| Former CIA director says Russia could 'have something' on Trump Posted: 21 Mar 2018 07:12 AM PDT  Former CIA Director John Brennan says President Trump's decision to congratulate Vladimir Putin on his reelection shows that Trump is "afraid of the president of Russia" — and that Moscow may have compromising information about the U.S. leader.
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| Texas Bomb Suspect's Family 'Devastated And Broken' Posted: 21 Mar 2018 01:35 PM PDT  Family members of the man police suspect in a string of Texas bombings
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| Footage Shows The Moment Cops Fatally Shot Unarmed Black Man Stephon Clark Posted: 21 Mar 2018 04:55 PM PDT  Police helicopter and body camera footage shows the moment two California cops
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| After Austin Bombing, Did Mark Anthony Conditt Have a Manifesto? Posted: 21 Mar 2018 09:59 AM PDT  A blog that appears to be written by Conditt shows extreme views on gay marriage, the death penalty and abortion.
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| The Facebook Scandal Deepens Posted: 20 Mar 2018 04:26 AM PDT  ## TOP STORIES
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| USS Juneau discovered: The five brothers who went down together with the sunken battleship Posted: 20 Mar 2018 07:34 AM PDT  The USS Juneau is the latest Second World War wreck to be discovered by a team funded by billionaire Microsoft co-founder, Paul Allen. The discovery on March 17 locates another mass grave of American servicemen, as only 10 of its almost 700-strong crew survived its sinking during the Battle of Guadalcanal in 1942. Among the hundreds who went down with the ship were five brothers, the Sullivans, who had insisted on serving together despite US military policies designed to avoid multiple losses to a single family. The story of the siblings had a profound effect on the American public and prompted the implementation of the Sole Survivor Policy, which led to the events that the film Saving Private Ryan is based on. The Sullivans have since been feted in the US as "epitomising the service and sacrifice of our nation's greatest generation". The brothers and the other sailors on the USS Juneau gave their lives in the bloody efforts to wrestle the Solomon Islands from Japanese Imperial control and was the first time the Allies mounted a successful assault on Japan's Pacific empire. Prelude to the battle The Battle of Guadalcanal came as the Allies finally managed to check Imperial Japan's all-conquering advance in the Pacific. Since the surprise attack at Pearl Harbour in December 1941, Japanese forces had swept all before them and by the following spring were threatening to attack mainland Australia. The US Navy ship sunk by the Japanese torpedoes 76 years ago was found in the South Pacific Credit: Paul Allen In May 1942 Japan launched a two-pronged assault to capture Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Island of Tulagi, which would have put land-based Japanese bombers in range of northern Australia. However by this time the Allies had partially cracked the Japanese communication codes and a Australian-American naval force managed to stymie the invasion of Port Moresby at the Battle of the Coral sea, although the Japanese were able to maintain a foothold in the Solomon Islands. A month later the Allies inflicted a crippling blow on the hitherto undefeated Japanese navy at the Battle of Midway, cleared the way for an assault to roll back the imperial presence in the Pacific. Battle of Guadalcanal In August 1942 an Allied force lead by the US invaded the Solomon Islands of Tugali, Guadalcanal and Florida. As well as nixing the Japanese threat to Allied supply lines, the capture of the islands was intended to provide a launch pad for an assault on the main Japanese naval base in the theatre, Rabaul, on New Britain. The battle on the islands lasted for months and involved numerous naval and air engagements as well as invasions and counter invasions of the archipelago. The Japanese did not relinquish their attempts to retake Guadalcanal until February 1943. USS Juneau wreck discovery map It was in November that the USS Juneau was downed while escorting US reinforcements headed for Guadalcanal, just more than a year after it had been launched. The Atlantic-Class light cruiser, which was named after the city of Juneau in Alaska, was attacked with its convoy by 30 Japanese aircraft while unloading at the island and managed to shoot down six enemy torpedo bombers in the exchange. The US convoy was then attacked by a larger Japanese naval force and the the Juneau was hit by a torpedo in the side, causing the vessel to list. It then forced to withdraw with two other damaged cruisers, the Helena and the San Francisco. As they made their way from the battle a Japanese destroyer launched two torpedoes intended for the San Francisco, but they missed and one hit the Juneau in the hole where the previous torpedo had struck. The impact caused a huge explosion which split the Juneau in two and sank it in under a minute. Most of the vessel's more than 680 crew were killed in the explosion, but around 100 survived. However fearing further attack and wrongly assuming there were no survivors, the Helena and San Francisco fled. One of the Sullivan brothers was rumoured to be among the survivors left in the water for eight days before another ship came to rescue them. Neither were among the 10 survivors eventually pulled from the water. The 'Fighting Sullivan Brothers' The five Sullivan brothers enlisted together at a US Navy recruiting station in Iowa on 3 January 1942 but tragically none would ever return from the war. Upon signing up, the close-knit brothers insisted on serving together on the same ship and were assigned to USS Juneau throughout its deployment in the South Pacific. The wreckage from the USS Juneau was found off the coast of the Solomon Islands Credit: Paul Allen US Navy policy, although never strongly enforced, was to separate family members following the death of three brothers on the USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor in 1941, although the Sullivans persisted and their request was approved. Ten months after signing up, four of the brothers were killed in the initial explosion after Juneau was struck on the port side by a torpedo launched by Japanese destroyer Amatsukaze. The eldest of the brothers, 27-year-old George Thomas, who was wounded the night before Juneau was sunk, made it onto a raft. He is believed to have survived for five days in the water but would eventually succumb to either his wounds and exhaustion or a shark attack. Legacy The Sullivans - George Thomas, Francis "Frank" Henry, Joseph "Joe" Eugene, Madison "Matt" Abel and Albert "Al" Leo - were revered and honoured as war heroes, all posthumously receiving Purple Heart Medals. While their deaths became a rallying cry for the Allies, it also brought into focus US Navy policy regarding family members serving together at sea. While involuntary separation was considered, no such law has ever been enacted. Wreckage from the USS Juneau Credit: Paul Allen The deaths of the Sullivans and the Borgstrom brothers, four siblings killed during six months fighting in the Second World War, lead to the implementation of the Sole Survivor Policy which protects families who have already lost family members in combat. Steven Spielberg's Second World War epic Saving Private Ryan, in which a band of US soldiers is sent to bring back the sole surviving brother of four, James Ryan, from the battle in Normandy, also references the Sullivan brothers in one scene. Mr Spielberg later thanked the Sullivan family in his 1999 Oscars acceptance speech. Two US Navy destroyers - the DD-537 and DDG-68 - were also named The Sullivans in honour of the brothers, with motto is "We stick together". Vice Adm. Rich Brown, fifth commanding officer of USS The Sullivans (DDG 68), said he was "excited" about the discovery of Juneau. "The story of the USS Juneau crew and Sullivan brothers epitomise the service and sacrifice of our nation's greatest generation," he said. "I had the opportunity to visit The Sullivans earlier this month and I can tell you the fighting spirit of the Sullivan brothers lives on through the fantastic crew that mans the ship today. The crew embodies the ship's motto, 'We Stick Together' each day. "My time on The Sullivans and the relationship I formed with the ship's sponsor, Kelly, the granddaughter of Albert, are some of my most cherished memories." President Roosevelt and Pope Pius XII were among those who sent a letter of condolence to their parents and a museum built in their honour was opened in their hometown of Waterloo, Iowa, in 2008. Paul Allen's mission to find WW2 wrecks Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen has funded several high-profile shipwreck exploration projects, including the discovery of the Second World War aircraft carrier, the USS Lexington, earlier this month. WWII ship USS Juneau located by #RVPetrel on St. Patrick's Day—unexpected coincidence since she is best known for the Sullivans, all 5 brothers were lost, along with the other 682 sailors. Only 10 survived the sinking by Japanese torpedoes. https://t.co/FOkRwR6FXcpic.twitter.com/1PZjNP1uHd— Paul Allen (@PaulGAllen) March 19, 2018 The 65-year-old, one of the world's richest men, called locating USS Juneau on St. Patrick's Day an "unexpected coincidence" given the family's Irish heritage. Allen, whose father served in the US Army, has been "fascinated" with Second World War history since his youth and has helped uncover various vessels sunk during the global conflict. His team located the enormous Japanese warship Musashi in 2015 and helped retrieve the ship's bell from the British battlecruiser HMS Hood in 2015. Underwater wrecks discovered by Paul Allen The USS Lexington, or "Lady Lex", was discovered in deep waters 500 miles off Australia's north-east coast on 4 March. "As Americans, all of us owe a debt of gratitude to everyone who served and who continue to serve our country for their courage, persistence and sacrifice," said Mr Allen.
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| The Latest: Artillery simulator caused Austin Goodwill blast Posted: 20 Mar 2018 08:03 PM PDT  AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The Latest on serial bombings in Texas (all times local):
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| Iranian leader says Tehran has defused regional threats Posted: 20 Mar 2018 11:28 AM PDT  By Bozorgmehr Sharafedin and Babak Dehghanpisheh LONDON (Reuters) - Iran has defused all regional threats against the country, the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Tuesday, as tension rises between Tehran and Washington over the influence of the Islamic Republic in the Middle East. In an Iranian New Year message, Khamenei did not specify any particular threat. Shi'ite Iran has also been locked in a regional power struggle with Sunni Saudi Arabia which has extended to the war in Yemen and to Lebanon.
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| Trump ignored advisers' warnings and congratulated Putin Posted: 20 Mar 2018 05:22 PM PDT  President Trump did not heed the warnings of his own national security advisers Tuesday when he called and congratulated Russian President Vladimir Putin on his reelection victory.
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| 13 Stunning GIFs Show Puerto Rico's Road To Recovery Posted: 21 Mar 2018 10:44 AM PDT  Six months after Hurricane Maria devastated the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico,
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| 'Incendiary Device' In Austin Injures Worker. Police Not Linking It To Package Bombs. Posted: 20 Mar 2018 05:34 PM PDT  AUSTIN, Texas ― Austin police on Tuesday evening responded in full force to an
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| LinkedIn reveals top 50 places to work in the US for 2018 Posted: 21 Mar 2018 09:06 AM PDT  The standard for qualifying what makes a 'good' or 'satisfying' job has become
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| Austin Bomber Mark Anthony Conditt Dead But Residents Warned to Remain Vigilant of Other Possible Explosives Posted: 21 Mar 2018 05:13 AM PDT  The 24-year-old man blew himself up as police closed in.
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| Florida school shooting survivor David Hogg urges others to 'use white privilege' to ensure gun violence in 'black community' is heard Posted: 20 Mar 2018 07:53 AM PDT  Student survivors of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School have said they have to use their "white privilege" to make sure that the stories of other students across the country who experience gun violence are also heard. During a live-stream interview on Twitter with his classmates, activist David Hogg — a student in Parkland, Florida — said that there was a disparity in the way that news media covers gun violence, and that he felt compelled to speak up about that using his platform.
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| New Legislation May Push China and Taiwan Toward War Posted: 20 Mar 2018 04:44 PM PDT  Taipei has scored a few points with the signing of the Taiwan Travel Act, but it is expected that Beijing will take various actions to bring the "status quo" back in its favor. Chinese president Xi Jinping on Tuesday warned that Taiwan would be "punished by history" if it attempted to formally separate from China.
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| Senate to take another look at the 2001 ‘war on terror’ resolution Posted: 20 Mar 2018 02:09 PM PDT  Three presidents have relied on a 2001 congressional measure in applying deadly force overseas. Now, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will meet to discuss replacing or revising it.
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| The 9 Most Scenic Bike Routes in the World Posted: 20 Mar 2018 05:00 AM PDT |
| Chrissy Metz Says She Was Physically Abused By Her Stepfather As A Teen Posted: 21 Mar 2018 06:36 AM PDT  Chrissy Metz says she was "a tough cookie" growing up, but that didn't stop
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| Scott Pruitt Went To Italy, And It Only Cost Taxpayers $120,000 Posted: 20 Mar 2018 07:59 PM PDT  Details about Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt's
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| Dashcam Footage Of Fatal Autonomous Uber Crash Released [UPDATE] Posted: 21 Mar 2018 04:58 PM PDT ![Dashcam Footage Of Fatal Autonomous Uber Crash Released [UPDATE]](http://l.yimg.com/uu/api/res/1.2/vYJZhTlk_JNkcEQ_VTgVcw--/YXBwaWQ9eXRhY2h5b247aD04Njt3PTEzMDs-/http://media.zenfs.com/en-US/homerun/motor1_us_477/0463454037f93374877179064abcd668 "Dashcam Footage Of Fatal Autonomous Uber Crash Released [UPDATE]") Driver and vehicle still not believed to be at fault.
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| Vigil for Florida bridge-collapse victims draws tears, gasps Posted: 21 Mar 2018 02:40 PM PDT  MIAMI (AP) — Hundreds of Florida International University students held a vigil Wednesday to remember the six victims who died in a pedestrian bridge collapse near campus.
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| California Cops Fatally Shoot Unarmed Black Man Stephon Clark In His Own Backyard Posted: 21 Mar 2018 10:21 AM PDT  Police fatally shot an unarmed black man in Sacramento, California, Sunday
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| Fifth Texas parcel bomb blast leaves U.S. investigators baffled Posted: 20 Mar 2018 02:02 PM PDT By Jon Herskovitz and Jim Forsyth AUSTIN/SCHERTZ, Texas (Reuters) - A package bomb blew up at a FedEx distribution center near San Antonio on Tuesday, the fifth in a series of attacks that have rocked Texas this month and left baffled investigators searching for what they suspect is a serial bomber. The package filled with nails and metal shrapnel was mailed from Austin to another address in Austin and passed through a sorting center in Schertz, about 65 miles (105 km) away, when it exploded on a conveyer belt, knocking a female employee off her feet, officials said. It was the fifth of a series in explosions in Texas in the past 18 days that have killed two people, injured others, and left hundreds of federal and local investigators scrambling to find the perpetrator and a motive.
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| Jeremy Corbyn mocked by his own MPs after claiming Russia should be given the right to test nerve agent itself Posted: 20 Mar 2018 12:02 PM PDT  Jeremy Corbyn has been mocked by own MPs after saying Russia should be given a sample of the nerve agent used in the Salisbury attack so it can "say categorically one way or the other" whether it is responsible. The Labour leader also said he would be happy to work with President Putin if he was Prime Minister and stopped short of blaming the Kremlin for the attack, despite his deputy John McDonnell doing so over the weekend. It exposes a deepening split in the party's position on the nerve agent attack which has left Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in a coma in hospital. Last week Mr Corbyn was criticised for refusing to categorically blame Russia for the Novichok poisoning and his communications chief drew further ire when he claimed British intelligence cannot be trusted after the Iraq war dossier. Responding to his latest remarks on the issue Mr Corbyn was roundly mocked by his own MPs including Ian Austin, a member of the Foreign Affairs select committee, who joked that Mr Putin would never accuse himself of having smuggled the nerve agent into the UK to use against the former spy. He said: "Does anyone seriously think Putin will say: 'Thanks for the sample. We have now examined it and yes, I'm sorry to say that it did come from Russia and was then given to one of our agents to murder Mr Skripal in the way we have murdered lots of other opponents'? Who thinks that?" Russian spy poisoning | Read more Speaking to the BBC's World and One programme Mr Corbyn said: "All fingers point towards Russia's involvement in this, and obviously the manufacture of the material was undertaken by the Russian state originally. "What I'm saying is the weapons were made from Russia, clearly. "I think Russia has to be held responsible for it but there has to be an absolutely definitive answer to the question where did the nerve agent come from? I asked the Russians be given a sample so that they can say categorically one way or the other." In a move that is likely to spark further frustration among Labout MPs Mr Corbyn maintained there had to be a relationship with Russia and said he would still "do business" with president Putin if Labour came to power. Corbyn or the Russian Embassy | Who said what "Would I do business with Putin, sure? And I'd challenge him on human rights in Russia, challenge him on these issues and challenge him on that whole basis of that relationship," he said. John Woodcock, chair of Labour's backbench foreign affairs committee, warned allowing Russia to test the poison would be "like saying you trust the fairness of Putin's re-election because he told you it was fine". He added: "Russia denies every single assassination attempt on foreign soil, no matter how blatant. "In what parallel universe would we think sending Putin's regime a sample of their poison would lend more credibility to this latest denial?" It came as Theresa May chaired a meeting of the National Security Council to discuss additional sanctions on Russia after the Kremlin ejected 23 British diplomats from the country. 23 Russian officials, thought to be undeclared spies, left the UK today. The Prime Minister told the meeting: "There are other measures that government and security officials are actively considering and stand ready to deploy at any time." She revealed action has been taken at the UK border to beef up visa checks, particularly for private flights, and amendments to the sanctions and money laundering bill are also taking shape. A spokesman for Mrs May said: "The Prime Minister reiterated that we will freeze Russian state assets wherever we have evidence that they may threaten UK persons or property. And, led by the National Crime Agency, we will continue to bring all the capabilities of the UK law enforcement to bear against serial criminals and corrupt elites."
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| Trevor Noah Unveils Terrifying Donald Trump-Themed Anti-Drugs PSA Posted: 21 Mar 2018 02:26 AM PDT  > "Let's say you kill all the drug dealers...do you also kill doctors who
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| IS kills 36 Syria troops in surprise attack on Damascus: monitor Posted: 20 Mar 2018 01:53 AM PDT  A monitor said Tuesday three dozen pro-government fighters were killed in a district of Syria's capital as Islamic State jihadists took control of it in a surprise nighttime attack. There was no immediate comment from the government on the report by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which could not provide casualty figures for the jihadists. "IS took full control of Qadam, and 36 government troops and loyalist fighters have been killed," the Britain-based monitoring group said.
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| How to Avoid Getting Sick on a Plane, According to Science Posted: 20 Mar 2018 11:36 AM PDT  The secret is picking the right seat
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| Police: New explosion not tied to Austin package bombings Posted: 20 Mar 2018 06:32 PM PDT  The Austin Fire Department says at least one person has been injured in an explosion believed unrelated to the previous package bombings.
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| Billionaire Democrat Wins Illinois Gubernatorial Nomination Posted: 20 Mar 2018 06:21 PM PDT  Billionaire J.B. Pritzker won Illinois' Democratic gubernatorial primary on
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| Skeletal Remains May Be Louise Pietrewicz, Who Vanished 50 Years Ago Posted: 21 Mar 2018 09:56 AM PDT  Bones found in Long Island, N.Y., are believed to be those of Louise Pietrewicz.
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| Obamas To Parkland Teens: You've Awakened The Nation's Conscience Posted: 21 Mar 2018 12:18 PM PDT  Former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama sent a
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| The Latest: Police describe how suspect set off bomb in car Posted: 21 Mar 2018 05:23 PM PDT  ROUND ROCK, Texas (AP) — The Latest on the Austin bombings (all times local):
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| Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas calls US ambassador 'son of a dog' Posted: 19 Mar 2018 07:19 PM PDT  Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday called the US ambassador to Israel a "son of a dog" because of his support for Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank. Mr Abbas, speaking at a Palestinian leadership gathering, also blamed Hamas for a bomb attack last week on the convoy of Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah in Gaza, remarks that threatened reconciliation efforts with the Islamist group. The Palestinian leader accused Ambassador David Friedman of defending Israeli settlers in the West Bank by saying that they were building on "their land". The slur drew rebukes from the diplomat and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In an angry tone, Mr Abbas said: "The son of dog says they build on their land? He is a settler, and his family are settlers, and he is the US ambassador in Tel Aviv. What should we expect from him?" Mr Friedman, a strong supporter of Israel's settler movement, was an early and enthusiastic advocate of US President Donald Trump's decision in December to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital and to move the US embassy there. David Friedman addresses the American Israel Public Affairs Committee Credit: AFP Mr Friedman responded during a speech in Jerusalem to a conference on combating global anti-Semitism, saying: "His response was to refer to me as son of a dog. Anti-Semitism or political discourse? Not for me to judge, I leave that all up to you." Jason Greenblatt, US Middle East envoy, issued a statement calling Mr Abbas' comment "highly inappropriate". He said the Palestinian leader needed "to choose between hateful rhetoric and concrete and practical efforts to improve the quality of life of his people". Mr Trump's announcement on Jerusalem delighted the Israeli government but infuriated Palestinians, who have staged regular protests since then. Jerusalem - Israel Israel regards Jerusalem as its eternal and indivisible capital, although that is not recognised internationally. Palestinians feel equally strongly, saying that East Jerusalem must be the capital of a future Palestinian state. Peace talks aimed at finding a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict have stalled, while Israeli settlement expansion has continued. Mr Netanyahu said Mr Trump's decisions on Jerusalem appeared to have brought Abbas to the point of making a verbal attacks on a US official. "For the first time in decades, the US administration has stopped spoiling the Palestinian leaders and tells them: enough is enough," Netanyahu said on Twitter. "Apparently the shock of the truth has caused them to lose it."
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| Russia hits back in spy poisoning row as experts called in Posted: 19 Mar 2018 08:38 PM PDT  Russia hit back at Britain in the spy poisoning row, demanding proof of its alleged involvement in a nerve agent attack, as international weapons experts arrived to take samples of the toxic substance. The March 4 poisoning of former double agent Sergei Skripal, which took place just two weeks ahead of Russia's presidential poll in which Vladimir Putin was re-elected, has plunged relations between London and Moscow into crisis. As the European Union offered Britain its "unqualified solidarity" on Monday, the Kremlin demanded London either come up with proof of Russia's involvement -- or apologise.
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| A Passenger Bus in the Philippines Has Plunged off a Cliff and Killed 19 People Posted: 21 Mar 2018 02:07 AM PDT  The Philippines has a high rate of road fatalities due to aging vehicles
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| What we know about Austin serial bombing suspect Mark Conditt Posted: 21 Mar 2018 09:01 AM PDT  Here's what we know about the man believed to be at the center of the deadly attacks bringing fear to Austin for three weeks.
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| It Matters That A Gay Man Helped Trump Backers Exploit Facebook Data Posted: 20 Mar 2018 06:00 AM PDT  Christopher Wylie is the self-described gay Canadian vegan who's come forward
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| What It's Like To Date An Older Man At 17, Then Marry Him Posted: 21 Mar 2018 10:35 AM PDT  This as-told-to has been edited for clarity and length. Debbie, who's from
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| Shop The Details Of This Breathtaking Home Posted: 20 Mar 2018 05:00 AM PDT |
| Trump's Bizarre Response to Putin's Reelection Posted: 20 Mar 2018 05:21 PM PDT ![Trump's Bizarre Response to Putin's Reelection]( "Trump's Bizarre Response to Putin's Reelection") Sarah Sanders says the U.S. can't "dictate" to other countries how to run themselves, but Trump has had no problems labeling governments elsewhere in the world repressive.
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| Paris named as world's n°1 destination by Traveler's Choice Awards Posted: 20 Mar 2018 04:05 AM PDT  After the terror attacks in 2015, Paris has proved that it's still standing strong in the international tourist arena. The French capital has moved up two positions in the TripAdvisor ranking which is based on the quantity and quality of traveler reviews and ratings for various destinations.
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| Tweeters School 'Amazingly Dumb' Donald Trump Over 'Special Council' Typo Posted: 21 Mar 2018 07:48 AM PDT  President Donald Trump returned to Twitter with yet another typo-laden post
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