , honored and never forgotten . ""  After heading the swimwear team at Victoria ' s Secret , Cachay debuted her own luxury line of swimwear in 2006 to rave reviews . The collection became a celebrity favorite .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
16231,16232,"Roman Coppola ( front R ) accepts the award after ' ' Mozart in the Jungle ' ' won the the Best  Series , Comedy , at the 73rd Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills , California January 10 , 2016 .  Reuters Paul Drinkwater  Universal Handout For editorial use only . Additional clearance required for commercial or promotional use . Contact your local office for assistance . Any commercial or promotional use of NBCUniversal content requires NBCUniversal ' s prior written consent . No book publishing without prior approval . RTX21S4F  Hackers and musicians ruled at the Golden Globes on Sunday as old television favorites were cast aside for a slew of new shows and rising actors .  Amazon Studio ' s streaming show "" Mozart in the Jungle , "" about the backstage lives of New York classical musicians , went home with the best  comedy series and a best actor award for its star Gael Garcia Bernal .  On the drama side , the  cable network series "" Mr Robot , "" about a bunch of hackers and anarchists , emerged the surprise winner , defeating Emmy winning  medieval fantasy "" Game of Thrones . ""  "" Mr Robot "" also brought a supporting actor prize for Christian Slater as Globe organizers , the Hollywood Foreign Press Association , continued their tradition of recognizing new programming .  "" I gotta thank the Hollywood Foreign Press . They just gave the best drama series award to a show called ' Mr Robot ' and that took a lot of courage , "" said the show ' s creator Sam Esmail .  As award winning shows and their stars including political satire "" Veep , "" ground breaking transgender series "" Transparent "" and quirky black comedy "" Fargo "" sat on the sidelines , only Jon Hamm , star of advertising drama "" Mad Men , "" was a repeat winner .  "" Thank you to the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for supporting our show all the way to the end , "" said Hamm , accepting his best drama actor award for his role as the moody womanizer Don Draper . "" Thank you to Mr Weiner ( the show ' s creator ) who wrote this horrible person and picked me to play him . ""  Fox television ' s popular hip hop industry saga "" Empire "" produced a best actress win for a jubilant Taraji P . Henson , who plays family matriarch Cookie Lyon .  "" Who knew that playing an ex convict would take me all around the globe ? ! , "" Henson said of her character , who spent 17 years in jail for selling crack cocaine .  Newcomer Rachel Bloom , 28 , beat veterans Julia Louis Dreyfus and Jamie Lee Curtis in her role as the "" Crazy Ex Girlfriend "" in the  ' s new musical comedy series , which she also helped to create . An excited Bloom recalled that the show was turned by six other networks before landing at the  .  Premium cable powerhouses Showtime and  , usually dominant in the  awards , picked up just two statuettes . Maura Tierney was named supporting actress for playing a jilted wife in "" The Affair "" while Oscar Isaac won for playing an ambitious local councilman in mini series "" Show Me a Hero . ""  Pop star Lady Gaga , dressed old style Hollywood in a form fitting black velvet gown , was a modest winner for her role as a vampire countess in the limited series "" American Horror Story : Hotel . ""  "" This is one of the greatest moments in my life , "" said an emotional Gaga . "" I wanted to be an actress before I wanted to be a singer but music worked out first . ""  Broadcast networks  ,  and  won nothing on Sunday .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
16235,16236,"Crucial talks on ending Syrian control of its chemical weapons began Thursday in Geneva with the top negotiators U . S . Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov offering similar goals but different ideas on how to reach them .  "" This is not a game , "" Kerry said , making clear that a U . S . threat to attack Syria for allegedly gassing its own people remained an option if the negotiations failed to prove Syria and its ally Russia were serious about the Syrian regime handing over its chemical weapons stockpiles .  Any agreement reached must be "" comprehensive , "" "" verifiable , "" "" credible "" and "" able to be implemented in a timely fashion , "" Kerry said , adding that "" there ought to be consequences if it doesn ' t take place . ""  Lavrov , speaking in Russian , called for following established rules and protocols in the process for Syria to join the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and said that a solution "" will make unnecessary "" a military strike on Syria .  Also Thursday , Syrian U . N . Ambassdor Bashar Ja ' afari said his country formally asked to join the chemical weapons convention that bans such arms .  However , the challenge facing negotiators was made clear by Syrian President Bashar al Assad , who told Russian  that his country would only agree to turn over its chemical weapons when the United States drops its threat to attack .  "" This does not mean that Syria will sign these documents , carry out the conditions and that ' s it , "" al Assad said , referring to the global convention against chemical weapons . "" This bilateral process is based , first of all , on the United States stopping its policy of threatening Syria . ""  In the interview , al Assad said joining the convention gives Syria a standard 30 days to provide information on its stockpiles to the international community . Kerry appeared to reject that in his opening remarks for the talks with Lavrov .  Referring to al Assad ' s comment , Kerry said : "" We believe there is nothing standard about this process "" because of the August 21 chemical weapons attack in suburban Damascus that the United States estimates killed more than 1 , 400 people .  Reiterating the U . S . contention that al Assad ' s regime was responsible , Kerry said "" we have in no uncertain terms made it clear that we cannot allow that to happen again . ""  The planned two days of meetings in Geneva by full diplomatic teams , including weapons experts , were considered a litmus test by President Barack Obama ' s administration for whether Russia is serious in pushing its ally Syria to give up hundreds of tons of chemical arms .  Otherwise , Obama argues for targeted military strikes intended to inhibit Syria ' s ability to use its chemical weapons and deter it from considering doing so .  Key developments in Syria crisis  Skepticism that Russia plan may be stall tactic  Kerry first publicly broached the idea of Syria turning over control of its chemical weapons , responding to a journalist ' s question Monday that such a move would prevent a U . S . attack .  In a move that appeared to catch the Obama administration by surprise , Russia then formally proposed putting the Syrian chemical arsenal under international control and al Assad ' s regime said it agreed .  The ongoing U . S . Russia negotiations in Geneva aimed to work out details on taking control of Syria ' s chemical weapons , setting the stage for a related U . N . Security Council resolution .  However , Russia ' s steadfast opposition to any U . N . action on Syria raises questions about whether the talks in Geneva are merely a stall tactic to put off the U . S . attack Obama is threatening .  As a permanent member of the Security Council , Russia has so far blocked U . N . action sought by the United States and European allies against al Assad ' s regime over chemical weapons .  That track record fuels questions in the United States about the sincerity of the new Russian proposal for Syria to turn over control of its chemical weapons , with concerns it is a stall tactic to put off a U . S . attack or some other form of international response .  Kerry told Syrian opposition leaders Thursday that he entered the talks with Lavrov "" from a position of skepticism , "" said a senior State Department official on condition of not being identified .  That sentiment was echoed by House Speaker John Boehner in Washington .  "" I have doubts about the motives of the Russians and Assad , "" Boehner said .  U . N . report on Syria coming  Obama had tried to put together a  coalition to attack Syria . But he ran into roadblocks , like the vote by Britain ' s parliament a normally reliable party opting not to participate .  He then asked Congress to authorize a military response in Syria , but appeared in danger of losing that vote until the Russian proposal emerged Monday to provide a diplomatic opening .  While Kerry was in Geneva , Obama met with the rest of his Cabinet on Thursday and wished his absent secretary well .  "" I am hopeful that the discussions that Secretary Kerry has with Foreign Minister Lavrov as well as some of the other players in this can yield a concrete result , "" Obama told reporters . "" And I know that he is going to working very hard over the next several days to see what the possibilities are there . ""  Thursday ' s initial session revealed some of the dynamic between Kerry and Lavrov .  In their opening statements , Lavrov spoke first with mostly technical comments and then Kerry followed with longer and more forceful remarks . When he finished , Lavrov asked to respond and said he hadn ' t come "" prepared with the extended political statement , "" adding that "" diplomacy likes silence . ""  Kerry then asked the translator to repeat Lavrov ' s final comment , but when that didn ' t happen , Lavrov tried to assure Kerry there was no problem .  "" You want me to take your word for it ? It ' s a little early for that , "" Kerry said , smiling , as the two men shook hands for the cameras .  In some potential good news for Obama , French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said Thursday that a U . N . report on the August attack in Syria will "" probably "" be published on Monday , and that there will "" certainly be indications "" pointing to the origin of the attack .  France and other U . S . allies have said they want any international response on Syria to come under U . N . auspices , and the report by inspectors who traveled to the site of the attack would be a first step toward generating support for a Security Council resolution .  Obama makes case for action  The president insists he has the authority to attack Syria without congressional approval , but says he decided to seek the support of legislators for the sake of national unity .  In a speech Tuesday night , Obama made moral and strategic arguments for taking action on Syria , challenging Congress and the American public to look at video footage of victims and saying that letting al Assad get away with it would harm the security of the United States and its allies .  Analysis : Obama a winner or loser on Syria ?  Opponents of a U . S . military strike argue that it could lead to another quagmire in someone else ' s civil war , and that Obama ' s proposal for limited strikes would fail to achieve the objective of eliminating the threat of Syria ' s chemical weapons .  Russian President Vladimir Putin injected himself into the American debate with an opinion piece first published late Wednesday on the New York Times website that argued against U . S . military intervention in Syria and implicitly criticized Obama .  The White House shrugged off Putin ' s jabs at Obama as "" irrelevant , "" arguing that Russia ' s diplomatic intervention over Syria ' s chemical weapons meant that Putin now was "" fully invested "" in removing them from al Assad ' s control .  The artillery described as light weapons , some anti tank weapons and ammunition are not American made , but are funded and organized by the  . They started to reach rebels about two weeks ago , the official said .  "" We are getting now a lot of support from our American friends , but I can ' t talk in detail about all kinds of the support , "" Idriss said .  Congress approved supplying weapons to the rebels after the administration asserted earlier this year that the al Assad regime had used chemical weapons on a small scale .  Before that , Obama had rejected calls by his national security team and members of Congress to increase direct military aid to the rebels .  Those pushing for arming the rebels argue such a step would counter Russian weapons supplied to al Assad ' s forces and strengthen the hand of moderate members of the Syrian opposition , making them less reliant on well armed Islamic extremist elements within their ranks .  But a senior U . S . military official has said , "" we do not see a clear division between moderates and extremists , "" making it hard to back the opposition without supporting extremist elements as well .  While one U . S . official says "" only a minority are extremist "" a reference to rebel fighters tied to the al Qaeda linked al Nusra Front U . S . officials familiar with intelligence assessments say many more rebel fighters than belong to that group may want to establish an Islamic state in Syria .  On the other side of the bloody war , al Assad ' s forces are getting support from at least 2 , 000 members of Hezbollah a pro Syrian group based in Lebanon that the United States has designed as a terrorist organization U . S . officials estimate .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
16261,16262,"Islamic State supporters in Malaysia pledge revenge for arrests  Malaysian military and police patrol outside a shopping mall in Kuala Lumpur .  Bangkok : ? The south east Asian wing of Islamic State has threatened revenge for the arrests of a growing number of its militants in Malaysia , prompting a further tightening of security in the Muslim majority nation .  "" If you catch ? us we will only increase in number but if you let us be , we will be closer to our goal of bringing back the rule of khalifah ? caliph , "" Malay speaking militants warned in a video posted on an  sanctioned website .  ? "" We will never bow down to the democratic system of governance , as we will only follow Allah ' s rules , "" they said , in a transcript of ? the video published by Malaysia ' s Star Online . ?  Malaysian Islamic State fighters have vowed revenge after the arrest of militants in the past week .  The threat came as Justice Minister Michael Keenan told a conference on violent extremism in Kuala Lumpur that thousands of foreign fighters who have flocked to Syria and Iraq have produced a "" new generation of terrorists ? many with the skills , experience and international connections required to threaten international security for years "" .  "" Regional challenges , such as the flow of foreign fighters and the transfer of illicit funds , must be addressed collectively , "" he told the conference attended by ministers and officials from 19 countries .  Mr Keenan said responses to the threat of radicalisation must be comprehensive and innovative , pointing to a ? small but growing number of jail inmates who ? are showing signs of radicalisation .  Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak used his opening speech at the Kuala Lumpur conference to defend the country ' s strict security laws .  Prisons were a priority area for the government in rolling out de radicalisation programs aimed at prevention and ? rehabilitation , he said .  "" On release , we prepare these individuals to reintegrate into the community by providing psychological , employment and education support . We also offer social and religious support by offering individual mentoring with trained imams . ""  There was a prison lecture series open to all Muslim prisoners to promote credible , mainstream religious principles and to ensure that radical ideas did ? not take root among the prison population , he said .  These lectures focus on core Islamic teachings and practices , including condemning terrorism and violence .  The one minute "" revenge "" video , showing fighters from the so called ? Katibah Nusantara ( Malay Archipelago brigade ) , ? was posted as Malaysian police arrested seven Malaysian nationals they accused of plotting to attack strategic locations across the country .  Police also arrested four suspected militants last week , including an insurance salesman they alleged was plotting a lone wolf attack on several popular entertainment venues in Kuala Lumpur .  Police in Kuala Lumpur ? said the latest arrested suspects , aged from 26 to 50 , had received orders to carry out attacks from the leaders of Katibah Nusantara , including Bahrun Naim , an Indonesian militant named as the mastermind of the January 14 attack in Jakarta .  They said one of the seven suspects had received orders from Muhammad Wanndy Mohamed Jedi , a Malaysian national who joined a Malay speaking combat unit in Syria and was seen in a video of the beheading of a Syrian man in 2015 .  Police said the suspects included a security guard , a  technician and a factory store supervisor . ? They said they had seized bullets , books on jihad , Islamic State flags and propaganda videos .  Malaysia ' s counter terrorism head Ayob Khan acknowledged the video , telling reporters security agencies had ? stepped up their vigilance around the country .  "" It proves that  , especially the Katibah group , views our country as secular , and as such makes the government and the people its targets , "" he said .  Meanwhile , Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak , facing a barrage of calls to resign over a corruption scandal , opened the Kuala Lumpur conference by defending his government ' s draconian anti terrorism laws , under which more than 120 people have been detained over the past two years .  "" We will not wait for an outrage to take place and then take action , "" he said .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
16268,16269,"—   Only hours after Britain decided to leave the European Union, Emmanuel Lumineau cast his own “remain” vote  —   with his feet. Mr. Lumineau said he would move to Paris from London and take about 10 employees at his financial   with him. The looming question on Friday was how many other executives might reach the same conclusion, undermining Britain’s status as the No. 1 destination in Europe for foreign investment. Mr. Lumineau’s reasoning was simple. His customers operate under European rules and so must he. “We need to be inside,” said Mr. Lumineau, the French chief executive of BrickVest, a company that allows customers to invest small sums in real estate online. The   business consequences of Brexit will take years to fully emerge, largely because no one knows what kind of new trade barriers and regulations will emerge from negotiations with the European Union. But already there were worrisome signs that the “remain” camp’s warnings of economic tumult could come true. Jamie Dimon, chief executive of JPMorgan Chase, warned his staff in a memo on Friday that in months to come “we may need to make changes to our European legal entity structure and the location of some roles. ” Mr. Dimon had said before the vote that up to a quarter of JPMorgan’s 16, 000 employees in Britain might need to relocate. Shares of British property companies plunged Friday on fears that the Brexit vote will cause a recession and deflate London’s real estate boom. Jürgen Maier, the top executive in Britain of Siemens, the German electronics and engineering giant, said it might need to rethink its investment plans. He predicted others would do the same, at least until they can judge the impact of Brexit. “All companies will be holding fire to see what happens,” said Mr. Maier, Siemens’s chief executive for Britain. For decades, big multinational companies have used Britain as their     beachhead to Europe. As a member of the European Union, Britain offered frictionless access to the mainland, while the legacy of Margaret Thatcher meant there was far less regulation than in France or Germany. Now that the English Channel suddenly seems a lot wider, businesses are waiting nervously to see what kind of new Europe will take shape. Negotiations on a   trade relationship are likely to be messy and take years. And in the meantime, Europe could be in for serious political instability as   parties in France, Finland and other countries try to ride Britain’s coattails out of the union. It is not all bad for business. The plunging pound will help the tourism industry by making Britain cheaper to visit.  Mini automobiles and other products manufactured in Britain will be less expensive for people paying in euros and other foreign currencies. That could be good for exports. Britain could also be free to follow its free market instincts without interference from Brussels. If the “leave” forces are correct, that would make the country a magnet for companies seeking to escape the regulatory corset of mainland Europe. But any advantages are likely to be outweighed by the enormous uncertainties ahead. With no road map, executive   could be paralyzed and investment could come to a standstill. Britain’s financial services industry, which employs 1. 2 million people, is especially vulnerable. New stock listings in London are likely to all but cease while companies take stock of the damage. Foreign banks may face the costs of moving thousands of employees out of London to the Continent so they can satisfy regulations governing trading and investment advice on behalf of European clients. London had provided a convenient hub to serve Europe. James P. Gorman, the Morgan Stanley chief executive, and Colm Kelleher, the president, said Friday that they had no plans to relocate staff from London. But in a memo to employees  —   many of whom worked through the night to handle a huge trading volume  —   they said they might “consider adjustments to our operating model. ” Even Deutsche Bank, the symbol of German banking nominally based in Frankfurt, uses London as a base for investment banking and trading. It has often made most of its profit there. “I’m afraid that this is not such a good day for Europe,” said John Cryan, the Deutsche Bank chief, who happens to be British. “At this stage, we cannot fully foresee the consequences, but there’s no doubt that they will be negative on all sides. ” Perhaps no company embodies the European project more than Airbus, a politically driven consortium that allowed Europe to remain a player in the aircraft industry after smaller national manufacturers could no longer compete. Airbus produces wings in Broughton and employs 15, 000 people in Britain plus tens of thousands more at suppliers. Outside the union, Britain may no longer have as strong a claim on those jobs. “This is a   result for both Britain and Europe,” said Thomas Enders, the Airbus chief executive. “We will review our U. K. investment strategy, like everybody else will. ” Other sectors as different as petrochemicals and Scottish whisky could be damaged by increases in customs duties, diverging legal requirements and slumping growth. Energy companies like  or Royal Dutch Shell are worried about having to deal with an unwieldy snarl of differing regulations once the European Union umbrella is gone. “Uncertainty is never helpful for a business such as ours,”  said in a statement Friday. United States technology companies like Google and Facebook have sizable operations in Britain, though their headquarters are technically in   countries like Ireland and the Netherlands. Google employs roughly 1, 000 engineers across Britain, working on global products like its search engine and Android mobile operating system. Technology companies could be under pressure to move sales and marketing jobs from Britain, so these employees can still have access to Europe’s common marketplace. The ties are especially close between Britain and Germany, where the dismay was particularly pronounced. Britain imports more products from Germany than anywhere else. Britain is Germany’s   customer for exports, after the United States and France. German brands like BMW, Mercedes and Volkswagen account for half the cars sold in Britain, according to the German Association of the Automobile Industry. Sales could suffer if Britain raises tariffs on imported vehicles. Shares of BMW, Daimler and Volkswagen plunged Friday. German companies have helped keep alive manufacturing in Britain. Mini and   are considered iconic British car brands, but both are owned by BMW. Bentley belongs to Volkswagen. Probably the most important company in the renaissance of British car manufacturing has been Nissan, which has pumped close to 4 billion pounds since the   into a   factory in Sunderland in northeast England. Last year the company produced about 475, 000 vehicles, about a third of Britain’s total, exporting about 55 percent of them to the European Union. Yet despite the European Union’s importance to local jobs, voters in Sunderland voted overwhelmingly to leave. The Brexit camp won 61 percent of the vote compared with 39 percent for remain. Stuart Boyd, a Nissan spokesman, said on Friday that the company was not ready to comment on how it might respond. Perhaps workers believed that Nissan sales would increase because of a weaker pound. But any stimulus to British exports from a devalued currency is likely to be offset by higher prices for imported goods. Britain has a trade deficit, so a weaker pound is on balance negative. Another huge foreign manufacturer is Siemens, based in Munich, which has 13 factories and 14, 000 workers in Britain making products like electric motors, gas turbines and trains. Siemens is not about to pull up stakes. But Mr. Maier, the Siemens chief for Britain, said the Brexit vote could force the company to recalculate some investment decisions. For example, European Union grants help finance Siemens research and development projects in Britain in areas like   cars. That financial support will disappear once Britain is out. “The question is more about future investment, future research and development,” Mr. Maier said. “That’s hanging in the balance. ” He embodies the strong ties between Britain and the mainland. Born in Germany, Mr. Maier has lived in Britain since he was 10, studied there, and speaks with a British accent. He said that there was a palpable sense of anxiety Friday morning when he visited a company office in Manchester that is used by engineers and customer service representatives. “It’s usually a really buzzing office,” Mr. Maier said. “This morning it was definitely quiet. Customers weren’t calling. That’s not a good sign. The country is just taking all of this in. ”",true,news,test,World conflict,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
16281,16282,"Jean Michel Fauvergue , head of France s antiterrorist unit , Raid , said that as she triggered the vest , windows along the street shattered from the blast . A body part , a part of the spine , fell on one of our cars .  The woman has not been officially named by the French prosecutor but is believed by police to be Hasna Aitboulahcen , a 26 year old French woman of Moroccan origin who lived a secular lifestyle , which included heavy drinking and attending nightclubs . She was described by friends as outgoing and a bit clueless .  The French prosecutor on Friday said a passport in Aitboulahcen s name had been found at the Saint Denis apartment .  Aitboulahcen was a relation of Abdelhamid Abaaoud , the ringleader behind the Paris attacks last week that left 129 people dead . Abaaoud was killed in the same police raid in Saint Denis , his body found riddled with impacts .  Aitboulahcen ? according to court records , her Facebook page and local media reports ? was a daughter of Moroccan immigrants who arrived in France in the early 1970s .  Aitboulahcen in a photo that first appeared on Facebook  She was born in Clichy , Hauts de Seine , to the north of Paris on August 12 1989 and lived in the immigrant heavy Clichy sous Bois region to the north east of Paris for much of her life .  Jean Luc Wozniak , the mayor of Creutzwald , told The Associated Press that she had a sister and two brothers and that the four siblings spent some time in foster care . He said the family moved into an apartment located in a housing project in 2006 .  Her time as a student remains unclear . Her Facebook page says she went to Paul Verlaine University in Metz but the school denies any record of her . However , it is clear that she went on to be the manager of a construction company , Beko Construction , in 2013 . The business was created in Clichy sous Bois in 2011 and transferred to her name in May 2013 ? but for just seven months , according to court records . It was liquidated in 2014 .  Aitboulahcen lived outside Paris but frequently visited her father , who lives in Creutzwald , Moselle , in eastern France near the German border , according to the local newspaper R publicain Lorrain .  The town of just 13 , 000 people was the subject of a large police operation on Wednesday night , one of the more than 400 that have been carried out since Sunday night using new state of emergency powers .  Friends told the newspaper they had not seen her for five years . They said she drank alcohol and was known locally as the cowgirl because she wore a big hat .  It is not clear if it was after 2013 , the last official record of her , that she became radicalised .  If so , this would seem to be about the same time as 28 year old Abaaoud appeared to be radicalised ? he left Brussels and headed for Syria in early 2014 , where he became a high ranking Isis fighter .  Aitboulahcen expressed a wish to do the same in a posting on her Facebook page that was seen by Belgium news site  before it was deleted . She wrote on June 11 this year : Jver biento aller en syrie inshallah biento depart pour la turkie ( I am soon going to Syria , god willing , leaving soon for Turkey ) .  She is not the first female European suicide bomber . That title goes to Muriel Degauque , a Belgium woman who in 2005 blew herself up in Baghdad . But Aitboulahcen is the first female suicide bomber in Europe .  Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2015 . You may share using our article tools .  Please don ' t cut articles from FTweblink and redistribute by email or post to the web .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
16289,16290,"A pensioner branded a neighbour from hell has been warned that she must keep the peace for six months or face a fine after destroying a homeowner ' s flower bed in an apparent row over a squirrel .  Marion Webster , 78 , has been reported to police at least 40 times by long suffering neighbours for her anti social behaviour .  She was found guilty of criminal damage last October for tearing out 50 of flowers from a neighbour ' s flower beds at Solihull Magistrates Court .  ' Neighbour from hell ' : Marion Webster has been warned by magistrates to keep the peace for six months after she was found guilty of criminal damage after ripping up a homeowner ' s flowerbeds  And yesterday she was ordered by magistrates to keep the peace for six months and warned she would be fined 50 if she continued to torment her neighbours .  Neighbours say that the attack on the flowers came after Miss Webster became convinced that a resident had trained a squirrel to enter her garden .  Kaya Ball , prosecuting , said police had been called to the pensioner ' s home numerous times over the past decade .  She said : ' This isn ' t just an isolated incident of cutting some flowers .  ' On the face of it , it seems trivial , but when it is presented as part of a long standing neighbour dispute you can see there are several incidents . '  But Sam Christopher , defending , said she was an elderly lady of ' previous good character . '  Following sentencing , neighbours today branded Webster ' a neighbour from hell ' and expressed anger at her lenient sentence .  Row : Neighbours say that Miss Webster attacked a neighbour ' s flowers after a row over a squirrel that had been coming into her garden  One said : ' The last thing you expect to have when you move into a nice quiet neighbourhood like this one is an elderly woman acting like a yob .  ' She is very proud of her garden and she got it into her head that someone had it in for her and was jealous of her flowers .  ' She put up a big metal gate , extended the height of her fences and made the place into a fortress .  ' Then she became convinced a resident had trained a squirrel to enter her garden after dark and tear up her flowers but everyone thought it was a joke .  ' One night she cut someone ' s flowers up and tore up plants from the roots . '  Another reported her to police for playing loud classical music at 3am .  One claimed : ' She seems to enjoy causing a fuss and making everyone ' s life hell . '  West Midlands Police confirmed they had been contacted more than 40 times since 2002 about alleged incidents including claims from Webster herself that she was a victim of flower vandals .  A spokeswoman said : ' The force has been working in partnership with a vulnerable persons officer , social services and Solihull Community Housing to engage with everybody concerned and to resolve the problems in the area .  ' There have been no complaints since October 2012 . '  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
16306,16307,"Transcript for Donald Trump Under Extreme Fire for Mocking Reporter  And in the race for the White House Donald Trump lashing out against a reporter he ' s done that before but this time appearing to law that reporter for a disability . Tonight the video and what trump is saying about it now . Here ' s  Sicily Avaya . It ' s being called a new low even for Donald Trump . The presidential front runner in South Carolina this week up hearing tomorrow eight disabled journalist and other book I gotta see this guy I don ' t know what eyes at all . That reporter the New York Times is search Coppola ski who has a chronic condition affecting his joints that limits flexibility in his arms . Tonight the New York Times firing back . Saying we ' re outraged that he would ridicule the physical appearance of one of our reporters . It came as trump defended his claim that he saw people in New Jersey cheering on 9 11 . Law enforcement and government officials now rejecting that as false . But this is hardly the first time trump has come under fire for offending someone . From Mexicans . They ' re bringing drugs . They ' re bringing crime . They ' re raped this . Two veterans . Is that the war here I like people who weren ' t captured Ocalan to women . You call women you don ' t like fat pigs only Rosie O ' Donnell . I don ' t know what eyes at all I don ' t ask . Trump not backing down this time they ' re saying he was merely mimicking a cluster reporter tweeting . If mr . Coble a ski is handicap I would not know because I do not know why he looks like . That was from today to Hewitt joins us sunset and to see Lee get another tweet from trump . Yeah that ' s right he says that the reporter is using his disability to grandstand and is demanding now . An apology from the New York Times asked for not knowing that reporter search couple  . He says he covered truck for years and in an interview with the Washington Post couple  says he is short term remembers him and his condition Tom . Trump staying in the headlines always right to Celia thank you .  This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100 accurate .  In an interview , the actor expressed his frustration with the political landscape and a desire to do something about it .  Now Playing : Donald Trump Under Extreme Fire for Mocking Reporter  Now Playing : President Obama Ties Mayflower Pilgrims to Syrian Refugees  Now Playing : Barbra Streisand Imagines a 2016 Trump Clinton Face Off  Now Playing : Barbra Streisand : ' Terrifyingly Scary ' Picturing Trump as President  Now Playing : Obama Promises Hollande ' Total Solidarity ' With France  Now Playing : Trump Says He Heard From ' Hundreds ' Who Saw 9 11 Celebrations in   Now Playing : Trump ' s Latest 9 11 Statement Draws Criticism From Fact Checkers  Now Playing : Obama Responds to Allegations of Manipulated Military Intelligence Reports  Now Playing : Donald Trump Still the  Frontrunner  Now Playing : Bernie Sanders Takes His Message to South Carolina Churches  Now Playing : Trump leads Carson in New  WaPo Poll  Now Playing : Ben Carson Further Defends Foreign Policy Credentials  Now Playing : Donald Trump Again Says He Saw Cheering in New Jersey on 9 11  Now Playing : Martin O ' Malley on 2016 Presidential Race  Now Playing : Ben Carson on 2016 Presidential Race  Now Playing : Donald Trump on 2016 Presidential Race  Now Playing : New Poll Shows Trump ' s Firm Lead  "" id "" : 35437270 , "" title "" : "" Donald Trump Under Extreme Fire for Mocking Reporter "" , "" duration "" : "" 2 : 00 "" , "" description "" : "" The Republican frontrunner appeared to make a gesture with his hands to make fun of the reporter . "" , "" url "" : ""  video donald trump extreme fire mocking reporter 35437270 "" , "" section "" : ""  "" , "" mediaType "" : "" Default ""  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
16319,16320,"New Education Secretary Nicky Morgan ' s department says that independent schools must ' actively promote ' British values  Independent schools and academies may be forced to drop Christmas celebrations under rules designed to tackle extremists , critics warned yesterday .  They say 6 , 000 private schools will be compelled to adopt political correctness .  Following the Trojan Horse scandal , in which Birmingham schools came under the sway of Islamic extremists , the Education Department proposed that independent schools must ' actively promote ' British values said to include respect for legally ' protected characteristics ' .  Critics warn the rules will bring a series of unintended consequences , including preventing teachers from using words like husband or wife when discussing marriage making teachers inflate the reputation of politicians in their lessons , and dictating the curriculum and exams schools must use .  They also accuse the Department for Education of setting too tight a timetable when it set up a consultation among schools over the rules . Responses to the key proposals had to be returned last week a month before the end of the school holidays and at a time when heads are likely to be on the beach rather than answering Whitehall questionnaires .  The Independent School Standards consultation was begun in late June at the height of the Trojan Horse affair , in which a group of schools in Birmingham were found to have fallen under the sway of Islamic extremists . An inquiry found the schools segregated boys and girls , disparaged British soldiers , promoted hatred of homosexuals , and taught scepticism about responsibility for the murder of soldier Lee Rigby and the Boston bombings .  The resulting Education Department proposals say that independent schools must ' actively promote ' British values , which are said to include respect for legally ' protected characteristics ' such as homosexuality , religion , gender change , disability , race and marital status . They also require improved teaching standards from schools with the lowest levels of attainment .  The rules will apply to academies and free schools as well as the long established independent sector .  A consultation paper reveals this would allow Education Secretary Nicky Morgan to take ' regulatory action ' in cases such as where girls are ' disadvantaged ' on grounds of gender , ' failure to address homophobia ' , or where prejudice against other faiths is ' encouraged or not adequately challenged ' .  The Christian Institute (  ) warned this may rule out Christmas events if other religions ' festivals are not celebrated to the same degree . It also fears teachers may have to avoid the words ' husband ' and ' wife ' when discussing marriage , so as not to discriminate against same sex couples .  The  ' s Colin Hart said : ' They mistakenly advance the principle that political correctness equal British values . Accordingly they could be used to punish any school in the independent sector which has a religious ethos , a set of traditional beliefs , or which does not promote every minority group ' s world view . '  The Institute said Christmas celebrations in schools and use of words like ' husband ' and ' wife ' in discussions of marriage could be barred under the proposals .  Mr Hart added : ' Under the plans , private schools , academies and free schools would have much less control over their ethos than ordinary state schools . There was clearly a managerial problem in the schools in Birmingham , but is forcing more than 6 , 000 schools and nearly three million pupils to the submit themselves to every whim of the  brigade really the best way to tackle it ? It makes no sense . '  Adderley Primary School , Birmingham was among those in Trojan Horse operation by Islamic fundamentalists  A reply to the Education Department from the Independent Schools Council , which represents 1 , 200 schools , said that forcing schools to accept common standards means they will be ' subject to political interference ' and that the proposals ' risk dictating to independent schools which curriculum to follow . '  The Council ' s objections also say that ' there is a major risk of unintended consequences ' , that standards in high achieving schools will be forced down , and ' time will be wasted considering how schools actively promote these values . '  It added : ' Explicitly requiring schools to encourage respect for the basis on which the law is made in England comes close to requiring schools actively promote respect for politicians as lawmakers . '  The Association of School and College Leaders , which represents over 18 , 000 heads and senior staff , said the proposals had been made in undue haste and to such a short timetable that many heads would find out what was happening only after consultation deadlines had passed . A submission from the Association said : ' This can only undermine respect for democracy and the rule of law as practised in Britain . '  Mrs Morgan now faces a High Court judicial review brought by the Christian Institute over the attempt to impose the rules on independent schools without giving proper time to listen to their views .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,negative,present
16329,16330,"A 911 call made by a horrified restaurant worker after finding her co worker dead in a dumbwaiter reveals the terrible extent of the 21 year old victim ' s injuries .  The unnamed employee of Fountain City ' s WingDam Saloon and Grill in Winona , Minnesota , had evidently opened the elevator used to shuttle drinks between floors to find a Brooke Baures in an unspeakable state .  ' I think one of my co workers got ( caught ) in , like , our dumbwaiter , ' the co worker told a 911 operator just before 8m Monday . ' But I ' m not willing to look close enough . '  Police so far have found no witnesses to help them in the investigation of the death of Brooke Baures who was found in a dumbwaiter where she worked  As students of Winona State University mourned , and held a candlelit vigil for their friend , local authorities began trying to peace together what killed the beloved college gymnast .  After days , they still couldn ' t find anyone among two dozen witnesses who ' d seen her get into the 3x3 machine , though they remained confident no crime had been committed .  ' She was found trapped inside the entirety of the device , ' Fountain City Police Chief Jason Mork revealed . ' To explain more of her specific location , orientation or obvious injuries would require an extremely graphic explanation . '  Mork said Wednesday he has interviewed about half of the customers and employees present at the WingDam Saloon and Grill Monday night , and that , so far , no one saw how the student entered the dumbwaiter .  Mork said he has talked face to face with about 14 of the 28 potential witnesses and said there was no indication how or why Baures entered the food elevator . It was not something employees had done in the past , he said .  Baures was found at the bottom of a dumb waiter on Monday at the bar and grill where she worked in Wisconsin .  The 21 year old was found dead at The WingDam Saloon Grill in Fountain City at 8pm on Monday  Horrifying : The device is used to shuttle drinks and food between floors and authorities said Wednesday that Baures was ' found trapped inside the entirety of the device ' (  )  Last night her teammates from Winona State University led the tributes to the talented gymnast , saying ' she was literally everything to the team . '  Brooke Hiestand , a member of Winona State Warriors , said : ' She was the person that held us together , and if you had something that you didn ' t know what to do . . . for some reason , she always knew the answer . . . always . '  Police investigating the death said they haven ' t found a single witness to explain how the gymnast ended up dead in a food elevator .  Fountain City Police Officer Jason Mork said he had interviewed half of the customers and employees at the WingDam Saloon and Grill in Wisconsin on Monday night .  Students at Winona State University held a candlelit vigil for Brooke Baures , 21 , who was found at the bottom of a dumb waiter on Monday  Her teammates from the Winona State Warriors led the tributes to the talented gymnast  Head gymnastics coach Beckie Rolbiecki asked friends , family , and classmates to raise their candles  Autopsy results are still pending , but officers have not found any indication that her death was caused by foul play .  Chief Mork said the dumbwaiter ' s opening is about 3ft by 3ft and the service elevator connects the first and second floors .  Police said she was trapped in the small elevator when they arrived .  Miss Baures , an accomplished athlete , was twice named the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference gymnast of the week this year and documented her athletics career enthusiastically on social media .  She was described by friends and family as a ' strong , determined , and beautiful young woman ' at the candlelit vigil held on the University campus .  College gymnast Miss Baures with her boyfriend , Joel Hinke , who played for their college football team the Winona State Warriors  Allison Bergsbaken ( left ) and Sarah Adrian comfort each other while celebrating the life of Miss Baures  Her boyfriend Joel Hinke , who played for the Winona State Warriors football team , broke down as he spoke about how he had planned to marry her .  The college paid tribute to Baures who was an accomplished member of the gymnastics team from 2011 to 2014 .  ' She was a leader on the team and a talented gymnast , ' said  athletic director Eric Schoh in a statement .  ' This is a tremendous loss for our community , and we ask that you keep Brooke and her family , friends , coaches and teammates in your thoughts . '  Winner : Brooke poses with her coaches after taking home a triple haul of medals after a gymnastics meet  Photographs posted to social media show Brooke and her family happily posing for pictures at Warriors games .  The 21 year old was also a huge music fan and on her Facebook page posted a picture on November 22 with herself and country music stars Dan Shay along with the caption : '   ' .  Tributes from distraught friends have been flooding onto social media since her death was announced on December 1 .  Friend Annelie Schmittel posted : ' Thoughts and prayers go out to the family of my former student Brooke Baures , as well as my  Warriors family . Devastating news . '  According to the U . S . Occupational Safety and Health Administration , dumbwaiter accidents are rare .  According to the  database , only two incidents , both fatal , have happened in the U . S . between 2003 and 2013 .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,satire,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
16337,16338,"David Duckenfield has admitted that his failure was a direct cause of the deaths of 96 Liverpool fans at the Hillsborough disaster  The police match commander in charge of Liverpool ' s  Cup semi final with Nottingham Forest in 1989 has admitted that his failure to close a tunnel was the direct cause of the deaths of 96 fans at the Hillsborough disaster .  During the inquest into the deaths today , David Duckenfield also admitted that he ' froze ' on the day in question , while Paul Greaney  suggested that a child of ' average intelligence ' could have realised the consequences of opening a gate to relieve congestion .  Up to 2 , 000 fans entered Hillsborough stadium ' s Gate C , with many heading straight for a tunnel in front of them which Mr Duckenfield had not ordered to be closed .  They then continued to the already full central pens on the terrace which led to the fatal crushing .  Mr Greaney reminded Mr Duckenfield of his earlier evidence to Christina Lambert  , counsel for the inquest , about his state of mind after the opening of Gate C when he told her : ' It was a momentous decision and your decision is such that you do not think of the next step . My mind for a moment went blank . '  Asked again if he ' froze ' , Mr Duckenfield said : ' It appears to be a distinct possibility . '  Mr Greaney said : ' You know what was in your mind and I will ask just one last time . Will you accept that in fact you froze ? ' Mr Duckenfield responded : ' Yes sir . '  Mr Greaney went on : ' Do you agree with the following , that people died in a crush in the central pens ? ' Mr Duckenfield said : ' Yes sir . '  Mr Greaney said : ' That if they had not been permitted to flow down the tunnel into those central pens that would not have occurred ? ' The witness repeated : ' Yes sir . '  Liverpool supporters were crushed to death during an  Cup semi final with Nottingham Forest in 1989  Liverpool supporters and family members of the victims of the disaster have long sought justice  The barrister continued : ' That closing the tunnel would have prevented that and therefore would have prevented the tragedy . ' Mr Duckenfield said again : ' Yes sir . '  Mr Greaney said : ' That you failed to recognise that there was a need to close that tunnel . ' Mr Duckenfield said : ' I did fail to recognise that sir . '  Mr Greaney said : ' And therefore failed to take steps to achieve that . ' Mr Duckenfield replied : ' I did sir . '  A young Liverpool fan is carried away from the danger as supporters are forced on to the Hillsborough pitch  Mr Greaney said : ' That failure was the direct cause of the deaths of 96 persons in the Hillsborough tragedy . ' Mr Duckenfield said : ' Yes sir . '  Earlier Mr Duckenfield had claimed he was unaware of the geography of Sheffield Wednesday ' s ground , this being his first match in charge , and denied that he ' bottled it ' .  Mr Greaney , representing the Police Federation , put it the retired police chief : ' Do you agree that never mind a competent match commander it might only take a child of average intelligence to realise what the consequences of your actions might be ? '  Thousands of Liverpool fans hold up scarves during a Hillsborough memorial service at Anfield last year  Mr Duckenfield replied : ' I did not think of it on the day , sir , because of the pressure I was under . '  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
16342,16343,"England Michael Jackson has officially become the most popular person on Facebook , with more than 7 million fans on the social networking site .  The Michael Jackson Facebook page is now the most popular on the social networking site .  Previously , the most popular person on Facebook , with just over 6 million fans , was U . S . President Obama .  Over the past week , Jackson ' s page has grown from 80 , 000 fans to just over 7 million , generating the largest response on a Facebook page , the social networking site says .  He has continued to gain about 20 fans per second and even more during peak traffic hours , said social media commentator Nick O ' Neill , founder of the Social Times Web site .  During his memorial service at the Staples Center in Los Angeles , California , all 10 trending topics on Twitterweblink were Jackson related .  Jackson ' s popularity and the viral nature of Facebook fan pages are the primary reasons for the huge fan base , O ' Neill explained .  He said , "" It ' s simply his popularity . Also , as users become fans , the page gets recommended to others , driving the viral growth of the page .  "" Michael Jackson is simply the largest celebrity in the world . While he was a controversial figure , he clearly attracts the attention of the global media , "" he continued .  The Facebook page has become an online memorial to Jackson , with thousands of comments from around the world dozens appear every minute .  Free virtual versions of Jackson ' s famous glove are the most popular gift on the site , with more than 800 , 000 sent to members .  The huge following leaves the singer ' s heirs ( and his record label ) with a massive network to communicate with fans and continue the massive resurgence of interest in Jackson ' s music , O ' Neill said .  "" While Sony has not heavily engaged the fan base on Michael Jackson ' s page , they at least have a presence . If your fans are there , you should be there .  "" This also provided an ongoing promotional channel for any future products that are released . It ' s simply not an option and will become a component of all marketing strategies . ""  There have been 2 . 6 million downloads of Jackson ' s music since his death . He has the top two albums on iTunes , as well as three of the top 10 singles .  In the United Kingdom , Jackson held 11 of the top 200 album positions and 43 of the top 200 singles , based on sales monitored by the Official Charts Co . for the week ended June 27 .  His "" Number Ones "" album topped the  album chart after selling 46 , 400 physical copies and 10 , 000 downloads .  The surge for demand in Jackson ' s music looks likely to continue for several months : The fan page has a music player with some of Jackson ' s hits and an option to buy them through Amazon .  ",true,text,test,American football,Economy,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,past
16365,16366,"It was billed as a "" coming out party "" for one of the  ' s most promising young stars .  But after nearly universal criticism was heaped on Gov . Bobby Jindal ' s high profile response to President Obama ' s address to Congress Tuesday night , the Louisiana Republican may be wishing he had stayed home .  The criticisms came from all sides of the political spectrum , including from those in conservative circles who have promoted the 36 year old governor as the  ' s most likely advocate to bring the party back from the brink of irrelevance .  Republicans who have followed Jindal ' s upstart career from standout congressman to popular Louisiana governor know him to be an articulate and confident spokesman for the party ' s fundamental principles of limited government and fiscal responsibility . Watch "" Is Jindal prime time ready ? ""  But that ' s not the man many saw delivering the  ' s formal prime time rebuttal to President Obama ' s first address to a joint session of Congress .  Many conservatives say Jindal appeared at best off balance and at worst downright amateur in his national debut .  "" Some conservative needs to start a campaign to fire whoever wrote this cheesy response and coached him to talk like this , "" wrote conservative columnist Amanda Carpenter on the popular social networking Web site Twitter . "" I can ' t watch . ""  "" He should never be allowed near a teleprompter again ! "" declared the National Review ' s Kathryn Jean Lopez on Wednesday , while noting the governor had a much stronger performance on  ' s "" The Today Show "" the morning after his speech .  Of course , to follow the oratorically skilled Obama in any setting is no enviable task , especially when the president had the benefit of incessant applause lines and the pomp and circumstance associated with a presidential address to Congress .  The contrast between the settings couldn ' t be more stark , a challenge that even the most skilled politician would have difficulty confronting .  While the president had the benefit of the ornate halls of Congress as his setting and numerous camera angles to give a sweeping view of the grand House Gallery , Jindal had to deliver his speech in a solitary room amid an almost deafening silence .  "" So much about it is perception , "" said Eliot Shapiro , partner with  Communications , a firm that specializes in public speaking . "" The response is one person , face to face with a camera , and you can never generate the same kind of buzz and energy as when there are 500 people in a room applauding . ""  To be sure , an opposition party ' s response rarely wins wide praise : Kansas Gov . Kathleen Sebelius ' rebuttal last year was widely viewed as flat , and Virginia Gov . Tim Kaine was panned for appearing particularly awkward in his 2006 rebuttal .  The Louisiana governor may also be a victim of overhype and outsized expectations . Jindal ' s impressive resume and compelling background have been touted to make him a natural fit to compete against Obama and rescue a Republican Party that many fear is in danger of becoming confined to the South .  But if conservatives are looking for Jindal to compete with the president stylistically , they should think again , sad Matt Lewis , a conservative blogger for  ' s Political Machine .  "" Conservatives are looking for the conservative version Obama , a great orator , "" Lewis said . "" Bobby Jindal is many things an intellectual , a son of immigrants and a policy wonk . But if conservatives are looking for someone who is going toe to toe with Obama , he ' s the wrong guy . "" iReportweblink : Jindal ' s tone ' insulting '  Some Republicans praised the content of the speech itself : namely a vigorous defense of conservative principles and an optimistic can do outlook on the future .  They also say the speech laid out a cogent rebuttal to the Democrats massive stimulus bill , articulated a way forward for the  and rightly refrained from overly criticizing the president himself .  "" Jindal on Tuesday was likable , his personal story was compelling and he offered a positive vision of conservatism for America , "" Lewis said .  Jindal can also take solace in the fact that in politics , there often is more than one chance to make a good first impression . After all , some of the most prominent politicians today floundered their first attempt in the national spotlight , including former President Bill Clinton , who was widely panned for his 32 minute speech at the 1988 Democratic Convention .  The speech was immediately deemed disastrous by the political chattering class , and many predicted it would delay , perhaps even end , the his national ambitions . iReportweblink : Jindal speech portrayed  as ' one trick pony '  Four years later he was the Democratic nominee for president .  "" Politicians often come back from moments such as these , "" Crowley said . "" It was perhaps not the most auspicious debut for Jindal on the national scene , but there is a lot of time left for rehabilitation . ""  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
16368,16369,"The family of a film worker who was killed in a train accident while shooting a movie near Savannah has reached a settlement with several defendants in a civil suit .  A statement from the Harris Penn Lowry law firm Wednesday said the settlement in a suit filed by the family of 27 year old camera assistant Sarah Jones includes Unclaimed Freight Productions , Inc . , Rayonier Fibers ,  , and several others .  Jones was killed the first day of filming for a movie on musician Gregg Allman in February and attorneys say the terms of the settlement are confidential .  Settlement : The family of a film worker who was killed in a train accident while shooting a movie near Savannah has reached a settlement with several defendants in a civil suit  Confidential : A statement from the Harris Penn Lowry law firm Wednesday said the settlement with Unclaimed Freight Productions , Inc . , Rayonier Fibers ,  , and several others will remain confidential  The statement says  railroad and Meddin Studios are still listed as defendants .  Her death sparked a renewed discussion about precautions on film sets , as Jones ' father , Richard Jones , says his family is continuing to advocate for safety on film sets through the Sarah Jones Film Foundation .  Hairstylist Joyce Gilliard , who suffered an arm injury in the crash , said those involved in the shoot had been told that if a train comes , ' you have 60 seconds to get off the track ' .  Referring to Miss Jones ' s death on February 20 , she added : ' At first it was like a quiet , like people were in shock at what happened . I remember hearing somebody say "" Oh my gosh , she ' s dead "" . '  After carrying out a number of inquiries , investigators determined the filmmakers went onto the railroad bridge to shoot the footage after  Transportation denied them permission .  A letter to location manager Charley Baxter seemingly confirms officials ' findings , reading : ' Unfortunately  is not able to support your request . '  Meanwhile , director Randall Miller is reportedly said ' that ' s not my job ' when asked questions on why he didn ' t know that there could be a train barreling down on his crew .  The Jones ' s attorney , Jeff Harris , said : ' You don ' t shoot on a railroad track unless you have permission to be there . '  Miss Gilliard , who is also suing Miller and others involved in the shooting added : ' They wanted to get the shot , so whatever it took to get the shot is what they did .  Officials say filmmakers went onto the railroad bridge without permission  Miller and others accused of involuntary manslaughter  ' The entire crew was put in a situation where we all had to basically run for our lives . '  On Thursday , Mr Harris said the Joneses have decided to dismiss all claims against Allman an executive producer of the film based on his life story after reviewing evidence in the case .  ' It is clear that Mr Allman . . . had no involvement in any of the decisions that resulted in Sarah ' s death , ' he said in a statement .  Allman who was dismissed alongside two others was among 10 individuals and eight corporations named as defendants in May when the Joneses filed their lawsuit in Savannah .  The couple is still seeking damages from others , including Miller , railroad firm  Transportation and Rayonier Performance Fibers , which owns the property surrounding the crash site .  Miller and three other filmmakers have also been indicted on criminal charges of involuntary manslaughter , a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison , and trespassing in rural Wayne County where the crash occurred .  Allman ' s attorney , David Long Daniels , said the singer had little involvement with the movie other than licensing the rights to his memoir , ' My Cross to Bear ' , to the filmmakers .  ' We ' re delighted the Jones family has dismissed us , ' Long Daniels said . ' We remain very sorrowful for the tragedy they have endured with the loss of their daughter . '  The Jones family ' s attorneys said they also dropped claims against Michael Lehman , an executive producer on the film , and Open Road Films , a film distribution and marketing company .  During the 20 20 report , photos of Miss Jones ' s final hours as a camera assistant were also unveiled , including one of her working beside Hurt , who was lying on the bed on the train tracks .  The bed was being used in a dream sequence that involved Allman lying down and seeing his late brother across the bridge , according to The Hollywood Reporter .  It also aired a 911 call from the set following the fatal train crash , in which someone is heard requesting an ambulance , saying ' someone got hit by a train ' .  During her career , Miss Jones also worked on the set of The Vampire Diaries , where she was described as a ' cosmic sister ' by actor Ian Somerhalder .  The attorney ' s comments followed an earlier prepared statement from Miller and Savin in which they said the crash and Miss Jones ' s death ' will haunt us forever '  Miller and producer Jody Savin ' s attorney told  that the filmmakers believed they had permission to be on the tracks from Rayonier .  They added : ' They had no reason to believe that anyone would be placed in danger . They will live with the sorrow of Sarah ' s death for the rest of their lives . '  The attorney ' s comments followed an earlier prepared statement from Miller and Savin in which they said the crash and Miss Jones ' s death ' will haunt us forever ' . .  A railroad safety expert also pointed out that the crew had no way of knowing when a freight train might speed down the track because there is no train schedule ' like a major airline might publish ' .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
16373,16374,"LeBron James said the Golden State Warriors are the ' most healthy team I ' ve ever seen in  history '  LeBron James scored 19 points to go with 11 rebounds and eight assists in a 109 97 win over Atlanta Saturday night .   , Ohio ? The Golden State Warriors are one win away from setting an  record for consecutive wins to start a season .  "" They ' ve been the most healthy team I ' ve ever seen in  history and they have great talent , "" James said Monday following shootaround in preparation for tonight ' s home game against Orlando .  "" They ' ve just been consistent , "" he said . "" Think the most impressive thing is the way they ' ve been playing at a high level for so long . I think it comes with a lot of health . ""  The Warriors , who of course defeated the Cavs in six games to win the Finals in June , are off to a 15 0 start . Only two teams , the 1993 94 Houston Rockets and 1948 49 Washington Capitals , won their first 15 the Warriors would need to win a home game against the Lakers Tuesday night to become the first to reach 16 wins without a loss .  Cleveland owns the East ' s best record at 10 3 , but has yet to play a game with a full roster . Kyrie Irving and Iman Shumpert are still recovering from their respective surgeries , while Mo Williams and Timofey Mozgov are expected to miss tonight ' s game . Neither played in Saturday ' s win over Atlanta .  James ' assessment of Golden State ' s well being wasn ' t entirely correct . Center Andrew Bogut missed several games with a concussion , and All Star shooting guard Klay Thompson missed a game with a stiff back .  Then there ' s coach Steve Kerr , who hasn ' t coached a game yet this season while recovering from back surgery . Former Cav Luke Walton is filling in for Kerr .  "" It would be more impressive if they was doing all this without Steph ( Curry ) , "" James said . "" Then there would be a conversation to talk about . ""  In the Finals , the Warriors ' top players were healthy . The Cavs were without Irving and Kevin Love , while Shumpert and Matthew Dellavedova were playing through various health issues .  James needs 21 points tonight to pass Reggie Miller ( 25 , 279 points ) for 18th place on the  ' s all time scoring list .  James was asked if he had a favorite moment from Miller ' s storied Hall of Fame career , and he said :  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Economy,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
16376,16377,"Use your ( arrow ) keys to browse more stories  Losing to the undefeated New England Patriots on the road is unlikely to haunt the Buffalo Bills . The concern is the play and the health of starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor .  While the Bills became just another victim for the Patriots this season , this was much different than what we have seen from the now 10 0 team . The offense ? which entered the day No . 1 in the  at 33 . 7 points per game ? was held in check in a 20 13 win . Buffalo head coach Rex Ryan made a game plan to get to Tom Brady , and the defense responded with constant pressure from start to finish . Although the quarterback was only officially sacked one time , it was clear this made an impact .  Not only were the Patriots limited to a season low of 20 points scored , but the seven punts were also the most in 2015 . ?  If not for a few mistakes ( like a missed tackle on a touchdown before the half and a blown coverage to set up the second touchdown ) , this could have been a much different game . In any case , it ' s clear the defense did its job Monday night .  On the other hand , the offense was nothing short of a disappointment , and a lot of that falls squarely on the shoulders of Taylor .  The quarterback finished the game 20 of 36 passing for 233 yards with zero touchdown passes , adding up to a season low quarterback rating of 75 . 4 . The usually mobile player also ended up with only one rushing yard on four attempts while struggling to get anywhere on the few designed runs .  One of the major issues was Taylor ' s inability to throw the ball down the field , something that had been one of his strengths for much of the season . According to Pro Football Focus , the quarterback entered Week 11 completing 12 of his 27 passes over 20 yards , totaling 435 yards and six touchdowns with only two interceptions . He could not replicate this success against New England .  Taylor especially struggled to get on the same page with Sammy Watkins , completing just three passes for 39 yards . Two of those catches came on the final drive with the Patriots defense giving up a lot of space to avoid a potential game tying touchdown . Amazingly , the talented receiver wasn ' t even targeted in the first half .  When the star player was targeted , the passes weren ' t great , as noted by Ian Rapoport of  Network :  Sammy Watkins has out run every pass by Bills  Tyrod Taylor . Along with drawing a safety , frustrating night  Taylor certainly made good plays , including a well placed ball in the end zone that LeSean McCoy couldn ' t bring in for a touchdown . He also had times when he escaped the pocket and found receivers down the field for big gains . However , he seemingly just as often lacked awareness within the pocket to either take a sack or run away from no one .  While many of the issues can be overlooked as simply a bad game in an otherwise breakout season , the next biggest concern for the Bills is whether or not their quarterback is healthy . Taylor took a big hit and landed on his shoulder late , leading to some struggles with arm strength down the stretch .  Jason La Canfora of  Sports discussed the positives and negatives Bills fans were probably feeling watching along :  Tyrod Taylor clearly gutting it out here but we ' ll see if he ' s able to go again in six days . Certainly seems to be in distress  ? Jason La Canfora ( JasonLaCanfora ) November 24 , 2015  Head coach Rex Ryan even admitted after the game he considered making a switch at quarterback , per Albert Breer of  Network :  Rex Ryan on if he almost pulled a beat up Tyrod Taylor at the end : "" He said , ' No , coach , I ' m ready to go ' , because I was gonna go with  . ""  Even with Taylor ' s issues in Week 11 , the Bills do not want to have to go back to  Manuel at quarterback . The former first round pick lost both of his starts this season while filling in for the injured starter , falling to 6 10 overall in the  . His 78 . 5 career passer rating tells the story of a player who struggled with accuracy and decision making while doing very little to help his team win .  The Bills are currently 5 5 and in position to potentially reach the postseason thanks mostly to the play of Taylor . Obviously , the defense showed Monday night it can be an elite unit that puts the team in position to win . On offense , players like Watkins , McCoy and Karlos Williams have proven they can be dangerous playmakers when healthy . However , Buffalo ' s fate this year will come down to the quarterback position .  Taylor has not only been an exciting player to watch thanks to his dynamic running ability , he has also been an accurate passer who is not afraid to make plays down the field . The Bills will need this quarterback to show up every week for the rest of the season if they want to beat good teams and contend for a playoff spot .  Otherwise , this will be the 16th year in a row Buffalo will be at home watching the postseason .  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
16377,16378,"An Egyptian court ordered authorities Tuesday to destroy tunnels between the country and Gaza the latest sign of a crackdown on underground smuggling networks .  It ' s unclear what Egyptian authorities will do to comply with the court ' s decision , but it appears to fall in line with a recent push to put a stop to the tunnels .  Egyptian security forces began sending sewage through the tunnels earlier this month as part of a new campaign to flood them , two senior intelligence sources said .  The sources , who asked not to be identified because they were not authorized to speak to the media , said security forces were using the new tactic as part of a stepped up effort to stop smuggling .  There are hundreds of underground tunnels big and small in the vast Sinai Desert area .  In Gaza , many describe the tunnels as a vital lifeline . Thousands work in what has become a key trade route for the Hamas controlled territory .  In Israel , authorities have accused Hamas of using the tunnels to smuggle missiles and other weapons used in militant attacks .  And in Egypt , authorities have blamed the tunnels for violence in the Sinai Peninsula .  Tuesday ' s Cairo administrative court decision requires the Egyptian government to close and demolish what it described as "" illegal secret tunnels , "" the state run EgyNews agency reported .  After a surge of violent attacks in the Sinai Peninsula in August , Egypt ' s interior minister blamed the tunnels , citing them as smuggling routes for terrorists and weapons .  Bulldozers and cranes were sent to block the tunnels on the Egyptian side as Egypt ' s military leadership accused dozens of militants from terrorist factions in Gaza of carrying out a deadly attack on soldiers near the Rafah border crossing .  But smuggling through the tunnels has continued , with goods like cement , sugar and clothes slipping through .  U . S . and Israeli officials say that Iran has used the tunnels to send arms and missile parts into Gaza .  In December , then U . S . Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called on Egypt to crack down on arms smuggling through the tunnels , saying they were being used to send weapons from Libya and Sudan to militants in Gaza .  "" I am concerned that , if more rockets are allowed to enter Gaza through the tunnels , that will pave the way to more fighting again soon , "" she said .  Ibrahim Menai , who reportedly owns several of the smuggling tunnels that connect Sinai with Gaza , said Bedouin smugglers got weapons from Sudan by sea on small fishing boats and by land through rugged mountain terrain .  "" The weapons that are smuggled to Gaza are mostly Grad missiles , anti aircraft missiles , and recently during the Libyan revolution , advanced shoulder held anti tank missiles came through , "" Menai said .  In Gaza , the recent Egyptian campaign to flood the tunnels with sewage has sparked concern about rising prices of goods , worries about the crippling of a vital economic element and criticism that the Egyptian government is helping Israel .  The tunnels have surged in importance since Israel imposed a blockade on Gaza in 2007 after Hamas seized control of the Palestinian territory .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
16392,16393,"Reuters) - U.N. special envoy on Syria Staffan de Mistura will arrive in Kazakhstan s capital on Friday to take part in Syria peace talks, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry said on Thursday, according to Russia s state news agency RIA. De Mistura will fly to Astana after talks in Moscow on Thursday with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Kazakhstan is hosting negotiations that aim to end the Syria crisis. Discussions in the past few months have focused on establishing de-escalation zones in Syria. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
16408,16409,"Bob Geldof said the new Band Aid single was inspired by the tragic story of a nurse who died of ebola after wiping away a child ' s tear  If Bob Geldof harboured any doubts about reprising his world famous Band Aid song , they were extinguished by a single heartbreaking image from West Africa .  The Mail on Sunday can reveal that he was spurred to mobilise today ' s pop stars after seeing a brave nurse wipe away a tear from the cheek of a child dying of ebola .  ' The nurse forgot where she was , and what was happening , and wiped a tear from the child , ' said Bob . ' The child died and the nurse died . You can ' t get more tragic than that . '  After this , Bob once disinclined to revisit Do They Know It ' s Christmas after 30 years was now utterly convinced of the need for a new version of the song .  And so yesterday , in the footsteps of George Michael , Sting , Duran Duran and others , whose 1984 efforts raised money for famine relief in Ethiopia , stars such as One Direction , Rita Ora and Ed Sheeran gathered in a West London recording studio for Band Aid 30 .  Speaking to The Mail on Sunday on the eve of the recording , Bob described ebola as pernicious and ' anti human ' , rendering people ' incapable of touching ' .  He added : ' You have a five year old daughter in agony who is not even allowed to be comforted by her mother . '  Fixed in his mind , as he rewrote some of the lyrics to the song with producer Midge Ure , was the image of the nurse wiping away the child ' s tear . Now the line ' Where the only water flowing is the bitter sting of tears ' is replaced with ' Where a kiss of love can kill you and there ' s death in every tear ' .  Yesterday ' s recording received a boost with news that the Government will waive  on the charity single . Back in 1984 , Bob had to twist then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher ' s arm to agree to this , but Chancellor George Osborne didn ' t need convincing yesterday .  ' Amazing that the Government has just said , "" Fine , keep the tax , ' said Sir Bob after speaking to Mr Osborne .  ' The nurse forgot where she was , and what was happening , and wiped a tear from the child , ' said Sir Bob . ' The child died and the nurse died . You can ' t get more tragic than that '  We are family : Producer Midge Ure prepares to head into the studio in Notting Hill with his daughters , from left , Molly , Flossie , Kitty and Ruby  Bob Geldof was joined at the recording studio by his two daughters Fifi ( left ) and Pixie  ' The next stage now is to turn this into a phenomenon like it was in the 1980s , and the only way to do that is to get people to buy the thing . '  Yesterday , just as their predecessors had done 30 years ago , the artists , bleary eyed , started to arrive for the recording from 6 . 45am .  They included Sam Smith , Coldplay ' s Chris Martin , Elbow , Olly Murs , Seal , Jessie Ware , Sinead O ' Connor , Ellie Goulding , Paloma Faith and electronic band Clean Bandit . Bono was the only artist taking part who sang on the original single . He arrived late and blamed airport fog . ' I ' d be happy just to stand in the background and wave , ' he quipped .  Organisers hope the track will be completed in time for its first public performance during tonight ' s edition of The X Factor .  Sir Bob said : ' It really doesn ' t matter if you don ' t like this song . It really doesn ' t matter if you don ' t like the artists , it really doesn ' t matter if it turns out to be a lousy recording what you have to do is buy this thing . '  Stars and stripes : Blonde singer Ellie Goulding turns up in biker boots and matching bag and jumper for the recording session , also attended by Bono ( right )  Where ' s Harry ? Excitement builds as fans who turned up early await the arrival of heart throbs One Direction  He arrived with daughters Pixie , 24 , and 31 year old Fifi , who can be seen in the original video as a baby . Midge Ure posed for pictures with his four daughters , none of whom were born at the time of the first recording .  Singer Emeli Sande said during a break in the recording : ' Bob called me personally and talked through the severity of the ebola problem .  ' And he gave a really touching speech beforehand which really got everyone in to the right frame of mind he was saying we shouldn ' t see it as them and us because tomorrow it could be us all suffering .  ' It certainly made everyone sing with a bit more passion . It took a while to get the harmonies right but it was sounding great . It took about five takes . '  Col stare : Coldplay frontman Chris Martin seems to consciously uncouple from the task in hand to glance at the camera  Lady in red : Rita Ora in a billowing trouser suit and midrift revealing crop top , waves to fans , while a bleary eyed Harry Styles is one of the first to appear from the session at around 6 . 45am  She added : ' Bono said it will be your hairstyle you remember in 30 years and regret . '  For One Direction heart throb Harry Styles , it was the second big charity performance in a matter of hours the 20 year old performed during the Children In Need extravaganza on Friday night . The band had the privilege of singing the first line .  Despite the early hour , dozens of fans were there to greet him .  Some of the stars could barely contain their excitement and provided regular updates on social media .  X Factor finalist and chart topper Olly Murs tweeted : ' Been hanging out with this lad Harry Styles ' , and added : ' Plus with these legends Bono , Chris Martin and Sir Bob Geldof . '  A spokeswoman said every penny raised from the sale of the download ,  and app will go to the ' fight against ebola ' .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
16409,16410,"Things to know about the investigation of Chipotle restaurants E . coli outbreak  A pedestrian walks past a closed Chipotle restaurant Monday , Nov . 2 , 2015 , in Seattle .  A pedestrian walks past a closed Chipotle restaurant Monday , Nov . 2 , 2015 , in Seattle .  Thirty seven people in the Pacific Northwest have fallen ill with E . coli in an outbreak connected to Chipotle Mexican restaurants .  The popular chain of casual restaurants voluntarily closed 43 of its Washington and Oregon locations last week and health officials are scrambling to find the food source of the bacteria .  Here are some things to know about the outbreak :  Health officials have identified the specific microorganism responsible for the outbreak , Shiga toxin producing E . coli O26 . They are interviewing everyone in both states who has tested positive for that strain of E . coli and are also testing food products from Chipotle restaurants to look for the same bacteria .  With help from the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , the next step will be to get that identification down to the  level and then using that information to match people and food .  Health officials believe the bacteria will be found on fresh produce such as lettuce , tomatoes , cilantro or onions , or possibly even spices .  Chipotle uses technology to track its food supply , from the ground to their restaurants .  This is a big improvement from the information available during past outbreaks .  In 2008 , health officials initially suspected raw tomatoes to be the source of a salmonella outbreak that sickened people around the country . Without adequate ways of tracing tomatoes or other contaminated produce to their origins , everybody stopped buying tomatoes , everywhere .  In this case , Chipotle has been able to have a much more targeted response . Health officials are hopeful , but not certain , that the spread of the outbreak was halted when they closed the restaurants in Washington and the Portland , Oregon , area .  While the company is scrubbing down its restaurants in the Northwest , doing its own testing of the supply chain and buying new food , they won ' t reopen until health officials agree it ' s safe .  Authorities in Washington and Oregon say they will want to know where the E . coli came from before the restaurants reopen . They say they may have more information as soon as Wednesday but it ' s likely the full investigation will take more than a few days .  It ' s also possible more stores will close in Oregon or other nearby states if the investigation finds E . coli cases beyond the current presumed limits of the outbreak . Health officials say they are looking back at a month of public health reports for other possible cases and looking statewide in both Oregon and Washington .    E .         ?  There are hundreds of E . coli and similar bacteria strains in the intestines of humans . Most are harmless , but a few can cause serious problems .  Symptoms of E . coli infection include diarrhea , abdominal cramps , nausea and vomiting .  The bacteria are associated with animal waste , but aren ' t just associated with meat . E . coli can be spread in indirect ways , such as through water or improperly cured compost .  Even if health officials decide onions are the culprit , for example , that doesn ' t mean the onion farm is to blame . The E . coli could have been transferred to food transported in a dirty truck or by cross contamination in a warehouse .   I     E .  ?  If you ate at Chipotle in Washington or Oregon last week , you may not be out of the woods yet .  Health officials say the incubation period is 3 to 7 days from the time of exposure . You may also have had some mild symptoms that you didn ' t recognize as being E . coli .  If you ate at Chipotle any time during the past few weeks and experienced intestinal symptoms , health officials want you to go to the doctor and get tested .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
16414,16415,"Turkey says another Russian jet has invaded airspace despite warnings  Relations between two nations deteriorate further , with the Kremlin s ambassador to Ankara being summoned for crisis talks  Russian Su 34 fighter jets at Hmeymim airbase in Syria . Photograph : Barcroft Media  Last modified on Sunday 31 January 2016 09 . 50 ?   The Turkish president , Recep Tayyip Erdo ? an , has called for a meeting with Vladimir Putin after a Russian jet violated Turkey s airspace near the Syrian border . Turkey claims that a Russian fighter jet ignored radar warnings not to violate its airspace on Friday .  Officials have claimed that the Su 34 jet ignored several warnings delivered both in Russian and in English by radar units before travelling into Turkish airspace . Erdo ? an said on Saturday : I told our foreign ministry to convey my desire to meet Mr Putin personally . There has been no answer on this yet .  The incident prompted Ankara to call in the Russian ambassador for an emergency meeting .  This violation is a concrete indication of Russia s acts aiming to escalate problems , despite the clear warning by our country and by Nato , Turkey s foreign ministry said . We openly and clearly call on Russia to act responsibly so that the Turkish air space , which is a Nato airspace , is not violated . We stress once again that all the responsibility for any unwanted grave consequences as a result of any such irresponsible behaviour will belong entirely to the Russian Federation , the statement said .  However , Russian officials have dismissed the claims as baseless propaganda . Defence ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said : There has not been a single violation of Turkish airspace by Russia air force planes in Syria .  The Turkish declarations concerning the alleged violation of its airspace by a Russian Su 34 are baseless propaganda .  Nato s secretary general , Jens Stoltenberg , urged Russia to act responsibly and to fully respect Nato airspace . Russia must take all necessary measures to ensure that such violations do not happen again , he said . Previous incidents have shown how dangerous such behaviour is .  The two leaders have not met since November , when a Turkish F 16 shot down a Russian Su 24 jet which , it said , had violated its airspace . It was the first time a Nato country and Moscow have exchanged direct fire over the conflict in Syria . The action triggered a diplomatic rupture that saw Russia impose economic sanctions on Turkey .  Diplomatic relations between the two countries , which have strong economic links , have since nosedived . Vladimir Putin described the incident as a stab in the back .  Ankara and the Kremlin gave conflicting accounts of the incident , which occurred in an area near the Turkey Syria border straddling Iskenderun and Latakia . The Turkish  ambassador , Halit Cevik , told the security council that two planes had flown a mile into Turkey for 17 seconds . Russia s defence ministry confirmed that one of its planes was shot down , but claimed it had never left Syrian airspace . One pilot and a Russian marine in the rescue party were killed in the incident .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
16424,16425,"Kudos to the rabble rousers in the Class of 2014 making waves across the country protesting the political views of commencement speakers . Your intentions are entirely in the right place , but you ' re going about it all wrong .  It ' s understandable to want to protest the views and actions of Condoleezza Rice , a leading war monger in the Bush administration who backed policies that led to so many needless American and Iraqi deaths .  There ' s a valid critique of how the International Monetary Fund and its leader , Christine Lagarde , actually harm poor nations with the economic conditions  loans impose .  And the University of California at Berkeley was arguably extremely violent in its handling of Occupy protesters under the leadership of Chancellor Robert Birgeneau .  All three leaders have canceled planned commencement addresses after protests by students at Rutgers University , Smith College and Haverford College respectively .  Which doesn ' t accomplish very much , I ' m afraid . The media story and thus the public discussion generally is now about free speech and the marketplace of ideas and whether today ' s college students are so intolerant of different viewpoints that they try and banish them altogether .  We ' re discussing whether the Class of 2014 is too entitled when we should be talking about the failures of foreign policy in the Bush administration and appropriate police powers in a post 9 11 security state .  Is the Class of 2014 too entitled ? Not necessarily . But you might not be good organizers .  So to those of you who haven ' t raised objections to commencement speakers yet , or who are getting a jump on 2015 , here ' s some advice : Let them come .  The most objectionable speaker you can imagine with a public policy reputation you find utterly detestable ? Roll out the red mortar board and gown . Allow them to come . Nay , lure them . And then protest .  Then the story will be about your message , not just your miff . And in the age of social media , that message will spread . Everyone ' s already futzing with their smartphones under their gowns anyway .  How can you stage an effective protest at your graduation ? Here are a few ideas .  Spell out a message : Use masking tape to put a letter on each mortar cap , be sure to sit in the right order with your compatriots and at the right moment , send your message without saying a single word .  Alternatively , you can achieve a similar effect by writing each letter on a manila file folder , folding each up and hiding it under your gown until the right moment . A great thing about this tactic is it forces you to get your critique down to its essence , which makes your message clear and easily shared by others .  In a variation on this , students at Columbia University are planning a graduation protest placing pieces of red tape on their mortar boards to voice displeasure with the university failing to take certain steps to prevent sexual assault on campus .  Stand up and turn around : Sometimes the most powerful speech comes in the form of silence . At the start of the commencement address , stand up and turn around . Ideally make sure you ' re not the only one that there are 20 or 200 people scattered throughout the graduating class who will start popping up one by one and stand silently , back to the speaker , in quiet but powerful protest . Especially if a large number of students oppose the speaker , this is a great way to put that on display .  On the other hand , this doesn ' t work well with a small handful of protesters . Students at the University of Michigan organized such a protest in 2011 when Michigan Gov . Rick Snyder was their commencement speaker . Snyder had proposed more than 200 million in higher education budget cuts . Unfortunately , though , out of 5 , 500 graduates , only a few dozen stood in protest .  Organize a picket : Sure it ' s old fashioned , but it works : A few dozen students and allies with picket signs voicing their disapproval with the chosen commencement speaker . It helps if you have fliers to hand out to the audience attending the commencement , so you can at least inform them of why you ' re protesting even if they ' re not going to join you .  In 2012 , when George Washington University ( my alma mater ) gave an honorary degree to Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim , a group of students protested Slim ' s business practices , which they argue have trampled on poor people and developing nations . The protest was small , but large enough to get covered by The Washington Post .  Get creative : I ' m not going to encourage anything illegal or even questionably immoral , but I will say that from streaking to well timed releases of doves , there are plenty of ways to get attention for your protest . You ' re college students . You ' re a creative , think outside the box bunch . Get some balloons and duct tape and tarantulas and do something inventive and attention getting .  Effective protests aren ' t about anger . They ' re about spectacle . Make a spectacle .  Bonus : Even the well known folks often give boring commencement speeches , so if you can make your protest entertaining , your fellow students will be even more grateful .  Booing and heckling are so 2004 : And they ' re rude . I don ' t mean to sound condescending or anything , but one of the things you learn as you grow up in your political activist life is that cathartic isn ' t a synonym for strategic .  In fact , they ' re often diametrically opposed . You might feel damn proud of yourself as you ' re being hauled off by campus security after screaming at some neoconservative commencement speaker but at least a third of the audience thinks you ' re an obnoxious jerk . And a third don ' t know why you were protesting and or forgot that you even protested a second after it happened .  The third who support you ? They ' ll support you no matter what , so try a different tactic and see if you can broaden your support and engage and inform a wider swath of the audience . Activism isn ' t about self expression . It ' s about changing hearts and minds and engaging more and more people in the fight for change .  But you can ' t change those hearts and minds and get more people engaged if you aren ' t even heard in the first place .  Invite those different opinions onto your campus , instead of dismissing them . We need to engage more with ideas we disagree with , that ' s what sharpens our own views and ideas . And if you do disagree , if you want to protest and do so visibly , make it count .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
16427,16428,"Michigan Gov . Rick Snyder delivers his State of the State address  Michigan Governor Rick Snyder has released more than 200 pages of emails regarding the Flint water crisis . The exchanges record mounting complaints by the public , some of which elected officials dismissed .  The governor released the nearly 300 emails on Wednesday , just one day after he apologized to the residents of Flint for the way he handled the water crisis , which has led to thousands of citizens ' exposure to lead due to corroded water pipes .  The emails show that it took months of receiving complaints from the public before state officials admitted that the city was in the midst of a major public health emergency .  Up until then , officials , including the governor ' s chief of staff Dennis Muchmore , seemed to belittle complaints from critics .  "" Now we have the anti everything group turning to the lead content which is a concern for everyone ? ? ? Of course , some of the Flint people respond by looking for someone to blame instead of working to reduce anxiety , "" Muchmore wrote in a Sept . 26 email , noting that officials were working to resolve the issue .  He added : "" We can ' t tolerate increased lead levels in any event , but it ' s really the city ' s water system that needs to deal with it . ""  In an email just one day earlier , Muchmore wrote that the water issue in Flint was "" a challenging topic , "" and added that the state Department of Environmental Quality and the Department of Community Health feel that some Flint residents were trying to turn the lead issue "" into a political football . ""  The correspondence also shows officials downplaying the findings of a local pediatrician , who was one of the first to complain about high lead levels in patients .  It was not until months later , in January , that Snyder declared a state of emergency as a result of the crisis .  On Tuesday , he promised to seek 28 million in state funds to provide Flint residents with bottled water and filters , health care for children in the city and improvements to the city ' s infrastructure .  "" To you , the people of Flint , I say tonight as I have before : I am sorry and I will fix it , "" Snyder said during his State of the State address on Tuesday .  "" No citizen of this great state should endure this kind of catastrophe , "" he continued . "" Government failed you ? federal , state and local leaders ? by breaking the trust you place in us . ""  ",true,text,test,Other news1,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
16432,16433,"A former Rwandan minister has been jailed for life for genocide and incitement to rape at the United Nations backed court for Rwanda in Tanzania .  Pauline Nyiramasuhuko , who is the only woman to be convicted by the court , was minister for family and women ' s affairs in the Rwandan government when some 800 , 000 people , mainly ethnic Tutsis , were killed in 1994 .  She was accused of direct and public incitement to commit genocide and of being responsible for rape "" as part of a widespread and systematic attack against a civilian population on political , ethnic and racial grounds , "" the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (  ) said .  Her son , Arsene Shalom Ntahobali , a militia leader who was jointly charged in the case , was also convicted Friday of genocide , crimes against humanity including rape and persecution and war crimes , and sentenced to life in prison .  Four local officials who were accused alongside Nyiramasuhuko and her son were all found guilty of genocide and other charges . They were handed prison terms ranging from 25 years to life .  They included charges of genocide , conspiracy to commit genocide , war crimes and crimes against humanity including rape and persecution .  Two charges were dismissed , one of complicity to commit genocide and a second relating to murder and crimes against humanity . She was also cleared of two charges , one alleging direct and public incitement to commit genocide and another of inhumane acts and crimes against humanity .  The court found that Nyiramasuhuko was a member of the Interim Government that issued directives whose intention "" was to encourage the population to hunt down and take action against the ' enemy ' and its ' accomplices ' terms which referred to Tutsis in general . ""  Nyiramasuhuko also participated in many Cabinet meetings at which the massacre of Tutsis was discussed , "" and she took part in the decisions that triggered the onslaught of massacres in Butare prefecture . ""  Between April and mid June 1994 , hundreds of Tutsis were rounded up by militia members in her home district of Butare and many subjected to assaults and rape , the court said . During this time , Nyiramasuhuko ordered killings and "" aided and abetted rapes "" of vulnerable civilians , some of which were committed by her son , the court said .  The six sentenced Friday will remain in detention in Tanzania pending an appeals process . If their convictions are upheld , the head of the tribunal will then decide what state to transfer them to to serve their sentences , said Amoussouga , the  spokesman .  The  said it had been a complex and lengthy case , involving 189 witnesses and almost 13 , 000 pages of documents .  While Nyiramasuhuko is the only woman to have been convicted by the  , other women have been jailed for their roles in the genocide by courts elsewhere .  A Roman Catholic nun was sentenced to 30 years in prison by a traditional Rwandan court in 2006 for her part in the killings . Two other Catholic nuns were found guilty of genocide charges by a court in Belgium in 2001 .  The Rwandan genocide was triggered by the April 6 , 1994 , shooting down of a plane carrying the nation ' s Hutu president .  Ethnic violence erupted and Tutsis were killed systematically by Hutus .  The United Nations estimates that some 200 , 000 people participated in the perpetration of the Rwandan genocide .  In all , 800 , 000 men , women , and children mostly Tutsis but also moderate Hutus died .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,negative,past
16433,16434,"Oculus Rift costs 600 , pre orders ship as early as March  High end virtual reality for consumers is finally here , and the cost of entry is 599 .  Oculus Rift pre orders opened on the company ' s at 8 a . m .  11 a . m .  , and with them came the long awaited confirmation of the  headset ' s price . For 599 ? you get the head mounted display , a sensor for motion tracking , an Xbox One controller , and copies of the games ? Lucky ' s Tale and ( only with pre orders ) ?  : Valkyrie .  See also : Escape Helmet : How virtual reality will grow in 2016  If you ' re one of the hour one buyers and are having trouble putting your pre order through , know that you ' re not alone . Oculus informs ? Mashable that they are aware of the problem and are working on a fix , so just keep trying .  To use the headset , you ' ll also need an Oculus ready computer . The Oculus recommended specs call for ( at minimum ) an i5 4590 ( or equivalent )  , a GeForce  970 or  290 ( or equivalent ) graphics card , 8GB  , an  port , three  3 . 0 ports and one  2 . 0 port , plus Windows 7 64 bit or newer .  If you ' re one of the backers that helped to fund the original Oculus Rift on Kickstarter back in 2012 , you don ' t have to worry about buying a headset . Oculus confirmed that all backers that bought at the developer kit tier will be getting a CV1 ? that ' s "" Consumer Version 1 "" ? of their own , for free , with both of the pack in games .  Oculus Touch , the Rift ' s unusual hand controllers , will be launching later in 2016 . They were originally supposed to arrive close to the headset ' s launch , but Oculus confirmed ? last week that they wouldn ' t be ready until the latter half of 2016 .  The arrival of the Rift marks the first availability of high end  experiences for consumers . Samsung launched the Gear  , which is itself the product of an Oculus partnership , in late 2015 , but its smartphone powered experiences fall far short of what the Rift is capable of .  Pre order shipping was originally set for March delivery when sales first opened , but they quickly slipped to April , then May as more orders were processed .   Jan . 6 11 : 26 a . m .  ? to address payment issues with hour one pre orders , per a comment from Oculus .   Jan . 6 12 : 15 p . m .  to note the changing delivery timeframes for pre orders .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
16455,16456,"Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump and Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang underscored the importance of free and open access to South China Sea, in a joint statement issued on Sunday. The two leaders called for the “full and effective implementation” of the declaration on the conduct of parties in the South China Sea, and for all claimants to clarify their maritime claims. Trump and Vietnam’s Quang said parties should halt escalatory action and militarisation of disputed features. ",true,dataset,test,Other news1,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
16459,16460,"An  fighter pilot who took part in the first dog fight of the Second World War and was the last survivor of the Battle of France has died at the age of 93 .  Wing Commander Peter Ayerst  survived combat operations in the Battle of France , Battle of Britain , El Alamein and D Day .  In October 1939 he became the first  pilot to come into combat with a German fighter plane and that was by accident .  Wing Commander Peter Ayerst , who died on Thursday , May 15 , survived combat operations in the Battle of France , Battle of Britain , El Alamein and D Day  Mr Ayerst flew throughout the Second World War and took part in the first dog fight of the conflict  While on a patrol over France , at the age of 19 , he momentarily flew off in the wrong direction .  After a while he found what he thought was the rest of his French squadron and flew in behind the nine planes .  He realised however they were Messerschmit 109s after he noticed the black cross of the Luftwaffe on the tail fins .  He gave a short burst of fire before diving out of the way .  Another 18 Messerschmits arrived as did the rest of Wg Cdr Ayerst ' s patrol and the first combat of the war broke out .  Wg Cdr Ayerst went on to rack up more hours in a Spitfire than any other flyer bar one and that was the chief test pilot for manufacturers Vickers Armstrong .  Wg Cdr Ayerst racked up more hours in a Spitfire than any other flyer bar one and that was the chief test pilot for manufacturers Vickers Armstrong  Wing Commander Peter Ayerst in a Hurricane landing at Rouvres , in early 1940  In 1944 he was awarded the prestigious Distinguished Flying Cross for his gallantry and devotion to duty .  Wg Cdr Ayerst , who shot down nine enemy aircraft during the Second World War , was the last surviving British fighter pilot to take part in the Battle of France .  He died on Thursday , May 15 , in a care home in Beckenham , Kent .  Family and friends have paid tribute to the  veteran who is said to have defied the odds to survive the war due to his great skill at flying .  His granddaughter Gemma Baggot said : ' Peter enjoyed spending time with all the family , and enjoyed a lovely glass of red wine , or a good gin and tonic whilst talking over good times .  ' Peter was also a fervent rugby fan all his life , having played as a centre in his younger years .  Wg Cdr Ayerst ( third from left ) was the last surviving British fighter pilot to take part in the Battle of France  Family and friends have paid tribute to the  veteran who is said to have defied the odds to survive the war due to his great skill at flying  ",true,text,test,Football,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
16464,16465,"Roxanne Beaven ( pictured ) was arrested after telling an off duty policeman to ' f off ' when he asked her to stop swearing at a primary school  A mother is outraged she has been arrested by an off duty police officer who overheard her swearing in the school playground .  Roxanne Beaven , 24 , was chatting to other mothers when the police officer dropped off his own kids at Gray ' s Farm Primary Academy , Orpington , Kent .  He heard her use a profanity and asked her to mind her language . A few minutes later , as he walked back through the playground , he threatened to arrest her if she swore again .  She did . She told him to ' f off ' . And then , she says , he then grabbed her arm and tried to wrestle her to the ground .  The mother of three , who was with her two year old twin sons Archie and George Lugg , said she did not believe the man was a police officer at first .  ' I admittedly told him to f off at first because I didn ' t know him from Adam .  ' He has bruised my arm . It ' s disgusting what he has done to me . It ' s so sore , it really hurts . I ran into the school and burst out crying . '  Ms Beaven , of Orpington , who has another son , five year old Tommy Duffell and lives with her partner Charlie Lugg , has made a formal complaint against the officer .  She added : ' I know I shouldn ' t have been using that language outside the school but the way he reacted was out of order .  ' The word was used in conversation . It was not directed at him .  ' He was so aggressive . He was off duty . To me , that is a parent attacking another parent . '  Metropolitan Police officers were eventually called to the school at 9am and Ms Beaven was arrested for a public order offence .  A 45 year old woman who tried to pull the police officer away and knocked off his glasses was arrested for common assault .  Both were taken to a south London police station and issued with a caution after admitting the offences .  Dawn Cleary , of St Paul ' s Wood Hill , stood talking to Ms Beaven after dropping her own children off at the school .  Ms Beaven , a mother of three , claims she was left with a bruise on her arm following the arrest  Ms Beaven ( pictured ) has now made a formal complaint against the officer  The 37 year old said : ' Everyone swears . All he had to do was say : "" Tone your language down a little bit . "" It just went from one extreme to another .  ' It was really horrible to stand there and watch . He blew it completely out of proportion . '  Mother of two Catherine Oates , of St Mary Cray , also saw the commotion .  The 30 year old said : ' He looked like he was trying to get her on the floor .  Ms Beaven was dropping her children off at Gray ' s Farm Primary Academy ( pictured ) , in Kent , when the incident occurred  ' Roxanne ' s twin boys started screaming their heads off . We had no way of knowing he was really a police officer .  ' I was disgusted . To those little boys , it looked like he was attacking their mum . '  An Essex Police spokesman said : ' We can confirm we have received a complaint about an officer and as this matter is being investigated we cannot comment further at this stage . '  Gray ' s Farm Primary Academy declined to comment .  Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
16493,16494,"Reuters) - Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim on Wednesday congratulated Donald Trump on his victory in the U.S. presidential election, saying it was an opportunity to further bilateral relations. In a speech in the capital Ankara, Yildirim said a “new page” would be opened in U.S.-Turkey relations if Washington extradited the U.S.-based cleric Turkey blames for orchestrating the July 15 failed coup. “An area of opportunity has been created for the new president to advance relations with policies taking into account Turkey’s fight against terror,” Yildirim said. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
16511,16512,"Russia accuse Turkey ' s president of buying oil from  and claim this video is proof  The Russian Defence Minister claims that there are three main routes through which oil is being smuggled from Syria and Iraq  Russia has sensationally accused the Turkish president of smuggling illegal oil purchased from  into their country and claimed the elite family are benefiting from the trade .  Vladimir Putin ' s defence ministry said on Wednesday it had proof that Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and his family involved in the illegal smuggling of oil from Islamic State held territory in Syria and Iraq .  Moscow and Ankara have been locked in a war of words since last week when a Turkish air force jet shot down a Russian warplane near the Syrian Turkish border , the most serious incident between Russia and a  state in half a century .  Erdogan responded by saying no one had the right to "" slander "" Turkey by accusing it of buying oil from Islamic State , and that he would stand down if such allegations were proven to be true .  Accusations : Russia believe they have found three main routes through which oil is being smuggled  But speaking during a visit to Qatar , he also said he did not want relations with Moscow to worsen further .  At a briefing in Moscow , defence ministry officials displayed satellite images which they said showed columns of tanker trucks loading with oil at installations controlled by Islamic State in Syria and Iraq , and then crossing the border into neighbouring Turkey .  They also showed strikes on  oil storage facilities .  The officials did not specify what direct evidence they had of the involvement of Erdogan and his family , an allegation that the Turkish president has vehemently denied .  Retaliation : Russia have hit back at Turkey after they shot down their aircraft  "" Turkey is the main consumer of the oil stolen from its rightful owners , Syria and Iraq . According to information we ' ve received , the senior political leadership of the country President Erdogan and his family are involved in this criminal business , "" said Deputy Defence Minister Anatoly Antonov .  "" Maybe I ' m being too blunt , but one can only entrust control over this thieving business to one ' s closest associates . ""  "" In the West , no one has asked questions about the fact that the Turkish president ' s son heads one of the biggest energy companies , or that his son in law has been appointed energy minister . What a marvellous family business ! ""  "" The cynicism of the Turkish leadership knows no limits . Look what they ' re doing . They went into someone else ' s country , they are robbing it without compunction , "" Antonov said .  Erdogan last week denied that Turkey procures oil from anything other than legitimate sources .  Read more : Russia Turkey crisis tensions increase as David Cameron prepares to make case for bombing Syria  He has said Ankara is taking active steps to prevent fuel smuggling , and he challenged anyone who accused his government of collaborating with Islamic State to prove their allegations .  On Tuesday , U . S . President Barack Obama said Turkey had made progress in sealing its border with Syria , but Islamic State was still exploiting gaps to bring in foreign fighters and sell oil .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
16520,16521,"Hillary Clinton is bending over backwards to convince American voters that Donald Trump is a  racist  because a White Supremacist and a  member said they plan to vote for him. ]who eulogized  leader, mentor and close friend, Robert C. Byrd, and about the $20,000 donation she accepted from the  just this year!?  Here s a tweet from the woman who  to speak to reporters after being caught in yet  SCANDAL. This time, its been revealed that Hillary and her grifter and serial rapist husband have been selling our nation for favors through their pay-to-play slush fund, the Clinton Foundation (Criminal Piggy Bank). Oh yeah about that tweet:It's not a coincidence that white supremacists proudly support Trump. pic.twitter.com/3OX4I1GSkr  Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) August 25, 2016Hillary Clinton s presidential campaign has received more than $20,000 in donations contributed by members of the Ku Klux Klan, a prominent member of the hate group said Monday.Mr. Quigg, the leader of the Klan s California chapter, announced last month that he had abandoned supporting Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump in lieu of backing his likely Democratic opponent. The Klansman claims that members have raised more than $20,000 for Mrs. Clinton and have donated it anonymously to her campaign.Clinton campaign spokesman Josh Schwerin disputed the grand dragon s claim and said the former secretary of state has rejected the group s endorsement.  Washington TimesWatch Hillary s praise for  leader, Senator Robert C. Byrd:",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,satire,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
16526,16527,"We don t care about the outside world looking in , the scrutiny , the trash talking about our dancing or how much fun we re having , Panthers fullback Mike Tolbert said . I mean , if you don t want us to have fun , stop us .  We don t care about the outside world looking in , the scrutiny , the trash talking about our dancing or how much fun we re having . I mean , if you don t want us to have fun , stop us . Panthers fullback Mike Tolbert  So what will the world see when it meets the Panthers ? Who will be Carolina s breakout media stars before Super Bowl 50 ever begins , and what will be the primary storylines about the Panthers this week ?  I ve got some ideas . Here are 10 of them .  And consider this a bonus for those of you who haven t followed the 17 1 Panthers that closely : You can use this information as a personal cheat sheet to talk knowledgeably about the team until the Super Bowl kicks off Feb . 7 at 6 : 30 p . m .    : The Panthers have never had anyone like him ? a dazzling , charismatic quarterback who is the oddsmakers favorite to win Super Bowl  . If he wins this game , he is poised to become one of the biggest stars in American sports for years to come .  As I wrote this past week , Newton will be the most polarizing player in this game . He celebrates every first down like Christmas just came and every touchdown like he just learned how to fly ( and , sometimes , it seems like he did ) . Newton said Wednesday : I m an African American quarterback that may scare a lot of people because they haven t seen nothing that they can compare me to .  That quote will be resurrected 10 million times in the next week . Countless stories will be filed comparing and contrasting Newton , 26 , and 39 year old Denver quarterback Peyton Manning .   : Cam Newton , the most polarizing figure in Super Bowl 50  What he needs to do is win . If he leads the Panthers to a victory , Cam can become a one name star on the level of a Steph or a LeBron . If he loses ? All the stuff he has done that has been on the edge this season ? tearing down opposing fans banners , organizing photo ops before games are over ? will be seen in a harsher light .    : The cornerback who has never met a microphone he didn t like is about to see an army of them . Norman will entertain the masses all week and gets my vote as the Panther most likely to say something controversial that becomes a story that blooms in California .  A couple of days ago , I asked Norman to describe himself . He took a deep breath and said : Outgoing , rambunctious , spontaneous , funny , goofy , carefree and living life . And that s the team , too .  Then Norman started raising his voice like he was in the pulpit . We live life like we want to live it , he said , not like other people want us to live it ! And I think that s the main thing . We do things the way we want to do it , not the way others want us to ! That s why , I guess , we are frowned upon . But we re winning with this , so why change it ?  We live life like we want to live it , not like other people want us to live it ! Panthers cornerback Josh Norman on the personality of his team  See what I mean ?  cameras will love Norman , but he has to make sure not to get too wound up in himself and forget he has a game to play ( and one that will be watched by more than 110 million viewers just in the U . S . ) . Norman can irritate people ? witness his training camp fight with Newton , or Odell Beckham Jr . s implosion . He just needs to make sure the ones he irritates are from Denver .    : I ve covered close to a dozen Super Bowls now , and one of the old standby stories always concerns The Veteran Who Has A Bad Injury But Might Play . This year that role will be filled by Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis , who broke his arm in Carolina s 49 15  Championship Game win over Arizona last Sunday .  Davis is a sentimental figure already , having come back from three  tears on the same knee and having done so much great community work that he is the reigning Walter Payton Man of the Year . He will be a media star all week .  In his 11th  season , Davis is the Panther with the longest current tenure . He made his first Pro Bowl this season .  The insightful man some people call Pastor Davis will have no problem handling the onslaught of questions . The bigger question is how well he can play a physical position with his right forearm sheathed in a protective cast .    : The Panthers official motto comes from a speech by the late Sam Mills , a beloved linebacker and assistant coach for the team . During the 2003 Super Bowl run for the Panthers , Mills was battling the cancer that would eventually take his life . He used the phrase Keep Pounding in a speech to the team the night before a big home playoff win against Dallas .  Expect it to be a big theme in Panthers national coverage this week . The words Keep Pounding are now sewn inside the collar of all Panthers jerseys . Unlike some slogans , Keep Pounding has been widely adopted not only by fans but by the team s current players .  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
16531,16532,"Reuters) - The United States urged election authorities to review the results of Sunday s vote in Honduras without undue delay, a State Department spokeswoman said on Wednesday.   The United States urges calm and patience as the results are tabulated,  said Spokesperson Heather Nauert.   It s critical that Honduran election authorities be able to work in a free and transparent manner without interference. We urge all candidates to respect the results.  ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
16534,16535,"Reuters) - Nine former U.S. ambassadors to the United Nations warned Congress in a letter on Tuesday that slashing funding for the world body would weaken Washington’s global influence by ceding “the agenda to countries that can be hostile to our interests.”  The ambassadors - Andrew Young, Donald McHenry, Thomas Pickering, Edward Perkins, Madeleine Albright, Bill Richardson, John Negroponte, Susan Rice and Samantha Power - served under both Republican and Democratic presidents.     Trump's concession on wall funding removes obstacle from spending talks State prosecutors urge Trump not to withdraw from Paris accord “Cutting funding to the U.N. ... will only damage U.S. national security and our position in the world,” Albright told reporters. “Other powers, most prominently China and Russia, will do everything they can to fill the leadership gap.”  The letter urged Congress to avoid drastically cutting U.N. funding and to give current U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres time and space to reform the world body to make it more efficient, effective and responsive.  The United States is the biggest U.N. contributor, paying 22 percent of the $5.4 billion core budget and 28.5 percent of the $7.9 billion peacekeeping budget. These assessed contributions are agreed by the 193-member U.N. General Assembly.  Trump said the U.S. share of those budgets was “unfair” and has proposed an unspecified reduction in funding for the United Nations and its agencies, as well as enforcement of a 25 percent cap on U.S. funding for peacekeeping operations.  Some U.N diplomats have also voiced concern about who could fill a U.S. cash void.  “There is an argument to be made about the U.S. inadvertently creating a ‘China first’ policy, rather than ‘U.S. first’ policy if they walk away and leave space,” said a senior U.N. diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity.  Trump told U.N. Security Council ambassadors on Monday - over lunch at the White House - that if the world body reforms how it operates, then the U.S. investment would be worth it.  “If we do a great job, I care much less about the budget because you’re talking about peanuts compared to the important work you’re doing,” Trump told the 15 council envoys.  U.N. Secretary-General Guterres met briefly with Trump at the White House on Friday for the first time since both took office earlier this year.  The State Department said this month it was ending funding for the U.N. Population Fund (UNFPA), the U.N. agency focused on family planning as well as maternal and child health in more than 150 countries. Guterres warned that the cut could have “devastating effects.”  ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
16556,16557,"Dutch government floats ' mini Schengen ' idea to  partners   The Dutch government has debated internally and with its allies a plan to introduce passport checks at the borders of several Western European countries in a bid to control an influx of migrants and refugees .  The idea of carving out a "" mini Schengen "" within the Schengen area would seem to violate the treaty guaranteeing free travel within 26 European countries .  The European Commission , the  ' s executive arm , has received no formal proposals regarding the creation of a "" mini Schengen "" zone within the existing passport free area , a Commission spokeswoman said on Thursday .  Europe is struggling to cope with its biggest migration crisis since World War Two .  German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere told a news conference in Berlin on Thursday that his Dutch counterpart had raised the idea with him , but Germany was not enthusiastic .  "" Our political goal must be that the Schengen area as a whole functions , "" he said . "" Everything else would just be supplementary considerations . ""  The Dutch plan is separate from a French plan to introduce systematic border checks within the Schengen area as a security measure after the attacks in Paris last week .  The "" mini Schengen area "" would include Austria , Germany , Belgium , Luxembourg and the Netherlands , and would involve setting up transit camps for migrants outside those borders , a report in newspaper De Telegraaf said .  Foreign Minister Bert Koenders confirmed those details in part to the paper , but said other measures were also under consideration .  "" The Netherlands and other countries are talking about many different solutions , "" said spokeswoman Janet Takens of the Justice Ministry , which oversees immigration policy .  "" We are talking with like minded countries on a regular basis , "" she said , declining to provide details .  The leader of Prime Minister Mark Rutte ' s conservative People ' s Party for Freedom and Democracy in parliament said on Wednesday he supported the idea of a mini Schengen , while the leader of junior coalition partner Labour said he sees "" complications and obstacles "" to the plan .  Marit Maij , a member of parliament for Labour , told Reuters her party could support the plan only if European border policy "" continues to fail . ""  ( The story was refiled to show 26 European countries are members of Schengen area , not 26  members . )  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
16585,16586,"Reuters) - Venezuela s leftist government prepared to release some 80 jailed anti-government activists on Saturday, and threatened to expel envoys from Canada and Brazil after criticism over rights.  Delcy Rodriguez, head of the pro-government Constituent Assembly, told reporters the legislative superbody was recommending the detainees be given alternative punishments such as community service and compensation for victims. Thirteen activists were later paraded in front of state  cameras during a meeting with Rodriguez, a hardline ally of President Nicolas Maduro. They looked stony-faced as they sat listening to her admonishments in the formal surroundings of Venezuela s colonial-era foreign ministry. Rights groups and foes of Maduro say authorities are unfairly holding 268 political prisoners for protesting against  dictatorship.  Maduro, the 55-year-old successor to Hugo Chavez, says all jailed activists are there on legitimate charges of violence and subversion.   Let it be understood that the events promoted by the extremist Venezuelan opposition, which caused Venezuelans  deaths, must not be repeated,  Rodriguez said. Some 170 people died in violence around two bouts of anti-Maduro street protests in 2014 and earlier this year.   The assembly president told the detainees at the meeting they would return to their detention centers for medical tests then be freed to spend Christmas with loved ones.  The releases, albeit with alternative sentences, could inject life into stuttering political talks between the government and opposition due to resume in the Dominican Republic in early January. Western nations and Latin American neighbors have been increasingly critical of Maduro this year, accusing him of stamping on democracy and human rights. The government says foreign nations are trying to encourage a right-wing coup. Rodriguez said the Constituent Assembly - which various foreign countries refuse to accept - was also recommending Brazil s ambassador Ruy Pereira and Canada s charge d affaires Craig Kowalik both be declared  persona non grata.  The Canadian government, which has imposed sanctions on Maduro s administration, said it would not be cowed into easing pressure on  the anti-democratic Maduro regime  in Venezuela.  Canadians will not stand by silently as the Government of Venezuela robs its people of their fundamental democratic and human rights, and denies them access to basic humanitarian needs,  said Global Affairs Canada, the government department that manages its foreign and trade relations. Brazil s foreign ministry also responded sternly.  If confirmed, the Venezuelan government s decision to declare Brazil s ambassador persona non grata shows once more the authoritarian stance of Nicolas Maduro s administration and its lack of willingness to engage in any dialogue,  it said, promising reciprocal measures. U.S. President Donald Trump s administration has been especially critical of Maduro, also imposing sanctions on him and other senior Venezuelan officials this year. Under new stewardship with the arrival of charge d affaires Todd Robinson last week, Washington s embassy in Caracas called on Saturday for the freedom of all jailed activists.  We urge Maduro s regime to respect human rights,  it tweeted.  Free them during this holiday time.  ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
16594,16595,"An armed airman who allegedly barricaded himself inside a building on a Colorado air base is awaiting sentencing on unrelated charges and will likely face additional charges , the base said Tuesday .  Airman 1st Class Nico Cruz Santos , 21 , surrendered to authorities late Monday night after an hours long standoff with authorities at Schriever Air Force Base . No one was injured .  "" While there are lessons to be learned from every situation , by and large yesterday ' s incident was resolved with the best possible outcome , "" said Col . James Ross , 50th Space Wing commander , in a Tuesday statement . "" Our law enforcement and community partners worked together to ensure the security of our mission and people while helping this airman through a troubling situation . ""  The airman who belongs to the base ' s 50th Security Forces Squadron locked himself around 10 a . m . inside a building where personnel get paperwork and equipment before being deployed , said Lt . Marie Denson , a spokeswoman at the Colorado Springs base .  Soon thereafter , that building and the surrounding area was evacuated . Law enforcement units and other first responders from the Schriever base , nearby Peterson Air Force Base and the El Paso County , Colorado , Sheriff ' s Office  team rushed to the scene , Lt . Col . Harold Hoang said .  The man was armed with a personal handgun , authorities said .  He also had his cell phone , which he had been using along with a land line phone to communicate with military officials outside . Mental health professionals were also on site , Denson said .  The airman "" is currently facing legal action in a civilian court as well as disciplinary action and possible discharge from the Air Force , "" Hoang said .  The base said in a statement Tuesday that Santos is awaiting sentencing in Gilpin County on unrelated charges earlier this year .  "" It is expected that once the investigation of yesterday ' s incident is complete that additional charges may be filed in either the military or civilian court systems , "" the statement said . The incident remained under investigation Tuesday .  Santos was being held in a Teller County detention facility , the base said .  Schriever Air Force Base is also home to the Space Innovation and Development Center , the Missile Defense Agency , 310th Space Wing and other units and groups , according to its website .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,past
16598,16599,"Celtic have ramped up the post Old Firm feelgood factor by finally landing Stuart Armstrong and Gary Mackay Steven from Dundee United .  The captures of the Tannadice pair for a combined 2million fee signalled a shift in the Parkhead club ' s transfer strategy back towards home spun talents .  A left field move for Kilmarnock striker Robbie Muirhead failed to materialise and on deadline day United moved in and were putting the finishing touches to his transfer to Tayside . But Derry City winger Michael Duffy completed his move to Celtic Park as expected .  Stuart Armstrong has signed for Celtic as the Scottish Premiership champions completed their transfers  Gary Mackay Steven also arrived from Dundee United on transfer deadline day  Armstrong poses with Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell inside the stadium  Michael Duffy was a left field arrival at Celtic Park from Derry City  However , it is the completion of moves for two of the Scottish game ' s brightest lights that will leave fans of the champions convinced that Ronny Deila ' s reign will now go from strength to strength .  Mackay Steven had already agreed to join Celtic under freedom of contract this summer , but last week the champions had a bid of 150 , 000 to take him immediately rejected .  Matters gathered apace on Monday evening , however , with an improved 250 , 000 offer finally matching United ' s valuation . Celtic had started the day by improving upon an earlier bid of 1 . 5m for Armstrong , only to have that kicked into touch . Their willingness to up the fee to around 1 . 75m finally saw United cave in and the player travelled with his team mate to Glasgow for medicals before the deals were sealed .  While United have now sold 8m of talent since the summer with Sporting Lisbon ' s Ryan Gauld and Hull ' s Andrew Robertson netting them 3m apiece they will now face Celtic in the League Cup Final on March 15 without their two prized assets . Neither player can turn out for Celtic , however , because they are cup tied .  Armstrong celebrates scoring the opening goal for Dundee United against Celtic last year  Mackay Steven ( left ) and Armstrong ( right ) are two of Scotland ' s hottest young talents  Former Ross County and Liverpool youth player Mackay Steven , 24 , won his first full Scotland cap against the  in 2011 . Armstrong , 22 , started out at Inverness before joining United in 2010 and Gordon Strachan rewarded his progress with a place in the Scotland squad which travelled to Croatia two years ago .  The capture of Duffy proved a rather more straightforward deal with the Northern Ireland Under 21 winger moving to Glasgow for a nominal fee after a successful trial .  Kris Commons remains a Celtic player for the time being after an expected bid from Bolton failed to materialise on Monday night . Neil Lennon had hoped to use the proceeds from the 1m sale of Lee Chung yong to Crystal Palace to fund the move but with that transfer going to the wire there was insufficient time for him to test the resolve of his former club .  Kris Commons could still leave the club in the summer with Bolton manager Neil Lennon keen  Lennon remains keen to be reunited with Commons in the Championship and will get his wish by agreeing a pre contract agreement next week unless the player is granted the straight two year deal he desires with Celtic before then .  The prospect of Celtic moving for Barry Bannan floundered when he moved from Palace to Bolton on loan while speculation linking Deila with a spectacular swoop for Darren Fletcher ended when he joined West Brom .  While Armstrong and Mackay Steven signed for Celtic , former Dundee United defender Paul Dixon , 28 , rejoined the Tannadice club from Huddersfield . But United failed in a bid to lure their former midfielder Scott Allan back from Hibs .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
16602,16603,"by Yves Smith  By Jeffrey Butler, Assistant Professor, Louisiana State University; Paola Giuliano, Associate Professor of Economics at the UCLA-Anderson School of Management; and Luigi Guiso Axa Professor of Household Finance, Einaudi Institute for Economics and Finance. Originally published at VoxEU  Assessing the trustworthiness of others is a ubiquitous and fundamental process. If these trustworthiness assessments translate into trusting behaviour , understanding how ‘trust beliefs’ are formed is consequential. The current  presidential election may hinge on voter assessments of the trustworthiness of candidates. The victims of the  investment fraudster Bernie Madoff are reminders of the potentially severe financial consequences of misallocated trust.  Kenneth Arrow (1972) famously asserted that trust is a prerequisite for most economic activity. A large and lively body of research in economics focuses on trust and its aggregate economic consequences, documenting strong relationships between general levels of trust between nations and everything from  growth to cross-country trade patterns (Knack and Zak 2001, Knack and Keefer 1996, Guiso et al. 2004, Tabellini 2008, Algan and Cahuc 2010, Guiso et al. 2009).  Despite the economic importance of trust, surprisingly little is known about what causes us to trust others. Although previous research suggests that both pecuniary and non-pecuniary factors (‘betrayal’ or ‘control’) play a role, it is not clear which non-pecuniary factors are particularly important or persistent, or precisely how these factors affect trust (Bohnet and Zeckhauser 2004, Cox 2004, Ashraf et al. 2006, Bohnet et al. 2008, Butler and Miller 2015, Bolton et al. 2016).  Furthermore, while common sense dictates one determinant of trust must be trust beliefs, even less is known about what shapes these beliefs or their relationship, if any, with trusting behaviour.  Moral Determinants of Trust and Trust Beliefs  Our research is beginning to fill this gap. We use experimental evidence from the so-called ‘trust game’ to shed light on the determinants of trust and trust beliefs. In this game, one person (the ‘sender’) sends money to another person (the ‘receiver’). The amount is increased when the receiver gets it. In turn, the receiver can return all, some or none to the sender. Because receivers are unconstrained in their decisions, senders’ choices can plausibly be interpreted as trusting behaviour.  Our results shed light on how, and to what extent, moral concerns drive trust. Building on previous research that found scope for non-pecuniary concerns, in Butler et al. (2016a) we elicit participants’ subjective, individual notions of what constitutes ‘cheating’ in the context of a trust game experiment, and relate this to their behaviour in the same game.  We find a large direct impact of moral concerns. While expected monetary returns play a large role in senders’ decisions to trust, we estimate that the likelihood of ending up feeling cheated also significantly influences trusting behaviour. Surprisingly, the influence of moral concerns on how much individuals trust is comparable in magnitude to risk aversion, a more widely acknowledged determinant of this trust/investment decision.  Notions of Cheating  Having documented that moral considerations are an important direct determinant of trust, we also found indirect channels through which moral concerns may affect trusting behaviour. One such channel operates through senders’ trust beliefs. We found that receivers try to not leave their (anonymous) co-players feeling cheated. Since there is no consensus on what cheating entails – we find wide variation in definitions of cheating, the patterns of which are interesting in their own right – this requires receivers to guess what senders would consider to be ‘cheating’.  How do they guess? Our evidence suggests that receivers’ belief in what the senders would consider as cheating is strongly correlated with how receivers themselves define cheating. This is a pattern consistent with the psychological phenomenon of ‘false consensus’ (Ross et al. 1977) in which we tend to think that others are like us.  Astoundingly, we find that senders apparently anticipate this thought process. We uncover a strong positive relationship between senders’ own cheating definitions and how much money senders believe receivers will return to them.  Since moral considerations, as manifested by subjective cheating definitions, play a strong direct and indirect role in trusting behaviour, the obvious question arises: where do these definitions come from? Our study suggests that cheating notions are affected by values instilled by parents. We surveyed participants about the values their parents taught them during their upbringing, and classified the list into two categories: Pro-social values, such as altruism and cooperation Pro-competitive values, such as striving to be better than others  We find that pro-competitive values are strongly associated with higher cheating definitions – that is, needing higher monetary returns in order to not feel cheated – while pro-social values substantially relax, or lower, cheating definitions.  Real-World Implications of Experimental Findings  Are there any real-world implications for these experimental findings about trust? If trust beliefs drive trust behaviour, trust behaviour is important for economic success. Moreover, if some individuals hold persistently mistaken trust beliefs, then these mistaken beliefs may create substantial economic losses.  The relationship between parentally instilled values and, ultimately, trust beliefs may be one source of persistently mistaken beliefs. A reduced-form channel may be false consensus. For instance, trustworthy individuals may believe that others are more trustworthy than they actually are – and, to the extent that false consensus operates on a subconscious level, its distorting effect on beliefs may not be eradicated by evidence.  Consistent with either of these channels, in related research we document substantial economic losses at the individual level associated with mistaken trust beliefs in large-scale survey data (Butler et al. 2016b). The income losses we can attribute to mistaken trust beliefs are in the same order of magnitude as those associated with not going to college. We replicate this relationship between mistaken trust beliefs and earnings losses in an experimental trust game, where we also find a substantial role for parentally instilled values, and false consensus in shaping trust beliefs (Butler et al. 2015).  Economists have singled out trust as an important phenomenon at the individual level, and for society as a whole. This raises natural questions about the determinants of trust. We knew already that decisions about whom and how much to trust are partly based on pecuniary considerations, but that there is a substantial and varied role for moral considerations. The interplay between trust, trust beliefs, instilled values, and automatic psychological process such as false consensus may be a particularly fruitful area for more research.  See original post for references 0 0 0 0 0 0",fake,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
16618,16619,"Cap : ""  Scamp , I want you to eat all these little papers I soaked in chicken juice and then go throw up in that envelope marked 2014 Tax Receipts . ""  Rep . Steve Stockman ( R Texas ) is proposing "" The Dog Ate My Tax Receipts Act . After the  gave unbelievable excuses as to why it could not produce emails Lois Lerner and six other people , Stockman is proposing that we all should be able to avail ourselves of similarly lame excuses .  "" The United States was founded on the belief government is subservient and accountable to the people . Taxpayers shouldn ' t be expected to follow laws the Obama administration refuses to follow themselves , "" said Stockman . "" Taxpayers should be allowed to offer the same flimsy , obviously made up excuses the Obama administration uses . ""  The full text of the resolution follows :  The resolution may be cited as the "" Dog Ate My Tax Receipts Resolution . "" Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Internal Revenue Service (  ) must allow taxpayers the same lame excuses for missing documentation that the  itself is currently proffering  Whereas , the  claims that convenient , unexplained , miscellaneous computer malfunction is sufficient justification not to produce specific , critical documentation and ,  Whereas , fairness and Due Process demand that the American taxpayer be granted no less latitude than we afford the bureaucrats employed presently at the   Now , therefore , be it resolved that it is the sense of the House of Representatives that unless and until the Internal Revenue Service produces all documentation demanded by subpoena or otherwise by the House of Representatives , or produces an excuse that passes the red face test ,  All taxpayers shall be given the benefit of the doubt when not producing critical documentation , so long as the taxpayer ' s excuse therefore falls into one of the following categories :  1 . The dog ate my tax receipts 2 . Convenient , unexplained , miscellaneous computer malfunction 3 . Traded documents for five terrorists 4 . Burned for warmth while lost in the Yukon 5 . Left on table in Hillary ' s Book Room 6 . Received water damage in the trunk of Ted Kennedy ' s car 7 . Forgot in gun case sold to Mexican drug lords 8 . Forced to recycle by municipal Green Czar 9 . Was short on toilet paper while camping 10 . At this point , what difference does it make ?  In any case ,  can visit  for a good , high quality copy .  ",satire,text,test,US elections,US elections,satire,satire,True,no,no,positive,present
16620,16621,"—   For a while, Senator Bernie Sanders’s Roman holiday seemed less than it was cracked up to be. Immediately after his campaign announced that he would leave the United States for a “  meeting” at the Vatican, questions arose about the wisdom of the trip. The critical New York primary was just days away. One official of the Vatican’s Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, which hosted the conference Mr. Sanders would attend, even suggested he had fished for the invitation. Most critically, there seemed to be little chance that Mr. Sanders would meet the Vatican resident whose name he frequently invokes. Pope Francis, it turned out, would not be visiting the conference of the academy, an   think tank of the Vatican. Politically, a trip to Rome without a meeting with Francis would have been a blunder, Costas Panagopoulos, a political science professor at Fordham University who is teaching at Yale, had said on Friday. “The point is to make sure you are going to get an audience with the pope,” he said. “Anything short of an actual visit will probably be a mistake. ” Mr. Sanders continued to hold out hope. “I certainly would be delighted and proud if I had the opportunity to meet with him,” he said before leaving New York. He also had two things going for him: his host, Bishop Marcelo Sánchez Sorondo, an Argentine who is the chancellor of the academy and happens to be close to Francis, and his hotel room, also close to the pope. Mr. Sanders was to stay in a   room at Casa Santa Marta, the Vatican guesthouse where Francis keeps his residence. “So it won’t be difficult to find the pope,” the bishop said last week, seeming to hint at something. On Thursday, the day before the conference, a Vatican spokesman appeared to end all speculation, saying, “There won’t be a meeting with the Holy Father. ” Bishop Sánchez Sorondo dismissed the statement as “Roman gossip. ” But final word, it seemed, came Friday afternoon in the form of a handwritten letter from the pope apologizing to conference attendees for his absence. “I will keep them all in my prayers and good wishes, and send them my heartfelt thanks for their participation,” he wrote. “May the Lord bless you. Fraternally, Franciscus. ” Around 5:30 p. m. Friday, the conference’s business ended and Mr. Sanders made an appointment for dinner at the Casa Santa Marta with his foreign policy adviser, Jeffrey D. Sachs, the economist and a fellow conference participant. Mr. Sanders and his wife, Jane, sat with Mr. Sachs and his wife, Sonia, for a soup and buffet dinner, where they were joined by Bishop Sánchez Sorondo and Cardinal Óscar Andrés Rodríguez Maradiaga of Honduras, the pope’s   man and one of the Vatican’s top power players. “It was a   conversation,” Mr. Sachs said. “It was about issues of the church and its history, about Honduras and foreign policy. ” But the most important words occurred in the middle of dinner, when a personal secretary for Francis arrived with the news Mr. Sanders had been hoping for, Mr. Sachs said. If Mr. Sanders were in the foyer of the Casa Santa Marta at 6 a. m. the next day, he would be able to speak briefly with Francis as the pope headed to the airport for his Saturday trip to Greece, where the pope would be addressing the migrant crisis. So early Saturday morning, Mr. Sanders stood in the marble foyer, which looks out onto a large cobblestone drive just inside the Vatican walls. Joining him were his wife, Mr. Sachs and his wife and Bishop Sánchez Sorondo, the senator’s de facto Vatican fixer. The pope, speaking to reporters on his plane later in the day, described the meeting. “This morning when I was leaving, Senator Sanders was there,” he said, adding, “He knew I was leaving at that time, and he had the courtesy to greet me. ” No photos of the encounter were permitted, but Mr. Sachs said the senator was delighted all the same. He was beaming as he left the guesthouse, and celebrated the informal audience with a victory lap of sorts in St. Peter’s Basilica along with Mr. Sachs and the bishop, passing Bernini’s Baldacchino, a monumental bronze canopy over the papal altar, and Michelangelo’s Pietà. Aware that his every statement is parsed for deeper meaning, Francis said he was simply being polite, not political. “I shook his hand and nothing more,” he said. “If someone thinks that greeting someone means getting involved in politics,” he added, laughing, “I recommend that he find a psychiatrist!” But the candidate was excited to talk about his coveted souvenir. “I conveyed to him my great admiration for the extraordinary work that he is doing all over the world in demanding that morality be part of our economy,” Mr. Sanders told reporters aboard the plane as it rushed him back to the campaign in New York.",true,news,test,Other news2,US elections,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
16623,16624,"Remember Tiger Woods ' incredible chip in at the Masters in 2005 and the will it or won ' t it pause before his ball dropped into the cup ? Time seemed to stand still as Tiger ' s Nike ball made its final revolution , and one of golf ' s legendary moments was born .  But if you thought that was a dramatic pause , it has nothing on Scott Langley ' s putt at Muirfield Village last week .  While Woods ' s ball hovered on the lip for a second or so , the 25 year old American had to wait a full 24 seconds for his ball to drop .   Scroll down to watch Scott Langley ' s remarkable putt  Birdie chance : Scott Langley putts on the 16th green at Muirfield during the Memorial Tournament  Unfortunate : Langley looked like he had just missed his chance with the ball coming to a rest behind the hole  Hang on a second ( or 24 ) : But the ball was still in motion and moving very slowly towards the hole  How about that ? Langley shrugs after his ball finally relent to gravity and drops in the hole   , so Woods was chasing the Masters title at Augusta on a Sunday while Langley was on his way to finishing 28th in the Memorial Tournament , so the 14 time major champion ' s chip was just a little more important in the grand scheme of things .  But Langley ' s putt was quite remarkable . His 12 foot birdie effort curled around the back of the cup on the 16th green at Muirfield Village before seemingly coming to a stop just millimetres from its intended target .  But the ball wasn ' t quite done yet . Although it is hard to see on the  footage , his ball was fractionally moving towards the cup all the time .  The most dramatic of pauses : Tiger Woods holed an incredible chip in at the Masters in 2005  The rules of golf state that a moving ball must not be hit and so Langley , after a conversation with playing partner Bubba Watson , waited and urged his ball to complete its final roll .  Finally , it relented to gravity and fell in for a birdie two . With no need for jumping up and down or blowing on it either .  Eat your heart out , Tiger .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,past
16624,16625,"Being a middle-aged man whose only experience with Miley Cyrus is a daughter raised on Hannah Montana and a dislike for her music, I was surprised to find out what an incredible person she s grown into. It wasn t until I came across a post on her Instagram account about one Donald J. Trump that was less than flattering that I decided to take a look at just who she s become.It wasn t long before I found myself feeling terrible about the way I ve allowed a pre-conceived notion about a pop/country singer whose voice I don t like stand in the way of admiring an absolutely remarkable young woman. Ms. Cyrus currently supports 41 charities and 30 causes, most of which are favorites of liberals like me. On top of that, Miley is possibly the most outspoken  voice against Donald Trump I ve heard to date.Miley s Instagram account is chock full of shots at the Donald, which he apparently isn t taking seriously considering his lack of drunken rants towards her on Twitter. Little does The Donald know that Miley Cyrus may seem like a mere nuisance to be swatted away, but her age and popularity paint the picture of a youngster who can impact The Donald s ability to secure the youth vote. Her latest post, for example, is pushing 200K likes on the increasingly popular social media platform, showing that this is one woman not to be trifled with:  Trump can't stop won't stop saying stupid ass sexist shit!!!! Comparing two women! Are you fucking kidding! We will not allow you to destroy everything we have overcome as women! I feel as though we are stronger than ever as a unit. We have an understanding and respect for one another (more than trump can say about anyone, his fellow candidates, other races and religions , other public figures , just   in general, and of course animals! Check out his family hunting photos!!!!) it's absolute insanity that this has gone on this long and far! Wake me up from this nightmare someone PLEASE!A photo posted by Miley Cyrus (@mileycyrus) on Mar 25, 2016 at 4:56am PDTTo listen to her speak makes me sorry I haven t paid more attention to what I must now consider an incredible voice. Does that mean I ll be downloading  Wrecking Ball  from iTunes? Certainly not, but the next time my now teenage daughter asks me if she can buy a Cyrus song, the answer will be: Absolutely, but before you do I d like you to take a look at the person behind that song; she s pretty fantastic. Tolerance and the ability to learn is what separates liberals from conservatives. If you re not a Miley Cyrus fan because you don t her music or her antics at the Video Music Awards, have a look into how she spends her time outside of work and you ll find a woman whose ideologies will hopefully help inspire a generation to better the world they live in.Featured image from Instagram",fake,dataset,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,past
16627,16628,"Giglio , Italy In his answers to prosecutors , defense attorneys and a judge , the captain of the ill fated cruise ship Costa Concordia admitted he made a "" mistake "" in colliding with rocks off the Italian island of Giglio .  However , in statements made during a phone conversation with a friend earlier this month , Capt . Francesco Schettino said managers pressured him to steer the ship to the area where the collision occurred , two Italian newspapers reported Wednesday .  Both Costa Cruises and authorities have criticized Schettino ' s behavior . He is under house arrest and faces possible charges of manslaughter , shipwreck and abandoning ship when the vessel struck rocks and rolled over onto its side in the waters off the island on January 13 .  A 16th body was found Tuesday on the ship . Sixteen others are missing from the roughly 4 , 200 people aboard the cruise liner 3 , 200 passengers and 1 , 000 crew members at the time of the collision .  "" I hit this projection of rock , that seems almost stuck into the ship , but this was my mistake , "" Schettino said in the 126 page transcript . "" . . . There isn ' t anything I can say , as I was convinced that passing within . 28 of a mile there wouldn ' t be any problem .  The captain also brushed aside suggestions that at 15 knots , he was going too fast , as alleged by prosecutors .  "" There isn ' t a speed limit , "" he said . "" . . . We had more or less the speed needed to reach Savona on time . ""  According to the transcript , Schettino maintained he ran the ship aground to keep it from sinking . "" This is what allowed me to limit the tilting , "" he said .  Italian newspapers La Repubblica and Corriere della Sera on Wednesday published excerpts from a telephone conversation Schettino had with a friend after his January 14 arrest .  The captain called his friend from the prosecutor ' s office , and authorities tapped the phone , the newspapers said . Schettino attorney Alessandro Antichi confirmed the wiretap but would not comment on the conversation . The information should not have been published , he said , as it is part of the investigation .  "" In my place , someone else wouldn ' t have been so benevolent to have gone right under there , because they have pissed me off , go , go there , "" Schettino said , in an apparent reference to getting close to the island , according to the newspapers . "" The shallows were there but it wasn ' t signaled by the instruments that I had and I went through . . . in order to follow what the managers wanted . ""  The man behind the steering wheel , Jacob Rusli Bin , told investigators that after the ship struck the rocks , Schettino cursed and said he had not seen them , La Repubblica reported .  Speaking Wednesday before the Italian Senate , Costa  Pier Luigi Foschi gave an account of what occurred as documented by Roberto Ferrarini , the company ' s director of marine operations .  The first contact between Schettino and Ferrarini took place about 15 minutes after the collision , at 9 : 57 p . m . In the call , Schettino told Ferrarini of the crash and said the ship had lost power but assured him the ship could still navigate and the situation was being investigated . In subsequent calls , Foschi said , Schettino updated Ferrarini about the ship taking on water but insisted it could still navigate .  Foschi told lawmakers that Ferrarini reported Schettino was calm during the calls . The last call in which the captain reported the situation was under control came in at 10 : 33 p . m . , he said . Two minutes later , Schettino called to tell Ferrarini the ship was being evacuated , Foschi said , adding that Ferrarini was surprised at the sudden change .  Ferrarini and Schettino continued to talk during the evacuation , Foschi said , but did not provide further details .  Costa cannot conduct an independent investigation because prosecutors seized the ship ' s data recorder , or "" black box . "" The recorder had some connection problems but is working , Foschi said . It contains conversation recordings and navigation system data , he said .  Schettino ' s defense attorney , Bruno Leporatti , filed an appeal Wednesday of a judge ' s decision to place the captain on house arrest , Leporatti ' s office said in a statement . Both the prosecution and the defense are appealing the decision prosecutors because they believe Schettino should be in custody , and the defense because it believes he should have been released with no restrictions on his movements .  In his deposition , Schettino defended his decision not to evacuate the ship immediately .  "" It ' s not like I can have a black out and immediately say , ' Let ' s all get out of here , ' "" he said . "" Where do I send these people ? I need to have the certainty and reach my decision on the fact that the ship is like that ( no longer capable of floating ) . I am not going to put at risk the lives of 4 , 000 people . ""  Cruise ship passengers described a scene of panic and confusion as they rushed for lifeboats . Some said the crew seemed overwhelmed and did not have accurate information on what was taking place .  In the transcript , Schettino also described the chaos , saying he helped passengers onto lifeboats and that some became stuck because of the angle of the listing ship . He said he was trying to launch a lifeboat when he realized he was no longer on board .  "" I was then on the lifeboat . It isn ' t as if I had boarded it , "" he said . "" Look , I fell on its roof . ""  However , in the wiretapped conversation , Schettino tells the friend , "" When I understood that the ship was tilting , I decided to leave , and left , "" according to Corriere della Sera .  A captain ' s leaving the ship with passengers still aboard is difficult to defend , said Italian criminal defense attorney Ugo Meucci , who does not represent Schettino .  "" This is a very difficult position because our law is very strong , and the risk is very high for the captain , "" who could face a 15 year jail sentence , Meucci said .  Schettino has resolutely defended his actions after the ship hit the rocks , insisting he kept his bosses at Costa fully informed of the accident ' s severity .  "" The gash ( in the ship ) was immense , "" the captain said in the wiretapped conversation . "" There was this projection of rock , and then all what I did afterwards , I did it with my most professionalism , and this can help me alleviate or at least give me the illusion to be at peace with my conscience . ""  He tells the friend . "" I ' m proud of the fact that we saved almost all ( the passengers ) . . . . I went around picking up people at sea and I ' m at peace . ""  Schettino also tells the friend , "" I don ' t ever want to go back on ship . ""  ",true,text,test,Football,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
16653,16654,"On the day Mikel Arteta was made club captain at Arsenal Jack Wilshere provided the perfect answer to his critics while also responding to his manager Arsene Wenger ' s call to assume more responsibility at the club .  The 22 year old has been heavily criticised since being caught on camera smoking on holiday in Las Vegas earlier this summer , but the England midfielder was quick to accept the consequences for his actions and drew a line over the incident .  Prior to Arsenal ' s 3 0 win over champions Manchester City in the Community Shield final at Wembley on Sunday , their second trophy in just four months , Wilshere demonstrated that he does care and can step up to the battle in the tunnel before the game .   Scroll down to watch Wilshere order Giroud out for the warm up and much more  Preprared : Wilshere arrives at Wembley for the showdown with Manchester City  Eager : Wilshere gets impatient as his Arsenal team mates wait for Giroud before going for their warm up  Impatient : Wilshere tells Giroud to get a move on and get outside promptly  Giroud was seen hanging around the dressing room in a world of his own before Wilshere told the French striker to hurry up and get outside as his team mates were waiting for him inside the tunnel for their pre match warm up .  This highlights that Wilshere is someone who isn ' t there to be carried by the older professionals at the club telling the main striker in the squad in no uncertain terms to hurry up and get outside .  Wilshere and his team mates had a day to remember in the end as they cruised to a convincing win over Manuel Pellegrini ' s men , with the all action midfielder impressing before being replaced by Mathieu Flamini on 68 minutes .  Wenger and Arsenal fans alike will be hoping for more of the same from Wilshere this season as he looks to prove his critics wrong and establish himself as one of the best players in the Premier League .  Battle : The two teams line up before the Community Shield clash at Wembley  Respect : Wenger and Pellegrini greet each other in the tunnel before the game at Wembley  Prestigious : The  Cup , Community Shield and Premier League were held up in the tunnel before the game   Wenger hails ' complete ' Arsenal performance  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
16661,16662,"Almost everything that can be said about Tuesday night ' s elections has been said , so with some trepidation , a few afterthoughts :  The verdicts in the 2014 midterm races make it clear that President Barack Obama cannot simply blame Democratic losses on a bad map , as he did Tuesday . ( The President passed off the elections as taking place in states least favorable for Democrats "" since Eisenhower . "" )  It should be sobering for the White House that when Obama took office , Democrats had 59 senators and 256 House members after Tuesday night , they will likely have 45 47 senators and some 190 House members . That is one of the biggest slides in congressional seats of any modern president . Surely , his White House has to take serious responsibility and look for ways to leave a better legacy .  This was an unexpectedly big night for the  : Predictions for Republicans were already high , but they blew the doors off . Who could have imagined Republicans winning the governorships of Maryland and Massachusetts , winning Senate seats in Obama states such as Colorado and Iowa , and assembling their biggest coalition in the House of Representatives since the 1940s .  Conservatives will likely disagree , but one takeaway for Republicans is that they were well served this year by recruiting conservatives whom voters saw as less hard right than the tea party . Look at Cory Gardner of Colorado : The  establishment intentionally promoted him as an alternative in Colorado who unlike Ken Buck , a tea partyer who lost a few years ago ( but won the conservative 4th Congressional District this year ) would appeal to moderates as well as conservatives . Even The Denver Post endorsed him just as The Boston Globe endorsed Republican Charlie Baker , who wrested the Massachusetts State House from Democrats .  A bright spot from Tuesday night that needs more attention : The Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University reports Americans will now have at least 100 women in Congress a three fold increase over 25 years . Women such as Joni Ernst , Shelley Moore Capito and Jeanne Shaheen also won pivotal Senate races . Past experience says that the more women leaders in Congress , the more likely the two sides will find common ground .  Tuesday night also witnessed the election of a fourth generation of the Bush family elected to public office . George P . Bush , the son of Jeb , won statewide office in Texas as land commissioner . His great grandfather was Prescott Bush , a U . S . senator ( and almost Ike ' s vice presidential running mate ) his grandfather was President George H . W . Bush his father was governor of Florida and his uncle was President . Will his dad now declare his own candidacy for the presidency ? Tuesday night ' s results probably make it more likely .  ( Note : An earlier version of this article said there will be at least 100 women in the House that number applies to the entire Congress . )  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
16665,16666,"A strong storm over the Bering Sea the remnants of Super Typhoon Nuri will bring intense winds , massive waves and heavy rain and snow to coastal Alaska and the Aleutian Islands .  But don ' t ignore it just because it is a sparsely populated area with residents who are accustomed to severe weather . The powerful storm will whip the jet stream , causing a ripple effect that will carry the cold air to the East Coast .  This arctic outbreak will funnel down through Canada over the next week , bringing a deep freeze to the eastern United States , with temperatures forecast 20 degrees below average .  The ripple of frigid air starts in Alaska , where the remnants of Super Typhoon Nuri which earlier in the week was tied for the strongest storm typhoon of the year based on wind speed have strengthened , though it isn ' t a typhoon any longer .  Technically , it ' s called a mid latitude storm .  The storm carries the energy of the typhoon and its current strength is derived from clashes of hot and cold air . This incredibly strong cyclone will alter the jet stream allowing for the cold air to plunge into the United States next week .  The effects of the cold air will be felt as early as the weekend , as temperatures will cool in the East Coast . But a second cold front with really cold air will make its way into the Upper Midwest Sunday and the East Coast by the end of next week .  That second front will bring snow from Montana to the Great Lakes starting on Sunday . By Wednesday , snow may reach as far north as New England .  The name "" Polar Vortex "" has been attached in the past to weather like this , but that is a misnomer .  There is a thing called the Polar Vortex , and it is always present in the arctic atmosphere . The current storm is affecting the jet stream and allowing polar air to plunge farther south , but it is not a direct result of the Polar Vortex .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
16668,16669,"Fourth  presidential debate did little to narrow the field  The Republican presidential candidates debate for the fourth time in the 2016 nomination contest , this time in Milwaukee , as they compete to narrow down the wide open contest .  This has been a confusing race almost from the beginning , and it seems only to grow more muddled . That became apparent again on Tuesday night in the fourth round of debate among the candidates . No one was treated as though he or she was the person to beat . The night belonged to many and therefore to no one in particular .  The polls show a somewhat stratified field . Businessman Donald Trump and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson still stand above the others . Each , however , has limitations and questions that must be dealt with . Behind them are Sens . Marco Rubio , Fla . , and Ted Cruz , Texas . Both continue to impress with their debate performances , but neither has been through the fires that are surely to come .  Whatever the surveys show , they don ' t fully measure the dynamics of the race or the conversation among primary and caucus voters and among party insiders and strategists . Rather than a contest with a frontrunner and others seeking to become the alternative , the race remains a series of smaller battles , with jockeying to emerge in one lane or another , in one early state or another .  The summer months were a time of scrambled expectations as both Trump and then Carson rose in the polls . Trump maneuvered his way up the ladder with strong rhetoric about immigration and serial insults that unsettled his rivals . Carson caught everyone by surprise , including perhaps himself . If there is an organic candidacy , fueled by social media and word of mouth , it could be his .  The rise of Trump and Carson coincided with the diminishment of the biggest name in the field . Former Florida governor Jeb Bush strutted as a fundraising behemoth through the spring and early summer , salting away more than 100 million in a super  . But as a candidate , he faltered . He could not generate sparks among Republicans , many of whom are obviously wary about handing their nomination once again to someone named Bush .  Two weeks ago , his standing had sunk so low that his advisers were asked whether he might soon quit the race . Today , revived by his performance in Tuesday ' s debate , those questions have faded to the background . That ' s a small consolation for a candidate who was expected to be the most formidable in the field , but it is something to cling to .  Bush is now reduced to pinning his hopes on his ability to connect with the often fickle voters of New Hampshire , who saved his father ' s candidacy in 1988 and savaged that of his brother in 2000 .  The other contenders aren ' t quite sure what to do about Trump and Carson . As the outsiders in a year of voter anger and frustration with Washington , their campaign messages write themselves . Each has loyal followers , but how many and for how long ?  Republican presidential debate of the season on the Fox Business Network , which traded the fireworks of the previous  encounter for a more sedate discussion on economic issues .  It was easily the most watched program on  ' s history , just . . .  An estimated 13 . 5 million people watched the fourth Republican presidential debate of the season on the Fox Business Network , which traded the fireworks of the previous  encounter for a more sedate discussion on economic issues .  It was easily the most watched program on  ' s history , just . . .  Carson ' s intelligence and mellow personality continue to attract support , but his policy prescriptions will draw more and more questions . Will the details matter to unhappy conservatives looking for something that breaks the mold of traditional politics ?  Trump now speaks of himself as a politician , as he did during an appearance early Wednesday on  ' s "" Morning Joe . "" He will never fully throttle his instincts to put down rivals , but he seems more subdued , less bombastic .  His opponents continue to recalibrate their sense of his candidacy from dismissing his potential to fearing his attacks . His hard line immigration policy to deport 11 million who are in the United States without documentation draws rebukes from the likes of Bush .  Much depends on the trajectory of Trump and Carson . If the campaign turns to policy , each will be challenged . But if this year is about things other than policy prescriptions , then the other candidates will have to decide when to engage them .  Many Republicans see a contest looming between Rubio and Cruz and it ' s apparent that their advisers are preparing for a collision . They are gifted politicians in distinctly different ways , both capable of making their points with flair and emotion on the debate stage . But wider popular support has escaped them , although there is plenty of time for more voters to discover them .  Further back are New Jersey Gov . Chris Christie and Ohio Gov . John Kasich . They are also on a collision course , two alpha personalities whose hopes are kept alive by their conviction that those above them are no more capable than they are of leading the party .  Christie lost his place on the main debate stage because of flagging national poll numbers but dominated the undercard debate Tuesday . His message was reduced to the claim that he is the best the party can offer to take on Hillary Rodham Clinton . He draws good reviews for his town hall meetings in the Granite State , where his bluntness is appreciated . But he needs to convert that into broader and more solid support .  Kasich came to Milwaukee with a strategy of interruption , inserting himself over the objection of the moderators from Fox Business and the Wall Street Journal . It was a strong dose of Kasich as Kasich , and drew mixed to negative reviews . But it could be the only way he knows .  Republicans have celebrated the breadth and depth of their field of candidates . At some point , they will have to pick the person to lead them . For now , the choices remain numerous , although hardly similar in what the candidates offer . The campaign has moved beyond the period of introduction . The next phase will bring more heated engagement and with it , perhaps , greater clarity . To date , the campaign has produced anything but .  Balz is Chief Correspondent at The Washington Post . He has served as the paper ' s National Editor , Political Editor , White House correspondent and Southwest correspondent .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
16672,16673,"Madrid , Spain Protests against Spain ' s economic crisis took a new turn Wednesday as social media networks fueled calls for demonstrators to take to the streets before local elections a few days away .  Thousands returned late Tuesday to Madrid ' s central Puerta del Sol plaza where the main protests began Sunday .  A few hundred demonstrators camped out there overnight , while similar but smaller protests were held in Barcelona and other Spanish cities , a protest organizer said .  "" The economy and unemployment are key to the protest because that binds all of us together , "" said Jon Aguirre Such , a spokesman for the Real Democracy Now , one of many groups convening the demonstrations .  "" In this crisis , while some have gotten rich , most people have less income , "" Aguirre said .  Demonstrators are protesting Spain ' s 21 unemployment rate and a record 4 . 9 million jobless .  Protesters say a plethora of temporary labor contracts offer few or no job benefits . In addition , some are protesting against the political and financial establishment that they say is to blame .  The protests come in the closing days of the campaign for local elections set for Sunday . Spain ' s 8 , 000 cities and towns will elect mayors , along with 13 ( out of 17 ) regional presidents and parliaments .  Opinion polls in Spanish media predict major gains for the opposition conservatives over Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero ' s ruling Socialist party .  Zapatero , squeezed by the nation ' s prolonged economic crisis , announced last month he won ' t seek a third term in national elections due by March 2012 .  For the past few years , as Spain ' s rate of unemployment remained tenaciously high , most of the protests were organized by major trade unions .  But the latest protests appear to be grass roots movements fueled by social networks , sparking more attention .  Elena Ortega , who says she ' s managed to find only a part time secretarial job , helped spread the word on Facebook about the protests on Wednesday .  "" If this is happening , it ' s because the unions weren ' t doing what was needed , when it was needed . They haven ' t delivered , "" she said .  She said she ' s worried about her 20 year old son , who has only found temporary jobs in the past four years .  "" Forty percent of our young people are unemployed and don ' t have a chance , "" Ortega said .  The movement does not appear to be linked to the unions or political parties , the traditional protest heavyweights in Spain , said Economist Fernando Fernandez of the  Business School in Madrid .  "" I think we really don ' t know what we ' re seeing , "" Fernandez said . "" This is the very beginning of a new movement . I don ' t expect it to become a very large social response or protest against the unemployment perspective in Spain . ""  But hours later , on Tuesday night , several thousand protesters returned to Madrid ' s central plaza . By Wednesday morning , dozens remained in their overnight encampment .  The social media networks call for renewed protests on Wednesday evening in Madrid and three dozen other Spanish cities . The aim is to continue the protests at least through the elections on Sunday , Aguirre said .  But Wednesday afternoon , Madrid ' s elections board banned the planned demonstration at 8 p . m . ( 2 p . m .  ) at the Puerta del Sol plaza . The board said there were not "" extraordinary and serious reasons "" to allow the demonstration on short notice , according to the central government ' s main regional office in Madrid .  The election board vetoed the demonstration which would have come during the final days of the election campaign on the grounds it could affect the right of citizens to vote freely , a regional office spokesman said .  Organizers of many large demonstrations in Madrid seek and receive prior authorization , usually days or weeks ahead of the event . But the economic protests since Sunday have sprung up on short notice .  Spain ' s El Pais newspaper reported that authorities planned to have sufficient police officers on hand to prevent the demonstration .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
16705,16706,"Davis Cup final : Andy Murray triumphs to set up pivotal clash with brother after Kyle Edmund loses opener  Scot beats Ruben Bemelmans to draw Britain level in Davis Cup final after debutant Kyle Edmund s brave defeat to David Goffin  In control : Andy Murray celebrates beating Belgium ' s Ruben Bemelmans in the Davis Cup final ? Photo :    What is it about Davis Cup finals and British brothers ? The last time these two nations came together in the trophy match , just over a century ago , Reggie and Laurie Doherty upended the Belgians by combining for a 6 0 , 6 1 , 6 3 victory in the doubles rubber .  Almost everything has changed in the world of sport since 1904 , but not the format of the Davis Cup . Andy and Jamie Murray will face a very similar equation when they turn this tie into a family affair on Saturday afternoon . Win , and they will stand within touching distance of glory .  Jamie and Andy Murray will play alongside each other on Saturday  Lose , and chances are they will end up in the same boat as John and David Lloyd , who finished as runners up to the Americans in 1978 .  There is nothing quite like playing with your brother in the Davis Cup , said David Lloyd on Friday . I only have one item of tennis memorabilia in my house , and it s a photograph of John and I from 1976 , when we came back to beat the Italians from two sets to love down .  Lloyd , like many others of his generation , is disgruntled about the way doubles has faded into the shadows over the past couple of decades . At the Davis Cup , though , the team game remains pivotal . Whenever two well matched countries meet , the first day score tends to be 1 1 ? as indeed is the case in Ghent . Lose the doubles , then , and you find yourself in the tightest of corners , needing to win both reverse singles on the final day of the tie .  Murray was in dominant form on Friday afternoon ? Photo :   Friday s opening exchanges followed the script , in that Andy Murray and Belgian No 1 David Goffin both came out on top . Yet there was plenty of drama along the way . During Murray s 6 3 , 6 2 , 7 5 win over Ruben Bemelmans , umpire Carlos Ramos intervened twice , first to dock Murray a point for his repeated four letter outbursts , and then to offer him a repeat of his first serve because of the shushing noises that the Belgian fans kept making .  This was an ingenious and subtle way of breaking the partisan crowd rule , but Ramos was wise to it . Saying ' shush is not the same as being quiet , he pointed out at one point .  ? Paul Hayward : Davis Cup will come down to one man Andy Murray  I didn t think they crossed the line , to be honest , said Murray later . But I m not going to serve when the crowd are making any noise because it s off putting .  He also pointed out that the decibel levels were so high that few people could hear what Ramos was saying . Murray did not realise that he had received a warning for an audible obscenity during the third game of the second set , which is why he was surprised to receive a point penalty for the same offence in the fifth . I m also surprised he could hear what I was saying , he added with a wry grin .  Earlier , Kyle Edmund had produced a brave but ultimately frustrating display against Goffin , in which he romped through the first two sets with a series of crunching forehand winners , only to run out of gas in the third and go down to a 3 6 , 1 6 , 6 2 , 6 1 , 6 0 defeat .  It was a tribute to Edmund s quality that the match finished with a sense of disappointment from the British fans . Had they been told before the start that he would go to a fifth set against Goffin , a man ranked 84 places above him , most would probably have been delighted . But their expectations changed during the first 70 minutes , because Edmund was virtually making scorch marks in the red clay . Brad Gilbert , the highly rated analyst and coach , wrote on Twitter that he was reminded of another redhead with a giant forehand : former French Open champion Jim Courier .  Edmund is ripping the ball looks very convertible on the clay reminds me with the ginger hair a little bit of Jim Courier  The second set was hard to credit , for Edmund ? who has had most of his success this year on the Challenger tour ? was bullying Goffin with almost disdainful ease . He was right in the zone at this point , making just one unforced error in the set , and muscling the ball with such power that some of his groundstrokes must have been close to the 100mph mark .  The diminutive Goffin looked as if he was experiencing whiplash at times , so sharply did his head rock back with the sheer force of the impact . He won eight points out of the 34 in the set ? a freakishly low proportion ? and when he double faulted on the final point , it seemed as if he might be about to throw in the towel . But there was one reassuring thought he could cling to . Edmund had never played in the Davis Cup before , and had only once gone past the three set mark in his career .  Kyle Edmund ' s Davis Cup debut started well ? Photo :   The turning point came in the third game of the third set , as Goffin finally applied his experience to break for a 2 1 lead . From there , the bottom fell out of Edmund s world with alarming speed , and he lost the last 12 games of the match . The much touted statistic about players who make their Davis Cup debuts in the final ? none of them has ever won a live rubber ? continued to hold true .  My legs just started to get tired , said Edmund , who will turn 21 in January . I could feel them straining a bit , cramping a bit , and I lost a bit of confidence in my movement . Pushing off every time I was serving and landing , it was getting really tight , and it affects your mind .  David Goffin fought back to win the opening match ? Photo :   While Great Britain know that the Murray brothers will take the court on Saturday , the Belgians have a decision to make . Goffin and Steve Darcis seem to be the most likely pair , although Bemelmans also believes he has a claim . He told interviewers on Friday night that the quality of my play today will help me in the doubles tomorrow .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
16710,16711,"—   Bouncing in the air above the sand of Ipanema Beach, not an Olympic venue in sight, is one of the most remarkable athletes in the world who has nothing to do with the Rio Games. Her name is Giovanna Petrucci, and her acrobatics rival those of the gymnasts and divers competing across this city. Petrucci is a world champion slackliner, performing on a thin strap of nylon or polyester fastened to palm trees. She does front flips and back flips and falls flat on the    strap, her torso parallel to the ground. The move is called “fearless,” and she was the first woman or girl to execute it. “I saw them from a distance and thought they were walking on tightropes, which is remarkable enough as it is, but then they started jumping, flipping  —   it’s just incredible,” said Jerry Daykin, 32, a tourist from London who was here for the Olympics. Brazil would fare much better in the Olympics if Rio’s vibrant beach sports were part of the program. Athletes line the shoreline daily, practicing sports that include the more familiar beach volleyball and the homegrown futevôlei, a combination of volleyball and soccer juggling. If slackline were an Olympic sport, Petrucci, 18, would be a lock for gold. “Slackline originally came from climbing, but it’s evolved to be more like gymnastics,” she said. “But it’s not gymnastics. In gymnastics they have a whole floor for tumbling. Slackline is just on a strip. It requires balance, focus and strength, especially core strength, and also a lot of creativity. ” Petrucci recently graduated from high school but is taking time off before going to college. “Now, I’m living the slack life,” she said. With five sponsors, she is able to travel around the world for competitions. She recently got back from Germany, and next up is Japan. Petrucci grew up three blocks from the beach. She encountered slackline there when she was 13. She is   learning from YouTube videos of slackline stars and getting guidance from others on the beach. Before she had finished high school, Petrucci was considered the best female slackliner in the world, winner of the World Slackline Masters championship. “Now we’re the top reference for people learning slackline  —   beginners are watching our videos,” she said, pointing out that she competed alongside athletes who were once her YouTube heroes. Pedro Rafael Marques, 20, was one of Petrucci’s admirers. He studied her videos while learning to slackline in his hometown in northeastern Brazil. “I thought it was insane when I first saw her videos,” he said. “I was surprised and really impressed to see a young girl doing those kinds of tricks. ” Now, Marques is also one of the best slackliners in Brazil and competes alongside Petrucci. He recently moved to a city near Rio to teach slackline classes and run a slackline program for   children. Petrucci said she admired the Olympic gymnasts competing miles away at the Olympic Park. She said she looked to them for inspiration for new moves. But she is strongly against slacklining becoming an Olympic sport. “I don’t want to get on the line and then have to be like this,” she said, imitating a gymnastics dismount, throwing her arms in the air and flipping her wrists. “It’s too formal. Slackline is freestyle. ”",true,news,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
16719,16720,"Atlanta Jonathan Hanson and Katina Wright are determined to give their infant daughter a bright and stable future despite the cloud of uncertainty they face after years without steady work .  Once successful real estate agents making six figures , Hanson and Wright are now living on the poverty line .  "" We made some good money , "" Hanson said . "" But with new regulations in real estate and different laws and just the amount of foreclosures on the market , it literally took our business away . ""  The last few years have been a downward spiral , says the Atlanta couple , who have been living off their savings . They ' ve sold jewelry and cars , and now they ' re trying to sell their home to survive . Every day , they are faced with a tough decision .  "" You have to pick and choose what you want to do , "" Hanson said . "" It ' s either eat that day or pay a bill . ""  They ' re not alone . Millions of American families have slipped into what the U . S . Census Bureau defines as poor . About 46 . 2 million people are considered to be living in poverty , 2 . 6 million more than last year .  Through his weekly newspaper column , Dimiceli hears from dozens of people each week who are facing hard times . And for decades , he has made every effort to help them get back on their feet .  Through his nonprofit , The Time Is Now To Help , Dimiceli has provided about 500 people a year with food , rent , utilities and other necessities .  "" We get them back on a track ( so ) that . . . their pride is given back to them , "" Dimiceli said this year . "" They can catch up . ""  There haven ' t been this many Americans living in poverty since 1993 , according to the Census Bureau .  More than 15 of the population is now considered poor . The rate is 22 for children , meaning at least one of every five U . S . kids is living in poverty .  "" If you qualify as being in poverty today , then you ' re really in deep poverty , "" said Mark Bergel , founder and executive director of A Wider Circle , a Maryland based charity that provides furniture and other basic necessities to needy families .  The Census Bureau defines an individual as poor if they make less than 11 , 139 a year . The dollar amount rises for every member added to the household .  For example , the average family of four is considered poor if they make less than 22 , 314 . For a family of three like Hanson , Wright and their daughter , the threshold is just a little more than 17 , 000 .  "" There ' s a lot of people suffering , "" said Karen Lee , a financial planner and author of several books , including "" Simple Steps to Help People Get Unstuck Financially . ""  Lee said it ' s important for people who ' ve never faced poverty to keep a positive outlook and believe that things can get better .  "" I have seen people go from riches to rags to riches to rags , "" she said . "" You can rebuild , and you can completely change careers and rebuild . ""  That ' s what Hanson and Wright are doing .  Hanson is betting on a new business he started : building security cages for air conditioners to prevent copper theft .  Wright is teaching herself Web development .  "" I literally threw my Rolodex away , because it was all real estate related , "" she said . "" It ' s no longer of any use to me . So being able to let go is going to be a person ' s biggest advantage . ""  ",true,text,test,Football,Economy,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,past
16724,16725,"Slovyansk , Ukraine In a forest of pines to the east of Slovyansk , Prapor and his seventy men were digging in Thursday . A man in his late fifties with a magnificent beard and four different weapons , Prapor freely admitted he was not a local . But he was here he said to resist the "" Ukrainian fascists "" in Krasny Liman , a nearby town just recaptured by government forces .  He was dismissive of the group that had fled Krasny "" Cossacks , "" he sneered . He had already lost seven men , but his fighters were the bravest . They would not run away .  Meeting Prapor was revealing in several ways . Pro Russian separatists working in eastern Ukraine are better organized , better armed ( Prapor ' s group had a truck mounted anti aircraft gun that was clearly working ) , and more of them appear to come from beyond Ukraine . And they are building a maze of roadblocks and defensive positions across the region .  But a few kilometers beyond , in rolling countryside under a hot sun , a very different group was setting up camp : a substantial force of Ukrainian paratroopers , with armored personnel carriers and artillery . Above , a reconnaissance plane drifted in loops .  Both sides look at least militarily more competent than they did a few weeks ago . Checkpoints used to be few and far between . Now there is a maze of them more separatist than Ukrainian dotted across both the Donetsk and Luhansk regions . The insignia of the "" Vostok Battalion "" a group that includes both Russian and local fighters is common at the roadblocks that have sprung up on the main roads leading into Donetsk .  A few weeks ago , we watched the bedraggled remnants of the Ukrainian army ' s 25th Division surrounded and harangued by locals near Kramatorsk . Now there is a sense of purpose among the units newly deployed , and a greater readiness to use heavy armor . Throughout an extensive tour of the Slovyansk area , the crump of artillery and boom of tankfire sounded periodically .  But the targeting is sometimes puzzling .  Krasny Liman is a town of some 20 , 000 people and a major railway junction . But one of its two hospitals is in ruins , struck repeatedly by what appeared to have been mortars or shells . There was also evidence of strafing from the air . A tearful nurse approached us , saying that whoever had done this was not human . She and others thought Ukrainian forces were responsible , but they could not be sure . Patients had been evacuated , but one middle aged man sat listlessly on a bench outside . He had nowhere to go , he told us a doctor came past once a day to give him an injection .  The new mayor , installed Thursday as Kiev ' s local appointee , said he would investigate the bombing of the hospital . But for the government , recovering Krasny Liman is a rare victory and judging by the number of troops installed around the town , one it intends to protect . Now Ukrainian armor seems intent on squeezing separatist positions closer to Slovyansk .  It seems like eastern Ukraine is half way through a game of chess , pieces scattered across the board in threatening positions , with neither black nor white close to checkmate . Civilians , whatever their allegiance , are suffering the consequences .  The main highway that links Slovyansk and the Russian border , a route crowded with trucks just a few weeks ago , is deserted . In places the tarmac is chewed up by the impact of mortar fire . But once in a while an ancient , battered car lurches onto the road from a farm track . A family has escaped from Slovyansk , where water and electricity supplies are faltering and fresh food is getting more difficult to find .  The intentions of either side in this scattered war of attrition are hard to work out . Some Ukrainian analysts say that Russian President Vladimir Putin has what he wants already , a simmering insurgency that can be stoked any time Ukraine ' s new leader , Petro Poroshenko , looks to deepen his country ' s relationship with Europe and  . There seems to be no attempt from the Russian side to stem the growing flow of fighters crossing into Ukraine , and border clashes have intensified .  Poroshenko ' s message to the east in his inauguration speech Saturday will be closely scrutinized , but even ordinary people in Donetsk are suspicious of him , noting his support as a candidate for a hard line against the separatists and his threat to send the army into the city . The new President ' s message to the outside world will be equally critical , as he walks the tightrope between making Ukraine part of Europe the dream , still unrealized , that brought thousands onto the streets of Kiev in February and reassuring Russia that its interests in the neighborhood will be acknowledged . It is a reality he recognized when he told the Washington Post in April : "" Without a direct dialogue with Russia , it will be impossible to create security . ""  Creating security seems a long way off . On Thursday , a car raced out of Slovyansk and emptied a mother and her three young children on the main highway to be ferried somewhere safer . Drawing on a cigarette , the 30 something driver called Vladimir said they were not his relatives . He was just helping them escape .  "" It ' s hell down there , "" he said , before jumping into his car to return .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,past
16726,16727,"On Thursday , President Barack Obama is scheduled to deliver a major speech in Washington about his administration ' s counterterrorism policies , focusing on the rationale and legal framework for the controversial  drone program and his plans to wind down the prison camp at Guantanamo Bay .  So we thought it might be useful to examine some common myths about the drone program and the prison population at Guantanamo .  1 . Drone strikes largely target the leaders of terrorist groups that threaten the United States .  In fact , of the thousands who have been killed in  drone strikes in Pakistan , only 37 were leaders of al Qaeda or affiliated organizations , according to a tally by the New America Foundation . And even if we add to that list the leaders of the Taliban who have been killed in drone strikes , only 2 of the victims of the  strikes in Pakistan have been militant leaders .  The drone program , which began more than a decade ago as a tool to kill leaders of terrorist groups , has evolved today into a counterinsurgency air force whose principal victims in Pakistan are lower level members of the Taliban .  Drones , by the numbers  2 . Drone strikes target specific terrorists who pose some kind of imminent threat to the U . S .  Obama ' s top counterterrorism adviser and now  Director John Brennan said in a speech last year that "" in order to prevent terrorist attacks on the United States and to save American lives the United States government conducts targeted strikes against specific al Qaeda terrorists . ""  That ' s only partly true , because the  has also has occasionally conducted "" signature strikes "" against groups of men who display a particular behavioral "" signature "" that indicates they may be militants . In these cases , the targeter does not know the identity of the persons in the drone cross hairs .  3 . Drone strikes kill a lot of civilians .  That was certainly once the case . Under President George W . Bush , the proportion of those killed by drones in Pakistan who were identified in reliable news reports as civilians or "" unknowns "" people who were not identified definitively as either civilians or militants was around 40 , according to data assembled by the New America Foundation .  But the civilian and "" unknown "" casualty rate from drone strikes has fallen steadily over the life of the program . Under Obama that number has fallen to 16 . And in 2012 it was around 11 .  In 2012 , 2 of the drones ' victims were characterized as civilians in news reports and 9 were described in a manner that made it ambiguous whether they were militants or civilians .  And in 2013 , civilian casualties are at their lowest ever . That is partly the result of a sharply reduced number of drone strikes in Pakistan 12 so far in 2013 , compared with a record 122 in 2010 and also more precise targeting . According to data collected by the New America Foundation , three to five "" unknown "" individuals have been killed so far in drone strikes in 2013 . Two other organizations that track the  drone program in Pakistan , the London based Bureau of Investigative Journalism and the Long War Journal , report zero to four civilian deaths and 11 civilian deaths respectively .  4 . The United States has no reason to worry about the legal framework governing drone strikes because it is so dominant in drone technology .  Only three countries currently are confirmed to possess armed drones Israel , the United Kingdom and the U . S . But some 80 countries have drones , according to a count by the New America Foundation , and a number of them may already be able to arm them .  In February , a Chinese state run newspaper reported that the Chinese government had contemplated deploying an armed drone in a remote , mountainous area to kill a drug lord , but decided instead to capture him .  Iran unveiled what it claimed was its first armed drone in 2010 .  During a speech last week at the New America Foundation , the U . N . special rapporteur for counterterrorism and human rights , Ben Emmerson , estimated that "" within a matter of certainly a year or two , other states will be deploying the technology , and within five years or so we will see a number of states and possibly nonstate actors deploying similar types of combat technology . ""  Emmerson also pointed out that the rapid proliferation of drone technology means whatever legal framework the United States puts together to justify its targeted killing campaign "" has to be a framework that we can live with if it is being used by Iran when it is deploying drones against Iranian dissidents hiding inside the territory of Syria or Turkey or Iraq . "" A sobering and instructive thought .  5 . The Pakistani government gives a wink and a nod to the drone program , providing tacit approval for its continuation .  It is true that Pakistan ' s President Pervez Musharraf quietly agreed to allow the  ' s targeted killing campaign to begin in 2004 . But the program has become deeply controversial and unpopular in Pakistan because of the perception that it kills many civilians and that it erodes Pakistan ' s national sovereignty .  In April 2012 , the Pakistani parliament voted unanimously to rescind any previous permission that had been granted by the government for the  to conduct the targeted killing program .  During Ben Emmerson ' s visit to Pakistan in March to discuss the  drone program with top officials , the point made to him "" consistently , right across government , at the highest level and throughout , was that there is no continuing consent to the use of drones on Pakistani territory . ""  The next Pakistani prime minister , Nawaz Sharif , who was elected on May 11 with a clear mandate , has urged an end to the drone strikes , telling reporters , "" Drones indeed are challenging our sovereignty . Of course we have taken this matter up very seriously . I think this is a very serious issue , and our concern must be understood properly . ""  6 . Obama is soft on terrorists .  The  has conducted 355 drone strikes in Pakistan ' s tribal regions since the targeted killing program began there in 2004 . The vast majority of these 307 to be precise were carried out under Obama .  Even if you take the most conservative estimate of the numbers of people the Obama administration has killed in drone strikes in Pakistan , 1 , 600 , that is around twice the total number of prisoners that Bush sent to Guantanamo .  7 . Many of the Guantanamo detainees who have been released return to the battlefield .  The U . S . government claims that 27 of those released from Guantanamo are suspected or confirmed to have taken up arms . For security reasons the government hasn ' t released the names of these men since 2009 , but a review of the public record suggests that number is quite inflated .  According to a review by the New America Foundation of news articles , Pentagon reports , and other relevant documents , of the 603 detainees who have been released from the prison , only 17 individuals ( 2 . 8 ) are confirmed to have engaged in terrorist or insurgent activities against the United States or its citizens , while 21 individuals ( 3 . 5 ) are suspected of engaging in such activities .  8 . The detainees still held at Guantanamo are too dangerous to release .  Some undoubtedly are , such as the operational commander of 9 11 , Khalid Sheikh Mohammed . But contrary to the fulminations of officials such as Sen . Lindsey Graham , R South Carolina who said last year that Guantanamo detainees are "" crazy bastards that want to kill us all "" half of the men still held at the prison camp were cleared for release three years ago by a task force of Department of Justice and Pentagon officials .  To be exact , 86 of the 166 men still imprisoned at Guantanamo were either found to be guilty of nothing , or were low level fighters who could be repatriated subject to some continued monitoring by their home country ' s government .  9 . There are no benefits for the U . S . to release additional prisoners from Guantanamo .  Obama correctly said of Guantanamo in April , "" It is expensive . It is inefficient . It hurts us in terms of our international standing . It lessens cooperation with our allies on counterterrorism efforts . It is a recruitment tool for extremists . It needs to be closed . ""  The cost per year to keep one prisoner at Guantanamo is estimated to be 800 , 000 , more than 30 times the cost of keeping a prisoner in a jail in the United States . And the Pentagon is asking Congress to approve a 200 million renovation plan for the prison .  The prisoners at Guantanamo have also featured frequently in jihadist propaganda , making it a recruitment tool for would be al Qaeda members .  There is also a way forward through Guantanamo to obtaining some kind of peace deal with the Taliban . As a "" confidence building measure "" for peace negotiations , theTaliban have agreed to release the only U . S . prisoner of war , Sgt . Bowe Bergdahl , in exchange for a handful of senior Taliban figures being held at Guantanamo , who would then be held under some form of house arrest in the Persian Gulf state of Qatar . This deal is a precondition for continuing serious peace talks with the Taliban .  The 27 year old soldier has been in captivity since the Taliban seized him on June 30 , 2009 .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
16729,16730,"Reuters) - Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen has warned his party it could still lose next year s election even after the banning of the opposition and demanded that it improve its image, according to a recording leaked online on Thursday. Hun Sen s Cambodian People s Party (CPP) played down the importance of the message, in which Hun Sen tells senior officials they must stop corruption, extortion and other illegal practices and start making people happy. The opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) was banned at the government s request last week, deepening Hun Sen s fight with Western donors who accuse him of demolishing democracy in the country he has ruled for over 32 years.  It doesn t mean that now the opposition is dissolved we can be careless,  Hun Sen says in the 12-minute recording of a message to party officials, warning that his opponents could start a new party and should not be underestimated.  If we get bad results and lose it would be twice as bad after we already dissolved the opposition party... People can also dissolve us through an election.  He said the international community could try to  revive their puppets  and channel funding to Cambodia despite a five-year political ban on 118  politicians. The  was banned after its leader, Kem Sokha, was arrested for allegedly plotting treason with American help. He has rejected the accusations as a ploy to let Hun Sen win next year s election. In his message, Hun Sen called on party officials to stop corruption, extortion, illegal logging and other irregularities that had pushed Cambodians to vote for the opposition.  Votes were cast because of anger due to our mistakes in the past and that cannot happen again,  Hun Sen said in the recording.  spokesman Sok Eysan said the message had not been secret. He did not say when the recording had been made.  There is nothing to hide,  he said.  He was doing his work as the party leader and the prime minister.  The 55 parliamentary seats that the  won in the last election in 2013 were allocated to smaller parties on Thursday by the National Election Committee. The biggest winner was the royalist Funcinpec party of Prince Norodom Ranariddh, who was once Hun Sen s main rival but is now aligned with the prime minister. Funcinpec will get 41 seats in parliament - a third of all the seats - despite winning less than 4 percent of the vote in 2013. The ruling party did not get any more seats, but already had a majority with 68 seats.  The will of the people has been violated,  said Mu Sochua, a deputy to Kem Sokha who fled abroad in fear of arrest.  The National Assembly of the Kingdom of Cambodia has lost its legitimacy.  ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
16744,16745,"Cartagena and Lucena players protested months of unpaid wages in a dramatic show of unity by refusing to contest the opening moments of their Segunda B match at the weekend .  After the referee blew the whistle for the start of the game Cartagena ' s strikers played the ball forward the bare minimum before walking back to their half to join their team mates .  The home side ' s starting  stood arm in arm and faced their fans in a line while the modest crowd at Cartagonova Stadium stood in unison and applauded .  Cartagena and Lucena players stage a protest against months of unpaid wages after starting their match  Lucena , whose plight is largely in parallel with their opponents , dropped to their knees and put their arms behind their backs in their own form of protest .  Almost 40 seconds passed before a Cartagena player got the match proper under way and it became business as usual in their fight for survival .  A 71st minute strike from former Real Madrid youth player Chus Hevia decided the 1 0 result for the home side but their sides ' statement was made long before that .  The Segunda B sides line up as if it was a normal match and kicked off when the whistle was blown  But after the ball is rolled forward by Cartagena the players turn to join together for the protest  Cartagena players face the crowd in their mostly empty stadium while the Lucena side kneel down  Fans in Cartagonova Stadium show their support for the players with a standing ovation  Play recommenced with almost 40 seconds of the first half passing by with Cartagena eventual 1 0 winners  Players from both clubs haven ' t been paid for several months by their relatively new investment company owners and are clearly reaching the end of their tether .  Lucena was taken over in summer 2014 by a group of investors led by Eduardo Bouzon while Cartagena was acquired by the company Sporto Man Gol 2020 .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
16750,16751,"Jakarta , Indonesia Demeaning , exploitative , degrading . Beauty pageants have been called lots of things .  And it ' s also the line coming from Islamic hardliners , who are protesting this year ' s Miss World Contest , which is held in the most populous Muslim nation in the world .  Protesters in Indonesia denounce the contest where women sashay in swimsuits and form fitting evening wear , calling it insulting to Muslims and triggering threats of violence .  Islamic groups urged the government to shut the contest down . Hardliners burned signs featuring the image of last year ' s winner Wenxia Yu of China that read "" Reject Miss World . "" They also presented what they deemed as appropriate attire for beauty contestants long dresses and full head scarves .  "" It ' s only beauty , beauty and beauty , but also body , body and body , so that ' s why we consider it as a contest that exploits women physically , "" said Ismail Yusanto , spokesman of Indonesia ' s Hizbut Tahrir , a conservative Islamic group .  In an attempt to appease religious concerns , the pageant has scrapped the swimsuit competition and replaced it with less revealing beachwear attire .  Also , the finals were originally to be held on the outskirts of Jakarta , but angry protestors forced the event to relocate to the Hindu resort island of Bali . Members of the group , Islamic Defenders Front (  ) tried to travel to Bali by sea from East Java , but were stopped by police .  Hary Tanoesoedibjo , the  of  Group who organized the pageant locally , disputed the government ' s decision to move the contest to Bali .  He said no laws have been violated by the pageant and that "" everything has been adjusted to the local culture . We all know that , so no bikini . ""  Even before the three week contest began on September 8 , protesters slammed it as "" pornography "" and held signs reading : "" Miss World is whore contest . ""  "" Our demand is still the same , "" Yusanto said . "" Don ' t continue this contest . ""  Miss World ' s 127 contestants competed in beach fashion , fitness , world fashion , talent and "" Beauty with a Purpose "" meant to honor charitable work . The top 10 models from Ukraine , South Sudan , Brazil , Philippines , France , Cameroon , Cyprus , England , Italy and the United States were announced earlier this week .  A winner will be crowned in Bali on Saturday .  Security forces will have 700 police officers for the final event .  There has been criticism of how the Indonesian government handled the Miss World controversy , that it sent a message of capitulation in favor of a vocal minority .  Indonesia is a secular country with moderate Muslims , but "" a small extremist fringe has become more vocal in recent years , "" according to the Jakarta Post .  "" We are a complex country , so we have to balance domestic concerns with our ability to host international events , "" said Mari Elka Pangestu , the Tourism and Creative Economy Minister of Indonesia . "" But in general , Indonesia is very open . ""  But not all such women ' s contests are so vehemently opposed .  A week ago , the World Muslimah 2013 competition was held in Jakarta , to crown a woman who applies "" Islamic values in everyday life , "" which includes the ability to recite from the Quran . Contestants dressed in head scarves and floor length dresses . Obabiyi Aishah Aijbola from Nigeria was named World Muslimah 2013 .  Photo gallery : See World Muslimah 2013  Eka Shanty , founder of World Muslimah says the difference between Miss World and World Muslimah is that the latter is not a pageant .  "" This is an international award event to appreciate young and talented Muslim women . ""  In addition to decrying the Miss World contest , the conservative Islamic group Hizbut Tahrir does not support the World Muslimah competition .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
16757,16758,"Assimilation or respect for the host country is not a strong suit for Muslim migrants/rapefugees Asylum seekers have left an asylum home and have smeared blood, vomit and feces all over the walls according to police.In preparation for the visit of U.S. President Barack Obama, riot police in the German town of Hameln needed somewhere for the officers to stay overnight. The police were offered a barracks that previously held migrants but were shocked to discover that the past residents had smeared faeces, vomit and blood all over the walls of the former asylum home reports Junge Freiheit.North Rhine-Westphalia police refused the accommodation due to the unsanitary conditions the barracks had been left in. The Facebook page of the German police union posted pictures of the former migrant home saying,  semen, blood and faeces on the walls and in the beds. Inside cockroaches were eating. The union went on to say that the officers would not sleep in the conditions and preferred to spend the night in their vehicles instead.One policeman said that the only reason they felt they were able to seek alternate accommodations was by showing media what the asylums seekers had left for them. They called the conditions  catastrophic. The difficulty of bringing migrants up to speed with Western hygienic norms has been shown time and time again over the migrant crisis. The border town of Nickelsdorf in particular was said to have been struggling with garbage and sewage left by migrants.Trains had to be disinfected entirely because many migrants did not know how to operate a western style toilet and opted to defecate on the floor or in a urinal. Via: Breitbart News ",fake,dataset,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
16758,16759,Cat lover Rachel Brown knew she wanted to adopt a feline friend and spent weeks looking at incoming cats that were brought into kill shelters. She scoured through pages of available cats and knew... ,fake,news,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,satire,fake,True,no,no,positive,past
16776,16777,"New England Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler who made the game winning play in the Superbowl says he had a vision that he could bring his team to victory .  The 24 year old rookie , nicknamed ' Scrap ' , who was only signed as an undrafted free agent in May , said he really started to believe in his ability after a conversation with an Uber driver .  ' When I really believed it is , when I called an Uber driver for my mom , my mom called me and told me , ' The guy spoke nice of you and he said he felt like you ' re going to do something fantastic tomorrow . ' Butler told  News .  ' I just prayed on it and I just went out and played as hard as I could , and it turned out great . '  New England Patriots cornerback Malcolm Butler who made the game winning play in the Superbowl says had a vision that he could help bring his team to victory . The 24 year old rookie , nicknamed ' Scrap ' , said he really started to believe in his ability after a conversation with an Uber driver  New England Patriots strong safety Malcolm Butler intercepts a pass intended for Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Ricardo Lockette in the fourth quarter in Super Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium  Butler wasn ' t even part of the rotation to start Super Bowl  , but proved his worth on Sunday with Seattle at the one yard line inside the final minute , he took a chance and threw himself in front of Ricardo Lockette , intercepting Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson and ensuring a 28 24 win .  Butler , who used to working part time at a Popeyes chicken joint , said after the game : ' I just had a vision that I was going to make a big play . '  He told  News that the first person he wanted to hug and kiss after the game with his mother .  He said he wanted to make her proud after she spent his childhood in Vicksburg , Miss . , working two jobs to support him and his four siblings .  ' You see some tough things growing up , and I just always said , ' I didn ' t want to have that life , ' ' he said . ' I wanted to be someone .  Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jermaine Kearse hauls in a pass over New England Patriots strong safety Duron Harmon ( right ) and strong safety Malcolm Butler ( left )  Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jermaine Kearse pulls down a pass after being tipped by New England Patriots defensive back Malcolm Butler  ' And I just wanted to make my family a better family and inspire young kids that anyone , that you can do whatever you wanted to do if you put your mind to it and you just believe and have faith . '  Butler went to school in West Alabama , after he started his college career at Hinds Community College in Raymond , Miss .  In 2010 he took a part time job at the fast food chain after he was dismissed five games into his freshman season the reason has not been disclosed , but he has a charge for possession of drug paraphernalia on his record .  After working and taking classes at Alcorn State , Butler worked his way back on the team and eventually made it to West Alabama .  New England Patriots strong safety Malcolm Butler celebrates the interception  According to Twitter , the most tweeted moment of the night was when Butler intercepted the pass  He said he had been warned during the week by coach Bill Belichick to be prepared for such a play .  ' I got beat on the route on Tuesday or Wednesday in practice and Bill told me they are going to do that and they did , ' Butler told reporters .  Butler , who played for the University of West Alabama after transferring from Hinds Community College in Mississippi , said he was alerted to the play by the way Seattle stacked their receivers .  ' I just drove on the ball , ' he said . ' I ' ve seen some crazy plays ( in Super Bowls ) and I guess I am down in history for one of them . '  Two plays earlier Butler had been unable to stop the Seahawks when Wilson went deep to Jermaine Kearse , who somehow grabbed the ball after losing it .  ' I did my job but at the same time , he caught the ball . I felt like the game was on me and so when I got back in the game that is why I didn ' t hesitate to jump a route and pick the ball off , ' Butler said .  ' Everybody earned this ring but I am just so glad that I could come through with a clutch play that really got the ring . '  Butler earned his nickname because of his habit of always being involved in the action in practice .  ' We call him ' Scrap ' because the first time we saw him he was so scrappy and he found himself around the ball all the time , ' said defensive tackle Vince Wilfork .  ' I think that was one of the main reasons he was in the game . He makes plays .  ' That moment with him making that play is just a fairytale ending to a book because of what he has done all year for us .  ' It is an amazing feeling to be a rookie and come in and basically win the ball game for us . Amazing ' .  Tom Brady said : ' For a rookie to make a play like that in the Super Bowl , it ' s unbelievable . '  According to Twitter , the most tweeted moment of the night was when Butler intercepted the pass .  The deciding moment generated some 395 , 000 tweets a minute , according to the company ' s blog post .  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
16791,16792,"Flu vaccine myths can confuse people trying to decide whether to get a shot . Here are five common myths and , based on information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , the truth .  1 . The shot can give you flu  Not so , says the  .  The viruses in flu shots are killed during the production of the vaccine , which means they cannot cause infection . The vaccine batches are then tested , with a group of people randomly assigned to get either the vaccine or salt water .  "" The only differences in symptoms was increased soreness in the arm and redness at the injection site among people who got the flu shot , "" the  found . "" There were no differences in terms of body aches , fever , cough , runny nose or sore throat . ""  Still , some people feel bad after a flu shot . Soreness at the injection site is one reason , but it usually dissipates within two days . It ' s caused by the immune system making antibodies to the killed viruses in the vaccine that help a person fight off the flu .  The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices says symptoms , in rare instances , include fever , muscle pain , and discomfort or weakness , which also typically go away after a day or two .  And , though a flu shot won ' t give you the flu , its protection doesn ' t kick in for two weeks from the time of injection . During that time , you are vulnerable .  In addition , it ' s easy to confuse seasonal flu for an illness caused by a number of other pathogens , including rhinovirus . Or you may be exposed to a flu virus that is not included in the vaccine . Finally , the flu shot does not always work particularly among the elderly and people with weak immune systems . But even among these high risk groups , the vaccine can prevent complications .  2 . It is better to get the vaccine later in the season to limit the risk that its efficacy will wane  No . The shot lasts an entire flu season , except for some children who may need two doses . The  recommends that all people older than 6 months get a flu vaccine .  3 . The flu shot might adversely affect my pregnancy  No . The flu vaccine is "" an essential element of prenatal care "" and is recommended for all pregnant women , according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists . Pregnant women are among the groups at increased risk for flu complications like pneumonia , infections and dehydration .  Though babies cannot be vaccinated until they have reached 6 months of age , antibodies they received in utero from their mothers may help protect them . But note that the group recommends against the nasal spray the live , attenuated version for pregnant women .  The  says seasonal flu vaccine shots have not been shown to cause harm to pregnant women or their babies .  4 . I ' ve had the flu before and it was no big deal , so bring it on  No . Seasonal flu exacts a bigger toll in some years than in others : Between 1976 and 2007 , the flu was linked to a low of 3 , 000 to as many as 49 , 000 fatalities in the United States , with more than 200 , 000 hospitalizations .  There are two main reasons : The viruses that circulate in one year may differ from those that circulate in another . And , of course , people change from year to year , meaning that your response to a viral infection one year may not be the same as your response in another .  5 . The flu shot doesn ' t work  It doesn ' t work all the time , but it does confer some level of protection . For example , the  says preliminary data for the 2010 2011 season show that it was about 60 effective for all age groups combined , and studies for earlier years found protection rates of up to 90 .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
16800,16801,"The Philippine Commission on Elections approved fraud charges Friday against former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and several other former officials , state media reported .  Arroyo is charged in connection with the alleged manipulation of results during 2007 Senate elections , according to the Philippines News Agency .  The former president has denied any wrongdoing .  Arroyo was stopped from leaving the country Tuesday as she was trying to board a plane at Manila ' s Ninoy Aquino International Airport , hours after the country ' s Supreme Court overruled government imposed restrictions on her travels . The Supreme Court again Friday rejected the government ' s travel ban , saying she was free to leave as long as she posted a bond and met other requirements , said Jose Midas Marquez , a court spokesman  Arroyo was reportedly boarding the flight to seek medical treatment abroad for her bone disease diagnosed earlier this year , following three unsuccessful spinal operations in the Philippines . She arrived at the airport in an ambulance and was transported to the departure gate in a wheelchair while wearing a neck brace .  Arroyo ' s lawyer , Raul Lambino , said the former first couple was "" subjected to indignity and embarrassment at the airport , "" calling the government ' s defiance of the Supreme Court order "" abhorrent and in violation of the rights of the individual guaranteed by the ( Philippine ' s ) constitution and the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights . ""  But presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda described the situation as "" all high drama , "" according to media reports . "" They ( the Arroyos ) want the public to sympathize with them , "" he added .  He said that while the Arroyo couple would be treated with dignity , the government would be "" firm in our decision not to allow them to leave the country . "" Arroyo ' s husband , Jose Miguel Arroyo , is also accused of corruption .  The Supreme Court , which is mostly staffed by judges hired under Arroyo , defied current President Benigno Aquino ' s state mandate of investigating allegations of corruption during Arroyo ' s 2001 2010 presidential term .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
16811,16812,"No arrests have been made so far , but investigations have begun , Chhattisgarh ' s Home Secretary N . K . Aswal said .  The assault on a convoy of politicians from the country ' s ruling Congress party also killed Mahendra Karma , founder of a controversial anti Maoist tribal militia called Salwa Judam , or the Purification Hunt , authorities say .  At least 200 guerrillas were involved in the ambush , Srivastava said , citing witness accounts .  Among the dead were eight policemen , three laborers and some car drivers , he added .  On Sunday , Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited some of the injured in a hospital in Raipur , the capital of Chhattisgarh state . He was accompanied by his Congress party chief Sonia Gandhi .  "" We will pursue the perpetrators of this crime with urgency , and I can assure the nation that the government is committed to bringing them to justice , "" Singh said .  Saturday ' s Maoist raid came barely three days after Singh announced what he called a significant decline in killings by left wing insurgents , whom the federal government describes as the nation ' s gravest internal security threat .  "" The quantum of violence as well as the resultant killings perpetrated by the left wing extremist groups in 2012 declined significantly for the second successive year , "" said a report Singh released on Wednesday to mark the fourth anniversary of his second term in office .  He insisted his government has continued to provide public infrastructure and services in tribal districts hit by Maoist extremism .  The rebels , officials say , aim to seize power through an armed liberation struggle .  Since the 1960s , the militants have said they are fighting for the dispossessed .  Authorities suspect that Maoists enjoy support not only in the poorest areas and in tribal communities but also among youth and intellectuals .  In addition to targeting police , alleged police informers and people they call "" class enemies , "" the insurgents also are believed to be attacking infrastructure such as roads , bridges , railways , and power and telecommunication networks .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
16813,16814,"Glenn Dorsey ' s right knee injury is a big blow for the 49ers ' defense   An ominous sign for the 49ers defense came on its very first snap Sunday , when veteran defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey injured his right knee and got carted away from the eventual 29 13 defeat to the Seahawks .  Coach Jim Tomsula said Dorsey will undergo an  on Monday to determine if he tore his anterior cruciate ligament . Dorsey ' s leg buckled as he laterally pursued Thomas Rawls , who got stopped for a 3 yard gain by linebackers NaVorro Bowman and Michael Wilhoite .  "" Glenn going down early , that really hurt us , "" Bowman said . "" Rawls wanted to prove himself to the Seattle Seahawks today , so he came out with a chip on his shoulder . ""  Rawls finished with 209 rushing yards , the most ever in a game by a 49ers opponent . Rookie Arik Armstead and Tony Jerod Eddie replaced Dorsey . Tank Carradine , a 2013 second round draft pick , was inactive for the first time this season .  Dorsey has played in every game this season after missing all of last year with a biceps tear . The fifth overall pick in 2008 by the Kansas City Chiefs , Dorsey is in this third season with the 49ers .  "" Glenn means a lot to this team on and off the field , so obviously I have a ton of respect for his play , "" Tomsula said .  Tight end Vance McDonald scored the first touchdown of his three year career on a 19 yard pass from Blaine Gabbert , cutting the 49ers ' deficit to 20 7 nine seconds before halftime . McDonald caught all four passes that came his way for a career high 65 yards , which was a yard more than his entire production through the first nine games combined .  "" I ' ve never been a stats guy or cared about how many yards or catches I have , but it was very fun breaking that seal and getting in the end zone , "" said McDonald , who also had a career long 36 yard catch in the game .  Colin Kaepernick , as expected , did not attend the game , a day after going on injured reserve with a shoulder injury . He ' s slated to undergo surgery Tuesday in Denver on a torn labrum to his non throwing shoulder .  "" We heard the news right before we left ( Saturday ) . I obviously feel for him , "" safety Eric Reid said . "" You hate to see anybody go down with a season ending injury . I just hope the best for him as he recovers from his surgery . ""  The 49ers still have not scored a first quarter touchdown this season , and they got shut out in that opening stanza for the seventh time in 10 games . The Seahawks led 13 0 after the first quarter , and that lead climbed to 20 0 when they scored their third touchdown in three possessions .  "" It ' s not fun playing down 20 0 and that changes the way you call plays , "" McDonald said .  The 49ers didn ' t have to face Marshawn Lynch for the first time since he joined the Seattle Seahawks in 2010 . Lynch , a Cal product , will travel to Philadelphia on Monday to have a doctor examine his abdominal pain , which could be a sports hernia and could require surgery , according to the Seattle Times .  "" Nothing is ruled out at this point , "" Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said . "" This will be a real important couple of days for Marshawn and we will know by Wednesday probably . "" Lynch played through the injury last game after suffering it in practice Nov . 12 .  The 49ers also were without their top running back , as Carlos Hyde sat out his third straight game with a left foot injury . Shaun Draughn drew his second consecutive start and had more receiving yards ( 40 ) than rushing yards ( 37 ) . He had a team high eight receptions to go with his 12 carries . No other 49ers carried the ball beside Draughn and quarterback Blaine Gabbert ( four carries , 22 yards ) .  Phil Dawson has made 16 consecutive field goal attempts , connecting Sunday from 27 and 25 yards on back to back drives in the third quarter .  Anquan Boldin did not aggravate a hamstring injury on a 28 yard reception in the fourth quarter and merely got hit in the back of the leg , Tomsula said . Boldin returned and finished with five catches for a team high 93 yards . He moved past Irving Fryar for 18th on the  ' s all time list with 12 , 871 receiving yards .  Shut out in the 49ers ' 20 3 loss last month to the Seahawks , Torrey Smith made a 16 yard reception against Richard Sherman midway through the fourth quarter . It was Smith ' s only catch .  Right tackle Erik Pears allowed both sacks of Gabbert , both by Cliff Avril , including one on third down with 5 : 45 remaining .  Quinton Patton was penalized for unnecessary roughness for his tackle on punt returner Tyler Lockett , who officials deemed was a defenseless player . Patton got high fives on the sideline afterward from his teammates .  Safety Jaquiski Tartt underwent X rays after the game on a knee injury . "" He fell on his knee but kept playing , "" Tomsula said .  Arik Armstead ( head ) and Tony Jerod Eddie ( ankle ) briefly left the game in the second quarter .  Andrew Tiller replaced Jordan Devey as the starting right guard . Tiller drew a holding penalty in the third quarter .  The 49ers sacked Russell Wilson twice , one coming from Ahmad Brooks and the other split by Aaron Lynch and Quinton Dial .  For more on the 49ers , see Cam Inman ' s Hot Read blog at blogs . mercurynewsweblink 49ers .  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,fake,true,True,no,no,negative,past
16863,16864,"The  has actually received a voter suppression complaint, but not against Hillary and the Democrats despite Trump s insistence that she s rigging the entire election. No this complaint was filed against Trump himself, and targets his dangerous requests that his followers monitor polling places on Election Day.The complaint comes from the Democratic Coalition Against Trump, and a memo on the complaint specifically states: Over the weekend, the Democratic Coalition Against Trump filed complaints against Donald Trump with the United States Department of Justice Civil Rights Division and with the  Public Corruption Unit for violations of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which guarantees the right to vote for all citizens. The complaints were filed as a reaction to Donald Trump s call for his supporters to go out and  watch the polls,  which will prevent citizens from exercising their right to vote. Trump has repeatedly called for his followers to act as poll watchers to ensure that no in-person voter fraud happens (which is almost non-existent). One man even said that he was planning on engaging in racial profiling for the purpose of intimidating anyone who didn t  look  American (read: anyone who appeared to be Mexican or Syrian). His hope seems to be to weed out people who aren t allowed to vote by making them nervous.Scott Dworkin, who wrote the memo, went on to copy the words of the  s complaint, which not only went to the FBI, but also went to the Department of Justice: This complaint is against Donald Trump and his campaign for voter intimidation and suppression nationally.  Trump has encouraged his supporters to  go over and watch  polling places, the implication being to instill fear specifically to minority communities in the inner cities.By encouraging his supporters to go out and watch polling places, Donald Trump is violating the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Dworkin details out how violence at Trump s rallies could be enough to frighten minority voters away from polling places if they know the same violent, racist bigots will be lurking. Nobody wants to try and cast a vote with someone who hates them standing over their shoulders.Dworkin also cites Section 11(b) of the Voting Rights Act, which states that nobody, regardless of their purpose, is allowed to try and threaten, intimidate, or coerce anybody trying to cast a ballot. Trump s so-called  poll watchers  will do exactly that, which is what Dworkin is worried about.The  and  know what Trump says at his rallies. He s claimed that Hillary has undocumented immigrants coming in specifically to vote for her; he s claimed that polls should be carefully watched so nobody votes twice, and everyone attempting to vote is legally allowed to vote, and he screams repeatedly that the election will be rigged against him.So it s not like the  is grasping at straws, trying to draw a picture that doesn t exist. It does. And Trump should be terrified of it. Read the full complaint below:Dcat  Vra Memo by Grant Stern on Scribd If you witness or experience any type of voter suppression or intimidation when you go to vote, call this number: 1-866-OUR-VOTE. Let Trump and his minions know that this kind of cheating will not be tolerated.Featured image by Mark Makela via Getty Images",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,present
16873,16874,"Hillary Clinton claims Barack Obama legacy , Bernie Sanders agent of ? change  Hillary Clinton claims Barack Obama legacy , Bernie Sanders agent of ? change  Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton is portraying herself as the most effective potential guardian of President Barack Obama ' s legacy .  Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton is portraying herself as the most effective potential guardian of President Barack Obama s legacy .  Her rival Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders , on the other hand , sought to pitch himself as the true personification of change ? at a  Democratic town hall in Des Moines , Iowa , on Monday .  Sanders argued that though Clinton has wide experience , she was wrong on key issues such as Iraq , trade , the Keystone Pipeline and Wall Street regulation .  Saying she was really touched by Obama s praise for her in a recent interview , Clinton pushed back against questions that asked why some younger voters were less enthusiastic about her candidacy than that of Sanders .  And pressed on whether she was late in addressing income inequality , she said she has spent decades combating inequality of all kinds .  There are very different visions , different values , different forces at work , and you have to have somebody who is a proven fighter ? somebody who has taken them on and won , and kept going , and will do that as president , she said .  Sanders said : We need a political revolution . We are touching a nerve with the American people who understand that establishment politics is just not good enough .  Sanders also dismissed Clinton s political record , seeking to prove he was closer to the Democratic Party base and just as prepared to be president as Clinton .  The third Democratic candidate , former Maryland governor Martin O Malley , argued that he represented a generational change in politics that neither Sanders nor Clinton could match .  Latest polling shows Clinton and Sanders locked in a tight contest in Iowa , where both parties hold caucuses , essentially party meetings , on February 1 .  In the most recent  Poll of Polls , Sanders edges Clinton 46 percent to 44 percent in Iowa , with O Malley at 4 percent .  Sanders also tops Clinton handily in New Hampshire , which holds the first primary on February 9 .  The Iowa contest is particularly important to Clinton , who lost the state in 2008 , setting in motion Obama s path to the White House .  Nationally , however , Clinton tops Sanders 52 percent to 38 percent nationally while O Malley is far behind the two top candidates at just 2 percent , according to a new   Poll .  Meanwhile , Obama , who has tried to stay neutral between Clinton and Sanders , said Monday that his former secretary of state faces both the privilege and burden of being the Democratic presidential front runner .  On the other hand , Bernie came in with the luxury of being a complete long shot and just letting loose , he said , in an to the interview with Politico .  Obama said he has spoken to both Clinton and Sanders about 2016 , albeit in general terms .  We ve had a conversation broadly about the importance of a Democrat winning ( with Clinton ) , and I ve had conversation with Bernie , about issues that he s interested in or concerned about , he said .  Obama also criticised Republicans , saying the party has moved farther to the right after John McCain ran against him in 2008 .  And that s where , ultimately , any voter is going to have to pay attention is the degree to which the Republican rhetoric and Republican vision has moved not just to the right but has moved to a place that is unrecognizable .  First Published on January 26 , 2016 2 : 23 pm  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
16878,16879,"Greece was threatened with expulsion from the European Union for at least a decade if it dared to press ahead with a referendum on the single currency rescue deal , it emerged last night .  On a day of drama worthy of the Greek stage , prime minister George Papandreou hovered between defying Brussels , resigning and forming a new government of national unity .  A vote of confidence , expected at around 10pm tonight in the Greek parliament , could yet see the present government collapse .  Threat : Angela Merkel , pictured with Barack Obama , has warned Greece not to reject the bailout package it was offered last week  Last night it was still not entirely clear what the Greek government has decided to do though it is certain that Mr Papandreou has been cowed into calling off his proposed referendum .  Extraordinary details then emerged of how German Chancellor Angela Merkel threatened the Greeks not only with an end to bailout cash and ejection from the single currency , but also expulsion from the  for at least ten years .  But hopes in Brussels that a new coalition government led by someone other than Mr Papandreou could be installed were scuppered when the opposition insisted it would not join such an administration and instead demanded elections within six weeks .  Mr Papandreou had horrified other  leaders days ago by announcing that he would seek popular support for an agreement that would see half of Greece ' s towering debts written off in return for a decade of deeply unpopular austerity measures .  Pension payments are being slashed by 20 per cent ,  has been hugely increased and a new property tax is being introduced .  But economists argue the debt write down is not dramatic enough to offer Greece any hope of emerging with a stronger economy .  Defiant : Greece ' s prime minister George Papandreou speaking in parliament yesterday , when he insisted he was the right man for the job  Last night the Greek prime minister suggested he would be ready to drop a referendum on the bailout deal , as long as he could secure opposition support in Parliament .  ' If we had a consensus we wouldn ' t have to go to a referendum , ' he said . ' If the opposition is willing to negotiate then we are ready to ratify this deal and implement it . '  However , Mr Papandreou said the government was not afraid of asking the Greek people for their opinion in a referendum if necessary .  Germany and France , fearing the single currency could collapse if the Greeks voted ' no ' , had already threatened to cut off existing cash lifelines for Athens until the vote was held .  They also insisted any referendum must be on the country ' s future membership of the  and eurozone , rather than a more narrow question relating to deeply unpopular austerity measures , to maximise the chances of a ' yes ' vote .  And as the day went on , their threats escalated culminating in the suggestion that Greece would not only have to ditch the euro and reinstate the drachma unless it supported the rescue deal , but also leave the  .  On his way out : Mr Papandreou leaving the G20 summit on Wednesday  Former Tory Chancellor Lord Lawson said Greece was ' clearly going to fall out of the eurozone ' . But former Labour Chancellor Alistair Darling insisted the eurozone bailout deal had unravelled and said throwing Greece out of the single currency is ' not going to solve the problem ' .  He said : ' The real problem is that the Greek fix was never going to work . Even if it had worked , it was still going to be left with a debt of 120 per cent of its  and that doesn ' t work .  ' The deal that they were being offered should never have been on the table . '  In a lengthy speech to the Greek parliament , Mr Papandreou declared : ' For the last two years we have waged a battle of titanic proportions . Our first duty being to fend off bankruptcy , to prevent the country collapsing . We were a guinea pig in a monetary union .  ' We are bearing a cross and , on top of that , they are throwing stones at us . '  He attacked Mrs Merkel and French president Nicolas Sarkozy for publicly humiliating Greece by ' telling us how to hold our referendum , defining the rules ' .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
16896,16897,"Reuters) - Senate Republicans mounted a concerted defense of one of President Donald Trump’s nominees to a federal appeals court on Wednesday, suggesting a nonpartisan lawyers’ group rating of Leonard Steven Grasz as “not qualified” for the bench was biased. During a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Grasz’s nomination, the Republicans universally praised the Nebraska lawyer, whom Trump wants to fill a vacancy on the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis.  Negative assessments by the American Bar Association, which has been evaluating federal court picks for decades, are rare. It last gave an appeals court nominee a rating of “not qualified” in 2006. That nominee was withdrawn.  The ABA’s 15-member standing committee on the federal judiciary voted unanimously on the poor rating for Grasz, with one member abstaining. The report focused largely on Grasz’s advocacy on conservative social issues, including his opposition to abortion rights. “Many questioned whether Mr. Grasz would be able to detach himself from his deeply held social agenda,” Pamela Bresnahan, chair of the group’s judicial nominee vetting committee, said in a statement. On Wednesday, Republican senators questioned the credibility of the process. “They do a terrific job ordinarily, but sometimes they’re just ridiculous, and in your case I think they’re not only ridiculous, they’ve been political,” Republican Senator Orrin Hatch said, adding he would support Grasz’s appointment.  The dustup over Grasz comes as the full Senate continues to confirm Trump’s judicial choices amid Republican complaints that Democrats are obstructing the process. Ten have been confirmed so far, including Joan Larsen, who was approved on Wednesday to sit on the federal appeals bench in Cincinnati.  The ABA, the largest lawyers group in the United States, says its judicial evaluations are non-partisan, taking into account experience, knowledge of the law and other factors, but not political or ideological views.  As Nebraska’s former chief deputy attorney general, Grasz defended the state’s “partial-birth” abortion ban, among other laws.  Grasz told the senators he would be bound to follow the Supreme Court’s abortion precedents. He said that during the second interview by the ABA, “I was asked repeatedly for my personal opinions on social issues including abortion.” Nebraska Senator Deb Fischer, a Republican, called the  rating a “baseless political character assassination.” She claimed the two main evaluators both had ties with Democrats.  Bresnahan declined comment on Wednesday. She will testify before the Judiciary Committee on Nov. 15. ",true,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
16901,16902,"Calling his pet "" a completely different gerbil "" than the one he brought home from the store , Doug Kerlin , 34 , told reporters Tuesday that he fears the small mammal is growing increasingly distant .  "" When I first got Blinkers , it was like we had this amazing connection , "" said Kerlin , who aside from his gerbil lives by himself in a one bedroom apartment . "" But lately it ' s almost as if he cares more about burrowing in his wood chips than he does about me . ""  Despite recent attempts by Kerlin to bridge the ever growing void between himself and the withdrawn rodent primarily by placing several new wooden ramps and ladders inside Blinkers ' 15 gallon aquarium as of press time the gerbil had refused to emerge from his nesting box .  "" I don ' t know what to do , "" said Kerlin , who claimed the gerbil barely acknowledges his presence when he comes home from work . "" Sometimes it ' s like he doesn ' t even recognize me . ""  According to Kerlin , the eight inch , 2 . 3 ounce Mongolian gerbil ' s aloof behavior started when the junior accountant noticed that Blinkers would avoid looking at him every time he stared into the rodent ' s cage . The emotional detachment only became more apparent , Kerlin said , when Blinkers started making rhythmic thumping sounds with his hind legs every time Kerlin would reach into the glass enclosure to hold the gerbil .  "" I was concerned , "" said Kerlin , who purchased the pet on a whim when he was walking through a shopping mall last Saturday night . "" But the veterinarian told me that there was nothing medically wrong with Blinkers . That ' s when I knew it was me . ""  Though Kerlin has tried to personally engage his despondent gerbil by giving him more dust baths and leaving a cleaned out coconut shell on the aquarium floor , Blinkers became even more cold and unfeeling with every conciliatory gesture , opting to ignore his owner for hours at a time by roaming around his multicolored climbing tunnel .  "" Sometimes I come downstairs in the middle of the night to get a snack , and I hear him running on the exercise wheel and rustling around in his cage , "" Kerlin said . "" But as soon as I turn on the light , he suddenly stops and waits for me to leave the kitchen . ""  Kerlin said the last real emotional response he received from the gerbil was several nights ago when he left a toilet paper tube in the aquarium for Blinkers to play with .  "" The next morning it was completely destroyed , "" Kerlin said .  Searching for some kind of reason to justify his gerbil ' s callous behavior , Kerlin admitted that he probably doesn ' t clean out the rodent ' s dwelling as often as he could . He still contends , however , that he has never done anything physically harmful to Blinkers that would warrant such a coldhearted response from the rodent .  "" I never once picked him up by his tail , and always made sure his sipper bottle was full of fresh water , "" Kerlin said . "" Also , I used to give him lettuce or seeds as an occasional treat . How dare he act like I ' m a complete stranger ? ""  "" I didn ' t buy a gerbil to be treated like this , "" he said .  Following a last ditch attempt to win over his pet ' s appreciation by introducing a companion gerbil , an idea that reportedly backfired completely , Kerlin flatly stated that Blinkers has distanced himself to a point where the once loyal pet is mentally and emotionally "" gone , "" and a "" mere shell of the gerbil he once was . ""  Still , Kerlin said he would always remember the good times .  "" I remember when I used to come home and watch Blinkers chew through old cardboard , squeaky toys , file folders , wood chips , plastic tubing , Kleenex boxes , Styrofoam cups anything he could get into his mouth , really , "" Kerlin said . "" He just loved to chew . He still does , but it ' s just different now , you know ? ""  Added Kerlin : "" I probably should have gotten a hamster instead . ""  ",satire,text,test,US elections,Conflict,true,satire,True,no,no,neutral,past
16906,16907,"Reuters) - Iraq s Supreme Federal Court, which voided results of a Kurdish independence referendum on Monday, reached its ruling without input from representatives of the Kurdish autonomous region, the region s Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani said on Monday.  The rights of Kurds are enshrined in the [Iraqi] constitution, and we seek the implementation of this constitution to resolve our issues with Baghdad,  Barzani told reporters at a news conference, according to Kurdish Rudaw TV. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,satire,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
16909,16910,"Both President Obama and Mitt Romney flubbed the big question on jobs at Tuesday night ' s debate .  Moderator Candy Crowley noted that Apple makes its iPhones and iPads in China and asked , "" How do you convince a great American company to bring that manufacturing back here ? ""  Romney talked about reducing corporate taxes , getting tough with China by making it "" play by the rules , "" and stopping its currency manipulation .  Obama said that some jobs are just never going to come back because the labor wages abroad are so much lower than in America . What the president wants to do is to double U . S . exports and create new high wage jobs to replace the low wage jobs that have been sent offshore .  Obviously , neither debater knows the details of how the dynamics of trade and globalization work .  Why Apple will never bring manufacturing jobs back to the U . S .  For starters , the iPhones and iPads are not really made in China . They are only assembled there . According to the Asian Development Bank , the assembly accounts for 6 . 50 of the final 178 . 96 wholesale cost of an iPhone . Researchers at the Personal Computing Industry Center estimate the assembly value of a 500 iPad at about 12 .  The major value of these devices is in the semiconductors , electronic displays and other key components . These high technology and high capital components are largely made in Japan , South Korea , Taiwan , and to a lesser extent Germany . A few are even made in America . None of these are low wage countries . Japan and Germany , in fact , are high wage countries . The labor component of making these parts is quite small .  What about taxes ? Japan ' s 39 . 5 corporate income tax rate topped the 39 . 2 of the United States until it was dropped to 38 . 01 earlier this year . So it ' s not exactly a tax haven or low tax jurisdiction . Nevertheless , Japan ' s computer chip and electronic display makers are major suppliers of components to the iPhone and iPad as well as to the whole range of competing phones , tablets and computers . Furthermore , Apple and many global electronics companies are already paying less taxes by dint of elaborate accounting schemes that funnel revenue to tax havens like Singapore , the Cayman Islands , Bermuda and Liechtenstein .  As for China ' s practice of currency manipulation , it has been an irritant , but not an insurmountable one . Technically at odds with international trade and monetary rules , the Chinese government has intervened frequently in currency markets to keep the dollar strong and the yuan weak by buying dollars . More recently , China has allowed the yuan to rise closer to market rates , although many analysts believe it is still undervalued because present rates do not fully reflect increases in Chinese productivity . Romney may thus be justified in his critique .  The risks of doing business in China must also be taken into consideration . In the past two weeks , we have seen Japanese factories in China trashed by mobs in the wake of a dispute between Japan and China over who owns a few specks of rocky islets in the East China Sea . Even if Chinese labor is cheap , incidents like these can be costly .  The real reason that these kinds of jobs aren ' t coming back is that U . S . producers no longer know how to produce many of these product components . There is no significant U . S . producer of flat panel electronic displays . And U . S . semiconductor makers have continually been losing to competitors like South Korea ' s Samsung and Taiwan ' s  .  The jobs involved in the production of these components are exactly the high wage , high benefit jobs Obama said he wants to create . The only way to get them back is for the U . S . to regain the strong position it once occupied in making things .  Obama seems to be edging in this direction with his call for spurring manufacturing . But a U . S . production renaissance will require a lot more than the president ' s piecemeal approach so far . It means we need a comprehensive competitiveness strategy similar to those now pursued by South Korea , Germany , Taiwan , Japan , Singapore , China and others . It is not written that America must suffer a drain of ever more highly skilled jobs to overseas locations . To halt this dynamic , we must fight fire with fire .  The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Clyde Prestowitz .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
16910,16911,"In a statement posted this morning on several Islamist websites , the global terrorist network al Qaeda claimed responsibility for last Thursday ' s devastating personal attack on Carbondale ,  resident Tim Harris .  The highly coordinated strike , which targeted the unsuspecting 32 year old as he exited a Huck ' s convenience store , and made light of his ample girth , lack of employment , and inability to meet single women , occurred at 9 : 32 a . m . At 9 : 35 a . m . , a second wave of vicious insults was reportedly launched at Harris , obliterating what little remained of his self esteem .  "" The foot soldiers of Islam have struck at this pathetic slob of a man with righteous force , and they have brought him down , "" read the statement , which praised as heroes the four al Qaeda operatives who carried out the personal attack . "" There is nothing left of him now . Tim Harris has been destroyed . ""  "" Praise be to Allah , "" the statement continued . "" Allah is great . ""  Department of Homeland Security officials told reporters that it could take months to determine the full extent of the damage from what they are calling the worst ever ad hominem strike on American soil , even as crews worked around the clock to salvage whatever bits of Harris ' self respect they could from the wreckage .  "" Never before has our nation witnessed such brutal mockery , "" Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said . "" It appears that al Qaeda had been monitoring Mr Harris long enough to become fully conversant in his insecurities , and was prepared to employ any means necessary , even pointing out his huge , Neanderthal like underbite , to achieve its terrible goal . Indeed , there wasn ' t a single emotional sore spot from his lack of sexual experience to the fact that most animals don ' t seem to like him that they did not exploit . ""  "" It ' s unthinkable , "" Napolitano added . "" They even reminded Tim about the time nobody showed up to his New Year ' s party . ""  When asked by reporters why her department had failed to prevent the hurtful attack , Napolitano said it was impossible for the government to secure every potential target in a country so densely populated with losers .  "" At this time , we simply don ' t have the resources necessary for such an undertaking , "" Napolitano said . "" As much as we would like to , we cannot guarantee the safety of every former telemarketer who sleeps on a futon and still has roommates despite being almost 35 years old . ""  Critics , however , pointed to the fact that al Qaeda had attempted a similar personal attack on Harris in 2003 , one that might have succeeded had it not been for an uncharacteristic intelligence gathering error on the terrorists ' part .  "" We know that al Qaeda will keep returning to a target until they get their desired result , ""  director Leon Panetta said . "" Seven years ago , for whatever reason , they failed to take into account that Mr Harris had been feeling pretty good about having done push ups that morning and was optimistic about a job interview he ' d just been on . That attack was unsuccessful , but we should have learned from it . ""  "" I mean , just look at the guy , "" Panetta added . "" It ' s hard to imagine a more vulnerable target . ""  While acknowledging that there is no foolproof way of protecting oneself against the cruelly incisive barbs of al Qaeda ,  released today a list of basic self maintenance measures that Americans , particularly the most defenseless sad sacks , should employ to minimize their risk . Chief among these is cultivating an awareness of one ' s personal appearance . According to Napolitano , small , relatively easy improvements in wardrobe and hygiene can deprive al Qaeda of obvious defects upon which to capitalize .  "" All Americans must be vigilant about combing their hair , "" Napolitano said . "" Also , they should wear a shirt that fits them for once in their life , and if they choose to put on sweatpants , maybe avoid those with obvious mustard stains on them . ""  "" A personal attack can come at any time and when you least expect it , whether you ' re lounging around all weekend in your bathrobe or sitting in the waiting room of a hair loss clinic , "" she added .  Napolitano stressed that there was no immediate threat of a personal strike against any particular individual . However , she admitted that her department was closely monitoring a number of "" soft targets , "" including recently divorced Chicago resident David Braumberg , chronically fatigued Wal Mart cashier Bridget Carmichael , and Rich Parker , a 28 year old Ohio native who divides his time between playing poker online and staring glassy eyed at old high school yearbooks late at night .  "" I ' ve personally monitored a few of these targets myself , "" Napolitano said . "" Believe me , an attack from al Qaeda is the last thing these losers need . ""  ",satire,text,test,US elections,Conflict,true,satire,True,no,no,negative,past
16944,16945,"The Times asserts that such censorship would be good for democracy   and it surely is true that hoaxes and baseless conspiracy theories are no help to democracy   but regulation of information in the manner that the Times suggests has more than a whiff of Orwellian totalitarianism to it.  Robert Parry  Consortium NewsIn its lead editorial on Sunday, The New York Times decried what it deemed  The Digital Virus Called Fake News  and called for Internet censorship to counter this alleged problem, taking particular aim at Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg for letting  liars and con artists hijack his platform. As this mainstream campaign against  fake news  quickly has gained momentum in the past week, two false items get cited repeatedly, a claim that Pope Francis endorsed Donald Trump and an assertion that Trump was prevailing in the popular vote over Hillary Clinton. I could add another election-related falsehood, a hoax spread by Trump supporters that liberal documentarian Michael Moore was endorsing Trump when he actually was backing Clinton.But I also know that Clinton supporters were privately pushing some salacious and unsubstantiated charges about Trump s sex life, and Clinton personally charged that Trump was under the control of Russian President Vladimir Putin although there was no evidence presented to support that McCarthyistic accusation.The simple reality is that lots of dubious accusations get flung around during the heat of a campaign   nothing new there   and it is always a challenge for professional journalists to swat them down the best we can. What s different now is that the Times envisions some structure (or algorithm) for eliminating what it calls  fake news. Photograph published by the New York Times purportedly taken in Russia of Russian soldiers who later appeared in eastern Ukraine. However, the photographer has since stated that the photo was actually taken in Ukraine, and the U.S. State Department has acknowledged the error.But, with a stunning lack of self-awareness, the Times fails to acknowledge the many times that it has published  fake news,  such as reporting in 2002 that Iraq s purchase of aluminum tubes meant that it was reconstituting its nuclear weapons program; its bogus analysis tracing the firing location of a Syrian sarin-laden rocket in 2013 back to a Syrian military base that turned out to be four times outside the rocket s range; or its publication of photos supposedly showing Russian soldiers inside Russia and then inside Ukraine in 2014 when it turned out that the  inside-Russia  photo was also taken inside Ukraine, destroying the premise of the story.These are just three examples among many of the Times publishing  fake news    and all three appeared on Page One before being grudgingly or partially retracted, usually far inside the newspaper under opaque headlines so most readers wouldn t notice. Much of the Times   fake news  continued to reverberate in support of U.S. government propaganda even after the partial retractions.Who Is the Judge?So, should Zuckerberg prevent Facebook users from circulating New York Times stories? Obviously, the Times would not favor that solution to the problem of  fake news.  Instead, the Times expects to be one of the arbiters deciding which Internet outlets get banned and which ones get gold seals of approval.The Times lead editorial, following a front-page article on the same topic on Friday, leaves little doubt what the newspaper would like to see. It wants major Internet platforms and search engines, such as Facebook and Google, to close off access to sites accused of disseminating  fake news. The editorial said,  a big part of the responsibility for this scourge rests with internet companies like Facebook and Google, which have made it possible for fake news to be shared nearly instantly with millions of users and have been slow to block it from their sites.  Facebook says it is working on weeding out such fabrications. It said last Monday that it would no longer place Facebook-powered ads on fake news websites, a move that could cost Facebook and those fake news sites a lucrative source of revenue. Earlier on the same day, Google said it would stop letting those sites use its ad placement network. These steps would help, but Facebook, in particular, owes its users, and democracy itself, far more. Facebook has demonstrated that it can effectively block content like click-bait articles and spam from its platform by tweaking its algorithms, which determine what links, photos and ads users see in their news feeds.   Facebook managers are constantly changing and refining the algorithms, which means the system is malleable and subject to human judgment. The Times editorial continued:  This summer, Facebook decided to show more posts from friends and family members in users  news feeds and reduce stories from news organizations, because that s what it said users wanted. If it can do that, surely its programmers can train the software to spot bogus stories and outwit the people producing this garbage.  Mr. Zuckerberg himself has spoken at length about how social media can help improve society.   None of that will happen if he continues to let liars and con artists hijack his platform. Gray AreasBut the problem is that while some falsehoods may be obvious and clear-cut, much information exists in a gray area in which two or more sides may disagree on what the facts are. And the U.S. government doesn t always tell the truth although you would be hard-pressed to find recent examples of the Times recognizing that reality. Especially over the past several decades, the Times has usually embraced the Official Version of a disputed event and has deemed serious skepticism out of bounds.Former New York Times reporter Judith Miller, co-author of the Iraq  aluminum tube  story.That was the way the Times treated denials from the Iraqi government and some outside experts who disputed the  aluminum tube  story in 2002   and how the Times has brushed off disagreements regarding the U.S. government s portrayal of events in Syria, Ukraine and Russia. Increasingly, the Times has come across as a propaganda conduit for Official Washington rather than a professional journalistic entity.But the Times and other mainstream news outlets   along with some favored Internet sites   now sit on a Google-financed entity called the First Draft Coalition, which presents itself as a kind of Ministry of Truth that will decide which stories are true and which are  fake. If the Times  editorial recommendations are followed, the disfavored stories and the sites publishing them would no longer be accessible through popular search engines and platforms, essentially blocking the public s access to them. [Seeweblink s  What to Do About  Fake News. ]The Times asserts that such censorship would be good for democracy   and it surely is true that hoaxes and baseless conspiracy theories are no help to democracy   but regulation of information in the manner that the Times suggests has more than a whiff of Orwellian totalitarianism to it.And the proposal is especially troubling coming from the Times, with its checkered recent record of disseminating dangerous disinformation.*** Investigative reporter Robert Parry broke many of the Iran-Contra stories for The Associated Press and Newsweek in the 1980s. You can buy his latest book, America s Stolen Narrative, either in print here or as an e-book (from Amazon andweblink).     AT: 21st Century Wire  Watch FilesSUPPORT 21WIRE    &  A  @21WIRE.TV",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
16951,16952,"Football ' s world governing body  has provisionally suspended outgoing Executive Committee member Chuck Blazer for 90 days "" based on the fact that various breaches of the Code of Ethics appear to have been committed "" by the American .  The former general secretary of  , the body which governs football in North and Central America and the Caribbean , has been barred from taking part in "" any kind of football related activity "" for a maximum period of 90 days .  The decision was taken by Hans Joachim Eckert , the chairman of the adjudicatory chamber of the  Ethics Committee which opened investigation proceedings against Blazer , 68 , in response to a report filed by the  Integrity Committee last month .  "" The decision was taken following a request made by the acting deputy chairman of the investigatory chamber of the Ethics Committee , Robert Torres , based on the fact that various breaches of the  Code of Ethics appear to have been committed by Chuck Blazer and that a decision on the main issue could not be taken early enough , "" read a Fifa statement .  The announcement comes less than one week after fellow  executive committee member Vernon Manilal Fernando of Sri Lanka was banned for eight years for unethical behaviour .  The  report alleged that Blazer , who has been provisionally banned pending a full disciplinary hearing , received at least 15 million in addition to other funds that were used to buy and rent luxury apartments .  Blazer , who has been the most senior American official at  for the last 16 years , had previously said that he will give up his seat on the Executive Committee when his term expires at the end of this month .  He resigned as  ' s general secretary in 2011 , after serving with the body for 21 years .  In April , the head of  ' s integrity committee , David Simmons , described Blazer and his former boss , Trinidadian Jack Warner , as being ' fraudulent in their management ' of the continental organization .  The former colleagues fell out in 2011 when Blazer reported Warner and Asian Football Confederation chief Mohamed bin Hammam to  ' s Ethics Committee , accusing the duo of trying to bribe Caribbean delegated to support the Qatari bin Hammam in that year ' s  presidential election .  Blazer ' s accusations led to the downfall of bin Hammam , the resignation of Warner as a  vice president and  leader , and sanctions against several Caribbean football officials .  Now however , Blazer finds himself in the dock alongside Warner .  Last month , Simmons accused both men of abusing their "" position and power "" with Warner said to have failed to disclose the creation of a 25 . 9 million  center of excellence on his land , while Blazer was accused of mismanaging funds .  Both men have denied any wrongdoing .   has been affected by numerous corruption scandals in recent times , which do not only involve the likes of Warner , Blazer and Manilal .  Last week , former president Joao Havelange who ruled the organization between 1974 and 1988 resigned as  ' s honorary president after the 96 year old was ruled to have taken bribes in a report by ethics chairman Eckert .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
16958,16959,"The super  supporting Marco Rubio , Conservative Solutions , is airing two ads in New Hampshire aimed at softening support for New Jersey Gov . Chris Christie , who is directing most of his efforts toward the first in the nation primary .  Adding his voice to the anti Washington talk , Rubio Tuesday vowed to put the full weight and force of the presidency behind a plan to institute term limits for members of Congress .  The world is on fire , and it s all President Obama s and Hillary Clinton s fault .  His first impulse always is to take rights away from law abiding citizens and its wrong , former Florida Gov . Jeb Bush told Fox News Sunday .  But Christie , who earned a C rating from the National Rifle Association during his 2013 reelection bid , took more pro gun stances during his tenure in the Garden State , vetoing several pieces of gun control legislation .  This candidacy will restore our faith in each other and our trust in American optimism , he said . Marco Rubio , that approach may have a lot to do with his demeanor . It s not enough to express anger .  Political analyst Matthew Hale said the speech was created to present Christie as the best option for current Trump supporters who will change course . A leader who has been tested , who is decisive , and who has led before under hard and challenging circumstances . We are not electing an entertainer in chief . Of all the candidates running in either party , only I have that record . He ripped Obama for being willing to abandon our allies , make concession to our enemies , and to make historic , devastating cuts to our military and intelligence capabilities . The use of social media , the ability to radicalize people online , is a threat we have never faced before .  In a speech on Monday in New Hampshire , Rubio blasted the foreign policy failures of isolationist Republicans and the Obama administration . The result of all this is that people are afraid , and they have every right to be . We have governments we work with on a number of issues whose policies and values are antithetical to ours , to be just blunt about it . And yet who also have certain interests with us that we are involved in , she said . I see the information we have and I shudder to think the information we don t have anymore because they figured out how we collect information and are therefore able to hide from us . America can not fight terrorism from a courtroom .  can not be filibustered .  Rubio and Cruz have emerged as the two strongest establishment Republicans in the 2016 race , and the new ad is meant to undercut Rubio s support among more hawkish conservatives .  He s hoping voters decide that someone is him .  Both were original co sponsors of the very legislation Rubio has repeatedly criticized on the trail .  Also , the ads can settle a score from last week , when Christie ripped Rubio for missing a Senate vote on the federal spending bill . And it s a busy day in New Hampshire , where Democrats Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders , and Republicans Marco Rubio and Chris Christie , are holding events .  For his part , Christie argues that senators lack the executive experience that presidents need . He ll stop illegal immigrants by building a wall on our southern border that Mexico will pay for .  View the Trump ad here . But when he returned to New Hampshire for the first time after the endorsement , hosting a standing room only Town Hall at the Loudon Fire Station , Christie says voters leaning towards him started coming on board .  Grant Bosse is Editorial Page Editor of the New Hampshire Union Leader .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
16960,16961,"The outspoken liberal comedian posed for a photo shoot with controversial photographer Tyler Shields in which she was seen holding a bloodied mask of President Trump.Donald Trump was quick to condemn her on Twitter: later reported that 11-year old Barron Trump actually saw the image of his bloodied and decapitated father while watching TV. reports: Barron Trump was watching  & saw @kathygriffin holding the severed head. He thought it was his dad. My heart is broken.  Liz Wheeler (@Liz_Wheeler) May 31, 2017Melania Trump weighed in on the horrific image her 11-yr old son was subjected to with this statement:  As a mother, a wife, and a human being, that photo is very disturbing. When you consider some of the atrocities happening in the world today, a photo opportunity like this is simply wrong and makes you wonder about the mental health of the person who did it. It s a question a lot of comedians are asking themselves lately: What should comedy look like during the Trump presidency? Now more than ever we must absolutely go for all the absurdities,  Kathy Griffin told Vulture at the Equality Now Gala Tuesday night.  For me, that s Trump and all things Trump. It s not about trying to be an equal-opportunity offender anymore because Hillary got such a beat down. It s his turn. So I m happy to deliver beat down to Donald Trump   and also to Barron. You know a lot of comics are going to go hard for Donald, my edge is that I ll go direct for Barron. I m going to get in ahead of the game. So, of course, Griffin supported Rosie O Donnell when she tweeted a video asking if Barron Trump, 10-year-old son of Donald and Melania, was on the autism spectrum.  After the beat down he gave her, she can say whatever she wants to say to that piece of shit,  Griffin said before correcting herself.  Oh, that s President Piece of Shit.   Vulture",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
16962,16963,"The Justice Department said Tuesday it has opened a civil rights investigation into the death of Freddie Gray , a black man who suffered a fatal spinal cord injury under mysterious circumstances after he was handcuffed and put in the back of a police van .  Baltimore police officials , meanwhile , released the names of six officers who were involved in the arrest and the van transport of the 25 year old and who ' ve been suspended pending an investigation .  But the developments were cold comfort to hundreds of residents who on Tuesday evening took to the streets of West Baltimore to protest the police force in Gray ' s name .  Taking to the streets : Protestors again took to the streets of Baltimore on Tuesday to demonstrate against city police following the death of Freddie Gray , 25  Federal investigation : The protets erupted just as the Justice department announced it had launched an investigation in the the 25 year old ' s mysterious death  Vigil : Rev . Jamal Bryant leads a rally outside of the Baltimore Police Department ' s Western District police station during a march and vigil for Freddie Gray on Tuesday  A woman reaches for a lighter as she and other protestors light candles spelling out the name of Freddie Gray during a vigil at the intersection of Gray ' s arrest  ",true,text,test,American football,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
16968,16969,"Reuters) - France s Foreign Minister Jean Yves Le Drian was in Libya on Monday to meet rival political leaders and offer support for a deal aimed at stabilizing the strifetorn North African country. Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Seraj and the divided nation s eastern commander Khalifa Haftar signed an agreement in Paris in July committing them to a conditional ceasefire and to work toward elections in 2018. The deal did not include other key factions. Western governments, worried about Islamist militants and smugglers thriving in Libya s chaos, are pushing a broader U.N.-backed deal to unify Libya and end the instability that has weakened the country since the 2011 fall of Muammar Gaddafi. In Tripoli, Le Drian met Seraj and planned to hold talks with Abdulrahman Swehli, a politician connected to some of Haftar s rivals who heads a parliamentary council in the capital, Libyan officials said.  Le Drian was also to visit Misrata, Swehli s home city and a base of opposition to Haftar, before heading to Benghazi to meet Haftar and to Tobruk to meet the head of an eastern-based parliament aligned with him.  The minister wants to consolidate this agreement by getting the parties not invited in July to support it,  said a French diplomatic source.  He wants to ensure that everyone is playing the game and lay the groundwork for elections.  The French minister s visit is in line with President Emmanuel Macron s push for a deeper French role in bringing Libyan factions together in the hope of countering militant violence and easing Europe s migrant crisis.  Our objective is the stabilization of Libya in the interests of the Libyans themselves,  Le Drian said in a statement in Tripoli.  A united Libya, equipped with functioning institutions, is the condition for avoiding the terrorist threat in the long term.  He said the Paris deal was meant to support the U.N.-backed accord for a government of national unity. Le Drian met U.N. special envoy Ghassan Salame on Sunday. The French diplomatic source said the visit would fit into efforts by Salame to announce a road map to elections during the coming U.N. General Assembly.  Seraj and Haftar clearly want to measure themselves in elections,  the source said.  Libya would likely need to agree on a new constitution or electoral law before elections, which will be a difficult task for the country s divided institutions. Organizing polls would also involve big logistical and security challenges.  Past Western attempts to broker agreements have often fallen victim to political infighting among rival factions and armed brigades vying for power in the  oil producer. Seraj s government has struggled to impose control and its presidential council is divided. Haftar has refused to accept its legitimacy. He has been gaining ground, backed by allies Egypt and United Arab Emirates.   The ceasefire between non-terrorist elements is in general respected,  the French diplomatic source said.  Haftar s advances are accompanied by a strengthening of Seraj in the west so it s creating a fragile balance that encourages a compromise.  ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
16977,16978,"With the St . Louis Rams resting up on a much deserved bye week , Scott Linehan can ' t help but to glance over at the schedule for the rest of the season .  One game at a time is hard to focus on when you are chasing perfection .  "" We really want to finish 0 16 , it ' s been our goal all season . When we lost Orlando ( Pace ) for the year and had Steven ( Jackson ) go down for a few games , I thought that was a good momentum boost to this goal , "" the Rams coach said .  The team is so focused on finishing with the perfect mark that all the star players on the roster are pulling their weight to see the season out .  "" When I hurt my ribs , I went over to the trainer and asked if he could punch me a couple times on the other side just to balance out the pain , "" quarterback Marc Bulger said . "" We ' re all doing our part here , Steven Jackson could have been back six weeks ago but drug this injury thing out and the entire offensive line , guys like Leonard Little and so on , they are manning up too sitting out games we can easily win . This is a group effort . ""  The team has come close several times this year in ending their string of eight consecutive losses . Last week the Rams built a 14 0 deficit to the upstart Cleveland Browns before rallying to lay down and take another loss by the score of 27 20 .  They also dodged victories against their division rivals San Francisco and Arizona .  "" All this week I keep telling the guys , we have to put forth more efforts like the one against Seattle . We can ' t have these close calls , history is at stake . Luckily we have a road game against a good New Orleans Saints team coming up next weekend so it will be a great test to see how bad we can be , "" Linehan said .  However after the Saints , the Rams easy schedule takes a suddenly scary turn with dates against the 49ers , Falcons , and Bengals .  "" I hate to look ahead , but assuming the Saints kick our ass like they should we have to focus against some of the teams coming up on our schedule , "" Rams wide receiver Issac Bruce said . "" I mean the Falcons and Niners are teams that would pride themselves on being worse than us and we can ' t have that . Cincinnati is scary too , those guys might try to tackle us and run into their own guys on accident . . and Chad Johnson might be too busy bitching at their coach , that screams trap game . ""  Meanwhile the team will continue to use their bye week to heal up and chase history , while two teams square off in Indianapolis for the right to be christened the best team in football .  "" Let them have that cheap record , we ' re more worried about Miami . They are pretty bad too and I don ' t think there is a guy in that locker room that wants to share a record with a quarterback named Cleo Lemon , "" Bulger added .  Luckily for the Rams and coach Linehan , the Dolphins will not face them until sometime next season .  "" That ' d be a scary game , we might have to punt on 1st and 2nd down and sign Mike Vanderjagt to kick field goals . . I ' m not sure we ' re on that level just yet . ""  ",satire,text,test,American football,US elections,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
17006,17007,"China The International Olympic Committee has asked gymnastics officials to look into whether China ' s women ' s gymnastics team used underaged competitors , an  spokeswoman said Friday .  China ' s He Kexin kisses her gold medal last week after winning the Olympic women ' s uneven bars .  The committee asked the International Gymnastics Federation to clarify the situation , said spokeswoman Giselle Davis . She said she wouldn ' t call it a formal investigation .  The Chinese women ' s gymnastics team won a gold medal in a team competition at the Summer Olympics Games . Five members won medals in individual competitions .  Yet commentators , bloggers and others have raised questions about whether about half the members of China ' s team were old enough to compete athletes must be at least 16 in the year the games take place .  In women ' s gymnastics , younger teenage girls can have an advantage over older competitors due to their often smaller , more agile bodies and lighter frames .  "" We have asked the gymnastics federation to look into what have been a number questions and apparent discrepancies on this case , "" Davis said .  A top Chinese Olympic official said questions regarding the ages of the athletes have been dealt with previously .  "" The eligibility of the athletes has already been investigated and authorized by the international federation and , if they hadn ' t been cleared , they wouldn ' t have participated in the games , "" said Wang Wei , executive vice president of the Beijing Olympic Committee .  Chinese officials provided the Olympic committee with passports , showing that team members were of legal age , but numerous challenges have been made .  The latest came from a blogger known as "" Stryde Hax . "" The blogger claims to have uncovered proof that Chinese gymnast He Kexin is only 14 . Watch bloggers question China ' s gymnasts  In Internet searches , "" Stryde Hax "" allegedly uncovered Web pages showing lists complied by China ' s General Administration of Sport that show a 1994 date of birth for He . That would make her 14 too young to compete in the Olympic Games .  The New York Times conducted its own investigation , producing similar results that seem to implicate He and two other members of the team . The Times uncovered a 2006 biography on He that lists her birthday as January 1 , 1994 .  "" According to online sports registration lists in China , half the team He Kexin , Yang Yilin , Jiang Yuyuan would be under age , "" the Times reported in July .  The International Gymnastics Federation , however , has said that those gymnasts were eligible and that the ages on their passports were correct .  Chinese gymnastics coaches defended their team Friday .  "" Our athletes participating in these games all conform to the age regulations of the Olympics , "" said Huang Yubin , head coach of the men ' s and women ' s teams .  "" Asians have different figures than people from the West , so that ' s what caused their suspicion , "" Huang said , referring to media inquiries . "" They shouldn ' t be suspicious . ""  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
17012,17013,"Filter : New  customers will have to actively chose whether to have Parental Control filters when they subscribe to the company ' s broadband service ( library image )   has announced all new customers will have parental control filters switched on when they subscribe to its broadband service .  The company has offered the free Parental Controls service for a number of years , but this is the first time new customers will have to actively choose whether to turn the filters off .  During the set up process , a box that turns on the controls which block a number of sites including pornography , those containing self harm and violence as well as hate sites will be automatically ticked .  Subscribers will then have to actively turn the blocks off and instead decide what level of protection if any they require .  The company will also extend its filter service to all internet devices including games consoles and tablets . Previously parents could only block potentially harmful sites on desktops and laptops .   will also be contacting all of its existing customers from the start of next year , forcing them to make a choice about the level of controls on their broadband .  There will be three set filter levels strict , moderate and light which can be customised to suit each individual family ' s needs .  Additional websites can be added to the list to be allowed or blocked . The filter can be turned off at specific times acting like a ' watershed ' .  The account holder ' s credentials are required to set up and change any of the settings as to avoid young people simply turning the service off .  Every change results in a confirmation email being sent to the adult account holder , also .  Pete Oliver ,  Consumer Commercial Marketing and Digital , said : '  takes the issue of online child protection extremely seriously and we are very pleased to be able to launch the whole home filter to help parents keep their families safe online .  ' It adds to the many tools we already make available for free to our customers . '  Changes : As well as laptops and desktop machines ,  ' s filters will protect children on tablets and games consoles  In November , it was announced that all 20million families with an internet connection would be forced to say whether they wanted access to online pornography among dangerous sites within a matter of months .   joins other providers TalkTalk and Sky who make all new customers make a choice on whether the filters should be switched on or off when they sign up .  There has been growing alarm at evidence that a third of youngsters have accessed online pornography by the time they are ten years old .  Six in ten parents say they are worried or very worried about their sons and daughters seeing violent and sexual material on the web .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
17043,17044,"New York A 60 foot long finback whale that washed ashore in the Breezy Point neighborhood of Queens and that was determined dead Thursday morning will be buried in the sand dunes , according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration .  The whale could not be moved on Thursday because the National Park equipment that would ordinarily be used was "" destroyed by Hurricane Sandy , "" said  spokeswoman Allison McHale .  The plan now is to transport the carcass on Friday with the joint effort of the National Park Service and New York City Sanitation . Both agencies have reached out to the Army Corps of Engineers , which has the type of heavy equipment that needed , according to McHale .  The National Park Service has agreed to let the whale be buried on the beach where it is currently located , up in the sand dunes where the high water line will prevent erosion , McHale said .  "" The necropsy will then be conducted either tomorrow or Saturday , "" McHale said , "" depending on when the whale is moved . ""  The whale was first discovered Wednesday morning on a beach in Breezy Point , a community still reeling from Superstorm Sandy , and biologists had been closely monitoring the status of the whale since its discovery .  "" What we will do next is determine where the animal will remain , if we are able to bury it on the beach , or if it will need to be moved , "" Rob Digiovanni , executive director and senior biologist for the Riverhead Foundation , a Long Island based marine research and preservation group , said earlier Thursday .  "" That would be a discussion we need to have when we get there . Our plan is to do a necropsy on the beach to find out why it died . ""  Disposal of the carcass remained a challenge .  "" In the past they ( have ) been buried on the beach , disposed of in a landfill , or towed out to sea , "" said McHale .  Late Wednesday , the whale was still alive but it was "" emaciated and in poor physical condition so there is nothing that can be done to save the whale , "" she said then .  "" We thought it was dead when we arrived , but then it started moving , "" Nick Ecock of Point Breeze Volunteer Fire Department said Wednesday .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
17044,17045,"4 teams left to battle for Super 50 berths on Sunday  4 teams left to battle for Super 50 berths on Sunday  The Arizona Cardinals play the Carolina Panthers in the  title Game at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte .  Here are 10 things you need to know going into Championship Sunday . Their offense looked much better with Julian Edelman back , and Tom Brady continues to be the best quarterback in the  .  Davis continued to reminisce about those dreams of a rookie and how he then believed he d been drafted by a franchise that was just getting started on making a series of playoff runs .  After winning last year s Super Bowl , he s tied Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw for having four rings . It is conference championship week and both of these games are going to be spectacular .  Next up is Carolina quarterback Cam Newton . All four came in the first four games of the season , and he returned two of them for touchdowns . That and the Bronco s looked completely off in the game against a beat up Pittsburgh team .  Denver has had its own injuries , specifically Manning , who missed almost two months because of a torn plantar fascia in his left foot . Riverboat Ron never shies away from making a call that will impact the rest of the game .  Standing in his way is his nemesis Peyton Manning . Fortunately for the Broncos , football is team sport . It s hard to say how much of their success stems from Kubiak . It feels like it s taken a back seat to New England and Denver .  Again , it s about taking advantage of opportunities . The Panthers are , by no means , a cold weather team .  And the players didn t seem very bothered by it , including some in short sleeves .  Norman has the edge in statistics , but Peterson has shut down some of the best receivers in the league in one on one coverage . You won t hear a name more often on the defensive side of the ball than Luke Kuechly this week . As both players near the twilight of their careers , this could also be the final time they face each other .  The Patriots will be playing in their fifth consecutive Championship game and are always risky .  The Panthers have a talented secondary , but as Seahawks  Russell Wilson reminded us last weekend , Carolina can be beaten on long pass plays . These are the guys that coaches dial up plays for when it matters most . This week s biggest X Factors come from the Tight End position . He has top end speed .  New England is an even bigger favorite for the Super Bowl at the South Point sports book , where lines were put up Wednesday with the Patriots 2 point favorites over Arizona and 1 . 1 2 point picks over Carolina . He goes for the football and gets a deflection out of it , or an interception .  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
17046,17047,"The Donald Trump campaign is in trouble, and it s showing. In a very surprising move, Trump has cut ties with his notoriously angry campaign manager Corey Lewandowski. Infamously, the campaign manager was once videotaped (and nearly charged) for assaulting a reporter at one of Trump s notoriously violent rallies. Now, he s out the door, and no one is quite sure why. The Trump campaign released the following cryptic statement regarding Lewandowski s exit: The Donald J. Trump Campaign for President, which has set a historic record in the Republican Primary having received almost 14 million votes, has today announced that Corey Lewandowski will no longer be working with the campaign. The campaign is grateful to Corey for his hard work and dedication and we wish him the best in the future. This move comes amid the fact that Trump s Democratic rival Hillary Clinton has pumped more than $20 million into advertising in key general election battleground states, while Trump has not started advertising at all. Further, there is a renewed and growing effort among the #DumpTrump faction of  delegates who do not want Trump as their presidential nominee. The newly formed group, dubbed  Free the Delegates,  is aimed toward unbinding delegates who are bound to Trump and allowing them to vote their conscience instead.The thing is, the way Trump shook up the primary season with his outrageous remarks that fired up the ignorant, bigoted unwashed masses in the  s insane base simply isn t working in the general election. Lewandowski was definitely an issue, with his hot temper. That, along with Trump s own uncontrollable mouth simply could not continue.I suppose their recognizing these facts is good for the  and the Trump campaign, but it is likely too late. The general electorate has seen what Trump is selling, and nobody is buying it. He s a racist, sexist, xenophobic buffoon, and America does not want him as our next Commander-in-Chief. Hopefully, this signals a death knell for Trump s nutty campaign, and we can focus on moving the nation forward when we elect Hillary Clinton in November.Featured image via Drew Angerer/Getty Images",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
17065,17066,"Reuters) - U.S. Republican Rand Paul suspended his 2016 presidential bid on Wednesday after his small-government campaign failed to gain traction with voters. The U.S. senator from Kentucky was the second Republican candidate, behind former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, to drop out of the race since Monday’s night’s Iowa caucuses. That contest launched the parties’ process to nominate candidates for the November election. “It’s been an incredible honor to run a principled campaign for the White House. Today, I will end where I began, ready and willing to fight for the cause of Liberty,” Paul said in a statement. In the Republican race, the libertarian-leaning Paul finished in fifth place in Iowa with 4.5 percent of the vote. U.S. Senator Ted Cruz finished first in Iowa, putting a dent in real estate tycoon Donald Trump’s standing as front-runner to be his party’s nominee. Paul, who is also focused on winning another U.S. Senate term, said he would continue fighting for limited government, criminal justice reform and “reasonable” foreign policy. The heir apparent to the libertarian-minded voters who helped his father gain a standing in the last two presidential elections, Paul struggled to attract support in a crowded Republican field. His withdrawal leaves 10 Republican candidates in the 2016 White House race. ",true,dataset,test,US elections,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
17070,17071,"One man who walked inside said he was cuffed to a bench for 17 hours . Another was only found after he was transferred to the hospital with a head injury . A third ended up dead .  What did all three men have in common ? They had been taken to Homan Square .  Operated by the Chicago police , Homan Square is an unmarked warehouse on the West Side where local attorneys and a protester claim Chicago police are operating a  style ' black site . '  Operated by the Chicago police , Homan Square is an unmarked warehouse on the West Side where local attorneys and a protester claim Americans have been shackled for hours and denied basic rights  In a story by the Guardian , Brian Jacob Church said it took his lawyers hours to locate him in what he called a ' domestic black site ' .  ' It brings to mind the interrogation facilities they use in the Middle East , ' he said . ' When you go in , no one knows what ' s happened to you . '  Church was brought to Homan Square in 2012 with 11 other people after protesting the  summit and said he was denied his right to call a lawyer , was not read his Miranda rights and had to sit in a windowless cell .  He said for 17 hours his ankles were shackled together and one wrist was cuffed to a bar behind a bench .  Church , a member of the  3 who was eventually incarcerated for two and a half years before he was found not guilty of terrorism related charges , said he figured he ' d never see ' the light of day again ' .  Sarah Gelsomino , Church ' s lawyer , said she searched for her client , whose name wasn ' t on any jail booking records , for 12 hours before she learned Homan Square even existed .  Brian Jacob Church said it took lawyers 17 hours to locate him in what he called a ' domestic black site '  When Church was finally able to talk to an attorney , he claimed they spoke through a ' floor to ceiling chain link metal cage ' .  Almost a full day had past before Church was booked at a nearby police station .  One Chicago lawyer called Homan Square an ' open secret ' .  ' If you can ' t find a client in the system , odds are they ' re there , ' Julia Bartmes told the Guardian .  Another attorney , Anthony Hill , said people who are taken to Homan Square ' just disappear ' until they are either charged or released .  Hill said police use the warehouse as an ' off the books ' interrogation space when they want information about the flow of money , guns and drugs on the streets .  Eliza Solowiej , of Chicago ' s First Defense Legal Aid , said she couldn ' t find one man for ' six to eight hours ' , last seeing him in a police station before he was transferred to Homan Square .  She said later that day the man , who asked to remain anonymous and whose lawyer declined to confirm Solowiej ' s account , sent a picture to her phone showing he had received head injuries .  Solowiej didn ' t find him until after he was taken to the hospital .  John Hubbard was another man taken to Homan Square , but he did not make it out alive .  A Chicago Tribune story reported he was pronounced dead after being found ' unresponsive in an interview room ' . A medical examiner told the Guardian that , after publication , it was determined he died of a heroin overdose .  Three attorneys recounted to the Guardian incidents in which they were denied access to their clients at Homan Square .  Bartmes said she was once refused entry into the warehouse when she went to check on a 15 year old boy who had been taken there hours ago .  She said the boy was eventually returned home , with no charges , after ' maybe 13 hours in custody ' .  The Chicago police department has responded to the Guardian ' s story , claiming that Homan Square is just like any other police facility in the city .  Police spokesman Marty Maloney said : ' If lawyers have a client detained at Homan Square , just like any other facility , they are allowed to speak and visit to them . '  ' There are always records of anyone who is arrested by  , and this is not any different at Homan Square . '  The statement added that the facility is not a secret and that the public can access its Evidence Recovered Property Section to claim inventoried property , according to the Chicago Sun Times .  Maloney also said the Guardian ' s report of physical violence at the warehouse ' is unequivocally false , is offensive , and it is not supported by any facts whatsoever ' .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
17074,17075,"Texas Sen . Ted Cruz speaks during the 2015 Iowa Faith Freedom Coalition presidential forum . He ' s made religion a central tenet of his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination .  Ted Cruz has one of the most overtly religious stump speeches on the Iowa campaign trail .  In Emmetsburg , Iowa , Friday the Texas senator quoted the Bible and exhorted his supporters to pray "" each and every day "" until Election Day .  "" He ' s real , "" said Bobbie Clark , a Cruz supporter from Algona . "" There ' s something there . There ' s substance behind it . It ' s not just talk . ""  There ' s a big reason Cruz and others are making that kind of pitch here days before the first votes cast in this presidential campaign season ? Iowa ' s "" evangelical voters "" have carved a well worn path for past Iowa winners . Rick Santorum in 2012 and Mike Huckabee in 2008 , for example , won them over and won the caucuses .  As with the fractured 2012 field , it ' s not at all clear who will win this year ' s Iowa  caucuses . But it seems to be a two man race ? between Cruz and Donald Trump .  In the final Des Moines Register Bloomberg Iowa poll before the caucuses , Trump leads Cruz 28 to 23 percent overall . But Cruz leads with evangelicals , 33 to 19 percent .  That could bode well for Cruz Monday night , if those evangelical voters turn out in high numbers like in year ' s past . But while Cruz is ahead with those voters , he doesn ' t have the kind of dominant lead with the group that can ensure victory .  J . Ann Selzer , the pollster who conducted the poll , said Trump ' s lead shrinks to 1 point over Cruz if religious conservatives match 2012 ' s turnout of 55 percent of the electorate .  In that sense , this year ' s race is looking more like 2012 than 2008 . In 2012 , Iowa evangelicals ' support was relatively divided . Entrance polls showed Santorum with 32 percent of evangelicals ' support , compared with Ron Paul ' s 18 percent ( remarkably close to the Cruz Trump split that this latest poll shows ) . Three other candidates each took 14 percent . Santorum went on to win the caucuses by just 34 votes over Mitt Romney . Paul finished a strong third .  Meanwhile , in 2008 , Huckabee had a far more commanding lead with these voters . He took 46 percent to Romney ' s 19 percent ? and they made up 60 percent of the electorate . All that added up to a solid 9 point win for Huckabee over Romney .  While all of the Republican candidates are Christians , some , like Cruz and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson , have made their faith a more central part of their message than others . At the Cruz event in Emmetsburg , his supporters said they appreciate his faithcentric campaign .  But while faith plays a part in how many voters choose a candidate , some say they feel manipulated by blunt appeals to their Christian identity .  "" I think sometimes they ' re just giving me lip service , "" said Dave Mouw before a Jeb Bush campaign event in Sioux Center , Iowa . "" They ' re telling me what I want to hear . You can usually tell by a guy if he means it or not . ""  As of Friday , Mouw was torn between a few candidates ? Bush , John Kasich , Rand Paul and Marco Rubio . Meanwhile , Mouw said , there ' s one candidate who is not winning him over .  "" I don ' t need Donald Trump reading me a Bible verse , "" Mouw said .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
17085,17086,"Pregnant women have been warned that a type of antibiotic could harm their unborn baby .  Researchers from Great Ormond Street Hospital and University College London have linked erythromycin pills with epilepsy and cerebral palsy .  The study tracked the health of babies born to 200 , 000 British women . Overall , the babies born to women who took antibiotics were no more likely to develop epilepsy or cerebral palsy .  Woman have been warned the common antibiotic erythromycin could harm their unborn baby ( file photo )  But women treated with erythromycin and other pills from the macrolide family of antibiotics were almost twice as likely to have a baby with one of these conditions as those given penicillin .  The study , published in the journal   , found that a third of expectant mothers were given antibiotics during pregnancy , most commonly penicillin .  Just 7 per cent of the women prescribed antibiotics were given macrolides , which are used to treat urinary and chest infections and are particularly likely to be given during recurrent illness or if a woman is allergic to penicillin .  However out of every 150 women given a macrolide rather than penicillin , there was one more baby born with cerebral palsy or epilepsy .  Researcher Professor Ruth Gilbert advised pregnant women to keep taking any antibiotics that they are prescribed as an infection is likely to harm their baby .  Erythromycin are from the macrolide family of antibiotics .  Macrolides are used to treat urinary and chest infections and are particularly likely to be given during recurrent illness or if a woman is allergic to penicillin .  And she stressed that any increased risk to the unborn child posed by the pills would be extremely small .  However , with four previous studies raising concerns about the pills , she said it was time for the pills to be thoroughly reviewed by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (  ) .  Professor Andrew Whitelaw , of Bristol University , warned that a bad infection could end up killing both the mother and her child .  But he added : ' Nevertheless , drug treatment in pregnancy requires a very high level of safety and it will not surprise me if the regulatory authorities advise doctors to avoid or severely restrict macrolides in pregnancy ' .  Others said that the study does not prove that macrolides are harmful , as it could be that the bugs they are used treat are more likely to damage the brain than other infections .  Erythromycin is used to treat urinary and chest infections and are particularly likely to be given during recurrent illness or if a woman is allergic to penicillin  Dr Christoph Lees , of Imperial College London , said : ' One thing is for sure : pregnant women should definitely take antibiotics when prescribed them as the risk of untreated infection to the pregnancy can be catastrophic .  ' To put things in context , the extra risk to their baby of being prescribed macrolides , if indeed there is a risk , is very tiny . '  The medicines ' watchdog , the  , said it has already sought independent advice on the study and it does not consider that the research provides proper proof that macrolides are dangerous .  A spokesman said : ' Importantly , this study found no overall evidence of harm when antibiotics are prescribed in pregnancy .  ' Any pregnant woman who has been prescribed antibiotics should continue to take them as instructed and speak to their healthcare professional if they have any questions . '  ",true,text,test,US elections,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
17096,17097,"Germany striker Miroslav Klose struck just four minutes from time to give Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich a 1 0 win at Karlsruhe their first victory in four league games .  Klose scored a vital goal for Bayern as they claimed a 1 0 Bundesliga victory at Karlsruhe .  Klose converted Massimo Oddo ' s cross on 86 minutes to give Jurgen Klinsmann ' s side three league points for the first time this month despite another unimpressive performance .  Bayern last picked up three points in a Bundesliga game on September 13 when they hammered Cologne 3 0 .  Since then the gloss on Jurgen Klinsmann ' s first season in charge has faded badly after Werder Bremen hammered his side 5 2 at home on September 20 and then slumped to a 1 0 defeat at minnows Hanover the following week .  Cries of "" Klinsmann out ! "" were first heard around Munich ' s Allianz Arena in their previous league game on October 4 when a poor Bochum side were allowed to score two goals in the last 10 minutes to poach a 3 3 draw .  Despite their first half domination in Karlsruhe , Bayern could not break down the home defense and lost striker Luca Toni , the league ' s top scorer last season , who limped off after 40 minutes to be replaced by Lukas Podolski .  And another of Munich top attacking options from last season was substituted on 59 minutes when Klinsmann switched France midfielder Franck Ribery for Germany ' s Tim Borowski .  With Karlsruhe unable to create any chances and Bayern unable to convert theirs , it looked like the game was heading towards a 0 0 draw until Klose struck .  But Klinsmann ' s side will need to do much better against Fiorentina in Tuesday night ' s Champions League game in Munich .  Promoted Hoffenheim went top of the table with a flurry of late goals to seal a 5 2 victory at 10 man Hanover which put them level with Hamburg but leading the table on goal difference .  Two goals from Hoffenheim ' s Vedad Ibisevic led the charge and made the Bosnian and Herzegovina striker the league ' s top scorer with nine so far this season . However , Hamburg have the chance to recapture top spot when they host Schalke on Sunday .  Also on Saturday , Bayer Leverkusen moved up one place to third place thanks to their 2 0 win at Eintracht Frankfurt . Striker Patrick Helmes scored his eighth league goal of the season when he converted a penalty after just six minutes and a 61st minute header from Chilean midfielder Arturo Vidal sealed the win .  Stuttgart drop from third to sixth in the table after losing 2 1 at Hertha Berlin while Wolfsburg picked up their first league win for nearly a month as midfielder Zvjezdan Misimovic netted first half goals in a 4 1 win over Arminia Bielefeld to put Felix Magath ' s side fifth in the table .  Ten man Energie Cottbus lost 1 0 at Cologne to stay in the bottom three while Dortmund scored in injury time to seal a 3 3 draw at Werder Bremen .  ",true,text,test,Football,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
17105,17106,"The modern N. B. A. era began in the 1980s with two    if only   narratives. The rivalry between Larry Bird and Magic Johnson was transmitted to the public through sportswriters who typecast Bird as the white country bumpkin who gritted his way to excellence and Johnson as the black,   savant who whipped up his   talents into the best show on the hardwood. The cities of Boston (parochial and solemn) and Los Angeles (flashy and morally suspect) were featured in supporting roles that echoed the best and worst traits of the main characters. The reality behind “Bird versus Magic” was mostly irrelevant. What mattered was that the choice you were supposed to make between them was laid out as   as possible. In recent years, there has been a movement to replace these hoary old sports stories with an atomized landscape of numbers, stats and transactional analysis  —   and its adherents harbor a healthy amount of scorn for anyone who thinks differently. The move toward dispassionate stats is for the greater good sportswriting and fandom are too often unctuous and absurd and lend themselves to blanket moralizing in which the athlete is reduced to some lesson about life itself. If he does not hustle to first base on a ground ball, he becomes a   for the insufficient work ethic of his entire generation. If he happens to be an immigrant or from a racial minority, he becomes a   for his entire people. Despite the growing influence of the rationalists  —   the analysts and wonks who want to tear this all down  —   the mainstream sports industrial complex, especially in the loftier parts of the media, doesn’t share their vision. Narrative, with all its lies, still dominates. This has been a summer filled with silly sports schlock, spurred by NBC’s Olympic Games coverage, which carried on its tradition of dramatically lit,     reels: a young athlete learns to swim after meeting a dolphin at a water park in Tarzana, Calif. a towheaded future equestrian rider falls in love with a   horse in Darien, Conn. and so on. But the season’s story time had already started on July 4, when Kevin Durant, one of the most beloved players in the N. B. A. announced that he would be leaving the Oklahoma City Thunder for the Golden State Warriors. The expected take quake was set off, split along the usual lines. The new rationalists pointed out that Durant is a man and argued that nobody has any right to criticize any decision a man makes for himself and his family  —   before they quickly pivoted to their charts showing how Durant would change the Warriors’ expected win total. The traditionalists chanted their   odes to loyalty, competitiveness and Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, who each played their entire careers with one team. In Oklahoma City itself, the reaction played out much as it had in Cleveland when LeBron James left. Fans ripped up Durant jerseys and delivered weepy testimonials to the powerful bonds between a city and its star athlete. Overnight, Durant went from fan favorite to just the latest in the N. B. A. ’s litany of “selfish” players like Allen Iverson, Dennis Rodman or LeBron James, people who have come to embody everything that’s wrong with America. The next episode in this melodrama came in early August, when the Thunder and their other great player, Russell Westbrook, agreed to a contract extension. (People had speculated that he would leave too.) There were a lot of reasonable fiscal reasons for Westbrook’s decision  —   within the N. B. A. ’s byzantine   rules, it helped him maximize the money he could make over the rest of his career  —   and none of Westbrook’s other rumored destinations, whether Boston or New York or Los Angeles, guaranteed the success that Durant will surely enjoy with the Warriors. But Westbrook, who has mostly stayed quiet about Durant’s exit, will now be the living embodiment of every traditional thing that fans,   callers and screaming  heads have demanded from athletes. He is staying with the   team with which he began his career,   saving the relevance of professional basketball in Oklahoma. He is also spurning, at least for now, the impulse to join a superteam with other superstars. Westbrook has decided to go it alone, and every Dennis from Dumont or Paulie from Passaic who calls in to  and asks the   host Mike Francesa how he can possibly raise a son in a world where   disloyal athletes strut around unpunished has a new hero. Durant’s departure for Golden State seemed to be a bellwether moment, not only in the potential fortunes of two basketball teams but also in the way that sports news is transmuted into fable that has its own relatable and    lesson. The old, familiar moralizing, mainly delivered in   rants about loyalty or cowardice or traditions by a       on  or Fox Sports, was met with a swift and forceful response by the rationalists. During the night of Durant’s announcement, in fact, it felt as if the counterreaction beat the reaction, as hundreds of rationalists tweeted   against an opinion that hadn’t even yet been aired. Sean Newell, writing for Vice Sports (I am also a correspondent at Vice) voiced their frustration when he wrote: “No one in the world should care where Kevin Durant plays basketball, and they certainly shouldn’t care enough to scream about it on ESPN. But sportswriters, even though their job is to report on   topics, write fiction. ” The problem with Newell’s critique is that nearly everyone who watches the N. B. A. except a small population of analytics wonks and insiders, really does care where Kevin Durant plays basketball. The zealotry of those in pursuit of some objective “truth” in sports, I’ve started to think, might be turning the entire spectacle into something that can no longer be recognized by a vast majority of fans. If you excise both fandom and the metaphorical weight of how the actions of an athlete might reflect on your own life, then what, exactly, are we watching? And why? The impulse to expunge all this and turn watching sports into an accounting exercise filled with insider jargon reflects some of the   elitism that has entered our national political conversation. While neither the stakes nor the messages are analogous, the mechanism through which they are conveyed feels very much the same. It is, in essence, a   between those who believe themselves to be in the know and the simps who lap up everything they watch on cable news. But not all narratives, whether political or athletic, are fictions, and there are still emotional and existential lessons that can be summoned by the sight of men and women chasing a ball around a field. There is ample ground between the current approach to N. F. L. news, for example, which amounts to treating it as either a stock ticker of microtransactions or a perpetual   machine, and the attitude given expression earlier this month by John Miller, chief marketing officer for NBC’s Olympic Games coverage, to explain why his network relegated several key Olympic events to tape delay. “More women watch the Games than men,” Miller said, “and for the women, they’re less interested in the result and more interested in the journey. ” A defense of sports narratives does not have to accept Miller’s retrograde thinking. That it so often has is not proof that every telling is corrupted, but rather that the authors have mostly failed. Durant versus Westbrook will be next year’s dominant N. B. A. motif because it brings in the full breadth of the rich, if at times overblown, metaphors that have always driven the best sportswriting: loyalty versus   the individual versus the empire and solidarity with the underdog versus the cynical efficiency of the superteam. The personalities of both players, on court and off, should be enough to compel our attention, supplemented by all the data analysis you could ever want. Even if we should balk at any easy moralizing, there’s no need to sacrifice a good story in the process.",true,news,test,Other sport,Economy,true,satire,True,no,no,neutral,past
17129,17130,"The children of a wealthy widow are in a legal battle with her former physiotherapist over the woman ' s 30 million fortune .  The two adult children told a court how the female physiotherapist has possession of their frail mother ' s jewellery including a ' very valuable ' diamond ring and 5 million of her money .  They also feared she was planning to take their 81 year old mother , who suffers from Parkinson ' s disease and dementia , to Florida without their consent .  The children told the Court of Protection hearing that the physiotherapist helped herself to money and valuables  At a preliminary Court of Protection hearing , the children argued that the physiotherapist had helped herself to money and valuables from their mother and late father , who died in June this year , and ' emotionally and physically abused ' the elderly couple .  District Judge Denzil Lush who ruled no parties in the case could be identified heard the physiotherapist was employed by the couple in 2000 , and grew personally close to the husband , which led to a serious deterioration in his relationship with his children .  The children claimed that between 2009 and 2011 , their father and the physiotherapist restricted contact with their mother .  When their father died in June 2014 , they feared that the physiotherapist had ' unfettered control of the household and could physically abuse their mother ' .  The children ' s barrister , Philip Jenkins , said : ' There is a strong case of physical , emotional and financial abuse against their elderly and vulnerable parents . '  They also expressed concerns she was planning to take their mother to Florida ( pictured ) , without their consent  At an earlier hearing in July , the children were granted a court injunction , forcing the physiotherapist to hand over their mother ' s passport and not take her out of England .  The physiotherapist was also required to leave the widow ' s home , and she later gave her up appointment as executor of the widow ' s will , and flew to Florida .  At the second hearing , held to consider costs in the case , Mr Jenkins argued ' it is not without significance that a substantial proportion ' of her 60th wedding anniversary jewellery purchased by her late husband in February 2014 was in the physiotherapist ' s possession . . . plus a very valuable diamond ring ' belonging to their mother .  And they claimed she had received about 5 million of the family ' s money since 2008 .  Jordan Holland , representing the physiotherapist , said his client ' does not accept ' the truth of the evidence against her , but if she gave detailed replies it would drive up the legal costs .  Mr Holland called for her 11 , 000 costs should be paid from the widow ' s estate , which was worth 30 million .  She had complied with a wide ranging injunction backed by the threat of prison , he added , but that there was no real need for the order , as she had simply suggested to the children that their mother might like to go to Florida .  District Judge Lush ruled that the allegations against the physiotherapist were a matter for another court ' in the context of any claim brought against her for the recovery for funds . '  He also lifted the earlier injunction .  Her conduct in the case , he said , had been satisfactory and he ordered all costs to be paid from the widow ' s estate .  The judge also declaration that the widow ' s decisions in her ' living will ' were valid and applied to her treatment .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
17131,17132,"Martha, Martha, Martha You re 75-years old! Time to lay off of the nasty gestures We feel a Martha Stewart boycott coming on Flipping off our President is a low move on her part. Not cute and not funny!Martha Stewart appeared to be giving a portrait of President Donald Trump the middle finger in New York City Saturday night.The 75-year-old home entrepreneur and business mogul was spotted at the Frieze Art Fair at Randall s Island Park standing between a portrait of her pal rapper Snoop Dogg and Trump doing the shocking gesture, according to E! News.In the shot, Stewart was giving a V sign to the rapper while it looked like she was flipping the bird to Trump.Stewart shared a photo on Instagram Saturday with her 115,000 followers that just showed her giving a V sign to both portraits (See photo below). In the caption next to the snap she wrote,  A propos this week Taping twenty more episodes with @snoopdogg for @vh1 Watch the awards Sunday night !!! We are presenting! Photo @seenbysharkey I am at @frieze the giant art fair on Randall s Island NYC. Read more: The Smokeroom",fake,dataset,test,US elections,Sports/Other,satire,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
17141,17142,Top 10 shocking animals fighting video # www.youtube.com 0  List Top 10 presents 10 most amazing fights between animals in front of you. You will be amazed while watching this.  from lion to snake & crocodile & many more animals fighting.  Hope after watching this you can't stop searching us on youtube & subscribe instantly. Tags,fake,news,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,present
17156,17157,"Eight months after falling foul of  ' s  rules , Manchester City are flexing their financial muscles once again with a 30million move for Swansea City striker Wilfried Bony .  In footballing terms , it ' s a no brainer . Manuel Pellegrini has to fight for trophies on three fronts Champions League , Premier League and  Cup but currently has only one available forward , Stevan Jovetic , with Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko injured , and six others including Alvaro Negredo out on loan .  But getting the figures to stack up if Bony comes in on 200 , 000 a week will be harder . City want success on the pitch of course but at the same time daren ' t upset the authorities again by spending beyond the means allowed by the governing body .  Swansea striker Wilfried Bony is in talks with Manchester City ahead of a possible 30million move  Bony ' s potential arrival at City would have implications on their reduced Champions League squad  If Bony comes in , someone like Jesus Navas will have to be sacrificed from City ' s reduced Champions League squad .  The club are only allowed to name 21 players for Europe as a  sanction and Joe Hart , Dedryck Boyata , Gael Clichy , Frank Lampard and James Milner need to be included to meet the quota on association trained players .  Given that goalkeeper Willie Caballero is also required as back up for Hart , Bony ' s inclusion in City ' s next European squad would mean one of their overseas big hitters missing out .  You would assume Vincent Kompany , David Silva , Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero are automatic selections , so one of the following would miss out : Bacary Sagna , Martin Demichelis , Aleksandar Kolarov , Eliqauim Mangala , Stevan Jovetic , Jesus Navas , Samir Nasri , Edin Dzeko , Fernando or Fernandinho .  In addition , someone else may have to be sold to help balance the books with the club keen to cash in on Matija Nastasic or Scott Sinclair if they can be persuaded .  Jesus Navas ( left ) and Stevan Jovetic are two players who could make way in Europe for Bony  Someone may also have to accept a smaller pay packet in the next round of contract negotiations to help pay for Bony ' s wages . Milner , Demichelis , Micah Richards and John Guidetti all have deals that expire in the summer .  A brief recap is needed . Financial fair play regulations were introduced by  to stop the boom and bust mentality that threatened to destroy clubs across Europe , with Portsmouth and Leeds United the best examples in England of ownership gone wrong .  The initial spending spree at City following the 2008 takeover from the Abu Dhabi ruling family saw the club run up annual losses , rising to 195m in 2011 alone .  Of course Sheikh Mansour could personally afford it but  said they wanted to avoid any situation where a club ' s future was put at risk by an owner over spending and then withdrawing support .  In May , City accepted their punishment for breaking  rules . They were hit with a conditional 49m fine , a limit of 49m net spending in the summer transfer window , a reduced Champions League squad from 25 to 21 and had to agree to cap spending on wages in 2015 and limit overall losses to 7 . 8m .  City midfielder James Milner ( right ) may have to sign a new contract on reduced terms if Bony joins the club  It should be pointed out they weren ' t the only club who broke  rules . Qatari owned Paris Saint Germain were in the same boat and  are also investigating a number of other clubs .  The sanctions affected Pellegrini ' s plans for the season . He couldn ' t afford to be in the market for Angel di Maria or Falcao who both ended up at Manchester United and 16m Negredo was sent on loan to Valencia because there wasn ' t room for him in the Champions League squad .  ' It all starts from the restrictions due to the money we spent , ' said the City manager at the time , though Negredo was happy to return to Spain as well .  The repercussions became clear when leading scorer Aguero suffered a knee injury at the start of December and joined Jovetic and Dzeko on the treatment table .  Although City have continued to win games with Milner up front and Aguero is expected to return against Everton on Saturday , Pellegrini has realised his squad is too light with defining matches against Chelsea and Barcelona coming up hence the interest in Bony , an Ivory Coast powerhouse who is already proven in English football .  Alvaro Negredo ( left ) joined Valencia on loan as City couldn ' t include him in their Champions League squad  For their part , City are reluctant to explain at this stage how they are going to sign Bony and stay within  rules understandable as the deal to sign the 26 year old is still ongoing . If and when it is completed , they will be asked again .  Even moving for Bony is a sign of their growing confidence that they have the spending revenue ratio under control as demanded by  .  Their latest set of financial figures in December saw annual losses reduced to 7m after the fine to  had been taken into account . The main reason is the increased revenue the Premier League champions are now bringing in . Their turnover is at an all time high 346 . 5m , with plenty of sponsorship deals in place with companies from Gulf and elsewhere .  Bony will be an eye catching signing for City , both on and off the field .  Bony ( right ) scored more Premier League goals 20 than anyone else during the last calendar year  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
17200,17201,"Home / Badge Abuse / “Isolated Incident” Every Police Dept in America Failed to Meet Minimum Standard for Use of Force “Isolated Incident” Every Police Dept in America Failed to Meet Minimum Standard for Use of Force Jay Syrmopoulos June 19, 2015 1 Comment  (TFTP) — In a blistering rebuke of the current state of policing in the United States, a report issued by Amnesty International  stated that all 50 U.S. states failed to meet international standards on use of deadly force by law enforcement officers.  The stunning report lays bare the fact that U.S. police are killing without any formal obligation to respect or preserve human life.  In an interview with The Guardian , Amnesty  executive director Steven Hawkins said the report’s findings revealed a “shocking lack of fundamental respect for the sanctity of human life.”  “While law enforcement in the United States is given the authority to use lethal force, there is no equal obligation to respect and preserve human life. It’s shocking that while we give law enforcement this extraordinary power, so many states either have no regulation on their books or nothing that complies with international standards,” Hawkins said.  With recent protests in Baltimore and Ferguson, over police killings, there has been an ever-growing spotlight being shined on the culture of policing.  Amnesty analyzed each of the 50 U.S state’s statutes regarding use of lethal force. They then compared them against the United Nations accepted principles of only using lethal force “in order to protect life” in “unavoidable” instances after first attempting to utilize “less extreme means.”   guidelines go on to state that officers should identify themselves and give a clear warning of the intent to use deadly force.  The report found that none of the 50 states met these international standards for using lethal force, stating:  “None of the laws establish the requirement that lethal force may only be used as a last resort with non-violent means and less harmful means to be tried first. The vast majority of laws do not require officers to give a warning of their intent to use firearms.”  The U.S. constitutional standard is less stringent, as set by a 1985 Supreme Court case Tennesse v Garner. The court held that an officer may use deadly force to prevent a suspect from escaping if “the officer has probable cause to believe that the suspect poses a significant threat of death or serious physical injury to the officer or others.”  Even so, 13 U.S. states failed to meet that constitutional standard, instead choosing to use extremely vague language in their statutes, which can be manipulated to allow for force use well beyond accepted standards. For example, North Dakota allows for deadly force against “an individual who has committed or attempted to commit a felony involving violence,” without ever defining what level of violence would warrant lethal force.  Nine states have absolutely no statutes on the books regarding officer use of lethal force– Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Ohio, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming – as well as Washington D.C., meaning that inevitably police investigate themselves based on some arbitrary standard.  The analysis found that only eight states had a requirement of a verbal warning before engaging in the use of deadly force. And in nine states, police can legally use lethal force during a time of rioting. In Pennsylvania, for example, a statute on use of force declares use of lethal force legitimate if “necessary to suppress a riot or mutiny after the rioters or mutineers have been ordered to disperse.”  Amnesty’s report states that in following international standards, all fatal incidents should be mandatorily reported and impartially investigated. The U.S. does no such thing, as the  runs a completely voluntary database.  According The Guardian:  The report also suggests taking action at all levels of government, making recommendations to the president, Congress and the  justice department, along with state legislatures and individual law enforcement departments. Amnesty suggests that laws be brought into compliance with international standards at every level, and that the justice department oversee a national commission “to examine and produce recommendations on policing issues, including a nationwide review of police use of lethal force laws … as well as a thorough review and reform of oversight and accountability mechanisms”.  Hawkins went on to say that he expects pushback from the police and their unions, but stated, “with so much attention on law enforcement and its use of lethal force within the US, in the next legislative session this report will produce some energy for change.”  The push for police accountability is now reaching a fever pitch in the U.S., as the current policing paradigm is unsustainable. With so many great ideas for systemic reform on the table, and so many great minds pushing for accountability, it seems only a matter of time before the current “good ole boy” power structure comes crumbling down.  Jay Syrmopoulos is an investigative journalist, free thinker, researcher, and ardent opponent of authoritarianism. He is currently a graduate student at University of Denver pursuing a masters in Global Affairs. Jay’s work has previously been published onweblink and WeAreChange.org. You can follow him on Twitter @sirmetropolis, on Facebook at Sir Metropolis and now on tsu . Share Google + Isaid Dilligaf  Defund these assholes and take their toys away…NOv is coming Police… are about to be outnumbered and outgunned for the first time in your pussy lives, you are going to really earn your money….America is about to grind you up and spit your filthy ass out for all your abuses against us…Time to pay the piper cowards… Social",true,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
17230,17231,"KrisKobach1787: Trump has made clear that sanctuary cities could lose federal grants if the mayors continue to defy federal law pic.twitter.com/mGrYjDCdFi   & Friends (@foxandfriends) November 15, 2016",fake,dataset,test,Other news1,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,present
17237,17238,"Speaking to Bill Maher about her participation in the Women s March in DC,  Hanoi Jane  Fonda remarked about her ability to use her celebrity to express her hate for Donald Trump to the masses. Fonda told Maher that one of the benefits of being a celebrity is that you can bring attention to things that need to be addressed, she then went on to refer to President Trump as the  Predator in Chief . Of course, Hanoi Jane had no evidence whatsoever to back up such a hideous claim, yet, she made the claim anyhow. As it turns out, Hanoi Jane actually knew about a certain sexual predator who actually assaulted a much younger actress only one year ago. That younger actress was Rosana Arquette, who shared her horrible experience with the  celebrity  Jane Fonda. Fonda, who bragged about having so much power to bring attention to important issues, did absolutely nothing about it.Hypocrite Hanoi Jane would rather stay mum about an actual sexual predator who was harming so many young women in her industry, than risk being ostracized in Hollywood. It was better to just stick to the  hate Trump  script and get along with the other sickening hypocrites in Hollywood than to expose a serial sexual predator who should ve been stopped years ago if there weren t so many self-serving and shallow human beings running around Hollywood. Watch:Hanoi Jane s very comfortable trashing President Trump who she believes can t hurt her career, but when it comes to the mega-Democrat donor, and Hollywood kingpin producer, Harvey Weinstein, all bets are off.. Daily Mail- Jane Fonda has admitted she found out last year that Harvey Weinstein had been sexually harassing Hollywood women and is ashamed she didn t speak up earlier.Watch: I only met Harvey when I was old,"" @Janefonda tells me. ""And Harvey goes for young, because that s more vulnerable.  pic.twitter.com/RbrjxCFU6w  Christiane Amanpour (@camanpour) October 12, 2017More than 30 women have now come forward with allegations of sexual harassment against the Hollywood producer who was once described as the  God  of the film industry.The accusations, including from some of the world s most famous actresses, range from inappropriate massages to rape and date back nearly three decades.While Fonda says she wasn t harassed by Weinstein, she was told of his abuse last year by one of his victims.I found out about Harvey a year ago and I m ashamed I didn t say anything back then,  she told  s Christiane Amanpour in an interview to air Friday.She was informed of Weinstein s transgressions by Rosanna Arquette   one of the many women who have since spoken out against the movie mogul. It came as a shock and a great disappointment,  Fonda said. I only met Harvey when I was old and Harvey goes for young because that s more vulnerable. She added that she was proud of the victims for speaking out but it wasn t a unique or isolated case and specifically mentioned Bill Cosby s history. This is not unique, this goes on at the most horrendous high levels,  she said. I m glad it s coming out, I m so proud of those fellow actors that are speaking up. I know that it has taken a long time. It is a very, very, very hard thing to do. You don t get anything out of it as the person who has been victimized but it is important that it come out.  For the list of women who have come forward claiming to be victims of Dirty Harvey, go here. ",fake,dataset,test,US elections,Sports/Other,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
17238,17239,"Officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Tuesday that despite continued efforts to halt the multistate outbreak of an intensely noxious , mayonnaise borne virus , they have been unable to combat its deadly progress .  The first known case of the viral strain , which thrives in the delicious , creamy environment of mixed egg yolks , vegetable oil , and vinegar , was recorded by the  just three weeks ago and may be the strongest and most infectious contagion ever detected in mayonnaise or a mayonnaise related substance . The agency ' s leading scientists have determined the epicenter of the growing pandemic to be an infected roast beef sandwich in the St . Charles suburb of Chicago .  Despite the best efforts of the  , an estimated 40 million Americans have already been affected by what the media has dubbed the "" White Plague . ""  "" We have identified the popular condiment mayonnaise as the sole carrier of this highly contagious and deadly viral strain , "" said Dr Julie L . Gerberding , director of the  . "" There is no known cure , and for now , all citizens must seriously examine their mayo eating habits in order to avoid contracting the disease . Maybe you could try eating your turkey club with mustard , or perhaps a small helping of relish . ""  "" Most importantly , do not panic , "" Gerberding continued . "" We assure you that normal mayonnaise consumption will resume as soon as we clear the dead and contain this lethal pathogen . ""  According to information released by the  to all major television and radio stations , ingestion of the mayonnaise borne virus results in shooting body pains , headaches , fevers , internal bleeding , abnormal gait , loss of muscle control , dementia , and , in its final stages , a slight decrease in one ' s desire to consume mayonnaise . Death generally occurs within 48 hours , by which time the virus has completely liquefied the host ' s gastrointestinal tract .  Although officials originally hoped direct appeals to the American public would curtail the spread , two simultaneous educational campaigns and a series of warning labels have proved ineffective , and experts are now estimating the that death toll will surpass 100 , 000 .  "" All citizens within the affected zones please be advised : If you absolutely have to put mayonnaise in your potato salad , at least use a clean knife , "" said Gerberding , specifically referring to those living in Iowa , Minnesota , Wisconsin , Illinois , Michigan , Indiana , Kentucky , Ohio , Virginia , and Pennsylvania the region commonly known as the "" Mayo Belt . "" "" And I cannot stress this enough : If a glob of mayo comes in contact with your skin , do not lick it off . ""  Gerberding also cautioned that there is no "" safe "" mayonnaise , and that adding flavors such as chipotle will not counteract the virus ' s effect .  Thus far , the public seems unfazed by the rapidly disseminating , initially tasty pathogen , with many brave citizens saying they will continue buying and consuming the condiment regardless of its potential health risks .  "" I don ' t want a dry sandwich , "" said Salt Lake City native Scott Hagens , 42 . "" That ' s no way to eat . ""  "" If I get it , I get it , "" said Louisville resident Debra Rothman , 56 . "" I ' m not going to change my whole life around every time they come on  and say something is bad for you . ""  With the virus claiming more victims each day , the  has utilized all available outlets to urge citizens to avoid such mayonnaise heavy foods as deviled eggs , tuna salad , and coleslaw . But new figures suggest the rampant media images of mayo enhanced products may have backfired . Sales of the creamy sandwich topping have increased 55 percent since the public service announcements began .  "" Thankfully we didn ' t warn people not to eat spoonfuls of mayo straight out of the jar , "" one anonymous  official said .  As the nation ' s top microbiologists feverishly work to develop a vaccine for the virus , they continue to face setbacks , as many of the mayonnaise samples procured for analysis have disappeared from the laboratory . Fortunately , doctors have found some success using heavy doses of antibiotics to combat the virulent disease .  "" Left unchecked , Hellmansviridae could potentially wipe out all human life in North America by the end of lunch on Friday , "" said Dr Derek Patterson , an infectious disease specialist . "" But tests show it can be treated with antibiotics when patients reduce their daily intake of mayonnaise to three tablespoons or less per 12 hours . ""  "" Sadly , only one in 100 Americans has effectively been able to reduce personal mayo consumption to these levels , "" Patterson added .  Upon successful development of a vaccine ,  officials had planned to administer the preventative treatment through a hummus based delivery system , but initial testing showed high levels of human resistance to any potential medicinal chickpea spread . The public health organization is now seeking  approval for a mayo based mayo vaccine .  "" I pray my colleagues will be able to find a cure before it ' s too late , "" Dr Gerberding said . "" But , at the moment , it seems all we can hope for is a Miracle Whip . ""  ",satire,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,satire,True,no,no,neutral,past
17249,17250,"Reuters) - Russia is ready to consider a new U.S. resolution on North Korea provided it does not escalate military tensions and focuses on finding a diplomatic solution, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday. Russia s Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Lavrov had conveyed that stance to U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in a phone call initiated by the U.S. side. The ministry said Lavrov had also spoken of the merit of involving U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres in helping find a diplomatic solution to the North Korea crisis. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
17253,17254,"Businessman s boycott of Fox News debate gave his rivals chance to shine as alternative  Republican presidential candidate Florida Senator Marco Rubio speaks as former Florida governor Jeb Bush looks on during the Republican presidential debate . The absence of Donald Trump meant the debate was more substantive , more about policy . Photograph : Jim Watson  Getty Images  With the elephant not in the room , as Fox News moderator Megyn Kelly began Thursday s Republican debate referring to the absence of businessman Donald Trump , the wild tundra that is the 2016 Republican presidential primary was a little less savage .  That s not to say that the seven candidates trailing The Donald did not take advantage of his taking his ball and going home row with Fox to ravage each other . There was just too much up for grabs with just days left until Monday s first official vote in the Iowa caucuses . ?  This was an opportunity for the candidates to make their case to the voters without Trump s megaphone bluster and elbowing tactics . His no show meant the debate was more substantive , more about policy .  Texas senator Ted Cruz , the conservative rabble rouser , took the role of substitute frontrunner in place of Trump , but it was not a part he played well . He came across as irritable and petty , claiming at one point that he was being repeatedly attacked by the others .  A debate actually is a policy issue , he said , complaining . But I will say this : Gosh , if you guys ask one more mean question I may have to leave the stage , he added , poking fun at Trump .  Cruz , as the second highest polling candidate in Iowa after Trump , predictably bore most of the attacks on the Des Moines debate stage with the fiercest exchanges coming between him and Florida senator Marco Rubio as they battle for conservatives and evangelicals in Iowa .  The Texan knows that a convincing third place finish for the Floridian will help Rubio in the later voting states . ?  Both are hoping for a surprise result in Iowa to derail the Trump juggernaut . They filled the void left by the businessman on the stage .  They clashed on immigration , trading blows on their Senate votes on whether they offered citizenship or legalisation to illegal immigrants .  This is the lie that Ted s campaign is built on , said Rubio , disputing Cruz s assertion that the Texas blocked a Bill co authored by the Florida senator that would have granted amnesty to the illegals .  The truth is , Ted , throughout this campaign , you ve been willing to say or do anything in order to get votes , Rubio jabbed at Cruz . ?  Former Florida governor Jeb Bush and New Jersey governor Chris Christie sucked up lots of the oxygen on offer in the Trump less vacuum , pitching themselves to voters seeking a moderate alternative . ?  They are eyeing a stronger finish in New Hampshire , which votes eight days after Iowa and where establishment candidates have a better chance than among Iowa s conservative Republican caucus goers .  Christie bashed Cruz as part of the Washington establishment , while Rand Paul , for months a peripheral figure , even shone .  Bush appeared the most liberated with Trump not around , debating with the swagger of a young boy roaming the safe Republican streets with the neighbourhood bully away on holiday . ?  Hoping to hurt Rubio in his well positioned third place in the polls , Bush s debate was his strongest of the seven so far . ?  The candidate , who has run an anaemic campaign , even managed a little humour : I kind of miss Donald Trump . He was a little teddy bear to me . We always had such a loving relationship in these debates .  Bush enjoyed his strongest moment when he hit Rubio for flip flopping on immigration , managing to fluster the usually unflappable senator while at the same time show off his moderate credentials on the subject . Despite the attack and occasional hyperactivity , Rubio put in another strong debate performance that will not have hurt him in Iowa .  Even though Trump wasn t there , he managed to overshadow the debate from his rival event , a benefit for war veterans two miles away . Despite digs at Fox and Bush , a more restrained Trump pondered whether his boycott of the debate would cost him votes in Iowa .  Will it be a good thing ? Will it be a bad thing ? Will I get more votes ? Will I get less votes ? Who the hell knows ! he said .  Given the attacks and counterattacks that took place in his absence , Trump s gamble is likely to have paid off . He may not have been in the room , but post debate he remains the biggest elephant in this race .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
17254,17255,"Even Andy Reid must admit that Chiefs are riding a wave of momentum into postseason  To publicly acknowledge a competitive advantage is verboten to most coaches , and Andy Reid is part of that majority .  The Chiefs arrive at Saturday ' s playoff game at Houston with a gale force wind at their backs , winners of a franchise record 10 straight after starting 1 5 .  The next longest winning streak in the  is four , by Washington .  Obviously , this is how any team would prefer to enter the postseason , but the best Reid could express is to not disagree with the idea .  "" I think there ' s something to that , "" Reid said . "" You come in with a certain confidence . ""  But Reid was correct about Houston when he added , "" they have the same thing going . ""  The Texans won seven of nine to finish the season to win the  South . Both locker rooms are coated in confidence . However , no team can wear it better than the Chiefs , coming off a 23 17 victory over the Raiders in Sunday ' s finale .  During their winning streak , the Chiefs have averaged 28 . 1 points and allowed a league best 12 . 8 points .  They won all of those games without starting running back Jamaal Charles , lost with a season ending injury in their fifth game . To that point , Charcandrick West had tallied just five carries and Spencer Ware had been on the practice squad . During their 10 game winning streak , West and Ware have combined for 983 yards .  The Chiefs also won the final five games of the regular season without Pro Bowl linebacker Justin Houston , who is nursing a hyperextended knee . Reid said Monday that the fact Houston practiced last week was a good sign , but then noted that he remains "" day to day "" no sure thing to play this weekend .  The Chiefs ' offensive line has been in a state of flux most of the season and center Mitch Morse left Sunday ' s game with a concussion . Morse missed a game earlier this season with a similar injury . On Monday , Reid said linebacker Dee Ford also was checked for a concussion after Sunday ' s game .  But the Chiefs plowed through it all to post their second 11 5 season and playoff berth in Reid ' s three years in Kansas City .  Reid may not publicly embrace the momentum factor this week , but his players are sold on the program Reid and general manager John Dorsey have established , one that convinced them to not give up on a season spiraling away and maintain intensity in the final week even after clinching a playoff berth the previous week .  "" When you clinch the playoffs the game before the last one , it ' s easy to just kind of look ahead , "" defensive end Mike DeVito said . "" That ' s not what this team does . It speaks to the maturity of the guys . These guys just work and keep grinding .  The same lesson applied when the Chiefs ' season looked its bleakest , after a loss at Minnesota that dropped them to 1 5 .  "" I ' ve been on teams that would never have gotten this far after 1 5 , "" DeVito said . "" Guys would have been thinking about going home . Not here . ""  Now , it ' s about winning in the playoffs , which hasn ' t happened since after the 1993 season : Jan . 9 , 1994 , in Houston , against the Oilers .  "" Everything we ' ve done , "" defensive tackle Dontari Poe said , "" leads us to where we want to go . ""  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
17287,17288,"Maruti Suzuki Baleno gets over 4 , 600 bookings within 2 Days  Volkswagen may offer  owners in Germany discounts on new cars if they turn in certain old models affected by the emissions scandal that has rocked Europe s biggest carmaker , German news agency  reported on Sunday .  Volkswagen is battling the biggest business crisis in its 78 year history after admitting last month it installed software in diesel vehicles to deceive  regulators about the true level of their toxic emissions .  The group now expects the costs of the scandal , which include a recall of 8 . 5 million vehicles in Europe , to exceed 30 billion euros ( 33 bln ) , German monthly Manager Magazin reported on Saturday .  It is seeking ways to cut costs and stabilise sales to cope with the fallout of the scandal . Incentives for  owners to buy new vehicles could help buoy sales figures and take pressure off  dealerships to implement fixes quickly .  The special offers may focus on the owners of vehicles with 1 . 6 litre diesel engines , which require costly hardware upgrades rather than just software fixes , sources at Volkswagen and  dealerships said , according to  .  The offer would be available only in Germany , where around 2 . 4 million cars with the cheating software were sold .  Volkswagen said in response that it was common for Volkswagen and its dealers to consider special offers for existing customers , declining to comment further .  The emissions scandal has wiped more than a quarter off  s stock market value , forced out its long time chief executive and sparked investigations and lawsuits across the world .  Volkswagen has said it will cut investment plans at its  division ? the largest by revenue ? and speed up cost cutting to cope with the cost of cleaning up the emissions scandal .  Manager Magazin said  wanted to freeze managerial promotions next year at its  division and planned to re use as many parts as possible in the next generation of its popular Golf model to save hundreds of millions of euros .  The group has also suspended more than 10 senior managers , including several top engineers , as part of an internal investigation .  Two people close to the matter told Reuters that Volkswagen has now also suspended Hanno Jelden , the head of powertrain electronics , a 22 year  veteran with expertise in engine and transmission electronics as well as hard and software control systems .  First Published on October 26 , 2015 11 : 58 am  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
17304,17305,"sport , 2018 world cup ,  Daily ""I must say that Zabivaka the wolf has been my mascot at university and at work for the last 15 years. I'm happy that now he will help Russian sport!"" Photo: The official mascot of the  World Cup 2018 Wolf Zabivaka. Source:   Russians have voted for the mascot for the 2018  World Cup, with the winner being declared  a wolf called Zabivaka, who wears the national tricolor and goggles and swings his paw at the ball. He will soon appear on all soccer and soccer-related paraphernalia and merchandise for the upcoming tournament.  The other finalists were a tiger and a cat, but popular opinion was not in their favor and the wolf ran off with 53 percent of the votes (the tiger cosmonaut received 27 percent and the cat 20 percent).  A total of 50,000 participants and their mascots – from an Amur Tiger to an alien – battled for victory. However, in the end Russians decided that an animal that howls at the moon suits them best. For some the wolf is associated with speed and assertiveness, for others the chimerical chances of the national team winning the cup.  However, the new mascot has opened something of a Pandora's box. Following the popular vote, the Russian internet has been inundated with quibbles and for several days Zabivaka was beset with unflattering comparisons from social network users who mocked the mascot's physical appearance and name. Goalscorer, hooligan or loafer?  ""Yesterday they decided to play a joke: They proposed to call the mascot Zabivaka. And the people? The people accepted it,"" joked a tweet on the official Kontinental Hockey League Twitter account .  Many internet users noticed the ambiguity of the name – the verb zabivat in Russian can mean either to score (a goal) or to strike. This was ironic since former Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said that the name was just supposed to translate well and be original (for patenting purposes). Bear necessity: Designing a mascot for the 1980 Moscow Olympics  ""Something tells me that Zabivaka, written with Latin letters, does not make its etymology and meaning any easier for our English-language friends,"" wrote Twitter user @Bobchensk.  However, social network users remembered that football inspires some to strike not only the ball: The photographs of aggressive football fans in Marseilles, France during the 2016 European Championship, when the Russian national team was almost expelled from the tournament, appeared all over the internet once again, while others showed Zabivaka among thugs attacking their victims.  Another unfortunate association with the infinitive zabivat is the related construction zabit na , which means to be indifferent, or not to care. Social network users took advantage of this opportunity to make fun of the woeful results of the Russian national team in recent years. Here the poor wolf really took a beating. ""Football and the Russian lifestyle,"" wrote @ntnet, while @SashaBo4alova noted that the best Zabivaka in Russian football is not a wolf but “a loafer.”  ""I must say that Zabivaka the wolf has been my mascot at university and at work for the last 15 years. I'm happy that now he will help Russian sport!"" wrote Facebook user Sergei Fokin on his page. A cheap wolf  The wolf's appearance also raised some issues. The main problem was addressed by @Maxi_Sar: ""Why the hell does the wolf need damned winter goggles if it’s a football world cup?!""   posed this question to the creator of the new World Cup mascot Yekaterina Bocharova, a 21-year-old graphic design student at Tomsk State University.  ""These are not winter goggles but just sports goggles, like the ones you use for cycling. It's just that Zabivaka is so fast on the field that he needs eye protection,"" she replied, adding that the goggles were also high-tech, for precise passes and strikes. Cheburashka: Fun facts about Russia's iconic furry character  Bocharova said that she was always fascinated by Disney cartoons, that she dreams of working for this company and loves the animated film Ratatouille . Incredibly,  paid her just $500 for the rights to the drawing.  Journalists remarked (in Russian) that this was a tiny amount, noting that previous mascots cost much more. For example, the symbol of the Brazilian World Cup was Fuleko the armadillo and  paid $100 million for his rights. The 1998 World Cup mascot Footix the rooster cost  $30 million.   then earns revenues from using the mascots on souvenir products. Footix brought the organization $27 million, while Zakumi the leopard, the mascot for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, earned  $71 million.  But Bocharova has no issues with her compensation. She says that  gave her ""a lot more,"" and it has nothing to do with money.  ""All these positive feelings and meetings with amazing people. I think money can't buy all that,"" she said, implying her meetings with the Tomsk governor and the popular  host Ivan Urgant, who invited Bocharova onto his talk show in Moscow. ""I would have not achieved all this without them. I am very happy and grateful for all this,"" she said. Subscribe to get the hand picked best stories every week Subscribe to our mailing list Facebook ",true,news,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,present
17318,17319,"will suspend "" all practical civilian and military cooperation "" with Russia because of its annexation of Crimea , saying it has seen no sign that Moscow was withdrawing troops from the Ukrainian border .  Foreign ministers from the 28 members of the Western military alliance met in Brussels on Tuesday for the first time since Russia grabbed the Black Sea peninsula from Ukraine last month , triggering the worst East West crisis since the Cold War .  They were discussing ways to boost  ' s military presence in formerly communist central and Eastern Europe to reassure allies worried by Russia ' s moves .  After the session , U . S . Secretary of State John Kerry said Russia has challenged truths that only a few weeks ago seemed self evident : that European borders in the 21st century would not be redrawn by force .  "" It is important for everybody in the world to understand that the  alliance takes seriously this attempt to change borders by use of force , "" he said . "" So that is the wake up call . ""  Russia ' s aggression "" is the gravest threat to European security in a generation and it challenges our vision of a Europe whole , free and at peace , ""  Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen told reporters .  In a joint statement announcing the suspension of cooperation , the ministers said political dialogue in the  Russia Council could continue , "" as necessary , at the ambassadorial level and above , to allow us to exchange views , first and foremost on this crisis . ""  They said they would review  ' s relations with Russia at their next meeting in June .  and Russia have cooperated on an anti narcotics operation in Afghanistan , counterpiracy and various counterterrorism measures . Rasmussen said cooperation on the anti narcotics operations would continue .  These would include possible deployments and reinforcements of alliance military assets in Eastern European member states , a possible review of training and exercise plans in the near term , a possible increase of the readiness level of the  Response Force , and a possible review and update of  defense and military plans , the official said .  Russian troops on border  Earlier , Rasmussen said he saw no sign that Russia is pulling its forces back from the border with Ukraine .  "" Unfortunately , I cannot confirm that Russia is withdrawing its troops , "" Rasmussen said at the opening of the two day meeting . "" This is not what we ' re seeing . And this massive military buildup can in no way contribute to a de escalation of the situation . ""  Concerns are high that Russia , which U . S . officials last week said had about 40 , 000 troops near the frontier , might seek to enter eastern Ukraine , after it annexed Ukraine ' s Crimea region last month .  Russian President Vladimir Putin told German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday that he ' d ordered a withdrawal of some Russian troops from his country ' s border area with Ukraine , Merkel ' s office said . The news prompted U . S . State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki to say Monday that if the reports were accurate , "" it would be a welcome preliminary step . ""  On Tuesday , Merkel told reporters : "" I can only take what the Russian President has told me . I will , of course , try to find out whether this is perceptible or not perceptible . ""  According to Russian state media Monday , one Russian infantry battalion was being moved from the border area to its base deeper in Russia . A battalion would typically number several hundred troops .  But Rasmussen appeared to quash hopes that the situation might be easing with his remarks Tuesday . His assessment was echoed in Brussels by  Foreign Secretary William Hague , who said : "" We have had some statements or rumors from Russia about pulling back forces from the eastern border of Ukraine .  "" But we haven ' t seen the evidence of that yet . Of course , we continue to call for that and continue to use every possible diplomatic lead to seek a de escalation of this crisis . ""  Kerry , among those in Brussels for the  meeting , also called for a Russian withdrawal in lengthy weekend talks in Paris with his Russian counterpart , Sergey Lavrov .  What do we know about Russia ' s troop buildup on Ukraine ' s border ?  Also Tuesday , the U . S . House gave final congressional approval to legislation that would impose sanctions on Russia for its takeover of Crimea and provide 1 billion in loan guarantees to Ukraine . The bill now goes to President Barack Obama for his signature .  In a statement , the White House said the President welcomed the move .  "" This legislation will allow us to provide crucial support to Ukraine through loan guarantees that will facilitate access to needed financing to Ukraine as it takes essential steps to restore economic stability and return to growth and prosperity , "" it read .   and Ukraine cooperation  The foreign ministers also met with Ukrainian acting Foreign Minister Andriy Deshchytsia in the latest demonstration of Western support . Moscow does not recognize Ukraine ' s new government , saying President Viktor Yanukovych was removed in an unconstitutional coup .  In a joint statement , they called on Moscow "" to reverse the illegal and illegitimate ' annexation ' of Crimea to refrain from any further interference and aggressive actions in Ukraine . . . and to abide by international law . ""  At the same time ,  and Ukraine announced they would intensify cooperation and promote defense reforms in Ukraine through training and other programs .  Rasmussen told reporters the ministers agreed to help Ukraine make its military "" more professional and more effective "" and provide advice on how it can defend its infrastructure . "" A possibility is also deployment of mobile training teams as and when appropriate , "" he said .  Pressed on how  was prepared to help Ukraine improve its military , Rasmussen cited enhanced military exercises as an example .  As the talks got under way , Russia ' s Foreign Ministry had warned Ukraine against seeking integration into the defense alliance .  Discussion of the issue while Yanukovych was in power "" led to freezing of Russian Ukrainian political communications , to headaches in the relationship between  and Russia and , what is the most dangerous , to the deepening of the split of Ukrainian society , the majority of which doesn ' t support the idea of Ukraine entering  , "" a Foreign Ministry statement said .  It added that Kiev must understand that the prospects for future cooperation between Ukraine and Russia , including on economic matters , "" will largely depend on the actions Ukraine takes in its foreign policy . ""  Russia annexed Ukraine ' s Crimean Peninsula last month amid the political upheaval that followed the ouster of the pro Moscow Yanukovych .  Ukraine ' s parliament on Tuesday granted permission for foreign military units , including some from  countries , to conduct military exercises in Ukraine in 2014 .  Such military exercises by foreign troops , including naval drills in the Black Sea , are an annual event but take on additional significance this year in light of Russia ' s military takeover of Crimea .  Gazprom hikes natural gas price  In a move that will heighten pressure on the interim government in Kiev , Russian energy giant Gazprom announced a sharp increase in the price it charges Ukraine for natural gas .  Starting Tuesday , Ukraine will be charged 385 . 50 per 1 , 000 cubic meters of gas , up from the previous rate of 268 . 50 , Russian state news agency  Novosti quoted Gazprom Chief Executive Alexei Miller as saying .  The move ends a discount that was agreed to before Yanukovych was ousted in February after months of street protests .  The gas price hike will only increase the pressure on Ukraine ' s interim government as it seeks to stave off economic collapse .  Ukraine , which is heavily reliant on Russia for energy , is also 1 . 7 billion in arrears in its payments for gas already supplied , Miller said , according to  Novosti .  The International Monetary Fund last week agreed to lend Ukraine up to 18 billion over the next two years in return for a package of reforms , including to its energy market .  Kiev has been running dangerously low on cash to pay for imports and service its debts since the ouster of Yanukovych , which killed off a 15 billion financial lifeline from Russia .  Is Crimea gone ? Annexation no longer the focus of Ukraine crisis  Opinion : Russia ' s euphoria over Crimea won ' t last  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
17327,17328,"Athens , Greece Greece ' s Parliament has approved a key law needed to implement a five year austerity package that was approved by lawmakers a day earlier .  Lawmakers voted 155 136 in favor of the measure , with five voting "" present "" in the 300 seat house .  The package had been demanded by international lenders and its passage should clear the way for an emergency loan to Athens .  But Greece has seen weeks of sometimes violent public protests against the austerity plan , which follows a series of cuts agreed to last year .  European Commission head Jose Barroso and European Union President Herman van Rompuy said they strongly welcomed Thursday ' s vote .  "" This was the second , decisive step Greece needed to take in order to return to a sustainable path , "" they said in a joint statement from Brussels . "" In very difficult circumstances , it was another act of national responsibility . ""  They said the conditions "" are now in place "" for a decision on the release of a fifth round of emergency funds to Greece , part of a multi billion euro deal agreed last year , and for "" rapid progress "" on a second proposed bailout .  Following the vote , the Greek civil servants ' union  called another rally outside Parliament for Thursday evening .  Before Wednesday ' s vote , small numbers of demonstrators hurled stones at police , chanted , waved Greek flags and set small fires to protest the austerity measures , which include new taxes and job cuts .  At least 19 police officers were injured Wednesday , police said .  European and international lenders agreed last year to give Greece a 156 billion bailout package as its deficit soared , but were threatening to hold up an installment of 17 billion due soon .  Greece has debt payments coming due in mid July and needs the 17 billion in emergency funds to be able to pay them but lenders , including the International Monetary Fund and the  , had demanded that it approve the austerity measures in order to get the loan .  A default by Greece would send shock waves through the European banking sector and potentially dent global economic confidence .  German Chancellor Angela Merkel called Wednesday ' s passage of the austerity measures "" really good news , "" German government spokesman Steffen Seibert said on Twitter .  Eurogroup chairman Jean Claude Juncker also welcomed the news , saying : "" I ' m very happy and relieved that the Greek Parliament followed the government and voted in favour of a new program of structural reforms and budgetary adjustment . ""  Unions oppose the austerity package , but its backers say it is essential to the stability of the Greek economy , the euro , and the global financial system .  Protesters lament that the cuts are being carried out on the backs of those who can afford it least .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
17333,17334,"It is one of the great mysteries of astronomy a giant body , believed to lie somewhere beyond the orbit of Pluto ,  Dubbed ' Planet X ' , Nemesis or Tyche , it was believed that this mysterious large planet or small star might periodically pass through outer comets , sending them flying towards Earth and causing mass extinction .  However , researchers today admitted it may not exist after an exhaustive search of hundreds of millions of objects .  An artist ' s impression of Pluto : Researchers had theorized about the existence of a large , but unseen celestial body called Planet X and suspected to lie somewhere beyond the orbit of Pluto .  Researchers previously had theorized about the existence of this large , but unseen celestial body , suspected to lie somewhere beyond the orbit of Pluto .  In addition to ' Planet X , ' the body had garnered other nicknames , including ' Nemesis ' and ' Tyche . '  Previous speculations about this hypothesized body stemmed in part from geological studies that suggested a regular timing associated with mass extinctions on Earth .  The idea was that a large planet or small star hidden in the farthest reaches of our solar system might periodically sweep through bands of outer comets , sending them flying toward our planet .  The Planet X based mass extinction theories were largely ruled out even prior to the new  study .  ' The outer solar system probably does not contain a large gas giant planet , or a small , companion star , ' said Kevin Luhman of the Center for Exoplanets and Habitable Worlds at Penn State University , University Park , Pa . , author of a paper in the Astrophysical Journal describing the results .  However , the team admit their research was not wasted and say they found several thousand new residents in our sun ' s ' backyard , ' consisting of stars and cool bodies called brown dwarfs .  ' Neighboring star systems that have been hiding in plain sight just jump out in the  data , ' said Ned Wright of the University of California , Los Angeles , the principal investigator of the mission .  The second  study , which concentrated on objects beyond our solar system , found 3 , 525 stars and brown dwarfs within 500 light years of our sun .  ' We ' re finding objects that were totally overlooked before , ' said Davy Kirkpatrick of  ' s Infrared and Processing Analysis Center at the California Institute of Technology , Pasadena , Calif . Kirkpatrick is lead author of the second paper , also in the Astrophysical Journal .  Some of these 3 , 525 objects also were found in the Luhman study , which catalogued 762 objects .  This infrared  image shows a star forming cloud 20 , 000 light years away that is teeming with gas , dust and massive newborn stars . The inset reveals the centre of the cloud , a cluster of stars called  3603  Despite the large number of new solar neighbors found by  , "" Planet X "" did not show up .  Previous speculations about this hypothesized body stemmed in part from geological studies that suggested a regular timing associated with mass extinctions on Earth .  The idea was that a large planet or small star hidden in the farthest reaches of our solar system might periodically sweep through bands of outer comets , sending them flying toward our planet .  The Planet X based mass extinction theories were largely ruled out even prior to the new  study .  Other theories based on irregular comet orbits had also postulated a Planet X type body . The new  study now argues against these theories as well .  Both of the  searches were able to find objects the other missed , suggesting many other celestial bodies likely await discovery in the  data .  ' We think there are even more stars out there left to find with  .  ' We don ' t know our own sun ' s backyard as well as you might think , ' said Wright .   was put into hibernation upon completing its primary mission in 2011 .  In September 2013 , it was reactivated , renamed  and assigned a new mission to assist  ' s efforts to identify the population of potentially hazardous near Earth objects .   will also characterize previously known asteroids and comets to better understand their sizes and compositions .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
17358,17359,"Aaron Tveit and Juliane Hough on the set of "" Grease : Live . ""  Fox s Grease : Live , the three hour special starring Aaron Tveit as Danny Zuko and Julianne Hough as Sandy Young , was an overwhelming success from the costumes to the choreography .  We should all be so lucky to have as much fun doing anything as Kether Donohue ( Jan ) had during Grease : Live .  Here s a look at the best performances of the night :  Vanessa Hudgens nailed Rizzo s character , never moreso than in her ballad .  She has the attitude , the movements and the vocal range that make the Pink Lady the queen of Rydell .  Hudgens performance is even more spectacular considering what she was going through ? her father died from cancer just a day before the show .  Jordan Fisher was the breakout male star of Grease : Live as Doody .  The Disney Channel star took on the song performed by Sha Na Na in the movie version and made it his own , wooing girls left and right at the diner with his new guitar skills and his romantic lyrics .  When you have a star with Hough s dancing talent , you take advantage of it , and Fox did just that with a dance break outside of Rydell High .  The only problem : what high school has such good attendance at cheerleading tryouts ?  Fox took some risks and both opened and closed the show by breaking the fourth wall . In We Go Together , the cast hops into golf carts and drives across the stage to the carnival set .  There s nothing like putting the lives of the entire cast into Tveit s driving hand on live  .  The entire performance is an absolute blast , crowded , fun and energetic , exactly how it should have been .  In her blond wig ? because who doesn t have that lying around ? ? and PJs , Rizzo thrusts her way around her bedroom with her entourage , making fun of just plain Sandra Dee .  Tveit ? the blond haired boy you bring home to your parents ? had a hard job selling himself as Greaser Danny , and that never came across as well as it did for John Travolta .  But seeing him thrust and roll his way around the garage made it all worth it .  The costume changes and set design are the easy aspects to applaud in Marty s performance of Freddy My Love , but Keke Palmer deserves the praise .  Relegated to backup for the majority of the show , Palmer took her solo and ran with it , showing off her underrated pipes .  But yes , the  show was also brilliant staging .  Vanessa Hudgens and Sam Clark during "" Hand Jive "" in "" Grease : Live . ""  ",true,text,test,American football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
17369,17370,"in: Natural Medicine We all know that it’s important to eat our vegetables. At least, that’s what most of us have heard since we were kids. What our mother’s told us as when we were young, our doctors tell us as we get older. Sometimes though, it helps to have a more specific reason than high cholesterol, or even a motherly “because I said so.” Especially for people who aren’t big fans of eating organic greens. According to a study conducted at Oregon State University’s Linus Pauling Micronutrient Research Institute confirms that sulforaphane, a phytochemical found in broccoli and related cruciferous vegetables, such as cauliflower and cabbage , have a natural ability to target and attack prostate cancer cells without harming neighboring cells [ 1 ] . Unconnected studies suggest it may have similar promise for breast cancer. The active chemicals found in everyday foods – such as broccoli – are often much more potent than people would imagine. If fact, determining how to safely adapt these chemical ingredients for medical use is one of the biggest hurdles researchers face. Even edible plants that are considered “rich” in a given nutritional substance, contain relatively low amounts of it by volume. The vast majority of these compounds may also become toxic to humans if taken in large enough concentrations. While a number of previous investigations have proven that sulforaphane is able to attack both benign and malignant cancer cells, the Oregon State study is one of the first to prove that it is effective without disrupting otherwise healthy tissue. This gives researchers a tremendous tool for developing new, low-risk treatment options, and is likely to encourage additional research into the healing potential of other seemingly mundane edible plants. Realistically, it could be some time before these findings are applied to any sort of drug development or cancer treatment in a traditional hospital setting. Meanwhile though, the researchers behind the study recommend that we all eat more organic cruciferous vegetables. Besides broccoli, a number of readily available cruciferous vegetables contain naturally large amounts of sulforaphane. Some good examples of foods high in this important phytochemical include mild and spicy radishes, turnips, watercress, cabbage, arugula, kale, chard, and most other leafy greens. Unrelated studies also suggest a variety of other cancer-fighting compounds may be present in other herbs and garden vegetables. Celery and parsley , for instance, are especially rich in apigenin – a substance that has shown remarkable promise for fighting breast cancer. Trace amounts of apigenin are also found in oranges, apples, and some tree nuts. The problem is, it’s very difficult for the body to effectively extract it from any of these foods on its own. References: Oregon State University. Study confirms safety, cancer-targeting ability of nutrient in broccoli . News & Research Communications. 2011 June 9. Submit your review",fake,news,test,Other news2,Conflict,fake,fake,True,no,no,positive,past
17378,17379,"A woman blamed for a security scare aboard a U . S . bound jetliner will be sent back to France and won ' t face criminal charges , federal prosecutors in Maine said Wednesday .  Lucie Zeeko Merigot is being turned over to the U . S . Customs and Border Protection agency after a court appearance Wednesday in Bangor , U . S . Attorney Thomas Delahanty announced .  The 41 year old Frenchwoman had been booked into the Penobscot County jail for interfering with a flight crew late Tuesday , about 12 hours after  Airways Flight 787 was diverted to Bangor , but Delahanty said prosecutors decided against charges after the  questioned crew members and flight attendants into Wednesday morning .  Federal officials said the flight from Paris to Charlotte , North Carolina , was diverted as a precaution after Merigot claimed to have a surgically implanted device inside her . In a written statement , Delahanty said Merigot ' s note , in French , said she was "" simply a victim of a group of doctors "" and that she had "" an object in her body that is out of my control . ""  She told a flight attendant that she did not know whether the object could hurt her or others , but doctors who examined her found no sign of recent surgical scars .  Mystery object in the air investigated after pilot report  "" The continuing investigation revealed that the plane and its crew and passengers were never actually in danger at any time , "" the statement said . Marigot , a Cameroon born French citizen , also gave the crew "" a book authored by her that details her personal story . ""   : Suspect led away after plane incident  Andrew Kobayashi , a passenger on the Boeing 767 , said the woman was sweaty and "" being a weirdo "" during the flight . The crew told passengers the flight was landing in Bangor because of uncharacteristically strong headwinds that required the plane to take on more fuel , Kobayashi and other passengers said . But after the jet landed , they said , one of the pilots apologized to passengers for the deception .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
17382,17383,"Reuters) - The Environmental Protection Agency confirmed on Wednesday it would reopen a review of whether the Obama administration’s 2022-2025 vehicle emission rules are feasible, a win for automakers which have urged the Trump administration to reverse a January decision to uphold the standards. The  said it would make a determination by April 2018 after the Obama administration sought in January to lock in the rules. Environmentalists say the rules save fuel and reduce greenhouse gases. “These standards are costly for automakers and the American people,” said  Administrator Scott Pruitt in a statement. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,present
17386,17387,"China Bamboo , woven into the shape of human stomachs . Red , sky blue and orange pencil shavings glued onto a large canvas form a woman ' s traditional hair clip . A collage of magazine clippings , drawings and found materials depict Cambodia ' s tumultuous modern history .  Leang Seckon ' s "" Prison Guard "" depicts Duch , who is facing a genocide tribunal starting Tuesday .  These are a few of the offerings on hand in Hong Kong at one of the first large international exhibitions of artists from Cambodia . The work by 14 artists varies in practice video , photography , collage , wood shavings , paper , bamboo and painting as well as in themes , from reflecting on the Southeast Asian nation ' s genocidal Khmer Rouge regime to the emerging modern Cambodia , with traffic lights and all .  "" Every artist in this show is referencing ancient tradition and recent history , "" said Phnom Penh based curator Erin Gleeson , noting the wall size depiction in folded paper of the serpent Naga ( which in Cambodian culture represents the people ' s mythical birth ) to a collage of 20th century Cambodia and its six different regime changes .  "" The show is looking at the present ' Forever Until Now ' is the title and it is this lineage of the past , you see that in the show , and then you see artists that arrive at the present , "" she added .  The show opens Friday and runs through March 22 at 10 Chancery Lane Gallery . Gallery owner and director Katie de Tilly said she believed it was important the artists get international exposure .  "" . . . it ' s really at the beginning of their art emergence . Obviously , they ' ve had a very hard history , "" she said . "" This is really the beginning of contemporary Cambodians who are expressing very original ideas in their artworks and I think that that ' s what makes it very unique and to show to the rest of the world . ""  Cambodia , which lost an estimated one quarter of its population or at least 1 . 7 million people including an estimated 90 percent of its artists under the 1970s Khmer Rouge regime , has a small but growing artistic community : there are some 50 practicing artists out of its 14 million people , Gleeson said .  The genocide and ensuing war , which only ended in the last decade or so , stifled the development of the arts in one of the world ' s poorest countries .  "" The legacy of that is now in every facet of a developing society , "" said Gleeson , who noted the country had no art books when she arrived in 2002 on a fellowship to teach art history . "" There ' s an absence of infrastructure for them , there ' s an absence of materials , there is no art store . . . . they are quite inventive about mixing materials to make them of a higher quality or last longer , but in many cases they don ' t know archival techniques . ""  The harsh weather conditions a dusty , hot season and a rainy monsoon add to the trying work conditions .  "" Everything ' s against them , "" she added . "" Their parents in many cases are coming from a really disadvantaged background , as the majority of the country is economically . ""  Some of the art included in the show looks at the Cambodia of today , such as Leang Seckon ' s "" Three Greens "" an acrylic painting showing children in school uniform crossing a road with a yellow light , red light and three green lights , along with cows and roosters . The piece shows the changes in a country that recently got stop lights , with animals , people and traffic mingling on the main roads of the capital .  Sopheap Pich , a Cambodian American whose family migrated to the U . S . in 1984 , works with bamboo and rattan materials often used in Cambodian traditional farming and crafts to make sculptures .  His work , "" Cycle 2 , "" is the joining of the stomachs of an infant and an elderly person that for him brought up ideas of Cambodian traditional village life .  "" You belong to each other , you help each other out , "" he said . "" But also , if you look at the lines and you see how it ' s shaped by hand , it ' s not very perfect , so it ' s also about struggle . . .  "" You could say it ' s a cycle of trying to hold onto each other , now we are living everywhere in the world , Cambodians are all over the planet , "" he added . "" All this technique and pattern that I am quite obsessed with . . . it ' s about this idea of trying to hold on with very simple means . ""  Chan Dany , a 25 year old artist who graduated from one of the country ' s three art schools , creates textured patterns that appear almost like tapestry using pencil shavings in various colors . The works on display in the show are from a series based on Cambodian architectural decor , such as door and window shutter carvings , and include ancient Khmer forms whose shapes are derived from nature .  "" When I started learning art , the teacher introduced a lot of new ways of making art , new ideas that were very difficult for me , so I had to think a lot , "" he said through a translator . "" So then I looked around at what my classmates were doing and I started to think about what they weren ' t using for their work , so I started to collect the things that they didn ' t use when they were making art and started to think about my way of making art using those materials . ""  "" I like the first piece I did ( using the pencil shaving technique ) because I had never done it this way before and since then I kept on making it , "" he said .  The younger artists "" seem to be expressing something more fresh , "" while the work by artists from the older generation is "" much more heavy , "" de Tilly said .  Some of the works of the Khmer Rouge period include a painting by Vann Nath , one of seven people to survive the regime ' s infamous S 21 torture prison . His painting , "" Pray for Peace , "" depicts women wearing traditional Cambodian funeral scarves praying en masse under troubled skies by stormy seas .  Another work , Leang ' s "" Prison Guard , "" tells the life of Duch , a former teacher who ran S 21 and goes on trial Tuesday before a U . N . backed tribunal on charges that include crimes against humanity .  The art scene has been growing slowly in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh over the last few years : Sopheap started a group to promote contemporary Cambodian art practices and two art institutes offer programs apart from the Royal University of Fine Arts .  One factor that has also made Cambodian contemporary artists different from their counterparts , for example in neighboring Vietnam , has been the lack of outside influence , such as was the case with Chinese contemporary art 30 years ago , de Tilly said .  "" Cambodia still is very much influenced by itself and so the development is happening on a slower pace but as well very interesting , "" she said . "" They seem to not have as much international exposure to materials , magazines , publications , so you really do feel it was the same just after the Cultural Revolution in China that they didn ' t have exposure to many publications and things , and so their art was developing at that moment in time . ""  "" . . . it ' s very interesting to document it and see what ' s going to happen in the future , "" she said .  Part of the exhibit will be shown at another of the gallery ' s venues in Hong Kong and will run through April 25 .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,past
17396,17397,"the cable  news  station who hired tax cheat,  snitch and paid race baiter, Al Sharpton as a mouthpiece to spew hate for the sniveling leftists who run the pathetic low ratings network After being called out by The Gateway Pundit,  took down a video mocking a police officer being dragged from a car by a suspect fleeing the officer. deleted their report but not before The Gateway Pundit saved a screengrab of it The video, which was posted Friday night, was removed Saturday afternoon from  s Facebook and Twitter accounts within an hour of publication of The Gateway Pundit report.The video was titled,  Does it count as a police chase if you take the cop along for the ride?  subsequently posted an apology to Twitter, but the statement did not state what precisely was being apologized for, nor was there an apology to the law enforcement community.A video tweeted from @msnbc Friday evening has been removed. The material was inappropriate. It should not have been posted and we're sorry.   (@MSNBC) May 16, 2015 A video tweeted from @msnbc Friday evening has been removed. The material was inappropriate. It should not have been posted and we re sorry. The takedown of the videos and apology by  came within one hour and twenty minutes of the 2:57 p.m.  posting of the article at TGP.The  video was posted in conjunction with NowThisNews and was also deleted from the Twitter account of NowThisNews Saturday after The Gateway Pundit report.Commenters at the Facebook page slammed MSNBC:Erick Delumeau:   you have shown your true colors again. Irresponsible reporting. A family member just had this happen to his partner and his partner suffered a head injury. So everyone who allowed this to air with circus music, deserves to be fired. Walter Daniel Bosak:  You re network is disgusting. This officer could have been killed all because this individual thinks it s ok to resist a lawful investigation partly because networks like yours have advocated violence against police. Tiffany Eve:  You should be ashamed of yourselves MSNBC!!! These men and women in uniform serve and protect us all, and this is how you treat them? An apology to all law enforcement officers and their families should be in order. Kyle Bodenhorn:  Way to go MSNBC. You once again proved why cops around the world have a great disdain for media. This officer is lucky to be alive and you made jokes about his being dragged. Surely you feel that adding fuel to the fire of the hatred for police is a better news story than the thousands of police who have spent the week in D.C. honoring slain police as it is Police memorial week. Estela Ramirez:  Msnbc how is this comical with this head line and music like this is a joke. The cop could have or was probably injured because of this. If it was a black man being dragged by a cop this head line would be different. This is tasteless and just shows how the media works to its own benefits. Via: Gateway PUndit",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
17398,17399,"England A British led military operation meant to clear the Taliban from parts of Afghanistan has succeeded ,  officials said Monday .  A file image shows a British Royal Marine sniper team on an operation in Afghanistan .   and its Afghan allies launched Operation Panther ' s Claw to flush the Taliban from parts of southern Helmand Province before Afghan presidential elections next month .  Major fighting is mostly over , and the military will now focus on "" holding "" the areas that have been cleared of Taliban so they do not return , Lt . Gen . Simon Mayall said in a briefing . The operation ' s success will enable up to 80 , 000 people in Helmand to vote .  "" Panther ' s Claw has been extremely successful , "" said Brigadier Tim Radford , the top British military commander for the operation . "" There will be many Taliban who will not be fighting any more . ""  He said the Taliban suffered "" significant casualties , "" but refused to say how many . Nine British troops were killed in action in the operation , he said , and there were three Afghan civilian casualties .  Radford estimated that there were 450 to 500 Taliban fighters in the area at the time of the operation , which he called "" one of the biggest that has taken place . ""  The British gave several weeks ' warning that they were planning to attack , he said , both to exert psychological pressure on the Taliban and to give civilians a chance to flee .  As a result , "" quite a few Taliban managed to get away , "" Radford said . "" They will always get away and they will always come back in . ""  Mayall , the deputy chief of the British Defence Staff for Operations , said the challenge now was to convince local people that the Afghan government and its allies could protect them from the Taliban .  The Taliban "" are going to assume that we are going to lose interest and move on , "" he said .  But they are wrong , he said .   forces were going to "" stay in Afghanistan for a very long time , "" he said , adding that active  led fighting should "" tail off "" as Afghan security forces develop the ability to fight the Taliban themselves .  The counter insurgency strategy of clearing and holding an area to allow for development of infrastructure and the rule of law echoes the coalition forces ' plan in Iraq .  Panther ' s Claw focused on the area around the town of Babaji in Helmand Province .  The operation mirrored a similar operation by U . S . Marines in the area .  At least 20 British troops have been killed in Afghanistan this month , sparking intense debate in Britain about the country ' s military role there .  The British led operation involved about 3 , 000 troops mostly from the British military but also with Afghan , Danish and Estonian forces , the British Ministry of Defence said in a written statement . The operation started in mid June with an air assault along a canal about 16 kilometers ( 10 miles ) north of the city of Lashkar Gah , the ministry said .  British led forces attacked from three different directions over the next three weeks , essentially creating a "" gated community "" where Taliban insurgents could not get in or out , Radford said .  Major fighting ended July 20 , he said .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
17414,17415,"Customers who signed up for a pre Christmas cruise for Christians to Turkey , Greece and Israel are still waiting for a refund after the holiday was cancelled 10 days before departure .  New Malden based LivingSun Holidays sold a 10 day break leaving on October 13 but called it off less than a fortnight before setting off citing ' political instability ' in the region for leading to a drop in numbers .  Company director Bob Fleming said the tour to iconic religious destinations was booked through Thomson Cruises who had yet to refund money paid in advance , meaning LivingSun couldn ' t pass on the almost 2 , 500 paid by holidaymakers .  The LivingSun Holidays cruise was to take in iconic religious landmarks including Istanbul ' s Hagia Sophia  Mosaic of the Virgin Mary with baby Jesus , flanked by Emperors Justinian and Constantine , at Hagia Sophia  However , Thomson Cruises say they have had no such dealings with LivingSun .  Thomson Cruises said : ' Thomson Cruises is extremely concerned that LivingSun Holidays has been engaging in promotional activities using the Thomson Cruises trademark , as no permission has been granted for this use .  ' Thomson Cruises does not have , and has never had , any association with LivingSun Holidays and no booking for this cruise was passed to us by LivingSun Holidays . '  One customer , Gospatric Home , 81 , who planned to take the trip with his wife Diana , told the Surrey Comet that he was still waiting for a refund of 2 , 490 from LivingSun Holidays .  ' It is a crazy saga , ' he told the local paper . ' The money we all paid was not held in an escrow account . If it had been , then he could have repaid it all to everyone . '  Gospatric Home , 81 ( right ) had planned to take the Christian cruise with his wife Diana ( left )  The homepage of LivingSun Holidays website , which promises ' excellent Christian holidays '  Mr Fleming said in a letter to customers that while his company wants to refund customers it simply doesn ' t have the funds to do so .  The letter said : ' The cancellation of the cruise has left us in a difficult financial situation we have considerable costs which are irrecoverable for us and while we fully accept this is our problem to resolve , it means we simply do not have enough cash at the moment to start the refund process . '  He said the company aims to pay ' about 18 people a total of 20 , 000 ' by the end of the month .  In response to the statement from Thomson , he said : ' We did successfully take a group to Israel with Thomson in April so I should be sorry if they have forgotten about us so soon . '  LivingSun ' s website promises ' excellent Christian holidays for people to enjoy God ' s creation together ' and ' with no disruption from noisy non Christian neighbours ' .  Another location for the cancelled cruise was Olympia , home of the Ancient Olympic Games  ' Our aim is to give you a holiday where you can be fully refreshed , mentally , physically and spiritually and we believe it is the presence of God and His living Son at the centre of our holiday operation that makes the difference , ' says the website .  ' We know what a benefit it is to be surrounded by like minded people , in an environment which is safe for all . Safe for families , those travelling by themselves and anyone who is looking for a high quality and hassle free holiday . '  The company also offers ' special rates for Clergy and Church Workers ' .  A page entitled Tours lists no products , but states : ' Our tours are all filling up faster than we can list them ! '  Another tour organised by the company called The Lands of the Bible the ran from November 12 to 22 taking in Italy , Greece and Turkey , according the the website .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,satire,true,True,no,no,negative,past
17438,17439,"Former  Marine released from Iran lands in   Published : 16 : 49  , 21 January 2016 Updated : 16 : 49  , 21 January 2016   , Michigan (  ) ? A former U . S . Marine recently released from an Iranian prison in a prisoner swap deal landed in his home state of Michigan on Thursday .  The plane carrying Amir Hekmati arrived at Flint ' s Bishop International Airport . He emerged to waiting reporters and well wishers , including members of the American Legion .  The 32 year old Hekmati was at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany since his weekend release . He recounted Tuesday how disbelief turned to joy when he and three fellow Americans realized they were being freed .  In this image made from video , former U . S Marine Amir Hekmati , center , is flanked by Michigan congressman Dan Kildee , left , and Hekmati ' s brother in law Ramy Kurdi as he speaks to the media in Landstuhl , Germany , Tuesday , Jan . 19 , 2016 . Former U . S . Marine Amir Hekmati , who was one of four Americans released by Iran as part of a prisoner swap , is in good health and looking forward to getting home soon , a congressman said Tuesday . U . S . Rep . Dan Kildee , a Democrat from Hekmati ' s home state of Michigan , said he spent several hours with the 32 year old , who spent 4 ? years imprisoned in Iran before his release over the weekend . (  via  )  Asked about his 4 1 2 years in Iranian prison , Hekmati said "" it wasn ' t good , "" but that his Marine training helped sustain him .  Hekmati was detained in August 2011 on espionage charges . He says he went to Iran to visit family and spend time with his ailing grandmother . After his arrest , family members say they were told to keep the matter quiet .  Convicted by an Iranian court of spying and sentenced to death in 2012 , Hekmati was later retried and given a 10 year sentence on a lesser charge .  Hekmati was born in Arizona and raised in Michigan . His family is in the Flint area . He and his family deny any wrongdoing , and say his imprisonment included physical and mental torture and long periods of solitary confinement in a tiny cell .  In a Monday , Jan . 18 , 2016 photo provided by the Hekmati family , U . S . Rep . Dan Kildee , D Flint Township , Mich . , meets with former Iran prisoner Amir Hekmati at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl , Germany . Hekmati was detained in August 2011 on espionage charges . Kildee told reporters that he ' s been working to free Hekmati and couldn ' t wait to meet him in person . ( Courtesy of the Hekmati Family via  )  In a Monday , Jan . 18 , 2016 photo provided by the Hekmati family , the family and U . S . Rep . Dan Kildee , D Flint Township , Mich . , meet with former Iran prisoner Amir Hekmati , second from right , at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl , Germany . From the left : brother in law Dr Ramy Kurdi , sister Sarah Hekmati , Kildee , Amir Hekmati and sister Leila Hekmati . Amir Hekmati was detained in August 2011 on espionage charges . ( Courtesy of the Hekmati Family via  )  Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
17451,17452,"England Zinedine Zidane is sure of the quality most necessary to create a successful team : mutual respect .  Zidane : the ex footballer identifies mutual respect as the most important quality that players need to exhibit within a team .  It is a telling observation from a man whose incredible achievements on the football pitch were only slightly marred by explosions of rage that often seemed to be provoked by a perceived lack of respect from others .  The French maestro , who hung up his boots two years ago , certainly enjoyed the respect of his teammates .  Former coaches and fellow players speak in reverent tones about him .  In large part , this is due to his sublime talent few would argue with the summation that he was the most gifted footballer of his generation .  Yet this immense ability was accompanied by a shyness and humility notoriously absent among many of today ' s top sportsmen , and by an intense professionalism that bordered on obsession .  Aim Jacquet , the coach of the French national team that Zidane guided to victory in the 1998 thanks to two headed goals in the final against Brazil , says the player was gifted with "" an internal vision . ""  "" He can make the ball do whatever he wants . But it is his drive which takes him forward . He is 100 per cent football , "" he told the British newspaper The Guardian .  It was this dedication that allowed the French born son of Algerian immigrants to escape his tough upbringing in a deprived suburb of Marseilles and make it on the big stage .  Starting out as a 17 year old for French side Cannes , Zidane went on to play for Bordeaux , the Italian team Juventus and finished his career at a Real Madrid side packed with many of the world ' s top talent .  Under the tenure of President Florentino P rez the club made a host of big name transfers including Portuguese international Luis Figo , Brazil star Ronaldo , Zidane and David Beckham .  Zidane says great teams need clear and defined leaders that the players can rally behind . At Real he identifies former teammate and current club captain Ra l Gonz lez as such a player .  Nicknamed the Gal cticos , the Madrid team frequently underperformed , however , under the sagging weight of expectation and an excess of big egos .  Zidane didn ' t allow Real ' s inconsistencies to hold him back , however . By the end his career , he had won almost every major honor in the game including the World Cup and European Championships with France and the crown of  World Player of the Year a record three times .  In 2004 , Forbes magazine named him the 42nd highest paid athlete in the world , with earnings of 15 . 8 million a year .  "" People tell me today , ' yeah , it ' s easy for you ' and I say no , because when I started no one knew me . I had the skills of course but I made that path myself , and for everything you have to do that . ""  And it is this same mental toughness that has allowed him to shrug off the taunts of the racists and emerge a national hero in a country whose immigrant community has enjoyed an uneasy relationship with the state .  Zizou , as he is known affectionately in France , has tried to stay above the murky world of race politics , only once being drawn into defending his Algerian heritage after a small minded attack on his father ' s war record .  This came after the World Cup win over Brazil , when a member of the far right political party the Front National suggested Zidane ' s father was "" a harki "" an Arabic word for Algerians who fought alongside the French in Algeria ' s bloody independence struggle .  After a 2001 friendly match between France and Algeria had to be abandoned when angry young French Arabs invaded the pitch , Zidane was forced to break his silence , publically repudiating the libel .  Even so , his heritage is clearly something he remains deeply connected to . So that when he was famously sent off in the final of the 2006 World Cup after a headbutt on Italian defender Marco Materazzi in the last act of his career , it was an alleged slur against his family that provoked the attack .  The headbutt was shocking but not entirely unexpected . Throughout his career , Zidane was prone to flashes of temper on the pitch he was sent off 14 times in his years as a professional footballer .  Nevertheless , it was an ignoble end for such a prodigious talent . Zidane has refused to apologise to Materazzi because he says that would be like condoning the Italian ' s comments exactly what Materazzi said is still in dispute , and two years on , he remains philosophical and largely unrepentent about the incident .  "" When people say I shouldn ' t have finished the World Cup on that note , I don ' t look at it that way , "" he says . "" My career is much more than that moment . ""  ",true,text,test,Football,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
17502,17503,"New Delhi India ' s supreme court has temporarily barred the Italian ambassador from leaving the country as a diplomatic row over Rome ' s refusal to return two of its marines accused of killing two Indian fishermen intensified .  Last month , the court allowed the two Italian sailors Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone to participate in their country ' s elections after Ambassador Daniele Mancini ' s assurance about their return in four weeks .  Latorre and Girone are facing trial in India in connection with the 2012 killing of the fishermen off the country ' s coast . The defendants say they mistook the fishermen for pirates .  On Thursday , the top Indian court demanded an explanation from Mancini by March 18 over his country ' s decision not to send them back .  "" Till then ( March 18 ) , Mr Daniele Mancini shall not leave India without the permission of this court , "" the order said .  Italy insists the February 2012 shooting involving its marines happened in international waters and was therefore outside of Indian jurisdiction .  In a statement Monday , the Italian Foreign Ministry said the sailors would not go back to India .  "" Italy takes this opportunity to inform the Indian government that , given the formal acknowledgment of an international dispute between the two states , Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone will not be returning to India upon expiration of the leave granted ( to ) them , "" it said .  The Italian move has invited strong reaction in New Delhi , with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh warning Rome of consequences .  "" Our government has already made it clear that these actions of the government of Italy are not acceptable . They violate every rule of diplomatic discourse and call into question solemn commitments given by accredited representatives of a sovereign government to our supreme court , "" he said in parliament Wednesday .  "" Our government has therefore insisted that the Italian authorities respect the undertakings they have given to the honorable supreme court and return the two accused persons to stand trial in India . If they do not keep their word , there will be consequences for our relations with Italy , "" he added .  Indian external affairs spokesman Syed Akbaruddin said at a news briefing Thursday that the court action against the Italian ambassador did not violate the global Vienna convention on diplomatic relations . "" As of today , I have again said , we do not see any impact on the Vienna convention , "" he said .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
17508,17509,"Owners of nursing homes which offer ' shocking ' standards of care will be prosecuted , a Liberal Democrat health minister has pledged .  Norman Lamb said the Government is introducing ' fundamental standards ' in April next year to ensure there is ' no hiding place ' for care home which mentally and physically abuse residents .  He highlighted Merok Park home in Banstead , Surrey , which was closed earlier this month after inspectors found distressed residents ' crying out for help ' and branded the place ' dangerous ' .  In chaotic scenes , pensioners were carried out in the freezing night to waiting ambulances after they were deemed ' at significant risk of harm ' .  Health minister Norman Lamb said owners of nursing homes which offer ' shocking ' standards of care will be prosecuted and highlighted Merok Park home in Surrey ( pictured ) , which was closed this month  ' The conditions at Merok Park were really shocking , ' Mr Lamb told the Sunday Telegraph .  ' Those responsible for such shocking standards have no place in care . There must be no hiding place for poor care and we must ensure that people are held to account if that ever happens .  ' It ' s vital that people have confidence that the place where their loved one is being cared for is safe and provides compassionate , kind care . '  He said that when care home companies fall short of standards ' in a serious way ' which leads to suffering , the company and ' culpable directors ' can be prosecuted .  Gladys Wright ' s son captured her abuse on  . Daniel Baynes was jailed for four months after he was caught abusing the 79 year old dementia sufferer  Directors of care homes will be given a ' fit and proper person test ' in an attempt to drive out those responsible for the worst scandals .  All care workers will be required to undergo training under a new care certificate scheme from next year , which Mr Lamb described as ' pretty close to compulsory minimum training standards ' .  Norman Lamb said the Government is introducing ' fundamental standards ' in April next year to ensure there is ' no hiding place ' for ' shocking ' care home  This comes after figures revealed that 522 care homes and services helping elderly and disabled adults with tasks such as dressing , and preparing meals , did not have adequate staffing figures .  Care home watchdog , the Care Quality Commission said this equated to one in 10 of all the elderly services inspected during the course of the year .  ' If nine out of 10 are capable of doing it then 10 out of 10 are able to do it , ' Mr Lamb said .  Families worried that their elderly relatives are being abuse by care home staff are soon to be given official advice on how to secretly install  cameras .  The  will issue guidance in the New Year explaining how to best monitor staff .  Mr Lamb also warned that local authorities , which commission care services must be held to account and said the public had to decide whether they are prepared to spend more on care as the population ages  Last week Andrea Sutcliffe , the head of adult social care inspections at the  , warned that Britain did not care enough about elderly people to be able to guarantee them dignified support .  In June Daniel Baynes was jailed for four months after he was caught abusing 79 year old dementia sufferer Gladys Wright on a hidden camera installed by her son James .  He and two colleagues , Tomasz Gidaszewski and Janusz Salnikow , were captured swearing at Mrs Wright and manhandling her at Granary Care Home , in Wraxall , North Somerset .  Dementia sufferer and former nurse Mrs Rees was left with bruises after the ill treatment at the  Mary Seacole Nursing Home in Hoxton , east London .  She was secretly filmed being abused by Faderera Grace Bello , 54 , a staff nurse at an  care home and died in May aged 92 following the mistreatment .  Gloria Foster , 81 , died when she was left without food and medication for nine days after her care provider , Carefirst24 , was shut down by immigration officers .  Faderera Grace Bello was jailed for carer ill treatment and wilful neglect after Veronica Davis secretly filmed Bello poking her mother Bridget Rees in the face  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,past
17525,17526,"California Let those other filmmakers focus on world destruction or masked superheroes or beautiful people doing beautiful things .  Jason Bateman plays the owner of an extract factory in "" Extract , "" Mike Judge ' s latest .  Mike Judge prefers to deal with real life .  Judge , writer and director of "" Office Space "" and co creator of the  series "" King of the Hill , "" has long liked to set his work in the world of malfunctioning copiers and beer drinking propane salesmen . Even his wicked satire of the future , "" Idiocracy , "" focused on the inanities of everyday life , just set 500 years from now .  His new film , "" Extract , "" is no exception : It ' s about a factory owner , Joel ( Jason Bateman ) , who must deal with a host of employee problems as well as a chilly wife .  Of course , Joel ' s solutions aren ' t exactly the stuff of Solomon , but such is the way of comedy .  Bateman understands Judge ' s motivations .  "" He likes to keep everything very middle of the road common people , small town , small problems , relatable , blue collar , "" said the actor , who called Judge "" a ninja of comedy . "" "" And those people , they run extract factories they make drywall . I mean , it ' s the stuff that we all need often goes unnoticed he likes to write about those people , and I ' m glad he does . ""  Mike Judge : Yeah , it kind of came from all over the place . I ' ve worked many jobs , and I did work in a factory a couple times a place that made guitar amps , and then I worked in a place in Albuquerque New Mexico , where I grew up , that stuffed those snack boxes with Fritos and candy bars and stuff .  Judge : When I first wrote the first draft , I wasn ' t thinking about anybody in particular and , then I saw "" Arrested Development "" years later . I ' d put the script on the shelf and thought Jason Bateman would be perfect , so I did a rewrite thinking about him but no one in particular for the other characters . I just wrote it and then just did kind of the normal casting process .  But then , we were reading people for the character of Joel ' s friend Dean , and my casting director comes in one day and said , "" Ben Affleck is interesting . "" And I thought , "" Really , I ' ve never met the guy . "" And I also thought , "" Yeah , but he ' s like strapping , handsome leading man guy . ""  Then I started thinking about it , and I love him when he ' s a character actor like in "" Dazed and Confused "" or "" Shakespeare in Love , "" and then I met him , and he just got it . He had this take on him based on a guy he went to high school with . We did a read through the script , and him and Jason just killing me , I just thought it was just really funny . You know , he was willing to get out of his leading man look and grow a beard . It was really fun .  Judge : Yeah . I think Ben , actually , I think he enjoyed being this character . I think he hasn ' t gotten to do something like that in a while .  In fact , we had a big break during shooting . . . . And he has one scene in the factory , so he had like maybe two or three weeks between the bulk of it and that last scene in it . I got the sense he was really happy to come back and put on his "" Dean "" get up and get back into that character . He was just really fun .  Judge : Yeah , and I think he , you know , he , he wants kind of simple things , and he ' s worked so hard . It ' s maybe be a little bit of a mid life crisis he ' s going through , I think . And he just sort of tests the waters , dips his toe in , doing something a little crazy , and then just everything goes to hell for him .  Judge : Well , to me , I think there ' s a lot of interesting characters at work , and just the dynamics of a workplace are really . . . funny to me . I ' ve had a lot of jobs , and I think there ' s a lot of material there and , I just remember thinking , growing up in the ' 80s , thinking like everyone on  shows and movies , these characters seem to have like endless cash . You never see , when you become an adult and even as a teenager , it ' s like , ""  , I gotta pay my car insurance , and I gotta do this and that . "" And then you get a job , and it ' s like , you ' re there all day . . . .  I don ' t know , I think if your soul doesn ' t get stomped out of you , you can still see the comedy in all of it . So I ' d wanted to do something that ' s set in more a blue collar place like a factory , and it ' s told from the point of view of the guy who owns it and sympathetic to him instead of the employee angry at the bosses .  Judge : ( laughs ) Well , there was a couple of reasons . There was a book lying around my freshman year in the college dorms that was about food flavoring , and I actually just thought it was kind of interesting .  Then years later , south of Austin Texas , there used to be this really great building it was the Adams Extract Factory . . . . My Realtor one day , we were looking at a house , and he points to a really nice house in this neighborhood , and he says , "" That ' s where the Adams Extract people live . "" It ' s just this odd item that ' s in every grocery store in the country , but you don ' t think about it much , and when I ' d say that that ' s what it ' s about , people start laughing . So I figured I ' m one step ahead of it there .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
17526,17527,"Italy The Italian media call her "" Foxy Knoxy , "" portray her as a "" devil with an angel ' s face , "" and there are 11 Facebook pages dedicated to her , all in Italian .  Both Raffaele Sollecito ( left ) and Amanda Knox deny charges of murder and sexual assault .  Amanda Knox , 21 , is an American college student from Seattle , Washington , who is on trial for murder in Perugia , Italy . The case has given Knox almost pop star status there .  She was voted the top woman in an online "" person of the year "" poll by an Italian  channel in December , beating out Carla Bruni , the Italian born French first lady .  Seven of the 11 Facebook pages champion her innocence four seem convinced that Knox is pure evil . A sampling of comments : "" No to Amanda . No to her superstardom "" . . . "" She ' s a sociopath "" . . . "" Everyone is not sure if she is guilty or not and that she will lead us to a new existential awareness . Please shout with me your anger . . . . Let ' s say no . Let ' s say Knox . ""  Knox and former boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito , 24 , are charged with murdering and sexually assaulting one of Knox ' s roommates , British exchange student Meredith Kercher , on November 1 , 2007 . They insist they are innocent and are disputing the allegations .  Knox and Sollecito are due back in court today . The last time Knox appeared before the panel of eight judges , she wore a T shirt quoting The Beatles : "" All you need is love . ""  Prosecutor Giuliano Mignini alleges that Kercher , 21 , was killed because she refused to participate in a drug fueled sex game played by Knox , Sollecito , and a third man , Ivory Coast native Rudy Hermann Guede . In court papers , prosecutors stated that Sollecito held Kercher by her wrists while Knox poked at her with a knife and Guede sexually assaulted her .  The case is being tried in Perugia , a university town about 115 miles north of Rome that is better known for its chocolate than for its scandalous murder trials .  According to the prosecutor ' s office , Kercher had been in Italy for two months as part of a year long course with Leeds University , where she was working toward a degree in European Studies . She shared a house with Knox , a University of Washington student in the same exchange program , and two Italian housemates .  The crime scene , which has become a tourist attraction , has been broken into twice , police say .  Knox and Sollecito were arrested November 6 , 2007 , and were kept in prison while an investigation continued . The judge overseeing the investigation found both were capable of committing the crime again , fleeing the country or tampering with the evidence .  Police sought charges in July 2008 , and they were ordered to trial in October . The trial began January 16 and has been held mostly on weekends .  A random sampling of women on the streets of Rome showed that all of them had heard of the case and most believed Knox and Sollecito were at the very least implicated in the slaying .  The superheated publicity surrounding the case helped make Knox a household name in Italy . She is usually portrayed as a femme fatale . Consider these headlines :  "" Sex , lies and stabbings "" "" Lovers without any inhibitions "" "" And in prison , she even tries to sun tan ""  Italian journalists also have plastered their newspapers with photos they found of Knox on the Internet , especially images that showed her as a "" wild girl . "" They pounced on the "" Foxy Knoxy "" nickname they found on her MySpace page , even though her parents later explained the high school moniker came from the way Knox played soccer , quick like a fox .  Although Italian law limits the publication of court and police records , the media ban is less strict than in many European countries . While it is not exactly legal to publish police investigative reports , no journalist has gone to jail in Italy for doing it .  Among the items leaked : Knox ' s diary , various police interrogations , photos of Kercher ' s body , video of Kercher ' s body ( which wound up on YouTube but has been pulled ) , and video of the Italian forensic police carrying out their investigation . Eventually , even the leaks made headlines , leading to more speculation .  Knox can do no right in the Italian media . If she appears reserved and timid in court , she is portrayed as someone with plenty to hide . If she smiles or laughs in court , she ' s called disrespectful . As far as the Italian media is concerned , Knox is the mastermind who manipulated those around her and seduced her Italian boyfriend and led him astray .  While Knox and Sollecito ' s preliminary hearings were being held in October , Guede was convicted of murder after a fast track trial . His lawyers had hoped that the speedy resolution of the case would give him a break at sentencing . He got 30 years in prison .  According to testimony at Guede ' s trial , his fingerprints were found in the house , and his  was linked to Kercher ' s body . He has never denied being in the house the night of the slaying but insists he didn ' t kill her . He says he had an "" appointment "" with her that night and was in the bathroom when she was killed .  Sollecito and Knox say they weren ' t at the house the night of the slaying . They say they both were at Sollecito ' s house . But the alibi has been contradicted by witnesses at the trial .  Eighty six media outlets sent 140 journalists to cover the opening of the trial in January , but publicity has waned since then . The Italian 24 hour news channel TG24 no longer breaks into its programming with multiple updates . Knox , for now , has been relegated to the pages preceding the sports or weather report .  But Italians love their murder cases , and attention has shifted to other crime news . A mother is accused of killing her toddler son , a husband and wife are accused of multiple killings . Their courtrooms are now filled with spectators who wait in line an hour or more .  The Perugia courtroom still is packed , but the long line is gone . That is likely to change , however , as testimony shifts to the defense case .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
17530,17531,"A new comprehensive study of 3 . 9million military personnel who served after 9 11 has found no direct link between deployment to a war zone and elevated suicide rates .  Researchers at Joint Base Lewis McChord in Tacoma , Washington , concluded that military suicides may be more likely after members leave the service than during active duty deployment , particularly if their time in uniform is brief .  ' It was certainly intuitive as the wars went on and suicides went up for people to assume that deployment was the reason , but our data show that that is too simplistic when you look at the total population , deployment is not associated with suicide , ' said lead author Mark Reger .  New study : Researchers at Joint Base Lewis McChord looked at military records of 3 . 9million personnel who served after 9 11 and found no direct link between deployment to a war zone and elevated suicide rates  Matter of honor : Service members with a dishonorable discharge were about twice as likely to commit suicide as those who had an honorable separation  The four year study , the largest of its kind , was published Wednesday in the Journal of American Medicine Association Psychiatry .  While the  military has traditionally experienced lower suicide rates than the civilian population , suicides among active duty service members have surged in the past decade , almost doubling in the Army and the Marines Corps , Reger said .  In 2012 , Pentagon reported 320 suicides by active duty service members another 268 soldiers took their lives last year .  To understand the relationship between deployment and self inflicted death , researchers reviewed military records for more than 3 . 9million active duty soldiers and reservists who joined up between October 7 , 2001 and December 31 , 2007 .  A total of 31 , 962 deaths occurred , including 5 , 041 suicides , by December 31 , 2009 .  Suicide rates were similar regardless of whether or not servicemen and women were deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan .  The study did not factor in veterans ' exposure to combat and the potential effect of traumatic events on the battlefield on suicide rates .  There were 1 , 162 suicides among those who deployed and 3 , 879 among those who didn ' t , representing suicide rates per 100 , 000 person years of 18 . 86 and 17 . 78 , respectively .  Leaving the military significantly increased suicide risk , however , with a suicide rate of 26 . 06 after separating from service compared with 15 . 12 for those who remained in uniform .  At home and abroad : Suicide rates were similar regardless of whether or not servicemen and women were deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan  Those who left sooner had a greater risk , with a rate of 48 . 04 among those who spent less than a year in the military .  Service members with a dishonorable discharge were about twice as likely to commit suicide as those who had an honorable separation .  ' This is the first time such a huge , comprehensive study has found an increased suicide risk among those who have separated from service , particularly if they served for less than four years or had an other than honorable discharge , ' said Rajeev Ramchand , a researcher in military mental health and suicide prevention at Rand Corporation who wasn ' t involved in the study .  It ' s possible that pre deployment examinations may screen out people who have mental health problems , making those who deploy several times a healthier , more resilient group , said Dr Alan Peterson , a psychologist at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio who specializes in combat related post traumatic stress disorder .  ' Those who really struggle with a deployment don ' t go the second time , ' said Peterson , a retired military psychologist who wasn ' t involved in the study . ' Early separation from the military is often a marker for something else . '  For those contemplating suicide , access to firearms can exacerbate the problem , Peterson said .  ' It ' s a risk factor that sometimes gets overlooked , but we ' ve seen when they don ' t have access to weapons they are less likely to kill themselves . '  Leaving the military significantly increased suicide risk , and those who left after just one year were most vulnerable  Some service members who leave the military early may have had risk factors for suicide such as mood disorders or substance abuse problems that contributed to their separation , particularly if they had a dishonorable discharge , said Dr Christine Moutier , chief medical officer of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention .  It isn ' t realistic to expect former service members to instantly reintegrate into their former civilian lives , but they may be experiencing serious mental health problems if they ' re not eating or sleeping or if they ' re extremely agitated or irritable , Moutier said .  ' The lack of an association between deployment and suicide risk isn ' t surprising , ' she said . ' At a very high level , these findings highlight the need for us to pay closer attention to what happens when people leave the military . '  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
17531,17532,"Saudi Arabia will let its female athletes compete in the Olympics for the first time , its embassy in London said .  Until now , Saudi Arabia was one of three countries that did not allow women to participate in the games .  The other two Qatar and Brunei also reversed course this year and said they will send female athletes to the London games , which begin July 27 .  "" The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia wishes to reaffirm its support for the sublime meanings reflected by Olympic Games and the cherished values of excellence , friendship and respect that they represent , "" the Saudi Embassy in London said in a statement announcing the decision .  The International Olympic Committee had been pressing Saudi Arabia to allow women to compete and act as officials , and said in March that talks were going well .  ""  is confident that Saudi Arabia is working to include women athletes and officials at the Olympic Games in London in accordance with the International Federations ' rules , "" the committee said March 19 .  Palestinian female Olympian : ' Miracles do happen '  The decision is a rare concession for a kingdom where women are banned from driving .  They also cannot vote or hold public office , though that will change in 2015 .  Women in Saudi Arabia also cannot marry , leave the country , go to school or open bank accounts without permission from a male guardian , who usually is the father or husband . Much of public life is segregated by gender .  When it came to sports , female athletes were barred from the Olympic Games because they would be participating in front of a mixed gender crowd .  The Saudi Embassy did not say what prompted the kingdom to change its mind . Officials in Saudi Arabia could not immediately be reached for comment .  Can Saudi women be competitive at Olympics ?  The embassy statement added that women who qualify for the Games will be allowed to participate , raising questions how many female athletes will be ready at such short notice .  Dalma Rushdi Malhas , who became the first Saudi woman to compete in the Youth Olympics , praised the decision , calling it "" a dream come true . ""  Malhas said she won ' t be competing in London games this year because her horse suffered a minor injury , but didn ' t rule out future competitions .  "" I look forward to giving my best and I ' m determined to keep on trying for the next Games , hopefully , "" she said .  Earlier this year , Human Rights Watch issued a report in which it said the Saudi government ' s policy of banning women ' s participation in national competitive sports reflects the "" predominant conservative view that opening sports to women and girls will lead to immorality : ' steps of the devil , ' as one prominent religious scholar put it . ""  In 2009 and 2010 , the country closed private gyms for women , and its schools ' curriculum does not include physical education classes for women , the rights group said .  And while the Saudi National Olympic Committee selects athletes to represent it in competition , the committee does not have a women ' s section .  Saudi Arabia ' s 153 official sports club are also closed to women , Human Rights Watch said . The only exception is the female basketball section of Jeddah United , a private sports company that is not among the official sports clubs , the group said .  For its part , Qatar will send three women to London this year : a shooter , a swimmer and a runner .  Brunei will send a woman who will compete in hurdling .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
17550,17551,"Carolina Panthers ' Josh Norman ( 24 ) celebrates with  cameras after the game against Washington at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday , November 22 , 2015 . The Panthers won , 44 16 , and push their record to 10 0 . David T . Foster  dtfoster charlotteobserverweblink  Carolina Panthers ' Devin Funchess ( 17 ) hauls in a touchdown , against Washington in the third quarter at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday , November 22 , 2015 . David T . Foster  dtfoster charlotteobserverweblink  Carolina Panthers full back Mike Tolbert high steps into the end zone for a touchdown vs Washington during first quarter action at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte ,  on Sunday , November 22 , 2015 . Jeff Siner jsiner charlotteobserverweblink  Carolina Panthers full back Mike Tolbert high steps into the end zone for a touchdown vs Washington during first quarter action at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte ,  on Sunday , November 22 , 2015 . Jeff Siner jsiner charlotteobserverweblink  Carolina Panthers full back Mike Tolbert dances in the end zone after catching a pass from quarterback Cam Newton during first quarter action vs Washington at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte ,  on Sunday , November 22 , 2015 . Jeff Siner jsiner charlotteobserverweblink  Carolina Panthers safety Kurt Coleman , left , intercepts a pass by Washington quarterback Kirk Cousins during first quarter action at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte ,  on Sunday , November 22 , 2015 . Jeff Siner jsiner charlotteobserverweblink  Carolina Panthers safety Kurt Coleman , center , tries to cut between Washington defenders after intercepting a pass by Washington quarterback Kirk Cousins during first quarter action at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte ,  on Sunday , November 22 , 2015 . Jeff Siner jsiner charlotteobserverweblink  Carolina Panthers safety Kurt Coleman flexes after intercepting a pass by Washington quarterback Kirk Cousins during first quarter action at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte ,  on Sunday , November 22 , 2015 . Jeff Siner jsiner charlotteobserverweblink  Carolina Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart rushes for a touchdown as Washington safety Jeron Johnson looks to make the tackle during first quarter action at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte ,  on Sunday , November 22 , 2015 . Jeff Siner jsiner charlotteobserverweblink  Carolina Panthers full back Mike Tolbert , left , is congratulated by tackle Mike Remmers , right , after Tolbert rushed for a touchdown vs Washington during first quarter action at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte ,  on Sunday , November 22 , 2015 . Jeff Siner jsiner charlotteobserverweblink  Carolina Panthers ' Cam Newton ( 1 ) accelerate past Washington ' s Jason Hatcher ( 97 ) in the second quarter at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday , November 22 , 2015 . The Panthers won , 44 16 , and push their record to 10 0 . David T . Foster  dtfoster charlotteobserverweblink  Carolina Panthers ' Cam Newton ( 1 ) celebrates running for a first down against the Washington defense in the second quarter at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday , November 22 , 2015 . The Panthers won , 44 16 , and push their record to 10 0 . David T . Foster  dtfoster charlotteobserverweblink  Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton leaps into the arms of full back Mike Tolbert after Tolbert scored a touchdown vs Washington during first quarter action at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte ,  on Sunday , November 22 , 2015 . Jeff Siner jsiner charlotteobserverweblink  Carolina Panthers fans anxiously wait for quarterback Cam Newton to deliver a touchdown football to the stands during second quarter action at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte ,  on Sunday , November 22 , 2015 . Jeff Siner jsiner charlotteobserverweblink  Carolina Panthers defensive end Kony Ealy celebrates his sack of Washington quarterback Kirk Cousins during second quarter action at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte ,  on Sunday , November 22 , 2015 . Jeff Siner jsiner charlotteobserverweblink  Carolina Panthers ' Jonathan Stewart ( 28 ) shakes off Washington ' s Jeron Johnson ( 20 ) in the second quarter at Bank of America Stadium on Sunday , November 22 , 2015 . The Panthers won , 44 16 , and push their record to 10 0 . David T . Foster  dtfoster charlotteobserverweblink  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
17552,17553,"Just when Bali bound Australians didn ' t think it could be possible to get a cheaper holiday Indonesia is considering lifting its US35 tourist visa fee on arrival from next year .  With one million Aussies expected to visit Bali this year alone the news will be welcomed with open arms .  It should come as no surprise that the land Down Under is touted as one of Indonesia ' s main foreign tourist targets as Bali is the number one holiday spot for Australians .  Indonesia is considering lifting its US35 tourist visa on arrival fee for Australians  Number one holiday spot : One million Aussies are expected to visit Bali this year alone  Aussies may be able to visit Bali for free from now  The US35 fee could be scrapped for citizens of Australia , China , Japan , South Korea and Russia from next year , Tourism Minister Arief Yahya says .  ' Those countries are our main foreign tourist targets , ' he told reporters on Wednesday , as reported by Indonesian news website detikweblink .  ' Like China , its middle class is huge and that has potential for us . '  The free short term visas for Indonesia ' s five main tourist markets was one idea to come out of a ministerial meeting on Wednesday .  Another option was simplifying licenses to encourage more yachts and cruise ships to stop over in Indonesia .  Indonesia and in particular Bali is one of Australia ' s top international holiday choices as more than 900 , 000 Australian visitors each year .  Australia contributed nearly 25 per cent of arrivals to the popular Indonesian island between January and September last year , according to a poll conducted in January by  Research .  One in five or 21 per cent of the 500 Australians who particpated in the study had travelled to Bali .  Australia is one of Indonesia ' s ' main foreign tourist targets ' along with China , Japan , South Korea and Russia  Almost 25 per cent of arrivals in Bali between January and September last year were Australian  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
17555,17556,"The   Islamic state magazine Rumiyah has called on supporters and Islamic State fighters in Germany and Austria to murder moderate Imams who they consider  “apostates. ”[The magazine was released in several languages earlier this week through the various internet channels Islamic State uses to broadcast propaganda to its sympathisers,  reports. One of the methods used was a “telegram” app, an encrypted messaging service that  often uses and is generally the first place the group takes credit for terror attacks.  The terror group named several prominent members of the Muslim community in both Germany and Austria as potential targets for assassination in an article entitled “Kill the infidel imams in Germany and Austria. ” Among the targets listed is Aiman Mazyek,   of the Central Council of Muslims in Germany. Mazyek has made controversial statements in the past, such as calling for German leaders to limit the number of migrants flowing into the country in late 2015. The Muslim leader has also slammed the   migration Alternative for Germany (AfD) likening them to Nazis after they revealed a platform of   last year. Omar   a Vienna city councilman for the Socialist Party (SPÖ) and a member of the Council Committee on European and International Affairs was also listed as a target.   is also no stranger to controversy  —   in 2010 he led an official condemnation of Israel in the Vienna city hall over the Israeli raids on a flotilla heading for Gaza, which Israeli authorities claimed was not the  humanitarian mission activists stated it to be.   also led a protest against Israel in Vienna. Among the demonstrators were members of the Turkish   nationalist group the Grey Wolves who have clashed with Kurds in Germany and have been accused of trying to infiltrate German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party through its diversity program. Killing Imams they don’t agree with is nothing new for the Islamic State. In 2014  executed 13 clerics in the city of Mosul whom they deemed to be too moderate. Imam Muhammad al Mansuri was one of the victims of the terror group and was the imam in charge of the mosque in which  leader     gave a rare public appearance to lead prayers. Islamic State killed a further six imams in early 2015 after they condemned the group’s actions when they burned Jordanian pilot Mu’ath Kasasbeh alive.  Follow Chris Tomlinson on Twitter at @TomlinsonCJ or email at ctomlinson@breitbart.com,    ",true,news,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
17561,17562,"Thursday in an appearance on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” Sen. Ted Cruz ( ) dismissed the seriousness of a Washington Post report from a day earlier that alleged Attorney General Jeff Sessions failed to disclose meeting with Russian officials in his  confirmation hearing as “political theater. ”  Cruz, Sessions’ former colleague on the Senate Armed Services Committee,  called the underlying meeting a “nothing burger” and argued against an investigation into the matter. Transcript as follows:  BRZEZINSKI,  HOST: Joining us now from Capitol Hill, member of the Judiciary and Armed Services Committees, Republican senator Ted Cruz of Texas. Senator, thank you for being on.  SCARBOROUGH,  HOST: Senator, great to have you here. SEN.   (R) TEXAS: Good morning. SCARBOROUGH: Great to have you here. You are an attorney and certainly can read testimony. I was saying this morning that the Leahy question and answer wasn’t as troubling because, of course, it was about the campaign. Are you concerned, though, about the Al Franken questioning and answering, where Sessions seemed to volunteer that he had never spoken with any Russian officials? CRUZ: You know, Joe, I’m not concerned about that. I think what we are seeing is a lot of political theater. Could Jeff have been more clear in what he said? Yes. I think it  —   that was unfortunate. But I think context matters a lot. Jeff was being asked about the Trump campaign communicating with the Russians. I think he understood that he was answering in that capacity. And that is perfectly understandable. And the reason I say it’s political theater is the underlying meeting, you know, this morning, everyone is in high dungeon about the meeting. The underlying meeting is a nothing burger. It’s what senators do every day, meeting with foreign ambassadors that’s part of the job. And Jeff is a  —   was a very   senator he will be a   attorney general. And so I think everyone is getting all worked up because it’s a chance to beat up the attorney general and beat up the president. But I think the underlying meeting is simply doing his job.  GEIST,  HOST: Senator Cruz, it’s Willie Geist. It’s good to see you. You also are  —   sit on the Armed Services Committee with Senator Sessions. Did you meet with the Russian ambassador last summer? CRUZ: You know, I didn’t. But it’s interesting, when this story broke last night, I asked my team to just pull up the calendar for January and February of this year. And I met with six different ambassadors in the last two months. That’s part of being a senator. And you know, a minute ago, Joe was asking, well, gosh, when Al Franken was questioning Jeff Sessions and he  —   and Jeff Sessions was saying, that, as the Trump campaign, as a surrogate, he didn’t meet with Russia, you know, I’m willing to bet Al Franken has met with a great number of ambassadors. I’m also willing to bet that when Al Franken meets with foreign ambassadors, he didn’t consider it the Hillary campaign meeting with them. Al Franken was supporting Hillary Clinton, he was a surrogate for Hillary Clinton. But when he’s doing his job as a senator, he’s not a representative of the campaign. I think the same was exactly true for Jeff Sessions when he was doing his job as a senator. GEIST: But, Senator, we are talking about the Russian ambassador in the middle of all these questions surrounding links between the Trump campaign and the government of Russia. Why, specifically, did you and, according to all the reporting, no other member of the Armed Service Committee not seek a meeting with the Russian ambassador? CRUZ: Well, listen, by and large, I haven’t sought meetings with ambassadors. Typically, they call the office and want to talk with me. And you know, if the Russian ambassador had called and asked for a meeting, I imagine I probably would have taken the meeting. And that’s part of the job. But it’s  —   I can’t recall an instance where I’ve reached out to an ambassador and said, let’s do a meeting. But different countries want to come by. They want to discuss different issues. They’re concerned about  —   that’s part of doing your job when you are on the Armed Services Committee. I’m on the Armed Services Committee. I served with Jeff. I’m on the Judiciary Committee. I served with Jeff. And you know, one of the things that’s important, you know, you see Democratic politicians this morning coming out and blasting Jeff and saying things like that this was misleading. You know, many of  —   many of us have served with Jeff for years, sometimes decades in the Senate. Jeff Sessions is a man of integrity, he’s a man of candor. I don’t know any senator who served with Jeff Sessions, Democrat or Republican, who would say that Jeff has been anything less than totally honest. Now they don’t like that he’s a conservative. You know, the Democrats don’t like Jeff as a conservative. But he is very open and honest about his views. And, by the way, Jeff has been a serious critic of Russia. He’s not been shy calling out Putin. So the notion that there was something somehow wrong with a senior senator on the Armed Services Committee meeting with a foreign ambassador, I think that’s a nothing burger. And the testimony Jeff should have been more clear. I think he said that he wished he was more clear. But, at the end of the day, I don’t think that there’s any there there. GEIST: So do you  —   you’ve said repeatedly now that the meeting that Senator Sessions had with the Russian ambassador is a, quote, “nothing burger. ” Do you have information, Senator, about what they talked about in that meeting? How do you know it’s a nothing burger? CRUZ: I know that meeting with a foreign ambassador is part of the routine responsibilities of serving in the Senate. I have no idea what was talked about in that meeting or any other meeting that  —   you know, my understanding is Jeff met with 25 different ambassadors last year. And I don’t know what was discussed in those meetings. I don’t know what was discussed  —   GEIST: But not the Russian ambassador, right, Senator? CRUZ: Well, among the 25 that Sessions met with last year was the Russian ambassador. GEIST: But you haven’t met nor have any of the other members of Armed Services with the Russian ambassador? CRUZ: Well, my understanding of “The Washington Post” reporting is they asked  —   six didn’t respond. So we don’t know that none have. Of those that responded, they said they hadn’t met last year. But you know, I was watching on another show, Mike Rogers, who was chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, he said, sure he’d met with the Russian ambassador. If you are doing your job, you meet with ambassadors and foreign leaders. And that’s part of the job. HALPERIN: Senator, it’s been reported, I don’t have it confirmed myself, that this meeting is being investigated by federal investigators. There’s clearly now an appearance issue, even if, as you’ve suggested, that thing’s a nothing burger. Stipulating all you said about your former colleague, is it still possible that recusal is the right thing in your mind? CRUZ: Well, I think earlier on the show, you played Jeff Sessions this morning, saying that he would recuse himself where appropriate. I mean, obviously, if there were an investigation into himself, recusal would be appropriate. I don’t have any indication that there would be an investigation because I don’t think there’s any credible allegation that Jeff did anything wrong in meeting with the Russian ambassador. He was  —   he didn’t speak as clearly as he should. Although I will note, Jeff had an   marathon hearing, where he was getting hammered. And Jeff is  —   was answering as candidly, as directly as possible. And I think in context, he was answering no as part of the Trump campaign he wasn’t meeting with the Russians. And my understanding is he wasn’t thinking about his role as a senator. But I don’t see anything for there to be an investigation. But of course there, if there was into him directly, any official would recuse themselves from an investigation into their own conduct. BRZEZINSKI: Senator Ted Cruz, thank you for your perspective this morning. Follow Jeff Poor on Twitter @jeff_poor",true,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
17571,17572,"The talks have so far produced broad agreement that Al Assad should play no part in a transition to democracy  Riyadh : Syrian opposition and rebel groups meeting in Riyadh will on Thursday discuss forming a delegation for future peace talks , one of the toughest subjects in negotiations aimed at forging a unified position among President Bashar Al Assad s enemies .  Wednesday s talks produced broad agreement on their already widely held positions that Al Assad and his lieutenants should play no part in a transition to democracy and that foreign forces must leave Syria , said several of the 100 delegates .  Today will be for choosing a delegation of 42 people to select the negotiators , said a Gulf based participant . Asked if they would reach agreement on Thursday , he hinted at the difficult nature of the talks , adding : Only God knows .  Gathering Syria s fragmented opposition behind a single agenda and an agreed negotiating team would be an important step towards seeking a political solution to a war that has displaced millions and strengthened global militancy .  The opposition is not only divided between rebel factions on the ground , who differ on ideology and compete for territory , but also between those factions and an array of political figures including both exiles and people who have remained in Damascus through much of the conflict .  Their divisions hobbled the last major effort at peace talks between the government and opposition , in Geneva nearly two years ago . They also made it harder for Western countries to back rebels and allowed Daesh and Al Qaida s affiliate Al Nusra Front to consolidate their power .  Attacks by Daesh and its supporters in the Middle East , Europe and the  , a surge of refugees and the risk of the conflict widening as Syria s neighbours and world powers are drawn in have added urgency to international peace efforts .  Russia , the  and the United Nations will hold three way talks in Geneva on Friday as part of their preparations for a new round of talks in Vienna following meetings that brought both Saudi Arabia and Iran to the table for the first time .  Saudi Arabia , which is hosting the Syrian opposition meeting and playing a role in moderating the discussions , is a main backer of the rebels along with Turkey and Western countries , while Iran and Russia support Al Assad .  A declaration of principles is still being drafted , a rebel commander said . However , there can be no presence for Al Assad in the transitional period , he and another rebel commander said .  The other commander added that there was agreement on keeping Syria united , on the departure of foreign forces and militias and that there should be no sectarian quotas in Syria s government , which a political opposition leader also confirmed .  The role that Islam should play in a future Syria , and what status the country s religious and ethnic minorities will have , has been a point of contention between the country s rebel groups which include hardline Islamists .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
17587,17588,"Reuters) - Seven Latin American governments said on Wednesday that they supported the decision by Honduras  electoral tribunal to proceed with a total recount of disputed ballots in the country s Nov. 28 election.  Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Guatemala, Mexico, Paraguay and Peru expressed the position in a statement issued by Mexico s foreign ministry.  We urge Honduran citizens to wait in a peaceful manner for the vote recount,  the statement said. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
17600,17601,"Here s what the election map for Crooked Hillary vs. Trump in Oregon looked:Due to extensive criminal and dangerous behavior, protest is now considered a riot. Crowd has been advised.  Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) November 11, 2016Those not wanting to be associated w/anarchists should leave the area immediately. Peaceful protesters encouraged to go to Pioneer Square  Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) November 11, 2016Finally .police are not saying the woman who was hit by a car and killed was part of the anti-Trump protests, but the accident did happen near area of protests according to Twitter users. ",fake,dataset,test,American football,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,present
17605,17606,"A Canadian man has been arrested , accused of coercing a 12 year old girl to perform sex acts online by pretending to be pop star Justin Bieber .  Toronto resident Lee Moir , 34 , was arrested after police posed as a young girl and arranged to meet him .  The 12 year old girl and her family live in New Jersey , where Essex County Assistant Prosecutor John Laurino said the girl believed Moir was Bieber and started a relationship with him , e mailing back and forth .  "" He began making demands that she show herself on camera , that she engage in acts of undress , and acts of sexual activity as well , "" Laurino said .  Once Moir persuaded the girl to perform the acts , "" he then extorted her by saying he was going to post these onto pornographic websites , "" said Constable Victor Kwong of the Toronto Police .  It was not immediately clear how authorities learned of the girl ' s case . Working with information from the Essex County Prosecutor ' s Office , Toronto Police Services became involved and engaged in sexual conversations with Moir while posing as a 14 year old girl , according to the prosecutor ' s office .  On April 4 , after requesting a meeting , Moir arrived at the designated spot and was arrested , the prosecutor ' s office said .  "" This arrest highlights both the danger posed to children online as well as the best efforts of law enforcement authorities throughout the world to apprehend these child predators who exploit the wide reach and perceived anonymity of the Internet to take advantage of vulnerable children , ' ' said Assistant Prosecutor Deborah Freier , who handled the case .  Authorities said they believe Moir has been in contact with numerous girls in the United States , Canada , France , Australia and the Philippines using accounts on Facebook and the video chat site ooVoo , the prosecutor ' s office said . They said he used the online names Lee Oneel , Lee Moir , YodaYoda01 , and Justy . Beber1 .  Charges against Moir in Canada include luring , manufacturing child pornography and extortion , according to Toronto police .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
17606,17607,"A suspect in the shooting of a Seattle , Washington , police officer is also believed to be behind the bombing of four police cars , Seattle Assistant Police Chief Jim Pugel said at a press conference Saturday .  Christopher Monfort , 41 , remained hospitalized in serious condition after being shot by officers during a confrontation Friday .  "" This man , from everything that we can tell , appears to be a lone domestic terrorist , "" Pugel said .  Police named Monfort as a suspect in the Halloween night killing of Officer Tim Brenton , who was shot while sitting in his patrol car . A student officer was injured in the attack .  Investigators also suspect Monfort in the October 22 arson of four police vehicles with homemade explosives , Pugel said .  On Friday , a tipster alerted police to the owner of a Datsun 210 who covered his car shortly after the shooting , Pugel said .  While detectives walked near the residence , they came across Monfort , and after a brief questioning , Monfort pulled out a gun and aimed it at one of the officers , police said .  Monfort pulled the trigger , and when the gun didn ' t go off , began to run , Pugel said .  When Monfort turned around toward the police with the weapon again , the officers fired , he said .  The local sheriff ' s department would investigate the officer involved shooting .  Investigators found improvised explosive devices and two weapons , including a military assault rifle , inside Monfort ' s apartment , Pugel said . The suspect ' s car had not yet been searched .  Brenton , 39 , a field training officer , was reviewing details of a traffic stop with student officer Brit Sweeney Saturday night when a vehicle rolled up next to the squad car shortly after 10 p . m . , authorities said  Several shots were fired into the squad car , killing Brenton and injuring Sweeney , according to police .  The shooting was the first intentional homicide of a city police officer since 1994 , Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels said .  Brenton was married with two children , 11 and 8 .  He served on the force for nine years , police said . His father and uncle are retired Seattle police officers .  ",true,text,test,American football,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
17614,17615,"Outrage mounts over Trump s ridicule of disabled reporter  Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign event at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center on Nov 24 . Photo :    ? While most Americans are elbow deep in Thanksgiving stuffing , Donald Trump is hip deep in recriminations after mocking the disability of a New York Times reporter who failed to corroborate the Republican presidential candidate s claim that Muslims in New Jersey cheered the toppling of the World Trade Center .  The Times and journalists inside and outside the newspaper reacted with outrage after Politico reported Wednesday ( Nov 25 ) that Mr Trump , at a South Carolina rally the day before , jerked his arms while imitating Serge Kovaleski , a journalist who suffers from arthrogryposis , a chronic condition that affects his movements . Mr Trump is familiar with Mr Kovaleski because Mr Kovaleski covered the billionaire real estate mogul when he was a reporter for the New York Daily News . The story was corroborated by video from  .  We re outraged that Donald Trump would ridicule the physical appearance of one of our reporters , a spokesperson for the Times said .  A Thanksgiving Day statement from the Ruderman Family Foundation , which works to promote more inclusive policies for people with disabilities , condemned Mr Trump .  It is unacceptable for a child to mock another child s disability on the playground , never mind a presidential candidate mocking someone s disability as part of a national political discourse , said Jay Ruderman , the foundation president . Our presidential candidates should be moral examples for all Americans and not disparage people with disabilities , who make up 20 per cent of the American population .  Mr Trump repeatedly has insisted that Muslims living in Jersey City , a community overlooking Manhattan from bluffs above the Hudson River , celebrated the downing of the twin towers . Challenged on the claim , he cited as evidence a story that Mr Kovaleski wrote 14 years ago while working as a reporter for the Washington Post . The story reported that law enforcement authorities detained and questioned a number of people who were allegedly seen celebrating the attacks and holding tailgate style parties on rooftops while they watched the devastation on the other side of the river .  But in interviews this week , Mr Kovaleski said he and other journalists never found evidence of the thousands and thousands of people that Mr Trump has claimed were celebrating the attacks .  Mr Trump responded to the criticism with a series of tweets disparaging the New York Times .   ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
17618,17619,"The global surge in  diagnosis has more to do with marketing than medicine , according to experts .  Diagnosis rates and prescriptions of stimulant drugs are soaring compared with five years ago , but experts say  is ' more of an economic and cultural plague than a medical one ' .  After examining the growth of  in the  , Germany , France , Italy and Brazil , they concluded there are five trends which contribute to its growth .  The global surge in  diagnosis and treatment with drugs has more to do with marketing than medicine , and in years to come we may regret treating children with drug , experts warn in a paper ( file pic )  They blame the rise on lobbying from drug companies , who have spurred some countries to relax the restrictions put on stimulants like Ritalin , the most well known drug used to treat  .  Psychoanalytic treatment of the condition , usually with talking therapies , is slowly being eroded in favour of treating the problem with drugs , they said .  More psychologists and psychiatrists are now adopting the American Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (  ) standards , which are broader and have a lower threshold for diagnosing  , they added .  There has also been a rise in vocal advocacy and support groups for the condition , who often work closely with pharmaceutical companies to promote treatment with drugs .  Lastly , the rise in internet use makes finding information on the condition , and diagnosing oneself , easy . This prompts people to ask their doctor for drug treatment , they said .   is a group of behavioural symptoms that include inattentiveness , hyperactivity and impulsiveness .  Use of the extremely common  medication Ritalin can cause dangerously long lasting , unwanted erections with long term use .  The Food and Drug Administration said it has updated its advice on Ritalin to include a warning about priapism , a condition that can permanently damage a patient ' s penis .  The stimulant drug in Ritalin , methylphenidate , is also found in the brand names Daytrana and Concerta an extended release version often prescribed to adutls among many others .  The agency warned people to talk to their doctors before halting the drugs and said priapism has only occurred from use of methylphenidate in rare cases .  It has come under much controversy in recent years , with some health professionals voicing concerns that diagnosing such a cluster of symptoms as one overarching disease means we are medicalising normal human behaviour .  In the paper , researchers cited websites promoting  drugs , offering checklists with questions like ' Do you fidget a lot ? ' , ' Is it hard yfor you to concentrate ? ' , ' Are you disorganised at work and home ? ' and ' Do you start projects and then abandon them ? '  Writing in the report , Professor Peter Conrad , of Brandeis University , U . S . said : ' These checklists turn all kinds of different behaviors into medical problems . '  ' The checklists don ' t distinguish what is part of the human condition and what is a disease . '  The researchers said in the U . K . , diagnosis of  in school age children grew from less than one percent in the 1990s to about five per cent today .  In Germany , prescription  drugs rose from 10 million daily doses in 1998 to 53 million in 2008 .  Growth in Italy and France has been slower , in part due to those countries ' more restrictive pharmaceutical drug laws . However , researchers said even those nations are now becoming more lax .  In Brazil , a rising number of  advocacy groups , many with close ties to the pharmaceutical industry , are raising awareness of the disorder .  Professor Conrad voiced concerns about the rise of prescription treatment for  , which he believes may be socially constructed .  ' Call it an economic and cultural plague , but not necessarily a medical one . '  Psychoanalytic treatment of the condition , usually with talking therapies , is slowly being eroded in favour of treating the problem with drugs such as the stimulant Ritalin , researchers said  ' There is no pharmacological magic bullet . No drug can account for non medical factors that may contribute to behavior .  A fidgety student may be responding to the one size fits all compulsory education system , he said , not a flaw in his brain chemistry .   continues a long history of medicalising behaviors , especially in the U . S . , he added .  One example he cited was masturbation , which was considered a disease a century ago . Men and women diagnosed with masturbatory insanity were institutionalised or subjected to surgical treatment .  ' I think we may look back on this time in 50 years and ask , what did we do to these kids ? ' Professor Conrad concluded .  The paper was published in the journal Social Science and Medicine .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Conflict,satire,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
17623,17624,"Emotions boiled over in a Texas  race on Sunday , as two rival drivers were involved in a brutal fight in the pit lane .  As the race reached its conclusion , an irate Jeff Gordon stopped his car on the pit road next to rival Brad Keselowski and confronted him .  The pair were earlier involved in an incident during the race , when Gordon spun out from the front after contact with Keselowski .   Scroll down for Fight after  race at Texas Motor Speedway  Jeff Gordon and Brad Keselowski fight in the pit lane at the end of the race  Keselowski holds his face after the fight , in which he received some blows from his opponent  Gordon waits to give an interview , with a cut lip evident on his face  There were punches thrown in the melee , with  officials in the middle of crew members and others around the No . 2 car .  Jimmie Johnson won his third consecutive Texas fall race , while none of the eight Championship contenders were able to clinch one of the four final spots in  ' s Chase for the Sprint Cup championship .  Gordon was leading on the first green white checkered attempt on lap 335 , in a race scheduled for 334 laps , when he took the outside lane . When Gordon drifted up a bit , Keselowski pushed through the gap , and made contact that left Gordon ' s car with a cut tire .  ' We were just racing for the win , I didn ' t wreck him , and just raced him hard . He left a hole . Everything you watch in racing , you leave a hole , you ' re supposed to go for it , ' said Keselowski , who appeared to be spitting blood after the post race brawl . ' I don ' t want to ruin anyone ' s day . I wanted to win the race and that was the opportunity . It just didn ' t come together . '  Keselowski did not look happy after the post race fight in Texas  The race itself was won by Jimmie Johnson of Lowe ' s Red Vest Chevrolet  Johnson celebrates with a burnout at the end of the race  Gordon said he was on older tires when ' out of nowhere I got slammed by the 2 . ' He then used an expletive in referring to Keselowski .  ' The way he races , I don ' t know how he ever won a championship . This is why everyone is fighting with him , ' Gordon said . ' There wasn ' t any conversation . You can ' t have a conversation with him . There ' s big consequences . To me , it ' s just a bunch of crap . The kid is just doing stuff way over his head . '  It was the second time in the last four races that another driver confronted Keselowski after the checkered flag .  Johnson , who beat Chase contender Kevin Harvick by a half second , described Texas as intense and said he was sure it was ' highly entertaining . ' He said he couldn ' t wait to go back and watch the tape .  Johnson , the six time Cup champion who was eliminated after the second round in the new Chase format , led 191 of the 341 laps .  Keselowski finished third . The next highest Chase contender was Carl Edwards in ninth and Denny Hamlin 10th . Gordon was 29th .  Texas was the second consecutive race won by a driver already eliminated from title contention . That means at least three drivers will advance on points to get into the final four in the season finale at Homestead in two weeks .  The third round of the Chase wraps up next week in Phoenix , where Harvick won eight months ago in the second race of the season . Kenseth and Hamlin were the only drivers of the Chase contenders to finish outside the top eight in that race .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
17630,17631,"At a press conference Monday , American Civil Liberties Union officials announced that the organization will go to court to defend a neo Nazi group ' s right to burn down  headquarters .   president Nadine Strossen told reporters that her organization intends to "" vigorously and passionately defend "" the Georgia chapter of the American Nazi Party ' s First Amendment right to freely express its hatred of the  by setting its New York office ablaze on Nov . 25 .  "" I am reminded of the words of Voltaire : ' I may disagree with what you say , but I will defend to the death your right to say it , ' "" Strossen said . "" While the  vehemently disagrees with the idea of Nazis torching this building , the principle of freedom of expression must be supported in all cases . If we take away these Nazis ' right to burn down our headquarters , we take away everyone ' s right to burn down our headquarters . ""  Buddy Carver , president of the Georgia chapter of the American Nazi Party , praised the  for taking on his case . "" I would like to thank Ms . Strossen and all the other nigger loving bleeding heart liberals at the '  Jew ' for defending my constitutional right to express my loathing of them with hundred foot high flames , "" said Carver , sporting a tan uniform and swastika arm band . "" We must finish the job Hitler was unable to . ""   associate director Mel Rosenblatt agreed . "" The real danger here is not the American Nazi Party , "" he said . "" The real danger here is what would happen to the rest of us if the Buddy Carvers of this world were not allowed to commit arson against nigger loving , bleeding heart liberal Jew attorneys . ""  Making the case all the more controversial is the neo Nazis ' demand that the  ' s entire 315 person staff be in the building at the time of the blaze . Strongly opposing the request are New York City police commissioner William Bratton , fire chief Ed Holm and mayor Rudolph Giuliani , who said that all 315 will die if trapped in the 47 story building during the blaze .  attorneys responded that they will request a federal appeals hearing if the City of New York attempts to stop them and their fellow  employees from perishing in the Nov . 25 blaze .  "" Yes , my loving wife Linda and three wonderful children , Ben , Robby and Stephanie , will be devastated when I am killed next month , ""  attorney Harvey Gross said . "" But I recognize that , in a very real sense , it would be a victory for Mr Carver and his fellow hatemongers if I did not burn to death , because their terrible message of bigotry and intolerance would be all the more effective if suppressed . ""  The Carver case is one of several controversial legal battles with which the  has been involved this judicial year . In State of California v . Tubbs , the organization defended the right of a San Francisco art gallery to display a piece of performance art in which innocent passersby are shot to death by gunmen . In February , the  went to U . S . Appeals Court to defend the Grand Wizard of the Coahoma County , Mississippi , chapter of the Ku Klux Klan ' s right to beat a black man to death and spray paint ' White Pride ' across his chest .  "" We can have no arbitrary setting of limits when it comes to the Bill of Rights , "" Strossen said . "" The Constitution does not say , ' You have the right to express these opinions , but not those opinions . ' Nor does it say , ' You can express these opinions by word , but not by violence . ' For a free society to work , hatred , in all its forms , must be encouraged . ""  ",satire,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,satire,True,no,no,neutral,past
17647,17648,"New Self Regulatory Body Will Oversee Daily Fantasy Sports Companies  A former Obama administration official will head the board .  Posted : 10 27 2015 05 : 09   Edited : 10 27 2015 07 : 56    Top daily fantasy sports companies have agreed to greater self regulation amid a scandal that has called the industry ' s consumer protections and business practices into question .  The Fantasy Sports Trade Association announced Tuesday that it has created the Fantasy Sports Control Agency , an independent group "" charged with creating a strict , transparent and effective system of self regulation for the businesses that comprise the fantasy sports industry , "" the association said in a release . ?  Seth Harris , the former acting secretary of labor under President Barack Obama , will head the  .  The move toward self regulation comes at an increasingly turbulent time for the daily fantasy sports industry . Top companies have faced major scrutiny since a DraftKings employee inadvertently leaked insider information about online contests earlier this month . An internal investigation cleared the employee , Ethan Haskell , of wrongdoing , but the revelation that he won 350 , 000 playing in a FanDuel contest the same weekend as the leak raised questions about the companies ' ? data controls and consumer protections .  The reason that the  established an independent authority and asked me to lead this organization is to ensure that it s not a sham , that it s not a fake , that it s not just a publicity stunt , Harris told Bloomberg News ? Tuesday . ?  The  will be charged with developing cross company standards , internal controls , auditing policies and enforcement mechanisms to govern the industry , the release said .  Since the scandal began , members of Congress have called for hearings into daily fantasy sports , ? and DraftKings and FanDuel are facing multiple class action lawsuits from users alleging fraud and negligence . State attorneys general have taken an interest in the industry , which is also facing separate investigations from the U . S . Department of Justice and a Florida grand jury into whether companies violated federal and state gambling laws .  "" The  will continue to work closely with state and federal lawmakers and regulators as we develop and implement strong integrity programs , "" Harris said in the release . "" We are confident that an independent control agency can prevent any unethical , dishonest , or unfair behavior . In the process , we can save lawmakers and regulators the cost and effort of intervening so that they can expend their limited resources on bigger and more societally important challenges . ""  DraftKings also expressed its support for the new agency .  "" We are committed to working with the Fantasy Sports Control Agency , the  and all relevant government authorities to ensure that our industry operates in a manner that is completely transparent and fair for all consumers , "" DraftKings co founder and  Jason Robins said in a statement Tuesday . "" E nsuring a level and fair playing field for all players is a fundamental tenet of our company . We believe the Fantasy Sports Control Agency will help our industry establish best practices that further this important goal . ""  ? This story has been updated to include comment from Robins .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
17651,17652,"Judges ' copies of the leading Oscar and Bafta contenders 12 Years A Slave , Gravity and American Hustle have leaked on to the web for illegal download .  The pirated versions of the films appear to have originally been sent to members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences , who decide the winners of the Oscars , and the British Academy of Film and Television Arts . There are around 6 , 000 people in each .  The illicit copy of the sci fi epic Gravity includes the warning : ' This secure screener is on loan for you , the member ' the same message appearing on the films sent to Bafta members towards the end of last year .  Warning : This message appears on an illegal copy of Saving Mr Banks the same note that flashes up on preview copies of movies for people who pick Oscar and  winners  The pirated versions of comedy drama American Hustle include a screen alert that reads : ' For Your Consideration Only . ' And the copy of 12 Years A Slave is marked ' Property of Fox . May not be copied or transferred or sold . '  The three films , which are competing for Best Film at the Oscars and the Baftas , have only just been released into cinemas and are not yet available on  .  Several other award contenders are also available on the same pirate sites , including The Wolf Of Wall Street , Saving Mr Banks and The Hobbit : The Desolation Of Smaug .  The copy of The Wolf Of Wall Street contains the on screen message that this version is ' For Awards Consideration ' .  Many of the films also carry a warning that ' an invisible water mark ' has been embedded in the movie , on the disc and even in the packaging , any of which can be used to identify who it was sent to .  Leaked : American Hustle is one of the films pirated on the web , along with 12 Years A Slave and Gravity  Studios have warned judges that unauthorised distribution of the films could lead to ' civil and criminal penalties ' . They have even advised on how to destroy the DVDs once the awards season has drawn to a close on March 2 .  One Bafta source , who asked not to be named , said : ' Most members take the responsibility very seriously but the problem arises when a film is lent out to a family member or if a family member takes it without permission . '  It cannot be established whether the leak was definitely from Bafta or Oscar voters .  Bodies such as the Screen Actors Guild , which presented its awards last night , are also believed to send out films .  The Mail on Sunday has decided not to identify the pirate sites but some film fans have already tweeted their joy at finding them .  One wrote : ' Bless Awards Screeners ' and another added : ' I down loaded all of em last night , marathon viewing going on . '  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,satire,true,True,no,no,negative,past
17653,17654,"Estate agents , car salesmen and traffic wardens will soon be replaced by robots .  This is according to Dr Maggie Aderin Pocock , a research fellow in  Department of Science and Technology Studies , who has predicted that care for the elderly and even children are among the jobs to be replaced by artificially intelligent beings within the next 50 years .  Her research suggests human workers across a plethora of service sectors and caring professions could be replaced by droids within our lifetimes .  Trustworthy ? Dr Aderin Pocock believes jobs roles such as an estate agent could be replaced with an artificially intelligent robot ( artist ' s impression pictured ) in around half a century  She believes that as the rapid advances in technology achieved this century are projected to continue at an astonishing rate , this will allow robots to break free of science fiction and establish themselves in our everyday life .  According to her research which polled 2 , 000 people about which jobs they thought were most unpopular and could be among the first to be given to robots traffic wardens ( 65 per cent ) , estate agents ( 40 per cent ) and car salesman ( 33 per cent ) could soon be lost to history .  21st century traffic warden : Research showed that images produced droids could give out parking tickets  Dr Alderin Pocock , who carried out her research with television channel Syfy , said : ' All this may seem the stuff of science fiction , but actually when you look more closely , science fiction has often led the way for technology development .  Artificial Intelligence has been described as a threat that could be ' more dangerous than nukes ' .  Now a group of scientists and entrepreneurs , including Elon Musk and Stephen Hawking , have signed an open letter promising to ensure  research benefits humanity .  The letter warns that without safeguards on intelligent machines , mankind could be heading for a dark future .  Stark warning : Professor Stephen Hawking says we must be vigilant about artificial intelligence  The document , drafted by the Future of Life Institute , said scientists should seek to head off risks that could wipe out mankind .  The authors say there is a ' broad consensus ' that  research is making good progress and would have a growing impact on society .  It highlights speech recognition , image analysis , driverless cars , translation and robot motion as having benefited from the research .  ' The potential benefits are huge , since everything that civilisation has to offer is a product of human intelligence we cannot predict what we might achieve when this intelligence is magnified by the tools  may provide , but the eradication of disease and poverty are not unfathomable , ' the authors write .  But it issued a stark warning that research into the rewards of  had to be matched with an equal effort to avoid the potential damage it could wreak .  For instance , in the short term , it claims  may put millions of people out of work .  In the long term , it could have the potential to play out like a fictional dystopias in which intelligence greater than humans could begin acting against their programming .  ' Look at Captain Kirk ' s communicator and tell me that it ' s not a mobile phone and his system probably did less than the latest smartphones we have today . '  Unemployment ? Traditional jobs that humans take could become all but extinct  Dr Aderin Pocock added : ' Which would you prefer to be in the hands of ? An overworked , underpaid , disenfranchised worker doing long hours for minimum pay , or a therapeutic robot designed to respond to your every need and engage with you intelligently no matter how many times you have asked the same question ?  ' Imagine then , that this unit has access to relevant information about an individual ' s past , so it can respond to and converse with the person finding ways to simulate their thinking as well as monitoring vital signs in order to flag changes early . '  The scientist also believes that this technology could filter down to more care based jobs : ' Imagine parents or schools being supported by a dedicated childcare unit your child ' s personal friend and teacher a unit that delivers the right levels of work and play , stimulating our kids to achieve more , ' she added .  Results of the study even hinted that that further advances could also lead to humans investing in android companions .  Nearly half of respondents revealed that advances in technology make them fear for their job in future , with 23 per cent admitting that they think a robot could do their job better or more efficiently than they can .  Robo puss : The poll suggested that we may even turn to technology when seeking companionship  But Dr Aderin Pocock has a more optimistic perspective , she said : ' History has shown that the advance of technology often leaves us free to explore new avenues and we have adapted accordingly . '  She predicts that in the next 50 years many of us will be turning to tourism and some of it will be in space , she anticipates a boom in human space travel where space becomes accessible to all of us .  Dr Aderin Pocock said : ' It is a revolution we have seen before , when the Wright Brothers made their first flight , no one was anticipating Easyjet a mere 100 years later space tourism could go the same way with no frills rockets lifting off to space hotels .  ' Prices come down due to commercial demand in the same way we have seen with computers , mobile phones and airline flights , all of which were once prohibitively expensive . '  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Economy,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
17656,17657,"DURHAM, N. C.  —   As soon as Chris Rock strode onstage here on Monday in the first performance of his   “Total Blackout Tour,” he explained why, nine years after his last   special, he’s pacing stages again: “That’s what alimony will do to you. ” Mr. Rock, who was married for 16 years,  divorced last year, and while his quip had the jackhammer snap that has long made him the best deliverer of punch lines in comedy, the old swagger faded during his     show. Now 52, Mr. Rock, looking trim in casual black pants and jacket, talked about his vanity, insecurities and failures with startling frankness. “I wasn’t a good husband,” he said, standing still, shifting into a quieter register. “I didn’t listen. I wasn’t kind. I cheated. ” Mr. Rock paused as the audience waited for the joke. It arrived eventually, but it did not match the impact of this silent, dramatic beat. In his new set, Mr. Rock appeared to be after something more than laughs. It is rare to see a celebrity discuss his infidelity with the specificity that he did here  —   detailing who and how many  —   but he talked about this in an anguished, searching tone that fans may find surprising. At times, Mr. Rock sounded like a man confessing his sins, turning vulnerability into his latest provocation. Ever since his breakthrough 1996  special, “Bring the Pain”  —   his new set includes giant initials evoking that seminal show  —   Mr. Rock has maintained a secure place in the   pantheon. But in contrast with peers like Bill Burr and Louis C. K. his specials are infrequent enough that every one is a major event. His current show will be released as a special on Netflix, part of a   $40 million deal. His last, “Kill the Messenger,” was recorded during the 2008 election, and it’s hard not to be struck by his cheerful mood then, sounding positively giddy as he pokes fun at John McCain, skewering him as a “war hero who got captured. ” In the recent presidential campaign, Donald J. Trump made the same point about Mr. McCain in similar language, but without the punch line. In the past nine years, the line for transgression has shifted. But Mr. Rock didn’t try to adjust to it. Nor did he approach the recent election with what has become the standard alarm of many comedians. Barack Obama was the anomaly, he argued, while Mr. Trump is a return to business as usual in a conservative country always run by rich white men. “I’m not scared,” Mr. Rock said, looking to the evils of history for comfort. “I’m black. The future is always better when you’re black. ” Comedy is about surprise, and one reason Mr. Rock has been his generation’s finest political   is his ability to consistently go against the grain with conviction. (Unlike some, he always seems to believe the premises of his jokes.) The rise of Mr. Trump, he concluded, taking his critique to a comic extreme, stems from our battle against bullying. “We got rid of bullies,” he said. “When a real one showed up, we didn’t know what to do. ” He also discussed police shootings in an unexpected way, saying that he would think that law enforcement might try to shoot a white kid for once, “just for appearances. ” But he also spent time sympathizing with police officers, describing work that has zero room for error and draws pay that is far too low. If his current social commentary has a common thread, it’s an alertness to how economics colors every issue. “Whole Foods does not say ‘No Blacks Allowed,’” he said. “But a $7 orange does. That’s the new Jim Crow. ” What stood out most about this show, however, was the personal, not the political. Mr. Rock has mostly kept the audience at a distance from his private life. He isn’t the type to dwell on his demons or soul search on a podcast. So it’s a surprise to see him tell jokes about the dark consequences of his addiction to pornography or the excruciating details of family court. This is not his funniest show, but it might be his most compelling, a departure even in its form. The distance between his forceful   persona and the   more thoughtful one he displays in interviews has shrunk a bit  —   and his jokes are more intricate, denser. What remains firm is a lyricist’s gift for concision, boiling down a thought to its comic essence. On bullying: “Pressure makes diamonds. Not hugs. ” Mr. Rock’s comedy has always been happily cynical about marriage, his jokes regarding relationships rooted in regressive stereotypes about men and women. He’s found many laughs in sympathy for men behaving badly, blaming Hillary Clinton for her husband’s cheating and pointing out how O. J. Simpson had to pay steep alimony while his former wife slept with another man. (“I’m not saying he should have killed her, but I understand. ”) When discussing his own marriage, however, he blamed only himself, repeatedly, allowing sadness to creep into his dynamic voice. He also dug into his past, telling a story about his grandmother disparaging poor men that stuck with him for years, and another about his grandfather mocking him for crying. Mr. Rock wants to tell us where he came from, and also where he hopes to go. “I’m trying to get a little bit of religion,” he said, before backtracking: “Not a lot. ” He added that he believes in God, but only a bit. Onstage, Mr. Rock has always had the intonations of a preacher  —   which his grandfather was  —   repeating premises until they sound like incantations. But his real religion is comedy, and at the end of this discussion of his relationship with God, he contrasted the sureness of faith with the questioning nature of a comic. But as comedians go, Mr. Rock has always been one of the most forcefully confident. What’s different is he now sounds more anxious. And while the election and his divorce may have added heaviness to his gait, this evolution may also stem from simply growing older. In a line he repeated over and over on Monday, Mr. Rock explained his spiritual search in the hardheaded pragmatic terms we’ve come to expect from him: “I want to find God before God finds me. ”",true,news,test,US elections,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
17667,17668,"■   Donald J. Trump taps wrestling impresario for Small Business Administration. ■  : “I didn’t do anything to divide” the country. ■ The governor of Iowa is the  ’s choice for ambassador to China. ■ Saving the Dreamers. Linda McMahon, the former chief executive officer of World Wrestling Entertainment, was selected on Wednesday by Mr. Trump to head the Small Business Administration, adding another billionaire to the  ’s affluent stable. “Linda has a tremendous background and is widely recognized as one of the country’s top female executives advising businesses around the globe. She helped grow W. W. E. from a modest   operation to a publicly traded global enterprise with more than 800 employees in offices worldwide,” Mr. Trump said in a statement. Ms. McMahon, a failed Senate candidate from Connecticut, was with her husband Vince one of Mr. Trump’s biggest campaign donors. She contributed $6 million to a “super PAC” supporting Mr. Trump in August and September, according to federal election filings. And, of course, Mr. Trump has shown a great facility for professional wrestling, so the choice makes sense. In an interview with Time for its person of the year issue, and a   with NBC’s “Today” show, Mr. Trump talked tough. ■ He insisted he has nothing to do with the “divided states of America” that Time says he will lead. “When you say divided states of America, I didn’t divide them,” he told NBC. “I’m not president yet, so I didn’t do anything to divide. ” ■ He declined to criticize Rodrigo R. Duterte, president of the Philippines, who is leading a bloody campaign in the streets of Manila against drugs, or even to push back on comparisons between Mr. Duterte and the  ’s promised crackdown on criminal illegal immigrants. “Well, hey, look, this is bad stuff,” Mr. Trump told Time. “They slice them up, they carve their initials in the girl’s forehead, O. K.? What are we supposed to do? Be nice about it?” ■ He rejected United States intelligence conclusions that Russia was behind hacks at the Democratic National Committee and Clinton campaign that boosted his campaign. “I don’t believe it. I don’t believe they interfered,” Mr. Trump said of the Russians. ■ And he again said he would press Boeing on an Air Force One upgrade, though his Twitter order to “cancel” the project seems to have faded. “I’m going to negotiate prices, and the planes are too expensive, and we’re going to get the prices down. ” Representative Keith Ellison said Wednesday he would resign his House seat if he is elected chair of the Democratic National Committee, sweeping away an impediment to his bid for the party post while denying his critics a handy argument against his controversial candidacy. “Whoever wins the D. N. C. chair race faces a lot of work, travel, planning and resource raising. I will be ‘ ’ to meet the challenge,’” Mr. Ellison said in a statement. A range of prominent Democrats have expressed unease about installing a   chairman at the D. N. C. at a time when the party is shut out of power in Washington. But that argument against Mr. Ellison has also served as a   for broader, and more delicate, concerns about the liberal Minnesotan. Some Jewish Democrats are nervous about his past ties to the Nation of Islam and comments about Israel. Haim Saban, one of the party’s biggest donors, said Mr. Ellison would be “a disaster” for Democrats.   Trump sounded more conciliatory toward Boeing on Wednesday after its chief executive promised to help control the cost of a proposed new Air Force One plane. Mr. Trump had tweeted “Cancel Order!” on Tuesday after writing that it could cost over $4 billion to build two of the jets with   communications and security by the  . But in a telephone interview with the Today Show, Mr. Trump said that he had since talked to the Boeing executive, Dennis Muilenburg, saying he was a “terrific guy, and we’re going to work it out. ” Mr. Trump said he would negotiate lower prices or “we’re not going to order them, we’ll stay with what we have. ” Mr. Trump said he had tweeted about the project after hearing the cost estimates. He said he had not seen a Chicago Tribune article citing Mr. Muilenburg’s concerns about his trade policies that was posted shortly before his tweet. For all his talk of punishing China,   Trump has chosen a conciliator with a personal relationship with China’s president to be his ambassador in Beijing. An Iowa governor might seem an unlikely choice for one of the more sensitive diplomatic posts, but Gov. Terry Branstad has ties with China that go back decades. Mr. Branstad, whose selection was first reported by Bloomberg News and confirmed on condition of anonymity on Wednesday by two people with direct knowledge, is close to President Xi Jinping, whom he has known for more than three decades. They met in 1985, when Mr. Branstad was serving his first term as governor of Iowa and Mr. Xi was a    rural official in Hebei Province, studying modern American agriculture, including hog and corn farming in Iowa. Mr. Branstad has courted China as governor, promoting his state’s farm goods. As ambassador, he would be tasked with managing a complex relationship that Mr. Trump has already indicated he is willing to shake up. The  ’s call with Taiwan’s president last week prompted criticism from Beijing, which considers it a breakaway province, and Mr. Trump responded with posts on Twitter attacking China for its trade practices and provocative moves in the South China Sea. Mr. Trump is scheduled to travel to Des Moines on Thursday for a rally. Facing intense pressure over the   “Dreamers,” young people brought to the United States by their undocumented parents and allowed to stay under President Obama, Mr. Trump appears to be softening his stance on whether to deport the more than 700, 000 of them. “We’re going work something out that’s going to make people happy and proud,” Mr. Trump told Time. “They got brought here at a very young age, they’ve worked here, they’ve gone to school here. Some were good students. Some have wonderful jobs. And they’re in   land because they don’t know what’s going to happen. ” Mr. Trump did not go into specifics or say he would reverse his promise to reverse Mr. Obama’s executive actions, including the 2012 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, which protected young undocumented immigrants from deportation. The Dreamers are likely to present Mr. Trump with the first major domestic policy test of administration, as many of his campaign promises clash with more moderate Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill who have implored Mr. Trump not to deny these young adults protective status. Many of Mr. Trump’s top advisers and potential cabinet members, including his nominee for attorney general, Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama, however, oppose Mr. Obama’s executive action on immigration and other measures that would allow undocumented immigrants to stay in the U. S. Mayor Rahm Emanuel of Chicago made the case to Mr. Trump personally on Wednesday. Emerging into the Trump Tower lobby, Mr. Emanuel said: At a breakfast   at Manhattan’s Cipriani 42nd Street, Mr. Trump on Wednesday gave a tantalizing hint at the inaugural festivities to come for a reality    : The helicopter grand entrance. The   said he was paid a visit a day earlier by Mark Burnett, the executive producer of “The Apprentice,” the reality show that helped make the   a household name. Mr. Trump told the crowd that Mr. Burnett proposed reinventing the inauguration with a helicopter taking off from New York City, according to an attendee. Mr. Burnett, who is known for producing shows like “Survivor,” “The Voice” and “Shark Tank” as well, also told Mr. Trump that he should consider a parade up Fifth Avenue. The group planning Mr. Trump’s inauguration has secured about $50 million in pledged donations since it began   in earnest last week, a breakneck pace that promises a glittering event, according to two people involved in the effort. The early success puts Mr. Trump on pace to easily surpass President Obama’s 2009 inauguration, when his finance team raised a record $53 million to fund the inaugural festivities. The group, the Presidential Inaugural Committee, has set a   goal of $65 million to $75 million, though the final figure could well be higher, the two people said. The committee has planned a series of exclusive events around Mr. Trump’s    —   not unlike those planned around past inaugurations  —   to help entice wealthy donors and corporations to open their checkbooks. Evidently, the events are working.   Trump was announced as the Time magazine’s person of the year on Wednesday  —   but with a discordant note. As the magazine’s editor in chief, Nancy Gibbs, put it: Mr. Trump accentuated the positive. “It’s a great honor, it means a lot, especially me growing up reading Time magazine,” he said on the “Today” show on  after the choice was announced. Throughout the campaign, Mr. Trump bragged at rallies about how frequently he was on the magazine’s cover. And hey, last year, he said it would never happen. Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, one of the most conservative Democrats in Congress, says he is trying to find time for a second trip to Trump Tower in New York, this time to see Reince Priebus, tapped to be the next White House chief of staff. “I’m anxious to talk to him,” he said. What Mr. Manchin wants is unclear. Asked if he were open to serving in the cabinet, he answered, “I’m just anxious to help my country and help my state. ” And what an appointment would mean to Mr. Trump is equally unclear. The other red state Democrat being wooed by the Trump transition team, Senator Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota, is a more obvious target. Her seat would be filled by an appointment made by North Dakota’s incoming Republican governor, Doug Burgum, giving Republicans a little more cushion for their narrow Senate majority. Mr. Manchin’s successor would be named by West Virginia’s incoming Democratic governor, Jim Justice. With Hillary Clinton’s lead in the popular vote reaching 2. 7 million votes, the Democrats’ losses are looking increasingly improbable but very real. They are annotated on Twitter by David Wasserman, House editor of the nonpartisan Cook Political Report. History is a game of inches  —   or a few thousand votes in Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.",true,news,test,US elections,US elections,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,past
17671,17672,"Moscow A plot to assassinate Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has been foiled , Russia ' s state run Channel One  reported Monday , less than a week before presidential elections that Putin is expected to win .  Citing unnamed sources , the report said a group of plotters was arrested in the Ukrainian city of Odessa in early January and , after weeks of questioning , confessed to planning to kill the Russian leader .  The  report included what it said was a confession by Adam Osmayev , a fixer associated with the two men who were seized in Odessa .  "" Our final goal was to come to Moscow and try to organize an attempt on Prime Minister Putin , "" Osmayev said .  He said the plan involved using military grade land mines to blow up vehicles .  Channel One showed video of what it said was the raid on Osmayev ' s apartment by armed security officers wearing black bulletproof vests and helmets . The video shows Osmayev , with red marks on his back and bloody bruises on his face , kneeling as officers demand his name .  Ukraine ' s domestic security agency , the  , uncovered the plot after an explosion at an apartment building in Odessa killed one of the plotters and injured another , Channel One said . The survivor tipped them off to Osmayev ' s involvement , the report said .  The plotter who was killed was allegedly willing to be a suicide bomber , and the mission was organized by Chechen militant leader Doku Umarov , Channel One reported .  "" There was a similar alleged plot against him the election before last , "" Andrew Wood said . "" That ' s pretty much ( all ) you need to know . It ' s suspiciously convenient . ""  Putin has dominated Russian politics for more than a decade , and his opponents accuse him of rigging parliamentary elections late last year .  International observers also said that the election was not free and fair , and protests of a size not seen in Russia in two decades followed the vote .  Wood said the protests may have encouraged the Kremlin to say there was a plot against Putin ' s life to build support for him .  "" They ' ve been taken aback by the degree of opposition , "" said Wood , who is now a Russia expert at Chatham House , a think tank in London .  "" Even if he wins this election , which one must assume that he will , it won ' t necessarily mean that he has strong and durable support , "" he said .  Wood did not say outright that he did not believe there was really a plot to kill the prime minister .  "" It ' s conceivable , but it seems improbable . Anything could be true . I can ' t say it ' s not true , "" he said .  Putin ' s spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the Russian news agency Itar Tass that he confirmed the  report but would not comment on it .  The announcement comes a week ahead of this Sunday ' s presidential election .  Putin handed over the presidency to ally Dmitry Medvedev in 2008 , when he was barred from seeking a third consecutive term . After spending four years as prime minister , he announced in December that he would seek the presidency again .  Human rights groups say civil liberties and democratic freedoms have suffered during his rule .  But opponents took to the streets by the thousands after his United Russia party won a narrow majority in December parliamentary elections , which monitors from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe said were "" slanted in favor of the ruling party . ""  The leading opposition candidate in the March 3 vote is Communist Gennady Zyuganov .  Russia ' s third richest man , billionaire New Jersey Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov , and ultranationalist Vladimir Zhirinovsky are also running .  Critics of Putin ' s showed up in the thousands on Sunday in a show of strength ahead of the election . They attempted to complete a circuit of Moscow ' s 15 kilometer ( 9 . 3 mile ) "" Garden Ring "" road but fell short .  The  Novosti news agency quoted police as saying 11 , 000 people turned out Sunday , far below the estimated 34 , 000 needed to complete the human chain .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,satire,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
17675,17676,"Mexican authorities said Monday that they ' ve spotted a troubling immigration trend : large numbers of migrants abandoned at sea by traffickers .  Every month , Mexico ' s navy says it rescues about 150 stranded migrants , left adrift in overloaded boats off the country ' s Pacific coast .  As part of the scam , officials said in a statement , traffickers tell the migrants that there has been an equipment failure and promise to return but never do .  The immigration and maritime authorities said the frequency of that approach about 10 or 12 times per month inspired them to issue a warning on Monday : "" Do not allow yourself to be fooled and put your life at risk by leaving it in the hands of people without scruples whose only goal is obtaining money without caring about the lives of other human beings . ""  Authorities have long warned of the dangers of illegal border crossings , often focusing on perilous desert treks by land .  And in the past five years , maritime border crossings into the United States have become a "" new frontier , "" said David Shirk , a professor of political science at San Diego State University and an expert on Mexico and border security .  "" It ' s a reflection of the fact that is has become significantly more difficult to cross the border by land , "" he said .  That means the Border Patrol and the U . S . Coast Guard will likely need more resources , he said , "" to address not only the illegal activity , but also the different kinds of risks that implies for people who are putting themselves in that situation . ""  "" We ' re likely to see a dramatic increase now in drownings and other kinds of water fatalities and other kinds of danger associated with crossing in the water , "" he said .  The statement from Mexican authorities on Monday suggests that attempted border crossings by boat are drawing increasing concern . But it isn ' t a new phenomenon .  In 2009 , U . S . officials said Mexicans smuggling drugs and migrants into the United States were increasingly turning to the Pacific Ocean for a short sail to the California coast .  "" We ' ve seen a huge spike in smuggling by water , "" Lauren Mack , a spokeswoman for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in San Diego , said in 2009 .  Despite the dangers of border crossings , new figures released by the Pew Research Center on Monday indicate that more than a third of Mexicans surveyed say they would move to the United States if they could .  In a national opinion survey of 1 , 000 Mexicans conducted last month , more than 60 said they would not move to the United States even if they had the means and opportunity to do so , but a "" a sizable minority "" of 35 said they would move to the United States if they could . And 20 said they would emigrate without authorization , according to Pew .  Immigration is expected to be one of the topics on the table when U . S . President Barack Obama travels to Mexico this week .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
17676,17677,"Just seven people were killed despite multiple blasts and a gunfight , and five of them were the attackers themselves , but the brazenness of their siege suggested a new brand of militancy in a country where low level strikes on police are common .  It took security forces about three hours to end the attack near a Starbucks cafe and Sarinah ' s , Jakarta ' s oldest department store , after a team of seven militants traded gunfire with police and blew themselves up .  An Indonesian and a Canadian were killed in the attack . Twenty people , including an Algerian , Austrian , German and Dutchman , were wounded .  "" A group of soldiers of the caliphate in Indonesia targeted a gathering from the crusader alliance that fights the Islamic State in Jakarta , "" the group said in a statement . It added that 15 people were killed .  A member of the police bomb squad unit approaches the scene of an explosion following an attack on a police box in central Jakarta on January 14 , 2016 . ( Reuters photo )  Jakarta ' s police chief told reporters : ""  is behind this attack definitely , "" using a common acronym for the group , and he named an Indonesian militant called Bahrun Naim as the man responsible for plotting it .  Police believe Naim is in the Syrian city of Raqqa .  The drama played out on the streets and on television screens , with at least six explosions and a gunfight in a movie theatre . But the low death toll pointed to the involvement of local militants whose weapons were rudimentary , experts said .  In a sign of public unease , a bang caused by a tyre bursting triggered a bomb scare that sent police cars rushing back to the scene hours after the attack .  "" The Starbucks cafe windows are blown out . I see three dead people on the road . There has been a lull in the shooting but someone is on the roof of the building and police are aiming their guns at him , "" Reuters photographer Darren Whiteside said as the attack unfolded .  Police responded in force within minutes . Black armoured cars screeched to a halt in front of the Starbucks and sniper teams were deployed around the neighbourhood as helicopters buzzed overhead .  Jakarta police chief Tito Karnavian said one man entered the Starbucks cafe and blew himself up , wounding several inside .  As people poured out of the cafe , two waiting gunmen opened fire on them . At the same time , two militants attacked a police traffic post nearby , using what he described as hand grenade like bombs .  After the militants had been overcome , a body still lay on the street , a shoe nearby among the debris . The city centre ' s notoriously jammed roads were largely deserted .  Indonesian policemen with weapons and an armoured vehicle guard in front of a Starbucks cafe at Thamrin business district in Jakarta on January 14 , 2016 . ( Reuters photo )  Indonesia has seen attacks by Islamist militants before , but a coordinated assault by a team of suicide bombers and gunmen is unprecedented and has echoes of the sieges seen in Mumbai seven years ago and in Paris last November .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
17677,17678,"Terryl Gene Peters Sr , 67 , also was sentenced on Friday after raping a seven year old girl in Arizona  The husband of former U . S . Transportation Secretary Mary Peters has been sentenced to 14 years in prison for raping a seven year old girl .  Terryl Gene Peters Sr , 67 , also was sentenced on Friday to lifetime probation for one count of child molestation and two counts of attempted child molestation , according to Maricopa County prosecutors .  Peters pleaded guilty to one count of molestation of a child and two counts of attempted molestation .  Peters , of Peoria , Arizona , was accused of sexually abusing the child in April 2008 .  The allegation was reported to police in June 2012 .  Prosecutors say the victim ' s mother  called Terryl Peters to confront him in a recorded phone call , and he  admitted having sex with the girl .  He was arrested in June 2012 following an investigation .  Mary Peters , 64 , served as the nation ' s transportation secretary from October 2006 until January 2009 as part of George W Bush ' s administration .  At the time of her appointment , Bush said : ' Mary is a dedicated public servant , an experienced leader , and one of our Nation ' s most innovative thinker on transportation issues . '  At the White House : Mary Peters being sworn in as U . S . transport secretary in George W Bush ' s administration from 2006 until 2009  In her role , she was in charge of more than 60 , 000 employees and managed a 70 . 3 billion annual budget .  She considered a run for the Arizona governor ' s post in 2006 but ultimately decided against it .  There was speculation surrounding Mrs  Peters for governor in 2010 but instead she acted as co chair of  incumbent governor Jan Brewer ' s election campaign .  The 64 year old now works as a transportation consultant for national engineering and planning organizations .  She has advocated for leasing U . S . roads and interstates to private companies , a stand that has made her unpopular with labor union .  Shock : Mary Peters husband has been jailed after sexually abusing a child during the period she was serving as  Transportation Secretary  ",true,text,test,Other news1,US elections,satire,true,True,no,no,negative,past
17678,17679,"A Delaware family has been hospitalised after it is believed they were exposed to a toxic pesticide while on holiday in the  Virgin Islands .  Headteacher Steve Esmond , his wife , Dr Theresa Devine , and their two teenage sons fell seriously ill during their stay at the Sirenusa Condominium Resort on the Caribbean island of St . John .  The family were airlifted to separate hospitals in Philadelphia suffering major respiratory trauma , with 11th and ninth grade sons , Sean and Ryan , in critical care .  Headteacher Steve Esmond and his wife , Dr Theresa Devine , were on holiday with their two sons  The family was staying at the 800 a night Sirenusa Condominium Resort on the Caribbean island of St . John  It is believed the harmful chemical was used to disinfect a neighbouring suite at the complex the day the family arrived for their eight night stay , 6ABC reported .  The family ' s attorney , James Maron , said the Esmonds began to have seizures on Friday , and they were taken to island hospitals and airlifted back to the Philadelphia area by Monday .  ' Their conditions , while serious , are stable and improving , ' the attorney said in a statement issued to The News Journal .  ' The boys remain in critical condition . '  The odourless pesticide used inside a suite at the complex was reported to be methyl bromide , which is used to treat mould , insects and rodents .  The Environmental Protection Agency (  ) are investigating whether the family was poisoned by a pesticide  According to the  Environmental Protection Agency , the odourless pesticide can be fatal or cause serious central nervous system and respiratory system damage .  As it is acutely toxic , use of the pesticide is restricted to outdoor use only in the United States .  Investigators confirmed that the chemical was applied ' to deal with indoor bugs , ' said Judith Enck , an administrator for the  , to  Today .  ' Their conditions , while serious , are stable and improving , ' a statement from Maron ' s law office said . ' The boys remain in critical condition . '  Steve Esmond is the administrator of Tatnall Middle School in Wilmington , Delaware , and his wife , Theresa , is a dentist .  Sea Glass Vacations , which acts as a rental agent for several units at Sirenusa Condominium Resort , told 6ABC that it is aware that the family became seriously ill , but that the unit where they stayed was not treated with a pesticide .  It said that pesticide was used to treat the unit immediately below the suite where the Esmonds were staying .  ",true,text,test,Football,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
17694,17695,"Valentino Rossi rolled back the years to win his sixth premier class Australian Grand Prix on Sunday after world champion Marc Marquez ' s cruise to a pole to flag victory was ended suddenly by a crash on lap 18 .  With a second successive MotoGP world title secured in Japan last week , 21 year old Honda rider Marquez looked destined to match Mick Doohan ' s record of 12 race wins in a single season when he led by four seconds .  10 laps from the end , though , his front end was just snatched away from under him and he slithered along the asphalt and onto the trackside grass .  Valentino Rossi celebrates on the podium after marking his 250th MotoGP race with victory in Australia  Seven times world champion Rossi lifts the trophy after the Phillip Island race  The Italian won a ding dong battle with team mate Jorge Lorenzo ( right ) to claim victory Down Under  Newly crowned champion Marc Marquez slides onto the grass on lap 18 as his chances of victory went  Team Honda rider Marquez was unable to continue , allowing Rossi to snatch victory  Seven times world champion Rossi was racing in his 250th premier class grand prix and had won a ding dong battle with team mate Jorge Lorenzo for what he thought would be second place only to claim his first win in Australia since 2005 .  ' It is one of the best , ' said the 35 year old Italian Yamaha rider .  ' To come from third place , to win on the island after 10 years . I ' m very happy . '  Spaniard Lorenzo was second while Briton Bradley Smith was third in a Yamaha sweep , the Oxford rider securing his first podium when compatriot Cal Crutchlow fell off his Ducati riding in second place on the last lap .  Rossi ( No 46 ) leads the field en route to his victory on Phillip Island  Rossi is mobbed by his team and photographers after crossing the finish line in first place  Rossi and Lorenzo celebrate with a couple of magnums of champagne on the podium  Great Britain ' s Bradley Smith took third place on the podium as Yamaha completed a clean sweep  Briton Cal Crutchlow crashed out on the final lap , having been on course for second place  1 . Valentino Rossi ( Italy ) Yamaha 40 : 46 . 405  2 . Jorge Lorenzo ( Spain ) Yamaha 40 : 57 . 241  3 . Bradley Smith ( Britain ) Yamaha 40 : 58 . 699  4 . Andrea Dovizioso ( Italy ) Ducati 41 : 01 . 298  5 . Hector Barbera ( Spain ) Avintia 41 : 16 . 494  6 . Alvaro Bautista ( Spain ) Honda 41 : 16 . 559  7 . Scott Redding ( Britain ) Honda 41 : 16 . 563  8 . Hiroshi Aoyama ( Japan ) Honda 41 : 19 . 571  9 . Alex de Angelis ( San Marino ) Yamaha 41 : 19 . 982  10 . Nicky Hayden ( U . S . ) Honda 41 : 20 . 549  11 . Yonny Hernandez ( Colombia ) Ducati 41 : 25 . 873  12 . Danilo Petrucci ( Italy )  41 : 43 . 089  13 . Michael Laverty ( Britain )  41 : 59 . 218  14 . Mike Di Meglio ( France ) Avintia 42 : 14 . 455  . Cal Crutchlow ( Britain ) Ducati 26 Laps  Tito Rabat had been hoping to wrap up the Moto2 title at Phillip Island but had to settle for third place behind compatriot Maverick Vinales and Swiss Thomas Luthi after an error strewn race .  Spaniard Rabat had needed a victory combined with his team mate Mika Kallio finishing lower than third to take his first title but had to be satisfied with extending his championship lead over the Finn , who was fourth , to an imposing 41 points .  ' I pushed until I made some mistakes , ' said Kalex rider Rabat , who needs to finish in the top six in Malaysia next week to clinch the title . ' So I said to myself , ' try to finish ahead of Mika and think of the championship ' . '   rider Jack Miller gave the locals something to cheer for when he won a thrilling Moto3 race ahead of Marquez ' s brother Alex and cut the Spaniard ' s lead in the title race to 20 points with 50 up for grabs in the final two rounds .  The Australian teenager , who had started eighth on the grid , swept past the Hondas of Marquez and Alex Rins in the final lap to take the chequered flag and leave the Spaniards in second and third place .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,past
17701,17702,"Scott Weiland , the former frontman for the Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver , has died . He was 48 .  The singer ' s manager , Tom Vitorino , confirmed the death to The Associated Press early Friday morning . Vitorino said he learned of Weiland ' s death from his tour manager . He did not provide further details but referenced a statement on Weiland ' s Facebook page .  The statement said Weiland , who was dogged by substance abuse problems throughout his career , passed away in his sleep while on a tour stop in Bloomington , Minnesota .  Weiland ' s current band , Scott Weiland the Wildabouts , had been scheduled to play a show in nearby Medina , Minnesota , according to a local venue ' s website . The website showed the event was canceled . It did not give a reason .  Weiland ' s wife , Jamie Weiland , also confirmed his death to the Los Angeles Times .  "" I can ' t deal with this right now , "" she said , sobbing . "" It ' s true . ""  The singer rose to fame as the frontman of the Grammy Award winning Stone Temple Pilots , whose hits include "" Interstate Love Song , "" "" Plush "" and "" Vasoline . ""  The band broke up in 2003 and Weiland went on to front Velvet Revolver , the supergroup that featured former members of Guns N ' Roses , including guitarist Slash and bassist Duff McKagan . Among that group ' s hits was "" Fall to Pieces . ""  The Stone Temple Pilots eventually reunited in 2008 .  "" The story ' s not finished , "" Weiland told The Associated Press at the time . "" There ' s more to be revealed and more to be told . ""  Weiland had a long string of drug and alcohol related arrests and stints in rehab . In 1995 , he was arrested after deputies found him carrying crack and heroin .  He pleaded guilty to felony heroin possession in 1998 . And his arrests for drug possession and stints in rehab led the Stone Temple Pilots to cancel tour dates and contributed to their 2003 breakup .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
17711,17712,"Gap between priciest , cheapest companies in Stoxx 600 widens  Economic gloom , earnings and bank woes are all contributing  Even before Thursday s selloff in European equities among the worst this year there was evidence investors were growing more skeptical that Mario Draghi s measures would lead to stronger corporate profit results .  While the European Central Bank president had hinted that more stimulus was on the way , investors had increasingly sought the most expensive stocks in the hopes that stable earnings growers such as Spanish retailer Inditex  would prove to be a haven . The result was the biggest gap in at least a decade between the shares of companies with the highest and ? lowest valuations .  Since the  began injecting money into the financial system by purchasing bonds in a policy known as quantitative easing , or  , the region s equities have lost more than 5 percent . Not even a bigger intervention from the  yesterday would have turned the tide , according to Didier Duret at  Amro Bank  .  The divergence in Europe is far beyond  , said Duret , chief investment officer of  Amro s wealth management unit . He says the valuation gap between expensive and cheap shares won t narrow any time soon . There is a very strong fundamental logic behind it , which outweighs anything Draghi does . ? The market is very selective .  The central bank cut one of its key rates yesterday and pledged to both extend and broaden  . But a protracted banking crisis , years of sluggish economic growth and ? miss after miss in earnings have taken their toll on sentiment . The Stoxx Europe 600 Index on Thursday closed 10 percent below the record it reached in April . It slipped another 0 . 4 percent on Friday .  While France s Societe Generale  and Spain s Banco Santander  trade below 10 times estimated earnings , Inditex has a multiple of 33 , near a record , data compiled by Bloomberg show . The priciest fifth of the ? companies in the Stoxx 600 are valued at an average of 37 times estimated earnings more than triple the cheapest shares .  After a swathe of earnings upgrades at the beginning of the year , analysts turned pessimistic in May , according to a Citigroup Inc . indeindexx tracking the number of increases versus cuts to profit estimates . Forecasts for 2016 earnings growth are the second lowest since 1988 at this time of year , Barclays Plc calculations ? show .  Morgan Stanley is echoing the bearish sentiment , ? noting ? regulatory headwinds to bank earnings among contributors to why its strategists expect overall corporate profits to rise just 1 percent next year . ? In a note dated Nov . 29 , ? they cut their allocation to European equities , saying ? an improving ? economy , a lower euro and more stimulus won t be enough to kick start further gains . Banks will probably fare the worst on the earnings growth front next year , estimates compiled by Bloomberg show .  Trading around 10 times projected earnings , lenders are among the cheapest of the 19 industry groups on the Stoxx 600 . ? Their valuations are almost half what they were six years ago . Since they make up 11 percent of the benchmark index , sluggish performance is also bringing down the overall market .  For JPMorgan Asset Management , the extreme divergence signals a buying opportunity for stocks that have lagged since the financial crisis , especially if global growth concerns fade . ? The  Europe Value Index tracking the cheapest , often riskiest companies is now at a  15 year low versus the  Europe Growth Index , which follows companies with a track ? record of improving earnings even when times are tough .  If cyclicals just get a piece of good news , then they could really be the surprise performers next year , said Stephen Macklow Smith , the London based head of European equity strategy at JPMorgan Asset , which manages 1 . 7 trillion . He recommends stocks geared toward the European recovery , such as food retailers and some financials . Europe has attractive valuations , an improving economy and profit growth : whatever happens in the short term , markets will be making headway again in the next three months .  The Stoxx 600 s valuation of about 15 times estimated profits is still lower than the multiple of 16 for the Standard Poor s 500 Index .  But ? disappointing profit growth , the lack of corporate investment , and fears of another economic downturn are made worse by the  s moves , according to ? Saxo Bank A S s Teis Knuthsen . The central bank  cut its inflation outlook for the next two years yesterday because the recovery isn t picking up quickly enough .  There s a strong narrative that the economic performance is subpar , said Knuthsen , chief investment officer at Saxo s private banking unit . There s so little confidence in the European recovery story that even the bulls are buying high . ?  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Economy,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
17712,17713,"The father of the man charged with brutally murdering four people at a Washington mansion calls the crime ' egregious and heartless ' and hopes whoever committed the crime ' will suffer the consequences ' .  Dennis Wint said in a statement that it pains him that his son , Daron , is charged , but he doesn ' t discuss his son ' s guilt or innocence .  Daron Wint is charged with first degree murder in the deaths of parents Savvas and Amy and 10 year old Philip Savopoulos , along with housekeeper Veralicia Figueroa .  Dennis Wint ( left ) said in a statement that it pains him that his son , Daron ( right ) , is charged , but he doesn ' t discuss his son ' s guilt or innocence  This is the moment Wint was arrested on Thursday night after police tailed his car for five miles  Company  Savvas Savopoulos , 46 , his wife Amy , who were found murdered in their Washington D . C . mansion two weeks ago , were remembered in an obituary  Slain : Philip Savopoulos , ten , left , was also found dead with housekeeper Veralicia Figueroa , 57 , right  Authorities say in court papers that they believe others were involved . Wint is the only person charged currently .  As first reported by The Washington Post , Dennis Wint says his family and friends grieve the ' tragic and senseless loss ' but they didn ' t know the victims .  He also says ' we hope that whoever committed these heinous crimes my son included will suffer the consequences of their actions . '  The Savopoulos family is being described as always willing to help those less fortunate .  Savvas Savopoulos , 46 , his wife Amy , their 10 year old son Philip and housekeeper Veralicia Figueroa were slain in their home after being held captive for 18 hours on May 14 .  Ex convict Wint has since been charged in connection with their deaths after he allegedly tortured Mr Savopolous into getting a 40 , 000 ransom delivered to the home .  They are now being remembered in a touching and poignant obituary that recalls the last time Phillip and his two sisters , Abigail and Katerina , were together watching Finding Nemo .  ' They are remembered for their devotion to family and charitable efforts for the less fortunate , ' read the obituary in The Washington Post .  Abigail and Katrina were away at boarding school at the time of the tragedy .  ' Abigail and Katerina doted on their little brother Philip . The three siblings took an active interest in each of the others lives and were always eager for opportunities to spend time together , ' reads the obituary .  ' Watching movies together was a favorite pastime . Most recently the three cuddled together to watch a favorite movie , Finding Nemo .  ' This was a family that maintained an unusually close bond for each other and for those less fortunate . '  The obituary also says that the martial arts center that was set to open the day after the murders was part of a lifelong dream .  Police vehicles are seen outside the 4 . 5 million fire damaged home where the family and their housekeeper were found killed a two weeks ago in Washington ,   The four bodies were found on the burned out second floor of the home , which smelled like gasoline , according to court documents  ' His love for the martial arts started at the young age of seventeen and it was his dream to have a Japanese style center both in architecture and spirit of teaching traditional Japanese martial arts , ' it reads .  As for the mother of the family ' Amy was extremely charismatic and had a huge heart .  ' To her family and many friends , Amy represented the same loyalty and devotion , integrity , compassion , and courage as Savvas values and behaviors they instilled in their children . '  The family ' s funeral is taking place at the St . Sophia Greek Orthodox church they regularly attend at noon on June 1 . Amy and Savvas were known in their local community for being active in a number of charities .  They were known in their neighborhood as regular parishioners and maintained strong ties with Greece .  According to charging documents , Wint and his alleged accomplices held the American Iron Works  and his family captive for at least 18 hours in their home on Embassy Row , near Joe Biden ' s property .  Police believe Wint , a former American Iron Works employee , captured the family at around 6pm . Two pizzas were delivered to the property at 9 . 15pm . At 9am the next day , Mr Savopoulos called his assistant asking that 40 , 000 be withdrawn from his Bank of America account and delivered to the house .  By midday , the house was ablaze . The affidavit says Mr and Mrs Savopoulos and Ms Figueroa were stabbed to death , Philip died in the fire .  Police identified Wint as a suspect after finding a half eaten pizza at the scene , with his  on the crust .  Wint was arrested on Thursday , a week after the quadruple homicide , after reportedly paying a New York taxi driver 1 , 000 to drive him back to the capitol from Brooklyn , where he was staying with his girlfriend .  Police attempted to detain Wint at a motel in Prince George ' s County , Maryland , but when they arrived he was in a vehicle bound for D . C . , driving in convoy with a box truck .  The officers followed the convoy for five miles before cornering the vehicles and detaining Wint along with four others , who have since been released .  Domino ' s told police their delivery worker arrived at the property at 9 . 15pm with two pizzas a whole cheese and a pepperoni .  The worker was instructed to leave the pizzas on the porch , ring the doorbell and leave .  The next day , after fire fighters were called to the burning home , detectives found the whole cheese pizza untouched , and about three quarters of the pepperoni pizza left half eaten in the box .  It was by running tests on this pizza that detectives found Wint ' s  and named him as the prime suspect .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
17714,17715,"President Barack Obama has turned off large parts of America through radicalism , incompetence and political ineptness . As my friend Barry Casselman argues , "" Obama has the worst political tin ear I ' ve seen at that level . ( I realize he thinks he is bringing out his base vote ) . But he ' s almost daring most Americans to turn against him . "" My prediction for midterm election night this coming Tuesday is that many Americans are going to take the President up on his dare .  Of course , nothing is over until it ' s over . Hard campaigning and a few changes in the news can shift races , and there are a lot of races within the margin of error in polling . However , as my colleague Joe Gaylord , with whom I worked on campaigns for 30 years , points out : "" In tidal years everything collapses against the losers the last weekend . "" He remembers races in 1982 where our incumbent was up by 10 points on Friday and lost on Tuesday .  My take is that this is going to be a tide if not a tidal wave . Why ? Because in most races , Democrats will stay home , Republicans will vote and independents will break heavily against the Democrats . Recent polls indicate the younger voters ( millennials ) are likely to break Republican after two massive victories for Obama in that age group . Latinos seem much more favorable to Republicans than many expected and much less likely to turn out for Democrats . Meanwhile , the margin for Democrats among women has shrunk dramatically , and in some races Republicans are now carrying both men and women ( and that really would create a tidal wave ) .  And while the African American community remains the most loyal to President Obama , even there a fight has been developing . Some new ads appealing to African Americans to leave the Democratic Party are stirring up a lot of attention , so it will be fascinating election night to watch for African American turnout and for a small but real increase in the Republican vote among African Americans ( note , for example , Gov . John Kasich ' s endorsement by a leading African American newspaper in Ohio ) .  Overall , I think Republicans will gain six to 10 Senate seats , with 10 being more likely than six . Actually , winning more than 10 ( think New Mexico , Virginia , Minnesota in that order ) may be more likely than winning five or less . If Scott Brown , who has run a brilliant race , beats Sen . Jeanne Shaheen in New Hampshire ( and she has run a terrible race ) it will signal a big night for Republicans .  A key question is whether Republicans win Georgia outright , or have to win a special election on January 6 , three days after the new Congress assembles . That turnout is made more complicated if the governor ' s race also goes into a runoff , which would be December 10 , and it will be very hard for Democrats to win a turnout fight immediately after New Year ' s .  Louisiana will almost certainly go to a runoff , and the Republican will almost certainly win on December 6 .  In the House , Republicans will likely gain seven to 14 seats . Since they start at 234 seats , a 12 seat gain would match the 1946 post World War  high point . If they grab 14 seats , they would have more seats than at any time since 1928 .  Governorships are a mixed bag , and so intensely local that I really don ' t have a good read on what is likely to happen . Republicans start the evening ahead 29 to 21 , and they could add Massachusetts , Connecticut , Colorado , Arkansas and Illinois . However , there are four or five states where the Republican incumbent is embattled and in a very close race . If Republicans break even or add one or two governors , I think we could describe it as a very good night for the party .  At the state legislative level , which has huge implications for the growth of young , future lawmakers , the ability to experiment with new solutions at the state level , and control of congressional reapportionment , look for the Republicans to gain 300 state legislative seats and control of six more legislative bodies , giving them the all time high mark in Republican history .  But more than the raw numbers , it will be interesting to keep an eye on some specific trends . New England , for example , might see a big resurgence of the  . If Republicans win governorships in Massachusetts and Connecticut and the Senate race in New Hampshire , something big will clearly be happening .  Another trend could be the election of new solution oriented , bright and articulate Republican senators . Ben Sasse in Nebraska has been ignored because he is so clearly going to win , but he will be one of the most intellectually prepared conservatives since Bob Taft . Cory Gardner will be a superstar if he wins Colorado , while Iowa ' s Joni Ernst has already become a national figure . Former Massachusetts Sen . Scott Brown , now running in New Hampshire , will have earned star status by winning in two states .  All that said , Florida may be the hardest fought campaign in the country . Gov . Rick Scott has been a very successful manager of the state , but is not a natural politician . Former Gov . Charlie Crist is a great politician , but his swings from Goldwater Republican to Obama Democrat have made it impossible to predict what kind of governor he would be now . This race has so much money going into it , and is so intense , that it is extremely difficult to predict what will happen on Tuesday . A Scott win would be a signal that Democrats simply are refusing to turn out . A Crist win would be a signal that the Democratic machine has been able to mobilize apathetic and disappointed voters .  One last thing to keep an eye on next week : exit polling on women , Latinos , Asian Americans , African Americans and millennials . If Democrats are losing ground in most or all of those groups , the coronation of Hillary Clinton may have to be postponed for a while . And if all the harsh Democratic advertising fails , it may be a sign , as Molly Ball suggests in The Atlantic , that "" cranky social issues warriors "" whose campaigns are "" obsessed with social issues "" may now be defining Democrats and not Republicans .  Looking beyond the election , there are two big questions , namely , how will President Obama react to the results , and what will Republicans do ?  Certainly , the President and his team will face a clear choice : Do they follow Woodrow Wilson ' s response to the 1918 election and hide in a bunker , using executive orders and defying the new Congress ? Or do they follow President Eisenhower ' s example after the 1958 election and find a way to work with the opposition party ' s congressional leadership ?  We may not know the answer to this until the State of the Union and the budget proposals early next year . But Republican leaders have a unique opportunity to fill a vacuum of ideas and hope , and already people like Speaker John Boehner , House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Sen . Marco Rubio have been outlining positive agendas .  But Barry Casselman perhaps caught as well as anyone the challenge facing Republicans , when he wrote :  "" Let us not forget that the energy of this wave has been provided by the incompetence of Barack Obama and his overreaching allies across the nation . The Republicans , if they win , will now need to put forward new ideas . Otherwise , victory next Tuesday will be an empty one . ""  Republicans need new ideas . But they also need to be able to put those ideas into action .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
17715,17716,"S . C . Disgraced former Gov . Mark Sanford celebrated his incredible comeback election Tuesday by going on a five county rampage of arson and murder because in South Carolina that ' s still not as bad as being a liberal .  "" I just killed a man with my bare hands . "" an amazed Sanford told a raucous group of Republican supporters moments after winning over , and marauding through , the 1st Congressional District . "" But then again , I ' m not a Democrat . So , are we cool ?  "" You can shoot my grandma if you stop Obamacare . "" shouted one supporter .  "" My sister is all yours if you oppose gay marriage . "" yelled another .  "" Consider it done , "" Sanford replied . "" No , I mean it . I already did her . ""  Sanford , who as governor repeatedly cheated on his wife , lied to the public , took private travel at government expense , and abandoned his post for a week to have sex with his mistress in Argentina , nevertheless won a special election for a U . S . House seat over Elizabeth Colbert Busch who , while a successful business executive and single mother with no known moral lapses , was a Democrat .  While the race was fairly close at 54 to 45 percent , observers said the campaign pledges separated victor from loser . Colbert Busch promised constituents she would be independent and moderate . Sanford told constituents he would "" steal their trucks , kill their dogs , and stop Nancy Pelosi . ""  "" In South Carolina , "" explained political consultant Drew Parnell , "" voters heard that last bit as , Bla bla bla , bla bla bla , Nancy Pelosi . "" '  Still basking in the glow of victory blood on his suit , Sanford said he was humbled by the electorate ' s decision to put politics ahead of probity no matter what he does .  "" I am a flawed man but , by the grace of God , I am a forgiven man , one who will spend the next two years fighting on your behalf , "" he said . "" Although technically I ' ll be spending the next two years backpacking in Venezuela with transvestite hookers . ""  ",satire,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,satire,True,no,no,negative,past
17719,17720,"In an unsettling attempt to increase brand visibility and broaden its demographic appeal , the General Mills corporation unveiled a new backstory for its iconic Honey Nut Cheerios bee character Monday , giving the cartoon insect a traumatic personal history of childhood abuse in a foster home .  Calling the psychologically intense new narrative a "" fresh and interesting twist on a beloved character , "" General Mills said it would unveil a series of  , web , and print ads relating , often in graphic detail , the Honey Nut Cheerios mascot ' s separation from his drug addicted parents at a young age , as well as his near constant emotional and physical suffering at the hands of a controlling , fundamentalist Christian foster father .  "" Our customers have always loved Honey Nut Cheerios mascot BuzzBee , and we figured such an iconic character deserved a rich backstory that people would enjoy following along with , "" said General Mills representative Gina Ripp , adding that the animated bee ' s cheerful appearance would remain the same , but would mask "" deep inner turmoil stemming from the crucial early years of his personal development . "" "" He still loves Honey Nut Cheerios , with its 12 essential vitamins and minerals , but now his love is complicated , perhaps fed , by the feelings of self hatred he acquired as a ritually abused foster child in suburban Indiana . ""  In a commercial now airing nationally , the public gets its first glimpse of the reimagined mascot ' s troubled past as he explains to a family that they should enjoy a breakfast of Honey Nut Cheerios because sweet honey and oats are what he used to distract his mind with whenever his foster father , Ray , would make BuzzBee face the basement wall and receive lashes across his back and wings with a length of cable wire . The family in the commercial then eats the cereal , greatly improving the bee ' s mood .  According to company reps , subsequent ads will contain details about BuzzBee ' s submissive foster mother ' s refusal to acknowledge the abuse , his first nonconsensual sexual experiences involving his imposing older foster brother Craig , the 3 grams of healthy soluble fiber in Honey Nut Cheerios , and his struggles with emotional and physical intimacy as an adult .  "" We ' re planning to roll out his story with a series of ads over the next three years , which makes sense character wise , because clearly someone this damaged would never vent his psychosexual wreckage all at once he ' s too repressed , "" Ripp said of the colorful cartoon bee used to advertise the honey and almond flavored breakfast cereal . "" Besides , I think people will look forward to a long journey of really getting to know him slowly over time . ""  "" And it will really pay off when we reveal that BuzzBee started self medicating heavily in high school , "" Ripp added .  The company also excitedly announced a series of new Honey Nut Cheerios box designs featuring stories and puzzles relating to the revamped character arc , including a maze game in which BuzzBee must escape to a classmate ' s hive on the other side of town when he fears his foster father is going to come home from work angry that night , as well as a word scramble in which one must find the "" happy word "" BuzzBee would tearfully whisper to himself whenever he heard his foster father ' s footsteps on the basement stairs .  So far , customer reaction to BuzzBee ' s rebranding has been mixed . In a poll of consumers , a majority found the insect ' s often wrenching biography to be odd and upsetting , while others were simply confused as to why a backstory was necessary at all .  "" I guess I ' ve always just eaten the cereal without really thinking about what the bee guy ' s backstory was , "" Honey Nut Cheerios consumer Brandon Faulkner said . "" If anything , I assumed he was just , like , a bee who liked honey or something , not whatever this weird new story is . ""  "" But the cereal still tastes good , "" Faulkner added .  At press time , General Mills confirmed it would take the same approach with Cinnamon Toast Crunch , explaining that the disappearance of the second and third chef mascots was a result of fratricide by the first .  ",satire,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,satire,True,no,no,negative,past
17721,17722,"Reuters) - U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders’ tax and benefit plans would raise income for most Americans but his proposal for single-payer healthcare would help generate record federal deficits, two Washington think tanks said on Monday.  An analysis by the Tax Policy Center said that although most people would pay higher taxes under Sanders’ plan, the average household income would increase by nearly $4,300 in 2017 after his proposed benefits were factored in.  Those benefits include an expansion of the Social Security government pension plan, paid family leave and free tuition at public colleges, ideas that have generated support for Sanders, a U.S. senator from Vermont, as he seeks to become the Democratic nominee for the Nov. 8 presidential election.  Only the wealthiest 5 percent of households would end up paying more in new taxes than they got back in benefits, according to the center, a joint effort run by two Washington-based think tanks, the Urban Institute and the Brookings Institution. But Sanders’ plans would also increase federal deficits to “unprecedented levels,” the center said, relying largely on a new estimate of the cost of his healthcare proposals published on Monday in a separate analysis by the Urban Institute.  Sanders has proposed a single-payer healthcare system, a more significant overhaul than the tweaks that Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton wants to make to the Affordable Care Act, a signature policy achievement of Democratic President Barack Obama. The Urban Institute estimated Sanders’ healthcare plan would require an increase in federal spending of $32 trillion over the next decade but that new revenue sources proposed by Sanders only covered just under half of that amount.  The overall result would be an increase in annual federal budget deficits by $18 trillion over the next decade, the Tax Policy Center said.  Warren Gunnels, Sanders’ policy director, called the new cost estimate “wildly” overestimated in a statement on Monday. He said the analyses were wrong to assume that state and local governments would stop their own spending on healthcare, thereby shifting $4.1 trillion in costs to the federal government.  Gunnels said the reports also underestimated what the Sanders campaign forecast would be trillions of dollars in savings in administration, paperwork and drug prices seen in other Western countries with single-payer systems. The Sanders campaign has estimated that his proposed healthcare system would save more than $6 trillion over the next 10 years, compared with the current system. ",true,dataset,test,US elections,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
17731,17732,"As well as fancying himself as a boxer , Wayne Rooney believes he is the finest singer at Manchester United .  Rooney was subjected to an unwanted set of headlines on Sunday after apparently being knocked out by Phil Bardsley during a sparring session in the kitchen of his Cheshire mansion .  The England and United captain did not seem unsettled by the episode , scoring a fine goal in a 3 0 rout of Tottenham and then engaging in some celebratory shadow boxing .  Rooney took part in a ' Chevrolet  hosts Man Utd in Google Hangout ' on Monday , which was full of light hearted exchanges and made no mention of his boxing .  When Rooney , who was sitting between Michael Carrick and Ander Herrera and apparently at Old Trafford , was asked who the best singer is at the club , he replied : ' Probably me .  ' Over Christmas a few of the players got up and did a few songs . Quite good some of them . Michael ' s not bad . ' Herrera said of Carrick : ' He ' s humble , but he ' s the best . '  Wayne Rooney mocked recent headlines with a ' knockout ' celebration at Old Trafford on Sunday  Paul Gascoigne , scoring at Euro 96 , was Rooney ' s favourite English footballer and hero growing up  The host then asked Rooney what songs he liked to sing .  ' Opera , ' Rooney said , before adding : ' Only joking . I like to sing a bit of indie rock . '  There was a slight sneer when it was suggested , tongue in cheek , that Rooney would be asked to sing later in the Hangout , something which did not materialise .  Rooney was asked who his favourite English footballer and hero was growing up .  His answer was Paul Gascoigne , a player who also attracted tabloid attention for his off field antics as much as his on field displays .  Rooney added : ' I think he ' s probably still to this day the greatest English player . For excitement and goals , he was my favourite player . '  Michael Carrick ( second left ) heads Manchester United 2 0 up against Tottenham on Sunday  Carrick is congratulated on his goal by his United team mates during the 3 0 win at Old Trafford  Asked what it was specifically about Gascoigne that Rooney liked , he said : ' His ability to turn games round on their head and produce magical moments . He was a perfect entertainer on the pitch . '  A number of other questions were Rooney related .  Told only one player had scored more penalties for United than Rooney , the skipper conferred with Carrick and Herrera before saying : ' We think it ' s Dennis Irwin . '  Asked how confident they were in their answer on a scale of one to 10 ? Rooney replied ' 11 ' .  Wayne Rooney applauds the Old Trafford crowd after his side consolidated their place in the league top four  But they were wrong . The correct answer was Ruud van Nistelrooy with 28 penalties .  Asked how many he had scored , Rooney said : ' I ' ve no idea . '  The next Rooney related question was about the percentage of his 229 United goals scored at Old Trafford .  ' We think 58 ( per cent ) , ' Rooney said . The correct answer was 54 per cent .  Rapid fire questions followed for Dwight Yorke , co hosting the event in London in front of a live audience .  Ander Herrera ( left ) has impressed in midfield for United since signing from Athletic Bilbao in the summer  Rooney asked : ' What was the score on your Manchester United debut ? '  Yorke was correct in answering a 0 0 draw at West Ham .  Rooney ' s next question was , ' Can you spell Januzaj backwards ? '  Yorke was right , with Rooney saying , ' Yes , well done . '  Asked if it surprised him that Yorke was correct , Rooney said : ' Knowing Dwight the way I do , it actually did surprise me . '  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
17741,17742,"Bernie Sanders is on fire, especially after this weekend s resounding victories in Washington, Alaska, and Hawaii, which  have propelled the Democratic presidential hopeful s campaign to unprecedented momentum as the Democratic primary moves forward. Speaking in front of a crowd of thousands in Wisconsin on Saturday, Sanders said:  Let me begin by thanking the people of Alaska for giving us a resounding victory tonight. We are making significant inroads in Secretary Clinton s lead and we have with your support coming here to Wisconsin, we have a path toward victory. Alright, are you ready for a news alert? We just won the state of Washington. The crowd then erupted. Now, there s a new ad that celebrates those weekend victories with Bernie dancing to the tune of the song The bird is the word, which plays off of the bird that landed on a podium earlier in the week while Sanders was speaking in Portland, Oregon, hence the new nickname Birdie Sanders. The ad highlights the landslide victories in Washington and Alaska on Saturday, and Idaho and Utah earlier in the week.The victories are quite impressive because of the sheer number of voters who overwhelmingly supported Sanders. In Idaho, he won with 78% of the vote. While in Utah he received 79%, Alaska 81%, Washington 72%, and Hawaii with 70%.The Sanders  campaign definitely seems to be gaining momentum towards the possibility getting the Democratic nomination. It will be interesting to see how this may help him going forward through upcoming primaries.Watch video here: [youtube weblink image via video screenshot.",fake,dataset,test,US elections,Economy,fake,fake,True,no,no,positive,present
17742,17743,"The five candidates to watch in  debate  Ten top Republican presidential candidates to debate for two hours  Will Donald Trump be smiling after Wednesday s Republican presidential debate ? Cheryl Senter   Ben Carson is about to confront his first big test as a Republican star . Jeb Bush is battling for his political life . Marco Rubio s on everyone s list of candidates who can soar , and Donald Trump is , well , Donald Trump .  They re the ones to watch Wednesday night as the Republican presidential nomination race begins a new , crucial phase . Ten leading contenders will debate Wednesday for two hours , starting at 8 p . m .  , at the University of Colorado s Coors Events Center . They ll meet again Nov . 10 in Milwaukee .  will host this week s debate , billed as Your Money , Your Vote : The Presidential Debate on the Economy .  The debate is likely to have a more serious tone than previous encounters . With the first votes , in the Iowa caucuses , less than 100 days away , voters are getting serious . While polls say most have not made a final decision on a candidate , they re looking hard at the choices not just as outlets for their frustrations , but as potential presidents .  The retired neurosurgeon is this month s one to watch . He s jumped ahead of Trump in Iowa and his support is very broad , said Ann Selzer , a Des Moines based pollster . He s ahead nationwide in a  News New York Times survey released Tuesday . But the survey also found big majorities of Republicans haven t completely made up their minds .  Wednesday , Carson faces a new and perhaps daunting challenge . Trump has begun criticizing him , and others are likely to pile on . Carson usually dismisses the barbs in his gentle , quiet way . But the public is still learning about Carson , and traditionally , negative information helps define little known candidates ? and can sink them .  Carson has a 28 percent to 19 percent lead over Trump in the latest Bloomberg Politics Des Moines Register Poll of likely Iowa Republican caucus goers .  The real estate mogul s summer of triumph is turning into an uncertain fall . He can no longer promote himself as the clear front runner , and his numbers have barely moved for some time .  His biggest need at the debate will be to regain some momentum and broaden his appeal by getting more specific about his plans for governing . It ll be hard , because his negatives are unusually high for a major candidate . Trump s gotten attention at past debates because of his quips and insults . This time he ll be asked for specifics , particularly on his tax plan . Unveiled last month , it would lower individual and corporate income taxes .  His lackluster campaign and often bland style have cost him . It s too early to count Bush out , since he and his supporters have raised more than 100 million , and Bush has a strong command of the issues and a battle tested political network .  He needs to stand out Wednesday . Watch for an issue , perhaps immigration , perhaps taxes , where he can talk with authority about what he did in Florida , where he was governor , and what he would do as president .  7 . 2 Bush s average showing in Oct . 10 18 national polls of Republicans , good for fifth place , as compiled by RealClearPoliticsweblink .  The senator from Florida is like the athlete who hasn t played in the big game yet but has enormous potential . Rubio is behind Trump and Carson in most national polls , yet positioned to become the mainstream voters front runner .  First , he has to deliver . Rubio , 44 , the youngest Republican candidate , needs to show some gravitas and overcome his lack of government experience . He needs to demonstrate self assurance when discussing policy , notably immigration . Rubio had backed a path to citizenship for undocumented aliens and later took a tougher line .  Fiorina was the star of the last debate , but any momentum has fizzled . Kasich , the governor of Ohio , got some attention in New Hampshire but has also stalled .  The potential for Fiorina to shine Wednesday night is probably higher , particularly since Hillary Clinton has solidified her status as the Democratic front runner .  When Republicans see her , they like her , Stuart Rothenberg , a nonpartisan political analyst , said of the former Hewlett Packard  .  7 Fiorina and Kasich were tied at that level among Republicans in the Oct . 15 18 Bloomberg Politics Des Moines Register Poll .  Since economic issues are expected to dominate the discussion , Sen . Rand Paul of Kentucky is well positioned for a decent night . He s been an outspoken Federal Reserve Board critic , charging that it is now in every nook and cranny of banking with unprecedented regulatory powers and no congressional oversight .  Others are struggling to break through . Sen . Ted Cruz of Texas is trying to woo a constituency busy flirting with Carson and to some extent Trump . Chris Christie , the governor of New Jersey , is aiming for a breakthrough in the New Hampshire primary , a week after the Iowa caucuses , while Mike Huckabee , the former governor of Arkansas , seeks a similar opening in Iowa .  Their biggest challenge could be getting noticed . At the last debate , Christie went 32 minutes without being called on .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
17751,17752,"Scientists ' path to usable Zika vaccine strewn with hurdles    : Love visual aspect of news ? Enjoy this exclusive slideshows treat !   : The world is once again asking scientists and drugmakers to come up rapidly with a vaccine for a viral disease that , in the latest case , few people had heard of until a few weeks ago , and even fewer feared .  Making a shot to generate an immune response against Zika virus , which is sweeping through the Americas , shouldn ' t be too hard in theory . However , producing a safe , effective and deliverable product to protect women and girls who are at risk is not easy in practice .  For a start , scientists around the world know even less about Zika than they did about the Ebola virus that caused an unprecedented epidemic in West Africa last year .  Ebola , due to its deadly power , was the subject of bioterrorism research , giving at least a base for speeding up vaccine work . This time , the knowledge gap is more daunting .  There are just 30 mentions of Zika in patents , against 1 , 043 for Ebola and 2 , 551 for dengue fever , according to Thomson Reuters Derwent World Patents Index . And there have been only 108 high profile academic papers on Zika since 2001 , against more than 4 , 000 on Ebola , as found in the Web of Science .  Still , the  National Institutes of Health , the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Butantan Institute in Brazil have started work on potential candidates for a Zika vaccine , and several biotech firms are in the race .  They include NewLink Genetics , which helped develop the first successful Ebola vaccine with Merck Co .  Importantly , there is now a "" big gun "" vaccine maker with skin in the game : Sanofi ' s said on Tuesday it will launch a Zika vaccine programme , a day after the World Health Organization declared the disease and its suspected links to birth defects an international health emergency .  Canadian researcher Gary Kobinger told Reuters he believes an experimental Zika shot might be able to be used on a limited emergency basis as soon as late 2016 , although full regulatory approval will take years .  Ben Neuman , an expert on viruses at Britain ' s University of Reading , says there are many hurdles ahead . "" To be useful , a Zika vaccine would need to be effective and safe , but it ' s difficult to do both , "" he told Reuters . "" It ' s a balancing act . ""  That ' s because a good vaccine works by provoking the immune system into a strong response but not enough to make a person sick and there is no simple way to assess the right immune response for Zika , according to one drug company expert .  Zika infection is so mild in the vast majority of cases that its victims are unaware they are even infected , so this group of potential patients is unlikely to need or want immunisation .  The crucial target group is women who may be pregnant , since the disease ' s greatest suspected threat is the possible link to severe birth defects .    All of this makes developing and testing a vaccine highly complex , especially since pregnant women are often excluded from clinical trials until the safety of new drugs or vaccines is well established in other population groups .  It also makes for an uncertain and potentially limited market for any Zika vaccine .  Assuming Sanofi or another company succeeds in developing one , the vaccine may be used only in teenage girls protecting them before they are likely to become pregnant in countries and regions where Zika carrying mosquitoes thrive .  "" It ' s a public health good initiative , it ' s not necessarily a commercial initiative , "" said Berenberg Bank analyst Alistair Campbell . "" Zika is something that has cropped up suddenly and may well dissipate , so there may not be a sustainable annual cohort of patients for vaccination . ""  Still , the  and other public health authorities will be relieved that one of the world ' s top drugmakers has pledged to work on a vaccine .  GlaxoSmithKline is also investigating Zika and a spokeswoman reiterated on Tuesday it is concluding feasibility studies to see if its vaccine technology might be suitable .  Ultimately , developing vaccines is a question of priorities , as evidenced by a patchy pattern of protection against a range of mosquito borne viruses over the past 80 years .  The first dengue vaccine , from Sanofi , was approved in December after 20 years ' work .  Work on other mosquito borne diseases such as West Nile fever and chikungunya is still underway .  One idea for tackling Zika is to adapt vaccine prototypes for dengue and West Nile , using them as a "" platform "" for the Zika virus . But even this approach would not be simple .  "" For most viruses , there are lots of ways to make a somewhat effective vaccine , but the most effective vaccines target several parts of the virus in different ways , "" said Neuman .  Multiple targets give the immune system more options , meaning more people are able to develop immunity . Yet an effective vaccine in most people may pack too much punch for others , with the potential to trigger birth defects .  "" It ' s big concern , "" Neuman said . "" And at this stage we just don ' t know . ""  Stay on top of business news with The Economic Times App . Download it Now !  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Economy,satire,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
17752,17753,"Brave members of the public took a rare opportunity to walk across the iconic Sage Gateshead roof this weekend .  Climbing to twice the height of the Angel of the North , the intrepid roof walkers carefully tread on the steel panel shell of the landmark building , situated on the south bank of the River Tyne , taking in the magnificent Newcastle and Gateshead quayside under beautiful blue skies .  The unique ' Roof Walk Experiences ' includes a behind the scenes tour of the famous music and arts venue designed by Sir Norman Foster , and continues through weekends in June .  Brave : Members of the public walked across the Sage in Gateshead which is 120ft high  Fearless : Climbing to twice the height of the Angel of the North , the intrepid roof walkers carefully tread on the steel panel shell of the landmark building  Breathtaking : Once on top of the sage , the members of the public took in the views across Newcastle  At points the building is more than 120ft high twice the height of the Angel of the North .  There are 3 , 043 stainless steel panels on its roof covering 9 , 000 square metres , the equivalent to more than two football pitches .  The Sage Gateshead contains three performance spaces a 1 , 700 seater , a 450 seater and a smaller rehearsal and performance hall , the Northern Rock Foundation Hall .  Structurally it is three separate buildings , insulated from each other to prevent noise and vibration travelling between them .  On top of the world : The walkers marched across the Sage which is on the south bank of the River Tyne  Adventurous : The Sage Gateshead contains three performance spaces and stands 120ft tall  Daredevils : The unique ' Roof Walk Experiences ' includes a behind the scenes tour of the famous music and arts venue designed by Sir Norman Foster  Such great heights : At points the building is more than 120ft high twice the height of the Angel of the North  Daring : Brave members of the public take a rare opportunity to walk along the iconic Sage Gateshead roof  The gaps between them may be seen as one walks around inside .  A special ' spongy ' concrete mix was used in the construction , with a higher than usual air capacity to improve the acoustic .  More public roof walks are available on June 1 and 2 and June 15 and 16 .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
17765,17766,"Donald Trump accused rival Ted Cruz of being worse than Hillary , telling an Iowa crowd that the Texas senator has been misleading the public about his Canadian birth and big loans he received from Wall Street .  He said with him being a Canadian citizen , Oh , I didn t know that . How did he not know that ? Trump questioned . Then he said with the loans , Oh , I didn t know that . Smart guy . He doesn t know that ? Yeah , that s worse than Hillary , when you think about it .  Trump , speaking at a rally in Norwalk , Iowa , said Cruz purposely opted not to disclose bank loans from Goldman Sachs and Citibank . The billionaire businessman contrasted the nearly 100 pages of financial files he had to disclose with Cruz s two bank loans ? that we know of , he added .  The problem is he didn t do it purposely because what he wanted to do is say , I will protect you from Goldman Sachs . I will protect you from Citibank , and I will protect you from the banks because I m Robin Hood , and I m this wonderful senatorand I m going to protect you from these banks , Trump said . And then he s borrowing from the banks . And , by the way , he s got personal guarantees and he s got low interest loans . He s got low interest loans . They re low interest , and now he s going to go after Goldman Sachs ? Doesn t work that way . Goldman Sachs owns him . Remember that , folks . They own him .  The Manhattan mogul argued that Cruz s signature on the financial disclosure form in which he failed to list two major loans during his 2012 Senate campaign was very strong and urged Iowa voters to keep that in mind next month . The New York Times first reported on the letter Cruz sent to federal officials last Thursdayacknowledging that he had not properly accounted for the source of the two loans .  Very strong , that signature on the bottom , he said . You sign that , you got problems if you make mistakes . He didn t put down two big banks loaning him money because he didn t want you to see that . That s a problem ,  ? That s a problem . And I think when you go to caucusyou should think about that problem ,  ? You should think about it .  Trump in recent weeks has raised the birther issue with respect to Cruz , who was born in Calgary , Canada , to an American born mother . Though Cruz renounced his Canadian citizenship in 2014 , Trump called it big stuff .  He was actually a Canadian citizen ? if you think about this , he was a Canadian citizen while he was a United States senator , Trump said . He was a joint citizen of the United States and Canada , but how do you do that ? And he said he didn t know about it , which is interesting . He didn t know about it .  Trump and his campaign have maintained that Democrats would sue to challenge Cruz s eligibility if he were to win the Republican nomination . Hillary Clinton has a different problem with the controversy surrounding her personal email server while serving as secretary of state , Trump said , but Cruz has got a problem of uncertainty . You just don t know . I mean , you just don t know .  So let s see what happens with Cruz , he continued . But it s very hard to let somebody go through a whole , long process , and at the end of the process ? should he win ? they re going to be suing him , just like he s already being sued .  Donald Trump : Ted Cruz is ' owned by Goldman Sachs '  Trump has been intensifying his attacks on Cruz , who has been nipping at the businessman ' s heels in Iowa , ahead of the Feb . 1 caucuses . Trump scored a heaping of media attention on Tuesday when he revealed that Sarah Palin was endorsing him and would be hitting the campaign trail with him . Iowa Gov . Terry Branstad also publicly opposed Cruz on Tuesday , labeling him the biggest opponent of renewable fuels .  Yesterday was a W , Trump said , calling Tuesday a win for his campaign . You had that statement you had Sarah Palin . That was a good day for Trump .  Palin , however , did not join Trump at his first rally of the day , though she ' s expected to share the stage with him later in the day in Oklahoma .  Trump pushed the crowd to rally behind his campaign and vote Feb . 1 . It s very important , he stressed . Trump and Cruz are within 1 percentage point of each other in RealClearPolitics latest average of Iowa polls .  If we , and really , they say it ? if we win Iowa , we re going to run the table , Trump said . We may not lose a state .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,negative,present
17770,17771,"Reuters) - A group of armed men claiming to represent the nation s indigenous Mapuche people hijacked and burned 29 logging trucks in southern Chile on Monday morning as a years-long conflict with forestry companies heated up. The government convened an emergency meeting less than two weeks after a similar hijacking in which 18 trucks were burned, and several high-ranking officials denounced the attack later in the day.  We re going to combat violence and we are not going to allow minoritarian groups, which don t value dialogue, to ruin the great effort all regional actors in the south are doing to promote development and overcome exclusion,  Chilean President Michelle Bachelet said in televised remarks.  It was not clear to what extent the attacks have broader support among Mapuche communities. Many Mapuche leaders doubt all such attacks are carried out by indigenous people, saying non-indigenous groups with a radical political agenda may be involved. The group Weichan Auka Mapu, or  Fight of the Rebel Territory  in the local Mapudungun tongue, claimed responsibility, national media reported. According to local authorities, at least two people were responsible for the arson attack, although local media reported that as many as seven people were responsible.  Around 600,000 Mapuche live in Chile, concentrated in Araucania and Bio Bio, two lush and hilly provinces roughly 400 miles (645 km) south of Santiago, the nation s capital. Ever since the Chilean army invaded Mapuche territory in a brutal campaign in the late 1800s, relations with the state have been fractious.  The conflict has accelerated in recent years, with armed groups burning houses, churches, trucks, and forest plantations. It has also spread geographically. The Monday attack occurred in the region of Los Rios, south of the traditional conflict zone. The trucks belonged to Sotraser, a subcontractor that  mainly serves subsidiaries of Chilean forestry companies Empresas  and Arauco [ANTCOC.UL].  The company reported $6 million in damages. While that figure is not significant in relation to Chile s larger timber industry, subcontractors have begun to register dozens of attacks annually in recent years, weighing on the sector.     ",true,dataset,test,Other sport,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
17773,17774,"Researchers have worked a way to predict how everything from a face to a raisin will wrinkle .  They say their algorithm can accurately predict wrinkles on a curved surface for the first time .  They say it helps explain how our fingerprints , and wrinkles on our face , form over time .  A team of  mathematicians and engineers has developed a mathematical theory , confirmed through experiments , that predicts how wrinkles on curved surfaces take shape even on skin .  As a grape slowly dries and shrivels , its surface creases , ultimately taking on the wrinkled form of a raisin .  Similar patterns can be found on the surfaces of other dried materials , as well as in human fingerprints .  ' If you look at skin , there ' s a harder layer of tissue , and underneath is a softer layer , and you see these wrinkling patterns that make fingerprints , ' says J rn Dunkel , an assistant professor of mathematics at  .  ' Could you , in principle , predict these patterns ? It ' s a complicated system , but there seems to be something generic going on , because you see very similar patterns over a huge range of scales . '  While these patterns have long been observed in nature , and more recently in experiments , scientists have not been able to come up with a way to predict how such patterns arise in curved systems , such as microlenses .  Theteam of  mathematicians and engineers has developed a mathematical theory , confirmed through experiments , that predicts how wrinkles on curved surfaces take shape .  From their calculations , they determined that one main parameter curvature rules the type of pattern that forms : The more curved a surface is , the more its surface patterns resemble a crystal like lattice .  The researchers say the theory , reported this week in the journal Nature Materials , may help to generally explain how fingerprints and wrinkles form .  In past experiments , Reis manufactured ping pong sized balls of polymer in order to investigate how their surface patterns may affect a sphere ' s drag , or resistance to air .  The group sought to develop a general theory to describe how wrinkles on curved objects form a goal that was initially inspired by observations made by Dunkel ' s collaborator , Pedro Reis , the Gilbert W . Winslow Career Development Associate Professor in Civil Engineering .  In past experiments , Reis manufactured ping pong sized balls of polymer in order to investigate how their surface patterns may affect a sphere ' s drag , or resistance to air .  Reis observed a characteristic transition of surface patterns as air was slowly sucked out : As the sphere ' s surface became compressed , it began to dimple , forming a pattern of regular hexagons before giving way to a more convoluted , labyrinthine configuration , similar to fingerprints .  ' Existing theories could not explain why we were seeing these completely different patterns , ' Reis says .  In computer simulations , the researchers confirmed that their equation was indeed able to reproduce correctly the surface patterns observed in experiments .  They were therefore also able to identify the main parameters that govern surface patterning .  As it turns out , curvature is one major determinant of whether a wrinkling surface becomes covered in hexagons or a more labyrinthine pattern : The more curved an object , the more regular its wrinkled surface .  The thickness of an object ' s shell also plays a role : If the outer layer is very thin compared to its curvature , an object ' s surface will likely be convoluted , similar to a fingerprint . If the shell is a bit thicker , the surface will form a more hexagonal pattern .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
17785,17786,"VEGAS/COLUMBIA, S.C. (Reuters) - Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump rolled to victory on Saturday in South Carolina in a contest that saw former Florida Governor Jeb Bush drop out, while Democratic hopeful Hillary Clinton beat back a strong challenge from Bernie Sanders in Nevada. The victories by Trump, who is running as an anti-establishment outsider, and Clinton, a preeminent political insider, solidified their positions as the front-runners to win their parties’ respective nominations ahead of the Nov. 8 presidential election. The night’s most prominent casualty, Bush suffered a distant fourth place finish in the Republican contest and announced he had suspended his campaign, ending his dream of becoming a third Bush president after his father and brother. “The people of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina have spoken, and I really respect their decision,” an emotional Bush said in Columbia. He finished far out of the running in each of the first three states. By winning both South Carolina and New Hampshire and holding leads in 13 states that hold Republican contests on March 1, Trump was arguably on track to win the nomination, an outcome that seemed astounding to contemplate when he entered the race last summer. “It’s going to be very difficult for him to be derailed at this point,” said Hogan Gidley, who was a senior adviser to former Republican candidate Mike Huckabee.    The 69-year-old real estate billionaire and reality  star was declared the winner in South Carolina about an hour after polls closed, and launched into a feisty victory speech.  “Let’s put this thing away,” Trump told cheering supporters in Spartanburg. He denounced  pundits for saying there could be enough anti-Trump votes to beat him when the race thins further. “These geniuses,” he said. “They don’t understand that as people drop out, I’m going to get a lot of those votes also. You don’t just add them together.” Trump easily defeated Florida Senator Marco Rubio and Texas Senator Ted Cruz, who were in a close fight for second place and the right to declare themselves the anti-Trump alternative. With 99 percent of South Carolina precincts reporting, Trump had 32.5 percent, followed by Rubio with 22.5 percent and Cruz with 22.3 percent.  Cruz’s inability to distinguish himself from Rubio in the state was a blow to his campaign, which had invested heavily there to rally support among South Carolina’s large population of evangelical voters. Trump’s victory won him at least 44 of the state’s 50 delegates, bringing his delegate count to 61, compared to 11 for Cruz and 10 for Rubio, according to a tally by Real Clear Politics. Republicans need 1,237 delegates to win the party nomination. It was Trump’s second victory in a row, an outcome that frightens establishment Republicans but thrills the “throw-the-bums-out” conservative base of the party that has long been fed up with Washington.         The bellicose New York billionaire had created some last-minute drama in South Carolina after Pope Francis said on Thursday his views on U.S. immigration were “not Christian.” Trump, who has also advocated a ban on Muslim immigrants to counter domestic terror threats, stirred fresh controversy on Friday when he told a crowd about a U.S. general who was said to have dipped bullets in pigs’ blood to kill Muslim prisoners a century ago. Former Secretary of State Clinton’s victory in the Nevada Democratic caucuses, meanwhile, could help calm worries among the Democratic establishment about the strength of her campaign. Her result denied Sanders the breakthrough win he had sought in a state with a heavy minority population, but his ability to close a one-time double-digit polling lead for Clinton suggests the Democratic nominating race will be long and hard fought. With 90 percent of precincts reporting, the former first lady was leading with 52.6 percent of the vote to Sanders’ 47.4 percent.  Clinton’s victory gave her fresh momentum as she heads into the next contest in South Carolina on Feb. 27, where polls show her with a double-digit lead largely as a result of heavy support from black voters. “Some may have doubted us, but we never doubted each other,” she told cheering supporters at a victory rally in Las Vegas. “This is your campaign.”     Sanders vowed to fight on and set his sights on the 11 states that vote on “Super Tuesday,” March 1. He predicted that when Democrats gather for their nominating convention in Philadelphia in July, “We are going to see the results of one of the great political upsets in the history of the United States.” “The wind is at our backs,” the Vermont senator said. “We have the momentum.” After routing Clinton in New Hampshire and finishing a strong second in Iowa, states with nearly all-white populations, Sanders had hoped to prove in Nevada that he could win over black and Hispanic voters and compete nationally as the race moves to states with more diverse populations. But entrance polling in Nevada showed he badly lost among black voters, by 76 percent to 22 percent, a bad omen for South Carolina and other southern states with big black populations. He did win among Hispanics by 53 percent to 45 percent. Clinton’s campaign has argued she would assert control of the Democratic race once it moved to more diverse states with black and Hispanic populations who have traditionally backed Clinton and have been slow to warm to Sanders.  (Reporting by Luciana Lopez and Steve Holland; Writing by John Whitesides, Steve Holland and Richard Valdmanis; Editing by Andrew Hay and Mary Milliken) This article was funded in part by SAP. It was independently created by the Reuters editorial staff.  had no editorial involvement in its creation or production.",true,dataset,test,US elections,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
17806,17807,"On Friday s broadcast of  s  Real Time,  former Clinton Campaign Manager James Carville stated that President Trump lacks empathy and sentence structure, and someone has to examine his mental state like people did at the end of the Reagan presidency.Carville said,  I think what happened was, is General Kelly told the president when he called this war widow that   look when, people   fighting men and women understand that when they take on this mission they could die for the country or for each other, and it s something that binds them together, and you have to make that point. Of course, Trump has no empathy and his sentence structure is completely gone. He can t say two sentences.   So, he gets on the phone, and he says,  Well, that s what he signed up for.  And General Kelly heard what I wanted. I mean, the truth of the matter is, somebody has to look. You know, when President Reagan was president, towards the end of his term, Howard Baker had a memo, and they seriously were looking to see if he had any kind of cognitive issues and they decided that he did not. I don t think Trump is capable of making those two thoughts.   BreitbartAt about the 2-minute mark, Democrat Party political analyst James Carville starts his rant about why President Trump needs to look at Trump s mental state:In October of 2016, James Carville piled on with another guy who just can t seem to get anything right, crybaby Mark Cuban. Carville and Cuban were guests on Maher s show when Carville told Bill Maher and friends that then-candidate Trump was going to quit the race. MAHER: Donald Trump was supposed to have a rally tomorrow with Paul Ryan and now he has been disinvited   this just happened before we went   and it s going to be Mike Pence and Paul Ryan. Wow. When the top of the ticket is disinvited to his own rally? CUBAN: He s finally toxic. Donald Trump is finally toxic. CARVILLE: Mark and I got in a discussion before the show. I think he s going to quit. Really, right now, I m saying right here.[APPLAUSE]MAHER: You know why he s not going to win? Because his basket of deplorable and if the basket fits Carville hasn t been right about too much of anything in his career, but since he helped to get the impeached rapist into the White House, the media will always use him as their go-to-guy when it comes to getting advice on how to stop the Republicans winning elections.",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
17815,17816,"Cardinal quarterback Kevin Hogan might have trouble finding McCaffrey in the passing game as well , as Iowa ranked 10th in the nation in passing efficiency against and picked off more passes ( 18 ) than it allowed to reach the end zone ( 14 ) , per NCAAweblink .  As a result of this defensive prowess , Iowa ' s opponents scored just 18 . 5 points per game this year . It ' s a proving ground for McCaffrey and company , as Stanford didn ' t face many strong defenses this season .  The Hawkeyes were a few inches and one  Scott swim move from beating Michigan State in the Big Ten Championship Game , preserving an undefeated season and perhaps playing in the College Football Playoff . Stanford also had a great case for inclusion , winning the Pac 12 and beating four teams that finished in the  ? Top 25 .  Expect them to both come out plenty motivated to not only win in the famous Rose Bowl , but also prove they belonged in the playoffs .  Oregon vs .  promises to be an exciting battle between two excellent senior quarterbacks , who both suffered injuries this season but will be in line to lead their teams to an Alamo Bowl victory .  After struggling with injury and inconsistency to start the season , Ducks signal caller Vernon Adams Jr . has been one of the best quarterbacks in the nation down the stretch . He simply went on a tear after missing back to back games against Colorado and Washington State in early October , throwing for 1 , 865 yards , 21 touchdowns and just four interceptions in the ensuing six contests .  Trevone Boykin will lead the Horned Frogs into battle . It might also be the last time we see Boykin play quarterback , as he could ? change positions ? for the  .  The senior stud threw for 31 touchdowns against 10 interceptions while adding 612 yards and nine more scores on the ground . Boykin ' s production has slowed at the tail end of this season ? a result of an ankle injury picked up on Nov . 14 against Kansas . Hopefully ? for  ' s sake , at least ? Boykin will have had time to recover and get back to his rambling , scrambling ways .  Chasing him down will be Oregon defensive end DeForest Buckner , the Pac 12 Defensive Player of the Year . ?  Toss in a heavy helping of Oregon running back Royce Freeman ? 257 carries for 1 , 706 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns ? and you have all the makings of an all out , action packed exhibition ( if nothing else , you can tune in to gawk at Oregon ' s latest Nike uniforms ) .  Baylor fans disappointed in their team ' s poor finish to the season ? three losses in its last four games ? can at least take solace in the fact that the Bears are in for what should be a fantastic bowl matchup with North Carolina . ?  They may also get a chance to see quarterback Jarrett Stidham play . Stidham ? a true freshman filling in for the injured Seth Russell ? went down with a chipped bone in his leg against Oklahoma State on Nov . 21 and hasn ' t played since . Coach Art Briles says he might be available for the bowl contest .  "" I think there ' s a chance , "" Briles said , via Shehan Jeyarajah of the Dallas Morning News . "" Next Monday , we ' ll know a lot more . He ' s going to have another bone scan . If it shows where it ' s healed , then I think he can start his rehab , which would be about the time we start bowl prep . ""  Even if Stidham doesn ' t play , this could still be an entertaining game . Third stringer Chris Johnson has the best receiver in college football , Corey Coleman , to lean on in the passing game . Running backs Shock Linwood and Johnny Jefferson are both capable of ripping off big chunks of yardage on the ground . The Tar Heels closed the regular season by allowing 158 points in their last five games . ?  For North Carolina , it ' s come for running back Elijah Hood , stay for quarterback Marquise Williams finding Mack Hollins in the passing game . Hood racked up 1 , 345 yards and 17 touchdowns on the ground this year . ?  Hollins and his blinding speed scorched many a secondary this season . He led the team with 711 receiving yards ( on a staggering 25 . 4 yards per catch ) despite tallying 24 fewer receptions than Ryan Switzer , who finished second on the team with 668 yards .  North Carolina might also be one of the freshest ? and therefore sharpest ? teams in bowl season , thanks to Catapult , a  system it uses in practice to track players ' movements . Andrew Carter of the ? News Observer ? explains :  At  , 30 players in a given practice wear the vests with the  devices . The units are spread evenly among different positions and , generally , the team s most important players ? the starters and key backups ? are the ones who wear them , so Hernandez and his staff can monitor their work .  The data the devices record allow Fedora and his coaching staff to structure practices and target areas of improvement . It also helps them know when a player is approaching his limit , and when rest can be more beneficial than extra practice reps .  North Carolina might also come into this game with a bit of a chip on its shoulder . A blown offside call on an onside kick late in the  title game against Clemson ruined its chances at tying the game . Baylor might feel the Tar Heels ' lingering wrath .  The total entertainment value of this contest depends heavily on Stidham ' s presence . If he plays , it could be one of the highest scoring games of the bowl season . At the very least , one can hope we ' re treated to another LaQuan McGowan touchdown .  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
17822,17823,"Jeb Bush : Marco Rubio has ' given up ' in the Senate 01 : 24  "" It ' s not my job to worry about that . It ' s your job , "" Bush told reporters  Jeb Bush didn ' t weigh in on questions about Marco Rubio ' s finances , saying Wednesday that it ' s the media ' s job to vet his presidential rival , though the former Florida governor continued to criticize the first term senator ' s legislative record .  Speaking to reporters on his new campaign bus while driving through New Hampshire , Bush was pressed repeatedly about reports that Rubio misused a Republican Party credit card in Florida .  "" It ' s not my job to worry about that . It ' s your job , "" Bush said . "" A candidate running for president that has a chance to be president will be thoroughly vetted . ""  Bush , in an apparent effort to look more transparent , pointed to the 33 years of tax returns and thousands of emails that he released this year .  "" I ' m probably the most vetted so far . My past has been discussed in all sorts of ways sometimes comfortable , sometimes not so , "" he continued . "" And Marco and every other candidate who is a viable candidate will go through that same process . That ' s up to you guys , not me . ""  Rubio hit back on attacks of his financial history on Wednesday , describing them as inaccurate . "" I only have one debt in the world , which is my mortgage on the home that me and my family live in in Miami , "" Rubio said on "" Good Morning America , "" adding , "" I obviously don ' t come from a wealthy family . ""  Tensions between the two candidates have escalated as Rubio has surged in the polls , while his former mentor , Bush , has fallen to the middle of the pack .  Bush continued to say Wednesday that Rubio lacks much of a legislative record and argued that he ' s done little to bring reform to the nation ' s capital .  "" He hasn ' t changed the culture in Washington , "" Bush said , when asked whether Rubio has lived up to expectations since he rode the tea party wave into the Senate in 2010 .  As he has in the past , Bush pointed out that Rubio , along with Ted Cruz and Rand Paul , have only sponsored a total of two bills that have actually become law .  "" That ' s one path , "" Bush said . "" The other path is a path of public service where you accomplish things and that ' s my lane . And I ' m going to talk about my lane . ""  Pressed on whether he ' d support Rubio should he become the nominee , Bush said , "" Absolutely . ""  "" I will support every person on the stage running against Hillary Clinton , "" he said . "" I ' ll be the nominee , though . ""  ",true,text,test,US elections,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
17823,17824,"More than a decade after that dreadful day , 9 11 memories are still fresh for me . The intense , flesh cutting urgency of the pain has diminished . I am no longer a grieving mother . I have learned to live with the loss of my son , Mohammad Salman Hamdani . But I am still waiting for justice .  What I want is not complicated a recognition that , when Salman died beneath the rubble that day , he died as a first responder . His name should be reflected that way at the 9 11 Memorial , properly listed among the other first responders who rushed bravely toward the flames .  On that terrible day , my husband Saleem and I could not know where Salman was . Nor could his brothers , Adnaan and Zeshan , know what had become of their Bhaijaan , the Urdu word for a beloved and revered elder brother . As anyone who lost a loved one on 9 11 knows , that uncertainty was cruel and crushing . We couldn ' t know it then , but what had happened to Salman that morning , along with the events of the following months , changed everything for our family , bringing unbearable pain into our lives and suddenly making us public persons .  In the months before 9 11 , Salman had served as a cadet in the New York Police Department . He was also a trained emergency technician . At the time of his death , he was working as a lab analyst at Rockefeller University ' s Howard Hughes Medical Institute , on Manhattan ' s Upper East Side . He was working there because it was a path toward becoming a doctor . Salman was determined to keep trying to get into medical school . If he couldn ' t , he planned to join the  and work toward becoming a detective , using his scientific skills . It was a momentous time of decision in his life .  Opinion : After 9 11 , how we honored our son ' s memory  On that crisp and glorious morning , I drove away from our home in Bayside , Queens . I dropped off Zeshan at Queensborough Community College , then continued on to Catherine Count Basie Middle School 72 , where I taught English . When Zeshan and I left the house , at about 7 : 15 , Salman was still sleeping . He had been up much of the evening , first polishing up his medical school application , then providing medical care to his father , who was feeling ill . Finally , Salman went up to bed at 3 a . m . in the bedroom he shared with Zeshan .  After Zeshan and I had left , Salman would have pursued his usual routine , catching a bus and then the 7 train to Manhattan . As we have since deduced , he must have seen the flames at the World Trade Center from the elevated train , then rushed downtown to try to help . Clearly , he did not make that decision and take that fatal detour as a lab analyst , but as the first responder he was trained to be .  In the months that followed , in addition to uncertainty about Salman , our family had to endure suspicion pointed at him . Before anyone knew where he was , a flyer circulated around the city , saying that my son was wanted for questioning . And the New York Post ran a story with Salman ' s photo and this hateful headline : "" Missing Or Hiding ? ""  It wasn ' t until late March that the police told us that Salman ' s remains had been found beneath the pile in 34 pieces . Ultimately , what we would get to bury was nothing more than a body bag filled with all that was left of our son .  At Salman ' s funeral , the many mourners included Mayor Michael Bloomberg , Police Commissioner Ray Kelly and our congressman , Gary Ackerman . The Patriot Act , enacted in response to the terror attacks , specifically refers to Salman as a 9 11 hero . Yet , at the 9 11 Memorial , his name is grouped among the miscellaneous victims , not among the first responders who sacrificed their lives , where it belongs .  Salman responded to the call of duty , transcending the barriers of race , faith and ethnicity . Yet , sadly , he is not getting his due place in history . Salman is not here to defend himself . But I will speak for him . He is my strength , and I am his voice .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
17829,17830,"The agent of Paris Saint Germain striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic believes his client is capable of playing until he is 43 but does not believe he will end his career in the French capital .  Ibrahimovic , 33 , has just over a year on his current contract at Parc des Princes and is said to be happy at the Ligue 1 outfit , however his representative Mino Raiola has questioned whether the Sweden international can play another eight to 10 years at  .  Raiola , speaking to  , said : ' Zlatan still has a year and a half on his contract .   striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic can play until he ' s 43 , according to his agent Mino Raiola  Ibrahimovic , pictured with Chelsea defender Gary Cahill , has just over a year left on his current deal at   ' He is happy in Paris , he tries to do his best and is in good shape , though he had some problems this year . But for Zlatan the future is short .  ' I don ' t know if he can finish his career at  . He worked for himself for 15 years , now he will work for me for the next eight years . I think he can play until he is 42 or 43 but I don ' t know if he will play another eight years at  . '  Ibrahimovic is eager to get his hands on the Champions League after failing to win the prestigious competition during his time at the likes of Juventus , Barcelona and  Milan .   face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday in the second leg of their last 16 clash which currently stands at 1 1 , and Raiola is hopeful Ibrahimovic can lead his side to Champions League glory .  ' I hope he wins the Champions League for his sake , for  and for French football , ' added Raiola . ' It is a matter of luck too as it is not always the best team who wins .  ' Zlatan told me the first leg game against Chelsea was perfect . It was a perfectly prepared game . There is a lot of respect between Laurent Blanc and Ibra . I can tell he likes Blanc . '  The Sweden ace has won trophies in Holland , Italy , Spain and France but is yet to win the Champions League  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
17831,17832,"An Oregon jury on Friday found the Boy Scouts of America liable for the sexual abuse of a 12 year old boy more than 25 years ago , returning a verdict of 18 . 5 million in punitive damages .  The plaintiff , Kerry Lewis , now 38 , allowed his name to be used publicly during the trial , according to his attorneys . He is among six men suing the Boy Scouts over allegations of sexual abuse .  Attorney Kelly Clark has said that when his clients were boys during the 1980s , the organization knew that at least one of them had been abused by former assistant Scoutmaster Timur Dykes . The 53 year old convicted sex offender was released from prison in 2005 and paroled until 2013 . He could not be reached on Friday .  Clark also alleged that though the scout leader was removed , he was allowed to stay on as a volunteer and the abuse continued . In 1983 , Dykes told troop leaders he abused 17 scouts , according to plaintiff ' s attorneys .  During the six week trial , Clark produced documents that he said were part of an archive of previously secret Boy Scout files that chronicled decades of abuse of boys .  Earlier this month , jurors in Portland awarded Lewis 1 . 4 million after finding that the organization was negligent in allowing a Scout leader who was a sex offender to have contact with him . Under Oregon law , 60 percent of a punitive damages award goes to the state ' s crime victims ' fund .  Once the Scouts did learn about it , the organization acted immediately and cooperated with police , the lawyers have said .  The Boy Scouts have acknowledged the organization does have confidential files , but said they are made confidential in order to protect people who are ineligible to be scout leaders , but who may not have done anything illegal .  A scouts spokesman has said that , in recent years , the organization has taken extensive measures to keep abusers out .  In a written statement earlier this month , the Scouts said the organization intends to appeal the initial verdict .  "" We are gravely disappointed with the verdict , "" it said . "" We believe that the allegations made against our youth protection efforts are not valid . ""  It added , "" We are saddened by what happened to the plaintiff . The actions of the man who committed these crimes do not represent the values and ideals of the Boy Scouts of America .  "" The safety of the young people currently in the Scouting program has never been in question during these legal proceedings . The case focused on a discussion about what society and the  knew about child abuse approximately three decades ago .  "" This is a long standing societal issue that every youth serving organization must address . Based on the standard of care of that time , the  believes it acted responsibly and that the evidence presented during the trial does not justify the verdict . ""  While holding the Boy Scouts of America 60 percent negligent , the jury said the Cascade Pacific Council which oversees Scouting activities in the region was 15 percent negligent and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints 25 percent negligent .  The church has sponsored a number of Boy Scout troops , including the one to which the plaintiff belonged .  Steve English , a lawyer representing the church , has said the verdict has no impact on the church , since it settled the case out of court more than a year ago .  "" The church absolutely condemns any kind of child abuse , "" he said . "" Because of the way the law is set up in Oregon , we thought it made sense both to help the victim and also to get this behind the victim and us to settle this case . ""  ",true,text,test,Other news1,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
17844,17845,"RollingStoneweblink ) It ' s been almost a decade since Bright Eyes ' "" Lifted or The Story Is in the Soil , Keep Your Ear to the Ground , "" the epic 2002 album that established Conor Oberst as the pain strumming poet of emo and the newest of the New Dylans .  But the 22 year old hadn ' t asked for either gig . So Oberst spent the 2000s abjuring big statements , choosing to scale down his sound , bum around North America and try to figure himself out . "" I ' ve taken some comfort . . . "" he sings on Bright Eyes ' first album in nearly four years , "" knowing I don ' t have to be an exception . ""  The latest dispatch from Planet Conor weaves the weird knowledge he ' s accrued over the years into a rich , sprawling , fragmented record . It ' s got elements of the hazy synth rock of 2005 ' s "" Digital Ash in a Digital Urn "" and echoes of his two recent , rootsy solo albums .  But being Bright Eyes again mainly means a break from Solo Conor ' s rustic tranquility and a return to the bruised angel indie rock of his earliest albums . Oberst brings it all back home by recording in his native Omaha with Bright Eyes ' other two permanent members multi instrumentalist Nate Walcott and producer Mike Mogis plus local pals from Cursive and the Faint .  Gallery : Random Notes , Rock ' s Hottest Photos  Oberst ' s lyrics explore a mysticism he ' s been messing with since 2007 ' s "" Cassadaga . "" On "" A Machine Spiritual ( In the ' People ' s Key ' ) , "" he ' s a futurist seer , tweeting happily from the end of time : "" History bows and it steps aside In the jungle there are columns of purple light We are starting over . "" The album is full of nods to Rastafarianism , including references to "" one love "" and Zion . Oberst says he loves reggae ' s symbolism and anti imperialist spirit , and throughout "" People ' s Key "" he uses Rasta vibrations as an emotional power source . On "" Haile Selassie , "" through a haze of epic images , the supernatural force "" calling me home like Haile Selassie "" ends up being a girl : "" I was swimming with you in that cenote the heavens made with black fire . ""  Oberst ' s newfound jones for Jah isn ' t even the trippiest thing about "" The People ' s Key . "" Several tracks feature the spoken word ramblings of Randy Brewer , a Texas musician Oberst met on the road . Brewer ' s sermonettes about the road to enlightenment , our alien ancestors and time as a construct work surprisingly well leading into the gently lifting orchestrations of "" Firewall "" or closing out the prayerful electro folk of "" One for You , One for Me . ""  Bright Eyes : King of Indie Rock  Giving a chunk of your record over to some random old timer ' s bullshit is a classic Oberst move , a way of undercutting the aura of importance people have foisted on his music since he was in high school . It ' s especially shrewd because "" The People ' s Key "" contains some of his most weighty songwriting the head clearing clamor of "" Haile Selassie "" or the somber "" Approximate Sunlight , "" where Oberst ruefully sings , "" It ' s been said we ' re post everything . "" His greatest quality is that he refuses to be post anything . He manages to be everything at once : folkie and punk , old soul and eternal boy , high plains drifter and hipster heartthrob . He ' s busy being born again every time he strums a chord .  Copyright 2010 Rolling Stone .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
17846,17847,"Major electronics manufacturers in Japan are receiving reports that the glasses that are used to view programming on 3D televisions also allow viewers to see through the clothing of people appearing on the  broadcast .  The reports indicate that 3D glasses are affected by the colorful and garish sets of Japanese  programming .  An electronics expert who wished to remain unidentified disassembled a pair of the glasses and analyzed the lenses and electronics .  The expert confirmed the bright colors of the backgrounds on Japanese  shows cause the electronics of the 3D spectacles to malfunction .  "" The 3D effect is present much strongly than the specifications should allow , "" he said .  "" It seems the bright greens and reds combined with the hundreds of other colors and the dozens of moving objects in the background of  news and variety programs cause the 3D glasses to bend the optics . The wearer will experience a type of x ray vision . It is exciting breakthrough , "" the electronics expert said . The expert also confirmed that all the brands of 3D glasses have similar electronics and all will be affected by the see through glitch . The glasses will provide x ray vision only on 3D  ' s .  The expert accompanied this reporter to the 3D  section at an electronics discount store in the Akihabara section of Tokyo Monday . Wearing the 3D glasses , I was able to see through the fabric of the attire worn by people on the  shows . The people did appear to be nude . Because it is 3D x ray vision , the various bulges of the naked human body really jump out and grab you . Only humans are rendered naked . Monkeys , ferrets and other animals commonly present on Japanese  shows appeared normally when viewed in the 3D glasses . The x ray effect was visible on all the brands of 3D televisions .  The reports of 3D x ray glasses has created a run on 3D  ' s in Japan .  At the electronics discount store we visited , a line of customers mostly male stretched around the block . One man in line said he had been waiting for lower prices of 3D  ' s but has changed his mind . "" I will pay the high price , "" he said , adding "" I hope they don ' t increase the prices because of the phenomena . ""  Japanese men have been quick to circulate by email lists of the gaudiest programs that feature the most attractive female newscasters and female hosts .  When a well known female news anchor was told about the 3D x ray glasses , she did not appear to be concerned . "" We already have naked news programs on cable , "" she said . "" Perhaps if the men see me nude we will have good ratings , "" she added .  Spokespersons from the major electronics companies did not respond to our inquiries .  ",satire,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
17853,17854,"In a bold gambit hoped to resolve dozens of conflicts around the world , the U . N . announced Monday the establishment of Ethniklashistan , a multinational haven in the West Bank that will serve as a new homeland for Irish Protestants , Hutus , Serbs , and other troubled groups .  "" For far too long , these groups have been locked in prolonged strife with their former neighbors , unable to achieve a lasting peace , "" U . N . Secretary General Kofi Annan said . "" Now that these various peoples have a new homeland where they can find refuge , all the years of fighting and bloodshed can finally be put behind them . ""  Former Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic , now presiding over a Serb settlement near the Jordanian border , was optimistic about the future . "" All Muslim scum must die , "" he said . "" Death to all enemies of Serbian purity ! ""  The various groups , transported to Ethniklashistan by a massive U . N . airlift , will share their new homeland with the roughly two million Palestinians and Israeli settlers who currently occupy the region . U . N . officials say the West Bank site was chosen for its centralized location , opportunities for tourism , and comfortable desert climate . These factors , combined with the already diverse cultural , ethnic , and religious composition of the area , offer "" a unique opportunity for many international groups to live together in peace . ""  "" This is truly a win win situation , "" U . S . Secretary of State Colin Powell said . "" War ravaged peoples from all over the world finally have a place they can feel safe . And , for the Palestinians and Israelis already there , the presence of additional ethnicities should reduce any pre existing stresses . Arabs and Jews will enjoy exposure to a glorious , multiethnic stew , and they will , in turn , have the opportunity to lead by example , serving as role models of peaceful coexistence . ""  Hutu leader Kagabo Ndadaye , who between 1994 and 1996 personally oversaw the machete deaths of more than 10 , 000 Tutsi Rwandans , echoed the positive outlook . "" The glorious Hutu are the one pure race , "" said Ndadaye , speaking from a Hutu settlement near Hebron while eyeing a nearby Kurdish settlement . "" All inferior mongrel peoples shall be put to the blade . ""  Though hopes are high for Ethniklashistan a name created by a team of linguists who combined 17 different languages ' words for "" sanctuary "" the establishment of the new homeland has proven rocky . Of the more than 500 , 000 people relocated there so far , approximately 97 percent have responded with violent resistance , swearing oaths of eternal vengeance against U . N . volunteers conducting the forced relocations .  Bloodshed also marred the "" Festival Of Human Brotherhood , "" a weeklong , nationwide event celebrating the founding of Ethniklashistan . On Monday , 11 people were killed in a skirmish between Basques and Sikhs near Nablus . The same day , six were killed and dozens injured on the streets of Bethlehem when Somalis and Greek Cypriots exchanged gunfire and grenades .  Dozens of shifting alliances have added to the confusion and chaos . In a pre dawn border raid Monday , Burmese Karen rebels attacked a Tamil settlement . By late afternoon , the Karens were driven back by the Tamils , who were newly armed with Israeli anti personnel missiles smuggled into the West Bank by Zionist fundamentalists who had allied themselves some say only as a temporary ruse with the Tamils .  On Tuesday , guerrilla fighters made up of an uneasy Palestinian Papuan alliance attacked an Irish Protestant church near the Golan Heights , killing 121 Irish worshippers with nerve gas before being repelled by a nearby faction of Protestant sympathizing Zapatista rebels from the Chiapas region of Mexico .  The violence continued that evening , when the severed heads of 20 Chechens were paraded through the streets of Jericho by Azerbaijani extremists . The killings are thought to be in retaliation for rocket attacks by a band of pro Armenian Chechen rebels , who have thus far evaded Azerbaijani attempts to flush them out of their encampments in the hills with prolonged shelling .  Alarmed by the new nation ' s growing pains , world leaders have launched a large scale international aid effort to help Ethniklashistan get on its feet . Great Britain has pledged 12 , 000 peacekeeping troops , vowing to "" pummel with rubber bullets , tear gas , and billy clubs anyone who dares threaten the Sons of Ulster . "" China has pledged 40 , 000 soldiers to supervise the 2 , 000 plus Tibetan Buddhists relocated to the region . Indonesia , Cambodia , Nigeria , and Afghanistan have also sent troops .  "" There is always a period of transition and upheaval in the founding of a new government , "" President Bush said . "" That is why an international humanitarian consortium of nations , including the U . S . , France , Russia , Iraq , and North Korea , has pledged 2 trillion in military aid to the new nation . This way , all Ethniklashistanis , regardless of race , color , creed , or economic background , will have equal access to the state of the art ordnance they need to defend themselves and their families during this initial period of instability . ""  Encouraged by such aid efforts , experts are confident that a lasting peace can soon be established among the rival Ethniklashistani groups .  "" When you take that many long suffering , war torn groups and put them in the same place , how can you not have peace ? "" asked former president Jimmy Carter , who will lead talks among the various Ethniklashistani groups . "" This hatred cannot possibly last long . ""  ",satire,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,satire,True,no,no,neutral,present
17872,17873,""" It ' s a treasure trove of emotion , wisdom , insight , tears , silliness and advice , "" Mr Galliano wrote on the book ' s website .  Alan Rickman at the  premiere of ' A Little Chaos ' at  Kensington in London , 2015  Alan Rickman poses with actress Kate Winslet and actress Helen McCrory as they attend the  premiere of ' A Little Chaos ' at  Kensington in London , 2015  Alan Rickman attends The Public Theater ' s Annual Gala at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park , in New York , 2015  Alan Rickman signs autographs for fans before the opening ceremony during the Febiofest Prague International Film Festival in Prague , Czech Republic , 2015  Alan Rickman poses with ' Elle The Pocket Belles ' as he attends on day two of the Qatar Goodwood Festival at Goodwood Racecourse in Chichester , 2015  Alan Rickman shakes hands with the Queen Elizabeth  during the Dramatic Arts reception at Buckingham Palace , 2014  Alan Rickman arriving for the premiere of his movie ' A Little Chaos ' at the 58th  London Film Festival , in London , 2014  Alan Rickman arrives at the Giffoni Film Festival meeting with the jurors in Giffoni Valle Piana , Italy , 2014  ' A Promise ' film photocall , 70th Venice International Film Festival , Italy , 2013  Alan Rickman walks on the red carpet as he arrives to attend the World Premier for the film ' Gambit ' in Leicester Square , in London , 2012  ( L R ) Alan Rickman , Tom Felton , Emma Watson , Daniel Radcliffe , Rupert Grint and Matthew Lewis attend the New York premiere of ' Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows : Part 2 ' at Avery Fisher Hall , Lincoln Center in New York , 2011  Alan Rickman signs autographs as he arrives for the North American premiere of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 at Lincoln Center in New York , 2011  Alan Rickman attends the ' John Gabriel Borkman ' after party at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York City , 2011  Alan Rickman at the Broadway opening night of ' Seminar ' at The Golden Theatre in New York , 2011  Actors Sir Christopher Lee ( L ) and Alan Rickman attend the Royal World Premiere of ' Alice In Wonderland ' at Odeon Leicester Square in London , 2010  Alan Rickman , Tom Wilkinson and Andy de la Tour perform at the Concert For Haiti , sponsored by the  , at Congress House in London , 2010  Alan Rickman poses at the Gibson Guitar celebrity hospitality lounge held at the Miners Club during the 2008 Sundance Film Festival in Park City , Utah  Alan Rickman and Sigourney Weaver attend the photocall for ' Snow Cake ' as part of the 56th Berlin International Film Festival ( Berlinale ) in Berlin , 2006  Alan Rickman shares a laugh with Mos Def at the premiere of  ' s ' Something The Lord Made ' in New York , 2004  Alan Rickman attends the  Premiere of ' Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban ' at the Odeon Leicester Square in London , 2004  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
17887,17888,"Twenty years ago , I was standing next to a teleprompter operator in the cavernous Cobo Hall in downtown Detroit . Presidential candidate Bill Clinton was addressing the Detroit Economic Club , and I was guiding the teleprompter operator through his prepared text .  Drafted during an all nighter one of many we ' d pull during his campaign and presidency the speech presented his economic program in exhaustive detail . But , after ad libbing lines from the beginning , Clinton extemporized an exhaustive explanation of German apprenticeship programs for skilled workers in manufacturing .  By the time Clinton concluded his tutorial on job training programs , the teleprompter operator asked me where to start scrolling the remainder of the prepared text . "" Don ' t worry , "" I told him . "" Clinton will do just fine . ""  Analysis : Clinton speech hit Obama ' s marks  In his speech at the Democratic National Convention last night , Clinton still did just fine , just as he ' s done in so many speeches where he ' s treated his prepared text the way jazz greats soar from the sheet music .  By one account , the former president spoke for 48 minutes and 5 , 895 words , while his prepared text , which had been distributed beforehand to the media , was only 3 , 136 words . No wonder , when asked about her husband ' s speech , Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said she was looking forward to comparing the "" as prepared "" and "" as delivered "" texts .  Reviewing each version , it ' s clear that the same person wrote both the same president who improvised 20 of his first State of the Union address and explained his health care plan from memory to a joint session of Congress after the teleprompter displayed the text of an earlier speech .  Clinton ' s improvisations are instructive because they show how the nation ' s most popular political figure ( 69 approval rating , according to a  Today Gallup poll ) still serves as extemporizer in chief . While most speakers ad lib anecdotes , Clinton also explains complex issues off the cuff .  A sampler of Clinton ' s improvisations :  Zinger of the Week : When Clinton zapped Republican vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan on Medicare spending reductions , "" It takes some brass to attack a guy for doing what you did , "" that line wasn ' t even in the prepared text .  Bashing Brutus : In Shakespeare ' s Julius Caesar , Mark Antony ' s funeral oration for the slain statesman skewers his rival by saying simply that Brutus is an "" honorable "" man . In improvised remarks , Clinton uses the same time honored technique , describing the Republicans : "" They convinced me they were honorable people who believe what they ' ve said , and they ' re going to keep every commitment they ' ve made . We ' ve just got to make sure the American people know what those commitments are . ""  Improvised Uplift : Clinton also effortlessly extemporized eloquent sayings that other public figures and their staffs might write and revise for several drafts : "" Democracy does not have to be a blood sport . "" And "" So far , every single person who has bet against America has lost money . ""  Opinion : Bill Clinton brings it for Obama  Public Policy Professor : If you think the auto mileage standards are complex , listen up : "" No matter what the price of gas is , if you double the mileage of your car , your bill will be half of what it would have been . ""  Softening the Blow : Clinton ' s conversational tone makes it easier for him to persuade undecided voters . As did Ronald Reagan , Clinton introduced his arguments with folksy asides . Before criticizing today ' s Republicans , Clinton began by ad libbing : "" Now , there ' s something I ' ve noticed lately , You probably have , too . ""  Historian in Chief : Concluding his speech , Clinton reminded his audience that America and , by inference , its presidents have displayed remarkable resilience . Departing from his prepared text , Clinton added this anecdote about the first president : "" People have predicted our demise ever since George Washington was criticized for being a mediocre surveyor with a bad set of wooden , false teeth . ""  As president , Clinton would refer to most of his formal remarks not as speeches but as "" talks , "" subtly reminding his staff that he wanted to address Americans as adults to be persuaded , not an audience to be manipulated . By improvising so often , and using so few freeze dried and focus grouped applause lines , Clinton continues to keep his speeches fresh , friendly and factual in the hope that his listeners will open their minds to what he says .  Yes , the Comeback Kid has made more farewell tours than Frank Sinatra . As with Old Blue Eyes , he does it his way .  The opinions in this commentary are solely those of David Kusnet .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
17901,17902,"The New Orleans Saints admitted Tuesday to paying bonuses for hits that would knock opposing players out of a game , vowing the practice won ' t be repeated .  Saints Head Coach Sean Payton and General Manager Mickey Loomis said they take "" full responsibility "" for the practice , which they said "" happened under our watch . ""  "" These are serious violations , and we understand the negative impact it has had on our game , "" Loomis and Payton said in a statement issued Tuesday evening .  "" Both of us have made it clear within our organization that this will never happen again , and make that same promise to the  and most importantly to all of our fans . ""  Opinion : ' Bounty ' system stemmed from fans ' lust for violence  The National Football League reported Friday that the Saints paid defensive players a bounty for injuring opponents , as well as making interceptions and fumble recoveries , during the 2009 2011 seasons . The program involved as many as 27 players and at least one assistant coach , the league concluded .  The league said the program was administered by then defensive coordinator Gregg Williams , with knowledge of other coaches . Players regularly contributed cash to a pool , which may have topped 50 , 000 at its peak .  The players were paid 1 , 500 for a "" knockout , "" when an opposing player was not able to return to the game , and 1 , 000 for a "" cart off , "" when an opposing player had to be carried off the field . In some cases , particular players on the opposing team were targeted , the  said .   Commissioner Roger Goodell has received the results of the investigation and will decide on discipline , which could include fines , suspensions and forfeiture of draft choices .  Saints owner Tom Benson said Monday the team cooperated with investigation and called the findings "" troubling . "" In their statement , Payton and Loomis said they were sorry for the "" undue hardship "" the violations had caused Benson , "" who had nothing to do with this activity . ""  In a statement released Friday , Williams called the bounties "" a terrible mistake "" that he knew was wrong .  "" Instead of getting caught up in it , I should have stopped it , "" Williams , now a defensive coordinator for the St . Louis Rams , said in a statement quoted by the New Orleans Times Picayune newspaper . "" I take full responsibility for my role . I am truly sorry . I have learned a hard lesson , and I guarantee that I will never participate in or allow this kind of activity to happen again . ""  The disclosure has ignited controversy among football fans nationwide and Tuesday , former  star Charles Barkley said he had taken part in a bounty program during his basketball playing days in the 1980s .  "" We were getting beat by 30 or 40 , I can ' t remember , "" he told interviewer Dan Patrick . "" This guy was shooting threes and running up and down the court . I said , ' Hey , we ' ve got to hurt that guy right there . ' ""  Barkley added that "" people are clearly going to overreact to the bounty thing , "" which he said should have stayed among the players .  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
17902,17903,"The girlfriend of a trainee firefighter who died after becoming trapped under ice in Canada has expressed disbelief at his death and says she will love him ' now and forever . '  Tragic Adam Brunt , suffered fatal injuries over the weekend while undergoing ice and water rescue training in southwestern Ontario .  The 30 year old , who was enrolled in the firefighting program at Durham College , was dragged underwater for 15 minutes after getting caught in a strong current in the Saugeen River .  Tributes : Girlfriend , Jenna McNamee posted a photo and comments to twitter on Monday . Aspiring firefighter Adam Brunt , 30 , died after becoming trapped under ice during rescue training in Ontario  His girlfriend , Jenna McNamee posted a photo and comments on twitter on Monday .  In a series of tweets , she wrote : ' It was supposed to be just a simple ice rescue training . My heart is shattered . '  ' My sweet boyfriend and soul mate . You are already so dearly missed . I love you now and forever . '  ' We never in a million years expected this to happen . We are in shock . And the love of my life is gone . '  Paramedics rushed him to hospital , where emergency workers treated him for ' several hours ' before he was pronounced dead , according to police .  Authorities said the training program for ice and water rescue was provided by a private firm from Newmarket .  A statement from Durham College said : ' We are deeply saddened by this incident and will support our students , staff and faculty through this upsetting time . '  ' Most students in this program choose to supplement their class instruction with practical experience , acquired from external trainers .  ' We understand that Adam was participating in a training exercise that was being conducted by a private firm from Newmarket . That firm has no affiliation to Durham College . '  An investigation is being conducted by the Hanover Police Service alongside the coroner ' s office and investigators with the Ministry of Labour .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
17907,17908,"Financial Markets Clinton Foundation , Hillary emails , Huma Abedin , Jim Comey , Weiner laptop admin  Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall (King James Bible). Throughout recorded history, hubris has been the Achilles’ Heel of political despots. Hillary Clinton and her political crime machine has been operating above the law for decades, stretching back at least to when Bill Clinton was Governor of Arkansas. “Hillary Clinton is a toilet scrubber for Goldman Sachs” – John Titus on the Shadow of Truth  During her 2016 Presidential Campaign, it became routine for her get in front the public and lie with convincing ease. In Greek tragedy, “hubris” was an anti-hero’s excessive pride toward or defiance of the gods, leading to the character’s unforeseen demise.  When Hillary was deposed by the  about the 33,000 emails on her private server that were wiped clean forever using BleachBit, she assumed her tracks were irrevocably covered up. But it wasn’t just 33,000 emails that were incinerated, reams of evidence including laptops, server back-ups and Blackberries either “disappeared” or were wiped clean.  Out of the blue, as if sent to earth from a Higher Power, the  in its child pornography investigation of Anthony Weiner stumbled on to a laptop with 650,000 emails that appeared to have been downloaded from Hillary Clinton’s private server. It is highly probable that among this treasure trough of emails will be copies of the 33,000 emails that Hillary arrogantly assumed were wiped from the Universe. Hubris gets ’em every time.  But it gets better than that. 650,000 is a decade’s worth of emails. It’s also possible that Weiner’s laptop will finally shed the light of Truth on Benghazi. “Jim Comey did not re-open this investigation of to go over old ground. Worse infractions were discovered.” – John Titus  In addition to exposing Hillary to all sorts of felonies, her statement to the  under oath undermined by this unforeseen “Black Swan” event that has engulfed her campaign.  The Shadow of Truth is pleased to present John Titus of Best Evidence productions adds his unique insight into this event. The two-part podcast covers analysis that has not been presented in either the mainstream or alternative media: Share this:",fake,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
17941,17942,"A food company is planning to house hundreds of students from Romania and Bulgaria in caravans because it can ' t recruit domestic workers .  Staples Vegetables , which supplies some of the country ' s leading supermarkets , has angered locals by announcing it will pitch dozens of caravans near Boston in Lincolnshire .  The firm has been given council permission to expand its on site accommodation to take on more  student labour because of an ' inability to recruit from the indigenous population ' .  Staples is planning to extend on site accommodation in Boston , Lincolnshire . Pictured , workers harvest vegetables in a field in Suffolk  Staples employs up to 378 students and this could rise to 650 in the peak season . The company is based on the outskirts of the village of Wrangle , just nine miles north of Boston , which has experienced a higher population percentage increase of new arrivals from Eastern Europe than anywhere else in the  .  Tensions in the town have made Boston a key Ukip target , with a recent poll suggesting 46 per cent of residents would vote for the party in the May ' s General Election .  Staples was given approval by Boston Borough Council to make its current 63 on site caravans and amenity buildings permanent , while adding a further 52 caravans .  The students are hired for up to 126 days through the Harvesting Opportunities Permit Scheme and are paid at least the adult minimum wage . The company ' s planning statement says it suffers an ' inability to recruit from the indigenous population ' , but adds Lincolnshire ' still thrives because foreign students visit the area to work ' .  The statement accuses agency staff of being ' often unreliable and unmotivated ' and says Staples has to regularly retrain and induct new personnel .  The foreign students , however , are employed directly by Staples . Managing director Vernon Read said : ' We feel that employing people directly is a better system than relying on agency workers it allows us to give better training and get much more continuity in the workforce . '  Two years ago , Staples said it received just 11 applications for 130 jobs which were advertised locally . But speaking outside Boston ' s Jobcentre , one unemployed man , who would only give his name as Ed , said employers seemed to be looking for East European workers .  He added : ' It is very hard to find work in Boston unless you go to one of the agencies who seem to prefer East Europeans .  ' I know people say the locals won ' t work but that is wrong . The arrival of all the migrants has changed the jobs market so people are taken on in bulk through the agencies . '  A Boston cab driver added : ' I ' ve got three children of my own and it is difficult for them to get work since all the East Europeans arrived . I don ' t think attracting more and putting them in caravans is the answer . '  Tensions in Boston have made the town a key Ukip target . Pictured , Nigel Farage in Rochester , where the party is expected to secure its second elected   ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
17944,17945,"Swansea boss Garry Monk has often said that his former manager Roberto Martinez is always at the other end of a telephone if he ever wants a catch up or chat about the pitfalls of management .  But rookie manager Monk admits there has been no time to talk this week ahead of Everton ' s visit to the Liberty Stadium in the third round of the Capital One cup on Tuesday night .  Everton ' s busy schedule of domestic and European commitments , Monk says , has put paid to the usual conversations between two men who shared the same remarkable journey as Swansea rose through the divisions of English football .  Garry Monk often looks to Roberto Martinez for advice , but the Spaniard has been too busy of late  ' I ' ve not had any contact with Roberto this week as he has been very busy with lots of games , ' Monk said ahead of their third reunion since the 35 year old took over at Swansea last February .  ' It ' s always great to see him . I know him very well and I know he will want to win the game like I will want to win the game .  ' It will be a good cup tie it will be an interesting one .  ' We are at home , I am sure the fans will be right up for it and hopefully we can get the right result . '  Swansea suffered a 1 0 defeat to Southampton on Saturday after record signing Wilfried Bony was sent off  Everton also lost at the weekend , going down 3 2 against Crystal Palace at Goodison Park on Sunday  The two men were team mates when Monk joined Swansea in 2004 and three years later the centre back was Martinez ' s captain when the Spaniard took his first steps in management in south Wales .  Martinez later moved on to Wigan and then Everton , where he has enjoyed notable success by taking the Merseyside club back into Europe following last season ' s fifth placed finish in the Premier League .  He also managed two Goodison Park victories over Monk last season while his friend was in caretaker control at Swansea , 3 1 in a fifth round  Cup tie in February and 3 2 in a Premier League game the following month .  Monk would love to redress the balance on Tuesday and admits he would also enjoy another cup run after Swansea won the Capital One cup two seasons ago .  Monk played for Swansea between 2004 and 2014 , and was a team mate of Martinez ' s until he left in 2006  Martinez and Monk will go head to head on Tuesday when Swansea host Everton at the Liberty Stadium  ' The cup always ranks high and it would be nice to go on a run , ' Monk said .  ' We also want to bounce back because we lost to Southampton on Saturday and it would be nice to try to make sure we don ' t lose the next one . '  Swansea have actually never beaten Everton in their history , a total of 20 games which have brought 15 wins for the Toffees and five draws .  ' We know how Roberto sets up and he knows how we set up , ' said Swansea defender Neil Taylor .  ' We have played against them a lot of times now and they will always be good games , but hopefully we can come out on top this time because their record here is something we need to put right .  ' Everton are a good footballing side but we won the League Cup a couple of years ago and know how good it can be . '  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
17946,17947,"Alphabet now comes before Apple atop the list of the world s most valuable companies .  The shift occurred in Monday s extended trading after Alphabet , Google s new parent company , released a fourth quarter earnings report that highlighted the robust growth of the digital ad market . Apple Inc . s iPhone , meanwhile , is suffering its first downturn since it debuted eight years ago .  Alphabet Inc . earned 4 . 9 billion on revenue of 21 . 3 billion in the fourth quarter . If not for employee stock expenses and certain other items , Alphabet said it would have earned 8 . 67 per share . That figure easily topped the average estimate of 8 . 10 per share among analysts surveyed by FactSet .  The report provided the most detailed breakdown yet on the profits pouring in from Google s dominant search engine and ad network . ( Google reorganized itself under Alphabet last October . ) Investors pushed up Alphabet stock 35 . 73 , or 4 . 6 , to 806 . 50 in extended trading .  Based on that after hours bump , Alphabet s market value stood at 555 billion while Apple s was at 533 billion , based on the most recent regulatory filings showing the company s outstanding shares . The rankings could quickly change again in regular trading Tuesday .  Apple s stock has been sliding amid concerns over slowing iPhone sales . Meanwhile , Alphabet s stock has surged by 45 since the end of 2014 when it was still trading under Google s name .  The fourth quarter report marks the first time Alphabet has spelled out the costs of running still experimental businesses that are trying to do everything from eliminating human drivers to curing cancer .  Until now , Google chose to hide the expense of running those peripheral operations in its financial statement . The company s opaque accounting made it difficult to know just how much profit Google reaped from its primary business ? selling digital ads next to everything from search results to YouTube videos .  In the fourth quarter , Google produced an operating profit of 6 . 8 billion on revenue of 17 . 1 billion , after subtracting ad commissions . That translates into a whopping profit margin of 40 . Apple registered an operating profit margin of 32 in its most recent quarter .  Meanwhile , Alphabet s other companies together produced an operating loss of 1 . 2 billion on revenue of just 151 million . Alphabet labels that category other bets . For the full year , Alphabet s other companies lost 3 . 6 billion on revenue of 448 million .  The optimism surrounding Alphabet stems in part from hopes that the company is developing more financial discipline as it discloses more earnings details . Google had become known for its free spending habits and reluctance to share information with analysts .  The change in sentiment coincided with Google s hiring of a new chief financial officer , Ruth Porat , last May . Porat , a Wall Street veteran , has consistently signaled her intent to rein in spending .  Under the previous setup at Google , things had always been a little muddy , said Edward Jones analyst Josh Olson . The hope now is that management will continue to show greater cost discipline .  Porat signaled her resolve again Monday in a conference call with analysts . Our priority remains revenue growth but that doesn t give us a pass on a rigorous approach to expense management , she said .  Google is also counting on advertisers to gradually pay more for marketing messages on smartphones . They still aren t paying as much for mobile ads as on personal computers because ads on smaller smartphone screens strike many as less valuable . That s one reason Google s average ad rates , measured as cost per click , have been declining for more than four years .  In the latest quarter , Google s cost per click fell by 13 from the same time in 2014 . But Porat cited in increase in mobile search requests as one of biggest reasons that Google s revenue rose by 18 from the previous year . As people increasingly search for information and shop on their phones , the company expects advertisers to ramp up their spending on smartphones , too .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Economy,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
17948,17949,"Almost 12 years and 122 Tests have passed since Keven Mealamu made his All Blacks debut in Cardiff but the hooker still relishes the fiery reception .  The battle hardened front row has learned to blank out any crude remarks and , with a 100 per cent win rate over Wales , has a habit of silencing the sledgers .  New Zealand ' s unbeaten run stands at 25 games and Mealamu will set out to extend that record on Saturday , when he returns to the ground where he first played in 2002 alongside Jonah Lomu , Andrew Mehrtens and Tana Umaga . ' I ' ve got amazing memories from that day , ' said Mealamu , 35 .  Keven Mealamu warms up alongside head coach Steve Hansen as New Zealand prepare for Wales  Mealamu tackles Wales ' Robert Sidoli during his debut at the Millennium Stadium in 2002  ' Being able to hear the Welsh inside the closed stadium was something I had never experienced before . You can hear vividly what they ' re saying . It ' s not just advice on throwing the ball in I ' ve had some comments about my mother , too .  ' You ' ve just got to stay cool . There ' s no time to tell them to sort it out . Being in a closed stadium you can feel the energy . There ' s nowhere for the sound to escape and it ' s bouncing off each wall . '  A noisy home crowd will be hoping to inspire Wales to an unlikely victory at the Millennium Stadium . But the odds are stacked against Warren Gatland ' s side , with New Zealand plotting to end their season with a resounding scoreline before the squad take a long break .  The All Blacks hooker says he has to ignore the shouts from the crowd , which are not always complimentary  The 35 year old has won every time he has faced Wales , and will want that to continue this weekend  Head coach Steve Hansen is expected to name a fully loaded starting  for the Test in Cardiff , having rested some first choice players for the narrow victory over Scotland , who frustrated the tourists at the contact area .  ' That ' s a constant work on area , ' said Mealamu . ' It ' s something we want to keep improving because it ' s a vital part of our game . If we can nail it then it really sets us up . '  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
17953,17954,"Tuesday night was a very big night for Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton. The former Secretary of State had a clean sweep of wins across all five states that held primaries. These wins will help push her forward towards her path of securing the Democratic nomination for president.However, where there is the glory of being declared the victor, there will always be someone there to tear you down, and not just in a way coming from the opposition, but rather in weird unexpected ways. Such as, being told one is not celebrating properly. Which is exactly what  Morning Joe host Joe Scarborough did to Hillary Tuesday night.Apparently, according to Scarborough, HillaryClinton wasn t gleeful enough to his liking, and wasn t presenting herself in a way that he thought she should be on her victorious evening. If you watched Hillary s speech, she was, in fact very happy and gleeful, but apparently Scarborough thought differently. So, he told her to  smile. Smile. You just had a big night. #PrimaryDay  Joe Scarborough (@JoeNBC) March 16, 2016If Hillary never smiled for the rest of her life, guess what, that s perfectly fine. Scarborough has no right to tell a woman she needs to smile just because he thinks she should.Telling a woman to smile is ridiculously sexist. If you can t grasp that it is, that likely says more about you than it does about anyone else. Women shouldn t be required to smile at the drop of a hat just because someone thinks they should. If it s not required of men, why should it be of women? Not to mention the fact that it is  annoying. Women, and I speak for myself as someone who has been told to smile regularly, are, quite frankly, tired of it.However, leave it to Samantha Bee to let him know that it s perfectly okay for a woman not to smile all the frickin  time..@JoeNBC pic.twitter.com/YZHVIKxE8O  Full Frontal (@FullFrontalSamB) March 16, 2016Which is also how women should look at Joe Scarborough from now on.Featured image via Instagram",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,satire,fake,True,no,no,positive,past
17962,17963,"pulls out of  debate set for February  While I was proud of our candidates and the way they handled tonight s debate , the performance by the  moderators was extremely disappointing and did a disservice to their network , our candidates , and voters ,  Chairman Reince Priebus said in . . . more  Responding to the blowback against  s handling of the third  debate , the head of the Republican National Committee announced Friday that it was suspending its plans to partner with  News for a presidential debate next year .  In a letter to Andrew Lack , the head of  News ,  Chair Reince Priebus said the  network , which is owned by NBCUniversal News Group , conducted the  debate Wednesday in bad faith .  I write to inform you that pending further discussion between the Republican National Committee (  ) and our presidential campaigns , we are suspending the partnership with  News for the Republican primary debate at the University of Houston on February 26 , 2016 , Mr Priebus wrote . The  s sole role in the primary debate process is to ensure that our candidates are given a full and fair opportunity to lay out their vision for America s future . We simply cannot continue with  without full consultation with our campaigns .  We understand that  does not exercise full editorial control over  s journalistic approach , he said . However , the network is an arm of your organization , and we need to ensure there is not a repeat performance .  Ali Zelenko , spokesperson for  News , called it a disappointing development .  However , along with our debate broadcast partners at Telemundo we will work in good faith to resolve this matter with the Republican Party , Ms . Zelenko said in a statement .  The debate in Colorado was the third of the  nomination contest , which the  hoped to have more control over following the unruly 2012 race .  But the moderators in prime time debate Wednesday lost control of the event , coming under fire from the candidates , who panned their questions as inaccurate and shallow .   has since faced a barrage of criticism .  While debates are meant to include tough questions and contrast candidates visions and policies for the future of America ,  s moderators engaged in a series of gotcha questions , petty and mean spirited in tone , and designed to embarrass our candidates , Mr Priebus said in the letter .  What took place Wednesday night was not an attempt to give the American people a greater understanding of our candidates policies and ideas , he said .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
17965,17966,"The Libyan government argued Tuesday that it should not have to hand over Saif al Islam Gadhafi to the International Criminal Court because the court in the Hague , Netherlands , does not have jurisdiction in the case .  Gadhafi , son of deposed strongman Moammar Gadhafi , was facing an arrest warrant from the  for alleged crimes against humanity at the time of his capture in November 2011 . The court is still seeking to prosecute him and wants him handed over .  Gadhafi has been held in the Libyan city of Zintan since his capture . The two day hearing is being held in the Hague .  Read more : Libya granted more time on Gadhafi question  The  has demanded that Libya hand Gadhafi over to face accusations of crimes against humanity . Libya appealed the decision , saying that he should be tried at home .  Court appointed attorneys Melinda Taylor and Xavier Jean Keita said in April that Gadhafi has been mistreated and "" physically attacked "" since his capture .  Live blog : Gadhafi releases taped message  In a strongly worded statement , the lawyers described Gadhafi as being in a legal black hole , held in total isolation except for visits from officials . He also suffers dental pain because he hasn ' t had treatment , and Libyan authorities have given him nothing to remedy the pain , the lawyers said .  The Libyan government wants to prosecute Gadhafi itself , as it "" regards the trial of Saif al Islam and Abdullah al Senussi as a matter of the highest national importance , not only in bringing justice for the Libyan people but also in demonstrating that the new Libyan justice system is capable of conducting fair trials ( that meet all applicable international standards ) in complex cases . ""  Al Senussi , who was Libya ' s chief of intelligence under Moammar Gadhafi ' s , is wanted by both the  and the Libyan government . He was arrested in Mauritania in March .  Read more : Libyans celebrate capture of Gadhafi ' s son Saif al Islam  The appeal document also seeks to answer  concerns about Saif al Islam Gadhafi ' s well being , saying the government "" has expended considerable resources in order to ensure the safe and secure temporary custody "" of Gadhafi in Zintan and is negotiating to bring him to the capital , where facilities would be better .  Amnesty International has previously called on Libya to hand over Gadhafi .  "" An unfair trial before a Libyan court where the accused could face the death penalty is no way to guarantee justice and accountability , "" the rights group said .  Amnesty has said that Libya does not have a functioning court system and the country was "" unable to conduct effective investigations , "" so "" the  will be crucial in delivering accountability in Libya . ""  Libya and the  have been going back and forth since his capture about where Saif al Islam Gadhafi , once his father ' s heir apparent , will be tried .  Moammar Gadhafi died after his capture by opposition forces a year ago .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
17980,17981,"Today is winter solstice , the shortest day of the year , and to celebrate thousands of pagans packed the ancient site of Stonehenge .  Around 1 , 500 people gathered at the ancient monument in Wiltshire to watch the sunrise this morning .  Winter solstice is an astronomical phenomena which marks the shortest day and longest night of the year .  This is caused by the tilt of the Earth ' s axis , when the North Pole is tilted furthest from the Sun .  Today is the shortest day of the year and to celebrate the Winter Solstice thousands of revellers packed the ancient site of Stonehenge  Tess Reddaway , 17 , is one of those celebrating winter solstice , the shortest day of the year , at the ancient site of Stonehenge in Wiltshire  Senior druid King Arthur Pendragon reigned over the event and told the international crowd the event celebrates hope .  Officially , Sunday was the shortest day , but the crowds gathered to celebrate this morning ' s sunrise as the moment the North Pole is tilted furthest from the Sun .  The crowd ' s spirits remained undampened despite the fact heavy cloud blocked out most of the view .  Senior druid King Arthur Pendragon told the  : ' What we ' re really here for is to celebrate the fact that the cycle of the world turns , and from now on the days get longer and it ' s the return of the sun .  Revellers are wrapped up warmly as they prepare to celebrate the sunrise during the winter solstice at Stonehenge on Salisbury plain  The crowd were celebrating the sunrise closest to the Winter Solstice , which is the shortest day of the year at the ancient monument  ' It ' s a time of change and hope is renewed the same message really from a pagan perspective as from a Christian perspective .  ' That ' s what this season is all about a message of hope . '  Arthur Pendragon , real name John Timothy Rothwell , believes he is the reincarnation of the 5th century King Arthur .  Last week English Heritage which manages the stones near Salisbury in Wiltshire reported a record number of tourists in the past year .  A reveller dressed in rather unusual garb celebrates the sunrise along with around 1 , 500 others from all over the world  There were some bold fashion choices at the annual event this man appears to be sporting an animal skin complete with antlers  Two weeks ago the Government announced in its Autumn Statement that it will be investing in a new 2 . 9km tunnel to remove the A303 from the Stonehenge landscape .  English Heritage and National Trust as guardians of Stonehenge and its World Heritage Site , see this announcement as a ' truly momentous decision ' in the modern history of one of the most famous places in the world .  English Heritage recently announced 1 . 3 million people had visited the site since the opening of the 27 million visitor centre in December last year a nine per cent increase on the previous 12 months .  Senior druid King Arthur Pendragon ( pictured ) reigned over the event and told the international crowd the event celebrates hope  Druid , pagans and revellers all attended the event this man shows off his ceremonial sword , robes and impressive beard  Many different cultures hold holidays , festivals , gatherings rituals on the day of the winter solstice to celebrate the shortest day of the year  Last week English Heritage , which manages Stonehenge , reported a record number of tourists in the past year since they opened a new centre  Many cultures hold holidays , festivals , gatherings rituals and other celebrations during winter solstice .  According to the Order of Bards , Ovates and Druids , the name for winter solstice in Druidry is Alban Arthan , which means ' The Light of Arthur ' .  On their website they say of the winter solstice : ' At this point the Sun is at its southernmost point almost disappearing beyond the horizon , and the days are at their shortest .  ' This was a time of dread for the ancient peoples as they saw the days getting shorter and shorter .  ' A great ritual was needed to revert the course of the sun . This was probably calculated by the great circles of stone and burial grounds which are aligned to this festival .  ' Sure enough , the next day the Sun began to move higher into the sky , showing that it had been reborn . '  Stonehenge is one of the most famous historic sites in the world .  It is made up of the remains of a prehistoric ring of standing stones in the middle of a dense complex of Neolithic and Bronze age monuments , including burial mounds .  Archaeologists believe it was built sometime between 3 , 000  and 2 , 000  .  Stonehenge was a  World Heritage Site in 1986 and is legally protected as a scheduled ancient monument .  It is managed by English Heritage and the surrounding last is owned by the National Trust .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
18001,18002,"Yes, it s really hard to be a dictator in America Obama obviously doesn t like power to be given to anyone but him. ",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,present
18003,18004,"James O’Keefe and Project Veritas released a new undercover video on Tuesday showing   activists with the “DisruptJ20” effort plotting to stop Donald Trump’s inauguration by chaining D. C. Metro trains and blocking roads. [The video adds a layer of deep detail to a story by Ryan Lovelace in the Washington Examiner earlier this month, “How protesters plan to wreck Donald Trump’s inauguration,” which first reported the efforts of “#DisruptJ20. ”  One activist leader is captured on the Project Veritas video saying: “So simultaneous to the checkpoint blockades in the morning, we are also doing a series of clusterfuck blockades, where we are going to try to blockade all the major ingress points into the city. ” The blockade plan allegedly included stopping the D. C. Metro, according to an audio recording: So we figured out this, um, the trains pull up, one person is going to lock one end of a chain to an edge, and on the other end of the chain the end of the car, so on and so forth, done. It takes 15 seconds and everyone can leave and literally it can’t go anywhere at that point, its anchored. And you can use a really thin chain  —   you don’t need a heavy chain  —   that would require like a bolt cutter to undo, basically to shut down that line   …     Metro Center, Gallery Place, and L’Enfant Plaza, they are all close enough to walk to and that’s every single line in the city. Another plan allegedly involved using setting up tables, ostensibly for distributing charitable donations for the poor and homeless, to block roads to the inauguration: “So, we want to encourage you all to give to the poor and the homeless. Go right down to 2nd and D, help us to block the vehicle traffic and the pedestrian traffic flowing to the inauguration. And set up tables, food, give out whatever,  right there, there 2nd and D a block from either direction and help to block traffic. ” One of the more creative plans apparently discussed was to move protesters into position near a park by posing as members of a yoga class. Other apparent discussions involved violent tactics to use in street battles with police. One activist expresses the desire to see the inauguration moved inside because of the protests. The Project Veritas video is Part Two of a series on   protests of the inauguration. Part One, released on Monday, showed activists planning to set off stink bombs at an   party. Joel B. Pollak is Senior    at Breitbart News. He was named one of the “most influential” people in news media in 2016. His new book, How Trump Won: The Inside Story of a Revolution, is available from Regnery. Follow him on Twitter at @joelpollak.",fake,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
18029,18030,"Politico is reporting late Sunday that White House chief of staff Reince Priebus has an Independence Day deadline to clean up the messes he is responsible for in the White House. [“President Donald Trump has set a deadline of July 4 for a shakeup of the White House that could include removing Reince Priebus as his chief of staff, according to two administration officials and three outside advisers familiar with the matter,” Politico’s Tara Palmeri wrote late Sunday night:  While Trump has set deadlines for staff changes before, only to let them pass without pulling the trigger, the president is under more scrutiny than ever regarding the sprawling Russia investigation, which is intensifying the pressure on his White House team. Days after his return from his first foreign trip late last month, Trump berated Priebus in the Oval Office in front of his former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski and deputy campaign manager David Bossie for the dysfunction in the White House, according to multiple sources familiar with the conversation. Palmeri joined Breitbart News Sunday on SiriusXM Patriot Channel 125 to discuss the breaking news on Priebus out of the White House. Palmeri wrote that Bossie has been considered for deputy White House chief of staff and Lewandowski has been considered for a White House senior adviser role with a “portfolio that includes Russia,” but Trump told Lewandowski and Bossie they would not be going into the White House just yet  —   that Priebus deserves one last chance to get things under control in there. “I’m giving you until July 4,” Trump told Priebus, Palmeri wrote, citing a source with knowledge of the conversation. “I don’t want them [Lewandowski and Bossie] to come into this mess. If I’m going to clean house, they will come in as fresh blood. ” White House press secretary Sean Spicer  —   a staunch ally of Priebus  —   denied this claim. “Whoever is saying that is either a liar or out of the loop,” Spicer told Palmeri. But Spicer has previously been wrong about Palmeri. Back in March, Spicer told Breitbart News that Palmeri was “an idiot with no real sources” when she previously reported accurately that Priebus was in jeopardy of losing his job then. It turns out that is not accurate as, the very next day, Palmeri quoted an   conversation she had with chief White House strategist Stephen K. Bannon. Palmeri added that Independence Day is hardly the first deadline that Priebus has faced  —   and he has succeeded in surviving for now. “The Independence Day timeframe is timed with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s deadline for passage of the health care bill through the chamber, which is also the start of the July 4th recess,” she wrote: Priebus took the brunt of the blame for the first failure to get a vote on the bill through the House, though the White House and Speaker Paul Ryan were ultimately able to secure its passage on a second try. Talk of Trump’s July 4th deadline has made the rounds in the White House, but insiders and those close to the president are not holding their breath, given the perpetual talk that Priebus and other senior staffers are on the way out. Trump’s first deadline for the firing of Priebus and many staffers that he brought on from the Republican National Committee was the   mark. The president then considered the idea of a Memorial Day shakeup when he returned from the foreign trip, and then most recently, July 4. People who have been considered as potential upgrades from Priebus, Palmeri wrote, include   campaign adviser David Urban and Blackstone executive Wayne Berman  —   among others who have been considered. Other names that have been floated publicly but are not mentioned in this piece include House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy and White House National Economic Council director Gary Cohn. McCarthy’s role in Congress, since Congress has not done much in the way of helping Trump succeed, could be an impediment to him getting the job. Cohn’s leftist tendencies, meanwhile  —   as exhibited by his comments bashing the coal industry while in Europe last month  —   are a sign that the selection of Cohn would be a setback to the administration. Cohn is reportedly interested in other positions, too, including Federal Reserve chairman. An adviser to the president mocked Priebus’s predicament in a statement to Palmeri. “It’s become comical that every holiday becomes a referendum on Reince,” the adviser said. Priebus has even joked about how bad his situation is, per Palmeri, telling one person recently, “I’ve got one foot on a banana peel and another out the door. ” Now, Trump is considering sending him to Greece as ambassador. “Trump has weighed the idea of moving Priebus to the role of ambassador to Greece, because of his Greek descent,” Palmeri wrote. “Trump told Bossie, ‘that Priebus will enjoy Greece,’ according to two people with knowledge of the comment. ” But at least two   advisers questioned    whether Priebus was indeed on his way out on July 4 if he does not fix the place soon. “The White House is different [than the Trump Organization],”   Sam Nunberg said. “You can’t make quick changes, it’s an institution. Once someone is gone from there, they’re gone. With that said, I think Reince will be there for the long haul. ” Roger Stone, another longtime confidante of the president, told Palmeri that two “drastic personnel decisions” that Trump made in his business career were when he fired Trump Organization  Edward Tracy and Trump Atlantic City Associates  Nicholas Ribis. “He likened the firings to Richard Nixon’s ‘Saturday Night Massacre’ and called it ‘sudden,’” Palmeri wrote of her conversation with Stone. “He suggested that if and when Trump removes Priebus, it will be at an opportune time and with a landing pad. ” Stone told Palmeri, too, that after the fallout from the president’s firing of now former  director James Comey, he will likely remove Priebus more carefully if he does end up doing so. “I think it would be fair to say, that with the entire Comey controversy, that’s a pretty good reason not to make a change at this exact moment,” Stone said.   POLITICO’S      SUNDAY: ",true,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
18052,18053,"Despite being only 11 years old , local kid David Bailey is absolutely massive just an absolute Mack truck of a boy astonished sources reported Friday .  According to witnesses , Bailey , who reportedly hasn ' t even reached puberty yet , has got to be well over 100 pounds , and , no shit , is probably close to 6 feet tall . Sources further confirmed that Bailey has always been a big boy , and that his parents , Rebecca and George Bailey , aren ' t exactly the sort of people you would call petite .  "" Just look at the size of him , "" mesmerized neighbor Kelly Hamilton said while watching Bailey shoot baskets in his driveway . "" He ' s not fat , either , just really well , dense . No two ways about it , that kid is built like a brick shithouse . ""  "" And the crazy thing is , he ' s not done growing yet not by a long shot , "" Hamilton continued . "" Christ almighty , would you just look at him ? What are they feeding him over there ? ""  Many in the community echoed Hamilton ' s remarks , and even some full grown men who have seen Bailey lurching around town admitted they were not at all confident they could knock the gigantic boy down if they tried .  "" He ' s an absolute monster , that kid , "" local mail carrier Richard Foster said . "" Solid as a rock , real low center of gravity . And did you get a load of his goddamn feet ? I think he wears bigger shoes than I do , and I ' m 35 . ""  "" Very polite , though good boy , has a good family , "" Foster added .  Further disconcerting to those who cross paths with the kid is the fact that , despite his massiveness , Bailey ' s voice has yet to break . In addition , the extremely youthful appearance of his face reportedly creates an effect that has led many to describe him as looking "" sort of like a big , burly lumberjack , but with a baby ' s head . ""  An informal poll of Greenwood residents found that 61 percent considered Bailey to be "" just gargantuan , "" 22 percent said he was "" enormous that ' s the only word for it , "" and 16 percent described him as "" a goddamn Russian battle tank . ""  "" The Bailey kid is like a boulder , "" said neighbor Frank Caldwell , adding that it ' s kind of weird that Bailey ' s older brother is actually the smaller of the two siblings . "" And once he sheds some of that baby fat , watch out . If he doesn ' t end up going out for the football team when he ' s older , that ' d be a real shame . A real goddamn shame . ""  Bailey ' s fifth grade teacher Mary Sullivan told reporters that certain additional factors contribute to the child ' s imposing presence , such as the fact that he lumbers around with the thoughtful , deliberate purpose of an Angus bull .  "" David is a diesel powered freight train , pure and simple , "" Sullivan said while proffering a class photo in which Bailey towers over his classmates like he ' s from a different species altogether . "" I ' m just glad he ' s such a sweet kid . I ' ve never had any behavior problems with him , and he never seems to quarrel with his classmates , thank God . Can you imagine that human jumbo jet slamming into a normal kid his age ? There ' d be nothing left . ""  According to sources , the recent interest in the colossal Bailey kid has renewed discussion surrounding that Anderson boy , who is only 12 and really puny but somehow practically has a full beard .  ",satire,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,fake,satire,True,no,no,positive,past
18072,18073,"Mo . ? ? Edinson Volquez walked off the mound in Game 1 of the World Series and into the dugout , where he came face to face with his manager Ned Yost . Right then and there , Yost wanted to clue Volquez in to the bad news so many other people already knew . Yost wanted to , but he couldn t . He promised he wouldn t .  I almost told him when he was done , You need to go call your wife , Yost said . But I didn t .  When Volquez went to the clubhouse , his family was waiting for him . So was Royals general manager Dayton Moore . They went in Yost s office and Volquez learned what Yost had promised not to tell him .  His father had died earlier in the day . Daniel Volquez , 63 , succumbed to heart disease in the Dominican Republic .  Related : ? Five key moments from the Royals ' 5 4 win in World Series Game 1  The news began to spread in the U . S . as Volquez , 32 , was making his warm up pitches at Kauffman Stadium , ahead of the biggest start of his life . The Royals would eventually win , 5 4 , in 14 exciting innings , to take a 1 0 lead in the series . Volquez wouldn t factor into the decision , but he d still be a central figure in a game that was decided hours after he finished pitching .  It was Volquez s wife , Roandy , who asked the Royals not to tell her husband . According to Yost , she contacted Moore , told him what happened , but requested that they didn t tell her husband until he was done pitching .  It created an eerie situation . Anybody following baseball on social media had heard the news , because it was widely reported and talked about in the early innings of the game . The Fox broadcast , however , didn t mention Volquez s father until he had learned the news . The reason ? They didn t want Volquez to hear it on the broadcast if he went to the clubhouse between innings .  He s gone home , Yost said after the game . He left before the game ended .  Most of Volquez s teammates didn t know what was going on either . One who did was pitcher Chris Young . Yost approached Young an hour before the game . If Volquez found out and couldn t pitch , Young would have to replace him . So Yost told Young ? ? whose own father died on Sept . 26 ? in confidence .  "" I certainly sympathize with the pain Volquez is going through tonight , "" Young said . "" It ' s hard , it ' s really hard . I just really can ' t describe . I just feel sorry for him and feel his pain . ""  Pitchers Danny Duffy and Jeremy Guthrie saw Volquez in the clubhouse after he pitched but before he left the stadium . Both said they knew something was wrong .  He knows that everyone in this clubhouse has his back , Duffy said . It s terrible , terrible news . It really puts this game in perspective . Whenever Volquez decides to come back , when he s comfortable , ? he needs to be with his family right now ? but when he comes back , everybody in here will be ready for a hug .  Related : ? Chris Young , Royals ' Game 4 starter , picks up Game 1 win out of bullpen  The news put a damper on the Royals extra innings win . It was another skin of their teeth , walk off victory , but it would eventually resonate in a bigger way . Third baseman Mike Moustakas says Yost told the team at one point , Let s win this for Eddie . But it wasn t until after the game that they found out exactly why . Guthrie gathered the Royals for their usual victory celebration . It was then that they learned what Volquez had learned a few hours earlier .  We respect each other s families , said Moustakas after the game . He lost his mother to cancer in August and recently has been writing her initials in the dirt near the batter s box with his bat handle . When someone loses a family member that takes priority over everything . Baseball is baseball . But family , that s something that is more important than baseball . This is the World Series . It s phenomenal . But family takes over everything .  Volquez family chose baseball on his behalf Tuesday . He went out and he helped his team win , allowing three runs on six hits in his first ever World Series appearance . Gutsy , his teammates called the performance . It s the World Series , so the stakes were already high . Turned out the game was more important than even he knew at the time .  You see Eddie out there competing his butt off , Yost said . And you just keep thinking , What s coming next ? The news is coming next .  The bad news did come next . And it changed the tenor of the biggest day of Volquez s professional life . While some will criticize the Royals and the people close to Volquez for withholding the news , Yost said shortly after the Royals Game 1 win that he s fine with what he had to do , with the promise that he made .  I don t feel bad , Yost said . I love Eddie Volquez and if his family asked me to do something , I m going to do it .  Mike Oz is the editor of Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports . Have a tip ? Email him at mikeozstew yahooweblink or follow him on Twitter ! Follow MikeOz  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
18111,18112,"Big oil backed Arctic researchers are advertising for a hardy soul to work for them as a polar bear spotter in Siberia , in a move panned by environmental campaigners as an attempt at ' greenwash ' .  The Arctic Research and Design Center for Offshore Developments wants somebody to count the numbers of polar bears in the 20 to 25 different groups living around the ice bound Kara Sea .  The project is a joint venture between Russian state owned oil company Rosneft and ExxonMobil , the American multinational oil and gas corporation , to exploit fossil fuels locked beneath the Arctic ice .  Count me out . . . Arctic researchers backed by big oil firms ExxonMobil and Rosneft are advertising for an individual or team to count polar bears in the Kara Sea , in a move green campaigners have panned as ' ironic '  For now , their research is concentrating around the sea off Siberia ' s frozen north west coast . Well north of the Arctic Circle , it is covered by more than a metre of ice for most of the year .  The job advertised by Rosneft and ExxonMobil is part of a 3 . 2billion exploration programme to work out how best to exploit the Arctic ' s natural resources .  Surveys carried out by energy giants have shown that 6 . 2billion tons of oil and 14 . 6billion cubic metres of natural gas lie locked beneath the floor of the Kara Sea alone .  As well as counting bears , the person who wins the post will also be expected to place electronic monitoring collars on up to 20 adult females . They also need to take blood samples from the bears so that laboratory tests can be carried out later .  But only the brave and resilient need apply . Polar bears are one of the few mammals that will deliberately hunt humans for food .  Good eyesight is a must to spot the white bears against the icy background . Winter temperatures in the area plunge to minus 46 .  But although it includes working with animals for a species officially classified as ' vulnerable ' , the work may not suit conservationists .  Ben Ayliffe , the head of Greenpeace ' s Arctic campaign , called ExxonMobil and Rosneft ' s Arctic research project ' obvious greenwash ' .  He said that their plan to hire a polar bear counter was ' ironic ' given that the companies plan to drill in areas recognised as protected sites for the species .  ' If you look at the deal struck by Rosneft and ExxonMobil the drilling blocks actually impinge on protected areas , ' said Mr Ayliffe .  ' In the Kara Sea the blocks that they will be drilling impinge on a supposedly protected Russian national park , an area that ' s supposed to be sacrosanct .  ' In other regions they hope to drill later , one of the places Wrangel Island is actually a Unesco World Heritage site where polar bears breed .  ' So it ' s ironic that they are advertising for polar bear spotters when they are actually planning to drill in the nursery for polar bears in the Arctic . '  Mr Ayliffe added : ' The clear motive is a very thin veneer of green respectability on probably the most reckless drilling operation anywhere in the world .  ' ExxonMobil is the company responsible for the Exxon Valdez disaster , which it was the 25th anniversary of just yesterday . '  The aftermath of the Exxon Valdez disaster 25 years ago : If a similar incident was to happen in the remote and inaccessible waters of the Kara Sea , it would make that spill ' look like a picnic ' , said a Greenpeace spokesman  In that incident an Exxon owned oil tanker bound for Long Beach , California , struck a reef off Prince William Sound , Alaska , and bled as much as 750 , 000 barrels of crude oil into the northern Pacific in just a few days .  Due to the inaccessibility of the region hampering clean up efforts , the oil eventually covered 1 , 300 miles of coastline , and 11 , 000 square miles of ocean , blighting a crucial habitat for salmon , sea otters , seals and seabirds .  ' If a spill happened up in the Kara Sea it would make the Exxon Valdez look like a picnic , ' Mr Ayliffe said .  So remote is the Kara Sea that its ecosystem is still relatively clean compared to oceans in lower latitudes , but the World Wide Fund identifies overfishing and oil and gas development as severe threats .  In the Soviet era , it was also long a dumping ground for military and civilian nuclear waste .  The successful applicant will be chosen at the end of March , so the applications need to be sent soon .  MailOnline contacted ExxonMobil for comment , but had received no reply at the time of publication .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
18117,18118,"Reuters) - A senior Australian government minister on Thursday called Donald Trump’s campaign for the U.S. presidency “terrifying” and warned it risked casting the Republican Party into the wilderness if he wins nomination. Australian government ministers rarely make critical comments about elections in other countries, especially stalwart allies like the United States, which Australia relies on heavily for military backing in the Asia-Pacific. Australian Industry Minister Christopher Pyne, a cabinet member of the ruling conservative Liberal-National coalition, criticized the violence at recent Trump rallies and said that his rise was casting a pall over American democracy.  “Now, democracy should be robust but it certainly shouldn’t be violent,” Pyne said in an interview on Australia’s Channel Seven television network. “And I think the Donald Trump phenomenon is a real problem for the United States, making their democracy look kind of weird,” he said. Republican front-runner Trump warned on Wednesday of riots if he is denied the party’s presidential nomination, only days after Trump supporters and protesters clashed at a rally for the Republican in Chicago that was later scrapped. Republican Party leaders are appalled at Trump’s incendiary rhetoric and reject policies such as his vow to deport 11 million illegal immigrants, temporarily ban Muslims from the United States and build a wall along the Mexican border. The party tried to play down Trump’s riot comments, which have raised the temperature even more in a heated White House race. ",true,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
18126,18127,"Thursday, 10 November 2016 Don't ask me how I did it.  He said it would be rigged. He blatantly announced that the presidential election would be rigged. The squirrels supporting his presidential election promised the election would be rigged.  They would have poll monitors at various neighborhoods to police the possibility, and the various neighborhoods were in the predominately black areas of the country. Granted, he has questionable integrity, but why is no one taking him at his word?  Did Trump rig the election?  ""We must support our new president,"" Hillary Clinton patriotically announced in her concession speech.  Hold it. Back up a couple of weeks.  Remember when the  was hacking into the Democratic National Committee, and Wiki-leaks published over 300 emails from John Podesta's computer? Seventeen  national security agencies announced that the hacking was traced to Russia. The former head of the KGB, Vladimir Putin, also had announced he was supporting Trump.  Then there was the Director of the FBI, James Comey's fiasco. First Hillary was guilty of original sin! Ten days later, in a perfect example of a Governor Rick Perry 'whoops', James Comey announced, ""There is nothing there, there!""  So there!  Back up again. Wringing his hands, Comey feared that mutinous members of the  were about to reveal new evidence against Hillary Clinton found in Anthony Weiner's computer. Weiner is the estranged husband of Huma Abedin, Hillary Clinton's chief of staff.  Long story to short: the new evidence was suggested in a book, Clinton Cash , written by Breitbart News senior editor-at-large Peter Schweizer. Breitbart News is a conservative website and the executive chairman, Stephan Bannon, is also the chief executive of the Donald Trump campaign.  The dots are easy to connect: the smear campaign, drop in polls, catch up game and the votes were cast.  ""This election is going to be rigged.""  Hillary Clinton never regained the advantage she had before the Comey fiasco. The down ballot was definitely compromised.  Quoting someone from Wisconsin. ""Wisconsin went for Trump and we don't know how that happened. At least she got the popular vote.""  The election was rigged. He said it would be. This time, believe him.  Read more by this author:",fake,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
18135,18136,"The Democratic People s Republic of Korea has announced that it has successfully tested another nuclear bomb , its fourth since 2006 , and independent reports of man made seismic activity inside the Hermit Kingdom seem to confirm the claim .  There s no real North Korean policy in place in Washington the administration of United States President Barack Obama has pursued a strategy of strategic patience , which essentially amounts to waiting for either North Korea or its benefactor China to voluntarily do something productive . So when North Korea forces Washington to pay attention , even if it s only for a few days , all the  government can do is grieve . And it happens in all five stages . ( With apologies to psychiatrist Elisabeth Kubler Ross . )  The  government s first reaction to any North Korean nuclear test or missile launch is to acknowledge reports of the incident , but defer comment until all the data comes in , which can take days . The  Geological Survey has already announced a 5 . 1 magnitude seismic event near previous nuclear tests . But even so , it will be hard to confirm that North Korea successfully detonated a hydrogen bomb , as Pyongyang claims . This allows the world to briefly live in denial that the Hermit Kingdom has made a significant technological leap since the last test in 2013 .  The bigger denial is the  government s view of North Korea : State Department spokesman John Kirby said late last Tuesday that we will not accept it as a nuclear state . North Korea has been a nuclear state since 2006 . According to the Institute for Science and International Security , it could have enough nuclear material for 79 bombs by 2020 .  In the days following a North Korea provocation , the  will lead the international community in a very public condemnation of Pyongyang s utter disregard for United Nations Security Council resolutions , its breaking of its own international commitments , such as the September 2005 agreement to denuclearise , and its flouting of international norms regarding safety and security in Northeast Asia .  In Washington , lawmakers will renew calls for increasing sanctions on North Korea , which is already the most sanctioned country on earth . There are already new North Korean sanctions bills in the works . There will also be anger directed by the Republicans at the Obama administration for not confronting North Korea s aggression more forcefully . The past several decades of  policy towards North Korea has been an abject failure , Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Bob Corker said last Wednesday .  Candidates will direct anger at the Bill Clinton administration for crafting an agreement in 1994 with Pyongyang that critics saw as a failure . Many will compare that to the Iranian nuclear agreement that Hillary Clinton helped Obama strike more recently .  Once the outrage subsides a bit , the expert community and the media , collectively known as the chattering class , will resume a familiar discussion about whether China can be persuaded to intervene and solve the North Korea problem . All eyes will be on China to see whether this nuclear test near the Chinese border will finally compel a change in Beijing s support of the regime , Victor Cha , senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies , wrote last Wednesday . While it might lead to some short term titration of assistance , it is unlikely to cause China to abandon the North , he said .  China will be bargaining as well , working to protect North Korea from harsh reprisals and other punitive measures that might be advocated by countries like Japan or South Korea . The question that comes up perennially is what the  can do to press Beijing to take a harder line towards Kim Jong un . The answer is always the same : China highly prizes North Korean stability and is unlikely to do anything too substantial to tamp down the provocations .  Until this recent test , there had been signs that North Korea was opening up , albeit cautiously . There has been a new inter Korean dialogue and family reunions were recently allowed . The Chinese government had recently reached out to North Korea s leadership after a long cooling off period , following the execution of their main interlocutor , Kim s uncle Jang Song thaek . Even the Japanese had some new initiatives in mind to work with North Korea . All of that will now be placed on indefinite hold .  North Korea s provocations have become so routine that after the international community goes through the motions , everyone eventually reverts back to the status quo . North Korea will likely avoid any tough new sanctions , as it has in the past . After a couple of months , quiet meetings may be held to re establish back channel discussions through experts and semi official government representatives . This is what the  did in 2013 , the last time North Korea tested a nuke .  North Korea s leaders will continue to test their ballistic missile and nuclear technology ? they have to , in order to progress technologically and assert their relevance . Also , there s not much the  can or will do about it , but hope that Kim Jong un has enough interest in self preservation that he continues to perpetrate violence only against his own people .  Josh Rogin is a Bloomberg View columnist writing about national security and foreign affairs .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
18149,18150,"As hosts of the largest carnival in world football , the pressure is on for South Africa ' s national football team to ignite the imagination of local fans by performing well at the 2010 World Cup .  If Bafana Bafana is to succeed in their mission , conventional wisdom would be that coach Carlos Alberto Parreira will turn to his best players to deliver results .  However , despite firing in 31 goals in 77 appearances to become South Africa ' s all time record goal scorer , Benni McCarthy has had question marks hanging over his participation for his country come June .  The prolific striker , who plays for English Premier League side Blackburn Rovers , has only recently returned from a period of international exile , just the latest incident in a stormy history with his country ' s football team .  He first angered Bafana Bafana fans by going into international retirement in 2002 aged just 25 . The reason ? Traveling to international games was hampering his ability to play European football for Celta Vigo and , later , Porto .  "" The whole pattern was killing my career , that ' s why I quit international football , "" he told British newspaper The Independent in 2004 . "" African football needs the same calendar as Europe otherwise its best players are going to suffer . ""  He was talked into returning , only to quit again after the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations when the president of the South African  , Mubarak Mahomad , made an uncomplimentary comment about his performance .  That period of self imposed exile lasted 20 months , until new coach Carlos Alberto Parreira flew to Great Britain to talk to McCarthy , who was now at Blackburn Rovers . But after Parreira quit to care for his sick wife , McCarthy fell out with replacement boss Joel Santana after he refused to play in two warm up matches last March .  Despite pleas from South African President Jacob Zuma , Santana refused to pick him . But a run of eight defeats in nine games , which saw the team slump to 86th on the  rankings , Santana was sacked . With goals being South Africa ' s biggest problem , it was no surprise that returning coach Parreira made persuading McCarthy to return , for a second time , his top priority .  Sure enough , McCarthy returned to the fray last month against Japan . The 32 year old told local press : "" I want to start afresh and help Bafana do well in the World Cup finals . It is every player ' s dream to play for his country . . . and I have matured . ""  "" In the past I was a loose cannon and I apologize if I was wrong but I am still the best at what I do and that is scoring goals , "" he added .  Few could argue with McCarthy ' s record . Born in Hanover Park , an impoverished township in Cape Town known for its high unemployment , poverty and gang related violence , McCarthy escaped to become one of Africa ' s most successful football exports .  McCarthy started his career in 1995 aged 18 with Seven Stars of Cape Town , where 27 goals in 29 games earned him a move to Cape Town Spurs who soon merged with Ajax Cape Town , a feeder side to their famous Dutch namesake .  McCarthy ' s potential was enough for Ajax Amsterdam to sign him . Joining in 1997 he scored nine goals to help them win the Eredivisie in his first year , which eventually attracted the attentions of Spain ' s Celta Vigo .  Although it didn ' t work out in Spain , his move to Portugal ' s  Porto was a roaring success . In the 2003 04 season he helped Jose Mourinho ' s side win the  Champions League with McCarthy memorably grabbing two goals in the second round defeat of Manchester United .  McCarthy moved to Premier League outfit Blackburn Rovers in 2006 and scored plenty of goals he was in the top three league scorers in his debut season but first team opportunities have been limited of late .  Yet ever since McCarthy made his international debut in a 2 0 home defeat to Holland 1997 , South Africa has been a different side with him in it . Gloom has followed South Africa ' s footballing exploits before this summer ' s World Cup . But after his most recent ' comeback ' , Bafana Bafana fans will hope that McCarthy can help put the dark days under Joel Santana firmly behind them .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
18156,18157,"s Jonathan Karl asked a very spunky Sara Huckabee-Sanders (yes, Sara is the daughter of the very funny and sarcastic former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee) if Vice President Pence was  in the dark  about the firing of  Director James Comey? Sara snapped back,  Nobody was in the dark Jonathan! You wanna create this false narrative. If we want talk about ah contradicting statements and people that were maybe in the dark, how about the Democrats?  Let s read a few of them. You wanna talk about  em? Here s what Democrats said not that long ago about James Comey :Harry Reid said,  Comey should resign and be investigated by the Senate. Senator Chuck Schumer,  I don t have confidence in him anymore.  Senator Bernie Sanders said,  It would not be a bad thing for the American people if Comey resigned.  Nancy Pelosi said,  Comey was not in the right job.  Former  Chair, Debbie Wasserman Schultz said that she thought Comey was no longer able to serve in a neutral and credible way.  President Obama s advisor Valerie Jarrett reportedly urged him to fire Comey.  Just yesterday, Representative Maxine Waters said that,  Hillary Clinton would have fired Comey.  You wanna talk about people who are in the dark? The people that are in the dark today are the Democrats.Boom!Earlier today, we posted a video that President Trump posted to his Twitter page pointing out the absurd hypocrisy of the Democrats and their allies in the liberal media. This video pretty much sums up how hypocritical Democrats and their media arm really are when it comes to anything related to Trump.Watch:The Democrats should be ashamed. This is a disgrace!#DrainTheSwamp pic.twitter.com/UfbKEECm2V  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 11, 2017 ",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,present
18163,18164,"Reuters) - Illinois ended its historic budget drought on Thursday after  the House of Representatives enacted the state’s first complete spending plan since 2015 by overriding the governor’s vetoes. But the $36 billion fiscal 2018 budget and $5 billion tax hike may not save Illinois from becoming the first-ever U.S. state with a junk credit rating. The Democratic-controlled House mustered some Republican votes to enact a trio of budget and revenue bills into law over Republican Governor Bruce Rauner’s objection. The House’s action, which was delayed by a nearly two-hour lockdown of the state Capitol in Springfield after a woman threw a white powder into the governor’s office, followed successful Senate veto override votes on Tuesday.  The spending plan for the fiscal year that began on July 1 ends an unprecedented two-year budget impasse between Rauner and Democrats who control the legislature. Rauner pointed to House Speaker Michael Madigan as the architect of the 32 percent permanent increase in the state’s personal income tax rate, which will rise to 4.95 percent from 3.75 percent. “His tax-and-spend plan is not balanced, does not cut enough spending or pay down enough debt, and does not help grow jobs or restore confidence in government,” Rauner said in a statement, adding that Illinois “desperately” needs local property tax relief and term limits for elected officials.  Madigan, who next month will becomes the longest-serving House speaker in U.S. history, said he acted in the state’s interest. “The people in this chamber did not do what was easy today, but we did what was right for the future of our state,” Madigan said after the House completed veto overrides of the budget and tax package, which ranks as one of the brightest legislative victories of his three decades as speaker. After the security scare, when a woman threw a white powder which was later determined to be harmless into the offices of the governor and lieutenant governor and the House gallery, the bipartisan turning back of Rauner’s budgetary vetoes came swiftly. For Rauner it was the most significant and humiliating political blow of his 30 months in office. Representative David Harris, who was among the 10 Republicans who voted to overturn the tax hike veto,  rhetorically asked Rauner from the House floor how he willingly could take the state into the “financial abyss” considering the governor’s long-established business acumen as a former private equity investor. “You are an astute, capable businessman. You understand what the numbers are here,” Harris said. “You understand the implications of junk-bond status. Is that what we want for the fifth-largest state in the union?”  Rauner’s allies made an effort to defend the governor’s position to hold out for non-budgetary priorities like a property-tax freeze and changes in how injured workers are compensated by employers, but it was a lost cause. “I hope that everybody back home and everybody across this state will rise up, let everyone in this chamber know exactly how they feel after this vote is taken,” said Representative John Cabello, a Republican “no” vote. Illinois has been operating for two fiscal years on stop-gap budgets and spending ordered by courts and mandated by Illinois law. Its unpaid bill backlog has ballooned to $15 billion, leaving state universities, social service and health care providers and scores of vendors starving for cash. Moody’s Investors Service, which rates Illinois one notch above junk, placed the state under review on Wednesday for a potential downgrade, saying the budget plan may fall short in addressing the state’s huge unfunded pension liability and the bill backlog.  The new budget aims to initially reduce the bill pile by only about a third, while banking on a projected $1.5 billion in savings from creating a hybrid retirement plan for new hires and other pension measures. Praise for Thursday’s House action flooded in from cash-deprived social-service groups, including the Chicago-based Ounce of Prevention Fund, a group dedicated to fighting childhood poverty whose president is Diana Rauner, the governor’s wife. “We applaud the members of the General Assembly in both parties who took the tough vote to try to end this impasse,” the group said in a statement. With a new budget in hand, the Illinois Lottery will immediately seek leave to resume sales of Mega Millions and Powerball tickets after they were suspended in late June, and a shutdown of billions of dollars in state road projects will end, according to state spokespeople. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
18203,18204,"Turks in Russia hit by Putin ' s ' serious consequences ' after downing of warplane  Tens of thousands of Turks fear their lives have irrevocably changed amid diplomatic war between Russian and Turkish leaders  Last modified on Wednesday 2 December 2015 09 . 54 ?   Vildan Se ? kiner was looking forward to seeing the sights of St Petersburg during her first trip to Russia . Instead , the 32 year old was detained at Moscow s Sheremetyevo airport for 16 hours , threatened , and deported . Her crime : holding Turkish citizenship .  Se ? kiner , a post doctoral researcher who lives in Romania , had also planned to give a lecture to a small group of students during her visit , but was stopped at passport control and taken to a holding room . Police told her she could not enter Russia as she did not have a hotel booked , but made it clear the real reason was her Turkish passport .  When they took me to the transit area , there were many Turkish citizens there also being deported . Some had been waiting for 48 hours . Many of them were workers , who had personal belongings in Moscow and didn t know how they were going to get them back . Others had Russian wives or girlfriends they were planning to visit , Se ? kiner told the Guardian from Bucharest .  Related : Russia ' playing with fire ' , warns Turkey , as Moscow imposes visa regime  In response to the shooting down of a Russian Su 24 warplane by a Turkish air force jet last Tuesday , Vladimir Putin promised serious consequences . Economic sanctions have been imposed and all charter flights between the two countries banned . But the vengeance has been felt most keenly by Russia s large Turkish community and Turkish visitors to the country .  Some police officers were swearing at us in Russian , Se ? kiner said . Someone in uniform , I don t know exactly from which agency , got angry with me and pretended to spit at me . I just laughed because I didn t know how to react . Then he started coming towards me aggressively , but his friends stopped him .  Orhan Gazigil , a spokesman for the Turkish embassy in Moscow , said it had received many calls from Turkish citizens complaining about document checks and other bureaucratic hassles . The embassy itself was pelted with eggs , paint and stones last week , prompting Ankara to make an official complaint . There are about 80 , 000 Turkish citizens currently living in Russia , Gazigil said . Several Turkish businessmen based in Russia said they did not want to talk about the situation , even anonymously , due to its sensitivity .  Marrows imported from Turkey at a Moscow retailer . Fruit and vegetable imports from Turkey have been banned . Photograph : Sergei Karpukhin Reuters  The economic measures taken against Turkey have been described as a first step by the prime minister , Dmitry Medvedev , with fruit and vegetable imports being banned , but leaving major joint energy schemes and many construction projects . Most painful for the Turkish economy will be the ban on charter flights between the countries and the foreign ministry s advice that Russian citizens should not travel to Turkey . Last year , around 4 . 4 million Russians visited the country , many on package holidays .  While both sides have said they do not want to escalate the situation further , the abrasive personal styles of Putin and Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdo ? an are not proving conducive to rapprochement .  Erdo ? an tried to speak to Putin by telephone in the hours after the plane was shot down but the Russian president did not take his call . The Turkish leader also asked Putin for a meeting at the climate change summit in Paris on Monday , but was snubbed again . Putin will only speak to Erdo ? an when he is ready to apologise , aides have said . This is something Erdo ? an has pointedly refused to do .  Related : Despite sound and fury Putin wary of letting jet incident spiral out of control  Putin again accused Turkey of profiting from Islamic State oil sales on Monday and this time went further , saying Russia has evidence that Turkey shot the plane down in order to protect the transit corridors for the oil . For his part , Erdo ? an has said he will resign if Russia can provide concrete proof of such links he also asked on Monday whether Putin would also agree to resign if he could not substantiate the links .  While the diplomatic war continues , the thousands of Turks in Russia fear their lives have irrevocably changed . An online petition to Putin and other top officials from Russian women with Turkish husbands had attracted 2 , 000 signatures by Tuesday .  The petition called for Russian media to stop the propaganda of national hatred towards Turks . State television programmes have been devoting large chunks of time to Turkey , branding the country ? formerly seen as an ally ? a sponsor of Isis and even suggesting that Turkey wants to annex Crimea , which Russia itself annexed from Ukraine last year , in an attempt to rebuild the Ottoman empire . The petition also called for immigration authorities to allow Turkish citizens to remain in the country and continue working .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
18213,18214,"Adrian Lewis hit the first nine darter of the 2015 World Darts Championship at the Alexandra Palace before going on to lose against Raymond van Barneveld .  Jackpot won the 10 , 000 prize money for the feat at the Ally Pally , the second time he has inflicted nine perfect darts against Van Barneveld and the third televised of his career .  The 29 year old hit a nine darter in this tournament against Gary Anderson in the 2011 final before going on to become world champion , but it did little good on Tuesday night as he lost 4 3 against the resilient Dutchman .  Adrian Lewis shrugs to the crowd after hitting first nine dart finish of the World Darts Championship  Opponent Raymond van Barneveld congratulates Lewis after earning himself 10 , 000 in prize money  Lewis achieved his latest and third of 2014 , following two in Players Championship events , by hitting two 180s before finishing with treble , 20 , treble 19 and double 12 in front of a 2 , 500 strong crowd in north London .  The two time world champion turned to the crowd , put his hands in his pockets and shrugged his shoulders , before Van Barneveld hugged his opponent as they walked away from the oche for the first break after Jackpot took the opening set .  But Barney came from behind three times to win 4 3 and book his place in the quarter finals , which will be played on January 2 .  ' What a game , ' Van Barneveld said . ' The first set of the match was probably the best I ' ve played so far then Aidey got a nine darter . I thought , hold on , if this is the standard what can I do ?  Jackpot fist pumps to the crowd in celebration after claiming the first set with the nine darter  ' I ' m thinking just keep believing . I saw Aidey was struggling . He didn ' t hit trebles anymore . I don ' t know what to say , I ' m so happy . I ' m a five time world champion , Aidey in the last couple of years has been amazing . I don ' t know what to say , I ' m so happy . '  Nine darters used to be better rewarded than they are now , with Phil Taylor taking 100 , 000 for his first in 2002 and 501 bottles of Budweiser for two others in 2004 and 2005 .  Jackpot ' s 10 , 000 bonus may be modest in comparison but it takes him to fourth in the all time list of televised nine darters behind The Power , Van Barneveld and Michael van Gerwen .  The pair walk off arm in arm for a break after Lewis wins the first set with the feat  The 10 , 000 will be shared , too , if another player hits a nine darter during the remainder of the tournament , which concludes with the final on January 4 , where the winner will receive 250 , 000 .  The nine darter also means Haven House Children ' s Hospice , the official charity of the  , and Parkinson ' s  , supported by Sky Sports presenter Dave Clarke , will received 9 , 000 each from William Hill .  Lewis achieved his latest and third of 2014 , following two in Players Championship events , by hitting two 180s before finishing with treble , 20 , treble 19 and double 12 in front of a 2 , 500 strong crowd in north London .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Economy,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,past
18214,18215,"The Warriors ' season opening winning streak will not die .  Not after the defending champions trailed by 23 points to the rival Los Angeles Clippers .  Not with Stephen Curry and the Warriors willing their way to a comeback .  The Warriors claimed a 124 117 win Thursday night that did more than improve their record to 13 0 , two short of matching the best start in  history .  The Warriors ' comeback came against their bitter rivals at Staples Center and provided yet another chapter to remember as they became one of only five  teams to ever start 13 0 .  Curry poured in 40 points to lead the charge and hit six 3 pointers . He got the best of Chris Paul , who scored 35 points but had to suffer the indignity of seeing the Warriors claim the largest comeback win in the league this season .  DeAndre Jordan , Blake Griffin , Chris Paul and Jamaal Crawford of the Los Angeles Clippers watch as Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors scores during their  game in Los Angeles , California on November 19 , 2015 .    J .  J .   Getty Images (  J .  )  "" It just shows the resiliency of this team on the road against a good Clippers team down 23 to never feel like we ' re out of it , fight our way back , "" Curry said .  Clipper star forward Blake Griffin said of the Warriors : "" I wouldn ' t call this a rivalry . They ' re the better team . They have the upper hand . ""  The Clippers led 112 102 with 5 : 05 remaining , but just as they did earlier this month , they let the lead slip away to the Warriors . Curry hit a 3 pointer , and Andre Iguodala hit two more before Klay Thompson ' s shot from long distance gave the Warriors a 113 112 lead .  Curry put the Warriors back ahead for good with his sixth 3 pointer , and Iguodala tossed an inbound pass to Draymond Green for a layup . The Warriors defense clamped down on the Clippers to seal the win .  "" That ' s why you grow up playing this game is because of the type of joy from what just happened out there , "" Warriors interim head coach Luke Walton said .  Thompson finished with 25 points , and Harrison Barnes added 21 . Green had 19 points and nine assists , including a buzzer beating 3 pointer at the end of the third to cut the Clippers ' lead to six points .  The Clippers pushed back as Paul hit a 3 pointer to cap a 9 1 run . But the Warriors had time for yet another surge .  "" We hit ' em with two jabs , and when you get hit with two jabs , you ' re going to fall a little bit , "" Marreese Speights said .  The Warriors got off to an inauspicious start as Curry committed two fouls in the first two minutes of the game . They were already playing short handed in the backcourt as Shaun Livingston missed a second straight game because of a strained hip flexor and Leandro Barbosa had a virus .  Paul , meanwhile , couldn ' t be stopped in the first quarter . He scored 18 points on 7 for 7 shooting and dished out four assists in the first eight minutes .  Listed as doubtful to play because of a right groin strain , Paul showed little sign of being hampered after coach Doc Rivers revealed his point guard had looked just fine in practice . The Clippers played the game without starting shooting guard J . J . Redick , who was out while recovering from back spasms , but they had little trouble generating offense .  The Warriors trailed 41 25 after the first quarter , marking the Clippers ' season high in points scored in any quarter this season .  DeAndre Jordan had a putback dunk that gave the Clippers a 34 16 lead that marked the Warriors ' largest deficit of the season .  The Warriors fell behind by many as 23 points in the second quarter while Paul was resting , but they did get a glimmer of hope . Jordan and Rivers were whistled for technical fouls 23 seconds apart , and Curry was able to hit four straight free throws to cut the lead to 15 . Rivers became angry after Andrew Bogut fouled Paul hard while stopping a fast break .  Green had his playing time limited by foul trouble but hit back to back 3 pointers in the third to cut the lead to 12 .  Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose is questionable to play in Friday ' s game against the Warriors because of a sprained left ankle .  The Bulls were the last team to beat the Warriors at Oracle Arena in a regular season game as Rose hit the winning shot in overtime .  Since that loss in January , the Warriors have won a franchise record 25 straight games at home .  Coach Steve Kerr , on a leave of absence because of complications from two offseason back surgeries , made a regular season road trip for the first time and appeared at the Warriors ' shootaround .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Economy,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
18216,18217,"Want to marvel at California ' s giant sequoias or hike the Mount Katahdin section of the Appalachian Trail ? With most of the United States ' national parks still shuttered , the country ' s stunning state parks are getting some well deserved attention .  There are more than 7 , 800 state park sites around the country , attracting over 720 million visits per year , according to the National Association of State Park Directors . By comparison , the National Park Service ' s 401 sites had over 282 million visitors last year . Many state park visitors are repeat visitors , enjoying the state parks near where they live . Here are some of our favorites .  Calaveras Big Trees State Park , California  Known for its North Grove of giant sequoias , Calaveras Big Trees State Park became a state park more than 80 years ago . Within the grove is the first redwood documented by Augustus T . Dowd in 1852 , known as the "" Discovery Tree "" and the "" Big Stump . "" This park is considered the state ' s longest continuously operated tourist site . The South Grove has a five mile hiking trail through the sequoias . Located about 150 miles north of San Francisco , the park is open for day visitors and campers .  Fall Creek Falls State Park , Tennessee  The most popular state park in Tennessee , Fall Creek Falls State Park is about a two hour drive east of Nashville . The park ' s more than 20 , 000 acres includes the highest waterfall in the Eastern United States , virgin hardwood timber stands and spectacular places to spend the day hiking or staying to camp . While oak and hickory trees can be found in most of the park , the gorges host tulip poplar and hemlock forests .  Stone Mountain State Park , North Carolina  A National Natural Landmark , Stone Mountain features a 600 foot granite dome that doesn ' t disappoint the first time visitor . Hike , fish , rock or camp surrounded by 14 , 000 acres of the park ' s forests , waterfalls and streams . ( There are more than 16 miles of trails and 20 miles of designated trout waters . ) Visitors can also enjoy learning about historic mountain living at the Hutchinson Homestead , which includes a blacksmith shop , meat house , log cabin and barn .  Statue of Liberty , Grand Canyon , Mount Rushmore to reopen  Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park , Florida  About 10 miles from Everglades National Park in Florida , rare and endangered tropical plants thrive in the waters of the Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park . Sometimes called the Amazon of North America , the Fakahatchee Strand is the only ecosystem in the world where bald cypress trees and royal palms share the same forest canopy . It ' s also home to 44 native orchid species . Animal fans might spot American crocodiles , Florida panthers and black bears , Everglade minks and Eastern indigo snakes .  Water enthusiasts can enjoy fishing , canoeing and kayaking . Even hikers can walk on trails created upon many of the raised railway beds of the old logging train that still crisscross the Fakahatchee Strand . The beds create a grid of trails , many of which are maintained for hiking .  Baxter State Park , Maine  The highest point in Maine , Baxter State Park ' s Mount Katahdin is the northern most point on the Appalachian Trail . Katahdin is often considered the most difficult hike on the trail , and Maine is considered one of the most difficult states on the trail .  Even if you ' re not tackling the trail , Baxter State Park requires preparation . It has incredible and difficult rock climbing , more than 200 miles of hiking trails and cold weather that will require you bundle up for your outdoor fun . Travelers looking for an easy hike can try Big and Little Niagara Falls while experienced hikers looking for a daylong trip can try the more difficult hike to Baxter Peak .  Finding spirituality on the Appalachian Trail  Punderson State Park , Ohio  Once a quiet lake resort for Clevelanders looking for a break from the city , Punderson became a state park in 1951 . The 741 acre park is in Ohio ' s glaciated plateau region and used to be buried under glacial ice . Visitors can enjoy boating , fishing , golf , swimming and hiking . In the winter , the park features a lighted sledding hill , three snowmobile trails , two cross country ski trails and even dog sledding on the Mushers Trail .  Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park , Hawaii  With the arrival of Captain Cook in 1779 , this is the site where Hawaiians and Westerners first had extended contact . But the bay had been settled more than 1 , 000 years ago , before Westerners arrived . There is much that is sacred and protected in this historical park , and visitors are asked to respect spiritual and archeological sites where ceremonial structures once stood .  The Ka ' awaloa Cove is home to some of the best snorkeling in the area , and it ' s also home to a delicate , living coral reef . Spinner dolphins also visit the bay to rest and nurse their young . The Pali Kapu O Keoua is a 600 foot high pali , or volcanic fault line and vertical sea cliff created by landslides and waves . Travelers should also avoid disturbing the natural environment for these animals and plant life , and stay away from the pali to avoid injury .  Kartchner Caverns State Park , Arizona  About 55 miles from Tucson , Kartchner Caverns State Park has Arizona ' s tallest natural column formation below ground level ( and the world ' s longest stalactite formation ) . Book the cave tour to see this remarkable underground state park the cave is 2 . 4 miles long and remained hidden until its discovery in the 1970s . Come back for above ground introductions to camping , Halloween parties and other activities .  Camping : Horror or bliss ?  State Forest State Park , Colorado  Northwest of Rocky Mountain National Park , State Forest State Park ' s 71 , 000 acres offer the spectacular beauty of alpine lakes , trails , forests and moose viewing . The park has more than 600 moose in residence year round . Head to North Park , the "" moose viewing capital of Colorado , "" to see them . There is lots of winter sports activity and six rustic cabins for rent year round .  Snow Canyon State Park , Utah  Located in the 62 , 000 acre Red Cliffs Desert Reserve at the intersection of the Colorado Plateau , Great Basin desert and the Mojave Desert , Snow Canyon State Park averages only 7 . 5 inches of rain annually . There ' s evidence that lava flowed down park canyons , filling them with basalt as recently as 27 , 000 years ago . The animal and plant life living within the 7 , 400 acre park have adapted to the desert environment . Look for protected species such as gila monsters , peregrine falcons and desert tortoises . Try camping , hiking or canyoneering .  What are your favorite state parks ? We know we missed some of your favorites , so please share them in the comments section below .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
18220,18221,"After revelations from the  that Russians interfered with our country s presidential election in order to help Donald Trump win the keys to the White House, electors are seeking more information on the hack by  a hostile foreign power.  Ten Electoral College electors penned an open letter to ask U.S. intelligence officials for more information on ongoing investigations into Trump s relationship with Russia.The group of electors, including the daughter of House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), wrote the letter to Director of National Intelligence James Clapper asking for the information ahead of their Dec. 19th meeting in which they are to formally vote for the next president. The Electors require to know from the intelligence community whether there are ongoing investigations into ties between Donald Trump, his campaign or associates, and Russian government interference in the election, the scope of those investigations, how far those investigations may have reached, and who was involved in those investigations,  the letter states.  We further require a briefing on all investigative findings, as these matters directly impact the core factors in our deliberations of whether Mr. Trump is fit to serve as President of the United States. Allegations that Donald Trump was receiving assistance from a hostile foreign power to win the election began months before Election Day,  the letter continues.  When presented with information that the Russian government was interfering in the election through the course of the campaign, both in private briefings and public assessment, Donald Trump rejected it, refused to condemn it, and continued to accept their help. Donald Trump even made a direct plea to the Russian government to interfere further in the election in a press conference on July 27, saying,  Russia, if you re listening, I hope you re able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing. The letter also notes:Russian government officials revealed that they had maintained contact with the Trump campaign during the election, and stated that they were familiar with most of the individuals associated with Mr. Trump.Media inquiries into whether the  was investigating Donald Trump s July plea for Russian interference in the election resulted in a  Glomar response  neither confirming nor denying the existence of an investigation, rather than the more typical response of denying the request outright.U.S. intelligence officials reportedly probed Trump foreign policy advisor Carter Page in regard to travel to his Moscow during the campaign.The  reportedly began an inquiry into Trump associates following reports of a multi-million dollar business relationship with pro-Putin figures in Ukraine and Russia, and reports of an effort to sway American public opinion in favor of Ukraine s pro-Putin government.Michael Flynn, Trump campaign aide and the announced incoming National Security Advisor, traveled to Russia in December of 2015 for a gala event celebrating RT, a state-controlled propaganda network, at which he was seated next to Russian President Vladimir Putin.The letter is signed by nine Democrats and one Republican. If Trump is sworn into office, his administration will be the most compromised in U.S. history. This whole situation is such a hot mess that a former  operative said that the U.S. may have to vote again.Photo via Drew Angerer/Getty",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,fake,fake,True,no,no,positive,past
18223,18224,"Kansas is bleeding money and jobs and Governor Sam Brownback doesn t want the people to know how devastating his economic policies have been.In 2011, the Tea Party governor was so confident that his economic policy of massive tax cuts for the wealthy and reduced spending would turn Kansas into an economic powerhouse that he created a special group charged with writing reports on the results.But Brownback s experiment has failed so spectacularly that the state is billions of dollars in debt, education funding is suffering, and job growth is pathetic. So pathetic that Kansas is losing more jobs than it has gained.In January, Brownback couldn t handle a report put together by his group that admitted  Kansas sometimes was faring worse than it had before Brownback became governor,  so he made every effort to cover it up.In other words, he censored it because his group was supposed to report that the economy is soaring, not falling to the ground like a rock.Kansas Center for Economic Growth executive director Heidi Holliday blasted Brownback for killing the report. He specifically asked the council to hold him accountable through rigorous performance metrics. Five years later, the metrics clearly show his tax experiment has failed while business leaders and local chambers of commerce across the state openly ask him to change course. In fact, Brownback is so desperate to keep the people of Kansas from calling for tarring and feathering him in a public square that he is turning to the federal government. Instead of writing their own independent reports, the group is now restricted to getting their information from the Federal Reserve, which conservatives often claim is responsible whenever economic issues occur.That particularly surprised Kansas House Minority Leader Tom Burroughs, who was quick to point out the irony. The missed revenue marks, missed job reports, missed projections shed light on his failed policies. I kind of find it a little ironic they chose to go to a federal government report after they blamed President Obama for our economic problems. Governor Brownback s economic experiment is a complete failure and a joke. Kansas  economy is now in shambles and Republicans have no one to blame but themselves. They believed that by implementing an extreme conservative fiscal policy without interference from Democrats that they would prove trickle-down economics as a total success. Instead, it failed miserably and now they want to censor any results from being reported.By all rights, Brownback should have ousted by voters in 2014. But now Kansas is stuck with him and his failed policies for at least another two years. Meanwhile, the wealthy are laughing all the way to the bank.Featured image viaweblink",fake,dataset,test,World conflict,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
18241,18242,"Basketball National Team Managing Director Jerry Colangelo announced the 12 players he will be taking to the  basketball World Cup .  The announcement was made after  ' s 112 86 exhibition match victory over Puerto Rico at Madison Square Garden .  Derrick Rose leads a star studded  team that will travel to Spain for the tournament which starts on August 30th .  Star studded : Derrick Rose leads a strong  Basketball team to the  Basketball World Cup  Colangelo insists it was one of the toughest calls he has had to make in his career to pick the 12 finalists .  He told  news : ' Since taking over the  Basketball Men ' s National Team program in 2005 , this was without doubt the most difficult selection process we ' ve gone through .  ' I can ' t stress enough the outstanding effort and commitment that has been given by each finalist . I also want to make it clear that this is not just about talent , each player is incredibly talented and each player offered us unique skills .  United : James Harden and Kyrie Irving celebrate during a break in the action against Puerto Rico  Passing play : Mason Plumlee throws the ball back to Rudy Gay for the  against Puerto Rico  ' In the end it was about assembling the best team , selecting guys who we felt would be able to best play the kind of style we envision this team playing . '  The  will play its preliminary round games in Bilbao , and their opening match is against Finland on August 30th .  The Official  Basketball 2014 World Cup squad : DeMarcus Cousins ( Sacramento Kings ) , Stephen Curry ( Golden State Warriors ) , Anthony Davis ( New Orleans Pelicans ) , DeMar DeRozan ( Toronto Raptors ) , Andre Drummond ( Detroit Pistons ) , Kenneth Faried ( Denver Nuggets ) , Rudy Gay ( Sacramento Kings ) , James Harden ( Houston Rockets ) , Kyrie Irving ( Cleveland Cavaliers ) , Mason Plumlee ( Brooklyn Nets ) , Derrick Rose ( Chicago Bulls ) , and Klay Thompson ( Golden State Warriors )  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
18248,18249,"To find out more about Facebook commenting please read the Conversation Guidelines and FAQs  Patriots , Bill Belichick downplay Broncos ' trash talk as ' a bunch of hot air '  Lorenzo Reyes ,   4 : 53 p . m .  January 20 , 2016    Sports ' Tom Pelissero talks about whether the Broncos ' ' crybaby ' comments will have an effect on Tom Brady and the Patriots .  Bill Belichick is seeking his seventh Super Bowl trip as Patriots coach .   , Mass . ? With the  Championship Game looming , the New England Patriots are on their best behavior . ? But they had plenty of chances Wednesday to go the other way .  Despite a rash of bulletin board talk coming from the Denver Broncos , the reigning Super Bowl champs claim they ' re not paying attention .  We re focused on the Denver Broncos in the game , Patriots coach Bill Belichick said Wednesday from the team s facility . All the rest of it is a bunch of hot air .  Earlier this week , Broncos defensive end Antonio Smith said it would be an accurate statement when asked whether he would consider Patriots quarterback Tom Brady a crybaby for trying to draw penalty flags after being hit by opposing pass rushers .  I m not sure what the other quarterbacks do , he said at his press conference . If the refs want to throw the flag , then absolutely . It advances our team . That s just part of football .  But there was more chatter coming out of Denver this week .  Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall said on  Sports Radio s Pro Football Talk Live that New England tight end Rob Gronkowski pushes off and gets away with it about 98 of the time , "" alleging favoritism from officials .  And Denver cornerback Chris Harris added on SportsCenter that the best way to tackle Gronkowski is to hit him in the knees .  That don t win football games , Patriots Pro Bowl cornerback Malcolm Butler said . It doesn t bother me . I hope it doesn t bother no one else .  Because of Smith s comments , the story has gained steam . The ( New York ) Daily News published a cartoon of Brady s head on a baby s body with the headline CryBrady printed above .  Broncos ' Antonio Smith : Tom Brady Is A ' Crybaby , ' But A ' Great Competitor '  Brady said at his press conference that he hasn t seen the image and had no reaction to it .  He doesn t talk about it , receiver Brandon LaFell said . He doesn t complain to us or bring it up in the locker room . At the end of the day , we know Tom is motivated by anything they say . I think every quarterback , if they re getting hit late or guys are going at their legs , they re going to be whining , too . That s not whining , that s protecting yourself .  Armour : Tom Brady exacts Deflategate revenge with his play  Belichick also faced a question Wednesday about Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning , whom the Patriots have faced 16 times in the Belichick Brady era , and his struggles this season .  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
18272,18273,"There will be nine confirmation hearings for   Donald Trump’s cabinet nominees this week, according to Trump’s spokesman Sean Spicer. [“The Trump cabinet nominees understand how to lead organizations to success and I think you can see this reflected in their approaches to hearings regarding this week. They’re listening, they’re learning, they’re preparing,” Spicer told reporters on Monday morning.  The confirmation hearing schedule this week is as follows: “It’s obviously going to be a big week on Capitol Hill,” Spicer declared.",true,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
18307,18308,"Phoenix , Arizona By spending a few days here in America ' s fifth largest city which also happens to be at the heart of the nation ' s immigration debate I had the chance to see this volatile issue from many different vantage points .  But as far I know , I didn ' t see any terror babies .  So terror babies are sort of like a sleeper cell , one that has to be put down for a nap every few hours or it gets fussy .  Is this a scary scenario ? You bet . Is it anything close to reality ? It doesn ' t look like it . In fact , what ' s really scary are opportunistic lawmakers out there who will sink to new depths to scare the Dickens out of people in order to drum up support for the radical idea of changing the 14th Amendment or scrapping it altogether .  That ' s what this story is really about . It ' s an elaborate pitch to that constituency who believes that illegal immigrants are unfairly taking advantage of a constitutional provision that makes anyone born on U . S . soil an American citizen .  The two Texas Republicans who are actively spinning this yarn State Representative Debbie Riddle and U . S . Congressman Louie Gohmert both appeared on Cooper ' s show this week , and neither could provide any evidence of the existence of these mythical terror babies . In fact , in the face of questioning by Cooper , both got extremely defensive . You might say these  fear mongers were acting in a way that could be accurately described as infantile .  "" The  has 75 offices overseas , including offices in Jordan , Turkey , Israel , Saudi Arabia , Yemen , Pakistan , "" Fuentes said . "" There was never a credible report or any report , for that matter coming across through all the various mechanisms of communication to indicate that there was such a plan for these terror babies to be born . ""  The  has also done everything it can to knock down the story as simply not credible .  Of course , this tall tale isn ' t credible it ' s probably nothing more than a figment of politicians ' imaginations . But it is valuable since it helps illustrate a disturbing phenomenon here in Arizona , where supporters of the state ' s new immigration law seem to feel as if they have to justify the measure not only by scaring people , but also by doing extreme makeovers . They take things that are familiar and try to make them sinister .  Those aren ' t U . S . citizen babies , they say they ' re future terrorists . Those aren ' t run of the mill illegal immigrants who come to Arizona to work and feed their families they ' re drug mules for the Mexican cartels , says Arizona Gov . Jan Brewer . And those aren ' t coyotes , immigrant smugglers bringing people in the United States as they have for generations they ' re drug cartels , which according to Brewer now control all the immigrant smuggling operations into the United States .  The Border Patrol was just as quick to knockdown those stories as untrue as the  was in refuting the story about terror babies using the 14th Amendment to do us harm .  I was glad to see that . There is already enough dishonesty in the immigration debate we certainly don ' t need any more coming from the state of Arizona . Yet , there is a steady trickle of deceptions and half truths .  The three big fibs repeated by top Republican officials are that the federal government isn ' t doing its job to protect the borders , that the law is an attempt to crack down on drug cartels , and that race isn ' t part of the discussion . None of that is true . So why repeat it ?  Those who believe in the state ' s immigration law and consider it a good idea to empower local police and sheriff ' s deputies to enforce federal immigration law should stand by the legislation as it is written . They shouldn ' t have to try to create an alternate reality to win over more supporters .  A prominent Mexican American attorney , who has long been a visible and vocal member of Phoenix ' s Latino community , warned me against trying to make sense of the opposition .  For instance , I asked him , how could people continue to argue that the Obama administration isn ' t doing enough to secure the border when all the evidence suggests otherwise ?  "" You ' ll never be able to convince people of that , "" he said . "" Because their motivation is political . It ' s not based in reality . ""  I ' m afraid that ' s not good enough . If the supporters of SB1070 really believe in the merits of their cause , they should be able to win the argument on the natural , without relying on hocus pocus or scare tactics or radical makeovers . And if they can ' t do that , if they have to portray babies as terrorists and immigrants as drug mules in order to win support for their side , then this should tell them loud and clear that they ' re on the wrong side of this issue not to mention , on the wrong side of history .  No amount of spin can change that .  The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Ruben Navarrette Jr .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
18311,18312,"The U . S . Senate was called to order for 11 seconds on Wednesday as the last political scuffle of the year between the White House and the Democratic led Congress played out .  Democratic senators will hold short "" pro forma "" sessions over the holiday break to prevent recess appointments .  Nearly all the senators left the Capitol for the Christmas holiday last week , but Democrats are keeping the Senate in session to block President Bush from making any recess appointments a constitutional mechanism that allows the president , during congressional recesses , to fill top government posts for up to one year without Senate confirmation .  Sen . Jim Webb , D Virginia , opened and then immediately gaveled the Senate session to a close . He spent 57 seconds in the chamber .  Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid , D Nevada , announced December 19 that he would keep the Senate open with a series of "" pro forma "" sessions through mid January .  Talks had just broken down with the White House on a deal that would have allowed the president to make dozens of those appointments if he agreed not to appoint one controversial official , Steven Bradbury , as the permanent head of the influential Office of Legal Counsel at the Justice Department .  Bush declined to accept the Democrats ' offer , and Reid refused to approve Bradbury because of concerns about his involvement in crafting legal opinions for the administration on interrogation techniques of terrorism suspects .  Similar sessions were conducted over the Thanksgiving recess .  Webb also did the duty Friday , but he won ' t be the only senator tasked with presiding over the shortened sessions . Other Democrats including Sens . Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts , Byron Dorgan of North Dakota , Jack Reed of Rhode Island , Mary Landrieu of Louisiana , Ben Cardin of Maryland and Chuck Schumer of New York will share the duty . E mail to a friend  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
18317,18318,"Supporters of a congressional resolution that would have declared the Ottoman era killings of Armenians "" genocide "" dropped their call for a vote on the measure Thursday .  Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the resolution ' s consequences on the war in Iraq would be "" quite dire . ""  The resolution spurred fierce criticism from  ally Turkey , where officials acknowledge the killings of Armenians during World War I but vehemently object to the designation "" genocide . ""  Turkish leaders threatened to curtail U . S . access to bases vital to supporting the more than 160 , 000 American troops in Iraq if the measure passed .  The Bush administration , which is trying to persuade Turkey not to launch cross border raids against Kurdish rebels in Iraq , had lobbied aggressively against the resolution as well .  Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told a House committee Thursday that the resolution ' s consequences on the war in Iraq would be "" quite dire . ""  The House Foreign Affairs Committee approved the resolution earlier this month . But Rep . Rahm Emanuel , the No . 3 Democrat in the House of Representatives , conceded last week that "" the votes are not there "" for the resolution to clear the full House .  In a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , its major sponsors wrote that the measure would pass "" if the timing is more favorable . "" Pelosi , D California , had promised to schedule a floor vote if the resolution made it out of committee , but told reporters Thursday that she accepted the sponsors ' request to set the matter aside .  Though the sponsors , led by California Democrat Adam Schiff , suggested the measure could be brought back later this year , a senior Democratic leadership aide said the issue is off the table indefinitely .  "" This is not going to be taken up until next year at the earliest , "" the aide said .  Historians estimate about 1 . 5 million Armenians were killed by the Ottoman Empire the predecessor of modern Turkey during World War I . But Turkey , now a secular and democratic Muslim nation , and masses of its people reject the term genocide , viewing the deaths as part of a war that claimed lives among all peoples in the region .  House Minority Leader John Boehner , R Ohio , said the handling of the issue raises questions about the judgment of Democratic leaders "" a pattern that is undermining our national security . ""  "" Given Turkey ' s importance in the war on terror , the role it plays in the care of our troops on the ground , and their close alliance with us in  , attempting to force a vote on this resolution in the first place was just plain reckless , "" Boehner said in a written statement after the news emerged . E mail to a friend  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
18318,18319,"—   The prosecutor in the trial against Christine Lagarde, the head of the International Monetary Fund, raised the chance that she would be acquitted of criminal charges linked to the misuse of public funds, after he called the case “very weak” on Thursday. Ms. Lagarde stands accused of “negligence by a person in a position of public authority,” in a matter related to her time as French finance minister. The case stems from an arbitration hearing ordered by Ms. Lagarde that ultimately awarded a French tycoon more than 400 million euros, or $425 million. She has long dismissed the allegations  —   which have dogged her for nearly a decade  —   as politically motivated and without basis. But they have nevertheless captured the attention of the public, illustrating close ties between France’s powerful politicians and the country’s business elite. Wrapping up a   trial,   Marin, the public prosecutor, said the testimony presented did not appear to be sufficient to merit a conviction. It is a theme prosecutors have echoed previously. The case was halted in September 2015, when France’s top prosecutor said there was insufficient evidence. But a special court, which had been set up in 1993 to hear cases against the country’s politicians, overrode that recommendation. Ms. Lagarde, a former senior lawyer and executive with the international law firm Baker  McKenzie, has taken time to defend herself in person, while remaining at the helm of the I. M. F. The   I. M. F. has said that while the case was a private matter, it retained confidence in her. The case against Ms. Lagarde centers on Bernard Tapie, a former    executive who has previously been jailed on corruption charges. Mr. Tapie had accused Crédit Lyonnais of cheating him out of money when he sold his stake in the sportswear company in 1993. At the time, the bank was still partially owned by the French state. Years of legal battles ensued, with Ms. Lagarde eventually sending the dispute to a private arbitration authority in 2007. The   panel awarded Mr. Tapie damages and interest to be paid by the government, a ruling that angered the French public. Ms. Lagarde’s aides suggested she annul the decision. But she declined to do so because it could result in a slew of new lawsuits from Mr. Tapie and further costs to the state. After the ruling, questions emerged about the impartiality of one of the arbiters. That arbiter, Pierre Estoup, was accused of having ties to Mr. Tapie’s lawyer. The lawyer and Mr. Estoup are now expected to stand trial in France over whether they colluded during the arbitration proceedings. The payout itself has since been annulled, with Mr. Tapie ordered to repay €404 million with interest to the state. He is, however, currently under bankruptcy protection and has not yet repaid the sum.",true,news,test,World conflict,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
18348,18349,"Reuters) - Leaders of Spain s industrialized northeastern region of Catalonia said the regional population had voted for independence in a ballot on Sunday that the central government said was illegal and non-representative. With 95 percent of the vote counted, authorities said the  Yes  vote stood at 90.1 percent, albeit with a turnout of just a little over 40 percent - 2.26 million out of 5.34 million registered voters. On Tuesday, Barcelona metro stations were closed, pickets blocked main roads and civil servants walked out in response to a strike called by pro-independence groups. The stand-off could now take three different paths. Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont continues with his pledge to declare unilateral independence, likely prompting the central government to trigger Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution, which would strip the region of its autonomous status and put it under direct Madrid rule.  If Article 155 is triggered, the next step would be snap elections in Catalonia. Pro-independence parties only hold the majority in the regional parliament with the help of the far-left group CUP, and polls, before Sunday s ballot, suggest these groups could lose their hold on power if a new election was called. However, after events on Sunday, when police swung truncheons and fired rubber bullets in the direction of mostly peaceful demonstrators to shut down the referendum, pro-independence parties may again win the election. Such a result would raise doubts surrounding Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy s ability to govern. Rajoy s immediate opposition in the national parliament lacks the numbers to force him out through a no-confidence vote, but without cross-party support on Catalonia, he may be forced to call a snap national election himself. Rajoy was voted in as a minority leader twice in last year s two elections and a fractious parliament suggests a snap election may prompt a similar result. If the Catalan parliament gives up the push for independence, Rajoy may sit down with Puigdemont to hammer out a new deal for the region including a better tax deal and greater fiscal autonomy. Budget Minister Cristobal Montoro and Economy Minister Luis de Guindos have suggested this may be a possibility if the independence drive is completely abandoned.  Puigdemont has yet to make a unilateral declaration of independence, instead calling for a period of reflection, leaving the door open for such a scenario. However, after the violent scenes on Sunday and continued protests on Tuesday via a partial strike across the region, the Catalan leader may be keen to keep face and avoid being seen bowing down to Madrid.  If the Catalans do not go ahead with a declaration of independence but also fail to sit down for talks with Rajoy as the two party s positions diverge beyond a possible compromise, Madrid may refer the matter to the constitutional courts. Legal and financial action against Catalan leaders is likely to fuel animosity and could prompt further protests, pushing leaders on both sides into difficult positions. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
18349,18350,"Washington Two current and two former  employees have been arrested in an alleged drug and bribery scheme by screeners who allowed large shipments of narcotics to pass through security at Los Angeles International Airport in exchange for cash , federal prosecutors said .  Three other people , suspected drug couriers , are allegedly involved . One is in state custody . A second is expected to surrender on Thursday . Authorities are searching for a third .  According to a 22 count grand jury indictment unsealed Wednesday , the Transportation Security Administration employees took payments of as much as 2 , 400 to allow suitcases filled with cocaine , methamphetamine and marijuana to pass through X ray machines at  while  screeners looked the other way .  The indictment outlines five separate incidents that occurred from February 2011 through July 2011 .   employees allegedly conspired with either drug couriers or an undercover operative working with the Drug Enforcement Administration to smuggle narcotics through checkpoints .  In one incident , two suspects allegedly agreed to have a third suspect bring about 5 kilograms of cocaine in a bag through a security checkpoint manned by one of the  screeners . But that third screener failed to follow the instructions and went to the wrong security checkpoint , where  officials uninvolved in the scheme seized the bag filled with cocaine .  In the final incident outlined in the indictment , two  screeners allegedly conspired with the  confidential source to allow about 8 pounds of methamphetamine to pass through a security checkpoint staffed by one of the two screeners . After the drugs made it through security , the suspect allegedly met the confidential source in an  restroom to receive 600 in cash , which was the second half of the agreed upon 1 , 200 fee .  The U . S . Attorneys Office for the Central District of California says all the defendants were arrested either Tuesday night or Wednesday morning .  If convicted , each of the current and former  officials faces potential life in prison sentences .  "" Airport screeners act as a vital checkpoint for homeland security , and air travelers should believe in the fundamental integrity of security systems at our nation ' s airports , "" said U . S . Attorney Andr Birotte Jr . in a news release . "" The allegations in this case describe a significant breakdown of the screening system through the conduct of individuals who placed greed above the nation ' s security needs . ""  ",true,text,test,US elections,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
18352,18353,"American golfer Stacy Lewis banished the ghosts of her nightmare final round at the 2008 U . S . Open when she clinched the Kraft Nabisco Championship by three shots on Sunday .  The 26 year old , whose grandfather died on the eve of the tournament at Mission Hills in California , claimed the first title of her professional career in the first of four major events in the 2011 women ' s season .  "" Everybody in the family knew that he would have wanted me to finish out this week , "" she told the  website .  "" I mean , he lived via my golf . He loved watching it on  . He recorded it every week so he could keep watching it over and over again .  "" But him and my grandma , they both got to see me play the whole round today and they were out there with me , for sure . ""  Lewis , who won an unofficial rain shortened  Tour event as an amateur in her native Arkansas in 2007 , had looked set to follow that up three years ago when she led the U . S . Open heading into the last day , but a final round 78 ended her hopes of glory .  It was a different story this time , though , as the world number 28 overhauled top ranked defending champion Yani Tseng of Taiwan to finish on 13 under par after a round of 69 .  "" It doesn ' t even feel real yet , "" said Lewis , who turned pro in 2008 four years after having a titanium rod and five screws put in her back to cure her teenage problems with scoliosis . "" I don ' t know . I ' m still trying to figure out if I actually won , but I played so good today and I was just proud of the way I hung in there . ""  The victory was all but assured for Lewis on the 17th hole , when she held a tricky putt while three time major winner Tseng recorded a bogey .  "" Probably the look on my face was I was shocked it went in , too , honestly , "" said Lewis of her finish on the penultimate hole .  "" It was a putt you had to hit on the perfect line with the perfect speed for it to go in . ""  Tseng , who has won four titles already this year , closed with 74 to finish three shots back .  "" I did my best . I tried my best today , and I didn ' t give her any shots today . So I hung in there until the last putt and smiled the whole way , whole day . So it was good and it was very good experience for me this time , "" the 22 year old said .  "" Golf is golf , so this is normal . I just didn ' t play well . And hopefully next tournament will be good , and I just really want to congratulate Stacy . She did really awesome . ""  American Michelle Wie achieved her first top 10 finish at a major since 2006 after ending the weekend sixth on three under following a closing 69 , leaving the 21 year old one shot behind third placed compatriots Katie Futcher , Morgan Pressel and Angela Stanford .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
18359,18360,"A Syrian military pilot flew to Jordan and was granted asylum Thursday , a day after the United States warned members of the Syrian military they could face international criminal prosecution for attacks on civilians .  The defection came as the opposition Local Coordination Committees of Syria reported at least 128 people , including at least 15 children , killed across the country Thursday .  Some of the deaths came in "" massacres "" in two cities , the group said .  The Syrian government reported 20 "" army , law enforcement and civilian martyrs "" buried Thursday .  A ship carrying military helicopters to Syria is returning to Russia but will ultimately deliver the shipment to Syria , Russia announced .  Part of an international row over Russia arming Syria , the ship was forced to turn back after a British company withdrew its insurance coverage due to the nature of the cargo .  Russia announced that it was carrying "" Syrian attack helicopters , "" state run news agency Ria Novosti reported .  "" The ship was carrying air defense systems which can only be used to repel foreign aggression , "" Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said , according to Russia ' s Interfax news agency .  It carried three repaired Syrian helicopters that will still be sent to Syria , the reports said . The ship has been flying a Curacao flag , but it will be switched to a Russian flag "" in order to avoid a possible detention of the ship , "" the state run Itar Tass news agency reported .  Many world leaders have slammed Russia for arming Syria , but Russian officials insist they want an end to the conflict .  The dead in Thursday ' s violence included 19 killed in a "" massacre "" in the town of Inkhel and 15 in a massacre in Douma in the Damascus suburbs , the Local Coordination Committees of Syria said .  There were reports that many more bodies could be buried under rubble of destroyed buildings in Inkhel , the opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said .  Two other groups the Syrian Network for Human Rights , based in London , and the Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies in Syria issued a report saying the Syrian military shelled Inkhel for three hours and then raided homes , carrying out "" extrajudicial executions "" against three people "" while four others were slaughtered with knives "" and snipers killed two more people .  By mid morning , when the raids were over , the military killed three mourners headed to the cemetery , the groups said .  The Syrian Revolution General Commission , another opposition group , added that at least 15 homes were damaged or destroyed in the regime ' s bombardment of the town . The raids were carried out by the pro government Shabiha militias , the group said .  In addition to those killed in Inkhel , 60 other civilians were wounded , the commission said .  "" The humanitarian condition in the city of Inkhel is extremely miserable , "" the group said , adding that there is no hospital and the wounded have nowhere to go . "" Mass exodus is being reported families are fleeing their houses . ""  The Syrian state run news agency  described authorities storming a number of terrorists ' hideouts in and around Douma . It said authorities clashed with the terrorists , killing a few of them and wounding others .  Syrian President Bashar al Assad ' s regime often blames armed terrorist groups for the violence in the country .   made no mention of violence in Inkhel .  Since the uprising began in March 2011 , violence has killed more than 15 , 000 people in Syria , including 10 , 480 civilians , 3 , 715 soldiers and 830 defectors , according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights .  The United Nations has said that at least 10 , 000 people have been killed in the conflict .  In Hama on Thursday , regime forces launched a campaign of arrests , taking 150 people to an Air Force intelligence office , where they were being subjected to severe torture , the Local Coordination Committees said .  The International Committee of the Red Cross said one of its teams tried to enter the old city of Homs , but gunfire in the area forced the team to turn back .  Elsewhere Thursday , Irina Bokova , the director general of  , the U . N . Educational , Scientific and Cultural Organization , called on Syria to probe the recent deaths of five citizen journalists killed in shelling in Syria .  "" I condemn the deaths of Ammar Mohamed Zado , Ahmed Adnan al Ashlaq , Lawrence Fahmy al Naimi , Bassel al Shahade and Ahmed al Assam , citizen journalists who lost their lives while trying to inform the Syrian people of the tragic events taking place in their country , "" she said in a written statement .  The defecting military pilot who landed in his jet in Jordan had requested political asylum , the Jordanian government said .  Syria identified him as Col . Hassan Mirei al Hamadeh and said he was on a training flight . Jordan did not immediately give his name .  The pilot is "" considered a fugitive from the service , a traitor to his country and to his military honor , "" the Syrian Defense Ministry said in a banner shown on Syrian state  . Punishment actions "" will be taken against him according to the laws and regulations , "" the banner said .  On state run  , the defense ministry said discussions were under way with Jordan for the return of the aircraft .  Both Syria and Jordan said the plane was a Russian made MiG 21 .  Tommy Vietor , spokesman for the White House National Security Council , said , "" We welcome this pilot ' s decision to do the right thing . We have long called for the military and members of the Syrian regime to defect and abandon their positions rather than be complicit in the regime ' s atrocities .  "" This is just one of countless instances where Syrians , including members of the security forces , have rejected the horrific actions of the Assad regime , and it certainly will not be the last . ""  Throughout the 15 month conflict in Syria , numerous members of the military have defected , some of them joining the rebel Free Syrian Army .  Thousands of civilians also have fled to neighboring nations , including Jordan .  U . S . Ambassador to Syria Robert Ford said Wednesday that members of the Syrian military face international criminal prosecution if they continue to support the regime ' s "" barbaric actions "" against the Syrian people . He said the United States and others will work with the Syrian people to find members of the military responsible for attacks and to hold them accountable .  In neighboring countries , there is widespread condemnation for al Assad , the Pew Research Center reported Thursday . A survey by its Global Attitudes Project found the vast majority of respondents in Jordan , Egypt , Tunisia , and Turkey want him to step down .  In Lebanon , the population was more split , with just a slight majority wanting him to step down .  The survey was taken between March and April , well before a massacre in the town of Houla that drew international fury against the regime .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
18373,18374,"Beijing Entrepreneurs of all stripes are cashing in on the Lin sanity phenomenon as swiftly as the  sensation can pull off his furious fast breaks .  It has been only three weeks since Jeremy Lin , the 23 year old American born point guard of Taiwanese descent , came out of obscurity to lead the listless New York Knicks to a winning streak .  But while their winning run has come to an end , Lin has gone on to become a media and marketing darling . Lin related products have become hot items .  In New York , merchandise retailers are doing brisk business selling Lin ' s No . 17 jerseys . "" He ' s made the Knicks relevant again , "" says Larry Dimitriou , manager of Modell ' s Sporting Goods store in Manhattan .  Jeremy ' Lin demand ' in China  "" We constantly get Lin jerseys every day , "" he says . "" I put one in the window to show people we have them . A short time later , they ' re gone . ""  Just as nimble and quick are the publishers of "" Linsanity : The Improbable Rise of Jeremy Lin "" by Alan Goldsher , an electronic book that was turned around in just 72 hours . Available wherever e books are sold , Goldsher ' s insta book costs just 1 . 99 .  According to Digital Book World , fast thinking authors have already churned out least seven e books , all about the humble and wholesome Harvard graduate . The other Lin inspired titles include , "" Jeremy Lin : Advice from Sun Tzu on Basketball and the Art of War , "" and "" The Zen of Jeremy Lin . ""  Not to be outdone , Lin himself has filed to trademark "" Linsanity . "" The application , filed through the U . S . Patent and Trademark Office , would give him exclusive rights to put the signature term on more than 50 consumer products , including clothing , mugs and even action figures .  Yao Ming : ' Everyone wants to be next Jeremy Lin '  Lin is not the only one to file for a trademark on the term , but he stands a good chance of winning it , according to Washington based trademark lawyer Gary Krugman .  But he would stand a poor chance if he filed in China , where trademark laws tend to favor early applicants .  Few can match the prescience of Wuxi Risheng , Sports Utility Co . a Chinese manufacturer of basketballs and soccer balls .  Risheng , it turns out , have registered Jeremy Lin ' s English and Chinese names as trademarks in China and claim to have rights to the name of the  ' s latest star until 2021 .  Risheng ' s claim , widely reported in local media , could block plans by major sporting goods companies to capitalize on China ' s growing interest on the new  standout . Jeremy Lin , known in Mandarin as Lin Shuhao , was born in the U . S . to Taiwanese parents with ancestral roots in mainland China .  According to government records , Risheng applied for Lin trademarks as early as 2010 , the year he graduated from Harvard University and was ignored during the  draft pick .  "" We did not expect Jeremy Lin would be such an instant hit . We are happy for his success and of course we feel extremely lucky . ""  Risheng may have hit a jackpot if Lin ' s marketing magic continues .  "" In China , first to register gets the rights , "" says Horace Lam , a Beijing based intellectual property expert at Jones Day .  "" Chinese companies are aware of this system and use it to their advantage . We see this happen every day . It ' s a big problem for companies and people trying to protect their intellectual property in China when they are not familiar with the Chinese system . ""  Marketing mavens are lusting to brand Lin . "" He ' s the total package , a fine athlete and a wonderful story , "" enthuses Scott Kronick , president of Ogilvy  China . "" We think he ' s Lin credible . ""  Risheng now makes Lin basketballs but soon might start producing jerseys and sneakers . "" Maybe we ' ll open franchise stores in east China , "" said the Risheng partner . "" Now more and more companies are reaching out to us seeking business tie up opportunities . ""  Lam says the Jeremy Lin trademark that Risheng owns applies to a grab bag of uses and products , including basketballs , shoes , hats , toys and gym facilities .  Risheng claims trademarks for other basketball stars , including Yi Jianlian , a Chinese power forward who now plays for the Dallas Mavericks .  It also has a trademark on the Chinese name for "" Jordan ' s Kingdom , "" an apparent reference to retired superstar Michael Jordan , for use on balls .  Jordan , known as "" Qiaodan "" in Mandarin , has been aggressively doing business in China .  Now he is tightening his defense .  This week , Jordan filed a suit in a Chinese court against Qiaodan Sports Company Limited , another Chinese sportswear and footwear manufacturer , for unauthorized use of his name .  "" It is deeply disappointing to see a company build a business off my Chinese name without my permission , use the number 23 and even attempt to use the names of my children , "" the basketball legend said in a statement .  "" I am taking this action to preserve ownership of my name and my brand . ""  Still , intellectual property experts say it will be an uphill battle for Jordan to claim trademark rights in China .  "" China requires a high threshold to prove that one is famous , "" says Lam . "" Even if Michael Jordan is a big name today , he still needs to prove that he was already famous in China long before 1997 , when Qiaodan Sports first registered the name . ""  Trademark infringements are common and persistent in China , Lam notes . Gucci , Pfizer , Exxon Mobil and Hennessey are just some of the well known multinational companies fighting long legal battles to protect their trademark .  Even Apple , the world ' s biggest technology company , is embroiled in a trademark lawsuit over the sale of iPads in China , with a Chinese company claiming that it owns the right to use the iPad trademark in mainland China .  To be sure , Lin inspired marketing ideas abound .  Jeremy light bulbs ? That ' s been taken .  ",true,text,test,Football,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
18376,18377,"Asuncion , Paraguay Paraguay installed new top military commanders , but President Fernando Lugo , who had ordered the change in leadership , was not present for the ceremony .  Lugo ' s absence Thursday morning attracted attention given his administration ' s silence on the sudden change in the leadership of the country ' s army , air force and navy .  The president ' s decision to replace the top brass came a day after he publicly dismissed rumors about a military coup .  Brig . Gen . Bartolome Ramon Pineda Ortiz was named as the new army commander . Brig . Gen . Hugo Gilberto Aranda Chamorro and Rear Adm . Egberto Emerito Orie Benegas took over the top posts at the air force and navy , respectively .  The announcement came from the armed forces , not the president ' s office .  Cibar Benitez , commander of the armed forces , was the only top leader to retain his post .  Other changes would be forthcoming in the lower ranks , said Benitez at the swearing in ceremony , but he denied there was any truth to talk of a coup .  Paraguay ' s history is filled with unstable transitions of power since it emerged from dictatorship in 1989 . Although there hasn ' t been a coup since that year , there were attempted coups in 1996 and 2000 , and President Raul Cubas resigned amid controversy in 1999 .  The military shakeup is the third since Lugo took office . The former Catholic bishop was elected to a five year term last year . His victory brought an end to six decades of one party rule in Paraguay , but the honeymoon did not last long .  In April , Lugo admitted that he fathered a child while he was still a priest and that he may have fathered more . The revelation , which came as a shock to most , hurt his political image . Calls for his resignation began , and have continued as Lugo has struggled to push reforms through a majority opposition legislature .  Journalist Sanie Lopez Garelli contributed to this report .  ",true,text,test,Football,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
18394,18395,"This story is about more than a massive cover-up for an elected officials who sexually assaulted innocent women, it s also about the media s lack of desire to report about crimes that have obviously been covered up in  for a very long time. Perhaps the media s reluctance to report about the sexual abuse taking place in Washington DC, is because most, if not all, of the elected officials whose crimes are now being uncovered, are Democrats? So far, two of the most rabid anti-Trump Democrats in Washington, Senator Al Franken (D-MI) and now Representative John Conyers (D-MI) have been outed is it a coincidence, or could it be that one of the reasons Democrats are so adamantly opposed to Trump s presidency is because he is shaking things up in Washington, and in doing so, he s breaking up the good ole  boys network?Buzzfeed   Michigan Rep. John Conyers, a Democrat and the longest-serving member of the House of Representatives, settled a wrongful dismissal complaint in 2015 with a former employee who alleged she was fired because she would not  succumb to [his] sexual advances. Documents from the complaint obtained by BuzzFeed News from Mike Cernovich, include four signed affidavits, three of which are notarized, from former staff members who allege that Conyers, the ranking Democrat on the powerful House Judiciary Committee, repeatedly made sexual advances to female staff that included requests for sexual favors, contacting and transporting other women with whom they believed Conyers was having affairs, caressing their hands sexually, and rubbing their legs and backs in public. Four people involved with the case verified the documents are authentic.And the documents also reveal the secret mechanism by which Congress has kept an unknown number of sexual harassment allegations secret: a grinding, closely held process that left the alleged victim feeling, she told BuzzFeed News, that she had no option other than to stay quiet and accept a settlement offered to her. I was basically blackballed. There was nowhere I could go,  she said in a phone interview. BuzzFeed News is withholding the woman s name at her request because she said she fears retribution.Last week the Washington Post reported that Congress s Office of Compliance paid out $17 million for 264 settlements with federal employees over 20 years for various violations, including sexual harassment. The Conyers documents, however, give a glimpse into the inner workings of the office, which has for decades concealed episodes of sexual abuse by powerful political figures.The woman who settled with Conyers launched the complaint with the Office of Compliance in 2014, alleging she was fired for refusing his sexual advances, and ended up facing a daunting process that ended with a confidentiality agreement in exchange for a settlement of more than $27,000. Her settlement, however, came from Conyers  office budget rather than the designated fund for settlements.Congress has no human resources department. Instead, congressional employees have 180 days to report a sexual harassment incident to the Office of Compliance, which then leads to a lengthy process that involves counseling and mediation, and requires the signing of a confidentiality agreement before a complaint can go forward.After this an employee can choose to take the matter to federal district court, but another avenue is available: an administrative hearing, after which a negotiation and settlement may follow.In this case, one of Conyers  former employees was offered a settlement, in exchange for her silence, that would be paid out of Conyers  taxpayer-funded office budget. His office would  rehire  the woman as a  temporary employee  despite her being directed not to come into the office or do any actual work, according to the document. The complainant would receive a total payment of $27,111.75 over the three months, after which point she would be removed from the payroll, according to the document.The draft agreement viewed by BuzzFeed News was unsigned, but congressional employment records match the timing and amounts outlined in the document. The woman left the office and never went public with her story.The process was  disgusting,  said Matthew Peterson, who worked as a law clerk representing the complainant, and who listed as a signatory to some of the documents.Hillary Clinton and John Conyers have been longtime friends. What is it about Hillary that sexual predators find so endearing?  It is a designed cover-up,  said Peterson, who declined to discuss details of the case but agreed to characterize it in general terms.  You feel like they were betrayed by their government just for coming forward. It s like being abused twice. Two staffers alleged in their signed affidavits that Conyers used congressional resources to fly in women they believed he was having affairs with. Another said she was tasked with driving women to and from Conyers  apartment and hotel rooms.Rep. Conyers did not admit fault as part of the settlement. His office did not respond to multiple requests for comment on Monday.Citizen journalist Mike Cernovich admonishes  journalists  who are tasked with reporting the news for a living for ignoring how massive this cover up really is:The Conyers settlement was 1 out of 264!How about you ""journalists"" stop hating on me and go find those other 263?  Mike Cernovich   (@Cernovich) November 21, 2017The documents were first provided to BuzzFeed News by Mike Cernovich, the men s rights figure turned pro-Trump media activist who propagated a number of false conspiracy theories including the  Pizzagate  conspiracy. Cernovich said he gave the documents to BuzzFeed News for vetting and further reporting, and because he said if he published them himself, Democrats and congressional leaders would  try to discredit the story by attacking the messenger.  He provided them without conditions. BuzzFeed News independently confirmed the authenticity of the documents with four people directly involved with the case, including the accuser.Here s citizen journalist Mike Cernovich telling his massive Twitter audience that Speaker of the House Paul Ryan helped to cover up John Conyers disgusting sexual assaults:Congressman John Conyers is a sexual predator, and Paul Ryan covered it all up weblink  Mike Cernovich   (@Cernovich) November 21, 2017In her complaint, the former employee said Conyers repeatedly asked her for sexual favors and often asked her to join him in a hotel room. On one occasion, she alleges that Conyers asked her to work out of his room for the evening, but when she arrived the congressman started talking about his sexual desires. She alleged he then told her she needed to  touch it,  in reference to his penis, or find him a woman who would meet his sexual demands.She alleged Conyers made her work nights, evenings, and holidays to keep him company.In another incident, the former employee alleged the congressman insisted she stay in his room while they traveled together for a fundraising event. When she told him that she would not stay with him, she alleged he told her to  just cuddle up with me and caress me before you go. Rep. Conyers strongly postulated that the performing of personal service or favors would be looked upon favorably and lead to salary increases or promotions,  the former employee said in the documents.Three other staff members provided affidavits submitted to the Office Of Compliance that outlined a pattern of behavior from Conyers that included touching the woman in a sexual manner and growing angry when she brought her husband around.One affidavit from a former female employee states that she was tasked with flying in women for the congressman.  One of my duties while working for Rep. Conyers was to keep a list of women that I assumed he was having affairs with and call them at his request and, if necessary, have them flown in using Congressional resources,  said her affidavit. (A second staffer alleged in an interview that Conyers used taxpayer resources to fly women to him.)The employee said in her affidavit that Conyers also made sexual advances toward her:  I was driving the Congressman in my personal car and was resting my hand on the stick shift. Rep. Conyers reached over and began to caress my hand in a sexual manner. The woman said she told Conyers she was married and not interested in pursuing a sexual relationship, according to the affidavit. She said she was told many times by constituents that it was well-known that Conyers had sexual relationships with his staff, and said she and other female staffers felt this undermined their credibility. I am personally aware of several women who have experienced the same or similar sexual advances made towards them by Rep[.] John Conyers,  she said in her affidavit.A male employee wrote that he witnessed Rep. Conyers rub the legs and other body parts of the complainant  in what appeared to be a sexual manner  and saw the congressman rub and touch other women  in an inappropriate manner.  The employee said he confronted Conyers about this behavior. Rep. Conyers said he needed to be  more careful  because bad publicity would not be helpful as he runs for re-election. He ended the conversation with me by saying he would  work on  his behavior,  the male staffer said in his affidavit.",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,fake,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
18401,18402,"S . C . , Jan . 10 , 2016 Removal of the Confederate flag from the Statehouse grounds is the gift that keeps on giving for South Carolina Gov . Nikki Haley .  Not only will she receive a major leadership award Jan . 12 from Furman ' s Riley Institute for her role in taking down the flag , she ' s been tapped to give the national  response to President Obama ' s final State of the Union address .  Cynics easily spin the speech as little more than an attempt to illustrate that Republicans can be brown and female , not just white and male . Others may take it a step further and say the nationally televised response is political payback . They ' ll remind you how the Republican National Committee chairman was on stage when Haley , who essentially ignored the flag in her first four years as governor , issued strong words to take it down after the Emanuel  Church tragedy . Her voice for flag removal helped to thwart the possibility of weeks of uncomfortable questions from pesky reporters every time a  presidential candidate campaigned for votes in South Carolina ' s early primary . With the flag issue off the table , candidates could run their races . Meanwhile , moderate voters who wanted the flag down would not be reminded how Statehouse Republicans had kept up the flag for years .  Conspiracy theories aside , something more elegant may really be going on : Nikki Haley may be growing up politically , less a firebrand , more of a figure of the establishment .  When Haley took office in 2011 , she schmoozed and got legislators thinking that coming years would be a walk in the park compared to the testy relationship between the  led General Assembly and former Gov . Mark Sanford .  But after some early successes with cabinet appointments and the welcome of Boeing , Haley and leading South Carolina lawmakers soon were at loggerheads . Legislators complained she was quiet about a tax break for Amazon when leadership was needed . She angered folks when she got rid of philanthropist Darla Moore from the University of South Carolina board . Haley irritated lawmakers with a plan to force them to return to finish her political agenda . And she tried to get rid of state funding for South Carolina ' s public television network . Within six months of being sworn in as governor , stories outlined how Haley needed to mend lots of fences .  She then focused on ethics reform which still hasn ' t happened and getting the state ' s residents back to work , which has happened with the lowest unemployment rates in almost a generation . She railed against Obamacare , pumping up her tea party base by not wanting to accept free federal money to allow 200 , 000 of the poorest of South Carolinians to be able to get health insurance . She didn ' t slice and burn budgets with lots of vetoes .  As time passed , Haley ' s on the job training as governor seems to have moved her toward the middle , although she ' ll keep throwing red meat to anti Obama conservatives during Tuesday ' s national speech .  She didn ' t , for example , veto an early childhood education program in 2013 pushed by Democratic nemesis Sen . Vincent Sheheen to expand 4 year old kindergarten . And she didn ' t stop the program the following year when more money was appropriated to add more kids to the roll books .  Haley , once vociferous that she wouldn ' t raise gas taxes to pay for crumbling roads , may be mellowing on that a bit , especially after October floods broke dams and ruined roads across the Midlands , Pee Dee and Lowcountry . Just this week , the state Chamber of Commerce , led by former Haley chief of staff Ted Pitts , said South Carolina needed higher gas taxes for infrastructure , perhaps an early crutch for the governor to use to amend earlier toughness on gas taxes .  Also this week , Haley said she ' ll seek 19 million yes , new spending for 144 new prosecutors , 88 public defenders , three judges and staff to help thwart the high rate of domestic violence that grips the state .  Bottom line : The Nikki Haley of 2016 isn ' t the woman who took office in 2011 . But with South Carolina already such a red state , you ' ve got to wonder whether the new attention will have legs for something bigger for the hyper ambitious governor .  P . S . Know these names ? U . S . Rep . Cathy McMorris Rodgers and U . S . Sen . Joni Ernst ? They gave the  responses in 2014 and 2015 , respectively .  Andy Brack is editor and publisher of Statehouse Report , South Carolina ' s leading policy and legislative forecast .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,past
18440,18441,"Is it better that we don’t know the true extent of Clinton’s mishandling of government documents? Is it better we don’t know the extent of her pay to play schemes? Is it better we don’t know the truth about the destruction of the legitimate government of Libya? Should we not know the ultimate destination of the arms and munitions, especially stinger missals removed from Libya? How about the disruption of an opposing political candidate’s political rallies and possibly the rigging of election ballot boxes? Is the destruction of cell phones and wiping of computers  even if they held evidence of Clinton foundations wrong doing? The list goes on. What does our government do? It silences the voice of truth and replaces it with the script of propaganda.",fake,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,present
18450,18451,""" Mommy , Woofers is lonely out there in the doghouse ! He wants to come in and play ! "" says attention starved Billy Tobin , 10 .  "" That dog doesn ' t care about being in this house ! He just wants to run around , "" counters mother Janet Tobin , 44 , an unhappily married homemaker .  "" Will you two be quiet ? All that poor dog wants is to be left alone ! "" says Bob Tobin , 50 , world weary father and unfaithful husband to Janet .  So goes a typical exchange with the Tobins , a dysfunctional Flagstaff family whose members possess an uncanny ability to project all of their various neuroses onto the innocent psyche of Woofers , the family dog .  "" It is not unusual for a neurotic personality to project unresolved issues onto an infant , pet , house , or other neutral entity that is incapable of expressing its own opinions and feelings , "" said University of Arizona psychology professor Dr Jonah Douglas . "" But while such projection is far from uncommon , the fact that this family has managed to project every last one of its problems onto a single being , Woofers the dog , is truly exceptional . ""  The use of Woofers as a third party neurosis receptacle is a daily occurrence within the Tobin household , with unspoken dissatisfaction , pain , and anger constantly displaced from its true source and transferred to the tabula rasa that is , for them , the dog ' s psyche .  Said Douglas : "" Thanks to Woofers , the Tobins need never directly confront any of their longstanding personal and interpersonal issues , enabling them to perpetuate their self defeating behaviors in an endless cycle of collective denial . He is the emotional glue that keeps this horribly maladjusted clan from tearing itself apart . ""  Grandmother Ellen Tobin , 78 , who lives in constant fear that she will be put away in a rest home , tells fellow family members that "" Woofers is never coming back "" every time the dog is not in the same room as her .  "" Where ' s Woofers ? Where ' s Woofers ? "" Ellen shouted at daughter Janet recently . "" You sent him to the pound , didn ' t you ? Didn ' t you ? ""  Similarly , 14 year old Renee Tobin constantly berates the animal for being "" smelly , mangy , and ugly "" not realizing that she is actually expressing deep seated insecurities about her own changing body and budding sexuality . "" Can ' t somebody ever give that dog a bath ? It ' s gross ! ""  Another telling incident occurs when Billy returns home from elementary school , where he is unpopular and alienated , to a home where he receives little affirmation and approval . He passionately hugs Woofers , mistakenly believing that the dog is sad and lonely without him .  "" You just need some love , "" says Billy , offering Woofers a treat as he gazes at the dog ' s blank , uncomprehending face . "" You ' re by yourself all day long , and you must ' ve really missed me , huh , Woofers ? Isn ' t that right ? Yes , it is . Yes , it is . ""  When Woofers responds enthusiastically , jumping up and down in response to the attention and food he receives during this daily greeting ritual , Billy erroneously interprets this as a sign of the dog ' s agreement with what he is saying .  "" Get that dog off my bed right now ! "" yells Janet , whose repressed awareness of her husband ' s longtime infidelity has led the pair to sleep in separate beds for the past six years . "" Put him out in the yard where he belongs . That ' s all he wants anyway to run around , sniffing every tree and bush in the neighborhood ! ""  "" If that dog wants to run around all night long , let him , "" adds Janet , totally unaware of the transparent nature of her oft repeated complaint . "" He ' s just going to be scratching at the door all night anyway if you don ' t let him out . If that ' s what he wants , why keep him cooped up in a place he obviously hasn ' t wanted to be for a long time ? Who cares what he does all night , so long as he ' s not doing it here ? Let him howl at the moon all night for all I care . ""  "" Must you snipe at him all day long ? "" Bob responds . "" He ' s had it up to here with all the shouting . Great , now he ' s whining again . I hope you ' re happy . He can ' t take all this constant noise . Dogs have very sensitive hearing , you know . Look at his face ! Can ' t you see that you ' re driving the poor animal crazy ? No wonder he wants to get out . ""  Though the Tobins are deeply troubled , they can feel confident that they will not have to confront any of their problems any time soon , thanks to the heroic , if unintentional , role that Woofers plays in their lives .  "" To the best of my knowledge , in the annals of modern psychiatric science , there has never been a case of one creature serving as an essential emotional proxy to so many people , "" Douglas said . "" Woofers must indeed be a profoundly exceptional animal . A lesser dog would have cracked under the strain of so many mutually contradictory projections long ago . ""  ",satire,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,satire,True,no,no,neutral,past
18486,18487,"All being well , Alan Pardew will return to the scene of his greatest playing triumph on Thursday . This time , he is the manager .  At Villa Park in 1990 , wearing the red and blue striped shirt of Crystal Palace , he scored the dramatic extra time winner in the  Cup semi final against Liverpool .  Credit to Pardew because he intends to take the team against Aston Villa provided the announcement confirming that he is the new Palace manager is made today . That is certainly the intention .  Alan Pardew is hoping to take charge of Crystal Palace for their New Year ' s Day match against Aston Villa  Pardew back in his playing days scored a memorable winner over Liverpool in the  Cup back in 1990  Pardew played more than 100 games for Palace during a four year spell at the south London club  Cheick Tiote ( left ) and Papiss Cisse leave Newcastle ' s training ground after Pardew returned to say goodbye  Newcastle captain Fabricio Coloccini arrives at training , while Peter Beardsley ( right ) gives a thumbs up  Pardew made 128 league appearances between 1987 and 1991 , scoring eight goals .  The highlight of his time at Selhurst Park , however , was the  Cup run in the 1989 90 season .  Pardew was one of the ' Fab Four ' ( with Mark Bright , Gary O ' Reilly and Andy Gray ) and scored the winner against Liverpool in that memorable 4 3 semi final victory at Villa Park ( the other three also netted in that match ) .  The Eagles pushed Manchester United all the way in the Wembley final , drawing 3 3 in the first match , but lost 1 0 in the replay .  Pardew played every minute of both matches .  It would be easy to swerve this one , to sit in the stand alongside co chairman Steve Parish and club ambassador Mark Bright .  Instead he intends to be there for the game , most likely in the dug out for the first of 19 matches that will decide whether Palace stay in the Barclays Premier League .  Good on Pardew for that . He takes over a team who need organisation , focus and discipline after Neil Warnock was sacked following the 3 1 defeat at home by Southampton on Boxing Day .  On Tuesday , Warnock gave his first interview since leaving Selhurst Park and he couldn ' t resist throwing a few grenades at Parish .  ' I would have liked the chairman to tell me they had a chance of getting Alan Pardew and would I mind stepping down , ' he told talkSPORT .  ' When I was clearing my desk , Ronnie Jepson said "" Gaffer , they ' ve got someone else "" . '  Pardew will acquire a leader in the form of Mile Jedinak , but the club captain will be away for a month at the Asia Cup with Australia  Keith Millen was in charge on Sunday as Crystal Palace drew 0 0 against  at Loftus Road  His assistant called that right . Pardew was always Plan A , the man Parish wanted when Tony Pulis walked away two days before the opening game of the season . At the time , the former Palace man wasn ' t ready .  On this occasion he is and his brief , beyond survival , is to build a team who can compete in the top half of the Premier League .  In an interview given by Parish last week , the ambitious Palace co chairman admitted that he craved a run in one of the cup competitions .  Palace will turn their attention to the  Cup on Sunday when they go to Dover in the third round , but the priority remains the Premier League .  All was quiet at Crystal Palace ' s Beckenham training on Tuesday , with no Pardew announcement imminent  The circumstances will be very different at Palace , where the stadium has changed little since Pardew ( below ) left for Charlton in November 1991 . Back then the team trained at the Imperial Sports Ground in Mitcham , and they have conducted a tour of south London in the intervening years before ending up in Beckenham .  On Tuesday Warnock complained about the infrastructure at the club and claimed the training ground was not the right standard for a Premier League team . It has been interpreted at Selhurst Park as a bit of bitching , particularly after he claimed he took over a club in chaos . Last season Palace finished 11th , which Warnock insists was ' lucky ' .  In the dressing room , Pardew will acquire a leader in the form of Mile Jedinak , but the club captain will be away for a month at the Asia Cup with Australia .  Now Neil Warnock has departed , Pardew ( left ) will take the reins at Selhurst Park his old club  Steve Parish made a bold move by sacking Warnock after four months , and has appointed Pardew instead  Pardew will also have his work cut out rebuilding the shattered confidence of Palace ' s forward line after Warnock ' s criticism of them in recent weeks . Fraizer Campbell has not recovered from his miss against Manchester United in November and Dwight Gayle , the best finisher at the club , is in need of direction .  There will be money to spend in the transfer window and the club have already spoken to Pardew about potential targets .  At Selhurst Park he will have a greater say in recruitment , a refreshing change from the limitations of working for Newcastle owner Mike Ashley .  By hiring Pardew , Parish has overlooked his man ' s disappointing spell as manager of Charlton in 2006 . He could not halt the slide and they fell out of the Premier League after winning only five games with him in charge .  At Palace , he will need to win a few more than that .  Warnock gave his first interview since leaving Selhurst Park and couldn ' t resist throwing a few jibes at Parish  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
18503,18504,"Colorado A megachurch paid a 20 year old man to keep silent about a sexual relationship he had with disgraced evangelical pastor Ted Haggard , a senior church pastor said .  Rev . Ted Haggard was fired from New Life Church after allegations about a prostitute and drug use arose in 2006 .  Haggard , who was fired amid allegations that he used drugs and patronized a male prostitute in 2006 , had a sexual relationship with a second man a 20 year old volunteer at his megachurch , the Rev . Brady Boyd , a senior pastor at the church , said Monday .  The church agreed to pay the man in exchange for his pledges not to talk publicly about the relationship , Boyd said , referring to a settlement reached by the man ' s lawyer and the church ' s insurance company . Under the settlement , the church provided the man money to pay his college tuition , moving expenses and counseling , Boyd said .  "" This was compassionate assistance . It was to help him move forward , not a settlement to keep him quiet , "" said Boyd , senior pastor at New Life Church in Colorado Springs , Colorado . Watch Haggard in the  documentary  Haggard founded New Life in his basement in 1984 and oversaw its growth to an influential megachurch with roughly 15 , 000 members .  Haggard is the former president of the National Association of Evangelicals , a group that says it represents millions of people in 45 , 000 church congregations nationwide . He and other evangelical leaders participated in weekly conference calls with senior White House aides during the Bush administration .  In November 2006 , allegations surfaced that Haggard had a three year relationship with Mike Jones , a male escort , involving drugs and sex for money . After those allegations became public , New Life fired Haggard and he resigned as president of the national organization .  On Friday , New Life Church announced Haggard ' s relationship with the volunteer in a letter to the congregation .  In the last three weeks , Boyd said , the young man told him that he was considering going public with his story because Haggard was portraying himself as a victim in an upcoming  documentary called "" The Trial of Ted Haggard , "" which is scheduled to air Thursday .  "" I counseled him it wasn ' t going to help him or the church ' s healing . Plus it was in violation of the agreement we signed with them , "" Boyd said .  The 2006 controversy involving Haggard erupted when Jones , the former prostitute , said the pastor had paid him for sex over three years and had used methamphetamine in his presence . Haggard said in interviews that he received a massage from Jones , but denied having sex with him . He also said he bought methamphetamine , but threw it away instead of using it .  The assertions received widespread news coverage and sparked charges of hypocrisy , particularly because Haggard had condemned homosexual sex in a documentary called "" Friends of God . ""  In a settlement with New Life , the church and Haggard agreed that he would retain his six figure salary for a year , leave the Colorado Springs area , receive counseling , and not speak publicly about what had happened for one year , according to a church staff member with knowledge of the settlement who was not authorized to speak on the record .  Jones said Monday that he has spoken with the former church volunteer whom Boyd said had a relationship with Haggard .  "" My anger is so much at the church , "" Jones said . "" They tried to keep this quiet when all along I ' ve taken a beating feeling like I was the only one , when clearly there were others . ""  Despite the fresh scandal , Boyd said he is hopeful for the future .  "" We ' ve added 1 , 500 people in the last 18 months , "" he said . "" We ' re trying to adopt 100 orphans into families in the church .  "" We had a leader with flawed character and we ' re trying to clean up from the residue of the past . This will not always define us . I can promise you that in the days ahead , we won ' t be identified with scandal , but helping the widows and orphans . ""  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
18508,18509,"Ousted ex Honduran President Manuel Zelaya inked an accord Sunday with the country ' s current president that will allow him to return to Honduras after almost two years in exile , officials said .  The deal , which was brokered by the Colombian and Venezuelan governments , was signed in Cartagena , Colombia , by Zelaya and Honduran President Porfirio Lobo .  It allows Zelaya and his allies to return to Honduras and helps clear the way for the country to rejoin the Organization of American States . Zelaya and his supporters will also be permitted to participate in Honduran politics .  Zelaya was overthrown in a military led coup June 28 , 2009 , and flown into exile . He sneaked back into Honduras in September of that year and got refuge in the Brazilian Embassy , where he remained until Lobo arranged for Zelaya to get safe passage out of the country .  "" This agreement is great news to Latin Americans because it normalizes the situation in the Inter American system , "" Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said in a statement soon after the deal was signed . He said he expects the  to act soon to welcome Honduras back into the fold .  Honduras has been excluded from the regional body since the coup , in part because Zelaya had not been allowed to return home without fear of prosecution . He faced corruption charges , which were dropped this month .  The de facto government that replaced Zelaya was eventually replaced by the elected government of Lobo . But because the election happened under the rule of the de facto forces , some countries have not recognized the election results .  Many countries , including the United States , have recognized the Lobo government , while others , such as Brazil , have not .  Zelaya ' s expected return to Honduras should help further reintegrate Honduras into the international community .  "" Now that the obstacles to former President Zelaya ' s return to Honduras have been removed , I am confident that we will soon welcome Honduras back as a full member of the inter American system , "" U . S . Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in a speech this month . "" That is a step that is long overdue . ""  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
18514,18515,"New Hampshire The economy in southern New Hampshire is not by any means among the worst in the nation . Still , according to city records , there are 29 foreclosed homes on the books in Nashua many of which are in deplorable condition .  Walls had been ripped open in this foreclosed home in Atlanta , Georgia .  The foundation of the house was fractured , Ortega said , and there were cracks and fissures in many of the supporting beams . At the side entrance to the house were broken windows , garbage and peeling paint .  In 2006 , Ortega said , the property sold for 200 , 000 . It ' s anyone ' s guess , he said , what price the home might bring now , if it ever sold .  That this foreclosed home might not ever sell was not news to a researcher who lives nearby .  Popik says responses from thousands of real estate agents nationwide to the questionnaires he sends out quarterly indicate that badly damaged foreclosed homes so called "" distressed "" properties in real estate jargon are a much bigger element of the national housing picture than officials in Washington have acknowledged .  Popik ' s work is under the auspices of Campbell Communications , a Washington based group that supplies data to private mortgage industry analysts .  In some cities hit harder by the national economic downturn , a quick glance at foreclosed homes paints an even harsher picture .  "" They are a little scary going into them , "" she said . "" The power is out , a lot of them are boarded up . ""  "" Usually abandoning homes means it hasn ' t sold , "" she explained . "" They will eventually sell . It will be pennies at best on the dollar , but they will eventually sell . ""  From his office in New Hampshire , Popik said he is not at all certain of that .  "" There are some cases where the properties have been so damaged that it ' s not profitable for the mortgage investor , which is a bank , to take title to the property , "" he said .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
18522,18523,"After Sony canceled the release of its comedy "" The Interview , "" one Texas theater planned to screen "" Team America : World Police "" instead .  That is , until studio Paramount shut that down , too .  According to the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in Dallas Forth Worth , a screening of "" Team America : World Police "" a 2004 satiric comedy , written by "" South Park ' s "" Trey Parker and Matt Stone , that includes the late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il in a key role has been canceled . The theater had planned to show "" Team America "" in place of "" The Interview , "" the controversial comedy about a planned assassination of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un , Kim Jong Il ' s son , which was pulled by Sony Pictures Wednesday .  "" The Interview "" was scheduled to open Christmas Day , but Sony canceled its debut following a threat from a group that claims it hacked the studio .  U . S . set to blame North Korea for Sony hack  The Alamo Drafthouse has said that it was "" trying to make the best of an unfortunate situation "" by swapping in "" Team America "" for the now absent "" The Interview . ""  But , according to Alamo Drafthouse , "" Team America "" is no longer in play .  The screening "" was canceled as the film was pulled from release , "" a spokesperson for the theater confirmed .  Two other theaters that also planned to screen "" Team America , "" the Plaza Atlanta Theatre and Cleveland , Ohio ' s Capitol Theatre , have shared similar statements .  "" Please note : Our Late Shift screening of Team America : World Police has been canceled by Paramount Pictures , "" Capitol Theatre tweeted Thursday .  "" We want to play it , "" the Plaza Atlanta told its followers , but added they were told "" we are not allowed . ""  A spokeswoman for Paramount declined to comment .  As of now , it looks like "" The Interview "" is similarly shelved . Despite speculation the comedy might be released digitally , studio Sony Pictures said in a statement that it "" has no further release plans for the film . ""  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
18523,18524,"Scientists working on the most authoritative study on climate change were urged to cover up the fact that the world ' s temperature hasn ' t risen for the last 15 years , it is claimed .  A leaked copy of a United Nations report , compiled by hundreds of scientists , shows politicians in Belgium , Germany , Hungary and the United States raised concerns about the final draft .  Published next week , it is expected to address the fact that 1998 was the hottest year on record and world temperatures have not yet exceeded it , which scientists have so far struggled to explain .  The report is the result of six years ' work by  ' s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (  ) , which is seen as the world authority on the extent of climate change and what is causing it on which governments including Britain ' s base their green policies .  Concerns : Scientists have been urged to cover up the fact that the Earth ' s temperature hasn ' t risen for the last 15 years amid fears it would provide ammunition for deniers of man made climate change  But leaked documents seen by the Associated Press , yesterday revealed deep concerns among politicians about a lack of global warming over the past few years .  Germany called for the references to the slowdown in warming to be deleted , saying looking at a time span of just 10 or 15 years was ' misleading ' and they should focus on decades or centuries .  The  ' s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has changed its tune after issuing stern warnings about climate change for years  Hungary worried the report would provide ammunition for deniers of man made climate change .  Belgium objected to using 1998 as a starting year for statistics , as it was exceptionally warm and makes the graph look flat and suggested using 1999 or 2000 instead to give a more upward pointing curve .  The United States delegation even weighed in , urging the authors of the report to explain away the lack of warming using the ' leading hypothesis ' among scientists that the lower warming is down to more heat being absorbed by the ocean which has got hotter .  The last  ' assessment report ' was published in 2007 and has been the subject of huge controversy after it had to correct the embarrassing claim that the Himalayas would melt by 2035 .  It was then engulfed in the ' Climategate ' scandal surrounding leaked emails allegedly showing scientists involved in it trying to manipulate their data to make it look more convincing although several inquiries found no wrongdoing .  The latest report , which runs to 2 , 000 pages , will be shown to representatives from all 195 governments next week at a meeting in Stockholm , who can discuss alterations they want to make .  But since it was issued to governments in June , they have raised hundreds of objections about the 20 page summary for policymakers , which sums up the findings of the scientists .  What it says will inform renewable energy policies and how much consumers and businesses will pay for them .  The report is expected to say the rate of warming between 1998 and 2012 was about half of the average rate since 1951 and put this down to natural variations such as the El Nino and La Nina ocean cycles and the cooling effects of volcanoes .  A leaked copy of the United Nations report , compiled by hundreds of scientists , shows politicians in Belgium , Germany , Hungary and the United States have raised concerns about the final draft . Above , the United Nations headquarters building in New York  A German climate scientist Stefan Rahmstorf , who reviewed the chapter on sea levels yesterday admitted it was possible the report ' s authors were feeling under pressure to address the slowdown in warming due to the ' public debate ' around the issue .  The draft report , which is not new research but a synthesis of all the work being done by scientists around the world , is likely to be highly disputed at the three day meeting .  It will make the case that humans are causing global warming with carbon emissions even more strongly upgrading it from ' very likely ' in 2007 to ' extremely likely ' it is manmade .  But scientists are under pressure to explain why the warming has not exceeded 1998 levels although the decade 2000 2010 was the hottest on record .  Alden Meyer , of the Union of Concerned Scientists based in Washington , said yesterday : ' I think to not address it would be a problem because then you basically have the denialists saying : ' Look the  is silent on this issue . '  Jonathan Lynn , a spokesman for the  said yesterday : ' This is the culmination of four years ' work by hundreds of scientists , where governments get a chance to ensure the summary for policymakers is clear and concise in a dialogue with the scientists who wrote it , and have the opportunity to raise any topics they think should be highlighted . '  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
18529,18530,"Tehran based firm to pitch fund in the U . K . next month  Iran has very compelling ' story , Griffon ' s Malayeri says  Griffon Capital , a Tehran based firm set up by a group of international and Iranian investors including  Xanyar Kamangar in anticipation of Iran s nuclear deal , is seeking to raise 100 million euros ( 108 . 2 million ) by the end of the year for a new offshore fund specializing in the country s stocks .  Griffon s Iran Flagship Fund , domiciled in the Cayman Islands , is an open ended vehicle investing mainly in the Tehran Stock Exchange and Iran Fara Bourse , the company said in an e mailed statement Monday . Griffon will start pitching the fund in the U . K . next month .  It s impossible to ignore a market of this size and Iran has a very compelling story , ? Payam Malayeri , Griffon s head of asset management , said by telephone from Tehran on Sunday .  Iran is opening up to foreign investors after the lifting of international sanctions earlier this month ended a decade of isolation . ? Last week Charlemagne Capital Ltd . and Turquoise Partners started an institutional fund to buy Iranian securities .  stock market is the fifth largest in the Middle East , with a market capitalization of 90 billion . Inflows may reach as much as 1 billion after six to eight months , according to Reza Soltanzadeh , a founding partner at  Assets Management , a firm focused on the country . That compares with 343 . 5 billion for Saudi Arabia , which opened the region s biggest stock market to direct foreign ownership last year .  Kamangar , who previously worked for Deutsche Bank  , started Griffon in 2014 with other investors when Iran was still in negotiations with world powers over its nuclear ambitions . The company also plans to start a private equity fund before the end of the year . Tehran s agreement last summer to dismantle much of its program led the U . S . and Europe to suspend restrictions on trade and other contacts with Iran in early January .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
18559,18560,"Thousands of angry customers who bought healthy living app The Whole Pantry are demanding their money back after finding out founder Belle Gibson ' s cancer story could be false .  Ms Gibson , 23 , is in the spotlight this week after doubts were raised about her remarkable cancer survival story and the book , Apple Watch app and website that it inspired .  Taking to The Whole Pantry ' s Facebook page , some of the 300 , 000 people who downloaded the app have called for their money to be refunded and have slammed the mother of one for misleading her followers .  ' Lies , Lies and more Lies . I demand a refund , ' one unhappy customer said .  ' What kind of person fakes illnesses for attention . She has mental health issues and needs help . It scares me to think how many people have died following her natural therapy cancer treatment diet lifestyle . Disgusting , ' another Facebook commenter said .  Many others called for the entrepreneur to face up to her lies and do the right thing . Questions have also been raised about her donations to charity .  Ms Gibson shot to stardom on social media and gave hope to cancer sufferers worldwide after she revealed that she had prolonged her life despite shunning conventional medical treatment and relying on her own ' whole life ' concept .  The Whole Pantry ( pictured above , in cookbook form ) is also a popular app , which costs 3 . 79 to download . The app is slated to appear on the new Apple Watch  She told her social media followers last year her brain cancer had spread to her blood , liver , spleen , uterus and that she did not expect to survive .  It has been reported that Ms Gibson has met with lawyers to fight the claims .  School friends of under fire Whole Pantry founder Belle Gibson now query whether the health guru invented stories ' to get sympathy ' and warned people against vaccination while she was in high school .  Ms Gibson attended Wynnum State High School in Brisbane and former classmates describe the health guru as a ' drama queen ' who constantly reinvented herself and backed medical cannabis .  Former school friend Chris Green said Ms Gibson was ' a drama queen . There was always something going on with her . '  ' At one stage she was an emo , then a skater girl then she was a surfer chick she was always something different , ' Mr Green told The Courier Mail .  Mr Green also said that Ms Gibson never mentioned an autistic brother or a mother with multiple sclerosis , who she had previously claimed to be a carer for .  One anonymous school friend said that Ms Gibson would often post information advocating against vaccinations and pushed the viewpoint quite hard .  Former classmate Meg Weier said that Ms Gibson was quite strange .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
18570,18571,"Look, we don’t want to write about every presidential campaign tweet that teeters on the brink of the absurd like a   mirror revealing the political Frankentheater that the entire electorate has collaborated to create, whether actively or by submission. We’d never get anything else done. But O. K. fine, this one could use some explanation. Hillary Clinton, the presumptive Democratic nominee, was responding to a tweet from Donald J. Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee: Mrs. Clinton’s missive, most likely written and sent by her campaign staff, quickly became one of the most widely shared tweets of the 2016 campaign. It was precisely the kind of tweet that political junkies, and anyone else checking Twitter for a midday distraction, thirsts for in the middle of the afternoon when they’d prefer to think about something other than work. But it’s worth noting, to the unfamiliar, that “Delete your account” was not a sudden turn of phrase by a coldblooded social media manager, let alone the candidate herself. The   phrase has a long history as a dismissive rejoinder, especially on Twitter. It translates roughly as “Your tweet or opinion is so bad that you should be immediately disqualified from further participation on the platform. ” Mr. Trump then responded, and other political figures quickly jumped on board. Mrs. Clinton has not always been totally hip, jiggy and on fleek with the cool kids. She was widely panned for a tweet in August that struck some watchers as a tad too pandering. On Friday, a day after it was announced that Senator Elizabeth Warren, Democrat of Massachusetts, was endorsing Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Trump unleashed a typical tweet, mocking the senator’s heritage. But Ms. Warren, who has taken to matching the Republican taunt for taunt on social media, could not resist resurrecting Clinton’s tack. There. Now you understand politics again.",true,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
18595,18596,"Paris a city ' in mourning ' say tourists , as dark Eiffel Tower stays closed  The Effiel Tower was closed following the attacks in the French capital  Tourists in Paris have described how the city "" is in mourning "" after the decision was made to close the Eiffel Tower following Friday ' s terror attacks .  Just a handful of single yellow lights adorned France ' s most famous landmark , with the usual swelling crowds noticeably absent .  Belgian tourist Reda Jouibli said the decision to shut the visitor attraction reflected the sombre mood in the city .  The 18 year old said : "" It is almost funereal . It ' s dark , like it is in mourning . This feels really strange being here and hardly being able to see the Eiffel Tower .  "" I arrived here on Friday and within five minutes there was the terror attack . It ' s been a really unlucky week for a holiday here because so much is closed .  "" But it is for a good reason so I understand . It ' s really terrible what happened . ""  Paris resident Othmane Youssfi , 23 , said it was strange to see "" the city of love "" looking so sad .  He said : "" I don ' t think I ' ve ever seen so few people here . This place is normally so busy .  "" I understand why the tower is closed , I think it gives perspective on the terrible things that have happened . ""  Another Belgian visitor , who gave her name as Erine , said : "" It ' s a very sad situation . We can ' t see anything . Everything is closed . It ' s not nice to walk around .  "" Before everything was  , . there were a lot of people around and everything was open you could visit museums . But now you can ' t do anything .  "" They also told us it ' s better to stay in the hotel , but it ' s not nice to stay in the hotel all day . ""  She said the Eiffel Tower seemed like it was "" dead "" .  "" Nobody is here . It ' s grey and I have a very strange feeling , I ' m a little bit scared .  "" I also think there are not enough police officers around . It ' s really not enough . If something happened again , they couldn ' t help us or they couldn ' t do anything . It ' s not really safe . ""  Another returning visitor , Thomas , visiting with his partner Lisa , said : "" Paris before , at this time , was very amazing . Right now , people are terrified . You can ' t see anybody outside .    : Comments that are judged to be defamatory , abusive or in bad taste are not acceptable and contributors who consistently fall below certain criteria will be permanently blacklisted . The moderator will not enter into debate with individual contributors and the moderator s decision is final . It is Belfast Telegraph policy to close comments on court cases , tribunals and active legal investigations . We may also close comments on articles which are being targeted for abuse . Problems with commenting ? customercare belfasttelegraph . co . uk  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,negative,past
18597,18598,"Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Friday that United Nations sanctions on North Korea needed to be firmly imposed. Abe, speaking to reporters, said that the international community must send a clear message to North Korea over its provocative actions. North Korea fired a missile on Friday that flew over Japan s northern Hokkaido far out into the Pacific Ocean, South Korean and Japanese officials said, further ratcheting up tensions after Pyongyang s recent test of a powerful nuclear bomb. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
18599,18600,"EWweblink ) People constantly debate whether the phrase , "" All publicity is good publicity , "" actually has any credence , but in the case of Lana Del Rey , the saying has proven itself true .  After nearly six months of feverish online debate her name ! her lips ! her backstory ! the divisive songstress , whose poorly received performance on ""  "" launched a thousand blog posts , lands high on this week ' s chart . Her debut album "" Born to Die "" debuted at No . 2 on the Billboard 200 , selling a solid 77 , 000 ( if not spectacular , considering its marketing budget ) copies .  Impressively , Del Rey accomplished this feat without a single bona fide "" hit "" to her name . Although her recent video for "" Born to Die "" has amassed over 19 million views , she has only charted one song domestically : "" Video Games , "" and that only reached No . 91 on the Hot 100 . Understandably , 74 percent of her album sales were digital downloads .  Adele , of course , topped the chart once again , logging her 19th week in first place . Thanks to massive Grammy buzz , the blockbuster album moved another 122 , 000 copies , which means "" 21 "" has now sold over 100 , 000 units in 35 separate weeks .  Yahoo ' s Paul Grein notes that this is the first time an album has done this since Creed ' s "" Human Clay , "" which logged 49 weeks of sales above 100 , 000 from 1999 to 2001 . If Adele wins Album of the Year at the Grammys on Sunday ( as she is expected to ) , "" 21 "" should easily blaze past the 7 million mark .  The only other debuts in the Top 10 were Leonard Cohen ' s "" Old Ideas , "" which sold 41 , 000 , and Fred Hammond ' s gospel album "" God , Love And Romance , "" which sold 26 , 000 . Check out the Top 10 below :  1 . Adele , "" 21 "" 122 , 000  2 . Lana Del Rey , "" Born To Die "" 77 , 000  3 . Leonard Cohen , "" Old Ideas "" 41 , 000  4 . Various Artists , "" 2012 Grammy Nominees "" 34 , 000  5 . Kidz Bop Kids , "" Kidz Bop 21 "" 30 , 000  6 . Drake , "" Take Care "" 30 , 000  7 . Tim McGraw , "" Emotional Traffic "" 29 , 000  8 . Fred Hammond , "" God , Love And Romance "" 26 , 000  9 .  , "" Sorry For Party Rocking "" 22 , 000  10 . Rihanna , "" Talk That Talk "" 22 , 000  See the full article at EWweblink    to Try 2   issues of Entertainment Weekly  2011 Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc . All rights reserved .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
18606,18607,"The tennis dress from one of the world ' s most famous posters is to be auctioned and is valued at 1 , 000 .  The little white lacy number is recognisable from the Athena tennis picture where a blonde model shows her bare bottom .  Taken on a court at the University of Birmingham in 1976 , it has now sold more than two million copies internationally .  Remember this ? A dress from one of the world ' s most famous posters , the Athena tennis picture , is going under the hammer in the Midlands  Despite its fame , the teenage star wasn ' t identified until 35 years later , when she was named as freelance illustrator Fiona Walker .  The dress , made by Fiona ' s friend Carol Knotts , has been hidden away in a cupboard until now .  Carol , now a barrister , said : ' I used to get an allowance from my parents but to make it stretch further , I made my own clothes .  Under the hammer : Fieldings Auctioneers in Stourbridge is auctioning the original dress and tennis racquet as used in the famous Athena poster of the young women holding her bare left buttock  Revealed : Fiona Walker , 53 , poses with a picture of herself as the eighteen year old ' Athena tennis poster girl '  ' As I played tennis at the local club , I bought a "" Simplicity "" pattern and made my own dress , complete with lace trim .  ' Fiona one day asked if she could borrow my dress and racquet and when she returned them , she gave me a big box of chocolates as a thank you .  ' It ' s a little piece of tennis history and I hope someone might find it an interesting novelty item to buy . '  Fiona , a freelance illustrator , was the girlfriend of unknown 29 year old commercial photographer Martin Elliot when the picture was taken and she had never played tennis before .  Vintage : Auctioneer Nick Davies poses with the dress which Fiona Walker wore on a court at the University of Birmingham in 1976  Guess who ? The snap of Fiona holding her buttocks was taken on a tennis court at the University of Birmingham in 1976 and has now sold more than two million copies internationally  Unsurprisingly the photograph , since recreated by superstars such as Kylie Minogue and Ricky Gervais , shot Martin to fame .  The couple split in 1979 , three years after the photo was taken . Fiona was never officially paid for the shot , but Martin always said : ' I looked after her . '  The dress , racquet and two posters are estimated to fetch 1 , 000 to 2 , 000 at Fieldings Auctioneers in Stourbridge , West Midlands .  Iconic : The photograph , since recreated by superstars such as Kylie Minogue and Ricky Gervais , shot Martin to fame  Hiding away : The dress , made by Fiona ' s friend Carol Knotts , has been hidden away in a cupboard until now  Historical : Dressmaker Carol says the dress is a little piece of tennis history and she hopes someone might find it an interesting novelty item to buy  The lot will be auctioned on July 5 Wimbledon ladies ' finals day next month and is valued at between 1 , 000 and 2 , 000 .  Fieldings ' director Nick Davies said : ' A generation of people will remember this poster so it ' s a good time to put it up for auction . This is the most famous tennis dress of all time , yet it has never graced Centre Court .  ' It ' s an unknown quantity in terms of value but we are sure will create plenty of interest . '  Under the hammer : The lot will be auctioned on July 5 Wimbledon ladies ' finals day next month and is valued at between 1 , 000 and 2 , 000  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,past
18618,18619,"Turkish Russian relations , which could be described as hostile during the 1990s , have steadily improved after March 2003 as a result of the disappearance of divisive issues such as Chechnya and the Kurds , convergence of Russia ' s and Turkey ' s stance on Iran , Syria and other states in the Middle East and North Africa before the Arab Spring , as well as increasing trade and tourism between the two countries and energy deals . Russia and Turkey under the leadership of Putin and Erdo ? an marked a golden era in bilateral relations between Ankara and Moscow .  The two leaders were even described as a "" band of brothers "" due to the similarities in their leadership characteristics and their strategies based on priorities that placed a high premium on stability in their neighborhood before the Arab Spring owing to their overlapping interests and interdependence . Both leaders are also similar in successfully addressing the dreams of their people of past glories attained at the days of Ottoman and Russian empires .  Yet the re emergence of divisive issues and finally the downing of a Russian  24 fighter jet by Turkey after it violated Turkish airspace , and Putin ' s interpretation of the incident as a "" stab in the back that will have a serious consequences for Russia ' s relationship with Turkey "" mark a severe revision of this friendly relationship .  Actually , challenges in the Turkish Russian relations commenced with Turkey ' s support to Syrian opposition increasingly continued with Turkey ' s decision to host the  missile defense system Turkey ' s stance towards Crimean Tatars following Russia ' s annexation of Crimea , and finally worsened by Russia ' s direct military involvement in Syria that target all opposition groups and its support to Kurds , particularly the  that has a link to the  and the downing of the Russian fighter jet by Turkey .  The current developments remind me of the Turkish Russian historical relationship that had been described as long histories of conflict , deep structural differences , divergent views and intense geopolitical rivalries between the Russian and Ottoman empires in the Black and Mediterranean Seas . The interest in extending Russia ' s influence from the Black Sea and acquire warm water ports into the Mediterranean led to numerous conflicts and wars between Russia and Ottoman empires .  Russia also has sought to control the eastern Mediterranean for centuries . It has been stymied by the Ottoman Empire , later by Turkey , and by British and U . S . naval power throughout . The roots of the "" Eastern Question , "" which involved competition between the great powers , Russia and Britain , for influence over the Ottoman Empire without triggering a great power war , date back to the nineteenth century . A series of agreements signed between 1915 and 1917 put Kurdish populated areas under the control of Britain , France , and Russia and the final settlement of the "" Eastern Question "" promised Kurds their own country .  Since the early 2000s , Alexander Dugin ' s "" Neo Eurasianism "" have gained popularity and contributed to the ideological orientation of Putin ' s quest for neo Russian Empire . He is seen as the driving conceptual force behind Putin ' s initiative for the annexation of Crimea by Russia . Dugin ' s dream of a Russian strategic alliance with European and Middle East states , primarily Iran realized when the strategic alliance decided between Iran and Russia .  The  retired General David Petraeus accused Putin of rebuilding a Russian Empire . Russian moves in Syria are designed to bolster and hold on their naval base in Tartus , Syria to preserve Russian influence in the eastern Mediterranean and Middle East . Through this geostrategic corridor they would have direct access to the Mediterranean Sea and an energy corridor that might even be an alternative to the Persian Gulf . Russian Iranian alliance would open new transportation routes , with Iran getting stable access to the Mediterranean Sea through Iraq Syria Lebanon .  Disagreements between Ankara and Moscow on foreign policy issues such as the  missile defense system agreement signed between Turkey and  , Patriot missiles to be deployed on Turkey ' s border with Syria and Turkey ' s support to Syrian opposition did not negatively affect the strong economic and energy friendship between the two countries previously .  Acceptance of Turkey to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (  ) as dialogue partner in June 2012 at the Beijing Summit of the  despite disagreements between Russia and Turkey on several issues was the clear evidence of shared pragmatism that helped to keep Turkey Russian relationship strong . This pragmatism continued when Turkey did not follow the  member states to join the sanctions against Russia after its annexation of Crimea despite Turkey ' s historical ties with the Crimean Tatars .  Russia ' s possible military retaliation and  ' s stance towards this retaliation , which does not seem among the options at least for now but still on the table owing to a Russian  ' s statement , might have repercussions on  ' s role under Article V and the perceptions of the Nordic states that have felt uncomfortable with Russia ' s aggressive expansionist policy since the Ukraine crisis .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
18629,18630,"Residents are urged to flee the rising floodwaters , which have already forced the closure of Bangkok ' s Don Muang airport and the evacuation of flood victims who have taken refuge there .  Thailand ' s government has declared a five day public holiday in flood affected provinces to try to encourage people to seek safety elsewhere before high tides expected this weekend .  "" Apparently there will be large volume of water runoff coming toward the city tonight onwards , and over the weekend , "" he said . "" At the point of high tide , it will be very high , the highest this year . We are bracing for the worse . ""  Thongthong Chantharangsu , a spokesman for Thailand ' s Flood Relief Operations Center , appealed on  for Bangkok residents to head to the countryside .  Floodwaters extend from Rangsit , north of Bangkok , to Don Muang airport and Yingcharoen Market , state run news agency  reported .  The water has reached 30cm ( 12 inches ) in places and is overflowing on to sidewalks and some roads , causing problems for small vehicles and leading to traffic congestion , the agency said .  In a televised address Tuesday night , Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said the capital could be submerged by as much as 1 . 5 meters ( 4 . 9 feet ) of water .  Of particular concern were areas along the Chao Phraya River , which winds through the capital and is expected to overwhelm embankments this weekend .  The Airports of Thailand declared Don Muang airport , which primarily services domestic flights , closed Tuesday night , after floodwaters flowed onto runways and affected the lighting .  Nok Air , which usually operates from Don Muang , was forced to cancel flights but should be able to run an almost normal schedule by Friday after moving its operations to the main Suvarnabhumi Airport , the airline ' s chief executive Patee Sarasin said Wednesday . Some 3 , 000 Nok Air passengers were affected by flight cancellations Tuesday , he said .  The flood relief operation will continue to be based at the airport , the Thai government said Wednesday .  More than 600 prisoners held at Bang Kwang Central Prison have been evacuated , according to the Department of Corrections . The high security prison has about 4 , 000 inmates , the chief of the prison said , some of them high profile .  The floods have also forced the Dusit Zoo to evacuate some animals , including goat antelope and Sika deer , to a zoo in the countryside , according to Dusit Zoo ' s chief , Karnchai Saenwong .  The U . S . ambassador to Thailand , Kristie A . Kenny , said the crisis was slow moving and it was hard to know what would be hit next .  The United States has already provided civilian relief resources including water pumps , purifiers and life vests , she said , and two U . S . helicopters are helping the Thai military survey the extent of the flooding .  Nationwide , the floods have killed 373 people and affected more than 9 . 5 million people , authorities said .  The public holiday announced Tuesday will be from Thursday to next Monday and will be effective in 21 provinces , including Bangkok , that are still under water , a government spokeswoman said .  The government has called the flooding the worst to afflict the nation in half a century and said it might take more than a month before the waters recede in some areas .  The government has set up more than 1 , 700 shelters nationwide , and more than 113 , 000 people have taken refuge .  Overall damage from the floods has risen and could top 6 billion , with the worst yet to come as the waters destroy shops and paralyze factories nationwide , the Thai Finance Ministry said .  Thailand derives a significant portion of its revenue from tourism , which has been diminished by the flooding .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
18643,18644,"Local resident , Shirley Homes , came to St . Joe ' s Emergency Room with a shocking complaint : she was in pain . This emergency pain occurring to Ms . Homes has been reoccurring for the past 12 years 3 months . This is surprising to many of her care takers because , per her history , she has one of the "" highest pain tolerances in the country . ""  "" I am in pain and I have a very high pain tolerance , "" said the woman who has such a high pain tolerance that al Qaeda could never pry information out of her using torture techniques , or so she claims .  Shirley has been in pain for the past few years and her pain source has completely baffled most physicians . "" I have no idea what could be causing this pain , "" Dr Watkins told reporters . "" She has such a high pain tolerance she told me herself and to have such high pain scores night after night and for her to come to the Emergency Room , as this is an  , well it keeps me up at night . ""  With nonspecific symptoms and 10 10 pain , she will head to the  with her flare ups . However , she is sure to let all know from  receptionist , to the triage nurse , to the doctor that her 10 10 pain is equivalent to an 18 10 pain for most others .  Doctors think her long allergy list could be linked to her unknown syndrome , which in turn is causing her pain . "" We have contacted many specialists across the country . What IgE mediated disease would cause so many allergies and so much pain ? I ' ll have my medical students look that one up tonight . This new disease makes fibromyalgia seem like a walk in the park . ""  For now doctors , including Dr Rogers , are happy Dilaudid helps her pain . "" What are we going to do when this , well whatever it is , starts to become resistant to Dilaudid ? We ' ll have a super pain problem on our hands then . Just pray that day never comes . ""  Dr Rogers and  physicians are optimistic regarding her complicated case . "" I ' m just happy she tells me up front that she has a high pain tolerance . It helps me really understand the picture . She also saves me a lot of time by informing me of the only medication the works for her : the one that starts with a D . ""  ",satire,text,test,American football,Sports/Other,true,satire,True,no,no,positive,past
18652,18653,"Donald Trump showed once again what a master of logic and history he is . When asked his plan to fight  , he said it was important to cut off their money supply : oil . He would look to their funding and put his fight there . If that meant using Twitter , he would make it a war machine .  The last brilliant war technician and business mogul who used this strategy was Sun Tzu . Yes , the ancient war philosopher who knew that war was expensive and costs were the central consideration .  You go for the jugular , which Trump correctly identifies as oil , which has made  so well oiled in its war machine . Trump would take their oil and look at other banking sources that keep  well stocked .  If you put boots on the ground , they should be used with due diligence to stop the money flow .  Someone is funding  , and to find that culprit is to cut the head off the snake .  Not many media , nor his opponents , has a grasp on the Chinese military strategist whose opinions of winning war have been used by acute businessmen too .  We doubt that many of the other candidates are familiar with Sun Tzu and , if asked , probably think it is a Florida resort area for senior citizens .  Trump said follow the money and then cut off its flow . He is correct ! ! The ancient Chinese General Sun Tzu said war is the most expensive undertaking of a country or government ' s leader and Isis is   .  Few on this planet control that type of wealth but Trump knows who they are . He will follow the money and let the truth be told and with it the heavens of the desert kingdom fall . You want to crush  and castrate it from its money sources .  ",satire,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,fake,satire,True,no,no,positive,past
18656,18657,"The nation’s consumer watchdog agency on Tuesday ordered the   agencies TransUnion and Equifax to pay more than $23. 2 million in fines and restitution for deceiving customers about the usefulness of credit scores and the cost of obtaining them. The watchdog agency, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, said the payments would resolve charges that TransUnion and Equifax had lured consumers into enrolling in credit services advertised as free or costing only $1, but which could cost more than $200 a year. TransUnion will reimburse $13. 93 million to consumers and pay a $3 million civil fine, while Equifax will reimburse $3. 8 million and pay a $2. 5 million civil fine, the bureau said. Both companies will also modify their marketing practices. Among the changes, they will obtain customers’ consent to enroll them in services in which fees begin after free trials and make it easier for them to cancel services they do not want. The bureau said the wrongful conduct had violated the     law and had occurred at TransUnion since July 2011 and at Equifax between July 2011 and March 2014. Many lenders rely on credit scores from TransUnion, Equifax and their rival Experian when lending money. But TransUnion and Equifax falsely represented the credit scores they sold to consumers as being the same scores that lenders used, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said. “Credit scores are central to a consumer’s financial life, and people deserve honest and accurate information about them,” Richard Cordray, the bureau’s director, said in a statement. Neither TransUnion, which is based in Chicago, nor Equifax, which is based in Atlanta, admitted or denied wrongdoing. A TransUnion spokesman, David Blumberg, and an Equifax spokeswoman, Ines Gutzmer, said their companies believed that they had complied with the law and were committed to better educating consumers about their credit. Experian was not charged. A spokesman for the bureau did not immediately have additional comment. In 2015, under a separate settlement with 31 state attorneys general, the   agencies agreed to improve how they fixed mistakes and addressed disputes.",true,news,test,Other news2,Economy,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,past
18674,18675,"Another flight , another woman goes into labor .  Delta Air Lines Flight 2566 from San Francisco to Minneapolis diverted to Salt Lake City on Wednesday when a pregnant passenger went into labor during the flight .  Both the mother and baby are in good condition , the hospital said .  The pediatrician was a big help , she said , as were the flight attendants .  "" They were great , like helping me breathe . Because we hadn ' t done our classes yet , so we were really kind of out of our element , "" Peery said of her and her husband , Zach . "" There were about four ( other people ) there all breathing with me . ""  The 4 pound , 6 ounce child , named Karl William Peery , is fine .  "" He ' s doing so well and he ' s so cute , "" said Allison Peery , whose family lives in Wisconsin .  It ' s not the first time this month that a pregnant passenger has diverted a flight .  On December 9 , a baby was born on Southwest Airlines Flight 623 shortly after its 6 : 24 a . m . takeoff . The aircraft departed from San Francisco bound for Phoenix , but diverted to Los Angeles International Airport at about 7 : 30 a . m . A nurse and doctor on board assisted with the delivery .  "" It was amazing , "" a flight attendant said in a video posted on the airline ' s website . "" All the passengers were awesome . Everybody was clapping . ""  The plane was met by a Los Angeles Fire Department emergency response team upon landing , according to  spokeswoman Katherine Alvarado . After a two and a half hour delay , the 111 other passengers aboard Flight 623 were able to continue their journey to Phoenix aboard a new aircraft .  Airline restrictions for pregnant passengers vary .  Delta doesn ' t restrict the travel of pregnant passengers , but the airline does offer guidance about change fees on its website . "" Ticket change fees and penalties cannot be waived for pregnancy . "" For any passenger traveling after her eighth month , "" it ' s a good idea to check with your doctor to be sure travel is not restricted . ""  Southwest advises that pregnant women consult with their doctors before traveling by air , and the airline recommends not traveling after the 38th week of pregnancy .  Barring medical complications , the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says that pregnant women can fly safely just like the general population . However , "" air travel is not recommended at any time during pregnancy for women who have medical or obstetric conditions that may be exacerbated by flight or that could require emergency care . "" Go to acog . org for more information on air travel during pregnancy .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
18685,18686,"The New York Times is set to launch a television ad during the Academy Awards that seems to heavily target statements made by President Donald Trump.The 30-second ad, entitled,  The Truth,  features black text flashing on a white screen with the words  The truth is,  followed by a variety of statements.According to a report in The Hill, at least three of the statements were in reference to Trump. The truth is the media is dishonest,  reads one statement, a likely reference to Trump s frequent comments slamming the media s honesty.Here s another statement from the ad:  The truth is alternative facts are lies.  That one s an obvious reference to a comment made by Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway.The ad runs through a series of other phrases, some targeting conservative talking points such as  we have to protect our borders,   the emails are dangerous,  and  climate change is a hoax. The ad finishes up with the phrase  The truth is hard to find,  which then switches to  The truth is hard to know,  and finally concludes with  The truth is more important now than never.   MRCTVThat final phrase is pretty clearly seen as a parting shot at the Trump administration s relationship with the press:Recently the Times featured an article touting the  renewed sense of mission  for journalists in the Trump era looking to take down the Republican president by uncovering a Watergate-style scandal.The New York paper is not alone in its pretentious claims of being the guardian of truth, on Tuesday, The Washington Post added this slogan to its website:  Democracy dies in darkness.  Apparently only the light of the Post s reporting can save the nation from the  darkness  of a Trump presidency.Just on Sunday, White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus was forced to shoot down yet another misleading report from the Times about supposed contact between the Trump campaign and Russian intelligence officials. On  s Meet the Press, he told moderator Chuck Todd:I mean we ve spent days talking about a story that says that our campaign had constant contacts with Russian spies. And I can tell you, I ve talked to the top levels of the intelligence community. And they ve assured me that that New York Times story was grossly overstated, and inaccurate and totally wrong .It is this sort of fake news stuff that is enormously important that, when you get a front page story of The New York Times without a single source on the record saying that your campaign had constant contacts   they didn t say one contact. They didn t say two contacts. It doesn t matter. We have not been informed of even that. But to say,  Constant contact? On Friday,  s Today was thrilled by the upcoming Times television spot, with reporter Joe Fryer declaring:  No matter who wins, politics will likely take the stage Sunday .The New York Times will even debut its first-ever Oscars ad, with the message,  The truth is more important than ever.  A sign that with millions watching, Hollywood s biggest night could become its most political. ",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,present
18692,18693,"So far, the Supreme Court has not prevented one single unconstitutional act committed by Obama. Is there any reason to believe they will stop the invasion of illegals to save America and the American worker?The Supreme Court agreed Tuesday to review President Obama s plan to shield up to 5 million illegal immigrants from deportation, after lower courts blocked the president s sweeping executive actions from taking effect.The decision sets up an election-year clash over the controversial plan that many Republicans have likened to  amnesty. The justices said Tuesday they will consider undoing lower court rulings that blocked the plan from taking effect. The Obama administration had appealed to the Supreme Court last fall.The decision to review the case may be welcome on both sides of the aisle. Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch, of Utah, issued a statement praising the court for taking it on   and urging the justices to rule against the administration. President Obama s executive action is an affront to our system of republican self-government,  Hatch said.  The Constitution vests legislative authority in Congress, not the President. With his actions, President Obama has attempted to bypass the constitutionally ordained legislative process and rewrite the law unilaterally. The case probably will be argued in April and decided by late June, about a month before both parties  presidential nominating conventions. The issue of illegal immigration has taken a center-stage role in the Republican primary battle, as Donald Trump calls for a wall between the U.S. and Mexico and candidates spar over who is toughest on the issue.The immigrants who would benefit from the Obama administration s plan are mainly the parents of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents.But more than two-dozen mostly Republican-led states challenged Obama s executive actions after they were rolled out in 2014, and the plan has been tied up in litigation ever since.Critics say the plan is unconstitutional. Shortly before the administration took the case to the Supreme Court, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the states in early November.Solicitor General Donald Verrilli Jr. later said in a court filing that allowing those rulings to stand would force millions of people  to continue to work off the books, without the option of lawful employment to provide for their families. At issue is the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans program, which Obama said would allow people who have been in the United States more than five years and who have children who are in the country legally to  come out of the shadows and get right with the law.  Via: Fox News ",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,present
18694,18695,"A 10 year old boy has been rushed to hospital after being shot in the stomach by a person attempting to kill an aggressive dog .  Danel Hall Jr was walking down the street in Centre Point , Alabama , when a man was chased by a neighbourhood dog .  A third person suddenly starting shooting at the animal , but stray bullets hit Danel in the stomach and the second pedestrian in the buttocks , it was claimed .  Danel Hall ( pictured ) , 10 , was shot in the stomach by a stray bullet intended for an aggressive dog  Police from Jefferson County swooped on the scene of the shooting just after 1pm yesterday  Deputies from Jefferson Country sheriff ' s office quickly arrived at the scene just after 1pm yesterday to find Danel in agony .  The bullet had narrowly missed his liver and he was rushed to hospital where he underwent emergency surgery to save his life .  Tom Henderson , Centre Point ' s mayor , said the unknown gunman had been attempting to shoot the aggressive dog , but his bullets instead hit Danel and the second man .  He told ALweblink : ' There shouldn ' t be any guns being shot in that incident . '  Mary Brooks , Danel ' s great aunt , said she rushed home from work when she was told about the shooting .  ' I can ' t even tell you what went through my mind , ' she said . ' I prayed all the way that he ' d be alright . And that ' s all that matters . '  Trayvon Smith , the dog ' s owner and a neighbour of Danel ' s family , denied accusations he had been the one shooting .  He told  that he had no guns , adding that he was very sorry for the boy .  ' Everybody pray for that little boy , he needs as much prayers as he can get . '  Police are continuing to look for the person who fired the shots , and anyone with information about the incident can contact the Jefferson County Sheriff ' s Office at 205 325 1450 .  The shooting occurred on 1st Street ,  , Centre Point , Alabama ( pictured ) about 1pm yesterday afternoon  ",true,text,test,US elections,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
18725,18726,"On Christmas Day last year , Alan Henning was sitting in a brightly lit cafe in southern Turkey , sharing a laugh with his friends before they set off on their journey .  Henning , a big hearted taxi driver from Bolton , northern England , was part of a team of volunteers traveling from Britain to Syria to deliver aid to people in need .  Nicknamed "" Gadget "" by his peers , Henning was the only non Muslim in the convoy . He sacrificed Christmas , weekends and family time to do his part for those worst hit by Syria ' s civil war , and was admired by his fellow volunteers .  On Friday , his life of sacrifice ended . A short video released by  showed the apparent beheading of Henning .  Before he was killed , Henning spoke to the camera , referencing the British Parliament ' s decision to join the bombing campaign against  . At the end of the video ,  shows an American aid worker , Peter Kassig , and threatens his life .  Henning , a father of two , had made four trips to the war torn country . While part of the aid convoy stopped at the Turkish border , Henning was part of a much smaller group that volunteered to press ahead into Syria .  In video shot that day , he explained part of his rationale for answering the call to help . "" It ' s all worthwhile when you see what is needed actually gets where it needs to go , "" he said , before hugging a colleague .  Henning was kidnapped by  a day after the video was made . His colleagues remembered why he came to Syria .  "" Alan was moved by the suffering of the Syrian people , in particular the children , "" his colleague Abu Abdullah said in a YouTube plea to his colleague ' s captors .  His wife made a public plea for  to spare his life . Barbara Henning ' s pleas were joined by voices of Muslim leaders around the world .  They included Shaykh Haitham Al Haddad , a judge on the Shariah Council in London , who said that "" whatever your grievance with American or British foreign policy , executing this man is not the answer . ""  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
18778,18779,"A community of Orthodox Jews have been expelled from their homes in a bitter conflict with hostile villagers .  Just a few months after fleeing from Canada amid allegations of child abuse , members of the Lev Tahor community were forced to leave San Juan La Laguna in Guatemala yesterday .  The village Elder ' s Council voted to kick them out because the group refused to greet or have physical contact with the community , according to a member of the council .  Members of Jewish community , Lev Tahor , with their belongings before boarding buses in San Juan La Laguna  The village Elder ' s Council voted to kick them out because of growing tensions with locals  A young boy looks out of a window while sitting on a bus on Friday as the community is forced to leave  Lev Tahor is a radical strain of Hassidic Judaism that believes television and computers are bad and must be avoided .  The group rejects the state of Israel because it views the Jews as a people who must remain in exile .  Verbal abuse , threats to cut off power and eject them by force were the last straw for the Jews , some of whom have been there for six years .  A leader of the Lev Tahor sect in San Juan , Rabbi Uriel Goldman , said that most Guatemalans were friendly towards the Jews but an aggressive minority chose to push the group out .  ' I don ' t understand why they don ' t want us , we ' re doing nothing bad here . They also warned us they would remove us from the village by force . '  He said that the council in San Juan issued an ultimatum to Lev Tahor , saying water and electricity would be cut off if they did not leave .  Around 230 members of the Jewish community were living in San Juan La Laguna , Guatemala  Misael Santos from the Lev Tahor community said : ' We decided to leave because the Council does not want us '  They left Canada amid allegations of child abuse and suspicions they were carrying out underage marriage  Misael Santos of the Lev Tahor community said : ' We decided to leave because the Council of Elders does not want us .  ' It ' s sad to leave , and there are people who like us here because when we left there were people who cried . '  Around 230 members of the Jewish community were living in the lakeside village , the majority moving over from Canada in March this year .  They left Canada amid allegations of child abuse and suspicions the group was carrying out underage marriages .  Rabbi Shalom Pelman , who leads the Chabad Lubavitch congregation in Guatemala ' s capital city , has denounced the move .  Verbal abuse , threats to cut off power and eject them by force were the last straw for the Jews  Rabbi Shalom Pelman , who leads acongregation in Guatemala ' s capital city , has denounced the move  Lev Tahor is a radical strain of Hassidic Judaism founded by Rabbi Shlomo Helbrans in Israel  He said it is the type of activity that brings to mind the treatment of Jews in Nazi Germany .  ' This is not typical in the world I live in . Even in Iran , Jews are not expelled , ' he said .  Miguel Vasquez Cholotio , a member of the elders ' council , said the villagers decided to expel the group because they refused to greet or have physical contact with the community .  ' We felt intimidated by them in the streets . We thought they wanted to change our religion and customs , ' he said .  Antonio Ixtamer , who lives in the community , said that several members of the group had upset residents because of their ' arrogant ' attitude .  He said they would go into stores and pay whatever they wanted for the products rather than the marked price and that they bothered tourists .  ' On one occasion there was a tourist taking pictures of a hill and the Jews thought he was taking photos of them and they clashed , ' Ixtamer said .  Lev Tahor means ' Pure Heart ' in Hebrew and the group practices an austere form of Judaism and believes that technological trappings such as television and computers must be avoided .  It was founded by Rabbi Shlomo Helbrans in Israel and flourished after he moved the group to the U . S . in the early 1990s .  The community , which believes the Jews must remain in exile , has won the admiration from some for its devoutness but others condemn it to cult like sect .  It flourished and spread after Rabbi Helbrans moved the group to the U . S . in the early 1990s  The group was accused of going into stores and paying whatever they wanted for the products  Lev Tahor means ' Pure Heart ' in Hebrew and the group practices an austere form of Judaism  The group believes technological trappings such as television and computers are bad and must be avoided  People in the Guatemalan village said that they felt ' intimidated ' by the highly religious Jewish sect  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
18780,18781,"Rachel Quentin , a nursing student , has a different view on life now that she is several years into her  . Here she describes a recent visit to her local movie theatre to see the new 300 : Rise of an Empire .  "" Ok , I have to confess , I got distracted bigtime , "" Quentin professed in an energetic voice . "" I couldn ' t even keep my mind on the plot and could only think about sinking a 14 gauge  in those Persian warriors . ""  "" Hand , wrist , forearm , antecubital , and even external jugulars there are so many amazing options in these guys . Why can ' t we ever get trauma patients like them ! ? "" said Quentin . "" I wish I was a nurse in ancient Greece ! ""  She continued an an almost euphoric state , "" Their veins were like , ahhh I wanted to tap them so bad . ""  Other odd questions that entered Quentin ' s head during the movie included "" What size Foley would they need ? "" and "" Do I have a blood pressure cuff big enough for their arms ? "" At one point in the movie when a fighter was slashed near the neck , she found herself trying to figure out if it was a carotid artery bleeding or an internal jugular vein bleeding .  Completing full circle , she wanted to jump on screen to apply pressure dressings and tourniquets to extremities and even envisioned herself sticking that 14 gauge  in him and hooking up the Belmont rapid transfuser .  "" Nursing school has really changed my life , "" said Quentin . "" 300 : Rise of an Empire got me all excited , but for completely  reasons now ! ""  ",satire,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,satire,True,no,no,neutral,past
18790,18791,"A video has emerged believed to show  executioner Jihadi John ranting on camera shortly after he arrived in Syria from the  .  The footage is of two bands of fanatical fighters joining forces in 2013 under the command of notorious terrorist Omar al Shishani .  At the front stands a man thought to be Mohammed Emwazi the west Londoner last week unmasked as the killer of Western hostages in a series of videos which have shocked the world .  A man thought to be Jihadi John proclaims allegiance to a terror group in footage filmed in 2013 . The video is thought to be the first known appearance by the executioner now unmasked as Mohammed Emwazi  The video is thought to have been filmed just months after Emwazi is understood to have fled Britain to take up arms alongside the extremists .  It shows a pledge of allegiance made when the so called ' Army of Muhammad Brigades ' group joined forces with the so called ' Brigade of Migrants ' , of which Emwazi is believed to have been a member .  The speaker proclaims : ' This army announces unity within its ranks for the sake of implementing the Shariah and returning this blessed land to God the most glorified and the most high under the leadership of the emir Umar al Shishani . '  Emwazi , now 26 , attempted to join al Shabaab in Somalia after finishing his university course in London in 2009 , but was refused entry to Tanzania and returned to Britain , from where he later went to Syria .  He is thought to have been in a group who were among the first to go to fight in the Middle East , along with fellow Londoners Ibrahim al Mazwagi , Choukri Ellekhlifi and Mohammad el Araj .  Ellekhlifi was two years above Emwazi in his north London school , Quinton Kynaston Academy , and later became part of a robbery gang which carried out a series of raids in central London .  Ellekhlifi , 22 , fled to Syria while on bail and was killed fighting near Aleppo in August 2013 , months after the video thought to feature Emwazi was filmed .  El Araj , 23 , was killed two weeks later during a firefight . Al Mazwagi , from North London was 21 when he was killed in Syria in February last year .  Emwazi was last week unmasked as the killer who carried as series of beheadings of Western hostages  In the film , the man thought to be Emwazi stands in front of notorious terror leader Omar al Shishani ( right )  Emwazi ' s links to the London crime gang meant he had developed a love of violence , which led to him being chosen to feature in the beheading videos for which is now known throughout the world .  In the latest video , the man suspected of being Emwazi stands at the front of a long line of gun toting militants , with al Shishani standing behind him arm in arm with two other fighters .  Commenting on the likenesses of Emwazi to the speaking in the latest video to emerge , Raffaello Pantucci of the Royal United Service Institute told MailOnline : ' Given he ' s masked , it is difficult to make the precise connection between the two , though there are definite similarities .  ' Given the group and community that Emwazi came from the West London group were all alongside the Katiba al Muhajireen under Omar al Shishani , it might well fit that it could be Emwazi .  ' Given his solid Arabic and his willingness to be front and centre in films , it would fit that it could be him . Al Shishani seems to have been quite willing to record films of himself with his foreign fighter warriors . '  Charles Winter from the Quilliam Foundation added : ' There are certainly similarities between Emwazi and the man speaking in this video , the eyebrows for example .  ' In terms of the group , we know that it has a large proportion of foreign fighters so there ' s a possibility that he could have joined but I ' m unable to say whether it is definitely him .  The video shows a pledge of allegiance to Omar al Shishani , now a commander of  in Syria  Emwazi is thought to a fighter ( second right beneath flag ) who appears in another photo featuring al Shishani  Mr Winter added : ' While he does have certain features that resemble Emwazi , there have been numerous false alarms with  ing "" Jihadi John "" in the past . A balaclava does a lot to obscure one ' s face , and a lot to make people look similar , too . '  Others have cast doubt on whether the man is Emwazi , saying the speaker in the film looks shorter than the Londoner and appears to be holding the Kalashnikov rifle with his right hand , whereas Jihadi John held his knife in his left hand .  If the video does show Emwazi , the footage would be the first known time he appeared on camera in Syria after going to fight .  It is believed he was one of more than 700 fighters in The Migrants Brigade who arrived in the Middle East three years ago .  The group were not part of  at the time the video was filmed , but joined the group in the months that followed .  Emwazi has since become one the world ' s most wanted men after he appeared in a series of gruesome videos beheading a series of foreign hostages , including British aid workers Alan Henning and David Haines and  journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff .  Mohammed Emwazi is believed to have among a group of Brits , which also includes Ibrahim al Mazwagi ( left ) , Choukri Ellekhlifi ( centre ) and Mohammad el Araj ( right ) , who were among the first to travel to Syria to fight  Ibrahim al Mazwagi ( centre ) , the first British jihadi known to have died in Syria , is pictured here with Abu Omar al Shishani ( right ) , one of the most feared military commanders of the Islamic State of Syria and Iraq  Omar al Shishani has moved from the conflicts of the Caucasus , south of Russia to become one of the most feared commanders in the  army now terrorising Syria and Iraq  Omar al Shishani , whose real name is Tarkhan Batirashvili , is an ethnic Chechen from the Caucasus nation of Georgia , specifically from the Pankisi Valley , a centre of Georgia ' s Chechen community and once a stronghold for militants .  He fought in the brief conflict between Russia and Georgia in 2008 and became a jihadist after being discharged from the Georgian military on health grounds after contracting tuberculosis .  After recuperating and being refused re enlistment , he was arrested for stockpiling weapons and jailed in September 2010 .  Following his release , he travelled to Istanbul in Turkey in March 2012 to join Chechen rebels in the Syrian conflict .  The red bearded fanatic became the commander of the Brigade of Migrants , which was initially aligned with al Qaeda ' s Jabhat al Nusra .  The group merged with other jihadists in March 2013 to form the Army of Emigrants and Supporters , a larger and more structured group with a religious council .  In May 2013 , Shishani switched to supporting the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria and has become the group ' s military commander in Syria , leading it on an offensive to take over a broad stretch of territory leading to the Iraq border .  Numerous reports of his death since then are thought to be untrue .  ",true,text,test,American football,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
18808,18809,"Loss : Russ Knight lost his job as assistant frequency coordinator for the  during Super Bowl week after posting a photo of his security credential  An Arizona man was sidelined from his dream job working at the Super Bowl after a Facebook post broke a rule he was too excited to read .  Russ Knight , a former  , was taking a time out on his job as a cab driver for the opportunity to work as assistant frequency coordinator for the  during Super Bowl week .  When the credential for the job came in the mail , Knight was so thrilled he snapped a photo of himself wearing it and posted it to Facebook without thinking .  Just hours later , he told  , an  security official phoned with crushing news .  ' He said , "" Russ , we ' ve got a problem , "" ' said Knight . ' Apparently , on my picture , even though it ' s far away , they could zoom in and they could read my credential on the bottom . '  That meant that Knight was given the boot , having broken one of the rules listed on the credential telling the wearer not to post images of it on the internet .  The rule is in place to prevent duplication and as a security measure .  ' I can ' t blame anybody else , ' Knight said . ' I was the guy . I was the fool who didn ' t read the fine print . I was that guy . '  ' It hurts real bad , ' he added .  Knight wrote the league a letter of apology , and though he ' ll watch the game from home he says ' it wont be the same as being on the field . '  Blame game : Knight put the responsibility for his error on himself , and said he ' d be watching at home , though it wouldn ' t be the same  Showdown : The Super Bowl takes place February 1 at University of Phoenix stadium , where preparations are being made for the big show  NJweblink reports that the  may be nervous about a scene similar to last year , when 9 11 truther Matthew Mills made it through security at MetLife Stadium using an old press badge from a festival .  Hopping on an employee bus at Secaucus Junction in New Jersey , Mills entered the media tent during post game interviews , spouting a 9 11 conspiracy theory as  winner Malcolm Smith spoke to press .  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
18822,18823,"Venezuelan authorities have arrested a key ideological leader of the  leftist guerrilla group who is known as "" The Singer "" for his role as a musician promoting the rebel movement , officials said Wednesday .  A Venezuelan government operation Tuesday captured Guillermo Enrique Torres , Colombia ' s president said .  "" Today he is in custody and ( Venezuelan ) President ( Hugo ) Chavez has told us that he will be handed over to us , "" Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said .  Several online video posts purport to show Torres , who is also known by the alias Julian Conrado , wearing military fatigues and cradling a guitar . In one , he sings about why he decided to become a guerrilla , and vows to continue fighting for the  "" until death , for justice and peace , which is what I want . ""  Santos described Torres as a "" narco terrorist "" when announcing the arrest Wednesday . The U . S . State Department had offered a 2 . 5 million reward for information leading to his capture , describing Torres as a leader who had helped set and implement cocaine policies for the guerrilla group .  Rebels from the left wing Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia , commonly known as the  , have fought to overthrow the Colombian government for decades .  Authorities allege that Torres was a part of the inner circle of  leader Luis Edgar Devia Silva known as Raul Reyes who was killed in a 2008 raid in Ecuador .  Shortly after the raid , Colombian authorities announced that Torres had also been killed in the operation . They later retracted that statement , saying  tests showed that another man had been killed .  Venezuela ' s justice ministry confirmed Torres ' detention in a statement Wednesday .  His arrest comes amid improving relations between the neighboring South American countries .  Tensions had flared between the two nations after Colombia accused Venezuela of harboring members of the  .  But shortly after his inauguration last year , Santos met with Chavez and pledged to wipe the slate clean .  In April Venezuelan authorities arrested Joaquin Perez Becerra , whom Colombian authorities accuse of conspiring in and helping finance terrorism through his alleged work as a spokesman for the  in Europe .  And in May Colombian authorities extradited to Venezuela Walid Makled Garcia , accused of being one of the world ' s top drug lords .  In a Twitter post Wednesday , Santos praised Chavez for helping capture Torres .  A statement on the Colombian president ' s website noted that "" the collaboration of the Venezuelan government is going to help the ( Colombian ) Armed Forces be much more effective than they have been . ""  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,past
18827,18828,"Myanmar elections : Suu Kyi supporters confident of win  Supporters of Myanmar ' s Aung San Suu Kyi burst into celebration on Sunday after the country held its first free election in 25 years .  Although the outcome of the poll will not be clear for at least 36 hours , a densely packed crowd blocked a busy road beside the headquarters of Suu Kyi ' s National League for Democracy (  ) in Yangon as they cheered and waved red flags .  The  is expected to win the largest share of votes cast by an electorate of about 30 million , who chose from thousands of candidates standing for parliament and regional assemblies .  However , a legacy of rule by military junta means Suu Kyi , who led the campaign for democracy , cannot become president herself .  However , Myanmar is heading into a period of uncertainty over how she and other ascendant parties negotiate sharing power with the military .  A pariah state until a few years ago , Myanmar has had little experience organising elections . Some 10 , 000 observers were enlisted to scrutinise the process . Early indications from the monitors were that voting was mostly trouble free , with only isolated irregularities .  "" From the dozens of people we have spoken to since 6 a . m . on Sunday , everybody feels they have been able to vote for whoever they wanted to in security and safety , "" said Durudee Sirichanya , one of the observers .  In the city of Mandalay , about 100 people were stopped from voting after officials discovered they were outsiders who had been mysteriously added to the register and then bussed to the polling station .  The main concern about the election ' s fairness arose before the election . Activists estimated that up to four million people , mostly citizens working abroad , would not be able to vote .  Religious tension , fanned by Buddhist nationalists whose actions have intimidated Myanmar ' s Muslim minority , also marred the election campaign . Among those excluded from voting were around a million Rohingya Muslims who are effectively stateless in their own land .  Still , there was excitement among voters about the first general election since a quasi civilian government replaced military rule in 2011 , which was widely seen as a referendum on the country ' s unsteady reform process .  "" I ' ve done my bit for change , for the emergence of democracy , "" said Daw Myint , a 55 year old former teacher , after she cast her vote for the  in Yangon .  Suu Kyi ' s car inched through a scrum of news photographers outside the polling station in Yangon where the 70 year old Nobel peace laureate came to vote .  Still , there was excitement among voters about the first general election since a quasi civilian government replaced military rule in 2011 , which is widely regarded as a referendum on the country ' s unsteady reform process .  "" I ' ve done my bit for change , for the emergence of democracy , "" said 55 year old former teacher Daw Myint after casting her vote for the  in Yangon .  Suu Kyi ' s car inched through a scrum of news photographers outside the Yangon polling station where the 70 year old Nobel peace laureate came to vote . She was stony faced as bodyguards shouted at people to move aside .  Most of the well wishers gathered there were lucky to get more than a glimpse of the garland in her hair . A cry of "" Victory ! Victory ! "" went up from the crowd as she went inside .  Many voters voiced doubts the military would accept the outcome of the vote if Suu Kyi ' s party is victorious .  But in the capital , Naypyitaw , military Commander in Chief Min Aung Hlaing said on Sunday there would be no re run of the last free vote in 1990 , when Suu Kyi won but the army ignored the result . She spent most of the next 20 years under house arrest before her release in 2010 .  Asked how he would feel if the  won this time , Min Aung Hlaing told reporters : "" If the people choose them , there is no reason we would not accept it . ""  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
18835,18836,"A Texas university student has been shot dead by a campus police officer during a routine traffic stop .  Robert Cameron Redus , 23 , was killed when Corporal Chris Carter , 35 , opened fire on him in the early hours of Friday morning a few blocks away from the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio where Redus studied , set to graduate in May .  Investigators say an altercation began when Carter tried to pull Redus over for speeding and driving erratically .  College shooting : Cameron Redus was killed after a campus cop shot him multiple times during a traffic stop  Under investigation : The parking lot of Redus ' apartment block where he died is cordoned off by police  Lieutenant Cindy Pruitt of the Alamo Heights Police Department told  that the incident occurred about 2am in the parking lot of the Tree House apartments in the 100 block of Grandview Place off Broadway , where Redus was a resident .  Redus , known to friends by his second name Cameron , had spent the evening celebrating the end of semester with classmates .  According to Pruitt , Carter tried to pull him over on Broadway for driving erratically , despite the fact that Redus was off campus .  It is not clear where Carter first tried to pull Redus over , but both vehicles drove north on Broadway until they pulled into the parking lot of the Treehouse Apartments .  Once there , both got out of their cars and some kind of struggle ensued . Pruitt told My San Antonio that Carter radioed for help shortly before Redus was shot .  A witness who lives in the Treehouse Apartments described hearing ' five or six ' gunshots , but no verbal warnings .  ' I didn ' t hear him say anything like , "" Get down on your hands and knees , "" you know ? I didn ' t hear him say anything . He just started shooting , ' the man told  .  ' He emptied the gun on him , ' he said . ' Boom , boom , boom . '  Crime scene : Police investigate the street outside Cameron ' s apartment , where he was shot dead  Moving on : Cameron was due to graduate from the University of the Incarnate Word in May  Gentle : Cameron Redus , who was described by friends as not being aggressive , was shot five times by a campus cop  Mohammad Haidarasl lives directly below Redus at the Treehouse Apartments .  He told My San Antonio that he was asleep on his sofa when he heard an exchange between Redus and Carter .  ' I heard a man say , "" Oh , you ' re gonna shoot me ? "" like sarcastic almost , ' he said .  Less than a minute later , Haidarasl heard four to six gunshots . He only realized the man who had been shot was his upstairs neighbor , whom Haidrasl described as ' the nicest guy . '  Carter has been placed on administrative leave while officers investigate the shooting .  University officials describe him as having ' extensive law enforcement background . '  According to records viewed by My San Antonio , Carter has had nine jobs at eight different agencies over his eight year law enforcement career .  Devastated : Friends Sarah Davis ( left ) and Annie Jones ( right ) speak of their disbelief at the shooting of Cameron Redus  Cameron had been celebrating the end of semester with friends before he was shot  He rarely stayed in any job for more than a year and the two years and seven months as a campus officer for  was the longest stint in his career .  Officers investigating the incident haven ' t attempted to contact Haidrasl about what he heard , Haidrasl told My San Antonio .  Back in Redus ' hometown of Baytown , the promising student ' s mother , father , brothers and friends are struggling to understand their loss .  ' We are understandably devastated by the death of our dear son Cameron and we ask for your prayers as we deal with our tragic loss . We trust that God is faithful and will see us through this most difficult time , ' the victim ' s family said in a statement .  Redus old friends from high school were shocked to hear the news .  ' He was so kind . He ' s not an aggressive person at all , ' friend Sara Davis told  . ' The story doesn ' t really make sense to any of us . '  ' He was an honor student , dean ' s list every semester , incredibly intelligent , ' said Annie Jones . ' So , so , so smart . He was our co valedictorian in high school . '  A vigil has been set for 7pm on Saturday at the University of the Incarnate Word grotto .  According to  , Redus ' family has hired an attorney .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
18878,18879,"Donald Trump loves to brag that he is the strongest Republican candidate ever. As proof, he offers the fact that he received 13 million votes during the primary. Reagan, Trump says, had fewer than 8 million votes. He also bypassed Romney by about three million.Here s what Trump says about it: Look, you know the Republican Party has largely come together. They agree with me, and they believe in me, and I got more votes than anybody in the history of primary elections,  Trump replied.  Nobody s ever even gotten close, the Republicans. I got more than Ronald Reagan, I got more than Richard Nixon, I got more than Dwight Eisenhower, I got more than anybody But I have to say, the Republicans better get smart, they better start sticking together.  Source:weblinkTrump s claim is absolutely true. Do you feel that? That s a collective chill going down the spines of every sane person on the planet. Fortunately for all of sanity, it s not as simple as Trump or some in the media claim. Trump did not bypass Ronald Reagan or even Mitt Romney in the popular vote, and here s why: In the simplest of terms, we have a lot more people than we did when Reagan ran in 1980 and even when Romney ran in 2012.The truth doesn t bode well for Trump:In 1980, Ronald Reagan won 7.7 million votes in the Republican contests in a country that had more than 80 million fewer people of voting age. Further, more than a dozen states held non-binding caucuses that the candidates largely ignored. Adjusting for the population increase and the number of meaningful primary contests today, Reagan likely would have won close to 14 million votes   significantly more than Trump received, according to a HuffPost analysis.Adjusting George W. Bush s 12 million votes from 2000 the same way suggests he might have won 14.5 million votes. And adjusting 1952 s numbers, Eisenhower might have received 13.6 million votes, while Taft might have won 18.6 million   both more than Trump received.But the biggest  winner in modern times, according to the HuffPost analysis, was Richard Nixon in 1960, when the sitting vice president won 5 million votes in just 13 contests   suggesting Nixon could have won 25.6 million votes with today s voting population and primary schedule.Source: Huffington PostLet s compare that to Hillary Clinton. In 2008, both she and Barack Obama nearly tied with more than 17 million votes each. This year, her vote totals are lower (about 16 million) but they are still greater than Donald Trump s.Of course, like most of Trump s boasts, these numbers mean absolutely nothing. Primary voters tend to be a different group of people than general election voters and we are still several months out, but we do know that he s not in a position to do better than Ronald Reagan or even than Mitt Romney.Featured image via Sara D. Davis at Getty Images.",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,satire,fake,True,no,no,neutral,present
18881,18882,"Hopefully the Foxborough Faithful appreciate these halcyon days where you have a coach , a quarterback ( Tom Brady ) , and a team so good that they can simply summon their best football at will in a league rigged for unexpected outcomes and parity .  The Patriots ability to play winning football on demand is another measure of their run of greatness , which now includes five straight  Championship game berths , tying the Oakland Raiders ( 1973 1977 ) for the most consecutive conference title games .  While other teams had to extend themselves for every win down the stretch of the regular season , the Patriots were just looking for a soft landing , just trying to put themselves in the best position to pursue a second straight Super Bowl title and a fifth Lombardi Trophy .  After the game , the Patriots talked about how hard it is to win a playoff game . Yet they make it look so easy . Belichick and Brady advanced to their 10th  title game together .  The Patriots have rendered the 16 game regular season a prelude to the playoffs . It has become the football version of movie trailers .  Watch : Bill Belichick on playing in five consecutive  title games  You saw in the first round of the playoffs that every road team won . It doesn t really matter what happened in the past , said wide receiver Julian Edelman , who had 10 catches for 100 yards in his return from a fractured left foot . The regular season is the regular season . We put ourself in the position to go out and get a bye and that s good . So , I mean you got to have a short memory , whether it s good or bad and that s what we kind of did .  The Chiefs gave it all they had , but they didn t have enough firepower .  s offense with cautious quarterback Alex Smith was like watching a horse and buggy try and keep up with a Corvette .  You re playing the reigning Super Bowl champs , said  coach Andy Reid . They got healthy and had everybody out there , and when you get to this level that s the way you need to roll .  The Patriots had a stretch between the second quarter and the fourth quarter where they looked like their September offense , replete with the chants of Brady s name echoing throughout their home edifice . TB12 had the ninth 300 yard passing game of his playoff career ( 28 of 42 for 302 yards and two scores ) and added a 1 yard touchdown plunge .  New England went touchdown , end of half kneeldown , touchdown , field goal , field goal to build a 27 13 lead with 10 : 20 left in the fourth quarter .  With  ( Friend of Belichick ) Jon Bon Jovi in the house , the Patriots had their band back together on offense for the first time since Nov . 15 against the New York Giants . Edelman was back unto the breach and back in the lineup for the first time since breaking his foot that day .  The lighting of candles across New England for the quick healing of Gronk s back and knee injuries was unnecessary . He was his usual dominant self ( seven catches for 83 yards and two touchdowns ) , somehow being the most noticeable player on the field and the one that defensive players abandon like he is quarantined .  Gronk even caught the Chiefs last ditch onside kick attempt to seal the game .  This game was completely different from the 41 14 shellacking Reid and the Chiefs handed the Patriots last season .  After a week of off field tumult , stemming from the drug induced hospitalization of defensive end Chandler Jones last Sunday morning ? the Globe was told it was synthetic marijuana ? and injury intrigue , the Patriots brushed it all off and got back to business as usual in their usual manner .  Nobody outside of this locker room can help us win , said Malcolm Butler . They can help us lose , but they can t help us win . So , we ignored the noise .  Actually , the other guys can help you win , Mr Butler . They did .  Kansas City committed just 15 turnovers all season only the Patriots were less charitable to the opposition . The talk about the Chiefs coming into Saturday s game was that they wouldn t beat themselves .  The Patriots outplayed Kansas City and the Chiefs were willing accomplices in the end of their season , committing a crushing turnover busted coverage double play .  Trailing , 14 6 , the Chiefs had taken the opening kickoff of the second half to the Patriots 40 . Chiefs running back Knile Davis picked up 9 yards and a first down on a pass reception , but he was stripped by Jones with Dont a Hightower recovering at the 31 .  Five plays later , the Chiefs left Gronk wide open for his second touchdown of the game , a 16 yarder . It was 21 6 Patriots with 8 : 24 to go in the third quarter .  It was the biggest play of the game .  It was affirmation that the Patriots can just push a button and go back to being the Patriots .  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
18883,18884,"British  journalist Matt Frei asked Hillary Clinton if she s still blaming other more than herself in an interview Friday: Your dynastic appeal or perhaps it was the opposite: The fact that you were called Clinton the fact that you were first lady basically trumped any novelty if you forgive the term of being the first female president of the United States,  he said.  People looked at your name and your legacy more than they looked at your gender. Clinton answered in her usual delusional way by laying out the amount of support she  she received and then blaming former  director James Comey and the Russians for her defeat: That doesn t explain why I led all the way through, why I won the primary by 4 million votes, why I was winning, we had a great convention,  she said.  I was thought to have won all three debates. That doesn t explain it, Matt, so that s why I had to really dig deep. And, yes, I take responsibility. Obviously, there were things I must have been able to do differently in order to have won,  Clinton continued.  But at the end, there was this really perfect storm, and so you had the Comey letter and you had the enormous impact of the Russian theft of emails, the release of them by WikiLeaks, basically now a part of the Russian intelligence apparatus, and the weaponization of that. These were all new phenomena. So you re still blaming others more than yourself?  Frei asked I  T   ??? No, I take ultimate responsibility, I don t blame others, but I think it s important that people understand what happened,  Clinton said.  It easy to say,  You know she wasn t a good candidate.  Then why did lead all the way to the end, why did I get nominated overwhelmingly? Did people lie at the polls?  Frei interjected. No, I think there were intervening events that caused people to worry, to have second thoughts,  she said.Read more: WFB",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
18896,18897,"With new  cases on the decline for the fourth straight year and the disease in danger of losing millions of dollars in federal research funds , a group of concerned activists took to the streets of Boston Sunday to stress the importance of contracting  .  "" We ' ve worked tirelessly for over 15 years to convince the government that  research funding is vital , "" said Steve Hobart , an  Now ! spokesperson . "" But now , with  on the decline , that ' s all in jeopardy . The only way to raise awareness of this deadly disease is to have more people die of it . ""  For the past six months , the New York based activists have been traveling across the country , visiting college campuses and youth groups , spreading information about unsafe sex , and encouraging people to infect others with the virus .  They have also passed out pamphlets sporting such slogans as , ""  Is Cool , "" ""  Me ! "" and "" Catch It ! "" to more than 500 , 000 young people nationwide . Attractive , racially diverse models in sexy poses adorn the pamphlets .  According to Hobart , if  cases continue to decline at the current rate , America ' s once booming 9 billion  industry could suffer a total collapse by 1999 .  "" The  industry employs hundreds of thousands of people , from benefit organizers to celebrity spokespersons to administrative staffers , "" Hobart said . "" Many of these people have families to feed . If  is stamped out , what will these people do ? ""  "" The key , "" Hobart said , "" is to have lots of unprotected sex . ""  According to  Now ! co founder Diane Forsberg , if federal  monies dry up , hundreds of top graphic designers who create fashionable  awareness buttons , posters and pamphlets would also be out of work . "" Who else will hire them ? The breast cancer people ? The breast cancer industry is strapped for funding as it is , "" Forsberg said .  "" And what about Bette Midler ? "" Forsberg said . "" Where will she go when there are no more celebrity  Walks ? ""  Forsberg said that her group needs to raise 50 , 000 every year just for the manufacture and distribution of red ribbons . "" The only way we can pay for those is if more people start dying of  in large numbers , "" she said .  Though hardest hit by the decline of  has been the  industry itself , others have been affected as well . Profits at Petersen Pharmaceuticals , an Englewood ,  based manufacturer of  , were down 44 percent last year , a figure company officials blame on the decline in new  cases .  The entertainment industry has not escaped unharmed , either .  reported record low ratings for A Mother ' s Wish , a May ' 97 made for  drama starring Judith Light about a boy who contracts the disease . "" Had we put out that movie five years ago , ""  vice president of programming Bob Iyer said , "" it would have done huge numbers . ""  In the wake of last week ' s Center For Disease Control announcement that  cases dropped 21 percent in 1996 , Paramount Pictures announced it was shelving Lifeline , a 25 million  drama starring Diane Keaton already in pre production .  But for all the negative economic impact the decline of  has had , ultimately it is the members of the  community themselves who are hurt the most .  "" You have to understand , "" Hobart said , "" for years , this disease has brought people together , and given them a place to go . For many of these people ,  campaigning has been a vital self esteem building tool . And now they ' re in danger of having all of that taken away . ""  "" Just a few years ago , there were  benefits every weekend , "" said Forsberg , recalling the disease ' s golden age . "" Now , you ' re lucky if there ' s a 5K run once a month . It ' s very sad . ""  ",satire,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,satire,True,no,no,neutral,present
18905,18906,"All India Press Trust of India Updated : October 29 , 2015 16 : 04   53 historians came out strongly against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not making any reassuring statement following concerns over "" highly vitiated atmosphere "" prevailing in the country .  New Delhi : ? After writers , artists , filmmakers and scientists , over 50 historians today came out strongly against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not making any reassuring statement following concerns over "" highly vitiated atmosphere "" prevailing in the country .  A total of 53 historians including Romila Thapar , Irfan Habib ,  Pannikar and Mridula Mukherjee have raised their serious concerns over recent developments in a joint statement released by Sahmat .  "" Differences of opinion are being sought to be settled by using physical violence . Arguments are met not with counter arguments but with bullets , "" the statement said referring to the Dadri lynching incident and the recent ink attack on Sudheendra Kulkarni during a book launch function in Mumbai .  "" When writer after writer is returning their award of recognition in protest , no comment is made about the conditions that caused the protest instead the ministers call it a paper revolution and advise the writers to stop writing .  This is as good as saying that intellectuals will be silenced if they protest , "" it said .  This was particularly worrying for historians who have already experienced attempts to ban their books and expunge statements of history despite the fact that they were supported by sources and the interpretation is transparent , they said .  "" What the regime seems to want is a kind of legislated history , a manufactured image of the past , glorifying certain aspects of it and denigrating others , without any regard for chronology , sources or methods of enquiry that are the building blocks of the edifice of history , "" the statement said .  The historians expressed concern over the silence of the Prime Minister on the issue . "" And ? when it is hoped that the Head of Government will make a statement about improving the prevailing conditions , he chooses to speak only about general poverty and it takes the Head of the State to make the required reassuring statement , not once but twice . ""  The statement urged the state to ensure an atmosphere that is "" conducive to free and fearless expression , security for all sections of society and the safe guarding of the values and traditions of plurality that India had always cherished in the past . ""  "" It is easy to trample them down , but it is important to remember that it will take too long and will be beyond the capacity of those who are currently at the helm of affairs , to rebuild it once it is destroyed , "" the statement said .  At least 36 writers including leading names like Nayantara Sahgal , Ashok Vajpeyi , Uday Prakash and K Veerabhadrappa had returned their Sahitya Akademi awards , and five writers stepped down from official positions of the literary body , protesting against its "" silence "" over "" rising intolerance "" .  The Akademi had yielded to the unrelenting protests by calling an emergency meet and issued a strong condemnation of the killing of Kannada writer  Kalburgi and others while urging litterateurs to take back awards .  On Wednesday , agitating students from Film and Television Institute of India (  ) unilaterally withdrew their 139 day old strike but vowed to continue protests as ten eminent filmmakers returned their National Awards voicing solidarity with them and against growing intolerance in the country .  Scientists including three Padma Bhushan recipients Ashoke Sen ,  Bhargava and P Balram announced their decision to return their awards . This move comes after two sets of scientists over the past two days petitioned the President urging him to initiate "" suitable actions "" .  Story First Published : October 29 , 2015 15 : 52   ",true,text,test,World conflict,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
18912,18913,""" The dignity of the American presidency has been tarnished ! Congress must investigate . Let ' s make sure this type of tragedy never happens again . And how do we know that was really Beyonce ? Maybe it was a hologram or a body double ! ""  The above are just the ( slightly ) exaggerated responses of some in the cybersphere to the revelation that Beyonce Knowles might have lip synced all or part of the national anthem at Monday ' s presidential inauguration .  There are simply too many people in this country who go from zero to ( faux ) outrage in a matter of nanoseconds . Just look at Twitter and you will see the overuse of capital letters by people who feel  and  by the possibility of Beyonce ' s prerecorded performance .  The U . S . Marine Band , which provided the musical accompaniment for Beyonce , is neither confirming nor denying that she lip synced to a prerecorded track , although earlier a spokeswoman said the pop star "" did not actually sing . "" The Marine Band did explain that Beyonce , like all singers at the inauguration , made a recording of the song she was scheduled to sing which would be played "" in case of freezing temperatures , equipment failure or extenuating circumstances . ""  To be honest , if Beyonce did lip sync the entire song she should be nominated for an Emmy award for outstanding acting in a  Special , because it looked amazingly real . And I worked at "" Saturday Night Live "" in 2004 when Ashlee Simpson had her infamous lip syncing meltdown so I have seen up close the horrors of bad lip syncing .  It ' s not that I ' m unsympathetic to those who wanted to experience Beyonce singing live . There ' s truly no substitute for live performances . ( Although on nights when I ' m tired , I wish I could lip sync some of my jokes to a prerecorded track , but alas , that ' s not allowed in my field yet . ) And true , Kelly Clarkson sang a great version of "" My Country ' Tis of Thee "" live at the inauguration .  However , to those outraged by the thought of Beyonce ' s possible lip syncing , you need to keep a few things in mind . First , there ' s no dispute that was Beyonce ' s voice we heard . This isn ' t a Milli Vanilli type scandal where a singer lip synced to songs actually sung by others .  Secondly , performing to prerecorded tracks has been done at previous presidential inaugurals as well as at other big outdoor events because of audio concerns posed by weather conditions or technical issues .  Indeed , at President Obama ' s 2009 inauguration , music legend Yo Yo Ma mimicked playing his cello to a prerecorded track because the frigid weather would have made it too difficult to play live in tune .  And at the 2012 Olympic games in London , the majority of musical performances in the opening and closing ceremonies were performed to prerecorded tracks , including ones by iconic bands like The Who and the Rolling Stones , because of acoustic issues with the outdoor venue . ( Audience members were told well in advance that some songs would not be performed live . ) Obviously , this is not an uncommon practice in special situations .  Plus , this is clearly different than if people had paid to see Beyonce in concert and she lip synced most , if not all , of her songs . That would have been wrong , just as it was when Britney Spears did it during her 2009 tour . In fact , Britney ' s overuse of lip syncing so angered people in Australia that lawmakers there actually considered passing a law requiring that concertgoers be informed if parts of a show will be lip synced .  Beyonce hasn ' t responded about whether she did lip sync . If she did , it could have been for a very valid reason , such as concerns about the weather or acoustics , or maybe nerves even superstars must get a little nervous when they see a crowd of close to a million people .  Unfortunately for Beyonce , this issue will not go away quickly , because she ' s scheduled to perform in less than two weeks during the Super Bowl halftime show . There ' s no doubt reporters will hound her regarding whether she will be singing live or not . But to me , the real question people should be asking is : Who is going to win the Super Bowl ?  The opinions in this commentary are solely those of Dean Obeidallah .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
18919,18920,"At first , the children ' s eyes light up with anticipation .  Christmas comes early . Tanzanian students celebrate receiving Books for Africa textbooks .  Then they stare in wonder . Some reach out and cradle the object as if it were treasure to be guarded . Others lift it up in triumph , singing and dancing in joy .  The gift that inspires this kind of marvel in many African children is none other than a simple schoolbook .  Books are so rare in many African countries that children celebrate receiving them as if it were Christmas morning , says Brad Mattson , a manager for Books for Africa , a nonprofit group that ships donated books to African countries .  Mattson traveled last year to a remote Tanzanian village , where he saw children who were studying in mud brick schools with no electricity or running water eagerly grab a shipment of donated textbooks .  "" It was like my kid getting an Xbox , ' ' says Mattson . "" They protect them like gold . ""  Is there a moral obligation to feed poor children ' s minds as well as their bodies ? Books for Africa ' s leaders think so . The group says it shipped 2 . 7 million books to 24 African countries last year to combat what it calls a "" book famine . ""  About 33 percent of school age children in Africa have never set foot in a classroom , according to a U . N . study released this year . Among those who have , it ' s not uncommon for 10 students to share one textbook , Books for Africa officials say .  A book offers impoverished African students some hope of a better life for themselves and their country , says Deb McDonald , Books for Africa ' s assistant director .  "" Education is the great equalizer , "" McDonald says . "" When people get access to information , they ' re on more equal footing . ""  Students study in the dirt  Many African children don ' t even have access to a pencil , says Andrea Wall , who distributes textbooks for Books for Africa in the East African nation of Tanzania .  Wall says she has seen students study in the dirt . She once watched Tanzanian elementary school students practice their lessons in the sand because pencils and paper are a luxury .  Yet the students are eager to learn , she says . Many have never left their village or traveled in a car or even seen electrical appliances .  "" They do not know anything different and most are grateful that their parents have enough money to send them to school instead of tending cows or gathering firewood and water , "" Wall says .  Books are an expensive commodity in Tanzania . There are no bookshops in the East African nation and the only books available are printed on thin paper with weak binding .  Wall is co director for a nonprofit group called  Trust , which uses construction , education and nutrition to help lift Tanzanians out of poverty , she says . Once , however , she was a kindergarten teacher in Minnesota who had a classroom crammed with toys , puzzles and learning centers .  She first visited Tanzania in 2001 with a church group , "" fell in love with it , "" and decided she had to return . She was later laid off as a teacher due to budget cuts and decided to return to Tanzania as a full time volunteer in 2005 .  Now she ' s seen even the most rudimentary educational tool bring joy to Tanzanians . She once saw an American pastor visiting a Tanzanian village give a villager a simple gift .  "" He gave one mother a brand new shiny yellow pencil and she jumped up and down thanking him and then just as fast broke it into three parts one for each of her children , "" Walls says .  The low literacy rate in Africa is related to political instability as well as poverty , says McDonald .  When civil war erupts , books become targets . Even newspapers and magazines are relatively scarce in countries like Tanzania , she says .  "" One of the first things soldiers do is burn information , "" McDonald says .  What types of books are needed  Shipping books to Africa isn ' t like packing together shipments of food or medical supplies , Books for Africa officials say . It involves sensitivity to Africa ' s history .  The scars of colonialism , where Western nations used violence to occupy African nations and pillage their natural resources , shapes what types of books are sent to Africa .  During colonialism , a bitter joke among Africans was that missionaries gave them the Bible but took their land . The joke reflected a belief among some Africans that Western nations used Eurocentric books to manipulate and build self hatred among Africans .  Books for Africa officials , though , say they refuse to send books that celebrate the superiority of Western ways . In fact , they only send books that African schools request .  "" I don ' t like it when you go in and tell them what they need , "" McDonald says . "" I like them to tell us what they need . ""  The books that African nations typically request can be seen in a cavernous warehouse operated by Books for Africa in Atlanta , Georgia .  At the warehouse , rock and R B music booms over the speakers as volunteers sort through thousands of books and zoom through the floor in forklifts .  Most of the books African countries requested were books for elementary and secondary schools . Textbooks geography , science and math are abundant .  The books that aren ' t used are recycled into paper . Books for Africa officials estimate they save about 2 million books a year from landfills .  Book companies and school systems often donate books in bulk to Books for Africa , including used books , overprints and previous years ' editions .  The group also depends on volunteers to sift through its books . One of them , D . J . Clancy , a clerk at a media center in a suburban Atlanta elementary school , joined Books for Africa after she read about it on a Web site .  Some of her American students don ' t know how lucky they are , Clancy says .  "" Our kids are spoiled . They come in our 10 , 000 book media center and say , ' There ' s nothing to read , ' "" she says .  American adults are spoiled as well , says McDonald . She says it ' s easy for Americans to forget how much information they have at hand .  "" We ' re standing in the grocery line and we ' re bombarded by tabloids , and we ' re bombarded by books and  , "" she says .  "" You ' re not bombarded by anything there , "" McDonald says . "" You pull out a box of books and people are so grateful and so happy . You feel like you ' ve given them so much . ""  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
18922,18923,"Sportsmail takes a look at 10 things we have learned from an entertaining weekend of Premier League fixtures , as well as intriguing statistics from the Football League .  1 . Santi Cazorla was unquestionably man of the match in Arsenal ' s 2 0 win at Manchester City , but the Gunners ' unsung hero was centre forward Olivier Giroud .  The Frenchman ' s work rate set the tone for his team , harrying City ' s defenders and making himself available as an outlet when Arsenal broke .  Giroud ran 7 . 4 miles , the furthest of any player on the Etihad Stadium pitch and in marked contrast to opposing front man Sergio Aguero ' s total of 5 . 8 miles .  For good measure he also headed home the second goal that clinched the game his seventh of an injury hit season in which he was starting for only the eighth time .  Santi Cazorla put in an impressive performance for Arsenal on Sunday as they beat Manchester City 2 0  Olivier Giroud ran 7 . 4 miles the furthest of any player at the Etihad on Sunday during Arsenal ' s win  2 . West Ham will feel more and more confident of regularly selling the 54 , 000 seats in their new Olympic Stadium home .  Sunday ' s official gate of 34 , 914 for the 3 0 romp over Hull was just 102 below Upton Park ' s official capacity , a significant crowd for a game that was live on  and against one of the Premier League ' s less glamorous clubs .  The Hammers , who move to Stratford in 2016 , have sold out all 11 of their Premier League home games so far .  West Ham will feel more confident of regularly selling the 54 , 000 seats in their new Olympic Stadium home  Sportsmail examine the curious goings on at Old Trafford since Van Gaal ' s arrival  3 . Angel Di Maria is unquestionably a brilliant wide man but he can ' t play as a central striker in the way Louis van Gaal tried to use him in the first half at Queens Park Rangers .  The slightly built Argentine didn ' t have the strength to hold the ball up . He gave it away 22 times at Loftus Road and won only three of 14 duels against defenders .  Angel Di Maria is unquestionably a brilliant wide man but can ' t play as a central striker for Louis van Gaal  Louis van Gaal tried to use Di Maria as a central striker in the first half at Queens Park Rangers  4 . Southampton ' s astonishing production line of academy talent never seems to stop producing players the latest is 19 year old Harrison Reed who helped manager Ronald Koeman make light of the absence of his key midfield pair Victor Wanyama and Morgan Schneiderlin .  Worthing born Reed gave the ball away only eight times in 90 minutes at Newcastle , and came out on top in every one of the four tackles he contested .  It helped Koeman ' s side wrap up three away wins in a week taking them to 10 wins on their travels in all this season , the most the club have ever achieved in a Premier League campaign .  Southampton ' s academy talent never seems to stop coming and 19 year old Harrison Reed is the latest ( left )  5 . Aston Villa are hoping that new Spanish midfielder Carles Gil can provide the attacking verve from midfield they need and that his debut was a sign of things to come .  The 22 year old livened up another drab Villa display after replacing Tom Cleverley with half an hour to go .  In his time on the pitch he played more passes , won more tackles and made more chances than on loan Manchester United and former England star Cleverley had managed in the previous 60 minutes . He also ran 2 . 8 miles two thirds of the total distance covered in half the time compared to Cleverley .  Aston Villa are hoping that new Spanish midfielder Carles Gil can provide the attacking prowess they crave  6 . Glenn Whelan , who celebrated his 31st birthday last week , is out of contract in the summer and has yet to agree a new deal at Stoke because the club prefer not to give more than 12 months to players in their thirties .  The Republic of Ireland midfielder is making a strong case to be treated as an exception to the rule , though .  He made the team tick in the 1 0 win at Leicester , completing more passes ( 64 ) than anybody else , with two thirds of them in the attacking half . Steven N ' Zonzi and Bojan were the only two Stoke players who ran further than his 6 . 9 miles .  Glenn Whelan celebrated his 31st birthday but is out of contract in the summer with Stoke City  7 . Perhaps Whelan could give a call for some support to his Irish team mate John O ' Shea , who will be 34 in April but signed in October a contract that keeps him at Sunderland until the summer of 2017 .  The central defender is proof that age need be no barrier to playing in the Premier League .  After Whelan ' s team mate Ryan Shawcross was ruled out by injury on Saturday , O ' Shea is now the only top flight outfield player this season to have appeared for every minute of every game in every competition .  Whelan could give a call for some support to his Irish team mate John O ' Shea ( right ) , who turns 34 in April  8 . Welsh international midfielder Dave Edwards was one of the few players to survive the massive clearout undertaken by Kenny Jackett when he took over at Wolves and is beginning to look a key figure in the club ' s ambition to return to the Premier League .  The 28 year old scored his fourth goal in three games in the 2 0 win over Blackpool that moved the Molineux club to within a point of the Championship play offs .  Dave Edwards ( left ) was one of the few players to survive the massive clearout undertaken by Kenny Jackett  9 . Swindon , where manager Mark Cooper insists on expansive passing football , are establishing a reputation as the destination of choice for Premier League clubs to send their most promising youngsters for loan spells .  The latest to arrive at the Country Ground is Chelsea ' s 19 year old John Swift , a Portsmouth born midfielder whose goal scoring at youth level has led to him being dubbed the next Frank Lampard .  He lived up to the reputation , scoring one and making another as the Robins beat Chesterfield 3 1 to stay top of the League One table .  Chelsea ' s 19 year old John Swift has been dubbed the next Frank Lampard and arrived at Swindon on loan  10 . Cameron McGeehan is a name that Manchester United will need to be aware of before they arrive at Cambridge on Friday night for a potentially tricky  Cup fourth round tie .  The 19 year old , who started out at Fulham and then Chelsea before being let go , has just signed for Richard Money ' s team on a loan from his current club Norwich .  The Northern Ireland Under 21 international has been cleared to play against Louis van Gaal ' s side and warmed up with two goals on his Abbey Stadium debut in a 4 0 romp against Newport .  Cameron McGeehan ( left ) is a name that Manchester United will need to be aware of before their  Cup tie  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
18934,18935,"Spherical fossils in China dating back 600 million years could be the remains of the planet ' s earliest animals .  The fossils are 60 million years older than the date skeletal animals appeared during a huge growth spurt of new life on Earth known as the Cambrian Explosion .  Virginia scientists claim the fossils are too complex to be bacteria , and may instead be the embryos of an ancient unidentified creatures .  Spherical fossils in China dating back 600 million years could be the remains of the planet ' s earliest animals . The fossils are 60 million years older than the date skeletal animals appeared during a huge growth spurt of new life on Earth known as the Cambrian Explosion  Called Megasphaera , the ancient fossils come from a rock layer in southern China called the Doushantuo Formation and contradict several longstanding interpretations of multicellular fossils .  Each fossil measures around 0 . 03 inches ( 0 . 7mm ) across and originated from what could have been a marine environment at the time .  ' This opens up a new door for us to shine some light on the timing and evolutionary steps that were taken by multicellular organisms that would eventually go on to dominate the Earth in a very visible way , ' said Shuhai Xiao , a professor of geobiology in the Virginia Tech College of Science .  Called Megasphaera , the ancient fossils come from a rock layer in southern China called the Doushantuo Formation and contradict several longstanding interpretations of multicellular fossils  The Cambrian explosion , or Cambrian radiation , was the relatively rapid appearance , around 540 million years ago , of most major animal phyla , as demonstrated in the fossil record .  About 580 million years ago , most organisms were simple , composed of individual cells occasionally organized into colonies .  Over the following 70 or 80 million years , the rate of evolution accelerated by an order of magnitude ( as defined in terms of the extinction and origination rate of species ) and the diversity of life began to resemble that of today .  It ended with the Cambrian Ordovician extinction event , approximately 488 million years ago .  ' Fossils similar to these have been interpreted as bacteria , single cell eukaryotes , algae , and transitional forms related to modern animals such as sponges , sea anemones , or bilaterally symmetrical animals . This paper lets us put aside some of those interpretations . '  By cutting the rocks into extremely thin slicers , the scientists were able to shine a light through the fossils to see the formation inside , according to a report in LiveScience .  Professor Xiao found patterns in the fossils that suggests cell to cell adhesion and programmed cell death qualities found in the cell of animals and plants .  The fossils could represent the shift between single celled life and multicellular animals , Professor Xiao said .  Professor Xiao is now hoping to find more Megasphaera , including fossils of the adult creatures that may have created the embryos .  ' We will have to be open minded in terms of what can be expected , ' Professor Xiao told Stephanie Pappas at LiveScience .  ' There are extinct animals or even offshoots of the lineages leading to animals that could be rather different from what we know as animals living today . '  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
18944,18945,"Parents who move house and shell out for private tutors are paying as much for their child ' s education as those who send them to private school , says a top headmaster .  Alun Jones , the new president of the Girls ' Schools Association has said that referring to independent schools as bastions of ' elite and privilege ' is outdated as many mothers and fathers are supplementing their youngster school in other ways .  He also added that a significant proportion of ' social apartheid ' in the  ' s schools is down to geography , with some families able to afford expensive housing close to an ' exclusive ' state schools , rather than paying for private school fees .  Alun Jones , the new president of the Girls ' Schools Association , has said that parents who shell out for private tutors are paying as much for their child ' s education as those who send them to private school ( file picture )  Mr Jones is the principal of St Gabriel ' s school in Newbury and is the first man to be appointed to the post of president of the Girls ' Schools Association .  Speaking ahead of taking up the role , Mr Jones insisted that it is time to banish ' stereotypical , out of date ' references to the independent sector .  He said : ' It ' s going back to the old 1970s class war , it ' s so outdated , the reference to the independent sector as that type of elite and privilege .  ' My school , like many , many other  schools , are real world schools where mum and dad are working very hard to prioritise their income to benefit their children .  ' And it ' s funny , I would say 80 per cent of the social apartheid one sees in schools at the moment is actually because of geography , and some parents can access incredible education and incredibly successful schools because they can afford incredibly expensive housing in expensive areas of the country .  ' There is a question over what is the greatest privilege paying school fees or moving into an expensive area .  ' Some parents will actually prioritise their household income in order to make significant sacrifices to send their children to independent school , other parents will choose to look at geographical locations of where to buy and will be able to afford incredibly expensive housing in what they consider to be a far better school area .  Mr Jones is the principal of St Gabriel ' s Girl ' s School in Newbury and says that referring to independent schools as bastions of ' elite and privilege ' is outdated  ' They supplement this with tutors and extra lessons in all sorts of other activities .  ' This does mean that some state schools can end up being more exclusive than many independent schools . '  Mr Jones also added that the independent sector is doing all it can to improve access , with  schools currently spending more than 63 million on offering bursaries to pupils .  Over half of those that receive means tested financial help have more than half of their fees paid for them .  Mr Jones , who has been principal of St Gabriel ' s , an independent girls ' day school , since 2001 , said private schools also offer as standard a broad curriculum and range of extra curricular activities to their pupils .  One of his aims this year , he said , is to encourage greater engagement between fee paying schools and government , adding that the independent sector is an important part of education in the  .  He added : ' I actually think , for example , this constant bashing that we ' re getting to start academies , a good number of our schools do that , and are doing it very successfully , but that ' s only scratching the surface , that ' s only part of the picture .  ' I think at the moment , nine out of 10  schools are working in partnership with the state sector , I certainly do in Newbury . '  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
18949,18950,"These daredevil highliners are the ultimate chillseekers setting up hammocks hundreds of feet in the air .  As they inch their way carefully along the thin wire , some are even happy to pull out a guitar and play some tunes .  The extreme event , called the International Highline Meeting , is in its third year , and takes place at Monte Piana in Italy .  It is a large gathering for fearless folks to hone their skills without any form of competitive edge .  The idea of adding hammocks was put forward by hammock manufacturer Ticket To The Moon .  Highliners attach the materials to a strengthened ' highline ' as they walk out to their designated relaxation spots 150ft high .  Snapper Sebastian Wahlhuetter captured the breath taking shots as 22 people hopped into 16 hammocks . The meeting ran from 6 to 14 September , with 500 people attending .  Sebastian , who also helped to organise the event , revealed it was difficult to capture his shots due to the remote location and steep , rocky surroundings . He said : ' The action lasted around an hour and it was amazing to see all those people hanging out in their hammocks it was exciting to watch .  ' A special highline set up was rigged so that it could carry the weight of the many people on one line at the same time .  ' Monte Piana Highline Festival was definitely the best highline event I have ever photographed . '  Let ' s all hang out and do this again : The International Highline Meeting is now a regular event , and will take place again next September  A glorious place for a spot of relaxation on high : This spectacular image gives a hint of what the highliners find so appealing about a day in an elevated hammock  The view up here is smoking : One thrill seeker shows he is utterly unfazed by his location as he enjoys a cigarette  It was hard work getting here , let ' s relax : A group of highliners take in the view in blissful peace and quiet  Feeling cosy : This thrillseeker takes matters to even more extreme lengths by opting for a mini hammock that barely holds his frame  All in a row : The event has been taking place since 2012 , and now into its fourth year attracts a healthy crowd  Sing when you ' re winning : One daredevil keeps the afternoon going by playing a few tunes on his guitar  Heading for an early exit : The highliner on the right answers the question of how you get back to solid ground you inch your way back along the wire  Up up and away : The hammocks look especially beautiful when photographed from the ground below  Time for another tune : Spirits as well as locations are high among the highliners as the afternoon progresses  A smile for the camera : The dramatic images were captured by photographer Sebastian Wahlhuetter  Strum enchanted evening : The highline was specially strengthened to ensure it could take the weight of a large number of people at once  Just chill out man : A guitarist strums a tune while all around him the high wire experts relax . But how did he get the guitar there ?  Come join ! A highline walker heads towards his compadres who rest in a hammock on webbing stretched between rocks in the Italian Alps  Clingon : An extreme athlete makes the walk across a wire strung between the Italian Alps thousands of feet above ground level  Nearly there : After his long walk across this tightrope enthusiast is almost at the other side  Now get back up there : Losing your footing results in the inevitable , but a small safety rope stops this high wire enthusiast from plummeting to his death  Easy does it : A female highliner walks the line strung between rocks in the Alps as part of the gathering near Misurina in northern Italy  Walk the line : A dramatic shot from low down shows three of the highliners criss crossing the gorge  Cosy in there ? This highliner is so happy to be resting in his snug hammock he ' s catching 40 winks  All tgether now , heave ! Highliners tighten the webbings between rocks so they can continue to try new routes across the gorge  That ' s fairly high ! This shot shows just how far above the ground these thrill seekers are as they nonchalantly walk across the webbings  Then three came along all at once : Highliners chat to each other , strung hundreds of feet above the ground  And so to bed : A huddle of tents forms the makeshift village for a week as the highliners get some well deserved sleep before another day of thrill seeking  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
18967,18968,"Christopher Copeland , 52 , recruited workers to set up donation stations at supermarkets around the country  A conman who used teams of ' charity collectors ' to pocket 300 , 000 of donations meant for the Help for Heroes charity , has been jailed today .  Over an 18 month period , Christopher Copeland , 52 , recruited workers to set up donation stations at supermarkets around the country .  Unaware they were being used in the elaborate scam , the teams , clad in uniforms with Help for Heroes branding , encouraged shoppers to put money into charity buckets .  He even decorated his fleet of ex military vehicles in the charity ' s livery .  The workers then paid the donations into bank accounts held by Copeland , who used the money as an ' income stream ' to support his ailing garage business .  Father of one Copeland , of mid Devon , was only arrested when a worker reported his suspicions about the donations to police and an investigation was launched .  It later transpired Help for Heroes had not known about and did not authorise Copeland ' s collections and the money had never reached the charity .  The fundraising buckets used had belonged to a separate charity and Copeland had used Help for Heroes branding to illustrate his equipment without permission .  Copeland later admitted a charge of fraud and one of money laundering between February 1 2010 and September 17 2011 .  Judge Philip Wassall , during a two hour hearing at Exeter Crown Court , sentenced Copeland to a total of four years and six months in prison for his offending .  ' When the cause behind the charity is so worthy the potential for huge losses is so large and the difficulty in detecting and quantifying fraud is so profound , ' the judge said .  ' I also take into account that offences such as this dent public confidence in the charity affected .  ' The point has been made that this likely effect has been very damaging for Help for Heroes and the public are likely to question how safe their donation are and whether they should be made at all . '  The judge ordered a charge of fraud relating to the sales of Land Rovers through auction website eBay to lie on file .  Copeland was made subject of a Serious Crime Prevention Order , banning him from registering as a charity collector and collecting donations for five years .  Judge Philip Wassall , during a two hour hearing at Exeter Crown Court , sentenced Copeland to a total of four years and six months in prison for his offending  Prosecuting , David Sapiecha said Copeland began to raise money for Help for Heroes in October 2009 and initially did so legitimately .  Copeland raised 20 , 000 for the charity through selling merchandise and a further 3 , 000 in donations before he arranged the professional collections .  Mr Sapiecha said Copeland , who has no previous convictions , owned a military Bedford truck and a Land Rover , which were decked out in Help for Heroes livery .  ' He employed people who he sent to various sites around the country along with these vehicles to collect money for the public , ' the prosecutor said .  ' The public believed they were paying money to the charity . It was emblazoned on all the equipment .  ' It was a weekly event that these vehicles would be sent out to mostly supermarket car parks . They would stay there for three or four days .  ' The employees either stayed in the vehicle overnight or stayed fairly cheaply in a hotel . They were given money for food .  ' They would then bank the money on the direction of the defendant , either daily at the beginning or hourly at the end as things became more desperate . '  Expenses for the trip were taken from donations on the final day of collecting , Mr Sapiecha added .  The donations were paid into Copeland ' s personal accounts and then used to prop up his ailing businesses .  ' The defendant was using the donations as an income stream , ' Mr Sapiecha said . ' The businesses were having funds injected into them and they were being improved . '  Father of one Copeland , of mid Devon , was arrested when a worker reported his suspicions about the donations to police and an investigation was launched . It later transpired Help for Heroes had not known about and did not authorise Copeland ' s collections and the money had never reached the charity  Police who raided Copeland ' s premises in September 2011 discovered Apple products including iMac computers , he added .  They also found paperwork to show Copeland had registered as a collector for another charity , Afghan Heroes .  In a victim impact statement read to the court , Jo Brookes , income protection officer for Help for Heroes , said Copeland ' s acts could have caused public trust in the charity to be ' eroded ' .  ' To have that trust betrayed means that our legitimate fundraisers have to work even harder to keep the public ' s trust , ' she said .  ' 300 , 000 is a very significant amount of money for the public to have donated and the charity to not receive . '  She said the money could have funded the running costs of Plymouth Recovery Centre for a year , or the entire Band of Brothers programme for 14 months .  Representing Copeland , Roseleen Collins said his business had gone into liquidation in 2011 , at the same time as the fraud was investigated .  Miss Collins said Copeland set up the collections after deciding it was a "" brilliant idea "" to combine his interest in ex military vehicles with Help for Heroes .  However , the vehicles were difficult to maintain and required expensive maintenance , which Copeland had to do himself , she said .  Miss Collins added : ' It has been very hard for him to come to terms with that for which he has been accused .  ' He knows he is demonised in the eyes of the public and that will continue for some time . All he can do is express extreme regret at the whole enterprise . '  Miss Collins said Copeland and his family had not enjoyed an "" extravagant lifestyle "" from the donations , as the money went into the failing businesses .  Copeland will be subject to Proceeds of Crime proceedings to recover money taken during the fraud .  Speaking outside court , Jo Brookes added : ' Copeland deceived the public into thinking they were making donations which would help our wounded .  ' Instead he was stealing from them and using the money for his own personal gain through a deceptive web of fraud which took detectives three years to untangle .  ' We have been astonished by the response of the public . Many of those defrauded by him have contacted us to express shock that someone would use organised and criminal tactics to prevent money supporting the wounded . '  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
18969,18970,"Reuters) - The president of Catalonia s regional government, Carles Puigdemont, will deliver a speech at 5 p.m. (1500 GMT), his office said on Thursday. Puigdemont is set to call a snap regional election, according to his political allies, a move that could help break a one-month deadlock between the Madrid government and separatists seeking a split from Spain. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
18987,18988,"Kanye West unleashed an epic Twitter rant against Wiz Khalifa after West changed the name of his new album from Swish to Waves . West suggested that Khalifa had no claim to the concept of waves .  According to the New York Daily News West trashed Khalifa and criticized his music career .  Bro first of all you stole your whole s ? from ( Kid ) Cudi . Second , your first single was corny as f ? and most there after .  West s Twitter rant wasn t only critical of Wiz Khalifa , he was also critical of Khalifa s relationship with stripper turned model Amber Rose . West had also dated Rose from 2008 to 2010 , and he accused Khalifa of allowing Rose to trap him into a relationship . Rose replied with a tweet of her own and said that Kanye was just mad because she wasn t around anymore . It didn t stop there , as West took credit for Rose s 2 year old son and said that she wouldn t have a child if it weren t for West . West claimed he owned the child .  Kanye West deleted most of his Wiz Khalifa tweets , but you can still read them here weblink : t . co JMCtp5DO0z pic . twitterweblink Jif3O1brg1  Porn star Lisa Ann then jumped in to defend Amber Rose . Lisa Ann threatened to release naked photos she claimed that Kanye had sent her . West later deleted all the tweets .  According to Hollywood Life , the reason Kanye West unleashed the epic Twitter rant was because Wiz Khalifah criticized the title of the West s latest album . West unleashed the Twitter rant after he saw that Khalifa has dissed the latest title of his album Waves .  Kanye took to Twitter to announce the release of his new album , which he had been working on for the last three years . He announced that he would be changing the name from Swish to Waves . Max B . , a rapper who is currently serving 75 years in prison for murder , robbery , and conspiracy charges , coined the terms wave and wavy when he released his album Toothy Wavy in 2012 . Apparently an inspiration to Wiz , Max B . was angry that Kanye didn t credit him with the use of these words . That kicked off Wiz s pissed off tweets that expressed the same sentiments .  Taken as a mortal sign of disrespect , this led to a 17 point rant on the part of Yeezy . In these Twitter rants , he outlined why Wiz sucks . The criticism included everything from the idea that Wiz had stolen some of his music from another artist , and West made it clear that Khalifa had taken West s seconds when he started a relationship with Amber Rose .  What made the Twitter rant so bizarre is that West also threw in several complimentary tweets that included the hashtag WizWearsCoolPants as West complimented Wiz on his style , leading many to believe that Kanye was trying to keep the confrontation semi civil . Eventually , Kanye did give Max B . credit in a tweet and eventually Wiz responded with a yeah , aight . West ended the Twitter rant with good energy , positive energy and then deleted his tweets .  The confrontation between Kanye West and Wiz Khalifah caused Hollywood to stop and take notice . In another article by Hollywood Life , other stars were reacting to the Twitter rant , including Chris Brown . Chris said that he was totally engrossed by the exchange and even released a funny Twitter meme about what he saw and shared his feelings about the exchange . Brown said that the exchange had him glued to his account as he watched the explosive exchange between West and Khalifah . The Twitter rant became a must watch after Amber Rose jumped into the exchange and released her racy revelations .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
19002,19003,"At least a dozen tourists on two cruises that visited the Tunisian capital , Tunis , are among more than 20 people who were gunned down this week at the country ' s Bardo National Museum , officials said .  Details of the victims in Wednesday ' s attack have been slow to emerge . Some of the bodies remained unidentified at a morgue , a forensic official said Friday .  Here ' s what is known so far :  Among the first victims to be named was Briton Sally Adey . The  Foreign Office confirmed her identity .  She was a 57 year old retired solicitor who was on a dream vacation with her husband , Robert , Britain ' s Telegraph newspaper reported . The couple were married in 1984 and have two children Molly , a 20 year old university student , and Harry , a 23 year old musician , the newspaper said .  Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said consular staff were helping Adey ' s family .  "" The extremists , the terrorists , they hate democracy , ""  Prime Minister David Cameron said . "" They hate the idea that people should be able to choose their own government . But we must not let democracy , freedom , the rule of law , the things that we hold dear and people in Tunisia hold dear we must not let them be defeated or undermined by these extremists and terrorists .  "" That is the battle we are engaged in , but I ' m confident , if we stick to our values , we will win through . ""  Two more victims were named as Spanish couple Antoni Cirera Perez and Dolores Sanchez Rami .  They were on a cruise that stopped in Tunis . Francisco Cabezas , a sportswriter with the newspaper El Mundo , wrote that his neighbors for eight years had loved children and walking in the mountains . Perez loved Formula 1 races .  The sportswriter wrote that he recently invited the couple over to meet his baby daughter , Adria .  They were ecstatic to hear the cries of a baby , he said . Perez instructed him softly , "" Let her cry , that is what she has to do . ""  President Francois Hollande , who said he stood firm with Tunisia , confirmed that three French citizens were killed and seven others wounded .  He told reporters at an  Council meeting in Brussels , Belgium , that two of the wounded were in serious condition . The five who are slightly hurt are expected to return shortly to France .  Bruno Masarotto , a spokesman for the Town Hall of Aussillon , in southern France , confirmed that Jean Claude Tissier , a former municipal councilor for Aussillon , was one of the French citizens killed .  Tissier , 71 , was a hairdresser and had two sons , one of whom is deceased , he said .  Fellow hairdresser Serge Fournes said he and Tissier were part of the same theater group . He said it was a "" paradox "" that his friend , who was passionate about art , should die in a museum .  Fournes said Tissier lived with his girlfriend . Media reports said the couple was on vacation together , but the girlfriend ' s condition wasn ' t known .  A second victim was named as Christophe Tinois , 59 , from Castelsarrasin , in southern France .  The Castelsarrasin Town Hall confirmed his death and said Tinois had worked with the horse riding community there . He had at least two daughters .  Friend Jean Luc Terriers said the girls ' mother died about two or three years ago and that Tinois took care of her until the end . He had recently met another woman and they were in Tunis on a cruise , he said . It wasn ' t clear whether she was hurt in the attack .  The Town Hall has organized a tribute ceremony for Tinois on Saturday morning .  The name of the third French victim has not yet been confirmed .  Two Colombians were killed , Javier Camelo , and his mother , Miriam Martinez Camelo . Javier Camelo also held Australian citizenship .  His father survived the attack . He is a retired Colombian army general .  The family was on a trip to celebrate the son ' s graduation .  Four of the victims were from the country ' s northern Piedmont region .  The media office of Turin City Hall named them as : Orazio Conte , 54 , a Turin city administration employee Antonella Sesino , also 54 and a city administration employee Francesco Caldara , 64 , a retiree and Giuseppina Biella , 70 .  A vigil was held Thursday night in Turin to support the families of the victims and stand against terrorism .  In a telegram from the Vatican , Pope Francis expressed "" strong condemnation to all the acts against peace and the holiness of human life . ""  Russia ' s Foreign Ministry confirmed the death of a tourist , Galina Potapenko , who was born in 1962 , according to Russian state news agency Tass .  Her remains were "" found among the earlier unidentified bodies of foreign tourists , "" it said .  Another tourist , Nadezhda Lukyanova , was being treated for a wound to her arm at a military hospital in Tunis , Tass cited the ministry as saying .  The two women had met up in the southern Russian city of Krasnodar , where Potapenko lived , and traveled to Italy together , the Russian Embassy said earlier , according to Tass . They reached Tunisia on an Italian cruise .  The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said three Japanese nationals were killed and three others wounded .  Public broadcaster  and other local media said the dead were all women : Machiyo Narisawa , 66 Chiemi Miyazaki , 49 and Miyazaki ' s 22 year old daughter , Haruka Miyazaki .  Haruka Miyazaki had just graduated from a university , the media outlets reported .  Two Poles and a Belgian were listed among those killed . Three Tunisians were also among the dead .  ",true,text,test,American football,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
19012,19013,"Use your ( arrow ) keys to browse more stories  The college football regular season has wrapped up for the elite teams in playoff contention , but much has yet to be decided . ?  The top teams in the rankings all held serve on Saturday , setting up multiple win and you ' re in scenarios for the conference championship games . ?  Even though the scenarios appear to be fairly basic for the teams below , the wild world of college football likely has an upset or two in store for us in the final weekend . ?  Based on the current standings and the championship game matchups , here ' s a look at the projected College Football Playoff seeds .  Rival South Carolina gave the Tigers a scare on Saturday , but Clemson was able to hold on 37 32 .  While it wasn ' t the Tigers ' most impressive victory of the season , as the only potential undefeated conference champ , Clemson remains the heavy favorite to earn the No . 1 seed in the College Football Playoff . ?  The Tigers ' final test will come on Saturday in the  Championship Game against North Carolina . ?  While Clemson is certainly the favorite , the Tar Heels might provide the Clemson defense with its toughest challenge of the season . ?  Tar Heels ' quarterback Marquise Williams has been red hot over the last month , accounting for 14 touchdowns while throwing just one interception in North Carolina ' s last five games . ?  In 2014 , Williams threw for 345 yards and four touchdowns against the Tigers in 50 35 Clemson victory . ?  Given the way both offenses have been clicking this season , another shootout on Saturday is a strong possibility .  Nick Saban continues to ride the Derrick Henry train , and he appears to have the Tide rolling into the playoff . ?  Auburn managed to keep it close in the Iron Bowl , but with a whopping ? 46 carries and 271 yards , Henry eventually wore down the Tigers defense . ?  With a victory over Florida in the  Championship Game , Alabama will wrap up no worse than the No . 2 seed in the playoff . If Clemson were to lose , the Tide would likely rise to No . 1 . ?  While anything can happen in college football , it ' s difficult to envision a scenario in which Henry doesn ' t continue his torrid streak and carry Alabama past Florida . ?  The Gators have narrowly escaped with victories against lowly Vanderbilt and Florida Atlantic in recent weeks and appear to be limping into the  title game after a blowout loss at the hands of Florida State . ?  After knocking off Ohio State without starting quarterback Connor Cook and dominating Penn State to wrap up the season , the Spartans should be considered the Big Ten favorites heading into the conference title game against Iowa . ?  While Iowa will likely occupy a Top Four spot in this week ' s rankings , the Spartans will jump into playoff position with a victory over the Hawkeyes . ?  Michigan State ' s loss to Nebraska in early November may end up being a worse loss than some of the one loss teams behind the Spartans . However , last year ? the committee emphasized the way in which teams close out the season by selecting Ohio State as the No . 4 seed . ?  The Spartans will be in a similar position with a win over Iowa and are a safe bet to advance to the playoff with a victory .  The selection committee left the Big 12 out of the inaugural playoff in 2014 , but the lack of an undisputed conference champion appeared to play a role in that decision . ?  This season , the committee can ' t use that as an excuse to snub the Big 12 . ?  Based on this fact , we ' ll now learn just how much the committee values conference championship games . ?  If Oklahoma were unexpectedly left out of the playoff , the committee would be sending a strong message to the Big 12 that it must expand in order to earn serious consideration for playoff bid . ?  ",true,text,test,American football,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
19013,19014,"Like clockwork, the dregs of the conservative movement crawled out of their holes (and Twitchy comment sections) to stand with disgraced, now-former  analyst Curt Schilling. His principal defender: Sarah Palin, a woman with enough hate in her heart to spread it around generously and with absolutely no job she could risk losing by doing so.The one-time baseball great had finally struck out with  after posting (yet another) ugly hate-filled Facebook rant to his followers. Having been repeatedly warned by the network that his unabashed bigotry was out of line and needed to be curtailed if he wanted to continue to be a public figure, Schilling decided it would be a great time to begin bullying transgender people. On his page, he shared a conservative meme that depicts a man dressed as a woman with a caption reading:   IN! To the restroom with your daughter or else you re a narrow minded, judgmental, unloving, racist bigot who needs to die!!! After the initial blowback, Schilling created a blog post defending his belief that trans people are using public restrooms to prey on little girls (a  pants on fire  level lie) in a rant that had people seriously concerned for his mental well-being.You frauds out there ranting and screaming about my  opinions  (even if it isn t) and comments are screaming for  tolerance  and  acceptance  while you refuse to do and be either.  the ones making it the issue. I don t care, if you ask me about any of the topics it s likely (much to the chagrin of many) I ll answer with my opinion.Sarah Palin was appalled that Schilling had been canned from  for his bigotry, so she decided to do something: Post an equally offensive meme bullying the trans community in  solidarity  with his. (Bonus points if you noticed the meme somehow managed to blame President Obama!)weblink thus we get a glimpse into the mindset of Sarah Palin. The  real  victim, in her view, is the hapless conservative who isn t allowed to spread vicious lies about a vulnerable group and still be allowed to have a job as the face of a major television network. To  support  her fellow conservative, Palin lashes out at the  community   who, it should be noted, were not responsible for Schilling s pink slip.What s the word for this? Dangerous? Pathetic? Idiotic? How about  cowardly ?Featured image via Alex Wong/Getty Images",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,satire,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
19033,19034,"By James PerloffMy friend Rachael McIntosh was an alternate delegate at the 2012 Republican Convention in Tampa, Florida, representing Ron Paul for the state of Rhode Island.Rachael had worked for a private defense contractor for years. Awakened by the corruption and darkness she witnessed, she left the defense industry, and began working tirelessly toward getting Ron Paul elected. She has fictionalized her experiences in a superbly written trilogy of novels, Security through Absurdity.The Tampa convention was supposed to begin on Monday, August 27. Ron Paul was originally slated to speak, but the convention was cancelled for that evening due to the threat of a  hurricane.  The hurricane turned out to be no more than a brisk rainstorm. Rachael and many other Ron Paul delegates braved it that morning and went to the convention center (the Tampa Bay Times Forum, a sports complex) to watch Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus officially proclaim the delay. After the gravel had been struck and the chairman left the stage, the delegates found themselves watching a movie glorifying Mitt Romney. At the film s conclusion, Rachael heard ear-splitting applause. But when she looked around, almost no one was cheering. The applause was  canned the type sports stadiums pipe in when the home team is losing and their spectators show low enthusiasm.The next day at her hotel, Rachael s husband called and said:  Hey, I watched it yesterday and the crowd was really diggin  Romney.  Rachael had to break the news: what he (and the rest of America) heard on  had been faked.The real blow to the Ron Paul people came when the Republican National Committee made last-minute rule changes. Under the existing rules, Paul had won enough primaries and caucuses (five) to have his name placed in nomination. Under the newrules, the required number of states would be increased to eight, thus rendering Paul s nomination impossible. Mitt Romney, who had already won sufficient delegates through dirty tricks during the primaries to become the  presumptive nominee,  would also be granted power to replace duly elected delegates with people of his own choosing.Naturally, Paul s delegates were anxious to vote on the rule changes. However, the convention busses showed up at their hotels late. The driver of Rachael s bus didn t seem to know the way to the convention center, got stuck in traffic, and took about two hours to complete the trip. By the time most of the Paul delegates reached the center, and passed through its heavy security, the vote was already over. Mitt Romney would be the Republican Convention s  unanimous  choice.Ron Paul was still offered a chance to make a speech, but only under two conditions: (1) that he endorse Romney; and (2) that the Republic National Committee first vet and approve the speech. Under these conditions, Paul acted on integrity and declined to speak.A word should be added about the media in Tampa. On the convention s last day, Rachael dressed up in funeral black and handed out cards offering condolences to America upon the loss of the democratic process. She gave one to a leading news journalist who said  I love it.  When Rachael asked if he would do a story on it, he literally replied:  It doesn t fit the pre-scripted narrative. Sorry. That the media was bound to a  pre-scripted narrative  was later proven when a brawl broke out between the Romney and Paul delegates, complete with screaming, pushing and shoving, right by the entrance to the press boxes (CNN, Fox, MSNBC, etc.). Although the brawl should have been  news,  not a single journalist emerged with a camera to record it. After all, it didn t fit the  pre-scripted narrative namely, that Republicans unanimously supported Mitt Romney.What lesson can we draw from Rachael s experience? The same one that people have been learning the hard way for decades: that regardless of much you work for a Presidential candidate, the  (Powers That Be) will railroad their candidate to the top. The following quote from my 1988 book The Shadows of Power refers to the election year of 1952:At the Republican nominating convention,  dirty tricks  abounded. The rules for selecting delegates were changed: Taft delegations from Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas were thrown out and replaced by Eisenhower supporters. I.e., the same sort of tactics that Ron Paul s supporters faced in 2012 were used at the  Convention 60 years earlier. I ll add that Dwight Eisenhower had no previous affiliation with the Republican Party; the Democratic Party had tried to draft him in 1948, and President Harry Truman (Democrat) had approached him about running on the same ticket. Above: Nixon and Eisenhower at the 1952 conventionLet s kick it back to 1940. Seven weeks before the  Convention, a poll showed only three percent of Republicans favored candidate Wendell Willkie, who, prior to that year, had been a registered Democrat. But with powerful magic, Willkie got the nomination. Ten-term Congressman Usher Burdick of North Dakota said of this:We Republicans in the west want to know if Wall Street and the international bankers control our party and can select our candidate? I believe I am serving the best interests of the Republican Party by protesting and exposing the machinations and attempts of J.P. Morgan and the New York utility bankers in forcing Wendell Willkie on the Republican Party. . . .There is nothing to the Willkie boom for President except the artificial public opinion being created by newspapers, magazines, and the radio. The reason back of all this is money. Money is being spent by someone, and lots of it. PHOTO: Wendell Willkie PHOTO: Usher Burdick (right) in 1958 with Ezra PoundFor those who wonder if such phenomena only happen to Republicans, Bernie Sanders can already  feel the spurn.  He won New Hampshire by a landslide (60 to 38 percent) only to discover that Hillary Clinton had been awarded the majority of delegates. This is because the Democratic Party has 717  superdelegates  who support whomever they prefer, regardless of the wishes of voters or primary results.Go back to 1976. According to a Gallup poll, just seven months before the Democratic National Convention, less than four percent of Democratic voters favored Jimmy Carter for President. What happened? As Lawrence Shoup noted in The Carter Presidency and Beyond:What Carter had that his opponents did not was the acceptance and support of elite sectors of the mass communications media. It was their favorable coverage of Carter and his campaign that gave him an edge, propelling him rocket-like to the top of the opinion polls. This helped Carter win key primary election victories, enabling him to rise from an obscure public figure to President-elect in the short space of 9 months.How did Carter acquire this media following? It began at a dinner with Republican David Rockefeller  kingmaker of the Establishment at the latter s Tarrytown, New York estate. Also present was Zbigniew Brzezinski, who helped Rockefeller found the internationalist Trilateral Commission, and whom Carter would later appoint National Security Adviser. The media blitz included adulatory pieces in the New York Times, and a Wall Street Journal editorial declaring that Carter was the best Democratic candidate. Before the nominating convention, his picture appeared on the cover of Time three times, and Newsweek twice. Time s cover artists were even instructed to make him look as much as possible like John F. Kennedy. The  networks inundated the public with his image.As former Arizona Senator Barry Goldwater said:David Rockefeller and Zbigniew Brzezinski found Jimmy Carter to be their ideal candidate. They helped him win the nomination and the presidency. To accomplish this purpose, they mobilized the money power of the Wall Street bankers, the intellectual influence of the academic community   which is subservient to the wealth of the great tax-free foundations   and the media controllers represented in the membership of the  and the Trilateral.If you want to glimpse how far back this sort of power-brokering goes, read Ferdinand Lundberg s 1937 classic America s Sixty Families. He related how, a century ago, the rich were scorning voters and maneuvering their own choices into nominations, whether a Democrat like Woodrow Wilson in 1912 or a Republican like Herbert Hoover in 1928.The 2016 RaceWhat about this year? Who have the    anointed to become President? While I am of course not privy to their conclaves, I believe their chosen one, as I stated in my blog post of February 15, is Hillary Clinton. There are several indicators:(1) Despite her  anti-Wall Street  rhetoric, Hillary receives by far the most donations from Wall Street of any candidate. Jeb Bush competed with her for that distinction, but since Jeb s personality proved too lackluster to muster enough votes to stay in the race, Hillary holds the honor alone. Above: Hillary partakes in groundbreaking ceremony for Goldman Sachs  new headquarters in 2005. (2) Of the viable candidates, only Hillary is committed to 100 percent of the Rothschild agenda:  pro  War on Terror    pro Israel   pro gun control   pro  (Monsanto)   pro population control (abortion, vaccines, etc.)   pro  climate change  control   pro mass immigration   pro Internet censorship   pro gay agenda   pro  (she is currently backing off on this because of voter concern about jobs, but before running she said  This  sets the gold standard in trade agreements, and was a strong proponent of the job-destroying  and  agreements)(3) I ll interject here that Rachael McIntosh told me she believes that in 2008, an understanding was reached concerning Obama and Clinton, both of whom were running that year. Obama would become the first black President; Hillary s turn would arrive in due time, and she would become the first woman President. Having a black or woman in the Oval Office, of course, gives the public the illusion that they are  empowered  and that the Establishment has somehow been stymied, whereas in fact both Obama and Hillary are flunkies for the Establishment. I agree with Rachael s assessment 100 percent.And so it was that Obama appointed Hillary his Secretary of State, a move clearly intended to give her a  foreign policy expertise  credential for the 2016 Presidential campaign. After Clinton left the position (2013),  began airing (2014) its still-running drama Madam Secretary, all about a blonde woman Secretary of State. Subliminal Advertising: Hollywood began campaigning for Hillary Clinton in 2014.  Beginning with the very first episode, in which  Madam Secretary  rescued American hostages held in Syria, viewers would receive a weekly dose of subliminal propaganda for Hillary s campaign, portraying her as beautiful, heroic, honest and competent.(4) Prior to being Secretary of State, Hillary served as U.S. Senator from New York. She had never lived in New York before, but the state is the center of America s banking industry, and has been a launching point for Presidential candidates such as the Roosevelts. Serving a Senate term, of course, would also give Hillary an important  can work with Congress  credential for her Presidential run. There is considerable Internet buzz that John F. Kennedy, Jr., who had long lived in New York, was planning to run for the Senate in 2000, the same year as Clinton. The handsome son of the popular President would likely have defeated Clinton, adding interest to Kennedy s death in a suspicious plane crash on July 16, 1999, especially in light of what has been termed the Clinton Body Count.(5) Perhaps most importantly, the Establishment has already marked Hillary with their stamp of approval by entrusting her with two terms in the White House. Yes, Bill Clinton was President then, but if Hillary is elected, Bill will of course be returning.Will the email or Benghazi scandals derail her Presidential bid? I doubt it. During Bill s tenure, the Clintons were plagued by innumerable scandals besides mysterious deaths: sex charges, perjury, Whitewater,  Chinagate,   Travelgate,  drug allegations connected with his Arkansas governorship, Hillary s incredible cattle futures profits, etc. Yet although many pundits back then claimed these scandals would lead to impeachment, the Clintons always remained untouched by justice. So far, nothing seems to have changed. However, Hillary s scandals do give the Establishment a blackmailer s leash on her; i.e., if she ever steps out of line, prosecutions could suddenly materialize.What about the other candidates currently running? All of them share some of Hillary s positions, but none do 100 percent. Bernie Sanders is too opposed to banker bailouts to be acceptable, even though the Establishment is  with his socialism (since, in an illusional democracy, empowering government empowers them). Cruz s wife Heidi is a former term member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a vice president at Goldman Sachs, from whom Cruz s Senate campaign received a million-dollar loan; but his positions on matters like abortion, gun control and immigration don t pass muster Continue this story at James PerloffREAD    AT: 21st Century Wire 2016 Files",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,past
19037,19038,"Jane Whittington , 58 , died after a freak wave hit while she was enjoying a dip on holiday in Goa  A British grandmother drowned after being swept away by a freak wave during an exotic luxury holiday in India .  Jane Whittington , 58 , was on a four month break in the resort of Goa with her partner Steve Cooper when the tragedy hit .  And sadly , the former carer never got to meet her newborn granddaughter , Betsy , who arrived while she was on her dream holiday .  Ms Whittington , from Birley , Sheffield , and her partner , as well as her sister and brother in law , who were also on the trip , had been out a boat for a fishing trip before having a beach massage .  She then decided to cool off with a dip in the sea with Mr Cooper , but got into difficulty and was carried out by a freak wave .  Mr Cooper battled the rough conditions to rescue Ms Whittington , and tried in vain to save her .  The couple were due to return home this weekend , but instead she was cremated in Goa earlier this week .  Paying tribute , her family said they were devastated at the loss of Ms Whittington , who ' lived life to the full ' .  Daughter Donna McGrail , 40 , son Max Ellis , 37 and five grandchildren , are now planning to return later in the year to scatter her ashes .  Mr Ellis ' s partner Kirstie Barber , said : ' All we know is she had a lovely day on a fishing trip , had a massage on a beach , went swimming and then a wave took her .  ' Steve managed to get her out of the water but could not save her . '  The former carer never got to meet her newborn granddaughter , who arrived while she was on her four month dream holiday with her partner Steve Cooper , sister and brother in law  The couple were on holiday in the same resort they had visited for years , which Ms Whittington called her ' second home ' .  Ms Barber added : ' She loved it over there , she called it her second home and each time she went she stayed for longer and longer .  ' Jane said that if she ever passed away over there it was a nice place to die and her wish was to stay there , which is why her ashes will be scattered there .  ' Jane loved it there , she loved the easy , relaxed way of life . She felt part of the community and volunteered at a dog rescue place . '  She added : ' She lived every day like it was going to be her last . Everyone is devastated , absolutely devastated . '  The family are planning to celebrate her life at a gathering at The New Inn in Gleadless , on March 14 .  Ms Whittington visited the same resort in Goa ( file photo above ) many times and called it her ' second home '  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
19038,19039,"Start Counting. Keep Counting. Stop Counting? Michigan's election recount hearing set to start in Detroit. Will judge change course?  Tresa Baldas (@TBaldas) December 7, 2016Hallroom chatter in Michigan recount: Some think the judge has been cornered & he ll have to end the recount; some say he ll keep pushing.U.S. District Judge Mark Goldsmith is ready to take the bench in #Michiganrecount. And we are   OFF!  Tresa Baldas (@TBaldas) December 7, 2016Michigan recount Schuette s lawyer John Bursch up first: 6th circuit couldn t have been more clear, this is case about michigan election lawSchuette lawyer talking about Bush v Gore case; says  Supreme Ct. clear on this: federal courts must defer to state in election matters.Judge just asked  atty John Bursch: has the Mich. Supreme Court ruled on this? his answer: not yet. state high court hasn t heard case. atty Bursch:  This is the law of Michigan, there is no dispute about that.  Unless, of course, Stein appeals to  Supreme Ct. atty Bursch shifts to Jill Stein, and whether she s an  aggrieved party.  Appeals ct. says no, so do Republicans & Trump. atty Bursch: purpose of recount law is to change the outcome of the election. Judge:  how do we know that?  atty Bursch: state's top election official says goal of recount law is to change outcome, not to see if there's a problem;  Tresa Baldas (@TBaldas) December 7, 2016AG atty Bursch: court has already held that it's not right to make taxpayers pay millions for a recount that's not justified  Tresa Baldas (@TBaldas) December 7, 2016AG atty Bursch: Stein s  entire purpose is to audit the Michigan system.  That s not what our recount law is for.Michigan recount hearing: Judge: how do we know that Stein only got 1%; what if she got more but fraud took place?Judge to  atty: what if Stein got 20% of the vote; is that enough for her to say she was aggrieved? Rep Party atty now up: the michigan courts have ruled, he says, urges judge to end the recount. Rep Party Atty: State court has concluded: ""it's very unlikely that 2 million mistakes have been made""  Tresa Baldas (@TBaldas) December 7, 2016Judge continues to press: is there any court case that says recounts must produce a change in the outcome in order for them to be allowed?Michigan Rep. Atty: recounts should be used to figure out who should have won the election.  Aggrieved means someone who has been harmed Mich. Rep. Atty: Aggrieved does not apply to someone who came in 4th place. #Michiganrecount law is being misused by Jill Stein.  Tresa Baldas (@TBaldas) December 7, 2016 This candidate is not aggrieved in any sense of the word  Mich. Rep Atty says of Jill Stein; urged judge to dissolve ruling & end recount.Pro-recount atty up:   It s quite possible that a recount (in Michigan) would reveal a winner.  Not Stein. she doesn t expect that.Pro-recount atty: Michigan recount law isn t just about changing outcome; can also be used to show fraud in election system.Judge Goldsmith discusses cost of recount to taxpayers. Asks Stein atty what she thinks of that? Answer:the law  explicitly  allows for that.Stein atty notes #Michiganrecount battle not over.  the state court decision is not final.  going back to appeals court.Judge asks Stein atty: What do you want now? I ordered immediate recount. What s your issue now ? notes there s no federal right to recount.Stein atty:  There is no way of knowing whether fraud occurred without conducting the recount. Judge Goldsmith to Stein atty: Why are you coming to court now w hen you knew about the deficiencies beforehand?  Tresa Baldas (@TBaldas) December 7, 2016Judge Goldsmith to Stein atty: you could have addressed Michigan's vulnerable voting machines months ago. Why didn't you? why now?  Tresa Baldas (@TBaldas) December 7, 2016Judge to Stein atty: is there anything about the recount that will tell us whether there was cyber attack or if machinery malfunctioned?Stein atty: the recount can raise clear flags about whether something went wrong, triggering a forensic audit.Stein atty just ended. says Michigan law allows for recounts, and that it should be continued.  atty is now up, in a rebuttal.Judge Goldsmith asks about voting machine problems in Detroit; says he s read about problems.  atty says not as many as being reported. atty: the court of appeals has spoken. there is no right for stein to have a recount. that s the end of the story. atty to Judge Goldsmith: you might be the 1st judge in history to order recount for a candidate who took 1% of the vote.  Tresa Baldas (@TBaldas) December 7, 2016Recount shows so far: 10 counties have been recounting; 66 total vote change between Clinton & Trump so far.  Tresa Baldas (@TBaldas) December 7, 2016Election lawyer:  I have not known of anyone to come in and say i believe the system has been compromised or hacked Stein atty: It is way to early to say whether any fraud can be ruled out.Stein atty: Until the Michigan State Supreme Court weighs in, the recount must continue as ordered by the federal court.  atty: ""dont' become the first federal court in the country to order a recount   for a candidate who lost by 2 million votes.""  Tresa Baldas (@TBaldas) December 7, 2016MI  atty seeks bond: it's costing $500,000 a day for recount. it's not right to impose that kind of ""irreparable harm"" on the citizens.  Tresa Baldas (@TBaldas) December 7, 2016Stein atty: Sec of state doesn t want recount, so don t trust $5 million cost or other numbers being thrown by folks who just don t want it.Stein atty: No bond should be set.Judge Goldsmith orders recess for 20 minutes. he will issue a written order or rule from the bench:  I understand the time sensitivity Judge Goldsmith will issue a written opinion on whether to let Michigan presidential election recount continue, or end. Stay tuned.  Tresa Baldas (@TBaldas) December 7, 2016 ",fake,dataset,test,World conflict,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
19046,19047,"Boko Haram Militants Kill 32 In Suicide Attack  The Islamist militant group trying to establish an Islamic caliphate in Nigeria launches a deadly attack in Adamawa state .  At least 32 people have been killed and 80 injured in a night time suicide bomb attack by Islamist extremists in Nigeria .  The assault by the group ? Boko Haram ? at a truck stop in Yola , ? Adamawa state , in the north east was the first terrorist attack since October when a spate of bombings killed 42 people and injured more than 100 .  Most of the victims were street vendors and passers by , said Deputy Superintendent Othman Abubakar , the police spokesman for Adamawa .  "" The enemies of humanity will never win . Hand in hand , we will rid our land of terrorism , "" Nigeria ' s defiant President Muhammadu Buhari said in a tweet .  The Islamist militant group has been waging a violent uprising in Nigeria since 2009 in an attempt to establish an Islamic State , or caliphate , in the north east .  Play video "" Jan 2015 : How Boko Haram Operates ""  Boko Haram declared a caliphate in Gwoza ? in March and a sharp rise in attacks this year has brought the number of people forced to flee the group ' s ? insurgency to 2 . 1 million .  According to the  ' s children agency around 1 . 4 million of those "" on the run "" are children .  The group controlled significant swathes of territory across three states in northeastern Nigeria at the beginning of 2015 before government forces supported by Chad , Niger and Cameroon pushed it back .  Now heavily splintered , Boko Haram factions have reverted to guerrilla tactics , including raiding villages for supplies and bombing soft targets such as places of worship , markets and bus stations .  Play video "" Boko Haram Align With Islamic State ""  But while the army has freed the last few towns still under some form of Boko Haram control , many of those displaced are reluctant to return home .  Analysts say Nigeria ' s military is struggling to maintain gains and that as it takes one area , Boko Haram moves into another in the vast arid spaces dotted by forests in the northeast .  Some 20 , 000 people have been killed in the six year old Islamic uprising .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,past
19053,19054,"Reuters) - Legislation to impose new sanctions on Russia and Iran that passed the U.S. Senate nearly unanimously last week has run into a procedural problem that could prevent a quick vote in the House of Representatives, lawmakers said on Tuesday. The Countering Iran’s Destabilizing Activities Act, which also includes new sanctions against Russia, passed the Senate 98-2 last week, an overwhelming vote that looked like it might complicate President Donald Trump’s desire for warmer relations with Moscow. But the measure must still pass the House before it can be sent to Trump to sign into law, or veto, and the House parliamentarian found that the legislation violated a constitutional requirement that any bill that raises revenue for the government must originate in the House, something known as a “blue slip” violation. “The final bill, and final language, violated the origination clause in the Constitution,” Representative Kevin Brady, the Republican chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, told reporters. Democrats suggested that Republicans were stalling the bill out of loyalty to Trump, whose administration has criticized the sanctions package as potentially too restrictive. In the past, Democrats said, House leaders had overcome such objections without discussion by quickly voting on identical versions of Senate legislation. “This is nothing but a delay tactic and the public shouldn’t be fooled by complex-sounding parliamentary procedure,” said Representative Eliot Engel, ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Republicans insisted it was a procedural, not a policy, matter, noting that the Russia amendment to the Iran bill was 100 pages long and passed in the Senate only last week. “I strongly support sanctions against Iran and Russia to hold them accountable,” Brady said. Brady said House leaders were working with the Senate and House Foreign Affairs Committee to determine how to proceed, but the Senate could address the issue by quickly updating the bill and sending it back to the House. Trump’s fellow Republicans hold a majority of 52 seats in the 100-member Senate, and a more commanding 238- to 193-seat margin in the House. Brady could not predict when the House might vote,  including whether it would be before Congress’ summer recess starts at the end of July. Cory Fritz, a spokesman for Ed Royce, the Republican chairman of the House foreign affairs committee, said the committee is reviewing the bill. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
19082,19083,"Reuters) - The Italian parliament approved the government s latest economic forecasts on Wednesday, but the Senate vote exposed deep divisions on the political left that could complicate the drafting of the 2018 budget. Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni s coalition won two votes in the upper house on the Treasury s Economic and Financial Document (DEF), even though parliamentarians with the leftist Mdp party walked out of one of the ballots. The Mdp was formed earlier this year following a schism in the Democratic Party (PD), with a small group of left-wingers accusing  leader Matteo Renzi of shifting the ruling party too far to the right and shunning its Socialist roots. National elections are due in early 2018, and political jockeying is on the increase as Italy s myriad parties seek to establish clearly defined identities ahead of the vote. The Mdp, backed by former prime minister Massimo D Alema, is particularly anxious to put clear water between itself and Renzi s PD, seizing on the  to push its demands for more money to be spent on health care and job creation.  We have sent a political signal,  said Mdp senator Federico Fornaro. Gentiloni, who does not have a clearly defined majority in the upper house, was saved any embarrassment thanks to the backing of 12 Senators from the center-right  group, which is headed by Denis Verdini, previously close to former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi. Centre-left politicians said the Mdp was trying to smear Renzi by portraying him as a rightwinger.  The question of relations between the Mdp and the government is tied to its competition with the  ahead of the elections,  said senior centrist politician Mario Catania.  The point is that the Mdp is following D Alema s line and pushing for the downfall of Renzi.  The government has to present its budget by Oct. 20, giving parliament until the end of the year to approve the package in what could be the last major act of the legislature. Gentiloni hopes to get the backing of the Mdp to guarantee smooth passage through both houses. The  hiked the 2018 growth forecast to 1.5 percent from a previous target of 1.0 percent, giving the Treasury room to present a more expansive budget than originally expected.  The health system is an area where we will weigh up measures to improve it and make it more efficient,  Economy Minister Pier Carlo Padoan told the Senate on Wednesday in an apparent nod to Mdp demands. ",true,dataset,test,Other news2,Economy,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
19083,19084,"A family that has worked the same hillside farm for five generations was yesterday forced to hand over their land to an ' aggressive ' loan company .  Mary and Alun Williams , who produce beef and lamb for supermarkets , say their lives have been destroyed after they were tied to crippling interest rates that dragged them into millions of pounds of debt .  Llangefni County Court yesterday ruled they would have to hand over the 600 acre Rhyngddwyafon Farm in Snowdonia National Park , North Wales , which the family has farmed for a century .  Mary and Alun Williams ( pictured ) , who produce beef and lamb for supermarkets at their 600 acre farm in Snowdonia National Park , North Wales , have ordered by a court to hand over their land to a loan company  Mary Williams , 55 , ( pictured outside Llangefni County Court following the ruling ) said it was ' the worst day of our lives ' and claimed the couple had been ' duped by a firm that is asset stripping farmers of their livelihoods '  Last night Mrs Williams , 55 , said : ' It has been absolutely heartbreaking , the worst day of our lives . We have been totally duped by a firm that is asset stripping farmers of their livelihoods .  ' My family and especially my sons , Iwan and Rhodri , who farm the land , face an uncertain future . I think the fact nothing has been done to stop this company is a national disgrace .  ' I can ' t believed we were so stupid as to believe them and trust them . '  The Williams family say they were advised about four years ago to take a short term commercial bridging loan to cover their mortgage starting at rates of up to 22 per cent with the understanding a domestic mortgage rate of around 4 per cent would follow .  As it did not materialise they took out further bridging loans and saw their 1 . 24million loan rocket to 3 . 1million due to fees , interest and other charges .  When they were unable to pay , the firm Somerset based  Acorn Finance started legal action to repossess the farm .  Farmers across the  are being driven to the wall by lenders using lax regulation to seize properties and livelihoods , say MPs , who accused Acorn of ' reckless , if not fraudulent ' practice .  The couple initially took out a short term commercial bridging loan to cover their mortgage four years ago but saw the amount they had to pay back soar to 3 . 1million due to additional loans , fees , interest and charges  The family has farmed on the 600 acre estate in North Wales for the last century . Pictured : Three generations of Williams in 1995 : Iwan , the son of Alun ( left ) , with his father Alun ( centre ) , who is the son Robert ( right )  Dismissing Mrs Williams ' application for permission to appeal against the forfeiture of the farm , Mr Justice Guy Newey said : ' I haven ' t been persuaded an appeal would have a real prospect of success .  ' I appreciate the thoroughly unenviable position Mrs Williams and her family find themselves and I very much sympathise with them . '  As commercial lending is unregulated , most of Acorn ' s activities are not overseen by the Financial Conduct Authority .  Elfyn Llwyd , a Plaid Cymru  and barrister , said Acorn and associated companies had exploited farmers for more than two decades in what he called ' one of the worst scandals ' he had seen .  Dozens of farmers have complained to Avon and Somerset Police , saying they were victims of an organised sting with conspiring lenders , brokers and solicitors .  Mrs Williams ( pictured right on the farm in 2007 ) said : ' I can ' t believed we were so stupid as to believe and trust them ' after being dragged into debt by the loans . Pictured left : Her husband Alun working on the farm in 1986  The couple said their lives have been destroyed by the crippling interest rates that dragged them into debt  In response to complaints it had not tackled Acorn , the force said it accepted the lender was ' aggressive and unpleasant ' and had caused significant distress . It said the firm exploits a ' loophole ' and called for tighter regulation .  Now the Financial Conduct Authority , the Solicitors Regulation Authority and the Government are scrutinising Acorn ' s activities .  Outside court , the firm said : '  Acorn Finance has repeatedly invited Mrs Williams to enter into a constructive dialogue with it to achieve the repayment of her loans but Mrs Williams has chosen not to take up those invitations .  ' That has left  Acorn Finance with no option other than the enforcement of its loan security . '  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
19098,19099,"David Oyelowo : "" The Academy has a problem . It ' s a problem that needs to be solved . "" Photo Getty Images  British actor David Oyelowo whose performance as Martin Luther King Jr was overlooked at last year ' s Oscars has lashed out at the Academy , amid calls for a boycott of the awards over its all white acting nominees .  At a gala in the  honouring the Academy ' s president , Cheryl Boone Isaacs , Oyelowo broke off from his prepared speech to criticise Academy member for failing to recognise actors of colour for the second year in a row .  "" For 20 opportunities to celebrate actors of colour , actresses of colour , to be missed last year is one thing for that to happen again this year is unforgivable .  "" The Academy has a problem . It ' s a problem that needs to be solved . ""  He said of the Academy ' s make up : "" This institution doesn ' t reflect its president . I am an Academy member and it doesn ' t reflect me , and it doesn ' t reflect this nation . ""  He said that the top films at the box office in the  were led by black actors . "" We have a situation whereby currently the biggest movie in the world and of all time Star Wars : The Force Awakens is led by a black man . That film was knocked off the top spot this weekend by a film led by two black men , Ride Along 2 . The biggest  show on the planet is led by black people , Empire . ""  He criticised the Academy for not moving quicker . "" The Academy is an institution in which they all say radical and timely change cannot happen quickly . It better happen quickly . The law of this country can change in a matter of months . It better come on . The Oscars is on February 28 . Cheryl needs us to pray that by that date , change is going to come . We need to pray for Cheryl , we need to support Cheryl , we need to love Cheryl . We cannot afford to get bitter , we cannot afford to get negative . But we must make our voice heard . ""  The issue has come to a messy head for the Academy . Director Spike Lee and actor Jada Pinkett Smith both announced this week they would sit out this year ' s ceremony over the lack of diversity among the nominees .  In a lengthy Instagram post , Lee said he "" cannot support "" the "" lily white "" Oscars . Noting that he was writing on Martin Luther King Jr . Day , Lee who in November was given an honorary Oscar at the Governors Awards said he was fed up : "" Forty white actors in two years and no flava at all , "" he wrote . "" We can ' t act ? ! ""  A photo posted by Spike Lee ( officialspikelee ) on  In a video message on Facebook , Pinkett Smith also said she wouldn ' t attend or watch the Oscars in February . Pinkett Smith , whose husband Will Smith wasn ' t nominated for his performance in the  head trauma drama "" Concussion , "" said it was time for people of color to disregard the Academy Awards .  Posted by Jada Pinkett Smith on Monday , January 18 , 2016  Last year ' s all white acting nominees also drew calls for a boycott , though not from such prominent individuals as Lee and Pinkett Smith . Whether it had any impact or not , the audience for the broadcast , hosted by Neil Patrick Harris , was down 16 percent from the year prior , a six year low .  Isaacs has made a point of presenting a more inclusive show this year . The February 28 broadcast will be hosted by Chris Rock and produced by "" Django Unchained "" producer Reginald Hudlin and David Hill . On Saturday , Rock , unveiling a new promotion for the broadcast , called the ceremony "" The White  Awards . ""  When Oscar nominations were announced Thursday , Isaacs acknowledged she was "" disappointed "" that all 20 acting nominees were again white and promised to "" continue the conversation "" on diversity . Isaacs has worked to diversify membership for the academy , which a 2012 study by the Los Angeles Times found is overwhelming white and male .  But on Monday , Isaacs was more explicit and promised an examination of the academy and a more intense drive to diversify .  "" This is a difficult but important conversation , and it ' s time for big changes , "" she said in a statement released Monday night . "" The Academy is taking dramatic steps to alter the makeup of our membership . In the coming days and weeks we will conduct a review of our membership recruitment in order to bring about much needed diversity in our 2016 class and beyond . ""  Many awards handicappers expected nominations for Idris Elba of "" Beasts of No Nation "" and Benicio Del Toro for "" Sicario . "" The N . W . A . biopic "" Straight Outta Compton "" also failed to earn a best picture nomination , despite some predictions it would . Ryan Coogler ' s acclaimed Rocky sequel "" Creed "" scored a nomination only for Sylvester Stallone . ( Lee ' s own movie , the Chicago gang violence hip hop musical "" Chi Raq "" celebrated by some and scorned by others also went unnoticed . )  The hashtag "" OscarsSoWhite , "" created last year , was quickly resurrected online following the nominations . The Rev . Al Sharpton who last year met with former Sony head Amy Pascal following leaked emails that some viewed as racist on Friday lambasted the academy .  "" Hollywood is like the Rocky Mountains , the higher up you get the whiter it gets and this year ' s Academy Awards will be yet another Rocky Mountain Oscar , "" said Sharpton .  In his post , Lee made it clear the Academy Awards is only part of the problem in an industry with deep rooted diversity issues . In his Governors Awards speech , Lee said , "" It ' s easier to be the president of the United States as a black person than be the head of a studio . ""  "" The Academy Awards is not where the ' real ' battle is , "" wrote Lee . "" It ' s in the executive office of the Hollywood studios and  and cable networks . This is where the gate keepers decide what gets made and what gets jettisoned to ' turnaround ' or scrap heap . This is what ' s important . The gate keepers . Those with ' the green light ' vote . ""  Get the news delivered straight to your inbox  Receive the day s news , sport and entertainment in our daily email newsletter  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
19176,19177,"President Obama Says OscarsSoWhite Is "" Just An Expression Of This Broader Issue ""  Filmmakers Spike Lee and Michael Moore , as well as Jada Pinkett Smith and her husband , Will Smith , have announced they ' ll be sitting out the February 28 ceremony and Rev . Al Sharpton has urged viewers at home to tune out the "" cultural insult "" of a telecast . "" We don ' t feel that we have looked far and wide enough for the best of the best "" .  Boone Isaacs , who became the first black president of  in 2013 , said the membership , which is confidential , includes 7 people of colour and 24 female , an update on a membership breakdown published by the  Times in 2014 . Oscar winning actor Sir Michael Caine advised black actors to "" be patient "" because it had taken him "" years to get an Oscar "" . You can ' t win an Academy Award if you weren ' t in a particular role in a movie .  At present , the Oscars 2016 nominations ' "" lack of diversity "" issue has escalated , and some of the entertainment industry ' s noteworthy personalities are getting anxious that many artists would follow the Oscars 2016 boycott movement .  Whoopi Goldberg has weighed in on the ongoing diversity in film debate .  "" The issue is not the Academy "" , Goldberg said , in reference to critics of the organization ' s history of unapologetic whiteness .  "" You need directors and producers who will say , ' Hey , what about so and so ? ' They need to be aware that the picture is not complete "" , she added .  Those losing eligibility to vote would be moved from active to "" emeritus "" status , absolving them of having to continue to pay dues while leaving their academy privileges intact , except for voting rights . For the uninformed , once the Academy Awards revealed each and every nominee to be white on January 14 , hashtag activism on social media began with OscarsSoWhite , a boycott of the ceremony was in place and outrage from fans to celebrities was heard . It would seem unthinkable , and as if the Academy were deliberately ignoring so many talented people .  That ' s the boycott you want . Last year , I announced at the Governors Awards this initiative of A2020 , which was actually naming the activity that we have been doing . "" It p me off "" .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
19184,19185,"Hundreds of angry Amazon customers have hit out at the online retailer after finding they were being charged 79 for Prime services without realising it .  The furious shoppers spoke out after being hit with the yearly charge when their 30 day free trial expired , meaning the price was raised to the regular 79 a year rate .  One Conservative councillor checked his Amazon account only to realise he had been paying for the service for five years without knowing , while another shocked subscriber said she was ' livid ' .  Amazon Prime customers have hit out after hundreds of customers complained that they had been charged 79 a year for the service without realising it after their 30 day free trial expired  Hundreds of his followers responded saying they had been caught out after their free 30 day trial of Prime expired , meaning they were automatically upgraded to the 79 a year service  All Amazon customers will be asked to sign up for a free 30 day trial of Amazon Prime at the site ' s digital checkout , offering them free one day delivery on their purchases .  However , reading the small print reveals that after this 30 day trial ends , buyers will be charged the 79 a year rate , which includes movie streaming services , among other things .  The unwitting subscribers were responding to a tweet by food critic and  personality Giles Coren after he discovered he had been charged for the service for two years without using it .  On Sunday he messaged his 164 , 000 followers saying : ' You b Amazon ! I can ' t believe you ' ve been screwing me for 79 a year for Prime ! I had no idea .  ' I mean , Amazon offer a free trial in 2012 , then quietly start charging 79 and never tell me . That ' s what sicko porn sites do ! I ' ve heard . . . '  Outspoken Times columnist Giles Coren launched a rant against Amazon after discovering he had been charged for the Prime service for two years without knowing about it  Initially customers were billed 49 per year for the service , but this was hiked to 79 in February last year after Amazon bought LoveFilm and included access to it as part of the deal .  Jeremy Bellamy , a Conservative councillor for Barton in Canterbury , said : ' I noticed just after Christmas that they ' d been charging me for it . . . for about the last four or five years I think ? '  Amazon customers can tell if they ' ve signed up to Prime by going to the My Account section of the site , located in the top right hand corner of the homepage .  Once there , scroll down the page until you see the ' Settings ' section , then look under the ' Account settings ' column for a option called ' Manage Prime Membership ' .  Once you have clicked on that , a new page will open up , telling you whether you are signed up to Prime , how long you have been a member , and who is being charged .  If you want to end your membership , there will be a button on this page allowing you to do this .  If you think you have been wrongly charged for Prime , you can apply for a refund via the customer services page .  Lauranne Pearce , from Derbyshire , added : ' I ' ve just checked and yep 79 lighter and didn ' t even know it . I can ' t even remember signing up ! '  Meanwhile Sally Roberts , from London , said she was ' livid ' after also being caught out .  Mr Coren , who has become known for his often savage restaurant reviews and rants against sub editors of his column at The Times , added : ' Come on people , check your Amazon accounts .  ' If you ' re being secretly f by ' Prime ' let me know . It ' s a class action waiting to happen . '  Amazon has long received complaints over its practice of automatically charging customers after the free trial expired , with website moneysavingexpertweblink speaking about it back in 2009 .  In recent weeks the  service has also been attacked for being the most expensive in Europe after it was revealed customers in Italy pay just 7 . 50 per year for Prime .  Amazon say that the  Prime service includes access to hundreds of movies and  shows to stream online , as well as online space for storing pictures , and the ability to borrow Kindle books .  The  service also includes free one day delivery on millions of items , while Italian Prime only includes free 2 3 day delivery .  However  customers are not given the option of taking the cheaper service if they do not want to use all the features of  Prime .  Mr Coren branded Amazon ' highwaymen ' and ' corporate rapists ' after he discovered the charge , which is explained in the small print on Amazon ' s website ( right )  An Amazon spokesman said : ' Customers who sign up to a free trial of Prime receive an email informing them of the duration of the free trial and how to avoid continuing to paid Prime Membership .  ' Customers who become full Prime members can cancel their membership at any time and we will refund the full membership if the customer has not made any eligible purchases or used any Prime benefits .  ' So as long as you haven ' t used the free delivery , downloaded or streamed any videos through the service , or borrowed a Kindle book , you can simply cancel the membership and reclaim the subscription . '  Amazon did offer Mr Coren a refund online today after saying he had misunderstood the terms and conditions , but he refused , adding that he wasn ' t asking to be reimbursed , but was informing his followers of the practice .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
19187,19188,"A soldier who survived a Taliban attack that killed nine U . S . troops in Afghanistan last month described a scene of "" pure chaos "" in which he watched buddies die .  Army Spc . Tyler Stafford is recovering from wounds he suffered in the July 13 attack .  Army Spc . Tyler Stafford and fellow soldiers in the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team were establishing an outpost near the village of Wanat when about 200 Taliban militants attacked July 13 .  "" They had 200 plus guys all shooting at us I mean , pure chaos , "" Stafford said . "" You could hear guys screaming . ""  Nine Americans were killed and 12 including Stafford were wounded in the deadliest attack on U . S . forces in Afghanistan in three years . Afghan sources said that up to 100 militants were killed in the attack .  Stafford , who is recovering at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center , said he and his fellow soldiers were facing Taliban fighters on three sides when the attack began .  The Americans were outmanned and outgunned . A  spokesman said the defense of the outpost was "" heroic . ""  Once he was wounded , Stafford called out to his friend , Cpl . Matthew Phillips .  "" I yelled to him , I was like , ' Phillips , man I need help . I ' m hit . ' . . . I looked at him and I called him about four or five times . I was like , ' Phillips . Phillips . Are you all right , Phillips ? ' And he never moved .  "" That ' s the first one of my buddies I ' ve ever seen die . ""  A short distance away was Cpl . Jonathan Ayers .  "" He never once stopped shooting , "" Stafford said . "" I thought that was completely amazing . He never , I mean , he finally was killed by rocket propelled grenades and gunfire , but he never once stopped shooting back at them . ""  Lt . Jonathan Brostrom and Cpl . Jason Hovater were killed when they ran through a hail of Taliban gunfire in an attempt to carry more ammunition to their fellow soldiers , Stafford said .  "" They knew our guys were in trouble , and when the Airborne ' s in trouble , you don ' t leave them to die you go help them , "" Stafford said . "" They brought what they could . ""  The Americans were running low on ammunition , and some of them were so badly wounded they were unable to move , Stafford said .  Help did not come for an hour , he said .  Stafford eventually was helicoptered to safety . He said he looked back at the scene below while aboard the chopper .  "" It ' s like one of the those movies out of like Vietnam that you see with all these special effects and everything ' s on fire , "" he recalled . "" Smoke in the air , and that ' s all you see is tracer rounds going back and forth . . . just , ' boom , boom , boom . ' ""  The other Americans who died were Sgt . Israel Garcia , Cpl . Gunnar Zwilling , Spc . Sergio Abad , Cpl . Pruitt Rainey and Cpl . Jason Bogar .  "" The way they served each other you ' re fighting for the guy on your back , the guy that ' s in the foxhole next to you , when that kind of stuff happens . We all love each other very much , "" Stafford said .  ",true,text,test,American football,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
19201,19202,"The art of foraging for your food is no longer confined to the countryside , according to one top chef .  Caroline Davey , professional forager and chef is inspiring the nation to explore the  ' s best autumn ingredients that can be easily discovered by buildings and built up spaces or picked on country walks .  City dwellers can go sloe picking in Manchester ' s parks , discover Peckham ' s pavement crop of citrus pineapple weeds or head to Likey Hills in Birmingham where bilberries grow plentiful in plain sight .  Explore the  ' s best ingredients which can be easily discovered by buildings or picked on country walks  Outside of cities , intrepid cooks across the countryside are sourcing a variety of ingredients to impress friends and family .  From cobnuts found in Kentish hedgerows to juicy rosehips hiding along the public foot paths of the Isle of Man and more than 600 varieties of seaweed found along the shores of the  ' s coastal towns , the country is brimming with wild foods .  The fruits of foraging : Fresh sloe berries being prepared for homemade sloe gin  Wild mushrooms : Britain in home to the scarlet hood mushrooms ( left ) and the Amethyst Deceiver ( right )  Ms Davey said : ' There are so many ingredients that bloom in autumn and picking a few new flavours can transform a home cooked meal .  ' Find your own horseradish as this will spice up any sauce you make to go with beef and look out for wood blewit mushrooms , as these will have a superior flavour to any cultivated mushrooms you can buy . '  With more choice on offer in the wild , it ' s not hard to see why Brits are foraging for flavour .  The  is home to more than 50 varieties of edible mushrooms compared to just nine on average in the aisles of the weekly shop but be careful to pick the right ones .  The  is home to more than 50 varieties of edible mushrooms but be careful to pick the right ones  Freshly picked cobham nuts from Kent and partially grated horseradish , which can be found in Dorset  There is also double the number of berries on offer in the British countryside ( 18 wild varieties versus just five in supermarkets ) .  Not content with just swapping pre packaged varieties of autumn favourites such as blackberries , mushrooms and greens , Brits are uncovering new delicacies to replace the greengrocer staples .  Alexis Byron , Brand Manager of Gallo Family Vineyards , that commissioned the foraging trend study , said : ' Autumn is the perfect time to embrace seasonal dishes with an abundance of fruits and vegetables on our doorstep .  ' What better way to cosy up this season than to create your own , handpicked , handmade dish . '  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,present
19206,19207,"A pick up in the depreciation of the Chinese yuan on Thursday ( Jan 7 ) sent regional stock markets spiralling down and also left market watchers wondering what policymakers in the mainland are pursuing .  The People s Bank of China (  ) surprised markets by setting the official midpoint rate on the yuan , also known as the renminbi , at 6 . 5646 per dollar , the lowest since March 2011 . That was 0 . 5 per cent weaker than the day before and the biggest one day drop since last August , when an abrupt 2 per cent devaluation of the currency similarly rattled global markets .  China sets a midpoint for the value of the yuan against the  dollar prior to the market open every day , and the yuan is allowed to rise or fall a maximum of 2 per cent relative to the midpoint , also known as the daily fixing .  Thursday s fixing saw the onshore yuan rate fell to a five year low of 6 . 5941 , while the more freely traded offshore yuan plunged to a record low of 6 . 7511 against the dollar before recovering to 6 . 6910 later in the day .  A dramatic selloff also unfolded in China s equity markets , which were suspended for the rest of the day less than half an hour after opening , as a 7 per cent slump in the blue chip CSI300 index set off the circuit breaker for the second time this week .  Following the shock in equity markets , the China Foreign Exchange Trade System (  ) said that there is no basis for the yuan ' s continuous depreciation and that it was stable against a basket of currencies in 2015 .  However , a note from  Bank said that the  ' s action would "" create one way expectation of yuan depreciation , propelling capital flight and leading to significant financial instability "" .  Analysts say China s tolerance for a weaker yuan are fueling concerns that the world ' s second largest economy is in deepening trouble and that the government might be aiming for a competitive devaluation to help its struggling exporters .  The great concern for global markets is that the dramatic pace of the currency devaluation seems to indicate a far greater weakness in the Chinese economy than is easily perceivable in its publicly released statistics , spread better  s market analyst Angus Nicholson said . A lot of people in the market are speculating that this is primarily about boosting exports and stimulating the slowing economy .  A sustained depreciation in the yuan will heighten pressure on other Asian exporters to weaken their currencies in order to maintain their competitiveness . It also makes commodities denominated in  dollars more expensive for Chinese buyers , which could crimp demand and in turn further depress commodity prices .  Meanwhile , the yuan s slide also poses a risk for mainland corporates with large dollar denominated debt ,  s chief economist Tim Condon said in a telephone interview . A massive devaluation will put corporates under much stress and defaults could be likely .  Headquarters of the People ' s Bank of China ( PBoC ) , the Chinese central bank . ( Photo :  Mark Ralston )  On the other hand , there are analysts who feel that the central bank is making an intentional move that is a precursor to further liberalization of the currency .  A note from National Australia Bank said : It is more than likely that the recent upward adjustments in the onshore yuan fixing and the tolerance of a wider onshore offshore gap , is part of the long running move towards a more market determined renminbi . Part of that process will entail the widening and eventual removal of the current 2 per cent trading band on the onshore yuan .  Brian Jackson , senior economist at  Economics , agreed : Our view is that the  is implementing its new  regime as announced in August , essentially allowing the market to have a greater influence on the central parity rate set each day .  While the  will intervene occasionally to prop up the yuan , markets should be prepared for a steady retreat from active direct forex management over the next 1 to 2 years , Mr Jackson added .  The  has been propping up the currency via its foreign exchange reserves , but the support has been more sporadic since the International Monetary Fund admitted the yuan into its reserves basket last December . According to latest central bank data , China ' s foreign exchange reserves fell 107 . 9 billion in December to 3 . 33 trillion , the biggest monthly drop on record . ?  Meanwhile , analysts from research group Capital Economics believe that the  will opt to keep the renminbi broadly stable relative to a basket of currencies , the new index that authorities announced last month . However , poor communication about the policy change has created confusion that the  intends to further devalue the currency .  I think markets overreacted today with a knee jerk reaction to sell ,  s Mr Condon said . But it is natural to sell when policymakers do something that you don ' t understand .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
19210,19211,"01 21 2016 07 : 50 pm  Updated 2 days ago  James Moore Best selling author ,  political analyst , communications and public relations expert  Flint used to be a place of hope .  When Daddy and Ma came up from Mississippi with the first two of their six children , big tractor graders were out in the meadows cutting roads for new neighborhoods . A great post war migration was underway from south of the Mason Dixon Line to the steel and car and truck plants that were to set America rolling toward an almost incomprehensible economic boom .  And there was Flint , in the middle of all the prosperity rolling down the Dixie Highway from Detroit to Pontiac and up through Flint to Saginaw and Bay City . There was eventually so much demand for the sleek new Buick Dyna Flows and Chevy Biscaynes and Ford Thunderbirds that Michigan had giant factories just to build parts .  Delco had a huge plant to meet the demand for spark plugs and Saginaw Steering Gear provided thousands of jobs in the river valley up near Michigan ' s thumb .  My parents were drawn up from the cotton fields of the rural South . Daddy wanted to be a farmer when he got home from France , but the best he could do was sharecropping and there was never a man who made a fortune growing another man ' s crop . They lived in a bit of a shack with no electricity or indoor plumbing and sheets were hung in the single room to provide privacy for sleeping and when the wind blew cold in the winter Ma said they tacked newspapers over the spaces between the wallboards because there was no insulation .  But the stories of jobs and gleaming new industrial cities in the Midwest kept making their way down the turn rows of the farm fields in the Mississippi Delta Country and Ma finally convinced Daddy they needed to buy bus tickets and go north . I have never come to understand what it must have been like for my father to leave the land and go to a city where he knew no one and had no skills other than growing and chopping cotton but I have felt my parent ' s bravery grow with the years .  "" We didn ' t know what we were doing , son , "" Ma told me one day during a conversation at my sister ' s house up in Michigan . "" We just knew we had to do something . Other people had left and made out all right and we thought we could get jobs . Everybody was getting jobs . ""  They ended up on a mattress on the floor of an elderly woman ' s house and Daddy got up every morning and went to stand in line outside a car factory door . A foreman walked down a line of waiting men and tapped the chosen on the shoulder and they got jobs . Daddy had broad shoulders from swinging a hoe and tossing hay bales into wagons and barn lofts so they gave him work , lifting bumpers out of a metal press at the Buick Division of General Motors .  A year later Daddy borrowed 500 from his sister and my parents made a down payment on a  loan to buy a tract house in one of those multiplying subdivisions . The 850 square foot structure cost 10 , 500 , had three tiny bedrooms , and a sapling punched into the ground of the front yard . The porch was a four by eight foot square slab of concrete but I remember there was a white flowerpot hanging beneath the picture window in the living room and it seemed like an extravagance not really intended for us "" hillbillies . "" Daddy turned most of the backyard into a small farm and grew corn and radishes and even watermelons .  Ma got a job , too , as a waitress at a hamburger joint up at "" The Point "" where the two major highways intersected coming up from Detroit and the factory workers from the Tank Plant came in daily to order open faced sandwiches and leave her dime tips . Ma ' s hair looked really dark and shiny against her white uniform and when she came home after her twelve hour days she smelled of French fry grease and fish . She rarely made over 60 dollars a week and even when her wages were combined with Daddy ' s the 62 dollar a month mortgage was often late to the bank .  But there we were in Flint and the city streets were filled with waxy new automobiles that had crazy options like power windows and power steering and assembly line workers were often making enough money to buy weekend cabins on the pristine rivers in Michigan ' s north woods . There were still more forests then than there were tract homes and Daddy and his buddies from Dixie often went out at night with hounds and hunted raccoons that they brought home and skinned . There were sometimes coon pelts hanging and drying on clothes lines in backyards and the men who could not let go of old southern traditions tried to sell them to furriers like they were urban mountain men working their traps . When he was short of money for groceries Daddy also used to shoot rabbit and squirrel with his . 22 and bring it home for Ma to cook but she made him do the skinning .  Daddy also used to take us fishing when we were little up on the Shiawassee and Flint Rivers but he did not like the Flint because he said the water was dirty . There were hardly regulations of any sort no one wanted to get in the way of progress , and the river was brown with poison long before Michigan ' s current governor abandoned the city ' s residents . There has never been any one living around Flint who would have considered taking a drink of that water even at gun point so there is no surprise that a switch was made from Lake Huron to the Flint River as a water supply without informing the citizens .  I doubt I will ever be able to reconcile Flint ' s contemporary situation with what I saw as a young man coming of age . Our daughter cried as an 11 year old the first time we drove her down Dort Highway on a visit because she could not understand what had happened to the buildings and the houses and why people still had to live among what seemed to her young eyes like ruins , which I guess , was kind of accurate . There was a time , though , people from all across America were hurrying to Michigan because we had jobs and the latest in technology and Motown ' s music filled the air . Unions had fought for health care and retirement and paid vacations and Michigan represented a future where a family did not have to work itself to death just to survive .  Automotive executives began to act as foolishly as politicians , though , and Flint decayed into an American Beirut . The factories kept building V 8 muscle cars while Japan was churning out economy engines that got three times the gas mileage . The market shrank for "" Detroit Steel "" and now there are great concrete slabs with weeds growing through the cracks where industry used to build cars and trucks and parts that made America run . A few years ago I drove past the vast concrete foundation that is all that remains of the  spark plug factory and I struggled not to cry because I thought of all the people I grew up with who had spent their working lives on that floor . I suppose they are grateful for the time and the jobs .  Flint is mostly poor now and majority African American and lacks any kind of political clout . When the state government and Governor Rick Snyder took over the city ' s administration they probably thought none of their decisions were likely ever to be called to account because the electorate lacked sophistication or influence . The governor apologizes as if what has happened to my hometown is a failure of the government ' s administration but it was a calculated decision he made with other elected leaders .  We live in a culture and a country now where people win elections by promising to cut government spending so our votes mean we are also responsible for our bad roads and failing schools and decaying infrastructure . Americans have been convinced that liars in suits can cut their taxes and still do them no harm , and Flint has become a warning sentinel that we cannot further tolerate such harmful political absurdities anywhere in our country . Thousands of children will have their development affected by lead poisoning because a corner cutter did not want to pay a 100 daily bill for a city ' s water and because wretched pipelines have never been replaced .  Flint is a view into our tomorrows and we cannot fail to fix it and get it right . The population is animated and angry and there has to be collaboration between government entities or we will see the acceleration of a larger national deterioration . Blame , in this case , must be assigned and accounted for . Watch the news on television or the Internet and listen to the citizens and voters and you will believe they are not going to be treated poorly or denied basic services or the truth . The government might not lead us but there are families living along that river that will not compromise over the future of their children . The rest of us need to watch and learn and then act to rebuild our democracy to be representative and prosperous like Michigan when there was nothing over the horizon but another bright and optimistic sunrise .  Flint can still be a place of hope .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,past
19216,19217,"Syrian refugees expected to arrive in Canada were consoled by the fact that they are not welcome to live in Saskatchewan following Premier Brad Wall ' s concerns that some of them may be terrorists looking to harm Canada .  Thousands of men , women and children living in refugee camps explained that they would be much happier in a place where they wouldn ' t be viewed with added suspicion by politicians , and even happier not having to endure the frozen , apocalyptic hellscape that is Canada ' s prairies .  "" I would like to live in a province where the Premier understands that I ' m fleeing terrorism and not a part of it , "" explained Samina Nada , a mother of four who has been living in a crowded Lebanon refugee camp for two years . "" Also , I would feel desolate and alone with only endless prairie to look at all day . How can people live there ? The closest bookstore is two hours away . ""  Other refugees were much harsher on Canada ' s rectangular province .  "" I would rather endure another aerial bombardment than watch another re run of Corner Gas , lamented Basim Kareem who fled Homs when Syrian government forces began to shell the city . "" There ' s only so much I can converse about potash and wheat . And let ' s be honest , the only thing more humiliating than living in a province with a  team incapable of playing football , is living in a province where people actually care about  football . ""  Saskatchewan residents , meanwhile , can ' t help but view this latest development as a missed opportunity .  "" It ' s too bad , "" said a sad Georgina Fox from Lumsden . "" I was really looking forward to trying the kefta at Boston Pizza . ""  ",satire,text,test,Other sport,Conflict,true,satire,True,no,no,negative,past
19220,19221,"The propaganda popsicle stand that is The New York Times is floating the idea that Trump supporters are calling for a new American Revolution if Hillary wins. But beneath the cheering, a new emotion is taking hold among some Trump supporters as they grapple with reports predicting that he will lose the election: a dark fear about what will happen if their candidate is denied the White House. Some worry that they will be forgotten, along with their concerns and frustrations. Others believe the nation may be headed for violent conflict.  Jared Halbrook, 25, of Green Bay, Wis., said that if Mr. Trump lost to Hillary Clinton, which he worried would happen through a stolen election, it could lead to “another Revolutionary War.”  “People are going to march on the capitols,” said Mr. Halbrook, who works at a call center. “They’re going to do whatever needs to be done to get her out of office, because she does not belong there.” “If push comes to shove,” he added, and Mrs. Clinton “has to go by any means necessary, it will be done.” What’s ominous about this level of programming is that we know the system is already gearing up for this possibility with an election military drill that could go live at any time until a month after the election, as previously reported: According to an unnamed source – who has provided accurate intel in the past – an unannounced military drill is scheduled to take place during a period leading up to the election and throughout the month after. It appears that the system is gearing up to handle outbreaks of violence, chaotic rallies and poll stations, and the possibility that the people of the United States may become very dissatisfied with the outcome by using military force and martial law. The drill could, of course, go live at any time; Homeland Security and the military are prepared to contend with a period of unrest, and restore order to a divided and broken country – regardless of whether people like their new leader or not. As you know,  is already monitoring this election and prepared to take over its ‘critical infrastructure’. The scope of this drill would, of course, take things much further: Hi Guys,  I got some gouge from a former military colleague who is in contact with active duty personnel and he received an email about an upcoming drill. We need confirmation on this, but if we put it out there we might get a leaker to come forward and confirm:  Date: October 30th – 30 days after the election  Suspected Region: Northeast, specifically New York 1st Phase:  (No Rule of Law) – drill involving combat arms in metro areas (active and reserve). Source says active duty and reserve service members are being vaccinated as if they are being deployed in theatre. 2nd Phase:  (Limited Rule of Law) – Military/ consolidating resources, controlling water supply, handing out to public as needed. 3rd Phase:  (Authoritarian Rule of Law) – Possible new acronym or term for “Martial Law”. Curfew, restricted movements, basically martial law scenario. Source said exercise involves FEMA/DHS/Military  If the Powers That Shouldn’t Be are planning to steal this election for Hillary as hard as it appears they are , then it makes sense they’d be planning to try and clean up their mess afterward. Either way, the people have about reached their limit and are sick and tired of this level of corruption coming out of this government… and we know what happened the last time America finally got fed up with a tyrannical government. Delivered by The Daily Sheeple  We encourage you to share and republish our reports, analyses, breaking news and videos ( Click for details ).  Contributed by Piper McGowin of The Daily Sheeple .  Piper writes for The Daily Sheeple. There’s a lot of B.S. out there. Someone has to write about it. ",fake,news,test,US elections,US elections,fake,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
19230,19231,"Amidst rapidly rising costs throughout the health care system , a report published Wednesday by the American Hospital Association has found that nearly 2 billion is spent each year replacing gowns taken by patients who escape from the nation ' s medical centers .  The report , based upon inventory and expenditure data gathered from hospitals in all 50 states , found that patients who open one eye to make sure no one is watching , sit bolt upright in bed , and then flee medical facilities while still wearing hospital issued gowns have significantly cut into health providers ' bottom lines and made it difficult for these institutions to ensure they maintain an adequate stock of such garments .  "" The average hospital spends 43 percent of its annual supply budget on gowns , losing them every time an escaping patient waits for the nurse at the front desk to become distracted and then darts past while holding up a medical chart to hide their face , "" said  president Richard Umbdenstock , who noted that countless hours of productivity are also lost whenever doctors spend a portion of their day frantically searching through hallways until they finally spot the escapee and shout for security to grab them . "" Every time these patients peer carefully out of a doorway , steady their nerves with a deep breath , and then make a break for it down the intensive care ward corridor and toward the exit , they drive up medical costs . ""  "" Because once they go out those doors and speed off in a hijacked ambulance , we almost never get those gowns back , "" Umbdenstock added .  The report discovered that the drain on resources further extends to white lab coats and stethoscopes , which are said to be frequently donned by fleeing patients who avoid pursuers by ducking into open supply closets , emerging moments later in garb that often allows them to pass as health care professionals .  In addition , Umbdenstock confirmed , health care facilities must pay millions of dollars to resterilize instruments that fall to the ground from carts every time fleeing patients crash into them as they sprint around a corner while making their getaway . According to the report , a patient ' s escape often costs hospitals much more than the price of a single gown . Many escapees leave medical centers on the hook for up to 30 , 000 in damages , which begin to mount the moment fleeing patients rip the electrodes off their chest , and further accrue as they carelessly knock over their  pole in their frenzy to run off , frequently spilling costly intravenous medication all over the floor .  "" Aside from the equipment costs , many hospitals must pay workers ' compensation claims due to the physical injuries that staff members suffer when a patient on the run suddenly wheels a gurney into their path to impede their pursuit , "" Umbdenstock said . "" And if the escapee beats them to a waiting elevator , they are often hurt again when , running at full speed , they slam into doors that close just in the nick of time . ""  "" And this is to say nothing of the 185 million hospitals pay every year in added heating costs when doctors arrive to a room only to find an empty bed where the patient used to be and a wide open window with the curtains billowing in the breeze , "" he added .  The report discovered that the drain on resources further extends to white lab coats and stethoscopes , which are said to be frequently donned by fleeing patients who avoid pursuers by ducking into open supply closets , emerging moments later in garb that often allows them to pass as health care professionals .  Moreover , records suggest the nation ' s hospitals are forced to pay an additional 8 . 6 billion in malpractice lawsuits each year when these individuals enter directly into an operating theater by accident where , because their identity has been obscured by a stolen surgical mask , they are mistaken for a scrub nurse and asked to hand instruments to a surgeon performing an appendectomy .  "" Of course , these costs all double when patients escape in pairs , with one posing as a doctor and pushing the other in a wheelchair , "" Umbdenstock said . "" That ' s twice the clothing we have to replace . But fortunately for hospitals ' finances , the wheelchair is almost always recovered when an orderly in pursuit of the fleeing duo later finds it toppled on its side in the parking lot with one wheel still spinning . ""  ",satire,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,satire,True,no,no,neutral,past
19233,19234,"A cloud computing company is building what it calls "" the world ' s first zero emission data center "" in Iceland .  The British company Colt says the data center will be powered fully by geothermal and hydroelectric sources of energy , which Iceland has in spades . The blog Earth2Tech , where we spotted this story , says Iceland could become a "" magnet "" for data centers because of the wide availability of renewable energy sources there .  "" Why is a country , which blipped on the global news radar in recent months because of its ash spewing volcano and hard hit financial markets , such a hot place to construct data centers that could house thousands of servers and run web services for Internet giants ? "" asks Katie Fehrenbacher from that GigaOm network blog . "" First off : location . Its placement between Europe and the U . S . means that companies in the U . S . can run their Web services for both continents in one location , potentially saving money , "" says Fehrenbacher .  "" Secondly , because of its abundant hydropower and geothermal power , Iceland can offer data center services powered by 100 clean power for the same price or less than Web services powered by fossil fuel based grids in other locations . Internet companies can use the clean power to market their green services , or take advantage of green subsidies in certain markets . ""  Bernard Geoghegan , an executive at Colt , says his company chose Iceland because of renewable energy :  "" The location of this data center has been strategically placed so that it will be the first in the world to use 100 dual sourced renewable energy sources , "" he writes in a company blog post .  This development is significant because data centers giant warehouses of computers that store information that ' s on the Internet use lots of electricity . In the United States , these info factories account for about 1 . 5 of all energy use , according to a 2007 report from the U . S . Environmental Protection Agency . Total data center energy use was expected to double by this year .  Worldwide , data center energy use increased 56 from 2005 to 2010 , according to a report from Stanford ' s Jonathan Koomey , which was commissioned by The New York Times . That ' s less than was expected , but is still significant , the report says .  Colt expects its Iceland data center to be up and running within four months .  Other data centers have claimed to purchase their energy from 100 renewable sources in the past , and there ' s some debate about what role renewable energy should play in the greening of data centers . More important than purchasing green power is using less of it , writes Ian Bitterlin at the blog Datacenter Dynamics . To this point , the  recently created a program to help data centers go green .  The construction of the "" zero emission "" data center in Iceland highlights another trend in information processing : Data centers are often located in bizarre places .  When WikiLeaks was all over the news earlier this year , it was revealed that the secrets leaking website stored at least some of its files in a James Bond style data center inside a mountain in Sweden .  In the U . S . , these data center are often placed near rivers , so they can use the water to cool down the computer servers , or in rural areas , where they don ' t attract too much attention .  I took a trip to a data center a couple of years ago , and you can check out that story here .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
19234,19235,"Rihanna , who has released her latest album today  Stuttering , distorted , mid tempo beat and childishly taunting vocal , the opening track is a decidedly weird sketch of a song with no hooks , declaring : I ve got to do things my own way .  Loose , jazzy , electric piano and a concoction of random thoughts about sex and drugs , delivered with Rihanna s most sensuous and smooth vocal .  This almost sounds like a pop song , albeit one that has been dragged into an underground cellar and subjected to waterboarding . A metallic guitar slinks beneath ominous , deep synths providing a base for Rihanna s swaggering attitude .  Collaboration with Canadian rapper Drake , Work is a low down burble of fast tripping lyrics delivered in a Barbadian mumble and a chanted chorus , or at least wo wo wo wo wo wo . In the end , she runs out of steam before she can get to the final consonant , much like the song .  A dramatic mid tempo groove with a western bell ringing out over shuddering drums , deeps synths and vocal samples , as Rihanna confronts a Desperado Sitting in a bar in Monte Carlo . Singing There ain t nothing here for me affirms the sense that this is an album of refusal and rejection .  Sounds like a Kanye West out take , four minutes of slow stomping distortion with no discernible melody or groove and Rihanna s vocals swathed in effects . I don t care about you no more she sings . Could she be talking about her career ?  And slower still , the groove almost comes to a complete standstill with this airy gasp of desire . Yeah , I said it babe , Rihanna repeatedly insists on a song that has absolutely nothing to say .  Imagine Australian band Tame Impala with Rihanna singing instead of frontman Kevin Parker . That s pretty much what this is a long , slow , dreamy , psychedelic synth groove . I feel like a brand new person she sings . In the context of Anti , it sounds like a work of pop genius .  Picked acoustic guitar ballad about falling in love with a sweet melody a little too reminiscent in places of Dido s Thank You .  An actual song . With its guitar arpeggio , swirling organ , simple chord progression and repeat backing vocals , this is basically a standard , mid tempo retro soul anthem , with Rihanna channelling Amy Winehouse . Again , in the context of Anti , it sounds like a work of pop genius .  This sounds suspiciously like the same song as Love On The Brain , or at least the same chord sequence , woozily jammed out after a little too much to smoke and drink , with Rihanna extemporising a vocal about love and drugs , two subjects she frequently seems to confuse . And I know I could be more creative and come up with poetic lines she sings . Well , that s what she used to pay proper songwriters to do .  Slow piano ballad brings Rihanna s experiment to an elegant close with an actual verse , bridge and chorus , delivered with sweet conviction and jazzy runs of bass . ?  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
19238,19239,"By the end of World War One the army had identified 80 , 000 cases of a new condition they termed as ' shell shock ' .  Scientists have been perplexed by the symptoms that include anxiety , facial tics as well as terrible nightmares ever since but , after more than a century of research , the mystery may have been solved .  Experts now believe that a honeycomb pattern of broken nerve fibres in the brains of veterans that survived improvised explosive devices (  ) attacks , is responsible for the condition officially termed as blast neurotrauma .  By the end of World War One , the army had identified 80 , 000 soldiers suffering from shell shock and after 100 years , scientists have now discovered a honeycomb pattern of broken nerve fibres in the brains of veterans that seem to show the brain injury caused by war . British soldiers in the trenches are pictured  Researchers at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore , Maryland , conducted autopsies on  combat veterans who survived blasts in Afghanistan and Iraq , but later died of other causes .  They discovered that they had the same kind of brain injury a distinctive honeycomb pattern of broken and swollen nerve fibres throughout critical brain regions , including those that control decision making , memory and reasoning .  The pattern is different from brain damage caused by car crashes , drug overdoses or collision sports .  Vassilis Koliatsos , a professor of pathology , neurology , and psychiatry and behavioural sciences at the university , explained that survivable blasts may cause hidden brain injuries that play a role in the psychological and social problems some veterans face after coming home .  The scientists explained that survivable blasts may cause hidden brain injuries that play a role in the psychological and social problems some veterans face after coming home . Here , a soldier breaks down in Iraq after learning his friend was killed , and another ( centre ) suffers from burns caused by a blast  Millions of soldiers suffered psychological trauma as a result of their war experiences .  Symptoms ranged from anxiety and facial tics , to stomach cramps , as well as terrible nightmares and insomnia , as they relived scenes of slaughter .  By the end of World War One , the army had dealt with 80 , 000 cases of shell shock , which was first recognised in 1917 .  War neuroses accounted for one in seven men discharged from the British Army .  At the beginning of the war , scientists believed that the condition was caused by physical injuries to the nerves , but the man who coined the phrase , medical officer Charles Myers , realised that some soldiers suffered from shell shock who had not been in the front lines .  He , and others , began to think that psychological factors were responsible for breakdowns .  If doctors thought shell shock was caused by nerve damage , they treated soldiers with massage , rest , exercise regimes and electric shock treatments , but if they thought it was psychological , hypnosis and rest was prescribed .  ' This is the first time the tools of modern pathology have been used to look at a 100 year old problem : the lingering effect of blasts on the brain , ' he said .  Molecular probes were used to reveal details in the brains that they examined , according to the study , published in Acta Neuropathologica Communications .  Senior author , Professor Koliatsos , said : ' We identified a pattern of tiny wounds , or lesions , that we think may be the signature of blast injury . '  ' The location and extent of these lesions may help explain why some veterans who survive  attacks have problems putting their lives back together . '  Soldiers have struggled with bomb induced brain damage , which was dubbed shell shock , since 1914 , when German and Allied forces bombarded each other for months on end .  The condition is now known as blast neurotrauma and still affects some soldiers who served in Iraq and Afghanistan , where the use of IEDs were widespread .  Doctors treating  survivors ' often see depression , anxiety , post traumatic stress , and substance abuse or adjustment disorders , ' said Professor Koliatsos  ' Life is very difficult for some of these veterans and it ' s important to understand that at least a portion of these difficulties may have a neurological foundation . '  In the study , the scientists used a molecular marker to track a protein called  that normally travels from one nerve cell to another via a long nerve fibre , or axon .  When axons are broken by an injury ,  and other proteins accumulate at the breaks , causing swelling .  The study revealed that bulbs on the nerve fibres of the soldiers were medium sized , unlike those of people who died in car crashes or drug overdoes . Near the damaged axons , specialised cells , called microglia , that are involved in brain inflammation , were revealed . A stock image of a mammal microglia cell is shown  Shell shock , now known as blast neurotrauma , affects many soldiers who served in Iraq and Afghanistan , where the use of IEDs were widespread . War poets Siegfried Sassoon ( left ) and Wilfred Owen ( right ) both suffered from the condition , which Owen described as ' minds the Dead have ravished '  In the brains of people killed in car accidents , the swellings were large and bulb shaped , while in cases of methadone overdose , these axonal swellings were small .  In the brains of four of the five veterans who survived wartime blast injuries , the axonal bulbs were medium sized and usually arrayed in a honeycomb pattern near blood vessels .  ' We did not see that pattern in other types of brain injury , ' Professor Koliatsos said .  The veterans ' brains did not show signs of the neurodegenerative disease known as punch drunk syndrome , which is caused by multiple concussions .  But near the damaged axons , specialised cells , called microglia , that are involved in brain inflammation , were revealed .  Dr Koliatsos explained : ' In brains that had been exposed to blasts , we see microglial cells right next to these unusual axonal abnormalities .  The presence of these cells suggests the veterans who overdosed had pre existing brain injuries .  Lesions may be fragments of nerve fibres that broke at the time of the blast and slowly deteriorated , or may have been weakened by the blast and broken by some later accident like a concussion or drug overdose , the study says .  Soldiers have struggled with bomb induced brain damage , which was dubbed shell shock , since 1914 , when German and Allied forces bombarded each other for months on end , here a soldier writes a letter home  Researchers examined the brains of five male United States military veterans who survived  attacks but later died .  The bodies were donated to the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology .  Three of the men died of methadone overdoses , one of a gunshot wound to the head and one of multiple organ failure .  The researchers compared the veterans ' brains to those of 24 people who died of a range of causes , including motor vehicle crashes , opiate overdoses and heart attacks .  They used a molecular marker to track a protein called  that normally travels from one nerve cell to another via a long nerve fibre , or axon and found that the axonal bulbs of the veterans were medium sized and usually arrayed in a honeycomb pattern near blood vessels .  Near the damaged axons , specialised cells , called microglia , that are involved in brain inflammation , were revealed .  Dr Koliatsos explained : ' In brains that had been exposed to blasts , we see microglial cells right next to these unusual axonal abnormalities .  The presence of these cells suggests the veterans who overdosed had pre existing brain injuries .  Lesions may be fragments of nerve fibres that broke at the time of the blast and slowly deteriorated , or may have been weakened by the blast and broken by some later accident like a concussion or drug overdose , the study says .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,past
19241,19242,"Tweet Home » Headlines » World News » “Rigged To Deny Trump”: Looks Like Elite Trying to Steal These States to Block Electoral Path to 270  There are several states that are being surprisingly maneuvered for her advantage… and if successful, will block Trump from even coming close the presidency.   From Mac Slavo, SHTFPlan : Will the 2016 election be rigged?  That depends on what the definition of “is” is – and whether or not you count blatant media bias, operatives and instigators, shady quasi-voters, bizarre electronic voting “errors” and a heavy-handed advantage in the electoral college and the shifting demographics of a socialist state that promises much to certain groups.  With the  leadership turning its back on Trump, and the Democratic machine dedicated solely to providing for Her, it will be a difficult win for Trump, despite overwhelming enthusiasm at rallies across the entire country and lop-sided pro-Trump crowds that literally dwarf pro-Hillary gatherings of very few.  But as most everyone knows by now, it isn’t the popular vote that counts – but only the delegates awarded state-by-state to the electoral college… and that is a game that Hillary’s operatives are very good at playing. Daily News Brief: The 2016 Election Is In The Process Of Being Stolen With Rigged Voting Machines  There are several states – in particular – that are being surprisingly maneuvered for her advantage… and if successful, will block Trump from even coming close the presidency. Texas Could Turn “Blue” For the First Time In 20 Years  This is the big enchilada, so to speak. For the first time in many decades, Texas is in play for Hillary and the Democrats. Texas has been as solidly “red” as any state in the union, but 2016 could be different.  With 38 electoral votes, the Lone Star State is the biggest prize on the map next to California, whose 55 electoral votes have gone to the Democrats since before history began. Since at least 2008, the Dems have been massaging their electioneering strategy to capitalize on shifting demographics – with plenty of Hispanics in the next generation of voters. On paper, Hillary should be able to play well to Hispanics with all the controversy over Trump’s immigration stances and talk of a border wall. Rumors of illegal immigrants be encouraged to vote could be a crucial factor, with polls in Texas close to neck and neck… it could go either way.  Of course, there is every reason to think that Team Hillary is not taking any chances.  As Michael Snyder and many others have reported , electronic voting machines have been mysteriously flipping votes for Hillary in several counties in Texas… and that doesn’t bode well for a massive electoral prize that is within range for her campaign:  Early voting has already begun in many states, and a number of voters in Texas are reporting that the voting machines switched their votes from Donald Trump to Hillary Clinton. The odd thing is that none of the other choices were affected when these individuals attempted to vote for a straight Republican ticket. If Hillary Clinton is declared the winner of the state of Texas on election night, a full investigation of these voting machines should be conducted, because there is no way that Donald Trump should lose that state. I have said that it will be the greatest miracle in U.S. political history if Donald Trump wins this election, but without the state of Texas Donald Trump has exactly zero chance of winning.  At least one county is making an emergency switch to paper ballots after irregularities were found with the electronic machines during early voting.  Meanwhile, Infowars confronted the head of Texas’ elections about his decision to violate voter laws and abandon a manual count of a random sampling of 1-3% of votes (which should theoretically reflect the larger voting trend, unless something is fishy). Without that count, there is less accountability than ever:  This is major issue, and Texas isn’t the only state… just the biggest.  2. Utah’s Independent Republican Could Actually Beat Trump  OK, so Utah only has a grand total of 6 electoral college votes… and has never been a decisive swing state in a presidential election. But that is because the state has been so solidly “red.” However, this election is totally different.  A little known independent candidate named Evan McMullin has actually taken the lead in several recent polls in Utah, and is neck-and-neck with both Trump and Hillary in several other polls (at or around 30% apiece). Libertarian Gary Johnson is also playing (relatively) well at about 5% – possibly enough to swing further momentum away form Trump.  But Evan McMullin is the real surprise hit – in a state that is suddenly considered an important battleground in the election.  McMullin is a Mormon, which gives him a significant boost. He is officially tied to Better for America, which is basically a #NeverTrump operation – backed by neocons like William Kristol. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Evan McMullin has a pretty colorful and telling background : on top of being a former policy director for House Republicans, he’s also a former  operations officer; a member of the elite think tank Council on Foreign Relations (CFR); a former Goldman Sachs investment banker and a volunteer refugee resettlement officer for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Jordan.  Wow! I wonder if there could be an agenda there. Hillary probably won’t win Utah, but Trump may not either – and it could make a crucial difference if he is within striking distance of 270 electoral votes.  3. Florida Is a Must Win Swing State for Trump… But Current Polls Show Possible Hillary Win  Oh boy… Florida all over again. With 29 electoral votes, it remains a major contender that is so often on the fence and swinging in the wind. It is considered essential for a Trump victory, and indeed for just about any successful Republican bid for the presidency.  Sure, we all know the polls are rigged, and may be oversampling Dems to look better for Hillary on paper – but nonetheless, that perception drives expectations.  If She can create a convincing win there, it could change the course of the election once again. Florida has consistently been the closest outcome – in 2008 and 2012 it went blue for Obama; in 2000 and 2004 it went red for Bush (and not without major controversy and some very shady recounting).  Her team is pushing heavily for early voting in Florida, and so far they claim an early voting advantage.  But campaign surrogate Roger Stone is now reporting that Hillary has met secretly with Broward County officials in Florida, and there is speculation that problems with the voting machines may soon be happening all over again.  Pay very close to what happens there, because of course, Florida could be  deciding state (again). Right now polls are within 2 points , currently in favor of Trump by a very narrow margin.  4. Colorado Has Known Voting Fraud Issues – With Dead People on the Voter Rolls  With 9 electoral votes, Colorado is currently swinging “blue” but could go either way. CBS4 and the Washington Times reported that an investigation was started by Colorado’s Secretary of State after multiple examples were found of deceased people registered and in the voter rolls:  “This is the kind of thing you hear rumored, joked about in Chicago, that kind of thing,” Mr. Maasssaid during a Thursday evening broadcast. “Tonight, that changes. We did find voter fraud in Colorado that essentially waters down your vote.”  […]  “This is the kind of thing you hear rumored, joked about in Chicago, that kind of thing,” Mr. Maasssaid during a Thursday evening broadcast. “Tonight, that changes. We did find voter fraud in Colorado that essentially waters down your vote.”  It’s not clear whether or not Colorado could make a difference in the outcome, but the results could prove suspect.  5. Hillary Is “Leading” In These Key Swing States  While Trump is expected to win the crucial state of Ohio, and also North Carolina, Hillary is projected to take key states including Pennsylvania, Colorado, Iowa, Virginia and Arizona.  According to the Washington Post :  if Clinton can hold Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Colorado, then she only needs one more out of many swing states — New Hampshire, Nevada, Ohio, Iowa, North Carolina, or Florida — barring any surprise Trump win in a blue-leaning state like Wisconsin. That is currently looking very plausible.  While any of these could change in the actual outcome, it shows that Hillary has definitely maneuvered to win where it counts – not with the people, but with the electoral college.  The details are too numerous to follow here, and anything could happen.  6. You Know Voter Fraud Is Happening If the Media Claim It Isn’t  What should be very telling to everyone is how loudly the major media – in concert – are trying to debunk Trump’s claims of voter fraud and insist that all is well when it is quite clear that there are major issues.  This is one claim that the system is very afraid of, because quite frankly, they have a great deal to hide.  There is more reason than ever for accountability, reporting on any irregularities and an insistence that the will of the people be respected – because the system is desperate to hold onto control at any cost. This entry was posted in World News and tagged Donald Trump , Mac Slavo , Rigged Election , SHTFPlan , Voter Fraud , Wikileaks . Bookmark the permalink . Post navigation",fake,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
19246,19247,"A family of four in suburban Spring , Texas was arrested last Friday after neighbors used a free police app to report suspicious activity at the home .  Raymond ( 57 ) and Stephanie Wood ( 47 ) and their son Jess ( 18 ) and daughter Madison ( 22 ) were all charged with drug possession . Jess ' s girlfriend Nicole Rips ( 19 ) was also arrested . The parents are also facing charges for possessing an illegal weapon .  Neighbor Carlie Padgett told  that she witnessed a strange flow of traffic outside the Wood family ' s home on Candlepine Drive .  All in the family : The Wood family of Spring , Texas was arrested last Friday after neighbors reported suspicious behavior at their house using a free police app . Above , mother and father Stephanie ( 47 , left ) and Raymond ( 57 , right ) Wood  Charges : The family of four was charged with drug possession . Above , daughter Madison ( 22 , left ) and son Jess ( 18 , right ) . Their parents were also charged with possessing an illegal weapon  Search : After receiving two tips on the Wood family from the iWatch app , police searched the home Friday and found illegal drugs and guns on the premises  Wrong place , wrong time ? Jess ' s girlfriend Nicole Rips ( 19 , left ) was also arrested , but says she was guilty by association . The couple pictured together on the right  ' There would be a skateboarder that would come down our street , ' Ms Padgett said . ' He had a bag in his hand and he would throw it in their yard and pick up a bag and skateboard back out . '  She was there on Friday as police searched the home and says she was ' loving it ' .  Harris County police received at least two tips on the family from their iWatchHarrisCounty app which allows residents to report possible crimes .  Sergeant Larry Franks said the narcotics unit then developed probably cause to get a search warrant to enter the house where they found ' a quantity of marijuana , cocaine , morphine and Xanax along with several firearms ' including a sawed off shotgun and a  762 .  Vacation : Madison , Stephanie , Raymond and Jess Wood are pictured together at a theme park in this picture posted on Facebook in November 2010  But the Wood family denies they did anything wrong , and their lawyer says the search was illegal .  Attorney Sam Adamo said the police didn ' t have a warrant when they initially searched the house .  The family also has an explanation for the activity at the house and the weapons .  Mr Adamo says Stephanie Wood has leukemia and is forced to work at home where she runs her own e cigarette business .  Both Stephanie and daughter Madison claim to own a company called ' Bayou A Vape ' on Facebook , which sell e cigarettes in addition to vaporizers which can be used for marijuana consumption .  Family business : Mother and daughter both claim to own a business called ' Bayou A Vape ' on Facebook which sells e cigarettes as well as vaporizers which can be used for marijuana consumption . Stephanie runs the business from home because she is home bound due to leukemia , according to her attorney  Soldier son : The family says one of the illegal weapons found at the house belonged to a Marine son who had since died . Above , mother and daughter pose at son Chandler ' s grave  The illegal gun belonged to a Marine son who had died , the family says .  According to information found on their individual Facebook accounts , Stephanie and Raymond have two other sons , Chandler and Chase .  They have pictures of Chandler in his Marine dress uniform as well as pictures taken at his grave site .  Publicity : Father Raymond has several pictures of him and his wife on the cover of magazines . According to his Facebook profile , he runs a flooring store  The family has since posted bail .  Since it was launched in September 2011 , the free Harris County iWatch app has received about 1 , 500 tips a year , leading to the arrest of more than 60 suspects .  Twenty three per cent of the tips are drug related while the rest are about suspicious persons or activity and quality of life complaints like loud music .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
19247,19248,"The European Tour will look to stage the Madeira Islands Open later in the year after it was cancelled due to bad weather on Sunday .  The tournament had already been reduced to 36 holes for the second year in succession , but torrential rain meant no play was possible in the second and final round at Santo da Serra .  Keith Waters , chief operating officer of the European Tour , said : ' The Madeira Islands Open Portugal  is a hugely important event for The European Tour so it is disappointing for everyone concerned that we have been forced to cancel this week .  Bad weather forced the Madeira Islands Open to be cancelled by officials on Sunday  ' We share a very strong relationship with the hosts and sponsors , so we are already in discussions with the club and the sponsors to reschedule the event for another week in this year ' s Race to Dubai schedule .  ' We must now make every effort to make sure that the Madeira Islands Open takes place this year and that together we can show the world the true potential of this great event and this beautiful island . '  Winds gusting up to 47 miles per hour meant no play had been possible on Thursday , while further strong winds on Friday caused a delay of almost two hours before rain ended play early .  The European Tour event had already been reduced to 36 holes before Sunday ' s cancellation  Officials and greenkeepers tried their best to prepare the course for play but the conditions prevailed  Half of the field had yet to complete their rounds when play was abandoned for the day at 6pm and heavy rain which flooded the course caused further disruption on Saturday .  With yet more bad weather forecast for Sunday , the decision was taken to make it a 36 hole event , with the top 65 and ties due to play the final round in a shotgun start at 8am .  Denmark ' s  Hansen held the clubhouse lead on four under par , one shot ahead of a group of eight players including England ' s Andrew Marshall and Scotland ' s Peter Whiteford , with the entire field separated by just six shots .  It is thought to be the first European Tour event to be cancelled due to bad weather since the Compaq European Grand Prix at Slaley Hall in 1998 .  European Tour officials will look to reschedule the event for later in the year  Tournament director Jose Maria Zamora said : ' Unfortunately we had 60mm of rain overnight and throughout Sunday and the course became totally unplayable . That made it impossible to start and finish the second round today .  ' That would have put us into Monday and we had already been issued a warning for very strong winds on Monday which would again have made the course unplayable .  ' We have been very unfortunate with the weather this week but we are hoping to reschedule and show the true potential of the island . '  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
19250,19251,"Cows could soon be vaccinated against tuberculosis , ending the need for culls of the badgers thought to be infecting them , thanks to a breakthrough by British scientists .  Researchers from the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency in Weybridge , Surrey , have found a test that is able to distinguish infected cows and cows that have been immunised .  Currently vaccinating cows against bovine  is subject to an  ban because there ' s current diagnostic tests are unable to pick out an inoculated cow from one actually carrying the virus .  Disease carrier ? Badgers are set to be culled in  their tens of thousands because of suspected links to the spread of  bovine tuberculosis but a new breakthrough could halt the killings of the protected species  Cows that are healthy but have been given the vaccine as a result appear infected , meaning they cannot be reliably sold or traded overseas . But now a British team have developed what is called a ' diva ' ( differentiation of infected from vaccinated animals ) test which can show the distinction .  Used in conjunction with a new cattle vaccine that is being simultaneously developed , the test could enable the government to ask the  for the law to be changed potentially halting further planned badger culls .  Bovine  , which is thought to be spread by badgers , is rapidly spreading across the  and the government granted the first licences for culling the nocturnal alleged disease spreaders last month .  Controlling  in cattle has cost the taxpayer 500million in the past decade , and costs could spiral to 1billion over the next ten years without action , according to the Department for Rural Affairs .  However , the decision has angered animal charities which prefer a vaccination programme for badgers or cattle and hardcore animal rights activists have vowed to take action to stop the exterminations .  An effective new  vaccine for cows and the test to determine their immunity to the disease could save the badgers , but they must first be validated by regulatory agencies . That process , which has to happen before  law could be altered , ' may take years ' , said government Chief Veterinary Officer Nigel Gibbens .  Over the years , food writer Clarissa Dickson Wright has made it clear there is not much she would object to eating .  And , true to form , the former star of the  ' s Two Fat Ladies , pictured right , has now suggested that we should start eating badgers to be killed in the controversial forthcoming cull .  Miss Dickson Wright , 65 , said : ' It would solve the problem . There ' s going to be a cull , so rather than just throw them in the landfill site why not eat them ?  She went on : ' There are too many badgers . It ' s very interesting the reason at certain times of the year you see so many dead badgers on the road is that the badgers throw out their old and ill that aren ' t going to survive the winter .  ' I would have no objection to eating badgers . I have no objection to eating anything very much , really . Staple food of the population , well before rabbit because rabbit was a luxury food . '  Miss Dickson Wright said centuries ago the badger had been widely consumed . And when she was younger it was still a popular bar snack .  She said : ' Rabbit in the middle ages cost a man ' s week ' s wages for a single rabbit . People ate badger because badger was plentiful . '  It has been illegal to kill badgers or disrupt their sets since the 1992 Protection of Badgers Act which was brought in to prevent badger hunting and baiting which saw their numbers plummet .  ' We ' re determined to push this through , ' Mr Gibbens told the Independent . ' But to get the vaccine and the test sorted , and a change in  law , is some years away . I really would like to say we could accelerate this whole process , but I think "" years "" is right . '  In the meantime badger culls , which are overwhelmingly backed by farmers but vehemently opposed by animal rights campaigners , are set to begin in the next fortnight in pilot areas in Gloucestershire and Somerset .  Operating at night , with bait laid nearby to entice these notoriously shy creatures , marksmen will use . 22 calibre rifles and night sights to kill at least 3 , 000 creatures , or 70 per cent of the local population .  The hope is that this pilot , if shown to stop the spread of  in cattle , will be extended across England over the next four years , leading to more than a third of the estimated 300 , 000 badger population being exterminated .  However campaigners argue there is no scientific evidence it would work . A ten year study commissioned by Defra found a cull would make ' no meaningful contribution ' to the disease , and could make the problem worse by scaring and dispersing them .  And with public sentiment against the cull and a string of celebrities registering their opposition , it will not take place without a fight . Police also suspect that violent extremists involved in previous acts of violence and firebombings are set to hijack the campaign against the cull .  ' Everything is fair game , ' one animal rights campaigner warned the Mail On Sunday earlier this month . ' We ' ve torn up all the stuff about peaceful protests . We ' ve got people coming here from around the world . This is going to be huge . '  Queen guitarist Brian May supports the Team Badger campaign which is now being infiltrated by extremists  Celebrities are raising the profile of the campaign against the cull . Stephen Fry , Dame Judi Dench , Joanna Lumley and Jilly Cooper are calling for it to be postponed until a ruling has been made by the European courts on whether the Government is acting illegally in allowing the cull of a protected species .  And the  is among campaigning groups which have predicted that shoppers will to refuse to buy dairy products sourced from farms where culling is taking place .  The charity said that while it is not calling for a boycott , consumers will vote with their feet . Those opposed to planned cull of badgers in Gloucestershire and Somerset may also choose not to holiday there .  Gavin Grant , the  ' s chief executive , said : ' Those who care will not want to visit areas or buy milk from farms soaked in badgers ' blood . '  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
19283,19284,"The man behind the lovably hapless office drone  Dilbert  has a few things to say about Donald Trump   and they are a doozy.In a post on his blog, cartoonist Scott Adams blasted people who dared to compare Donald Trump to German dictator Adolf Hitler, describing the comparison as  racist  against German people.Can we agree that calling the candidate with German ancestry Hitler  is racist? It sure feels that way to me. I m about half German, same as Trump. And it feels like a racial insult to me.I m not easily offended, but I don t see any other way to interpret the incessant Hitler analogies directed at Trump. If he were female and Asian   with exactly the same policies   would we be comparing him to Hitler every five seconds?I don t think so.There are, of course, a few things wrong with Adams  analysis:  German  isn t a race, Hitler wasn t German, comparing one person with German ancestry to an infamous tyrant isn t  racist , the list goes on..But more to the point, Donald Trump wouldn t be an Asian female, because Donald Trump s policies   at their core   appeal to white supremacists who would never consider voting for a woman of color. The kind of hate-fueled rhetoric that makes Trump soar in the Republican polls is at the expense of minorities, women, and other disadvantaged groups. You know who else used prejudice and scapegoating to fire up his supporters? Adams sure can t think of anyone!However, Adams believes that Trump is actually the anti-Hitler, because   and this is pretty astounding   Trump is actually  pro-minority.  But only the  minorities  Adams considers worthy:What Adams doesn t mention are actual minorities, including Hispanics that Trump described as  rapists  or African Americans, who have been repeatedly violently attacked at his rallies. The minorities Adams counts are mostly just aggrieved white people who want things their way and are upset that President Obama won t give it to them.What about the Muslims Trump suggested should be banned? Adams agrees that s discrimination, but says they deserve it.Trump has indeed suggested discrimination against incoming Muslims. But I think you have to see this situation as a special case because Sharia law is incompatible with the Constitution of the United States. And conquering infidels is part of the Islamic belief system in some corners of Islam. If we can t tell the good people from the bad, it boils down to national security and risk-management.Hilariously, Adams concludes by begging his readers to instead try to compare Hitler to people like  Nelson Mandela, Mother Teresa, and Gandhi.  He claims it s  easier than you want to believe.  He doesn t explain how.Despite all of this lunacy, Adams says he isn t endorsing Trump for president, but only because the Republican front-runner  scares  people too much to effectively bring the country together. However, he is optimistic that Trump could  persuade  people not to be afraid of him using his  deal-making  skills. If that happens, Adams seems to think Trump would be an awesome president. Just ask all those  minorities  he mentioned.Featured image via ibmphoto24/Flickr ",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
19298,19299,"Reuters) - China sentenced a prominent rights activist to eight years in jail for subversion on Tuesday, his lawyer said, the harshest sentence passed in a government crackdown on activism that began more than two years ago.  In a separate case, a rights lawyer avoided criminal punishment despite being found guilty of inciting subversion, because he admitted his crimes, the Chinese court trying him said. Wu Gan, a blogger better known by his online name  Super Vulgar Butcher , plans to appeal against the eight-year sentence handed down by the Tianjin Municipality s No. 2 Intermediate People s Court, his lawyer, Yan Xin, told Reuters.  The harshness of the sentence prompted the German embassy in Beijing to issue a statement expressing disappointment. Wu regularly championed sensitive cases of government abuses of power, both online and in street protests. He was detained in May 2015 and charged with subversion.     The activist criticized China s political system online and used performance art to create disturbances, as well as insulting people and spreading false information, according to a statement from the court posted on its website.   He carried out a string of criminal actions to subvert state power and overthrow the socialist system and seriously harmed state security and social stability,  the court said.  Before his arrest, Wu used his platform to cast doubt on the official version of events in an incident in early May 2015, in which a police officer shot a petitioner in a train station in northern Heilongjiang province. Wu s refusal to bow to pressure or admit guilt likely explains his harsh sentence, said Kit Chan, Hong Kong-based director of China Human Rights Lawyers Concern Group.  Wu Gan is being punished for his non-conformity,  she said. His sentence is the most severe in what rights groups have called an unprecedented attack on China s rights activists and lawyers, known as the 709 crackdown, which began in full force on July 9, 2015. The hardline approach to rights activism has shown no sign of softening as Chinese President Xi Jinping enters his second five-year term in office. In the other case concluded on Tuesday, rights lawyer Xie Yang received no punishment after being found guilty of inciting subversion and disrupting court order, the Changsha Intermediate People s Court said on social media. The court released a video of the proceedings, in which Xie said he accepted the outcome and would not appeal. He also thanked authorities and said he will be a law-abiding citizen. Xie had worked on numerous cases deemed sensitive by Chinese authorities, such as defending supporters of Hong Kong s pro-democracy protests. In May, he confessed to the charges against him in what rights groups called a scripted  sham  trial. In January, Xie s wife and lawyer released detailed accounts of torture suffered by Xie at the hands of the authorities, which were widely reported on in the international media. Chinese state media branded those reports  fake news  and said the accounts were concocted as a means of gaining attention. Xie s lawyer told Reuters he stands by the account.  In both cases these have been serious concerns about violations of due process of law,  the German embassy in Beijing said in a statement.  The decision to hand down both sentences the day after Christmas, when there would likely be less attention from diplomats and international observers,  reeks of cynical political calculation , said Patrick Poon, Hong Kong-based researcher for Amnesty International. Asked about the verdicts, China s foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a regular briefing that Amnesty is biased when it comes to China and should not be believed, adding that China abides by the rule of law. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
19304,19305,"Cosby , once of the entertainment world s most popular comedians and actors , was charged in December with the 2004 assault of Andrea Constand , a former women s basketball team manager at Temple University in Philadelphia , Cosby s alma mater .  Former Montgomery County District Attorney Bruce Castor testified Tuesday morning that he didn t charge Bill Cosby with sexual assault in 2005 because he didn t think there was a viable case .  Kevin Steele , the new county district attorney , believes Cosby needed a written immunity agreement to avoid prosecution .  Castor said he was telling the litigants if they did not heed my advice to stop making public pronouncements and speeches that I would call the national media to my office and explain my reasoning for why I did not approve the prosecution of Mr Cosby .  Castor was the first witness to take the witness stand on Tuesday , answering basic questions about his background before one of Cosby s attorneys , Brian McMonagle , began to ask about Constand s credibility as a witness . But he has reemerged as a central figure in the argument Cosby s lawyers have now put before the court .  Castor testified that when he heard speculation past year that Ferman might charge Cosby , he reminded her by email that he d already committed the state to not prosecuting the comedian .  Castor s testimony will continue this afternoon , with prosecutors from Steele s office expected to cross examine him .  If found guilty , Cosby ? who has surrendered his passport to the court but has yet to enter a plea to the criminal charge ? could face up to 10 years in prison and a 25 , 000 fine . That alleged deal with Castor was one to not prosecute the actor regarding accusations by Constand if Cosby agreed to testify under oath at a civil lawsuit Constand filed against Cosby .  While at the Playboy Mansion , plaintiff told Cosby that she needed to use the bathroom , Huth s lawsuit reads .  Maybe that s because Cosby says he made a deal with the former district attorney of Montgomery County ensuring that he would never be prosecuted for the incident . Cosby , who personified the model family man in his hit 1980s television series The Cosby Show , and his lawyers have acknowledged marital infidelity on his part but have denied any allegations of sexual misconduct .  Castor , whom the defense called to testify early in Tuesday s hearing , did not file sexual assault charges against Cosby in that same year , citing insufficient credible and admissible evidence .  For all time , yes , Mr Castor said when pressed on the point . He testified that he gave Constand three pills before the January encounter over a decade ago at his home ? but insisted it was consensual . Of all of Cosby s accusers , Constand is the sole individual who brought charges within the statute of limitations .  Steele , however , has said he has no record of such an agreement .  Cosby sat passively as Castor said he d included information in the press release about similar complaints of wrongdoing against Cosby made by other women .  Constand s lawyers also say they knew nothing about a non prosecution deal .  In a barrage of allegations that have destroyed Cosby s image as America s Dad , dozens of women have accused the former  star of drugging and sexually assaulting them since the 1960s .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
19330,19331,"Blues singer Rita Chiarelli has played every kind of venue during her award winning career : nightclubs , music festivals , concert halls .  But of all those locales one remains unforgettable : the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola .  Chiarelli , an Ontario native , went to Angola with the intention of playing solo for the prisoners , but wound up performing and recording with inmates , an experience she says changed her .  "" I had no idea that I would be so moved and that my heart would be opened up so much from spending time with these guys , "" she said .  Chiarelli ' s unlikely collaboration with Angola ' s prison musicians is documented in the film "" Music from the Big House . "" She is touring North America , showing the film and performing for audiences .  Chiarelli said she arranged to get a tour of Angola a decade ago after learning of its rich musical history . The legendary blues folk artist Huddie William Ledbetter ( better known as Leadbelly ) plied his 12 string guitar from behind the walls of Angola . His music came to light through the efforts of folklorists John and Alan Lomax , who recorded Leadbelly and other inmates .  "" I saw where Leadbelly was probably incarcerated , "" she said . Angola "" haunted me , you know , the Mississippi River flowing through it and . . . I was just haunted by these images . And that all this music had come from this place . ""  Chiarelli said she began to wonder whether there were any musical inmates currently serving time at Angola . The answer was a resounding yes .  "" When she talked about a blues concert , that got our attention . We were excited about that , "" Cain said . "" It was a real morale booster for the inmates in the ( music ) program . She stood for the blues and we like that music here . ""  "" I think that the wardens trusted me , "" Chiarelli said . "" I met with them several times and I convinced them that my aim was true . Honestly I felt that it was really important historically to once again document music that was going on at Angola . ""  The documentary shows her working intensively with musicians in three bands in a variety of styles blues , country and R B .  "" They were really great ( musicians ) . A few of the vocalists I was very , very impressed , "" Chiarelli said . "" I mean they just have so much soul and they give it when they ' re performing . ""  As they rehearsed for a concert in the prison chapel , Chiarelli developed a close rapport with her bandmates , a bond that is evident in the film . Some of them reveal on camera how their lives got off track , putting them behind bars .  "" They opened up and told us their stories , which was the wondrous part of the film , "" Chiarelli said . "" It ' s really moving to see a fellow that ' s in there for murder tell his story , tell his circumstances , realize that there ' s victims that a lot of people have been hurt through his actions . It ' s emotional . ""  Most of the musicians ( singers Ray Jones , Albert Patterson , Emanuel Lee , bassist Laird Veillon and drummer Calvin Lewis , for instance ) are serving life sentences without the possibility of parole .  "" Ninety five percent of them are going to die here , "" Cain said . "" It ' s really important to give them encouragement and hope . . . . You can do the time if you have hope . ""  For many , hope comes in the form of playing in a prison band .  "" It ' s something that ' s really kept me going , "" Jones told filmmakers . He ' s been locked up in Angola for 32 years .  Chiarelli said her documentary reveals "" how these inmates feel when they ' re performing . . . and the release of anger and frustration and everything that happens through the power of music . ""  She said making the film made her mindful of not only the victims of the crimes committed by the men , but also of the prisoners ' capacity for redemption .  "" Through the film we see the humanity of these folks and realize that sometimes it ' s not always bad people that do bad things , "" she said . "" Sometimes good people zig instead of zag and end up in a situation where something horrible happens . ""  Chiarelli said her experience "" moved me deeply and just opened my heart to realize that sometimes people need to be forgiven , that maybe , you know , some people have a right to be forgiven . ""  She is aware that ' s a controversial proposition , one she is prepared to let audiences debate . So far she is encouraged by the reaction .  "" A lot of them ( moviegoers ) come out of ( screenings ) and are moved to tears , "" she said . "" And I think a lot of them , their outlook is changed . ""  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
19332,19333,"Sanders Forces Clinton Into Strong Defense of Obamacare  Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders spent the fourth Democratic debate swinging at each other on gun control , healthcare , Wall Street regulation and their ability to defeat a Republican in a general election , rehashing disputes that have flared up in recent weeks .  With the first contests of the Democratic primary drawing near and the race tightening , the battle lines were firmly drawn as Clinton , Sanders and Martin O Malley met on a stage in Charleston on Sunday night .  In the first minutes of the debate ? which took place just a short walk from the Emanuel A . M . E . Church , where nine African Americans were shot and killed in June ? Clinton ticked off a list of votes that Sanders has taken that she says reflect his alignment with the gun lobby in Washington , D . C . He has voted with the  numerous times , Clinton said , targeting her opponent . He voted against the Brady Bill five times . He voted for what we call the Charleston loophole . He voted for immunity for gun manufacturers .  And Clinton ribbed Sanders for changing his views on immunity for gun manufacturers . I am pleased to hear that Sen . Sanders has reversed his position on immunity , she said .  Read more : Hillary Clinton Hits Bernie Sanders Hard on Guns  Sanders struck back , calling Clinton s attacks unfair , and touted his own record . I think that what Secretary Clinton says is very disingenuous , Sanders said . I have a D minus rating from the  . I stood up to the gun lobby and came out and maintained the position that in this country we should not be selling military style assault weapons . I have supported from day one instant background checks .  This should not be political issue : what we should be doing is working together , Sanders said .  Read more : The Full Text of the Fourth Democratic Debate in Charleston  The candidates discussion of healthcare also turned heated , as Clinton criticized Sanders plans for being scattershot and undermining the Affordable Care Act . When you re taking about healthcare , the details really matter . We have been raising questions over what the impact would be , she said .  Read more : Sanders Forces Clinton Into Strong Defense of Obamacare  The three candidates have sparred in past debates , but with the temperature rising and the contenders launching full frontal attacks against each other regularly on the campaign trail , Sunday night s contest had a sharper tone .  Sanders slammed Clinton on a line of attack that he has until now not used : the former secretary of state s hundreds of thousands of dollars in speaking fees from Wall Street institutions . In one answer , Sanders lambasted Wall Street s power in the country and accused Clinton of being under the industry s influence .  Goldman Sachs was recently fined 5 billion , Sanders said . Goldman Sachs has given this country two secretaries of the treasury . The leader of Goldman Sachs is a billionaire who comes to Congress who tells us to cut Social Security . You ve received over 600 , 000 in speaking fees from Goldman Sachs in one year , Sanders concluded , turning to Clinton .  Clinton fired back at Sanders , criticizing him for once calling Obama weak and disappointing , and mentioning Sanders call in 2011 to mount a primary challenge against the president . He s criticized President Obama for taking money from Wall Street , Clinton said .  Read more : Watch Bernie Sanders Link Criminal Justice Reform to Wall Street  The stakes on Sunday night were high : the debate was the last before the Iowa caucuses , where Sanders and Clinton are locked in a near even battle to win the first contest in the Democratic primary . The impression the candidates made on Sunday could presage their performance on Feb . 1 the debate was their final chance to reach a national audience before voting begins .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
19335,19336,"Lukas Podolski was all smiles as he took part in his first Inter Milan training session since joining on loan from Arsenal until the end of the season .  The 29 year old was put through his paces on Monday by boss Roberto Mancini at their Appiano Gentile base as the Italian giants prepared for their daunting trip to Serie A leaders Juventus on Tuesday night .  And despite only joining his new side over the weekend , Podolski appears to have already created some bonds with his new team mates .   Scroll down to see Roberto Mancini discuss the capture of Podolski  Lukas Podolski was thumbs up as he trained for the first time as an Inter Milan player on Monday  Podolski was put through his paces by Inter boss Roberto Mancini during the session  Inter boss Mancini talks through tactics with Podolski as he gets to work with his new team  Midfielder Rene Krhin ( right ) and Podolski share a joke during Monday ' s session  Nemanja Vidic ( right ) will prove a familiar face to Podolski having played against him in the Premier League  Despite becoming team mates the duo are on opposite sides once more during the training session  Midfielder Rene Krhin is one to have warmed to the Germany international as the pair were seen laughing and joking in between the session , while defender Nemanja Vidic would have been a familiar face for Podolski after the pair ' s Premier League encounters for Manchester United and Arsenal .  Podolski will be hoping his training and performances will impress his new employers with a view to making his loan move permanent in the summer .  Upon his arrival in Milan ' s Linate Airport on Friday , the forward was mobbed by Inter fans ahead of completing his move to the San Siro outfit .  Isaac Donkor ( right ) tries to fend off the 29 year old Podolski as the pair tussled for the ball during practice  Podolski will be hoping to create a deadly strike partnership with forward Mauro Icardi  Podolski wore a scarf with the club ' s famous black and blue colours as he signed autographs and posed for pictures before declaring his excitement at the opportunity to play for the Italian giants .  Speaking to Sky Italia , he said : ' I spoke to Mancini and think he ' s a great coach . He wanted me and I ' m happy to be here . I know Serie A , it ' s a very competitive league .  ' I want to help the team get into the Champions League . Do I have a message for the fans ? I am happy , Forza Inter and we hope to have a great season . '  Inter sit currently 11th in Serie A with 21 points after 16 games 18 behind Juventus .  Podolski ( second right ) will be hoping to feature for Inter in their Serie A trip to Juventus on Tuesday night  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
19376,19377,"Walter Buckets collection of used electric chairs brought a very hesitant and reserved attitude amongst his visitors to his sit down dinner party .  1 . Adolf Hitler ' s brother , Rudolf Hitler , was born on December 25th .  2 . False : The Crying Native American , Chief Iron Eyes Cody , wasn ' t an Indian at all . He was an Italian and a direct descendant of Christopher Columbus .  3 . It was Spanish sailors that gave us the expression , "" Three sheets in the wind "" . However , it had nothing to do with drinking alcohol or even a ship ' s sail . It was just the way they pronounced shits , while hanging their behinds over the side of the ship .  4 .  : Macy ' s announces Super Saver After Christmas Sale . Shoppers stampede over lie down protesters . 54 sent to hospital . One critical as toy stuck up wazoo !  5 . Clint Eastwood is actually the son of Oliver Hardy of "" Laurel Hardy "" fame . "" This is another fine mess you ' ve gotten us into . Punk ! ""  6 . False : Kim Kardashian turned down a role in a new movie where she was to play a female sumo wrestler . However , she did agree to a contract for 750 , 000 to allow her big tush be filmed for the actress who got the role .  7 . The last photo of the late Joan Rivers shows her looking ten years younger than her daughter .  8 . The Homeless , protesting a five cents raise on McDonald ' s fries , hang eleven Ronald McDonald dummies in Central Park along with a real Ronald McDonald by the feet . Upset police captain had officers take down all eleven dummies before taking down the screaming Ronald . "" I can identify with these homeless . What if that had been Krispy Kreme Doughnuts ? ""  9 .  ' s "" Good Morning America ! "" goes to all commercials with two minute breaks for the news .  10 . Only Hindus consider the Praying Mantis holy .  11 .  : When  secretly released over 500 turkeys from turkey farm , their breasts were so big they simply fell on their faces ! Actually , some of them ran ten feet and died of heart attacks .  12 .  : There are no Mama Longlegs Spiders .  13 . Think Tank closed after attempting to mix human  with that of monkeys to prove evolution . Didn ' t work . So they began selling them as freaks to circuses around the world .  14 . Eskimos also have over 20 phrases for falling on the ice and busting his her ass .  15 .  : Revealed as part of Paul McCartney and Heather Mills marriage problems was the fact that she often kicked him in bed with her "" phantom "" leg .  Walter Bucket  ",satire,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,fake,satire,True,no,no,neutral,present
19383,19384,"Ahead of Barcelona ' s titanic tussle with Manchester City in the Champions League on Tuesday night , we look back at seven classic encounters between the Spanish giants and English teams .  Leeds 2 1 Barcelona ( Apr 1975 )  Fifty thousand crammed into Elland Road to see the world ' s most expensive player Johan Cruyff in action in the European Cup semi final first leg .  However , goals from Billy Bremner and Allan Clarke gave Leeds a lead to take to the Nou Camp , where a 1 1 draw saw them into the final .  Aston Villa 2 2 Barcelona ( Mar 1978 )  Cruyff and Rafael Zuviria gave Barcelona a 2 0 lead at Villa Park in the  Cup quarter final first leg , but Villa refused to give up and Ken McNaught and John Deehan struck to salvage an impressive draw . Barcelona won the second leg 2 1 .  Newcastle 3 2 Barcelona ( Sep 1997 )  Newcastle had a commanding lead over Louis van Gaal ' s Super Cup holders within 50 minutes of their Champions League group match , thanks to a stunning hat trick from Faustino Asprilla . Despite late goals from Luis Enrique and Luis Figo , the visitors slumped to a shock defeat .  Newcastle midfielder David Batty slides in to tackle Barcelona ' s Giovanni Silva  Manchester Utd 3 3 Barcelona ( Sep 1998 )  En route to their first Champions League title , Manchester United faced holders Barcelona in the group stage and quickly went 2 0 up through Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes . Barca fought back but a magnificent David Beckham free kick made it 3 2 , before Figo equalised from the spot .  Manchester United midfielder David Beckham shoots past Barcelona ' s Michael Reiziger  Chelsea 1 1 Barcelona ( May 2009 )  The performance of referee Tom Henning Ovrebo soured this Champions League semi final second leg , which saw Andres Iniesta ' s late leveller send Barcelona through after Michael Essien had put Chelsea in front with a stunning volley .  Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack screams at referee Tom Henning Ovrebo  Arsenal 2 2 Barcelona ( Mar 2010 )  With Cesc Fabregas ' proposed move to Barca rumbling on in the background , tension was high between the clubs . Zlatan Ibrahimovic punished Arsenal ' s backline twice in 13 minutes , but Theo Walcott turned the match . He scored and won a penalty , which Fabregas smashed home .  Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez holds off Arsenal duo Cesc Fabregas ( left ) and Denilson  Manchester Utd 1 3 Barcelona ( May 2011 )  Wembley hosted a repeat of the 2009 Champions League final , but United failed to make home advantage count . A fine finish from Wayne Rooney pulled them level after Pedro ' s opener , but Pep Guardiola and his side hit back with second half goals from Lionel Messi and David Villa to secure a fourth title .  Barcelona forward Lionel Messi is surrounded by six Manchester United players  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
19395,19396,"The Facebook page "" Black Women Do Breastfeed "" has existed since 2010 with a modest audience of some 2 , 000 people who follow it for news and conversations along with the occasional encouraging image of a breast feeding mother .  Over the weekend , the page shared a picture of a woman breast feeding at her graduation , prompting a chorus of social media cheers and jeers . While much of the reaction has focused on whether the picture is appropriate , the women behind "" Black Women Do Breastfeed "" say its message is lost in the social media chatter .  "" It ' s important for black women to see other black women breast feeding , "" said Nicole Sandiford , who started "" Black Women Do Breastfeed "" in 2010 as a blog and Facebook group . "" Seeing other black women breast feeding provides a sense of broad community and support for those who are trying to do it . ""  If that sounds weird to you , look no further than a recent post on the Facebook page asking , "" If someone tried to talk you out of breast feeding , what were their reasons ? "" Comments vary from , "" My mom said that ' s what poor people did in the old days "" to "" You won ' t make enough milk "" or "" It ' s something that white people do . ""  That wasn ' t Sandiford ' s experience growing up in a black family outside of the United States , where it wasn ' t unusual to see women breast feed openly in public . She remembers seeing her mother breast feed her sister and knew that one day she , too , would breast feed her children .  When she turned to the Internet in 2009 for support after her son ' s birth , she noticed that most images and personal stories did not include black women . Or , when conversations included black women , they focused on how they breast feed at lower rates than other racial groups .  "" I said to myself , ' Hmm , we seem to be missing from this broader conversation , ' "" said Sandiford , a married mother of two in Charlotte , North Carolina .  "" But , as I went through my life , I knew black women who were breast feeding , including me . I thought one thing I can do to broaden the conversation is collect stories of black women who are breast feeding . ""  Georgia mother Shlonda Smith also breast fed her five children , but somewhere along the way , a friend said to her "" you ' re the only black women I know who breast feeds , "" remember Smith , who joined "" Black Women Do Breastfeed "" as a co administrator in late 2013 .  "" It became important to me to see other black women breast feed and make it visible that yes , black women do breast feed , "" Smith said .  On the Facebook page , links to news articles and studies garnered a few likes here and there , but things took a turn a few weeks ago when Smith posted an image of a woman breast feeding . More women sent pictures for Smith to post and engagement increased , hitting a high with a split image of a woman breast feeding alongside a picture of pop star Rihanna in a see through dress . It included the caption , "" Why is it  for a star to wear this but for me to breastfeed it ' s a problem . ""  Karlesha Thurman decided to post the photo of herself breast feeding her child while wearing her graduation cap and gown in the comments of that photo . It immediately got more attention than any other post ever on the page , Smith said , who could relate to being a young mom finishing college .  "" It was just beautiful it just spoke volumes , "" Smith said . "" Breast feeding is tough at the beginning , so to see a young mom who balanced breast feeding and school , that ' s amazing . ""  But on social media and in other areas , Thurman saw some backlash . Smith offered to take the photo down , but Thurman refused .  "" I found out I was pregnant my last year of college , had my daughter one week into my last semester , she was my motivation to keep going , so me receiving my  was  moment , "" Thurman said , according to a post on the page .  "" Black Women Do Breastfeed "" also received negative comments about its name and its focus on black women . It also received new support the audience climbed to more than 7 , 000 by Wednesday afternoon .  The following interview has been edited for brevity and clarity :  Sandiford : I named it "" Black Women Do Breastfeed "" so that people could be aware that there is community of black women who do breast feed and who are interested in breast feeding and want to share their experiences . One of the things I used to do when I was looking online for information about breast feeding is put in search "" black women breast feed , "" and I figured if I named it something like that , it would come up in searches .  The name is not there to exclude anyone because from the very start , we ' ve had women and men of varying races express interest in being on the page , but black women need advocacy in this area as well . That doesn ' t exclude women from joining the advocacy , it just recenters the conversation .  In addition to making black women breast feeding more visible , we ' ve made women who felt like they were the only ones doing it realize they ' re not alone . We made women who may not have previously breast fed their children see this community of women .  There are women in this country who may be the first generation in their family to breast feed . They may be the only women in their community who breast feed , and that makes it difficult to find support .  Sandiford : In the U . S . , even though we do have breast feeding , it ' s not seen as a common thing . It ' s not really something you necessarily see walking down the street . For black women who don ' t know other women who breast feed in their community , it is important to see that is happening .  Sandiford : I think people were impressed that this young woman was able to graduate while taking care of a young infant . Because people are not used to seeing breast feeding in public in this country , we tend to get really nervous or scared or unsure or outright offended because many of us are not used to seeing breasts in that context .  But , I think it ' s important that photos like this are out there because women need to be able to breast feed their babies and sometimes it needs to happen in public . Babies need to eat , and they can ' t control other people ' s feelings . I think it ' s important that people remember this is about feeding a baby , and we as nation need to figure out how to manage our own personal feelings and allow women and babies to breast feed as they need to .  Sandiford : When it comes to social media , you will always see detractors , you will always see people who disagree . But I think it ' s good to remember that for each of those detractors , there are more people saying ' We support her , and we don ' t see anything wrong with this . '  We ' ve been very heartened by the positive comments we ' ve seen , and we ' ve definitely seen a lot more positive than negative ones . For us , we ' ve tried not to fan the flames because we don ' t want to contribute to any harm that might come , and we certainly hope there isn ' t any so we ' re trying to be a little bit more low key .  We are assessing how we want to manage pictures in the future . We don ' t want to discourage anyone who has pictures they want to share from doing so , but right now , our main concern is that women featured in pictures won ' t fear any harm from sharing them .  Sandiford : It ' s really hard for me to say , but I think that maybe certain assumptions might not have been made if the person in the picture was not black because we ' ve had people questioning her devotion to her studies , questioning her lifestyle and just making slanderous comments .  It ' s really difficult to say , but I do think the reaction might have been a little different .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
19415,19416,"Roma have been ordered to close part of their stadium for their next home game after supporters were sanctioned for showing an offensive banner over the weekend .  The banner , displayed during Roma ' s 1 0 defeat of Napoli on Saturday , caused outcry for insulting the mother of a Napoli fan who was killed in violent clashes between supporters last year .  A Serie A disciplinary tribunal stated the banners were ' by their content provocatively insulting to the mother of a supporter of the opposing team , who died in dramatic circumstances ' .  Roma players celebrate their 1 0 victory over Napoli , but the club have been punished for an offensive banner  Roma fans display banners during the game , although a banner ( not shown ) taunting the mother of a Napoli fan who died after violent clashes last year caused outcry  Roma will have part of their stadium closed for the league match with Atalanta on April 19  The taunts were aimed at Antonella Leardi whose son Ciro Esposito died after being shot during violent clashes that followed last year ' s Coppa Italia final in Rome .  Although Napoli defeated Fiorentina 3 1 in the final , but the incident involved clashes with Roma supporters encouraging Leardi to start a campaign against football violence .  Roma ' s Stadio Olimpico Stadium will be part closed for game against Atalanta on April 19 .  A young Napoli fan died after clashes between supporters following last year ' s Coppa Italia final  Napoli defeated Fiorentina in the 2014 Coppa final , but Roma fans were involved in clashes after the game  Club president James Pallotta has condemned the club ' s fans in a statement on their official website : ' As has been expressed repeatedly ,  Roma considers any events that lead to the loss of life at a football match to be a defeat for civil society as a whole , regardless of affiliations to clubs or fan groups .  ' The enormous pain that follows such events deserves maximum , unconditional respect from all and necessitates that all parties fans , clubs and law enforcement agencies strive to ensure that such pain is not renewed , not even verbally , in the stands of a stadium . '  The mother , Leardi , told the  news agency : ' May God change the hearts of those people who wrote those banners .  ' I watched the game on  and I was hurt by those words . It pains to hear such horrible things said about a son who has been lost . '  ",true,text,test,Football,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
19421,19422,"A spokeswoman said : Across the resort , airport style scanners , sniffer dogs , body searches , metal detectors , private security , police and  are being used to keep tourists safe .  We will continue to raise our concerns over the use of the devices in question .  While we have updated our advice on travelling to Sharm el Sheik by air , we have not changed the threat level for the resort .   claimed responsibility for the attack ( Picture : Reuters )  The detection devices used at the hotels appear to be based on those which came to prominence in recent years when a number of people in the  were convicted in connection with fake bomb detectors , security analyst Paul Beaver told the Sun .  He said :  operatives planning an attack would be wise to them ( the devices ) and would know instantly that they offer no protection at checkpoints .  It s doubly disturbing that these devices seem to be a version of the gadget exposed as a crude con trick two years ago .  Egyptian soldiers guarding the entrance to the Sharm el Sheikh International Airport ( Picture :  Photo Thomas Hartwell )  The downed Russian plane ? an Airbus 321 ? was still gaining altitude as it disintegrated 23 minutes after take off on October 31 , killing all 224 people on board the Metrojet flight .  Investigators are understood to be 90 per cent sure a noise picked up by the cockpit voice recorder in the final seconds of the flight was the sound of an explosion caused by a bomb .  Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond has warned that airport security around the world would have to be overhauled if it was confirmed the crash in the Sinai was caused by an Islamic State (  ) bomb .  Mr Hammond reaffirmed the view of the British authorities was that it was more likely than not that the crash was the result of a terrorist bomb planted on the aircraft before it took off from Sharm el Sheikh .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Conflict,satire,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
19424,19425,"Topics: Donald Trump , Bill Cosby , Sexual Assault , Roger Ailes , support groups , billionaire Monday, 31 October 2016 When translated Bill Cosby's shirt says: ""If you can see this notice, you consent to unconscious butt sex.""  Donald Trump, the man who heaped blistering criticism on Bill Cosby for drugging and raping women without a prenup, is now joining forces with the embattled comedian.  B.L.A.M., or Billionaire's Lives Also Matter, is the new support and counseling organization that has also become the latest vessel of reality denial for Donald Trump the former reality  star.  Trump explained his turnaround on Bill Cosby and also the creation of the new support group when he talked to CNN's Jake Tapper last night.  ""You know Bill was saying all along that these women were lying and just trying to find ways to sue or get money from him, and now I understand. Now that crooked Hillary and the rigged media have set these women up to falsely accuse me of sex--uh, kissing and touching them, it's really stressful for me, of course I can take it--and these women all of the sudden have lawyers and the press on their side, I mean they have more rights than the people they are wrongfully accusing, and meanwhile everybody says, 'Well Trump and Cosby are billionaires, maybe they did it, but their lives are so good and so what if some bimbo or old hag says they did this or that twenty five years ago.' But it never happened Jake, none of it, all lies.""  The  Host and Anchorman Jake Tapper squinted in disbelief as Trump bellowed on.  ""And so, Jake, that's why we need our own support group, because billionaire's lives do matter. People have no idea how it feels, what's happened to us--I mean they can't relate because most people aren't' billionaires.  Tapper followed up to Trump's incoherence, asking:  ""Aren't you guys just avoiding culpability by denying the accusations of a hundred plus women between you and Cosby, and then creating a support group for the so called 'wrongfully accused?'""  ""Excuse me, Excuse me Jake,"" Trump started before Tapper even finished. ""People are always talking about how the victims have to be heard and treated with kid gloves, well what about us? We're victims--and I can't even describe how it felt to hear Bill and Roger [Ailes] tell their stories, and I thought 'Oh my God, that's my story' and if I had a heart, I would have cried then, but my shallowest reaction instead was to try and monetize the situation, and so the first meeting of B.L.A.M. will be a pilot for a new reality show by the same name.""  The Spoof's own legal analysts say Donald Trump, Bill Cosby, and Roger Ailes would be exposing themselves to even more lawsuits if they were foolish enough to air Billionaires Lives Also Matter. It's also highly unlikely that Trump's former partner  would pick up such a show, some say Trump will air the show himself if there are no takers for B.L.A.M.  Could this be the start of Trump TV?  Bill Cosby later released a statement to the press that read, ""The dingy doo in da dingy bop, dee boop dee boop dee doo doo, buh razbatax"" Make XRhonda Speaks's day - give this story five thumbs-up (there's no need to register , the thumbs are just down there!)",fake,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,present
19425,19426,"Healthweblink ) People with Alzheimer ' s disease who continue taking the drug donepezil ( Aricept ) do get some benefit even as their symptoms worsen , a new study suggests .  While the drug is approved for all stages of the memory robbing disease , many people stop taking it . As a patient ' s memory and behavior problems get more severe , it can be hard to tell if the benefit of the treatment outweighs the risk of side effects , such as lack of appetite , weight loss , dizziness , and agitation .  In general , Alzheimer ' s disease treatment can be a heartbreaking disappointment . The few drugs that are available tend to stop working over time , giving patients and families only a brief reprieve from the disease ' s relentless progression .  Healthweblink : 25 signs and symptoms of Alzheimer ' s disease  In a new study of 295 people with an average age of 77 and moderate to severe Alzheimer ' s , those taking donepezil saw improvements "" equivalent to around four months ' worth of deterioration in cognition and function , "" says lead study author Dr Robert Howard , professor of old age psychiatry at King ' s College London , U . K .  Put another way , those who discontinued donepezil lost "" about a third more cognition over one year than they would have if they had stuck with it , "" says Gary Kennedy , M . D . , director of geriatric psychiatry at Montefiore Medical Center in New York , who was not involved with the study .  "" This may not sound like much , but to a patient with Alzheimer ' s disease at this point in their illness or their carers , any improvement in cognition or function that supports independence is valuable , "" Howard adds .  Healthweblink : 7 ways to protect your memory  It ' s possible that in some cases , even this much of a benefit could mean the difference between staying at home and going into assisted living .  About 5 . 4 million people in the U . S . have Alzheimer ' s disease , according to the Alzheimer ' s Association .  Donepezil was also more effective than another common Alzheimer ' s drug , memantine ( Namenda ) , in patients with later stage disease , although memantine still showed some benefit , according to the study published this week in The New England Journal of Medicine .  In general , Alzheimer ' s drugs are notoriously fickle , working relatively well for some , not as well for others , and not at all for some .  "" In some people , drugs are effective for many months or even up to several years . Other people don ' t see any benefit . Other people are unable to take them because of side effects , "" says Heather M . Snyder , Ph . D . , senior associate director of medical and scientific relations at the Alzheimer ' s Association .  Healthweblink : 9 foods that may help save your memory  All of the patients included in this study were still living in communities ( as opposed to nursing homes ) in England and Scotland and all had been taking donepezil for about two to three years by the time they enrolled in the trial .  The men and women were randomly assigned to one of four treatment strategies for one year : continue taking donepezil stop taking donepezil and start taking an inactive placebo substitute memantine for donepezil , or continue taking donepezil and memantine together .  People who continued taking donepezil did better on two different scales of cognition and impairment than those taking no medication or those taking memantine alone .  There was some evidence in the study that the improvements were actually noticeable to families and others . For example , people who were taking only an inactive placebo were more likely than patients in other groups to drop out of study , suggesting these families had noticed the placebo "" medication "" wasn ' t working .  Healthweblink : Computer games that boost your memory  "" People who discontinued donepezil were much more likely to abandon the drug altogether , which implies that families picked up on the subtle effects of the drugs , "" notes Kennedy .  Taking either memantine or donepezil alone was better than nothing at all , but taking them together offered no additional benefit .  Although the combination of donepezil and memantine a common strategy in the U . S . , but not the U . K . had no added benefit , each drug had "" independent positive effects , "" says Howard , who advises patients at this stage of the disease to continue taking both drugs if possible .  Memantine , he says , "" has an additional benefit of preventing the emergence of symptoms like agitation , suspiciousness , and aggression . ""  However , Lon S . Schneider , M . D . , of the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine , Los Angeles , wrote In an accompanying editorial that "" further study "" is needed to determine if memantine should be used in combination with donepezil .  Healthweblink : How to age proof your memory  Donepezil is approved in the U . S . for all stages of Alzheimer ' s while memantine is approved for moderate to severe Alzheimer ' s . Donepezil is one of a class of drugs known as cholinesterase inhibitors while memantine is a glutamate moderator . "" They both have slightly different ways of helping brain cells talk to each other longer , "" says Snyder .  It ' s unclear if the results would apply to other cholinesterase inhibitors such as galantamine ( Razadyne ) or rivastigmine ( Exelon ) , the editorial noted .  In any event , families , patients and healthcare providers still face difficult decisions in how to treat individual Alzheimer ' s patients .  Healthweblink : Need a memory boost ? Try these quick tips  "" This study starts to look at some of the questions about decisions that physicians and families are making every day , treating loved ones in moderate to severe , what should be treating with , should they stop treatment , should they continue and if so how long , practical , "" says Snyder . "" This underscores our need for more research to fully say what is the right path of treatment and we are desperately in need of more treatments and therapies to help Alzheimer ' s patients . ""  The researchers note that stopping donepezil can cause withdrawal ( which can temporarily worsen symptoms ) , so the drug should be gradually tapered down before going off it completely .  The U . K . Medical Research Council and the Alzheimer ' s Society funded the study .  Copyright Health Magazine 2011  ",true,text,test,US elections,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
19446,19447,"You are here : Home Microsoft earnings show effects of turnaround strategy  "" Businesses everywhere are using the Microsoft Cloud as their digital platform to drive their ambitious transformation agendas "" , Satya Nadella , Microsoft ' s  said in a statement .  Microsoft ' s aggressive campaign to promote Windows 10 has led to its deployment on more than 200 million devices since its July release .  Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters had expected adjusted per share profit of 71 cents and revenue of US25 . 26 billion .  Overall , Microsoft ' s revenue from the quarter ended December 31 was 23 . 8 billion , a decline of 10 percent from the same period in 2014 .  ' It was a strong holiday season for Microsoft highlighted by Surface and Xbox , ' said chief operating officer Kevin Turner , referring to the company ' s tablet computer family and gaming console . It ' s also redesigned other popular products , such as the Office word processing and spreadsheet programs , to work as mobile apps for devices running operating systems made by its rivals , Apple and Google . ( Not counting the effects of currency exchange rates . ) The company also bragged that more than one third of the Fortune 500 is using its Enterprise Mobility solutions , which make it easier to secure devices that a company controls . Overall revenue beat analysts ' forecasts , and Surface sales in particular saw a sharp rise , pushed by the Surface Book and Surface Pro 4 .  Microsoft Corp (  Analyst Report ) just released their second quarter fiscal 2016 earnings results , posting earnings of 0 . 78 and revenue of 25 . 7 billion . Microsoft ' s commercial "" cloud computing "" service is now the industry ' s second largest , after Amazon ' s .  Revenue from the company ' s increasingly important "" Intelligent Cloud "" business , which includes products such as servers and platforms such as Azure cloud infrastructure and services , rose 5 percent to 6 . 3 billion . The cloud , in which growing numbers of companies move much of their information technology off premises , proved a bright spot for the Redmond , Wash . based software giant .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
19459,19460,"Carl Icahn was late, but he still had something to say. Wedging himself around a table crowded with Republican donors at a Hamptons beach house, he jumped in as Senator Mitch McConnell described how important it was to hold on to the Senate this fall. It was important to help Republicans hold the Senate, Mr. Icahn told the room. But they were kidding themselves if they thought they could leave Donald J. Trump twisting in the wind. “We have to get behind Trump,” Mr. Icahn said, according to two people who attended the event, held shortly after the Republican convention in Cleveland. “We all have to come together. ” In hotel suites and skyboxes, from K Street to the Texas suburbs, in conversations that are both urgent and strained, allies of Mr. Trump are imploring senior Republicans and senior party donors to come to Mr. Trump’s aid, despite a damaging series of   controversies that have left some in the party ready to abandon him. The goal is to persuade thousands of the party’s most reliable patrons to overcome their lingering objections to the candidate most of them never wanted, and to help defeat a Democrat most of them want even less. In the coming weeks, Mr. Trump and campaign officials will attend a string of     organized with the Republican National Committee, hitting the summer haunts of the     —   from East Hampton to the California wine country  —   in a   effort to tap into the party’s vast financial reserves. On Monday in Detroit, Mr. Trump is scheduled to unveil a set of detailed economic policy prescriptions, a speech his supporters hope will help Mr. Trump reset his campaign and remind wavering Republican donors of the stark contrast that he offers to Hillary Clinton on issues like taxes and regulation. “It’s somewhat of a natural evolution with the donor base,” said Gaylord T. Hughey Jr. an energy lawyer who formerly backed Jeb Bush and is now helping lead Mr. Trump’s   in Texas. “I think the traditional donor base was somewhat shocked by Trump’s nomination. They’re learning more about him, but they’re also focused on what the alternative is, and what the implications of the alternative are. ” It is a dizzying turnaround for everyone involved, several donors said in interviews. Aides and   for Mr. Trump, a   billionaire who has spent months proclaiming his independence from the party’s traditional financial interests, now concede that they need mainline Republican donors to swing behind Mr. Trump so that he will have enough financial firepower to compete with Mrs. Clinton in the air and on the ground. While Mr. Trump’s campaign has rapidly ramped up     bringing in $64 million jointly with the Republican committee through digital and direct mail appeals in July, he is lagging behind Mrs. Clinton on larger checks, particularly the   and   donations that wealthy donors make to party organizations. And just as he asks for help, the party’s establishment donors are reeling from Mr. Trump’s decision to pick fights with the family of a deceased Iraq war veteran and the popular Republican House speaker, Paul D. Ryan. Even so, many are grappling with the fact that he remains their only chance at keeping a Democrat out of the White House. But donors supportive of Mr. Trump said in interviews that they were encouraging their peers to consider the downside of a Clinton administration: a liberal Supreme Court and economic policies pushed to the left by Senator Bernie Sanders and the Democrats’ newly empowered progressive wing. “As he unfolds more details of his various policies, I believe the level of comfort will grow,” Wilbur L. Ross Jr. a New York investor and donor who held a   for Mr. Trump in July, said in an email. “More and more people are realizing that they shouldn’t be distracted by the sideshows that result from clever Democratic baiting of Trump,” he added. Some Trump backers argue that despite his criticisms of Washington, Mr. Trump is likely to lean heavily on conservative think tanks and   trade associations to stock his administration. Others are urging their fellow donors to face the hard truth that Mr. Trump thumped the donor class’s preferred candidates and earned the favor of Republican voters. Now, they say, it is time for the donors to respect the voters’ wishes. “In addition to fear of    policies under a President Hillary Clinton, there’s a certain earned respect for Trump among these people,” said Kellyanne Conway, an adviser to Mr. Trump who is close to some of the party’s biggest donors. “The difference with some of these other successful people is respect for people who elevated him to the nomination. ” There are plenty of vocal and visible holdouts. Paul E. Singer, the prominent New York investor who raised more than $3 million for Mitt Romney during the 2012 campaign, has conveyed to Republican officials that he would not donate a dollar more to the Republican National Committee as long as Mr. Trump was the party’s nominee. Other prominent donors spoke out last week after Mr. Trump’s belittling of the parents of Capt. Humayun Khan, who died in a car bombing in Iraq in 2004 while serving in the Army. Seth Klarman, a Boston financier who has given more than $4 million to Republican candidates and groups over the years, has decided to back Mrs. Clinton. So has Meg Whitman, the   executive who was a leading   for Mr. Romney’s campaign, and who said last week that Mr. Trump was a “dishonest demagogue. ” On Wednesday, Mr. Klarman said that Mr. Trump’s “words and actions over the last several days are so shockingly unacceptable in our diverse and democratic society that it is simply unthinkable that Donald Trump could become our president. ” Mr. Trump has also been abandoned by Charles G. and David H. Koch, the billionaire brothers who oversee a network of conservative political and philanthropic groups. Many of their allied donors traveled to a luxury resort in Colorado Springs last weekend for the summer edition of the network’s biannual “seminars. ” Mr. Ryan, who clashed with Mr. Trump last week before finally getting his endorsement Friday for   was invited to speak at the event. Mr. Trump was not  —   though some Trump supporters pressed his case at private meetings and cocktail hours. Doug Deason, a Dallas investor whose family is active in the Koch’s political network, urged Charles Koch to reconsider, Mr. Deason recalled in an interview. Mr. Koch declined. “I brought up the fact that it would be nice for him to at least say that he would vote for him,” said Mr. Deason, whose conversation with Mr. Koch was first reported by The Hill. Mr. Koch has said that Mr. Trump’s policies do not align with his own, or those of the groups that he and his brother oversee, and that they cannot support him simply because he is the Republican nominee, according to James Davis, a spokesman for Freedom Partners, a nonprofit group that runs the seminars. Mr. Deason said that other   donors he spoke to were supporting Mr. Trump financially on their own. So is William I. Koch, the estranged brother of Charles and David, who hosted Mr. Trump at his home in Cape Cod, in Massachusetts, on Saturday. And Mr. Trump is also having luck outside the ranks of megadonors, among the thousands of business owners and volunteer   who form the base of     in presidential campaigns. “It’s no different from raising money with either Mitt or John McCain,” said Brian D. Ballard, a Florida lobbyist who previously backed Mr. Bush and Senator Marco Rubio, but is now raising money for Mr. Trump. Two recent events, in Tampa, Fla. and Miami, raised more than $2 million for Mr. Trump and his party. “It’s about: What is government going to look like?” said Mr. Ballard. “A Clinton government? To most of the people I deal with, it’s horrifying. ”",true,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
19468,19469,"A 22 year old Boston University graduate who fell down an elevator shaft at Boston ' s Fenway Park remains in serious condition , and "" her prognosis is uncertain , "" a lawyer for her family said Tuesday .  Elisabeth Scotland of New Jersey fell into the elevator shaft after a Red Sox game Friday , the day of her graduation from the Boston University ' s School of Management .  Though the cause of the accident remains under investigation , a spokesman for the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security said "" extreme force "" against the bottom of the elevator door probably caused a break of the "" fasteners and metal back up safety system "" that kept the door in place .  Spokesman Terrel Harris said investigators believe that the force caused the door to give , but the cause of the pressure is unclear . He said the elevator , which was operating properly during its last inspection in February , remains out of service .  "" The Scotland family appreciates the many expressions of concern and support that have come from the Boston community and the Red Sox organization , "" said a statement released by Patrick Jones , a lawyer for Scotland ' s family . "" They acknowledge with gratitude the outpouring of love and support from their South Jersey community . ""  The statement added , "" At this time Lizzy continues to receive medical and surgical care and attention at Beth Israel her condition is serious and her prognosis is uncertain . ""  Scotland was transported to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center after the fall .  "" Somehow ( the ) elevator shaft doors on floor 4 opened , "" the Boston Fire Department said on Twitter .  Scotland fell into the shaft , landing on the roof of the elevator , the department said .  "" The firefighters went to the upper floors and were able to look down and see her , "" McDonald added . "" She was not moving . ""  Firefighters cut power to the elevator after stopping it on the second floor , the fire department said .  Rescuers did not wait for a ladder they used a chair and boosted themselves up through a hatch to the roof . They immobilized the victim and lowered her through the hatch , the fire department said .  In a statement before Saturday night ' s game against the Detroit Tigers , the Red Sox said : "" The Massachusetts Department of Public Safety and the Boston Police Department are working to determine exactly what happened . Due to the ongoing investigation , and out of respect for the family of the young woman who was injured , the Red Sox will have no further comment at this time . ""  The Red Sox lost Friday night to the Tigers 1 0 . The incident occurred shortly after the game ended .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
19470,19471,"Reuters) - The U.S. State Department said on Thursday it released $400 million in cash to Iran under a tribunal settlement only once it was assured that American prisoners had been freed and had boarded a plane. “The payment of the $400 million was not done until after the prisoners were released,” State Department spokesman John Kirby told reporters. “We took advantage of that to make sure we had the maximum leverage possible to get our people out and get them out safely,” Kirby added. It was the first time the administration has said publicly that it used the payment as leverage to ensure the prisoners were released by Iran. Three of the five prisoners, including Jason Rezaian, the Washington Posts’s Tehran bureau chief; Saeed Abedini, a pastor from Idaho and Amir Hekmati, a former U.S. Marine from Flint, Michigan, as well as some family members, were part of a prisoner exchange that followed the lifting of most international sanctions against Iran following a nuclear deal in 2015. One more prisoner, Nosratollah Khosravi-Roodsari, chose to remain in Iran, while a fifth prisoner, American student Matthew Trevithick, was released separately.    Both U.S. President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry have denied that the payment was ransom for the release of the prisoners or tied to the Iran nuclear deal. The White House announced on Jan. 17 it was releasing $400 million in funds frozen since 1981, plus $1.3 billion in interest owed to Iran, as part of a settlement of a long-standing Iranian claim at the Iran-U.S. Claims Tribunal in The Hague. The funds were part of a trust fund Iran used before its 1979 Islamic Revolution to buy U.S. military equipment that was tied up for decades in litigation at the tribunal. The payment was made by the United States in cash due to international sanctions against Iran. The administration has maintained that negotiations over the funds and the prisoners were conducted on separate tracks and were in no way linked. Representative Jason Chaffetz, chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, has asked Kerry to appear at a future committee hearing to discuss the payment. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
19479,19480,"How To Remove Uric Acid Crystallization in Joints weblink  By Twain Yobra  Posted Tuesday, November 1, 2016 at 03:54pm   Joint pain prevents us from exercising or doing simple tasks like walking. Unfortunately, it only gets worse as we age. This happens because the fluid (synovial fluid) in the joints reduces as we age. Reduction of this fluid increases friction on the joints and leads to arthritis.  But research also shows that uric acid can cause arthritis. Build-up of uric acid in the joints can damage joint tissues and cause pain. The build-up happens when the kidneys don’t excrete enough uric acid. It can also be triggered by the body converting purines to uric acid fast. Long-term build-up of uric acid can cause inflammation and reduce your mobility.  Switch to an Alkaline Diet  There’s been a never-ending argument about whether alkaline diets reduce acidity in the body or not. In fact, some experts have discredited them as useless. But what does research say? Well, this study found that alkaline diet enhances excretion of uric acid through urine. On the other hand, researchers found that acidic foods reduce excretion of uric acid.  Another study affirms that alkaline diets can help reduce uric acid in the body. And they can prevent uric acid crystallization in joints.  Note that more research needs to be conducted on effect of diet on uric acid crystal.  Eat these alkaline foods  You simply need to reduce intake of acidic foods and eat more alkaline foods. Alkaline foods are mostly vegetables and legumes. Red pepper",fake,news,test,US elections,Conflict,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,present
19482,19483,"Says the guy who s been funding riots across America and dumping hundreds of millions into radical organizations meant to destroy America and our way of life.Soros, the Hungarian-born magnate who supported Hillary Clinton s candidacy as well as other liberal causes worldwide, says that the rise of Trump and his affinity for rulers like Russian President Vladimir Putin threaten the open society model championed by the European Union.  Democracy is now in crisis,  Soros writes in Project Syndicate.  Even the US, the world s leading democracy, elected a con artist and would-be dictator as its president. Although Trump has toned down his rhetoric since he was elected, he has changed neither his behavior nor his advisers. The  will be preoccupied with internal struggles in the near future, and targeted minorities will suffer,  according to Soros.  The  will be unable to protect and promote democracy in the rest of the world. On the contrary, Trump will have greater affinity with dictators. That will allow some of them to reach an accommodation with the US, and others to carry on without interference.   Trump will prefer making deals to defending principles. Unfortunately, that will be popular with his core constituency,  he writes.Soros writes that Putin helped Trump win the election by utilizing social media to disseminate fake news stories.He said that the Russian leader is now using the same tactic to undermine democratic governments throughout the EU.Since Trump s election win, Soros has contributed money to an international fact-checking organization that will warn readers on social media of stories whose veracity is deemed questionable.Click  for the list of 187 radical organizations funded by George Soros.Soros  organization, Open Society Foundation, is listed among organizations which are backing The International Fact Checking Network, the body tasked with flagging bogus news stories to social media users, on its website.Soros, a staunch Democrat who tried to block George W. Bush s campaign in 2004, has given $25million to Clinton and causes dear to her.Soros writes that he fears for the future of the free world, as populist movement threaten to upend the status quo.  I find the current moment in history very painful,  he writes.For entire story: Daily Mail",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
19487,19488,"Egypt Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak met Thursday in Cairo amid escalating cross border violence between Israel and Hamas .  Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni meets Thursday with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in Cairo .  The session follows the end of a tenuous 6 month long cease fire between the Israeli military and Hamas militants in Gaza .  Egypt mediated the first truce and is trying to negotiate an extension despite what Israel says are dozens of rockets fired by Hamas into the Jewish state this week .  Livni criticized Hamas after her meeting with Mubarak .  "" Hamas needs to understand that Israel ' s basic desire to live in a tranquil region doesn ' t mean that Israel is willing to accept ongoing shooting at its population , "" she said , according to the Israeli Foreign Ministry .  "" Enough is enough . We cannot accept this situation , and the situation will change . ""  Egypt expressed concern about a deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza , an Israeli Foreign Ministry statement said .  The Egyptian Foreign Ministry said this week that it would help countries and organizations deliver aid through Egyptian territory to Palestinians in Gaza .  Livni also met with the head of Egyptian intelligence Thursday and is scheduled to talk with the Egyptian foreign minister .  Israeli military officials said Hamas militants fired more than 65 rockets into southern Israel on Wednesday . Meanwhile , the Israeli air force said it killed a Hamas militant who was part of a group launching the rockets into Israel .  An Israeli police spokesman said no one had been injured in the latest barrage of rocket attacks .  But emergency workers with Magen David Adom , Israel ' s Red Cross agency , treated 57 people suffering from shock , half of them children , an agency official said , adding that 200 ambulances were standing by in the area .  "" I think the circumstances are extremely tragic , that Muslim zealots of Hamas have decided to shatter and ruin the Christmas celebrations of the Christian brothers in the Holy Land , both in the West Bank and of course in Gaza itself , "" Israeli Welfare Minister Isaac Herzog said .  "" If things deteriorate further , then of course we ' ll have to take necessary action , which will be very painful , "" Herzog said , adding that civilians had gathered in shelters in southern Israel to try to stay safe amid the rocket attacks .  Asked about the possibility of Israel coming up with a new strategy , Herzog responded , "" The new strategy could be , of course , an all out conflict against Hamas , which is a possibility that voices in Israel are calling for . We are trying to show restraint . ""  Hamas is a Palestinian Islamic fundamentalist organization whose military wing , Izzedine al Qassam , has admitted responsibility for terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians as well as attacks against the Israeli military . Israel and the U . S . State Department consider Hamas a terrorist organization , though it also operates an extensive social services network in the territories .  Mark Regev , spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert , said , "" Our position is clear : We will answer quiet with quiet , and we will answer attacks with measures designed to protect our people . ""  Olmert has threatened to respond to the ongoing attacks .  The truce between the Hamas government in Gaza and Israel expired Friday . Under the Egyptian brokered deal , Hamas agreed to end militant attacks on Israel from Gaza , and Israel agreed to halt raids inside the territory and ease its blockade on humanitarian goods .  In reality , the truce had started breaking down two months ago . Rocket attacks by militants became more frequent , and Israel resumed airstrikes inside Gaza .  "" We really appreciate the Egyptian efforts . . . . , "" Herzog said . "" The Egyptians have tried endlessly and tirelessly in the past few weeks to bring Hamas back to cease fire mode . ""  Olmert said Sunday that Israel will "" take the necessary measures "" to respond to the rocket attacks and "" will know when to respond correctly and with the necessary responsibility . ""  "" A responsible government is neither eager for battle , nor does it shy away from it , "" he said .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
19490,19491,"Former  guitarist Vinnie Vincent now joins an ever growing list of artists who support Bernie Sanders for president of the United States . The elusive Ankh Warrior recently broke his media silence on an upcoming episode of the Rock Metal Combat podcast , where he opened up on a variety of topics including climate change , abortion , the state of modern shredding , and the need for a political revolution .  "" In my heart of hearts , I truly believe that Senator Bernie Sanders is the right man to lead the country , "" Vincent said , urging members of the  Army to "" listen to the message and "" feel the bern . "" "" Together we can take on the billionaire class and change a rigged economy that is being held up by a corrupt political system . ""  "" I am a proponent for a political revolution that says health care is a right of every American citizen , "" said Vincent . "" I believe working class people deserve a chance at economic freedom , and yes , if you work 40 hours a week , you should not live in poverty . ""  Vincent , a lifelong Republican , says the  ' s views on racial and gender disparity inspired him to change parties . "" It ' s not the same Republican party of the mid 80 ' s , "" Vincent said , adding that "" the majority of the Republican voting base has fallen for Donald Trump ' s fear mongering and racist lunacy . That ' s not what I ' m about . ""  The Egyptian guitar God said he has turned down multiple requests from candidates over the years wanting to use his 1988 hit Let Freedom Rock , but could not in good conscience authorize the song ' s use . "" Mitt Romney ' s campaign was offering ridiculous sums of money for that song , money I could have used at the time , but I just couldn ' t live with myself knowing I sold out my core beliefs . Much like sentator Sanders , I cannot , and will not , be bought . ""  The son of Egyptian immigrants , Vincent used to be one of the most active rockers on Twitter before deleting his account over two years ago , explaining that the Internet had become "" a preying ground for haters and trolls , "" and was distracting him from his work . "" I was never the guy to use social media as a source of promotion for myself , "" said Vincent . "" Ultimately , my work began to suffer because of it . That ' s when I knew it was time to pull the plug and go off the grid . ""  Vincent ' s self induced media blackout may be coming to an end very soon . Vinnie spoke at length about a new musical project that should see the light of day early in the coming new year . BernBitchBern .  ",satire,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,satire,True,no,no,positive,present
19512,19513,""" Look , Hillary Clinton is not Bill Clinton . But what Bill Clinton did was totally , totally , totally disgraceful and unacceptable , "" Sanders said  A town hall attendee said Hillary Clinton isn ' t qualified to be president because of her support for her husband  Bernie Sanders said Friday that former President Bill Clinton ' s past sexual misconduct was "" totally disgraceful and unacceptable . ""  Appearing at a town hall in Toledo , Iowa , on Friday , Sanders responded to an attendee who said that Hillary Clinton isn ' t qualified to be president because or her support for her husband .  "" Look , Hillary Clinton is not Bill Clinton , "" Sanders said . "" But what Bill Clinton did was totally , totally , totally disgraceful and unacceptable . But I am running against Hillary Clinton , not Bill Clinton . ""  Sanders added that this campaign should be about the issues , not Bill Clinton ' s sex life .  "" And I believe and I gotta say this , and I thank you for your question , in this sense , I think what we need to do as a nation , certainly something the Republicans are not doing , is focus on the bloody issues facing this country the disappearance of the middle class income and wealth inequality , "" Sanders said .  Related : Bill Clinton ' s alleged sexual misconduct : Who you need to know  Bill Clinton ' s past has resurfaced as an issue in Hillary Clinton ' s presidential campaign after Republican presidential front runner Donald Trump made an effort in recent weeks to highlight the scandals of the 1990s . Hillary Clinton answered a question last month about her husband ' s alleged sexual impropriety , saying sexual abuse victims "" should be believed "" until evidence disproves their allegations .  Bill Clinton passed up an opportunity Thursday to hit back at Trump over recent attacks on the former president ' s past infidelities .  "" I have no interest in getting involved in ( Republican Party ) politics or doing anything except working to help Hillary , "" Clinton told reporters in Cedar Rapids , Iowa .  "" Donald Trump says a lot of things , "" he added dismissing the billionaire .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
19538,19539,"A Port Authority police recruit is claiming she was repeatedly sexually harassed and humiliated by her academy instructors who called her too pretty for the job and likened her to an ' American Girl doll ' .  According to her federal lawsuit , Amanda Holley , 29 , alleges that Sgt . Erick Torres told her she would die as an officer and made the lurid suggestion she would make a good looking body in her coffin .  ' Holley , when you are killed in the line of duty , I ' ll make sure you look pretty for your family , '  Sgt . Erick Torres allegedly told trainee Amanda Holley , 29 , her suit claims .  Discrimination claims : Amanda Holley ( pictured here with her boyfriend Anthony Gabriel ) claims she experienced severe harassment while training to be a cop with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey  ' I do a lot of funerals for fallen cops , and I normally never look at their face , but for you , I ' ll make sure you look pretty . '  Holley , who lives in Jackson Township , alleges that she was picked out for unfair treatment the minute she arrived at the Jersey City academy in August 2013 .  According to the New York Post , she was sexually harassed from day one until the day she was fired , four months later .  The trainee , who graduated with a masters degree in May , 2012 , says that she was made to do squat thrusts on her own in front of the entire platoon and was subject to name calling by Torres .  Qualifications : In May , 2012 , Amanda collected her Masters degree with a 3 . 987  ( left ) but was hounded out of the academy she claims by sexist instructors  Holley says that Torres would sing ' She is an American Girl doll ' and ' One time , Sgt . Torres told ( the ) plaintiff that he took his two daughters to the American Girl Doll store and swore that he saw the plaintiff there . '  On the day she was fired , Torres called her out of class claims Holley for a meeting with supervisors .  ' While waiting outside the chief ' s office , plaintiff reached into her duffle bag to grab a memo book , ' the lawsuit says . ' Sgt . Torres then put his hand on his gun and asked what plaintiff was reaching for , implying that she was reaching for her weapon .  According to the New York Post , Torres also called Holley , Angelina Jolie after her lips swelled because of a pepper spray test and added she was sprayed more times than other recruits .  Heart break : Amanda Holley claims in her lawsuit that officers singled her out for lurid treatment while she went through her training  Friends : Amanda Holley has said that she was humiliated by her treatment at the hands of the Port Authority instructors and likened to an American Girl doll ( left )  History : Amanda ' s family have a proud history in the police force which caused her to try and join in the first place ( Amanda is pictured center in the early 1990s )  ' The whole thing was obviously heartbreaking for me , ' said Holley to The Post .  ' To be ridiculed and feel ashamed of the way I looked was the hardest part . I was just embarrassed and humiliated . '  Holley blames the harassment for her failure to graduate in December 2013 , and says she never received the same tuition and time as the other female trainees .  Indeed , prior to attempting to join the police , Holley worked as a social worker at the New Jersey Department of Corrections a fact she claims was used against her .  ' Sgt . Torres made it appear that plaintiff did not have the gumption to do law enforcement work and should have stuck with social work solely because she was a young female , ' her lawsuit claims .  Holley also added she was disappointed she was fired because of her long family history within the NEw Jersery police .  The  could not be reached for comment on the matter .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
19552,19553,"Former Honduran President Manuel Zelaya , who was ousted in a coup nearly two years ago , returned to his homeland Saturday .  His plane touched down in the capital , Tegucigalpa , in the afternoon . Thousands of supporters cheered his arrival at the airport .  While Zelaya has entered Honduras since the military roused him in his pajamas and sent him into exile , Saturday marked the first time he returned without fear of prosecution .  Wearing his trademark cowboy hat , Zelaya addressed his supporters , calling on them to pursue peaceful , democratic change .  "" The problem of poverty , of corruption . . . will not be solved with violence , but through more democracy , greater citizen participation and better transparency , "" he told a roaring crowd .  Zelaya this month inked an accord with the country ' s current president that allowed him to return . Most recently , he has been in exile in the Dominican Republic .  The deal , which was brokered by the Colombian and Venezuelan governments , was signed in Cartagena , Colombia , by Zelaya and Honduran President Porfirio Lobo .  It allowed Zelaya and his allies to return to Honduras and helps clear the way for the country to rejoin the Organization of American States . Zelaya and his supporters will also be permitted to participate in Honduran politics .  He said he does not immediately intend to run for president .  Zelaya , who alienated many by his insistence on pursuing constitutional changes that might have allowed him to seek re election , nonetheless counts with many allies .  His supporters in Tegucigalpa prepared banners and posters this week to pass out to those who would gather to welcome him back .  Yet many others are not thrilled . Even several of the country ' s news networks refused to cover Zelaya ' s arrival . Cholusat Sur broadcast images of his return .  "" I think that this will create more problems for the country , "" university student Daniel Melendez said prior to the former leader ' s arrival . "" There is going to be a repeat of what there was before . ""  Zelaya was overthrown on June 28 , 2009 , and flown into exile . He sneaked back into Honduras in September of that year and got refuge in the Brazilian Embassy , where he remained holed up until Lobo arranged for Zelaya to get safe passage out of the country .  Honduras has been excluded from the Organization of American States since the coup , in part because Zelaya had not been allowed to return home without fear of prosecution . He faced corruption charges , which were dropped this month .  The de facto government that replaced Zelaya was eventually replaced by the elected government of Lobo . But because the election happened under the rule of the de facto forces , some countries have not recognized the election results .  Many countries , including the United States , have recognized the Lobo government , while others , such as Brazil , have not .  Zelaya ' s return to Honduras is expected to help further reintegrate Honduras into the international community .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
19571,19572,"16 Responses to Jared Allen says he expects to play and have an impact on ? Sunday  He s done . He was a huge waste of money for the Bears and hasn t done much for the Panthers either . I don t have a problem with him getting a ring but there s no way he plays a significant role in the outcome .  At last ! A chance for redemption ? getting out from under the stench of all those horrible years in Minnesota .  A Super Bowl ring , an unattainable dream for so long , a great way to cap a career !  I couldn t be happier for Jared ! I am thrilled that he gets the chance to play in the  ! What a great opportunity and so deserved after all these years ! ! !  This dude been washed up for a couple of years  He hasn t had an impact since he left Minnesota , why start now ?  Vikings fan who has great respect for Jared Allen . I really hope that the Panthers win , and that Allen gets to cap his excellent career with the victory .  Depending on how many seasons Allen has left in the tank , this could be his last chance to play in a Super Bowl . You get the feeling that healthy or not he s going to find a way to be on the field to try to earn a ring instead of sitting on the sideline hoping to be given one .  jarred deserves a ring ! I hope he gets one .  jarred deserves a ring ! I hope he gets one .   , nothing would make me happier in this years Super Bowl than seeing Jared Allen finally get a ring , that said , maybe it s just me and I am nutso ! But I am still of the school and belief that  Earn and Deserve rings ! Not individual players !  This era of fantasy and free agency where players are more and more    ! Is dang  and trashy and somehow the new generation of fans are none the wiser .  Thankfully Jared has never been this kind of player .  This dude been washed up for a couple of years .  ! ? ! . Pfft ! And just what have  done today ! ? Just curious . . lol  Still rue the day the Carl Petersen paid Larry Johnson and let Jared Allen walk .  Days end will have same of rings as MrsRogers  Bears fan here . Much respect for Jared Allen . Hated it when the Bears played against him , although he was a bit underwhelming in a Bears uniform . Still a tough competitor though . I wish him success in the big game this Sunday .  Jared got drafted for his long snapping ability more than his pass rushing ability and came within a sack of Strahan s single season sack record . My point ? A student of the game and a tireless work ethic . respected league wide . The ring will cap off a fine career .  You must be logged in to leave a comment . Not a member ? Register now !  ",true,text,test,American football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
19576,19577,"Women who like to work out know that finding perfectly fitting underwear that ' s supportive , can be just as challenging as running a marathon .  Now , scientists have created a ' bionic bra ' that automatically tightens in response to breast movement , in a bid to make running more comfortable for women .  The smart underwear prototype contains hidden sensors to monitor and control movement .  Scientists have created a ' bionic bra ' that automatically tightens in response to breast movement , to make running more comfortable for women . From right to left , Professor Julia Steele , Professor Gordon Wallace and Dr Sheridan Gho are pictured  It has so far taken researchers at the University of Wollongong ( UoW ) , in New South Wales , Australia , 15 years to develop and it could still be a while before it hits the shops .  Professor Gordon Wallace , Executive Research Director of the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science , based at the university , explained that progress has been accelerated of late because the team discovered new actuators and sensing technologies .  ' Our ability to make things from advanced materials has been greatly enhanced recently with the advent of new approaches to fabrication , ' he said .  ' The advent of approaches such as 3D printing has enabled us to assemble structures containing new sensing technologies to more accurately monitor movement and new artificial muscle technologies to control it .  Keep on running : The underwear is designed to make running more comfortable for women ( pictured ) and to prevent long term damage caused by underwear that provides no support  Almost one third of 1 , 300 female runners who registered for the London Marathon in 2013 said they experienced breast pain when exercising .  Perhaps unsurprisingly , the proportion that complained of discomfort rose with increasing cup size , The British Medical Journal reported .  Half of those with a cup size of F or larger complained of pain , compared with one in four of those with an A size cup .  While half blamed the pain on their menstrual cycle , three in 10 said it was associated with unsupportive underwear , with nine out of 10 wearing a sports bra  Half of the women surveyed said they experienced breast pain during moderate exercise while almost two thirds said their breasts were painful during vigorous exercise .  As many as one in 10 described the pain as ' distressing ' or ' excruciating ' and one in six said it put them off exercising .  ' These advances have inspired us to ( re ) confront the challenges involved in creating the Bionic Bra . '  Since the beginning of the project , Professor Julia Steele , Director of Breast Research Australia at UoW , has been investigating the movement of women ' s breast during physical activity .  She said that without the right breast support , long term damage can be done , including numbness in the fingers caused by compression of nerves on the shoulders , as well as neck and back pain .  ' Unfortunately , the most supportive sports bras tend to be the most uncomfortable to wear .  ' Making matters worse , bra research has found that 85 per cent of women are wearing bras that do not fit or support their breasts correctly , ' she said .  While the bionic bra is a step closer to hitting shops , there are still some problems that need to be ironed out .  Professor Steele said : ' Although we have made substantial progress , we still have a way to go before the bionic bra can be taken from the bench top to the washing machine . However , when finished , the bionic bra will transform bra design . '  Team member Dr Sheridan Gho added : ' Results indicate that our technologies can sense breast motion and provide additional breast support .  ' The challenge now is to integrate these technologies into a functional , comfortable bra . '  Professor Wallace spoke about the smart bra at the 9th Australasian Biomechanics Conference ( ABC9 ) where research to measure the effectiveness of rugby headwear was also a hot topic .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,present
19579,19580,"Mental Floss ) If you think comic book characters do amazing things in comic books , you won ' t believe what they can do off the page .  For starters , Superman brought down the Ku Klux Klan , and Donald Duck raised ships from the ocean floor .  1 . Superman defeats the Ku Klux Klan  In the 1940s , "" The Adventures of Superman "" was a radio sensation . Kids across the country huddled around their sets as the Man of Steel leapt off the page and over the airwaves . Although Superman had been fighting crime in print since 1938 , the weekly audio episodes fleshed out his storyline even further .  It was on the radio that Superman first faced kryptonite , met The Daily Planet reporter Jimmy Olsen , and became associated with "" truth , justice , and the American way . "" So , it ' s no wonder that when a young writer and activist named Stetson Kennedy decided to expose the secrets of the Ku Klux Klan , he looked to a certain superhero for inspiration .  In the post World War  era , the Klan experienced a huge resurgence . Its membership was skyrocketing , and its political influence was increasing , so Kennedy went undercover to infiltrate the group . By regularly attending meetings , he became privy to the organization ' s secrets .  But when he took the information to local authorities , they had little interest in using it . The Klan had become so powerful and intimidating that police were hesitant to build a case against them .  Struggling to make use of his findings , Kennedy approached the writers of the Superman radio serial . It was perfect timing . With the war over and the Nazis no longer a threat , the producers were looking for a new villain for Superman to fight . The  was a great fit for the role .  In a 16 episode series titled "" Clan of the Fiery Cross , "" the writers pitted the Man of Steel against the men in white hoods . As the storyline progressed , the shows exposed many of the  ' s most guarded secrets .  By revealing everything from code words to rituals , the program completely stripped the Klan of its mystique . Within two weeks of the broadcast ,  recruitment was down . And by 1948 , people were showing up to Klan rallies just to mock them .  Mental Floss : 5 memorable moments in comic book censorship  2 . Donald Duck ' s scientific breakthrough  In 1966 , Danish engineer Karl Kr yer developed a method for raising sunken ships off the ocean floor by injecting them with polystyrene foam balls . However , when Kr yer tried to license his invention with the Dutch patent office , he was denied . Donald Duck had beaten him to the punch by 22 years .  Indeed , Kr yer ' s concept could be traced back to a Donald Duck comic conceived by Carl Barks . In addition to being the most celebrated artist of the Donald Duck comics , Barks was known for his scientific prowess .  So in a 1944 story , when Donald got a bump on his head that turned him into a genius , the duck managed to mumble , "" If I mix CH2 a methylene compound with NH4 ammonium and boil the atoms in osmotic fog , I should get speckled nitrogen ! ""  Although it sounded like nonsense , it wasn ' t . In 1963 , chemists P . P . Gaspar and G . S . Hammond wrote a technical article about methylene that included a reference to the Donald Duck story .  The final paragraph read , "" Among experiments which have not , to our knowledge , been carried out as yet is one of a most intriguing nature suggested in the literature of no less than 19 years ago . ""  A footnote revealed that "" literature "" as the Donald Duck comic . It seems the web footed children ' s hero had deduced the chemical intermediate long before it had been proven to exist .  Mental Floss : Musicians performing on Sesame Street  But why were these top American chemists looking to comics for inspiration ? Apparently , Dr Gaspar had been a lifelong Donald Duck fan , and he ' d rediscovered Donald ' s early reference to methylene while collecting old copies of the classic adventures .  Gaspar never disclosed how much his work owed to Duckburg ' s most famous resident , but then again , how many scientists would confess that they used comic books to bolster their research ?  3 . A Spider Man villain keeps folks out of jail  In a 1977 edition of Spider Man , Peter Parker has the tables turned on him . The villain , Kingpin , tracks down Spidey using an electronic transmitter that he ' d fastened to the superhero ' s wrist . Although Kingpin loses in the end ( he always does ) , one New Mexico judge saw beauty in his plan .  Inspired by the strip , Judge Jack Love turned to computer salesman Michael Goss and asked if he could create a similar device to keep track of crime suspects awaiting trial .  In 1983 , Goss produced his first batch of electronic monitors . Authorities in Albuquerque then tested the devices on five offenders , using the gadgets as an alternative to incarceration .  Today , the transmitters are a common sight in courtrooms across the country , usually in the form of electronic ankle bracelets . Most famously , Martha Stewart donned one while she was under house arrest in 2004 . Perhaps she would have felt better knowing that the gadget had once nabbed Spider Man , too .  Mental Floss : Truth about lie detectors ( and Wonder Woman )  4 . Captain Marvel Jr . saves the bad hair day  Like most American kids in the 1940s , Elvis Presley fantasized about growing up to be like his favorite comic book superheroes . But it turns out that The King might have been more interested in their fashion statements than their special powers .  During his early teen years , Elvis was obsessed with Captain Marvel Jr . , known as "" America ' s most famous boy hero . "" A younger version of Captain Marvel , the character sported an unusual hairstyle that featured a curly tuft of hair falling over the side of his forehead .  Sound familiar ? When Elvis set out to conquer America with his rock ' n ' roll ways , he copied the ' do , thus making it one of the most famous hairstyles of the 20th century .  But that wasn ' t all . Captain Marvel also gets credit for the short capes Elvis wore on the back of his jumpsuits , as well as The King ' s famous  logo , which bears a striking resemblance to Marvel ' s lightning bolt insignia .  Of course , Elvis never tried to hide his love for the Captain . A copy of Captain Marvel Jr . No . 51 still sits in his preserved childhood bedroom in an apartment in Memphis , and his full comics collection remains intact in the attic at Graceland .  Plus , the admiration was mutual . Captain Marvel Jr . paid tribute to The King in one issue , referring to the singer as "" the greatest modern day philosopher . ""  For more mental floss articles , visit mentalflossweblink  Entire contents of this article copyright , Mental Floss  . All rights reserved .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
19588,19589,"Los Angeles On April 29 , 1992 , the intersection of Florence and Normandie avenues in south Los Angeles became a flashpoint for one of the worst riots in U . S . history .  It was the site where Reginald Denny , a white trucker , was savagely attacked by a mob after the acquittal of four Los Angeles Police officers charged in the beating of Rodney King , an African American .  When the rioting was over , more than 3 , 000 structures and businesses were destroyed , leaving 1 billion in property damage and 54 people killed .  In the immediate aftermath of the riots , many considered south Los Angeles an economic wasteland . But John Hope Bryant saw an opportunity for economic empowerment .  Bryant is the founder of Operation Hope , a financial literacy and small business development program formed after the riots . He led a convoy of bankers , businesses leaders , politicians and entrepreneurs on a bus tour Tuesday to survey the past and recognize economic progress in south Los Angeles 20 years later .  While manufacturing jobs in Los Angeles have declined from 700 , 000 to 370 , 000 since 1992 , according to the L . A . County Economic Development Corp . , Bryant remains optimistic about future economic growth in areas hardest hit by the rioting .  "" Over the 20 years since the 1992 riots , over 1 billion have been invested in our underserved communities in and around south Los Angeles , "" he said .  In many areas where urban blight and hostility between the Los Angeles Police Department and mostly African American residents contributed to the urban unrest in 1992 , businesses and shopping centers have replaced entire corridors once reduced to ashes .  Bryant has served as an adviser on economic empowerment to the past three U . S . presidents and is on President Barack Obama ' s Advisory Council on Financial Capability .  He acknowledged that high unemployment and access to capital for small businesses has stifled the economic recovery but said there are visible symbols of urban renewal that offer optimism about a full recovery .  "" We believe that you cannot have a rainbow without a storm first , and no doubt , 20 years later , while real problems remain to be solved in our underserved communities , south Los Angeles and its surrounding communities have made great strides from the chaos to becoming a community , "" he said .  As part of the anniversary tour , Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa dedicated an elementary school in honor of music icon Quincy Jones , who joined the bus tour .  Speaking to a group of elementary students on the campus that once stood surrounded by ruins , Jones described the tour as a humbling experience .  "" When I was growing up , we didn ' t have any role models , "" he said .  "" When I was a child at your age , there was no way I could even dream about a school named after me , "" Jones said , adding that he grew up in a racially segregated section of south Chicago where gangsters once controlled the streets .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
19606,19607,"A  estimate made after the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon noted that as much as 100 , 000 barrels per day could leak into the ocean if the blowout preventer and wellhead were removed , a higher worst case scenario than previously reported .  According to an internal  document released Sunday by Rep . Edward Markey , D Massachusetts ,  believed that the worst case scenario could be as high as 100 , 000 barrels , or 4 . 2 million gallons of oil per day .  The figure is the highest yet to surface regarding the leaking oil well . At the disaster ' s outset ,  claimed the leak was about 1 , 000 barrels a day , a number it later revised to 5 , 000 and then much higher .  told the House Energy and Commerce Committee that the worst case scenario was 60 , 000 barrels ( 2 . 5 million gallons ) a day , lower than what the document states .  The document , submitted in May , maintains the 60 , 000 barrel estimate , but stipulates that if the "" blowout preventer and wellhead are removed and if we have incorrectly modeled the restrictions , the rate could be as high as 100 , 000 barrels a day . ""  Markey said the document "" raises very troubling questions about what  knew and when they knew it . ""  "" It is clear that , from the beginning ,  has not been straightforward with the government or the American people about the true size of this spill , "" said Markey , the chairman of the Energy and Environment Subcommittee in the House Energy and Commerce Committee .  "" Considering what is now known about  ' s problems with this well prior to the Deepwater Horizon explosion , including cementing issues , leaks in the blowout preventer and gas kicks ,  should have been more honest about the dangerous condition of the well bore , "" Markey said in a statement .   spokesman Robert Wine said the May estimate cited in Markey ' s document is irrelevant to the current situation because the oil company has no intention of removing the well ' s blowout preventer .  Toby Odone , another spokesman for  , added that the blowout preventer will be removed only when the well is completely killed .  A blowout preventer is designed to seal off a well in the event of an emergency , but the device has not been working since the April 20 explosion aboard the Deepwater Horizon .  Also Sunday , while cleanup crews and technical teams continued efforts to stop crude gushing into the Gulf , Louisiana lawmakers proposed a different approach : prayer .  State senators designated Sunday as a day for citizens to ask for God ' s help dealing with the oil disaster .  "" Thus far efforts made by mortals to try to solve the crisis have been to no avail , "" state Sen . Robert Adley said in a statement released after last week ' s unanimous vote for the day of prayer . "" It is clearly time for a miracle for us . ""  The resolution names Sunday as a statewide day of prayer in Louisiana and calls on people of all religions throughout the Gulf Coast "" to pray for an end to this environmental emergency , sparing us all from the destruction of both culture and livelihood . ""  Also Sunday , wildlife officials were planning to transport and release 40 pelicans that rescuers rehabilitated after finding them covered with oil . The birds will be moved from New Orleans , Louisiana , to the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge in Port Aransas , Texas .  As much as 60 , 000 barrels ( 2 . 5 million gallons ) of oil may be gushing into the Gulf every day , new government estimates found last week .   said it was able to capture roughly 8 , 480 barrels of oil from midnight to 12 p . m . Saturday . The company said it captured 24 , 500 barrels just over a million gallons of oil Friday , a little less than it captured the day before .   said Saturday that it has paid 104 million to residents along the Gulf Coast who have filed claims related to the Gulf oil spill , issuing more than 31 , 000 checks in the past seven weeks .  There was no immediate response from local , state or federal officials to  ' s tally of its payments .  Meanwhile , oil recovery efforts in the Gulf resumed Saturday morning on the drill ship Discoverer Enterprise , after work was suspended for about 10 hours because of a mechanical problem .  A venting device aboard the drilling ship was not working properly , said Ayla Kelley , spokesperson for the Deepwater Horizon command center .  Other recovery efforts continued during the time that the Discoverer Enterprise was idled , she said .  She said the problem was with a blocked flame arrester , designed to prevent oil from combusting by extinguishing the flame .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
19608,19609,"Suspected Paris terror attacks ' mastermind ' Abdelhamid Abaaoud killed in police raid : Prosecutor  Abdelhamid Abaaoud ? Belgian ? Francois Molins ? islamic state ? jihadist ? NewsTracker ? Paris ? Paris attacks ? police raid ? Saint Denis ?  Paris : The Belgian jihadi suspected of masterminding deadly attacks in Paris was killed in a police raid on a suburban apartment building , the city prosecutor ' s office announced on Thursday .  Paris Prosecutor Francois Molins ' office said 27 year old Abdelhamid Abaaoud was identified based on skin samples . His body was found in the apartment building targeted in the chaotic and bloody raid in the Paris suburb of Saint Denis on Wednesday .  Police launched the operation after receiving information from tapped phone calls , surveillance and tipoffs suggesting that Abaaoud was holed up there .  Killed along with Abaaoud was a woman who blew herself up with an explosives vest at the beginning of the raid . Eight people were arrested .  Undated image of Abdelhamid Abaaoud , the presumed mastermind of the terror attacks in Paris .   With France still reeling from the Friday attacks that killed 129 people and wounded hundreds of others , Prime Minister Manuel Valls warned that Islamic extremists might at some point use chemical or biological weapons , and urged lawmakers to extend a national state of emergency by three months .  "" Terrorism hit France not because of what it is doing in Iraq and Syria . . . but for what it is , "" Valls told the lower house of Parliament . He added , "" We know that there could also be a risk of chemical or biological weapons . ""  Valls did not say there was a specific threat involving such weapons . Elsewhere in Europe , jittery leaders and law enforcement moved to protect their populations as Rob Wainwright , director of the European Union ' s police coordination organisation Europol , warned of "" a very serious escalation "" of the terror threat in Europe .  In Italy , Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni said law enforcement was searching for five people flagged by the  in response to a  warning about potential targets following the attacks that killed 129 people and wounded hundreds in the French capital .  The State Department issued a warning yesterday that St . Peter ' s Basilica in Rome , Milan ' s cathedral and La Scala opera house , as well as churches , synagogues , restaurants , theaters and hotels had been identified as "" potential targets . ""  Danish and Norwegian police were asked to be on the lookout for a man Swedish authorities said is wanted in connection with an investigation into "" preparation for a terrorist offense . "" Sweden ' s Security Service , known as  , said the request was not linked to the Paris attacks .  In Belgium , where many of the Paris attackers lived , Prime Minister Charles Michel announced a package of additional anti terror measures , and said 400 million euros (  427 million ) would be earmarked to expand the fight . He told lawmakers that security personnel will be increased and special attention will be paid to eradicating messages of hate . He also called for more international cooperation , and said he wants to amend the Belgian constitution to extend the length of time terror suspects can be held by police without charge .  "" All democratic forces have to work together to strengthen our security , "" Michel said .  In Belgium , authorities launched six raids in the Brussels region today linked to Bilal Hadfi , one of the three suicide bombers who blew themselves up outside the Stade de France .  An official in the Belgian federal prosecutor ' s office told The Associated Press the raids were taking place in the suburb of Molenbeek and other areas of Brussels . The official , who spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is continuing , said the actions were focusing on Hadfi ' s "" entourage . ""  French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius urged the international community to do more to eradicate the Islamic State group , which claimed responsibility for last Friday ' s attacks on a rock concert , Parisian cafes and the national stadium .  Fabius , speaking on France Inter radio , said the group "" is a monster . But if all the countries in the world aren ' t capable of fighting against 30 , 000 people (  members ) , it ' s incomprehensible . ""  France has stepped up its airstrikes against extremists in Syria , and French military spokesman Col . Gilles Jaron said Thursday that French forces have destroyed 35 Islamic State targets in Syria since the attacks on Paris . Next week , French President Francois Hollande is going to Washington and Moscow to push for a stronger international coalition against  .  Speaking after the seven hour siege in Saint Denis , Hollande said that France was "" at war "" with the Islamic State group .  In its English language magazine , Islamic State said it will continue its violence and "" retaliate with fire and bloodshed "" for blasphemy and "" the multitudes killed and injured in crusader airstrikes . ""  Paris prosecutor Molins said yesterday that investigators found a cell phone in a garbage can outside the Bataclan concert hall in eastern Paris where 89 of the victims of Friday ' s carnage died . It contained a text message sent about 20 minutes after the massacre began . "" We ' re off , it ' s started , "" it read .  Molins said investigators were still trying to identify the recipient of the message .  French authorities have said most of the Friday attackers five have been identified so far were unknown to them . But two  officials said that many , though not all , of those identified were on the  no fly list .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
19619,19620,"The Atlanta  is totally over the top on this demand: Those guys need to go. They can be sand-blasted off, or somebody could carefully remove a slab of that and auction it off to the highest bidder,  said  Atlanta branch President Richard Rose.The Atlanta chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People called Monday for the removal of the 90- by 190-foot carving of three Confederate leaders, Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson, from the side of Stone Mountain, television station  reported Tuesday. Those guys need to go. They can be sand-blasted off, or somebody could carefully remove a slab of that and auction it off to the highest bidder,   Atlanta branch President Richard Rose told WSB:  Stone Mountain Park is a state park of Georgia about 30 minutes outside Atlanta and the sculpture in question is part of what s described as the  largest high relief sculpture in the world.  The sculpture was dedicated by Vice President Spiro Agnew in 1970 and finished in 1972.A spokesman for Stone Mountain Park told  any change or removal of the monument is up to the Georgia legislature.The call for the massive carving s removal comes on the heels of the removal of the Confederate flag from the statehouse grounds in South Carolina. The legislature voted to remove the flag after a 21-year-old white supremacist, who was repeatedly photographed posing with the Confederate flag, was charged with killing nine worshippers at one of the state s oldest black churches.VIA: TPM",fake,dataset,test,Other news2,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,present
19630,19631,"Reuters) - Many Americans view Islam unfavorably, and supporters of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump are more than twice as likely to view the religion negatively as those backing Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, according to a Reuters/Ipsos online poll of more than 7,000 Americans. It shows that 37 percent of American adults have a “somewhat unfavorable” or “very unfavorable” view of Islam. This includes 58 percent of Trump supporters and 24 percent of Clinton supporters, a contrast largely mirrored by the breakdown between Republicans and Democrats. By comparison, respondents overall had an equally unfavorable view of atheism at 38 percent, compared with 21 percent for Hinduism, 16 percent for Judaism and 8 percent for Christianity.  Spokespeople for Trump and Clinton declined to comment. The poll took place before an attacker on Thursday drove his truck into a holiday crowd in Nice, France, killing more than 80 people in what President Francois Hollande called a terrorist act. Police sources said the driver, while linked to common crimes, was not on a watch list of intelligence services and no Islamist militant group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack. The race for the Nov. 8 U.S. presidential election has put a spotlight on Americans’ views of Muslims with Trump proposing a temporary ban on Muslims entering the United States. He repeated the proposal after Omar Mateen, a New York-born Muslim armed with an assault rifle, killed 49 people in an attack on a Florida gay nightclub last month.  The ideological divide between Trump and Clinton supporters is set against a backdrop of increasing violence and discrimination against Muslims in the United States. The poll shows 78 percent of Trump supporters and 36 percent of Clinton supporters said that when compared to other religions, Islam was more likely to encourage acts of terrorism. Trump supporters were also about twice as likely as Clinton supporters to say that Islam was more encouraging of violence toward Americans, women and gay people. Polling on none of the other belief systems and their perceived connection to terrorism or violence came close to matching those numbers. Clinton has called for a more inclusive environment within American society and for a joint effort between the U.S. government and Muslim countries to battle the spread of Islamist militancy.  She has criticized Trump’s harsh statements about Muslims and Mexicans while Trump has bemoaned what he calls American society’s devotion to political correctness. Graphic: tmsnrt.rs/29IPJ6l Party affiliation accounted for the deepest division among Americans where their views on Muslims were concerned. Respondents’ status as rich or poor, young or old, or male or female did not offer as pronounced an overall view as did their identification as Democrats or Republicans.  “If it was true that Trump did not represent Republicans broadly defined, you would think Republicans would look different; they don’t,” said Douglas McAdam, a sociology professor at Stanford University who studies American politics. “It goes against the claims of the (former presidential candidate) Mitt Romneys of the world, that Trump is not really a Republican, that he doesn’t represent the Republican party. He seems to be resonating with Republicans generally.” According to the Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Muslim civil rights group, attacks on American Muslims and on mosques in the United States rose in 2015 to their highest level ever recorded.  The group said 31 incidents of damage or destruction of mosques were reported; there were 11 incidents in which a Muslim person was the target of a slur or another kind of harassment.  The Reuters/Ipsos poll ran in all 50 states from June 14 to July 6. It included 7,473 American adults and has a credibility interval, a measure of accuracy, of 1 percentage point. ",true,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
19660,19661,"Reuters) - Billionaire Joesley Batista, one of the owners of  SA, the world s largest meatpacker, and executive Ricardo Saud surrendered on Sunday and were arrested by Brazilian police, their lawyer said. Batista and Saud went to federal police headquarters in Sao Paulo on Sunday afternoon and will be transferred to Brasilia on Monday, their lawyer, Pierpaolo Bottini, said.  The arrests were ordered by Supreme Court Justice Edson Fachin, who agreed to a request by Brazilian Prosecutor-General Rodrigo Janot. The court revoked immunity from prosecution under previous plea deals struck by Batista and Saud, a former director of holding company J&F Investimentos. In his decision ordering both arrested for at least five days, Fachin wrote the state witnesses were  selective  and did not present all information related to crimes they confessed to in their plea deals.  Janot sought the arrests after Batista and Saud recorded themselves discussing crimes not covered in the plea bargain. The taped conversation, made public by the Supreme Court, was inadvertently submitted to prosecutors with unrelated material last week. In a statement on Sunday, J&F lawyers said both men  did not lie nor omitted information  in their plea deals. The Supreme Court Justice denied a request for the arrest of former prosecutor Marcelo Miller, who was accused by the prosecutor-general of helping Wesley and Joesley Batista with their plea deal before leaving the Prosecutor s Office in April to a private law firm.  ",true,dataset,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
19661,19662,"London In an environment of declining retail sales in the United Kingdom , one premium brand is bucking the trend as consumers vote with their consciences .  Sales of ethically produced , fair trade products in the  increased by 12 from 2010 to 2011 , accounting for 1 . 3 billion ( 2 . 07 billion ) .  While just 0 . 01 of food and drink sales worldwide are certified fair trade , in the United Kingdom , the world ' s biggest fair trade market , ethically sourced produce is big business .  Supermarket shelves teem with fair trade products from all corners of the globe , as the British consume 9 . 7 million cups of fair trade tea , 6 . 4 millions cups fair trade coffee and 3 . 2 million fair trade bananas every day .  Fair trade involves retailers paying a premium to suppliers in developing countries .  "" It ' s about investment to be fair to everyone in the supply chain , "" says Brad Hill , fair trade director for The Co operative , whose supermarket wing has recently moved to stock exclusively fair trade bananas .  While consumers in the United Kingdom pay a marginal premium , if any , for ethically sourced produce , the practice can make a real difference at the source of production . Demetrio Gonzales , a banana grower from Panama , says his community was barely covering the costs of production before the introduction of fair trade .  "" Through fair trade , we have been able to develop our community with investments in our water supply , and ways to improve our living conditions , "" he said .  British consumers ' rush to embrace fair trade products seems tied to widespread public awareness of fair trade principles . According to Hill , 96 of British consumers were aware of fair trade , compared to just 47 in other parts of Europe . "" There is potential for Europe to catch up with the  in fair trade , "" he said . "" It ' s all about increasing awareness . ""  And , to a growing extent , popular consumer brands are taking the lead themselves . Popular chocolate goods such as Cadbury ' s Dairy Milk , Maltesers and Kit Kat are now fair trade , while ice cream producers Ben and Jerry ' s will switch to exclusively fair trade ingredients this year .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
19665,19666,"Three quarters of GPs want to charge foreigners for appointments , figures show .  They say too many migrants and tourists are abusing the  , which is already under immense pressure .  Many want foreigners to be regarded as private patients and made to pay at the surgery reception either by card or cash .  Three quarters of GPs want to charge foreigners for appointments as they fear too many migrants and tourists are abusing the  , which is already under immense pressure ( stock picture )  A private  appointment typically costs 70 and from then on overseas patients would also have to pay for blood tests , scans or drugs .  Ministers have warned that the  is becoming an ' international health service ' and overseas patients not entitled to free care racking up bills of up to 300 million year .  They have proposed a series of measures to crackdown on the problem including a pilot scheme last month to check the documents of all new patients registering with a  .  At present ,  appointments and treatment are free for all overseas patients although they are meant to pay for most hospital procedures .  But family doctors say that the current system makes them a gateway for foreigners abusing free hospital treatment .  Dr Kailash Chand , Deputy Chair of the British Medical Association , argues the  should remain free for anyone who needed to use it  This is because staff rarely bother to check patients ' nationalities and whether they should be paying as they assume that if they have a  referral they are eligible for free  care .  A survey of 515 GPs by Pulse magazine found that 77 per cent were in favour of ' upfront ' charges for foreign patients .  One , Dr Zishan Syed , a  in Maidstone , Kent , said : ' It is a sad reality but there is abuse of the  by foreign visitors .  ' It is only fair that they pay upfront if they are not entitled to free care on the  .  ' The  is in trouble and it is only right that the Government stops anyone from taking advantage of a system that is already under immense pressure .  Another Dr Niall Finegan , a  in Salford , Greater Manchester pointed out that British patients don ' t get free care abroad there is no reason the  should pay for foreigners .  ' We do not get free care abroad . ' He said .  Another anonymous  said : '  should be able to charge patient as if he is private patient and give private prescription . why should we do work free of charge for patients not entitled to  treatment .  One other doctor , who did not reveal their name said : ' These patients need to be treated as private patient .  ' GPs should charge fee and give private prescription . Most of money should go to  . '  But other doctors said the  should remain free for anyone who needed to use it .  Dr Kailash Chand , Deputy Chair of the British Medical Association , which represents doctors said : ' Quite a significant majority of GPs for as long as I have known have supported charging foreign visitors for  care .  ' They see this as one of the solutions for the demand . It is understandable .  ' But I think they are mistaken . I believe in universal health care . If they bring in these charges , where do you stop ? This will be counterproductive . '  Last month the Department of Health announced a pilot whereby all new patients registering at a  would have to prove they are either British citizens or if from the  , show their European Health Insurance Card .  The scheme will initially involve ten practices as part of a series of measures aimed at getting GPs in the habit of checking if patients are entitled to free care .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,present
19679,19680,"Cherif Kouachi , one of the brothers behind the Charlie Hebdo attack , who has been buried in an unmarked grave in a suburb north west of Paris  The second Islamic terrorist behind the Charlie Hebdo attack has been buried in an unmarked grave as fresh questions emerged over why French authorities stopped monitoring him .  Cherif Kouachi was interred just before midnight in a cemetery in Gennevilliers , a suburb in north west Paris , a day after his older brother Said was discreetly buried in the northeastern city of Reims .  The brothers were killed in a shoot out after hiding in an industrial unit , two days after the attack on the offices of the satirical magazine , which killed 12 people .  Cherif ' s family , including his widow , kept away from the funeral and the grave was left anonymous to avoid it becoming a ' pilgrimage site ' for Islamists .  The mayor of Gennevilliers , where the younger Kouachi brother lived had not wanted the funeral to go ahead , but said he had no legal means to block it .  His burial comes after new details emerged over why authorities stopped monitoring him and his brother despite finding texts on his laptop , which had been seized in 2010 and the fact that one of them had travelled to Yemen in 2011 .  In one passage found on the laptop , entitled ' Operation Sacrifice ' , he eerily wrote about how he would carry out a terrorist attack .  According to the New York Times he wrote : ' A mujahideen forces his way into the enemy ' s base or else a zone where there is a group and fires at point blank range without having prepared an escape plan .  ' The goal is to kill as many of the enemy as possible . The author will very likely die himself . '  The paper also reported that both brothers had been watched by the intelligence services for three years but surveillance was dropped as they appeared ' non threatening ' .  It was also been revealed that police tapped the phone of Djamel Begha , a jihadist prisoner who befriended both Cherif Kouachi and Amedy Coulibaly , the gunman who took hostages at a kosher supermarket .  The taps revealed that they were planning to break Sma n A t Ali Belkacem , who was convicted of bombing a Paris railway station in 1995 , free from prison .  Transcripts revealed the men frequently talking about ' books ' , code for weapons , and needing to find a ' new library ' , code for arms dealer .  Cherif ' s burial comes after his brother Said was buried in his hometown of Reims yesterday .  Its Mayor , Arnaud Robinet , said he ' d ' categorically refuse ' a request by Kouachi ' s family to bury him in the city where he lived until his death .  Cherif and his brother Said , pictured , killed 12 people when they attacked the offices of French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris  The burial of Cherif Kouachi comes a day after his brother Said , left , was buried in Reims . There are no plans as yet for the burial of fellow Paris attacker Amedy Coulibaly  He added : ' I don ' t want a grave that serves to attract fanatics . I don ' t want a place that promotes hate .  ' He was buried last night , in the most discrete , anonymous way possible . '  But speaking on  , Mr Robinet said he was forced to allow the burial by the government , which enforced a French law that grants a right to be buried in the town of last residence .  There are no current plans to bury Amedy Coulibaly , who killed five people including four hostages at a kosher market in Paris before he was killed by police on January 9 .  Meanwhile anger erupted in a string of majority Muslim countries after Charlie Hebdo responded to the massacre by running another cartoon showing the Prophet Mohammed under the headline ' All is forgiven ' .  Protesters demonstrate in Niger against the new Charlie Hebdo cover , which shows a cartoon of the prophet Mohammed  The worst unrest has been in Niger , where at least five people were killed and some eight churches were torched yesterday .  Around 1 , 000 youths wielding iron bars , clubs and axes rampaged through the capital , hurling rocks at police who responded with tear gas .  French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius condemned ' the use of violence ' in Niger while President Francois Hollande said France was committed to ' freedom of expression ' , calling it ' non negotiable ' .  In a speech , Hollande urged his compatriots not to change their habits , because ' to do so would be to yield to terrorism ' .  ",true,text,test,American football,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
19683,19684,"Panel : Chicago police could benefit from reforms 05 : 53  "" As a result I do not consider this case to be closed or the investigation into what happened that night to be over , "" Emanuel said . The city on Monday also released large amounts of other information related to the case , including police reports and 911 calls .  The medical examiner at the time found that Coleman , 38 , died from a severe reaction to the administration at the hospital of haloperidol , an antipsychotic drug . But the examiner ' s report also detailed dozens of bruises and abrasions all over Coleman ' s body as well as a fractured rib .  A police report said Coleman had been taken into custody on December 12 , 2012 , on suspicion of assaulting his 69 year old mother and he also faced felony charges for attacking and spitting on the responding police officers .  The Taser incident in the police cell took place after Coleman physically resisted efforts to transport him to a court building , according to the report . Coleman clashed violently with police officers at the hospital where he was taken for treatment , trying to seize an officer ' s Taser , it said .  After hospital staff administered a sedative , Coleman calmed down but then began to experience "" physical problems , "" the report said .  "" Independent of the facts that led to his arrest or the actions at the hospital , we are held to a higher standard and we must strive to live up to it every day , "" Chicago Interim Police Superintendent John Escalante said in a statement Monday . "" While the independent investigation is ongoing we will be doing our own review of our policies and practices surrounding the response to mental health crises . ""  Coleman ' s father , Percy , told the Chicago Tribune on Monday that his son had "" a mental breakdown "" on the day of the altercation with his mother .  "" She called the police to get him some help because she knew he wasn ' t acting in his right mind , "" Percy Coleman told the newspaper . "" Instead , the police took no helpful action , and they locked him up . And then 12 hours later , he was dead . ""  Chicago police have faced public outrage and intensified scrutiny in recent weeks after the release of the October 2014 video of Officer Jason Van Dyke fatally shooting teenager Laquan McDonald on a Chicago street .  People took to the streets to protest what they felt was an excessive use of force and dishonesty by the city and Van Dyke ' s fellow officers , who initially accused McDonald of threatening officers . Van Dyke has been charged with first degree murder .  Since then , the city ' s police superintendent and the head of the Independent Police Review Authority have both stepped down .  Amid the criticism , Emanuel ' s office has announced a series of measures , including expanding the police body camera program and establishing a task force to review police discipline procedures .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
19697,19698,"While many tattoos hold a certain symbolism to their bearer , the design chosen by someone getting their first ink at the age of 80 must have an incredibly special meaning .  ABC2 ' s new show , Tattoo Tales , follows the journey of some of the customers of Bondi Ink , a busy tattoo parlour on Sydney ' s Eastern beaches , including Jan Bearman , who was prompted by the death of her beloved daughter to make a decision that took the rest of her family and friends by surprise .  For the past three years , Jan Bearman has had a new tattoo inked on her shoulder every birthday in memory of her daughter Shell , who died of complications from diabetes in  Jan ' s daughter Shelley died in 2011 at the age of 56 of complications from her diabetes  ' There were reminders of her all around me , and I decided to get a reminder of her on me , ' Jan , now 83 , said .  When Shelley , who was fondly nicknamed Shell , died in 2011 at the age of 56 from complications of the diabetes she had lived with for nearly all her life , two of Jan ' s granddaughters and Shell ' s husband decided to get tattoos in memory of her .  ' And then I just couldn ' t think of a reason to not get one , ' Jan said .  ' Shell was just such a gorgeous girl . It ' s a loss that leaves a hole in your heart that ' s never filled again . You do these things as a memorial , to carry her with you , ' she said .  Jan said that when she announced her decision to her family , they were quite surprised but supportive the unexpected move from the now 83 year old .  ' I think they were a bit surprised but they didn ' t say "" don ' t do it "" , they said "" go ahead if it will make you feel better "" , ' she said .  ' I tried to con my other daughter into getting one too but she wasn ' t having any of it . '  Soon after the decision had been made , Jan was spending the day with one of Shell ' s daughters , when they passed Bondi Ink .  ' Shell was just such a gorgeous girl , ' said Jan ( left ) of her eldest daughter , with her other daughter Lisa ( right )  Jan getting her third tattoo , a shell , by tattoo artist Shaun ' Bones ' from Bondi Ink  Jan said that her tattoos are a memorial and a way for her to carry her children with her  ' She popped in and asked if they had a spare moment to chat about getting a tattoo . They asked her "" oh , are you thinking of getting one "" , and she said "" no , it ' s for my grandmother "" , ' Jan said .  ' The man at the counter said "" that ' s gold "" , and it went from there , ' she said .  For her 80th birthday , Jan had Shell ' s name inked on her upper arm near her shoulder , along with a cross , and said that she was surprised at how painless it was .  ' I was surprised to be honest . I don ' t know if I ' m a bit tough , but it certainly wasn ' t unbearable , ' Jan said .  ' There are parts of the body that are easier , and one of those is the arm , which is where I got mine , ' she said .  The now 83 year old wasn ' t done with just the one tattoo , and continued coming back to the studio each year for another tattoo to commemorate her daughter , tattooing the initials of her three children above the cross on her second run .  In the second episode of Tattoo Tales , Jan gets her third tattoo a beautiful coloured shell below her daughter ' s name .  ' Nobody sees it but me , it ' s just my family who knows and the friends I ' ve mentioned it to , ' Jan said .  Jan got a shell as her third tattoo , in memory of her daughter Shelley , who was nicknamed Shell  ' I don ' t know if I ' m a bit tough , but the pain certainly wasn ' t unbearable , ' Jan said of her experience in the chair  Jan with her daughter and granddaughters at one of their ' girls lunches ' in Sydney  ' Shell didn ' t have any tattoos but I ' d like to think she ' d have a smile to herself if she saw them on me , ' she said .  Jan said that she used to not be a fan of tattoos , but that now she doesn ' t assume that people are different simply because they are inked .  ' I ' d be a hypocrite if I did . I don ' t hold anything different against them , although I do worry when I see young girls with tattoos all over them that they ' ll go through life and get older and be sorry they got so many , ' she said .  Jan is unsure whether she will continue to go back for more tattoos on her birthday as has become the tradition .  The owner of Bondi Ink , John , said that this year ' s tattoo was his ' birthday present ' to Jan , and insisted she come back for her gift next year .  ' He always gives me a big hug , and says "" see you next year "" , ' she said .  Jan said that the restaurant where she has her birthday lunch each year is right across the road from Bondi Ink , which may prove tempting .  ' I think I ' ve done my dash . The birthday lunch get togethers are always so nice though , so maybe I will get another one later , ' she said .  Jan features in episode two of Tattoo Tales which airs on ABC2 on Wednesday April 9 at 9 . 40pm .  Episode Two of Tattoo Tales airs on ABC2 on Wednesday April 9 at 9 . 40pm  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
19710,19711,"7 fans) - Advertisement - At lease 60 cadets were killed and more than 116 injured as terrorists attack the Police Training College in Quetta, Pakistan, in one of the deadliest extremist attacks this year. Three gunmen burst into the sprawling academy, targeting sleeping quarters home to some 700 recruits, and sent terrified young men aged between 15 and 25 fleeing, Dawn News reported. Communication intercepts showed the attack was carried out by Al-Alimi faction of the Lashkar-i-Jhangvi militant group,  Frontier Corps (FC) Major General Sher Afgan said. The group itself has not claimed the attack. Most of the deaths were caused when two of the attackers blew themselves up. The third was shot dead by Frontier Corps (FC) troops. At least 120 people were injured, according to Dawn News. The   said ""terrorists were communicating with their handlers in Afghanistan"". ""There were three terrorists and all of them were wearing suicide vests,"" he added. The training college is situated on Sariab Road, which is considered to be one of the most sensitive areas of Quetta. Militants have been targeting security forces in the area for almost a decade.  The attack comes a day after militants belonging to the Baloch Liberation Army on a motorcycle shot dead two coast guards and a civilian and wounded a shopkeeper in a remote southwest coastal town in Balochistan.  In August, a suicide bombing at a Quetta hospital claimed by the Jamaat-ul-Ahrar faction of the Pakistani Taliban killed 73 people, including many of the city's lawyer community who had gone there to mourn the fatal shooting of a colleague. - Advertisement - Pakistan says intelligence agencies of India and Afghanistan are fanning unrest in Balochistan by helping the rebels and sectarian militant outfits. According to Islamabad Policy Research Institute, the Indian consulate in Kandahar, a border town, provides a firm base to train, arm and dispatch militants across the border to undertake sabotage activities in Balochistan. Indian companies have been awarded contracts on various projects to link Kabul with Balochistan near Iranian border; and in the bargain it makes the job of the Indian intelligence agency  easier. Last month Indian government formally offered political asylum to secessionist Baloch leaders. The Zee News of India reported that the media is buzz with reports that Brahumdagh Bugti, grandson of Nawaz Akbar Khan Bugti, is set to get Indian citizenship. He is currently living in exile in Switzerland.  Balochistan is a key region for China's ambitious $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor infrastructure project linking its western province of Xinjiang to the Arabian Sea via Pakistan.  Security problems have mired  in the past with numerous separatist attacks, but China has said it is confident the Pakistani military is in control. 18 Indian soldiers killed in an army base attack - Advertisement - The Quetta terrorist attack came five weeks after a militants attack on an army base in the garrison town of Uri in the Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir -- killing 18 soldiers. The attack on Sept 18, which took place near the de facto border between India and Pakistan in the disputed region, was one of the deadliest on an army base in Kashmir since militant attacks began in 1989, according to CNN. Tension remains high between the neighbors following the Uri attack. The Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has been under intense pressure from his own party and the Indian public to respond to the Uri army base attack. Mr Modi came to power pledging to toughen India's response to what he calls cross-border incursions from Pakistan. He vowed that the Uri raid ""will not go unpunished"". On September 29, India announced that it had carried out early morning ""surgical strikes"" on terrorist camps in Pakistani controlled Kashmir. However, Pakistan denied that a cross border strike had taken place, saying that Indian troops had fired small arms across the Line of Control, killing two soldiers and injuring nine. The notion of surgical strike linked to alleged terrorists' bases is an illusion being deliberately generated by India to create false effects,"" the Pakistani military said in a statement.",fake,news,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
19711,19712,"Reuters) - A former finance co-chair of Chris Christie’s presidential campaign on Sunday slammed Christie’s recent endorsement of Donald Trump, according to NBC, calling for the New Jersey governor’s supporters to reject the Republican front-runner.  “Chris Christie’s endorsement of Donald Trump is an astonishing display of political opportunism. Donald Trump is unfit to be president,” Meg Whitman, chief executive officer of Hewlett-Packard, said in a statement reported by NBC’s “Meet the Press” program. Christie, appearing on ABC’s “This Week” program, responded by describing Whitman “a great friend” with a different political opinion. “And that’s OK. That’s what makes this country great is that people can have differences of political opinion,” he said.   Just days before the Super Tuesday nominating contests, Christie on Friday became the most prominent mainstream Republican to get behind the billionaire Republican front-runner and former reality  star, declaring Trump to have the best chance of defeating Democrat Hillary Clinton in the Nov. 8 U.S. presidential election. But Whitman’s statement said the New Jersey governor made his statement despite his own public misgivings about a Trump presidency. “Trump would take America on a dangerous journey. Christie knows all that and indicated as much many times publicly,” Whitman said. Trump’s unorthodox candidacy has shaken the Republican Party and has drawn increasingly vehement criticism from his rivals. But a growing number of senior Republicans are becoming resigned to the idea he will be their candidate in November. Christie, who withdrew his own White House bid earlier this month, denied that he reversed course on Trump after promising New Hampshire Union Leader newspaper publisher Joe McQuaid that he would not endorse him after the billionaire won the state’s Feb. 9 primary election. “It’s just not true. He called me two days after the primary and said, I was just told that you’re about to endorse Donald Trump. And I said to him, that’s absolutely untrue. I’m not about to endorse anybody,” Christie told ABC.  (Reporting by Alana Wise and David Morgan; Editing by Ros Russell) This article was funded in part by SAP. It was independently created by the Reuters editorial staff.  had no editorial involvement in its creation or production.",true,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
19712,19713,"Dusan Bako , who flew into a rage and punched his pregnant girlfriend repeatedly in the stomach , causing her to lose their unborn baby  A teenage rapper has been jailed after punching his heavily pregnant 16 year old girlfriend in the stomach causing her to lose their unborn baby .  Dusan Bako , 18 , flew into a rage after he tried to call the teenager ' s phone only to discover it was switched off .  During a confrontation near a park in Oldham , Greater Manchester , Bako put his arm around the back of the girl ' s neck and with the other clenched his fist and repeatedly punched the victim in the stomach .  One horrified witness who saw the attack said Bako hit the girl ' like a boxer ' before she was taken to hospital where she later miscarried their child .  Bako , from Oldham , was initially charged with child destruction but ahead of his trial , pleaded guilty to an alternative charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent after a plea bargaining deal .  Prosecutors at Manchester Crown Court said Bako had a ' flashpoint of rage ' and punched her in the stomach knowing she was pregnant .  The court heard the girl who cannot be named told how being with Bako was ' like being tortured ' and in the run up to the attack in August last year she was living in fear of him and his demands that he wanted the baby ' for his family . '  Mark Kellet prosecuting said : ' They had met on Facebook and started dating . She describes that they were very much in love , and the pregnancy was planned because they were so in love .  ' She moved in with Dusan and his parents and there was , she says , significant animosity between their respective parents . While living with Dusan , she missed her parents and this caused friction within the relationship and she deiced to return home .  ' In the arguments that followed she describes the defendant as physically and verbally abusive and she turned off her phone because she says the defendant had made threats towards her . He sent a text message to her father asking him to tell her to turn on her telephone , which she did .  ' He then asked her to come outside and speak to him . She says that she was reluctant because he had previously made threats about punching her in the stomach . When she told him that she did not wish to go outside to speak to him , he became threatening , saying that he would come into the house and cause trouble .  ' When she left the house , her mother could see the defendant dragging her by her sweatshirt , so she and her husband followed . Her mother shouted : "" Why are you dragging her like this , she ' s pregnant . ""  Bako put his arm around the back of the girl ' s neck and with the other clenched his fist and repeatedly punched the victim in the stomach  ' Once they had entered a park , the defendant grabbed the girl around the neck and punched her in the stomach , a forceful and deliberate blow targeting her stomach area . She immediately doubled up in pain . '  Eye witness Carol Hulme , who was walking her dog said in a statement : ' As the male ran in and grabbed the young female , he stopped suddenly and put his arm around the back of her neck .  ' With the other arm he clenched his fist , swung his arm back and punched the female in the stomach . As soon as he punched her , he swung his arm back again and repeated the punch in the same area whilst still grabbing her around the neck .  ' He hit her like a boxer would hit his opponent . It seemed more of a targeted strike . She couldn ' t move , the way he had hold of her . I ' ve never seen anyone hit someone like that so low down .  ' It would have been between her stomach and her private area . The best was to describe the direction of the punch is like an uppercut , the fist down striking upwards . I am still thinking how strange it is that she was hit that low . '  Bako fled the scene as the girl let out an ' ungodly scream . ' She was taken to hospital where the baby ' s heartbeat began to slow . The girl was given a scan and watched the monitor screen as the baby died . She describes being in great pain .  Mr Kellet added : ' This was caused as a result of the injury to the girl caused by the punch . In essence , the punch to the stomach caused a placental haemorrhage and abruption .  Bako was jailed for fours years , eight months at Manchester Crown Court , pictured , after admitting causing grievous bodily harm with intent  ' The foetus became starved of oxygen and died . '  Bako later surrendered to police and told officers the punch was accidental .  He said : ' I took her to the park , her mum was shouting at me and then came up behind me and tried to slap me .  ' I tried to hit her to defend myself , but I caught her in the stomach by mistake . I never intended to hit her or hurt the baby . ""  In mitigation , defence counsel Peter Warne said : ' We are not dealing with a mature 18 year old . This was a complete instant loss of self control and an ' emotional reaction to a situation that confronted him . He wishes to write a letter of apology .  ' He is remorseful . He wants to do what he can to make amends even if only writing a letter to explain how sorry he is . Iit is not easy for someone of his age and immaturity to face up to what he has done and be brave enough to enter the plea he did for a very serious offence . '  Jailing him for four years , eight months , today Judge Robert Atherton told Bako : ' You delivered a serious blow to the lower stomach of your girlfriend who was pregnant with your child and as a result of that blow described as a boxer delivering an upper cut , the placenta of the child was ruptured which lead to starvation of oxygen , terminating the pregnancy .  ' I cannot begin to understand or appreciate her feelings at this loss or either your feelings at this loss . '  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
19717,19718,"Rise of the Divine Human Through a deceptive Interdimensional Intervention, Humanity has been disconnected from the Source, a... Print Email weblink Through a deceptive Interdimensional Intervention, Humanity has been disconnected from the Source, and downgraded, that he may be enslaved within the matrix of society. But now the divine light is shining in his heart again, the human soul is healing and through the activation of Kundalini , reconnecting fully with the Source. We're channeling that light through our being and out into the world which is beginning to break down the old fear based reality. It's time for humanity to get off his knees and rise up; to peel off this limiting intervention by initiating the divine being within.How does that work? How do we resurrect those divine gifts that are our birth right? The Seven Bodily Vehicles of Expression We are multi-dimensional beings stretching into the highest levels of consciousness. The human soul flows downwards through ever decreasing vibrational plains of existence like a stream cascading down the mountain from the Source. The stream of our soul interacts with the dimensions at various consciousness exchange points (known as chakras) where ""Unity Consciousness"" as the soul flows into ""Separation Consciousness"" as the bodily vehicles. The overriding purpose is to initiate divine acts of creativity — ""Right Action"" — by which to experience who we really are. In my observation, here's how that flow is supposed to happen. By bringing conscious awareness to this information, can direct you - through internal awareness - how to reactivate your divine human... 7. Spirit-Light-Body ( merkaba ): the spirit-light-body was designed to receive soul consciousness through the crown chakra to align our being with the right dimensional activity inline with our higher purpose. Through the spirit-light-body, the soul has the capacity to act through multiple planes of consciousness simultaneously. It interconnects us with all other sentient life and is able to harmonise with the co-creative intent of other souls within our sphere of influence. Our divine purpose could be channeling in the harmonistic light of the Fifth Dimensional Realm to which we are ascending; it could be counteracting Opposing Consciousness in the Fourth Dimensional Realm to prevent distortional interference; alternatively it could be bringing absolute presence into the Third Dimension to fulfill creative activity. Thus the spirit-light-body shines the light of our soul interdimensionally. 6. Celestial Body: the celestial body harnesses and stores reflections of our soul through the countless lifetimes we've experienced. It's purpose is to help us align with our true aspects of beingness. The downward shining light of the soul is next received into the third eye chakra, which ‘looks’ into the outer world comparing what it sees to the reflections of the soul in the celestial body. When the soul notices its own brilliance, it helps us align with and unfold those aspects of beingness that are most becoming of us; we settle into our groove so to speak. It is that feeling of complete self-belief, self-confidence, self-acceptance and contentment. When we can notice ourselves manifested in the outer world through our own authentic inner reflection, that is when we are truly living. We are frequently reduced to tears at the seemingly simplest of things because we are fulfilling our divine purpose. 5. Higher Mind: from authentic being arises authentic creation. The purpose of higher mind is to harmonise with the divine flow of synchronicity and initiate ""Right Action"" aligned with the universe. Through the power of the celestial body, we have noticed how to be within the external world and now is the time to experience this through creative action. At this stage, the creative impulse is quite abstract and undefined; the purpose is more about creative intent, and co-creating with other sentient life, rather than an actual creation itself. The soul now acts through higher mind, gathering together ‘elementals of consciousness’ into a directional flow of Right Action, like swirling clouds in the heavens. 4. Causal Body: the causal body is where our ""karma"" is held. It is the cause of our incarnation, it sets the agenda for our learning experience based on the attachments and creative experiences we need to evolve through. As the soul shines its beams of creative light down through the higher vehicles, our karma casts shadows of attachment through the lower bodies and into our outer experience. The causal body (also known as the energy body) now attracts and manifests exactly the right conditions to unveil the learning experiences required for our evolution. We are invited to confront and dissolve the obscuring clouds of karma by fulfillment of non-judgmental Right Action. We perceive this directing influence as a pull through the Heart Center - ""this is the way to go now"". 3. Lower Mind: lower mind is designed to receive, interpret and process higher channeled knowing through our clairvoyant, clairaudient and clairsentient (psychic) skills. So now we know what to do, the question is how to do it? If our authentic, creative action does not get side-tracked, the gathering energies are next passed into our subconscious or ""lower mind"". Lower mind then helps us to ‘connect the dots’ within the co-creative weave. Through the clairvoyant, clairaudient and clairsentient skills of lower mind, we notice rhythms and patterns of synchronicity in our “consciousness landscape” and have clear visions of the ‘garment’ to be created. As Right Action clicks into place moment by moment, it becomes abundantly clear what we are being invited to do and how to do it. 2. Emotional Body: the emotional body builds energy, passion and conviction around our behaviours to bring our creative Right Action into fruition. The creative process has now gathered together the right fabric for our creation, but it now has to be woven into form. The soul now utilizes the emotional body to garner more consciousness 'elementals' and weaves emotion around the creative act. It provides a multi-coloured palette of experience that brings the garment to life. It makes the illusionary reality feel very real, yielding meaning and sense of purpose to life. However, once the creative action has come to fruition, the weave of the garment is meant to quickly unwind again, so that something else may be created. It is not a part of the human design that we hang onto emotions and build identities around them as is so often the case. 1. Physical Body: the physical body provides the ultimate vehicle to bring the creative, downward flowing process into full expression; it provides the experience of separation - of one thing relative to another. Finally, the soul’s gathering weave of elementals takes form around our ultimate vehicle of creative expression - the physical body. As the master weaver, our brain reads the pattern that has been crafted through our higher bodily vehicles and then orchestrates a magical symphony of activity throughout our billions of material cells. The physical body finally brings life to the creative action experienced in the myriad of human, physical possibility. The physical body is a multifaceted mirror of higher creative intent. It is the jewel in the crown; when functioning as designed, it makes the illusion of reality real. Why is it then that most people don't experience natural human beingness in this way? The Matrix — a system of control We live in a system of control. Our lower minds, emotional and physical bodies are over-stimulated with constant dis-harmonious distraction. Corporate marketeers, governments and the powerful, build unnatural life-styles propagated constantly through TV, newspapers, radio and other media. The surrounding energy field is bombarded with electromagnetic interference through mobile phones, satellite, microwave and WiFi. Our food is purposefully infused with addictive substances; processed sugar, caffeine, artificial colourings, pesticides, hormones and  . Our water is contaminated with nitrates from the industrial foodchain and so-called 'medicinal' drugs that end up being constantly recirculated in our water system. It would seem our society has been perfectly configured to desensitise and condition souls to conform to lower patterns of behavior. The average home has constant, residual electric fields due to over-use of electronic gadgetry. Most houses are awash with toxic chemicals used to clean and disinfect which in actual fact damages and lowers our energetic sensitivity. The same can be said for the unnatural polyesters and other oil based compounds used to make our clothes. The overall effect if to create addictive, conditioned behaviours in the lower mind and physical body which then trap, fragment and dissipate the flow of the soul into continual, repetitive 'eddy currents'. So the downward flowing soul is truncated at the solar plexus - our lower mind - and just like software on a computer, neural webs of behaviour form in the brain locking the soul into a ' false self ' persona. This false self then creates a lower based life-style which can be readily controlled by the I ntervention Agenda . So perfect is this system of control, many awakening people are left with the inescapable conclusion that it was designed and perpetuated that way to enslave people. So how do we liberate ourselves and return to authenticity once more? Our Journey of Ascension After centuries of incarnation and losing ourselves in this artificial drama, we're being gifted an opportunity. A powerful wave of higher consciousness is beginning to activate within people's hearts. This ""Christ Consciousness"" as some call it (although not of a religious nature), has been dispatched to liberate those who are ready to step out of the maze. This energy works by sounding a note - a vibration which resonates with and therefore amplifies the sound of our soul that it may be heard once more above the outer noise of society. The Christ Consciousness helps reconnect with the unity of all life and the cosmic library of all knowing. It helps reactivate the natural flow within. So what can we do in our day-to-day lives to facilitate the maximum inflow of this evolutionary consciousness? How may we provide the most fertile inner ground for the seeds to germinate and grow? Our book "" Five Gateways "" has plenty of insight, guidance and tools that awakening souls can benefit from. Here below are seven recommendations from the book: 1. Surrender: be absolutely clear that the  game going on in the universe is self-realisation and that we might as well finally surrender and take an active part in that game rather than trying to conveniently ignore it while it plays with us! So accept that  events, happenings and circumstances have but one purpose...to discover our absolute completeness - our ""absoluteness"" - beyond all circumstances. Realise the aim of the game is to be completely free inside  happens. 2. Become the ""Observer"": the next step is to become the Observer of ourselves in all activities, events and circumstances. We notice where we lose our temper; where we become tight inside because of other people's behaviour; where we might blame another for the reality we are creating ourselves; where our addictions to something in particular cause us to act in predictable ways. When we notice this, firstly it is important just to watch it, accept responsibility for it, but not judge ourselves. In this way, we are already beginning to break free. It's also important to contemplate and utilise techniques for regaining the place of the Observer when we lose it, which inevitably happens in the beginning. It could be a deep breathing exercise for example, a visualisation meditation, or a mantra of some kind. Some people find it of particular benefit to put up strategically placed 'post-it' notes around the house; ""let go"" for instance. 3. Open the heart: next we need to open the heart further by attuning to those experiences that generate the sublime taste of divine oneness; the feelings such as lightness, expansiveness, timelessness and infinite peace. So the key is to follow those experiences that give us joy as much as possible - ""what makes our Hearts sing"" - until we are tuning in consistently throughout the day. Whilst we are in the experience, it is still paramount that we're observing ourselves in it. So it could be a few moments of deep breathing at our desk, walking in the lunch break admiring natural beauty or doing the gardening after work; whatever 'crumbles our cookie', the key is to be watching ourselves in our joy. 4. Follow the inner pull: as the heart opens, we begin to notice the natural synchronistic order of things and an inner pull to ""Right Action"". Sometimes this pull can be felt as an energy through the heart chakra, sometimes it is a simple inner knowing ""this is what to do now"". In which case it will benefit us to always respond to that pull. Where does the pull lead? It will guide us to events, circumstances and experiences that provide an opportunity to express a ""divine gift of beingness"" and to expose conditioned behaviour patterns formed from an attachment to a desired outcome. These are ""distortions"" of authentic beingness, often created by society and causing us to get tight, worried, angry or frustrated. 5. Deal with distortions and addictive behaviour: the key to dealing with distortions is to realise each conceals a divine gift of beingness and to ultimately unveil that instead. So for example someone might smoke because it gives them the feeling of relaxed completeness; we might drink because it makes us feel more sociable and confident; we might comfort eat because it gives us the feeling of contentment. Alternatively we might get worried, stressed or tight around particular issues because we think we need a particular outcome. The key to overcoming such conditioning is to go within, breathe deeply, settle into the pregnant pause before the moment is born, find our sense of inner completeness and then make space for an authentic act of beingness to arise naturally. This is by no means an easy thing to do, but the more we practice it, the more we'll realise every moment offers a black and white choice: give in to conditioning or surrender into the soul. In this way, we become the masters of our own destiny. 6. Raise our energetic vibration: this can be achieved by regulating the denseness of vibrations we bring into the body thereby limiting the stimuli that raise our internal metabolic rate. So for example, if we eat dense, processed foods polluted with toxins then the body has to work harder to process them and the extra effort swallows up consciousness. Or if we pollute our minds with too much clutter, or the negativity caused by the judgmentalism frequently expressed through the media, then we tend to tighten inside. Internal tightness is also heightened by too much computer time, over use of electrical gadgets and chemical toxins used in household cleaning materials. The key is to organise our immediate living environment to raise our energetic vibration. 7. Conduct regular spiritual practice: we live in a world that de-sensitises us and it is therefore of paramount importance that we redress the balance by conducting regular spiritual practice such as daily meditation. Traditionally meditation is considered as sitting quietly in stillness, but it could also happen during movement or breathing. What is essential, is that we begin to open, cleanse and harmonise the chakra system . This infuses the light of the soul through our being, thus reactivating the Seven Bodily Vehicles of Expression. Also such practice liberates powerful endorphins into the body which counteract the intervention energy. They redress the internal balance helping us find greater harmony and peace that we may reactivate the divine, downward creative flow. Read: 13 Chakras — Your Next Spiritual Level The ""Resurrection"" When we're truly connecting to the soul and experiencing it through the Seven Bodily Vehicles, it feels like coming home. Whatever is happening in the external drama, we feel like we're 'in the groove'. We sense our at-one-ment with the whole of life. Sitting on a park bench watching the light flickering through the leaves suddenly takes on a much deeper meaning. You find yourself soaring on the thermals of life. A yearning takes hold to return to our true nature; we're ready to turn away from society's conditioning and find the truth - to activate the divine human within. When you start fully infusing soul through meditation, you'll be taken on a magical journey of remembrance, of detoxification, healing and rejuvenation. The Seven Bodily Vehicles are purified, reactivated and re-energised - in short they are ""resurrected"". You re-acquire those skills so tragically taken from you. You once more take on multi-dimensional form; a much greater expanded reality becomes your truth. You are reacquainted with your birth-right. Rise, Divine Human! By Open — Rise Up from Openhand on Vimeo . Dear Friends, HumansAreFree is and will always be free to access and use. If you appreciate my work, please help me continue.  Stay updated via Email Newsletter: Related",fake,news,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,fake,fake,True,no,no,positive,present
19722,19723,"Northampton ' s maligned hit man is primed to go big game hunting again with no intention of toning down his use of legitimate force in the wake of renewed criticism .  Courtney Lawes arrived in France with the Saints , ahead of the Champions Cup quarter final against mighty Clermont Auvergne , carrying notoriety as excess baggage . His brutal tackle on France fly half Jules Plisson at Twickenham last month , in the Six Nations finale , angered the visitors to the extent that they tried to have him banned .  While the match officials and citing officer deemed that no action was needed , the England lock has been derided as a thug across the Channel and there were cries of protest in these parts , too .  England lock Courtney Lawes made a trademark hit on France fly half Jules Plisson  Click here to read Jeff ' s article on Lawes ' tackle  Writing in these pages , Jeff Powell suggested that Lawes should apologise for an offence that he argued would put parents off allowing their children to play such a brutal , damaging game .  The comments found their target but the 26 year old is a laid back character and was unfazed by the storm he had created .  ' I just took it on the chin and thought , "" People are going to say what they think sometimes , and sometimes people are going to view things differently "" , ' said Lawes as he prepared for another momentous Anglo French encounter .  Aside from that particular outburst of condemnation , there were widespread concerns expressed about the timing and legality of his tackling style , but Lawes is unperturbed and emphasised his largely clean disciplinary record .  ' To be honest , as long as it is legal and I ' m not putting my team in any jeopardy doing it , in terms of me getting booked or sent off or anything like that , I ' m going to do anything I can to help the team , ' he said .  ' I ' m not the sort of person who is fussed about what people think of me . I ' m only bothered about what I can do for my team and for myself as a player . Coaches know how good you are , no matter what things other people are saying outside the room .  Lawes crumples Plisson in the aftermath of his monstrous tackle on the French fly half  ' The fact is that my record is very clean . I ' ve only been cited once and I ' ve never been red carded . I don ' t think I ' ve had many yellows , if any , this year . I don ' t have a malicious streak . I know I ' m not a thug , I don ' t go around punching or fighting , any of that rubbish .  ' I just get on with the game . I don ' t even allow people to get me too aggravated , I just get on with my own thing . I ' m comfortable being who I am . If people want to say I ' m something else , that ' s fair enough . '  One of the accusations levelled at Lawes is that he sets out to intimidate smaller opponents , notably half backs , leading to a multitude of one sided collisions . He argues that trying to unsettle and nullify these primary decision makers is a reasonable and vital aspect of his repertoire .  ' If you can put pressure on the 10 , then you go out and put pressure on the 10 , and if you can do it legally then why can ' t you do it ? ' he said .  ' That ' s the way I see it . I ' ve got that kind of timing around the ruck and I ' ve got the speed to get to the 10 . My size is the reason that the impact is so big , but I don ' t go looking for it .  A livid Yoann Maestri pushed Lawes in the face and grapples with the England man following his challenge  Lawes and Maestri continue their disagreement on their feet as matters threaten to boil over  ' It makes a big difference to the game if you can stop the 10 from passing or stop that particular play . It doesn ' t even have to be a big hit , it just makes a difference if that 10 knows that he has pressure on him .  ' There is obviously a line between a legitimate and a late tackle because people get yellow carded for late tackles .  ' You watch the replay of the hit on Plisson and the other player has not caught the ball before we ' ve hit the ground . The fact is , had the tackle not looked as severe as it did no one would have said anything .  ' The only reason is because of the impact , which looks bad because he ' s landed on his head . I haven ' t tipped him up or anything like that I ' ve just followed through with my tackle . I didn ' t even know he didn ' t have the ball until I looked up afterwards . '  26 year old Lawes passes the ball during a Northampton Saints training session earlier this week  Lawes has revealed that he intends to maintain his destructive style of play for Northampton on Saturday  Asked if he intended to resume normal , destructive service for Northampton on Saturday in defiance of the criticism he added : ' Yeah , of course . I ' ve never done anything to get myself sent off in terms of my tackle timing or whatever , so why would I stop if it is legal ? '  Northampton , the champions of England , face a colossal challenge against a French club who simply do not lose at home , especially in Europe .  The Saints and three of their fellow Aviva Premiership teams have daunting ties away from home , but captain Dylan Hartley has hope for the quartet .  ' I am fully confident in ourselves , ' Hartley said . ' I think Wasps have a big ask in Toulon but we saw with 14 men the other night how dangerous they can be . I think Sarries against Racing could get a result there . And Bath v Leinster , who knows ? I think there could be a few upsets . '  ",true,text,test,American football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
19740,19741,"Last week , Children ' s General Hospital approved a new medication protocol to assist children undergoing surgical procedures . Anxiolytic medication , such as midazolam , can now be administered to parents to children headed to the operating room (  ) .  "" Some parents just get a little crazy , "" said hospital administrator Lance Willington . "" Their craziness translates into bizarre requests , emotional instability , and ultimately complaints and events that require paperwork to be filled out . I hate paperwork . They put their child at more risk by acting crazy . ""  Numerous  nurses had plenty to say about this topic . "" Yeah , these parents just go nuts sometimes and usually it is over simple procedures like ear tubes , "" said  nurse Sarah Yedders . "" Big scoliosis case , okay , I completely get it , but ear tubes , come on ! Your car ride in was likely more dangerous . ""  Anxiety , which is a completely normal response when one ' s own kid is having surgery , almost always makes things worse when left unchecked . Of course kids that weren ' t scared for the procedure are now petrified after seeing their parents ' hissy fit in the preoperative holding room . Some parents demand coming back to the  , while others flip out after forgetting an iPad or a favorite blankie .  "" Too much craziness ensues in the preoperative holding bay , that we had to do something about it , "" proclaimed Willington . "" We will now start administering midazolam to parents that express certain characteristics . ""  Some of the characteristics that nurses and physicians will look for include : unvaccinated children , parents that speak 200 250 words a minute , parents that repeatedly say "" Everyting will be okay , honey , "" and parents that demand to come back to the  .  "" The unvaccinated child on a gluten free diet without celiac disease or gluten allergy is a dead giveaway . Medicate those parents ! "" professed pediatric anesthesiologist Dr Tamara Wilson .  "" The problem may be convincing parents that need the medication , to take the medication . That is why we are starting a ketamine dart protocol for confirmed crazy parents who deny treatment . I always do what is best for my patient and if putting mom or dad in a trance is what it will take , then that ' s what I ' ll do . ""  ",satire,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,satire,True,no,no,negative,past
19741,19742,"New York City will change its policy on possession of small amounts of marijuana , giving police officers the option of writing offenders a ticket instead of taking them into custody , city officials said Monday at a press conference .  Mayor Bill de Blasio said the change will remove the stigma of a criminal conviction for many young people who are arrested for misdemeanor marijuana possession . Such a conviction can prevent people from getting a job or housing , he said .  "" A summons will not affect their future , "" he said . "" An arrest could . ""  The policy change , which goes into effect November 19 , will only affect cases involving 25 grams ( . 88 ounce ) or less of marijuana , Police Commissioner William Bratton said .  The officer can choose to write a citation , which requires the suspect to appear in court later , Bratton said . The marijuana would be seized and the person who had the marijuana would continue with their day . The fine for a first offense would usually be 100 , officials said .  Officers will make judgment call  If the officer does decide to take the suspect into custody , the suspect would be handcuffed and taken to the station house for fingerprinting and a mugshot , Bratton said . Police didn ' t specify the penalties but said they ' d be tougher than for a citation .  As to how that decision would be made , de Blasio said , "" An officer ultimately has to make the judgment on the scene . ""  If police find somebody smoking marijuana as opposed to simply possessing it the suspect would have to go through the entire arrest procedure , Bratton said . People without proper identification or people with outstanding warrants would be taken into custody , he said .  De Blasio said misdemeanor marijuana arrests disproportionately affect young people in minority groups in New York City . He said many job applications ask about arrests or convictions , but not summonses .  "" We don ' t want to saddle someone who made one small mistake with something that will follow them all their lives , "" the mayor said .  ' You will see fewer unnecessary arrests '  De Blasio said the policy change will also free up New York City police to concentrate on more serious crimes . The officers won ' t have to spend hours at the station house or in court because of small amounts of marijuana .  "" You will see fewer unnecessary arrests , "" he said , noting that misdemeanor marijuana arrests have declined for several years .  Voters in Colorado , Washington state , Oregon , Alaska and Washington , D . C . , have voted to legalize recreational marijuana .  New York law still bans possession of the drug . The policy shift only changes how police would enforce the existing law .  De Blassio and Bratton said they do not support legalizing recreational marijuana .  The policy change was first reported Sunday by the New York Times .  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
19745,19746,"Topics : Donald Trump , Immigration , Syrian refugees , Election 2016 , Republicans , Elections News , News , Politics News  A new Washington Post  News poll proves what gut instinct was already telling you : The Donald Trump campaign s success is built on the backs of racists . Or , if you prefer a gentler word that captures the immigrant specific questions the poll asked , xenophobes . Either way , fear of foreigners coming to America to white people isn t just driving the rhetoric of the Trump campaign , but it s , quite predictably , shaping who his supporters are .  Nearly half of  leaning respondents in the poll ? 47 percent ? both support the deportation of undocumented immigrants and oppose accepting refugees from Syria and other Mideast conflicts , the Washington Post reports . If a  leaning voter supports deportation , there is a 79 percent chance she or he also opposes Syrian refugees , compared with 54 percent if they oppose deportation .  Call them the twofers : Republicans who both want to kick out all undocumented immigrants and stop Syrian refugees from entering . A whopping 51 percent of Trump s supporters are twofers , compared to only 16 percent of all other Republican voters . Put another way , pro deportation anti refugee voters ? account ? for almost three quarters of Trump s support , the Washington Post reports .  To be clear , nearly every Republican in the race has pandered to the twofers on some level , stoking hysteria about Syrian refugees and talking tough on immigration , even if they fall short of embracing Trump s build a wall kick em out program . But Trump s laser like focus on these issues , along with a simple minded belligerence that appeals to the ? bigoted ( who are not known for their nuanced approach to issues ) means he is killing with these voters . Enough to hold a comfortable lead as the primaries draw closer .  While these results aren t surprising , there s a couple of important lessons to be drawn from them . One , traditional coalition building is collapsing in the Republican Party , which has become victim of its own ? propaganda machine . Two , this should ( but won t ) put to bed any lingering hope that Trump is somehow going to say something too racist and lose his base of support .  To start with the second one , because it is the sexier issue : For months now , there s been a sense in the pundit class that Trump is going to cross a line one day , saying something that will wake his supporters up to the fact that he s not ready to win a general election , causing them to give up their love affair with the Orange One and move , however reluctantly , to a Marco Rubio or Jeb Bush . This assumption underestimates how enraged these voters are . These are people that often feel that they are losing their identity . ? This group is animated by the idea that white Christian conservatives are the dominant class by rights , and that any attempt to share power is capitulation . The Bushes and Rubios of the world are seen as squishes , people who think conservatism can somehow be separated from this white Christian identity .  As the poll shows , xenophobia is broadly popular in Republican circles , but clearly , it s a priority issue for Trump supporters . People who are in such a panic state , believing their very identity is under threat by growing racial and ethnic diversity , aren t going to be interested in people who they see as accepting change as inevitable ( even if they promise to slow it down ) . They want to hear that it can be stopped , even reversed . And Trump is making that promise .  This entire situation is also a nice reminder that the politics of coalition building , as frustrating and contentious as they can be at times , have benefits over ? the multi decade conservative effort to use propaganda to create a singular , lockstep coalition . Democrats work by bringing people with different issues together , settling differences through compromise and often tedious amounts of discussion . For decades now , the right has gone a different route : Using talk radio , conservative publications and Fox News to create a singular conservative identity and ? persuading people in the coalition to adjust themselves to it .  There s been a lot of political benefits to this , of course . For instance , it might seem like the churchy anti abortion community would balk at slashing the social safety net on the grounds that it encourages abortion . But that doesn t happen . Anti choicers are conservatives first , and conservatives want to cut welfare and that s that . To budge on this issue is to court accusations of liberalism , which cannot be countenanced .  Years of propaganda efforts have ? flattened out any differences of opinion on the right , creating a coalition that moves in lockstep . But the Trump candidacy shows the limits of that strategy . The xenophobic views are widely popular in the party , even if they aren t priority number one for everyone . ? Once conservatives generally agree with each other , it becomes a competition to see who is the most ardent amongst them . That s why , in recent years , we ve seen ? a proliferation of the phrase true conservative in Republican circles . Having rejected the politics of coalition building , conservatives just now want it to be a competition of who can be the most conservative conservative of all .  As long as immigration is a salient issue to conservatives , Trump is going to do well . He can convincingly portray himself as the most conservative on this issue , bringing a huge chunk of voters with him . The only way to combat that is to find some other enticing issue that a candidates is most conservative on , and distract voters with that . ? Carson was able to pull that off for awhile , but the immigration issue has surged to the front again because of the Paris attacks .  The Republican noise machine has been incredibly successful in building a powerful movement ? that moves in lockstep . But insert your Frankenstein metaphor here . There s no real incentive for the Fox News and Rush Limbaughs of the world to dial it down . Lockstep conservatism is straight up good for ratings . But it increasingly looks bad for the Republican Party .  Amanda Marcotte is a politics writer for Salon . She ' s on Twitter AmandaMarcotte  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
19747,19748,"Ghost writers are advertising their services to write essays for university students through online classified websites .  A photo of an attractive and studious looking brunette , who is touting herself as a ' psychology tutor and essay writer ' , is posted alongside her advertisement on classifieds site , Gumtree , encouraging students to contact her for an academic helping hand .  ' If you are running out of time to write that assignment or would like some help getting started or finished , I am here to help ! ' the ad says .  The woman promises students that she will return every essay ' complete and correctly formatted ' with fees negotiable dependent on the volume of work but her guide is 160 for every 1 , 000 words .  This ad ran alongside a photo of an attractive and studious looking brunette on the Gumtree site  Another female ' freelance writer ' who also advertises on Gumtree , told The Sydney Morning Herald that she was contacted by about a dozen Australian and international university students on a weekly basis with using many using pseudonyms to avoid being caught for cheating .  The woman said she was surprised that the teachers had not picked up on how much the student ' s essay plan differed from the final version and suggested that the lecturers must not ' know the students well enough ' .  Another writer advertises offers to write academic papers and exam notes for both school and university students and even offers discounts for multiple projects .  Students are reassured that all discussions are ' 100 confidential ' .  Another writer offers to write academic papers and exam notes for both school and university students  The latest news comes as Chinese born Yingying Dou , 30 , reportedly runs a website called MyMaster which helps students cheat , a Sydney Morning Herald investigation by Amy McNeilage and Lisa Visentin claims after they discovered more than 900 ghostwritten essays .  Yingying Dou reportedly runs an essay writing company  The businesswoman allegedly charges up to 1000 for essays written by her 100 employees working from a Chinatown office on George Street in Sydney .  It ' s claimed that MyMaster has an annual turnover of 160 , 000 thanks to international students desperate to pass their courses or too lazy to do the work themselves .   Deputy Vice Chancellor Professor Shirley Alexander told the  : ' I ' m not as surprised as you might think . In higher education we ' ve had to up the ante in how students are changing the methods of cheating for some time . '  She said that the news that flyers advertising the MyMaster essay writing service were posted in  toilets was not alarming .  ' We find those kinds of things all the time , that ' s not something that is new , ' she said .  ' When we find them we do take the number and call them and point out how illegal it is but they do appear all the time that ' s not something new , ' she explained .  Ms Dou has denied knowing anything about the website MyMaster website which has now been taken down  Students ( a stock photo is shown ) have reportedly paid up to 1000 for their essays to be written for them  The Sydney Morning Herald reported that a flyer posted at the University of Technology Sydney said : ' Are you racking your brains on your school work ? Do you worry about spending 3000 retaking tuition on the failing subject ? Leave your worries to MyMaster and make your study easier ! '  Ms Dou has denied knowing anything about the website , which has now been taken down . The company ' s Facebook page has also been removed but a holding page shows 605 previously people ' liked ' it .  She reportedly also runs Yingcredible Tutoring , a page which she has endorsed from her own personal Facebook account .  ' We provide commerce subjects tutoring service to university students to help them pass the course , ' a description on the page reads .  Most university websites display clear advice about plagiarism .  The University of Sydney says that while nobody commences their studies with the intent to plagiarise ' many people do , for a variety of reasons ' .  ' Some students plagiarise because they don ' t fully understand what plagiarism is , why it is wrong and how it can be avoided . Others plagiarise , because of time or other pressures , ' a warning on their website reads .  Ms Dou also reportedly runs Yingcredible Tutoring , which is another service for students  When handing in work students must satisfy the notion that it is ' all your own work ' .  Students who have used the MyMaster website could be found guilty of ' dishonest plagiarism ' , which is when they ' knowingly presenting another person ' s work as one ' s own work without appropriate acknowledgement of the source ' .  And ' engage another person to produce or conduct research for the work , including for payment or other consideration ' .  ' Failure to adhere to the University ' s high standards of academic merit , intellectual rigour , and ethical behaviour constitutes a breach of the University ' s Code of Conduct for Students and Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism in Coursework Policy . If proven , academic dishonesty may constitute misconduct , resulting in serious penalties that may include failure or exclusion .  ' The University thoroughly investigates all cases of alleged academic dishonesty and provides education and support to assist students to observe the rules of honest scholarship , ' they added .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
19756,19757,"Yep the guys who is caught on tape openly advocated for killing cops is the same guy  hired to host his own show. It s the same guy who makes regular visits to our White House to discuss  strategy  with our Race Baiter In Chief. Imagine if this was a white man calling for a group of people to kill cops. Would his presence at the White House be tolerated by a single American? Yet, in the crazy world of the Left, his presence is not only tolerated, it is deemed necessary to stir up the vote for Democrats in the black community in 2016. We all know that without a single black candidate running for President, the only way to get the same voters to the polls that came out in droves for Barack is to stir it up on the streets. By pitting whites against blacks and and blacks against cops they believe their giving the black voter a compelling reason to vote for Hillary or Bernie.Here s Watters interview with Sharpton where denies saying he  believes in offing the cops. Here s the clip showing Al Sharpton saying the things he denies saying: I don t believe in marching. I believe in offing the pigs. Well they got pigs out here! What I believe in, I do!  Sharpton exclaimed, encouraging the laughing audience to physically take on law enforcement. He added,  Do what you believe in. Or shut up and admit you ve lost your courage and guts to stand up. Ain t nobody holding you. I ll off the man. Well off him. Plenty of crackers walking right around here tonight.  here:",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,present
19765,19766,"South Hospital has taken a brave step to become latex free by 2016 . The board voted to replace the soft , elastic , flexible urinary foley catheters with a latex free alternative .  "" I was worried by this initiative , "" says staff nurse Rebecca Jacobs . "" The new Foley catheters seem to be made out the same material they make planes out of , so I ' m not sure if our patients will welcome the change . ""  Of course , patient comfort during this awkward and invasive procedure also depends on staff eagerness and creepiness , so nursing administration drafted new policies to ensure nurses display a cheerful but professional attitude while inserting the new and presumably more uncomfortable catheters .  A thoughtful demeanor coupled with empathetic phrases such as "" This is going to hurt me more than it will hurt you and "" Why don ' t we use a little more lubricant ? are recommended . Distracting conversation about the hallucinogenic properties of hospital curtain patterns may also prove useful during Foley catheter insertion .  To Nurse Rebecca ' s surprise , the patients haven ' t been complaining about the change . During the interview , an unidentified patient shambled up to our heroic reporter and offered his story : "" I was supposed to go home yesterday , but I ' m refusing to have my Foley catheter removed . When I retired as a urologist I felt bad for all the patients I catheterized , but this new material feels like a urethral massage ! ""  "" Plus , I was tired of emptying my plastic urinal into the nightstand drawer when it got too full and no one would answer my call light . ""  Our reporter has requested reassignment , but rumors continue to swirl that patients at South Hospital are staging protests against Foley catheter removal . Coincidentally , that same reporter has been admitted to South Hospital claiming to be "" unable to empty my bladder . ""  ",satire,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,fake,satire,True,no,no,neutral,present
19774,19775,"Top State Department officials are vowing to improve security at U . S . diplomatic posts around the world , some before the end of the year .  Those promises were repeated Thursday in Washington in a hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee , the first of two sessions in which Deputy Secretaries of State William Burns and Thomas Nides testified about the deadly attack on the U . S . consulate in Benghazi , Libya .  "" We ' ve learned some very hard , and painful lessons in Benghazi , and we are already acting on them , "" Nides told senators . "" We have to do better . ""  The two testified the State Department deployed five teams to assess security at 19 U . S . diplomatic posts in 13 countries . They said the department partnered with the Pentagon to send 35 additional Marine detachments about 225 Marines to medium and high threat posts with the hope the additional Marines would be deterrents against any attack attempts .  Also , the department wants to hire more than 150 diplomatic security personnel an increase of 5 over current staffing and provide them with equipment and training .  The hearings follow a scathing independent report released Tuesday that blamed "" systemic failures and leadership and management deficiencies "" for inadequate security amid the attack that killed four Americans , including Ambassador Chris Stevens .  This week ' s report and hearings mark a significant chapter in the winding saga surrounding the events of September 11 , 2012 . That night , the consulate became engulfed in flames . Cameras captured images of a huge crowd of people in the streets some waving Libyan flags around the consulate , before gunmen descended on the compound .  The assault was ultimately determined to be a terrorist attack .  Stevens , a lifelong diplomat admired by many of different political parties , had previously written diplomatic correspondence warning that al Qaeda linked militants were growing in strength in an enclave not far from the city .  Burns ' and Nides ' appearance on Capitol Hill marks the first time officials of their level have spoken about the attack .  Both are top advisers to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton , who is not able to testify because she is ill . Clinton ordered the review in the aftermath of the attack . Such reports are mandated by Congress when Americans working on behalf of the U . S . government are killed overseas .  The 39 page unclassified version of the report concludes that the leadership failures resulted in a security plan "" that was inadequate for Benghazi and grossly inadequate to deal with the attack that took place . ""  Nides told senators he ' s leading a task force to implement 29 recommendations in the review board report . Some of the recommendations will be implemented before the end of the year .  "" We accept every one of them , "" Nides said .  "" The undersecretary of political affairs , the undersecretary for management , the director general of the Foreign Service and the deputy legal adviser will work with me to drive this forward , "" Nides said .  The task force has already met to translate the report ' s recommendations into 60 specific action items , he told senators . "" We ' ve assigned every single one to the responsible bureau for immediate implementation , and several will be completed by the end of this calendar year , "" he said .  He promised to work with Congress to make sure those recommendations become reality .  Four State Department officials were disciplined after the release of the report . One resigned , and three others have been placed on administrative leave , spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said .  On Thursday , Nides also asked that Congress provide the department with more money to pay for ramped up security .  Sen . John Kerry , widely considered the leading candidate to succeed Clinton , seemed to agree that the department should get more funds .  He said in the hearing that spending on U . S . missions overseas must increase , and the system that requests and delivers that money must be streamlined .  In the past year , 650 billion was spent on military budgets , while the budgets for international affairs were less than one tenth of the Defense Department ' s , the Massachusetts senator said .  Sen . Bob Corker , a Republican from Tennessee , said he was "" dismayed "" that the hearing was centered on additional money for the State Department in the absence of a review of how the agency spends the money it already has .  "" We have no idea whether the State Department is using its money wisely or not , "" he said .  Yet he said the department knew about the threats posed in the days before the attack , based on incoming cables , and should have requested funds to support the situation in Benghazi .  Nides testified that the State Department has already requested additional funds for its 2013 budget .  When asked whether Clinton had heard of the security concerns prior to the Benghazi attack , Burns said the conversations with Clinton and senior level officials were mainly focused on the overall general security picture in Libya , but there was a general awareness of the deteriorating security situation in the eastern part of the country .  Clinton is recovering from a stomach virus and concussion but is expected to appear before the House Foreign Affairs Committee next month to discuss the Benghazi attack , according to Rep . Ileana Ros Lehtinen , R Florida , the outgoing chairwoman of the panel .  Burns testified about other actions he and officials are taking to tighten relations with countries like Libya that are still shaky after recent revolutions that toppled dictators .  Burns said he ' d just gotten back from Tunisia , where a suspect in the Benghazi attack is being detained .  "" I believe we ' re making some progress there , "" the deputy secretary offered .  There was a short portion of the Senate hearing that touched on the controversy surrounding comments by Susan Rice , the U . S . ambassador to the United Nations , describing the Benghazi attack in the days following the incident .  Rice said on Sunday news programs in the days following the attack that it was the result of a protest against an online anti Islam film .  She ' s been heavily criticized for those statements , to the point that she withdrew her name for consideration as the next secretary of state to avoid what she called a "" lengthy , disruptive , and costly "" confirmation process . Critics said Rice ' s comments were out of line with the true intelligence about the incident , and were an attempt by the administration to avoid tying it to terrorism .  Oklahoma Republican Sen . James Inhofe asked Burns about Rice ' s statements .  "" What happened in Benghazi was clearly a terrorist attack , "" Burns replied . "" I am convinced my colleagues in the administration and intelligence community operated in good faith . ""  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
19779,19780,"How would an old dune buggy do in the age of the  ?  If you see Dune , you may well have the answer to why so many aged in the wood science fiction movies do not hold up .  and noise enhancement have taken ahold of fantasy movies , and Dune was one of the last of its ilk .  So , on the thirtieth anniversary of Dune , we took the old buggy out for a test drive . David Lynch ' s 1984 version of Frank Herbert ' s cult favorite revealed a few interesting surprises , sort of like sitting on a Whoopee cushion .  First , every Lynch film looks like science fiction . This is no different . Dune , the planet , could easily be Twin Peaks .  With more exposition crammed into a snooze fest opening fifteen minutes , you may need Cliff Notes to figure out who ' s double crossing whom before the plot starts falling into holes .  This film would not be made today by David Lynch , without some special effects , explosions , and deafening noises . We are mostly surprised it ' s written and directed by Mr Lynch wearing a Stanley Kubrick mask . Of course , every director is allowed a presumption of innocence , at least once .  The cast still mesmerizes as major film stars seem to be slumming for the chance to work with the off beat auteur , but they should have waited a few more years for Kyle MacLachhan to join the  to investigate Laura Palmer ' s death .  Nonetheless , actors like Patrick Stewart prove stunning . He hasn ' t changed since he captained a starship , and this is ten years before that . He seems to have found the movie ' s youth fountain , called a "" Spice Device . "" On the other hand , Sting ' s performance puts his movie career clearly into camp , acting like he never expected to appear in another film wearing a blue diaper .  The plot hinges on everyone needing some "" spice in life . Not much changes in 10 , 000 years . Yes , your MacGuffin is some magical spice .  For some reason appearing in a sci fi artistic stinkeroo causes all actors to talk in a stilted British accent , even the Brits . The movie makes you long for the better performances in good movies done by Jose Ferrer , Sian Phillips , Max Von Sydow , Dean Stockwell , Kenneth MacMillan , and Linda Hunt .  We ' d urge you to avoid this clinker , but train wrecks are always worth a twin peek .  ",satire,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,satire,True,no,no,neutral,past
19783,19784,"These amazing photographs show the stunning beauty inside of the Vatican and churches in Italy .  Photographer Richard Silver , 52 , spent more than two years capturing unique visions of well known houses of worship , including the Santa Maria della Pieta in Venice .  The church is known by classical music lovers for being associated with Vivaldi and his young female musicians who were orphans .  These amazing photographs show the stunning beauty of the inside of the Vatican ( left ) and churches in Italy , such as the Basilica of St Mary of the Angels in Rome ( right )  The Santa Maria Maggior in Rome ( left ) and the Church of Sant ' Ignazio di Loyola ( right ) , also in Rome  Some of the other churches Silver , from New York , visited were the magnificent Sant ' Ignazio , dedicated to Ignatius of Loyola , the founder of the Society of Jesus , and the ornate Church Del Gesu in Rome .  He has taken photos of churches in Beijing , Istanbul , Easter Island , Milan , Rome , London , Warsaw , Singapore , Shanghai , Goa , Dubai , Trieste and Venice .  Silver , who spent two years on the project , said : ' Each photo takes me about an hour and a half to photograph .  ' About 45 minutes before sunset , during sunset and about 30 minutes after the sun . I am a very symmetrical person this format worked perfectly .  ' What I need is a clear night , no flat grey sky . I need blue skies so I can capture the change of light , a cloudy night just doesn ' t cut it for this situation .  ' I shoot with a Nikon D800 mostly I shoot with a 24 70 2 . 8mm Nikon lens too . Always on a tripod and I use a remote control to take the photos .  The Parrocchia Sant ' Maria In Portico Campitelli ( left ) and the Church Del Gesu ( right ) , both in Rome  The Parrocchia Sacro Cuore Di Geso in Trieste ( left ) and the Church Dei San Santi Geremia E Lucia in Venice ( right )  ' A remote gives me freedom to walk away a little from standing in one spot for so long and there is no vibration to the photo . '  Around 25 , 000 people visit the Vatican in a single day , around five million a year .  Entry to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel costs 16 , earning the Vatican an annual revenue of around 80 million or 70 million a year . Sisto conducted his first Mass in the chapel on August 1483 .  The Sistine Chapel is most famous for Michelangelo ' s frescoes , but long before Michelangelo , Sisto commissioned painters such as Botticelli to fresco the two long walls of the chapel .  One side told the story of Moses , the other the story of Christ . Even without Michelangelo ' s work , these earlier paintings still represent one of Europe ' s greatest fresco cycles .  Michelangelo began work on the ceiling in July 1508 . The completed frescoes were unveiled in October 1512 .  The Basilica Di S Ambrogio in Milan ( left ) and the Church Nazionale Argentina in Rome ( right )  The Church S Marcello , Rome ( left ) and the Santa Maria della Pieta in Venice ( right )  The Basilica S Ignazio ( left ) and the Basilica di Santa Prassede ( right ) , both in Rome  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
19785,19786,"A federal judge on Friday temporarily blocked same sex marriages in Wisconsin , pending appeals .  The same judge last week struck down the state ' s same sex marriage ban . She did not stay her ruling then , allowing a number of same sex marriages to proceed .  "" After seeing the expressions of joy on the faces of so many newly wedded couples featured in media reports , I find it difficult to impose a stay on the event that is responsible for eliciting that emotion , even if the stay is only temporary . Same sex couples have waited many years to receive equal treatment under the law , so it is understandable that they do not want to wait any longer , "" U . S . District Judge Barbara Crabb wrote in her decision Friday .  However , she added : "" A federal district court is required to follow the guidance provided by the Supreme Court . Because I see no way to distinguish this case from Herbert , I conclude that I must stay any injunctive relief pending appeal . ""  Crabb was referring to a Supreme Court case in which same sex marriages in Utah were put on hold .  Speaking about the judge ' s ruling Friday , Carl Tobias , a constitutional law professor at the University of Richmond , said that Crabb clearly felt constrained by the higher court .  "" That leaves Wisconsin couples married in the last week in legal limbo , like couples in Utah and Michigan who married after the bans were invalidated and before stays were issued , "" he said .  Same sex marriage is legal in 19 U . S states and the District of Columbia : California , Connecticut , Delaware , Hawaii , Illinois , Iowa , Maine , Maryland , Massachusetts , Minnesota , New Hampshire , New Jersey , New Mexico , New York , Oregon , Pennsylvania , Rhode Island , Vermont and Washington .  Worldwide , 16 other countries ( and parts of Mexico ) also have laws allowing same sex marriage and domestic partnerships . Most of these are in Europe and South America .  Fast Facts : Same sex marriage  ",true,text,test,Other news1,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
19787,19788,""" Do you thank God every day that these things happen ? "" asked Morgan .  "" Yes , "" answered Steinberg , "" This is a gift from God to comedians the likes of which we have never seen . ""  "" It ' s a ship of fools that is it ' s just unbelievable , "" said Steinberg . "" I used to have a theory that I took almost through all the presidencies . And it was that you ' re either it ' s like the Three Stooges . You ' re either a Moe , who ' s in charge , or a Larry , who wants to be a Moe , or you ' re Curly , who is nuts and totally just off the page . ""  Steinberg and Carell are guests on Thursday ' s "" Piers Morgan Tonight . ""  The New York Times recently hailed Steinberg , a  director , as "" a comic institution . "" Among his credits are "" Friends , "" "" Seinfeld , "" "" Mad About You , "" "" Newhart , "" "" Weeds "" and "" Curb Your Enthusiasm . ""  Steinberg ' s latest project , "" Inside Comedy , "" is a joint venture with Carell . The documentary style series about comedians airs Thursday nights on Showtime .  Steinberg called the new series "" unique in the way in which the comedians talk about what they do . . . . There is no audience . There is no pressure . They ' re not on , but they ' re funny . ""  On "" Inside Comedy , "" the featured comedians talk about their childhood comedy heroes , among other things . Carell , who called the entertainers ' comedic influences "" a matter of personal taste , "" counted Peter Sellers , Steve Martin and Jack Lemmon among his influences growing up .  Each episode of "" Inside Comedy "" is a standalone documentary . Episode four , in which Billy Crystal will be interviewed , airs Monday night . It also features Brad Garrett and Martin Short .  Steinberg conducts the interviews in the half hour series .  "" I think David is the best interviewer because he puts people at ease , "" said Carell . "" Only because , you know , you have all of these people who do tend to be on a lot . But he puts them in a comfort zone and allows them to not only be funny , but to be themselves . So you find out a little bit more about them in a personal way , which I think is great . ""  Steinberg also noted that "" Inside Comedy "" sets out to debunk certain myths about stand up comics . One such myth : Comedians have to be so called wounded souls to achieve success .  Steinberg and Carell pointed out that "" Seinfeld "" helped break that barrier and also made it socially acceptable to be a comedian .  "" When I started out , "" Steinberg said , "" being a comedian was not a great thing . If your girlfriend brought you home to your mother and said he ' s a comedian , they wouldn ' t be happy about it . But now , it ' s become corporate with ' Seinfeld . ' ""  Steinberg further noted the show fueled the incorrect assumption that comedy meant big bucks .  "" A lot of young people make the mistake of going into comedy just because it ' s a lucrative business , as opposed to earlier , even Steven and I , we were in ' Second City , ' we never . . . thought of going beyond ' Second City ' in Chicago . ""  "" If I could trap you both on a desert island separately , "" asked Morgan , "" and you could have one comedian with you to make you laugh for the rest of your days , who would you take ? ""  Carell said he would take Alan Arkin "" because he makes , one to one , he makes me laugh more than anyone I ' ve ever met . . . he ' s so dry and so acerbic . I love being around the man . ""  Steinberg said he would take either Groucho Marx , whom he referred to as "" acerbic "" and "" fun , "" or Martin Short , who he called "" nonstop funny all the time . ""  Morgan pointed out that when "" The 40 Year Old Virgin "" was released , Carell was catapulted into an "" international comedic superstar "" although he did have a successful career in comedy beforehand .  Carell , who has two young children , said that his life didn ' t change all that much and that he still goes to the movies and the mall like anyone else .  "" I certainly have more money than I did , "" Carell said , "" but my home life , my family life , all of that really has stayed essentially the same . ""  Carell said success coming relatively late in life for him was a good thing because "" I sort of had my ducks in a row at that point . I had figured things out , for the most part , in terms of my goals and my wants and dreams and what was giving me happiness , ultimately . So I think if it had happened early in life , I don ' t know if it would have been the same story . ""  When Morgan asked Carell about "" The Office , "" he referred to Ricky Gervais as "" the monster that spawned all this , "" and noted that Carell ' s version of the role was "" more empathetic . ""  For his version of "" The Office , "" Carell felt that the cliche about television audiences inviting  characters into their homes every week rang true in this case .  Carell , who starred in the American version of "" The Office "" on  for seven seasons , called Gervais ' version "" excellent , "" noting that Gervais knew going into it that the British version of the office would only last for 13 episodes , as is common with  television series .  "" He knew that the run would be limited , "" said Carell , "" and he could play this guy that was just insufferable and a truly terrible person . ""  Watch Piers Morgan Tonight weeknights 9 p . m .  . For the latest from Piers Morgan click here .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,past
19791,19792,"FRANCISCO/  (Reuters) - President Donald Trump’s travel ban on citizens of six Muslim-majority nations faces its second challenge at a U.S. appeals court next month, and this time more Republican states are backing the measure, while one Democratic state attorney general dropped out of the legal fight this week. Some legal experts say the states’ realignment could signal that the changes made last month to Trump’s original executive order have strengthened the government’s case. Sixteen Democratic state attorneys general and the District of Colombia on Thursday filed a “friend of the court” brief backing Hawaii in its bid to block the March 6 executive order, which two federal judges put on hold before it could be implemented. Hawaii and other states argue the ban violates the U.S. Constitution because it discriminates against Muslims. But Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, who opposed the original ban that Trump signed on Jan. 27, did not join Thursday’s brief, which was filed in the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco. Shapiro declined to comment.  On the other side, Texas, which had been alone in its support for the original January order, has gained the support of 14 Republican states urging that the ban go forward in a legal brief filed on April 10. Those states back the government’s argument that the president has wide authority to implement immigration policy and that the ban is needed to prevent terrorist attacks. Trump’s original ban, which the president said was needed for national security to head off attacks by Islamist militants, applied to seven Muslim-majority nations and indefinitely banned the entry of all refugees from Syria. It was revised and narrowed after a flurry of legal challenges. “The second executive order was much more carefully written than the first. Maybe when various states analyzed it they weren’t as interested as joining,” said Stephen Yale-Loehr an immigration expert at Cornell University Law School. However, he said, “amicus briefs sometimes are filed for political reasons.”  Some judges pay close attention to amicus briefs, while others disregard them. The U.S. Department of Justice declined to comment. Trump’s January order was hastily implemented just days after his inauguration, leading to chaos and protests at airports and more than two dozen lawsuits. A federal judge in Seattle halted the order and the 9th circuit upheld that ruling. The White House re-crafted the order to exclude legal permanent residents and removed Iraq from the list of targeted countries. Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen are still included in the new order. The new ban also dropped language giving preference to refugees who are part of a persecuted religious minority in their country of citizenship. The changes were meant to chip away at the plaintiffs’ “standing” to sue, which requires that anyone bringing a lawsuit show they have been directly harmed by the action they are contesting.  But as soon as the second order was signed, states and civil rights groups went back to court, saying that it was still discriminatory.  Federal district judges in Maryland and Hawaii put the second order on hold before it could take effect on March 16.   The judge in Hawaii blocked the two central sections of the ban, on travel and refugees, while the Maryland judge only halted the travel portion.  Most of the focus is now on the Hawaii case, which is being heard by the 9th Circuit on May 15.  The 4th Circuit appeals court in Virginia is slated to hear arguments in the Maryland case on May 8.  Not all states have staked out a side in the fight. Pennsylvania now is among 18 states, including Michigan, Ohio, and New Jersey that have not taken sides on the issue, opting not to file any legal briefs.      ",true,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
19794,19795,"A 42 year old Utah man planned to "" randomly shoot and kill "" at a Salt Lake City mall , then pick off moviegoers , and finally blow up a city bus a plot he detailed to a counselor who alerted police according to a court document .  The Salt Lake Public Defender ' s Office acknowledged Tuesday that it is representing Stiles , but declined otherwise to speak about his case .  According to the charging document , police first became aware of the plot after an employee at Pioneer Valley Hospital in West Valley City told them August 12 how Stiles detailed plans to "" kill as many people as possible . "" The document did not state why Stiles was at the hospital , identifying the woman he spoke with as a "" crisis worker . ""  The attack was to unfold Wednesday , which is the anniversary of Stiles ' mother ' s death .  After the hospital worker , Stiles allegedly himself then spoke to authorities . He specified three targets he had "" mapped out "" to determine the best places to hide in order to inflict the most bloodshed , the charging document states .  Stiles explained he ' d carry bags containing two automatic handguns with silencers , as well as five extra magazines of ammunition per gun , authorities say . The document did not state whether he had allegedly obtained any of those .  Details , but no answers in Oregon mall shooting  The charging document does not specify others involved in the plot , nor is anyone else known to have been arrested in connection to it .  Stiles ' first stop : the City Creek Center mall in downtown Salt Lake City . Opened in March 2012 , this shopping mall features restaurants and more than 100 stores such as Nordstrom , Macy ' s , Tiffany Co . , Michael Kors and Coach , according to its website .  Having already gone there "" observing people , "" Stiles said he planned to go back around lunch time September 25 and "" just randomly shoot and kill people , "" the charging document says .  His next stop , he told investigators , would be about 5 miles south at the Sugarhouse Movies 10 complex . Stiles allegedly had done his homework there as well , claiming it had slow moving crowds and no security system and expressing concerns moviegoers might scramble if he went during a busier time .  The charging document states that his idea was to take up a position in the back of the theater and start selectively "" shooting people ' s heads off "" with handguns .  Lastly , Stiles said he wanted to plant a bomb under a public bus to detonate as it moved over the City Creek Center bridge "" to cause mass amount of death , "" according to the court document .  "" The defendant indicated he will not intentionally shoot and kill children , "" the charging document says about Stiles ' alleged intentions overall . "" However , the defendant said he will randomly kill people until he runs out of ammunition . ""  Either that or police get to him . If that happens , according to the document , the suspect planned to "" drop his guns , place his hands in the air and surrender because the police are ' faster shots . ' ""  Asked Tuesday about the plot , the Utah Transit Authority referred inquiries to the Salt Lake City Police Department . Linda Wardell , general manager of City Creek Center , declined to detail the security measures being taken there .  "" The safety of our shoppers and our employees is our top priority every day , "" Wardell said .  Stiles who , according to  and other media , was charged Monday is being held on 1 million bail , another court document states .  Previous mall shooting plots  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Conflict,satire,true,True,no,no,negative,past
19798,19799,"Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday invited Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for a visit to the White House, an Abbas spokesman said. “President Donald Trump invited President Abbas to visit the White House very soon,” spokesman Nabil Abu Rdainah told Reuters after the two leaders spoke by phone. ",true,dataset,test,US elections,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
19807,19808,"Washington The House of Representatives ' Sergeant at Arms said Thursday that Congress was "" never in danger "" from a plot by a United States citizen to attack the U . S . Capitol , but that officials are still monitoring the situation .  "" The public , and in particular the Congressional community , was never in danger during the investigation . The United States Capitol Police (  ) remains in close coordination with the  and my office continues to monitor the situation , "" Irving writes .  "" We will keep you informed of any important developments that may arise . ""  Irving also urges the Capitol community to "" maintain vigilance and security awareness at all times . ""  "" I know you have heard it before , but it bears repeating today : if you see something , say something , "" he adds .  The email comes just the day after the  successfully foiled a plot to attack the U . S . Capitol that was being developed by Christopher Lee Cornell , a 20 year old Ohioan who was allegedly inspired by  .  The incident is the latest to highlight the threat posed by radicalized young men used by terrorist groups to carry out attacks in their own countries .  The terrorists in France last week became increasingly radicalized while in prison before traveling to Yemen , where at least one met with the American jihadist Anwar al Awlaki , a notorious al Qaeda cleric .  The brothers ' travel to Yemen and intelligence reports that one also traveled to Syria turned the West ' s worst fears foreign fighters returning to the West to carry out attacks into a grisly reality .  And Maine Sen . Angus King , a member of the Senate ' s intelligence and armed services committee , said on Thursday echoed intelligence assessments that "" lone wolf "" terrorists are the "" toughest "" threat to counter .  Sen . King on torture report : ' This is not America '  But he disagreed with his Republican colleagues , most notably Sen . John McCain ( R Arizona ) , who argue that the U . S . needs to ramp up its military effort against  and other terrorist organizations .  "" We ' ve been in the stamping out business for the last 12 or 13 years and it hasn ' t worked all that well , "" King said . "" Part of the problem is the more we , the U . S . and the West , are active particularly with troops on the ground the more it becomes a recruiting tool for the extremists . ""  Instead , King said the U . S . needs to address what he called a "" deeper question "" : figuring out how the U . S . can combat the radical ideology spread increasingly online by extremists like  and al Qaeda .  King pointed to a program being developed in the United Kingdom , where officials are working to "" de radicalize or anti radicalize "" their prisons , which can be hotbeds of extremist recruitment .  Even  , which now controls swaths of territory in Iraq and Syria and seeks to inspire the lone wolf attacks U . S . officials are most concerned about , was reportedly formed from an American military prison in Iraq , Camp Bucca , according to The Guardian . There , Abu Bakr al Baghdadi met the men who would years later become the branches of  ' s senior leadership .  King stood firm against calls from McCain and other Republican hawks like freshman Sen . Tom Cotton ( R Arkansas ) who are calling on President Barack Obama to escalate the military fight against  . And American troops certainly shouldn ' t be the ones "" rooting them (  ) out door to door in Mosul , "" a city  captured in Iraq .   : Tom Cotton on terror threat : ' We have to win on offense '  "" We are not going to be able to take them out by killing them one at a time . It ' s not going to work , "" King said . "" We ' ve got to go deeper than just police ,  ,  and military . We ' ve got to talk about how do we stop this movement toward radicalization because otherwise this is going to be a 100 year war . ""  Obama and U . K . Prime Minister David Cameron made it clear in an opinion piece published Thursday that they are closely watching the threat of lone wolfs , vowing not to be "" cowed by extremists , "" whether they come in the shape of terrorist groups or "" lone fanatics . ""  Reacting to the foiled Ohio plot in an interview with NewsMax , potential 2016  presidential candidate Texas Gov . Rick Perry made a quick connection between terrorism and border security , one of his top issues .  Perry said there is "" very good intelligence "" that the south Texas border with Mexico could allow "" individuals "" to come into this country .  "" Americans will sleep better knowing that their government is actual doing their constitutional duty , "" Perry said .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,present
19813,19814,"A team of physicians , nurses , and support staff is being lauded for its efforts in saving the life of Jasper Billings , 89 , after he presented in septic shock last month to Our Lady of the Chronic Recurring Abdominal Pain Hospital after being transferred from his skilled nursing facility .  Mr Billings , a non verbal , bed bound , double amputee on dialysis , presented to   Hospital with a fever , low blood pressure , and multiple organs failing . His family held steadfast to their policy of wanting "" everything done , "" and once again refused to talk about a  . "" Daddy has always been a fighter , "" said son Joe Billings . "" We knew that his strength and the Good Lord ' s will would overcome every obstacle . ""  Mr Billings was started on aggressive blood pressure support with multiple liters of  fluid . When his blood pressure didn ' t respond , a central line was placed and a norepinephrine drip was started . He was given broad spectrum  antibiotics , a blood transfusion , and sent to the  .  While there , Mr Billings continued to receive aggressive management . He ultimately required intubation and was placed on a ventilator due to respiratory failure . Over the course of ten days , he began to improve . The family asked for a feeding tube to be inserted into the abdomen since Mr Billings couldn ' t eat .  Support was slowly weaned as the patient ' s organ failure and blood pressure slowly improved . "" I just know those tube feeds are what helped Daddy turn the corner , "" Joe explained . "" He has always loved chocolate milkshakes , and that Jevity through the feeding tube looks just like chocolate milk . He is getting his favorite snack around the clock ! We are going to continue those tube feeds as long as it takes for him to get his strength back . ""  Intensivist Michael Johannson agreed to an interview . "" It just goes to show what early and aggressive intervention can do in these cases . A man presented to the hospital at death ' s doorstep , and thanks to the institution of a protocol focusing on measurable parameters , the patient is alive and was discharged in the same state of health he was in prior to falling ill . Our goal directed care is the biggest reason that Mr Billings can continue to enjoy his time lying on a stretcher at thrice weekly dialysis sessions , staring off into space while caregivers clean and attend to him , and the joy of having his decubitus ulcers debrided and redressed every other day . ""  We attempted to reach Mr Billings ' skilled nursing facility yesterday for comment , but were told that the patient had to be sent back to the Emergency Room at   due to fever and low blood pressure .  ",satire,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,fake,satire,True,no,no,positive,past
19820,19821,"It ' s possible that he ends up being just another politician who looks good on paper , but fumbles in practice .  Marco Rubio has the "" big mo "" in Michigan .  In the past week , he ' s been endorsed by U . S . Rep . Bill Huizenga , R Zeeland , and big  donor John Rakolta , a former Mitt Romney backer . Rubio also announced a campaign rally ? next week in Waterford .  Rubio had a slow start in the Mitten State , although he earned praise for his Detroit Economic Club ? speech ? this summer , as well as the blessing of U . S . Rep . John Moolenaar , R Midland .  But Rubio has chosen to primarily concentrate on early states like Iowa and New Hampshire ( we don ' t vote until March 8 , after Super Tuesday ) .  So unlike five other  hopefuls , Rubio bypassed the Mackinac ? Republican Leadership Conference in August ( although his ? campaign manager , Rich Beeson , attended ? and promptly got into an embarrassing dustup ? with Michigan consultant John Yob ) . ?  Rubio ' s ? establishment rival Jeb Bush has ( at least ) five ? times as many high profile Michigan endorsements ( Oakland County Executive L . Brooks Patterson and U . S . Rep . Mike Bishop , R Rochester , are just a couple ) . But more significantly , Bush tapped savvy Attorney General Bill Schuette ? ( a likely 2018 gubernatorial candidate ) ? to help run the operation .  But with Bush languishing in single digits in early state polls , the conventional wisdom is Rubio is the ? new establishment frontrunner . And there ' s no shortage of national stories proclaiming his ? momentum .  The freshman senator is an appealing candidate : he ' s young , attractive and a soaring orator . He has an inspiring rags to riches story ( well , almost ) and could certainly attract ? Latino voters , a group that ' s become increasingly alienated from the  ( Donald Trump ? is now threatening to finish the job ) . ?  Many pundits ? insist Rubio is the most electable Republican ? and the one feared most by Democrats .  He ' s been conscious of not peaking too soon and has avoided hitting ? Trump , leaving struggling candidates John Kasich ? and Lindsey Graham to do the dirty work . Meanwhile , everyone has ignored Ben Carson ( except Trump , who brawls with anyone ) , deciding he ' s a flash in the pan .  But we ' re well into the holiday season , ? and ? Trump is still firmly on top nationally ? and more importantly , in early state polls .  Rubio doesn ' t have to win Iowa or New Hampshire ? but what happens if he doesn ' t even place in the top three ? It could happen .  Right now , he ' s a distant fourth ? in Iowa behind Trump , Carson and Ted Cruz . Rubio will probably never be the evangelicals ' favorite ? Carson and Cruz fit that mold far better . He ' ll need a Barack Obama like caucus operation to break through .  As for New Hampshire , Rubio is in ? second , ? which sounds good until you dig ? deeper . Trump has twice his support . And Chris Christie looks to be ? rapidly gaining ? his favorables ? are a jaw dropping 61 22 in the latest Public Policy Polling survey .  Meanwhile , Cruz has stockpiled money and could easily ? place ? in the top three in Iowa and New Hampshire ? ( he ' s currently third in both ) .  And plenty of other candidates could ascend by the time voting starts ? Kasich , Bush or even others ? who are blips in the polls .  The primary calendar ? doesn ' t seem ? particularly friendly to Rubio . The next state , rough and tumble South Carolina , will be difficult , but maybe he could rebound in Nevada . And then Super Tuesday is dominated by ? southern and western states . ?  It ' s likely ? we ' ll see multiple winners . It ' s also conceivable Rubio won ' t win any ? states before Michigan votes on March 8 , which is increasingly looking like an important contest .  Rubio ' s saving grace may be obscure delegate division rules , which favor establishment candidates . If Rubio can amass delegates and stay in the game , he could ? be the last man standing .  But it ' s also possible that he ends up being ? just another politician who looks good on paper , but fumbles in practice .  Susan J . Demas is Publisher and Editor ? of ? Inside Michigan Politics , a nationally acclaimed , biweekly political newsletter . She can be reached at susan sjdemasweblink . Follow her on Twitter ? here .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Economy,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
19825,19826,"In an unusual step , a U . S . congressman is proposing a two year ban on all new federal legislation regulating the Internet .  Rep . Darrell Issa , a Republican from California who has been an advocate for Internet freedoms , has posted online a draft of his legislation , the Internet American Moratorium Act of 2012 . The bill would "" create a two year moratorium on any new laws , rules or regulations governing the Internet . ""  Issa first posted the complete text of the bill Monday on Project Madison , the nickname for a crowdsourcing platform that allows citizens to amend individual passages of legislation by adding or striking language . On Tuesday , he posted a link to the bill on Reddit , the social news site , where users quickly voted it to the top .  "" Together , we can make Washington take a break from messing w the Internet , "" Issa said on Reddit , where he also invited users to suggest changes to the proposed bill . He said he will begin taking questions about it from Reddit users Wednesday morning .  Issa is one of the more tech fluent members of Congress and was an outspoken critic of the Stop Online Piracy Act , which would have penalized websites that host pirated content . That bill died this year amid near unanimous opposition from the technology industry .  It was not immediately clear whether Issa ' s moratorium would apply to his own Online Protection and Enforcement of Digital Trade (  ) Act , which would seek to protect U . S . copyrights and trademarks from infringement by foreign websites .  Initial reaction on Reddit to his proposed moratorium was mixed . Some users were confused about what point Issa was trying to make , while others saw the move as a stunt .  "" I have a problem with legislation that preemptively ties your hands for years at a time . You can ' t know what the internet or society will look like in six months , let alone two years , and making it harder to respond to emerging threats or opportunities is an abdication of your responsibilities as a member of Congress , "" wrote one Reddit user . "" This just seems to me to be more cheap political theater , along the lines of Grover Norquist ' s ' We will never ever ever raise taxes for any reason ' pledge . ""  "" The answer is  to ban new regulation . We need regulation , "" another said . "" But , I don ' t believe  in Congress has the vocabulary , is intelligent in knowing how the internet or computers work , or has the foresight to put current trends and future technologies together in a context to create those new regulation that protect the internet and it ' s users consumers . ""  Issa ' s Reddit post had drawn more than 2 , 000 comments by early Wednesday .  Leslie Horn , writing for Gizmodo , also dismissed Issa ' s idea .  "" Open internet ? That ' s a good thing . But a law that keeps congress from governing ? That ' s not a good thing the internet is a big place , and the language of this law is very broad , "" she wrote . "" As it stands now ,  is just a discussion draft , meaning it will be a very long time before it ' s even close to a vote . And while we ' re for an open internet , a blanket ban is a bad idea . Let ' s think about this one a little more , Rep . Issa . ""  The spokesman , who asked not to be named , declined further comment Tuesday .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
19838,19839,"Colonel Mustapha Ank of the Nigerian army confirmed a hospital worker ' s discovery that ? two of the ? men were wearing hijabs and had disguised the bombs on their backs to look like babies . ?  Meanwhile , the attack by a teenage boy which killed at least 10 ? people was a "" huge "" blast which ? took place in ? Gombi town , according to local Red Cross official Maikano Abdullahi . ?  "" I heard a huge explosion coming from the grain section , which is at the edge of the market , "" said ? Mustapha Jalo , according to MailOnline .  "" Many of us rushed to the scene and we found carnage . People were scattered everywhere .  "" I can say over 10 people died in the explosion . I can ' t give precise number of the injured but there are many . ""  The leader of the Islamist extremist group Boko Haram Abubakar Shekau delivers a message . Boko Haram has claimed responsibility for the mass killings in the north east Nigerian town of Baga in a video where he warned the massacre was just the tip of the iceberg . As many as 2 , 000 civilians were killed and 3 , 700 homes and business were destroyed in the 3 January 2015 attack on the town near Nigeria ' s border with Cameroon  People displaced as a result of Boko Haram attacks in the northeast region of Nigeria , are seen near their tents at a faith based camp for internally displaced people (  ) in Yola , Adamawa State . Boko Haram says it is building an Islamic state that will revive the glory days of northern Nigeria ' s medieval Muslim empires , but for those in its territory life is a litany of killings , kidnappings , hunger and economic collapse  Nitsch Eberhard Robert , a German citizen abducted and held hostage by suspected Boko Haram militants , is seen as he arrives at the Yaounde Nsimalen International airport after his release in Yaounde , Cameroon on 21 January 2015  Officials of the Nigerian National Emergency Management Agency (  ) visit victims of a bomb blast in Gombe at the Specialist Hospital in Gombe . According to local reports at least six people were killed and 11 wounded after a bomb blast in a marketplace in Nigeria ' s northeastern state of Gombe on 16 January 2015 . Islamist militant group Boko Haram has been blamed for a string of recent attacks in the North East of Nigeria  People gather at the site of a bomb explosion in a area know to be targeted by the militant group Boko Haram in Kano on 28 November 2014  People gather to look at a burnt vehicle following a bomb explosion that rocked the busiest roundabout near the crowded Market in Maiduguri , Borno State on 1 July 2014 . A truck exploded in a huge fireball killing at least 15 people in the northeast Nigerian city of Maiduguri , the city repeatedly hit by Boko Haram Islamists  President Goodluck Jonathan visits Nigerian Army soldiers fighting Boko Haram  Displaced people from Baga listen to Goodluck Jonathan after the Boko Haram killings  Nigeria ' s President Goodluck Jonathan speaking to troops during a visit to Maiduguri , the capital of Borno State most of the region has been overrun by Boko Haram  Members of the Nigerian military patrolling in Maiduguri , North East Nigeria , close to the scene of attacks by Boko Haram  Boko Haram s leader , Abubakar Shekau , appears in a video in which he warns Cameroon it faces the same fate as Nigeria  South Africans protest in solidarity against the abduction of hundreds of schoolgirls in Nigeria by the Muslim extremist group Boko Haram and what protesters said was the failure of the Nigerian government and international community to rescue them , during a march to the Nigerian Consulate in Johannesburg  Boko Haram militants have seized the town in north eastern Nigeria that nearly 300 schoolgirls were kidnapped from in April 2014  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
19870,19871,"Airport security needs to be reviewed . But as investigations continue into the cause of the Russian plane crash in Egypt , confusion surrounds what exactly the changes should be , and where they are most needed .  The Foreign Secretary said on 8 November that tighter security was needed in areas where Isis is active , in the increasing belief that the Metrojet aircraft was downed by a bomb placed on board at Sharm el Sheikh airport , while the plane was being prepared for departure to St Petersburg .  How the Russian plane crash will change airport security  But Philip Hammond gave no details about which airports , how security would be strengthened , and when .  A year ago the Foreign Office warned of a heightened threat of terrorist attack globally against  interests and British nationals , from groups or individuals motivated by the conflict in Iraq and Syria .  This warning still appears in the Foreign Office travel advice for every country .  The Egyptian government has assured tourists that its Red Sea resorts are open for business as usual ( Reuters )  To narrow down the range of airports perceived as at risk , The Independent has cross referenced Mr Hammond s remarks with specific Foreign Office warnings about terrorist activity in areas with direct flights to Britain .  Besides Sharm el Sheikh itself , the other locations are Algiers , Tunis , the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka , and the two main Saudi air hubs , Jeddah and Riyadh .  The Foreign Office implies other airports in the Gulf face a heightened threat , saying : Terrorists also continue to issue statements threatening attacks in the Gulf . These include references to attacks on residential compounds , military , oil , transport and aviation interests .  The main East African gateway , Nairobi , is also likely to attract scrutiny . The Foreign Office says : There are concerns about the lack of security at Wilson Airport in Nairobi . These extend to the Kenya capital s international airport , Jomo Kenyatta .  Egyptian soldiers collect personal belongings of plane crash victims at the crash site of a passenger plane bound for St . Petersburg in Russia that crashed in Hassana , Egypt ' s Sinai Peninsula  Egyptian soldiers collect personal belongings of plane crash victims at the crash site of a passenger plane bound for St . Petersburg in Russia that crashed in Hassana , Egypt ' s Sinai Peninsula  In this Russian Emergency Situations Ministry photo , made available on Monday , Nov . 2 , 2015 , showing Metrojet Airbus A321 200 flight 7K9268 flight recorder on display at an undisclosed location in Egypt  Mourners lay flowers at Pulkovo International Airport outside St . Petersburg . Russia on 1 November mourned its biggest ever air disaster after a passenger jet full of Russian tourists crashed in Egypt ' s Sinai , killing all 224 people on board . Flags were at half mast on the parliament building , in the Kremlin , and on other official buildings in honour of the victims , most of whom were from Russia ' s second largest city of Saint Petersburg  People pay their respects at the entrance of Pulkovo airport outside St . Petersburg , during a day of national mourning for the plane crash victims  A piece of an engine of Russian MetroJet Airbus A321 at the site of the crash in Sinai ,  Flight 7K9268 crashed in the Sinai peninsula , in all probability killing every one of the 224 people on board  Debris lies strewn across the sand at the crash site  Relatives react after a Russian airliner with 217 passengers and seven crew aboard crashed , as people gather at the Kogalymavia s information desk at Pulkovo airport in St Petersburg on 31 October  A relative of a passenger of MetroJet Airbus A321 at Pulkovo  international airport in St Petersburg , Russia , 31 October 2015 .  The plane ' s last recorded radar position above the northern Sinai peninsula  A satellite view from Google Maps of the rough area where the plane crashed , in the mountainous Hassana region of the Sinai peninsula .  The Metrojet ' s Airbus A 321 with registration number   that crashed in Egypt ' s Sinai peninsula  ",true,text,test,US elections,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
19903,19904,"Following all the idiotic drama of Donald Trump s choosing Mike Pence of Indiana for his running mate, Hillary Clinton s choice of Senator Tim Kaine may have seemed a little lackluster to some. However, Kaine compliments Hillary in a way that many people probably haven t thought of, and their pairing makes Trump and Pence look far worse now than before.Politifact, which Republicans revile because they think facts are pesky, annoying things to be ignored, put out a scorecard with the ratings of 27 statements Tim Kaine has made. It turns out that he has more statements rated True and Mostly True than he does Half True, Mostly False, and False put together. He has no Pants On Fire ratings at all.Compare that to Mike Pence. Politifact has rated 20 statements Pence has made, and of those 20, only four are True or Mostly True. Four! He has six Half True statements and six False statements. His only saving grace here is that he also doesn t have any Pants On Fire ratings.A look at Hillary Clinton s and Donald Trump s Politifact scorecards just drives home the point that the  is riddled with people who lie and spread misinformation. Trump, being the master liar he is, has more False and Pants On Fire statements than he does Mostly False, Half True, Mostly True and True statements combined.Hillary, on the other hand, has more True and Mostly True statements than she does Half True, Mostly False, False and Pants On Fire all together, just like her chosen running mate. These two are a good team just on that basis.So is it really any wonder that Hillary introduced her running mate as  everything Donald Trump and Mike Pence are not?  Of course, she was talking about the policies that Trump and Pence are putting together, but the ability to acknowledge facts and tell the truth is another major way in which Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine are not, well, anything like any Republican we ve got.In other words, we have two presidential tickets that illustrate Republican honesty versus Democratic honesty, and Democratic honesty wins hands down. Facts don t lie, and unfortunately for the GOP, facts have a liberal bias.Photo of Clinton/Kaine by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images. Photo of Trump/Pence by Alex Wong/Getty Images. Images merged by Rika Christensen",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,past
19927,19928,"This week , health care professionals and scientists from around the world met in Vancouver to present the latest cutting edge research on Alzheimer ' s disease for the annual Alzheimer ' s Association International Conference . There was a lot of buzz about new studies , including drug advancements that could be potential treatments in the future . But for the average patient with Alzheimer ' s , or for their caregivers , it ' s easy to get lost in the abundance of abstracts and scientific minutia .  The ravages of the disease memory loss , mood swings , depression and poor judgment , to name just a few not only affect the 5 . 4 million Americans with Alzheimer ' s but also the 15 million plus unpaid men and women who care for them . Symptoms of the disease can manifest themselves differently in each patient , but ultimately most people living with Alzheimer ' s will end up unable to function independently . They will have to rely on spouses , siblings , children , friends , neighbors or paid professionals for help .  "" Alzheimer ' s disease is really difficult for everybody , and families can really struggle , "" said Beth Kallmyer , vice president of constituent services at the Alzheimer ' s Association .  If you ' re a caregiver for someone with Alzheimer ' s , how can you use the information from the conference ? Here are some takeaway messages :  The power of engagement  Mental and social stimulation are key for someone dealing with an Alzheimer ' s diagnosis . Experts have known for a while that remaining engaged in hobbies or social activities can fend off feelings of isolation and depression , both of which can further the disease ' s progression .  One new study presented at the conference takes this knowledge a step further . Led by Dr Jeffrey Kaye , researchers at Oregon Health Science University tracked the amount of time 148 patients with mild cognitive impairment and with an average age of 84 spent outside their homes during a period upward of three years from when their activities were initially measured . Mild cognitive impairment increases a person ' s risk of developing Alzheimer ' s but does not guarantee someone will get the disease .  Photos : The past and present of Alzheimer ' s patients  In the abstract , researchers found that participants with mild cognitive impairment "" had a greater decline in time out of home over time compared to cognitively intact patients . "" Put another way , the people who were cognitively impaired eventually spent more time in their homes than the other participants did . More time at home translates to less outside stimulation , and presumably , more isolation and depression .  For caregivers , this means two things . First , it ' s vital that a loved one ' s engagement in hobbies , social events , projects or community activities does not wane once he or she is diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment , Alzheimer ' s or any type of dementia . Second , if a loved one becomes withdrawn or starts to spend less time interacting in ways than he or she used to , it may be a sign of a larger problem .  "" This study shows the importance from the very beginning of someone ' s diagnosis of staying engaged , "" Kallmyer said . "" It really makes a difference in their cognition and therefore their quality of life . ""  Resistance training can improve cognition  Exercise is one of the more promising things people at risk of developing dementia , or who have been diagnosed with it , can do to affect their cognition . But research presented at the conference suggests that not all exercise is created equal for maximum benefit in Alzheimer ' s patients .  Lindsay Nagamatsu of the University of British Columbia and her team conducted a randomized , controlled trial comparing the effects of resistance training , aerobic activity and balance and tone training on cognition . Eighty six women between the ages of 70 and 80 were divided into three groups one for each type of exercise and they worked out twice a week for six months .  The women who had resistance training showed the greatest improvement on cognitive tests . Plus , the study found that resistance training "" led to functional changes in three regions of cortex involved in the encoding and memorization of nonverbal associations . ""  Aerobic exercise improved the women ' s balance and mobility and had a greater effect on their cardiovascular health .  "" What that translates to for caregivers is that if a person doesn ' t have an exercise program , this is something to look in to , "" Kallmyer said .  "" Exercise program "" can sound daunting , but Kallmyer said that even daily walks can help . It ' s as much about the physical benefit of exercise as it is about the structure it provides .  "" It will make them feel less overwhelmed , "" Kallmyer said . "" If a person gets exercise , we know exercise may help them sleep better . The longer that patients can maintain that ability ( to do things for themselves ) , the better for them , their self esteem and their caregivers . ""  Alcohol and dementia don ' t mix  How alcohol affects the cognition of a person with dementia isn ' t completely understood , but four new studies presented at the Alzheimer ' s Association International Conference shed a little more light on their relationship .  One study looked at binge drinking ( defined as four or more drinks on one occasion ) and followed more than 5 , 000 people ages 65 and older for eight years .  Dr Iain Lang of Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom led the study . He and his team found that participants "" who reported ( binge drinking ) once a month were 62 more likely to experience the greatest declines in cognitive function and were 27 more likely to be in the group experiencing the highest amount of memory decline . ""  Binge drinking twice a month more than doubles cognitive function decline ( 147 ) , and memory decline could increase more than fivefold ( 149 ) , according to Lang ' s study .  Rare genetic mutation protects against Alzheimer ' s disease  Those are alarming numbers since patients with moderate or severe dementia can forget how many drinks they ' ve consumed in a sitting , leading them to binge drink without realizing it .  If you ' re caring for patients in that position , how do you stop them from drinking too much ? Since each one is different , Kallmyer said instead of stopping the patient , caregivers need to reframe this question by thinking , "" What can I do to keep this person safe ? "" For example , ensure the person doesn ' t wander off or can safely navigate a staircase , or don ' t let him or her drive .  For patients asking for a glass of alcohol , Kallmyer recommends some distractions to keep them engaged so they forget about the drink for which they ' re asking . When it comes to medication , she said caregivers should learn about the disease so they can anticipate those situations and eventually take over the job of distributing pills .  Caregivers also need to think about how drugs will interact with alcohol : "" Talk to his doctors what medications is he on ? Can alcohol get in the way ? You don ' t want him intoxicated he ' s already impaired . ""  Kallmyer said one of the first steps to take when someone you love has been diagnosed with Alzheimer ' s or another type of dementia is "" to get educated about the disease . The more people can plan ahead of time , learn ahead of time , the better you can handle situations later . ""  To help you plan ahead , you can check out a tool from the Alzheimer ' s Association called the Alzheimer ' s Navigator .  Caregivers must care for themselves , too  "" When you ' re in a caregiving role , it ' s hard to think about yourself , "" Kallmyer said . "" It ' s very , very common for people to say , ' This isn ' t about me . '  "" But if you don ' t take care of yourself , you won ' t be around to continue to take care of your spouse , your mom , whoever it may be . ""  According to the Alzheimer ' s Association , 15 . 2 million Americans provide nearly 22 hours of unpaid care per person per week . That ' s the equivalent of a part time job .  Sixty one percent of caregivers say the emotional stress of the job is "" high to very high , "" while 43 say the same about the physical stress .  "" They ' re not getting enough sleep they ' re not eating right they ' re not getting enough exercise , "" Kallmyer said .  Kallmyer said it ' s easy for people to lose touch with their social networks or to lose interest in old hobbies when they ' re juggling so much . That can lead to isolation , which can be just as dangerous for caregivers as it is for the people for whom they ' re caring .  The Alzheimer ' s Association has a 24 7 help line for caregivers with questions . The number is 800 272 3900 .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
19930,19931,"Henry Linder did try to give up the shoe repair business once .  It was 1991 , and he was about to turn 72 . He figured he was ready to stop fixing footwear and spend more time in the yard .  That lasted about three months . Linder and his wife were on Social Security and needed a little extra income but mostly , he missed his customers .  Now , at 93 , this gentle craftsman with a thick Southern accent , a faded blue apron and a gift for gab is still charming customers in the shop behind his home in Landrum , South Carolina .  Linder is a beloved fixture of Landrum , a town of 2 , 400 people in the Blue Ridge Mountains between Spartanburg , South Carolina , and Asheville , North Carolina . He has been featured in countless local newspaper stories and was the grand marshal of the town ' s 2008 Christmas parade .  After learning about Linder years ago , a local filmmaker thought the cobbler deserved a little more recognition . He wasn ' t alone .  Erik Olsen ' s 2012 short documentary about Linder , "" The Shoe Cobbler , "" won the Community Choice award in the 3rd Annual iReport Awards announced Tuesday . The three minute film was picked by audience votes from among 36 nominees in six categories of audience storytelling .  Seven winners , seven stories : Meet the 2013 iReport Awards recipients  "" This was a wonderful look of what America can be at its best , "" one viewer wrote . "" We need more Mr Linders in our society . ""  Linder , who doesn ' t own a computer , is a little baffled by the attention .  "" I guess people are just interested in me . I ' m thankful for that , "" Linder said . "" I guess they think it ' s pretty fascinating to be an old man still fixing shoes . ""  When Olsen made the film , he said he felt he needed to share Linder ' s story before it was too late .  "" The fact that he ' s still on his feet . . . his attitude about people and business is just so uplifting , "" said Olsen , a former news photographer for a couple of  affiliates in North Carolina . He went into the shop one day , asked for an interview , and edited the piece that night .  Linder was 17 when he first started repairing shoes during the Great Depression . Horseback riders make up much of his business , but over the years , he has given new life to all types of leather products , including children ' s baseball gloves , handbags and even a lady ' s corset ( that was probably his oddest request , he says ) .  Best of the Web ? We think so  In the late ' 60s , he made a pair of shoes from scratch for a crippled child with clubfeet who walked on the sides of his feet . He used modeling clay to make molds of the child ' s feet and then chilled the molds in the refrigerator so he could stretch the leather over them .  "" I can still remember the molds sitting in the fridge , "" said Linder ' s youngest son , Tim Linder . "" There weren ' t as many resources to help such children like there are today . ""  His customers know Linder as the guy who can "" renew the hopeless loafers and make your old favorite live again with a shine , "" said Tommy Lytle , a health care executive and longtime customer from nearby Tryon , South Carolina . He ' s had Linder fix several pairs of Weejuns and Cole Haan loafers and boat shoes .  "" I always say ' Wow ! ' by reflex when I get mine back . You would too , "" Lytle said .  But even if Linder had quit fixing shoes years ago , Lytle said , it would still be worth the trip into Linder ' s Shoe Service to see the owner grinning .  A few other facts about Linder : He prefers apple cobbler to peach ( with vanilla ice cream ) , and he really is as sweet as he seems , according to Tim . He himself owns five pairs of shoes , favoring those made by Bostonian and Allen Edmonds , which he says are "" about the best you can get . ""  The cobbler business isn ' t what it used to be . With shoes made more cheaply , most people would rather buy a new pair than pay 45 for a new set of heels and soles . That ' s one of the reasons Linder ' s son , who worked alongside him for a few years after high school , didn ' t follow him into the business .  But horseback riders and other loyal customers give Linder a steady business , enough to keep the shop open three days a week . He also looks after an older son with disabilities . Both those endeavors helped keep him going after the death in 2001 of his wife , whom he cared for until she died , Tim said .  Linder is hard of hearing now , and slower on his feet but if you go into the shop , he still greets you with a cheerful smile , asks where you ' re from and tries to figure out if he knows your relatives . He ' s always loved to talk .  "" I ' ve made more friends than I ' ve made money , I imagine , "" he told a reporter once . "" I ' ve got the nicest customers in the world . ""  ",true,text,test,US elections,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
19938,19939,"The Formula One teams are currently embroiled in a bitter internal dispute as to the way forward regarding engines .  Following the introduction for this season of the 1 . 6 litre turbo charged power units , Mercedes have thoroughly dominated , claiming 15 of 16 poles , 13 race wins and nine one twos .  In the constructors ' championship , four of the top six teams boast Mercedes ' power , whilst in the drivers ' campaign , eight of the top 11 have the German manufacturing giant behind them .  Mercedes race to another one two at the Russian Grand Prix after dominating the sport this campaign  Mercedes drivers Nico Rosberg ( L ) and Lewis Hamilton have won 13 of 16 races between them  It is why Mercedes are determined to block a requested unfreezing of the current regulations that would allow Ferrari and Renault to make gains and potentially close the gap .  A vote is to be taken at a forthcoming F1 Commission meeting , in which all 11 teams will be present , along with F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone , the  and race promoters , with unanimity required for any changes to come into force .  Mercedes and their customers Williams , Force India , and from next year , Lotus are unwilling to co operate .  Determined Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff said : ' F1 needs stability .  ' It ' s very easy coming from a position of force where we say our power unit is clearly the most competitive at the moment and then just block everything . But this is not the approach we have .  Mercedes chief Toto Wolff ( R ) is understandably against changing the rules to allow rivals to close the gap  ' We have rules and we have governance , and the governance is in place in order to avoid quick , knee jerk decisions being made that upset stability , upset the commercial set up .  ' I strongly believe you cannot change rules in October for the following year just because you think they don ' t suit you . '  Red Bull team principal Christian Horner , whose team enjoyed four years of title winning success with Renault up until this season , feels Mercedes should ' not be afraid of competition ' .  Horner appreciates an unfreeze could even prove beneficial to Mercedes as there is the possibility of them developing a more powerful engine .  However , Horner feels Renault and Ferrari should at least be given an opportunity to level the playing field , otherwise Mercedes will be virtually unbeatable again in 2015 .  ' Mercedes are doing a super job , ' said Horner .  Red Bull boss Christian Horner ( R ) wants to level the playing field or face ' stagnation ' in the sport  ' But it is healthy for F1 that Ferrari , Honda ( who return in 2015 as supplier to McLaren ) and Renault should have the ability to close the gap otherwise we are going to end up in a very stagnant position .  ' It is a bigger issue than just about the teams . It is about what is right for the sport , what is right for the fans .  ' It is easy to take a self interest position , but when you look at what is the right thing for F1 , it is to have competition .  ' We need to be big enough to say let ' s open it a little bit and let ' s be responsible on costs so there is no cost impact for customer teams but have that competition .  ' So we ' ll see what the outcome of the Formula One Commission vote is .  '  are in support ,  are in support . Obviously the non Mercedes teams are in support , so we ' ll see what that holds in approximately a month ' s time . '  F1 supremo , pictured with Sebastian Vettel ( L ) , will attend the F1 Commission to decide on changes  From Ferrari ' s perspective , team principal Marco Mattiacci said : ' Thinking of frozen engines , this is not Formula One .  ' So I agree with Christian . Now we have the majority of the votes to move ahead on the idea to unfreeze the engine .  ' Let ' s see what ' s going to happen during the F1 Commission meeting . '  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Economy,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
19959,19960,"Los Angeles , California Brittany Murphy , the bubbly , free spirited actress who appeared in such films as "" Clueless "" and "" 8 Mile , "" died Sunday , apparently of natural causes , the Los Angeles County Coroner ' s Office said . She was 32 .  The coroner ' s office is looking into Murphy ' s medical history . A final report could take up to eight weeks .  The Los Angeles Police Department is investigating the death , and robbery and homicide detectives will be at her home ,  spokeswoman Norma Eisenman said .  "" The sudden loss of our beloved Brittany is a terrible tragedy , "" her family said in a statement issued by her publicist . "" She was our daughter , our wife , our love and a shining star . We ask you to respect our privacy at this time . ""  Funeral arrangements are pending , the family said .  Murphy starred in several movies , including "" Just Married , "" "" Don ' t Say a Word "" and "" Riding in Cars with Boys . "" She also voiced the character Luanne on the animated  series "" King of the Hill . ""  She is survived by her husband , British screenwriter Simon Monjack , whom she married in 2007 .  Fans took to Murphy ' s official Facebook page Sunday to issue their condolences .  "" She was a great actress and was going to go far in her career ! She will be greatly missed ! "" read one post .  Murphy ' s former boyfriend and "" Just Married "" co star Ashton Kutcher posted his reaction to the news via Twitter .  "" 2day the world lost a little piece of sunshine . My deepest condolences go out 2 Brittany ' s family , her husband , her amazing mother Sharon , "" Kutcher posted .  He added later : "" see you on the other side kid . ""  Singer actress Jessica Simpson tweeted : "" Brittany Murphy was an incredible ray of Light to so many people . Her smile was contagious . My prayers are with her family and loved ones . ""  Actress Alyssa Milano , who did a  tour with Murphy in 2003 , wrote on Twitter : "" She was a sweet soul , with a lot of talent and heart . ""  Murphy was best known for her work in a string of romantic comedies in the early 2000s , including lead roles in "" Uptown Girls "" alongside fellow Georgia native Dakota Fanning , and "" Little Black Book "" with Holly Hunter and Kathy Bates , but her movie roles had declined in recent years .  Last month , Murphy reportedly was fired from "" The Caller , "" a movie she was working on in Puerto Rico . Her representative issued a statement to news outlets disputing the report , saying : "" She was not nor has she ever been fired from any job big or small . . . . Due to creative differences Ms . Murphy and the production mutually parted ways , "" according to People magazine .  In addition to her "" King of the Hill "" role , she lent her voice to a number of animated works including the  series "" Futurama "" and the 2006 hit movie "" Happy Feet . ""  Her work as troubled teenagers in "" Don ' t Say a Word "" and "" Girl , Interrupted "" also gained her critical acclaim .  Murphy was the subject of tabloid gossip after she transformed from a pudgy brunette in 1995 ' s "" Clueless "" to a petite , lithe blonde who graced the cover of such magazines as Cosmopolitan in 2005 . She frequently denied rumors of an eating disorder and plastic surgery .  Her love life also was fodder for gossip sites as she broke two engagements in 2004 and 2006 , then married Monjack after only four months of dating .  "" All these ridiculous people came out and said all this nonsense when we got married , but thank God we had the substance and the history within that to say , ' Yeah , whatever ! ' "" Monjack told People magazine in a 2008 interview . "" We still don ' t understand what happened . It ' s made us laugh , it ' s made us cry , but it ' s made us stronger . ""  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
19985,19986,"Auto sales underpin demand for Asia refiners China tax break expiry may change that    ( Reuters ) As oil producers agonize over tumbling crude prices , strong car sales in India and China are underpinning demand for gasoline , giving makers of refined products and petrochemicals healthy margins .  While that means share prices of refiners with little or no crude production are outperforming primarily crude producers , much could hinge on China ' s economy and Beijing ' s policy of tax breaks for small car buyers .  Crude oil prices fell to their lowest in over a decade this week , trading close to 30 a barrel , and are down 70 percent since mid 2014 . This has been painful for oil producers and exporters , but has boosted refinery margins as feedstock costs have tumbled .  "" If ( the annual average ) oil price is 40 50 a barrel , we ' re quite confident margins will be higher than last year , "" Sukrit Surabotsopon ,  of Thai refiner  , told Reuters . The average price for Brent last year was close to 54 a barrel , and most banks have cut their oil price forecasts for this year to 37 50 a barrel .  Cheap and plentiful feedstock for refineries has been supported by strong retail demand , especially for gasoline and plastics , though demand for diesel is stalling largely because of China ' s slowing heavy industry .   says 2016 demand for refined products will be between 1 million and 1 . 2 million barrels per day ( bpd ) , while refining capacity is seen growing at 540 , 000 bpd .  "" Demand growth in 2016 . . . should easily outpace capacity growth , barring a serious macroeconomic downturn , "" the bank said in a Jan . 8 note that recommended stocks of  Innovation and Thai Oil the leading refineries in South Korea and Thailand , respectively .  After a slow start last year , China ' s car sales picked up pace to increase by 4 . 7 percent , averaging well over 2 million new private vehicles a month . nB9N14P054 Growth this year is forecast at 6 percent .  Most Chinese passenger cars run on gasoline , boosting demand for refiners , though analysts note that much of the recent growth in sales has been pegged to generous tax breaks for car buyers .  In India , passenger car sales have been growing at an even faster pace , and are forecast to increase by more than 10 percent in the year to March , providing another strong pillar of fuel demand .  Reliance Industries saw its gross refining margin hit a 5 year high of 10 . 50 last year , and is expected to hold at 9 . 70 9 . 80 a barrel in 2016 , refining sources said , as it meets double digit demand growth for gasoline and 7 8 percent growth for diesel .  Refiners are also benefiting from action they took when crude supplies were tight , as many invested in refinery upgrades to allow them to process whatever crude was available .  Now , amid oversupply and a discount war between exporters that sees anywhere between half a million and 2 million barrels of crude produced every day in excess of demand , refiners can cherry pick the grades that best suit their facilities heavy or light , sweet or sour .  The healthy refining conditions are visible in stock market performance . Refiners that do not have large crude production , such as  Innovation and India ' s Reliance Industries , far outperform refining lite producers such as Chevron or China ' s  . Taiwan ' s Formosa Petrochemical has also been among the winners from the crude slump .  In another support move for refiners , Chinese authorities on Wednesday set a floor for domestic retail gasoline and diesel prices , saying these would not be trimmed again while global oil prices are below 40 a barrel .  Last month , China said it plans further reforms to retail fuel pricing as part of moves to make prices more market driven . For the first time , China has allowed independent companies to import crude oil and export refined fuel , breaking the long dominance by the major state refiners .  "" We believe refining companies such as Shanghai Petrochemical and Sinopec , and also the teapot ( small independent ) refineries could be big beneficiaries of this policy , "" Nomura analyst Gordon Kwan said .  Refiners ' margins in South Korea , a major fuel and petrochemical exporter , could hit 11 . 40 a barrel in the first half of this year , said Son Young Joo , analyst at Kyobo Securities in Seoul , topping last year ' s average of 10 . 30 a barrel .  Petrochemical producers like Formosa , Shanghai Petrochemical and Lotte Chemical could also see healthy ethylene margins as supply of the key raw material for plastics is expected to tighten this year , said  analyst Aaron Liu .  Ultimately , the party pooper for refiners could be Beijing closing the tap on new car subsidies , with current tax breaks due to expire on Jan . 1 , 2017 . ( http : reut . rs 1Q4Muq1 )  "" The last time China lowered the tax on small cars was in 2009 . . . ( after ) the global financial crisis . Car sales surged 53 percent that year and 33 percent in 2010 , but ( growth ) slowed to single digits after the 2 year policy expired , "" Barclays said in a client note .  "" This time , our auto equity analysts expect the boost in sales to fade over this year . ""  ( Reporting by Rebecca Jang in  , Khettiya Jittapong in  , Florence Tan and Jessica Jaganathan in  Editing by Henning Gloystein and Ian Geoghegan )  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
20001,20002,"Trump Tells New Hampshire Crowd That Iowa 2nd Place Was a Success  Copy this code to your website or blog   , N . H . ? He may have lost in Iowa on Monday , but you wouldn ' t have known it if you watched Donald Trump take the stage in New Hampshire Tuesday night .  Trump declared his second place Iowa finish a success and continued to take shots at the man who bested him , Texas Sen . Ted Cruz .  The way Trump tells it , he was told after his June 2015 announcement that placing in the top 10 "" would be lucky . ""  Continuing to push this new narrative that he never expected the kind of success he has enjoyed for months in the polls , Trump announced that he somehow achieved his goal of a "" record "" number of votes in Iowa .  That he didn ' t get the majority of that "" record "" apparently doesn ' t matter .  "" We did really well , "" Trump told a crowd here .  As Trump tells it , had he known in advance they could do so well in Iowa , "" maybe I would ' ve spent more time there . I would ' ve taken a day or two off from here New Hampshire , but that wouldn ' t have been good . ""  That argument is , however , hard to swallow if you consider Trump ' s multiple appeals to Iowa voters to help him win there and then run the early state table .  Trump credited himself with the record Republican caucus turnout , eliciting laughs from the crowd of a few thousand supporters when he said "" I ' m not gonna say that was me , but believe me , it was me . ""  Trump even had a new endorsement ? that of former Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown ? to dangle in front of rivals and supporters ahead of the New Hampshire primary next Tuesday .  Responding to reports that Cruz staffers falsely told caucus goers that Ben Carson had dropped out of the race as a recruiting tactic for their candidate , Trump filled the crowd in before delivering more blows to Cruz .  "" Did you hear about this one ? "" Trump asked like a late night talk show host . "" He said ' Ben Carson has quit the race , ' and Ben didn ' t quit the race . In other words , Ben Carson quit and let me have your vote . What kind of crap is this ? ""  ",true,text,test,US elections,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
20002,20003,"Mexican restaurant Chipotle has decided to tap into the 70 billion food delivery market by teaming up with an app to bring burritos straight to customers ' doors .  The fast casual chain will work with the Postmates app to begin offering delivery for online and mobile orders in 67 cities , according to a report in Nation ' s Restaurant News .  But Mexican food fans should know that the restaurant plans to add a nine per cent service charge with the delivery fees for Postmates beginning at 5 and up , depending on distance and demand .  New venture : Mexican restaurant Chipotle has decided to tap into the 70 billion food delivery market by teaming up with an app to bring burritos straight to customers ' doors  The app hires independent contractors who drive their own cars in a similar model to Uber taxis .  Chipotle has gone from strength to strength in recent years and this month two presidential candidates have been spotted in their restaurants .  Republican contender Marco Rubio is a regular in the outlets and recently told MailOnline that he always tips staff .  Cashing on delivery market : The fast casual chain will work with the Postmates app to begin offering delivery for online and mobile orders in 67 cities  And just one day into her presidential campaign , Hillary Clinton was seen in a Chipotle in Maumee , Ohio where she ordered a chicken dish with guacamole , a chicken salad and fruit juice .  Chipotle is not the only franchise hoping to cash in on the lucrative delivery market .  Starbucks , which will deliver cups of coffee in parts of Seattle and New York by the end of the year , has also partnered with Postmates .  Taco Bell recently announced plans to test a delivery service this year , McDonald ' s ' McDelivery ' program is in the planning process and Burger King has launched a pilot program in select markets , including parts of New York City , through bkdeliversweblink .  Celebrity customers : Hillary Clinton was spotted ordering a meal at Chipotle in Ohio earlier this month one day into her presidential campaign  Another candidate : Security camera footage obtained by conservative news publication  Review released online this month shows Florida senator Marco Rubio visiting a Washington , D . C . Chipotle  ",true,text,test,US elections,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
20003,20004,"Fans of the late actor Paul Walker knew that watching him in "" Furious 7 "" would be bittersweet .  Even so , many moviegoers said the final scenes of the new film , which earned a record 146 million over the weekend , still packed an emotional wallop .  "" Not gonna lie , I shed a few tears at the end of Furious 7 . The tribute to Paul Walker was very well done , "" one woman said Monday on Twitter .  Hers was just one of a flood of messages on social media from people who said they got choked up during scenes featuring Walker , who died at 40 in a car crash in November 2013 , before filming on "" Furious 7 "" was completed . To finish Walker ' s scenes , the makers of the movie used body doubles , computer generated images and even the actor ' s brothers .  But it was the ending that really got to moviegoers .  In finishing "" Furious 7 , "" the film ' s producers sought to retire Walker ' s character , Brian , while paying homage to his role in the blockbuster "" Furious "" action franchise . But they felt that killing him off might appear exploitative .  "" If they had gone down the other path , I think I would have refused to finish making this movie , "" director James Wan told BuzzFeed . Instead , the movie ' s makers chose to "" retire Paul ' s character in the most sincere and elegant way ( they ) could , "" Wan said .  Their idea was to have Brian retire from his dangerous , high octane lifestyle out of a sense of responsibility to his growing family with girlfriend Mia , who is pregnant with their second child .  A scene late in the movie shows him and Mia playing on a beach with their son while the crew looks on essentially saying goodbye . Then his longtime buddy Dom reminisces about their years together , leading to a montage of Walker scenes from the first six movies .  The song that plays over the montage is "" See You Again , "" a collaboration between Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth . Co star Vin Diesel shared the video for the song late Sunday on his Facebook page , where it has more than 1 . 5 million likes .  Fans on Twitter and Facebook mostly praised the movie ' s ending as a fitting tribute and an emotionally wrenching one .  "" Man I don ' t care how tough u are or how gangsta u claim to be . . . . the last five minutes had me choked up in the movie theater . . . I saw it 3 times in one day . . . . . . the ending is the deepest ending I ' ve ever seen , "" one man wrote on the movie ' s Facebook page .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
20023,20024,"A flesh eating drug that turns people into zombie like creatures seems to have made its way to the United States .  This extremely addictive injectable opioid is called krokodil ( pronounced like crocodile ) or desomorphine . It ' s so named in part because users report black or green scaly skin as a side effect .  This weekend five people were hospitalized in the Chicago suburb of Joliet , Illinois , with symptoms similar to cases reported recently by health care providers in Arizona and Oklahoma .  Dr Abhin Singla said he suspects a woman he treated this weekend was suffering from krokodil addiction . Singla is an internist and addiction specialist at Joliet ' s Presence St . Joseph Medical Center . The patient lost significant portions of her legs , he said .  "" It ' s a zombie drug it literally kills you from the inside out , "" Singla said . "" If you want way to die , this is a way to die . ""  Opinion : Drug prohibition is a global folly  Krokodil causes serious damage to the veins and soft tissue infections , rapidly followed by gangrene and necrosis , according to a 2013 study (  ) .  The soft tissue damage happens around the injection site . The drug also seems to clump in the veins as it fails to dissolve completely in the blood . The clumps make their way to distant places in the body and start to damage tissue , said Dr Robert Geller , medical director of the Georgia Poison Center .  Geller said he hopes the drug "" doesn ' t show its ugly face "" in Georgia but said doctors across the country are aware of the drug .  So far there are no officially confirmed American cases of krokodil abuse . To have official confirmation , the Drug Enforcement Administration would need to have a sample of the drug that caused the problem .  A  fact sheet about the drug released this month said the National Forensic Laboratory Information System , the  database that collects scientifically verified data on drug items and cases , identified two exhibits submitted to these labs as desomorphine in 2004 but none since then .  "" It ' s not clear how widely used it is in the U . S . , "" Geller said .   fights drug overdoses with new labels for prescription  "" The doctors say it ate him from the inside out , "" Chelle Fancher told the  station . "" It wasn ' t until the next day that they told us that it was krokodil . ""  But Mark Woodward , a spokesman for the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics , said krokodil was ruled out in the Duncan case through an autopsy . "" We watched the reports carefully to see if it was here , "" he said . "" It was just a drug overdose , and nothing in the system consistent with krokodil . ""  There have been many confirmed cases of krokodil abuse in Russia and Ukraine .  An estimated 100 , 000 in Russia and around 20 , 000 people in Ukraine are estimated to have injected the drug in 2011 , according to a study that ran in the International Journal of Drug Policy this year . Experts theorize the drug first spread across Russia and Ukraine when heroin became less available .  Krokodil is cheaper than heroin and can be easily cooked up in someone ' s home much like meth .  People making krokodil combine the painkiller codeine with easily available chemicals . They can use iodine strong alkalies such as Mr Muscle , a kitchen and bathroom cleaner hydrochloric acid red phosphorous from matches and or organic solvents such as gasoline or paint thinner , according to the study .  Mortality rates are high among users , according to the study .  Regular marijuana use on the rise  In Russia , users frequently are young people with relatively short drug histories , the study found . Medical help is often only sought after users are in the late stages of their addiction and end up with severe mutilations , rotting gums , bone infections , decayed structure of the jaw and facial bones , sores and ulcers on the forehead and skull as well as rotting ears , noses and lips and liver and kidney problems .  "" This may be an inexpensive high compared to other drugs , according to its reputation , ( but it ) is more likely to cause withdrawal symptoms and be a real problem for users , "" Geller said . "" My advice is to would be users , ' Don ' t . ' This is a risky way to try and get high . ""  The short half life of the drug means a user ' s attention is narrowed to the "" process of acquiring and preparing and administering the drug , leaving little time for matters other than avoiding withdrawal and chasing ( the ) high , "" according to one medical study , hence its reputation for creating "" zombies . ""  Binges on the drug reportedly last over several days . During the binge , a user can show irrational behavior and experience sleep deprivation and exhaustion , memory loss and speech problems .  According to the Joliet hospital , the five people brought in who may have used krokodil said they thought they were buying heroin .  "" I think it ' s the tip of the iceberg I think it ' s going to get a lot worse before it gets better , "" said Singla , the addiction specialist . "" I think if it stays on the market long enough , you ' re going to have people who are desperate addicts that can ' t support their heroin habit but can utilize this drug , not really caring about the consequences , and get the same high for a third of the price . ""  There ' s something ( potentially dangerous ) about molly  ",true,text,test,Football,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,negative,past
20028,20029,"Former champs , an all Aussie affair and more on Australian Open Day 6  Here are the matches to watch on Saturday on Day 6 of the 2016 Australian Open in Melbourne . Play begins on all courts at 7 p . m .  . ? Click here ? for the full order of play , and see the full  schedule ? here .  Former champs and an all Aussie affair at night  Melbourne Park s main stage will see two former Australian Open champions take the court during the day session on Saturday , followed by a head to head match up of two Aussies at night .  No . 3 seed Garbine Muguruza will start the day on Rod Laver against Barbora Styrcova . The pair has played twice in their careers , both last season , and Muguruza defeated the Czech in straight sets both times . The woman who prevails in that match will go on to face the winner of the match between of two time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka and 18 year old Naomi Osaka . When asked about her third round opponent , Azarenka ? said she didn ' t know much about Osaka .  If you think about it , it ' s my 12th year being here in Australian Open . Almost half of my life , "" Azarenka ? said . "" I see a lot of young players coming up who I haven ' t seen before . They are a lot younger . But , you know , just a cycle of life , I guess . ""  2014 Australian Open champion Stan Wawrinka will close out the day session on Rod Laver against Czech Lukas Rosol , who upset 25th seeded American ? Jack Sock ? 7 ? 6 ( 6 ) , 7 ? 6 ( 5 ) , 6 ? 3 in the second round . No . 4 seed Wawrinka is coming off a solid win over Radek Stepanek on Thursday , hitting 43 winners and sealing the victory in just over two hours on Hisense Arena .  In the night session , No . 15 seed Madison Keys will face off against No . 20 seed Ana Ivanovic . The pair has played only once before ? on clay in Madrid in 2014 , where Ivanovic edged the American 6 ? 1 , 7 ? 6 ( 4 ) .  ? She ' s very dangerous big game , Ivanovic said of Keys after beating Anastasija Sevastova 6 ? 3 , 6 ? 3 on Thursday . We played once on clay when she was just coming up and we had tough second set tiebreak . She played well last year here a big serve a big , powerful forehand actually on both wings .  It ' s going to be the first shot , and I ' m going to have to be composed also in my service games if I do face her . It ' s not going to be easy matchup , I think , but it ' s all about , you know , trying to find your way .  Keys fought through a slow start against Zarina Diyas in the first round and came back to win in three sets against Yaroslava Shvedova . She made it to the semifinals in Melbourne last year , while Ivanovic lost in the opening round .  It will be interesting because we do both play similar and the aggressive style , Keys said . I think whoever kind of gets to strike first is going to be the one who comes out on top .  No . 16 seed Bernard Tomic will take on compatriot John Millman in the final match of the night on Rod Laver .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
20034,20035,"Reuters) - Charges brought against President Donald Trump’s former campaign manager and other officials on Monday would not change the White House’s cooperation with the special counsel investigating alleged Russian intervention in the 2016 election, a White House official said. “The White House continues to cooperate,” the official said. ",true,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,satire,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
20039,20040,"California A boy playing with matches started a Southern California wildfire that scorched more than 38 , 000 acres , the Los Angeles County Sheriff ' s Department said Tuesday .  A firefighter talks on a radio while battling the Buckweed blaze on October 22 .  The Buckweed Fire , which destroyed 21 homes on its rampage , began October 21 in the Agua Dulce community .  "" After talking with that juvenile , he admitted to playing with matches , and accidentally starting the fire in that area , "" he said . Watch what ' s next for young suspect  The boy , whose name and age were not given , is home with his parents , police said . The case will be presented to the Los Angeles County district attorney for possible charges .  According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection , the Buckweed Fire burned 38 , 526 acres .  Sixty three structures , 21 of them homes , were destroyed , and three civilians and two firefighters were injured .  The sheriff ' s department said the fire forced the evacuation of about 15 , 000 people .  As of Tuesday , 18 of 23 wildfires in Southern California were completely under control , and the remainder were at least 70 percent contained , according to the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection .  The fires are blamed for 14 deaths and charred more than 508 , 000 acres , destroying about 1 , 600 homes .  Five people were arrested in arson probes last week , and California Gov . Arnold Schwarzenegger on Saturday vowed to "" hunt down "" people responsible for setting wildfires .  Authorities said Saturday they were following 1 , 700 tips about a white Ford F 150 pickup seen near the origin of the sprawling Santiago Fire in Orange County .  Witnesses reported seeing the 1998 2004 model truck with chrome tubular running boards on Santiago Canyon Road on October 21 at about the time the Santiago Fire started .  Authorities said last week they had found evidence at the scene , although they declined to describe it .  "" If I were one of the people who started the fires , I would not sleep soundly right now , because we ' re right behind you , "" Schwarzenegger said , urging the culprits to turn themselves in . E mail to a friend  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
20042,20043,"Menachem Bodner is a soft spoken 73 year old , who thinks carefully before he describes his first memory as a three year old child .  "" I remember my mother . What she was wearing . A green skirt with white flowers and a white blouse , "" he says in Hebrew . "" On the left , there was a bed and my brother was sleeping . I remember I had a brother . ""  That memory is crucial . Until a few months ago , Bodner had no evidence his brother even existed .  Bodner is a survivor of Auschwitz . He was four and a half when the camp was liberated in January 1945 . In the chaos and confusion , he doesn ' t remember how he came to be separated from his brother , but he sought a way out .  "" I was in the camp . A man came in who was looking for his wife and daughter , "" he recalls . "" I stood before him and asked if he would be my father . He picked me up in his hands and took me out of the camp . ""  His adopted father named him Bodner and took him to Israel where he now lives .  Over the years , his father searched for his adopted son ' s birth family . At first , there were some positive responses , but after a number of false hopes , Bodner gave up the painful process of trying to find his family , and began to wonder if his memories were simply dreams .  Then last year , urged by his grandchildren , he tried again , posting the only clues he had on the internet : A photo of himself , aged five , and another that he believed was a family photo .  Genealogist Ayana KimRon responded to his post . She took one look at that family photo and knew it was not his .  "" I said that ' s not your family . He said , ' Yes , that ' s me , I ' m the baby . ' I said , ' No , if that ' s you where is your brother ? Where is the other baby ? ' I could see he was shocked at that . ""  Bodner has no memory of how he obtained the photo , only that it was in his pocket the day Auschwitz was liberated .  At first , he was crushed . One of the few clues he had was a false start .  But KimRon reminded him that he had another lead , one he would never forget , because it is tattooed on his arm .  The blue ink is faded and stretched , but Bodner quietly reads the Auschwitz  number that will never be erased : A 7733 .  Now he is looking for A 7734 : The number of his identical twin brother .  KimRon checked the numbers against official Auschwitz records now archived at the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem .  She discovered Bodner was born Eli Gottesman , in Ukraine . He had an identical twin named Jeno , who was last seen by Allied doctors in Auschwitz .  "" We know that he was declared healthy on February 9 , 1945 , by medical staff , "" KimRon says . "" That is really the last factual reference that I have . ""  KimRon also found other , more disturbing records , showing that the twins were subjected to experiments by Josef Mengele , the Nazi doctor dubbed the "" Angel of Death "" for his gruesome experiments on humans , particularly twins .  Perhaps thankfully , Bodner has no memory of that .  KimRon has not ventured further into the Nazi historical archives in Berlin to find out more about what happened to Bodner in the camp , and he insists he does not want to know but he does want to trace his brother .  Now , the pair have turned to social media for help , setting up a Facebook page , A 7734 , which has been viewed more than a million times .  Each time the page is shared , KimRon hopes it brings them one step closer to finding Jeno . Several nurses have contacted her after seeing what might be the matching tattoo .  "" It ' s like a thread , "" KimRon explains . "" There ' s three types : One that leads to nowhere . One you think will go somewhere , and you reach a deadlock . And then there ' s one that takes you to your destination . ""  Bodner ' s grandchildren tease him that he has become an internet celebrity , even learning some of the lingo .  "" I ' m like a virus ! "" he tells KimRon , as she explains the meaning of "" going viral . ""  KimRon has also discovered more surprises about Bodner ' s family , including the fact that he had a baby brother , Josef , who died in Auschwitz .  Bodner ' s birth father also died there but his mother , Roza Gottesman Berger , not only survived several Nazi concentration camps , but returned to her home village of Stroino on the Ukraine Hungary border , hoping to find her children .  "" I saw her signature on the document registering her acceptance of war aid , and the hair stood up on the back of my neck , "" KimRon recalls .  "" I am not a graphologist , but you could see , or I think anyway , she had character , strength despite all that had happened . And she listed the names of her sons too . It was as if she was saying : ' I am here . I am still here . ' ""  That document is the last evidence of Ruth Gottesman Berger . KimRon doesn ' t know exactly what happened to her , though stories from extended family members and villagers say that shortly after her return , she was rounded up with other returning Jewish refugees and shot dead by Nazi sympathizers .  KimRon says she has no way of confirming that .  The thought of his mother returning to their home village in search of her children makes Bodner both sad and proud .  "" I think I am also a survivor . Maybe it ' s in the genes . Maybe it ' s in my brother ' s genes as well . We just keep going . ""  Last year , Bodner returned to the village where he was born for a visit . He met neighbours who described his family as happy , his father a well regarded doctor and his mother a talented seamstress . They told him they remembered the boisterous blonde twins who played near the house .  "" I closed a circle , "" he says . "" It was just good to know that what I was dreaming was real and not my imagination . ""  Bodner knows only too well that even if he finds Jeno , it may be too late .  Asked what he would say to his brother , his answer is stoic .  "" I ' m sorry that I did not start looking for him sooner , "" he says quietly . "" There were so many years that I was afraid of even touching the subject . ""  The search for Jeno is a source of both joy and pain for Bodner , but he is committed to finishing it .  There is one more discovery that has surprised him : His birthday . Until now , he had always celebrated January 27 , 1945 , the day he left Auschwitz , as his birthday , instead of his real date of birth . So , which day does he choose to celebrate now ?  "" Both , of course ! "" he says with a smile . "" There is a lot to celebrate . ""  ",true,text,test,Other sport,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
20056,20057,"Disabled people , elderly people , adults made vulnerable by terminal and other illnesses , and now children are being told that their lives are not worth living .  This view was forcefully expressed by Professor Etienne Vermeersch in a recent public debate on euthanasia in Brussels . One of the authors of Belgium ' s controversial euthanasia law , Vermeersch said it had been specifically designed to include disabled people .  For Vermeersch it seemed obvious that "" a man with no arms or legs "" would want to die .  Without conscience or insight into the discrimination of choosing only disabled people as examples , he shouted at a member of the audience "" Just wait until you are paralysed . "" A paraplegic wheelchair user for forty years , I was sitting directly in front of him , and had spoken before the debate .  His chilling and very final solution to suffering is to remove the sufferer . His zealous delivery caused a frisson in the room amongst most ( though sadly not all ) of the audience . With its clear echoes , this discourse from a government adviser was shocking .  Earlier in the same debate , Alex Schadenberg of the Euthanasia Prevention Coalition had pointed out that the law in Belgium is just not safe :  Nearly half ( 47 ) of euthanasia deaths are not reported ( according to a study carried out in Flanders in 2007 ) : This is illegal .  Euthanasia deaths should be carried out by doctors , but according to a 2007 study , nurses are doing them : This is illegal .  Some euthanasia deaths are carried out without consent ( according to a 2007 study in Flanders ) : This is illegal .  The opposite view : Pray you never need euthanasia , but be glad of option  Dr Jan Bernheim , a leading promoter of euthanasia , admitted that there are problems with Belgium ' s euthanasia law . But despite its "" imperfections "" he still believes it should be extended to children .  Bernheim argued euthanasia was necessary to remove suffering : yet pain is hardly ever the reason for seeking euthanasia . In fact , any palliative care specialist will say no one should ever be in intolerable pain .  Bernheim claims Dr Wim Distelmans as his protege : Distelmans recently ended the life of Nancy Nathan Verhelst , in front of  cameras . After a series of botched sex change operations , in the absence of other support , Verhelst sought refuge in death by euthanasia .  The Belgian commission to regulate the practice of euthanasia has never referred a case of euthanasia to prosecutors ( and remember only half of those are reported ) . It is co chaired by Distelmans . It is fundamentally unsafe that the most high profile doctor in Belgium to carry out euthanasia is also the regulator .  Distelmans also carried out the euthanasia of Mark and Eddy Verbessem , 45 year old identical twins , who were deaf and decided they wanted to die after their eyesight began to fail .  Anorexic Ann G . also opted to have her life ended after being sexually abused by the Belgian psychiatrist who was supposed to be treating her for her life threatening condition .  The core of good clinical governance is patient safety but under Belgium ' s euthanasia laws that is sacrificed in the name of individual choice . Verhelst , the Verbessems and Ann G . bereft of support felt they had no choice but death .  The European Social Rights Committee has condemned Belgium for violation of the European Social Charter because of its lack of social care . It is little wonder that disabled Belgian people fall into terminal despair , but that does not validate euthanasia becoming a "" treatment "" for depression as it has in Belgium .  Killing someone by lethal injection is not an act of medicine : it comes when medicine apparently has nothing left to offer .  With a 500 increase in euthanasia in Belgium in ten years , it is crystal clear that the law in Belgium is not safe we cannot stand by as they try to extend that law to children .  The opposite view : Pray you never need euthanasia , but be glad of option  Interactive : Euthanasia and the right to die around the world  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
20059,20060,"president Michel Platini has defended a ban on third party ownership (  ) of footballers labelling the practice ' shameful ' and a form of ' slavery ' .  Super agent Jorge Mendes , who includes Cristiano Ronaldo and Jose Mourinho among his clients , has claimed the ban is illegal and will kill competition in Europe . The Spanish and Portuguese leagues have also opposed the ban .   is a practice which takes place in several countries , particularly in South America , where companies own the economic rights of players and benefit from their transfer fees . It has been banned in the Premier League since 2008 .   president Michel Platini has defended a ban on third party ownership (  ) of footballers  Platini , who pushed  to impose the ban said the ban would stop huge sums of money disappearing from football .  Speaking on a  video forum in response to a question from Paris St Germain manager Laurent Blanc , Platini said : ' I have put a lot of pressure on  to stop third party ownership .  ' Today , it ' s shameful to see some players with one of their arms belonging to one person , a leg belonging to a funds pension located who knows where , and a third person owning his foot .  ' It is shameful we ' re dealing with a type of slavery that belongs to the past .  ' Everyone earns money on such transfers , and while we are trying to find money to invest in football , that money goes in the pockets of I don ' t know who , and I don ' t know where .  ' It ' s about time that the world of football wakes up , and that the money coming into football remains in football , and doesn ' t disappear . '  Kia Joorabchian , head of Media Sports Investments , part owned a number of high profile players  Platini also said in the forum that the biggest misconception about him was that he alone took major decisions about football .  He added : ' I think that the people in Europe , or in the world , they think that I take my decisions alone . But you have to understand one thing , I am very democratic and very transparent , and I never take a decision alone without the support of the executive committee or with the Congress of the  .  ' I listen to everybody very carefully and I take my decision , when it is necessary to take a decision , always for the good of the game and for the good of football . Don ' t think that I am very despotic . '  Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano , pictured here in 2006 , were some of Joorabchian ' s  players  ",true,text,test,Football,Economy,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,present
20060,20061,"You might remember a few months ago, the Bernie Sanders campaign filed a lawsuit against the Democratic National Committee for cutting off access to their own campaign data stored on the servers at  headquarters. The cut off came from when a few Sanders staffers found they could access protected, private information of the Hillary Clinton campaign, which was stored on the same servers.The  came out quickly and said that the Sanders staffers intentionally exploited software errors to gain access to the Clinton team s proprietary data. Sanders fired back immediately that the error has been a recurring one, and his campaign had attempted to make it known to the  that this was happening before, with no success in getting it resolved. Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz said that the extreme move in cutting off access to the Sanders Campaign of even their own data was the only way to protect the other data on the servers. Wasserman Schultz also said that the Sanders campaign  not only viewed it but exported and downloaded it. Fast forward a few months and an independent investigation later, and it turns out that the  gave us the wrong story.After the independent investigation concluded, it was confirmed that the  had made assertions about what happened which were not supported by evidence and that the serious level of tampering everyone was led to believe happened did not occur.According to the Sanders campaign statement, the breach did not extend beyond 3 staffers and their manager. They had access for approximately one hour to Clinton campaign scoring models but not to any of the Clinton campaign s proprietary voter data, which was at the heart of initial reports.The Sanders campaign then released a statement saying the original claims by the  were  wholly inaccurate  and that the campaign never stole any voter data.The settlement of this lawsuit is a positive thing. However, the problems that led up to it have not been resolved.Over the past several months, more and more scrutiny and criticism have been being visited upon the  s leadership, as well as Chairwoman Wasserman Schultz. The data breach issue was an ongoing problem that wasn t resolved in a timely manner, the circumstances were misreported by the  and the action they took regarding the security loophole were called by many an overreach.Add on top of this the moves by  leadership to open the floodgates for corporate money within the party, as well as the  chairwoman s joining with Republicans to attack Elizabeth Warren s Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and there are many calling for the  to find new leadership.It remains to be seen if Wasserman Schultz will keep her seat as a Congresswoman in, due to an unexpected primary challenge she is now facing. However, regardless of if she wins or loses, the  s own leadership does need to hold itself to a higher standard of accountability   especially regarding its leadership   for the good of both party unity and taking back Congress this fall.Featured image via wikicommons",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
20070,20071,"Russia Russian President Dmitry Medvedev welcomed Cuban President Raul Castro to Moscow on Thursday , marking the first time any Cuban leader has visited Russia ' s capital since Fidel Castro made a trip there 22 years ago at the end of the Cold War .  Cuban President Raul Castro reviews honor guards after arriving Wednesday in Moscow , Russia .  The two presidents appeared together on Russian state television in an informal meeting in which the Cuban leader spoke fondly of his last trip to Moscow almost 30 years ago .  Medvedev and Raul Castro will discuss bilateral issues Friday during their official meeting at the Kremlin .  "" We plan to reach the signing of a number of agreements aimed at the promotion of interaction of our countries in the trade economic , financial investment and cultural humanitarian areas at the talks , "" Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergei Lavrov told Prensa Latina in an interview posted on the official ministry Web site .  "" In general , there is no doubt that Castro ' s visit will contribute to the strengthening of the Russian Cuban partnership . ""  The last time Medvedev and Castro spoke face to face was in November when Medvedev traveled to Latin America , including a stop in Cuba . The visit , during which Medvedev also met with Raul ' s ailing brother , Fidel Castro , was part of a regional tour to Venezuela and Brazil , sending a poignant message to the United States that Russia is quickly gaining support in its backyard .  After the collapse of Soviet Union , ties between communist Cuba and ex communist Russia cooled . In 2001 , then Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Havana , Cuba , to begin new talks with the former Cold War ally .  Besides discussing the world ' s hot spots and the global financial crisis , Medvedev and Raul Castro will "" focus on solving the issue of lifting the blockade from Cuba under the new U . S . administration , "" Lavrov said , referring to the decades old U . S . embargo against the Caribbean island nation .  "" We hope that the joint position of the vast majority of members of the international community on this issue will finally contribute to revising U . S . approaches in a realistic manner , "" Lavrov told the interviewers .  "" On our side , we are ready to decisively pursue our line aimed at canceling the blockade , in which we can see a relic of the past era . ""  Castro ' s visit is due to last until Wednesday .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
20073,20074,"The only way Hillary and Tim Kaine can win this election at this point, is through massive voter fraud. The enthusiasm for Trump and Pence has been enormous from the beginning and has only increased, while Hillary and Tim can barely fill a phone booth only days before the general election Tim Kaine was speaking in Room 102 of Building U at Florida SouthWester State College s Thomas Edison (Lee) Campus. called these three people a  small line. Small line forming at Tim Kaine event venue at  campus in Fort Myers. @NBC2 is here! pic.twitter.com/YJktz4VT0p  DeliaDAmbraTV (@DeliaDAmbraTV) November 5, 2016By the time the doors opened to a tiny room inside the college, there were a dozen people  A   who were enthusiastically waiting to see Hillary s lapdog VP:Line growing at Tim Kaine event in Ft Myers @NBC2 pic.twitter.com/TmqejZLj5O  DeliaDAmbraTV (@DeliaDAmbraTV) November 5, 2016Via: Gateway PunditCompare Tim Kaine s lackluster response to his rallies to Trump s  candidate Mike Pence, who s packing large venues with supporters. Check out the support Pence is getting in critical swing states across America.Michigan:Great morning in Holland, MI! With just 3 days to go, we're heading to  and  to deliver our closing argument to the American people. pic.twitter.com/sfMhiiudxK  Mike Pence (@mike_pence) November 5, 2016Virginia:Huge crowd tonight at George Mason University! We're on the path to victory, and Virginia is ready for Election Day! # pic.twitter.com/mt9GElZ5L3  Mike Pence (@mike_pence) November 6, 2016Florida:Thank you Miami! A @realDonaldTrump administration will be on the side of freedom & a better life in this hemisphere #Cuba #Venezuela pic.twitter.com/R1HzSE9s9E  Mike Pence (@mike_pence) November 5, 2016North Carolina:Thank you Greenville! Great to have the 'Women for Trump' bus tour join us this afternoon at our rally as they crisscross North Carolina pic.twitter.com/JYujYul0QJ  Mike Pence (@mike_pence) November 4, 2016Pennsylvania:Great rally in Pennsylvania! @realDonaldTrump will fight for a government of, by and for the people. We will #MakeAmericaGreatAgain! pic.twitter.com/8abi3CYVO6  Mike Pence (@mike_pence) November 4, 2016",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
20074,20075,"8 things I know about the 2016 presidential race on the eve of the third  debate  A crew member checks the candidate podiums at the venue for the Oct . 28  Republican presidential debate , Tuesday , Oct . 27 , 2015 , inside the Coors Events Center at the University of Colorado in Boulder , Colo . (  Photo Brennan Linsley )  Presidential debates are inflection points . They give the political world a chance to catch our breath ( sort of ) and figure out where we ' ve been and where the race is going . Or at least try .  So , before ? the ? massive Republican presidential field takes the stage either at 6 p . m . ( kiddie table debate ) or 8 p . m . Eastern ( adult table debate ) tonight in Colorado , I thought I ' d go through what I think I know about the race and how that ' s changed since the candidates were last on stage together Sept . 16 in California .  You can and he will argue about where The Donald sits in the race right now . But it ' s quite clear that his upward poll trajectory has stopped . It ' s not a massive fade , but it is notable .  The problem for Trump as the last few days have shown is that he doesn ' t have much of a message outside of "" I ' m winning . "" His response to faltering numbers in Iowa on Tuesday night "" Wht the hell are you people doing to me ? "" probably won ' t cut it on the debate stage . Trump still does remain a prime mover in the race , however , and will be center stage literally and figuratively in Boulder .  The former Florida governor ' s first two debate performances were blah not bad but not all that good either . Circumstances have changed and not in a good way for Jeb now , however , and there is an onus on him to show some fight and passion in Wednesday night ' s ? gathering . That likely means a far more aggressive approach to the debate , up to and including landing the first punch against the likes of Trump , Ben Carson and Marco Rubio . Bush has never shown much willingness or comfort with being the attack dog , but he needs a find a way tonight to look like he not only belongs on the stage but wants to be there .  Once the presumptive Republican frontrunner , Jeb Bush is now falling behind candidates like Donald Trump and Ben Carson . The Fix ' s Chris Cillizza explains why this next  debate is a make or break for Bush . ( Alice Li The Washington Post )  The former pediatric neurosurgeon is the ? candidate least understood by the political class in Washington . He ' s also the most popular candidate among the people who , you know , cast votes and decide nominations . Carson has benefited from his performances in both of the first two debates and so will likely deliver more of the same tonight : polite and unassuming , but forceful in asserting his outsider cred . There will be something new for Carson in this debate though : His rise in the polls means he will likely get more attention from the other candidates on the stage . How will Carson react to the newfound negative attention ? If at all ?  4 . Carly is the debate candidate and not much more  Fiorina has won each of the first two debates one at the kiddie table , one on the main ? stage . ? And in the immediate aftermath of both events , Fiorina ' s numbers spiked . ? Then , nothing or close to it . A mid October Washington Post  News national poll put Fiorina in sixth place with just 5 ? percent of the vote 27 points behind Trump .  Why hasn ' t Fiorina been able to capitalize more effectively on her strong debate showings ? Lack of staff support or early state organization are ? the most likely culprits . Regardless , don ' t over inflate what a strong Fiorina performance Wednesday night ? might mean for her in the race more broadly .  Rubio was a secondary ( or even tertiary ) player in the first two debates . But by dint of his improving poll numbers and the increased attacks on him from Bushworld , the Florida senator is likely to be more central to the conversation on Wednesday . Rubio did well with the time he had in the first debates , but how will he handle being a more major player this time around ? And how much does he get into it with his one time mentor Bush ?  I ' ve written recently in this space about ? how well the Texas senator ' s campaign is running at the moment . Cruz is poised to have a moment in the race in the not too distant future but will likely be content to let Carson ( and , to a lesser extent Trump ) take the majority of the slings and arrows tonight . Cruz has been very effective in each of the first two debates , making the most of his moments . He ' s content ? to be a counter puncher , waiting for his moments to land blows against his poll superiors and perhaps simply biding his time for Trump to flame out before vacuuming up his supporters .  Has there ever been a disappearing act like this one ? The former Arkansas governor has been nowhere in the national press since the last debate six weeks ago . He felt largely ancillary to the first two debates , and while his team insists everything is going according to plan , Huck needs a debate performance along the lines of what he regularly turned in during the 2008 race if he wants to avoid a disappointing return engagement to the presidential ring .  At this point , does the Kentucky Senator really have anything to lose ? His poll numbers are abysmal , and he ' s under increasing pressure from some Republican colleagues to abandon his presidential hopes to make sure he can hold his Senate seat next November . If we know anything about Paul , it ' s that he is feisty and won ' t go gently into that good night . ? This may be his last real chance to settle scores and score political points . My guess is he takes it .  Chris Cillizza writes The Fix , a politics blog for the Washington Post . He also covers the White House .  Success ! Check your inbox for details . You might also like :  ",true,text,test,US elections,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
20097,20098,"By Rahul Manchanda, Esq. on October 30, 2016 The Neo-Con/Communist natives are restless, they desperately want their World War 3...  by Rahul Manchanda, Esq.  Never in America’s history has she been in more danger of a “false flag” attack from her enemies, both foreign and domestic, than she is now.  The contemporary term “false flag” describes covert operations that are designed to deceive in such a way that the operations appear as though they are being carried out by entities, groups, or nations other than those who actually planned and executed them.  Historically, the term “false flag” had its origins in naval warfare where the use of a flag other than the belligerent’s true battle flag before (but not while) engaging the enemy has long been accepted as a permissible ruse de guerre ; by contrast, flying a false flag while engaging the enemy constitutes “perfidy.”  Operations carried out during peace-time by civilian organizations, as well as covert government agencies, can (by extension) also be called false flag operations if they seek to hide the real organization behind an operation.  America has been thoroughly infiltrated by a mighty and wealthy foreign power and menace, while her people are suffering financially, and she is now poised to be sacrificed on the altar of history for a one world government headquartered overseas.  The Neo-Con/Communist natives are restless, they desperately want their World War 3, and they are wanting to move their wealth and power to their next world empire, which will be the final one in their sick deluded minds, unopposed and permanent.    Now that Hillary Clinton has been “theoretically re-indicted” by the  for the email scandals (although they are being obstructed by our very own  Department of “Justice” under Attorney General Loretta Lynch) this has effectively ruined her chances of becoming President through legal channels, so they only have one more option – and that is a false flag attack leading us directly into World War 3 in a nuclear war, using all of their carefully placed traitors in the Pentagon, Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Justice, and cooperative local police departments all throughout the United States, with a declaration of a state of emergency in both the United States, and abroad.  This is why it is vitally important that all Americans, both in the private and public sector, start watching their government and elected leaders like “hawks.”  Americans need to use the Neo-Con’s mantra of “See Something, Say Something” against them.  The Neo-Con/Stasi/Communist’s Zersetzung (organized gang-stalking under Bill Clinton’s Community Oriented Policing “COPS” program) needs to be turned by the People against them, and the American People need to watch each and every single one of them like they would watch a lunatic holding an AK-47 in a mall. “Regime Change” Brigade  The Neo-Cons simply can not be trusted, as they work for the Plutocrats, who desperately want to hold on to their power, and will not willingly relinquish it to the People by way of Donald Trump and his Populist Revolt and Uprising.  Some examples of real false flags throughout history having routinely disastrous results, wherein the “winners” re-wrote history, include the:  (1) 1914 Battle of Trindad fought between the British auxiliary cruiser  Carmania and the German auxiliary cruiser  Cap Trafalgar which had been altered to look like Carmania;  (2) World War  German commerce raider Kormoran which surprised and sank the Australian light cruiser  Sydney in 1941 while disguised as a Dutch merchant ship, causing the greatest recorded loss of life on an Australian warship;  (3) trial of Otto Skorzeny, who planned and commanded Operation Greif, by a U.S. military tribunal at the Dachau Trials included a finding that Skorzeny was not guilty of a crime by ordering his men into action in American uniforms;  (4) 1788 incident wherein the head tailor at the Royal Swedish Opera received an order to sew a number of Russian military uniforms to stage an attack on Puumala, a Swedish outpost on the Russo-Swedish border allowing King Gustav  of Sweden, who lacked the constitutional authority to initiate unprovoked hostilities without the Estates’ consent, to launch the Russo-Swedish War (1788–1790);  (5) September 1931 incident wherein Japanese officers fabricated a pretext for invading Manchuria by blowing up a section of railway;  (6) Gleiwitz incident in 1939 involving Reinhard Heydrich fabricating evidence of a Polish attack against Germany to mobilize German public opinion for war with Poland;  (7) November 26, 1939 incident wherein the Soviet army shelled Mainila, a Russian village near the Finnish border blaming Finland for the attack using the incident as a pretext to invade Finland, starting the Winter War, four days later;  (8) 1962 Operation Northwoods plot by the U.S. Department of Defense for a war with Cuba involving scenarios such as fabricating the hijacking or shooting down of passenger and military planes, sinking a U.S. ship in the vicinity of Cuba, burning crops, sinking a boat filled with Cuban refugees, attacks by alleged Cuban infiltrators inside the United States, and harassment of U.S. aircraft and shipping and the destruction of aerial drones by aircraft disguised as Cuban MiGs to be blamed on Cuba and a pretext for an invasion of Cuba and the overthrow of Fidel Castro’s communist government;  (9) Reichstag fire which was an arson attack on the Reichstag building in Berlin on February 27, 1933 using as “evidence” by the Nazis that the Communists were beginning a plot against the German government, whereby Adolf Hitler, who was sworn in as Chancellor of Germany four weeks before, on 30 January, urged President Paul von Hindenburg to pass an emergency decree to counter the “ruthless confrontation of the Communist Party of Germany” – with civil liberties suspended, the government instituted mass arrests of Communists, including all of the Communist parliamentary delegates;  (10) April 4 1953 incident wherein the  was ordered to undermine the government of Iran over a four-month period, as a precursor to overthrowing Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh by carrying out false flag attacks “on mosques and key public figures” to be blamed on Iranian communists loyal to the government, code-named “TP-Ajax,” the tactic of a “directed campaign of bombings by Iranians posing as members of the Communist party” involving the bombing of “at least” one well known Muslim’s house by  agents posing as Communists;  (11) 2008 shooting of two minibuses carrying Georgians who lived in Abkhazia who wanted to cross the border so they could go and vote in the parliamentary election that day, in a volatile area on the border of Abkhazia and the Republic of Georgia, wherein President Saakashvili indicated that the attack had been an attempt to disrupt the election, implying that it had been Abkhaz or Russian forces who had been behind it, providing a favorable opportunity for the president to focus the nation’s attention on an external enemy, leading attention away from his domestic critics, as well as making use of his position as leader to rally the Georgians around his candidates in the election;  (12) assassination of Charlemagne Péralte of Haiti in 1919, after checkpoints were passed by military disguised as guerrilla fighters;  (13) Mau Mau uprising in the 1950s, wherein captured Mau Mau members who switched sides and specially trained British troops initiated the pseudo-gang concept to successfully counter Mau Mau;  (14) Algerian civil war in the middle of 1994 wherein death squads composed of Département du Renseignement et de la Sécurité (DRS) security forces disguised themselves as Islamist terrorists and committed false flag terror attacks;  (15) Mexican wars of 1819 and 1846-48;  (16) Spanish-American War of 1898 involving the surprise explosion of the battleship Maine at Havana, Cuba wherein the Hearst Press accused the Spanish and the  declared war on Spain conquering the Philippines, Guam and Cuba;  (17) World War I in 1914-1918 wherein a U-boat torpedo hit ocean liner Lusitania near Britain and some 1200 people, including 128 Americans, on board lost their lives, and subsequent investigations revealed that the major explosions were inside the Lusitania, as it was secretly transporting 6 million pounds of artillery shells and rifle ammunition, as well as other explosives on behalf of Morgan Banking Corporation to help Britain and France;  (18) World War 2 in 1939-1945 where a U-boat torpedo hit the ocean liner Athenia near Britain with some 1100 passengers, of which 311 were Americans;  (19)  naval intelligence planning and suggesting “8 insults” to bring Japan into war with the US, and where President Roosevelt executed this plan immediately and also added some other insults, enraging Japan, such as a total blockade of Japanese oil imports, as agreed between the Americans, British and the Dutch –  also declared an all-out embargo against Japan and forbade them the use of the Panama Canal impeding Japan’s access to Venezuelan oil;  (20) one of many incidents provoking Japan to attack Pearl Harbor some 6 months later;  (21) Korean War in 1950-1953 wherein South Korean incursions (the Tiger regiment etc.) into North Korea (1949) led to contrary claims and into war – the cause of this war was covert action involving leaders of Taiwan, South Korea and the  Military Industrial Complex (John Foster Dulles has been mentioned as an organizer of the hostilities);  (22) Vietnam War in “The Gulf of Tonkin Incident” wherein the American destroyer Maddox was supposedly attacked twice by three North Vietnamese torpedo boats in 1964 in the Gulf of Tonkin – but which never happened;  (23) Grenada invasion whereby the Grenadian leader, Maurice Bishop, who favored the left and invited Cubans to build infrastructure to accommodate long range Soviet aircraft was deposed and executed in October 19, 1983 – six days later the  invaded, with the supposed reason that American medical students studying in Grenada were in danger due to a “Cuban presence”– and of course the new leader supported by the  favored more traditional values and the right;  (24) Panama invasion wherein an incident between American and Panamanian troops led to invasion and the earlier Carter administration plan to hand control of the canal over to Panama was cancelled;  (25) US-Israeli sponsored wars between Iraq and Iran from 1980-1988;  (26) Desert Storm War (First Gulf War) in 1991 wherein Saddam Hussein asked for permission from the  (via their ambassador April Gillespie) to invade Kuwait, and got an answer that the  was not concerned with “Arab quarrels” – this was a trap, and after Saddam occupied Kuwait, George Bush Sr. mobilized a coalition of some 40 nations to “liberate Kuwait” and smash the recently-built Iraqi military power base – this incident also involved a media hoax wherein the daughter of a Kuwaiti  Ambassador played a nurse on  and testified to “witnessing” Iraqi soldiers throwing babies out of incubators in Kuwait;  (27) War on Terror launched by the Bush administration in October 2001 – claimed to be the response to terrorism, especially the 9-11 incidents;  (28) Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan invasion);  (29) Enduring Justice (Second Gulf war); and  (30) countless others.  Paragraph 43 of the Field Manual published by the War Department, United States Army, on 1 October 1940, under the entry Rules of Land Warfare states: “National flags, insignias and uniforms as a ruse – in practice it has been authorized to make use of these as a ruse. The foregoing rule (Article 23 of the Annex of the IVth Hague Convention), does not prohibit such use, but does prohibit their improper use. It is certainly forbidden to make use of them during a combat. Before opening fire upon the enemy, they must be discarded.”  The American Soldiers’ Handbook states: “The use of the enemy flag, insignia, and uniform is permitted under some circumstances. They are not to be used during actual fighting, and if used in order to approach the enemy without drawing fire, should be thrown away or removed as soon as fighting begins.”  The 1977 Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of August 12, 1949 (Protocol I) states:  Article 37. – Prohibition of perfidy – 1. It is prohibited to kill, injure, or capture an adversary by resort to perfidy. Acts inviting the confidence of an adversary to lead him to believe that he is entitled to, or is obliged to accord, protection under the rules of international law applicable in armed conflict, with intent to betray that confidence, shall constitute perfidy. The following acts are examples of perfidy: (a) The feigning of an intent to negotiate under a flag of truce or of a surrender; (b) The feigning of an incapacitation by wounds or sickness; (c) The feigning of civilian, non-combatant status; and (d) The feigning of protected status by the use of signs, emblems or uniforms of the United Nations or of neutral or other States not Parties to the conflict. 2. Ruses of war are not prohibited. Such ruses are acts which are intended to mislead an adversary or to induce him to act recklessly but which infringe no rule of international law applicable in armed conflict and which are not perfidious because they do not invite the confidence of an adversary with respect to protection under that law. The following are examples of such ruses: the use of camouflage, decoys, mock operations and disinformation.  Article 38. – Recognized emblems – 1. It is prohibited to make improper use of the distinctive emblem of the Red Cross, Red Crescent or Red Lion and Sun or of other emblems, signs or signals provided for by the Conventions or by this Protocol. It is also prohibited to misuse deliberately in an armed conflict other internationally recognized protective emblems, signs or signals, including the flag of truce, and the protective emblem of cultural property. 2. It is prohibited to make use of the distinctive emblem of the United Nations, except as authorized by that Organization.  Article 39. – Emblems of nationality – 1. It is prohibited to make use in an armed conflict of the flags or military emblems, insignia or uniforms of neutral or other States not Parties to the conflict. 2. It is prohibited to make use of the flags or military emblems, insignia or uniforms of adverse Parties while engaging in attacks or in order to shield, favour, protect or impede military operations. 3. Nothing in this Article or in Article 37, paragraph 1(d), shall affect the existing generally recognized rules of international law applicable to espionage or to the use of flags in the conduct of armed conflict at sea.”  It is vitally important to note that while the United States may have these codes and regulations, her enemies, both foreign and domestic, are not bound by these Rules.  The American People (and indeed the rest of the world) need to be exceptionally on guard and vigilant before the upcoming November 2016 election, and even many months afterwards, because the Neo-Cons/Communists may still try and get their World War 3, even if Donald Trump is elected.  After all, September 11, 2001 took place a full 9 months after George W Bush was sworn in at his Inauguration in January 2001, and this was blamed on Osama Bin Laden who was a known  Asset and who allegedly declared War on America in 1998 – he might have been the Neo-Cons’ insurance plan, cooked up during the 8 year Clinton Administration from 1992-2000.  And of course, 9-11 is what led to the wholesale bloodshed and regime changing wars for the past 15 years, leaving the Middle East in flames, with countless millions of innocent lives and refugees lost forever, the greatest genocide and bloodbath the world has ever known.  And don’t think that these crazed Neo-Con psychopaths won’t do it again, especially when there are only a few more countries left to “take out” now – Russia, Iran, and North Korea – as opposed to 20.  See:",fake,news,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
20098,20099,"Nerve racking footage has emerged of a suicide jumper being saved by police from plummeting to his death .  In the dashcam video , officer D . Mulvihill arrives to see an unidentified man teetering on the ledge of the Martin Luther King Boulevard overpass looking down on traffic below .  Using tactics learned in training , Mulvhill carefully creeps up behind the man before suddenly grabbing him around the waist and hauling him to safety .  The jumper is momentarily distracted by sergeant McCoy , who starts walking towards him from another direction .  Together , the two policemen wrestle the man to the ground to prevent him from escaping .  They reassure him that he ' s '  ' and everything ' s going to be ' alright ' .  ' You alright , buddy ? I ' m sorry . I ' m just trying to help you . You ' re alright , ' one of the officers can be heard saying .  They then lift him back to two feet with a ' one , two , three ' and escort him off the bridge .  Caught on camera : Nerve racking footage has emerged of a suicide jumper being saved by police from plummeting to his death  Slow movements : In the dash cam video , officer D . Mulvihill arrives to see an unidentified man teetering on the ledge of the Martin Luther King Boulevard overpass looking down on traffic below  Easy does it : Using tactics learned in training , Mulvhill carefully creeps up behind the man before suddenly grabbing him around the waist and hauling him to safety  Although the incident took place on November 26 2014 the Dallas Police Department have only just released the recording of the event .  For their actions , officer Mulvihill and sergeant McCoy have been nominated for life saving awards .  The police department wrote : ' Because of these well coordinated tactics , a life was saved and in the process prevented numerous passing motorists below on the S . M . Wright Freeway from being harmed . '  The individual involved was subsequently transported to a facility for evaluation .  Team effort : The jumper is momentarily distracted by sergeant McCoy , who starts walking towards him from another direction  On the job : Although the incident took place on November 26 2014 the Dallas Police Department have only just released the recording of the event the two policemen have been nominated for life saving awards  ",true,text,test,American football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
20119,20120,"Reuters) - Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma is a fierce campaigner against racial inequality whose hostility to big business has rattled investors in South Africa. She is also one of two front runners to be the country s next president. The 68-year-old is vying to succeed her ex-husband, President Jacob Zuma, as leader of the ruling African National Congress at a party vote this weekend, an outcome that would make her favourite for the presidency after a parliamentary election due in 2019. A medical doctor and former chair of the Commission of the African Union, a pan-continental grouping, Dlamini-Zuma has pledged during her campaign to  radically  tackle the racial inequality that persists in South Africa 23 years after the end of white minority rule. Backers of her main rival, Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, say she is peddling populist rhetoric and would rule in the mould of her former husband, whose decade in power has been plagued by corruption scandals. Dlamini-Zuma declined to be interviewed for this story. The choice between Dlamini-Zuma and Ramaphosa will influence South Africa s economic policy trajectory, as well the country s role in Africa and beyond. Investors are worried by Dlamini-Zuma s hostility towards international companies, which she says form part of a  white monopoly capital  cabal dominating South Africa s wealth.  A Dlamini-Zuma victory would signal a sharp rhetorical shift towards more leftist economic policy,  said John Ashbourne, an Africa-focused economist at Capital Economics.  A further credit ratings downgrade would be almost inevitable.  Yet Dlamini-Zuma s supporters point to a commitment to changing the lives of South Africa s black majority. Lynne Jones, a psychiatrist and author who lived with Dlamini-Zuma when they were students together in the English city of Bristol in the 1970s, says her determination to fight injustice is rooted in her own personal story. Jones remembers a day four decades ago when Dlamini-Zuma lay on her bed and wept after being forced to miss her brother s funeral because the apartheid-era security services had hounded her out of South Africa.  She was fiercely intelligent and determined,  said Jones.  Here was someone who had put their whole life on the line and given up home and family for what they believed. It was eye-opening.  The race between Ramaphosa, a unionist-turned-millionaire businessman, and Dlamini-Zuma is too close to call, political analysts say. Her campaign team told Reuters in written comments it was confident she would be elected  leader. Ramaphosa, who is popular among swathes of the  disillusioned with Zuma, is promising to end corruption, boost a flatlining economy and deliver jobs to the poor in a country where more than a quarter of the population is unemployed. Dlamini-Zuma, by contrast, is an African nationalist and has the support of the influential  youth and women s leagues, which both tend to support socialist policies. Known for her fierce temper and hostility towards the West, she was described in one 2001 U.S. diplomatic cable on WikiLeaks as a  truculent and petulant foreign minister . Another cable to Washington suggested she could be charming.  Belying her reputation as fierce and formidable, the Minister was soft spoken and smiling in this meeting - articulate but gentle, candid but warm,  Donald Gips, then U.S. ambassador to South Africa, wrote in 2010.     The most common criticism of Dlamini-Zuma is that she is beholden to Zuma and his powerful patronage network. Zuma has publicly endorsed her.  She is bold and you can t fool her. She is someone you can trust,  Zuma told a rally recently.     The couple met in Swaziland in the 1980s, when they were both in the  underground. They were married for more than a decade and have four children together. In a rare interview last month, Dlamini-Zuma challenged her opponents to find any evidence of corruption in her long political career.  I don t loot government coffers. I ve never done so, and I will not do so,  she told ANN7 television. But for some senior figures in the ANC, she has not done enough to distance herself from the corruption scandals that have dogged President Zuma.  She has not said anything on  state capture ,   chief whip Jackson Mthembu told Reuters, using a South African term to describe private interests unduly controlling government funds. Dlamini-Zuma says accusations that she is piggy-backing off Zuma are  insulting  given her career, first as a doctor to  leaders fighting apartheid and then as a cabinet minister under every South African president since 1994. As health minister in Nelson Mandela s cabinet, she laid the foundations for free public healthcare for the poor, took a hard line on smoking and made medicines more accessible. As foreign minister she fostered friendships with African countries and emerging economies like China, even when this angered the West. But she also made errors of judgment. In 1996, Dlamini-Zuma awarded a contract for more than $3 million to a friend for a play, Sarafina II, to raise awareness about  and was later found to have ignored tender rules.  Political analyst Ralph Mathekga said that paled in comparison to recent government malpractice. He said:  14 million rand in the Sarafina scandal now seems like peanuts when compared with the looting under Zuma.  (For a graphic on ' election in South Africa' click here) (For a graphic on 'South African economy' click here) ",true,dataset,test,Other news1,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
20127,20128,"Nigeria Nigeria has set its sights on making multibillion dollar oil deals with China amid peace moves with militants .  Hundreds of militants have laid down their weapons in exchange for a pardon and a job .  Lawmakers in the west African country one of the world ' s top producers of oil are crafting new money making changes for its state oil corporation , as officials negotiate multibillion dollar oil deals with China . At the same time , the government is brokering peace with bandits whose attacks have cost the oil industry millions .  Nigeria ' s minister for state of petroleum , Odein Ajumogobia , talked this month about the developments .  The changes aimed at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation will address allegations of corruption and mismanagement , he said .  "" Some of the excesses we ' ve seen in the industry are as a result of the lack of regulation , "" Ajumogobia said . "" We are going to make sure that the petroleum directorate , for example , where the minister will reside , is going to be manned by professionals who understand the industry and have the experience . ""  Nigeria welcomes China ' s recent interest in investing in Nigeria ' s oil industry , Ajumogobia added . The state run China Daily reported in September that the China National Offshore Oil Corporation was negotiating with Nigeria over a 30 billion oil deal .  The talks are part of China ' s oil buying binge this year . Its government controlled oil companies have closed or floated a slew of deals all over the world , including billion dollar deals with Russian oil company Rosneft and Brazil ' s Petrobras .  The Nigerian minister offered few details about negotiations with China .  "" There is no deal yet , "" he said . "" We all know the appetite of the Chinese for energy a huge population and so on and they ' re looking for oil and Nigeria has a lot of it . ""  Oil bandits have plagued Nigeria for years , attacking pipelines and cutting production by over 1 million barrels of oil a day . But many of those attacks might end , thanks to a cease fire with the militant group  , or the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta . The truce was negotiated in the summer and was extended in September .   has demanded a fairer distribution of oil wealth in the Niger Delta and wants oil revenue reinvested in the region , instead of enriching those whom the militants consider corrupt politicians .  Last week , the group said it was calling off the truce , but there have not been renewed attacks .  Nigeria hopes to leverage the fragile peace to reap big dollars from its oil industry , Ajumogobia said .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
20142,20143,"Scientists discovered that a special protein helps fight back cold sores and that people who lack the protein are much more vulnerable  Scientists have put their finger on why some people are plagued by unsightly cold sores .  They ' ve shown that people who get cold sore after cold sore don ' t make enough of a protein that keeps the virus under control .  The insight could lead to new treatments for the potentially fatal complications of the extremely common bug .  It has long been known that by adulthood , most people are infected with the cold sore causing herpes simplex virus type 1 bug .  However , while up to 90 per cent of adults have  1 lurking in their system , only around a quarter of them will experience frequent outbreaks .  Now , Edinburgh University scientists have discovered why .  They began by looking at how cold sores fluid filled crusty blisters that occur around the mouth occur .  The  1 bug is usually caught in childhood and often through a kiss from a family member or friend with a cold sore .  It passes through the skin and travels up a nerve , where it lies inactive until stress , sunlight , illness or another trigger , awakens it and leads to cold sores forming .  By analysing thousands of genes , the researchers found one that makes a protein called Interferon lambda that helps keep the virus from being reactivated .  They then compared the  of people who regularly got cold sores with that of people who had the virus but were rarely troubled by it .  In those who often got cold sores , the gene for Interferon lambda tended to be flawed , meaning they made less of the protein .  This left their immune system unable to keep the bug under control and meant they were plagued by cold sores .  Overall , around a quarter of Britons have the genetic flaw that makes them prone to cold sores , the journal PLoS Pathogens reports .  Cold sores are caused by the HSV1 virus ( pictured ) , which almost everyone carries . But most of the time our bodies can fight the illness off .  Researcher Professor Juergen Haas said the finding shows the importance of studying the person that is infected , as well as the infection itself .  ' Most people carry the cold sore strain of the herpes simplex virus but until now we never knew why only some of them develop cold sores .  ' Knowing that susceptibility to the virus involved relates to people ' s genes reinforces the need to research , not only the evolution of the viruses themselves , but the susceptibility of the hosts to infection . '  The professor ' s discovery could lead to Interferon lamba being used as a treatment for  1 .  The risk of side effects means it is not likely to be used on cold sores , which despite looking unsightly usually clear up without treatment .  However , it could be used to improve treatment of rare but potentially fatal side effects of the virus , including infections and swelling of the brain .  Professor Haas said : '  1 belongs to a family of viruses that persists in the body for life . Once you are infected , usually as a child , it persists in the nerve cells . You cannot really get rid of it .  ' You can only avoid or treat the recurrences . It is a particularly nasty type of virus . '  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
20156,20157,"Reuters) - A majority of the U.S. House of Representatives on Friday voted to advance legislation instructing committees to write legislation repealing President Barack Obama’s landmark healthcare law. The procedural vote of 235 to 188 clears the way for a vote later on Friday to pass the measure to begin work on repealing Obamacare that already has been approved by the Senate. It strictly followed party lines, indicating solidarity among House Republicans on the issue. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
20171,20172,"Reuters) - The U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency said on Friday it will accept proposals next month for the design of a wall to be built near the U.S.-Mexican frontier, a first step in picking vendors for President Donald Trump’s proposed border wall. In a document on the federal government’s website for business opportunities, the  said it would release a request on or about March 6 asking companies for prototype ideas for a wall to be built near the U.S.-Mexican border. After reviewing the ideas submitted by vendors, the agency will evaluate and select the best designs by March 20, then issue a request for proposals by March 24 in which vendors would be asked to price out the cost of building the proposed wall. The document says multiple awards for the barrier are expected by mid-April as part of the process, an aggressive schedule for a government construction project. “It’s going to start soon. Way ahead of schedule, way ahead of schedule,” Trump told the Conservative Political Action Conference on Friday. A spokesman for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the solicitation published on Friday had “everything to do” with the wall that Trump has proposed. The spokesman said the initial request for information was to give industry the opportunity to tell the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees CBP, what is possible in constructing a border wall. “Once we get feedback from the vendors, we’ll look at the ones that are most feasible,” the spokesman said. That would be followed by the request for proposals to firm up exactly how much constructing the wall would cost. A U.S. Department of Homeland Security internal report seen by Reuters this month indicated the border wall would be a series of fences and walls that would cost as much as $21.6 billion to build and take more than three years to complete. The report’s estimated price tag is much higher than a $12 billion figure cited by Trump in his campaign and estimates as high as $15 billion from Republican House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. The plan laid out what it would take to seal the border in three phases of construction of fences and walls covering just over 1,250 miles (2,000 km) by the end of 2020. With 654 miles (1,046 km) of the border already fortified, the new construction would extend almost the length of the entire border. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
20182,20183,"A mental health evaluation has been ordered for a Maryland mother accused of stabbing two of her children to death and wounding two others while attempting an exorcism , authorities said Tuesday .  A judge ordered Zakieya L . Avery , 28 , and another woman , 21 year old Monifa Sanford , to undergo the evaluations this week to determine whether they are competent to stand trial , Capt . Marcus Jones of the Montgomery County Police Department said .  Avery and Sanford have both been charged with two counts of first degree murder and two counts of attempted first degree murder in connection with the stabbings at a Germantown residence .  Norell Harris , 1 , and his sister , Zyana Harris , 2 , suffered fatal stab wounds while their siblings , ages 5 and 8 , were hospitalized with injuries , authorities said .  Police said they found the four children Friday morning after a neighbor called 911 to report suspicious activity at the home . The neighbor reported seeing a car with a door open and a knife next to it .  Investigators believe the two women were performing an exorcism , a ritual aimed at defeating purported evil spirits or demons .  Avery , according to Jones , allegedly formed a group called "" Demon Assassins "" because she believed that by doing so evil wouldn ' t take over their lives .  "" The purpose was to get rid of the devil , the evil spirits , "" Jones said .  Police are searching for two men who are believed to also have been members of the group , he said .  Sanford ' s attorney , Edward Leyden , said he has no information regarding the allegations that his client was a member of the exorcism group .  "" This tragedy is a universal one , "" Leyden said . "" . . . The family of the victims is devastated , and all the members of Ms . Sanford ' s family are devastated . ""  Leyden said he want his client to undergo the mental health evaluation to determine issues of competency and mental delusions .  Police were initially called to the home Thursday over reports of an unattended child in a car . By the time they got there , the child was not in the car and no one came to the door , authorities said .  After the neighbor ' s call , authorities notified county child protective services and asked them to follow up . It ' s unclear whether they did .  Both women are being held without bond .  Italian priests : Interest in exorcism increasing  ",true,text,test,American football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
20200,20201,"The holidays have arguably come early for armchair disc jockeys , who can scratch along with exclusive musical mash ups of songs by popular artists in remix simulator ""  Hero 2 . ""  Supporting two turntables and a plastic microphone , additional freestyle tricks and an expanded single player career mode , the sequel to last year ' s popular rhythm game also enjoys a healthy co sign from rapper and actor Common .  "" The game is exciting , brings good music to the forefront and captures the real  aesthetic , "" he says in a recent interview . "" I love that two players can go head to head , and the freestyle aspect is really cool . . . . You have a microphone you can sing into and you can scratch at your own pace . When you play it , you feel just like you ' re at a party . ""  While no substitute for actual spinning Common says it ' s a reasonable starting point for beginners looking to immerse themselves in  culture .  Even more important than letting players live the dance floor dream , he says , is that games like this can help introduce modern fans to classic artists .  "" But even when people aren ' t buzzing about a hot new track , they ' re still playing these games and hearing our songs . As an artist , everything you do is a brick you have to build on . Getting a song in a video game is a major stepping stone , and way to get introduced to new audiences . ""  A fan of classic titles like "" Pitfall , "" "" Donkey Kong Jr . "" and "" Ms . Pac Man "" before giving the controller a temporary rest , Common also says that motion sensing video games are making former arcade enthusiasts take notice again .  These so called "" active "" games are a great way to grab people ' s attention , says common , adding that he ' s not surprised they ' re such high tech sensations .  "" Music games are making a comeback this year , "" he says . "" These titles are constantly improving , the music gets more exciting and more people are being attracted to them . "" Part of the appeal , he says , is that they fit right into nearly any social setting , especially parties , and are as fun to watch and listen to as actively play .  High profile releases like ""  Hero 2 "" and recent karaoke outing "" Def Jam Rapstar , "" show hip hop finally getting some respect from game makers .  "" The genre would ' ve been much bigger today if we ' d had games like this early on . ""  He says he secretly yearns to do a ""  Hero 2 "" track with Sade "" You ' d have to speed her up or something "" and says he plays the game with producer No I . D . during studio downtime . Should new album "" The Believer , "" due Spring 2011 , get pushed back , you ' ll know why .  "" No , we don ' t plan on any delays , "" he says with a laugh .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
20204,20205,"Two men arrested in connection with the murder of Tanis Bhandari , a builder who was axed to death after a New Year ' s Eve party , have been charged .  Donald Pemberton and Ryan Williams , aged 20 and 21 respectively , were arrested for the 27 year old ' s murder at around 2am on Thursday .  The pair from St Budeaux , Plymouth , were have been charged with murder and possession of knives and an axe .  Donald Pemberton , 20 , ( left ) and Ryan Williams , 21 , ( right ) have been charged with the murder of Tanis Bhandari who was killed on New Year ' s Eve with an axe  They will appear before magistrates in Plymouth tomorrow .  Mr Bhandari was with friends at the King ' s Arms on New Year ' s Eve when the group were attacked on their way home at around 1 . 30am .  Tributes have been paid to the ' lovely ' builder , who , it was reported , was killed after stepping in front of a female friend to shield her from harm .  It was claimed the disruption may have started over a request for a cigarette , though Devon and Cornwall Police would not confirm this account .  Officers said last week Mr Bhandari and his friends had been the victims of an ' unprovoked , indiscriminate ' attack .  Today , announcing the charges , Detective Inspector Gregg Dawe , Senior Investigating Officer , said : ' An axe and knives have been recovered and searches are continuing in the Milford Lane area for any further knives that may have been used .  ' I want to thank everyone who has assisted us with the police investigation so far .  Tanis Bhandari , 27 , was murdered outside the Kings Arms pub on New Year ' s Eve . Relatives have paid tribute to the ' lovely ' man  More than 100 people gathered outside the pub to lay tributes of flowers and cards on Friday morning  Mourners gathered outside the green where the group of men were attacked today to pay their respects  ' Searches and enquiries are continuing in relation to this incident . '  More than 100 mourners gathered outside the pub where Mr Bhandari , a former member of the Royal Navy , was killed to lay tributes .  Flowers and Liverpool  scarves were placed on the small village green where he is believed to have been killed .  Devon and Cornwall Police had been appealing to residents in the sleepy village to check their gardens for a knife used in the attack .  An axe like weapon was recovered shortly after the attack last week .  Friends and colleagues paid tribute to Mr Bhandari on Twitter and Facebook , describing him as an ' amazing friend ' .  Andy Nicholls wrote : ' Gutted to hear that the victim of the unprovoked  attack in Plymouth was a former Navy shipmate .  Tanis "" Bandi "" Bhandari . Sleep well . '  Bouncer Andy Dymond Park said he was working in the pub and saw the attack happen .  He wrote on Facebook : ' Horrendous events to witness last night and absolutely terrifying . My heart goes out to the victims and their friends and family at this sad start to the new year after what was such a good night .  ' Bit shaken up by it all but I ' m fine , feel terrible for everyone involved . It has just hit hard . Could have been anyone involved . '  Forensics officers scoured the rural village over the weekend following the arrests of two men  Police are still appealing for information about the attack which took place in the early hours of Thursday morning  A spokesman for the Kings Arms , where the 27 year old had been celebrating with friends on New Year ' s Eve before his death , said the men were ' lovely ' people .  ' On New Year ' s Eve a terrible attack was made on a lovely group of people on the way home from a great night in our pub .  ' It was an unprovoked violent attack with a tragic consequences . That I feel devastated is an absolute understatement .  ' I wish all the families of those involved my deepest deepest sympathy , not that this will help them in any way now but , I wish I could turn back the clock so that these events would not occur . '  Mourners today paid tribute to the man described as ' kind ' and ' peaceful ' .  One friend , who declined to be named , said : ' He was very peaceful and a very relaxed guy .  ' I would say hello to him every morning when I saw him . He would often care for his younger twin siblings . '  Others shared their grief on Facebook .  ' Can ' t believe it , I grew up in the same village as Tanis , he ' s always been a kind lad , you will truly be missed bud , my thoughts are with his family and may whoever done this get what he deserves , ' said Lee Ryder while Colleen Finn added : ' We ' ve lost our jester , I feel ripped to pieces . '  Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article .  ",true,text,test,American football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
20212,20213,"Reuters) - Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen called on the United States on Friday to withdraw Peace Corps volunteers in an escalating row over accusations that U.S. agents conspired with an opposition leader to plot treason. Hun Sen was responding after the U.S. embassy in Phnom Penh issued a travel warning that urged citizens to show caution amid  anti-American rhetoric by officials .  Are you scaring Cambodians?  Hun Sen said of the United States in an address to garment workers at factories which export much of their production to the United States.  Are you prepared to invade Cambodia and that s why you told Americans to be careful? It s good if you pull out the Peace Corps,  Hun Sen said. The U.S. embassy declined to comment. It has previously dismissed the accusations of collusion with opposition leader Kem Sokha and called for his release. On Friday, the embassy was swearing in 71 new volunteers from the Peace Corps, which sends Americans abroad to help with local projects with the stated goal of promoting mutual understanding. Hun Sen said on Friday that he had ordered an investigation into whether any Americans were involved with Kem Sokha. Opponents of Hun Sen accuse him of arresting Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) leader Kem Sokha and cracking down on independent media and other critics ahead of a general election next year. The evidence presented against Kem Sokha is a video recorded in 2013 in which he discusses a strategy to win power with the help of unspecified Americans. Hun Sen, a close ally of China, has taken a series of measures against U.S. interests this year from ending joint military exercises to expelling a naval aid unit to forcing a U.S.-funded pro-democracy group to leave. On Thursday, Hun Sen said he was suspending cooperation with Washington to find the remains of Americans killed in the Vietnam War. According to the U.S Embassy, more than 500 Peace Corps volunteers have served and worked in Cambodia since 2006, providing English teaching and teacher training as well as community health education.  U.S. President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps in 1961 to promote world peace and friendship. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,satire,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
20236,20237,"The following statements were posted to the verified Twitter accounts of U.S. President Donald Trump, @realDonaldTrump and @POTUS.  The opinions expressed are his own. Reuters has not edited the statements or confirmed their accuracy.  @realDonaldTrump : - Yesterday, I was thrilled to be with so many  friends, in Utah’s  Capitol. It was my honor to sign two Presidential Proclamations that will modify the national monuments designations of both Bears Ears and Grand Staircase Escalante... here [1246 EST] - Join me this Friday in Pensacola, Florida at the Pensacola Bay Center! Tickets: here [1813 EST] -- Source link: (bit.ly/2jBh4LU) (bit.ly/2jpEXYR) ",true,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
20240,20241,"Republican debate without Donald Trump lets rivals delve into immigration policy  Chris Christie , Marco Rubio , Jeb Bush andTed Cruz after the Republican presidential primary debate , Jan . 28 , 2016 , in Des Moines , Iowa . ( Charlie Neibergall  )  Republican debate fact check : Where Donald Trump , Ted Cruz , Marco Rubio got it wrong    , Iowa (  ) For the Republican candidates for president , it was a glimpse of what could have been .  Front runner Donald Trump ' s boycott of the final debate before the Iowa caucuses created space for his rivals to delve more deeply into their differences on immigration , foreign policy and their approach to governing .  And for some candidates former Florida Gov . Jeb Bush in particular Trump ' s absence from the debate stage Thursday night appeared to ease some of the tension created by his sharply personal attacks .  A frequent target of Trump , Bush opened the debate by saying wryly , "" I kind of miss Donald Trump he was a teddy bear to me . ""  Iowa voters kick off the 2016 nominating process with Monday ' s caucuses , and they ' ll provide the first indication of whether Trump ' s abrupt decision to skip the debate will have any impact on his standing atop the  field . His lead in Iowa had already become more tenuous in recent days , as Texas Sen . Ted Cruz pulled in support from conservative and evangelical voters .  Trump ' s decision to pull out of the debate over a feud with host Fox News was a gamble , particularly so close to the state of voting . But having defied political convention throughout his campaign , it was a risk the real estate mogul was willing to take .  He still looked to steal attention away from his rivals with a competing rally elsewhere in Des Moines , an event he said raised 6 million for military veterans .  "" When you ' re treated badly , you have to stick up for your rights , "" Trump said in explaining his boycott . Broadening his point , he said , "" We have to stick up for ourselves as people and we have to stick up for our country if we ' re being mistreated . ""  Trump ' s absence put the spotlight on Cruz , and Florida Sen . Marco Rubio , as well , who needs a strong showing in Iowa in order to stay in the top tier of candidates .  The two senators were confronted with video clips suggesting they had changed their positions on immigration , one of the most contentious issues among Republicans . While each insisted the other had flip flopped , both denied they had switched their own views on allowing some people in the U . S . illegally to stay .  Cruz accused Rubio of making a "" politically advantageous "" decision to support a 2013 Senate bill that included a pathway to citizenship , while the Florida senator said his Texas rival was "" willing to say or do anything to get votes . ""  "" This is the lie that Ted ' s campaign is built on , "" Rubio said . "" That he ' s the most conservative guy . ""  In a rare standout debate moment for Bush , the former Florida governor sharply sided with Cruz in accusing Rubio of having "" cut and run "" on the Senate immigration bill .  "" He cut and run because it wasn ' t popular with conservatives , "" said Bush , who was more consistent in this debate than in previous outings .  Cruz was put on the spot over his opposition to ethanol subsidies that support Iowa ' s powerful corn industry a position that has long been considered politically untenable for presidential candidates in the state . The Texas senator cast his position as an effort to keep the government from picking economic winners and losers .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Economy,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,past
20245,20246,"Reuters) - U.S. Republican vice presidential candidate Mike Pence on Wednesday said he endorsed U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan, who is seeking re-election in a primary contest next week. Pence made the comments in an interview on Fox News, one day after Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump declined to endorse Ryan in the Wisconsin race. ",true,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
20247,20248,"The long anticipated Apple smartwatch became a reality this week when the tech giant unveiled its entry into the growing wearable tech field .  The Apple Watch , which comes in three styles and two sizes with multiple options for colors and wristbands , was expected to energize a market that ' s been slow to catch on as smartwatches from competitors such as Samsung , Sony ,  and Pebble rolled out over the past two years .  More than just a tiny smartphone , the Apple Watch , which hits the market early next year , packs a ton of watch specific features . It has a "" crown "" knob to control scrolling and zoom without having to touch the screen , silent pulse notifications , a slate of health and fitness apps and compatibility with Apple ' s new Apple Pay app , which lets users scan and pay card free at participating stores .  But there are also questions .  The company is still mum on many of the device ' s specifications , including memory , screen resolution and most crucially battery life . The exact differences between the low , middle and high end watches are also still blurry .  The watch must be tethered to an iPhone some observers had hoped for a standalone device and its 350 price tag is more than many were expecting .  So did the company do enough to make Apple Watch a breakthrough device that will shake up the gadget market the way its iPod , iPhone and iPad did ? Many analysts said they think so .  "" The Apple Watch defines the category in ways that other competitors will now have to work furiously to catch up to , "" said James McQuivey , a tech analyst at Forrester Research . "" In classic Apple style , the company has introduced a new interface the digital crown along with a tap and touch capable surface that will make Apple ' s watch experience significantly easier to use than anybody else ' s . ""  While many competitors have released a single smartwatch , sometimes in designs that have been panned for being bulky and unfashionable , Apple ' s trademark attention to design could make a difference , said Carolina Milanesi , chief researcher at Kantar Worldpanel ComTech .  That ' s true , she said , even if the features Apple showcased won ' t come close to making a smartphone unnecessary .  "" I do think smartwatches are still a nice to have versus a must have more a convenience than a necessity , which is why appealing more from a style perspective might win more users in the short term , "" she said .  Whether that pushes competitors in the same direction remains to be seen .  "" Longer term I think we need to wait and see , "" Milanesi said . "" I am not sure we are totally clear as to what the true role of these wearable devices really is , especially as the Internet of Things materializes . ""  Forrester Research ' s J . P . Gownder said he ' s convinced that Apple Watch will push smartwatches into the mainstream in a way that devices running Google ' s Android Wear haven ' t managed .  "" Apple will legitimize and create the mass market wearables category , "" he said .  McQuivey said he doesn ' t expect the Apple Watch to catch on with consumers as quickly as the iPad , which first introduced most people to the concept of a tablet computer .  He noted how Apple  Tim Cook repeatedly referred to the device as a "" personal "" device and said that could be the key to wide appeal .  From design to health monitoring to the Apple Pay feature , the watch could become a seamless piece of people ' s day to day lives , not a mere novelty , he said .  "" As a longtime Pebble watch wearer , I can attest to the number of ways a watch , because of its glanceability and its one touch efficiency , helps you get things done more quickly than before , causing you to do them even more , "" he said .  But what about the people who just don ' t wear watches , or those who have found , in a smartphone , a suitable replacement ?  Milanesi said there ' s a chance that even those consumers will come on board . After all , who thought they wanted a tablet computer before Apple showcased the iPad ?  "" There are users that never wore a watch who happily spent money on a fitness band , so I do not see why not , "" Milanesi said . "" Is it for everyone ? No , of course not . But there is a market out there , especially of Apple users who see the benefits of having multiple Apple devices working together . ""  Apple Watch : Start of a wearable revolution ?  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
20248,20249,"All of the tracking polls keep holding at Trump being ahead,  he continued.  And then all of these other polls that are one-off polls, or whatever   I don t know how they re doing some of these university polls. You just put the name of some university and apparently it becomes credible, whether they know what they re doing, or not.Caddell was pointing out the discrepancy between the different types of polls.  But in any event, polling is all over the place . Something isn t adding up,  said Caddell. Something is going to happen here, I just sense it,  he concluded. Either  Hillary will glide into the White House, or we re headed for one of the greatest shocks in American politics. I think it s a very close call. I think the shock potential is enormous. Read more: Breitbart",fake,dataset,test,Other sport,Economy,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
20261,20262,"The Catholic Church has once again been nominated for the Doublethink Award , given annually to the person or organization that most ingeniously epitomizes the Orwellian concept of ' doublethink ' .  For those who have never read George Orwell ' s 1984 , and for those who have not read it since well , 1984 doublethink is the ability ' to be conscious of complete truthfulness while telling carefully constructed lies , to hold simultaneously two opinions which cancel out , knowing them to be contradictory and believing in both of them . '  "" The Catholic Church this week has accomplished all of this and more , "" said Christopher Krosside , Executive Director of the Benevolent League of International Nurturers of Doublethink , in announcing the nomination .  Krosside was referring to a statement by the Catholic bishops ' conference which said that a health insurance mandate allowing women to decide for themselves whether or not to use contraception , based upon the dictates of their own personal consciences , was "" an unprecedented threat to religious freedom . ""  The bishops ' statement was in response to a mandate by the Department of Health and Human Services that requires all health insurers to cover  approved contraception methods without a co pay . The mandate does not require any person to use any form of contraception . It only increases the access women have to such services , which , of course , diminishes the ability of financially powerful individuals and organizations such as the Catholic Church to inhibit their use .  "" The true gauge of the ingenuity of any application of doublethink is the response it generates , "" Krosside said in making the announcement for  . "" In this case , the depth of self deception and confusion generated by the statement has been remarkable . ""  The impact of the bishops ' statement was immediately felt in the United States presidential campaign , where Suzie of   instantly programmed a doublethink response into Republican frontrunner Mitt Romney . Romney , who as governor of Massachusetts made no effort to repeal a similar state law , said "" this kind of assault on religion will end if I ' m president of the United States . ""  Another candidate for the Republican presidential nomination , Newt Gingrich , who is Catholic and whose three marriages to progressively younger women have produced a total to two children , called the effort to allow women to exercise their individual freedom of religion "" the Obama administration ' s attack on the Catholic Church . ""  "" To be fair , "" Krosside said , "" while it appears Gingrich made consistent use of contraception during the course of his several marriages , it is possible that he held himself to a more consistent moral standard during his countless extra marital affairs . We don ' t know how many illegitimate little Newts there might be running around . ""  For his part , Gingrich denied ever having used any form of contraception , saying , "" My wives gave me the cold shoulder for years at a time because I never put the toilet seat down . ""  Fellow candidate and Catholic Rick Santorum , who once consented to an abortion when his wife ' s life was in danger , indicated the administration was trying to "" use their power to force people "" to violate their beliefs . He neglected to say how making a service available forced anyone to do anything .  "" But it ' s not unusual for candidates on the campaign trail to engage in doublethink to attack their opponents and tell their supporters what they want to hear , "" Krosside said . "" The truly astonishing thing has been the utter inability of their opponents to see through the doublethink and respond in any logical manner . President Obama soon spoke of compromise . Bastions of normally intelligent discourse were flummoxed . The brilliant Tom Ashbrook , for example , on Friday led his weekly news round table in a half hour discussion of the issue on  , and not one of the panel members mentioned that the Catholic Church might be even just a little , perhaps attempting to force their religious views on the people who depend on their health care . ""  Krosside emphasized that  takes no stand on the issue of birth control . They only hold a deep and abiding admiration for any individual or organization that ingeniously applies the art of doublethink .  "" We are all big fans of the Catholic Church , "" Krosside said . "" After all , long before Orwell coined the term ' doublethink , ' the Catholic Church , whose morality is based upon the Ten Commandments , one of which is ' thou shalt not kill , ' coined the term ' holy wars . ' ""  Now , Krosside said , after using its financial position to insert itself into the health care industry , the Catholic Church is claiming that their own religious freedom is undermined unless they are permitted to force their views on those who depend on their services .  "" The coup d ' tat , "" Krosside said , "" was the way the bishops advanced their agenda when they saw the effectiveness of the doublethink offensive . They immediately started talking about the right of Catholic business owners to force their religious beliefs upon their employees . Imagine that ! A doublethink application , based upon the concept of freedom of religion , which might one day allow the Catholic Church , through wealthy Catholic business owners , to define the morality of countless employees , Catholic and non Catholic alike . The same Catholic Church that for decades systematically allowed their priests to sexually abuse children entrusted to their care . Yes , that Catholic Church !  "" It ' s true , "" Krosside continued , "" that the Catholic Church won the Doublethink Award in 1996 for their support of the Defense of Marriage Act , a law that did nothing to address issues such as divorce or adultery among heterosexuals but actually denied federal benefits to married couples who were gay . "" He shook his head in admiration . "" But this might be their best application of doublethink since Father Pedo Murphy convinced little Timmy Christianson that his parents were shameless sinners doomed to hell for utilizing condoms , while simultaneously showing the wide eyed boy his ' wong wong . '  ",satire,text,test,American football,US elections,true,satire,True,no,no,neutral,present
20266,20267,"An American college student who went missing while studying abroad in Rome was killed by a train .  Bates College junior John Durkin , 21 , was last seen by friends at about 2 . 30am on Thursday , at a bar called Sloppy Sam ' s .  Family members had flown from Rye , in New Hampshire , to Italy to help with the search , but his body was spotted in a tunnel by a passenger on a train on Thursday .  Gone too soon : John Durkin died at only 21 years old while studying abroad in Rome  Missing : John Durkin was last seen at Sloppy Sam ' s , a bar in Rome ' s Camp de Fiore neighborhood  Durkin ' s body was removed from the tunnel , which runs under a large park between the Vatican and Trastevere neighborhood in Rome , by Italian authorities ,  News reported .  Italian railway authorities confirmed on Saturday that he had been been killed by a train .  A statement from his university president , Clayton Spencer , said : ' This is a time of deep sadness for our community and for so many people who knew and loved John .  ' We are profoundly sad and share the tremendous grief of his family . '  Bates head football coach Mark Harriman added : ' John ' s commitment to excellence in all phases of his life was inspirational to the other members of the squad and a major factor in the team ' s success over the past three years .  ' We will remember the fortitude and character that John displayed on a daily basis and attempt to emulate those standards . '  Durkin had been in Rome for just over a month while studying abroad for the spring semester , and was last seen with friends at the bar in Rome ' s Camp de Fiore neighborhood .  He had stayed behind after they went home , according to  . Witnesses said the college football player left not long after , but he never made it back to his dorm room , according to a family friend who spoke to the station .  ' They were out at a bar called Sloppy Sam ' s which is in sort of a collegiate area , ' Spence Lockhart said . ' He stayed on a little bit later . They had gone back to their dormitories and he stayed on and that ' s the last time they saw him . '  Loss : The university John Durkin was a student at paid tribute to the promising young man  Tragic : Family members flew to Rome to help search for John but his body was discovered in a tunnel  He had since virtually disappeared off the grid , and now his family knows why .  ' There ' s no cell phone . There ' s no activity . There ' s no activity on his credit cards , nothing that would indicate he ' s traveling outside the area , ' Lockhart added . ' That ' s why we ' re so concerned . '  Joining Lockhart and the Durkin family in that concern were Italian authorities , the  Embassy in Rome and even the  , all of whom were working together to find the missing economics major .  Lockhart shared his optimism Durkin would be found alive less than 24 hours before authorities made the sobering find .  ' I can ' t think of a nicer young man , Lockhart told  . ' This is something that is very scary , but we certainly feel like we are going to bring him home safe . '  Officials still have yet to flesh out the exact details surrounding Durkin ' s disappearance .  The study abroad program was administered through Trinity College , in Hartford , Connecticut .  Popular : The bar where Durkin was last seen is in a college area often frequented by American students  A Bates statement said the two schools are working with both Italian and American officials .  ' This situation is deeply distressing for John ' s family , his fellow students and the entire Bates community , ' the college said . ' We are working actively with Trinity College to monitor events as they evolve , and we will share information as it becomes available . '  The family had set up a Twitter account to help in the search , it already has nearly 1 , 100 followers .  A MailOnline request left with family for further comment has not yet been returned .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
20277,20278,"The teenage daughter of one of Australia ' s richest men is challenging her father ' s will in court after claiming she is entitled to a 2 . 5 million house , a 100 , 000 wedding , a diamond encrusted grand piano and two cars .  Olivia Jacqueline Mead , 19 , claims that a 3 million trust fund left to her when her iron ore magnate father Michael Wright died in 2012 is inadequate , The Australian reports .  Mr Wright was estimated to be worth 1 . 5 billion when he died and was the son of Peter Wright , who co founded Hancock Prospecting and Wright Prospecting with Lang Hancock Gina Rinehart ' s father .  Olivia Jacqueline Mead , 19 , claims that a 3 million trust fund left to her when her iron ore magnate father Michael Wright ( pictured ) died in 2012 is inadequate  The late mining heir was married four times and fathered three children , two of whom are involved in the Western Australia family business .  Ms Mead is now suing her father ' s other two children Leonie Baldock and Alexandra Burt and the executor of her father ' s will , David Lemon .  In a summons filed in December 2012 , Ms Mead claims to have been left without adequate funds for her proper maintenance , support , education and advancement in life from her father ' s estate .  The matter was heard in the Supreme Court of Western Australia on Monday .  The 19 year old claims she will need a home five times the Perth median price ( 2 . 5 million ) , 10 , 000 each year for fashion accessories including Tiffany and Co sunglasses and 100 , 000 for a wedding when she ties the knot .  Her list of claims also included an Audi A4 and a Toyota Tarago for when she has children , as well as a diamond encrusted bass guitar worth 250 , 000 and a limited edition Kuhn Bosendorfer grand piano .  Ms Mead is now suing her father ' s other two children Leonie Baldock and Alexandra Burt and the executor of her father ' s will , David Lemon . The matter was heard in the Supreme Court of Western Australia on Monday  Ms Mead claimed in court she will need 300 a week for utilities , 800 a week for food and alcohol , 150 a week for fine wine and 300 a week for clothing .  The university student , who appeared in court on Monday , said her relationship with her father was ' sporadic ' .  The defendants in the matter are executor David Lemon , Leonie Angela Maynard Baldock , Alexandra Odette Burt and  Group Ltd .  Ms Baldock , who is also Mr Wright ' s daughter , took over the reins at Wright Prospecting shortly after he died when she was aged 40 .  The  Group is related to the Voyager Estate winery in Margaret River bought by Mr Wright who was reportedly not a drinker in 1991 .  The matter continues in the  Supreme Court .  Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
20281,20282,"A disturbing new website CrowdHitweblink is online and it ' s been called the Uber for contract killers . CrowdHit lets people post and crowdfund a contract to have someone killed , then professional or other killers for hire can browse the website and pick the jobs they want .   investigators learned of the site when an informant told them about a CrowdHit out on former Federal Prosecutor Richard Spalding . Spalding is no stranger to death threats and agreed to have his name made public in the effort to fight and dismantle CrowdHit .  Other law enforcement and political figures whose names we ' ve declined to print were warned by the  about their appearance on the website . Our crack team of investigators went through the site and found over Two Hundred CrowdHits out on political figures just in the  . Some hits had already taken in tens of thousands of dollars and the contractors had already accepted the jobs . Other CrowdHits had not collected much money at all , like the one out on a popular comedian in Las Vegas , which has only collected a few hundred dollars , and seemed to have little chance of being picked up anytime soon . A few hits , especially on unpopular political figures , continued to rake in donations even after the contract had been accepted , but not yet completed .  Boris Nemtsov who was assassinated last year in Moscow just yards from the Kremlin , was rumored to have been killed by an assassin hired on KillVox , which was the earliest version of what has morphed into the more socially integrated CrowdHit .  Interpol investigator , Brian Kriegen , says not much can be done with a site that originated in China and is now hosted on Russian servers where a Wild West atmosphere protects the web hosting companies and creators . Still the  and Interpol investigators are vowing to track down the owners of the site . "" We can make sure that if they are ever in the  or a country where we have extradition partners , they have a better than even chance of being captured and prosecuted , "" Kriegen said .  The site has been up for six months now and investigators don ' t know exactly how many hits have actually been carried out , since contracts are deleted once they are completed and payment is made . Most of the contracts have been in Asia , but the service has become hugely popular in Europe and the  .  Congress is demanding to have their own investigation to determine if and why the  delayed notifying members of Congress and The Senate who had been targeted on CrowdHit .  ",satire,text,test,Other sport,Conflict,true,satire,True,no,no,neutral,past
20326,20327,"London His fur is worn in places , his nose is rather threadbare and he ' s a little saggy round the middle .  But staff at Bristol Airport in the west of England believe the elderly teddy bear left in the departure lounge more than a year ago , along with a photograph dated 1918 , must have a loving family somewhere .  The picture , produced as a postcard from the studio of Dura Ltd . , shows a teddy with two small children in light dresses . The older one , her hair tied in ribbons , has her arm around the bear .  On the back is written : "" With dearest love and kisses to our darling Daddie from your loving little daughter Sonnie . Dora Glyn . ""  Also written is : "" Taken on baby ' s birthday March 4 1918 , one year and 5 months old . ""  Airport staff were initially hopeful that the bear would be reclaimed , but so far no one has come forward .  Efforts by airport staff and police to trace its owners have also proved fruitless so now the airport is hoping the general public can lend a hand in solving the mystery .  "" It is obvious the bear has been well loved for many years , "" said Jacqui Mills , a spokeswoman for Bristol Airport . "" During the last 14 months we had been hopeful that the search would result in him being reunited to his family . We have not been successful in this search and have drawn a blank . ""  Since the case was publicized , history and teddy bear experts from as far afield as the United States and Canada have been in touch via e mail to offer help in finding information , she said .  Some antique experts believe the teddy is a British made Farnell Bear from the early 1900s . Others believe it could be either French or German .  Anyone with information that might help find the bear ' s owners should contact : yourairport bristolairportweblink .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
20331,20332,"U . S . Rep . Gabrielle Giffords is recovering "" really , really well "" from surgery that implanted a synthetic bone and a shunt in her skull , her doctors said Thursday .  The Arizona Democrat told her neurosurgeon that she was extremely excited to have crossed a key milestone in her recovery , which her doctors called "" almost miraculous "" considering she was shot point blank in the head in January .  "" The shunt is in good position , the implant is in good position and everything looks great , "" said Dr Dong Kim , who performed the 3 1 2 hour surgery to replace the part of her skull bone that was shattered and contaminated .  "" She looks great , "" he said . "" I started calling her ' Gorgeous Gaby ' today . ""  The shunt is expected to help Giffords improve but , Kim said , it was impossible to predict exactly how much progress she was going to make .  The Arizona Democrat was shot outside a Tucson , Arizona , supermarket where she was meeting with constituents in January . Six people including a federal judge were killed and 13 others were wounded in the attack .  Jared Lee Loughner stands accused in the shooting .  Surgeons in Arizona had cut a hole in Giffords ' skull to give her brain space to temporarily swell . The congresswoman was later transported to Houston for further treatment and rehabilitation .  Her skull could be repaired only after the swelling had subsided . Kim implanted a piece of synthetic bone specially made for the congresswoman .  "" It really is a significant step . More than just getting the bone back , it is a marker for where we are "" in Giffords ' recovery , Kim said .  Like many other patients with gunshot wounds to the head , Giffords has hydrocephalus , or a build up of fluid in the brain .  Kim said an internal drain , called a shunt , was inserted into Giffords ' cranial cavity to carry excess fluids from the brain to the abdominal cavity . Giffords will have to wear the shunt forever .  Dr Girard Francisco , who is in charge of Giffords ' rehabilitation , said that the congresswoman will undergo bedside rehab for at least the next two days before returning to the in patient program at the  Memorial Hermann Rehabilitation Center in Houston .  Giffords ' husband , Mark Kelly , the commander of the space shuttle Endeavor , has been getting updates from conversations with family .  "" Everything went as planned , "" he told  Thursday from the International Space Station . "" Her neurosurgeons are very happy and she ' s recuperating and she ' s actually getting back to therapy today so it went really , really well . ""  Monday , Giffords watched and cheered as the Endeavour took off on its final voyage from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida .  ",true,text,test,American football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
20345,20346,"A former volunteer firefighter already charged with arson faces new allegations that he lured children with toys , money and pornography and sexually assaulted them .  Twenty year old John Corcoran  of Glenolden , Pennsylvania , molested more than a dozen children over two years .  The attacks took place at his home , as well as in the showers of a  locker room , and on bonfires outside a local historical site , the Lower Swedish Cabin in Drexel Hill , Pennsylvania , authorities said .  Corcoran ( pictured center ) is now charged with luring and raping 14 children aged between eight and 14 over a two year period , including while he was out on bail for earlier arson charges  "" ( He ) lured these vulnerable children under the guise of his friendship and then exploited them with the promise of gifts only to then sexually exploit and abuse them , "" Delaware County District Attorney Jack Whelan said .  Corcoran has been in jail since August on the arson charges , in which he ' s accused of torching three abandoned buildings before arriving on the scene to help fight them .  The new allegations surfaced after a mother found her child in possession of pornography .  Her child said it came from Corcoran and accused him of sexual abuse .  The investigation led to 13 other children , aged eight to 14 , who said they were also abused .  Prosecutors said the grooming and sexual assaults happened over the last two years , some occurred even while he was out on bail for the arson charges  10 Philadelphia reports .  Corcoran ( pictured left ) sexually abused 14 children at his home , as well as in a  locker room , and near the Lower Swedish Cabin historic site ( pictured right ) by luring them with gifts and pornography  District Attorney Jack Whelan said one of Corcoran ' s victims including a girl with mental disabilities who he filmed .  Corcoran was arraigned Friday on 161 new charges , including felony rape of a child , according to the Delaware Country District Attorney ' s office .  It was unclear if he entered a plea .  Michael Ranck , president of the Community  of Eastern Delaware County , said Corcoran was a member of the Ridley facility but did not work there .  He said his staff was cooperating in the investigation and voiced concern for the victims ' well being .  Corcoran had volunteered with Glenolden ' s Goodwill Fire Department . The arson case , one of 78 charges , is set for trial next month .  He could not be reached for comment on Friday , and a defense lawyer did not immediately return calls seeking comment .  Corcoran first came to the attention of authorities after a suspicious fire back in July at an address across the street from the volunteer firehouse .  Glenolden ' s Goodwill Fire Department where Corcoran was a vounteer when he helped a 17 year old set fire to three vacant homes before helping put out the fires shortly afterwards  He allegedly admitted to helping a 17 year old Tinicum Township boy set fire to the vacant home in Delmar Drive on July 20 .  He also allegedly admitted to helping the teen light two other homes on fire in the Briarcliff section of Darby Township .  In his role as a volunteer firefighter , Corcoran responded to both of those fires and helped put them out .  Corcoran was arraigned Friday on 161 new charges , including felony rape of a child , according to the Delaware Country District Attorney ' s office  Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
20347,20348,"U . S . To Ramp Up Air Strikes And Ground Raids On   Carter ' s outline of the new U . S . approach came under attack by Republicans on the committee .   (  ) Defense Secretary Ash Carter said Tuesday that the U . S . plans to step up its attacks against Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria , possibly escalating American action on the ground .  "" We won ' t hold back from supporting capable partners in opportunistic attacks against  , or conducting such missions directly whether by strikes from the air or direct action on the ground , "" Carter told the Senate Armed Services Committee , using an acronym for the militant group that holds large parts of Iraq and Syria .  The U . S . has done some special operations raids in Syria . Carter did not say under what circumstances the U . S . might act on the ground on its own , but said "" once we locate them , no target is beyond our reach . ""  Carter ' s testimony described a changing approach to the fight against the Islamic State , focusing largely on Raqqa , the militants ' declared capital in Syria , and Ramadi , the capital of Anbar province in western Iraq . It reflected an acknowledgment of little recent progress in defeating the militant group .  Carter said the U . S . would intensify the air campaign against the Islamic State with additional U . S . and coalition aircraft and heavier airstrikes . His testimony came as Russia is conducting its own airstrikes in Syria , saying it aims to help the Syrian government defeat the Islamic State and other terrorists .  While both the U . S . and Russia oppose the Islamic State , Russia is supporting Syrian President Bashar Assad , whom the U . S . wants out of power . Some Republican lawmakers complained that the Obama administration isn ' t doing enough against Assad .  Carter said the U . S . led effort will include more strikes against the Islamic State ' s "" high value targets as our intelligence improves , and also its oil enterprise , which is a critical pillar of  ' s financial infrastructure . ""  Carter said to keep up the pressure on Raqqa , the U . S . will support moderate Syrian forces , who have made territorial gains against the Islamic State near that city . "" Some of them are within 30 miles of Raqqa today , "" he said .  He said the U . S . also hopes to better equip Arab forces battling the Islamic State and to further bolster Jordan , a neighbor of Iraq and Syria which is flying missions as part of the anti  coalition .  Carter said he was disappointed that the U . S . effort to form new moderate Syrian rebel forces to fight  had failed . He said the new approach is to work with vetted leaders of groups that are already fighting the militants and also give them equipment and training and help support them with U . S . air power .  "" If done in concert as we intend , all these actions on the ground and from the air should help shrink  territory into a smaller and smaller area and create new opportunities for targeting  ultimately denying this evil movement any safe haven in its supposed heartland , "" Carter said .  The new strategy also includes helping the Iraqi government ' s effort to assemble Iraqi forces , including Sunni fighters , to fight Islamic State militants in Anbar province . Carter said that as the U . S . sees more progress in assembling motivated Iraqi forces , it will be willing to continue providing more equipment and fire support to help them succeed .  "" However , the Iraqi government and security forces will have to take certain steps militarily to make sure progress sticks , "" he said .  Carter ' s outline of the new U . S . approach came under attack by Republicans on the committee .  Republican Sen . Lindsey Graham of South Carolina pressed both Carter and Marine Gen . Joseph Dunford Jr . , chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff , on whether the U . S . has a military strategy to take out the Syrian president . Graham noted that Russian , Iranian and the Hezbollah militant group all are supporting Assad . Carter and Dunford both repeatedly said that the U . S . was supporting moderate forces in Syria in the fight against the Islamic State , but not those fighting against Assad .  Carter said the U . S . approach to removing Assad has been mostly a political effort .  Dunford said , "" I think the balance of forces right now are in Assad ' s advantage . ""  Graham seized on their replies , saying Assad is "" secure as the day is long . ""  "" If I ' m Assad this is a good day for me because the American government has just said , without saying it , that they are not going to fight to replace me , "" Graham said .  "" You have turned Syria over to Russia and Iran . . . . This is a sad day for America and the region will pay hell for this , "" he said . "" The Arabs are not going to accept this . The people of Syria are not going to accept this . ""  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
20352,20353,"If you ' re looking to unload your current iPhone or other smartphone , now ' s the time . Beating the potentially millions of folks who will be buying a new iPhone and selling their old one could put more money in your pocket .  With Apple virtually certain to announce a release date for the next generation iPhone next week , lots of current iPhone owners ( always an excitable bunch ) are no doubt counting down the minutes and wondering what to do with their current phones .  While some retailers offer discounts for a trade in ( Radio Shack was offering 100 for some previous models when the iPhone 4 was released ) , Apple stores and their designated carriers generally don ' t give back as much cash , or credit , as an owner might earn outside the store .  But a growing online resell market has emerged to give folks another option .  Between now and Monday , the day before Apple has scheduled an iPhone related event , one of those sites , Nextworth , is offering 250 for 16GB and 32GB iPhone 4s that are in good shape .  The company , which also has trade in programs at some retail stores , bills itself as a way to get value out of your aging electronics while keeping the products out of landfills , where they can cause environmental problems .  The services wipe all data from your phone as soon as they get it , they say .  Nextworth , and others like them , refurbish used electronics and resell them . In the case of items like the iPhone , they sell them in countries where the items are typically unavailable , presumably bringing a healthier price .  Gazelleweblink is offering 250 for a 32GB iPhone 4 in "" flawless "" condition and 169 for one in good condition . Got a busted model ? It ' ll give you 85 for one even if it won ' t turn on or is physically damaged .  Of course , there are always the direct sale sites like eBay and Craigslist .  You might earn more in exchange for the hassle of posting , selling and delivering the phone yourself . Folks were selling 32GB iPhone 4s on eBay on Friday for prices ranging from 245 to 634 . In Atlanta , people had listed 32GB iPhone 4s for prices ranging from 290 to 450 .  ( We ' re using prices on that model because it ' s the top of the line . Older phones , like the 3GS , and 16GB and 8GB models obviously have a market as well , generally at lower prices ) .  Of course , the low effort way to deal with a phone upgrade is to buy the new one at full price and just hold on to your current model . Even retired , your current phone can be a music player or Internet surfing device when you have a Wi Fi connection .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Economy,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,present
20356,20357,"An 11 year old Ohio boy is helping ease his family ' s financial burdens , one toy at a time .  Zach McGuire wants to do his part while his family goes through hard times , so he ' s selling his toys .  Zach McGuire is selling his toys to raise money for his family , which like others across the country , has bills piling up and a home in jeopardy .  The youth said the idea came up during a conversation with his father .  Zach plans to use the proceeds for a good cause : helping his unemployed father .  Tom McGuire , a licensed contractor in Toledo , Ohio , has not had a job since December . The economy is partly to blame , he said , adding that he did a job last summer and never got paid .  As the general contractor on the job , he said , he was financially liable for materials and the work of two subcontractors . "" I ' m out 30 , 000 , "" McGuire said .  The father said he is looking for work and is not relying on money from his son ' s toy sales . But he appreciates his effort .  "" Zach has a big , giving heart , "" McGuire said . "" He came to me with this idea . He wants to contribute . "" Watch how Zach McGuire is helping his family  It ' s not the first time Zach has helped those in need . In 2005 , he sold Kool Aid for victims of Hurricane Katrina and raised 400 . A few years later , it was "" Cocoa for California , "" which he sold to help wildfire victims .  "" I am very proud of him , "" McGuire told  . "" He is an 11 year old boy not living the life of an 11 year old . ""  Zach said everyone can do something .  "" Even though they don ' t feel like they could do anything , they could do a Kool Aid stand , like me , "" he said . "" It ' s what you ' re doing that matters and how you ' re helping people . ""  ",true,text,test,Football,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
20360,20361,"The Quadrantid meteor shower is due overnight in the U . S . and forecasters expect night owls could be treated to a spectacular display in the hours just before dawn , weather permitting .  The waxing moon will stop sky watchers seeing too much until the hours after 3am local time in the East but from then until dawn , meteors should be visible . Skywatchers on the West coast might be able to catch a less intense shower , again just before dawn .  Quadrantid Meteor Shower pictured over Bow Valley , Banff National Park , Alberta , Canada in 2009 : Although the shower is often spectacular , it ' s very brief and many often miss the shower of up to 200 meteors per hour , which can be visible to the naked eye  The Quadrantid shower is one of the  year ' s most spectacular , but also the shower that most astronomers miss  it ' s very brief and intense .  Skywatchers on the East coast can expect to see between 50 and 100 meteors per hour .  On the West , the shower will have begun to dwindle by the time the moon sets , so the rate of meteors will have slowed to between 25 and 50 .  Nasa says , ' Peaking in the wee morning hours , the Quadrantids have a maximum rate of about 100 per hour , varying between 60 200 . '  ' The waxing gibbous moon will set around 3 a . m . local time , leaving about two hours of excellent meteor observing before dawn . It ' s a good thing , too , because unlike the more famous Perseid and Geminid meteor showers , the Quadrantids only last a few hours it ' s the morning of January 4th , or nothing . ' Like the Geminids , the Quadrantids originate from an asteroid , called 2003 EH1 .  Dynamical studies suggest that this body could very well be a piece of a comet which broke apart several centuries ago , and that the meteors you will see before dawn are the debris from this fragmentation .  After hundreds of years orbiting the sun , they will enter our atmosphere at 90 , 000 mph , burning up 50 miles above Earth ' s surface .  ",true,text,test,American football,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
20361,20362,"Reuters) - Egypt s military has begun conducting air strikes around the area of North Sinai where a deadly mosque attack that killed more than 230 occurred on Friday, security sources and eyewitnesses said. The strikes have been concentrated in several mountainous areas surrounding Al Rawdah mosque where militants are believed to be hiding out, the security sources said. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
20362,20363,"For like the eleventy-billionth time, Sarah Palin posted a broken link to a Facebook post on Twitter Sunday. Now, at first glance her months of posting dead links and not figuring out how to fix the problem might seem moderately stupid   until you see the content of the actual post on the half-term, half-wit former Governor of Alaska s Facebook timeline.Referencing Clinton s recent, mundane campaign stop at a bar, Palin   who regularly appears to be heavily intoxicated whenever she has a camera in front of her and was involved in a drunken hillbilly brawl in 2014   quipped,  she s gonna drive us all to drink. Thinking she is clever, she then adds that Clinton should have been  thinking Sam Adams  rather than  drinking Sam Adams. Naturally, as Palin brought up drinking, the internet decided it couldn t let this one go:@SarahPalinUSA I see you've already started  Clodagh Smith (@Clodagh831) October 30, 2016@SarahPalinUSA Any excuse to drink, eh Sarah? #Lush  John Yuma (@JohnYuma) October 30, 2016@SarahPalinUSA Have you been day drinking again?  Mr. Wolfcastle (@tew156) October 30, 2016@SarahPalinUSA oh Sarah, remember when you mattered?Me neither. Open another Box O' Wine.  jmsullivan (@Jfordhamusn) October 30, 2016@SarahPalinUSA have you been sober during your speaking engagements? I always thought you were drunk as a skunk.  Jeff Bender (@JeffBikeBender) October 30, 2016@SarahPalinUSAYour kid keeps shacking up with different dudes and Hillary's driving you to drink?  Hot Takes (@HotTakes1) October 30, 2016@SarahPalinUSA From what I've seen, You've been drinking non stop for YEARS!  Steve Derebey (@SDerebey) October 30, 2016Yes, as was heavily pointed out, we have been enjoying Palin s drunken rants for years. Unfortunately for her, she is so irrelevant that mockery is all she has warranted since she helped John McCain lose in 2008.You can enjoy one of her best drunken ravings below:Classic: Visibly Drunk Sarah Palin Fumbles Response to Elizabeth WarrenFeatured image via Getty Images (Darren Hauck)/screengrab",fake,dataset,test,US elections,Sports/Other,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
20372,20373,"Washington The Libyan government on Saturday defended its brief detention of four U . S . military personnel in western Libya , saying they were taken into custody after two vehicles in an American convoy sped off from a checkpoint .  When the three vehicle convoy was stopped Friday near al Aijalat , officials discovered that one of the vehicles carried two Americans who were armed , said Abdulfattah Saleh , director of national security in the department of Sabratha , about 50 miles west of Tripoli .  As the two were being questioned , the other cars in the convoy drove off , Saleh said . One of the vehicles that drove off caused an accident , he said .  The two who were being questioned as well as two occupants of the vehicle involved in the accident were detained and handed over to the Interior Ministry , Saleh said .  The four were detained for hours Friday before being released , U . S . officials said .  Earlier Saturday , State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said U . S . officials were "" still trying to ascertain the facts of the incident . ""  The detentions followed the U . S . announcement last month that it was stepping up military support for Libya ' s fledgling security forces , which have been overwhelmed by militia violence and unrest since the overthrow of dictator Moammar Gadhafi in 2011 .  Popular sentiment against the various militias has been mounting for months in Tripoli and other parts of the country , including the eastern city of Benghazi , where increasing violence has included assassinations .  On September 11 , 2012 , U . S . Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans were killed in an attack on the U . S . diplomatic mission in Benghazi .  The United States has offered a reward of up to 10 million for information leading to the arrest of anyone involved in that attack . While U . S . authorities have filed charges in the case , no one has been arrested .  The detention of the four personnel followed reports of a U . S . military operation in October that saw members of the Army ' s elite Delta Force launch a raid in Tripoli that captured Abu Anas al Libi , an alleged al Qaeda operative wanted for his role in the deadly 1998 bombings of two U . S . embassies in Africa .  Libya ' s interim government called his capture a kidnapping and demanded an explanation from Washington .  "" We value our relationship with the new Libya , "" Psaki said . "" We have a strategic partnership based on shared interests and our strong support for Libya ' s historic democratic transition . ""  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
20374,20375,"With blood spattered over his injured face , this is Ronnie Lee on his way to hospital minutes after being glassed in an unprovoked attack by a woman .  Lucky not to lose an eye , the 24 year old telesales company director needed four stitches following the assault .  But despite his injuries , his assailant , estate agent Yasmin Thomas , 21 , walked free from court this week with a suspended sentence despite notching up her 18th conviction for assault .  Innocent victim : Ronnie Lee , pictured left in an ambulance after the attack , says he is disgusted with the justice system after his attacker Yasmin Thomas , right , was given a suspended sentence for the attack  Yesterday Mr Lee said he was disgusted at the leniency of the sentence , which includes an anger management course .  He said : ' If it was the other way around and I did that to her , I would be going straight to jail .  ' What happens next time if she does something and it ' s life threatening ? She could end up killing someone .  ' She ' s got 18 convictions already . She ' s a danger to herself and others around her .  ' If someone had the number of convictions she ' s got I would think for at least one of them there would be a lesson learnt . I don ' t think the justice system has provided a judgment that will set an example . '  Mr Lee was with his friend Richard Evans at the Bar So nightclub in Bournemouth in February when they were approached by Thomas and her friends .  ' Richard and I went out for a drink to celebrate setting up our new business together , ' Mr Lee said yesterday .  ' We had been at Bar So for about an hour . We stepped on the dance floor and the lady in question , Yasmin , was there .  ' I didn ' t know her at all . One of her friends stole Richard ' s e cigarette and threw it on the floor .  Leniant : Thomas , who has 17 previous convictions for assualt , arrives at Bournemouth Crown Court this week to hear her sentence  ' Yasmin picked it up and tapped me on the shoulder and gave it to me . I was surprised and handed it back to Richard .  ' She then said ' ' Aren ' t you gonna say thank you then ? ' ' I was confused and didn ' t say anything . She threw a drink on my face first and then smashed the glass on my left eye socket . '  Mr Lee suffered a deep cut close to the eye and other smaller cuts to his face .  He said : ' It was only ten minutes from being on the dance floor to being in the ambulance . A nurse pulled glass out of my cheek and eye and I had four stitches in my eyelid .  ' He told me that if it had been a couple of millimetres closer to my eye I would have been blinded .  ' Since then I ' ve had some anxiety when I go out and I find myself trying to be careful . It ' s put me on edge . '  Thomas , an estate agent at Palmer Snell in the Westbourne area of Bournemouth , pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm when she appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court .  Judge John Harrow described her criminal history as ' breathtaking ' but did not send her to jail , instead handing her a 12 month sentence suspended for two years and 80 hours of community service .  She was also told to pay Mr Lee 1 , 000 in compensation and a 100 victim surcharge .  Sentencing her , Judge Harrow said : ' You have a breathtaking record of violence , one of the worst I have ever seen from anyone your age .  ' It is not without a lot of hesitation and some reservations , I must confess , that I ' m going to suspend that 12 month sentence for two years .  ' Any offence at all will be sent back to this court and you will go straight down those steps to prison for at least 12 months . '  Tobias Ellwood ,  for Bournemouth East , criticised the sentence and said he would be discussing it with the Attorney General to review it .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
20377,20378,"Here we go again! We just reported on a man who was caught in Walmart videotaping women and using a mirror to look into stalls: BEGINS: Man Dressed As Woman Arrested In Women s Bathroom You Won t Believe What He Was Doing!This guy was caught at Macy s with a video camera in his purse containing  hours  of video of women using the bathroom. Women noticed the camera light from the video camera and reported it to police. This guy is just one of so many we ve reported on who will have even more rights to enter the women s bathroom or locker room   and women will have no right to say a word. A Palmdale, California, man wearing women s clothing was arrested in a Lancaster Macy s store after he was seen in a women s bathroom. The man was allegedly videotaping women in the bathroom.Jason Pomare, 33, was arrested over the weekend after mall security officers learned he had been hanging out in a Macy s department store women s bathroom. The security guards contacted a Los Angeles County Sheriff s Department (LASD) deputy who found the cross-dressing man in a mall storage area,  Los Angeles reported.When Pomare was contacted, he was wearing a wig and women s clothing, including a bra, a statement from the  revealed.  The deputy noticed he was wearing a wig and appeared to have breasts,   Sergeant Brian Hudson told the Los Angeles news outlet.While searching the suspect, the deputy discovered a video camera in his purse. The camera allegedly contained hours of women using the bathroom inside the store.Witnesses told police that Pomare would conceal the camera in bathroom stalls. The woman who contacted store security noticed the  recording light  on the camera. It appears Pomare was in the bathroom for around two hours, Hudson told the reporter.Read more: Breitbart",fake,dataset,test,American football,Sports/Other,fake,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
20391,20392,"They had to know they had it coming Donald Trump scolded media big shots during an off-the-record Trump Tower sitdown on Monday, sources told The Post. It was like a f ing firing squad,  one source said of the encounter. Trump started with [ chief] Jeff Zucker and said  I hate your network, everyone at  is a liar and you should be ashamed,    the source said. The meeting was a total disaster. The  execs and anchors went in there thinking they would be discussing the access they would get to the Trump administration, but instead they got a Trump-style dressing down,  the source added.A second source confirmed the fireworks. The meeting took place in a big board room and there were about 30 or 40 people, including the big news anchors from all the networks,  the other source said. Trump kept saying,  We re in a room of liars, the deceitful dishonest media who got it all wrong.  He addressed everyone in the room calling the media dishonest, deceitful liars. He called out Jeff Zucker by name and said everyone at  was a liar, and  was [a] network of liars,  the source said. Trump didn t say [ reporter] Katy Tur by name, but talked about an  female correspondent who got it wrong, then he referred to a horrible network correspondent who cried when Hillary lost who hosted a debate   which was Martha Raddatz who was also in the room. The stunned reporters tried to get a word in edgewise to discuss access to a Trump Administration. [ Good Morning co-host Gayle] King did not stand up, but asked some question,  How do you propose we the media work with you?  Chuck Todd asked some pretty pointed questions. David Muir asked  How are you going to cope living in  while your family is in NYC? It was a horrible meeting. Here s a sampling of Trump hitting back at the dishonest media while he was on the campaign trail. Trump did something no other presidential candidate has ever done before, he won the election in a landslide, in spite of the entire fake news empire working together to take him down:Trump spokeswoman Kellyanne Conway told reporters the gathering went well. Excellent meetings with the top executives of the major networks,  she said during a gaggle in the lobby of Trump Tower.  Pretty unprecedented meeting we put together in two days. The meeting was off the record, meaning the participants agreed not to talk about the substance of the conversations.The hour-long session included top execs from network and cable news channels. Among the attendees were  s Deborah Turness, Lester Holt and Chuck Todd,  s James Goldston, George Stephanopoulos, David Muir and Martha Raddatz,Also,   Norah O Donnell John Dickerson, Charlie Rose, Christopher Isham and King, Fox News  Bill Shine, Jack Abernethy, Jay Wallace, Suzanne Scott,  s Phil Griffin and  s Jeff Zucker and Erin Burnett. -Via:  ",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
20404,20405,"Wales manager Chris Coleman believes the pressure will be on for Louis van Gaal to deliver at Manchester United next season .  Coleman will pit his wits against the new United boss this week when his Wales side take on Holland in an international friendly in Amsterdam on Wednesday .  United have turned to Van Gaal , who is stepping down as Holland coach after this summer ' s World Cup , to revive their fortunes after a disappointing season under David Moyes .  Waiting game : Holland boss Louis van Gaal will take over at Manchester United after the World Cup  Coleman said : ' It will be interesting to see what happens if Manchester United go through next season not winning anything because there is that possibility .  ' Regardless of how easy they look on the eye if they haven ' t won anything what are they going to do ?  ' They are used to winning things and bossing situations and last season they didn ' t do that .  ' I thought it would be hard for Moysey in the first year or two and I was disappointed as a fellow manager that he only got 10 months .  ' I want to see what happens next season because Louis van Gaal is a quality manager but what are we going to say next year if Manchester United have not won anything ?  ' Is Louis van Gaal going to be out the door because he is going to need time to bed in with his own ideas .  ' You are not a magician when you are a manager . Sometimes you go in and have an immediate response and that is good but sometimes you don ' t and it takes time if you get the time to try to mould it and do it your own way .  ' That was what David Moyes was trying to do and I was disappointed because he is a British manager and we want to see them do well like Brendan ( Rodgers ) at Liverpool . He had a season and then he got it right .  ' Van Gaal with all his experience I am quite sure he can do well there but it will be interesting to see how it works . '  Pressure : Wales boss Chris Coleman is convinced Van Gaal will have to deliver results instantly at United  Coleman has the highest respect for Van Gaal , 62 , who has also managed and won titles with European giants Ajax , Barcelona and Bayern Munich .  Coleman is hoping his side can give the Dutch a good test in what will be a final run out for Van Gaal ' s men ahead of the World Cup .  Holland are due to fly out to Brazil on Thursday . Coleman said : ' I ' ve never done battle with him , so to speak , but I have been on a couple of seminars when he ' s been there and he is a good manager .  ' He is very innovative . He is one of those managers where it is how it is , that is what he believes and you go along with the ride with him but if you don ' t agree then you are not on the same journey and I think you find yourself on a different journey pretty quickly .  ' I have been doing this for 10 years and it is a hard industry and the ones who are the best managers , the most successful , I look at them and I have a lot of respect and admiration for them .  ' He is up there because he has won all the big things and he has been at a lot of big clubs and now he is going to go to one of the biggest clubs and he is someone I respect a lot . '  Axed : David Moyes was axed at United after less than a season in charge following poor results  Wales are without some of their main stars , most notably Gareth Bale , Aaron Ramsey , Ashley Williams and James Collins , but Coleman still feels the match is a useful exercise for this squad .  The uncapped trio of defenders James Chester and Paul Dummett , of Hull and Newcastle respectively , and Manchester United midfielder Tom Lawrence could be among those to feature at the Amsterdam Arena .  Wales ' next match in September will be their opening Euro 2016 qualifier in Andorra .  Coleman said : ' My point is we need to give all of these guys experience of playing international football because you never know when you are going to have to call on them . '  Missing : Wales will be without a host of big names against Holland including Gareth Bale  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
20405,20406,"Reuters) - Bangladesh called on Myanmar on Monday to allow nearly 1 million Rohingya Muslim refugees to return home under safe conditions, saying that the burden had become  untenable  on its territory. About 600,000 people have crossed the border since Aug. 25 when Rohingya insurgent attacks on security posts were met by a counter-offensive by the Myanmar army in Rakhine state which the United Nations has called ethnic cleansing.  This is an untenable situation,  Shameem Ahsan, Bangladesh s ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, told a U.N. pledging conference.  Despite claims to the contrary, violence in Rakhine state has not stopped. Thousands still enter on a daily basis.  Vital humanitarian aid must continue, Ahsan said, adding:  It is of paramount importance that Myanmar delivers on its recent promises and works towards safe, dignified, voluntary return of its nationals back to their homes in Myanmar.  Bangladesh s interior minister was in Yangon on Monday for talks to find a  durable solution , he said. But Myanmar continued to issue  propaganda projecting Rohingyas as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh , Ahsan said, adding:  This blatant denial of the ethnic identity of Rohingyas remains a stumbling block.  Myanmar considers the Rohingya to be stateless, although they trace their presence in the country back generations. Filippo Grandi, U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, later told journalists that the two countries had begun talks on  repatriation . Conducive conditions have to be  recreated  in Rakhine, he said.  This must include a solution to the question of citizenship, or rather lack thereof for the Rohingya community,  Grandi said. Khaled al-Jarallah, deputy foreign minister of Kuwait, called on Myanmar authorities to  cease the practice of stripping the Rohingya minority of their right of citizenship, which as a result deprives them of the right to property and employment . Jordan s Queen Rania visited Rohingya refugee camps on Monday and called for a stronger response from the international community to the plight of the Rohingya who fled to Bangladesh to escape  systematic persecution  in Myanmar.   One has to ask, why is the plight of this Muslim minority group being ignored? Why has the systematic prosecution been allowed to play out for so long?  she asked after touring the camps. The United Nations has appealed for $434 million to provide life-saving aid to 1.2 million people for six months. A total of $344 million has been raised so far, a final U.N. statement said.  We need more money to keep pace with intensifying needs. This is not an isolated crisis, it is the latest round in a decades-long cycle of persecution, violence and displacement,  U.N. humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock told the talks. An estimated 1,000-3,000 Rohingya still enter Bangladesh daily, William Lacy Swing, head of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said. He called them:  these most rejected and vulnerable people in the world.  Joanne Liu, president of the charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) or Doctors Without Borders, described them as  the walking dead .  There are only 210 hospital beds for 1 million refugees, malnutrition is on the rise and latrines are lacking to prevent contamination, she said.  The camp is a time-bomb, ticking towards a full-blown health crisis.  ",true,dataset,test,Other news1,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
20412,20413,"scanning of King Tutankhamun s tomb could support a British archeologist s theory that Queen Nefertiti ? or another ancient Egyptian royal ? is also buried there , Egypt s antiquities minister said .  Archaeologists have never discovered the mummy of the legendary beauty , but renowned British archaeologist Nicholas Reeves said in a recent study that her tomb could be in a secret chamber adjoining Tutankhamun s tomb in the Valley of Kings at Luxor , southern Egypt .  In October Egypt launched a study known as Scan Pyramids bringing together Egyptian , French , Canadian and Japanese experts to unravel the secrets of the Giza pyramids outside Cairo .  The project aims to discover any hidden chambers inside them and to understand how the monuments were built , as well as to scan Tutankhamun s tomb .  Egypt ' s Minister of Antiquities , Mamdouh al Damati ( 2nd left ) listening to British Egyptologist Nicholas Reeves ( 3rd left ) near the sarcophagus of King Tutankhamun . Picture :  Khaled DesoukiSource :   The mission has started its first experiment using infra red thermography to map out the temperature of the walls of Tutankhamun s tomb , Minister of Antiquities Mamduh al Damati said .  The preliminary analyses have shown differences in the temperatures registered on different parts of the northern wall of the tomb , he said .  Additional experiments are to be conducted to better determine which part of the wall shows a different temperature , he added .  Damati and Reeves , who in September announced they would use infra red scanning to reveal a secret chamber inside the king s tomb , differ on whose mummy they expect to find there .  According to Reeves , professor of archeology at the University of Arizona , Tutankhamun , who died unexpectedly , was buried hurriedly in an underground chamber probably not intended for him .  His death would have forced priests to reopen Nefertiti s tomb 10 years after her death because the young pharaoh s own mausoleum had not yet been built .  But Damati believes that such a chamber , if found adjoining Tutankhamun s tomb , may contain Kiya , a wife of the pharaoh Akhenaten .  Damati hopes scanning the walls of Tutankhamun s tomb will reveal the discovery of the century .  Nefertiti played a major political and religious role in the 14th century  . She actively supported her husband Akhenaten ? Tutankhamun s father ? who temporarily converted ancient Egypt to monotheism by imposing the single cult of sun god Aton .  Tutankhamun died aged 19 in 1324BC after just nine years on the throne . His final resting place was discovered by another British Egyptologist , Howard Carter , in 1922 .  ",true,text,test,Football,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
20414,20415,"Brazilian football club Corinthians have decided to give their fans the opportunity to be buried in a graveyard dedicated for their supporters .  Sao Paulo based club Corinthians will open a cemetery in 2015 , which will according to the club , have 70 , 000 plots made available .  The ' Corinthians Forever ' graveyard will also become the resting place for several top former stars who will be moved to the complex .  Fanatical Corinthians fans can now choose to be buried alongside club legends at a new graveyard  Plots will cost between 1 , 870 ( 1 , 169 ) and 3 , 240 ( 2 , 027 ) depending on the area of the complex selected and proximity to club idols who will also be laid to rest at the site .  Corinthians , or Sport Club Corinthians Paulista , are one of the most famous names in Brazilian football , winning five national titles in their 104 year history , one Copa Libertadores and two  Club World Cups .  Taking their name from the famous amateur side Corinthian , they were founded in 1910 after the English side blitzed all before them on a tour of Brazil .  Late club legends Teleco , left , and Socrates , right . It is not known whether they will be among the 100 figures from Corinthians history to be moved to the new graveyard  The club has had a fair share of legends plying their trade at the 40 , 000 Pacaembu Stadium . Most notable of all was Socrates .  The Brazilian captain from the magical national side of 1982 was in his pomp for Corinthians between 1978 and 1984 . He passed away in 2011 .  The Doctor was inspirational on and off the pitch where he would often take to the field wearing a shirt printed with ' Democracia ' in protest at the military government running the country at the time .  Before him there was Roberto Rivelino , famed for taking trickery to a new level and having a powerful left foot shot .  The Sao Paulo based club say up to 70 , 000 plots will be made available for fans in the ' Corinthians Forever ' graveyard which is due to open in 2015  The attacking midfielder was christened ' King of the Park ' by fans after coming through the youth ranks in 1965 and featuring for the next nine years .  He infamously played in the shock state final defeat to Palmeiras in 1974 in what turned out to be last game .  The fans made him a scapegoat and never forgave him , accusing him of bringing bad luck in an era where the club went without a state trophy between 1954 and 1977 .  The cemetery will also include function rooms , landscaped gardens , a restaurant and a lake and nature reserve , said Ricardo Polito , chief executive of the company in charge of the construction .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
20418,20419,"Eleven “youths” have been arrested after a riot broke out at a school in Sweden that saw both police and  journalists attacked with rocks by an angry mob. [The riot occurred at the Alléskolan school in the town of Hallsberg on Monday afternoon. According to police, glass bottles and rocks were thrown at them, as well as at journalists. Officers say they have arrested 11 young men in connection with the riots and said they have no idea what started the conflict which escalated rapidly, Swedish broadcaster  reports.   The  team, headed by reporter Anders Nord, were on the scene for the riot and were also attacked by the young men. Mr. Nord said that while police had arrested some of the youths, “another group of masked youths, a little further away, shouted at police and threw stones. The scene commander then gave the order to police to put on helmets and approached the youth, who then ran from the scene. ” In total, police say around 30 individuals participated in the riot, though there were no reports of any serious injuries on the scene. The youths aren’t thought to be students at the school, but outsiders according to policeman Mats Öhman. “They came to the school from what I understand was a continuation of a fight that was from last Friday,” he said. Öhman described how the events unfolded saying: “It was pretty uncomfortable. It happened before we got on our helmets and the attack came as a bolt from the blue. Had anyone got hit in the head it would have been bad. ” The fight that took place on Friday, which authorities say led to the Monday riot, is also mentioned on the Swedish police website with the police describing it as “messy” and saying that two factions of young men fought with each other.  Police did not identify the origins of the suspects involved on Friday or Monday, through video footage obtained by Swedish paper Nerikes Allehanda shows men who look to be of a foreign background. Attacks on police in Sweden have become increasingly more common and along with other issues have led to many officers quitting the force entirely. The main areas of danger for police have been the 55 or so No Go Zones across the country which are mostly populated by migrants. Even ambulance drivers have requested   helmets and other equipment to protect themselves from attack. Journalists in Sweden have also been attacked by “youths” in the last year. Most recently, a photographer for Swedish Newspaper Dagens Nyheter was attacked during the recent riots in the no go area of Rinkeby and last year an Australian  crew was attacked in the same area.  Follow Chris Tomlinson on Twitter at @TomlinsonCJ or email at ctomlinson@breitbart.com",fake,news,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
20428,20429,"Matt Rourke ?  Republican presidential candidate Sen . Ted Cruz , R Texas , speaks during a campaign stop   Establishment Takes Sides Between Trump and Cruz Donald Trump Releases Attack Ad on Ted Cruz Why Trump Is Winning Over Christian Conservatives  Texas Sen . Ted Cruz returned fire on establishment Republicans Thursday , including former Kansas Sen . Bob Dole , who suggested that Cruz would fare worse in a general election than Donald Trump .  Speaking to reporters following a campaign stop in New Hampshire , Cruz said Dole , among others , were looking to continue the cronyism and corruption of Washington . If you think of the last time we beat the Washington cartel it was 1980 , it was the Reagan revolution , where millions of Americans rose up , Cruz said . And I would note that Mr Dole then opposed Reagan , and said we need someone who can go to Washington who can cut a deal . Well the American people understood that s not what we needed .  Dole , a 92 year old war hero and the  s 1996 presidential nominee , suggested Wednesday that Trump was more amenable to the party s elites than Cruz , who has alienated most of his colleagues in the Senate and drawn the ire of many in the donor and business communities . Cruz has also recently been criticized by Iowa Gov . Terry Branstad . I don t know how he s going to deal with Congress , Dole told the New York Times . Nobody likes him . He added he thought Trump could probably work with Congress , because he s , you know , he s got the right personality and he s kind of a deal maker .  Just yesterday , Bob Dole explained why the establishment is supporting Donald Trump , Cruz added . They said he s someone we rn make a deal with . He s someone we can cut a deal with And I would note Donald just a couple of days ago , drew the difference between me and him . And he said look Ted won t go along to get along , he won t cut a deal . So if as a voter you think what we need is more republicans in Washington to cut a deal with Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer , then I guess Donald Trump s your guy .  Cruz was not done there . That s what the Republican establishment is saying , he continued . If you want someone to continue the cronyism , to continue the corporate welfare , to continue the corruption of Washington from Washington picking winners and losers , then we re seeing the Washington establishment run behind Donald Trump . And what Bob Dole is effectively saying and what the establishment is saying is that the guy that scares the heck out of us is Cruz . Cruz actually will stand with the American people against the career politicians in both parties .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,satire,true,True,no,no,negative,past
20441,20442,"Sumatra , Indonesia Flying over the island of Sumatra in Indonesia , I looked out the window and got my first exciting glimpse of the Sumatran rainforest . It was vast , lush and green , but it wasn ' t all rainforest .  There were squares of farmland and large patches of trees in neat rows that I knew were palm oil or pulp and paper plantations .  From above , the patches of green seemed to flow in and out of the rainforest , but I knew those patches of rainforest were shrinking .  After all the preparation and the travel delays , we had finally made it . We knew this was going to be a trip unlike any other .  Our first destination was at a very remote camp in Jambi Province near 30 Hills National Park . I knew how remote it was going to be , so it wasn ' t a surprise when we traded our caravan of pickup trucks for three giant off road vehicles .  We knew since we were here during the rainy season , these vehicles were the only way to get up these extremely muddy mountain trails .  Read more : Phillipe Cousteau on why you should care about Sumatra  I didn ' t know just how treacherous these trails would be until the driver of our off road truck stopped and told us that we would have to cross the bridges on foot . If a bridge broke or the truck slid off , we didn ' t want to be inside .  We eased out of the trucks into slippery , squishy mud and walked slowly toward the bridge trying to avoid deep puddles .  These bridges were a test of our balance and nerve . Each bridge was two sets of heavy logs lashed together , one set of logs for the left tires and one set for the right . We looked down and estimated it to be a 6 meter drop .  We slowly and carefully walked across one side , one at a time , tightrope style . Scott and John even did it carrying their cameras .  Amazingly , no one slipped . Even more amazingly , the trucks all made it across with no problem . I was still very glad to see the camp lights come into view .  We had finally arrived at the Frankfurt Zoological Society Orangutan camp . This group is doing some amazing work to help replenish a critically endangered Sumatran orangutan population .  Their goal is to take captive Sumatran orangutans that were pets and teach them how to live in the wild so they can be released into the rainforest .  Orangutans were extinct in this area of Sumatra before the  came here . Now , more than 140 live in this patch of rainforest .  Once the generator powered down for the night , I lay in my bed and listened to the sounds of the rainforest just outside . Soon it started to rain and the sounds of the rain mixed with the sounds of the rainforest were incredible .  I will never forget the sound of the Sumatran rainforest surrounding me , and the feeling of knowing the next day I would see a captive orangutan released back into the wild .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
20443,20444,"Of all the people to be wary of getting caught on camera doing something incredulous , you would think a  news reporter would know better .  But Britt McHenry , a Washington D . C . based sports reporter for  , has been suspended from her position after an ugly and offensive rant she unleashed on a hapless tow truck company employee surfaced online this week .  The 28 year old , who hails from New Jersey , had her car towed from the parking lot of a Chinese restaurant in Arlington , Virginia , and the verbal attack was captured on a security camera as she paid to pick the vehicle up at the tow lot office .  ' I ' m in the news , sweetheart , I will f g sue this place , ' McHenry can he heard saying in the video .  Vicious :  sports reporter Britt McHenry has been suspended for one week and could face further punishment after video surfaced of her berating an Advanced Towing employee in Arlington , Virginia  Caught red faced : Incredibly , McHenry was warned that she was being filmed at the start of her ugly rant , however continued to insult the woman ' s looks , education and job on camera  Glamorous : Originally from New Jersey , McHenry is a sideline reporter for  based in Washington D . C . Pictured is Gina Michelle , the clerk abused by McHenry and told she needed to lose some weight  The incident occurred on April 6 .  The parking attendant can be heard in the video warning McHenry she is being filmed and threatens to ' play your video ' .  ' That ' s why I have a degree and you don ' t I wouldn ' t work in a scumbag place like this , ' McHenry responds .  ' Makes my skin crawl even being here . '  The parking attendant patiently replies : ' Well lets get you out of here quickly . '  McHenry then fires back : ' Yep , that ' s all you care about taking people ' s money with no education , no skill set . Just wanted to clarify that . '  She ' s outta there :  immediately responded by suspending McHenry , but only for one week  After a few more comments , including telling the woman she doesn ' t have a brain , McHenry delivers her biggest sting .  ' Maybe if I was missing some teeth they would hire me , huh ? ' she says .  ' Cos ' I ' m on television and you ' re in a f g trailer , honey . '  Finally , before walking away , McHenry says : ' Lose some weight , baby girl . '  Unhappy customer : Britt McHenry leaving the towing company and flipping the bird to the cameras  ' Maybe if I was missing some teeth they would hire me , huh ? ' : McHenry , who has impeccable grooming when on camera , berated the woman for her appearance and her job  Video of the shocking scene was obtained by Live Leak .  As the video spread online ,  were forced to react .  A spokesman confirmed McHenry had been suspended , however only for one week .  It is unclear whether a more serious punishment will be handed down .  Right after the incident took place , McHenry took her Twitter account to rant about how Adanced Towing is ' corrupt ' .  Not surprisingly , she has since deleted the tweet .  The apology : McHenry offered up this note as the video of her awful attack spread online Thursday  Do as I say , not as I do : McHenry ' s words of wisdom earlier this year  On Thursday , she turned to social media again to apologize for her actions , saying it was an ' intense and stressful moment ' for her .  She posted online : ' In an intense and stressful moment , I allowed my emotions to get the best of me and said some insulting and regrettable things . As frustrated as I was , I should always choose to be respectful and take the high road . I am so sorry for my actions and will learn from this mistake . '  According to The Big Lead , McHenry was eating Hunan Chinese restaurant on Wilson Boulevard in Arlington when her car was towed .  Advanced Towing are yet to comment on the incident .  The employee that was berated has not been identified .  Suspended : Britt McHenry has been suspended from  for one week for the offensive rant  ",true,text,test,World conflict,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
20445,20446,"Mohamed Abdeslam , who was arrested and questioned following the attack before being released on Monday , told French   that his brother was devout but showed no signs of being a radical Islamist .  He said Salah Abdeslam prayed and attended a mosque occasionally , but also dressed in jeans and pullovers .  Brahim Abdeslam , was a 31 year old French resident of Belgium .  The French authorities say he blew himself up at Comptoir Voltaire cafe in Paris on Friday .  He is the brother of Salah Abdeslam , a key suspect still at large .  Bomb : The damaged apartment raided by French Police special forces earlier in Saint Denis , near Paris  There are unconfirmed reports in the French media that the blonde woman suicide bomber killed in St Denis today was Hasna Aitboulahcen .  She is reportedly the cousin of alleged slaughter mastermind Abdelhami Abaaoud .  One of the Stade de France attackers is believed to be 20 year old Belgian Bilal Hadfi , who was the second terrorist to detonate his suicide vest outside the stadium .  He is said to have spent time fighting with  in Syria before returning to Europe .  Although not officially identified , a passport bearing the name of Ahmed Almuhamed was found next to the corpse of a terrorist who had blown himself up at the Stade de France  Almuhamed was wrecked off the coast of Greece after the boat he was travelling from Syria sunk and rescued by authorites .  Greek ferry tickets revealed he travelled to Europe with another man named as Mohammed Almuhamed .  Mostefai , 29 , a Frenchman of Algerian descent , was involved in Bataclan concert hall attack .  His severed finger was found at the theatre and he was identified as one of the terrorists .  The father , who was working as a baker in Chartres , had appeared in rap videos and had been a petty criminal before becoming radicalised in 2010 .  He lived for a time in Chartres area , southwest of Paris . Born in Courcouronnes , south of Paris .  Name was put on French intelligence services ' "" S notice "" in 2010 for reported radicalisation .  An unnamed senior Turkish government official says Turkey contacted France about Mostefai in December 2014 and June 2015 but only got a return request for information on him after the Paris attacks .  Members of his family were released from custody after questioning .  Explosion : Samy Amimour , 28 , one of the suicide bombers who attacked a Paris concert hall  The 28 year old was involved in the Bataclan attack . French , from Drancy near Saint Denis , north of Paris .  He has been the subject of international arrest warrant since late 2013 .  Amimour had been under official investigation since October 2012 on suspicion of terrorism related activity over a plan to go to Yemen .  An unnamed suicide bomber who died in Stade de France attack .  Police released a photo and asked for help to identify them .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
20449,20450,"Walgreens will pay governments 7 . 9 million in a settlement reached amid allegations the drugstore chain illegally paid kickbacks so that prescriptions would be transferred to its pharmacies , the U . S . Justice Department announced Friday .  Investigators had been looking into whether Walgreens had given people enrolled in government run health programs such as Medicare , Medicaid and Tricare ( for military families ) 25 gift cards if they moved their prescriptions over to Walgreens ' pharmacies , according to a Justice Department news release .  Such inducements violate federal law , the department says .  The drugstore chain ' s advertisements typically noted that such offers didn ' t apply to those insured via Medicaid , Medicare and similar programs . But the government claimed "" Walgreens employees frequently ignored the stated exemptions on the face of the coupons and handed gift cards to customers who were beneficiaries of government health programs . ""  The government learned of the allegations in lawsuits filed by two whistle blowers : Cassie Bass , a pharmacy technician who worked at Walgreens in Detroit , and Jack Chin , an independent pharmacist in Florida .  Federal prosecutors from California and Michigan , the U . S . Justice Department ' s commercial litigation branch , the National Association of Medicaid Fraud Control Units and the U . S . Health and Human Service Department ' s inspector general participated in the joint investigation .  Bass and Chin will get about 1 . 28 million from the United States for their actions under parts of federal and state False Claims Acts statutes , according to the U . S . Justice Department . The federal government will receive just under 7 . 3 million from Walgreens as part of the settlement , with participating states also receiving some payment from the drugstore chain .  "" This case represents the government ' s strong commitment to pursuing improper practices in the retail pharmacy industry that have the effect of manipulating patient decisions , "" said Stuart F . Delery , acting assistant attorney general with the U . S . Justice Department .  On its website , Illinois based Walgreens describes itself as the nation ' s largest drugstore chain with sales last fiscal year of 72 billion and 7 , 847 drugstores in all 50 states , the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
20497,20498,"Search crews found a second body in the ruins of a furniture store destroyed by a gas explosion in Wayne , Michigan , the city ' s fire chief said early Thursday .  The body of a 54 year old woman , a store employee , was pulled from the rubble of Franks Furniture around 10 : 45 p . m . Wednesday , according to Wayne Fire Chief Mel Moore .  Earlier in the day , the body of a 64 year old man was also recovered . He was identified only as a male employee of the store , who lived in Westland , Michigan .  The store ' s owner , Paul Franks , 64 , was pulled from the wreckage shortly after the explosion , which occurred at about 9 a . m . , City Manager John Zech said . He was in serious but stable condition at the University of Michigan Hospital ' s burn unit .  Search and rescue crews , aided by heavy equipment , continued to remove huge amounts of rubble from the scene of the blast , which damaged several buildings in addition to the furniture store . Moore said the process was made more difficult by the removal of "" thousands of pounds of concrete "" from the store ' s roof trusses .  As many as 300 people were evacuated after the explosion and a second reported leak in a neighborhood adjoining the furniture store in the suburban Detroit city .  As of Wednesday night , residents of all but nine homes were able to return , and were being offered lodging elsewhere for the night , said Debra Dodd , a spokeswoman for the gas utility , Consumers Energy .  Mayor Abdul "" Al "" Haidous described Frank ' s Furniture as one of the "" jewels "" of the city , and said Franks has been a leader in civic life . "" He has served this city with a great deal of integrity , "" the mayor said  Before the explosion , a Consumers Energy gas worker was two blocks away investigating the reported gas leak , Dodd said .  "" We don ' t know at this time what caused the incident this morning , "" Dodd said Wednesday night , but added that the utility will work with the state Public Service Commission in investigating .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
20501,20502,"New fossils of an ancient primate found in the Amazon may be the first monkey to have traveled from Africa across the Atlantic Ocean to South America .  The fossils suggest that monkeys first arrived in South America nearly 10 million years earlier than previously thought .  Scientists believe the first primates traveled to South America , which was once an isolated island before it joined to North America three million years ago , from Africa on natural rafts that drifted across the Atlantic ocean .  A reconstruction of the 38 million year old Perupithecus ucayalensis ( left ) found in South America is shown above alongside a species it closely resembled Talahpithecus parvus , that lived in Libya 39 milion years ago  The two groups of primates then evolved separately to create distinct families of primates .  However , evidence for when this epic journey occurred has been patchy and the oldest fossil of a monkey found in the New World was 26 million years old found in Bolivia .  A new fossil has the potential to force anthropologists to rewrite the evolutionary history of how our early ancestors first began walking upright on two legs .  For decades scientists have believed that our upright posture evolved in a common ancestor shared with the great apes including chimpanzees , gorillas and orangutans around 15 million years ago .  This led to the broad torsos and mobile forelimbs that appear all great apes known as the orthograde body plan .  But a 12 . 3 million year old fossilised hipbone belonging a prehistoric ape named Sivapithecus indicus discovered in modern Pakistan , is challenging this belief .  This species was thought to be an ancient relative of the orangutan that emerged after the great apes split from the gibbons and lived around 12 million to 10 million years ago  Fossilised skull fragments have suggested it had the facial features similar to modern orangutans and scientists assumed it would also have an ape like body plan .  However , the new hipbone has revealed that these creatures had a narrow torso that more resembles those of monkeys .  This suggests that Sivapithecus may have had both ape like and monkey like features , and has left researchers baffled about how it fits into the evolutionary tree .  But now fossilised teeth , found on a riverbank in a remote part of the Amazon in Peru , that have been dated at 36 million years old suggest the crossing from Africa may have occurred far earlier .  The teeth bear little resemblance to those from other species found in South America , but instead are more similar to teeth from African primates at the time .  This suggests that the fossils may belong to one of the first primates to make the crossing from Africa .  Researchers from the Museum of Natural Sciences in La Plata , Argentina , and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles have named the new species of monkey Perupithecus ucayaliensis .  Its name is derived from the country where the fossil was found Peru and the Greek name for monkey , pithecus . Ucaylainesis is named the area of Peru where it was sound Santa Roasa in the Ucayali Department .  Mariano Bond , the palaeontologist who led the study of the fossils at the Museum of Natural Sciences in La Plata , said the animal would have been a small monkey with a body only around 10 inches long .  Writing in the journal Nature , Mr Bond said : ' Perupithecus ucayaliensis was a small primate , comparable in size to the tamarins Callimico and some species of Saguinus .  ' The new specimens are important for understanding the origin and early evolution of modern platyrrhine ( New World ) primates because they bear little resemblance to any extinct  or living South American primate , but they do bear striking resemblances to Eocene African anthropoids , and our phylogenetic analysis suggests a relationship with African taxa . '  The scientists examined fossilised teeth ( above ) that were found found in the Peruvian Amazon in Santa Rosa  The new species teeth more closely resemble those of monkeys in Africa such as this Vervet Monkey  This artists impression of Perupithecus ucayaliensis shows that the small primate may have looked like  The scientists believe that Perupithecus may be most closely related to an extinct primate called Talahpithecus , which lived around 38 39 million years ago in what is now Libya .  They found one complete and two incomplete upper molars that were dug up from a river bed during a dry period in Santa Rosa , eastern Peru .  New World monkeys are typically distinguished from their counterparts in Africa and Asia by their flat noses and relatively small size .  There are around 150 species of New World monkeys also called Platyrrhini which means ' flat nose ' living in Central and South America . These include capuchins , marmosets and tamarins .  It is thought that they originally arrived in South America after crossing the Atlantic Ocean on natural rafts made of vegetation along with other mammals like rodents .  Until the new fossils were found , rodents were thought to have arrived on the continent long before primates but the new discovery means they arrived at roughly the same time .  Writing in Nature , Mr Bond and his colleagues said : ' Numerous studies have focused on the possibility of primates crossing the Atlantic to reach South America from Africa .  ' A similar means of arrival in South America has often been proposed for the hystricognath rodents , the dispersal of amphisbaenian and gekkotan lizards .  ' The discovery of these new primates brings the first appearance datum of caviomorph rodents and primates in South America back into close correspondence , but raises new questions about the timing and means of arrival of these two mammalian groups . '  Dr Kenneth Campbell , from the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles , added it had taken years of searching before the new fossils had been found .  He said : ' Fossils are scarce and limited to only a few exposed banks along rivers during the dry seasons .  ' For much of the year high water levels make palaeontological exploration impossible . '  New world monkeys like this golden lion tamarin evolved to have flatter noses than their African cousins  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,past
20516,20517,"To those who study or even practiced espionage , U . S . spying on allies is hardly new .  Friendly nations spy on one another , if only for this reality : a friend today may not be a friend tomorrow , experts say .  "" Even among friends , a lot of espionage takes place , and some of that espionage is targeted against threats to national security , "" said Charles Kupchan , international affairs professor at Georgetown University and a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations .  "" Then there is more mundane day to day intelligence gathering , which is focusing on intelligence that would be relevant to American statecraft : who is likely to be the next foreign minister , what ' s Germany ' s position on negotiations with Iran ? "" Kupchan said .  The mutual spying is "" common knowledge "" among practitioners and scholars , sometimes confirmed years later with a disclosure , Kupchan said .  "" It ' s been going on for centuries , "" he said .  Embassies can be an arm of such espionage . Countries allow the missions to exchange information formally but they ' re used to gather intelligence covertly , too , said Peter Earnest , who worked for the  for 36 years , including about 25 years in the agency ' s clandestine service .  "" I think there ' s a degree of hypocrisy among the Europeans to say , ' Oh , my gosh , the Americans are spying ! ' Well , so are they , "" said Earnest , the founding executive director of the International Spy Museum in Washington .   delegation meeting at White House over  spying concerns  The former spy was referring to the uproar across Europe in the wake of news accounts that the U . S . National Security Administration has been spying on the continent : on German Chancellor Angela Merkel ' s official cellphone on millions of France ' s phone calls and on millions of Spain ' s phone calls and its politicians and officials .  The  also has eavesdropped on the Mexican government and hacked the public e mail account of former President Felipe Calderon and his presidency ' s e mail domain that also was used by Cabinet members , according to German news magazine Der Spiegel .  Most of the news accounts are relying on documents provided by former  contractor Edward Snowden .  Glaring spotlight on intelligence committee  "" It ' s the leak that keeps on giving on damage , "" Earnest said . "" I ' m glad I ' m not in the community right now . It must be a nightmare . "" He retired from the Central Intelligence Agency in 1994 .  In describing the espionage among friends , Earnest referred to a famous quote by 19th century British statesman Henry Temple , or Lord Palmerston , who stated in Parliament : "" We have no eternal allies and we have no perpetual enemies . Our interests are eternal and perpetual , and those interests it is our duty to follow . ""  Before Congress on Tuesday , Director of National Intelligence James Clapper acknowledged as a "" fundamental given "" that the United States gathers intelligence on foreign leaders .  When asked by House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers whether U . S . allies spy against U . S . leaders , Clapper replied : "" Absolutely . ""  "" We do not spy on anyone except for valid foreign intelligence purposes and we only work within the law . Now , to be sure , on occasion , we ' ve made mistakes some quite significant , "" Clapper told the House committee reviewing the agency ' s surveillance activities . Clapper has worked in intelligence services for 50 years .  In other testimony to the committee , Army Gen . Keith Alexander , director of the  , said media outlets misinterpreted the leaked documents . Some of the metadata on phones calls in ally countries came from those countries , and the remaining metadata was collected legally by the  , he said .   chief : Reports U . S . collected calls , e mails from allies ' completely false '  Historians readily cite instances of U . S . spying on allies , including bugging of conversations in San Francisco , where the United Nations charter was drawn up in 1945 , said David Barrett , a political science professor at Villanova University who has written about U . S . intelligence history .  "" I have to say I ' m not very surprised , "" Barrett said of U . S . surveillance on friends .  ' Horrified by what they had learned '  During the Cold War in 1960 , two  employees , William Martin and Bernon Mitchell , defected to the Soviet Union and publicly revealed how the United States was spying on not just rivals , but allies , too .  The  employees were like Snowden in that they became dismayed to learn of such spying , Barrett said . Snowden is now residing in Russia under political asylum .  "" There was a lot in common between them and Edward Snowden . They were horrified by what they learned . To me , they ' re arrogant . And they wanted to do something about it , and so they released information , "" Barrett said .  Former U . S . Vice President Dick Cheney spoke in general terms about American spying prowess , noting how the nation enjoys "" a fantastic intelligence capability worldwide against all kinds of potential issues and concerns , "" especially in the aftermath of the September 11 , 2001 , attacks .  Europe falls out of love with Obama over  spying claims  On the matter of national economies , experts agreed that intelligence agencies also examine an ally ' s commerce and industry .  "" If the French were to be gathering intelligence in the United States , it ' s not that they were anticipating an American invasion in Normandy . It ' s to gather intelligence on American politics , maybe to do a little industrial espionage , "" Kupchan said . "" It ' s standard fare for intelligence agencies to do these type of things . That ' s why they ' re there . That ' s their raison d ' etre . ""  One U . S . analyst had a blunt message for friends in Europe and elsewhere .  "" I have a word of advice for American allies outraged by alleged  spying on their leaders : Grow up . That means you Germany . You , too , France . And you , Brazil . Mexico , too . Also the  and the  , "" blogged Max Boot in Commentary , referring in the two latter instances to the European Union and United Nations . "" Does the  spy on your leaders ? Probably . Do you spy on leaders of allied states including the United States ? Probably . You just don ' t have the resources or capability to spy as effectively as the  does . But if you did , you would . ""  ' I think that seems unseemly '  But two Republican senators deemed the ongoing U . S . spying on allies wrong .  "" To me from where I sit , it doesn ' t seem like a good idea or it doesn ' t seem to advance diplomacy for us to be spying on our allies particularly the personal phone of the president of Germany for 10 years . I think that seems unseemly . That goes against having relations with your allies , "" said Sen . Rand Paul of Kentucky , a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee .  Sen . Susan Collins of Maine , a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee , said she knew of "" no justification for the administration ' s collection of intelligence on the leaders of our closest allies , "" such as Merkel . She planned to tell the German ambassador this week of "" my belief that it was wrong for the Administration to engage in monitoring of the Chancellor ' s telephone calls , "" she said in a statement .  The consequences of getting caught are possibly severe .  Exacerbating allies ' outrage is a backdrop of European disappointment about the perceived lack of progress by President Barack Obama ' s administration on closing the Guantanamo Bay terrorist detention facility and on the use of deadly drone strikes in Pakistan and elsewhere , experts say .  The unfolding political firestorm is now "" sufficiently intense to force the United States to respond in more than a symbolic way , "" Kupchan said .  Congress and the White House are expected to reform intelligence gathering , forge a new code of conduct when spying on friends , and impose greater transparency and oversight on the  , experts say .  Key European partners are expected to be part of the conversation about the new conduct code , and separately , the European Union could tighten its own privacy laws , restricting the sharing of certain kinds of information with the United States , Kupchan said .  What surprises historians such as Barrett is how American public opinion now disapproves of U . S . spying on allies .  After the September 11 attacks , Americans held "" a strong view that we have to do everything "" in intelligence gathering , a mood that also enabled the passage of the landmark anti terror Patriot Act , Barrett said .  "" Now I think that attitude no longer prevails , "" Barrett said this week .  "" If anything surprises me , it ' s that people seem to be so shocked and appalled "" by the spying on friends , he said .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
20519,20520,"A national conference of Emergency Medicine doctors has created a list of suggestions for  regulars who come in for Dilaudid and other euphoria producing drugs . The list is meant to help make interactions between doctors and druggies more enjoyable for both parties .  Emergency Medicine specialist Dr Kompro Mise said , "" We don ' t want to look bad by handing out the strongest pain meds to anyone who gets loud and threatening . All we ask for is a little discretion and finesse . Be cool . ""            1 . Leave the clich s at home . Lines like , "" I know my body and "" I have a high threshold for pain just make us roll our eyes . Stand out from the crowd by saying "" I ' ve endured this fibromyalgia for years without Dilaudid as an example for my kids , but it ' s time for a change . ""  Or try this approach : "" I need to sample a few different pain meds so I can pick the best one for my grandmother in the hospice . ""  2 . Downplay your make believe agony . Instead of screaming that your pain is 20 on a scale of 1 to 10 , make it a 3 but casually mention that turkey sandwiches ( like the one we gave you ) always give you ischemic colitis two hours after ingestion . You didn ' t mean to eat the sandwich , it just happened . So a ten day supply of Dilaudid would be nice to have on hand . Use a lighter touch .  4 . If your limp disappears in the parking lot , leave it there . Unless you have an Oscar or an Emmy above your fireplace , spare us the painful gait . We ' ve seen enough of the real thing .  5 . Don ' t take your spouse along to the E . R . Instead , bring in a member of the clergy ( or someone who could pass for one ) . This person can vouch for your honesty and confirm that yes , you are allergic to NSAIDs , Tylenol , hydrocodone and oxycodone .  Dr Mise said the conference will be an annual event "" because drug seekers are sure to take creativity to new heights . ""  Check out Neverkidd ' s book , "" True Tales from a Physician Assistant , "" on Amazonweblink .  ",satire,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,satire,True,no,no,neutral,present
20525,20526,"Judging by the hysterical reaction in some quarters , to President Obama ' s handshake with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez , or his bow to Saudi Arabia ' s King Abdullah , you would think that America ' s national security rested solely on body language not sound policy .  The presidential handshake between Barack Obama and Hugo Chavez spurred many comments .  But just for the record , let ' s not forget that President George W . Bush kissed and held hands with the same Abdullah after 9 11 , while also looking deep into the soul of Vladimir Putin . And a generation earlier , egged on by British Prime Minister "" Iron Lady "" Margaret Thatcher , President "" Tear Down That Wall "" Ronald Reagan , decided that indeed Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev was a man he could do business with : the business of ending the Cold War .  While Obama has not managed in 100 days to defeat Islamic militants , usher in a Middle East peace treaty or disarm North Korea , on these and other issues he has laid down some important groundwork . Most importantly , the global polls following his first overseas trip show he has begun restoring America ' s name and reputation , key ingredients to successful policy making .  Even before stepping onto foreign soil , Obama began by ordering the infamous Guantanamo Bay detention center closed , thus returning the United States to upholding the very same rule of law it preaches to other nations . He also has stated over and over again that "" America does not torture , "" thus returning the United States to leading on human rights , not cherry picking them .  To those such as former Vice President Dick Cheney who claims this will make America more vulnerable , even some former Bush administration officials now concede that rigorous but patient above board interrogation has proven to yield better , more reliable intelligence than a rush to the waterboard .  Obama has kept a campaign pledge and given a fixed date for ending the unpopular U . S . war in Iraq . "" Let me say this as plainly as I can : By August 31 , 2010 , our combat mission in Iraq will end , "" he announced .  Yet the perils are clear . Hundreds of Iraqi civilians have been killed in Baghdad and other cities in a surge of sectarian violence since January . The Obama administration and U . S . military leaders are playing it down , blaming the suicide bombings on a few militant cells . That brings back memories of Cheney and former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld blaming a "" handful of dead enders "" as the original insurgency was getting into full swing . Much work still needs to be done to stabilize Iraq militarily and politically .  Drawing down in Iraq means surging in Afghanistan , which along with Pakistan is still viewed as the central front on terror . "" If the Afghanistan government falls to the Taliban or allows al Qaeda to go unchallenged , "" Obama said in March , "" that country will again be a base for terrorists . ""  So he has ordered 21 , 000 new U . S . troops there by summer . But for all the talk of more boots on the ground , negotiating with moderate Taliban and beefing up Afghan security forces , danger will persist unless the Afghan people see more of a peace dividend . As Obama himself recognizes , "" There will be no lasting peace unless we expand spheres of opportunity for the people of Afghanistan and Pakistan . "" Watch highlights from Obama ' s first 100 days  Dire poverty still stalks the land and people desperate to feed their families will lay an  for cash if they cannot farm or find a decent paying job . Although the Taliban had less than 8 percent support in Afghanistan at the end of 2007 , according to an  poll , Afghan public opinion is turning against the U . S . led coalition partly because of the rising number of civilian casualties as the U . S . military hunts down terrorists with airstrikes .  The same is happening in Pakistan . When unmanned drones and other airstrikes target militants but cost many civilian lives , it turns people against the United States . One month ago , President Obama unveiled an Afghan Pakistan strategy for stabilizing the region , and yet things have gotten so much worse in the weeks since that now he , British officials and other world leaders openly fear the Talibanization of nuclear armed Pakistan .  A furious Pakistan government accuses the United States of sowing panic among the people and insists it ' s in full control of its country and its nuclear arsenal . But it is hard to overdramatize the danger as this U . S . ally concedes land and appeases the Taliban , then watches as it reneges on a so called "" peace deal "" and rolls ever closer to the capital , Islamabad . On May 6 and 7 , Obama will be meeting in Washington with the presidents of Pakistan and Afghanistan . In the fight to deny the militants a tipping point momentum , the military tells me 2009 will be crucial .  As for Iran , which even two years ago candidate Obama said would be directly engaged by his administration , there is nothing formal yet between the two sides .  After 30 years of enmity , President Obama offered Iran "" the promise of a new beginning "" in a Persian New Year video message , and since then has clearly signaled the United States was over regime change . The Iranian government and leadership have responded in kind , saying they are ready to engage with America if the administration is really committed to changing its Iran policy .  However , much of this good will has been over the airwaves and direct or back channel talks have yet to start . Into this vacuum are stepping all the sundry pro and anti Iran interest groups , experts , analysts and nations , with their often conflicting advice and sometimes confused understanding . Yet it is widely acknowledged that a strategic realignment with Iran would benefit U . S . and regional security and stability .  The new Israeli government wants to see no such thing , and wants people to believe it will bomb Iran ' s nuclear facilities , a belief it fosters with background briefings to journalists in the United States and presumably elsewhere . In an ironic twist , Israel ' s Arab neighbors are bringing their dire warnings about Iran to the White House .  Meantime , Obama has named a new Middle East Peace envoy , former Sen . George Mitchell , signaling he wants to take negotiations out of the deep freeze and committing to the two state solution for Israelis and Palestinians . Trouble is new Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not signed on to the two state solution and is trying to fend off this pressure , even suggesting Israel won ' t engage with the Palestinians until the United States takes care of Iran .  Last week , Obama told Jordan ' s King Hussein at the White House , "" My hope would be that over the next several months you start seeing gestures of good faith on all sides . "" He added , "" We can ' t talk forever at some point , steps have to be taken so that people can see progress on the ground . "" The president has invited the leaders of Israel , Egypt and the Palestinian Authority to the White House in coming weeks . iReportweblink : Grade Obama ' s first 100 days  The second hundred days in foreign policy will be filled with mini summits at the White House and major summits abroad Russia in July and China sometime later .  With all this activity , Obama is clearly shifting the United States away from the "" isolate and punish "" policy of his predecessor . He is signaling that clearheaded meetings to discuss issues of mutual concern are better than hiding your head in the sand and hoping they ' ll go away . So amid the frothing and fulminating over Fidel , Hugo and Mahmoud , remember Nixon went to China .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
20527,20528,"President Barack Obama is loading new missions on the U . S . military with fast expanding mandates and no certain end dates as he grapples with the threats posed by  and Ebola .  Evolving operations in the Middle East and west Africa are causing some supporters to ask whether the president , a notoriously reluctant warrior dedicated to ending foreign entanglements and getting troops home , has changed his mind .  By committing the U . S . military to two new crises , with no clear exit strategy , Obama risks the same perilous slide into "" mission creep "" that hounded some predecessors , who got sucked ever deeper into wars in Vietnam , Somalia and Iraq .  When Obama announced America ' s new war in August , he said U . S . air strikes would only take place "" if necessary "" and only in Iraq to save civilians from massacres by the marauding Sunni radicals and to protect U . S . personnel .  Yet less than three months later , in the newly branded Operation "" Inherent Resolve , "" U . S . warplanes have blasted  fighters , vehicles and supply lines in Syria , as well as Iraq . There are more than 1 , 400 troops in Iraq and hundreds more aboard ships and in nearby countries carrying out airstrikes . U . S . attack helicopters have gone into battle against  in Anbar province .  It is indisputable that the campaign has widened .  planes this weekend intensified air strikes on the besieged Syrian town of Kobani , and dropped arms and ammunition to Kurdish forces locked in a struggle for the strategic choke point near the Turkish border .  There is every sign the anti  operation will go on for years . And there is no clear idea of what success will look like , despite Obama ' s vow to destroy  ' s "" network of death . ""  As for Ebola , the Pentagon didn ' t have a role when the outbreak exploded in west Africa .  But soon Obama warning the deadly epidemic could spark a national security crisis if left unchecked , announced plans to send 3 , 000 troops to build treatment centers and health care infrastructure . All this came with a caveat that no American soldiers would go near sick patients .  Soon , the Pentagon said the number of troops could go as high as 4 , 000 . Then last week , Obama issued an executive order clearing the way for reservists to be called up to fight Ebola if necessary , amid increasing frustration in the White House that  allies have not stepped up .    : U . S . , Arab nations attack  in Syria  On Sunday , the mission expanded further when the Pentagon revealed it was standing up a rapid reaction squad to leap into action should more Ebola cases emerge on the U . S . mainland opening the possibility that military officers would be exposed to infected patients for the first time .  Deepening U . S . involvement in Iraq and Syria seems to be the result of a reluctant conclusion by Obama that the burgeoning threat from  requires a wider  response .  But on Ebola , the president is personally and actively demanding the military get more involved .  The White House is walking a fine line . Obama faces skepticism from the Democratic left , which is skittish about new wars and warnings from Republicans that he isn ' t hawkish enough .  The administration insists there will be no "" boots on the ground "" in the  conflict and notes an international coalition is helping to bear the burden . Although  involvement may be deepening , it pales in comparison to the 150 , 000 strong U . S . garrison in Iraq when Obama took office , officials say .  Top Pentagon officials privately say the new mission list exposes the folly of current budget cuts at a time when the military is also being asked to bolster Obama ' s pivot to Asia and strengthen  to counter Russia . Top defense officials often cry wolf but they say this time they ' re not playing politics , and warn that in future they may not be able to answer every time the president calls .  It is ironic that Obama is parrying questions on mission creep , after being hammered by critics for "" leading from behind "" on Libya and for setting timelines for troop withdrawals from Iraq and Afghanistan rather than making drawdowns conditional on battlefield gains .  But presidents find themselves sucked deeper into military operations for many reasons including reverses in the field , temptations brought on by the unique capabilities of the  military or the realization that local allies are deficient . Sometimes , they just have their hands forced by rising political heat back home .  Some or all of these conditions may apply to both the Ebola and Iraq operations .  But in the  campaign at least , it ' s clear those in Obama ' s inner circle have the dangers of Middle East mission creep on their minds . The message is clearly that Obama will use force if necessary but not beyond certain points .  Top officials pushed back hard against the idea that U . S . ground troops will inevitably be drawn into the fight , and comments by Gen . Martin Dempsey , Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff , that  advisors could see combat advisors on the ground alongside Iraqi troops .  "" That ' s not come up the chain to anybody at the White House . And I don ' t anticipate that it will , "" National Security Advisor Susan Rice said on  ' s "" Meet the Press "" on October 12 .   commander Gen . Lloyd Austin rejected the idea that U . S . operations around Kobani represented a stretching of the military ' s orders , saying last week that he was simply exploiting a chance to hit  forces massed in the town .  "" I think that we really have to remain focused on the first task , and that is to help the Iraqis restore security and stability inside of the country of Iraq restore their borders regenerate forces to be able to help them do that , "" Austin said .  But there are concerns in Obama ' s political base that things are already going too far .  Anna Galland , executive director of progressive group MoveOn . org said that what started off as a humanitarian mission has morphed out of all recognition .  "" Our members are very concerned by the prospect of a slippery slope in Iraq and Syria back into another open ended war , "" she said .  "" We cannot allow the U . S . to be dragged into another endless war . Since the start of  military action in Iraq and Syria , I have been gravely concerned with mission creep , "" Lee said Tuesday .  But Lawrence Korb , a former assistant secretary of defense , said he believed the limited nature of the campaign would mitigate against public war fatigue .  "" I think now we have recognized that no one is going to transform the Middle East , "" Korb said , comparing the  operation to  anti terror strikes in Yemen and Somalia . "" We just deal with the immediate threats and keep them from getting out of hand . ""  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
20532,20533,"Reuters) - South Korean President Moon Jae-in said on Tuesday it would not be easy for reclusive North Korea to destroy its nuclear arsenal quickly, even if wanted to, given its weapons programs were so developed. North Korea is under heavy international pressure to end its weapons programs, pursued in defiance of U.N. Security Council resolutions. But it has vowed never to give up its nuclear arsenal. Speaking to reporters in the Philippines, Moon said that if North Korea agreed to hold talks, negotiations could be held with all options open.  If talks begin to resolve the North Korea nuclear issue, I feel it will be realistically difficult for North Korea to completely destroy its nuclear capabilities when their nuclear and missile arsenal are at a developed stage,  Moon said in a briefing.  If so, North Korea s nuclear program should be suspended, and negotiations could go on to pursue complete denuclearization.  Moon s remarks were made available by the presidential Blue House. Last week, the North said it did not oppose dialogue, but would  never put the issue related to the supreme interests of the  and security of its people on the bargaining table .  We are not interested in such dialogue and negotiations in the least,  the North s official news agency said, referring to the country by its official name, the Democratic People s Republic of Korea. The North defends the programs as a necessary defense against U.S. plans to invade. The United States, which has 28,500 troops in South Korea, a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean war, denies any such intention. U.S. President Donald Trump has traded insults and threats with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as North Korea races toward its goal of developing a nuclear-tipped missile capable of reaching the United States. Trump threatened in his maiden U.N. address to  totally destroy  North Korea if the United States was threatened and has said the time for talking, the policy of previous U.S. administrations, is over. Moon reiterated his stance that now was the time to increase pressure on North Korea so that it would come to talks.  He said differences in understanding between South Korea and China, North Korea s lone major ally, regarding the deployment of the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system on South Koran soil had not been resolved.  China has not said it has changed its stance to agree to  and still says  infringes on its security. We have, in turn, explained  is not aimed at China but only toward curbing North Korea s nuclear and missile provocations,  he said. Last month, South Korea and China agreed to end a year-long standoff over  which had seen South Korean companies doing business in China suffer from retaliation against the system s  deployment. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
20538,20539,"Insurance Prices for Many Obamacare Customers Will Rise By Double Digits in 2017    The cost of private health insurance arranged under President Obama’s health care law will rise by double-digit percentages and many Americans will have only one insurer to choose from, the White House confirmed.  The Associated Press reports :  Before taxpayer-provided subsidies, premiums for a midlevel benchmark plan will increase an average of 25 percent across the 39 states served by the federally run online market, according to a report from the Department of Health and Human Services. Some states will see much bigger jumps, others less.  Moreover, about 1 in 5 consumers will only have plans from a single insurer to pick from, after major national carriers such as UnitedHealth Group, Humana and Aetna scaled back their roles.  “Consumers will be faced this year with not only big premium increases but also with a declining number of insurers participating, and that will lead to a tumultuous open enrollment period,” said Larry Levitt, who tracks the health care law for the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation. …  In some states, the premium increases are striking. In Arizona, unsubsidized premiums for a hypothetical 27-year-old buying a benchmark “second-lowest cost silver plan” will jump by 116 percent, from $196 to $422, according to the administration report.  But  said if that hypothetical consumer has a fairly modest income, making $25,000 a year, the subsidies would cover $280 of the new premium, and the consumer would pay $142. Caveat: if the consumer is making $30,000 or $40,000 his or her subsidy would be significantly lower.  The total number of insurers will drop from 232 this year to 167 in 2017, a loss of 28 percent. Switching will be a burden for patients with chronic conditions or other complications.  While many carriers are offering a choice of plan designs, most use a single prescription formulary and physician network across all their products, explained Pearson. “So, enrollees may need to change doctors or drugs when they switch insurers,” she said.  Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has proposed “an array of fixes, including sweetening the law’s subsidies and allowing more people to qualify for financial assistance,”  reports. Americans will deliver profits to insurance companies either way, as subsidy money comes from taxpayers and represents a loss of public services Americans could otherwise provide themselves.",fake,news,test,World conflict,Economy,satire,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
20550,20551,"The Democratic infighting between Bernie Sanders and his supporters and Hillary Clinton and her supporters is about as useful as a fart in a jar. We re all on the same side, fighting for the same changes, fighting to make sure everyone gets a fair shake, fighting for the American people and against Republicans who want to tear us further apart.So, when false narratives are spoken that Hillary Clinton is somehow  copying  Bernie Sanders on some of his policy platform ideas, it serves absolutely no purpose other than to divide what needs to be a united front. Tell everyone what you re for, instead of trying to be ridiculously petty and disparaging in an effort to bring someone else down.One of the latest lies about Hillary Clinton is the remark that she somehow is copying Bernie Sanders on raising the minimum wage. However, if anyone has access to the internet, they can easily find a record of her accomplishments, as well as what she s proposed and advocated for   including a minimum wage increase.Watch the video below and you will see Hillary pushing for a raise in the minimum wage back in 1995   that s over 20 years ago. She s clearly been pushing for a better standard of living for workers nationwide long before she even remotely dreamed of running for president.This election needs to be about what each candidate brings to the table; their experience, their plans, their ability to get it done. What this election should not be about, is trying to dissuade people from voting based on lies.And if we re going to really try to get real about wages, we need to think about solutions that will actually work. A flat minimum wage increase, while sounding great on paper, simple to understand, and is a great place to start, won t be as effective as tying wages to the cost of living nationwide.  even put out a living wage calculator to help the process along. This may mean higher than a $15/hr wage in some regions, and lower in others. The cost of doing business is different in different regions as well, and that also always needs to be taken into consideration. If businesses are shuttered because they can t afford to stay open, that doesn t help anyone. But it is true that more money in people s pockets puts more money back into the economy, and is the trickle up economy that will serve to help everyone. That s just basic economics.Solutions are there if we re willing to look for them, and we need to figure this out, but that s not going to happen through the noise of trivial political games.// < ![CDATA[ // < ![CDATA[ // < ![CDATA[ // < ![CDATA[ // < ![CDATA[ (function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = ""//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.3""; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk')); // ]]>Hillary in 1995: Raising the minimum wage is the right thing to do. Hillary in 2016: Still true.Posted by Hillary Clinton on Tuesday, April 5, 2016Featured image via video screen capture",fake,dataset,test,Other news2,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,present
20554,20555,"President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Cheryl Boone Isaacs attends the nominees during the 88th Oscars Nominations Announcement at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on January 14 , 2016 in Los Angeles .    Since the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said it was altering membership rules in response to an outcry over the diversity of its voters and nominees , another uproar has erupted around Hollywood . Many academy members are protesting that the new measures unjustly scapegoat older academy members and imply they ' re racist .  Reforms meant to calm a crisis seem to have only further enflamed it . This year ' s Feb . 28 Academy Awards are looking less like a glitzy gala and more like a battlefield .  Writer , producer and director Adam McKay brought us comedy hits like Anchorman , Talladega Nights and Step Brothers . His latest movie , The . . .  "" We all have to calm down a bit . The conversation has become unduly vitriolic , "" says Rod Lurie , the writer director of "" Straw Dogs "" and "" The Contender "" and a member of the academy ' s directors ' branch . "" Nobody in the academy should dignify any accusations of racism , "" Lurie said in an interview , "" but there obviously are biases that are created by the demographics of the academy . ""  The typically slow moving academy acted swiftly last week , holding an emergency meeting of its Board of Governors . In the wake of a second straight year of all white acting nominees and calls for a boycott of the Oscars broadcast the 51 member board unanimously voted to revamp membership rules in an effort to change the makeup of the largely white , male and older association of some 7 , 000 exclusive members .  Though Oscar voting was previously for life , it will now be restricted to members who have been active in the industry within the past 10 years , with a few exceptions like for previous Oscar nominees . The academy also set a goal to double minority and female members by 2020 .  Some academy members , while applauding efforts to diversify the academy , said taking away voting rights from older members smacks of ageism , and that they aren ' t to blame for the dearth of minority nominees in the past two years the industry is .  The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences just announced sweeping changes designed to make the Academy ' s membership and voting body signifi . . .  Studies have shown that minorities remain underrepresented in all levels of the movie business , from protagonists on screen to executives who can green light a film . But the last two years are something of an aberration in recent Oscar history . In the 10 years prior , 24 of the 200 acting nominees were black . ( Far less is the rate of nods for Hispanics or Asian Americans , however . )  William Goldstein , a composer and longtime academy member , chastised the academy in a Los Angeles Times editorial for "" capitulating to political correctness "" while missing the bigger picture . He believes outreach and mentor programs will make a difference , not manipulating demographics .  "" The set of voters that they ' re going to get rid of have seen more movies and have more context in which to judge something than any newbie coming into the academy , "" Goldstein told The Associated Press . "" You can bring in more women , you can bring in more anybody . Everybody ' s a human being . They ' re going to vote what they ' re going to vote . Nothing ' s going to change . ""  In a letter to the academy , Stephen Geller , a member of the writers branch and screenwriter of "" Slaughterhouse Five , "" accused academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs of "" grey listing "" its older members . Stephen Furst , the 60 year old actor and academy member best known as Flounder from "" Animal House , "" wrote to the academy lamenting "" the insulting and unfounded generalities the academy has made about the character and judgment of older academy members . ""  James Woods , the 68 year old , twice nominated actor , went further : "" The motion picture academy announced separate bathroom facilities today : one for Members and one for Old White People , "" he mocked on Twitter .  The academy indirectly responded to the furor in the "" frequently asked questions "" section of its website on Monday . "" We ' re not excluding older members , "" it reads . "" These rules are not about age . In fact , under the new rules many veteran Academy members will retain voting privileges . ""  Others , though , maintained that the academy ' s steps don ' t address the real problems of the industry . Directors Guild of America president Paris Barclay in a statement said "" structural changes "" were needed in Hollywood to change hiring practices .  "" Many times , with the best of intentions , a subject that is a symptom of this industry plague , but not the root cause , is targeted , "" said Barclay . "" This alone will do little to create more choices and get more films and television made that reflect the diversity we all deserve . ""  President Barack Obama also spoke of a more expansive solution when he weighed in on the controversy Wednesday . Obama told   in Los Angeles that the Oscar debate is an expression of a broader issue : "" Are we making sure that everybody is getting a fair shot ? "" Obama said the film industry should do what others should do as well : "" Look for talent and provide opportunity to everybody . ""  In a letter to Isaacs requesting a meeting , Marc Morial , president of the National Urban League , Rev . Al Sharpton and Melanie Campbell , president of the National Coalition on Black Civil Participation , called the academy ' s plan "" anemic and inadequate . ""  Part of their frustration , Morial said in an interview , is that he ' s seen previous declarations made on diversity come and go . He specifically cited conversations that didn ' t lead anywhere with Sony Pictures after leaked emails led then co chairman Amy Pascal to apologize for private comments denounced as racist .  Morial is seeking wider , systemic change from the academy and the studios .  "" Hollywood wants to deal with this as a communications crisis , not a crisis of substance , "" said Morial . "" We ' ve got to do something different . The industry has seen commitments made and then they just get beyond the crisis . ""  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
20557,20558,"Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps has confirmed that he will take a break from swimming to attend a programme following his arrest for drink driving .  The  athlete was arrested for driving while under the influence for a second time on Tuesday where police said he was travelling 84mph in a 45mph zone . Phelps was booked and released .  The 29 year old took to Twitter on Sunday to express his disappointment in himself and confirm he was seeking help to ' make better decisions in the future ' .  18 time Olympic gold medallist Michael Phelps was arrested for drink driving on Tuesday  Police arrested Phelps after he was caught driving 84mph in a 45mph zone in Baltimore  ' The past few days have been extremely difficult , ' he said . ' I recognise that this is not my first lapse in judgment , and I am extremely disappointed with myself .  ' I ' m going to take some time away to attend a programme that will provide the help I need to better understand myself .  ' Swimming is a major part of my life , but right now I need to focus my attention on me as an individual , and do the necessary work to learn from this experience and make better decisions in the future . '  Phelps confirmed he would be taking a break from swimming through a series of tweets on Sunday  29 year old ( pictured partying hard during a 2008 Bahamas vacation ) was unable to perform standard field sobriety tests , though he remained ' cooperative throughout ' the encounter with police they said  Phelps previously courted controversy when he was pictured holding a bong and subsequently banned for three months in 2009 .  In November 2004 , he pleaded guilty to driving while impaired and was fas fined 250 and ordered to serve 18 months ' probation .  The most successful athlete in Olympic history retired after the London 2012 Games , having a collected a record 18 gold medals and 22 medals in total .  He returned to competition this year winning three golds and two silvers at the Pan Pacific Championships in August in the hope of making the 2016 Games in Rio .  Phelps is the most decorated Olympian in sports history , winning 18 Olympic golds during his career  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
20565,20566,"Two cousins have died and another man is in hospital after they apparently took a batch of legal highs at a house party .  Dean Boswell and Stephen John were found dead in their beds the morning after they both attended a party in Pembroke Dock , West Wales .  Another friend was hospitalised after falling ill from taking the same substance , believed to be a synthetic psychoactive drug .  Police are now investigating the sudden death of Mr Boswell , 36 , who was a builder , and his second cousin Mr John , 40 , and are awaiting the results of toxicology tests .  Death : Dean Boswell , left , and Stephen John , right , died after taking a legal high at a house party  Health officials have warned that legal highs are becoming stronger , leading to a rise in the number of people being hospitalised after taking them .  A friend said that the three men were at a party together 10 days ago where several people took legal highs , before they returned to their separate homes .  She said : ' There were a group having a good time together on Friday night and it appears Dean and Stephen took some kind of legal high which has ended up killing them .  ' It is so tragic as both of them were so full of life and had everything to live for . '  Mr Boswell ' s mother Wynfrai said that she found her son dead in his bedroom on the morning of her 59th birthday , and vowed to use his funeral this week to alert others to the dangers of drugs .  ' Dean wasn ' t a heavy drug user he maybe had the odd smoke , ' she said . ' I suspect they thought they were invincible .  Deadly : Legal highs such as mephedrone , pictured , have grown in popularity in recent years  ' It is too early to speak about all this for both families but the vicar will be saying something about drugs at the funeral .  ' Something has to be done about the people who sell drugs and the deaths that are happening in the town .  The family was previously struck by tragedy when Mr Boswell ' s sister died on Valentine ' s Day a few years ago .  In recent years , there has been a huge surge in the number of deaths linked to legal highs .  97 people were found dead with the substances in their system in 2012 , up from 12 in 2009 . It means the toll has risen by eight times in three years .  In around two thirds of cases , the post mortem examination established that the legal high was the direct cause of death .  Ministers have already introduced bans on some former legal highs , including mephedrone known as meow meow NBOMe and Benzofury .  A ban on synthetic stimulant mephedrone came into force across the  in 2010 . The drug is now a Class B substance , along with its associated compounds .  The two cousins were said to be very close to one another , and as they were both avid fans of Liverpool  they will have the club ' s crest on their coffins at their funerals  A spokesman for Dyfed Powys Police said : ' An investigation is ongoing into the cause of their deaths . Police are awaiting results of a toxicology test in order to establish the cause of death . '  The police added : ' Police in Pembrokeshire are committed to the ongoing fight against substance misuse across the county . Enforcement activities take place regularly , but we also educate people on the risks of substance misuse .  ' We want young people in particular to be informed and aware of the serious dangers of substance misuse , and encourage family and friends to look out for them by familiarising themselves with the tell tale signs of misuse of drugs . '  Anti drug groups say that legal highs officially known as New Psychoactive Substances are getting stronger and more readily available .  Josie Smith , from the Welsh drug testing agency Wedinos , said : ' What we have found in the past year is an increase in the strength of  drugs .  ' They have addiction potential far higher than some of the controlled substances . '  Doctors are also concerned by the effects of the drugs bought online and in so called ' head shops ' .  Julia Lewis , of the Aneurin Bevan Health Board in South Wales , said : ' We are seeing increasing numbers of people going into mental health units with acute psychotic episodes after having taken some of these legal substances .  ' We are hearing of quite young people having heart attacks I treated one 17 year old boy who ' d had a small heart attack on one of these substances . '  Danger : Owain Vaughan , 14 , pictured with mother Jenny , was hospitalised thanks to a legal high  Three schoolboys from Glynneath in South Wales have been hospitalised after they took a legal high which they had bought over the counter .  Owain Vaughan , 14 , took the drug with friends and was rushed to hospital after suffering severe fits , low blood pressure , burst blood vessels in his face and violent nausea .  When he came round , he insisted he had never taken drugs before but said he assumed the substance would be safe because it was legal .  His mother Jennie said : ' I ' m so embarrassed but people need to be aware . My boy was given a legal high and ended up in A E .  ' I had no sleep for over 24 hours and thought my baby was going to die . I don ' t want any other child or parent to go through this . '  After his ordeal , Owain posted a message on Facebook warning his friends not to dabble with drugs which could turn out to be unsafe or even deadly .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
20567,20568,"Laquan McDonald Protests Shut Down Chicago ' s ' Magnificent Mile '  "" The pain that we ' re feeling in neighborhoods now needs to be felt on Michigan Avenue . ""  Posted : 11 27 2015 02 : 09   Edited : 11 27 2015 02 : 10    Hundreds of protesters in Chicago shut down Michigan Avenue on Friday as part of a ? march along the city ' s "" Magnificent Mile . ""  The demonstrators took to the streets to bring attention to the 2014 police shooting of 17 year old Laquan McDonald , whose death occurred under dramatically different circumstances than those described in official police accounts , video released last week shows . Jason Van Dyke , the officer involved in the shooting , has been charged with first degree murder .  Police accounts of the shooting said the teenager was acting strangely and lunged at officers with a knife . While McDonald did have a small knife on him , the video shows he was walking away from officers when Van Dyke opened fire , emptying his entire ammunition clip into the teenager and then attempting to reload .  Video of the protest Friday captured demonstrators yelling ? "" 16 shots , "" a reference to the number of times Van Dyke shot McDonald , and "" Stop the cover up . ""  Police accounts of the shooting reported the teenager was acting strangely and lunged at officers with a knife . While McDonald did have a small knife on him , the video shows he was walking away from officers when Van Dyke opened fire , emptying his entire ammunition clip into the teenager , then attempting to reload .  "" This is something that has touched the conscience of our entire city , "" Reverend Marshall Hatch , one of the protesters , told ABC7 . ? "" We need to project just how the pain that we ' re feeling in neighborhoods now needs to be felt on Michigan Avenue . ""  Hatch also appealed for demonstrators to keep the march peaceful .  Protesters called for the resignation of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel , Cook County State ' s Attorney Anita Alvarez and Chicago Superintendent of Police Garry McCarthy .  See more photos and video of the march below :  Front line of Chicago LaquanMcDonald BlackoutBlackFriday march . intense crowd proceeding thru downtown traffic pic . twitterweblink iYPTvQ88BV  maybe 200 protesters at kickoff of Mag Mile march laquanmcdonald pic . twitterweblink kwbJqe9c2d  Third wave . Thousands here at Water Tower for BlackFriday LaquanMcDonald protest . "" No shopping ! "" pic . twitterweblink wc12U8k4E5  ",true,text,test,US elections,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
20583,20584,"Defeating  there will require more than just frequent air strikes and sophisticated equipment .  Ramadi district mayor Hamid al Dulaimi said : Our security forces launched an operation from Khaldiya , east of Ramadi , and managed to liberate the College of Agriculture .  Seizing Ramadi boosted the Islamic State s morale at a critical time .  Iraqi forces have since claimed to have liberated the strategically important city of Ramadi ? which was previously overrun with hundreds of  fighters ? with the help of a special coalition strike force .  The head of the Anbar Provincial Council , Sabah Al Karhut , told  the attacks happened in quick succession . The lessons and best practices from Ramadi ought to be consolidated to carve out a strategy that may apply to Iraq as well as the larger region affected by  . They captured all of it last May .  The Iraqi troops recaptured the Iraqi city last week , after it had been held by  forces for the past 18 months . The Iraqi government is overwhelmingly Shiite . Many Sunnis have become Islamic State militants .  He said they were detained on Thursday and would be interrogated .  Everyone should allow the Sunnis to basically run their own affairs , Nuri continues , and make sure the Iraqi army or the Iraqi government is not going in there a few months from now and ruin it once again . We got in touch with each other and left all together at seven in the morning . He used the Arabic acronym for the Islamic State (  ) . We ran for about 10 minutes .  The group killed the men after taking them prisoner at the base however only 400 bodies have been found since .  Maj . Salam Hussein told Reuters television that the militants were using families as human shields . I m not making excuses for the army they had plenty of other problems . It s ambitious to say they re going to take Mosul in 2016 . Even though I am living in a camp , at least I am not among the savages , she added . One can only hope for the sake of so many that this is indeed the case ? and sooner rather than later . It is the capital of Anbar province .  The Iraqi army of December that Islamic State confronted at Ramadi is much more lethal than it was in April .  An unidentified source toldthe Agence France Presse (  ) news agency the extremist group sent six suicide vehicles followed by fighters wearing explosive belts to an Iraqi compound in north Ramadi on Friday .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,past
20589,20590,"Hillary Clinton is in trouble . Keep an eye on Bernie Sanders  Attention is focused on Donald Trump and the Republicans . But the Democrats have a wild outsider of their own to deal with and he ' s polling well in Iowa and New Hampshire  Mr Sanders speaking at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena earlier this month ? Photo : Corbis  What if we re all talking about the wrong race ?  Attention is focused right now on Donald Trump s seemingly inexorably rise to the Republican nomination . He even has a theme tune : three kids singing  ! to the tune of Over There ? an ironic pick for someone who doesn t want people coming over here .  But presidential nominations are not won purely on national polls . They re a series of pitched battles in individual states over a number of dates . Losing one makes it more likely that you ll lose more . And Donald Trump is currently in trouble in the first in the nation caucus of Iowa .  Some polls put him behind Ted Cruz . If he was to place second , he d be wounded . If he placed third then he could be in serious trouble . Iowa has killed leading candidacies before ? such as Howard Dean in 2004 ( remember the roar he gave after losing ? ) . Trump can rebound in New Hampshire and that might revive him . But by then , our attention might have shifted elsewhere .  Hillary is also getting nervous . Vermont senator Bernie Sanders , according to some polls , is catching up with her in Iowa ? the state that rejected Mrs Clinton in 2008 and elevated Barack Obama . To make matter worse , she is also doing very poorly for a frontrunner in New Hampshire . Sanders , a socialist , benefits from grassroots enthusiasm and record breaking fundraising . He also benefits from the ideological polarisation of America .  We talk a lot about the extremism of the Republican Party . In the past few decades , it has embraced ideological conservatism and sacrificed much moderate support . But a similar phenomenon has occurred among the Democrats . The southern populist tradition has been wiped out in elections ? the tradition , ironically , that put Bill Clinton in the White House . Rustbelt social conservatism is dead the fiscal conservatism of 1980s style neo liberals is extinct .  Sanders is widely perceived as having set the tone of the primary race , with Clinton endorsing many of his positions ? promising to be a better campaigner for social democracy than he . Andy Borowitz , the wit at the New Yorker , wrote : Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton is on pace to adopt rival Bernie Sanders s positions on all major issues by noon on Thursday , Clinton campaign officials have confirmed .  Clinton has to effect these u turns to stop the flow of votes to Sanders . For instance , she has flipped from being an advocate of free trade to criticising the Trans Pacific Partnership .  Hillary Clinton speaks during a roundtable discussion with students and educators in Monticello , Iowa ? Photo : Justin Sullivan Getty Images  Whether you are for or against this left wing agenda , the point is that the Democrats are ? more quietly and calmly ? engaged in a Trump moment of their very own . The base has been energised by a wild , charismatic , outsider . And the establishment is struggling to catch up . The effort is unflattering and underscores Hillary s reputation for being vague and oh so desperate for votes .  She also faces continued attacks on her record as secretary of state and , even more embarrassing , a growing call to discuss the sexual activities of her husband when he was in office . Clinton has high negatives in polling . She could be a disaster waiting to happen .  So let s imagine that Trump places a poor third in Iowa and his national numbers suddenly collapse . Bernie , meanwhile , wins the Democrat caucus and his numbers jump . If Sanders follows that up with a big win in New Hampshire ? doesn t that make him competitive ? At this stage , we can only speculate . But I would advise people to keep an eye on the Democrats and an open mind about November .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
20591,20592,"Jose Mourinho was so exasperated with the officiating of Phil Dowd that he allegedly screamed : ' You ' re too fat to referee . '  The Chelsea manager is said to have launched the astonishing attack against the 51 year old following defeat at Tottenham Hotspur on New Year ' s Day , reports the Mirror .  Spurs went on to beat Mourinho ' s side 5 3 at White Hart Lane , with the Portuguese flabbergasted at the number of decisions to go against them .  Jose Mourinho is said to have berated referee Phil Dowd over his performance in the 5 3 defeat at Tottenham  The Chelsea boss allegedly described Dowd as being ' too fat to referee ' and told him he should retire  Andros Townsend scored a penalty after Harry Kane was brought down by Gary Cahill in the area  Spurs went on to beat Mourinho ' s side 5 3 at White Hart Lane with Mourinho unhappy at the decisions  ' You ' re too fat to referee , you should retire , ' Mourinho is said to have shouted . ' You ' ve cost us . '  Dowd opted not to award Chelsea a penalty for handball when they were leading early on , an event which Mourinho felt changed the game .  The pair are said to have made up after the event , which saw Mourinho allow his emotions to run away with him in the tunnel .  But he went on afterwards , claiming Dowd was ' too slow ' in the post match press conference .  Mourinho has already been slapped with a misconduct charge by the Football Association for claiming there is a ' campaign ' against the Premier League leaders .  Dowd talks to Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas during the Blues ' defeat at Tottenham  Dowd attempts to restore order as Chelsea and Tottenham players squabble during the clash  Mourinho has reportedly now made up with Dowd , saying his emotions got the better of him at the time  He has until 6pm on Tuesday to appeal the charge and is set to contest it .  The remarks came after the 1 1 draw away at Southampton on December 28 Mourinho losing control when Anthony Taylor booked Cesc Fabregas for simulation when the midfielder looked as if he ' d been tripped .  ' There is a campaign against Chelsea . I don ' t know why there is this campaign and I do not care . Everybody knows it was a penalty , ' he said .  An  statement last week read : ' It is alleged his remarks constitute improper conduct in that they allege and or imply bias on the part of a referee or referees and or bring the game into disrepute . '  Mourinho chose not to speak to the media after the weekend win against Newcastle .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
20598,20599,"The founder of the Paris ice cream brand beloved of the city ' s international tourists , Raymond Berthillon , has died at the age of 90 .  A visit to the Ile Saint Louis in the heart of Paris and a stone ' s throw from Notre Dame is on many a tourists ' itinerary , partly for the architecture , the gift shopping , and the chance to take pictures of the cathedral , but also because it is the home of Berthillon ice cream .  Along the picturesque island ' s narrow 17th century streets , queues stretch all day and well into the night at the family run company ' s handful of outlets , surrounded by the Seine river .  Outside the famous Berthillon ice cream parlour : Raymond Berthillon flanked by granddaughter Muriel , right , daughter Marie Josee and son in law Bernard , left  Some 1 , 000 litres of homemade ice cream , made from all natural ingredients , is produced daily  The son of a baker , Berthillon took over his mother in law ' s cafe hotel La Bourgogne on the island at the age of 30 . La Bourgogne remains the centrepiece of the Berthillon ice cream empire to this day .  The ice cream shop first gained fame in 1961 when French restaurant guide Gault Millau wrote about ' this astonishing ice cream shop hidden in a bistro on the Ile Saint Louis ' .  Berthillon ' s death on Saturday was announced in Monday ' s Le Figaro newspaper .  The business , which celebrated its 60th birthday this year , posted a photograph of its founder in black and white at the top of its website on Monday , titled simply ' Raymond Berthillon 1923 2014 ' .  TripAdvisor has ranked Glacier Berhillion fourth out of 383 shopping attractions in Paris , with many reviewers saying it has the ' best ice cream I ' ve ever tasted '  The company is owned and operated by the Chauvin family , descendants of the eponymous Monsieur Berthillon  Queues stretch all day and well into the night at the family run company ' s handful of outlets  Raymond Berthillon ' s granddaughter Muriel behind the counter at the ice cream parlour on the Ile Saint Louis  Basic vanilla ice cream was the favourite flavour of Raymond Berthillon but the shop sells around 70 varieties  The ice cream shop first gained fame in 1961 when French restaurant guide Gault Millau wrote about it  ' La fraise du bois melba ' is one of the many ice cream creations available at Berthillon  Berthillon took over his mother in law ' s cafe hotel La Bourgogne on the island at the age of 30  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
20615,20616,"They ' re everywhere here : on the sides of buses and along the walls of subway stations , posters for the upcoming film "" The Social Network "" bearing little else than the three words ""  ,  ,  "" and a partial headshot of lead actor Jesse Eisenberg .  Likewise , buzz about the David Fincher directed film about the contested origins of Facebook , based on Ben Mezrich ' s book "" The Accidental Billionaires , "" has been growing now that its hyped premiere at the New York Film Festival is less than a month away . Its wide theatrical release is on October 1 .  This week , at least in the mainstream press , the narrative has taken a turn for the speculative : Will the film actually be both a box office hit and an awards contender ?  Will Facebook ' s chilliness toward the movie , which it did not sanction and has characterized as "" fiction , "" affect its performance or will a strong performance at the box office affect the public ' s perception of Facebook ?  Igniting all these questions is the fact that "" The Social Network "" is apparently not just good , but excellent .  The sole long form review of the film comes from Film Comment , a publication operated by  parent Film Society of Lincoln Center .  Critic Scott Foundas characterized "" The Social Network "" as a "" portrait of a self made outsider marking his territory in the  jungle "" akin to F . Scott Fitzgerald ' s classic "" The Great Gatsby , "" and speculated that it may come to be considered a microcosm of the Digital Age in the same way that "" Gatsby "" encapsulates the Jazz Age .  "" ' The Social Network ' offers a despairing snapshot of society at the dawn of the 21st century , so advanced , so ' connected , ' yet so closed and constrained by all the centuries old prejudices and preconceptions about how our heroes and villains are supposed to look , sound , and act , "" Foundas wrote . "" For Mark Zuckerberg has arrived , and yet still seems unsettled and out of place . ""  A few others have seen it , too . In a tweet , Rolling Stone magazine critic Peter Travers gave the movie four stars and called it "" the movie of the year that also brilliantly defines the decade . ""  Whether it actually is as good as a handful of early reviewers say it is , "" The Social Network "" could really be the first major , zeitgeisty film that portrays the "" digital generation , "" or Generation Y , or whatever you choose to call it , as adults the film that will be evoked for decades as emblematic of the climate that caused whatever generational neuroses that the "" millennials "" experience down the road .  That ' s something that the film ' s excellent theatrical trailer , scored with a haunting choral cover of Radiohead ' s "" Creep , "" starts to drum up with its emphasis on social status , the enormous amount of deeply intimate information shared online through social networks like Facebook , and a snippet set in a nightclub in which Justin Timberlake , portraying former Facebook executive Sean Parker , declares confidently , "" This is our time . ""  The cast alone may be sufficient to draw crowds .  Eisenberg , cast as Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg , is shaping up to look like a more astute choice than some of the better known actors who were said to be up for the part a young A lister like Shia LaBeouf or Michael Cera could come across as too played out by now , or overshadow the rest of the film .  The supporting cast may be a big draw , too , in part because of the roles that some of the relatively unknown young actors have lined up for next year .  Andrew Garfield , portraying spurned Facebook co founder Eduardo Saverin , will be the next Spider Man Rooney Mara , playing a fictionalized version of a girl Zuckerberg had been dating around the time that he founded Facebook , will be the eponymous "" Girl With The Dragon Tattoo "" in the film adaptation of Stieg Larsson ' s bestselling novel ( also directed by Fincher ) .  Some speculators had wondered whether Timberlake , a pop singer who was gracing the cover of teen magazines with the rest of boy band ' N Sync at the time when his character Parker was an executive at Napster , would be the film ' s weak link . Perhaps not : Foundas said that the quality of Timberlake ' s performance is "" surprising . ""  So what of the concerns about accuracy ?  "" Inside Facebook , they think the movie will not be good for Mark ' s image , and that worries them , "" journalist David Kirkpatrick , who wrote the Facebook authorized "" The Facebook Effect , "" said in an interview with  Today .  The article explained that Kirkpatrick had spoken to the producers of "" The Social Network "" about signing on to a consultant role for the film , but that he "" objected to the story "" and Facebook "" said it would not cooperate on his book "" if he took the gig .  In the same interview , Kirkpatrick said that "" The Social Network "" will "" fundamentally misrepresent Facebook ' s origins "" but that its only real impact will probably be to "" make Mark ( Zuckerberg ) a celebrity . ""  Entertainment blog HollywoodNews brought up the fact that while some believe that straying from history cost the 1999 Denzel Washington film "" The Hurricane "" the Best Picture accolade at the Oscars , fictionalizing some detail didn ' t derail 2001 ' s "" A Beautiful Mind "" from winning the same award .  A story in The New York Times about Facebook management ' s grappling with the potential success of "" The Social Network "" including attempts on behalf of the company to lobby for modifications to the script mentions that a "" mostly made up "" scene "" that depicted Sean Parker . . . delivering his dialogue while a pair of teenage girls offer partygoers lines of cocaine from bared breasts "" was in cutting room limbo .  But while this allegedly contested scene in "" The Social Network "" sounds sleazy enough to make the film seem a little bit more lowbrow than your average Oscar contender , it certainly has been pulling in more buzz .  When it started to look like the scene was staying in the picture , it instantly became headline worthy .  "" Justin Timberlake ' s naughty party scene uncut in ' Social Network ' , "" a HollywoodNews headline read . JoBloweblink was a little bit blunter : "" Boobs and cocaine won ' t get cut from ' Social Network ' after all . ""  2010  Interactive Inc . All rights reserved .  , CNETweblink and the  logo are registered trademarks of  Interactive Inc . Used by permission .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
20624,20625,"According to the most recent  statistics , almost two thirds of British people are now overweight or obese and as a result , demand for gastric bypass surgery has shot up .  But surgery doesn ' t always provide the hoped for outcome and as Sarah , the 25 year old star of Channel 4 documentary , My Baggy Body , knows only too well , it can create problems of its own .  Sarah , and co stars Gregg and Pauline , all suffer from the same embarrassing affliction rolls of over stretched empty skin that ' s failed to snap back and has left them feeling ashamed of their bodies .  Miserable : Sarah , 25 , was left with mounds of excess skin after losing 9st following a gastric bvpass  It ' s all the more galling for Gregg , 30 , a school dinner chef , because unlike the other two , his dramatic 12st weight loss was the result of sheer hard work .  ' It was my fault , ' he says of his morbidly obese former frame . ' I can ' t walk past a fridge without going in it .  ' If I ' d got a gastric band , I wouldn ' t have learned anything . It feels like cheating . It took a lot of hard , hard graft to slim down .  ' I was waking up to go swimming and do a mile in the pool , going to work and then going to the gym at night . '  Three years after he first joined Weight Watchers and hit the gym , Gregg finally achieved the healthy weight he ' d been hoping for but says he ' s been unable to move on with his life because of the huge amount of baggy skin he was left with .  Ruined : Gregg says that his rolls of excess skin have hindered him in his quest for true love  Risk : Although gastric bands will reduce bodyweight , they can also leave baggy skin behind  Surgery : Gregg has since had his baggy skin removed after taking a second job and saving up  ' In my head , it was get slim , get a girlfriend , settle down all the things normal people have , ' he explains .  But the excess skin has proved a hindrance and he blames it for the end of his last relationship , a six week fling that collapsed after he plucked up the courage to show her his baggy body .  ' That ' s the only thing I can think of , ' he adds . ' It ' s the body that put her off . '  Sarah , who lost nine stone after having gastric bypass surgery , tells a similar story and confesses to being reluctant to marry her fiance Ed while encumbered with pounds of excess skin .  ' I still feel fat and that ' s because I have tyres , that are not tyres of fat anymore , but tyres of skin , ' she explains .  She adds : ' I ' ve got a gorgeous family , I ' ve got Ed , I ' ve got my daughter Erin . . . The only thing that ' s not beautiful is me . '  To get rid of it , both Gregg and Sarah applied for  funded surgery . But with only one in 10 requests accepted , both were denied in Sarah ' s case because she still needs to lose another two stone to be eligible .  Although Sarah has opted for therapy in a bid to come to terms with her extra skin , Gregg has chosen a different route .  After being denied surgery on the  , he took a second job at a local Conservative Club and tackled a sponsored assault course and 12 mile run in a bid to raise 8 , 000 for a full body lift .  ' All parents don ' t want their kids to  suffer , they want them to be happy , healthy , ' explains Gregg ' s father Simon . ' We ' re the same with ours . '  Gruesome : Pauline , who used to have a 2st 4lb lump of skin named ' Fred ' also appears on the documentary  Seven weeks after surgery , Gregg is healed and ready to start his search for love .  ' All my negative thoughts about my body are going , ' he explains . ' I ' m looking forward to going out and meeting people , ladies in particular !  He adds : ' Everyone fears rejection no one likes getting shot down but I ' ve given everything to give me and my body a chance . '  My Baggy Body , tonight at 10pm on Channel 4  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
20625,20626,"To begin with , the Eagles were facing a huge hit against the salary cap with McCoy in 2015 . They could ' ve bit the bullet and paid him or attempted to restructure the contract and push some of that money into future years , but either was a commitment to an aging player at a replaceable position .  McCoy is 27 years old . A recent study by  Stats Information shows , on average , running back decline begins at 28 .  Granted , Alonso has not panned out thus far , and it ' s not as if there weren ' t concerns there . He posted a great line as a rookie in 2013 with 159 tackles , two sacks , four interceptions and a forced fumble but missed all of last season with a torn  . Sure enough , Alonso missed time this year after aggravating that same injury .  However , it ' s much too soon to declare he will not return to form . Part of Alonso ' s struggles right now is the time he missed this season , as well as in training camp and preseason with other maladies . He hasn ' t had a lot of time in Philadelphia ' s defense or to get used to the speed of the game again .  The Eagles believed they were trading a running back in the final years of his prime for a linebacker on a rookie contract with the potential to develop into a perennial Pro Bowler .  McCoy is having an excellent season in Buffalo , but as he inches toward 30 , sooner or later his production will fall off . Alonso is having a rough season for the Eagles , but next year he ' ll have a better understanding of the scheme and , one would hope , be over the knee issue .  Even if McCoy keeps on racking up 1 , 000 yard seasons and Alonso never lives up to the hype he built during a tremendous rookie season , it ' s hard to fault the Eagles for making the trade . It may not work out in the end , but the thinking behind the move was sound .  ",true,text,test,American football,Economy,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
20642,20643,"Dennis Marx wore body armor and a gas mask . He brandished an assault rifle , an assortment of grenades , "" all kinds of ammunition "" and even used his silver Nissan  as a weapon of sorts , according to authorities . The 48 year old man toted his own water supply and flexible handcuffs , presumably to corral hostages once he got inside the north Georgia courthouse .  As Forsyth County Sheriff Duane Piper said , "" He came prepared to do this . ""  But Dennis Marx never even made it inside .  A nearly three minute long gunfight Friday ended with Marx dead , after being confronted by a swarm of law enforcement officers .  They seemingly came from everywhere from the jail across the street , as part of a  team that happened to be nearby and even inside the courthouse where they busted out windows in order to get more angles to target the attacked .  Piper singled out one officer in particular a veteran sheriff ' s deputy who first confronted Marx , who then tried to run the deputy over for his vital part in deterring the attacker . Shot twice in the leg , the deputy was the only person wounded despite what the sheriff called "" a full frontal assault . ""  "" It was very close to being a major catastrophe , "" Piper said . "" The deputy that was shot . . . averted what , I think , would have been a lot more deaths . ""  Swift , significant response to attack  Marx was supposed to be at the Forsyth County Courthouse in Cumming . Court documents show he faced 11 felony charges 10 of them related to the manufacture , possession and sale of illicit drugs , including marijuana , plus one count of having a firearm while in the commission of a felony dating back to August 2011 .  According to the sheriff ' s office , he was expected to enter a plea Friday before Chief Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Bagley .  Needless to say , he never made it .  Instead , around 10 a . m . Friday , Marx drove up to the courthouse , threw out "" homemade spike strips "" to delay any police response , and tried to run over the deputy , Piper said .  The deputy a 30 year veteran whose duties include canvassing the scene outside the courthouse opened fire , and Marx returned fire through his windshield .  He didn ' t stop with bullets . According to the sheriff , Marx tossed tear gas grenades , smoke grenades and pepper spray grenades something he could do more easily with his gas mask strapped on .  Despite this barrage of weapons , the sheriff ' s deputy was able to distract Marx , to slow him . Even a little delay made a big difference , as officers armed with assault rifles came over from the jail across the street .  A  team pulled up about 30 seconds into the firefight and engaged the attacker , according to Piper . The sheriff initially estimated the whole thing took 90 seconds but , after watching more video , he doubled that time .  However long it lasted , it ended with Marx dead of multiple gunshot wounds .  With eight officers opening fire at one point , authorities don ' t yet know which one of them fired the fatal shot .  ' He was there to occupy the courthouse '  Afterward , the wounded deputy identified by local media as James Daniel Rush was transported to a local hospital .  There , the officer had surgery for fractures to his fibula and tibia in the lower right leg , injuries Piper said weren ' t life threatening .  But his colleagues still had to work to do . They went to Marx ' s home in Cumming , a small city about 35 northeast of downtown Atlanta , with every expectation that it was booby trapped .  As Piper said : "" Last time we were at the home , we were suspicious because it had been booby trapped before . ""  Once they finally made their way in and cleared the house , they found homemade explosives , according to a law enforcement source . It wasn ' t clear whether those were attempted booby traps .  A preliminary investigation found that Marx hadn ' t been in his Cumming home for about 10 days . Besides that , little is known about him beyond that he began working at the Transportation Security Administration in October 2002 , according to a U . S . official , and left either the next year or in 2004 .  The sheriff said Friday that he and others weren ' t ready yet to discuss Marx ' s motive or his thinking .  That said , Piper said it was evident that Marx "" came prepared to stay a while . ""  "" We don ' t know who he was coming to the courthouse for , but with the flex ties and the restraining devices he had with him , "" said the sheriff . "" We have to assume that he was there to occupy the courthouse . ""  Who is the student who pounded on the Seattle gunman ?  Canada shooting : Suspect yelled ' I ' m done ' at time of arrest  Navy seals off Virginia military hospital in hunt for stabbing suspect  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
20647,20648,"Twenty five of 27 spent fuel storage casks at a Virginia nuclear plant were shifted between 1 and 4 inches during last week ' s 5 . 8 magnitude earthquake , officials said Thursday .  The cylinders , each 16 feet tall and weighing 115 tons , were not damaged , and no radiation was released , said Rick Zuercher , spokesman for Dominion Virginia Power , which operates the North Anna Power Station near Louisa , Virginia . Monitors were hooked up to the casks to determine any abnormalities , he said .  He said the casks ' movement was known shortly after the quake , which had an epicenter less than 20 miles from the plant , but the news was not released to the public .  "" We had a lot going on , "" Zuercher said . "" There was no indication of any problem . . . and there isn ' t any problem . ""  Besides those casks , which are vertical , some of the horizontal bunkers holding spent fuel also were affected . The concrete "" came loose on the face "" of "" a few "" of the bunkers , Zuercher said , but the damage is not considered serious . The bunkers of which 13 of the 26 hold rods are each 16 feet long and weigh 50 tons .  It is the first time such casks have been shifted by an earthquake in U . S . history , said Roger Hannah , spokesman for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission , as it ' s the first time a quake of this magnitude was felt at a nuclear plant in the country .  The safety standards for such casks , he said , are "" unbelievable . "" They undergo a rigorous series of tests , including crash tests and burning . "" To say they are robust would be an understatement , "" Hannah said .  Zuercher , however , confirmed a report in the Washington Post that Dominion Virginia Power had notified the  last Friday that the earthquake might have shaken the power station more than it was designed to handle .  The  already has an "" augmented inspection team "" at the North Anna plant to conduct a review of effects from the earthquake . The team will review the casks ' shifting as part of that investigation , Hannah said .  The  initially sent a seismic expert and a structural expert to assist resident inspectors at the site after the earthquake , but "" further reviews indicated that additional inspection is warranted , "" the commission said in a statement issued Monday . An augmented inspection team is formed "" to review more significant events or issues "" at  facilities , and includes technical experts and additional inspectors .  An alert was declared at the North Anna station just after the quake struck . The plant ' s two units shut down automatically after the facility lost off site power , according to the  . Emergency diesel generators provided power to cool the reactors until off site power was restored a few hours later .  "" An alert is the next to lowest  emergency classification for plant events , and the North Anna station exited the alert after off site power was restored , "" the commission said in a statement .  Both reactors remain in what is called a "" cold shutdown , "" Zuercher said . There is no timetable for their reactivation , he said .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
20669,20670,"We all remember the lies that led the  into the Iraq war.  But after years of media indoctrination, it’s easy to forget the other lie that helped rally the country around the illegal invasion of Iraq.  John McCain : There is some indication, and I don’t have the conclusions, but some of this anthrax may — and I emphasize may — have come from Iraq.  David Letterman : Oh, is that right?  John McCain : If that should be the case, that’s when some tough decisions are gonna have to be made.  Source: McCain and the Anthrax Scare [0:12 – 0:26] (Higher quality clip?)  “When Iraq finally admitted having these weapons in 1995, the quantities were vast. Less than a teaspoon of dry anthrax, a little bit about this amount – this is just about the amount of a teaspoon – less than a teaspoon full of dry anthrax in an envelope shut down the United States Senate in the fall of 2001. This forced several hundred people to undergo emergency medical treatment and killed two postal workers just from an amount just about this quantity that was inside of an envelope.  “Iraq declared 8,500 liters of anthrax, but  estimates that Saddam Hussein could have produced 25,000 liters. If concentrated into this dry form, this amount would be enough to fill tens upon tens upon tens of thousands of teaspoons. And Saddam Hussein has not verifiably accounted for even one teaspoon-full of this deadly material.”  Source: Colin Powell’s Presentation to the  on Iraq  [26:37 – 27:45]  Although it is difficult to remember at this point, the anthrax scare of late 2001 was widely seen as a follow-up to the 9/11 attacks, and a sign of things to come at the dawn of the so-called War on Terror. Beginning in late September and continuing for several weeks, multiple anthrax-laced letters were mailed to various media offices and the offices of two  Senators, killing five and injuring 17.  It did not take long, however, for the neocons in the Bush administration to start insinuating that the anthrax scare was tied to their two favourite boogeymen: Saddam Hussein and Osama Bin Laden.  In his book, “ The 2001 Anthrax Deception ,” Dr. Graeme MacQueen describes this as “the double perpetrator hypothesis,” an attempt to blame the attacks on both Al Qaeda and Iraq. He writes:  “What I call the ‘Double Perpetrator hypothesis’ held that Bin Laden’s group sent the anthrax spores through the mail but that the group had a state sponsor that had supplied the spores, namely Iraq.”  This hypothesis, insinuated by key government officials and parroted by the press, had the added benefit of explaining how the anthrax spores used in the attack could have been weaponized so efficiently.  MACQUEEN1 –“Well the young woman who opened Senator Daschle’s mail…Afghanistan and Iraq” [0:16 – 2:02]  The story of Iraqi collusion with Al Qaeda sounded credible enough to an American public that had no familiarity with the Muslim world and was still reeling in shock from the attacks of 9/11. The only problem with that story is that it was a complete lie.  When key government scientists came out to denounce the claim that the anthrax contained traces of bentonite, a signature of the Iraqi anthrax program, the Bush administration sought to distance itself from any direct connection between Saddam and the attacks.  As filmmaker Robbie Martin explains in his documentary, American Anthrax , however, that connection was reinforced to the public by way of a complicit corporate media.  Martin points to disgraced ex-New York Times journalist and Iraqi  pusher Judy Miller as a particularly egregious example of how the media laid the groundwork for the campaign to tie Iraq to the anthrax letters.  As we now know, of course, the anthrax attacks were a false flag event.  By early 2002 it was confirmed that the anthrax had sourced to the  Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases at Fort Detrick, a key facility within America’s own bioweapons program. Soon suspicion fell on Steven Hatfill, a “person of interest” identified by the  who eventually won a $4.6 million lawsuit against the Department of Justice for falsely accusing him of his participation in the attacks and illegally leaking his identity to the press. The blame for the attacks was then pinned on Bruce Ivins, a researcher at Fort Detrick who conveniently died before the  could identify him or try him in court. The National Academy of Sciences and the Government Accountability Office have both cast doubt on the FBI’s scientific investigation of the attacks, however, and a whistleblower within the FBI’s own investigation has revealed that the Bureau is sitting on evidence that would exonerate Ivins.  Whoever the perpetrator may have been–even accepting that Ivins was the attacker–it is a fact that the attacks were a false flag, using crudely forged letters to convince the American public that they were written by Al Qaeda agents. And that false flag was aided by the government officials and corporate media talking heads who were happy to propagate this false story in the lead up to war in Iraq.  The legacy of that war remains with us today. The middle east, including Iraq itself, remains in chaos, a direct result of the illegal invasion and occupation of that country. An invasion and occupation that was sold to the public on the back of brazen lies and outright fabrications.  The blood of a million dead Iraqis stains the hands of those who lied the public into that war, and those who aided and abetted those liars.  Meanwhile, the anthrax attacks themselves remain a case study in how a false flag event can be used to whip the public into hysteria and be led into supporting illegal wars of aggression.",fake,news,test,US elections,Conflict,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
20670,20671,"Koalas are generally seen as some of the cuddliest critters Australia has to offer , but a recent video from a Brisbane sanctuary shows they have a tougher side , too .  The clip , uploaded to YouTube on Saturday , shows two Koala ' s embroiled in a vicious fight inside Brisbane ' s Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary , tussling each other across the enclosure while a zoo keeper tries using a rake to keep them apart .  But Lone Pine koala keeper Karen Nilsson said the said the behaviour is commonplace during mating season , when the animals argue over breeding , reports Nine News .  The clip , uploaded to YouTube on Saturday , shows two Koala ' s embroiled in a viscous fight  The male koala , Mr Peabody , is the only male koala in the sanctuary permitted to mate . He is believed to have made an unwanted advance on his female neighbour .  ' She didn ' t appreciate him being there because she ' s not ready to mate . She was just trying to send him on his way , ' Ms Nilsson said .  ' He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time . It was actually a very polite little tiff . Both are 100 percent fine no injuries whatsoever . Whatever the issue was , they ' ve sorted it out and moved on . '  Ms Nilsson said the rake is used by keepers in order to keep the animals apart without risking harm . But the animals rarely hurt each other during the tiffs .  The male , Mr Peabody , is believed to have made an unwanted advance on his female neighbour  The keeper uses a rake in order to keep the animals apart without risking harm  ' Sometimes they get little bite marks on the ears but it ' s pretty minor . Once the hierarchy is established , they get on really well , ' she said .  Fighting among koalas is common for males , who use the fights as a means of climbing the hierarchy .  Females will generally only fight during mating season if males make an unwanted advance .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
20689,20690,"Radovan Karadzic , whose Interpol charges listed "" flamboyant behavior "" as a distinguishing characteristic , was a practicing psychiatrist who came to be nicknamed the "" Butcher of Bosnia . ""  Twice indicted in 1995 by the U . N . International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia , Karadzic faces charges of genocide over the massacre of nearly 8 , 000 Muslim men and boys at Srebrenica , and nine other charges related to ethnic violence during the breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s .  He had filed a motion seeking acquittal on all 11 counts in June , but was successful on only one .  While president of the so called Serbian Republic of Bosnia Herzegovina , Karadzic ' s troops were reported to have massacred over hundreds of thousands of Muslims and Croats during a campaign of "" ethnic cleansing . "" Early estimates of the death toll from the 3 year war ranged up to 300 , 000 , but recent research reduced that to about 100 , 000 .  The U . S . State Department had a 5 million reward for information leading to his capture . His arrest brings an end to more than 10 years as a fugitive .  Karadzic was born on June 19 , 1945 , in Petnjica , Montenegro . He studied psychiatry and medicine at the University of Sarajevo during the 1960s and took courses in psychiatry and poetry at Columbia University from 1974 to 1975 .  Karadzic , a Serb Croat , in 1990 helped found the Serbian Democratic Party (  ) , a party aimed at unifying Serbs into a common state , and became its president .  Two years later , he became president of the newly declared Serbian Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina , later called "" Republika Srpska . "" During the next three years , he ordered Bosnian Serb forces to seize the majority of Bosnia and Herzegovina .  He also announced , according to his U . N . indictment , six "" strategic objectives "" for the Serbian people . They included the establishment of state borders between the Serbs and the other two ethnic communities , Bosnian Muslims and Bosnian Croats .  Answering to him , according to the indictment , was Bosnian Serb military commander Ratko Mladic .  From May 1992 , the indictment alleged , Bosnian Serb forces under Mladic ' s command targeted civilian areas of Sarajevo with shelling and sniping during a three year conflict within the city .  In July 1995 , according to the U . N . indictment , troops under Mladic ' s command executed an estimated 7 , 000 Bosnian Muslim male prisoners in Srebrenica , a U . N . safe area , and then participated in a comprehensive effort to conceal the killings . The massacre is considered the worst in Europe since World War  .  The indictment states that Bosnian Serb forces acted under Karadzic ' s direction and worked to "" significantly reduce the Bosnian Muslim , Bosnian Croat and other non Serb populations "" in municipalities that were seized .  Karadzic was last seen in public in September 1996 , a year after the Dayton Peace Accords brought a formal end to the conflict and banned anyone accused of war crimes , including him , from office .  He reportedly shaved his trademark bushy hair , grew a beard and donned priest ' s robes , moving from monastery to monastery in the mountains to avoid capture .  "" In 2002 , after  launched one of its many failed raids to try to arrest Karadzic in Bosnia , I interviewed his mother . At that time she said : ' Serbs are righteous people and I can see that they support him , and that they adore him the way he is . They would lose their lives to protect him . ' ""  Despite years on the run , Karadzic wrote "" Miraculous Chronicles of the Night "" 1 , 200 copies of which sold out at the 2004 Belgrade International Book Fair .  After his arrest was announced , Serb officials revealed the final chapter of his life on the run had seen Karadic reprise his medical role , working in a clinic in Belgrade under a false identity and heavily disguised by a white beard , long hair and spectacles .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
20697,20698,"Marcos Rojo signed for Manchester United for 16m to plug a hole in their porous defence .  The Argentina star played left back for Argentina in the World Cup and on his debut for his new club at Old Trafford against Queens Park Rangers .  But he will be played more through the middle , possibly starting against Leicester City this weekend , and here our Portuguese blogger Goncalo Lopes , who watched Rojo extensively for Sporting Lisbon , rates him as a left back and centre half .  Marcos Rojo played left back against Queens Park Rangers but could play centre half against Leicester City  Marcos Rojo is a better left back than a centre half , in my opinion . Here in Portugal he played almost all of Sporting Lisbon ' s matches at centre back but for Argentina , he deployed is on the left side of the defence .  At left back he has more confidence he made more interceptions , tackles and even completed a greater number of passes playing there . As we say in Portugal , at full back he is ' on the beach ' .  As a centre back where he played the majority of his games for Sporting he prefers to use his physicality and his excellent anticipation to disturb his opponents on the ground , but he could do better in the air . He is also sometimes found wanting in his marking and positioning , which for a player in that position is crucial .  The Argentina defender ( right ) played most of his football at Sporting Lisbon in the centre of defence  Rojo ( left ) showed he is not afraid to put in a challenge during his Manchester United debut against   However , don ' t think he will make mistakes in all of his matches . Rojo is the kind of footballer that has an excellent game one week but then his weaknesses appear in the next game , particularly at centre half .  He is not a panicker . When he plays left back , Rojo is able to go forward with possession . He is good on the ball , has excellent vision and the eye for a pass in attacking areas . He made plenty of goals for Sporting last season .  But to do a great job at centre back , he has to have an excellent covering defender at his side . Here in Portugal he did well because he played with a great partner , Mauricio they conceded 19 goals in 29 games , the fewest in the Primeira Liga who had more experience in that position .  The defender ' s disciplinary record at Sporting Lisbon was not brilliant and he was sent off five times last year  Rojo could be deployed at centre half when Manchester United travel to Leicester City this weekend  Although he was often played at centre back , Rojo struggled unless he had an experienced player alongside  If Rojo does not have a solid player alongside him , however , there will be more mistakes .  I can say that the 16million which Manchester United paid was for Marcos Rojo the left back he isn ' t worth that kind of money at centre half .  He can still do it but not with the same effectiveness as in his favourite position of left back .  It will be a tough examination for Rojo at centre half in a porous United defence vs the newly promoted Foxes  Rojo was deployed at left back for Argentina during the World Cup , when they reached the final in Brazil  Follow Goncalo Lopes on Twitter GoncaloLopes  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
20701,20702,"stormed into Mosul, Iraq last summer. Much of what took 2,000 years to build has been lost in a matter of months. There are no Christians left in Mosul Surely, our intelligence community warned Obama this would happen. If our President is so concerned about the welfare of Muslims (mostly men) supposedly escaping persecution by ISIS, why did he abandon these Christians in Iraq?Nothing is sacred to these monsters. Christian relics and books from the 1st century have been destroyed by ISIS. Christian homes in Mosul have been marked by ISIS. If you are a Christian and  puts their mark on your home, it signifies you are expected to either convert to Islam, pay an extortion fee or  face the sword. Unfortunately, democracy in Iran brought a new wave of persecution for Christians. When the  withdrew from Iraq completely, the situation became dire. The government was not capable of taking care of the Christian population and  moved in to eradicate the Christian population and erase any trace of Christianity. Where Christians have been living for over 1,000 years, there is nothing but silence empty building and homes. ",fake,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
20714,20715,"Saracens are targeting a clean sweep of trophies this season after beginning their  Cup campaign with a 25 20 win over Harlequins at Allianz Park , according to assistant boss Joe Shaw .  The home side led 15 3 at the interval and appeared to be in complete control only for Quins to improve greatly in the second half and run them close .  Quins were totally out of sorts in the first half as elementary errors presented their opponents with two tries and Saracens should have had the game firmly in the bag at the interval .  Saracens back Ben Ransom breaks the tackle of Harlequins ' Olly Lindsay Hague as the north London giants beat their west London rivals 25 20 in the  Cup  Quins ' Jordan Turner Hall runs hard at Sarries ' Maro Itoje and Ernst Joubert in Sunday ' s spirited loss  Duncan Taylor , Mike Ellery and Jack Wilson scored Saracens ' tries with Ben Spencer kicking two penalties and two conversions .  Louis Grimoldby kicked a first half penalty for Quins and the second half saw their resurgence rewarded with tries from Mark Lambert and Charlie Walker , with replacement Tim Swiel converting both and kicking a penalty .  Shaw said : ' Each competition is important to us from the A League up . Obviously you have to put youth in at certain stages but we want to win every game .  ' We were in control but had two tries ruled out by the  . We tried to force things too much in the final quarter and let them grow into the game . However , Quins had a bit of experience in their line up and a lot of talent so we are more than happy with the result . '  Duncan Taylor crosses for one of Saracens ' three tries in the match  Harlequins Charlie Walker scores his sides second try , after Mark Lambert earlier crossed for the visitors  Next Friday Saracens travel to Neath to face Ospreys in the next round of the  Cup , with Shaw indicating : ' We will be taking a few more youngsters to Wales on Friday as we have a game against Western Province here on Sunday . '  indicating : ' We will be taking a few more youngsters to Wales on Friday as we have a game against Western Province here on Sunday . '  Harlequins ' director of rugby Conor O ' Shea was delighted with his side ' s comeback .  ' At half time we could have chucked in the towel as we had given away two soft tries and looked out of it , ' he said .  Saracens assistant Joe Shaw ( left ) and Harlequins director of rugby Conor O ' Shea on Sunday  ' However we showed great mental fortitude as we reacted to a massive challenge as the game went on . They had six internationals in the pack and some serious performers out there .  ' It is a strange competition and we are happy with the bonus point . It ' s a quick turnaround to Friday ( when they face Newport Gwent Dragons ) and we may play a few more senior players against the Dragons as it would be nice to have something to play for in this competition after Christmas . '  ",true,text,test,American football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
20723,20724,"A woman who lost her pet Chihuahua in a lightning fast carjacking has been reunited with the missing pup though he has got dangerously thin .  Eleni Pappas , 23 , stepped outside her Audi A4 at a gas station to pay for her fuel when an opportunist leaped in and sped away , with 11 month old Leo still in the back seat .  The carjacking more than a week ago led to desperate pleas from Pappas for her pet to be returned even without the car .  But this week she found the vehicle , not far from where it was stolen , in Mill Basin , Brooklyn . Leo was still inside , but a pound lighter after 6 days with no food or water .  Home at last : Leo was found in the stolen Audi A4 , which his owner Eleni Pappas stumbled across while taking her aunt home  Best friends : Elani Pappas , 23 , said she feels sick at the thought of her little dog Leo being taken by the thief  Returned : Pappas proudly displays Leo ' s named collar after he was returned albeit lighter  For the tiny pooch , that ' s around a quarter of his body weight .  Writing on a Facebook page set up to help find Leo , Pappas wrote : ' Last night at 9 pm I was driving my aunt home .  ' I forgot to turn down her street so I used another street . . while driving I saw an Audi A4 we got closer and saw my plate number .  ' 911 was called immediately , police came and I begged them to go check my car to see if Leo was inside because I was too nervous .  ' The police officer approached my vehicle and came back with a huge smile and two thumbs up .  ' Leo had been in the car for 6 days with no food or water . . . he is significantly skinny but he will be  . '  Describing the crime at the time , Pappas said : ' My puppy was in the car and I didn ' t want him to get cold , ' she said .  Stolen car : Pappas posted this photo of her Audi A4 before it was stolen it has since been recovered  Found ! Leo the Chihuahua was inside the car when the vehicle was stolen at a gas station in Mill Basin  She left the car running and went inside the gas station to pay for her gas .  ' It was literally not even a minute , ' Pappas told The New York Post .  The 23 year old legal assistant said : ' I threw 20 dollars on the attendant ' s desk , and I said ' 20 dollars on pump six , ' and as soon as I was walking out I saw the man sitting in my car and he just took off ! '  She said : ' I tried to run after him , but he started going like 60 miles an hour . '  Reward : Dozens of family members and friends helped Pappas to hang up missing posters for the dog  Devastated : Pappas had said she wouldn ' t care if she did not ever find the car but just wants the dog back  The thief drove right onto Hill Avenue in Pappas ' s dark blue 2010 Audi A4 , and disappeared , with Leo barking loudly inside .  ' My dog is like my kid , ' Pappas sobbed .  Dozens of family and friends have helped Pappas to hang up missing posters on Sunday morning .  ' We wouldn ' t care if we ever find the car . '  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
20738,20739,"World number one Rafael Nadal says 2010 has been a dream year so far , after the Spaniard recovered from a knee injury in 2009 to reclaim his French Open and Wimbledon crowns , and the world number one ranking .  The 24 year old said he was so happy with his success as he was not sure if he would ever return to the top of tennis after his knee problems forced him out of the sport last year .  After being knocked out in the fourth round of the 2009 French Open by Sweden ' s Robin Soderling , preventing him from winning a fifth consecutive title in Paris , Nadal ' s ongoing knee problem also stopped him from competing and defending his title at Wimbledon .  Home hopes distant ahead of U . S . Open  "" It was a hard month after that retirement from Wimbledon . It was probably one of the hardest months of my career , "" he said .  "" I worked very hard to build my level but I have doubts and at moments I didn ' t know if I ' m going to be another time at my best . ""  Nadal ' s injury worries also coincided with problems off the court , as he struggled to come to terms with his parents ' divorce . However , he refuses to blame any of his losses on his family situation .  "" It wasn ' t an easy moment for me , but it happened very often these moments for everybody so just accept that and accept the change .  "" I always suffer for my mum , for my dad , for my sisters , so that makes me think more than things on tennis but it ' s not for that reason I lost the matches . ""  In fact , Nadal , who is coached by his uncle Toni and still lives on his home island of Majorca surrounded by relatives , credits his close knit family for his happiness and for keeping him grounded .  "" The family is very important . They make me feel good always because if I won , when I started to be famous the relationship never changed with my friends and family , "" the eight time grand slam champion said .  "" I am very lucky because when I come back home I have a completely normal life . I can relax , playing golf , fishing doing what I want . I know when I finish a tournament , I am going to relax at home . ""  But even though he is happiest at home with his family , Nadal admits that he copes with the attention he receives being the world ' s best tennis player much better now than he did at the start of his career .  "" I was shy when I was a kid , I was very shy , but now I think I ' ve improved a lot .  "" I can speak ok with the media and with the people . My English is still bad but I feel a little bit better now than before . ""  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
20748,20749,"Suppressed! Why is the Vatican covering up the history of the pre-flood world?    There has been a massive cover-up by the Roman Catholic church to keep the general public from understanding that there was a pre-flood civilization. The history of the pre-flood world has been covered up and glossed over by the Vatican, due to Biblical ideologies and as a way to keep the world from interacting with alien species. Is the Vatican controlling history? Uncovering the suppression of pre-flood world history by the Vatican  History has been overwritten by powerful forces, and artifacts and scholarly articles that would testify for this pre-flood world have been confiscated. Churches were built over pagan sites to both conquer the civilizations and to cover up pre-flood remains. A narrative has been propagated that we were once a Neanderthal species, which then evolved into our current human state. However, with first-hand testimony, it has been uncovered that this is false. But why would the core of the Roman Catholic church orchestrate this cover up?  This is because this pre-flood civilization was in fact seeded by an alien species. This species built an amazing set of monoliths and towering artifacts, simply unparalleled in today’s world. These aliens seeded the early human populations to bring them to where we are today—although the flood wiped away much of this evidence. If the general public knew about this prior civilization, there would be no control over the population. Furthermore, the pagan sites that many churches were built over served as portals for these aliens to travel back and forth between Earth and their areas of the universe .  Some evidence of this lies both in the remains of giants and those with other genetic deformities. These abnormalities were due to the intermingling of non-human species with humans.  Figure 1: Artificial deformation of the cranium weblink  The flood attempted to wipe the slate clean of all of these abnormalities but did not fully do the job. Therefore, the Vatican had to come in with the ideologies of the Bible and attempt to cover up the rest of the evidence. It is truly fascinating to see some of this massive cover up exposed as curious researchers dig up more and more evidence of this great civilization.  This article (Suppressed! Why is the Vatican covering up the history of the pre-flood world?)  ",fake,news,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,present
20756,20757,"Nick Cannon spoke out on Friday ' s "" Piers Morgan Tonight "" about the recent health scare that left him fighting for his life . Cannon , who hosts "" America ' s Got Talent , "" used to co host the  series with Morgan .  Cannon was suffering from kidney failure . But his health woes didn ' t stop there .  "" Through a bunch of tests and studies , "" said Cannon , "" they found out that I have lupus nephritis , which is an autoimmune disease . . . . It ' s a rare one . Mine was a very rare case , but it ' s attacking only my kidneys . ""  Not only was Cannon , 31 , suffering from lupus nephritis very seriously , but the condition made him more prone to getting blood clots .  "" I was trying to do everything to prevent that , "" said Cannon . "" I was wearing the surgical stockings , I was on a blood thinner , so many different things while I was in the hospital . ""  After hosting the Super Bowl preshow , Cannon started feeling pain again , this time above the kidneys . He had two clots in his lungs , fluid around the lungs and an enlarged heart all a result of his kidneys not functioning properly .  Cannon maintains he remained optimistic throughout the ordeal .  "" I never got to that stage where I was like , '  , this is it , ' "" said the entertainer , "" but I knew the severity of the situation . ""  Referring to himself as a "" glass is half full type of guy , "" Cannon insisted he "" never went to that place , even though I knew it was very serious . ""  Doctors ordered Cannon to get at least six hours of sleep a night , and he quit his five hour radio show to focus on his health much to the relief or his wife , pop superstar Mariah Carey . Cannon joked that he calls his wife "" Dr Carey "" because "" she knows when I ' m supposed to take my medicine , what I ' m supposed to eat . . . ""  Cannon said Carey has been taking care of him and the couple ' s twins a boy and a girl , Monroe and Moroccan , who turn 1 next month throughout the entire ordeal .  "" She is such a pro , "" said Cannon . "" She knows all the home remedies . ""  Cannon said that he is relishing the family time .  "" That ' s what it ' s all about , "" said Cannon . "" Family is first . ""  Carey , who was a close friend of Houston ' s , attended the funeral , but Cannon was hospitalized at the time .  "" I know what she was dealing with and how people just started to come and let her know how special she was and how to keep her head up , "" recalled Cannon . "" It ' s like everybody needs to hear that , you know ? We want to send the flowers while people can still smell them . ""  Watch Piers Morgan Tonight weeknights 9 p . m .  . For the latest from Piers Morgan click here .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
20771,20772,"A new law which became effective today makes it compulsory for all Australian adults to consume more alcohol . All adult citizens must now drink at least two litres of alcohol per day . The quota can be made up through the consumption of alcohol drinks of the person ' s own choice . The legislation requires that the containers of all such drinks now show clearly the actual quantity , in millilitres , of alcohol contained in the drink so that the drinker is able to maintain an accurate record of his her consumption . Everyone is required to keep an account of their consumption for inspection by appointed inspectors . It is expected that everyone ' s consumption record will be inspected at least monthly . There will be penalties for under consumption and bonus points , which can be redeemed for useless popular gadgets , for exceeding the minimum requirement .  While introducing the legislation , the Minister for Public Affairs , Mr Joh Bull , claimed that the consumption of so much alcohol will be beneficial to society and to everyone . He said that there will be much less violence and crime because everyone will be so drunk that they won ' t be able to stand up and fight or commit crimes . There will be no more dangerous driving or road accidents because no one will be able to stand up long enough to get into , let alone drive , a car .  The Minister also claimed that "" It will be of great benefit to the health services , reducing the nation ' s hospital bill for looking after older people , because no one will live long enough to get old ! "" He explained that everyone will die young and anyway will be in no condition to avail themselves of any medical treatment . "" The savings in the cost of medical care and the great increase in duty collected on all the alcohol being consumed will allow us to balance the national budget and to provide more privileges for politicians and other deserving people . "" he said .  Manufacturers of alcoholic drinks lauded the new legislation saying that it will put Australia at the forefront of socially important and useful progress , and bring in a new period of prosperity . They added that the huge profits resulting from the increase in consumption of alcoholic drinks would be of great benefit to them and the nation .  A representative of Alcoholics Unanimous , who was too drunk to remember his own name , said that the new legislation was welcomed by his organisation . He said , while trying to stand up straight and focus on this reporter , "" It will make everyone drunkards just like us and so will stop people looking down on us as social outcasts . ""  Comment was not available from representatives of organisations against alcohol consumption , who were apparently crying uncontrollably in their cups of tea .  Copyright Rod Pitcher 2016  ",satire,text,test,Other news1,Conflict,true,satire,True,no,no,neutral,present
20776,20777,"As many as 150 defendants could walk free after a heroin addicted  agent ingested the evidence against at least 28 alleged drug dealers .  Investigators claim that agent Matthew Lowry , who worked on the heroin task force in Washington , used his position to steal seized heroin from the evidence room which he then used for more than a year .  Dozens of charges have already been dismissed against defendants .  As many as 150 defendants could walk free after a heroin addicted  agent ingested the evidence against at least 28 alleged drug dealers Lowry signed the drugs out of police evidence using the name of his superiors  Lowry checked out drugs from cases he had worked on the pretense that he was having them tested at a lab but would then take them home , sometimes for months , before having them tested ( stock image )  Lowry was reportedly able to conceal his thefts for over a year in part because of  regulations that allowed him to transport the drugs alone in his own vehicle .  According to the Washington Post , which cited  documents , Lowry has told how he checked out drugs from cases he had worked on the pretense that he was having them tested at a lab .  He then reportedly kept the drugs , sometimes for days but at other times for months , and used a small amount each day before submitting them for testing . Once testing was complete , Lowry would return the drugs to the  .  A form Lowry used to check drugs out which caused the case against one defendant to be dropped  Agent Matthew Lowry used his position on the heroin task force to access the drugs which he took home on the pretense of having tested , only to then use them himself  According to court documents , Lowry forged signatures of superiors to authorize withdrawals and used colleagues ' names when resealing evidence bags he had opened . To lessen the chances of getting caught , Lowry often targeted cases that were already resolved in the hope that no one would notice the missing evidence .  Lowry told investigators he often used laxatives or creatine to refil the bags of heroin .  According to the newspaper , a recent  investigation found that ' every one of the nation ' s field offices had problems ' tracking gun and drug evidence and that in some cases , ' drugs disappeared for months without notice ' .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
20798,20799,"A Spanish judge issued international arrest warrants Monday for China ' s former President Jiang Zemin and former Prime Minister Li Peng for alleged genocide against the people of Tibet , Spain ' s National Court in Madrid said .  The warrants against them and three other senior Chinese officials are the latest chapter in a long running lawsuit by pro Tibetan groups and a dual Tibetan Spanish citizen who seek international legal action against some Chinese officials .  The former officials will surely not be arrested in China , but there ' s a "" medium chance "" of them being arrested if they go abroad , "" depending on the country and its ethics , "" said Alan Cantos , president of the Barcelona based Tibet Support Committee .  Cantos expressed satisfaction with the judge ' s order , which his group has been pushing with its co plaintiffs : the House of Tibet Foundation and Thubten Wangchen Sherpa Sherpa , a Tibetan who has lived in Spain for about 20 years and has Spanish citizenship .  "" It shows that justice after all works , against all odds . If you let justice work , victims can have retribution , "" Cantos said .  The arrest warrants came on the eve of a debate in Spanish parliament , on Tuesday , that reportedly could restrict the use of the universal justice principle in Spanish courts . It holds that if human rights abuses aren ' t addressed in the country where they occurred , a separate country in this case , Spain has the right to seek legal action .  Spanish courts have applied the principle in trying to seek justice for abuses committed under some former Latin American military regimes , but some foreign governments have complained about Spanish courts meddling in their affairs .  Repeated phone calls to the Chinese Embassy in Madrid went unanswered .  On Tuesday , Hua Chunying , China ' s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson , said that Beijing was "" strongly dissatisfied "" and "" firmly opposed to the erroneous acts "" taken by Spanish agencies .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
20802,20803,"The fast food industry has been warning those demanding a $15/hr. wage that they could be easily replaced.In the social sciences, unintended consequences (sometimes unanticipated consequences or unforeseen consequences) are outcomes that are not the ones foreseen and intended by a purposeful action. The term was popularised in the twentieth century by American sociologist Robert K. Merton. It s cheaper to buy a $35,000 robotic arm than it is to hire an employee who s inefficient making $15 an hour bagging french fries,  former McDonald s   Ed Rensi said in an interview on Tuesday on the Fox Business Network s  Mornings with Maria.   It s nonsense and it s very destructive and it s inflationary and it s going to cause a job loss across this country like you re not going to believe. According to Rensi, rising labor costs are forcing chains to cut entry-level jobs and replace workers with machines. Currently, Wendy s, McDonald s, and Panera are rolling out kiosks across the US, in part because of the rising cost of labor.  Business InsiderAccording toweblink, in 2016, there were over 3.7 million people in the  who were employed in the fast food industry. When those jobs go away, where will these workers go for employment? Will they be forced to do the jobs that  only the illegal aliens will do? Wendy s just announced their plans to install self-ordering kiosks at about 1,000 locations by the end of the year.A typical location would have three kiosks, The Columbus Dispatch reported. Higher-volume restaurants will be given priority for the kiosks.Wendy s chief information officer, David Trimm, said the kiosks are intended to appeal to younger customers and reduce labor costs. Kiosks also allow customers of the fast food giant to circumvent long lines during peak dining hours while increasing kitchen production.Trim estimates the company will see a return on its investment in less than two years. They are looking to improve their automation and their labor costs, and this is a good way to do it,  said Darren Tristano, vice president with Technomic, a food-service research and consulting firm.  They are also trying to enhance the customer experience. Younger customers prefer to use a kiosk. Customers will still be able to order at the counter for now, although Tristan predicts that mobile ordering and payment via smartphones will one day overtake self-ordering kiosks and cash registers.   Weasel Zippers, WMUR",fake,dataset,test,Other sport,Economy,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
20824,20825,"Inmates were holding two people hostage at a Delaware prison on Wednesday night in a standoff that began in the morning and left at least one prison employee injured, officials said. The hostages were taken at the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center, near the town of Smyrna, between Wilmington and Dover. It is the state’s largest prison, with 2, 500 inmates in     and   units. At a news conference on Wednesday night, officials revealed that a total of 27 inmates had been released by the   but it was unclear whether they had been held against their will and how many inmates remained. Officials said four staff members had initially been taken hostage. Early accounts put that number at five, though officials said one person had not been accounted for at first but was later found to be safe. Robert Coupe, the secretary of the Delaware Department of Safety and Homeland Security, said at the news conference at about 8:15 p. m. that the authorities were communicating with the inmates via a   radio belonging to a correctional officer. Inmates also have access to television and may have been watching a live broadcast of the news conference, he added. At 10:32 a. m. “a correctional officer made a radio call for immediate assistance from within C Building, which houses over 100 inmates,” Sgt. Richard Bratz of the Delaware State Police said at a news conference earlier on Wednesday. The building houses   inmates who are making the transition to medium security. Other correction officers responded to the distress call, and the prison was placed on lockdown, but inmates took four employees hostage. At about 2:40 p. m. one hostage was set free and taken by ambulance to a hospital, Sergeant Bratz said, “with   injuries. ” Eight inmates were released at 5:20 p. m. Shortly before 8 p. m. another staff member and 19 inmates were released. Their conditions were not immediately known. The News Journal newspaper reported that a woman had called its newsroom, stated that she was a hostage and haltingly read a statement that she said had been given to her by the inmates, complaining of mistreatment. She said the prisoners had forbidden her to give her name, and when asked how many inmates were holding her, she said she did not know because “they’ve got my face covered. ” Officials declined to discuss specifics of the inmates’ demands. Mr. Coupe said that once the takeover was resolved peacefully, “a dialogue can start then. ” Scores of law enforcement officers in riot gear, with armored vehicles, gathered around the prison’s buildings. Sergeant Bratz said officials were in contact with the   but he gave no details about their demands or the progress of negotiations. “We are doing everything we can to ensure the safety of everyone involved,” he said. As a precaution, the Department of Correction placed all of the state’s prisons on lockdown. On a rural road along the prison perimeter, Carla Vereen was waiting in her car for news of her husband, who has worked in the prison as a corrections officer for 16 years. Ms. Vereen said she had not heard directly from her husband or from the prison authorities since the hostage crisis began. Also waiting was a former inmate, Rollin Lee Laub, who said he was not surprised to hear the reports that some inmates had taken hostages. “They took everything from these guys so they had nothing but idle time, which is the devil’s workshop,” said Mr. Laub, who was released from the prison in 2014 after serving almost 40 years.",true,news,test,Other news1,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
20828,20829,""" It ' s like I can always train more , there ' s always more you can do , "" he said . "" So a story like this is only going to increase the pressure . Hopefully there ' s more funding to it .  "" Same as doping . You ' ve got to be super aggressive in both areas . It ' s just really important that all the governing bodies and all the people involved take it very seriously , that the players know about it . ""  The  , which conducted a long investigation in company with Buzzfeed News , has claimed an unnamed Grand Slam winner was under suspicion , and that eight players who have been investigated during the past decade are in the main draw at the Australian Open .  They say they have a "" cache of documents "" stretching back to 2007 that expose "" widespread suspected match fixing at the top level of world tennis , including at Wimbledon . Over the last decade , 16 players who have ranked in the top 50 have been repeatedly flagged to the Tennis Integrity Unit over suspicions they have thrown matches "" .  After winning his opening match , Djokovic said : "" Of course , there is no room for any match fixing or corruption in our sport . We ' re trying to keep it as clean as possible . We have , I think , a sport that has evolved , and have upgraded our programmes and authorities to deal with these particular cases .  "" I don ' t think a shadow is cast over our sport . People are talking about names , guessing who these players are . But there ' s no real proof or evidence yet of any active players , for that matter . As long as it ' s like that , it ' s just speculation . ""  He spoke too about an incident in 2006 when it was alleged that he had been offered  200 , 000 to throw a first round match in St Petersburg , Russia a tournament he did not participate in eventually .  "" I was not approached directly , "" he said . "" I was approached through people that were working with me at that time . Of course , we threw it away right away . ""  Before what might or might not be explosive revelations on the  tonight , there was a sense after the first day of the Australian Open that the only way these reheated claims will damage the sport is if players are named .  For most of the day , interest switched from the courts to the press conference room , where administrators and players were quizzed as if on a conveyor belt of suspicion and doubt . The most intriguing aspect of the allegations was the claim that a Grand Slam champion was involved .  Did the scattergun speculation damage players across the board ?  "" No , not for me , "" former  Open champion Marin Cilic said . "" I know I am very far away from betting even though it is very popular in Croatia . A lot of people like to gamble , but I know I am safe , that I don ' t do any betting . ""  Williams said that she had never heard of matches being fixed .  She said : "" When I ' m playing , I play very hard , and every player I play seems to play hard . As an athlete , I do everything I can to be not only great , but historic . If that ' s ( match fixing ) going on , I don ' t know about it . I ' m kind of sometimes in a little bit of a bubble . ""  A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on January 19 , 2016 , with the headline ' Djokovic turned down 290k bribe ' . Print Edition Subscribe  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
20832,20833,"News footage of Black Friday sales , in which shoppers line up after Thanksgiving in search of steeply reduced merchandise , can resemble an episode of the classic nature show "" Wild Kingdom . ""  Shoppers wind neatly along the edges of big box stores like patiently waiting army ants . As doors open , sleep deprived bargain hunters leap past one another like spawning salmon flinging themselves upstream . At close of business we see bare , dangling store shelves , reminiscent of the gnawed carcasses left behind by a pride of lions .  To those who don ' t participate , Black Friday may seem like madness , an exercise in chaos to be avoided at all costs . But for the initiated , the country ' s biggest shopping day is something more : a jump start on Christmas shopping and even a ritual worth preserving .  "" At about 10 p . m . Thanksgiving 2011 , someone sat their Grandma at a bin in the aisle at Walmart with her hand on a  discounted from 19 to 5 until the clock struck midnight to make sure she got it , "" reader Mark Nelson remembered .  "" People started disregarding the etiquette and just stashing items in their jackets instead of leaving them in the shrink wrapped displays . People were shoving and screaming at each other , "" he wrote . "" A woman was brought to the front and kicked out for bringing a firearm into the store and brandishing it at a rival shopper . It was the grandma hoping to score the 5  . ""  Black Friday : Shorter lines , but bigger checks  So what ' s the draw of risking life and limb for discounted DVDs ?  "" It feels like some kind of communal shopping experience , something we ' re all in together , "" said Brian Ginn , a friend of mine from college who has been braving the Black Friday crowds for a decade .  He usually only makes four or five purchases on Black Friday , spending around 400 . It ' s worth the effort , he said , to "" soak up the mad capitalist consumer energy of Black Friday ! ""  "" It ' s pretty exciting to see people shopping like crazy , "" Ginn said , "" even if my enthusiasm gets dampened by the long lines and occasional surly shopper . ""  For some , the retail spree is a family tradition .  "" I started Black Friday shopping with my Dad , "" Ginn said . At first , they shopped for equipment and supplies for Brian ' s  consulting business because of 40 to 50 savings . That was 10 years ago . Now 41 and a father , Ginn ' s Black Friday shopping strategy has branched out to include deals on toys for his son .  This year ' s Black Friday will be a lot different , he said , since his father passed away in March . "" I ' ll definitely have breakfast at the Waffle House when I ' m done , which is what we always did , "" he said .  Jessica Collier , 31 , also shops on Black Friday because of family tradition .  "" The first memory I have of Black Friday shopping is from when I was about 6 or 7 years old , "" she said . "" My mom , grandma and I went to a large department store in Florida . I have been every year since then . "" This year , her husband will join in the tradition , but the couple ' s daughter still has a few years to go before she can drink coffee and stay up all night for long lines and "" doorbusters . ""  Now that Collier and her mother live in different states , they can ' t always shop together . "" I always call her when I ' m headed out , "" she said . "" I ' ve become her wake up call , usually around 2 a . m . ""  For Lori Elmore , a health policy analyst for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta , Black Friday isn ' t about family , but about the thrill of the bargain hunt . "" I tried to make it a family tradition , "" she said , "" but my family members dropped out after one time . They couldn ' t hang with me , they didn ' t have the stamina . ""  These Black Friday veterans acknowledge that some of their fellow shoppers turn into ruthless retail competitors mere hours after giving thanks during a dinner of turkey and pumpkin pie . "" I ' ve been hit with a shopping cart , had people take things out of my cart , had people start fighting in line , had someone take something out of my hands before , "" Collier said . But often , the shopping means meeting new people , comparing lists and having fun .  "" My experience has been that most people are helpful , patient and excited , "" Ginn said . "" That may be particular to the South , but I don ' t think so . ""  Collier and her mother even charmed a particularly long line into singing Christmas carols last year .  "" My mom found one of those weird singing Christmas tree tats and wore it in line , "" she said . "" The tree lit up and danced while she sang at the top of her lungs . Of course , that story preceded us to the next store on our list , where total strangers were talking about it . ""   : Confessions of a Black Friday shopaholic  "" I have learned over the years that you need to pack your patience and a sense of humor , "" when headed out on a Black Friday shopping trip , Elmore said . "" If you don ' t have either , you are in for a miserable experience . ""  Impatience can result in stampedes or fights , which retailers are taking steps to avoid this year . WalMart , for example , is offering Guarantee Cards , which allow shoppers to get iPads ,  TVs and Blu ray players at Black Friday prices before they get their hands on the items . Shoppers will get the items before Christmas , so sellouts are theoretically no longer a reason for crowds to lose their cool .  The U . S . Department of Labor ' s  group has issued Black Friday safety guidelines for retailers to avoid injury during the start of the holiday shopping season . And stores across the country are working with local law enforcement help to keep crowds safe and shopping .  The National Retail Federation estimates 147 million people will venture out this Friday , Saturday and Sunday to take advantage of holiday sales . President Matthew Shay said in a recent press release , "" Though the Black Friday tradition is here to stay , there ' s no question that it has changed in recent years . "" No longer do shoppers wait to find out Black Friday promotions in the Thanksgiving Day morning paper , he said . Now companies provide information through social media , mobile apps and specialized websites .  Collier usually begins watching for Black Friday information online in mid October . Blackfridayweblink is a favorite of hers the site offers Black Friday ads and cash back on certain purchases but she won ' t forgo in store shopping for online Cyber Monday deals . She prefers the in person rush .  A few years ago , with a large outlet mall as her target , Collier and her mother could not find a parking spot at 10 p . m . on Thanksgiving night . So they drove out of the parking lot and found a hotel parking lot behind the mall where they could leave their car .  "" The mall was at the top of a hill , so we started hiking , literally , "" Collier said . At the top of the hill , they were suddenly faced with the town ' s drainage ditch . In order to make it to the Coach store , which was offering everything at 50 off , "" we had to climb down the drainage wall and back up the other side , "" she said . "" We laughed our way through our desperation and got to the mall . ""  And at 5 a . m . , loaded down with bags full of Black Friday loot , she and her mother climbed back up the stone drainage wall on hands and knees .  Anything for a bargain .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
20870,20871,"A dramatic confrontation between an American Airlines employee and a passenger erupted during boarding before a flight from San Francisco to Dallas, including the employee taunting a passenger by saying, “Hit me! ”[According to initial reports, the employee allegedly struck a mother carrying a baby with her stroller by accident, narrowly missing the baby.  The woman was left in tears, and according to multiple witnesses was not apologized to. The video posted to social media does not include this event, instead showing another passenger’s reaction, which was to leave his seat while pointing his finger and saying, “You do that to me, and I will knock you flat!”  Watch the video here: Tense moments btwn passengers and crew member on an American Airlines plane. At 10p, more from  on what happened. @wfaachannel8 pic. twitter.   —   Bradley Blackburn (@BLBlackburn) April 22, 2017,  Multiple other videos show the aftermath of the incident. @AmericanAir flt attendant just violently took stroller from woman w baby. Hitting her.  591. TERRIBLE. pic. twitter.   —   ⚡️urain (@surain) April 21, 2017,  American Airlines immediately released a statement on the incident, in sharp contrast to United Airlines’ handling of their recent violent removal of a customer from a flight. In the statement, American states that the mother and her family have been booked on another flight with upgraded status, and the employee has been removed from duty. Here is the text of their statement in full: 10:30 p. m. CT, We have seen the video and have already started an investigation to obtain the facts. What we see on this video does not reflect our values or how we care for our customers. We are deeply sorry for the pain we have caused this passenger and her family and to any other customers affected by the incident. We are making sure all of her family’s needs are being met while she is in our care. After electing to take another flight, we are taking special care of her and her family and upgrading them to first class for the remainder of their international trip. The actions of our team member captured here do not appear to reflect patience or empathy, two values necessary for customer care. In short, we are disappointed by these actions. The American team member has been removed from duty while we immediately investigate this incident.",true,news,test,US elections,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
20883,20884,"Coming out of the closets of our culture seems to be the thing to do these days , but it is not a new phenomenon .  In the inaugural issue of Ms . magazine in 1972 , dozens of American women signed a statement declaring "" We Have Had Abortions , "" even though abortion was still mostly illegal in the United States . Celebrity names dotted the list "" Gloria Steinem , Nora Ephron , Lillian Hellman and Billie Jean King among them .  This consciousness raising maneuver played a key role in changing public attitudes toward abortion . It contributed to what legal scholars Linda Greenhouse and Reva Siegel call the "" successive waves of arguments "" that "" prompted growing public support for liberalizing access to abortion . "" A year later , the Roe v . Wade Supreme Court decision decriminalized most abortions .  In 1978 , former first lady Betty Ford entered the Long Beach Naval Hospital ' s Drug and Rehabilitation Service , and publicly admitted her own alcohol and drug dependency . In 1982 , she became founding director of the Betty Ford Center for the treatment of drug and alcohol abuse . While many remained silent , celebrities Liza Minnelli , Elizabeth Taylor and Ali MacGraw all chose to openly share their experience at the center .  At a 1991 press conference ,  megastar Magic Johnson announced that he had tested positive for  . He retired from basketball and subsequently served as a public voice for   education , prevention and anti discrimination efforts .  Opinion : Jolie ' s choice carries risks along with benefits  Last month ,  player Jason Collins announced that he is gay . While he justly deserves praise for an action that puts him among the first active American athletes in any of the four major professional team sports to publicly so identify , it has also been widely noted that he is far from early or alone in the coming out ranks of major athletes . Celebrity names already dot that list too Greg Louganis , Martina Navratilova , Sheryl Swoopes and former  player Wade Davis among them .  Tuesday , Angelina Jolie made public the fact that she elected to undergo a double mastectomy , at the age of 37 . This was her attempt to lower her risk of breast cancer , given the fact that she carries "" the breast cancer gene . "" She hopes to encourage other women to consider the potentially life saving procedure for themselves . No doubt , other women will now come forward . A new list of celebrity names will coalesce .  What is particularly remarkable about the public statement made by Angelina Jolie is that she is a young , beautiful , sex symbol . She risks her career by changing her image in this way . To medicalize her breasts in the public ' s perception is potentially to de sexualize them . The bodily care of cancer prevention is far from the glamorous dream world that Hollywood sells .  Clearly , Jolie has chosen the high moral ground of trying to save lives by publicizing the procedure and stating that she feels as beautiful as ever . We should be grateful for her straightforward and courageous statement .  Indeed , we should be grateful for all celebrities or not who have driven social change by publicly outing themselves . It is arguable that we might not have had as much support for abortion reform , or addiction treatment , or   research , or marriage equality , without them . Destigmatizing cancer prevention surgery will happen more quickly if celebrities and others get publicly vocal about their personal health choices .  Sambolin : I feel empowered , supported in cancer fight  Importantly , abortion and addiction and   and love are different issues from preventative mastectomy . Abortion is a difficult but fundamentally ordinary choice in an untenable situation . Addiction is a disease that is relatively well understood , even if it is still difficult to treat .   is a global pandemic that is by now well known . Marriage equality is a function of health and happiness in the first place .  But the phenomenon of breast cancer still eludes scientists . We still do not know how to prevent it or reliably cure it , save perhaps by surgically removing a vulnerable organ .  Furthermore , it seems that a lot of our current ideas about it are not even correct . While the public receives the message that getting regular mammograms is an effective preventive strategy , it has recently been reported that such screenings turn out to be only minimally effective in lowering the morbidity of the disease . As Peggy Orenstein wrote in the New York Times , our war against cancer has been a "" feel good war . ""  In fact , given the incidence of false positives , and of cancers that do not actually need to be treated , such screenings can cause harm . According to a survey of 30 years of screening published in the New England Journal of Medicine in November 2012 , as cited by Orenstein , "" mammography ' s impact is decidedly mixed : it does reduce , by a small percentage , the number of women who are told they have late stage cancer , but it is far more likely to result in over diagnosis and unnecessary treatment , including surgery , weeks of radiation and potentially toxic drugs . ""  When a celebrity such as Angelina Jolie makes such a generous and powerful intervention , it is right for the world to pay attention . But the list needs to grow longer , as well , of those demanding greatly increased support for primary cancer research and stricter environmental controls on the toxic substances we eat and breathe . Cancer needs a social movement demanding change .  Otherwise , no matter how many celebrities and others come courageously forward , and how well the world adapts to preventive mastectomy , it will not be enough .  The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Laura Wexler .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
20889,20890,"Billy Knott regrets the way things ended at Chelsea , ditched following a serious breach of discipline aged just 17 .  He missed the victorious conclusion to their  Youth Cup campaign and left behind his closest friends , some of whom were later involved in the infamous smoke grenade incident which forced an evacuation of the training ground . His misdemeanour was deemed so serious that a confidentiality agreement stops him or Chelsea from revealing what it was .  The teenager fell out of love with the game and could not even bear to watch football on television .  Billy Knott ( left ) says he has rediscovered his love for football since moving to Bradford City  But Knott has come a long way in five years . On Saturday he returns to Stamford Bridge as Bradford City ' s biggest hope of upsetting the Premier League leaders . Indeed , the Bantams would not be here if it wasn ' t for his three goals in the third round against Millwall .  The 22 year old has matured since the days of being depicted as a teen tearaway .  Knott is returning to West London as a man .  ' I do regret it . It was me in the wrong and I messed stuff up , ' he told Sportsmail . ' I could have learnt a whole lot more . I was young and naive . I always had belief in myself as a player , but you need more than that .  ' Looking back , I would take so much more on board , because these players are the best in the world and I was training with them .  ' The likes of Didier Drogba , Frank Lampard and John Terry , they get it right every single day . They enjoy it every day as well . That ' s the big thing these guys have been at the top for so long yet love coming in to train . That ' s the key thing , you ' ve got to love what you do to be the best . '  Knott scored a hat trick as the Bantams beat Millwall in their  Cup third round replay  Knott signed for Sunderland following his release from Chelsea where he had captained the junior side and won England youth honours but he was already on a second chance despite his tender years .  He did well on Wearside and was rated by the management . Still , though , he failed to make a breakthrough and was sent on loan .  But Paolo Di Canio arrived in 2013 and took an instant liking to Knott perhaps it was a shared penchant for spectacular goals and gave him a top flight debut at Spurs . The affection was mutual .  ' People say he was crazy , and he was in a way , but I just think it was more passion , ' said the Canvey Island born attacking midfielder , who has seven goals this season .  ' I think he liked me and he had me in training with the first team and gave me my debut . He would join in the training all the time and be very vocal and hands on .  ' I loved that time and , on the whole , I enjoyed my time at Sunderland but I knew I wasn ' t going to get a chance there . I had gone stale .  Knott has played 30 times since moving to Bradford City , scoring seven goals in the process  ' At a young age you don ' t want to be sitting on the bench or playing in the reserves and I needed something new . ' That something was Phil Parkinson and Bradford City . Knott signed a two year deal in the summer and endeared himself to supporters with a 25 yard rocket as Bradford enjoyed their first victory in 28 years over West Yorkshire rivals Leeds in August .  ' I ' m back in love with the game now , ' he said .  ' It was hard not to make it at Chelsea but I ' m learning the other side of the game now in League One . My aim is still to play in the Premier League but I think I had to drop down to progress . '  Knott scored twice in the 3 3 draw at Millwall and was on target again in a 4 0 thrashing in the replay .  ' We still had the replay to come but I was watching the fourth round draw with my fianc e at home and I must admit I cheered when we got Chelsea , ' he said .  Knott scores in the 3 3 draw against Millwall in the  Cup , Bradford won the replay  ' It was funny though , we went to Yeovil and lost 1 0 last week . We then got on the coach and saw that Chelsea had won 5 0 at Swansea ! That was a bit scary .  ' Even with their second  out they ' ll still all be internationals and world class players . '  Knott ' s dad , Steve , has organised a bus for 40 friends and family including Billy ' s mum , Michelle , and younger brother , Sammy to make the trip from Canvey Island to the capital .  Also in the crowd will be grandad Colin and grandma Corinne who have travelled from Malta .  ' My grandad has cancer so it ' s special for him to be coming over , it means a lot to me , ' said Knott .  ' There ' ll also be a rowdy crowd from Canvey Island who ' ll be cheering us on . And I really think we can get a draw and take them back to our place .  ' It ' ll be tough , but this is the  Cup . Why not ? We ' ve just got to give it everything we ' ve got and do ourselves proud . '  This time , Knott wants to leave Stamford Bridge with no regrets .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
20911,20912,"Exclusive :  Transcript :  s Meg Tirrell Sits Down with Pfizer  Ian Read and Allergan  Brent Saunders Today on    :  A    .         ,                     .         ,    '     ,          ?   :    , I       A     .           ,    9        .   40 , 000       .  I   ' S A   . I ' M          .     ?  '      .        .   ,  ' S        44     .      56 .   A   .  ' S     .   A         ,      .   :        ,   ,            ?          ' T        ?   :  '         A   ?      .             .            .  '       .   :             ?       ?       ?   :         .       .          A  . I ' M    .                  ,      .  ' S A         .       ' S   ,            .      .       ' T  , I        ,  I       .   :  ,         ,     .        390   A    .           ?   :    ' T   A   ,   ' S   ' S  , 3 . 63   .          .    11 . 3          ,      400    ' T     .      A     44            ,     100   ,   A   , 25         A    .       ,         .   :  '       .   A    .       9     ,      .  '        A     ,    ' S ,   ,  ,  .      . I     A     .               .   :   I      A     R D    .            ?   : I   ' S A      .           ,      ' S ,         .             ' T     ,        . I         A           .  A   9        ,      , I   ' S                     .   :             A    ?   :       A    .    ,               , 10  12  A  . I      .   '               .         ,          ,  ' S .  ' S    .          .   : I    , I        R D ,                 .  ,   ,   ,                         '       .   :   ,   A    ?    .   ' T   .         ?   :       ,   A      3 . 5  ,              .   : I ' M          ,           .     A     ?       ?   : I ' M  ,        .  ' S  A          ' S   .  '   A   .   '     .   :       .     .  With  in the U . S . ,  in Asia Pacific ,  in Europe , Middle East and Africa ,  World and   ,  is the recognized world leader in business news and provides real time financial market coverage and business information to approximately 371 million homes worldwide , including more than 100 million households in the United States and Canada .  also provides daily business updates to 400 million households across China . The network ' s 15 live hours a day of business programming in North America ( weekdays from 4 : 00 a . m . 7 : 00 p . m .  ) is produced at  ' s global headquarters in Englewood Cliffs , N . J . , and includes reports from  News bureaus worldwide .  at night features a mix of new reality programming ,  ' s highly successful series produced exclusively for  and a number of distinctive in house documentaries .   also has a vast portfolio of digital products which deliver real time financial market news and information across a variety of platforms . These include CNBCweblink , the online destination for global business   , the premium , integrated desktop mobile service that provides real time global market data and live access to  global programming and a suite of  Mobile products including the  Real Time iPhone and iPad Apps .  Members of the media can receive more information about  and its programming on the  Universal Media Village Web site at http : www . nbcumvweblink mediavillage networks cnbc .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Economy,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,present
20947,20948,"Oregon protest : Police blame protesters for deadly arrest swoop  Image caption Harney County Sheriff Dave Ward said the occupation is ' tearing the community apart '  The armed occupiers of a wildlife reserve in Oregon were given "" ample opportunity "" to leave peacefully before their leaders were arrested and one of them killed , police have said .  The anti government protesters were to blame for the violence , said officials .  The militia took over the refuge to protest about ranchers jailed for setting fire to federal land .  Federal agents have sealed off the site to try to flush out the remaining number still holed up at the reserve .  One man was killed and eight arrested at a traffic stop on Tuesday night .  Police would not release the name of the man but said he died as authorities tried to take him into custody .  He was named by his daughter as Robert "" LaVoy "" Finicum , a 55 year old rancher from Cane Beds , Arizona .  Image caption Robert "" LaVoy "" Finicum often chatted to reporters  The armed protesters "" have chosen to threaten and intimidate the America they profess to love , "" said Greg Bretzing , the  ' s Portland special agent in charge .  Three weeks ago , the group took over the wildlife refuge , claiming the government has been taking land illegally from ranchers for decades .  Witnesses have said the man killed by police charged at them , while others say he complied with authorities ' orders .  "" Through criminal actions , they ' ve brought these consequences upon themselves , "" said Mr Bretzing .  Image caption The eight arrested : militia leader Ammon Bundy is pictured top left  "" We will continue to look for safe procedures on how to bring this to a peaceful conclusion . ""  Harney County Sheriff Dave Ward said the traffic stop "" ended badly "" but it did not have to happen .  He said the occupation has been tearing the community apart and it is time for the protesters to leave the nature reserve .  Those who were arrested will have a court appearance on Wednesday .  In October , a federal judge ruled the sentences on two Oregon ranchers , Dwight and Steven Hammond , for burning federal land were too short and jailed them for about four years each .  Angered by the ruling , Nevada native Ammon Bundy began a social media campaign backing them and travelled to Burns , Oregon , organising meetings .  His group attracted supporters from across a number of states and Mr Bundy called it Citizens for Constitutional Freedom . On 2 January the armed militiamen took over the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge and widened the range of demands .  It is an extension of the Sagebrush Revolution of the 1970s and 1980s that demanded the transfer of federal land in many western states to local control .  Mr Bundy ' s own father a Nevada rancher had been involved in a protest over cattle grazing rights in 2014 . One policy is to try to persuade ranchers to tear up their federal grazing contracts .  Although many local residents are sympathetic with its cause , many also oppose the occupation of the refuge . Even the local ranchers who are serving the longer sentences distanced themselves from the militia .  Initially in a low key manner . The  was fearful of a repetition of the bloody end to the siege at Waco in Texas in 1993 .  Local and state officials had demanded the  do more .  The term has a complex history and generally refers to those outside the official military who can be called on in times of need . The  Constitution refers to the president having command of "" militia of several states "" and that Congress "" can call forth militia "" to tackle insurrection and invasion .  Those who form such militias cite the constitution and various references in federal and state law as granting them legality .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
20958,20959,"Home World Cruz National Co Chair Accuses Trump of Buying Backing from Palin  Cruz National Co Chair Accuses Trump of Buying Backing from Palin  "" He ' s going rogue all the time , and I think that ' s what Americans are craving right now is some candidness , some willingness to talk about the issues that are first and foremost on our hearts and minds to get constitutional government back into the system "" , Palin said .  Rep . Steve King , an Iowa Republican and Ted Cruz supporter , says Donald Trump bought his endorsements . He has a massive amount of assets and resources that he can deploy when it comes time to convince someone . "" When going after the uneducated , you always bring in one of their own , someone they can relate to "" .  Claim : Donald Trump paid Sarah Palin 10 million for her endorsement .  "" If you see someone in the crowd getting ready to throw a tomato , knock the crap out of them "" , he told the crowd . "" That , to me , is very reflective of politicians thinking that they know best or that they know the intricacies of your life so they can make decisions for you "" . I have to wonder if there isn ' t an element of that syndrome in play with Iowa  congressman and party power broker Steve King . Let me give you an example of some of the tiny bit of brutality and then the grand scheme of things , really . He ' s a rich guy who does a lot of deals and if he wound up getting an endorsement from somebody who had profited from their engagement with him that wouldn ' t exactly be headline news .  : I don ' t know , only she knows that .  Trump told Iowans that it ' s been a pleasure campaigning in their state and was encouraging people to get out to their caucus sites tonight , adding "" this is the day we take our country back "" . The idea that Falwell needs his cash or Palin for that matter is a stretch to say the least .  King said , "" That answer is yes "" . Maybe he ' s been hanging out in a cornfield too long huffing ethanol or something .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Economy,fake,true,True,no,no,negative,present
20971,20972,"As President Donald J. Trump prepares to kick off his new border security plan, various news outlets have begun to criticize the effort by focusing on the border wall. However, members from the union representing the men and women from the U. S. Border Patrol stated that the proposal comes from listening to agents instead of politicians. [Various outlets have continued to question the notion of building a border wall and have focused on the perceived challenges of such an enterprise. Other outlets have criticized the effectiveness of the measure claiming that it does not address the current immigration crisis. The various news organizations have failed to mention the complete control that Mexican drug cartels have over human smuggling, narcotics trafficking, and other illicit activities along both sides of the border.  The executive orders that President Trump will be signing provides border security agents with the tools that they have been denied for too long, said Hector Garza, a U. S. Border Patrol agent and the President for the Local 2455 of the National Border Patrol Council. As part of the union’s leadership, Garza is able to speak about issues affecting the men and women that he represents. Despite the many misconceptions by pundits and individuals who have not been to the border, a wall with the addition of new manpower, surveillance technology and other equipment will be an effective tool in slowing down illegal immigration and drug smuggling, Garza said.  “We know we won’t have a wall along the 2, 000 miles of border,” he said. “What we will have is a wall where it is needed. That barrier with proper manpower, resources, technology and other tools will be effective. But most important, for the first time we have a president that wants to secure the border. ”  Through the NBPC, agents have been able to relay vital information to Trump and his staff about the realities of the border and what is needed in each particular sector.  “During the previous administration, we had a president that failed to acknowledge the problems on the border. Now, we have a president that not only acknowledges the problems, but is willing to give us the tools needed to address them. ” Ildefonso Ortiz is an award winning journalist with Breitbart Texas. He   the Cartel Chronicles project with Brandon Darby and Stephen K. Bannon.  You can follow him on Twitter and on Facebook.",true,news,test,US elections,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
20973,20974,"Reuters) - Support for billionaire Andrej Babis s  party dipped ahead of a Czech election on Oct. 20-21, but the party maintained a double-digit lead over its closest rival and remained favorite to lead the next government, an opinion poll showed on Monday. Babis, the second richest Czech, has been harvesting disillusion of many voters in the central European  member country with corruption in the political class, inefficient government and slow catch-up in incomes with the richer western Europe. The final poll by the Median agency before a black-out starting on Tuesday showed eight parties winning seats, including a strengthening far-right, anti- formation. Support for  dipped to 25 percent in the survey conducted on Sept 26-Oct 14, down from 27 percent in September.       has maintained it image as a protest party despite serving in the outgoing cabinet as partner to the centre-left Social Democrats of Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka. Babis s image suffered from police charges earlier this month of fraud in tapping European Union subsidy, a small project among many by the chemicals, food and media businessman worth $4 billion according to Forbes magazine. He denies any wrongdoing.  A Slovak court also annulled last Thursday rulings clearing Babis of cooperating with former Communist secret police in then totalitarian Czechoslovakia. He denies being an agent. The poll showed  will need partners to form a parliamentary majority. A relatively weak showing by  would embolden potential partners demanding that Babis personally stays out of the cabinet due to the police charges. Babis served as finance minister from 2014 until May this year, presiding over a drive to raise tax collection and a fiscal surplus last year. He opposes deeper  integration and adopting the euro. He also opposes accepting any refugees. Rivals say he poses a threat to democracy due to his authoritarian style, desire to simplify decision making, and conflicts of interest as businessman whose firms compete for state contracts and receive subsidies. Babis moved his firm Agrofert to a trust fund earlier this year and denies any abuse of his position.     The Social Democrats   who have not ruled out a new coalition with    polled second with 12.5 percent, down 1 percentage point, followed by the far-left Communists with 10.5 percent. The rise of  and other protest groups show a shift from traditional parties even as the country enjoys fast economic growth and the lowest unemployment in the EU.  The Social Democrats lost about 40 percent of voters and the centre-right  09 party polled 6 percent, half of its score  in the previous election.  The far-right, anti-  party jumped to 9.5 percent, tapping into anti-immigration sentiment in a country that saw almost none of the 2015 immigration wave into Europe.   The Pirate Party, a local offshoot of the international Pirate movement which focuses on government transparency and an  electronic agenda polled 8.5 percent, giving it chances of entering parliament for the first time. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
20988,20989,"Turns out , the rich really are getting richer . And they ' ll soon own more than the rest of us put together .  So says a new report , which estimates that the richest 1 will have as much wealth as the other 99 combined by next year .  "" The richest 1 have seen their share of global wealth increase from 44 in 2009 to 48 in 2014 , "" Oxfam says in a report Monday .  At that rate , the wealthiest will own more than 50 by next year , according to the report .  "" Do we really want to live in a world where the 1 own more than the rest of us combined ? "" asked Winnie Byanyima , executive director of the international aid agency .  Byanyima will co chair the annual World Economic Forum in Davos this week .  She plans to use the platform at Davos to call for urgent action on the rising inequality .  The 80 richest people on the planet have the same wealth as the poorest 3 . 5 billion people , the report says .  "" The scale of global inequality is quite simply staggering and despite the issues shooting up the global agenda , the gap between the richest and the rest is widening fast , "" she said .  "" It is time our leaders took on the powerful vested interests that stand in the way of a fairer and more prosperous world . ""  While 1 of the population owns 48 of the world ' s wealth , a majority of the remainder follows the same trend .  "" Of the remaining 52 of global wealth , 46 is owned by the rest of the richest fifth of the world ' s population , "" the report says .  The remainder of the population only possesses 5 . 5 of global wealth .  Their wealth last year ? An average 3 , 851 per adult , the report says .  Meanwhile , the "" global elite "" members had an average wealth of 2 . 7 million each last year , it says .  The report comes a day before President Barack Obama is expected to unveil proposals that close tax breaks on the wealthy .  Obama will discuss his plans to help the middle class during his State of the Union Address on Tuesday .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
20995,20996,"Emergency flights sent to rescue stranded British tourists diverted away from Sharm el Sheikh  Planes were forced to turn around mid air due to ' last minute change in Egyptian government restrictions '  Several flights sent to rescue stranded British holidaymakers in Sharm el Sheikh have been diverted mid air due to over congestion at the Red Sea resort airport . ?  The  Government said this morning that a ? total of 29 flights would fly thousands of British citizens back to the  from Egypt over the course of the day but it has since been announced that only eight flights will go ahead . ?  Airlines said they were forced to divert aircraft from Sharm el Sheikh due to "" a ? last minute change in Egyptian government restrictions "" . ?  Efforts to return British holidaymakers from Sharm el Sheikh in chaos  It came on a day of chaos at Sharm el Sheikh airport , the  Government rebuking airlines for sending out inaccurate information to passengers . ?  Online flight trackers showed a ? Thomas Cook flight turned around in mid air over northern Greece on its way to pick up British citizens in Egypt : ?  Thomas Cook plane has turned back and not heading for  any more . weblink : t . co Jw2eNJdMhi pic . twitterweblink DNEFDPLPu5  Flight MT2706 left Manchester airport earlier today but is now on its way back to the  . It was one of three Thomas Cook flights that were not given permission to land in Sharm el Sheikh . ?  The airline told The Independent ? that it was only given one of its planned four slots to fly out of ? Sharm el Sheik to the  on Friday but will conduct a ? "" double drop "" flight allowing some ? passengers to get off in Birmingham while flying the rest to East Midlands airport , landing in Nottingham at 23 . 15 . ?  Other flights , including two Thomson Airways aircraft , are believed to have been diverted to Cyprus following ? reports of over capacity at Sharm el Sheikh airport . ? ?  Two Thomson flights diverting to Cyprus . Reports of  airport over capacity . pic . twitterweblink tu5VrehOat  A statement from the company said : ? "" Thomson Airways can now confirm that due to a last minute change in Egyptian government restrictions we can only operate two flights from Sharm el Sheikh to the  today . Customers travelling on TOM733 to Glasgow and TOM397 to Gatwick are expected to depart later today . ?  "" We continue to work with the  Government to try and finalise our flying programme for the weekend and we will update accordingly when further information becomes available . ""  Thomas Cook said it had cancelled all flights and holidays up to next Thursday and said it was making arrangements to ensure customers stranded in Sharm el Sheikh will be able to stay in their accommodation free of charge . ?  Passengers who are able ? to fly home are only allowed to bring cabin luggage due to suspicions from authorities that a bomb was planted in hold luggage of the ? Russian plane that crashed over the Sinai last week , killing all 224 people on board . ?  It comes after President Putin ? agreed to suspend all flights to Egypt as evidence increasingly suggests that an Isis bomb brought down the Russian plane that crashed over the Sinai last week . ?  The Russian president acted after the head of the country s security service said all flights to the north African country should be grounded until the cause of the crash that killed all 224 people on board is known .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
21001,21002,"A Spanish court on Wednesday dismissed an allegation that one of the world ' s richest men , Saudi Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal , raped a young woman on a yacht on the island of Ibiza in 2008 .  In its ruling , the Spanish court in Palma de Mallorca found there wasn ' t sufficient evidence to press charges .  The prince has long maintained that he was innocent , that he hasn ' t been in Ibiza in more than a decade and that others have tried to impersonate him .  The prince ' s legal team released a statement Wednesday saying the ruling vindicates the prince , but said the legal matter has nevertheless resulted in "" a grave injustice "" to him .  "" These reports confirm what we have said all along , which is that the allegations against  Prince Alwaleed were not only false and outrageous but also impossible as His Royal Highness was not in Spain at the time but was in France with his wife , children , grandchildren and in the presence of dozens of witnesses , as the documentation shows , "" the legal team ' s statement said .  "" This has been a grave injustice to His Royal Highness . For this , he has asked our Firm to study how to proceed in order to protect other innocent people from facing similar attacks and to make sure that those who have deliberately lied about  are held responsible for their actions , "" the statement said .  In September , a Spanish court reopened the investigation into the rape allegation .  The woman filed her complaint in Ibiza in August 2008 , but a local judge shelved it in 2010 , citing a lack of evidence that a crime had been committed , according to court documents .  The woman appealed to the next highest court , the Balearic Island Provisional Court , which ruled the lower court in Ibiza should reopen the investigation .  In September , the Saudi prince , a billionaire and the biggest foreign investor in companies such a News Corp . , said in a statement that he was just learning of the accusation .  "" These allegations are completely and utterly false , "" said the statement from his investment firm , Kingdom Holding Company . "" The alleged encounter simply never happened . ""  According to September ' s statement , the prince doesn ' t vacation in Spanish waters .  But Max Turiel , one of the lawyers for the alleged victim , said last year there was evidence his team had wanted the court to examine further .  According to the court documents , the woman believed her drink had been drugged . She sent a text message to a friend stating as much . She awoke on a yacht to find she was being sexually assaulted by a man she identified as Alwaleed , according to court documents .  Turiel said "" there were remains of semen "" that should be examined against the prince ' s  , as well as "" remains of a tranquilizer that produced the symptoms she had . ""  The evidence came from tests carried out 30 hours after the alleged rape , the attorney said , so the alcohol was gone from her body , but not the drug or the  .  "" She wanted to reopen the case due to the huge injustice and a feeling of a helplessness powerful people should not take undue advantage of it and have others subjected to them , "" the message said .  The message described the "" man or men "" who allegedly abused the young woman as powerful individuals who threatened her onboard the yacht .  Asked if her daughter was afraid to appeal the case , the mother said , "" Part of the fear has a lot of dignity and that can ' t be bought nor scared off with threats . ""  The young woman , a dual Spanish and German citizen , was 23 in September , the e mail said .  In December , a Spanish court heard new testimony from the woman . The prince and his lawyers were not present at the hearing . The woman , who has worked as a fashion model , entered the courthouse in Ibiza wearing a black hat and dark sunglasses to conceal her face from reporters outside , Turiel said . Her mother accompanied her .  The two hour , closed door hearing included the woman , another one of her lawyers , the prosecutor and the magistrate in charge of the investigation .  In a December statement , the prince ' s lawyer in Madrid said the prince was with his family in France in August 2008 on a visit that was well documented by his passport , cell phone records and hotel receipts , as well as photographs , video and eyewitness accounts .  But in her testimony in December , the woman maintained her accusation against the prince , said Turiel , despite what he termed tough questioning by the prosecutor seeking details of the alleged rape .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
21011,21012,"Donald Trump addresses the Republican Jewish Coalition at a candidate forum Thursday .  Donald Trump led a field of faux pas at an awkward presidential candidate forum for the Republican Jewish Coalition Thursday .  The  frontrunner stoked outrage among Jews both in attendance and in Israel with his comments about money and foreign policy at the event . His speech played out as only a sampling of the strange moments from the event , though .  I m a negotiator ? like you folks , Trump said . Later in the speech , he asked , Is there anyone in this room who doesn t negotiate deals ? Probably more than any room I ve ever spoken .  The audience booed when Trump wouldn t commit to Jerusalem as the undivided capital of Israel , which he argued would hurt his negotiating position in the Middle East . Nervous laughs could be heard when the real estate developer and celebrity turned candidate mentioned campaign donations , The Washington Post reported .  You re not going to support me because I don t want your money , Trump said . Isn t it crazy ?  "" I ' m a negotiator like you folks , "" Trump told the audience .  He added , You want to control your own politician .  The comments touched a nerve with former George W . Bush spokesman Ari Fleischer .  Trump to the Republican Jewish Coalition : You ' re not going to support me because I don ' t want your money . What the hell does that mean ? Fleischer Tweeted .  The Times of Israel headlined its coverage of the speech with Trump courts Republican Jews with offensive stereotypes . The newspaper quoted Marc Zell , the head of Israel s Republican party , dismissing Trump .  The voters understand that to lead the United States , you need a person who knows more than how to sell products , with all due respect to Donald Trump , and everything he has achieved in his career , Zell said . In my opinion , he cannot be president of the United States .  Conservative Washington Post columnist Jennifer Rubin called Trump s remark about money cringe worthy while writing that the event showed his potential vulnerability when cornered on serious issues . Some members of the audience told her they weren t offended and reminded Rubin that Trump s wife and daughter are Jewish . Yet one unidentified member of the crowd couldn t conceal disgust .  I threw up in my mouth so many times I need a mint , the audience member told Rubin . Trump will probably sell mints . We Jews are good at buying things .  Republican candidate Ben Carson struggled to pronounce the name of the terror group Hamas , calling it "" hummus . ""  Trump s campaign didn t immediately respond to a request for comment Friday night . He Tweeted that he had won the event and received the only  standing O . The Anti Defamation League , a group that advocates against anti Semitism worldwide , released a statement from  Jonathan Greenblatt saying  members don t think Trump evoked stereotypes on purpose .  Sen . Lindsey Graham completed his speech without any apparent blunders but stumbled off the podium after he delivered it .  Greenblatt noted the organization had criticized comments by Trump before but pointed out that he has used his line about not needing any donations throughout his campaign .  We do not believe he intended his comments regarding negotiations and money to relate specifically to their Jewishness , but we understand that they could be interpreted that way , Greenblatt said . We encourage him to clarify that this was not his intention , and that he rejects the traditional stereotypes about Jews and money .  Trump s remarks drew the most attention , yet they weren t the only head scratching moments from the event , which featured 13 different candidates .  Ben Carson struggled with the pronunciation of the terrorist group Hamas , maybe out of hunger . He called Hamas Hummus . Former Virginia governor and longshot candidate Jim Gilmore must have crammed on the Holocaust ahead of the event . He said , Last night I was watching ' Schindler ' s List . ' Everybody here has seen ' Schindler ' s List . ' ""  Sen . Lindsey Graham stumbled down from the podium after his speech . And at least Ohio Governor John Kasich offered a positive note . He said his mother had told him to love the Jews .  My mother told me one time , she said , ' Johnny ' ? when I was a very young man ? she said , ' Johnny , if you want to look for a really good friend , get somebody who ' s Jewish . ' And you know why she said that ? She said , ' no matter what happens to you , your friend , your Jewish friend will stick by your side and fight right with you and stand by you . ' ""  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
21013,21014,"Investigations are continuing into the recent downfall of Jack Castle , an ex cop drawn into a web of intrigue and deceit by a frequently naked woman .  Though police have yet to determine the exact cause of Castle ' s undoing , the frequent nudity of the "" mystery woman "" is believed to have played a major role .  Castle , who served on the Van Nuys Police Department for 27 years before quitting last year , had reportedly been driven over the edge by the devious schemes of the torso baring woman .  "" We don ' t have much info on this woman yet , but we do know that she lured Jack down a deadly path of lies and deception , "" said Van Nuys police chief Lou Phillips , Castle ' s former best friend until he quit the force . "" We also know that she frequently needed to change , usually in a bathroom with a strategically placed mirror on an open door . ""  The case , which Van Nuys police officials have code named "" Operation Brutal Instinct 2 , "" is regarded as the worst incident of erotic thrilling in Van Nuys since March , when Officer Candi Jacobs went undercover as a stripper to catch a killer .  The mysterious woman who may be a reporter with an ulterior motive , a streetwise hooker on the run , a con artist out to make a bundle on insurance fraud , or a psychotic killer on a murder spree is believed to have preyed on Castle ' s deepest fears of manhood inadequacy in luring him to his doom .  "" Castle was a tough cop once one of the best , "" Phillips said . "" But he never forgave himself for what happened to his beloved Victoria . And that left him deeply vulnerable to the type of woman who puts on her thong panties in front of open windows . ""  Phillips said Castle became embroiled in the oft nude woman ' s manipulations because of his inability to come to terms with the tragic end of his relationship with Victoria Hope , who left him because of his neglect for her burning sexual needs .  "" He was so wrapped up in his work , he was unable to give his woman the raw , unbridled passion she craved , "" Phillips said . "" Starved for affection , she eventually fell into the arms of her cable installer . ""  "" That was the day she left Jack , "" said Phillips , pensively running his fingers over his stubbled face . "" A short time later , she was found murdered with her own silk stockings . He quit the force the next day . ""  Experts say Castle ' s anguish over his failure as a lover and a cop is the reason he became so vulnerable he couldn ' t stop his descent into the woman ' s whirlwind of deception , betrayal , lust . . . and murder .  Said forensic psychologist Dr William Katt : "" The frequent , gratuitous nudity behavior demonstrated by this mystery woman seems to have unleashed Jack Castle ' s inner demons to the point where he could no longer control his dark side , and he became trapped in a nightmare of graphic violence , adult situations , explicit language and strong sexual content . ""  Described by witnesses as a classic femme fatale archetype preying on male fears of the vagina dentata , the frequently naked woman was last seen wearing stiletto heels , thick eyeliner , a red garter , pantyhose and lingerie and no bra . Her breasts were described as "" enormous . ""  Said noted criminal behaviorist Dr Julian Sands , "" Jack Castle was a man who faced muggers , drug dealers and gun toting gangs without batting an eye . But it was this sinister seductress armed with two naked , heaving , surgically enhanced breasts , jutting forth in bold defiance of gravity , their pert , erect nipples thrusting forward who destroyed him in the end . ""  Though many of Castle ' s close friends were deeply shocked upon learning of his tragic story and its surprise twist ending which has been described as "" a real shocker that will leave you breathless "" no one is more distraught than his estranged father , Lance Castle .  "" I should have been there for my son , "" the elder Castle said . "" Parental discretion should have been advised . ""  ",satire,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,satire,True,no,no,negative,past
21017,21018,"When democracy is at its best, elections are the civilized version of warfare: clashes of wit, personality and ideas that seek to resolve a nation’s biggest arguments. But sometimes an election is just a dirty fight. When Donald J. Trump arrived in Albuquerque last week, stepping from his   jet into an aircraft hangar that was thronged with baying supporters, he held his arms aloft like a champion boxer. His speech opened with dutiful attacks on Obamacare, the Iran nuclear deal and immigration. But it was when he uttered a single word  —   “Hillary”  —   that the crowd truly erupted. “Lock her up!” The roar filled the hangar. Mr. Trump paused his speech, then smiled. Two days later and 1, 500 miles away, Hillary Clinton punched back. Slamming her rival’s “dark and divisive vision,” she alternated between mocking Mr. Trump and painting him as a threat to America and global stability. Would America’s nuclear codes be safe in his hands? she asked the crowd at her own rally in Orlando, Fla. What about black people? Latinos? A harsh,   quality crept into her voice. This was the biggest election of their lives, she told supporters. “Now,” she said, “go and vote. ” I will not be voting in this election I’m Irish, and I’ve never lived in the United States. But since July, I have traversed the country to report on its extraordinary, bewildering campaign from a foreigner’s perspective. After the Republican and Democratic National Conventions, I met voters at a coal mine in West Virginia, at ranches along the Mexican border, inside casinos in Las Vegas and outside the gleaming black edifice of Trump Tower in Manhattan. Here is a video with comments from a few of them. As Nov. 8 approached, I wanted to see the candidates up close. I went to 10 rallies in six states, traveling more than 6, 000 miles (that’s nine flights in four days). After all that, I didn’t get closer than 30 yards from either candidate. The view was often better on television. Yet as they galloped down the home straight of this bitterly contentious race, the trip revealed less a snapshot of America than a measure of its temperature. Rallies felt like injections to the vein, jolts of political energy driven by voters who stood for long hours in crowded halls, cheering leaders they could barely see for promises that may never be fulfilled. But venom, not hope, was a driving force. Fear and loathing course through both campaigns, driven on one side by Mr. Trump’s   populism and on the other by Mrs. Clinton’s apocalyptic warnings of the consequences if he wins. Lurid personal attacks, insinuations of   rampant conspiracy theories  —   I might have been in Pakistan, where I lived for nine years, or at my current base in Egypt. In this election, America’s shining city on the hill, it seems, has more in common with those countries where the electricity blinks on and off. Below, some snapshots and notes from my time on the trail, first with Mr. Trump, then with Mrs. Clinton.  VEGAS, Oct. 30, 11:10 a. m. To see Mr. Trump speak live is to understand his wild popularity with a section of the electorate. In three nationally televised debates, he often came across as a blustering, barracking bumbler. But in the gilded ballroom of the Venetian hotel and casino, he is in complete control. He channels the energy of the crowd, listening as he speaks. When he hears the right note of approval, Mr. Trump amplifies his message and bounces it back, usually with one of his trademark   catchphrases. “Drain the swamp!” the crowd yells on cue  —   a reference to the swamp upon which Washington, D. C. was built. Then: “Build the wall” on the Mexican border. And: “Lock her up!” 11:43 a. m. We’re standing at the ballroom side door, having been hustled out by campaign aides before Mr. Trump finished. The jaded campaign reporters who have heard this speech dozens of times say the closer in perfect sync: “Make America great again!” Then we are herded into a giant service elevator that deposits us in the bowels of the casino where, among the concrete pillars, a convoy of gleaming black vehicles and burly Secret Service agents is waiting. Mr. Trump follows within minutes. I press up against the window of the press bus. The candidate walks briskly, but his shoulders are drooped, as if deflated by the effort of the speech. He steps into a   drive, and the convoy sets off for the airport. This, it turns out, is the closest I will get to him. McCARRAN  AIRPORT, noon. The Trump press plane offers several advantages over commercial air travel: There’s no   and there are no luggage limit or irksome restrictions about seatbelts or cellphone use. Every seat is business class (my bill for two days topped $5, 000). The crew is obliging, and the alcohol and   are free. You can eat during takeoff. But you don’t get to see the star. In a break with campaign tradition, Mr. Trump has declined to share a plane with the traveling press. He flies in his private Boeing 757  —   fancifully nicknamed Trump Force One  —   with its   gold taps and retinue of advisers. GREELEY, Colo. 2 p. m. When a Trump crowd unleashes on Mrs. Clinton, it is hard not to think of Orwell’s dystopian novel “1984,” when the people were allowed to spend two minutes every day venting hatred for the party’s enemy. Yet individually, many Trump supporters are a far cry from the snarling caricatures. At the University of Northern Colorado, they are cheery and polite, an odd mix of the prim and the profane: schoolteachers and churchgoers in sensible shoes, paunchy   men in tattoos and biker leathers. They seem to exult in the solidarity of the crowd, defiant in their identity as “deplorables. ” To them, Mr. Trump can do no wrong the problem is politics. Les Potts, a retired preacher, tells me that he worries about the progressives’ gaining control of the Supreme Court and the spread of communism. Is America not the global center of capitalism? No, he insists. “People are fed up,” he says. “In Washington, we need some big changes. And I don’t think we’ll have that without a revolution. ”  RAPIDS, Mich. Oct. 31, 2 a. m. Confusion at   means that I spend 15 minutes hunting for a   room that, it turns out, is on the sixth floor.   I collapse into bed. 10 a. m. It’s Halloween, so “Werewolves of London” has replaced Pavarotti as the   music at Deltaplex Arena. The Statue of Liberty is posing for pictures, along with Laurie Sanger, in an orange jumpsuit, a blond wig and handcuffs: a jailbird Hillary Clinton. Ms. Sanger, who is 33 and works at a furniture factory, explains: Mrs. Clinton is a corrupt criminal, “bought and paid for by special interests  —   she deserves jail. ” Ms. Sanger’s placard is sponsored byweblink, a conspiracy website that, thanks to Mr. Trump, has leapt to prominence. It’s also a sign of the times: Thanks to Mr. Trump, fringe ideas are now aired in the mainstream, prejudice masquerading as fact. Danny Popma, a local factory owner, tells me that the Muslim community in Detroit  —   the largest in America  —   was implicated in  . WARREN, Mich. 4 p. m. Winning is a big part of Mr. Trump’s sales pitch. But what he’s offering feels like a defensive victory, a retrieval of lost glory rather than anything new. At Macomb Community College, north of Detroit, he paints a dismal picture of American foreign policy, laying the chaos of the Middle East  —   Libya, Syria, Egypt and Iraq, and the death of four Americans in Benghazi in 2012  —   at Mrs. Clinton’s doorstep. To him, the entire world is a stage of American humiliation, with a declining military and abandoned veterans. It resonates with people in the crowd. To them, Mr. Trump offers to salve fallen pride, flex American muscle and renew bruised notions of American exceptionalism.     TAMPA, Fla. Nov. 1, 1:15 p. m. I’m in an Uber, having left the Trump bubble to meet up with the Clinton camp in Florida, the most famous of the famous swing states, where Al Gore lost it all by a sliver in 2000. Rush Limbaugh, the     king, is on the radio, pouring cold water on suggestions that Mr. Trump is losing and basking in the email scandal that has exploded over the Clinton campaign  —   again. Nobody knows what was in these latest emails, not even the F. B. I. director, who revealed their existence. But that’s not the point. Mrs. Clinton’s emails have acquired a talismanic power in this election, a digital dung heap that embodies the negatives she has struggled to shake off: defensiveness, reflexive secrecy, the whiff of shortcuts and sharp practice. The candidates are neck and neck here in Florida, bombarding each other with negative ads. It’s hard to avoid them on TV: images of a vampirelike Mrs. Clinton, or Mr. Trump slinging insults at women. “I can’t wait till this is all over,” my Uber driver says.  CITY, Fla. 3:23 p. m. Waiting for Mrs. Clinton, I log on to the press   network: The password is “stronger together,” the campaign slogan. Yesterday it was “Trump Train. ” Everything is an opportunity for messaging in a modern campaign. Before the candidate arrives, a few of her supporters wilt under the scorching sun and are carried out for first aid. What strikes me among the older supporters is the intensity of their animus toward Mr. Trump. He is, one man tells me, “pure evil. ” Nancy Perkins, 64, a retired nurse, says she has unfriended every Trump supporter on Facebook: “I don’t need people like that in my life. ” The   act is Alicia Machado, the onetime Miss Universe who became an election argument when it emerged that Mr. Trump had once called her “Miss Piggy” and “Miss Housekeeping. ” Now the Clinton campaign has deployed her. Her voice quivers as she recounts how he called her ugly. “He’s the ugly one!” yells a man in a wheelchair at the back of the crowd. “Monster!” 4:34 p. m. A few hundred yards from the rally, a clutch of Trump supporters are yelling, “Lock her up!” As the press bus pulls away, the Trumpsters run around outside the window, laughing and making wild gestures.     AIRPORT, Nov. 2, 12:13 p. m. Wheels up: In the campaign’s final sprint, candidates often move east to west, exploiting the changing time zones to fit in more events. Much has changed since Timothy Crouse wrote “The Boys on the Bus,” his gritty account of covering the 1972 presidential campaign, and it’s not just Twitter’s replacing typewriters. Today, most of the   Clinton correspondents are women, so testosterone levels have fallen, too. Unlike Mr. Trump, Mrs. Clinton travels on the same plane as the press. But it’s a distinction without a difference: She is ensconced behind a curtain near the nose. That’s new only a few weeks ago, when the polls showed her with a comfortable lead, Mrs. Clinton sometimes strolled back to field questions. But then the F. B. I. email scandal hit. Polls tightened. Mrs. Clinton dispatched her aides to press the press.  VEGAS, 2 p. m. I’m back where I started with Mr. Trump. But instead of a fancy casino, Mrs. Clinton’s rally is in the rather prosaic headquarters of the city’s plumbers and pipe fitters union. Burly men walk around in “Carpenters for Hillary”   there are a lot of Hispanic supporters in the crowd. Here, Mrs. Clinton’s focus is Mr. Trump’s attitude toward immigration. She talks about what his “dark and divisive vision” would mean for blacks, Mexicans and Muslims. “Imagine what it would be like to have him in the most powerful office in the world on Jan. 20,” she says.  McCARRAN  AIRPORT, 5:27 p. m. For the short hop to Phoenix, I get switched into the chase plane  —   an executive jet, all walnut trim and bottled beer, for the reporters who do not fit on Mrs. Clinton’s plane. The press wrangler is Andrea, a consultant from Las Vegas who artfully dodges questions about whether she wants a job in a future Clinton administration. TEMPE, Ariz. 9:50 p. m. After a rally at Arizona State University with 15, 000 people  —   huge by Clinton standards  —   her convoy is at a standstill. The Chicago Cubs and the Cleveland Indians are heading into extra innings in the final game of the World Series. Mrs. Clinton, who was born in the suburbs of Chicago, is watching on an iPad and cheering for the Cubs, who haven’t won the championship in 108 years. On the press bus, the Twitter messages and filing of stories have halted reporters crowd over the dim glow of a laptop where someone has managed to stream a live feed. The bus erupts in cheers when the Cubs clinch the title with a final out. Mrs. Clinton allows herself to celebrate, holding aloft the Cubs’ W flag  —   for “ win”  —   as she is no doubt hoping to do for herself in a few days.",true,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
21027,21028,"Thomas Eric Duncan , the first person diagnosed with Ebola in the United States , received an experimental medicine nearly a week after being admitted into the hospital a far longer wait than experienced by four other Ebola patients treated in the United States .  Those patients two each at Atlanta ' s Emory University Hospital and the University of Nebraska Medical Center received their experimental medicines immediately . Those four are U . S . citizens Duncan is a Liberian national .  Duncan died Wednesday at the Texas hospital where he was being treated , 10 days after he was admitted .  "" We feel he didn ' t get the medicine and treatment for the disease because he ' s African and they don ' t consider him as important as the other three , "" Josephus Weeks , Duncan ' s nephew , said at a press conference Tuesday afternoon , a day before Duncan died .  The Rev . Jesse Jackson , who attended that press conference with Weeks and Duncan ' s mother as a newly appointed spokesman for the family , said , "" We don ' t feel good about that . It ' s been a concern he had to wait so long . ""  Jackson said he thinks money also played a role in Duncan ' s treatment .  "" I would tend to think that those who do not have insurance , those who do not have Medicaid do not have the same priorities as those who do , "" the civil rights leader said .  In a statement , a spokeswoman for Dallas ' Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital said Duncan was "" treated the way any other patient would have been treated , regardless of nationality or ability to pay for care . We have a long history of treating a multicultural community in this area . ""  The hospitals that took care of the four other patients had substantial advance notice that patients were on their way .  Duncan went the emergency room at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital on September 25 , but staff there didn ' t realize he had Ebola and sent him home hours later . He was admitted on September 28 when the hospital realized he had the disease . He started receiving the experimental drug , brincidofovir , on October 4 .  "" Mr Duncan succumbed to an insidious disease , Ebola , "" hospital spokesman Wendell Watson said in a statement . "" He fought courageously in this battle . Our professionals , the doctors and nurses in the unit , as well as the entire Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas community , are also grieving his passing . ""  Thomas Eric Duncan : First Ebola death in U . S .  Since the drugs being used to treat Ebola are still experimental , it is up to each individual hospital to file the paperwork with the Food and Drug Administration for permission to get the drug from the manufacturer and use it .  The agency received the request to use brincidofovir on October 3 , five days after Duncan entered the hospital , Stephanie Yao , a spokeswoman for the  , said Wednesday .  "" The care team has been consulting with the  and Emory , on a daily basis since Mr Duncan was admitted to the hospital , discussing the possible course of treatment , including the use of investigational drugs , "" Watson , the hospital spokesman , said in a statement .  The  and Chimerix , the company that makes the drug , said if there was any delay it wasn ' t on their part . Yao said she couldn ' t comment on any particular case , but when doctors make requests for experimental Ebola treatments , "" we turn them around in a matter of a few hours often less than one hour . ""  Ebola drugs are in the works  Joseph Schepers , a spokesman for Chimerix , said requests to use brincidofovir "" are expedited immediately in the most expedited way you could possibly do it . ""  "" It ' s a general rule in medicine that the earlier you start therapy in a sick person who needs the therapy , the better the response , "" said Dr Anthony Fauci , director of the National Institute for Allergies and Infectious Diseases , when asked about the impact of the wait for the drug .  Weeks said he and his family had to "" pressure "" the hospital to apply for permission to give the drug , brincidofovir , to Duncan .  "" They were treating him with oxygen , water and a bed to lay on , "" he said .  Weeks and Jackson said they believe the hospital applied for permission to use brincidofovir only after Jackson gave out the hospital ' s phone number on his radio show last week and urged listeners to call in and complain .  Ashoka Mukpo , a freelance  cameraman , was admitted to the University of Nebraska Medical Center Tuesday and began receiving brincidofovir the same day . Dr Rick Sacra received another experimental drug called  Ebola , which is easier to access but still requires permission from the  . Dr Kent Brantley and Nancy Writebol both treated at Emory took Zmapp , which is no longer available because the company ran out of supplies of the drug .   warns companies about fake Ebola drugs  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
21037,21038,"Along with his 2 year old brother , Max Shatto arrived in the United States with his adoptive parents in November 2012 . Just more than two months later , his adoptive mother told authorities that she found him unresponsive in the family ' s Gardendale , Texas , backyard . He was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at a nearby hospital .  Soon after Max ' s death on January 21 , Russia ' s top child rights advocate tweeted that the boy had been "" killed "" or "" murdered . "" Children ' s Rights Commissioner Pavel Astakhov later acknowledged he might have spoken too soon though he has remained highly critical of the U . S . handling of the case .  Russia slams Texas prosecutors for not charging parents  The documents were obtained Thursday from the medical examiner ' s offices for Ector County and Tarrant County . They offered more details from the account by Laura and Alan Shatto about the boy ' s time in America as well as the condition of his body at the time of his death .  Russia ' s consul general in Houston has received the report , said Yevgeniy Khorishko , a spokesman with Russia ' s embassy in Washington . Russian officials will review the findings , but until then they have no comment .  An investigator with the Ector County office who examined Max ' s body externally soon after his death documented 31 bruises , abrasions , scratches and other issues from head to toe , according to the death investigative report .  Both parents in the report claimed that the boy who they and a doctor said was born to an alcoholic mother would try to hurt himself in various ways .  Russia concerned over adopted boy ' s cause of death  "" They stated that ( Max ) was displaying behaviors such as banging his head on the bathtub , throwing himself down , holding his breath and clawing himself , "" wrote investigator Sondra Woolf .  A Denton , Texas , doctor told authorities that after examining the child ' s deteriorating condition during a second visit and listening to the parents ' accounts , he prescribed the boy Risperidone , an antipsychotic medication . The Shattoes said they first gave Max the drug on January 15 but stopped on January 18 , concerned it was affecting his ability to swallow , the report said .  Laura Shatto told authorities that she last saw Max outside , believing he was about to go on a slide , just before she went inside to use the bathroom . She came out to find him prone on the ground , and she called his name and shook him vigorously before calling 911 .  The documents also included a preliminary autopsy report conducted by the Tarrant County Medical Examiner ' s Office , completed on January 23 .  Medical Examiner Lloyd White wrote to his colleagues in Ector County , "" Based on the findings at this point , I suggest laceration of small bowel mesentry due to blunt trauma to ( the ) abdomen as the cause of death . I ' ll leave the manner of death up to you pending investigation .  "" On the whole , there appears to be a strong likelihood that this death was accidental , probably the consequence of a fall from playground equipment in his yard . ""  The Ector County medical examiner later concluded that Max Shatto ' s death was accidental , finding that the bruises and other issues were consistent with a "" self inflicted "" injury , District Attorney Bobby Bland said March 1 .  Astakhov had accused the adoptive mother of killing the boy and giving him "" psychotropic substances , "" Russia ' s state run  Novosti news agency reported .  But toxicology reports came back negative , and there were no substances found that could have contributed to the child ' s death .  Soon after the news came out that Max ' s death had been deemed accidental , Russia ' s Foreign Ministry expressed concerns and noted it did not receive the information from U . S . officials but rather from the media . It asked the United States to give Russian consular representatives the relevant forensic documents , including a death certificate .  A few weeks later , Astakhov again slammed Texas authorities this time after they decided not to charge the adoptive parents .  Bland announced March 18 that a grand jury had declined to indict Laura and Alan Shatto , adding that they ' d found no evidence to charge the people and stating the boy died of a "" tragic accident . ""  The Russian child rights advocate responded to that development with a tweet , reported by a  Novosti , claiming the district attorney hadn ' t done enough to the investigate the death of the boy also known as Maxim Kuzmin .  "" The Texas prosecutors ' position in the case of Maxim Kuzmin is upsetting because they refused to scrutinize the circumstances of his death , "" Astakhov wrote .  The boy ' s death aggravated U . S . State Department efforts to push through more than 500 adoption cases in which American families have already begun the process to adopt a Russian child before Moscow in December passed a law banning adoptions of Russian children by Americans .  That law bans adoptions by Americans ostensibly because of documented cases of abuse by adoptive parents . But others say the Russian move is in retaliation for a U . S . law that places restrictions on Russian human rights abusers .  Americans adopted close to 1 , 000 Russian children last year , according to State Department figures .  Though the number has dropped in recent years , Russia remains the third most popular foreign country after China and Ethiopia for U . S . foreign adoptions .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
21038,21039,"It has humble origins . Found inside the intestines of a slaughtered sheep , in Western Australia , of all places , an ancient crystal known , among rock hounds , as a zircon , is the oldest piece of Earth on record .  According to scientists who study such matters , the shimmering blue crystal is 4 . 4 billion years old , give or take a few million years .  "" It ' s the earliest piece of the planet ' s crust , "" states Bob Roberts , professor of the University of Wisconsin Madison ' s Department of Rocks For Jocks . "" The Earth is itself only 4 . 5 billion years old , "" he adds .  The discovery , by rancher John Johnson , was reported in the prestigious science journal Gee !  In reality , Roberts observes , the crystal is "" translucent red , "" to use the proper scientific terminology , "" although , when bombarded with electrons , glows blue . "" In photographs , it appears to be about the size of an ostrich egg , because it is shown under an electron microscope , but , in reality , it is the size of a golf ball .  The crystal ' s mineral content confirms the suspicion of some biologists that the Earth could have supported extraterrestrial life 4 . 4 billion years ago , although scientists would not elaborate upon this view , characterizing it as "" top secret . "" "" If we told you , the aliens would have to kill you , "" said a mysterious man in black , who would not give his identity .  The crystal also proves "" beyond doubt , "" Al Gore claims , "" that the Earth is , indeed , undergoing climate change , as it has for the past 4 . 4 billion years . ""  How was the age of the crystal determined ?  "" We used atom probe tomography , "" Roberts said .  What ' s that ?  "" You wouldn ' t understand it ' s technical . ""  An unidentified jeweler has acquired the crystal for "" an astronomical sum , "" saying he will create an "" out of this world brooch "" from it , possibly as a gift for Hillary Clinton to wear at her coronation ceremony in 2016 .  ",satire,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
21044,21045,"Citing “freedom of speech” and the possibility that expelled migrants risk “persecution” if sent back to their homelands, Sweden’s Justice Minister rejected Erik Nord’s call to deport Islamic   migrants and demanded the police chief “explain himself”. [“Not because it would have prevented Friday’s attack but surely we should be able to withdraw Swedish residency rights from people who support violent extremism,” wrote the Greater Gothenburg police chief on Sunday, two days after an alleged terror attack in Stockholm in which four people died and many were injured.  But government minister Morgan Johansson slapped down Nord’s “problematic” suggestion, for which he said the police chief needs to “explain himself”. “We have freedom of speech in Sweden. This means people have the right to hold repulsive opinions here,” said Johansson. “But there are always limits  …     For example when it comes to hate speech,” he added. Asserting that migrants with residence permits are in Sweden because they are in need of protection, the Social Democratic party politician warned that “there is a risk [migrants who support violent extremism] could face persecution if they were sent back”. Nord told the Gothenburg Post on Sunday: “We should be able to tell   who are going around proposing the nation become a totalitarian state, be it political or religious, that they have to go back home where they belong. ” Noting how currently Sweden can only deport individuals found guilty of committing or funding acts of terror, the police chief argued that it should also be possible for the nation to expel people who say they support groups which back violent extremism. “Sure there are going to be people who say  is great and that religious extremism is fantastic. But then I don’t think these people should be allowed to stay in Sweden where they are bankrolled and have their lifestyles paid for by the government. ” “Islam itself is not extreme, but there are forms of Islamism and jihad which are causing problems,” he continued. “At this point in time, we know that there are many people going around and giving lectures in support of this sort of extremism. “I just don’t think it’s fair,” Nord added, telling the newspaper that police receive intelligence about Islamist preachers “all the time”. “It’s disgusting that we allow bad people to canvass here, waving  flags,” said Nord. “It’s an insult to those who have fled from Islamic State. ” “I realise that the things I’m saying here could be read as political statements. But we’re living in a new reality now in which, sometimes, it’s important that we be allowed to talk about things we observe,” he told Expressen.",fake,news,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
21051,21052,"Bob Beresford , a tow truck driver with 11 years of experience at Central Montana Service Salvage , announced Monday that he has a great idea for a tow truck movie .  "" I don ' t know why , but most people really don ' t have that clear a picture of what tow trucking is all about , "" said the 44 year old Beresford , standing in front of his 1995 Ford Super Duty . "" They don ' t realize the integrity , the commitment , the strong sense of duty that go into this work . With Towtruckin ' , I have a chance to change all that . ""  Towtruckin ' , according to Beresford , is "" a classic David versus Goliath story . "" Its hero , "" Rob Relesford , "" is a gifted , idealistic young tow truck driver trying to make it as an independent operator in the highly competitive world of towing and recovery . Faced with competition from Towco , a massive , multi state towing corporation , Relesford must choose between continuing to eke out a lonely but proud existence or accepting a well paid position on the Towco payroll . In the end , the choice is clear .  "" At the end of the movie , there ' s a big , overturned tractor trailer across the highway , and the hot shot Towco guys won ' t move it for insurance liability reasons , "" Beresford said . "" Then , the hero steps forward and tows the wreck off . Not because he ' s a show off , but because he has to . It ' s just what he does . ""  Beresford said he hasn ' t fully developed the plot of Towtruckin ' . He has , however , worked out certain scenes , such as the one in which Relesford pulls a beautiful waitress ' 1984 Sunbird off the median and gallantly refuses to accept payment .  "" Rob is a real American hero , "" Beresford said . "" He ' s out there with his wrecker all hours of the day and night , ready to right a tipped truck or haul a stalled vehicle to a mechanic . He ' s the closest thing to the cowboy we have left these days . But the point is , if something needs to be towed , by God , he ' ll tow it . ""  "" To me , that ' s America in a nutshell , "" he added .  Though Beresford plans to paint Rob as something of an outlaw , he said the character ' s actions will always fall on the side of what ' s right .  "" Rob would never tow away an illegally parked car unless it was impeding or inconveniencing honest citizens , "" Beresford said . "" And he ' d only tow repossessed cars of bad guys and wealthy gangsters , not poor people trying to make ends meet . Rob ' s like Robin Hood with a winch . ""  Beresford said he will likely incorporate his own personal experiences into the film .  "" There ' s going to be this old tow truck driver who serves as Rob ' s mentor and teaches him everything he knows about tow trucking , "" Beresford said . "" That ' s based on Red Stampfel , the guy who was boss here when I started in ' 89 , "" Beresford said . "" He was like the Yoda of Central Montana Service Salvage : Boom tow , high line towing , righting a chassis , Stampfel knew it all . He died of a heart attack in ' 96 . In the movie version , the guy dies , too , but Rob continues to talk to him after he dies . ""  Added Beresford : "" Also , there ' ll be this girl who , at first , doesn ' t get why towing ' s so important to Rob , but eventually she comes to understand . That , of course , is like Beresford ' s wife Melanie . ""  Beresford is confident in his vision for Towtruckin ' , describing it as a "" can ' t miss "" concept . He does , however , fear that the film could be ruined by studio executives who don ' t fully "" get it . ""  "" There ' s a right way and a wrong way to do this film , "" Beresford said . "" One of the wrong ways would definitely be to make a big deal out of the truck . Don ' t get me wrong , this guy ' ll have a nice rig , like the three axle Ford Super Duty I drive at Central Montana . But I could see some Hollywood type putting him in a big 30 foot rollback tower with all these extra hydraulics and a crewcab and that kind of crap . That ' s not how it should be done . Towtruckin ' is all about the tow trucker , not the tow truck . ""  ",satire,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,satire,True,no,no,positive,past
21065,21066,"Newspaper publishers no doubt long for the days of black and white packages on most doorsteps and corporate earnings "" in the black , "" as they say .  On Monday , Amazonweblink a new king of black and white with its market leading Kindle e reader presented them with a chance to earn more profits in the digital world .  Starting December 1 , Amazon will give newspapers a 70 percent cut of revenue from digital versions of their editions sold in the site ' s Kindle Store . That ' s in line with what Apple and Google give developers selling apps in their digital markets .  Amazon announced the changes to reporters Monday . Amazon was previously giving newspaper and magazine companies about 30 percent , according to a New York Times report last year .  The online retail giant also is providing publishers with a new tool called Kindle Publishing for Periodicals . The program is designed to speed up the process of producing a version of the newspaper for the many platforms where Kindle software can be downloaded .  "" A publisher would just need to send one feed , and Amazon customizes the experience for reading across different apps , "" Amazon spokeswoman Sarah Gelman said .  If this program is successful , Amazon could become the leading newsstand of the digital world . And if news organizations bite , it could cause a shift in their digital strategies .  Tapping the growing mobile audience has obvious appeal for traditional publishers . For example , Apple has sold more than 125 million gadgets iPhones , iPods and the iPad that run its mobile operating system . But finding developers capable of coding software for the system can be difficult and expensive .  Amazon won ' t disclose how many Kindles it has sold , saying only "" millions . "" ( Amazon Chief Jeff Bezos says hiding that number gives the company a strategic advantage on competitors . )  Sure , the Kindle e reader still lacks a color display , but its software is available for an array of full color devices , including the iPhone , iPad and those that run on Android systems . The idea is you ' d have access to your newspaper subscription on every Kindle enabled device you own . It ' s certainly been popular among bookworms , but that feature is not yet a reality with newspapers and magazines .  This same ubiquity strategy has helped Zinio , a mobile reading application , dominate the digital magazine market , said Jeanniey Mullen , the company ' s chief marketing officer . That 10 year old business has relationships with 3 , 000 magazine publishers some of which Amazon is no doubt eyeing for its renewed push into periodicals .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
21093,21094,"Reuters) - President Barack Obama said Americans should feel good about the economy after the latest jobs report on Friday showed the U.S. unemployment rate at an eight-year low of 4.9 percent. Obama, in his eighth and final year in office, made a relatively rare and unexpected appearance in the White House briefing room to talk about how the economy had recovered under his watch. “We have recovered from the worst economic crisis since the 1930s, the worst in my lifetime and the lifetime of most of the people in this room,” Obama said, noting the unemployment rate was 10 percent in 2009, when he took office. “We’ve done it faster, stronger, better, more durably than just about any other advanced economy,” Obama said. The White House has griped that Obama does not get enough credit for turning the economy around, a complaint Obama joked about on Thursday during a visit from the Golden State Warriors basketball champions. “You defied the cynics, you accomplished big things, you racked up a great record, and you don’t get enough credit - I can’t imagine how that feels,” Obama said, drawing laughter. On Friday, he acknowledged that “there’s still anxiety and concern about the general direction of the economy,” noting the job losses, stock market plunges and free fall in the housing market in 2007-2008 were still fresh in Americans’ memories. Obama said “softness” in China, Europe and other economies presented challenges to U.S. exporters and he said it was important for the United States to “keep our foot to the accelerator” to further strengthen the economy. “We should feel good about the progress we’ve made, understanding that we have still got more work to do,” he said, noting the budget he will propose to Congress on Tuesday will have ideas for job creation and retraining. Obama slammed Republican candidates in the race to replace him in the Nov. 8 presidential election for “talking down” the economy. “I know that’s still inconvenient for Republican stump speeches as their doom-and-despair tour plays in New Hampshire,” Obama said, referring to the primary election in the state on Tuesday. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Economy,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
21106,21107,"There ' s an awkward feeling to this situation . Longtime ex Giants coach Tom Coughlin is scheduled to meet with the Eagles ? on Monday .  Tom Coughlin with the Eagles , you heard that correctly . It ' s Johnny Damon with the Yankees . It ' s Bill Parcells with the Cowboys or Bill Belichick with the Patriots . It may seem inappropriate , but it ' s going to happen in this case , at least for a few hours . ?  The Eagles and Coughlin are scheduled to meet on Monday . ? Coughlin is being interviewed for the vacant Eagles head coaching job , a person familiar with the situation told  Advance Media . ?  That just seems wrong . The head coach who won two Super Bowls with the Giants isn ' t supposed to be talking about becoming the next coach of the division rival Eagles . Not after resigning last week ? following 12 seasons with Big Blue . ?  Tom Coughlin explains the bigger purpose of a football coach Former Giants head coach Tom Coughlin delivers spirited remarks about the bigger purpose of a football coach , which he said is teaching players "" the lessons they need once their professional careers are over . "" ( video by Andrew Mills  Advance Media )  But that ' s the situation after Coughlin stepped down and the Eagles requested an interview with him recently . They needed permission because he still has one year remaining on his contract with the Giants . ?  Coughlin will get the opportunity to meet with the Eagles brass to prove he ' s worth handing the job of delivering the franchise its first Super Bowl title . It would be a curious move given the circumstances , but here ' s what Eagles fans should expect if Coughlin is hired .  Say what you want about Tom Coughlin . The bottom line is that from Monday to Saturday , he has total command of the locker room . Players respect him . They play for him . They ' ll run through a brick wall for him . They ' ll believe in what he ' s selling . ?  This isn ' t Chip Kelly ? alienating those he needs to perform on Sundays . Coughlin preaches unity and family and the entire organization will buy his shtick . It ' s what he does . He ' s a quality leader of men .  Tom Coughlin is perfect Eagles coaching candidate The Eagles won ' t find a candidate better than Tom Coughlin .  If you watched the Giants play in 2015 you realize Coughlin ' s in game coaching was questionable , at best . The opener in Dallas when the Giants tried  to put the game away and Coughlin didn ' t know about it ? was just the start . There was the passing up of a field goal against the Jets and not noticing three quarters worth of fighting between star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr . and Panthers cornerback Josh Norman as well . And there was more .  Coughlin ' s in game coaching was subpar over the past few years . It ' s unrealistic at 70 years old for it to suddenly improve .  Andy Reid may have been dull . Chip Kelly may have been combative . Coughlin may be more useless in this area than either . He doesn ' t provide much to the fans and is unhappy just about every second he ' s forced to spend at the podium . Be prepared for a cranky old man .  This is inevitable . Coughlin will be 70 this summer . His age , no matter how much he insists it ' s not an issue , will be an issue . ? Coughlin would be the oldest coach in the  . Eventually he ' d be bordering on oldest coach in  history . ( Nobody has coached until their 73rd birthday . ) At every misstep , the age factor would come into play .  Who is going to replace Tom Coughlin ? The Giants should not waste a draft pick to hire New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton .  The Eagles wouldn ' t fold like they did on Thanksgiving against the Lions . They wouldn ' t crumble like they did against the Redskins with their season on the line . Coughlin gets his teams to play . They don ' t quit on him , even when they ' re not very good ( like the past three seasons ) . The Giants have played hard until the very end each of the last three losing seasons . ?  Coughlin would come with three rings one as an assistant and two as a head coach . He knows what it takes to win . This gives him instant credibility . It ' s a major part of why players respect his sometimes harsh ways and are willing to follow his lead . Coughlin ' s coaching techniques and styles has worked in the past . It has led teams to the mountain top . ?  Is it enough at this point to sell Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie ? Doubtful but there is always a chance . Coughlin has an interview , and once he gets in there , commanding a room has never been a problem . ?     , Ep . 38 : Who should replace Tom Coughlin as Giants coach ?  Jordan Raanan may be reached at jraanan njadvancemediaweblink . Follow him on Twitter JordanRaanan . Find NJweblink Giants on Facebook .  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
21123,21124,"South Africa ' s embattled police commissioner resigned Sunday as president of Interpol , a day after he took an extended leave of absence from his police duties , the international crime fighting agency said in a statement .  South Africa police commissioner Jackie Selebi , facing charges of corruption , has stepped down as boss of Interpol .  Interpol ' s Secretary General Ronald Noble received a resignation letter on Sunday from Jackie Selebi , who is facing charges of corruption related to his role as police commissioner , the agency said .  The charges are not related to his leadership role in Interpol .  In the letter , Selebi said he was resigning because he did not wish the allegations against him "" to bring the good work of this august body into disrepute . ""  "" Based on my experience of working with Mr Selebi in his capacity as delegate , vice president and ultimately president of the organization , he has always conducted himself and acted in a way to enhance global security and police co operation worldwide , "" Noble said in a statement .  As to the charges Selebi faces , Noble said : "" Any such allegations should be prosecuted thoroughly , and the proper manner is for charges to be brought promptly before a court of law and not through media leaks and speculation . ""  On Saturday , South African President Thabo Mbeki told a news conference in Pretoria , South Africa , that Selebi had been given an "" extended leave of absence "" from his police duties , but that he was not being sacked .  Mbeki said Selebi supported the decision taken midnight Friday and effective immediately to temporarily step down and that an acting commissioner had already been appointed to take his place .  According to widespread media reports , the upcoming charges hinge on Selebi ' s dealings with Glen Agliotti , a convicted drug smuggler .  The suspended police chief is alleged to have accepted at least 1 . 2 million Rand ( 177 , 000 ) from Agliotti over a 5 year period , the South African daily Cape Argus reported .  In return Selebi allegedly handed over confidential intelligence reports from the British authorities relating to Agliotti ' s suspected drug trafficking activities , according to the newspaper .  Tladi said the corruption charges were linked to Agliotti "" to a certain extent . ""  Agliotti recently received a 10 year suspended prison sentence in a drug case after entering into a plea bargain . He is also accused of involvement in the 2005 killing of mining magnate Brett Kebble , according to South African media reports .  A court on Friday rejected an application to halt the prosecution by Selebi , who has been under investigation for around two years .  Mbeki denied that he had been too slow in dealing with the fallout from the charges .  "" I have said many times that if there was anyone who came to me with information indicating that the national commissioner had behaved improperly then I would act on such information . No one has come to me with such information , "" Mbeki said . E mail to a friend  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
21129,21130,"President Obama inherited two wars from his predecessor, George W. Bush, and has struggled to wind them down. American troops are still in both Iraq and Afghanistan, but their missions have changed and there are far fewer troops in combat than at the heights of those wars a decade ago. Didn’t Mr. Obama declare an end to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan? Yes. Mr. Obama declared an end to the combat mission in Iraq in 2010, and the one in Afghanistan in 2014. But we still have thousands of troops in both countries. Why are the troops still there? Mr. Obama sent American forces back to Iraq in 2014 after the Islamic State seized wide stretches of territory there and was threatening to take Baghdad. In 2015, Mr. Obama, saying he continued to oppose the idea of an “endless war,” said he would keep thousands of troops in Afghanistan to continue to target remnants of Al Qaeda and to help Afghan forces defeat the Taliban. How many troops do we have in each country? The Pentagon will not say exactly. Military officials say there are roughly 5, 000 troops in Iraq and 11, 000 in Afghanistan. At the heights of those conflicts a decade ago, the United States had more than 150, 000 troops in Iraq and 100, 000 in Afghanistan. Wait, why don’t we know exactly how many troops are in each country? The Pentagon says that for “force protection” reasons it cannot say how many service members there are in the theater. Mr. Obama has set a cap of 4, 087 troops for Iraq and 9, 800 in Afghanistan. The Pentagon can exceed the caps because it uses an accounting system that exempts many groups from being counted, including troops that commanders plan on having in the country for less than four months. What is the mission of those troops?  Most of them are dedicated to what is called “train, advise and assist,” in Pentagon jargon. In layman’s terms, that means helping the Iraqis and Afghans beat back their enemies without actually sending Americans out to do a lot of the fighting, as the United States did a decade ago. The other mission is a counterterrorism one in which American troops and airmen take direct action against Islamic State and Qaeda militants. So what does that mean our troops are doing on a    basis? In both countries, Air Force jets conduct strikes on militants, safe houses, ammunition depots and training camps. On the ground, commandos launch raids to kill and capture militants military advisers train local commanders and soldiers, at times, fight alongside the local forces. Does that mean the troops are in combat? The White House does semantic cartwheels to say neither mission is combat. In 2014, when Mr. Obama first sent troops back into Iraq, he was unequivocal in his description of their mission. “I want the American people to understand how this effort will be different from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan,” he said. “It will not involve American combat troops fighting on foreign soil. ” The White House has stuck to the notion that the troops are not in combat. Pentagon officials roll their eyes at such denial, and senior officials  —   including the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff  —   have publicly called it combat. How has Mr. Obama changed the United States’ role in Iraq? At the end of 2011, Mr. Obama  —   who had campaigned on ending the war in Iraq  —   decided to pull out the 50, 000 troops we still had in the country and declared an end to our mission there. After the Islamic State took substantial territory in Iraq in 2014, Mr. Obama sent several hundred advisers back to Iraq to determine the strength of the Iraqi military and how the United States could help it combat the Islamic State. By the end of that year, he had increased the United States’ involvement, and roughly 1, 550 troops were in the country. In 2015, the number climbed to 3, 000, and this year Mr. Obama increased it to over 4, 000. When are the troops going to return home? Military commanders say more troops are likely to be sent into Iraq in support of Iraqi forces preparing to try to retake Mosul. The troops in Afghanistan were initially supposed to return home by 2017. But the Taliban have had a significant resurgence, and the troops are likely to remain there through next spring, if not longer. According to the website icasualties. org, six American service members have died in Iraq this year and three in Afghanistan. In the past decade and a half, 4, 501 Americans have died in Iraq and 2, 381 in Afghanistan.",true,news,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
21132,21133,"Just a little over four years ago , Snapchat was supposedly just an idea that founder Evan Spiegel and friends had while in a class at Stanford .  Now , over 100 million active users and 7 billion daily video views later , the White House has joined , presidential candidate Bernie Sanders is running a campaign on it and senior ad buyers are starting to take notice and planning to advertise on the platform over other social media sites .  How did Snapchat , an app that first made headlines as the "" sexting app "" , get here ?  The History of Snapchat : How Disappearing Photos Changed the Game  I was surprised early on that people didn ' t realize that the way Snapchat works is much closer to how we communicate face to face than any other social network . What I mean by this is that : when we talk to each other , passing in the halls or just living out our lives , those moments disappear . Snapchat emulates that behavior and psychology .  Snapchat was started at a time when everybody and their mom thought they were an entrepreneur who could launch a successful social app . Facebook was where you went for updates on family and friends , Instagram was beautiful photo content , and Twitter was the conversation at a cocktail party . These three social giants dominated most of the conversation , but they all played off of each other in terms of functionality , and , most importantly , audience . However , Snapchat was able to counterbalance the strengths of all three players and create a new social pipeline .  The norm of the internet age is to create platforms in which everything is saved everything is stored and documented digitally . Snapchat went the opposite direction and is predicated on our reality : moments are temporary and that ' s exactly the feeling and behavior that Snapchat mapped to . Snaps could even be compared to television the first fifty years it was introduced : the broadcast aired , and that was it . Snapchat managed to tap into a lot of historical truths , instead of creating something entirely new .  All these things quickly led Snapchat to come to the attention of Facebook ' s  Mark Zuckerberg . Just one year after launch , Zuckerberg reportedly tried to buy the app for 3 billion .  Let me just say this : Zuckerberg is the greatest trader in consumer attention of all time .  He understands the value of attention . He recognized that Snapchat was well on its way to winning the attention of a generation , much like he did with Instagram ( which Facebook bought in 2012 for 1 billion ) . He saw it as a vulnerability and saw that a Snapchat generation could emerge , much like there was a Facebook generation before it . Facebook acquired a monopoly on 18 to 24 year olds with Instagram , they had a monopoly on an older demo with Facebook they just needed Snapchat to fill the gaps .  But Spiegel turned the offer down . He saw what Zuckerberg saw : the potential to fill in the social pipelines that other platforms had ignored . He knew he had one of the hottest apps of the time now it was just up to him and the team to blow out their user base and execute against their core function .  But , let ' s be honest : what really makes a new social network become popular fast ?  There are two things that are very true when it comes to teens . One , it ' s not cool to hang out at the same club as your mom . And two , you want to lock your room .  Snapchat solved both those things . Parents were starting to join Facebook in droves , so teens were looking to leave and looking for somewhere to go . And , the disappearing photos function was essentially the same thing as a "" do not disturb "" sign on your door , except much more effective . Both these things led to Snapchat ' s extreme and sudden user growth . Just a year after launching , Snapchat hit 10 million active users .  In October 2013 , Snapchat made a significant update to the platform : Stories . Users could now also add Snaps to a feature called their "" Story "" , which acted like a longer narrative of snaps strung together . The stories last twenty four hours after being posted and are public to all their followers .  I ' m going to be very clear here : I went on the record saying I thought the update was a bad idea . I thought it was absurd to imagine that users would actually go out of their way to watch something on a platform where things were historically delivered to them ( Stories live on their own page and you have to click into a Story to watch it ) .  The biggest update in recent Snapchat history , and the one that really changed the game for me to push it towards the mainstream , has to be Discover .  In early 2015 , Snapchat launched Discover . It ' s a feature that allows users to receive content provided by top media companies . Launch participants included National Geographic , Vice ,  , and more . Eleven participants in all started it off . It was , and still is , a serious play to be part of Snapchat Discover because it puts a company in a very aggressive place within the overall user interface of the app and delivers an unmatched form of attention from their youthful user base . It also completely changed the swipe navigation and how the app is used .  It was very exciting step forward for Snapchat . It was obvious they were paying attention to current trends and were ready to act : the explosion of content and companies becoming media companies , putting out their own content , the importance of mobile being first .  Using Discover as their platform , Snapchat went out and made deals that allowed them to curate some of the top content providers in the world in this one spot . This gives them more power in the micromanagement of what shows up on the Discover page .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Economy,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
21134,21135,"Supermodel Natalia Vodianova ' s charity plans to build hundreds of play parks for children in her native Russia .  But Vodianova has a dream that couldn ' t be further from the glitzy world of fashion to build 500 play parks in her native Russia .  Vodianova , born and raised in Russia , was in the country during the 2004 Beslan school siege , in which at least 339 hostages , around half of them children , were killed .  Deeply affected by the tragedy she returned to New York , where she was living at the time , determined to do something to help the surviving children .  Vodianova organized a fundraising event that generated 350 , 000 to build the children a playground and she founded her charity , the "" Naked Heart Foundation . ""  With an ethos that play is not only therapeutic for children , but a necessity , the foundation aims to provide playgrounds for Russia ' s urban youth . So far the charity has built 23 playgrounds around the country , starting in her home town of Nizhnii Novgorod , and there are 15 more in the pipeline .  "" Giving back just feels so great . I always try to open each play park with myself present for the children , because it makes it more special for them . I go to very remote parts of Russia are far from Moscow and it gives these children an extra message of love . ""  The charity ' s play parks can cost anywhere between 27 , 000 and 400 , 000 , depending on their size and range of play equipment . Vodianova admits , "" It ' s a big dream an expensive one ! ""  When it comes to fundraising , Vodianova ' s secret weapon is her connections in the fashion world . Last year she organized a "" Love Ball "" in Moscow a Valentine ' s Day fundraiser that counted among the guests the likes of designer Valentino , actress Lucy Liu , singer Natalie Imbruglia , and supermodel Eva Herzigova . See photos of "" The Love Ball . ""  The event was held in a former royal residence , Moscow ' s 16th century Tsaritsino Estate . It featured an ice palace made from 220 tons of ice and music provided by British band Razorlight , among others .  The highlight was a Valentine ' s themed auction , with lots including a private performance from rock star Bryan Adams , bought for 120 , 000 , and a painting by British artist Damien Hirst called "" Love is All Around , "" which sold for 1 . 6 million . The auction alone raised 6 . 7 million for the charity .  Vodianova admits that the global economic crisis is making it harder to get sponsorship for this year ' s event and says it will be more low key than last year .  "" We are not going to make it a very extravagant event it ' s very disrespectful of what ' s going on in the world right now , with the recession and a lot of people losing their jobs .  With a husband and three young children , Vodianova says it can be hard to divide her time between family , career and her charity .  She describes her charity work as a 24 hour job . "" I feel a huge sense of responsibility for my foundation because it ' s really very important to me . Somehow it became my most difficult baby to raise , "" she says .  But she has no doubt about the value of her work , both for Russia ' s children and herself .  "" The biggest thing I can do for my soul is to hear that laughter and to see all these children that come and play on the play parks that my foundation built . ""  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
21136,21137,"Andy Carroll ' s footballing career has been hampered by a succession of injuries , but his modelling career is off to a flyer as campaign photos hit New York ' s Times Square on Monday .  The 25 year old West Ham striker has not scored a Premier League goal for over seven months , and is yet to play a match this season , but is having more luck when it comes to his off field activities .  Carroll was chosen to front a H M modelling campaign earlier this month after beating off competition from 200 other candidates , and has shown off a whole new set of skills since signing up with agency ' Select Models ' .  Andy Carroll ' s Instagram photo shows him on a billboard in New York ' s Times Square  Carroll returned to first team training with West Ham last Thursday after an ankle injury  In a photograph posted on his Instagram account from Times Square , Carroll is seen wearing a simple black jumper , while spinning a football on his finger .  But football isn ' t something he has seen a lot of in the past few months , not featuring for the Hammers at all this season after suffering ankle ligament damage on the club ' s pre season tour of New Zealand in July .  Early reports stated that the England striker could be out until 2015 , but he is now expected to make a return as early as November 8 at home to Aston Villa , following an injury to Diafra Sakho .  The Senegal born striker has been a revelation for the east Londoners this season , scoring seven goals in his first seven starts , but he may have to pass the baton temporarily to Carroll following a shoulder injury picked up on Saturday .  West Ham and England striker Carroll fronted a campaign for Alexander Wang for H M  Carroll has yet to play this season and is currently recovering from knee ligament damage  Carroll , seen here scoring against Sweden at Euro 2012 , is hoping to return sooner rather than later  Carroll returned to West Ham training last week , and manager Sam Allardyce spoke of his return shortly after .  ' We ' ll try to get him through three or four behind closed doors games and if that goes alright , then we would hope to have him back . . . hopefully when he gets back he ' ll have a major impact . '  And an impact is exactly what Carroll will need to have , if West Ham are to maintain their extraordinary start to the Premier League season .  They have won five of their first nine matches , and are unlikely occupants of a top four position in the Premier League .  Allardyce spoke of his want to involve Carroll in practice matches before promoting him back to the first team , but given Sakho ' s injury , the West Ham manager ' s hand may be forced to include him sooner than expected .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
21142,21143,"Illinois The Rev . Jesse Jackson apologized Wednesday for "" crude and hurtful "" remarks he made about Democratic presidential candidate Sen . Barack Obama after an interview with a Fox News correspondent .  The Rev . Jesse Jackson apologized to Sen . Obama ' s campaign Wednesday over "" hurtful "" remarks .  The remarks came Sunday as Jackson was talking to a fellow interviewee , UnitedHealth Group executive Dr Reed V . Tuckson . An open microphone picked up Jackson whispering , "" See , Barack ' s been talking down to black people . . . I want to cut his nuts off . ""  "" It was very private , "" Jackson said , adding that if "" any hurt or harm has been caused to his campaign , I apologize . ""  An Obama campaign spokesman , Bill Burton , said that the senator from Illinois "" of course accepts Rev . Jackson ' s apology . "" Watch Jackson whisper comments about Obama  Jackson ' s son , Rep . Jesse Jackson Jr . of Illinois co chair of Obama ' s presidential campaign publicly blasted his father ' s comments Wednesday .  "" I ' m deeply outraged and disappointed in Rev . Jackson ' s reckless statements about Sen . Barack Obama , "" the younger Jackson said . "" His divisive and demeaning comments about the presumptive Democratic nominee and I believe the next president of the United States contradict his inspiring and courageous career . ""  Jackson Jr . added that he ' ll "" always love "" his father . But , he said , "" I thoroughly reject and repudiate his ugly rhetoric . ""  The elder Jackson repeated his apology in a news conference in Chicago a couple of hours before Fox News aired Sunday ' s remarks . He said he wanted to address the issue publicly before the cable network aired the comment , because "" I know that they will further violate the context of it . ""  "" I was in a conversation with a fellow guest on Sunday . He asked about Barack ' s speeches lately at the black churches . I said he comes down as speaking down to black people , "" Jackson said .  In a recent Father ' s Day speech at a black church , Obama took absent black fathers to task , saying , "" We need them to realize that what makes you a man is not the ability to have a child it ' s the courage to raise one . ""  The black community is faced with high levels of unemployment , home foreclosures and violence , "" so we have some real serious issues not just moral issues , "" he said .  However , Jackson said after finding out about the open microphone , he immediately contacted the Obama campaign to apologize .  Burton , Obama ' s spokesman , said the senator is quite familiar with the issues facing African Americans and that "" he will continue to speak out about our responsibilities to ourselves . ""  "" As someone who grew up without a father in the home , Sen . Obama has spoken and written for many years about the issue of parental responsibility , including the importance of fathers participating in their children ' s lives , "" Burton said . "" He also discusses our responsibility as a society to provide jobs , justice , and opportunity for all . ""  The Rev . Al Sharpton , president of the civil rights group National Action Network , said Jackson ' s remarks were "" most unfortunate , "" adding he was happy that Jackson apologized .  "" I hope people will remember the great work he ' s done in this country as one assesses this last incident , "" Sharpton said in a statement .  Sharpton said people "" must be careful not to segregate Sen . Obama and impose some litmus test that is unfair and unproductive . ""  "" We must be very clear that Sen . Obama . . . is running for president for all Americans , not just African Americans which is why most Americans have embraced his campaign , "" Sharpton said .  At Wednesday evening ' s news conference in Chicago , Jackson said : "" I have supported Barack ' s campaign with passion from the very beginning . "" Watch Jackson ' s comments in Chicago  Jackson , whose Rainbow  Coalition is based in Chicago , has publicly endorsed Obama , most recently in a piece published Tuesday in the Chicago Sun Times , and said he enjoys a close relationship with the Obama family .  The incident is the latest of several in which the issue of Obama ' s relationship with the African American community has become a part of the campaign , raised either by opponents or by Obama ' s allies .  Nearly two weeks ago , Ralph Nader who is running his own presidential campaign as an independent accused Obama of attempting to "" talk white "" and appealing to "" white guilt "" in his quest for the White House .  "" There ' s only one thing different about Barack Obama when it comes to being a Democratic presidential candidate . He ' s half African American , "" Nader told Colorado ' s Rocky Mountain News in a June 26 story .  Obama is still bouncing back from the weeks long controversy over his former minister , the Rev . Jeremiah Wright , whose fiery sermons at Chicago ' s Trinity United Church of Christ drew unwanted attention for the campaign . In the sermons , Wright suggested the U . S . government may be responsible for the spread of  in the black community and equated some American wartime activities to terrorism .  Wright ' s sermons and his eccentric behavior at later public appearances became a major political headache for the Obama campaign , especially since Wright officiated the senator ' s wedding , baptized both of his children and was a spiritual adviser to his presidential campaign until he was asked to step down in March .  This week ' s remarks by Jackson were not the first time he criticized Obama . Last fall , he was critical of Obama ' s reaction to the severe charges filed against six black students in the beating of a white student in Jena , Louisiana , a racially charged case that sparked a national outcry .  Jackson accused Obama of "" acting like he ' s white , "" according to a South Carolina newspaper that cited a speech by Jackson at the historically black Benedict College in Columbia .  "" If I were a candidate , I ' d be all over Jena , "" Jackson said , according to the The State newspaper . "" Jena is a defining moment , just like Selma Alabama was a defining moment . ""  The newspaper reported Jackson later said he did not recall saying Obama is "" acting like he ' s white , "" but he continued to criticize Obama and other presidential candidates for not bringing more attention to the issue .  During the Democratic primary race , Jackson also said Sen . John Edwards was the only candidate speaking to the issues of the black community . He later apologized .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
21153,21154,"Thousands sign petition to prevent Kanye West covering David Bowie  Kanye is rumoured to be recording versions of some of Bowie ' s ' 70s hits .   ? Thousands have signed a new petition trying to prevent Kanye West recording a tribute album to David Bowie following the singer ' s death earlier this month .  The petition has currently received over 7 , 000 signatures even though there has been no actual official confirmation from Kanye or anyone associated with him that he ' s making such an album .  See also : Fans want to rename Mars after David Bowie ( and put him on the ? 20 note )  The widely reported news that Kanye was planning a Bowie tribute album stems from a story in the Daily Star that said the rapper has been laying down versions of "" Rebel Rebel "" and "" Heroes , "" with an unnamed "" source "" saying "" some are straightforward covers with Kanye actually singing . On others he is rapping with his own lyrics over Bowie ' s music . ""  Kanye declared his admiration for David Bowie in a tweet last week .  David Bowie was one of my most important inspirations , so fearless , so creative , he gave us magic for a lifetime .  However , the petition ' s creator , who goes by the name Peter Piranha , thinks that Kanye shouldn ' t be allowed to pay musical tribute . "" David Bowie was one of the single most important musicians of the 20th and 21st century , it would be a sacrilege to let it be ruined by Kanye West , "" he wrote on the petition page .  Fellow petitioners agree . "" David Bowie was a unique and extremely talented artist , nothing to do with Kanye ' s music or the way he is exposed in the public , "" Venia P wrote . "" Kanye West is the Donald Trump of music , "" another called Allan said . Mashable has reached out to Kanye West ' s representatives for comment .  Fans have created a number of other Bowie petitions since his death , calling for Mars to be renamed after him and for his face to be put on the new ? 20 note .  It ' s not the first time Kanye West has been subject of a petition either . A campaign asking the Glastonbury Festival organisers to cancel West ' s 2015 headline appearance in favour of a rock band received over 130 , 000 signatures .  Festival organiser Emily Eavis responded to the petition , which was started by someone who had never visited the festival , branding it hateful and vitriolic . "" Some of the vitriol being thrown around this week has made me question the dark underbelly of the web , "" she wrote in a piece for the Guardian .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
21170,21171,"But parent activists are suggesting Trump is getting the wrong advice from his transition team.Writing at Townhall, Indiana activist and researcher Erin Tuttle and American Principles Project education fellow Jane Robbins assert Trump s transition team  may be ignoring the concerns of the most populist movement American politics has seen since Reagan: the parents and teachers fighting Common Core. Citing many of the reported potential candidates  associations with ardent Common Core supporter Jeb Bush, Tuttle and Robbins note:West Michigan Politics reported that, like Donald Trump himself, the DeVos family has donated to the Clinton Foundation:Bloomberg also reported in July of 2015 that former President Bill Clinton  often earned higher speech fees, especially abroad. Amway paid him $700,000 for a February 2013 speech in Japan. A report at the Detroit News in July states that DeVos, a former Michigan Republican Party chair, was an at-large delegate for pro-Common Core Ohio Gov. John Kasich. Kasich received a grade of  F  at The Pulse 2016 for his support of the controversial standards. The former presidential candidate referred to parent activists in his state fighting against the Core as a  runaway internet campaign. Let s just say that I will be a more than interested bystander at the convention,  DeVos said.Karen Braun who heads up Stop Common Core in Michigan wrote:  DeVos  involvement with  which supports Common Core and with the Foundation for Excellence in Education should make any denunciation of Common Core from DeVos  lips suspect,  Vander Hart concludes.Braun also tells Breitbart News because DeVos refused to support Trump at the Republican National Convention, she is skeptical of whether she would commit to Trump s stated goal of removing the federal government from education. Disloyalty should not be rewarded with a cabinet post,  Braun asserts.  Her lobby group, GLEP, supports common core and P-20 competency based education or so called  school choice. I hope President-Elect Trump and the rest of the transition team think long and hard about this appointment. Many of you are asking about Common Core. To clarify, I am not a supporter period. Read my full stance, here: weblink  Betsy DeVos (@BetsyDeVos) November 23, 2016Frank Cannon, president of American Principles Project, also released the following statement:For entire story: Breitbart News ",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,fake,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
21171,21172,"Gil Scott Heron , dubbed the "" godfather of rap "" for his mix of poetry and music , died Friday in New York , his publicist at  Recordings said . He was 62 .  It was not immediately known what killed Scott Heron , who was best known for the 1970 song "" The Revolution Will Not Be Televised , "" a politically and socially charged song that examined the African American condition in America at the time . The song was banned by some radio stations .  Scott Heron died at 4 p . m . at a New York hospital , said Lisa Gottheil , his publicist at  Recordings .  Saunders , a percussionist , said the last time he saw Scott Heron was about two years ago when he needed a place to stay .  "" He came by our house to get himself together . He spent 4 to 5 days and then moved on , "" Saunders said .  Much of Scott Heron ' s poetry and music reflected his struggles with drugs and alcohol .  Born in 1949 , Scott Heron first gained fame for his poetry and spoken word performances in the late 1960s . By the mid 1970s , he had published two books of poetry and recorded four albums , including "" Small Talk At 125th Lenox . ""  His early albums , "" Pieces of a Man "" and "" Winter in America , "" have been credited with influencing other musical genres , such as hip hop . But it was the song "" The Revolution Will Not Be Televised "" that put Scott Heron on the musical map .  His music has been sampled by everyone from Kanye West , who sampled "" Comment 1 "" for his 2010 song "" Who Will Save America , "" to Common ' s sample of "" No Knock "" on his 2008 hit "" Universal Mind Control . ""  After a 13 year hiatus from making music , Scott Heron put out a new album last year called "" I ' m New Here . ""  In a 2008 interview with New York magazine , Scott Heron revealed he had contracted  , the virus that causes  , after years of battling drug and alcohol addictions . In 2001 and 2007 , he was jailed on drug charges .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
21175,21176,"2 Vatican puts journalists on trial amid human rights furore  Journalists groups condemn trial as violation of press freedom   urges Vatican to drop charges against journalists  Pair wrote books alleging mismanagement and greed in the Vatican  Journalist dubs trial "" Kafkaesque "" ( Adds background on Vatican legal system , more from trial , quotes )    , Nov 24 Five people , including two Italian reporters , went on trial in the Vatican on Tuesday , to outrage from rights groups , on charges arising from publication of books in which the Holy See was portrayed as mired in mismanagement and corruption .  At the first session , dominated by procedural issues and dubbed "" Kafkaesque "" by one of the defendants , journalists Gianluigi Nuzzi and Emiliano Fittipaldi said they had done nothing wrong and had simply fulfilled their professional duty .  "" I am incredulous in finding myself here as a defendant in a country that is not mine , "" Fittipaldi told the court , adding that publishing news was protected by the Italian constitution as well as European conventions and universal declarations on human rights .  The trial , being heard by three non clerical judges in the sovereign city state , stems from publication of two books which depict a Vatican plagued by mismanagement , greed and corruption and where Pope Francis faces stiff resistance from the old guard to his reform agenda .  While the Vatican follows a 19th century Italian criminal code that is no longer used in Italy , the fundamental approach to criminal trials is similar to the Italian legal system of magistrates and prosecutors . Unlike Italy , the Vatican does not have jury trials .  A criminal law making it illegal to leak documents was introduced in 2013 after another leaks scandal that preceded the resignation of Pope Benedict that year .  That scandal , in which Benedict ' s butler was arrested for stealing documents from the pope ' s desk and leaking them to Nuzzi , came to be known as "" Vatileaks "" . The Italian media has dubbed the latest episodes "" Vatileaks  "" .  The defendants risk jail sentences of up to eight years but legal experts said the two journalists were not likely to serve any time in the Vatican ' s small jail , which is rarely used , and would probably receive suspended sentences , if any .  A Vatican prosecutor told the court that the Holy See did not intend to muzzle freedom of the press and that the defendants were bring tried for the way the documents were leaked by the officials and obtained by the journalists .  Two of the officials indicted , Spanish Monsignor Angel Lucio Vallejo Balda , who was number two at the Vatican ' s Prefecture for Economic Affairs , and Italian laywoman Francesca Chaouqui , a public relations expert , were arrested earlier this month .  Balda and Chaouqui were both members of a now defunct commission Francis set up in 2013 to study economic and administrative reforms . Vatican employee Nicola Maio , Balda ' s assistant , also went on trial .  In their indictment , prosecutors said Balda , Chaouqui and Maio formed "" an organised criminal association "" with the aim of "" divulging information and documents concerning the fundamental interests of the Holy See and the State "" .  Nuzzi and Fittipaldi wrote books based on the leaks . Their indictment said both solicited and applied pressure , especially on Vallejo Balda , to obtain secret documents and information .  Asked at a news conference how the trial could affect Francis ' s image as a man of mercy , Nuzzi suggested that it was fomented by other Vatican officials bent on protecting their privileges and status .  "" This trial against journalists is a trial against transparency . In it , I see no evidence of the clear message of a sweet revolution the pope espouses every day . . . unfortunately , there are various personalities in the Church ( and ) when you talk about the privileges of a caste , the caste is not happy , "" Nuzzi said .  The Vatican has said "" Merchants in the Temple "" by Nuzzi and "" Avarice "" by Fittipaldi , give a "" partial and tendentious "" version of events and has accused the writers of trying to reap financial advantages from receiving stolen documents . The books were published earlier this month .  Both journalists complained they had been forced to accept court appointed lawyers and had been given documents needed for their defence only days , or hours , before the trial started .  Fittipaldi told reporters that he had not met his lawyer until the trial was about to start . The court ruled that a senior Vatican judge would have to decide if outside lawyers could represent the two but that judge was out of Rome .  Nuzzle told reporters during a break that the trial was "" absurd and Kafkaesque "" but it would not stop him from publishing more books .  The human rights watchdog , the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (  ) , urged the Vatican on Monday to withdraw the charges .  "" Journalists must be free to report on issues of public interests and to protect their confidential sources , "" the  ' s representative on freedom of the media , Dunham Mijatovic , said .  "" I call on the authorities not to proceed with the charges and protect journalists ' rights in accordance with  commitments , "" she said .  The Italian journalists ' federation , Italy ' s foreign press Association and  , the association of reporters accredited to the Vatican , also condemned the indictment of the journalists .  "" We have to stress that publishing news is precisely our job , ""  said , calling the trial "" unacceptable "" . ( Additional reporting by Steve Scherer and Isla Binnie Editing by Richard Balmforth and Giles Elgood )  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
21176,21177,"Sir Mark Thatcher will be among the dignitaries at the inauguration of a square in Madrid next week named after his mother , Margaret .  The businessman , chief mourner at his mum ' s funeral last April , has confirmed he will attend the official opening ceremony on Monday .  Madrid mayor Ana Botella proposed naming a street or square in the Spanish capital after the Iron Lady just a day after she died from a stroke aged 87 at London ' s Ritz Hotel .  Sir Mark Thatcher will be among the dignitaries at the inauguration of a square in Madrid next week named after his mother , Margaret  The move was criticised by opposition politicians , with the city ' s Socialist leader at the time claiming Thatcher was a ' pioneer of a good part of that which had caused most inequality and injustice in Europe ' .  Margaret Square Square Plaza de Margaret Thatcher in Spanish will be a small square off Madrid ' s emblematic Colon Square in the city centre near to the National Library and Hard Rock Cafe . It is currently unnamed .  It is not known if Sir Mark ' s twin Carol will attend the event . Simon Manley , British Ambassador to Spain , has accepted an invitation .  Last September former Tory  John Major unveiled a street named after him in Cancelada , two hours ' drive west of Madrid .  Mr Major has holidayed in the small village for the last 25 years and stays at a country house owned by friend and former Conservative Party colleague Tristan Garel Jones .  Mr Garel Jones , minister of Europe under John Major , translated his acceptance speech into Spanish for him at the unveiling ceremony after the former  admitted he was an ' idle , lazy linguist ' and only could say ' gracias ' .  Margaret Square Square Plaza de Margaret Thatcher in Spanish will be the second Spanish square named after a former Conservative Prime Minister  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
21177,21178,"The Vital Center is under siege on Capital Hill . "" Congress is now more polarized than at any time since the late 19th century , "" attests the data driven blog Vote View .  It has gotten so bad that Sen . Olympia Snowe is throwing in the towel on her three term career in disgust : "" I do find it frustrating , "" she said , "" that an atmosphere of polarization and ' my way or the highway ' ideologies has become pervasive in campaigns and in our governing institutions . ""  What ' s worse , she doesn ' t think it ' s going to get better any time soon : "" I do not realistically expect the partisanship of recent years in the Senate to change over the short term . ""  It ' s just the latest confirmation of what you know in your gut : Our politics have become hijacked by hyper partisans . Our divided Congress is dysfunctional . Our government is broken .  The Maine Republican ' s comments echoed Indiana Democrat Evan Bayh ' s statement when he announced he wouldn ' t seek re election in 2010 :  "" For some time , I have had a growing conviction that Congress is not operating as it should , "" Bayh said . "" There is much too much partisanship and not enough progress . Too much narrow ideology and not enough practical problem solving . ""  How many times will we need to hear the same refrain before we start taking these warnings seriously ? Snowe ' s announcement follows Nebraska Sen . Ben Nelson ' s decision to not run for re election after being attacked for compiling a record as the most conservative Democrat left in the Senate .  Independent Sen . Joe Lieberman , Al Gore ' s pick for vice president and John McCain ' s close ally , has also announced his retirement , for similar reasons . In 2006 , Lieberman found himself under attack from the left for his post 9 11 support of the Bush War on Terror and won re election as an independent after a lifetime as a centrist Democrat .  Conservatives have long gloried in the sport of  hunting , trying to defeat what they call "" Republicans In Name Only "" in closed partisan primaries . Longtime centrist Republican Sen . Dick Lugar is the latest to be targeted in this cycle . Now liberal Democrats are trying to get into the game . These professional partisans believe the cure for what ails our political system is further polarization .  They are peddling a view of politics as an all or nothing ideological war , the strategy : mutually assured destruction .  Certainly , the ranks of centrist Republicans , operating in a grand tradition dating back to at least Theodore Roosevelt , have been diminished .  The number of northeast Republicans remaining in Congress can be counted on two hands .  Likewise , the ranks of Blue Dog Democrats resurgent during the New Democrat centrism of the Clinton years have been cut in half . North Carolina ' s Heath Shuler , who worked across the aisle most recently to try to achieve a grand bargain with a 4 trillion deficit reduction , won ' t run for re election . Neither will Oklahoma ' s lone Democratic congressman , Rep . Dan Boren .  "" It is not surprising to hear the news of Sen . Snowe ' s retirement , "" Boren e mailed me . "" She , like many of us in the center , have watched with dismay the further polarization of our politics . This is caused by an out of control campaign finance system which includes super PACs , the gerrymandering of congressional districts and a Congress that puts party above the national interest at almost every turn . ""  Republicans might soon learn to regret the departure of centrists like Olympia Snowe for purely practical reasons : Their attempts to take back control of the U . S . Senate in the 2012 election just got a lot tougher . Snowe was hugely popular in her home state despite some tea party grousing . It is , after all , one of the states where registered independents outnumber Democrats or Republicans . But now her seat is likely to be won by a Democrat , leaving Republicans fighting to pick up another .  A half century ago , congressional voting patterns resembled a bell curve with some congress members voting on the far left and far right , but most clustered in the center . Not coincidentally , this also reflected the spread of political opinions held by most Americans .  There were liberal Republicans and conservative Democrats . The result was that creative cross aisle coalitions could be formed to pass major legislation . During divided government in the past , we passed the Marshall Plan and the Interstate Highway System . All the Reagan administration legislative accomplishments were passed with divided government the same was true of welfare reform and the balanced budgets of the Clinton years .  But now divided government means dysfunctional government . There is no trust and little cooperation . As a result , Congress has the lowest approval ratings on record . They cannot reason together and solve problems .  The departure of centrists like Snowe will make that job much harder in the foreseeable future . Their frustration with the status quo should be a huge wake up call to the moderate majority of Americans .  The two parties may be polarized , but the American people are not . We need to send that message loud and clear to the professional partisans who are invested in polarization .  Make no mistake , the dysfunction will not get better until we change this corrosive culture of conformity in our politics .  "" I see a vital need for the political center in order for our democracy to flourish and to find solutions that unite rather than divide us . It is time for change in the way we govern , "" said Snowe in her statement . "" We must return to an era of civility in government driven by a common purpose to fulfill the promise that is unique to America . ""  I ' ll devote my next column to some ways we can start to push back on the dysfunctional congressional culture the hyper partisans have created .  The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of John Avlon .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
21186,21187,"Serena Williams shook off any rustiness after a month long break from competitive tennis as she launched her quest for a sixth Miami title with a straight sets victory over Italian Flavia Pennetta .  The world No . 1 hasn ' t played since losing to Victoria Azarenka in the final of the Qatar Open on February 17 but made light work of her unseeded opponent winning 6 1 6 1 .  Williams , a 15 time grand slam winner , pulled out of the Dubai Tennis Championships after her defeat in Doha complaining of a back injury but looked in good touch as she raced to victory in just under 80 minutes .  "" I think I missed a few shots , but only because I think I was off footwork wise , "" she told reporters . "" But it ' s always just good just to win a match and stay in the tournament and keep going .  "" I felt like I should be putting the balls away for my opponent but she was so quick and she was running every ball down . ""  As for coming into the tournament as the world ' s best player she said : "" It always feels better when you ' re No . 1 . There ' s nothing like when they announce you and they say , the No . 1 player in the world .  "" It definitely gives you a little bit more confidence . . . a little more pep in your step . I have a lot of matches to play . If I can just stay relaxed I really feel like I can do it , but , you know , I ' m sometimes my own worst enemy . ""  Defending champion and No . 4 seed Agnieszka Radwanska , from Poland , breezed into round three with a 6 3 6 2 victory over Taiwan ' s Hsieh Su Wei .  "" I was happy to have a quick match , "" Radwanska was quoted as saying on the  Tour ' s official website . "" The first match is always a little bit tough and tricky , especially after Indian Wells , where we had a little bit of different conditions .  "" It was a really special tournament for me because I was really playing a lot of good matches against top players and not even losing a set .  "" I definitely have great memories from here . And the final was a very good match . Hopefully I can play the same level of tennis this year . I will do everything to hold the trophy again . ""  China ' s Li Na , seeded fifth , was also making a return after spending six weeks on the sidelines with an ankle injury but she eased past Dutchwoman Kiki Bertens 6 3 6 1 .  "" I wasn ' t nervous before the match today , I was excited , "" Li told the  Tour website . "" For the last six or seven weeks I haven ' t played any tournaments so I was happy to win my first match after such a long time .  "" There were a lot of fans there to support me today , I was like , ' Wow ! ' My game was pretty good today , I followed the plan of what I should do . I just had to believe in myself that I could do it . ""  Petra Kvitova , the 2011 Wimbledon champion defeated China ' s Peng Shuai 5 7 6 2 6 2 .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Economy,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,past
21194,21195,"Former Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has turned up the heat on successor Manuel Pellegrini by claiming the Chilean should be winning a trophy every year .  Mancini thinks Pellegrini was ' really lucky ' to inherit a strong side from him and he should be delivering continual success at the Etihad Stadium .  But Pellegrini , who did win two trophies last season , is now under heavy pressure with City faltering in their Barclays Premier League title defence and facing an uphill task against Barcelona in the Champions League .  Manuel Pellegrini is under pressure to save Manchester City ' s season and his job as well  Pellegrini has come under fire for City ' s faltering title defence and Champions League campaign  Manchester City will look to overturn a 201 first leg deficit against Barcelona in their Champions League tie  Mancini , who was sacked by City in 2013 despite winning the Premier League title the previous year , told  : ' I think Pellegrini was really lucky because he got this team that is a strong team and he has a chance to put in more good players .  ' I think City can win a title every year and have a chance it should and must try to win a title every year . '  Mancini ' s jibe came on the eve of the second leg of City ' s last 16 Champions League tie at Barcelona , which they will go into trailing 2 1 .  Roberto Mancini guided Manchester City to the Premier League title in 2012 after  Cup success in 2011  Mancini lost his job at City in 2013 after his team ' s failed title defence and poor European showing  The success or otherwise of City ' s season now appears to hinge on the outcome at the Nou Camp as , trailing Chelsea by six points having played a game more , the Premier League looks beyond them .  But Mancini said : ' It ' s my opinion that City is the best team in the Premier League . It ' s in second and six points behind Chelsea but I think it ' s the best team .  ' In the Premier League anything can happen right up to the last game , in the last minute . I think they should think that they have a chance to win the title . '   Pellegrini doesn ' t fear for City job  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
21222,21223,"She triggered a torrent of online debate when she was pictured weightlifting eight months pregnant .  But Los Angeles mother Lea Ann Ellison has delivered a triumphant blow to her ' haters ' by giving birth to a healthy baby boy .  Skyler weighed seven pounds and three ounces although if he is anything like his mother , it won ' t be long before he is piling on the muscle .  Triumph : Lea Ann Ellison with her baby Skyler . She said he was chilled and she will continue weightlifting  Beautiful : Lea Ann Ellison with her husband Shane and two children after the water birth in her home  Divisive : The photo which triggered more than 16 , 000 comments and international media coverage  Ms Ellison , who has declared she wants to be a ' Hot Mom ' , gave birth to Skyler on November 7 in her home using a birthing pool and kept exercising until just three days beforehand .  Since the birth she has already returned to the gym and her CrossFit regime , a system of exercises created 13 years ago and now used by thousands of gyms worldwide .  Skyler was her second ' water baby ' and came into the world a day before his due date surrounded by midwives , her husband Shane , her son and her daughter .  Her husband joked : ' Blair , my eight year old son , said the tub looked like a shark attack . '  He added : ' Pregnancy is unmerited sacrifice . Only the strongest women can do it with grace and I ' ve had the privilege of seeing my wife do it three times . '  Home birth : Ms Ellison had her baby in a birthing pool in her house . They are becoming ever more popular  Push ! Lea Ann Ellison giving birth to her third child Skyler . She kept exercising until three days beforehand  Success : Baby Skyler soon after he was born . Ms Ellison has already gone back to her CrossFit regime  Lea Ann Ellison poster triumphantly on Facebook after her son was born , saying : ' Take that haters ! Ha ha ha ! '  Family : Lea Ann with her husband Shane , son Blair , her daughter and a midwife before the birth  Posting on Facebook , the body builder said : ' We welcomed our new son into the world yesterday ! Skyler was born at 3 : 44pm at home into my loving and welcoming hands .  ' Skyler is a very chill dude and super easy going . Looks a lot like his sister too . Thank you for all of the support and I look forward to sharing this chapter of my life with you ! '  Royal College of Midwives spokesman Janet Fyle said : ' She ' s quite far along in her pregnancy so there can ' t really be any problem with it , and if she ' s always done weightlifting I don ' t think it would suddenly bring on early labour .  ' Obviously we aren ' t advising pregnant women to take up weightlifting if they ' ve never done it before , but if she ' s used to the exercise it ' s  .  ' We always say if women were riding bikes or going to the gym before they were pregnant they can continue to do so , they just need to tell their instructor they are pregnant and then they can adjust the exercises .  ' I understand why people might be concerned , but if the woman doesn ' t want to stop doing her exercise that ' s fine . '  She added : ' Take that haters ! Ha ha ha ! '  While some appeared to support her decision in September including several people who claimed to be doctors others were horrified .  ' This is actually sickening , ' wrote Amanda Cinq Mars . ' I hope pregnant women around the world do not do this kind of cr .  ' I am a crossfit enthusiast but I   recommend this at all . Doctors always strongly suggest to not lift heavy because you can sever your placenta and cause major damage an early labour and miscarriage . . . Posting this picture goes people the wrong message that this is  when it ' s not ! '  Another , Josh Giannapolous , wrote : ' Cross fit ? This goes way beyond a way of life , and right into an obsession .  ' She is very selfish for endangering a life for her own personal gains and achievements . This is not a proud picture to post .  ' That amount of weight lifted above the head is extremely dangerous while pregnant . Cross fit is a hobby , not a necessity to life . It ' s becoming unconscious to the dangers of reality . '  Users who sprang to her defence included Katy McNiff Nicholas , who wrote : ' You go girl ! Looking great ! ! ! Much better than a lot of obese pregnant ladies with high blood pressure and diabetes who get short of breath walking up a flight of steps . '  Controversial : Lea Ann Ellison provoked debate when she posted photos of herself lifting weights  Body building : Ms Ellison was pictured lifting heavy kettlebells above her head just weeks before she was due  Ms Ellison is not the only workout loving mother to be to make headlines after her pregnancy regime came to light .  Four years ago Cambridgeshire fitness enthusiast Sarah Jane Cousins hit the front pages after being pictured lifting 15kg dumbbells with just 11 days to go before her due date .  The Los Angeles bodybuilder is a devotee of the CrossFit training regime  Another mother criticised for continuing a tough fitness regime throughout her pregnancy was model Nell McAndrew , who was stunned at the backlash she received after competing in a gruelling marathon while 20 weeks pregnant .  Speaking to MailOnline after the marathon in November last year , McAndrew said : ' When I tell people I ' m still exercising , they react as if I ' ve told them I ' ve been smoking or drinking alcohol while pregnant .  ' But what I ' m doing is actually good for me and my baby . '  Nell ' s belief that fitness aids labour is backed up by studies that have found that babies of women who exercise are better off when it comes to their birth because ' foetuses of exercising women may tolerate labour better than those of non exercisers , ' according to The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (  ) .  Along with official  guidelines that recommend 30 minutes of moderate exercise a day for expectant mothers , the  also advocates exercise where there are no complications in the pregnancy .  Precautions like not exercising at a high intensity or running when it is too hot should also be taken .  The Royal College guidelines said : ' In most cases , exercise is safe for both mother and fetus during pregnancy and women should therefore be encouraged to initiate or continue exercise to derive the health benefits associated with such activities . '  They add that it is untrue that exercise increases the risk of miscarriage or damage to an unborn baby .  The guidelines add : ' Additionally , active women experience less insomnia , stress , anxiety and depression . '  Alternative : The home birth was not the only unorthodox part of the  bodybuilder ' s pregnancy  Healthy : Ms Ellison kept her thousands of Facebook fans updated throughout her pregnancy with baby Skyler  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
21240,21241,"It ' s one of the nation ' s hottest export success stories hundreds of tons of chillies grown on British farms are being sold to countries renowned for their fiery cuisine .  Already this year , well over 600 tons of chillies produced by  growers have been exported to countries that include Pakistan , India , Mexico and Brazil .  This year ' s chilli exports are expected to be double last year ' s , bringing 1 . 3million into the economy , according to official figures .  Burning ambition : Grower Gerald Fowler tends to his super fiery chilli crop  Gerald Fowler , who runs the Chilli Pepper Company in Cark in Cartmel , Cumbria , said : ' It ' s gone crazy and I ' m selling to every corner of the Earth . I ' d never have believed I ' d be selling to India , Pakistan , Mexico , Brazil and America .  ' It ' s going to be our best year ever . We are selling seeds and chillies and all they want is the hottest . No one is interested in a mild chilli . '  The growth in the popularity of spicy foods in the  has prompted growers to experiment with different varieties , creating some of the hottest and most sought after chillies in the world . At the Conservative conference last week , Mayor of London Boris Johnson praised British ingenuity for growing ' weapon strength chillies ' .  Already this year , well over 600 tons of chillies produced by  growers have been exported to countries that include Pakistan , India , Mexico and Brazil  And Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss told The Mail on Sunday : ' Chefs from Delhi to Texas are reaching for British chillies to put the spice into their curries and their Tex Mex . It ' s an extraordinary testament to the skill , creativity and can do attitude that make our food and farming industry world leading .  Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss has praised the country ' s chilli growers  ' People may not think of chillies as a traditional British crop , but it ' s increasingly hot business . This is fantastic news and it ' s further proof of the reputation British producers are gaining around the world for high quality and innovation . '  The Chilli Pepper Company was started by Mr Fowler ' s father 20 years ago from one chilli grown in a pot , and today makes 250 , 000 a year in a business based around a tiny 16ft by 8ft greenhouse . ' I think chilli is the new garlic , ' said Mr Fowler . ' Chefs are helping to make it popular and they are putting it in all of their concoctions .  ' We ' ve also being helped by the internet . When we first started , people sent postal orders and cheques in the post to buy a plant . Now , it ' s online orders . We ' ve expanded and employ five people here and another ten people grow chillies for us around the country . '  The firm gained an international reputation in 2010 when its Naga Viper chilli pepper was judged the hottest in the world .  The record breaking chilli scored 1 . 35 million units on the Scoville heat unit scale ( Shus ) . This measures the heat of a chilli by the presence of the chemical compound capsaicin . It has now been replaced as the world ' s hottest chilli by the Carolina Reaper , grown in the  , which scores 1 . 5 million Shus .  ' We ' re hoping to beat that , ' Mr Fowler said . ' I ' m trialling a cross between a Carolina Reaper and a Naga Viper , but the project is going to take another two or three years . '  Meanwhile , the Dorset Naga is ranked as the world ' s third hottest chilli . It was developed by Joy and Michael Michaud , who run Sea Spring Seeds , near Bridport .  Mrs Michaud said : ' We sell online and our chillies and seeds are sent all over the world , particularly to South America .  ' It has really taken off . '  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,present
21241,21242,"Georgia For Olympic swimmer Eric Shanteau , the last two months have been a whirlwind . "" Full of the best moments and the scariest moments of my life , "" says the 24 year old Olympic swimmer .  Eric Shanteau said he felt angry when he found out he had testicular cancer .  "" Getting to the Olympics was , has always been , my swimming dream since I was 8 or 9 years old . You know , right after I started swimming it was , ' I want to make an Olympic team . That ' s where I want to be ' . ""  In June , a week before the qualifying round of the Olympics he was told he had testicular cancer . "" My initial reaction was probably anger more than anything else , "" he says . "" I ' m used to being in control of everything . I ' m in control of how I train , how I race and then to all of a sudden have that control ripped away from me was tough . ""  After weeks of tests to determine the "" stage "" or spread of the cancer , Shanteau ' s team of doctors cleared him to compete in the Beijing Olympics , which meant carefully monitoring his tumor but delaying treatment . Though putting off the surgery was controversial to some , Eric says it was an educated choice based on numerous doctor evaluations . "" I hope people understand that if I was in a different position with my test results , then I wouldn ' t have put off having surgery . "" Dr Sanjay Gupta reports from Eric Shanteau ' s surgery  He swam a personal best in the 200 meter breaststroke . He did not qualify for the finals .  Cancer was a motivator , he says , because he knew it meant he could be facing his last competition . He put everything he had into that heat . "" Leave it all in the pool , and I don ' t look back and regret anything as far as how I raced . ""  A source of inspiration , he says , were fans who shared their stories of beating cancer .  "" They send me their story and it helps me to learn that people are going through the same thing I am all over the world , "" says Shanteau . "" They all affect me in a different way and it ' s been really encouraging to share in this experience with other people . ""  Testicular cancer is diagnosed in about 1 in 300 men in their lifetime . It is the most common form of cancer for 15 to 34 year olds . It is also one of the most curable if discovered early . Nearly 140 , 000 men in the United States are testicular cancer survivors .  Shanteau says he experienced no symptoms of cancer and came across the tumor by chance . "" I ' ve been in a Speedo half my life , "" he says . "" So I am really comfortable with my body . One day I just felt something that wasn ' t suppose to be there . I decided to go and get it checked out . ""  He adds that although he had the "" greatest excuse in the world "" an Olympic dream to ignore the lump , he understood the importance of early detection . Shanteau ' s father Rick , is battling lung cancer and responding well to treatment .  "" A lot of guys , if they hear a rattle in their car , they ' re at the mechanic the next day , "" he says . "" But if they feel something physically that they don ' t think should be there , it takes them a year to get to their doctor and that just is not smart . There ' s really no excuse , because it can save your life . ""  "" I think the operation went very well , "" Carney said . "" Eric ' s a very healthy young man , very thin , in excellent shape . That makes my job easy . ""  His treatment plan is to keep a close eye on his health for the next year with regular medical tests . "" Obviously , it would have been nice if the doctor said , ' You ' re completely in the clear , ' but my results are exactly what the doctors expected . ""  Eric says the cancer diagnosis gave him a different perspective on life . "" I appreciate life much more now , "" he says . "" I don ' t let myself get upset about the little nitpicky things anymore . Food even seems to taste better . It is really great . ""  As for Shanteau ' s swimming career , he plans to compete in the 2009 World Swimming Championship in Rome , Italy .  "" 2012 the next Olympics is a push for me . Right now I ' m just kind of taking it year by year and we ' ll see what happens . ""  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
21289,21290,"Moscow ? Alexander Pyatkov fled his native Luhansk region in eastern Ukraine last year , just ahead of the advancing Ukrainian Army .  When the shelling of their city began , he took his wife and two daughters , one just four months old at the time , and drove across the Russian border , where they were briefly housed in a refugee encampment before being sent on to deeper Russian regions .  A skilled welder , Mr Pyatkov has finally navigated Russia s labyrinthine bureaucracy and recently found a good job in Moscow . He is bringing his family from the Volga area where they d previously settled , and insists he has no plans to ever return to Ukraine .  Recommended : How much do you know about Ukraine ? Take our quiz !  Ukraine is war torn and impoverished , I don t want my family to grow up there , he says . Things have been hard here , but they re gradually getting better . People have been pretty good to us , and many say kind things when they hear where we ' ve come from . We re applying for Russian citizenship , and we re starting a new life , in a new country , basically from zero .  Photos of the Day Photos of the day 12 01  Over the past 18 months , Russia has taken in ? more than ? 1 million Ukrainian refugees like the Pyatkov family ? who have fled the destructive civil war between a West oriented government in Kiev and Russian backed rebels . The ? deluge is ? comparable to the wave of Syrians and others pouring into Europe ? but it s happened with very little publicity and even fewer apparent social ? strains .  A key reason for that is that most of the Ukrainians who ve been streaming into Russia are Orthodox , Slavic Russian speakers who tend toward a pro Kremlin political viewpoint ? and who are welcomed , in theory at least , by President Vladimir Putin s government .  But the Pyatkov family is still among the lucky few who ve managed to obtain proper documents to live and work here . Others remain trapped in a corrupt , glacial immigration process that seems designed to keep migrants from central Asia in low wage jobs but without permanent status . While ordinary Russians have welcomed them warmly , many Ukrainian refugees say , they find it impossible to find legal work for which they are qualified .  Yet the Kremlin has consistently made the mass immigration of compatible Russian speaking people from former Soviet republics a major part of its strategy for overcoming Russia s looming demographic crisis . With peace possibly breaking out now in Ukraine , there are tentative signs of a reverse exodus , and experts say the window of opportunity to properly welcome and integrate this wave of ideal newcomers may be rapidly closing .  It may have been what our authorities always said they wanted , but the sudden influx of over a million people was a huge headache for them , and they were in no way prepared for it , says Dmitry Oreshkin , head of the Mercator Group , a Moscow based think tank . They re not ready for it now , especially since Russia is in the midst of an economic crisis , so it seems that they are trying to discourage Ukrainian immigrants in practice , pressure them to go home , regardless of what official policy proclaims . ? ?  According to Russia ' s Federal Migration Service (  ) , 2 . 6 million Ukrainians live in Russia , more than half of them long term guest workers , but about a million more who ve arrived in the past ? 18 months fleeing next door Ukraine .  Few Ukrainian refugees say they have received much help from the  , which processes and documents migrants . Many say they endure long waits for simple residency permits , a few hint that bribes have been demanded , and some have simply given up and ignored the need to obtain proper documentation .  As of September , according to the  , about 400 , 000 Ukrainians had applied for refugee status and almost 300 , 000 more have asked for temporary residence status . A further 600 , 000 are considered to be in breach of the rules entirely .  At first everything was sweetness and light , Ukrainian refugees were met with good camps and widespread public sympathy , says Svetlana Gannushkina , head of Civil Assistance , a nongovernmental group that aids refugees . But soon the camps started to get closed down ? there are presently only about 20 , 000 Ukrainian refugees living in state institutions ? and authorities blocked them from moving to areas like Moscow or St . Petersburg , which have the best living standards and most available jobs .  Even those who may have had relatives , friends , or opportunities in central cities got sent away to far off areas , even to Siberia and the Pacific coast , she says .  While the Russian government still makes an exception for some half million Ukrainians who fled the active war zone of Donbass , it ? offers little sympathy to many who left Ukraine for political reasons or to evade the draft . Last month , the  ruled that all Ukrainians in Russia , excepting former residents of Donbass , must renew all their documents or face deportation .  If a Ukrainian wants to come to Russia to work , the process of documentation is fairly straightforward . But if you left Ukraine because you opposed that Kiev government , there is no hope of attaining the status of political asylum in Russia . I just can t understand that , says Larisa Shesler , a former member of the regional council in Nikolayev , a southeastern Ukrainian region , who lives in a temporary shelter near Moscow .  Many say it just doesn t make sense that Russian policy hobbles the very Ukrainians who support the Russian point of view .  One possible reason is that Russia has never had a full public debate about immigration in general . Over the relatively prosperous Putin years , a corruption ridden system allowed millions of Central Asian migrant workers to pour in to do work in construction and service industries that most Russians didn t want , but left their rights ambiguous at best .  Some experts say Russian authorities are missing a critical opportunity to address the country s dire demographic crisis ? by effectively discouraging Ukrainian immigration .  A report issued by the Civil Initiatives Committee , a think tank headed by former Russian finance minister Alexei Kudrin , says that in addition to being Russian speaking and Russian oriented , Ukrainian refugees also tend to be well educated , often skilled workers , who could fill many looming gaps in Russia ' s economy .  But ? highly qualified Ukrainians coming into Russia find it hard to get proper work documents , the report says . ? As a ? consequence , experienced engineers and technical specialists find themselves working low paying jobs often illegally as cargo handlers or construction workers just to support their families and pay for temporary accommodation .  With the cease fire in eastern Ukraine holding well , and growing hopes that the Minsk peace process might at least freeze the conflict , there are reports that some refugees are heading home to take stock .  These people represent valuable human capital , that Russia desperately needs , says Vyatcheslav Postavnin , an expert with the group .  Despite being warned , Mr Postavnin says , the government was not prepared for the wave of refugees .  Our government spokespeople talk as if our system worked smoothly , and suggest that we could even teach Europe a thing or two about how to handle these problems , he says . But , in fact , we have failed them and ourselves badly .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
21297,21298,"Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Chuvashia regional leader Mikhail Ignatyev in the Kremlin in Moscow , Russia , Friday , Jan . 29 , 2016 . ( Alexei Druzhinin Sputnik , Kremlin Pool Photo via  ) more  Google , Apple and other U . S . tech companies could soon be cutting checks to the Kremlin if they want to continue operating within Russia : President Vladimir Putin has asked the government to amend legislation to enable more equal working conditions among Internet companies , and Russian media reports that it may involve a new tax on services offered out of Silicon Valley .  The Kremlin announced Friday that Mr Putin has signed a series of executive orders as a result of a December forum , among them a request for six federal agencies to work with the president s new Internet adviser , German Klimenko , on amending legislation to ensure equal operating conditions for companies within Russia with respect to the Internet , according to an English translation .  The coalition , which includes Mr Klimenko , the Federal Anti Monopoly Service , the Ministry of Economic Development , the Ministry of Finance , the Federal Tax Service , the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Communications , has until Sept . 1 to submit their proposal .  Ensuring equal working conditions may involve , in particular , the introduction of value added tax (  ) on the sale of services in Russia by foreign companies such as Google and Apple Moscow s Vedomosti newspaper reported Monday in an article detailing Mr Putin s support of a so called Google Tax .  Mr Putin s directive comes two months after lawmakers in the lower house of Russia s parliament proposed legislation that would add sales tax to products and services sold through the online stores of foreign companies . On its website , the Kremlin said the president s decision was based on recommendations made by the Institute for the Development of the Internet , which Mr Klimenko heads as board chairman .  Mr Klimenko , who was personally appointed by the Russian president in December , was quoted in 2014 as saying that a ban on Google like the one that exists in China could become a reality in Russia within two to three years .  Currently both Google and Facebook do not cooperate with our law enforcement agencies , he told the Gazeta newspaper . Needless to say , sooner or later the issue will come up and sooner or later they will have to comply with our laws or leave the territory of the Russian Federation .  What will happen if the government bans Google and Facebook ? The answer is stupidly simple ? Yandex and the rest will begin to work more , once they receive a bigger slice of the pie , Mr Klimenko said , referring to the Russian based search engine that competes against the Mountain View , California , company .  From a purely financial point of view , if Google stops functioning in Russia , Yandex will start earning more , he said .  A law introduced in August legally requires Internet companies that handles the data of Russian citizens to store that information on local servers , and Russia s Federal Anti Monopoly Service ruled the following month that Google had violated a protection of competition provision by prioritizing its own services over those offered by Yandex .  The U . Sweblinkpany has since been ordered to change the way apps come preinstalled on Android smart phones , or risk paying upwards of 15 percent of its local revenue to Russian authorities .  Other executives orders signed by Mr Putin include a similar directive that would ensure Russian hardware and software companies are prioritized during procurement , and another on the monitoring of Internet threats . ?  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
21331,21332,"Straight out of the gate , the seven debaters turned to "" the elephant not in the room "" as he was wryly described by Megyn Kelly the Fox anchor who Trump accuses of bias against him .  Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally raising funds for  military veterans at Drake University in Des Moines , Iowa ? William Edwards (  )  Top adversary Ted Cruz used Trump like language to jokingly belittle himself and rivals and take a pot shot at the absentee himself .  "" I ' m a maniac and everyone on this stage is stupid , fat and ugly . And Ben , you ' re a terrible surgeon , "" Cruz said , looking mischievously at retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson .  "" We ' ve gotten the Donald Trump portion out of the way , "" he quipped .  Nationally , Trump keeps soaring . A recent   poll of Republican voters has Trump at 41 percent to 19 percent for Cruz , with more than two thirds of Republicans saying they believe the billionaire developer will be the party ' s presidential candidate .  But Trump has a genuine battle on his hands in Iowa with ultra conservative Cruz who trails by about five percentage points in the RealClearPolitics average of recent Iowa polls .  Cruz , who has won endorsements from key evangelicals and anti abortion figures who tout his religious values , insists the race against Trump is winnable and has blanketed Iowa with 12 , 000 volunteers and staff .  All eyes are now on the heartland state , where 12 Republican candidates and three Democratic hopefuls including Hillary Clinton are vying for both bragging rights and momentum as the primary race heads next to New Hampshire , South Carolina and Nevada .  Trump had taunted Fox and his rivals , saying a main debate without him present would be a "" total disaster "" with low ratings .  The real estate mogul doubled down , in a game of political chicken , scheduling a rival event for military veterans just a few miles ( kilometers ) from the venue where his party was showcasing its candidates to Iowa voters .  Even absent , Trump ' s shadow loomed large and he was snatching many of the headlines .  Visibly delighting in the upset caused by his no show , the tycoon took the stage at his own event about 15 minutes after the main debate began .  "" I said I ' m not going to do the debate out of respect for myself , "" he said to cheers from the overflow crowd .  Shortly before the debate Trump told  that top Fox officials had called him to apologize . Trump said he was mulling a last minute appearance , but that his veterans event "" took on a life of its own "" and he felt compelled to appear there instead .  Adding to the spectacle , rival Mike Huckabee , the former Arkansas governor who is languishing in polls , joined Trump at his veterans event , as did low polling former senator Rick Santorum .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
21333,21334,"Millions of Android handsets have been exposed to malware through malicious apps being offered on Google Play .  The apps include the Durak card game , along with a history game and  test , which combined have been installed more than 15 million times .  The apps cause unwanted adverts to display on users ' phones and their abnormal behaviour sometimes doesn ' t appear until a month after installation .  Millions of Android handsets have been exposed to malware through malicious apps being offered on Google Play . The apps include the Durak card game , along with a history game and  test , which combined have been installed more than 15 million times  The apps were discovered after Prague based antivirus provider , Avast , received a user complaint .  ' This impression remains until you reboot your device and wait for a couple of days , ' wrote Filip Chytry , an Avast mobile malware analyst .  ' After a week , you might start to feel there is something wrong with your device . Some of the apps wait up to 30 days until they show their true colours . '  As well as Durak , the other other games included a Russian  test with up to five million installs , and a Russian history app game , which has been installed up to 50 , 000 times by Android users .  These apps have now been removed from Google Play .  Each time a user unlocks their device an advert is shown warning them about a fake problem , such as their phone is full or porn .  The apps cause unwanted adverts to display on users ' phones and their ' abnormal behaviour ' sometimes doesn ' t appear until a month after installation . Each time a user unlocks their device an advert is shown , warning them about a fake problem , such as their phone is full or porn  The app then asks them to take action , and if the user accepts , they will get re directed to other services .  Each time a user unlocks their device an advert is shown , warning them about a fake problem , such as their phone is full or porn .  The app then asks them to take action , and if the user accepts , they will get re directed to other services .  The scam could then potentially provoke victims to download apps from untrusted sources to resolve the issue .  Their abnormal behaviour sometimes doesn ' t appear until a month after installation .  Unfortunately , there is no way to know for definite if an app available in Google Play is malicious .  The scam could then potentially provoke victims to download apps from untrusted sources to resolve the issue .  ' An even bigger surprise was that users were sometimes directed to security apps on Google Play , ' Mr Chytry revealed .  ' These security apps are , of course , harmless , but would security providers really want to promote their apps via adware ?  ' Even if you install the security apps , the undesirable ads popping up on your phone don ' t stop .  According to Dan Goodin at Arstechnica , there is no way to know for definite if an app available in Google Play is malicious .  Genuine apps , however , often have a large numbers of downloads developed by well known developers .  Google Play has been plagued by app problems in the past . It has previously offered titles that provide secret remote access as well as ones that are malicious advertising networks .  Google has yet to respond to MailOnline about malware on Google Play .  The scam could then potentially provoke victims to download apps from untrusted sources to resolve the issue . Pictured is a screenshot of the Durak card game when it was available on Google Play  ",true,text,test,US elections,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
21336,21337,"Not saying Kroenke is better , just tough to side with a liberal .  Good for them . At least they realize they got played hard are done with being a pawn to the  . Putting this out there now also hurts future owners that try to extort their home cities because its one less viable city they can threaten to leave for if they don t get their hundreds of millions in public funds .  would just become the new L . A . , except with little chance of ever actually getting a team again .  Good for  . Louis ! With tax payers fitting the bill for  stadiums ( minus  ) and their willingness to threaten or pull a team from their fans . It makes me wonder if the  feels the fans owe them . This is the same organization that charged the gov t to salute the troops . I love this game , but sometimes it s hard to root for such a greasy ? lying organization such as the  .  The era of fan city loyalty is quickly coming to an end , led by owners manipulation of them for personal gain , over the past decades .  St . Louis got the Rams 20 years ago , by the same machinations he s criticizing , after the Rams had been in Los Angeles for 48 years . Bitter feelings are understandable (  fans of  teams know ) , but what was Slay s expectation here ?  . .   team has used the Los Angeles threat for 21 years to get a new stadium except for the following teams :  Bills  . Saints . Dolphins . Chicago . Each of these teams have stadiums  than 25 years . .  Who could blame them after the  lied and mislead them for the past 14 months !  To me that just shows that St . Louis didnt really want a team in the first place .  Look , St . Louis lost the Cardinals , then they stole the Rams and now they lost the Rams as well !  The    own the state of Missouri .  St . Louis was always more of a baseball town  Rams fans , I know its too soon to think about it , but when you are ready , you are more than welcome into Viking Nation ! We will stand with you guys , and will enjoy destroying the soon to be soft  Rams in front of mostly empty seats and Viking fans in Los Angeles !  Should have been San Diego , its a friggin 2 hour drive , same culture .  Welcome to America , a plutocracy controlled by the greedy and power hungry business elite !  2 teams lost in 29 years . Fans and media blame the teams for not winning enough . In 21 years , Rams won a Super Bowl , played in another and made the playoffs in 5 different seasons .  It s the fans fault for not showing up and the city s fault for not standing by the agreement negotiated by the drunken , shock treated politician they sent to negotiate with the Rams over 20 years ago .  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,satire,true,True,no,no,negative,past
21338,21339,"Charles Hugh Smith  There are many sources of rage: injustice, the destruction of truth, powerlessness. But if we had to identify the one key source of non-elite rage that cuts across all age, ethnicity, gender and regional boundaries, it is this: The Ruling Elite is protected from the destructive consequences of its predatory dominance.  We see this reality across the entire political, social and economic landscape.  If I had to pick one chart that illustrates the widening divide between the Ruling Elite and the non-elites, it is this chart of wages as a share of the nation’s output (GDP): 46 years of relentless decline, interrupted by gushing fountains of credit and asset bubbles that enriched the few while leaving the economic landscape of the many in ruins.  The Ruling Elite once had an obligation to uphold the social contract as a responsibility that came with their vast privilege, power and wealth (i.e. noblesse oblige ).  America’s Ruling Elite has transmogrified into an incestuous self-serving few unapologetically plundering the many. In their hubris-soaked arrogance, their right to rule is unquestioningly based on their moral and intellectual superiority to “the little people” they loot with abandon.  Rather than feel a responsibility to the nation, America’s Elite views the status quo as a free pass to self-aggrandizement.  Much has changed in America in the past 46 years. Not only have wages and salaries declined as a share of “economic growth,” but the wealth that has been generated has flowed to the top of the wealth/power pyramid (see chart below).  Social mobility has also declined drastically: Restoring America’s Economic Mobility , as has trust in government and key institutions.  As Frank Buckley, the author of The Way Back: Restoring the Promise of America observed:  “In a corrupt country, trust is a rare commodity. That’s America today. Only 19 percent of Americans say they trust the government most of the time, down from 73 percent in 1958 according to the Pew Research Center.”  The top .01% has seen its share of the household wealth triple from 7% to 22% in the past four decades, while the share of the nation’s wealth owned by the bottom 90% has plummeted from 36% to 23%.  As I described in America’s Ruling Elite Has Failed and Deserves to Be Fired and Now That the Presidential-Election Side Show Is Finally Ending…. , the economy is rapidly undergoing structural changes that tend to reward the top 5% class of technocrats and managers and the top .1% with millions in mobile capital, while leaving the bottom 95% in the dust.  Rather than address this rising inequality directly and honestly, the Ruling Elite has parroted propaganda and policies that protect their gains while obfuscating the reality that most American households have been losing ground for decades, a decline that has been masked by replacing real income with rising debt.  The ceaseless parroting of the Ruling Elite and the Mainstream Media that prosperity has been rising for everyone is nothing less than the destruction of truth. This propaganda has one purpose: to mask the inequality and injustice built into the American status quo.  The rapid concentration of wealth has also concentrated political power in the hands of a few who seamlessly combine public and private modes of power.  This wealth and power protects the Ruling Elite from the perverse consequences of their dominance. Their precious offspring rarely serve at the point of the American military’s spear, they never lose their jobs or income when corporations shift production (and R&D, etc.) overseas, and they are never replaced with illegal immigrants paid under the table.  Rather, the Ruling Elite is pleased to pay immigrants a pittance to care for their children, clean their luxe homes, walk their dogs, etc.  This is why we’re enraged: we bear the consequences of the Ruling Elite’s dominance. The system is rigged to benefit the few, who use their wealth and power to protect themselves from the destructive consequences of their self-serving dominance.  This rage is as yet inchoate, sensed but not yet understood as the inevitable result of a broken system and a predatory Elite that exploits the system to maximize their private gain by any means available .   NOTE: As I write this Tuesday evening, it appears Donald Trump may win the presidency. For those who cannot understand how anyone could possibly vote for Trump, please read the above essay again and ponder what people were voting against by voting for Trump .  They may well have been voting against the corrupt, self-serving status quo rather than voting for the individual Donald Trump.  There are very few opportunities for powerless non-elites to register their disapproval of the nation’s Ruling Elite and the corrupt status quo. Voting for an outsider in a national election is one such rare opportunity.  As I noted in October, The Ruling Elite Has Lost the Consent of the Governed (October 20, 2016).  If you still don’t understand how Trump could win, please read the above essay as many times as is necessary for you to get it: the status quo of corrupt self-serving insiders generates injustice and inequality as its only possible output.",true,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
21343,21344,"Reuters) - Turkish security forces have killed 99 Kurdish militants, including a high-ranking one, in operations in southeast Turkey over the last two weeks, the armed forces said on Saturday. Security forces targeted outposts and caves used by the militants for shelter and storage in the southeastern provinces of Sirnak and Hakkari, near the Iraqi border, the military said in a statement.  Ninety-nine terrorists have been neutralized. One is in the so-called leading ranks,  it said. The outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), considered a terrorist organization by the United States, Turkey and the European Union, has waged a more than three-decade insurgency against the state. The PKK, which seeks autonomy for the largely Kurdish southeast, has bases in the mountains on both sides of the Turkey-Iraq border and is frequently targeted by Turkish security forces. The operations, which were carried out between Aug. 24 and Sept. 7, led to the seizure of 420 kg (925 lbs) of ammonium nitrate, used to make explosives, as well as bombs, guns and rifles, the military said. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
21347,21348,"It is so great to be back in Florida, my second home. Let me also thank our good and dear friend, Chairman Jeff Miller, for joining us here today. We ve worked closely together on developing much-needed reforms to take care of our Veterans.Let me open by making this very important declaration: I love this state, I love the people of this state, and together we are going to have an amazing victory in November.Decades of political failure and corruption will come swiftly to an end, and a New American Future will begin.The citizens of this country will be in charge once more.The special interests have had their day. That chapter in our history is closing. The history book is closing on the failed politicians of yesterday. A new chapter is beginning, and this chapter will be authored by you, the American people.This will be your time. You will be running the show. Not the donors, not the insiders, not the media executives.Once more, we will have a government of, by and for the people.All we have to do is cut our ties to the bitter failures of the past, and anything becomes possible.Change is coming.All the people who ve rigged the system for their own personal benefit are trying to stop our change campaign because they know that their gravy train has reached its last stop.It s your turn now. This is your time.The fact that so many encrusted old political insiders oppose our campaign is the best proof you will ever need that we are fighting for real change   not partisan change.We are fighting for all Americans   Democrats, Republicans, Independents, Conservatives, Liberals   who ve been failed by this corrupt system. We re fighting for everyone who doesn t have a voice.We re also fighting for every region of this country. For every part of Florida, and every part of America. From Pensacola to Pittsburgh, from Baltimore to Baton Rouge, we are fighting for every last city and every last person in this country.Hillary Clinton is the candidate of the past.Ours is the campaign of the future.In this future, we are going to pursue new trade policies that put American workers first   and that keep jobs in our country. All the people who got  wrong, and China wrong, and who are trying to give us the Trans-Pacific Partnership   are the same failed voices pushing for Hillary Clinton.Our trade deficit with the world is now nearly $800 billion dollars. We ve lost one-third of our manufacturing jobs since Bill and Hillary Clinton gave us NAFTA. China is manipulating its currency and taking our jobs. We are going to stop companies from leaving our country and keep those jobs right here in America. The era of economic surrender is over.We will also have a very strong border that stops people and drugs from illegally pouring into our country   and we re going to build a border wall, and Mexico will pay for it.In this new future, we are going to raise your wages. Household incomes are over $4,000 less today than they were in the year 2000.My tax, trade, energy, immigration and regulation reforms will get your salaries and wages up. Hillary Clinton will continue the failed economic agenda that has only made her friends rich at your personal expense. Many people in this room tonight, and across this country, haven t seen a real wage increase in 18 years.The people getting rich off of our rigged system have sent tens of millions of dollars to Hillary Clinton   much of it to her personal bank account   to keep you from having the future you deserve.But on November 8th, you get to vote for the future you want.In this future, we are going to pursue new education policies. At the center of my plan is school choice. I want every disadvantaged child in America to be able to attend the public or private school that is right for them and their family.In this future, we are also going to keep our country out of the endless wars that have defined Hillary Clinton s career.To keep our country out of war, we will remember those three very famous words: Peace Through Strength.That means rebuilding our badly depleted military. I laid out a detailed plan this week to re-invest in our military and our troops.We are going to build a 350 ship Navy, a 540,000 soldier Army, an Air Force of 1,200 combat-ready fighter jets, and a Marine Core built on 36 Battalions. Crucially, we are also going to pursue a state-of-the-art missile defense.We will start by modernizing our cruisers to provide the Ballistic Missile Defense capability our nation needs.As we expand our Navy toward the goal of 350 ships, we will also procure additional modern destroyers that are designed to handle the missile defense mission in the coming years.Just today we were reminded of the need for missile defense after North Korea performed its fourth nuclear test since Hillary Clinton became Secretary of State.One more massive Hillary Clinton failure.Just like she failed in Iran and put them on the path to nuclear weapons.Hillary Clinton has presided over the greatest series of foreign policy failures and blunders anyone has ever seen. Her policies have produced massive global disorder.She handed Iraq over to ISIS, unleashing that terror group onto the world.  would not be threatening the West today if not for the decisions Hillary Clinton made.She helped destabilize Egypt by supporting the ouster of President Mubarak in exchange for the Muslim Brotherhood. Fortunately, President El-Sisi is now in charge, but terrorists have gained a foothold in that country.She helped push Syria into a prolonged civil war by pushing regime change in that country too   without any plan for the day after.She failed with China, which has only grown more aggressive. By the way, she also let China steal hundreds of billions of dollars in our intellectual property.And of course, Hillary Clinton failed with her Russian Reset. She gave up missile defense in Poland and the Czech Republic in exchange for nothing in return. Then, she gave up 20% of U.S. uranium to Russia  while those who benefited from the deal gave money to the Clintons.Let s not forget, Russia went into Crimea on President Obama s watch.Unlike Clinton and Obama, we will negotiate with Russia from a position of strength   not weakness. And weakness is all we get from President Obama and Hillary Clinton.The difference between me and my opponent on Vladimir Putin, and in all negotiations, is that I negotiate by creating leverage so I can extract a good deal for the United States.Hillary Clinton negotiates but never gets anything of value for the United States. Putin laughs at our leaders, and takes them to the cleaners again and again.That is why we will rebuild our military, strengthen our economy, and regain our position of leadership in the world   so we can negotiate from a position of great strength once again.If I cannot get a good deal for the United States, I will follow the example of Ronald Reagan and walk away. That is completely contrary to the way President Obama and Hillary Clinton negotiate which gets nothing of value for the United States, ever. They just keep losing.I will end this legacy of failure and strongly defend the interests of the United States.But I will also keep focused on the ultimate goal. We will not seek endless conflict and hostility; we won t get trapped in the failed approaches of the past. A future where America can find common ground with countries like Russia and China is a better future for our children.We will pursue these relationships with our eyes wide open, and a clear understanding of our many, many differences. I will advocate the American position with a strength and clarity President Obama and Hillary Clinton never have. No more apology tours. No more bowing to foreign powers. We proudly defend America at every single turn.America will get the respect it deserves.And if we don t, I will walk away from the deal like you ve never seen anyone walk before. And, believe me, within a short while, they will come back   but only on my terms, therefore the terms of the American people.On these principles, we will pursue our long-term goals of peace   for the sake of our kids, and for the sake of the world s future.Hillary Clinton has failed in every single country where she has ever gotten involved, and at a very high price for the world.Her policies have produced only death and destruction, not diplomacy. She s trigger-happy, pushing recklessly for regime change   but never creating or promoting stability, or advancing the core interests of the United States.Her only real achievement as Secretary of State has been getting away with her massive email scandal. She bleached, deleted and destroyed her emails after a subpoena from Congress.She lied to Congress while under oath, and smashed her phones with a hammer to keep them from getting to authorities.By the way, who has thirteen phones in the first place? Only somebody with a whole lot to hide.And we all know what Hillary Clinton was hiding. She was hiding her pay-for-play scandals as Secretary of State.Hillary Clinton isn t just part of the corrupt establishment, she is the corrupt establishment.I just saw her press conference today where Hillary Clinton complained about all of the problems in the world. If only we d had a competent Secretary of State who could have prevented all of these problems from happening.Throughout it all, Hillary Clinton and her Foundation raked in millions and millions of dollars from the most oppressive and brutal regimes on earth. Hillary Clinton and her Foundation have cozied up to regimes that oppress and brutalize women, that murder gays, and that violate human rights on an unimaginable scale.My Administration will be a voice for all people who are oppressed, including the millions of women being oppressed by Radical Islam.Hillary Clinton has been there for 30 years and produced only failure. Yet people keep giving her money and protecting her.It s the powerful protecting the powerful.The insiders fighting for insiders.I am fighting for you.trump im with youAll the people advising Hillary Clinton are the people responsible for the endless wars and conflicts, and the tragedies in the Middle East.I am proud to have the support of the retired generals and admirals who know how to win   and how to avoid endless war.Let me also take this moment to express our deepest thanks and gratitude to everyone who has worn the uniform, but most especially to those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for this country.There is no greater expression of love than the love shown by the men and women who have laid down their lives for their country and its people.It is our duty to ensure that their sacrifices are not in vain. That means we don t issue timetables for political reasons, but that we work with our generals and our leaders to produce a real plan for victory.We will pursue a new, steady foreign policy that seeks to advance the national security interests of the United States   not a reckless, interventionist globalism that has failed this country so badly.And we will be clear in naming our enemy: Radical Islamic Terrorism.The fact that Hillary Clinton can t even say these words proves how unfit she is to lead this country. This is one single fact she can never escape.Any country that shares our goal of defeating this enemy will be our partner in this mission.We will break the cycle of regime change, and refugee crisis, that has gone on for so many years.We simply can t afford to continue down the road we are on right now.That applies to everything.Change is needed at every single level of our society.When I talk about making America Great Again, I m talking about creating a future that includes each and every American.I want the most inclusive, generous and prosperous society we have ever had.The possibilities for our future are unlimited.The Hillary Clinton campaign is so small, so petty, so tired.If we just break from this bitter, divisive past, we can achieve anything.That also means breaking from the lies and the deceit of the Clintons. They want to scare you out of voting for change. The most recent smear comes from Bill Clinton, who said that the theme of Make America Great Again is somehow racist   now they ve unearthed video footage of Bill Clinton repeatedly using this same phrase. It s just one more Clinton lie, one more desperate slander to keep the people from having the future they deserve.When I talk about Making America Great Again, I m talking about making it Great Again for Everyone   but especially for all of the Americans who have been left behind.We are the campaign of unity, and we will deliver amazing things for all of our people.New schools, new factories, new infrastructure.Beautiful skyscrapers will rise all across this nation. We will develop Detroit, Not Beijing.Most importantly, we will fight to end the systemic poverty in our inner cities, and to lift millions of African-Americans and Hispanics out of poverty.Here, in Florida, we have such an amazing and diverse community of Hispanic-Americans   from Cuba, from Puerto Rico, from Venezuela, from Haiti, from all over.These incredible Americans will have in Donald J. Trump a President who is determined to fight for their jobs, their wages, their schools, and their futures.To all Hispanic-Americans who want better jobs and higher wages: I will be your champion.All working people, of all backgrounds and from all places, will have a true friend in Donald Trump.In particular, I have a very special place in my heart for those who make a living as tradesmen, craftsmen and construction workers.I ve spent my professional life among construction workers, bricklayers, electricians and plumbers. I feel more comfortable around blue collar workers than Wall Street executives. There s a reason the hedge fund managers are funding Hillary Clinton s campaign, and not mine.My campaign is powered by my own money, but also small dollar donations from people like all of you who just want their country back.This is our chance. It s our last chance to give the people control over their own futures once again.Gleaming new plants stretching across our nation.Young Latino children getting an amazing education at the school of their choice   and their parents having their jobs protected from unfair competition.Our Veterans will get the best healthcare in the world. You can read the whole plan on our website,weblink.Massive tax reductions and tax simplification   so that you can keep more of your precious time and your hard-earned money. Hillary Clinton wants to raise your taxes big time.Most importantly, 2017 will be about unity.Once again, we will be One American Nation.We Will Be One American People.Just imagine what we can accomplish together if we set aside our differences, and focus on what we have in common as Americans.We will be one people, living under One God, saluting one beautiful American Flag.We Will Make America Proud Again.We Will Make America Prosperous Again.We Will Make America Safe Again.Friends and fellow citizens, We Will Make America Great Again!",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,present
21349,21350,"Senator Bernie Sanders made an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert a day following his landslide win in New Hampshire and he was riding high. Colbert resurrected his former conservative Colbert Report character, playing devil s advocate by grilling  the senator on his polices, even suggesting that he was promoting  class warfare.  Colbert said that trying to take power away from the 1% was not going to be easy.  I ll tell you how I know, I am in the top 1 percent.  Colbert also warned of revolution which Sanders advocates by quoting John F. Kennedy. He said: Those who make peaceful revolution impossible make violent revolution inevitable. Sanders, however, rejected the idea that his revolution would go bad. He said: What the goal of this campaign is about is to look at the Civil Rights Movement, look at the women s movement, look at the gay movement, understand that when people come together we can accomplish enormous things. But I think what people are saying is enough is enough. We need fundamental changes in our political system and our economic system. Sanders is right. Thinking outside of the box is what creates both innovation and change and Sanders sums it up perfectly: We used to have a segregated society. African-Americans couldn t go to schools, couldn t drink at water fountains. Millions of people stood together and said,  Hey, enough is enough. That is not what America is supposed to be about. Americans are on board with Sanders  message. He s scored a resounding victory in New Hampshire, especially with America s youth, collecting 86% of the vote in the 18-24 age bracket. Bernie Sanders is not only running for the presidency, but thus far he s winning.Watch the video below:Featured image via video screen capture ",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,present
21351,21352,"On Monday, Jimmy Kimmel mercilessly mocked Sarah Palin for denying climate science by literally bringing real scientists on his show. We ve had 15 of the 16 hottest years ever since 2001,  Kimmel told his audience. That s not an opinion. It s a fact. For some reason whether or not humans are contributing to this has become a left versus right issue. The politicians debate it. Our scientists don t. A huge majority of climate scientists say climate change is happening. They say we re causing it and we need to do something about it before it has a terrible effect on all of us. There s no debate about the greenhouse effect, just like there s no debate about gravity. It someone throws a piano off the roof, I don t care what Sarah Palin tells you   get out of the way. It s coming down on your head. Kimmel said that he expected right-wing trolls to attack him for his defense of science and his prediction became reality as many Palin fans flocked to social media to prove their stupidity.So, on Wednesday, Kimmel responded.Rather than respond by writing back to his haters on Facebook and other social media platforms, Kimmel chose to just embarrass the hell out of them instead by reading their comments on national television. It might seem I only picked comments from people whose grammar is bad, but the truth is, the vast majority of the comments came from people whose grammar is bad,  Kimmel began before reading a series of comments from people who clearly needed to pay more attention in school.Jim Jacob couldn t even get Kimmel s name right when he wrote,  Mr Kimble if you are so smart many you should get a real job like climate scientists I give up you!. Erik Simmy defended Palin by accusing scientists of  lying to teeth. Sarah Palin might not be a scientist what she is saying doesn t need to be science to be understood the very scientists who claim to be telling the truth about global warming they know they re lying to teeth to help the government control our lives in the name of global warming. There are more comments and they are just as ridiculously idiotic as the other ones.Here s the video via YouTube.These right-wing trolls had no idea that their stupidity would be aired for all to see. If they had known, perhaps they would have kept their mouths shut. Jimmy Kimmel just taught them a valuable lesson. Watch what you say on social media because you re not as anonymous as you think you are.Featured image via screenshot",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,past
21353,21354,"Ted Cruz has made a staggering confession during an appearance on the Jimmy Kimmel show, which confirms just how deep the hatred between Cruz and rival  primary candidate Donald Trump has become. In a new low for the Republican race, Cruz confessed he d quite like to run Trump over with his car.On Wednesday night s show, Kemmel asked Cruz: Donald Trump  is he the person you dislike the most, of anyone in America? The Texas senator and nearest  rival to Donald Trump first adopted a folksy tone in response, saying: Oh, no, But then Kimmel pushed him with a marginally tougher question: Who do you like better,  he asked,  Obama or Trump? This sent the audience into fits of laughter while Cruz took a long pause, seemingly struggling with his answer, finally answering somewhat less than diplomatically: I dislike Obama s policies more. As Kimmel nodded and reassured the Republican with an  I see,  Cruz added: But Donald   Donald is a unique individual, If I were in my car and getting ready to reverse, and saw Donald in the backup camera   I m not confident which pedal I d push. Just pause and let that sink in for a moment. The two favorite Republican candidates for President of the United States, have now reduced their campaigns to sl*tshaming each others wives, and fantasies about doing each other physical damage.Between Cruz and Trump, there is almost zero breathing space in the Republican race to ventilate the real issues facing America over the next decade; issues that aren t going to magically vanish if one of them somehow manages to secure the Presidency. So we face the very real potential of heading into a Presidential election with a Republican candidate (either Cruz  Trump) who would rather devote campaign time to frat bro level antics, than statesmanship. Just when we thought the  primary could sink any lower, it did. Featured image via screencapture",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,satire,fake,True,no,no,neutral,present
21354,21355,"approves drug that uses herpes virus to fight cancer  Nephron Licensed under    3 . 0 via Wikimedia Commons   Federal health officials on Tuesday approved a first of a kind drug that uses the herpes virus to infiltrate and destroy deadly skin cancer tumors .  The Food and Drug Administration approved the injectable drug from Amgen Inc . for patients with hard to treat melanoma , the deadliest form of skin cancer that is expected to be diagnosed in 74 , 000 U . S . patients this year . For now , the drug is only approved for melanoma tumors that cannot be removed surgically .  The World Health Organization has released a report finding a link between eating processed and red meats and cancer . Dr Jon LaPook reports .  The drug , Imlygic , is injected directly into tumor tissue , where it uses herpes as a Trojan horse to slip past and rupture cancer cells . The drug combines a gene snippet meant to stimulate the immune system with a modified version of the herpes simplex virus the kind that causes mouth cold sores .  Despite the drug ' s groundbreaking approach ,  officials stressed it has not been shown to extend life . Instead , company studies showed that about 16 percent of patients injected with the drug saw their tumors shrink , compared with 2 percent of patients who took more conventional cancer drugs . That effect lasted at least six months .  Regulators stressed that Imlygic had no effect on melanoma that had spread to the brain , lungs or other internal organs .  Amgen said patients should be treated with the drug for at least six months , or until there are no more tumors left to treat . The company estimates one course of treatment will cost about 65 , 000 , depending on the length of treatment .  Doctors give an initial round of injections , followed by a second dose three weeks later and then regular injections every two weeks thereafter .  The drug known chemically as talimogene laherparepvec or T  divides into copies repeatedly until the membranes , or outer layers , of the cancer cells burst . Meanwhile , the gene snippet churns out a protein to stimulate an immune response to kill melanoma cells in the tumor and elsewhere in the body .  Over the years , scientists have explored altering various viruses , including measles and polio , to combat several types of cancer , including brain tumors , breast cancers and others .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
21356,21357,"You don t see too many running backs taking the ball 46 times against a defense like Auburn s and saying they ' re ready for more or one deflecting every question about the Heisman Trophy even though he s the clear front runner .  "" I ' m not ready to focus on New York , Henry said . I ' m looking forward on going to Atlanta and playing Florida and preparing for this week and preparing for the Gators because they are a tough team . ""  That s the kind of thing that could be key for the No . 2 Crimson Tide ( 11 1 , 7 1  ) , both this week and the upcoming month , when awards are handed out , coaches are hired away and it can be easy for players to start thinking about the draft .  It s when rings can prove to be especially elusive , as last year s Crimson Tide learned .  I always ask the players ? I asked them last year because of the Ole Miss game , I asked them this year because of the Ole Miss game ? How are you going to respond to the loss ? It s a really true test to your character as a man as how you respond when things don t go well , "" head coach Nick Saban said .  Everyone can be a front runner and everyone can respond the right way when things are going your way . But now you have to realize that there s some tough things that you re going to have to do to overcome the adversity that you ve created by the way we ve played . Are you going to be willing to do that ?  This team has . The players held a team meeting after the 43 37 Ole Miss loss on Sept . 19 , which turned out to be the turning point of the season ? just like last year ? and won nine straight games since to finish along atop the division .  That s an impressive accomplishment by itself and shouldn t be overlooked .  So is the fact that since 2008 , Alabama has only lost two straight games only twice , and in both cases it was the same circumstance : a deflating late season defeat followed by a bowl game in which it didn t have anything to play for .  In 2008 it was Florida in the  Championship Game and then Utah in the Sugar Bowl . Alabama rebounded by winning the 2009 national championship .  In 2013 it was Auburn and Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl , but it lost to Ohio State in the subsequent playoff semifinals , 42 35 .  I think the consistency of what he ' s done year in and year out , it ' s hard to do in college football , said McElwain , who was Saban ' s offensive coordinator from 2008 11 . The way he has gotten these players to understand , look , that game ' s over , learn from it , but let ' s move on forward and get a little bit better . That ' s one thing you see is they continually get better year in and year out .  You know what , it was fun to be a part of to see how he does that .  Nick Saban ' s record in a conference championship game is 5 1 .  It s easy to proclaim that Alabama s schedule this season hasn t held up because the other contenders fell by the wayside , but in realty it does .  Alabama has six wins against Power Five teams that are 8 4 or better . It played at Georgia when it had Nick Chubb , and it stonewalled the player everyone thought was going to run away with the Heisman Trophy , Leonard Fournette .  It topped the quarterback who finished eighth in Heisman Trophy voting last season ( Dak Prescott ) and was a finalist for Maxwell , Davey O ' Brien , Johnny Unitas Golden Arm and Manning awards . It beat the two other teams that went undefeated in November , Arkansas and Tennessee from the  East .  The thing about playing in the toughest division in college football is that whenever they face each other , one team has to lose . It s an automatic 21 losses for a division that s only lost 26 total games this season .  Overall ,  West teams are 24 3 against nonconference opponents .  What ' s been Alabama ' s most impressive win so far in 2015 ?  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,past
21368,21369,"Luis Enrique has backed out of sorts striker Luis Suarez to find his form in front of goal after a slow start to his Barcelona career , insisting he has ' total confidence ' in the former Liverpool hitman .  The Uruguay international , who moved from Merseyside to the Nou Camp for 70million in the summer , drew anther blank on Wednesday night as Barcelona recorded a narrow victory against Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the Copa del Rey quarter final .  Suarez , who has only scored five goals since the big money move , missed a gilt edged chance to give Barcelona the lead in the first half against Atletico but somehow managed to fire over from five yards out .  Luis Suarez puts his hands to his face and kneels on the ground after missing a chance against Atletico  Suarez then slaps the turf in frustration during a first half in which Barca just could not score against Atletico  Suarez missed a glorious opportunity to break the deadlock when he skied his shot over the bar  But coach Enrique , who has been under pressure himself in recent weeks , is refusing to lose faith in the striker and is adamant Suarez will get among the goals soon .  ' I have complete confidence in my team and complete confidence in Suarez , ' Enrique said after the Atletico match .  ' He didn ' t have a lot of luck in front of goal today . He couldn ' t find the net , but he played well and managed to push Atletico ' s defenders back . '  Barcelona forward Suarez grimaces as he is brought to the ground with the ball bouncing just in front of him  Suarez falls on his head during the match as he is brought down under a heavy Atletico challenge  ' I have no doubt that the goals will come . '  Lionel Messi scored the only goal of the game after turning in the rebound after his penalty was saved to give the home side a slender advantage going into the second leg .  ",true,text,test,Football,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
21375,21376,"In a move that has stunned the fast food industry , Domino ' s Pizza has unveiled a new delivery policy for its customers : Your pizza delivered in 30 minutes or it ' s probably not coming at all .  Judd Harrison , Director of Public Relations for Domino ' s , elaborated on the new system : "" The program works like this : As soon as a customer ' s order is received by a local Domino ' s dispatcher , a virtual clock starts in Domino ' s internal tracking system . If the pizza hasn ' t reached the customer ' s front door within 30 minutes after the clock has first started , it ' s a fair bet it won ' t be arriving at all and customers should start making other dinner arrangements . ""  Domino ' s , which operates thousands of retail outlets worldwide in addition to its home delivery service , attributes the shift to a more blunt business model . "" Domino ' s wants its customers to recognize that a little optimism is fine , but often you have to resign yourself to the notion that the world is just going to operate against you and there ' s nothing you can do about it , "" stated Harrison , "" We ' re really trying to push a new "" Control is a Mere Illusion slogan for our restaurant . ""  Public reaction to the new promotion has been mixed . "" I mean , I guess it ' s completely eliminated any false hope I used to have when they were a few minutes late . That ' s good , right ? stated Norman Williams , a Michigan dentist and Domino ' s customer . "" It would be better if they still finished the delivery , even if it was a little late . My family was just really feeling pizza , you know ? Well , such is life , for we are born and we die , and any belief that we control what comes in between is spectral futility . ""  A summary on Domino ' s website elaborates on their new corporate philosophy , reading : "" Pizza is merely a collection of matter , much like us all . It is made up of atoms , as is your door , as is our driver , as is the car which may or may not bring your hot , mouth watering Domino ' s pizza pie directly to your home . The universe is a meaningless maelstrom of happenstance and chaos . Nothing is fated nor inevitable , not your children , not the inferno of the sun , and not the delivery of our delectable cheesy bread . ""  A new , infinite countdown clock feature is expected to be added online in coming weeks .  "" We don ' t enjoy keeping customers ' money without delivering , "" admitted Harrison , "" but it ' s equally important to remember that wealth is an artificial construct which binds us all . Life is a void and we are all inconsequential pawns in the eyes of the cosmos . ""  Domino ' s main competitor , Pizza Hut , has already instituted a new promotion of its own based on similar principles : "" Buy One Large Pizza , Get Whatever We End Up Sending You Instead . ""  ",satire,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,satire,True,no,no,positive,past
21387,21388,"It takes a lot to overshadow the performance of Cristiano Ronaldo especially given his recent form .  After his midweek all action showing against former employer Manchester United and a goal which had experts running out of superlatives , the Real Madrid man had a much quieter night .  Instead , it was left to teammate Sergio Ramos to take the headlines as Real took on local rival Rayo Vallecano at the Bernabeu Sunday .  Real held in Champions League blockbuster  Leading 1 0 through young striker Morata , Ramos headed home to extend his side ' s advantage on 12 minutes for his first contribution of the evening .  His next , however , was not so clever . A foul on Roberto Trashorras earned him a yellow card and just 45 seconds later , he was shown a second for handball .  Off he trudged with 18 minutes on the clock , a goal , two yellow cards and an early bath .  While receiving two bookings within 45 seconds is unusual , Ramos ' dismissal is anything but .  How Manchester United tried to drown the stars of Real Madrid in 1957  The Spain international has been sent off 17 times in his career , 16 of those coming at Real with the other at former club Sevilla .  His 12th red card in La Liga left Real with work to do , but with a two goal cushion already in hand , it easily held out to claim a 2 0 victory .  Falcao : Soccer ' s ' Tiger ' prowls for goals  Meanwhile , Atletico Madrid bounced back from its Europa League disappointment with a 3 0 win at Real Valladolid .  Radamel Falcao scored his 20th league goal of the season with Diego Costa and Cristian Rodriguez also on target .  Those three points keeps Atletico 12 points behind leader Barcelona and four clear of Real going into matchday 25 .  Valencia moved up to fifth with a 2 0 win over Mallorca , while Espanyol defeated Real Betis 1 0 and Real Sociedad was held to a 1 1 draw by Levante .  Chelsea make winning Europa League start Zenit shock Liverpool  In England , Chelsea booked its place in the fifth round of the  Cup , the country ' s historic domestic knockout competition .  Rafael Benitez ' s side defeated third tier Brentford 4 0 at Stamford Bridge in a replay following a 2 2 draw in the previous game .  Chelsea will now face second tier side Middlesbrough with the winners of that game going on to play either Manchester United or Reading .  Manchester City saw off second tier side Leeds United 4 0 to reach the quarterfinals , while Wigan also progressed after a 4 1 win at Huddersfield .  In the only Premier League game of the day , Liverpool thrashed Swansea 5 0 to move into seventh .  Juventus leaves Celtic ' s Champions League dream in tatters  In Italy , Fiorentina produced the performance of the day by crushing Inter 4 1 .  Two goals each from Adem Ljajic and Stevan Jovetic gave the Viola all three points with Antonio Cassano registering a late consolation for the visitor .  The win moves Fiorentina up to sixth , just a point behind fifth placed Inter .  Napoli ' s quest to move to within two points of league leader Juventus suffered a blow after it was held to a goalless draw by Sampdoria .  After a shock 3 0 home defeat in the Europa League by Czech side Viktoria Plzen on Thursday , Napoli had hoped to bounce back immediately .  Bayern on cruise control as Arsenal awaits  With Juventus losing to Roma on Saturday , Walter Mazzarri ' s side had the perfect opportunity to get back on track at the San Paolo .  But it failed to find a way through a stubborn Sampdoria defense and now sits four points off the lead .  "" This is not good enough , "" Mazzarri told reporters .  "" If we want to be up there challenging we need more . We need consistency , it makes me angry when he show up and have these unexplainable performances . ""  Elsewhere , Catania moved up to seventh and within sight of a Europa League place with a 1 0 home over Bologna .  Valter Birsa ' s 87th minute winner handed Torino a 2 1 victory over Atalanta , while Juraj Kucka ' s 33rd minute goal was enough to see Genoa creep further away from the drop zone with a 1 0 win over Udinese .  A Marco Sau double for Cagliari assured a 2 0 win away to new boys Pescara and moved the Sardinians up to 14th .  Beckham to donate  wages to charity  In France , Paris Saint Germain saw its lead at the top trimmed to just three points after it suffered a shock 3 2 defeat at Sochaux .  Without David Beckham , who is expected to make his debut in next weekend ' s clash with Marseille ,  took a 29th minute lead through Alex .  Sochaux hit back to lead 2 1 with 54 minutes on the clock before an own goal brought  level with 14 minutes remaining .  But with the game seemingly heading for a draw , Cedric Bakambu popped up to lash home a shock winner and leave  shattered .  Lyon remains in second place following a crushing 4 0 win at Bordeaux , while Reims and Saint Etienne shared a 1 1 draw .  ",true,text,test,Football,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
21395,21396,"Iran offered to stop attacking coalition troops in Iraq nearly four years ago in an attempt to get the West to accept Tehran ' s nuclear program , a British diplomat told the  in an interview aired Saturday .  John Sawers , British ambassador to the U . N . , told  of Iran approaching Western nations with offer .  "" The Iranians wanted to be able to strike a deal whereby they stopped killing our forces in Iraq in return for them being allowed to carry on with their nuclear program ' We stop killing you in Iraq , stop undermining the political process there , you allow us to carry on with our nuclear program without let or hindrance , "" said John Sawers , now the British ambassador to the United Nations , in the documentary , "" Iran and the West : Nuclear Confrontation . ""  The United States and other Western nations believe Iran is pursuing a nuclear weapons program , but Iran says it is developing nuclear capability to produce energy . Iran also has been accused of sponsoring terrorists and supplying weapons to Iraqi insurgents . The latter prompted a warning from the United States that such behavior by Tehran "" would be regarded by us as enemy action , "" Philip Zelikow , a State Department counselor , told the  .  Then , Iran began shopping its offer around Europe , Sawers said .  Sawers , Britain ' s political director at the time , reveals the behind the scene talks from 2005 when roadside bombing against British and American soldiers in Iraq peaked were held with British , French and German diplomats at hotels in London , Paris and Berlin .  "" And then we ' d compare notes among the three of us , "" Sawers told the  .  The British government dismissed the offer and Iran ' s nuclear enrichment program restarted once again , the  reports  Iran has denied offering any such deal and reiterated its position Saturday .  "" Iran ' s high officials have repeatedly stated that Iran has not had any part in attacks against American and British forces , and there is no evidence to support these baseless accusations , "" Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hassan Qashqavi said , according to the semi official Mehr News Agency .  Interviews with top brass from former President Bush ' s administration and British envoys indicate that Iran and the West had neared agreements several times in the past few years , but never reached success .  Nick Burns , who was in charge of the Bush administration ' s State Department policy with Iran , said taking a tough approach with Iran didn ' t seem effective .  "" We had advocated regime change , "" Burns told the  . "" We had a very threatening posture towards Iran for a number of years . It didn ' t produce any movement whatsoever . ""  The documentary aired a day after the Washington based Institute for Science and International Security released a report stating that Iranian scientists have reached "" nuclear weapons breakout capability . "" The report analyzed the finding of the U . N . ' s nuclear watchdog agency , the International Atomic Energy Agency (  ) .  However , an  official who asked not to be named cautioned against drawing such dramatic conclusions from the data , saying Iran ' s stock of low enriched uranium would have to be turned into highly enriched uranium (  ) in order to be weapons grade material . That hasn ' t been done , the official said .  Meanwhile , Iran ' s relationship with the West continues to be strained , though both sides have indicated interest in holding direct talks .  President Obama , in his first prime time news conference held earlier this month , said the United States is looking for opportunities for "" face to face "" talks with Iran after an absence of diplomatic ties for nearly three decades .  "" There ' s been a lot of mistrust built up over the years , so it ' s not going to happen overnight , "" he said .  And Iran ' s powerful parliament speaker and former nuclear negotiator , Ali Larijani , has called the Obama administration "" an exceptional opportunity for Americans . ""  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
21396,21397,"For many workers , Christmas Day represents yet another daily grind in the office .  With that in mind , these  employees took it upon themselves to jazz up their day with a merry jig round the Christmas tree in the middle of their multi million pound newsroom .  But staff were left red faced when the camera panning through the revamped newsroom prior to the headlines showed them linking arms and bouncing round the tree in Christmas hats .  It also appears to show a member of staff dressed in a bear costume awkwardly watching the scene in the corner of the shot .  The dance left presenter Julian Worricker looking rather bashful as he began his festive news bulletin .  As the camera pans to the news studio , it shows a group of  staff linking hands and jumping round the tree  The staff , dressed in Christmas hats , rock round the Christmas tree watched on by an employee in a bear suit  While some staff stayed at their desks , a group of  employees started rocking around the Christmas tree  The camera then panned to news presenter Julian Worricker , who looked slightly embarrassed  When the  first moved in to their ' fish bowl ' 24 hour news studio , it attracted complaints from viewers who spotted staff scoffing chips , chomping bananas , chatting and even picking their noses in the background of news broadcasts .  The Beeb moved to its new Broadcasting House , located in Portland Place and Langham Place , from its previous home in Television Centre in March 2013 .  The ultra modern extension to the famous 1932 art deco building was designed by architect Sir Richard MacCormac .  At the time a  spokesman said : ' Our newsroom is designed to showcase the best of the  ' s journalism and to enable teams from all platforms to work together more collaboratively and efficiently .  ' Staff are aware that they should behave appropriately . '  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
21397,21398,"A woman who alleges an Uber driver raped her in the Indian capital has sued the online taxi service in a U . S . court , accusing it of failing to provide passenger safety .  In her lawsuit , the Indian woman accuses Uber of putting profits over safety , calling the American based company the ' modern day equivalent of electronic hitchhiking ' .  The American lawyer for the 25 year old woman , who cannot be named for legal reasons , said Uber was being sued for unspecified damages for ' physical and emotional harm ' .  Indian police escort Uber taxi driver and accused rapist Shiv Kumar Yadav ( center ) following his court appearance in New Delhi on December 8 , 2014  ' Despite its self proclaimed commitment to safety , opening the Uber app and setting the pick up location has proven to be the modern day equivalent of electronic hitchhiking , ' according to the lawsuit filed in a court in California .  ' Buyer beware we all know how those horror movies end , ' the lawsuit said , accusing Uber of negligence .  The woman ' s lawyer , Douglas H . Wigdor , had earlier represented a hotel maid who accused former International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss Kahn of sexual assault in 2012 .  The San Francisco based company did not comment on the lawsuit but said ' our deepest sympathies remain with the victim of this horrific crime ' .  A spokesman said the company was also ' cooperating fully ' with authorities to ensure the person responsible for the crime was brought to justice .  Uber was banned from Delhi ' s streets in the aftermath of the December 5 attack on the woman , which sparked new safety fears in a city with a high record of sexual violence .  The trial of the accused driver , Shiv Kumar Yadav , who allegedly attacked the woman as she was on her way home from dinner , is underway . He has pleaded not guilty to charges of rape , kidnap and criminal intimidation .  Uber , which connects passengers to drivers through smartphone apps , last week said it was resuming its Delhi operations , but authorities rejected its request for a licence to operate as a radio taxi company .  Uber has said it is committed to protecting its passengers in India and globally .  India is one of the company ' s key markets outside the United States and operates in nearly a dozen Indian cities .  A woman who alleges an Uber driver raped her in the Indian capital Delhi has sued the online taxi service in a  court , accusing it of failing to provide passenger safety  ",true,text,test,US elections,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,negative,past
21400,21401,"Last updated on : January 05 , 2016 10 : 54   Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Tuesday that Saudi Arabia cannot "" hide its crime "" of executing a Shi ' ite cleric critical of the Riyadh kingdom by severing its diplomatic ties with Tehran .  Riyadh executed the cleric , Sheikh Nimr al Nimr , last weekend and then cut its diplomatic links with Tehran after demonstrators stormed Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran in protest of the killing , smashing furniture at the Tehran embassy and torching it .  "" One does not respond to criticism by cutting off heads , "" Rouhani said of al Nimr ' s role in 2011 Shi ' ite protests against Saudi Arabia ' s ruling royal family .  The Iranian government said the diplomatic split with Saudi Arabia "" will have no impact on Iran ' s national development , "" contending that "" it is Saudi Arabia that will suffer . ""  Tehran ' s latest reaction to al Nimr ' s execution came as Kuwait joined other Saudi allies in taking diplomatic action against Iran . The state run  news agency said Tuesday Kuwait recalled its ambassador to Tehran and reiterated its support for all measures Saudi Arabia takes to maintain its security .  The move follows decisions by Saudi Arabia , Bahrain and Sudan to cut diplomatic ties with Iran , while the United Arab Emirates downgraded its relations with the country . ? All four nations are members of the Arab League , which is due to hold a special meeting Sunday to discuss the Saudi Iran developments .  The United Nations Security Council issued a statement Monday condemning the attack on the Saudi embassy . ? It called on Iran to respect its international obligations to protect diplomatic property and urged all parties to "" maintain dialogue and take steps to reduce tensions in the region . ""  In a letter earlier Monday to U . N . Secretary General Ban Ki moon , as well as to the presidents of the U . N . Security Council and the General Assembly , Saudi Arabia s U . N . Ambassador Abdallah al Mouallimi strongly condemned the invasion of its Tehran embassy and damage to its consulate in the Iranian city of Mashhad .  He said Riyadh is appalled at the failure of Iranian authorities to prevent the attacks . Under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations , host countries are required to take necessary steps to protect diplomatic and consular premises and staff .  In his own letter to the U . N . chief , Iranian envoy Gholamali Khoshroo acknowledged that around 8 , 000 protesters staged a peaceful demonstration that got out of control , despite extensive efforts by police . He said more than 40 protesters were arrested and an investigation to find other perpetrators is under way .  Iranian demonstrators hold anti Saudi placards in a rally to protest the execution by Saudi Arabia last week of Sheikh Nimr al Nimr , a prominent opposition Saudi Shiite cleric , in Tehran , Iran , Jan . 4 , 2016 .  Secretary General Ban expressed concern at the escalation in tensions between the two regional powers , urging them to avoid actions that could exacerbate the situation bilaterally and in the region as a whole . He added that the announcement of a break in Saudi diplomatic relations with Tehran is deeply worrying .  This escalation is likely to have regional consequences in Syria , Iraq , Yemen and beyond , said George Washington University international affairs professor Edmund Ghareeb . He warned it could hurt efforts to push the fledgling peace process forward in Syria . The U . N . hopes to hold the first round of intra Syrian talks on January 25 .  This escalation is likely to complicate the efforts of the United Nations , Russia and the United States to bring the parties together , Ghareeb added .  Britain s U . N . ambassador Matthew Rycroft told reporters London is concerned the dispute "" could escalate and could derail the Syria talks it could derail the Yemen talks it could potentially become a much bigger problem . "" He said he hopes the Security Council will do its part to manage the tension and to seek de escalation .  The secretary general spoke Sunday with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and on Monday with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al Jubeir in a bid to calm the situation .  The U . N . said Ban expressed his condemnation to Zarif of the attack at the Saudi embassy in Tehran and urged the foreign minister to take the necessary measures to protect diplomatic facilities in the country . ? He also reiterated his deep dismay at the execution of Sheikh Nimr and 46 other prisoners .   Saudi Arabia Foreign Minister , Adel bin Ahmed Al Jubeir .  In his call with the Saudi foreign minister , the U . N . said the secretary general reiterated his views on capital punishment and his disappointment over the execution of Sheikh al Nimr , whose case he had raised with the Saudi authorities on several occasions .  Ban has previously said the death penalty has no place in the 21st century , and has urged a worldwide moratorium on its use .  In a statement Saturday about the mass executions , Ban expressed concern that they were carried out following trials that raised serious concerns over the nature of the charges and the fairness of the process .  Saudi Arabia rejected that criticism , saying in a statement from its U . N . mission that all of those convicted had fair and public trials and the right to appeal .  He was very much misinformed , the Saudi ambassador told reporters about the secretary general . The allegations that the trial and the procedures were somehow tainted is simply misinformed , he added .  The U . N . Special Envoy for Syria , Staffan de Mistura , arrived in Riyadh Monday to meet with officials . He said this is a very worrisome development and he will assess the implications of it on the Syria peace process . He will visit Tehran later this week .  The U . N . s Special Envoy for Yemen , Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed , also is due in the region Wednesday to try to secure a new cease fire after the Saudis ended a shaky one put in place on December 15 that coincided with peace talks in Geneva . Both sides repeatedly violated that truce .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
21416,21417,"I heard it , Lane said of the talk about the weather s impact . But I didn t know how true it was . That proved it right there .  So consider these grades given with a little caveat awarded to the unusual conditions :  The weather had a huge impact on the offenses , in effect cooling off a Seattle prolific passing attack that had blown out the Vikings 38 7 on Dec . 6 in the same stadium . ( The team s issues with headsets , recounted here , may also have played a role ) .  Russell Wilson also admitted he was off on a few throws as he went just 13 for 26 passing for 142 yards , with a touchdown and an interception . His passer rating of 63 . 3 was lower than any he had during the regular season .  Seattle s longest gain came on a broken play ? the errant snap Wilson turned into a 35 yard pass to Tyler Lockett . Otherwise , Seattle had no gain of longer than 22 yards . Wilson was hit seven times and sacked twice , but Seattle was playing on the road against a Vikings defense that was healthier than the first time around .  The Seahawks took more deep shots as the game wore on . Carroll said they hoped to draw pass interference penalties , which they did once .  Doug Baldwin did what he could ? leaping for a spectacular one handed grab that Wilson called the best catch he has ever seen ? and scored the only touchdown of the game .  The Marshawn Lynch less running game was at least serviceable with Christine Michael gaining 70 yards on 21 carries .  As it did in December , the defense accomplished its primary objective of keeping Adrian Peterson in check , holding him to 45 yards on 23 carries , and Minnesota to just 58 rushing yards on 29 attempts .  Michael Bennett was again a huge part of that effort with his penetration blowing up plays .  Ahtyba Rubin also had a standout game , including racing downfield to recover a Peterson fumble in the fourth quarter . Cliff Avril also had a monster game with three tackles for a loss .  Middle linebacker Bobby Wagner had eight tackles , including a sack and two tackles for a loss , as the Seahawks brought well timed pressure . All three of their sacks of Minnesota quarterback Teddy Bridgewater were in the second half .  Kam Chancellor was called for a questionable pass interference penalty and was on the wrong end of Minnesota s longest gain of the day ? the 24 yard pass from Bridgewater to tight end Kyle Rudolph that set up Minnesota s final ill fated field goal attempt .  But all in all , the defense lived up to its best in the  billing .  Until Minnesota s final missed field goal , the Vikings appeared to have the advantage on special teams . A low snap led to Jon Ryan scrambling and being stopped short of a first down on a first quarter punt . That led to a Vikings field goal . A short punt and a horse collar tackle for a 15 yard penalty on a return set up another Vikings field goal .  And the Vikings started their final drive at the 39 after a 10 yard return , resulting in a net of just 31 yards for the Seahawks on the punt .  The Seahawks , meanwhile , got little out of their returns .  But Steven Hauschka also made a 46 yard field goal in tough conditions for the go ahead points in the fourth quarter , as well as an extra point , which on this day couldn t be considered a given .  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
21421,21422,"Facebook will ban the private sale of guns on its social network as well as on  The move comes as the White House has increased pressure on the company to address the popular use of its platforms to promote and advertise firearms for sale , often as a way to evade . . .  Facebook will ban the private sale of guns on its social network as well as on Instagram , the company said Friday .  The move comes as the White House has increased pressure on the company to address the popular use of its platforms to promote and advertise firearms for sale , often as a way to evade . . .  The lawsuit says ? managers were required to rank employees so that a specific percentage would be placed in each rank , "" even if all the employees were performing well or at the same level . ""  The second step of the review process involved input from higher level management "" who often had no actual contact with the employees whose score they were modifying , "" the lawsuit said .  Employees were not told their numeric score or how it was determined , according to the lawsuit rather , it said , they learned only their rank or that they were being terminated because of that rank , as the score and level could result in immediate termination .  "" The quarterly performance review process was opaque and the employees did not know who was making the final decisions , what numbers were being assigned by whom along the way , or why those numbers were being changed , "" the lawsuit says . "" This manipulation of the  process permitted employment decisions , including terminations , to be made on the basis of personal biases and stereotyping . ""  Get our weekly business news briefing Open link  The lawsuit alleges that , based on company policy , Anderson was not subject to the performance review because ? he was on approved leave .  Anderson also says he may have been terminated because he reported that an employee tried to bribe him to reduce a co worker ' s performance score . The lawsuit says that employee had a "" personal relationship "" with Anderson ' s manager , who later gave Anderson a low score .  In its allegations of gender discrimination , Anderson s lawsuit says one of his superiors , who reported directly to Mayer , publicly expressed support for increasing the number of women in media .  The superior , Chief Marketing Officer Kathy Savitt , "" intentionally hired and promoted women because of their gender , while terminating , demoting or laying off male employees because of their gender , "" the lawsuit says .  It also alleges that women were treated better by managers in the media group . While men were immediately terminated after receiving low employee scores , women were allowed to appeal their ratings , the suit says .  Anderson ? is seeking unspecified damages , as well as back pay , benefits and 500 for each day that he was entitled to receive advance notice under the federal and California  acts .  Although Yahoo probably ? can handle this lawsuit ? it is , after all , an individual complaint , not a class action ? the struggling tech company could probably do without the distraction right now .  The company faces mounting pressure from investors to increase profit and revenue and to outline a clear path to growth . With its growth prospects dwindling , Mayer is expected to announce significant cost cutting across the company during its quarterly earnings call Tuesday afternoon .  For more business and tech news , follow smasunaga ? and traceylien  ",true,text,test,US elections,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
21439,21440,"The fight to get to this point only makes the prize on offer more precious . For David Marshall , retaining his place against Gibraltar would matter every bit as much as facing Germany .  The Cardiff City goalkeeper has been Gordon Strachan ' s pick for each of the four Euro 2016 qualifiers to date . He has not let his manager down , yet is keenly aware that competition for the jersey continues to intensify .  Craig Gordon and Allan McGregor each played 45 minutes of Wednesday night ' s 1 0 friendly win over Northern Ireland . If one were reading the runes , it might suggest that Marshall will get the run out when Gibraltar visit Hampden tomorrow .  Scotland ' s David Marshall admits retaining place against Gibraltar is as important as facing Germany  The 30 year old will assume nothing , however , until he has heard Strachan read out the 11 names in the morning . If that leads to a 17th cap , there will be no hint of complacency .  Marshall went through years of travelling away with the national squad without much hope of playing . On the rare occasions he was selected , he had an unfortunate tendency to end up on the wrong end of a hefty scoreline through no error of his own .  It almost seemed the fates were conspiring against him , but Marshall transformed the situation through his outstanding form for Cardiff in the Premier League last season . Having finally leap to the front of the queue , he is determined to stay there .  ' Everyone knows my history with Scotland , ' Marshall reflected . ' I had to wait years and years to get caps , so it makes each one more valuable now as I get older .  ' I don ' t want to give it up , so I ' ll just continue to do what I can . It doesn ' t matter to me if it is Germany or Gibraltar . There is a lot of pressure on us to win the game and it puts us in a great position if we manage to do it .  Gordon Strachan has picked David Marshall for all four Euro 2016 qualifiers to date  ' Years ago , I never thought I should be playing . Craig was brilliant . Then Allan came in at a stage when I wasn ' t playing . So there was never a time when I expected to play .  ' It ' s just in the last couple of years when I have got myself to a level where I can believe in myself to go and play . Injuries put Allan and Craig out and I managed to get a chance and play well , so that ' s why I was probably in the team .  ' With the standard of the keepers here , it ' s difficult to consider yourself the No 1 . I ' ve waited a long time to get a chance , but the boys are all fit . Craig has done great to get playing at Celtic and Allan is playing in the Premier League .  ' I don ' t think it would be a massive decision whoever played , but the gaffer has stuck with me since the beginning of the campaign and I hope to keep playing well and stay in the side . '  Clearly , there is a professional rivalry within the goalkeeping trio , described by no less a judge than Andy Goram as Scotland ' s best ever crop . But it is distinctly cordial in nature .  Marshall has not yet let his manager down , but is aware that competition is rising in the ranks  ' We ' ve been together for a long time now , ' said Marshall . ' I ' ve been here for over 10 years and Craig has been the same , obviously minus a couple of years through injury .  ' We know each other so well and we are used to the standard . When we are together , it hopefully lifts us to make each other better .  ' When I was younger , Andy Goram and Jim Leighton were great . That was a great group of goalkeepers , so to hear what Andy a legend for Rangers and Scotland said is a great honour .  ' But we can ' t read too much into that . We just have to keep performing as that is what you are judged on . We need to concentrate and do our best for the rest for the rest of the campaign .  ' I would definitely consider the other guys friends . I shared a room with Craig for five or six years at the start with Scotland .  ' It might be a bit different at club level when there is that one place . But being here is about the country . We have not been at a championship for so long , so there is no room for sticking the knife in each other ' s back . We are all together . '  Allan McGregor kept a clean sheet during 45 minutes of action in a friendly against Northern Ireland  Whoever is selected tomorrow , they will face a most curious assignment . Gibraltar have lost their four Group D fixtures by an aggregate score of 21 0 . Unless something very odd happens , the Scotland penalty area should verge on a no go zone .  ' It ' s a difficult game to talk about , ' admitted Marshall . ' Concentration levels have got to be high and football is weird . There could be a deflection , a set piece , anything .  ' We need to start the game well as the earlier we can score the better .  Craig Gordon kept a clean sheet in 45 minutes of action in a friendly against Northern Ireland  ' This is probably the only time with Scotland that you are expected not to have too much to do .  ' But concentration is a massive thing in goalkeeping . I had it with Celtic when I was younger , when you would play a lot of games where there was not a lot to do . You just have to deal with it and train as normal .  ' Would I prefer to be busy ? No , I prefer doing nothing ! But you just don ' t know how it is going to play out . You can ' t go into a game relaxed . You treat it like any normal game and hope the boys up front can help you out . '  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
21442,21443,"Jerusalem At least 17 children and 14 women had been killed as of midafternoon July 20 , in the 24 hours since Israeli forces had launched ground operations in the al Sheja ' iya neighborhood of Gaza City , the United Nations reported . Those numbers will rise : Many bodies are still in the rubble . Ambulances came under attack and couldn ' t reach the wounded , witnesses said , and survivors fleeing tank shells and airstrikes didn ' t know how many of their relatives had been killed .  At around that time , George Stephanopoulos of  ' s "" This Week "" asked U . S . Secretary of State John Kerry for his response to Palestinian statements accusing Israel of committing "" a massacre and a war crime "" in Sheja ' iya . "" That ' s rhetoric that we ' ve heard many , many times , "" he answered . "" What they need to do is stop rocketing Israel and accept a cease fire . ""  Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups do indeed need to stop rocketing Israeli population centers . Rockets killed an Israeli Bedouin man and wounded his wife and children on July 19 , and badly injured two girls last week . Such strikes using inherently indiscriminate rockets violate the laws of war .  But the "" they "" Kerry referred to are the warring parties , not the civilians .  The message Israel needs to hear from its most important ally is not that "" War is ugly , and bad things are going to happen , "" as Kerry put it . A more meaningful assessment is the one Kerry shared , with apparent irony , with an aide when he mistakenly thought he was off mic on Fox News : "" It ' s a hell of a pinpoint operation . ""  The 17 chronically ill , elderly and paralyzed patients in the Wafa Rehabilitation Center , in Sheja ' iya , can tell you it ' s no pinpoint operation , if that is supposed to mean that civilian structures are being spared . Israeli forces hit the hospital at least three times from July 11 to 17 , with missiles and tank rounds . Amid these attacks , the Israeli military warned hospital staff to evacuate . But , the hospital director said , "" There is no other hospital in Gaza equipped for our patients . ""  They finally evacuated under fire on the night of July 17 . The electricity was cut off , patients lost their oxygen supply , attacks started a fire on the upper floors , and nurses , coughing in the smoke , carried patients none of them mobile downstairs and into ambulances .  The Israeli military has variously claimed that rockets were stored or launched from areas near the hospital , but not that the hospital was used for enemy military operations harmful to its own forces . The fact that Israel , using accurate guided missiles and direct tank fire , struck the hospital over several days , suggests intentional or reckless attacks on the hospital , which are war crimes .  Palestinian fighters are among the dead in Gaza . And not all civilian casualties are the product of violations of the laws of war . Palestinian armed groups also unnecessarily put civilians at risk by deploying near crowded apartments or , as in two known incidents , storing rockets in empty schools .  But under the laws of war , civilians who do not join in the fight are always to be protected . It ' s good that Israeli forces often give warnings , but that doesn ' t give Israel legal license to attack civilians left behind or to proceed with little concern for their welfare . Nor can it assume that anyone left in a "" warned "" area is a fighter , because there are many reasons , from infirmity to fear to having no place to go , why civilians don ' t heed warnings to flee .  One crucial element in any lawful attack is that it is directed at a reasonably certain military target . But in a number of airstrikes before the ground invasion that Human Rights Watch investigated , we found no evidence of a lawful military objective .  There was none evident at the Fun Time Beach caf , where an Israeli attack on July 11 killed nine civilians , including two boys , who had gathered to watch the World Cup .  The four boys killed and three wounded by Israeli strikes near the Deira Hotel , on the Gaza City beachfront , were not lawful military targets .  The military said it was targeting a terrorist in the beach caf , but didn ' t supply a name or other information to back the claim , or explain why it had to kill that unidentified person when he was surrounded by civilians .  And it said it had mistaken the boys wounded in the latter attack for "" fleeing fighters , "" even though anyone would flee a building being attacked . These are not tragic accidents . They fit an apparent pattern of shooting first , determining whether there was a lawful target later .  The policy of the United States in response is inadequate . On July 21 , Kerry announced that the United States is "" providing 47 million to address the humanitarian situation in Gaza . "" These funds are desperately needed .  But nothing has been said about curbing the killing of civilians , addressing the years of impunity for such grave violations of the laws of war , much less suspending transfers of military materiel that Israel has been using to commit what we find to be illegal acts .  Dismal as Israel ' s record is in prosecuting war crimes , Hamas has prosecuted no one . West Bank Palestinian leaders have intimated they may seek access to the International Criminal Court , which would then have jurisdiction over indiscriminate rocket attacks from Gaza as well as unlawful Israeli airstrikes , insofar as Israeli and Palestinian authorities refused to prosecute their own .  Closing the accountability gap could help deter attacks on civilians , but the United States , which has long blocked international accountability for Israeli violations , steadfastly opposes the Palestinian move . It is long past time to reverse that position .  What is Israel ' s endgame in Gaza ?  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
21446,21447,"George Osborne announced scrapping income tax paid on interest from regular high street accounts  The Chancellor heralded a savings revolution yesterday by scrapping income tax paid on interest from regular high street accounts .  In a major move to counter the effects of years of historically low interest rates , he announced a new personal savings allowance that will make ordinary accounts tax free for 95 per cent of the population .  It means a basic rate taxpayer can earn 1 , 000 in savings interest without paying tax . A higher rate taxpayer will be able to earn 500 . At current rates , a basic rate taxpayer would need to have more than 70 , 000 in an average account to go over the new 1 , 000 allowance .  By stopping tax on savings the Chancellor has effectively handed a 20 per cent boost to the rates earned by most savers in the  .  The Revenue estimates that the allowance will benefit some 28 million savers .  The way savings are taxed is currently riddled with complications .  Every year someone can pay in 15 , 000 to a cash Isa where interest is paid tax free . But on a standard high street savings account , interest is taxed at the saver ' s normal rate of income tax . This tax is automatically deducted by a bank and building society before the interest is paid , and passed directly to  Revenue Customs .  Higher earners paying 40 per cent or 45 per cent income tax are supposed to declare the interest they receive on a self assessment form . Lower earners who do not pay income tax can fill in a form to stop the tax being deducted .  These deductions mean that someone with 20 , 000 in a high street savings account paying 2 per cent would earn only 320 a year interest if they were a basic rate taxpayer . A higher rate tax payer would earn 240 and a top rate taxpayer 220 .  If the interest was untaxed the saver would earn 400 .  In addition to this , those with total income below 15 , 600 a year can apply to have their savings interest paid tax free .  Every year thousands of pensioners who can claim tax free interest on their savings miss out on this perk because they do not realise they qualify .  It means a basic rate taxpayer can earn 1 , 000 in savings interest without paying tax , while a higher rate taxpayer will be able to earn 500  Figures from  Revenue Customs suggest around 1 . 8billion a year is received a year in savings interest tax .  George Osborne said Britain will be back in the black before the end of the decade as he shot down Labour ' s claims that he is taking the country back to the 1930s .  The Chancellor outlined plans to bank a surplus of 5 . 2billion in 2018 19 the first since 2001 as he hailed a  ' that is growing , creating jobs and paying its way ' .  He said the national debt will start to fall as a percentage of national income next year , having risen consistently since 2001 .  ' Those 13 years amount to the longest year on year rise in our national debt since the end of the 17th century , ' he said . ' Today we bring that record to an end . '  The Chancellor announced that state spending will fall to 36 per cent of national income in 2019 20 marginally above the 35 . 9 per cent it reached in 1999 2000 .  He had previously planned to slash spending to 35 . 2 per cent of national income the lowest level since the 1930s .  But Mr Osborne said the reality was that the state will now return to a size last seen under the previous Labour government ' before spending got out of control ' .  Two years ago , Britain ' s building societies called for the Government to scrap all tax on savings to remove this complexity .  Yesterday the Chancellor revealed his major overhaul .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
21463,21464,"The ringleader behind the deadly Paris terror attacks and another Islamist militant were planning to blow themselves up in a suicide attack in Paris La Defense business district , the chief Paris prosecutor confirmed on Tuesday .  Mastermind Abdelhamid Abaaoud was among three killed last Wednesday during a siege involving more than 100 heavily armed anti terror cops in Saint Denis , ultimately thwarting the planned attack .  The Belgian born  jihadist and an unidentified suspect were planning a follow up attack in the district in western Paris either Nov . 18 or Nov . 19 , less than a week after the Nov . 13 massacre that left 130 people dead and 350 others injured .  La Defense is home to some of France s biggest companies , prosecutor Francois Molins said Tuesday .  Police sources said that the militants were targeting the Quatre Temps shopping center and the main square of the district .  Meanwhile , President Obama stood side by side with French President Francois Hollande at the White House and declared the attacks on Paris to be an attack against the world itself ? as both men vowed to expand the campaign against  and urged Russia to start playing a constructive role .  With Belgium still in lockdown as authorities hunt down more of the friends involved in the Paris attacks , Hollande said at a joint press conference that he and Obama had agreed to scale up our strikes both in Syria and in Iraq and broaden their scope .  French police conduct raids in Saint Denis , a neighborhood in Paris , on Nov . 18 . Photo : Getty Images  Obama said that  cannot be tolerated ? it must be destroyed . He vowed to deliver justice to those terrorists and those who sent them and to defend our nations .  Obama said even before the attacks he had met with his security team to forge a plan to accelerate and advance the pressure that we can place on  , using one of the alternate names for  .  Authorities evacuate residents in Saint Denis as police conduct raids hunting for terrorists on Nov . 18 . Photo : Getty Images  Neither leader outlined major new specific steps that the alliance would undertake .  As Americans , we stand by our friends in good times and in bad , no matter what , Obama said .  The press conference was held just hours after  member Turkey shot down a Russian military aircraft .  Turkey , like every country , has a right to defend its territory and its airspace , Obama said .  He didn t say anything definitive about whether the Russian plane had encroached on Turkey s airspace , but said the  would be able to confirm it through our own intelligence .  We re still getting the details of what happened , he said .  But Obama did appear to back up Turkey and caution Russia when he said , They are operating very close to a Turkish border and they are going after moderate opposition that are supported not only by Turkey but a wide range of countries .  Some of Russia s targets have been  backed rebels .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
21474,21475,"Lebanon Four generals held without charges since 2005 in connection with the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri were freed Wednesday on orders from the U . N . tribunal investigating the killing .  The tribunal investigating the murder of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri orders generals ' release .  The four Jamil Sayyed , Ali Hajj , Raymond Azar and Mustafa Hamdan had been arrested after a coalition led by Hariri ' s son Saad swept to power in the wake of the assassination .  They were met by well wishers upon their release , with opposition lawmakers greeting Azar , Hajj and Sayyed .  "" This never happened since the Ottoman times , even during the Syrian time , that people were just locked in jail for no reason and no charge , "" Sayyed said after being met by top lawmakers from the opposition party Hezbollah .  He called for supporters to remember them in parliamentary elections scheduled for June , and "" let justice take over . ""  Sayyed was the director of Lebanon ' s internal security services at the time of the car bombing , which killed 22 others along with Hariri . Hajj was the country ' s domestic security chief Azar was the head of military intelligence and Hamdan was in charge of President Emile Lahoud ' s security force .  The U . N . tribunal convened to investigate Hariri ' s February 2005 death ordered the men released earlier Wednesday , declaring the evidence against them was "" not sufficiently credible to request the maintenance in detention of those persons . ""  Hariri was credited with rebuilding Beirut after the country ' s 15 year civil war ended in 1990 . Many Lebanese blamed Syria , which had dominated Lebanon politically and militarily since the civil war , for the killing .  The assassination sparked widespread protests that led to the election of an anti Syrian bloc in parliament and the withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon .  Damascus denies any role in Hariri ' s killing , but the U . N . investigation has found indications of Syrian involvement .  In a speech following Wednesday ' s announcement , Saad Hariri said he accepted the order freeing the suspects "" because that shows the seriousness of the tribunal . ""  "" We said before that we don ' t want revenge from anyone , even those that we suspect were behind the crime , "" Hariri said .  He added , "" We don ' t want any scapegoat . We want justice . ""  The U . N . tribunal opened in March , and the prosecution could take as long as 10 years , sources close to the probe said .  Investigators have had to navigate Lebanon ' s tightly interwound politics , where power is divided among the country ' s Christian , Sunni Muslim and Shiite Muslim blocs and between pro and anti Syrian factions .  Hezbollah , the pro Syrian Shiite movement that maintains its own militia , took up the generals ' cause and hailed their release .  "" Their detention was a disgrace to the Lebanese legal system and everyone who was involved in their detention , "" Hezbollah lawmaker Ibrahim Amin said .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
21476,21477,"Editors note: Attention to language in the second paragraph that some readers may find offensive.) (Reuters) - A local North Carolina Republican headquarters was spray-painted with an anti-Donald Trump message early on Friday, the second time in a month that a party office in the state has been defaced. A vandal sprayed the door and walls of the Alamance County Republican Party headquarters in Burlington with the words “Fuck Trump” and painted over the word “Republican” on a sign at the office at about 2 a.m. local time, according to Chris Verdeck, assistant police chief in the city. No arrests have been made in the incident, which was caught on surveillance video footage, Verdeck said in a phone interview. The vandalism in Burlington, which is located about 20 miles east of Greensboro, occurred four days before the U.S. presidential election on Tuesday. The contest between Republican candidate Trump and Democratic rival Hillary Clinton has been one of the most bitterly fought presidential campaigns in years. Police released a still image from the surveillance video of the vandal, who appeared to be a young man with a light complexion and dark hair wearing a light-colored hooded sweatshirt. The man appeared to have acted alone, Verdeck said. “This is deeply troubling to our Alamance County  members and volunteers, but even more so, this is troubling for our nation,” Alamance County Republican Party Chairman Ben York said in a statement. “It is my hope that we can be an example to the world that this behavior is unacceptable and it will not deter us from the noble responsibility we have to live and vote in the freedom that has been given to us.”  Last month, the Orange County Republican Party’s office in Hillsborough, which sits about 25 miles east of Burlington, was set on fire and a graffiti message left nearby said “leave town or else.”  Indiana Governor Mike Pence, Trump’s vice presidential running mate, called the Hillsborough incident “political terrorism.” North Carolina is considered one of the battleground states in the election, with its likely outcome unknown, giving it the chance to play a decisive role in the Electoral College vote that ultimately decides the presidency. Democratic establishments have also been targeted in the run-up to the election, which has been distinguished by vitriol and sometimes violent acts hurled between Republicans and Democrats. Earlier this week, a historic black church in Greenville, Mississippi, was burned and spray-painted with “Vote Trump.” Black churches in the U.S. South have long been a base of support for the Democratic Party. ",true,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
21481,21482,"Police in Tippecanoe County , Indiana have arrested a man who sympathized with the Las Vegas cop killers , after he posted incendiary remarks on Facebook threatening to kill more police and cause more terror . He remained jailed on Sunday .  According to authorities , police reviewed statements made by Samuel Bradbury , 22 , of Pine Village , Indiana . These statements , made on Bradbury ' s Facebook page , reportedly were threats to kill a Tippecanoe County judge , an Indiana Supreme Court justice and two Tippecanoe County law enforcement officers .  In his postings , Bradbury also threatened to ' blow the Tippecanoe County Courthouse to pieces . '  Police say that Samuel Bradbury , 22 , threatened police in Indiana in a manner similar to Jerad Miller , who was also originally from the state  According to police , Bradbury claimed affiliation with the same anarchist group that Jerad and Amanda Miller , the shooters in the Las Vegas killing spree , belonged to , the ' 765 Anarchists . ' Both Bradbury and the Millers are from Indiana .  In YouTube ramblings , Jerad Miller called the Tippecanoe County Courthouse ' a beautiful building ' but referred to it as ' a monument to authoritarianism . '  According to police , Bradbury was also a member of alarming Facebook groups , such as ' No Tears for Dead Cops ' and ' Illuminati Exposed ( This is the resistance ) . '  On June 8 , Jerad and Amanda Miller slaughtered two Las Vegas police officers , Alyn Beck , 41 , and Igor Soldo , 31 , as they ate lunch that afternoon shooting both a close range .  They then ran into a nearby Walmart , where Jerad fired a shot into the ceiling and declared ' this is the revolution ' and demanded everyone leave .  Joseph Robert Wilcox , 31 , a shopper who was carrying a concealed weapon , tried to sneak up on Jerad . However , as he did , he passed by Amanda , not realizing the two were together .  Amanda shot Wilcox at close range , killing him .  Bradbury claims that he was affiliated with the same group as Jerad and Amanda Miller , the ' 765 Anarchists '  Police footage recently released shows the Millers taking cover in the Walmart where their last stand took place .  The couple then fled to a back corner of the store , where they prepared to make their last stand as officers armed with assault rifles closed in .  The Walmart surveillance video shows both laying on the ground , pointing handguns at each other .  Amanda appears to fire her weapon at her husband , a moment later he goes limp .  The 22 year old Indiana woman then turns the gun on herself . The video cuts out a moment before she fires the pistol into her own head .  Police originally reported that Amanda had killed her husband , however , autopsy results and further investigation revealed it was police officers who fired the fatal shot . All three officers who shot at Jerad Miller are on paid leave , as per the department policy on firing a weapon on duty .  The Millers frequently dressed as comic book villains from Batman . Jerad especially loved the anarchist Joker  Police also revealed that they had interactions with the Millers on three occasions .  In February , the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles called Las Vegas police and asked them to investigate threats Jerad Miller had made against the office . When reached at his apartment , Miller claim he never threatened anyone and said his comment was that ' that ' s how people get shot . '  ' The interaction was normal there were no anti government or anti police statements . They did not feel through the interview that the suspects were a potential threat , ' McMahill said at a press conference Thursday .  Police also visited in April and took a witness statement from the Millers in relation to a domestic violence report filed by their neighbors .  Finally , on May 31 , the Millers gave a witness statement for a sexual assault that occurred in their apartment complex .  Jerad Miller , in particular , was an avowed neo Nazi who frequently spouted conspiracy theories about the world . After he and his wife murdered the officers , he draped their bodies with a Gadsden flag , the yellow symbol of the Tea Party , and a swastika .  According to police , Bradbury shared another shared trait with Miller , having been previously arrested for marijuana possession .  Bradbury is currently at the Tippecanoe County Jail . His bond is set at 100 , 000 cash .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
21483,21484,"Three time winner : Putin tops Forbes most powerful people list  Russian President Vladimir Putin ? Alexey Druzhinin Reuters  For the third year in a row , Forbes has ranked the Russian President as the most powerful person in the world , putting Vladimir Putin above Germany s Chancellor Angela Merkel and  President Barack Obama .  Putin continues to prove he s one of the few men in the world powerful enough to do what he wants , the magazine said .  Putin s ratings haven t suffered a bit ? even after sanctions imposed by the Western countries and Russia s deepening recession . On the contrary , his approval ratings in Russia have rocketed up to almost 90 percent .  Russia s ongoing anti terror operation in Syria , in which targeted airstrikes have already killed hundreds of militants , destroyed tons of terrorist hardware and much of their infrastructure , as well as Putin s face to face meeting with Syrian President Bashar Assad have contributed to making the  and  look weak in the region , and helping rebuild Russian influence abroad , Forbes noted .  Angela Merkel , the most powerful woman in the world according to Forbes , has risen from fifth place last year to second place in 2015 . Her strong stances when dealing with the influx of Syrian refugees and the Greek financial crisis brought her up to the new level .  Do you realize what you have done ? Putin gives the war party a bootin  Barack Obama wasn t so lucky this year , giving way to both Putin and Merkel and coming in third . In the closing stages of his second term in office , Obama is losing influence and power . However , Forbes still lauds the United States as the world s greatest economic , cultural , diplomatic , technological and military power .  The men and women who are featured on Forbes annual ranking of the World s Most Powerful People are the 0 . 00000001 ? the global elite whose actions move the planet . These heads of state , financiers , philanthropists and entrepreneurs truly run the world , the magazine says in describing its list .  Forbes considers hundreds of candidates from various spheres and bases its decision on four criteria .  The first is whether the person has influence over lots of other people . A good example here is Pope Francis , who is regarded as a spiritual leader by more than a billion people , and thus came in forth .  The second criterion is the financial condition of a candidate . Heads of the states were compared according to their countries GDPs , and CEOs by their companies revenues . Personal financial assets were also taken into consideration , which obviously helped Bill Gates secure sixth place .  Assad in Moscow for flash talks with Putin : Key points in  coverage weblink : t . co L6XCj26MG8  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
21494,21495,"Elites Have Secretly “Banked On Trump Victory 11/09/2016    There’s more than one way for the establishment to yield power from this election.  The first path is obvious, direct and potentially deadly. A Hillary presidency will be surrounded by bitter people, and overt uses of power, along with war, increased taxes and thinly-veiled pay-for-play politics benefiting the billionaires who’ve bankrolled her rise to power.  The other path is less predictable, but possible just the perfect “magic formula” they need to get things flowing again.  The Brexit vote, a by-product of populist anger against economic stagnation and political angst, was secretly a win for those who wield power from the financial sector.  In the end, the disquiet of the people has proven to be the secret ingredient to stirring something up in an economy otherwise stymied by quantitative easing and dismal economic returns.  As Zero Hedge explains , it just may be, particularly in light of some of the statements that have been made by significant figures on Wall Street:  So yes, inflation is possible, it just can’t coexist with political stability, which may explain why – according to some more conspiratorial elements – a “surprising” Trump victory on Tuesday may be assured : after all, what better way to unleash political instability than to inaugurate the candidate who promises a full break with the establishment as we know it. If in the process, it leads to a surge in much needed inflation, now that  has tried and failed, it’s a price the establishment, reeling under the weight of record global debt, is willing to pay.  One River Asset Management’s Eric Peters laying out his inflationary “revelation”: “British spenders have entirely looked through post-Brexit uncertainty,” said Mark Carney [governor of the Bank of England]. … So the Bank of England forecast its biggest inflation overshoot since 1997; expecting 2018 price gains to peak at +2.8%. What’s it tell us?  A populist uprising, compromised free trade, immigration restrictions, a 15% currency devaluation, 0.50% interest rates combined with aggressive  is today’s magic formula for modestly exceeding a 2% inflation target 2yrs hence.  […]we live in the 2010s, and inflationary expectations have succumbed to decades of independent central banking. Economic volatility is remarkably muted too. With it has come a long period of political stability. […] And we also know that a long period of political stability is drawing to a close.  But we can’t be sure that political volatility will increase inflation volatility. Nor can we be sure that it won’t. It all depends on time and place. And today’s time and place is something new.  Is this proof that the elite are secretly planning to make lemonade from the lemons of American discontent and the wild card candidacy of Donald Trump?  That is a difficult call to make, but it is worth noting that there is clearly an advantage to be held if this outcome does occur.  As Tumelar notes, the fix is in either way:  It’s either inflation by Trump’s victory or by WW3 started by Hillary Clinton.  A hard choice for the banksters.  Of course, the situation is much more complicated than just inflation, or any one factor. There is a great deal of speculation that the end of QE, known to be no longer effective at stimulating the economy has made a stock market collapse inevitable, subject to the Fed raises rates.  It appears that Yellen has been waiting for the outcome of the election, and one way or another, will dump the next crisis on the next president. If that proves to be Trump, he will be blamed for the downfall… meanwhile, there will be those waiting in the shadows to profit from disaster.  For his part, astute columnist Brandon Smith has consistently argued that the elite have chosen Trump and will allow him to take the presidency – only to use the unpredictability as a catalyst for order out of chaos, and the institution of great political and economic controls over the country:  The vast majority of analysts in the mainstream and in the alternative media refused to acknowledge the possibility that a successful Brexit actually works in  of the globalists, because it provides them a perfect scapegoat for a financial crisis that has been broiling for years and is now ready to burst into flames.  […]  I argue that the globalists want Trump in office, just as they wanted the passage of the Brexit. I argue that they need conservative movements to feel as though we have won, so that they can pull the rug out from under us in the near future. I argue that we are being set up.  Again, the elites are openly telling us what is about to happen. They are telling us that if “populists” (conservatives) gain political power, the system will effectively collapse. To what extent is hard to say, but let’s assume that the situation will be ugly enough to influence the masses to reconsider the ideal of globalism as a possible solution. The elites are fond of the Hegelian dialectic and the philosophy of “order out of chaos,” after all.  Again, the reasons parallel the reasons that Brexit was able to succeed in spite of fierce establishment opposition.  The master manipulators are adaptive to any market conditions, and their influence runs deeper than the electorate of any given political season. Its agents and officers instruct the candidates and make demands, not the other way around.  In a puppeteer’s world, must we always argue for the existence of puppets on every stage?  Read more:",fake,news,test,World conflict,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
21520,21521,""" When I visit Malawi , I visit my family at the graveyard , "" says Marie Da Silva , who knows the impact of  all too well .  Marie da Silva says the name for her school comes from the Jacaranda tree , which symbolizes hope .  Born and bred in Malawi , in southern Africa , Da Silva lost 14 family members , including her father and two brothers , to the disease .  ""  is like The Plague in Malawi , "" says Da Silva .  According to  , 14 percent of the country ' s adult population is infected with  and more than half a million children have been orphaned by the disease .  "" Orphans in Malawi are very underprivileged the grandparents are trying to raise them , with no money , no food , no clothes , "" she says . "" Just poverty . ""  But from halfway around the world , as a nanny in Los Angeles , California , Da Silva provides a place where the orphans can get away from that The Jacaranda School . Watch Da Silva talk about her school  In 2002 , Da Silva learned that the school in her southern Africa home town was going to close . Consumed with concern for the students , she urged her mother to let them gather and learn in their family home , with her financial support .  "" All the while I was doing my best for the kids here making sure they ' re doing their homework , eating well , "" she remembers .  "" I couldn ' t sleep just thinking about the children that need the same thing back in Malawi , "" says Da Silva .  Thanks to Da Silva ' s passion , the school is now thriving in her childhood home and more than 200 children , most of whom are  orphans , receive porridge every morning and education , free of charge . It is an effort that Da Silva funds almost entirely herself , sending 1 , 000 , about one third of her monthly paycheck , to pay the salaries of 12 teachers and the headmaster , and purchase whatever supplies she can afford . Several of her fellow nannies have even gotten involved , donating 10 a month to her foundation . Get involved : Jacaranda Foundation  While the classes are crowded and resources are few ( there are only 15 books in the library , according to Da Silva ) , her efforts are working .  "" We have kids studying in our family living room , kitchen , gazebo , you name it . They ' re so hungry to learn , "" Da Silva explains . "" This is their sanctuary . "" Watch two teachers in different continents read a story from a young student  Da Silva named both the school and its supporting foundation after the Jacaranda tree . Not only does the tree grow both in Malawi and Los Angeles , but when her father was dying , she found solace in a blossoming Jacaranda tree that she could see from his hospital window .  "" For me , the Jacaranda tree symbolizes hope , and that ' s what I want to give to the children at the Jacaranda School , "" she says . "" After the deaths of my family members and . . . seeing how everything else is suffering , the only way around this was if kids have a future . ""  She dreams of building a new school with lab facilities and a real library one day .  "" I just feel that if you give them the tools , they can be somebody . And that ' s my mission . ""  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
21531,21532,"For years , Nicole Hulbig collected beloved pets and rescue dogs from all over the country and promised to train them to be therapy dogs for  stricken soldiers and disabled children .  Her pledges turned to ash this week after authorities found 37 bags of badly decomposed dead dogs in her barn near Clarksville , Tennessee , along with 39 canines that were barely alive covered in their own filth , locked in a cages that were too small and deprived of food and water .  The horrific discovery on Thursday follows animal control officers removing four rotting dead puppies locked in cages from another home she lived in .  Hulbig , 29 , has been arrested on 12 counts of animal cruelty and outraged dog owners are demanding she face even tougher penalties .  Shocking : Nicole Hulbig , 29 , has been charged with 12 counts of animal cruelty for the dogs found at home homes in Tennessee  Before and after : One owner who left her dog Max in Hulbig ' s care said he dropped from 90lbs ( left ) to 55lbs ( right ) since February  This is Max shortly after he was returned to owner Leah Patterson . Patterson says he is recovering after his horrific ordeal  The Clarksville Leaf Chronicle reports that Hulbig ran  Service Dogs , which claimed to be a non profit organization that rescued unwanted dogs and trained them to be service animals .  Among the dogs that she took her were three dogs brought to the U . S . from Afghanistan by a California attorney and a German Sheppard owned by a disabled veteran .  Their owners say Hulbig promised to retrain them and make them less aggressive . Now , the dogs are believed dead among the countless dozens piled into bags and left to decay in her barn .  ' I think they ' re dead , ' California lawyer Amy Konstantelos told the Leaf Chronicle , speaking about the three dogs she had rescued from Afghanistan .  ' I think they ' re in one of those bags , and we ' ll never know which one . '  Hubig ' s husband , Eric Hubig , was also charged with animal cruelty for the four dead puppies found at a home he had rented with his wife  Hubig did provide proof that she had trained some dogs at her orgnaization . She posted this picture on her now defunct Facebook page  Hulbig told authorities that the dogs died after a wave of distemper , a virulent canine virus , struck the kennels .  Since authorities have no proof that the animal died from neglect or cruelty , she cannot be charged for any of their deaths .  However , Hulbig and her husband Eric Hulbig can be charged for four dead puppies that were discovered in a former home . Authorities say they were locked in cages and left to die without food or water when the couple abandoned the home .  Despite the tragedy , there is some good news . Some of the surviving dogs have been reunited with their owners who turned them over to Hulbig .  One of those is Leah Patterson , who left Max in Hulbig ' s care in February after she promised to give him better training . She found him on Thursday among the surviving dogs that were seized from her barn .  ' They bring him out , and I literally hit my knees crying , ' he told the Leaf Chronicle .  ' I didn ' t believe it was him . He was 89 . 6 pounds , and now he ' s 55 pounds . Another week or two and the vet said he would have been dead . '  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
21545,21546,"The disappearance last autumn of three young Michigan brothers has turned into a murder investigation , authorities said Tuesday .  Residents in the small city of Morenci , Michigan , have searched two months for Tanner Skelton , 5 , Alexander William Skelton , 7 , and Andrew Skelton , 9 , who were last seen at their father ' s home on Thanksgiving .  The father , John Skelton , who is charged with parental kidnapping , is the primary suspect , Police Chief Larry Weeks said at a news conference .  Weeks said that while he could not disclose much information , he wanted to put an end to "" false hope "" the boys would be found alive . He asked farmers and others to be on the lookout for their remains .  "" When the time is appropriate , charges will be requested , "" Weeks said .  John Skelton told investigators he gave the boys to a group called United Foster Outreach and Underground Sanctuaries , Weeks said . No such group was found to exist , the chief said .  "" It ' s just one example of misinformation that we have received from him that indicates the direction this investigation is continuing in , "" the chief said .  Skelton was arrested in December upon his release from a mental health facility where he was treated after a suicide attempt .  Skelton also said he left the three boys with a woman , whom he identified as Joann Taylor , the morning before he tried to take his own life in part to ensure that they did not witness his suicide attempt , police said .  Skelton said Taylor was supposed to return the boys to their mother at their home in Morenci , a southern Michigan town of about 2 , 400 people about 40 miles west northwest of Toledo , Ohio , on November 26 , Weeks said . But the boys never arrived .  Earlier , authorities determined that Skelton had no "" established relationship "" with the person he named as Taylor , and they aren ' t certain she even exists .  Kathye Herrera told reporters Tuesday the boys ' mother , Tanya , and the family are experiencing "" utter despair to a peaceful feeling knowing that the boys are in a better place . ""  "" Andrew , Alexander and Tanner will be on their hearts and minds forever , "" said Herrera , thanking the community for aiding the family and helping in searches in Michigan and Ohio . "" They will be missed not only by the family , but by friends , classmates and the entire community . ""  Skelton family friend Bill Foster told  ' s Jane Velez Mitchell he understood why Weeks made Tuesday ' s announcement .  "" Too many people started believing they the boys could be with someone or an organization , "" he said .  The last time someone other than a family member saw the boys was at 5 p . m . on November 25 , according to Weeks .  Police say Tanner is 3 feet , 6 inches tall , has strawberry blond hair and blue eyes and weighs about 40 pounds . Alexander is 3 feet , 9 inches tall , has brown hair and eyes , weighs about 45 pounds and has scars on his hairline and chin . The oldest brother , Andrew , is 4 feet , 1 inch tall , has brown hair and eyes and weighs roughly 57 pounds .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
21546,21547,"Email   According to a report by an Emirati media website, Emarat Al-Youm, Saudi ambassador to the  said in a press interview that any contact with Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon and even making telephone conversations with these countries’ officials by the members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states, should first be checked carefully and approved by the General-Secretariat of the organization in Riyadh.",fake,news,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,present
21547,21548,"Former  President Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary, the current Democratic Party presidential nominee, have attracted billions of dollars to their own foundation to trade power and influence, Wall Street investor and analyst Charles Ortel told Sputnik.  Charles Ortel is a veteran Wall Street investment analyst who has carried out major studies into the operation of the Clinton Foundation and its legal status, and runs a blog monitoring its activities. Ortel was the whistleblower that blew the lid off the General Electric financial discrepancies in 2008. “The Clinton Foundation has been a gigantic slush fund,” Ortel said. “People can donate relatively small sums to the Clinton regime and get gigantic concessions worth hundreds of millions or even billions of dollars back.” During the four years that Hillary Clinton was secretary of state, hundreds of millions of dollars flowed into the Clinton Foundation from governments around the world, many of which then enjoyed favored treatment from the  State Department, Ortel noted. “To the world at large, the Clintons are open for business,” he stated. The  corporate media always refused to subject the Clinton Foundation to any kind of serious or skeptical coverage, in part because of fear of alienating the Clintons, Ortel explained. “This is such a big story that the  press is not doing its job. What we have in ‘Clinton Incorporated,’ is Tammany Hall on steroids,” he said. Read more: Clinton Foundation Operates as Giant Slush Fund for Buying Influence Delivered by The Daily Sheeple  We encourage you to share and republish our reports, analyses, breaking news and videos ( Click for details ).  Contributed by Sputnik of Sputnik . ",fake,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
21551,21552,"Introducing the new  member that likes lower oil prices  Military ceremony in Jakarta , Indonesia : As a country that both consumes and produces , it can provide  with a bridge between the two sides of the oil market , it claims .  After defending the interests of oil exporting nations for five decades ,  has made a surprising choice with its newest member : a country that consumes about twice as much crude as it pumps .  Indonesia will rejoin the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries as its 13th nation next month , almost seven years after suspending its membership . The country says that as  ' s only Asian constituent it will provide a vital link to the region where demand is growing fastest . Still , saddled with an oil import bill of about 13 billion last year , Indonesia makes an unlikely addition to the exporters ' club .  "" If you ' re accepting net oil importers into the organisation , it speaks volumes about the marginalisation of  , "" said Seth Kleinman , head of energy strategy at Citigroup Inc . Indonesia is "" never going to cut "" supply , he said .  Official explanations that paint Indonesia as a conduit between producers and consumers don ' t fully illuminate a move that ' s fundamentally at odds with  ' s mission : why allow a country that will benefit from lower prices into a group set up to underpin prices ?  Citigroup says it ' s another sign  has abandoned its role in defending prices after last year choosing to maximise its market share in the face of a global glut . ?  hasn ' t announced any specific market measures since 2008 .  Indonesia contends its return to the group will be mutually beneficial . As a country that both consumes and produces , it can provide  with a bridge between the two sides of the oil market , Energy Minister Sudirman Said said in June .  "" It ' s strange , "" said Jamie Webster , senior director at consultants  Inc . in Washington . "" Nothing has dramatically changed since they left some years ago it ' s not like they ' ve found some Gawar like field and now suddenly want to be on top of things , "" he said , referring to the biggest deposit in Saudi Arabia .  Indonesia believes the move will both ensure access to crude supplies it ' s already in talks to buy Iranian crude once international sanctions are lifted and attract investment to revive its energy sector , such as a project to build a ? refinery with Saudi Arabia .  "" There ' s prestige in being part of the organisation again , "" said Harry Tchilinguirian , head of commodity markets strategy at  Paribas .  Brent crude rose 5  cents to close at US46 . 17 a barrel on the London based  Futures Europe exchange . The global benchmark has lost more than 40 per cent over the past year .  Indonesia is projected to produce 850 , 000 barrels a day this year , according to a November ? 13 report from the International Energy Agency . That ' s about 789 , 000 less than it consumed last year . Only Libya , Ecuador and Qatar produce less among  ' s member states .  In October 2014 , Indonesia gave up on a target of restoring output to 1 million barrels a day . Crude output has dropped more than 50 per cent since the mid 1990s as shifting regulations and complicated permits deter investments in new fields .  It ' s not unprecedented for  ' s line up to shift over time . Its ranks last swelled in 2007 when Ecuador was re admitted after departing in 1992 . Gabon left in 1995 , though hasn ' t announced any plans for a comeback .  One impact of Indonesia ' s return could be a change in the group ' s collective production target , which has held steady for the past four years at 30 million barrels a day . Officials are considering raising the limit to 31 million to incorporate Indonesia ' s output , according to two delegates who spoke confidentially .  That still wouldn ' t mean any change in the group ' s actual output :  has flouted the current limit in all but four months since its introduction , according to data compiled by Bloomberg . Even a raised cap at 31 million barrels would be almost 800 , 000 a day less than its 12 members pumped in October ,  data show .  A last benefit could be a resolution to years of disagreement on appointing a new secretary general .  has been extending the term of Libya ' s Abdalla El Badri originally due to stand down in 2012 ? as countries block proposed candidates from Saudi Arabia , Iran and Iraq . Indonesia , which has filled the position of secretary general on four different occasions since 1961 , could serve as a neutral alternative , above political rivalries in the Middle East .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
21571,21572,"Damascus attacks kill at least 60 people near Shia shrine  Islamic State claims responsibility for assault in Syrian capital ahead of  peace talks  Syrian soldiers inspect the site of bombing in southern Damascus , Syria , which has killed at least 60 people . Photograph : Stringer   At least 60 people were killed , including 25 Shia fighters , and dozens wounded on Sunday when a car bomb and two suicide bombers struck in a district of Damascus where Syria s holiest Shia shrine is located , a monitor said .  Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attacks , according to Amaq , a news agency that supports the group .  The agency said two operations hit the most important stronghold of Shia militias in Damascus .  The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the casualties were expected to rise from the suicide attacks in Sayeda Zeinaba , a district of southern Damascus where the Lebanese militant group Hizbullah and other Iraqi and Iranian militias have a strong presence .  Rami Abdulrahman , head of the British based organisation , said the suicide bombers had targeted a military bus carrying Shia militia members who were changing guard there .  The explosions occurred as representatives of Syria s government and its opposition began convening in Geneva for the first  mediated peace talks in two years .  Syrian ambassador Bashar Jaafari , head of the government delegation at Geneva , said the blasts in Damascus just confirmed the link between what the government says are a Saudi led and funded Islamist opposition and terrorism .  Syrian prime minister Wael al Halaki was quoted as saying the attacks were prompted by terror groups who sought to raise their morale after a string of defeats by the Syrian army .  State television showed footage of burning buildings and wrecked cars in the neighbourhood .  Syrian state news agency Sana , quoting an interior ministry source , said a group of militants had detonated a car bomb near a public transport garage in the neighbourhood s Koua Sudan area .  Two suicide bombers then blew themselves up nearby as people were being rescued .  Bodies were still being pulled from the wreckage , a witness told state news channel Ikhbariyah .  The heavily populated area in the south of the city is a site of pilgrimage for Shia Muslims from Iran , Lebanon and other parts of the Muslim world .  The Sayeda Zeinab shrine area witnessed heavy clashes in the first few years of the war .  However , it has since been secured by the Syrian army and Shia militias led by Hizbullah , which has set up protective roadblocks around it .  The shrine houses the grave of the daughter of Ali ibn Abi Taleb , the cousin of Prophet Mohamed , and whom Shia Muslims consider the prophet s rightful successor .  The Iraqi and Iranian Shia militia groups who have volunteered to fight Sunni Islamist radicals in Syria often say they are coming to Syria to defend the shrine .  The United Nations has said it is aiming for six months of talks , first seeking a ceasefire before working toward a political settlement for Syria .  The nearly five year conflict has killed more than 250 , 000 people and driven more than 10 million from their homes .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
21596,21597,"Tune in to the Alternate Current Radio Network (ACR) for another  broadcast of  The Boiler Room  tonight 6:00   | 8:00   | 9:00   for this special broadcast. Join us for uncensored, uninterruptible talk radio, custom-made for bar fly philosophers, misguided moralists, masochists, street corner evangelists, media-maniacs, savants, political animals and otherwise lovable rascals.Join  hosts Hesher and Spore along side Andy Nowicki of the Nameless Podcast,  Fvnk$oul and Randy J ( & 21WIRE hosts, DJs & contributors) and the rest of the boiler gang for the hundred and thirty seventh episode of  ROOM. Turn it up, tune in and hang with the  Brain-Trust for this weeks boil downs and analysis and the usual gnashing of the teeth of the political animals in the social reject club.On this episode of Boiler Room the  Brain-Trust is having a fireside-chat regarding the latest grinding of gears in the political, social (engineering) and media machines.Direct Download Episode #137 Please like and share the program and visit our donate page to get involved! Reference Links, for your consideration and research:",fake,dataset,test,World conflict,Sports/Other,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,present
21614,21615,"KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (Reuters) - A roadside bomb in Afghanistan s southern province of Kandahar killed at least six civilians traveling in a car that hit the device, officials said on Monday.  It was a bomb which had recently been planted by the Taliban to target Afghan forces but a civilian car went through it,  said Fazel Bari Baryalai, a spokesman for the provincial governor, adding:  All the people killed in the car were young people from the area.  The incident highlights the threat from improvised explosive devices (IEDs) such as roadside bombs, one of the deadliest threats to civilians in Afghanistan. In the first half of the year, according to United Nations figures, 252 civilians were killed and 295 injured by pressure plate devices that typically explode when hit by a vehicle. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
21619,21620,"For just a little over four months, Wayne Bradley could be heard spreading the conservative message on Detroit s 910AM Superstation. Then  nominee Donald Trump came to town, and things changed drastically.We ve known soft-spoken conservative, Wayne Bradley for several years. He s never been afraid of controversy and has always stood up for his conservative beliefs.On Friday, Bradley told us in an exclusive interview that local media had reached out to him when Trump came due to his position as State Director of African American Engagement for the Republican National Committee. Bradley   who was unpaid during his time at the station   didn t mention his affiliation with 910AM, which, he said, he generally doesn t do when discussing political issues with the media.He also met Trump and posted a photo of him with the candidate. When asked, Bradley said he had nothing to do with Trump s visit and was at at the rally with a pastor.The station, which was well aware of his work with the GOP, informed him by email that he was on  hiatus  that Friday, leading him to believe he would be back on the air shortly. But that wasn t the case.He received clarification on Monday that the show was canceled   for good.It s not clear why station management decided to cancel the show.A station representative told 100 Percent  UP,  It was a business decision on the back-end. We contacted 910AM and spoke to an administrative assistant who refused to provide her name. According to the person we spoke to, no one at the station was available for comment because they were,  very, very  busy with meetings about Bradley s dismissal.The unnamed assistant told us that a statement would be released, but she was unsure when that might happen.But that s not what station owner Kevin Adell told the Detroit News. According to that report, Bradley was allegedly fired  for violating corporate policy. He violated corporate policy, that s why he got fired. He was let go for insubordination.  But it s not clear what policy Bradley allegedly violated. Bradley suggested it may have been due to the fact he didn t plug the station during interviews with the press.Regardless of the reason, Bradley said he appreciated the opportunity to have a dialogue with the community and was very grateful to have the air time.Moreover, he said that he understands the left-wing political climate in Detroit and respects the owner s decision.While he respects the decision, he told us he was  disappointed  with management for  silencing the dialogue. Others weren t happy with the decision and made their feelings known on the station s Facebook page. 910AM where blacks are kept on the Gov ment  and other views of them  on their own merits is not allowed,  one person said. Your way or the hiway-not the station I want to listen to-I m out!!!  another person added. I would like to know where Wayne Bradley is at? Why is he not on the air? Shameless,  commented a third critic.Bradley, who has been in radio off and on for about six years, says he s not worried and knows that something better will come along.And, he added, he appreciates the support of the listeners who reached out to the station.Meanwhile, the Oakland County Republican Party has offered their support for Wayne Bradley and asked fellow Republicans to call Superstation 910AM at:Station Phone: (248) 278-0910 Fax: (248) 350-3422 Studio Phone: (313) 209-9000Attention: Kevin Adell, Owner of 910  Dody Johnson, Station ManagerIn the meantime, Bradley said he ll continue his daily outreach efforts   something he s been doing since September 2013. It s a different battle in Detroit,  he told us. The key, he added, is to  stay positive. As for the incident with 910AM, Bradley said he views it as a  minor speed bump. ",fake,dataset,test,American football,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,past
21634,21635,"They preyed on the poor in Latin America. They promised them an education, but the real goal was about turning a profit. No, we re not talking about the Democrat party, we re talking about the sleazy Clinton Crime Syndicate, headed up by a serial sexual abuser and his habitual liar wife. You may have heard of her, she s the Democrat party s frontrunner in the upcoming presidential race With her campaign sinking in the polls, Hillary Clinton has launched a desperate attack against Trump University to deflect attention away from her deep involvement with a controversial for-profit college that made the Clintons millions, even as the school faced serious legal scrutiny and criminal investigations. In April 2015, Bill Clinton was forced to abruptly resign from his lucrative perch as honorary chancellor of Laureate Education, a for-profit college company. The reason for Clinton s immediate departure: Clinton Cash revealed, and Bloomberg confirmed, that Laureate funneled Bill Clinton $16.46 million over five years while Hillary Clinton s State Dept. pumped at least $55 million to a group run by Laureate s founder and chairman, Douglas Becker, a man with strong ties to the Clinton Global Initiative. Laureate has donated between $1 million and $5 million (donations are reported in ranges, not exact amounts) to the Clinton Foundation. Progressive billionaire George Soros is also a Laureate financial backer.As the Washington Post reports,  Laureate has stirred controversy throughout Latin America, where it derives two-thirds of its revenue.  During Bill Clinton s tenure as Laureate s chancellor, the school spent over $200 million a year on aggressive telemarketing, flashy Internet banner ads, and billboards designed to lure often unprepared students from impoverished countries to enroll in its for-profit classes. The goal: get as many students, regardless of skill level, signed up and paying tuition. I meet people all the time who transfer here when they flunk out elsewhere,  agronomy student Arturo Bisono, 25, told the Post.  This has become the place you go when no one else will accept you. Others, like Rio state legislator Robson Leite who led a probe into Bill Clinton s embattled for-profit education scheme, say the company is all about extracting cash, not educating students.  They have turned education into a commodity that focuses more on profit than knowledge,  said Leite.Progressives have long excoriated for-profit education companies for placing profits over quality pedagogy. Still, for five years, Bill Clinton allowed his face and name to be plastered all over Laureate s marketing materials. As Clinton Cash reported, pictures of Bill Clinton even lined the walkways at campuses like Laureate s Bilgi University in Istanbul, Turkey. That Laureate has campuses in Turkey is odd, given that for-profit colleges are illegal there, as well as in Mexico and Chile where Laureate also operates.Shortly after Bill Clinton s lucrative 2010 Laureate appointment, Hillary Clinton s State Dept. began pumping millions of its  dollars to a sister nonprofit, International Youth Foundation (IYF), which is run by Laureate s founder and chairman, Douglas Becker. Indeed, State Dept. funding skyrocketed once Bill Clinton got on the Laureate payroll, according to Bloomberg:A Bloomberg examination of  s public filings show that in 2009, the year before Bill Clinton joined Laureate, the nonprofit received 11 grants worth $9 million from the State Department or the affiliated USAID. In 2010, the group received 14 grants worth $15.1 million. In 2011, 13 grants added up to $14.6 million. The following year, those numbers jumped:  received 21 grants worth $25.5 million, including a direct grant from the State Department.For entire story: Breitbart News",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,fake,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
21648,21649,"Tyson Fury had predicted that the war which preceded his heavyweight encounter with Dereck Chisora would be ' the fight of the night . ' He was right .  The minor epic in which Billy Joe Saunders put a stop probably temporary to the rise of Chris Eubank Jnr was indeed the fight of the night at the ExCel in London ' s Docklands .  But what Fury did not expect was to be booed to victory .   Scroll down for Peter Fury : Tyson have to be at death ' s door to pull out of a fight  Tyson Fury dominated Dereck Chisora for 10 rounds before his opponent was pulled out by his corner  Fury celebrates with his British and European titles while Chisora is left with a busted up face and a right eye which is almost shut  Fury lands an uppercut on his way to a decisive victory over Chisora to set himself up for a shot at Wladimir Klitschko next year  Chisora ' s face was swollen as a pumpkin by the end of the 10th round and his eyes virtually closed . So the complaints were not against the doctors and his corner deciding to spare him from further punishment .  What dismayed the 15 , 700 capacity crowd and the referee for that matter was the manner of what masqueraded as a final eliminator to challenge his eminence Wladimir Klitshcko for the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world .  After a snappy start to proceedings Fury opted to settle into a repetitive pattern rather than finish off Chisora with a burst of aggression .  Round after round Chisora came plodding forward and the leaning tower of Manchester picked him off with alternating left and right jabs , plus the occasional clubbing combination .  Fury kept doing enough to win the rounds but did not extend himself to apply the knock out which was there for the taking .  Referee Marcus McDonnell put an absolute stop to the inaction in the eighth to warn them : ' Either you fight or we go home . ' The crowd were heading for the exits soon after .  Perhaps Fury ' s reticence was rooted in the size of the prize at stake . He saw no need to risk a shock defeat which would have snatched the Klitschko bonanza from his grasp . It will not concern him yet that a performance like this would be unlikely to trouble Wlad the Impaler .  But the public were not best pleased .  When they put a halt to proceedings so predictable that Chisora clearly had no chance of winning , the arena gave a collective sigh of relief .  Chisora came out fast but was stopped in his tracks by Fury ' s first heavy right of the fight . Chisora was a much fitter proposition for this rematch than in their first encounter three years ago . But then the stakes were higher now . He was working hard to get inside the towering Fury ' s long reach .  This is as fit of body , sharp of mind and quick and accurate of punch as we have seen Fury . At times he was smiling in admiration of his handiwork . Chisora kept walking forward into a variety of punches form the challenger for his European heavyweight title .  Chisora stumbles forward as he struggled to get any purchase on his punches while Fury throws out his jab  From the first bell , Fury was on top and Chisora failed to land a decisive blow over the 10 rounds he was in the fight  Both men were told to come together and fight but it was Fury ' s long range and his jab which kept him in control  Fury was switching between left and right jabs and starting to land at will . When swayed out of range of a wild swing from Del Boy he turned to the crowd seeking applause for his remarkable athleticism for so huge a human being . Chisora was caught with four big punches in short order and began backing away in alarm at Fury ' s power . The first decisive round was massively in favour of the Manchester traveller .  There are still times when Fury likes to amuse himself by changing the script even when it is in his favour . So he spent the start of the fourth letting Chisora swarm over him in the ropes .  Then he unleashed a barrage of lefts and rights which staggered the Londoner to win another round .  Chisora ' s face was beginning to swell but he took encouragement from connecting with one of his big right hand swings . Fury then returned to picking him off .  Chisora kept coming albeit more sluggishly . Fury kept landing the jabs from either wing . The crowd began to get a little restless and sporadic booing broke out as Fury ticked off another round .  Fury , in a southpaw stance in these pictures , shows his height and reach advantage which allowed him to dominate all night  Chisora has his eye checked after being forced to take some heavy punishment from Fury ' s jab over the 10 rounds  The fight is waved off after Chisora ' s trainer Don Charles told his man that he wanted him to go out on his feet  Fury called Chisora a baby but was himself admonished by McDonnell for flicking Del Boy with the back of his right hand instead of punching correctly .  ' That ' s not boxing , ' said the official , By now more of the crowd were in agreement with that sentiment . Although this was child ' s play for Fury so far .  If Chisora ' s ears were closing as rapidly as his eyes he would not have heard the cat calls . But there was no mistaking the referee ' s disapproval for the sporadic action . With Fury seemingly content now just to coast through the fight , McDonnell stopped the action completely and warned them both ' Either you fight or we go home . '  So on we went , Chisora peering through slits , Fury landing whenever the mood took him , albeit not often enough to entertain the 15 , 700 throng in the ExCel .  Chisora ' s belief was ebbing away and when he backed away Fury opened up a little . But not enough to close the show ? At least not by himself . The end of the round brought a medical consultation to Chisora ' s corner and they pulled their half blind man out . He had not won a round and clearly had no chance of winning .  Fury is congratulated by his wife Paris after conserving his unbeaten record with victory over Chisora in their underwhelming rematch  Fury locks lips with Paris and has barely a scratch on his face after a one sided showing in London in the early hours of Sunday morning  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
21673,21674,"The man who shot himself dead at the Universal Studios theme park on Friday was stalking his estranged ex girlfriend , it has emerged .  Police revealed it was not the first time the gunman , who has not been identified , had sparked security concerns at the park , where the mother of his child works in a restaurant .  Last week he was escorted off the premises just days after he vandalized his ex girlfriend ' s car .  But despite court orders banning him from the park in Hollywood , California , he was spotted at 2 . 15pm near the water slides , where he shot himself dead in front of children and families .  Chaos : Crowds were seen running around Universal Studios in Hollywood , California , not long after the shooting  Smoking area : The man was said to have shot himself in a secluded part of the theme park , near a Depiscable Me themed ride  He was standing in a smoking area behind the Despicable Me Minion Mayhem ride at the time .  Sheriff ' s deputies who rushed to the scene engaged the man in conversation but were unable to restrain him .  ' The deputy tried to talk him out of it , but after going back and forth for 30 seconds or so , he shot himself , ' Lt . Eddie Hernandez told  .  Four visitors witnessed the suicide , he said .  Inside : This video from social media shows guests being herded inside the Despicable Me ride in the aftermath of the shooting  ' Suicide ' : According to reports , the man turned a gun on himself around the Despicable Me Minion Mayhem ride , shown above  The ride was closed temporarily and guests were filmed being herded inside the ride by staff in the wake of the killing .  Universal Studios has an official policy banning all weapons from its grounds , and searches guests before they enter . It is not clear how the man got past the checks .  A parks spokesman told  Southern California : ' The safety and security of our guests is always of utmost importance . Business remains open . '  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,negative,past
21678,21679,"Amir Khan fears the 200million mega fight between Floyd Mayweather Jnr and Manny Pacquiao will be boring .  The long awaited clash between two of the best boxers in the world is set to be announced for May 2 in Las Vegas after almost six years of failed negotiations .  But Khan is concerned that the delay means the fans will be left feeling short changed .  Amir Khan fears the mega fight between Floyd Mayweather Jnr and Manny Pacquiao will be boring  ' I think it will be a good fight for a couple of rounds , ' he said . ' You never know , Mayweather might get old overnight . He ' s shown he ' s getting caught more so he ' s not invincible .  ' Pacquiao had speed , explosiveness and power so I think he will give him a lot of problems early but I think Mayweather will just move on and drift away by picking him off with clean shots and frustrate him .  ' I think it will go the distance but that Mayweather will win by unanimous decision .  ' Four years ago it would have been a massive fight because both of them were at their peak . It might have gone past that now and it ' s not going to be what people expect .  Mayweather last fought when he beat Marcos Maidana in their rematch last September  ' It could be a boring fight if both of them try to box each other . Some people have such high hopes for the fight but it could be boring .  ' I don ' t think Manny would try to make it boring but Mayweather would . Four or five years ago it would have been a bigger fight than it is now , it won ' t be as exciting . '  Khan had hoped to face either man himself this year but must now look elsewhere .  The Bolton welterweight still plans to fight in May and hopes to finalise an opponent in the next week .  Pacquiao was last in action when he dominated Chris Algieri over 12 rounds in Macau last November  But he remains convinced he would pose a tougher test for Mayweather than Pacquiao .  ' I really believe I have the style to give Mayweather the biggest problems , ' he added . ' Pacquiao is good and it ' s a fight people want to see but the style I have would give him more problems .  ' I ' m long , I ' m tall and I ' ve got that range , speed and power , everything Mayweather hates .  ' The top boxers in the world from Sugar Ray Leonard to Tommy Hearns and Marvin Hagler have said Amir Khan is the only guy can who can beat Mayweather . '  Khan feels the pair should have fought five years ago when they were both in their prime  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
21680,21681,"Immediately following a physician ' s examination for her menstrual cessation , 37 year old events planner Janice Crowley told reporters Tuesday that she is "" ecstatic "" with her diagnosis of a rapidly growing intrauterine parasite .  "" I ' m so happy ! "" Crowley said of the golf ball sized , nutrient sapping organism embedded deep in the wall of her uterus . "" I was beginning to think this would never happen to me . ""  Crowley ' s condition is common and well documented , with millions of women between the ages of 12 and 50 diagnosed every year . Studies have shown that while the disorder strikes without prejudice across racial , ethnic , and class lines , it bears a very high correlation with the consumption of alcohol at the time of infection . Although there is a low cost daily medication available that can prevent the harmful symbiote with 99 percent efficacy , many women inexplicably choose not to use it .  Symptoms of potential uterine blight are wide ranging and can include nausea , vomiting , constipation , irritability , emotional instability , swollen or tender breasts , massive weight gain , severe loss of bone density , fatigue , insomnia , excessive flatulence , hemorrhoids , vaginal tearing , and involuntary defecation .  "" I can ' t wait to tell my parents ! "" said Crowley , who added that she is reasonably certain she contracted the parasite while on a romantic Caribbean cruise with her husband in May , most likely during a brief sojourn in the Virgin Islands .  "" I think it must have happened in that little seaside villa on St . Thomas , "" said Crowley in an attempt to pinpoint precisely how long ago her endoparasitic ailment began . "" Or maybe the night we went to that secluded beach on Tortola . ""  Crowley has reportedly refused a simple inexpensive outpatient procedure that would completely rid her of the detrimental organism in about an hour , effectively sparing her from the host of complications that will burden her and her family for the rest of their lives .  "" We ' re thinking of naming the parasite either Robert or Lisa , "" Crowley said . "" I just couldn ' t be more excited ! ""  Among the many signs that Crowley ' s condition is deteriorating rapidly is a frequent compulsion to consume foods in unorthodox and often revolting combinations .  "" For some reason I can ' t stop eating olives dipped in chocolate cake frosting , "" Crowley said cheerfully . "" And the other day I just had to have sardines with butter and jam . Crazy ! ""  In what will likely be the most painful experience of her life , Crowley will eventually require hospitalization in order to remove the giant entity . There is at least a 15 percent chance doctors will be forced to cut the parasite directly from her abdomen , a procedure that would result in severe trauma and scarring . If Crowley survives the operation , she will have to cope with the minimum 18 additional years of emotional and financial drain that is typically associated with this parasite , as well as irrevocable harm to her toned and relatively youthful body , This includes scarring to her breasts and stomach , and a series of visibly pronounced veins along her thighs and groin .  "" Just think , in a couple of months I ' ll be able to feel it kicking , "" Crowley said of the creature that will soon be writhing restlessly inside her , increasingly and disproportionately robbing her of her strength and stamina . "" It ' s truly a miracle . ""  Though Crowley is otherwise healthy , the fact that she is in her late 30s makes it much more likely that the parasite has already split and multiplied within her womb .  ",satire,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,satire,True,no,no,neutral,past
21725,21726,"As tens of thousands of people cheered Barack Obama ' s presidential victory at his home base in Chicago , Illinois , others were celebrating near his future house .  People celebrate the victory of President Elect Barack Obama outside the White House early Wednesday .  At least 1 , 000 people gathered on Washington ' s Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House late Tuesday night , shouting "" Obama ! Obama ! "" and "" Yes we can ! "" Uniformed Secret Service officers were overheard , saying they ' d never seen anything like it .  Boston police said the celebrations were peaceful , but they closed some streets to control the crowds ,  reported .  In Chicago ' s Grant Park , where police estimated at least 200 , 000 had gathered to hear Obama claim victory , the crowd erupted in cheers and screams after news organizations projected him the winner . Watch Obama address the crowd  One of them , Brian Braddy of Chicago , said he is a Republican turned Democrat .  "" I believe in Obama because he ' s younger , so he sees things differently , I hope , "" Braddy said .  Talk show host Oprah Winfrey was also among the thousands in attendance at the Chicago celebration .  "" It feels like hope won , "" Winfrey said . "" It feels like it ' s not just victory for . . . Barack Obama . It feels like America did the right thing .  "" It feels like there ' s a shift in consciousness . It feels like something really big and bold has happened here like nothing ever in our lifetimes did we expect this to happen . It feels like anything is now possible . ""  In Harlem , New York , hundreds had gathered to watch election returns on a large screen in a plaza near the Apollo Theater . Many cheered or started making calls to relatives and friends when Obama ' s victory was announced .  Many there said they couldn ' t believe an African American had been elected president in their lifetimes . People were celebrating in the streets into the night in other cities , including San Francisco , California and Seattle , Washington . iReportweblink : Obama win celebrated in Antarctica  In Atlanta , the Rev . Bernice King , youngest daughter of civil rights leader Dr Martin Luther King Jr . , hailed the first African American president elect . When asked what Obama ' s victory meant to her , she said it meant "" that the work that my mother and father sacrificed for was not in vain . ""  "" I was very touched tonight and moved to tears when I heard the announcement , and I know that this is something that my father would be proud of America for , "" King said . "" He would be proud of the many young people who turned out at the polls to make this possible , and it ' s a new dawning . . . in America . ""  Sen . Hillary Rodham Clinton , Obama ' s main rival for the Democratic nomination for president , said Obama ' s win is a "" historic victory for the American people . "" See what people are saying about Obama ' s victory  "" In quiet , solitary acts of citizenship , American voters gave voice to their hopes and their values , voted for change , and refused to be invisible any longer , "" she said .  Sen . Edward Kennedy , D Massachusetts , said "" Americans spoke loud and clear and demanded change by electing Barack Obama as our next president . ""  "" They understood his vision of a fairer and more just America and embraced it , "" Kennedy said . "" They heard his call for a new generation of Americans to participate in government and were inspired . They believed that change is possible and voted to be part of America ' s future .  "" Barack Obama is my friend and tonight , I ' m very proud to call him my president . I look forward to working with him and Joe Biden on the many challenges facing our country here at home and around the world . ""  U . S . House Republican Leader John Boehner of Ohio congratulated Obama for "" an achievement that is an important milestone for our democracy . ""  "" President Lincoln , the first and greatest Republican president , envisioned an America in which the blessings and opportunities of liberty were truly and equally available to all citizens , regardless of race or creed , "" Boehner said in a statement . "" The party of Lincoln stands together with all Americans tonight in heralding this historic achievement for freedom , and also in thanking Sen . John McCain for his decades of patriotism and service to our nation . ""  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
21735,21736,"Paris Terror Suspect Abaaoud Killed in St Denis Raid  Body found riddled with bullets , identifed by fingerprints  The suspected architect of last week s terror attacks in Paris was killed in a police raid on his hideout on the edge of the French capital .  Abdelhamid Abaaoud , a self declared terrorist tourist , was identified by his fingerprints after a  team fired 5 , 000 rounds into an apartment in the suburb of Saint Denis where he was holed up with a group of associates , Paris prosecutor Francois Molins said Thursday . One woman blew herself up during the assault and eight people were arrested . Molins said it wasn t clear from his remains whether Abaaoud had been killed by an explosion or the police bullets .  France is beginning to adjust to a new , tense state of normalcy as the hunt for the people responsible for last week s attacks swings north to Belgium . Hours before Abaaoud was identified , police searched homes in Brussels and arrested one person in the international hunt for terrorists .  Police in the Belgian capital , a recent home to at least three of the extremists , carried out seven searches linked to Bilal Hadfi , who died participating in the attacks , the federal prosecutors office said . ?  After the short lived truce that saw lawmakers sing the national anthem together on Monday , politicians returned to their more usual sparring on Thursday with far right leader Marine Le Pen calling for a hundred Salafist mosques to be shut down and urging President Francois Hollande to take control of France s borders .  Acknowledging that authorities can t guarantee people s safety at public demonstrations , Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius told France Inter radio the government has canceled several events planned on the sidelines of climate talks that start Nov . 30 in Paris . The head of Europol , Rob Wainwright , warned Europeans to brace themselves for further attacks .  "" We are in a war against jihadist terrorism which is threatening the whole world "" President Francois Hollande  It is reasonable to assume without any recourse to exaggeration , that further attacks are likely , Wainwright said Thursday in Brussels .  Lawmakers in France s lower house voted Thursday to extend the state of emergency that President Francois Hollande decreed after 129 people were killed in a wave of assaults last week . The emergency laws allow the government to ban public demonstrations , carry out searches without warrants , and assign people to house arrest without the oversight of the courts . The measures , initially brought in for 12 days , will be extended for three months once the Senate endorses the decision Friday .  Abaaoud , the Belgian son of a Moroccan shopkeeper , had been familiar to the intelligence community for his high profile presence on social media before last Friday s attack . He labeled himself a terrorist tourist on his Facebook page and was linked by French officials to a failed assault on a Paris bound high speed train in August and a plot to attack a church in the city in April .  Belgian security officials began tracking him in March 2014 after he appeared in a video behind the wheel of a pickup truck dragging mutilated bodies to a mass grave .  As the hunt for the extremists who perpetrated the attacks continued , Georges Salinas , deputy head of the  team that carried out the assault , cautioned that Muslim extremists had become more difficult foes since the attacks earlier this year on the  satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo and a Jewish delicatessen .  These people are very determined , more and more battle hardened , Salinas told Europe 1 radio . We re starting to see people who have been trained with very , very heavy weaponry . They re getting professionalized .  French officials said their air force has bombed four command sites and two training camps around Raqqa , the Islamic State s Syrian stronghold , in the past three days . The jets have dropped about 60 bombs , they said .  Just short of a week after the attacks , France is making headway in its attempt to forge a coalition with both the U . S . and Russia against the Islamic State masters who are leading such professionalizing . Two officials in Moscow said Russia was increasingly confident a deal can be reached with France and the U . S . as early as next week , and that this would effectively include Syrian President Bashar al Assad s forces .  U . S . President Barack Obama added a note of caution to the signals emerging from Moscow when he told reporters at a summit in Manila that Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Iranian allies must drop their support for Assad before an alliance could work . China s president , Xi Jinping , speaking at the same event , joined the condemnation of Islamic State after the group executed a Chinese national for the first time .  French Foreign Minister Fabius said the downing of a Russian airliner in Egypt and the attacks in Paris seem to have persuaded Russia to change its position on Syria where they concentrate their air raids on Islamic State . Al Assad , Fabius said , can t remain in power indefinitely , but there is some flexibility about when he leaves .  We continue to say there must be a political transition in Syria and that Bashar al Assad can t be part of the future , Fabius said . Where there is some room for maneuver is on the process . He said the first step needs to be a cease fire , then a political transition , and then a new government .  ( An earlier version of this story corrected the day of the prosecutor s statement in the second paragraph . )  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
21746,21747,"Defender Winston Reid would not have signed another long term contract with West Ham if he did not think the east London club was going places .  New Zealand international Reid ended speculation about his future when he penned a six and a half year deal with the Irons last month .  The 26 year old , signed from Danish side Midtjylland in August 2010 , had been linked with the likes of Arsenal and Tottenham .  Winston Reid signed six and a half year deal with West Ham last month  Reid battles with Marko Arnautovic during West Ham ' s clash with Stoke City last month  However , Reid believes he can fulfil all of his ambitions at West Ham , who are set to move to the Olympic Stadium in 2016 2017 .  ' I think this club will eventually be a very big one , but it ' s going to take time and probably not over the next couple of years , ' he said .  ' It is going to take a lot of hard work by everybody , but I wouldn ' t have signed a new contract if I didn ' t think we could achieve something to get into the top tier of English football .  ' We just have to work hard at it and make sure the results get better . '  West Ham United players Diafra Sakho , Winston Reid and Mark Noble poses for photographers outside the Olympic Stadium the club are set to move in to in 2016 17  Reid added : ' One of the reasons ( I signed ) was that I could see myself as an important part of the squad for the next six years of my career .  ' My family are happy here I have a good relationship with the people at the club and most importantly I wanted to give something back to a club that took a chance on me .  ' I took all those factors into consideration and footballing wise I really do believe we can achieve something .  ' I am not saying we are going to win the league , that ' s probably not realistic , but to win something and get into that upper tier would be an achievement . '  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
21759,21760,"For all the hate Democrats openly express for  News, it s good to know that Hillary surrogates like Lanny Davis can rely on good Trump-hater Megyn Kelly to prop up Crooked Hillary The latest Wikileaks dump includes an email from Lanny Davis tries to convince Catholic hater Jennifer Palmeiri that it would be a good idea for Megyn Kelly to interview Hillary, giving her a chance to explain the mistake she made withe her private email server. He even offers to arrange a friendly interview for Hillary with Megyn. Here is the text from the email:Dear Jen,I know what I m about to propose is very risky and will be instinctively viewed negatively on the first reaction. But because of the high advantages that I see, perfectly aware of the risks, I think this proposal should be considered.I propose that the Secretary be on the Megyn Kelly File show for at least 30 minutes. I believe I can reduce the risks, since I know Megyn and Roger Ailes very well, by ensuring that the Secretary will have an opportunity to answer tough questions on emails and other issues without interruption. In fact, I believe it is in the interest of Secretary Clinton as well as Fox for the questions to be tough, something we should not fear as long as she has an opportunity to answer. I know she will do well with adequate preparation, and especially after yesterday s excellent statement taking full responsibility for mixing personal an official business on a single email device.I still believe the issue of the wiping out of the private server still needs to be dealt with   e.g., simply stating that was done primarily to protect personal privacy on personal emails but she made the mistake of mixing personal with official on the server because she was using a single device, and she should have been more transparent shortly after she left office. This interview has the potential to be a ratings and media bonanza. I have confidence she would hit a political home run and have a massive audience to deliver her message without a filter. Of course there is a risk that Megan will try to show how tough she can be, even tougher than on Trump. I am assuming the worst case on that risk. But if we have a guarantee, which I believe We will get, that she will have an uninterrupted chance to respond to every question, and we have time to prepare, I think this could be a major plus and even a game changer in the various negative narratives about the Secretary being largely inaccessible and sometimes testy with the media.Here is a screen shot of the original email:",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,present
21763,21764,"Reuters) - Turkish authorities have opened an investigation into the U.S. prosecutors who brought charges against a Turkish gold trader facing trial in New York, state media said on Saturday, after Ankara said the case was based on fabricated documents. The Istanbul prosecutor s office is investigating former U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara and acting U.S. Attorney John H. Kim, the state-run Anadolu news agency said, following allegations that their case was based on documents Turkey says were fabricated. When asked for comment, Bharara referred Reuters to the Southern District of New York s Attorney s Office. James Margolin, a spokesman for the Attorney s Office, declined to comment.  Reuters was not immediately able to reach anyone at the Istanbul Prosecutor s office for comment. The reported move comes after Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Friday said the U.S. case was based on documents fabricated by followers of the cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom Ankara blames for last year s attempted coup. Cavusoglu also accused Bharara of being  very close  to Gulen s network.  Following those allegations, Bharara responded on Friday on Twitter, saying:  Turkey  is a liar. Now let s see what happens in court . The case against the wealthy, Iran-born gold trader Reza Zarrab has complicated already strained relations between the United States and Turkey, both members of the  military alliance. Zarrab, together with alleged co-conspirators, has been charged with handling hundreds of millions of dollars for Iran s government and Iranian entities from 2010 to 2015, in a scheme to avoid sanctions. He has pleaded not guilty and is due to go on trial in New York on Nov. 27. Under a previous Turkish investigation that became public in 2013, Turkish prosecutors accused Zarrab and high-ranking Turkish officials of involvement in facilitating Iranian money transfers via gold smuggling, leaked documents at the time showed. President Tayyip Erdogan, then prime minister, cast that investigation as a coup attempt orchestrated by his political enemies. Several prosecutors were removed from the case, police investigators were reassigned, and the investigation was later dropped. Erdogan, who has not been accused of any wrongdoing, has said U.S. prosecutors have  ulterior motives  by including references to him and his wife in court papers relating to the trial in New York. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
21766,21767,"Reuters) - President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday picked former U.S. Senator Dan Coats as his director of national intelligence, two senior transition officials said, as he puts his stamp on a U.S. intelligence community that he frequently criticizes. The official announcement was expected this week as Trump makes decisions on some of the remaining major positions he must fill as he prepares to take over the White House on Jan. 20. Coats, 73, is a traditional conservative from Indiana who just finished a six-year term in the U.S. Senate. He was also  U.S. ambassador to Germany for Republican President George W. Bush.  Coats “would be an excellent choice,” Senate Intelligence Chairman Richard Burr, a North Carolina Republican, told reporters. “Because Dan’s got the experience, he’s got the leadership skills having been an ambassador and I think his time on the committee has served him to understand what that role entails.” One Democratic official familiar with Coats’ background and views described him as a “very reasonable guy.” Another U.S. official familiar with intelligence matters said he was “very well respected on both sides of the aisle.” A source close to the transition said Trump had also considered New Jersey Governor Chris Christie for the job but that Christie had chosen not to take it. Trump has repeatedly expressed doubts about the U.S. intelligence community’s assessment that Russia had a hand in hacking during the presidential campaign. The Democratic official said Coats knew a lot about Europe and Russia and might “butt heads with Trump over Russia.” The president-elect was to get a briefing about the intelligence community’s findings on the topic from senior U.S. officials on Friday at Trump Tower in New York. Some U.S. intelligence officials on Thursday welcomed Coats’ selection, saying they hoped his appointment was a sign that Trump was seeking to mend fences with the intelligence community after months of enmity over its assessment that Russia tried to influence the 2016 election through hacking. One official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss a domestic political issue, said he hoped that if confirmed by the Senate, Coats could negotiate what he called “a truce” between the intelligence community and Trump’s choice for national security adviser, retired Army Lieutenant General Mike Flynn, who was fired as Defense Intelligence Agency director by the current director of national intelligence, James Clapper. Coats has been a vigorous defender of government surveillance programs, having voted against congressional reforms to the National Security Agency’s bulk collection of U.S. call records in 2015. While on the Senate Intelligence Committee, Coats also joined other Republican members in 2014 in approving a minority report that defended the CIA’s use of harsh interrogation methods against detainees in secret foreign prisons, saying the program “saved lives and played a vital role in weakening al Qaida.” The conclusion contrasted with the majority report that found the program failed to produce significant intelligence and that the  misled the Bush administration, Congress and the American public about the use of so-called Enhanced Interrogation Techniques. The techniques included waterboarding, which simulates drowning and was condemned as torture by President Barack Obama, other senior officials and lawmakers, and human rights experts    Trump was also nearing decisions on two other Cabinet positions, agriculture secretary and secretary of veterans affairs, with announcements expected soon, the source close to the transition said. The leading candidate to lead the U.S. Department of Agriculture was former Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue, although one source said Idaho Governor Butch Otter was also in the mix. For Veterans Affairs, Trump met on Tuesday with Leo Mackay Jr., a former deputy secretary for veterans affairs and a senior vice president of Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N), about the Cabinet post. ",true,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,past
21767,21768,"When supporters of the Democrat Party start using ads that appear to be inspired by Islamic acts of terror, you know they are not the party your parents and grandparents supported, and they re certainly not the party that most Americans want to be affiliated with. When the Latino Victory group released a disgusting video (see below) a couple of days ago, many thought that it was made to resemble terror attacks that have become all too common in European nations. Sadly, today, that concept of using a truck as a weapon to kill innocent people became a reality in New York City, as an Islamic terrorist driver used a rented Home Depot truck as a weapon to kill 9 innocent people and to injure dozens more.Note to Democrats: Creating a terror-inspired ad with a man chasing down innocent kids in a truck through their neighborhood is not funny, and it s definitely not a clever way to get people to vote for your candidate. According to  News   Democratic candidate for Virginia governor Ralph Northam is not distancing himself from the controversial ad suggesting supporters of Republican candidate Ed Gillespie are seen as Confederates who attack minority children.The new opposition ad titled  American Nightmare  was released Monday by Democratic group Latino Victory Fund (LVF) and is scheduled to run through Election Day. The opposition ad shows minority children seemingly being chased by a driver in a pickup truck, decked out with a Confederate flag, a  Gillespie for governor  bumper sticker and a  Don t tread on me  license plate.The driver makes his way toward the scared children who shout,  Run! Run! Run!  when they see the truck. The ad concludes with a scene of a Charlottesville-like rally, with a narrator asking:  Is this what Donald Trump and Ed Gillespie mean by the  American Dream? The Latino Victory group tweeted the video that was so violent, that Twitter has now suspended their account. Here is what their tweet said:Ed Gillespie and Donald Trump promise the American dream, but can only deliver an American nightmare. No more. Vote @RalphNortham. #GameOnVA pic.twitter.com/mwpWXM47HZ  Latino Victory (@latinovictoryus) October 30, 2017Northam s campaign told Fox News Tuesday that the ad was  not shocking  based on Gillespie s campaign. Independent groups are denouncing Ed Gillespie because he has run the most divisive, fear-mongering campaign in modern history,  Northam campaign spokeswoman Ofirah Yheskel said in a statement to Fox News.  It is not shocking that communities of color are scared of what his Trump-like policy positions mean for them. But Gillespie said the ad was  an attack on  his  supporters,  whom he calls  good decent hardworking Virginians who love their neighbors. -  NewsMaking an ad that depicts a white man with a confederate flag flying from his pick-up truck, sporting an Ed Gillespie (Republican candidate for Governor) bumper sticker on the back, chasing minority kids around their neighborhood is not only sick, it is hateful and divisive. It s ironic that the end of the ad, the words     are flashed across the screen with a message asking,  Is this what Donald Trump and Ed Gillespie mean by  The American dream ? ",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,present
21775,21776,"These darn progressive  reporters just can t help themselves. They re so conditioned to  candidates who roll over and allow the left to control the narrative, it s almost like they ve forgotten who they re dealing with At a fundraiser tonight in Norton, Massachusetts,  decided that instead of asking an intelligent question that might actually help Americans to learn more about what Trump thinks about serious issues facing America like say the Iran deal, they instead chose to ask Trump about a few protesters outside of a building packed with enthusiastic supporters. Well, I don t see a lot of protesters. I see thousands of people. And there are a few protesters. And, I figured you d ask that question because you know, that s the way it is.  is terrible. CNN. Are you with CNN. Are you with CNN. You people do not cover us accurately. So they have a few protesters outside. And thousands of people. And the first question from  is about protesters. weblink",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
21782,21783,"Reuters) - U.S. lawmakers introduced legislation on Thursday seeking to stop at least a portion of President Donald Trump’s sale of weapons to Saudi Arabia. Republican Rand Paul and Democrats Chris Murphy and Al Franken introduced a resolution of disapproval in the Senate to force a vote on whether to block part of the sale. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee received formal notice of the pending sale on May 19. The Arms Export Control Act of 1976 allows a senator to force a vote on an arms sale, once Congress is formally notified of plans to go ahead. The same three senators introduced a similar resolution last year seeking to block the sale of $1.15 billion of tanks and other equipment to Saudi Arabia. That measure was defeated overwhelmingly. Saudi Arabia was the first stop on Trump’s first international trip this week, and he marked the visit by announcing the arms deal in Riyadh on May 20. Saudi Arabia agreed to by $110 billion of U.S. arms, with options running as high as $350 billion over 10 years. The lawmakers aim to block about $500 million of the sale, the portion including precision-guided munitions and other offensive weapons. “Given Saudi Arabia’s past support of terror, poor human rights record, and questionable tactics in its war in Yemen, Congress must carefully consider and thoroughly debate if selling them billions of dollars of arms is in our best national security interest at this time,” Paul said in a statement. Members of the U.S. House of Representatives also took action on the planned sale on Thursday. Republican Representative Ted Yoho and Democrat Ted Lieu wrote to the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee asking for a hearing to review the sale of precision-guided munitions to Riyadh. Democratic President Barack Obama’s administration suspended the planned sale of precision-guided munitions in December because of concerns over the Saudi-led military campaign in Yemen and civilian casualties. But Trump has said he wants to encourage international weapons sales as a way to create jobs in the United States. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
21786,21787,"New York Ex  star Aaron Hernandez is asking a Miami federal judge for a delay in defending himself against a lawsuit accusing him of shooting a man in the face in Florida .  Hernandez , currently facing murder charges in the slaying of a man in Massachusetts , asked the court on Tuesday to grant him a temporary stay in the lawsuit .  Alexander Bradley of Connecticut is suing Hernandez , claiming the then New England Patriot tight end shot Bradley in February after the two got into a fight at a Miami strip club . In a lawsuit filed in June , Bradley said Hernandez fired at him during a limo ride after leaving the club and that Hernandez intentionally "" possessed a gun which he was not legally licensed to have . ""  Bradley said he lost sight in one eye and continues to receive treatment .   : High profile case bring extra pressure , ' we welcome it '  In a motion filed by his lawyers , Hernandez argues that he ' s unable to defend himself while battling murder and weapons charges stemming from the execution style killing in June of Odin Lloyd .  Bradley appeared in July before a grand jury investigating Lloyd ' s death . Prosecutors won ' t comment on why Bradley was called to testify citing the secrecy of the proceedings .  However , one of Bradley ' s lawyers has asserted the grand jury likely wanted to relate Hernandez ' s alleged conduct in Florida to Lloyd ' s slaying in Massachusetts .  Hernandez ' s lawyers state "" it is beyond any reasonable contention that the issues in Bristol County ( Massachusetts ) . . . overlap those of this case . ""  Investigation turns to Hernandez ' s fiancee ' s actions  In court papers , Hernandez maintains it would be difficult to adequately defend himself while simultaneously battling a murder charge from a jail cell where he ' s being held without bail .  His lawyers also argue that if he had to answer questions in the civil lawsuit during an ongoing criminal case , he would be forced to invoke the Fifth Amendment to protect himself from self incrimination . In some jurisdictions , they add , invoking the Fifth Amendment would amount to an admission of guilt .  Bradley ' s attorneys have until September 20 to file a response .  Messages to Hernandez ' s lawyers were not answered .  Hernandez is next expected to appear in court Friday in Fall River , Massachusetts , for arraignment on a grand jury indictment in Lloyd ' s slaying and weapons charges . He ' s expected to plead not guilty .  Union presses Patriots to give Hernandez 82K in bonuses  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
21819,21820,"has moved quickly to deny claims its president , Sepp Blatter , suggested Qatar is unfit to host the 2022 World Cup despite his admission that it was "" a mistake "" to schedule a summer tournament in the Gulf State .  Blatter , who oversees the game ' s global governing body , appeared to cast doubt over Qatar ' s right to welcome the football world , following an interview with a Swiss television station Friday .  When asked by  if it was an error to award Qatar the World Cup , Blatter said : "" Of course , it was a mistake . You know , one makes a lot of mistakes in life .  "" The technical report indicated clearly that it was too hot in summer , but despite that the executive committee decided , with quite a big majority , that the tournament would be in Qatar . ""  In October 2013 , Blatter set up an executive committee taskforce to examine whether the World Cup in Qatar should be switched to winter because of extreme summer temperatures .  A decision is expected to be made following the conclusion of the upcoming World Cup in Brazil .  Blatter ' s comments sparked a frenzy on social media and led to criticism of the 78 year old and the organization ' s decision to award the tournament to Qatar .  "" As explained in his answer to the journalist , the president reiterated that the decision to organize the World Cup in summer was an ' error ' based on the technical assessment report of the bid , which had highlighted the extremely hot temperatures in summer in Qatar .  "" At no stage did he question Qatar as the host of the 2022  World Cup . ""  Harold Mayne Nicholls led the  inspection team which examined each of the bidding countries for the 2022 World Cup before delivering his report in October 2010 .  Mayne Nicholls concluded that Qatar was a high risk option because of its soaring temperatures but it was still chosen by 14 of the 22 executive committee members in the final round of voting in December that year .  "" It ' s not for the players . The players will be  with the cooling system but what about the fans ?  "" You ' ll have 50 , 000 fans walking three , four , even six blocks or more like in South Africa where I walked 10 blocks .  "" They will be walking in 40 degrees and it ' s too much . One or two crucial cases will damage the entire image of the World Cup and we must be careful . ""  If the World Cup was to be held between November and January , it would probably create a logistical headache for many major European leagues such as the English Premier League and for the prestigious Champions League , organized by the continent ' s  confederation .  American broadcaster Fox , which paid 425 million for the rights to broadcast the 2018 and 2022 tournaments , has expressed concern that a "" winter "" World Cup could clash with the National Football League ' s regular season and the Super Bowl .  The decision to award Qatar football ' s showpiece event has drawn widespread condemnation and focused attention on workers ' rights in the state .  A report released by Amnesty International last November alleged that the abuse of migrant workers was rife within Qatar ' s construction sector , while British newspaper The Guardian likened the conditions for such workers to "" modern day slavery . ""  The furor which surrounded "" stranded "" footballer Zahir Belounis also raised questions regarding Qatar ' s Kafala law .  Blatter himself described the conditions for migrant workers in Qatar as "" unacceptable , "" but has so far refused to entertain the idea of moving the 2022 competition to another location .  In response to Amnesty ' s allegations , the director of the Human Rights Department at Qatar ' s Foreign Ministry said laws are in place to protect workers from mistreatment .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
21820,21821,"Jack Wilshere has asked Arsene Wenger about the possibility of playing in a deeper midfield role for Arsenal .  Wilshere ' s performances have improved rapidly since he was first deployed by England directly in front of the defence against Switzerland in September .  Wenger , however , prefers to use the 22 year old in more advanced positions , where his vision and quick passes can create chances , and is reluctant to make a change .  Jack Wilshere is keen to play deeper in the midfield for Arsenal , where he ' s been deployed for England  Wilshere ' s impressed in the holding midfield role though Arsene Wenger prefers him feeding the strikers  ' I wouldn ' t mind playing there for Arsenal , ' said Wilshere . ' I ' ve already spoken to the manager about it and he doesn ' t see me playing that holding role just yet . That ' s his decision .  ' At the moment Mikel Arteta is injured and Mathieu Flamini is playing that role . It ' s down to him .  ' This is probably the best I ' ve played for England and I ' m enjoying it . I said after the first game against Switzerland that I ' d only get better . It was my first game in that role . The main thing is the coaches are getting their points across . '  The 22 year old says he ' s played his best games for England in the position  After first playing in front of the defenders against Switzerland , Wilshere ' s only improved  Wilshere was voted man of the match against Slovenia on Saturday and then produced a wonderful pass on Tuesday to create the opening goal for Alex Oxlade Chamberlain in England ' s 3 1 win in Scotland .  It was his first England assist , although Wilshere claims Wayne Rooney is also at fault for this .  He said : ' If that ' s true , I ' ve got Wazza to blame because against Estonia he could ' ve had six . '  Mikel Areteta ( left ) and Mathieu Flamini ( right ) are preferred to Wilshere in the pivotal holding role  Meanwhile , Wilshere ' s Arsenal team mate Lukas Podolski has been warned his international future may be in jeopardy if he doesn ' t quit the club in January .  The forward has hardly featured for the Gunners this season and Germany boss Joachim Low has said the 29 year old ' s place in his country ' s squad will come under threat if he isn ' t playing regularly .  Lukas Podolski has been told he ' s risking his Germany future by staying at Arsenal  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
21823,21824,"This has got to be the stupidest  president we ever had ! Please , no one tell this buffoon what comes after a trillion .  A newly pious , and more Christian like Obama has invoked ' my Christian faith ' and quotes Jesus as he proposes to raise more taxes saying that redistributing wealth is his Divine Right based on the Biblical teachings of the son of God .  Obama raised the specter of Jesus at the monthly Washington Prayer Breakfast saying that after asking himself , ' what would Jesus do , ' a voice was heard telling him to ' tax the rich , sacrifice yourself for union interests , and turn the other cheek by gutting the military . ""  This suddenly new found Christian faith , after all the President has attended church services 10 times since inaugurated , but has been seen communicating with a higher being on the golf course over 90 times , seems somewhat disingenuous after bowing to muslim leaders around the world since taking office .  He has vowed to have all millionaires moved to the 30 tax bracket , seemingly ignoring the fact that the  tax code is 6 , 000 pages and contains 5 . 6 million words 7 times the number of words in his new source reference , The Bible .  It seems adjusting the tax code to simplify the process , and assign responsibility equitably would be the prudent thing to be pushing for , especially if you were the President of the United States .  But wait ! This just in . It was announced just 2 weeks ago that 36 of Obama ' s White House Aides owed 880 , 000 in back taxes , surpassed by 217 Senate employees that owe 2 , 134 , 500 , 467 Congressional employees that owe 8 , 535 , 974 , a whopping 25 , 640  Postal Workers that owe 270 , 000 , 000 413  officials that owe 19 , 473 , 477 and 60 , 799 active and retired military personnel that owe 340 , 000 , 000 !  President Zero : Hmmmm , Hmmm , Hmmm !  Instead of eliminating the employment tax for two months for private sector workers , most of those government employees paying union dues should be excused from paying them for 5 years in order to pay down their tax debt ! Now there ' s a novel idea Jesus would surely approve !  And the  ? Only 1 , 181 owe 9 , 303 , 278 , indicative of the former House Ways and Means Committee chairman Charles Wrangel ( sic ) responsible for overseeing the tax code and who was charged with avoiding taxes for 5 years on a host of undeclared income involving rent subsidized real estate and an island get away in the Dominican Republic .  Surely no surprise then that Reverend Al Sharpton , a Wrangel  crony and race hustler owes the Feds at least 996 , 000 and the state of  366 , 000 , with his only penalty being he was awarded a  host position on  which afforded him a national platform to pillory the rich from his hypocritical pulpit . Al Sharpton , a Christian anti semite malaprop news reader we can all believe in !  Unfortunately for Obama , there must have been a power outage an internet interruption of Holy Communication as he outraged 70 million  Catholics by having the government mandate contraceptive prescriptions be dispensed for free from any religious ( read Catholic ) health facilities or hospital .  Regardless of the arguments over the ' right to life ' , the government stepping into dictate to people with strong religious and personal moral convictions surely struck a nerve through out all religious faiths in the country , and even with some non believers .  With Catholic Cardinals denouncing the edict , and declaring ' war ' on another yet another buried sentence in the 2400 page ObamaCare Bill , ( "" we need to pass it to know what ' s in it "" . . Pelosi ' 08 ) , Obama was forced to try and wiggle out from under the backlash by saying the institutions wouldn ' t be held accountable , but  insurance companies would be forced to dispense the birth control measures !  As the Pope was heard to say in Rome , "" Same old s , different day , "" before the Church refused to cooperate leaving President Zero to wallow in his own S Storm .  Hopefully , a majority of the 70M Catholics will vote to  President Zero in November .  Obama and his Zero Sum Game : Not one penny for defense but Trillions for Entitlement Tribute !  No wonder 3 million ' Preppers ' are digging shelters in the ground , hoarding food , stock piling ammunition , buying silver and learning to be self sufficient .  "" First they stole your vote , then they came for your food . . ""  ",satire,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,satire,True,no,no,negative,past
21832,21833,"Actor Charlie Sheen praised Meryl Streep’s   rant at the Golden Globes and said Americans can expect the   to be impeached shortly after he’s sworn into office. [“Everything that Dame Streep orated is beyond the pale of truth, and we’re all responsible to heed and honor those words,” Sheen told TMZ. “Those words of wisdom. ”  Sheen also called Streep’s critics “a bunch of trolling douchebags. ” Streep’s infamous speech Sunday night, while accepting the Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award, saw the screen star cast Hollywood as the most “vilified” segment of American society following Trump’s election. She also called on the media to stand up to Trump “to hold power to account, to call to the carpet for every outrage. ” The speech has been praised by a bevy of stars including Robert Di Nero, who wrote a letter to Streep thanking her for using her “powerful voice” to say what “needed to be said. ” Asked if it’s now more important that America begins to “look forward” to Trump’s presidency, Sheen said, “We look forward to an impeachment. ” The former Two and a Half Men star recently opened up about his addiction to drugs and the battle of living with HIV, in an interview Wednesday on Good Morning America.  Follow Jerome Hudson on Twitter: @JeromeEHudson",fake,news,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
21849,21850,"Mufti Muhammad Sayeed dies in Delhi , body flown to ? Srinagar  Mufti Muhammad Sayeed dies in Delhi , body flown to ? Srinagar  Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed , who led the first coalition government in the state also involving the  , died in New Delhi on Thursday , 14 days after he was hospitalized .  Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed , who led the first coalition government in the state also involving the  , died in New Delhi on Thursday , 14 days after he was hospitalized .  Amid national mourning , his body was flown to Srinagar for eventual burial in his hometown Bijbehara .  Sayeed , who was also India s first Muslim home minister , passed away at 9 . 10 a . m . at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences , three days after he was put on ventilator following a deterioration in his condition .  A severely diabetic , Sayeed died due to bone marrow dysfunction , a hospital spokesman told  . He was admitted on December 24 with fever as well as chest infection .  Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (  ) , Sayeed ? who survived several attacks on him by militants ? was chief minister the first time in 2002 05 in a coalition government with the Congress . In his second stint , he allied with the  to become the chief minister in March last year as assembly elections produced a hung verdict .  President Pranab Mukherjee led the nation in mourning Sayeed s death , saying his contribution to Jammu and Kashmir and India through long years of public service would always be remembered .  Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Sayeed s exemplary leadership had a major impact on people s lives . Crediting him with statesmanship , he said : Mufti sahab provided a healing touch to Jammu and Kashmir .  Added Congress president Sonia Gandhi : Muftiji s contribution as a humanist and to public life in various capacities will forever be remembered .  Sayeed was the third chief minister of the state to die in office after G . M . Sadiq ( 1971 ) and Sheikh Abdullah ( 1982 ) .  As Sayeed s body was flown into Srinagar and was received by union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and former chief ministers Ghulam Nabi Azad and Omar Abdullah as well as relatives , the Jammu and Kashmir government announced a week long mourning and a day s holiday on Thursday .  Sayeed s funeral prayers and burial will take place in the evening at the Dara Shikoh Park in Bijbehara in Anantnag district ,  sources told  . His body was brought to Srinagar in an Indian Air Force plane .  The body was later taken to Sayeed s official residence here .  Born in Bijbehara on January 12 , 1936 to a family of Peers who earn their living by preaching and teaching religious practices , Sayeed studied in Srinagar and then at the Aligarh Muslim University before he joined politics in 1959 .  After taking on the iconic Sheikh Abdullah , Sayeed became a cabinet minister in Jammu and Kashmir in 1972 . Just three years later , he became head of the state unit of the Congress party .  He joined Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi s government in 1986 but quit the next year to throw his lot with V . P . Singh , who revolted against Gandhi s leadership and went on to become the prime minister in 1989 .  Sayeed became the home minister in the V . P . Singh government the first Muslim to hold the crucial portfolio .  Within days , however , militants abducted his third daughter , Rubaiya Sayeed , in Srinagar , forcing the V . P . Singh government to free five jailed guerrillas from Jammu and Kashmir .  In 1999 , after a brief stint again in the Congress when P . V . Narasimha Rao became its leader , Sayeed and daughter Mehbooba Mufti floated the Peoples Democratic Party (  ) .  Mehbooba Mufti is now tipped to head the   coalition government .  First Published on January 7 , 2016 4 : 56 pm  ",true,text,test,World conflict,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
21852,21853,"Andrew Sable wasn ' t in the market for new wheels , but he says the federal "" cash for clunkers "" program helped him get an offer he couldn ' t refuse .  "" I ' d have been foolish not to take it , "" said Andrew Sable , who got 9 , 000 for his 1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee .  The gas guzzling 1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee his college student son drives went bad last weekend . Ordinarily Sable would have fixed it , even though the vehicle was worth perhaps 2 , 000 at best .  But , aware of the program that started this month , Sable took a 4 , 500 federal credit this week to trade in the Jeep and buy a new , more fuel efficient Chrysler  Cruiser . And Chrysler , eager to sell vehicles , threw in its own 4 , 500 incentive .  The 9 , 000 in savings knocked the price to 8 , 900 before taxes and fees .  The exact credit offered through the program officially called the Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save Act of 2009 , or  depends on how many more miles per gallon the new vehicle gets .  Fuel economy thresholds for new vehicles vary according to type . New cars must have a combined city highway fuel economy of at least 22 mpg . New SUVs and small or medium pickup trucks or vans must get at least 18 mpg . New large vans and pickups must get at least 15 mpg .  The government put Sable ' s old Jeep at 15 mpg . His new  Cruiser , which the program classifies as an  , gets a combined 21 mpg .  Part of the program ' s intent is to get vehicles with low fuel efficiency off the road . Caroline Radtke , a 31 year old who wrote about her purchase on iReportweblink , was happy to oblige .  Radtke and her husband this month got a 4 , 500  credit for trading in their 2000 Isuzu Trooper ( 15 mpg ) to buy a new Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen , a diesel powered car that the program lists as getting 33 mpg . After the credit , they paid just under 26 , 000 .  The couple would have bought a new car without  , but the credit probably allowed them to get a nicer car than they otherwise would have , Radtke said . If they had sold the Trooper themselves , they might have gotten 3 , 000 if they were lucky , she said . iReportweblink : Radtke ' s purchase  The  program isn ' t for everyone . The credit won ' t go toward used car purchases . Also , people looking to get rid of their under 18 mpg vehicle might find they can get about the same or more than a  credit by selling it .  But the program worked just fine for iReporter Julie Callahan , a Salt Lake City , Utah , woman who was looking to replace her 1990 Chevy C1500 pickup truck , which had more than 350 , 000 miles and is rated at 15 mpg .  She and her husband already had a newer vehicle , but she used the truck to go to work and for other in town purposes . But lately it started having shifting problems , and it was occasionally slipping going uphill .  Like Sable , Callahan , 39 , got 4 , 500 this week to turn in the old vehicle and buy a new  Cruiser . And , like Sable , she also received a separate 4 , 500 credit from Chrysler . She ' ll be paying about 10 , 000 for her new vehicle after taxes and fees .  The 9 , 000 she saved with the credits from  and Chrysler isn ' t too shabby , considering she figures her old pickup was nearly worthless because it had so many miles . iReportweblink : How Callahan got 9 , 000 for her truck  Unless it is renewed , the program will end November 1 or when funds allotted by Congress run out , whichever happens first .  Trade ins must be less than 25 years old , and their titles must be free of any liens . Consumers can go to a Web site , cars . gov , to learn the program ' s rules . FuelEconomy . gov : See if your vehicle qualifies for   ",true,text,test,American football,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
21856,21857,"A friend of an elderly Arkansas couple has been charged with forcing the wife to try to rob a bank with a fake explosive device , police said Thursday .  Authorities in Fayetteville arrested 60 year old Paul Bradley on Thursday , three days after 73 year old Betty Davis walked into a bank there and told a teller she had a bomb fastened to her ankle .  Her husband , Dean Davis , said he has known Bradley for some time .  "" I had coffee with him all last week , "" said Davis , whom police said had been tied up in the couple ' s home while his wife was forced to go to the bank by a masked assailant . "" One morning he paid for my coffee , and I ' d like to see him and pay him that back . ""  Bradley has been charged with aggravated burglary , theft of property , aggravated robbery and kidnapping , Washington County Sheriff Tim Helder told reporters . He said Bradley strapped the phony bomb onto Betty Davis and took her to the bank to force her to withdraw money from her account . Once inside , she told a teller about the plot and that she had been followed to the Arvest Bank branch .  "" I felt like I needed to get out of that bank and get everyone out of danger , "" Betty Davis said . "" If he did what he said he was going to do , he would blow it up and hurt all those people . ""  After Betty Davis talked to police , they went to the couple ' s home and found Dean Davis tied up , police said .  The assailant wore a mask and said little , so the couple was unable to identify their attacker at first .  "" I would have never imagined that of him and never thought he would do something like that , "" Dean Davis said .  Helder said that authorities "" couldn ' t have had better victims than the Davises . ""  "" They were very calm and collected , and she helped us identify the vehicle , "" he said .  The  assisted in the investigation , Fayetteville police spokesman Sgt . Craig Stout said . Police expect to bring additional charges against Bradley , including extortion , he said .  In March 2011 Bradley received a suspended sentence for his involvement in a scheme to defraud local residents of thousands of dollars , Helder said .  ",true,text,test,American football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
21875,21876,"LeeAnne Walters shows water samples from her home . Photograph : Ryan Garza   The inspector s reading of the Walter home found that the water contained lead levels at 104 parts per billion ( ppb ) ? anything over 15 ppb is considered unsafe by the Environmental Protection Agency (  ) . When they tested the water again in March 2015 , they found it had lead levels of 397 ppb .  The city previously bought its water from Detroit ( where lead levels are 2 . 3 ppb ) but as of April 2014 , it switched its source to the Flint river to cut costs . The measure was always intended to be a short term fix while city planners waited for a new pipeline from Detroit s Lake Huron to be built . The water from the Flint river was highly corrosive and therefore damaged the lead pipes that it flowed through , but officials did not implement corrosion control to prevent lead from leaching into the water .  Almost immediately , citizens began to make complaints about the quality of their water . Since then , Virginia Tech and the Michigan department of environmental quality have together taken 271 samples .  The average reading was 11 ppb ? over two times higher than the  guidelines .  No . The highest reading made by the Virginia Tech researchers observed lead levels of 13 , 000 ppb ? anything above 5 , 000 ppb is deemed toxic or hazardous waste by the  .  The ideal level of lead in drinking water according to the  is zero . A 2012 report from the  explains why this is : no measurable level of blood lead is known to be without deleterious effects , and because once engendered , the effects appear to be irreversible in the absence of any other interventions , public health , environmental and housing policies should encourage prevention of all exposure to lead .  Long term exposure for infants and children can lead to delays in physical or mental development children could show slight deficits in attention span and learning abilities . The  also warns that adults might experience kidney problems or high blood pressure .  Yes , it s now assumed that children younger than five who live in Flint have been exposed ? all 8 , 177 of them , according to records from the Census Bureau .  Is there any evidence children have been affected ?  Yes . In September 2015 , doctors from the Hurley Medical Center presented findings of a study about the effects on children younger than five . The doctors analysed the blood of 840 children who had visited the medical center in 2013 and again in 2015 ( ie before and after the change in the city s water supply ) . They found that lead levels in the children s blood had risen from 2 . 1 to 4 . 0 ? a statistically significant rise . When they repeated these tests with children that weren t from Flint , they didn t notice the same increase over the same period .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
21878,21879,"Obviously , the Commander in Chief of our Armed Forces was too busy once again !  President Barack Hussein Obama officially recalled the White House Staff , the Cabinet , and the rest of the Executive Branch back to work Saturday morning , cancelling their Memorial Day weekend plans . He immediately put everyone to work forming a task force and a White House Subcommittee Special Commission Task Force into the investigation of his teleprompter tampering Thursday evening in Dover , Delaware .  At a campaign fund raising speech to a local ladies organization , the President reportedly read a line from his teleprompter , followed instructions that told him to "" fart now , "" and then read the next line before anyone noticed something was wrong . The embarrassment ( and odor ) caused several women to faint , Michelle to almost gag , Malia and Sasha to giggle , and serveral people to laugh openly . The line uttered was : He said "" I wasn ' t pulling your leg aobut the whole birth cerificate thing , ( sound of fart ) just like I didn ' t ask you to pull my finger just now . ""  The group investigating the "" First Fart "" incident , as it is now being referred to in the media , will be led by Vice President Joe Biden . It consists of several Cabinet leaders , Executive Branch leaders , political appointees ,  hanger ons , and a couple of local undocumented workers ( actually illegal aliens ) who are trying to keep from being deported ( because they do such a good job mowing Cabinet secretary ' s yards ) .  When asked how he felt about being on the committee and losing his three day holiday weekend , one task force member ( wh ochose to remain anonymous ) said : "" Yo no tengo una green card . Me gusta much  y Presidente Barack Obama y yo neccessito mas welfare dinero y food stamps . "" ( translation : "" I don ' t have a green card . I like  and President Barack Obama very much and I need more welfare money and food stamps . "" )  The Vice Presdient announced that "" the goal of this committee is to catch the culprit , or culprits , who tampered with the teleprompter . This is a matter of national security . It was a grave mistake to embarrass the President and this country in this matter . We don ' t need anyone to do that for us as the President can do just fine embarrassing this country all by himself . When captured , we intend to prosecute this person or persons to the fullest extent of the law . ""  When asked if he had any suspects , Biden said that "" I intend to start with those guys at FoxNews and all of the conservative talk show people on the radio . After that , we ' ll begin looking at anyone who still hasn ' t removed their McCain Palin campaign bumper stickers from their cars . ""  Biden also announced that Obama would not be laying the traditional Memorial Day wreath at the Tombs of the Unknowns ( which he actually hasn ' t done yet while in office ) . "" We ' re afraid that he might have instructions on his teleprompter to trip or do something else that might seem embarrassing , so it is probably best that he once again avoid the traditional duty of our President to honor his country ' s soldiers . ""  Oprah Winfrey did not approve this message .  ",satire,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,satire,True,no,no,neutral,past
21890,21891,"The disgraced Representative John Conyers (D-MI) was not about to quit his job as an elected official before he hand-selected his son as his successor. Never mind that his son has absolutely no experience in politics. His last name is  Conyers , and that s apparently enough for the 88-year old politician. But is that really all they need to know about the 27-year old son of the disgraced lawmaker and the former Detroit councilwoman, Monica Conyers, who was recently released from prison after serving 2 years of a 3-year term for bribery?  And should anyone be surprised by anything that comes out of the mouth of the 88-year old lawmaker, who, in 2010, was caught on video, as he brazenly read a Playboy magazine on a domestic flight in plain view of other passengers, and who has recently been accused by multiple women of either sexually assaulting or attempting to sexually assault them.  John Conyers  also has an interesting background.According to  News, on February Feb. 15, John Conyers was arrested on suspicion of domestic abuse but wasn t charged, after his girlfriend called the police. The unidentified woman said the younger Conyers accused her of cheating on him, then  body slammed her on the bed and then on the floor where he pinned her down and spit on her,  according to a district attorney s report quoted by  News. The woman claimed that Conyers  took her phone when she tried to call the police, he chased her into the kitchen and swung a knife at her, resulting in a cut on her arm.Conyers  asserted that the woman had been drinking and using marijuana and tried to throw him out of her home before they began pushing and shoving one another. He said she threatened him with a knife and cut herself as they struggled. reported that the Los Angeles County District Attorney s Office chose not to move forward with the case, citing a  lack of independent witnesses  and investigators  conclusions that it  could not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the victim s injury was not accidentally sustained.     NewsConyers  also likes to think of himself as a  rapper . He recently made this video where interestingly, he refers to his father as a f*cking player  : Conyers  also caused public headaches for his father in 2010.Chicago Tribune   In 2010,weblink reported that John Conyers  was cited for speeding in his father s Cadillac Escalade   or rather, the government-leased vehicle his father used as a member of Congress.There were also reports that year that the younger Conyers had driven the vehicle to a rap concert and that it was broken into, according toweblink. The then-20-year-old reported to police that two laptops had been stolen from the Cadillac, along with tens of thousands of dollars worth of concert tickets.After the incident, the elder Conyers apologized.",fake,dataset,test,Other news1,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
21909,21910,"Washington The annual Conservative Political Action Conference drew 10 , 000 activists to Washington over the weekend . The event traditionally concludes with a presidential straw poll . Last year , the poll was won by Mitt Romney . This year , Ron Paul won , with 31 percent of the ballots cast .   ' s organizers cautioned against over interpreting the Paul win . Participation in the poll had been light , the Paul team had just out organized , etc . All true enough .  But it ' s also true that Ron Paul style themes have percolated through the conservative movement since Paul ' s beat the spread 2008 presidential campaign . Of all those themes , the one that has achieved the widest audience is Paul ' s call for a return to money based on precious metals such as gold and silver .  G . K . Chesterton observed that you should never pull down a fence until you understand why it was put up .  So let ' s rediscover why it was that Americans abandoned the gold standard in the first place .  In 1929 , the U . S . economy slumped into recession . Under the weight of a series of terrible decisions , that recession collapsed into the worldwide Great Depression .  But why did decision makers make so many bad decisions ? The short answer is that they were trapped . Almost all of the right decisions would have ballooned the U . S . federal budget deficit . As budget deficits expanded , investors would inevitably worry that their dollars might lose value in the future . They would demand to trade their dollars for gold at the fixed price of 20 . 67 to the ounce . Under the rules of the gold standard , the U . S . government would be obliged to sell .  As long as the deficits continued , the U . S . government would lose gold . Threatened with the exhaustion of its gold supply , the government felt it had no choice : It had to close the budget deficit . So , in the throes of a severe downturn , the U . S . government did exactly the opposite of what economists would otherwise advise : It cut spending and raised taxes capsizing the economy even deeper into depression .  It ' s very strange to hear gold standard advocates criticize President Hoover for imposing steep tax increases in 1932 , the Depression ' s worst year . Yet the gold standard they champion was the reason for the tax increases they deplore .  Between 1929 and 1932 , the U . S . money supply collapsed , as banks failed and bank deposits and commercial credit vanished . In their classic "" Monetary History of the United States "" ( 1966 ) , Milton Friedman and Anna Schwartz identified this contraction of the money supply as the proximate cause of the Great Depression . Why didn ' t the Federal Reserve act to prevent the contraction ? Again : the gold standard .  In a modern recession , the Fed will buy Treasury securities in the open market . After the purchase and sale , the Federal Reserve has more securities and the former owners of the securities have new cash .  Those new cash owners then spend or lend their cash , spurring economic activity . But in 1930 , the new cash owners didn ' t spend or lend . They swapped their cash for gold . The "" open market "" operations that were supposed to accelerate economic activity instead accelerated the country ' s gold drain .  So the Fed ceased and instead passively allowed the economy to collapse in order to save the nation ' s currency .  Every other gold standard country faced similar challenges in the 1930s . Those countries that quit gold first , like Britain , suffered least . Those that hung onto gold longest the United States and France suffered most .  Imagine now if the gold standard were in operation today . The federal government would be scrambling to balance its budget in the midst of recession , cutting spending and raising taxes . Instead of pumping money into the economy , the Federal Reserve would be sucking money out . Priority 1 would not be creating and saving jobs , but preserving the nation ' s gold hoard .  Instead of living through the nastiest recession since the war , we ' d be deep into a second Great Depression .  But in a way , this counterfactual is impossible . No government ever can return to the gold standard .  Back in the 1930s , governments accepted horrific suffering because they were terrified of the consequences of going off gold . When President Franklin Roosevelt told his budget director , Lewis Douglas , of his decision to quit gold , Douglas replied : "" This is the end of Western civilization . "" He wasn ' t kidding either .  In fact , the decision was the turning point of the Depression , the beginning of recovery . And every monetary economist knows it . Which means that the first thing any future gold standard government would do in the event of recession would be to jettison gold . And every market trader knows that too .  So . . . as soon as the first sign of recession materializes on the horizon , the traders would dump the currency of the gold standard country . The gold standard country would then have to decide whether to self impose draconian 1932 style budget balancing or forgo the whole painful experience and surrender right away to what is inevitable sooner or later .  Since everybody knows that a gold standard country would quit gold as soon as times got tough , nobody will ever believe the decision to restore the gold standard in the first place .  It ' s as dead as monocles and walking sticks . Deader , really .  The punch line to one of my favorite anecdotes goes , "" Son , your answers are so old , I have forgotten the questions . "" Has the Depression receded so far into history that the answers that once plunged the nation into misery can possibly look credible again ?  The opinions expressed in this commentary are those of David Frum .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
21910,21911,"? Sen . Bernie Sanders , I Vt . , defended being a Democratic socialist ? and admitted he ' d raise taxes to pay for his health care plan .  ? Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton hammered home that she would bring the most experience to the White House and fended off questions from college age Sanders supporters , including one who said his friends think she ' s "" dishonest . ""  ? Former Gov . Martin O ' Malley , D Md . , delved into the issues , sleeves rolled up , and expressed optimism that there was still time to prove the polls wrong in the Hawkeye State .  Questioned by both  ' s Chris Cuomo and Iowa Democratic voters , the Vermont senator and the former secretary of state drew sharp contrasts with each other on the economy and foreign policy ? even though the two were never on the stage together .  "" I think we are touching a nerve with the American people who understand that establishment politics is just not good enough , "" Sanders said , a clear allusion to Clinton , in explaining his rise . "" We need bold changes we need a political revolution . ""  When asked by a voter to define his Democratic Socialist views , Sanders gave an impassioned response .  "" What Democratic Socialism means , to me , is that economic rights ? the right to economic security ? should exist in the United States of America , "" Sanders said . "" It means to me that there ' s something wrong when we have millions of senior citizens today trying to get by on 11 ? , 12 , 000 a year Social Security . It means there ' s something wrong when the rich get richer and almost everybody else gets poorer . It means there is something wrong , and government should play a role in making sure that all of our kids , regardless of their income , are able to get a higher education . ""  Those beliefs influenced Sanders ' "" Medicare for all "" plan he introduced last week . That was immediately slammed by Clinton and many top liberal thinkers and pundits as too expansive , unworkable and without enough detail on savings . In defending his plan on the stage Monday night , it led to a ready for  attack ad line .  "" Yes , we will raise taxes . Yes , we will , "" Sanders admitted of how his single payer plan would be funded . "" But also , let us be clear , Chris , because there ' s a little bit of disingenuity out there ? we may raise taxes , but we are also going to eliminate private health insurance premiums for individuals and for businesses . ""  Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton applauds after a  town hall at Drake University in Des Moines , Iowa , on Monday . Patrick Semansky  hide caption  Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton applauds after a  town hall at Drake University in Des Moines , Iowa , on Monday .  The surging Sanders ? who is neck and neck with Clinton in Iowa and leading her in New Hampshire , according to recent polls ? has pledged not to go negative against his rivals . "" With a few exceptions , we ' re doing a lot better than the Republicans in that regard , "" Sanders noted .  But he did go after Clinton , who is often more at ease discussing her foreign policy and national security philosophy ? rather than the specifics of her 2002 vote to authorize the Iraq War .  "" The truth is that the most significant vote and issue regarding foreign policy that we have seen in this country in modern history is the vote on the war in Iraq , "" Sanders said , noting he voted against it . "" It gives me no pleasure to tell you that much of what I feared might happen did happen . Hillary Clinton voted for the war in Iraq . ""  When it was Clinton ' s turn , she fired back .  "" I have a much longer history than one vote , "" Clinton said , "" which I said was a mistake , because of the way that it was done and how the Bush administration handled it . ""  She reiterated that her former rival Barack Obama had enough faith in her to choose her as his top diplomat . She also touted her plan to take on  and other terrorist organizations , which she called a "" long term challenge . ""  "" There is no time in human history where everything is going well , "" Clinton said . "" And we now live in a very interconnected world , where we know everything that is going on and where people look to the United States to help . ""  The town hall also exposed some uneasy problems that still plague Clinton ' s campaign . She was pressed by a young voter , who said he was leaning toward voting for Sanders . He said he ' s seen the enthusiasm gap between her and Sanders , and that , "" my friends think you ' re dishonest . ""  That led to an energetic , finger pointing defense that might have struck some as defensive . She argued she had withstood incoming attacks for more than two decades after fighting for women , children and health care reform .  "" Look , I ' ve been around a long time , "" she said . "" People have thrown all kinds of things at me . And you know I can ' t keep up with it . I just keep going forward . They fall by the wayside . They come up with these outlandish things . They make these charges . I just keep going forward , because there ' s nothing to it . They throw all this stuff at me and I ' m still standing . ""  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
21918,21919,"Clive Palmer ' s former accountant and friend claims that the politician ' s businesses were on the brink of bankruptcy during his Federal election campaign last year .  In an affidavit , Palmer ' s former top executive and campaigning partner Bill Schoch claims that while Mr Palmer was publically claiming to be a billionaire , his companies were experiencing a cashflow crisis .  Mr Schoch alleges the companies were on the verge of corporate financial collapse and Mr Palmer was so desperate for funds that he accepted a settlement deal from the tax office just two days after the 2013 federal election .  Mr Palmer ' s former friend and auditor , Bill Schoch , has submitted the affidavit to the Supreme Court as he prepares for court proceedings , according to The Weekend Australian .  Mr Schoch claims he has used financial documentation , corporate records and personal knowledge to compile his affidavit .  Bill Schoch worked with Clive Palmer for more than thirty years , initially as his auditor and handling Palmer ' s tax affairs . In 2011 Palmer hired Schoch to be a salaried executive  In the documents , Mr Schoch claims that Mr Palmer narrowly avoided insolvency over a 15 million debt to a Singapore based company , shortly before Mr Palmer won political office .  It is alleged that Palmer agreed to receive around half of the 90 million amount allegedly owed to him by the tax office , to ensure his company was not left ' without cash ' .  The agreement allowed him to readily access 44 . 9m by September 2013 to alleviate the ' cash flow challenges ' the Palmer Group was experiencing , according to Schoch ' s affidavit .  In his affidavit , Schoch alleges the amount Palmer ' s business owed to other companies in June of last year was ' about the equivalent of the available cash at bank ' and claims financial accounts for Palmer ' s business , Mineralogy , confirms the company only had access to 16 . 19m , with US15m owing .  Mr Palmer allegedly owed the money to  Geoexplorer Pty Ltd after a two year project , which cost a total of US35m .  Schoch claims that Palmer ' s businesses were on the brink of bankruptcy last year , whilst Palmer was involved campaigning for office before the 2013 Federal election   Geoexplorer was contracted to undertake seismic surveying of the sea bed off Papua New Guinea , where Palmer had identified a potential billion gas region . His company Palmer Petroleum , controlled by Mineralogy , had been granted exploration rights .  The affidavit follows allegations that Palmer fraudulently withdrew more than 12m to bankroll his party in the election wrongfully using funds from a planned joined venture the Chinese government owned company , Citic Pacific .  Palmer has denied that he breached the company ' s trust to siphone 10m in August and 2 . 167m in September of last year . He maintains the money was used appropriately for the project with Citic Pacific .  Schoch has launched Supreme Court action against Palmer and two of his companies , Mineralogy and Queensland Nickel , seeking damages after he was sacked by Mr Palmer in December last year .  Bill Schoch is suing his former boss for more than 4 . 6 million over an alleged breach of contract and misleading conduct .  Clive Palmer was Bill Schoch ' s friend and client for more than 30 years , until a bitter feud ensued after Schoch ' s sacking in December 2013 .  Scoch handled Palmer ' s tax affairs and audited his businesses from 1978 until 2006 . In 2011 he was hired to be a salaried executive .  Schoch alleges in an affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court that whilst Palmer was maintaining his public image as a multi billionaire , he struck a settlement with the tax office to avoid insolvency  Schoch began work with Palmer in June 2011 . Schoch claims Mr Palmer promised him 5 million for five years of work , on the terms that he began on a ' starting salary for a short time , and then go up to the million a year when the money comes in . '  When Palmer sacked Schoch in December 2013 , he allegedly told his former friend ' You don ' t have a contract for five years . Your f ing contract is for 150 thousand . Leave by Tuesday . Sue me ' , according to court documents .  Schoch maintains that he was misled by an oral agreement with Palmer about the terms of his employment .  The affidavit claims Palmer then sent Schoch an invoice , demanding Schoch pay 633 , 150 for the cost of Schoch ' s accommodation and meals whilst Schoch worked as resident manager at Palmer ' s Hyatt Regency Resort on the Sunshine Court .  Schoch ' s affidavit claims that Palmer ' s companies were ' running near empty ' as they were not being paid royalties by Citic Pacific .  Schoch claims Palmer expected up to 500 million a year from Citic Pacific , as royalties for the mining of iron ore . However , litigation between the partners meant Palmer had allegedly largely overestimated the company ' s income .  Palmer had once praised Schoch for his ' impeccable character ' , but in light of Schoch ' s affidavit , Palmer told The Australian that Schoch is ' just not a truthful person . '  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
21936,21937,"HANOVER, Germany (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama said on Sunday he would do whatever he could to advance a controversial trade deal with the European Union in his last eight months in office, but warned that time was running short. Obama has pushed to complete two trade agreements before his term ends on Jan. 20 - with Pacific nations and with the  - but has run into a growing swell of populist concerns about the impact on jobs, consumer protections and the environment. “Time is not on our side,” he conceded to business leaders at the Hanover Messe, a massive industrial trade fair. “If we don’t complete negotiations this year, then upcoming political transitions in the United States and Europe would mean this agreement won’t be finished for quite some time.” Obama is in Germany to promote the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, but the issue was overshadowed by discussions on the crises in Syria, Ukraine and Libya when the two leaders met. On Monday, they are set to hold talks with British Prime Minister David Cameron, French President Francois Hollande and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi on some of the same issues. But first, they had dinner in a 17th century palace with chief executives of some of the largest U.S. and German companies such as Microsoft, Dow, Lockheed Martin, Honeywell, BASF, Bayer and Siemens. Also at the dinner was Matthias Müller,  of Volkswagen, whose company has admitted to cheating diesel emissions tests in the United States, a scandal that involves 11 million vehicles worldwide. Obama normally does not sit through lengthy opening ceremonies. But in a sign of the political capital he is spending on trade - and his affection for Merkel - he took a front row seat for an unusual interpretative dance performance featuring robots, futuristic music and acrobatic break-dancing. The day before Obama arrived, thousands of protesters holding placards with slogans like “Stop TTIP” marched to express their opposition to the deal, and his motorcade whizzed past a few more as he drove through the north German city. Obama acknowledged his message about the benefits of trade has not broken though. “The benefits oftentimes are diffuse, whereas a particular plant or business that feels it’s been hurt by outside competition feels it very acutely,” he told reporters. Obama said he hoped the deal, which supporters say could boost economies on each side of the Atlantic by $100 billion, would be agreed this year. But final ratification will take more time. The Trans Pacific Partnership is first in the queue for the U.S. Congress, which is not clamoring to hold a final vote. Obama said that could change after the Democratic and Republican parties make their final selections of candidates this summer. “When we’re in the heat of campaigns, people naturally are going to worry more about what’s lost than what’s gained with respect to trade agreements,” he said. Germany is the last stop on a six-day foreign tour where Obama has sought to shore up U.S. alliances he views as important not only for the economy but also to defeat Islamic State militants and counter Russian intervention in Syria and Ukraine. “Strong growth in Europe is particularly important given the array of pressing challenges - whether it’s security, defense, migration or refugees,” Obama said. Obama came to Germany from London where he urged Britons to vote to stay in the European Union in a closely-watched June referendum or face being at “the back of the queue” as a non- member hoping for a new trade deal with the U.S. Earlier in the week, he met with Gulf leaders in Riyadh to try to allay fears that Washington had become less committed to their security, especially after the nuclear deal with Iran, the regional rival of Saudi Arabia. Obama said he was “deeply concerned” about a surge in violence in Syria, where government forces have stepped up bombing of rebel-held areas around the strategic city of Aleppo. Merkel urged the parties participating in troubled peace talks in Geneva to agree to humanitarian zones where fleeing Syrians could feel safe from bombardment. She and Obama made clear that they did not favor the creation of classic “safe zones” which would need to be protected by foreign forces. Both leaders expressed concerns about ceasefire violations in eastern Ukraine and said sanctions imposed against Russia following its 2014 intervention there, could not be eased if the situation on the ground did not improve. Ties between Washington and Berlin reached a low point three years ago following revelations of widespread surveillance of German citizens, including the bugging of Merkel’s mobile phone, by the U.S. National Security Agency. But in recent years, the two Cold War allies have patched things up. Obama praised Merkel for her “steady leadership” and handling of Europe’s refugee crisis, saying her decision last year to welcome hundreds of thousands of migrants to Germany had put her “on the right side of history”. He joked that Merkel, who lacks his easy-going charm, had a “really good sense of humor” even if it wasn’t always on public display, drawing chuckles from the 61-year-old chancellor. Merkel refused to be drawn when asked whether she was concerned that she might soon have to work with Donald Trump, the leading Republican candidate for president, who has labeled her refugee policies “insane”. She said only that she was watching the American election campaign “with interest”. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
21938,21939,"In the film "" Groundhog Day , "" Bill Murray has to live through the exact same day thousands of times . In this administration , most Americans can be forgiven for feeling as though they ' ve lived through the same economic speech from President Obama nearly as many times . Given the extraordinary setting of a joint session of Congress , one has to question the notion of scheduling a rerun against the first run debates taking place among Republican challengers to this president .  The speech itself was almost literally a retread of the 2009 stimulus plan Obama pushed through a friendly Congress with almost no Republican support , with one important difference : The president never mentioned the cost of his proposal . He demanded that Congress pass his bill immediately more than a dozen times during the speech , but not once did he inform Congress of its price tag .  Even worse , Obama ended up reneging on a claim made by the White House earlier this week that the bill would be entirely funded from current dollars . In the speech itself , Obama insisted that "" everything in this bill will be paid for . Everything . "" But then Obama told Congress that while their so called super committee meets to hash out an agreement on cutting 1 . 5 trillion from future spending as part of the deficit ceiling agreement last month , they could make more cuts to cover the cost of his new bill again , without telling them exactly what those costs would be .  That ' s akin to taking a friend out for a big birthday dinner and informing him at the end that he ' ll have to find the money to pay the bill .  The White House insisted that it would pull those numbers together in a week to ten days . But the jobs crisis has gone on for years . While Obama was on vacation , he was telling the media that it was his single highest priority . The White House actually wanted to make this speech yesterday . And they did so without having scored their own proposal ?  It isn ' t as if Obama had promised anything new . The "" plan "" which still has not been released consists of getting money to states to supposedly save the jobs of teachers and first responders , accelerating public works projects , extending the payroll tax cut put into place in the December tax deal , and extending jobless benefits for at least another year . In case readers have forgotten , that ' s what Obama called for in the 2009 jobs plan in the stimulus package .  At the time , Obama promised that by spending over 800 billion in borrowed money , we would keep unemployment below 8 . Had that approach worked , Obama wouldn ' t have had to make a speech at all yesterday . His need to offer a Groundhog Day moment asking for a rerun of the stimulus blank check reveals just how badly his economic policies have failed and just how bereft this administration is of any new ideas to replace them .  The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Ed Morrissey .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
21964,21965,"Japanese fishermen rounded up more than 250 bottlenose dolphins in a secluded cove to kill for meat or sell into a lifetime of captivity , U . S . conservationists warned .  The annual hunting of dolphins at Taiji Cove highlights the rift between conservationists worldwide who see it as a bloody slaughter and Japanese who defend it as a local custom .  The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society first raised the alarm over the plight of the dolphins Friday , saying five separate pods of bottlenose dolphins had been "" driven into Taiji ' s infamous killing cove . ""  The group warned that the dolphins would "" face a violent and stressful captive selection process . Babies and mothers will be torn from each other ' s sides as some are taken for captivity , some are killed , and others are driven back out to sea to fend for themselves . ""  By the end of Saturday , 25 dolphins had been removed from their pod and taken "" to a lifetime of imprisonment , "" the group said . One of them died in the process and will be butchered , it said .  The dolphins will be kept penned in the cove for another night before the selection process begins again Sunday .  ' Panicked , frightened and fatigued '  The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society live streamed video of events in the cove Saturday and posted frequent updates on Twitter .  "" Killers continue to ruthlessly wrap bottlenose dolphins into nets and drag them to the shore for selection , "" one update said .  Another , a few minutes later , said , "" Panicked , frightened , and fatigued , another portion of the bottlenose pod is driven closer to the shore . ""  "" Killers and trainers tore half of the pod apart today , and will finish tomorrow , "" was the final post on the day ' s hunt .  Caroline Kennedy , who was sworn in last year as the U . S . ambassador to Japan , tweeted her condemnation of the process .  "" Deeply concerned by inhumaneness of drive hunt dolphin killing , "" she said . The U . S . government "" opposes drive hunt fisheries . ""  But local officials have reacted angrily in the past to Western criticism of what they say is a traditional practice dating back centuries .  Officials say criticism is biased , unfair  A 2009 Oscar nominated documentary film , "" The Cove , "" brought the issue of dolphin hunting in Taiji to the fore with bloody scenes of dolphin slaughter .  The Wakayama Prefecture , where Taiji is , condemned the film in an online response as distorted , biased and unfair to the fishermen .  "" The Taiji dolphin fishery has been a target of repeated psychological harassment and interference by aggressive foreign animal protection organizations , "" it said .  "" Taiji dolphin fishermen are just conducting a legal fishing activity in their traditional way in full accordance with regulations and rules under the supervision of both the national and the prefectural governments . Therefore , we believe there are no reasons to criticize the Taiji dolphin fishery . ""  The Japanese practice of whale hunting has also put it in conflict with the views of much of the world .  Japan ' s fleet carries out an annual whale hunt despite a worldwide moratorium , taking advantage of a loophole in the law that permits the killing of the mammals for scientific research . Whale meat is commonly available for consumption in Japan .  Environmental activists warn that dolphin meat , also sold for consumption in Japan , contains dangerously high levels of mercury and other toxins .  ' Stop the cruel slaughter '  Celebrities joined in the condemnation of the latest Taiji dolphin hunt via Twitter .  Former Guns N ' Roses drummer Matt Sorum , who works with the Dolphin Project , posted in support of Kennedy ' s message , saying he had been to Taiji himself .  "" You could be a world hero if you can put pressure to stop the cruel slaughter in Taiji , "" he said to Kennedy .  Actress Kirstie Alley tweeted , ""  of  awaiting  in  . . .  ,    ! ! ""  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Conflict,satire,true,True,no,no,negative,past
21965,21966,"President Donald Trump spent much of his Sunday sending unfiltered messages on Twitter, despite reports that said White House attorneys would start vetting his messages and tweet less. [“The Fake News Media works hard at disparaging  demeaning my use of social media because they don’t want America to hear the real story!” Trump wrote on Twitter on Sunday night.  Trump remained mostly idle on Twitter during his trip overseas, using his account to thank his foreign hosts for an excellent trip. That caught the attention of reporters, who speculated that Trump would be more filtered in the future. “I’ve been told a factor in the lack of tweeting abroad overall was the presence of Melania Trump,” wrote a Politico reporter on Twitter. Trump was expected to travel on Saturday, presumably to his golf course, but the trip was canceled, likely due to rain. Instead, the president spent his afternoon on Twitter challenging the accuracy of stories about the White House. “It is my opinion that many of the leaks coming out of the White House are fabricated lies made up by the #FakeNews media,” Trump wrote on Twitter. “Whenever you see the words ‘sources say’ in the fake news media, and they don’t mention names it is very possible that those sources don’t exist but are made up by fake news writers. #FakeNews is the enemy!” Trump also highlighted another big victory for Republicans in Montana, despite   hysteria suggesting that the Republican candidate would lose a special election in the state after “body slamming” a reporter. “Does anyone notice how the Montana Congressional race was such a big deal to Dems  Fake News until the Republican won?” Trump wrote, calling the story “poorly covered. ” He also criticized leaks of British intelligence from American sources to the news media. “British Prime Minister May was very angry that the info the U. K. gave to U. S. about Manchester was leaked,” he wrote. “Gave me full details!” The president also wrote about his plan for health care and tax cuts. “ObamaCare is dead  —   the Republicans will do much better!” he wrote, floating the option of adding more money to fund health care and promised that tax reform was moving along swiftly. “The massive    that I have submitted is moving along in the process very well, actually ahead of schedule. Big benefits to all!” he wrote. Trump sent 10 messages on Twitter on Saturday, one of the busiest days on the social platform as president. Trump’s social media director Dan Scavino confirmed for reporters that Trump’s use of Twitter would continue. “Various news reports of attorneys vetting Donald Trump’s tweets are compliments of your #FakeNewsMedia  terrible ‘sources,’” he wrote. “#FACT”",true,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
21976,21977,"' s John Harwood , provides insight to Thursday night ' s  debate which did not include frontrunner Donald Trump .    , Iowa ? Donald Trump won . The Republican debate lost ? and so did his rivals .  The Republican candidate skipped the final televised faceoff before Iowans vote in caucuses on Monday . That spared him all but glancing , humorous blows from those battling to catch up .  "" Let me say , I ' m a maniac and everyone on this stage is stupid , fat and ugly , "" Sen . Ted Cruz of Texas began . "" And Ben , you ' re a terrible surgeon . Now that we ' ve gotten the Donald Trump portion out of the way . . . ""  Later , Cruz jokingly threatened to leave the stage if he received any more challenging questions . He drew a few chuckles ? but also drew attention to what moderator Megyn Kelly called "" The elephant not on the stage . ""  Donald Trump speaks at a veteran ' s rally in Des Moines , Iowa January 28 , 2016 .  The altered dynamic left more room than usual for other candidates . Cruz and Sen . Marco Rubio of Florida both received heightened scrutiny of their stances on the hot button issue of immigration , sometimes uncomfortably .  Moderators played past news clips that seemed to show Rubio as having reversed a campaign promise to oppose "" amnesty "" for illegal immigrants . It placed both men uncomfortably on the defensive . Similar scrutiny of Trump , whose reversals have appeared more stark , would have amplified attacks he is suffering in  attack ads . With his absence , he avoided it .  Former Florida Gov . Jeb Bush , who once was expected to become the top Republican candidate , displayed more assertiveness and command in the absence of the bombastic real estate magnate whose success so far has dumbfounded the son and brother of former presidents . Yet he has fallen so far behind that his ability to take advantage is questionable .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
21980,21981,"A quickfire Pablo Piatti double secured a 2 0 win for Valencia at home to Real Sociedad on Sunday that kept them on course to clinch a lucrative berth in the Champions League for next season .  Valencia missed out on a place in Europe last term but their sixth win in their last seven games put them eight points clear of chasing Sevilla , who are fifth , and level with third placed champions Atletico Madrid , who clash in Seville later on Sunday .  Argentine forward Piatti fired Valencia ahead in the 53rd minute at a sun drenched Mestalla and made it 2 0 three minutes later after good work down the right from Sofiane Feghouli .  Argentine forward Pablo Piatti ( left ) vies for the ball with Real Sociedad defender Julen Etxabeguren ( right )  Piatti ( right ) celebrates after scoring Valencia ' s opening goal during the La Liga match at the Mestalla  They have 53 points from 25 matches , behind Atletico on goal difference ahead of the pair ' s match in Madrid next weekend .  Hopes are high at Valencia that a recent takeover of the club by Singapore billionaire Peter Lim will help them sort out their finances and return to being genuinely competitive in Spain and Europe .  Sociedad , coached by former Manchester United manager David Moyes , are 11th on 27 points , five above the relegation places .  Real Madrid can restore their four point lead over second placed Barcelona at the top with a win at home to Villarreal later on Sunday .  Barca trimmed the gap to one point thanks to Saturday ' s scrappy 3 1 win at struggling Granada .  Real Sociedad midfielder Sergio Canales ( right ) breaks away from Valencia striker Alvaro Negredo ( left )  Real Sociedad ' s Granero ( left ) slides in to block Negredo ' s ( right ) shot during Valencia ' s 2 0 win  Real Sociedad centre back Inigo Martinez ( left ) jumps to head the ball away from the oncoming Negredo ( right )  Nuno Espirito ' s ( right ) Valencia side are currently fourth in La Liga , eight points clear of fifth placed Sevilla  ",true,text,test,Football,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
21981,21982,"An Oregon psychic is accused of using her daughter as part of a ' sweetheart swindle ' to extort millions of dollars from the ageing heir of a tree farm fortune in an incredible scam that spanned 10 years .  Prosecutors allege Rachel Lee , 43 , of Oregon , and her daughter , Porsha Lee , 25 , created an intricate plot that convinced the elderly victim that Porsha was his wife and that they had together produced a young son named Giorgio Armani .  The decade long scheme allegedly saw the fortune of Ralph Raines Jr . , 67 the sole heir to Raines Tree Farm , which had been in his family for three generations liquidated of 20 million , leaving him with just 200 , 000 .  The mother daughter team used the proceeds to go on high flying trips to Las Vegas , buy expensive cars a convertible Ferrari with '  ' plates and a 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air convertible as well as several properties , according to Oregon Live .  The intricate conspiracy began in 2004 when Raines traveled from his family ' s 1 , 300 acre tree farm in Gaston to Bend for a farming conference .  Incredible swindle : Rachel Lee , 43 , allegedly spent 10 years scamming an ageing Oregon timber heir , liquidating him of an alleged 20 million , using a plot where her own daughter , Porsha Lee , 25 , convinced the man she was his wife  There he met Rachel Lee , who had a local psychic business , and allegedly cottoned on to the wealth that Raines commanded .  Lee kept in close touch with Raines and , in 2006 , Raines hired her as a caretaker for his father , Ralph Sr . , who had suffered a stroke , according to a feature in Willamette Week .  Court records claim Lee was soon in charge of the family ' s finances .  Later that year , Raines bought a 915 , 000 house in Portland , to which Lee ' s family moved .  The scam took a major turn in 2008 when Lee introduced her daughter into her plannings .  Porsha Lee then 17 put on a blonde wig , heavy makeup and faked a British accent , and was introduced to Raines as a as Mary Marks , a  resident who needed a green card .  Raines told investigators who quickly fell for the woman ' s charms , especially when she told him she wanted to have a child together .  ' Ms Marks ' said she wanted to have the child through  , convincing Raines to donate his sperm .  Stroke : Lees first gained the trust of the family by working as a caretaker for Ralph Raines Sr . ( picutred ) , who suffered a stroke in 2006  She told him she was going to California to have the baby and later returned with a son , which she told Raines was his .  The baby actually belonged to Porsha ' s sister , Samantha .  Somehow , Porsha managed to brainwash Raines into believing they were married .  During this time Lee had established joint bank accounts for her daughter and her husband and was allegedly extorting money into accounts of her own .  The plot took another turn in 2011 when Ralph Raines Sr . died , with Rachel and Porsha Lee handling his 5 million estate .  Rachel Lee went on to convince Raines to sell the family farm for 12 . 3 million , saying that he needed money for inheritance taxes .  As the sale went through , Lee and boyfriend , Blancey Lee , bought themselves luxury cars a 200 , 000 Ferrari convertible and a 300 , 000 Bentley Mulsanne went on a gambling trip to Vegas , bought properties they used as rentals and opened four psychic shops .  Last year , Lee allegedly kept her conspiracy going by convincing Raines he was bankrupt and getting to sell up the remainder the properties in his name .  However it all came crashing down when an anonymous source notified police of suspicions they had over what was happening to Raines .  The Internal Revenue Service were then pulled into it and started building a case .  Federal agents arrested Rachel Lee and Porsha Lee at their psychic shop in Bend in May this year .  Prosecutors allege they had swapped their iPhones for disposable cells and had suitcases waiting by the door at the time of the arrest , suggesting they were trying to skip town .  Generations old estate : Raines was the heir to Washington County logging company Raines Tree Farm  Porsha Lee also had about 40 , 000 cash in her underwear .  She is expected to get about three years in prison at her April 15 sentencing after pleading guilty to her charges .  She declined comment after Wednesday ' s hearing before a federal judge in Portland .  Her mother , Rachel Lee , pleaded guilty in the same case last fall and will be sentenced next month .  As the mastermind , she is expected to spend seven to nine years in prison .  Both were charged with conspiring to commit wire fraud , engaging in monetary transactions in criminally deprived property , and conspiracy to commit transactional money laundering .  Wealthy : The company was worth millions of dollars after being built up over the years and was left to Raines  The prosecutor noted that even today , with the guilty pleas , Raines believes he has a wife named Mary Marks and a son .  It is unclear whether he suffers from dementia or any other mental health difficulties .  However investigators , according to Willamette Weekly , said that Raines tried to stand up for Lees and her daughter when police informed him what had happened .  He told them he had given Lees 4 million as a gift .  This behavior is said to be common in cases like this , as the victims are often ashamed of family and friends learning what had been done to them .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
22014,22015,"As Mayor Bill de Blasio of New York turns toward his   fight next year, an issue that galvanized his first run  —   achieving significant police reform  —   is suddenly becoming a liability. Caught in the gap between his soaring rhetoric as an outsider candidate and the realities of leading a city with a   sensitivity to crime, Mr. de Blasio is disappointing many who once supported him, in a community he can ill afford to lose: the black voters who propelled him to office. “All I know is, in all our circles, folks have conversations and there’s a buzz going around about the disappointment,” said Bertha Lewis, the former leader of Acorn who served on Mr. de Blasio’s transition team in 2014, but has become a vocal critic. “There’s a growing enthusiasm gap. ” Throughout the mayor’s term, there have been opportunities for him to live up to his image and his promise as a   police reformer. Instead, those issues have become magnets for dissent. Tens of thousands in extra pay for Daniel Pantaleo, the Staten Island officer who put Eric Garner in a fatal chokehold in 2014. Disciplinary records newly shielded from disclosure. Resistance to   legislation in the City Council. Continuing fidelity to a “ ” model of policing. Frustration can be heard at New York Communities for Change, a social justice advocacy group and early endorser of Mr. de Blasio in the 2013 Democratic primary, and from a former aide, Kirsten John Foy, whose handcuffing at a Brooklyn parade in 2011 helped galvanize Mr. de Blasio’s views on the need for changes in police practices. Last month, Mr. Foy stood alongside Representative Hakeem Jeffries, a Brooklyn Democrat and a possible challenger to Mr. de Blasio in 2017, at a protest outside Police Headquarters. At the Council, a growing number of members have been refusing to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance at the start of meetings, in part, they say, because of the administration’s handling of policing issues. Councilman Jumaane D. Williams, who was detained along with Mr. Foy in 2011, began the effort, saying his decision to offer the silent protest came after he learned that Officer Pantaleo accrued overtime pay while on modified duty. “That’s what brought me over the edge,” said Mr. Williams, a Democrat from Brooklyn. “I had to do something. ” On the other side, members of the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association have orchestrated protests outside the mayoral residence at Gracie Mansion, and by the Prospect Park Y. M. C. A. where Mr. de Blasio regularly works out. In their view, he has already gone too far. Mr. de Blasio, seemingly cognizant of his potential vulnerability, has responded in recent weeks. After the city’s    police tactics became an issue in the first presidential debate between Donald J. Trump and Hillary Clinton, the mayor seized the opportunity to emphasize his opposition to the overuse of the tactics during the administration of former Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, doing so on national television and local radio. On Friday, he said that he would press for changes to state law to allow greater transparency with police disciplinary records, a pledge that garnered a lukewarm response from reform advocates. The mayor moved swiftly last month to restrict overtime pay to officers on modified duty  —   like Officer Pantaleo  —   then headed to Harlem to bring his message to a gathering at the Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network. In the speech, the mayor outlined his administration’s efforts to improve relations between the police and minority communities  —   fewer arrests retraining of officers on the use of force a commitment to reinventing community policing  —   while embracing demands for more in the future. “That’s the only way things change,” Mr. de Blasio said. “Keep those demands coming. Keep the pressure on. ” Mr. de Blasio has not yet announced new police reform initiatives. Phil Walzak, a top mayoral aide, said the mayor would do so during his campaign, but he declined to characterize them. “I don’t think at any point is anyone saying, ‘All done here,’” Mr. Walzak said. “There’s more to do. But this mayor is absolutely committed to real reform. He’s put real reforms in place, and there’s more to come. ” Mr. de Blasio is also facing    pressure to embrace a distant and difficult goal: the closing of the Rikers Island jail complex. His campaign has stuck to a simple message when it comes to the police: Crime is down, even with far fewer of the   arrests and police stops that fall heavily on black and Hispanic communities. Dan Levitan, a spokesman for the mayor’s 2017 campaign, said Mr. de Blasio had “proven New York City can improve   relations while remaining the safest big city in America. ” Mr. Levitan pointed to poll numbers showing that Mr. de Blasio’s support remained high among black voters and had remained steady on questions of   relations. Indeed, Mr. Sharpton said the mayor’s “basic supporters have been pretty much satisfied. ” Critics of Mr. de Blasio’s concede that there have been changes at the Police Department during his tenure. But they lament that the reforms have been unilaterally taken and directed by the police themselves. And they focus on the apparent absence of punishment for officers, even for those involved in the   deaths of unarmed black men, like Mr. Garner and Ramarley Graham, who was fatally shot in his Bronx home in 2012. “When your training fails you in the field, there’s no accountability for that,” said Councilman Robert Cornegy, a Democrat who represents parts of Brooklyn. But, he added despairingly, the issue may not cost Mr. de Blasio at the polls because black voters are already “disaffected” in their hopes for police reform. “They’re disappointed,” Mr. Cornegy said of his black constituents, adding: “The   community and the Caribbean communities love really hard, and, consequently, when they’re done, they’re done really hard. They’re not at a done period. ” Policing presents a tightrope for any New York mayor, perhaps none more so than Mr. de Blasio, who began his administration amid the high hopes of reformers and the skeptical eye of    officers. Those tensions burst into public view starting in 2014 after street protests arose in response to a grand jury’s decision not to indict Officer Pantaleo in Mr. Garner’s death, followed by the killing of two patrol officers in Brooklyn and a de facto work slowdown by officers, as some turned their backs on the mayor while he spoke at the officers’ funerals. Mr. de Blasio has at times presented what he hopes will be a new model of community policing in ways that are likely to appeal to    officers. “This is not social work this is crime fighting,” he said recently when asked of the program, in terms oddly reminiscent of  the early administration of former Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani. Representative Jeffries said the mayor’s resistance to the Council’s legislating police activity, his continued support of   policing  —   a tactic that involves aggressively going after minor offenses to prevent major ones  —   and his embrace of a proposal to make resisting arrest a felony were “not the positions of a police reformer. ” “These are the positions,” he continued, “of someone who seems afraid to aggressively go at the police unions that defend the status quo. ” That feeling has been shared by some who worked in the de Blasio administration, and say they were drawn there by the promise of making deep changes to the criminal justice system. Dominique Day worked on justice initiatives at the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice until January. She said she left disheartened at the lack of zeal for changes, such as improving the quality of the information used in the increasingly   interactions between New Yorkers and the criminal justice system. “You have this really exciting rhetoric of reform that has been embraced by almost everyone, including the police and prosecutors,” she said. “But in practice, it’s business as usual. ”",true,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
22020,22021,"The last time Liverpool were due at the Bernabeu it was 2009 and Real Madrid ' s interim president Vicente Boluda predicted a 3 0 win live on Spanish radio .  He said Madrid would ' blow Liverpool away ' and he even threw in a ' 2 1 away victory ' prediction for the second leg .  Rafa Benitez ' Reds won 5 0 on aggregate Boluda and Madrid were humiliated .   Scroll down to hear from Carlo Ancelotti and Brendan Rodgers ahead of teh clash  Cristiano Ronaldo scores in the 3 0 win at Anfield last month in the Champions League  Ronaldo looked roused in training ahead of Tuesday ' s clash at the Bernabeu in Madrid  As Liverpool land in the Spanish capital on Monday , five years on from that most impressive of European scalps , there is no need for any arrogant predictions from their opponents .  Loose talk has been replaced by the sort of quiet confidence 11 straight wins ( including a 3 0 victory at Anfield ) tend to breed .  You won ' t find any Real Madrid players , coaches or directors calling the game with such contempt for the opposition , but a big home win is exactly what many of them are quietly expecting .  Ronaldo has scored four more league goals for Real this season than Liverpool have managed  Carlo Ancelotti ' s men have won 11 on the trot , including seven straight wins in the league  Liverpool have scored 13 league goals so far this season that is four less than Ronaldo has managed on his own .  Real Madrid ' s interim president Vicente Boluda predicted a 3 0 win in 2009 They lost both legs  After brushing aside Liverpool a fortnight ago Real beat Barcelona to move within one point of them , and this weekend they climbed above them in the table , going top , with another easy 4 0 away win that had Iker Casillas asking after the game if perhaps this was the greatest Madrid side he had played in .  Real were always going to be a difficult proposition for Liverpool in Champions League Group B , but when they lost away to Real Sociedad earlier in the campaign a club currently one off the bottom and with a recently sacked manager it was a glimmer of hope for the Reds that perhaps their summer spending spree had unsettled the balance established last season .  Carlo Ancelotti has ironed out the rough spots in record time however and Madrid are now playing better than at any time under the Italian ' s management .  Gareth Bale ' s enforced absence has actually aided that process with a midfield quartet of James Rodriguez , Toni Kroos , Luka Modric and Isco all on the same wavelength in a midfield that keeps the ball as well as Pep Guardiola ' s Barcelona did .  ' We don ' t want to be compared with anyone . We have our own philosophy , ' said Modric when asked about that very comparison on Sunday .  Madrid are perhaps still slightly more direct than that great Barcelona side and a fraction more goal hungry too .  Liverpool ran out 5 0 winners on aggregate after a 4 0 win at Anfield and a fine performance in Madrid  Midfielder Yossi Benayoun scores the only goal of the game back in 2009 at the Bernabeu   Ancelotti hails ' fantastic ' Ronaldo and calls for Real to maintain form  If they continue at the current scoring rate they will finish the season with 140 goals with almost 70 of them coming from the boots and head of Ronaldo , who is ready to run riot again against Liverpool ' s shaky rearguard .  It was Madrid that were shaky five years ago . They were passing through moments of great instability with Juande Ramos briefly replacing Bernd Schuster as coach and the aforementioned Boluda even more briefly replacing Ramos Calderon as president .  Ramos had pulled things together with seven straight wins in the league but Boluda ' s confidence was very misplaced , especially against a Rafa Benitez team that had Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres both in their pomp .  Real Madrid have a good chance of avenging that 5 0 aggregate defeat five years ago  ' It ' s easy for him to say because he will be watching the game from directors ' box he won ' t be on the pitch , ' said then Madrid player Arjen Robben of Boluda ' s unhelpful comments .  ' There are no easy games ' said Ramos before he watched his side lose the first leg to a Yossi Benayoun goal and the second at Anfield to a Gerrard double , a Torres strike and another from Andrea Dossena .  With the Anfield meeting already behind them and won at such a canter Real Madrid supporters can ' t wait for Tuesday night .  The Sunday papers all carried sizeable match reports from Liverpool ' s defeat at Newcastle . There has never been a better time to avenge that 5 0 aggregate scoreline from five years ago .  ",true,text,test,Football,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
22026,22027,"When he ' s not talking about governmental reform in America , Donald Trump is gushing about his family .  E ! News caught up with the presidential hopeful in New York this morning where Trump was holding a press conference for his latest book , Crippled America : How To Make America Great Again , and the Republican candidate had some very kind words to say about his kids , including pregnant daughter Ivanka Trump , and wife , Melania .  "" Ivanka ' s been outstanding and my children have been excellent , and they really love to work very hard , "" he tells us . "" And Ivanka ' s having her third baby , and I ' m very excited about that . She ' s a wonderful mother and she ' s really been a role model for a lot of women . ""   : Ivanka Trump shares a picture of her growing baby bump  Speaking of being a role model , Trump states that his wife would be a great First Lady if given the opportunity .  "" Melania ' s been great . She will be phenomenal if she ' s given the position as First Lady , I will tell you that . She will be , "" he tells E ! News . "" She ' s got such a great heart . She ' s very smart , so we ' ll see how it all works out . ""  Until we find out whether or not that ' s going to happen , Trump has taken it upon himself to share his viewpoints on how to make America great again with his latest book . Crippled America explores his view on key issues including the economy , big  salaries and taxes , healthcare , education , national security , and social issues . One unsurprisingly big topic discussed will be his vision for complete immigration reform , beginning with securing the borders and putting American workers first .  "" I am excited to announce that work on my new bestseller is almost done and I ' ll have a new book out from Threshold Editions and Simon Schuster later this year , "" he said in a statement in September . "" Not since The Art of the Deal have I had this much fun writing a book . ""  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
22034,22035,"Monaco coach Leonardo Jardim warned his players not to rest on their laurels , telling them that they face the most difficult night of their careers when they defend their 3 1 lead at Stade Louis  against Arsenal on Tuesday night .  Portuguese coach Jardim emphasised the threat of Mesut Ozil and Santi Cazorla and is trying to prepare his players for an expected attacking onslaught from Arsenal , with the Barclays Premier League side needing to at least three goals to go through in the Champions League tie .  Jardim said : ' At this stage we ' re now at half time and we ' re two goals ahead but it ' s true that our opponents have so many quality players in their squad . So it will be very difficult for us and everyone knows if it will be the most difficult game we ' ve had in years .  Monaco coach Leonardo Jardim speaks during his Champions League press conference on Monday  Jardim feels Arsenal still pose a threat even if Monaco carry a 3 1 lead from their first leg win at the Emirates  Monaco train at their base in La Turbie , France as they prepare for the second leg  Monaco striker Dimitar Berbatov stretches as he joins the rest of his team mates for a training session  ' I don ' t think Arsenal underestimated it ' s just that we played a dream game at the Emirates . When facing such a team as Arsenal with players like Santi Cazorla , Mesut Ozil and Danny Welbeck , it ' s true we can ' t take it easy and have to focus on the game we played at Emirates .  ' In comparison to pervious years French teams are playing at a better level in the Champions League . Paris Saint Germain knocked out Chelsea and they showed the quality of the work done here in France . It was the same case for Monaco . What we ' re trying to do is to show the quality of the work . Maybe it ' s the year of France to beat the English . '  Monaco midfielder Nabil Dirar said : ' No one expected us to win at Arsenal and we enjoyed the moment but then we forgot it straightaway . Because we know they have quality players so we know we might have a little advantage but tomorrow it ' ll be a very difficult game . I think we ' ll see the real face of Arsenal tomorrow . But we have our strengths and we can play counter attack . '  Monaco bring a 3 1 first leg lead back home with them after their victory at the Emirates  Former Chelsea defender Ricardo Carvalho takes part in Monaco ' s training session  Monaco ' s Portuguese duo Joao Moutinho ( centre ) and Silva Bernardo ( left ) battle for the ball  Premier League side Arsenal need to win 3 0 or do even better to go through in the Champions League tie  Monaco are preparing to defend their 3 1 lead at Stade Louis  stadium against Arsenal on Tuesday night  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
22040,22041,"Police Chief Thomas Jackson acknowledged that he ' s heard calls for his ouster , but that doesn ' t mean he ' ll answer them .  "" I ' ve talked to a lot of people who have initially called for that and then changed their mind after having meetings and discussions about moving forward , "" Jackson said . "" Realistically , I ' m going to stay here and see this through . ""  By ' this , "" he means taking a leadership role in a police department and a community that is still marred by discord and distrust of authorities especially among those in its large African American community since the August 9 shooting . Brown was a 18 year old black teenager killed by Ferguson Officer Darren Wilson , who is white .  Despite demands by protesters , Wilson has not been charged in this case , though a grand jury is hearing evidence that could lead to an indictment .  The shooting also stirred complaints of widespread racial profiling in Ferguson , which Jackson rejected Thursday .  "" It ' s never been the intention of the Ferguson police department or any police department that I know to intentionally target individuals because of race , "" said the chief . "" If there is that happening , it ' s a crime and it needs to be addressed . ""  Chief ' sorry ' Brown ' s body wasn ' t removed sooner  In that video , the chief expressed regret that it took investigating officers four hours to remove Brown ' s body from the street after he was shot dead .  "" I ' m truly sorry for the loss of your son . I ' m also sorry that it took so long to remove Michael from the street , "" he said during his video statement .  Investigators were doing "" important work "" trying to uncover the truth and collect evidence during those four hours , Jackson said , but "" it was just too long , and I ' m truly sorry for that . ""  "" Please know that the investigating officers meant no disrespect to the Brown family , to the African American community or the people ( in the neighborhood where Brown was shot ) . They were simply trying to do their jobs , "" Jackson said .  He said he ' s been wanting to apologize for "" the time it took to remove Michael from the scene , "" and he feels better now that he ' s done it .  Feels ' responsible ' if peaceful protesters were ' upset '  Dressed casually in a red polo shirt , Jackson acknowledged in his video apology that most protesters who took to the streets of Ferguson following the shooting did so peacefully , even if there were others among them "" who had a different agenda . ""  Jackson singled out the peaceful protesters in his video .  "" The right of the people to peacefully assemble is what the police are here to protect . If anyone who was peacefully exercising that right is upset and angry , I feel responsible and I ' m sorry , "" he said .  He also acknowledged that the incident has sparked a larger conversation about societal issues , and he expressed interest in being part of the discussion .  "" Overnight I went from being a small town police chief to being part of a conversation about racism , equality and the role of policing in that conversation . As chief of police , I want to be part of that conversation . I also want to be part of the solution , "" he said .  He emphasized that "" the city belongs to all of us "" and conceded that Ferguson and the surrounding areas have "" much work to do . ""  "" For any mistakes I ' ve made , I take full responsibility . It ' s an honor to serve the city of Ferguson and the people who live there . I look forward to working with you in the future to solve our problems , and once again , I deeply apologize to the Brown family , "" he said .  Afterward , some Ferguson residents who ' d criticized police and backed the Browns expressed satisfaction with the apology , saying it needed to be said .  Others described it as too little too late , or at least called it useless unless Jackson ' s words are backed up by actions to change things in Ferguson .  Fresh violence on the streets  The St . Louis suburb was cast into the national spotlight when protests erupted following Wilson ' s shooting of the 18 year old Brown .  The demonstrations quickly devolved into looting , vandalism and violence but eventually calmed . The St . Louis suburb of 21 , 000 erupted again this week after one of three Brown memorials at the site of the shooting burned .  While many peaceful protesters took to the street Tuesday night , violent elements within the demonstration stoked chaos , attacking police with guns , rocks and bottles and vandalizing and looting businesses , Missouri Highway Patrol Capt . Ron Johnson said . One person threw a Molotov cocktail at a parking structure , and there was an attempt to set a gasoline fire at a custard shop , he said .  Two officers were injured , one of whom was struck by a rock below the eye , Johnson said .  While Johnson promised police would protect public safety as well as the freedoms of speech and expression , he warned that police would have no choice but to respond to any violent actions .  "" If that means officers will respond in riot gear , they will , "" he said Wednesday . "" We cannot have nights like last night . We can ' t have actions like last night that can result in injury or death . Those will not be tolerated . ""  In recent days , the City Council has taken up measures to reform court procedures and the way the city handles certain fines .  The City Council is also presently considering a citizen review board that would work with the police department .  Complete coverage of the Ferguson shooting and protests  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
22050,22051,"A man disguised himself in a burka in order to lure an 11-year-old boy whom he then raped and strangled to death, according to police in Abu Dhabi.The accused was aware that the boy would not accompany him if he knew he was a man, the Gulf News reported.The suspect, a Pakistani immigrant to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, is said to be known to the family of the victim, whose father is Pakistani and mother is Russian.He is accused of raping the boy and strangling him to death with a rope after picking him up from Ramadan prayers at a mosque.Azan Majid Janjua was reported missing last week after failing to come home from the mosque.He was later found by air-conditioning technicians on the roof of the building where he lived.He was reportedly found partially unclothed with his Quran lying beside him.The suspect was arrested within 48 hours of the discovery of the body, police said, after forensic evidence linked him to the crime.They declined to give any further details about the suspect or the evidence incriminating him.The murdered boy s father, Dr Majid Janjua, 38, told the local news site that his son was not in the habit of going off with strangers. He never went outside without our permission,  said Dr Janjua.  It is fate; Allah s decision. We have to accept it. The boy s mother is understood not to live in the Gulf state but was visiting at the time of the incident, which took place in the first week of the Islamic holy month Ramadan.For entire story: Daily Mail ",fake,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
22060,22061,"The moment Donald Trump is sworn in as president, Congress could begin impeachment proceedings and they could win. It could easily happen, and as much as we can t stand Trump, that would be horrible.Before you shake your head and dismiss this as just another conspiracy theory, here are some facts from a Utah law professor, Christopher Lewis Peterson, who wrote a 22 page article telling us how and why Congress can and should impeach Trump. Clearly, we won t reprint all of the 22 pages, but here s the abstract, which by itself is pretty compelling:In the final weeks of the 2016 Presidential campaign Donald J. Trump faces three lawsuits accusing him of fraud and racketeering. These ongoing cases focus on a series of wealth seminars called  Trump University  which collected over $40 million from consumers seeking to learn Trump s real estate investing strategies. Although these consumer protection cases are civil proceedings, the underlying legal elements in several counts that plaintiffs seek to prove run parallel to the legal elements of serious crimes under both state and federal law. This essay provides a legal analysis of whether Trump s alleged behavior would, if proven, rise to the level of impeachable offenses under the presidential impeachment clause of the United States Constitution. This essay begins with a summary of the evidence assembled in the three pending Trump University civil lawsuits. Next, it describes the legal claims involved in each matter. Then, this essay summarizes the applicable law of presidential impeachment under the United States Constitution and analyzes whether Trump s actions in connection with Trump University are impeachable offenses. Finally, I offer concluding thoughts, considering in particular the policy implications of a major presidential campaign with simultaneously pending legal complaints of fraud and racketeering.Now, why would a Republican Congress impeach a Republican President? Well, as you recall, the vast majority of the  wing of Congress only reluctantly supported Trump.Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan, was perhaps the most vocal reluctant supporter, saying that he was  sickened  by Trump s rhetoric, but would support him anyway.Most thought Ryan was sticking with Trump as a matter of political expediency. After all, they share the exact same voter base, but perhaps Ryan, who s not stupid, had something up his sleeve. Trump s  pick, Mike Pence, is tailor made to help elevate Paul Ryan s agenda. He s  ber conservative and  ber Christian. While Trump is a wildcard, Pence is someone who Ryan can Trust. Pence won t squawk while Ryan strips senior citizens of Social Security or the poor of food. Trump might not squawk, but he s not predictable, either.While both Ryan and Pence (and most Republicans in Congress) are social conservatives who want to set back rights for  people and women, again, Trump is a wildcard. Trump used to be pro-choice and despite the fact that his campaign was built on hate, he said very little about  people. It s highly doubtful that Trump will defend the rights of gay people or abortion rights, but that s not a chance Ryan or Republicans in Congress want to take.The Trump University lawsuit is set to start at the end of the month. It s a civil suit, but it will highlight that voters elected a con man. It will certainly be enough to make the most anti-Trump members of Congress talk and it could give us a President Pence. Yes, that s frightening.Featured image via Mark Wilson/Getty Images. ",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
22063,22064,"New York Five year old Anthony Smith didn ' t think superheroes wore hearing aids , until he became one .  His mother , Christina D ' Allesandro , says the epic journey began in May , when her superhero fanatic son , who is deaf in one ear and partially deaf in the other , refused to wear his blue hearing aid because "" superheroes don ' t wear hearing aids "" either .  Desperate , she decided to consult the experts . She found a general e mail address on the Marvel Comics website and sent a message "" into the ethers , "" asking if there were any hearing impaired superheroes .  A few weeks later , the mother of two was shocked to get an overwhelming response from Marvel , including comic book art that honored her son .  "" We decided to make him an honorary Avenger , "" a member of the Marvel Comics superhero crime fighting team , said Bill Rosemann , a Marvel editor .  Two artists , Manny Mederos and Nelson Ribeiro , sent the D ' Allesandro family comic book covers featuring their very own versions of honorary Avenger Blue Ear , inspired by Anthony , whose blue earpiece gives him the power to hear a pin drop from the other side of a state .  One cover features a younger Anthony and his buddy Hawkeye ready to fight crime . The other shows an older version of Blue Ear perched on a rooftop , tapping into his superpower and listening to a faraway call for help .  On Tuesday , the young New Hampshire boy is being welcomed as a special guest at an event at the Center for Hearing and Communication clinic in New York City , where he will get to meet a fellow crime fighting partner in the Marvel universe , Iron Man .  "" The reason why it was so easy for us to respond to this is because our characters , which were invented around the ' 60s , all have real challenges . "" Rosemann said .  He talked about how all the characters "" became superheroes despite of or because of the challenges they face . ""  Under his elastic Spidey skin is a skinny Peter Parker , who constantly gets picked on at school , Rosemann said . As a boy , superhero Daredevil was blinded in an accident that also gave him a radar sense . And Iron Man first created armor to fix his heart , and he then developed the armor into his famous suit .  "" We link challenges with their superpowers , "" Rosemann said .  "" Our mantra is what ( Marvel Comics chief ) Stan Lee said : With great power there must come great responsibility . Our guys thought , ' If I have the ability to draw , I am going to use it to help someone like Anthony feel comfortable about his hearing aid . ' ""  Rosemann and his team collaborated with Phonak , the maker of Anthony ' s hearing aid , and came up with a poster to be distributed in doctors ' offices across the country in an effort to destigmatize kids with hearing aids . The poster , to be unveiled at Tuesday ' s special event , features none other than fearless Iron Man , whose message is that kids who use hearing aids are just like him because "" they are using technology to be their best self . ""  "" It will be an Iron Man and Blue Ear team up , "" Rosemann said about the event .  Closer to home , all the attention has brought excitement and meaning for Anthony and his mother .  "" In this house , we are looking forward to meeting Iron Man , "" D ' Allesandro said . "" He is a big Avengers fan . ""  The experience has given Anthony the confidence and the ability to talk about his disability , she said .  "" He goes up to kids and says , ' Hey , I have a little ear and a blue ear . Do you want to play ? ' ""  People have reached out to her , and she says her family is grateful that this experience has connected her and her son to a wonderful network of families with special needs children .  When asked if there is a comic book series on the horizon featuring Blue Ear , Rosemann said , "" There is nothing planned right now , but with so many people responding to Blue Ear , you never know what ' s next . . . ""  "" People should just stay tuned . ""  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
22093,22094,"Washington Several shots have been fired at the National Museum of the Marine Corps building in Virginia , the  said Friday .  No injuries were reported .  It is the second time the Marine Corps museum in Triangle , Virginia , has been fired on in recent days . The Pentagon and a vacant Marine Corps Recruiting Station in Virginia also were shot at recently . All the previous shots came from the same weapon , authorities said .  Federal officials said they believe that the person taking the late night shots at military related buildings has a grievance against the institution of the Marine Corps but not the men and women serving in the Marines .  The officials said at a news conference that they want to talk with the shooter .  "" We ' d like to know what this grievance is and what we can do to try to resolve it , "" said John Perren , assistant director of the  ' s Washington field office .  The latest incident occurred Thursday night , said Gwen Adams , spokeswoman at the National Museum of the Marine Corps . No one was in the building at the time , she said .  New bullet holes were found in the glass and metal structure of the building but not inside , Adams said . The new damage was found during a routine inspection , officials said .  The bullet holes were on the western side of the building , which faces Interstate 95 , the  said . The shots probably came from the interstate , said Maj . Mike Crosbie of the Prince William County , Virginia , police department .  The museum was closed Friday morning while the investigation continued , Adams said . It will remain closed for the rest of the day , she said .  There were no plans Friday to cancel or postpone Sunday ' s Marine Corps Marathon or any events connected with it , race spokeswoman Tami Faram said .  Additional security measures have been taken , however , to bolster an "" already robust plan "" for security at the marathon , Col . Daniel J . Choike , the commander of Marine Corps Base Quantico , said Friday .  ",true,text,test,American football,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
22110,22111,"Militias raised a Kurdish flag in center of town formerly held by Islamic State  Kurdish fighters encounter little resistance , suggesting extremists pulled back in anticipation of attack  Peshmerga overtook a key miltiant supply highway on Thursday  At daybreak Nov . 12 , 2015 , a peshmerga convoy heads to the launching point for the Kurdish assault on Islamic State positions around Sinjar , Iraq . Alice Martins For The Washington Post  Iraqi Kurdish militias battling to take back Sinjar from Islamic State militants raised a Kurdish flag in the center of town and a top official said it was liberated Friday , though U . S . and Kurdish military officials urged caution in declaring victory in a major offensive to retake the strategic community .  The Kurdish forces encountered little resistance , at least initially , suggesting that many of the  fighters may have pulled back in anticipation of Friday s advance . It was also possible that they could be biding their time before striking back .  Kurdish militia fighters known as peshmerga launched a major offensive to retake Sinjar and succeeded in cutting a key nearby highway on Thursday . U . S . led coalition airstrikes supported the offensive , dubbed Operation Free Sinjar .  Sinjar has been under the control of the Islamic State group for more than a year . The town was overrun by the extremists as they rampaged across Iraq in August 2014 , leading to the killing , enslavement and flight of thousands of people from the minority Yazidi community .  We promised , we have liberated Sinjar , Massoud Barzani , the president of the semi autonomous Kurdish region , told fighters in Sinjar . It s time for the Yazidi girls to raise their heads up . Revenge has been taken for them .  Sinjar is very important because it s become a symbol of injustice against the Kurdish people , he added .  Peshmerga Maj . Ghazi Ali , who oversees one of the units involved in the offensive , said thousands of Kurdish fighters entered the town from three directions Friday morning . Associated Press journalists saw them raise a flag over a building in the center of the city .  They encountered minimal resistance during Friday s push , Ali said .  No one was fighting back . They placed some IEDs and had some snipers in position , but there were no clashes , he said , using the abbreviation for improvised explosive devices , a military term for homemade roadside bombs .  Gunfire fell silent as peshmerga fighters marched into the town . He described the situation in the city as still dangerous , however , and warned that it was too soon to declare victory .  I can t say the operation is complete because there are still threats remaining inside Sinjar , he said . The risks include ambushes from suicide bombers , roadside bombs and booby trapped houses , he added .  Iraq s highest Shiite religious authority , Ayatollah Ali al Sistani , praised peshmerga fighters in his Friday sermon for their efforts to capture Sinjar from the Sunni militant group .  Col . Steven Warren , a spokesman for the U . S . led coalition , confirmed only that peshmerga fighters raised their flag on grain silos in the eastern part of the town . He said they had not fully retaken Sinjar .  There is reason for officials caution . An earlier attempt to wrest back control of the town , at the foot of Sinjar Mountain about 50 kilometers ( 30 miles ) from the Syrian border , stalled in December . Militants have since been reinforcing their ranks .  The fight to dislodge  militants from the Kurdish town of Kobani in northern Syria , meanwhile , took about four months ? despite hundreds of U . S . airstrikes in support of the Kurdish fighters .  Islamic State extremists overran Sinjar as they rampaged across Iraq in August 2014 , leading to the killing , enslavement and flight of thousands of people from the minority Yazidi community . Its members follow an ancient faith that the Islamic State group considers heretical .  The U . S . later launched an air campaign against the Islamic State militants , also known as  ,  and , in Arabic , as Daesh .  Hundreds of pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles carrying Kurdish fighters were seen gathering at the entrance of Sinjar earlier Friday ahead of a planned push into the town center .  Diar Namo , the 26 year old deputy commander of the peshmerga unit stationed there , said the skies above Sinjar were largely quiet overnight following intense coalition airstrikes on Thursday .  From his frontline observation post , he said he saw little movement inside the city before Kurdish forces moved in .  We saw more than 50 Daesh ( fighters ) flee overnight , Namo said , using an Arabic acronym for the Islamic State group , Before there were only 200 to 300 in the city .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
22139,22140,"Donald Trump s budget is all about punishing the poor while enriching himself.The whole problem with Trump keeping his various business enterprises in his family is that he can use the presidency to only support policies that help him and his family profit financially. And forget about Trump actually doing anything that would harm his own bottom line.Millions of Americans rely on housing aid to make sure they have a roof over their heads and the heads of their children.But that doesn t matter to Trump at all.You see, while Trump s budget makes massive cuts to housing and shelter programs that are designed to help the poor and the homeless, many of whom are also veterans, it protects a federal program that provides millions of dollars in subsidies paid to private landlords.According to the Washington Post,One of those landlords is Trump himself, who earns millions of dollars each year as a part-owner of Starrett City, the nation s largest subsidized housing complex. Trump s 4 percent stake in the Brooklyn complex earned him at least $5 million between January of last year and April 15, according to his recent financial disclosure.Meanwhile, Trump s budget cuts the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) by $7 billion. The federal program Trump personally benefits from only got cut by a mere half a percent, about $65 million.In short, while the low-income families face eviction and homelessness, Donald Trump and his family will continue drawing millions of dollars in income from the government despite owning several lavish homes, including a Trump Tower penthouse plated in gold.On top of that, Trump s healthcare bill would take healthcare away from millions of low-income families as well, which means that poor people will not have shelter or healthcare if Trump has his way.This is disgraceful and totally unethical. Clearly, Trump is designing his budget to enrich himself and his family while disregarding the needs of millions of Americans, many of whom voted for him.Americans should be outraged by this.Featured image via Mario Tama/Getty Images",fake,dataset,test,US elections,Economy,fake,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
22140,22141,"Marcel Hirscher continued his red hot streak with a stunning victory at the Moscow parallel slalom Tuesday .  The Austrian consolidated his lead at the top of the overall World Cup standings after overcoming Sweden ' s Andre Myhrer in the men ' s two leg final .  Hirscher , who also won at Kitzbuhel on Sunday , is now 214 points ahead of Norwegian rival Aksel Lund Svindal in the overall standings , and has all but assured himself victory in the race for the slalom ' s crystal globe .  Hirscher turns it on for the Terminator  It was the second city event of the World Cup season , which is based in the mountain resorts of Europe and North America , and Hirscher made amends for being beaten by Felix Neureuther in Munich on New Year ' s Day .  "" All in all I was ahead by less than half a second , "" Hirscher told reporters .  "" It ' s very tough to win each race against so many great racers , but I was lucky today . The weather is cold and today there were almost perfect conditions for this competition .  "" It was a good race for me but if some more spectators were to come to watch the race next year it would be really great for us . ""  The win was Hirscher ' s sixth of the season and 18th of his career , a feat which is certain to give him a huge lift going into the World Championships at Schladming , Austria , which start on February 4 .  "" It ' s a totally different event than what we normally ski , "" Hirscher said of the Moscow race , for which big ramps are constructed .  "" If I had to compare it with my victory in Kitzbuhel , it might be less difficult to win in an event where there are 16 opposed to over 60 skiers , plus there was so much pressure on me for that victory which I was missing from Kitzbuhel .  "" But , here you only have one chance to give 100 , things are so tight that unless you step up your game from heat to heat you are out ! ""  Svindal sets the Alpine speed standard  Meanwhile , Germany ' s Lena Duerr won the women ' s slalom after edging past Slovakia ' s Veronika Velez Zuzulova .  "" I tried to keep myself focused during my every single race tonight and it paid off as I managed to win the event , "" Duerr told reporters .  "" I ' m really happy with my performance here . ""  Slovenia ' s Tina Maze , who leads the World Cups standings , suffered a surprise defeat in the quarterfinal by Switzerland ' s Wendy Holdener .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
22155,22156,"A Ukrainian court has found former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko guilty of abuse of authority for signing gas contracts with Russia and sentenced her Tuesday to seven years in prison .  Authorities deployed hundreds of police officers around the court to keep order , state media reported . Dozens of angry Tymoshenko supporters took to the streets of Kiev in August when she was taken into custody .  "" Dear friends , I just want to say that I disagree with this verdict and I am saying that the year 1937 is back again , "" Tymoshenko said in the courtroom Tuesday , making a reference to Josef Stalin ' s rule when Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union .  But Judge Rodion Kireev said that "" bearing in mind the fact that the court has not established any circumstances aggravating or mitigating Tymoshenko ' s punishment , and given the heightened social danger of the crime committed by Tymoshenko , her personality and the absence of any penitence on her part , the court sees no grounds to hand down a more lenient sentence . ""  In April , Ukraine ' s Prosecutor General ' s office opened a criminal case charging Tymoshenko with signing overpriced gas deals with Russian energy provider Gazprom that inflicted damages to the country of more than 1 . 5 billion hryvnas ( almost 190 million at the current exchange rate ) and which Tymoshenko had allegedly no right to sign .  The court ruled Tymoshenko must repay the money , and she is banned from holding public office for three years .  Tymoshenko narrowly lost to President Viktor Yanukovych in a presidential election in February 2010 , and she became his fiercest opponent .  Tymoshenko repeatedly brushed off all charges against her as political , calling the trial a "" farce "" and naming the judge a "" stooge of Yanukovych ' s administration , "" appointed to "" fabricate "" the case .  Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Tuesday he didn ' t understand why she was sentenced to seven years in the case .  "" It ' s dangerous and counterproductive to question the complex of gas agreements reached between Ukraine and Russia in talks with Tymoshenko , "" Putin was quoted as saying in Beijing , according to state  broadcaster Russia 24 news . "" Gas contracts signed by Russia and Ukraine , after talks with Tymoshenko , fully comply with the laws of Russia , Ukraine and international standards . ""  The Russian Foreign Ministry said the nation ' s 2009 natural gas agreements with Ukraine were legal . It says Russia "" is committed to developing and deepening all round partnership with Ukraine , including the search for mutually acceptable solutions in the gas sphere , as the leaders of the two countries agreed to in ( the Russian government country estate of ) Zavidovo on September 24 . ""  "" One should take into consideration the fact that the leadership of many countries and the international community have perceived this court trial as one that was initiated for purely political reasons . By accusing Tymoshenko of abusing power when signing a contract for the supply of Russian gas in 2009 , the . . . court ignored compelling evidence that those gas agreements were designed in strict accordance with the laws of Russia and Ukraine as well as the rules of international law , "" it says .  "" We also see an obvious anti Russian implication in this issue . In actual fact , Yulia Tymoshenko was sentenced for the valid and legally binding agreements in the gas area between ' Gazprom ' and ' Naftogaz Ukraine ' , "" the ministry statement said .  Amnesty International slammed the verdict as "" politically motivated "" and called for the release of Tymoshenko , who was prime minister from January to September 2005 and December 2007 to March 2010 .  "" The charges against her are not internationally recognizable offenses , they are attempts to criminalize decisions that she made in the course of her work , "" said John Dalhuisen , Europe and Central Asia deputy program director of Amnesty International .  "" Poor political decisions of this kind if that is what they were should be punished by voters , not through courts . Her conviction on these charges is illegitimate and she should be immediately released , "" Dalhuisen said .  "" The trial against Yulia Tymoshenko highlights systemic problems within the justice system in Ukraine , and the conduct of this trial casts doubt over the independence of the judiciary . ""  Amnesty says she was charged in December "" for abuse of office over the receipt of 180 million euros from the sale of a greenhouse gas quota to a Japanese company . "" It also says she is charged "" with having delayed signing an order in December 2009 for the customs clearance of 1 , 000 Opel Combo cars . The delay allegedly resulted in a budget loss of 4 . 6 million . ""  "" Yulia Tymoshenko must be released and all charges against her must be dropped , "" said Dalhuisen .   foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said the organization "" is deeply disappointed with the verdict "" and it will prompt the  to "" reflect on its policies towards Ukraine . "" She said the action points to the "" politically motivated prosecutions "" for "" the leaders of the opposition and members of the former government . ""  "" The way the Ukrainian authorities will generally respect universal values and rule of law , and specifically how they will handle these cases , risks having profound implications for the  Ukraine bilateral relationship , including for the conclusion of the Association Agreement , our political dialogue and our cooperation more broadly . ""  Ashton said the  calls for "" competent Ukrainian authorities to ensure a fair , transparent and impartial process in any appeal in the case of Ms . Tymoshenko and in the other trials related to members of the former government "" and says "" the right of appeal should not be compromised by imposing limitations on the defendants ' ability to stand in future elections in Ukraine , including the parliamentary elections scheduled for next year . ""  The Ukrainian foreign ministry said "" internal processes "" in the country must not affect forging the Association Agreement with the European Union .  "" Any internal processes or passing events cannot be a reason for refusal from such reciprocity on the question of European integration since we are talking about strategic prospects for the  Ukrainian relations , "" the ministry said .  Disputes over energy prices have been the main sticking point in the relations between the Russia and Ukraine since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 . Russia retained its vast oil and gas reserves , while the largest pipeline network to Western Europe the main customer of those energy riches ended up in Ukraine ' s territory . Ukraine is buying Russian gas for its domestic consumption and at the same time charges Russia transit fees for all its gas exports going west .  In 2006 , the conflict was exacerbated when Russia cut off its supplies to Ukraine for not agreeing to pay what it was asking for gas , while the latter siphoned off Russia ' s gas deliveries to Europe to compensate for its own shortages .  But three years later , the gas war reached a further unprecedented scale . For about two weeks of an unusually cold winter in Europe , most European customers were freezing , being cut off from Russian gas supplies as the two former Soviet countries crossed horns in a commercial dispute and didn ' t want to yield to each other .  And over the past few years , Russia has had much the same oil and gas disputes with its other western neighbor , Belarus .  But Western governments have repeatedly criticized Russia for its arm twisting tactics against its less rich neighbors in economic matters and for using its vast energy resources as a weapon to impose its political will across the former Soviet states , accusations that Russia denies .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
22170,22171,"LeBron takes exception to ' coach killer ' label after David Blatt firing  Do you consider LeBron James a coach killer ? Not many people seemed to think so after Paul Silas was replaced with Mike Brown in LeBron ' s first run with the Cleveland Cavaliers . Most people didn ' t seem to think so even when LeBron left for the Miami Heat and Brown received the ax in the process . But as things were initially complicated with the execution of the Big Three in Miami and Erik Spoelstra was one of the main scapegoats , people were looking for signs that LeBron was trying to oust the coach .  After the recent firing of David Blatt and reports that James was undermining his coach in Cleveland and possibly lobbying for Mark Jackson or Tyronn Lue behind the scenes , it ' s now something of a topic of discussion . Fairly or unfairly , LeBron has been charged in the court of public opinion with coach killing and he ' s not a fan of the way his name is being labeled right now . From  :  "" I think it does suck that people want to throw my name in the dirt , "" James said .  Some have labeled James a "" coach killer "" for his perceived involvement in Blatt ' s ouster , portraying James as a puppet master pulling the strings behind the scenes in order to elevate his preferred coach , Tyronn Lue , to the top spot .  "" It sucks , "" James said . "" But what can I do about it ? I ' ve never , in my time since I picked up a basketball , ever undermined a coach , ever disrespected a coach . You ask any of my little league coaches , my high school coaches , coaches I ' ve played for in tournaments , camps , my  coaches . I ' ve always respected what they wanted to do . And I ' m not the owner of a team , I ' m not the  of a team . I ' m the player of a team .  "" People get it so misconstrued because I ' m a smart basketball player and I ' ve voiced my opinion about certain things , which I did when I was here my first stint with Paul Silas and Mike Brown . Which I did in Miami with Coach Spo Erik Spoelstra . Which I did with Blatt and I ' ll do with T Lue . And at the end of the day , they ' ll still have their final call . ""  LeBron does have a bit of a point here . It ' s not like he ' s someone like Deron Williams , who was definitely saddled with the coach killer stigma after the Jerry Sloan debacle . Cavs  David Griffin was adamant that this was his call , but people believe LeBron was behind this because of the way the last year and a half happened . Whether he directly or indirectly had Blatt fired , his attitude toward the coach often came off as hesitant instead of working together .  It felt like he questioned everything , which may be something he ' s always done . He ' s one of the smarter basketball players we ' ve seen , and good coaches like their players coming to them with alternatives in key situations or game planning . It shows the coaching of the staff is permeating to the players and they ' re also looking to help . LeBron certainly has that in him . But when you execute that mentality and then come off as almost dismissive of your coach , that ' s going to color the perception of what went down .  "" I don ' t know , "" James said . "" What do you guys want me to do , turn my brain off because I have a huge basketball  ? If that ' s what they want me to do , I ' m not going to do it because I ' ve got so much to give to the game . There ' s no difference for me telling my teammates or telling guys how to get better with their game . If I feel I got something that will help our team , ultimately , I like to give it . It helped me get two titles . So , but I think it does suck that people want to throw my name in dirt for no particular reason , because of speculation or whatever the case may be . But you can ' t worry about it too much . I got 14 guys here . I got a fan base here and a fan base all over the world that loves what I do , and they respect what I do , and I can ' t worry about a select group of people that wants to use their negative energy to take away my positive energy . I can ' t allow that to happen . ""  There is also a part of it that being LeBron James will always bring about extra criticism . That ' s the territory that comes with being the level of star he ' s become in the sporting world and it dates back all the way to high school when he was promoted like nobody we ' ve ever seen before at that age . Still , you can ' t just lazily throw out "" haters gonna hate "" and pretend there are no grounds for criticism in this case .  It ' s fine if he didn ' t feel Blatt was the coach to bring them to a title . It ' s fine if he didn ' t want Blatt as the coach for other reasons . It ' s fine for the Cavs to not want Blatt to spend the next four or five months figuring it out on the sidelines if they don ' t have the confidence he can pull it off as a group of players or an organization as a whole . But LeBron also didn ' t do a ton to speak out in favor of his coach or backing his coach during Blatt ' s time there . That ' s mostly what people will remember about the end of this tenure .  And if they end up winning a title in Cleveland under Lue or someone else , nobody will care about the Blatt situation anymore .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
22204,22205,"Jurgen Klinsmann has lavished praise on Nicklas Bendtner after the Denmark striker netted his first international hat trick in the 3 2 win over  .  Despite being on the receiving end of the former Arsenal striker ' s treble , the  manager paid compliment to the Dane who scored in the 33rd , 84th and 90th minute to help Denmark claim victory in the friendly .  ' When you score three goals in a game you deserve all the compliments in the world . Bendtner deserves them , ' Klinsmann said .  Nicklas Bendtner scored a hat trick , including two in the last seven minutes , as Denmark beat  3 2  Bendtner celebrates with his team mates after firing the home side level during the first half  ' Sometimes it goes well and you score and gain confidence , and three goals is the right medicine for Bendtner . I wish him the best in the future . '  Denmark boss Morten Olsen was also quick to acknowledge Bendtner ' s performance , even claiming the Dane could have grabbed five goals .  ' Nicklas might have scored four or five goals . On the other hand , though , we can not demand that he should score all of his chances .  ' It is clear to see that the training efforts have been good for Nicklas recently . I have spoken with Wolfsburg coach Dieter Hecking and he has been very pleased with the effort Nicklas has put in .  Jurgen Klinsmann watched his side fall to a 3 2 defeat in Denmark but was quick to praise Bendtner  Jozy Altidore is congratulated by his team mates after giving the visitors the lead after 19 minutes  ' It has been difficult for him to get playing time because his competitor Wolfsburg team mate , Bas Dost , has scored every time he has hit the ball . Nicklas has kept his mouth shut and just kept on training . '  Bendtner admitted that the hat trick was a defining moment in his career .  ' Of course it was very special for me to score hat trick for the national team , and it is something I will never forget , ' Bendtner said .  On an evening when Tottenham ' s Christian Eriksen became the youngest Dane to win 50 international caps , Jozy Altidore , who could only muster a single goal in the English top flight during an 18 month spell at Sunderland , put the  ahead after 19 minutes in Aarhus .  But the Danes were soon level through Bendtner . Aron Johannsson restored the vicitors ' lead before Bendtner scored twice in the final seven minutes to seal his hat trick and earn victory for Olsen ' s side .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
22210,22211,"? ? ? Click here to read or post comments  America Ferrera and Eva Longoria delivered one of the night ' s most flawlessly executed jokes when they mocked the Golden Globes for mixing up Ferrera and fellow Latina actress Gina Rodriguez .  Golden Globe Awards : Best , most shocking , funniest moments from the 2016 ceremony  The 2016 Golden Globes brought another round of surprises , banter and big wins .  If you missed Leonardo DiCaprio and Lady Gaga ' s brush up , Jonah Hill ' s bear y funny accessory , or Brie Larson besting Cate Blanchett during the Jan . 10 telecast , catch up on the night ' s biggest moments here .  Jennifer Lawrence wins for her role based on real life LIer Joy Mangano  Jennifer Lawrence took home the best comedic actress award for "" Joy , "" her portrayal of home shopping sensation Joy Mangano , the Long Islander who invented the Miracle Mop . "" Thank you for your story . Thank you for giving so much . It was such an honor to play this character , "" Lawrence said to Mangano in her acceptance speech .  Poor Steve Harvey just can ' t live down his "" Miss Universe "" mistake . Jamie Foxx took a hit at the host by announcing "" Straight Outta Compton "" as the winner for best original score a film that wasn ' t even nominated . The real winner was "" The Hateful Eight . ""  America Ferrera , Eva Longoria joke about Golden Globes mixing up Latina actresses  Presenters America Ferrera and Eva Longoria delivered one of the night ' s most flawlessly executed jokes when they mocked the Golden Globes ' Twitter flub during the nominations announcement back in December , in which the Globes repeatedly misidentified Ferrera as "" Jane the Virgin "" star Gina Rodriguez . "" Hi , I ' m Eva Longoria , not Eva Mendes , "" said Longoria . "" And hi , I ' m America Ferrera , not Gina Rodriguez , "" said Ferrera . Now there ' s a witticism with a message .  While walking to the stage to accept her award for best actress in a limited series or  movie for "" American Horror Story : Hotel , "" an oblivious Lady Gaga practically stepped on Leonardo DiCaprio . His hilarious reaction was caught on camera , and immediately became a trending topic with GIFs , naturally . DiCaprio ' s response ? "" I just didn ' t know what was passing me that ' s all , "" Entertainment Weekly reports .  Brie Larson wins best dramatic actress over frontrunner Cate Blanchett  ( Credit : NBCUniversal via Getty Images Paul Drinkwater )  Newcomer Brie Larson won her first Golden Globe , for her starring role in "" Room . "" It was a shock considering Cate Blanchett ' s celebrated performance in "" Carol "" not to mention the other nominees Larson beat to win the major award : Blanchett ' s "" Carol "" co star Rooney Mara , Saoirse Ronan of "" Brooklyn , "" and "" The Danish Girl ' s "" Alicia Vikander .  Ryan Gosling and Brad Pitt share the stage  Almost too hot for  . Co stars Ryan Gosling and Brad Pitt introduced their nominated film , "" The Big Short , "" and somehow the stage didn ' t catch fire . Gosling joked that he was annoyed at having to share the moment with Pitt . . . and they probably engaged in other banter that we were too busy drooling to listen to .  ( Credit : Los Angeles Times ,  Allen J . Schaben )  Kate Winslet seemed just as surprised as the rest of us when she won the night ' s first award , for best supporting actress in "" Steve Jobs . "" Though a relatively minor category , it was filled with stiff competition this year : Winslet bested Helen Mirren , Jane Fonda , Alicia Vikander and Jennifer Jason Leigh for the statuette .  ( Credit : NBCUniversal via Getty Images Paul Drinkwater )  Jonah Hill , or as Channing Tatum joked , the bear from "" The Revenant , "" presented the award for best supporting actress in a film while delivering a bizarre speech referencing his furry alter ego .  ( Credit :  , Getty Images Frederic J . Brown )  Forty years after receiving a Golden Globe nomination for "" Rocky , "" Sylvester Stallone finally left the Golden Globes a winner , for his performance in "" Creed "" ( essentially , "" Rocky 7 "" ) , in which he reprised his Rocky Balboa role . The actor , who received a standing ovation as he walked to the podium , ended his acceptance speech by saying , "" Most of all , thank you to my imaginary friend Rocky Balboa , for being the best friend I ever had . ""  ( Credit : NBCUniversal via Getty Images Paul Drinkwater )  We knew the four time host would be unapologetically crass and raunchy . But his opening monologue was much too vulgar for 8 p . m . network television . Jokes about "" Transparent "" star Jeffrey Tambor ' s manhood rose to the level of shocking , considering Gervais had said his opener would be more conservative than his previous ones . Nothing and no one was safe not even easy ( and tired ) targets Caitlyn Jenner and Ben Affleck .  Coming soon : Newsday ' s Entertainment newsletter , for the latest on celebs ,  , more .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
22216,22217,"EWweblink ) Sony ' s 230 million alien zapping sequel "" Men In Black 3 "" topped the box office over the three day weekend frame with an estimated 55 million .  Although the Will Smith action comedy didn ' t exactly trip out of the gate , "" Men In Black 3 ' s "" start is troubling considering its gigantic budget and supposed built in audience . Fortunately , as is so often the case these days , international results proved stronger . Sony says the film has taken in 132 million overseas in its initial week of release .  Marvel ' s "" The Avengers "" held strong in second place with 37 million a 34 percent drop from last weekend . The superhero ensemble crossed the 500 million mark on Saturday , its 23rd day of release , effectively smashing the record previously held by "" Avatar , "" which took 32 days to reach the same milestone . It ' s earned 513 . 7 million total .  Last weekend ' s openers "" Battleship "" and "" The Dictator "" took up the next two spots on the chart . "" Battleship "" plummeted 58 percent ( on a holiday weekend no less ! ) to 10 . 8 million , giving it a 10 day total of 44 . 3 million against a 209 million budget . "" The Dictator , "" meanwhile , dropped by a more modest ( but still not that great ) 45 percent to 9 . 6 million , resulting in a 41 . 4 million 12 day total .  Rounding out the Top 5 , the Oren Peli produced horror horror flick "" Chernobyl Diaries "" couldn ' t achieve "" Paranormal Activity "" sized numbers . "" Chernobyl "" earned a weak 8 million in three days with 3 . 5 million of that coming from Friday alone ( a sure sign of frontloadedness ) .  1 . "" Men In Black 3 "" 55 . 0 million  2 . "" The Avengers "" 37 . 0 million  3 . "" Battleship "" 10 . 8 million  4 . "" The Dictator "" 9 . 6 million  5 . "" Chernobyl Diaries "" 8 . 0 million  Check back tomorrow for the full Memorial Day weekend box office report , and follow me on Twitter for up to the minute box office updates .  See the full story at EWweblink .    to Try 2   issues of Entertainment Weekly  2011 Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc . All rights reserved .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
22221,22222,"Reuters) - The U.S. Senate voted on Thursday to confirm retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson as secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in President Donald Trump’s Cabinet. Carson, who ran for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination and later endorsed Trump, becomes the only African-American in the Trump Cabinet. The Senate confirmed his appointment by a vote of 58 to 41. Carson was sworn in by Vice President Mike Pence later on Thursday. During his confirmation hearing in January, Carson, 65, told the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs that he would monitor any potential conflicts of interest between his agency and properties controlled by Trump. He also told lawmakers he was fit to lead HUD, an agency whose mission includes helping the poor get housing, even though he has sometimes criticized its work. ",true,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
22228,22229,"When the Battle of Gettysburg was over after three days , the Civil War ' s bloodiest battle had claimed 51 , 000 casualties .  The Union Army of the Potomac clashed with Gen . Robert E . Lee ' s Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in July 1863 . The battle turned against Lee and his invaders on July 3 , and Confederate forces returned to Virginia .  The ferocious battle , considered a turning point in the war , occurred 150 years ago this week , on land that is now a national military park .  Gettysburg anniversary provides a bigger story  With soldiers ' graves on the battlefield and near a former hospital site , Gettysburg residents pleaded with state officials to create what is now called the Soldiers ' National Cemetery .  At the cemetery ' s dedication on November 19 , 1863 , President Abraham Lincoln gave his epochal two minute Gettysburg Address , reminding listeners "" that government of the people , by the people , for the people , shall not perish from the earth . ""  In 1864 , a group of citizens established the Gettysburg Battlefield Memorial Association to preserve part of the battlefield as a memorial to the Union soldiers who fought there , according to the National Park Service . In 1895 , the association transferred its land holdings to the federal government . The  took over administration of the park in 1933 .  This week , the park will continue to mark the 150th anniversary of the battle with a series of commemorative events . At least 25 , 000 visitors per day were expected from June 28 through July 7 , according to the Gettysburg Convention Visitors Bureau .  Park stats : Gettysburg National Military Park welcomed about 1 . 2 million visitors last year . The nearly 6 , 000 acre site includes 1 , 320 monuments and memorials , 148 historic buildings , 410 cannons and the Soldiers ' National Cemetery ( with 7 , 756 total interments ) . ( About 3 , 500 are Civil War burials . The rest came from subsequent wars . )  The location : The site is in Adams County , Pennsylvania , about 35 miles southwest of Middletown ' s Harrisburg International Airport .  If you go : There ' s no fee to enter the park but there is an admission fee for the Gettysburg Museum Experience , the film "" A New Birth of Freedom , "" narrated by Morgan Freeman , and the Gettysburg Cyclorama . ( National Park passes are not accepted for entrance to the museum and visitor center . ) Visitors can book licensed battlefield guides for private tours for a fee , and reservations are recommended . During the summer months , bus tours are available for a fee .  Meet our ranger : Seasonal park ranger Caitlin Kostic fell in love with the history of the Civil War in the fifth grade , when her teacher played the 1993 movie "" Gettysburg "" as part of a history lesson on the war .  "" After watching it , I couldn ' t get enough of it and bought books and watched specials , "" said Kostic , 24 , who lived in Hazleton , Pennsylvania , about 120 miles northeast of Gettysburg . "" As a result , my parents brought me to Gettysburg that summer for a one night stay . I told my mom that someday I would be giving tours of the battlefield at Gettysburg . ""  Kostic started interning at the park in college and is working her third summer as a seasonal ranger , having just completed a master ' s degree in applied history .  "" I love getting up every day and coming to a place that is rich in history , and I love spending my time reading , researching and teaching the public about things that are so much bigger than myself . It ' s a very humbling experience . ""  For a day trip , don ' t miss : The battlefield . "" That ' s the reason we are here . "" A basic introduction to the battlefield can take two or three hours , Kostic said . "" You step out onto the field , and you are walking in the footsteps of the soldiers .  "" You get a sense of what they saw and their struggles . It gets pretty hot and humid in the summer . You experience that heat and humidity in that terrain , putting yourself in the mindsets of the soldiers who fought here . That helps place ( people ) back in time . ""  During the summer , there are about 20 free park ranger programs each day , every day of the week . Visitors can also purchase an audio  to help navigate the field , take a bus tour or hire a licensed guide for a private tour .  Favorite less traveled spot : Power ' s Hill , located on the Baltimore Pike , was part of the Union army ' s artillery line and the site of Gen . George Gordon Meade ' s temporary headquarters on July 3 . At the time of the battle , the hill was about half covered in trees , while the other half was bare . Over time , the hill has been completely covered by trees .  A park effort is underway to remove some of the trees "" to recapture the historic landscape "" of 1863 , Kostic said . "" It ' s a very strategic part of the field . It ' s hard on a program to imagine those trees not there , "" she said . "" When the battlefield is rehabilitated , we can give more effective programs . ""  Favorite historical spot : Soldiers ' National Cemetery . Created after the battle , but before the war ended in April 1865 , there are 3 , 500 Union soldiers interred in the cemetery where Lincoln came to deliver his Gettysburg Address . It also contains the graves of soldiers of subsequent conflicts through Vietnam , Kostic said . It was closed to new burials in 1972 .  "" It shows that sacrifice is a generational thing , "" she said . "" Every generation has been called to sacrifice something . That sacrifice can be linked throughout the years . . . and you can capture a lot of American history in that cemetery . ""  Favorite nature spot : Little Round Top . Part of the Union position on July 2 3 and perhaps the most visited part of the battlefield , the entire western slope of Little Round Top ( which is also a hill ) is void of trees .  "" You can see the entire battlefield from this hill , "" she said . "" You can see the South Mountain range and part of the town , and you get a whole sense of the area . People enjoy going in the evening because they can watch the sunset .  "" We look upon these fields as beautiful landscapes , but the only reason we look at them is because of the carnage that took place 150 years ago . At one point these fields were ugly because of the wounded and dead that littered the field . ""  Most transformative moment in the park : Last year on July 2 , 2012 , it was the anniversary of the battle . During anniversary days , the rangers give programs in real time , sharing history at the time it was actually being made on the battlefield . Located at Little Round Top , Kostic was giving her first ever real time program at 4 p . m . , at the time fighting had occurred at that spot .  "" The actions of the people 149 years ago made the site important that anniversary day , "" she said . "" Knowing the stories of the men , knowing that many of them were wounded and dying . . . it ' s an extremely humbling experience . ""  Favorite other park to visit : The National Mall in Washington , D . C . "" I love the fact that there is so much to do , and it ' s free , "" Kostic said . If she had to pick one site at the mall , it ' s the Vietnam Veterans Memorial . "" That ' s my favorite spot at the mall . ""  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
22239,22240,"This is the truth about the intentions of the growing radical Muslim population living in the UK. It s the truth the liberal, open-borders Left in America doesn t want you to see. These are the people Donald Trump is warning us about allowing into our country with no real vetting, besides that of the UN, who has no vested interest in our national security. The people featured in this video could easily be your neighbor. An Eye-Opening Two Year Undercover Investigation Into Britain s Muslim Community These are the black flags of Islam. This one is actually the flag of the Islamic State [ISIS]. One day when the Sharia comes, you will see this black flag everywhere. One famous scholar of Islam Sheik he said that,  The black flag of Islam will one day fly high over 10 Downing Street  and that was about 10-15 years ago. It seemed ludicrous back then, but if you look at the way society is moving now, you see it as a very real possibility, the way Muslims are coming forward in this country. ",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,present
22240,22241,"For Canada , the cost of either meeting its commitments under the Kyoto Protocol , or failing to do so , was too much to bear .  On Monday , the country became the first signatory of the landmark climate treaty to back out of the deal , citing the huge potential cost of legally binding commitments .  Confirming the move , environment minister Peter Kent said to meet its obligations under the accord Canada would have to take every single vehicle off its roads .  "" Every car , truck ,  , tractor , ambulance , police car , "" he elaborated in a media briefing , before giving another equally unpalatable option of closing down the country ' s entire farming and agricultural sector and cutting heat to every home , building and factory .  If the country failed to do so , Kent said taxpayers would have to give 14 billion to other countries "" with no impact on emissions or the environment . ""  How did it come to this ?  Canada ' s move was not unexpected . Since being elected into power in 2006 , Prime Minister Stephen Harper has made it clear he was not a supporter of the controversial pact .  Canada quits climate pact  The Kyoto Protocol was signed in 1997 by the previous Liberal government , which committed Canada to cutting greenhouse gas emissions 6 below 1990 levels by 2012 . In fact , levels have been rising , according to readings submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (  ) .  The announcement came after the end of the latest round of talks involving the 195 parties to the  in Durban , South Africa .  U . N . Secretary General Ban Ki moon had just finished saying that a "" significant agreement "" had been reached , which has been dubbed "" The Durban Platform , "" when Canada pulled the plug .  But while Kent repeated his claim that Kyoto , for Canada , "" is in the past , "" he described The Durban Platform as "" the way forward . ""  What is The Durban Platform ?  The new deal , agreed Sunday , brings in major emitters of greenhouse gas emissions including the United States , China , India and Brazil . For that , it was hailed a success , although critics still argue that the timetable is too loose .  The parties agreed to extend the Kyoto Protocol , which was due to expire at the end of 2012 , and to discuss a legally binding pact to cover all major emitters by 2015 , with any agreed deal to start in 2020 .  "" Right now the global climate regime amounts to nothing more than a voluntary deal that ' s put off for a decade , "" said Kumi Naidoo , the international executive director of environmental campaign group Greenpeace . "" This could take us over the two degree threshold where we pass from danger to potential catastrophe . ""  The package includes the first contributions to a 100 billion Green Climate Fund to help developing countries to invest in clean energy and adapt to climate change . An Adaptation Committee will be formed to co ordinate adaptation activities worldwide with agreement on a "" Technology Mechanism "" to smooth the way .  What impact will Canada ' s departure have on the treaty ?  Canada is just one of the 41 "" Annex 1 "" countries and the European Union to have ratified the Kyoto Protocol , and its departure is not expected to lead to any kind of collapse .  However , its decision to formally leave the pact does send a symbolic message to other countries which might be looking for a way out , according to Greenpeace .  "" The Kyoto Protocol is still quite shaky with many countries wanting to jump out of the ship . This Canadian position to leave behind the Kyoto Protocol does destabilize the positive action , "" said Li Yan , the group ' s climate and energy manager in Beijing .  Li said the new deal , to be agreed before 2015 , will also include legally binding commitments so countries that opt out now are only delaying the financial pain . "" There really is no escape from the responsibility , "" she added .  Opinion : World needs climate change ' Plan B '  Which countries could follow ?  Russia and Japan have already made it clear they ' re not in favor of extending the Kyoto Protocol , but are yet to formally pull out .  Nick Nuttall , spokesman for the United Nation ' s Environment Program , said any further departures would seem premature with new the treaty negotiations underway , as agreed in Durban .  Before the Durban talks , Russia ' s chief negotiator Alexander Bedritsky said the Kyoto Protocol "" neither resolves the problems of global warming , nor ensures meeting the global two degree target , nor provides for environmental integrity . ""  The U . S . has long refused to ratify the Kyoto Protocol on the grounds that it doesn ' t bind other major emitters , including China , to legally binding limits .  On Tuesday , Beijing expressed regret at the Canadian decision . "" It is regrettable and flies in the face of the efforts of the international community for Canada to leave the Kyoto Protocol at a time when the Durban meeting , as everyone knows , made important progress by securing a second phase of commitment to the Protocol , "" Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin said at a news briefing , according to Reuters .  What does the most recent science say ?  Leading scientists agree that the world is on a path to rising average global temperatures which could have a disastrous humanitarian and environmental impact .  Global carbon dioxide levels rose to an average of 389 parts per million in 2010 , compared with 386 ppm in 2009 , according to figures released in November by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (  ) . A level of 350ppm is considered by scientists to be the safe upper limit for carbon dioxide in the atmosphere .  In Copenhagen in 2009 , countries agreed to work towards keeping the increase in global temperatures below two degrees Celsius to avoid dangerous levels of climate change .  Extreme weather the norm in 2011  According to the World Meteorological Organization ' s (  ) provisional status report , 2011 was the 10th warmest year on record and warmer than any other year with a La Nina event .  "" Our science is solid and it proves unequivocally that the world is warming . . . ""  secretary general Michel Jarraud said .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,negative,past
22276,22277,"A mother died trying to protect her daughter when a tornado hit her home , a Louisiana mayor said , one of at least two twisters tied to a weather system that ' s caused major damage in the state and wreaked havoc on Mardi Gras festivities .  Rayne , Louisiana , Mayor James "" Jimbo "" Petitjean told reporters that the 21 year old woman , who was not identified , was killed when a tree fell on her house . Her daughter is "" doing fine , from what we heard , "" he said .  "" It ' s unfortunate , and that ' s where we really need your prayers , "" Petijean said .  The National Weather Service confirmed that tornadoes hit that city , about 80 miles west of Baton Rouge , and the nearby city of Crowley on Saturday morning .  In addition to the mother who died , at least 11 were hurt when the twister struck Rayne at about 10 a . m . , according to Police Chief Carroll Stelly .  Packing winds between 111 and 135 mph , the tornado was 300 yards wide and produced damage over a 5 mile stretch , according to the weather service .  Petijean said the city ' s electricity infrastructure was badly damaged , with power going out for all its 10 , 000 residents soon after the tornado came through . The mayor said he hoped electricity could be restored to 80 of the city by day ' s end , as utility workers try to rework the grid to maximize access .  In addition , several houses were knocked off their foundations and there were reports of gas leaks , which led to mandatory evacuations of about 1 , 500 residents in the city ' s northwest , Petijean said . Emergency personnel went door to door to make sure everyone had left their homes , state police Trooper Stephen Hammons said .  The mayor said a curfew is being imposed in part of the city , with people asked to stay indoors until 6 a . m . Sunday while authorities check to ensure all is safe . Some of those evacuated are being cared for by the Red Cross .  The impact zone is an area about one to two square miles , said Rayne police dispatcher Whitney Thibodaux . Among the buildings affected were a public housing units and Rayne High School , with damage to the computer room , library and gym .  Three people , meanwhile , suffered injuries when the twister hit Crowley , according to the National Weather Service .  Debris was reported along a 2 mile long damage path on Interstate 10 , and there was damage to a Waffle House , car wash and several residences .  About 150 miles to the east , meanwhile , revelers and residents of New Orleans were soaked much of Saturday as steady rains fell on the city . This weekend the last one before Ash Wednesday is traditionally one of the busiest in The Big Easy , with people partying and enjoying Mardi Gras festivities .  The inclement weather forced several changes to the Mardi Gras schedule , including the delay of the Krewe of Endymion parade from Saturday to Sunday , according to a release from the New Orleans Police Department . Other parade related festivities were pushed up to start earlier Saturday , given the rain soaked forecast for Saturday afternoon and beyond .  The rain stopped later Saturday in New Orleans and the weather service ' s forecast called for sunny conditions Sunday , with high temperatures in the lower 60s .  A flood advisory remains in effect through Monday morning for numerous communities along the Mississippi River , including parts of Chicot and Desha counties in Arkansas Adams , Bolivar , Isaquena , Washington , Madison and Wilkinson counties in Mississippi and Claiborne , East Caroll , Jefferson , Tensas and Warren parishes in Louisiana .  There were also flood warnings in effect for the Atchafalaya River at Morgan City , Louisiana , through Sunday afternoon the Tchefuncte River in Covington , Louisiana , through Monday at noon and the Bogue Falaya River at Camp Covington , Louisiana , through Tuesday morning .  ",true,text,test,Football,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
22277,22278,"If more people were armed, Donald J. Trump says at rallies, mass shootings like those in Paris and San Bernardino, Calif. would be less deadly. If you have a permit to carry a concealed weapon, he wants to make it valid in all 50 states, as simple as a driver’s license. And Mr. Trump himself has a permit to carry a concealed handgun, which he is not shy about mentioning. “Somebody attacks me, oh, they’re gonna be shocked,” he warned last year. Mr. Trump, who promises to “totally protect” the Second Amendment, is scheduled to speak on Friday at the annual convention of the National Rifle Association, on the cusp of a general election in which gun issues are expected to be more prominent than in recent presidential races. His address should signal how far he is likely to go in pressing gun rights to energize the Republican base in the fall campaign. Whereas President Obama   gun control in both his national runs, Hillary Clinton, the likely Democratic nominee, is signaling a greater appetite to clash with Mr. Trump on the issue. In a Twitter message last week, Mrs. Clinton said that Mr. Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, would force schools “to allow guns in classrooms on his first day in office. ” “This issue is at a tipping point,” said Dan Gross, the president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, citing Mrs. Clinton’s politically effective framing of gun issues that put Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont on the defensive in the Democratic primary campaign. “You’re going to hear about it as differentiator for the first time in decades” in the general election, Mr. Gross said. Mrs. Clinton’s appearances in black churches, where she cited the grim statistics of gun violence and surrounded herself with families of victims, helped her win crucial   voters. She relentlessly criticized Mr. Sanders for his votes against gun control in the Senate. On the other hand, Mrs. Clinton avoided speaking about gun control in rural white regions of Ohio, Pennsylvania and Kentucky, whose   voters will be desperately fought for by any Democratic nominee against Mr. Trump. A disparaging comment by Mr. Obama in 2008, who said that these voters cling to guns and religion, did much damage. As Mrs. Clinton turns to the general election, she plans to highlight the issue in swing districts like Northern Virginia and the Philadelphia suburbs, a campaign official said, where changing demographics are tipping support for gun control, especially among women. Mr. Trump’s naming of 11 potential Supreme Court justices on Wednesday seemed no coincidence: On the eve of the N. R. A. ’s meeting, the group’s concern for the court’s conservative tilt is likely to outweigh any hesitations about Mr. Trump’s reversal from earlier liberal positions on gun control. A statement on gun rights was one of the first detailed policy papers Mr. Trump issued last year after announcing his candidacy. He accused Mrs. Clinton this month of seeking to “abolish the Second Amendment. ” And just as he argues that casualties from the terrorist attacks in Paris last year would have been lower if civilians had been armed, he has proposed abolishing   zones at military bases and at schools. “I will get rid of   zones on schools, and  —   you have to  —   and on military bases,” Mr. Trump said on the campaign trail in January. “My first day, it gets signed, O. K.? My first day. There’s no more   zones. ” A federal law from the 1990s established   school zones. It could not be reversed by executive order, as Mr. Trump seems to imply. (His campaign did not respond to a request for comment about his gun policies.) “Trump would not be able to eliminate   zones by executive order,” said Adam Winkler, a law professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, and an expert on the Second Amendment. “That law can only be repealed by Congress. ” Mr. Trump opposes almost all recent actions aimed at reducing gun violence proposed by Mr. Obama and Democrats in Congress, who have sought gun regulations after horrific shootings in recent years. Each has failed in the face of Republican opposition. The measures included expanding background checks to people buying firearms at gun shows and online limiting the capacity of magazines and banning assault weapons. “Gun and magazine bans are a total failure,” Mr. Trump wrote in his position paper. “The government has no business dictating what types of firearms good, honest people are allowed to own. ” Those positions represent a reversal from where he stood about 15 years ago when he first contemplated a run for president. In a 2000 book, Mr. Trump supported a ban on assault weapons and a “slightly longer waiting period to purchase a gun. ” He also criticized the power of the gun lobby. “The Republicans walk the N. R. A. line and refuse even limited restrictions,” he wrote. Bob Barr, an N. R. A. board member, said that despite Mr. Trump’s inconsistencies, he was preferable to Mrs. Clinton, who has said that a 2008 Supreme Court ruling overturning a handgun ban in Washington was wrongly decided. “We’re all very familiar with the fact Mr. Trump does change his positions over time, sometimes over a very short period of time,” said Mr. Barr, a former Georgia congressman. “The most important question in my mind is would he be better than Hillary Clinton, and the answer is absolutely yes. ” In polls, a majority of voters align with Democrats’ positions on gun control, though political strategists often say that only opponents care passionately enough about the issue to guide their vote. A New York   News poll in January found that 57 percent of respondents wanted stricter laws governing gun sales, and 88 percent favored background checks for all purchases. Mr. Trump goes against that grain. “What we don’t need to do is expand a broken system,” he wrote in his policy paper. One area in which Mr. Trump does part ways with gun rights activists is on preventing people on the government’s terrorist watch list from buying weapons. “If somebody is on a watch list and an enemy of state and we know it’s an enemy of state, I would keep them away, absolutely,” he said in an interview with  News last year. Senate Democrats pushed for such a bill, which many of Mr. Trump’s Republican rivals opposed. As a lifelong resident of New York City, which has some of the strictest gun laws on the books, Mr. Trump is an unlikely supporter of gun rights in a party that usually aligns with the cause because of libertarianism or roots in rural hunting. In addition to Mr. Trump’s permit to carry a handgun, his two sons are hunters. Photographs of the two men from a   hunting trip in Africa resurfaced last year, stirring criticism from animal rights activists for their poses with exotic animal conquests, including an elephant, a crocodile and a leopard. At the N. R. A. convention a year ago, Mr. Trump brought out his sons, Eric and Donald Jr. “These are our people,” Donald Trump Jr. said. “These are things we do on the weekends, in our free time. ”",true,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
22315,22316,"Eden Hazard has been the best player in the Premier League all season and on Saturday he demonstrated just how much he has grown as a player and how important he has been to Chelsea ' s imminent title victory .  He is now the player you look to in a crisis . He is the man who has been eking out wins when the team hasn ' t been at its best . He did it last week at Queens Park Rangers , winning the ball from the goalkeeper ' s kick and driving into the box to set up Cesc Fabregas , and he did it on Saturday with his finish . He ' s dragging them over the line at the minute .  You wondered when Jose Mourinho came in whether Hazard would be the kind of player who would work hard enough for him . And he would have taken the hint when he saw Juan Mata moved out that there would be no special favours from the manager for his creative players .  Eden Hazard fires past David De Gea following a storming run from the Belgian star into the box  Hazard celebrates in front of the Stamford Bridge faithful following his 38th minute strike  The Chelsea forward ' s first half strike proved crucial as the Blues eked out a 1 0 victory  He perhaps looked at that and responded . You will see in certain games against lesser teams he might have a licence not to track back but not today , not against the best teams . Then he is required to do the requisite defensive work . And he does now .  But the big change for him in the last 18 months has been in his finishing and that was evident again on Saturday . He ' s now on 17 goals for the season . He ' s always been a player who could assist and create but now you look to him for goals . He is the danger man , he draws people to him and creates space for the rest of the team .  He ' s not in the top three players in the world at the moment but he ' s creeping ever closer . What he will need to reach that level is for Chelsea to make a Champions League final and for him to be decisive .  Hazard tries to guide a deflected shot into the United goal as Ander Herrera tries to snuff out the danger  He is improving every season , which is a good sign , and if he keeps doing that he has a chance of being that good . Chelsea will win the league now . I don ' t think they ' re at their best at the moment but managing a league campaign is not about playing well all the time . It ' s about surviving the difficult periods and Chelsea haven ' t lost games when they ' ve struggled in the same way that Manchester City or Manchester United did .  Now they look a little tired as they get towards the finishing line and Mourinho would feel he has very strong squad of 13 and 14 but he will probably try to bring in people so he can give Nemanja Matic or Cesc Fabregas a couple of weeks rest at times to recuperate .  As for United , for all their dominance in possession , they lacked enough clear cut chances . In fact they needed something like the magic of Oscar ' s back heel and Hazard ' s finish . Louis van Gaal will have been pleased that they controlled long periods of the game with their passing but they did lack that bit of punch .  Wayne Rooney takes on Nemanja Matic , Cesc Fabregas and Hazard at Stamford Bridge  With Wayne Rooney not being able to play at centre forward because of the injuries , it did neuter them somewhat . I thought he did well in midfield and proved that he can drop back into that position his passing and play was excellent .  But he ' s been the thrust of the team in recent times . Maybe two years ago Radamel Falcao or Robin van Persie could have provided that , but at the moment United need Rooney to give them that impetus in the really difficult games .  When Sir Alex Ferguson left , you would have said it might take a couple of seasons to establish a new identity and build a new foundation . It ' s been a bumpy ride and they wouldn ' t have expected another change of manager , but at least , two years on , it looks as though they are now in that place .  Jose Mourinho may look to give key players such as Fabregas ( right ) a rest in the coming weeks  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
22331,22332,"Former Olympic champion Angel Matos of Cuba faces a life ban after kicking a referee flush in the face during his taekwondo bronze medal match in Beijing .  Matos reacted in extraordinary fashion to being disqualified by Chelbat .  Matos , who took gold in Sydney in 2000 , was winning 3 2 , with just over a minute left in the second round , when he fell to the mat after being hit by his opponent , Kazakhstan ' s Arman Chilmanov .  Matos lay down , awaiting medical attention , but was then disqualified by referee Chakir Chelbat of Sweden for taking too much injury time .  A furious Matos reacted by pushing a judge , then pushed and kicked Chelbat in the face .  It left the Swede with blood pouring from his lip while Matos spat on the floor and was then escorted out of the arena .  "" We didn ' t expect anything like what you have witnessed to occur , "" said World Taekwondo Federation secretary general Yang Jin suk .  "" I am at a loss for words , "" he told the Associated Press .  Matos ' coach , Leudis Gonzalez , is also in hot water for his angry reaction and claiming the Kazakhs had tried to fix the match .  "" This is an insult to the Olympic vision , an insult to the spirit of taekwondo and , in my opinion , an insult to mankind , "" Yang added .  Although the arena announcer said Matos and his coach were banned effective immediately , Yang said due process must be followed before officially banning the two .  It was not the only controversial moment in the four day taekwondo competition , which was marred by several protests against judging decisions .  Earlier Saturday , China ' s double gold medalist Chen Zhong crashed out in the quarterfinals after initially being declared the winner .  She was fighting Britain ' s Sarah Stevenson , who scored with a clear head kick worth two points in the final seconds of their bout .  That would have put Stevenson ahead and into the semifinals , but the judges ruled Stevenson ' s kick wasn ' t solid enough for points , and Chen was declared the winner 1 0 .  After Britain protested , the result was changed to put Stevenson in the semifinal . She lost that to jeers from the partisan Chinese crowd , but later won a bronze medal match .  It was the first time a match result has been overturned since taekwondo became an official Olympic sport .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
22332,22333,"—   Imagine if streets were for strolling, intersections were for playing and cars were almost never allowed. While it sounds like a pedestrian’s daydream, and a driver’s nightmare, it is becoming a reality here in Spain’s   city, a densely packed metropolis of 1. 6 million on the Mediterranean. Ever since the 1992 Summer Olympics focused global attention here, this thriving center of tourism, culture and business  —   often viewed as a hipper, more easygoing cousin to Madrid, the Spanish capital  —   has seen its popularity soar along with congestion on its streets and sidewalks. So in an initiative that has drawn international attention and represents a transformative remaking of its streetscape, Barcelona has decided that many of its   streets and intersections will hardly have cars at all. Instead, they will be turned over to pedestrians. Beginning in September, city officials started creating a system of   superblocks across the city that will severely limit vehicles as a way to reduce traffic and air pollution, use public space more efficiently and essentially make neighborhoods more pleasant. “We like to call it ‘winning back the streets for the people,’” said Janet Sanz Cid, a deputy mayor of the city. “People from Barcelona want to use the streets, but right now they can’t because they are occupied by cars. ” Under the plan, the superblocks will be overlaid on the existing street grid, each one consisting of as many as nine contiguous blocks. Within each superblock, streets and intersections will be largely closed to traffic and used as community spaces such as plazas, playgrounds and gardens. Ms. Sanz said that at least five superblocks were expected to be designated by 2018. Barcelona’s system of superblocks  —   called “superilles” in Catalan  —   would go well beyond the pedestrian plazas that have sprouted up on the streets of New York City. While those spaces have carved out more room for pedestrians in busy corridors, the superblocks represent a more radical approach that fundamentally challenges the notion that streets even belong to cars. The strategy has propelled Barcelona, a city better known for its soccer team and its Gaudí architecture, to the forefront of   experiments and has attracted interest from transportation officials, urban planners and advocates in many other cities paralyzed by gridlock. Claire Weisz, an urban designer at WXY, a Manhattan firm that redesigned the streets around Astor Place, said Barcelona’s superblock plan could be applied in New York to redefine streets as public spaces. “The vast majority of people living in our neighborhoods don’t have cars,” Ms. Weisz said. “Yet our streets are primarily used by cars, and we have a huge need for safe places to walk and bike. ” Barcelona’s plan will redirect cars, buses and commercial vehicles to streets along the perimeter of each superblock, though local residents will still be able to drive their cars at reduced speeds and park in designated areas. Deliveries will be allowed at less congested times. But as Barcelona officials have acknowledged, introducing the superblocks will not be as easy as simply changing the rules. To be widely accepted, the plan will require a cultural shift in the way people view and use the streets. The first of the new superblocks received a mixed reaction when it was unveiled recently in El Poblenou, a former industrial area that has been redeveloped with   housing and offices for technology companies. Though many residents saw the benefits of the superblock, some complained that they were not given enough time or explanation before it was put in place. Businesses have also expressed concerns that it could interfere with their work by, among other things, restricting when they can load and unload goods. To inaugurate the superblock, architecture professors and students have worked with local associations of residents and businesses to come up with alternative uses for the street space. One intersection, using tires and recycled materials, was transformed into a playground with a soccer field and sandbox. Marta Louro, 40, a teacher who lives next to an intersection, said the superblock would make streets safer and reduce pollution. “It gives priority to the pedestrian,” she said. “I believe it’s very important that people have space. ” But others have expressed concerns that they will have to walk farther to a bus stop, or will have a harder time using their cars or finding parking. “It’s not a bad idea,” said Oriol Sanchez, 25, a waiter who drives to work. “But for me, it’s a problem for my car. ” Visitación Soria, 78, said the superblock would not be embraced by everyone. “People like their cars,” she said. “People are already saying there’s a problem finding parking, and this will make it worse. ” No matter the merits, the debate over what a modern urban streetscape should look like, how it should function and whom it should serve has grown increasingly clamorous around the world. In New York City, whose population is at a record high of 8. 5 million residents, conflicts among pedestrians, cyclists and motorists have drawn attention to busy corridors. Transportation officials have recently taken steps to expand the overtaxed promenade on the Brooklyn Bridge. Polly Trottenberg, the city’s transportation commissioner, said that 53 pedestrian plazas had been built, in Times Square and other parts of the city, since 2007, and that another 20 plazas were under construction. In all, these plazas will total 27 acres, roughly the equivalent of 20 football fields, Ms. Trottenberg said. “It’s not an insignificant amount of space that we’ve wrestled back from the automobile,” she said. Ms. Trottenberg said she was aware of Barcelona’s superblocks plan and would consider applying the concept in New York  —   if not the name. In urban planning circles, the term “superblock” has been used to refer to sprawling public housing projects in American cities. “We’re certainly formalizing things that are close to that concept,” she said. “There are a lot of different models, and there’s not a    . ” The city tried a   “Shared Streets” test in August that promoted recreational use of a   area of Lower Manhattan. The speed limit was reduced to 5 miles per hour, and people were encouraged to take to the streets alongside cars. The program was intended to expand on another initiative, “Summer Streets,” in which a section of Park Avenue south of 72nd Street and all of Lafayette Street were closed to vehicles on three August Saturdays. Hundreds of people participated, though not everyone got along. Pedestrians said the slower speed was not strictly enforced, while drivers complained about not being given enough warning and kept honking at people in their way. Still, Paul Steely White, the executive director of the nonprofit Transportation Alternatives, said, “It helps give people a taste of what their life could be like if that space was reapportioned for people rather just for automobiles. ” In recent weeks, the organization has called on the city to reconfigure 14th Street in Manhattan as a “PeopleWay” to accommodate more pedestrians and cyclists when a section of the L train shuts down for repairs. The proposal would limit car traffic, add bus and bike lanes and widen sidewalks. Ms. Trottenberg called it “an interesting idea,” noting that the city is working with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which operates the city’s subways and buses, to look at options. In Barcelona, the superblock is not a new idea. The first one was introduced in 1993 near a historic church, the Basílica de Santa Maria del Mar, in the El Born neighborhood in the center of the city. Two more superblocks followed in 2005 in Gràcia, a northern neighborhood known for its plazas and narrow streets. But superblocks did not become a priority until Ada Colau, a housing activist, was elected mayor last year. Ms. Sanz Cid, the deputy mayor, said that instead of focusing on the big commercial developments favored under previous   policies, the current administration was interested in “concrete, precise interventions” to directly benefit local residents. “We want to look back at the neighborhoods and rethink urban planning,” she said. The superblocks are part of a comprehensive program to improve the city’s transportation networks and reduce their environmental impact, Ms. Sanz Cid said. The effort, called the Urban Mobility Plan, includes increasing bus service, extending train lines to the suburbs and tripling the number of bike lanes. Josep Mateu, president of the Royal Automobile Club of Catalonia, which has about one million members, has called for more discussion of the superblocks plan. He described it as well intentioned and said he welcomed the city’s decision to test it in El Poblenou, a less trafficked area in Barcelona. But he added, “We cannot forget that the project does also have other, less positive effects. ” Mr. Mateu said that superblocks, if applied across the city, would significantly limit road capacity for vehicles without reducing the actual number of vehicles to the same extent. “There would be a considerable increase of congestion, which is the situation that produces more pollution,” he said. “It is true that there are areas that will lose vehicular traffic, but it is also true that this traffic would eventually move to other roads and other districts, leading to a strong division between winning roads and losing roads. ” He also noted difficulties some residents could have in gaining access to public transportation, a loss of parking spaces the program could create and negative effects it could have on businesses. “We should also take into account that the superblock project does not seem to be a priority” for Barcelona residents, he said, suggesting that issues like unemployment were more pressing. Salvador Rueda, the director of the Urban Ecology Agency, the agency that designed the superblock model, said a lesson learned from earlier superblocks was that initial opposition gave way to acceptance, in part because of a growing consensus about the benefits. No one has sued the city to remove a superblock, Mr. Rueda said. “Now we know that the main problem is the resistance to change that occurs at the beginning of the implementation of the superblocks. ” In Gràcia, where more than   of the streets were turned into public spaces, car traffic has dropped to 81, 514 trips annually from 95, 889 before the superblocks were established. Street life is thriving: Pedestrians now make 201, 843 trips annually through Gràcia, up 10 percent from before the superblocks. Cyclists make 10, 143 trips annually, a 30 percent increase. The transformation has been even more significant in El Born, which by the 1990s had become so   that many people avoided it. “It was very tough to walk because they used to park cars on top of the sidewalk,” recalled Isabel Ruiz, 53, a longtime resident of the neighborhood. On a recent afternoon, Jaime Batlle and Iñaki Baquero, who teach architecture at the International University of Catalonia, walked along El Born’s cobblestone streets pointing out changes the superblock had produced. Palm trees and benches were in the middle of streets. Trash was collected by an underground pneumatic system rather than trucks. There were no curbs or sidewalks, only a single lane that Mr. Batlle called a “common platform” for drivers and pedestrians so that no one felt more ownership. The lane also forced drivers, when allowed in the street, to drive cautiously. Where storefronts once stood empty, customers now flowed in and out of restaurants, wine shops, hair salons and boutiques. “It used to be full of cars, and now it’s not,” Mr. Batlle said. “Imagine that for the rest of the city. This is the kind of city we want everywhere. ”",true,news,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
22387,22388,"Report : The Bengals have ' no plans ' to move on from Marvin Lewis  Despite losing another first round playoff game and losing it in the most embarrassing fashion possible , the Bengals reportedly won ' t be moving on from Marvin Lewis .  There ' s plenty of concern in Cincinnati after Lewis ' team self destructed to close its 18 16 playoff loss to the Steelers , but according to Adam Schefter of  the Bengals have "" no plans "" to change their head coach .  Issue of Marvin Lewis ' future really isn ' t much of an issue . Bengals have no plans to make any  change at this time , per sources .   Sports  Insider Jason La Canfora confirms it would be a "" surprise "" if the Bengals made a change but wouldn ' t rule anything out until the Bengals confirmed things following the end of season meeting with Lewis .  The Bengals have been exceedingly patient with Lewis ' postseason struggles , who is now 0 6 since taking over as head coach of the Bengals in 2003 .  It ' s also worth noting they ' ve actually been to the playoffs under Lewis as well , which is a stark departure from the Bengals ' past between 1988 ( their last Super Bowl appearance ) and Lewis showing up the Bengals finished above . 500 once .  There is some concern about coaching departures under Lewis too . Jay Gruden ' s having success in Washington with the Redskins , Mike Zimmer took the Vikings to the playoffs , and Hue Jackson looks like a very likely head coaching candidate this offseason .  Marvin Lewis should be sticking in Cincy . (  )  But the hallmark of Lewis ' tenure has been patience , both with him as a head coach and the Bengals with their faith in Lewis .  Moving on from Lewis because he continued to get into the postseason would ultimately be a big surprise , especially considering he ' s the second longest tenured coach in the  behind Bill Belichick .  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
22399,22400,"Tom Coughlin : ' Giants will win when we deserve to win '  Giants head coach Tom Coughlin has no excuses for his team ' s poor play .  New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin isn ' t making any excuses for his team ' s 5 7 record . During their three game losing streak , the Giants haven ' t lost a game by more than six points , but Coughlin doesn ' t feel as if they deserved to win any of these games .  We ll win when we deserve to win . We haven t done enough things to put us over the top , Coughlin said during his Monday meeting with the media . We have got to get back to work . We have four games to go . We ve got to work extra hard as a coaching staff , and our players will work hard , and we ve got to win a game and change this negativity and get going in the right direction .  The 2015 Giants have blown five games where they were leading in the fifth quarter , they ' ve had two losses in overtime , and only one game where they lost by multiple scores . Coughlin wouldn ' t call that many closes losses a result of luck or coincidence , but simply the result of his team not getting the job done when it counts the most .  We re all sick of losing , let s face it , Coughlin said . We ve had too many close games that went the wrong way at the end of the game . . . . When the game is on the line , we have to step up and make plays .  Thanks to a Washington Redskins loss on Monday night in Week 13 , the Giants are once again tied for first place in the  East with the Redskins and Philadelphia Eagles . Over the next three weeks , the Giants will have an opportunity to separate themselves , but they ' ll have to do so by defeating the Minnesota Vikings , Carolina Panthers and Eagles . Even if they win all three , they will need the Redskins to drop one game or else they stand to lose out on a tiebreaker .  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
22407,22408,"Click here to read the complete science behind the adidas Brazuca  Neymar could soon have the world at his feet if he inspires Brazil to glory on home turf this summer .  And the Barcelona star got a taste of the ball he hopes to win the World Cup with during training at Brazil ' s training base on Wednesday .  Chelsea ' s Oscar and former team mate David Luiz were among the players who used the Brazuca ball while training alongside Neymar as the squad were assembled on the pitch for the first time since joining up for the World Cup .   Scroll down to watch Neymar and Brazil team mates receiving World Cup medicals  Skills test : Oscar ( left ) and Neymar ( centre ) juggle with the Brazuca World Cup ball in training on Wednesday  Keep up : Dani Alves ( second right ) also got a taste of the official World Cup ball at Granja Comary  Likes what he sees ? Brazil boss Luiz Felipe Scolari ( centre ) casts his eye over his squad  Goalkeeper Julio Cesar has backed the official World Cup ball , playing down possible worries over the performance of the adidas made Brazuca .  ' The ball is a good one , we had contact with it today , ' the former Inter Milan and Queens Park Rangers player said of the Brazuca , which is a playfully slang word for native Brazilians .  ' I think the outfield players are going to like it too , ' he added .  His comments at Brazil ' s Granja Comary training complex , which is in Teresopolis 90km outside Rio de Janeiro , were in sharp contrast to four years ago when he and other players criticised the Jabulani ball , which was used in the South Africa World Cup .  Orders : Scolari gives instructions to Neymar as the Samba stars build up towards the World Cup  You ' re supposed to use your feet ! The Brazil players get their hands on the Brazuca ball for some exercises  What ' s the secret , Phil ? Scolari whispers to technical coordinator Carlos Alberto Parreira ( left )  That ball , he said , was too light and moved about in the air . It was ' terrible , horrible , like a ball you buy in the supermarket , ' he added .  Julio Cesar had a miserable campaign at the 2010 finals where his mistake contributed to Brazil ' s elimination by the Netherlands at the quarter final stage .  But the 34 year old , who is now plying his trade with  Toronto in U . S . Major League Soccer , said he had worked hard to recover his confidence after that career low point .  Glove affair : Goalkeeper Julio Cesar eyes the new Brazuca ball during training in Teresopolis  Still like it , Julio ? The keeper gestures after a ball is struck past him and into the net  Back of the net : Goalkeeper Jefferson stretches for the ball but can ' t prevent a goal during training  ' Supermarket ball ' : The infamous Jabulani ball was used at the 2010 World Cup  ' Sometimes too much confidence can trip you up , and I say that from experience , ' he said .  ' After the World Cup , in addition to our elimination , I had problems with Inter and with Queens Park Rangers . I had to be very strong in order to be here today .  ' I am a much better player than four years ago , ' he said . ' Although I had the rank of best goalkeeper in the world in 2010 I feel like I am much better prepared today . You always have to take something positive from adversity . '  What a way to travel : Brazil ' s method of transport during the World Cup has been revealed  Perfect branding : Brazilian airline Gol has provided the Boeing 737 800 for the national team ' s travel  Bright : The plane was painted by The Twins graffiti artists and identical brothers Otavio and Gustavo Pandolfo  Scolari ' s planning has been meticulous and this was evident when his squad arrived .  The stars had a medical check up at Granja Comary , dubbed the Brazil Lab .  Luiz , on the verge of a 50m move from Chelsea to  , had his mouth and ears checked up , while his soon to be club mate Thiago Silva got the same treatment as the squad were put through stringent fitness tests .  Meanwhile , the team ' s method of transport has been revealed for the World Cup : a spectacular painted airplane branded with the team badge .  The plane , a Boeing 737 800 provided by Brazilian airline Gol was painted by The Twins , graffiti artists and identical twin brothers Otavio and Gustavo Pandolfo .  Their design features faces that represent the Brazilian people .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
22409,22410,"Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond today warned European leaders to urgently stump up extra money to fight the Ebola crisis as figures revealed the founders of Facebook and Microsoft alone had given almost as much as France .  Mr Hammond , in Luxembourg for a crisis summit on the epidemic sweeping West Africa , said world leaders had ' a short window ' to beat the disease .  European Union governments are working to raise 800 million in aid by the end of the week to fight the deadly virus with Britain and the  having so far picked up the bulk of the costs of fighting the outbreak .  Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond arrived at today ' s European Union foreign affairs council summit in Luxembough to hammer out a rescue package to combat the Ebola outbreak  Facebook boss Mark Zuckerberg had contributed 15million more money than India while Microsoft founder Bill Gates had stumped 30million , which is more than half as much as the French government .   foreign ministers are holding a week of talks today to agree better measures to fight Ebola .  Mr Hammond said : ' We ' ve got a very short window to get on top of it and prevent the uncontrollable spread of the disease , ' British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said . ' We do need this billion euro fund . '  So far , the overall anti Ebola total for the  , including  national contributions , stands now at nearly 395 million , with Britain contributing 125 million and Germany some 80 million .  The Netherlands also promised to send a frigate to West Africa to help , matching a similar contribution from Britain .  ' Money is very important , equipment is very important , staff is very important , ' said  foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton .  The  ' s incoming Foreign affairs head Federica Mogherini and Mr Hammond spoke before the start of the summit today  The World Health Organization ' s representative to the  , Roberto Bertollini , was relieved to hear  promises of action .  ' It ' s time to act now . . . if we want to limit the amount of cases to an amount that is controllable , ' he said .  In Spain , officials said nursing assistant Teresa Romero now appears to have beaten Ebola but she won ' t be considered virus free until she is tested Tuesday for a second time .  She was among those treating a Spanish missionary who died of Ebola on Sept . 25 .  ' The first good news is that the evolution of Teresa Romero is positive , ' said Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia Margallo . ' The second is that the 15 others ( linked to her ) did not present any symptoms . '  Bystanders look at a health worker in protective clothing after he and his colleagues removed the body of a woman suspected of having died after contracting the Ebola virus in Bomi county , on the outskirts of Monrovia , Liberia  Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf said Ebola has killed more than 2 , 000 people in her country and has brought it to ' a standstill '  It comes after David Cameron warned last week that Ebola was ' the biggest health problem facing our world in a generation ' .  The Prime Minister warned other countries to ' look to their responsibilities ' to help tackle the epidemic ravaging parts of West Africa amid growing anger at the lack of international support in the fight against the deadly virus .  Mr Cameron said Britain was ' leading the way ' in providing assistance to the region and called for other countries to match the  effort .  The Royal Navy medical ship  Argus , which has a fully equipped 100 bed hospital on board , set sail from Cornwall to Sierra Leone last week to join the humanitarian effort and is due to reach the area by the end of the month .  But its facilities will not be used to treat Ebola patients themselves but will be there in case any of the  military and civilian personnel working in the region become ill or are injured during the course of the operation .  The  Argus left Britain for the West Coast of Africa last week as the Government ramped up its efforts to combat the outbreak of the disease  Britain has taken on responsibility for fighting the outbreak in Sierra Leone , while the  are leading in Liberia . The French government has agreed to take on the lead role combating the disease in its former colony of Guinea .  Mr Cameron said : ' I think it is time for other countries to look at their responsibilities and their resources and act in a similar way to what Britain is doing in Sierra Leone , America is doing in Liberia , France is doing in Guinea .  Other countries now need to step forward with resources and action because taking action at source in West Africa is the best way to protect all of us here in Europe . '  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
22426,22427,"U . S . Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks during a town hall in Waterloo , Iowa December 9 , 2015 .  U . S . Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks during a town hall in Waterloo , Iowa December 9 , 2015 .  U . S . Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks during a town hall in Waterloo , Iowa December 9 , 2015 .  U . S . Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton ( C ) smiles after seeing a 3 D printed sign that reads ' Welcome Secretary Clinton ' , while touring Cedar Valley TechWorks in Waterloo , Iowa December 9 , 2015 .  U . S . Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton ( C ) is shown the designs that are fed into the 3 D printer at Cedar Valley TechWorks in Waterloo , Iowa December 9 , 2015 .  U . S . Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton ( C ) looks at items made with a 3 D printer at Cedar Valley TechWorks in Waterloo , Iowa December 9 , 2015 .  U . S . Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton ( C ) looks at items made with a 3 D printer at Cedar Valley TechWorks in Waterloo , Iowa December 9 , 2015 .  U . S . Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton ( C ) tours a 3 D printing facility at Cedar Valley TechWorks in Waterloo , Iowa December 9 , 2015 .  U . S . Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton ( C ) looks through the window of a 3 D printer at Cedar Valley TechWorks in Waterloo , Iowa December 9 , 2015 .  U . S . Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton takes the stage for a campaign town hall meeting in Salem , New Hampshire December 8 , 2015 .  U . S . Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton reacts when an audience member calls her ' Madame President ' at a campaign town hall meeting in Salem , New Hampshire December 8 , 2015 .   , Iowa U . S . Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton detailed plans on Wednesday to crack down on companies that shift profits overseas , a practice known as earnings stripping .  Clinton is spending this week explaining how , if elected president in November 2016 , she would address tax avoiding inversion deals in which a company buys or merges with a foreign rival and relocates on paper to lower its U . S . tax bill .  "" This is a technical term for a trick , "" Clinton told a town hall in Waterloo , Iowa .  Earnings stripping is a widely used technique and covers a range of deals that shrink the taxable U . S . profits of multinational corporations while still allowing them to take advantage of some U . S . tax deductions .  Clinton ' s campaign estimates that closing the earnings stripping loophole would raise 60 billion over 10 years that could be used to provide incentives for manufacturing , research and small business .  As an example , she cited the 160 billion plan by U . S . pharmaceutical maker Pfizer Inc (  . N ) to purchase smaller rival Allergan Plc (  . N ) and move its headquarters to Ireland . One of the primary benefits of that deal is earnings stripping , her campaign said .  Clinton , the leader in opinion polls for candidates seeking the party ' s presidential nomination , has called on the U . S . Congress to stop such deals by requiring the acquiring foreign entities to control at least a 50 percent stake in the combined company instead of 20 percent under current law . She has also suggested an exit tax on the untaxed earnings of corporations that use inversion deals to relocate overseas .  "" I would close loopholes like what ' s called ' earnings stripping ' that corporations are exploiting . And if Congress won ' t act , then I will ask the Treasury Department when I ' m there to use its regulatory authority , if that ' s what it takes , "" Clinton said Wednesday .  The Treasury Department , after a wave of inversion deals , announced new regulations in September 2014 , targeting certain tax avoidance deals . The regulations did not take on earnings stripping directly , but the department reserved the right to make any future regulation retroactive to that date .  "" That was a signal to me that they thought they could do something by regulation , "" Harvard Law School lecturer Stephen Shay said in an interview .  Shay said the "" sentiment in the tax community today is yes there is regulatory authority to do something "" about earnings stripping . Shay has written on the topic and has spoken to Clinton ' s campaign in recent weeks .  ( For more on the 2016 U . S . presidential race and to learn about the undecided voters who determine elections , visit the Reuters website . ( here ) .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
22430,22431,"Reuters) - Republicans will continue to dominate state legislatures in the wake of Tuesday’s election, which kept their party in control of Congress and put Donald Trump in the White House, legislative analysts said on Wednesday. After an election in which more than 80 percent of 7,383 state legislative seats nationwide were up for grabs, Republicans and Democrats were likely to control the same number of chambers they had previously, according to the bipartisan National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), which is still compiling voting results. Republicans, who have dominated control of legislatures since the 2010 mid-term election, held the majority in 67 of the country’s 98 partisan legislative chambers, while Democrats had 31 going into the election. Nebraska’s single chamber is nonpartisan. “Neither party can sort of boast of having a big night down on the state level,”  elections analyst Tim Storey said. “Republicans will remain in a dominant position in terms of policy making.” In Kentucky, Republicans took over the House of Representatives for the first time since 1921, while defeating longtime Democratic House Speaker Greg Stumbo, according to the Republican Legislative Campaign Committee. That result leaves Republicans in control of all 30 legislative chambers in the U.S. South for the first time in history, Storey said. Republicans also wrested control of the Iowa Senate and the Minnesota Senate from Democrats, according to NCSL. Democrats hit their target in the New Mexico House of Representatives, gaining a majority of seats, and took over both chambers of the Nevada Legislature. In Hawaii, the only Republican in the Senate was ousted, making the Democratic-controlled chamber the first all one-party state legislative chamber since 1980. One chamber, the Connecticut Senate, came out of the election tied. Democrats retained control of the Illinois Legislature but lost their veto-proof majority in the House after Republican Governor Bruce Rauner and his top donors invested tens of millions of dollars in a bid to weaken long-serving Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan. The control of the New York Senate was still undetermined,  said. Missouri’s legislature and governor’s office will be totally under Republican control after Eric Greitens won the race to succeed term-limited Democratic Governor Jay Nixon. Vermont will be split with the election of Republican Phil Scott as governor. Republicans extended their majority of U.S. governorships in Tuesday’s vote. ",true,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
22453,22454,"Jeanne Cooper , who played Katherine Chancellor , the "" Dame of Genoa City , "" on "" The Young and the Restless , "" has died . She was 84 .  Her death was confirmed by her son , actor Corbin Bernsen , on his Twitter account .  "" Mom passed this morning , "" Bernsen posted . "" She was in peace and without fear . ""  Cooper had been suffering from an undisclosed illness . The cause of death was not given .  Cooper was already a well established  actress when she took the role of Chancellor in 1973 . "" The Young and the Restless "" was struggling in the ratings and its creator , William J . Bell , wanted to spice things up .  "" Jeanne was the matriarch of the show in every sense of the word , "" said Lauralee Bell , Christine Cricket on "" The Young and the Restless "" and William Bell ' s daughter .  "" When you did work you were proud of , you ' d hope for approval or a ' good job ' from Jeanne as a child would from a parent . When things got too tense , she ' d break the tension with her amazing wit . She would teach the younger actors without ever talking down to them . In fact , she would raise them up , "" said Bell . "" She always had my back and my parents ( and our whole family ) always had hers . ""  Kate Linder , another member of "" The Young and the Restless "" cast , said Cooper was her "" mentor and an amazing actress and friend . "" Linder , Esther Valentine on the show , said , "" When Jeanne welcomed you into her life , you knew it and it was a fantastic feeling . This is truly the end of an era , not just for fans of ' The Young and the Restless ' but for all of the people she touched throughout her long and distinguished career and life . ""  Cooper ' s character was colorful from the beginning : a drunk conducting a series of affairs with younger men , as well as one with the best friend of her husband , the wealthy Gary Reynolds .  The character was an immediate hit and Cooper who had signed a three year contract stayed on .  Cooper was instrumental in another storyline 10 years later . In the early ' 80s the actress decided to undergo a face lift , so the show ' s producers had Chancellor get a face lift as well it was performed on screen .  Chancellor was also part of a famed soap opera feud , in her case with Jill Abbott Fenmore ( played since 1987 by Jess Walton ) . At one point the two believed they were mother and daughter at another , the relationship warmed when Chancellor had a breast cancer scare . The two later became rivals again .  And Chancellor also found herself victim of many classic soap opera twists : conniving suitors , long lost relatives , multiple marriages and memory lapses .  Cooper enjoyed all the twists and turns . "" I never wanted to be a movie star , "" she said in an interview , according to Entertainment Weekly . "" I always wanted to be an actress , one of the best . And I am . ""  Cooper also appeared in episodes of "" Perry Mason , "" "" The Man from U . N . C . L . E . "" and "" The Twilight Zone . ""  Cooper married television producer Harry Bernsen Jr . in 1954 . The pair divorced in 1977 . Cooper is survived by three children , all actors : Corbin , Collin and Caren .  People we lost in 2013 : The lives they lived  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
22470,22471,"Jeremy Vine has been funnelling cash through a limited company , Jelly Vine Productions , of which his daughter , Martha , is a shareholder ( both pictured )  In a tongue in cheek guide to ' tax accounting for the rich ' , Jeremy Vine once advised the wealthy to find a ' tax magician with the power to bend the rules , befuddle the tax inspector and make money invisible ' .  Now it seems that the  Radio 2 star has taken his own advice to heart .  Mr Vine appears to have been using his ten year old daughter Martha to avoid tax payments .  The presenter of the Jeremy Vine Show and the  quiz Eggheads , has been funnelling cash through a limited company , Jelly Vine Productions , of which she is a shareholder .  The controversial move will highlight the  ' s practice of paying some presenters off its books using money from the millions of pounds it earns in licence fee payers ' money .  In 2012 , it emerged that more than 140  stars were funnelling cash through private firms to avoid paying millions in tax . During the resulting furore , Mr Vine ran a spoof , ' Jeremy ' s six step guide to tax avoidance for the rich ' , on his radio show .  Jelly Vine Productions had almost 810 , 000 in cash on its books in 2013 the last accounts available , and 1million in 2012 .  If the funds had been paid to Mr Vine through the Pay As You Earn scheme used by most firms , it would have been taxed at 40 or 45 per cent .  But by channelling them through a private firm , he can declare them as company profits , subject to corporation tax of 23 or 24 per cent .  It is not clear whether these were earnings for Mr Vine ' s  work or included other fees such as payments for speeches or book royalties .  But by arranging his finances in this way , he ensured Jelly Vine Productions could pay dividends to its shareholders .  The firm is controlled by Mr Vine , who has 51 per cent of the shares . His wife , Rachel , has 30 per cent and the remaining 19 per cent is owned by Martha , one of their two daughters .  Richard Murphy , an accountant at Tax Research , said : ' He is obviously using the company to reduce his tax bill . It is perfectly legal , and perfectly allowed .  Jelly Vine Productions had almost 810 , 000 in cash on its books in 2013 the last accounts available  ' What is a little unusual is his daughter . Let ' s be honest , she is unlikely to have said , "" Daddy , I want to spend my pocket money on shares in the company "" . '  Jelly Vine Productions ' accounts do not disclose how much it has paid out or whether it has paid dividends to all three family members , or just Mr Vine himself .  Mr Murphy said Mr Vine could have named his daughter as a shareholder for ' long term tax planning ' purposes , reducing the tax she would pay if she inherits part of the business .  Alternatively , Mr Vine may have made his wife and daughter shareholders to split the dividend payouts , keeping them just small enough to ensure they are taxed at a lower rate , rather than at 40 or 45 per cent .  A spokesman for the presenter said the reason for making his daughter a shareholder was ' private ' but ' perfectly legal ' , adding : ' I don ' t think it is cynical . What Jeremy is doing is very common . If the Government makes laws that allow people to do things that are advantageous , it is up to the Government to change the laws . '   contracts stipulate that presenters must pay the taxes they owe , and tells  who it has paid each year .  A spokesman said it would not comment on Mr Vine ' s arrangements , adding : ' It is the responsibility of self employed individuals to ensure they are paying the correct amount of tax . '  ",true,text,test,Football,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
22475,22476,"Why any Wife, Mother, Daughter, Sister or Feminist  Vote Trump 03.11.2016 Print version Font Size When I was younger my very dear godmother wanted a small television set for her morning-room. The color scheme of the walls and furniture was sky blue with crème accents. Naturally, she desired one to compliment the palate; unfortunately, this was 1960 and most television sets came in one color - black. As the years progressed I cannot tell you the times I heard how she sought a blue television. Of course every year new models and brighter hues became available until eventually my godmother quite nearly discovered the precise set best suited to her. However, she passed away prior to ever purchasing one. While the implication of my anecdote is obvious - you're likely to die before ever finding perfection - it seems some people in America need a gentle reminder what the dueling implications of their current search for a perfect political candidate holds for them; a fate not the least less serious than death. The foremost Women's Issue of our time is  and these are the two futures awaiting us. If Clinton wins : Hillary has stated she favors a borderless world without limit and as a result the already porous Southern Border shall remain largely unguarded. To date, there are over 30 million Illegal Mexicans in the United States . They pay no income taxes and no payroll taxes of any kind yet they avail themselves of schools, roads, hospitals and welfare which are paid for by American Citizen tax dollars. If Trump wins : He has emphatically repeated a physical wall will be constructed on the Southern Border, offering job opportunities to tens of thousands of American Citizens and billions of dollars for both the national and local economies. Other employment will be created by maintaining and guarding this structure. American tax dollars will support American children, American veterans and American elderly. If Clinton wins : Illegal Mexicans present in the country with impunity, coupled with illegal driving privileges, illegal subsidies from taxpayers and dozens of other illegal ""freebies"" will not pause there. If Illegal Mexicans can break every other law in America why should sexual harassment, sexual deviancy and sexual assault be any different? Women should expect hundreds of thousands of additional sexual and physical assaults every year by people who have no legitimate excuse to be in the United States. In Mexico it is legal to have sex with children 12 years of age! Although often misconstrued or hidden by fellow-travelers , this is the fact in most of Mexico today. Likewise, ""bride kidnapping"" is not uncommon, as long as the predator-perpetrator ""trades"" something for the female child. And don't think Illegal Mexicans leave this ""culture"" at their border. In recent years have been instances in the United States when Illegal Mexicans have swapped a case of beer or other items as compensation for taking someone's daughter...and then used this ""justification"" in courts for being acquitted of a crime! If Trump wins : The 30 million Illegal Mexicans will dramatically be reduced. Their departure will lessen your daughter's classroom size while increasing resources for her school. You cannot have music, dramatics and sport programs when you double the class-size with non-contributing Illegal Mexicans. In very real terms, unless you are independently wealthy and can afford private instruction, the presence of Illegal Mexican children literally curtails your daughter's opportunities and minimizes her life choices. Moreover, at the same time the 30 million Illegal Mexicans begin to depart another 30 million Illegal Mexicans will never arrive due to strict border security. On average 2 to 3 million Illegal Mexicans are invading America every year. This will immediately cease with a Trump Presidency - to the benefit of your child's education and future employment prospects; not to mention your own quality of life. If Clinton wins : One of the most important things to know , and to remember when you vote, is many allegedly ""hard-working"" Illegals and Refugees (who have genuinely empathetic stories from their experiences) are entirely unable to function in the United States. With no disrespect, not a ""slander"" or a ""slur,"" it is a fact the vast majority are illiterate in the languages of the new homelands    most being illiterate in their own languages! The myth these people ""only want a better life"" or they are ""eager to work"" is revealed by the truth they simply cannot work in an Industrialized Society which already has extremely high unemployment for manual labor . Illegals and Refugees lack the training, lack the skills and most importantly lack the basic ability to learn them. In Germany it is now admitted only 1 in 50 of the Refugees are employable . Thus 49 of 50 will be on Welfare, receiving Free Housing, and collecting Taxpayer Benefits into which they never paid. At least one Syrian Refugee in Germany with 4 ""wives"" and 23 offspring claims $390,000 per year. We all hope for the best for our children, but if your daughter is less than a doctor, lawyer, or other highly educated professional - Illegals and Refugees will directly compete with her in the workplace. And if she cannot find a job there may be no Welfare Benefits for her due to it all being taken by Illegals. If Trump wins : In Germany the past 3 years are approximately 3 million Arab Refugees . Of the 3 million, even the government admits only 60,000 will find permanent employment. This means 2,940,000 uninvited people will be draining Social Security systems from hardworking taxpayers. With Trump a similar situation need never occur in the United States; where Citizens can care for fellow Citizens. If Clinton wins : She has announced in addition to 10,000 totally unvetted Syrian Immigrants, Hillary will increase their number over 500% to nearly 80,000 combined (almost all men of fighting age, with few if any women or children). Though sympathetic, these people have no documents and even the F.B.I. admits it impossible to know who is a terrorist and who a refugee. As example, whether organized terrorists or not in the first six months of this year even the ""approved"" Refugees have committed over 142,000 serious crimes in Germany; many of these being assaults of grotesque sexual nature. If Trump wins : There will be 0 new Syrian Immigrants to America since none can be ascertained non-threatening to the Citizenry. However financial and material aid will be sent to care for impoverished families in places near their homeland which are best suited by culture and religion to maintain them. If Clinton wins : While there are no exact predictors, Europe is a good indicator. In many nations girls and women have been warned not to wear shorts or skirts so as not to "" invite rape ."" Last New Year's Eve over 1,200 German women were assaulted by over 2,000 Middle Eastern Immigrants on one night alone . At a Swedish music festival this summer 5 girls were raped by Middle Eastern Immigrants in one afternoon. Many municipalities have reported ""swimming pool"" sex assaults on children as young as 6 years of age. These are not exceptions or indeed uncommon, but habitual. If Trump wins : Although not all tragedies can be prevented, with care many can be avoided. The best way is pro-active deterrence. If 80,000 Syrians are welcomed by Hillary (in only her first year of office, mind you) and only 5% are rapists that is 4,000 rapes which never need have happened. Worse, as ""Multi-Cultural Jurisprudence"" becomes pervasive in the courts (so to circumvent Immigrant riots like those seen in Paris recently ) we will witness even the worst abusers set loose to commit more crimes. Only last week in Austria , an Iraqi Immigrant who violently raped a 10-year-old in a swimming pool changing area was released by arguing his own ""Sexual Emergency"" and that the parents ""could not prove the rape was unwanted by the child."" This is a fate which awaits our daughters in America.      "" STORIES"" -       ! Do I like everything Donald Trump has ever said? Far from being the case!Do I agree with much of what Donald Trump proposes? Absolutely not!Do I trust Donald Trump will fulfill every election promise? Hardly! However since he has premised his campaign on the basis of Defending Against Harmful Immigration it is likely this singular position would be the last pledge he would or even could abandon once in office. Is Donald Trump a cad? Yes. Is Donald Trump a pompous lout? Yes. Is Donald Trump noxious? Yes.Is Donald Trump the       ? -     ! For those unsettled by recent complaints against him, we cannot judge whether those who have accused Trump of inappropriate acts are telling the truth or not. There are a multitude of legitimate reasons why women wait to come forward with their stories of victimization. That being said, there are also a multitude of reasons why some women come forward only weeks before a national election. Yet even assuming everything alleged of Donald Trump is true, he has at worst used foul language in the past and made some very bad passes with inept physical overtures.   says he raped them.   says he ever tried to rape them.   says he did anything but back off once he was rebuffed. To the contrary, as of this moment there are women of all ages - from girls of 5 to grandmothers of 85 - living in Europe who are verifiable victims of forcible sexual assaults and rapes on a massive scale. These are not ""He said, She said"" or ambiguous private situations; this is an Epidemic Against Women . And it is  self-caused. It happened because Europeans  it to happen. Americans  do the same! There is only   in this Presidential campaign for Women - Mass Immigration From The Third World, especially of violent men from a hostile Middle East . This can be said with complete certainty because if you are raped and murdered, a real possibility under Hillary Clinton and her European Model of Misogynist Importation, you will not be  to vote in another election. For all women interested in women, protecting daughters, caring for elders, and with a call to each Authentic Feminist who actually works toward Women's Issues (rather than being Faux Feminists preening for cameras ) there is but one candidate who can and must be supported by all. Donald Trump may provide us many excuses to doubt him, from boorish behavior to partial-birth abortion. Donald Trump may give us a million reasons to loathe him, with his dirty mouth and surly disposition. And it is true Donald Trump may be another man in the Oval Office, causing us to wait just a bit longer for a female to occupy it. Yet Donald Trump is the only candidate acceptable for Women because he alone provides a clear and unambiguous stance on the  WOMEN'S  which counts most- keeping women safe and alive. This is not a television program where one character is fully good and one character is fully evil yet everything somehow works out in the end no matter who wins. If Hillary Clinton is elected, despite her platitudes about Women's Rights , tens of thousands of women will suffer and many of them will die. One candidate makes you feel good about yourself, but puts all women alarmingly at risk. One candidate makes you sick to your stomach, but has female-centric policies which actually protect them. There can be no hesitation that, for our families as well as ourselves , the one who deserves our vote is Donald Trump. Time is short - share this with friends, tell every woman you know ...and get yourself to the voting booth. Guy Somerset",fake,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,past
22478,22479,"Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appeared before the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, amid new questions about Anti-Trump text messages sent by  employees assigned to special counsel Robert Mueller s Russia investigation. Rosenstein testified that Mueller is running his office  appropriately  and without bias.In a colorful exchange between Congressman Steve Chabot (R-OH) and Rosenstein, Chabot asked the Deputy AG: How with a straight face, can you say that this group of Democrat partisans are unbiased, and will give President Trump a fair shake? After a brief stammer, Rosenstein replied that political affiliation and the issue of bias are different things, and that we should trust the experience Mueller and the Justice Department have in managing investigation teams, adding: We recognize that we have employees with political opinions, and it s our responsibility to make sure those opinions do not influence their actions. To which Chabot argued how can anyone possibly reach that conclusion: I was at first encouraged. It seemed like a serious matter and deserved a serious investigation. And I assumed, as many of us did, that Mr. Mueller would pull together an unbiased team. But, rather than wearing stripes as umpires and referees might wear, I would submit that the Mueller team overwhelmingly, uh, oughta be attired with Democratic donkeys on their jerseys or  I m with Hillary  t-shirts, certainly not with  Let s Make America Great Again and I think that s a shame. Because I think the American people deserve a lot better than the very biased team they re getting under Robert Mueller. And I think it s really sad. Things get awkwardly amusing at the 50 minute mark WATCH:     AT: 21st Century Wire RussiaGate FilesSUPPORT 21WIRE    &  A  @21WIRE.TV",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,past
22488,22489,"You can t have a consensus candidate if there s no consensus on what the party represents .  He believes climate change is happening but doesn t think it s being caused by humans , and has said he opposes most environmental laws and regulations because they will destroy our economy . On immigration , he has famously reversed his earlier support for reform and now opposes a direct path to citizenship . At least one can say in his favor that he opposes mass deportation and has left the door open on citizenship , but his views on immigration are hardly moderate .  This is pretty standard fare for a Republican aspirant , but that s telling in itself . The notion that he is the  field s moderate should rest on the idea that he s slightly to the left of Trump and Cruz . I can find almost no issues where that s the case .  In fact , on a host of policy matters , he s gone far beyond his opponents .  Regarding abortion , Rubio is not just antiabortion , but also opposes exceptions in the case of rape and incest . That s a more radical position than any Republican nominee in recent memory ? and more radical than Trump , who supports exceptions for rape , incest , and life of the mother .  His tax cut plan is perhaps the most regressive of any  candidate and is actually three times larger than Jeb Bush s highly regressive tax plan . According to an analysis by the liberal think tank Citizens for Tax Justice , Rubio would add 11 . 8 trillion to the national debt over a decade and more than a third of his tax cuts would go to the top 1 percent .  Amazingly , in a field that includes Ted carpet bomb Cruz and Donald bomb . . .  Trump , Rubio is the most hawkish of the bunch . In a field of candidates who constantly try to outdo each other in using the most alarmist language , Rubio leads the pack . He has described  as the most dangerous jihadist group in the history of mankind , and said it wants to trigger an apocalyptic Armageddon showdown . He describes their goals as apocalyptic ? a word he also applies to Iran . In the last debate , he called for sending terrorists arrested in the United States to Guantanamo , which would likely violate the Constitution . He s attacked Cruz and others for opposing  domestic surveillance is pledging to increase the defense budget because he claims the  military has been hollowed out under Obama ( this isn t true ) and is decidedly further to the right than Trump , who has criticized the Iraq War and talked about pulling back on America s overseas commitments .  Of course , Rubio s appeal is not so much about his policy ideas , but rather his presentation ? and the sense , which Rubio has long cultivated , that he is the  s young and optimistic candidate . But here as well , the disconnect is amazingly wide . The candidate who complained in his Iowa victory speech that his critics say because we offer too much optimism in a time of anger , we had no chance is the same candidate who regularly accuses the president of purposely undermining , attacking , and even ignoring the Constitution . He also accuses Democratic front runner Hillary Clinton of being a criminal . In a field of partisan slashers , Rubio is among the harshest , and yes , angriest .  If you put all this together , these are not the positions of a moderate politician in America ? or one who can easily bring Hispanics , women voters , or Democrats into a  coalition . I don t doubt that Rubio is a better general election candidate than Trump or Cruz , but the notion that he is the  savior this year seems more fiction than fact .  Michael A . Cohen s column appears regularly in the Globe . Follow him on Twitter speechboy71 .  Get Today s Headlines from the Globe in your inbox :  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
22497,22498,"On Sunday s broadcast of  s Reliable Sources, a panel discussed the role Roger Ailes  legacy. The Fox News founder is retiring from his position as the network s  due to a massive wave of allegations from female employees of sexual harassment.The episode began with the show s host, Brian Stelter posing the question,  When you take stock of Roger Ailes legacy, his impact on media, do you think we would have Donald Trump as the  nominee without Roger Ailes? Political analyst Jeff Greenfield wasn t ready to say that Trump would not be a political success if it were not Ailes.  Roger Ailes did to the media what Donald Trump did to the political process.  What Greenfield is saying is that both Ailes and Trump are spectacular at rallying hardcore right-wing conservatives to support whatever narrative they choose to promote.While Greenfield isn t ready to put the burden of Trump on Ailes shoulders, Jane Hall, a former regular guest on Fox News said that  you would not have Donald Trump without Roger Ailes. It has been rumored that Ailes next major project besides the autobiography he is going to write   would be to work on Trump s presidential campaign. Panelist and Trump supporter, Jeff Lord, didn t provide any more credibility to those rumors. That being said, he did mention that Ailes would be very useful on the Trump campaign trail.Fox News, right-wing extremism, and now Trump exist in a reinforcing feedback loop that has caused so much harm to the United States and the world. They have given megaphones to the biggest loons out there in the United States.You can watch the panel discussion below.weblink image from video screenshot",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
22507,22508,"Pants up ! Don ' t Loot !  Black Power A Done Deal  Fred Reed  As I write America waits , again , to see whether blacks will riot , this time in Ferguson . Will they loot , burn , kill , and rape ? The usual ? The police in Ferguson prepare to protect stores from looters , as rioters seem to regard their insurrections as shopping opportunities . Will it come , we wonder tensely ? Will the destruction get out of hand , spread to other cities ?  It is curious that blacks , the least educated thirteen percent of the population , the least productive , most criminal , and most dependent on governmental charity , should dominate national politics . Yet they do . Virtually everything revolves around what blacks want , demand , do , or can ' t do . Their power seems without limit .  Courses of instruction in the schools , academic rigor , codes of dress , rules regarding unceasing obscenity , all must be set to suit them , as must be examinations for promotion in fire departments , the military , and police forces . Blacks must be admitted to universities for which they are not remotely qualified , where departments of Black Studies must be established to please them . Corporate work forces , federal departments , and elite high schools must be judged not on whether they perform their functions but on whether they have the right number of blacks .  Do laws requiring identification to vote threaten to end multiple voting ? The laws must go . Do blacks not like Confederate flags ? Adieu , flags . Does Huckleberry Finn go down the Mississippi with the Nigger Jim , or Conrad write The Nigger of the Narcissus ? These must be banned or expurgated to please blacks who haven ' t read them or , usually , heard of them . Do we want to prevent people coming from regions infested with Ebola from entering the United States ? We cannot . It would offend blacks .  We must never , ever say or do anything that might upset them , as virtually everything does . It is positively astonishing . One expects the rich and smart to have disproportionate power . But America is dominated from the slums .  One might think that a single set of laws should apply to all citizens , and that things should be done without regard to race , creed , color , sex , or national origin , and that all should have the same rights and responsibilities . It is not so .  The dominance of the media by blacks is impressive . If a white shoots a black to defend himself , it becomes national news for weeks , or months , and riots follow , but when blacks engage in their unending racial attacks on whites , the media demurely look the other way . The attackers are never black . They are "" teens . "" Reporters who say otherwise are likely to be fired . In effect , the thirteen percent censor the national press .  Much of their mastery has become so deeply engrained as no longer to be noticed . There is the  Bob . In the bars and restaurants of Washington , a man weary of an incompetent affirmative action hire in his office will , before commenting to a friend , lean forward , lower his voice , and look furtively over both shoulders to see whether anyone might overhear : The  Bob . People don ' t even know that they are doing this .  Defensive behavior by whites has become nearly universal . A sort of Masonic recognition ritual occurs among white people recently introduced in social gatherings . Is the other person , for want of better terms , a liberal or a realist ? Dare one speak ? One of them will say something mildly skeptical about , say , Jesse Jackson . The other rolls his eyes in shared disgust . The secret handshake . Or , if the listener is politically correct , the bait is not taken . In either case , blacks dominate political conversation .  So extreme is the power to control speech and even thought that politicians have to avoid mentioning watermelons , that neighborhoods of high crime must delicately be called "" sketchy instead of "" black , "" though all understand what is meant .  The avoidance of racial reference is not an even handed if despotic attempt to oppose racism since , as we all know , blacks freely apply any derogatory wording they choose to whites . In short , they rule . Which is amazing .  The dominance extends to children . When in junior high one of my daughters brought home a science handout with common chemical terms badly misspelled . "" Is your teacher black ? I said without thinking . "" Daaaaaaady . "" she said in anguish , having made the connection but knowing that she shouldn ' t have . Blacks control what you can say to your own children in your own home . And of course if I had gone to the school and demanded that the teacher be fired , it would have been evidence of my depravity and probable  membership .  The word "" unbelievable has lost all force . Things that ought to be unbelievable , and once were , have become routine . Still , there it was : Don ' t expect a junior high teacher to have the level of literacy I had in the fourth grade . Instead , make it dangerous to notice her stupidity .  This is not new , and it hasn ' t changed . In 1981 , in a piece for Harper ' s , I wrote :  "" The bald , statistically verifiable truth is that the teachers ' colleges , probably on ideological grounds , have produced an incredible proportion of incompetent black teachers . Evidence of this appears periodically , as , for example , in the results of a competency test given to applicants for teaching positions in Pinellas County , Florida ( which includes St . Petersburg and Clearwater ) , cited in Time , June 16 , 1980 . To pass this grueling examination , an applicant had to be able to read at the tenth grade level and do arithmetic at the eighth grade level . Though they all held B . A . ' s , 25 percent of the whites and 79 percent of the blacks failed . Similar statistics exist for other places . "" s  Nothing has changed .  Blacks now control the presidency and thus , most importantly , the Attorney Generalship . In this the staggering political power of blacks is most evident . Obama was elected because he was black : an equally unqualified and negligible white pol would have had no chance . He is now fiercely pushing the most profound transformation of America ever attempted , by opening the floodgates to immigration from the south . To effect this end he apparently will simply ignore Congress . The people will not be consulted .  It is hard to imagine why he does it except from racism , from a desire to get even with whites by enrolling their country in the Third World . A short sighted policy , yes , since Hispanics do not like blacks and will soon be more powerful but that will come a bit later .  Note that self inflicted problems of blacks consume inordinate amounts of public and governmental attention , even though only blacks can solve them . I might say , "" should solve them , "" since they never have and we all know they won ' t . Yet we hear about them endlessly .  Are blacks in Chicago killing each other in large numbers ? The solution might be to stop doing it , might it not ? While I do not wish these young dead , I can do nothing to stop them , and it is not my problem . Are black children growing up illiterate ? This gives me no pleasure , and I have various reasons both selfish and moral to wish it were not so . But perhaps the solution is for their parents , or parent , to see that they do their homework , or even to teach them . I cannot do this for them , and it isn ' t my problem .  Why do I have to hear , endlessly , about the "" achievement gap ? Whether of genetic or cultural origin , it seems as immutable as Avogadro ' s number , and I can do nothing about it . I raise my children . They need to raise theirs .  They rule . It is astonishing .  ",satire,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,past
22509,22510,"Sean Hannity is a dick and Twitter let him know it.During his radio show on Tuesday, the Fox News host and Trump propagandist had a meltdown because the White House ignored a fake story about President Obama saying he would move to Canada if the Republican nominee wins the election on November 8th.And so, Hannity accused Obama of not making an effort to unite behind Trump if he becomes president and retaliated by offering to send Obama and his family to Africa on condition that they can never come back to America. I ll pay   hang on a second, I m offering   I ll even rent a plane as big as Air Force One. [ ] I have an offer for the president. I will charter a plane for you and your family. I will make sure it s as big a plane as Air Force One, what you have grown accustomed to, in other words. Taxpayer-funded plane. I don t know where I m going to get  Maybe I ll just   Maybe I ll ask Trump if I can charter his plane for Obama. That s what   I will charter Donald Trump s plane if he ll let me, and I will charter it to the country of your choice. You want to go to Canada? I ll pay for you to go to Canada. You want to go to Kenya? I ll pay for you to go to Kenya. Jakarta, where you went to school back in the day, you can go back there. Anywhere you want to go. I m gonna   I ll put the finest food, caviar, champagne, you name it. I have one stipulation: you can t come back. That s fair. Sending black people back to Africa is a racist wet dream and Hannity just endorsed it.Naturally, people were pretty pissed off at Hannity for his level of disrespect toward President Obama.What a vile human being @seanhannity is. Someone should pay him to shut up. cc @Bencjacobs @politico  Arik Hesseldahl (@ahess247) October 26, 2016@seanhannity You just can t help yourself. I m not surprised given your high school education.  Andrew Mastrandonas (@AndrewMinDC) October 26, 2016@seanhannity @Bencjacobs @politico Question : Can we charter a flight for you to go back to what ever racist country you come from?  Eric (@ramseur) October 26, 2016@seanhannity Pres Obama s myriad accomplishments and proud legacy will dwarf your pointless and useless  contributions  in this life. Have a nice day.  Zelda J Pinwheel (@ZeldaJPinwheel) October 26, 2016@seanhannity Y don t U go The  would be a better place without your ignorant blather Obama will be remembered U  T  rather sail (@onthewater401) October 26, 2016Hannity responded by lashing out. He called journalism  dead,  insulted a bunch a people on his feed, and whined because everyone is against Trump..Unlike @BarackObama I don t have a spokesperson that refuses to say he s not leaving if @realDonaldTrump wins I ll stay and fight win/lose! weblink  Sean Hannity (@seanhannity) October 26, 2016Journalism is   AMERICA! pic.twitter.com/50ZBOTvfHy  Sean Hannity (@seanhannity) October 26, 2016I m not a journalist jackass. I m a talk host. weblink  Sean Hannity (@seanhannity) October 26, 2016Are u a jackass in real life or just on Twitter? weblink  Sean Hannity (@seanhannity) October 26, 2016A you are a  liberal writer  with 3000 followers who nobody gives a :()$&@@ about. weblink  Sean Hannity (@seanhannity) October 26, 2016Are u really that dumb? I m a talk show host. I am honest about who I am. The media claims to be objective, fair and balanced #Biasedmedia weblink  Sean Hannity (@seanhannity) October 26, 2016Sean Hannity, like other right-wing talk hosts are the reason why so many conservatives reject facts and refuse to believe what credible media outlets report. Right-wing host Charlie Sykes even admitted in August that people like Hannity have poisoned journalism and that s why we ended up with a toxic presidential candidate like Trump. We ve created this monster, he said. Look, I m a conservative talk show host. All conservative talk show hosts have basically established their brand as being contrasted with the mainstream media. So we have spent 20 years demonizing the liberal mainstream media at a certain point you wake up and you realize you have destroyed the credibility of any credible outlet out there. And I am feeling, to a certain extent, that we are reaping the whirlwind at that. We ve basically eliminated any of the referees, the gatekeepers,  he added.And Sean Hannity is continuing that quest to destroy the credible media so he can spread his fact-free propaganda.Featured Image: Screenshot",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,present
22513,22514,"Sanders got far more social media buzz during the debate than Clinton or O Malley  Democratic U . S . presidential candidates Senator Bernie Sanders , former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former Maryland Governor Martin O ' Malley ( R ) participate in the second official 2016 U . S . Democratic presidential candidates debate in Des Moines , Iowa , November 14 , 2015 .  Jim Young  The Saturday night Democratic debate in Iowa lacked the heat or the edge of the prime time  confabs . In all , our analytics partners at Zignal Labs tracked about 370 , 000 mentions of the three candidates during the two hour event at Drake University , broadcast on  . That s a far cry from the previous debates , even though the candidate podiums had their Twitter handles .  But in a testament to the passion and engagement of his supporters , ? Bernie Sanders led the way with more than 202 , 000 mentions on Twitter , followed by Hillary Rodham Clinton with around 152 , 000 . Martin O ' Malley was a distant third .  O Malley saw his mentions spike when he called Donald Trump an "" immigrant bashing carnival barker , earning a Twitter response from The Donald himself :  But the debate revealed the deficiency of O ' Malley ' s social media network , especially compared with his two Democratic challengers . Sanders and Clinton were able to drive their own message on social media through their official Twitter accounts . ( Bill Clinton also received hundreds of retweets throughout ) . But look at the top O ' Malley related Tweets by retweet count none are from his team .  Here were the top issues for each of the candidates during the debate :  And here are the top hashtags used in mentions of each candidate during the debate :  According to Facebook , Sanders was also the most mentioned candidate on their platform . And his exchange with Clinton over Wall Street and her response invoking the attacks of Sept . 11 , 2001 was the buzziest moment of the night on the social networking platform .  The top issues discussed during the debate on Facebook were : 1 ) Terrorism and the Islamic State 2 ) Climate change 3 ) Wall Street 4 ) Iraq and 5 ) Minimum wage .  As a testament to Sanders dominance online , Facebook reported that the most engaged state per capita during the debate was Vermont , which Sanders represents in the Senate . Iowa , the site of the debate , was actually third , behind New Hampshire . Oregon and West Virginia were fourth and fifth .  James Hohmann is a national political correspondent for The Washington Post .  Success ! Check your inbox for details . You might also like :  ",true,text,test,US elections,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
22520,22521,"A mentally disabled woman and her daughter were held in an Ohio apartment crowded with people and animals for more than a year , forced to perform manual labor and threatened with dogs and snakes to keep them compliant , authorities said Tuesday .  Federal prosecutors said the people accused of holding the pair in Ashland , about 60 miles south of Cleveland , collected the woman ' s government benefits and beat her in order to get painkillers for themselves . They kept her in a room with a free ranging iguana and ordered her to feed the reptile fruits and vegetables her daughter was denied , according to court papers . Sometimes their captors ' pit bulls got table food while they had to eat from cans , according to an arrest affidavit quoting witnesses .  "" The living conditions were simply subhuman , "" said Steven Dettelbach , U . S . attorney for the Northern District of Ohio .  The mother and daughter were sometimes forced to eat dog food , according to a law enforcement source with firsthand knowledge of the investigation .  They were also frequently denied access to the bathroom ,  Special Agent Eric Smith told reporters .  "" They were physically punished for toiletry accidents , "" he said , "" and they were threatened not only with weapons but also with vicious animals , to include pit bulls and pythons . ""  Family and attorney deny accusations  Three people 26 year old Jordie Callahan , 31 year old Jessica Hunt and 33 year old Daniel Brown were arrested and charged with forced labor . Callahan is facing an additional count of witness tampering , and another arrest could come soon , the U . S . attorney ' s office in Cleveland said .  "" There are so many lies going on , "" she said , accusing investigators of trumping up the case to draw attention to the small city of Ashland .  "" She was giving them a couple hundred dollars a month for staying there . She was getting her own food . She wasn ' t being starved , "" Callahan ' s mother said .  Her son , she said , is devastated by the accusations .  "" He ' s devastated that all of this is being said about them . They have some pit bulls and snakes , so they are making them out to be evil because they have that , "" she said . "" He loves reptiles . He always has since he was a kid . ""  "" She had opportunities to leave . She left several times and came back . So this was a mutual arrangement for her , "" Attorney Andy Hyde told  . "" I don ' t like that the federal prosecutors held a press conference to pat themselves on the back . ""  Prosecutor : ' They treated her worse than they treated the animals '  But a criminal complaint filed this week alleges that the mother and her daughter were padlocked inside the bedroom they shared .  "" These individuals in this case preyed upon a human being ' s disability and her desire to protect her child , the most fundamental of human traits , "" Dettelbach said . The suspects "" used that to force her into servitude , to work like an animal , and indeed , as the complaint alleges , they treated her worse than they treated the animals that were in that house . ""  Hunt and Callahan are a couple but are not married ,  spokeswoman Vicki Anderson said . Brown was a friend of theirs , she said .  Before they were allegedly forced into servitude for two years , the victims knew their alleged captors , the law enforcement source said .  The woman was identified in court papers only as "" S . E . "" Investigators stated Callahan and Hunt persuaded her to move into the apartment they shared with Hunt ' s four sons and "" numerous "" animals , knowing she "" suffered from a cognitive disability and received monthly public assistance payments . ""  That was in May 2011 . Her plight came to the attention of authorities in October 2012 , when she was arrested for trying to steal a candy bar from a store . Then she was arrested on a state child welfare charge as part of the case , Ashland Police Chief David Marcelli said .  "" The officers that took that complaint detected that there was other issues aside from the shoplifting , "" Marcelli said . He said officers had had "" numerous involvements "" with the people involved , "" and in the course of interviewing her , they discovered the rest of these facts slowly . ""  According to prosecutors , Callahan showed police a mobile phone video of S . E . beating her child . S . E . told police that she had been told to do so by Callahan and Hunt and that Callahan threatened to show police the video if she "" messed up "" or went to authorities .  S . E . was released from jail in February after being sentenced to time served on the abuse charge , and her daughter is now in foster care , said Michael Tobin , a spokesman for the U . S . attorney ' s office .  Once the full picture emerged , Ashland police called in the  , "" and shortly after , the suspects were indicted , "" Marcelli said .  ' All of us . . . need to work on being better neighbors '  Callahan and Hunt kept tabs on the woman and child with a baby monitor , with Hunt taking the woman ' s government benefit cards , authorities said .  "" Callahan and Hunt forced S . E . to clean the house , do laundry , walk to the store to do their shopping and care for their numerous pit bulls and reptiles , "" the prosecution statement said . Her child was kept in the apartment when she was sent to the store , they said .  Tuesday ' s announcement comes more than a month after the rescue of three women from a Cleveland home where police said a man had held them captive for about a decade .  Authorities believe there is no connection between the Ashland investigation and that case , the law enforcement source said .  Dettelbach , the federal prosecutor , said Tuesday ' s arrests are part of a broader push to crack down on what he called "" modern day slavery . ""  "" We need your help in these efforts . Law enforcement cannot do it alone . All of us in the northern district of Ohio need to work on being better neighbors , "" he said . "" We need to ask questions , hard questions , when we see something that doesn ' t look right . We need to not be afraid to pick up the phone and to call law enforcement . We need to not be afraid to ask those simple questions is everything  ? Is there some way I can help you ? As Ohioans and as Americans , that is who we are , and it is our duty . ""  Abused but alive : Lessons for Cleveland ' s survivors  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
22521,22522,"Former Toronto Mayor Rob Ford ' s cancerous tumor has shrunk in half thanks to chemotherapy treatments , his brother revealed Tuesday .  Doug Ford said the malignant growth in his abdomen which doctors had initially said was 4 . 7 inches by 4 . 7 inches in size is now down to 2 . 4 inches by 2 . 4 inches .  Mr Ford says his ex mayor brother will be finishing a fifth round of chemotherapy soon and will also get radiation treatment .  Good news : Former Toronto Mayor Rob Ford ' s cancerous tumor has shrunk in half thanks to chemotherapy treatments . Pictured here is Ford speaking to Deputy Mayor Denzil Mennan Wong at a council meeting earlier this month  All smiles : Dough Ford said if all goes according to plan , doctors will be able to remove his brother ' s tumor in the fall  Speaking to reporters at Mount Sinai Hospital , Doug Ford said that his brother will be home for Christmas next week after wrapping up Round 5 of chemotherapy .  He will have 18 days off and then undergo radiation treatment for 25 consecutive days , reported the Toronto Star .  ' Rob was signing Christmas cards , he was ecstatic , ' Doug Ford said . ' He knows he is in a battle for his life . '  If his condition continues to improve , doctors will perform surgery to remove the tumor from Rob Ford ' s abdomen in the fall of 2015 .  Doug Ford said : ' It ' s the first positive news we ' ve received since Rob ' s down there . It ' s still a long , long journey but , when you don ' t hear positive news for a long time , you grab anything you can . We want to thank everyone for their prayers and wishes . '  Last week , the cancer stricken former mayor said he was gearing up for the mayoral race in 2018 , but the following day he appeared at a City Council meeting looking ill and told colleagues he was feeling ' rough . '  Ford was diagnosed with a rare form of abdominal cancer called liposarcoma in September and dropped his bid for mayoral re election shortly afterward . Instead , he ran for a seat on the city council and won .  In late November , Rob Ford said his tumor had not shrunk , but had not gotten larger either .  Fighting for his life : In late November , Rob Ford said his tumor had not shrunk , but had not gotten larger either  Notorious : Rob Ford ' s term as mayor was plagued by scandals involving public drinking and crack cocaine use  While the family is happy to now be getting more positive news , Doug Ford said it ' s too early to celebrate because his brother still has a long journey ahead of him , calling it an ' emotional roller coaster . '  ' He ' s doing well , ' Doug Ford said , adding : ' I ' m all smiles . '  Rob Ford ' s term as mayor was plagued by scandals involving public drinking and crack cocaine use .  After months of denials , Ford in 2013 acknowledged he had smoked crack cocaine in one of his ' drunken stupors , ' but he refused to resign .  The City Council stripped Ford of most of his mayoral powers but lacked the authority to force him out of office because he wasn ' t convicted of a crime .  Ford ' s antics made him the target of late night television comedians in the  . Last March , he appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live ! after months of wooing by the talk show host , who introduced his guest by saying he ' has tripped , bumped , danced , argued and smoked his way into our national consciousness . '  The City Council stripped Ford of most of his mayoral powers but lacked the authority to force him out of office  ",true,text,test,American football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
22525,22526,"Reuters) - An executive order signed by U.S. President Donald Trump to crack down on illegal immigration will not undermine two data transfer agreements between the United States and the EU, Washington wrote in a letter to allay European concerns. An executive order signed by Trump on Jan. 25 aiming to toughen enforcement of U.S. immigration law rattled the European Union as it appeared to suggest Europeans would not be given the same privacy protections as U.S. citizens. The order directs U.S. agencies to “exclude persons who are not United States citizens or lawful permanent residents from the protections of the Privacy Act regarding personally identifiable information.” Securing equal treatment of  citizens was key to agreeing the Umbrella Agreement which protects law enforcement data shared between the United States and the EU.  And the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield - which makes possible about $260 billion of trade in digital services - was only clinched after Washington agreed to protect the data from excessive surveillance and misuse by companies. In the first written confirmation since the executive order stoked uncertainty over transatlantic data flows, the U.S. Department of Justice said the executive order did not affect either the Umbrella Agreement or the Privacy Shield. “Section 14 of the Executive Order does not affect the privacy rights extended by the Judicial Redress Act to Europeans. Nor does Section 14 affect the commitments the United States has made under the  (Umbrella Agreement) or the Privacy Shield,” Bruce Swartz, Deputy Assistant Attorney General, wrote to the European Commission in a letter seen by Reuters.  Justice Commissioner Vera Jourova, who will travel to the United States at the end of March, said she was “not worried” but remained vigilant. The EU-U.S. Privacy Shield is used by almost 2,000 companies including Google (GOOGL.O), Facebook (FB.O) and Microsoft (MSFT.O) to store data about  citizens on U.S. servers. Its predecessor was struck down in 2015 by the EU’s top court for allowing U.S. agents unfettered access to Europeans’ data, forcing an acceleration of difficult talks to find a replacement. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
22531,22532,"Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump plans to nominate financier Lewis Eisenberg to be ambassador to Italy, the White House said on Monday. Eisenberg is a co-founder and managing partner of Ironhill Investments and was chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey for six years, the White House said in a statement. He will need Senate confirmation to take up his post. ",true,dataset,test,US elections,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
22581,22582,"Forensic tests on a woman found hanging from a tree in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh have so far failed to find evidence of rape , a local police chief said .  More tests are being done , amid claims from the woman ' s family that she was gang raped and murdered by five men , including her brother in law .  The alleged attack comes just weeks after the bodies of two cousins , aged 14 and 15 , were founding hanging from a mango tree in the Budaun district of the same state . Of the five suspects arrested , police say three have confessed to the rape , but not murder .  Woman found in tree  In the latest case , the 42 year old woman was found hanging from a tree in the Bahraich district .  Her family told police she went missing around 7 p . m . on Tuesday night , and her body was found Wednesday morning , Bahraich district police chief , Happy Guptan , said .  Calls for strong political action to change attitudes and stop rape in India have grown louder since December 2012 , when a student was gang raped and murdered by attackers on a moving bus .  The 23 year old ' s horrific injuries made headlines and started a national debate about how many rapes were happening and why .  Call to stop ' politicizing rape '  In his first address to parliament as Indian Prime Minister , Narendra Modi addressed the issue on Wednesday , warning lawmakers against "" politicizing rape . ""  "" I appeal to our political leaders that we should not carry out psychological analysis of rape . . . Is it correct to make a statement always ? Why can ' t we just keep quiet . Respect and security for women should be the topmost priority of the entire people , "" he said .  His comments came after observers seized on statements made by Babulal Gaur , the home minister of Madhya Pradesh , that rape was a "" social crime "" "" sometimes it ' s right , sometimes it ' s wrong . ""  Other politicians were also accused of trivializing the crime with comments including an observation that rapes "" happen accidentally , "" while another suggested "" boys make mistakes . ""  In a veiled reference to those comments last week , United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki moon said : "" We say no to the dismissive , destructive attitude of ' boys will be boys ' . Together , we can empower more people to understand that violence against women degrades us all . ""  Ban made the comments while launching a video campaign on ending sexual violence through gender equality .    : Grief , fear , blame in Indian village    : Relatives call for attackers to be hanged  ",true,text,test,World conflict,US elections,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
22587,22588,"“The U. S. global ballistic missile defense poses a deep risk to the security of the region,” declared Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Monday after meeting with Japanese officials in Tokyo. [The Associated Press describes Lavrov’s visit as the first “  ” meetings of foreign and defense ministers between Japan and Tokyo since Russia annexed Crimea. Japan has participated in sanctions against Russia for that action.  Lavrov specifically denounced the  missile system America is installing in South Korea as a “response completely out of proportion” to the North Korean threat. He said the United States was “pumping arms into the region. ” Tokyo has been thinking about asking the United States to pump a  missile system into Japan, especially since the recent launch of four ballistic missiles towards the Japanese coast stoked fears that Pyongyang may be capable of “swarm attacks” or “saturation launches” that would overwhelm Japan’s missile defenses. One of the arguments against  missile shield deployment is that North Korea might be able to fire a dozen or more missiles at once and overwhelm even the Terminal   Area Defense System. That would make  acquisition disruptive to Japanese relations with Russia and China, both of which believe the system is ultimately intended to limit their military options, without gaining any real security against North Korean aggression. Lavrov is well aware that political turmoil in South Korea gives Russia an opening to pressure Seoul into canceling  deployment. Odds are that the replacement for impeached South Korean President Park   will be less enthusiastic about the system than she was. “At the end of the day, if the reality unfolds in a way that South Korea’s national security and the economy were damaged because of the THAAD, not because of the North Korea issue, then it’s not really a rational situation, is it?” Choi   an adviser to   presidential candidate Moon   said over the weekend. The economic damage Choi referred to is coming mostly from an enraged China. Sergey Lavrov’s comments in Tokyo are a warning of national security damage that will be heard clearly in Seoul. The Associated Press notes that Russia and Japan had one other lingering bit of business to discuss at the “  ” meeting: World War  isn’t over yet. It still isn’t over because no major breakthrough on the fate of the disputed Kuril island chain was announced after Lavrov’s trip to Tokyo. The disposition of these islands has prevented Japan and Russia from signing a peace treaty and formally concluding the Second World War. On the bright side, Russian media reported on Monday that Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida expressed a willingness to make travel to the islands easier for Russian citizens, and Russia has floated similar proposals with respect to the Japanese. However, Kishida also voiced concerns about Russian military activity in the south Kuril Islands, and official conveyed those concerns to Lavrov at the meeting. Specifically, Japan is worried about Russia’s deployment of coastal missile systems.",true,news,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
22589,22590,"The fight happened Tuesday night , as a first assistant director and make up artist were walking back dinner to their apartment in Marrakech Plaza .  A group of youths allegedly approached the two and attempted to rob them , and got into a fight when the filmmakers tried to defend themselves , Deadline reports .  Both crew members were reportedly hospitalized for their injuries one with a few cuts , the other with a broken arm .  Two crew members shooting upcoming  series Odyssey were injured in Marrakech Tuesday night in an random mugging . Above , a promotional poster for the show set to air April 5 , which stars Anna Friel ( pictured above ) , of Pushing Daisies , and Twilight ' s Peter Facinelli   has not identified the workers , but a source close to the show says one received a few cuts and the other worker suffered a broken arm . The two were walking back to their apartment in Marrakech Plaza ( a general view of the area pictured above )  ' They had to go to hospital with some broken hands but hopefully they will be  , ' line producer Ahmed Abounouom told Deadline .  ' This could have happened anywhere in the world . It was not on the set and it had nothing to do with the project . '   has refused to identify the workers , but a source close to the show says its not believed that either are American since most of the crew working on set in Morocco are not from the U . S .  The incident did not take place on set , and filming has continued on schedule .  Odyssey premieres on  on April 5 . The series stars Pushing Daisies ' Anna Friel as a female soldier in North Africa dealing with an international conspiracy . Twilight ' s Peter Facinelli plays an attorney . Jake Robinson , of the Carrie Diaries , also starts on the show .  Morocco has recently become a hub for Hollywood productions looking to film in a Middle Eastern or exotic location , since it is more stable than its other North African neighbors .  Recent productions that have shot in the country include American Sniper , Game of Thrones and Mission : Impossible 5 .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
22591,22592,"Reuters) - Britain needs to set out plans to make sure its lawyers can keep working across Europe after Brexit, a lobby group said on Thursday. TheCityUK said Britain s withdrawal from the European Union should also not threaten the international dominance of English law and the prospects of an industry that generated 31.5 billion pounds ($42 billion) in revenue last year. The group, which lobbies for financial and legal services firms, said it was urging the government  to do everything it can to make sure Brexit does not act as a barrier to future growth opportunities but as a stimulant.   This includes the need to secure mutual market access to enable UK-based practitioners to continue to represent clients in  jurisdictions.  The government needed to give details on how it planned to convert  rules governing the industry into domestic law, and the process for signing up to international conventions. Legal services make up 1.5 percent of the  economy and employ more than 311,000 people, TheCityUK said in a report on the industry.  More than 200 foreign law firms have set up shop in London and English law is used in 40 percent of global corporate arbitrations, it added.  The choice of English law for global commercial contracts is in part driven by the  s reputation as the leading center for international dispute resolution,  the report said.  But others are waiting in the wings. The German Federal State of Hesse promoted a conference earlier this year that looked at how Brexit provided an opportunity for Frankfurt to become a new litigation hub in Europe. ($1 = 0.7560 pounds) ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
22603,22604,"Miami A satellite whose orbit is degrading will fall back to Earth Friday afternoon , but only some of its pieces will survive the fiery ride through the atmosphere ,  scientists said Thursday .  The pieces are not expected to come down over North America , scientists said , but where they ' ll likely land is something  expects to narrow down over the next 24 hours .  Most of the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (  ) is made of aluminum and will burn up on re entry ,  said . Of the satellite ' s 6 tons , only about half a ton of it will make it back to Earth . The components that won ' t burn are made of stainless steel , titanium and beryllium .  has identified 26 pieces they expect to survive , ranging in size from around 10 pounds to hundreds of pounds .  "" Keep in mind , they won ' t be traveling at those high orbital velocities . As they hit the air they tend to slow down and travel , they ' re still traveling fast a few tens to hundreds of miles per hour but no longer those tremendous orbital velocities , "" he explained .  Because the satellite travels thousands of miles in a matter of minutes as it orbits even just before it hits the Earth ' s atmosphere it will be impossible to pinpoint the exact location the pieces will come down . On top of that , Matney said , the satellite is not stable .  "" Part of the problem is the spacecraft is tumbling in unpredictable ways and it is very difficult to very precisely pinpoint where it ' s coming down even right before the re entry . ""  Because water covers 70 of the Earth ' s surface ,  believes that most , if not all of the surviving debris will land in water . Even if pieces strike dry land , there ' s very little risk any of it will hit people .  However , in an abundance of caution , the Federal Aviation Administration on Thursday released an advisory warning pilots about the falling satellite , calling it a potential hazard .  "" It is critical that all pilots flight crew members report any observed falling space debris to the appropriate ( air traffic control ) facility and include position , altitude , time and direction of debris observed , "" the  statement said .  The  said warnings of this sort typically are sent out to pilots concerning specific hazards they may encounter during flights such as air shows , rocket launches , kites and inoperable radio navigational aids .   says space debris the size of the  components re enters the atmosphere about once year . Harvard University astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell noted that  is far from being the biggest space junk to come back .  "" This is nothing like the old Skylab scare of the ' 70s when you had a 70 ton space station crashing out of the sky . So , I agree with the folks in Houston . It ' s nothing to be worried about , "" McDowell said .  Pieces of Skylab came down in western Australia in 1979 .  The only wild card McDowell sees is if somehow a chunk hits a populated area .  "" If the thing happens to come down in a city , that would be bad . The chances of it causing extensive damage or injuring someone are much higher . ""   says once the debris hits the atmosphere 50 miles up , it will take only a matter of minutes before the surviving pieces hit the Earth .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
22631,22632,"The media has been abuzz since former Sen . and Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards admitted to an extramarital affair .  Cubby Squires met John Edwards in 2007 . He said news of the affair makes Edwards ' political career "" nonexistent . ""  Edwards told  News ' "" Nightline "" on Friday that he had an affair with 42 year old Rielle Hunter . The affair began in 2006 after Hunter was hired to make documentary videos for Edwards ' presidential campaign .  The scandal was a hot topic in the news , including among iReport contributors .  "" I took it really personally , "" said Cubby Squires of Charlotte , North Carolina . "" I always thought John Edwards was different from the typical politician . ""  Squires said there has been nonstop coverage of Edwards ' affair in Charlotte .  "" It just makes his political career nonexistent , "" he said . "" I really don ' t think he can get into politics again . ""  Mike Daly of Santa Barbara , California , said he sympathizes with Edwards . Daly , who lost his wife to breast cancer six years ago , noted that Edwards had been facing a great deal : the loss of his child , a failed bid for the Democratic presidential nomination and wife Elizabeth ' s diagnosis with cancer .  "" These are real hard hits and perhaps he ' s crumbling , "" Daly said . iReportweblink : Read Daly ' s opinions  Many iReporters questioned why the Edwards scandal deserves so much media attention .  Carroll Byrd of Richmond , Virginia , described it as a "" nonstory , "" adding that Republican presidential candidate Sen . John McCain deserves the same level of scrutiny of his sexual relations .  "" Edwards is not a candidate for office now , "" said Byrd , a supporter of the former senator from North Carolina . "" I think something that happened two years ago should be a private matter between him and his wife . ""  Read below to see a sampling of responses from iReportweblink users , some of which have been edited for length and clarity :  iReporter jd1rymal : Good grief . . . . He has an affair . Terrible . The shame , the agony of it all . I ' m not talking about his moment ( s ) of weakness , but the blood in the water that the media are feeding on as if they were sharks . Get over it !  Shellyta : No , I am not surprised by a powerful man having an affair . At least twice a year we hear about one of those . What amazes me is how in the world someone thinks that they can get away with something like this without thinking about the consequences .  kardolfin : It is disappointing to hear that Edwards had an affair , but it ' s not the end of the world . He isn ' t the first person to do it and I ' m sure he won ' t be the last . It is just a big deal because he was in the presidential race and that it is obviously a negative thing .  I am disappointed in Edwards , but I don ' t think he is a bad person and I don ' t think it will destroy him .  captain1944 : Obama is in Hawaii , McCain is , as usual , taking the weekend off , and the Olympics are on . The media needs something to fill up airtime .  cgigante : I still believe in John Edwards ' message . He was a true progressive candidate with a shot at winning , and it ' s a shame he ' ll now be sidelined over an indiscretion like this . Sure , it ' s no good that he was dishonest in his personal life , but I don ' t see how it has any bearing on his plans for economic equality and justice in the United States .  JanaSagan : This affair in no way affects or concerns anyone other than the three adults involved . This should not even be in the news . We have no right to judge him or anyone else in matters of love .  It is not a crime to fall out of love with one person and into love with another . Love is beyond our control . No one knows what causes love to begin or end . If we are trying to crucify him for this because of our moral Christian values , then we should also not cast stones on him or judge him . Leave him and his family alone so they can sort this out in peace and dignity .  thebridge : From my perspective , John Edwards ' affair does not diminish his capabilities or enhance his lack of capabilities as a leader or public representative or any other job other than being a husband . However wrong or immoral we may find cheating ( and lying about cheating ) , the truth is that it does not necessarily reflect the other roles individuals have to fill .  A great mother could also be a cheater or a great judge could lust after women 50 years his junior . That said , I think John Edwards is the same John Edwards politically that we knew before his affair hit the news .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,satire,true,True,no,no,negative,past
22634,22635,"Securing the release of American prisoners Kenneth Bae and Matthew Miller from North Korea was not cost free . It may also be an omen of the return of recurring efforts by U . S . administrations of both parties to negotiate deals with Pyongyang that inevitably fail .  The United States supposedly does not have diplomatic relations with North Korea . After all , the arms proliferating , dollar counterfeiting , nuclear armed dictatorship , which torpedoed a South Korean ship in 2010 , hasn ' t accounted for all of the foreign nationals it kidnapped abroad to train its spies , and occasionally threatens America and its allies with annihilation .  But that hasn ' t stopped a string of senior U . S . diplomats from visiting Pyongyang over the past three administrations . The most recent denizen was U . S . Director of National Intelligence James Clapper , who on Saturday brought home the two Americans imprisoned by the regime for alleged speech and faith related activities that wouldn ' t get a second look in the civilized world .  While Clapper ' s trip may have been "" last minute , "" as the Obama administration described it , the efforts to arrange it probably went on for months and are emblematic of an unfortunate approach to North Korea and its Chinese allies that spans Republican and Democratic administrations especially in their final years .  Washington and Pyongyang both have agendas beyond what is visible today .  Is North Korea being magnanimous in releasing Bae and Miller before their trumped up prison sentences ran out , or might it want something in return ? In fact , it has already acquired something : the appearance of legitimacy .  The autocrats who maintain North Korea ' s totalitarian rule through fear and the young leader , Kim Jong Un , who even had his uncle executed relish any opportunity to show how they can make representatives of vastly more powerful nations come to Pyongyang and kiss their proverbial ring .  Previous visitors in this vein have included then Secretary of State Madeleine Albright , former President Jimmy Carter , former Vice President Al Gore , and various representatives of then Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice .  The North Korean government knows more about the U . S . political cycle than many American political scientists . It saw that the final two years of the Bill Clinton and George W . Bush administrations were fruitful for dealing with presidents and secretaries of state desperately trying to burnish their legacies .  Under President Clinton , aid to North Korea from Washington and Seoul spiked beginning in 1999 , and included efforts to build nuclear power plants for the North Koreans . Under President Bush , Rice announced in 2007 a breakthrough whereby Pyongyang would give up its nuclear program in exchange for aid . As some predicted , North Korea took the aid but kept the nuclear program . It now likely hopes for a repeat of sorts .  North Korea no longer depends on foreign handouts for its survival . By some accounts , its economy is better off than ever , thanks to expanded trade with China much of which is supposedly banned by U . N . resolutions . But Pyongyang would still welcome further sanctions relief and loves to be courted diplomatically , which makes it look strong .  Courtship of North Korea also invariably involves obeisance to the notion that China will pressure its neighbor into behaving and perhaps even surrendering its nuclear weapons program . This is a diplomatic truism that just isn ' t true : Beijing has always normalized trade with North Korea rapidly after any disruptions in the wake of North Korean nuclear tests or other belligerent acts .  But it seems only Pyongyang and Beijing are in on this joke played on American and allied diplomats and China ' s unelected government itself cherishes the legitimacy it gets from being seen as the regional diplomatic linchpin . That is why Beijing has also been promoting multilateral talks with North Korea .  The way out of this is to stop believing that romancing Pyongyang will advance U . S . interests . North Korea has violated numerous arms agreements with the United States or other parties . Pyongyang will not be sweet talked out of its nuclear arsenal or other provocations .  Washington can end the cycle of North Korea taking Americans hostage by declaring U . S . passports invalid for travel to North Korea . Furthermore , the United States and its allies should pivot to a program of putting nonviolent pressure on the North Korean regime .  Washington should tell the truth about China ' s support of Pyongyang , increase aid to defectors who try to pierce the curtain of censorship that keeps North Koreans in the dark and punish any company or bank that does business with the regime .  Putting the United States at the same table as lawless thugs isn ' t just morally repugnant it ' s ineffective . The free world should devote more effort to a better form of diplomacy that makes life difficult for its opponents .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
22663,22664,"People also are talking about Groundhog Day , a new lion population in Africa and Bill Cosby ' s day in court .  People are talking about Groundhog Day , a  star ' s cancer announcement , coin flips between Hillary and Bernie , a new lion population in Africa and Bill Cosby ' s day in court .  A group of visitors pose for pictures and take selfies with the "" Punxsutawney Phil "" mascot outside the public library in Punxsutawney , Pa . , Monday , Feb . 1 , 2016 . Thousands of people come to Punxsutawney for the annual celebration of Groundhog Day on Gobbler ' s Knob on Feb . 2 . (  Photo Keith Srakocic )  The handlers of Pennsylvania ' s most famous groundhog , Punxsutawney Phil , say the furry rodent has failed to see his shadow , meaning means he ' s "" predicted "" an early spring .  Members of the top hat wearing Inner Circle announced the "" forecast "" at sunrise , just before 7 : 30 a . m . Tuesday .  A German legend has it that if a furry rodent sees his shadow on Feb . 2 , winter will last another six weeks . If not , spring comes early .  In reality , Phil ' s prediction is decided ahead of time by the group on Gobbler ' s Knob . The tiny hill is located just outside the town for which he ' s named about 65 miles northeast of Pittsburgh .  Records going back to 1887 show Phil has now predicted more winter 102 times while forecasting an early spring just 18 times . There are no records for the remaining years .  Democratic presidential candidate Sen . Bernie Sanders , I Vt . , poses for photos during a caucus night rally on Monday , Feb . 1 , 2016 , in Des Moines , Iowa . (  Photo Evan Vucci )  The Democratic caucus results in Iowa were so tight that Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders both went to bed unsure who ' d won . Will party bigwigs declare a winner Tuesday or simply leave it as a draw ?  There ' s more than one way to define victory . Multiple candidates will try to claim a win simply by exceeding low expectations . Marco Rubio is fashioning his third place showing as an "" important step to winning the nomination . "" Rand Paul is trumpeting a "" strong top five finish . ""  With New Hampshire just a week away , the state already is flooded with campaign staff and advertising dollars . While most candidates were planting themselves in New Hampshire , Texas Sen . Ted Cruz has stops Tuesday in both New Hampshire and South Carolina he thinks his conservative message may resonate in the latter state .  And as candidates exit the race , where do they point their supporters ? Donald Trump plans to campaign in Arkansas on Wednesday . Could he be hoping to pick up an endorsement from Mike Huckabee ?  Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks in front of former President Bill Clinton and daughter Chelsea during a caucus night rally at Drake University in Des Moines , Iowa , Monday , Feb . 1 , 2016 . (  Photo Patrick Semansky )  How close was the Iowa race between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders ? Democrats flipped coins in some precincts to determine how to award an extra county delegate , a rare but longstanding procedure to break ties .  Party rules call for a coin flip when support for candidates is even but a precinct has an odd number of delegates to award .  The Des Moines Register reports that Clinton won coin tosses at precincts in Davenport and Des Moines .  The newspaper says party officials ordered another coin flip to decide a dispute between the campaigns at an Ames precinct . Clinton won that toss , too .  Iowa Democratic Party spokesman Sam Lau noted that the flips were to determine county convention delegates , which are only fractions of the state delegates awarded to candidates .  Bill Cosby leaves the Cheltenham Township Police Department where he was processed after being arraigned on a felony charge of aggravated indecent assault in Elkins Park , Pa . ? (  Photo Matt Rourke , File )  Bill Cosby ' s lawyers will ask a judge to throw out the only criminal case lodged against the  star from the dozens of accusations that he molested women .  The defense will argue that Cosby had a deal with a suburban Philadelphia prosecutor in 2005 that he wouldn ' t be prosecuted and should testify freely in accuser Andrea Constand ' s civil lawsuit .  That testimony , released only last year , prompted the successors of former Montgomery County District Attorney Bruce L . Castor Jr . to reopen the case and ultimately charge the 78 year old Cosby with felony sexual assault . Cosby has not yet entered a plea .  Cosby admitted in the deposition that he had a series of affairs with young models and actresses had obtained quaaludes to give women before sex and gave accuser Andrea Constand three pills before a January 2004 encounter at his home . He called it consensual but she said she was drugged and violated .  In an unusual twist , Castor is slated to be the defense ' s key witness on Tuesday . Castor insists that he forged an oral "" non prosecution "" agreement in 2005 with Walter M . Phillips Jr . , a Cosby lawyer who died last year .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
22689,22690,"Teenage thug Shawn Tyson was jailed for life for the shocking murder of James Cooper and James Kouzaris .  The pair were gunned down during a botched robbery in the popular tourist town of Sarasota three years ago after stumbling into a rundown housing estate .  Tyson , who was aged just 16 at the time , received a life sentence without the possibility of parole after being convicted of first degree murder .  Killer : Shawn Tyson was sentenced to life in prison for murdering James Cooper and James Kouzaris  In June he launches an appeal against the sentence and plans to play the race card in a bid to get his conviction quashed .  Tyson is black and 11 of the jury who sat during the week long trial in March 2012 were white .  The jurors in the town which is predominantly white were drawn from a pool of 80 people .  Lawyers for the killer also plan to claim witnesses were offered immunity from prosecution if they gave evidence in the trial .  The prospect of Tyson walking free or even winning a re trial has stunned family and friends of Cooper , 24 , and 25 year old Kouzaris .  ' We thought we had seen the last of this nasty piece of work and it just feels us with horror that he could get the conviction overturned , ' said a friend of the Cooper family .  Devastated : ' We thought we had seen the last of this nasty piece of work and it just fills us with horror that he could get the conviction overturned , ' said a friend of the Cooper family  ' It is inconceivable that he will win the appeal . I do not think the family of either men will be able to stand it . '  Cooper , from Warwicks , and Kouzaris , from Northampton , had been drinking at a downtown bar in Sarasota when they decided to walk to their holiday home in the early hours of the morning .  Police believe they were drunk and ended up walking through a crime plagued area called Newtown where they were confronted by Tyson whose face was hidden by a bandana .  The teenager had been released from jail hours just earlier for a shooting incident when he ordered the pair to hand over their wallets .  He made them drop their trousers before shooting them dead .  Tyson later boasted to friends that he had "" done "" the pair and hid the bullet casings and . 22 handgun used in the murder .  Best buddies : James Cooper ( right ) and James Kouzaris ( left ) became friends after meeting at university  Police in Sarastoa launched massive hunt for the killer as they feared the negative publicity from the deaths of two holidaymakers would hurt the town ' s main industry of tourism .  There were no eye witnesses to the shooting , but Tyson was seen in the vicinity of the murder hours before and lived on the estate where it took place .  Although bullets matching those that killed the British tourists were found at his home most of the case against Tyson was circumstantial .  The key evidence came from a former friend who told the court he was asked to dispose of the gun .  Tyson ' s lawyers plan to tell the Appeal Court in Lakeland that the friend and others who gave evidence had been offered immunity from prosecution for crimes they committed if they gave evidence .  They also say the jury was racially biased against Tyson and he did not receive a fair hearing as he is black .  Prosecution lawyers will argue that the jury reached their decision based on all the evidence that was presented at the trial .  ' The verdict was reached without of improper reliance on evidence vouching for the veracity of key witnesses , ' said Assistant Attorney General Cerese Taylor .  Tyson , now aged 19 , never spoke at his trial and has shown no remorse over the murders .  At the end of the trial two friends of Cooper and KouZaris , who met at university , lashed out at President Obama for failing to make any comment about their deaths .  Paul Davies and Joe Hallett said letters had been sent to Mr Obama but did not get a reply .  They said the deaths of their friends was not worthy of ' ten minutes of his time . '  The rebuke follows Mr Obama ' s personal intervention into the shooting in Florida of a young black teenager by a white neighbourhood watch captain George Zimmerman .  Zimmerman was later cleared of murder with his acquittal causing outrage .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
22737,22738,"Dan Price , the  of Gravity Payments , is slashing his own salary 93percent  The  of a Seattle startup has instituted a 70 , 000 minimum wage at his credit card processing company and he ' s paying for it by slashing his 1million salary to the same as his lowest paid worker .  He ' s also taking up to 80percent of the firm ' s 2 . 2million expected profit to plow it back in to staff salaries .  Over the next three years , Gravity Payments will offer at least 70 , 000 salary to all of its 120 employees even the most junior customer service representatives and clerks ,  Dan Price told the New York Times this week .  ' Is anyone else freaking out right now ? I ' m kind of freaking out , ' he told his cheering employees at a meeting on Monday afternoon .  The policy will raise the wages for 70 of the company ' s workers more than half the staff .  The Times was present at Price ' s announcement . Even if the 70 , 000 minimum wage is a publicity stunt , it ' s one that will cost him big time .  Price is slashing his own salary by 93percent more depending on what portion of the company ' s profits he was planning to take home .  Price founded Gravity Payments in 2004 when he was 19 and working out of his dorm room at Seattle Pacific University . The company processes credit card payments for small businesses .  Price said told the Times he was motivated to make the radical change after reading a study about how much pay raises increase happiness for people making less than 70 , 000 a year .  He also was distressed hearing the struggles of his friends and family who make far less money than he does .  Happy workers : Price said the move will eat up 93percent of his current salary and 80percent of his annual profits  ' They were walking me through the math of making 40 , 000 a year . ' . . . I hear that every single week . That just eats at me inside . '  The move comes at a time when  pay is 300 times the average employee pay at large companies among the highest level of inequality in history .  Price claims he ' s a man of few vices . He takes snowboarding trips and likes to pick up the tab at dinner and when he ' s out with friends .  Otherwise , he says , he drives a 12 year old Audi .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
22749,22750,"Newt Gingrich is dead on with his commentary on Comey and leaking. Comey created Mueller! The bigger problem is that now Mueller has hired four lawyers who are all Clinton donors! Holy smokes! Do you think this is a set up or should President Trump follow through with the investigation?.@newtgingrich     PARK!  Comey helped create Mueller, thru LEAK, to attack @POTUS. #RIGGED! pic.twitter.com/9ITdyjwaHL  Boston Bobblehead (@DBloom451) June 11, 2017ALL       DEMOCRATS:        MUELLER: The  has appointed former  Director Robert Mueller  as special counsel to its investigation into possible Russian interference in our presidential election. The Wall Street Journal reported:Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein announced the appointment because Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself from any investigation related to the 2016 race. Mr. Rosenstein said in a statement that  I determined that it is in the public interest for me to exercise my authority and appoint a Special Counsel to assume responsibility of this matter.  He cautioned that his decision wasn t the result of a  finding that crimes have been committed or that any prosecution is warranted. He signed the order on Wednesday. Mr. Mueller, a former federal prosecutor, served as  director from 2001 through 2013 and has a reputation for independence. Mr. Mueller has been a partner a WilmerHale, a law firm, but is stepping down from his role there to avoid any conflicts of interest, according to the Justice Department.     states that they will investigate  related matters  which opens up a can of worms for the leakers. They will now be fair game! The President released a statement:",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,fake,fake,True,no,no,negative,present
22768,22769,"How much have Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump received from small donors ?  Bernie Sanders received 70 of funds from small donors and has no debt , while Donald Trump has by far the most debt ?  Mr Sanders ' support from small donors keeps him afloat , while Donald Trump is the most in debt Getty  Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders may not be leading the polls to win the Iowa caucus tonight , but he is in one of the best financial positions of all the candidates and has the highest support from small donors , new numbers show . Meanwhile Donald Trump , who is the top Republican in ? the polls for Monday night , has by far the most debt of any candidate .  According to end of year filings from the presidential candidates , as shown ? by Politico , Mr Sanders raised 70 of funds from small time donors .  Mr Sanders is also the second richest candidate in terms of the amount of cash his campaign has on hand 28 million as of the end of December 2015 .  The Democrat has no debt , according to numbers from the Federal Election Commission (  ) , and he has raised a total of 75 million for the fourth quarter cycle , only beaten to the top by the 115 million raised by fellow Democrat Hillary Clinton .  Hillary Clinton has previously been accused of fuzzy math on the total amount of donations from Wall Street . Just 15 of her support in the fourth quarter ? came from small donations .  Small donors can add up and make a big impact they have continued to fuel Ben Carson s campaign , providing ? 55 of his total funds . Not all Republicans have had the same success , however . ? Jeb Bush is lowest on the candidate list with just 6 of his funds coming from the small donors .  In terms of how much cash on hand each candidate has , Ms Clinton is the richest at 38 million , as of 31 December 2015 . ?  And when it comes to debt , Republican Donald Trump is the most severely in the red .  The man who is the closest competitor to Ms Clinton in the Iowa caucus tonight has just 7 million cash on hand . ?  Airfare is a common expenditure for the candidates , but other costs take their toll . ? The Independent reported on Monday that Mr Trump spent 326 , 699 . 85 during the final quarter of 2015 with one just company to buy red Make America Great Again hats .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
22773,22774,"Eight U . S . soldiers have been charged in connection with the October death of a fellow soldier in Afghanistan , the Army said Wednesday .  Pvt . Danny Chen , 19 , was found dead in a guard tower , apparently from a self inflicted gunshot wound . Chen ' s family says that until they see the autopsy results themselves , they cannot confirm or deny it was suicide .  The eight officers and enlisted servicemen face various charges , including dereliction of duty , making false statements , maltreatment and involuntary manslaughter , the Army said in a statement .  The Army did not specify what alleged acts by the soldiers resulted in the charges , which were filed Wednesday .  But in correspondence with his family before his death , Chen complained of harassment by his fellow soldiers .  At a candlelight vigil for Chen held in Manhattan last week , his brother , Banny Chen , read from a letter the soldier had sent to his family .  "" They ask if I ' m from China a few times a day . They also called out my name , ' Chen , ' in a goat like voice sometimes for no reason . No idea how it started , but it ' s just best to ignore it . ""  The Chen family told The New York Times in October that officials said that Chen had suffered physical abuse and ethnic slurs by superiors , including an incident in which he was dragged out of bed and across the floor for failing to turn off a water heater after showering .  In its announcement , the Army makes no mention of the harassment allegations , but states , "" As the legal process continues , further information will be published as it becomes available . ""  The Army official said the soldiers are essentially charged with hazing and abusing Chen in the weeks and days before he apparently killed himself . But the case remains open and other charges could be filed , the official said .  The soldiers facing charges were identified as 1st Lt . Daniel J . Schwartz , Staff Sgt . Blaine G . Dugas , Staff Sgt . Andrew J . Van Bockel , Sgt . Adam M . Holcomb , Sgt . Jeffrey T . Hurst , Spc . Thomas P . Curtis , Spc . Ryan J . Offutt and Sgt . Travis F . Carden .  All the soldiers belonged to C Company , 3rd Battalion , 21st Infantry Regiment , 1st Styker Brigade Combat Team , 25th Infantry Division , the Army said .  Schwartz , the only officer charged , faces eight counts of dereliction of duty .  The enlisted soldiers face more serious charges , including dereliction of duty but also maltreatment , assault , involuntary manslaughter and negligent homicide .  The eight men charged have been moved to a different base in southern Afghanistan and remain under restriction . They are not permitted to leave the base , the Army official said .  "" We feel some comfort and relief to know the Army is taking it seriously , "" Chen ' s mother , Su Zhan Chen , said through a translator at a news conference Wednesday .  "" We are cautiously optimistic because of today ' s news , "" said Elizabeth Ou Yang , president of the Asian American group   , who spoke as a representative of the family .  But , she added , the family hopes that those responsible will be not just charged , but convicted .  "" They must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law , "" Yang added .  Rep . Nydia Velazquez , D New York , who was also present with the family at the conference , said that she has requested the autopsy results and asked the inspector general of the Army to conduct a separate investigation .  "" We are here today to demand answers . . . and that begins with a full accounting of all the facts , "" she said .  In a similar case earlier this year , three Marines were charged with beating and hazing a fellow Marine , Harry Lew , after Lew fell asleep on watch duty .  The Marine was beaten and forced to do exercises and to dig a hole until the early morning . When the punishment was over , he climbed into the hole he had just dug and shot himself , said Rep . Judy Chu of California , Lew ' s aunt .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
22774,22775,"Marin Cilic has fought many battles on the court but the Croatian star may face his biggest fight in the court when he appeals against his nine month doping ban .  Currently ranked 24th in the world , Cilic tested positive for the stimulant nikethamide at the Munich Open in Germany last April and will not return to action until February 1 , 2014 .  The 24 year old , who has had the ban backdated to May 1 this year , told an independent tribunal that the nikethamide had entered his system after he took Coramine glucose tablets which had been purchased on his behalf .  Cilic will now appeal against the decision by taking his case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport , claiming he was not aware that the Coramine tablets contained a banned substance .  "" The substance in question originated from a glucose tablet purchased at a pharmacy in France , "" Cilic said in a statement Monday .  "" Unbeknownst to me , the glucose tablets contained a substance that is banned in competition .  "" I wish to emphasize that I have never knowingly or deliberately taken any banned substances in my life and that I am opposed to any use of performance enhancing substances in sport . ""  The tribunal accepted that Cilic "" did not intend to enhance his performance "" by taking the substance , and ruled he will instead serve a reduced ban of nine months .  Cilic , who has not competed since withdrawing from Wimbledon citing a knee injury , has had his results at the Munich Open expunged and has forfeited both the prize money and rankings points from the event .  The Croatian reached a career high of No . 9 in the world in 2010 after reaching the semifinals of that year ' s Australian Open .  Cilic is the fourth tennis player to be hit with a ban for drug violations in 2013 .  Serbia ' s Viktor Troicki was suspended by the  for 18 months in July after being found guilty of failing to provide a blood sample during April ' s Monte Carlo ' s Masters .  But Serbian Troicki has vowed to appeal the decision after alleging the doctor conducting the blood test allowed him to miss the procedure .  In May , Brazil ' s Fernando Romboli tested positive for diuretics , furosemide and hydrochlorothiazide which resulted in him being handed an eight and a half month ban .  In February , Czech player Barbora Zahlavova Strycova received a six month ban after testing positive for sibutramine , a substance which is often found in weight loss products .  The  has stepped up its fight against drugs cheats since announcing its plan to introduce biological passports in March .  Each player will have an individual electronic biological profile and be tested more regularly to monitor their levels and alert the authorities to possible drug use .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
22781,22782,"Meanwhile, families with two full time working parents have been choosing generic cheerios from the cereal aisle at Kroger and forgoing vacations so welfare recipients can fill their leisure time with fun activities. If you re wondering how we ever got to this point, look no further than the Democrats freebies (on your dime) for votes scheme There s nothing fun about being on welfare, and a new Kansas law aims to keep it that way.Republican Gov. Sam Brownback signed House Bill 2258 into law Thursday. The measure means Kansas families receiving government assistance will no longer be able to use those funds to visit swimming pools, see movies, go gambling or get tattoos on the state s dime.Those are just a few of the restrictions contained within the law that aims to tighten regulations on how poor families spend their government aid. It will go into effect July 1.The measure   called the  Act by supporters    provides an opportunity for success,  Brownback said in a statement after signing the bill.  It s about the dignity of work and helping families move from reliance on a government pittance to becoming self-sufficient by developing the skills to find a well-paying job and build a career. State Sen. Michael O Donnell, a Wichita Republican who has advocated for the bill, said the legislation was designed to pressure those receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families to spend  more responsibly. We re trying to make sure those benefits are used the way they were intended,  O Donnell, vice chair of the state senate s standing committee on public health and welfare, told the Topeka Capital-Journal earlier this year.  This is about prosperity. This is about having a great life. That, according to the legislation, means limiting spending on body piercings, massages, spas, tobacco, nail salons, lingerie, arcades, cruise ships or visits to psychics. The measure   which limits  recipients from withdrawing more than $25 per day from ATMs   also forbids recipients from spending money at a: theme park, dog or horse racing facility, parimutuel facility, or sexually oriented business or any retail establishment which provides adult-oriented entertainment in which performers disrobe or perform in an unclothed state for entertainment, or in any business or retail establishment where minors under age 18 are not permitted. I just think we are simply saying to people,  If you are asking for assistance in this state, you re sort of less than other people and we re going to tell you how and where to spend your money,  state Rep. Carolyn Bridges, a Wichita Democrat, said during a House debate, according to the Associated Press.The Kansas House and Senate passed the bill April 2 with wide support from Republicans, who control both legislative chambers, according to the APVia: Washington Post",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,present
22783,22784,"He is playing this week ! ! He could have played last week but wasn t comfortable because of how much time he spent away .  If beast doesn t play this week he flat out quit on his team no teammate team leader doesn t travel with his squad on a lose or go home playoff game . His overall presence would help the team just for his encouragement or perspective . I don t want to believe he has quit but he s sure acting like it .  I think when Rawls was playing you saw the team at its best as good as beast mode is he needs a lot of special attention or touches nor can you say anything that can possibly be perceived as negative or he becomes super defiant . I want to see him go out on top in a hawks uniform but either way I m done with him .  No other team or coach would put up with what Petes does for production . Besides one that will sell their soul how many coaches will feature a guy who will on practice 2 times a week and other times go off and do defensive back Drills when he s supposed to be doing rb Drills . How many coaches will give him Wed off every week no matter what . How many coaches will massage his ego like Pete did . .  People forget Pete is the reason beast is considered elite his attitude and personality had him halfway out of the  before Pete picked him up via late Rd trade .  His season will be coming to an end Sunday either way .  What does the team doctor say ? ? ? If the team doctor says he s fine but the player refutes the statement then what is the policy ? Hard to believe this is the case unless Marshawn has just cashed it in ! Not good . This is quite sad . .  Give a shout out to Oakland . . . because that is where you will be after you get cut .  Marsha is all done playing this year ! She don t want to play no more ! Maybe next season or not !  Keep tryin to push that Skittle flavored Kool Aid , Pete ,  ? ? ?  He just didn t want to play in the cold last week . Selfish .  This dude is so weird . How do you not go with your team even if you won t be on the field ? Some people think his act is funny or clever , but what if most players acted like him ? Don t care about the talent , glad this tumor isn t on my team .  That Panther fan , are you saying you like Jonathan Stewart over Marshawn Lynch ? The same Stewart that has missed 40 of his career games due to injury .  Beast Mode has been a huge factor to so many playoff wins and key to Seattle Super Bowl victory . He is loved by the fans and players on the same level Russell Wilson Earl Thomas are .  Because he doesn t talk to the media folks that don t follow the team have this perception of him . This year is really the first year he has missed games in his career . This is his first surgery ever ? he wasn t ready to go . This is one of the toughest players that ever played the game .  Man , how embarrassing would it be for the 15 1 panthers to lose to a team with their 3rd string running back , who was traded and cut twice this year . I mean its Cam Newton !  He has 12 million guaranteed reasons not to push it .   Luke will have a field day . hope he plays . maybe he will last a qtr maybe a half .  ! ! !  May the Force be with you , Luke and Co . ! Go get em !  Looking forward now , to seeing the Panthers take this thing all the way ! ! !  Won t need him for this one . Carolina has no business in the playoffs , and that filthy southeastern  can secede from the Union again any time they are ready .  Wishing a speedy recovery for him and all the Seahawks fans bruised egos .  Wow Panther fans and the southeastern  , I would definitely use that as some fuel to beat the living daylights out of the Seahawks ( not that you need it of course ! ) Good Luck , Panthers ! ! ! !  You must be logged in to leave a comment . Not a member ? Register now !  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
22786,22787,"? There will be heat . Lots and lots of heat .  And we ' re not talking about the weather in New York City for Game 3 of the World Series between the Kansas City Royals and New York Mets . Both teams turn to their flamethrowers Friday night and it just so happens they ' re two of the hardest throwers in  . Game 3 starts at 8 : 07 p . m .  and is televised on Fox . The Royals have a 2 0 series lead .  Noah Syndergaard and Yordano Ventura will be on the mound for Game 3 . They ' re two young guys ( 23 and 24 , respectively ) capable of hitting 100 mph with their fastball . In fact , according to  ' s Statcast , there ' s only one other starting pitcher on their level this season .  Related : ? For the Mets to rally in the World Series , they need to start hitting  Syndergaard averaged 97 . 4 on his heater , tying him with New York Yankees pitcher Nathan Eovaldi for No . 1 among starters . ? And Ventura was right behind them , ranking third at 96 . 8 mph on both of his two seam and four seam fastballs .  One more fact about Syndergaard : His slider averaged 97 . 1 mph , so he earns every bit of his Thor nickname . Aside from just throwing hard , Mets manager Terry Collins has been impressed with how Syndergaard , a rookie , has learned to command his pitches and make the right pitch in tense situations .  "" When he first got here , we saw 96 , "" Collins said . "" What he ' s doing now , I have never seen that . I ' ve never seen 98 , 99 and 100 . I ' ve seen good , good power stuff . But I ' ve seen a guy grow and learn how to pitch here , where he will go to his secondary stuff in certain counts . ""  Ventura ? who has often been compared to Pedro Martinez for his powerful arm and fiery personality ? understands there are more important things than velocity , too . ? Especially on a Royals team with a lights out bullpen .  He knows his job is to stay in the game , hold on to a lead and turn it over to the relievers .  "" Right now I ' m not worried about velocity at all , "" Ventura said Thursday through an interpreter . "" I just want to go deep in the game , let my team ? ? give them a chance to win . My main goal is to really go deep in the games , not really velocity . ""  He may not care , but for fans who love to watch big time fastballs , Game 3 will be a treat .  As the series shifts to New York and  rules , there ' s one significant home field advantage for the Mets . The Royals will be without Kendrys Morales , their powerful designated hitter , who has hit four homers and driven in 10 runs in the postseason . This is neither surprising nor new , but as the Mets try stay alive in this series , it ' s something that tips in their favor .  The question for the Mets is how they ' d arrange their lineup . So far they ' ve started Yoenis Cespedes in center with Michael Conforto in left for Game 1 , then moved Cespedes to left and started Juan Lagares in center for Game 2 , while Conforto  ' d . That ' s their better defensive alignment . With no  for Game 3 , the Mets went back to their Game 1 setup : Cespedes in center with Conforto in left . Lagares moves back to the bench . ?  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,present
22794,22795,"Reuters) - A German court on Wednesday ordered the release of an army officer suspected of planning to carry out an attack on politicians and incriminate asylum seekers, saying there was not enough evidence to keep him in detention. The officer, named only as Franco A., was arrested in April in a case that shocked Germans and stirred a debate about the depth of right-wing radicalism in the country s military. Prosecutors suspected that Franco A., along with two accomplices, wanted to implicate refugees in their planned attack by posing under a false identity as an asylum seeker. Former president Joachim Gauck and Justice Minister Heiko Maas were on a list of possible targets prepared by the suspects, who wanted to make their attack look like the work of Islamist militants, prosecutors had said. However, the Federal Court of Justice ruled on Wednesday that there was not enough evidence that Franco A. was preparing an attack to keep him in detention, even if there were some grounds for suspicion. Investigators must now make clear whether they have enough evidence to bring the officer to trial. A suspected accomplice was freed in July pending trial, while the other suspect was released for lack of evidence. The case had put pressure on Chancellor Angela Merkel s government, with her close ally, Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen, facing criticism for failing to deal with right-wing extremism in the army and also because she implied that most soldiers were right-wing radicals. Franco A., who served with an army battalion stationed in France, had used a fake identity to register as a Syrian refugee and moved into a shelter for migrants in Bavaria even though he speaks no Arabic. The soldier had previously been detained in late January by Austrian authorities on suspicion of having hidden an illegal gun in a bathroom at Vienna s main airport. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
22798,22799,"Wannabe explorers are being offered the chance to navigate outer space in an experience previously only available to  astronauts .  For 395 participants get to don a pressurised space suit , take off in a spacecraft and navigate a custom built simulator on Earth , Mars or the Moon , as part of a Space Suit Experience .  Before getting suited up , those involved are lectured on what to expect , then get to fly above the moon in a simulator .  Wannabe explorers are being offered a space experience previously only available to  astronauts which lets them take off in a spacecraft and navigate a simulator in outer space  As part of the Space Suit Experience participants can navigate Earth , the Moon and Mars  Brienna Henwood , Director of Space Training and Research at  , takes the simulator through its paces  After successfully completing the mission , participants are given a t shirt , a mission patch and celebrate with a shot of vodka .  The experience was created by Ted Southern and Nik Moiseev , who founded specialist design firm Final Frontier Design in 2010 , and was launched in New York last month .  Mr Southern , 36 , said the company had put ' all sorts of people into our space suits ' over the last four years and decided it ' might be nice ' to offer the experience to members of the public .  Astronaut chic : Brienna Henwood poses in the suit minus the helmet with an impressive backdrop of the Freedom Tower  As part of the experience participants get to try and sink a golf ball while dressed in the spacesuit  Ms Henwood gives the thumbs up while dressed in a pressurized space suit  A participant gets fitted out in a pressurized space suit before taking part in the experience which costs 240  He said the company has taken several bookings since its public launch and plan to offer the experience at larger tourist attractions like the Intrepid in New York and the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida .  Mr Southern said the company had big plans for their space suit : ' We want to enable humans to travel safer , cheaper , and faster to space and other planets . We envision our suit walking on Mars in our lifetime . '  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
22801,22802,"An attractive female robot used as a tour guide for a Chinese art expo has been taken out of action after being groped by over zealous tourists .  The robot was introduced to offer tour guides for visitors to the Jinzhou world garden art expo in Jinzhou , Liaoning province , northeast China .  But it proved too fascinating for many visitors who wanted to take a closer look at the robot which has bright red lips and wears a blue silk blue ballgown .  Broken : An attractive female robot used as a tour guide for a Chinese art expo has been taken out of action after being groped by over zealous tourists  Expo spokesman Feng Kung said : ' The event is a big occasion and we get lots of visitors , and it is a lot of stress for the guides , so we came up with the idea of using a robot .  ' But we designed it as an attractive female robot , and it seems more people are interested in grabbing the robot to have a snap made , or even fondling the dress to see what is underneath .  ' As a result of the interference the robot keeps breaking down , and we have to put the human guides back into place .  Novelty : It was introduced to offer tour guides for visitors to the Jinzhou world garden art expo in Jinzhou , Liaoning province , northeast China  Inspiration : Organisers came up with the idea of a robot for the event that runs over the summer until the end of October  Over zealous : A spokesman said : ' We designed it as an attractive female robot , and it seems more people are interested in grabbing the robot to have a snap made , or even fondling the dress to see what is underneath '  ' It is broken again now for example , we think next year we will use a man or a more robot looking robot .  The robot guide makes introductions of the expo to visitors , it can answer questions as it has a speech recognition programme and will travel round as a guide  Introduced in the summer the robot was designed to last until the event ends in October .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
22814,22815,"Affectionately known in his home city of Madrid as "" the wise man of Hortaleza , "" Luis Aragones left the legacy of helping Spain ' s ascension to the top of world football .  Aragones , whose death at the age of 75 was announced Saturday , coached his national side to the European Championship title in 2008 the country ' s first success at a major tournament in more than 40 years .  That breakthrough was continued by his successor Vicente del Bosque , who continued with the "" tiki taka "" passing style Aragones introduced , as "" La Roja "" won the 2010 World Cup and the 2012 European crown .  "" Without a doubt , he marked the road in this final successful phase . I felt a great deal of appreciation towards him , "" Del Bosque told the national team ' s official website .  "" I knew he had some health problems , but I never imagined it would lead to this . ""  "" Always with us , Luis , "" led the website tribute of Atletico Madrid , the club where Aragones played for a decade between 1964 74 and was head coach on four occasions , most recently 2001 03 .  He guided Atletico to the La Liga title in 1977 and the Spanish Cup on three occasions .  "" Luis Aragones was a great player and coach , but before all that a great person and a friend , "" said the team ' s president Enrique Cerezo .  "" First and foremost he was Atletico . We want to express on behalf of the whole club our condolences to his family . ""  Aragones ' final coaching job was with Turkish side Fenerbahce , which ended in mid 2009 , and late last year he announced his retirement from the game in which he started out at Getafe in 1957 .  He was reportedly taken to a Madrid hospital last week with a serious illness , from which he did not recover .  Aragones will be buried at a private ceremony on Sunday . Atletico will observe a minute ' s silence ahead of the home match against Real Sociedad , in which the team will seek to go top of the table above another of his former teams , Barcelona .  "" I wish to express our sorrow at the loss of one of football ' s greatest men and one of the most charismatic and likeable managers we remember , "" Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu said before his side ' s 3 2 defeat by Valencia its first at home in the league since April 2012 .  "" As a club , we had the honor of his services , albeit for a very short time , in the 1987 88 season , when we won the Spanish Cup .  "" We much appreciate his respect for Barca , its model and our players . Euro 2008 , with Puyol , Xavi , Iniesta and so many others , is a great example . ""  Aragones ' appreciation of Barca ' s "" tiki taka "" style started by Johann Cruyff and developed by Pep Guardiola was borne out by the number of the players from the Catalan club he selected for the national team .  But his heart lay in the nation ' s capital , where he was on the books of Atletico ' s big rival Real Madrid from 1958 60 as a player though he spent most of that time out on loan to other clubs .  "" The loss of Luis Aragones saddens all of us who love football , "" said Real president Florentino Perez .  "" Today is a day of mourning for this sport , but it should also be a day of recognition for a legendary figure who was vital in giving us a glorious period with our Spanish national team .  "" He ennobled this sport and all Spanish fans owe him gratitude and respect . His personal and professional career was always characterized by honesty and hard work . ""  The only blot on his international career was an incident in 2004 , when he was accused of making a racial comment which was caught on television cameras about France striker Thierry Henry while he was trying to motivate his players in training ahead of a World Cup qualifying match .  Aragones was fined by European football ' s ruling body  and subsequently apologized to Henry , insisting he had not intended to make a racial insult .  ",true,text,test,Football,Economy,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
22819,22820,Live Extra  World Cup : Women ' s  Run 1 Olympic Sports 4 : 30am   Live Extra  Cross Country : Ladies 15 km Olympic Sports 5 : 15am   Live Extra  World Cup : Men ' s Skeleton Olympic Sports 5 : 30am   Live Extra  World Cup : Men ' s  Run 2 Olympic Sports 6 : 30am    Norwich City v . Everton Premier League 7am   Live Extra  World Cup : Women ' s  Run 2 Olympic Sports 7 : 30am   Live Extra  Freestyle Skiing : Skicross Final Day  Olympic Sports 7 : 30am   Live Extra  Cross Country : Men ' s 30 km Olympic Sports 8am   Live Extra  World Cup : Two Man Bobsleigh Olympic Sports 9am   Live Extra  Ski Jumping : Saturday  134 Olympic Sports 10am    Crystal Palace v . Southampton Premier League 10am    Manchester City v . Swansea City Premier League 10am   Live Extra Sunderland v . Watford Premier League 10am   Live Extra West Ham United v . Stoke City Premier League 10am   Live Extra Women ' s Freeski Slopestyle Finals Dew Tour 10 : 30am   Golf Channel  Father Son Challenge Golf 11am   Live Extra Women ' s Snowboard Superpipe Finals Olympic Sports 12pm    Sports Bournemouth v . Manchester United Premier League 12 : 30pm   Live Extra Men ' s Snowboard Superpipe Finals Olympic Sports 2pm    Sports  Father Son Challenge Golf 4pm   Live Extra Men ' s Freeski Superpipe Finals Dew Tour 5 : 30pm   ,true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
22838,22839,"Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama on Friday said Congress must end its deadlock on funding to combat the Zika virus before lawmakers head out to recess later this summer. “The good news is we feel fairly confident that we can develop an effective vaccine for Zika,” Obama said after a meeting with U.S. health officials in the Oval Office. “The problem is right now that money is stuck in Congress.” Obama met with the heads of the Health and Human Services Department, the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to discuss the nation’s response to the mosquito-borne virus. Earlier this week, Senate Democrats blocked a Republican proposal to provide $1.1 billion in funding to combat Zika. Democrats and the White House said the plan fell short of Obama’s $1.9 billion funding request and included measures that would take funds from other important health initiatives. “We have not seen the House (of Representatives) and Senate come together in a sensible way to put forward the dollars that we have requested to get the job done,” Obama said. “I expect Congress to get this funding done before they adjourn, as part of their basic responsibility.” U.S. lawmakers typically go on recess in August to go campaign for re-election in their home districts.  Following the deadlock, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have accused each other of playing politics with the health crisis. Zika has caused concern throughout the Americas due to an alarming rise in cases of the birth defect known as microcephaly and other severe fetal brain abnormalities linked to the virus reported in Brazil, the country hardest hit by the outbreak.  Infants with microcephaly tend to have abnormally small heads and may experience potentially disabling developmental problems. While Obama said there have not been any cases reported of local transmission of the virus in the continental United States, he said the nation is home to mosquitoes that carry the virus. “It is absolutely critical for the United States government, working in concert with other governments in the hemisphere, to be pushing hard right now to get this situation under control,” Obama said. As of June 23, there have been seven babies born in the United States with microcephaly or other Zika-related birth defects such as serious brain abnormalities, and five lost pregnancies from either miscarriage, stillbirth or termination.     ",true,dataset,test,Other news2,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
22866,22867,"Senator Rand Paul speaks at the New Hampshire  ' s  Presidential town hall in Nashua , New Hampshire . (  )  As the focus of the 2016  presidential race shifts to the New Hampshire primary next week , Rand Paul , the Republican senator from Kentucky , announced on Wednesday he won t be there .  Paul , a popular leader of the party s libertarian wing , ended his campaign after finishing fifth in the Iowa caucuses , which have traditionally served the purpose of winnowing the field .  The third candidate to exit the race after Iowa ? following Republican Mike Huckabee and Democrat Martin O Malley ? Paul won 4 . 5 of the votes , and defeated most of his rivals .  But unlike Chris Christie , John Kasich and Jeb Bush , the men he beat , he didn t have much to look forward to in New Hampshire , where polls had him right at the bottom of the table .  Donald Trump , who continues to lead the Republican race nationally despite finishing second in Iowa , is way ahead of the pack in New Hampshire , with 33 . 4 in the average of polls .  His nearest rival Ted Cruz , who won the Iowa caucuses , trails him by a massive 21 . 2 , which some commentators are saying is an impossible deficit to make up .  And the Trump campaign is unlikely to make it easy for anyone to catch up , least of all Cruz , chastened and wiser by the defeat in Iowa , where it lacked the necessary ground game .  Trump told  on Wednesday morning he hadn t ever heard the phrase ground game before , which is essentially a network of operatives to mobilise supporters to go out and vote .  Well , I think we could have used a ground game , a term I wasn t even familiar with , Trump said . You know , when you say ground game , I say what the hell is that ?  Now I m familiar with it . I think in retrospect we should have had a better ground game . I would have funded a better ground game , but you know , people told me that my ground game was fine , and by most standards it was . Cruz , on the other hand , had an excellent network in place , according to multiple experts and reports , and that helped him win the first vote of the 2016 presidential elections .  The battle on the Democratic side shifted to New Hampshire too with a town style debate scheduled for later on Wednesday for the remaining two candidates to make their pitch .  Bernie Sanders , who finished a second in Iowa by the thinnest of margins , leads Hillary Clinton comprehensively in New Hampshire ? 55 . 5 to 38 in the RealClearPolitics average of polls .  Clinton s campaign wanted her to skip New Hampshire to focus on the next two states in the primaries , Nevada and South Carolina , where she is expected to do much better .  But , news reports suggested , Clinton and her husband , former president Bill Clinton , decided to stay in New Hampshire instead and try and bridge the gap . She wants to slug it out .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Economy,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,past
22873,22874,"Washington Cory Booker already had a national identity before he decided to run for senator .  The media savvy , tweet happy mayor from Newark who easily won the New Jersey Democratic primary for Senate Tuesday has been known for his man of the people streak , charismatic presence and social media intensity , or as some say , fixation .  Cory Booker becomes Democratic nominee for N . J . Senate seat  But can he make the switch from a nationally popular hands on mayor to the contentious spotlight of the United States Senate ?  Booker , in his path to Tuesday ' s win , weathered a few negative headlines , but came out largely unscathed by his Democratic opponents . His Republican challenger , former Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan , may be able to go after Booker for spending more time on his national profile than on running the city he leads .  But several polls show Booker running away with the special election on October 16 and becoming the first African American elected to the Senate since Barack Obama .  "" I wouldn ' t expect those media requests are going to abate because he moved into a new role , "" said Andra Gillespie , a friend of Booker ' s and the author of "" The New Black Politician : Cory Booker , Newark , and Post Racial America . ""  But is that a good thing ?  Booker shoots down 2016 presidential bid  Elizabeth Warren or John Edwards ?  When Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts was elected to the Senate in 2012 , she came in as someone with substantial liberal chops and national notoriety for her expertise on banking and consumer rights issues .  After arriving in the Senate , however , Warren shied away from national media attention and is no longer a regular on the interview circuit .  That likely won ' t be the case with Booker .  "" The difference between him and Elizabeth Warren ( is ) , he has already mastered social media and mainstream media in a way that she hasn ' t , "" Gillespie said .  In six years as Newark ' s mayor , Booker gained notoriety for an experiential kind of leadership . Late last year , the mayor lived on food stamps in order to show how difficult relying on the government program can be . From 1998 to 2006 , Booker lived in a housing project as a way to connect with constituents .  These stories along with others have made Booker a household name in New Jersey and national politics .  On Twitter , the mayor has a massive 1 . 4 million followers and has sent more than 30 , 000 tweets in his time on the site . It isn ' t unusual to see Booker direct message constituents who tweet him with issues in fact , it has become part of his persona .  And that might be a problem for Booker . As a possible preview to attacks that could be leveled against the mayor in the future , Republicans have questioned how Booker could rise so high nationally from such an unusual perch .  "" There is something decidedly odd about the whole Cory Booker phenomenon , "" wrote Stuart Stevens , a Republican strategist , in a Daily Beast opinion piece . "" Someone who managed to become a national political figure as mayor of the nation ' s 67th largest city , he is dangerously close to falling into the celebrity trap of being famous for being famous . ""  That idea that Booker is famous for being famous has begun to circle at home , too .  "" The phrase that everyone has been throwing around here is workhorse vs . showhorse , "" said John Weingart , associate director of the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University .  "" I think he certainly has a unique path to political prominence , "" Weingart said . "" People used to say being mayor of New York was a dead end job politically , but nobody ever said being mayor of Newark was a path to higher office . He has certainly had some accomplishment as mayor of Newark , but it is almost ( that ) his fame is on a separate track as his record from Newark . ""  In particular , Weingart notes , Booker is regularly in front of the camera on national news , but rarely to talk about Newark . Instead , he said , he is booked because of his charisma and ability to talk about Democratic politics , in general .  Gillespie thinks those critiques are somewhat unfair . Instead of comparing him to the media shy Warren , the Booker chronicler said the more apt comparison is with former Sen . John Edwards of North Carolina .  When Edwards was elected to the Senate in 1998 , the North Carolinian was known as the charismatic lawyer who gained national attention for protecting patients ' rights against doctors and hospitals in a 1985 case . When he got to the Senate , he became a party standout and was the champion of an issue that put him in front of cameras with some regularity : tort reform .  If Booker can find an issue , Gillespie said , the comparison with Edwards who ran for president in 2004 and 2008 could stick .  How far can Booker go ?  Even when Booker was a Newark City Council member , people who came into contact with him said they could see him running for president someday .  "" Having known him for a long time , people were talking about him being the first black president in 2001 and 2002 , "" Gillespie said . "" It is looking more plausible now . ""  Weingart shared a similar story .  Cost to win congressional election skyrockets  "" I think a small number of political figures who from the beginning of their career , lead people to say I can imagine him becoming president , "" Weingart said . "" It has been true of Cory Booker . ""  Earlier this month , Booker ruled out the possibility of running for president in 2016 . Asked by Politico whether he would rule out a presidential or vice presidential bid in the next election cycle , Booker responded with three words : "" Absolutely yes , unequivocally . ""  But that doesn ' t mean never . And with the Democrats ' markedly short bench on future presidential candidates , along with Booker ' s ability to command national attention and hefty amounts of fundraising dollars , the possibility is clearly there .  With those attributes comes another , more grandiose comparison , with President Barack Obama . Supporters , such as Gillespie , said the comparisons have to do with a mix of race , charisma and electoral history . And , of course , possible presidential aspirations .  But it is in that last regard that Gillespie looked to distance Booker from Obama .  "" If Booker were to run in 2020 , he would have served a full term as U . S . senator , "" she said , "" which would be different than President Obama . ""  Last month , the two sides of Booker the political rising star and the national media figure came into conflict when a scheduling snafu for a speaking gig at the University of Iowa , the state that traditionally hosts the first caucus of the presidential election season , put his possible White House aspirations into focus .  All part of the game , says Weingart .  "" I think Booker will have to face that , "" he said , referring to the mayor being asked about running for president "" If he goes to Iowa , that will be looked at through the lens . ""  "" The Democrats don ' t have a deep bench , so I think every conversation about the future of the party that extends past Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden , he will be on the list . ""  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
22883,22884,"Michigan black lawmakers want Detroit school manager fired  The Michigan legislative black caucus voted on Friday to ask Governor Rick Snyder to fire Darnell Earley , the controversial Detroit Public Schools ' emergency manager who had formerly presided over the city of Flint and its lead contaminated water system .  "" Conditions have only worsened under Earley ' s tenure , as the city of Flint worsened with his involvement , "" said Representative Sheldon Neeley , a Flint Democrat and the caucus ' first vice chair . "" He is the problem , not the solution . ""  Detroit Public Schools is under state oversight and pressure from declining enrollment . Heavy pension and debt obligations have left the district in danger of running out of cash in April .  Earley was appointed as emergency manager for Detroit Public Schools in January 2015 . The union for Detroit public school teachers sued the district on Thursday demanding Earley ' s immediate removal and a return of local control with a plan to repair the district ' s crumbling buildings .  Under Earley ' s leadership as emergency manager of Flint , the city separated from the Detroit water department and switched its water supply to the Flint River in April 2014 . Earley has said he is not to blame for the problem since the decision was made before his tenure .  The city switched its water supply back to Detroit last October , after tests found high levels of lead in blood samples from Flint children . Lead is a neurotoxin that can damage the brain and cause other health problems .  The Detroit Public Schools union has said teachers are frustrated over crumbling walls , rats , mold in classrooms and student overcrowding , combined with a teacher shortage and low pay .  Detroit Public Schools spokeswoman Michelle Zdrodowski said in a statement that Earley has worked to make the system more financially secure . "" Mr Earley remains focused on preparing  for long term financial sustainability and a return to some form of local control , "" she added .  Earley said in a statement this week that plans to address building disrepair are part of a financial investment proposal before the legislature . He did not immediately return a request for comment on Friday .  A spokesman for Snyder , who has been criticized nationally for the Flint water crisis , also was not immediately available for comment .  Snyder on Friday signed a bill providing 28 million to address the Flint water crisis , including bottled water , lead testing , treatment and nurses in local schools .  Both Flint and Detroit are mostly black . Earley is also black .  ( Reporting by Mary Wisniewski Editing by Leslie Adler )  ",true,text,test,Other news1,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
22903,22904,"In 2004, France banned vending machines from schools. In 2011, it limited servings of french fries to once a week in school cafeterias. A year later, it imposed a “soda tax. ” On Friday, the government said no  restaurants can offer free refills of sodas and other sugary drinks.  The new regulation is the latest attempt to tackle what the government called a relentless rise in the national obesity rate.   restaurants, usually foreign chains, are expected to be targeted under the new law. The law, which takes effect immediately, said it aimed to “limit, especially among the young,” the risks of obesity and diabetes. The move by France is in line with recommendations by the World Health Organization, which has urged countries to impose a tax on sugary drinks to battle an increase in obesity, presenting data in 2016 on the beneficial health effects of such a tax. The French are, on average, less overweight than other Europeans and Americans. The share of obese adults (age 18 and older) in France was 15. 3 percent in 2014, just below the European Union average, 15. 9 percent, according to Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. Malta has the highest share of adult obesity of European nations, 26 percent. In the United States, it is 36. 5 percent, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While the overall adult obesity rate in France appears to be relatively low, 57 percent of men and 41 percent of women 30 to 60 years old were overweight or obese, according to a report released in October by Bulletin Épidémiologique Hebdomadaire, the French medical journal. France has been at the forefront of tackling the issue, along with countries like Japan, where a national law requires companies and local governments to measure the waistlines of people between the ages of 40 and 74, and to encourage them to exercise. Mexico added a 10 percent surcharge on sugary drinks in 2014 to reduce alarming levels of diabetes there. After one year, sales of such beverages fell as much as 12 percent, while bottled water purchases rose 4 percent, a study found. Similar efforts are underway in the United States. Philadelphia became the first major city this year to introduce a tax on soda and other sugary drinks, provoking public outrage. In 2012, the New York City health board approved Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s plan to ban the sale of large sugary drinks in restaurants and other venues. But a court struck down the proposal in 2013. The Bloomberg administration appealed and lost. The new law has divided the French, who consume fewer soft drinks per capita than residents of most other countries. “Each person has to take responsibility,” a    man told the newspaper Le Parisien. Restaurants “might as well put scales in front of each   joint. ”",true,news,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
22920,22921,"A village in northern Morocco has been shocked by the birth of a two headed calf .  Born on December 30 , the young animal was named Sana Saida , which means ' Happy New Year ' in Arabic .  Since its birth , the creature has been attracting a lot of attention , with locals of Sefrou , a village less than 20 miles from Fez , flocking to the farm to see it .  This two headed calf was born in the northern Moroccan village of Sefrou , which is less than 20 miles from Fez  The cow was named Sana Saida , which means ' Happy New Year ' in Arabic , after being born on December 30  The calf is known as polycephalic , which means having more than one head .  And despite the appearance of the calf , Sana Saida was not the first of its species to be born in this way during 2013 .  In October a little heifer born with two heads in Whiting , Vermont , United States , was hailed as a ' blessing ' .  The calf was supposed to be a twin , but the eggs did not separate properly , a vet revealed .  The birth has attracted a lot of attention in the village , which lies in the northern Moroccan mountains  The newly born calf is pictured here tied to its mother four days after the birth  The calf , pictured with its owner , is known as polycephalic , which means having more than one head  The animal was capable of eating from both of its mouths .  In another extraordinary case earlier last year , a New Zealand farmer delivered a stillborn calf that had eight legs , four ears , two bodies and one head .  And in January 2011 , a two headed cow was born in Georgia . The farmer said that the animal ate with both heads just like the calf in Vermont .  Last year , a ranching family from Anadarko , Oklahoma , United States , became famous for their six legged calf .  The extra legs were attached to the cow ' s back .  Seeing double : A calf was born with two heads in Vermont , United States , in October last year  In Georgia , United States , in January 2011 , another calf was born with two heads  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
22924,22925,"Blowout loss in  title game will fuel our fire , Palmer says  Originally published January 25 , 2016 at 8 : 23 pm  At their best , the Arizona Cardinals were magnificent , but their postseason had a brutal ending . The magnitude of their 49 15 loss to the host Carolina Panthers in the  Championship Game made it harder to appreciate a record setting season .   , Ariz . ? At their best , the Arizona Cardinals were magnificent , but their postseason had a brutal ending .  The magnitude of their 49 15 loss to the host Carolina Panthers in the  Championship Game on Sunday made it harder to appreciate a record setting season .  We didn t play how we played all year , said safety Tyrann Mathieu , who watched on crutches on the sideline after tearing a knee ligament a month ago , holding each other accountable , being encouraging . All those things play a factor in being a championship football team .  No one had a rougher night than Carson Palmer . After setting regular season franchise records for yards passing and touchdown passes , he played perhaps his worst game since coming to Arizona in 2013 .  The Cardinals committed seven turnovers , and Palmer was responsible for six ? four interceptions and two lost fumbles .  Less than 24 hours after your season ends , it s hard to start thinking about next season without dwelling on the past and thinking about the last game , Palmer said before cleaning out his locker Monday . But it will definitely fuel my fire . It will fuel our fire as a team and we ll bounce back .  Palmer , 36 , is well aware he carries the reputation as a quarterback who can t win the big game .  Until you do it , it s just one of those things you ve got to break through , he said , and I will .  After the game , coach Bruce Arians emphatically said Palmer s injured right index finger had nothing to do with the quarterback s performance .  But on Monday , Palmer mentioned the finger as the reason he would not play in this weekend s Pro Bowl .  I m going to let my hand heal up , he said .  At his Monday news conference , Arians was at a loss to explain why the team s best players played so poorly Sunday ? not only Palmer , but cornerback Patrick Peterson , defensive end Calais Campbell and receiver Larry Fitzgerald .  Because it hadn t happened before , Arians said . That s the unusual part . That s the part that I ll drive myself crazy trying to figure out why .  The ugly finale made it difficult to remember the Cardinals won a franchise record 13 regular season games and unseated the Seahawks as  West champions .  ? The  Championship Game attracted its second largest television audience on record .  The Denver Broncos 20 18 victory over the New England Patriots in what could be the last meeting between high profile quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Tom Brady averaged 53 . 3 million viewers Sunday on  . Network officials said that trails only the 54 . 9 million for the 2011 Pittsburgh Steelers New York Jets matchup , which was played in a later time slot .  s records go back to 1978 .  The one sided  title game on Fox averaged 45 . 7 million viewers , leading to an unusual occurrence of the early game getting more viewers than the late one .  ? All Pro linebacker Thomas Davis of the Panthers had surgery Monday on his broken right forearm , but is expected to play in the Super Bowl on Feb . 7 .  ? Tight end Zach Ertz , 25 , gave up free agency down the road to make sure he stays with the Philadelphia Eagles . He signed a five year contract extension through the 2021 season the deal reportedly is worth 42 . 5 million , with 20 million guaranteed .  ? Atlanta Falcons cornerback Desmond Trufant , a former Washington Husky , has been added to the Pro Bowl roster , replacing Carolina s Josh Norman .  ? Police in Austin , Texas , say former quarterback Vince Young , 32 , has been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence . His bond was set at 2 , 000 .  Young , who spent six seasons in the  , works for the University of Texas , promoting diversity and community engagement .  School officials said they were aware of Young s situation and working to determine any appropriate action .  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
22929,22930,"tumbled as much as 1 . 48 a barrel on Friday  New York : Bets that the price of  benchmark oil will fall below 38 a barrel in less than two weeks reached a record high after Opec decided to retain its production level .  Volume of West Texas Intermediate 38 puts , wagers that the price will fall below that level , increased about fivefold from this quarter s daily average to more than 4 , 700 lots , according to exchange data compiled by Bloomberg . The puts expire on Dec . 16 . Benchmark crude  closed at 38 . 24 on August 24 , the lowest settlement this year .   tumbled as much as 1 . 48 a barrel after the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries , which accounts for about 40 per cent of world oil production , made no move to reduce production , which now exceeds 31 million barrels a day .  oil prices have slumped 25 per cent this year as Saudi Arabia led Opec to defend market share against higher cost  shale companies .  Opec s current policy is to produce as much as they can , said James Williams , an economist at  Economics , an energy research firm in London , Arkansas . It s adding pressure to oil prices . Their goal is to take out the growth of shale oil .   futures fell 1 . 07 to 40 . 01 a barrel at 1 : 48pm on the New York Mercantile Exchange after touching 39 . 60 . January puts added 1 cent to 54 cents with volume of 4 , 752 lots , breaking the earlier daily record of 3 , 220 set on December 2 . Volume has averaged about 890 a day since October 1 . January puts from 35 to 40 made up six of the eight most traded options .  Opec has pumped more than 30 million barrels a day the past 18 months , data compiled by Bloomberg show . The group produced about 31 . 4 million barrels a day in October , according to its market report .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,negative,present
22940,22941,"When people ask me if there ' s anything I miss about my old job at Newsweek , it ' s an easy answer . Besides the amazingly talented colleagues I worked with there , I miss picking the cover .  The cover is the calling card of any magazine , but it was particularly true for newsmagazines , since we put out a new issue every week and the range of subjects we had to choose from was so broad . In my era , as competition from more instant news on cable  and the Web became ever more intense , it was also the one area where our slowpoke frequency could work in our favor .  Of course , the opposite was also true . Make a dumb call and you had to live with it for a whole week . A crudely Photoshopped cover of Martha Stewart emerging from behind a curtain after her brief prison stint for obstruction of justice and making false statements to investigators comes to mind .  For decades , the cover was also how the fierce competition between Newsweek and Time was defined . In the 1960s , Newsweek became a "" hot book "" after three decades as a distant also ran , thanks largely to its forward looking covers on civil rights , Vietnam and the women ' s movement ( not to mention Twiggy and  ) . In the 1970s , it was the cleverness of its cover designs as well as the depth of its reporting that wowed everyone who followed Newsweek ' s coverage of Watergate .  When both magazines put a young Bruce Springsteen on the cover in the same week in 1975 , it became conventional wisdom that we tried to copy each other . But the opposite was true : We were always looking to win the cover war , and we exulted when we did .  One of those moments came for me the weekend that Princess Diana died in 1997 . We held the presses , threw out the issue we had just put to bed and came back into the office in the wee hours to publish a new one . I wanted a striking image for the cover and remembered a black and white photo of a short haired Diana that had been taken by the fashion photographer Patrick Demarchelier .  One of my photo editors , a friend of Demarchelier ' s , went to his apartment , woke him up and persuaded him to give us the negative . When I saw a wire service photo several hours later of Time ' s cover , a standard news shot of Diana , I knew our issue would crush theirs on the newsstand . And it did , selling well over a million copies .  Some weeks , like that one , the thrill was in "" crashing "" a cover at the last minute when a big story broke close to our Sunday deadline . John F . Kennedy Jr . would perish in a plane accident , or Saddam Hussein would get captured in Iraq , and we ' d switch covers and have the satisfaction of looking nimble and newsy on Monday .  Details , however , could sometimes get overlooked in the rush . In 1990 , when I wrote a Sunday story on Nelson Mandela ' s release from prison , we put the word "" Free ! "" on the cover . We never stopped to think that people would assume we were giving away the magazine for nothing .  On slower news weeks , the satisfaction was in posing a pressing or provocative question about the economy , or race relations , or gay rights , or the fight to improve our health or save our schools . Or it was in deciding which icons deserved covers when they died , and what new cultural figures were worth highlighting on the way up . As proud as I was of putting a newly elected senator from Illinois named Barack Obama on our year end cover in 2004 , I was just as proud of selecting Jon Stewart in 2003 .  Then there was the sheer creative fun of coming up with the designs and words for the cover . I ' ll never forget election night 2000 , when the race between George W . Bush and Al Gore went into overtime . We were closing a special issue , and we had prepared separate covers declaring each man the winner . But what to do now ?  At about 3 in the morning , my art director walked into my office with an image that her staff had concocted of the two faces melded into one . "" That ' s genius ! "" I said , and we put it on the cover with the headline "" The Winner Is . . . ""  Decades from now , when people have forgotten most of what they read inside the pages of Newsweek , they ' ll still remember the visual impact of covers like that one . And those of us who were lucky enough to work there will remember those late nights , crowded in the editor ' s office , competing to see who could come up with the best cover line .  It sure was heaven while it lasted .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
22948,22949,"Have you ever wished there was a quicker and easier way to slice up fruit and make a healthy salad or feed hungry youngsters ?  If you have , one YouTube user has uploaded a video that he says is a ' quick kitchen tip that will change the way that you cut grapes , cherry tomatoes and grape tomatoes forever ' .  The short video , which lasts for just over one and a half minutes , features ' Papa Natural ' as he demonstrates his innovative method of cutting up fruit quickly and efficiently .  Papa Natural places a second plate down on top of the cherry tomatoes and sandwiches the fruit in between  The American says instead of cutting up fruit ' one by one ' on a cutting board , which is time consuming and ' increases the risk of cutting your fingers , ' viewers should try his novel method .  Papa Natural begins by taking two identical plates and a knife . He turns the first plate upside down with the bottom facing upwards .  Then he places about a dozen grapes or tomatoes on the bottom of the plate and he puts the second plate down on top , sandwiching the fruit .  Papa Natural shows a portion of grapes and cherry tomatoes which he cuts in half during his demonstration  First the  man puts the tomatoes which he intends to slice on the back of his first plate  The man then points to the gap between the two plates and pushes down on the upper plate as he takes his knife and cuts through them .  Papa Natural says there are a number of benefits to cutting a bunch of tomatoes or grapes in half .  He adds : ' Now why would you want to cut a bunch of tomatoes or grapes in half ?  ' Well it ' s perfect for when you have babies and you don ' t want to feed them the whole thing and it ' s also great when you ' re making a salad . '  After placing his knife between the channel of the two plates Papa Natural cuts the tomatoes in half in seconds  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
22952,22953,"Obama calls for tougher gun laws after California shootings  If you re too dangerous to board a plane , you re too dangerous . . . to buy a gun , says  president   president Barack Obama said it is insane people on a no fly list can walking into a store and buy a gun . File photograph : Yuri Gripas Reuters  President Barack Obama edged closer Saturday to declaring the shooting in San Bernardino , California , that killed 14 people a terrorist attack , but stuck to his prescription that the answer to preventing such tragedies was gun limits .  It is entirely possible that these two attackers were radicalised to commit this act of terror , Mr Obama said in his weekly radio address , broadcast a day after the  declared that it was treating the massacre as an act of terror .  And if so , it would underscore a threat we ve been focused on for years the danger of people succumbing to violent extremist ideologies .  Mr Obama noted that investigators must be allowed to complete their work . But he specifically cited the efforts of the Islamic State , also known as Isis and Isil , to inspire people in Europe and the United States to stage terror attacks .  We know that Isil and other terrorist groups are actively encouraging people around the world and in our country to commit terrible acts of violence , oftentimes as lone wolf actors , the president said .  And even as we work to prevent attacks , all of us government , law enforcement , communities , faith leaders need to work together to prevent people from falling victim to these hateful ideologies .  Whatever their motives , Syed Rizwan Farook and Tashfeen Malik , the husband and wife who the authorities say walked into a conference centre and killed 14 people , had military style firearms , Mr Obama noted .  We know that the killers in San Bernardino used military style assault weapons weapons of war to kill as many people as they could , he said .  Mr Obama repeated his administration s insistence that Congress pass a law forbidding those on the government s no fly list from being able to buy a gun , a measure that was voted down in the Senate on Thursday 54 45 .  Right now , people on the no fly list can walk into a store and buy a gun . That is insane , Mr Obama said .  If you re too dangerous to board a plane , you re too dangerous , by definition , to buy a gun . And so I m calling on Congress to close this loophole , now . We may not be able to prevent every tragedy , but at a bare minimum we shouldn t be making it so easy for potential terrorists or criminals to get their hands on a gun that they could use against Americans .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
22961,22962,"Reuters) - A Philippine college fraternity used its annual naked run on Friday to protest against President Rodrigo Duterte s brutal war on drugs and the imposition of martial law in the south in the army s fight against Islamist militants. The masked and hooded young men sprinted in the nude through their college, holding signs reading  Lift Martial Law  and  Stop the Killings , as bystanders laughed and pointed and others took photos.  The level of violence in society is growing and the fraternity cannot simply ignore that, that thousands of people are dying , Alpha Phi Omega spokesperson Thomas Roca said, when asked why the fraternity picked the protest theme this year.   Since taking office last June, Duterte has launched a ferocious war of drugs that has left thousands of Filipinos dead, and in May, he imposed martial law in Mindanao, an island of 22 million people, when Islamic State-linked militants took over large parts of the city of Marawi. This is not the first time the fraternity has taken a political stance with its yearly bare-bottomed event.  The society used its naked run during the rule of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos in the 1980s to protest against the censorship of activists at the University of the Philippines. For a finale on Friday, the men gathered by a pond, arms slung over each other s shoulders, and lustily sang their fraternity song, alumni members in the audience joining in as well.   It s my first time seeing this , college student Haji Viado said, with a smile.  But for me what they did was effective to get people s attention on these issues.   ",true,dataset,test,Other news1,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
22974,22975,"Top ranked Serena Williams overcame a stiff challenge in the opening set for a 7 6 ( 5 ) , 6 2 win over Camila Giorgi on Saturday to give the United States a 1 0 lead over Italy in a Fed Cup World Group playoff .  Neither player broke serve in a highly competitive first set , which was only decided when Giorgi ' s forehand clipped the top of the net on Williams ' first set point .  Williams improved to 19 0 this year and 15 0 for her career in Fed Cup . The only blemish on Williams ' record this year came when she withdrew before the Indian Wells semifinals last month with a knee injury .  Serena Williams handed  the lead against Italy with a first victory in the Fed Cup  The world No 1 shakes hands with  captain Mary Joe Fernandez after putting  ahead  The second match in the best of five series featured 57th ranked American Lauren Davis playing No . 15 Sara Errani .  The winner returns to the World Group and can compete for the Fed Cup trophy next year while the loser will be relegated to the World Group  .  Giorgi was a surprise choice by captain Corrado Barazzutti for Italy ' s second singles spot over Brindisi born Flavia Pennetta but the 23 year old showed surprising poise and was even able to match Williams ' power in the opening set .  Williams defeated Camila Giorgi 7 6 , 6 2 on the clay in Brindisi , Italy  Williams was matched shot for shot by Giorgi in the first set before breaking away in the second  Giorgi matched Williams with 17 winners apiece in the first set which lasted more than an hour while Williams committed 18 unforced errors to Giorgi ' s 15 .  Unable to impose her game , Williams appeared frustrated and kept shouting "" Come on ! "" to herself in angrier and angrier tones as the first set wore on . And she consistently applauded , using one hand and her racket , when Giorgi blasted winners by her .  But Williams played solidly in the tiebreaker and then surged ahead early in the second set .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
22976,22977,"needs us more than we need it , says Vote Leave  Addressing the Lords  Select Committee , Mr Hammond said : "" We have to recognise the fact the European Union has got a couple of other issues on its plate and although the British renegotiation is number one our European agenda I ' m afraid it isn ' t number one on the European agenda of any of our partners , except perhaps for the Irish . ""  He added : "" Unfortunately some of the other things are very much real time challenges for the  whereas this agenda is one which can be dealt with in slightly slower time .  "" I think it would be inappropriate of us , and it would also be unwise of us , to try and push our agenda ahead of other things which the other  member states will see as being pressingly urgent to discuss at the summit , "" he added .  But the foreign secretary said the  government was "" confident "" there would be a "" substantive discussion "" on the renegotiation at the meeting .  Mr Hammond told the committee that if a deal was secured "" it will be possible to hold a referendum in June , if we chose to do so "" .  "" If the deal is not done in February that would become much more difficult . Certainly , if it ' s not done in March it would become impossible "" .  Adding to speculation of a June referendum , the government laid a motion on Tuesday ' s Commons order papers setting out some of the rules of the referendum , such as the length of the campaign , funding and the timing of the count .  It means the provisions of the European Union Referendum Act legislation passed last year paving the way for the vote will come into force from next month .   assistant political editor Norman Smith said the move by the government was likely to face criticism from Eurosceptics given that Mr Cameron has not yet reached a deal with the  over the reforms he is seeking .  It is thought the  is anxious to have the rules approved by MPs as swiftly as possible limiting the ability of people to delay the date of the referendum , he added .  Image caption After the  ' s talks with German chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday , No 10 said progress was being made but more work was needed  Furthermore , the Electoral Commission has announced that registration for referendum campaigners will open on 1 February .  It applies to individuals and organisations planning to spend more than ? 10 , 000 promoting a certain outcome .  From this date , they must declare all donations and loans of more than ? 7 , 500 . Campaigns must also check donations and loans are from eligible sources .  Any spending on campaigning prior to the start of the referendum period which will be at least 10 weeks long does not count towards a campaigner ' s spending limit .  Bob Posner , the Commission ' s director of party and electoral finance and legal counsel , said : "" Campaigners are central to the referendum and it is important that their sources of funding and spending are transparent to voters .  "" Having these provisions in place is part of enabling this . ""  Economic governance : Securing an explicit recognition that the euro is not the only currency of the European Union , to ensure countries outside the eurozone are not disadvantaged . The  wants safeguards that it will not have to contribute to eurozone bailouts  Competitiveness : Setting a target for the reduction of the "" burden "" of excessive regulation and extending the single market  Immigration : Restricting access to in work and out of work benefits to  migrants . Specifically , ministers want to stop those coming to the  from claiming certain benefits until they have been resident for four years  Sovereignty : Allowing Britain to opt out from further political integration . Giving greater powers to national parliaments to block  legislation  ",true,text,test,World conflict,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
22978,22979,"This weekend , Saudi women will once again defy their nation ' s long standing driving ban and get behind the wheel , facing harassment , intimidation and arrest .  On Saturday , the "" Women2Drive "" campaign will renew Saudi women ' s demand to exercise their right to drive . In many parts of Saudi Arabia , women are already driving and publishing online videos of themselves in the act . Interestingly , footage has also surfaced of Saudi men driving by and giving the thumbs up sign to show their support .  An informal Saudi ban on driving became official policy in November 1990 during the Gulf War . As female American soldiers based in Saudi Arabia drove freely through military bases , 47 Saudi women organized a convoy to drive the streets of Riyadh in protest against the law that restricted them . Officials arrested them and suspended many from their jobs .  The Grand Mufti , the country ' s most senior religious authority , declared a fatwa , or religious edict , against women driving because driving would expose women "" to temptation "" and lead to "" social chaos . "" Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz , then minister of interior , issued a decree on the basis of the fatwa banning driving for women .  The Grand Mufti who issued the fatwa died in 1999 , as Prince Nayef did in 2012 , but the ban has remained . When King Abdullah came to power in 2005 , he said he believed that , "" the day will come when women drive . "" That day might have arrived .  Saudi Arabia issues warning to women drivers , protesters  Saudi women launched the online "" Women2Drive "" campaign in 2011 , perhaps inspired by women in Egypt , Yemen , Syria and Libya who stood shoulder to shoulder with men during uprisings to overthrow dictators and fight for freedom . They declared that starting on June 17 , 2011 , women with international drivers ' licenses should take to the roads .  Scores drove , and many were stopped by traffic police . Their male guardians were forced to sign pledges that they would not allow the women to drive again . One woman was sentenced to 10 lashes later an appeals court overturned her sentence .  Recently , Saudi Arabia has made several small advances in women ' s rights . Women can stand as candidates and vote in municipal elections , next due in 2015 . They can work in various sectors without approval from their male guardians . The king has appointed 30 women to the Shura Council , his 150 member senior advisory body . Saudi Arabia has also recently passed a law criminalizing domestic violence .  Despite these advances , Saudi women continue to face profound discrimination . The guardianship system still treats them as legal minors who cannot conduct official government business , travel abroad , marry , pursue higher education or undergo certain medical procedures without permission from their male guardians a husband , father , brother or even a young son .  Two leading women ' s rights activists , Wajeha al Huwaider and Fawzia al Oyouni , who have also fought the driving ban , face imprisonment for trying to help a woman who said that her husband had locked her and her children in their home without food or water .  Saudi blogger detained , but hopeful about campaign allowing women to drive  The ban on driving may not be the most limiting form of discrimination for some Saudi women , yet it has become symbolic of a much deeper oppression that touches all aspects of women ' s lives in the kingdom : It has become for Saudi women what a bus seat was to Rosa Parks and other African Americans in the 1950s .  To explain why women cannot drive , Saudi authorities often use the excuse that "" society is not ready . ""  Yet on occasion , King Abdullah has chosen to ignore such arguments and sidestep the religious establishment . He opened the King Abdullah University for Science and Technology in 2009 as the first mixed gender university in the kingdom . Then he fired a cleric on the Council of Senior Scholars , the highest state body for the interpretation of Islamic law , when the man spoke out against the mixing of men and women at the university .  Recently , a cleric presented a new excuse to prohibit driving for women : he asserted that "" driving affects women ' s ovaries . "" While this absurd contention is unsubstantiated by any medical or scientific evidence , it may be significant in Saudi discourse because it seems to separate the prohibition on driving from Islamic law , or Sharia , claiming women shouldn ' t drive because of health risks , rather than any religious prohibition .  Even the head of the religious police stated in September that Sharia has no text forbidding women from driving .  In short , the Saudi government , having ratified the U . N . Convention on All Forms of Discrimination Against Women , is obliged to treat women equally and not enforce a discriminatory policy .  As Saudi women take to the roads again , the world should join them in demanding an end to this denial of basic rights .  The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Rothna Begum .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
22980,22981,"Carnival Corporation, with the help of an outsourcing firm, is set to offshore hundreds of American jobs overseas to India and Eastern Europe, according to an alleged leaked  document obtained by Breitbart Texas. [The document depicts a map showing the American positions which the company will purportedly outsource to two foreign regions, leaving hundreds of American workers jobless.  Positions listed as moving from the U. S. to India, according to the alleged internal document, include a mix of high and   jobs involving: Meanwhile the jobs allegedly being offshored to Poland and Romania include: The only jobs listed to be allegedly remaining in the U. S. within the company’s  department involve account, operational, and compliance management and   support, among others. A source close to Breitbart Texas said earlier this year in February, Carnival Corporation began executing the outsourcing plan led by Capgemini, telling Americans to either take jobs with the outsourcing firm and risk being fired six months later or leave the company altogether. Carnival Corporation teamed up with Capgemini, a French outsourcing firm, to allegedly mass   the American  workers remaining at the company who had yet to be replaced by cheaper, foreign workers. In a statement to Breitbart Texas regarding the allegations of offshoring, Carnival Corporation Spokesman Roger Frizzell said: This is a relatively small group of employees within the company  —   roughly 130 people within our  organization  —   that moved over several months ago to Capgemini, which has offices in Miami and throughout the U. S. A vast majority of these individuals  —   100 or so  —   will continue in their existing  roles to support Carnival Corporation at their existing Carnival office locations (and existing salaries). Discussions are underway with the remaining 30 employees, who are being considered for other positions in the U. S. within Capgemini. It also important to note that every Carnival employee within this  group was offered employment several months ago with Capgemini as they evaluated the needs of our business. As I mentioned, more than 100 of these individuals are continuing in their existing roles in support of Carnival Corporation in the same Carnival Corporation office location.   …     Based on the latest update from Capgemini, it looks as if they are optimistic that new positions and opportunities will be found for the other 30 employees. A source familiar with Carnival’s alleged outsourcing plan said they “doubted” the company’s claim that only 130 employees were impacted by the changes, saying at the original group of employees impacted was likely closer to about 250. “We were forced to take the Capgemini jobs,” the source told Breitbart Texas. “They forced me into Capgemini and because I didn’t take it, they said I resigned, but I didn’t. I wasn’t given a choice. ” The source also said that although many employees did take jobs at Capgemini originally, some eventually left their new positions because they understood that their job would eventually be   overseas. Capgemini, like other outsourcing firms such as Infosys and Tata Consulting, is known for contracting with major U. S. corporations to replace Americans through the   visa. After they are replaced with   foreign workers, the jobs are eventually offshored altogether. As reported by Breitbart Texas, domestic companies have been able to get away with importing   foreign workers by hiding   visa applications behind the outsourcing firms they partner with. In Carnival Corporation’s case, the company has the potential to deny any such offshoring and   of Americans, as Capgemini is technically handling the operation. John Binder is a reporter for Breitbart Texas. Follow him on Twitter at @JxhnBinder. ",fake,news,test,US elections,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
23010,23011,"Many of Tinsel Town ' s entertaiment publications and news agencies are beginning to refer to Justin Bieber as the Male Version of Lindsay Lohan .  The 18 year old Canadian singer has apparently decided that he would much rather travel in the fast lane than keep a low profile and simply go with the ( traffic ) flow . no pun intended .  Justin was photographed at a pi ata party in El Segundo in honor of one of his ex back up dancers identified as Rocco "" Happy Feet "" Schultzowitz .  According to iRumors , Schultowitz had been fired by Bieber ' s manager back in October due to the fact that during a concert performance he would sometimes start dancing the samba when the other dancers were dancing hip hop .  Schultzowitz tried to blame it on too many carbs , but it was really a case of just too much sweet smoke ( marijuana ) .  In the photo that has already been viewed on the Internet over 8 . 3 billion times , including 12 , 971 times in Lower Zamgola , Africa , Justin is shown sitting on what appears to be either a Tropical Rain Forest Green foton or a Raw Sienna colored wicker chair .  He is wearing what looks like a Toronto Maple Leafs ice hockey jersey or a Dora The Explorer yellow T shirt .  The photo shows Justin clearly holding what resembles a Durango Bango joint in his microphone hand ( the right one ) .  Bieber has explained that the was merely holding the joint for a friend of Rocco ' s who had gone to the bathroom .  When asked what the friend ' s name was Bieber said that he had no idea as they had not been formally introduced .   ' S  : I made a call to Ryan "" Peaches "" Seacrest and asked him if he knew the friend ' s name . Seacrest giggled and asked if Kirstie Alley loves food . Before I could answer yes , he told me that the name of Schultzowitz ' friend is Hannibal Tobias Gadfoodle ,  , an unemployed fry cook who lives with his maternal grandmother in Cucamonga .  ",satire,text,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,true,satire,True,no,no,neutral,past
23032,23033,"A former MI6 spy is being investigated by police on suspicion of defrauding a woman involved in one of the most costly and toxic divorce cases in British legal history .  Michelle Young , 50 , fought her ex husband Scot , for eight years through 65 separate court hearings , at a cost to her of 6 . 5million , to try and secure a share of his fortune which she claimed exceeded 770million .  Mr Young , a former property and telecoms tycoon , enjoyed a lavish lifestyle with his former wife but said he lost his entire fortune in a disastrous property deal that left him 28million in debt .  At the conclusion of Michelle and Scot Young ' s marathon divorce case , she was awarded 20m  Michelle Young fought her ex husband Scot , for eight years through 65 separate court hearings , at a cost to her of 6 . 5million , to try and secure a share of his fortune which she claimed exceeded 770million  The couple once socialised in a super wealthy league that included Sir Philip Green , Simon Cowell and the late Russian oligarch Boris Berezovsky .  As their relationship was played out in court it was claimed Mr Young spent up to 5 , 000 a night eating out , that they went to a Raymond Blanc restaurant twice a week , that Mr Young paid up to 4million for ' a flash gin palace , Sunseeker type boat ' and she had jewellery which Mr Young said cost a million pounds .  It was also said that they went on three to four foreign holidays a year , staying in villas and presidential suites .  The couple enjoyed a luxury lifestyle pictured here on a runway in Barbados after their flight on Concorde  The couple were married in 1995 but it resulted in one of the most toxic and bitter divorces battles  But the tycoon ' s empire went into meltdown and he was declared bankrupt in 2010 and last year , after repeatedly refusing to produce financial documents , was jailed for six months for contempt of court . Ms Young maintains that he has squirrelled his assets offshore .  In the end , the judge , Mr Justice Moor , agreed with her that ' he is not a penniless man of straw ' .  He decreed that Scot had a net fortune of 40 million and should therefore give Ms Young 20million .  However one year on , she has yet to receive a penny and continues to fight for it . As such , she was forced to draw on the help of outside agencies to enforce her judgement order .  Ms Young has yet to receive any of the money she was awarded and so paid 14 , 000 for information on her ex husband from Mark Hill Wood , who worked for 25 years for  and the Secret Intelligence Service  Scot Young , a property and telecoms tycoon , pictured with his model and  presenter girlfriend Noelle Reno  She was contacted in July by Mark Hill Wood , who worked for 25 years for  and the Secret Intelligence Service before setting up his own private detective agency , Full Proof Intelligence .  His LinkedIn page describes him as a ' highly respected operative who formerly worked in the Intelligence Services ' and he specialises in cyber investigations , firearms training and ' suspect interrogation . '  According to the Independent on Sunday , Mr Hill Wood told Ms Young that he had come across some of her former husband ' s hidden wealth in a Swiss bank account while working on an assignment in Russia .  He therefore persuaded Ms Young to pay him 14 , 000 for the information , which she managed to raise through one of her previous litigation funders .  Ms Young who says she cannot work because running her legal case is a full time job is currently surviving on benefits to support her two daughters , Scarlet and Sasha .  At one point Ms Young begged Mr Hill Wood to hand over the information he claimed to have regarding her ex husband ' s hidden wealth in a Swiss bank account , saying ' I feel like crying , I ' m under so much pressure '  Mr Hill Wood , who attended Marlborough College and Oxford University , said he would travel to Russia himself to recover the documentary evidence .  However , suspicions were raised when another employee of FullProof Intelligence emailed Ms Young to say Mr Hill Wood had been captured by the Russian authorities who were going to hold him until another 15 , 000 was raised .  Ms Young refused and Mr Hill Wood eventually emailed to say he had been released .  By the end of July , Mr Hill Wood claimed he had returned to the  with ' two lever arch files ' of material that supposedly detailed Mr Young ' s offshore wealth .  However he repeatedly cancelled meetings with her and her  where he was supposed to hand it over . At one point , Ms Young emailed , begging him to hand it over , saying : ' I feel like crying , I ' m under so much pressure . '  However , the information never materialised and eventually Ms Young reported Mr Hill Wood to the police .  A senior Surrey Police source confirmed an investigation into alleged fraud was under way , but refused to comment , citing operational reasons .  The divorce battle between Michelle and Scot Young was one of the most high profile in British legal history  ",true,text,test,US elections,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
23049,23050,"Jomo Sono ' s international career never took off because of South Africa ' s exclusion from world football .  Matsilela Ephraim Sono was born in 1955 in Soweto , but his career as an international player never got off the ground as South Africa were officially expelled by world governing body  in 1976 during the apartheid regime in the country .  The Black Prince , as he was known , made his mark as a player of legendary skill who was denied a world stage through circumstances beyond his control .  "" He played at a time when South Africa was internationally isolated so there was no opportunity for players to showcase their skills to the world .  "" But he was fortunate in that he got the opportunity to go to the U . S . and he did very well there , playing alongside greats such as Pele . ""  After accomplishing everything that he set out to do at home club Orlando Pirates , Sono starred for the New York Cosmos , Colorado Caribous and Toronto Blizzard in the United States .  On his return to South Africa after his retirement , Sono bought the Highlands Park Club in Johannesburg in 1982 and renamed it Jomo Cosmos in honor of his old team in New York , before becoming coach of the South African national side .  "" So many of today ' s South African players would have heard a lot about Jomo Sono but many wouldn ' t have seen him in action apart from a few snippets of  highlights , "" Allie added .  "" They will identify more with him as a coach because he led the national side in the 1998 African Cup of Nations and took them to the 2002 World Cup finals . ""  Sono has proved to be as astute off the pitch as he was on it and has become a successful businessman , owning a number of companies around Johannesburg .  And the current South African squad will be looking to carry on his footballing legacy when they attempt to become the first African team to win the World Cup next year .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
23069,23070,"Because there s totally nothing else better for the Trump administration to do, it s about to crack down on marijuana users. Attorney General Jeff Sessions won t find much support from voters on this as support to legalize marijuana has risen to an all time high.Sessions leads the amateur president s Task Force on Crime Reduction and Public Safety which is expected to release a report next week. Critics are concerned that the report will try to link weed to violent crime and recommend tougher sentences. And there is no link to violent crime and smoking weed.The Hill reports:Sessions sent a memo in April updating the U.S. Attorney s Offices and Department of Justice Department (DOJ) component heads on the work of the task force, which he said would be accomplished through various subcommittees. In the memo, Sessions said he has asked for initial recommendations no later than July 27. Task Force subcommittees will also undertake a review of existing policies in the areas of charging, sentencing, and marijuana to ensure consistency with the Department s overall strategy on reducing violent crime and with Administration goals and priorities,  he wrote.Clearly, critics aren t wrong to be concerned of Sessions implementing tougher sentences for smoking weed. The task force revolves around reducing violent crime and Sessions and other  officials have been out there over the last month and explicitly the last couple of weeks talking about how immigration and marijuana increases violent crime,  Inimai Chettiar, the director of the Brennan Center s Justice Program said.Sessions is going after weed, you know, because the  war on drugs  worked out so well last time.Back in May, he penned a letter to Congressional leaders. I believe it would be unwise for Congress to restrict the discretion of the Department to fund prosecutions, particularly in the midst of an historic drug epidemic and potentially long-term uptick in violent crime,  Sessions wrote in the letter.We re not sure what weed has to do with the opioid epidemic sweeping across America, a problem which the Trump administration has failed to address.On Wednesday, Sessions managed to outrage both Democrats and Republicans with his controversial plans to increase civil asset forfeiture.Local law enforcement leaders don t feel that a crackdown is necessary. From a practitioner s point of view, marijuana is not a drug that doesn t have some danger to it, but it s not the drug that s driving violent crime in America,  said Ronal Serpas, the former superintendent of the New Orleans Police Department who co-chairs Law Enforcement Leaders to Reduce Crime and Incarceration. That s not the drug with which we see so much death and destruction on the streets of America. Crack and powdered cocaine, heroin and opioids is where we re seeing people die on street corners fighting over territory or control,  he added.The states rights issue that Republicans have vigorously touted seems to go against what Sessions is about to do.While on the campaign trail, Trump vowed to leave marijuana legalization up to the states but he appears to have flip-flopped on that issue, too.Photo by Olivier Douliery-Pool/Getty Images.",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
23090,23091,"Libertarian Party  insults Trump, practically endorses Clinton Published time: 26 Oct, 2016 21:09 Get short  Libertarian vice presidential candidate Bill Weld (L) and Republican U.S. presidential nominee Donald Trump. © Reuters Calling Trump “unhinged” and “not stable” and accusing him of stirring up “envy, resentment, and group hatred,” the Libertarian Party  nominee Bill Weld said he would continue through the election but practically endorsed Clinton without naming her.  Weld, Gary Johnson’s running mate, said he would remain on the Libertarian Party ticket through the election but emphasized that “Trump should not, cannot, and must not be elected President of the United States.”  “A President of the United States operates every day under a great deal of pressure — from all sides, and in furtherance of many different agendas. With that pressure comes constant criticism,” Weld said in a statement issued Wednesday in Boston.  “After careful observation and reflection, I have come to believe that Donald Trump, if elected President of the United States, would not be able to stand up to this pressure and this criticism without becoming unhinged and unable to perform competently the duties of his office.” Libertarian  nominee Bill Weld on  wishes Clinton a happy birthday, as he discusses issuing his statement against Trump pic.twitter.com/uOrqCpwDyy — Eli Watkins (@EliBWatkins) October 26, 2016  Weld said the Libertarian Party had made strides “t oward breaking the two party monopoly,” and that America would be stronger when it did, but “given the Commission on Presidential Debates, the deck is stacked against a credible third party ticket.”  The Libertarian Party, led by former New Mexico governor Gary Johnson, was polling under 10 percent nationally, not enough for the party to be included in the presidential debates. 2+2= #ImWithHer . Weld praises Clinton: weblink + Weld denegrates Trump: weblink — Jeff Jarvis (@jeffjarvis) October 26, 2016  A former Republican governor of Massachusetts, Weld said he “stepped out of the swirl of the campaign” to alert voters to Trump’s failings as a potential presidential nominee. He stopped short of endorsing Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton by name.  “Mr. Trump has some charisma and panache, and intellectual quickness. These qualities can be entertaining. Yet more than charisma, more even than intellectual ability, is required of a serious candidate for this country’s highest office. A serious candidate for the Presidency of the United States must be stable, and Donald Trump is not stable.” —  America (@RT_America) September 27, 2016  Weld said Trump had demonstrated his inability to handle criticism or blame and that his first instinct was to lash out and when challenged “he often responds as a child might.”  “He makes a sour face, he calls people by insulting names, he waves his arms, he impatiently interrupts. Most families would not allow their children to remain at the dinner table if they behaved as Mr. Trump does. He has not exhibited self-control, the discipline, or the emotional depth necessary to function credibly as a President of the United States,” Weld said. Gary Johnson secures #Libertarian Party nomination - FishTank [VIDEO] @LindsayFrance weblink —  America (@RT_America) June 1, 2016  Weld said Trump “conjured up enemies” from 11 million immigrants to America’s trading partners and that “his ideas of America’s enemies includes almost anyone who talks or looks different from him.”  “This is not the time to cast a jocular or feel-good vote for a man whom you may have briefly found entertaining. Donald Trump should not, cannot, and must not be elected President of the United States,” the Libertarian  candidate concluded.",fake,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
23091,23092,"Crystal Palace have completed the signing of Manchester United winger Wilfried Zaha on a season long loan deal , both clubs have announced .  Zaha returns to Palace after just two appearances for United , despite costing the Old Trafford club 15million in January 2013 .  The 21 year old becomes new Palace boss Neil Warnock ' s first signing in his second stint in the Selhurst Park hotseat .   Scroll down for Neil Warnock on Wilfried Zaha and potential signings  Benched : Zaha has spent most of his time with Manchester United as a substitute  Saviour : Neil Warnock came out of retirement to take over the reins at Selhurst park  Where Eagles dare : Crystal Palace confirmed the winger ' s return on their Twitter account  On a high : The 21 year old is ' buzzing ' according to reports from Selhurst Park  Palace said in a statement on their website : ' Crystal Palace are delighted to confirm that winger Wilfried Zaha has re joined the club on loan from Manchester United .  ' The two cap England international has agreed a deal that will see him spend the entire 2014 15 season at Selhurst Park . '  New Eagles manager Neil Warnock revealed on Thursday morning he spoke to Zaha about making the switch .  ' I did speak to him last night , ' Warnock told talkSPORT .  ' I spent half an hour telling him why I want him to come back and I ' m optimistic we are going to do it today . '  Saviour : Neil Warnock ( left ) , the new Crystal Palace manager , is bringing Zaha ( right ) back to Selhurst Park after the 21 year old signed for United in 2013 but failed to break into the team  Ivory Coast born Zaha made more than 100 appearances in three years at Crystal Palace , progressing through the junior ranks at Selhurst Park .  The England Under 21 graduate is deemed surplus to requirements under new manager Louis van Gaal , paving the way for another stint at Palace .  Warnock was appointed Palace ' s new manager on Wednesday , ending owner Steve Parish ' s lengthy search to replace Tony Pulis , who walked out of the club on the eve of the new season .  Former Sheffield United boss Warnock rubbished suggestions Zaha has an attitude problem , backing him to realise his rich potential in south London .  King of the Palace : Zaha will return to the club with whom he won promotion in 2013  ' When you get the chance , you can ' t turn down Manchester United but there are so many big players there and sometimes you get a bit lost , ' said Warnock .  ' He is still developing , Wilfried , and he has got so much talent . When you are a wide player , or a forward , you need to feel loved .  ' I ' ve heard it said about his attitude , but I ' ve always thought his attitude has been spot on , so I ' m looking forward to working with him . '  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
23105,23106,"The U . S . Preventative Services Task Force has released new guidelines for obesity screening and healthy lifestyle counseling . Can you explain them and give us your opinion ?  In its latest recommendations , the task force suggests that all physicians screen for obesity defined as having a body mass index of 30 or greater and direct obese patients to intensive , multicomponent behavioral interventions .  In my opinion , this is in important recommendation , because research shows that the majority of primary care physicians do not adequately address obesity in their patients .  This is probably because they feel that they do not have the tools to assist patients in losing weight and may be somewhat disheartened by disappointing long term outcomes in widely publicized intensive behavioral interventions .  For instance , in one of the largest trials , the Diabetes Prevention Program trial , weight loss maintenance for those in intensive behavioral counseling did not differ after 10 years from the placebo group .  However , the treatment group still showed a 34 reduction in the incidence of type 2 diabetes , even better than the group treated with a medication that reduces the risk of diabetes . This suggests that intensive lifestyle counseling can have significant benefits beyond just weight loss , which is often challenging in the long term .  Physicians need to communicate to their patients the impact of even a 5 weight loss on health and disease risk reduction . In addition , they should become familiar with programs in their communities that provide the necessary multicomponent behavior intervention and support and encourage their patients throughout the process .  Many insurance companies , and even Medicare , are now providing coverage for weight loss and wellness programs , so the financial aspect of referring a patient should be less of a factor than it has been in the past .  Physicians may even effectively integrate weight loss programs into their practices . The Think Health ! study , published in the June edition of the journal Obesity , found clinically significant weight loss in attendees of a moderate intensity , primary care practice weight management program .  The second recommendation from the task force is a bit confusing and less useful , in my opinion .  The task force says , "" Clinicians should selectively provide behavioral counseling in the primary care setting to promote a healthful diet and physical activity rather than incorporating it into the care of all adults in the general population . ""  They note that medium to high intensity behavioral counseling provides small improvements in cardiovascular risk factors but that these are generally not provided by the primary care physician .  They suggest that physicians provide this type of counseling in select patients after evaluation of readiness for change , other cardiac risk factors , community support and other priorities .  In my opinion , the average primary care physician does not have the time or training to provide such counseling or even to fully evaluate and determine which patients will potentially benefit .  I think doctors should address the risk factors , educate all patients briefly about the benefits of a healthy lifestyle and cardiovascular risk reduction , and provide basic literature about strategies to adopt a healthy lifestyle . Even if the patient is not ready for change , an initial discussion is warranted with everyone , in my opinion , and may lead to positive lifestyle change .  More intense intervention when appropriate and when the patient is willing should come from trained auxiliary staff , a registered dietician or community based programs targeting behavior change .  The physician should play an active role in following up and promoting behavioral change , but unfortunately I don ' t think our current medical system would support a more intense , time consuming physician intervention .  The broader public health interventions they mention in their statement could certainly be beneficial , but I believe that more personalized , community based , economically sensitive sessions delivered in an individual or group format would be more effective .  More from Jampolis : Is drinking soda really that bad for you ?  ",true,text,test,US elections,Conflict,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,present
23110,23111,"Fox News commentator Charles Krauthammer wrote a column discussing Donald Trump s mental health on Thursday and he did not hold back.Krauthammer, who happens to be a board-certified psychiatrist, strongly rebuked the Republican nominee for viciously attacking Khizr Khan and his wife Ghazala, who lost their son Humayun when he sacrificed his life to save his fellow American soldiers in Iraq. It reveals a shocking absence of elementary decency and of natural empathy for the most profound of human sorrows   parental grief,  Krauthammer wrote.  It wasn t a mistake. It was a revelation. Krauthammer then put his psychiatry skills to work, slamming Trump s narcissism and thin skin. Trump s hypersensitivity and unedited, untempered Pavlovian responses are, shall we say, unusual in both ferocity and predictability.This is beyond narcissism. I used to think Trump was an 11-year-old, an undeveloped schoolyard bully. I was off by about 10 years. His needs are more primitive, an infantile hunger for approval and praise, a craving that can never be satisfied. He lives in a cocoon of solipsism where the world outside himself has value   indeed exists   only insofar as it sustains and inflates him. Krauthammer went on to say that Trump is struggling to  pass the threshold test for acceptability,  comparing this year s election to the 1980 Election in which Reagan defeated incumbent President Jimmy Carter.  Trump badly needs to pass that threshold,  he wrote.  If character is destiny, he won t. Indeed, Trump is definitely no Ronald Reagan. Reagan spoke positively about America and the future while Trump is all gloom and doom and doesn t know when to keep his mouth shut.Krauthammer is not the only mental health professional who has talked about Trump s mental health status either.Dr. Drew Pinsky appeared on  earlier this week and expressed concern about Trump s temperament and impulsiveness. The question, though, is, are some of the reckless qualities that everyone is getting so disturbed about on the campaign going to be translated into office should he get elected? That s a pretty hard thing to predict. I don t know if this is just somebody playing politics, or is this somebody who really can t contain their impulses? When I hear people that are impulsive with their speech, I worry about hypomania and bipolar types of conditions. Pinsky went on to question the mental stability of Trump s supporters.Clearly, there is something wrong with Donald Trump and he is not fit to be president of the United States at a time when there is so much conflict and upheaval in the world. We need a steady hand at the helm, not a hand that lashes out over every little slight and criticism, especially when that hand belongs to a man who is obsessed with using nuclear weapons. Mental instability and access to the nuclear codes would be a dangerous combination.Featured Image: John Moore/Getty Images",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
23115,23116,"Reuters) - The Kremlin said on Monday it was still premature to say anything certain about a possible meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump next month because no definite arrangements had been made for it. The two leaders are widely expected to hold their first personal meeting when they attend a G20 summit in Germany in July. “Anyway, they (Putin and Trump) will be present at the same event, in the same city, at the same time. Anyway, there will be a possibility for such a meeting,” Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a conference call with reporters. “Let’s wait for this G20 summit. But I repeat again: to our regret, there have so far been no definite arrangements regarding this (meeting).” ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
23122,23123,"ERBIL, Iraq (Reuters) - The parliament of Iraq s autonomous Kurdistan region approved a plan on Friday to hold a referendum on independence on Sept. 25, ignoring opposition from Baghdad and the wider region as well as Western concerns that the vote could spark fresh conflict. Parliament reconvened in Erbil, the seat of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in northern Iraq, where an overwhelming majority of the Kurdish lawmakers taking part backed the plan. Hours after the decision, the White House publicly called for the first time on the  to cancel the referendum, warning that the vote was  distracting from efforts to defeat  (Islamic State) and stabilize the liberated areas.   The United States does not support the Kudistan Regional Government s intention to hold a referendum later this month,  the White House said in a statement. It urged the  to  enter into serious and sustained dialogue with Baghdad, which the United States has repeatedly indicated it is prepared to facilitate.  The regional parliament s decision came despite an intense diplomatic drive by the United States, which has provided critical military aid to the  s fight against Islamic State, to persuade the Kurdish leadership to cancel the referendum. The parliament session was the first held since the legislature was suspended nearly two years ago, though only 68 of 111 lawmakers attended due to a boycott by the main opposition movement Gorran.  We ve been waiting more than 100 years for this,  Omed Khoshnaw, a lawmaker from the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDR) of  President Massoud Barzani, told Reuters.  There is no other way to guarantee that genocide will never be repeated,  Khoshnaw told the assembly earlier, referring to the persecution of the Kurds and their expulsion from areas such as oil-rich Kirkuk under late Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.   Some lawmakers wore Kurdish flags and rose to clap and sing the national anthem after the vote. The Baghdad parliament s decision earlier this week to oppose the referendum drew condemnation from deputies in Erbil.  We refuse to accept the Iraqi parliament s decision, which was unlawful,  Muna Qahwachi, a Turkman lawmaker, told Reuters. Qahwachi said she had voted in favor of the referendum because she said Turkmen were protected in Kurdistan, unlike in the rest of Iraq. Earlier, Barzani shrugged off requests from the United States and other Western powers to put off the referendum. They fear increased tensions between Baghdad and Erbil will distract from the war on Islamic State militants who still occupy parts of Iraq and Syria.  We still haven t heard a proposal that can be an alternative to the Kurdistan referendum,  Barzani told a rally in the Kurdish region, referring to a proposal put forward by the United States and other Western envoys this week. Iraq s neighbors Iran and Turkey also oppose the plebiscite, fearing an independent Kurdish state could fuel separatism among their own Kurdish populations. The opposition Gorran movement boycotted Friday s parliamentary session, the first since a dispute between them and Barzani s  caused the suspension of the assembly in October 2015.  Those assembled in parliament today think this is a lawful session, but this is unlawful,  Birzu Majeed, the head of Gorran s parliamentary block, told a news conference held while parliament was in session.  Lawmakers from a third party, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), ensured the required quorum. The  is a historic rival of the  but supports the referendum plan. Meanwhile, Iranian-backed Iraqi Shi ite paramilitary groups have threatened to dislodge the Kurdish forces from the Kirkuk region, which is due to take part in the referendum. Kirkuk is home to sizeable Arab and Turkmen populations and lies outside the official boundaries of the Kurdistan region. It is claimed by both the Kurds and the central government in Baghad. Kurdish peshmerga fighters seized Kirkuk and other disputed territories when the Iraqi army collapsed in the face of Islamic State in 2014, preventing its oilfields from falling into militant hands. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
23129,23130,"Washington is all about the fiscal cliff these days . In Doha , Qatar , world leaders are negotiating over climate change . Federal debt and carbon emissions are indeed two big problems on the nation ' s front burner . But they are just the beginning .  As the fog of the election season lifts , America has a lot to worry about everything from competing economically with China to housing rapidly retiring baby boomers .  But there is another way to look at it . Decisively addressing the nation ' s primary global challenges backed by the market potential of powerful demographic shifts at home and abroad could yield opportunity unlike any other in America ' s history .  First , our four major challenges :  In the last 20 years , households , businesses and the federal government accumulated exceptional levels of debt , which they are now trying , painfully , to pay down . The 2008 financial crisis triggered a spiral of unemployment and reduced demand that is nowhere near complete . As household income contracts , families consume less and try to erase debt , reducing demand for goods and services , forcing companies to reduce expenses , meaning more layoffs , deepening unemployment , and so on . Monetary policy and fiscal stimulus may have contained the worst of the pain , but they cannot cure the disease . Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke is right when he says the economy needs a broad based and durable source of demand .  Over the last 20 years , roughly 1 billion people entered the global middle class . In the next 20 years , there will be 3 billion more . Good news ? Yes , except that these new consumers use huge amounts of resources and emit more carbon , a roughly 300 increase . Expect price increases for basic commodities like energy , food , and minerals , and deepening conflicts among the great powers over resources in familiar places : the Persian Gulf , the South China Sea , and Central Asia .  Climate change is already with us . Superstorm Sandy , the Derecho , Arctic melting , and droughts in the Midwest , India , China , and Russia this past year confirm the scientifically proven trend . Beyond this , humanity consumes about 150 of the "" goods "" provided by the earth ' s natural systems including fresh water , soils , and fisheries . We are consuming our limited endowment of natural capital , reducing future returns while our global population expands to 9 billion . This is massively destabilizing , whether you ' re in New York City or Pakistan .  Our infrastructure , systems , and supply chains are not designed for the scale or the risks of the 21st century . Transportation , financial , food , and industrial systems have choke points , are inefficient , and lack oversight and sufficient investment . They are magnifying threat and risk when they should be compartmentalizing them . Quiet disruptions in such things as rare earth minerals ( critical to high tech manufacturing ) , auto parts , and computer hard drives have all hit industry in the last two years , for example .  Opinion : We ' re living the dream , we just don ' t realize it  America ' s economy must do some heavy lifting . Just as the country transitioned from war production to civilian production 60 years ago , it must now transition to sustainable production , while building a new American dream . If it can , the United States will be ideally positioned to rebuild our middle class , compete globally and pre empt growing confrontation over resources .  We must adapt and once again define the future .  First , America has a homegrown demographic opportunity unlike any other . Driven by baby boomers and millennials , 56 percent of homebuyers say that they want the trappings of their American dream to be walkable and convenient , not car dependent and isolated , and home prices already reflect this . From 2014 to 2029 , these two largest American demographics , each 25 of the total population , will meet in the housing market as boomers empty their nests and as more millennials marry and have children creating the largest concentration of demand for housing since the period after World War  . To seize this opportunity , however , Washington needs to let cities and towns decide how to grow , and discourage the car based population dispersal known as sprawl . Not only will this put Americans back to work in construction , it could reduce the environmental footprint by roughly a third .  Second , global demand for food and resources is skyrocketing . By 2050 global food production must increase by 60 , while soil and fresh water must be regenerated , not depleted . American farmers are held back by expensive , distorting , and antiquated Cold War era subsidies that essentially pay farmers to overwork the land and waste scarce water resources . We ' ve already lost up to 50 of Iowa ' s topsoil , drained the Ogallala Aquifer , and created a fertilizer based "" death bloom "" at the mouth of the Mississippi . While conventional agribusiness is enjoying high global prices , climate related drought and floods have reduced the harvest to the lowest since the early 1970s . Shifting the worst of these subsidies from big commodity crops ( like corn , wheat , and soybeans ) to pay farmers to convert their operations to modern regenerative systems will help our farming families earn a more secure living and be better stewards of the land .  Finally , the world needs innovation . To accommodate 3 billion new middle class aspirants in 20 years , we will need to make our resources more productive while reducing the amount of carbon emitted . By focusing on advanced materials , energy and manufacturing , we can rebuild our middle class , supplying the jobs , wages , and returns Americans deserve . To lead this revolution in resource productivity , we must stop taxing work and start taxing waste .  Washington universalized the income tax to pay for World War  , when we had full employment and needed to subsidize resource extraction to get materiel to the Allies . Now we get 80 of federal revenues from taxing individuals , are suffering from long term unemployment , and consume far more resources than Europe for an inferior standard of living . We ' re conserving labor and expending resources when we need to do the opposite .  We have the demand . Do we have the capital ? Plenty . There are trillions of dollars in pent up investment capital looking for reasonable , reliable returns , as the chairman of Goldman Sachs recently wrote .  Instead of Washington footing the bill , the federal government must reorient the Cold War subsidies for housing , agriculture , and resource waste and create a new generation of regional financing mechanisms . These new regional tools must connect Wall Street ' s capital to the infrastructure and innovation opportunities that will arise as regions plan for and build the future . If it ' s done right , we ' ll channel excess liquidity back into the productive economy and stop it from sloshing around as underperforming corporate cash , money market funds , and high risk derivatives .  Yes , Washington must address the issue of the fiscal cliff and make progress on climate change . But isolated solutions will only waste precious time . Tapping into the new demand pools of the 21st century , unleashing pent up capital , and shifting American markets to lead a revolution in resource productivity will position the United States to lead the world once again .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
23164,23165,"Britain ' s  vote may default to June 23 to avoid soccer clash  Eddie Buckle and Robert Hutton , ( c ) 2016 , Bloomberg ( c ) 2016 , Bloomberg  If politics and religion don ' t mix , then holding a vote on a major sporting occasion is even more of a taboo .  Hence the Euro 2016 soccer championships in France may have a lot to do with the fact that June 23 is starting to look like the preferred date for Prime Minister David Cameron ' s planned referendum on whether Britain should stay in the European Union or leave .  Britain traditionally votes on a Thursday , but there are reasons to rule out the four other possible dates for a referendum in June , assuming Cameron can seal a deal on the terms of the United Kingdom ' s  membership with fellow leaders next month . June 16 , for example , sees the England soccer team playing Wales in the afternoon a match that will mean millions of potential voters are glued to the television with Northern Ireland taking to the pitch that evening . There are no such sporting distractions a week later .  "" Cameron can ' t just pick any date he wants , "" Philip Cowley , professor of politics at Queen Mary , University of London , said in an interview . "" He has to consider all sorts of things that have nothing to do with politics , especially football matches . ""  Both Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond and David Mundell , the British Cabinet minister responsible for Scotland , have spoken of the possibility of a June vote in recent weeks . The London based Times newspaper and the  cited unnamed government officials Tuesday as saying that preparations were being made for June 23 . Cameron ' s office says no decision has been taken , and the prime minister has said several times in recent days that he ' s in "" no hurry "" to call the vote .  Ministers have said the government needs 16 weeks between a deal and a referendum : Six weeks are required to get legislation setting the date through Parliament before a 10 week campaign . With Cameron saying he ' s hoping for an agreement at the Feb . 18 19  summit in Brussels , that makes the timetable uncomfortably tight for possible voting dates on June 2 and June 9 .  Those first two Thursdays also risk campaign overload , with too much of an overlap between the campaign for the referendum and those for the Scottish Parliament and London mayoral elections on May 5 . There are a range of other elections across Britain on that date too .  Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon repeated on Sunday that it "" would be a mistake "" to hold a referendum in June at all .  "" I think to have a referendum campaign starting in parallel would be disrespectful to those important elections "" in Scotland and elsewhere , she told the  . "" It would be better for David Cameron , if he does get a deal at the February European Council , to leave more time between that deal and the point of decision . ""  June 23 would provide for a seven week period between the Scottish election and the referendum , going some way to appeasing Sturgeon ' s objections .  But Cameron can ' t delay much beyond that if he ' s to hold a vote before September . There ' s a Euro 2016 quarter final scheduled for July 30 and a semi final on July 6 . And once into July , schools start their summer vacation periods . That means  inclined parents with children might be abroad when voting takes place something the prime minister will want to avoid . Schools in England tend to close in mid to late July , but it ' s even earlier in Scotland , where the last day of school in the biggest city , Glasgow , is June 24 .  Without being specific about a date , Hammond warned Tuesday that the timing might slip if there ' s no deal at the February summit . Ireland is the only one of the other 27  countries for which the U . K . negotiations are the priority right now , he told a House of Lords committee .  "" It would be unwise of us to try to push our agenda ahead of other things that other member states will see as pressingly urgent , "" Hammond said .  "" If we get a deal done in February , it will be possible to hold a referendum in June , "" he told the panel . "" If the deal is not done in February , that would become much more difficult certainly if it ' s not done in March it would become impossible . ""  Even June 23 isn ' t perfect for the vote . That ' s also the first day of a two day  summit in Brussels , meaning the prime minister may be out of the country as the ballots from his referendum are being counted . Still , it would mean Cameron could either receive the congratulations or commiseration of his fellow  leaders as the results come in .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
23178,23179,"A widower was left devastated after losing a sentimental recording of his late wife ' s voice in a phone service upgrade .  Stan Beaton , 68 , from Mirfield , West Yorkshire , said he had been assured by Virgin Media that his much treasured answer machine message form his wife , Ruby , was safe .  However , following technical changes to his landline , the recording had disappeared from the system last December .  Mr Beaton was shocked after being told the message , which was recorded on the machine over 14 years ago , had been deleted and was lost forever .  Stan Beaton lost a precious recording of his late wife Ruby ' s ( in photo ) voice after Virgin Media upgraded his landline despite the company assuring him the voicemail message was safe  Mr Beaton was left devastated after being told Ruby ' s message , which was recorded on the machine more than 14 years ago , had been deleted and was lost forever . She died from stomach cancer in 2003  ' Anytime I felt low , I knew I always had her voice near but now it is gone , ' Mr Beaton , a retired forklift truck driver , said .  ' I could not tell you how many times I listened to the message . It was just nice to hear her voice once again . In the early days , it would be every day but the hurt eases but it never goes away , ' he said .  When Virgin made some alterations to his service on December 20 , Mr Beaton called technical support and was assured his wife ' s voice was safe .  He later found out that he had been misinformed by the company and his wife ' s simple answer machine message , which asked callers to leave their name and number , was gone .  Mr Beaton said that losing the recording of his wife was especially difficult to take since it happened just before Christmas , with the festive season bringing back fond memories .  His wife Ruby , who worked at Fox ' s Biscuits in Batley , died from stomach cancer in May 2003 , aged 63 . She had previously recovered from breast cancer .  Ruby had recorded the phone ' s welcome message two years before her death , and it was stored on the couple ' s landline phone .  Mr Beaton ' s late wife Ruby ( right ) recorded the phone ' s welcome message two years before her death . ' Anytime I felt low , I knew I always had her voice near . But now it is gone , ' said Mr Beaton , a retired forklift truck driver  Mr Beaton had even refused to move from Virgin Media , despite a better deal elsewhere , due to the fact the answer phone message would have been deleted .  He said : ' Her death left a void in my life . I always used to come in and dial 1471 , just because I felt like listening to her but I am unable to do this anymore . I tried to record it myself over the years but I am not the most technical person and could never hear Ruby ' s voice when I tried .  ' To lose something so precious , "" sorry "" doesn ' t mean a thing . These big companies say they care about their customers but they don ' t really care about you at all .  Virgin Media has called Mr Beaton to apologise while confirming their engineers tried everything to recover the message  ' I know I won ' t be the only one who this may have happened to . However , they say their engineers are unable to recover Ruby ' s message which is something I just simply have to accept . '  Virgin Media have called Mr Beaton to apologise while confirming their engineers tried everything to recover the message .  Mr Beaton has been offered Sky Sports channels free for a year and the company pledges to make a donation to Mr Beaton ' s favourite charities to make amends for the deletion of the message .  He named Cancer Research , Great Ormond Street Children ' s Hospital and cleft palate charity Operation Smile , all of which he donates to regularly .  A Virgin Media spokeswoman said : ' The voicemail message was lost when we migrated the service to a new platform during a planned upgrade .  ' One of the agents in our contact centre incorrectly advised Mr Beaton his voicemail message was safe .  ' We ' ve apologised to Mr Beaton for this and for any distress the loss of this message has caused . '  Mr Beaton says he is still waiting to hear confirmation regarding the donation to his charities .  ",true,text,test,American football,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,negative,past
23181,23182,"Ed Miliband , who promised that if Labour win the election , they would freeze energy bills for 20 months  Ed Miliband plan to freeze energy prices is putting firms off cutting household bills before the election , experts say .  The Big Six firms have been under pressure to pass on savings to customers as the crude oil price has plummeted , dipping below 50 dollars a barrel this week compared with 115 last June .  George Osborne has warned energy firms and airlines to cut their prices . Some estimates suggest families should have seen average annual bills fall by 140 due to tumbling wholesale prices .  But analysts now believe that Labour ' s promise to freeze energy bills for 20 months if they win office to fix the ' broken energy market ' may be keeping prices high .  Martin Lewis , founder of MoneySavingExpertweblink , said energy firms buy their supplies up to two years in advance so cannot pass on savings immediately , but the price freeze is also a big factor .  He said : ' The risk is that by the time the energy firms are able to buy cheaply , we get towards the election in May . If there ' s a Labour government and they bring in the price freeze , the suppliers run the risk that they will be locked into those prices for 20 months , even if wholesale costs go up . It ' s a disincentive for them to cut prices .  ' Labour ' s policy has become a big factor in the price decisions energy companies are making . I ' m neutral , and I don ' t think freezing prices is a bad policy , but Labour shouldn ' t have announced it in advance , as it allows the energy firms to game the system .  ' They are far more wary of cutting prices than they would have been , in the short term . I can ' t see the energy firms cutting prices before the election . '  A senior source at one Big Six firm said : ' I wouldn ' t completely rule out a cut in prices before the election , but the threat of the price freeze makes it a lot more difficult .  ' Household bills are not just affected by wholesale prices , but also network costs , which are rising , and government policies such as smart meters . The price freeze gives us a fourth consideration . '  Mr Miliband ' s policy , announced at his party conference in 2013 was seen as a game changer for the Labour party and polls show it is backed by voters . He claimed it would save households 120 each per year on a typical dual fuel deal , and that business would be 1 , 800 better off .  The Big Six firms have been under pressure to pass on savings to customers as the crude oil price has plummeted  Lakis Athanasiou , a utilities analyst at Agency Partners said the election and also the competition inquiry into the energy market ordered by ministers which reports later this year , are holding up price cuts . ' The price freeze is a damp squib for gas bills , because of falling wholesale prices . If it happens the energy companies will just make money ' , he said .  ' There is leeway for energy firms to cut gas bills now , but I don ' t think it will happen in 2015 . But only gas there is no leeway to electricity bills , on which energy firms are looking to make a loss this year because of the carbon taxes and green policies . '  Dougie Youngson , Oil Gas Research Director at finnCap added : ' In most respects , it ' s a completely unworkable policy the price freeze ' , he said . ' It would be an unprecedented intervention by the government and it ' s difficult to see how it would be implemented . '  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Economy,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
23191,23192,"Leave it to a Democrat to waste everyone s time and money by putting forth legislation she knows has no chance of passing, as a means to convince legislators they need to make it easier to kill an unborn child. A Kentucky lawmaker has put forward a bill that would require men to visit a doctor at least twice and obtain a signed permission slip from their wives before they could obtain a prescription for the erectile dysfunction drug Viagra.State Rep. Mary Lou Marzian, a Democrat, acknowledged to the Louisville Courier-Journal that the bill has no chance of passing. However, she said the bill was a response to several anti-abortion measures, including a recently ratified law that requires a woman seeking an abortion to get counseling at least 24 hours in advance from a health professional.In an opinion piece, Marzian said her bill is meant to  illustrate the absurdity of government encroachment into women s personal and medical decisions currently running amok in the Kentucky General Assembly and [Gov. Matt] Bevin administration. Marzian s bill specifies that only married men can obtain Viagra and a prospective patient must  make a sworn statement with his hand on a Bible that he will only use a prescription for a drug for erectile dysfunction when having sexual relations with his current spouse. Other state lawmakers have filed similar bills to make political points. In 2012, a bill from an Ohio state senator required men to get a psychological evaluation before getting a Viagra prescription and last year a South Carolina state representative filed a bill that would require men to wait 24 hours before getting a prescription.Marzian has also said she would file a bill requiring potential gun buyers to undergo counseling from victims of gun violence 24 hours in advance of the purchase. Via:  News",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,present
23199,23200,"Ohio Hue Jackson is a man who likes challenges . He said so on Wednesday night .  There ' s plenty to be cynical about when it comes to the Cleveland Browns . Jackson couldn ' t be blamed if he walked into his interview ? Sunday afternoon , following a playoff loss so devastating that only his future fan base could have scripted it , leery ? of what he would encounter .  "" I didn ' t have any preconceived notions and my mind didn ' t need to be changed , "" Jackson said when asked if his background in the  North had shaded his view of the team that just hired him . "" This is a tremendous organization led by some great people . ""  Jackson was one of the hottest candidates in this year ' s coaching derby , a derby admittedly devoid of the usual big names . Still , the pursuit of Jackson was the first test of the Browns ' new regime , and the fact that Jackson spurned an interview with the New York Giants a team with a quarterback and a winnable division and was instead sitting in the Browns ' media center on Wednesday night is the first victory for the remade front office .  This isn ' t just about the front office , though . ? This is an enormous step in the ? reclamation project of Jimmy Haslam ' s trust with the fan base . He is ? an owner once viewed as a savior but now seen as a man with an itchy trigger finger and a shaky vision .  Haslam stayed out of the way for the most part , allowing Jackson to do the heavy lifting . He weighed in when Jackson talked of how Haslam had been successful in most things he had done .  This is another chance for Jackson , too . His first go around as a head coach was with a franchise similarly known for its dysfunction . He went 8 8 with the Raiders in 2011 . He was fired when a new  was brought in to run things following the death of owner Al Davis during that season .  Hue Jackson s vision for turning the Cleveland Browns around Cleveland Browns new head coach Hue Jackson , the eighth since 1999 , explains how he will change the losing culture of recent years around . Dave Andersen , clevelandweblink  Jackson said all the right things about embracing the new vision of an analytics driven organization . He dished out high praise for both executive vice president of football operations Sashi Brown and chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta . The reality that Jackson faces , though , is that this is likely his last shot as a head coach , and there were times when he sounded like a man that , if he was going to go down , he was going to go down on his terms .  "" I know what Hue Jackson can do and I feel very comfortable and confident that I can get it turned , "" Jackson said . ( Yes , he refers to himself in the third person at times . ) "" I believe that , I know that and I expect to get that done . ""  Analysis of Hue Jackson after introduction as Browns new head coach Cleveland Browns beat writers Mary Kay Cabot , Tom Reed and Dan Labbe discuss the hiring of Hue Jackson as the Browns eighth head coach since the team returned in 1999 . Dave Andersen , clevelandweblink  There will be struggles between the front office and the coach . It ' s natural . Analytics tend to take the long view . A head coach , especially in Cleveland , is only as good as his last game . There will have to be give and take . There will have to be trust . That ' s something that was missing and glaringly so as the last regime was collapsing ? and the head coach was openly talking of tension in the building .  Hue Jackson sat front and center on Wednesday night , flanked by Haslam to his right and Brown to his left . He said the things a coach is supposed to say when he ' s introduced . He talked of culture change . He avoided declarative statements about players . He was polished and engaging . It was little we hadn ' t seen before .  Or maybe it was different this time . Maybe this time , the Browns landed someone strong enough to ignore the past , ignore the noise .  After all , he did say he likes challenges .  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
23211,23212,"Along the Seahawks sideline there was plenty of talk . The Seahawks trailed 12 10 . The demons that had haunted this Seahawks team were present in  T Stadium and for those watching the game on television back in Seattle . Demons such as the offense ' s occasional inability to finish drives , and demons of a defense and secondary that had lost four fourth quarter leads this season . The Seahawks are a good team on paper , but were also a 3 4 team at this moment , with crushing losses a big part of the equation .  Quarterback Russell Wilson moved around on the sideline , going over to teammates , stressing the positive . Before going onto the field with 6 : 41 left , Wilson turned to coach Pete Carroll and smiled . "" This is what we are here for , "" Wilson said to his coach .  Promptly and methodically , Wilson drove the Seahawks 79 yards in 17 plays to set up the game winning field goal with 66 seconds remaining in regulation . Once again , late in the game his legs became the difference , that perfect weapon against a tired defense . It was the 16th game winning drive of his career . It was the 11th fourth quarter comeback . Yes , this is a team , and the record is not a quarterback ' s to claim for himself , but the victory gave Wilson a 40 16 career regular season record . In the playoffs , he has a 6 2 record and was just one yard short of a second Super Bowl win .  So while many wonder why he became the second highest paid quarterback in the league at 21 . 9 million a year at the time he signed his contract this summer , his performance Sunday reminded everyone he ' s worth it . Teams that don ' t have quarterbacks go nowhere , and while the Seahawks ' defense has helped Wilson ' s record as a starter , he has done his part to provide the winning difference plenty of times as well .  "" I don ' t shy away from those moments , "" Wilson said of the fourth quarter drives to win . "" You look forward to it . We don ' t either as a collective group on offense , defense and special teams . There is no pressure . There is no fear . So you just believe . The team trusts what you are doing . You just love those moments . ""  Wilson is an enigma . In news conferences , he often resorts to clich s . You hear , "" The separation is in the preparation "" and "" we ' re just trying to go 1 0 every week "" or "" take one play at a time . "" He concludes every news conference with "" Go Hawks . ""  Darrell Bevell thinks the Seattle offense is still finding its way behind a rebuilt offensive line . ?  "" He ' s the consummate competitor always in a positive sense , "" Carroll said . "" He always believes in getting it done . He ' s talking on the sidelines with six minutes left and saying , ' Hey , this is one of those games , we have to win right now . ' He just doesn ' t waver from that . He has that undying sense that something good will happen . He will go to any lengths to get that done .  "" He doesn ' t do everything right . He ' s trying to do it but he doesn ' t get it all right all the time . But you can count on him to give you everything he ' s got . ""  Against the Cowboys , he gave the Seahawks everything in the end . On the 17 play drive , he ran four times for 27 yards , exposing his body to hits and stretching out his arms to get first downs . He got the Seahawks to the Cowboys 6 yard line to get up Steven Hauschka ' s game winning 24 yard field goal .  Yet the biggest test of his resolve might have been the next to last play of the third quarter . Out of shotgun formation on a second and 6 , Wilson was asked to throw a quick pass out of three step drop to the side . Defensive end Greg Hardy jumped up , tipped the ball and grabbed it for an interception .  Wilson was the only Seahawk who could prevent him from scoring .  "" I ' m thinking , ' How am I going to get this big dude down ? ' "" Wilson said . "" I don ' t think I ' ve tackled anyone that big before . I squeezed every morsel in my body and my strength just to get him down . ""  Hardy was stopped by Russell at the Seahawks 16 . The Seahawks ' defense bailed out the offense by holding Matt Cassel to a three and out and a field goal that gave the Cowboys a 12 10 lead .  Wilson is never going to win over a fan base with his stats . Even though his 68 . 8 percent completion percentage and his 8 yard per attempt average is the best of his career , he rarely throws for more than 250 yards in a game . That ' s because he rarely throws more than 30 passes a game , in part because when it ' s not there he ' ll scramble and take what he can get .  His game is built for winning , not fantasy football .  Over the past two weeks , Wilson has been working more running plays with handoffs at the line of scrimmage instead of in the shotgun . Against the Cowboys , the line improved its pass protection with more simple alignments and schemes that gave Wilson the best pocket he ' s had all year . The result was Wilson didn ' t get sacked after being victimized 31 times in the first seven games . Having a more consistent pocket allowed Wilson to hit tight end Jimmy Graham for seven catches and 75 yards and three near misses that could have put Graham over 100 yards .  Graham said most if not all of those catches were on short drops by Wilson set up by a solid pocket . It ' s a process , but the goal is a team and a  peaking at the right time .  Offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell calls that process "" getting Russell Wilson to come alive . ""  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
23232,23233,""" That ' s guys like So Sang Guk , Jon Pyong Ho , and O Kuk Ryol "" .  Even by the standards of secretive North Korea , the three have remained firmly behind the scenes . Some sketchy details however have pointed to their role in the isolated state ' s nuclear programme .  The brain , experts say , is 77 year old So Sang Guk , a skilled scientist and PhD who rose to become the head of Kim Il Sung University ' s Department of Nuclear Physics .  According to North Korean state media , So is the author of forty books , with titles including "" Quantum Mechanics "" and "" Elementary Particle Theory "" .  A decorated hero , So was given a spread of food for his 60th birthday in 1998 by then leader Kim Jong Il , state media reported at the time .  "" He was Kim Jong Il ' s tutor on nuclear physics and nuclear science , "" said Madden .  So was appointed to the Organisation and Guidance Department (  ) , a secretive body used by Kim Jong Il to wrest power from his father before becoming leader in 1994 .  "" The reason he had the  title was to supervise personnel and give people jobs in the weapons programme , "" said Madden . "" A job there also effectively gave him security clearance so that he could have access to secret documents as he needed them "" .  Using connections forged as a young student in the Soviet Union , So made a solo trip to Russia to arrange a deal to import nuclear parts , South Korea ' s Yonhap news reported in 2006 .  His daughter won a place at a top music school thanks to her father ' s patronage , according to Jang Jin sung , a North Korean defector who left in 2004 but studied alongside So ' s daughter as a student .  "" She once complained she could not study abroad because her father was engaged in some big , secretive project , "" Jang told Reuters .  So was listed as a target of financial sanctions by the European Union in 2009 .  Late leader Kim Jong Il built patronage with gifts and around 2001 , he gave two of his most trusted aides in the nuclear department a large American van each as a present , according to Jang , the defector .  So Sang Guk received one van . Jang said the other was awarded to O Kuk Ryol , a slender man with thinning hair and tinted spectacles said to be the military coordinator behind the nuclear programme .  A health nut who walks several miles a day , the 85 year old O is an "" anomaly "" among the North Korean elite for avoiding excessive partying , according to Madden .  He was promoted to general in 1984 and was born in China , according to South Korea ' s Ministry of Unification .  His rapid rise in the Korean People ' s Army was aided by being related to a guerrilla soldier who fought alongside North Korea ' s founder President Kim Il Sung during the Japanese colonial period .  O was named in U . S . sanctions against North Korea ' s weapons programme in 2013 specifically to "" further impede North Korea ' s weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programmes "" .  He was last seen in state media alongside Kim Jong Un in November last year .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
23234,23235,"Chelsea have the highest calibre team in world football when measured in terms of the number of stars who have made full international appearances in 2014 .  Jose Mourinho ' s first team squad , currently top of the Premier League , favourites for the title and still on course for an historic quadruple , is comprised of a group where almost four in five have played for their countries this year .  And those who haven ' t , like captain John Terry , are recent full internationals or current age group internationals .  Chelsea , with the likes of Gary Cahill ( left ) and Cesc Fabregas , have the highest calibre team in world football when measured in terms of the number of stars who have made full international appearances in 2014  Chelsea ' s ' active internationals ' percentage of players is 78 . 3 per cent , according to new figures published in a ' digital atlas ' by expert analysts from the Football Observatory in Switzerland .  This places Chelsea at No 1 in Europe and the world ahead of Real Madrid in second place . The richest team in on planet football may be able to splash more money than anyone else on stars from Gareth Bale to James Rodriguez but ' only ' 77 . 3 per cent of their squad have played full internationals this year .  Barcelona are in third place ( 74 . 1 per cent ) , Bayern Munich in fourth ( 73 . 1 per cent ) and Borussia Dortmund in fifth place ( 71 . 4 per cent ) . Both of those German teams contain multiple members of the triumphant World Cup winning team this summer .  The leading five clubs are followed by three more from England in Manchester City ( 70 . 8 per cent ) , Liverpool ( 68 per cent ) and Arsenal ( 66 . 7 per cent ) , with  of France ( 65 . 2 per cent ) and Zenit St Petersburg of Russia ( 58 . 3 per cent ) rounding out the top 10 .  Louis van Gaal ' s Manchester United do not appear on the list until 15th place ( 53 . 6 per cent , the same as Tottenham and below Everton ( 55 . 6 per cent ) .  The ' active ' element of the measurement is key because it indicates that the players concerned are at the top of their game , being picked for their countries , not retired , and not merely ' up and coming . '  United ' s ratio of full active internationals is so relatively low because Van Gaal has been forced or has chosen to use so many young players this campaign , uncapped as yet by their countries at senior level . Among them are Tyler Blackett , 20 , Jesse Lingard , 22 , Paddy McNair 19 , Tom Thorpe , 21 and 19 year old James Wilson .  Real Madrid are in second place with the likes of James Rodriguez and Cristiano Ronaldo picking up caps  Chelsea ' s ' active internationals ' which includes Andre Schurrle ( above ) percentage of players is 78 . 3 per cent  Louis van Gaal ' s Manchester United side don ' t feature until No 15 on the list with 53 . 6 per cent  Premier League squads collectively have a higher ratio of full ' active ' international players than any other top division in Europe .  Of all English top flight players , 43 . 5 per cent have played for their countries this year . Germany ' s Bundesliga is next best ( 34 . 1 per cent ) followed by Russia ' s top division ( 26 . 2 per cent ) then Serie A ( 25 . 3 per cent ) , France ' s Ligue 1 ( 22 per cent ) and La Liga ( 21 per cent ) .  Within the Premier League , Chelsea are clear of City , Liverpool , Arsenal , Everton , Tottenham and United and then a surprise contender fills eighth place in England Stoke City , where half the current squad have won full caps this year . West Brom ' s multi national team is next then Southampton .  The teams with the lowest amount of active internationals in England are Burnley ( 15 . 4 per cent ) , West Ham and  ( both 17 . 9 per cent ) .  The digital atlas is free to use and allows anyone to compare the relative strengths and weakness of more than 500 teams across 31 European top flight leagues .  Sergio Aguero ' s Manchester City are in sixth place with 70 . 8 per cent  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
23235,23236,"By day , he dons a white lab coat . At the weekend , he terrorizes opposition teams in his bright red outfit .  Even Humphrey Kayange struggles to define himself . On his Twitter biography , he asks : "" Rugby player research officer or is it the other way around ? ""  In one walk of life , he is trying to help rid the world of disease as he works on new antibiotics at a British university . In another , he is one of the stars of the rugby sevens circuit , despite coming from a country best known for producing long distance runners .  For all his prowess both on and off the field , his nickname perhaps lacks imagination "" Tall "" although at 6 foot 6 inches it must be said he lives up to the billing .  While he has bedeviled opposition defenses on the   Sevens circuit , it is his less heralded work behind closed doors at Bristol University that is of the greater consequence .  Broadly , his studies come under the banner of chemistry and math , but more specifically it is a research project on antibiotics .  "" It ' s a massive project at the university , "" Kayange explains . "" We ' re all trying to foresee antibiotics and developing resistance , so we ' re looking into developing new drugs .  "" It ' s more to do with bacterial infections and it ' s a very slow and steady process . ""  The 31 year old says the research is funded by British pharmaceutical multinational GlaxoSmithKline , which trials the compounds and active ingredients that the chemists provide .  "" There ' s been some positive results but it ' s a long process , "" he says .  "" The potential to do good things for human beings is amazing . It ' s an interesting project to be a part of . ""  It may not seem likely on the surface but his rugby and chemistry are intertwined , even though most sevens specialists don ' t have quite the same academic achievements on their CVs .  It was while training at Bristol University with the Kenyan national team three years ago that he was spotted by rugby officials at the training facility . They were interested in his rugby skills as well as his chemistry qualities . So he applied for a place , was accepted and moved to the southwest city in February 2012 .  He struggled initially to adapt to rugby life in a wintery England , being used to warmer climes on the sevens circuit .  "" One weekend I was playing in the sunshine of Las Vegas or in a New Zealand winter , and next it was a mud bath in Bristol . England in February was a shock but I got used to it and love it . ""  His time in the city is coming to a close , with his thesis on examining tablets that are fed to fight bacteria drawing to its conclusion .  It is something he has juggled alongside his rugby commitments but later this year the sevens will once again become the major focus as he builds towards the 2014 Commonwealth Games and , bigger yet , sevens ' debut at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 .  Rugby was not an obvious sporting choice for Kayange , who grew up in Eldoret in the Rift Valley , a region renowned for producing Kenya ' s greatest long distance runners . Many top athletes , such as double Olympic and world champion Mo Farah , go there to train each winter .  "" Growing up there , all you saw were long distance runners , a lot of them , "" he says . "" Because of our history , everyone expects sportsmen from Kenya to be runners . ""  The long runs were never Kayange ' s forte . A sprinter in his youth , unlike most of his peers , he wanted to run fast but only over short distances .  The other sporting passion was football , played out in often dust bowl conditions on the dry pitches of the East African nation . Rugby was a mere afterthought .  "" I think I was 16 or 17 when I first played at high school , "" he recalls .  "" I wasn ' t interested I ' d never really seen anyone play it was just a sport I had to try . I braced myself for it at first but , once I got used to the physicality of it , everything else was fine .  "" It was so confusing with the rules when I first started . I really remember in my first game just concentrating on throwing the ball backwards . But I think I had a good first game as I just wanted to run . ""  He has kept on running to good effect ever since , scoring more than 130 tries in the international format for his country and starring in a series of victories against some of the true powerhouses of the sport .  In fact , his family has produced three rugby stars Kayange ' s brothers Collins Injera and Michael Agevi also play for Kenya . Injera is his country ' s top try scorer and is third on the  Sevens ' all time list with 183 ahead of the next leg in Scotland next month .  The Kenyans arguably first made a global name for themselves with their on and off field theatrics they often perform a dance after competitions which earned them the tag of "" everyone ' s second favorite team . ""  "" I think we ' re quite different as a team , we love our running rugby , it ' s quite instinctive and everyone tends to love it , "" Kayange says .  "" We ' ve also come a long way in the sport and have been getting some good results . ""  The next step is for greater consistency in their results against the top teams , plus to have Commonwealth and Olympic aspirations .  A proposal has been lodged to host a leg of the  Sevens World Series but it has not been helped by ongoing security fears in Nairobi following last year ' s terrorist attack on the capital ' s Westgate shopping mall , when 72 people were killed .  At the time , Kayange was playing with his compatriots and visiting teams from abroad on the other side of the city in the Safari Sevens .  "" It was almost the end of the day when we first heard news of what was happening , "" he recalls . "" By the time we got back to our hotel , we only then properly heard the news . We ' ve just been running up and down a rugby field and something this terrible had been happening .  "" Thankfully , I didn ' t have any close friends or family in there . I knew of one guy who was there hiding in the basement . He was stuck in there for 12 hours but got out okay . Can you imagine going through that ? ""  The impact on the country was immediate . Tourism is undoubtedly down and , in terms of rugby spectators , it dropped from 20 , 000 for the first day to a mere 2 , 000 throwing doubt over a potential place on the sevens calendar .  "" I can understand that as teams going to another place need to feel safe , that is No . 1 , "" Kayange says .  With rugby and chemistry , Kayange who was named an  Sevens anti doping ambassador in 2010 has set his sights on making the world a safer place .  His work in science will go on , whether that ' s in the  or Kenya when his research project ends . As for his rugby playing , he has set his sights on the Rio Games after which , if fit and selected , he looks set to end his remarkable sevens journey .  Watch : The secrets to creating the world ' s best runners in Kenya  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
23253,23254,"An Alabama mom is furious that her five year old daughter was forced to sign a contract saying she will not hurt herself or anyone at school after she pointed a crayon at a classmate .  The incident occurred at E . R . Dickson Elementary School in Mobile .  The mom , only identified as Rebecca , said the school asked her toddler , Elizabeth , whether she was depressed , which the little girl did not understand .  ' They told me she drew something that resembled a gun , ' Rebecca told   .  ' According to them she pointed a crayon at another student and said , ' ' pew pew ' ' . '  Inappropriate : A five year old Alabama girl was made to sign this contract after pretending a crayon was a gun  Depressed : The school , E . R . Dickson Elementary in Mobile , tried to assess whether the little girl was suicidal or homicidal  Angry : The girl ' s mother is furious that the school made her daughter sign the form without consent  Confused : Rebecca ( right ) said her daughter Elizabeth ( left ) has now been asking what suicide is  The angry mother said the school then had her daughter sign a Mobile County Public Safety Contract without her consent .  ' While I was in the lobby waiting they had my 5 year old sign a contract about suicide and homicide , ' Rebecca said .  ' ( They ) asked her if she was depressed now .  ' Most of these words on here , she ' s never heard in her life .  ' This isn ' t right . She ' s 5 years old . '  State law in Alabama outlines that minors cannot sign a contract .  The school also reccomended Elizabeth see a psychiatrist .  Scene : The incident occurred at E . R . Dickson Elementary School in Mobile , Alabama  Rebecca is now fighting to have the incident removed from her child ' s record , but is also dealing with the aftermath at home .  ' My child interrupted us and said , ' ' What is suicide mommy ? Daddy what is suicide ? ' ' Rebecca told   .  ' As a parent that ' s not right .  ' I ' m the one should be able to talk to my child and not have someone else mention words like this in front of her at all . '  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,negative,past
23255,23256,"U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn could find himself in hot water.A writer for The New York Times Magazine and National Geographic tweeted that Clyburn invoked the name of Susan Smith, South Carolina s infamous child murderer, in his defense of Conyers. James Clyburn compared Conyers  accusers to the child murderer Susan Smith, who initially claimed a black man had abducted her kids. Clyburn said, these are all white women who ve made these charges against Conyers,  Robert Draper tweeted.When asked if that comment was true, Draper said he verified it through two sources, adding  Clyburn has used the Susan Smith parallel more than once, to members & staffers. Clyburn responded on Twitter, saying  This is inaccurate in many regards. The Congressional Black Caucus tweeted about the alleged Susan Smith comment, saying Clyburn  used the Smith example to illustrate the dangers of convicting people before getting all the facts. Umm yeah, sure he did.Meanwhile, Clyburn just kept digging a deeper hole. Following his baseless and disgusting and racist claims to Congress, Clyburn was met in the basement of Congress, where he was asked about fellow Black Caucus member and accused serial sexual assaulter, Rep. John Conyers (D-MI). His response was stunning.When asked about sexual harassment allegations against colleague Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.), Clyburn seemed to suggest elected officials should be held to a different standard than other public figures.In a video posted on Twitter, the 77-year-old Clyburn is walking to an elevator with Congressional Black Caucus chairman Cedric Richmond (D-La.), when asked  Other men in other industries have faced similar accusations   and gotten out of the way, resign, stepped down, far faster than he has, right   Harvey Weinstein, Charlie Rose, Matt Lauer? Clyburn s response,  Who elected them?  Chair Richmond asks for ex. of ppl leaving jobs faster than Conyers when face sexual harassment claims; Clyburn asks ""who elected them?"" pic.twitter.com/FGDNbvBUcg  Alex Moe (@AlexNBCNews) November 29, 2017That was followed by another question,  So it s different because he s elected,  but the elevator doors closed before Clyburn might have responded.A  STANDARDBut after 5 p.m., Clyburn posted his official statement regarding a House Resolution that read very differently than the flippant response to reporters in the halls of the Capitol.Congress must streamline the process, protect victims that wish to be protected, and ensure all allegations of wrongdoing are investigated with professionalism, urgency and due process. Read my full statement here, weblink  James E. Clyburn (@Clyburn) November 29, 2017 As elected officials, we ought to be held to a higher standard,  Clyburn said in his statement.  Congress must review and improve the current administrative procedure for victims to come forward. All harassment and discrimination allegations must be taken seriously.    The StateClyburn took to Twitter again tonight to cover his ass:This is inaccurate in many regards. That discussion had nothing to with Conyers. weblink  James E. Clyburn (@Clyburn) November 29, 2017New York Times reporter Rober Draper responded to Clyburn, refuting his claim that it had  nothing to do with Conyers .That discussion was specifically & exclusively about Conyers, according to 2 attendees. Who else could you have been referring to when bringing up Susan Smith? weblink  Robert Draper (@DraperRobert) November 29, 2017Liberal rag Buzzfeed, immediately came to Clyburn s defense:Clyburn's people dispute this. ""That is not accurate. That discussion had nothing to do with Conyers."" weblink  Paul McLeod (@pdmcleod) November 29, 2017Draper refused to back down and stated that his  sourcing is solid on this . Draper then went on to say,  Further, I m also told it isn t the first time Clyburn has used the Susan Smith parallel with reference to Conyers. My sourcing is solid on this. Further, I'm also told it isn't the first time Clyburn has used the Susan Smith parallel with reference to Conyers. weblink  Robert Draper (@DraperRobert) November 29, 2017The Black Caucus then came after the New York Timer reporter Robert Draper:.@RepRichmond: ""This is not accurate. @Clyburn used the Smith example to illustrate the dangers of convicting people before getting all the facts. Although Smith killed her kids, she blamed an innocent person & a lot of people believed that innocent person was guilty."" 1/2 weblink  Black Caucus (@OfficialCBC) November 30, 2017Again, Draper stood his ground and refused to be bullied by the Black Caucus on this issue:Correct. But with specific contextual reference to Conyers. Are you suggesting this was some detached academic discussion in which Conyers wasn t brought up? Not credible & also not what the two attendees say. weblink  Robert Draper (@DraperRobert) November 30, 2017 ",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
23267,23268,"A Chinese woman looks at her phone through the smog in Tiananmen Square on Dec . 9 , 2015 , in Beijing .  This question originally appeared on Quora , ? the knowledge sharing network where compelling questions are answered by people with unique insights . You can follow Quora on Twitter , Facebook , and Google Plus .  Answer by Karen Ma , author and lecturer , lived a combined 25 years in Japan and China :  I could feel the terrible smog getting into my throat and lungs recently , when I went teaching and when I had to go to my kids school . And yes , my kids ' school is one of the few that didn ' t shut down despite the red alert warning , much to their disappointment . I guess the school wants to remind us that they ' d spent tons of money on an indoor air safe dome , precisely for days like today . So why let it go to waste ?  And as I came home , I could taste the bad air , even with my mask on . Seriously , the smog seems much worse in recent days , even though the concentration of PM2 . 5 had been much higher the previous week . How is this possible ?  When I got on the bus this morning , everyone was wearing masks . We passed by lines after lines of tall trees shrouded in a think blanket of dusty smog . It looked rather like the aftermath of an earthquake . On quite a few of trees I saw nests , but there was not a single bird to be seen . Just how many birds are dying in this environment ? I had to wonder . These days , I find myself wishing for strong winds in the capital , and yes , even if it means bitter cold weather and severe wind chill factor because that ' s the only hope we dwellers in this city have for a chance of seeing some clear skies . ( Here ' s a map that shows the wind patterns that are bringing the pollution to Beijing , from Greenpeace analysis using the U . S .  Hysplit model . This map was originally included in a Washington Post article about the red alert . )  And while I loathe days like this , I don ' t agree that Chinese people today stick their heads in the sand like ostriches , as some seem to imply . They have a much higher awareness than ever before , and they intend on exerting enough pressure on the government to bring about changes , much like how the red alert was issued because of paramount pressure from citizens .  As Ian Johnson pointed out in his article in the New York Review of Books , ? Why Pollution Is Good for China , Chinese people are becoming more aware that the factories that have driven the country ' s ecnoomic growth have destroyed the environment . Think of it as another example of China s slow motion rising consciousness ? the cumulative effect of better education , more money , and more awareness , he writes . The government can gloss over rights abuses . It can conduct secretive trials of prominent activists . But it cannot easily hide this kind of air , or blame it on foreigners . And it realizes that if it is seen to be dealing with the issue , the political fallout will be minor .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
23271,23272,"A woman whose fiance was killed in a motorcycle crash has extracted his sperm to fulfill their dream of having a baby , after strangers donated to pay for the procedure .  Cameron Robinett , of Tucson , Arizona , was desperate to be a father .  But last Friday , while house hunting in California , the 25 year old motorcyclist crashed . Three days later he died in hospital .  Devastated , Stephanie Lucas , 22 , had just a small window of opportunity to extract sperm from her partner to hold on to the couple ' s dream of becoming parents .  Stephanie Lucas has extracted sperm from her fiance Cameron Robinett , pictured , after he was killed in a motorcycle crash . After pleading for help to raise 6 , 000 to pay for the procedure , strangers donated  Last Friday , while house hunting in California , 25 year old Mr Robinett crashed . Three days later he died in hospital leaving Miss Lucas devastated  Immediately she went online and urgently pleaded for funds to pay for the procedure .  Touched by her appeal , strangers raised more than 11 , 000 ( 7 , 000 ) in just one day with several anonymous donations of 1 , 000 and 2 , 000 .  ' We were so excited about having a family , ' Miss Lucas told MailOnline .  ' Cameron was particularly excited . He said : "" We don ' t need to be married to have a family . Let ' s start one now "" .  ' He really wanted to be a daddy , so I ' m just fulfilling his dream . '  Mr Robinett had been viewing houses in California , where the couple planned to move to , when the accident happened on Friday .  He was badly injured and passed away in Eden Hospital on Monday .  ' He loved his motorcycle , ' Miss Lucas recalled . ' I didn ' t mind him riding it . I knew he loved it , although I always told him to be careful .  ' He was an adventurer . He was eccentric with a huge , open heart . He would give you the shirt off his back . I want to pass that onto our baby . We are so thankful to god we had time with him . '  She said the procedure to extract the sperm cost around 5 , 600 ( 9 , 000 ) and it will be kept in cold storage for up to a year .  ' When I found out Cameron died , I was heartbroken , ' she said . ' But I realised immediately I wanted to have his baby and I knew that I didn ' t have long .  Miss Lucas , 22 , had just a small window of opportunity to extract sperm from her partner to hold on to the couple ' s dream of becoming parents . Immediately she went online to plead for help to afford the procedure  Touched by her appeal , strangers raised more than 11 , 000 ( 7 , 000 ) in just one day with several anonymous donations of 1 , 000 and 2 , 000  ' Within hours I went online and pleaded for help on Go Fund Me . It was quick but the only way to do it . '  Her message on the site , read : ' My fiance Cameron was in a motorcycle accident on Friday and was declared brain dead today .  ' We wanted children very much and my family and his family and I have all decided we ' d love to still make this happen .  ' This baby would be truly loved and surrounded by an amazing family .  ' Unfortunately the cost to extract the sperm is 6 , 000 that must be paid upfront by tomorrow evening , an amount we won ' t be able to come up with on our own .  ' In lieu of flowers or gifts to honour Cameron , we ' re asking you to make a donation to actually bring a part of Cameron , the amazing , handsome , silly , guy that I loved with my whole heart , back to life . '  Miss Lucas said she doesn ' t yet know when she ' ll implant it .  ' The grief is very raw at the moment but I want his baby , our baby , ' she said .  She said a visit to where Mr Robinett was staying in California yesterday reinforced her decision to go through with the sperm extraction .  After visiting the funeral home to pick up Mr Robinett ' s urn , Miss Lucas and his family visited the crash site and his home in California .  Miss Lucas , said : ' We started to go through his clothes and found that each of his favourite things brought back a memory that made us laugh or smile .  ' After all the stories were shared and laundry was sorted , we were about to leave and Cameron ' s mum said , "" one more look "" .  ' We tried to convince her otherwise but she was determined . And we are so glad , because buried in Cameron ' s laundry was a jersey , a Seahawks jersey .  Miss Lucas said : ' I will never be able to say it enough thank you for your support . It is everything '  Miss Lucas said she does not know when she will have the sperm implanted , but said she knows Mr Robinett , who was desperate to become a father , will be looking down on her and their baby  ' But not just any jersey , a Marshawn Lynch jersey in size 0 3 months . Something we bought last Christmas for our future baby .  ' Cameron only brought a few things with him to California , and one of the things he brought was this jersey .  ' Our jaws dropped and then we all smiled and looked up to the heavens to say "" we hear you Cameron "" , and everyone has come together to make this happen .  ' I will never be able to say it enough thank you for your support . It is everything . '  She told how she met Cameron , who ran Sweet Garlic Company , in 2011 through work , becoming engaged in December 2012 .  Now she has the support of her family including mother Debbie and Cameron ' s mother Loretta , to have their baby .  ' I wasn ' t sure how our mums would feel but they were really supportive , ' she said . ' I am beyond grateful for people ' s help .  ' I was feeling so defeated when I found out the procedure would be so expensive and the money had to be paid upfront .  ' I had lost not just my fianc and my future , but my future family too .  ' I ' ve now been given the gift of a future . I think Cameron will be looking down on us . '  A Fremont Police spokeswoman said : ' The motorcyclist collided with the garage of a residence . The motorcyclist was transported to a trauma center with life threatening injuries . '  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
23276,23277,"Granny Smith apples were found to contain high levels of a compound that promotes good bacteria in the gut , helping people feel fuller for longer  An apple a day keeps the doctor away , goes the saying .  But a new study has found more specifically , that a Granny Smith a day could be the key to preventing obesity .  The bright green , crisp variety helps people feel full , inhibiting the urge to eat .  They were found to promote friendly bacteria , which invokes the feeling of being full .  The study , published in the journal Food Chemistry , revealed that the non digestible compounds in the fruit , which include fibre and polyphenols , do not get broken down by stomach acid .  When they reach the colon they are fermented by bacteria in the colon which helps friendly bacteria in the gut to grow .  Scientists at Washington State University tested several different varieties of apple on mice , to see which caused the most growth of friendly bacteria .  Granny Smiths worked better than Golden Delicious , Gala , Braeburn and other popular varieties , they discovered .  The variety , known for its slightly tart flavour , had a particularly high fibre content and compounds like polyphenols which do not break down when eaten , they reported .  The team analysed mouse droppings after feeding the animals , some of which were obese , different types of fruit .  They discovered the balance of bacteria in the colon of obese people is often ' disturbed ' in a way that can disrupt the metabolism and make people feel hungry .  It was revealed that the faeces of overweight mice that had eaten Granny Smith apples had changed and become similar to that of slim mice .  The discovery could lead to future treatments for weight problems .  Professor Giuliana Noratto , from Washington State University said : ' We know that , in general , apples are a good source of these non digestible compounds but there are differences in varieties .  ' Results from this study will help consumers to discriminate between apple varieties that can aid in the fight against obesity .  ' The non digestible compounds in the Granny Smith apples actually changed the proportions of fecal bacteria from obese mice to be similar to that of lean mice . '  The discovery could help cut disorders linked to obesity , including low grade inflammation .  ' What determines the balance of bacteria in our colon is the food we consume , ' said Professor Noratto .  Scientists at Washington State University believe the findings might help combat obesity . File picture  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
23302,23303,"Announced he s making a symbolic speech at Gettysburg,  tomorrow in his effort to take his case to the people. He s going to give his plan for his first 100 days in office real change and not the kind Obama planned on.While Hillary tries to run out the clock, Trump is still working like crazy to have people hear his vision for a Trump presidency Conservatives revved up about symbolism of Trump speech at Gettysburg, where the 1863 battle was a turning point in the Civil War ",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,present
23326,23327,"For many months Syria ' s rebels have begged the international community to supply them with the weapons they say they need to overthrow President Bashar al Assad .  Now , their desperate pleas for help are one step closer to becoming reality after the  lifted its arms embargo on Syrian rebels , clearing the way for European countries wishing to try to level the playing field in a horrific civil war that has claimed the lives of more than 70 , 000 people .  Why has the embargo ended and what does it mean ?  The weapons embargo on Syrian rebels , along with a series of other Syria related bans and sanctions , was scheduled to expire on Saturday . But while the  ' s 27 member countries were able to reach the required consensus to extend all other bans , Britain and France refused to agree to an extension of the arms embargo .  The lifting of the embargo comes with conditions  countries wishing to send weapons to Syria ' s rebels may only send them to the moderate Syrian National Coalition and the affiliated Free Syrian Army , and they may only be used to protect civilians , according to a statement from the  .   : Lebanon ' hit by rockets from Syria '  While the ban will technically be lifted on Saturday , it is expected that the earliest  countries would send weapons to the rebels would be August , so as not to imperil the prospects of a U . S . and Russian brokered peace conference scheduled to take place in Geneva in June .  What countries would send weapons ?  Britain and France led efforts to lift the embargo . Both nations suggested joining countries such as Qatar in providing weapons to rebels , arguing such a step would strengthen moderate rebels and make them less reliant on well armed extremists in their ranks .  "" It was important for Europe to send a clear signal to the Assad regime that it has to negotiate seriously , and that all options remain on the table if it refuses to do so , "" British Foreign Secretary William Hague said in a statement .  But the lengthy negotiations over the arms ban to rebels exposed the deep divisions in  countries ' foreign policies with Britain and France arguing forcefully to lift the embargo , while nations including Austria and Sweden expressed fear that more weapons will only make the bloodbath in Syria worse .  Q A : Is Syrian war escalating to wider conflict ?  What kind of weapons would be sent ?  Western countries could conceivably provide rebels with small arms and ammunition . But they ' re unlikely to provide rebels with the arms they need most like portable shoulder launched surface to air missiles (  ) to counter Assad ' s domination of Syrian air out of fear they ' ll fall into the hands of radical Islamic militant groups such as al Nusra Front , which the U . S . says is affiliated with al Qaeda .  Without anti aircraft missiles or heavier armor piercing ammunition , experts say it ' s unlikely that the rebels will be able to win the war .  "" So far it ' s the Assad government ' s ability to use air power against rebel held territory that ' s really insured the insurgency can ' t make any significant gains , "" said Charles Lister , an analyst at  Jane ' s Terrorism and Insurgency Centre . "" Unless they send really significant weapons like  , I find it hard to imagine that any other provision of weapons will turn the tide of the conflict . ""  When Syrian rebels have obtained anti aircraft and anti tank guided missiles ( ATGMs ) in the past they ' ve been very effective , according to Lister , who says social media and militant group videos appeared to reveal an influx of Yugoslavian anti tank weapons into rebel hands in southern Syria earlier this year via Jordan .  Opinion : Syrian hostilities bring Middle East catastrophe closer  How to get the weapons into the country ?  There are two main routes to get weapons to rebels in Syria , says Lister through the northern Turkish border or through the southern Jordanian border .  Smuggling weapons via Turkey is unlikely , however , because northern Syria ' s insurgency is dominated by the kind of radical militant groups the West is trying to avoid arming .  Jordan ' s strong ties to the West , its stability , and its links to the Free Syrian Army make it the most likely place to smuggle weapons through , says Lister .  "" In 2012 the  coordinated several high profile defections whereby the group ' s militants transported senior government officials across the border into Jordan . There have also been unverified reports that a small core group of  members have been receiving military training in northern Jordan . All of that would tend to suggest that if weapons were to be sent through to militants , they would go by Jordan , "" he said .  How can  countries prevent extremists from obtaining the weapons ?  It is nearly impossible to prevent extremists from gaining possession of weapons once they ' re smuggled into Syria , according to Fawaz Gerges , Director of the Middle East Centre at the London School of Economics .  "" Once you deliver weapons into a theater of operation , no one can have control or track who takes ownership of the weapons , "" Gerges said . "" Britain and France are aware the weapons could fall into the wrong hands , but they ' re willing to take a risk . ""  This risk hasn ' t panned out before Lister says that the heavy Yugoslavian arms that allegedly flowed to rebel forces in Daraa , southern Syria around the turn of the year quickly wound up in the hands of radical militants in northern cities battling alongside the moderates in Aleppo .  "" The conflict is so interdependent in all local theaters across the country ,  and other moderate groups regularly coordinate with groups like al Nusra . It ' s unrealistic to expect that a foreign state could provide weapons to one group and never expect the weapons to appear in other groups ' hands . ""  Gerges says the greatest fear is that a radical group could use  weapons to attack civilian or Western interests within Syria : "" One major incident , for instance the targeting of a civilian aircraft , would change the whole conflict and have major ramifications . ""  Interactive : War not only about Syria  Is the lifting of the  embargo a game changer for Syria ?  Without an influx of heavy weaponry , experts say the lifting of the embargo won ' t change the reality on the ground : Assad ' s regime is on the offensive , and the influx of Hezbollah fighters from Lebanon means there is little the rebels can do to slow their progress at the moment .  The real goal of the  announcement , Gerges said , is to try to "" maximize the chances of a diplomatic breakthrough "" at the upcoming Geneva peace talks if the talks go ahead .  "" The logic is to exert pressure on Assad and change his calculations . Britain , France and the U . S . want it to be an instrument to exert pressure at the negotiating table and get Assad to be genuine and serious about political talks . But without direct American involvement in the conflict , neither Assad nor his allies will take the  decision very seriously . ""  The irony of the situation , Gerges said , is that while the U . S . President Barack Obama wants Europe and or Syria ' s neighbors to "" take ownership "" of the conflict , no country will do that without the United States taking a leadership role on Syria .  Will the embargo ' s lifting turn the conflict into a regional war ?  Those opposed to lifting the embargo say it could escalate the flow of weapons into Syria from all sides a fear that was realized hours after the announcement when Russia declared it would send sophisticated S 300 surface to air missiles to the Syrian government in accordance with a contract signed several years ago .  "" We believe that moves like this one to a great degree restrain some hotheads from escalating the conflict to the international scale , from involving external forces , "" said Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov , according to the state run Russia Today news agency .  Between Russian arms shipments to the regime , Hezbollah fighters pouring into the country to support government troops , and the lifting of the embargo on Syrian rebels , Gerges says the regional war is already here .  "" The  ' s announcement is a simplistic reading of a complex situation , because we ' re beyond that with Assad . This is a war to the bitter end . This is a zero sum game . ""  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
23327,23328,"Manchester United are willing to listen to offers for goalkeeper Sam Johnstone .  The 21 year old , who has played for England from Under 16 to Under 20 level , has found it impossible to break into United ' s first team following the arrival of David De Gea in 2011 .  With former Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes signing an 18 month contract earlier this month to become their back up , pushing Anders Lindegaard into the reserves , Johnstone has fallen even further down the pecking order .  Manchester United goalkeeper Sam Johnstone has fallen down the pecking order at Old Trafford  Victor Valdes has come in to the club on a free transfer and is expected to make his debut against Cambridge  He joined Preston on loan last week , where his father Glenn played in goal during the early 1990s , for the remainder of the season .  Johnstone only signed a three and a half year contract extension in January last year , but United are open to offers to sign the player on a permanent basis in the summer .  Johnstone won the  Youth Cup with Manchester United in 2011 and was part of England ' s Under 17 side which won the European Championship in 2010 .  Anders Lindegaard finds himself third choice and has been playing for the reserve team this season  He has twice made it on the bench for United ' s senior side , against Stoke in the Capital One Cup and West Ham in the Barclays Premier League , and David Moyes saw the potential to offer him a long term contract .  But United manager Louis Van Gaal does not see a future for him at the club and is ready to let him leave .  Johnstone , who joined United ' s academy in 2009 , has had loan spells at Scunthorpe , Walsall , Yeovil and Doncaster Rovers .  Spanish goalkeeper David de Gea has proved to be a tough nut to crack as United ' s first choice stopper  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
23331,23332,"Jerusalem Israel says all 27 activists from two aid ships stopped on their way to Gaza have been deported or are awaiting flights out , but flotilla organizers say most refuse to sign papers required to expel them .  Israeli sailors boarded the Gaza bound vessels Friday as they neared the Palestinian territory , which has been under an Israeli blockade since 2007 . The Irish registered Saoirse and the Canadian Tahrir were taken to the Israeli port of Ashdod after refusing to heed calls to turn back , the Israeli military said .  Organizers of the flotilla said six people , including the captains of both vessels and two journalists , had been released by Sunday evening . The remainder refused to sign waivers allowing their deportation , the Irish group said in a statement on its website .  "" They are refusing to sign not because they are legally challenging deportation or are demanding to see a judge , but rather because the waiver says that they came to Israel voluntarily and that they entered the country illegally , "" the group said . Of course this is a lie and they won ' t agree to it . ""  The group criticized what it called a "" violent and dangerous "" seizure of the vessel . Fintan Lane , its coordinator , said the Israelis pointed guns at the passengers and turned high pressure hoses on the Irish and Canadian boats , blasting out windows and causing a collision that left the Saoirse badly damaged .  "" The method used in the takeover was dangerous to human life , "" organizers quoted Lane as reporting . "" The Israeli forces initially wanted to leave the boats at sea , but the abductees demanded that they not be left to float at sea , for they would have been lost and possibly sunk . ""  The Israel Defense Forces said its sailors "" took every precaution necessary to ensure the safety of the activists on board the vessels as well as themselves . "" An Israeli foreign ministry spokesman said one Canadian aboard the flotilla complained of rough treatment by the Israeli military , but no details were provided .  Activists criticized the Israeli action as "" illegal "" and vowed that activists "" will keep coming , wave after wave "" to try to deliver aid to Palestinians in Gaza . According to the activist organizers , this mission was the eleventh attempt to run Israel ' s blockade of Gaza by sea . Five missions arrived safely in Gaza between August and December 2008 , with the rest intercepted by Israel .  The activists said the boats were carrying medical supplies and letters of support for people in Gaza .  Asked by the Israeli navy for their destination , Canadian activist Ehab Lotayef replied , "" The conscience of humanity , "" the activists said in a statement .  When sailors repeated the question , asking for their final destination , Lotayef said , "" The betterment of mankind . ""  Passengers on the boats were from Canada , Ireland , the United States , Australia , and the Palestinian territories , the activists say .  The flotillas have sparked international controversy .  In 2010 , an Israeli raid on one flotilla ship , the Mavi Marmara , resulted in nine Turkish activists being killed , a development that led to the deterioration of relations between Israel and Turkey , once close allies . Israel was roundly criticized by many over the deaths .  A U . N . report criticized Israel for its use of excessive force in the incident but described the blockade which activists call illegal as a "" legitimate security measure . ""  Israel says it is concerned about the smuggling of arms to Gaza militants intent on attacking the Jewish state . Gaza is controlled by the anti Israel Hamas militant group , regarded as a terrorist group by the United States and Israel .  But activists say Israeli embargoes of goods into Gaza from land and sea are collective punishment of civilians in what is a tiny and densely populated strip of land along the Mediterranean coast .  Israel has said any organization or state that wants to give humanitarian aid to Gaza can do so in coordination with Israeli authorities via existing land crossings into the Palestinian territory .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
23332,23333,"Baghdad , Iraq They answered the call by the thousands , some walking miles in sweltering heat to volunteer to fight an al Qaeda splinter group barreling towards the Iraqi capital .  With reports that fighters with the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria , the terror group also known as  , was some 40 miles from the gates of Baghdad , the country ' s top religious and political leaders appealed for able bodied men of fighting age to volunteer to defend the country .  "" Mosul , Tal Afar , Falluja , wherever , by God ' s will we will be ready to defend any location , "" said 23 year old Ahmed , who showed up Thursday at a recruiting station in central Baghdad , one of dozens that have popped up across the country in recent days to handle the influx of volunteers .  Ahmed , who gave only his first name , was joined by hundreds of men , mostly Shiites in their 20s , at the Muthanna Airbase , where they waited under a makeshift canopy for their chance to sign up .  "" What ' s happening is sabotage . Those terrorists must be driven out , and by God ' s will they will be driven out , "" he said .   ' lightning advance in Iraq has been aided by support from many Sunnis who say they have been pushed aside and marginalized by Prime Minister Nuri al Maliki and his Shiite dominated government , a divide that threatens to tear the country apart .   , aided by Sunni fighters , seized Iraq ' s second largest city , Mosul , and then threatened to march on Baghdad .  The militants ' rapid advance and the total collapse of Iraq ' s security forces in the face of their assault in Mosul and a number of other smaller cities and towns have rocked al Maliki ' s government .  While the aim of  is to establish an Islamic state that stretches from Iraq to northern Syria , where it has had significant success in battling Syrian President Bashar al Assad ' s forces , it has made al Maliki ' s removal from power part of its campaign .  Last week , as  fighters neared Samarra , home to a revered Shiite shrine , al Maliki took to the airwaves to call on volunteers to protect the city north of Baghdad .  That was followed by Iraq ' s top cleric , Grand Ayatollah Ali al Sistani , appeal to people to join the military to protect Shiite shrines , a call that saw a massive outpouring of Shiite volunteers that raised concerns about the possible widening of the sectarian conflict .  During Friday prayers , a sermon delivered by a senior cleric and representative of al Sistani called for all Muslim sects to stand together in the fight against  .  "" Last week , the higher religious authority called upon Iraqis to volunteer to join the armed forces to defend Iraq in these difficult conditions , "" Imam Sayid Ahmed al Safi said during prayers in the Shiite holy city of Karbala .  "" This call was directed to everybody and not to one sect , it aimed to prepare to stand up to  that has got the upper hand and strongest presence in many areas and that has declared that it is targeting other provinces including the holy Najaf and Karbala and other places within its reach like holy places and shrines of holy people and imams of all religions . ""  Despite the widespread call , the volunteers signing up at the Muthanna Airbase were predominantly Shiite .  "" I volunteered to preserve the people , and as a response to request of Ayatollah Sistani , "" Saif Saad , 25 , said . "" We are here to serve the people , and get rid of  . ""  Every so often , an officer ticked off the names of 10 men on a list . Each group headed into a beige , cramped building where they were give a cursory medical screening , including eye and dental exams .  "" They will call or text us , and then we will put on uniforms and go to the front line , "" Saad said .  The volunteers , who have been told they will receive a salary commiserate with soldiers in the Iraqi military , will get some training .  It depends , Gen . Fadhil Abdul Sahib said , on the "" tactical situation . ""  "" Maybe a few days , maybe a month , "" he said .  With his medical exam completed , now Saad must wait .  He says he ' s not worried . "" We are here with . . . courage because we are here to drive out terrorism from this country . ""  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
23335,23336,"? As if expectant Moms don t have enough to worry about , those pesky mosquitos are at it again . This time , the mosquito borne virus is called Zika ? bringing with it symptoms far more serious than West Nile : it could be dangerous to unborn babies if their mothers are infected .  It s already sparking a panic in Brazil where health officials there have noted a tenfold increase in babies born with microcephaly , a disease characterized by an abnormally small brain and developmental delays . There is no vaccine and no known cure . Now , a case of Zika has been diagnosed in Houston . The patient recently travelled to an infected area .  You worry admits mom to be Leann Procell , you worry the whole time . Procell is expecting her third child and says she is less anxious with this pregnancy . But , agrees that soon to be moms have enough on their emotional plates . To be expecting this baby , and all the joy that surrounds that and to be devastated with that outcome ? Very troubling .  Nevertheless , the North Texas medical community is urging calm .  I don t think American women need to be worried at this point , says Suzanne Whitworth ,  . Dr Whitworth is an infectious disease specialist with Cook Children s in Fort Worth . There has been one case that I m aware of in Houston . That was a traveler that brought it here . Pregnant mothers have so many things to worry about ? and I ve been in those shoes ! It s easy to worry . I don t think in the  , today , it is a significant concern for pregnant women because it s not here , yet .  However , Dr Whitworth notes that the ease of international travel now makes the world much smaller . Diseases that used to stay in one place aren t doing that anymore . Thus , theoretically , the Zika virus could eventually be a concern here . Hugging a human with it is not going to give it to you . But , if a mosquito bites an infected person and then bites an uninfected person , it can be transmitted that way .  If you ve still have ? concerns , experts are encouraging families to avoid Dr Google and ask their own .  They get information overload at times , adds LeAnn Haddock ,  , a Baylor Medical Center ObGyn . We sometimes have to talk a lot of women off of the cliff , so to speak , to dispel myths .  Still , it s never a good thing to get bitten by a mosquito . So , Dr Haddock recommends taking routine precautions to avoid mosquito bites . And that s advice she gives her pregnant patients , as well . Use mosquito repellant , especially with  and it is okay for pregnant and breast feeding women .  As for Procell , she s following doctor s orders ? especially the part about not worrying too much .  I don t need to know what she knows , she adds with a laugh , I just need to know that everything is okay with me and the baby .  ( ? 2016  Local Media , a division of  Radio Inc . All Rights Reserved . This material may not be published , broadcast , rewritten , or redistributed . )  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
23338,23339,"From impersonating pets to naming pigs , some parts of the world have laws that may be considered barking mad by many people .  An infographic shows the most unusual , including rules about letting common animals breed with royal pets in the  , tattooing dogs in the  , and letting inappropriately attired cats roam outdoors in New Zealand .  While dogs aren ' t allowed to attend the opera in Chicago , Illinois and pet lions can ' t go to the cinema in Baltimore , Maryland .  Barking mad ? An infographic shows the most unusual pet laws , including those in the  . One says that it is against the law to let a common pet mate with an animal from the royal household , such as one of the Queen ' s corgis ( illustrated )  According to helpucover ' s graphic , in the  , it is against the law to let a common pet mate with an animal from the royal household , such as one of the Queen ' s corgis .  It ' s also illegal to carry rabid dogs in a taxi , and to incite a dog to bark in Lancashire .  Owners of pigs in France are forbidden from calling them Napoleon , out of respect for the late military leader .  When it comes to walkies , residents of Lorinc , Hungary , have to keep their cat on a lead , while dog owners in Turin are legally required to walk their pet three times a day .  Pig ignorant ? Owners of pigs in France are forbidden from calling them Napoleon , out of respect for the late military leader ( pictured ) while there are some strange local and national rules about walking pets  Purfect planning ? Officials in Switzerland have decided that pets must have companions ( illustrated with a stock image ) so they don ' t get lonely , and owners must pass written and verbal tests to keep a dog  In the  , it is against the law to let a common pet mate with an animal from the royal household , such as one of the Queen ' s corgis .  It ' s also illegal to carry rabid dogs in a taxi and to incite a dog to bark in Lancashire .  Pets in Reggio Emilia , Italy , must be given an equal sized portion if they share food with a human not just a tasty titbit .  In another animal welfare move , officials in Switzerland have decided that pets must have companions so they don ' t get lonely , and owners must pass written and verbal tests to keep a dog .  The  also have some bizarre animal laws , and some of them comment on human behaviour , more than the behaviour of the animals .  For example , it ' s illegal to imitate an animal in Miami , Florida , while people in Oklahoma are forbidden from pulling faces at dogs .  They face a fine or even prison if they are caught offending man ' s best friend .  Humans aren ' t allowed to sleep in a dog kennel in Wallace , Idaho and can ' t give whisky or a cigar to a dog in Illinois .  Meanwhile , pets are expected to behave properly too . For instance , dogs in Little Rock , Arkansas are banned from barking after 6pm .  Are legislators barking up the wrong tree ? Dogs are denied an education and the chance of attending an opera in parts of the  , and humans are under fire too it ' s illegal to impersonate a pet in Miami ( pictured )  Pet whistelblowers : If your pet bird is lost in Berkeley , California , a law says that owners can ' t whistle to attract it back before 7am out of respect for sleepy neighbours  In Connecticut , dogs with tattoos must be reported to the authorities even if the marks are to make them more identifiable if they get lost .  It ' s illegal to educate a dog in Hartford , Connecticut and in Oklahoma , they are forbidden from congregating in groups or three or more unless they have a signed permit form the mayor .  In the town of Barner in North Carolina , cats and dogs are forbidden from fighting and if chaos ensures in Paulding County in Ohio , a police officer is allowed to bite a dog to calm it down .  If a pet bird is lost in Berkeley , California , a law says that owners can ' t whistle to attract it back before 7am , out of respect for sleepy neighbours .  Feline strict : Cats in French Lick Springs , Indiana , have to wear bells on Friday the 13th and felines in Reed City , Michigan , aren ' t allowed to cohabit with birds in case of tragedy  Cats in French Lick Springs , Indiana , have to wear bells on Friday the 13th , and felines in Reed City , Michigan , aren ' t allowed to cohabit with birds in case of tragedy .  Cats are also not allowed to chase dogs up telegraph poles in Minnesota , but it ' s fine for dogs to terrorise felines . Cats are also banned from sleeping in bakeries in Duluth .  In Wyoming , it ' s illegal to photograph rabbits without written permission between January and April .  Further afield , Australians are only allowed to name animals if they are not planning on eating them , and households in Beijing are only allowed to keep one pet dog measuring less than 14 inches ( 36cm ) tall .  In Saudi Arabia , men are not allowed to walk dogs .  Cats are banned from being ' displayed ' outside after 8pm in a Japanese kitty curfew and must wear at least three bells round their neck when venturing out of their home in New Zealand .  Food for thought : Australians are only allowed to name animals if they are not planning on eating them . A stock image of two sheep that could be pets , are pictured  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,yes,no,neutral,past
23350,23351,"As Americans celebrate the safe release of five prisoners from Iran , some members of the U . S . Jewish community are expressing outrage that Robert Levinson , who disappeared in Iran nine years ago , was left behind . ? Some have gone so far as to suggest that the Obama administration sacrificed Levinson in order to reach a nuclear agreement with Iran .  On Facebook , Jerusalem Post deputy managing editor Caroline Glick slammed the White House .  In one day , President Obama screwed did a disservice to Israel , American Jewry and world Jewry . . . by abandoning  officer Robert Levinson in Iran , sealing his death warrant , and in so doing made clear that Jews are second class citizens and not worthy of the same protection as all other Americans , she wrote .  Israeli political insider Josef Olmert , now adjunct professor at the University of South Carolina , said he shares her sense of betrayal .  One Jew would never be allowed to in the way of the historic agreement with Iran , he blogged in the Times of Israel , calling on American Jewish groups who support the nuclear agreement to look us in the collective white of our eyes and explain how come the administration , which they so support , allowed this outrage of abandoning one poor Jew to his fate .  Olmert told  the fact the United States failed to secure Levinson s release is viewed by many as a U . S . gesture to appease Iran .  U . S . journalist Jason Rezaian gestures next to his wife Yeganeh Salehi as he poses for media people in front of Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl , Germany , Wednesday , Jan . 20 , 2016 . Rezaian was released from an Iranian prison last Saturday .  But Jeffrey Salkin , author and senior rabbi at Temple Solel in Hollywood , Florida , cautions against what he calls an Obama phobic narrative in the wake of the Iran deal . ?  "" There is no reason to believe that at all , and certainly I would not support whatsoever any narrative that the Obama administration threw him under the bus for his ethnicity or for any other reason , Salkin said .  And most mainstream Jewish organizations , it would seem , agree .  We hope that the regime will soon release American prisoner Robert Levinson , who has been held captive in Iran for nearly nine years and whose fate remains unknown , read a statement released by the Anti Defamation League Saturday , the day the five American prisoners were freed .   and the American Jewish Committee issued statements acknowledging the nuclear deal s implementation , but did not comment on the prisoner release .  Salkin said he believes that many members of the American Jewish establishment are uncomfortable criticizing the administration .  Those who were in favor of the nuclear deal with Iran are looking for any possible sign that the deal is moving forward without delay , noted Salkin . Acknowledging that we still have a hostage or a prisoner or a missing person left behind puts the glitch in that narrative .  Sunday , President Barack Obama said that Iran would deepen its coordination with the U . S . to locate Levinson .  Top U . S . negotiator Brett McGurk told  television this week he believes Levinson is being held outside Iran and will continue to press for his release .  Levinson , a former  agent , disappeared in March 2007 on Iran s Kish Island . ? Initially , the U . S . State Department said he was working as a private investigator , probing cigarette smuggling . ? A later Associated Press report revealed Levinson had been on an unauthorized mission for the  to gather intelligence on Iran .  The last person to see him alive , an American fugitive wanted for the 1980 murder of an Iranian diplomat in Maryland , said Levinson was arrested by Iranian authorities .  Iran has denied knowing anything about his whereabouts . ?  Levinson s family is calling for both Washington and Tehran to follow through on promises to locate him and are tweeting for his release , using the hashtag Whataboutbob .  There are people in the Iranian government who know where he is , and we believe there are people in the Iranian government who want to help bring my father home to us , Levinson s son Daniel , a financial analyst , told  s Persian service . ? This is a golden opportunity to show once more that our two countries can work together .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
23384,23385,"Missing : Len King , 74 , went sailing yesterday on his 70ft yacht but failed to return to Brighton Marina  The wife of a 74 year old businessman who remains missing from his luxury yacht has begged for his safe return as the Coastguard called off a major search .  Len King sailed his 70ft Sunseeker out of Brighton Marina yesterday and said he would be back for dinner with his wife Stephanie , 65 , with whom he has run an engineering firm for more than 20 years .  But he failed to return , and a friend who saw the 750 , 000 vessel drifting empty by the harbour wall raised the alarm just before 10pm .  Coastguard crews , lifeboats and a helicopter mounted a massive all night search which took them as far as two and a half miles into the English Channel .  They continued searching despite a thunderstorm which forced the helicopter to turn back until they were stood down just after 11am today .  Despite the search being suspended Mr King , from Alfriston , East Sussex , is still missing and his wife has made an emotional public appeal for his whereabouts .  She said she had tried to call him several times but could not get through to his phone .  ' Len is an experienced yachtman and has been sailing since he was at least 20 , ' she added . ' Normally we go together but during the week if it ' s calm weather he may go off by himself .  ' He went off just before lunch . I was expecting him home for dinner time .  ' I phoned him several times but his phone was unable to connect so I thought he was on his way back . I called the person who has a boat next to us and he thought we were away .  ' I can ' t understand what has happened . He is a very experienced yachtman . He has all his equipment doubled up and is always careful . That is the way he runs things . '  The pair run a successful precision engineering firm in Eastbourne , East Sussex , supplying specialist parts for medical , mining and aerospace machines .  Mr King is believed to have taken his luxury vessel sailing yesterday between Brighton and Newhaven , East Sussex , the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (  ) said .  Brighton  said fears grew when a crew member boarded the Sunseeker , found drifting on the inside of the eastern breakwater of Brighton Marina , and found no one on board .  That was despite the fact the instruments were still on and the engines were still warm .  Mystery : The Coastguard has called off a massive sea search operation for a yachtsman Len King , whose 70ft Sunseeker was found drifting in Brighton Marina ( pictured ) . But he remains missing and his fate is unknown  Mystery :  crews surround the yacht this morning after carrying out an all night search in the Channel  The Coastguard said lifeboats searched ' in and out of every pontoon ' , the stretch of water between Newhaven and Shoreham , West Sussex , and as far out as 2 . 5 miles offshore .  Crews were stood down briefly at 5 . 30am but relaunched at 7am as it was getting light , the  said .  Roger Cohen , Brighton  lifeboat operations manager , said conditions for the volunteers overnight were ' challenging ' .  ' We had heavy rain with passing thunderstorms and fork lighting in Sussex throughout the night , making things even more challenging than they would normally be , ' he added .  ' At the moment this is something of a mystery the Sunseeker was found within the eastern breakwater of the marina , banging up against the wall .  ' When my crew boarded they found evidence it had recently been operated , but no sign of anyone .  Decision : A Coastguard spokesman said the search would be stood down unless there was further evidence  Brighton  operations manager Roger Cohen ( not pictured ) added : ' We found no sign of anyone . Judging by the instruments and passage plans we found , the yachtsman appears to be skilled and experienced '  ' Judging by the instruments and passage plans we found , the yachtsman appears to be skilled and experienced . '  An Coastguard spokesman said : ' Despite extensive searches , nothing has been found . Unless any new information comes to light , the search has been suspended . '  Inspector Roy Apps of Sussex Police said : ' It is an anxious time for the family .  ' The search is currently suspended and we are liaising with his family as we investigate the circumstances of his disappearance .  ' An experienced seaman , Mr King had left Brighton Marina on his yacht on Sunday afternoon and it is unclear as to what has happened to him .  ' We are at an early stage of our investigation and we are liaising closely with Mr King ' s family while we make enquiries . '  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
23387,23388,"It ' s hard to imagine a scene more gruesome and disturbing than the one Londoners encountered on an inner city street Wednesday .  A person hacked to death , lying in a pool of his own blood . His assailants standing nearby , covered in blood and brandishing gore soaked knives and meat cleavers as they spew violent rhetoric . A car smashed into a lamppost a few yards away .  Most bystanders kept their distance , understandably .  Yet one woman directly confronted the apparent murderers in fact , she jumped off her bus and rushed to the scene when she saw what looked like a car accident , then stuck around and tried to engage both attackers in conversation even after she realized what was going on . The woman , a 48 year old mother of two named Ingrid Loyau Kennett , later said she was trying to talk them down and keep them from hurting anyone else , especially children . Why did she put herself on the line when so many others stayed away ?  We don ' t really know enough about Loyau Kennett to be able to say for sure perhaps we never will . History is filled with heroes , from Oskar Schindler to Paul Rusesabagina of Hotel Rwanda fame , whose life histories couldn ' t have predicted the extraordinary things that they later did .  Cub scout leader , ex teacher confronted London terrorist  But what we do know , thanks to social psychology , is that what separates people like Loyau Kennett from the rest of us is often extremely subtle . In fact , research suggests that many of us , perhaps to our own surprise , have the potential to find our own inner hero . What often makes the difference between a bystander and an "" upstander "" are the particulars of a crisis situation and how those details interact with a person ' s background .  For instance , decades of research on the "" bystander effect "" has shown that even good , moral people fail to take action when confronted with an emergency . One famous study found that the only factor that determined whether bystanders stopped to help someone in need was whether they were in a hurry .  Other research shows people are less likely to help when they ' re part of a crowd : They assume either that someone else will take responsibility or that there must not really be a crisis at all if no one else has acted yet . Taking action would mean going against the norm , breaking from the herd they don ' t want to rock the boat . The bigger the crowd , the more likely all crowd members will do nothing .  Yet there are exceptions . Research suggests , for example , that when people can be made to feel a personal connection to a victim , they might intervene in a situation that they would otherwise ignore . One British study even found that people were more willing to help an injured stranger if that stranger were wearing the jersey of their favorite soccer team .  There are other exceptions as well . Research by Princeton psychologist John Darley , who pioneered the study of the bystander effect , has found no clear personality profile distinguishes the upstanders from the bystanders . More important , according to Darley and others , is whether people can recognize a crisis and feel they have the skills to help .  That finding resonated in London when Loyau Kennett , trying to explain her actions , cited her role as a Cub Scout leader , mentioning that she had to learn first aid for the position . It was her knowledge of first aid that initially prompted her to get off her bus , thinking that she could help the victim she saw lying on the ground .  Similarly , after Wesley Autrey aka the Subway Hero leaped onto New York City subway tracks to save someone who ' d fallen in front of a train back in 2007 , many observers later pointed to Autrey ' s Navy service to explain why this otherwise unexceptional man sprang to action while everyone else simply watched .  In their own extensive analysis of what makes a hero , psychologists Zeno Franco and Philip Zimbardo suggest that people who don ' t succumb to the bystander effect are sometimes people who generally don ' t adhere to social norms and conventions . That means they ' re prone to intervene and take positive action when no one else will . But it may also mean they ' re prone to break other rules .  Franco and Zimbardo cite the story of Jabar Gibson , who was hailed as a hero after he drove 70 people to safety from the flooding caused by Hurricane Katrina , commandeering an abandoned school bus . Gibson thought to do something bold that others wouldn ' t do he also had an extensive criminal record , which has grown in the years since .  Does this mean we can expect Ingrid Loyau Kennett to break the law in the not too distant future ? Hardly . But it does challenge the notion that there ' s a distinct category of exceptional people who are heroes , elevated above the rest of us .  Franco and Zimbardo have argued that deifying heroes like this what they call "" the myth of the ' heroic elect ' "" has the perverse effect of making us blind to our own heroic potential . If instead we believe we ' re capable of heroism ourselves , we ' ll be better prepared to realize that potential and snap into action if and when our time comes .  So science still hasn ' t gotten to the bottom of stories like Ingrid Loyau Kennett ' s . But perhaps its greatest insight so far is that her story could be ours .  The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Jason Marsh .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
23397,23398,"A delegation of painters and calligraphers , a group of Buddhists returning from a religious gathering in Kuala Lumpur , a three generation family , nine senior travelers and five toddlers .  Most of the 227 passengers on board missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 were Chinese , according to the airline ' s flight manifest . The 12 missing crew members on the flight that disappeared early Saturday were Malaysian .  Other passengers were from India , Indonesia , Australia , the United States , France , New Zealand , Ukraine , Canada , Russia and the Netherlands , the airline said .  The airline ' s list showed the passengers hailed from 14 countries , but later it was learned that two people named on the manifest an Austrian and an Italian whose passports had been stolen were not aboard the plane . The plane was carrying five children under 5 years old , the airline said .  On Saturday , Texas based Freescale Semiconductor confirmed that 20 employees were passengers on Flight 370 . Twelve are from Malaysia and eight from China , the company said .  "" At present , we are solely focused on our employees and their families , "" Gregg Lowe , Freescale ' s president and  , said in the statement . "" Our thoughts and prayers are with those affected by this tragic event . ""  First officer was transitioning to 777 200s  Later , the company tweeted : "" Your thoughtful words and prayers for Freescale families and friends affected by MH370 give comfort . ""  The company was making counselors available with around the clock support for employees affected by the tragedy , the statement said .  The 154 passengers from China ( including Taiwan ) included a group of painters and calligraphers and Buddhists returning from a religious gathering , Chinese state media reported .  Relatives of the Chinese citizens aboard gathered Saturday at a hotel complex in the Lido district of Beijing as a crowd of reporters gathered outside .  "" My son was only 40 years old , "" one woman wailed as she was led inside . "" My son , my son . What am I going to do ? ""  Agonized families await answers  Family members were kept in a hotel conference room , where media outlets had no access . Most of the family members have so far refused to talk to reporters .  An Austrian Foreign Ministry spokesman said a man listed on the airline ' s manifest is safe and was never aboard the aircraft . The Austrian national ' s passport was stolen two years ago , Austrian Foreign Ministry spokesman Martin Weiss said .  Italian Foreign Ministry spokesman Aldo Amati also said no one from his country was on the plane , even though an Italian was on the manifest . Malaysian officials said they were aware of reports the Italian ' s passport had been stolen , but had not confirmed that .  U . S . nationals on the plane ' s manifest were identified by the airline as Philip Wood , 51 Nicole Meng , 4 and Yan Zhang , 2 .  A senior U . S . State Department official confirmed Saturday that three U . S . citizens were aboard the aircraft . Embassy officials were trying to determine whether additional U . S . citizens were on the flight .  "" We extend our deepest condolences to the loved ones of those on board Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 , "" U . S . State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said . "" Officials from the U . S . Embassies in Kuala Lumpur and Beijing are in contact with the individuals ' families . Out of respect for them , we are not providing additional information at this time . ""  Among them is Philip Wood , who graduated from Oklahoma Christian University in 1985 according to school spokeswoman Risa Forrester . He earned a bachelor of science degree , concentrating in math and computer science , and belonged to the Delta Gamma Sigma service organization , Forrester said .  On Oklahoma Christian ' s Facebook page , one woman lamented the "" heartbreaking news "" while a man remembered Wood as "" gentle , kind , had great taste in music and was a wonderful artist . ""  "" Philip Wood was a man of God , a man of honor and integrity . His word was gold , "" his family said in a statement . "" Incredibly generous , creative and intelligent , Phil cared about people , his family , and above all , Christ .  "" Though our hearts are hurting , we know so many families around the world are affected just as much as us by this terrible tragedy . ""  Stolen passports raise possibility of terrorism in missing flight  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
23401,23402,"The heiress to the Wrigley Gum fortune came to the rescue of a  Marine by chartering a private jet to fly two dogs he rescued in Afghanistan to his new home in North Carolina .  Staff Sgt Andrew Morales had adopted the two Anatolian shepherds , named Dusty and Wyatt , while deployed in Afghanistan almost three years ago and brought them back to San Diego with him .  But recently he was reassigned from his base in  southern California to camp Lejeune , North Carolina .  Morales called various airlines to book travel for the dogs , but was  told that the dogs were too big for commercial planes landing at the  airport at his new base .  Helen Rosburg , the great granddaughter of chewing gum industrialist William Wrigley , heard that Morales might have to lose his dogs through a plea for help on Facebook from the rescue league that helped Morales bring the dogs from Afghanistan to California .  Flight of a lifetime : Staff Sgt Andrew Morales , centre , rescued the two Anatolian shepherds while deployed in Afghanistan . Here he is seen leaving the jet that took him and his dogs to North Carolina , courtesy of Helen Rosburg  Good deed : A private jet , paid for by Wrigley Heiress Helen Rosburg , flew the two dogs that were rescued in Afghanistan by their  Marine owner , Staff Sgt Andrew Morales , centre , to their new home in North Carolina  Good Samaritan : Helen Rosburg , heiress to the Wrigley Gum fortune , is an animal lover and wanted to help Morales so he wouldn ' t lose his dogs  ' He was going to lose his dogs and I said "" Not on my watch "" , ' Rosburg told  Affiliate  .  ' He ' s a hero on so many different levels . The Wrigleys are an extremely patriotic family and I am a true Wrigley child . '  The thought of losing the dogs was devastating to Morales .  ' In Afghanistan , they are pretty much your best friend , ' Morales told  .  ' Not on my watch ' : He was going to lose his dogs said Rosburg , who stepped in to help  A man ' s best friend : Morales said he had become so close with the two dogs while in Afghanistan they were ' pretty much your best friend '  The two are brothers from the same litter , strays that were looking at grim futures before he decided to take them in .  ' They ' ve experienced some pretty bad things , ' said Morales to 10 News . ' If you look at their ears , tails . . . from what I understand , Afghans cut them off for fighting . '  He called the rescue league that had initially helped bring the dogs back from Afghanistan , and they made an online appeal on the family ' s behalf .  Rosburg acknowledged she has a reputation for rescuing animals and at risk youth , as well as supporting the military .  ' Everybody in my circle knows what I do , ' said Rosburg . ' If they see an impossible situation , they ' ll post something to my Facebook timeline . '  Bleak future : The two are brothers from the same litter and were strays with grim futures before Morales decided to take them in  Rosburg has a reputation for rescuing animals and at risk youth , as well as supporting the military , which is why she stepped in to help Morales and his dogs  Rosburg is a horse exhibitor and published romance novelist who raises German shepherds for ' personal protection , military , police , service ' .  She is the founder of animal rescue organization , On the Wings of Angels Rescue , and has pigs , chickens , goats , cattle , donkeys , rabbits , cats and exotic birds on her farm in Tampa , Florida .  The Wrigley Company was founded on April 1 , 1891 , originally selling products such as soap and baking powder which then branched into chewing gum .  In 2008 , it was announced that Mars , Incorporated would acquire Wrigley for approximately 23 billion .  Happy man : The  Marine has his two dogs with him and says he is thrilled Rosburg came to their rescue  ' They quickly became a big part of our family , they ' re my babies , ' said Kristen Morales , Andrew s wife  The Morales family said they were thrilled that Rosburg came to their rescue , and said they would love to thank her in person one day .  ' They quickly became a big part of our family , they ' re my babies , ' according to Kristen Morales , Andrew ' s wife .  ' From the bottom of me and my wife ' s hearts we really appreciate what she did for us , ' said Morales .  Last year , a former Marine , Shaun Duling , raised 4 , 000 to be reunited with a dog he was forced to leave behind in Afghanistan .  Duling enlisted the help of an organization called Nowzad , which helps rescue animals in Afghanistan , to bring the stray back to his home in Alexandria , Virginia .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
23414,23415,"Lakers get a second crack at Trail Blazers in Portland on Saturday  Lakers forward Brandon Bass can ' t prevent Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard ? from scoring on a layup in the first half of a game on Sunday , Nov . 22 , 2015 .  Lakers forward Brandon Bass can ' t prevent Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard ? from scoring on a layup in the first half of a game on Sunday , Nov . 22 , 2015 .  The Lakers ( 2 12 ) have a second chance to defeat the Trail Blazers ( 6 10 ) when they visit Portland on Saturday night .  Last Sunday , the Trail Blazers pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 107 93 win at Staples Center , led by 30 points and 13 assists from guard Damian Lillard .  Kobe Bryant scored a team high 18 points for the Lakers , but missed 16 of 22 shots .  The Lakers have dropped four consecutive games and are now two wins behind the 4 12 New Orleans Pelicans at the bottom of the Western Conference standings .  Lou Williams will not be ? with the Lakers on Saturday after ? the death ? of his grandfather , the team announced . Rookie Anthony Brown is on assignment with the D Fenders in Texas , readying to play the Rio Grande Valley Vipers on Saturday night .  The Blazers might get forward Meyers Leonard back from a shoulder injury .  The Lakers need to manage the two guard front of C . J . McCollum and Lillard ? ? ? which is no easy task .  On Sunday , McCollum scored 19 points on eight of 13 shooting against the Lakers . Lillard ' s 30 points came on 25 shots and 12 made baskets .  The Lakers ' young guard tandem of Jordan Clarkson and D ' Angelo Russell played well against the Trail Blazers . Clarkson led the team with 19 points , while Russell scored 13 with nine rebounds and six assists .  The duo needs to improve defensively , though , for the Lakers to have a chance for victory Saturday .  Portland ' s Mason Plumlee had a big game against the Lakers last ? Sunday , notching a double double with 17 points , 11 rebounds and four assists .  The Lakers split time at center between Roy Hibbert and Brandon Bass . ? Hibbert blocked four shots with eight rebounds but scored only ? seven points on three of seven shooting .  Bass also scored seven with three rebounds and a block .  Former Lakers forward center Ed Davis was also strong for the Blazers , scoring nine points on four of five shooting .  The Lakers have been off since Tuesday , giving the team plenty of time to prepare for its ? visit to Portland .  The Trail Blazers are an inconsistent team , typically carried by their guards . With the Lakers still inexperienced defensively in the backcourt , put Portland down for another victory .  Email Eric Pincus at eric . pincus gmailweblink and follow him on Twitter EricPincus .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,present
23422,23423,"Billions poured into foreign aid by Britain is doing harm , casting doubt on the  ' s pledge to spend 0 . 7 of national income on overseas aid  The billions Britain pours into foreign aid are actually doing harm by making corruption worse in many parts of the world , a damning report reveals .  It says projects funded by  cash are increasing opportunities for bribery .  In some areas , they are even pushing poor people ' towards corrupt practices ' . After we spent millions on a scheme to tackle police bribery in Nigeria , locals said they were even more likely to have to pay backhanders , the report found .  It concluded that huge amounts of  aid money is being wasted because we are either funding corrupt programmes directly or not doing enough to tackle the culture of bribery in many countries .  The findings come just days after it emerged human rights abuses in Ethiopia where security forces are accused of burning , torturing and raping citizens had got worse during a four year period when the  gave the country more than 1billion .  They will be hugely embarrassing for David Cameron , who has repeatedly been forced to defend his controversial commitment to spend 0 . 7 per cent of national income on overseas aid despite fierce opposition from his backbenchers .  The report was carried out by the Independent Commission for Aid Impact , the watchdog set up to scrutinise the Department for International Development .  Giving DfiD a poor ' amber red ' rating , it criticised the fact that only 22million of its 10 . 3billion aid budget was targeted specifically at fighting corruption .  The study found the department was not ' up to the challenge ' of tackling corruption and , in many cases , help was not effectively targeted at the poor .  In Nepal , it said the poor were being ' pushed towards corrupt practices ' by having to pay bribes or forge documents to receive funding through a local governance project backed by British aid .  Labour accused Justine Greening , the Secretary of State for International Development , of being ' asleep at the wheel ' .  Graham Ward , chief commissioner at the  , said : ' We saw very little evidence that the work DfID is doing to combat corruption is successfully addressing the impact of corruption as experienced by the poor . '  The Coalition has massively increased Britain ' s aid budget in recent years in a bid to plough 0 . 7 per cent of national income into overseas development . This happened despite savage cuts to public services at home and opposition from Tory backbenchers .  The  report found corruption blights the everyday lives of the very poorest and thwarts global efforts to lift countries out of poverty . It said while DfID claims to recognise the need to tackle corruption , it ' has not delivered an approach equal to the challenge ' .  The study also found the department was often lax in tackling corruption as it was worried about offending local politicians . ' DfID ' s willingness to engage in programming that explicitly tackles corruption is often constrained by political sensitivity , ' it said .  Labour accused Justine Greening , the Secretary of State for International Development , of being ' asleep at the wheel '  ' In Nigeria , petty corruption touches virtually every aspect of life and is accepted throughout society as normal and necessary . We heard stories of parents paying bribes to teachers in order to educate their children students paying bribes to administrators to take exams workers paying bribes to get jobs and to receive their salaries and pensioners paying bribes to receive pensions . ' The report found that in Nepal , there is a ' growing sense of acceptance of corruption across society ' . Where once bribes were paid out of sight , they are now paid openly .  Britain gives money direct to the Nepalese government , despite the risk of corruption . The report said : ' This degree of engagement with a host government can be challenging , given the extent to which issues of corruption touch the government . '  It added : ' Very few of DfID ' s activities we reviewed in Nepal , Nigeria and elsewhere explicitly focus on the everyday corruption experienced by the poor . '  The report added : ' Disappointingly , we found that at least one programme supported by DfID appears to have increased the opportunities for corruption in society . '  Alison McGovern , Labour ' s spokesman for international development , said : ' This damning report should send shockwaves through David Cameron ' s government . Justine Greening should have zero tolerance of corruption especially when it is hitting the poorest but instead the Independent Commission has found her asleep at the wheel . '  A DfID spokesman said : ' We have anti corruption and counter fraud plans for each country that we give bilateral aid to .  ' Additionally , DfID funds  police units and crime agencies to investigate the proceeds of corruption by foreign officials through the  . '  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
23449,23450,"England As Markus Winkelhock took to the sodden track of last week ' s European Grand Prix in Nuerburgring he went where one Winkelhock had been before , his father Manfred Winkelhock .  Nico Rosberg ( left ) gets a pep talk from his world championship winning father at this year ' s Monaco Grand Prix  Winkelhock junior ' s first grand prix and possibly last for some time , now that Christijan Albers ' vacated Spyker seat has gone to Sakon Yamamoto will be talked about for years to come . His decision to run on extreme wet tires on lap three saw him leading the race by 33 seconds before the race was suspended for the second time . And , although his race ended with hydraulic failure , and future drives in Formula 1 are by no means certain , he joins the rare club of drivers who have led a grand prix on their first race .  It was at Nuerburgring that his father Manfred Winkelhock raced his last Formula 1 grand prix . Never a contender he scored only two points from 47 starts he was nevertheless a popular driver with the home crowd . Sadly , eleven days after the 1985 German Grand Prix at Nuerburgring , Winkelhock was killed driving a Porsche 956 at a World Sportscar event in Mosport Park , Canada .  Manfred ' s brothers Joachim and Thomas Winkelhock were also racing drivers Joachim entered seven grands prix in the 1989 season but did not pre qualify , so didn ' t race .  "" My father did his last F1 race at the Nuerburgring and now I ' m doing my first , "" said Markus last Sunday , "" that is something special . ""  Underneath his Spyker overalls , Markus wore a chain around his neck , as he always does when racing . On it was the wedding ring belonging to the father who died when Markus when only five years old a good luck talisman given to him by his mother .  Formula 1 ' s history has many such tales of sons following fathers into racing careers and in some cases the second generation drivers lost their fathers at an early age . Fatalities have been so rare in F1 in the last two decades that it ' s easy to forget quite how dangerous an activity it once was .  Canadian Jacques Villeneuve had celebrated his eleventh birthday a month before his father Gilles , the legendary Ferrari driver , died in practice before the 1982 Belgian Grand Prix at Zolder . Such was his status in Canada , that his remains were returned to his homeland aboard a jet of the Canadian Air Force , on the request of the government .  Knowing the dangers inherent in the sport , Villeneuve junior entered F1 in 1996 . He started his first race from pole position and just missed out on the top step of the podium to his Williams team mate , Damon Hill . In his next season Villeneuve junior achieved what his father rightly should have done , he won the World Championship .  Hill too was the son of a racing legend . Graham Hill was champion in 1962 and 1968 . With the dashing demeanor , and pencil moustache , of a World War 2 flying ace , he projected an image of the true sporting Brit . But , behind the scenes , he was a tempestuous man who could be both vain and reckless .  Graham Hill died in 1975 , when Damon was 15 . It is often assumed that the sons of famous drivers who follow their fathers into the sport are drifted into their seats on a wave of nepotism and inheritance . Not true of Damon , who had to work as a motorcycle courier in London to pay for his start in motor racing .  Graham Hill didn ' t die racing . He died trying to land a Piper Aztek airplane in fog . The plane was not properly registered or insured and Hill died along with his five passengers ( including Tony Brise , who was racing for Hill ' s F1 team at the time ) . The families of the bereaved had no choice but to sue the estate of Graham Hill for compensation .  Another F1 champion to sire a racing son was American Mario Andretti . He won the 1978 world championship for Lotus and also having a successful career in the  oval circuits in both Champcar and  . His son Michael entered F1 in 1993 , paired with Ayrton Senna at McLaren . But , despite his success in Champcar , Andretti junior failed to make an impression in Formula 1 and was replaced , after just 13 races , by Mika Hakkinen . He would be the last American to compete in F1 until the appearance of Scott Speed in 2006 .  The current F1 grid contains one F1 sibling and one F1 offspring . Ralf Schumacher , of course , is brother to seven times world Champion Michael ( and living proof that driving talent isn ' t necessarily inherited ) . And Williams driver Nico Rosberg is the son of Keke Rosberg , the Finnish driver who won the world championship for Williams in 1982 .  Three time world champion Jack Brabham ' s son , David raced for Brabham and Simtek in 1990 and 1994 without ever scoring points . And two time champion Emerson Fittipaldi ' s son Christian raced for three seasons in the early 1990s , scoring a total of 12 championship points .  Are there other sons of champions waiting in the wings ? Tomas Scheckter , son of Jody Scheckter the 1979 world champion , tested for Jaguar in 2001 but was fired . He now races in the A1GP series and looks an unlikely F1 contender .  1992 world champion Nigel Mansell has supported the racing careers of sons Leo and Greg , who have both raced in single seat racing formulae but , again , without looking obvious F1 contenders ( though Greg is only 19 ) . And four time world champion Alain Prost ' s son Nicolas has had some success in the feeder formulae but , at 25 , is considered old compared with young blood such as Robert Kubica and Sebastian Vettel .  Nelson Angelo Piquet , son of three time championship winner , Nelson Piquet is a test driver for Renault . E mail to a friend  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
23470,23471,"Sometimes it ' s easy to forget just how much of a presence humanity has in the solar system today .  Aside from the multitude of satellites in orbit around our own planet there are dozens of active and defunct spacecraft currently located all over the place .  And in this fantastic graphic created by Outer Places they ' ve shown where almost all the active spacecraft in the solar system are , what they ' re doing and what their status is .  Scroll down for the full graphic  Outer Places has created a graphic that showcases the various active spacecraft currently in the solar system . This ranges from Nasa ' s Messenger spacecraft , the first ever to orbit Mercury , out to Voyager 1 , which is now the first and only manmade object ever to reach interstellar space  The journey begins at Mercury where Nasa ' s Messenger , currently the closest spacecraft to the sun , is in orbit .  The Mercury Surface , Space Environment , Geochemistry and Ranging ( Messenger ) probe arrived in August 2011 and is the first ever to orbit Mercury .  Since its arrival it has been returning unprecedented images and data about the solar system ' s innermost planet .  Japan ' s Akatsuki spacecraft , meanwhile , failed in an attempt to orbit Venus in 2010 but it might be able to try again in 2015 .  Moving further out to the second planet from the sun , Venus , we find Esa ' s Venus Express .  This spacecraft entered orbit on 11 April 2006 and has since been performing extensive studies of the Venusian atmosphere .  A few days ago Esa announced it would attempt a daring plunge into the planet ' s hostile atmosphere in June in a last gasp attempt at further science as the spacecraft runs out of fuel and it ' s likely Venus Express will not survive the ordeal .  The busiest planet by some distance is Mars , which has been the subject of dozens of missions from various countries all over the world , starting with the Soviet Union back in the 1960s . Today there are three spacecraft in orbit , with two more joining later this year , and two active rovers on the surface : Opportunity and Curiosity  Next on the scale we have five spacecraft that are currently observing the sun : Stereo A and B , Ace , Soho and Wind .  Together , these spacecraft provide us not only with an opportunity to study the sun , but also with an early warning system that helps protect satellites when a solar flare erupts .  At Earth the graphic doesn ' t detail the hundreds of satellites in our around our planet there are simply too many but instead focuses on  3 .  This is a defunct Nasa satellite that will be making its way past Earth next week and amateur rocketeers are gearing up to try and take control of the spacecraft as it swings by in June .  At the moon , meanwhile , there are three orbiters : the twin Artemis P1 and P2 probes , which are measuring the effect of solar wind on the surface , and also the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (  ) , which amongst various tasks is studying future landing sites for manned missions .  Not shown is China ' s Chang ' e 3 lander , which landed on the surface in December 2013 and deployed a rover named Yutu that unfortunately experienced a malfunction and is currently lying dormant on the surface .  Mars is the busiest of the lot as various countries around the world clamour to understand more about the barren red planet that may hold clues about out future or even our beginnings as we search for life on its surface .  In orbit are Nasa ' s hugely surrcessful Mars Odyssey and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft , in tandem with Esa ' s equally impressive Mars Express mission .  All have provided us with stunning imagery of the surface of Mars , and some have even caught glimpses of rovers we have sent to the surface such as Curiosity .  September of this year will see two new arrivals India ' s first mission to the red planet , Mangalayan , which is notable for being ' built on a shoestring budget . '  The other is Nasa ' s Maven mission , an advanced vehicle that will study the Martian atmosphere in great detail .  Moving out still , in the asteroid belt we find the Dawn spacecraft , which will become the first probe to visit the potentially water harbouring dwarf planet Ceres in February 2015 .  Arguably the most successful spacecraft humanity has ever sent into the unknown is Cassini . It arrived at the Saturnian system in 2004 and has since provided us with unprecedented data and images about this fascinating place . In 2017 , however , the Cassini mission will end with the spacecraft being sent to its destruction in Saturn , with no additional mission to Saturn yet in the works  Towards Jupiter , meanwhile , Esa ' s Rosetta spacecraft is just weeks away from rendezvousing with comet 67P Churyumov Gerasimenko and will enter orbit later this year the first spacecraft ever to do so .  Jupiter is currently devoid of any human presence but will be greeted by Nasa ' s solar powered Juno in July 2016 , the furthest a spacecraft will ever have operated on solar power alone .  Around Saturn is found one of the most successful spacecraft to date Cassini which has furthered our understanding of Saturn arguably more so than any probe around any planet .  Cassini has studied Saturn ' s fascinating moons , including sending the probe Huygens to the surface of Titan in 2005 , and has revealed many secrets of the Saturnian system .  The next spacecraft of note is New Horizons on 14 July 2015 it will become the first manmade object ever to visit the icy world Pluto .  And , finally , the last two active spacecraft are Nasa ' s Voyager 1 and 2 probes both of these are on their way out of the solar system , although only the former is so far technically in interstellar space .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
23472,23473,"Atlanta , Georgia In responses to four suits accusing him of coercing young men into sexual relationships , prominent Georgia pastor Eddie Long denies the claims and asks that the suits be dismissed .  Four members of Long ' s New Birth Missionary Baptist Church Anthony Flagg , 21 Maurice Robinson , 20 Jamal Parris , 23 and Spencer LeGrande , 22 filed suit against Long and the 25 , 000 member megachurch in September , claiming he used his position as their spiritual counselor to pressure them into sexual relationships .  The suits allege that the relationships , which began when the men were in their teens , lasted over many months . According to the lawsuits , Long traveled with the young men to locations in the United States and abroad , sharing a room and engaging in sexual contact with them , including massaging , masturbation or oral sex . The suits also claim Long provided the youths with gifts including cars and money .  Long , one of his attorneys and a church spokesman have already publicly denied the allegations . In the responses filed Monday in DeKalb County , Georgia , Long ' s attorneys maintain the pastor was attempting to be a father figure to the youths , providing them with financial assistance and encouragement and helping them navigate their troubles .  Long has "" been successful at building a ministry at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church that places a special emphasis on outreach to men , reinforcing to men the importance of partnering with a ministry that will grow them spiritually and will help them develop the life skills needed to become successful in the workplace and teach them how to become entrepreneurs and leaders , "" the court documents said .  "" Bishop Long admits that he mentors many young men from challenged backgrounds , who have often been without the benefit of a male role model , "" according to the documents . "" The mentor mentee relationship between Bishop Long as mentor and the mentee is firmly grounded on expressed promises of honesty and truthfulness . ""  Long provided cars for the youths so they would have transportation to school and work , according to the responses , and provided them housing when they needed it in the case of LeGrande , for instance , because his school had no dormitory and he was living in a hotel room , and in the case of Flagg , because he could not return to his mother ' s home after he was arrested for allegedly assaulting her during a confrontation . Long provides many church members with employment , the responses said .  Long admits that he "" provides opportunities for travel , education and personal growth to many members of his congregation "" and claims in the responses that he often shares hotel rooms with members of his congregation when traveling .  Some of the young men have said that Long encouraged them to call him "" Daddy . "" In his responses to the suits , Long ' s attorneys say that the "" entire New Birth membership calls Bishop Long ' Daddy ' or ' Bishop . ' "" Participants in the pastor ' s LongFellows Youth Academy call him "" Pop , "" according to the documents , and members of other churches call Long "" Granddaddy . ""  "" The references to and association between Bishop Long ( and other religious leaders ) and a ' Spiritual Father ' is based upon the crisis in the African American community of fatherlessness , "" the documents said .  LeGrand claims that Long provided him with Ambien , a sleep aid , during a trip to Kenya . Long said nearly everyone on the Kenya trip had trouble sleeping due to the time change , and that he himself took Ambien to help him rest , but denied LeGrand ' s allegations against him .  Also , "" Bishop Long admits that it is common among his church congregation for members to hug each other and hug the Bishop , "" his attorneys said in the response to LeGrand ' s suit . "" However , Bishop Long has no recollection of a prolonged hug with plaintiff . ""  The suits also name the academy and church as defendants , saying they failed to warn the young men . Long says in his response that since no untoward conduct took place , the academy and church did not fail in their duty to warn the youths .  Long also asks the court to set a status and scheduling conference "" for the purpose of simplification of the issues and management of the case . ""  LeGrand told  last month , "" I have no hate for anyone . . . I just pray for everyone . Especially the bishop , because he knows the truth . ""  ",true,text,test,Other sport,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
23482,23483,"The chairman of the New York Post , Rupert Murdoch , personally apologized Tuesday for an editorial cartoon published by the newspaper that drew charges of racism .  This New York Post cartoon by Sean Delonas sparked a debate over race and cartooning .  "" Today I want to personally apologize to any reader who felt offended , and even insulted , "" said the statement from Murdoch , who is also chairman and chief executive of News Corporation , which owns the paper .  "" I can assure you without a doubt that the only intent of that cartoon was to mock a badly written piece of legislation .  "" It was not meant to be racist , but unfortunately , it was interpreted by many as such . We all hold the readers of the New York Post in high regard , and I promise you that we will seek to be more attuned to the sensitivities of our community . ""  The cartoon by Sean Delonas referenced the mauling of a Connecticut woman by a chimpanzee who was later shot and killed by police . In the caption , one of the officers says , "" They ' ll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill . ""  The cartoon was published on Wednesday , a day after President Obama signed the stimulus bill .  The Post issued a statement the following day , apologizing but noting that the cartoon was meant to mock what it called an "" ineptly written "" stimulus bill .  Many critics said the cartoon played on historically racist images by appearing to compare Obama , the nation ' s first black president , to the chimpanzee .  Leaders of the  on Saturday called for the firing of Delonas .  Delonas called the controversy "" absolutely friggin ' ridiculous . ""  "" It ' s about the economic stimulus bill , "" he added . "" If you ' re going to make that about anybody , it would be House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , which it ' s not . ""  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,past
23501,23502,"In many ways , the Middle East makes a strange and at times perilous hotbed for caricature .  Many of the region ' s leaders have a poor reputation for humor , and often , the list of banned topics makes for a long read . For those that dare to satirize a taboo , the punishments can be harsh : arrest , torture , exile , even death .  "" The one thing a tyrant can ' t stand is to be laughed at , "" says Robert Russell , the executive director of the Cartoonists Rights Network International , a group that monitors the threats facing editorial cartoonists globally .  "" If there ' s rebellion in the streets , they can bring out the tanks , but if everyone is laughing at you , what defense do you have ? It undermines the authority of a tyrant to be laughed at . ""  Despite the dangers that await many Arab cartoonists , some of the region ' s more contentious countries are actually experiencing a political satire renaissance .  According to Jonathan Guyer , a Cairo based Fullbright Scholar who is translating Egypt ' s cartoons into English for his blog , Oum Cartoon , the country is experiencing "" a golden age of caricature . ""  "" On any given day , a newspaper could have ten comics . You ' ll see dozens of Morsys above the A1 fold being mocked , "" he says , referring to the ousted Egyptian president . "" You just wouldn ' t see that in American papers . ""  Video : The artist that sculpted Saddam  Still , he notes , the country ' s media is more reticent about publishing images critical of the military .  "" A couple of artists told me they got warning calls from the military , but more as a kind of gentle , backroom nudge , "" he explains .  In other countries , the nudges are less gentle . The assault of Syrian cartoonist Ali Ferzat in 2011 brought international attention to the dangers awaiting those that pen and ink in hand poke fun at the Arab world ' s more tyrannical leaders .  For much of his career , Ferzat satirized the political and military order in Syria without singling out any individual . In the months leading up to the Syrian revolution , he broke what he called "" the barrier of fear "" and started drawing President Bashar al Assad . In one daring image , the Syrian ruler was depicted standing on the side of the road , thumbing for a lift from deposed ( and , at the time , living ) Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi .  Read more : Iran ' s cartoonists find new lines of expression  Less than a week after the cartoon was published , Ferzat was accosted outside of his office by masked gunmen .  "" The president ' s boot is better than you , "" they told him , before breaking every finger in his hands and leaving him for dead .  "" At that moment , I thought that I was going to say good bye to life . But I also thought I had to accept the outcome of what I ' d done . I had to stand behind what I believed in , "" admits Ferzat , who was recently in London for an exhibition of Syrian art organized by the charity Mosaic Syria , who is using proceeds from the sales to fund their relief work .  Hands healed , Ferzat continues to draw politically charged cartoons , but now lives outside Syria . If he was ever reticent about caricaturing the atrocities taking place in his home country , he isn ' t now .  "" I was really happy to start drawing again . It was like a second chance . After what happened to me , I had more resolve to tell the whole world . I went to the front line . It ' s been even more important for me to speak out against the regime , "" he says .  Video : Egypt ' s first comedy factory  Though exile is not an easy life , those cartoonists that haven ' t managed to escape face a potentially worse fate . Last year , another Syrian artist , Akram Raslan , was arrested and hasn ' t been heard from since . Russell , who has been lobbying for Raslan ' s release , fears he may be dead .  "" We sent a letter to Syrian ambassador in Washington , D . C , and a few days later heard his trial had been delayed . We thought , ' Oh , how wonderful . ' Two weeks later , we heard he ' d been killed , "" he says .  Recognizing the dangers that many cartoonists face , Iranian Nikahang Kowsar who fled Iran in 2003 , is working on an online platform that allows cartoonists to use templates to create their own satires anonymously .  "" That way , people can use those characters to question the authorities , without having it traced back to , say , the Syrian or Iranian cyber army , "" he says . "" It ' s our way of giving a voice to the voiceless . ""  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
23509,23510,"When shots rang out at the U . S . Holocaust Memorial Museum last week , security officers Harry Weeks and Jason McCuiston were stunned .  Harry Weeks , left , and Jason McCuiston fired on James von Brunn at the Holocaust Memorial Museum .  McCuiston added : "" It wasn ' t normal . You knew something was wrong and you knew it was very bad . ""  What went terribly wrong is that white supremacist James von Brunn allegedly walked into the museum and started firing his rifle , shooting security officer Stephen Johns in the chest .  Despite their initial shock , Weeks and McCuiston kept their composure enough to draw their weapons and start shooting at von Brunn , 88 .  Weeks had fired his gun in the line of duty 25 years earlier as a Washington , D . C . , police officer . But he said nothing compared to this bloody confrontation .  "" This was terrible , "" Weeks said softly . "" This was worse . . . . We lost Officer Johns . ""  Watching a video clip of those comments , McCuiston started crying . "" First thing I thought about , I have an 11 year old , "" the officer said before breaking down . Watch the officers tell their story  The security officers said they believe von Brunn will survive his wounds and eventually face trial . So they would not discuss details of the shootout out of a fear of jeopardizing the criminal investigation , but they were willing to discuss their memories of Johns so that the public knows more about him .  McCuiston said the 6 foot 6 inch , 300 pound Johns was a "" gentle giant "" who was always friendly to colleagues and museum visitors . "" Just an awesome guy , "" he recalled . "" Grin from ear to ear . You ' d never know that man probably ever had a bad day in his life . ""  Weeks said he wanted the world to see "" what a man of hate did to this family , and the grief he caused . Let ' s all remember Officer Johns , and his family , because he took the ultimate he did his job and he was where he was supposed to be and the family suffered . That could have been anyone . ""  McCuiston and Weeks , however , deflected suggestions that they may be heroes as well because if they had not stopped von Brunn , there ' s no telling how many of the more than 2 , 000 people visiting the museum at the time could have been injured or killed .  "" A lot of people are going to be saying what they have been saying , ' You are a hero , you ' re this , you ' re that , ' "" McCuiston said . "" It ' s like we tell everybody , ' We chose this job , it ' s a job . It ' s the same as a firefighter who would walk into a building , that is his job , he chose to do it . ' ""  Johns ' funeral on Friday has been moved to a larger church in the Washington area to accommodate all of the people who want to attend , and the museum will be closed most of the day so that his colleagues can attend .  "" Everyone knows when you lose someone , death is one of the worst things , even though it is reality , "" McCuiston said . "" Time will hopefully heal all , and hopefully there will be a little bit of closure with us and the family and we can all just move forward but never forget what a wonderful man he was . ""  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
23513,23514,"The home of Sir Cliff Richard was raided by police  A police officer suspected of leaking information about an investigation into Sir Cliff Richard has escaped severe punishment .  South Yorkshire Police (  ) gave the unnamed officer ' management advice ' tantamount to a slap on the wrist after he posted information on Twitter in April last year .  Management advice is the lowest sanction given for misconduct .  Referring the incident to the  , the police watchdog ,  queried whether he or she could be the source of the tip off that led to  agreeing with the  to broadcast a raid of the pop star ' s home .  Heavily redacted police files , obtained by The Mail on Sunday through a Freedom of Information request , reveal a complaint sent to former crime commissioner Shaun Wright days after the raid on Sir Cliff ' s home on August 14 last year .  The letter said that in April the unnamed officer tweeted about the arrest of a 73 year old by Operation Yewtree detectives .  Online rumours incorrectly said the man arrested was Cliff Richard , and it is believed the post referred to those claims .  The  handed the case back to  , which concluded that the junior officer ( who was not part of the investigation into the allegations against Sir Cliff ) was not the source of the leak though it has not said why it came to that conclusion .  The star was in Portugal during the raid on his 3 million Berkshire home . He has denied all allegations that he abused a youth , now in his 40s , at a Christian rally in 1985 .  The  faced criticism for broadcasting the raid live from a helicopter and stationing reporters at the gates of the property before police arrived .  The uproar led to the Home Affairs Select Committee concluding ' No citizen should have to see their home raided in this way . '  Last night , Keith Vaz , chairman of the Select Committee , said : ' People will be puzzled that the officer should be treated so leniently for such a serious matter . '  Sir Cliff declined to comment .  Heavily redacted police files reveal a complaint sent to former crime commissioner Shaun Wright ( pictured ) days after the raid on Sir Cliff ' s home on August 14 last year  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
23556,23557,"Federal regulators sanctioned super PACs in 2010 following the U . S . Supreme Court s Citizens United v . Federal Election Commission ruling and a lower court decision . They re supposed to avoid coordinating their spending with politicians they support , but many nevertheless are closely tied .  The result : The presidential campaign is now a super  fueled arms race where almost everyone has a money bomb .  Some political observers say the increased flow of big money into political campaigns has helped give voters more choices and information . But others fret that wealthy donors have hijacked elections , distorted the public policy process and skewed politicians priorities .  Super PACs likely encouraged more candidates to get into the 2016  presidential race , said Jay Goodliffe , a political science professor at Brigham Young University . Even if their polls were not initially good , or there were other setbacks , the super  could help keep them afloat .  But the widespread embrace of super PACs isn t shared by Adam Lioz , a policy advisor at the left leaning think tank Demos .  Your success and your longevity as a candidate should depend upon the people you can rally to your cause , Lioz said ? not a few people writing million dollar checks .  He continued : People are tired of being bombarded by ads , especially when they know that those ads are paid for by the one percent .  Here s what super PACs aren t this presidential election : A silver bullet for any candidate .  Take Right to Rise  , the super  supporting former Florida Gov . Jeb Bush , which has raised and spent more money than any other super  active in the 2016 presidential race .  Despite this , Bush has languished in the polls . The last poll sponsored by the Des Moines Register ahead of Monday night s caucuses showed Bush earning just 2 percent of the expected vote .  Most of Right to Rise  s 118 million haul was collected before Bush officially announced his candidacy and while Bush himself was traveling the country helping the super  raise funds .  Documents filed Sunday show the pro Bush super  s largest donor during the fourth quarter of 2015 was C . V . Starr Co . , a financial firm headed by Maurice Hank Greenberg , the former chairman and  of insurance giant  . The company donated 10 million in October .  Another major donor is the Oklahoma based firm Rooney Holdings , which has given 2 . 3 million to Right to Rise  . The company s president and  ? L . Francis Rooney  ? is a veteran  fundraiser and served as President George W . Bush s ambassador to Vatican City .  Thanks , in part , to the financial largess of such wealthy supporters , Right to Rise  raised more than three times as much cash as Bush s own campaign last year .  Right to Rise  has spent more than 60 million to date . Most of that money has been targeting voters in the critical early states of Iowa , New Hampshire , South Carolina and Nevada , which conduct their presidential nominating contests in February .  In fact , the pro Bush super  has accounted for more than one of every four  ads sponsored during the  presidential primary , according to a Center for Public Integrity review of data provided by Kantar Media  , a firm that monitors broadcast  ads as well as those on national ? but not local ? cable .  Meanwhile , Republicans Scott Walker , Rick Perry , George Pataki , Bobby Jindal and Lindsey Graham all dropped out of the presidential race last year despite having super PACs in their corners .  Republican Party front runner Donald Trump , for his part , has disavowed super PACs ? which he has called a scam .  Trump , a billionaire real estate mogul and reality  star , raised less money last year than most of his rivals : 19 million , including nearly 13 million of his own funds . Yet Trump has benefited from his unique celebrity status , coupled with endless ? and free ? media coverage .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
23582,23583,"Washington The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have issued an urgent advisory , calling on Americans to wash their hands carefully after voting in this year ' s midterm elections .  The procedure is called the Pontius Pilate Gambit , after the biblical figure of the same name .  "" Pontius Pilate was centuries ahead of his time with this brilliant personal hygiene strategy , ""  spokeswoman Dr Hardia Slough Sclee said in announcing the alert . "" Any time he had to choose a distasteful course of action , he would wash his hands of the whole thing . He never got any on him .  "" Faced with a field of talentless , self serving candidates , American voters should follow Pontius Pilate ' s lead , and wipe away their responsibility for selecting a Congress of incompetents . ""  To facilitate the conscious clean up , millions of Wash and Dry packets will be handed out at polling places throughout the country on Election Day . "" All of America will be smelling like the way back of a Chevy station wagon , "" Slough Sclee declared .  Soap sculpture likenesses of President Obama will be available at cost for voters who require a more upscale experience . They will carry a slogan that was created to tie the hand washing campaign with the  ' s central mission :  "" Think Ebola . Sink Obama . ""  "" We want the American public to know that their president is going to the sink with them to clean up the political process this election , "" the spokeswoman explained .  Not surprisingly , the American public reacted to the new advisory as it does to most  recommendations with a haze of dazed confusion , punctuated by points of sharp indignation .  "" Pontius Pilate ? "" one middle age grandmother demanded . "" I never fly foreign airlines so this don ' t apply to me . ""  "" I ' m usually an optimist , "" declared another potential voter , a young truck driver , who questioned how effective the program would be . "" It ' s going to take more than a million moist towelettes to clean this mess up . ""  The planned program was also not well received among Secret Service operatives , who are assigned the task of distributing a stream of Wash and Dry moist towelettes that will flow from coast to coast . Fortunately , the agents are no longer permitted to play with live ammunition .  More dangerous : the Drug Enforcement Administration has joined with the Bureau of Alcohol , Tobacco and Firearms to issue a circular which details how to turn a Wash and Dry packet into a psychedelic experience .  "" We ' ll have it on the list of controlled substances within days , complete with instructions , "" a  spokesperson declared . "" That Wash and Dry high will get them six to nine . And I will get to keep my job . ""  The Pentagon has also expressed an interest . "" We could offer a family size Wash and Dry to every soldier in the Middle East who agrees to be on our side , "" one general said . "" If it doesn ' t work out , they make great surrender flags . ""  ",satire,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,fake,satire,True,no,no,neutral,present
23586,23587,"Angie Bowie is the ex wife of the late musician David Bowie . David Bowie passed away on Sunday , January 10 after an 18 month battle with cancer . Us Weekly reports that Angie Bowie was informed of David s death while on the set of Celebrity Big Brother .  A representative for the reality show has confirmed that Angie Bowie received the news and that she is carrying on with the show despite the death of her ex husband .  Following the very sad news of David Bowie s death , we can now confirm that Angie Bowie has been informed off camera by her representatives . She has taken the decision to continue in the program .  Angie Bowie breaks down on Celebrity Big Brother as she talks about her ex husband s death weblink : t . co 816JWIp84A pic . twitterweblink xNuxMMe54V  ? The Evening Times ( TheEveningTimes ) January 12 , 2016  Angie Bowie was estranged from David . She married him in 1970 and the couple split in 1980 . Angie said in one episode of Celebrity Big Brother that she went to great lengths to stay away from him .  I go to great lengths to avoid him . It was terrible when we broke up , it was awful .  Angie Bowie also has no contact with the son she had with David Bowie , Duncan Jones . Daily Mail reports that Angie revealed on one episode of Celebrity Big Brother that her son hates her . She blames her son s feelings for her on David .  As for why she is doing a reality  show ? Angie Bowie says it is to help promote her books .  I wanted to do a reality show to promote my books . I ve been asked to do a hundreds of them in the States but I ve said no every time . I just wanted to do the biggest and the best !  Angie Bowie s team shared their condolences on her Twitter page after news of David s death became known .   DavidBowie . Our hearts go out to all the family and to cbbangie at this vulnerable time . One of history s greatest artist . 3TeamAngie  Unfortunately , some fans were not all that supportive of Angie Bowie .  angiebowie2020 no thoughts to her shes a vile human being all shes done is feed off the name of a man she divorced 36 yrs ago vile woman  Angie Bowie has lived off David s name like the parasite she is and now trying to live from his death , didn t fight for son just the name  Not only is Angie Bowie receiving unkind remarks , but The Guardian reports that Channel 5 , which produces Celebrity Big Brother , is under fire for showing Angie in tears after receiving the news of David s death while off camera . She seemed truly saddened by David s passing .  I haven t seen him in so many years , I can t make a big drama out of it . I just feel like an era has ended with his passing . I m so very sad . The stardust is gone .  Channel 5 has received numerous complaints and people have taken to Twitter to express their disbelief at how the studio is handling the situation .  Still can t believe C5 ? even C5 ? did a Coming up tomorrow , David Bowie s ex wife weeps in the diary room at the news of his death .   Low blow from  to show Angie Bowie s reaction despite saying she was told off camera . . Literally no one needed to see that  A spokesperson explained how Angie Bowie received the news , her decision to stay on set , and the footage that was taken after she heard the news .  Angie Bowie was told off camera about the tragic death of David Bowie by her agent . She then took the decision to remain in the house of her own accord . Last night s preview of the upcoming programme included footage of Angie in the diary room after she had heard the news about her ex husband .   ! reports that Piers Anthony of Good Morning Britain also had strong words to say about the decision to show Angie Bowie s reaction to David s death , calling her tears crocodile tears .  I ve got to say I didn t like that , I find that , actually , pretty gut wrenching . The idea you play out , in my view , somebody s crocodile tears  He went on to say it s all about the reality show .  To be in a reality show and sort of make capital out of your bogus grief when you ve been dumping on him for 40 years , I think is actually pretty rich .  Composite image containing photos by Smith , Jeff Spicer Getty Images  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
23591,23592,"Brazilian striker Robinho , the most expensive player in English football history after Manchester City paid Real Madrid 42 . 5 million euros for him two years ago , has joined  Milan on a four year contract for an undisclosed fee .  The 26 year old became the first big name signing in City ' s recent revolution , but he failed to settle in the north of England going back home to join Santos on loan in January before eventually leaving Eastlands on a permanent basis for the San Siro .  Robinho will link up with recent Barcelona loan signing Zlatan Ibrahimovic and compatriots Ronaldinho and Alexandre Pato in an exciting looking forward line for the new Serie A season .  "" I am really happy to be here , "" Robinho told Milan ' s official website . "" I am delighted to have been given this opportunity and I want to prove my worth .  "" My ambition is to play well and to help Milan regain the title , "" added the Brazilian , who scored 14 goals in 41 appearances for the English side .  With Robinho ' s arrival , Milan have allowed Klass Jan Huntelaar to leave the club with the Dutch striker signing for German Bundesliga side Schalke , as the final day of the summer transfer window saw a host of players move clubs .  Schalke have paid Milan 14 million euros for the 27 year old , who was a member of the Netherlands squad that reached the World Cup final in Soouth Africa .  Huntelaar failed to establish himself as a regular in his one season at the San Siro following his move from Real Madrid in 2009 .  "" Negotiations were tougher than expected , "" Schalke coach Felix Magath told German newspaper Bild on Tuesday , "" I am happy to have Klaas Jan . He will help us . ""  Huntelaar was not alone in leaving the San Siro with long serving defender Kakha Kaladze ending a 10 year association with Milan by joining Genoa .  And striker Marco Borriello has also been allowed to move on following the signings of Robinho and Ibrahimovic , joining Roma on a one year loan deal .  Huntelaar will link up again with fomer Real Madrid team mate Raul , who signed for the Gelsenkirchen based side earlier in the year .  On a busy day for Schalke , they have also signed 24 year old Spanish midfielder Jose Manuel Jurado from Atletico Madrid and Lille defender Nicolas Plestan on a three year deal .  Elsewhere in Germany , Bundesliga leaders Hoffenheim have announced the signing of Icelandic midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson on a four year deal from English Championship side Reading for a fee of seven million euros .  Meanwhile , Stuttgart have announced the arrival of Italian international Mauro Camoranesi from Juventus on a one year deal with an option for an additional year .  The 34 year old moves on after eight seasons with the club and joins Frenchman David Trezeguet , who has joined Spanish Primera Liga newcomers Hercules , in leaving the Turin giants as coach Luigi del Neri continues reshaping his squad .  Hercules added to the signing of Trezeguet by completing the capture of Real Madrid ' s Dutch midfielder Royston Drenthe on a one year loan deal .  Another player to leave Juventus is French defender Jonathan Zebina , who has joined Brescia on a two year contract . Juve have replaced Zebina in their squad with Arsenal left back Armand Traore , who has joined on a season long loan deal .  In England , Sunderland have smashed their transfer record with the signing of Rennes striker Asamoah Gyan on a four year contract .  Gyan , who starred for Ghana in the World Cup finals , has cost Sunderland 15 million euros , beating the fee paid last year for Tottenham striker Darren Bent .  The biggest domestic transfer in England saw Liverpool swoop for Fulham left back Paul Konchesky for an undisclosed fee on a four year contract .  Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson , who was in charge of Konchesky when he was at Craven Cottage , has allowed Finnish striker Lauri Dalla Valle and Swedish winger Alex Kacaniklic to move to London in the opposite direction .  Elsewhere in England , Birmingham City have pulled off a transfer coup by signing former Arsenal winger Alexander Hleb on a one year loan deal from Barcelona .  On a busy day for Birmingham manager Alex McLeish , the club also confirmed the signings of Spartak Moscow ' s Czech defender Martin Jiranek on a one year contract and the capture of Chile international midfielder Jean Beausejour from Mexican outfit Club America on a three year contract .  Meanwhile , Argentine midfielder Javier Mascherano was unveiled as a Barcelona player to fans at the Camp Nou on Monday , after passing a five hour medical at the Catalan club .  The 26 year old had made no secret of his wish to leave Liverpool and expressed his delight at signing a four year deal with the Spanish champions .  "" When I landed , I said that I was achieving a dream . At last I will be able to say that I play for Barcelona , the team who I wanted to play for , "" Mascherano told the official  website .  "" I ' m going to have the chance to play with players who I admire . This is an opportunity of a lifetime . ""  ",true,text,test,Football,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
23626,23627,"Thierry Henry believes Manchester United will miss out on a spot in next season ' s Champions League because Louis van Gaal ' s side are ' some way off from gelling ' .  Manchester United face stiff competition from the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool to finish inside the top four with just 10 Barclays Premier League games to go before the end of the season .  The Red Devils go into their match against Tottenham with a two point lead over fifth placed Liverpool , however Henry insists United will miss out a top four spot for the second year running .  Thierry Henry believes Manchester United ' s players are struggling to get to grips with Louis van Gaal  Henry believes former side Arsenal and Brendan Rodgers ' Liverpool will finish ahead of Manchester United  Manchester United crashed out of the  Cup on Monday as Arsenal ran out 2 1 winners at Old Trafford  United are currently fourth in the Premier League  Speaking exclusively to The Sun , Henry said : ' People keep telling me that this Manchester United team is about to click ,  ' After 28 Premier League games , I ' m still waiting . And time is now running out for everything to fall into place for Louis van Gaal .  ' This United side looks as though it is still some way off from gelling as the players seem to struggle with the tactics and system of playing .  ' The problem is the Dutchman , although an excellent manager with a proven track record , does not seem to know his best team .  ' At the start of this season , I had no doubt that United would finish in the top four and return to the Champions League .  ' It now looks as though the four will be Chelsea , Manchester City , Arsenal and Liverpool . '  Manchester United will be hoping to bounce back from Monday ' s  Cup defeat by Arsenal and open up a five point lead over Liverpool .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
23631,23632,"Reuters) - Court-ordered mediation aimed at ending a funding dispute between Minnesota’s Democratic governor and the Republican-controlled legislature ended on Friday with the mediator declaring an impasse. The Minnesota Supreme Court earlier this month ordered the two branches of government to use a mediator to resolve a dispute over Governor Mark Dayton’s veto of funding for the legislature in the fiscal 2018-19 biennial budget. Richard Solum, a retired Minnesota judge who served as the mediator, said in a statement that after a day and a half of talks he concluded the two sides were at an impasse. Dayton’s veto in May touched off a legal battle with the legislature, which claimed the removal of nearly $130 million in funding from the budget was unconstitutional. While a Ramsey County District Court judge sided with the legislature in July, the state Supreme Court on Sept. 8 determined that the governor’s action was constitutional. However, the high court raised concerns over the ability of the legislature to continue to exist without funding. Dayton on Friday reiterated his stance that his veto was aimed at pressuring Republicans to revise tax measures, which he said “will seriously jeopardize Minnesota government’s future financial stability.” He added that mediation revealed the legislature has money available to operate until its new session begins in February. “They owe the Minnesota Supreme Court and the people of Minnesota an honest explanation of why they have dragged all of us into their costly theatrics over the past four months,” Dayton said in a statement. Republican legislative leaders issued a joint statement expressing disappointment that “Governor Dayton walked out and abruptly ended mediation today.” The demise of mediation returns the matter to the Supreme Court for a final ruling, according to Susan Closmore, a spokeswoman for House Republicans. Dayton’s veto raised credit concerns for the state by leaving $80.1 million of certificates of participation issued in 2014 for a Senate office facility without an appropriation for rental and debt payments next due in November and December. After the district court judge ordered the state to temporarily fund the legislature until Oct. 1, S&P on June 30 affirmed Minnesota’s AA-plus rating and removed it from a watch list for a potential downgrade. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
23675,23676,"Lilongwe , Malawi Twelve people have died in national protests that erupted in Malawi , government officials said as demonstrations continued for a second day Thursday .  Nine people died in Mzuzu , in the northern part of Malawi , on Wednesday , Ministry of Health spokesman Henry Chimbali said . Another died in Karonga district , also in the northern region .  It was not immediately clear how the 10 died , but officials were investigating , Chimbali said . Sources at Mzuzu Central Hospital who requested anonymity said the victims had been shot .  Two other people were fatally shot in Blantyre in the southern part of the nation , police spokesman Superintendent Davie Chingwalu said .  Amnesty International called for an immediate investigation into the Mzuzu deaths , asserting that security forces were responsible .  "" At least 44 other people , including six children , are being treated for gunshot wounds at Mzuzu Central Hospital , "" the human rights organization said in a statement .  The protests began Wednesday as people demanded immediate action from the government on Malawi ' s economy and government issues .  The East African nation is facing persistent fuel shortages , foreign exchange reserve shortages and frequent power blackouts , among other problems . In addition , anti government demonstrators have accused President Bingu wa Mutharika of dragging the nation back into the dictatorship era , citing the passage of bills they say impinge on citizen rights as well as the expulsion in April of British envoy Fergus Cochrane Dyet .  The expulsion has cost Malawi dearly , as Britain has suspended direct budget support for the nation . According to the  , Cochrane Dyet was told to leave Malawi in April after he was quoted in a leaked diplomatic cable as saying Mutharika was "" becoming ever more autocratic and intolerant of criticism . ""  Mutharika spoke Thursday as the protests continued . "" As a leader , I am ready to have a roundtable discussion with you , "" he said in an address . "" I call upon everyone to stop vandalizing people ' s property and beating up others . Get yourselves organized and notify us so that we can chart the way forward . ""  In a statement , organizations that had planned the protests also appealed for calm , noting that the demonstrations were meant for Wednesday and that continued protests Thursday were illegal .  The country ' s army was assisting in quelling the protests Thursday , leading to relative calm .  More than 200 people arrested in the Malawian capital of Lilongwe face charges ranging from arson to property damage .  Police were seen harassing and beating civil society leaders , opposition political leaders and journalists , leading to injuries .  "" When the police use firearms , they must minimize injury and respect human life , "" Erwin van der Borght , Amnesty International ' s director for Africa , said in the organization ' s statement . "" It is high time that President Mutharika ' s government addresses the wider human rights and political concerns that gave rise to this situation . ""  The United States condemned Wednesday ' s use of force by Malawian authorities to prevent peaceful demonstrations and a ban on private radio stations reporting on the demonstrations .  In a statement , U . S . State Department Acting Deputy Spokeswoman Heide Bronke Fulton said U . S . officials were also "" disturbed by reports of violence targeting individuals based on their political or social affiliations . The government ' s attempt to prohibit its citizens from marching , and the Communications Regulatory Authority ' s ban on independent media coverage undermine democracy and the rule of law that Malawians cherish . ""  She urged restraint from both sides . "" We call on the people and the Government of Malawi to remain committed to the principles of democracy and to express disagreements through peaceful means , "" she said .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
23682,23683,"Episode #208 of    resumes on Oct 29th 2017 as host Patrick Henningsen brings you this week s  broadcast on the Alternate Current Radio Network (ACR)   covering all the top news stories both at home and internationally           TIMES:5pm-8pm  Time | 12pm-3pm  (US) | 9am-12am  (US)  This week the   is broadcasting  from the Iraq as host Patrick Henningsen is joined by guest hosts Hesher & Funk$oul from the Alternate Current Radio s Boiler Room to discuss this week s top stories internationally including the leveling of Raqqa by US-led  Coalition  forces, the new US-UK-Soros-sponsored war against  guests and the new European McCarthyist hunt for political dissenters to compliment the  effort and the update on Trump s release of classified  files. We ll also review this past week s news events with guest FunkSoul.  Enjoy the show  21WIRE    &  A  @21WIRE.TVStrap yourselves in and lower the blast shield   this is your brave new world *NOTE:         THEMES*Download Episode #208 Sunday Wire Radio Show Archives    ",fake,dataset,test,World conflict,Sports/Other,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,present
23685,23686,"Poor old Crooked Hillary the hits are coming faster than she can lie her way out of them Matt Drudge of the Drudge Report has warned Hillary Clinton that he s about to drop a bombshell about her  sex stuff  Saturday morning.weblink Oh, on the sex stuff. Hillary is about to get hers ,  Drudge said in a tweet.Drudge tweeted a picture of Clinton on the Ellen DeGeneres Show, where she appeared Friday in her first interview following the second presidential debate with Donald Trump.The  sex stuff  Drudge is referring to concerns Clinton s sexuality, which the London Times and several other foreign newspapers brought into question back in 2007 when Clinton was accused of having an affair with her aide Huma Abedin.The Clinton campaign responded to these reports, saying that the reports were  ridiculous  and not to be taken seriously. This does not even qualify as tabloid trash  it s ridiculous and reckless,  a Clinton aide said to The Week.A rumor circulated in the 1990s saying that Clinton was secretly okay with her husband s extramarital affairs because she was secretly a lesbian, but there has been no truth to the rumor.This isn t the first time Clinton has been accused of cheating on her husband. Via: Breitbart News",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,present
23713,23714,"Sens . John McCain and Barack Obama engaged in a pointed exchange over al Qaeda in Iraq on Wednesday .  Sen . John McCain questioned Sen . Barack Obama ' s way of handling the war in Iraq .  McCain questioned whether Obama was aware of the al Qaeda base . Obama ' s response was : "" There was no such thing as al Qaeda in Iraq until George Bush and John McCain decided to invade Iraq . ""  McCain was in Tyler , Texas , and Obama was in Columbus , Ohio .  "" I understand that Sen . Obama said that if al Qaeda established a base in Iraq that he would send troops back in militarily . Al Qaeda already has a base in Iraq . It ' s called al Qaeda in Iraq , "" McCain said .  "" It ' s a remarkable statement to say that you would send troops back to a place where al Qaeda has established a base where they have already established a base . ""  McCain ' s comments come in response to remarks Obama made Tuesday night in a debate with Sen . Hillary Clinton . He was asked if the president would have the right to go back into Iraq in order to suppress an insurrection after downsizing the U . S . troop presence . Watch what Clinton and Obama said about the war  "" I always reserve the right for the president . . . to make sure that we are looking out for American interests , "" Obama said . "" And if al Qaeda is forming a base in Iraq , then we will have to act in a way that secures the American homeland and our interests abroad . ""  A statement by McCain ' s press office Wednesday said , "" Is Sen . Obama unaware that al Qaeda is still present in Iraq , that our forces are successfully fighting them every day , and that his Iraq policy of withdrawal would embolden al Qaeda and weaken our security ? ""  Obama responded to the latest attacks from McCain , saying his comments were taken out of context .  Obama said the question he was asked during the debate was a "" big hypothetical . ""  "" I said , ' Well , I would always reserve the right to go in and strike against al Qaeda if they were in Iraq , ' so you know , this is how politics works , "" Obama said at a rally in Columbus .  "" McCain thought that he could make a clever point by saying , ' Well let me give you some news Barack , al Qaeda is in Iraq , ' like I wasn ' t reading the papers , like I didn ' t know what was going on . ""  "" I said , ' Well first of all , I do know that al Qaeda is in Iraq . That ' s why I ' ve said we should continue to strike al Qaeda targets . But I have some news for John McCain , and that is that there was no such thing as al Qaeda in Iraq until George Bush and John McCain decided to invade Iraq . ""  Obama continued to blast Bush and McCain , saying , "" John McCain may like to say he wants to follow Osama bin Laden to the gates of hell , but so far all he ' s done is follow George Bush into a misguided war in Iraq . ""  McCain in his statement said "" the Democratic presidential contenders deny progress and see only gloom and doom . Where is the audacity of hope when it comes to backing the success of our troops all the way to victory in Iraq ? What we heard last night was the timidity of despair . ""  The latest exchange comes as a new poll suggests McCain would pose a tough match for the eventual Democratic nominee .  Obama is the front runner for the Democratic nomination . Clinton trails by 97 delegates , but 370 delegates are up for grabs next Tuesday . Watch the shift in Clinton Obama dynamics  According to a Los Angeles Times Bloomberg poll , McCain would be in tight races with either of the remaining Democratic presidential candidates .  McCain is statistically tied with Obama , 44 percent to 42 percent , and ahead of Clinton by 6 points , 46 percent to 40 percent .  The poll ' s margin of error was plus or minus 3 percentage points .  The poll also showed McCain with a 61 percent approval rating , a number higher than both Clinton ' s and Obama ' s in past polls .  The Arizona senator holds a clear advantage on dealing with the war in Iraq , according to the poll , and holds a 9 point advantage on economic issues over Obama , despite having acknowledged that area is not his expertise . E mail to a friend  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
23740,23741,"Incomes ? Home prices ? New car sales ? Americans exactingly measure everything that pertains to their material well being . But when it comes time to assess the things that matter most human well being and happiness there we find ourselves baffled .  This week , Americans celebrate Valentine ' s Day . The National Retail Federation can inform us how much Americans will spend and how that spending compares to last year and the year before that . It can tell us how much of that spending will be directed to candy , how much to cards , how much to lingerie , how much to dinners out . Specialists will inform you , if asked , about the relative size of the gay and lesbian Valentine market , how many Valentine dollars will be spent on pets , and how Valentine ' s Day spending compares to Halloween and Cinco de Mayo .  But what the Valentine dollars buy ? That is a lot more obscure .  The lost art of offline dating  The statisticians can tell us that 31 million Americans live alone , and that fewer than half of American homes are shared by a husband and wife . Their data shows that the American birth rate plunged to an all time low in 2011 , and that almost one fifth of American women in their 40s have not had children .  But the statisticians cannot tell us what we most want to know : Are these trends conducive to human flourishing ? Are we doing a better or worse job of sustaining love and family compared to other places and other times ? These questions the very most important of them all are the questions where our public discussion is most accepting of answers based on raw assertion .  "" Living alone comports with modern values . It promotes freedom , personal control and self realization . "" That sunny assessment comes from Eric Klinenberg , author of the 2012 book , "" Going Solo . "" Maybe he ' s right go try to prove he ' s not !  The hookup culture of commitment free sex ? It ' s empowering , claims a new book excerpted in The Atlantic .  "" To put it crudely , feminist progress right now largely depends on the existence of the hookup culture . And to a surprising degree , it is women not men who are perpetuating the culture , especially in school , cannily manipulating it to make space for their success , always keeping their own ends in mind . ""  Are more children growing up in single parent households ? That ' s a good thing , asserts journalism professor Katie Roiphe in a New York Times op ed .  The upside of online dating : Always a funny story to tell  "" If you think that being married ensures a good life for your children you need only enter a bookstore and open any novel , or go to the theater and watch practically any play , or have dinner with nearly anyone you know . Suffering is everywhere , and married parents , even happily married parents , raise screwed up or alcoholic or lost children , just as single parents raise strong , healthy ones , "" Roiphe writes .  If we were reading about running shoe production , or the relative costs of different sources of electricity , or the merits of different mobile phones , we ' d want facts and proof . But when it comes to the things that matter most , proof is difficult and our feelings are strong .  How technology has changed romance  "" People don ' t actually read newspapers , "" quipped the great student of mass media , Marshall McLuhan . "" They slip into them like a warm bath . ""  We want to hear that Facebook can substitute for the marriages we don ' t form , and that friends and pets provide more gratification than the children we don ' t have .  We want to believe that we can shed sexual partners without a pang and attract new ones at every age of life .  And in our dynamic consumer economy , there is always a provider who will deliver what we want . Who will say that they are wrong ?  The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of David Frum .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,satire,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
23749,23750,"Kimi Raikkonen sustained an incredible 47G impact during his opening lap shunt at the British Grand Prix .  The Finn was immediately taken to the on track medical centre after he lost control of his Ferrari on the exit of Turn 5 before smashing into the barrier on the Wellington Straight as he attempted to re join the track .  Raikkonen slid helplessly across the circuit with the Williams of Felipe Massa crashing into the side of his stricken Ferrari despite the Brazilian ' s last gasp efforts to avoid him .  Drama : The crowd at Silverstone watch a big screen showing Raikkonen walking from the wreckage  Out : Raikkonen ' s Ferrari is lifted off the track after the spectacular crash at Silverstone  Out : Raikkonen ' s car ( back right ) is smashed into by Felipe Massa ' s Williams ( back left )  1 . 55G Acceleration from 0 to 60mph in a Bugatti Veyron  3G A Space Shuttle during launch  8G F16 aircraft pulling out of a dive  12G Typical maximum turn in a fighter jet .  15G Explosive seat ejection from aircraft .  27G Felipe Massa ' s crash at the Canadian Grand Prix  47G Kimi Raikkonen ' s crash at the British Grand Prix  50G Death or serious injury likely  Raikkonen eventually came to a stop on the other side of the circuit with sufficient damage to his chassis and minus three of his wheels .  The Finn needed assistance getting out of his car before limping into the medical car , and the race was suspended for one hour as repairs were made to the armco following the high speed crash .  Miraculously , Raikkonen sustained only bruises to his knees and ankles in the accident , but is now a doubt for this week ' s two day test at Silverstone .  Ferrari are however confident that Raikkonen , who revealed earlier this week that he is likely to retire from Formula One when his contract expires at the end of next season , will be fit for the German Grand Prix in a fortnight ' s time .  Delay : The race was restarted after an hour as a barrier was repaired and the crash debris cleared away  Damage : Massa ' s rear left wheel scrapes along the Silverstone track after the crash  ' Unfortunately , my race today ended on the first lap , after I had managed to get away well , making up enough ground to be fighting for eleventh place , ' said Raikkonen , who started in 18th after a miserable qualifying session .  ' At turn 5 , I went off the track and while trying to get back on , I must have hit a kerb . I then lost control of the car and ended in the barriers .  ' I am really very disappointed with how things went today , but now I want to put this incident behind me and just concentrate on the next race in Germany . '  Ferrari team principal Marco Mattiacci added : ' The most important news right now is that Kimi is alright , even though the impact with the barriers was a heavy one . He has some bruising and will now be resting to be in shape for the next race . '  Raikkonen is the second driver to experience a high impact from the last three races after Massa ' s 27G horror crash with Sergio Perez at last month ' s Canadian Grand Prix .  Split second : Massa and Perez spin out after hitting each other in the last lap of the Canadian Grand Prix  Crash : Felipe Massa ( pictured ) was involved in the 180mph horror crash with Sergio Perez in Montreal  Accident : Perez wasn ' t unscathed either after the high speed crash in the final lap of the Canadian Grand Prix  Safe : Massa gives a thumbs up and posted this picture from his hospital bed after the accident  Speaking about the incident earlier this week , Massa , who was forced to retire from today ' s race following rear suspension damage sustained in the incident with Raikkonen , said : ' I was sure it was going to hurt because it was so quick .  ' It is the worst feeling you can have knowing that the wall is coming at you so quickly . I pulled 27G on the crash but thank God I am here and nothing happened to me . '   Hamilton triumphs at Silverstone  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
23752,23753,"In a “white paper” published by the Washington Post,  Associate Deputy Director Ronald Turk shows that a continued ban on the importation of numerous “assault weapons” is nonsensical. [The reasons behind his assessment include the growing use of   and similar rifles for hunting and shooting sports.  Turk wrote, “Since the sunset of the Assault Weapons ban in 2004, the use of     and similar rifles now commonly referred to as ‘modern sporting rifles’  has increased exponentially in sport shooting. These firearm types are now standard for hunting activities. ” Because of his paradigm shift regarding the view and usage of “assault weapons,” Turk suggests the  review and update its “almost    study” on such firearms. He then made clear that another reason for lifting importation limitations is the fact that American manufacturers currently make and sell rifles that are identical or similar to many of the firearms that are banned from import. Because of this, “restriction on imports serves questionable public safety interests. ” Turk also noted that a characteristic of importation bans in this area has been modifications to   rifles modifications that allow them to survive the import restrictions and enter the U. S. under different classifications. The various classifications mean more unnecessary work for importers and more paperwork for the ATF. He also addressed suppressors, highlighting their broad use in hunting and shooting sports and suggesting it is “archaic” to continue to regulate them via the National Firearms Act. Turk touched on M1 Garands,   1911s, and other U. S.   firearms that are in holding overseas, awaiting clearance to be shipped back to the U. S. and sold to citizens. He wrote: There is no clear public safety reason why      defense articles should be denied   to the American public, while many  . S.  origin  items are approved. Additionally, these items do not represent any discernable public safety concern, as demand lies with collectors of vintage military firearms. Importation and sale through licensed dealers would effectively regulate the lawful transfer of these firearms through a licensee and a background check.  Hawkins is the Second Amendment columnist for Breitbart News and host of Bullets with  Hawkins, a Breitbart News podcast. He is also the political analyst for Armed American Radio. Follow him on Twitter: @AWRHawkins. Reach him directly at awrhawkins@breitbart.com.",true,news,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
23761,23762,"Reuters) - Two studies that President Donald Trump hopes will buttress his case to cut the number of refugees are at the heart of a fight between senior White House adviser Stephen Miller and career U.S. government officials over immigration policy, four current and former officials said.     Trump in March ordered the U.S. State Department and other agencies to tally only the costs of resettling refugees but not the benefits that policy experts said refugees can also bring, including tax revenues, professional skills and job creation. A current official said Miller had convened meetings with State Department staffers to discuss the refugee cost reports. When department specialists proposed including refugees’ economic contributions in the studies to produce a more balanced assessment, Miller rebuffed the idea, one current and one former U.S. official said. The White House said Miller did not hold meetings on the specific subject of the cost reports and that Trump’s overall fiscal year 2018 budget proposal sought to “make transparent the net budgetary effects of immigration programs and policy.” The current and former officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they believe, however, that the administration wants to help make a case to restrict refugee flows by creating a skewed analysis. “It’s a policy outcome in search of a rationale,” said a former U.S. official familiar with the debate. The White House disputed the notion that Miller was seeking to tailor the outcome of the reports, which are to be compiled mainly by the State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM).  “The idea that we are ordering biased reports is false,” said Michael Short, a White House spokesman. The tensions over the reports, due in September, have not been previously reported. Miller has a history of backing curbs on immigration. He  was the architect of Trump’s order in January suspending the refugee program for 120 days and refugees from Syria indefinitely. That order, which also temporarily barred travelers from seven Muslim-majority countries, was largely blocked by the courts, as was a second executive order. Miller was not available for an interview. R.C. Hammond, a senior adviser to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, said a department staffer who attended budget meetings recalled Miller “suggesting the State Department review the methodology and findings of existing studies” on refugees. “Essentially, suggesting we learn how others have examined the issue and see if there is anything we can learn,” Hammond said in an email. “My colleague did not take away the sense that any instructions were given to include or not include certain information.” Hammond he did not identify the State Department staffer. Tensions in the government over Trump’s immigration policies began with Trump’s executive order, which prompted about 900 State Department employees to sign an internal memo dissenting against it in January. Weeks later, the right-wing Breitbart website, which has close ties to the White House, published a story calling for the firing - among others - of the two top officials in the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Refugee Resettlement and three senior officials at the  bureau. Breitbart listed the officials by name, but it did not mention the reports on refugee costs. Career officials cannot be fired, but can be reassigned. There is no evidence the five have been reassigned. Trump promised a hardline immigration policy during his 2016 presidential campaign. He called at one point for a complete ban on Muslims entering the United States, citing security reasons amid a series of attacks worldwide by Islamist militants. For the first report, Trump ordered a tally of “the estimated long-term costs of the United States Refugee Admissions Program at the Federal, State, and local levels, along with recommendations about how to curtail those costs.” Trump directed that the second report estimate “how many refugees are being supported in countries of first asylum (near their home countries) for the same long-term cost as supporting refugees in the United States, taking into account the full lifetime cost of Federal, State, and local benefits, and the comparable cost of providing similar benefits elsewhere.” Refugee policy experts said that while more refugees can be supported in third-country camps for a given sum than settled in the United States, that support does not provide a permanent solution as resettlement can. Most studies show that refugees entering the United States require more government services than immigrants as a whole. But scholars differ over the long-term economic impact of accepting refugees, which can depress low-skilled workers’ wages and require all workers to help pay for social services that refugees receive. During their first eight years in the United States, refugees receive more in benefits than they pay in taxes, a study published this month by the nonprofit National Bureau for Economic Research said. “After the eighth year, taxes paid tend to be greater than the benefits received,” by an average of $21,000 over a 20-year period, the study found. Jessica Vaughan of the Center for Immigration Studies, which favors limiting immigration, agreed that accountings such as those Trump ordered should not be limited to costs.  “It’s only fair to consider any fiscal benefits,” she said. The four current and former U.S. officials said the high-level White House focus on the reports has sent a clear signal about the outcome Trump wants. “When the White House calls and expresses interest...in a report of this nature, given all the things that the national security council and people around the president have to worry about, that sends an enormously profound signal to the bureaucracy,” one of the former officials said. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
23772,23773,"Boosting Middle East economy is way to beat extremism Iranian president  Iran President Hassan Rouhani talks during a business forum in Rome , Italy , January 26 , 2016 .   Generating economic growth in the Middle East is crucial to defeating extremism , Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Tuesday , putting forward his country as a regional trade hub and pillar of stability .  Rouhani is on a four day trip to Italy and France , looking to rebuild Iranian relations with the West some two weeks after financial sanctions on Tehran were rolled back following the implementation of its nuclear deal with world powers .  Italy announced some 17 billion euros ( 18 . 4 billion ) of business deals with Iran on Monday . Mega contracts are also in the offing in France , reflecting  countries ' keenness to cash in on the diplomatic thaw with the Islamic Republic .  Underscoring the growing warmth , Rouhani said he expected Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi to visit Iran in the coming months to help boost bilateral economic alliances .  "" We are ready to welcome investment , welcome technology and create a new export market , "" Rouhani told a business forum on the second day of his visit to Rome , saying Iran had ambitions to develop its own economy after years of curbs and hardship .  "" Under the new conditions , we want to export 30 percent of what we produce in Iran , "" he said , calling for rapid investment in "" the most secure and stable country in the region "" .  Later , during a 40 minute private meeting in Pope Francis ' s private study , the pontiff asked Rouhani to work with other Middle East states to promote peace and stop the spread of terrorism and arms trafficking in the region .  Italy rolled out the red carpet to Rouhani and his 120 member delegation of business leaders and cabinet ministers , seeing Shi ' ite Muslim Iran as a possible partner in the international coalition against Sunni Muslim Islamic State insurgents .  "" If we want to combat extremism in the world , if we want to fight terror , one of the roads before us is providing growth and jobs . Lack of growth creates forces for terrorism . Unemployment creates soldiers for terrorists , "" Rouhani said .  Many Western nations accuse Iran of funding various militant groups that are on U . S . and  terror blacklists . Despite Iran ' s deal with world powers to curb its disputed nuclear programme , the United States is keeping some of its financial sanctions in place because of its links to organisations such as Hezbollah .  Sunni arch rival Saudi Arabia alarmed and angry over Iran ' s coming in from the diplomatic cold , especially its newly pragmatic contacts with the United States sought to deflate hopes that Tehran would be a bonanza for foreign investors .  "" They all have these bright euro or dollar signs in their eyes about Iranian business opportunities , but whoever is going to do business in Iran will have to do it with their money and not Iranian money , "" Prince Turki al Faisal , earlier the Saudi intelligence head and ambassador to Washington , said on Tuesday .  But any such criticism barely registered in Rome , where the economy continues to struggle after a three year slump and where the government is eager to welcome Iran as a potentially positive force in an increasingly fragmented Middle East .  "" We are not looking at simple reactivation of our cooperation with Iran , but rather a comprehensive relaunch of a strategic alliance , "" Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni told the business conference .  To spare the leader of the Islamic Republic possible offence , the Italians even covered nude Roman statues in the Capitoline Museums where Rouhani met and spoke with Renzi on Monday evening .  Among the deals signed on Monday were a 4 billion contract for oil services group Saipem , up to 5 . 7 billion euros in contracts for steel firm Danieli , up to 4 billion euros of business for infrastructure firm Condotte d ' Acqua , 4 billion euros for rail and road company Gavio and 400 million euros for planes from Finmeccanica .  Industry Minister Federica Guidi told la Repubblica newspaper that the total value of the contracts could exceed the 17 billion euros initially indicated by the government .  Two large Italian business delegations went to Tehran soon after the nuclear deal was inked last year . Another such group is scheduled to visit Iran from Feb . 8 to 10 .  ( pls gartehAdditional reporting by Sam Wilkin , Philip Pullella and John Irish Writing by Crispian Balmer and Steve Scherer Editing by Mark Heinrich )  Shashi Tharoor vows to fight bigotry after bid to decriminalise gay sex fails  Opposition lawmaker Shashi Tharoor campaigning for gay sex to be legalised said he would continue his fight for the freedom and equality of sexual minorities despite attempts by members of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ' s party to thwart his efforts . ? Full ? Article ?  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
23773,23774,"Reuters) - Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday and they agreed on the “convenience” of not scrapping the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), but instead renegotiating the treaty along with Canada.  Mexico’s peso gained more than 1 percent after the White House released a readout of calls Trump had with Pena Nieto and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, in which the U.S. leader, a long-time critic of the trade pact, agreed to “bring  up to date through renegotiation.” ",true,dataset,test,Other news1,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
23780,23781,"Washington The U . S . State Department on Friday ramped up its warnings urging Americans not to join other activists in a flotilla , expected to sail soon , aimed at challenging Israel ' s maritime blockage of the Gaza strip .  According to organizers , the flotilla is meant to commemorate the one year anniversary of a similar flotilla that resulted in a clash in international waters with Israeli navy commandos that left nine people including an American citizen dead .  Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told reporters Friday that she didn ' t think the plan "" is useful or productive or helpful to the people of Gaza . ""  "" We have certainly encouraged that American citizens not participate in the flotilla , "" she said , "" and we are urging that all precautions be taken to avoid any kind of confrontation . ""  Clinton ' s comments followed an even harsher statement by State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland , in which she criticized what she called "" irresponsible and provocative actions that risk the safety of their passengers . ""  Last May , the Mavi Marmara owned by the Turkish Humanitarian Relief Foundation , or  and five other ships were on their way to Gaza , carrying humanitarian aid and about 700 activists from various countries , when Israeli soldiers swarmed aboard it .  Despite international condemnation , an independent Israeli commission , led by retired judge Yaakov Turkel , later found that Israeli commandos "" acted professionally and in a measured manner in the face of unanticipated violence "" when they seized the Gaza bound aid ship .  In September , the U . N . Human Rights Council found Israeli forces "" committed serious violations of international law "" in the raid and suggested that six of the civilian deaths were "" consistent with . . . an arbitrary and summary execution . ""  Israel called the report "" as biased and as one sided as the body that has produced it . ""  The U . S . State Department earlier this week issued a travel warning advisting U . S . citizens "" against traveling to Gaza by any means , including via sea . ""  "" Previous attempts to enter Gaza by sea have been stopped by Israeli naval vessels and resulted in the injury , death , arrest , and deportation of U . S . citizens , "" the State Department statement said . "" U . S . citizens participating in any effort to reach Gaza by sea should understand that they may face arrest , prosecution , and deportation by the government of Israel . ""  Ali Abunimah , a blogger for the Electronic Intifada and supporter of the protest , accused Clinton of seeming to "" lay the ground indeed almost provide a green light for an Israeli military attack on the upcoming Gaza Freedom Flotilla . ""  Activists say the blockade is illegal and has worked to undermine Gaza ' s already fledgling economy . Israel has promised to block any attempt to break a blockade that they say is important in keeping weapons from being delivered to Gaza .  The protesters said they raised funds to purchase a U . S . flagged vessel , which they named "" The Audacity of Hope , "" a reference to the best selling book of the same title by President Barack Obama .  The boat , they claim , will carry 36 passengers , four crew members , and ten journalists . The protesters say they want to "" challenge U . S . foreign policy "" by providing aid and supplies directly to the citizens of Gaza , in spite of Israel ' s blockade .  "" We encourage all Americans to support our voyage , and to agitate with the  government and public opinion to ensure our safe passage to Gaza , "" wrote Robert Naiman , policy director at the advocacy group Just Foreign Policy , who said he ' ll be part of the flotilla .  The State Department counters that , if the activists want to help the citizens of Gaza , there is a better and legal way to do it .  Victoria Nuland , the department ' s spokeswoman , told reporters , "" We ' ve got to use the channels that are safe , the channels that are going to guarantee that the aid get where it needs to go to the people it ' s intended for . ""  Clinton added Thursday that it would be unwise to move toward Israeli waters and create "" a situation in which the Israelis have the right to defend themselves . ""  But these words did not impress Abunimah , who wrote that "" in light of Clinton ' s statements , if any blood is spilled it will not only be on Israeli , but also American hands . ""  ",true,text,test,US elections,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
23782,23783,"This is the mind boggling moment a basketball player smashes the world record for the farthest shot made backwards by throwing from 82 . 2ft .  Corey ' Thunder ' Law , a player with the Harlem Globetrotters , performed the impressive stunt on Wednesday at the  Airways Center in Phoenix , Arizona .  Cameras filmed the 6ft 3in sports star in action as he launched the ball backwards over his head , unable to see the hoop he was aiming at .  Wait for it : This is the mind boggling moment a basketball player smashes the world record for the farthest shot made backwards by throwing from 82 . 2ft  Under pressure : Corey ' Thunder ' Law , a player with the Harlem Globetrotters , performed the impressive stunt on Wednesday at the  Airways Center in Phoenix , Arizona  Up in the air : Cameras filmed the 6ft 3in sports star in action as he launched the ball backwards over his head  Hand eye coordination : Law was unable to see the ring he was aiming at  On point : Incredibly , footage secured from multiple angles , shows he scored a perfect basket  Incredibly , footage secured from multiple angles , shows he scored a perfect basket .  The ball flies through the air before whipping through the net on the other side of the court .  ' You got it ! ' a bystander excitedly exclaims .  All smiles : An adjudicator from the Guinness World Records confirmed Law had topped the past record set more than three years ago at 72 . 2ft  Action shot : The ball flies through the air before whipping through the net on the other side of the court  Mind boggling : ' You got it ! ' a bystander excitedly exclaims as the record is set  Skilled : It was the second record Law has demolished on Guinness World Records Day  On a roll : In November 2013 , he broke the mark for the longest forwards thrown basketball shot , connecting from 109 . 9ft  An adjudicator from the Guinness World Records confirmed Law had topped the past record set more than three years ago at 72 . 2ft .  It was the second record Law has demolished on Guinness World Records Day .  In November 2013 , he broke the mark for the longest forwards thrown basketball shot , connecting from 109 . 9ft .  Commenting on Wednesday ' s achievement he said : ' It was incredible to have the opportunity to break a record last year , and this year , it was just as extraordinary . '  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
23809,23810,"A ' superwheat ' created by British scientists could increase crop yields by up to a third .  In one of the biggest potential advances for farming in a generation , researchers have cross bred modern wheat seed with ancient wild grass species to produce a more resilient , productive crop .  Researchers at the National Institute of Agricultural Botany (  ) said the new ' superwheat ' could be combined with current varieties to boost drought tolerance , disease resistance , as well as their yield .  Good news for farmers : A new ' superwheat ' can increase wheat crop yields by up to 30 per cent ( stock image pictured )  In early field trials , the new crop was 30 per cent more productive than conventional wheat , and could be available to farmers as soon as 2019 .  The process of producing the synthetic ' superwheat ' is similar to selective breeding and does not use genetic modification .  It could also spell good news for the consumer , with increased production promising to keep down prices for bread , biscuits and pasta .  Britain is set to become a net importer of wheat for the first time in more than a decade after last year ' s terrible weather . Farmers fear the trend will continue next year , due to planting difficulties and seed shortages .  Earlier this month , it emerged McVitie ' s Digestives will no longer carry a logo stating the biscuits contain ' 100 per cent British Wheat ' due to sourcing difficulties . Both Hovis and Weetabix have also had to drop their sourcing pledges .  Dr Tina Barsby , from the chief executive and director of  , said modern cultivated wheat is the result of a cross between durum used and goat grass that likely occurred in the Middle East 10 , 000 years ago .  Emerging crisis : Britain faces importing wheat for the first time in more than a decade after poor weather last year destroyed crops with farmers fearing the trend will continue next year  The Cambridge based team selected early wheat and grass varieties from seed banks across the globe and cross bred them for maximum potential .  ' This year our crop had a 30 per cent better yields , which took us a bit by surprise , ' said Dr Barsby . ' Although to is in the early stages , we are very optimistic .  ' In the past decade , our wheat yield had started to plateau off and we needed another increase in productivity to meet demand .  ' It is about finding novel characteristics from the original ancestors of wheat and breeding them to make them as productive and resilient as possible . ' Dr Barsby said the technique involved breeding selected species of wheat and grass , and that no  technology was involved .  ' You can sometimes become too focused on one technology like  and not look at other techniques that can bring you similar success , ' she said .  Over the next 50 years , the world needs to grow more wheat than has been produced in the 10 , 000 years since agriculture began .   President , Peter Kendall , also an arable farmer , said increased production will help keep future prices down .  ' The trials show up to 30 per cent yield increase , which is truly fantastic . It is particularly good news , as we had to import wheat following last year ' s record wet weather and it will be a similar picture this year with a poor harvest expected .  ' This is about increasing resilience and making ourselves self reliant . We want to be able to feed ourselves and the rest of the world . '  ",true,text,test,Football,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
23816,23817,"Jakarta , Indonesia Prita Mulyasari has become an "" accidental hero "" in Indonesia , spawning a social movement among many Indonesians in support of her battle with the country ' s legal system .  About a year ago , she sent a private email to a list of friends complaining that the Omni Hospital in Jakarta had misdiagnosed her illness . Somehow the hospital got hold of the email and reported her to police , pressing charges of defamation .  That was only the beginning . The police promptly arrested the mother of two , throwing her in jail for two weeks before her trial had even begun . Then , she was tried and convicted in a civil suit twice before the criminal proceedings had even started . On December 4 , a court ruled in the hospital ' s favor and ordered Prita Mulyasari to pay more than  20 , 000 in damages many times the annual salary of many Indonesians .  "" For one year , I ' ve gone through this legal process , "" said Prita , who is known by her first name . "" There ' s no certainty in the legal system . It ' s not clear at all . "" She smiled softly and said , "" I ' m just very , very confused and really very tired . ""  Her case has gotten widespread attention and public sympathy among Indonesians who believe she has been treated unfairly by a legal system that favors the rich at the expense of the poor .  "" When you ' ve got money you can do anything , "" said her lawyer ,  Kaligis . "" It ' s always the small people that are victims of this injustice . ""  The hospital , prosecutors and even Prita did not expect what happened next : a major support movement driven by the power of Indonesia ' s growing middle class and its mastery of social media .  It started on sites such as Facebook and Twitter . "" Free Prita "" became the rallying cry . Images of the clearly distraught Prita , separated from her two young children , generated a wave of sympathy from ordinary Indonesians and quickly made her a cause celebre . Soon , the country ' s leading politicians were flocking to have their photos taken with this soft spoken woman in a modest , Muslim headscarf .  "" She ' s just like us , "" explained one Indonesian housewife . "" If this could happen to her , it could happen to me , to any one of us . ""  When the courts handed down the fine of 20 , 000 a small fortune in Indonesia bloggers began "" A Coin for Prita "" campaign . They encouraged the public to send in 100 rupiah coins little more than a cent to help pay off Prita ' s fine .  "" When we heard about the fine , we all thought , that ' s just not right , "" said Yusro Santoso , one of the organizers behind the campaign . "" We thought the courts have treated this case as worthless as small change . And we thought , okay , then let ' s collect all the small change to at least pay that fine . ""  The response was overwhelming . From street performers to business tycoons , thousands of Indonesians sent in contributions . The vast majority were coin collections , but a few wealthy donors chipped in thousands of dollars in cash .  "" It ' s a sign of reprimand to all the judges and the police that you can ' t do what you want anymore , "" explained Prita ' s lawyer ,  Kaligis . "" The conscience of the small people , they are crying why is there no justice for them ? ""  Volunteers stayed up until the early morning hours for a week to count the coins that kept coming in . Schoolchildren were seen counting next to retirees . One wealthier woman had enlisted the help of her entire domestic staff to help count .  "" Seems to me she ' s not at fault , right ? "" said one girl still in her school uniform delivering a collection of coins from her class . "" Everyone has the right to criticize others , yet she was sentenced for it . ""  By December 20th , volunteers counted more than 60 , 000 far exceeding the amount needed to pay off the fine . No one seems quite sure what to do with all this generosity . Organizers have handed it all over to Prita , but she insists the money needs to go to charity .  In the wake of the public outcry , the Omni Hospital has offered to drop the case and waive the fine that Prita owes if she submits a written apology . The Omni Hospital maintains that the previous court rulings were fair and just . Omni ' s lawyers have an interesting take on the "" Coin for Prita "" phenomenon .  But Prita is refusing to apologize . Instead , she is vowing to appeal to the country ' s Supreme Court while she waits for criminal proceedings to conclude . She also plans a countersuit against Omni hospital .  "" I think Indonesians are just tired . They are fed up with the injustices in this country , "" she says . "" These coins can speak for us . After all , anyone can give a coin so anyone can be a part of this . ""  ",true,text,test,Football,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
23824,23825,"As time goes on, it becomes ever clearer that Trump is Russia s puppet. There s every possibility he owes them money, and he s repeatedly blasted our intelligence community for daring to say that Russia did, indeed, engage in a concerted campaign to influence our election in Trump s favor. But did he always feel this way? Was he always Russia s puppet?It seems not, and it s by his own words that we know this. As recently as 2014, he said, in a series of interviews, that Mitt Romney was right to say that Russia was our greatest geopolitical foe: [Mitt] said [Russia is] a hell of a problem, and everybody laughed at him, including certain media, by the way. They laughed. It turned out that he s absolutely right. You look at what Russia s doing with Iran, how they controlled the situation, and Syria, and virtually every other place. He also insinuated that Obama was Putin s puppet because he felt we being meek and cowardly in the face of such a threat. We should definitely be strong, we should definitely do sanctions, and we have to show some strength. I mean, Putin has eaten Obama s lunch, therefore our lunch, for a long period of time. Now he says he s open to lifting our sanctions on Russia if we can all just get along, which is never going to happen because Russia is ruled by an autocrat. If we lift the sanctions, Russia will pull Trump s puppet strings even more. He also seems to like to kiss Putin s ass, mouth, and dick   he doesn t criticize Russia at all, and staunchly defends them against other criticisms and revelations.Here s his stance back in 2014:In other words, this is another position on which he s flip-flopped. He just says whatever his strongest manhandlers want him to say. Whether they re his supporters, or foreign powers hoping to use him for their own gain, he says whatever he thinks will win him the most points.Featured image by Spencer Platt via Getty Images",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,satire,fake,True,no,no,negative,past
23832,23833,"How to Survive a Nuclear Fallout Ad 728×90 –  Account – 2149237058061490 weblink  By Caleb Stephen  Posted Friday, October 28, 2016 at 07:54am   Keywords: fallout , Nuclear , nuclear attack , nuclear attack survival , nuclear bomb , nuclear bomb survival , nuclear power , nuclear radiation , nuclear war , nuke , radiation , survival , tactical nuke With the ongoing tensions between the United States and Russia, fears of a nuclear World War 3 breaking out are running at an all-time high.  With that in mind, I thought it needful to write an article on how to survive the aftermath of a nuclear fallout. Obviously we could discuss the likelihood of such an event occurring but that isn’t within the scope of this article. Personally I believe that at this point in time, such a scenario is not at all far fetched, however the situation is very fluid and thus things could change at any time.  Basically there’s two main types of nuclear weapons out there. First, you’ve got what is known as the ‘tactical’ nukes and then the intercontinental sort – the stuff that would basically flatten the earth. In that case there’s no point even trying to survive that. I’m going to be talking about how to survive a tactical nuke incident. #1. Don’t be anywhere near ground zero  Obviously the first step to surviving the initial explosion is to not be there in the first place. Of course, there’s not a ton that you can do if you happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. You’ve just got to hope that you exit this world pretty quick – which would most certainly happen if you’re anywhere close to ground zero.  The tremendous heat and sheer force of the explosion is enough to kill anyone and flatten anything within an 8 km radius of the detonation site. The intense thermal radiation emitted by the flash of light at detonation is enough to blind you, burn your flesh and start fires in the impact zone.  If you’re outside when this happens and you happen to survive, you should take immediate cover in a building. If you get any debris on you, you should wash it off with soap and water as soon as possible.  As a survivor of the initial explosion, you now have around 10 to 20 minutes to bail out of the area before a lethal amount of radiation (fallout) comes down from the mushroom cloud. In those 10-20 minutes, you need to get at least 1.5 km (1 mile) from the blast zone to survive the fallout however within 24 hours lethal radiation will spread with prevailing winds so keep moving to safety. You should feel for the wind and begin running perpendicular to it – not upwind or downwind. #2. Getting to shelter  If you can’t get out of ground zero for whatever reason, then you need to get to shelter as soon as possible. Get into the deepest underground basement that you can find, or the highest story (above the 9th level) if possible.  If you are in the fallout zone, but safely sheltered, you need to remain there for at least 9 days. During this time, food and water should be carefully rationed and clothing layered up to prevent radiation.  Really the best way to survive a nuclear event is to prepare for one.  Remember the nuclear fallout shelters of the Cold War era? Well that’s what you need to be inside to survive. But not just any shelter. It’s got to meet a number of different specifications which I am not going to go into because you can find plenty of information on that if you Google ‘how to build a nuclear fallout shelter’ etc. #3. Personal protection measures  Protecting your body from harmful radiation and fallout particles is your number one priority after getting to shelter.  Like I said before, being prepared prior to such an event is very important which is why it’s a good idea to carry the gear I’m going to talk about shortly inside a ‘Go Bag’ that you can keep in your car, house or workplace.  Some quick first aid tips: It is necessary that all wounds should be covered to prevent contamination and the entry of radioactive particles. Any burns caused by radiation must first be washed and then normal burn first aid procedure should be followed.  Now let’s look at the gear you should have ready before a nuclear attack happens.  Gas mask: You’ll need a gas mask to protect your face and respiratory system from airborne pathogens and chemical particles. Israeli Military Surplus M-15 Gas Masks fitted with  40 mm  filters are some of the best and cheapest around, yet are getting harder and harder to find these days with huge supplies flying off the shelves in the relatively recent Ebola scar. I have the M-15 civilian version of this gas mask and it’s extremely comfortable, has a port for a hydration tube and best of all it’s been tested in real life conditions in the Middle East.  Military chemical suit: These suits provide optimal protection from chemical and biological attacks and are used by the British army. These are surprisingly cheap yet are proven to work by soldiers whose lives depend on them in everyday combat situations. You can get these for around $25 fromweblink  Gloves: You’re going to need gloves to protect your hands from contact with chemical pathogens and biological particles. Long, chemical resistant gloves can be found online, at some supermarkets and hardware stores. You can get these at around $10 – $15 depending on the brand etc.  Boots: In order to have full protection from chemical and biological hazards, it is important to have a good pair of rubber over-boots to protect your feet and legs from chemical and biological particles from coming into contact with your body. Ensure that you ‘blouse’ your trousers inside your boots for maximum protection. Once again, these boots that I recommend are used by the  military and you can get them onweblink for around $25.  Nuclear Protection: There is a way to reduce the effects of nuclear radiation in your body. Its called Potassium Iodide and its available on Amazon for less than $10 for a pack of 14 tablets. What this basically does is it reduces the chances of harmful radioactive iodine from entering your thyroid glands.  If you don’t have any of these when a nuclear attack happens, you can improvise. As I mentioned before, clothing should be layered up to prevent radiation contact with the skin. Cover your eyes with close-fitting sunglasses or improvised goggles.  #4. Decontaminating food and water  Water and food will be contaminated by debris from the nuclear fallout making procurement and consumption difficult, however it is not impossible to make them safe to consume.  Whenever possible, try to use water that has been sealed in a container or bottle as you can safely assume that the water inside the sealed container is not contaminated. Wash the container thoroughly with soap and water or boil it for at least 10 minutes before breaking the seal. If water in sealed containers is not available, your next choice, only under emergency conditions, is water from springs. Again, boil the water for at least 10 minutes before drinking. Keep the water covered while boiling to prevent contamination by airborne pathogens.  Your last choice (only in an extreme emergency where sealed water and spring water are unavailable) is to use standing water (that found in small pools, ponds and basically any water that does not flow). Contaminants, micro-organisms and germs can survive easily in stagnant water. First, boil this water as long as practical to kill all organisms. Next, filter it through a cloth to remove the nasties.  In all cases mentioned above, use water purification tablets (following all directions on the bottle/packaging) after boiling and initial filtration prior to consumption.  Like water, you can also assume that sealed containers or packages of processed food are safe. To ensure safety, decontaminate all food containers by washing with soap and water or by boiling the container in water for 10 minutes. This is where it helps to have a decent supply of sealed buckets and containers of military-style MRE’s and freeze-dried foods such as Wise Foods and Mountain House.  You should consider supplementing your sealed rations with local plants, animals and produce only in extreme emergencies. Unfortunately, no matter what you do to prepare or decontaminate the food, there is no guarantee that cooking will kill all the biological agents.  Remember, you can survive for a long time without food (at least 3 weeks, but can be longer), especially if the food you eat may potentially kill you!  If you must use local food, select only healthy-looking plants, animals, fruit and vegetables. Do not select known carriers of organisms such as rats or other vermin. Always use gloves and protective clothing when handling and dressing animals, plants etc. Cook all plant and animal food by boiling only. Boil all food for at least 10 minutes to kill all pathogens. Do not try to fry, bake, or roast local food as there is no guarantee that all infected portions have reached the required temperature to kill all pathogens. Do not eat raw food at all costs!  Obviously this article is nowhere near comprehensive, but I hope it gives you some idea of what you need to do in order to survive the aftermath of a nuclear attack. We can only hope and pray that such an event does not happen and that peace will prevail on this planet. You might also like…",fake,news,test,Other news1,Conflict,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
23837,23838,"China ' s former top domestic security official , Zhou Yongkang , has been arrested as part of a corruption probe , the country ' s state run Xinhua news agency reports .  Zhou who had been one of nine members of China ' s top decision making body , the Politburo Standing Committee , before stepping down in late 2012 was also expelled from the Communist Party , according to Xinhua , citing a decision made Friday at a meeting of the party central committee ' s political bureau .  The decision comes amid a much touted anti corruption campaign launched by President Xi Jinping , one that has already ensnared several men who had once been prominent figures in government and the ruling Communist Party .  Corruption is a lightning rod for public discontent across the Asian nation , which for decades has been run by the Communist Party . After taking power in late 2012 , Xi banned official extravagance from banquets to year end gifts and vowed to target "" flies and tigers "" alike in his fight against corruption when describing his resolve to spare no one , regardless of position .  One of them was Gen . Xu Caihou , a former vice chairman of the Central Military Commission , which runs the world ' s largest standing army . Xu was expelled from the party and handed over to prosecutors after being found to have accepted bribes , Xinhua reported in June . Like Zhou , Xu was in the Politburo before retiring in 2012 .  Also this summer , Xinhua reported on the downfall of Su Rong , a former vice chairman of China ' s top political advisory body . State media reported that Su and his wife profited tremendously through bribes and illegal land deals when he ran the southeastern province of Jiangxi .  Zhou officially got caught up in this campaign in July , when the Communist Party announced it was opening a probe into the retired senior leader for a suspected if then unspecified "" serious disciplinary violation . ""  According to a statement released Saturday by the Supreme People ' s Procuratorate , or China ' s prosecutor ' s office , an investigation determined that Zhou took advantage of his positions to garner profits for others "" and accepted huge bribes personally and through his family , "" Xinhua reported . He did so to help relatives , mistresses and friends , leaking party and country secrets while hurting state owned assets , according to Xinhua .  The same report noted that investigators found that Zhou had affairs with a number of women , trading "" his power for sex and money . ""  "" What Zhou did completely deviated from the ( Communist ) Party ' s nature and mission , and seriously violated Party discipline , "" Xinhua said , citing the statement from the procuratorate . His behavior "" badly undermined the reputation of the Party , significantly damaged the cause of the Party and the people and have yielded serious consequences . ""  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,past
23839,23840,"On December 16 , a young medical student in one of India ' s major cities was gang raped , her body destroyed by the bodies of the men who allegedly assaulted her and also by the rusting metal bar doctors say they used to penetrate her . The bar removed part of her intestines . The rest were removed in a hospital far from home where she struggled for her life for just a few days .  It has taken an attack that lies nearly outside of comprehension to prompt demonstrations , but the outcry has begun .  Over the weekend , women rose up in Nepal , protesting outside the prime minister ' s house against gender based violence .  What are your experiences of being a woman in India ? Send us your stories  Egyptian women have faced ceaseless sexualized violence since the start of that country ' s revolution , but are now protesting to stop the ever present sexual harassment and assault .  According to Eve Ensler , the head of V Day and One Billion Rising , a movement calling for women to rise up on February 14 , 2013 , and demand an end to violence , women in Somalia are planning what may be their first ever major demonstrations against rape and violence . Ensler will be in Mumbai Jan . 4 and Delhi Jan . 7 and will meet with activists and leaders for events aimed at raising awareness of the movement .  This groundswell what Ensler calls "" a catalytic moment "" is the perfect chance for us to consider how we think about subjugation , rape , and degradation of women globally .  Gloria Steinem and I have written about how a cult of masculinity is behind the constant violation of women around the world that some men brutalize women against their own self interest because of an addiction to control or domination . To put it plainly : Rape is not about sex .  Opinion : Misogyny in India We are all guilty  "" Rape is about violence , "" Steinem says , "" proving ' masculine ' superiority often inserting guns and other objects into women ' s bodies playing out hostility to other men by invading the bodies of ' their ' females , including old women and babies occupying wombs with sperm of a conquering group owning female bodies as the means of reproduction and raping men and boys to make them as inferior as females . ""  This is born out everywhere that rape occurs but especially in war zones like the Democratic Republic of Congo , where Dr Denis Mukwege , the medical director of Panzi Hospital , told me men use objects as a means to mark a woman to indicate that she now carries the message of violence impressed on her body . She becomes an emblem of terror meant to warn the world that nobody is safe . And while rape in war zones carries its own particular kind of horror , there is no escaping the cult of masculinity geographically . The culture of rape imbues whatever space we inhabit .  For women , "" peacetime "" does not exist .  Nearly 1 in 5 women in this country surveyed said they had been raped or had experienced an attempted rape at some point , according to the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey .  That women are expected to put up and shut up is universally understood : A 2012  report found that 57 percent of Indian boys and 53 percent of girls between ages of 15 and 19 think wife beating is justified . A recent study by two nonprofits found that 65 percent of men surveyed in the Democratic Republic of Congo believe "" women should accept partner violence to keep the family together . ""  And , as in India , where the appalling remarks of Andhra Pradesh Congress chief Botsa Satyanarayana appeared to place blame on the Delhi gang rape victim she chose a strange private bus , she shouldn ' t have been out after dark politicians , clergymen , husbands , and others around the world perpetually blame rape survivors . ( See this beauty from an Italian priest . Or reacquaint yourself with the stunners from Rep . Todd Akin or Senate candidate Richard Mourdock . )  These are more than just manipulative words victim blaming has consequences . Women are literally dying from fault finding from Syria to Sudan in honor killings , suicides , and murders because they are blamed for their sexual assaults .  We have to move the focus off the victim . Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said that the "" safety and security of women is of the highest concern to our government . ""   . That ' s one part of the equation . But what about the larger part what about prosecuting men who are committing these crimes ? Yes , women often do not report sexualized violence . But they do not report because they know that , at least in this country , only three of every 100 men accused of rape will ever spend a day in jail .  It ' s time to focus on the perpetrators . And it ' s also time for men and women to engage in a consistent dialogue on stopping rape .  Let ' s publicly and privately declare all sexualized violence unacceptable .  Let ' s hold perpetrators legally accountable and once and for all change laws and justice systems that continue to fail women .  Let ' s understand that rape is not a problem that affects only women : It affects families , communities , entire cultures . It is not an inevitability , but the outcome of a system based in discrimination , just as slavery was .  Let ' s declare 2013 The Year to End Rape . If this is a problem that men have created , this is a problem that men can help solve .  The time is now .  The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Lauren Wolfe .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
23875,23876,"Baghdad Iraq ' s Prime Minister Nuri al Maliki will not run for a third term when his current one expires in 2014 , the nation ' s state television reported Sunday .  "" If al Maliki passes this constitutional amendment then that means he definitely won ' t be a prime minister for a third term , "" said Ali Hadi al Moussawi , an adviser to the prime minister .  Iraq ' s constitution restricts the country ' s president from seeking a third term but does not set term limits for the prime minister or members of parliament .  The news comes two days after al Maliki said he would cut his salary in half amid growing unrest over poor public services and water shortages .  Protesters around Iraq have said popular uprisings in both Egypt and Tunisia inspired their weeklong demonstrations for improvements in government services and their quality of life .  Thousands have rallied across the country in the past week , railing against rampant poverty , a 45 national unemployment rate and shortages of food , electricity and water , including several hundred in three different parts of Baghdad on Friday .  Al Maliki said those concerns prompted his decision to axe his salary , which he said would "" help reduce the differences in the living standards for different classes . ""  "" Fifty percent of my monthly salary as prime minister will be reduced and returned to the government ' s treasury starting from the current month , as a contribution from me to reduce the difference in the salaries of the state officials , "" al Maliki said in a statement on his official website .  Meanwhile , Iraq ' s government submitted a revised draft budget to members of parliament Sunday , boosting projected public spending amid rising oil prices and slight decreases in the country ' s expected oil exports , according to government spokesman Ali al Dabbagh .  The new plan would create projected deficits of up to 16 percent , he said .  The budget is based on an average oil price of 76 . 5 per barrel and projected exports of 2 . 2 million barrels of oil per day , including 100 , 000 daily barrel exports from Iraq ' s autonomous Kurdish region .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
23879,23880,"“Sunrise, sunset, swiftly flow the days,” sing the weary residents of Anatevka in “Fiddler on the Roof. ” That will also be the melancholy tune on Broadway in the coming weeks, as several shows, including “Fiddler” and the megahit “Jersey Boys,” prepare to darken their marquees. Here’s a look at what happened during the long runs of five of them. During the run of the revival, the cast went through: 93 pairs of boots and shoes 972 challahs 234  or so haircuts and beard trims 1 onstage marriage proposal (after a show, by Ben Rappaport, who plays Perchik Megan Kane said yes). Other than a misplaced exit, Adrianna Hicks has had very few mishaps as a swing who has covered  —   or stepped in to play  —   seven characters in the   musical “The Color Purple. ” Unlike an understudy, who usually covers one lead role, a swing steps in “whenever someone is out sick or on vacation, or someone can’t make the train,” as Ms. Hicks put it. Like all swings, Ms. Hicks, 27, is at the theater even when she’s not scheduled to perform, in case something happens to an actor during the show. That’s what occurred at a performance in May when Cynthia Erivo, the show’s   star, left after the first act because of illness. “Somebody runs upstairs and was like, ‘Cynthia might be out, so just be prepared,’” Ms. Hicks recalled. “I was like, ‘Nobody talk to me, I just need to focus.’ They announced my name and said the performance would be continued by Adrianna. I remember walking out onstage and with the audience so responsive, loving that moment. ” Ms. Hicks said covering Ms. Erivo’s leading role, Celie, which she has done over 25 times, was the most daunting part of being in the show, her Broadway debut. (She goes next into the Encores! production of “Big River. ”) “In her voice there’s such freedom, because she has it in her body physically,” Ms. Hicks said of Ms. Erivo. “With me, I’m still learning to get it there. ” As for that missed departure, Ms. Hicks said, “Flaws have happened. ” “I have exited off the wrong side of the stage because I’m so set being another character for the entire week, and then, for one show, doing someone totally different,” she said with a laugh. “Thank God we just walk onstage and stand there at certain moments. ” The actor Gerry Vichi thinks “Something Rotten!” might be his last show. He’s 79. He’s developed a hernia that will require an operation, which he put off until after the show closes. He says his memory is fine, but keeping up the     energy is a challenge. So what’s next? “Maybe I’ll sit in my chair and drink Scotch and watch TV,” said Mr. Vichi, who made his Broadway debut in 1981 in the Kander and Ebb musical “Woman of the Year,” with Lauren Bacall. “Who knows? There’s always baseball season. ” Mr. Vichi has been with “Something Rotten!” for the show’s entire run  —   it opened in April 2015  —   playing a comedic version of Shylock. (“He speaks a little more modern and he does like to loan money, but he doesn’t look for a pound of flesh,” he explained.) Between shows on a recent Wednesday, he got on the phone to talk about what he called “probably the most fun of any show I’ve done. ” Following are edited excerpts from the conversation. “Something Rotten!” had a good run. Congratulations. We had a nice run. If it weren’t for Ben Brantley, maybe we would have run longer. Put him on the phone. I’ll tell him. Has performing gotten more difficult as you’ve gotten older?   that’s fine. Keeping up the energy is a challenge, but it’s fun. It’s a joy to come to work every day. How many people can say that? Do you have any   rituals? I will often take members of the cast out to dinner. One night I took a bunch of the girls out. When we fellows get together, we pick a steakhouse, like Quality Meats, and we have a good time. When you say you take members out for dinner, does that mean you pay? I like to pay. I’m a good tipper. Who wants to ask around  —   who had the borscht? Who had the Caesar salad? Give me a break. How do you feel about the show’s closing? There will be tears, but not from me. I don’t have any illusions about being a star or a big shot. I just like to have fun.  Anything else you wanted to say before we close? Tell Ben Brantley I called. When the show wraps up, it will have had: 19 girls featured in the role of Matilda 64 kids employed in the production 1 fresh copy of “Alice in Wonderland” torn up in every show 23, 880 balloons inflated (15 per show) 796 pounds of chocolate frosting shoveled into the face of Matilda’s classmate Bruce, who takes a slice of Miss Trunchbull’s chocolate cake and winds up forced to eat the whole thing. 51 actors have made their Broadway debuts in the show.  original Broadway cast members are still in it (Peter Gregus, Mark Lotito and Sara Schmidt).  actor has been in it since the   engagement at La Jolla Playhouse (Peter Gregus).  29. 8 pounds of gunpowder have been fired onstage. 31 babies were born to company members in the show (22 are girls). 120, 692 times “Oh What a Night” has been said or sung onstage (26 per performance). 157, 828   (34 per performance).",true,news,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
23892,23893,"—   A few months after Lu Qiumei gave birth to her daughter in 2012, local officials visited her home and told her that she was required to be fitted with an intrauterine device. For more than three decades, this was national policy in China. The  was the government’s most important tool for limiting couples to one child, and almost all new mothers were required to get one. Ms. Lu, a former advertising executive, considered the demand invasive, insulting and potentially harmful to her health. Still, like hundreds of millions of Chinese women before her, she made an appointment with a state gynecologist and had one put in. Now, a year after abandoning the “ ” policy, the government is hoping to make it up to Ms. Lu and millions of women like her  —   by removing their IUDs, free of charge. But the offer, made without even a hint of an apology, has provoked incredulous outrage. “We shouldn’t even have had this in the first place, and now the government wants to use it as a form of state benefit for people,” Ms. Lu, 36, scoffed in a phone interview from her home in the eastern city of Linyi. “It’s like they are slapping themselves in the face. ” While IUDs elsewhere can often be removed with the tug of their strings in a doctor’s office, surgery is usually needed in China because most devices here are designed or altered to be more difficult to extract, some with shortened strings and others with no strings at all. But many Chinese women have chafed at the thought of the government’s getting involved, yet again, in their private lives. And for many mothers, the offer has come too late for them to consider having a second child. “It’s the equivalent of someone injuring you and then mending the wound,” said Zhang Xintian, 25, who watched her mother go into surgery two years ago in the eastern province of Zhejiang to remove the  she had worn for more than two decades. In China, women often have the same  from soon after childbirth until menopause while popular IUDs in the United States are typically deemed effective for up to 10 years, those used in China offer birth control for much longer. China began demanding that women be fitted with an intrauterine device after they had one child, and sterilized after they had two, in the early 1980s. Those who refused risked that their children would be denied access to public schools and health insurance. Civil servants and state employees who refused lost their jobs. From 1980 to 2014, according to official statistics, 324 million Chinese women were fitted with IUDs. And 107 million underwent tubal ligations or, as is commonly said, got their “tubes tied. ” Local officials were evaluated by their ability to meet targets, leading some to order that the procedures  —   as well as abortions  —   be performed by force on women who resisted. Then last year, confronting an aging population and a shrinking work force, President Xi Jinping relegated the   policy to the Communist Party’s scrap heap of discarded dogma. And without so much as an expression of regret or an admission that it had perhaps made a mistake, the party pivoted from punishing couples for having a second child to encouraging them to get on with reproducing. To that end, an official said at a recent news conference that 18 million women would be eligible for the free removal of IUDs in the next three years so they could bear a second child. “Our country provides support in terms of law, finance and service systems to ensure citizens’ access to the free removal of IUDs,” said the official, Song Li of the National Health and Family Planning Commission’s department of women and children. But the   reversal, the paternalistic attitude, the failure to accept any culpability  —   for some, it was too much. Within hours of the news conference, the internet was fuming with indignation. The mass implantation of IUDs amounted to “involuntary, forced acts of mutilation,” Han Haoyue, a popular columnist, wrote in a post shared nearly 3, 000 times on Weibo, China’s version of Twitter. “And now, to say they are offering free removal as a service to these tens of millions of women  —   repeatedly broadcasting this on state television as a kind of state benefit  —   they have no shame, second to none. ” Over the years, many Chinese women have come to hate the IUD, which is inserted into the uterus to block fertilization. In the novel “Frog,” by Mo Yan, the first Chinese citizen to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, the main character imposes a reign of terror involving the compulsory implantation of IUDs and tries to catch women who surreptitiously remove them. In mainland China, being fitted with an  is called “shang huan,” a phrase that literally means “installing a loop,” referring to the   stainless steel ring that was the state’s preferred device for more than a decade despite higher rates of complications. The rings were replaced in the   by safer and more effective IUDs. According to gynecologists in China, IUDs used for Chinese women were meant to be left indefinitely, with surgery necessary to take them out. Dr. Gloria Korta, a gynecologist at Winchester Physician Associates in Massachusetts, who toured Chinese hospitals as part of a cultural exchange in 2001, said that while there was a risk of infection from having an  implanted for many years, it was small. Perhaps because of the problems associated with the early model, there remains widespread concern in China about the IUD’s impact on women’s health. In 2012, the online portal Tencent published a lengthy report arguing that many Chinese women had “experienced serious damage to their mental and physical health” from the  campaign because of “rough surgeries and poor hygiene conditions. ” Ai Xiaoming, 63, a prominent documentary filmmaker, said many women, herself included, had never been advised of potential complications and the need for regular checkups after getting an IUD. She had to have a hysterectomy when surgery to remove her  was botched. “In the eyes of the government, women are labor units,” Ms. Ai said. “When the country needs you to give birth, you have to do so. And when they don’t need you to give birth, you don’t. ” Even before the end of the   policy, the government allowed some women to remove their IUDs if they complained of medical complications. Others, including Ms. Zhang’s mother, did it without permission, paying sympathetic doctors to remove them. But Wang Feng, a sociology professor at the University of California, Irvine, who studies the   policy, said the government appeared to be preparing to remove IUDs on a larger scale. “They were anticipating the numbers, how many operations need to be done, as if this is another government program,” he said. The government’s eagerness appears to be driven in part by growing concern over the economic impact of the nation’s plummeting birthrate, now one of the lowest in the world. According to 2015 data, Chinese women had 1. 05 children on average, well below the population replacement rate of more than 2. 1. With fewer young people to support larger numbers of retirees in China, scholars have warned of a looming demographic crisis. But many couples are not interested in having a second child, some because of the potential costs, others because of their age. Cao Cuihua, 35, a restaurant owner in the central province of Anhui and the mother of a    boy, said she did not plan to remove her  because she and her husband could not afford more children. “I did think about having a second child, but my economic circumstances don’t allow it,” she said. “This national policy to have two children has come a bit too late. ” Yi Fuxian, a scientist at the University of   who studies China’s demographics, said half of all Chinese women eligible to have a second child were 40 or older. “Most people have already lost the ability to give birth,” Dr. Yi said by email. “The willingness to have children is already very low, so the Chinese government’s offer of free surgeries will be of no avail. It will have little effect on the birthrate. ” Mao Qun’an, a spokesman for China’s family planning commission, defended the offer to remove IUDs and said the government would also cover the costs of surgery to reverse tubal ligations and vasectomies. (Such procedures are more complicated, and critics say most Chinese hospitals are not equipped for them.) Dr. Dalice Marriott, a gynecologist at Beijing United Family Hospital, said a woman who had an  for a long time ran the risk of “having it embedded in the uterine wall. ” “That makes it much more difficult to remove,” Dr. Marriott said, adding that the surgery could result in bleeding, infection and injury to the uterus. Asked about the public outcry over the government’s offer to remove IUDs, Mr. Mao replied, “We did not deliberately emphasize that it’s a government benefit. ” Li Yinhe, a prominent Chinese scholar of sex and the family, defended the government’s approach, arguing that population control measures were “not targeted against women’s rights. ” “If the state doesn’t engage in this, then it’s not only a disadvantage for men, it also hurts the interests of women,” she said. “Women giving up their reproductive rights is a sacrifice that is made for the whole Chinese society. ” But many women want the government to acknowledge that its original policy was wrong. “What they’ve done to women is inhumane,” said Xu Dali, 35, a mother of two sons in Linyi. “Why did the government force every women then to have an IUD? At that time, why did it not consider the physical harm that has been inflicted on every woman?”",true,news,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
23895,23896,"Donald Trump has managed to attract the most racist and Islamophobic of American voters. That was all on display in Rock Hill, South Carolina, at a Friday night campaign rally when a Muslim woman, 56-year-old Rose Hamid, was thrown out by Trump security.[youtube weblink dressed in traditional Islamic dress and a t-shirt that read  I come in Peace,  was sitting in the stands directly behind Trump when Trump supporters, at the urging of his campaign staff, began to chant Trump s name after Rose stood up when Trump suggested that Syrian refugees were affiliated with ISIS. Rose simply stood up and stayed silent when she began to be heckled, which eventually led to her removal by Trump s security.Hamid later said that she  came to the rally to let Trump supporters see what a Muslim looks like so I figured that I d give them the opportunity to meet one. She said that many were shouting  epithets  at her. She said that one man yelled,  You have a bomb, you have a bomb. Trump made an ironic comment at her, making the victim of the night the victimizer. Trump said: There is hatred against us that is unbelievable. It s their hatred, it s not our hatred. Major Steven Thompson of the Rock Hill Police Department said that Hamid was removed  from the rally because the campaign advised him before the event that  anybody who made any kind of disturbance  should be immediately ejected.However, it s clear from the video that Hamid was not making a disturbance. It s become commonplace for Trump supporters to remove and sometimes beat individuals who challenge his stance on racist and anti-Islamic dogma which has attracted followers from across the country.This is Trump s America, and as can clearly be seen from the video, if this person gets to power, we are all in trouble.Featured image via YouTube Screenshot.",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,past
23897,23898,"The Netherlands came from a goal down to beat 10 man Brazil 2 1 in their World Cup quarterfinal clash in Port Elizabeth on Friday .  An early goal from Robinho had put Brazil in command , but in the second half the Dutch drew level when Wesley Sneijder ' s cross was deflected into his own net by Felipe Melo .  Inter Milan ' s Sneijder then headed his team ahead in the 68th minute after Arjen Robben ' s corner had been cleverly flicked on by Dirk Kuyt .  A miserable afternoon for Melo was completed when he was sent off for stamping on Robben .  The Dutch will play either Uruguay or Ghana in the semifinals , but for Brazil and coach Dunga it is a bitter defeat .  "" We are all responsible for this situation but I have the greatest responsibility , "" he told  .  The inspirational Sneijder was surprised to score the winner with a rare headed goal .  "" This was my first header here , I don ' t think it will happen again , but it was great , "" he told  .  "" The ball slipped on my bald head and went into the net , a great feeling . ""  The 26 year old added : "" If you can eliminate Brazil , one of the best teams in this championship the first feeling is relief , we always believed in it . ""  A Dutch victory had looked unlikely as the five time World Cup champions took charge from the start .  Melo found Robinho with a precise pass through a static Dutch defense and he made no mistake as he swept his shot past Maarten Stekelenburg in the 10th minute .  Further chances fell to the Brazilians as Dani Alves set up defender Juan who blazed his volley over .  The best move of the match involving Robinho and Lus Fabiano saw Kaka draw a brilliant save from Stekelenburg , while right back Maicon shot into the side netting on the run as half time approached .  There seemed no way back for the Dutch , but a 53rd minute aberration from Brazil keeper Julio Cesar turned the tide of the match .  He totally missed Sneijder ' s left footed cross from the right and the unfortunate Melo saw it brush his body before finding its way into the net .  More poor defending allowed Sneijder to give the Dutch the lead and when Melo was deservedly shown red it was the end of the line for the South American champions .  Only a strong run and shot by Kaka which was deflected away offered them much hope and they might have fallen further behind to Dutch counter attacks .  ",true,text,test,Football,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
23903,23904,"The government of China announced Friday that it plans to increase its defense budget by 12 . 7 , according to Xinhua news agency .  Li Zhaoxing , a former foreign minister for the Chinese government , made the announcement at the Fourth Session of the 11th National People ' s Congress , the news service reported . Li is the spokesman for the session , according to Xinhua .  The planned increase in China ' s defense budget would mark the second hike in military spending in as many years , according to the government . In 2010 , China increased its defense budget by 7 . 5 from the previous year , Li said .  In 2011 , China plans to increase defense spending by 67 . 6 billion yuan to a total of 601 billion yuan , according to Li . The sum is the equivalent of 91 billion U . S . , he said .  The planned budget increase does not reflect a change in the nation ' s military aspirations , Li said .  "" The limited military strength of China is solely for safeguarding its national sovereignty and territorial integrity and would not pose a threat to any country , "" Li said , according to Xinhua .  "" The government has always tried to limit military spending and it has set the defense spending at a reasonable level . ""  The government plans to use more of its defense budget to improve its armament , training and human resource development as well as raise living standards for China ' s armed forces , he said .  The government is not under reporting the amount of money it plans to spend on defense , he said  "" There is no such thing as a so called hidden military expenditure in China . And the budget is subject to auditing from the government and military . ""  China ' s ratio of defense spending to gross domestic product is less than many countries , Li said . That includes the United States , which Li said , is spending 725 billion in 2011 , the news service reported .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
23913,23914,"Bernie Sanders introduces legislation to end federal ban on marijuana  Senator s proposal would give states authority to legalize the drug without fear of federal crackdown , winning Sanders applause from activists  Bernie Sanders has introduced a bill to remove marijuana s federal label as one of the most dangerous drugs . Photograph : ddp  Rex Shutterstock  Last modified on Thursday 5 November 2015 12 . 53 ?   Vermont senator Bernie Sanders introduced legislation on Wednesday that would end the federal prohibition on marijuana , removing the drug from the federal government s list of the most dangerous substances ? a move that distinguishes the Democratic presidential hopeful from the other candidates in the race .  Under Sanders plan , marijuana would not automatically become legal . Rather , states would have the right to decide whether or not they want to legalize the drug ? without fear of federal impediment . In effect , states would inherit the power to regulate marijuana in the same way state and local laws now govern the sale of alcohol and tobacco .  Related : Marijuana businesses voice fear of a Republican president  In my view , the time is long overdue for us to remove the federal prohibition on marijuana , Sanders said at a campaign event at George Mason University in Virginia last month , when he first announced his intentions .  During his remarks at the university , Sanders said that the federal marijuana prohibition has blighted the lives of too many young people , especially young people of color .  Too many Americans have seen their lives destroyed because they have criminal records as a result of marijuana use , Sanders told the crowd of college students . That is wrong . That has got to change .  Marijuana is currently classified by the  Drug Enforcement Administration as a Schedule 1 drug , along with heroin ,  and ecstasy , a fact which Sanders has called absurd . ( Cocaine is designated as a less strict Schedule 2 drug . ) His bill would not permit the transportation of marijuana across state lines .  As president , Sanders would have the executive authority to de schedule the drug other proposals would require Congress to act .  The bill is also intended to allow growers and dispensers to use the banks , which routinely shun business from the legal pot industry for fear they will be shut down by federal authorities .  Though pot remains an illegal substance under federal law , four states ? Colorado , Washington , Oregon and Alaska ? as well as the District of Columbia have legalized the use of recreational marijuana . The  Justice Department has in effect stopped enforcing the law in states where voters have elected to legalize recreational use ? but there is no guarantee a future administration would take the same approach .  The Obama administration has essentially allowed these states to go forward and to do what their people have chosen to do , Sanders said in a Senate floor speech last week . That s a good step forward , but not good enough , because a new administration with a different point of view could simply go forward and prosecute these marijuana businesses despite what the people in these given states have chosen to do .  Democratic presidential hopeful Martin O Malley , the former governor of Maryland , has said that if elected he would use his executive power to reclassify marijuana to a lower tier under federal drug laws . The party s frontrunner , Hillary Clinton , has espoused a wait and see approach , saying she would monitor legalization experiments in Colorado and Washington ? the two states where marijuana is fully legalized ? before committing to changes at the federal level .  While likely to be well received among his young liberal base , the bill is unlikely to gain traction in the Senate .  But pro legalization groups are marking Sanders legislation as a milestone : the first time such a bill has been introduced in the chamber .  Senator Sanders really grabbed the nation s attention when he became the first major party presidential candidate to speak out in support of ending marijuana prohibition , said Mason Tvert , a spokesman for the Marijuana Policy Project , which has given Sanders an A grade for his stance on the issue . His actions today speak even louder than his words last month . Hopefully , this legislation will get his colleagues in Congress talking about the need for comprehensive marijuana policy reform .  A recent Gallup poll found that 58 of Americans support legalizing marijuana , though only a handful of lawmakers in Congress currently support legalization or leaving the matter to states .  Marijuana Majority pointed to the bill as a sign that the movement has not lost its momentum since Ohio voters rejected a ballot initiative to legalize the substance .  A growing majority of Americans want states to be able to enact their own marijuana laws without harassment from the  , and lawmakers should listen , said Tom Angell , the president of Marijuana Majority , which does not endorse political candidates . The introduction of this bill proves that the defeat of the Ohio marijuana monopoly measure that wasn t widely supported in our movement isn t doing anything to slow down our national momentum .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
23918,23919,"Serena Williams had to dig deep in a tough first set before the world No 1 eventually eased over the finish line to progress to the third round of the Australian Open .  Serena saved three set points against world No 203 Vera Zvonareva in the first set before battling back for a 7 5 , 6 0 victory .  Zvonareva , a former world No 2 from Russia , has been plagued by injury in recent years and now sits at a lowly ranking after playing just five tournaments last year .  Serena Williams went from agony to ecstasy as she battled past Vera Zvonareva to reach the third round  Williams looked set to lose the opening set but she fought back well before running away with the second  But Williams made a sluggish start and appeared to struggle to serve into the sun as she went 5 3 down in the opening set .  However , 33 year old Williams showed her fighting qualities and saved three set points as she reeled off four games in a row to take the opening set in 58 minutes .  Zvonareva never recovered and failed to win another game as Williams dominated to wrap up the match in one hour and 25 minutes .  Williams said : ' She started out really well . She was really agressive and I was a little bit too passive .  ' Once I got down , I said "" Serena , you have nothing to lose here , enjoy yourself "" and I started to play better . '  Earlier , sister Venus also reached the last 32 as the 34 year old beat compatriot Lauren Davis 6 2 , 6 3 in one hour and 16 minutes .  It is the 12th time Venus has progressed to the third round at Melbourne Park , though she has never won the title here , with her best performance being an appearance in the 2003 final against Serena .  The earliest the two sisters can meet this year is in the semi finals , although Venus will do well to get there considering she has a tricky encounter against feisty Italian Camila Giorgi next and a potential last 16 clash with No 6 seed Agnieszka Radwanska .  Zvonareva failed to close out the first set and was blown away in the second as she crashed out in Melbourne  Venus will not be content , though , unless she leaves Melbourne a week on Sunday with the trophy in her hands .  She said : ' For me , I ' ve won in my life . I ' ve won a lot of things . For me it ' s about titles , so no matter what the title is for me , getting to the finals is the same thing as the third round if I didn ' t win .  ' For me , it ' s about hopefully trying to take titles home . Last year I got in the circle to hopefully win titles quite a few times and sometimes came up short .  ' That ' s pretty much where I want to be . My focus really is how close can I get myself to be in that winner ' s circle . '  Venus ' s resurgence which included victory at the Auckland Classic two weeks ago after being hindered by illness and injury in recent years has also acted as motivation for her younger sibling .  Serena said : ' She is really motivating . She is playing so well , she ' s doing so good right now . It makes me look behind my shoulders and I have to play better and I want to do better .  ' I always want to be able to stay ahead as much as I can . So I think that ' s been , for our whole careers , we ' ve kind of motivated each other . We hopefully continue to do that . '  Venus Williams also reached the third round in Melbourne with a straight sets win over Lauren Davis  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
23923,23924,"Updated 2 : 34   , Wed January 20 , 2016  Rubio is pummeling the airwaves in Iowa like no other candidate  The ad spending provides a window into Rubio ' s strategy heading into the key primary contests in February  Florida Sen . Marco Rubio isn ' t barnstorming across Iowa in a big bus the way Texas Sen . Ted Cruz did earlier this month . But voters are seeing his face seemingly everywhere .  Rubio is pummeling the airwaves in the Hawkeye State like no other Republican presidential candidate , as he and his affiliated super  have reserved and spent roughly 12 . 5 million both promoting the Florida senator and slashing his rivals , according to media tracking sources .  Former Florida Gov . Jeb Bush ' s super  , Right to Rise , has dropped roughly 15 million there , but a good portion of those ads are aimed at castigating Rubio as a political neophyte who skips votes and flip flops on immigration .  The ad spending provides a window into Rubio ' s strategy heading into the key primary contests in February . He is trying rely heavily on the air war to solidify his standing in the top tier , ensuring he continues to hang around as the alternative to Donald Trump or Cruz when other establishment favorites potentially drop out .  And unlike other candidates like Ohio Gov . John Kasich , who is relying almost exclusively on a strong showing in New Hampshire , Rubio is trying to stay competitive nationally if the nominating contest becomes a delegate by delegate slugfest across the country .  Since 1976 , no  candidate has won the nomination after failing to win the first two states , and Rubio faces considerable opposition from several well financed campaigns . But Rubio and his team are increasingly banking on a long game strategy to take the nomination . They believe they have to end up in a strong third place position in Iowa , take second place in New Hampshire and pitch himself as a unity candidate ahead of South Carolina , where his advisers hope he ' s positioned to pull off a victory .  But first , he ' ll have to deliver a knockout blow to one his biggest foes : Christie , who has come under fire for confusing statements about his past support for Sonia Sotomayor to sit on the Supreme Court .  "" Sonia Sotomayor is maybe and this is a high standard maybe the most liberal justice on the Supreme Court , "" Rubio told voters Wednesday in Plymouth , New Hampshire .  Rubio also has to contend with Kasich , whose super  and campaign have spent roughly 12 million here in New Hampshire while staying off the Iowa airwaves .  Christie is also spending heavily here in the Granite State , spending 10 million mostly from his super  and a fraction of that amount in the other states . And Bush is the one candidate spending far more than Rubio . So far , Bush and his  , Right to Rise , have reserved or spent roughly 38 million here in New Hampshire alone with another 10 million in South Carolina .  The strategies of the campaigns have differed . Cruz has been purchasing ad time a few weeks a time , compared to other campaigns that reserved time earlier to get better rates . So Cruz may end up dipping deeper into his war chest to pummel the airwaves ahead of Iowa ' s caucuses on February 1 .  Indeed , the Texas conservative plans to spend big in the final two weeks in South Carolina and Iowa . He came out Wednesday with a narrowly tailored ad in South Carolina making an appeal to the state ' s military community .  But in New Hampshire , Cruz is spending just 80 , 000 per week , with his  spending little money on the radio , a sign that the Texas conservative ' s strategy rests heavily on doing well in the first and third nominating contests .  But money on the air doesn ' t always translate into good poll numbers , as Trump often tells reporters , pointing to Bush ' s standing in the early states . The bombastic billionaire has reserved and spent roughly 4 million in Iowa and New Hampshire , with barely 60 , 000 in South Carolina .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
23942,23943,"Former England captain David Beckham claims that wearing the armband for your country means more in England than anywhere else and hails the passion of current England skipper Wayne Rooney .  ' My dream was always to play for England , like every kid , ' Beckham said .  ' But I got the opportunity to represent my country 115 times and to be captain 59 times . It was my proudest moment to get the armband , reach 100 caps and represent my country in the World Cup .  Wayne Rooney prepares to lead his country out as England captain against Slovenia on Saturday evening  The Manchester United star picks up his 100th cap from fellow England centurion Sir Bobby Charlton  David Beckham claimed that the captaining ones country meant more to English players than anyone else  On an evening that sees Wayne Rooney pick up his 100th cap , Beckham highlighted what being England captain meant to him .  ' At times the England captaincy is underestimated . But you really know how important it is when you ' re part if the squad .  ' In our country it means more than anywhere else . To be captain of the England team was the proudest moment if my career . And people really respect that . They really understand how important it is .  ' When I look back at my career now I ' m retired , playing for England is the thing I really miss . '  England ' s most famous No 7 also expressed his admiration for Rooney , who will lead his side out against Slovenia on Saturday evening .  Beckham had nothing but praise for the current England captain ahead of his 100th cap at Wembley  After his retirement the former Three Lions skipper revealed wearing the armband is the thing he misses most  ' He ' s now the most respected player in the team . Young players will look up to Wayne for inspiration . He ' s the player who wears his heart on his sleeve . People want to see that passion . You fight for every ball and celebrate every goal you score and set up .  ' That ' s what Wayne ' s about . Wayne ' s such a great talent , such a great player , people love him , fans love him and it ' s great to see him with the armband . It ' s something I know he ' ll cherish . '  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
23960,23961,"Tokyo Japan has slapped new restrictions on green tea and plums from areas around the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant because of lingering radioactive contamination from the ongoing disaster there .  The latest government bans were prompted by the discovery of radioactive cesium 137 and 134 at concentrations higher than Japanese standards allow , Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano told reporters Thursday .  Both are nuclear waste products : cesium 137 has a half life of 30 years , while cesium 134 has a two year half life .  The government has now forbidden the shipment of both fresh and dried green tea normally touted for its health benefits from Ibaraki Prefecture , southwest of the plant from six towns in Chiba Prefecture and six towns in Kanagawa Prefecture , near Tokyo and two in Fukushima Prefecture , where the crippled plant is located .  In addition , Edano said , the government has banned the shipment of plums from three towns in Fukushima .  The moves come nearly three months into the crisis at Fukushima Daiichi , the worst nuclear accident since the 1986 Chernobyl disaster . One of three operating reactors at the plant melted down after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami , and the other two suffered extensive damage to their radioactive cores .  Though no deaths have been attributed to the accident , the resulting contamination has forced authorities to evacuate more than 100 , 000 people from towns surrounding the plant . In addition , restrictions on various agricultural and fisheries products have devastated Japanese farmers and fishermen since the disaster began , though some of those bans have been lifted in recent weeks .  The plant ' s owner , the Tokyo Electric Power Co . , has laid out a timetable for restoring normal cooling systems and fully shutting down the reactors by January . But Prime Minister Naoto Kan cautioned that people may not be allowed to return home immediately , "" even if these prospects are realized . ""  "" We might have to continue monitoring , and we need to maybe decontaminate , "" said Kan , whose government survived a no confidence vote Thursday spurred by complaints about his handling of the twin crises . "" And for that , there may be some more time needed . ""  The disaster has spurred Japan to rethink its commitment to nuclear energy and tighten safety standards for existing plants . A preliminary report from the International Atomic Energy Agency concluded this week that Japan underestimated the risks its nuclear installations faced from tsunamis , like the one that swamped the Fukushima Daiichi plant and knocked out its cooling systems .  But the U . N . nuclear watchdog agency declared the country ' s response to the disaster "" exemplary , "" praising Tokyo Electric ' s operators for their "" brave and sometimes novel "" efforts to contain the crisis .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Conflict,satire,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
23977,23978,"Depraved mothers who gave up their lives in the West to live under the rule of Islamic State terrorists in Syria are taking photographs of their newborn children sleeping alongside handguns and assault rifles in a sickening game of one upmanship on social media .  Featuring titles such as ' The Little Terrorist ' and ' Generation Kilafah ' , the chilling images show innocent children being forced to embrace their parents ' extremism in  ' de facto capital Raqqa .  While some shots feature children so young that they are unlikely to be aware of the significance of the photographs , another shows a masked young girl of around three years old dressed in full combat gear , carrying an AK47 and raising her index figure to make a well known jihadi gesture .  ' The Little Terrorist ' : A newborn baby is seen sleeping under a Hello Kitty blanket . The otherwise adorable photograph is ruined by the fact an AK47 machine gun is propped up against the side of the tiny baby ' s bed  Exploited : A masked young girl of around three years old is seen dressed in full combat gear , carrying an AK47 assault rifle , and raising her index figure to make a well known jihadi gesture  Although the images were posted on Twitter over the past year , they form part of a new study of the everyday lives and , inevitably , deaths of the young Western women who chose to live under  .  One photograph in the study , which was published on Buzzfeed , shows a woman calling herself Umm Abdullatif posting a photograph of a young boy aged about five dressed in military fatigues and firing a huge assault rifle .  She identifies the child as her son ' s ' lil best mate ' and suggests he has already been killed , adding that she hope her own child ' grows up to be like him and receives and beautiful death just like him ' .  Another photograph , this time posted by a woman calling herself Umm Usama , shows a one year old girl sleeping alongside a small , black pistol and is captioned ' Even my baby girl goes 2 bed with her gun generationkhilafah ' .  A similar image was posted on Twitter showing a newborn baby fast asleep in a plastic crate and covered in a Hello Kitty blanket . The otherwise adorable photograph is ruined , however , by the fact an AK47 machine gun is propped up against the side of the tiny baby ' s bed .  The image was posted on Twitter by a man claiming to be the child ' s father and was captioned : ' The Little Terrorist Hammam was born in the land of the caliphate , I ask God Almighty to make him one of the Caliphate ' s soldiers . '  Horror : Featuring titles such as ' The Little Terrorist ' and ' Generation Kilafah ' , the chilling images show innocent children being forced to embrace their parents ' extremism in  ' de facto capital Raqqa  A woman calling herself Umm Abdullatif posting a photograph of a young boydressed in military fatigues and firing a huge assault rifle . She identifies him as her son ' s ' lil best mate ' , suggests he has already been killed , and adds that she hope her own child ' grows up to be like him and receives and beautiful death just like him '  The study reveals numerous other images of young children being exploited for shocking photographs that are later posted by their twisted parents on social media .  The majority show young boys and girls dressed in combat clothing and brandishing weapons and are captioned with horrific messages by their parents wishing the children a hasty death .  Others show young boys and girls wearing clothing daubed in the chilling black and white  logo , stating that the children are being ' raised as lions ' who will one day fight against the West .  The overall effect is to instill fear in the West that even if the current generation of  jihadis are killed , there will still be generation after generation of bloodthirsty , brainwashed terrorists ready to fight and die in order to carry out atrocities against innocent people .  The use of sickening images of gun toting children also allows the often very young militant parents to brag and boast about how ' hardcore ' they are , distancing themselves from Western ideals of parenthood and encouraging them to take part in a pathetic one upmanship on social media .  Sick : This photograph shows young boys whose fathers have all been killed fighting for  posing in the terror group ' s capital city Raqqa . The woman who posted the image said that the boys ' mothers are now raising them to be the next generation of anti Western terrorists ready to fight and die for   Two young British women posted this photograph on Twitter saying they were living in  ' capital city Raqqa  The study of  wives was released as an Australian jihadist widow shared a series of propaganda pictures she says shows her ' five star jihad ' lifestyle and says she and other female jihadists are ' thirsty ' for the blood of her former countrymen .  In photographs posted to a Twitter account believed to belong to former Melbourne woman Zehra Duman , several women are pictured standing under an Islamic State flag , reclining against a clean white  M5 , wielding machine guns and dressed from head to toe in black Islamic dress .  In one tweet , Duman said : '  Australia , how does it feel that all 5 of us were born n raised in your lands , now here thirsty for ur blood ? '  Another image of five women standing under an Islamic State flag is captioned : ' Can ' t mess with my clique . From the land down under , to the land of Khilafah . Thats the Aussie spirit . '  Duman ' s account follows the similar naming conventions as previous social media accounts .  It also featured pictures of her late reported partner , the so called ' Playboy Jihadi ' Mahmoud Abdullatif , as her ' beautiful husband ' .  Life as normal : Women living under the rule of  in Syria regularly post photographs of the food they are eating online and boasting that electricity in Raqqa is continuing to run  Another photograph of food posted online by  militants was captioned ' Breakfast in the Islamic State '  Despite the brutal treatment of men and women living under the rule of the Islamic State in Syria , thousands of Westerners have made the journey to the terrorists ' de facto Syrian capital Raqqa .  Yesterday it emerged that yet another young woman had fled the  in a bid to reach  .  Photographed in a police cell , the 21 year old jihadi suspect named by officials as Jaila Nadra H was arrested by Turkish security services as she waited to board a bus in Ankara .  They believe the Muslim convert from East London was attempting to travel to the lawless and often porous border with Syria .  The woman faces being deported back to the  where she is likely to be arrested on suspicion of preparing acts of terrorism .  Sky News reports she is being held pending deportation hearings . One official said she was expected to be deported ' soon ' .  Turkish officials said authorities apprehended the woman based on local intelligence and were not tipped off by British authorities .  Five star jihad : The  wives study emerged as a Twitter account understood to belong to Zehra Duman posted a series of photographs of jihadist women ' from Australia and the  ' posing with a  M5  Alarming : Zehra Duman posted this photograph to social media with the caption : ' 5 star jihad . M5 ( the  ) in the land of sham ( Syria ) he he '  Turkish authorities are holding a 21 year old British woman named by officials as Jaila Nadra H ( pictured ) on suspicion of trying to travel to Syria and into Islamic State territory to join the terror group  The arrest comes days after three British teenagers were arrested at the airport in the Turkish city of Istanbul and thrown out of the country .  The young men , two aged 17 and a third aged 19 , were questioned by counter terrorism police on their return to the  and released on bail .  They have told their families they wanted to go to Syria to ' help ' , and denied subscribing to the beliefs of militant Islamists .  Last month three British girls Shamima Begum , 15 , Kadiza Sultana , 16 , and Amira Abase , 15 travelled to Turkey . They were following in the footsteps of a fourth girl from their school , a close friend , who travelled to Syria last December .  There are increasing concerns about the growing numbers of young people being lured to the warzone in Syria and Iraq .  Last week David Cameron said everyone has a responsibility to examine why people should want to join Islamic State .  Turkey is an important ally to the West as European states attempt to stem the flow of foreign fighters bolstering the ranks of Islamic State .  It has been criticised for allowing fighters to cross the border into Syria but in return has asked why other countries allow militants to travel in the first place .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
23980,23981,"Hillary Clinton ' s 9 11 moment was her biggest debate misstep  Hillary Clinton , right , makes a point as Bernie Sanders listens during a Democratic presidential primary debate , Saturday , Nov . 14 , 2015 , in Des Moines , Iowa .  Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is under fire for invoking the memory of the Sept . 11 attacks to defend against charges from her rivals that she is too close to Wall Street bankers .  Vermont Sen . Bernie Sanders , Clinton ' s main rival for the Democratic presidential nomination , called Clinton ' s pledge to remain unswayed by her Wall Street donors not good enough "" during Saturday ' s Democratic primary debate .  Sanders said Wall Street firms have been donating to Clinton in the hopes of friendly policies .  "" Maybe they re dumb but I don t think so , "" Sanders said regarding Wall Street ' s policy expectations from a Clinton presidency . "" They expect to get something . ""  See also : Paris attacks put spotlight on national security in 2016 presidential race  "" He has basically used his answer to impugn my integrity , "" Clinton said in response , noting that she had "" hundreds of thousands of donors who are very small . ""  Clinton , who represented New York from 2001 to 2009 , then pointed out that she represented New York on "" 9 11 when we were attacked . ""  "" Where were we attacked ? We were attacked in downtown Manhattan where Wall Street is , "" she said .  "" I did spend a whole lot of time and effort helping them rebuild that was good for New York , that was good for the economy and it was a way to rebuke the terrorists who had attacked our country , "" Clinton continued . "" It ' s fine for you to say what you ' re going to say but . . . my proposal is tougher , more effective and more comprehensive because I go after all of Wall Street , not just the big banks . ""  . HillaryClinton fired up , defends Wall Street donations and invokes 9 11 : weblink : t . co AWtO43bhZ7 DemDebate pic . twitterweblink JipXzsfMZD  Clinton ' s invocation of Sept . 11 came one day after the deadly terrorist attacks in Paris , that killed at least 129 in injured more than 300 .  Her comments were raised again later in the debate when moderator Nancy Cordes asked Clinton whether she was sorry she ' d brought up the attacks , a question taken from someone watching on Twitter .  . HillaryClinton , you reached a new low tonight by using 9 11 to defend your campaign donations . DemDebate  "" I ' m sorry that whoever tweeted that had that impression because I worked closely with New Yorkers after 9 11 for my entire first term to rebuild , so yes , I did know people . I ' ve had a lot of folks who give me donations from all kinds of backgrounds say , ' I don ' t agree with you on everything but I like what you do , I like how you stand up , I ' m going to support you , "" Clinton said .  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
23995,23996,"If flotation goes ahead , Sauid oil producer will be world s most valuable quoted company , dwarfing Apple , Exxon and Google  Saudi Arabian deputy crown prince Mohammed bin Salman supports a Saudi Aramco  . Photograph : Jacquelyn Martin   Last modified on Monday 11 January 2016 04 . 48 ?   Saudi Aramco , the world s biggest oil producer , is studying plans to privatise some of its subsidiaries as well as offering shares in the main business .  The news follows comments made by Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Thursday that he supported the trillion dollar company being prepared for an initial public offering (  ) . If the float goes ahead it will be the world s most valuable quoted company , dwarfing Apple , Exxon and Google .  Related : Saudi Arabia considers  for national oil group , Aramco  The moves have astonished the oil sector and led to speculation about whether a share float would change the Saudi strategy of driving down oil prices by refusing to cut back on production .  Analysts believe the world s most valuable business will attract a lot of interest from potential investors , but warn that the Saudis could underestimate western concerns about Aramco s traditional secrecy and the impact of falling oil prices .  A statement from the oil group said : Saudi Aramco confirms that it has been studying various options to allow broad public participation in its equity through the listing in the capital markets of an appropriate percentage of the company s shares and or the listing of a bundle its downstream subsidiaries .  This proposal is consistent with the broad and progressive direction pursued by the Kingdom for reforms , including privatization in various sectors of the Saudi economy and deregulation of markets .  Prince Mohammed expected a review of the business , which has reserves of 260bn barrels and 60 , 000 staff , to be completed within months . Any float could take place after that .  The Saudis have recently introduced a raft of changes to the economy , not least has been a decision to cut subsidies on domestic energy bills and a plan to introduce  taxes . Both are considered risky in a conservative country with such fragile democratic credentials .  Jason Tuvey , a Middle East specialist at Capital Economics , said it was difficult to value Saudi Aramco and he had come across speculative figures ranging from 1tn to 10tn .  Even the lower figure means Aramco is worth three times as much as Exxon Mobil , and a 5 stake of that would easily dwarf the 25bn raised by China s Alibaba group , whose 25bn float is the largest so far .  Fadel Gheit , a veteran oil analyst at Oppenheimer Co brokerage in New York , questioned how easy it would be for the Saudis to pull off a significant flotation given Aramco was used to a very low level of transparency .  And he pointed out that Prince Mohammed had raised another issue at Aramco that could concern any potential buyers : corruption .  If western investors are to be interested in Aramco they are going to want all sorts of details and reassurances about the way the company will be run , its growth prospects and dividend policies . Will the Saudi government be willing to provide these and relinquish control ?  The company may have huge oil reserves but look at what happened when Petrobras ( the Brazilian state oil group ) was privatised . There was a total lack of understanding of free markets and the stock dived in value .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
24008,24009,"Altai in southern Siberia sits right at the centre of Russia . But the tiny , mountainous republic has a claim to fame unknown until now Native Americans can trace their origins to the remote region .   research revealed that genetic markers linking people living in the Russian republic of Altai , southern Siberia , with indigenous populations in North America .  A study of the mutations indicated a lineage shift between 13 , 000 and 14 , 000 years ago when people are thought to have walked across the ice from Russia to America .  Altai in Siberia : A study of genetic markers in  showed that the lineage of Native Americans changed around 13 14 , 000 years ago when people are thought to have walked across the Bering Strait  This roughly coincides with the period when humans from Siberia are thought to have crossed what is now the Bering strait and entered America .  ' Altai is a key area because it ' s a place where people have been coming and going for thousands and thousands of years , ' said Dr Theodore Schurr , from the University of Pennsylvania in the  .  Among the people who may have emerged from the Altai region are the predecessors of the first Native Americans .  Roughly 20 25 , 000 years ago , these prehistoric humans carried their Asian genetic lineages up into the far reaches of Siberia and eventually across the then exposed Bering land mass into the Americas .  ' Our goal in working in this area was to better define what those founding lineages or sister lineages are to Native American populations , ' Schurr said .  The region lies at the intersection of what is now Russia , Mongolia , China and Kazakhstan .  An engraving of early native Americans from the 1500s :  research hints that their ancestors came from one tiny region in central Russia  Dr Schurr ' s team checked Altai   samples for markers in mitochondrial  which is always passed on by  mothers , and Y chromosome  which sons inherit from their fathers .  Because of the large number of gene markers examined , the findings have a high degree of precision .  ' At this level of resolution we can see the connections more clearly , ' Schurr said .  Looking at the Y chromosome  ,  the researchers found a unique mutation shared by Native Americans and  southern Altaians in the lineage known as Q .  Mitochondrial  is found in tiny rod like ' powerplants ' in cells that generate energy .  Both kinds of  showed links between Altaians and Native Americans .  In the Y chromosome  , the researchers found a unique mutation shared by Native Americans and people from southern Altai .  The findings are published today in the American Journal of Human Genetics .  Calculating how long the mutations they noted took to arise , Schurr ' s team estimated that the southern Altaian lineage diverged genetically from the Native American lineage 13 , 000 to 14 , 000 years ago , a timing scenario that aligns with the idea of people moving into the Americas from Siberia between 15 , 000 and 20 , 000 years ago .  Though it ' s possible , even likely , that more than one wave of people crossed the land bridge , Schurr said that other researchers have not yet been able to identify another similar geographic focal point from which Native Americans can trace their heritage .  ' It may change with more data from other groups , but , so far , even with intensive work in Mongolia , they ' re not seeing the same things that we are , ' he said .  In addition to elucidating the Asia America connection , the study confirms that the modern cultural divide between southern and northern Altaians has ancient genetic roots  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
24014,24015,"Reuters) - Mexican prosecutors are failing to systematically punish money launderers and tax authorities are too lax with potential drug money fronts such as real estate and luxury goods firms, according to a draft report on Mexico s efforts to fight illicit finance. The report by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an international organization that sets global standards for fighting illicit finance, highlights the tiny dents made by Mexican prosecutors in the financial networks of drug gangs and corrupt officials. Mexico has been slipping in convictions, data in the report shows. The country already lagged regional peers such as Colombia and Brazil, both of which have made strides in setting up independent prosecutors.  Money laundering is not investigated and prosecuted in a proactive and systematic fashion,  said the draft of the report, sections of which were seen by Reuters. Its publication is set for early January. The finance ministry and attorney general s office did not respond to a request for comment for this story.  Mexico is the top source of illegal drugs to the United States and both countries  authorities have been criticized by civil society groups for leaving drug gang finances largely intact.  The more than 200-page report commends efforts to clean up the Mexican banking sector after U.S. investigations in the mid-2000s showed global banks processed billions of dollars in drug gang cash. Officials say tighter regulations flushed much illicit money from the banking system. However, the report says Mexican tax authorities did not do enough to monitor businesses outside the financial sector used for money laundering, such as real estate. Since 2014, Mexico s tax authority has had powers to audit more than 64,000 businesses considered high risk. But it has only allocated 16 people to probe those companies and since 2014 they have audited just 118, or less than 0.2 percent, the draft noted. The lack of a national registry of shareholders has made it difficult for authorities to follow the complex money trails used by drug gangs and corrupt officials to hide ill-gotten funds, the report said.   The draft seen by Reuters was hammered out at closed-door meetings in Buenos Aires last month.  An earlier draft prepared by a team of officials led by the International Monetary Fund was harsher, according to two sources familiar with the issue. The  did not respond to a request for comment. The earlier draft noted poor co-ordination between financial officials, prosecutors and security forces within Mexico, and flagged weak co-operation with the United States, the sources said. However, Mexican officials convinced the assessors to tone down the report, they said. During the Argentina meetings, Mexico s government said in a statement that the  report identified areas for improvement on its efforts to combat money laundering but  affirms that there is good co-ordination between authorities and extensive international co-operation.  Mexico is making little headway in seizing illicit cash, according to the government s own estimates. Data in the report provided by Mexico shows the country seized just $32.5 million in 2016. That represents less than 0.1 percent of the $58.5 billion of illicit revenues the government estimates is generated by organized crime annually. Also, fewer investigations than in previous years were based on information from the financial intelligence unit (FIU), a part of the finance ministry, the report notes.  Setting up sophisticated FIUs that target major operations is key to effectively fighting money laundering, compared to cases that stem from routine police and customs busts. Yet only 8 percent of investigations in Mexico last year were based on  reports, according to data in the  report. That is down from around an average of 15 percent in recent years.  Mexico is at the bottom of major countries in terms of its efforts to fight money laundering, said Edgardo Buscaglia, an expert on organized crime at Columbia University. While convictions based on  data have grown more than fourfold in Brazil and nearly sixfold in Colombia since 2000, Mexico has seen the number drop, according to data compiled by Buscaglia that runs through 2015.   The financial intelligence unit is not engaging the criminal networks,  Buscaglia said.  They are not passing the right kind of data.   ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
24017,24018,"Reuters) - Myanmar s government said on Wednesday that police had arrested two Reuters journalists, Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo. The reporters had been working on stories about a military crackdown on the Rohingya Muslim minority in Rahkine State that has caused almost 650,000 people to flee to neighboring Bangladesh. The Ministry of Information said in a statement on its Facebook page that the journalists and two policemen face charges under the British colonial-era Official Secrets Act. The 1923 law carries a maximum prison sentence of 14 years. The reporters  illegally acquired information with the intention to share it with foreign media,  said the statement, which was accompanied by a photo of the pair in handcuffs.  It said they were detained at a police station on the outskirts of Yangon, the southeast Asian nation s main city. Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo went missing on Tuesday evening after they had been invited to meet police officials over dinner. Reuters  driver Myothant Tun dropped them off at Battalion 8 s compound at around 8 pm and the two reporters and two police officers headed to a nearby restaurant. The journalists did not  return to the car. The Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh say their exodus from the mainly Buddhist nation was triggered by a military counter-offensive in Rakhine state that the United Nations has branded  a textbook example of ethnic cleansing .  Reuters reporters Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo have been reporting on events of global importance in Myanmar, and we learned today that they have been arrested in connection with their work,  said Stephen J. Adler, president and editor-in-chief of Reuters.  We are outraged by this blatant attack on press freedom.  We call for authorities to release them immediately,  he said. A spokesman for Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi confirmed that the two journalists had been arrested.  Not only your reporters, but also the policemen who were involved in that case,  spokesman Zaw Htay said.  We will take action against those policemen and also the reporters.  In Washington, State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert emphasized that the agency was  following this closely.  She said that U.S. Ambassador Scot Marciel on Wednesday had a conversation with two government officials in Myanmar who seemed  genuinely unaware  of the situation.   We care about the safety and security of international reporters who are simply just trying to do their jobs. So we re going to continue to try to stay on that,  Nauert said.  The U.S. embassy in Yangon said in a statement posted on its website on Wednesday it was  deeply concerned by the highly irregular arrests of two Reuters reporters after they were invited to meet with police officials in Yangon last night .  For a democracy to succeed, journalists need to be able to do their jobs freely,  the embassy said.  We urge the government to explain these arrests and allow immediate access to the journalists.   The European Union s mission in Yangon also voiced concern.  The  delegation is closely following their case and we call on the Myanmar authorities to ensure the full protection of their rights,  it said in a statement.  Media freedom is the foundation of any democracy.  The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists called for the reporters  immediate and unconditional release.  These arrests come amid a widening crackdown which is having a grave impact on the ability of journalists to cover a story of vital global importance,  said Shawn Crispin,  s senior Southeast Asia representative. Wa Lone, who joined Reuters in July 2016, has covered a range of stories, including the flight of Rohingya refugees from Rakhine in 2016 and, in much larger numbers, this year. He has written about military land grabs and the killing of ruling party lawyer Ko Ni in January. This year he jointly won an honorable mention from the Society of Publishers in Asia for Reuters coverage of the Rakhine crisis in 2016.  He previously worked for The Myanmar Times, where he covered Myanmar s historic 2015 elections, and People s Age, a local weekly newspaper, where his editor was Myanmar s current Minister of Information Pe Myint. Kyaw Soe Oo, an ethnic Rakhine Buddhist from state capital Sittwe, has worked with Reuters since September. He has covered the impact of the Aug. 25 attacks on police and army posts in the northern Rakhine, and reported from the central part of the state where local Buddhists have been  enforcing segregation between Rohingya and Rakhine communities. He previously worked for Root Investigation Agency, a local news outlet focused on Rakhine issues.  I have been arrest  were the four words that Wa Lone texted to Reuters Myanmar Bureau Chief Antoni Slodkowski on Tuesday evening to let him know what was happening. Very soon after that Wa Lone s phone appeared to have been switched off. Over the next 24 hours, Reuters colleagues in Yangon filed a missing persons report, went to three police stations, and asked a series of government officials what had happened to the two reporters. They got no official information until Wednesday evening. ",true,dataset,test,Other news1,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
24030,24031,"Reuters) - Tehran vowed on Tuesday to stand alongside Baghdad and Ankara  against the outcome of an independence referendum staged by Kurdish authorities in northern Iraq, a day after thousands of Iranian Kurds marched in support of the vote. State media also quoted an army commander as saying that new missile systems were installed on Tuesday, a day after the referendum, in western provinces that border Iraqi Kurdish areas to  firmly respond to any invasion . Iran, Iraq and Turkey - countries with Kurdish minorities - have all denounced the referendum as a threat to the stability of a region already beset by conflict, while the United States has expressed similar disquiet. Ali Akbar Velayati, the top adviser to Iran s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, stepped up the pressure as the Iraqi government ruled out talks on possible secession for Kurdish-held northern Iraq and Turkey threatened sanctions.  The Iraqi people won t stand silent. Iran and Turkey and other regional countries won t stand silent and will stand against this abhorrent deviation,  Velayati was quoted as saying by  news agency.  The Muslim nations will not allow the creation of a second Israel.   Velayati did not say what action Iran had in mind. However, the country s media have compared the Kurds  desire for a homeland with the 1948 creation of Israel. The Islamic republic regards the Jewish state as its greatest enemy along with the United States. Initial referendum results indicated 72 percent of eligible voters had taken part and an overwhelming majority, possibly over 90 percent, had said  yes , Kurdish  channel Rudaw said. Final results are expected by Wednesday. Undaunted by years of official suppression of dissent, residents in a number of mainly Kurdish cities in northwestern Iran danced in circles as night fell on Monday, chanting slogans praising Kurdish nationalist movements.  Videos posted on social media showed drivers beeping their car horns in celebration and people clapping in the cities of Marivan and Baneh. Many wore masks so as not to be identified by the security forces. About 30 million ethnic Kurds are scattered across the region but have no country of their own. With 8 to 10 million living in Iran, Tehran fears pressure for secession will grow among a minority which has a long history of struggle for its political rights. A strong police presence tried to control the celebrating crowd. There were reports of clashes between the demonstrators and security forces in the cities of Mahabad and Sanandaj. In Sanandaj the crowd waved the flag of Kurdistan, a banned symbol for the Kurds  desire for independence.  This referendum will encourage Iranian Kurds to be more determined to seek their rights,  said Zaribar, a Marivan resident and member of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan, a secular armed group which launches periodic attacks in Iran.   This referendum was not a threat to Iraq s neighbors, but it s a starting point to resolve the issues of Kurds, especially in Iran,  added Zaribar, who declined to give his full name. Tehran announced a ban on direct flights to and from Iraqi Kurdistan on Sunday at the request of the central government in Baghdad and called for a land blockade of the autonomous region by all neighboring countries. Media gave no further details of the newly-installed missile systems. However, Iranian fighter jets flew in a show of force over western provinces of Iran as part of a military drill, including the Kurdish cities of Sardasht and Oshnavieh. Although many Iranian Kurds would like to copy the referendum model, the road to autonomy or independence would be more difficult under the Islamic Republic s theocratic rule and its military might. The Revolutionary Guards have put down unrest in Kurdish areas for decades, and the hardline judiciary has sentenced many activists to long jail terms or death. Iran sent Guards Commander Qassem Soleimani to northern Iraq last week in a failed final effort to persuade the Kurdistan regional government from holding the referendum. One Kurd from Baneh, who gave his name as Arbaba, said he was exhilarated  from the bottom of my heart for victory in the referendum . However, he was worried it would increase pressure on Iranian Kurds to prevent them from going down the same path.  The Iranian regime will militarize the Kurdish areas even more,  Arbaba said. For the Iranian state the referendum of the Kurds  demand for state of their own was a  Zionist plot  aimed at bringing instability to the region.  This view that a wandering scattered nation would only find peace if they find a homeland, was the core philosophy for creation of Israel,  wrote the Kayhan, a hardline newspaper closely associated with Supreme Leader. Israel has backed Kurdish independence. It has maintained discreet military, intelligence and business ties with Kurds since the 1960s, viewing the minority as a buffer against shared adversaries. ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
24050,24051,"In December last year , Amanda Hacche went on a day trip for work and for the first time ever she left her eight month old son Devon behind .  When she returned from Auckland , New Zealand , to her hometown of Tauranga to collect Devon from a family member she noticed he was unsettled and seemed like he had a sore throat .  For three days doctors insisted he had bronchiolitis , but Ms Hacche , 37 , was unconvinced and when she took him to hospital three days later an X ray revealed he had a lithium ion battery lodged in his throat .  Now 10 months old , Devon faces an uncertain future and months in hospital intensive care as Ms Hacche comes to terms with the fact he may never speak or breathe unassisted .  Devon , now 10 months old , from Tauranga in New Zealand , swallowed a lithium ion battery  His mother Amanda Hacche has to come to terms with the fact he may never speak or breathe unassisted  ' And it ' s a process of the more you know , the more you realise how bad things are . '  Ms Hacche said after she picked Devon up on the evening of December 15 a Monday he started wheezing as he breathed .  Devon pictured before his horrific injury  ' The doctor thought he had bronchiolitis , and I did question that at the time , the wheezing seemed to not be coming from his lungs but almost in his throat , ' she said .  ' By Wednesday evening he hadn ' t improved at all , which I thought the medicine should have given him some improvement .  ' We were given asthma medication to open up and relax his throat but I couldn ' t do it , it was too upsetting for me , he became too distressed using the spacer . '  On Thursday morning Devon still hadn ' t improved so Ms Hacche took him to the emergency department at the hospital , where he was given an X ray within 20 minutes .  The X ray revealed the battery in his throat , with subsequent tests showing it had caused major internal corrosive burns .  ' When they ' re inside the body the acids , excretions and moisture amplifies the electric charge of the battery , ' Ms Hacche said .  ' It increases the rate of corrosion so the battery is actually speeding up the process of tissue damage .  ' While the battery had been lodged low in his oesophagus it had actually corroded the tissue right through and caused a hole in oesophagus right through to his trachea . '  In addition an abscess formed with the laryngeal nerve the nerve which controls his voice box running right through it .  ' We can ' t leave hospital , he can ' t breathe , ' Ms Hacche said .  ' It ' s been two months now , but we expect to be here a long time . '  Devon has undergone three major operations and more than 30 other smaller procedures .  An X ray revealed a battery in his throat , with subsequent tests showing it had caused internal corrosive burns  In addition an abscess formed , with the nerve which controls his voice box running right through it  He is confined to his hospital bed , and can only sit up out of bed if he ' s held by a family member .  This is particularly heartbreaking for Ms Hacche , who last year was watching her son meet all his milestones early .  ' He was meeting them and blowing them away , ' she said .  ' He was pulling himself to standing . He started crawling at six months .  ' He was saying words like "" Mama "" and "" Da "" . "" Da "" was his favourite . '  Ms Hacche has to be by her son ' s side every day and is now living at Auckland ' s Ronald McDonald house with her six year old daughter .  She had spent years building up her own successful human resources and employment law business but has had to let her clients go to be there for Devon .  With her main source of income gone , her sister has set up a fundraising page to help the family cover their living and medical expenses .  Ms Hacche has to be by her son ' s side every day and is now living at Auckland ' s Ronald McDonald house with her six year old daughter  Devon is confined to his hospital bed , and can only sit up out of bed if he ' s held by a family member  But Ms Hacche said even more important than raising money was telling her story to spread a warning about the danger of batteries to other parents .  ' I ' m anally retentive , vacuum cleaning ,  tidier upperer , ' she said .  ' And these things are so prevalent in our homes , from kitchen scales to little bedside alarm clocks , car keys , digital remotes from iPod docking stations . '  ' They seem so benign and that ' s the way we treat them but they ' re not they ' re incredibly dangerous . '  Ms Hacche said battery wounds can be fatal within a few hours .  ' We don ' t always have eyes in the back of our heads so it can happen to anybody and you ' ve just got to be so aware of how dangerous they are , ' she said .  ' If our story shows one parent the dangers and saves one family from this journey to hell that we ' ve been on and the tortuous situation for Devon and what it means for his future then it ' s worth it . '  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
24055,24056,"Israeli opposition leader Isaac Herzog told the Jerusalem Post conference in New York on Sunday that President Donald Trump’s support for peace “gives an aura of optimism to the region   …     a spirit of change that needs to be seized. ”[Herzog, who leads the Zionist Union party, was commenting on Trump’s recent commitment to achieve peace between Israelis and Palestinians, which has proceeded through visits by the administration’s emissaries to the region, a visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House, and a similar visit last week by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.  “The realities are the realities,” Herzog said, arguing that while the Palestinians were “extremely difficult” to deal with, there was no alternative. Regarding Netanyahu’s own commitment to peace, Herzog said that the Israeli leader’s intentions were unclear, and vowed to build a political bloc to oppose him politically if he did not follow through. Herzog was viewed as close to President Barack Obama, who used the State Department to send funds to Israeli opposition groups in an effort to defeat Netanyahu in the 2015 elections. Trump has been praised by other Arab leaders in the region, as a broad, if tacit, alliance emerges between the Sunni Arab states  —   particularly the monarchies  —   and Israel. All are facing the common threat of a potentially   Iran, and some are grappling with the dangers caused by its terrorist proxies. Herzog was scathing in his criticism of French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen, whom he accused of forgetting the history of the Holocaust. French voters were at the polls Sunday. Joel B. Pollak is Senior    at Breitbart News. He was named one of the “most influential” people in news media in 2016. He is the   of How Trump Won: The Inside Story of a Revolution, is available from Regnery. Follow him on Twitter at @joelpollak.",fake,news,test,US elections,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
24056,24057,"According to The New York Times, the vice chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee has been disinvited from the Democratic debates. Representative Tulsi Gabbard did confirm this.  The New York Times reported : “Ms. Gabbard confirmed on Sunday that her chief of staff received a message last Tuesday from the chief of staff to Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the chairwoman of the national committee, about her attendance at the debate.”  So why?  The day before receiving the email Gabbard called for more debates on MSNBC. “More and more people on the ground from states all across the country are calling for more debates, are wanting to have this transparency and greater engagement in our democratic process at a critical time, as they make the decision of who should be the next person to lead our country.”  Sunday night, Gabbard spoke with The New York Times: “When I first came to Washington, one of the things that I was disappointed about was there’s a lot of immaturity and petty gamesmanship that goes on, and it kind of reminds me of how high school teenagers act… It’s very dangerous when we have people in positions of leadership who use their power to try to quiet those who disagree with them. When I signed up to be vice chair of the D.N.C., no one told me I would be relinquishing my freedom of speech and checking it at the door.”  Wow.  An anonymous source with ties to the committee disagrees and according to The New York Times: “… an aide to Ms. Wasserman Schultz expressed a desire to keep the focus on the candidates as the debate approached, rather than on a ‘distraction’ that could divide the party, and suggested that if Ms. Gabbard could not do that, she should reconsider going. She was not uninvited. The D.N.C. team wanted this first debate to have all the focus on the candidates. Gabbard’s people were told that if they couldn’t commit to that since Tulsi was trying to publicly divide the D.N.C. leadership last week, then they should consider not coming. The fact that she is still making this about her and not our great candidates by talking to The New York Times says something unfortunate.”  You know, I love how the Wasserman Schultz camp is trying to spin this and make Tulsi look like the villain wanting attention. Tulsi is a bad person for voicing an opinion that the majority of Democrats have? If that’s the case, I applaud her for being the villain. Even if she wasn’t disinvited, the fact that it was suggested is remarkably disgusting.  The fact is many Americans want more debates. Several of the few candidates have called for more debates. What’s the f**king hold up here? What’s the problem? Does Wasserman Schultz have her head so far up someone’s colon that she can’t hear what the American people are screaming at her?  Let me speak a little louder. Can you hear me now Debbie? We are not happy. We want more debates. We are not the ones dividing the party. You and the leadership put in place to serve Democrats nationwide are dividing the party. You are not listening to us. That’s the dividing factor. Not us. It’s not dividing a party when you’re speaking up for the ignored majority.  This isn’t about wanting Bernie to annihilate Hillary. This is about listening to a majority of American citizens who put you in your chair. I can only hope there will be audience members holding signs up calling for more debates to show that it’s not just attention-seeking.  Featured image by DonkeyHotey via Flickr under a Creative Commons Attribution Generic license. About Liz",fake,news,test,US elections,US elections,satire,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
24058,24059,"It ' s an age old idiom , but a New York based Italian artist wants to know the truth what is it like to actually find a needle in a haystack ? And is it even possible ?  Sven Sachsalber spent 48 hours sifting through a giant pile of hay dumped in at the Palais de Tokyo gallery in Paris .  In the pile of hay he searched for a needle hidden deep in its centre by the prestigious modern art gallery ' s president Jean de Loisy .  Italian artist Sven Sachsalber begins in search for a needle in a haystack in the Palais de Tokyo  The meticulous and uncertain process of searching for a needle in a haystack begins  Sachsalber says the ' art installation ' is something easy to understand for the general public  De Loisy says the installation isn ' t just a man taking on the ultimate hide and seek challenge as it explored the complex relationship between words and actions , juxtaposing metaphors for the immensely small and the incomprehensibly large and complex  ' I don ' t think there is anyone , regardless of whether they like modern art or not , who would not be intrigued by this childish question can it actually be done , or is "" Searching for a needle in a haystack "" simply a turn of phrase ? ' De Loisy said .  Palais de Tokyo gallery president Jean de Loisy holds the needle he would bury in the haystack  De Loisy dives into the haystack to ensure Sachsalber ' s search isn ' t simple  De Loisy shows his commitment to the artistic statement in the modern and contemporary gallery  The two day timeframe was set as a limit since Sachsalber could have simply taken minutes to find the needle , though that was considered unlikely .  Sachsalber said that the project was a practical one that the general public would find accessible .  He said : ' It ' s like playing the lottery , so you don ' t know if you ' re going to win or not , you hope you ' re going to win otherwise why play the lottery ? And it ' s the same thing here , even if it ' s hard I think , because it ' s itchy , this hay , and I have it everywhere after a few hours , but it ' s fun at the same time .  ' And it ' s very accessible , I think you don ' t really need to understand much about art or whatever , just everyone knows what it is , ' he said .  The giant pile of hay is a prominent feature in the vast Parisian gallery  Although he avoids the label ' performance artist ' , Sachsalber has a history of engaging in unusual , even dangerous , activities in the name of art .  ' I have never considered myself as a conceptual artist , other people did , ' he said .  His escapades include eating a highly toxic wild mushroom , spending 24 hours in a room with a cow , cutting down a tree he was precariously perched on and climbing over gravestones pretending to be a squirrel .  ' Even though it might look stupid , I just want to test out these things , ' he said .  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
24067,24068,"? ? ? Support for businessman Donald Trump is ? increasing in New Hampshire less than a month before voters cast their ballots in the first Republican presidential primary .  Trump received 32 percent from likely Republican primary voters in a Monmouth University poll released Monday , up from 26 percent in a ? November survey .  "" As Granite State voters start to firm up their decision , it ' s looking more and more unlikely that Trump will be toppled from his perch , "" said Patrick Murray , director of the Monmouth polling institute in West Long Branch . "" The real fight is for second place . "" ?  Texas Sen . Ted Cruz and Ohio Gov . John Kasich tied for second with 14 percent apiece , both higher than ? November . Fox News and  News Wall Street Journal polls released in the last four days also reported an increase in Trump support from their earlier surveys .  Gov . Chris Christie ? was in fifth place with 8 percent , up from 5 percent in November . The Monmouth poll and one by ? Fox News released Friday , ? are the only recent surveys ? to have ? Christie far behind ? in a state ? crucial to his presidential aspirations .  Other polls , including one released Sunday ? by  News and the Wall Street Journal , put Christie ? in double digits , good enough for second place or within a percentage point or two .  Gallup editor in chief Frank Newport said the polls can vary so much because it ' s hard to figure out who ' s likely to vote , people must choose between different candidates of their party rather than a single nominee , and independents in New Hampshire can decide at the last minute which party ' s primary they want to vote in . ?  Trump : Christie knew about the George Washington Bridge closure Donald Trump took a swing at Chris Christie when he spoke at a rally at Charleston , North Carolina . 12 7 15  "" Estimating what ' s going to happen is very difficult , "" Newport said . "" Turnout is always an issue in primaries . People aren ' t traditionally anchored by party . In a primary , it ' s very easy to change your mind . ""  Florida Sen . Marco Rubio , also seeking support from voters who otherwise would be inclined ? to back Kasich , Christie or former Florida Gov . Jeb Bush , was in fourth place with 12 percent , virtually unchanged from November . Bush was far behind in seventh place with just 4 percent , down from 7 percent in the earlier survey .  The poll of ? 414 likely New Hampshire  primary voters was conducted Jan . 7 10 and had a margin of error of ? 4 . 8 percentage points . ?  In Iowa , Trump and Cruz were far ahead of the other candidates ? in ? a Quinnipiac University poll released Monday of likely Republican caucus goers .  Trump polled 31 percent and Cruz 29 percent . Third was Rubio with 15 percent . Christie was fifth with 4 percent . Cruz led other recent Iowa polls , although within the margin of error .  The survey of 602 likely Iowa  caucus goers was taken Jan . 5 10 and had a margin of error of 4 percentage points .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
24084,24085,"An ' alien ' planet believed to be up to five times bigger than Jupiter has been detected 300 light years from Earth .  The giant ball of gas has been pictured orbiting its young star by the European Southern Observatory .  The planet , known as  95086 b , is  shown as a bright blue dot at the bottom left of the picture and was  spotted by the  ' s Very Large Telescope in Chile .  The image from  ' s Very Large Telescope shows the newly discovered planet HD95086 b , next to its parent star  The star ,  95086 , has been removed from the picture to allow the planet to shine through , Fox News has reported .  Julien Rameau , astronomer at the Institute of Astrophysics and Planetology in France , is lead author of the study .  Announcing the discovery he said : ' Direct imaging of planets is an extremely challenging technique that requires the most advanced instruments , whether ground based or in space .  ' Only a few planets have been directly observed so far , making every single discovery an important milestone on the road to understanding giant planets and how they form . '  The researchers have said it may be the lightest , or ' least massive ' , planet that is not in the solar system and has been directly observed .  This picture shows the sky around the young star  95086 in the southern constellation of Carina ( The Keel ) . It was created from images from the Digitized Sky Survey 2  Most exoplanets are not pictured directly but are often detected through indirect means , such as noticing a dip in a star ' s brightness when a planet passes in front of it , blocking its light .  According to the research , which will be published in an upcoming image of Astrophysical Journal Letters , the planet orbits the star at about 56 times the distance between Earth and the Sun .  Last week MailOnline reported how Nasa ' s Spitzer Space Telescope could be used to find alien planets capable of supporting life .  Researchers at  said the telescope could look for small , Mars size rocky exoplanets orbiting ' failed stars ' , known as brown dwarfs .  They said the hunt could uncover planets capable of supporting life .  ",true,text,test,Football,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
24086,24087,WARNING***This video is GRAPHIC!***,fake,dataset,test,US elections,Conflict,true,fake,True,no,no,neutral,present
24096,24097,"Match fixing claims hit world tennis , top players involved  However , tennis authorities have rejected the claims , which says 16 players ranked in the top 50 had been repeatedly flagged to the Tennis Integrity Unit over suspicions they had thrown matches in the past decade .  World tennis was rocked on Monday by allegations that the game ' s authorities have failed to deal with widespread match fixing , just as the Australian Open , the first Grand Slam tournament of the year , kicked off in Melbourne .  Tennis authorities rejected reports by the  and online BuzzFeed News , which said 16 players ranked in the top 50 had been repeatedly flagged to the Tennis Integrity Unit (  ) over suspicions they had thrown matches in the past decade .  The reports said the  , set up to police illegal activities in the sport , either failed to act upon information that identified suspicious behaviour amongst players , or impose any sanctions .  All of the players , including winners of Grand Slam titles , were allowed to continue competing , while eight were playing in the Australian Open , the media reports added .  Reuters was unable to independently verify the findings by the  and BuzzFeed News , which said they had obtained documents that included the findings of an investigation set up in 2007 by the Association of Tennis Professionals (  ) , the governing body of men ' s professional tennis .  "" The Tennis Integrity Unit and the tennis authorities absolutely reject any suggestion that evidence of match fixing has been suppressed for any reason or isn ' t being thoroughly investigated , "" said  chairman Chris Kermode .  "" And while the  and BuzzFeed reports mainly refer to events from about 10 years ago , we will investigate any new information , and we always do , "" Kermode told a hastily arranged media conference at Melbourne Park .  The  and BuzzFeed News said they had not named any players because without access to their phone , bank and computer records it was not possible to determine whether they took part in match fixing .  They said the 2007  inquiry found betting syndicates in Russia , northern Italy and Sicily making hundreds of thousands of pounds betting on games which investigators thought to be fixed .  In a confidential report for tennis authorities in 2008 , the inquiry team said 28 players involved in those games should be investigated but the findings were never followed up , the news organisations said .  Tennis authorities introduced a new anti corruption code in 2009 but after taking legal advice were told previous corruption offences could not be pursued , they added .  The media reports created a stir at Melbourne Park , home of the Australian Open , and follow in the wake of corruption scandals in world soccer and athletics .  "" It ' s always a disappointment when stories come out like this just before the big event , "" said Kermode .  "" We are confident that the Tennis Integrity Unit is doing what it can and tackles this issue very , very seriously . ""   investigations had resulted in sanctions against 18 players , with six issued life bans , he added .  Kermode also rejected suggestions the  was under resourced and did not have necessary enforcement powers . Tennis authorities have pumped about 14 million into anti corruption programmes , Kermode added .   director of integrity Nigel Willerton said they could ask for players ' electronic communication devices , though those requests could be refused .  "" If they don ' t then consent . . . that ' s called non cooperation , and they can be reported and sanctioned for non cooperation , "" Willerton said .  Independent Australian Senator Nick Xenophon said sports regulators were not rigorous enough .  "" The problem that we have in Australia and around the world is that where you have ball by ball betting , micro betting , it ' s an invitation for corruption and corrupt practices because it ' s very easy to fix a particular micro event within a game such as tennis , "" Xenophon told reporters .  Tennis officials have fought a long running battle with match and also spot fixing , which is where individual sets are thrown to manipulate live betting odds .  For more news from India Today , follow us on Twitter indiatoday and on Facebook at facebookweblink IndiaToday  For news and videos in Hindi , go to AajTak . in . ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? . ? ? ? ? ? ? ? .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
24108,24109,"Home Sports Thomas Davis Still Confident He Will Play in the Super Bowl  Thomas Davis Still Confident He Will Play in the Super Bowl  Panthers  Davis Not Worried About Broken Arm In Super Bowl  So excuse the Panthers All Pro linebacker if he snickers at the notion that 12 screws and a plate in his broken right forearm is about to keep him from the biggest game of his career .  "" Because we have a way of doing things around here , once you come in and once you ' re a part of it , it ' s instilled in you "" , Davis said . Kalil practiced for the first time this week and said he ' ll "" be fine "" for next Sunday ' s game . "" I don ' t consider it a huge one at all "" .  The Carolina Panthers are scheduled to leave for the Super Bowl on Sunday . The collision broke Davis ' arm .  "" If I had a concern about hitting somebody or getting hit , I wouldn ' t even take the field "" , he said . "" I know Thomas , and if he says he ' s going to do it , I believe he will "" .  No one around the Carolina Panthers expects linebacker Thomas Davis to miss the Super Bowl , so it wasn ' t a surprise Wednesday when Davis took his usual cart ride to practice .  "" I was devastated for him at the time "" , Carolina defensive tackle Dwan Edwards . "" He ' s our emotional leader , our playmaker on the field "" . "" We look to him for inspiration and I ' m sure just him being out there will give us a huge lift "" .  "" The last Super Bowl team was good and they had some great players but this team has so much character and they ' re easy to love "" .  At the foundation of it all is Davis . "" I haven ' t seen it yet , but I ' ve been hearing about it , so I ' m anticipating that "" , Norman said .  "" I ' ve told the players this is about Super Bowl 50 , it ' s an event , and at the end of the event is to play the game and that ' s what we ' re focused on "" , Rivera said . "" I think it really starts with Mr Richardson from the top down and goes to Mr Gettleman ( hired as general manager in 2013 ) all the way down to the players . They ' ve put in the work , so I want them to relax next week and enjoy themselves so they ' re ready to go "" . "" Thank God for that and our great training staff "" , Allen said .  Rather than a discussion about the possibility that there were simply more concussions this season and what could have led to that , the emphasis during Friday ' s call was on what the league and doctors touted as more efficient identification of head injuries during games .  There are some Carolina Panthers devotees who plan to make the 39 hour , almost 2 , 700 mile roadtrip from Charlotte to Santa Clara , Calif . , to watch the Panthers versus the Denver Broncos in the final matchup .  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
24120,24121,"About 135 . 8 million Americans are expected to shop in stores or online over the four day weekend  New York : Sales at  retailers brick and mortar locations may suffer during the weekend after Thanksgiving , with analysts saying more shoppers are skipping malls and buying online .  About 1 . 73 billion ( Dh6 . 34 billion ) was spent online on Thanksgiving Day , a 25 per cent increase from last year , according to Adobe Systems Inc . On Black Friday , about 822 million was spent by 11am , 15 per cent more than in 2014 , the company said .  Retail observers say many of those purchases are coming at the expense of trips to physical stores , costing merchants more in shipping and depriving them of the impulse sales they make to shoppers wandering their aisles . Smaller than expected crowds turned out at shopping centers in North Carolina , where Jeff Simpson , a director at Deloitte Consulting  s retail practice , was monitoring the action on Black Friday .  Across the board , much less traffic than was anticipated , Simpson said , without giving specific figures . Much , much slower .  About 135 . 8 million Americans are expected to shop in stores or online over the four day weekend , according to the National Retail Federation , the largest  retail trade organisation . While the forecast represents a 1 . 6 per cent increase from last year , the  s projection has been overly optimistic in the past . Last year , it was 4 . 8 per cent higher than the actual turnout it found in its post weekend shopping survey .  Simeon Siegel , an analyst at Nomura , saw decent crowds at the Westfield Garden State Plaza mall in Paramus , New Jersey , but still expected many of the shoppers to already have made purchases online .  This day is going to be a disappointing day , Siegel said . If you have the right products you can win , but it s a tougher environment .  With the continued shift of spending online in mind , retailers like Wal Mart Stores Inc . and Target Corp . are putting more of their deals on their websites or offering them over a longer period of time . Target has countered the increasing popularity of Amazonweblink Inc . by providing free shipping and returns on holiday orders , while Wal Mart plans to offer more than four times as many discounts as last year on the Monday following the Thanksgiving weekend .  But the weekend after Thanksgiving is still one of the busiest for  retailers , who use the period to highlight their offerings . Target and Wal Mart say they are expecting record turnouts .  This is the big event , said Cindy Hudson , Target s senior vice president of store operations . We have a large team dedicated all year to helping pull off Black Friday .  As stores opened across the country starting Thanksgiving evening , a Target command Centre at its Minneapolis headquarters was getting live video feeds from all of its 1 , 800 locations . There are also four regional command centers monitoring specific activity in their markets .  Inside the command Centre , workers glued to computer monitors and screens on the wall can view the lines outside stores to make sure they are orderly , shoppers are happy and that customers are getting into the store at the right pace ? not too fast , not too slow . Inside the stores , live feeds at checkout lines monitor for interruptions .  Target said Friday in a statement that it had a strong turnout in stores on Thanksgiving , without providing specific figures . Gaming consoles , televisions and movies were among the top selling items . The company also said it sold an iPad every second throughout the day , on average .  Still , Deloitte s Simpson sees less of a sense of urgency among consumers seeking deals . He scoped out pre Black Friday opening crowds at three major retailers that he wouldn t identify , and said the lines had six to eight people , far less than in previous years .  It s early , he said , but it doesn t look great .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Economy,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
24129,24130,"Twitter has held talks with Shots , the selfie app backed by singer Justin Bieber .  Twitter ' s acquisition plans became the subject of hot speculation on Monday after  Anthony Noto accidentally tweeted a message about making plans for a deal .  Now it is believed the firm in question could be Shots , which Bieber invested in last year .  The app , which was originally called Shots of Me , is available in Apple ' s App Store and encourages people to take and share pictures of themselves with a smartphone ' s front facing camera .  The app , which was originally called Shots of Me , is available in Apple ' s App Store and encourages people to take and share pictures of themselves with a smartphone ' s front facing camera .  It has an Instagram inspired social network , which also links to Twitter to create a kind of network just for self portraits .  The message expressed his desire to acquire another company .  Mr Noto , who joined the company in July this year , deleted the tweet soon after .  It read : ' I think we should buy them . He is on your schedule for Dec 15 or 16 we will need to sell him . i have a plan . '  Twitter often acquires smaller firms who have created good features based around the micro blogging service .  Speculation over which firm Mr Noto was referring to has begun .  Technology news site Recode suggested Shots a selfie app backed by Justin Bieber as well as Secret , a somewhat controversial app for anonymously sharing messages with a wide audience .  ' Shots co founders John and Sam Shahidi have had multiple meetings at Twitter headquarters over the past month , according to people familiar with the discussions , ' it said .  The app , which was originally called Shots of Me , is available in Apple ' s App Store and encourages people to take and share pictures of themselves with a smartphone ' s front facing camera .  It has an Instagram inspired social network , which also links to Twitter to create a kind of network just for self portraits .  The app , created by RockLive is part funded by Justin Bieber , who was reportedly attracted to the product because it does not allow people to leave any comments .  John Shahidi ,  of RockLive , told TechCrunch at the app ' s unveiling that people enjoy looking at other people instead of browsing pictures of lunches and sunsets , which are common on other photo sharing platforms , such as Instagram .  The Shots of Me app features a feed of selfies from friends and Twitter contacts as well as their names , locations , captions and the amount of ' likes ' a photo receives .  The anti trolling aspect is said to have attracted Justin Bieber to Shots of Me , who told Mr Shahidi that he is annoyed by other platforms allowing homophobic slurs and hate messages to be posted .  Users of the app can only take photos of themselves using the front facing camera of a phone and even then , can only take them via the Shots of Me app .  This means that no uploading of images is allowed in a bid to ' capture the moment ' .  Instead of leaving comments about selfies for all users to see , Shots of Me has a direct messaging system that invites messages from followers , in a bid to stop users criticising people in public known as trolling .  Users of the app can only take photos of themselves using the front facing camera of a phone within the Shots of Me app . Instead of leaving comments , the app has a direct messaging system in a bid to stop to stop trolling  Survey claims Britons take 35million ' selfies ' every month .  More than 50 per cent admit snapping themselves with their mobile phones and cameras .  A quarter of those even admit to taking a sexy selfie , but 36 per cent later regret it .  Facebook is the most popular place to upload the photographs .  Three quarters of young people aged between 18 and 24 admit taking selfies , the study by mobile phone company  found .  But the trend isn ' t limited to the young . Twenty nine per cent , of those aged over 65 also take selfies .  The new craze , which involves posing by yourself before taking a picture , has risen in popularity , with over one million selfies taken every day .  The anti trolling aspect is said to have attracted Justin Bieber to Shots of Me , who told Mr Shahidi that hs is annoyed by other platforms allowing homophobic slurs and hate messages to be posted .  Mr Shahidi told TechCrunch : ' The commenting thing was something he really cared about . Not just for himself , but for the kids .  ' He said : ' I want a platform where my fans don ' t have to deal with this . ' We didn ' t ask him for money . He said ' I want to be part of this . '  The company had raised just over one and a half million dollars , but Justin Bieber contributed the majority of the 1 . 1million second round of investment .  However , while this might be the popstar ' s first publicly announced personal investment , he is believed to have backed a number of startups .  While some people might think Shots of Me is a vehicle for vanity , there is no doubt that people are sharing more selfies than ever on social networks and it will be interesting to see if this dedicated app can capitalise on the trend .  It faces stiff competition from established photo sharing platforms like Instagram , which has 150 active users as well as Snapchat , which allows users to post photos which are deleted within 10 seconds .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,present
24136,24137,"The scene is like something from a horror movie . Saturday , a known supporter of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria posted a video online of one of two Japanese hostages holding up what looks like a picture of his beheaded compatriot . The video follows one released earlier in the week featuring a militant threatening to kill the two Japanese citizens if a 200 million ransom wasn ' t paid within 72 hours .  They are the kind of images many Japanese hoped they would not have to deal with . After all , Japan is currently barred by its "" peace constitution "" from engaging in offensive military action . Yet despite this ,  has apparently decided that Japan is an adversary .  This is likely in part because Japan is a close ally of the United States , one that also has a strong interest in the stability of the Middle East . Moreover , during his recent visit to Israel , Jordan and Egypt , Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pledged 200 million in non military aid to nations dealing with  .  But whatever  ' s intentions , Japan ' s non combat role in world affairs hasn ' t stopped it from being a victim of terrorism in the post September 11 era . In 2003 , for example , two diplomats were killed in a terrorist ambush in Iraq , and several citizens were taken hostage in Iraq in 2004 and 2005 . In 2012 , a veteran journalist was killed in Syria , while in January 2013 , nine Japanese citizens were killed in the Algerian hostage crisis .  Still , this latest hostage crisis has been particularly attention grabbing for many Japanese for two reasons . The first and most obvious is the fact that there was such vivid notice given the huge ransom demand with a 72 hour ultimatum followed by the disturbing images Saturday .  But the hostage taking has also prompted an interesting debate over the story behind why journalist Kenji Goto and self styled military contractor Haruna Yukawa were in Syria .  The Japanese public obviously hoped for the safe return of our two citizens , but most did not believe the government should pay the ransom . And there was also particular sympathy for Goto , who is not only recognized for his journalism , but who was apparently captured after going to the region to try to rescue Yukawa .  But there have also been questions about why nothing was done sooner when the two had been missing for months , and also why they were in such a dangerous part of the world in the first place . Many Japanese believe the two bear some responsibility for traveling to the region despite public warnings by the Japanese government about the risks of citizens traveling there .  Looking ahead , the hostage taking has left many wondering what the impact will be on Japan ' s current efforts to upgrade its security policies and processes . The crisis will be seen as underscoring the impact of instability thousands of miles from its shores , and therefore the need for Japan to adopt a sharper , more proactive security posture even beyond East Asia .  More specifically , one of the 15 scenarios presented by the Japanese government in its push toward a more proactive defense posture was allowing the use of weapons in overseas rescue missions of Japanese citizens . The development of this specific scenario reflects the lessons of the 2013 Algeria crisis , and the fact that under current laws , only aircraft , vehicles , and vessels are allowed for transportation .  If these changes are introduced , the Japanese government would be able to dispatch its Japan Self Defense Force for armed rescue operations ( upon approval from the country involved ) .  Certainly , given the security challenges that Japan faces , both within Asia in the form of territorial issues with China and with an unpredictable North Korea and further afield , it seems essential that Japan sharpens and strengthens its defense posture and plays a more proactive international role .  To make this possible , Japan will have to do a number of things .  First , the government will have to learn how to better execute its crisis management efforts using new assets such as the recently formed National Security Council .  Second , the government needs to get more creative in its efforts to enhance its international coordination and intelligence capabilities and ultimately defense assets to strengthen its security capacity .  In addition , Japan needs to place greater priority on realigning its forces to meet the evolving challenges it faces . And finally , Tokyo must focus more on promoting greater awareness of terrorist groups such as  , and the very real and direct threat they could pose to the country .  Achieving all this will be challenging and will require investing significant political and bureaucratic capital . And while Prime Minister Abe ' s party has just won a resounding victory in a snap election , Japan is also dealing with an aging population and stagnant economy , so it is unclear how much in terms of energy and resources the government will have to spend on refocusing the country ' s security posture .  But as much as anything , the debate over security and this week ' s tragic hostage situation are a reminder that Japan may increasingly find itself and its citizens in the firing line . A more assertive policy will expose Japan to more conflict and heighten its exposure to terrorism no small shift to handle in a remarkably safe country that for decades has turned its back on military conflict .  How the government deals with this challenge and , more immediately , the aftermath of this week ' s tragedy will shape the direction of Japan ' s national security , and its ability to protect this country ' s citizens .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
24152,24153,"Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette announced Monday the appointment of a special counsel to aid his office ' s investigation into whether laws were broken regarding Flint ' s lead tainted water . It is unclear at this point if the probe could result in criminal or civil charges . Flint ' s public works director , Michigan ' s top environmental regulator , a state spokesman and a high ranking federal regulator have resigned in connection with the crisis . Two other state environmental officials have been suspended pending an investigation .  Schuette announced the inquiry Jan . 15 ? more than four months after a Virginia Tech researcher said the Flint River was leaching lead from pipes into people ' s homes because the water was not treated for corrosion ? after declining to investigate earlier . He said new information that came to light around New Year ' s prompted him to open a probe .  Special counsel Todd Flood , appointed Monday , mostly declined to detail which criminal or civil laws could be reviewed for potential violations , though he did cite prohibitions against misconduct by public officials . The city of Flint was under emergency state financial management when it switched its water source from the Detroit system .  An independent panel appointed by Gov . Rick Snyder determined that the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality was primarily responsible for the water contamination because it failed to require Flint to treat its water for corrosion after switching from Detroit ' s system to the Flint River . A final report is expected early this year . The task force last week recommended that the state ask the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to help assess an outbreak of Legionnaires ' disease in Genesee County that some experts suspect is linked to the water . At least 87 cases , including nine deaths , were confirmed during a 17 month period .  The auditor said in a preliminary report that the  should have required Flint to treat its water to keep lead from leaching from service lines into people ' s homes but did not purposely mislead federal officials about the lack of corrosion control . State officials interpreted federal rules to mean Flint could make the transition and then test the new water for lead over two six month intervals to determine potential corrosion treatment . In February , a  water supervisor told the  that Flint had a corrosion control program in place . But in April , an  official confirmed through another  official that the city was not practicing corrosion treatment , according to emails . The  apparently interpreted the word "" program "" to mean treatment , while the  meant it as testing to determine if corrosion controls would be needed in the future , according to the auditor .  The  announced in November an audit of how Michigan enforces drinking water rules , and plans to identify ways to possibly strengthen state oversight . The Justice Department this month confirmed it is helping the  , where one high ranking official has resigned . It is unclear if the U . S . attorney ' s involvement is limited to the audit or is broader . A state Democratic lawmaker on Monday asked U . S . Attorney General Loretta Lynch to launch a probe , saying Schuette waited too long and questioning whether the Republican ' s investigation will be impartial .  The  ' s internal watchdog announced plans last week to examine the circumstances of , and the agency ' s response to , the water contamination . The office plans to visit Michigan and the  ' s regional headquarters in Chicago .  The commission said Monday it would hold hearings to explore whether the civil rights of Flint residents were violated during the switch to the Flint River and subsequent contamination . A majority of Flint residents are black . The first hearing could be held within 30 days .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
24155,24156,"The Government has pumped 2 . 8 million into Flybe to ensure regional routes between Cornwall and London continue .  The cash injection means that the airline will now be able to operate flights between Newquay Airport and Gatwick .  A further 300 , 000 is also being supplied by Cornwall Council in the the four year funding deal .  The 2 . 8 million cash injection has secured Flybe ' s regional route between Cornwall and London  There will be three flights each way on weekdays and two each way on weekends .  Aviation Minister Robert Goodwill said : ' Keeping our regions connected with London is a vital part of our long term economic plan .  ' That is why we have worked so hard with Cornwall Council to protect the route to Newquay and make sure we do all we can to support the local area .  The four year funding deal will ensure Cornwall is kept connected to London . There will be three flights each way on weekdays and two each way on weekends  EasyJet took over Flybe ' s Gatwick take off and landing slots but decided against starting services between Newquay and the West Sussex airport  Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander said : ' The air link between Newquay and London is vital for Cornwall ' s businesses , tourist industry and residents , so I created the Regional Air Connectivity Fund and fought for 2 . 5 million for Newquay to ensure that this crucial service could continue .  ' With a return rate of nearly three pounds for every pound invested , it ' s a great deal for the  taxpayer as well as for the south west .  ' I hope this fund will help other remote areas of the  sustain economically important connections to London too . '  Flybe had previously operated the Newquay Gatwick route before deciding to end the service .  EasyJet took over Flybe ' s Gatwick take off and landing slots but decided against starting services between Newquay and the West Sussex airport .  ",true,text,test,Other news1,Conflict,satire,true,True,no,no,positive,past
24165,24166,"National Front parade bugler Allen Boyce , who died recently aged 82 , left 28 , 416 in his will to Ukip . Nigel Farage said the money would be given to charity  Ukip faced a new race row last night over a 28 , 000 gift from a pensioner branded ' evil ' by a judge for giving a bomb making recipe to a man who attacked immigrants ' homes , writes Simon Walters .  Allen Boyce received a two year suspended jail sentence for handing bomb making instructions to a British National Party activist who was jailed for a race hate campaign against Asian families in Eastbourne .  Details of political donations published last week show that Boyce , a National Front parade bugler , who died recently aged 82 , left 28 , 416 in his will to Ukip .  Boyce pleaded guilty at Lewes Crown Court in 2006 to incitement to possess explosives .  He told Terry Collins how to mix two chemicals needed to make a bomb , and gave him a note claiming he knew a hotel where immigrants lived .  Collins did not use the recipe , but carried out a 14 month race hate campaign against three families . He was jailed for five years for pelting their homes with stones and a firework tied to a brick .  Judge Anthony Niblett suspended Boyce ' s sentence for two years and placed him under a two year supervision order .  He told him : ' Your involvement in criminality stems from your extreme political views which are abhorrent to all right minded people . On mature reflection , you will understand the wrong , indeed the evil , in which you have become involved . '  Last night , Mr Farage reacted quickly to defuse the row and announced the money would be given to charity .  In a statement issued shortly after The Mail on Sunday contacted Ukip over the donation , the party said it was ' horrified at the provenance of this money ' .  It said the cash would now be passed to a charity ' helping Christians and Yazidis suffering in Kurdistan ' .  In a statement issued shortly after The Mail on Sunday contacted Ukip over the donation , the party said it was ' horrified at the provenance of this money '  ",true,text,test,Other news2,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
24171,24172,"Weak leadership has repercussions The European Parliament on Thursday called for its member countries to grant fugitive former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden asylum as a whistleblower and  international human rights defender. Snowden, who leaked classified documents about government surveillance before going on the run, is now living in exile in Moscow. He has expressed interested in returning to the United States, which indicted him for espionage and unauthorized leaking in 2013. Snowden has said he was willing to serve some prison time.On Twitter, Snowden called Thursday s vote in Brussels, which urged European Union members to drop any criminal charges against him, as a  game-changer. He added,  This is not a blow against the U.S. Government, but an open hand extended by friends. It is a chance to move forward. This is not a blow against the  Government, but an open hand extended by friends. It is a chance to move forward. pic.twitter.com/fBs5H32wyD   Edward Snowden (@Snowden) October 29, 2015 The development raises the possibility that Snowden could settle somewhere in Europe, where his exposure of wiretapping by the United States and its allies has drawn widespread popular support.But the measure,which passed by a vote of 285-281, is only a recommendation; it is up to individual countries to decide whether to offer Snowden refuge.The Obama Administration responded by saying the vote did nothing to impact the pending case against Snowden. Our position has not changed,  Ned Price, spokesman for the National Security Council, said in a statement.  Mr. Snowden is accused of leaking classified information and faces felony charges here in the United States. As such, he should be returned to the U.S. as soon as possible, where he will be accorded full due process.  Via:  News",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,past
24172,24173,"As mass protests swept Egypt on Friday , the actions of two key institutions served as indicators for what lies ahead for the embattled regime : the military and the media .  President Hosni Mubarak deployed the Egyptian army for the first time to the streets to quell angry demonstrations against his authoritarian regime . That ' s a sure sign of the government ' s desperation , according to experts on the region .  And for the first time , the state run media didn ' t ignore the unrest or dump on the demonstrations as acts of terrorism in its usual manner . That , too , say experts , was a key indicator that Mubarak could be facing trouble .  It ' s a given that the military , a pillar of Egyptian authority since a 1952 coup toppled the monarchy , holds the keys at this critical juncture .  Many feared that the army will silence the protesters with its firepower and tanks that are now out on the streets of Cairo and Alexandria .  But Edward Walker , a former U . S . ambassador to Egypt , said that a military crackdown would be a "" death knell not only to the military but the regime . "" Such a crackdown didn ' t happen in nearby Tunisia , where the authoritarian ruler fled the nation , and it was hardly what happened in Egypt on Friday .  On the contrary , Egypt ' s 450 , 000 strong armed forces are well established and respected by the people . Journalists reported seeing protesters cheer army convoys as they drove into Cairo and Alexandria . Some embraced the soldiers on the ground they were seen as saviors from excessive police brutality .  To Mohammed el Nawawy , a professor at Queens University in North Carolina , the fact that the military was called out Friday showed that Mubarak was desperate . The all important question is how loyal the armed forces will remain to the aging leader who has ruled Egypt with an iron fist for three decades .  Meanwhile , the state controlled television network walked a tightrope Friday .  Early in the day , Nile  began showing footage of the demonstrations of "" tens of thousands of people "" and reported the use of police tear gas . It aired opposition leaders criticizing the government for shutting down the lines of communication .  Shawn Powers , a Georgia State University assistant professor who studies international media , said it was unusual for an arm of the government to even cover these events or portray them as anything but acts initiated by unsavory elements of society .  "" I ' m amazed , "" Powers said of the coverage .  Ultimately , Powers said , he suspected fissures within Mubarak ' s ranks and said some in the government may be thinking of their own future in a nation barely holding back from the brink .  "" What we ' re seeing today is parts of the government feeling increasingly isolated from Mubarak or intentionally doing so to hold on to power after Mubarak goes , "" he said .  By the end of the day , however , Nile  ' s coverage shifted , reverting to words like "" hooliganism "" and "" lawlessness "" to describe the demonstrations .  El Nawawy , who has studied Egyptian media in depth , said Friday ' s media coverage could mean that Mubarak has no one left to blame , so he gave the protesters , many of whom are young people , a little wiggle room .  "" The state media is walking a fine line to give credit to the young people , but in the meantime , it has to justify intervention and crackdown , "" el Nawawy said .  El Nawawy said things will get really thorny if Egypt ' s impoverished masses join hands with the protesters believed to be largely from the educated middle classes and the demonstrations grow to even more chaotic proportions .  That ' s when the military and the state run media will both have to come to terms with events in their country .  That ' s when Mubarak , el Nawawy said , may realize that he can shut down Facebook but not the People ' s Book .  ",true,text,test,US elections,Conflict,fake,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
24177,24178,"CITY, Philippines (Reuters) - Marawi resident Baimona Amintao hopes her turn comes quickly once authorities begin raffling off the first batch of temporary shelters for those who lost their homes to the five-month battle to retake the southern Philippine city from Islamist militants.  Amintao and her five children were among the thousands of families displaced since fighting erupted in Marawi on May 23, when security forces tried to arrest Isnilon Hapilon,  Islamic State s  emir  in Southeast Asia.  The Philippines on Monday announced the end of military operations in Marawi after a fierce and unfamiliar urban war in the country s biggest security crisis in years, paving the way for rebuilding and rehabilitation efforts to begin. More than 1,000 transitional houses, with basic bathroom and cooking facilities, could be completed within two months on the outskirts of Marawi, the Philippine housing agency has said. Residents whose homes were devastated will get first priority in allotment raffles that could be held either before or after construction.   I hope I can be included in the raffle and be able to stay there for my children s well-being,  Amintao, 26, who formerly owned a small grocery store, told Reuters.  Many people here prioritize their children since many of the kids cannot stand living inside the tents and are getting sick.  The government estimates the rebuilding of Marawi could cost at least 50 billion pesos ($971 million). Authorities said 920 militants, 165 troops and police and at least 45 civilians were killed in the conflict, which displaced more than 300,000 people. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has placed the southern island of Mindanao, where Marawi is located, under martial rule to help security forces in crushing the rebel movement.     The rebel occupation stunned a military inexperienced in urban combat and stoked wider concerns that Islamic State loyalists have gained influence among local Muslims and have ambitions to use the island as a base for Southeast Asia operations. Those fears are compounded by the organization of the militant alliance and its ability to recruit young fighters, lure foreign radicals, stockpile huge amounts of arms and endure 154 days of ground offensive and air strikes. The social welfare department said more than 5,000 families still live in covered gymnasiums and tent cities.  I could not fathom what happened to our village and I hope this does not happen again,  said Alniah Magoyag, a village official.  No more terrorists in Marawi City.  ",true,dataset,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
24198,24199,"Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer has revealed his first ever experience of St James ' Park was enough to convince him his future lay in professional football .  Shearer scored 206 times in 404 appearances for the club , but it was a Kevin Keegan effort against Queens Park Rangers that first ignited his love of the game .  ' I remember my first game like it was yesterday , ' said Shearer . ' It was August 1982 and Newcastle were facing Queens Park Rangers . We took the metro and got there especially early to soak up the atmosphere , I bought a scarf on the way and couldn ' t believe my dad when he told me he ' d kept it to this day .  Alan Shearer revealed the first game he ever went to at St James ' Park was a 1 0 win over  in 1982  After joining in 1996 , Shearer scored 206 times in 404 appearances for the club  ' I ' ll never forget the feeling of entering the Gallowgate , I couldn ' t really see much of the game , but when we scored I got lifted in the air and felt total adulation .  ' The atmosphere was unbelievable , we won 1 0 and I ' d never felt anything like it before . '  ' Seeing us win on my first game was special , but what made it even better was Kevin Keegan making his debut that day and scoring the winning goal . Seeing him run over to us with his arms held aloft was pure ecstasy , it was then that I knew I had to become a professional footballer .  Shearer described the feeling of ' pure ecstasy ' after Newcastle legend Kevin Keegan scored the winner  Keegan , right , was instrumental in bringing Shearer to Newcastle in 1996  He added : ' The story continued when I was a ball boy at his final match for Newcastle , before he eventually signed me in 1996 and gave me the chance to represent my boyhood club and live out the best years of my career . I ' ll always appreciate his role in helping me get to where I am today . '  And now Premier League sponsors Barclays have launched a new initiative to ensure that other young supporters get their chance to fall in love with the game .  The scheme will give away thousands of Premier League tickets to fans over the remainder of the 2014 15 season .  Shearer said : ' The fact that Barclays are giving more and more young people the chance to experience football for the first time can only benefit the game for the future . '  Shearer has teamed up with Barclays for a new ticketing initiative aimed at young fans  Shearer hopes that the more fans who can get along to games , the brighter the future of the sport will be  Shearer presents a young fan with his first ever Premier League tickets  Shearer teamed up with Barclays to offer fans the chance to watch their team for the first time  Starting on Tuesday March 3 , Barclays will give fans the chance to win tickets to their favourite team every week for the remainder of the 2014 15 season via the Barclays Spirit of the Game website .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
24204,24205,"Bernie Sanders and his supporters just received some excellent news concerning the mix up that might have prevented his name from being on the ballot in Washington, D.C.Anita Bonds, chairwoman of the Washington, D.C. Democratic Party told  that  Bernie will be on the ballot. Sanders  supporters were dismayed to hear that the Democratic presidential candidate might not be on the ballot. On Wednesday, NBC4 Washington reported that D.C. Democrats had failed to send Sanders  campaign information to the D.C. Board of Elections until one day after the registration was due.Headlines proclaiming that Sanders may not be on the ballot in the upcoming D.C. primary election may have given some of Sanders  supporters heart attacks. However, Sanders campaign did not seem to be concerned about the possibility of his name not being on the ballot come June 14, the day of D.C s primary election. We did what the D.C. law requires in order to get Bernie on the ballot and we are confident he will be on the ballot,  a spokesman with the Sanders campaign said.Sanders campaign had already paid $2500 in registration fees and gave his registration filings to the D.C. Democratic Party earlier this month.It turns out that the Board of Elections closes before the deadline. So it is common to turn in the registration filings the day after the deadline. This has been kind of a tradition in the District of Columbia, that the party would notify the board the following day,  Bonds told CNN.What s unusual about the potentially campaign dooming mix-up, is that Sanders was actually challenged on the matter. The challenge to Sanders  campaign came from a voter who lives in D.C. Neither Hillary Clinton nor Rocky De La Fuente, who had also paid their registration fees on time, were challenged.Bonds is working to rectify the current situation. In addition to her position as the chairperson of the D.C Democratic Party, she also serves on the city council. She plans to change the city s rules to include a 24-hour grace period after the registration deadline. That means Sanders is safe.While I am glad that everything has turned out okay, this time, I have to say that it might be time for D.C. Democratic Party to find a new  tradition  concerning turning in campaign registration filings.Featured image: (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images)",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,past
24207,24208,"Eric Holder just doubled down on threats this old radical is off his rocker. He might be shaking in his boots that his corruption will be exposed too. We know there s plenty of it to go around Benghazi is just one of many   LINE: the firing of Bob Mueller or crippling the special counsel s office. If removed or meaningfully tampered with, there must be mass, popular, peaceful support of both. The American people must be seen and heard   they will ultimately be determinative.   LINE: the firing of Bob Mueller or crippling the special counsel s office. If removed or meaningfully tampered with, there must be mass, popular, peaceful support of both. The American people must be seen and heard   they will ultimately be determinative.  Eric Holder (@EricHolder) December 17, 2017We previously reported on Eric Holder and Obama s  Ethics Czar  threatening against firing Mueller:This is the height of irony. Obama s ethics czar  is threatening to  take the streets  if Mueller is fired. Eric Holder also threatened congress not to fire Mueller:Speaking on behalf of the vast majority of the American people, Republicans in Congress be forewarned:any attempt to remove Bob Mueller will not be tolerated.These are  attacks on him/his staff that are blatantly political-designed to hide the real wrongdoing. Country not party  Eric Holder (@EricHolder) December 14, 2017NOW THIS:The federal government s former ethics czar says he is  stocking up  on  gear  in order to  take the streets  in the event that President Trump removes Robert Mueller as special counsel. I m concerned the assault on the rule of law is coming over the holidays when we re distracted. It ll be a defining moment for the Republic,  Walter Shaub wrote on Twitter on Friday.Shaub, an Obama appointee who quit his position earlier this year in protest against Trump, circulated a advertisement for an event sponsored by MoveOn.org, the left-wing activist group.He tried to walk back the threatening tweet but if he s in the camp of organizations like MoveOn.org, it s clear he s ready to rumble.Read more: Daily Caller ",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,present
24219,24220,"Asked whether he would rather win 11 . 44million at the FedEx Cup finale or be part of a winning American Ryder Cup team , Masters champion Bubba Watson hesitated for only a second .  ' That would be a tough one , ' he began , before delivering an answer suggesting it wasn ' t hard at all . ' When you look at my career , I ' ve won a major , I ' ve won other tournaments but I ' ve never won the Ryder Cup .  ' At the end of my career I would love to have done that and who knows , this might be my last chance . So right now I would like to win the Ryder Cup . I would like to experience the team atmosphere that follows a win . '  Team player : Bubba Watson has his sights set on Ryder Cup glory  How they shape up : Watson is third in the rankings  That ' s rather thrown the gauntlet down then , hasn ' t it ? His answer was certainly a refreshing contrast to the depressing one Tiger Woods gave to a similar question in 2002 , when he said there were a million reasons why he would rather win the 1m first prize at the American Express Championship than the Ryder Cup played the following week .  Watson showed how much he loves the biennial competition at the last edition at Medinah . He was a revelation , catching the Europeans off guard completely on the opening day when he encouraged the crowd to cheer as he struck his drive off the first tee . Will he be doing something similar at Gleneagles ?  ' No , I will not be doing that , ' he said , smiling broadly . ' We were on home soil and it was just my little way of trying to grow the game of golf . I loved it when Ian Poulter joined in the following day but it was a one time thing . And I would not do that especially on foreign soil , where they might be against it . '  The 35 year old from Bagdad , Florida is often portrayed as country yokel but his answers display a real street intelligence .  Getting into the swing of things : Watson during practice in Atlanta on Tuesday  At Gleneagles he will resume his pairing with Webb Simpson that delivered two points in the fourballs at Medinah . Here was his response when one reporter suggested Simpson was the calm one in the partnership .  ' Y ' all got time for a little story ? ' he began . ' Webb was playing really well going into the Presidents Cup in Australia but he was really jumpy in our match against Ernie Els and Ryo Ishikawa . We were two down after just four holes , so I took him to one side .  ' I said : "" Webb , look man you ' re the 8th ranked golfer in the world . Half the players above you are European so that makes you the fourth or fifth best player here .  Eyes on the prize : Watson wants the Ryder Cup to complete his set  ' Two of those are Tiger and Phil and they ' re on our team . So that makes you second best . Now go out and play like it and make some putts .  ' And I think he birdied the next two holes . So I calmed him down and I see that as my role , trying to make my team mates relax . '  Only once did we get goofy Bubba . Watson said he would prepare for the Ryder Cup like it was a major , with one big exception .  ' We don ' t have to pack a suitcase do we , as all the uniforms are going to be over there , ' he said . ' Socks and underwear . That ' s all I got to pack . Other than that , it ' s still golf . You still practice at your house , work on your short game , work on your irons , your driver . You just pack differently . '  Talking tactics : Watson sees himself as a calming influence in the American camp  As for the Tour Championship , the final leg of the FedEx Cup play offs , Watson is one of five players the others are Chris Kirk , Billy Horschel , Rory McIlroy and Hunter Mahan in control of their own destiny . If any wins this event , with its 1 . 44m ( 895 , 000 ) first prize , they will walk away with the 10m ( 6 . 2m ) FedEx bonus .  Watson gave short shrift to those players moaning about fatigue , at the end of a run of six events in seven weeks . ' You should be energized if you ' ve got the chance to take home 11 . 44 million , ' he said .  ' How many chances are you going to get to do that in your lifetime ? '  It was one more good answer in a press conference full of them . Go Bubba , as they say in these parts .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
24222,24223,"Walt Harris was in his seventh year as the University of Pittsburgh ' s head football coach , and ? he had a problem . His library of game film was in complete disarray , making it hard to find tape when it was needed .  So he tasked a young graduate assistant named Ben McAdoo ? with the seemingly impossible ? task of getting the film in order .   : ? 8 Giants set to benefit with McAdoo as head coach  "" It was a tremendous , tremendous mess , sort of speak , "" Harris told  Advance Media in a phone interview . "" And lo and behold , he did it . He organized it in a system that allowed me to be able to find things . That kind of shocked me , honestly . It took him a whole summer I ' m amazed . ""  That was in 2003 . Thirteen years later , McAdoo is set to be named the 18th head coach ? in the history of the New York Giants .  "" He ' s the hardest working guy I ' ve ever been around , "" said Harris , who was the Jets ' quarterbacks coach from 1992 94 . "" That ' s when I knew the guy really had tremendous skills in terms of being able to work hard , and work smart , when I ' m not watching . "" ?   : Why the Giants hired McAdoo , and why it was the right call  McAdoo served as a  at Pitt for one year , before leaving to take his first  coaching position as the New Orleans Saints ' offensive quality control coordinator . But he left a major impression on Harris . ?  Former Pitt coach Walt Harris celebrates a 2011 Tangerine Bowl win over North Carolina State . ( Chris O ' Meara  Photo ) James Kratch  Advance Media for NJweblink ?  Harris certainly felt that way about McAdoo . So when he ? left Pitt in 2004 , after leading the Panthers to a Big East Conference title and the Fiesta Bowl , and became the head coach at Stanford University , he hired McAdoo to his new staff .  "" I put my money where my mouth was , "" Harris said . "" I was impressed . ""  2  : McAdoo , Giants to play in Green Bay , Pittsburgh in 2016  McAdoo got to Palo Alto and was Harris ' tight ends coach . They went on a recruiting trip together to make an in home visit . But , their reunion lasted "" for two weeks , "" as McAdoo left Stanford to follow Mike McCarthy , who was his boss as offensive coordinator in New Orleans , to his new job with the San Francisco 49ers . ?  A year later , McCarthy became the Green Bay Packers ' head coach , McAdoo went with him to be his tight ends coach , and the kid from Homer City , Pa . , was firmly set on the path to where he stands now . ?  "" I hated to see him leave , but I wasn ' t going to try to act like it was the wrong move , "" Harris said . "" It was obviously the right move . He ' s very smart , intelligent , and went about his way of putting himself in position to advance . He obviously got himself in front of two really good guys , Tom Coughlin and Mike McCarthy . ""  N . J . Sports Now : Ben McAdoo ' s offense fixed Eli Manning In 2013 , John Mara said the Giants offense was broken . After 19 games of Ben McAdoo ' s system , he ' s fixed Eli Manning .  Harris texted McAdoo congratulations on Thursday morning . He said one text he has received from his old assistant ? over the years stands out : A picture of McAdoo holding the Lombardi Trophy right after his Packers beat the Pittsburgh Steelers and won Super Bowl  . ?  That will be the expectation and goal from Day 1 as McAdoo takes over the Giants . And Harris thinks he will rise to the challenge . Just like he did with that messy tape collection .  "" He ' s been in another big time situation , "" Harris said . "" I know New York is one of the treasured jobs in the  because of the Mara and Tisch families and the folklore of pro football and New York , as well as the No . 1 city in the world . Being in Green Bay , I would think that gave him tremendous insights . Because that is on a different scale , but still the same magnitude , and maybe more so . ?  "" Ben ' s very smart , and he planned this all out . Kudos to him . ""  James Kratch can be reached at jkratch njadvancemediaweblink or by leaving a note in the comments below . Follow him on Twitter JamesKratch . Find and like NJweblink Giants on Facebook . ?  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
24224,24225,"Trump didn t stop with names of potential cabinet members  he also doubled down on policies designed to make America safer. Voters should be asking why liberals are so offended when Trump suggests putting the national security of America before political correctness?Donald Trump is sticking with two of his most controversial policy proposals now that he has become the Republican Party s presumptive presidential nominee.Trump tells  s Lester Holt that he stands by his plan to temporary bar foreign Muslims from entering the country if he s elected president because of the dangers of extremism.He says,  We have to be vigilant. Trump is also standing by his plan to deport all of the estimated 11 million people living in the country illegally.He says,  Yes, they re going to be deported.  He wants to put a system in place that would allow some to return.Donald Trump says he s setting up a vice presidential vetting committee  very soon  that could include some of his former running mates.In an interview with  s Wolf Blitzer Wednesday, Trump said that he has yet to begin to seriously consider his potential running mates.He says he may put Ben Carson and Chris Christie on the committee.Donald Trump is revealing some possible Cabinet picks if he s elected president.In an interview with Fox News s  The O Reilly Factor,  the presumptive  nominee says he d consider naming former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani secretary of homeland security, Gov. Chris Christie attorney general and Dr. Ben Carson secretary of health and human services.He says he has not made final decisions,  but certainly they would three very wise choices. Trump also said Carson is not interested in being his running mate. Via:  ",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,positive,present
24269,24270,"Washington A filing on behalf of basketball superstar LeBron James dismisses as "" rank speculation "" claims by a Washington lawyer that he is the athlete ' s biological father , saying the man has "" delusions "" about alleged family ties .  Lawyers for James and his mother filed papers in federal court Monday seeking to dismiss a pending lawsuit . Leicester Stovell alleges the  all star and his family have been involved in a cover up to deny paternity , by committing fraud and misrepresentation .  The 14 page document said Stovell had completely failed to prove any of the facts alleged in his June 23 complaint . And they said he was motivated only by fame and money , calling Stovell ' s actions a "" fanciful hope for celebrity . ""  The lawsuit claims Stovell met James ' mother , Gloria , in a Washington bar and restaurant in 1984 , when she was visiting from Ohio . She was 15 or 16 at the time , and Stovell says they had sex only once , and was informed by Gloria James months later that she was pregnant . He claims she told him the child would be named LeBron , similar to Leicester Bryce , Stovell ' s first and middle names .  Stovell is asking for unspecified millions of dollars in damages , and says he has been trying for three years to establish paternity , which he hopes would lead to financial and commercial opportunities . He is a solo legal practitioner in the District of Columbia , and filed the lawsuit on his own behalf .  He alleges a  test that showed he was not James ' father was falsified .  James ' attorneys , Frederick Nance and John Burlingame , dismissed those suggestions in often mocking tones aimed at the plaintiff .  "" Stovell ' s claims for millions of dollars from his putative son and Gloria James are based upon rank speculation , "" said the court filing , "" that a man who claims that as a 29 year old lawyer he got a 15 year old girl pregnant during a one night stand and who never contributed a penny in child support would earn millions in commercial endorsements by crawling out of the woodwork after the child he never gave a thought to became an  star . ""  James , a native of Akron , Ohio , recently left the Cleveland Cavaliers to sign with the Miami Heat for what is believed to be one of the richest sports contracts in history . He is the reigning most valuable player of the  , and has carefully cultivated a public image as one of the most popular and talented athletes .  The complaint filed June 23 by Stovell said , "" I recently have concluded that a comprehensive , sophisticated and well funded effort might well have been under way for quite some time , perhaps beginning in its present form as early as when defendant LeBron James was in high school , to frustrate identification of his real father , and that there is a likelihood that the father in question is me . ""  James ' lawyers think otherwise . "" Stovell may truly believe that he is the father of LeBron James , even though a  test has told him otherwise . But his delusions do not give rise to a cause of action against either Gloria or LeBron James . ""  Public records show Stovell is a former government attorney with the Securities and Exchange Commission . He filed a lawsuit in 2002 against the agency , alleging racial discrimination . Federal court records show the case was settled when the  paid him 230 , 000 , while not admitting fault .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
24305,24306,"Eli Manning ' s success under Ben McAdoo ( l . ) as offensive coordinator gives him an advantage for the Giants head coaching job .  When the Giants hired Tom Coughlin in 2004 , they knew he was an upgrade from Jim Fassel , who would have been replaced by John Fox three years earlier if he had not made the Super Bowl . When Fassel replaced Dan Reeves in 1997 , they knew he was an upgrade simply because Reeves was miserable and wanted out and had no desire to work for George Young anymore . When Reeves replaced Ray Handley in 1993 , he was an upgrade because , well , Rich Kotite would have been an upgrade .  The Giants have been losing games the same way the last three years and they can t stop the injuries , so it was a good time for Coughlin to go and see if a change in routine and culture will get them back into the playoffs .  It s risky because there s no guarantee the Giants will find a coach better than Coughlin , especially if the decision to keep  Jerry Reese , who is excellent delegating blame , proves to be a huge mistake .  John Mara and Reese are conducting the coaching interviews , but it s a good thing Mara and Steve Tisch have final say . If Reese picks coaches like he picks players , the Giants would be in even more trouble .         . ""  ""   .  Two years ago , the Giants forced Coughlin to get rid of offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride . Last year , defensive coordinator Perry Fewell was let go .  This year , it s Coughlin . There s nobody left to blame but Reese , who deserved the blame all along because he s the one supplying the players .  As the Giants search for their next coach and Coughlin gets set to interview with the Eagles , here s a few thoughts on the franchise changing events of the last week and what to look for going forward :  If the Giants are going to hire an offensive coordinator as their head coach and there is no discernible difference between Ben McAdoo and Josh McDaniels with Adam Gase off the board after he was hired Saturday by Miami , then keeping McAdoo makes sense .  Josh McDaniels is likely the only other offensive coordinator the Giants would consider as head coach .  Eli Manning is 35 and probably has three years left at a high level . The Giants don t want to waste games having him learn his second new system in the last three years . But Manning is a smart guy and if Mara is convinced McDaniels will be a lot better as a head coach after failing in Denver , then they need to go outside the organization . It would be short sighted to pick a head coach just because it s best for Manning when they need a coach of the entire team . Potential positive development for McAdoo : The Giants are the most attractive job and presumably could have had Gase , the hottest candidate , if they wanted him . Gase going to Miami could be an indication McAdoo will get the job .  Doug Marrone opted out of his Bills contract last year thinking he had the Jets job . That backfired on him and he wound up as the Jags offensive line coach . Don t forget he won nine games with the Bills in 2014 and had a shutdown defense . Then Rex Ryan took over and won eight games and had dissension on his defense . Marrone is a no nonsense coach . He is getting a lot of interviews , including with the Giants . He s from the Bronx and certainly would love to have this job .  There was lots of speculation that Alabama s Nick Saban could be headed to the Colts until Jimmy Irsay decided to retain Chuck Pagano . The Giants wanted Saban in 1997 and thought they had him before he changed his mind and stayed at Michigan State . He was high on their list in 2004 after he had just won the national championship at  . But when Giants  Ernie Accorsi called to speak with Saban a couple of days after the championship game at a predetermined time , Saban was not home and Accorsi moved on . Saban took the Dolphins job the next year , was just 15 17 in two years and went to Alabama . His game management skills were exposed in the  . After Alabama plays Clemson for the national title Monday night , I don t think the Giants will put themselves in position to get burned by Saban a third time .  What about Lovie Smith ? He was fired after a 10 6 season in Chicago in 2012 and last week after a 6 10 season in Tampa , a four game improvement from his first season . Neither firing was fair , but I ve never been impressed with him as a head coach . His teams have always struggled to score . The Giants interviewed him and liked him before hiring Coughlin , so he could get another look . If they do hire Smith , then he surely has to keep McAdoo . Smith had the Bucs in the playoff race at 6 6 with rookie  Jameis Winston , but they folded down the stretch and lost their last four . That s a bad look . Biggest plus : He made it to a Super Bowl with Rex Grossman at  .  If the Giants miss the playoffs in 2016 , Reese will almost certainly be fired . So , the Giants will have a new  inheriting a second year coach . It worked when Reese was promoted in 2007 and inherited Coughlin , but they were already in the building together . Forced marriages when the coach is in place don t often work . Mara would have been better off hiring a new  and coach and starting over .  The Vikings are moving into a beautiful new indoor stadium on the site of the old Metrodome next season , which doesn t do the Vikings , Seahawks or the fans any good Sunday for the wild card game outdoors at the University of Minnesota . The high is expected to be 4 degrees with a low of minus 4 and a wind chill of minus 11 . Who has the edge ? When it s this cold , nobody . This will be the coldest playoff game since the 2007  title game between the Giants and Packers when it was minus 1 at kickoff with a wind chill of minus 23 . The Giants won in overtime and Coughlin s cheeks have never been the same . The Packers also lost to the 49ers at Lambeau in a 2013 wild card game when the temperature was 5 degrees with a wind chill of minus 10 .  Jay Cutler has been a coach killer in his career , but he may have gotten Gase the Dolphins job . Cutler had 21 TDs and 11 INTs and a career high 92 . 3 passer rating in his one season with Gase as the Bears offensive coordinator . Gase was a favorite of Peyton Manning , too , so he has done good work with two diverse personalities . Now it s on to Ryan Tannehill Chip Kelly interviewed with the 49ers but Bengals offensive coordinator Hue Jackson appears to be the leading contender . If Kelly gets the job , the good thing for the 49ers is that when he tears the team apart , it will be justified , unlike the hatchet job he did in Philly In addition to Coughlin , the Eagles could go after Chiefs offensive coordinator Doug Pederson , who was on their staff from 2009 2012 and played for them in 1999 The Bucs really like the job offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter did with Winston and have received more than one request to interview him from teams looking for a head coach . If Tampa promotes Koetter , it will explain why they fired Smith . After firing Jon Gruden in 2008 , seven seasons after giving up two first round and two second round picks and 8 million to the Raiders to get him ( he won the Super Bowl in his first year ) , the Bucs have shown no patience . Raheem Morris lasted three years , Greg Schiano two years and Smith two years .  Lovie Smith is an intriguing name but he may not be the best fit for the Giants .  No team looks dumber than the 49ers . They fired Jim Harbaugh last year after four seasons because he was overbearing and rubbed people the wrong way . They overlooked that he s a great coach who knows how to win :  title game , Super Bowl ,  title game , 8 8 , in his four years . They promoted defensive line coach Jim Tomsula , who was just as clueless as Handley . He was fired last week after a 5 11 season . Harbaugh quickly resurrected the program at Michigan , his alma mater , going 10 3 with a New Year s Day bowl victory . After the 49ers fired Tomsula , it didn t take long for Harbaugh to check in on Twitter : Do not be deceived . You will reap what you sow . The  will honor all the Super Bowl MVPs as part of the Super Bowl 50 celebration next month . If the Patriots are not playing , will Tom Brady accept Roger Goodell s invitation or blow him off as pay back for Deflategate ? Brady s family lives in San Mateo , just 28 miles from where the game will be played in Santa Clara .  The Browns promoted Sashi Brown from executive  general counsel to executive  football operations and incredibly owner Jimmy Haslam gave him control of the 53 man roster . Haslam and his wife in addition to Brown , new chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta , and Jed Hughes , he of the search firm that convinced Woody Johnson to hire John Idzik , will hire a coach and then a general manger . So , the new  won t control the roster and has no say in the coach . That actually sounds like the perfect job for Idzik Haslam is trying to get way ahead of the curve in analytics by hiring DePodesta from the Mets . But here s the thing : If you don t have the right coach and he doesn t have the right players , you can t win . Matt Harvey , Jacob deGrom , Noah Syndergaard and Steven Matz can all probably throw the football better than Johnny Manziel . . . Todd Bowles did a very good job , but he is the Jets first rookie coach not to make the playoffs since Al Groh in 2000 . Then again , Bill Parcells didn t make the playoffs in his first year with the Jets in 1997 . Herm Edwards ( 2001 ) and Eric Mangini ( 2006 ) were the same 10 6 as Bowles and Rex Ryan ( 2009 ) was 9 7 and they all made the playoffs . The Jets are the first  team with a record as good as 10 6 not to make the playoffs since the Patriots lost tiebreakers at 11 5 in 2008 in the season Brady tore his  in the first quarter of the first game .  Can t wait for the pictures to surface of Manziel s reported visit to Las Vegas the night before the Browns finished the season . The report said he was wearing a blonde wig , mustache , glasses , a hoodie and was going by the name Billy . Manziel was out with a concussion but was still required to be examined by the Browns doctors on game day as part of the league s protocol . Clearly , Johnny Football has no interest in being an  quarterback . Not only does he stink on the field , he s worse off the field . The Browns new regime must get rid of him . But I wouldn t be shocked if Jerry Jones brings him back home to Texas and believes he can keep the Cowboys offense running if Tony Romo gets hurt again next year . Jones had to be talked out of drafting Manziel in 2014 Last year when Darrelle Revis was with the Patriots , he received the most votes of any cornerback on the  All Pro team with 42 out of 50 . This year , back with the Jets , he was tied for eighth with just one vote , one fewer than Malcolm Butler , who replaced him as the Patriots top corner this season .   owners meet in Houston on Tuesday and Wednesday with the hope they will end our national nightmare and put at least one team , and probably two , back in Los Angeles . Seriously , nobody has suffered since the Rams and Raiders left after the 1994 season .  revenues have climbed to 10 billion per year , ratings have never been higher and there hasn t been one protest from Los Angeles fans or politicians in 20 years to bring the  back . But the league wants to start cashing paychecks again in the country s second largest market and the Rams , Chargers and Raiders all want to relocate to Hollywood , a place they all once called home . Rams owner Stan Kroenke used the scorched earth approach in his relocation application to get out of St . Louis . He not only raved about his proposed stadium in Inglewood , but tore apart St . Louis effort to get the Rams to stay with a 1 . 1 billion river front stadium . Any  Club that signs on to this proposal in St . Louis will be well on the road to financial ruin , and the League will be harmed , the Rams application for relocations said . It also said , Compared to all other U . S . cities , St . Louis is struggling . The Chargers and Raiders are joined in a project in Carson , but I think the end result is the Rams and Chargers will become partners in Kroenke s deal in Inglewood . The plan is for the winners of the  Derby to play in the Los Angeles Coliseum starting in the 2016 season until the new place is ready .  ",true,text,test,American football,US elections,fake,true,True,no,no,positive,past
24311,24312,"Donald Trump s new strategy to spin away from the sexual assault avalanche that is burying him apparently includes accusing Hillary Clinton of sexual assault.Because that s exactly what Trump minion Gina Loudon did during an appearance on  with Don Lemon on Monday night.Loudon and fellow Trump minion Betsey McCaughey tried to steer the discussion from Trump s sexual assault comments to claims of mass election fraud, which Trump has repeatedly tried to convince everyone is a thing that actually happens even though it is incredibly rare in our country.At that point, panelist Bakari Sellers had had enough and shut both women down to return the discussion to the topic at hand. This is absurd,  Sellers said.  Bless your heart, both of you, this is patently absurd. You talked about the fact that Donald Trump somehow had allegations that were unproven. No. Melania Trump was on camera today, trying to deal with his own comments coming out of his mouth. We weren t even at the allegations. We were at the point that he said he likes to sexually abuse people. You cannot be serious,  Loudon exclaimed. But Sellers refused to back down.  That s sexual assault, is it not?  he asked.Indeed, Trump bragged about groping women against their will back in 2005 while on a hot mic while on Access Hollywood. Groping women against their will is the exact definition of sexual assault. But Loudon has a totally different definition and she openly stated it on national television when she openly accused Hillary Clinton of sexually assaulting Bill Clinton s accusers. Words are not sexual assault,  she claimed.  What is sexual assault is what Hillary Clinton did to the women her husband absolutely, factually assaulted. Wow. Donald Trump s supporters literally just sunk to a new low in their desperate effort to paint Hillary as worse than the Republican nominee.Lemon and Sellers were stunned by the ridiculous accusation and former Philadelphia mayor Michael Nutter told the two women that they are embarrassing themselves.Loudon insisted that Hillary paid $100,000 to a private investigator to  dig up bad stuff on these women,  but when Lemon and Nutter told her there was no evidence of her claims, the best Loudon could offer is that there is an alleged tape and that she has heard it. In other words, hearsay, which is not evidence.Nutter went on to slam Donald Trump as a liar and he actually listed off many of the things Trump has lied about, and unlike Loudon s claim, there is evidence to back him up.Here s the video via VidMe.Donald Trump has no business being a candidate for the presidency and his supporters should not be allowed on national media programs. All they have done is lie throughout this campaign and accusing Hillary of sexual assault should be the last time Gina Loudon is ever invited back on  or any other news outlet.Featured image via screenshot",fake,dataset,test,US elections,US elections,true,fake,True,no,no,negative,present
24331,24332,"Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers claimed his side ' did enough to win the game ' despite their 3 0 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford .  Goals from Wayne Rooney , Juan Mata and Robin van Persie sealed victory but it was United goalkeeper David De Gea who took the plaudits after keeping Liverpool at bay from a host of chances .  ' I thought we did enough to win the game , ' Rodgers told Sky Sports . ' We created enough chances to win the game but we also made defensive mistakes .  Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers shows the strain during his side ' s 3 0 shellacking at Old Trafford  Wayne Rooney expertly steers the ball to give United an early lead against Liverpool  Juan Mata doubles United ' s advantage in the 40th minute with a perfectly executed header  Robin van Persie ( right ) rounds off the rout at Old Trafford in the 71st minute  ' It probably epitomised our season , we ' re not prolific enough in terms of goalscoring .  ' I think David De Gea was man of the match , that doesn ' t surprise me . I ' ve seen him have four or five games like that .  ' The first half we were the better side but we can ' t concede the goals we did . We nearly went in front and they broke up the other end and got a goal , we lost a runner from midfield which you can ' t do .  David De Gea ( left ) pulled off a number of outstanding saves during the games denying Mario Balotelli  ' It ' s easy , we know what the solutions are but we have to keep working and hopefully the confidence will return .  ' At least we created the opportunities and if we can cut out the mistakes we ' re going to be in with a chance of winning more games . '  De Gea said : ' I ' m really happy with the three points . We played a very good game and scored three goals , it ' s fantastic .  Liverpool forward Raheem Sterling ( right ) could not find a way past the outstanding De Gea  ' The first half I saved two against ( Raheem ) Sterling and the second half ( Mario ) Balotelli , and we scored three goals and won the game . '  Van Persie added : ' It was a very good game , outstanding from David again . He was absolutely brilliant like always , my man ! '  Mata ' s goal appeared offside after a slight touch from Van Persie in the build up , which the Dutchman owned up to afterwards .  He said : ' I got a touch , I have to be honest . . . so you can put that down as an assist ! '  A hapless Steven Gerrard looks on after Liverpool concede their third goal of the afternoon  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
24349,24350,"Child among dead in latest attack in Syria  Rebels entrenched in an eastern suburb of Damascus fired volleys of mortar shells into the Syrian capital , killing three people , including a child , and wounding 33 , said Syria s state run news agency and residents .  Government forces hit back with air strikes that activists said killed at least 28 people .  The Damascus suburb of Eastern Ghouta is held by rebels fighting to topple president Bashar Assad , who often launch mortars into Damascus , his seat of power .  The latest barrage ? more than 40 mortar shells , according to one report ? was particularly strong and sustained , shaking residents out of bed in the early morning as shells struck residential districts .     routed in French regional elections  The Sana news agency said a child was killed and three people were wounded .  The government responded with air strikes and missiles on suspected rebel outposts . The Local Co ordination Committees and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights , two opposition outfits that track the war , said at least 28 people were killed in Douma and Saqba , which are part of the same sprawling suburb .  The observatory reported earlier that 40 shells hit Damascus . The shelling came as  humanitarian chief , Stephen O Brien , was visiting the Syrian capital to review humanitarian work and assess the impact on civilians of the intensified fighting and military operations .  Following a meeting with foreign minister Walid al Moallem , O Brien said he was pursuing efforts to have humanitarian aid reach all Syrian people . Al Moallem , according to Sana , emphasised the need for reconciliation and local truces to help in that regard .  Meanwhile , Hezbollah announced the names of at least 11 militants it said were killed while fighting in Syria .  The Iranian backed Lebanese Shiite group has sent thousands of fighters to shore up Assad s forces . It was not clear when the 11 fighters were killed , but one security official said last night it happened in the past 48 hours , most of them in Syria s Qalamoun mountains near the border with Lebanon , where militants operate , including Syria s al Qaida branch , the Nusra Front .  Islamic extremists , including the Islamic State group and its rival , the Nusra Front , control roughly half the country .  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
24368,24369,"Sen . Barack Obama will take a break from campaigning Thursday so he can visit his ailing grandmother in Hawaii , an Obama spokesman said Monday .  Sen . Barack Obama will take a break from campaigning so he can visit his ailing grandmother .  "" Sen . Obama ' s grandmother Madelyn Dunham has always been one of the most important people in his life , "" spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters .  "" In the last few weeks , her health has deteriorated to the point where her situation is very serious . It is for that reason that Sen . Obama has decided to change his schedule on Thursday and Friday so that he can see her and spend some time with her , "" Gibbs said .  The interruption will cause Obama to cancel Thursday events in Madison , Wisconsin and Des Moines , Iowa . He will do an event in Indianapolis , Indiana , Thursday morning before leaving and will return to the campaign Saturday , Gibbs said .  Michelle Obama will fill in for her husband on Friday at previously scheduled events in Columbus and Akron , Ohio , his campaign said .  Obama speaks about his grandmother often on the stump , describing her as an integral figure in his youth who struggled against the glass ceiling in to make a better life for him .  "" She ' s the one who put off buying a new car or a new dress for herself so that I could have a better life , "" he said in his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention in August . "" She poured everything she had into me . And although she can no longer travel , I know that she ' s watching tonight , and that tonight is her night as well . ""  He and his family traveled to Hawaii in August to visit her .  The Obama team made the announcement after a busy day of trading attacks with Sen . John McCain on the Democratic presidential hopeful ' s readiness for office .  Monday also marked the first time that Obama appeared with Sen . Hillary Clinton during the general election season .  Clinton went to Florida , a state she won in the primary but whose delegates she could not claim , to urge her supporters to turn out for Obama on Election Day .  Clinton called Orlando and central Florida "" the battleground of the battleground "" and practically begged the crowd to vote early .  "" We are 15 days from the finish line and we cannot falter , we cannot stop , we cannot take a single vote for granted , "" Clinton said Monday . "" I am asking you to work as hard for Barack as you worked for me . If you made phone calls for me , make them for Barack . If you walked streets for me , make them for Barack . If you talked to your friends and neighbors for me , do it again for Barack . We cannot risk four more years of the same failed Republican policies . ""  Earlier in the day , McCain told a crowd in Belton , Missouri , that the next president "" won ' t have time to get used to the office . ""  He was addressing comments made Sunday by Obama ' s running mate , Sen . Joe Biden , in which he said Obama would be tested within the first six months of his presidency .  "" We don ' t want a president who invites testing from the world at a time when our economy is in crisis and Americans are already fighting in two wars , "" McCain said . "" What is more troubling is that Sen . Biden told their campaign donors that when that crisis hits , they would have to stand with them because it wouldn ' t be apparent Sen . Obama would have the right response .  The Obama Biden campaign released a pre emptive response after reading McCain ' s scheduled remarks .  "" With our nation facing two wars and 21st century threats abroad , Sen . Biden referenced the simple fact that history shows presidents face challenges from day one , "" Obama spokesman David Wade said . "" After eight years of a failed foreign policy , we need Barack Obama ' s good judgment and steady leadership , not the erratic and ideological Bush McCain approach that has set back our security and standing in the world . ""  Earlier Monday , Obama denounced the "" say anything , do anything politics "" of McCain ' s camp , but said "" careless , outrageous comments "" won ' t distract him from addressing the nation ' s ills .  Obama added that Alaska Gov . Sarah Palin , McCain ' s running mate , rejected some of the tactics when she spoke out against a flood of automated phone calls tying Obama to former radical William Ayers . The calls were reported in several battleground states .  "" It ' s getting so bad that even Sen . McCain ' s running mate denounced his tactics last night , "" Obama said at a campaign event in Tampa , Florida . "" As you know , you really have to work hard to violate Gov . Palin ' s standards on negative campaigning . ""  Sunday night , Palin told reporters traveling with her that if she had her way , the McCain campaign and the Republican National Committee would not be flooding battleground states with the automated phone calls , which she said the Obama campaign was using too .  Over the next 15 days , Obama said Monday , he will continue his quest for the Oval Office while disregarding the divisive politics that he said McCain is endorsing "" to keep us from working together . ""  The McCain campaign , meanwhile , continued its weekend assault on Obama ' s tax plan , which it called an attempt to "" spread the wealth . "" iReportweblink : Send your questions for Sen . John McCain  Speaking at a campaign event in St . Charles , Missouri , a chorus of boos rang out as the Arizona senator described his take on the plan .  "" He believes in redistributing wealth not in policies that grow our economy and create jobs and opportunities for all Americans . Sen . Obama is more interested in controlling who gets your piece of the pie than in growing the pie . ""  In Colorado Springs , Colorado , Palin also continued her line of attack from the weekend , but softened her tone in that she didn ' t call Obama ' s plan socialism . Watch Palin say Obama sounds like a socialist  Over the weekend , Palin and Sen . Mel Martinez , a Cuban American  senator from Florida , called Obama ' s plan socialism . Martinez compared the plan to the tax structure in communist Cuba .  McCain has taken a softer tone . On Sunday , he dodged a question from Fox News ' Chris Wallace about whether Obama was a socialist , but said his rival ' s tax plan was an effort "" to spread the wealth . ""  "" That ' s one of the tenets of socialism , "" McCain said . Watch Obama defend his plan  Obama ' s tax plan calls for tax relief for 95 percent of workers and their families . Though nonpartisan tax policy organizations agree that 40 percent of Americans don ' t pay income tax , many of those are lower income earners who file payroll taxes through their employers . See the fact check  After receiving an endorsement from Colin Powell , a former Republican secretary of state and retired Army general , Obama asked if Powell and billionaire Warren Buffett No . 2 on Forbes magazine ' s 2008 list of richest Americans would have extended their backing if he was a socialist . Watch Obama explain Powell ' s influence  Obama said he simply wants to give the middle class a tax cut .  Powell came to Obama ' s defense after endorsing the senator from Illinois .  Powell said he had grown tired of McCain ' s negative campaigning and that the American people would prefer to focus on issues like education , infrastructure and the economy . He specifically slammed Palin ' s allegation that Obama ' s tax plan is socialist , calling it misleading . iReportweblink : What do you think about Powell ' s endorsement ?  "" For us to say that makes you a socialist , I think , is an unfortunate characterization that isn ' t accurate . ""  ",true,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
24389,24390,"A Utah man has allegedly shot dead his girlfriend and then tried , and failed , to commit suicide just hours after telling her family he was planning to propose to her on Valentine ' s Day .  Christian Emerson , 26 , is a convicted rapist but had been dating Amanda Hoyt , also 26 , for about a year .  Police believe he pulled out a gun while the two were driving home from a family birthday party on Sunday night and shot Hoyt several times . He then shot himself in the head .  Amanda Hoyt was shot multiple times and killed by her boyfriend Christian Emerson while the two were driving home from a birthday party  Emerson posted this photo around Halloween time of him wearing a Michael Myers mask from the ' Halloween ' slasher movies . He joked on his Facebook page that he ' s a serial killer  Authorities were called to the Salt Lake City suburb of North Logan , Utah , about midnight after Emerson ' s Subaru crashed into a curb . Inside , they found Hoyt dead and Emerson with a gunshot wound to the head , the Deseret News reports .  Emerson was flown to the hospital and is expected to survive his injury .  Hoyt ' s stepfather says Emerson had pulled him aside just hours before and said he wanted to propose to her on Valentine ' s Day .  ' We talked for a little while , and then I knew that they were thinking about getting married around Christmas of this year , ' Jeff Tingey told the newspaper .  Mr Tingey said no one in the family ever had any indication that Emerson was violent .  Hoyt had been dating Emerson for about a year and he recently told her family he planned to propose on Valentine ' s Day  ' I feel pretty confident in my abilities to discern if there was something that didn ' t feel right , and I never saw this one coming . All I saw was somebody who deeply loved Amanda , ' he said .  Mr Tingey said Emerson was open about his 2007 rape conviction . Emerson is on the sexual assault registry in Utah for the crime , which was committed in Oregon .  Emerson ' s Facebook profile picture shows him and Hoyt smiling together and both of them have several happy photos posted to their social media accounts .  Emerson also posted a photo of himself wearing a creepy Michael Myers mask from the ' Halloween ' slasher films . When a friend commented : ' Dude that makes you look like a serial killer just thought I ' d let you know that , ' he responded : ' I am lol . '  Hoyt , who had suffered diabetes since she was a girl , recently underwent surgery and was on the mend .  Mr Tigey said she was ' turning her life around ' and planned to attend school to become a nursing assistant .  ",true,text,test,Other sport,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,neutral,past
24397,24398,"President Barack Obama has signed legislation that effectively outlaws plastic microbeads in facial and body cleansers . The bill that bans the sale and distribution of microbead cleansers is reported to help protect the nation ' s water supply as studies have shown that the plastic beads are not biodegradable .  As expected , the cosmetics lobby has argued against the ban . Lobbyist Maxine Miller claims , "" There is no proof that we ' re willing to take as fact that shows that microbeads are any more dangerous to the environment than other non recyclable plastics commonly used in manufacturing . Our industry has been unfairly targeted by the government . ""  An inside source on Capitol Hill alleges that , "" They ( the lobbyists ) are just doing their paid work for ' Big Facial ' . They know deep down that both Congress and this President are correct in showing concern towards the dangers these products cause to the environment . ""  While most Americans will not even notice as microbead infused facial cleansers disappear from their store shelves , others are not so happy at Obama for signing the bill into law . "" They ' ll get my cleansers when they pry them from my cold , dead hands , "" said Geraldine Hill of Santa Fe , New Mexico in a Facebook comment . "" This is just too much and I ' m not going to use crappy soaps that don ' t work just because some moron politicians said so . I ' ve been stocking up on my favorite gels and soaps in anticipation of a move like this from the Feds . ""  Other United States citizens see the banning of microbead soaps as a potential sign of things to come .  "" This is how they get you . It ' s that boiled frog thing , "" Richard Dabney of Billings , Montana in a Facebook discussion . "" None of us guys are going to notice they did this , except for when our wives start complaining . Then maybe they ' ll ban something else that we will notice , but nothing important like beer or  Sunday Ticket , and we ' ll still not speak up . Then we ' re going to turn on Facebook one day and find out Obama has outlawed gun ownership . Then who is going to speak up for our 2A rights ? It ' ll be too late and the libs will have taken over completely . ""  It is worth noting that the bill that President Obama signed had bipartisan support in Congress .  ",satire,text,test,US elections,US elections,true,satire,True,no,no,positive,past
24417,24418,"Martin Liefeldt has vacationed in the United States four times , and his experience entering the country has "" steadily declined . ""  "" Last time , I was made to feel most unwelcome , "" wrote Liefeldt , a general manager from Cape Town , South Africa , via e mail .  "" I understand the huge levels of paranoia that exist in the  , but a bit of training in welcoming visitors ( and their money ) to the  might go a long way , "" he wrote .  After a long overseas flight , visitors to the U . S . just want to land on terra firma , get some rest and get on with their business or leisure activities .  But there are a few more hurdles to getting out of the airport , and a survey released Tuesday suggests that clearing Customs and Border Protection is a big one . The government ' s recent forced budget cuts are likely to make Customs lines still more daunting .  "" When you ' re greeted with something that ' s less than welcoming , that first taste in your mouth is quite disconcerting , "" said Geoff Freeman , chief operating officer of the U . S . Travel Association , the industry trade group that conducted the survey in partnership with Consensus Research .  In the survey , 43 of the travelers who have visited the U . S . said they would discourage others from making the trip because of the entry process .  The survey , which included responses from 1 , 200 overseas travelers , also found that more than two out of five potential business travelers won ' t come to the U . S . in the next five years for the same reason . About 64 of responders said they were frustrated by long lines and wait times . The survey was conducted in 2012 , before the forced government spending cuts under the sequester went into effect on March 1 .  Yet the government spending cuts are likely to make the entry process "" exponentially worse "" for travelers , Freeman said .  Automatic budget reductions must be applied to nearly every Department of Homeland Security program , including Customs and Border Protection , and "" will negatively affect the mission readiness and capabilities of the men and women on our front lines , "" the agency said in a statement responding to questions about sequestration .  ""  is working to minimize impacts to travelers to the greatest degree possible while maintaining the highest standards of security . ""  From March 5 to 11 , passengers on 260 flights experienced Customs wait times of more than two hours , with some waits lasting more than three hours , the agency said .  The U . S . Travel Association estimates that losing overseas travelers to bad experiences or word of mouth is costing the economy at least 95 billion in total output and more than a half million jobs across the economy .  Customs and Border Protection , which has developed programs in recent years to speed entry for trusted travelers who undergo prior screening , interviewed more than 25 , 000 travelers at U . S . airports in July and August 2012 for its second customer satisfaction survey .  "" The survey is expected to be released this spring however , early results indicate that a large percentage of travelers agree the  process made them feel welcome to the United States , ""  said of its survey .  Overall , international arrivals to the U . S . are up . The U . S . Commerce Department expects 23 growth in the number of annual international visitors by 2016 . That number includes arrivals from Mexico and Canada , which account for much of the growth .  Overseas arrivals , excluding Mexico and Canada , are also up , but the United States ' market share of overseas travelers has dropped from 17 in 2000 to 12 in 2011 , Freeman said .  U . S . Travel puts forward a three pronged approach to welcoming international travelers to the United States : promoting the U . S . to international visitors , easing the process for getting visas and making the entry experience a smooth one .  To compete with other countries in promoting tourism , the United States ' first national tourism corporation , Brand  , was established through the Travel Promotion Act in 2010 .  The U . S . State Department has done "" tremendous work "" in speeding up the visa process , Freeman said , and posts visa interview wait times on consulate websites . Customs and Border Protection needs to adopt similar transparency , he said , in addition to committing to 30 minutes or less to process each arriving traveler and hiring an additional 1 , 000 officers to make the entry process more efficient .  In an era when Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has cautioned travelers to expect long airport security and customs lines because of worker overtime cuts and furloughs , finding the estimated 150 million to pay for those additional workers seems unlikely .  U . S . Travel says easing the entry process is worth the investment .  "" It ' s time to get this fixed , "" Freeman said . "" Our economy can ' t afford this kind of inefficiency . ""  What do you think ? What have you experienced in the U . S . or other countries ?  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,true,True,no,no,negative,past
24425,24426,"Penguin Random House will publish coming books by former President Barack Obama and the former first lady Michelle Obama, the publishing company announced Tuesday night, concluding a heated auction among multiple publishers. The terms of the agreement were not disclosed, but publishing industry executives with knowledge of the bidding process said it probably stretched well into eight figures. Robert B. Barnett and Deneen C. Howell of Williams  Connolly represented the Obamas. Penguin Random House acquired world rights to the books, and worldwide sales could be substantial. No decision has been made yet as to which of the company’s major imprints  —   which include Random House, Doubleday, Alfred A. Knopf and Crown  —   will publish the books. Mr. Obama’s previous books were published by Crown, which also published Mrs. Obama’s book “American Grown,” about the White House garden. A spokeswoman for Penguin Random House would not say whether the books would be memoirs and referred questions to representatives of the Obamas. Speculation about the Obamas’ books and how much they would sell for have been circulating in the industry in recent weeks, as executives at the top publishing houses met separately with the former president and first lady. Some publishing executives who followed the bidding process said that the opening offers for Mr. Obama’s book alone were in the $18 million to $20 million range. The publisher plans to donate one million books in the Obama family’s name to First Book, a nonprofit organization that provides books to disadvantaged children, and it will continue to provide digital copies to Open eBooks, which grew out of the 2016 White House digital education initiative. The Obamas also plan to donate part of their advances to charity, including the Obama Foundation. “We are absolutely thrilled to continue our publishing partnership with President and Mrs. Obama,” Markus Dohle, the chief executive of Penguin Random House, said in a statement. “With their words and their leadership, they changed the world, and every day, with the books we publish at Penguin Random House, we strive to do the same. Now, we are very much looking forward to working together with President and Mrs. Obama to make each of their books global publishing events of unprecedented scope and significance. ” The Obamas’ advance is likely to exceed even the stratospheric figures that other recent presidents and first ladies have received. Former president Bill Clinton sold his memoir “My Life” for more than $10 million, and Hillary Clinton reportedly received an $8 million advance from Simon  Schuster for her memoir “Living History. ” George W. Bush’s memoir “Decision Points,” became a hit, selling about two million copies and earning him an estimated $10 million. (Mr. Barnett, a   lawyer, has handled many of these lucrative deals and represents some of the capital’s most powerful players, including the Clintons Mr. Bush and his wife, Laura Bush Speaker Paul D. Ryan and former Vice President Dick Cheney.) It is unusual, however, for a former president and first lady to make a collective deal for their memoirs, and some publishing industry insiders said that early on the process, it appeared that the books were going to be auctioned separately. (It is possible, and perhaps likely, that the books will be published by different imprints in the Penguin Random House conglomerate, which could also help the company absorb the cost of a large advance, by sharing it between imprints.) Mr. Obama has a proven track record in publishing as an author of multiple best sellers. His three books  —   “Dreams From My Father,” “The Audacity of Hope” and “Of Thee I Sing”  —   have sold more than four million copies. According to financial disclosures, he earned more than $10 million from those titles. Reviews have praised him as a gifted prose stylist. But a postpresidential memoir has even greater potential to be a critical and commercial hit. Mr. Obama kept a journal during his time in office, which suggests his memoir could include    moments that were captured as major events unfolded. A frank discussion of his time in the White House, and of issues like race relations in America, could reach an even wider audience, becoming a worldwide blockbuster. Penguin Random House, a global publishing house with more than 250 imprints, has worldwide rights to the books, which means the company can make a good deal of money overseas and in translation. For the Obamas, the books may be valuable beyond the   advances. The deal was announced, probably coincidentally but somewhat awkwardly, on the night that President Trump gave his first address before Congress. These books could provide a chance to reframe and highlight the former president’s legacy, at a moment when a new Republican administration is making an effort to dismantle some of his signature legislation.",true,news,test,US elections,US elections,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
24445,24446,"Kevin Pietersen is being urged to make the England selectors ' lives difficult after his barnstorming start to the summer .  England ' s exiled record run scorer made 170 off 149 balls against  Universities Oxford at The Parks on Sunday , at the start of Surrey ' s three day fixture .  Former England captains Alec Stewart , Pietersen ' s boss as Surrey director of cricket , and Nasser Hussain have since both had their say on the 34 year old ' s chances of a return to the Test arena .  Kevin Pietersen in action for Surrey on day two of the three day match against Oxford   Pietersen ( centre ) pictured with his Surrey team mates at The Parks on Monday  Stewart is hoping Pietersen can further his quest when Surrey face Glamorgan in their first  County Championship fixture next week while Hussain insists England ' s selectors need to clarify with a ' very public decision ' once and for all whether the controversial South Africa born batsman has any prospects of playing for his adopted country again .  Pietersen ' s impressive return to long form cricket 14 months after his England sacking was timely , on the eve of the first Test against the West Indies which began 4 , 000 miles away in Antigua on Monday .  Stewart said : ' Anyone who scores runs will ask questions of the selectors .  ' Kevin shouldn ' t look any further than the next innings , whether it ' s here or down at Cardiff .  ' If he strings hundreds together and the reason we signed him is because we want him to score hundreds , double hundreds , help us win games and be successful it will be interesting to see where it may lead to .  ' No one has got any idea whether Kevin Pietersen will play for England again .  ' The only people that know that are those who are currently picking the England side .  ' At the moment he ' s not being considered , because he hasn ' t played red ball cricket for the last 14 months . '  Pietersen chills out against the fence as Oxford  bat on Monday  Alec Stewart ( right ) believes that Pietersen could make it difficult for the England selectors  Hussain is impressed that Pietersen has already proved he is serious about a recall , and he is adamant the England and Wales Cricket Board must ' watch out ' for him .  ' He could easily go off and get his  contract and play over there , ' Hussain said on Sky Sports 2 .  ' He ' s decided to give it another go . . . people say ' Oh , 170 against Oxford it was only Oxford ' .  ' But as a player who has played 100 Test matches to turn up at The Parks and smash 170 shows how determined he is so I ' d watch out , if I was a selector . '  Hussain senses Pietersen will not be easily deterred , unless England spell out that they do not want him .  ' This is not a lad that ' s going to go away , and the  need to make a decision on Kevin Pietersen make a very public decision on him , whether he is available for selection or not , ' he said .  ' I know the chairman elect , Colin Graves , has said that he is .  ' But it needs to come from the selectors . '  Pietersen believes last week ' s departure of Paul Downton the  managing director who described him as ' disengaged ' has offered him an England ' lifeline ' even as he approaches the veteran stage of his record breaking career .  Stewart , who played for England until the age of 40 , added : ' Whether you ' re 18 or 38 , if you ' re good enough , then I believe you take the age factor out of the occasion .  ' If you ' re performing , surely you ' ve got to be warranting a place in the team . '  Pietersen made 170 runs off 149 balls during his stint with the bat in Oxford on Sunday  Pietersen fielding on Monday afternoon as the 34 year old makes his county cricket return  He hopes Pietersen can boost Surrey ' s championship promotion prospects , and was encouraged by his comeback .  ' It was a very good innings , ' Stewart added .  ' He had to get used to playing red ball cricket again lining it up , letting it go and then he showed what a quality batsman he is , which we all know but we just haven ' t seen it because he ' s only played 20 over cricket .  ' We ' ve signed Kevin because he ' s a top class player .  ' Will he play for England ? We don ' t know . All we ' re going to do is enjoy having Kevin around , scoring as many runs as he can .  ' Next game , next innings , is the next most important one . '  Pietersen had a quieter second day back in his whites .  He fielded at mid off and slip as Surrey ' s hosts dug in after resuming on 28 for four .  Jack McIver top scored with 83 , hitting 11 fours and a six , in the students ' 224 all out .  Chris Tremlett , another England Test player , took five for 30 .  Surrey reshuffled their batting order in the second innings , and Pietersen was left to watch on as they reached 182 for three Zafar Ansari making 53 towards a lead of 378 entering Tuesday ' s final day .  ",true,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,true,True,no,no,positive,past
24446,24447,"Joey ' s Urban is pleased to announce the launch of new staff uniforms on August 1 2016 , which will allow employees the ability to express their sense of freedom .  The new staff uniforms ( shown here ) meet the functional needs of Joey ' s workforce sort of and reflect the kind of free thinking that has made Joey ' s a leader in the fast casual restaurant industry .  Keanu Kamehameha , advisor to Joey ' s Urban Restaurants led the uniform steering committee and says the change highlights the "" personality "" of Joey ' s outstanding staff and not their personal "" highlights "" .  "" It ' s clear that some chains believe skin is in , "" says Mr Kamehameha , "" However , there is something to be said about leaving a little ( or a lot ) to the imagination . Joey ' s Urban saw a need to change the way employees feel at work and it started with the way they dressed . Muumuu ' s allow our employees to show their true colours from the neck up . ""  Several Canadian restaurant chains have been publicly criticized for their sexually exploitive uniform policies lately and Joey ' s is often confused with them , says Andy Taylor , President of Joey ' s Only Franchising Ltd .  Our research shows that customers enjoy themselves more when they have a colourful server and there ' s nothing more colourful than a server in a Halston or Christian Dior Muumuu flowing out of the kitchen carrying two plates of Canada ' s best Fish Tacos .  "" We can ' t understand how the Muumuu , a once celebrated clothing item , has been reduced to a swimsuit cover up , "" said Vice President of Operations , Todd Perkins . "" Or even worse , something that ' s only worn when couch surfing . That ' s a job for a Snuggie .  "" Muumuu uniforms will let all of our staff tap into their inner Elizabeth Taylor , "" added Perkins . "" They will walk through the dining room practically floating as their Muumuu billows behind . "" If this new approach works out as expected , male staff will sport the same fashionable designs afforded to females . We ' re all for gender equality . ""  Joey ' s is asking for your help . Please go to the following link weblink : www . facebookweblink joeysurban app 303561899745219 and vote for your favourite uniform option .  ",satire,text,test,Football,Sports/Other,true,satire,True,no,no,positive,present
24460,24461,""" The words ' climate change ' don ' t even appear in the text , a dead giveaway that this isn ' t a 21st century trade deal . It sets us back further , empowering fossil fuel corporations to challenge our public health and climate safeguards in unaccountable trade tribunals while increasing dirty fossil fuel exports and fracking .  "" Many provisions in the deal ' s environment chapter are toothless and fail to offer any of the protections proponents of this deal have touted . Some provisions even fail to meet the minimum standards of environmental protection established in the ' fast track ' law and included in past trade deals negotiated under the George W . Bush administration .  "" Congress must stand up for American jobs , clean air and water , and a healthy climate by rejecting the toxic Trans Pacific Partnership . ""  Defenders of Wildlife President and  Jamie Rappaport Clark :  "" Now that the text of the Trans Pacific Partnership is available to the public , it is disappointingly clear that this is not the tougher language we had hoped for . The environment chapter is weak and fails to provide the necessary requirements and stronger penalties desperately needed to better fight poaching , protect wildlife habitat and shut down the illegal wildlife trade . The agreement also leaves our own domestic environmental laws vulnerable to legal challenge internationally , outside of our own judiciary system .  "" Most alarmingly , climate change isn ' t mentioned a single time in the environment chapter . It is ridiculous that in 2015 , twelve of the world ' s nations would construct a trade deal of this magnitude and not even consider the effects of climate change on industries like agriculture or fishing , or ways to prevent worsening global warming through our own economic activities . Climate change is happening right now : Species are disappearing and extreme weather events like hurricanes , crippling drought and wildfires are become more prevalent across the world . Yet this trade agreement won ' t even acknowledge it .  "" Although presented as a groundbreaking trade agreement in regards to wildlife , the Trans Pacific Partnership includes no commitments not already present in existing international and regional agreements for regulating wildlife trade or preventing wildlife trafficking . It includes no provisions for fighting climate change . We urge Congress to reject the Trans Pacific Partnership and call for a plan that would actually make a difference for wildlife and our natural heritage . ""  Natural Resources Defense Council international program director Jake Schmidt :  "" This trade agreement would allow foreign corporations to challenge our health , safety and environmental protections in a foreign tribunal outside our legal system , and it would weaken those bedrock safeguards in the United States . While there are some positive conservation measures , the agreement ' s substantial shortcomings should lead Congress to reject it . ""  Environmental Investigation Agency Executive Director Alexander von Bismarck :  "" It ' s the first time that an  recognizes that it must support the global effort to shut down trade in stolen natural resources . Whether the  will actually do that , in practice , is an open question .  remains extremely concerned that the  as a whole will make it more difficult for countries around the world to effectively manage their resources and protect the global environment . ""  "" The  is an act of climate denial . While the text is full of handouts to the fossil fuel industry , it doesn ' t mention the words climate change once . The agreement would give fossil fuel companies the extraordinary ability to sue local governments that try and keep fossil fuels in the ground . If a province puts a moratorium on fracking , corporations can sue if a community tries to stop a coal mine , corporations can overrule them . In short , these rules undermine countries ' ability to do what scientists say is the single most important thing we can do to combat the climate crisis : keep fossil fuels in the ground .  "" The United States should be in the business of supporting the just transition to 100 renewable energy , not propping up the fossil fuel based economy of the past . While institutions across the planet are divesting from fossil fuels , the  would double down on the industry ' s destructive business model . The agreement works at absolute cross purposes to governments ' attempts to reach a strong climate deal in Paris . As the world accelerates towards a clean energy future , the  is a dangerous detour that must be avoided . ""  "" Building inclusive economies for a better world requires people ' s participation and definitely not corporate manipulation . Locally , nationally , and globally , the people ' s movement to stop the fossil fuel industry that thrives in the same global economic order favoring profits more than people , is gaining momentum . The  is a symptom of fear and desperation , a massive bid to overthrow any resistance people might throw at them . But people across all member parties , including non member countries resist to be bound by the interest of corporate capitals . ""  Center for International Environmental Law (  ) attorney Melissa Blue Sky :  "" It is a fact :  fails to protect the environment . This is true in spite of the White House ' s claim that  "" includes the strongest commitments on labor and the environment of any trade agreement in history , and those commitments are enforceable , unlike in past agreements .  "" While past agreements have contained similar enforcement provisions for the environment chapter , no Party has ever brought a formal case based on the environmental provisions of any  free trade agreement despite documented violations . In fact , the only provision related to the environment used with regularity is Investor State Dispute Settlement (  ) , which allows companies to sue governments for enacting and upholding environmental laws .  "" The history of  trade agreement enforcement or lack thereof shows that any minimal gains from new commitments on the environment under  pale in comparison to the negative human and environmental effects of its commercial and  provisions . For the protection of people and the planet , Congress should reject this trade deal . ""  Friends of the Earth president Erich Pica :  "" President Obama has sold the American people a false bill of goods . The Trans Pacific Partnership fails President Obama ' s pledge to make the  an environmentally sound trade agreement . Frankly this is not surprising the text of this Trans Pacific trade deal was negotiated in secret by Mike Froman , the U . S . Trade Representative , a former Citibank executive and Obama fundraiser . Froman took care of his friends on Wall Street and in corporate board rooms at the expense of sound environmental and climate policy . Congress must reject the  deal . ""  ",true,text,test,World conflict,Conflict,true,satire,True,no,no,negative,past