| The Latest: McConnell calls anti-Israel attitudes disturbing Posted: 05 Mar 2019 12:08 PM PST  WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on the fallout from Minnesota Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar's most recent comments on Israel (all times local):
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| Maduro's Military Detains, Releases U.S. Reporter and Aide Posted: 06 Mar 2019 05:30 PM PST  Officers raided the homes of Cody Weddle and Carlos Camacho, arresting them and seizing their equipment, said Marco Ruiz, the general secretary of the National Union of Press Workers. The union and Espacio Publico, a Venezuelan organization that works for a free press, weren't immediately able to communicate with the men.
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| Vietnam suspect to testify in Kim Jong Nam murder trial Posted: 05 Mar 2019 01:09 AM PST  A Vietnamese woman accused of murdering the half-brother of North Korea's leader will testify in court for the first time next week, when the long-running trial over the Cold War-style hit resumes, her lawyer said Tuesday. In a brazen killing that shocked the world, Doan Thi Huong from Vietnam and Siti Aisyah from Indonesia are accused of assassinating Kim Jong Nam by smearing VX nerve agent on his face at Kuala Lumpur airport in February 2017. The women have denied murder, saying they believed they were taking part in a prank and were tricked by North Korean agents.
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| Judge Napolitano: President Trump's bad week Posted: 05 Mar 2019 09:43 PM PST  Judge Napolitano's Chambers: Judge Andrew Napolitano explains why President Trump should take the allegations by Michael Cohen seriously, and not deride and mock them on social media.
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| Poll: 64 percent of Americans think Trump has committed crimes Posted: 05 Mar 2019 11:32 AM PST  More U.S. voters also believe Michael Cohen more than they do the president.
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| After Vans Challenge, Crocs Challenge has people throwing more shoes on Twitter Posted: 06 Mar 2019 09:21 AM PST  Crocs shoes might actually land upright when thrown more often than Vans sneakers. "#VansChallenge is cancelled," one Twitter user wrote.
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| See Photos of the 2020 Hyundai Sonata Posted: 05 Mar 2019 10:38 PM PST |
| Tesla blames misprinted label for China customs hiccup Posted: 05 Mar 2019 10:45 AM PST  BENGALURU/SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Tesla Inc said on Tuesday that China's customs authorities have accepted the electric carmaker's plan to resolve problems with the clearance of its Model 3 sedans that centred around misprinting of labels. Shares in Silicon Valley billionaire Elon Musk's company fell more than 5 percent in early trading after Chinese media reported Shanghai customs had suspended clearance for a batch of Tesla's cars. "We have already reached a resolution with Chinese customs, and we are working closely with them to resume clearance procedures on these vehicles," a Tesla spokesperson said in a statement.
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| Resolution Condemning Anti-Semitism Splits House Democrats Posted: 06 Mar 2019 11:25 AM PST  House Democrats clashed during a closed-door meeting Wednesday over how best to respond to Representative Ilhan Omar's (D., Minn.) repeated use of anti-Semitic tropes to impugn the motivations and patriotism of her pro-Israel colleagues.A number of Omar's fellow progressives lashed out at Democratic leadership for agreeing to vote on a resolution condemning anti-Semitism in response to Omar's recent claim that her pro-Israel colleagues are motivated by a nefarious "dual loyalty" to the U.S. and Israel.Representative Bonnie Watson-Coleman (D., N.J.) was the first to question the leadership's decision to vote on the resolution and suggested it played into the hands of Republicans and "the media," according to the Washington Post."We've individually and collectively already responded to the fact that we oppose all '-isms' that do not treat people in this country fairly and justly," she said. "To continue to engage in this discussion is simply an opportunity to give both the media and Republicans distractions from our agenda. We've got important work to do."Representative Cedric Richmond (D., La.) suggested that President Trump, not Democratic leaders, should be responsible for policing bigotry within the caucus."I think there's a big rise in anti-Semitism and racism, and that's a bigger conversation we need to be having." Richmond reportedly said during the meeting. "But it starts at 1600 Pennsylvania. It doesn't start with one member out of 435 members of Congress."Representative Ayanna Pressley (D., Mass.) echoed Richmond's remarks during the meeting, suggesting it would be hypocritical to condemn religious bigotry without addressing Trump's rhetoric. "We need to have equity in our outrage," she said."The occupant of this White House who is seeding every form of hate, emboldening it with racist rhetoric and policies, that is who we all need to be focused on, and this is a distraction," Pressley told the Post after the meeting.Speaking at a progressive town-hall event in Washington, D.C, last week, Omar argued that the anti-Semitism accusations she's faced since being elected represent a concerted effort to shutdown debate over how the U.S. should engage with Israel."What I'm fearful of — because [Representative] Rashida [Tlaib] and I are Muslim — that a lot of our Jewish colleagues, a lot of our constituents, a lot of our allies, go to thinking that everything we say about Israel to be anti-Semitic because we are Muslim," said Omar."So for me, I want to talk about the political influence in this country that says it is okay to push for allegiance to a foreign country," she later added.The remarks drew immediate public criticism from senior House Democrats Nita Lowey and Elliot Engel of New York.> Lawmakers must be able to debate w/o prejudice or bigotry. I am saddened that Rep. Omar continues to mischaracterize support for Israel. I urge her to retract this statement and engage in further dialogue with the Jewish community on why these comments are so hurtful.> > -- Nita Lowey (@NitaLowey) March 2, 2019"Her comments were outrageous and deeply hurtful, and I ask that she retract them, apologize, and commit to making her case on policy issues without resorting to attacks that have no place in the Foreign Affairs Committee or the House of Representatives," Engel said in a statement on Friday.It remains unclear whether the resolution, which was amended earlier this week to condemn anti-Muslim bigotry as well as anti-Semitism, will receive a vote.
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| Couples, cousins, 'ordinary folks' killed by Alabama tornado Posted: 06 Mar 2019 02:47 PM PST  BEAUREGARD, Ala. (AP) — Couples, cousins, children and "ordinary folks" were among the 23 people killed when a massive tornado wiped out a rural Alabama community. One family lost 10 relatives and had more hospitalized with serious injuries. Here are some of their stories:
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| The Vatican Will Unseal Records About Holocaust-Era Pope Pius XII. Here's What We Already Know About His Controversial Legacy Posted: 04 Mar 2019 07:00 PM PST  The Vatican will unseal the records years ahead before they were expected
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| Death toll from Alabama tornadoes likely to rise as search resumes Posted: 04 Mar 2019 08:36 PM PST  Rescuers uncovered widespread damage in Alabama on Monday caused by two back-to-back tornadoes that ripped across the southern state, with the death toll of 23 expected to rise further. "It looks almost as if someone took a giant knife and scraped the ground," said Sheriff Jay Jones of Lee County, which borders Georgia. Another young victim, Taylor Thornton, died while visiting a friend in Lee County.
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| Michael Bloomberg: former New York mayor will not run for president in 2020 Posted: 05 Mar 2019 04:23 PM PST  Billionaire Bloomberg, who backs gun control and climate change causes, has pledged his wealth to the Trump resistanceThe former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg has announced he will not run for president in 2020. Photograph: Jim Watson/AFP/Getty ImagesMichael Bloomberg, the billionaire former New York mayor and champion of causes such as gun control and climate change, has ended months of speculation by announcing that he will not run for US president next year.The 77-year-old, one of the richest men in the world, revealed his decision on Tuesday not to join the crowded Democratic field – currently at 16 candidates – but pledged to pour his vast wealth into the resistance movement against Donald Trump."I know we can do better as a country," he wrote in a Bloomberg News editorial. "And I believe I would defeat Donald Trump in a general election. But I am clear-eyed about the difficulty of winning the Democratic nomination in such a crowded field."Bloomberg has toyed with a presidential run before as an independent but re-registered as a Democrat last year and spent recent months courting primary voters as a political centrist. However, the fiscal conservative increasingly seemed out of step with a liberal base questioning the morality of economic inequality and the influence of money in politics.Another billionaire, Tom Steyer, who has been campaigning for Trump's impeachment, read the runes and decided in January not to make a bid for the White House. It appears that Bloomberg has reached a similar conclusion. His pro-business positions and support for stop-and-frisk policing as mayor of New York would also have come under scrutiny.Neil Sroka, spokesperson for the progressive political action committee Democracy for America, said: "No surprise. No constituency. He had an additional challenge as a billionaire at a moment when the last thing people want is someone with ungodly sums of money telling them what to do. More importantly, he was pushing an agenda that has little support in the Democratic party and even less outside the Democratic party."There will not, after all, be a battle of the septuagenarian New York billionaire businessmen, between Trump and Bloomberg. Sroka added: "It shows Bloomberg has one thing over Trump: he's not so blindly narcissistic that he got into this race."In the editorial, Bloomberg urged Democrats to unify behind a nominee who could defeat Trump, an implied warning against veering to the left as some candidates embrace a Green New Deal and Medicare for All – already painted by Republicans as socialist projects.Senator Bernie Sanders, a self-declared democratic socialist, is among the early frontrunners. Howard Schultz, the billionaire former chief executive of Starbucks, is considering a run as an independent despite a fierce backlash from voters who fear he will peel off Democratic votes and help re-elect Trump.Following Bloomberg's announcement, Schultz tweeted: "I've long said there isn't room for centrist moderation in either party and it appears Mr Bloomberg has come to the same conclusion."> .@MikeBloomberg governed from the center with big ideas, pragmatism and common sense. In an era of paralysis and dysfunction, he's an exception. I've long said there isn't room for centrist moderation in either party and it appears Mr. Bloomberg has come to the same conclusion.> > — Howard Schultz (@HowardSchultz) March 5, 2019However, Bloomberg may be pinning his hopes on Joe Biden, the former vice-president, joining the fray as a centrist heavyweight."It's essential that we nominate a Democrat who will be in the strongest position to defeat Donald Trump and bring our country back together," he wrote. "We cannot allow the primary process to drag the party to an extreme that would diminish our chances in the general election and translate into 'Four More Years'."Bloomberg, the UN secretary general's special envoy for climate action, is expected to play an active role in the 2020 election from the outside. In his editorial, he said he would focus on tackling climate change and addressing gun violence, noting that both still face major obstacles in Congress.This will include "Beyond Carbon", a grassroots effort to begin moving America as quickly as possible away from oil and gas and toward a 100%-clean-energy economy.Bloomberg spent more than $100m to help Democrats in the 2018 midterm elections, and his team has been preparing a data-driven effort to go much further in 2020. While the effort would have supported Bloomberg's presidential bid had he run, it will now be used to defeat Republicans.Chuck Schumer, the Democratic minority leader in the Senate, told the New York Times: "Mike Bloomberg was a great mayor and would have been a strong candidate. I am certain his passion for making the country a better place will continue, albeit not as a candidate, particularly on issues like climate change, guns and curtailing the abuses of President Trump."Bloomberg's announcement followed confirmation that Hillary Clinton, the former secretary of state and 2016 Democratic nominee, will not run again next year. Trump tweeted in response: "'(Crooked) Hillary Clinton confirms she will not run in 2020, rules out a third bid for White House.' Aw-shucks, does that mean I won't get to run against her again? She will be sorely missed!""
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| Police: Man who said Baltimore panhandler killed his wife concocted the story Posted: 05 Mar 2019 04:37 AM PST  It was a story that struck a chord of sympathy and outrage across the nation: A woman was murdered by a Baltimore panhandler. But it was fake.
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| Turkey's foreign minister says allies should not intervene in its purchase of weapons: Hurriyet Posted: 06 Mar 2019 07:05 AM PST  Turkey's allies should not intervene with Ankara's purchase of defense systems from non-NATO countries because they have rejected proposals to purchase it from them, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu was quoted as saying on Wednesday. "These allies who sometimes create obstacles for us to purchase even simple weapons have started feeling uneasy after we bought S-400s," he was quoted as saying by Hurriyet newspaper. The U.S. State Department said on Tuesday that Washington has made clear to Turkey that if it proceeds with the purchase of Russian S-400 air defense system the United States will have to reassess Ankara's participation in the F-35 fighter program.
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| DeVos Pushes Plan to Save Tax Breaks for Private School Scholarship Funds Posted: 05 Mar 2019 01:00 AM PST  (Bloomberg) -- Education Secretary Betsy DeVos is riding to the rescue of a private-school tax break that was ensnared in a bitter fight between the Treasury Department and Democratic states that sought to circumvent caps on state and local deductions under the Trump tax overhaul.
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| Tesla says working on China import hiccup Posted: 06 Mar 2019 12:21 AM PST  Tesla said Wednesday it was working to resume imports of its new Model 3 sedan in China after the company said a labelling hiccup caused problems with customs. Elon Musk's electric car firm denied the issue would impact sales of the vehicle in China, a key market for the automaker as it faces a battle to control costs and maintain profitability. Local business weekly Caixin reported Tuesday that China's customs administration had suspended imports of its Model 3 cars and was holding more than 1,600 of the vehicles -- briefly sending Tesla's stock tumbling in the US.
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| Poll: 64 Percent Believe Trump Committed Crimes before Taking Office Posted: 06 Mar 2019 08:06 AM PST  Almost two thirds of the public believes President Trump committed crimes before being sworn in as president, according to a Quinnipiac poll released Wednesday.About 64 percent of respondents said they believed that Trump was involved in illegal activity before his presidency, while 24 percent believed he was not, and 13 percent said they were not sure.Respondents were more evenly split on the question of whether Trump has committed crimes in office, with 45 percent believing he has and 43 percent believe he hasn't.The poll was conducted after Trump's former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, testified last week in a public hearing before the House Oversight Committee. Cohen, who is facing a three-year prison sentence for lying to Congress, campaign-finance violations, and other financial crimes, alleged that Trump was involved in a criminal conspiracy to pay off women with whom he'd had extramarital affairs.In the Quinnipiac poll, half of voters said they trusted Cohen's word over the president's, compared to only 35 percent who said they trusted Trump over Cohen. But only 44 percent said Cohen told Congress the truth last week.
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| Prosecutors: Manafort 'blames everyone' but himself Posted: 05 Mar 2019 03:30 PM PST  WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort has not shown remorse or taken responsibility for his crimes, federal prosecutors said in a court filing two days ahead of his sentencing hearing.
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| In #MeToo era, Ford lauded on left and right as honest and brave Posted: 05 Mar 2019 06:27 PM PST ![In #MeToo era, Ford lauded on left and right as honest and brave]( "In #MeToo era, Ford lauded on left and right as honest and brave") Before the Senate hearing on Thursday, Ford had never appeared on camera, and was only depicted in news media reports with a grainy photo lifted from the internet. Thousands of conservatives took to social media to accuse Ford of lying to bring down Kavanaugh, who angrily and tearfully denied her accusations in a day of dramatic, high-stakes testimony from both the accused and the accuser. While Republican senators depicted her testimony as part of a partisan attack orchestrated by Democrats, they -- and Kavanaugh -- were careful not to attack Ford personally.
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| First lady Melania Trump hits the road to promote her 'Be Best' campaign Posted: 04 Mar 2019 05:47 PM PST  Since its introduction last year, the first lady's "Be Best" program has faced criticism.
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| Air India staff announce 'victory to India' at end of announcements amid tension with Pakistan Posted: 05 Mar 2019 03:50 AM PST  Crew members on Air India flights have been directed to end each announcement with the phrase "Jai Hind" (victory to India), as tensions continue with Pakistan. A memo from Amitabh Singh, Air India's Director of Operations, stated: "With immediate effect, all (crew) are required to announce 'Jai Hind' at the end of every announcement after a slight pause and much fervour." According to officials, the current advisory is a "reminder" to the staff, in line with the "mood of the nation", after a suicide bombing left 40 Indian police officers dead in Indian Kashmir, leading to the first air skirmish between the rivals since 1971. Questions have continued Pakistan's involvement with jihadist groups in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The Chief of the Indian Naval Staff, Admiral Sunil Lanba, on Tuesday said: "We have seen how quickly terrorist groups evolve across the globe and this particular 'brand' of terror may well become a global problem in the near future." The febrile atmosphere last week cooled after a captured Indian pilot was returned to Delhi as a "peace gesture" by Imran Khan's government in Islamabad. How India and Pakistan came to the brink of war However, at street level nationalism has seen a reprise, with many questioning whether India and Pakistan should still meet at the Cricket World Cup this summer in England. Matches between the two are flashpoints for violence during turbulent diplomatic times. Air India, which has debts of over £3 billion and receives millions in state bailouts, was mocked online for its jingoistic slogan. Tweeters asked whether this move would suddenly make it profitable, while some joked the airline should just go the whole distance and send its stewardesses into combat, while wearing camouflage sarees. The former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, criticised the tubthumping new policy. "Little surprise that with General Elections around the corner, the josh of patriotism hasn't even spared the skies," she tweeted. The move by Air India has precedence. Its Chairman, Ashwani Lohani, issued a similar direction to pilots in May 2016, saying: "The captain of a flight should often connect with passengers during the journey and, at the end of first address, using the words 'Jai Hind' would make a tremendous impact."
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| China's Huawei steps up charm offensive, rejects security fears Posted: 06 Mar 2019 12:27 AM PST  Chinese telecom giant Huawei insisted on Wednesday its products feature no security "backdoors" for the government, as the normally secretive company gave foreign media a peek inside its state-of-the-art facilities. Huawei has kicked off the year with an aggressive PR campaign to counter US warnings that it could be used by Beijing for espionage and sabotage, with reclusive founder Ren Zhengfei denying the fears in a series of foreign media interviews. The charm offensive went into another gear Wednesday as Huawei welcomed news organisations to its facilities in southern Guangdong province.
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| A look at General Motor's Lordstown assembly plant Posted: 06 Mar 2019 04:28 AM PST ![A look at General Motor's Lordstown assembly plant]( "A look at General Motor's Lordstown assembly plant") LORDSTOWN, Ohio (AP) — Some facts and figures about northeast Ohio's Lordstown assembly plant, which General Motors is idling Wednesday after the final U.S.-made Chevrolet Cruze sedan rolls off the assembly line, eliminating the jobs of nearly 1,700 hourly workers:
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| Nearly Two-Thirds of Voters Think Trump Committed Crimes Before Becoming President: Poll Posted: 05 Mar 2019 02:01 PM PST  Nearly two-thirds of American voters in a new poll think Donald Trump committed crimes before he became president, according to a new poll.
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| Alabama tornado kills at least 23, workers searching for missing people Posted: 04 Mar 2019 06:28 PM PST  First responders scoured debris Monday searching for missing people after several tornadoes killed 23 in Alabama
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| Huawei exec's next court date in Canada set for May 8 Posted: 06 Mar 2019 12:01 PM PST  Meng Wanzhou, the Chinese telecom executive at the center of an escalating row between Ottawa and Beijing, appeared briefly before a Canadian judge on Wednesday who set May 8 for the start of a hearing into a US extradition request. Meng's arrest in Vancouver in December on a US warrant infuriated China, which arrested two Canadians days later in what was widely seen as retaliation. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Monday he was "very concerned" over reports from Chinese state news agency Xinhua that the Canadians, including a former diplomat, were suspected of espionage.
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| Tesla's Shanghai assembly plant to be completed in May: government official Posted: 06 Mar 2019 02:39 AM PST  BEIJING/SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Tesla's upcoming vehicle assembly facility in Shanghai is expected to be completed in May this year, a Shanghai city government official said on Wednesday. Chen Mingbo made the comments on the sidelines of an annual parliamentary meeting in Beijing, adding that part of the facility's production line would be put into operation by the end of the year. A full-fledged auto assembly factory can take about two years to build but the Shanghai government has thrown its support behind the Tesla project, which would be China's first wholly foreign-owned car plant and a reflection of the government's broader shift to open up its car market.
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| Whitaker, former acting U.S. attorney general, leaves Justice Dept Posted: 05 Mar 2019 04:34 AM PST  Whitaker's last day at the department was on Saturday, the spokeswoman said, adding she did not know where he might be headed next. In mid-February, Attorney General William Barr was sworn in and Whitaker stepped down from the top post to become a senior counselor in the office of the associate attorney general. In one of his final acts as acting attorney general, Whitaker testified before the House Judiciary Committee, where combative Democratic lawmakers pressed him on whether he had tried to interfere with Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into whether Trump's campaign colluded with Russia.
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| Ohio leads with approach to battling opioid epidemic Posted: 06 Mar 2019 02:27 AM PST  Stark County Judge Frank Forchione weighs in on Ohio's opioid crisis and what the state is doing to combat it.
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| Teen vaccine rebel testifies to US Congress Posted: 05 Mar 2019 12:45 PM PST  Ethan Lindenberger spent his first 18 years unvaccinated -- defenseless against tetanus, polio, measles. "I grew up understanding my mother believed vaccines are dangerous, as she would speak openly about her views both online and in person," the high schooler said Tuesday in testimony before a Senate hearing on contagious disease outbreaks. In recent weeks he has become a hero of believers in modern medicine in the United States, where health officials struggle to convince some that their refusal to get themselves or their children vaccinated is fueling a resurgence of measles.
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| Amid Mardi Gras joy, tears for bicyclists killed in traffic Posted: 04 Mar 2019 06:27 PM PST  NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Mourners placed bouquets, balloons, and Mardi Gras beads near the bike lane among the oaks on Monday along New Orleans' Esplanade Avenue as plans for a parade were altered to include time for tears.
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| Michael Bloomberg announces he won't run for president in 2020, citing packed Democrat field Posted: 05 Mar 2019 02:01 PM PST  Michael Bloomberg, the former New York city mayor, has announced he will not run for the US presidency in 2020, defying widespread predictions of his candidacy. Mr Bloomberg said that while he thought he could beat Donald Trump he was not sure he would win the Democratic nomination given the competitive field. Instead Mr Bloomberg pledged to spend his next two years pushing for the policy changes, such as tighter gun controls and tackling climate change, in which he believes. "As I've thought about a possible presidential campaign, the choice before me has become clear," Mr Bloomberg in a 1,400-word article outlining his thinking. "Should I devote the next two years to talking about my ideas and record, knowing that I might never win the Democratic nomination? "Or should I spend the next two years doubling down on the work that I am already leading and funding, and that I know can produce real and beneficial results for the country, right now?" The decision was unexpected given that Mr Bloomberg had been openly contemplating a bid for the White House and signs suggested he was gearing up for a campaign. The 77-year-old founder of the Bloomberg financial and media company had spent $100 million in political donations supporting the Democratic Party's efforts in the 2018 midterm elections. He had also recently registered as a Democrat, another indication that he was preparing to seek the party's nomination. He has previously seriously considered an independent bid for the presidency. The decision reflects the crowded field already in place on the Democratic side, with more than a dozen candidates running including a string of prominent senators. But it may also have been influenced by the drift to the Left of the party on economic and health care issues, as well as signs that Democrat activists are looking for a candidate who embodies change. More than a dozen Democrats are vying for the chance to take on Donald Trump at the 2020 presidential election Credit: AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster Writing for Bloomberg, the media arm of his organisation, Mr Bloomberg acknowledges that he would have to tailor his policy beliefs if he was to win the Democratic nomination. "Many people have urged me to run. Some have told me that to win the Democratic nomination, I would need to change my views to match the polls. But I've been hearing that my whole political career," Mr Bloomberg said. "I've run for office three times and won each time, in no small part because I've never stuck my finger in the wind to decide what I should believe. It's not who I am, nor do I think it's what voters want in a leader." Elsewhere he acknowledged: "I am clear-eyed about the difficulty of winning the Democratic nomination in such a crowded field." Mr Bloomberg said instead he will push for the policy issues he believes in. Fighting climate change, tightening gun control, improving public schools, tackling opioid addiction and strengthening local communities were all mentioned. He finished his statement saying: "While there would be no higher honor than serving as president, my highest obligation as a citizen is to help the country the best way I can, right now."
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| Will Google, Amazon and Facebook fix the affordable housing crisis? Posted: 06 Mar 2019 10:04 AM PST  The housing crisis must be addressed by a careful collaboration between politicians, advocacy groups and corporate entities, activists says.
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| China cuts taxes, sees 'tough struggle' as growth slows Posted: 04 Mar 2019 09:56 PM PST  China's premier warned Tuesday that the country faces a "tough struggle" as he unveiled tax cuts to prop up a stuttering economy while increasing military spending to nearly $180 billion. The slowdown and US trade war have become major challenges for President Xi Jinping, a year after becoming the country's most powerful leader since Mao Zedong with the abolition of term limits and etching of his name into the constitution. Premier Li Keqiang told the opening session of China's annual National People's Congress that the government is targeting growth of 6.0-6.5 percent this year for the world's second-largest economy, lowering its range from 2018.
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| The 2020 Ford Transit Van Brings AWD and New Engines to the Scene Posted: 05 Mar 2019 01:28 PM PST  Van culture gets more comfortable, tech-laden, and efficient with the refreshed full-size Transit.
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| A Mysterious Character in the Game of Thrones Trailer Could Herald a Major Season 8 Twist Posted: 05 Mar 2019 02:49 PM PST  Potential season 8 spoilers ahead
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| Ivanka Trump could be on next target list from House Democrats: panel chairman Posted: 05 Mar 2019 04:37 AM PST  The list of people from whom Democrats sought documents for a corruption investigation of the president covered a who's who of Trump family members and associates. Also absent from the list were former senior White House officials, including Chief of Staff John Kelly and economic adviser Gary Cohn. Both spent more than a year in Trump's inner circle and have featured prominently in books and other published accounts of conditions in the Trump White House.
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| These Colored Bathroom Sinks Are Instant Mood-Boosters Posted: 06 Mar 2019 01:17 PM PST |
| This adorable 24-piece cookware set from The Pioneer Woman's Walmart line is $50 off Posted: 06 Mar 2019 07:58 AM PST  The kitchen is probably where you spend the majority of your time besides your bedroom. Shouldn't it be just as much of a reflection of your style as the rest of the house?The Food Network's Pioneer Woman thinks so. Her line at Walmart fulfills those cutesy '70s feels that stainless steel can't, from slow cookers all the way down to pots and pans. And this red 24-piece vintage speckled set is $50 off today. SEE ALSO: The Food Network's Pioneer Woman has a line of floral Instant Pots at Walmart and they are preciousSide note: Finding any 24-piece set this nice for under $110 is a steal -- this one just happens to be extra adorable.The 24 pieces are broken down into an 8-piece aluminum cookware set (two sauce pans, a dutch oven, a skillet, and a fry pan plus lids), four ceramic measuring cups, four ceramic measuring spoons, a pre-seasoned cast-iron skillet with silicone handles, two pre-seasoned cast iron au gratins, two acacia wood tools and a nylon spatula. Every step of your cooking process just got a lot more fun. Image: walmart Image: walmartCast iron is like Chanel of the cookware world, beloved for its heat retention properties, wide recipe versatility, and durability. It's why everyone is so obsessed with Le Creuset -- but a lot of people aren't obsessed with Le Creuset's prices, and this Pioneer Woman set is a great alternative. (Hand washing is encouraged over putting the cast iron items in the dishwasher, but that's how it stays in optimal condition for so long.)Regularly $159.97, you can save $50 and upgrade your kitchen for $109.97. Image: walmart Save $50 on the Pioneer Woman Vintage Speckled 24-Piece Cookware Set -- $109.97 See Details
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| 6-year-old boy is youngest victim of Alabama tornado that left 23 dead Posted: 05 Mar 2019 04:59 PM PST  The storm's death toll stood at 23 people dead in this rural community in Lee County, Alabama.
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| AOC Suggests the Media Unfairly Target Her Personal Life Posted: 05 Mar 2019 02:22 PM PST  Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez fired off a tweet suggesting that the media unfairly target her family and love life in their reporting -- and I can't stop laughing.Here's the tweet:> You know, when I got to DC I was told that it's considered "off-limits" to report on a member's family, love life, etc.> > Unsure why that consideration is suspended for me.> > (Also for those who ask how I learned to handle pressure,try being the only daughter in a Latino household) https://t.co/M2lgHITz1B> > -- Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) March 5, 2019First of all, the article she is referencing about her mom's view of her relationship includes an interview with her mom. So, if she didn't want the media reporting on her family life, maybe she should tell her family to stop talking to the media. Seems a little simpler than having to put all that effort into playing the victim, right?Second of all, she's wrong. She's not the only one -- far from it. In fact, the first thing I thought of when I saw this tweet was "Okay, then why do I know that the president loves Diet Coke more than he loves condoms?" I mean, seriously. The media doesn't just also sometimes report on President Trump's personal life; it is actually completely obsessed with President Trump's personal life!Don't believe me? Here are some actual headlines from President Trump's time in office: "Trump's alleged failure to use condoms with Stormy Daniels, Karen McDougal raises questions, concerns" (The Mercury News). "What Melania & Trump's Hand-Holding Struggles Say About Their Marriage, According To Body Language Experts" (Bustle). "Every time Donald and Melania Trump have faked holding hands with each other" (The Independent). "This absurdly uncomfortable video of Donald Trump trying to hold Melania's hand is going viral — here's what a body language expert has to say about it" (Insider). "Reporter asks Melania Trump: Do you love your husband?" (ABC). "Trump doesn't want Barron to play football" (CNN). "Inside Melania Trump and Barron Trump's Relationship" (The Cheat Sheet). I could go on, but I unfortunately have dinner plans in about five hours, and finding all of the headlines about the Trumps' personal lives would probably not allow me to eat until approximately 2037.Now, I do realize that she referred specifically to "members," but that doesn't make her tweet any less stupid. Other members of Congress have to deal with speculation about their personal lives, too. In 2018, Sen. Lindsey Graham felt the need to come out to the media and say that he's not gay. Here's a McClatchy article that gets into the legal troubles of Senator Ted Cruz's half-sister, who died in 2011. In 2016, The Daily Mail ran a piece titled "EXCLUSIVE: Bernie Sanders' very 1960s love life revealed -- his first wife, the woman who had his son, and the sugar shack home where he lived as a 'revolutionary.'" Senator Kamala Harris's affair with Willie Brown dominated almost an entire news cycle.In other words: If someone really did tell her that politicians' personal lives are off-limits for the media, then they were, quite clearly, wrong. Politicians, particularly famous stars like Ocasio-Cortez, are always going to face that kind of scrutiny because, well, they're famous. I'm not saying it's good; I'm not saying it's bad; I'm saying it's life -- and pretending to be some kind of unique victim in a situation where you're not one doesn't accomplish anything except make you look foolish.
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